MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose

Here’s part two of our shows with my hilarious friend Melissa Radke. This week we pregame the holidays: Texas “sweater weather” that isn’t, Spanx leggings that are life-changing, and crowning Thanksgiving’s Best in Show (Honey Baked Ham, spinach salad, corn casserole—made by the right cousin). We confess our family wild cards (Melissa and her zany mom vs. my husband the political pot-stirrer), share one thing we’re grateful for (her: Remy thriving at college; me: surviving another book), and give 10-second writing advice: write daily, say it out loud, pray, hold the path loosely.

Then we hit Christmas: Melissa’s sacred story—her son Elisha passed on Christmas morning, and how the Lord has spoken into that timing through the years.  Loss and love, together. We speed-run gift drama (parents wanting gift cards and gifting hand-me-down “treasures”), Favorite/Unfavorite Things parties, and Melissa’s… Istanbul facelift pitch. We close with most-hated carols (“Christmas Shoes” and that bossy “figgy pudding”), plus 2026 hopes and big prayers.

Follow The Radke Show, grab Chicken Fried Women for gifting, and thanks for laughing through the nothing-that-became-something series with precious Melissa.

P.S. By now, you probably have gotten the memo that pre-orders have started for my new book, How’d I Miss That? If you have NOT pre-ordered yet, I would be so grateful if you’d consider doing that right now! Thank you, friends. 💗💗💗

📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women (https://bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen)

🎥 The Radke Show on YouTube (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube)

🎧 The Radke Show on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple)

📝 Melissa's Stretch Marks on Substack (https://bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack)

TrimFit - https://bit.ly/beautifulyu 

The Swim Romper - https://bit.ly/RomperSwimsuit

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → (melissaradke.substack.com)

📱 Instagram→ (https://www.instagram.com/msmelissaradke/)

📱 Facebook→ (https://www.facebook.com/MelissaRadkeStretchMarks/)

📱 TikTok → (https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaradke)

Today’s episode is pure delight and zero agenda, which honestly might be my favorite combination. My friend Melissa Radke is here — author of Chicken Fried Women, host of The Radke Show, queen of honest humor, and possessor of my favorite character quality . . . calling it like it is. I invited her on for one reason and one reason only: she makes me laugh. No outline, no topic list, no heavy message — just two friends, two microphones, and a commitment to talk about everything and absolutely nothing at the same time. Think Seinfeld (a show about nothing), but with menopausal commentary, nipple Band-Aids, and college-kid drop-off trauma.

We kicked off by addressing the betrayal heard ‘round the world: my husband signed me up for a half marathon. Six weeks. And yes, I’m run-walking, and yes, I got passed by a man in khakis walking his dog. Melissa brought her wisdom on chafing, and we somehow ended up talking about sleeping in your makeup, why hot flashes should count as cardio, and the science of not peeing in the shower. (We listen, we don’t judge… mostly.)

We also touched the tender things — kids leaving for college, missing them and cheering them on at the same time, and the bittersweet gift of watching them grow up and go. Plus some light commentary on body image, reverse body dysmorphia (hi, it’s me), and why Lands’ End swim shorts should honestly sponsor this show.

And great news — this is part one of a two-part series with Melissa because once we started, there was no stopping. Next episode, we’re diving into the holidays. Until then, follow The Radke Show, grab Chicken Fried Women (wrap it with a wooden spoon — trust me), and get ready to laugh.

Let’s do this, friends — a show about nothing that somehow ends up being everything.

P.S. By now, you probably have gotten the memo that pre-orders have started for my new book, How’d I Miss That? If you have NOT pre-ordered yet, I would be so grateful if you’d consider doing that right now! Thank you, friends. 💗💗💗

All things Cynthia

Chicken fried women

📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women (https://bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen)

🎥 The Radke Show on YouTube (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube)

🎧 The Radke Show on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple)

📝 Melissa's Stretch Marks on Substack (https://bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack)

TrimFit - https://bit.ly/beautifulyu 

The Swim Romper - https://bit.ly/RomperSwimsuit

💌 Follow & Subscribe

📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → (melissaradke.substack.com)

📱 Instagram→ (https://www.instagram.com/msmelissaradke/)

📱 Facebook→ (https://www.facebook.com/MelissaRadkeStretchMarks/)

📱 TikTok → (https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaradke)

Can we possibly begin with a few “important” announcements today?

First, I just got back from Las Vegas last night, and let’s just say the flight was so bumpy I was fully convinced I’d be meeting Jesus before we touched down in Dallas. By God’s grace, I lived to tell the tale. ✈️🙌 We were in Vegas because Mike ran a marathon (woop woop!) and I… well, did not. I did, however, put $20 in a slot machine and walked away with $100—so there’s that. 

Second, and probably more importantly, if you’re not following me on social media yet, I’d be so grateful if you’d take a quick second to do that now. I’ve got a big announcement coming this week, and your likes, comments, and shares would mean the world to me.

And speaking of announcements… today on MESSmerized is the one and only Max Lucado. 🙌

Any time I get the privilege of sitting down with Pastor Max, it’s a conversation that stays with me. If you’ve ever read one of his 44 books (yes, forty-four), listened to a sermon, or heard him speak, you already know: Max has a way of taking the most complicated spiritual truths and making them feel both gentle and profound.

We kicked things off with some behind-the-scenes honesty about writing books—how quiet the process can be, how hard it is to balance storytelling with honoring God’s Word, and why Max still remembers the book he wouldn’t give anyone (hint: it was number one). But then, Max takes us deeper, reminding us how our thoughts shape our beliefs and how our beliefs shape our behavior. He walks us through practical, biblical tools to “take every thought captive,” and how picky thinking can keep us from spiraling into false narratives.

And of course, because it’s Max, we talk about real life too—like his black mold situation, anxious thoughts that snowball too fast, and why we need people who love us enough to speak truth into our blind spots. This episode is packed with wisdom, grace, and practical takeaways, whether you’re heading into the holidays a little anxious or just trying to quiet the noise in your mind.

Grab your Diet Coke and lean in—this one’s a good one. 🥤✨

Tame Your Thoughts by Max Lucado

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This week I got to sit down with Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle—and we tackled a topic the church doesn’t always handle well: divorce.

Lysa has a powerful new book coming out, Surviving an Unwanted Divorce, and Joel, who serves as Director of Theology and Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, brings clarity and depth to what Scripture really says (and doesn’t say) about this hard subject. Lysa shares her personal and painful journey through an unwanted divorce and what it means to face the reality that it takes two people to make a marriage work.

We talk about:

• The difference between a difficult marriage and a destructive marriage
• What “God hates divorce” actually means in the original text of Malachi
• Emotional and spiritual abuse that often goes unseen
• Why elevating the institution of marriage over the image bearers in it causes harm
• How forgiveness fits into the healing process

This conversation isn’t just for those walking through divorce—it’s for friends, family, pastors, and church leaders who want to love people well in the middle of it (which is basically all of us).

🎧 Tune in for this honest and important conversation with Lysa and Joel—and don’t forget to pre-order Lysa’s new book today!

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Surviving an Unwanted Divorce: A Biblical, Practical Guide to Letting Go While Holding Yourself Together

I just got back from the State Fair of Texas where I spent approximately a small mortgage and walked what felt like the entire Oregon Trail. My feet are tired, my bank account is wheezing, and I’m convinced Fletcher’s corn dogs are God’s reward for doing hard things.

But speaking of big adventures… This week I got to sit down with the amazing Christy Nockels. We kicked things off talking weddings (because hello—her son is getting married in the wedding capital of Texas, naturally) and laughed about wedding dress codes. To this day, I still have no idea what “black tie optional” actually means.

Christy shared beautifully about this new season of life—kids launching into adulthood, leaning into rest, and learning that it’s not about performance. We also talked about her new album, King Who Never Sleeps: Anthems for Rest, and how it invites families to experience deep peace in the middle of everyday chaos.

She reminded me—and I hope she’ll remind you too—that adventure with God is worth the risk, His presence can meet us in the most ordinary spaces, and our faith often grows more in the quiet ripples than in the seemingly biggest moments.

All things Cynthia

Anthems for Rest - Apple Music

Anthems for Rest - Spotify

Y’all!!! Candace Cameron Bure is back with us today and we cover all the things: weddings, Bible reading plans, Christmas movies, and why the chicken dance might be the best first dance. We start with Natasha’s wedding (cue mom tears). Candace shares the sweetest “something blue” story and the best M.O.B. tip of all time: bring a Mary Poppins bag stocked with everything from boob tape to breakable ice packs. I confess I’d show up with tweezers and duct tape, so she kindly offers a real checklist.

Somewhere between wedding cake and parenting hacks, we go deeper on body image—and her fight for a healthy body identity. Candace opens up about the long, everyday work of gratitude and stewardship, including a dream from Numbers 22 that reframed how she speaks to and cares for her body.

Nostalgia break! Full House is 38 years old (we all clutched our pearls). And you’ll have to listen in to hear what today’s Candace would tell her 18-year-old self. Also, we started the New Testament on October 1—if you’ve been waiting for a nudge, consider this it.

Guys, Christmas is coming (second only to Jesus, I associate it with Candace). She’s on a live tour and starring in Timeless Tidings of Joy with Natasha (adorable). We play “Would You Rather: Wedding Edition,” then I utterly bomb a movie-plot quiz. Today’s show is equal parts laugh-out-loud and full of hope.

All things Cynthia

Candace’s Website

Candace’s Tour

This week we’re back with Part 2 of my conversation with Yusuf Agoro, associate pastor at The Well in Austin. If you heard last week’s episode, you know how powerful his story is—Yusuf shared his journey from growing up in a devout Muslim home to finding faith in Jesus. If you missed it, go back and listen first because it’s so amazing. 

In today’s episode we pick up right where we left off, diving into his work with college students and the lessons he’s learning about authenticity, parenting, and the reality of church hurt. Yusuf offers practical advice for parents, encouragement for anyone walking alongside the next generation, and a timely reminder that prayer is the difference maker. 

Whether you’re parenting teens, mentoring college kids, or processing your own church experiences—this follow-up conversation will challenge and encourage you.

All things Cynthia

The Well Austin Community Church

Today’s show opens with a little prayer of frustration I’ve been praying—and God’s gentle reminder that He’s in every detail. That theme runs through our entire conversation: whether you’re praying for a prodigal, aching for a child who feels unreachable, or wondering if those tiny seeds of faith you’ve planted will ever take root, there is hope. God’s pursuit is relentless, and His timing is never wasted.

I recently sat down with Yusuf Agoro expecting a good story, and instead witnessed a front-row display of God’s pursuit of His children. Yusuf grew up in a devout Muslim home where faith was the family’s foundation—five daily prayers, every tradition intact—until a neighborhood kid named Daniel rolled by on a skateboard and quietly shared Jesus. That simple friendship changed everything, and Yusuf surrendered his life to Christ.

The path from that night was anything but easy. He hid his faith through high school, texted a trembling confession to his dad before a summer at a Christian camp, and lived through years of family tension. But God kept moving. Today, Yusuf serves as an associate pastor at The Well Austin Community Church, where my own daughter worships as a college student—and I tear up nearly every time I watch those students sing, knowing they’ve found something better than the world can offer.

Yusuf’s story proves that no seed is too small and no timeline too long. A skateboard, an awkward movie night, a late-night Facebook scroll—God used it all to write a redemption story only He could script. What can’t He do in your life?

The Well Austin Community Church

All things Cynthia

This week we’re back with part two of my conversation with my friend Natalie Runion, and if you missed part one—go listen first! In this episode we get practical about raising kind daughters, building sacred sisterhood, and navigating the everyday challenges that get in the way of healthy friendships.

Natalie and I laughed about our own high school mean-girl days (yes, we both had them!) and how God redeems even that, teaching us to champion one another instead of competing. We also talked about why women need a why-to more than a how-to when it comes to friendship, and Natalie explained her vision of creating a “sanctuary of sisterhood”—not a sorority or social club, but a safe place where women can be real, messy, and vulnerable together.

She also addressed some of the lies from her new book—like “women are so emotional” or “women are drama queens”—and how those labels keep us from truly listening to each other’s stories. Natalie challenged us to dig deeper, do the spiritual work in our own lives, and be the kind of safe sisters other women need.

We wrapped up with one of the hardest parts of friendship: conflict. Natalie reminded us that communication is kindness, and that God Himself is a God of reconciliation. Avoiding conflict may feel easier, but real peace comes when we’re brave enough to resolve it with honesty and love.

Her new book I Don’t Even Like Women and Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood is out now, and it’s such an important word for all of us. If you’ve ever wrestled with comparison, conflict, or just figuring out how to do real friendship in the middle of messy life, this conversation is for you.

All things Cynthia

I Don't Even Like Women and Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood by Natalie Runion

Raised to Stay by Natalie Runion

I had the best time sitting down with my friend Natalie Runion again on the podcast. We met years ago as brand-new authors, and it’s been such a gift to watch the Lord expand her voice and ministry since then. She’s now the author of three books in just two years—including her latest, I Don’t Even Like Women and Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood. Only Natalie could title a book like that and actually pull it off, and I’m so glad she did.

This is part one of a two-part conversation, and in this first half we talk about what it looks like to stay obedient to God even when criticism comes, the lies women believe about themselves and each other, and how those scripts often keep us competing instead of collaborating. We laughed about the stereotypes we grew up with in sitcoms and movies, but we also dug deep into how much identity shapes our ability to form healthy friendships and truly cheer each other on.

I shared some of my own wounds from being hurt by other women, and Natalie reminded us that we’re only one word or one conversation away from either derailing someone’s calling or breathing life into it. She pointed us back to the examples in Scripture—Mary and Elizabeth, Ruth and Naomi, Deborah and Jael—that show the power of collaboration over competition.

This episode is for anyone who’s wrestled with comparison, struggled with belonging, or felt the sting of another woman’s words. Natalie’s message is bold and freeing: God didn’t make a mistake when He made you a woman, and you are worthy of community, love, and friendship.

All things Cynthia

I Don't Even Like Women and Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood by Natalie Runion

Raised to Stay by Natalie Runion