M Is for Mama Podcast

In our Part 1 of this series, we answered common questions about Catholicism from the Catholic perspective with help from a Catholic priest. In Part 2, we’re sharing answers from a Protestant viewpoint. The number one question I get asked from Catholics is, “We seem so aligned on a lot of topics, so why aren’t you Catholic?”We answer this question and so many more in this episode—particularly focu...

You asked, we’re answering! After months of receiving questions about Catholicism, I decided it was time to dive in.  I’ve invited Wit (my pastor) to join me as we address FAQs about Catholicism from Protestants (Part 1) and answer questions about Protestants from Catholics (Part 2).  For Part 1, Wit interviewed a local Catholic priest, Father Gavin, to ensure that our answers accurately reflect t...

We know we’re supposed to read the Bible with our kids. But sometimes, we overlook the why of its importance. In this episode, Melissa and Michael Kruger approach the topic of family devotionals in a way that makes it seem doable—because it is! It’s not about perfection but instead intention. And with their new book. The Good News Family Devotional, they’ve created a resource that walks parents th...

If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll survive your boys’ energy and verve for life, if you’ve been concerned the walls might not be standing by the time they leave the house, and if you’ve racked your brain for productive ways to channel their zeal for life, this episode is for you. Rebekah Lovell is a boy mom of two, and she joins me (mom of seven males) to talk about the wild, wonderful world of bo...

Are we willing our young adults for success as they go out into the world, and are we even defining success correctly? These questions are just two of the many I tackle with my guest, Jonathan Brush from Unbound Ministries. With multiple decades of working with youth and young adults under his belt, Jonathan approaches helping them thrive in a world full of pitfalls and opportunities for failure i...

In our last Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday episode of this podcast season, I share several tidbits of exciting news from our family (hint: Europe 2.0, baby!), answer your burning questions about toddlers, and so much more! I’m so glad you enjoy these long-form answer-style episodes as much as I enjoy making them! If you have a WWKW question for me, you can always submit it for consideration to abbie...

Postpartum is such a special time in every mom’s life, but it can also has its fair share of challenges: hormonal shifts, sleepless nights, and physical recovery, to name a few.  Our guest Anne Marie Williams is here to encourage moms to be proactive with their postpartum, actively pursuing ways to get help, think ahead, and manage their expectations.  We chat about everything from meal prep to di...

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s desire to have a lemonade stand is an indication of future financial stewardship or a glimmer of true entrepreneurial spirit, you’ll love this episode!  Bryant Greening has taken his own childhood (then adult) propensities for building businesses and translated them into a resource for kids called The Piggybank Playbook.  Part vision casting, part pract...

What if we truly believe our contentment were not linked to our circumstances—that we really do have the ability to give thanks in all circumstances, as we’re exhorted to do by Scripture? What would it change? For the Christian woman mired in bitterness and comparison, the answer just might be “everything.” In this conversation with Tilly Dillehay, we explore the influences in modern culture that...

Every week, on Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, I get asked for tips for picky eaters, how to get kids in the kitchen (without losing your mind), and teaching kids about healthy eating choices.  In this episode, we tackle all of these topics and more with Katie Kimble from Raising Healthy Families.  She provides lots of practical suggestions for overwhelmed moms, gives great insight on how to equip k...

If you had asked me if I had finding acreage and building another house on my bingo card for 2026, my answer would have been a resounding NO!  And yet, here we are!  In this episode, I’m tackling a bunch of your FAQs about how this came to be, the plan for our current house, and what we’re hoping to keep the same/change in the new build.  We’re excited (and a little nervous) to embark on this adve...

Homeschool moms, you’re in for a treat as I chat today with Mandy Davis, a former public school administrator turned homeschool educator.  In this episode, we talk about her unlikely journey to homeschooling as well as what made her keep going once she arrived. Woven throughout are so many tidbits and practical tips for new and seasoned homeschool moms. Not only that, but Mandy’s created a resourc...

