Fresh Start Family Show

In this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy invites parents into a powerful reset, one that goes far beyond New Year’s resolutions. She explores how fresh starts are created through intention, nervous system safety, and the courage to imagine something better for your family. Wendy unpacks why misbehavior is often a signal, not a problem, and how breaking generational cycles begins with...

Wendy and Terry kick off the new year with an honest, heart-led reflection on 2025, the moments that stretched them, shaped their family, and changed them in ways they didn’t fully recognize at the time. From navigating grief and faith to watching their kids step into confidence, leadership, and generosity, they share what this past year taught them about trust, commitment, and listening to intuit...

What if your cycle wasn’t something to “get through”—but a secret superpower? In this empowering episode, Wendy sits down with hormone health practitioner Kate Nguy to explore how syncing with your hormonal rhythm can transform the way you parent, work, and care for yourself. Kate shares her personal story of healing infertility, the surprising truth about cortisol and stress, and how understandin...

Want to help your child build real emotional resilience—without power struggles or shame? In this heart-centered and science-backed episode, Wendy sits down with educator, content creator, and former Sesame Street director Anna Housley Juster, Ph. D., LICSW to explore how play, brain science, and emotional literacy help kids build true self-regulation. Anna explains how the amygdala works, why thr...

Raising Kids with a Faith Rooted in Love—not Fear In this tender and hope-filled episode, Wendy talks with author Mariko Clark and illustrator Rachel Eleanor, creators of The Book of Belonging—a reimagined children’s Bible centered on original goodness, emotional literacy, inclusive imagery, and a deeply compassionate view of God. Together, they explore what it means to raise kids with a faith roo...

Feeling overwhelmed by the pace of modern life? You’re not alone. In this episode, Wendy sits down with the inspiring Sarah Boyd, author of Turn Down the Noise, to talk about staying grounded, calm, and connected in a world that rarely slows down. Sarah shares her journey from aggressive cancer at 27 to motherhood, and how that season reshaped everything she teaches about resilience. Together, the...

Didn’t start out as a gentle parent? You’re not alone — and the best time to begin again is today. Psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Vanessa LaPointe joins Wendy to explore how to parent right from the start—and what to do if you didn’t. From inner-child healing and nervous system safety to practical, firm-and-kind boundaries, Dr. Vanessa offers a compassionate roadmap for raising kids witho...

Is step-parenting feeling harder than you expected? You’re not alone — and you’re not doing it wrong. In this heartfelt and practical episode, Wendy talks with Cameron Normand, founder of Step Family Solutions and host of The Stepmom Diaries, about the five most common mistakes stepparents make — and what to do instead. Drawing from her own experience as a stepmom of four (including one with speci...

When one in three births in the U.S. is a C-section, why aren’t we talking more openly about what those experiences feel like? In this heartfelt conversation, journalist and author Rachel Somerstein joins Wendy to discuss the hidden trauma many parents carry after surgical birth — and how awareness, preparation, and compassion can change everything.  Together they explore: • What a “gentle C-secti...

On this enlightening episode of the Fresh Start Family show, Wendy welcomes educator, coach, and host of the Enlightening Motherhood podcast Emily Hamblin to talk about impulsivity in neurodivergent kids and what actually helps. Drawing from her work with families and her own parenting journey, Emily shares simple brain science, the ways wiring and conditioning interact, and playful practices that...

In this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy talks with authors Kelsey McGinnis and Marissa Burt about their new book, The Myth of Good Christian Parenting. Together they explore how spanking culture took root in many church communities, what Scripture really says (and doesn’t say), and how parents can move toward a faith-aligned, compassionate approach to discipline. This conversation is...

Parenting can feel lonely—especially when your spouse isn’t on board, your extended family doesn’t understand, or you’re trying to end painful generational cycles on your own. But the truth is, you don’t have to parent alone. In this re-released episode of the Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy shares why community is such a vital piece of the parenting journey. From the science-backed research on how...

