Shows
Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 241: A Christian Understanding of Marriage (Part 1 of 3)This week on Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, Cynthia and Dr. Ken kick off a three-part series on Christian marriage.They start off with a little humor (including Cynthia’s list of things husbands should probably never say if they want to stay married), but the conversation quickly turns to a bigger question: why does marriage sometimes bring out the most intense reactions in otherwise reasonable people?From a Christian perspective, marriage is more than two individuals trying to get along. Scripture describes it as a unique kind of unity—two people becoming “one flesh...
2026-03-1032 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 240: Affluenza: Are We Giving Our Kids Too Much?In this episode, Dr. Ken and Cynthia dive into the topic of “affluenza” and the real pressure many parents feel to give their kids more—more opportunities, more experiences, and sometimes just… more stuff. They talk honestly about the tension between wanting to provide well and wondering if we’re accidentally creating unrealistic expectations or entitlement along the way.From private school comparisons to lifestyle expectations and work ethic, the conversation explores how both wealth and worry about money can shape the way kids view gratitude, responsibility, and effort. Dr. Ken offers a thoughtful perspective on what actually b...
2026-03-0326 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 239: Sorry, not sorry. Should parents apologize to their kids?Today we take on apologizing to our kids—or what psychologists call “repair”—and why it feels so hard for many parents. Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss how older generations rarely apologized because authority was the priority, while modern parenting emphasizes connection. They unpack why some parents struggle to say “I’m sorry,” especially high-achieving or strong-willed parents, and Dr. Ken explains that healthy repair isn’t pretending your child did nothing wrong or giving half-apologies (“I’m sorry, but…”). Instead, it’s owning your reaction while still holding boundaries and consequences—modeling emotional regulation without acting like you and your teen are eq...
2026-02-2424 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 239: Sorry, not sorry. Should parents apologize to their kids?Today we take on apologizing to our kids—or what psychologists call “repair”—and why it feels so hard for many parents. Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss how older generations rarely apologized because authority was the priority, while modern parenting emphasizes connection. They unpack why some parents struggle to say “I’m sorry,” especially high-achieving or strong-willed parents, and Dr. Ken explains that healthy repair isn’t pretending your child did nothing wrong or giving half-apologies (“I’m sorry, but…”). Instead, it’s owning your reaction while still holding boundaries and consequences—modeling emotional regulation without acting like you and your teen are eq...
2026-02-2432 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 238: Parenting the Pull-Away YearsIs it normal for teenagers—especially seniors—to barely be home, seem disengaged, or act irritated when family time is required? In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken respond to a listener question that captures a common and often heartbreaking parenting experience: watching a teen pull away while knowing it’s part of growing up.They discuss healthy separation and individuation, why this stage can feel especially painful for mothers, and how a teen’s distance doesn’t predict the quality of your future relationship. Dr. Ken explains the importance of strengthening the marriage during this transition, communicat...
2026-02-1729 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 237: Understanding ImpulsivityIs your teen being impulsive, oppositional, or something more concerning—and how can you tell the difference? In this episode, Dr. Ken breaks down three commonly misunderstood behavior patterns in adolescents: impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and conduct disorder.He explains what impulsivity actually looks like in teens (and what it doesn’t), how oppositional behavior often shows up only around authority, and why conduct disorder is far less common—but important to recognize. You’ll learn how these behaviors differ, why the distinction matters, and how to balance empathy with accountability.If you have a m...
2026-02-1032 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 236: Roles Reversed: Dr. Ken Interviews Cynthia on Parenting the Long GameThis week on Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, we flip the script.Instead of Cynthia asking the questions, Dr. Ken takes over—and interviews Cynthia on release day of her new book, How’d I Miss That? What follows is equal parts parenting wisdom, real-life chaos, and proof that even competent adults can forget to put the gas pump back.Dr. Ken digs into why modern parents feel so much pressure to get everything right—and why most of what feels urgent probably isn’t. Cynthia shares the heart behind How’d I Miss That?: the...
2026-02-0328 min
MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 133: How’d I Miss That? Marriage, Meningitis, and Mike YanofWoohoo! It’s officially the release of How’d I Miss That? TODAY, and we’re dropping this episode on Tuesday instead of our usual Wednesday to celebrate. It felt only right to bring on the man who edited every.single.chapter, fixed approximately 9,000 commas, and has final veto power over any story that’s too much—which is really saying something, considering he grew up in locker rooms: Mike Yanof.We talk marriage—“slow and low” brisket theology, why “spark” is overrated (Mike explains so I don’t get canceled), and why...
