Sponsors for today’s episode include: Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily Where Did TJ Go? A touching new book by Annie F. Downs to help you and your child talk about grief.  https://tinyurl.com/RVCWhereDidTJGo ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Jason and Emily share the highs, lows, and mild panic attacks of their trip to New York City. They talk about paying way too much for Broadway tickets to The Lion King, having to walk through a protest in Times Square, and realizing they might be the most overprotective parents in Manhattan. Yes, there were AirTags on the kids. It’s a story of family travel, big city chaos, and how two crunchy parents survived it all with their sense of humor (mostly) intact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily Where Did TJ Go? A touching new book by Annie F. Downs to help you and your child talk about grief.  https://tinyurl.com/RVCWhereDidTJGo ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Episode Description: Jason and Emily unpack the mysteries of sleep, from circadian rhythms to why we all think six hours and coffee is “fine.” They share their own sleep habits (spoiler: not great), what the science actually says about how much rest we need. It’s funny, a little self-incriminating, and might just make you want to go to bed on time for once. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily ____ Where Did TJ Go? A touching new book by Annie F. Downs to help you and your child talk about grief.  https://tinyurl.com/RVCWhereDidTJGo ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Episode Description: Sometimes we take the smallest conflict and turn it into a full-blown saga worthy of its own Netflix limited series. Jason and Emily talk about why we make things a bigger deal than they really are, whether it’s a comment taken the wrong way, a toddler meltdown, or a family group text gone rogue. They also reveal a “secret phrase” said to instantly resolve any conflict… and then promptly test (and fail) it in real time. The video Jason got last year for the Autumn Equinox party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwdUFeiNaKM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Sponsors: Voetberg Method Experience This month, use my code: CRUNCHY20 to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed. Get 20% off the  proprietary Voetberg Method Experience, where siblings can share lessons  and learn music in a way they’ll never forget, even when lessons stop. https://tinyurl.com/RVCNowThatWereFamily ____ Where Did TJ Go? A touching new book by Annie F. Downs to help you and your child talk about grief.  https://tinyurl.com/RVCWhereDidTJGo ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Description: Everywhere you look, kids have screens in their hands. From classrooms to baseball fields to birthday parties. Jason and Emily open up about their own struggle as parents: how much screen time is too much, what it might be doing to kids’ brains and relationships, and the nagging fear that limiting screens could hurt their kids’ sense of belonging. It’s a conversation full of honesty, humor, and a little guilt, as they wrestle with the tension between protecting their kids and letting them belong. 00:00 Friday night movie nights. 03:41  Fear of the child rebellion.  05:22 A hoverboard!? 06:54 Emily watches PBS kids INTO high school. 08:57 Kids and cultural references. 10:29 Minecraft 14:39 Setting expectations for little kids.  15:26 Don’t give your little kid an iPad. 17:15 Too much screen time.  22:09 We worry about our kids’ generation.  29:18 Key takeaway… 32:19 Emily forgets she’s not normal.  33:10 Join us for upcoming events.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors for today’s episode include: Where Did TJ Go? A touching new book by Annie F. Downs to help you and your child talk about grief.  https://tinyurl.com/RVCWhereDidTJGo ——— Sweets Elderberry https://tinyurl.com/RVCSweetsElderberry ———  Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Episode Description: Emily and Jason look back at how life felt simpler before they became crunchy. They share the humor and challenge of being more aware of everything from food to daily choices, while still affirming the value of their crunchy lifestyle. The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they explore how judgment can shift into compassion and how awareness can be paired with love instead of criticism. 00:00 October is here!  01:43 Is leaf blowing OK? 05:49 Autumn Equinox Party 09:01 Messy garage… 10:33 Crafts for the kids. 11:55 Recipes NEVER turn out right.  14:39 Smokin’ meats… 16:50 Crunchiness factors into everything 19:22 Ticks keep Emily up at night. 22:14 Typing out your conviction vs. saying them. 28:12  Trying not to be judgmental.  34:54 Food pyramid. 37:54 How do you turn judgement into compassion? 