Fireside Talk Radio

Professional Counselor and Pastor Chris Legg joins Cathy in a lively, often amusing, discussion about how wives and husbands can engage with each other in a way that maximizes their parenting. What makes men feel insecure? What's the unique platform fathers have in the lives of their kids? How to communicate approval to your husband or family? Ever failed to get the message across to your man? Who...

Professional Counselor and Pastor Chris Legg tells how he became enamored with family and creating community. He grew up exploring the woods around historic Nacogdoches Texas as a child. As young adult, he soon discovered families face serious traumas. An accidental leader for his first youth group, Chris was so young he grew a beard to distinguish himself from the kids. Nothing prepared him for t...

In this episode, civic leader Tony Johnson joins Cathy to blow away the myths we may all believe about mentoring young people. Is it too big of a commitment? Will it cost your whole family? If I only have an hour a week, can I even make a difference? Cathy asks Tony all the hard "let's get real" questions. You won't want to miss his answers. (We love the way his deep chuckle reassures Cathy that s...

On this episode, community leader Tony Johnson tells how his parents prepared him for the active leadership role he enjoys in all aspects of his community, even serving as president of the local school board and Chamber of Commerce simultaneously! If you're wondering how some kids develop a work ethic, tune in as Tony shares generation-tested tips passed down to him from his own dad. He also revea...

Adventurous. Humble. Funny as heck. Katie Butts joins Cathy to give us tips on how to be a blessing to families like hers. This beautiful mother of two children, each uniquely formed and gifted, explains how God has extended unimaginable joy into their family. When we see a kid with blades at the beach, how do we coach our kids? If our kids ask honest questions, should we hide in shame? How do we...

The indomitable Katie Butts joins Cathy to talk about what moms can expect if the unthinkable happens: an unexpected diagnosis during a sonogram. She shares about experiencing first a miscarriage, and then, goes on to talk about the unexpected, unrelated diagnosis both her children received. With deliberate decisions to experience joy, she shares the nuts and bolts of how the, her hubby, their fam...

Marcie McSwane joins Cathy to honor the beautiful life of Patrick McSwane by sharing wisdom on how families can help the siblings cope. Along with understanding about the realities of mental disease, she offers practical ideas. For instance, she and her friends celebrate "Siblings Appreciation Day" on Patrick's birthday. She shares her personal timeline for grief and other insight that helps. Join...

With tender hearts, Marcie McSwane and Cathy honor the life of Marcie's beloved brother, Patrick. For those who know the trauma of mental illness in families, Marcie gently shares how siblings can respond when they face the mental deterioration of a beloved sibling. Marcie peals back the layers to identify some of the normal feelings of anguish, grief, and guilt that siblings may face. She offers...

If your child has mental illness and you feel overwhelmed, tune in to this episode. Successful attorney, committed family man, and loving Christian, Doug McSwane explains that finding resources for families is tough for anyone. Out of Doug's own experience with his son's suicide comes a wealth of help and encouragement. Even people with amazing education and financial resources find the process of...

Suicide is a gut-wrenching topic even for us at Camp Krafve where we believe no topic is too taboo. In this episode, dear friend Doug McSwane tenderly shares the story of his son's mental illness. He explains the trauma and bewilderment families suffer when a beloved child manifests symptoms. Doug generously tells his story, including things he learned and felt as the journey unfolded. If you or a...

Financial guru, Marina Schroeder joins Cathy to answer the BIG financial questions we've been saving for her, like: What's the most common mistakes young families make? How do you navigate working with your kids in a family business? What can families do to help widows or single moms make the transition to managing their own money? If you have money questions, too, Marina has answers. Don't miss t...

Financial Guru Marina Schroeder tenderly shares the way her childhood experiences influenced her to be a person whose life is characterized by forgiveness. Explaining the pain she experienced in her family due to abuse, she shares how her relationship with Jesus Christ allowed her to forgive. With grace, humor, lots of patience, and yes, that good ole work ethic, she now counsels everyone to own t...

