Surviving Sarah

Lindsey Schriefer joins me around the table. She is a sports psychologist who helps athletes and performers to reach their potential on a regular basis. She was raised in an athletic family. Her mom Nancy Swanson was a guest on the show back on episode 189 to talk about raising athletes. And her brother, Dansby Swanson, plays shortstop for the Atlanta Braves. We recorded this episode back in February which you will hear us talk about our excitement for baseball season which sadly we are not experiencing right now. She was also 36 weeks pregnant when we recorded and has since welcomed a baby boy to their family. We talk about how being raised in an athletic family shaped her—all the good that comes from playing sports. Then, we dig deep into the mental aspect of performing whether as an athlete or in your profession or even as a parent. We talk about the obstacles that get in the way of performing well, how to help your kids (and yourself) get past fear, and advice on what to do if you have plateaued. But before we begin I want to give you a sneak peek at the type of bonus content that you receive as a Patreon supporter. In the beginning, you will hear Lindsey talk about the enneagram, her inspiration, what's she's reading, and her favorite Braves players. The beginning of the show was a glimpse of the bonus content you receive as a Patreon supporter. Each week, I ask the guest different questions that only appear over on Patreon. For $3 a month, you will receive that content. And for $7 a month, you receive not only that bonus content but also a monthly ask the expert segment with David Thomas and Sissy Goff from Raising Boys and Girls. Go to patreon.com/survivingsarah to subscribe today. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

Kristin Mize joins me around the table. She is a therapist and licensed clinical social worker who works with moms and mental health. She is a survivor of perinatal depression when she was pregnant with her twins. Not only is she school-certified but she is life certified as well to help women walk through so many aspects of mental health. Kristin talks to me about depression, anxiety, OCD, and even PTSD in regards to motherhood. She shares signs to look for that show you may be experiencing more than just the baby blues; perfectionism in parenting; how to make your expectations more realistic; what drives our anxiety; and practical steps you can do today to help. This is such a good conversation and helpful in light of the heightened anxiety surrounding our current season of life in light of COVID19. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I want to welcome Anne Beiler to the table today, but you likely know her as the founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, the largest pretzel franchise in the world and author of the recent book, The Secret Lies Within. Anne shares her story today about the secrets she learned to keep after experiencing the death of her toddler-age daughter and sexual abuse from her pastor. She talks about how growing up Amish shaped her, how she found her way out of a cycle of shame, how confession gave her life and how she was brave enough to write a new ending to her story. I was struck with Anne's vulnerability, transparency, and humility throughout her story and I know you will be too. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I am happy to welcome my new friend, Carmin Black, to the table. We actually recorded this conversation way back in January which at this point feels like 2 years ago. Carmin is the Co-Founder and CEO of HALF UNITED which is a brand that provides meals and access to employment for children and families in need with each purchase made. She is a female social entrepreneur who believes that by consuming with care, anyone, anywhere, can UNITE together to change the lives of people in need. And let me just say that go follow her right now. Look her up and follow along because is worth it. There is an air of transparency about her that is so authentic. You will feel like you can go to her for all sorts of advice. And in this episode, that's what you'll get. She not only shares the story of how she went from working in journalism to creating the Half United brand, but she shares some advice about business and life, too. We talk about what's hard about running a business in which her response even translates to the tension I feel in parenting. She also talks about what friendships look like in this season of life and again, you will really resonate with what she shares. Stay tuned for that last Survival Kit question because she really drops the mic. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

We are still trying to find our Corona rhythm and between my girls having spring break (aka Corona-staycation) and having to move out for a few days to fix the AC, I knew it was best for me to not tackle a new episode for this week. I decided this would be the perfect time to let you get a sneak peek into what the Patreon content is all about. In this bonus episode, you will get to hear the extra content recorded with my dear friend, Merica Stum, from our Year in Review episode along with the Ask The Expert question with David Thomas and Sissy Goff: how to handle sibling conflict. If you decide to support the show on Patreon, you will receive this type of content every week and month. The tiers are as little as $3 or $7 a month. Go to Patreon to check it out. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram | Newsletter

