Coffee + Crumbs Podcast (Katie Blackburn, Ashlee Gadd)

Does getting your entire family around the table feel impossible at times? Between long commutes and conflicting sports schedules, nursing babies and pure exhaustion, there are plenty of reasons why we struggle to get around the table—even though we know it matters. According to Katie’s stellar research and our own at-home attempts, eating together can foster connection, protect mental health, reduce stress, and make room for intentional conversations. This episode is certainly not a how-to on proper meals and table manners (if you only knew!), but rather a new-ish practice in our homes we hope you can pull up a seat for. Remember, it doesn’t matter what shade of beige you’re feeding your family—quesadillas and Dino Nuggets count—as long as you’re serving it with a side of grace.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

Need recipe ideas for family dinner? We’ve got you covered. 

Need better talking points around the table? Check out our bonus episode, How To Ask Better Questions.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Today we’re diving into the nuance of technology—acknowledging the good parts (access to information! efficiency! staying connected!) and the hard parts (overstimulation! addiction! lack of boundaries!). Plus, we take a sweet stroll down memory lane into some 90’s nostalgia. Whether you’re a tech guru or a digital minimalist, we hope this conversation encourages you as you continue navigating how to use the Internet wisely in 2022. 

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

In our last episode of 2022, please queue up the dramatic music and prep the stage for an imaginary awards ceremony celebrating the best moments, products, and people that have brightened our year. From the natural deodorant that doesn’t leave Jill smelling like greek salad (lol) to the bike shorts that made Katie finally realize she’s not as insecure as she used to be—most of these awards are silly, but some of them are meaningful, too. We hope this lighthearted conversation inspires you to create your own Best of 2022 list for the year! 

Be sure to listen to the end for a few announcements about some exciting new changes coming to Coffee + Crumbs in 2023. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Is this really happening? Today we are asking the one and only Shauna Niequist (!!!) what she wishes her younger self had known about marriage, friendships, motherhood, and writing. Shauna’s spoken words, just like her written ones, are nothing short of a gift. We hope this conversation inspires you to take a step back from the burden of busyness and expectations, and simply take notice of the beautiful world around you.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

How do we go from worry, overwhelm, and sleepless nights to rest, calm, and indescribable, consistent peace? In today’s episode, we’re talking about boundaries, unpopular decisions, personal convictions, and—most importantly—leaning into what we know we need to do, regardless of what the rest of the world is up to. We hope this conversation encourages you to not just consider what peace looks like, but also consider how you can guard it.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

With summer around the corner, today we’re sharing our best tips and tricks for traveling with kids. From packing an extra pacifier (in a different suitcase!) to always, always, always packing plastic bags—these travel hacks are, of course, inspired by personal experience. We also share our favorite mantras, lessons we learned the hard way, and the travel MVPs we’ve added to our bags of tricks over the years. Plus, you’ll hear Ashlee and Katie gasp in disbelief at Jill’s gross-but-heartwarming story about something a stranger did for her at an airport.

This episode is sponsored by our favorite travel MVP of all time: SNACKS. (Just kidding. We have no sponsors. This episode is brought to you by our Patrons. As always.)

Whether you’re heading out for a long weekend or an international adventure this summer, we hope you have a memorable time! Don’t forget: just say no to supersize Gatorade.   

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

We’re concluding our three-part postpartum series today with a very honest conversation about physically healing from giving birth. Julie Kwong, a pelvic health physical therapist, joins us to talk about how complex and unique the healing process can be, what’s normal and what’s not, and how to advocate for better healing care in the postpartum recovery process.

This is a frank conversation about anatomy and bodily processes—we’re talking about prolapse and pain during sex, hemorrhoids and incontinence, so pop in your earbuds and join us as we combat the embarrassment around this vulnerable topic with honesty, dignity, and education.

We want to encourage any listener who feels like she might be experiencing one of the postpartum complications we discuss today to contact her doctor or care provider; today's episode is informational only and is not designed to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice and attention.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Being a full-time working mom is quite the juggling act. In this episode, Lesley talks with Kelsey Wharton, co-host of The Girl Next Door podcast. You’ll hear about Kelsey’s transition back to work after her first baby (it was harder than she thought it would be), simple ways she simplifies her evenings, and how all moms need to support each other in the quest to make workplaces more breastfeeding/pumping friendly. Plus, hear about Kelsey’s beauty capsule routine and how a sleep coach saved her sanity. (Also: spoiler alert! This is a two-part episode with Kelsey. Check back later this week for the second half of our conversation.)

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Today we’re wrapping up our mini-series on how to have important conversations with your kids, and, well, this one is going to make you blush the most because we’re talking about SEX. Our guest today is Kristen Crichton, a marriage and family therapist and professor of human sexuality at William Jessup University.

Kristen packs a punch in this conversation, reminding us why this dialogue should start at birth—because the greatest enemy of sexual wholeness is silence. Plus, she reminds us that we need to be the ones to tell our kids sex is fun and also teach them to respect Mom and Dad’s locked door. We hope you leave this episode feeling empowered to make the most of every opportunity and every curious observation!

Remember: if you need to practice saying body parts without blushing or giggling, this makes an excellent Girls Night In. For more on this topic, be sure to head to our shownotes for a comprehensive list of book recommendations from Kristen.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Calling all Monica Gellers! From family schedules and laundry to email and to-do lists—today we’re sharing the organizational tips and systems that keep our homes running (relatively?) smoothly. In this episode, April shares a smart hack for managing mail (tip: don’t let it enter the house!), Ashlee passionately discusses her cutthroat approach to clutter, and Indi is mostly just here to listen and learn. Whether you geek out over a pretty color-coded calendar like April or keep your entire family’s schedule in your head like Ashlee, we hope this conversation makes you smile and possibly inspires you to finally tackle that one system in your house that isn’t working.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

In this episode we interview hit blogger and HGTV.com star Erin Loechner about how she turned away from fame and frenzy to chase a slower lifestyle. We talk about everything from capsule wardrobes to slow blogging, cutting down on social media use, and managing gift giving during the holiday season. This one will change your perspective, renew your priorities, and shift your focus for 2017.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

With Ashlee and April both being pregnant, we thought it was high time to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of gestating (speaking of ugly—does anyone else hate that word?). Tune in today to hear us discuss everything from first trimester puking to maternity fashion to whether or not it’s appropriate to register for your third (or fourth!) baby. You’ll also hear a short rant about the awkwardness of prenatal weigh-ins, and find out which host didn’t know she was pregnant until she was 18 weeks along. Whether you’re in the throes of morning sickness, debating if you can pull off maternity overalls (you so can!), or waddling around three days past your due date—this one goes out to all our fellow pregnant mommas. Growing a human is hard work, and you’re doing an awesome job!  

