Here Comes the Drama with Christa Innis

What happens when you ignore every red flag? Christa sits down with parenting coach Mary Van Geffen to react to a wedding story filled with boundary-crossing in-laws, a husband who never stood up for his wife, and a bride who knew something wasn't right. They also dive into raising "spicy" kids, breaking generational cycles, and building healthier family relationships.
"I knew I shouldn't marry him... but I walked down the aisle anyway."
What happens when you ignore your gut? This week, Christa sat down with parenting coach Mary Van Geffen and reacted to a jaw dropping wedding story featuring a mother-in-law who refused to take no for an answer, a husband who never set boundaries, and the red flags that were there all along. 
Then, they discuss raising strong-willed "spicy" kids, breaking generational cycles, and why healing yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. From trusting your instincts to navigating judgment and parenting with intention, this episode is full of honest conversations and practical takeaways.
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Get the book!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

What Is a "Spicy" Child? – Mary explains the traits of strong-willed kids, why they're often misunderstood, and how their biggest challenges can become their greatest strengths.

Healing Yourself While Parenting – The conversation explores how parenting often brings unresolved childhood wounds to the surface—and why self-awareness changes everything.

Becoming the Calmest Person in the Room – Mary shares practical techniques for slowing down reactions, regulating emotions, and creating connection before correction.

Handling Judgment from Other Parents – The discussion dives into unsolicited advice, public tantrums, and how to tune out outside opinions while protecting your peace.

The Wedding That Never Felt Right – Mary opens up about marrying someone despite knowing in her gut it wasn't the right decision—and the lesson she learned from it.

The Mother-in-Law Who Wouldn't Take No – Christa and Mary react to an unbelievable story of a mother-in-law determined to perform at the wedding, no matter what the couple wanted.

Why Your Partner Must Set Family Boundaries – The pair discuss why spouses should handle difficult conversations with their own families and what happens when they don't.

Breaking Generational Patterns – The episode ends with an empowering conversation about choosing healthier relationships, parenting differently, and trusting your instincts.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

"The biggest red flags usually show up long before you walk down the aisle."- Christa Innis

"Sometimes becoming a parent forces you to heal parts of yourself you didn't even know were hurting."  - Christa Innis

"If your gut keeps telling you something isn't right, don't ignore it just because everyone else says it's normal."  - Christa Innis

"The healthiest relationships are built when both people choose each other first."  - Christa Innis

"Parenting isn't about being perfect—it's about being willing to grow alongside your child."  - Christa Innis

"Sometimes the hardest boundary you'll ever set is the one that finally changes your family's future."  - Christa Innis

"Connect with them before you correct, before you direct." - Mary Van Geffen

"A lot of times when we have a strong-willed, spicy one, we kind of stop liking them. Shift your mind to: What do you like about this kid? What is good about them?" - Mary Van Geffen

"You can't discipline, change, or help your child grow outside of a relationship. Connection has to come first." - Mary Van Geffen

"If you're like, 'I'm not sure this is the right guy,' then trust it." - Mary Van Geffen

"The son should be the one setting the boundary with his mother. He set his wife up to fail by making her be in that communication." - Mary Van Geffen

*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About Mary
Mary Van Geffen is a parenting coach, author, and creator of the "Spicy Ones" movement, helping parents navigate life with strong-willed, big-feeling kids through connection instead of control. After her own parenting journey led her to heal generational patterns, she dedicated her work to helping families build calmer homes and stronger relationships.
Since 2011, Mary has supported thousands of parents through coaching, courses, and her bestselling book, Parenting a Spicy One. Her honest, compassionate approach encourages parents to embrace their child's unique personality, trust their instincts, and remember that neither they nor their child are broken—they're simply learning and growing together.
Follow Mary Van Geffen:

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Join the Drama with Christa Innis:

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Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon

Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!

Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form

Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!

