“What does it mean to be creative…it’s allowing yourself to be so inspired by the beauty of the world that you want to capture it in some kind of form and then having the discipline to actually carry it out.” -Ashlee Gadd on the Elevating Motherhood Podcast Mothers often feel guilt when they pursue something that takes time away from their children, especially when that something could be deemed less important than parenting. Writer Ashlee Gadd felt the same way when she was navigating being a f...
Mar 30, 2023•56 min•Ep. 145
My children are homeschooled at home in Idaho but are technically private school students at Clonlara School in Michigan. How does that work? I get that question A LOT so I’ve invited April Huard, the Director of Education at Clonlara School onto the show to answer that question and share more about Clonlara’s unique and transformative mission. Clonlara’s Mission: The mission of Clonlara School is to transform education on a global scale through a highly personalized approach that fosters authen...
Mar 24, 2023•56 min•Ep. 144
“The modern homestead movement is 100% a state of mind. It’s the strive for self-sufficiency.” My friend Kody Hanner wrote a homestead curriculum that my family adores. It’s being used by homeschoolers, schools, and I know some adults who could benefit from the huge amount of information in her homestead curriculum. Kody joins us today to talk about her curriculum, how it came to be, the modern homestead movement, life-long learning, parenting, and so much more. Kody has generously offered a dis...
Mar 11, 2023•55 min•Ep. 143
What is your homeschool freedom worth? Today’s episode is probably going to be controversial to some listeners. My guest, Aby Rinella, and I are going to talk about School Choice and Public School Partnerships and what effect these have on homeschool freedom. You might not agree with what Aby and I have to say on these topics. You might agree with part of it. You might agree with all of it. And that is okay. We’re here to share a perspective that is not shared very often during recent conversati...
Feb 16, 2023•56 min•Ep. 142
Leah Boden is back! Leah & I recorded Charlotte Mason 101 back in Episode 56…I highly recommend both of her episodes! Leah truly is the Modern Miss Mason and now has a book with the same title. I 10/10 recommend her book—it’s my favorite book of the year! Charlotte Mason is a niche pedagogy that I passionately believe should be less niche and more mainstream. Charlotte Mason’s philosophies can be applied to education, homeschool, parenting, and life in general. I know I’m a better woman and ...
Feb 02, 2023•58 min•Ep. 141
This is a very raw episode about a woman who is very dear to my heart. My beloved Grandma Huck passed away at the end of 2022. We just got back to Idaho after her funeral in Ohio and I have to tell you that with her passing, I feel changed. I feel like our family’s hearts will be forever full and forever broken at the same time. I debated on sharing about her. She was so special it’s one of those loves, one of those special relationships you hold super close to your heart because it was that spe...
Jan 20, 2023•30 min•Ep. 140
Books are incredibly powerful. We know this and yet as moms we don’t always make time to read. The world tells us that there is no time for anything, ever. And in the same breath often tells us what to do, what to read, how to think, how to mother…and a lot of that messaging leaves us feeling fearful, unworthy, and like we aren’t doing enough. What if there was a way to step off the hamster wheel of modern motherhood and find ourselves feeling more whole, more worthy, and like we’re getting it r...
Dec 28, 2022•48 min•Ep. 139
This brief episode is a follow up to Episode 136…if you haven’t listened to that one, I highly recommend listening to that one first, otherwise this one won’t make very much sense. I feel like it’s really important to not just talk about ideas or make plans, but to take time for self-reflection after an event to see how you’re feeling—especially as a mom. Mamas set the tone for their entire family and sometimes it can feel really out of control to create a plan only to have the day come and the ...
Nov 12, 2022•30 min•Ep. 138
Talking about mediocre motherhood is—believe it or not—probably one of my favorite things. I don’t align with a lot of the modern motherhood messaging that we’re fed and I know that our mama hearts desire more than mediocrity. I like talking about it so we can name it…and I name it so we can change it. Abbie Halberstadt is fighting mediocrity head on in her new book M is for Mama. She is here to remind us that hard is not the same thing as bad, she delivers so many other truths and encouragments...
