SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY EPISODE! Kaylin and her mom, Cory Mattson, join us to discuss their

personal story of helping Kaylin through her challenges in school when she was a child. It can be

heartbreaking to watch your child or student struggle in school. Feelings of shame, for both

adult and child, can accompany these challenges. Learn how the challenges that faced Cory and

Kaylin helped them grow as individuals and in their mother-daughter relationship. Cory is a

reading intervention teacher. She has her Bachelors in English and her Masters degree in

Education with a reading certificate. She is married and has two adult daughters. Cory enjoys

her family, going to the farmers’ market, advocating for clean food, air and water, and helping

people see their value.

We welcome back Katie Skurja in Episode 28 of The Mom Podcast. Katie continues to shed light on the toxic nature of living in the “drama triangle.” Though this cycle keeps us trapped in our shame and depleted in our souls, we can once again experience freedom. In a beautiful prayer, Katie guides us in how we can release this unhealthy control, and allow the river of God’s love to restore life to our souls. Katie Skurja is the Founder and Director of Imago Dei ministries. She has a double masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Spiritual Formation. The purpose of Imago Dei ministries is it to help people everywhere engage in a Christ-centered healing process that transforms relationships with God, self, and others.

We do not want to be rescued in shame and drama, but to experience genuine, loving relationships. Yet many of our relationships may operate out of the “drama triangle,” where we attempt to fix and “help” others in unhealthy ways. This keeps us in a toxic cycle that does not honor ourselves or others. In Episode 27 of The Mom Podcast, you will gain vital insight into this drama cycle, and wisdom to discern the difference between DRAMA-rescue and LOVE. Join our returning guest, Katie Skurja, Founder and Director of Imago Dei ministries. Katie has a double masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Spiritual Formation. The purpose of Imago Dei ministries is it to help people everywhere engage in a Christ-centered healing process that transforms relationships with God, self, and others.

As moms we put ENORMOUS pressure on ourselves to make perfect decisions and be perfect parents. In reality, our drive for perfection only brings more shame and hinders the sacredness of relationship with our children and with God. In Episode 26 of The Mom Podcast Baxter Kruger graciously joins us again, and brings a HEALING balm that infuses the assurance of God’s ENOUGHNESS into our souls. We welcome Baxter Kruger, who is the Director of Perichoresis Ministries, a global ministry proclaiming the stunning news of our adoption in Christ. He holds a PhD from Kings College, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, Scotland. Baxter has taught in 15 countries, and has authored nine books including international bestseller, “The Shack Revisited.” He is a native of Mississippi, and has been married to Beth for 37 years. Baxter is mainly proud to be a dad, a granddad, an inventor of fishing lures, and a killer crawfish recipe.

So often there is a stigma surrounding mental health and therapy. But just as our physical body needs care, our minds and souls were created to need connection and healing as a VITAL part of our health! In episode 25 of The Mom Podcast, therapist Lily Ewing walks us through the power of vulnerability and safety in a therapy relationship to bring healing to our mind, body, and spirit. She articulates the importance of connection, and the value of finding our authentic self in a trusted therapeutic environment. Lily is a Seattle-based therapist who specializes in mental and emotional health and connection. As a therapist, her life’s work is to teach and encourage people how to be bravely authentic and how to grow meaningful connections with themselves and others. When she’s not doing therapy, you’ll probably find her reading or writing poetry, hiking the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, or adding to the number of plants in her house. While only a dog mom for now, she is passionate about nurturing others toward growth and bringing beauty to the struggle of it all.

As moms, we often devalue our mothering role when our efforts do not match our own self-

perpetuated ideals. We set ourselves up to walk in disappointment when we fail to recognize the

enormous value of caring for a human soul. Our guest today so beautifully communicates the depth of

irreversible sacredness in every human life. We welcome Baxter Kruger, who is the Director of

Perichoresis Ministries, a global ministry proclaiming the stunning news of our adoption in Christ. He

holds a PhD from Kings College, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, Scotland. Baxter has taught in 15

countries, and has authored nine books including international bestseller, “The Shack Revisited.” He is a

native of Mississippi, and has been married to Beth for 37 years. Baxter is mainly proud to be a dad, a

granddad, an inventor of fishing lures, and a killer crawfish recipe.

God has imprinted in the heart of every human a connection to beauty and to art. God’s own beauty is evident in all of nature and creation. In this episode of The Mom Podcast, KaWan Powers shares deep insight about the impact of art and beauty, and what art and beauty can reveal about us. At 41 years old, KaWan Powers has been navigating step mama-hood since 2010. Her love of the arts has taken her to surprising places around the world and locally, and she continues to be fascinated in everyday life with her family. With an eclectic history as a child actor and dancer, KaWan expanded her exploration from performing arts to visual arts using mixed media and photography. She is currently a ballet and tap instructor as well. KaWan and her husband continue to reach out and encourage other artists and musicians in the Twin Cities.

We often associate grief with major life occurrences, such as death, divorce, or a significant change. But seemingly small changes can bring grief as well. We don’t always realize we are grieving in these situations, or we feel guilty about our grief. In this episode of The Mom Podcast, journey with us as we learn how to recognize grief and boldly embrace it, in order to grieve well and embrace wholeness.

Welcome to Episode 21 of The Mom Podcast! Being a mom can be humbling, and can leave women feeling inadequate and uncertain of their worth. Join Alicia Granholm in a candid talk about what it’s like to get married and have children in your 30s, and how transitioning from a successful academic or work life to parenting can cause us to doubt our worth. Find fulfilling wisdom and encouragement in this episode about the challenges of motherhood and the importance of identity beyond motherhood. Alicia is a leadership consultant; she equips and empowers busy people to lead effectively and confidently and to reach their fullest potential. She has her masters in teaching as well as a Master of Divinity, and is currently finishing her doctorate in strategic leadership.

Home organization is a huge industry in our culture, but can often leave us feeling “less than” as we compare our living space with what we think it “should” be. In reality, our unique personality determines the kind of space we want to create in our homes and with our families. Find freedom, grace, and practical insights for your corner of the world today! Join us today on the Mom Podcast as Christine Walz breaks down home organization into simple and gracious steps for busy moms. Christine is a wife to Peter and a mama to two school age “stuff-lovers.” She works as a professional organizer and delights in helping others create spaces that bring more joy and rest. Christine also loves studying different cultures and has a Master of Arts in ESL.