The GoodKind Podcast

The holiday season can be a wonderful stretch of the year, but it can also become a blur of commitments, traditions, and things to do. How can we slow down, enjoy the season, and make room for meaningful family moments?

Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, and Amy Kavanaugh talk through the stages of the holidays, from November and Thanksgiving to late December and Christmastide. They share ideas for serving others, preparing for Advent, enjoying traditions, protecting family time, and making the days after Christmas intentional, too.

Along the way, they discuss the six seasons of the year, why time seems to fly by, and their opinions on Thanksgiving, Christmas lights, wrapping presents, and the days between Christmas and New Year's.

Chapters

• 00:17 Merry Christmas in July? An unexpected conversation about time

• 03:29 Why time seems to fly by—and how to respond with empathy

• 06:34 Different ways to slow down and remember what matters

• 09:01 The six seasons of the year and the arrival of the holidays

• 13:32 Why pacing yourself through fall matters

• 15:01 When does the holiday season actually begin and end?

• 20:06 Breaking the holiday season into manageable stages

• 21:17 Before Thanksgiving: Serve others as a family

• 22:22 Decide on your Advent plans before December

• 23:24 Make time for friends and neighborhood gatherings

• 24:07 Thanksgiving week: Practice gratitude and rest

• 25:07 When to decorate, listen to Christmas music, and celebrate

• 26:31 The first half of December: Wrap presents early

• 28:11 Make room for Christmas movies, cookies, and seasonal fun

• 29:26 Protect late December by postponing nonessential commitments

• 31:47 Enjoy Christmas lights and family traditions

• 33:03 Don't let the spiritual meaning of Christmas pass you by

• 34:38 Christmastide: Rest, reset, and plan the days after Christmas

• 35:06 Decluttering your home and mind

• 36:41 Should Christmas continue after December 25?

• 39:08 Closing thoughts on making the holidays meaningful

Takeaways

• Slow down in a way that works for you. Journaling can help you notice and remember life's moments, but there isn't one habit that works for everyone.

• Treat the holidays as a distinct season. Breaking them into stages helps you approach the weeks intentionally instead of letting December become a blur.

• Serve someone before Thanksgiving. Find a way to care for others while there's still room in the calendar, cultivating gratitude before the holiday.

• Decide on your Advent rhythm early. Choose resources and traditions before Thanksgiving instead of scrambling in December.

• Make space for friends and neighbors. Plan a shared meal or simple gathering before Thanksgiving week gets busy.

• Enjoy Thanksgiving without turning it into a productivity project. Rest, savor time together, and enjoy your traditions.

• Use early December wisely. Wrap gifts early, enjoy movies and baking, and move nonessential commitments into the new year.

• Protect late December. Enjoy Christmas lights, family traditions, and meaningful worship without letting last-minute tasks take over.

• Savor the spiritual parts of Christmas. Church services, carols, and other Christian traditions deserve attention, not just a place on the to-do list.

• Be intentional about Christmastide. Whether you extend the celebration or use the days to rest, choose what helps your family transition into the new year.

Keywords

holiday season, Christmas traditions, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmastide, family rhythms, Christian parenting, intentional living, gratitude, holiday planning, Christmas preparation, family traditions, holiday stress, Christmas lights, gift wrapping, family discipleship

In this second reunion episode, Clayton Greene, Chris Pappalardo, Amy Kavanaugh, Brian Turney, and Lindsey Love get together to talk about holidays, family rhythms, and living more intentionally throughout the year.

From Lindsey’s personal holiday, Ebenezer Day, to Brian’s changing opinions on summer and Clayton’s theory of the six seasons, the group explores how to embrace the rhythms of the year without feeling overwhelmed.

They share practical advice for planning ahead, making room on the calendar, preparing for Easter, and creating meaningful family traditions. Plus, they debate Thanksgiving vs. Christmas, disagree about three-day weekends, and discuss how birthdays can become opportunities to celebrate the people we love.

Takeaways

• Remember God’s faithfulness. Personal days of remembrance can help us reflect on how God has carried us through difficult seasons and grow in gratitude.

• Let the calendar serve your family. Make intentional choices about activities and commitments while protecting room to breathe.

