The Isabel Brown Show

Episode: "Is It Christian To Do Santa? Definitely Not If He Has A Husband"

Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Isabel Brown
Guest: Allie Beth Stuckey

Overview

In this Christmas-themed episode, Isabel Brown tackles the perennial question facing Christian families: “Should Christians do Santa?” Bringing along guest Allie Beth Stuckey (host of the "Relatable" podcast on The Blaze), the conversation delves into the history of Santa Claus, the theological and parenting implications of “doing Santa,” and modern culture's influence—culminating in a critical reading of the progressive children’s book, "Santa’s Husband." The episode is rich in church history, personal reflection, critiques of contemporary culture, and heartfelt encouragement for Christian parents and moms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflections on AmericaFest & Faith-Based Community Growth

Timestamp: 00:58–06:30

• Isabel recaps Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, highlighting the massive increase in attendance and women’s participation compared to prior years.
• Memorable quote:

  “It is amazing to know how many minds are being changed in real time thanks to activism from students on college campuses across the country.” —Isabel (04:43)

2. The Surprise History of Santa Claus

Timestamp: 06:30–13:00

• Isabel shares how researching with the Catholic AI chatbot “Truthly” reshaped her understanding of Santa’s origins.
• Historical insight: Before the Reformation, Christians exchanged gifts on December 6 (St. Nicholas’s feast day), not Christmas Eve.
• Martin Luther’s role: To de-emphasize saint veneration, Luther promoted gift-giving on December 24 in honor of Jesus, inventing the “Christkind” (Christ Child) character—in time morphing into “Kris Kringle” and, ultimately, secular Santa.
• Quote:

  “Martin Luther...was incredibly intent on decreasing veneration of the saints in Christianity…he invented this idea of the Christkind…intended to emphasize the theological focus on Christ’s birth rather than the veneration of saints.”—Isabel (10:58)

3. The Santa Dilemma for Christian Parents

Timestamp: 13:00–14:20

• Isabel introduces the central question, acknowledging strong feelings on both sides of the debate, especially as a new mom.

Interview with Allie Beth Stuckey

Recorded at AmericaFest 2025
Timestamps: 14:20–32:06

4. Speaking Bold Truth to Gen Z & Christian Women’s Influence

Timestamp: 14:20–19:21

• Allie Beth discusses her unintentional yet impactful connection with Gen Z, emphasizing the importance of “clarity over ambiguity” and biblical truth.
• She articulates her conservative stance on gender roles but affirms the unique, biblical influence of women—especially as mothers.
• Quote:

  “I don’t believe that women should be pastors... But I do believe that women have the role and responsibility to teach and mentor younger women, to disciple them, to try to give them courage.” —Allie Beth (16:02)

5. Why the Stuckey Family Doesn’t ‘Do Santa’

Timestamp: 21:22–24:42

• Allie Beth frames the “Santa decision” as a “Christian liberty” issue, not a salvation one.
• She values fantasy and imagination (e.g., reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) but finds the Santa myth problematic because “it’s a legalistic version of the gospel”—Santa rewards based on behavior, whereas the Christian gospel emphasizes grace.
• Quote:

  “Santa...is apparently making a list of all the good and bad kids…That is a legalistic version of the gospel…God ... gives us those gifts because he’s good and gracious.”—Allie Beth (23:10)

6. Is There a Gospel-Aligned Way to Do Santa?

Timestamp: 24:42–25:27

• Allie Beth advises transparency with children—presenting Santa as a fun fictional character, but avoiding persistent deception.

• Honesty Over Magic:

  “I just can’t do it. My kids are so inquisitive… I just don’t want to lie.”—Allie Beth (25:14)

7. Church History’s Influence & Ecumenical Curiosity

Timestamps: 25:27–26:58

• Isabel shares her research into the Protestant move from St. Nicholas to Christkind, and both women reflect on the impact of these shifts.
• Mutual astonishment and appreciation for learning new facets of Christian history around Christmas traditions.