Today, Amber and Guy Lia join me. You may remember Amber from joining me way back on episode 106 where we talked about parenting. Amber and her husband Guy wrote a book called Marriage Triggers. Together they own Storehouse Media Group, a faith-friendly and family-friendly TV and Film production company in Los Angeles, CA. And they are raising 4 boys. As we wrap up our relationship series, we take a deep dive into our relationships with our in-laws. We talk about what sort of things are triggers for our relationship with our in-laws and how that relationship can affect our marriage. We talk about boundaries, communication, and perspective. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

We are going to continue in our relationship series. Today, Larry Bilotta joins me. Larry has been helping people in their relationships and marriages for years and his heart for doing this was birthed from his own marriage. He talks about how the first 27 years of his marriage were awful and then in year 28 something changed. They have now been married for over 40 years. We talk about his marriage and what caused it to fall apart but then what helped it change. We talk about how the messages we hear in childhood shape how we experience relationships as adults. We talk about what those messages sound like, the solution to them and how to take ownership of them. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

The last several days have turned everything upside down so I decided to do my monthly solo episode early after a friend encouraged me to address how to survive the quarantine. With all the unknown surrounding the CoronoVirus, our emotions are high. How in the world are we supposed to social distance ourselves and work from home and home school the kids?! To address this, family joins me around the table to talk about what we are feeling and thinking right now about the virus. Then, I share a few tips on how to survive being quarantined. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Download the planner pages that Sarah mentioned here. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I welcome my friend Nicole Zasowski back to the table. She first joined me back on episode 161. If you haven't listened to that one, I highly recommend it especially if you have walked through any type of change or loss that was really hard. Nicole is a Marriage and Family Therapist and recently published a book called From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want For What Will Set You Free and it is a beautiful and helpful book. For this episode, I pulled out a chapter in her book on relationships and talk about how to be a good partner by moving away from a dependent or independent stance to one of interdependence. We talk about how we are responsible for being loving in our relationships but not responsible for making someone feel loved. And we spend some time unpacking what it looks like to self-regulate the emotions you feel in a relationship and how to figure out what your best self looks like so that you can show up as that person. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

Each week in March, the conversations will center around a different topic that will help us all have better relationships—whether that is in marriage or dating, parenting, or friendships. I want to help you survive well in those relationships. For this first episode in the series, I am happy to welcome coaches and consultants from Thrive, Inc, Susan Clarke and ChrisMarie Campbell, to the table today. Their firm helps people have real conversations both at home and at work. They are authors of the books The Beauty of Conflict and The Beauty of Conflict for Couples. They've spent 20 years helping men, women, couples, and teams to resolve difficult conflicts and create strong, thriving relationships. They also co-host a podcast, The Beauty of Conflict, for dealing with conflict at home and at work. We have a really great conversation about conflict. We talk about why there's beauty in conflict; our different styles of conflict; how the way we were raised affects how we handle conflict; practical steps to deal with conflict, how personality plays into it, and how our nonverbal communication plays a role. We have a really fascinating conversation about congruency in our communication—what we feel and what we say—and why that matters so much. I gained so much wisdom from this conversation and I think you will too Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