As always, we hope this conversation fills you up like a coffee date with good girlfriends.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Today, we're recapping our favorite things and moments from 2019. Our conversation runs the gamut from the trends we tried and loved to the new habits we've instilled and want to keep as we roll into a new decade (!). We hope our roundup of recipes, podcasts, little luxuries, life hacks, and more inspires you to spend some time reflecting on the goodness of the past year. 

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

From soccer mom acquaintances to soul sisters, today we’re talking about different kinds of friendships and all things friendship with author and podcaster, Laura Tremaine. We chat about making friends a priority, believing the best in each other, and the less fun (but necessary!) stuff like navigating DTRs, friendship reckonings, and even break-ups. Plus, Laura shares a few tips for meeting new friends on the internet. (Did you know your C+C hosts met each other online!?) We hope this conversation inspires you to take a few minutes to pursue and appreciate the beautiful friendships in your own life.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

After struggling with infertility, IVF and multiple losses, Kate and her paraplegic husband choose to pursue adoption through the foster care system. Meanwhile, Cindy—battling homelessness and addiction—gives birth to her sixth child, a boy, who is immediately removed from her care. In the next episode, we learn how these two women’s stories collide and intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Content warning: sexual assault and pregnancy loss.

“Making a Mother” is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. 

Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. 

Producer, Writer, Host: Julie Vlahon. 

Music, Sound Design, Mix Engineer: Scott Vlahon

For more information on today’s episode—including podcast club discussion guides—check out our show notes at coffeeandcrumbs.net/makingamother. If you’d like to support the show, please share this episode with a friend and consider leaving us a 5-star review wherever you listen to podcasts. 

This episode is brought to you by Needed—offering Radically Better Nutrition™. Use CC20 at checkout to get 20% off your first order of a single product. If you’re shopping between Jan 6th-20th, check out their New Year’s deal, which offers 25% off your first subscription. 

This episode is also brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/CC10 and get 10% off your first month.

Thank you for supporting the brands that helped make this series possible.

This week we’re talking with Jena Holliday-- artist,  illustrator, and creator of Spoonful of Faith. You’ll hear us talk about what it’s like to mother when you have a chronic illness, and why autoimmune diseases can be especially mysterious and frustrating for so many women. Jena also offers gentle advice to moms who are struggling with their identity, and how to take the first step in chasing dreams. Plus, Jena and Lesley both get brave and share dreams they haven’t said out loud before!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

On today's Coffee Break, regular C+C contributor Melanie Dale talks about that one time she snuck away to a movie theater in the middle of the day with a friend, and why having older kids is awesome.

The road to motherhood isn’t always easy. In fact, 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility. In this episode, April and Lesley interview regular Coffee + Crumbs writer, Suzy Krause, about her pregnancy story. Suzy talks about how Mother’s Day can be an especially difficult holiday, the role social media can play in the painful waiting game, and what to say (and not to say) to a friend trying to get pregnant.  

Like what you heard? Visit www.coffeeandcrumbs.net for episode show notes and a growing archive of inspiring essays and podcasts. Also, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes! 

We thought it would be fun to wrap up season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Don't miss these - each episode has a brand new intro and wrap up with Indiana, April, and Ashlee!

Today is April’s favorite, where we flip the script on our ‘This Is How We Do’ episodes by sharing what we DON’T do. From outsourcing grocery shopping to not making the bed to not washing our hair—this conversation is full of confessions about our mothering, home upkeep, school involvement, and everything in between. We hope this episode makes you laugh and gives you a much-needed permission slip to pursue the things you’re good at, and let go of all the rest.

Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year. 

With endless time and unlimited budgets, self care becomes pretty easy (hello tropical beach vacation and weekly massages!). But when we’re balancing motherhood, marriage, and careers—and our bank account isn’t bottomless—how do we make time and give ourselves permission to care for ourselves?

This week we’re talking about what self care looks like for each of us and how that varies depending on the season of life we’re in. April also offers a powerful reminder of the importance of letting our kids see us experience the joyful and delightful parts of life. We hope this conversation leaves you feeling encouraged and empowered to explore what self care looks like for you, whether you have five whole hours a week or just five minutes a day.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review here on iTunes!

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

When a family learns their child has a disability, the road ahead is often filled with many questions, pain and unknowns. In this episode, Lesley chats with two very special mamas about their very special kids. Katie Blackburn (a listener favorite and our first returning guest!) is back sharing about her son’s recent autism diagnosis along with Regina Robinson, mama to four children including a son with Down Syndrome. We encourage all women to listen to this episode with a pen in hand, ready to learn how to navigate the waters of a new diagnosis, or, to simply discover how to encourage the families at your playgrounds and churches who need friends in their journey.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

This week we're talking all about creativity—and before you declare yourself uncreative, we've got a pep talk to prove otherwise. From embracing creative sparks in the shower to the hard work of putting our butts in the chair, today we're dishing how we make space for creativity alongside motherhood, and how we're better off for it. Whether you call yourself an artist or not, we hope today's conversation reminds you that motherhood is bursting with creative inspiration.  

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

Join our free 5-day Creativity Kickstart here.

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

With summer around the corner, today we’re bringing you an important episode about water safety and drowning prevention. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of five, but for today’s guest, that’s not just a statistic. Nicole Hughes is with us to share the heartbreaking story of losing her three-year-old son, Levi, to drowning last summer. She also shares the mission behind Levi’s Legacy, which she began in his honor to educate parents about drowning prevention.

We want to warn listeners that today’s episode is highly emotional. We’ll be talking about the death of a child and bearing witness to a mother’s grief. But we also believe strongly in the importance of Levi’s story and the lives that might be saved because of it. Please discuss these matters with your friends and family members this summer—and always remember to designate a Water Guardian when children are near a body of water.

