Girl Mom Podcast

One Friday night in 2017, Mark Russell suffered a cardiac arrest event while officiating a football game in Huntsville. In front of thousands of people, a miracle occurred as his life was saved through the quick actions of a cardiac care nurse taking game pictures and a husband-and-wife EMT team.  In this episode, Mark talks with Kari about what it means to "live ready" for your life&apo...

While some stress in life and healthy and good and helps us rise to meet new challenges, there is also unhealthy stress that turns into anxiety and causes real damage. Join Kari as she talks to Birmingham counselor Alice Churnock about one of the prevalent issues facing our children (especially daughters) and how we can help them work through it. Ep. 79 Show Notes: o   Follow Alice on Instagram or...

The number one predictor of success in marriage, according to America's top couples therapist John Gottman, is how well a couple can resolve conflict. And yet, this is a skill that nobody teaches - leading us to learn lessons the hard way. Join Kari as she talks to Will and Mary Lauren, a newly engaged couple, about prioritizing this life skill that is essential to any healthy, long-term rela...

Do you ever feel God nudging you to be brave - but you hold back because of fear? Do you look back and see missed opportunities you wish you'd taken? Find encouragement as Kari as she talks to Frances Lyon, a senior at the University of Alabama and outgoing president of Kappa Delta sorority, as Frances shares her story of being a shy teenager who learned to leave her comfort zone by taking on...

As parents, we want our children to show respect by practicing good manners. We teach lessons before they need them and hope that they sink in.  As our kids grow up, we need other adults to come alongside us and reinforce what we teach on why social graces matter. Join Kari as she talks to Birmingham etiquette expert Amy Rainer about  helping your child stand out in the right way and show characte...

Waiting on the Lord feels difficult in a world where we barely wait on anything (not dinner, thanks to DoorDash, rides, thanks to Uber, or groceries, thanks to Shipt). Yet God transforms us powerfully as we wait if we refuse to lose hope or get lost in our setbacks. Join Kari as she speaks to Farrell Mason, a Nashville grief counselor and author of Soulfull , a new devotional about seeking a more...

We all feel left at times, and with social media, we're more aware of every invitation we don't get.  Join Kari, Mary Frances, and Mary Lauren as they talk about healthy ways to respond to feeling left out and not letting it spiral into negative thinking and destructive self-doubt. Ep. 74 Show Notes: o   Sign up for Kari's email list (and get free printables) o   Kari’s books: Love...

God created us to live in the light. And as we grow closer to Him, we're able to bring our past mistakes to light to escape the shame of darkness and move forward with hope. Join Kari as she talks to Will and Mary Lauren, a newly engaged couple, about prioritizing this life skill that is essential to any healthy, long-term relationship. Ep. 73 Show Notes: o   Sign up for Kari's email lis...

Almost ten years ago, Emily Lassiter lost her husband Joe in a tragic plane accident. With two little girls to raise on her own, she quickly realized the need to manage her finances well. As Emily found her footing, other women started coming to her after losing a spouse or a divorce. Money was always a main concern, and this inspired Emily to start empowering women in this area of life. Today she...

College is a new stage of life where you choose a path.  You've chosen paths before, but this time,  your parents aren't there to protect you and lead you. You're leaving the security of family and lifelong friends, and you don't have a faith community yet to speak truth over you. In this transition (full of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty) it's easy to be swayed and w...

The start of summer is a magical time - and sometimes, a triggering time for body issues. Join Kari as she talks to Meredith Mann, Founder of The Peachie Spoon, about helpful mindsets and habits to carry into summer that help us enjoy food, nourish our bodies, and love the skin we're in. Ep. 70 Show Notes: o  Find Meredith at The Peachie Spoon and  Instagram o  Meredith's Faves: Multivit...

C.S. Lewis said, "We have to continually be reminded of what we believe." This is especially true when cultivating a spirit of gratitude and contentment because our world constantly tells us that more is never enough. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about embracing the life you have and learning to give thanks for it. Ep. 69 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well , More Than...

