Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Parenting a spicy child can feel overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting, especially when traditional parenting advice just doesn’t work. In this episode, Mary Van Geffen joins us to talk about what it really means to parent a strong-willed, spirited, intense child without losing yourself or crushing their spirit.So often, as moms, we unknowingly tie our identity and worth to how our children behave. When our kids are calm, compliant, or successful, we feel like we are doing a good job. When they are loud, explosive, or struggling, we internalize it as failure. Parenting a spicy child brings this tension to the surface and forces us to ask deeper questions about where our identity really comes from. This conversation invites moms to loosen their grip on performance-based parenting and remember that our value is not measured by our child’s behavior, but by who we are and whose we are. Here is some of what we cover:  How to stay connected to your child so you can guide them long-term A practical calm down recipe for flare-ups and explosive moments How to set boundaries without crushing your child’s spirit Why you are not responsible for your child’s happiness How to support the mild child in a family with a spicy sibling Connect with Mary Van Geffen:  Instagram: 🌶️Parenting Education Classes (@maryvangeffen) Facebook: Mary Van Geffen Website: Mary Van Geffen Links Mentioned:   Parenting a Spicy One: By Mary Van Geffen The Cost of Control: By Sharon Hodde Miller Start Here- Quiz — Mary Van Geffen Related Episodes: Parenting as a Highly Sensitive Person :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 438] Body Awareness in Parenting :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 333] How to Stay Calm with Strong Willed Kids? :: Kirk Martin [Ep 479] Featured Sponsors:  Barefaced: If you want to see results and find a skincare routine you’ll actually stick to, this is where I recommend starting. Head to barefaced.com and use code DMA for 15% off at checkout plus free shipping. That’s DMA for 15% off plus free shipping. Barefaced: less steps, better skin. Green Chef: Right now go to Greenchef.com/alonegraza and use the code alonegraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef and FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait.  Cove: Make protecting your home a top priority. Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 70% off your first order! And if you get a survey, please let them know you heard about Cove from this podcast.

*Republishing our most downloaded episodes, one a month this year*Whether you’ve been married for a few years or are approaching a milestone anniversary, a healthy marriage takes intentional work. Marriage isn’t built in the big, dramatic moments, but in thousands of small habits and daily interactions that over time lead to either a God-honoring, joy-filled relationship—or one marked by strain and self-focus.Author and speaker Paul David Tripp joins me to talk about how those everyday habits shape our marriages and how to identify the ones that need to be uprooted. Drawing from nearly 50 years of marriage, Paul helps us see our relationships through the lens of the gospel.“A biblical view of marriage is a sinner married to a sinner in a fallen world—but with a faithful God. That means we can’t coast. There are things in each of us that threaten our marriage, and we need God’s grace every day.”My hope is that this conversation encourages you to re-engage your marriage with renewed faith and confidence in what God can do.What we talk about: How marriages are shaped by thousands of small moments Why daily habits matter more than big moments Identifying healthy and harmful marriage habits How sin turns us inward—and why marriage is a covenant of community Confession, forgiveness, and navigating conflict Unity vs. uniformity in marriage The role of the fruit of the Spirit in a thriving marriage Why isolation harms marriage and community helps heal it Connect with Paul David Tripp:  Instagram: Paul David Tripp (@paultrippquotes) Facebook: Paul David Tripp Website: PaulTripp.com | Pastor. Author. Conference Speaker. Links Mentioned:  Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make by Paul David Tripp Related Episodes: Hope for the Hopeless Marriage :: Kathy Bush [Ep 453] Building Strong Marriages :: Kimberly Beam Holmes [Ep 374] Rebuilding from an Abusive Marriage :: Jeni B [Ep 246] Featured Sponsors: Thrive Causemetics: Amplify Your Every Day. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.  Cozy Earth: These viral pj’s are so good they sold out during the holidays, and now they’re back with an exclusive deal only available January 25th to February 8th. Head to cozyearth.com today and use my code DMABOGO to get these pj’s for you and someone you love! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here! Cash App: For a limited time, new Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code FAMILY10 in their profile at signup and send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Are we living in the most anxious generation ever? In this powerful and hope-filled conversation, Max Lucado joins us to talk about anxiety, mental health, and the unseen struggles so many kids and teens are facing today—and what parents can do about it.With constant access to phones, social media, and nonstop information, anxiety often shows up sideways in our kids through anger, withdrawal, or fear. Max explains what’s happening in the brain, why anxiety feels like an alarm that never shuts off, and how parents can become a soft place to land when emotions run high.We also talk about the importance of parents addressing anxiety in their own lives, how worry steals joy and peace, and why our presence (not perfection) is what God desires most. Max shares encouragement for praying parents, reminding us that Jesus never turned away a parent who asked for help for their child. Here is some of what we cover:  Why today’s kids are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety The physical and emotional toll of chronic worry Why a parent’s physical presence matters more than we realize Max Lucado’s personal faith journey and what God taught him about presence over performance Connect with Max Lucado:  Instagram: Max Lucado (@maxlucado) Facebook: Max Lucado Website: Max Lucado Links Mentioned:   Calm Thoughts for Kids: 90 devotions for Anxious Days  Tame Your Thoughts: By Max Lucado Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado Hermie Series–Buzby and the Grumble Bees **SIGN UP to Join Heather and Megan at Pro Love Saturday for Embrace Grace Related Episodes: Life Empowered by the Holy Spirit :: Max Lucado [Ep 381] You Are Never Alone :: Max Lucado [Ep 298] From Overwhelmed to Anchored: Replacing the Lies of Motherhood with God’s Truth :: Erica Gwynn [Ep 544] Featured Sponsors:  Cove : Make protecting your home one of your New Year’s resolutions! Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 70% off your first order. Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Every style. Every home.  HiyaHealth: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.

