The Nikki & Brie Show

Episode Title: The Kids Asked For WHAT?!
Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: Nikki & Brie Garcia

Episode Overview

In this festive episode, Nikki and Brie dive into the heart of holiday traditions, sharing their family rituals, hilarious holiday mishaps, and the wildest Christmas wish lists from their kids (including some truly impossible requests). They swap stories about gift-giving challenges, explore unique traditions from around the globe, and touch on relatable “mom moments.” The sisters also chat about the balance of keeping up with old traditions while making new ones that fit their lives as moms, sisters, and businesswomen.

Main Discussion Segments

1. Getting Into the Holiday Spirit (01:33 – 07:00)

• The sisters exchange greetings with holiday mugs in hand and talk about shifting their homes into full Christmas mode.
• Nikki shares a messy but adorable moment: letting son Mateo sprinkle fake snow on her Christmas village—and all over the house.
  • "The amount of vacuuming I had to do..." (03:12, Nikki)
• They reminisce about inheriting Christmas decorations from Nana and organizing for the season.

2. The Drummer Boy Dinner: A Family Tradition (04:25 – 07:00)

• Brie recounts the family’s iconic “Drummer Boy Dinner,” a tradition started by their grandfather where kids dined on fancy china, marched to Bing Crosby’s "Drummer Boy," and swapped seats with the adults.
• This yearly ritual is still cherished and adapted for their own kids, keeping the magic alive:
  • "Our grandfather started it when we were young girls and he wanted all the cousins to this one night of the year feel like they were adults." (04:25, Brie)
• Conversation on what outfits to wear: cute vs. comfy holiday attire.

3. The Holiday Gift Hustle & Wild Kid Wish Lists (07:03 – 12:26)

• Brie proudly reveals that she’s finished her kids’ gift shopping—with no toys this year:
  • "I finished the kids and I’m proud of myself because no toys." (07:57, Brie)
• Buddy’s list: skateboard, basketball, orange football, Kit Kats (mom doesn’t buy them), and a nutcracker.
• Birdie’s list: boombox, a watch (not a screen), and a diamond Rolex (jokingly).
• Nikki’s son, Mateo, asks to ride the Goodyear blimp for Christmas—a logistical adventure.
• Both Brie's kids top their lists with "a baby brother," inspiring laughter and sighs.
  • "A real brother. Yes, a baby brother." (10:04, Brie)

4. Creative Gift Solutions & Tech for Kids (11:22 – 14:12)

• Brie talks about gifting her daughter a custom watch (Flick Flack) instead of a tech-heavy gizmo:
  • "I want her to be able…how to read time the way we all do. Look down. Look at the arms." (11:22, Brie)
• For Buddy, she ordered a personalized Monopoly board (“Buddyopoly”) on Etsy.
• Discusses the difficulties of finding “boomboxes” for kids—ending up with MP3/Bluetooth solutions without screens.
  • "So if you were able to have a Santa list that was gonna head to the North Pole, what would be on yours?" (14:12, Nikki)

5. The Hosts’ Own Santa Wishlists (14:12 – 16:02)

• Nikki and Brie fantasize about sleep, massages, diamond rings, a spa day, and less gray hair.
  • "Take away my gray hair. Can Santa do that?" (14:56, Brie)

Unique Holiday Traditions Around the World (16:02 – 21:38)

Japan (16:02 – 16:43)

• "Did you know that it’s a tradition to eat KFC for Christmas? That it’s so popular, people order weeks in advance." (16:20, Nikki)

Iceland (16:43 – 17:34)

• Christmas Eve is spent exchanging books and reading together, a tradition called the “Christmas Book Flood.”
  • "I mean, it’s actually really cute." (17:10, Brie)

Venezuela (18:34 – 19:17)

• People roller-skate to early morning church services.

UK & Italy (19:49 – 20:56)

• Watching “The Snowman” movie yearly in the UK, and the Italian tradition of “La Befana,” a kind witch who delivers gifts on Epiphany.

Reflections

• The sisters consider starting new book-gifting traditions for their own extended family during Drummer Boy celebrations.

Elf on the Shelf & Pinterest-Driven Holiday Fun (21:38 – 24:50)

• Tales of hiding (and sometimes forgetting) the Elf each night, with pressure from Pinterest-perfect ideas.
• Nikki shares a cute anecdote about her son’s elf “Ellie” and creative elf mischief.
• Brie uses Elf placements as subtle discipline for her kids:
  • "Buddy’s naughtiness inspires where the elves go." (24:49, Brie)

Quick Hits: Monday Night RAW & Sports (25:30 – 34:08)

• Brief touch on Nikki’s recent appearance on WWE Monday Night RAW and Brie's pride in seeing her sister on TV.
• Sports talk: Brie attended an Eagles-Chargers game in a SoFi Stadium luxury suite with family; Nikki shares her parallel Kansas City adventure, seeking holiday spirit and good wine.

Honest Reflections: Mom Life & Body Image (33:18 – 36:13)

• Candid conversation about post-baby body changes and the pressure of public image.
• Nikki opens up about insecurities on TV and the struggle to accept certain changes.
  • "…it is just hard. Seeing yourself on TV after, like, having a child..." (33:23, Nikki)
• Gentle encouragement and reminders from Brie:
  • "We can't try to keep up with what we looked like in our 20s, 30s." (34:08, Brie)
• Self-love and the reality of cosmetic tweaks are discussed openly and with humor.

Full Circle: Parade Honors & Arizona Roots (39:04 – 41:57)

• Nikki is announced as Grand Marshal of the Fiesta Bowl Parade—a special homecoming moment. The sisters reminisce about growing up in Arizona, being among parade legends like Alice Cooper and Charles Barkley.
  • "It's just really cool, full circle moment. Do you know what I mean?" (41:22, Nikki)
• Brie notes another Arizona legend, Randy Johnson, and his post-baseball photography career.

Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas & Affirmation (41:59 – End)

Sustainable Gifting (41:59 – 42:44)

• Brie plugs her solo podcast episodes on sustainable, “green” gift ideas and holiday activities.

Inspiration Affirmation (42:44 – 43:49)

• Brie shares a quote from Gustav Mahler:
  • "Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the fire."
• The sisters reflect on what keeps family traditions vibrant—approaching them with joy and passion, not just duty.
  • "The excitement we put around it makes it feel like it’s like Oscar night!" (43:15, Nikki)

Final Messages

• Encouragement to listeners to cherish, renew, or start their own family traditions.
• Light-hearted reminders to spread holiday cheer, keep up the laughter, and love yourself—even as you work on the parts you want to improve.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Nikki (about Mateo's wish):
  “What just got added onto Mateo's Christmas list yesterday was, he wants to ride the Goodyear blimp. And he really wants that for Christmas.” (09:06)
• Brie (on the impossible wish):
  "What my kids both had number one on their list: A baby brother. Oh my God.” (10:04)
• Brie (on tradition):
  "Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the fire." (42:47)
• Nikki (body image):
  "It's just...hard. Seeing yourself on TV after...having a child when you know certain things." (33:23)
• Brie (on Elf on the Shelf):
  "Buddy's naughtiness inspires where the elves go.” (24:49)
• Nikki (on the curveballs of parenting):
  “You just kind of like, do it and I’ll clean it.” (03:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:33 – Getting into the Christmas spirit
• 04:25 – Drummer Boy dinner & family tradition origins
• 07:48 – Children’s Christmas wish lists (including wild ones!)
• 11:22 – Screen-free gifts & personalized Monopoly
• 14:56 – Santa, please fix our gray hair
• 16:20 – Holiday traditions around the world
• 21:38 – Elf on the Shelf shenanigans
• 25:30 – WWE & sports detour
• 33:18 – Post-baby body image chat
• 39:04 – Hometown parade full circle
• 42:44 – Gustav Mahler quote & tradition affirmation
• 43:49 – Closing affirmations & holiday wishes

Tone & Takeaway

This episode is warm, real, and filled with laughter—a testament to the sisters’ honest, loving, and often hilarious approach to parenting, family, and tradition. Listeners walk away with inspiration to create meaningful traditions, feel seen in the chaos of family life, and—above all—embrace the joy and imperfections of the holidays.

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