Isn’t it Lovely? Season 8 kicks off with Tracy and Rachel welcoming longtime dream guest and founder of Better Screen Time Andrea Davis to the show! Leaving guilt, shame, and fear at the door, Andrea instead educates and empowers listeners with countless tools, resources, and strategies to create technology habits that optimize enjoyment of screens in healthy ways. Andrea encourages families to establish routines and expectations for technology by creating a family tech plan, understanding the motivation of the three Cs (creating, connecting, and consuming), and having candid conversations about the responsibilities and personal accountability that precede a child having a phone. Andrea celebrates children being smart, curious, and human, recognizing the limitations of a one size fits all mentality and respectfully inviting kids into the reasoning and conversations behind decisions. Andrea and Rachel discuss a reconsideration of using screen time as part of a reward cycle; Tracy and Andrea explore the importance of identity and knowing oneself well enough to counteract social media messaging. Tracy and Rachel swoon over Andrea’s multiple book recommendations and mic drop moments, all while attempting to master the art of the mute button.

Episode Mentions:

Andrea Davis’s Website: https://www.betterscreentime.com/

Andrea Davis’s Instagram: @betterscreentime

Andrea Davis’s Facebook: Better Screen Time

Atomic Habits by James Clear

https://amzn.to/3JdSLkY

iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy - and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood - and What That Means for the Rest of Us by Jean M. Twenge

https://amzn.to/3ZJGiuQ

TED Talk by Psychologist Adam Alter: Why our screens make us less happy

https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_alter_why_our_screens_make_us_less_happy?language=en

The Social Dilemma Documentary

https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids - and How to Break the Trance by Nicholas Kardaras

https://amzn.to/3ZG7Rox

Reset Your Child's Brain: A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time by Victoria L. Dunckley

https://amzn.to/3KUJn73

What Are You Loving:

Andrea: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer

https://amzn.to/3ZpDBhZ

Rachel: Play-Doh

https://amzn.to/3KZCSjq

Tracy: Artistry Dance

https://www.artistrydancestudio.com/

Disclosure: We only recommend products we use and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.

Isn’t it Lovely? celebrates the conclusion of season 7 with advocate, activist, and beloved YouTube personality Heidi Calmus joining Tracy and Rachel for a special supersized episode! Long before getting recognized for her roles in skits and sketches about parenthood and marriage on the popular Dude Dad vlog, Heidi’s compassion and empathy led her on a path to serve and support vulnerable youth and survivors of human trafficking and abuse through leadership positions with YMCA After School Programs, the Los Angeles Dream Center and Covenant House California. Heidi details how when online fame hit via Dude Dad’s success, she could no longer provide confidential direct services, so she pivoted in ways to still work alongside the movement while staying at home with her children. Heidi and Tracy discuss the seasons of yielding in marriage and the importance of honoring each other’s callings as well as how that can seemingly impact our feelings on identity; while Heidi and Rachel talk about the creation of healthy boundaries to protect the sacred parts of a public life. Heidi brings everyone to tears with her grace-filled and authentic wisdom about parenting young children; the group agrees that the car remains the best place to break down in tears (second only to the shower).

Episode Mentions:

Heidi Calmus’ Instagram:

@heidicalmus

Heidi Calmus’ Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Heidi-Calmus/100084691694169/

Dude Dad’s Instagram:

@dudedad

Dude Dad’s Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DudeDadVlog/

Dude Dad’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQjDnWKwV81mXEiuiA9Vqg

Dude Dad’s Website:

https://www.dudedad.com/

Super Dad TV show

https://magnolia.com/watch/show/c3dc8b62-f029-5237-904d-283cf1529f6a/super-dad/

YMCA Y-Club Middle School After School Programs

https://siouxfallsymca.org/y-club/middle-school-after-school-programs/

Stewart School

https://www.stewartschool.com/

Los Angeles Dream Center

https://www.dreamcenter.org/

Covenant House California

https://covenanthousecalifornia.org/

University of Sioux Falls

https://www.usiouxfalls.edu/

Street Luge

Heidi’s SAHM Instagram Post

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap13lMpxVi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Wellness Mama Podcast

https://wellnessmama.com/podcast/

Medical Medium

https://www.medicalmedium.com/

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Rebound Sports and Physical Therapy

https://www.reboundsportspt.com/beyond-therapy/strong-mama/

What Are You Loving:

