The Debrief with Staci & Ruthie

Quick note before we get into it: the audio is a little wonky this week. Apparently my headphone mic is, in fact, garbage 😂 and even Descript’s “Studio Sound” couldn’t completely save me. So bear with us—you can absolutely hear everything, we just sound a little less professional podcast studio and a little more two friends talking about money at the kitchen table. Which, honestly, is pretty on brand. 😂

This week, we’re talking about one of those topics that can make people—especially Christians—get a little squirmy: MONEY. 💰😬

Is wanting more money greedy? Are we supposed to just trust God to provide and quit thinking about it? Why do some of us immediately wrinkle our noses when we hear the words rich people? And why can Staci handle an emergency without breaking a sweat but spiral at the thought of running out of cereal before payday? 😂

This conversation was sparked by Shelby Kurz’s article, “How Much Money Is Enough?” Her point stopped us in our tracks: enough isn’t just a feeling. At some point, you have to actually figure out what your version of a good life costs.

So we’re unpacking our own beliefs around money, scarcity, abundance, faith, generosity, hard work, and that Bible verse we’ve all heard quoted as “money is the root of all evil.” Spoiler alert: that’s not actually what 1 Timothy 6:10 says.

We talk about growing up with scarcity, feeling weird about wanting financial success, the difference between loving money and simply having it, and why financial security doesn’t have to mean yachts, mansions and becoming a bazillionaire.

Sometimes your dream is simply:

✨ Buying groceries without doing mental math in the cart

✨ Having money set aside when the car inevitably does something stupid

✨ Taking your family on an actual vacation

✨ Working fewer hours and being home more

✨ Giving generously without worrying about whether you’ll have enough

✨ Having some freaking breathing room

Shelby lays out a simple exercise: calculate your fixed expenses, your real cost of living, a buffer for unexpected expenses, the things you actually want to enjoy, and margin for the future. Then add it up. THAT is your number.

And maybe—just maybe—you’re not as far away from it as you think.

Of course, because this is The Debrief, we somehow also cover hidden snack stashes, expired vehicle tabs, ramen-noodle summers, faux-pineapple zucchini, swimming in fresh milk, and why apparently everyone should own a Squatty Potty. 😂

Your challenge this week:

Forget HOW you’re going to get there for a minute. Sit down and figure out:

What’s your number?

What would it actually cost for you and your family to live comfortably... with margin, rest, fun and room to breathe?

Then take a look at where you are right now. You might be surprised by what you find.

How Much Money Is Enough? — Shelby Kurz, No Small Life

Read Shelby’s article on Substack

How to Solve Your Money Problems Forever — Victor Boc

And YES—Staci officially has another round of the Money Mindset Book Club coming this fall! 📚💸Grab your spot HERE!

If this episode brought up some weird, uncomfortable, “oh crap, maybe I DO have some money stuff to unpack” feelings, you’re not alone. Sometimes the first step is simply getting curious about where those beliefs came from.

Until next week—notice what you have, appreciate the abundance already around you, and remember:

What you notice and appreciate, appreciates. 🌱

Love you mucho. 🤍

This week, we're talking about all the things nobody prepared us for.

From teaching teenagers how much to tip a waitress to teaching our children that it's okay to trust their instincts and walk away from situations that don't feel right, we're realizing just how much parenting is learned on the fly.

We also talk about:

• Farm life adventures, dairy cows, escaped livestock, and learning by doing

• The emotional toll of first responder work and carrying the weight of other people's grief

• Why getting outside first thing in the morning might be one of the simplest forms of self-care

• Job changes, burnout, and learning to "choose your hard"

• Nervous system regulation, changing seasons of life, and trusting God's plan when the path forward isn't perfectly clear

• The music, podcasts, and daily habits that shape our minds more than we realize

As always, we're sharing the messy middle... the funny stories, the hard lessons, and the reminders that none of us have it all figured out.

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and come hang out with us.

Staci's Spotify Playlists:

Praise Up!