Welcome to the all-new, much anticipated podcast from Coffee + Crumbs. In our first episode we chat about what you can expect from our new show, or, how we basically want to be Sarah Koenig when we grow up. Plus, hear about Ashlee’s love for grocery store flower bouquets, and the big mistake April made before her scheduled c-section. (Hint: we’re talking about bikini waxes!)

Like what you heard? Visit www.coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey, plus show notes on this and every episode. Also, don’t forget to subscribe and/or leave a review in iTunes!

In part two of our mini-series on growing a family, today we’re addressing a side that isn’t often discussed publicly: what happens when spouses disagree on whether or not their family is complete? C+C writers Jenn Batchelor and Anna Quinlan join host Indiana Adams for a vulnerable conversation on what it looks like when one spouse wants another baby, and the other doesn’t. While we don’t have a beautiful bow to wrap up today’s episode with, we hope this raw and honest discussion encourages you, especially if you’re walking a similar road with your spouse.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

It’s our final episode of 2018, cue the sobs! We’re wrapping up season three by answering YOUR questions, ask us anything style. In this extra-long episode, we’re talking about everything from how motherhood has shaped our faith to what snacks we indulge in when no one is watching. We also share how we chose our kids’ names, how we maintain friendships in this season of life, our favorite feel-good movies, and April spills the details on the book she just finished writing (that’s H-O-S-S, if any literary agents are listening). Plus, you’ll hear the one thing we all agree we wish we had done more of before having kids. We hope you enjoy this last chat of 2018 as much as we enjoyed recording it. From all of us at Coffee + Crumbs, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Today, we’re diving into the dynamics of in-law relationships. We openly acknowledge our good fortune in having involved, loving in-laws, but there’s always some adjusting that comes with marrying into a family. We talk about balancing the way we honor traditions and ties to our families of origin while still building our own family habits and way of doing things. Plus we discuss the kind of in-laws we aspire to be some day and offer our best advice for how to communicate when there’s a problem or issue.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons. 

On today’s episode of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, we approach a topic that every mother has likely faced at some point: loneliness. In this honest conversation, we unpack why motherhood in particular feels so isolating sometimes and ask ourselves, how can we be good friends even when we feel lonely ourselves? Whether you’re new to motherhood altogether, or a veteran mom who hasn’t found her tribe yet, we hope you can relate to this vulnerable conversation and walk away inspired to put yourself out there. Plus, you’ll get to hear how Indiana and Katie (our podcast producer) met over a very glamorous matchmaking scheme in the middle of Costco. If you only get one thing from this episode, let it be this: even in your loneliness, you are not alone.

Can you relate to this conversation? Who are the friends that keep this season of motherhood from being lonely for you?

Like what you heard?

Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

We want to encourage any listener who feels like she might be experiencing postpartum depression to contact her doctor or care provider immediately; today's episode is informational only and is not designed to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice and

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

We're wrapping up season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Don't miss these - each episode has a brand new intro and wrap up, with Indiana, April, and Ashlee!

Today is Indiana’s favorite, where we talk about some of the hardest seasons in life that we've walked through. From miscarriage and postpartum depression to infidelity and cancer diagnoses, we're sharing some stories publicly for the very first time and inviting you into our little "circle of trust" this week. This isn't just about clearing the skeletons from the closet though; we're also talking about the most helpful ways our people showed up for us during these difficult times and the lessons we've learned about how to take care of each other when the season is hard and the answers aren't coming easily.

Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year. 

Just in time for the most divisive political week of the year, special guests Elizabeth and Chris McKinney—authors of Neighborhoods Reimagined—are here today to share the importance of finding common ground with those living near us. How do we go from pulling into the garage and shutting it behind us to actually befriending our neighbors? Using the Beatitudes as a launching point, the McKinneys offer encouragement and practical tips (simply wave! remember names! start a Facebook page! invite one or two families to gather with you!) to create neighborhood flourishing.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

The McKinneys are helping us make the most of our neighborhoods. Listen to Money Saving Hacks to see how we’re making the most of our paychecks.   

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

In light of recent events unfolding in Katie's life, we decided not to air our last episode of 2021. Thank you for your grace and patience as we take some time to pause, pray, and regroup. We'll be back in your earbuds this March!

This week we’re talking to Krystal Festerly, mom of three and editor of The Village Magazine. You’ll hear all about how The Village got started--she launched it the same day she gave birth to her second child--and why the quarterly publication is dedicated to bringing back sisterhood between mommas. Plus, hear a little about Krystal’s third birth, and why she calls it a healing experience.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

On today’s show we talk with proud Texan, veteran blogger and New York Times bestselling author, Melanie Shankle, or as you may know her, Big Mama. Melanie was one of our most requested guests last season so we were thrilled she was able to share her hilarious, raw, and beautiful view of motherhood with us. Find out where the nickname Big Mama comes from, what lie both she and April are guilty of telling their pediatrician, and laugh along with us as we reflect on the myriad mundane moments that make up a life of mothering. Disclaimer: you’ll also learn what the tweens today consider “oldies” on their playlists—and it’s gonna make you feel old.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

In this week's episode, we're talking about priorities: the ones we have, the ones we think we should have, and the ones we'd like to reorder, if we're being honest. We push back a little against the myth of balance and having it all, choosing instead to view life through the lens of seasons—where sometimes we have the capacity for "full steam ahead" in multiple areas and sometimes it feels like everything but survival is on the back burner. We also discuss how priorities aren't prescriptive; our individual circumstances and personalities weigh heavily on where we devote our time and energy. Regardless of the season you find yourself in, we hope today's conversation leaves you feeling energized to identify and prioritize what matters most to you.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons. 