• Plan ahead without living in the past or future. Learn from what’s behind you and prepare for what’s ahead while staying present.

• Embrace the seasons of the year. Recognizing six distinct seasons can help families anticipate each season’s demands and opportunities.

• Give yourself time to prepare. January doesn’t have to be all about resolutions; use it to get organized and find your footing.

• Cut things before adding things. Consider what can come off the calendar before committing to a new activity or tradition.

• Prepare for holidays early. Small seasonal cues can help build anticipation and make room for meaningful celebrations.

• Make space for rest and fun. Protect time for celebration while being realistic about everyday responsibilities.

• Use birthdays to encourage others. Celebrate the unique ways God made the people you love and speak meaningfully into their lives.

• Let traditions point toward what matters. Intentional rhythms can help families pay attention to God and one another.

  
  

Chapters

• 00:17 — The gang’s back together: a reunion about holidays

• 05:54 — Finding a rhythm in the year’s seasons

• 07:10 — Ebenezer Day: remembering God’s faithfulness

• 12:17 — Planning ahead without living in the future

• 13:35 — Why January can be a time to prepare, not rush

• 15:31 — The six seasons of the year

• 18:06 — You don’t have to be a victim of your calendar

• 20:46 — Cut things before you start things

• 21:27 — Three-day weekends: chores or celebration?

• 24:22 — Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

• 28:55 — Preparing for Easter before it sneaks up

• 30:28 — Birthdays as meaningful spiritual encouragement

• 33:56 — Making room for meaningful moments

  
  

Keywords: GoodKind Podcast, holiday traditions, Christian family holidays, family rhythms, six seasons of the year, God’s faithfulness, intentional living, calendar management, holiday planning, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Advent, birthdays, spiritual formation, Christian parenting, family traditions

The Reunion Episode: Part 1 — Habits

After five years of the Good Kind Podcast, Clayton, Chris, Amy, Brian, and Lindsey are getting the band back together. In this reunion episode, they look back at what they’ve learned about spiritual habits through years of conversations about faith, family, and meaningful moments in the home.

From finding the right time and place to recognizing that spiritual habits don’t have to look the same in every season, the conversation is an honest reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to growing in faith. They talk about starting small, using tangible reminders, leaning on community, and giving ourselves permission to change as life changes.

Takeaways

• Spiritual habits don't have to look the same in every season of life.
• The right environment can make spiritual habits easier to practice consistently.
• Starting small can help spiritual practices become sustainable rather than overwhelming.
• Timing matters when you're trying to build a habit into the rhythms of family life.
• Community can provide encouragement and accountability when habits are difficult to maintain alone.
• Our attitudes and habits can change as God works in us.
• Tangible reminders can help us remember to pray and remember what God has done.
• Listening to other people's experiences can broaden our understanding of how God is working.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Good Kind Podcast reunion begins

• 01:25 Catching up with Brian and Lindsey

• 02:42 Advent Blocks, growing families, and changing seasons

• 06:08 Why we're doing a Good Kind Podcast reunion

• 08:15 There is no one-size-fits-all spiritual habit

• 12:15 Finding a dedicated space for spiritual habits

• 15:14 How environment can shape our spiritual rhythms

• 16:27 Posturing yourself to grow

• 19:51 Why we don't have to pursue spiritual growth alone

• 24:50 Start small: lowering the bar so habits can actually stick

• 31:17 Timing matters when building spiritual habits

• 37:23 You can change—and so can your habits and attitudes

• 39:00 The importance of tangible reminders

• 44:43 Remembering what God has done through visual reminders

• 45:26 How tangible tools can cue us to pray

• 46:50 What Chris has learned from listening to others

• 48:22 Closing thoughts and looking ahead to the holidays reunion

Keywords

spiritual habits, Christian parenting, family faith, spiritual formation, Bible reading, prayer, Christian family, meaningful moments, habits, faith at home, parenting, discipleship, Good Kind Podcast

Christmas has a way of sneaking up on us. Before we know it, December is packed with parties, presents, performances, travel, and everything else competing for our attention. In this episode, Clayton, Chris, and Amy talk about how preparing for Christmas now can help create space for what matters most when December arrives. From setting the calendar and pre-deciding gifts to planning your Advent activities, setting a Christmas budget, pacing the fall, and making meaningful traditions easier to choose, they share practical ways to prepare your family for a Christmas that feels less rushed and more intentional.

