Perhaps a surprise to no one but my husband Aaron is neurodivergent :)

When he was diagnosed later in life, it explained a lot... and raised even more questions.

There’s plenty of conversation online about understanding neurodivergence itself, but far less about how it shapes relationships, especially marriage.

In this episode, we talk openly about what it’s like to be married to someone who doesn’t process the world in the same way you do (& funnily enough this comes out the day after our 13th wedding anniversary!)

I remember years ago he once told me he and a friend connect like “two different alien species who aren't of the same planet, but definitely aren't from Earth so they get each other" And my initial thought was "Well...if you're an alien - what does that make me?" He described me as the “human astronaut researcher” trying to understand him. It’s a metaphor that captures both the distance and the deep curiosity that can exist in these partnerships.

We also talk about the current buzz around neurodivergence, how public conversations often miss the relational side of it, and why learning to understand each other, and even CELEBRATE each other rather than trying to change one other, has been one of the most meaningful parts of our marriage.

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Memory Monday!

This throwback was my very first podcast episode. I was winging it (still am, in many ways) and decided to start with a topic that kept coming up in every conversation with my friends who are also in our 30s: “Do we do Botox? Is it preventative? Should we have already started? Are we too late??”

In this episode, I unpack the deeper questions behind those conversations. Why do we make changes to our bodies? What motivates those choices? Are our thoughts about ourselves innate, or do they form through outside voices and early influences? And when a thought about our appearance pops up, how often do we pause to ask, “Is that actually true? Do I really believe that?”

I also share my perspective on the preferred term of "body neutrality" as opposed to "body positivity" and, even many episodes later, I’m still proud of this one from the archives.

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Big Sis / Lil Sis Mentorship:

When You’re Still Learning but They’re Looking Up to You

What does it look like to mentor someone just a step behind you while you’re still figuring life out yourself? In this episode we explore what I've come to call a “big sis / lil sis” dynamic.

Kind of like you're in your Senior year and they are a Freshman - it’s not really a polished "figured it all out and am on the other side of success" expertise but more along the lines of walking alongside someone who happens to be a few years behind on the journey watching you navigate your own growth.

There's actually an entire Bluey episode that captures the tension of leading while still learning (shout out to Mia in "Barky Boats" thanks for the inspo.)

I bring on someone dear to me, Ciella, a lil sis if you will, and we talk about how to choose the right people to speak into your life, what it means to listen even when the advice stings, and how friendships, business, and marriage can overlap with mentorship in unexpected ways.

Whether you’re the one looking up or the one being looked to (or perhaps both at the same time in difference scenarios), this conversation is about the messy, valuable, and often surprising role of guiding and being guided when nobody has it all figured out.

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In this episode, I get to sit down with two of my favorite voices in the parenting space, Sissy Goff and David Thomas. Sissy wrote The Worry-Free Parent and Raising Worry-Free Girls, and David wrote Raising Emotionally Strong Boys. Their books have been such a gift to me in my own friend circle / mom book club, and this conversation felt like talking to two friends.

Instead of piling on more “fix your kid” advice, it reminds us that the best gift we can give our kids is our own emotional health.

We talk about how our regulation becomes their regulation, how to stop worry loops before they spill over, and how to resist that urge to swoop in and rescue (so hard, right?). They share so many practical tools for caring for our own minds and hearts so we can model resilience for our kids.

We also get into what it looks like to notice our child’s unique temperament without projecting our fears, and simple ways to coach kids through big feelings - naming emotions, breathing, coping strategies, and even letting them do the “scary thing” without overstepping. Faith threads through the conversation too, reminding us that God equips us for the hard things He’s writing into our family’s story.

Plus, I brought in your questions - everything from bedtime battles and grandparent POV to school drop off resiliency.

And at the very end, I asked them something I think every overwhelmed parent needs to hear: if you’re maxed out and running on empty, what’s one small, doable thing you can try today to move toward being a little more worry-free?

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We may think we know who we are marrying - but do we really KNOW the family they come from?

In-laws can be one of the most layered and unspoken dynamics in marriage.

When two people say “I do,” they aren’t just joining lives, they’re also stepping into entire family ecosystems with their own histories, expectations, rhythms, and quirks.

Sometimes that looks like open arms and instant belonging, and other times it feels more like walking on eggshells, navigating conflict, or figuring out how to honor your family of origin without dishonoring your partner.

In this episode I’m joined by my friend Brittany, who I gained as a friend in-law since I have known her husband Josh since childhood!

She also joined her husband’s family long before their wedding day and had years to “date” her in-laws before becoming their daughter-in-law. Her story contrasts with my own, where engagement was met with tension, boundaries had to be redefined, and later healing came through honest late-night conversations on the couch.

