Dysfunction Junkies

Send us Fan Mail When did classroom education cross the line into psychological trauma? Chrisy and Kerry take us on a journey through their Catholic high school experiences that left lasting scars decades later. What's most striking is how these educational traumas continue to resurface decades later. As parents themselves now, Chrisy and Kerry wonder: has education evolved? Are today's...

Send us Fan Mail Gratitude transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Join Chrisy and Kerry as they celebrate growth, connection, and the humor found in life's unexpected moments during their monthly Thankful Sunday episode. Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for additional content. We often post polls and other quest...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Junkies CARE—our heartfelt initiative spotlighting organizations making real differences in communities everywhere. Standing for Community Awareness, Recognition, and Engagement, this monthly special celebrates the people and groups whose missions deserve your attention. Our journey begins exactly where we did—at Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio, where Chrisy and Kerr...

Send us Fan Mail Addiction's grip extends far beyond the individual, creating ripple effects that reshape entire family systems. Whether hidden behind closed doors or normalized as "just what they do," these patterns leave lasting impressions on everyone involved. In this deeply personal episode, Chrisy and Kerry explore their contrasting childhood experiences with family addiction....

Send us Fan Mail The struggle to set healthy boundaries often comes loaded with guilt, second-guessing, and that nagging voice suggesting you should just "be the better person." But what if that guilt is actually evidence of how deeply you were trained to abandon yourself for others? In this raw, validating conversation, Chrisy and Kerry explore the challenging terrain of boundary-settin...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Flashback Friday episode, we revisit our popular "Return the Coat, Keep the Daddy" conversation that perfectly captures the complicated relationship we all have with Christmas traditions. From the evolution of shopping habits (hello, daily Amazon deliveries!) to the puzzling experience of helping a parent with dementia buy 27 family puzzles, we explore ho...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what secrets your DNA might reveal? From long-lost siblings to unexpected ethnic origins, the world of genealogy research is full of surprises—both heartwarming and potentially unsettling. In this candid exploration of ancestry research, we dive deep into the methods both old and new that people use to trace their roots. Whether you're a seasoned geneal...

Send us Fan Mail The hosts dive deep into the world of consumer DNA testing with contrasting perspectives. Kerry shares her journey of identity recalibration after discovering she's only 2% Northern Italian despite growing up with strong Italian cultural influences. While Chrisy won't even lick an envelope. The conversation takes thought-provoking turns as we consider the broader implica...

Send us Fan Mail The Dysfunction Junkies podcast has hit a remarkable milestone this month, reaching over 2,000 downloads across 9 countries, spanning numerous states and 152 cities worldwide. Hosts Kerry and Chrisy couldn't contain their excitement during their special Thankful Sunday episode, where they shared their gratitude for the growing community of "Junkies" who tune in regu...

Send us Fan Mail Why are summer family gatherings sometimes easier to handle than winter ones? As we discover in this raw and revealing episode, it might simply be because you can escape to the backyard when things get tense. But even with more exit strategies, Fourth of July celebrations can still produce lasting trauma. Whether you're dreading family gatherings this holiday weekend or looki...

Send us Fan Mail Birthday celebrations should be joyful occasions, but for many, they're complex emotional experiences filled with expectations, memories, and sometimes disappointments. Kerry opens up about her deeply complicated relationship with her birthday, particularly the frustration when friends forget despite having "ample warning" from previous podcast episodes. This year w...

Send us Fan Mail Our Spooky Dysfunction: Is That Your Dead Relative or Just a Random Spirit Passing Through? What happens when a steadfast believer in the paranormal sits down with a committed skeptic? In this thought-provoking episode, Chrissy and Kerry navigate the complex terrain of ghosts, psychics, and signs from beyond—revealing how deeply personal these beliefs truly are. Support the show T...

