Cynthia Yanof - Podcast Details

Shows

Sidetracked#MacfadyenEverAfter, #YanofTheMarket#MacfadyenEverAfter, #YanofTheMarket In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by fondue with teen boys and learning to parallel park at 9 pm the night before the driving test. Cynthia’s on the wedding circuit and has lots of nuptial thoughts and potential hashtags. Heather tries to stay away from controversial topics after causing quite a stir in the DM’s. I mean, who even saw it coming that it was Heather (not Cynthia) who ruffled feathers? Become a Supertracker: sign up here Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidet...2025-08-0147 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 109 Know Before You Go: High School Edition with Ella, Brett, and RileyAnother 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 friendship drama, comparison on social media, and how to find your people in a world that makes that feel harder than ever. We also talked about what it looks like to kee...2025-07-3044 min

SidetrackedDairy Queen, Vacations, and Podcasting in LingerieDairy 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 clothes are on, and tickets have been purchased, but has Cynthia started training? Tune in to find out. Become a Supertracker: sign up here Connect with Us: Website...2025-07-1845 min

SidetrackedShort Order Cooks and Funeral ObjectionsShort 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 plan for a half marathon in Vegas and has all the details planned out but has yet to take a walk outside (who is going to join us?). Stick around to the...2025-07-0444 min

SidetrackedDon’t Say Spatchcock and Other Summer SituationsDon’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 mishaps. Stick around until the end for an exciting announcement! Become a Supertracker: sign up here Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracke...2025-06-2047 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 105 RE-RELEASE: The Art of Redefining 'Good' with Megan Fate MarshmanRERELEASE! 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 about Texas and California—because apparently, people think Texans ride horses everywhere.Megan also shared about the sudden loss of her husband and how she has leaned into prayer through her grief and raising their two smal...2025-06-2038 min

SidetrackedBurn the Bras and Mourning Stolen QuesoBurn 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 friend's house while trying to chase down a coyote. They discuss crazy parties from the same height party to Mahjong and Mumu’s, to the hot girl summer party (good looking, not sweaty). Fridays are...2025-06-0642 min

SidetrackedThis Feels Like an Intervention: Sidetracked by Brain Health with Dr. Spencer MillerThis 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 brain trauma that he had no recollection of and had to call his mom to get the full story. Now Dr. Miller helps kids and adults train their brains to focus and be active in the areas of trauma or inactivity s...2025-05-3035 min

SidetrackedA ChatGPT’ed graduation speech and Amish ShortsA 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 places at once and the tears were flowing. Become a Supertracker: sign up here Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynt...2025-05-1643 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 100 What does the Holy Spirit Sound Like Anyway? With Libin AbrahamWe’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, Libin Abraham. I’ve absolutely loved learning more about the Holy Spirit through these conversations, and Libin has such a gift for making it practical and approachable. This week, we’re talking all...2025-05-1431 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 99 Living in the Spirit with Libin AbrahamWell, 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, Bent Tree Bible. I recently heard Libin preach a powerful sermon series on the Holy Spirit, and it really impacted me. As soon as I heard it, I knew I had to share it with all...2025-05-0633 min

SidetrackedSaditude, Turks Trip, and a Ginormous Carbon FootprintSaditude, Turks Trip, and a Ginormous Carbon Footprint In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by the many truck issues in the Yanof house (one stuck in the mud and one stolen!). Heather recaps her Turks and Caicos trip and shares her observations from traveling with 60 and 70-year-olds who are active and still love their spouses. The end of the school year comes with all the graduation feelings that Cynthia has difficulty naming, we need the feelings pillow. Stick around to the end where we pop back on after taping Supertrackers for a quick update. ...2025-05-0245 min

SidetrackedSurprise Guest, Orange Thursday, and Chicken-Fried WomenSurprise Guest, Orange Thursday, and Chicken-Fried Women In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by another excellent surprise guest here to talk about her garage sale bras, the women who have impacted her, and she and Cynthia become best friends by the end of the episode. No topic is off limits today including spray tans (if you can’t tone it, tan it), sugaring, getting friendly with TSA, and Cynthia bans the word “lovers”. Did we just get an R rating?Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeat...2025-04-1852 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 96 Ann Voskamp on Runaway Sheep and Resurrection HopeThis week on MESSmerized, I got to chat again with the one and only Ann Voskamp—and let me just say, if you’re needing a little soul refreshment heading into Easter weekend (and maybe a reminder that God is still in charge even when your week feels like a dumpster fire), this episode is for you.Ann shared the most incredible story about chasing sheep across the Canadian tundra—yes, actual sheep. It gave us a beautiful picture of Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He never sleeps and He never takes His eyes off us...2025-04-1628 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 95 Hosanna, Hustle, and Hanging Out with Ann Voskamp“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’” — John 12:13We’re coming up on Palm Sunday, and I honestly can’t think of anyone better to join us this week (and next!) than the one and only Ann Voskamp. And if you’re even slightly tempted to skip this episode for any reason, I’m going to have to lovingly—but firmly—ask you to rethink that decision. 😂Ann and I get real, honest, tearf...2025-04-0931 min

SidetrackedTrashy or Classy? Mouthwash Hand Soap, and I 💗Jelly RollTrashy or Classy? Mouthwash Hand Soap, and I 💗Jelly Roll In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by how to keep houseplants alive- how many ice cubes do you give an orchid? Cynthia has a new top 5 list called, “things that made me want to not act Christian this week”. They end the episode with an outfit change and dress reveal in a new segment called “classy or trashy”. Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather MacFadye...2025-04-0447 min

SidetrackedHeather’s Birthday, Weak Ankles, and Adult Rash GuardsHeather’s Birthday, Weak Ankles, and Adult Rash GuardsIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by why candy Tums signal society’s collapse, the “sick intro” to Sidetracked that got the boys in Heather’s house excited, and reviewing the family Amazon account (why do we possibly need a 48-piece fake mustache kit?). Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather MacFadyen (@dontmomalone) Cynthia Wilkinson Yanof (@cynthiayanof) Links Mentioned: Collection for Mature Skin...2025-03-2147 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 92 Anxiety, Preventative Health and Other Midlife Surprises with Mikala Albertson, MD (Week 2)Dr. Mikala Albertson is back, and we’re diving into all the fun midlife surprises—stress, anxiety, preventative health, and why our bodies suddenly have a mind of their own. We’re breaking down the difference between normal stress and full-blown anxiety, and whether medication is the right move. If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “Am I dying, or is this just midlife?”—this episode is for you.We also get into the stuff we love to avoid: preventive health. Turns out, regular check-ups and blood work actually matter (who knew?!). Mikala shares what we need to be monitori...2025-03-1242 min

