Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Parenting is not a clean-cut, simple process for those who like to follow the rules. Family life is messy and unpredictable, but it is the greatest adventure you will ever have. We are Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children with a growing number of grandchildren, and we would like to invite you into some of the conversations we have had with each other about marriage, parenting, and Catholic family life. Our hope is that our conversation sparks a dialogue between you and your spouse that leads to greater unity and intentional Christian parenting in your home. Listen in to our podcast and start the conversation as we seek to lead our families to heaven.
Episodes
MFP 402: When Empathy Becomes Wimpy
If I understand my child's feelings but refuse to guide them toward what is good, am I fully loving them? Summary What if empathy, one of the most important tools in parenting, can sometimes keep us from loving our children well? In this episode, Mike and Alicia explore the difference between understanding a child's feelings and allowing those feelings to guide every decision. Drawing on Scripture
MFP 401: The Four Core Needs of Your Spouse and How to Address Them
Summary Marriage does not mean you will perfectly fulfill every need your spouse has, but we are called to be a channel of God's self-giving love. Join us for this powerful conversation with Devin Schadt author of The Marriage Gap: How to Understand, Communicate, and Meet Your Spouse's Four Deepest Needs. We explore the complementary needs of husbands and wives: security and respect, strength and
MFP 400: From Rules to Responsibility, Giving Teens Freedom
"We have vastly overprotected our children in the real world. We have to give them more freedom." —Jonathan Haidt Summary How much freedom should you give your children—and how do you know when they're ready for more? In this episode, we explore one of parenting's challenging balancing acts: offering children room to grow while providing the guidance and security they still need. Through the rela
MFP 399: Motherhood - Losing Yourself or Becoming Yourself?
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 Summary Motherhood changes everything—and sometimes that transformation feels less like a beautiful makeover and more like someone rearranged your whole life while you were trying to sleep. In this honest, hopeful episode, Alicia and guest host Katie Gamboa explore the tension between self-care and sacrificial
MFP 398: Discovering Your Child's Unique Gifts
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." — Proverbs 22:6 Summary With so many sports, clubs, arts programs, school choices, and community activities available, how can parents help their children discover their gifts without letting a packed schedule take over family life? Rather than trying to produce a generically successful child, parents are i
MFP 397: The No-Resentment Rosary
"The Holy Rosary, by age-old tradition, has shown itself particularly effective as a prayer which brings the family together." —St. John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, no. 41 Summary Have you ever gathered the family to pray the Rosary—and wondered if all the fidgeting, correcting, and frustration were helping your children love prayer or simply teaching them to endure it? In this episode, w
MFP 396: The Great Family Reboot
"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." - James Clear Summary Is your family running on good routines—or on lost shoes, late-night permission slips, and someone yelling, "Where is your backpack?" If summer loosened every habit in your house, this episode is your invitation to hit the family reset button. We're talking honestly about the routines that shape fami
MFP 395: Who Comes First? Navigating the Hard Choices of Family Life
Family life is full of competing needs, responsibilities, and relationships. And sometimes there isn't one obvious "right" answer. Summary In this listener questions episode, Mike, Alicia, and Katie tackle some of the complicated situations real families are facing: What should a mom do when her teenage son starts turning to Dad instead of her? How do you discern where your family should live? Sho
MFP 394: NFP- Love, Life, and Learning Self-Control
Catholic couples don't discern if they should have a child, they discern if they should postpone pregnancy. These are two different conversations. Summary This re-release of a 2015 episode presents Natural Family Planning as more than a technique: it's a way of living that contrasts sharply with a culture focused on control and convenience. We explore how modern society tends to "engineer" outc
MFP 393: Helping Kids Grow Through Hard Things
High expectations along with high support produces resilient kids. Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia focus on the challenge of raising resilient kids in a culture that often prioritizes comfort and protection. They emphasize that while parents naturally shield their children from pain and failure, doing so too often can actually prevent them from developing the strength and perseverance the
MFP 392: Faith at Home: No Degree Required
Parents need to awaken in children their sacramental imagination within the home. This takes time. - Steven Serafin Summary In this episode, we talk with Steven Serafin of Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries about how parents can reclaim their role as the primary teachers of the faith. Drawing from the catechumenal model, he explains that faith is passed on through relationship and daily lif
MFP 391: Jesus Take the Wheel! Being Overwhelmed
Summary This re-release of a 2016 episode focuses on the experience of feeling overwhelmed as a parent and reframes it as a sign that your current responsibilities have exceeded your capacity, not a personal failure. It encourages parents to step back, prioritize their primary vocation of loving their spouse and children, and let go of unrealistic expectations that create unnecessary pressure. By
MFP 390: What Happens After the Romance Fades?
