Chrisley Confessions 2.0
Episode: Purpose in the Pain
Release Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Todd and Julie Chrisley
PodcastOne
Episode Overview
In “Purpose in the Pain,” Todd and Julie Chrisley return for a deeply personal and honest discussion about life after prison, healing as a family, processing grief, and finding purpose through adversity. The episode covers the transitions in their household, addresses rumors about their marriage, discusses the profound loss of Nick Kerdiles, and explores their ongoing advocacy for prison reform. With their signature blend of humor, candor, and love, the Chrisleys confront challenging topics and celebrate the small joys of everyday life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Cherishing Family Moments and New Beginnings
-
Reflecting on Podcasting as a Family Archive
- Julie highlights the blessing of having past recordings and TV shows as archives for future generations, emphasizing the importance of holding onto family memories in both good and hard times.
“What a blessing it is that we have these podcasts and filming… amazing home movies... our grandchildren, great-grandchildren will have Chrisley Knows Best, these podcasts…” — Julie [00:58]
- Julie highlights the blessing of having past recordings and TV shows as archives for future generations, emphasizing the importance of holding onto family memories in both good and hard times.
-
Grayson’s Transition to College
- Julie opens up about being able to move Grayson into college after missing his first semester due to incarceration. The moment was both joyful and redemptive.
“It was such a blessing for us both to be there... Even though we were cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing showers… I look forward to any opportunity to be there for him.” — Julie [02:05]
- Grayson expresses his happiness at having his parents present, having previously doubted it would be possible.
“He sent us text about just how happy he was that we were there because he said he had kind of resigned himself…” — Julie [02:16]
- Julie opens up about being able to move Grayson into college after missing his first semester due to incarceration. The moment was both joyful and redemptive.
-
Chloe Starting School
- Julie shares her excitement and gratitude at being able to prepare Chloe for school: packing lunches, shopping, and drop-offs—mundane activities now imbued with deep meaning due to their past absence.
- Discussion surfaces around Savannah (their daughter) adjusting to relinquishing control back to her parents after having cared for the siblings in their absence.
“It’s a huge transition for Savannah… she’s having to realize that she’s not calling the shots anymore with them.” — Todd [04:37]
-
Savannah Moving Out
- Julie is also helping Savannah establish her own place, signifying another shift in the family dynamic and an ongoing journey of finding their places post-crisis.
2. Addressing National Enquirer Rumors—Transparency & Marriage
-
Reading the Tabloid Letter [07:08]
- Todd reads an email from their publicist about an upcoming National Enquirer article alleging marital strain and difficulty adjusting post-prison.
- Together, they systematically debunk each claim, emphasizing radical honesty and open communication.
-
Marriage after Incarceration
- Julie acknowledges that while there’s an “adjustment period,” it’s a universal experience after major disruption, not a sign of trouble in their marriage.
“There is an adjustment period. It’s not an adjustment period in our marriage per se. It’s just an adjustment period… Back to life.” — Julie [09:04]
- They describe receiving a full, unconditional pardon and clarify lingering public misconceptions about their legal situation.
“We are not felons... There was no money stolen… You’ll find out in the new docuseries.” — Todd [09:42]
- Julie asserts her autonomy in the relationship, directly addressing audience members who commented about Todd “cutting her off”:
“Todd and I have been together for 31 years. Trust me when I say I can stand my own ground... I have stood with him for 31 years.” — Julie [10:30]
- Julie acknowledges that while there’s an “adjustment period,” it’s a universal experience after major disruption, not a sign of trouble in their marriage.
-
On Reconnecting and Resuming Public Life
- Both describe comfort and familiarity upon reuniting.
"When we came home, there was…this peace of knowing that we were back together…we kind of just fit right back into the roles and our marriage and our family." — Julie [16:06]
- Todd dismisses the notion that they feel “safer behind bars” as “just made up bullshit.” [19:18]
- Both describe comfort and familiarity upon reuniting.
-
Dealing with Ongoing Public Scrutiny
- Todd explains their legal team’s readiness to confront further false reporting, underscoring the years they’ve dealt with “egregious lies.”
3. Grieving the Loss of Nick Kerdiles—Purpose in Sharing Pain
-
Discussing Nick Kerdiles [21:24]
- Todd openly discusses, for the first and only time, the loss of Nick, Savannah’s ex-fiancé and a close family friend. The conversation is raw and moving.
“It was the hardest thing that I have ever dealt with in my life. Your breast cancer was the thing that crippled me…then I lost my dad…then lost Nick.” — Todd [23:05]
- Todd openly discusses, for the first and only time, the loss of Nick, Savannah’s ex-fiancé and a close family friend. The conversation is raw and moving.
-
Remembering Nick’s Character
- The Chrisleys remember Nick as “one of the finest, funniest, kindest young men…” who remained part of the family even after breaking up with Savannah. Details of his support, especially during their trial, are shared.
- Julie and Todd describe the surreal experience of returning home to a world where Nick was no longer present; his absence drives home the disjointedness of life after incarceration.
-
On Media Coverage and Grief
- Todd condemns the tabloids for sensationalizing Nick’s death, emphasizing that Nick was much more than “Savannah Chrisley’s fiancé.”
“He was so much more… He was a good, decent, honorable human being who loved and wanted to be loved.” — Todd [31:12]
- Todd condemns the tabloids for sensationalizing Nick’s death, emphasizing that Nick was much more than “Savannah Chrisley’s fiancé.”