Heidi: HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Go Mat

https://higherdose.com/products/higherdose-infrared-pemf-on-the-go-mat

Tracy: Parenting: Getting It Right by Andy and Sandra Stanley

https://amzn.to/3YNPaip

Rachel: Call to Freedom https://calltofreedom.org/

Curiosity Studio https://curiositystudioclass.com/

The gray skies and subzero temperatures of a South Dakota winter are no match for the pure sunshine and light radiating from the studio as Tracy and Rachel welcome enormously talented multi-hyphenate with a heart of gold Rebecca Swift to the podcast! A singer-songwriter, illustrator, makeup artist, and more, Rebecca shares stories from her days as an American Idol contestant, viral makeup sensation, and social media maven, ultimately celebrating how living a life of authenticity and faith led her to be the best and brightest version of herself. Resting in the peace of being uniquely created and wholly loved, Rebecca reveals the intimate moments she felt the most seen and cherished by God and encourages others to recognize their unique value and purpose as beautiful creations. Tracy and Rebecca praise the power of praying mothers, while Rebecca explores the importance of purging items (and sometimes relationships) to embrace healing and the enjoyment of memories and moments over maintenance. Prior to the interview, Rebecca casually saves the podcast by noticing the equipment has stopped recording while Rachel and Tracy are mid-joke. Tracy points out that, having been raised in a martial arts studio, Rebecca literally is a Karate Kid; Rachel vows to learn the correct pronunciation of authors’ names before mentioning them willy-nilly during the What Are You Loving? segment.

Episode Mentions:

Rebecca Swift’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaroaming/

Rebecca Swift’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaswiftmakeup/

Porter the Hoarder Book Series

https://www.porterthehoarder.com/

When Rebecca was an American Idol contestant

https://www.jamestownsun.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/s-d-woman-reflects-on-her-idol-moment

Outstanding single on Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4b-c5KX7OY

Matthew 7:7 NIV: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Ransom Church

https://ransom.church/

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Organized_with_The_Home_Edit

Get Organized with The Home Edit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Organized_with_The_Home_Edit

May 2022 Midwest Derecho

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_2022_Midwest_derecho

Ashley Holen, DNP, FNP-C, Flourish Wellness and Birth Co.

https://flourishbirthco.com/about/

What Are You Loving:

Rebecca: Hygge;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygge

Vitamin D

https://amzn.to/3WHXz5H

Rachel: Tayari Jones;

Silver Sparrow;

https://amzn.to/3wG0PE4

An American Marriage

https://amzn.to/3DkZlm7

Tracy: Fancii LED Lighted Travel Makeup Mirror;

https://amzn.to/3Y93MbI

The Lincoln Highway: A Novel;

https://amzn.to/3DoYSj0

Kindle Paperwhite

https://amzn.to/3XU1M7O

Tracy and Rachel are thrilled to ring in 2023 (and kick off their very first Zoom interview!) with a healthy dose of grace and inspiration from the delightful Stephanie Ham! Married to her Augustana University college sweetheart and Minnesota Vikings Fullback C.J. Ham (skol!), Steph shares how she followed her passion for serving others to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and engage in rewarding work as a pelvic floor therapist, while caring for three beautiful children and generously giving back to a variety of communities. Steph discusses the importance of true partnership and support in marriage, as well as the notion that “favor is for service, not for status”, which underscores the privilege and joy of giving back, both philanthropically and through helping her patients find healing. Steph also acknowledges the power of a really great pair of dad jeans, while Tracy and Rachel consider a career pivot from podcasting to physical therapy. Everyone agrees that childcare remains one of life’s biggest hurdles and Steph reveals a good Colleen Hoover book (with a Maverick City Music chaser) is the best way to time travel on a treadmill.

Episode Mentions:

**This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission at no cost to you!**

Stephanie Ham’s Instagram:

@steph_ham_

Stephanie Ham’s Twitter:

@StephHamDPT

Pelvic Floor Therapy

https://www.webmd.com/women/what-is-pelvic-floor-physical-therapy

The Five Love Languages

https://5lovelanguages.com/

Pro Athletes Outreach

https://www.pao.org/

Compassion Childcare

https://www.compassionchildcare.com/

The Ham Family Scholarship Fund

https://www.vikings.com/news/c-j-stephanie-ham-launch-scholarship-fund

C.J. Ham

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Ham

Maverick City Music

https://www.instagram.com/maverickcitymusic/?hl=en

Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast Season 2 Episode 2: “Isn’t it Lovely to Talk About Our Mental Health? Special Guest: Becky Weber”

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/isnt-it-lovely-to-surrender-special-guest-becky-weber

What Are You Loving:

Stephanie: Treadmill for indoor marathon training; Colleen Hoover Books

Rachel: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beautifying Lip Kit;

https://amzn.to/3ZwcWRl

Becky Weber

Tracy: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

https://amzn.to/3IOTtoK

Neither rain nor snow nor influenza keeps Tracy and Rachel from closing out 2022 with the fabulous Janelle Schock, Designer and Chief Operating Officer of Sodak Clothing! A lifelong artist and creative, Janelle shares how her family followed the call of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota to embrace an exciting new adventure as the owners of the family-owned and operated company, Sodak Clothing. Building on her background as a professional photographer and homeschool educator, Janelle reveals how she taught herself graphic design, marketing, and website development to re-launch Sodak Clothing as a movement embracing and celebrating South Dakota pride. Janelle encourages others looking to make a life or career change and speaks candidly about creating a vision and incorporating family and faith into her home and business, embracing her own unique (and occasionally countercultural) life. Tracy suggests Janelle parlay her wisdom and catchphrases into a new weekly segment christened Motto Monday, while Rachel literally hurts her arm enthusiastically cheering over SoDak clothing featuring a line of dresses. All three agree that there are few things more powerful than strong, healthy friendships among women.

Episode Mentions:

Sodak Clothing Website: https://sodakclothing.com/

Sodak Clothing Instagram: @sodakclothing

Sodak Clothing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sodakclothing/

Snowbird Collective

https://sodakclothing.com/pages/snowbird-collective

Surf Expo

https://surfexpo.com/

Danny Gokey

https://www.dannygokey.com/

Danny Gokey Wearing Sodak Hat in Live Up To Your Name Music Video

https://www.dannygokey.com/video/danny-gokey-live-up-to-your-name-official-music-video/#video-gallery

Redemption Line of SoDak Flannel

https://sodakclothing.com/pages/our-goods

Nyberg’s Ace Hardware

https://sodakclothing.com/pages/our-goods

The Trolley Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwP6kNIDg30

What Are You Loving:

Janelle: Her beautiful family

Rachel: Healthy friendships among women; Quote attributed to various sources: Surround yourself with women who would mention your name in a roomful of opportunities.

Tracy: Lauren Daigle Behold Christmas Album

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTzXMoe_t2pNgMgj-4m7Gnk292SzFSpLc

“Givers gain. If I walk into everything that I do in life with that mentality I will give as much as I possibly can and know that nothing is lost.”

Get ready to dream BIG as Tracy and Rachel welcome beloved local artist, entrepreneur, and massive inspiration Desire Jansen to the podcast! Dez shares her secrets (and superpowers!) for living a life of purpose through pursuing huge dreams with focused goals, while also reflecting on the ways her action-packed life led her to better understand her identity, invest in herself, and transform her passions and hobbies into successful businesses. Dez reveals what helped her shed a scarcity mentality to embrace a life of generosity and abundance and celebrates the rewards of giving back, including providing women with skillsets to make their own money and become empowered to make life-changing choices, such as walking away from unhealthy relationships and working fewer hours to enjoy more time with their families. Dez also powerfully shares about her time in Southern Florida in her 20’s where she overcame homelessness and recounts how she discovered her faith in God. Dez and Rachel evoke fond memories of inspirational school posters from the 1990’s, while Dez and Tracy discuss the finer points of Matthew McConaughey’s infamous bongo playing. Everyone agrees, yet again, that accents rule the day; Rachel and Tracy try to convince Dez that she should write a memoir.