Sarah shares a BIG announcement at the end of today's episode so be sure to not miss it! But first, Sarah talks about a little something that we all have all faced: rejection. She shares stories of her past and how those rejections defined her sense of worthiness and belonging. She also shares how to overcome the critical voice in our head in order to move from rejection to worthiness. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I am so happy to welcome Anthony ONeal to the table today. Anthony has helped hundreds of thousands of students make smart decisions with their money, relationships, and education. He's a #1 national best-selling author and travels the country spreading his encouraging message to help teens and young adults start their lives off right. Today, we talk about his story—how he wound up homeless, dropping out of college and deep in student loan and credit card debt. In this episode, we talk about his book Debt Free Degree: The Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Kid Through College Without Student Loans. And with that, we talk about how parents can set their kids up for future success and how to do college without debt. If you are like me, the thought of figuring out what needs to happen to get kids into college is enough for me to feel completely overwhelmed. Anthony is a wealth of knowledge and I believe that this conversation will not only give you such good information but it will inspire you and walk you back from the ledge of overwhelm. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I am so happy to welcome my friend Katie Hearn to the table. She is the Digital and Accessible Services Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves. She focuses on assisting all fans in having a memorable experience while at Truist Park, with a special emphasis on their accessible programs. In the spring of 2017 she suffered sudden vision loss and is now blind. She tells her story of how she lost her vision while she was in her twenties and how that affected everything in life. She shares how she is working to find a new normal, how she sees the world differently now and how losing her vision helped her find her voice. And you know, I couldn't resist asking several Atlanta Braves related questions. (My goal is to convert all of you to Braves fans.) Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls podcast along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I am so happy to welcome my dear friend, Meredith McDaniel, to the table today. Our friendship was birthed from proximity—literally walking the same direction on a sidewalk over 4 years ago. Meredith is a licensed counselor and author of the new book, In Want & Plenty: Waking Up to God's Provision in a Land of Longing. We talk about the enneagram and how that shapes how we see the world around us. Then, we spend some time talking about what it looks like to feel stuck and how to create some forward motion. She even turns the table and asks me about where I feel the most stuck. I think this is a conversation that we can all relate to. If you've ever said, "I'm stuck, now what?" then you will enjoy this conversation. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

Today's episode is very practical. Sarah shares one thing she does on Sunday in order to have a successful week. Be sure to download the FREE planner pages that Sarah mentioned. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram // Patreon *Don't miss the bonus content found on Patreon. Become a patron today!

Ashley LeMieux joins me around the table today. She has made a career out of helping others reignite the light within them. As founder and CEO of The Shine Project, she launched both a movement and a company that empowers women in myriad ways, including teaching first-generation college students how to produce handmade products that they can then sell as employees of The Shine Project. We talk about how when she was only a college student she saw a problem facing some youth and she worked to solve that problem. We also talk about her first book, Born To Shine. With that, she talks about walking through a hard, dark time in life where they faced a contested adoption and ultimately lost the kids. Life didn't end with a pretty bow on top. And then we unearth some beautiful conversation about what it looks like to show up in the biggest fight of your life and what you need to show up with. We all love hearing stories about miracles, but what if your miracle doesn't come? If you can relate to that, you'll love this episode. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

Today, I am happy to welcome Rachel Bailey to the table. She is a Parenting Specialist who has been serving families for over a decade. Besides being a mother of two, she also has a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, a certification in Positive Discipline, and has provided services as an ADHD Coach, in-home mentor, and therapist. Currently, Rachel teaches parents practical, long-lasting tools for raising responsible, resilient, confident children... while reducing the overwhelm and guilt in parents' lives. Can I get an AMEN? I think we hit the parenting goldmine with this conversation. It is extremely helpful! We talk about ways to simplify parenting which includes how to become less reactionary and how to figure out which negative behaviors we need to tackle first in parenting. We take a personal example for our home which is staying in bed at night and Rachel helps come up with why this behavior is happening and what to do about it. We also talk about how fear plays a role in parenting and how to build our kid's self-esteem. I'm telling you, that last segment about building self-esteem is just so good. Be ready to take some mental notes. Check out bonus content from David Thomas & Sissy Goff from Raising Boys & Girls along with deleted content from today's episode over on Patreon. Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram

I am happy to welcome Kumiko Love to the table. She is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and also created of The Budget Mom™ As a single mom, she had to find a way out of debt and a way to create the type of life she wanted to provide for herself and her son. In doing so she created a unique, practical and dare I say fun budgeting method that has helped thousands of women take control of their finances. We have a really great conversation where we talk about how she got out of debt, common bad spending habits, and what emotional spending looks like. We also talk about her budget method, where to start and how to stay motivated. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram // Patreon

I am so happy to welcome my dear friend, Merica Stum, back to the table for our annual year in review episode. Can I just change the show to have every episode with Merica? I just love her so much. There is something so fun about this episode. I think it embodies exactly who I am. We can talk about nothing like our Starbucks order and I find it fascinating and entertaining. In this episode, we talk about what changed for us this year, what we learned, ways we've grown, good habits we've put into practice, what we read and what was in our 2019 survival kit. Then we talk about what we are hoping for in 2020. And you are going to want to immediately go sign up for the Surviving Sarah Patreon page for our bonus lightning round questions where we talk planners, what we tried this year that was a bust, our favorite follows this year, what made us laugh this year. Go to Patreon.com/SurvivingSarah. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram // Pateron

I am so happy to welcome Rachel Martin to the show. Connecting with people has been the greatest part of this show and I am so glad to be connected to Rachel. She has 7 kids and after a divorce, she was a single mom for 7 years. We talk about navigating that sense of loss with her kids after her divorce and advice for the woman who is in the middle of marriage loss. We talk about how she climbed out of a mountain of debt, how gender roles affect how we handle money and advice on changing the narrative around the phrase "cutting cost". If life has ever felt less than you imagined, this conversation will be an encouragement to you. I am launching a Pateron page for the show which is a great and easy way to support the show financially and in return, you will receive some bonus content. For simply $3 a month, you will receive some deleted questions from each guest and for only $7 a month, you will receive those deleted questions along with a new segment called Ask The Expert where I will ask David Thomas and Sissy Goff questions about raising boys and girls. Go to patreon.com/survivingsarah to become a patron today! Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram

I am so happy to welcome Heather Adams to the show today. I was in Nashville this past September and was able to sit down face to face with Heather. Heather is the founder and CEO of Choice Media Communications which is a boutique public relations firm in Nashville. And I've had the opportunity to work with her firm over the last few years and they are so kind and gracious to work with. Not only is Heather a leader and entrepreneur but she is also a boy mom. So you know we had to talk a little bit about what she's surviving currently as a boy mom to tweens. Then, we had a really insightful conversation about mentorship. We talked about the importance of pivotal relationships, advice she's learned from them in regards to leading others, advice for finding a mentor and advice for being a good mentor. Connect with Sarah Shownotes Support Surviving Sarah on Pateron

I am so happy to welcome Courtney DeFeo back to the show. Courtney is an OG Surviving Sarah guest making her first appearance on the show back on episode 18. She is such a creative entrepreneur who has a big heart for helping others. She is an author and podcast host for the Treasured Podcast which is a great resource for moms of girls. Courtney has partnered with Parent Cue from Orange to create a resource for moms and tween girls so that is the basis for our conversation today. We talk about raising tween girls, the areas in which we feel inadequate to help, and even the area that we struggled with as tweens. And since we are in the throws of the holiday season, we talk about ways to make the holidays less about what we receive and more about what we give. Courtney shares some very practical and helpful ideas to light up your community during this holiday season. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website Support Surviving Sarah on Pateron

We are celebrating 200 episodes and 4 years of Surviving Sarah!!! It's hard to believe that the show has existed for so long. It has been such a fun ride and it has afforded me opportunities that have been incredible. In this episode, I answer listener questions like how I produce an episode, how I juggle mom, kids and home, who my dream guest would be and what's next for Surviving Sarah. Support Surviving Sarah on Pateron Connect with Sarah on Instagram Download Sarah's FREE planner pages

I am so happy to welcome Tricia Goyer back to the show. To me, Tricia is one of those women that I just want to be around. She is a wife, mom, author, speaker, and podcaster. You may remember her from a previous appearance on the show where we talked about how to calm angry kids. This time around, we talk about her book The Grumble Free Year which documented a challenge that her family took to live a grumble free life for a whole year. We talk about what triggered her to take this challenge, ways that we all grumble that we may not realize is grumbling and some very practical help and phrases to say to help yourself and your kids to be grumble free. Connect with Sarah on Instagram Sign up for Sarah's monthly survival kit newsletter

I am so happy to welcome Ashley Abercrombie to the show. Former Surviving Sarah guests, Kelsey Chapman and Tiffany Bluhm, connected us and I am so glad they did! This was one of my favorite conversations. Ashely and her family live in New York City. She is a blogger and writer and her first book, Rise of the Truthteller, hit stores this fall. She is also the co-host of the podcast Why Tho with Tiffany Bluhm. Ashley has fought to overcome addiction, rape, abortion, perfectionism and dysfunctional relationships. She pretended to be someone she wasn't for far too long and then decided that it was time to tell the truth. In this episode, we talk about how she became a truth-teller and owned her story, how she stopped wearing a mask and stopped pretending to be someone she wasn't. We also talked about how to find safe people when you are ready to tell your story to and some phrases to say to people who are hurting that aren't cliche. This was one of my favorite conversations. And I think you are going to love it, too. Check out the show notes for ways to connect with Ashley, takeaways from the conversation and discussion questions to go along with this episode. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website Be sure to sign up for Sarah's monthly survival kit newsletter!

