Easter is one of the most meaningful celebrations of the year… so why does it sneak up on us so often?

In this episode of The GoodKind Podcast, Clayton, Chris, and Amy dive into everything from why Easter changes dates each year (hint: it involves the moon 🌕) to how busy family life—spring break, sports, and packed schedules—can cause us to miss it entirely.

They also share their favorite (and least favorite 😅) Easter traditions—from egg hunts and candy debates to the ever-controversial Easter Bunny—before turning toward what really matters: creating intentional space to reflect on the story of Easter as a family.

If you’ve ever felt like Easter just “happens” without much preparation, this episode will help you slow down, refocus, and make it meaningful.

Takeaways

• Start early: Don’t wait until Easter week—set visual reminders or rhythms ahead of time

• Keep it simple: Even small, consistent practices can help your family engage

• Make it visible: Put tools or prompts somewhere you’ll see them daily

• Bring it with you: If you’re traveling, choose something portable and easy

• Focus on meaning: Traditions are fun—but the story of Easter is what lasts

Chapters

00:00 – Why Easter sneaks up on us every year
01:15 – Wait… when is Easter this year?
02:00 – How Easter is connected to the moon, Passover, and the calendar
04:00 – The “rules” for how Easter is actually determined
07:00 – Favorite Easter egg hunts (and why some don’t count 😅)
10:45 – Easter candy rankings: the best and worst
13:00 – Who brings the Easter candy? (parents vs. Easter Bunny)
16:30 – Easter traditions at home: what each family does
17:45 – Meaningful Easter rhythms: church, serving, and family time
20:00 – How Easter gets overshadowed by spring break
21:45 – Why every Sunday already points to Easter
23:00 – Practical ways to not miss Easter this year
24:20 – Spring cues that remind us Easter is coming
25:00 – Easter outfits, photos, and what actually matters
26:00 – Final encouragement: be intentional and don’t miss it

What are TV shows actually doing to us?

In this episode of the GoodKind Podcast, Clayton, Chris, and Amy wrestle with a surprisingly important question: when we sit down to watch a show, are we just relaxing—or are we being shaped by the stories we consume? From nostalgic sitcoms to intense dramas, television doesn’t just entertain. It reflects culture, communicates values, and often invites us into a particular way of seeing the world.

The conversation explores how Christians can think thoughtfully about entertainment without becoming anxious or overly restrictive. The hosts discuss setting personal “edges” around what they watch, recognizing the messages embedded in storytelling, and why common grace means good stories can still be meaningful even when they aren’t told from a Christian perspective.

They also turn to parenting—how kids absorb the stories they watch, why conversations about media matter, and how families can help children learn to discern what is good, true, and beautiful in the content around them.

Whether you love TV or rarely watch it, this episode invites you to consider a simple question: what stories are shaping your imagination?

Takeaways

• Television can be a form of storytelling that reflects and shapes cultural values.

• Entertainment can be relaxing, but it still influences how we think and see the world.

• Christians can thoughtfully engage culture without feeling pressure to avoid it entirely.

• Setting personal boundaries around themes like violence, sex, or hopelessness can help guard our attention and imagination.

• Asking simple questions about a show’s message can help reveal the worldview behind the story.

• Watching media together can open meaningful conversations between spouses and friends.

• Kids are actively learning from the stories they watch, which makes parental guidance important.

• Media discernment is a skill that families can practice together over time.

Chapters

00:00 TV shows we love (and a friendly debate)
08:08 What is actually happening when we watch TV?
15:05 Entertainment, storytelling, and escape
23:59 Setting boundaries around what we watch
30:10 A biblical framework for media (Philippians 4:8)
33:15 How stories shape us more than we realize
36:27 Asking the “moral of the story” question
44:00 Why Christians don’t have to avoid TV entirely
45:59 Parenting kids in a media-saturated world
52:32 The challenge of YouTube and short-form content
53:55 Final reflections: are we passive viewers?

What does sacrifice actually mean in the Christian life—and is it supposed to feel costly?

In this Ask the Seminarians episode, we wrestle with the tension between comfort and obedience, desire and surrender. Is sacrifice about giving things up? Is it about suffering? Or is it about love?

We explore how Scripture reframes sacrifice—not as spiritual performance or misery for misery’s sake—but as a response to God’s goodness. Along the way, we talk about misplaced guilt, modern confusion around self-denial, and how to discern when something is truly sacrificial versus simply inconvenient.

If you’ve ever wondered whether following Jesus is supposed to hurt—or how to think about sacrifice in everyday life—this conversation will help clarify and ground you.

Takeaways

• Biblical sacrifice is rooted in love, not punishment.
• Sacrifice is about surrendering control, not earning favor.
• Not every hard thing is holy, and not every comfortable thing is compromise.
• Obedience often feels costly before it feels fruitful. Jesus redefines sacrifice as self-giving love.
• Discernment is essential in a culture that confused discomfort with devotion.

Sibling relationships are some of the most complicated — and formative — relationships in our lives.

Some of us grew up sharing bedrooms and birthday cakes. Some of us have siblings through adoption. Some of us have friends who feel more like family than blood ever could. But what actually makes someone a brother or sister?

In this episode, Clayton, Chris, and Amy explore the beauty and tension of siblinghood—from childhood rivalries to lifelong loyalty—and then turn to Scripture to ask: Why are sibling relationships in the Bible so messy? And why does the New Testament choose “brothers and sisters” as the primary language for the Church?

From Cain and Abel to Mary and Martha, from birthright competition to spiritual inheritance, this conversation reframes siblinghood not just as shared DNA, but as shared responsibility, affection, and the recognition of God’s Spirit in one another.

What if sibling love — even with all its friction — is actually training ground for the family of God?

Takeaways

• Siblings can be complicated, but they teach us responsibility, empathy, and long-term commitment. 
• Shared experiences—whether growing up together or navigating life’s challenges—create bonds that are difficult to replicate. 
• Deep friendships can also become “sibling-like” when trust, loyalty, and shared challenges grow over time. 
• Scripture shows both the messiness and redemption of sibling relationships, offering guidance for how we relate to one another. 
• Observing and guiding sibling dynamics in our families can help children learn empathy, cooperation, and healthy connection. 
• Ultimately, meaningful kinship is defined more by shared experience, commitment, and longevity than by DNA alone.

Chapters

00:00 – Are siblings our most complicated relationships?

03:29 – Growing up with brothers and sisters: shared stories

11:14 – What actually defines a sibling?

21:30 – When friendship starts to feel like family

28:51 – Why are biblical siblings always fighting?

31:14 – From rivalry to redemption: brothers in the New Testament

37:27 – Birthright, inheritance, and God’s upside-down kingdom

42:00 – Responsibility, affection, and the Spirit that makes us family

Spring doesn’t arrive all at once. It sneaks in slowly—the first warm afternoon, the extra hour of daylight, the return of outside play and evening walks. After the long gray days of winter, spring offers something different: momentum.

In this Habits & Holidays episode, Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, and Amy Kavanaugh explore the spiritual and practical opportunities of “surely spring”—that stretch between winter’s heaviness and summer’s freedom. They discuss how the rhythms of school, work, weather, and the Church calendar all converge to create a unique season of stride—a time to lean into growth, alignment, and meaningful family habits.

Rather than expecting life to look the same all year long, spring invites families to embrace seasonality: to notice what God is already doing, and to respond with intentionality.

Takeaways

• Spring creates momentum after the heaviness of winter.
• Seasonality affects our capacity, mood, and spiritual rhythms.
• Spiritual habits can—and should—shift with the calendar.
• Spring offers unique opportunities for growth, beauty, and alignment.
• Easter anchors spring as a season of renewal and hope.
• Families can use spring’s energy to establish meaningful rhythms outdoors and at home.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Habits and Holidays introduction
02:55 Why seasons shape family and spiritual life
03:42 How seasonality affects mood, capacity, and relationships
04:28 Giving yourself permission for seasonal spiritual habits
05:30 Escaping the “flatness” of modern life
07:24 Defining the boundaries of “surely spring”
09:42 The opportunities spring creates for families
09:59 Beauty, gardening, and cultivating outdoor spaces
12:25 The return of outdoor play and family life outside
13:26 Daylight savings, Lent, and preparing for Easter
15:23 Spring as a season of rhythm, flow, and momentum
16:49 Why spring feels like the natural stride of the year
18:10 Spring break and pacing the spiritual and family calendar
19:25 Where spring appears in the biblical story
20:47 Goal-setting, alignment, and faithful momentum

Being outside is having a cultural moment. From hiking trends to tallying up 1,000 hours to taking cold plunges and sharing “touch grass” memes, we’re constantly told that getting outdoors is the cure for everything. But is outside really better than inside? And what does Scripture actually have to say about nature, embodiment, and the way we inhabit the world?