SidetrackedGetting Hit on in Macy’s, Adult ADHD, and Candace Payne’s Surprise AppearanceGetting Hit on in Macy’s, Adult ADHD, and Candace Payne’s Surprise AppearanceIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by the amazing Candace Payne who shares her journey of being diagnosed with adult ADHD (is this an intervention for Cynthia?), Heather shares her romantic anniversary plans featuring a Sam’s Club key lime pie, and they dive into driverless Ubers and letting ChatGPT plan your weekly menu. Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather Ma...2025-03-0748 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 91 The Midlife Mayhem of Night Sweats, Hormones, and Adult ADHD with Mikala Albertson, MD In today’s episode, I chat with Dr. Mikala Albertson about menopause, hormone therapy, and all the things we need to know to feel better in midlife. We kick things off by debunking some common myths around hormone replacement therapy and why it's not as scary as we once thought. Mikala explains how estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect our bodies and what happens when we lose them. And as a girl who is fighting some serious night sweats, you better believe I was tuned in. We also dive into supplements, with Mikala sharing the four key o...2025-03-0533 min

SidetrackedMy teen’s wearing Lulu and I’m in Wal-martMy teen’s wearing Lulu and I’m in Wal-martIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by shipping plumbing parts to Tennessee and dog shock collars to Austin, they both recap their weekend trips and Cynthia gets serious about what home really means, and we contemplate moving the podcast to the medical genre once again with more updates. Don’t miss the news about the exciting events we are both attending soon! Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anythin...2025-02-2145 min

SidetrackedAsking for a friend: Who would make it longer in prison?In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by who would last longer in prison (this includes an update on Cynthia’s IRS situation), how much boys change from freshman to senior year and all of the challenges that come with it, and Mike has a trip to the Doctor that does not go as planned. Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather MacFadyen (@dontmomalone) Cynthia Wilkinson Yanof (@cynthiayanof) Links Mentioned: All It Takes Is a Goal: By Jon Acu...2025-02-0743 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 87 Permission to Pivot: No Guest, No FilterHey Friends, It’s February, which means Valentine’s Day is upon us—but more importantly, it marks the one-year anniversary of my first book, Life is Messy, God is Good! Looking back over the past year, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the friends and family who have walked this journey with me. Whether you bought the book, shared it with a friend, left a review, hosted a book launch party, or prayed for my words to make an impact—you’ve been part of this crazy adventure, and I couldn’t be mo...2025-02-0529 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 86 Melanie Shankle on Fighting Dragons 🐉🐉🐉Happy Wednesday! Is it just me, or did January last six months? I cannot handle one more school holiday, winter illness, or ¼ inch of snow canceling school. But I digress. I’m thrilled to round out this month with an amazing conversation featuring Melanie Shankle. And yes, Amy Weatherly is still co-hosting with me, and I couldn’t be more grateful! To know me is to know that I’ve been a huge fan of Melanie’s books for years. I was so excited to hear she has a new one coming out...2025-01-2936 min

SidetrackedGetting Lit with Tuna Salad, Adult Diapers and Jello MoldsGetting Lit with Tuna Salad, Adult Diapers and Jello MoldsIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by multiple recipes- Mike’s tuna salad (recipe provided by Matthew McConaughey) and a scripture cake. Cynthia brings her adult kids to a 9 year old birthday party and it turns into dead man walking. The unfavorite things party provides bath bombs that could give a UTI. Connect with Us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather MacFadyen (@dontmomalone) Cynthia Wilkinson Yanof (@cynthi...2025-01-2453 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 85 Annie F. Downs on NYC, Body Image, and Living with LossI’m thrilled to have Amy Weatherly back co-hosting MESSmerized with me for this exciting episode, because we’re chatting with the incredible Annie F. Downs! Annie is living the dream (and the hustle) part-time in New York City, and let me tell you, she’s not just surviving; she’s thriving. For those of us who’ve dreamed of moving to NYC but stayed safely tucked away in places like North Dallas (okay, maybe that's just me), Annie made it happen. And I’m so excited to share her journey with you! On a mo...2025-01-2235 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 84 New Year, Same Me: Kendra Adachi Talks Time ManagementJust in case you missed the announcement last week, Amy Weatherly is co-hosting MESSmerized with me this month, and gosh, she’s so much fun. Today, we’re continuing our commitment to un-resolutions by chatting with the amazing Kendra Adachi about time management. This conversation is absolutely not what you think it’s going to be because Kendra is flipping time management on its head. Apparently, we’ve been doing it all wrong—who knew? She talks about creating systems that actually make sense for women. This includes recognizing the beauty of both proactive and reactive ti...2025-01-1545 min

SidetrackedThe Skittle Heard Round the WorldIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by a recap of Christmas including their favorite presents (Heather’s fave shocked Cynthia), Heather recaps her cruise and her concern over lacking etiquette in society today, and Cynthia shares how a candy malfunction rocked their Broken Bow cabin. Connect with us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Heather MacFadyen (@dontmomalone) Cynthia Wilkinson Yanof (@cynthiayanof) Links Mentioned: Your Friend, Nate Bargatze (TV Special 2024) - IMDb Practicing the Way: By John Mark Comer Heather’s...2025-01-1042 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 83 Lowering the Bar with “Un-Resolutions” in 2025 with Guest Co-Host Amy WeatherlyNew year, new resolutions… right? Nope, not this year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with fun memories! At the beginning of today’s show, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite holiday moments, gifts, and God-moments. But I’m also super excited to let you know that the fabulous Amy Weatherly is co-hosting with me all through January, and we are going to have so much fun! Amy is a wife, mother, author, and the founder of a huge Facebook community focused on friendship, faith, and loving ourselves well. It seemed only fit...2025-01-0838 min

