Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast

Welcome to another episode of Heart of the Matter Radio Podcast. We all enjoy a love story, and this week Cynthia shared a tidbitt from the courtship of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his wife Susannah. Susie was very shy, but Spurgeon had set London ablaze when he came to New Park Street Chapel. The church had to hire a new auditorium to handle the crowds he attracted. However, he tended to forget e...

In this podcast episode,  hostess Cynthia L Simmons discussed the connection of red lipstick, World War 2, and patriotism. She explored how American women expressed their femininity and kept their spirits up during a pivotal time in history. Drawing parallels to the idea of love, Cynthia also discussed the idea of agape love as we launch into the month of February.  Join us as we dive into history...

Welcome to the latest episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast where we celebrate women from the past and learn new and powerful ways to cope with our nutty, upside-down world.  This week we had a special guest, Katie Leigh who plays Connie Kendall on Adventures in Odyssey . She was joined by a mutual friend, author Peggy Sue Wells .  Katie shared how she got the job at Focus on the Family and...

Welcome to another episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. In this episode  Cynthia and her guest Dawn Damon discuss what a brave-hearted woman looks like. Dawn shared her insights on discovering your vision and living as God intended you to live. Join Cynthia and Dawn as they discuss practical tips to make 2024 more successful.

Welcome to our second podcast for 2024. Cynthia and her guest, author Nicki White , discuss stories of people who rose above circumstances and lived out what they believed. Nicki also offered encouraging ideas about how we can reach out to needy people this year and make a difference in our world. Join us as we brainstorm tackling 2024.

Welcome to Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. 2024 has arrived. Typically, people consider their plans and resolutions for the new year. This week, Cynthia mentioned the craziness around us. She asked author Peggy Sue Wells to give thoughts about stewardship in this situation. Peggy Sue pointed out the importance of self-care and of controlling your thoughts rather than leaping into crisis mode. S...

Welcome to Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. In this week's New Year podcast, Cynthia related a story about the man who accidentally ignited Thee Great London Fire, which took place in 1666. Imagine how ashamed he must have felt. Based on that event, she invited listeners to consider their own legacy. What will people remember about your life? 

Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. This week Cynthia offered a holiday message about creating lasting memories with those we love. She emphasized the need for transcendency in our lives. and for giving messages that clearly communicate our hope. As a Christmas gift, Cynthia offered listeners her childhood memories of Christmas as well as a cake recipe her mother used to make for the...

Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. This week we go back in history to learn about Teddy Roosevelt's parents. His mother, Mittie Bulloch, lived in Roswell, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. Our guest this week, Gwendolyn I. Koehler researched their lives and transcribed their letters. In this episode, she shared their romantic journey and their gorgeous winter wedding at Bulloch Hall....

Welcome to Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. In this episode, author and counselor Tina Yeager chatted about ways to whip holiday burn out. Tina offered useful ideas on managing social obligations and genius ways to give meaningful gifts without spending a fortune. She also offers a course you can check out here . Use the codes FRIDAY23 or ACT NOW to get a discount. In addition, Cynthia is offeri...

Welcome to the Thanksgiving episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. Cynthia steps back ino history and hightlights Sarah Josepha Hale. Sarah, who lived during the Civil War, believed a national day of thanksgiving would unite and fractured nation. Due to her persistance, President Lincoln finally made the Thanksgiving a national holiday. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and listen to this delightful...

Welcome to Heart of the Matter Podcast/Radio. As the holiday season approaches, Cynthia and her guest, author Janet K Johnson , delve into the topic of making memories with your family. Afterall, you will look back on the happy times with loved ones rather than fret over what you didn't purchase.  They discuss how to make the holiday special by spending time with family and by remembering those wh...

In this episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast, Cynthia chats with author and parenting expert, Jill Rigby Garner . They tackle the reason we see so much modern day disrespect, and Jill believes we have placed too much emphasis on self-esteem. Instead Jill believes we should avoid fostering a sense of entitlement and teach children to give to others. The episode also features heartwarming st...