41:51 Emily should be judged for her car. 45:32 Mom-blaming vs. the truth. 55:03 Crunchy conspiracy theorists. 58:21 Jason can’t get on board with crystals.  01:58:17 Emily’s strange healings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors for today’s episode include: Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair _____ Thrive Market Go to ThriveMarket.com/RVC to get 30% off your first order and a free $60 gift. Upcoming Events Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Episode Description: Tipping. We don’t love it, but we still do it. In this episode we unpack tipping culture and how it became such a fixture in everyday life. We look at countries where tipping isn’t expected, the history that brought us here, and the surprising jobs where people now expect a tip. Whether you’re leaving a few dollars on the table or awkwardly wondering if you should tip your dog groomer, one thing is clear: tipping is here to stay. 00:00  Tipping 02:32 Hating with a burning passion of hatred 04:53 Base tip? 05:46 Non-tipping cultures 06:16 Valet parking 07:52 Screen tips 08:54 Origination of tipping 10:34 Problem with changing the system… 11:49 Businesses that don’t expect tips 15:04 Jobs we didn’t know required a tip 22:09 Should tips be performance based? 26:38 Jason’s haircut woes  27:18 We sound like jerks 30:18 Subscriptions Link to the car dancing video where we accidentally cheated and won $1,000 😂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5HR0as77v4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our sponsors help keep this show going. Please be sure to check them out below: Wayfair Cozify your space with Wayfair’s curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. https://tinyurl.com/RVCWayfair Thrive Market Go to https://tinyurl.com/RVCThriveMarket to get thirty percent off your first order, an extra twenty-five percent off thousands of Summer Essentials, plus a FREE sixty dollar gift just for signing up. Episode Description: When is “saving face” just good manners, and when does it cross into dishonesty? In this episode, Emily and Jason explore the delicate balance of protecting dignity in awkward situations. 00:00 Jason confronts John Crist.  07:18 Jason’s terrible organization skills.  09:51 Wild + Free 15:18 World Schooling 16:33 Emily humbled.  20:24 Awkward sleeping arrangements 22:31 Saving Face 25:58 Emily is abrasive  28:27 Oversharing 32:04 North Korean Weddings 33:44 Bow Wow scandal 35:32 Looking rich in an airport 38:29 Silly influencers 41:39 Frugal people 43:23 Vulnerability  45:02 We’re criers 46:43 Sing together 50:11 Rifle spinning 52:15 We need your opinions Links from the show: Our Korean Wedding Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiLGZFRKSvQ Bow Wow’s Fake Private Jet Scandal: https://www.complex.com/music/a/treyalston/bow-wow-fake-flexing-plane Shannon Rose Webb, singer of our intro and outro: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16o01TpoG8Ib6RMshXk1yP?si=FTGlZjeZQ3GaPF858Fm7NA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors for today’s episode includes Thrive Market.  Go to ThriveMarket.com/RVC to get 30% off your first order and a free $60 gift. ______ Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Today, we’re talking about what the internet expects of us. Why do people keep asking us to comment on the assassination of Charlie Kirk? The conflict in Gaza? Insert so many other current events here. It’s a conversation about knowing our own thoughts and what we’re supposed to do with them through Really Very Crunchy.  Our video mentioned in the episode:https://www.instagram.com/p/DOn1OL9kVLU/ 00:00 Messy eaters 05:35 Who is sick more often? 06:37 Internet backlash 08:31 The non-SAHMs  13:20 Speaking on politics 16:58 Not sure what to do with RVC 21:57 Politics in homeschool groups 25:45 Mission field 29:28 Thinking about the followers 30:27 The weight of the world 32:59 Our reaction to Charlie Kirk 38:26 Local community is suffering.  42:13 Charlie Kirk assassination bringing us to a dark place.  49:13 People have forgotten how to connect 50:56 Stand up for the right reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors for today’s episode includes Thrive Market.  Go to ThriveMarket.com/RVC to get 30% off your first order and a free $60 gift. ______ Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets In this episode of The Really Very Crunchy Podcast, Jason and Emily share their review of the new Peacock TV show The Paper. As lifelong Office fans, they discuss how the series measures up, what works comedically, and where it fits in the current landscape of television. They also talk about the state of the sitcom in today’s world, how streaming has changed the way shows are made and watched, and why capturing the magic of a classic workplace comedy is so difficult. 