Crafted

Keonte and Kristin McDonald
  • 5.0 (13)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What do you get when a School Psychologist and a Graphic Designer start a Podcast together? Embark on an audio journey with us as we explore the ins & outs of marriage, parenting, trending topics, lifestyle and much more!

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep. 90: Looking Back to Move Forward: Our 2025 Family Reflection

    Ep. 90: Looking Back to Move Forward: Our 2025 Family Reflection To close out the year and step into a fresh start, we’re dropping a special mini pod in honor of the New Year. Shorter than our usual episodes, but packed with reflection, honesty, and intention as we look back on 2025 together. 💍 Forever Segment — Marriage Audit We take a real look at our marriage in 2025. Did we grow closer? Where were the highs and the hard moments? What lessons did the year teach us about communication, partnership, and love moving forward? 🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Parenting Audit Parenting comes with constant learning curves. We reflect on how we showed up for our kids this year, what worked, what needs adjusting, and if our kids could grade us, what they might say. We also talk about intentional changes we want to make in the new year. ✨ Lifestyle Segment — Top 3s of 2025 To keep it light, we wrap up the episode sharing our Top 3 Movies, Music picks, and Favorite Moments from 2025. The things that made us laugh, think, and pause along the way. As we head into the new year, this episode is all about reflection without judgment and growth without pressure. Here’s to learning from the past and moving forward together. Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    47 min
  2. Ep. 89: Married Young, Becoming Parents & Reviewing Disney World: Our Honest Truth

    12/18/2025

    Ep. 89: Married Young, Becoming Parents & Reviewing Disney World: Our Honest Truth

    Ep. 89: Married Young, Becoming Parents & Reviewing Disney World: Our Honest Truth This week we’re looking at love, legacy, and life with kids. From getting married young, to deciding whether children are truly a “benefit,” to finally taking on the most magical (and exhausting) place on Earth as a family. 💍 Forever Segment — Was Young Love Destiny or a Developmental Delay? We tell the truth about getting married young. Was it fate, immaturity, divine timing, or all of the above? We unpack what couples gain (and lose) when they commit early, how maturity affects marriage, and what we’ve learned along the way. 👶 Roots & Bloom Segment — Becoming Parents: Is There Really a Benefit to Having Kids? Kids are expensive, emotional, hilarious, stressful, life-changing but are they actually a benefit? We explore personal meaning, family legacy, fulfillment, and whether parenting makes life richer or just busier. 🎢 Lifestyle Segment — Disney World vs. Disneyland: The Orlando Review We recap our first family trip to Disney World Orlando. The highlights, the frustrations, the magic, and the meltdowns. What did we love? What could’ve stayed in Florida? And how does it compare to our California classic, Disneyland? Today we’ll be touching on:  What Random Things Annoy You?The Birth of Nintendo Married Young: Destiny or Developmental Delay?Parenting: Is There A Benefit to Having Kids?Disney World vs. Disneyland: The Orlando Review Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: Luke Chiang "What Can I Do?" https://music.apple.com/us/album/what-can-i-do/1843404319?i=1843404323 Show of the Week: Welcome To Derry (HBO Max) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    1h 11m
  3. Ep. 88: Is Marriage Worth It? Raising Kids Who Still Choose You & A Disney Cliffhanger

    12/04/2025

    Ep. 88: Is Marriage Worth It? Raising Kids Who Still Choose You & A Disney Cliffhanger

    Ep. 88: Is Marriage Worth It? Raising Kids Who Still Choose You & A Disney Cliffhanger This week, we’re diving into the realities of marriage, the long-term heart work of parenting, and a quick tease for what’s coming next! 💍 Forever Segment — Marriage: Benefit or Burden? We unpack the age-old question: Is marriage something that elevates your life or something that weighs you down? We explore how perspective, partnership, and personal expectations shape the way couples experience marriage and why the answer isn’t as simple as it seems. 🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home, Pt. 2 In part two of our series, we talk about what it really takes to build a bond with your children that lasts long after they’ve grown up. From emotional safety to shared experiences, we dig into how parents can cultivate lifelong connection. 🎢 Lifestyle Segment — To Be Continued… We ran out of time this week but be sure to catch our next episode where we break down our full Disney vacation experience! From rides to parenting wins (and fails), you won’t want to miss it. Today we’ll be touching on:  Who Was Your Favorite Rapper Before The Age 13?The South Korean Military Marriage: Benefit or Burden?Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home Pt. 2Our Disney Trip (To Be Continued) Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: Laufey "Forget-Me-Not" https://music.apple.com/us/album/forget-me-not/1834263082?i=1834263123 Show of the Week: Barry (HBO Max) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    1h 8m
  4. Ep. 87: Escaping the Roommate Stage, Raising Kids Who Still Call & TikTok Church Experiment

    11/21/2025

    Ep. 87: Escaping the Roommate Stage, Raising Kids Who Still Call & TikTok Church Experiment

