Best Heather MacFadyen Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 109 Know Before You Go: High School Edition with Ella, Brett, and Riley 44:36

Play Pause

1d ago44:36

44:36

Another week, another Yanof kid takes the mic alongside a few of their friends. 🤪🤪🤪 This week, we’ve got three freshly graduated high schoolers joining us: Brett, Ella, and Riley. They have lots of great insight from their four years of high school, including some pitfalls to avoid and many lessons they learned along the way. We get real about frie…

1
Learning to Listen to God's Voice :: Kelsey Phillips [Summer of Mentorship wk 3] 53:58

3d ago53:58

53:58

A few years ago, my friend Kelsey Philips hit a crisis in her life. She felt physically unwell, depressed and desperate for healing. She connected with a missionary couple from her church who prayed with her and over her for two hours. It was in that prayer time that Kelsey recognized God’s voice for the first time. “He had been speaking to me for …

1
Episode 108 Know Before You Go: College Edition with Molly and Kate 44:37

8d ago44:37

44:37

Well, the day has finally come. After months—okay, years—of BEGGING to be on the podcast, I’ve caved. Today’s guests on MESSmerized are none other than my daughter Kate and her college best friend, Molly. That’s right, I’ve handed over the mic (reluctantly and with mild supervision) to two Gen Z girls who know a thing or two about the college exper…

1
When You Don’t Know What to Pray :: Jodie Berndt [Summer of Mentorship -wk 2]

11d ago

—

We know that God’s word is living and active. Today’s guest Jodie Berndt takes us through using Bible verses as prayers that can powerfully influence your children’s lives. There is so much encouragement in this episode for standing on the truth of God’s word and relying on scripture to help shape your children, teens and adult children. Of course,…

1
When You Don't Know What to Pray :: Jodie Berndt [Summer of Mentorship -wk 2] 59:02

11d ago59:02

59:02

We know that God’s word is living and active. Today’s guest Jodie Berndt takes us through using Bible verses as prayers that can powerfully influence your children’s lives. There is so much encouragement in this episode for standing on the truth of God’s word and relying on scripture to help shape your children, teens and adult children. Of course,…

1
Dairy Queen, Vacations, and Podcasting in Lingerie 45:11

13d ago45:11

45:11

Dairy Queen, Vacations, and Podcasting in Lingerie In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Heather’s trip to Colorado with four teen boys and a check engine light. Cynthia shares Mike’s philosophy on Dairy Queen blizzards (this time, we might get cancelled). We also get a marathon training update: the plan has been selected, workout…

1
Episode 107 Ken Wilgus on Texas Floods and Anxious Kids 28:51

15d ago28:51

28:51

In the wake of heartbreaking news in Texas, I am talking with psychologist Dr. Ken Wilgus about how to walk our kids—and ourselves—through tragedy, fear, and anxiety. We will discuss: When it’s okay to “look away” from constant news How to know if your child needs help processing trauma What to say when teens ask hard questions about faith in the s…

1
How Holiness Helps Mothers :: Jackie Hill Perry [Summer of Mentorship–wk 1] 51:31

18d ago51:31

51:31

If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?I’m thrilled to have Jackie Hill Perry back on the podcast to share about her much anticipated book, “Holier Than Thou”.She walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of “…

1
How Holiness Helps Mothers :: Jackie Hill Perry [Summer of Mentorship--wk 1] 51:30

18d ago51:30

51:30

If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is? I’m thrilled to have Jackie Hill Perry back on the podcast to share about her much anticipated book, “Holier Than Thou”. She walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of…

1
The Bible Simplified : Going Deeper in Faith, Teaching Kids the Bible, and Seeing Jesus in Every Story :: Zach Windahl [Ep 530] 51:53

25d ago51:53

51:53

Do you long to go deeper in your faith and help your children fall in love with Scripture — not just the stories, but the whole story? Today Zach Windahl shares what led him to dedicate years to studying scripture. He emphasizes the importance of simplifying the Bible for others, particularly for those who feel overwhelmed or confused. After moving…

1
Short Order Cooks and Funeral Objections 44:37

27d ago44:37

44:37

Short Order Cooks and Funeral Objections In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Heather’s summer update of being a short-order cook for the revolving door of teen boys in her house; she cooked eight meals in one day! Cynthia updates us on her summer where her littlest may need some help with social graces. Cynthia also shares her p…

1
Episode 106 How AI is impacting our relationships and our kids with Kristen Hatton 37:30

29d ago37:30

37:30

Let's just start by saying this is not a topic we've talked extensively about on this podcast, but I think it is more relevant now than ever. So let's focus on the important things... Are people really falling in love with AI chatbots?! Yes. Yes, they are. And that’s where we’re starting on today’s episode. I’m joined by my friend and licensed ther…

1
Helping Your Teen Choose College with Purpose, Not Pressure : Insights from a College Strategist :: Shellee Howard [Ep 529]

1M ago

—

Many of you have been on this journey with me since the potty-training days, and now you’re facing the incredible milestone of sending your kids off to college. In this episode, my friend Shellee Howard joins us to discuss the complexities of the college application process, the importance of early preparation, and strategies for securing scholarsh…