Ever find yourself reacting to your kids in ways that feel awful but strangely familiar? In this episode, Wendy Snyder explores the idea of “comfortable hell vs. uncomfortable heaven” and how nervous system conditioning impacts the way we parent. Through personal stories and hard-earned lessons, Wendy shares what it means to shift from old patterns of fear, force, and punishment into a new way of...

In this Student Spotlight, Wendy interviews Anna McNeese, a mom of four from Mississippi, about her family’s transformation through the Fresh Start Experience and Full Mastery program. Anna shares openly about the early days of exhaustion, power struggles, and shame-based patterns, and how learning new tools gave her family hope, connection, and peace. From navigating strong-willed kids with compa...

In this Student Spotlight, Wendy Snyder interviews Caitlin—a mom of two from Indianapolis—about her real-life journey with the Fresh Start Experience. Caitlin shares how shifting from reactive habits to peaceful parenting has strengthened connection at home, built emotional literacy in her kids, and helped her break generational cycles with empathy and consistency.  She also celebrates inviting he...

As we step into a brand-new school year, many parents are coming out of summer feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, and stuck in old cycles. In this episode, Wendy Snyder shares how to shift from a scarcity mindset—where fear, stress, and urgency tend to rule—into an abundance mindset that fuels calm, connection, and confidence at home. This conversation is a reset for your parenting. If you’ve been fee...

We’re kicking off Season 7 of the Fresh Start Family Show with a powerful, thought-provoking conversation! Wendy & Terry sit down with theologian, writer, and former evangelical pastor Brian Recker to explore how fear has been woven into the spiritual and parenting narratives of so many families—and what it looks like to begin breaking free. Brian shares his personal journey from growing up in fun...

On this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy welcomes back the incredible Shauna Shapiro, PhD, who is a bestselling author, clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion.  She was first on the show back in episode 49 but is back, joining Wendy to discuss her new book, Good Morning, I Love You Violet, which shows us how we can teach our kids...

In this heartfelt conversation, Wendy and Terry are joined by the incredible Dr. Shauna Shapiro—clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and mindfulness researcher—to talk about what it really looks like to weave self-compassion and mindfulness into our everyday family life. You’ll hear how Shauna’s IAA model (Intention, Attention, Attitude) helps us respond to our kids with more presence and le...

On this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy Snyder interviews Libby Ward from Diary of an Honest Mom. They discuss the concept of mom guilt and how it is often mislabeled, as well as the importance of setting boundaries and communicating needs.  They also emphasize the need for self-care and taking time for oneself as a crucial aspect of being a fulfilled and effective parent.  Libby sha...

On this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy welcomes Alyssa Blask Campbell—CEO of Seed and Sew, host of the Voices of Your Village podcast, and co-author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions. Alyssa shares powerful insights into emotional intelligence and explains the difference between sensory and emotional regulation, along with what healthy emotion processing actually looks like in kids (and...

Rachel Nielsen, host of the 3 in 30 Podcast, joins Wendy on the Fresh Start Family Show to discuss ‘decluttering motherhood’. Rachel shares her personal journey of feeling overwhelmed and the pressure to meet societal expectations as a stay-at-home mom.  She emphasizes the importance of inventorying your overwhelm, editing your expectations, and making room for more joy in motherhood. Rachel encou...

On this episode of The Fresh Start Family Show, Wendy sits down with one of her absolute favorite inspirational authors, Rachel Macy Stafford.  Rachel is the bestselling author of multiple books, including Only Love Today and Hands Free Mama and is the founder of Hands Free Revolution, a website and community that supports and encourages parents to slow down and live life to the fullest by being p...

As the world continues to face hardship and chaos amidst a crisis of mass shootings, Wendy and Terry come together with a unifying and empowering message on how individual action can make major community, national, and even global change.  In a time of such great violence and fear, there is a need – now more than ever – to stand up, speak boldly and guide our children with examples of love and cou...

It’s time to show up and speak out, families! In today’s episode we are learning just how to do that from an expert in speaking truth, love and hope into the world, the inspirational Carlos Whittaker.  In a world where opinions and hot topics flood the internet, it’s easy to want to hide away from it all and not speak on anything.  Carlos powerfully reminds us we are called to speak up for what we...