Start Scared

Ever feel that wave of mom guilt when you do something for yourself? SAME. In this episode, I’m sharing about my upcoming 10-day trip to Colorado with my husband... The excitement, the guilt, and the reminder that it’s okay to be both. If you’ve ever struggled with leaving your kids or taking time for yourself, this one’s for you. 💛 ☀️TIDERUNNER RETREAT: Vacation rental in Port O’Connor, Texas. T...

This week, I’m taking you back to a very special place in my heart, St. Augustine, Florida. My husband Frank, our 10-year-old Bruce, and I spent fall break exploring the city where I went to college. We did all the touristy things, ate amazing food, and visited the places that shaped who I am today. In this heartfelt episode, I’m sharing the full-circle gratitude that came from walking through old...

This week, I’m diving into Romans 5:1–11 (ESV), a passage that’s full of hope, peace, and reminders of how deeply God loves us. During my Bible study, a few words really stood out to me: hope and reconciled. Because of our faith, we have peace with God through Jesus, our relationship with Him is restored, and we’re no longer His enemies. My biggest takeaway? Because of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, I...

Feeling overwhelmed by all the things on your plate? You’re not alone, friend. Today I’m chatting with Andrea Liebross, business and life coach, speaker, and author of She Thinks Big. Andrea helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs stop thinking small and start creating extraordinary results with the right systems and mindset. In this episode, we talk about why it’s so important to delegate (inste...

This weekend in South Texas, I was struck with a sudden wave of gratitude. For the land. For the sun. For the fresh air and good food. For friends who are more like family. For the kind of community where makeup doesn’t matter, kids are loved like your own, and conversations fill your soul. In this episode, I share a story from our time dove hunting at a friend’s ranch and how it reminded me that...

This week’s episode is short, sweet, and straight from my heart. I wasn’t feeling inspired to record today, and maybe that’s exactly why this message matters. In this episode, I share a moment from the other day when someone asked me, “What do you do now that you’re not teaching?” and I froze. I explain how that question left me feeling less than, and how it ties into the bigger reminder we all ne...

As a Christian, I wrestle with grief, shock, and the fear over how the death of Charlie Kirk could deepen political divisions. But I also hold onto hope: hope that tragedy might awaken compassion, that anger might be transformed, that we might lean into our shared humanity. Together, we’ll explore what we can do: turning off the 24-hour news cycle, stepping away from social media for a bit, engagi...

This week, I’m sharing a powerful experience from visiting our daughter at Tarleton State University and attending Timber Ridge Church with her and her friends. Watching young adults worship Jesus so boldly reminded me of my own college years and how different my story was. The message that morning centered on how Jesus multiplies our gifts, and Romans 12:7-8 deeply connected to my heart and what...

I used to love The Biggest Loser. I thought it was motivational, inspiring, and fascinating. But after watching the Netflix documentary, my perspective completely changed. I realized how extreme the diets and exercise were, and how harmful the messaging about people and weight really was. In this episode, I share my honest thoughts, what I learned, and why it’s okay to change your mind about thing...

Today, I’m sharing something that I’m doing just for me. After years of teaching and now as a mom to a child with ADHD and big emotions, I’ve always been fascinated by the brain, especially how trauma and ADHD affect kids. Since I’m not working right now, I decided to use this season to grow my knowledge in a way that lights me up. In this quick episode, I talk about why I enrolled in a trauma-inf...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Jenifer Price (aka Dr. Jen)—therapist, speaker, and proud boy mom—joins me to talk about the deep connection between a mother’s mental health and a child’s emotional intelligence. She opens up about how personal loss led to a journey of self-rediscovery and shares practical mental health hacks for busy moms and their kids. If you’ve ever felt guilty for prioritizing y...

Today’s episode is a real-time reflection, straight from the yoga mat to the mic. After taking a heated barre and yoga class, I found myself in an emotional moment connecting with younger Chrysty, the version of me who never felt like she had permission to try unless she could be perfect. I share what it looked like to give her (and myself) permission to be a beginner, to fall, to laugh, to try ne...

If you're a routine loving, checklist-making, control craving mama then this one's for you. 🙋‍♀️ In today’s episode, I’m sharing how I’ve been learning to loosen my grip on perfection, let go of the pressure to have it all figured out, and find more freedom in the messy middle. I talk about how I used to be ultra-rigid with structure (hi, Enneagram 6 👋), how burnout forced me to re-eva...