00:00 Jason’s Solo? 01:06 TV used to be an event. 06:41 Sitcoms inspire us. 08:16 The Paper (The Office Spinoff) 11:00 Language in sitcoms… 12:39 Streaming is a problem… 15:03 Reviews said what?! 17:08 No buzz anymore… 19:55 We’ve lived a lot of sitcom moments. 22:34 The one where our bikes were stolen… 28:42 Boystown - The Sitcom 30:43 City Council Meetings - Basically Parks & Rec 34:39 We made a sitcom.  36:42 Thank YOU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors for today’s episode includes Thrive Market.  Go to ThriveMarket.com/RVC to get 30% off your first order and a free $60 gift. ______ Join us for the Wellness Collective, October 21st or 22nd: https://www.wellnesscollectiveevent.com/shop ______ Hang out with Emily at the Cultivate Homestead Retreat October 31st and November 1st: https://www.cultivatehomesteadretreat.com/buy-tickets Episode Description: In this episode of The Really Very Crunchy Podcast, Jason and Emily dive into all things birthdays. From the debate over practical vs. non-practical gift ideas, to why some people celebrate their birthday all month long. They also share stories from YOU and some of your worst birthday gifts. Whether you are team “low-key celebration” or team “birthday month takeover,” this conversation will have you laughing, nodding along, and maybe even rethinking your next party. 00:00 Intro 02:25 Jason lost a year… 03:50 Korean age 05:29 Advantage of being the oldest. 07:40 We are baseball coaches now. 11:53 Homeschool Co-op 13:49 When did Jason stop playing with toys? 15:16 Major League chances… 17:19 Insurance and Jason’s kidney disease. 18:00 Celebrating your birthday month? 22:57 We never wake up our kids. 24:24 We sleep with a fan? 29:06 Practical gifts vs. non-practical gifts 36:36 The worst gifts ever.  43:18 Who is harder to shop for? 47:44 Life insurance for an Apple Watch? 52:11 The gift YOU can give.  53:27 Upcoming events! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are recording from our car, so sorry in advance for the audio. But we have a good topic for you: choosing your battles. We talk about when it makes sense to dig in and fight for something that really matters, and when it is better for your sanity, marriage, or parenting to let it go. From the small arguments that are not worth the energy to the big moments that shape life together, we share some laughs, a few stories, and hopefully give you something to think about the next time you face a battle of your own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does every town in America feel exactly the same? You pull off the highway and it’s the same Applebee’s, the same Walmart, the same McDonald’s, the same beige strip malls with the same parking lots. In this episode, Jason and Emily wonder out loud: is this what it was supposed to be? We talk about how copy-and-paste towns strip away character and community, what we miss about places that actually feel unique, and whether it’s possible to find (or build) something different in a world of sameness. 00:00 The Cracker of Cracker Barrel  02:38 America has become copy & paste. 04:52 Cracker Barrel’s maple syrup problem.  06:31 Modernism in America. 09:05 Capitalism? 11:02 Regulations can be really bad… 12:56 We’re too far gone.  15:01 It’s not supposed to be this way.  17:37 Emily’s theory.  21:27 The future looks bleak.  24:01 Emily knows whose fault it is.  29:05 sigh… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should we stay or should we go? In this episode, Jason and Emily wrestle with the big question so many families face: do you settle into the home and life you already have, or do you uproot everything in pursuit of something “better”? It’s the tension between being grateful and content where you are, while also dreaming about more space, a different town, or a new chapter. Join us as we talk about the pros, cons, and deeper heart questions behind making (or not making) a big move. 00:00 We went out to eat! 02:44 Our kids bought hatchets. 06:21 We couldn’t believe this happened. 11:45 Library books in the bathroom? 13:11 Would you ever move to Nashville? 14:46 We were looking at a house… 19:13 The Dave Ramsey Method 22:00 We are the problem.  24:16 A new house.  28:30 Housing prices are nuts. 30:38 Factory farmed meat rant.  33:00 Emily brings a lead test kit. 36:06 Why RVC exists… 37:02 Our house is awkward. 39:26 Clarity from a shooting. 40:52 What about core memories? 45:46 My way or the kids’ way? 46:58 Jason shouldn’t be home… 49:00 Jason wants to move. 51:49 Emily just wants visitors.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Emily takes the lead to talk about something every parent wrestles with (whether we admit it or not): guiding our kids toward a career path, even when they’re still years away from driver’s licenses and first jobs. Should we be steering them early, or letting them wander? 