A Team Dklutr Production

Christa revisits some of the most unforgettable listener stories, from a maid of honor accused of stealing thousands, to a honeymoon crashed by a mother-in-law, to families who completely forgot whose wedding it was. If you love outrageous wedding drama, boundary-setting, and stories that make you say, "There's no way that actually happened," this one's for you.
RSVP: bring a plus one, just don’t be surprised when it’s drama. 
This episode pulls together wedding stories from past guests and wedding submissions. Trust gets stretched, boundaries get ignored, and somewhere along the way family members decide the wedding is also their personal stage. 
I go back to a few of the most talked-about stories. A maid of honor situation that spirals into serious financial accusations. A honeymoon that was hijacked by a mother-in-law. And wedding after wedding where mothers and mother-in-laws shift from “supportive presence” to full-on control mode.
Because nothing brings out family and friends dynamics quite like a wedding, where old feuds show up dressed for the occasion. 
🎧 Stay for the drama, laugh at the chaos, and remember that protecting your peace is not a group decision. 
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Get the book!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

The Maid of Honor Scam – A shocking wedding scam uncovers years of alleged financial deception and betrayal. 

A Honeymoon Hijacked – A controlling mother-in-law turns a honeymoon into chaos, forcing the newlyweds to stand united. 

Wedding Spotlight Jealousy – One bride's mother copies her engagement ring, competes for attention, and creates drama throughout wedding planning. 

Guests Tried to Get a Discount – Mothers of the bride and groom relentlessly criticize the wedding before hinting they deserve a major discount on the celebration.

Toxic Family Cycles – Generational patterns of manipulation, jealousy, and unhealthy family dynamics.

Wrong People in the Room – Not everyone around the bride should be part of wedding decisions if they’re adding stress instead of support. 

Mother Mayhem – From controlling moms to impossible mothers-in-law, wedding celebrations spiral into chaos as family members compete for attention and control. 

Boundaries Change Everything – Couples that learn to protect their marriage sometimes means standing up to toxic family members.

Stress vs. Support System – The biggest takeaway: your wedding circle should calm you, not overwhelm you. 

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

“Peace is better than chaos and eventually boundaries have to be drawn.” - Christa Innis

“They had spent around $300,000 to $400,000 of my family members' money. It's absolute insanity” - Jubilee Dawn

“This is my best friend in theory and this is my wedding day. I can't imagine that she would do this” - Jubilee Dawn

“You need that kind of support around you when you’re going through stuff like this.” - Beth Hoffberg

“It’s so silly to me, because if you haven’t been communicating, how can you even know what was discussed? You’re not the deciding factor.” - Kendra Matthies

“You don’t know anything about this person. They’re doing their jobs, they’re helping. Why make that kind of comment?” - Kendra Matthies

“She knows exactly what she is doing.” - Beth Hoffberg

“Some of the best training for marriage is drama and tantrums and they passed the test.” - Sara Margulis

“Avoid talking about tough stuff you’re going through with family or even a lot of friends, because it can set up this me‑versus‑him dynamic .” - Sara Margulis

“That's just toxic. They shouldn't even be in the wedding” - CliffNotes Gal

“She needs to invite me to the wedding and I will be there in a heartbeat. I'll make sure her reception is a blast.” - CliffNotes Gal

*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About the Guests

Jubilee Dawn
Jubilee Dawn is a TikTok and Instagram creator who dives into religious deconstruction, purity culture, and wild youth pastor stories. She also hosts two podcasts: Heel Dish, sharing survivor stories, and The Overshare Hour, an advice‑driven show with her best friend. 
Check out Jubilee’s episode:

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Sara Margulis
Sara Margulis is the co‑founder and CEO of Honeyfund, the leading wedding registry that lets couples receive the gift of a honeymoon or cash to start their lives together. Launched nearly 20 years ago, Honeyfund has helped millions of couples celebrate their weddings.
Check out Sara’s episode:

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Beth Hoffberg
Beth Hoffberg, known online as @intuitivelybeth, is a certified life coach with over 10 years of experience and a background in psychology and marriage & family therapy. She’s also an entrepreneur who has been practicing tarot for eight years, sharing her journey of healing, intuition, and trauma recovery. 
Check out Beth’s episode:

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Kendra Matthies
Kendra Matthies is a licensed esthetician, professional makeup artist, and content creator with over a million TikTok followers. She runs her own business, Makeup by Kendra Leigh LLC, specializing in bridal makeup and esthetics.