Send us Fan Mail In this Flashback Friday episode, the ladies revisit Episode 3: The Elephant or the Zoo. Silence isn't always golden. Join us as Kerry and Chrisy explore what happens when families either ignore or normalize dysfunction. In other words, do they refuse to talk about the Elephant in the room or invite the whole zoo!  Kerry and Chrisy share personal stories that reveal the rippl...

Send us Fan Mail Wedding cakes on chandeliers, fondant masterpieces smuggled from Las Vegas hotels, brides dirty dancing with everyone except the groom—these are just a few highlights from our laugh-out-loud part two exploration of wedding dysfunctions. We're picking up where we left off last week, diving into the evolution of wedding cake trends from the elaborate fountain-adorned creations...

Send us Fan Mail Weddings bring out both the best and worst in people, creating unique dysfunction as couples navigate traditions, family expectations, and changing technology. The podcast hosts reflect on how their perspectives on weddings have changed with age and experience. Chrisy acknowledges her "bridezilla" tendencies when she married at 21, focusing primarily on what she wanted w...

Send us Fan Mail Loss and celebration dance together in this heartfelt episode as Kerry shares the peaceful passing of her mother. "Mom not only taught us how to live, but she taught us how to die," she reflects, finding beauty in farewell while honoring her mother's memory. The conversation shifts to birthday celebrations and childhood treasures—from vintage Fisher Price trains to...

Send us Fan Mail Summer memories have a way of revealing our deepest family dynamics, don't they? Kerry and Chrisy peel back the layers of their childhood summer traditions to expose the complex family relationships underneath. Their stories—from pool opening rituals to fishing mishaps—are both hilarious and surprisingly poignant. Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure to check ou...

Send us Fan Mail Remember the dramatic entrance, the nerve-wracking search for the perfect dress, and the unspoken pressure of needing a date? Prom season sparks a fascinating conversation between hosts Chrisy and Kerry about how this quintessential high school experience has evolved over the decades.#prom #dysfunctionjunkiespodcast #promposals  Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure t...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever had a nagging feeling something wasn't right with your body, only to have healthcare professionals dismiss your concerns as "normal aging" or "just stress"? In this deeply personal episode, Chrisy and Kerry pull back the curtain on their difficult journeys to diagnosis and the frustrating reality many patients face when seeking answers.  Join...

Send us Fan Mail Something beautiful happens when gratitude becomes intentional. Today marks the launch of "Thankful Sundays," our new monthly tradition dedicated to celebrating you – our growing dysfunction family spanning three continents and seven countries! The universe has a funny way of aligning special moments, so it feels utterly perfect that our first Thankful Sunday coincides w...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your birthday consistently falls near Mother's Day or Father's Day? Both hosts share how their special days were often overshadowed or completely forgotten due to holiday overlap, creating lasting impacts on how they approach celebrations.  Kerry's visceral anxiety around her birthday stems from childhood disappointments, manifesting in a coping me...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to “Flash Back Fridays” Where once a month we will feature a throwback episode.  For our first throwback Friday its only appropriate we start with our number one downloaded episode from the very beginning   the most dysfunctional time of year: The Holidays! Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for additional conte...

Send us Fan Mail As Cinco de Mayo approaches, they reflect on how American food habits have evolved and how celebration foods connect us across cultural boundaries. Food binds families together with delicious memories, but what happens when those cherished recipes come with names nobody can pronounce or find on Google? Chrisy and Kerry take listeners on a hilarious journey through their family foo...

Send us Fan Mail Cold kielbasa: culinary delight or horrifying Easter tradition? Ever had to hunt for your ENTIRE Easter basket as a kid? Some families hide eggs, others hide the whole basket! Our latest episode explores childhood Easter memories both wholesome and hilarious.  Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for additional content. W...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when two Catholic school survivors dissect religious traditions with equal parts reverence and humor? This uncut Ash Wednesday episode of Dysfunction Junkies delivers a candid exploration of Catholic upbringing that will resonate with anyone who's navigated religious traditions. Be sure to tune in and enjoy. Support the show Thank you for listening.  Be sure to c...