No Higher Calling

By Brettnay BrazzellReligion & Spirituality Christianity Kids & Family

No Higher Calling episodes

April 09Introducing Our Children to Shakespeare
In this episode, I share how we unexpectedly started studying Shakespeare with my elementary homeschool children — and why it’s become one of a highlight of our school days!
Despite having little interest in Shakespeare myself, I was inspired by A Charlotte Mason Companion and several podcasts to give it a try. What began as skepticism turned into delight as we discovered the beauty of introducing Shakespeare early.
Key Conversation Points:
Surprising benefits of Shakespeare for young children
How we structure our weekly “Shakespearean Tea Time” lessons
Reading the play aloud with dramatic voices, memory work, discussion, and puppet coloring
Our fun 6-week wrap-up: memory recitation and family puppet show
Perfect for families wondering if Shakespeare is too advanced for little ones — it’s not! We’re already planning our next play later this school year!

Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog: Introducing Our Children to Shakespeare https://nohighercalling.org/introducing-my-children-to-shakespeare/
Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
NHC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoHigherCalling/videos
NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
31 min
April 06Sharing Several of Our Favorite Books: Tea Time Chat with Brettnay & Sarah
Join Sarah and I as we share some of our favorite books on the topics of faith, marriage, motherhood, health, and

Books Mentioned:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller https://amzn.to/4dt3iYP
What Do I Know About My God? by Mardi Collier https://amzn.to/4cVJRrI
Glimpses of God Revealed Through His Names by Debi Pryde https://amzn.to/4bxksCi
How I Know God Answers Prayer by Rosalind Goforth https://amzn.to/4sYNhP7
Climbing by Rosalind Goforth https://amzn.to/47GLjdP
Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney https://amzn.to/479wQah
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas https://amzn.to/4bBYqhK
Cherish by Gary Thomas https://amzn.to/4bRmrCE
His Needs Her Needs by Willard. F. Harley https://amzn.to/4rFjEkQ
Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat https://amzn.to/4uJQqnF
The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman https://amzn.to/4bjze0C
The Time-Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/4uyeael
Parenting with Mercy by Michelle Brock https://amzn.to/4lC6cwB
The Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson https://amzn.to/3NH8vSx
Hormone Repair Manual by Dr. Lara Briden https://amzn.to/4sjRyfS
The Fifth Vital Sign by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack https://amzn.to/4ducOLm
Be Your Own Doctor by Rachel Weaver https://amzn.to/4rDfIkw
Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4rE1pMm
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie https://amzn.to/4cVLTIm
A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola https://amzn.to/3PgYlse
Mother Culture by Karen Andreola https://amzn.to/4bBZK4c
Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/3PJGeLC
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lathum https://amzn.to/4uDrNZI
The Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor https://amzn.to/40ABXwq
Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss https://amzn.to/3NLSKtu
(Amazon affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, thank you! At no cost to you, it gives a little back to the ministry of NHC)

Resources Referenced:
Psalm 23 Study on the NHC Podcast https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/psalm-23/
Watch the interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/us3oPYqFAwI

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
1 hr 20 min
April 02Winding Down Well
The key to a successful morning routine is a good evening routine.
Many of us want productive mornings, but we often forget that they begin the night before. When we use our evenings to prepare for the next day, spend meaningful time connecting with family, and allow our bodies and minds to wind down for quality sleep, we create not only more peaceful evenings but better mornings as well.
In this episode, we discuss...
Why having an evening routine is important
Establishing your evening priorities
Ways to wind down well, promoting refreshment and good sleep
How gratitude plays a huge role in our spiritual and mental wellness

Resources Referenced:
The Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/3Pc8pCI
Earthley Wellness Goodnight Magnesium Lotion https://earthley.com/products/good-night-lotion
Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
World Watch News
https://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
42 min
March 252026 Reading Challenge (Quarter 1)
Join me as I share what I've read in Quarter 1 of 2026.
Oath by Chuck Black
Merchant by Chuck Black
Reclamation by Chuck Black
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Metabolism Repair for Women by Dr. Lara Briden
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
We Shall All Be Changed by Whitney K. Pipkin
As For Me and My House by Stacie Loughrin
Creed by Chuck Black
The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means
Letters to Pastor's Wives by Catherine J. Stewart
The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
Daily Sourdough by Lisa Bass
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Homegrown by Amber O'Neal Johnson
Well Lived by Sally Clarkson
Resources Referenced:
Find these books on the NHC Blog https://nohighercalling.org/2026-reading-challenge-quarter-1/
Find these books on my Amazon Storefront https://amzn.to/4jn6oP2
World Watch News
https://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
54 min
March 19What God Calls Precious
Psalm 116:15 — "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

In this episode, we explore how Scripture confronts death head-on, transforming it from bondage to deliverance through Christ's victory. Facing grief, trials, and mortality reveals deeper hope: valleys become mountaintops, suffering yields glory, and Jesus meets us in our pain with His presence and tears.

