Don't Mom Alone Podcast

What if the anxiety, chronic illness, and emotional struggles you’re carrying are connected to deeper wounds in the soul?

In this powerful conversation, Susie Larson shares her deeply personal healing journey through childhood trauma, chronic illness, fear, and anxiety — and how God met her in the middle of it all.

An author, national speaker, and radio host, Susie opens up about surviving physical and emotional abuse, battling Lyme disease while raising three young children, and learning how unhealed trauma impacts the body, mind, and spirit. Together, we discuss why so many women live in survival mode, how fear affects our physiology, and what it looks like to finally face the lies keeping us stuck.

Susie shares how God revealed this life-changing truth to her:

“The storms reveal the lies we believe and the truth we need.”

If you’ve struggled with anxiety, chronic illness, emotional exhaustion, or feeling disconnected from yourself and from God, this episode offers hope, healing, and practical encouragement for the journey toward wholeness.

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In this conversation, Haley Scully shares her journey into biblical counseling, ministry, and helping people find real hope in the middle of today’s mental health crisis. With a background in counseling and ministry through Hope for the Heart, Haley discusses the importance of caring for one another biblically while staying rooted in God’s truth rather than chasing cultural counseling trends.

We talk about the growing need for biblical answers to anxiety, pain, disappointment, and emotional struggles — and why true healing comes from addressing the heart, not simply assigning blame. Haley opens up personally about wrestling with unmet expectations, trusting God through singleness, and learning what it truly means to believe in His goodness even when life doesn’t look the way we hoped.

We also dive into one of the most relevant conversations happening today: faith and AI. Haley shares how Hope for the Heart partnered with Pray.com to create AI tools informed by 40 years of biblical counseling content and wisdom, helping ensure people searching for answers online are pointed toward truth grounded in Scripture.

In this episode, we discuss:

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My dear friends, who I've been chatting with for 10 years, are back! David Thomas and Sissy Goff are seeing a growing "crisis of capability" in kids. In this conversation, we talk about their new book Capable and why the goal isn't to raise confident kids. It's to raise resilient ones.

If your child won't try out for a sport, avoids new friendships, or struggles to take initiative, you're not alone. Many kids today are hesitant to step into discomfort, and many parents feel unsure how to help without pushing too hard or stepping in too quickly.

David and Sissy share a powerful reframe: confidence isn't something kids magically gain. It's something they build through repeated, uncomfortable experiences. And instead of chasing success, we should be helping our kids become sturdy, able to handle challenges, setbacks, and real life.

We also talk about why we need to move from reactive skills to proactive strength-building, and how small, everyday opportunities (like ordering food, making appointments, or trying something new) can shape long-term resilience.

This episode is both practical and deeply encouraging, especially if you're navigating anxiety, motivation struggles, or the pressure to "get it right" as a parent.

In This Episode, We Cover:

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In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Babs Costello—beloved home cook, mom of four, grandmother, and viral content creator who proves it’s never too late to start something new. After launching her social media presence at 71, Babs has become a source of comfort, wisdom, and joy for millions.

We talk about the beautiful chaos of raising a family while running a business, how she built a supportive community of moms, and why the dinner table can be the most powerful place for connection. Babs shares practical tips on meal planning, keeping kids engaged during dinner, and how preparing ahead can make hosting feel effortless.

She also opens up about her children’s book, Did Your Mother Ever Tell You…?, a project made even more special with the help of her grandchildren. This episode is a reminder that when life feels overwhelming—“when it rains, it pours”—those storms can still bring growth, beauty, and deeper connection.

Whether you’re a busy mom, a grandmother, or someone wondering if you’ve missed your chance to start something meaningful, Babs’ story will leave you inspired to begin right where you are.

In this episode, we cover:

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Talking to kids about sex can feel overwhelming—but avoiding the conversation doesn’t make it easier. In this replay episode, Megan Michelson and Mary Flo Ridley break down how to approach these important topics in a way that feels natural, age-appropriate, and shame-free.

Instead of relying on a single, awkward “talk,” they encourage parents to build an ongoing dialogue that evolves as kids grow. From early childhood curiosity to teenage years and deeper conversations about puberty and masturbation, this episode offers practical tools to help you stay calm, confident, and connected.

We cover how to introduce basic biology (like seeds, eggs, and conception), how to respond when your child isn’t interested in the conversation, and why tone matters more than perfection. You’ll also learn how to navigate common parenting moments—like little ones exploring their bodies—without shame, while still setting healthy boundaries.

