The Monica Swanson Podcast - boy mom, build strong families, Biblical worldview, women’s wellness

In light of so many difficult and controversial news stories in 2020, I think you'll find this episode incredibly encouraging.  Nick Eicher and Brian Basham join me to talk about helping our tweens and teens navigate the news today. We cover news literacy, critical thinking, and Biblical discernment -- and how the brand new World Watch 10-minute Daily News Program can help!  Whether you homeschool or not, the World Watch daily video segments will teach your kids (and the whole family) about world news and current events, as well as stories about science, technology, culture, art, the economy, and more. The news can be an educational tool, and a great springboard for conversations. However, most of the news we find on television is biased and confusing.  World Watch's 10 minute videos are a great alternative -- written by Christian journalists, each show is informative, engaging and thought-provoking.  I'm super excited about what they're doing.  At the end of this episode I share 5 tips for talking to your teens about the news, wherever you get your news!  I love this positive and encouraging approach to what can otherwise be a challenging topic...especially in today's world!   Thank you, World Watch, for sponsoring this episode and sharing your wisdom.  Find out more about World Watch at: www.worldwatch.news. Listen to the episode and get links to everything we talk about in show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast today's episode:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-68 *Also be sure to comment over in show notes so that you'll be entered to win the August bundle of Surface Sunscreen products!    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you've been around my site for long, you know I'm a big fan of boys in the sweet, awkward, hilarious middle school years!  As we continue on in this series celebrating all of the seasons of raising boys, I'm so happy to have Maggie John with me for this conversation!  Maggie is a Television host (!) as well as a two-boy momma who lives in Canada. One thing I love about this series is getting to know new friends and learning how different families' lives look in each season.  I think you'll find Maggie refreshing and so wise.   Find links to everything we talk about in show notes at: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast this episode: www.monicaswanson.com/episode-67 Big thanks to Prepdish for simplifying MY life with their awesome online meal planning service, and for sponsoring this episode.  Get a free 2-week trial at prepdish.com/boymom And...don't miss the final month of the Surface Sunscreen Bundle Giveaway!  Enter to win by leaving a simple comment in show notes.  (And get 20% off all surface products using Code: BOY MOM at www.surfacesunscreen.com   Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It is such an honor to share this episode with all of you!  My first-born son, Josiah, joins me to celebrate the one-year birthday of the release of my book, Boy Mom, for one of my favorite interviews ever!  I let Josiah chose the topic for this episode and he did not hesitate to choose the topic of IMAGINATION!  Josiah's imagination played a huge role in his childhood, and still to this day, Josiah taps into his imagination in some very practical and inspiring ways (he'll share about that in our chat!)  This will be a great episode for your kids to listen in on, and I hope it inspires you to cultivate imagination in your kids (and your own life!)   ALSO:  Josiah created 2 awesome printables for you and your kids.  I think you'll love them.  Find links to the printables and all show notes at: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast Today's episode: www.monicaswanson.com/episode-66 THANK YOU to this episodes' sponsor, The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) who encouraged the use of imagination in all of my boys' homeschool writing experiences.  I highly recommend IEW for kids' writing and language arts classes from grade K-12! ALSO, Surface Sunscreen is offering another month of their bundle giveaway and 20% off all products at the Surface website using code:  BOY MOM!  (find notes and question to enter to win the giveaway in the show notes!)  Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the idea of a homeschooling your kids (whether you're already homeschooling or just thinking about it!)  My friend Jenn Bryant joins me, as we share the very good news: It doesn't have to be that hard!  You really can simplify your approach, and Jenn is sharing 7 ways to do that. It's easy to overcomplicate things, and I love Jenn's reminder to slow down, focus on the things that really matter, and ultimately -- enjoy the ride! Jenn and I have a really fun chat, and I hope you can grab a cup of coffee and feel like you're hanging out with us!  Find links to everything we talk about at: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast this episode is:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-65 I'm super thankful for this episode's sponsor -- one of my family's FAVORITE homeschool curriculums -- IEW:  The Institute for Excellence in Writing. You can see all of the IEW curriculum my boys have used (and get a link to try the IEW curriculum for FREE for 3 weeks) at:  www.iew.com/monicaswanson! ALSO: This is the final week to enter to win a BUNDLE of Surface Sunscreen products -- so be sure to leave a quick comment in the show notes and you'll be entered to win the July Bundle.  (also use code: BOY MOM to get 20% off everything from the Surface website!)  Be sure to subscribe to this podcast, and if you haven't left a rating or review, would you take a minute to do that now!?  Thank you!   Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jessica Smartt, author, speaker, and mom to 3 elementary-age kids (2 boys, 1 girl) joins us today to talk about the joys and challenges of raising elementary-age boys. Jessica's new book, Let Them be Kids, is one of my favorite books of 2020, and we get to talk about some highlights of the book, as well as the magic, mischief, and madness of raising little boys. We also touch on some of the challenges parents of elementary kids face -- many of which fall under the category of technology.  I hope you can grab a cup of coffee (or strap on your tennis shoes) and feel like you're right there with Jessica and I as we have this chat.  Find more in show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast www.monicaswanson.com/episode-64. Thank you to Prep Dish -- this episode's sponsor!!  I love my weekly meal plans, and Prep Dish now offers meal plans in Gluten free, Paleo, and Keto varieties.  Go to www.prepdish.com/boymom to get TWO WEEKS free of Prep Dish and see if you aren't hooked, too!  Also be sure to leave a comment in show notes to be entered to win the end-of-July BUNDLE of SURFACE SUNSCREEN!  AND use CODE: BOY MOM to get 20% off everything on the surface sunscreen.com website!   Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