Takeaways

• Set your Christmas calendar early so the most meaningful activities don’t get squeezed out by invitations and obligations.
• Decide ahead of time who you’re buying gifts for and what you want to spend.
• Choose your Advent plans before December arrives—because once Advent starts, it’s already too late to decide.
• Set a Christmas budget early, including gifts, travel, events, clothing, and other seasonal expenses.
• Pace yourself through October and November instead of spending all your energy before the Christmas season even begins.
• Make meaningful Christmas habits easy by preparing the resources, playlists, activities, and supplies you’ll want to use ahead of time.
• Preparing early isn’t about making Christmas more complicated—it’s about creating space for Christmas to be what it needs to be.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Christmas can sneak up on us

03:53 – Why it helps to think about Christmas early

05:05 – The Christmas spreadsheets, lists, and planning ahead

09:01 – Two things to do now before Christmas

10:05 – Set the calendar and decide what matters most

12:56 – Make time for meaningful traditions like baking and intentional shopping

14:07 – Pre-decide your Christmas gifts and budget

18:54 – Decide what you’re doing for Advent

22:07 – Set your Christmas budget before the spending begins

23:37 – Pace yourself through October and November

27:23 – Make meaningful Christmas choices easier

28:08 – Create a Christmas playlist with faith-filled music

29:06 – Prepare meaningful activities for your kids

31:02 – Prepare now so Christmas can be what it needs to be

Resources

The GoodKind of Advent Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4w6j7lwOAjzSmVQxZKolfx?si=62b4ebef0ba74b4d

How do you help your kids get the story of the Bible into their hearts and minds? With so many Bible translations, story Bibles, graphic novels, devotionals, and Christian books available, it can be hard to know what to choose—or how much to expect from your kids. Clayton and Chris talk through Bible translations, story-based resources, age-appropriate ways to engage with Scripture, Christian living books, and how parents can help their kids learn to discern what they hear from increasingly authoritative-sounding sources—including AI.

Takeaways

• Choose a Bible translation your child can actually understand and engage with—the “best” Bible is the one they will read.
• Story Bibles and creative retellings can help kids see the big story of Scripture and understand how the Bible’s individual stories fit together.
• Give kids freedom to explore different kinds of Christian books while continuing to encourage regular exposure to Scripture.
• Bible reading doesn’t have to feel like homework; the goal is to help kids develop a genuine love for God’s Word.
• Kids need more than Bible knowledge—they need to understand the overarching story of Scripture and how it points to Jesus.
• As children increasingly turn to AI and technology for answers, parents can teach them to ask, “Who said this?” and “How do they know?” so they learn to evaluate sources and discern truth for themselves.

Chapters

00:00 — Helping kids engage with the story of the Bible
01:17 — An introduction to Chris Pappalardo
04:40 — Bible translations: ESV, NIV, and beyond
05:54 — Why every Bible translation involves interpretation
07:17 — Finding the right Bible for your child's age and stage
08:48 — Letting kids grow into deeper Bible reading
10:11 — Story Bibles, Advent Blocks, and retelling Scripture
12:20 — The Book of God and bringing biblical stories to life
15:41 — Should Bible reading feel like devotional time or reading for fun?
16:05 — Using graphic novels and other familiar formats to engage kids
17:14 — Encouraging Bible reading without making it feel like homework
18:43 — The role of regular exposure to Scripture
19:27 — Learning the Bible through church, camps, sermons, and Christian books
22:43 — Why story-based resources can help kids see the whole biblical narrative
24:18 — Introducing kids to Christian living books
25:35 — When should kids start reading Christian nonfiction?
27:26 — How formative the college years can be for faith and learning
28:19 — Helping kids discern what they hear from AI and other sources
30:58 — Bible resources and books the guys recommend
32:08 — Getting the greatest story ever into your kids' hearts

