No Heart Left Behind's Hope in the Hard of Family Life Podcast

Shame often arises from a sense of failing to meet internal or external standards. As a result, shame manifests itself in our behaviors. In episode three of our shame series, Abby and Alicia look at shame in action and the various ways people look to avoid, cope with, or repair shame. They discuss the four categories of shame behaviors as well as behavioral characteristics of shame-based people. L...

In part two of the shame series, Abby and Alicia talk about the source of shame. From toxic parents to unfortunate circumstances, shame can stem from various sources impacting our emotional well-being. Abby and Alicia share personal and candid life-experiences surrounding their own shame, and discuss how the complex emotion of shame impacts individuals differently and often times goes unrealized....

As an effect of the Fall, we all have experienced that intense feeling of inadequacy and unworthiness called shame. Shame attacks our identity and self-worth and is one of the enemy's greatest weapons for destroying the peace and abundant life that is offered to the believer in Christ. In the first episode of this four-part series on shame, Alicia and Abby define shame and dive into the biblical r...

In this episode, Alicia talks with business growth strategist and coach, Dr. Robyn Graham, about balancing the busy of having a career and a family. As a mother of three, Robyn has first-hand experience managing the demands of a thriving multi-faceted career as well as the needs of her family. In this conversation, Alicia and Robyn talk about mindsets and heart postures for letting go of control,...

We've all experienced times when our life outcomes don't measure up to the expectations. These times in life can feel like a rug has been pulled from underneath our feet and leave us with nothing but despair and grief. In part 3 of our series on loss, Alicia talks with mom of four, Natalie Gremillion, about one of these rug-pulling moments when her son Nathaniel was diagnosed with autism at the ag...

As we continue through our series through loss, Alicia is joined by author and speaker, Joy Scott, as she shares the story of her son Joseph whose life was cut short by a rare form of brain cancer. In this powerful and candid conversation, Joy shares not only her struggles and grief as she faced what felt like an unthinkable situation but also how this tragedy led her family to experience the unim...

Even though Jesus tells us in the scriptures that in this world we will have trouble, it can be hard to reconcile a good God with seasons of trial and loss. In this first episode of our series, "Living with Loss," NHLB founder Abby Shields and her husband, Kerry, share their experience of losing a career along with their lifestyle and most of their earthly possessions. This conversation offers ins...

Oftentimes, passions are birthed through life experiences. This is true for today's guest, Don Manning, who is the father of seven children and the co-founder of the ministry Crazy Cool Family. The heart behind Don's ministry is to inspire and equip parents to build their best family one relationship at a time. In this episode, Alicia and Don discuss key elements to creating a family culture that...

There is a common misconception that marriage counseling is only for couples who are on the verge of divorce. In this episode, Alicia talks with No Heart Left Behind's newest provisionally licensed counselor, Whitney French, about this myth and other commonly held misconceptions surrounding marriage counseling. She offers hope and encouragement for any couple that feels beyond God's healing and re...

It's Valentine's Day so for many married couples this holiday brings a heightened awareness that the romantic, butterfly feelings of young love have faded. As life happens and the marriage relationship evolves, it is easy to fall into seasons that leave the relationship feeling stale. In this episode, Alicia talks with licensed marriage and family therapist and board certified christian sex therap...

In the first episode of season three, host Alicia Stickles and NHLB founder Abby Shields talk about ways people respond to hard seasons of life. When life gets hard, often times we respond and react out of fear. Using a comparison of King David and King Jeraboam from the Old Testament, Alicia and Abby discuss the ramifications of responding to hard times out of fear instead of faith. This conversa...

In this final episode of season 2, Alicia and Abby wrap up the season in similar fashion to where they began by discussing how slowness and intentionality can serve as an excellent way to manage the pressures and expectations of the holidays. They talk about new perspectives that help but the "merry" back in Christmas, and invite you to slow down and think deeper about the season of advent. This c...

