The Journey to being World Jr. Champ, with Luke Swanson
My third son Luke (18) joins us today to talk about his journey from being a little boy on a surfboard with his dad, to recently winning the Jr. World Championships of surfing in El Salvador! Luke shares some of the ups and downs of his journey, his experience with sponsors and surf brands, and faith + character lessons he’s learned along the way.
We recorded this interview just two days before Luke left to surf in Indonesia for the rest of the summer. This might be a great interview to share with your children as Luke encourages kids to pursue excellence in all that they do! (Colossians 3:23) Find photos and links to see Luke’s surfing and more in show notes:
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-165
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
Hope for the Mom at the End of her Rope, with Stacey Thacker
At some point in parenting, I think we all feel weary, worn out, and yes…at the end of our rope! (Some of us have felt that way for very long seasons!) Ten years ago Stacey Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin wrote a book to encourage moms who were feeling that way. (It was called, “Hope for the Weary Mom.”) Because of the great response to that book, their publisher asked them to update the book and re-release it under a new name: Unraveled: Hope for the Mom at the End of Her Rope. In today’s interview, Stacey shares some snippets of that story and what God has taught her about pressure and perfectionism, weary seasons, and more.
Stacey’s heart is to share the message that the source of a mom’s hope, in the midst of weariness and overwhelm, is Jesus, and only Jesus. How does this work out practically? That’s what we talk about in this interview! I hope you are encouraged and end this episode feeling all kinds of HOPE! Find links and more in show notes:
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-165
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
Influences, Role Models, Lonely Seasons. Helping our Sons Navigate Well
This is the sixth 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 7 – Forces at Work: Influences and Role Models. This is an incredibly important topic that I urge parents to pay close attention to!
The influences in your child’s life will mold and shape them into who they grow up to become. In this episode, we’re talking about the greatest influence on kids – their own parents(😬! ) as well as sibling and peer influences, role models, and more. I also share about the lonely seasons my sons went through when they made some good, hard choices to pull away from kids who were not good influences. I hope this episode is a big encouragement to you!
Order Boy Mom here!
**Also, in show notes find links to some (free!) downloads I created for Boy Mom book readers!
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-164
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
The Resilience We Need Now, with John Eldredge
I am so excited to share this conversation with John Eldredge, who I’ve been a fan of since reading his book, Wild at Heart, so many years ago. John’s wisdom and depth of insight have inspired people all over the world, and his newest book, Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in these Turbulent Times is sure to do the same. In today’s interview, John talks about the importance of recognizing the traumatic nature of the pandemic on all of us, and the need to intentionally heal and move forward with resilience. He talks about the impact of our recent times on our children, and how we might help them through it.
I love John’s honesty as he shares how the pandemic affected him personally, and I appreciate John’s focus on the difference between worldly resilience and supernatural resilience – how we must choose singlehearted dependence on God in order to move forward in a healthy way. John also shares one of the many beautiful prayers from his book. I so enjoyed getting to know John and I think you will too.
Find show notes:
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-163
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
* Today (June 22nd!) is the final day to join the CHARACTER TRAINING COURSE for the $50 off SUMMER SALE! Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, the self-paced video lessons, downloads and interviews (including two with Wendy!) will equip and encourage you to raise kids of character. Find out more here!
Raising Emotionally Strong Boys, with David Thomas
When it comes to understanding boys, David Thomas is someone I have learned so much from. With over 25 years of counseling experience, and having co-authored multiple books, David has a heart for helping boys build the “emotional muscles” that are an essential, yet often-neglected part of a boy’s journey to manhood. Today we get to talk about the practical help he offers parents in his brand-new book, “Raising Emotionally Strong Boys”, and in the companion guide (for boys) “Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions”.
In today's interview, David defines “emotional healthiness”, and explains why emotions can be difficult for boys to communicate about. He talks about the “3 R’s” that can help boys respond to stress, and so much more! I appreciate David’s compassionate and practical help so much, and I think all parents will benefit from what he shares!
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-162
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
* Be sure to check out the Character Training Course’s SUMMER SALE beginning (today!) June 15th (doors will be open for one week only!) Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, the self-paced video lessons, downloads and interviews (including two with Wendy!) will equip and encourage you to raise kids of character. Find out more here!
Choosing our (Parenting) Words Well
Wendy Speake, long-time friend of the Podcast, (she’s my most frequent, and probably most-requested guest!) is back with us for another great Mom-to-Mom chat this week. Wendy and I are talking about a topic from one of the books she has co-authored with Amber Lia, “Parenting Scripts.”
I think you would agree that a universal parenting challenge is that of finding yourself in a moment of frustration, with the need to correct or discipline, but the “right words” simply don’t come. In moments like these we often tend to say the wrong thing…something we later regret. Wendy and I talk about how differently things go when we think ahead, consider our words or actions, and get intentional about our response! That’s the heart of Parenting Scripts and it is a game changer. I think this episode will be a big encouragement, and hopefully springboard you into some parenting scripts of your own!
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-161
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
* Be sure to check out the Character Training Course’s SUMMER SALE beginning June 15th (doors will be open for one week only!) Whether you have toddlers or teenagers, the self-paced video lessons, downloads and interviews (including two with Wendy!) will equip and encourage you to raise kids of character. Find out more here!
Helping Your Kids Know and Love the Word of God, with Hunter Beless
Hunter Beless, host of the Journeywomen Podcast, Mom to four (#4 is coming later this year!) and author of the new kids’ book, Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it! Joins us with the most encouraging message. Hunter’s love of God’s Word is absolutely contagious, and her heart to pass it down to our kids is so beautiful.
In today’s conversation, Hunter talks about why we need to read, memorize, and talk about God’s Word in our own lives as parents. She offers some tips for reading the Bible with your kids, and where to start if you're new! I think you’ll love Hunter’s heart and this conversation!
Don’t miss the mention of the Biggest Story Bible Storybook 10-book GIVEAWAY next week! Giveaway will be done through the podcast email list, so be sure to subscribe at: www.monicaswanson.com/subscribe!
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-160
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
Raising Boys of Character
This is the fifth part of my new monthly feature on the podcast, covering the “12 Things Your Son Needs Most from You” in my book, Boy Mom. Today I am sharing some snippets from Chapter 6 – Aiming High: Teaching Noble Character. I’ve received more feedback on this chapter than any other. This chapter also inspired me to create my online Character Training Course (which will be opening its doors again on June 15th!)
This is one of my very favorite things to talk about and I believe with all of my heart that next to faith, character is the most important thing a parent can focus on. Character will be a key to your child’s success in relationships, school, sports, and a career. I hope this episode gives you some practical tools to use and a bunch of inspiration to raise your own kids of character!
Find out more about the Character Training Course here: monicaswanson.com/character-course
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-159
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast
You are More than a Mom, with Kari Kampakis
What if taking care of yourself was the first step to helping your family thrive? I’m sure you would agree that in the crazy season of motherhood, it is easy to lose a sense of your self and your self worth. We juggle so many things as moms, and we often find our own needs as a last priority.
Kari Kampakis joins us to share some highlights from her new book, “More than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive. Kari is a wealth of wisdom, practical advice, and so genuine. Find links to all of the things we talk about over in show notes:
This episode is sponsored by Sarah’s Spanish School, a live, online Spanish school which is offering FREE classes for the entire month of May. Go check it out at: www.sarahsspanish.com/theboymom
www.monicaswanson.com/episode-158
Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast