Podcast Summary: Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley

Episode: Focus On The Good (feat. Julie Chrisley)
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Savannah Chrisley
Guest: Julie Chrisley (Savannah’s mother)

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, Savannah Chrisley sits down with her mother, Julie Chrisley, for a deep dive into the evolution of their mother-daughter relationship, the challenges and joys of parenting adult children, and navigating today’s complex social landscape. The pair touch on generational differences, share personal anecdotes about growth and vulnerability, address current social issues, and discuss the importance of focusing on the good in a world brimming with negativity. The tone is open, empathetic, and often humorous, providing both practical wisdom and raw emotion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Evolving Mother-Daughter Dynamics

• Bond Strengthens with Age:
  • Savannah and Julie discuss how their relationship has shifted from traditional parent-child roles towards genuine friendship and mutual respect as Savannah has become an adult.
  • Julie: “As you get older, the relationship just evolves…it changes a little bit because you’re now a young woman…you have a different perspective now that you’re an adult.” [01:04]
• Validation & Open Communication:
  • Savannah appreciates that Julie always validates her feelings, even when they disagree:
    • “In some way, shape or form, you always validate what’s being said, even if you disagree or see it differently.” [02:33]
  • Julie stresses the importance of being open to change and not staying rigid in parenting approaches:
    • “That’s not the way to have relationships grow and evolve. You have to be open…to different perspectives.” [03:02]

2. Challenges of Parenting Adult Children

• Letting Go and Allowing Mistakes:
  • Julie shares that parenting adults is more difficult than when the kids were young due to loss of control and the need to let children learn from their own mistakes.
    • “Parenting adult children is very difficult…you are, in the eyes of the law, in the eyes of the world, you are an adult. Even though you don’t know jack crap about nothing.” [05:18]
  • She emphasizes the necessity of stepping back:
    • “You will run yourself crazy if you try to micromanage everything…in the end you’re still going to do what you want to do.” [06:32]
• Reverse Psychology Doesn’t Work:
  • The duo laugh about being immune to reverse psychology, thanks to Todd (Savannah’s dad).
    • Savannah: “You cannot use reverse psychology on y’all at all because it will backfire every time.” [07:47]

3. Navigating Strengths & Vulnerabilities

• Strengths Can Be Double-Edged Swords:
  • Discussion on how personal strengths, if used improperly, can undermine relationships or careers.
    • Julie: “You can have a wonderful trait, but if it’s not used and applied properly, it then becomes a detriment.” [09:04]
• Owning Your Needs:
  • Savannah and Julie discuss the stigma around seeking help and therapy.
    • Savannah: “I am a huge advocate for therapy…for you to be able to recognize 'hey, I need this'…shows more strength” [10:26]

4. Personal Stories & Reflection

• Effects of Past Trauma on Present Behavior:
  • Savannah shares how recent years of turmoil have made her expect negative outcomes, leading to shutting down at the first sign of trouble.
    • “I immediately, like, shut off because I’m so used to things just going wrong.” [13:46]
  • Julie connects this to how people’s past experiences shape their reactions:
    • “We all really react to things…because of things that have happened to us in the past.” [14:21]
• Memorable Quote:
  • “It’ll take years, most likely, for you to get comfortable and realize that I’m not a member of NATO: No Action Talk Only.” [15:20]

5. Kindness, Caution, and Social Issues

• Helping Others and Being Safe:
  • Savannah recounts an alarming story about trying to help teens selling candy and the risks involved, underscoring safety concerns:
    • “There was a picture of a gun and weed and it says, ‘man shot after trying to help teens selling candy outside Nashville Kroger’.” [18:20]
• Dangers of Hardening One’s Heart:
  • Julie: “You can’t let your heart get hardened to helping people…but you do have to be careful.” [21:06]
• Parental Responsibility:
  • Julie and Savannah debate whether parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions, especially when teens engage in dangerous or criminal behavior.
    • Savannah: “More parents need to be held accountable for the actions of their minor children.” [25:59]
  • Discussion of kids' safety and the shifting societal standards (e.g., walking unsupervised, use of guns by minors).

