The universe is an extraordinary place, full of beauty and mystery. And yet, for all of the amazing things that science has discovered, the most surprising and mysterious aspect of reality is… us. Through the development of life and mind, the universe glimpses the potential of a subjective dimension, -of value, meaning, and significance. Today growing numbers of scientists and philosophers argue that proper recognition of the existence of consciousness reframes our entire cosmological pictur ...
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Help! My Kids Don’t Know How to Do Anything : Building Life Skills This Summer :: Katie Kimball [Ep 525]
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 …
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Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523]
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…
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Helping Kids Do Hard Things, Strong-Willed Kids, and Growing Through Failure :: David Thomas & Sissy Goff [Ep 522]
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…
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Today Emmy-winning actor Patricia Heaton joins us for a candid conversation on motherhood, career, and raising four boys. We talk about the pressure parents feel to over-schedule kids, the beauty of simplicity (just give them a cardboard box!), and how God ordered her journey through motherhood and acting. She and her husband, David Hunt, are in th…
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The Shift: Overcoming Self-Sabotage, Imposter Syndrome, and Critical Inner Monologues :: Mary Marantz [Ep 520]
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59:18Do you often feel like something is holding you back? You can’t quite get to where you want to go professionally, relationally, or in personal habits and goals? Today Mary Marantz is here to tell us about the mental shifts that change everything. Mary’s story is riveting from growing up in a single-wide trailer in the mountains full of dirt and mem…
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When Friendships Get Messy: Healing, Humor & Finding Your Chicken-Fried Women :: Melissa Radke [Ep 519]
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46:16Get ready to laugh! Today Melissa Radke joins me for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation. Her new book Chicken-Fried Women will make you giggle, cry, and think about the women and friendships in your life. We cover many hilarious topics including spray tans, garage sale bras, swim gym, southern church in the 80’s, and laundry on the couch. At th…
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Mean Girls, Mom Roles & Modern Friendship: Coaching Kids Through Conflict :: Dr. Kelly Jameson [Ep 518]
Today Dr. Kelly Jameson joins me to help us understand the many dynamics of teen friendships. Although this episode mainly applies to girl moms there is advice for the boy mom in this episode as well! Kelly is a trained systems therapist who practices narrative therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Through her many years of listening to familie…
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Walking Through Grief: Coping, Comforting Kids, and Embodied Emotions :: Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague [Ep 517]
Grief is a journey that no one wants to walk, yet so many of us will experience deep loss in our lifetime. In this episode, Colleen and Erin have an open and honest conversation about Erin’s journey through unimaginable loss—losing her husband in a plane crash, navigating her children’s grief, the heartbreak of her mother’s suicide, and later, the …
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Do you often desire to disciple your neighbors, friends, or acquaintances but don’t know how? Today Courtney Garrett joins me to talk about her amazing tools to help Christians invite people into going deeper with Jesus. She is an accidental homeschool mom with years of ministry experience who saw a need for discipleship tools. Often people have gr…
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Mothering Autism: Navigating Grief, Marriage, and Community :: Carrie Cariello, Kate Swenson, and Adrian Wood [Ep 515]
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53:37Do you have a child with autism or neurodivergent tendencies? Do you have a friend with a child that needs support but you're not sure how to show up? Today Carrie, Kate, and Adrian are here to share their deeply personal stories about their kids and how autism has shaped their families. The amazing thing is each of their experiences is so differen…
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The Truth About Baby Sleep: Breaking Myths, Balancing Attachment and Restful Nights :: Eve Squires [Ep 514]
Is it possible to have a well-rested baby without sacrificing attachment? Are you an exhausted mom who struggles with the nighttime routine? Today Eve Squires, a sleep consultant with over fifteen years of experience, shares her journey and approach to improving infant sleep without resorting to harsh methods. Sleep is one of the most debated paren…
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From Chaos to Calm: Practical Tools to Manage Anger and Overwhelm in Motherhood :: Elizabeth Andreyevskiy [Ep 513]
Do you feel like you’re constantly putting out fires, reacting instead of responding, and struggling to manage your emotions—especially anger? Today Elizabeth Andreyevskiy joins me to share her journey from explosive to calm in motherhood. Maybe you’ve tried counseling, read the books, and learned the tools, but implementing them in real life still…
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Modeling Faith: Family Spiritual Habits that Stick :: Chris Pappalardo and Clayton Greene [Ep 512]
Do you want to lead your home well spiritually but are not sure how? Do you need more creative and fun ideas on how to point your kids to Jesus? Today, Chris Pappalardo and Clayton Greene join me to talk about spiritual rhythms with our kids. They share plenty of ideas on creating a space for spiritual growth that doesn't need to be a checklist-dri…
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Perimenopause Guide: Managing Symptoms, Emotional Changes, and Weight Gain During Hormonal Shifts :: Dr. Kamilia Smith [Ep 511]
Have you ever been to your doctor or OBGYN and felt that your symptoms were dismissed? Do you know how to identify the main issues of perimenopause and menopause?In this follow up episode with Dr. Kamilia Smith, we continue our deep dive into perimenopause, exploring how it impacts women's emotions, physical changes, and overall well-being. She cle…
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I don’t often do a solo podcast but God has been working on my heart when it comes to parenting teens and expectations and I felt prompted to sit down and share what I am learning with you all. So often as parents, we live in the worst-case scenario mindset, when it feels like your dreams and expectations for your child's future are not aligning wi…
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Do you feel that it is hard to connect with your aging parents? Are your kids and grandparents not communicating well through the generational gap? In this episode, Isabel Tom, author of The Value of Wrinkles shares insights into her background, her work with the elderly, and her experience growing up in a multigenerational household. She gives a u…
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Generational Healing: Becoming the Mom You Needed :: Melanie Shankle [Ep 508]
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52:01Have you struggled to break free from generational trauma or sin? Do you find it challenging to help your kids navigate tough situations at school and in sports?Today, author Melanie Shankle joins us to share insights from her new book, Here Be Dragons. Her story is one of both deep trauma and undeniable evidence of God’s provision—placing the righ…
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Do you often feel like you give everything to your family but don’t know what you enjoy? Have you lost your spark for life that you felt in your youth? Today, Chrystal Evans Hurst is here to share her journey and story from a single mom to a life filled with the passions and purposes that God has placed inside of her. So often as women we feel the …
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Did you know that 12-step programs are for anyone? Do you feel like your life has spiritual direction or are you just floating through surviving? Today I am excited to have Ian Cron who is an author, speaker, trained psychotherapist, songwriter, and Episcopal priest here. Ian shares his own journey into addiction and sobriety and how that process p…
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Do you feel like it takes too much time and energy to host? Does having people in your home stress you out or seem out of reach?Today Logan Wolfram joins me- she is an author and speaker that knows how to host well. We met long-long ago at a blogger’s conference before the podcasting world was even a thing. I have been drawn to her knack for pullin…
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When You Need a Personal Revival :: Cleere Cherry Reaves [Ep 504]
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1:01:04As we enter a new year do you feel stuck or like last year did not go like you intended it to? Are you dealing with disappointments and finding it difficult to see God in your situation? Today Cleere Cherry Reaves, author and podcaster, joins me to talk about how God’s word is the most powerful tool in shifting our focus and seeing the Lord in our …
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Do you feel like your mind is full of tasks making it hard to focus and be present with your family? Do you struggle to articulate what you need, feel, or want from your spouse? Today, Dr. Morgan Cutlip is here to help us navigate the topic of mental load specifically as moms. Morgan is a psychologist and highly sought after relationship expert. He…
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Have you or a friend ever walked through a season of infertility and grief? Do you often wonder what to say when a friend is walking through loss of any kind? Today my friend Julie Fowler is here to talk about her heartbreaking (but hopeful) story of motherhood and how God used her story to help people navigate loss. Julie has faced miscarriage, ad…
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Today my conversation with Dallas and Amanda Jenkins is a powerful reminder that the Christmas story still needs to be told thousands of years later. Dallas is the acclaimed director, writer, and producer of The Chosen, and now the heartfelt movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The movie is based on a book read for years in the Jenkins’ house (an…
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I can’t believe it but today we are celebrating 500 episodes of Don’t Mom Alone! I am bringing back my very first guest and mentor Leslie to “recap” the last eleven years. Leslie had been encouraging me from before I started this podcast and her fingerprints are all over my motherhood. We get an update on her life and she shares how to navigate the…
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Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 2) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 499]
Today we continue last week's episode in Part 2 with my friend Charissa Lopez. If you missed part one you can listen here to catch up Click Here for Part 1. Charissa Lopez is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas specializing in play therapy, EMDR, emotionally focused family therapy, and trauma-informed care. She is full of wisdom and the sci…