    Ep. 87: Escaping the Roommate Stage, Raising Kids Who Still Call & TikTok Church Experiment This week’s episode is all about connection: rediscovering it in marriage, sustaining it with our children, and questioning it in the age of viral faith and social media. 💑 Forever Segment — The Silent Drift & The Intentional Return We’re unpacking one of the quietest relationship killers: emotional distance. How do couples go from passionate partners to polite roommates and, more importantly, how do they find their way back? We talk about the small choices that rebuild intimacy and the daily habits that turn drifting into direction. 🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Raising Children Who Keep Coming Home What does it mean to raise securely attached children who still want to be around you when they’re grown? We explore how emotional safety, consistent love, and healthy boundaries create relationships that last well beyond childhood. 🙏 Lifestyle Segment — The Appalachian Grandpa & The TikTok Church Experiment “The Appalachian Grandpa” and the “TikTok Church” experiment. Would your church give a single mother a can of formula for her starving child? What do these trends say about faith, influence, and the way people are finding (or performing) spirituality online? Today we’ll be touching on:  The Mary Crystie mysteryThe Silent Drift & The Intentional Return: The Roomate MarriageRaising Children Who Keep Coming HomeThe TikTok Appalachian Grandpa Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: Leon Thomas "My Muse" https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-muse/1847991335?i=1847991347 Film of the Week: All Her Fault (Peacock) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    58 min
  5. Ep. 86: For Better, For Worse, For Outkast: Marriage Meltdowns, Parenting, and Atlanta Vibes

    11/06/2025

    Ep. 86: For Better, For Worse, For Outkast: Marriage Meltdowns, Parenting, and Atlanta Vibes

    Ep. 86: For Better, For Worse, For Outkast: Marriage Meltdowns, Parenting, and Atlanta Vibes This week’s episode dives deep into faith, family, and fun; from navigating the hardest moments in marriage to learning how to regulate our emotions as parents, and even a firsthand look at a major music festival experience! 💍 Forever Segment — When the Fantasy Fades, Does Your Faith Remain? We explore what the “worse” in “for better or for worse” truly means. When life tests your marriage through loss, stress, distance, or disappointment. . . how do you safeguard your relationship before those moments arrive? This segment is all about building faith-based resilience when the fantasy fades. 🧘🏾‍♀️ Roots & Bloom Segment — Pause, Breathe, Then Parent Parenting starts with emotional regulation. . . ours. We discuss the power of pausing, breathing, and modeling calmness for our children. How do our emotions shape theirs? And what steps can we take to make emotional balance a daily practice, not a reaction? 🎶 Lifestyle Segment — The ONE MusicFest: Atlanta Edition Keonte shares his surprise birthday trip to Atlanta, GA to attend his very first music festival! From legendary performances by Outkast and Mary J. Blige to the rising sounds of newcomer Leon Thomas, he gives us the full behind-the-scenes on what the experience was like and whether he’d ever do it again. Today we’ll be touching on:  When's The Last Time You Did Something For the First Time?Raising People From The Dead: The Essie Dunbar StoryWhy Are Kids So Messy? Help! For Better or For Worse: When the Fantasy Fades, Does Your Faith Remain?Emotional Regulation In ParentsONE MusicFest: Outkast, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige & Swag Surfing In Atlanta Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: Luke Chiang "Never Tell" https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-tell/1741674901?i=1741674910 Film of the Week: They Call Him Mostly Harmless (HBOMax) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    1 hr
  6. Ep. 85: From ‘If He Wanted To, He Would’ to ‘Who Can We Trust?’ The Perfect Neighbor & Accountability

    10/23/2025

    Ep. 85: From ‘If He Wanted To, He Would’ to ‘Who Can We Trust?’ The Perfect Neighbor & Accountability

    Ep. 85: From ‘If He Wanted To, He Would’ to ‘Who Can We Trust?’ The Perfect Neighbor & Accountability This week, we’re unpacking love, protection, and accountability. From how effort shows up in relationships, to the realities of parenting in an unpredictable world, to why honesty seems to be on life support in today’s society. ❤️ Forever Segment — Effort, Energy, and the Myth of Perfect Love “If he wanted to, he would.” We’re breaking down this viral phrase and talking about what real effort looks like in marriage. How does social media shape our expectations of love? Should we ever compare our relationships to others? And how do you show your spouse love beyond words and likes? 🏡 Roots & Bloom Segment — Protecting Our Kids in a World Full of Neighbors Inspired by Netflix’s chilling documentary The Perfect Neighbor, we reflect on parenting in a time when safety isn’t guaranteed, even close to home. How do we teach awareness without fear, and make decisions that prioritize our children’s security and well-being? ⚖️ Lifestyle Segment — America’s Accountability Problem From politics to personal life, lying has become the national pastime. We’re asking why people keep denying the truth even when they’ve been caught, and how the “innocent until proven guilty” mindset affects our culture’s relationship with accountability and integrity. Today we’ll be touching on:  Which Countries Would You Live In?Why & When Was Morse Code Created?If He Wanted To, He Would: A Deep Dive Into "Perfect Love" CultureNetflix's The Perfect NeighborCaught Red Handed And Still Lying: America's Accountability Problem Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: Sienna Spiro "You Stole The Show" https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-stole-the-show/1825742569?i=1825742570 Film of the Week: The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    1h 4m
  7. Ep. 84: Safe Love, Strong Kids & Ayesha Curry: What Real Security Looks Like