As we step into the holidays, a season of celebration and joy can also bring stress and hardship. In a true "Holiday 911" fashion, Alicia and Abby tackle some of the "hard" of the holidays and give hope and encouragement for those struggling through the season. In this conversation, Alicia and Abby talk about hard relationships and the hard of grieving during the holidays. They provide mindsets an...

In the second half of this two-part conversation, Alicia and Dr. Lance Bourgeois continue their discussion concerning the call of parenting. From Colossians 3, Lance provides wisdom in response to Paul's instruction to not "add weight" to children and how parents are called to live intentionally with the purpose of seeing Christ formed in their children. Alicia and Lance also discuss the levels of...

Parenting is one of the highest and hardest callings. It is a call to patience, slowness, and even interruption. Over the next two episodes, Alicia sits down once again with Dr. Lance Bourgeois, head pastor of Grace Church in Wichita Falls, TX, to discuss the call of parenting according to Colossians 3. They also discuss parents' responsibility to launch emotionally and spiritually mature human be...

As a ministry, one issue that we see causing the most pain and destruction for families is infidelity. In this episode, Alicia talks with Eddie Barrios, long-time friend and Rise men's leader, about his story of infidelity in marriage and the redemptive path to healing, forgiveness, and restoration that God paved for him and his wife. This conversation not only addresses the harm caused by infidel...

While distractions, forgetfulness, and technology dependency might feel like surface-level issues, in this episode Alicia and author and speaker Katie Westenberg discuss the bigger cost of living a distracted life. Katie explained how remembering and reflecting can be a solution for feeling discontented and distracted. They also dive into themes from Katie's book, But Then She Remembered: How to G...

Adolescent mental health continues to be a growing concern for parents. Regardless of having a family with a strong Christian foundation, children can be susceptible to run-ins with seasons of anxiety or despair. In this episode, Alicia talks with Jeanette Tapley, speaker, podcaster, and mom of teenagers, about her teenage son's struggle with suicide ideation. In this real and authentic conversati...

In part two of our conversation with Kati Morse LeBreton, the redhead from The Redhead Method Social Media Education, Alicia and Kati discuss practices and principles that parents can implement to empower their teens to successfully navigate the online world. In today's society, almost everyone has some sort of online presence. Kati encourages parents to understand that social media literacy is a...

There has never been a time in history where society has been more virtual and forced to rely so heavily on screens for human connection and interaction. As parents, it can be hard to walk the thin and blurred line between technology as an outlet for connection and entertainment, and a dangerous predator that negatively affects our children's physical, social, and emotional well-being. In this esp...

Abby and Alicia wrap up the Tweens and Tweens series with a conversation about important aspects of communication, discipline, and conflict resolution during the teenage years. The teenage years are an opportunity to allow your child to practice what they have been taught before leaving the "nest." Therefore, Abby and Alicia discuss creating a safe environment for teenagers to learn and grow from...

In part 3 of our Teens and Tweens series, Alicia talks with Abby about the negative stigma surrounding parenting teenagers and how understanding the heart of your teenager along with knowledge about the changes happening during this time period can make the teenage years much more enjoyable. Abby sheds light on adolescent physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development in an effort to help...

As parents, one of the most challenging aspects of parenting is letting go which can often stem from the fear of losing cocntrol. In part 2 of our Teens & Tweens series, Abby and Alicia address the fear of losing control from a biblical perspective as well as continue to talk about parenting the "familiar stranger," also known as your middle school tweenager. Abby addresses communication, proper d...

This episode kicks off our 4-part Teens & Tweens Series. If you want relationships with your kids to thrive in the teenage years, it is important to lay the foundation in the "tweenage years." In this episode, NHLB's lead belief therapist, Abby Shields, talks with Alicia about raising children through the middle school years where children begin to feel like "familiar strangers." They discuss the...

In part 3 of our Sex and Intimacy Series, host, Alicia Stickles, and licensed marriage and family therapist, Ashley Mossy, have a hard and needed conversation about how past sexual trauma can show up in marriage. They discuss misconceptions concerning the subject of sexual trauma by defining what sexual trauma is and isn't. They also talk about the ways past sexual trauma affects intimacy between...