Elevating Motherhood

Whether your baby is still in diapers, you’re in the middle of the school years, your teenager just got their driver's license, or you've recently become an empty nester, the relationship you hope to have with your children when they leave home doesn't begin the day they pack their bags. It begins today. It begins with the culture you're creating in your home, the words you speak,...

You don't have to be a politician to change your community. Back before 2020, when we were still living on Maui, my friend Katie and I lobbied for a new playground to be built upcountry at Kula Park…and it happened! There is a small, but mighty playground with bicoastal ocean views and lots of opportunity for vestibular and proprioceptive input (want to know what that is? Find out in Episode 196!)...

Why Does My Kid Always Want Me to Push Them on the Swing? Understanding Vestibular and Proprioceptive Input Have you ever wondered why your child begs for 'one more push' on the swing, spins until they're dizzy, hangs upside down from furniture, jumps off things that make you nervous, or crashes into the couch cushions over and over again? What if all of those behaviors are actually your child's b...

Today's conversation is one I'm pulling from the archives. I recorded this interview with Alyssa Bethke quite a while ago, and as I was looking through past episodes, it felt especially worth bringing back. At the time, I had not yet read her book,  When Doing It All Is Undoing You . But after revisiting this conversation, I've added it back to my summer readinglist because the message...

Some conversations feel tender before they even begin...and divorce is one of them. Today, I’m joined by Alisha Roth, author of  Courageous Divorce , to talk openly about a topic that touches more lives than we often acknowledge. Whether you’re personally facing divorce, have walked through it in the past, or want to be a steady, supportive presence for someone you care about, this episode is mean...

Motherhood has a way of stretching you in ways you never planned for—and sometimes, it asks more of you than you ever thought you could give. Today’s conversation is with Amy Suzanne Upchurch, founder and CEO of Pink Stork, a women-owned company supporting moms in every season of their journey. But beyond her work, Amy is a wife and a mother of six whose story includes infertility, severe morning...

At one of my appointments, my OB told me placenta encapsulation wasn't "scientifically proven." Not long after that, I saw her share something on her social media page that felt very...dismissive. And I remember thinking, there has to be more to this conversation. Because I know thoughtful, intentional moms who are considering placenta encapsulation. And there are women who have already made this...

If you’re trying to build a family culture where eating out feels peaceful, connected, and screen-free—but aren’t sure how to get there—this episode is for you.   We’re a family of foodies…plus we travel a lot. Based on those two things alone, we end up eating out often. Almost every single time we eat out with our now 12, 10, 9, and 4 year old, we get complimented on the behavior of our children....

If you don’t tell your children who they are… the world will. Every day, our kids are absorbing messages about their worth, their identity, their value. And if we’re not intentional, those voices can get louder than the truth. Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined by HosannaWong — international speaker, spoken word artist widely known for piece “I Have A New Name,” and bestselling author of Ho...

Get Chris’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4skTgxs What if the most counter-cultural decision you make as a parent… has nothing to do with screen time or schooling and everything to do with alcohol? Today’s conversation is honest. It’s tender. And it’s needed. I’m joined by Chris Janssen to talk about her USA Today bestselling book, Grace Yourself...and about something many families quietly navigate b...

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Not a text. Not an email. Not a quick DM. An actual letter. Written by hand. Just for you. There is something almost rebellious about that kind of connection now — slow, intentional, non-intrusive… and requiring just enough effort to mean something. Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined by Amy Daughters — keynote speaker, sports journal...

Bestselling author Jennifer Dukes Lee joins me to talk about her new book  How to Love Your Morning  and how to create a faith-filled morning routine that actually works for real-life moms. If you long to wake up with hope, purpose, and rhythms rooted in God’s mercies, this conversation will change the way you start your day. Have you ever noticed how your entire day can beshaped before your feet...

If you’ve ever wanted to read the Bible more consistently but struggled to stay focused — or if you have a child who getsfrustrated, distracted, or overwhelmed by reading — today’s episode is especially for you. In our last conversation, we talked about dyslexia for the first time on the show. And one of the questions that came up again and again was,  What does support actually look like in every...