SidetrackedMissing Gravy, Don’t Call Me Nana, and Here’s Your Christmas PresentMissing Gravy, Don’t Call Me Nana, and Here’s Your Christmas Present In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by college student parenting hacks, tracking down the most sought after gifts by meeting strangers in a park, and exchange their own gifts which end up also being a gift for the Sidetracked audience. Featured Sponsors: Dwell Bible App: If you’re ready to infuse your day with God’s word then head over to dwellbible.com/sidetracked to snag your 25% discount today.Connect with us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: C...2024-12-1345 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 81 Louie Giglio on Life, Favor, and the Power of God’s GraceWe’re just a couple of weeks out from Christmas 🎄🎄🎄 and it feels like there’s more to be done than hours in the day. Yet, I often find myself on Instagram cracking up at all the random Christmas humor. Last week, I came across this little gem that made me laugh much harder than it probably should have: "I accidentally used mom’s fabric scissors to cut wrapping paper, and now the cops are here." - Unknown Author But I digress. Today on MESSmerized, we get to hear from Pastor Louie Giglio (and you guys kn...2024-12-1138 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 80 Dallas Jenkins on Hope, Hollywood, and The HerdmansBrace yourselves! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about today’s show with Dallas Jenkins. Dallas is the genius behind The Chosen and now The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. And let me just say, after this conversation, I walked away ready to ugly cry in a theater over the cigar-smoking Herdman kids finding Jesus. That’s exactly what happened over Thanksgiving, and the movie was a huge hit with our crew. So how does Dallas go from The Chosen to a story about the most chaotic, snack...2024-12-0428 min

SidetrackedGift Ideas, Yeast Rolls and a Good Ole’ Fashioned Wardrobe MalfunctionGift Ideas, Yeast Rolls and a Good Ole’ Fashioned Wardrobe Malfunction In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Heather’s wardrobe malfunction at a Chick-fil-a, Cynthia’s yeast rolls that are going viral, and black friday shopping guides. Connect with us: Website: Sidetracked Instagram: CynthiaHeather (@thesidetrackedshow) YouTube: sidetracked with cynthia & heather Ask Me Anything - Sidetracked Featured Sponsors: Dwell Bible App: If you’re ready to infuse your day with God’s word then head over to dwellbible.com/sidetracked to snag your 25% discount today.Links Ment...2024-11-2942 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 79 The Macy’s Day Parade and “What If It’s Wonderful” with Nicole ZasowskiHappy Thanksgiving Eve! 🦃🦃🦃 Are you hosting? Are you roasting a turkey in the oven or deep frying it? Do you call it stuffing or dressing? Will you use china or paper products? Is your weird aunt bringing a gelatin dish? Canned or homemade cranberries? Are you a pecan or pumpkin pie kind of girl? I have so many pressing questions. 😂 One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving Day (thanks for asking) is the Macy’s Day Parade. Back in the day, I’d watch the par...2024-11-2735 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 78 Thankful for the Shepherd: Finding Peace in Psalm 23 with Ruth Chou SimonsRuth Chou Simons is with us this week, and trust me, I got down to the real investigative questions like how she manages hotel rooms with six kids and what it was like being on *Good Morning America* earlier this year. You’re welcome! But seriously, it’s the week before Thanksgiving 🦃🦃, and today’s show is an invitation to take a deep breath as we reflect on God’s goodness. We’re diving into Psalm 23 and what it really means to have God as our Good Shepherd—the One who takes care of us, provides for us, an...2024-11-2034 min

SidetrackedLiving on Diet Coke and a PrayerLiving on Diet Coke and a Prayer In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by yet another doctor’s visit for Cynthia (this podcast is becoming her personal medical journal), and chat with a first time caller who has some amazing Christmas planning ideas, and Heather explains what “nyming” is. Connect with us: Sidetracked Supercast Instagram @thesidetrackedshow Sidetracked YouTube channel – Synchro video now available! Links Mentioned: Sidetracked with the Holidays :: Pie-arrhea, Dutch Cabbage Patch Dolls and Advent Fails :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 442] Soft Self-Adhesive Clear Rubber Bumper...2024-11-1550 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 77 Being thankful for a “Million Little Miracles” with Mark BattersonWith Thanksgiving around the corner, many of us are thinking about what we’re thankful for, what we might be taking for granted, and what gratitude really looks like. Today’s show comes at the perfect time, as Mark Batterson helps us reframe everyday miracles and see God in the midst of our daily lives. Mark encourages us to “change your pace and place to change your perspective.” Sometimes, to wake up to wonder, we need to step outside our routines—whether that’s by taking a walk or going on a “two-foot field trip,” like moving from the living...2024-11-1338 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 76 Surviving Midlife: Navigating Menopause and Anxiety with Dr. Mikala AlbertsonRemember how I’ve been having lunch every Wednesday with a wonderful group of friends for the last 15+ years? Today’s show is inspired by those lunches—because lately, all we seem to talk about is midlife and menopause. It's a season, let me tell you! To help us all navigate this wild ride, I’m thrilled to bring in a true expert: Dr. Mikala Albertson. We’re diving deep into everything you never thought you'd need to know about menopause, perimenopause, and all the hormonal roller coasters that come with them. Dr. Albertson has a brilliant...2024-11-0639 min

SidetrackedSidetracked LIVE (what could possibly go wrong, amiright?)Sidetracked LIVE (what could possibly go wrong, amiright?)In this episode, Cynthia and Heather have their first ever LIVE Sidetracked show! They get sidetracked with a live audience by $16 Cotton candy bacon on a stick, Heather’s blankie that travels with her (including on her honeymoon), and Cynthia’s one-time visit to a Christmas tree farm while her kids were throwing up. Links Mentioned: Heather’s Costco Christmas tree ($100 cheaper in store) Women's Clothing- Chico's Revlon brush hair dryer Thrive Causemetics Nobody Wants This (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDb Captain Rodney's Boucan Pepper Glaze Fine Stitchy Gun...2024-11-0146 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 75 The Art of Redefining 'Good' with Megan Fate MarshmanToday’s my birthday… so there’s that! 🎉🎂 And it’s totally not too late to get me a gift—I’ll be accepting food-chain gift cards for Diet Dr. Pepper all week long. 😂 In honor of my birthday, I’m kicking off MESSmerized with a little segment I call “Things I Know for Sure” after celebrating 50+ birthdays. Really rolls off the tongue, right? But there’s more! Megan Fate Marshman joins us on the show for the first time ever. She’s amazing, and we cover everything from parenting fails to perfecting the elusive messy bun. We even had a little...2024-10-3037 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 74 How teens win with Jon AcuffToday I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Jon Acuff! If you don’t know Jon, he’s like the fun friend who makes you laugh but also slips in the kind of wisdom that makes you go, "Huh... I really needed to hear that." We covered everything from goal-setting and personal development to parenting in a way that doesn’t drive us or our kids completely nuts. But what really hit home was our conversation about helping our teens win in life. Jon had a lot to say about recognizing that every kid’s path is diffe...2024-10-2335 min

SidetrackedDon’t call me SturdyIn this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Christmas card rules, jury duty that includes murder and the Dallas Cowboys, and Cynthia’s trip to Canada where she had sweaty palms on a gondola.Links Mentioned: BH Fraser Fir® Artificial Christmas Trees | Balsam Hill Stranger Things Seasons 1-3 DVD Dancing with the Stars (TV Series 2005– ) - IMDb Inventing Anna (TV Mini Series 2022) - IMDb New Lapel Mics What in the World?!: by Leanne Morgan Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit | Trader Joe's What Happens Next: By Max Lucado Is this the end times? With Pastor Max Lucado...2024-10-1847 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 73 Does church still matter? With Natalie RunionWe’ve got a new show out today, and I’m so excited for you to hear this important conversation with Natalie Runion. We’re going deep into the messy but important topic of church life and the realities of church hurt, how to spot an unhealthy church, and when it might be time to walk away—or stick around. We also explored the idea that ministry isn’t just for pastors and church staff. Every believer has a ministry! Whether it’s through serving, worshiping, or simply being a witness in your community, you’re making an impact. And...2024-10-1633 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 71 How do Christians engage in politics with Libin Abraham"If politics is robbing you of peace, you might have misplaced your trust." Mic drop please for the quote above from today’s show. Today the Pastor of my church Bent Tree Bible, Libin Abraham, joins us to dive into the tricky (but important) topic of Christians engaging in politics. We talk about how it's not just about showing up—it's about being prayerful, peaceful, prophetic, powerful, and purposeful. But the big reminder here? Our top loyalty is to Jesus, not any political party. We’re here to make disciples, not stir up more division. ...2024-10-0236 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 68 Do I need a digital fast? With Darren Whitehead I know, I know. You’ve read the title of today’s show, and you’re thinking there ain’t a one of us who really wants to think about how much time we are spending on our various forms of technology. Myself included. True story, recently I was considering ways I could spend more time in prayer, and I literally convinced myself that I had not one spare second in my day. As if the Holy Spirit worked for Apple, at that exact moment a notification popped up on my phone with my average...2024-09-1139 min