Pull Up Those Bootstraps

Jesus Jams

staci cardio

Simple Country Livin'

Karaoke jams

My fave nervous regulation playlist on Spotify

In part two of our Two Badges, One Marriage series, Ruthie and I are joined once again by our husbands, Brandon and Nate, as we pull back the curtain on what life is really like inside first responder families.

We dive into everything from dark humor and coping mechanisms to body cameras, Ring cameras, parenting, marriage, and the challenge of staying connected when work and family seem to consume every ounce of time and energy.

We talk about why first responders often lean on humor to survive difficult situations, how difficult it can be for spouses to understand what happens during a shift, and why giving one another grace matters so much.

You'll hear stories that will make you laugh, moments that might make you cringe, and honest conversations about the realities of balancing careers, kids, exhaustion, and marriage while trying not to lose yourself in the process.

Most importantly, we talk about friendship. At the end of the day, beneath the uniforms, the titles, the long shifts, and the never-ending responsibilities, we're simply people trying to love each other well.

In this episode, we cover:

• Dark humor and why first responders use it

• The challenge of leaving work at work

• Why first responder marriages are unique

• Date nights, parenting, and surviving the chaos

• Maintaining your identity outside of work and family life

• The importance of grace, communication, and intentional connection

• Why marrying your best friend still matters

Grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for another round of laughter, honesty, and complete shenanigans.

And if you're married to a first responder, just know this: you aren't alone.

Join us Sept 12th for Beyond the Siren's continuing education: Zero to 60 Survival & Emotional Wellness

Today is one we've been looking forward to for a long time, we finally were able to schedule a recording for the four of us at once to have our husbands join us on the podcast!

Between the four of us, we've lived life as a nurse, paramedics, law enforcement officers, military families, and spouses trying to navigate all that comes with serving others. We pull back the curtain on what life really looks like when shift work, trauma, interrupted holidays, sleepless nights, and unpredictable schedules become "normal."

In this honest (and often hilarious) conversation, we talk about:

• What we wish we'd known before marrying into healthcare, law enforcement, and military life.
• How different personalities process stressful calls after coming home.
• Learning to give each other grace after long shifts.
• Why our kids think celebrating Christmas on random days is completely normal.
• The unique ways first responder families raise their children.
• How today's mental health crisis has changed the job.
• The challenges of shift work and protecting your marriage through changing schedules.
• Funny behind-the-scenes stories that only first responder families will understand.

Whether you're a first responder, married to one, work in healthcare, serve in the military, or simply love someone who does, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not the only one figuring it out as you go.

And don't worry... this conversation was too good for just one episode.

Be sure to come back next week for Part 2!

What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you're meant to live... is waiting for someone else to say yes?

In this deeply moving conversation, we sit down with Erin Patrice, founder of The Breaking Bread Village, to explore what it truly means to "be your yes."

Erin shares her incredible journey through abuse, homelessness, single motherhood, burnout, and starting over—revealing how saying yes to herself became the turning point that changed everything.

Together we talk about:

• Learning to believe in yourself before anyone else does
• Why dreamers often have to walk alone first
• The difference between molding people and helping them unfold
• Finding purpose in painful seasons
• How strangers can become life-changing blessings
• Parenting, marriage, identity, and learning to say yes to yourself without guilt
• Why your gifts deserve to take up space

This episode is full of hope, encouragement, laughter, and the kind of stories that stay with you long after the conversation ends.

If you've ever questioned your purpose, felt misunderstood, or wondered if your dream is "too much"... this conversation is for you.

✨ Be your own yes before you wait for someone else's approval.

✨ Your gifts aren't meant to fit someone else's mold.

✨ Sometimes the hardest seasons are actually preparation.

✨ Not everyone is meant to understand your dream.

✨ The people God sends into your life—even briefly—can completely change your story.

✨ Comparison keeps us small. Community helps us grow.

✨ You don't need permission to become who you were created to be.

This week we're taking you inside Crunchy Nurse Staci's Go Bag the natural remedies, supplements, and first-aid staples that travel everywhere with our family.