Summary Have you ever felt distant from your spouse, like you're simply coexisting in the same house or experiencing dryness in your marriage? Every marriage goes through natural cycles of romance and disillusionment, but without intentional actions, indifference can creep in. How do you break out of that indifference and reconnect? In this re-release of Episode 089, we give simple and practical a
MFP 389: 33 Days to Consecration to the Holy Family
Consecration is about living your daily family life in union with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, right in the middle of the mess. Summary What if your family life, in all its chaos and imperfection, could actually become holy? This week on the Messy Family Podcast, we talk with Scott Smith about his book 33 Days to Consecration to the Holy Family. He shares how consecration isn't just a devotion, but a
MFP 388: Your Husband is Not a Home Improvement Project
"A complaint focuses on a specific behavior, but criticism attacks a person's very character." - John Gottman Summary This episode focuses on how criticism in marriage, especially towards husbands, can quietly damage connection and respect if it targets a person's character instead of addressing specific behaviors. Many wives fall into patterns of correcting or pointing out faults, often with good
MFP 387: The Truth about Toddlers
The strength of even the smallest children is more than we imagine, but it must have a free play in order to reveal itself" - Maria Montessori Summary This episode focuses on understanding toddlers not as problems to manage, but as persons in a critical state of development who are striving for independence and learning how to function in the world. Through a Montessori-informed and Catholic lens,
MFP 386: How to Have a Whole and Happy Marriage
When you feel you can't give any more, ask yourself, "Can I say YES to one act of connection?" - Pat and Kenna Millea Summary If you've ever wondered why communication in marriage can feel so easy at first and then surprisingly hard, this conversation is for you. In this episode of the Messy Family Project, Pat and Kenna Millea share honest, hopeful wisdom about what's really going on beneath conf
MFP 385: Fighting the Slow Drift in Marriage
Relationships are built with the material of time. Summary Strong marriages don't happen by accident—they require intentional time, attention, and sacrifice. This episode encourages couples to prioritize their relationship above the busyness of family life, stay connected through meaningful communication, and regularly invest in their friendship through date nights and shared experiences. Mike and
MFP 384: Paul McCusker and the Power of Story
"Kids are always processing what happens around them. Stories give them a way to do that." - Paul McCusker Summary Today on the podcast we welcome Paul McCusker, an award-winning writer whose stories have shaped the imaginations of families for decades. Many know Paul from Adventures in Odyssey, where he wrote and produced some of the series' most loved episodes. We talk about his newest project
MFP 383: How Play Time Shapes Prayer Time
For more information about the Play + Pray Challenge visit our website: https://messyfamilyproject.org/challenge/ If you want to pray with your kids, you need to play with them Summary If you want your kids to pray with you, it starts long before bedtime prayers. It starts with how you play. In this episode, we explore the surprising connection between play and prayer, and why the time that can fe
MFP 382: The Shape of a Growing Family
"Some call it chaos, we call it family." Summary In this listener-driven episode we will tackle the real-life tension of raising a big family through changing seasons. What happens when your college kids come home expecting independence, but your house still runs on structure? How do you manage media, respect, and responsibility without turning every conversation into a power struggle? We also dig
MFP 381: The Secret to Raising Kids Who Love the Sacraments
"First Communion is about far more than a single day—it's about nurturing a lifelong relationship with Jesus." - Katie McGrady Summary Preparing your child for First Communion or Reconciliation can feel overwhelming—but what if it's actually an invitation for your own faith to grow? In this episode, we sit down with authors and speakers Tommy and Katie McGrady to talk about why parents are the m
MFP 380: The Hidden Power of Family Culture and How to Shape It
Family culture is more than a mission statement, it's a way of life that communicates powerfully. Summary What are you really cultivating in your home? In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of family culture through the lens of cultus—to till, tend, and worship. Your home is a garden, and the way you live together is already forming a culture, whether intentional or not! We unpack how
MFP 379: Lord, Save Me from the Complaining Child!