Cynthia Yanof, an insightful author and speaker, shares her humorous yet profound stories about parenting and faith. She emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond immediate stresses, reminding listeners to focus on who their children will become in the future. Cynthia advocates for audacious prayers, explaining how they transformed her son's journey, and highlights the need for selective friendships during different parenting seasons. With a sprinkle of practical hosting tips, she inspires parents to embrace the journey and trust God's process.

Debra Fileta, a licensed professional counselor and bestselling author, shares her expertise on enhancing communication in relationships. She highlights the importance of genuine connection in a tech-driven world, stressing that effective interactions rely on tone, body language, and self-awareness. Debra breaks down four communication styles—assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive—and emphasizes the need for vulnerability in conversations. She encourages nurturing deep friendships while also advocating for self-care. People skills can be learned and improved!

In this episode, author, podcaster, and speaker Mary DeMuth returns to share the inspiration behind her latest work, which spotlights overwhelmed women in the Bible—women whose stories have often been minimized or overlooked. From Mary the mother of Jesus to Hagar to the widow with two mites, these women model faith, resilience, and wholehearted trust in God.We talk about how Christmas can be both beautiful and heavy. Mary opens up about her own seasons of overwhelm, from her water breaking on Christmas Eve to sleeping in a barn the week before Christmas. She reminds us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived through the deepest fears a mother can face, yet she remained faithful as a disciple. Here is some of what we cover:  Why Christmas often heightens grief, trauma, and unmet longings The consumerism of the holiday season vs. the simplicity of God with us What Shalom really means: wholehearted, whole-bodied peace rooted in surrender Jesus’ care for the overlooked, the aging, and the marginalized The definition of “Whelm” which  refers to out-of-control stress,  “overwhelmed” is that same stress amplified beyond capacity Connect with Mary DeMuth:  Instagram: Mary DeMuth // Healing from Trauma (@marydemuth) Facebook:  Mary DeMuth Website:  Mary DeMuth Links Mentioned:   Nobody's Mother: By Sandra Glahn 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge: By Mary DeMuth Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth Podcast - Pray Every Day Mary DeMuth Church Hurt Checklist Related Episodes: Building the Family You Never Had :: Mary DeMuth [Ep 156] Nobody’s Mother :: Dr. Sandra Glahn [Ep 443] From Overwhelmed to Anchored: Replacing the Lies of Motherhood with God’s Truth :: Erica Gwynn [Ep 544] Featured Sponsors:  Green Chef: Go to Greenchef.com/ALONEGRAZA use the code ALONEGRAZA to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait.  Policygenius: With Policygenius real users have gotten 20-year $2 million policies for just $53 a month. Don’t wait until next year. Give your family the gift of security today with Policygenius. Head to Policygenius.com to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.  Thrive Causemetics: Complete your holiday look. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 