Check out Kendra’s episode:

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CliffNotes Gal
CliffNotes Gal is a TikTok creator known for her fast‑paced, one‑minute recaps of long, drawn‑out storytimes. During COVID she made a fun summary stitch of a never‑ending video quickly blew up into millions of views, earning her the nickname “CliffNotes Gal” from her followers. 

Check out CliffNotes Gal’s episode:

Apple Podcast

YouTube

Follow Jubilee, Sara, Beth, Kendra, and Cliffnotes:

Jubilee Dawn: Instagram, TikTok

Sara Margulis: Instagram

Beth Hoffberg: TikTok, Youtube, Website

Kendra Matthies: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Cliffnotes Gal: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube

Join the Drama with Christa Innis:

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Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon

Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!

Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form

Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!

A Team Dklutr Production

What do you do when a groom disappears, the bartender cancels, and your ex somehow ends up saving the wedding? This week, Christa is joined by Sandra Weir, founder of The Wedding Nanny NYC, to talk about the unique world of wedding childcare, the wildest situations she's encountered on the job, and why setting boundaries is essential when kids are involved.
What do you do when a groom disappears, the bartender cancels, and your ex somehow ends up saving the wedding?
This week, Christa is joined by Sandra Weir, founder of The Wedding Nanny NYC, to talk about the unique world of wedding childcare, the wildest situations she's encountered on the job, and why setting boundaries is essential when kids are involved. From a wedding that secretly doubled its child count to police showing up over a family dispute, Sandra shares unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories. 
Plus, Sandra and Christa react to a listener submission featuring a missing groom, a canceled bartender, a no-show wedding planner, giant Jell-O shots, and an ex-boyfriend who somehow became the hero of the day. You won't believe how this one ends.
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Get the book!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

Meet the Wedding Nanny - Sandra shares how a single wedding experience inspired her to launch a business dedicated to caring for children during weddings and special events.

Why Wedding Childcare Matters - Sandra explains how dedicated childcare allows parents to relax while ensuring children stay safe, entertained, and included.

The Wedding with 18 Surprise Kids - What was supposed to be a manageable booking quickly turned into chaos when nearly double the expected number of children showed up.

When Boundaries Become Essential - Sandra discusses difficult situations where parents assumed childcare was available for every child at the wedding and why clear boundaries matter.

The Police Show Up - A seemingly normal wedding took an unexpected turn when family tensions escalated and law enforcement arrived at the venue.

The Groom Who Couldn't Stop Skating - Christa and Sandra react to a jaw-dropping story involving a groom who repeatedly disappeared while wedding-day responsibilities piled up.

The Ex Who Saved the Wedding - A listener's former boyfriend unexpectedly stepped in to help when vendors started canceling and wedding plans fell apart.

Wedding Day Red Flags - Christa and Sandra discuss how behavior leading up to a wedding can reveal important clues about the future of a marriage.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

"Communication goes a long way, especially when everyone's counting on you." - Christa Innis

"A wedding day should bring people together, not leave one person carrying all the responsibility." - Christa Innis

"Sometimes the biggest wedding drama isn't the guests, it's the person standing at the altar." - Christa Innis

"Your wedding day is often a preview of how you'll handle challenges together later." - Christa Innis

"The people who show up when things fall apart are the ones you remember most." - Christa Innis

"Boundaries aren't rude, they're what keep chaos from taking over." - Christa Innis