Your child is not a problem to be solved, but a person to be known. Summary If you've ever thought, "How can one small human make this much noise… about EVERYTHING?"—this episode is for you. We're diving into the all-too-familiar world of complaining kids—the sighs, the groans, the "Do I have to?"—and how it can slowly drain the joy right out of your home. But instead of just surviving it (or l
MFP 378: Training Children to Master Themselves
There is a need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work. ~St. Josemaría Escrivá Summary How do you talk to your kids about purity without turning it into a list of rules and constant "no's"? Join us for this conversation with Fr. Carter Griffin about the importance of purity and self-mastery
MFP 377: When Kids Take Control: What To Do and How to Stop It
When I stopped trying to fix or change my child, and explored my own role in fostering bullying behaviors, I found the answers I needed. These behaviors were a direct consequence of my own insecurities. - Sean Grover, Ph.D. Summary Parents often make excuses for their children's outrageous behavior, whether it's a preschooler's tantrum or a teen's sullen refusal to do what he or she has been asked
MFP 376: Raising Kids Without Raising Your Voice
The most effective parents aren't the loudest—they're the most consistent. Summary Why do we yell at our kids, even when we know it doesn't work? In this episode, we unpack the hard truth behind yelling in parenting: it's often not a discipline strategy, but a reaction to stress, frustration, and lack of follow-through. While it may get quick results, it slowly weakens our authority and damages co
MFP 375: The Family and the Sexual Revolution
"The sexual revolution was not about freedom. It was about transferring power from families to the state." - Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse Summary What really makes a family essential, and why does it matter so much right now? In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse makes a compelling, research-based case for why children need both their mother and their father. We explore the irreplaceable role o
MFP 374: Raising Kids Who Know Who They Are
Summary How do we help our children discover the gift that they are? In this episode, we explore the powerful cycle of identity, belonging, and mission—and how it unfolds across the key stages of childhood. From the early years of wonder and dependence, to the exploratory middle years, to the identity-shaping teen years, we unpack what children need most at each phase—and how parents can respond w
MFP 373: Parenting is Your Mission
Summary There is so much noise in the world of parenting today, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by pressure, comparison, and fear. In this episode, Mike and Alicia remind parents that there is not just one way to raise a family well. God has given you the grace for your mission, and your job is not to control your children or guarantee outcomes. Your call is to build a strong marriage, create a
MFP 372: Prayer for Beginners - Interview with the Science of Sainthood
"Without a life of prayer, you are really not living as a Catholic" - Matt Leonard Summary What does it really mean to "go deeper" in prayer? And what if you pray every day but don't feel anything? This week we're joined by Matthew Leonard, founder of The Science of Sainthood, to talk about what real spiritual growth looks like. We break down the three modes of prayer, vocal, meditation, and co
MFP 371: How Vulnerability Is Built in Small Moments
Love is not a feeling. It's a daily choice, a habit practiced proactively. Summary What if intimacy isn't built in the big moments, but in the small ones you almost miss? In this episode, we explore the idea of bids for connection, the everyday ways we reach for each other through a question, a touch, a story, or even a glance across the room. We talk about what happens when those bids are noti
MFP 370: The Path to Healing our Broken Hearts
There is nothing that the power of the resurrection cannot redeem in your life. - Fr. Shawn Monahan Summary What do we do with the wounds we carry, especially in marriage? In this powerful episode, Fr. Shawn Monahan shares a trauma-informed vision of spirituality that meets us in our real stories. We're all wounded, some more deeply than others, and healing begins with honest self-knowledge, sel
MFP 369: Marriages Don't Accidentally Communicate Well
You can't have a healthy relationship if you don't develop the skill of communication. Summary Marriage doesn't drift into great communication. You have to make the time and practice on purpose. In this episode, we share simple, realistic tools to help couples break bad habits and start talking in ways that actually bring them closer. You'll learn how to listen without fixing, reduce daily stre
MFP 368: The Four Horsemen in Busy Marriages