Resources

Looking for some of the resources mentioned in this episode? Here are the books, Bibles, and teaching resources Clayton and Chris recommend:

• The Action Bible — Sergio Cariello’s illustrated, graphic-novel-style Bible, recommended as an engaging option for kids who connect with visual storytelling.
• Kaleidoscope: Kids’ Bibles Reimagined — Bible resources designed to make Scripture faithful, accessible, and engaging for kids.
• The Jesus Storybook Bible — Sally Lloyd-Jones’s beloved story Bible that helps children see how every story in Scripture points to Jesus.
• The Book of God — Walter Wangerin Jr.’s novelized retelling of the Bible, offering a sweeping view of Scripture as one connected story.
• God’s Word For You — The Good Book Company’s accessible commentary series, walking through individual books of the Bible with biblical context and practical application.
• Tim Keller’s Sermons — A collection of sermons and teaching from Tim Keller, available through The Gospel Coalition’s sermon library.
• Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary — J.D. Greear’s book exploring the centrality of the gospel and how it transforms the Christian life.

Why do kids seem to save their biggest, strangest, and sometimes most difficult questions for bedtime? In this episode, Amy and Chris Pappalardo talk about the familiar phenomenon of the “one more question” after the lights are out—from questions about death and God to the completely unexpected question about where chicken comes from. Together, they explore why bedtime can become a uniquely safe and relational space for kids to open up.

Amy and Chris consider several reasons kids may ask these questions at the end of the day: they may be stalling, feeling safe enough to let their guard down, finally free from the distractions of the day, or simply taking advantage of one of the few moments when they have a parent's undivided attention. They also talk about what parents can do when the questions are serious, difficult, or simply coming at the worst possible time.

Rather than dismissing bedtime questions as a nuisance, this conversation invites parents to see them as an opportunity to listen, affirm their children's curiosity, and create space for deeper conversations—even when the timing isn't exactly ideal.

Takeaways

• Bedtime can become a uniquely safe space where kids feel comfortable asking questions they have been carrying throughout the day.
• Kids may ask bedtime questions because they're stalling, but not every question is a stalling tactic.
• When distractions disappear, thoughts and questions that have been sitting in the background can finally come to the surface.
• Bedtime often provides some of the most focused, one-on-one attention parents give their kids all day.
• Tiredness can lower a child's inhibitions and allow unexpected or unusual thoughts to come out.
• A child's difficult or unexpected question can be an opportunity to recognize that they trust you enough to bring it to you.

• When a question is sincere, it's worth respecting the curiosity behind it—even if the timing isn't ideal.
• Parents don't have to answer every question immediately; sometimes it's better to table the conversation and intentionally return to it later.

• You don't have to have all the answers to be a safe and trustworthy person for your child to ask.

Chapters

• 00:18 – Meet your "backup" hosts: Amy and Chris
• 01:05 – Why kids don't want to go to bed
• 05:14 – The bizarre questions kids save for bedtime
• 07:19 – Why bedtime questions happen in every kind of family
• 09:04 – Are kids just stalling?
• 10:10 – Bedtime as a safe space
• 11:03 – When the distractions of the day finally disappear
• 15:19 – The uncomfortable truth about undivided attention
• 17:04 – Why kids also open up during baths, walks, and other one-on-one moments
• 18:10 – What tiredness does to a child's inhibitions
• 19:17 – Amy's childhood chicken question
• 23:24 – So what should parents actually do?
• 24:07 – How to tell if they're stalling or genuinely curious
• 24:34 – Why we should take our kids' questions seriously
• 25:36 – When it's okay to table the conversation for tomorrow
• 27:07 – Turn the question back around: “What do you think?”
• 28:13 – You don't have to have all the answers

In this episode, Clayton Greene, Amy Kavanaugh, and Chris Pappalardo explore what the Bible teaches about money and how parents can help their kids develop a healthy relationship with it. They discuss the difference between teaching financial skills and shaping a child's heart, including practical ways to teach saving, spending, giving, contentment, and stewardship. Along the way, they look at Jesus' teachings about money and consider how parents can model generosity, trust, and a healthy attitude toward God's provision.

