The Village Thrives

From homemade cakes and backyard games to elaborate themes and Instagram-worthy setups — kids’ birthday parties have come a long way. In this episode, we look back at what birthday parties were like when we were growing up and compare them to the bigger, pricier, and often more social-media-driven celebrations we see today.
We talk about the rising cost of kids’ parties, the pressure parents can feel to make them “perfect,” and the cultural birthday traditions from around the world that make celebrations meaningful beyond the decorations. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the party — it’s about the memories we create for our kids (and ourselves). 

Follow us @TheVillageThrives

What is The Village Thrives?

The Village Thrives is a real-talk parenting podcast hosted by fellow parents and professional on-air personalities Donna Ruko, Kristina Guerrero, and Bradley Hasemeyer. With decades of combined experience in storytelling — and in the trenches of parenthood — we bring honest conversations, diverse perspectives, and plenty of laughs to the mic. Together, we explore what it truly means to build — and rebuild — our village in today’s world, and why none of us are meant to do this alone. Because when we lean on each other, we don’t just survive — we thrive.

Join our village @TheVillageThrives
Donna Ruko @DonnaRuko
Bradley Hasemeyer @BHaz
Kristina Guerrero @KristinaGuerrero

Intro song - Temptation by Doug Locke
Outro song - Precious by Doug Locke
Available on Spotify and iTunes