As kids get older, the conversation shifts. Megan and Mary Flo share how to approach puberty, why “shoulder-to-shoulder” conversations can be more effective than face-to-face talks, and how to handle more complex topics like masturbation in a way that balances honesty, guidance, and emotional awareness.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about when to start, what to say, or how to say it—this episode will give you a clear, grounded approach.

What You’ll Learn:

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by comedian Tim Hawkins, who has been making people laugh for over three decades. With years of life, family, and stage experience behind him, Tim brings humor and perspective to everything from parenting to personal growth.

We dive into his family life, including the story of how he met his wife, and reflect on the journey of raising kids, including the rewarding moment of watching them grow into adults. Tim shares his thoughts on parenting, emphasizing that there’s no perfect formula. While many feel pressure to follow methods and systems, he and his wife chose not to get bogged down in outcomes, trusting that God is big enough to guide the process.

We also get into the realities of raising kids, like what to do when they’re constantly wrestling. For Tim, one of the biggest factors in raising kids well is simple but powerful: proximity. Being present matters.

Tim opens up about his own creative journey, including a season where he hit a wall, struggled to write, and had to step back and reset. He shares how his comedy process has evolved over the years and how life itself fuels his material.

His approach to comedy is simple and honest: live your life, take notes, and tell strangers. The more you can relate to people, the more successful your message becomes. Whether it’s disappointment, joy, or frustration, the best material comes from real passion and lived experience. Join us today for a great (and hilarious) conversation. 

Connect with Tim Hawkins: 

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Why does homework and school in general turn into a battle in so many homes?

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Matthew Housson breaks down what’s really going on when kids struggle with homework—and why it’s often not a discipline issue at all. Instead, many challenges come down to executive function skills—things like planning, focus, emotional regulation, and the ability to start and finish tasks.

We talk about how brain development impacts motivation, why some kids struggle to shift into “low dopamine” tasks like homework, and what parents can do to support their child without taking over.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, confused, or even discouraged trying to help your child succeed academically, this episode will give you clarity, practical tools, and encouragement—you’re not alone, and there is a better way forward. In this episode we talk about: 

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What do you do when life doesn’t just hand you lemons—but keeps throwing them at your face?

Today, Kirby Kelly joins us to share about her new book, The Fabric of Hope.  After unexpectedly losing her mom, Kirby turned to Scripture to find hope in a season that felt unbearable. With a Master’s in Theology, she began searching for truth and hope right in the middle of her pain.

When life unravels, it can feel impossible to believe that anything good could come from it. In those moments, it’s easy to begin seeing God as the enemy in our situation. But God is not the author of evil—He is the redeemer of it. And when the hits keep coming, that truth can be incredibly hard to hold onto.

This episode is a reminder to stay tethered to Him through both praise and lament—to remain connected and fight for that connection, even when it’s difficult.

Be encouraged today as Kirby shares her personal story of pain and how God is with us in all things. 

Connect with Kirby Kelly: 

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As moms, we are like a life support system for our kids. To keep our families healthy, we need to be healthy. A key part of our overall well being is setting healthy boundaries. 

But boundaries are hard. They require uncomfortable, direct conversations. We may need to put a limit on really good things or draw a line in the sand with our in-laws or parents. 

My guest, Dr. John Townsend literally wrote the book on boundaries and he shares some deep wisdom on how to set healthy boundaries while honoring our family members and others. 

“You've got to take care of your energy, your heart and your emotions. You've got to take care of yourself and your health. If you don't guard that heart, then the wellsprings of life won't come out from it. Boundaries are basically about how to set healthy, loving limits in our life. So we have something to offer to our children.”

Townsend answers your tough questions about setting limits with in-laws, making healthy boundaries for the holidays and even models having a tough conversation with a parent about a boundary. 

This is an episode packed with great information and Townsend has several books and resources available if you want to go deeper. Let’s make setting healthy boundaries a priority and guard our hearts and our time to bring life to our family!

Connect with John Townsend: 

Links Mentioned: 

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How do you parent your kids through a story they didn’t choose?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Vaneetha Risner shares her journey of raising two adolescent daughters as a single mom after divorce. She opens up about the pressure to “hold everything together,” the tension of co-parenting with different values, and the deep questions kids ask about God in the middle of pain.

This episode offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for all moms, reminding us that while we can’t control our children’s stories, we can faithfully shepherd their hearts—and trust God to restore what has been lost. Here is some of what we cover: 

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