"Children deserve to feel just as special and included as the adults celebrating." -Sandra Weir

"Preparation is everything, especially when you're responsible for someone's child." -Sandra Weir

"You can be kind while still holding firm boundaries." - Sandra Weir

"The more information you have beforehand, the safer and smoother the day becomes." - Sandra Weir

"If your partner isn't backing you up during the easy moments, the hard moments become even harder." - Sandra Weir

"Every wedding teaches you something new about people, families, and relationships." - Sandra Weir

"The goal isn't just watching children, it's creating a positive experience for them too." - Sandra Weir

*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About Sandra
Sandra Weir is the founder of The Wedding Nanny NYC, a unique service helping couples enjoy their big day without worrying about who's keeping an eye on the kids. With more than 10 years of professional nanny experience, Sandra leads a team that provides personalized childcare for weddings and special events across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
From toddler meltdowns and family drama to unexpected wedding-day surprises, Sandra has truly seen it all. In this episode, she shares how she built her business, the importance of setting boundaries, and some of the wildest stories she's encountered while helping couples create a stress-free experience for both parents and their youngest guests.
Follow Sandra Weir:

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Join the Drama with Christa Innis:

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Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon

Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!

Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form

Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!

A Team Dklutr Production

One-year podcast anniversary, wedding hot takes, and a family feud that turns an engagement into all-out drama. This week, I dive into a listener story about toxic relatives, broken trust, and the difficult decision to protect your peace, even if it means leaving family off the guest list.
Apparently, drama never stops!
This week, we are celebrating a major milestone: the one-year anniversary of Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story. There are also exciting updates on book two, Drama Ever After.
Before I get into the wedding story, I delve into wedding hot takes and a wedding dilemma involving a vow renewal with one big question: if your family made your wedding miserable ten years ago, do they deserve an invitation this time around?
Then we're moving into the spotlight, where a sweet engagement turns into family conflict and financial tension that completely broke a mother-daughter relationship. Will this bride make it to the altar with her peace intact?
From cutting off toxic behavior to considering wedding security, this story is a reminder that protecting your peace sometimes comes with hard decisions.
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Get the book!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

One Year of Here Comes the Drama - Celebrating the first anniversary of a book and more exciting updates on book two, Drama Ever After.

The Vow Renewal Dilemma - A listener wonders whether family members who made their wedding miserable ten years ago deserve an invitation to their upcoming vow renewal. 

The Mom Who Showed Up Anyway - After saying she wouldn't attend a venue tour, the bride's mother unexpectedly arrives and leaves everyone confused. 

Birthday Drama Over Food Allergies - A family disagreement escalates when the bride's mother blames her fiancé's allergies for ruining her birthday plans. 

When Money Becomes the Real Issue - Financial stress and lingering resentment threaten to overshadow the wedding planning process. 

The Importance of Wedding Boundaries - Why protecting your peace sometimes means limiting access to the people causing the most drama.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

"It's not about what people said, it's about how they made you feel."

"Think about your budget ahead of time."

"I love Pinterest, but you gotta use it in the right way."

"Think about what's most important to you and put that top of your bucket, and don't compare yourself."

“Stay on the same page. Cut out the toxic behavior, and then get on the same page when it comes to everything you wanna do moving forward.”

*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
Join the Drama with Christa Innis:

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Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon

Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!

Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form

Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!

A Team Dklutr Production

This week, I’m joined by psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, and honestly… this conversation felt like therapy for every person who’s ever dealt with difficult in-laws, wedding drama, or the classic “that’s just how my family is” excuse.
She’s threatening not to come to the wedding… because of the guest list?” Yeah. We’re going there today.
This week, I’m joined by psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, and honestly… this conversation felt like therapy for every person who’s ever dealt with difficult in-laws, wedding drama, or the classic “that’s just how my family is” excuse. We get into the REAL reason weddings bring out so much tension, why mother-in-law relationships can feel so complicated, and how couples can stop getting stuck in the middle of everyone else’s expectations.
We also react to listener stories involving crying over wedding invitations, passive-aggressive comments, controlling family dynamics, and boundary-crossing behavior that had me internally screaming. If you’re engaged, married, dealing with family pressure, or just love hearing about messy relationship dynamics… this episode is for you.
My new book Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris and Sloan Story is live!
Get the book!