The wise and wonderful Sandy Bristow is back to share her wisdom on how sexual trauma affects women in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. With depression as a real symptom, she explains how our enemy, the devil, likes to isolate those who've been hurt, then "move in for the kill." Instead she offer data that empowers us and the best treatment of all: community. Sandy defines trustworthiness when it c...

Women's Minister Sandy Bristow joins Cathy to share about her experience with sexual assault. This highly educated, gifted counselor shares her personal experience of being attacked by a trusted health professional, a chiropractor. From the first moments of the show when she offers the legal definition of sexual assault to the end when she sums up God's love of justice, Sandy shares one profound i...

Pastor Stanley Cofer credits his parents' insight and love of God’s word for the advantages he's enjoyed even as a young man. “They placed the word of God as the top authority. I never heard my parents downgrade a caucasian person, Nor did they exalt their own race.” Because they taught him to seek God first, he finds himself in a unique lace in East Texas. In a community that has struggled with r...

In this episode, Pastor Stanley Cofer returns to update us on some of the great stuff happening around East Texas to finally do away with self-segregation. He shares his secrets for attracting young people and people from all ethnic backgrounds to community events. He talks about how Christians can be relevant. Factoring in respect for personal preferences when it comes to worship styles, he encou...

In this candid interview about what motivates him to address race issues with such a vulnerable heart, Ben Scaccia opens up about how he came to write the best-selling novel, Meals from Mars. Ben shares how his preconceived ideas were challenged in Chicago when, as a student at Wheaton, he volunteered at Cook County's juvie jail. The young men he met there challenged him to think about reconciliat...

Ben Sciacca is back with Cathy to offer practical advice on how even one person's efforts can ripple out to create unity in our communities. What can we do? Anything simple and easy that might make a difference on the tough issue of racism? You bet! Along with reconciliation and justice, Ben offers insight on "Shalom, peace that makes harmony and delight in all our relationships." We are so proud...

The amazing and talented Mary Ottman shares valuable insight on how leaders can grow. An engineer by training, a wise woman by design, her practical tips on self-diagnosing ways to become a trusted and insightful leader will have you begging for more! Get the best leadership training in your week here absolutely free in only 30 minutes. Professional women (and men) will love the practical advice b...

Mary Ottman share of her experience as a professional woman who was "roofied" in a work environment at 47 years old. Can it even be called date rape if the predator is someone you've known for years and thought of as a harmless friend? How does the drug effect you? How can you be fore-warned and thus, fore-armed? Mary shares her tender story and what she learned when reality set in after the initi...

Care Executive Director B.J. Garrett shares how pastors are helping congregations by inviting women (and men) to tell stories of abortion experiences. In this episode, B.J. addresses the myth that post-abortive trauma is not affecting families or the church. CARE stands for Christ-centered Abortion Recovery and Education. Many, but not all, CARE volunteers are post-abortive. Some share their stori...

CARE Executive Director B.J. Garrett joins Cathy to share the gut-wrenching story of her childhood experiences. A victim of sex trafficking, she now educates on the connection between childhood trauma and abortion. This victorious, mighty woman of God shares how she shook free of the chains introduced by her childhood experiences and became a powerful force in the fight to empower women. If you ar...

Darlene Marshal joins Cathy to share the wisdom she learned after a divorce as a Christian woman and gifted Bible teacher. How can the church step up to comfort those who have been through divorce? How do we get over our judgy-ness of others and ourselves about divorce? How can we understand the challenge single moms’ face after the divorce? Darlene tells the hard truth with compassion and gentlen...

Darlene shares her experiences as a Christian woman who never expected to be divorced She discusses with tenderness the impact that mental health can have in families. A gifted Bible teacher, Darlene has devoted herself to impacting the next generation her whole life. With over 32 years experience in public schools, including administration, Darlene currently serves as Director of Boys & Girls Clu...

Media guru, Sandra Beck, tells how it really is to be single and strong as a mom. She holds back no punches in talking about the challenges. Then, in her energetic, no-nonsence style, Sandra offers practical tips and personal stories of things that worked for her amazing family. Like the way she dreaded certain community events because she had to haul her own picnic in, while other moms had hubbie...