"Couples often ignore each other's emotional needs out of mindlessness, not malice." - Dr. John Gottman Summary Let's take an honest look at how communication breaks down in busy marriages and what you can do to stop it. Most couples don't ignore each other out of malice, but out of exhaustion, distraction, and rushed daily life. In this episode, we unpack why communication is essential for grow
MFP 367: The Need for Belonging in Marriage
"Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 2:24 Summary In this episode, we talk about something every person longs for: belonging. At its heart, marriage is meant to be a place where you are chosen, known, and not easily walked away from. It's a home base, the one relationship you freely choose, where staying matters more than bei
MFP 366: God is Love
"Love of neighbor is a path that leads to the encounter with God… closing our eyes to our neighbour also blinds us to God." - Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love Summary We begin with Love because marriage flows from our deepest identity and relationships, not just spousal dynamics. Created in the image of a loving, Triune God, we must first ask who God is and who we are in His eyes. Our relationship
MFP 365: Five Ways to Begin Again
"Let us begin again, for until now we have done nothing," - Saint Francis of Assisi Summary As a new year begins, many of us focus on where we fell short instead of how we've grown. In this episode, Mike and Alicia invite parents and couples to reflect on the past year by celebrating the gains—not just the gaps—and to recognize the common traps that keep us stuck, like doing too much, being too bu
MFP 364: Live Intentionally in 2026
Summary This episode revisits one of the most helpful and down-to-earth conversations on the Messy Family Podcast: Family Board Meeting 2.0. It starts with a simple but challenging idea. We put a lot of thought into our jobs, but when it comes to family life, many of us are just trying to keep up. Between work, kids' schedules, and everyday stress, it's easy to drift into survival mode. A Family B
MFP 363: Growing Up Hernon - What it's like in a large, loud, loving family
Summary What's it really like growing up in a big family? In this special Hernon kids takeover podcast, Mike and Alicia's children gather around the mic to tell the honest, funny, and heartfelt story of their upbringing. From loud dinner tables and sibling fights to deep bonds, meaningful traditions, and moments of feeling unseen, the Hernon siblings share what shaped them—for better and for wor
MFP 362: Choosing to Be Wrong Together, Over Being Right Alone
Your decisions may not always be perfect, but you can choose to make them together. Summary In this week's podcast, we dive into one of the most important truths for married couples: you will never make a perfect decision—but you can choose unity. Today's culture urges us to optimize everything with hacks, experts, and AI, yet the real power in family life comes from spouses acting together. We
MFP 361: The Story of All Stories: Catholic Parenting & Hospitality with Emily Stimpson Chapman
"Hospitality and real community starts by inviting people into your messy home…" Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia sit down with best-selling Catholic author Emily Stimpson Chapman to talk about Advent, Storybook for young Catholics, and the beauty of simple hospitality. Emily shares the real, lived rhythms of Advent in her home—reminding parents that peace and prayerfulness grow best whe
MFP 360: Don't be Afraid of Screwing Up Your Kids (because you already are!)
"Learning how to trust God and let go of our fears, worries, and frustrations is the best way to model peace for our children." — Dr. Gregory Bottaro Summary This week on the Messy Family Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Greg Bottaro for a heartfelt and practical conversation every parent needs to hear. In this interview, Dr. Greg explains why kids are not naturally built to listen and why so many
MFP 359: How to Choose Toys for Christmas
"Baby Jesus was an amazing surprise to the world on Christmas morning, and gifts under the tree remind us of that wondrous gift each year." - Regina Doman Summary Mothers create the environment of the home by what we allow in our house, how we arrange our home, and where things are kept. We are teaching our children all the time, not just by what we say and do, but the home that we create for our
MFP 358: Thriving, not just surviving with lots of littles
Summary Are you exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering whether you're doing anything right as a parent of little ones? You're not alone — and you're not crazy. In this refreshed and expanded episode, Mike and Alicia revisit their classic "Survival Zone" conversation with new insights from another decade of parenting and now grandparenting. They unpack why the early years are so intense, what's norma
MFP 357: Marriage Q&A: When It Feels Hard, How Do You Stay Connected?