Oct 30, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 137
Halloween…you might be here because you feel something is different this year, too. Or you might be like “What’s the big deal? It’s just Halloween.” Or you might be here hoping I’ll expose it for the demonic celebration you think it is. Wherever you fall on this spectrum of perspectives, I’m glad you’re here. People are super passionate about Halloween. Some love it and can hardly wait (my bestie from Episode 135 literally dresses up in 31 costumes and posts pictures of each online—one for every...
Oct 24, 2022•30 min•Ep. 136
My best friend wrote a book about business and I couldn’t help but read it through the motherhood lens as well. So that’s what this episode is about: applying business principles to motherhood as a way for moms to find their balance between the two. We’ll talk about the principles of growth mindset in both our professional and personal lives. We’re besties, so this episode starts out super informal and has it’s off the cuff moments throughout, but we do dive into the nitty gritty and I can promi...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 135
“It’s ridiculous that birth plans even have to exist. The purpose of a birth plan really is to decrease the likelihood that you are going to be abused while you’re in this setting. To decrease the likelihood that people are going to do stuff to you that you don’t want done.” -Dr. Sarah Leahy Join our Birth Plan Workshop on July 19, 2022! ( www.birthuprising.com/events ) There was a crazy letter circulating on IG recently that was penned by three OBs from New York about birth plans, letting their...
Jul 09, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 134
Summer flies by...we only have 18 summers with our kiddos (but do we?) In this episode, I address the mom guilt that surrounds creating magical summer for and with our kids + give you some great ideas to have fun with ease--the ease that comes from living an aligned life. The 2 Lists: 1. Family Values List 2. Summer Bucket List Add meaning to your summer by creating a family bucket list that aligns with your family’s values. I know that my family thrives most when we align our actions and values...
Jul 04, 2022•42 min•Ep. 133
This episode will give you all the life and podcast updates for 2022 (so far). It’s been a big break. Ironically, I’ve watched others around me take a long 6 month+ break at the same time. Coincidence or calling? In the last 6 months, I've: Had a baby Stayed on an extended maternity leave (whatever that means) Moved from Maui to Idaho (I answer the #1 question: Do you miss Maui?) Found a new church & wonderful friends Adventured daily! Started a book Joined a mastermind Returning to the podc...
Jul 01, 2022•31 min•Ep. 132
Organizing is not my strong suit. It’s actually something that I tend to shy away from if I can help it. But in the interest of life-long learning and personal growth—and out of necessity because we had the huge move from Maui to Idaho coming up—I decided to tackle the topic with your help! This episode is packed with questions from Elevating Motherhood listeners. My friend Jennifer Ford Berry made this deep dive into getting more organized so easy! She helped me so much during this transition. ...
Apr 13, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 131
“Ultimately, we recognize the season of Lent before Easter not because God demands it of us, not because Christ commanded it to prove our mettle, and not because we must perfect ourselves before we’re worthy of Easter,” writes Oxenreider. “We observe Lenten practices because they’re good for us… In a world that celebrates indulging our whims whenever we want, to practice the traditions of Lent is countercultural.” Today is the first day of Lent—which is holding a new meaning for me this year as ...
Mar 03, 2022•55 min•Ep. 130
A wealth of inspiration and a breath of fresh air, Liz Galvan gives moms permission to look fully at their lives and figure out how to live with intention—not only within their homes but within their family unit and within themselves. In this episode, we explore how we can bring beauty, peace, and a sense of coziness into our homes all year long by embracing the interconnectedness of our own actions with how we react and perceive the world we live in. It begins with us, and we can think about it...
Nov 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 129
My hair may be changing, but so am I. Growing out my grey is about soooooooo much more than hair. A year in, I’m more genuinely confident –that doesn’t mean I love every day, but my gosh, I see the growth literally and figuratively. I see the beauty and the potential. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom, but I know how quickly this transition will fly by, even if it takes years. In this episode I talk about: · Why I’m growing out my grey · Shout out to my hairdresser Tiana · How it all started · How it...