8. Encouragement for Christian Mothers & Young Women

Timestamp: 27:40–30:53

• Allie Beth offers encouragement regarding motherhood’s sanctifying challenges and its mirroring of self-denial in Christ.
• For non-mothers, she insists that “the fullness of joy in Christ is available to you right now.”
• Quote:

  “Motherhood will bring you simultaneously the least glamorous…and the most beautiful moments in your life. And it’s…in that dichotomy that you lose yourself in the best way…Jesus says that he who wants to find his life must lose it.” —Allie Beth (28:08)

9. Courage and Truth-Telling for Gen Z

Timestamp: 31:12–32:04

• Allie Beth’s advice: Take risks for the truth now, not later—courage is contagious.
• Quote:

  “We need people to take risks for the truth right now...The truth is worth it. And courage is contagious. When you stand up, you give people the power to do the same thing. And that is how we change things.”—Allie Beth (31:21)

Santa in Modern Culture: “Santa’s Husband” and the Boundaries of Tradition

Timestamp: 32:10–44:30

10. Isabel’s Family Plan for Santa

• Isabel shares her balanced approach: continuing "Santa" as a tradition in the spirit of St. Nicholas, emphasizing his real historical existence and Christian generosity, but refraining from outright deception as her child grows.
• Quote:

  “Our plan…is to answer…who is Santa Claus with our kids by saying, once upon a time Santa was a real person and his name was St. Nicholas, and he gave people gifts in his abundant, beautiful generosity, trying to honor the generosity of God.” —Isabel (43:45)

11. Santa in Progressive Media: Review of "Santa’s Husband"

• Isabel obtains and dramatically reads portions of “Santa’s Husband” (the 2020s viral children’s book featuring a black, gay Santa and his husband), delivering scathing commentary.
• She ridicules the book’s depiction of Santa, the “DEI” angle, and the insertion of political/social messages into Christmas tradition.
• Memorable reactions:
  • “What in the DEI is this?”
  • “This is like saying Rosa Parks was Asian.”
  • “Santa is not black, okay? Black Santa is not really a thing. I’m sorry. I just have to be honest. St. Nicholas was a real person once upon a time. We don’t race swap real people.”

The Central Message: Remembering the True Meaning of Christmas

Timestamp: 44:30–end

• Isabel closes by urging listeners, regardless of denomination or Santa tradition, to remember Christmas is about the coming of Jesus Christ—God incarnate.
• Quote:

  “Regardless of what you guys think about Santa…please let us all remember and have the courage to remind the world that Advent and Christmas is all entirely about the coming of Jesus Christ.” —Isabel (47:54)

• Special encouragement to moms: God so valued motherhood that he chose it for himself in the incarnation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Faith and Santa:

  “We want to share [the magic of Santa] with our daughter...but when she’s old enough to start asking...we don’t have to lie to her...That’s why we honor this particular saint and why we continue this tradition moving forward.” —Isabel (43:10)

• On “Santa’s Husband”

  “God, I just want to burn this book right now. I don’t even want to read it.” —Isabel (41:00) “It’s not enough to say...should we do Santa?...What the people trying to shove woke indoctrination down your throat are trying to say is: Let’s make sure he’s black with a gay husband.” —Isabel (39:15)

• On Motherhood’s Value

  “God could’ve just showed up as a fully grown adult man...But he wasn’t. God wanted real love so much that he chose for himself to experience a mother’s love.” —Isabel (48:29)

• On Christian Unity and Tradition

  “Honoring the saints is an incredible way for us to try to model our lives after powerful men and women of Christ who have dedicated everything to their faith.” —Isabel (44:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------------|:-------------:| | AmericaFest & Cultural Shifts | 00:58–06:30 | | History of Santa, St. Nicholas, and Reformation | 06:30–13:00 | | The Santa Dilemma for Christian Parents | 13:00–14:20 | | Interview: Faith, Influence, Gender Roles | 14:20–19:21 | | Why Stuckey Doesn’t Do Santa | 21:22–24:42 | | Gospel-Aligned Santa? | 24:42–25:27 | | Traditions & Church History | 25:27–26:58 | | Motherhood & Faith | 27:40–30:53 | | Courage for Gen Z | 31:12–32:04 | | Santa in the Brown Household | 32:10–43:45 | | Reading and Critique: “Santa’s Husband” | 39:15–44:00 | | Central Message: The Real Reason for Christmas | 44:30–end |

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode is both lesson and conversation, weaving biblically-grounded parenting advice with spirited critiques of culture’s latest attempts at appropriating Christmas. It is informative for both the Biblically curious and tradition-minded, encouraging listeners to make Christ—not Santa or secular distractions—the true center of Christmas. Isabel and Allie Beth find unity in their ultimate goal: raising children who treasure faith above all, even while sharing different methods for integrating myth and magic during the holidays.

Tone: Warm, bold, unapologetically conservative and faith-oriented, with moments of humor, exasperation, and deep encouragement—especially for moms.

For more: The episode invites ongoing dialogue—Isabel wants to hear how other Christian families handle Santa, encouraging respectful disagreement grounded in shared faith.