Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

Sunlight, open windows, and the itch to purge a closet can feel like the whole story of spring, but the deeper shift happens inside. We explore how a true reset begins with the heart, then flows into the home and the habits that quietly shape each day. With Scripture as our compass, we talk candidly about emotional clutter like comparison and worry, spiritual clutter like distraction and busyness,...

What if the most powerful parenting tool isn’t a tactic but a transforming love you’ve actually tasted? We sit down with Christina Holdridge to explore how a living, growing relationship with Jesus becomes the well that overflows into our homes—especially when discipline, fear, or comparison threaten to take over. With three daughters and years of mentoring women, Christina offers grounded wisdom...

What if the best way to love our kids is to stop rescuing them? We dive into the surprising power of appropriate risk, unstructured play, and everyday responsibility to grow confidence, grit, and judgment—without abandoning safety or warmth. Drawing on stories from early parenthood in Germany to weekly forest adventures in California, we share how giving kids room to climb, explore, and wrestle wi...

Respect doesn’t grow by accident; it grows under steady hands. We dive into why so many families feel stuck in constant negotiation, how peer culture and media undercut adult leadership, and what it takes to rebuild a peaceful home where kids know the boundaries and feel safe inside them. From the surprising power of names and titles to the subtle ways we erode our own authority, we connect everyd...

Happiness is loud, but gratitude is lasting. We open our Parenting Pointers series with a candid, hope-filled guide to raising grateful kids in a world that tells them more is never enough. Instead of bending our homes around constant comfort, we walk through how Scripture reframes the goal: train the heart, not chase the mood. We share where entitlement slips in—often through our own habits—and h...

What if submission isn’t shrinking but shining? We sit down with Tori to unpack a version of biblical submission that protects passion, nurtures safety, and deepens unity—without asking women to mute their voices or bury their gifts. Through honest stories from 12 years of marriage and 17 years of partnership, Tori shares how trust in Christ’s order transformed “losing myself” into “living aligned...

A few playful questions open the door to a deeper conversation about the everyday work of staying united in marriage—right on time for Valentine’s Day. We unpack the real friction points couples face and the simple structures that turn pressure into partnership: who talks to which side of the family, how to protect the fragile postpartum window, and how to navigate holidays when your families live...

What if the friendships you’re longing for begin with the ones you choose to build? Today we trace a clear path from the church in Acts 2 to everyday life, showing how Scripture, prayer, and small acts of courage can grow a circle that actually strengthens your walk with Jesus. We talk about the friend who simply shows up, why “faithful wounds” are a gift, and how loving God first shapes the way w...

Ever feel like January has 47 days? That elastic sense of time can be more than seasonal blues; it can be a holy nudge to stop measuring worth by output and start rooting identity in Christ. We open up about restlessness, rainy days with kids who want action, and the surprising wisdom of not rushing to fix discomfort. Instead of trying to out-hustle the feeling, we explore how receiving winter can...

What if the most sacred work you do happens at your kitchen sink? In this heartfelt conversation with Anna—a military spouse and mom of eight—we peel back the layers of daily life to uncover how prayer, Scripture, and steady rhythms can transform ordinary chores into holy ground. Anna shares how her mother’s joyful vision of parenting shaped her own calling, and how a simple decision to pray over...

A locked door, a worn Bible, a quiet glow—those childhood snapshots taught me something I couldn’t name yet: time in Scripture changes a person. I build on that memory to explore why studying the Bible is not a checkbox but a lifeline that reveals who God is and, in turn, steadies who we are. Psalm 19 frames the value of God’s word—reviving the soul, enlightening the eyes—and why reading the whole...

What if a quiet hour with a planner could change the next decade of your life? We open season five with a clear, faith-centered approach to planning that moves beyond hype and hustle. Picture a cozy chair, a warm coffee, and a few honest questions that help you remember where God met you, what rhythms brought life, and which distractions stole your peace. From that posture, we zoom out to ten year...

