The Monica Swanson Podcast - boy mom, build strong families, Biblical worldview, women’s wellness

If you’ve ever let the stress of the season steal the JOY of the season, you know what inspired this episode.  I’ve been there, and I don’t want to go back!  Today’s episode is all about facing the reality of the holiday season with intentionality, and ending it with no regrets!   Today I share five very simple and do-able tips that will decrease our stress, and help us be more present, patient, a...

Did you know that you were created for delight? It’s true! Though, if you are not feeling the fullness of that right about now you are not alone. We live in a fallen world and life can feel complicated and hard. Sometimes even turning to the Bible can feel like another task on our to-do list. Most of us don’t like to admit these things, especially in the midst of what is supposed to be the happies...

I am so excited to officially kick of the holiday season here on the podcast with this incredibly practical and fun conversation! Krista Gilbert is an executive and personal life coach who helps people and companies “design a life they love” (how cool is that!?) She’s also a personal friend who I enjoy and respect so much!  In this conversation Krista and I talk about the realities of the holidays...

We all know there is no formula for good motherhood (bummer!) Yet, the Bible does offer plenty of wisdom to help us navigate well. By understanding the gospel story and considering how God has made each of our families uniquely, Christian moms have access to the very best guide.  Every day, moms must make decisions...so many decisions! The Bible has clear guidelines for some, but others are less c...

If you’ve been a mom for more than a minute, you have dealt with difficult emotions. Destructive mommy anger has been one of the hardest issues for me personally, and I am so grateful for God’s grace in offering me forgiveness, grace, and a new way to parent. Now I am passionate about helping other moms overcome the cycle of overwhelm, anger, and guilt.   Today’s guest, Natalie Hixson shares my pa...

As we near the end of this fall series on the most frequently-asked-parenting questions, today we come to the topic that I have probably been asked the very most about: DISCIPLINE! I am grateful to have my husband with me to cover this challenging and potentially divisive, but incredibly important topic!  Dave and I begin this episode with the WHY of discipline. We share Scripture and common sense...

I am so excited to get to share this honest Mom-chat with my friend Jessica Smartt. I have loved Jessica’s books (links to them over in my show notes) and getting to know her in real life a couple years ago, and I appreciate her wisdom, conviction, and humor. I think you'll enjoy getting to know her too! In today’s episode Jessica shares three helpful parenting “goals” for sibling relationships, a...

I’m so excited to get to share a sneak peek, — some special clips from 7 of the interviews which are a part of the  Character Training Course.    And the fun news is: The Character Training Course is finally open (only until next Monday!) I hope you can go over to the COURSE PAGE to see what’s in there and join over a thousand families who are saying YES to raising kids of character!   Whether or...

We all want our kids to have good character, but we don’t always consider how crucial character  is to our kids’ future success. In today’s interview, former multi-billion-dollar investment  manager, Dennis Trittin, helps us connect the dots and find even more motivation for raising kids  of character. After over 30 years managing investments and studying successful leaders all over the world,  De...

Welcome to week 2 of this fall series focused on “Most-asked-about” Parenting topics. Today we tackle a hot topic in our culture which I think is incredibly important for parents to tune into.    My guest, Rachel Gilson, has an amazing testimony (I can’t wait or you to hear it!) From her background as an atheist and a lesbian, to being confronted with the reality of Jesus’ love for her (at Yale, n...

This week we kick off a month + of “most-requested” parenting topics. We’re going to cover some hard topics and some hot topics. Today we kick it all off with a topic important for every parent: Raising mentally strong kids!    My guest, Lauren Gaines, has a background in school psychology and has taught at the University level. More recently Lauren began wearing the title of “homeschool Mom”.   I...

Welcome to part 4 of my September Women’s Wellness Series. Today we get to talk about the common, yet often-confusing topics related to pelvic floor health!  My good friend, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Sierra Rehrer, is with us to help us understand the various women’s health issues related to the pelvic floor. She shares the most common pelvic floor problems, what we can do at home to strengthen...

Welcome to part 3 of my September Women’s Wellness Series. As we go through these topics, I am very aware that we are just scratching the surface, and I am already working on plans for more of these in the future!     The topic of hormones alone could be a month-long series (if not more!) but I think this honest chat with my friend, Greta Eskridge, is a great start. Greta has had a long and challe...

In this, my most vulnerable episode to date, I share my personal journey overcoming obsessions with food, exercise, and the scale. Beginning with my background as a competitive gymnast, to typical teenage insecurities, to dieting and obsessing as a lifestyle, to laying it all down in surrender to the Lord, and the amazing (though very practical) path He led me to when everything changed!  (Includi...

Jeanine Amapola is a popular influencer for Gen Z, but even more, she is wise beyond her years! After a long season of straddling the fence between sincere faith and hidden sin, Jeanine faced the truth: Only a true surrender to God would truly satisfy.  Jeanine joins us to chat through some of the topics in her recent book, Becoming Happy and Healthy. We cover friends (good ones and the toxic type...

We do a lot for our kids, but nothing is more powerful or effective as praying for them. Yet, many of us feel intimidated or inadequate in our prayer lives. Life is busy. We are tired. What is the best way to pray for our kids?    Brooke McGlothlin is here to help! In today’s episode she shares her unexpected journey to becoming a praying mom, and steps that anyone can take to elevate their prayer...

I thought we could all use a little “parenting pep talk” right about now…As we wrap up a busy summer and prep for the new school year, we need reminders of how important our role is as parents, the job description God has given us, and the difference we can make in our kids’ lives through our involvement, support, and prayers.   In this episode I am chatting with Leslie Nunnery, author, podcaster,...

We all have unique interests and strengths, and then other areas that, well, don’t come so naturally. (right?) That’s perfectly normal. Yet, being well-rounded is important for navigating every area of life. I think it is a good idea to zoom out occasionally and take inventory of how we and our kids are doing in the way of being well-rounded, and balanced!   In this episode I am sharing what I cal...

Lindsey Mimnaugh has grown a huge online following for her beautiful curriculums, nature studies, and always-inspiring social media posts (See: Treehouse Schoolhouse online) I love her book suggestions and all of her ideas for training little ones with good habits, life skills, and open-ended play!  Beginning her homeschooling journey before she had kids of her own (by homeschooling other people’s...

Summertime is so special, yet the days are fleeting (right?) And without some intentionality it’s easy to wrap up summer, wondering where the days have gone.   Whether your kids are about to start back to school already (like here in Hawaii!) or you still have a few weeks, you’ll be glad to make the most of these days while summer is still in the air! In today’s episode I suggest FIVE things famil...

This is part 3 of my summer mini-series on parenting and youth sports. Be sure to tune into the last two episodes if you have missed them! In today’s episode, my son Luke (20,) joins me talk about his experience pursuing a professional surf career. For context he explains a bit about how competitive surfing works, where he is now in the process, and his ultimate goals. He talks about how he got st...

Welcome to part II of our summer series on parenting and youth sports. Be sure to catch last week’s (packed!) episode if you missed it! Today my husband Dave is with us to consider 3 important FAITH PRINCIPLES that impact our kids’ athletic endeavors.   Background: Dave played soccer through the collegiate and professional level, and we are both super competitive people. We have navigated parentin...

Note: This is the first of a 3-part summer series on Youth Sports. (I'm so excited about this!) I hope you’ll spread the word and comment over in show notes to keep the conversation going.   According to recent research, 70% of kids drop out of organized athletics by the age of 13. Today’s guest, John O’Sullivan, suggests that this is because youth sports have become adult-centered, ultra-competit...

"We’ve all heard the mind-boggling statistics about technology and social media use. The numbers don’t lie; our obsession with smartphones and social media is slowly eroding the very essence of our homes and families. We see it. We feel it. We know it. So what do we do about it? "... - Erin Loechner, today's guest. Erin Loechner walked away from over a million online followers to choose a differen...

When Joey Odom missed his son’s first soccer goal because he was looking at his phone, he had a realization: his phone was getting in the way of his best intentions as a Dad and a husband. Since then, he has been on a journey to change his relationship with his phone so that he can change the most important relationships in his life.    I heard about Joey from our mutual friend (and a favorite pod...