I am so happy to welcome Tara Bremer to the table. She is the founder of House Peace which helps people find order in their homes. Her family and business is based out of Birmingham, AL. This was one of the most fun episodes to record. Tara is just a delight. She has a BA in psych and an MA in counseling which I think allows her to bring a unique perspective to her organizing business. First things first, we talk about the enneagram and then we dive into simplifying life. We kick off our conversation in a creative, funny way as we try to experience life as Betty Draper. Which then naturally led to some interesting commentary about parenting in light of being our authentic selves. Then, she shares lots of tips about simplifying different parts of our lives.

I think a lot about the struggles of my youth and how I never thought I'd still struggle in the same ways. But newsflash, I'm 41 and still struggle in some of the same ways—it just looks a little different. But as I am growing up, there are things that I truly no longer want to live by. There are things that I'm finding in my life that have dominated my thinking for far too long. One of those is perfectionism. In this episode, I talk about how perfectionism meets my fear of failure and how I am learning to embrace my authentic self by practicing failure. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

My good friend Heidi Rew joins me around the table. Heidi is a creative entrepreneur. She's a full-time voiceover actor, occasional on-camera actor, co-owner of the Atlanta Voiceover Studio and host of the Heidi Rew Podcast. I was honored recently to be a guest on her show to talk all about that podcasting life. Hit pause and go subscribe to her show. There is no shortage of amazing conversations there. Heidi and I met a couple of years ago and have just really connected. She quickly became one of my favorite people. We start our conversation by talking about the enneagram and how we are both 3's. And we transition to talk about something that many women especially enneagram 3's struggle with—eating disorders. Heidi struggled with eating disorders for over 2 decades. We talk about the dangers of growing up in diet culture, what helped her move out of the struggle, what helps her maintain a healthy perspective now, and advice for moms of daughters in this area. Heidi also opens up in such a vulnerable way about her struggle and process with infertility. This is a beautiful conversation and I know you will love Heidi. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

I am happy to welcome Sarah Beckman back to the show. I always enjoy welcoming guests back. Sarah is an author and speaker who recently became an empty nester. So you know I capitalized on sitting with a mom further down the road from me and asked for some advice. She shares some really great advice for us moms who are in the tween/teen years. So have your mental pen and paper ready. Then, we talk about her latest book "Hope in the Hard Places: How to Survive When Your World Feels Out of Control." We talk about why its so important to give yourself permission to grieve and feel during the hard times, precautions around social media during those times, how sometimes our faith prevents us from seeking what we need while walking through a hard season and some practical tips to help you get to the other side of a hard time. Connect with Sarah Bragg: Instagram // Website

I am happy to welcome Haley Evans to the table. Haley is a lot like you and me. She works and is a mom spending evenings carting kids around to different activities. She is also a woman who realized that her phone had evolved from a device designed to simplify her life to one that ruled it. So she has committed to not only making changes for herself but hopes to help others do the same. We talk about why she wrote the book Hung Up; how we've lost all sense of manners when it comes to our device and how to set up some boundaries with our phones. Did you know that I have another podcast called Raising Boys & Girls? Favorite Surviving Sarah guests, Sissy Goff and David Thomas, join me along with Melissa Trevathan. We are committed to helping you confident and normal as parents. You can binge listen to two seasons on your favorite iTunes app. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

I welcome Jane Mosbacher Morris to the table. She is the Founder and CEO of TO THE MARKET, a company that connects businesses and consumers to ethically made products from around the world. Before starting To The Market, she served as the Director of Humanitarian Action for the McCain Institute for International Leadership and currently serves on the Institute's Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism and in the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues. She is also the author of the book, Buy the Change You Want to See: Use Your Purchasing Power to Make the World a Better Place. She brings such a rich experience and understanding to the table to talk about the power that we have to change the world and our own neighborhoods. We talk about how working in counterterrorism gave her a first-hand look and experience with how work had the power to transform women's lives; how seeing women around the world gave her a great sense of empathy; the biggest problem that women around the world are facing and what we can do collectively to help women around the world. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website Download Sarah's FREE planning pages

