The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast

Episode: "We Have News! Plus, Helping Our Daughter with Bullies + Jeremy’s Broken Hand"
Date: October 1, 2025
Hosts: Jinger Vuolo & Jeremy Vuolo

Episode Overview

This episode blends a personal family update with a significant announcement: Jinger and Jeremy have written a new children’s book inspired by real experiences helping their daughter navigate hurtful childhood moments. The hosts candidly discuss parenting challenges, their own struggles with people-pleasing and bullying, and the values they hope to instill in their children. In a warm, conversational style, they reveal the heart behind their latest project and recount stories both light (Jeremy’s broken hand mishap) and heavy (childhood bullying, self-esteem struggles).

Key Insights & Discussion Points

1. New Segment Introduction: "Talk About It"

[02:11]

• Jeremy introduces an impromptu new segment where each host shares personal updates from their week.
• Memorable moment: Jeremy recounts the recent family visit and his accident at a concert.

Jeremy’s broken hand story:

• Jeremy slipped on wet stairs while holding their daughter, Felicity, at Gabby’s concert, resulting in a dramatic fall and a possibly broken hand.
• Despite the pain and concern for Felicity, she was mostly unharmed, while Jeremy’s hand swelled ominously.
• Quote:

  “I do not have a knuckle where I used to have a knuckle. It’s gone.” — Jeremy [05:04]

• Jeremy resisted getting an X-ray despite Jinger’s gentle insistence, even attempting (and failing) to play golf the next day.

2. Real-Life Parenting Challenge: Felicity’s Experience with Bullying

[00:09], [06:00], [07:43]

• The episode’s main theme springs from Felicity’s experience at her homeschool co-op, where she was laughed at by classmates. It wasn’t direct bullying, but Felicity perceived it as hurtful and bottled up her emotions until she was with her parents.
• This experience sparked ongoing parental conversations about self-perception, how to process embarrassment, and the pain of feeling mocked or left out — even for very young children.
• Quote:

  “How do you tell a little five year old how to process that?” — Jeremy [00:45]

Processing the situation:

• Jinger and Jeremy emphasize the need to help kids manage other’s perceptions without letting it dictate their sense of self.
• They discuss their strategy of shifting focus to God’s love and approval rather than peers’ opinions.
• Quote:

  “God’s not laughing at you. He’s happy with you; He loves you.” — Jeremy [14:30]

Notable parenting takeaway:

• The challenge of striking a balance between sheltering kids and equipping them to face an imperfect world is highlighted.
• Quote:

  “You’re not trying to shelter and just protect them from this world. You’re trying to equip them to engage the world.” — Jeremy [40:12]

3. The Impact of Bullying & People Pleasing (Personal Testimonies)

[16:36], [18:04], [24:21]

• Jinger’s experience:

  • She did not experience much direct bullying but deeply struggled with people-pleasing and self-criticism, which at times impacted her eating habits and self-image.
  • Quote:

    “I think I was my own worst enemy... I was so insecure that I almost created that effect in my own head.” — Jinger [18:04]

• Jeremy’s experience:

  • He recounts being teased by peers—particularly on a two-week international school trip—feeling isolated and unable to escape ridicule.
  • Describes the cumulative effect and feelings of “not belonging” stemming from being “different” due to homeschooling or personal traits.
  • Quote:

    “You feel like this is your world, this is your social world, and you feel like you can’t get a grip, and you feel like they’re laughing at you.” — Jeremy [26:32]

  • Notes the ripple effect, where bullied kids sometimes become bullies themselves, or bystanders fail to intervene out of self-preservation.

4. Empowering Kids: Looking Beyond Themselves

[15:04], [32:39]

• The value of encouraging children to look out for others who are being left out or hurt, not just focusing on self-preservation.
• Felicity’s story of encouraging a classmate struggling with obedience illustrates teaching empathy and support.
• Quote:

  “How can I love and serve others, even who are in that tough place?” —Jinger [15:58]

• Another example: Felicity feeling upset not at being left out herself, but because other children were excluded, and standing up for them.