A thoughtful meditation on grief, hope, and the splendor of God's redemptive work—reminding us we can rest in Christ's triumph even as we await its fullness.

Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 116:15
Romans 8:22-23
1 Corinthians 15:51, 54
Genesis 3:4; 15
Lamentations 3:32
Revelation 21:4-5

Resources Referenced:
We Shall All Be Changed by Whitney Pipkin https://amzn.to/4b9bTOM
World Watch News
https://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
35 min
March 11Favorite Date Night Games
Join Simeon and I as we share some of our favorite 2 player board games.

Resources Referenced:
Find links for all the games mentioned: https://nohighercalling.org/favorite-date-night-games/
World Watch News
https://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
37 min
March 04Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay
Join Simeon and I as we answer listener questions!
What is your favorite thing about each other?
How do you spend quality time together on a daily basis?
How to prioritize your marriage in difficult/stretching seasons where time/energy is limited?
How can I support my husband in ministry best while also prioritizing the kids?
How to balance marriage, motherhood, and ministry?
How to cultivate a goldy marriage while in ministry?
What was your gut reaction/thought when Brettnay first said the words "home birth"?
What are your specific postpartum plans for Simeon to help while you recover?

Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: Facing Postpartum as a Team https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nhc-family-facing-postpartum-as-a-team/id1547126864?i=1000652475260
Watch the interview on the NHC YouTube channel https://youtu.be/-P8Cysal6XU
World Watch News
https://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
58 min
March 02Finding Joy and Purpose in the Kitchen: Tea Time Chat with Brettnay & Sarah
In this warm, encouraging conversation, Sarah and I share about transforming our daily time in the kitchen—from seeing it as a reluctant chore to embracing it as a place of genuine joy, love, and even worship.
We share how God softened their hearts toward cooking, revealing it as a beautiful way to steward their homes, nurture their families, and extend hospitality even in the everyday moments. Drawing from Scripture and real-life experiences, they explore how preparing meals can minister to others (just as Jesus did around the table), build lasting family memories, and fill the home with an inviting aroma that points to His presence.
Together we discuss simple, heartfelt shifts: slowing down to savor the process, involving children in meaningful ways, setting the table with care (candles, music, favorite dishes—even for their own loved ones), and reclaiming the family table in a culture that's losing it.
Whether you're a busy mom looking to find delight in meal prep or simply want to make your kitchen feel more like the heart of your home, this episode invites you to start small and rediscover cooking as an act of purposeful love poured out right where you are.

Resources Referenced:
Subscribe to the NHC Email: www.nohighercalling.org
Connect with Sarah on IG https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
Subscribe to Sarah's Email/Substack https://faithfulandflourishing.org/
The Lifegiving Table by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4bV0MtP
Teachers of Good Things by Francie Taylor https://amzn.to/3MBlk0b
Farmhouse on Boone Beginner Sourdough Bread https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/beginners-sourdough-bread-recipe/
Erin Bates Paine Sourdough for Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi84RRL7sWg&t=204s
Sue Becker's Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sues-healthy-minutes-with-sue-becker-the-bread-beckers/id1609279985
Watch this interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/o09C8TUtyVk

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
59 min
February 25Family Game Night Favorites
Simeon and I share some of our family's favorite board games for younger and older children!

Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog: Family Game Night Favorites FIND ALL THE LINKS! https://nohighercalling.org/family-game-night-favorites/
Our favorite games on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/nohighercalling_/list/2F0XWD60PQMRZ?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d
NHC Podcast: Spending One-on-One Time with Your Children https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/spending-one-on-one-time-with-your-kids/id1547126864?i=1000634580156
Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
34 min
February 18Establishing Good Phone Boundaries
In this episode of the podcast, we get a faith-centered, practical roadmap to combat excessive screen time and reclaim family presence. Recent data shows teens averaging 7+ hours of daily entertainment screen time (with many exceeding 8 hours), nearly half of U.S. teens online "almost constantly" (Pew Research), and kids owning smartphones by age 12 facing higher risks of depression, obesity, and poor sleep (2025 CHOP/Columbia study). For moms, heavy smartphone use often heightens stress, anxiety, and fatigue—stealing moments from kids and God.
As you implement boundaries, may you experience the freedom and deeper connection God desires for our lives—redeeming the time for what truly matters most

Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 90:12
Philippians 4:8
Colossians 4:5

Resources Referenced:
Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
NHC Podcast: Living a Life You Love with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/living-a-life-you-love-tea-time-chat-with-brettnay-sarah/id1547126864?i=1000743803048
NHC Podcast: Circadian Rhythm with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/circadian-rhythm-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000656357180

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
32 min

About No Higher Calling

From the publisher's feed

God has given me a passion for motherhood and homemaking. From that passion, a ministry has birthed- No Higher Calling. There is no higher calling on my life than to be wife to Simeon and mama to my…