SidetrackedGood Samaritan or Scammed?“Good Samaritan or Scammed?” OR “Was Cynthia Almost Trafficked?”In this episode, Cynthia and Heather get sidetracked by Bucees mishaps and near misses, exploding mousse cans, and chicken chips. Redken Big Guts WILDE Protein Chips Variety Pack The Bear (TV Series 2022– ) - IMDb How I Met Your Mother The Complete Series Premium Velvet Hangers 50 Pack Straight Sided Fridge Organizer Bins The Home Edit: Stay Organized: by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin Become a Super Tracker and get twice the laughs, twice the snorts, and twice the content every single month: https://sidetracked.supercast.com...2024-09-0629 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 67 Living faithfully where God has you right now with Pastor Matt ChandlerIt was hard to figure out how to title today’s show because we cover so much ground. If you are not yet familiar with Pastor Matt Chandler, today is going to be a good day for you! Matt Chandler is the Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, and today he’s bringing the much-needed reminder that we were created for this exact time in human history. That matters because if we were created for the here and now, we can have confidence in God’s plan even when we feel anxious, ill-equipped, or exhauste...2024-09-0441 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 66 What your kids wish you knew with Sissy Goff and David ThomasWith all the kids heading back to school, there’s always the anxiety that goes with unknowns and new beginnings. And that’s just for us as parents! Joking. Sissy Goff and David Thomas from Daystar Counseling are with me today, and they are bringing the heat. They are literally the wisest, kindest, and dearest people you’ll ever meet. I could go on and on, but instead I’m giving you a few of the topics we cover today: What your kids wish you knew How anxiety presents in girls vs. boys 2024-08-2842 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 65 Sidetracked with Jess Connolly: Cynthia Yanof and Heather MacFadyenIt’s August, and Heather and I are still on our summer quest to surprise each other with cool guests on Sidetracked. Today is no exception as Heather comes in hot, surprising me with the one and the only Jess Connolly. Let’s be honest, it’s the end of summer and I’m guessing there’s some portion of you that’s tired physically, spiritually, or emotionally trying to do it all? Jess Connolly addresses just that as we talk about her new book and all the research behind the how, where, and why of rest. Jess’s life i...2024-08-2150 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by the Olympics, Mammograms, and Family GamblingOut 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, from what our favorite sports are to handball and break dancing, which we are pretty sure are made-up sports. I rehash my prolific synchronized swimming career and share how I impre...2024-08-0257 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 62 How do I parent my adult-ish kids? With Lisa ClarkI’ll never forget the time in high school when Kate and I had a disagreement, and she threw down these inflammatory words: “welllll I am 18 years old.” I believe my response was something like, “yes dear one, you’re an 18-year-old that drives our car, uses our cell phone, lives in our house, wears our clothes, and exists on our money.” (Perhaps I should have paused a bit before responding.) Nonetheless, if you have older kids, you’ve probably had similar moments of trying to adjust to kids reaching adulthood-ish while they are still financially depe...2024-07-3147 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 60 Sidetracked with Makayla Noble : Cynthia and HeatherThis week we have a fun show as Heather and I continue surprising each other with guests on Sidetracked. I was in charge of our guest today and I’m so excited for you to hear our conversation with Makayla Noble. If you don’t know Makayla, here’s a little background: On September 20, 2021, Makayla Noble, a world-champion cheerleader, suffered an injury that resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. People from all over the world joined together to pray for her life and follow alongside her healing journey. Makayla has overcome almost impossible odds and has an amaz...2024-07-1737 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by Naming Body Parts, Steaks for Lunch, and Summer Dilemmas (when you’re not in Italy)**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 ALL of the teens that are home and my 1980’s drink that is keeping 4 boys hydrated. Social media has us convinced that everyone is traveling to Italy this summer, was there a BOGO deal...2024-07-0544 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 56 Special Edition of MESSmerized: Sidetracked with Beth McCordI mentioned it last month, but as a little reminder, Heather MacFadyen of the Don’t Mom Alone podcast and I have a super fun show we do together called Sidetracked. As a part of this little venture, this summer we’ve decided to surprise each other with a guest and then release the episode on both of our shows. It’s been super fun so far, and we’d love to know how you’re liking it and if you want more of these shows! On today’s Sidetracked episode, Heather surprises me with author, speake...2024-06-1949 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by American Idol, Father’s Day, and EyebrowsToday’s sidetracked starts off with Cynthia airing her grievances. We talk about eyebrows and all of the products we use to get them to grow. Then move on to an update about our Patreons which we find out are the Wal-Mart and Target of that platform. I guess once you start posting content people remember they are paying for it. We also talk about our local celebrity from American Idol, Jack Blocker, and break down the difference between the new American Idol and the era of Simon Cowell. Turns out we are both the Simon Cowell of our fa...2024-06-0744 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 54 How do I love my body? with Rebecca Carrell and Liz RodriguezToday we’re talking about body image, learning to love our body, and calling out the false narratives we’ve bought into from culture and other places relating to our physical body. Talking about body image kinda feels like no-man's land, and I’m thinking I might as well hit politics and money while I’m at it. Joking. But having a discussion around how to love our body is something that is important, and I believe it is not discussed enough in Christian circles. So we’re doing it here today! Liz Rodrigu...2024-06-0546 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 51 How do I deepen my friendships? Guest Amy WeatherlyWe’re answering “how to” questions these days on MESSmerized, and today we’re tackling the awesome yet complex topic of friendships. I think of all the things I’m asked to talk about from my book, most often I’m asked about the topic of friendships and how to cultivate the really deep, meaningful ones. Thankfully the queen of friendships (I made that up on the spot by the way) is with us today. Amy Weatherly is covering the good, bad, and ugly of doing life with others, and why it’s so important we prioritize fr...2024-05-1542 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 50 How do I improve my marriage? Guests Dave & Ann WilsonIt’s week two of our new series asking “how do I _____” questions. Each week we’re bringing in amazing guests with practical advice for all areas of life. If you missed last week with Courtney DeFeo, we talked about cheering on other women, and you definitely need to go back and listen if you missed it. So so good. 🎉 This week we are tackling marriage, and I’m so excited for you to meet Dave and Ann Wilson. They are pastors, speakers, and hosts of the nationally syndicated radio show Family Life Today. But more than that...2024-05-0831 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by 1980’s Mother’s Day, LTK, and Bad Book ReviewsAs usual, this sidetracked has so much packed into it, especially as we head into Mother’s Day and the end-of-school-year May(hem). We recap my son Quade’s final high school musical performance as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. Once again the tears are flowing as I process having a senior and all of the final milestones that come along with it. Cynthia tries to describe what her best Mother’s Day would look like and it ends up being a 1980’s party with a clean house and peaceful kids. While I would like to bring back...2024-05-0350 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 49 How do I cheer on other women? Guest Courtney DeFeoIt’s May and if you’re anything like me, you’re already tired just thinking about all of the end-of-year conferences, award ceremonies, track meets, class picnics, and everything else headed our way. But don’t worry, we will survive it all together! That being said, I’m SUPER EXCITED that May is finally here because TODAY is the day we start a new series on MESSmerized. (And trust me, you’re going to LOVE it! ❤️❤️❤️) The next few months we’re examining “how do I _______?” questions on the show. In other words, each week will be...2024-05-0134 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 48 Willie Robertson talks Duck Dynasty and sharing our faithHave I told you this week how much my family loved Duck Dynasty? It was/is such a genius way to get people laughing while still instilling biblical truth and good old fashioned family values. The prayers around the table at the end of each show still get me. Today I have the privilege of chatting with Willie Robertson about all things Duck Dynasty, and it’s far past due since I’ve interviewed basically everyone in his family except for him. Willie’s stories are amazing, including how he tried to fire Cy...2024-04-2441 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by Instagram Arguments, Chicos, and End-of-School Year EmotionsRight off the bat Cynthia and I get sidetracked by my grumpy mood. A mood I blamed on an instagram battle but probably more about my grief of having a senior who is actually going to college! There’s some rehashing of the Bachelor, Heather’s advice for renting with Turo and discussion whether audiobooks count as reading. We also get sidetracked talking about all of the end-of-school year emotions including Cynthia's current struggle over her first grader’s learning and reading challenges. She claims her stage of life is somewhere between Kidzbop music and shapewear from Soma. W...2024-04-0546 min