Threaded through our convo are bigger questions every couple faces: How do you set healthy boundaries without burning bridges? How do you make peace with what may never change? And how do you stay grounded in love when the dynamics feel complicated?

Whether your story looks more like Brittany’s, mine, or somewhere in between, this episode is an honest look at the beauty and the challenges of “marrying the family too.”

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In part two of my conversation with my friend Albert, we go deeper into what being a “good dad” truly means to him as shares the small but powerful & super intentional ways he stays connected to his family throughout each season.

In this episode we talk about:

💬 How you can define a “good dad”

🤗 Why he never lets go first in a hug with his daughter

📸 The meaning behind taking a photo when his son holds his hand

💍 How respecting his wife shapes his fatherhood

🪞 Modeling the kind of relationships he hopes his kids will seek

This part of the conversation was extended into a two-parter on the spot because we just kept talking so long on the topic!! By the end, I had cornered him into committing to come back for another round, because I know we’ve only scratched the surface of his wisdom here. ENJOY!

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Are You A Good Dad?

This one’s been sitting with me for a while. I often hear moms wondering aloud, “Am I a good mom?” And what the parenting experts say is that the moms who even ask that question are usually the ones who care enough to be doing a pretty great job.

But when it comes to dads... it’s different. I don’t hear that same level of wondering or reflection as often.

With fatherhood - how can you tell if you’re a good dad? 

And are you even able to label yourself as that or do you have to wait until your kids are adults and they’re ultimately the ones to answer that question?

I’m joined by someone I’ve wanted to bring on the podcast for over a year - Albert Aquino. He’s an intentional father, a steady husband, and one of the men I genuinely believe makes the world better just by the way he lives.

Albert and I talk about what shapes men into fathers. Where do dads today get their blueprint for parenting? Are they drawing from strong role models, or starting from scratch? We both reflect on the examples in our own families - my dad and Albert’s experience growing up - and how those legacies influence the way we parent now.

In this episode we talk about :

We actually yapped so much that we went way overtime and had to make it a two-parter... So, for this week - enjoy Part 1 of this conversation!

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In this episode we explore the emotional complexity of sustaining friendship from girlhood into adulthood. What happens when life pulls you and your closest childhood friends in different directions? From cross-country moves to evolving values, distance, and even unspoken grief over friendships that fade without a fight.

I’m joined by my lifelong friend Rachel Clark (technically Passantino but in my heart she's always a Clark girl!!) and we talk about our 30+ year friendship, including moments of drifting apart, reconnecting, and learning to recognize the difference between a seasonal friend and a soul-deep one.

We also respond to listener questions covering everything from ghosting after a baby, jealousy between life stages, dating someone your friends hate, how to grieve a quiet friendship breakup, and what to do when you're always the one reaching out.

This episode is for anyone wondering:

Can a friendship evolve without ending?

How do you know when to hold on or when to let go?

What does it take to disagree and still stay close?

You’ll also get to watch us stretch and fold my sourdough mid-convo, because I recently found this hobby and it's taken over my personality. I hope this conversation is as fresh and nourishing as the delicious bread rising on my counter. ENJOY!

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Memory Monday!!

Originally aired last season, I’m bringing back one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had a two-part series with my very first and most formative relationship: my mom.

After a short clip of me reading her parenting feedback went viral (over 4 million views!), so many of you reached out wanting to hear more from her - and this is that more. If you’re new here and haven’t explored past episodes yet, this one’s a meaningful place to start as we talk all about how the mother/child bond evolves over time.

In Part 1, we reflect on the early years: toddlerhood through junior high, how her parenting style adapted, and the values she tried to instill.

Whether you're a mom yourself or reflecting on your own relationship with your mother, this two-part episode is full of warmth, honesty, and a little wisdom from someone I deeply admire.

New episodes return next week, but for now, enjoy this Memory Monday replay of one of my favorite conversations to date.

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We hear a lot about toxic masculinity — in viral clips, cultural commentary, and even our personal lives. But it got me wondering: Can femininity become toxic too? If masculinity becomes harmful when it’s distorted or out of balance, could the same be true for traits we associate with femininity?

In this episode, I’m joined by Abby (whose recent take on Proverbs 31 made me revisit a chapter that reminded me of my AIM screen name I had at 11 years old @proverbs31rox) and my longtime friend Mariah, a wise voice and always a good hang. Together, we explore the concept of “toxic femininity”: What does it mean? Why is it hard to name? And where have we seen it play out — in our lives, our culture, and our relationships?

From complicity with the male gaze to the passive-aggressive dynamics we sometimes chalk up to “girl drama,” we talk candidly about the behaviors that might reflect femininity gone off course. Plus, we share stories (yes, even about gossip), question cultural norms, and ask: What does healthy, grounded femininity actually look like?

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