1
Helping Your Teen Choose College with Purpose, Not Pressure : Insights from a College Strategist :: Shellee Howard [Ep 529] 53:00

1M ago53:00

53:00

Many of you have been on this journey with me since the potty-training days, and now you’re facing the incredible milestone of sending your kids off to college. In this episode, my friend Shellee Howard joins us to discuss the complexities of the college application process, the importance of early preparation, and strategies for securing scholarsh…

1
Witnessing Hope: How Compassion Transforms Families :: Nicki Koziarz [Ep 528]

1M ago

—

Knox and I recently had the incredible opportunity to go on a Compassion International vision trip to El Salvador. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nicki Koziarz to help recap this life-changing experience.Nicki is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster—and also a mom of six, including three boys adopted from Haiti. She brings a powerful perspective…

1
Witnessing Hope: How Compassion Transforms Families :: Nicki Koziarz [Ep 528] 58:35

1M ago58:35

58:35

Knox and I recently had the incredible opportunity to go on a Compassion International vision trip to El Salvador. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nicki Koziarz to help recap this life-changing experience. Nicki is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster—and also a mom of six, including three boys adopted from Haiti. She brings a powerful perspectiv…

1
Don’t Say Spatchcock and Other Summer Situations 47:02

1M ago47:02

47:02

Don’t Say Spatchcock and Other Summer Situations In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by a recap of Cynthia’s once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, where Mike has to drink a whole table of wine, and JB finds McDonald's. Heather opens up about the highs and lows of summer with four teenage boys, plus we dive into all our grocery order mi…

1
Episode 105 RE-RELEASE: The Art of Redefining 'Good' with Megan Fate Marshman 38:00

1M ago38:00

38:00

RERELEASE! What does faithfulness to Jesus look like in this season of life? We're kicking it off with that question on today's show and then moving on to a powerful interview with Megan Fate Marshman. She’s amazing, and we cover everything from parenting fails to perfecting the elusive messy bun. We even had a little fun comparing stereotypes abou…

1
TALK to Raise a Reader: How to Build Strong Reading Skills at Home :: Maya Smart [Ep 527]

2M ago

—

Kids all read at different ages, stages, and times, but how can we, as parents, ensure they are getting all the tools and skills they need to become great readers? Today, Maya Smart joins me to talk about her new book Reading for Our Lives. She delves into the science of how kids become not just readers, but also comprehend and think critically. He…

1
TALK to Raise a Reader: How to Build Strong Reading Skills at Home :: Maya Smart [Ep 527] 47:53

2M ago47:53

47:53

Kids all read at different ages, stages, and times, but how can we, as parents, ensure they are getting all the tools and skills they need to become great readers? Today, Maya Smart joins me to talk about her new book Reading for Our Lives. She delves into the science of how kids become not just readers, but also comprehend and think critically. He…

1
Episode 104 I paid to pee and other European revelations 🇮🇹🇨🇭 23:13

2M ago23:13

23:13

Just back from Switzerland and Italy (I apologize for the #HumbleBrag) and let me say this: the scenery is gorgeous, the bread is holy, and breakfast is a situation. I also learned the hard way that when you ask for the “bathroom” in Europe, you're really just asking for confusion—and coins. Yes, they refer to bathrooms as “toilets” and for the fir…

1
Can We Keep Teens Safe on Social Media? What Every Parent Needs to Know from Meta :: Tara Hopkins [Ep 526]

2M ago

—

In this episode, I sit down with Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, who also happens to be a mom of two teenagers, to discuss the realities of raising kids in a digital-first world. There is a lot that goes into ensuring our teens are safe online, and Tara explains how Instagram is becoming a leader in this arena. Whether you’re worried about…

1
Can We Keep Teens Safe on Social Media? What Every Parent Needs to Know from Meta :: Tara Hopkins [Ep 526] 55:56

2M ago55:56

55:56

In this episode, I sit down with Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, who also happens to be a mom of two teenagers, to discuss the realities of raising kids in a digital-first world. There is a lot that goes into ensuring our teens are safe online, and Tara explains how Instagram is becoming a leader in this arena. Whether you’re worried about…

1
Burn the Bras and Mourning Stolen Queso 42:36

2M ago42:36

42:36

Burn the Bras and Mourning Stolen Queso In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by reviews of local businesses, Heather rewrites a review while sitting in a gelato shop and Cynthia finds out her local boutique (mentioned a few weeks ago) has a lot of bad reviews. Heather gets into trouble with Meta, and JB gets stuck in a fence at a fr…

1
Episode 103 Friendship, Hardship, and ADHD-ship with Heather MacFadyen 33:29

2M ago33:29

33:29

This week, I’m joined by my dear friend and Sidetracked co-host, Heather MacFadyen. We’re talking all things summer—from the ADHD interventions I swear she’s staging, to her full-on Enneagram 4 vibes. We laugh, we cry (okay, not really), and we keep it super honest. But we also get into the deeper stuff—the lessons we’ve both learned this past year…