00:00 Emily doesn’t feel well 01:46 Terrain Theory 04:38 Jason’s Starbucks Mug 05:41 Emily’s Beautiful Drinking Jar 09:46 Who sells these things? 11:37 The dangers of Dawn Dish Soap. 12:58 Emily’s leading the podcast today. 16:53 It’s natural to interrupt people. 18:08 How parents influence their children. 20:09 Students can’t have water bottles. 23:40 Teachers can’t pay for classroom supplies. 25:37 Back to back to school signs… 27:09 Influencing your kids’ careers.  28:22 Emily chokes on her own words… 29:07 Knowing what you want… 32:31 Hidden secret of grocery store displays 34:57 Ministry jobs are hard. 36:59 Father-son occupations.  42:28 Emily wanted to be a soldier.  45:23 Emily hands over the reins.  46:34 When the world changed… 47:49 Homeschool field trips are different.  50:54 Kids have no idea.  54:54 Emily’s epiphany.  55:18 Gen Z. 01:02:53 The way parents should go… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rejection happens to everyone, but that doesn’t make it any less awkward, humbling, or downright hilarious in hindsight. In this episode of The Really Very Crunchy Podcast, Emily and Jason share their funniest and most cringe-worthy rejection stories, from celebrity “no’s” that left our inbox feeling lonely, to job applications that went absolutely nowhere, to those relationship rejections we swore we’d never talk about (until now). (00:00) Intro (01:40) Rejected by Carrie Underwood (02:54) Rejected by John Crist (05:53) Rejected by Relient K (06:49) Rejected by Switchfoot (09:12) Not famous enough… (10:20) Rejected in relationships (16:02) Rejected in job interviews (18:16) Rejecting each other (21:40) What is rejection? (22:48) Not caring (23:36) Rejected by publishers (29:40) Emily’s dark joke (30:50) The End Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why buy new when you can thrift? In this episode, Emily dives headfirst into her love of thrifting, digging through racks, the joy of the hunt, and that magical feeling when you score something amazing for just a few dollars. She shares her all-time best thrift store finds,  what makes secondhand shopping so special, and why it’s the ultimate sustainable, budget-friendly, and personality-packed way to shop. Emily's best thrift finds: The Couch The Painting The Table (00:00) Emily’s Ailments (02:47 ) Teaching our son about traffic safety (04:03) This keeps Jason up at night… (05:41) What does Emily love about thrifting? (06:20) Our town’s terrible book outlook (08:36) What is twaddle?  (10:43) Back to - What does Emily love about thrifting (11:25) The state of thrifting today (14:14) Facebook Marketplace woes (18:50) You can’t get this anywhere else! (20:15) Thrifting clothes (21:41) Price vs. Vibe (23:33) Emily is impossible to shop for (26:16) Our favorite thrift finds (35:25) Rapid fire questions (40:26) Wasting Emily’s time… (43:30) Hacking the system (47:40) The End Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That episode about the murder in Emily’s childhood, and how it made her so afraid of death: Anxiety Nearly Broke Me https://pod.link/1743468035/episode/f1a62a79a167c534d48c5ef33b16eab2 Emily’s Book: https://amzn.to/4kMHpDX Episode Description: This week Emily and Jason wade through the attic (and their feelings) to talk childhood keepsakes. They confess their own nostalgia bins are embarrassingly light and unpack the weird regret of not hanging onto more tiny treasures. Along the way they tackle questions every parent eventually faces: * How much memory clutter is healthy clutter? * When does sentimental value turn into straight-up hoarding? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we talk about how Emily threw out her back, weird things happening at the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant, and we contemplate living ten miles upriver from what feels like a future disaster zone. But the heart of this episode? Families are homeschooling their kids… from Disney World. Every day. We have thoughts. Many thoughts. And possibly a few rants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily’s Book: https://amzn.to/4kMHpDX Episode Description: In this episode, Jason and Emily pull back the curtain on their creative routine—sharing the hard deadlines that keep ideas moving, the mini workouts that shake loose fresh perspectives, and the small, repeatable habits that turn scribbles into polished projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, we're talking: How far would you go financially to save a pet you love like a child? This week we’re talking about the DINK (dual income, no kids) pet economy: $4,000 emergency surgeries, acupuncture for arthritic goldendoodles, raw-food subscriptions that cost more than your own groceries, and the emotional math of “worth it.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices