Podcast Summary
The Southern Tea
Host: Lindsie Chrisley
Episode: Bird Theory & Thanksgiving Dinner Prep
Date: November 19, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of The Southern Tea brings Lindsie Chrisley and her cohost Kristen together for a lively, candid discussion about prepping for Thanksgiving, family routines post-divorce, viral internet trends like “bird theory,” parenting philosophies, the challenges of co-parenting, and memorable internet drama. The episode balances warm regional humor with real talk on relationships, boundaries, personal organization, and self-care, all while offering classic Southern perspective on the chaos of the holidays.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Thanksgiving Dinner Prep & Holiday Hosting
[01:57 - 13:45]
- Kristen is unexpectedly hosting 16 people for Thanksgiving and shares the stress of planning a large gathering.
- Lindsie details her own Thanksgiving menu—emphasizing “Southern style” green beans and skipping the green bean casserole, much to Kristen’s mock-horror.
- “You lost me and everybody else who makes green bean casserole lost me at the cream of mushroom.” – Lindsie, [10:27]
- Discussions about homemade vs. store-bought food, minimizing food waste, and creative ways to make holidays less stressful for small families (like ordering meat from a local restaurant).
- Kristen reveals her tradition of themed meals for each holiday—pasta bar on Christmas Eve, dips-only night for New Year’s Eve, and prime rib for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- “I always do my pasta bar situation... We just have ourselves a time.” – Kristen, [24:34]
2. Parenting, Co-Parenting, and Busy Weekends
[02:25 - 06:40]
- Lindsie recaps a packed weekend with her son Jackson, blending sporting events, church, and outings, illustrating the challenge of fitting important activities into limited custody time.
- Discusses co-parenting dynamics and the slight friction between “activity parent” and “chill-at-home parent.”
- “I only get him 50 of the weekends and so I love to like book activities and events and Will is definitely the dad that’s like, figure out how to entertain yourself at home.” – Lindsie, [03:26]
- She also navigates the “robbery” of personal time when sports take up critical custody days but emphasizes follow-through and commitment for kids in extracurriculars.
3. Texting Etiquette & Sleep Preferences
[06:40 - 08:28]
- The duo compare strange text hours: 2:18 AM texts from Kristen, 5:00 AM from Lindsie’s ex.
- Kristen confidently texts at weird hours, knowing Lindsie’s phone is set to Do Not Disturb.
4. The Realities of Daily Chaos & Self-care
[12:04 - 22:47]
- Lindsie’s “most treacherous day” includes school emergencies (Jackson getting stitches), home maintenance fiascos, a failed lunch outing, a dirty car immediately after a carwash, and broken washers.
- Self-care ideas are floated: booking classes, wanting to color her hair, deep clean her closet, and general home organization plans for the new year.
- “Everyone thinking that, like, I am this, you know, like, just most organized person in the world... actually I have zero sense of organization whatsoever. Stuff lays around my house at all times. Like, it’s organized chaos, but it’s chaos nonetheless.” – Lindsie, [21:22]
5. Teaching Kids Financial Responsibility: Viral Facebook Post
[25:58 - 31:53]
- The viral post about charging adult children rent but secretly saving that money for them sparks debate.
- Both agree the idea is positive if parents can manage it and emphasize teaching financial literacy early—not just at 18.
- “I can’t get behind [charging kids rent just because]... but for saving purposes and teaching them how to save money... I think that is phenomenal.” – Lindsie, [30:43]
- They discuss the variance in approaches to supporting young adults depending on family circumstances and beliefs.
6. The Angel Tree TikTok Drama
[34:10 - 41:18]
- Viral TikTok controversy: a woman records herself buying generic, non-wishlist items for Angel Tree kids, sticking to a $30 budget, and faces massive backlash for insensitivity and turning charity into “content.”
- Kristen’s strong stance: “If you are doing a good deed and you’re an ugly person, don’t do it... You're clearly using it for content.” [38:12]
- Both stress respecting kids’ wishes and suggest collaborating with friends to fulfill elaborate wishlists if needed.
7. Relationship Dramas: Venmo, Trust, and Red Flags
[41:18 - 54:39]
- News story: a girlfriend attacked her boyfriend over a $5 payment to another woman (via a money app), leading to musings on trust, suspicion, and digital snooping.
- Lindsie shares cautionary tales of discovering infidelity clues through Venmo, Facebook photos, and being lied to about whereabouts.