The week between Christmas and New Year’s can feel like a soft landing: sweatpants, slow mornings, and a rare sense of completion. We lean into that pause and ask a bigger question—how do we finish the year well so we can begin the next aligned with God’s heart? With Scripture as our guide, we explore the joy of ending strong without striving, and the freedom to rest while still preparing our step...

What if your home became the place where people exhale the moment they walk in? That picture guides our conversation with Deanne, a longtime friend who has spent decades turning ordinary rooms into a refuge—welcoming neighbors, college kids, missionaries, and foster children with a calm, open-handed approach that prioritizes people over performance. We unpack the real difference between entertaini...

What if the most memorable part of December isn’t the packed calendar but the quiet moments at home? We open the bins of decorations and talk about a countercultural Christmas built on simple traditions, secret generosity, and a steady gaze on Jesus. From watercolor afternoons and gingerbread chaos to favorite stories read by the tree, we reframe “holiday magic” as presence over performance. Toget...

Holiday tables can feel like tightropes: old roles resurface, expectations collide, and the urge to keep the peace can eclipse the call to make peace. We open up about awkward family moments, the pressure to please, and the liberating truth that you’re only responsible for your actions, feelings, and words—not for anyone else’s reaction. From there, we map a clear, grace-filled plan to navigate te...

A friend’s kitchen-table Bible study turned into a national movement. Brittany Dunn joins us to share how Safe House Project is confronting child trafficking in America with a strategy built on training, survivor support, and evidence-based safe house certification—and why proximity, not sensational headlines, should reshape how we see this crisis. The numbers are sobering, but the path forward is...

Ever notice those quiet moments when the life you once prayed for shows up in plain sight—tiny socks in the laundry, laughter down the hall, a kiss at the door—and yet your heart still aches for the thing you don’t have? We lean into that tension and chart a clearer route from comparison to contentment, guided by Scripture, honest stories, and simple habits that actually stick. We unpack gratitude...

Have you ever felt like you were drowning under the weight of impossible circumstances? That moment when life piles on more than any human could possibly handle?  A military wife shares her raw, unfiltered journey through the perfect storm of overwhelm: solo parenting three children under five during a pandemic while preparing for an overseas move, only to face an unexpected second deployment just...

"Mama, how do I know if my name is written in the book of life?" When my young son asked me this question during our nightly Bible reading routine, I realized once again the profound responsibility we bear as Christian parents. Those innocent yet profound questions about salvation remind us that our children are spiritually curious and seeking answers about eternity. The Great Commission...

What happens when your most important work is the work no one sees? The mental load of tracking school uniforms, doctor appointments, meal planning, and a thousand other details can feel overwhelming—and often thankless. When your achievements aren't visible or celebrated, how do you find meaning in the mundane? In this soul-stirring conversation, Emily shares her journey through the invisibl...

Have your children ever asked you why they can't play the same video games as their friends or why your family doesn't celebrate certain holidays like everyone else? These seemingly innocent questions reveal a profound challenge facing Christian parents today: raising children who can discern truth in a world that deliberately blurs the lines between good and evil. When my seven-year-old...

Imagine waking up on December 1st feeling peaceful instead of panicked. The soft twinkling lights illuminate your living room as you enjoy a quiet moment before the day begins. Your gifts are purchased, your calendar has breathing room, and you feel genuinely excited about the season ahead. This peaceful December morning isn't a fantasy—it's entirely possible when you start preparing for...

Have you ever kept something special tucked away, saving it for a perfect moment that never seems to arrive? Whether it's the beautiful coffee mug gathering dust in your cabinet or the dream you've postponed until "someday," this anniversary episode of Whatever is Excellent tackles our tendency to delay joy and purpose. Reflecting on one year of podcasting, I share the personal...

What if the most powerful tool you have as a parent isn't what you say, but how you listen? In this illuminating conversation with Shelley Tyson, we explore the transformative impact of speaking life over our children – especially during the challenging teenage years. Shelley, a mother of four including three teenage girls, shares with remarkable candor how she's discovered that effectiv...