In this honest Q&A episode, Mike and Alicia answer real questions from listeners about the struggles every couple faces – feeling distant, managing conflict, and staying united when life gets stressful. They talk about what to do when your marriage feels dry or disconnected, how to rebuild emotional intimacy, and how humility, forgiveness, and shared prayer can bring healing. With humor and wisdom
MFP 356: Twenty Minutes to Change a Kid's Life – the Importance of Family Dinners
Families need to disconnect from the world's pace, be present to one another and break bread together. - Bishop Thomas Olmstead Summary Why are family dinners so hard — and so important? In our latest Messy Family Podcast episode, we get real about the chaos of mealtime: the cooking, the planning, the juggling schedules, picky eaters, and the endless cleanup. But we also share the good news — it d
MFP 355: Making Your Marriage #1
Summary In this re-release of Episode MFP191, we open up about one of the biggest challenges every couple faces—finding time for each other in the midst of busy family life. After 31 years of marriage, we've learned that love doesn't just grow on its own; it takes intention and effort because although our marriages are always Important, they are rarely Urgent. In this episode, we share our own st
MFP354: How Can I Have a Relationship with God?
"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." - Pope Benedict XVI Summary Every one of us is on a journey towards eternity. Our life here on earth, our vocation, our careers, our relationships are all just ways that we can grow in our knowledge of ourselves and of God.
MFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious?
Summary Why are today's kids more anxious than ever before? Mike and Alicia dive into the growing epidemic of anxiety among children and teens – and how modern parenting, technology, and culture all play a role. Drawing insights from Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, they explore what happens when we overprotect kids in the real world but underprotect them online. From overscheduled lives a
MFP 352: Laughter and Limits in the Family with Dr. Ray
Take your calling seriously and yourself lightly Summary Are you taking parenting a little too seriously? In this episode, we dive into why families need to throw off the burden of "psychological correctness" and rediscover the gift of humor. Parenting isn't a project—it's a wild, messy adventure! We'll share why secure parents can laugh at their mistakes, how to set healthy limits at your table
MFP 351: Why Parents Need to Lead, Not Just Accompany
Summary Parenting isn't just about being present—it's about leading with purpose because children need guidance, not just companionship. In this episode, we start by looking at some quotes from celebrity parents to examine how they are misguided. The reality is that parents are called to protect, not simply please. And we each have different roles: fathers embodying hope and authority, mothers of
MFP 350: Satan Has a Plan for Your Family
"The devil is afraid of a united husband and wife." —St. John Chrysostom Summary The family is Satan's top target because it reflects God's very nature and holds the foundation of civilization. Marriage isn't just a social contract—it's a sacrament with spiritual power, which makes it a threat to evil. The enemy's strategy is subtle: sow disunity between spouses, confuse gender roles, exhaust pare
MFP 349: Why Have Kids? an Interview with the author of Hannah's Children
"I think that bringing children into the world is like bringing holiness into the world." - Catherine Pakaluk Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia sit down with Catherine Pakaluk, economist and author of Hannah's Children, to challenge common cultural myths about large families. Secular researchers often assume religious women have many children because they are oppressed, but Catherine expl
MFP 348: Field of Dreams for Families
Summary Every family inherits a legacy, both the blessings and the struggles, yet God calls us to build something new with Him. In this episode, Mike and Alicia reflect on the importance of having a dream for your family that goes beyond survival mode and day-to-day busyness. Drawing inspiration from the film Field of Dreams, they explore how couples can discern God's vision for their home, create
MFP 347 Families Under Fire - Facing Cultural Challenges
The family is where children discover how to be human. - Archbishop Charles Chaput Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia tackle some of the toughest family challenges with honesty, humor, and hope. These questions were submitted to us at the Midwest Family Conference, but we never got to them! We talk about things like how to respond to a loved one with a temper or a dysfunctional family th
MFP 346: Jake & Heather Khym on Discipleship, Parenting, and Authentic Connection
"Discipleship isn't about perfection—it's about intimacy with Jesus. He is drawn to our weakness, not our strength." - Jake Khym Summary In this deeply insightful episode, Jake and Heather Khym explore one of the greatest challenges facing Catholics today: true discipleship. They share how the heart of a disciple embraces God as a good Father who desires intimacy over perfection. You'll hear pow