-
Family’s Ongoing Grief
- The impact of Nick’s loss is felt throughout the family—affecting “Mama,” Chloe, Grayson, Chase, and Savannah. Todd recounts a particularly emotional conversation with Chase about processing grief and the importance of therapy.
“I was sitting on the plane with Chase… and I realized at that moment how much this has affected him… he was just weeping.” — Todd [37:11] “There is a purpose in the pain. That purpose may take time to be revealed, but ultimately it will be revealed.” — Todd [39:04]
- The impact of Nick’s loss is felt throughout the family—affecting “Mama,” Chloe, Grayson, Chase, and Savannah. Todd recounts a particularly emotional conversation with Chase about processing grief and the importance of therapy.
4. Finding and Creating Purpose Through Pain
-
Therapy and Healing
- Julie discusses participating in therapy while incarcerated and believes strongly in its value.
“I am a believer of therapy… I believe there’s…good and bad [therapists], as with doctors… But I do believe in it.” — Julie [38:07]
- Julie discusses participating in therapy while incarcerated and believes strongly in its value.
-
Spiritual Reflection and Biblical Parallels
- Todd shares a listener’s message comparing his prison experience to Joseph’s in the Bible, finding meaning in the idea of “turning prison into a palace.”
“You turned the prison into a palace. You’re our modern-day Joseph.” — [39:39]
- The couple discuss how their suffering enabled them to support others—both inside and outside prison—thereby creating purpose from pain.
- Todd shares a listener’s message comparing his prison experience to Joseph’s in the Bible, finding meaning in the idea of “turning prison into a palace.”
-
Bonding and Giving Back
- Julie describes the deep connections formed in prison, highlighting the unique bonds and her desire to continue supporting those left behind.
“I constantly feel this pull back to those women, to those people, those friends, that lifelong friends…” — Julie [43:02]
- Todd reiterates his commitment to advocating for improved conditions, rights, and opportunities for incarcerated individuals, referencing the Bureau of Prisons and efforts to fix systemic issues.
- Julie describes the deep connections formed in prison, highlighting the unique bonds and her desire to continue supporting those left behind.
-
Acknowledging a Broken System
- Both highlight the widespread problems in the prison system—abusive staff, poor conditions, lack of basic human rights, and the slowness of meaningful reform.
“You have more Janet Gents in the Bureau of Prisons than not… These case managers don’t even show up half the time.” — Todd [51:06] “It’s such a huge problem and it’s so big… it’s not going to happen overnight... But it’s going to take time.” — Julie [51:33]
- Both highlight the widespread problems in the prison system—abusive staff, poor conditions, lack of basic human rights, and the slowness of meaningful reform.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Family Legacy:
“Our great-grandchildren will have Chris Knows Best. They’ll have these podcasts and…when that time comes and they’re not with us anymore, we still have that…” — Todd [01:19] -
On the Realities of Prison Adjustment:
“I don’t believe anyone can go through what we went through and think that you are not changed because you are…our marriage is not struggling. Our marriage is not fragile. Our marriage—we survived prison.” — Julie [11:04] -
On Being Targeted by Media:
“The only way that you break people like this is you gotta let them around and find out, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” — Todd [21:25] -
On Nick Kerdiles:
“My love is not past tense... he was a good, decent, honorable human being who loved and wanted to be loved.” — Todd [31:12 & 30:24] -
On Pain and Purpose:
“I have learned that there’s purpose in the pain…that purpose may take time to be revealed, but ultimately it will be revealed.” — Todd [39:04] -
On Advocacy:
“When I am given concrete information that you are being abusive to any person in custody… I’m going to out you, I’m going to expose you and I’m coming after your job.” — Todd [50:07] -
On Personal Growth:
“You don’t fight until it affects…you know better, you do better.” — Julie [53:47]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:58 — On family archives, podcast as legacy
- 02:05 — Julie recounts moving Grayson into college
- 04:37 — Adjusting family dynamics with Savannah
- 07:08 — Reading and responding to the National Enquirer rumor
- 10:30 — Julie sets the record straight about her voice in the marriage
- 15:49-16:38 — Reconnecting after prison, finding comfort
- 21:24 — Todd introduces the discussion about Nick Kerdiles
- 23:05–31:39 — Processing Nick’s loss, media misrepresentation, and family’s ongoing grief
- 37:11 — Todd’s emotional conversation with Chase about grief
- 39:04–42:31 — The concept of “purpose in the pain”; spiritual and practical reflections
- 43:00–44:34 — Julie speaks on prison connections and lifelong bonds
- 47:05–54:42 — Exposing systematic abuse and advocating for reform
- 54:25–54:38 — “The best person to effectuate change is someone who has been changed by going through it.”
- 55:19 — Announcement of future guests; hope for continued honesty and vulnerability in the show
Tone & Style
The episode oscillates between moments of deep vulnerability and the light, familiar banter typical of the Chrisleys. The conversation is candid and “unfiltered,” with both Todd and Julie willing to tackle rumors, rumors, loss, and hope head-on. Their Southern warmth, humor, and faith offer a sense of continuity and resilience, even as they traverse personal and painful topics.
Final Thoughts
“Purpose in the Pain” is a rich, heartfelt episode that is both a window into the Chrisleys’ current reality and a testament to their enduring hope and advocacy. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of family after adversity, the complexities of public and private grief, and the ongoing work required to mend broken systems—always with the Chrisleys’ trademark honesty and humor.