Straight From The Heart(land)

After almost throwing in the towel on the podcast altogether, Christine is introducing a new format: short and sweet episodes containing God's HEART spoken straight from her HEART to your HEART. Take a listen to hear why and learn more about what the new episodes will sound like! Oh, and there's HEART beats!

We're at the point in the summer where our kids' diets are made up primarily of fruit snacks and Cheez-its and we find random cups on every surface in our homes. Help!! This week's episode is offering snack solutions to finish the summer without losing your mind (or your temper). It's Snack-tastic! Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

With warm July temps comes the need for shorts and the dreaded swimsuit (gasp!). In this week's episode, Christine discusses summer body anxiety and how a full life and lots of fun just might be waiting for us on the other side of our fears and judgments. Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

Grab your friends and a cold drink - it's time for TRIVIA!! The topics are all summer related and will get you reminiscing about your favorite summer foods, songs, blockbusters, etc. Can you beat Sarah's score of 95?? Plus, a 4th of July Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

It's time to create that summer bucket list and this week's episode has all kinds of ideas to help you do it! From family fun to yummy food, road trips to rainy-day options, this week's podcast is sure to inspire a summer's worth of adventure for you and your people. Plus, a big BUZZ in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat! 

Summer is finally here and that means time to find a good beach read!   In this week's episode, we're getting you started with our 2019 summer reading list. Favorite authors, books we've read recently and our top picks for fiction and non-fiction summer reads.   Plus, the summer podcast schedule in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

We're finally experiencing warmer temps in the Midwest and so it's a good time to chat about Spring and Summer fashion trends for 2019. Christine and Sarah talk crop tops, body suits, dad shoes.....and, of course, the trends they'll ACTUALLY wear. Plus, Lubach award recipients in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

Whether you're a Disney fanatic or vowed to never go (like Christine before she went), this episode has all you need to know to plan your first Disney trip. From FastPasses and Magic Bands to food, rides and attractions, Christine provides tons of useful tips and hacks to make your trip "magical." Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

Repeat after us: It's not you, it's May. It's not you, it's May. It's not you, it's May. In this week's episode, Christine unpacks why the month of May is so crazy, yielding its nickname, "the new December." This month is lovely in many ways, but definitely the "Iron Mom" triathlon of physical, emotional and mental demands. Plus, how Christine dropped the ball on Teacher Appreciation Week in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

It's Mother's Day week and Christine and Sarah are reflecting on their collective 25 years of motherhood and sharing lessons they've picked up along the way. Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

Ever been to a grand opening with those giant scissors? In this week's episode, you get to hear from the woman who invented them. (Seriously.) As part of our "I Love My Weird Job" series, Christine interviews Kimberly Baeth of Golden Openings who has helped tens of thousands of businesses launch through grand opening events complete with scissors, banners, balloons, shovel and keys to the city. Plus, The Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

In this week's podcast, we continue our "I Love My Weird Job" series with fiction author, Rena Olsen. Rena is a master storyteller crafting intriguing suspense in her books, "The Girl Before" and "With You Always," but began her award-winning writing career back in third grade. A long-time reader of Rena's books, Christine was majorly fangirling throughout the episode. If you have an interest in learning the in & outs of the publishing world, this episode is for you! Plus, The Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!  

We're launching a new series this week about weird jobs and our first guest is the ONLY person Christine knows who does this job.....pageant consulting!! Ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes worlds of pageants and what it takes to become Miss America? Cassie Marks of Make Your Mark gives us the complete dish.....including the key to preventing any wardrobe malfunctions - butt glue! Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

When someone in our life is experiencing success, why is it so easy to fall into competition vs. celebration? Why do we compare ourselves to one another and see the world through the eyes of scarcity which tells us there's a limited amount of success, happiness, love and praise to go around? Join the conversation on this topic this week as well as spring fever, social media adjustments and Disney planning in the Pulse. Plus, What's Making Our Hearts Beat! 

In over three years of the podcast, the topic of social media has been one of our most consistent. We've debated its effects on our kids, our relationships and our hearts. Now, in this week's episode, we're discussing why both Christine and Sarah are saying goodbye to social media, including why we didn't want to, what convinced us, what we think we'll miss and what we're planning to do instead to ensure continued connection with our friends and family. If you're ever considered saying goodbye to social media (or wonder what kind of craziness has gotten into us!), you'll definitely want to listen and share this episode. Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

Sometimes we make faith complicated and the best solution is to go back to the beginning. To wrap up our "Faith In Real Life" series, Christine interviews her 13 year-old daughter, Tess. In the interview, we're reminded that no matter what phase of life we're in, the love of God and the love of people are what get us through. Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

We continue our "Faith In Real Life" series with guest, Michael Meggison. (Leave it to Michael to earn us our first-ever "Explicit" podcast rating - thanks, Megs!) Michael shares what faith looks like as a busy dad of three kids (and a beautiful wife - lol!) as he prepares to turn 50 this week. Plus, a whale watching in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

We continue our Faith In Real Life series with retiree, empty nester, and mentor to Christine and Sarah, Mary Stier. After an illustrious career, Mary entered full-time ministry and is currently completing a two-year, spiritual formation program. Mary shares the highs and lows of faith during this season of her life and offers insights, valuable hacks and advice for whatever phase you find yourself in. Plus, Daylight Saving(s) Time in The Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

We launch a new series this week called, "Faith In Real Life." It's a discussion about how faith grows and expresses itself in different phases of life and our first guest is Bridget Rauch. Bridget is newly married and shares the opportunities and challenges she faces growing in her faith as both a young single woman and now as she's married, including hacks for any season of life and faith. Plus, The Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!

We are up to our necks in snow around here and kind of over it. (Okay, we're totally over it!) But, it got us thinking about our beauty routines and how they change (for the better or worse) during the winter. From skin care, hair and makeup to nutrition, exercise and clothes, Christine and Sarah chat all about how they're coping and working to stay beautiful this winter. Plus, a podcast-versary in the Pulse and What's Making Our Hearts Beat!