Episode Mentions:

Gemineye Studio Website: https://www.gemineyestudio.com/

Gemineye Studio Instagram: @gemineyestudio

Gemineye Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GemineyeStudio.SiouxFalls/

Desire Jansen Artwork Website: http://www.dezjansen.com/

Desire Jansen Artwork Instagram: @graphite_dez

Call to Freedom Website: https://www.calltofreedom.org/

Mark Cole, CEO of the John Maxwell Enterprise

https://www.johnmaxwell.com/speakers/mark-cole/

Terry Liggins, CEO of The Hurdle Life Coach Foundation

https://hurdlelifecoachfoundation.org/

Made For This with Jennie Allen Podcast

https://www.jennieallen.com/podcast

Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast Season 3 Episode 6: “Isn’t it Lovely to Fall in Love with Reading?”

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/ashleyholenandalliveldhouse

What Are You Loving:

Desire: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

https://greenlights.com/#book

Tracy: Walking everyday! As learned from her time on the Camino del Norte of the Camino De Santiago in Spain.

Rachel: Midnights album, by Taylor Swift; “Anti-Hero” song.

Rachel and Tracy are energized and delighted as they sit down with vibrant local powerhouse Sandy Lown, Executive Director of Sioux Falls-based nonprofit, the Teddy Bear Den! Celebrating 26 years of nurturing healthy pregnancies, babies, and communities, the Teddy Bear Den has served over 32,000 women in the Sioux Falls area through its incentive and education based program for limited income pregnant women. Once the sole employee of the Teddy Bear Den, Sandy is quick to give any and all credit to her team of colleagues and volunteers, the healthcare workers who support the organization, and the women and children who participate in its programs. Emphasizing one of the Teddy Bear Den’s pillars, “we’re not there to judge; we’re just there to help”, Sandy stresses the importance of treating all women with dignity and respect and explains the vitalness of investing in children as the future of of Sioux Falls. Rachel and Tracy confess to Sandy that they have admired her from afar for years, while Sandy wonders out loud if this is creepy or not. Rachel wrestles with wanting to mute Sandy’s microphone so Sandy can accept compliments, while not wanting to silence a fellow woman; Tracy evokes a timeless Whitney Houston song.

Episode Mentions:

Teddy Bear Den Website: https://teddybearden.org/

Teddy Bear Den Instagram: @teddybeardensf

Teddy Bear Den Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teddybearden/

“The Greatest Love of All”, as sung by Whitney Houston

What Are You Loving:

Sandy: Remedy Brewing Company and Monk’s Ale House

https://www.remedybrewco.com/

Rachel: 12-3-30 Treadmill Workout

https://www.health.com/fitness/cardio-workouts/12-3-30-workout

Tracy: Bissell Steam Shot Handheld Steam Cleaner and Sanitizer

https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-39N7V-Surface-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B07V39L623

Calling all Mandatees (and the newly minted Lovelies): not since Full House and Family Matters has there been such a highly anticipated crossover episode! Isn’t it Lovely? is thrilled to kick off Season 7 by welcoming podcast brothers and dear friends Ryan Konz and Ben Krush of The Mandate Podcast to the show! Fearless leaders of their loyal Mandatees and hosts extraordinaire, Ryan and Ben open up about their passion to “to teach men how to talk”, encouraging listeners to push past casual chats about sports, jobs, and the weather to embrace more honest, vulnerable conversations and deeper relationships. Ben explores the origin story of Mandate, sharing the life-changing testimonies the show has received and revealing the crucial moment he almost walked away from it all. Ryan speaks candidly about finding his niche as the new co-host on an established show and why this venture brings him closer to his lifelong dream of becoming the next Jimmy Fallon. Ryan and Ben share their Meet Cutes with their amazing wives and explain the overall value of healthy conflict and leaving pride at the door. Rachel and Tracy acknowledge the effectiveness of pickup lines and cede that Ryan’s superpower as a Connector brings him closer to most people than even Kevin Bacon’s famed six degrees. Tracy finally discovers the meaning of “Go Cou”, while Rachel makes accidental puns with Ben’s name. Everyone agrees that a genuine compliment is the best “rocket fuel” of all.