It’s a decision every woman makes at some point in her motherhood journey: will she stay home, work part-time, juggle an at-home business, or work full-time? For some the decision is obvious; for others, it’s a series of fluctuating factors. In this special ad-free episode, we are getting real honest about the joys and struggles of pursuing part-time work while raising young children. We discuss all that went into our decisions, things we didn’t consider but wished we had, and the pros and cons of working from home. No matter where you fall on the spectrum—stay-at-home mom, full-time working mom, or somewhere in between—we hope you'll feel encouraged by this conversation and remember that God has a unique plan for your life and family.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

In this episode we’re talking to three mothers about their different educational values and choices. From a public Spanish immersion school to Charlotte Mason homeschooling to a classical style private school, you’ll hear how each family landed on their respective choices, what they love about their schools, and some of the things to consider as you wrestle with options for your own family—including how faith can play a role in that decision. We hope this episode leaves you feeling encouraged and empowered, better understanding the choices other mothers make and the beauty that comes with every option.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

We’re baaaaack! In our premiere episode for season three, we’re tackling motherhood + social media. Like most things, social media is neutral in and of itself, but it’s the way we use it that has the power to build us up or tear us down. This week we’re talking about how we use social media as both consumers and creators, why we occasionally take breaks from Instagram, what happens when we compare ourselves to others online, and the pitfalls of seeking validation from strangers. You’ll also get to meet our fabulous new podcast host—who, of course!—found out about the job on Instagram.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

We vacuum crumbs only to have little hands drop more on the floor, and we try to figure out what’s for dinner (again!). At times, the monotony of being a mom can leave us wondering: does this even matter? Today, Jill and Katie talk with Coffee + Crumbs writer and author of All Who Are Weary, Sarah Hauser, who reminds us that although so much of motherhood goes unseen, God notices ordinary faithfulness and can use the most mundane moments for his glory. If you’re feeling weary, we hope this conversation refreshes your soul and reminds you that you’re seen, you’re deeply loved, and your work matters.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Life is messy. We know this. But women––ordinary, everyday women––have never been braver, stronger, or more self-empowered. We are, as Jen Hatmaker says, bringing moxie back. In this episode we get to chat with one of our favorite women on the planet about her new book “Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild And Glorious Life.” With her classic humor and warmth, Jen gives us the pep talk we didn’t even know we needed—permission to leave our mom guilt behind, chase our God-given talents, and ‘feel our feelings’ whether we’re sending kids off to kindergarten or college this fall. Plus, because we couldn’t resist, we also ask her about incredibly important things like fashion, Whole30 and This Is Us.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

This is an episode with a very special mama of two very special kids. We’re talking with Heather Avis, author of the The Lucky Few, about raising children with Down Syndrome. Find out what made Heather afraid when she was preparing to adopt them, how we as parents can teach our kids to be inclusive of children who may look or act different, and why raising a child with special needs is the ultimate honor. Plus, April and Lesley lament the terrible day when children give up their mid-day nap. This is an episode that will encourage your soul and may even cause you to look differently at your own parenting journey.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Let’s hear it for the dads! On today’s episode, Kevin Madsen (hilarious host of the HeyDad podcast) joins us to talk about all things #dadlife. We discuss the cultural shift taking place in modern day fatherhood, dad stereotypes that drive Kevin nuts, and why men need good friends just like women do. Plus, Kevin shares an encouraging word for women who want to empower their husbands to lean into their roles as fathers. As you know, we only have a man on our show once in a blue moon, so we hope you enjoy this extra-special Father’s Day episode!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Today we're talking about our approach to the holidays—from April's Buddy the Elf level enthusiasm from October straight through New Year's to Indiana's more measured approach. We chat about our favorite holiday traditions and how we balance all the time grabs by extended family and friends. Whether elaborate baked goods for the whole neighborhood are your thing or, like Ashlee, you're more comfortable with every boxed mix Trader Joe's offers, you'll feel right at home in this week's conversation.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode.

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

On today's Coffee Break, Lesley reads her essay Preparing to Jump, about the sometimes complicated decision of trying to get pregnant for the first time. 

From deserted baby books to the tens of thousands of photos sitting on our phones, it’s easy to feel perpetually behind in memory keeping. Today, as we talk about the challenges of commemorating all the milestones, we also share our imperfect wins and how our approach has drastically changed since becoming first-time moms. Katie has a revelation about redefining what is actually worth remembering, while Ashlee shares her desire to capture the “essence” of her kids instead of data. We’ve come to the conclusion that a) we need to lower our expectations, and b) the chaotic, silly, and in-between moments are the ones that actually make up our lives. We hope this episode inspires you to keep doing your best—via quick notes jotted in a journal or by leaving the camera on the counter—to make those everyday memories the ones you keep. 

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

Listen to this bonus episode to see what else is saving our lives, besides taking the pressure off of memory keeping. 

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Making baby books, creating photos albums, and keeping track of hundreds of family videos is enough to make any momma break out in hives! This week we’re talking about allllll the ways to keep track of your family memories with easy, creative ideas for every personality type. From our favorite brands and products to technical logistics, we’ll help you make a plan for storing and displaying all the beautiful memories you make each year. Plus, Ashlee gives a Christmas card photo pep talk, and April asks if she should make her kids a Powerpoint. Don’t worry—we talked her out of that idea. Join us for a fun (and practical!) episode on how to preserve memories while also preserving your sanity.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

Get the tissue box out, because today we’re feeling ALL THE FEELS as we talk about launching kids into the world. Katie chats with C+C’s mentor mom Krista Gilbert and C+C writer Sonya Spillmann, both of whom hate to admit the adage is true: the days are long but the years are short. You’ll hear how these seasoned moms are leaning into the highs and lows of a long season of lasts, how they’re marking this special time with tailored celebrations, and how they’re caring for themselves along the way (spoiler alert: Sonya’s answer involves horseback riding!). Whether your baby is finishing kindergarten or heading to college in the fall, we hope this episode encourages you to embrace whatever transitional season of motherhood you’re in. 

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

Happy summer! From rhythm charts to chasing down indoor activities strictly for the air conditioning, don’t miss this bonus episode about our favorite tips and tricks for surviving the summer months.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

This week we're talking about what mornings look like in our households. Spoiler alert: they're a far cry from our pre-kid days of leisurely sipping coffee while meticulously applying makeup and thoughtfully pulling together a coordinated outfit. In this conversation, Ashlee breaks down her new-ish routine designed to make mornings as non-chaotic as possible, April extols the virtues of doing allthethings the night before, and Indiana blows our minds when she confesses her children get up before she does AND fix their own breakfasts. From the pep in our step courtesy of the school system's tardy policy to our tactics for not yelling at our kids to just get their shoes on already (why is it always the shoes?), today we're breaking down our best efforts to start our days off on the right foot.