In this episode of The GoodKind Podcast, Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, and Amy Kavanaugh wrestle—playfully and seriously—with the cultural pressure to be “outdoorsy.” From camping debates to neighborhood walks, they explore what we’re really longing for when we head outside: connection, movement, wonder, margin, and freedom from distraction.

Together, they reflect on how the Bible consistently points us toward creation as a place of encounter with God—and how ordinary outdoor rhythms (not just epic adventures) can reorient our hearts, our families, and our faith.

Takeaways

• You don’t have to climb a mountain to benefit from the outdoors.
• Ordinary neighborhood walks count.
• Movement + nature + less tech = meaningful presence.
• Outside often creates space for better conversations.
• Wonder is available close to home.
• The Bible consistently uses creation to reveal God’s character.
• The goal isn’t aesthetic outdoor living—it’s attentiveness.

Chapters

00:00 - Cold Open
01:09 - Welcome & episode setup06:20 - Is outside better than inside?15:22 - Nature, formation, and embodied life24:34 - The best kind of outside time29:02 - Creation in Scripture36:08 - Practical ways to reclaim ordinary outdoor rhythms

Disappointment is one of the most common experiences of childhood—and parenting. From small daily frustrations to long-term struggles that don’t resolve quickly, learning how to walk with our kids through disappointment is part of forming them in faith, resilience, and trust in God.

In this episode of The GoodKind Podcast, Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, and Amy Kavanaugh continue the conversation from their recent episode on celebrating wins and turn toward the harder question: What do we do when things don’t go well?

Together, they explore how to take children’s disappointment seriously without letting it rule the moment, how to validate hard feelings without rushing to “fix” them, and how the Christian story gives us a framework for living faithfully in unresolved tension.

Listen to "Beyond Good Grades:Celebrating the Small Wins" wherever you get your podcasts!

Takeaways

• Let hard things be hard – Don’t swoop in to fix every disappointment.

• Validate feelings first – Even “small” hurts matter to kids.

• Small disappointments add up – Watch for patterns, not just one-offs.

• Teach resilience – Moving forward doesn’t mean ignoring feelings.

• Context is everything – Timing and surroundings shape how kids process hard stuff.

• Model healthy responses – Kids learn from how you handle your own disappointments.

• Faith as a framework – Examples like Paul or Emmaus show perseverance + accompaniment.

  
  

GoodKind Co-Founders, Clayton Greene, and Chris Pappalardo, caught up with Danielle Hitchen on the podcast this week to discuss the significance of Valentine's Day. They're exploring its historical roots, its role as a feast day, and how families can celebrate it meaningfully.

They share personal experiences and insights on teaching children about love, faith, and the importance of recognizing the true essence of holidays. The conversation emphasizes the balance between cultural celebrations and spiritual teachings, providing practical tips for parents to engage their children in meaningful discussions about love and faith.

Takeaways

• Valentine's Day can be a feast day to honor St. Valentine.
• Teaching children about love is essential.
• Valentine's Day has historical roots that can be explored.
• Families can create their own traditions around Valentine's Day.
• It's important to balance cultural celebrations with spiritual teachings.
• Reading stories about St. Valentine can enrich the holiday experience.
• Engaging children in discussions about love is valuable.
• Celebrating holidays can shape children's understanding of faith.

Recommended Resources

Catechesis Books - founded by Danielle Hitchen catechesisbooks.com

• Baby Believer Series (board books)
• First Bible Basics
• Sacred Seasons, book by Danielle Hitchen (for grown-ups!)