Dyslexia touches so many families. And so many of us quietly wonder if our own child might have dyslexia.  My kid wrote a letter backwards…now what? For the first time on the Elevating Motherhood Podcast, we’re having a dedicated conversation about dyslexia — and while this is our first episode on the topic, it definitely won’t be the last. This is a conversation many moms are already having in th...

Homeschooling is rewarding — but it can also feelmessy, overwhelming, and full of pressure. Choosing curricula, scheduling lessons, balancing priorities — it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in decisions. It’s common for homeschool parents to question whether they are doing enough or even if they are doing it right. Today, I’m talking with Carrie De Francisco, author, podcaster, homeschool coac...

SIGN UP FOR THE RETREAT HERE In this episode, I’m sharing the heart behind the Elevating Homeschool Spring 2026 Retreat I’m hosting — why it exists, who it’s for, and what makes it different from other events. This retreat was created for homeschool moms who are doing the work, loving their kids, and showing up daily — but who need space to pause, reflect, and plan with intention. Not to hustle ha...

Today’s conversation is a special one. I’m joined by Amy Hughes, author of  Words Like Honey ,a book that gently reminds us of the power our words carry, especially in our closest relationships. Amy writes with honesty and tenderness about how our speech shapes the atmosphere of our homes, the hearts of our children, and eventhe way we see ourselves. (And she does it in such a way that she doesn’t...

Last week, we began a conversation about marriage—not the highlight-reel version, but the honest, complicated, sometimes fragile reality that so many couples live inside of. And today, we’re continuing that conversation in a deeper way. Tim and Kathy Bush join me to share their story —a marriage that began on shaky ground and nearly ended in complete destruction. Their relationship was marked by i...

Today’s episode might surprise you — especially if you’ve ever thought,  “If my husband would just change, our marriage would be easier…” (You're not alone in this thought...) I’m sitting down with  Ann Wilson , speaker, author, and co-host of FamilyLife Today, to talk about her latest book  How toSpeak Life to Your Husband  —a book born out of real-life frustration, honest mistakes, and a tot...

Every year December sneaks up on moms — the traditions, the sugar, the sickness, the parties, the pressure. This episode is all about what I’m doing differently next Christmas to create a calmer, healthier, more intentional holiday season for our family. From planning ahead and simplifying gifts to supporting our kids’ immune systems and downsizing expectations, I’m sharing practical changes that...

This episode is a true meeting of the minds. Kiri Jorgensen and I both bring years of passion and experience in children’sliterature to the table—and this conversation might just change the way you see your family’s bookshelf. The world of children’s publishing has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. What once felt simple and safe is now layered with hidden social agendas and stories t...

Guest:  Brianna Reiser, Vice President of Experience at Toothpillow Overview:  In this episode, we explore the incredible impact of Toothpillow, a comprehensive airway health program for kids, with Brianna Reiser—an experienced dental professional whose personal journey led her to this work. We dive into the “why” behind Toothpillow, how it works, and my personal experience using it with my daught...

What if your child’s mouth breathing, restless sleep, or even focus issues weren’t behavioral—but biological? In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with a pediatric airway dentist to explore the critical (and often overlooked) role of airway health in childhood development. We talk about how things like tongue ties, narrow palates, and poor oral posture can impact sleep, behavior, and even long-...

The Kind of Decluttering That Actually Lasts with Julia Ubbenga Julia Ubbenga is a minimalist. I’m not. But I read her new book  Declutter Your Heart and Your Home  from cover to cover—and I was both challenged and changed. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to live with less—less clutter, less noise, less pressure—and how that can create more space for peace, purpose, and presenc...

Mary Ruth Organics collaborated with the brand Liquid Death in a temporary collaboration for their nighttime formula. They released the "ad" on social media that included chainsawing clowns (murder) and dark imagery and messaging that really rocked the online space. The collaboration seemed to make zero sense for those of us who have been users of Mary Ruth's high quality vitamins and products for...