SidetrackedSidetracked by Throat Gurgles, Unlikely Friendships and Trash Can Valentines :: special guest Rachel GreenToday’s show starts with a small hiccup and then really gets going with our guest and listener Rachel Green (but not that one ;)). We discussed what we had for breakfast and it was everything from a frittata, to coconut milk yogurt with all the toppings, to a Diet Dr. Pepper with saltines. Can you guess who ate what? Rachel admits to being sidetracked by ruminating over her busy calendar, and how Cynthia’s book is helping her, “get comfortable with being uncomfortable so she can bring others in”. We share what the Lord is teaching us lately inc...2024-03-0148 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 40 Am I addicted to my phone? A conversation with Joey OdomMy name is Cynthia Yanof and I’m addicted to my phone (and my watch, and Netflix, and Diet Dr. Pepper, and Mahjong . . . . too much?) Good thing Joey Odom is with us today! We’re coming in hot with a grace-filled word for those of us all of us who need to be reminded that we can’t allow technology to trump our relationships. We’re talking about navigating our phones in a world where they are so helpful and critical, yet can also be harmful and a crutch. Joey’s thoughts on u...2024-02-2841 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 38 Behind the Mess with Cynthia Yanof: Building our homes on a firm foundationIt’s one of those rare times where it’s just me and a mic today with no guest to be found. Be assured, I’m bringing lots of random thoughts laced with humor (and hopefully) wisdom along the way. But with the addition of lots of new listeners the last few months, I’m realizing it’s time to share some of what’s on my heart as well as how Life is Messy, God is Good came to be. We’re going to talk very practically today about building our homes on a firm foundation...2024-02-1431 min

SidetrackedLife is Messy, God is GoodWhere do you turn when life gets messy? Cynthia said it best, “98% of life is the messy part.” But that sentence doesn’t have to end there, with us shaking our fists at the sky. Instead, get Sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we dive right into life’s messy parts, clinging to the brilliant hope that God is still good to us, and for us. Pre-order Cynthia’s new book, Life is Messy, God is Good and enter our contest to be on a future episode of Sidetracked! Become a Super Tracker and get twice t...2024-02-0244 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 36 “Behind the Mess” with Kate and Brett YanofI’m writing to you from the airport in Dallas on my way to Nashville for book interviews. You guys, Life is Messy, God is Good is two weeks out from making its debut. YIKES! If you don’t follow me on social, be sure to do that now so you can see my fun updates. As you know, on MESSmerized we’re doing a little series called “behind the mess.” We’re bringing some folks on the show that are featured in the book, and today it’s two of my favorite people! My two older kids...2024-01-3135 min

SidetrackedOut with the Old Cherry Bomb Exhaust and In with the New :: Sidetracked by the New Year feat. Laurel DeniseHappy New Year! We’re starting the year off right with mile-long to-do lists and a complex highlighting system so we don’t forget to wash the dog in the midst of crocheting that giant bow. JK! But we are thinking about what went well in 2023 and what we’re focusing in on 2024. Whether you make resolutions or not, evaluating how things are going is helpful and the flip of the calendar is a natural time to do just that. But because we’ve been victimized by the to-do list just as often as we’ve been help...2024-01-0553 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 32 Advent Love with Heather MacFadyen and Stephanie MartinIf you’re in a post-Christmas coma, you’re not alone! Eating cookies for breakfast and watching Hallmark movies instead of entertaining your kids is fine everyone . . . we are doing our best! That being said, can I invite you to join me and two of my favorite people for a few minutes to talk about love? Yes, it’s the last week of our Advent series and love is our topic. It’s easy to see God’s unrelenting love for his people through Jesus’ life, from the manger to the cross. But how do...2023-12-2733 min

SidetrackedSidetracked with the Holidays :: Pie-arrhea, Dutch Cabbage Patch Dolls and Advent FailsReady or not, the holidays are upon us! What are your favorite holiday traditions? What are the ones you could leave behind? Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we discuss everything from trees (real, fake, and Jesse) to gift giving philosophies (more or less presents than Jesus?) to elves and shepherds and the awful name your pie might get if it doesn’t come out just right. There’s even help for the mom who just wants to help her kids see Jesus in the midst of all the holiday stuff! Become a Super Tracker...2023-12-0149 min

Sidetracked“plump it up”Pull out the petit fours and lip plumpers – it’s time to celebrate! Don’t Mom Alone has officially reached double digits!! Get Sidetracked with us as Cynthia leads us on a surprising, only mildly teary ride as we look back on 10 years of the podcast. There’s even a Cameo from Bob Ross! Jk, there isn’t. But we do have a great lineup of special guests and listeners to help us commemorate 10 years of mom-ing together. Become a Super Tracker and get twice the laughs, twice the snorts, and twice the content every single month...2023-11-0345 min

Sidetrackedsidetracked with fall, homecoming and sibling conflictIt’s mum time in Texas, y’all! Both the colorful garden flowers and the personalized faux floral and ribbon creations seen at Texas homecoming football games. Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me this week as we decode what the kids are saying these days, design our own mums, and talk about the hard things life has thrown at us lately. We discuss the trap of comparison and we finally stop searching for the elusive Conflict-Free Sibling Zone but instead help our kids learn reconciliation. Become a Super Tracker and get twice the laughs, twice the sn...2023-10-0647 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose🪚 Spiritual Rhythms: Tools for Studying Your Bible 🔨Hopefully you’ve enjoyed a few weeks of episodes where we’ve dug deep into reading our Bible. I think the takeaways are many, but mostly the key is the intentionality in doing it each day by having a time, place, and plan for reading. This week we are talking about different tools that can help us study our Bible. By no means are these a must-have, but the resources available can be helpful in gaining deeper understanding. Mary DeMurth is joining me today to talk about the various resources available for Bible study, and she’s...2023-10-0221 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 20 Trusting God When Your Story Changes with Cary and Cara PierceI couldn't be more hyped-up for you to hear our guests today as a part of the “trusting God” series. We have Cary and Cara Pierce joining us, and I’ve been hoping to make this happen for a LONG time. Not only are they dear friends, but they are hilarious and “real” people who know a thing or two about trusting God when your dreams change. Cary is a part of the band Jackopierce, traveling across the country entertaining millions of fans over the last 30 years. His wife, Cara, is an attorney and amazing woman of faith. Cary...2023-09-2740 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose📖 Spiritual Rhythms: How do I read my Bible? 📖In the last few weeks, many of you have shared how much you loved praying for our kids together the last few years. I have loved that too, and I’m so happy my friend Courtney DeFeo is continuing that legacy on Pardon the Mess. Be sure to check it out! But I feel strongly that my calling this year is to help us very intentionally consider our spiritual rhythms. Why? Because our culture desperately needs us, as Christians, to live out our faith in tangible ways every single day. And those faith-inspired moments come fro...2023-09-2519 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 19 Trusting God with Our Resources with Pastor Libin AbrahamI hope you’re enjoying our “Trusting God” series as much as I am. So far we’ve talked about trusting God with our failures and our future self, and this week we’re talking about trusting God with our resources. Don’t worry, this isn’t a discussion of giving away all your money. (Although we definitely are called to live generously with all aspects of our lives, including our finances.) Pastor Libin Abraham is my Pastor at Bent Tree Bible Church here in Dallas. My family attends this church, and I’m so excited that he’s...2023-09-2040 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose📖 Spiritual Rhythms Week 2: Why read your Bible? 📖Welcome to week 2 of our Monday podcasts! Each week we will consider ways to incorporate small daily changes to our spiritual rhythms in hopes of experiencing big faith gains in our lives. This week we have Libin Abraham joining us, my Pastor here in Dallas. Pastor Libin has an amazing reminder of the “why-to” behind reading our Bibles. It’s a critical precursor to the “how-to”” of reading God’s Word, which we’ll begin next Monday. If you’re anything like me, you have a long history of feeling guilty for not spending enough...2023-09-1814 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 18 Trusting God with Our Future Self with Mason KingI got a text from a friend this morning asking if I was attending a “senior lunch.” I don’t have a senior in high school right now, so the first thing that entered my mind was a luncheon for senior citizens. Life is cruel when one day you’re buying tickets to Bruno Mars in Vegas, and the next day you’re contemplating a perceived invitation to an AARP luncheon. Turns out it was in fact a lunch for moms of high school seniors (and she forgot my son was a junior.) Miscommunication? Yes. Reality check...2023-09-1331 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Introduction Week 1 📣Before school a few days ago, I overheard my first-grader arguing with his 16-year-old brother, Brett. It was obvious my little one was getting more and more annoyed at the antics of his older brother and was about to lose it. Finally, in a moment of utter fury, my little one said to Brett in his most indignant voice, “you’re not one of father Abraham’s many sons.” It took all I had not to burst out laughing as I thought to myself, tell me you’re growing up in a Christian home without telling me you’re grow...2023-09-1116 min