In this short episode, I am sharing a bit about a recent girls’ weekend getaway! It was only 30ish hours, but it reminded me how important it is to reconnect with myself, my friends, and the woman I am outside of motherhood. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to plan that getaway or dinner, consider this your nudge: Put it on the calendar, even if it’s just for a day, because you matter t...

Today on Start Scared, I’m joined by Kadi Dutton—SAHM of two littles and co-owner of EveryLove, a company helping couples take their sex life from surviving to thriving. We’re diving deep into what it’s like to feel more “mom” than “woman,” how postpartum changed the way Kadi and her husband approached marriage, and why prioritizing intimacy is a game-changer even when life feels overwhelming. Thi...

In this short episode, I share how you can help make a difference for families affected by recent flooding in my community. 100% of the proceeds from my guided journal, Rediscover You: 30 Days of Scripture & Affirmations for Mamas, will be donated to Hill Country Community Ministries, a local nonprofit providing vital flood relief and clean-up support in Western Williamson and Northwest Travis...

Today, I am sharing my heart after a week heavy with loss, tragedy, and tough family decisions. From honoring a dear friend gone too soon, to grieving with fellow Texans after devastating floods, to facing the fragile season of caring for an aging loved one... Life is so precious. If your heart feels heavy too, you’re not alone. Text me anytime at 855-849-0997 — I would love to pray for you or jus...

In today’s episode of Start Scared, we’re chatting with Kelsey Cook—certified teacher, mama of four, and the powerhouse behind Learning with Kelsey, a subscription box service that helps parents engage their young children in hands-on, meaningful learning at home. Kelsey shares the story of how she transitioned from the classroom to entrepreneurship, juggling the challenges of motherhood and growi...

This episode is such a special treat — I handed over the mic to my favorite guest ever: Bruce! You all showed up with some fun and hilarious questions when I asked you to ask us anything on Instagram and Facebook. Bruce and I dove in and talked about: ✨ Bruce’s favorite thing about me — cue the tears 🥹 ✨ What I’m most proud of and what Bruce’s proudest moment is too ✨ And what we both absolute...

Father’s Day is a mix of emotions for me — deep grief for the dad I miss so much, and endless gratitude for the incredible dad my kids have in Frank. In this short episode, I’m sharing my heart about holding space for both loss and love on Father’s Day — and a gentle reminder that whatever you feel today, you’re not alone. THANK YOU TO THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR ~ 📖 REDISCOVER YOU is a 30-day guided jou...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by lifestyle writer, editor, and 3-time published author Rachelle Bergstein. Rachelle is a 43-year-old mom to a 9-year-old son, a Brooklyn-based creative, and a breast cancer survivor. She gets real about what it was like to raise a young child while navigating a life-threatening diagnosis, and how her perspective on motherhood, identity, and ambition has shift...

In August, my mom welcomed a foreign exchange student from Germany into her home—and from day one, he became part of ours, too. We’ve shared beach days in Port O’Connor, a family vacation to Mexico, and even taught him how to drive (shoutout to Frank for being the brave teacher!). My 10-year-old son absolutely adores him, and saying goodbye is going to be so hard. Today, he joins me on the podcast...

It’s my 41st birthday, and I’m celebrating by sharing 5 powerful life lessons I’ve learned the hard way. From self-love to boundaries to timelines—this is the kind of heart chat you and I would have on a walk or on the back porch! 💛 Mentioned in this episode: → Text me your best piece of advice or lesson you've learned! 📲 855-849-0997 → Leave a quick review—it’s the best birthday gift ever!...

Hey friend — today’s episode is straight from the heart. 💛 In my recent Bible study, we were reading about the Proverbs 31 woman and Ruth 3:1–13 (NLT), and something clicked for me in a new way. I always used to see the Proverbs 31 woman as this superwoman I could never live up to. But then we looked at Ruth — a single, poor woman working in the fields — and I realized... she was also called “vir...

In today’s episode of Start Scared, I’m joined by Alicia Long—Registered Nurse, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist, national trainer for Allergan, and the powerhouse CEO of C2 Aesthetics. With over 16 years in the aesthetics industry, Alicia is now expanding her expertise into functional medicine and wellness, helping women look and feel their best from the inside out. We chat all about hormones...