in todays TOP SECRET episode we feature exclusive guests and never before seen stories about YO MAMMA

This episode is a special ode to our very own wonderful mamas on Mother's Day. We love you!! 🫶🏼

As a recovering type-A perfectionist, one major theme of parenting for me has been learning not to freak out when things don’t go “perfectly.” In this episode I sit down with my husband to talk about the simplicity-complexity-simplicity paradigm, which has helped me embrace imperfection as a necessary step in the process of becoming whole.

Scripture References:

• Luke 7:36–60

Have you ever found yourself one inconvenience away from a mental breakdown?

That was me, just about a week ago.

But in this episode, I'm laying out a perspective that has helped me shift from counting my inconveniences to counting my blessings.

Whenever any inconvenience arises, I'm asking myself "Who would see this inconvenience as a blessing?" I'm thinking of pioneer parents, refugee mothers, and pretty much anyone who lived 200+ years ago.

The truth is, in this day and age we are pretty dang spoiled. And the saddest part is that most of us are MISSING IT.

While life certainly still has its challenges, we are so lucky that we get to navigate those challenges with the convenience of modern transportation, electricity, grocery stores, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, the list goes on.

Listen in to shed a little light on all the blessings you might have forgotten about. And you might find yourself welcoming each new inconvenience as an opportunity to reflect on how lucky you are.

Scripture References:

Luke 17:11–19

Social Media:

Instagram: @walkbesideme.pod

TikTok: @walkbesideme.pod

Join me in this very special episode for an interview with Kurt Francom, Executive Director of Leading Saints.

Leading Saints is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Kurt Francom leads the organization and hosts its podcast, which is one of the most listened-to podcasts in the Latter-day Saint community with over 21 million total show listens. Kurt is also the author of Is God Disappointed in Me? Removing Shame from a Gospel of Grace, a #1 bestselling book.

In this episode, Kurt shares some of his favorite leadership principles and how they apply to parenting. We discuss how parenting is a leadership role, and therefore any good leadership principle can guide parents in their relationships with their children.

This episode left me with three main takeaways: relationship comes first, identity is the antidote to shame, and grace empowers. I’m feeling inspired to parent in more godly, grace-filled ways, and I hope this episode leaves you feeling the same.

Resources Mentioned:

• leadingsaints.org
• Is God Disappointed in Me? Removing Shame from a Gospel of Grace by Kurt Francom
• Leading Saints podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Leading Saints podcast on Spotify

Scripture References:

• Matthew 6:33 (Seek first the kingdom of God)
• 1 John 4:19 (We love Him, because He first loved us)

Follow Walk Beside Me @walkbeside.pod on Instagram and TikTok.

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for any time at all, you know that one of my core beliefs is that in moments of emotional turmoil, the best thing we can do for our kids is to BE the calm that they need.

Rather them tell them “calm down,” we show them what calm looks like and let them catch the calm from us.

But what do you do if you DON’T feel calm? What if you, the parent, need a little bit of help finding calm yourself?

This episode is for you. We’re going through six tools that have helped us in moments of high emotion. And we’re seeing these tools work for our kids as well.

The coolest part is that each of these physical tools for body regulation is also a spiritual symbol of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Join us as we talk about how sunlight, water, grounding, food, song, and the stars can give you the solace you and your kids need in moments of trouble.

Scripture References:

• John 8:12
• Malachi 4:2
• John 4:14
• 1 Corinthians 10:4
• 1 Corinthians 3:11
• John 6:35
• Matthew 9:15

Resources Mentioned:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. 
• Scripture Scouts

Welcome back to the podcast!

In this episode, I'm joined by my husband, Trenton Bird. We're celebrating exactly one year since the birth of Walk Beside Me and introducing you to season 2, including updates regarding what the podcast will be like moving forward.

Then we're diving into a principle that has been keeping us grounded as we navigate life with a vibrant toddler and adorable baby: show, don't tell. Over and over we've found that with our kids, actions truly speak louder than words. We're discussing why this is, how we have been applying this principle in day-to-day interactions with our kids, and of course how Jesus Christ is the THE ultimate example of teaching via who He is and what He does in addition to His magnificent words.

Resources Mentioned:

• Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
• The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

Scripture References:

• Matthew 4:19 ("Come, follow me")
• Luke 10:25–37 (The Good Samaritan)
• John 13:1–17 (Jesus washing the disciples' feet)
• Matthew 7:16 (by their fruits)
• Matthew 21:43 (kingdom will be given to another nation)

In this last episode of 2025, I'm highlighting my three favorite topics covered over the course of the year:

1. Agency
2. The Golden Rule
3. Repentance, not Punishment

I'll be taking a little time off for the holidays and then I'll be back in 2026! Thank you for listening and supporting me during the podcast's first year <3

There's been a lot of noise on social media lately about how to prep yourself to answer "annoying" questions and comments from friends and relatives. The questions that tend to come up repeatedly at once-a-year gatherings. Questions like...

• Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?
• When are you having another one?
• Is she a good baby?

There seems to be widespread agreement that these comments are overly intrusive, thoughtless, or just plain irritating.

While I understand the sentiment, here's the truth...

Most of the time, people ask these same-old questions not to be rude, not to annoy, and not to offend.

They're just trying to connect.

THAT is a gift.

And it doesn't serve us to reject a gift merely because it comes in imperfect verbal packaging.

In this episode, I'm inviting you to think against the grain and step out of the negative narrative that social media is feeding you. It is a blessing to be so loved that people attempt to connect with you and your family, however awkward it may be.

Scripture references:

• 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

Today I’m tackling why I skip solitary confinement (a.k.a. time-out) as a tool for teaching my children. Long story short: it's un-Christlike and there is a better way.

If we want our children to know a Heavenly Father who responds mercifully to their mistakes, who pursues the lost sheep rather than exiling it, then we as parents have to model that mercy first.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
• Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
• “Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy” by Sister Tamara W. Runia
• WBM Episode 15: Teach Repentance, Not Punishment (pt. 1)
• WBM Episode 16: Teach Repentance, Not Punishment (pt. 2)

Scripture References:

• Luke 15:4
• Isaiah 54:8