258 episodes

Monica Swanson, author of Boy Mom and Raising Amazing , and blogger at monicaswanson.com, shares encouragement and inspiration for raising amazing kids and building strong families. Monica shares practical advice and biblical wisdom through honest conversations, interviews with experts, and light-hearted humor.

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

The Monica Swanson Podcast Christian Parenting

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.9 • 909 Ratings

Monica Swanson, author of Boy Mom and Raising Amazing , and blogger at monicaswanson.com, shares encouragement and inspiration for raising amazing kids and building strong families. Monica shares practical advice and biblical wisdom through honest conversations, interviews with experts, and light-hearted humor.

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

    Hard is Not the Same as Bad, with Abbie Halberstadt

    Hard is Not the Same as Bad, with Abbie Halberstadt

    Our most trying moments as a parent can quickly spiral into discouragement, hopelessness, and sometimes even resentment toward God or your family—partly because our culture has conditioned us to believe that anything this hard can’t possibly be good for us. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Why me, Lord?” today’s podcast guest will resonate with you.  
    Abbie Halberstadt, (homeschooling) Mom to 10…with two sets of twins in the mix – understands toddler tantrums, mealtime melees, and the backseat blowups. Yet, she has lived out a message that is sure to encourage you.  Learning the difference between “just making it” and Christlike parenting has changed everything for Abbie, and she wants to help other moms find the good…even in the hard! 
    In today’s conversation I ask Abbie more about her life – what led to book writing, and some of the highlights from her recent book, “Hard is Not the Same as Bad”. Find links to all that we talk about over in show notes! 
    www.monicaswanson.com/abbie-halberstadt 
     
    Don’t miss MY NEXT BOOK LAUNCH TEAM signups (the group just opened as this releases, but we’ll welcome new team members until the end of the week!)  *find sign-up link in show notes as well.  
     
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 

    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!  
     
    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


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    • 55 min
    Raising Boys to Men, with Durenda Wilson

    Raising Boys to Men, with Durenda Wilson

    This one is especially for the boy moms out there! I know you'll love hearing from Durenda Wilson -- Mom to 8 (five boys!) author, podcaster, and someone I consider a virtual mentor -- as she shares from her new book, Raising Boys to Men.  
     
    Durenda has homeschooled all of her kids, and now with grown children (and a bunch of grandchildren) she has a lot of wisdom to share. In today’s interview, Durenda addresses our culture’s masculinity crisis with encouragement for moms to celebrate and appropriately direct their boys’ God-given masculinity. She shares an acronym that helps moms remember what their sons need most (“BURP” J ) and some really encouraging words about the importance of work, rough-housing, and how to nurture character and faith in our sons. Whether or not you have boys, I think you will enjoy this conversation! 
     
    Find show notes and links to everything we talk about on my website: 
     
    www.monicaswanson.com/durenda-wilson 
     
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
     
    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!  
     
    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  
     


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    • 46 min
    Setting the First Tracks: Talk to Your Kids about Everything

    Setting the First Tracks: Talk to Your Kids about Everything

    Who do you want to set the first impressions on your kids on topics like: identity and self worth, sexuality and gender, politics, and other cultural hot topics? I vote YOU DO, Mom and Dad.
    I think most of us would say that we, the parents, are the best people to begin these conversations. Yet, it is easy to put these (sometimes awkward!) conversations off. But, when we do, our kids are likely learning about them from somebody else (or the internet!)
    In today’s episode I am encouraging you to “Set the first tracks”, to talk about things before they are things! This is the final episode in my year-long series going over topics from my book: Raising Amazing: Bringing up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes Without Being Asked! If you are new to the podcast, I encourage you to check the archives for all of the other episodes covering highlights and nuggets from each chapter of my book.  
    In show notes I am giving away a printable list of "20 Conversations to have with your kids before they launch" and I am also offering a GIVEAWAY of 3 copies of Raising Amazing. So head over to show notes to enter and get all of the links mentioned!  
    Today’s episode: www.monicaswanson.com/raising-amazing-14 
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
    Looking for a new homeschool MATH curriculum? Check out DIVE/Shormann math, which is what all of my boys used, which they say well-prepared them for their college studies in engineering and data analytics! Your kids will love these short, Bible-based, SAT-Prep math classes! Go to DIVEintomath.com and see all they have to offer!
    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  
     


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    • 29 min
    How to Experience REAL JOY in a world gone mad, with Brant Hansen

    How to Experience REAL JOY in a world gone mad, with Brant Hansen

    Would you say that joy (a deep sense of well-being, regardless of circumstances) is something you live with daily? Brant Hansen joins us to tell us that this is not only possible, but promised to all who follow Jesus. In fact, through Christ, we can start to see the world in a more childlike, humble, and optimistic way.  
    Brant and I are talking about his book: Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance, and I absolutely LOVE this conversation. We talk about how we can “outsource our worries”, what it means when you get goosebumps (I love this!) and the fact that when we don’t freak out, it freaks people out (in a good way!) Brant has great stories and tear-inducing insights (you’ve been warned.) I hope you end this episode feeling more joy and less anxiety already! 
     
