Many of you have been on this journey with me since the potty-training days, and now you’re facing the incredible milestone of sending your kids off to college. In this episode, my friend Shellee Howard joins us to discuss the complexities of the college application process, the importance of early preparation, and strategies for securing scholarships and financial aid. 

Shellee shares her journey into becoming a college strategist and offers insights on how parents can support their children in navigating their educational paths. Here is some of what we cover: 

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Active Skin Repair–Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA.

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Knox and I recently had the incredible opportunity to go on a Compassion International vision trip to El Salvador. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nicki Koziarz to help recap this life-changing experience.

Nicki is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster—and also a mom of six, including three boys adopted from Haiti. She brings a powerful perspective on the global impact Compassion is making and the heartbreaking reality that, in many cases, poverty is the only reason a mother has to give up her child.

We dive into how Compassion is partnering with local churches to go into the hardest places—providing food, medical care, and the hope of Christ to transform lives and futures. Nicki also shares about their amazing Survival Program, which walks alongside mothers from pregnancy through a child’s first year, ensuring families have the support they need to stay together when possible. 

I’m so grateful for the chance to witness firsthand what God is doing through Compassion in El Salvador—and I can't wait to share more with you in this episode.

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Function–In the spirit of Long Live and taking control of your health, get a $100 credit towards your annual membership at: www.functionhealth.com/DMA This $100 credit is only for the first thousand listeners

Thrive Causemetics–Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at ThriveCausemetics.com/DMA.

Kids all read at different ages, stages, and times, but how can we, as parents, ensure they are getting all the tools and skills they need to become great readers? Today, Maya Smart joins me to talk about her new book Reading for Our Lives. She delves into the science of how kids become not just readers, but also comprehend and think critically. Here is some of what we cover:

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In this episode, I sit down with Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, who also happens to be a mom of two teenagers, to discuss the realities of raising kids in a digital-first world. There is a lot that goes into ensuring our teens are safe online, and Tara explains how Instagram is becoming a leader in this arena. Whether you’re worried about screen time, inappropriate content, or online bullying, this conversation is packed with insight and practical help.  Here are some topics we cover:

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Function: I highly recommend Function. Learn more and join using my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/DMA to own your health.

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Thrive Market: Skip the junk without overspending. Head over to ThriveMarket.com/DMA to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift. 

Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Today Katie Kimball is here to show us how to help our kids gain life skills that last and contribute to the family. Katie founded a program called Life Skills Now which covers topics from oil changes, to cooking, to entrepreneurship. She shares that competence equals confidence and with the rise of anxiety and depression, we want to give our kids all of the confidence and skills to succeed in this world. Summer is a perfect time to begin! Here are some topics we cover: 

Connect with Katie Kimball: 

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Sign up for the #LifeSkillsNow Camp! (FREE for the week of June 9th to 13th).

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HIYA health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults

Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash extensions mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA. 

Outschool: Get $30 off your families first month of Outschool when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout.

Today Eryn Lynum joins me to share about the beautiful connection between nature and rest. Sabbath has become such a hot topic right now but Eryn had to learn from age 14 how to rest like her life depended on it when she was diagnosed with Addison's disease. She is now a homeschooling mom of four, a master naturalist, author, and business owner. Her family is committed to their family values and weekly sabbath amid a very full life. She reminds us of some deep ancient truths that God created us to fully live and gives us tools to find new rhythms. We explore:

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Gabb–Protecting your kids has never been easier. For the best deals, sign up to

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Green Chef–Make this season your most delicious yet with Green Chef. Head to greenchef.com/50ALONE and use the code 50ALONE to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. 

Function Health– I highly recommend Function. Learn more and join using my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/DMA to own your health.

Today we are live and in person in my office with Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball! My real-life friends have created a comprehensive guide for senior year and beyond. We cover the logistical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that every family walks through—from managing the college application process to preparing for big transitions at home. This conversation is packed with practical tips, encouragement, and insights every high school parent needs to hear. Here are some of the many topics covered in today’s episode:

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A Mom's Companion Guide to Senior Year Membership | DoSayGive 

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Active Skin Repair–Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA. 

Today our favorite counselors, David Thomas and Sissy Goff, are back to talk about their new project- children’s books! So much has happened over the last few years and they are beginning to see the onset of anxiety drop to age 6 from 8 years old previously. They created these books to give kids the words and emotional tools to do hard things and decrease anxiety, including a golden retriever feelings chart. As usual, they pack so much advice into every moment, here are some things we cover:

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Featured Sponsors: 

Thrive Market: Skip the junk without overspending. Head over to thrivemarket.com/DMA to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift. 

Function Health:  I highly recommend Function. Learn more and join using my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/DMA to own your health.

Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping available at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.

Today Emmy-winning actor Patricia Heaton joins us for a candid conversation on motherhood, career, and raising four boys. We talk about the pressure parents feel to over-schedule kids, the beauty of simplicity (just give them a cardboard box!), and how God ordered her journey through motherhood and acting. 

She and her husband, David Hunt, are in the business of producing movies and directed Unexpected, a film about the emotional ups and downs of infertility. Patricia believes that the best way into tough subjects is through comedy and this movie does just that. Stick around till the end where she shares her advice for helping four boys flourish -including her list of things to do as a family.

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Unexpected–Stream on Amazon Prime

Mastermedia International – Serving the media industry as a trusted voice of faith. 

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Remi: No waiting rooms. No overpriced bills. Just a better way to protect your teeth while you sleep. ○ Try Remi risk-free at shopremi.com/DMA and use CODE DMA to get up to 50% off your nightguard at checkout.

Pair Eyewear: See the world with fresh eyes. Go to paireyewear.com and use the code DONTMOM for 15% off your first pair. Support the show by mentioning Don’t Mom Alone sent you in the post-checkout survey!

Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Go to H-I-Y-A-H-E-A-L-T-H dot com slash D-M-A and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.

Do you often feel like something is holding you back? You can’t quite get to where you want to go professionally, relationally, or in personal habits and goals? 

Today Mary Marantz is here to tell us about the mental shifts that change everything. Mary’s story is riveting from growing up in a single-wide trailer in the mountains full of dirt and memories to Yale law school, she has stories to tell! Through her many experiences, she has learned how our self-limiting thoughts can hold us back and how to overcome them. Not through the typical “get it boss girl” mentality but practical steps that lead us to a life we want to live and enjoy, and how to lead our kids well in the area of achievement.  Here are some of our topics:

Why fear is a boring liar — and how to manage it

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Branch Basics : Make this year the year you say goodbye to toxic products! Right now, our listeners get 15% off the Premium Starter Kit by using code [DMA] at BranchBasics.com. Make 2025 your cleanest, healthiest year yet with Branch Basics!

Function Health: Function currently has a waitlist, but they are offering my audience the chance to skip it! Head to functionhealth.com/DMA or enter code DMA when signing up to skip the waitlist!

Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping available at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA . Or save more with 20% off your first order.