The conversation starts with a Fourth of July bug bite that swelled to the size of a baseball... and the surprising results after a few items from Staci's emergency kit.

From there we dive into the products and remedies we actually reach for over and over again as moms, nurses, and families trying to support our health naturally.

We chat about:

• the bug bite that started it all
• black seed oil and why Staci never runs out
• electrolytes that don't break the bank
• arnica for bumps, bruises, and sore muscles
• colloidal silver for burns and wound support
• activated charcoal (and when NOT to use it)
• homeopathic remedies for stress, sleep, allergies, and motion sickness
• favorite essential oils for headaches, digestion, bites, and calming the nervous system
• why preparedness beats panic every time

Whether you're brand new to natural wellness or already have a "mom pharmacy" in your purse, this episode is packed with practical ideas and a lot of laughs.

As always, this episode shares our personal experiences and is intended for education—not medical advice.

There's nothing quite like a family holiday turning into an impromptu nursing assessment.

When Staci notices her niece developing a rapidly swelling bug bite during Fourth of July festivities, she grabs her trusty "go bag"—filled with natural remedies she's collected over years as an ER nurse, holistic nurse coach, and mom of four.

That one moment launches an honest conversation about the products they genuinely use, why Staci keeps them stocked, and how their family's approach to health has evolved over the years.

Rather than promoting perfection or fear, they discuss simple tools that have earned a permanent place in their home because they've found them helpful through experience. Grab her faves here! Printable lists here! And if you wanna snag a complimentary sesh, hurry + schedule yours here! :)

• Arnica gel
• Basil essential oil
• Ledum palustre
• Black seed oil
• Electrolytes
• Sea salt & hydration
• Colloidal silver
• Activated charcoal
• Homeopathic remedies
• Essential oils
• Stress support
• Motion sickness remedies
• Natural first aid
• Family preparedness
• Nervous system regulation
• Box breathing
• Homesteading & natural wellness

⚠️ Before You Listen: This episode contains discussions of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, mental health crises, burnout, a broken healthcare system, and occasional strong language. While we avoid graphic details, listener discretion is advised.

This week, Ruthie takes us inside one of the most emotionally exhausting shifts of her career after working a 36-hour shift.

With 15 years in EMS... nearly three times longer than the 5 year average career span in the profession... she's experienced more than most people could imagine. But this call was different.

What began as a routine psychiatric transport quickly spiraled into highway chases, impossible decisions, legal gray areas, hospital refusals, and a heartbreaking look at just how broken our mental healthcare system has become.

Together, Staci and Ruthie unpack:

• Why EMS and first responders are carrying impossible burdens
• The emotional toll of repeated exposure to trauma
• Compassion fatigue vs. true burnout
• The cracks in our mental healthcare system
• The hidden cost of "just doing your job"
• Why debriefing after hard experiences matters
• Finding small glimmers of hope after incredibly heavy days

This isn't an episode about having all the answers.

It's about telling the truth about what healthcare workers, first responders, police officers, patients, and families are navigating every single day and why meaningful change is desperately needed.

Whether you're in healthcare, emergency services, or simply trying to better understand what happens behind the scenes, we hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone.

• A 36-hour shift
• One 12-hour psychiatric transport that changed everything
• Mental health crises and suicidal ideation
• EMS realities most people never see
• Police, hospitals, and legal challenges
• Burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional processing
• Why our system needs change
• Healthy ways to recover after trauma

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or are concerned about someone else, please reach out for help. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency services.

Life is messy. Sometimes the best thing we can do is tell the story, sort through the feelings together, and remember we're not meant to carry the hard stuff alone.

Thanks for debriefing with us. ❤️

What does joy actually look like after you've lived through burnout?

In this episode, Ruthie and Staci dive into the difference between chasing happiness and cultivating genuine joy. From hustle culture and achievement addiction to contentment, gratitude, and nervous system regulation, they explore what happens when you stop waiting for life to feel better someday and start noticing the goodness that's already here.

They discuss:

✨ Why joy often disappears during seasons of burnout

✨ The power of noticing "glimmers" and everyday moments of gratitude

✨ How success and achievement can become moving targets that never feel like enough

✨ Why joy at 40 looks completely different than joy at 20

✨ Learning to trade hustle for contentment

✨ The surprising happiness that comes from simplifying life

✨ Why fewer choices can actually create more peace

✨ Finding joy through generosity and blessing others

✨ How rest becomes restorative instead of something to earn

✨ Practical ways to reconnect with joy when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or running on empty

Along the way, they share personal stories about parenting, burnout recovery, family life, living in a camper, nursing, coaching, and the small moments that have become some of their greatest sources of joy.

If you've ever caught yourself saying:

"I'll be happy when..."

This episode is your reminder that joy may be much closer than you think.

Sometimes it's found in a warm cup of tea.

A sunset.

A family road trip.

A handwritten sticky note.

Or simply taking thirty seconds to breathe and notice what's already good.

We'd love to hear from you:

What is bringing you joy in this season of life?

Connect with us:

The Rewiring Real Life Lounge | Facebook

Fill out Staci's Intake questionnaire + request a complimentary coaching sesh

Staci's Stress Reset, brain dump printable FREE HERE

Beyond the Sirens FB page Donate to their mission HERE

In this week's episode of The Debrief, Ruthie and Staci dive into a surprisingly relatable question:

"What did you think would be easier by now?"

Turns out... quite a few things.

From mountains of laundry and the nightly dinner dilemma to teaching teenagers to drive and navigating ever-changing family schedules, we're unpacking all the things adulthood promised would eventually become second nature—but somehow still require way more energy than expected.

We also get honest about:

✔️ Why laundry remains undefeated

✔️ The mental load of feeding a family every single day

✔️ Teaching kids life skills (and surviving the anxiety that comes with it)

✔️ Adult friendships and why they're harder to build than we expected

✔️ Church experiences, community, and finding genuine support

✔️ Parenting older kids and realizing the responsibilities don't disappear... they just change

✔️ Sexism in professional settings and the unique challenges women face as they gain experience and confidence

If you've ever looked around your house, your calendar, or your overflowing laundry basket and thought, "Surely I should have this figured out by now," this episode is for you.

Spoiler alert: None of us have it all figured out.

And maybe that's the point.

Grab your coffee, fold some laundry, and join us for another honest conversation about life, motherhood, work, friendship, and everything in between.

We'd love to hear from you:

What's one thing you thought would be easier by now?

Connect with us:

Beyond the Sirens FB page Donate HERE

Our Facebook Group: The Rewiring Real Life Lounge

Intake Questionnaire to Book your Complimentary Call with Staci HERE

This week on The Debrief with Staci & Ruthie, we're taking advantage of a rare pocket of time and diving into some honest life confessions.

From surprise parenting moments and overthinking tendencies to camping adventures, barn transformations, football cleats, and dairy cow dreams, this episode feels like sitting around the kitchen table with friends.

We chat about:

• Recent wins nobody knows about (including Staci's colorful barn makeover)

• What's currently kicking our butts

• Foods we've been hyper-fixating on lately

• Why control and uncertainty can be such a difficult combination

• Parenting a five-year-old who secretly cooks her own scrambled eggs

• Raising independent kids without losing your mind

• Finding balance with health, food, and family life

• The most ridiculous things that happened this week

• Scooby-Doo football cleats

• Kayak adventures and summer fun

• The hot pink cow halter that may or may not be living in Staci's Amazon cart

• Current phrases we're saying far too often ("Beep Beep Boop Boop" included)

One of our favorite takeaways from this conversation:

"Rather than fearing the worst, the antidote for fearing the worst is believing the best."

As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. We love hearing from listeners, so send us your questions, stories, confessions, and topic ideas for future episodes.

And yes... we're officially taking guest requests.

Connect with us:

Instagram: @stacikilecoaching

Join our FB group: The Rewiring Real Life Lounge

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