With all the sadness that your daughter's senior year of high school can bring, it helps to have a happy distraction. It's fun to plan and think about her home away from home. Join Kari and Elizabeth Edwards (a mom of two girls at Ole Miss) as they share  tips on choosing dorm room essentials, preparing your daughter for the highs and lows of college, helping her with time management, an...

One key component to thriving in college is deciding ahead of time who you want to be and how you plan to live. In other words, being INTENTIONAL. Join Kari and her friend, Mary Frances Robertson, a recent University of Alabama graduate, as they talk about being intentional during your campus years with your time, your relationships, and your life goals. Ep. 67 Show Notes: o  Pre-Order Kari's...

One big source of conflict in marriage is financial stress. Even 2 people raised in the same socioeconomic class can have drastically different ideas about money - and how to spend it. Shaped by social media and an age of affluence, many girls treat their dates like an ATM machine and aspire to a materialistic lifestyle their young husbands can't afford. They have unrealistic expectations tha...

When you're busy raising kids, things get sacrificed. What often ends up on the backburner during the divide-and-conquer years of raising teenagers is your marriage.  Join Kari and Nashville counselor Kim Anderson, both married for 25 years, as they talk about reconnecting with your spouse and finding your way back to each other.  Ep. 65 Show Notes: o  Contact Kim at Kim Anderson Life , Real...

As humans, we long to believe we are good. And for teens especially, it's tempting to gauge yourself against peers and think you're doing well when y our choices aren't as bad as their choices. You're considered a "good girl" or "good guy," but what you really are is a good girl/guy in comparison. God calls us to a higher standard. He wants us to look at Jes...

Today's culture tells boys that being "the man" is all about dominance, conquests, and becoming the loudest person in the room. For parents trying to raise godly sons...and boys who care about their faith...fighting that tension between what gets celebrated by society and what God desires can be a real struggle. Join Kari as she talks to recent Samford graduate Will Hudson about the...

Most moms dream about their children being close. They worry about sibling rivalry and the quiet comparison, competition, and jealousy that can undermine these relationships.  Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about family dynamics and celebrating the unique strengths and personalities that each child brings to the table. Ep. 62 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well , More Than a Mom ,...

For girls of all ages, friendships matter, and when you're in college, your friends become your family. They're your home away from home.  Join Kari in this first episode with her oldest daughter, Ella, as she shares wisdom and practical advice on initiating, navigating, and sustaining real friendships. This episode is packed with helpful tips, and you don't want to miss it! Ep. 61...

Making time for rest helps you be more effective when you work. Rather than give 80 percent because you're tired, you can give 100 percent because you replenished your reserves. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about incorporating rest into your life routine. Ep. 60 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well , More Than a Mom , 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know ,   Liked: Whose Appr...

For teenagers today, friendship is often a source of stress, not comfort. And for mothers today, it's hard to know what to know how to guide them when things go south or just evolve. Join Kari as she shares some talking points on how to help your daughter find friends, keep friends, and - most importantly - become the friend she hopes to find. This episode comes from the friendship chapter of...

Disappointment is a part of life - but when it happens with the people you're doing life with, it can rock your world. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they take about navigating the ups and downs of friendship and finding your anchor of hope. Ep. 58 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well , More Than a Mom , 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know ,   Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? ,...

Learning to speak life takes intention and thought. It is often two steps forward, one step back. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about the power of words, waiting for the right time,  and using your voice for good. Ep. 57 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well , More Than a Mom , 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know ,   Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? , 10 Dating Truths Girl...

Prayer is a conversation with God where we speak to Him and then listen as He speaks to us. One great gift we can give a loved one is to pray for them and over them, remembering what the Bible says about God being with present when two or more are gathered in His name. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about prayer and what it has meant in their lives. Ep. 56 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Lov...