​​’That’s the Point’ Judges Their Listener’s Sweetest (and Strangest) Holiday Traditions 

On a fresh episode of That’s The Point, hosts Kristin Johns and Jon Volk shake off their post-Thanksgiving haze and officially enter Christmas mode the only way that feels right—by rating and reacting to their listeners’ holiday traditions.

Not everything was groundbreaking, but some traditions really stood out—and now Kristin and Jon may have a few new traditions of their own.

The Most Creative Holiday Traditions Shared on ‘That’s The Point’

No physical gifts

One listener sends in a bold Christmas twist: “No physical gifts at all. Instead, each family member plans an activity for us all to enjoy.” Kristin and Jon didn’t even have to think about it—this was a hard pass for both of them. Both respond instantly with “Nay,” and Jon laughs at the idea of a gift-free Christmas morning. For them, activities are cute, but removing presents entirely felt like taking away the magic they grew up with. Kristin joked that you simply “can’t just get rid of the gifts,” and Jon was right there with her.

Rating: ❌ Nay

A tool a year

“Every year we buy a tool for our kids to put in their toolboxes, so they have a full set at 18,” one listener shares, immediately piquing Kristin and Jon’s interest. Kristin loved how practical and future-focused it was, and Jon called it genuinely thoughtful—the kind of tradition that quietly pays off in a big way later. They both agree it feels intentional, useful, and surprisingly sweet.

Rating: ✔️ Yay

Wrapping paper as an identity

Another listener writes in with a clever organizational hack disguised as a tradition. “We don’t know what wrapping paper is ours until we go through our stockings, and at the bottom of the stocking is a piece of the wrapping paper, and that’s how we know which presents are ours under the tree.” Kristin immediately loves how it keeps kids from obsessively counting gift piles, and Jon agrees it is both cute and functional—a win for parents and siblings alike. It adds a tiny mystery to Christmas morning without changing anything about the actual gifts, which makes it an easy yes for both hosts.

Rating: ✔️ Yay

Pajama party

Not every tradition is over-the-top sentimental—some are just plain cozy. One listener shares, “We get pajamas from Santa’s elves on Christmas Eve to wear on Christmas morning.” Kristin thinks the “elves” detail makes it extra charming, and Jon agrees that it adds a little magic without trying too hard.

Rating: ✔️ Yay

An ornament for each year

Some traditions are tiny but meaningful, and that’s exactly where this one lands: “An ornament for something new that we did that year.” Kristin immediately connects with the idea of building a tree full of memories instead of generic décor, and Jon likes how it turns each Christmas into a little recap of the year you just lived.

Rating: ✔️ Yay

A wholesome table setting

“We have a tablecloth that we’ve been tracing our handprint on since we were little kids.” This submission stops both hosts in their tracks. The second Kristin reads it aloud, Jon reacts with a full-body response—“I have chills.” Kristin agrees instantly, calling it her favorite tradition of the entire batch and announcing she’s starting it this year. It hit all the marks they love: sentimental, visual, and something that becomes more meaningful every single Christmas. 

Rating: ⭐️ 10/10 

Forget the gingerbread house

Another listener explains how they “decorate bird houses instead of gingerbread houses.” Kristin lit up immediately—it hits her bird-watching sweet spot—but Jon has a more conflicted take. “I mean, I like it, but it doesn’t really make sense for me, OK?” he says.  Still, even with the practicality question mark, they agreed it’s quirky in a fun way. It’s creative, it’s hands-on, and it swaps messy icing for something you can actually display long after December.

Rating: ✔️ Yay

A guessing game

One person describes “filling a jar with whatever, everyone counts it, and whoever wins gets to fill it with whatever they want the next year.” Kristin and Jon try to decode the activity, and Jon admits, “I don’t get it.” Kristin agrees the idea was cute but confusing, and Jon jokes through the logistics—especially the part where the winner has to buy the items to refill it. Even though they eventually figure out the gist, it definitely wasn’t the most intuitive tradition of the bunch.

Rating: ➖ Neutral — still unclear, but kind of fun

To hear all of the listener submissions, listen to That’s The Point wherever you get your podcasts.

Read More

• Tig Notaro Tells ‘Good Enough’ the Real Secret to Parenting Is Letting K
• Tana Mongeau Revisits the Chaos That Made Her—And the Calm She’s Finally Found
• Longevity Isn’t About Weight Loss Anymore—It’s About Treating Aging Like a Metabolic Disease