2026-02-0349 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 235: Is Nicotine Really a Big Deal?In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken respond to a listener question many parents are facing: how to handle nicotine use with adolescents. The situation raises important questions about legality, respect, boundaries, and how parental authority shifts as kids grow older.Dr. Ken offers perspective on how nicotine use differs from alcohol and marijuana, why not all “bad choices” carry the same level of risk, and how parents can respond without overreacting or minimizing the issue. They discuss why consequences still matter, how those consequences should change as kids mature, and what it looks like...
2026-01-2728 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 234: Does My Teen Really Need Counseling?This week’s episode was important enough to re-record: when (and if) you should push your teen to go to therapy. Cynthia and Dr. Ken unpack what therapy actually is, why forcing a resistant teen rarely works, and the surprising ways counseling can sometimes do more harm than good.Dr. Ken explains how to recognize when therapy becomes necessary, why parent coaching often helps more than sending a reluctant teenager, and what to consider when choosing a counselor—including privacy boundaries, insurance realities, and whether your teen truly needs a Christian therapist.They also address one...
2026-01-2029 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 130: How’d I Miss that? Friendship and Resolving ConflictIt’s week two of our new series where I’m bringing on people I love, people from my past, and the very people who show up in my new book How’d I Miss That? Today my dear friend Stephanie Martin is back, which means equal parts laughter, honesty, and the occasional, “Cynthia… maybe that story didn’t need to live forever in print.”We start by revisiting our short-lived triathlon era—because some of us were made for marching band, not athletic competitions—and then move into a conversation about friendship. Why we need it, how it shapes us...
2026-01-1446 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 233: Where’d You Hear That? Sorting Through Today’s Parenting AdviceThis week, Cynthia and Dr. Ken talk about the flood of parenting advice online—reels, headlines, podcasts, and posts that claim to have “the secret” to raising great kids. Cynthia admits she often hears something, remembers it later, and never actually checks where it came from. Dr. Ken steps in to help parents think wisely about sources, research, and trends—especially when videos or articles lean heavily on “brain science” that doesn’t actually match the data.Together, they look at a recent viral headline about teens’ brains “no longer listening” to parents and use it as a reminder...
2026-01-1322 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 129: How'd I Miss That? - Cynthia Goes SoloHey friends—welcome to a New Year and a new How’d I Miss That? series. Over the next few weeks, we’re leaning into conversations I love, people I love, and a message that shaped me as I wrote book two, How’d I Miss That?. (Oh—and we’re going to laugh a lot too.)There’s a quote that became the backbone of this book:“There’s very little difference between people—but it’s the little difference that makes a big difference.”Jesus shows us exactly what th...
2026-01-0727 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 232: New Year, Same Teen? 3 Parenting Resets for 2026Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! Cynthia and Dr. Ken kick off the year by ditching the pressure of New Year’s resolutions and instead encouraging parents to look at their parenting trajectory—if nothing changes, is that a good thing or not so much? Dr. Ken shares three foundational areas parents should revisit as the year begins—places that often create the most tension at home and the most confusion for parents trying to do the right thing. Along the way, they address control, conflict, and the emotional weight parents carry when things aren’t...
2026-01-0629 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 231: Why Entitlement Is Shaping Our Kids More Than We RealizeThis week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dig into the age-old issue of entitlement—how it shows up in American culture and how it shapes our teens. They talk about the everyday behaviors that reveal deeper beliefs about self-respect, responsibility, and personal standards.Dr. Ken explains why raising kids who expect rewards without effort creates long-term problems, especially when it comes to character, resilience, and financial responsibility. Together, he and Cynthia unpack how well-intentioned parents can unintentionally undermine gratitude by giving too much without teaching kids how to earn, wait, or steward what they’ve been...
2025-12-1628 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 127: A Compassionate Jesus in a Chaotic Season with Sherri Hughes-GraggToday I got to sit down with Sherri Hughes-Gragg—author, mom of five, and someone who speaks about God’s heart with beautiful clarity. We talked Christmas traditions—the Yanof Family Book Exchange (which started because I refused to let Mike buy himself a full-price book in December), and Sherri’s Santa Soccer, which involved antlers, Santa hats, sugar, and absolute chaos in her yard.Then we went deep.Sherri talked about raising five kids, including daughters adopted from Haiti, and how she moved from pare...