    10/09/2025

    Ep. 84: Safe Love, Strong Kids & Ayesha Curry: What Real Security Looks Like

    Ep. 84: Safe Love, Strong Kids & Ayesha Curry: What Real Security Looks Like This week, we’re unpacking love, growth, and grace; from how we build safety in marriage, to how we nurture our children’s strengths, to how we respond to public opinions about other people’s relationships. 💞 Forever Segment — Safe Love: Building Security in Your Marriage What makes love feel safe? We explore attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful avoidant) and discuss how understanding your own can help you build deeper trust and connection in your relationship. 🌱 Roots & Bloom Segment — Grow What’s Strong: Strengths-Based Parenting Instead of focusing on what kids can’t do, what if we built around what they do well? We dive into the power of strengths-based parenting, how to balance encouragement with accountability, and ways to help kids thrive by leading with their gifts. 💬 Lifestyle Segment — Ayesha Curry vs. The Internet Did Ayesha really say anything wrong? We break down the social-media outrage, explore why people are so invested in other people’s marriages, and talk about what this says about our culture, comparison, and public vulnerability. Today we’ll be touching on:  Do Animals Speak Different Languages?Prison Breaks (How Often Do They Happen?)Safe Love: Building Security In Your MarriageGrow What's Strong: Strengths Based ParentingAyesha Curry Vs. The Internet Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: J. Cole "Love Yourz" https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-yourz/1600772499?i=1600773052 Film of the Week: Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    1h 9m
  8. Ep. 83: Love, Lies & Black Parent-isms: From Marriage Struggles to The Rapture on TikTok

    09/25/2025

    Ep. 83: Love, Lies & Black Parent-isms: From Marriage Struggles to The Rapture on TikTok

    Ep. 83: Love, Lies & Black Parent-isms: From Marriage Struggles to The Rapture on TikTok This week, we’re mixing real talk about marriage, a nostalgic look at Black parenting wisdom, and a timely conversation about faith and misinformation online. 💔 Forever Segment — Love Beyond the “Like” What happens when you love your spouse but don’t actually like them in the moment? We talk about navigating those seasons of tension, finding your way back to connection, and remembering why you chose each other. 👨🏾‍👩🏾‍👧🏾 Roots & Bloom Segment — Black Parent-isms “Money don’t grow on trees.” “Because I said so.” We’re unpacking the iconic sayings and phrases Black parents raised us on and laughing (or cringing) at how often we catch ourselves repeating them with our own kids. 🙏 Lifestyle Segment — The Rapture & Social Media Are you still with us, lol? We dig into what the Bible actually says about the Rapture, why people are so quick to believe false information online, and how faith and discernment matter in a world full of viral half-truths. Today we’ll be touching on:  Funny Movie Scenes (That Are Not Meant To Be Funny lol)What Came First, The Fruit Or The Color Orange?Love Beyond The "Like": What To Do When You Done Like Your SpouseBlack Parent-isms: Am I Boo Boo The Fool?The Rapture Brought To You By TikTok (He's Coming Back!) Anything you want to hear us talk about? Loved a topic we touched on? Let us know in the review section! ___________________________________ Also, Follow us here! --Kristin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourstrulykristin/ @Yourstrulykristin Cook Book: https://a.co/d/5pqsuYE --Keonte: IG: https://www.instagram.com/keontemcdonald/ @Keontemcdonald My Music: https://keonte.bandcamp.com/album/a-loss-for-words Graphic Design: https://www.behance.net/gallery/170503095/Portfolio Graphic IG: https://www.instagram.com/kingsmold/ @Kingsmold ___________________________________ Order our New Children's Book: "Where Dreams May Take You" https://a.co/d/3KlouTY My Unpopular Opinion Podcast by Keonte coming soon! Song of The Week: The Game Feat. Common "Angel" https://music.apple.com/us/album/angel-feat-common/1469585208?i=1469586158 Show of the Week: The Pitt Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/crafted/donations

    50 min
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About

What do you get when a School Psychologist and a Graphic Designer start a Podcast together? Embark on an audio journey with us as we explore the ins & outs of marriage, parenting, trending topics, lifestyle and much more!

Information

  • Creator
    Keonte and Kristin McDonald
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Crafted