Coffee Date

“HOW DO YOU DO IT?” If there’s one question I hear over and over as a mom of 5 kids (ages 10, 6, 5, 4, 4), it’s that one. So for this week’s Coffee Date, I decided to share my experience taking 5 kids to Disney World. It was a huge feat, and we did it twice IN THE SAME YEAR. The first trip was a little rough, I’m not gonna lie. So I’ll be sharing where things went a little wonky and what we did instead on our second trip. Listen to the latest Date now!

What gets you through the hard times? Laugh and cringe with Josh and Allie Alaniz as they share some of their "guilty pleasures" on this week's Speed Date.

Buckle up, guys, because this episode is a doozy. Carly is back for a second Date to update us on her status as a foster parent. This Date accurately represents what it's like for moms to try to catch up with each other--except *most* of the kid interruptions are edited out. Listen in for crashouts, kid wake-ups, someone's house getting toilet-papered, and Carly whispering encouragements to Allie as she finds the will to go on while her husband is out of town. This episode ends with a bang (er, a puddle). You don't want to miss it!

Serenaded once again! On this Speed Date, Allie shares a song from her Musical, "Having a Hard Time." The musical took five years to write, but this particular song, "Davy Jones", was written 7 years prior after a heartbreak. Join in on this Date to learn more about who Davy Jones is, how this song was written, as well as more about the musical and the character who sings this song.

Jessica Bayers is our Date this week! She's the founder of Bougie on a Budget, a personal finance education platform helping young women (and men!) understand the emotional and neurological patterns behind their money habits.

With a background in neuroscience, Jessica teaches that financial behavior is not just about math or discipline. Stress, dopamine, avoidance, and survival-mode thinking can all affect how people spend, save, plan, and make decisions.

Her work combines practical money systems with a compassionate, science-informed approach to financial stability.

Join our Date to learn more! Follow Jessica on TikTok (@imbougieonabudget) and sign up for her Webinar taking place at the end of this month!

Webinar link: https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/e280f53e-deaf-41f5-8a82-97047b9deb05

Alexis Butcher was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27 while pregnant with her first child. On this Date she discusses how she made it through this unimaginable experience with her faith in God still in tact, and what healing and redemption has looked like in the years that have followed.

Hey, Allie here! In this week's Speed Date, you will be serenaded! Music is my number one artistic passion, and this week I'm sharing a song that I wrote that I continue to listen to in a season of discomfort and, honestly, distress. It's called "Tired." So often when we say we’re tired, we’re really devastated, heartbroken, grieving, upset, lonely, afraid, worn down, weary. "Tired" acts as a euphemism for feelings that are much more deeply felt.

This song is my prayer and lament. My hope is that it gives you a space to feel your hard feelings, and then move toward truth and not get stuck in your emotions and despair. Quite a date, right?

I'm also including a resource that I have been using: a daily song devotional that has helped remind me of truth when I want to fall into despair.

https://short.theworshipinitiative.com/home

Thanks for listening! Please comment, like, and share this episode. Thank you for your support!

A car accident in 2012 changed everything, but Hannah Rock is refusing to let it define the rest of her story. After breaking her neck and crushing her spine, she was told she would never walk again, yet she has spent the last 14 years holding onto a promise that feels bigger than the pain, the wait, and the setbacks.

Hannah joins Allie Alaniz for an honest, deeply personal conversation about faith, trauma, and the kind of hope that has to survive in real life. What starts as a nostalgic catch-up about church days, dance teams, and youth group memories quickly turns into a powerful testimony of loss, loneliness, perseverance, and the stubborn belief that God is still writing something beautiful. This feels less like an interview and more like two friends wrestling with big truth, deep pain, and real hope.

If you need a reminder that waiting is not wasted, that healing is not only physical, and that God can use your story while it is still unfolding, this episode is for you. Perfect for anyone walking through disappointment, delay, or a season that feels bigger than their strength.

On this Speed Date, we talk about why kids are the BEST. Allie shares her personal journey through childhood trauma, inner child work, and how her children help her reconnect with her true self. She explores the healing power of curiosity, resilience, and embracing childlike wonder to overcome adult anxieties.

This Date is with Jessica Manke, certified "ride-or-die." If you've ever struggled to go beyond surface-level friendships, consider this "Ride-or-die 101." Jess and Allie talk about their friendship and what took them from acquaintances to emergency contacts. Topics include but are not limited to: dinosaurs, scabies, the giant blobs that campgrounds have in their lakes (spoiler alert: tragedy ensues), running into a burning building for each other, and Jess being the sole tennant on a mold-infested floor of a college dorm.