2025-12-1035 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 230: Why Adult Friendships Matter More Than You ThinkThis week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dive into the often-overlooked world of adult friendship—why it matters for your emotional health and your parenting. They unpack new research on the “friendship recession,” why adults have fewer close friends than ever, and how that loneliness also impacts our parenting. Dr. Ken explains why parents need real community as their teens grow up and leave home, why your marriage can’t be your only source of companionship, and why having your teen as your “best friend” can be a warning sign—not a win. They also tackle what hea...
2025-12-0923 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 126: Chain-Smoked Christmas Gifts and Finding Advent Hope with Stephanie MartinToday I pulled in one of my closest friends, Stephanie Martin, because nothing says “professional podcast” like asking a bestie 24 hours before recording to jump on the show. We kicked off with Thanksgiving—where Stephanie described having college kids home as “being held hostage in the best way,” which perfectly sums up the chaos of adult children wandering in and out of your kitchen like feral cats. We swapped childhood Christmas memories (her patriotic tree covered in American flags, my chain-smoked Barbie RV) and confessed our modern traditions—like how I make my family decorate the...
2025-12-0334 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 229: You Asked, We Answered: Parenting Q&A with Dr. KenThis week on the show, Dr. Ken and Cynthia dig into listener questions. They start with digital monitoring: What do you do when Life360 tells you your teen is speeding or texting while driving? Dr. Ken breaks down when consequences help, when they don’t, and why too much monitoring can accidentally communicate, “Your life is still our life.”Next up: a 21-year-old daughter who wants to stay at her boyfriend’s apartment when she comes home. Dr. Ken tackles how parents can hold to their moral convictions without assuming financial threats will change a child’s heart....
2025-12-0229 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 228: Winning the Game: How to Parent Well Through Teen AthleticsThis week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dive into the wild, wonderful, and occasionally mind-numbing world of youth sports. Dr. Ken breaks down what’s really going on inside our teens—whether they’re thriving, quitting, or somewhere in between. He unpacks why control is the number-one issue in teen athletics, why even highly talented kids sometimes walk away from their sport, and how parents can set fair expectations without taking over their child’s identity. There are also discussions on injuries, identity loss, parent pressure, car-ride conversations, and the subtle emotional pitfalls that come...
2025-11-1824 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 227: Raising Teens in the Age of AIToday, Dr. Ken and Cynthia talk about how AI is shaping the world our teens are growing up in. From homework help to “AI friends” and therapy bots, this technology is moving fast — and our kids are encountering it whether we feel ready or not.Instead of panic or hard bans, Dr. Ken encourages thoughtful, ongoing conversations. We discuss how AI is affecting schools, what healthy use can look like, and why it's important to help teens think critically rather than rely on technology to think or feel for them.We also address the emotional side...
2025-11-1127 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 226: The Case for Earlier Marriage (and why parents panic)Today we’re talking marriage with Dr. Ken Wilgus — not our marriages (although we detoured there), but our kids’ future ones. Dr. Ken discusses research that says we shouldn’t panic if our kids consider getting married younger than the cultural norm. Marriage isn't just a “capstone” once you're fully established — sometimes it’s a cornerstone that builds adulthood together.We unpack cultural trends, fear-based parenting, and why avoiding the dating conversation doesn’t actually protect your teens. Dr. Ken challenges us to talk openly about marriage, consider how our own marriage baggage might influence our advice, and stop assuming...
2025-11-0431 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 221: When Spouses Disagree on Planned EmancipationThis week Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss a challenge almost every parent faces—what to do when you and your spouse don’t see eye-to-eye on planned emancipation. From different approaches to devices and curfews, it’s not always easy to stay on the same page while raising young adults.We discuss why keeping your marriage first changes the conversation, how to navigate disagreements without turning them into power struggles, and what it looks like to support each other even when you don’t fully agree. We also touch on blended families and shared custody, and why it’s nev...
2025-09-3026 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 218: Teens That Can't Wait To Leave And Teens Who Never LeaveThis week we talk about teenagers who seem very eager to grow up and those who seem to fear adulthood. How should parents handle those differences? Is this a temperament thing? Are they afraid to leave us? Isn't it a good thing if our adolescents feel like they want to hang with us all the time?
We cover this and much more. Did you even know we have an Instagram account? Dr. Ken didn't!
Plus Dr. Ken and Cynthia decide on a "safe word" if Cynthia goes off the rails!
If you have a minute, please leave us a review...
2025-09-0927 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 217: Start The School Year Off Right With Your Teen Plus A Huge Announcement!We're starting off our 6th season with a bang! Today we review the things you need to check as a parent to help the new school year start off right. Feeding The Mouth parents know to review their teenagers' freedoms, expectations and who's more worried about school, you or your kid? This year you better double check your teenager's school cell phone policy. Jonathan Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation" https://a.co/d/bfHCLmG (see Episode 181) is having major effects around the world.
Also, "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" makes a major step forward as Jessica steps back from...
2025-09-0233 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 111 Don’t Try This Alone with Toni CollierSchool starts this week!! School starts this week!!Yes, JB starts third grade—which means I owe his teachers and the entire school staff a formal apology. This summer we let him stay up too late, live on popsicles, talk back like he’s got a Netflix special, and basically roam the house like a frat boy on summer break. I hand him over to you now, untrained and feral. Godspeed, and may your patience be as great as your need for dry erase markers.As for the podcast, this...
2025-08-1346 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into AdulthoodEpisode 171: We Interview Cynthia Yanof... Your New Best FriendToday we talk to Cynthia Yanof, host of the "MESSmerized" podcast, former host of the "Pardon the Mess" podcast and author of her new book, "Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life." Always relatable, Cynthia's book shares stories and lessons learned from the vantage point of a wife, mom, former lawyer, foster parent and Christian woman just trying to keep things together. Her honesty and genuine interest in everyone around her draws people to her like a magnet, including Jessica and Dr. Ken, Cynthia is the new best friend that you just met!
You...
2024-04-0224 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 28 Managing Christmas Chaos with Lee Cordon 🎄🎄 It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And busiest . . . There’s truly nothing like Christmas and the anticipation of fun activities, family gatherings, and celebrating the birth of our Savior. But there’s also the practicalities of shopping, cleaning, hosting, and wrapping that bring chaos to our lives if we aren’t super intentional. (Not to mention that JB is already burning up the speakers of my SUV with Kidz Bop Christmas. Bless it.) I’m so thankful to have Lee Cordon of Do Say Give with us today! She’s...
2023-11-2943 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Worship RecapHappy Thanksgiving week! Are you putting up your tree this week and getting a jump on Christmas decorations? Or are you a Thanksgiving loyalist who refuses to address the Christmas chaos until after the bird is consumed? I’m a little bit of both if I’m honest. I’m dead-set on fully embracing Thanksgiving, while also wanting to soak in every single second of Christmas by kicking-off the festivities early. Wherever you land, I’m praying this week holds plenty of sweet family time for each of you, with...
2023-11-2019 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 27: God-sized Callings with Steve FrissellIt’s National Adoption Month, and I would be remiss if I didn’t talk at least a little bit about adoption—since it has changed our lives in all of the best ways! But today we’re also talking more generally about the God-sized callings that are placed on our lives. It’s those things that God asks us to do as a step of faith and a call to obedience. For some of us it’s adoption, but for others it’s a mission trip, or a financial investment into Kingdom purposes, or even stepping into someone el...
2023-11-1535 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Worship is an actionCan you believe it’s the week before Thanksgiving? 🦃🍁 Here’s a little Thanksgiving tale that my family loves to bring up this time of year. A few years ago I got unreasonably ambitious and made the Pioneer Woman’s pumpkin chocolate pie recipe. Now listen, no shade on Ree as I’m sure her pie is fantastic (done correctly). But somehow I missed a step . . . and showed up to Thanksgiving with the slushiest pie one has ever seen. Not being ones to let things go, my older brothers had a field day saying i...
2023-11-1314 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 26: A BIG Announcement (like really BIG) 📣🎉The day has finally come where I get to share something unbelievably exciting that’s going on in my life. And true to form, I come to you somewhere between wildly excited to share the news while also completely nerved-out because it’s vulnerable and so deeply special to me. But here we go! Drum roll please . . . . You guys, I wrote a book! It’s called Life is Messy, God is Good and it’s the biggest labor of love I’ve had the privilege of being a part of in my life. I say...