In today’s episode, I sit down with Marc Cameron, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to explore one of the most influential (and often overlooked) elements of our emotional lives: attachment styles. Drawing from more than 80 years of research, Marc breaks down how our earliest experiences with our families shape the way we connect, communicate, handle conflict, and relate to the people closest to us well into adulthood.This episode offers a compassionate and scientifically grounded roadmap for understanding yourself and the people you love. Whether you identify as avoidant, anxious, vacillating, disorganized, or relatively secure, you'll walk away with clarity, validation, and practical tools for building healthier patterns of connection. Here is some of what we cover:  Why attachment styles are not personality traits, but relational survival strategies formed early in life Why “secure” doesn’t mean perfect; it means the relationship feels predictable and safe most of the time How attachment ruptures can be healed in adulthood through awareness and practice Why the holidays amplify attachment triggers—family roles, old wounds and unresolved expectations How to move toward secure attachment by learning emotional language, practicing repair, and using the comfort circle  Connect with Marc Cameron:  Instagram: How We Love (@howwelovebook) Facebook:  How We Love Website:  How We Love – Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage Links Mentioned:   How We Love: By Milan and Kay Yerkovich Understanding Your Attachment Style:By Marc Cameron Love Style Quiz – How We Love Freebies – How We Love Related Episodes: Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 1) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 498] Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 2) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 499] How to Align with Your Spouse in Parenting :: Dr. Kim Kimberling [Ep 491] What Does my Child Need :: Amy and Jeff Olrick [Ep 480] SofM 2024 Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics:  Complete your holiday look with Thrive Causemetics. Luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA Honeylove: Treat yourself or someone you love to Honeylove this holiday season and right now you can save 20% at honeylove.com/DMA Story Worth: Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years–Storyworth Memoirs! Right now save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to Storyworth.com/dma. 

In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author and investigative journalist Lee Strobel to explore some of the most profound questions of faith: Are miracles real? What evidence supports the Christmas story? What are angels like?  Lee was famously an atheist, and when his wife came to faith in Christ, he set out to prove her wrong. In the end, he discovered that the evidence for Jesus was too substantial to ignore and he became a Christian. Since then, he has helped countless people wrestle with life’s biggest questions: Is God real? How do we navigate a spiritually mismatched marriage? How can we help our kids understand the evidence that Jesus came, died, and rose again?  Now, he has a new movie coming out called The Case for Miracles, bringing the supernatural to life in a powerful and compelling way. In this interview, we explore: Documented cases of divine healing Spiritual Mismatch in marriage and how to have hope  The evidence surrounding Christmas and the incarnation Do angels exist? Do we have guardian angels? What Scripture and research reveal How God is using miracles and dreams around the world to draw people to Him  Connect with Lee Strobel:  Instagram: Lee Strobel (@lee_strobel) Facebook: Lee Strobel Website: Lee Strobel Links Mentioned:   The Case for Miracles Movie Spiritual Mismatch: By Lee Strobel The Seeing the Supernatural: By Lee Strobel The Case for Christ: By Lee Strobel The Case for Miracles: By Lee Strobel Is God Real? for Teens by Lee Strobel Related Episodes: Moms and the Best Christmas Pageant Ever :: Dallas and Amanda Jenkins [Ep 501] “What is My Responsibility in My Child’s Salvation?” :: Vela Tomba [Ep 431] Seek Him First :: Lillian Richey [Ep 494] Featured Sponsors:  BUBS Naturals: Live Better Longer! For a limited time only, our listeners are getting 20% OFF at BUBS Naturals by using code DMA at checkout. Just head to BubsNaturals.com and use code DMA and you’re all set.  Branch Basics: Get yourself and your loved ones the best gift of all - the gift of clean with Branch Basics! For a limited time only, our listeners get 15% off and Free Shipping on their premium starter pack when you use code DMA at BranchBasics.com/DMA. 