Today, we talk about a tension that many of us feel. I think that many of us feel pulled between work and motherhood. We want to find the magic formula to be able to do it all—work all the hours and do (and be) all the things with (and for) our kids. Sarah talks about that tension and what has helped her. Connect with Sarah Download Sarah's FREE planner pages

I am so happy to welcome my dear friend back to the Surviving Sarah table. Sissy Goff is no stranger to your ears. She's been a guest here way back in the day and then I hope you've heard her on our Raising Boys & Girls podcast. Sissy is the Director of Child & Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Ministries in Nashville and has written so many helpful books about kids. She joins me today to talk about her well anticipated latest book Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World. We talk about the difference between anxiety and worry; why anxiety has risen dramatically over the years; what kids are worrying about at different developmental stages; and practical ways to help our girls manage these anxieties. Connect with Sarah Download Sarah's FREE planner pages Show Notes for this episode

I am so excited to welcome Nancy Swanson to the show today. Nancy is a teacher at my daughter's elementary school. I jump at any chance I have to sit across the table from someone further down the road from me. Nancy is married and her three children are all grown. The reason, I invited Nancy to the table is because she is the mother of Dansby Swanson—the shortstop for the Atlanta Braves. I can't tell you how many people have asked me to have an episode dedicated to navigating sports with children. So, I knew Nancy would be the perfect person to share her wisdom. We talk about what's she's learned from raising three athletes and seeing one of her children reach the highest level of competition. She talks about setting expectations for kids, navigating the delicate relationship with coaches, how to foster work ethic, what good sports brought to her kids and advice from one mom to another. Connect with Sarah on Instagram Download FREE planner pages created by Sarah to help you be more efficient & productive with your time Find the show notes for today's episode

I am so happy to welcome Natalie Taylor to the table today. She is a Certified Financial Planner, Professional and Behavioral Financial Advisor who is passionate about helping people cultivate a plan for their finances based on their values and goals. She is also a wife and mom who lives in my favorite place, Santa Barbara. I am so excited to share this conversation with you. I found it extremely helpful and I think you will, too. We talk about 3 common pitfalls that we fall into with our finances. And with that topic, we talk tips for budgeting, advice about how to avoid debt or get out of debt, and how to align our finances with what we value. Plus, she turns the table on me and coaches me on the subject of values and finances. Connect with Sarah on Instagram Download Sarah's FREE Planner Pages: a weekly page, daily page, meal plan page & morning checklist

If you've been listening to the show for awhile, then you know how much I benefit from the research, teaching and writings of Brené Brown. One thing that Brené does every week for her email subscribers is something called TGIF. That stands for… TRUST // GRATEFUL // INSPIRED // FUN Each week, she talks about what she is trusting right now; what she is grateful for; what is inspiring her; and what's fun. TGIF. So for this episode, I thought it might be fun to do that here in regards to August. I want to look back over the month, and talk about what I'm trusting for, what I'm grateful for, what I'm inspired by and what's fun. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

I am so excited to welcome my friend Dan Scott to the table. Dan has been working with kids for over 20 years as a teacher in education, pastor and communicator. He is also the father of 4 and he is passionate about reaching the hard to reach preteen age group. He is the author of the book Caught in Between: Engage Your Preteens Before They Check Out which offers the latest research findings on preteens, sums up conversations every ministry leader is having about preteen ministry and walks readers through a comprehensive plan to engage preteens in ways that will ensure they have what they need to build an authentic faith. We have a conversation centered on the topic of tweens. We talk about who tweens are at this phase of life and what they need from us; why they are literally losing their minds at age 11; how to help our kids become critical thinkers as they are moving from a concrete way of thinking into an abstract way of thinking; we talk about handling technology and how to handle the bible with this age. This conversation comes at the perfect time where your tween is heading back to school and facing a lot of responsibility. I think you'll find this episode very helpful. Connect with Sarah on Instagram Check out the show notes online Download Sarah's FREE planner pages