On today’s show, Abbie and Abbey talk all things grace, mom guilt, and perseverance in motherhood. In a world that can swing from extremes such as try-hard motherhood perfectionism to the “hot mess express” mom, finding our center on the truth of the completed work of Christ for us as moms can feel almost impossible. I’m thankful for grounded voices like Abbey’s who help moms to discern Scripture...

If you’re a Christian and a mother (or soon to become one), this episode is for you! Dannette McGrew, certified birth doula, is on the podcast today to talk about Christians and birth. We discuss everything from hypnobirthing to the best place to give birth (spoiler: it’s wherever the Lord leads you). Everything that Dannette shares is rooted in a desire to compare birthing practices to the Word o...

If you’ve ever found yourself mumbling about what you’re doing in the pantry or asking yourself why you walked into the garage and flipped on the lights, then you’re probably well-versed in the art of talking to yourself.  The science behind it is obvious: As we vocalize our thoughts out loud, we help our brains process better.  So, what if we applied this truth to our spiritual lives and began “t...

Today’s episode is extra-special since I have my 15-year-old daughter Della joining me to chat and answer your questions.  We talk about what it’s like to be the oldest girl in a large family, how to navigate sibling conflict, what she’s looking forward to in her future and so much more! I hope you enjoy hearing from Della’s much as I enjoyed chatting with her! She’s truly a gem of a human being. ...

In a world that tells every parent of young children, “Just you wait until they’re teens. Then you’ll really know how bad parenting can be,” RuthAnn Zimmerman and I are here to call hog wash.  Yes, teens are a unique challenge and need to be treated with kindness and discernment. Yes, teen struggles can  feel much bigger and scarier than toddler meltdowns.  But teenagers also can be delightful, fu...

One of my biggest FAQs involves questions about chores, kids’ responsibilities, and teaching children self-discipline.  On this episode, I invite my friend RuthAnn Zimmerman to share her wisdom about intentionally facilitating responsibility and stewardship in children through hard work, discipline, and appropriate expectations.  She talks about how they chose to take on animals and tasks for the...

Today’s episode has a rare treat—an appearance from my husband, Shaun. We tackle some of your burning questions, most notably how to stay connected in seasons of stress, busyness, small children, or all of the above.  We hope you’ll glean some helpful tidbits from this marriage chat and that you’ll be encouraged to invest faithfully in your own marriage each and every day. Sponsor Info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Sometimes, you meet someone with whom you instantly click, and it feels like you’ve known each other for decades.  That’s how it felt when I found my friend Kat online. We started chatting via DMs, and a couple of years later, we got the chance to hang out face-to-face when she came to stay at our house for my book launch party for You Bet Your Stretch Marks.  Our conversations during our time tog...

What if we truly believed God’s power gave us everything we need for life and godliness? That His power really is made perfect in our weakness? That His grace is actually sufficient for every circumstance we encounter? In this episode, we dive into the kind of thought patterns that keep us stuck in resentment + bitterness, instead of contentment (“must be nice” and “if I had what she had, I’d be a...

Y’all asked, and I’m delivering! So many of you wanted a dedicated episode on why “be a blessing” is our family motto and how we practically apply it in our home and community at large.  As always, we go back to Scripture as our guide for any phrases or intentions we choose to focus on, and there are plenty of examples of what it means to look outside ourselves for the purpose of blessing others a...

Welcome to Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday podcast-style in 2026! In this episode, we’re tackling everything from chores as discipline to whether you can homeschool without a co-op to how to move forward with peace when you’ve gone through multiple miscarriages.  As always, my goal is to give you practical helps based on biblical principles, rather than teach you to do anything “Abbie-style.”  May th...

One of my favorite things when I have guests on is when they combine biblical principles with actionable steps for more peace, joy, and order in our homes.  Arlene Pelicane does this so well in today’s episode in which we discuss the biblical principles that undergird family interactions in areas that span everything from technology to marriage. I know you’ll be encouraged to stay the course (or m...

Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to get as much done as you used to? Or, conversely, why something that used to feel overwhelming now seems like not as big a deal?  The answer, in a word, might be capacity. Human beings are seasonal creatures, and there will be times in our life when we are simply capable of more (or less), thanks to a variety of factors.  Join me as we chat about how to...