Sidetrackedsidetracked with cynthia & heatherIs Back-to-School time a mini fresh-start for you? With all the fresh supplies we get a chance to think again about who we want to be and what our daily life can look like. Get sidetracked with Cynthia and me this week as we discuss rhythms we are creating for the fall. Cynthia discovers AI and we talk habits, opening our homes for connection, scrapbooking for our younger selves, and new business ventures! Become a Super Tracker and get twice the laughs, twice the snorts, and twice the content every single month: https://sidetracked.supercast.co...2023-09-0145 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 15 Caring for Aging Parents with Dr. Mary NormanWe are full-service here on MESSmerized as we transition out of back-to-school topics and jump to the other end of the age pendulum with aging parents. Dr. Mary Norman joins us today with an incredibly wise and practical discussion on loving our aging parents well. She gives us considerations for immediate action if our parents are healthy today, as well as ways to be helpful if they require more assistance. Don’t miss her advice on these important topics: Legal documents and conversations to have now if your parents are doi...2023-08-2349 min

Sidetrackedbeating expectationsWe’re baaaaaack! How was your summer? Maybe you’re like us…a little laughing, crying and even vacation freak-outs. Around here you’re never alone. Listen in for a fun conversation with our friend Cynthia Yanof as we chat about summer adventures and the transition to Fall. We’re talking about expectations as moms. How sometimes things turn out better than expected and other times we grieve the loss of what we thought would be. We discuss surrendering long-held family traditions to embrace what God has next for your family. And, listen closely for a special announcemen...2023-08-1841 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 14 The Worry Cycle with Sissy GoffA show of hands for those who love Sissy Goff? (Picture me with both of my hands up. 😂) Sissy is a Licensed Counselor from Nashville, Tennessee, and although she’s a frequent guest on CNN, GMA, and NBC Nightly News, she’s also just an amazing woman with an abundance of wisdom around anxiety and worry. Recent statistics show that 5.6 million kids have been diagnosed with anxiety. And if a parent has anxiety, research shows their child is seven times more likely to experience it as well. In other words, today’s conversatio...2023-08-1642 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 12 Competition, comparison, and back-to-school considerations with Kay WymaWe’re down on all fours and crawling towards the finish line of summer over here. Barely scraping by. It’s not all that surprising, except that every year my idealistic May-self is convinced this will be the summer where my dreams and expectations line up perfectly. The summer of family walks, lemonade stands, nightly devotionals, and a physical and spiritual renewing of our hearts and minds. But it’s August and all of that’s shot to . . . the ground. And now it’s just survival. Want new school shoes...2023-08-0244 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 11 What's grace got to do with it? A conversation with Pastor Steve FrissellHey Y'all! I'm back from vacation and let's just say the Yanof family did not return unscathed. There may or may not have been a fall, a black eye, and a little (lot) of humiliation amidst the fun of family vacation. Nonetheless, I'm so excited about today's show because we've got the super hilarious and wise Steve Frissell joining us. Pastor Steve helps us walk through the concept of grace, and how it changes everything we do if we really understand it and apply it. Spoiler alert: Pastor Steve also has the most in...2023-07-2653 min

Sidetrackedthe goal isn’t happy childrenHow do you give your kids independence? At what stage do you let kids try and fail? At the heart of parenting is this job: to give our kids the skills they need to live without us. We know that and we still might spend hours in their rooms trying to help them get to sleep or keeping up with their gym clothes or assignments. We bring our own fears or suppositions about the future to bear on their freedoms. Sometimes this is wise, but sometimes we must stop and watch what God is doing in their l...2023-07-2438 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 10 All things Summer with Cynthia Yanof feat. Heather MacFadyenHello from Colorado! We’re FINALLY on family vacation, and the high temps are in the 70s and the lows are in the 40s. I basically want to rededicate my life to Jesus, I’m so happy right now. But I’m also excited for today’s show because it’s a free-flow of my thoughts around the book I’m reading on vacation (Atomic Habits) and the ways our habits shape our spiritual lives. I also share a little insight into the many ways Colorado has not been our friend over the years–...2023-07-1939 min

