Back to the Big House: Duggar Family Update, Broomball, & Jinger's Childhood Room | Ep.51

Brief Summary

Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo discuss their recent trip to Arkansas, highlighting the importance of family connection and shared experiences. They reflect on the milestone of reaching 50 podcast episodes and express gratitude to their listeners. The conversation covers topics such as calendar disagreements, the fun of playing broomball with family, and the challenges and joys of reconnecting with loved ones while visiting home.

• Reached 50 podcast episodes
• Discussed family trip to Arkansas
• Broomball experiences and memories
• Importance of family connections

Introduction

Jinger and Jeremy introduce the episode, mentioning their recent trip to Arkansas. They note that their trips to Arkansas have often been last minute. Jinger expresses that her family is special to her, especially given what they've been through in recent years, and that everyone is currently doing well.

Podcast Milestone

Jinger and Jeremy celebrate reaching 50 episodes of their podcast. They thank Matt and Abby for their help with the podcast's growth on TikTok. Jeremy credits Jinger for her vision in restarting the podcast, which has become a fun and connecting experience for them. They express gratitude to their listeners, noting a significant increase in listenership and hinting at upcoming surprises for loyal fans, encouraging them to follow their Instagram page for exclusive content.

Trip Planning and Calendar Disagreements

Jinger and Jeremy discuss their differing calendar preferences, with Jinger preferring Apple Calendar and Jeremy using Google Calendar. Jeremy explains his preference for Google Maps due to its ability to search for amenities along the route, which is useful when traveling with kids. They mention planning a "strategy date" to schedule out their year and address their calendar conflicts. They booked the Arkansas trip somewhat spontaneously after realizing a gap in their busy summer schedule, using air miles for the flights.

Recent Arkansas Trip

Jinger recalls a previous trip to Arkansas around Christmas when she was missing her family, which Jeremy arranged last minute. She appreciates these trips as they allow her to spend time with her family. She mentions that their summers get packed quickly, leading to the need for more impromptu trips. Jinger expresses her preference for planning trips closer to the date due to the unpredictability of traveling with young children.

Podcast Recording in Arkansas

Jinger and Jeremy brought their podcast producer, Mark Finster, to Arkansas to record episodes. They used Ben Seewald's office at his church as a podcast studio. They plan to release these episodes, including one with Jed and Katie, and consider making the podcast recording in Arkansas an annual event.

Broomball Experience

Jinger expresses her excitement about playing broomball, a sport from her childhood. She admits to being initially terrified due to the risk of injury as a 31-year-old mother of three. Jinger had asked her brother Jer to arrange a game at the local Jones Center, where they used to play twice a week. She describes broomball as a game played on an ice hockey rink with tennis shoes and a broom-like stick, where players hit a rubber ball into a hockey net.

Broomball Discussion Continued

Jeremy describes his experience playing broomball with Jinger's family, noting the intensity and skill of her siblings and father. He was impressed by John David's skills and Jim Bob's (father) surprising agility and goal-scoring ability despite his age. Jeremy also mentions that Ben Seewald, who had never played before, joined them but got hit in the neck during the game.

Broomball Experiences and Stories

Jinger and Jeremy discuss the competitive nature of broomball within her family, noting it's a sport where everyone gets vocal and invested. Jeremy mentions he played cautiously to avoid hurting himself or others. They plan to include video clips from the night in a vlog. Jinger recalls how community members would join their games, some just to release anger, and occasionally got kicked out for foul language.

Broomball Rules and Risks

Jinger and Jeremy discuss the dangers of broomball, including high-sticking and checking people into the wall. Jinger mentions her cousin lost his front teeth playing broomball, which is why Ben wore a mouth guard. They recall past injuries requiring ER visits and note the inherent risks of playing on ice.

Broomball Equipment

Jinger expresses her disappointment at not having the right shoes for broomball, noting that specific broomball shoes with special soles exist for better grip on the ice. Jeremy shows the camera what broomball shoes look like. Jinger mentions that playing broomball was a significant part of her community and social life growing up, providing a sense of belonging and connection.

Returning to Arkansas

Jinger describes the mixed feelings of excitement and overwhelm when returning to Arkansas to visit family. She explains that coordinating visits with many siblings, nieces, and nephews can be challenging, making it difficult to connect with everyone individually. She also mentions the difficulty of making reservations for large groups.

Visiting the Big House

Jinger and Jeremy discuss visiting the "Big House," the Duggar family home. Jinger notes how clean and quiet the house was, reflecting a different season of life with fewer young children living there. Felicity, their daughter, even commented on the absence of kids. The children enjoyed seeing the animals on the farm.

Duggar Home and Memories

Jinger recalls a secret passageway in the Duggar home that has since been boarded off for safety reasons. She mentions taking her daughters to see her old room and remembers her love for yard work, particularly mowing the lawn, a task she enjoyed growing up. She reflects on how much her younger siblings have grown and matured since she left home.

Reconnecting with Family

Jinger expresses gratitude for the positive state of her family and cherishes the visits back home. She appreciates that her children can connect with her siblings. She acknowledges the guilt of living far from her younger siblings but values the connections made during visits. Jinger shares a funny anecdote about Jeremy being recognized as part of the Duggar family at a speaking event.

Adapting to Arkansas Lifestyle

Jeremy shares his favorite part of the trip was shooting targets with Austin. Jinger discusses adapting to the Arkansas lifestyle, noting that she doesn't fully adopt the accent but tends to use "y'all" more often. She mentions picking up certain phrases, like "maybe," and finds some local expressions amusing.

Braum's Ice Cream

Jinger and Jeremy rave about Braum's ice cream, a local favorite. Jinger admits to having it almost every night during their trip. They recall a specific saying or phrase common in Arkansas but can't quite remember it, inviting listeners to share it in the comments. They conclude the episode, thanking listeners and teasing upcoming announcements.