2023-11-0836 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 25 The 3 Questions Your Kids Are Asking with Brad GriffinIn today’s show we’re talking about the three fundamental questions our kids are asking: Who am I? Where do I fit? What difference can I make? It doesn’t take long to realize these aren’t just questions for kids, but questions we all deal with at different points in life. Knowing this, It’s critically important we wrestle well with these core concepts of identity, belonging, and purpose—and Brad Griffin from the Fuller Youth Institute is joining us to talk about all of it. When it comes to identity, Brad helps us un...
2023-11-0140 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: A Wrap-up on Prayer"I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers to God make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and the consequences of those effects down through the centuries, we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get off our knees for the rest of our lives. Peter Kreeft." - Peter Kreeft This is one of my favorite quotes on prayer, one you are probably familiar with. Wouldn’t it be...
2023-10-3014 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 24 Trusting God with Your Doubt with Lee StrobelGuys . . . we have Lee Strobel on MESSmerized today! Lee Strobel is a former atheist turned Christian apologist who tackles the most common questions and objections people struggle with when it comes to faith. Spoiler alert, these obstacles involve the theology around earthly suffering as well as feeling as if God is silent. Lee references statistics indicating that belief in God is now down to 81 percent, compared to 98 percent in the 1960s. It’s with this in mind that he wrote his latest book, Is God Real? Today’s show is a...
2023-10-2536 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Four “P’s” for Your Prayer LifeHappy Monday everyone! I hope you’ve had a fun and relaxing weekend. Let’s kick-off this week with a keeping it real moment in our house right now (that’s also making me a wee bit crazy). JB, our 6-year-old, has suddenly decided his wake up time is somewhere around 5:45 a.m. That’s a real bad deal in and of itself; however, it’s exacerbated by the fact our teenage son gets his second wind around 11:00 p.m. every night when he’s finally willing to download his day with us. And you better believe...
2023-10-2315 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 23 Trusting God with Our Wellness with Mia MbrohIf you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking “ain’t nobody got time to worry about my own well-being.” After all, we’re trying to keep everyone else above water on any given day, right? But that mindset is exactly what gets us into trouble and is something I’m super excited for us to dive into today. Mia Mbrow is an LPC as well as my dear friend. She’s joining us today to talk about this notion of well-being. She has a good word on the importance of assessing where we are individually...
2023-10-1843 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Jesus, Teach Us to PrayPrayer should be the most important conversation you have everyday. —TobyMac Can we be honest? It’s not often that we think of prayer as the most essential or important conversation we will have in a given day. It’s also not often that I kick-off a Monday morning quoting TobyMac, but he does make a great point. 😂 We started last week covering some of the obstacles we face in praying. Things like not making time, wondering if it really makes a difference, and even feeling like God is distant. This week we’re fo...
2023-10-1613 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 22 Sidetracked: Fall, Homecoming, and Sibling RelationshipsIT'S FINALLY FALL! The air is crisp (at least for Dallas), the pumpkin lattes are flowing, and the mums are blooming. In honor of the change in seasons, this week we’re taking a quick break from our “Trusting God” series to have a few laughs with my dear friend, Heather MacFadyen from Don’t Mom Alone. We’re laughing/lamenting about everything from Homecoming Mums, teen language we don’t understand, and even some of the hard things going on in our lives these days. I espec...
2023-10-1143 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeSpiritual Rhythms: Let’s Talk Prayer“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” - Martin Luther I’ve spent most of my life agreeing philosophically with the words above; but I’ve also spent much of my life very practically wondering how to pray correctly. Or most effectively. Or the way that everyone else does so that God will really hear me. Can you relate? The next few weeks, we’re focusing on the spiritual rhythm of prayer. Yes, we’re going to talk about the...
2023-10-0917 minMESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purposeEpisode 21 Trusting God With Our Dreams With Wade JoyeRemember the time I read a book that rocked my world (in a good way), and I randomly emailed the author to come on the podcast and then cried when I finally met him? Me neither. But if that were to happen (which it totally did), the author would be Wade Joye, the book would be This Dream is Not for You, and today’s show is the conversation you must hear. We all have dreams, and oftentimes they are not career related. Dreams for our marriage, our family, our kid...
2023-10-0442 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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 minMESSmerized - 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