Show Notes:

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page!

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: 

Noom: What if you could use ONE program for all your health and weight loss needs? Head to noom.com/coffeeandcrumbs to start your free trial today. 

Healthy Height: Healthy Height shakes are an easy way to supplement breakfast and send your kids to school knowing they have the nutrients their bodies need. Get 30% off your first purchase by visiting Healthy Height and entering promo code COFFEE30 today. 

It’s the last episode of the season, and today we’re chatting about what makes a Fun Mom™. Confession: two out of three of us struggle with this, but we’re tapping into our younger selves and discovering what makes us feel light and free. Everything from riding scooters with our kids, to simply creating spaces that empower them to find the magic themselves. Whether you’re the mom dancing around the house wearing a feather boa or the mom simply orchestrating opportunities for delight behind the scenes, we hope this episode helps you embrace whatever type of unique fun YOU bring to your family. After all, fun is the opposite of frivolous—it’s rooted in joy, and we could all use an extra dose of that.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Today we’re going back—waaay back—and reliving the nostalgic moments, foods, songs, and smells of our younger years. Katie reminisces about the fresh scent of dewy grass on the soccer field and her Nona’s simmering spaghetti, while Ashlee shares about her childhood days doused in chlorine and the love language of her youth: mixed CDs, featuring Dashboard and Death Cab. Of course, we couldn’t chat about adolescence in the ‘90s without taking an intoxicating stroll through Bath & Body Works and remembering the anticipation of TGIF gracing our televisions. We hope this episode inspires you to crank up that old school jam and take a trip of your own down memory lane. 

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

You just heard what influenced our childhoods and adolescent years, listen to this bonus episode to see what’s influencing us now.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Is every pregnancy the same? Is labor always scary, even if you’ve done it before? Three pregnant mamas talk about the unique fears, joys, and challenges they’re experiencing while anticipating first, second and third babies. Plus, the baby products we’re most excited about owning this time around.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and/or leave a review on iTunes!

From Indiana’s face blindness to how April balances introversion as a mom, today we're answering questions from YOU, our listeners and Patrons! You asked about everything from April's novel to Indi's thrift shopping to that "conceiving a girl thing" Ashlee mentioned once. We tried to answer as many questions as we could fit into the 100th episode (!) of this show. Plus, we get a little sappy at the end and talk about our favorite things about each other. Thank you for listening and sharing this podcast with friends over the past four seasons!

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Today's episode is coming from a more serious and somber place, as we talk about some of the hardest seasons in life that we've walked through. From miscarriage and postpartum depression to infidelity and cancer diagnoses, we're sharing some stories publicly for the very first time and inviting you into our little "circle of trust" this week. This isn't just about clearing the skeletons from the closet though; we're also talking about the most helpful ways our people showed up for us during these difficult times and the lessons we've learned about how to take care of each other when the season is hard and the answers aren't coming easily. 

Show Notes:

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page!

With summer around the corner, fitness is at top of mind for many women. But beating yourself up, or using guilt as a way to motivate you to eat right and exercise, never works. In this episode, pilates instructor Robin Long of The Balanced Life encourages moms to take care of their body and mind, once and for all.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and/or leave a review on iTunes!

From nip slips to lactating armpits (!) to feeling confident whipping out a bottle of formula, today we're getting honest about the time-consuming and (often literal) draining work of feeding our babies. In this conversation, we're talking about the products and perspectives that make the job a little easier and the importance of giving ourselves permission to see that fed is best. Whether you're formula feeding, exclusively pumping, or it's just you and your B-O-O-B-S on demand, we hope you'll feel seen and encouraged in this week's conversation.

At Coffee + Crumbs, motherhood is what brings us together, but how did we get here? On today’s episode, we discuss whether or not we always wanted to be mothers, what those conversations looked like with our partners, and if we’re “done” now. You’ll learn who used to play pregnancy by stashing pillows under her shirt, who dreams of having a Home Alone sized family around her Thanksgiving table, and who never thought she’d be a mom but had a change of heart. Stick around for a big announcement during the second half of the show … well, a few big announcements, actually!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and it’s a season for recognizing the pain so many families experience but don’t always feel comfortable talking about. In this episode Lesley talks to clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Zucker about her personal story of loss, the grief process and changing the way we talk about miscarriage. Plus, hear about a new C+C initiative to help mothers in developing countries.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about all things meal planning! Can you guess who geeks out over meal planning, who couldn’t get dinner on the table without her kitchen gadgets, and who would rather just serve cereal for dinner?! You’ll also hear Indiana show off her French skills and break down what on earth ‘sous-vide’ means, while April describes her “old school” meal planning techniques. Plus, Ashlee shares about that one time she went to McDonald's in the middle of the night while she was pregnant and destroyed the evidence before crawling back into bed. Whether you’re a meal planning pro or cereal enthusiast, we hope you find laughter and grace in our “fed is best” motto for this episode.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we're continuing our conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery and kicking things up a notch. From figuring out how to have an orgasm to what place masturbation has in a healthy marriage, we think you're going to love the frankness and candor in today's episode. Once again, this is not a show designed for little ears, so grab some headphones (or maybe make it a date night in with your husband after the kids are in bed) and listen in as we tackle another round of questions from our Patreon supporters about sex and intimacy. 

Like what you heard? Double click 'subscribe' and leave us a review on iTunes!

Show Notes:

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page!

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: 

Hello Fresh: Our listeners will get $80 off your first month of Hello Fresh when entering promo code coffeeandcrumbs80.

Light Filled Home:Coffee & Crumbs listeners will get 25% of your entire order when you use promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS in the shop! 

Being a mom is all of it: light and dark, highs and lows, fever pitch frustration and all-consuming love. In this episode we get to chat with Mandy Arioto, author of the newly released book Starry-Eyed, about how the brightest and darkest moments of motherhood can become a sacred opportunity to encounter God. We talk about pursuing rest in our busy lives, celebrating our worthy callings as mothers, beating the comparison trap, and why telling our stories is so important. Plus, the single most important question you can ask another woman and a few tips on keeping little ones busy in the late afternoon hours.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Bedtime: the struggle is real. Today we’re talking about how we handle the end of the day—who’s in charge of the routine, what tricks we use to keep our kids sleeping as long as possible, and what creative stunts our children can be found pulling at the 8pm hour. We all commiserate over sleep deprivation during those newborn months and April shares her personal philosophy on how getting your baby to sleep is kind of like meeting someone’s pit bull.