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Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 1) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 498]
Do you ever wonder why you respond the way you do to your kids? Do you feel like there are things to process from childhood but don’t have the words to explain those feelings? Today Charissa Lopez, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas joins me. She specializes in play therapy, EMDR, emotionally focused family therapy, and trauma-informed car…
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Confidence in Parenting Decisions :: Laura Wifler [Ep 497]
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57:34Do you struggle with discontentment and comparison in motherhood and beyond? Do you constantly second guess the best way to raise your kids in regards to food, education, health, and even naptime?Today, Laura Wifler, from Risen Motherhood is here to talk about her new book written with her sister-in-law Emily Jensen. We start by breaking down the f…
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What’s it like being a mom to all girls or a mom to all boys? :: Courtney DeFeo and Heather [Ep 496]
Ever wonder how your mom friends with all boys or all girls handle parenting? Do you often wonder how in the world a “boy mom” or a “girl mom” views the opposite? Today my good friend Courtney DeFeo is here to have an in-depth conversation about her experiences as a “girl mom” and asks me tons of great questions about what life with four boys is li…
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Do you often feel like what is the point of engaging politically or voting? Are you worried about the direction our nation is headed and what is next? Today Sharon McMahon is here to teach us about how our government functions and encourages us that individuals make a difference. She began as a government, history, and law teacher and then took her…
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Seek Him First :: Lillian Richey [Ep 494]
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51:44Do you ever struggle to keep Christ at the center of Christmas? Do you feel many Christmas traditions take a ton of time and energy or are just busy work but don’t point to Jesus? Today Lillian Richey, my personal friend, is here to share her new project called Finding Jesus which helps families make Christmas meaningful and simple. Last year the L…
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Do you feel like your teens have hidden struggles that you can’t talk to anyone about? How do you honor your kids while still finding safe people to process parenting with? How do you advise your kids on their friendships and relationships? Today, Amy Betters-Midtvedt is here to help us navigate the deep waters of parenting teens. Amy is a teacher …
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Do you feel like a team with your spouse in parenting or do you often turn on each other? Do you have different ideas about what is right for your kids? Have the teen years brought more conflict than unity? Today Dr. Kim Kimberling, professional counselor and founder of Awesome Marriage, is here to share his years of wisdom on how to keep the marri…
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Cultivating Intimacy with God in Motherhood :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 490]
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53:52Does the word holiness feel stuffy and old-fashioned? Do you feel you have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord? Does your Christian life look more like a performance than a practice? Today Jeannie Cunnion joins me to discuss her new book Closer to God. She is a best-selling author, bible teacher, and speaker who shares how the Holy S…
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How do you know when it is the right time to leave a season? Do you know how to sit in silence with people? Would you consider yourself a good listener? Today Emily P. Freeman joins us to discuss her new book, How to Walk Into a Room. She is a New York Times bestselling author of six books with a masters degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership…
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What does Jesus-centered parenting look like? :: Dr. David and Amanda Erickson [Ep 488]
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50:13What would it look like to have Jesus-centered peaceful parenting? Is your parenting style just a list of do’s and don’t or getting to the heart of your child? After correction do you feel more or less connected with your kids?Today, Dr. David and Amanda Erickson, join me to discuss their new book The Flourishing Family. They founded Flourishing Ho…
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Sidetracked Surprise :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 487] Today Cynthia and I are talking about all things college drop off and how Cynthia missed saying goodbye to her daughter and I share how dropping Quade off in Tennessee went. We talk about back-to-school haircuts and terrible yearbook photos and rehash how we both ended up at the same event but ha…
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Do you worry about whether your child is on track with verbal milestones? Does the stress of what is typical in eating, talking, and verbal cues feel confusing? Do you know speech pathologists can help with food intake or nutrient deficiency? Today I am embracing my past life as a speech-language pathologist as I chat with Stephanie Cohen. Stephani…
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The Reluctant Disciple :: Robin Pou [Ep 485]
