Podcast Summary: Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley

Episode: Choosing Grace in a Season of Grief

Host: Savannah Chrisley
Date: December 23, 2025
Podcast: PodcastOne

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt solo episode leading up to Christmas, Savannah Chrisley reflects on the past few years—marked by familial upheaval, loss, and public scrutiny—and the ways she has learned to choose grace amid grief. Savannah shares vulnerable anecdotes about how holiday traditions have changed since her parents’ incarceration, the struggles with identity and mental health that ensued, and the lessons she’s picked up about authenticity, healing, and faith. The episode is a candid offering to listeners who may be facing their own hardships during the holidays, with Savannah emphasizing the importance of allowing oneself to feel, grieve, and find hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin of the Podcast & Personal Transformation

00:48 – 03:15

• Savannah recounts launching her podcast after her reality show was canceled due to her parents’ legal troubles, which led to an identity crisis.
• She expresses gratitude to listeners for their support:

  “Thank you for all of your support over the past few years. Because of [you], I can show up and record this podcast, I can be authentically myself.” (01:20)

• The podcast became a space for Savannah to own her story rather than letting tabloids define it:

  “Other people are going to tell my story and make money off of it. So why shouldn’t I?” (02:10)

2. Living Authentically in a Judgmental World

03:30 – 04:35

• Savannah encourages listeners to embrace their truth, even if it’s “ugly”:

  “It doesn’t matter how ugly your truth is, live in it. Because other people are going to judge you… Be who you are.” (03:42)

• She warns against letting social media dictate self-worth and urges listeners to prioritize personal authenticity over public approval.

3. Navigating the Holidays in Grief

04:36 – 09:10

• Savannah candidly shares how Christmas traditions have shifted since her parents’ absence, highlighting the pain and her attempts to keep cherished routines alive (like personalized stockings).
• She describes struggling during the first year and gradually moving toward accepting the new reality for her mental health and that of the kids in her care:

  “I was like, you know what? I’m gonna stop faking this. I’m gonna stop acting like they’re still here…” (06:40)

• She affirms listeners who are “just getting through the holiday,” offering empathy and solidarity.

4. Sharing a Resonant Instagram Post

09:15 – 12:10

• Savannah reads a post from the account "clearly stated," which reframes Christmas as an invitation to bring grief and pain into the light with Jesus, rather than forcing joy:

  “Christmas doesn’t erase hard emotions, it invites Jesus into them... Christmas was never meant to be a season of manufacturing feelings.” (10:00-10:30, quoted from Instagram post)

• She reiterates the post’s key line for emphasis:

  “Because of Jesus, you don’t have to silence the weight of life to receive the light of Christmas.” (11:35)

• Savannah reflects on the importance of sitting with difficult emotions as part of healing.

5. Honest Prayers & Finding Small Victories

17:15 – 19:10

• Savannah describes her prayers as raw and unpolished during the hardest moments, simply asking God for presence:

  “My prayer was, ‘God, I’m so angry. Please just show me you’re still here.’ That simple. It wasn’t a pretty prayer.” (17:55)

• She stresses the need to notice and appreciate “every little win,” no matter how small, as part of moving forward.

6. Burnout, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

19:11 – 21:00

• She admits to reaching “burnout” by year’s end but remains grateful for growth, heartbreak, and healing:

  “As hard as it was, I am so grateful… If it wasn’t for all the heartbreak, I wouldn’t be able to appreciate where I’m at now.” (20:30)

• Encourages listeners that, “Your win is coming… it may not be in the time that you would like, but it is on the way.” (20:48)

7. New Goals and Spiritual Growth for 2026

21:10 – 24:35

• Savannah shares her 2026 resolutions: attend church every Sunday, pursue deeper forgiveness, and offer more grace.
• She admits struggles with holding grudges and wanting to break unhealthy reaction patterns:

  “There’s a lot of people in my life that I hold grudges against, and I’m working on my forgiveness phase right now…” (22:40)

• She talks about upcoming professional goals, including co-hosting "The View" and a new travel show.

8. Embracing Discomfort and Authenticity

25:00 – 27:00

• Savannah underscores the importance of not pretending to be okay:

  “If it sucks, say it sucks. That’s what I normalized with the kids... You don’t have to lie.” (26:30)

9. Community and Celebrating Wins

27:02 – 28:15

• She shares a TikTok trend where friends publicly acknowledge their accomplishments, recommending this as a way for listeners to recognize and celebrate their own progress, no matter the form.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Authenticity:

  “Be who you are. Don’t let anyone else’s outside opinions dictate who you know you are.” (03:50)

• On the Holidays and Grief:

  “Christmas doesn’t erase hard emotions. It invites Jesus into them.” (10:05, quoting 'clearly stated')

• On Healing:

  “You have to sit in those hard emotions. If you don’t... it’s going to be hard for you to get to the other side of it.” (12:00)

• On Honest Prayer:

  “My prayer was, ‘God, I’m so angry, please just show me that you’re still here.’ That simple. It wasn’t a pretty prayer.” (17:55)

• On Progress and Hope:

  “Your win is coming. It may not be in the time that you would like for it to be, but I promise you, your win is on the way.” (20:48)

• On Self-Compassion:

  “It’s okay to not be okay. I see you. I’m praying for you.” (26:45)

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:48 – 04:35 | Podcast origins & living authentically
• 04:36 – 09:10 | Navigating grief during the holidays
• 09:15 – 12:10 | Instagram post on hard emotions and Christmas
• 17:15 – 19:10 | Honest prayers and recognizing small victories
• 19:11 – 21:00 | Burnout and gratitude
• 21:10 – 24:35 | Resolutions for grace and forgiveness
• 25:00 – 27:00 | Embracing discomfort, speaking truth
• 27:02 – 28:15 | Celebrating wins together

Final Thoughts

Savannah’s tone throughout the episode is direct, nurturing, and unfiltered, offering solidarity to anyone struggling through the holidays. She models vulnerability, emphasizes the power of faith and honest emotion, and invites listeners to practice forgiveness and self-acceptance as they move toward a new year.