My son Jonah is back with me to help me celebrate the announcement of my BRAND NEW CHARACTER TRAINING COURSE (doors to the Beta Group open July 15th!) and to share his own announcement that he is kicking off his own TRUTH FOR YOUTH PODCAST on July 18th!  Jonah and I dive into a fun chat, sharing some of the points from one of his first podcast episodes which is about "Problems Kids Face Today -- and the Solutions for those Problems".  I am truly honored to have this just-turned-19-year-old with me and this interview was one of my all time favorites.  I hope you love it too and DO NOT WAIT TO SIGN UP if you're interested in the character training course! (The Beta Group will be limited to the first 100 to sign up!) All of the details are in show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast Today's episode:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-63 Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Classical Conversations.  If you're looking into homeschooling next year, I highly recommend checking out all they have to offer!  More details in show notes! ALSO:  The Surface Sunscreen Summer Bundles Giveaways continue on!  Leave a comment in show notes to enter to win the July Giveaway!  (AND get 20% off EVERYTHING on the Surface website by using CODE:  BOYMOM!) Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I'm so excited to share this super fun conversation with Bethany Hamilton with you!  Bethany has been one of our family's greatest inspirations.  After losing her arm to a shark attack at age 13, Bethany went on to become one of the greatest female surfers in the world.  In this interview, I loved getting to know a grown up Bethany, who surfs better than ever, but is now also a wife and #BOYMOM to her two preschool-age sons!  Bethany shares some of the joys and honest-challenges of raising rambunctious boys, and we also talk about how she balances parenting with training, competing and travel. Bethany is committed to a healthy and active lifestyle and we talk about how she is intentional about  her sons' health as well. We cover a lot in this interview and I think you'll enjoy getting to know this beautiful and authentic side of Bethany!  Find links to anything we talk about in show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast. This episode;  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-62 THANK YOU to this week's podcast sponsor, Classical Conversations -- a top ranked, much-loved homeschool curriculum that combines home education, with community-learning.  (This is a great option for brand-new homeschoolers!)  Read more about CC in my show notes!  Also see show notes for another chance to WIN the SURFACE SUNSCREEN bundle giveaway!  (And use CODE: BOY MOM to get 20% off anything at the Surface website! all summer long!) Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is such a treat!  My friend, a mom to six, and dermatologist joins me to talk about all things skin care!  Heidi shares her best advice for adolescent skin, sunscreen, acne prevention and treatment, as well as anti-aging and more.  This is like a free visit to a dermatologist who has the time to talk to you about anything and everything!  Heidi has a long list of recommendations (most are over-the-counter!) and I've placed links to everything in show notes! This also happens to be the FINAL WEEK OF THE JUNE SURFACE SUNSCREEN bundle giveaway, so leave a quick comment in show notes and you might just win sunscreen for your whole family this summer!  (Also use code BOY MOM to get 20% off everything at www.surfacesunscreen.com! ) Show notes:  www.monicaswanson.com/podcast Today's episode;  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-61 Thank you to this episode's sponsor, PREPDISH!  Prep dish is making my life SO MUCH EASIER!  Find out more in show notes!  (and get two weeks free with Prep dish at www.prepdish.com/boymom ) Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Wendy Speake and I as we chat over our favorite books for boys of all ages.  This is a conversation we've wanted to have for a long time, and I hope it offers you some new inspiration for reading with your boys this summer!  We cover some classics, some inspirational stories, a few great series, and more -- then, at the end we touch on favorite movies to inspire boys as well.  Hope you can grab some coffee and pull up a chair (or imagine we're walking/driving/folding laundry...alongside you) and join the conversation!  This episode's sponsor is IEW.  See show notes for more, or find all of the curriculum my boys have used and 3 weeks free curriculum at www.iew.com/monicaswanson.   ALL SHOW NOTES:  www.monicaswanson.com/podcast This episode:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-60   Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Andrew Pudewa is the Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), and my boys have used his curriculum for over 10 years.  We are huge fans of Andrew's fun teaching style, quirky nature, and use of great vocabulary!  Andrew teaches and speaks all over the world, and in this interview I invite him to share from a specific teaching I heard that changed my approach to schooling (and parenting!) my boys!  It's so good.  In this interview Andrew shares some of his best tips for motivating our kids to read and write, and I think you'll feel affirmed and encouraged by Andrew's message.   Special thanks to IEW for Sponsoring this episode.  Be sure to read show notes on my website to get links to everything Andrew mentions, including the chance to get THREE FREE WEEKS of curriculum right now!  www.monicaswanson.com/podcast.   Today's episode:  www.monicaswanson.com/episode-59 Find a dedicated page on the IEW website featuring the IEW curriculums my boys have used as well as the talk Andrew and I discuss in this interview:  www.iew.com/monicaswanson *This episode also kicks off a new summer sponsor, Surface Suncare, who I am teaming up with to offer a discount and a giveaway at the end of June.  Find all the details in show notes!  Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy