Send us a text

This episode helps you reset holiday expectations and build a simple, firm budget that keeps stress low while making space for meaningful traditions and lasting experiences. We’ll walk through practical steps like using cash envelopes, safe shopping habits, and decluttering before buying, plus ways to teach kids the value of experiences over quick thrills like game skins.

What We Cover:

• Setting a clear family budget and spending caps
• Avoiding swipe traps and “small discount” lures
• Using cash envelopes and safe shopping strategies
• Decluttering closets before adding more
• Balancing fairness without overspending per child
• Choosing experiences over piles of gifts
• Teaching long-term value vs. temporary buys
• Shopping early and skipping panic purchases
• Giving within your means (and supporting Angel Tree)
• Setting healthy expectations with kids and partners

🎧 Don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe so you’ll be the first to know when new episodes drop!

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

It’s our 75th episode and a Halloween special with Pink Lady vibes! We’re keeping trick-or-treat night fun, safe, and full of memories that last longer than the candy stash. From planning well-lit walking routes and setting curfews to reflective gear, breathable costumes, and why closed-toe shoes beat Crocs on a debris-filled sidewalk — we cover it all.

We talk group coordination, AirTags, candy-check rules that actually work, and how to handle the “just one more house” negotiations. Plus, a quick word on driver awareness at dusk, the teen driver pause, natural bug sprays, and our annual Sonic 50-cent corn dog tradition.

Stick around for laughs, a mosquito saga, and a “Thriller” lyric nod to close out this milestone night.

🧡 Please like, share, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
📺 Follow us on YouTube & Instagram at @theggispod.
📬 Send your comments to thegguspod@gmail.com
— and don’t forget to leave a five-star review!

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

We get honest about parent burnout—how the school year, sports, injuries, and constant driving can erase sleep, joy, and any sense of self. We share practical ways to set limits, protect rest, and stop out-parenting other parents so we can show up whole.

• naming the signs of burnout and sleep debt
• rethinking youth sports time and travel demands
• choosing meets and commitments with intention
• swapping vices for real recovery habits
• using a village for rides and logistics
• setting clear boundaries and saying no
• communicating needs and limits to kids
• giving yourself grace without guilt
• simple routines for wind-down and better sleep

Please make sure you are liking, sharing, and subscribing on your favorite podcasting app. Make sure you're following us on YouTube at the gag is pot and on Instagram with the same handle. Make sure you leave a review—five stars—because this podcast is the bomb.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

We share simple, real ways to build quality family time during the school year—car chats with the radio off, no-phone dinners, and small rituals that help kids feel seen. From pumpkin nights to pool dares to a heart-racing driving lesson, we show how micro moments add up.

• why quality beats quantity for family time
• car conversations as a safe space
• dinner as a no‑tech zone with Jeopardy
• easy traditions like pumpkin painting and food bars
• simple games over long, draining ones
• mixing spontaneity with consistency
• easing test season stress with warmth and humor
• visible calendars and kid input for buy‑in
• giving yourself grace when weeks are heavy
• the teen driving story that became family lore

Please make sure you like, share, and you subscribe
Please make sure you are following us on YouTube at the gag is pod
Episodes in the video form are released on Saturday

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

Friendships can make or break the school years—and as parents, we want to help our kids build healthy connections. In this video, we’ll cover why social skills are so important, green flags and red flags in friendships, and practical parenting tips to guide your child without forcing socialization.

You’ll learn:
✔️ How to help your child make friends naturally
✔️ The signs of healthy friendships (green flags)
✔️ Red flags like jealousy, criticism, or peer pressure
✔️ How to teach kids social skills like respect, boundaries, and forgiveness
✔️ When parents should step in—and when to let kids work things out

Whether your child is shy, struggling with peer pressure, or just learning how to build strong friendships, this video will give you the tools to raise socially smart, confident kids.

✨ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more parenting tips!

#ParentingTips #KidsSocialSkills #MakingFriends #ChildDevelopment #PositiveParenting

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

We explore essential back-to-school strategies for parents navigating the transition from summer to the academic year, with practical tips for creating successful homework routines and balancing academics with extracurricular activities.

• Create a dedicated homework space free from distractions with good lighting
• Consider adding ambient elements like fish tanks, instrumental music, or essential oils to enhance focus
• Determine the optimal time for homework based on your child's schedule and energy levels
• Make yourself available during homework time to answer questions or provide guidance
• Don't hesitate to reach out to teachers when your child doesn't understand an assignment
• Always prioritize academics over athletics, even when sports are important
• Establish consequences for missed assignments, including limiting electronics until work is complete

Make sure you subscribe and hit that notification bell so every time a new episode is released, you are one of the first to get it. Tell your friends and family because we've got good information you can use each and every day.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

Charlie shares tried-and-true strategies for managing school lunches and keeping students well-fed during busy school days. This episode wraps up the back-to-school series with practical advice for parents navigating the daily challenge of packing nutritious meals kids will actually eat.

• Create a lunch strategy before school starts - decide if your child will have school lunch, home lunch, or a hybrid approach
• Use insulated lunch bags with water bottle compartments and containers with locking mechanisms to prevent spills
• Verify your child's lunch time to determine whether to pack hot or cold meals
• Meal prep twice weekly (Sundays and Wednesdays) to ensure variety and freshness
• Avoid heavy meals, stomach-irritating foods, and excessive sugar that can cause energy crashes
• Balance nutrition with proteins, vegetables and moderate carbs for sustained energy
• Consider simple options like chicken wraps, protein-rich hot meals, and healthy snacks for athletes

If you haven't already, please make sure you like, share and subscribe, and turn on that notification bell so you're alerted every time a new episode drops. Follow us on Instagram at thegagispod for daily clips and upcoming giveaways!

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com

Send us a text

We wrap up our back-to-school series with practical advice for high school and college supplies, focusing on the transition between these educational stages and what students actually need versus what retailers want you to buy.

• High school students need quality binders and organizational tools to manage increased coursework
• Laptops and tablets become essential tools for high school students using online learning platforms
• Invest in a good printer with scanning capabilities for assignments and digital submissions
• Choose durable, multi-purpose backpacks for high schoolers, especially those involved in sports
• For college, remember "LESS IS MORE" – focus on necessities before decorative items
• Consider end-of-year storage issues when purchasing college supplies
• Pre-clean dorm rooms thoroughly before move-in and encourage ongoing cleanliness
• Use Amazon wishlists or gift cards to help supplement college supply needs
• Emotional preparation for parents is just as important as practical preparation for students

Make sure you're following us at thegagispod on IG and YouTube, and my personal page smartfit_okie on IG as well.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram!
@thegagispod

Email:
TheGagIsPod@gmail.com