Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs

We're re-airing one of our most popular episodes this week! Karen and Emily sit down with Elizabeth Pehrson to discuss how moms can parent with purpose by focusing on the long game. In this conversation, Elizabeth shares her no-nonsense approach to raising independent, contributing adults. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of parenting littles or wondering how to prepare your teens for the r...

Pornography exposure is happening younger and more often than most parents realize, and it’s affecting both boys and girls. In this episode, Karen and Erin Mashaw are joined by returning guest Kristen Jenson, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures , for a practical conversation about what to do when your child has been exposed to pornography. If you’ve been avoiding this awkward conversation, today...

Summer doesn't have to be packed with fancy vacations or elaborate plans to be memorable. In this episode, Karen and Emily share simple, practical ways to add more laughter, spontaneity, and fun to your family's everyday moments. From DQ runs to dance-party cleanups, we hope this episode gives you some ideas and encourages you to let go of the pressure and just enjoy your kids this summer! Episode...

Summer brings more snacks, more messes, and more opportunities to teach our kids valuable life skills! Today Karen and Emily are talking about why building a strong work ethic starts at home and why moms should avoid overfunctioning for their children, plus Karen gives practical ideas to teach age-appropriate responsibility. We hope this conversation will encourage you to play the long game this s...

Summer is a perfect time to help our kids learn to look beyond themselves. In this episode, Karen and Emily share simple, practical ways families can serve together, whether that’s visiting a nursing home, helping with food recovery, serving on a mission trip, or just paying attention to the needs around you. We hope this conversation encourages you to start small, think intentionally, and discove...

We’re kicking off a brand-new summer series today! All month long, we’ll be talking about how to make the most of the new rhythm summer brings to your home. In this episode, we’re talking about simple, practical ways moms can grow spiritually alongside their kids. We hope this conversation encourages you that you don’t have to do this perfectly to take meaningful steps of growth toward Jesus toget...

As we wrap up our Mothers of the Bible series, we’re looking at one of the most complicated and heartbreaking stories in Scripture: Bathsheba. Her life was marked by loss, pain, shame, and circumstances she never would have chosen, yet God was still at work redeeming her story. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk about how our worst moments do not define us, how God meets us in brokenness, and w...

Naomi’s story is one of grief and disappointment, but ultimately, it’s about redemption. Today on Wire Talk, Karen and Emily continue our Mothers of the Bible series by looking at how God was working behind the scenes even when Naomi felt abandoned and bitter. If you’re walking through loss, broken relationships, or a season that feels nothing like the life you imagined, we hope this look at the l...

Today we’re continuing our Mothers of the Bible series by looking at Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel. Hannah was a woman who longed for a child and wrestled with seasons of waiting and disappointment. Listen as Karen teaches through this story, reminding us that God invites us to trust Him, even when our prayers feel unanswered. If you’ve ever waited on God for something close to your heart, we hope yo...

This week, we kick off our month of celebrating moms with a new series: “Mothers of the Bible.” Today we’re looking at the life of Jochebed, a woman who faced unimaginable fear and made an unthinkable choice to save her son. Through her story, Karen and Emily unpack what it looks like to do our best for our kids and trust God with the rest. If you’ve ever struggled to let go, this conversation wil...

Are you trusting your mom gut or Googling yourself into anxiety? In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Laura Bleekrode shares wisdom from nearly 40 years of experience to help moms cut through the noise and parent with confidence. We talk about how social media and constant information can erode your instincts and how to get back to trusting yourself. You’ll be reminded that you know your child better...

May can feel overwhelming for moms, filled with endless events, expectations, and emotional moments. Today Karen offers practical wisdom to help you navigate the busyness without losing your joy (or your mind.) From setting realistic expectations to prioritizing what truly matters, this conversation is full of encouragement. Episode Recap: May is just December with sunscreen! (0:30) May feels chao...