We hope this conversation makes you smile and reminds you that you are not alone in your bedtime trials!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

 To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Well friends, we are going there—you know, that ugly heart issue no one wants to talk about? On today’s episode, we are doing a deep dive on motherhood and comparison. From body image to kid’s development to whether or not we love motherhood as much as the next mom, we get reeeeal honest (and a little emotional!) about our personal struggles in this arena, both past and present. Plus, we share the habits and practices we’ve found most helpful in keeping comparison at bay. 

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

From friendship gestures to body confidence to learning how to rest, in this episode we share a few small acts—done by us and others—that have left a big mark. Ashlee acknowledges the gift of putting down forks and being fully present, Katie gives us the lowdown on the five-minute phone call, and Jill shares her conviction to finally put on the swimsuit and jump in the lake. We hope this episode encourages you to take a quick inventory of the little things that are actually big things in your own life, too!

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This week, we're talking about all the things we didn't know that we didn't know before kids. From a false sense of control (surely good behavior is just a matter of consistent and firm boundaries ... right?) to the things we swore we'd never do only to end up doing them (we're looking at you, goldfish crackers for dinner and weekly baths), there's a lot about motherhood that's upended who we thought we were. But then there are also the parts of us that are unchanged or have only been brought into sharper focus as result of becoming a mom. Whether you're preparing for your first or you're three or four kids into motherhood, we hope this episode makes you laugh and helps you reflect on how raising our kids influences the people we become, too.

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

What do you do when your baby stops napping? (Tip: cry is not the answer.) In the first of our brand-new “This Is How We Do” episodes, Indiana, April and Ashlee share how they carve out time for themselves each day now that their kids are older. Quiet time, rest time, play-by-yourself-away-from-mommy-time … whatever you call it, this is when momma gets a much-needed break. Plus, you’ll learn why Ashlee is still hanging on to her baby gate, why Indiana doesn’t keep toys in her kids’ rooms, and the magical “adventure treat” April hands out to keep her kids busy.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

We thought it would be fun to end season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Today is Ashlee’s favorite, where we unpack why motherhood feels so isolating sometimes. Don't miss the episode’s new intro and wrap up, with Indiana, April, and Ashlee's final chat together! Whether you’re new to motherhood altogether or a veteran mom who hasn’t found her tribe yet, we hope you can relate to this vulnerable conversation and walk away inspired to put yourself out there. 

Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year. 

For part two of our friendship series, we’re chatting about what’s in our friendship toolboxes. From taking initiative (rather than taking turns) to learning the love languages of our friends, today we’re getting nitty-gritty practical about how to show up for our people. We talk about porch drop-offs, tiny thoughtful gestures, the beauty of accepting help, and the powerful act of loving our friends’ kids. We hope this episode encourages you to be the friend you want to have. Because, ultimately, when it comes to friendship, that’s the best place to start!

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

We’re convinced there are few childhood milestones parents fear more than potty training. Get ready for a hilarious and honest conversation with Lesley, Ashlee and April as they share the highs and lows of their own children’s experiences. Whether you’re gearing up to potty train, or in the thick of a terrible training experience, you’ll love this fun and encouraging potty pep talk.

Like what you heard? Visit www.coffeeandcrumbs.net for episode show notes and a growing archive of inspiring essays and podcasts. Also, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes! 

We’re baaaaaack! The giggles and chit chat are at an all time high as we reconnect after our long three month break from podcasting. In this episode we’re talking about all the ways we’ve changed since having children--from the stuff we swore we’d never let our kids wear and do, to our post-baby beauty routines. Plus, we’re joined by a few C+C writers as we vulnerably share some of the ways our bodies look and feel different since birthing children.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

If you’ve been a mom longer than 24 hours (or should we say 24 minutes?), you know there’s no room for perfectionism when it comes to parenting. So why do most of us still hold ourselves to unrealistic standards? In this episode, we talk with recovering perfectionist, Sarah R. Bagley, about how children have changed our “good enough” meters. We also talk about what the weight of control feels like physically, how to avoid passing the perfectionism gene to our kids, and our advice for new moms who are worried they’re not getting it right (Sarah may have made us cry with that one!). Plus, Lesley gives Ashlee a lunch box hack that’s changing her morning routine for the better.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

When you have three kids under the age of three, you know a thing or two about the joys and frustrations of motherhood. We chat with regular Coffee + Crumbs writer, Katie Blackburn, about keeping a big picture perspective during the very busy season of mothering young children. Katie offers wise and encouraging advice for any woman in the trenches of motherhood, plus April, Katie and Lesley talk about how often kids get sick all the time.

Like what you heard? Visit www.coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey, plus show notes on this and every episode. Also, don’t forget to subscribe and/or leave a review in iTunes!

This week, Ashlee and Indiana sit down with Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland from Pantsuit Politics to talk about something important that seems to have gotten lost in today's culture: nuance. Beth and Sarah explain how their communication approach—rooted in curiosity and a desire to understand—highlights the middle ground between argument and apathy. They also talk about how they've learned to move toward each other and a better relationship, even though they hold opposing viewpoints on many issues. Plus, they drop their best suggestions for how to stay informed in an unbiased, non-time-consuming way.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode.

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Ruth Chou Simons (!!!) is here today, reminding us growth and goodness can be found even in—especially in—the minutes (or months!) we’re tempted to believe are wasted. Those creative projects you thought went nowhere? Meaningful. Sitting with your toddler or teen talking about mind-numbing topics? Meaningful. No matter what struggle or tough season you’re currently facing, we hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, let God reroute you however He’d like, and embrace the idea that inefficiency sometimes means making room for what’s most important.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

While we may still be hitting the pool daily and enjoying ice cream all-too-frequently, we can almost hear the school bus rambling around the corner. Today we’re talking about all things back to school: packed lunches, first day of school traditions, the carpool situation, and more! Plus, April shares some tips for getting off to a great start with your child’s teacher and it does NOT involve a mason jar (phew!). We also come up with a million dollar business idea so if you’d like to take MUber to Shark Tank on our behalf, please be our guest.