I am so excited to welcome Bri McKoy to the table. She calls herself an accidental home cook, turned food blogger, turned author. She loves to gather people around her everyday table. She is the author of Come and Eat: A Celebration of Love and Grace Around the Everyday Table which is an invitation to anyone who is searching for a deeper community and a desire to show more of Jesus' love right from their very own dining room table. I discovered Bri on Instagram through some mutual friends and she instantly became one of my favorite people. Her energy is contagious. She is so easily to chat with that I felt like we had been friends for years. We talk about what it looks like to create a new normal which she completely relates to as being a military wife. She also shares some tips on how to settle into a temporary space. She talks about what gave her the heart to create a longer table for people and in the process reveals some of her go-to recipes and kitchen tools. Prepare to be hungry by the end of this episode. Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

I am happy to welcome my good friend, Amberly Deavours to the table. Amberly and I go way back—we've known each other since college. We have seen each other walk through a lot of life. She is a normal mom just like you and just like me except I sorta feel like she's got some hidden superpowers because she is a mom of 5 who drives a 12 seat passenger van. Amberly is a certified FASTer Way to Fat Loss coach and we talk about what it looks like to take charge of your health. We talk about her journey with mental health and physical health and how it's all connected. She shares how motherhood wasn't what she expected, how she battled anxiety and depression, how she finally took charge of her physical health through the FASTer Way to Fat Loss and why she's so passionate for women to do the same. Click here for more information about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss Connect with Sarah on Instagram Click here for show notes

This week is the last installment of re-releases for our parenting series. And I picked the second conversation I had with Jennifer Walker from Moms on Call. Jennifer has played a big role in helping me as a young mother. There is just something about her that makes you feel like you can do this hard thing called parenting. This episode is all about surviving toddlers (which honestly, listening to it is relatable to surviving tweens, too) heaven help us. If you want to hear more from Jennifer, she was one of my very first guests! You can listen to Episode 6. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram

We are still in the summer series of re-releases of parenting episodes. This week marks the anniversary of my friend Wynter Pitts passing. Wynter meant so much to me. She was a strong, beautiful, creative woman who not only encouraged me in my work but also in motherhood. I am so thankful to have known her. This episode was my first conversation with Wynter where we talked about so many aspects of motherhood. We talk about how God changed her perspective on being a mom, how to know when your child is ready for social media and how to foster the relationship between your daughters. And if you want to hear more with Wynter, she and her husband Jonathan joined me on Episode 97 where they talk about raising their kids. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram

We are still in the summer series of re-releases of parenting episodes. I am excited to put this conversation back in your ears! This was the first conversation between me and Wendy Speake in which we have a big conversation about the big emotion of anger. We discuss all the internal and external triggers that we have as moms. There is so much helpful content packed into this episode. And if you want more from Wendy, she came back on the show on Episode 46 to talk about creativity and motherhood. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram

I'm excited to put this conversation back in your ears! This was my first conversation with Sissy Goff from Daystar Counseling Center. We talk about raising girls--anxiety, parenting different personalities, how to assume the best in your kids and how to develop our girls' self-worth. You can check out more episodes with Sissy over at the Raising Boys & Girls podcast. Connect with Sarah: Website // Instagram

I'm excited to put this conversation back in your ears! This was the first time David Thomas from Daystar Counseling Center came on the show. We talk about raising boys, child development, dealing with your child's aggression and adjusting our parenting expectations. If you want to hear more with David, check out episode 91 of Surviving Sarah and our other podcast, Raising Boys and Girls. Shownotes Connect with Sarah: website // Instagram

I want to have a conversation with you about where we are in life. If you have ever felt stuck where you are and unhappy with how life has turned out, then this episode is for you. I talk about how powerful acceptance is—accepting where you are and who you are. And how acceptance starts by naming what reality you are resisting. Connect with Sarah: Instagram