Welcome back to Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. In today's podcast, we discussed a tough topic: how to approach the topic death with your children. Our guest was Author Janet K Johnson who wrote the children's book Fly High: Understanding Grief with God's Help .  Our hostess, Cynthia, shared her experiences and fears surrounding death in childhood. In contrast, Janet offered guidance on using n...

Welcome to a special episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast for Halloween. We are all curious about death and what comes afterward.   J. Steve Miller PhD has extensively researched Near death and Death Bed experiences and written several books on the topic. He and Cynthia discussed his work. This is a clip of a longer video. They discussed whether these experiences are compatible with Christ...

Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. This week we continued the conversation with Janet McHenry on praying personalities.  She introduced us to four praying personalities, which are Problem Solver,  Friend of God, Organized Prayer, and Peace Seeker. You can take an online test to discover which best describes you here . Each praying personality has unique characterisics and app;roache...

Welcome to  the Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast. In today's episode we delved into the fascinating topic of prayer and discuss how each of us approaches prayer differently. Cynthia interviewed author Janet McHenry who is a prayer warrior and author of Praying Personalities: Finding My Natural Prayer Style.  Janet explained how she noticed different prayer personalities in Scripture, ranging from...

Welcome to another episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast where we dive deep into important topics that impact our lives. In today's episode, we have a special guest, Carol Leathem who wrote Are You Ready to Find Joy When Life Gets Messy?  Carole brings her personal experience and insights on caring for her husband who struggles with mental illness. She sheds light on early signs to watch fo...

Welcome to another episode of Heart of the Matter Radio Podcast. We have a thought-provoking guest, Dr. Mel Tavares , who will discuss the important topic of mental health. Increased anxiety and depression after the pandemic prompted her to reach out to parents and families.  Mel shares her insight on how people respond differently to situations. She emphasizes the need for understanding and empat...

Welcome to another episode of Heart of the Matter Radio/Podcast.  Today we have the pleasure of hosting Grace Fox , author of the devotional book, Fresh Hope for Today .  With everything happening in the world today, it's easy to lose hope and feel overwhelmed. That's why we are diving into the topic of mental health for the next few weeks. Grace's book filled with touching and beautiful reflectio...

Welcome! In today's episode, we have a special guest joining us, Kristen Hatton , to discuss her book,  Parenting Ahead.  Parenting is a lifelong journey, and it's crucial to start planning for the teen years and beyond. Kristen shares insightful tips on proactive parenting, measuring success, and how parents can mature as individuals. We delve into the differences between proactive and reactive p...

Welcome to another exciting episode of Heart of the Matter Radio. We delve into the fascinating topic of the Constitution just in time to celebrate its signing which occurred on Sept 17, 1787. Laura Key joined Cynthia today. She is doctoral student at Liberty University and a teacher at Colorado Christian. Together they explore the significance of the Consitution, its evolution from the Articless...

Hey everyone! I just finished an amazing podcast with DeAnna Kane on the power of hospitality. We talked about how hospitality is not just fancy decor or big events. It is about genuine connections and creativity. DeAnna and her business partner started an online magazine called The Heart of Hospitality where they share tips on having the best parties and events. The even introduced the idea of "f...

We all want a bright future for our children, and it's tough when we learn a child is less than perfect. What can a parent do? Annie Yortie had a beautiful baby girl who had Down's Syndrome. She was heartbroken. However, she grew closer to God and learned to educate her daughter. Annie's book, From Ignorance to Bliss , unfolds her secrets to success. 

I can recall questioning the existance of Santa Claus. How could he visit every household in just one night? How did he get inside my house since we had no fireplace? Did he really know everything I had done? Your children will question what you have taught them about God.  As Francis Schaeffer pointed out, Christianity can handle their questions.  Mike McGarry just published  Discover: Questionin...