Podcast Summary: Happy New Year from Candace

Podcast: The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast
Host: Candace Cameron Bure
Episode: "Happy New Year from Candace"
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This special New Year’s episode serves as a heartfelt reflection and source of encouragement from Candace Cameron Bure to her podcast community. Candace looks back on highlights from 2025 and previews promising plans for 2026. She shares personal gratitude and offers listeners spiritual inspiration, emphasizing rest in God’s unconditional love over striving for achievement. The episode closes with a message of hope and belonging as listeners transition into the new year.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Looking Back on 2025 (00:02–01:20)

• Podcast Community Growth:

  • Candace expresses gratitude for the community’s vulnerability and engagement:
    “My guest hosts this year got vulnerable about spiritual warfare and issues young women face in culture, and we spent a lot of time sharing stories about our bodies and what it means to live as healthy and whole people in the bodies God gave us.” (00:23)
  • She highlights the success of the Together community, mentioning the growth of private podcast groups and monthly livestreams where she connects directly with listeners.

• Live Tour Experiences:

  • Candace fondly recalls meeting listeners during her first live tour, describing it as a meaningful and heartwarming experience.

2. Excitement for 2026 & Upcoming Season (01:21–01:49)

• Season Sneak Peek:
  • Announces a new season starting next week featuring Madison Pruitt Trout (noted from "The Bachelor"), focusing on living with integrity and honesty.

3. A Year-End Encouragement: The Message of “Beloved” (01:50–04:48)

• Francis Chan’s Book: “Beloved”:

  • Candace reads select passages from Pastor Francis Chan that deeply resonated with her, particularly around the theme of “belovedness” and our identity in God’s love:

    “Five times in his Gospel, John refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Throughout history, John has been remembered as the beloved disciple. If this was your last day on earth, how would you be remembered? How would you like to be remembered?” (02:24)

    • She shares Francis Chan’s insight about “beloved” being “be loved”—an invitation to passively receive God’s love instead of striving.

    “I’m not good at passive. Many of us are terrible at receiving. But that needs to change. We are God’s beloved children, and he wants us to be able to simply be loved. Not striving, just believing and enjoying and resting in his perfect love.” (03:05)

    • Chan challenges listeners to consider when they last truly believed, “deep in your bones, that God was smiling at you not because you did something impressive, but simply because you’re his?”

    • The message contrasts God’s unconditional enjoyment of us versus our tendency to measure value by productivity:

      “What began as joy starts to feel like a burden or obligation. We serve until we’re exhausted, hoping God notices our efforts. We battle doubts about our salvation and constantly wonder if we’re doing enough. It’s hard to imagine a God who enjoys us, enjoys watching us. Like a parent who sneaks into his toddler’s room just to watch her sleep.” (03:34)

    • Reflecting on the purpose of creation, Chan concludes:

      “I used to think that God created me to impact the world. I now think God created me to have another person to lavish his grace upon. He didn’t create Adam and Eve because he needed gardeners. He abounds in love. So he created beings to receive it.” (04:20)

4. Candace’s Closing Words of Encouragement (04:49–05:08)

• Message to Listeners:

  • Candace draws the discussion together, reassuring listeners that their value isn’t dependent on achievements or meeting goals.

    “As you wind down one year and you go into a new one, I want you to know that you are deeply loved by God just because he made you. So whatever goals you missed last year, whatever New Year’s resolutions that might be right around the corner, none of it changes how much God loves you. He simply does.” (04:50)

• New Year’s Wish:

  • She wishes all listeners a happy new year and encourages them to live with gratitude.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Candace on the Podcast’s Purpose:

  “You know, this show isn’t about me. I made it for you.” (00:07)

• On Vulnerability and Community:

  “…We spent a lot of time sharing stories about our bodies and what it means to live as healthy and whole people in the bodies God gave us.” (00:26)

• On Being God’s Beloved (Francis Chan, as read by Candace):

  “We are God’s beloved children, and he wants us to be able to simply be loved. Not striving, just believing and enjoying and resting in his perfect love.” (03:10)

• Candace’s Final Encouragement:

  “…None of it changes how much God loves you. He simply does. So happy New Year, my friends. We’ll see each other soon. Until next time, Be grateful all day, every day.” (05:01)

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Reflection & Podcast Review: 00:02 – 01:20
• Preview of 2026 & Upcoming Guest: 01:21 – 01:49
• Reading from “Beloved” by Francis Chan: 01:50 – 04:48
• Closing Encouragement & New Year’s Message: 04:49 – 05:08

Overall Tone

Warm, encouraging, and spiritually grounded, with a personal and pastoral feel. Candace’s words are gentle and invitational, affirming listeners’ worth apart from achievement. The reading from Francis Chan gives the episode a reflective, meditative vibe, making it a nurturing listen as the year concludes.

For those who missed it:
This episode offers a warm embrace as you close out the year, reminding you to rest in being loved—no striving required.