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

Happy New Year and Welcome to the Monica Swanson podcast!  If you missed last week’s episode, I hope you can go back and have a listen (it’s SHORT!) In this new year I am rebranding the podcast with a new name and a broader scope, but the heart of the podcast has not changed.  I am SO excited to dive into some great topics and interviews ahead. (Also: Welcome to the girl moms joining us!) Today’s...

A New Season with Monica!  Happy New Year and Welcome to the Monica Swanson podcast!  For over 3.5 years I have been sharing episodes on the Boy Mom Podcast, and you can still revisit all 190 episodes any time. (I recommend you do! – there’s some good stuff in there!) But in this new year and new season, we are broadening our scope (and welcoming our girl moms – and all of the dads!) as we rebrand...

Welcome to the FINAL episode of the Boy Mom Podcast!  Wait! Let me explain. Beginning next week (New Year's, 2023) this podcast will be called The Monica Swanson Podcast!  In this very special, final episode of the Boy Mom Podcast, I am sharing highlights from the final TWO chapters of Boy Mom! This wraps up my monthly series which began in January of 2022! If you’ve missed any of the previous boo...

Merry Christmas!  Join Luke (18), Levi (12), and I for a Merry Christmas chat…and also catch up on Luke's world travels since he was last with us back in June.  If you’re busy you can skip to 20 minutes for a brief Christmas greeting, but if you have the time/enjoy surf stories or listening to Luke (☺) then grab some cocoa and enjoy this conversation! (Your kids might enjoy it too!) Sending hugs a...

True confession:  This is about the exact week when I typically find myself morphing from the happy, care-free, "I love Christmas everything!!!!" Mom, to the stressed out, feeling behind, "I just want to get Christmas over with" Mom.  Yep.  Anyone with me?  As much as I love (truly, adore!) this season, I have learned that Christmas can bring up all kinds of hard emotions and dashed expectations,...

I am so excited to share this special conversation with my (now, in-real-life) friend, Asheritah Ciuciu. Asheritah has been on the podcast before as we talked about her amazing Advent devotional, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus. Now, with a beautiful Children’s Book newly released, Asheritah joins me to talk about the power of sharing our own stories with our kids, as we point to what Jesus has done...

In this episode we are talking about how we can approach the topic of dating and relationships as our sons grow up. I talk about how we have handled things with our sons, focusing on Biblical values and wisdom principles, not a set of rules. I share some resources we use for teaching our kids about sexuality, and the importance of having many conversations about even the awkward topics as our kids...

Today I am sharing a podcast episode that could transform your holiday season…maybe even your whole life.  Seriously, that’s a big claim, but have a listen and I think you’ll agree — it’s that powerful. I’m so happy to bring back this conversation I had with Kate Merrick in 2019.  If you aren’t familiar with Kate yet, you’ll fall in love with her quickly.  In this episode I get to tell the funny s...

If you're like me, you always intend to keep the holidays Christ-centered, but in reality it isn't easy. In the busyness of the holidays, we often finish the Christmas season feeling defeated and depleted. Today’s guest, Ruth Chou Simons knows the hectic nature of the holidays; raising 6 sons and running a retail business that is thriving over the holidays, the Simons family has to be intentional...

Come join this conversation about setting healthy boundaries, which seems especially timely as we head into the holiday season. Boundaries can be challenging – in marriage, in family, work, church, and all relationships.  Lysa Terkeurst, best-selling author and founder of Proverbs 31 ministries, joins us to talk about a biblical understanding of boundaries. She offers helpful guidelines for recogn...

This week's guest ushers us into the holidays with wisdom, grace, and laughter.  Grab a cup of coffee and join Lana Stenner and I for a fun chat about raising goats and chickens, the joy of grown kids who still gather around the table, and perspectives that will lead us into the holidays embracing a slower, simpler rhythm. (How good does that sound!?) Lana Stenner is a homesteading, goat-and-chick...

This is the 10th part of the 2022 monthly feature on the podcast, covering the “12 Things Your Son Needs Most from You” from my book, Boy Mom. Today I am sharing some snippets from Chapter 11 – A Lot Going On. In this chapter I focus on the things we can do as parents to prepare our sons for an emotionally healthy future.   I talk about the importance of an emotional vocabulary, how to communicate...

“Live your truth,” “Follow your heart”, “God wants you to be happy”…the list goes on of popular cultural messages that sound so good…but do not line up with Scripture. As harmless as these memes and messages may seem, they have great potential to lead our kids down a very dangerous path. These cultural messages are not only all over on social media and the world of entertainment, but many of them...

This is an episode I have been so excited to share! I begin with a few announcements, one of which is about a big decision I am asking for your help with (see link to a short survey in show notes!) With my new book, Raising Amazing, coming out in February, I will also be making some changes in the podcast.  I can’t wait to share them with you! Next I dive into as many questions from podcast listen...

Life can be incredibly challenging, and pain and suffering are a part of the human experience. (I wish they were not.) We will all face difficult times, and when you are a parent, the way you respond to difficulties has an impact on the generations that follow you. Today’s guest, Nicole Jacobsmeyer has faced her fair share of difficulties. From being a medical residency spouse (that’s hard, I know...

This is the ninth part of the 2022 monthly feature on the podcast, covering the “12 Things Your Son Needs Most from You” from my book, Boy Mom. Today I am sharing some snippets from Chapter 10 – Body Wise. This chapter covers some of the ways we can help our boys to grow up to be active, healthy, and motivated to take care of themselves for a lifetime.   When our kids are young they depend on us f...

This week I am bringing back an episode from the past on a topic that is on a lot of parents' minds. I get asked about kids and video games, a lot, and have never felt qualified to give a comprehensive answer.  We are not much of a video game family, but I am not fully anti-video game, either.  So, I have always wanted to bring someone on who has an educated, balanced approach.  Boy did this conve...

I hear from a lot of parents who want to raise their kids to know and love God’s Word but are afraid of pushing too hard, or worried their kids might rebel against church and faith. My oldest son, Josiah (23) joins us today to share his faith journey, from his earliest years, through some years of doubt and questioning, and on to where he is today: A young man who loves God and cherishes the Word...

None of us want to imagine our kids carrying emotional baggage into adulthood, but…it happens. 😢 Wounds from people and experiences, from their own mistakes, (and sometimes even their own parents) grow into baggage that can impact the rest of our kids' lives… Chris Sasser (“Sass”) has been in family ministry for a long time, and through meetings with young adults, he recognized the problem of emo...

This is #8 of the 2022 monthly feature on the podcast, covering the “12 Things Your Son Needs Most from You” from my book, Boy Mom. Today I am sharing some snippets from Chapter 9 – Inspiring Young Minds! This chapter is all about motivating boys to learn and helping them discover what will fuel their soul (and hopefully stick with them into adulthood!) We cover a lot in this episode – from creati...

This is part II of a listener-favorite conversation with David Thomas which first aired nearly two years ago! In these episodes we are drawing from a book that David co-authored: “Are Your Kids on Track: 12 Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Milestones Your Kids Needs to Reach.” David’s insights and experience from counseling are relatable and encouraging! This week we are talking about 4 social mil...

This week and next I am sharing listener favorite-conversations with David Thomas which first aired nearly two years ago. David is a counselor at Daystar Counseling Center in Nashville, TN., and the author of several books. In these episodes we are drawing from his book: “Are Your Kids on Track: 12 Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Milestones Your Kids Needs to Reach.” David’s insights and experien...

My 2nd son Jonah, (21) joins us to chat about his first two years of college, and the years leading up to that. From being homeschooled, to taking a gap year, to navigating friend groups, spiritual questions and more – we cover a lot! This is a great episode for high school kids to listen to. Jonah offers encouragement for securing your identity before college, knowing what you believe, and making...

Jordan Raynor has always been passionate about creativity and productivity, and he's written a number of best-selling books on these topics. In his new book, The Creator in You, Jordan's goal is to inspire our children to start young!  He helps kids to understand that work existed from the very beginning – even before sin entered the world...He reminds kids that God is a creative, working God, who...

This is the seventh part of the 2022 monthly feature on the podcast, covering the “12 Things Your Son Needs Most from You” from my book, Boy Mom. Today I am sharing some snippets from Chapter 8 – Navigating the Digital Age. There is a lot to cover, but I think this is one of the greatest parts of our job as parents in today's world! Be sure to check show notes to find two free downloads: A Technol...