Episode Mentions:

The ManDate Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/mandate

The ManDate Podcast Instagram: @themandatepod

Jon Kirby’s Hair

What Are You Loving:

Ryan: Comedian Nate Bargatze

Ben: Sweet Cheeks: Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, and Dairy-Free Sorbet and High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard

Rachel: Quote from @busytoddler: I dumped a whole pint of blueberries on the floor of the store with a 3-year-old, 2-year-old, and a baby strapped to me in a front pack. I could [have] cried surveying the mess and trying to figure out what to do when a person came up to me, lightly touched my arm, and said, “go, this is my problem now.” And they literally shooed me away. It was and still is one of the nicest things a person has ever done for me, and it was just cleaning up blueberries.”

Tracy: Fit My Feet Sioux Falls

“It’s more important that we do what we believe we’re supposed to do by loving people first and being obedient to what we think our purpose is.”

In this season’s bonus episode of Isn’t it Lovely?, Tracy and Rachel welcome South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to the podcast! Governor Noem shares her experiences as the first woman to serve as governor of South Dakota, detailing the importance of representation and the undeniable power of women coming together and supporting one another. Governor Noem also reveals the encouragement her mother gave her as a young girl that changed the trajectory of her life and speaks candidly about the challenges and rewards of living a life of public service. Rachel and Tracy explore the breakdown in communication that occurs without genuine conversation and listening, while Governor Noem acknowledges the importance of friends and family who disagree with her politically, but still demonstrate love and participate in relationship. Tracy ponders getting a wolf tattoo in support of Abby Wambach’s “wolf pack” metaphor; and calls on Governor Noem's Communication Director to help with wolfpack trademarks, Rachel requests the location of the Madison, South Dakota campaign stop where a particularly delicious-looking cake was served.

Episode Mentions:

Governor Kristi Noem’s Official Website: https://governor.sd.gov/

Governor Kristi Noem’s Official Instagram: @govkristinoem

Governor Kristi Noem’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govnoem/

Governor Kristi Noem’s Personal Website: https://www.kristinoem.com/

Governor Kristi Noem’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinoem/

Governor Kristi Noem’s Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristiforgovernor

Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash OurPower, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach

Deuteronomy 28:13: The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Tom Daschle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Daschle

What Are You Loving:

Governor Noem: Cake Frosting

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/frosting-vs-icing

Rachel: South Dakota Urban Indian Health Voices Art Show

https://sduih.org/

Tracy: The Sampson House

https://www.thesampsonhouse.com/

Calling all bookworms: the Isn’t it Lovely? Book Club is BACK and better than ever as fan faves Alli Veldhouse and Ashley Holen bring along literary soulmate Danielle Shields to join Rachel and Tracy for a second installment of BOOK TALK! Appropriately recorded in a local Sioux Falls library, this episode spotlights Danielle’s story of why reading is so important to her (along with a gentle dispelling of the notion that all books must be read to completion), as the rest of group listens with rapt attention to her pearls of wisdom. Spanning everything from worldview-changing reads to guilty pleasures, the conversation also includes Ashley’s nomination as “most likely to be Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games”, Alli’s determination that Elin Hilderbrand's books deserves perhaps a PG-13 rating, the overall pros and cons of marking up books, and Rachel and Tracy’s shared mic transforming into the sixth entity in the room.

Episode Mentions:

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder by Kent Nerburn

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

The Winter Series, The Blue Bistro, The Paradise Series, and The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Sweet Valley High Series by Francine Pascal

The Bible

Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. by Laura Tremaine

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Attributes of God by A.W. Tozer

The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by David Brenner

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Find Your People by Jennie Allen

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Letters to My Son by Kent Nerburn

Jim Kwik: Brain Coach

Libby: The Library Reading App

Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast Season 3 Episode 6: “Isn’t it Lovely to Fall in Love with Reading?” https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/ashleyholenandalliveldhouse

What Are You Loving:

Alli: Olga Alteration https://www.facebook.com/OlgaAlteration/ and Tailoring and Goof Off https://goofoffproducts.com/

Danielle: Classical Stuff You Should Know Podcast Episode 169: “Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling” https://www.classicalstuff.net/episodes-1/2021/6/29/169-kierkegaards-fear-and-trembling

Ashley: Flourish Wellness and Birth Co. https://flourishbirthco.com/

Rachel: Flourish Wellness and Birth Co. and Culture Con 2022 https://letsthink3d.com/culturecon2022/

Tracy: Science Nutrition, TB16 Thermal Burn, and HydroIV

https://mysciencenutrition.com/