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50:00Today my friend, Robin Pou, joins us to talk about his powerful testimony of a near-death experience in Africa while on a mission trip and share about his new book, a parable, that was 14 years in the making. Robin is an executive coach, author, and founder of a leadership development firm. He is in the business of training Christians to lead in th…
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Are you tired physically, spiritually, or emotionally as a mom trying to do it all? Does the thought of resting make you stressed because you can’t see how? Do you know what kind of rest fills your soul? Today Jess Connolly joins us to talk about her new book and all the research behind the how, where, and why of rest. Jess’s life is full with bein…
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“How Can I Help My Kid Make Friends?” :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 483] Summer of Mentorship week 6
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58:10Do you try to coach or control your kids in friendships? Whether sending them off to Kindergarten or College there are so many opportunities along the way to help them be good friends and pick good friends. Today we are revisiting an amazing conversation with Sissy Goff and David Thomas discussing how to help our kids foster friendships. As license…
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“How Do I Regulate My Own Emotions?” :: Charissa Fry [Ep 482] Summer of Mentorship
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41:50As parents, we are keenly aware of the peaks and valleys of our kids’ emotions. Anger, sadness, excitement, and all the other feelings can make us feel like our child is on a roller coaster we’re just trying to slow down. It’s true that we all feel highs and lows throughout our day, but we rarely talk about what it feel like when we’re “in the zone…
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Sidetracked by the Olympics, Mammograms, and Family Gambling :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 481]
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55:58Out of the gate today we are into all the TMI topics like how to wear your gown at the Doctor’s office, mammograms, and what stage of menopause we are in. (Did you know there are five?) Cynthia’s family keeps it real as usual by washing their healthy vitamins full of fruits and veggies down with Diet Dr. Pepper. Next up we discuss the Olympics, fro…
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“What Does My Child Need?” :: Amy and Jeffrey Olrick [Ep 480] Summer of Mentorship Week 4
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52:00Do you feel like all the parenting books and formulas do not apply to your child? Is there embarrassment over public behavior that causes conflict? Are you longing for a deep connection with your kids that lasts into adulthood?Today we revisit my conversation with Amy and Jeffrey Olrick. Jeffrey is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working…
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How to Stay Calm with Strong Willed Kids? :: Kirk Martin [Ep 479] Summer of Mentorship Week Three
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33:54I love Kirk’s realistic approach to parenting. He understands what your home dynamics are like. And gives practical tips. After listening to today’s episode you will have at least three different “tricks” to apply.Most of all, I’m thankful for the new perspective he has given me. Kirk helped me recognize how emotionally invested I was in my boys’ b…
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On September 20, 2021, Makayla Noble, a world-champion cheerleader, suffered an injury that resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. Both Cynthia and I were part of her extended community and were getting updates on her healing journey and how to pray for her. Today we have the honor of interviewing her to see how God has used her life to glorify H…
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“Help When Adult Friendships End?” :: Shundria Riddick [Ep 477] Summer of Mentorship Week Two
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39:44A few years ago on an Instagram survey I learned that 68% of y’all have experienced broken friendships. I knew we needed an episode to help.Licensed professional counselor Shundria Riddick is here to walk us through some healthy ways to work toward reconciliation and how to know when to walk away from a hurtful friendship. We talk about setting hea…
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Sidetracked by Naming Body Parts, Steaks for Lunch, and Summer Dilemmas (when you’re not in Italy) :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 476]
**earbud alert–if you listen with little ones around may want to pop in the ole earbuds or be prepared to have lots of conversations ;) ** We kick off today looking like we are going to two separate events, with one dressed up and one in athleisure. Are you team shorts or team dresses for summer? We give some summer updates including how to feed AL…
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Welcome to week one of the Summer of Mentorship! This summer we are answering your questions with guests from past episodes. We are starting off with an episode from April of 2020 (ep 280) with Rachel Macy Stafford, the founder of Hands Free Mama. Rachel’s Hands Free Mama mentality is all about finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obses…
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Raising Critical Thinkers :: Julie Bogart [Ep 474]
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52:10Do you notice our culture (especially online) is full of people who all think their opinion is correct and want to argue? Do you wish you had the tools to help your child think for themselves and have deep conversations?Julie Bogart; author, podcaster, and creator of Brave Writers; is here to help us teach our kids how to have critical thinking ski…
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