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

Why Weddings Trigger Family Drama - Dr. Tracy explains how weddings become emotional pressure cookers because families, traditions, expectations, and control issues all collide at once.

“That’s Just My Mom” Is NOT Helpful - Christa and Dr. Tracy unpack why dismissing your partner’s feelings damages trust and what supportive responses actually sound like.

The Six Types of Mothers-in-Law - Dr. Tracy shares how identifying behavior patterns can help couples stop personalizing conflict and respond more effectively.

Guest List Guilt & Wedding Control - A listener story sparks a conversation about crying over wedding invitations, emotional manipulation, and standing firm in your choices.

Boundaries Aren’t About Controlling People - One of the biggest takeaways of the episode: boundaries are about what YOU will do when someone crosses the line.

The Internet’s “Cut Them Off” Culture - Christa and Dr. Tracy discuss why social media pushes black-and-white thinking and why real relationships are much more nuanced.

Love Is Hard… And That’s Normal - The episode challenges the fairytale idea that healthy relationships should always feel easy and effortless.

Why Couples Need To Be On The Same Team - From in-law tension to parenting differences, the conversation keeps coming back to one thing: connection between partners matters most.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

“People are gonna people. You can’t control every little thing they do.” - Christa Innis

“I feel like weddings bring out so much more than just two people getting married.” - Christa Innis

“It’s almost set up like a competition between the partner and the family.” - Christa Innis

“So many people focus on the wedding and forget about the marriage.” - Christa Innis

“The internet is SO quick to tell people to cut everyone off.” - Christa Innis

“I think people just want to feel like they’re not alone in these situations.” - Christa Innis

“It’s about being confident in who you are and letting the pieces fall where they may.” - Christa Innis

 ”Relationship awareness really is about who am I and who am I communicating with.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“It’s not conflict that tears relationships apart. It’s never learning how to repair.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“Boundaries are not about controlling other people. They’re about deciding what YOU will do.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“You and your partner need to be on the same team.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“Difference does not mean someone did it wrong.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“Love is hard. Healthy relationships take work.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“You don’t get to control what family does, only how you respond together.” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

“How much are you willing to shrink yourself to become the version of you someone else wants?” - Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

*This conversation is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek a licensed professional for your specific situation.
About Dr. Tracy

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish is a psychologist, couples therapist, author, speaker, and podcast host helping people feel less lonely in their relationships and build stronger connection. With over 18 years of clinical experience, she’s known for her honest, relatable, and evidence-based approach to marriage, communication, boundaries, and family dynamics.
She’s the author of I Didn’t Sign Up For This and You, Your Husband, and His Mother, and has been featured in outlets including The New York Times, NBC News, and Parade. Through her books, podcast, online community, and therapy work, Dr. Tracy helps couples navigate the messy, real-life challenges of love, conflict, parenting, and partnership with compassion and practical tools that actually work.
Follow Dr. Tracy Dalgleish

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Join the Drama with Christa Innis:

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Get ‘Here Comes the Drama: A Ferris & Sloan Story’ on Amazon

Got Wedding Drama? We Want to Hear It!

Your stories make Here Comes the Drama what it is! Share your unforgettable wedding tales, hilarious mishaps, or unbelievable moments with us. Whether it’s a wild confession or a story worth a skit, we can’t wait to hear it.
Submit your story today: Story Submission Form

Follow us on social media for updates and sneak peeks at upcoming episodes. Your stories inspire the drama, the laughs, and the lessons we love to share!

A Team Dklutr Production