- “It just caused me to kind of start mentally spiraling, because I feel like once you see one thing, you can’t unsee it.” – Lindsie, [50:35]
- Discussion about “love bombing” and men using grand gestures to cover questionable behavior.
- “If they have to love bomb you, there’s already something wrong.” – Kristen, [53:04]
8. The Bird Theory Relationship Test
[54:36 - 66:13]
- Introduction to “bird theory” (inspired by Dr. John Gottman): how couples respond to small moments (e.g., “I saw a bird today”) predicts relationship quality.
- Both hosts experiment by calling their partners/exes; results are hilarious and telling.
- "He's like, like, outside?...That's why we're no longer married." – Lindsie, [66:08]
- Reflection: micro-connections matter more than grand gestures; little daily moments build true intimacy.
9. Enjoying Singleness & “Me Time”
[66:15 - 72:29]
- Lindsie admits to loving single life, prioritizing her own routine, and enjoying time with her son solo.
- Kristen shares her mom is thriving with a low-maintenance “companion.”
- “There is nothing nicer than being able to get in a bath leisurely whenever you want to, ...to eat dinner when you want to, to watch whatever show you want to watch, ...not feel like you’re sharing all those parts of yourself and time.” – Lindsie, [68:04]
- Discussion of the societal pressure to couple up and how healing from past relationships shifts perspectives.
10. Internet “Weekly Tea”: Micro Penis As Crime Evidence
[74:48 - 82:23]
- Recap of trending tabloid news: The Golden State Killer was allegedly identified in part by testimony about an extremely small penis, now a point of pop culture discussion, with Hitler now rumored to have “one ball and micro penis.”
- Kristen: “The micro penis is really taking over. And, you know, it really is tracking to me, the people they’re attaching one to.” [77:50]
- Amusement and light mockery about the deeper psychological implications and pop forensics.
11. Weekly Devotional
[73:38 - 74:48]
- Lindsie shares inspiration from Psalm 46:10: Trusting in God’s timing and not forcing outcomes.
- Other faith notes: prioritize consistent commitments like church in the family routine, paralleling that with sports and other structured activities for kids.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On Green Bean Casserole:
- “You lost me and everybody else who makes green bean casserole lost me at the cream of mushroom.” – Lindsie, [10:27]
- On Single Life:
- “There is nothing nicer than being able to get in a bath leisurely whenever you want to, ...not feel like you’re sharing all those parts of yourself and time.” – Lindsie, [68:04]
- On the Viral Angel Tree Video:
- “If you are doing a good deed and you’re an ugly person, don’t do it.” – Kristen, [38:12]
- About “Bird Theory” Experiments:
- Kristen’s husband: “What kind of bird was it?” Kristen: “It was a cardinal.” Him: “That’s nothing new for around here.” [63:38]
- Lindsie’s ex-husband (deadpan): “Cool, man.” [65:00]
- On Relationship Red Flags:
- “If they have to love bomb you, there’s already something wrong.” – Kristen, [53:04]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Thanksgiving/Holiday Menu Deep Dive: [08:28 – 13:45]
- Teaching Financial Responsibility to Kids: [25:58 – 31:53]
- Angel Tree TikTok Drama: [34:10 – 41:18]
- Relationship Red Flags and Venmo-ing: [41:18 – 54:39]
- Bird Theory Relationship Test: [54:36 – 66:13]
- Singleness, ‘Me Time’, and Dating Apps: [66:15 – 73:38]
- Pop Culture: Micro Penis News: [74:48 – 82:23]
- Weekly Devotional: [73:38 – 74:48]
Tone & Style
- Conversational, Southern, down-to-earth, sprinkled with warm humor and self-deprecation.
- Lindsie is open and unfiltered about her life, relationships, and family.
- Kristen offers grounded, often witty counterpoints, blending practical advice with honest reactions.
Takeaways for Listeners
- Southern family life around the holidays is as chaotic as it is heartfelt, and both hosts accentuate the value of tradition as well as flexibility.
- The right way to support kids—whether through financial lessons or prioritizing their desires at the holidays—comes down to honest effort, respect, and intentional parenting.
- In relationships, tiny moments of engagement (“bird theory”) often matter more than grand gestures, and red flags are usually present in hindsight.
- Online drama can be both an ethical minefield and a source of entertainment—but empathy and respect should prevail.
- Whether married, coupled, or single, prioritizing self-care and boundaries is a consistent theme throughout the episode.
This episode is packed with both relatable life wisdom and laugh-out-loud moments—perfect for listeners seeking solidarity, perspective, and a dose of Southern sass heading into the holidays.