1
Help! My Kids Don’t Know How to Do Anything : Building Life Skills This Summer :: Katie Kimball [Ep 525]

2M ago

—

Today Katie Kimball is here to show us how to help our kids gain life skills that last and contribute to the family. Katie founded a program called Life Skills Now which covers topics from oil changes, to cooking, to entrepreneurship. She shares that competence equals confidence and with the rise of anxiety and depression, we want to give our kids …

1
Help! My Kids Don’t Know How to Do Anything : Building Life Skills This Summer :: Katie Kimball [Ep 525] 48:01

2M ago48:01

48:01

Today Katie Kimball is here to show us how to help our kids gain life skills that last and contribute to the family. Katie founded a program called Life Skills Now which covers topics from oil changes, to cooking, to entrepreneurship. She shares that competence equals confidence and with the rise of anxiety and depression, we want to give our kids …

1
This Feels Like an Intervention: Sidetracked by Brain Health with Dr. Spencer Miller 35:17

2M ago35:17

35:17

This Feels Like an Intervention: Sidetracked by Brain Health with Dr. Spencer Miller In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Dr. Miller a neurologist here to talk about brain health, ADHD, and executive functioning. He tells his own fascinating story and path from architecture to neurology. Through getting his degree he discovered b…

1
Episode 102 Unexpected Miracles in Progress with Chip Waggoner 40:00

2M ago40:00

40:00

This week’s episode is a really special one — and kind of a full-circle moment for me — because Chip Waggoner and his son Benjamin were actually my very first podcast guests ever! I still remember that very first recording, and now here we are, years later, sitting down again to reflect on their incredible journey and how God has continued to show …

1
Craving Peace? How Sabbath and Nature Can Restore Your Soul :: Eryn Lynum [Ep 524] 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Today Eryn Lynum joins me to share about the beautiful connection between nature and rest. Sabbath has become such a hot topic right now but Eryn had to learn from age 14 how to rest like her life depended on it when she was diagnosed with Addison's disease. She is now a homeschooling mom of four, a master naturalist, author, and business owner. He…

1
Episode 101 No Topic Off Limits: Marriage, Motherhood, and Melissa Radke 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

When Melissa Radke shows up, you know it’s going to be real, hilarious, and completely unforgettable. If you know Melissa, you already know you're in for laughs, real talk, and probably a few “Did she just say that?” moments (the answer is yes, and we love her for it). Melissa and I are diving into all the things: podcasting behind the scenes, the …

1
Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523]

2M ago

—

Today we are live and in person in my office with Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball! My real-life friends have created a comprehensive guide for senior year and beyond. We cover the logistical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that every family walks through—from managing the college application process to preparing for big transitions at home. This c…

1
Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523] 58:52

2M ago58:52

58:52

Today we are live and in person in my office with Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball! My real-life friends have created a comprehensive guide for senior year and beyond. We cover the logistical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that every family walks through—from managing the college application process to preparing for big transitions at home. This c…

1
A ChatGPT’ed graduation speech and Amish Shorts 43:04

3M ago43:04

43:04

A ChatGPT’ed graduation speech and Amish Shorts In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Cynthia’s upcoming trip to Italy (must be nice!). Another outfit change, they are becoming a regular segment, where Heather shows off her shorts that are large and in charge. And Cynthia recaps graduation weekend when she could not be in all the …

1
Episode 100 What does the Holy Spirit Sound Like Anyway? With Libin Abraham 31:33

3M ago31:33

31:33

We’re kicking off this week’s episode with part two of Sappy Cynthia—my newest segment, where I share a little more of the real-life stuff going on over here. This week, I’m talking about my daughter’s college graduation and what made me cry (which was basically most things). Then we jump into another great conversation with my pastor and friend, L…

1
Helping Kids Do Hard Things, Strong-Willed Kids, and Growing Through Failure :: David Thomas & Sissy Goff [Ep 522]

3M ago

—

Today our favorite counselors, David Thomas and Sissy Goff, are back to talk about their new project- children’s books! So much has happened over the last few years and they are beginning to see the onset of anxiety drop to age 6 from 8 years old previously. They created these books to give kids the words and emotional tools to do hard things and d…

1
Helping Kids Do Hard Things, Strong-Willed Kids, and Growing Through Failure :: David Thomas & Sissy Goff [Ep 522] 44:14

3M ago44:14

44:14

Today our favorite counselors, David Thomas and Sissy Goff, are back to talk about their new project- children’s books! So much has happened over the last few years and they are beginning to see the onset of anxiety drop to age 6 from 8 years old previously. They created these books to give kids the words and emotional tools to do hard things and d…

1
Episode 99 Living in the Spirit with Libin Abraham 33:21

3M ago33:21

33:21

Well, we’re starting the show today with a segment I’m calling “sappy Cynthia.” Graduating two kids in the next 10 days has brought out all the feels, and last night was Brett’s last baseball game—talk about full-on nostalgia (alongside a stomach bug I’m currently fighting). But on today’s show, I’m joined by Libin Abraham, the pastor of my church,…