We hope this conversation gets you excited for the coming school year and maybe even inspires you to start a new tradition. Don’t forget to stay tuned to the very end to hear this week’s slow clap from listener MeLoni!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! 

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week April and Lesley talk with Sarah Powers, co-host of The Mom Hour Podcast, about the best and hardest parts of having three kids. We talk about what went into our decisions to grow our families, how our pregnancies and births differed each time, and the hardest parts of adjusting to life with three. Plus, Sarah offers encouragement for moms of littles (it only gets better!) and April lusts after Lesley’s leather minivan seats.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

Today Indiana is chatting with Hunter Beless, creator of the Journeywomen podcast, and Christy Curtis, founder of the Military Moms blog, about life at the intersection of motherhood and the military. From surviving deployments to managing fear and anxiety, Christy and Hunter open up about the challenges and emotions they face as military spouses. They also share how non-military families can love their military friends well and one big thing they’d like civilians to please stop doing. Whether you’re a seasoned military mom or a civilian without a clue what life as an enlisted spouse looks like, we hope this episode reminds you of the strength we can all find in community, and grows your empathy for the families serving our country.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

From our hospital bag favorites to how we make time for baby-bonding with other children running rampant through the house—in this episode, we’re chatting about all things baby prep. Whether you secretly pin nursery decor for months or Amazon Prime a Dock-a-Tot the week before your due date, we hope our conversation today brings some peace (and humor!) to an expectant season.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review here on iTunes!

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

While our homes may have been overtaken by Cheerios and Legos, we still have dreams of their potential. Today we’re talking about all things home decor: how we define our home style, where we like to shop, what room we’d love to make over if we won the lottery, and some of our worst home decorating flops. Plus, Indiana tells us about her prized golden armadillo, and Ashlee shares why she’ll never buy another rocking chair off Craigslist. We hope this conversation leaves you feeling inspired to channel your inner Joanna Gaines, right after you make the kids pick up those Legos … again.

P.S. Don’t forget to head to our website and check out the mood boards we created in the show notes today!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

To wrap up our mini-series on growing your family, today we’re talking about infertility with C+C writer Melanie Dale. We discuss how infertility can put pressure on your sex life, the depression Melanie experienced as she was going through fertility treatments, and how she eventually broke through to a healthy place with the help of girlfriends and a counselor. Plus, we hear all about the sperm illustrations in her forthcoming book, Infreakinfertility! For those of you who have walked this road before or are currently walking it now, we hope Melanie’s voice gives you hope for the future and possibly helps you find a tiny bit of humor in it along the way.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

All season we’ve been sharing our tips, tricks and life hacks in our ‘This Is How We Do’ episodes. This time around, we’re flipping the script and sharing what we DON’T do. From outsourcing grocery shopping to not making the bed to not washing our hair—this conversation is full of confessions about our mothering, home upkeep, school involvement, and everything in between. We hope this episode makes you laugh and gives you a much-needed permission slip to pursue the things you’re good at, and let go of all the rest.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

From five-dollar simple pleasures to the splurges that were totally worth it, today we’re sharing a few of our favorite things. While Jill teaches us how to level up our at-home spa game (hello, eucalyptus shower spray!), Katie is here to convince us that mushroom coffee is definitely worth trying. Plus, Ashlee’s undying love for the weighted blanket continues, per her confession of hauling all fifteen pounds of it when she travels. Whatever you fill your cart with this week, we hope you have a cozy and happy Thanksgiving! This episode is not sponsored by Aquaphor (or anyone for that matter), but it probably could have been.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

In part two of our working mom conversation, Lesley and Kelsey discuss the term “default parent” and how they split up household chores with their husbands. Plus, three things Kelsey does as soon as she walks in the door at night, her kitchen whiteboard system to manage the chaos, how she gets herself fed every morning (freezer burritos!), and the chores her family chooses to outsource.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

Today we’re talking with a board certified dermatologist, Dr. Cameron Chesnut, about how aging affects our skin. Dr. Chesnut gives us holistic insight on our most potent anti-aging defenses (exercise! sleep! nutrition!) and gives us the sought-after scoop on which products actually do make a difference (collagen! retinols! Vitamin C!). He also weighs in on the great sunscreen debate, gives the pros and cons of Botox, and takes our rapid-fire “worth it, or not?” quiz. Whether you’re planning to age naturally or maximize modern technology to erase your wrinkles, we hope this conversation brings clarity to some of the most common skin care questions.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

We wish more people knew all the good stuff Dr. Chesnut shared about taking care of our skin. Listen to this bonus episode to see what else we wish more people knew about.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Today’s candid conversation is with Rachael Kincaid (one of our all-time favorite people to follow on the Internet!). We cover the full gamut of topics—from what it’s like to become a mother of six in just three short years, to some of the joys and challenges of step-parenting. We also talk about why her youngest children aren't involved in many extracurricular activities, what it’s like to not have a dishwasher, how Rach and her husband protect their marriage, and how she gets time with each kid despite working full time outside the home. Rachael has been inspiring us online for years, and we’re so thrilled to share a bit of her heart with you this week!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

We’re kicking off Season 10 by asking a mentor mom we adore and admire—Ruth Chou Simons—all the things about motherhood. A mom of six boys, Ruth shares her best strategy for navigating sibling arguments, how to cultivate life-long friendships with your kids, and openly answers the mother lode question: what’s your biggest regret in parenting? From small practical tips to big picture hope, this conversation ends with an encouraging line we’re still thinking about.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

Ruth shared about all seasons of motherhood. But if you’re interested in hearing about how autumn is going for us, listen to this bonus episode: The Great Fall Reset.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

We're back from our sabbatical and comin' in hot with a two-part episode you've been begging us to cover: SEX! Today we're tackling your sex and intimacy questions with expert and psychologist Dr. Juli Slattery. From frequency and mismatched sex drives to how to spice things up, no topic is too taboo. This is not an episode designed for little ears, so grab your headphones and settle in for a frank, honest, and encouraging conversation about connecting intimately with your partner in a hectic season of life. Special thank you to our Patrons for submitting questions for this episode!