MFP 345: The Tech Exit with Clare Morell
"If we want our children to be happy and successful, if we want them to reach their highest potential in self-transcendence, then the most important thing we can do is replace screens with activities that turn their focus outward." —Clare Morell Summary It's no secret that addictive digital technologies like smartphones and social media apps are harming a generation of kids socially, mentally, and
MFP 344: From Control to Connection: Disciplining Teens with Heart
Summary Parenting teens can feel like navigating a storm. Emotions run high and mistakes are inevitable. In this updated reflection on our original 2017 episode, we dive into the art of disciplining teenagers not just to manage behavior, but to raise mature disciples of Christ. We share what we've learned from parenting our ten kids, what it means to move from control to connection, and how to mai
MFP 343: How to Love Your Family
"The two great commandments name the three loves – loving God, loving neighbor, and loving yourself. All three loves are necessary and central to our Faith. All three." - Dr. Peter Malinoski Summary How can I learn to truly love my family? The reality is that the degree to which you love yourself will be the maximum that you can love your family. Ordered self-love is not an optional thing – i
MFP 342: Guidance on Tricky Topics
Summary: Listen in as we respond to Catholic parents seeking guidance on navigating sensitive family issues through faith. One parent is concerned about supporting her 11-year-old daughter who expressed same-sex attraction after speaking with her bisexual sister. Another couple is figuring out how to explain same-sex relationships to their young children with both compassion and clarity about Chu
MFP 341: Unleash the Holy Spirit in Your Family w/ Dr. Sean and Nicole Tobin from Encounter Ministries
"What do we feel is the first and last need of the Church? …the Spirit, the Holy Spirit…. He is her divine breath, the wind in her sails, the principle of her unity, the inner source of her light and strength." - St. Paul VI Summary We can't wait for you to hear this podcast! The week before Pentecost, we did a webinar with Dr. Sean and Nicole Tobin, a Catholic couple passionate about helping fam
MFP 340: Providence Over Panic
"We need to give God room to show up. Often we try to fix and solve everything without waiting for God to act" - Jonathan and Amanda Texiera Summary The number one conflict in marriages, statistically, is money. How we spend our money reflects our values, but also our belief in the providence of God. Do we truly believe that God cares about all of our life, including our financial needs? How
MFP 339: Movies, kids, and imagination
"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." - G.K. Chesterton Summary Movies shape more than behavior — they form the imagination, the moral compass, and the heart. Catholic parents are not merely protecting innocence; they are cultivating virtue and wonder. In this episode, we explore how st
MFP 338: Sharing the "Mental Load"?
Motherhood changes you because it literally alters a woman's brain—structurally, functionally, and in many ways, irreversibly. - Louann Brizendine, The Female Brain Summary Women are gifted in a way that men are not. Women can hold many different tasks in their mind at the same time, see the needs of others, and know the needs of the household and balance them all. Sometimes this can feel empo
MFP 337: The Invincible Family
"True power is not dependent upon the invented honors of earth. True power is that which guides, shapes, carves, and claims the souls of men. And the souls of men are most often won and lost at the feet of mothers." - Kimberly Ells Summary Does it feel like its harder to be a parent today than ever before? There are powers arrayed against the family - powers in secular philosophies, modern pol
MFP 336: What Would You Say to Your Younger Self? An Interview with Suzanne Bilodeau
God has selected you uniquely to be the mother for these children. He will equip you for the work He wants you to do! Summary No one feels prepared to be a parent. Even if you were one of the oldest of 10 kids in a Catholic family (like Alicia or Katie) or a family of 7 (like Suzanne) you can never really be ready! The key to surviving, and even thriving, is stepping fully into your identity as
MFP 335: Safety-ism
'Cause I love you more than you could know And your heart, it grows every time it breaks I know that it might sound strange But I wish you pain - "Wish You Pain" by Andy Grammar Summary Every parent wants to keep their kids safe, but is it possible to keep them "too safe"? In this podcast episode we dive into the overwhelming cult of safety-ism, which makes keeping your child from all pain and
MFP 334: An Addiction, a Marriage, and a Priest