    Find show notes and links to everything we talk about on my website: 
     
    www.monicaswanson.com/brant-hansen-joy 
     
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
     
    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!  
     
    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  
     


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    • 41 min
    Life is Messy, God is Good, with Cynthia Yanof

    Life is Messy, God is Good, with Cynthia Yanof

    Today’s guest, Cynthia Yanof is the friend we all need. She is honest, encouraging, and hilarious. She shoots straight and stays humble. I am so glad she poured all of these things into her new book: Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life.
     
    In today’s conversation Cynthia and I talk about parenting (she has college age down to first-grade children!) fostering and adoption (so much respect!) church life (Cynthia knows her stuff!) Mom-friends, and so much more. We talk about some of the lies in our culture and how we can speak truth to ourselves. Cynthia shares encouragement for focusing on what really matters in parenting, and also offers us her “4 Playground Rules” for life. (So good!)  
     
    Listen to this one for encouragement and a good, healthy laugh. Because, as Cynthia says, “When did it all become so serious?” Find show notes and links below: 
     
    www.monicaswanson.com/cynthia-yanof 
     
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
     
    Looking for new science or math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! Go to diveintomath to learn more!  
     
    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  
     


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    • 39 min
    Practicing The Way, with John Mark Comer

    Practicing The Way, with John Mark Comer

    Best selling author, teacher and Pastor, John Mark Comer, is here to talk about his newest book: “Practicing the Way”, which explores the concept of being an apprentice of Jesus. John Mark explains that to practice the way of Jesus, we must: “Be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did” (the subtitle to the book.💥) 
    In this conversation we talk about the difference between being merely a “Christian” (which can mean all kinds of things today!) and an apprentice. John Mark points out that we are all being “formed” – all the time -- whether we know it or not -- and the importance of being intentional about what forms us. We also talk about the “Rule of Life” - purposeful rhythms and disciplines, which he says, leads to the best kind of freedom.  
    We cover a lot in this conversation, and John Mark even shares some of the ways that the Comers are helping their 3 teenagers learn to slow down, lock up their devices (literally,) and practice a Sabbath rest. I think you’ll be (a little challenged perhaps, as well as- ) encouraged!
    Find show notes and links at: 
    www.monicaswanson.com/john-mark-comer 
     
    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
     
    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! Go to diveintomath.com to learn more!  

    The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  


    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Homethreads and use my code MONICA for a great deal: www.homethreads.com
    * Check out mylifeinabook.com and use code MONICA at checkout for 10% off. Create an unforgettable gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
    * Get 15% off on your entire first order at happymammoth.com with code MONICA at checkout.


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    • 42 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
909 Ratings

909 Ratings

authortiffanytutu ,

Binge worthy

I’m so thankful God crossed this podcast’s path with mine! This is my favorite podcast to share with other moms! I know whichever stage of motherhood they are in that they will leave empowered and refreshed! God is using Monica’s voice to breathe fresh air into the lives of moms everywhere. I am forever grateful I am a recipient of that empowering breath.

Abigail Squires ,

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!

While I was pregnant with my first son in 2018 God led me to Monica’s podcast. I never really listened to podcasts but wanted to get a little “jump start” on parenting before I had a baby. I cannot express the amount of gratitude I have toward Monica and the influence and impact she has made in my life in parenting my now two boys! I share her episodes with everyone I can because I cannot pass up the opportunity to share a good thing when I hear it! I look forward to new episodes every week. Thank you Monica for using your talents to glorify God and encouraging others to do the same. May God bless you and your family!

Megc0908 ,

Excellent Resource for Parents

I have loved listening to Monica since discovering her a few years ago. Talk about wisdom! I love her vision for motherhood and parenting and her standard for excellence. Her podcasts and books have made me a better parent and our family a stronger family. Her guests are consistently relevant and full of that same rich wisdom. This is the podcast I reach for when I’m looking for solid parenting information. Grateful for her work!

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