6. Cultural Commentary: Education, Safety, & Public Outrage

• Potty Training & School Safety:
  • Savannah highlights alarm about preschool policies allowing male teachers to assist young girls in the bathroom and the need for clear boundaries.
    • Julie: “For me…if this is my child, it's my prerogative…It would not be a choice I would make.” [31:34]
  • Discussion evolves into cultural norms, parental responsibility, and the need for sensitivity in hiring and policy.
• Religion & Cancel Culture in Business and Media:
  • They touch on the controversy surrounding In-N-Out keeping Bible verses on their packaging and praise the company’s owner for standing unapologetically by her values:
    • Savannah: “My company is not public. I am the owner, so I will act as I see appropriate.” [36:19]
  • Contrast between left and right in terms of acceptance and reactions to tragic events, with reflections on recent news stories.
    • Julie: “At the end of the day, the left is supposed to be the party of acceptance…but they are the first to lambast somebody that does not agree with them.” [38:23]

7. Empathy, Tragedy, and the Human Condition

• Prayers and Empathy:
  • Savannah and Julie express heartbreak over recent crimes involving the elderly, children, and tragedies shared in the news.
  • Savannah Guthrie's Faith:
    • A notable and moving audio clip from Guthrie on finding faith through loss. [40:36]
    • Savannah Guthrie (audio): “This is when I need God the most. I can’t lose my dad and lose God at the same time. I can’t afford it.” [40:36]
  • Julie: “You just have to keep moving forward. You have to try to focus on the good…there are still good people in this world.” [47:54]

8. Humor & Lightness

• Individual Anecdotes:
  • Julie recounts recent mishaps, including slipping on the ice and tire troubles, ending on a lighter, relatable note about family, driving, and clumsiness.
    • Julie: “I’ve had a week of it and it’s only Tuesday.” [49:17]
• Body Image & Health Journeys:
  • Savannah shares her journey with weight loss and the importance of medically guided treatment, linking back to community and her company Good Girl Rx.
    • “It’s been really cool to see how this has impacted people’s lives.” [52:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Julie: “That’s not the way to have relationships grow and evolve. You have to be open to change. You have to be open to different perspectives.” [03:02]

Julie: “Parenting adult children is very difficult…Even though you don’t know jack crap about nothing, you still. You’re an adult for what the world says you are.” [05:18]

Savannah: “You cannot use reverse psychology on y’all at all because it will backfire every time.” [07:47]

Julie: “You can have a wonderful trait, but if it’s not used and applied properly, it then becomes a detriment.” [09:04]

Savannah: “I immediately, like, shut off because I’m so used to things just going wrong.” [13:46]

Memorable term: “No Action Talk Only – NATO” [15:20]

Savannah: “More parents need to be held accountable for the actions of their minor children.” [25:59]

Julie: “You just have to keep moving forward. You have to try to focus on the good.” [47:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Relationship evolution (Mother-Daughter):
  00:45 – 03:27

• Parenting adult children, letting go:
  05:11 – 07:01

• Personal strengths, therapy, self-improvement:
  08:36 – 10:44

• Expecting negativity due to trauma:
  13:46 – 14:49

• Risks of helping strangers and story of kindness gone wrong:
  16:34 – 21:06

• Societal changes & safety, parental accountability:
  25:59 – 27:47

• School safety and bathroom policies discussion:
  29:35 – 34:05

• In-N-Out, faith, cultural backlash, cancel culture:
  34:25 – 38:23

• Tragedies in the news, faith, and empathy:
  39:58 – 44:58

• Positivity, moving forward, ending on a lighter note:
  47:54 – end

Tone and Style

The conversation is compassionate, honest, and peppered with humor—even in heavier moments. Both Savannah and Julie balance openness about their personal struggles and opinions with a clear through-line: a resolve to “focus on the good,” seek growth, and extend empathy, regardless of disagreement or disappointment.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Mother-daughter relationships evolve, and openness is needed for growth.
• Letting adult children make their own mistakes is hard but necessary.
• It takes strength to identify and work on personal weaknesses—help-seeking is encouraged.
• There are risks in helping others, but it’s important not to become hardened to kindness.
• Cultural and political divisions require empathy, active listening, and standing firm on core values.
• Despite negativity, focusing on the good is an actionable daily choice.