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Jess Connolly—author, podcaster, and speaker—invites us into a season of her life marked by heartbreak and uncertainty.  Jess opens up about the winter of 2023, when her husband experienced panic attacks, heart issues, and a mental health crisis. At the same time, her family was facing major loss as her stepfather passed away after heart surgery, while also preparing for a book release. Followed by one of her children walking through a dark trial. Jess brings so much truth and gentle encouragement to anyone walking through a season that desperately needs hope, not the shallow Christian clichés we often hear, but a deep and steady hope that God is with us in the valley. Here’s some of what we cover: The myth of the “prosperity gospel of parenting” and why 1+2 does not always equal 3 The pressure to assign purpose to a painful season  Rethinking Psalm 23 and understanding the rod and the staff  Learning to lament: why anger expressed to God is actually intimacy An exclusive sneak peak at her next book!  Connect with Jess Connolly:  Instagram: Jess Connolly | Author + Bible Teacher (@jessaconnolly) Facebook: Jess Connolly Website: Jess Connolly Links Mentioned:   What Comes Next: By Jess Connolly Tired of Being Tired: By Jess Connolly It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: By Lysa TerKeurst Related Episodes: Sidetracked with Jess Connolly :: Cynthia and Heather [Ep 484] Your Body is GOOD :: Jess Connolly [Ep 329] Worth Repeating // Jess Connolly Featured Sponsors: Sex Ed Reclaimed: Sex Ed Reclaimed offers a full curriculum with lifetime access so with that mind, visit sexedreclaimed.com to get your family's video curriculum today. Branch Basics: Get yourself and your loved ones the best gift of all - the gift of clean with Branch Basics! For a limited time only, our listeners get 15% off and Free Shipping on their premium starter pack when you use code DMA at BranchBasics.com/DMA . Jones Road Beauty: This holiday season, simplify your routine with makeup that’s clean, strategic, and multifunctional. From November 18th - December 1st, Jones Road is doing their first ever Black Friday Sale! Go to JonesRoadBeauty.com to get up to 20% off sitewide.

As a young mom, I felt the tension of wanting to have it all together: the boys in matching outfits, the house spotless, and dinner on the table. But no matter how hard I tried, it always felt just out of reach.  Today, Ashleigh Surratt joins me to talk about what it means to be a Type C mom — a blend of Type A and Type B — and how this mix shapes the way we experience motherhood. She is a mom and faith-filled encourager who speaks honestly about motherhood, identity, and finding God’s grace in the messiest seasons of life. Her perspective helps moms release perfectionism and embrace the freedom found in authenticity. We talk about:  How to stop comparing yourself and embrace what truly matters to you How “ideal mom” expectations can become an idol Why authenticity and vulnerability invite connection rather than shame Create simple “catch-all” systems to manage chaos in your home When you feel drained, pause and invite God into the overwhelm Connect with Ashleigh Surratt:  Instagram: Ashleigh Surratt (@ashleigh.surratt) Facebook: Ashleigh Surratt Links Mentioned:   The Lazy Genius The Ashleigh Surratt Show - Podcast - Apple Podcasts Podcast with her husband Related Episodes: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 492] The Lazy Genius Kitchen :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 365] Choose What Matters to YOU :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 293] Featured Sponsors:  Honeylove: Treat yourself or someone special to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth this holiday season. Save 20% off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA. Use our exclusive link to get 20% off Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to Greenchef.com/50ALONE and use code 50ALONE to get fifty percent off your first month then 20 percent off for two months with free shipping.  Thrive Causemetics: Complete your fall look. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive 20% off your first order.