I am happy to welcome Justine Froelker to the show. She is a licensed professional counselor and certified Daring Way and Dare to Lead Facilitator which is based on Brené Brown's research. She has 19 years of experience in mental health. She is a best selling author and her latest book is called The Complicated Gray. We have a really meaningful conversation about hard times. We talk about what to do when life doesn't turn out like you hoped, dreamed and planned. She walks us through her story of infertility and how she discovered resilient redemption. Your big, hard parts of your story don't have to be the end. You don't have to end up a sad, bitter, resentful woman. We talk about what it looks like to be face down in the arena of something hard and how to rise strong from it. Come find me on Instagram and say hello! And be sure to sign up for my monthly Survival Kit newsletter that hits your inbox at the end of every month. When you sign up, you'll receive my FREE planner pages as a thank you.

I am so excited to welcome Pete Enns to the podcast today. Pete is a college professor who has been teaching, writing and speaking about the Bible for over 20 years. He is a storyteller which is one reason why I love his writing but I also love that Pete isn't afraid to lean in and ask hard questions. He values hearing the stories of everyday people and their struggles with the Bible. That drives so much of what he does with his writing and with his podcast, The Bible For Normal People. I have read two of his books, The Bible Tells Me So and How the Bible Actually Works, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading and wrestling through them. I want to let you know upfront that this is a vulnerable conversation. But it's exactly what I want to model for you. I want us to have permission to ask questions. Permission to doubt. Permission to lean into the uncertainty that we feel about life. Permission to be critical thinkers when it comes to our faith. All of these things aren't problems for our faith—they can be expressions of it. In this episode, we talk about the bible—what it is and what it isn't. We talk about how to apply the way of wisdom when we approach the bible. And we dive into how to talk about the bible with our kids. Show Notes for this episode Connect with Sarah: Instagram // Website

We have a special episode today because I teamed up with my good friends over at the Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, Alexandra Kuykendall & Krista Gilbert, to bring you a crossover episode about summer. And then, we decided to invite our friends Kate Merrick and Morgan Tyree to join us, too. All five of us join forces to talk about surviving summer. This is a two part episode so after you listen here be sure to find the other part to this conversation at The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. On this part, we talk about our biggest challenges in regards to time and summer. Morgan Tyree is an organizational expert and has a book coming out this summer that is all about time called Take Back Your Time. So we put her in the hot seat and fire questions at her. And what is so great about the women at this table is that we represent kids between the ages of preschool and college age. So no matter where you fall in the stages of kids, we've got you covered. We talk about chores, juggling schedules, how to create more time for fun, advice for work from home moms and how to help your kids learn to manage their time. Lots of good practical advice shared here. Connect with Sarah: Website & Instagram Today's show notes which includes links to everything we talked about and ways to connect with each guest.

Today, I want to have a conversation with you about what surviving looks like. In our culture, it's easy to operate out of a do it all and do it well mentality. We are told to thrive in every situation. And then the pressure builds and we live in a state of "supposed to's." Somewhere along the lines, surviving got a bad rep. But what if surviving is something noteworthy? What if surviving was actually admirable? In this episode, I will talk about what surviving means to me—what I think it actually is—and how we need to give ourselves permission to show up where we are as we are. Connect with Sarah on Instagram. Sign up for Sarah's monthly Survivial Kit newsletter to find out all the things that have helped her survive the month. And as a gift, you will receive FREE downloadable planner pages to help you survive your week, your day and your meal plan.

Tiffany Bluhm joins me around the table and we became fast friends in this conversation. I was blown away at her story and I think that all of us listening will resonate with her in some way. She is an author, speaker, podcast host, wife and mother who shares her personal stories of rejection, failure and what it's like to overcome adversity to find your dream. She married with two kids, one adopted from Uganda and one biological. She is Indian and her husband is white and she jokes that their family looks like the United Nations. In this conversation, she shares her own story of rejection—being abandoned as a baby at only two days old to feeling rejected because she was different than others to being rejected from love as an adult. We talk about the tensions we feel about dreaming about the life we were created for or the life we want—what gets in the way and how to take the next step forward. If you've ever wondered if this is it in life or feel stuck where you are, then this conversation will encourage you. To connect with Tiffany and find links to everything we talked about including her book go to SarahBragg.com Connect with Sarah on Instagram to follow along with a fellow survivor of life