Mom guilt can make even the best moms feel like they’re falling short. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk through the pressures we carry and the expectations we place on ourselves. They offer a practical, biblical perspective to help you recognize what’s true and what isn’t. We hope you walk away encouraged and ready to let go of unnecessary guilt!  Episode Recap: Supermoms are a modern day myt...

Family dynamics can get complicated quickly, especially when expectations, boundaries, and communication styles start to clash. Today we’re talking about how to navigate tension with extended family without losing your peace (or your voice.) We hope you’ll walk away with practical ways to communicate clearly, pursue peace, and love your extended family well. Episode Recap: Moms can easily get stuc...

Ever find yourself second guessing your parenting decisions? You’re not alone. In this episode, Karen answers questions from moms navigating school struggles, motivation, and knowing when to step back. We hope you walk away feeling encouraged to trust God with the parenting choices you are making. Episode Recap: One parenting decision won’t make or break your child (1:50) My 1st grader doesn’t wor...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I ruining my teenager’s life?” - you’re not alone. Today, Karen answers questions from moms navigating strong personalities, emotional pushback, and the tension between protecting and preparing their teens. With her trademark practical wisdom, she reminds us that what feels like conflict is often part of God’s process for refining our kids. Episode Recap: As moms, we c...

If you’re in the stage of parenting where tears, tantrums, and big emotions seem to take over every day, you’re not alone. Today Karen and Emily are tackling questions from moms navigating the emotional ups and downs of preschoolers and early elementary kids. They discuss why some kids cry more than others, how to handle tantrums without giving in, and how to guide sensitive kids through big feeli...

Last week, Karen talked about the temperaments. This week, she takes that conversation one step further by answering real questions from moms who are navigating strong-willed kids, harsh words, whining, and emotional outbursts. If you’ve ever looked at your child and thought, I know their heart is sweet, so why is this coming out so sideways? this episode is for you. Karen shares practical wisdom...

Today Karen and Emily tackle listener questions about kids with big emotions; the pouters, the perfectionists, the rule followers, and the fiercely competitive. Whether your child melts down when they lose, struggles to say they’re having fun, or takes rules a little too seriously, this episode will help you parent the way they’re wired instead of fighting against it. Episode Recap: Join Wire Talk...

Are you parenting a Gen Z child and wondering why everything feels so different from when you were growing up? Today Karen and Emily sit down with leadership expert Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders, to talk about the unique pressures facing this generation. From overexposure to information and technology and underexposure to real-world experiences, Tim helps moms understand what’s really hap...

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, overtouched, overstimulated and find yourself wondering, why does this feel so hard? Today Karen answers real questions from moms about marriage, resentment, anxiety, exhaustion, and the emotional weight of motherhood. From mismatched sex drives in the toddler years to school-day overload and traveling husbands, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone...

Friendships in motherhood are rarely as simple as we expect them to be. Today Karen and Emily are continuing our friendship conversation by tackling comparison, conflict, cliques, and what to do when a friendship changes. They answer listeners’ questions about unmet expectations and learning when to lean in and when to let go. If friendship feels confusing, discouraging, or just plain messy right...

Friendships in motherhood can feel complicated, especially when old wounds and insecurities get stirred up in new seasons. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk honestly about why friendships can feel hard for moms and how to move forward with grace, healthy expectations, and a “generous explanation” for the people around us. Episode Recap: Friendship is difficult as a mom (2:23) We all have past...

Parenting doesn’t end when your kids turn 18. In many ways, it gets more complicated! Today Karen and Erin are joined by longtime parenting expert Jim Burns for a wise and honest conversation about parenting adult children. They talk about releasing control, shifting your role, navigating boundaries, resisting unsolicited advice, and discerning the difference between helping and enabling. Whether...

Discipline is hard, especially when the results feel slow or invisible. In this final episode of our Parenting Principles from Proverbs series, Karen and Emily shift the focus to the long-term fruit of faithful discipline and the peace it brings to both children and parents. Drawing from Proverbs and Hebrews, Karen reminds moms that discipline is discipleship. It is not about control or behavior m...