Book of Common Prayer

The Parliament of Fowls - poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (origin of Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday)

Till We Have Faces - novel by C.S. Lewis (retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth)

Building Spiritual Habits in the Home - book by GoodKind Co-founders, Clayton Greene and Chris Pappalardo

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:49 - The Journey of Catechesis Books

05:33 - Parenting and Spiritual Habits

08:25 - Valentine's Day as a Feast Day

11:04 - Cupid and Historical Context

14:05 - Valentine's Day Celebrations with Family

17:27 - Celebrating Valentine's Day Creatively

21:51 - Teaching Love Through Valentine's Day

28:17 - Balancing Cultural and Religious Aspects of Valentine's Day

36:16 - Practical Tips for Meaningful Valentine's Day Celebrations

We spend a lot of time trying to sort people into categories—friends, acquaintances, neighbors—hoping that clarity will tell us how much time, care, or energy each relationship requires. But when we turn to Scripture, Jesus doesn’t let those categories hold.

In this conversation, Clayton, Chris, and Amy explore how the Bible reframes the idea of “neighbor,” not as a label for certain people, but as a way of being. Through Proverbs, the Good Samaritan, and everyday experiences of suburban life, they wrestle with how proximity, technology, and modern rhythms shape our relationships—and why Jesus consistently shifts the question from Who is my neighbor? to Am I being a neighbor?

This episode invites listeners to rethink neighborhood, availability, and love—not as strategies to manage people, but as formation into a different kind of person.

Takeaways

• Scripture distinguishes between acquaintances, friends, and neighbors, but not in a clean or linear way
• Proverbs 18:24 highlights the difference between many companions and a true friend who “sticks closer than a brother"
• In the Good Samaritan story, Jesus turns neighbor from a noun into a verb
• The question Jesus leaves us with isn’t “Who qualifies as my neighbor?” but “Am I acting like one?”
• Modern life—cars, technology, busy schedules—has reshaped how (and how often) we relate to the people closest to us
• Proximity still matters, especially in moments of need, crisis, or shared responsibility
• Availability may be one of the most practical and loving ways to practice neighboring

Chapters

00:00 – Why we try to categorize relationships02:00 – Defining friends vs. acquaintances05:20 – Proverbs 18:24 and biblical language around friendship07:00 – Why “neighbor” feels different than friend or acquaintance08:45 – Jesus, the Good Samaritan, and neighbor as a verb12:45 – Why Jesus refuses to answer questions directly15:30 – What our actual neighborhoods look like19:00 – Proximity, cars, and how modern life reshaped community23:00 – Borrowing eggs, sharing tools, and old-fashioned neighboring26:30 – Environment, cul-de-sacs, and how space forms relationships29:00 – Responsibility to the people closest to us31:30 – Availability as a practice of love34:40 – Mutual indebtedness and long-term neighboring36:30 – Why neighboring is slow—and why that matters

Faith at home, spiritual habits, family rhythms, liturgical calendar, Holy Week, Easter traditions, discipleship in the home

In this episode of The GoodKind Podcast, Clayton Greene, Amy Kavanaugh, and Chris Pappalardo talk about family road trips—and why car time holds a unique kind of power for connection.

From screen time debates to nostalgic memories of road trip games and long conversations, the hosts explore how modern families navigate travel while still making space for meaningful interaction. They reflect on how the car creates an unusual environment: physically close, removed from daily distractions, and often more open to honest conversation.

The conversation also draws parallels to biblical journeys, noting how travel has long been a context for formation, teaching, and transformation. Rather than rushing through the drive, the hosts invite listeners to embrace the inefficiency of road trips—trusting that the slow, unplanned moments along the way often shape families just as much as the destination.

Takeaways

• Car time creates a unique space for conversation that doesn’t exist at home—or on planes.

• Road trips work because they’re inefficient, not in spite of it.

• Screens don’t automatically ruin connection—they can sometimes make it possible.

• Meaningful family conversations can’t be scheduled or forced; they emerge over time.

• Travel time is one of the key moments Scripture names for forming faith in kids.

• The enclosed, shared space of a car invites vulnerability and openness.

• Non-productive togetherness often forms families more than structured activities.

• The journey itself can shape relationships as much as the destination.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Family Road Trips

00:58 The Importance of Car Time

08:22 Preparing for the Road Trip

15:42 The Unique Opportunity of Road Trips

23:13 Creating Meaningful Conversations

32:13 Embracing Inefficiency in Family Travel

36:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

family road trips, car conversations, meaningful family time, parenting tips, screen time balance, family bonding, travel games, spiritual habits, GoodKind Podcast, family togetherness