Our vows are for life, and we need overwhelming grace to live them out - Kevin Wells Summary If you ever thought your marriage was in such bad shape that you simply did not know what to do, this podcast is for you. We were so blessed to be able to talk to Kevin Wells, the author of The Hermit: The Priest Who Saved a Soul, a Marriage, and a Family. This interview is deep because Kevin and his w
MFP 333: The Family Meeting
What is the rhythm of leadership in your family? Summary Every relationship relies on communication, but when you operate as a family with many members, communication can become difficult! Kids can get lost in the chaos, plans get forgotten, chores undone, and mom and dad are constantly putting out fires. In comes the miracle of the Family Meeting! Well, let's rephrase that… A family meeting
MFP 332: The Seven Marks of Christian Forgiveness
If forgiveness isn't hard, you aren't doing it right - Dan Meola Summary Many parents struggle with their children--not because of the kids, but because of the wounds they are carrying from their own parents. The only path for healing those wounds is forgiveness. But how do we forgive, especially when the hurts are deep and real? In this podcast we sat down with Dan Meola, the founder of Life
MFP 331: Let's Talk About Husbands! Listener questions answered
"If we accept that God's love is unconditional, that the Father's love cannot be bought or sold, then we will become capable of showing boundless love and forgiving others even if they have wronged us" - Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia Summary: Becoming a husband and father is the biggest change a man goes through in his life. There is simply no better "life-coaching" than family life! But when
MFP 330: What Will Your Children Remember?
"You're not just parenting your children… you are parenting your grandchildren" Summary Have you ever walked through a thousand-year-old castle or along a wall built by Romans nearly a millennium ago? On a recent trip to the UK, we were struck by the longevity of these structures—and the intentionality behind them. They weren't built to last a season, but centuries. In this episode, we challenge
MFP 329: Who is "God the Father"?
"Unleashing the heart of the Father is a power the world does not know." Summary God wants us to know Him as a father. We as parents are to prepare the hearts of our children to know the father by acting like him. So when our children wonder what God is like, we should be able to say to them, "God loves you as I love you, but so much better". For us to do that, we need to know what God is lik
MFP 328: Let Your Life Be a Witness, An interview with Chris and Molly McMahon
"Never be embarrassed to love your wife." – Chris McMahon Summary What does it take to build a thriving business and a strong marriage at the same time? In this episode, Mike sits down with longtime friends Chris and Molly McMahon—financial advisors, founders, parents of five, and marriage warriors. Together, they unpack the real story behind balancing ambition with family, building a faith-fil
MFP 327: Five Steps to Give You More Time
The only way to not live constantly in the Urgent is to manage those things that are Important. Summary "How are you?" "BUSY!" Isn't that the response so many of us give when asked this question? How did we all get so busy and how do we get off the crazy train? Parents have as much time as anyone else (even though it doesn't feel like it!) but they need to be more conscious than anyone else r
MFP 326: The Art of Raising Humans
"God gives us our children to heal and transform us." - Kyle Wester Summary In many ways, being a parent is less about our kids and more about our own formation! When we lean into the vocation of parenthood, God can use every experience with our children to show us His love and to form us into the person He has created us to be. In this podcast, we talk to Kyle and Sara Wester, counselors and
MFP 325: Let's Get Intimate…
"Lovemaking puts flesh on the vows that we exchange in marriage" - Byron and Francine Pirola Summary A few years ago in Australia, we met an amazing couple who we immediately wanted to share with our listeners. Byron and Francine Piroloa from Smart Loving, are on a mission to make marriages stronger all over the world and they are willing to talk about that subject that few couples will tackle
MFP 324: Moving from Isolation to Unity
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24 Summary Unity between man and woman was God's original plan, but the Fall not only broke our relationship with God, it also broke our relationship with each other. But the good news is that Jesus has given us grace in the sacrament of Matrimony so we can have a onene
MFP 323: Desires, Vices, and Holiness for Parents
Vices are our disordered way of fulfilling our God-given good desires. Summary So many of us thought we were good people till we had kids, right? This is because kids expose our weaknesses and we need to be aware of them in order to overcome them. Listen in as we reveal Satan's plan for you and lay out God's great plan of using our rightly ordered desires to develop virtues and live according
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