Like what you heard? Double click 'subscribe' and leave us a review on iTunes!

Show Notes:

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for  links to everything we talked about in this episode. 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page!

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: 

Buffy: C+C listeners will get $20 off their Buffy comforter by entering promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS online 

Care.com: C+C listeners can get a premium membership for 30% off by using promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS

In this week’s episode we keep it light and fun with a guide to getting dressed—from the actual logistics of getting ready in the morning (anyone tried to put on skinny jeans with a baby hanging on one leg?) to how important it is to change out of yoga pants every once in a while. From fluctuating bodies to changing careers, April, Ashlee and Lesley share what they’ve learned about style since becoming mothers. Plus, April shares her favorite postpartum clothing tips, and Ashlee explains why she hopped on the capsule wardrobe bandwagon. This is an episode for anyone who needs a reminder that while fashion can be fun, it’s also not where we’ll truly find our confidence. (Phew!)

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

When Coffee + Crumbs listener Allie Roepe reached out to us last fall with a show idea around being a mother “half the time,” we asked if she'd be interested in sharing her experience. In this episode we talk about what it’s like to parent after a divorce, Allie’s desire to split equal custody with her ex-husband, why their arrangement is even harder as time passes, and the everyday logistics of sharing custody. Allie also offers her encouragement for single moms or families navigating custody conversations. Plus, we talk about what we’re reading, watching, and making for breakfast these days.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Two of the Coffee + Crumbs Podcast, head on over to our brand new Patreon support page.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

We’re baaaaack! Today we’re kicking off Season Four with an honest conversation about how we can really help the new moms in our lives. From avoiding the “just you wait” dump truck to reading cues on whether your Meal Train recipient wants you to sit and chat or drop the food and leave, consider this episode a crash course in new-mom-awareness. We also talk about the hard work of setting our pride aside and asking for help when we need it. Plus, Indiana and Ashlee confess the moments with new moms they wish they could do over.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

Our guest this week, Kristin Young, knows a thing or two about grief—five years ago, she lost her son Colby to cancer. Miraculously, she knows even more about hope. In this episode, Kristin graciously shares what it’s like to hold sorrow and joy simultaneously, how she’s learned to make grief her friend, and how we often learn things through suffering we could never grasp by only having joy. We hope this conversation offers you a glimmer of hope, and encourages you as much as it did us.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

Today we’re talking about the important–and sometimes misrepresented–topic of adoption. Katie chats with Becky (an adoptive mom) and Jamie (an adoptee) about the complexities and layers of this calling that most of the world never sees. 

Becky shares the steep learning curve of being an adoptive parent, but also the undeniable gifts and joys God has shown her along the way. Jamie speaks honestly about the grief she’s walked through, sheds light on some common misconceptions about adoption, and moves us deeply when she talks about embracing her belovedness. Although adoption plays a different role in each of these women’s lives, both have come to the same conclusion: God’s grace is abundant, and He is in the business of making things new. 

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Today we’re talking with Aundi Kolber—a mother, professional counselor, and author—about motherhood and trauma. For many of us, trauma is a word we have reserved for people who have gone through life-altering, dangerous, or abusive experiences, and we have never given attention to the “little t traumas” that add up over a lifetime. No matter where you are, or what you’ve survived, Aundi compassionately walks us through this important conversation on honoring your story, learning how to be a mother even if you didn’t have a great example, and taking care of yourself so you can, in turn, take care of others. You’ll also learn a few ways to parent with empathy, so you can guide your children through their own pain. Whether you’ve endured a devastating circumstance, or many months of overwhelm, we hope this episode encourages you to make space for healing.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.

For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

In this week’s episode, Lesley interviews three Coffee + Crumbs writers about how they each adopted baby boys through the foster care system. We discuss why they chose this route of adoption, the best and hardest parts along the way, and how to take the first step. Whether you’re considering adoption for your own family, or simply want to be inspired by real stories of powerful love, this is an episode you shouldn’t miss.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and/or leave a review on iTunes!

Fear not: this week’s episode has nothing to do with screen time dos and don’ts. Instead, join us for a (very) lighthearted chat about our favorite books, podcasts, and TV shows. From how we score affordable books to our individual headphone preferences, today we're discussing when and how we consume different types of media. We're also making quite a few confessions, so feel free to giggle along as we learn who loves to make friends at the library, who's obsessed with polygamist escape memoirs, and which podcast host doesn't really listen to podcasts

Don't forget to visit Coffee + Crumbs for our show notes and links to everything we talked about in today's episode! 

Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

At the end of September, most of the Coffee + Crumbs team came together live and in person (!!) for four days in the Pacific Northwest. We weathered an unexpected blizzard, ate all the food, passed around babies, and spoke truth and encouragement into one another's dreams. On our last night together, we sat in the living room of Katie Blackburn's parents' home (who graciously welcomed all 15 of us when we had to evacuate from the mountain), and captured our conversation—and giggles—for your listening pleasure. We all rank our degree of nervousness pre-retreat, recap our funniest and favorite moments from our time together, and speak to the "secret sauce" that connects us to one another in a way that transcends our typical expectations of friendships.

Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode - including pictures of everyone who came to this retreat so you can match faces with voices! 

To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today we’re talking about something close to all of our hearts: the art of gift giving. We share the good, the bad and the downright ugly gifts we’ve received, and we also share our philosophy on what makes a good gift (hint: it’s not about the money). In this episode we offer tips for how to come up with a great gift when you’re stumped and we laugh about the curse of being a gift-loving girl married to a man who just doesn’t get it. Plus, you’ll hear all about that one time Indiana’s husband gave her a nose hair trimmer. Join us and laugh along as we unpack the art of giving gifts, Coffee + Crumbs style.

P.S. We’ve linked our favorite gift-giving sources and more gifts we love in the show notes today, so check them out!

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!

To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

It’s hard to stay original on the internet, but Nicole DeFord of Jelly Bird Signs shares how she finds inspiration to create her wildly popular rustic wooden signs which sell out within seconds of their release on Etsy. We chat about her unique business model, what it’s like to work with her husband, best advice for decorating your house, and how to pursue art in the midst of a crazy, busy life. Plus, all three ladies admit to driving minivans.

Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don't forget to subscribe and/or leave a review on iTunes!

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