Sidetrackedthat time we googled married sexHow do you connect with your spouse? And how often? It’s easy for us to get busy parenting and adulting and then take our marriage relationship for granted. We may think we’ll focus on it when things slow down or the kids aren’t so needy, but actually, a healthy marriage is a great help to our kids. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by an experienced mom and benefit from her wisdom. Bonus! My guest for these 6 weeks is both wise AND funny. Join me for conversations with wife...2023-07-1743 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 9 Friendship 101 with Amy Weatherly 💙Today’s episode is for all those craving deep, authentic friendships but instead find themselves in the spiral of people pleasing, overthinking, and questioning why you weren’t invited to the girls’ night out last weekend. (Been there, done that ✔️) Amy Weatherly is an author, speaker, and hilariously real advocate of deep, authentic friendships no matter the phase of life you’re walking. She chats with us about creating friendships that celebrate others, while recognizing that not every person is “your person,” and that’s totally okay. I especially love her thoughts on evangelizi...2023-07-1247 min

Sidetrackedrelationship + respect (8 going on 18)What do you do when your kids are a little sassier than necessary? How do you respond? Can we shape their responses? When does it really matter? To answer those questions we need both perspective and wisdom. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by an experienced mom and benefit from her wisdom. Bonus! My guest for these 6 weeks is both wise AND funny. Join me for conversations with wife, mom, author, and podcaster Cynthia Yanof. We’ll answer some listener questions, share our experiences, and laugh a lot. Become a Super Tr...2023-07-1033 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 8 An honest conversation about church with Natalie RunionWhat comes to mind when someone asks your feelings about church? I feel like an outsider Life has gotten busy, and it’s hard to make time It’s full of hypocrisy that is sometimes hard to stomach Church people have hurt me more than anyone else I experience church at places that don’t have a big building and fancy landscapes Sometimes I feel overlooked and undervalued at church It doesn’t matter which answer(s) you picked, I echo your response with a hear...2023-07-0539 min

Sidetrackedthe unicorn that is adult friendshipWho are your close friends? What do you do to cultivate friendships in your life? Friendship as an adult can feel like we’re unicorn-hunting, clinging to some childhood ideal or tv show standard. But real life friendship requires risk and it can come and go in seasons. And it is so worth it. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by an experienced mom and benefit from her wisdom. Bonus! My guest for these 6 weeks is both wise AND funny. Join me for conversations with wife, mom, author, and podcaster Cynthia Yanof. We’ll...2023-07-0342 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 7 Surviving Summer Parenting with Ken WilgusIt’s summer and let’s be honest . . . . someone needs to start doing a little better job raising the kids in our house. (Or maybe that’s just the current situation in my house 😂). At some point over here we decided a swim in the pool constitutes bathing, and slushies are a food group. An intervention probably needs to be staged. Either way, in honor of the dog-days of summer parenting we’re hitting some important topics today with the much-loved Dr. Ken Wilgus. For over 30 years Dr. Ken has helped parents prepare...2023-06-2850 min

Sidetrackedraising kids who can stand aloneWhat do you feel when your child is struggling? How do you decide when to step in? Whether it’s fighting for your attention from a new baby or struggling with a new skill there are times for us to intervene and there are times for us to let our kids be uncomfortable. Yes, because we’re limited, but also because, as our summer of mentorship guest puts it, “If I want to raise kids that can stand alone, then I’ve gotta let them.”We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by a...2023-06-2636 min

Sidetrackedlittle liar faceWhat do you do when your kid lies? What about when your kid doesn’t make the team? Is this your failure or theirs…or is it something else? We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by an experienced mom and benefit from her wisdom. Bonus! My guest for these 6 weeks is both wise AND funny. Join me for conversations with wife, mom, author, and podcaster Cynthia Yanof. We’ll answer some listener questions, share our experiences, and laugh a lot. Become a Super Tracker and get twice t...2023-06-1941 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 5 Talking about Fathers with Louie GiglioIn honor of Father’s Day, we’re talking about all things related to fathers, and we have none other than Louie Giglio joining us! If you’ve listened to me speak much over the years, you know the impact Pastor Louie has had on my faith-walk. I had the opportunity to study the Bible under him in college, and then—full circle all these years later—I've been privileged to podcast him many times. I could say so much more, but instead I’ll just give you a few of the topics you d...2023-06-1438 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 4 Runs in the Family with comedian Dustin NickersonI just got back from a mission trip with my son, and there’s a few stories that need to be told. So we’re kicking off today’s show with a few things that made me laugh, as well as things that made me think from our trip. (And if you think my take-away is going to be uber-Spiritual, sadly it’s not. But it is funny and hopefully makes your summer feel a lot more normal after hearing what’s going on with ours.) Also, I’m sharing a few thoughts on the subculture of our family a...2023-06-0737 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 2 A Life-Changing Story with Darin KinderHave you ever heard a story that not only captivated you, but also changed your entire philosophy on how to live this life? Other than the Bible, I had never experienced something like that until I met Darin Kinder. Darin is a Secret Service Agent for the United States who has helped protect our last five presidents. He routinely works in over 38 countries and has more stories than the hours we have in the day. But he’s also a survivor of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center where he earned...2023-05-1850 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 1 “Unsettled” with Cynthia YanofWelcome to our first season of MESSmerized! We’re kicking off this shiny new podcast with a real and humorous conversation around the ways God unsettles us in order to gently move (or shove) us into new seasons. The definition of mesmerized is “to hold the attention of someone to the exclusion of all else.” So how do we focus on something more than our everyday struggles with approval, busyness, achievement, image, and everything else that so easily captures our hearts? That’s exactly where we are headed with to...2023-05-1834 min

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeWelcome to MESSmerizedWelcome to Cynthia Yanof’s newest podcast, MESSmerized. Each week you’ll hear funny, authentic, and vulnerable conversations around everyday life, parenting, and following Jesus. A variety of guests will challenge us to pursue a life filled with the things that really do matter. Cynthia Yanof is the host as well as an author, speaker, wife, and mother. She’s relatable, funny, and dead-set on never taking herself too seriously. Whatever mess you’re walking through, odds are she’s right there with you. Don’t miss a week as we dive...2023-05-1403 min