5. Big News: Announcing Their New Children’s Book

[35:47]

• The pivotal news: Jinger & Jeremy’s new book, You Always Belong: Knowing God’s Love & Finding Your Place, is set for release January 26.
• Inspired by actual scenarios their kids (especially Felicity) faced with ostracism, embarrassment, and people-pleasing.
• Age target: 4–10 years old.
• The book’s aim: Equip kids with healthy frameworks to process belonging, identity, and respond to both negative and positive peer attention. Also encourages empathy for excluded or struggling classmates.
• Quote:

  “It encourages them to actually step out and to love others and help others who are going through that as well.” — Jeremy [37:00]

• Features beautiful illustration by Sarah Romero and an audiobook narrated by the hosts.

Author’s Note (Excerpt):

[38:37]

"Did you know you were made for friendship with God? ... When you trust in Jesus, you’re never alone. God promises to be with you, help you, and love you no matter what...” — (Author’s note from Jinger & Jeremy)

6. Takeaways for Parents & Caregivers

[39:32], [41:55]

• The hosts hope their book and this episode act as a practical support for parents, offering both tools and conversation-starters for tough emotional moments children inevitably face.

• Emphasize the limitations of parental protection and the importance of teaching kids internal resilience and healthy social engagement.

• Quote:

  “What we needed to do is find an avenue of conversation to help Felicity think through this... And then, so how do you respond?... Is God laughing at you? ... That’s what really matters.” — Jeremy [40:12]

• Jinger recalls how even a simple resource (like a podcast about visiting the dentist) can open conversation and provide comfort to anxious kids, reinforcing the value of thoughtful children’s books.

7. Closing Thoughts & Preview

[43:56]

• Jinger and Jeremy acknowledge that parenting through these challenges is ongoing and imperfect. Their current experiences have made their second children’s book come from a place of personal learning.

• They’re excited for listeners to use You Always Belong as a resource, just as they needed it themselves.

• Quote:

  “Writing kids books with kids... It hits different.” — Jeremy [43:56]

• Tease upcoming episodes featuring guests from the “Duggar show world.”

• Brief final update: Jeremy still hasn’t seen a doctor for his hand injury—Jinger vows to make him go.

Notable Quotes

• Jeremy [05:04]: “I do not have a knuckle where I used to have a knuckle. It’s gone.”
• Felicity, via Jeremy [00:35]: “Daddy, the kids were laughing at me.”
• Jinger [13:37]: “It can either build you up or cut you down in a moment if you’re living for that.”
• Jeremy [14:30]: “God’s not laughing at you. He’s happy with you; He loves you.”
• Jinger [18:04]: “I think I was my own worst enemy... I was so insecure that I almost created that effect in my own head.”
• Jeremy [26:32]: “You feel like you can’t get a grip, and you feel like they’re laughing at you.”
• Jeremy [37:00]: “It encourages them to actually step out and to love others and help others who are going through that as well.”
• Author’s Note Excerpt [38:37]: “When you trust in Jesus, you’re never alone. God promises to be with you, help you, and love you no matter what...”
• Jeremy [43:56]: “Writing kids books with kids... It hits different.”

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Introduction to episode and project news
• [02:11] — “Talk About It” segment & Jeremy’s broken hand story
• [06:00] — Felicity’s experience at homeschool co-op and parental response
• [15:04] — Teaching empathy: Felicity’s interaction with a struggling classmate
• [16:36] — Jinger’s childhood struggles with people pleasing
• [24:21] — Jeremy’s personal experience with bullying as a homeschooled kid
• [35:47] — Announcement: Release of their new children’s book
• [38:37] — Author’s note reading
• [39:32] — Application for parents: book as conversation-starter
• [43:56] — Reflections on writing this book as parents; closing

Tone & Language

• Warm, candid, and slightly humorous (especially Jeremy’s injury anecdote)
• Compassionate, open about vulnerabilities and past struggles
• Faith-driven, with recurring emphasis on belonging in God’s family and finding security in spiritual identity

Summary

This episode weaves together honest stories from the Vuolo family’s recent life—Jeremy’s mishaps, Felicity’s sensitive heart, Jinger’s childhood insecurities—with a larger message: all children need to know they truly belong. Forged from firsthand parenting struggles and fueled by faith, Jinger and Jeremy’s new children’s book aims to help kids process difficult social moments, while empowering parents to open honest, supportive conversations about belonging, self-worth, bullying, and empathy. The hosts’ realness, gentle humor, and actionable insights make this episode as heartening as it is practical for any parent or caregiver.