Takeaways

• Biblical teaching about money is ultimately about more than financial skills—it is about the heart.
• Parents can teach children stewardship through everyday decisions about saving, spending, and giving.
• Generosity is something children learn not only through instruction but by watching their parents practice it.
• Contentment and trust help children understand that money and possessions do not determine what they need to be happy.
• Biblical financial education includes both practical habits and the beliefs that shape those habits.
• Jesus talked frequently about money because of its connection to our hearts, priorities, and trust in God.
• Teaching children about money is ultimately about helping them understand God's provision and their responsibility to steward what they have.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction and episode overview
36:23 — The evolution of car styles and safety considerations
44:23 — Transition to the main topic: money and parenting
44:23 — Teaching kids about money at different ages
10:04 — The doctrinal and attitude components of financial education
16:49 — Modeling generosity and an attitude toward money
36:57 — Using allowances and savings to teach financial responsibility
37:07 — Creating budgets and teaching about spending limits
57:26 — The importance of contentment and managing expectations
44:12 — Money in the Bible: Old Testament and New Testament insights
04:22 — Jesus' teachings on money and possessions
37:57 — Verses on generosity, contentment, and heart attitude
18:05 — Practical acts of generosity and modeling giving
31:35 — The relationship between money, heart, and trust
18:53 — The impact of giving on the heart and priorities
12:35 — Key biblical passages on money and contentment
58:57 — Balancing beliefs and behaviors in financial life
12:35 — The messiness of money and God's gift of provision
52:54 — Summary: Money as a gift, heart posture, and generosity
26:32 — Closing thoughts and episode wrap-up

Keywords

money, biblical money management, parenting, teaching kids about money, stewardship, generosity, contentment, financial education, Christian parenting, biblical stewardship, saving, giving, spending

In this episode, we explore how to embrace the fall season with intentionality, balancing productivity and rest, and aligning seasonal rhythms with biblical and cultural themes. Join us as we discuss practical ways to prepare for the busy months ahead and find steadiness in the season.

Takeaways

• Fall is a season of harvest, vocation, and reaping what we have sown.
• Seasonal transitions give us an opportunity to reassess our rhythms, routines, and expectations.
• A healthy seasonal rhythm makes room for both work and rest, without haste and without neglecting what needs to be done.
• Fall can be a meaningful time to practice gratitude and reflect on what God has been doing in our lives.
• Planning ahead gives us greater perspective and helps us enter busy seasons with steadiness and joy.
• The goal isn't to rush through a busy season, but to learn how to live it well.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Embracing the Fall Season

02:00 The Cultural and Biblical Significance of Fall

06:00 Preparing for the Fall: Systems and Routines

09:56 Understanding Fall as Vocation and Gratitude

15:01 The Rhythm of Without Haste, Without Rest

19:55 Practical Tips for Seasonal Preparation

24:50 Living Intentionally in Busy Seasons

29:49 The Power of Perspective and Planning

34:02 Adjusting Routines and Expectations

37:14 Embracing the Season with Steadiness and Joy

Keywords

fall season, seasonal rhythms, productivity, rest, biblical seasons, spiritual practices, family routines, gratitude, vocation, harvest

Why do Christians sing together when we gather for worship? And why can something as ordinary as singing feel surprisingly strange in our highly individualistic culture? In this episode, Clayton, Amy, and Chris explore the biblical, communal, and formative power of singing—and why singing has remained such a central part of Christian worship throughout history.

From karaoke and kids' camp to the Psalms and congregational worship, they talk about why singing is so deeply human, what Scripture says about singing, and how music can shape our hearts and theology. They also explore the vulnerability of singing alongside other people, why everyone is welcome—and necessary—and how singing can engage our heart, mind, soul, and strength in a unique way.

Whether you're a confident singer, someone who would rather never hold a microphone, or somewhere in between, this conversation is an invitation to embrace the strange, beautiful, communal practice of singing—and to sing with joy wherever you are.

