Santa Wears Red, Starbucks Wants Tips, And Fruitcake Needs A PR Team :: Ep 87 TTIAST

A Christmas special should feel like a living room after dark—lights on, jokes flying, and just enough chaos to keep it honest. We kick things off with the great inflatable debate, the price of holiday lights, and who still climbs the roof when the weather drops. From there it gets spicier: does Santa “lean” one way or another, and did Coca‑Cola really give him that red suit? We share a small New York moment where a stranger buys our pizza, and it launches a bigger conversation about generosity that carries through the hour.

The tipping talk hits home. Some of us tip almost everyone—servers, delivery crews, furniture movers—because we’ve worked those jobs or just feel grateful. Others draw the line at the counter iPad for a plain coffee. We trade stories from butchers to juice bars, and wrestle with how far tipping culture should stretch without losing the point of service. It’s lively, respectful, and real—exactly the conversation people are having at drive‑thrus and kitchen islands right now.

We reset with music and movies: Sinatra over synths, Crosby over remixes, and a strong case that Polar Express is beautifully shot and also kind of creepy. Gifts get practical—do you give a gift card or hunt for the perfect thing?—and caroling makes a nostalgic return. The episode closes with stories from childhood Christmases: waiting behind “burglar bars” for parents to wake, the magic of a few gifts that meant everything, and how that feeling still guides us. Through all the banter and hot takes, we come back to the heart of it: faith, family, kindness, and the small-town spirit that makes December feel like home.

If this one made you laugh, nod, or argue in the car, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more folks find the show and keeps our holiday lights on a little longer.

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