Takeaways

• Singing is a deeply human activity that has been part of Christian worship throughout Scripture and history.
• The Bible doesn't give us a detailed formula for exactly what Christian singing should sound like, but it consistently assumes and demonstrates that God's people will sing.
• Congregational singing can feel strange because modern Western culture is highly individualistic and communal singing is no longer an everyday experience for most people.
• The “weirdness” of singing together can actually be part of its beauty—it pulls us out of our individualism and reminds us that Christian worship is communal.
• Singing has a unique ability to engage the heart, mind, soul, and strength all at once.
• Songs can help form our children's faith by putting Scripture, theology, and worship into their hearts in a memorable way.
• Congregational singing requires both humility and vulnerability. The best singer and the worst singer in the room are both invited to participate.
• Everyone is welcome in congregational singing—and everyone is necessary. The song isn't complete until the whole body participates.
• Singing together is different from singing alone because it reminds us that worship isn't just about our individual experience; we're worshiping alongside the people God has given us.
• We don't have to be good singers to make a joyful noise. We can sing at church, at home, in the car, and maybe even at karaoke.
• Sometimes changing how we think about an experience can change how we experience it—so instead of saying “I'm nervous,” try saying, “I'm excited.”

Chapters

• 00:18 – The band is back together after summer
• 01:59 – Summer highlights, kids' camps, and Professor Slingshot
• 05:20 – Family rhythms, Alaska, and getting back into a school routine
• 10:31 – Why we're talking about singing
• 12:09 – Why do people sing together?
• 14:45 – Why is singing part of Christian worship?
• 17:07 – Singing, prayer, and the way Scripture teaches us to worship
• 18:05 – Why congregational singing feels strange in an individualistic culture
• 20:12 – The beauty of singing together before modern technology
• 21:47 – How singing engages heart, mind, soul, and strength
• 25:10 – How singing can shape our children's faith
• 26:40 – The humility and vulnerability of singing with other people
• 29:02 – Everyone is welcome—and everyone is necessary
• 29:57 – Why you should sing at home, in the car, and at church
• 30:38 – A surprising lesson from karaoke: “I'm excited”

Choosing how to educate your kids can feel overwhelming—especially when every option seems to come with strong opinions and stereotypes. In this episode, Clayton, Amy, and one of our favorite guest hosts, Arthur Tew, each represent a different schooling experience (public, private Christian, and homeschool) and have an honest, good-humored conversation about why faithful families often arrive at different decisions.

Rather than debating which option is "right," they challenge one another to acknowledge the common stereotypes surrounding each choice—and then explain the truths, misconceptions, and tradeoffs behind them. Along the way, they discuss parental responsibility, Christian formation, diversity, academics, and the reality that no educational model is perfect.

Whether you've already made your decision or you're still wrestling through it, this conversation is an invitation to think intentionally, hold your convictions with humility, and extend grace to families who make different choices.

Takeaways

• Faithful Christian families can thoughtfully arrive at different school choices.
• Every educational model has strengths, weaknesses, and tradeoffs.
• Homeschooling has evolved significantly over the past two decades.
• Private Christian schools often require financial sacrifice—not just financial privilege.
• Diversity of people, perspectives, and learning styles is worth considering in every schooling decision.
• Parents remain the primary influence on their children's formation, regardless of where they're educated.
• Difficult conversations are inevitable—and parents should be prepared to have them.
• The goal isn't finding the "perfect" school, but being intentional about your family's values and your children's formation.
• Grace and humility go a long way when talking about deeply personal parenting decisions.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Why school choice feels so personal
• 02:50 – Arthur shares why his family homeschools
• 06:40 – Amy's journey from public school to private Christian school
• 11:20 – Clayton explains why his family chose public school
• 13:10 – Ground rules: agreeing with stereotypes before defending them
• 14:15 – "Homeschoolers are awkward." Is there any truth to it?
• 21:15 – Do homeschoolers actually learn math?
• 24:15 – "Private school is only for wealthy families."
• 29:10 – What private schools can unintentionally lack
• 34:20 – Are private school parents afraid of the real world?
• 39:20 – "Public school is basically glorified daycare."
• 42:40 – Should kids be exposed to hard realities while they're young?
• 47:40 – The responsibility every parent has, regardless of school choice
• 49:30 – Final encouragement: be intentional, not judgmental