Oct 16, 2021•39 min•Ep. 128
Have you thought about going back to school, pursuing your certification, degree, or even masters degree? Or maybe you’re dreaming of starting a business or passion project…but you’re a mom and busy and life seems overwhelming as is…so you question whether you can truly add one more thing to your plate financially, time wise, or even just mentally, emotionally, or physically. There are so many factors to consider when wondering if your dream can or should come to life. And right as you are worki...
Oct 03, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 127
“We repeat what we don’t repair.” – Christine Langley-Obaugh Thanks for being here for this episode. You don’t have to be a mom to a daughter to benefit from today’s show. If you’re a woman, you’re already in a mother/daughter relationship (you are someone’s daughter). If you are a mom to a girl, there’s that dynamic, too. Do me a favor…hop over to IG after listening to this episode and look for the Episode 126 post…then share with me which relationship dynamic or lens first drew you to this top...
Sep 26, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 126
Fear, comparison, feeling inadequate, overwhelm, exhaustion…there are so many factors in our lives that bring on feelings of wanting to shut down. Especially as moms. Life is good and hard at the same time…but how do we live in that dichotomy? How can we embrace the hard parts of life and the highlight reel moments and learn from all of them? Author and speaker Lisa Whittle is here with us to share some ideas on this very subject. Lisa believes that two truths can be true at the same time. Thing...
Sep 18, 2021•59 min•Ep. 125
“We gotta talk to our kids. We have to equip them to make good decisions and we have to teach them truths so they recognize lies.” Screen time, phones, tablets, computers…online predators, rule breaking, off the charts average daily screen times…parenting this generation of screen obsessed kids is so stressful. Most parents know that too much screen time, especially social media, is unhealthy for kids, but they don’t know how to set wise limits and teach their kids the “why” behind the rules. To...
Sep 12, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 124
We’re showing up. We’re doing the work. We see what we’re tasked with as women and now moms—that we need to heal wounds, mend relationships, set goals, establish our values, and act on them…but what are our options when it comes to getting support to help us do the internal work? When we think of seeking help some of the only things that come to mind are one on one sessions with a therapist and talk therapy. We’ve covered a few other options here on the podcast like brainspotting. But what else ...
Sep 04, 2021•54 min•Ep. 123
I would bet money that no one understands “vs. culture” better than moms. We’re thrown into it from the moment we decide to start trying or find out we’re pregnant. In an instant, we’re thrown into hospital birth vs. homebirth questions, breastfeeding vs. formula, cloth diapers vs. disposable, this brand vs. that brand, that car seat vs. this car seat. It’s overwhelming and at the end of the day feels like nothing less than a freight train of advertising campaigns, personal opinions that feel mo...
Aug 29, 2021•34 min•Ep. 122
“No good decision is made from fear.” This is a lively conversation! It’s basically a couple of long-time homeschoolers getting together to talk homeschool and share a wealth of information and passion with each other and you. Durenda Wilson is an interpreter of the heart. She understands what mamas think, feel, and worry about then shares insight with us in such a way that not only do we feel resourced but we feel equipped to move forward with confidence in our motherhood. We’ll be specifically...
Aug 21, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 121
“How do I want to feel today?” Are priorities and boundaries easy for you? Can you take a week off of work or a break from life and feel rested at the end of it? Are there moments in your life (like all of 2020 and now 2021) that have you feeling like you need to recover from an event or busy season? Gillian Behnke is here to share 6 ideas with us that can help us on our road to (much needed!) rest and recovery. All 6 ideas begin with the letter R...but by the time we ended our chat, we’d come u...
Aug 15, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 120
Today’s guest wrote a lovely, inspiring book called Growing Slow: Lessons on Unhurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl. I devoured this book. I experienced the blessed timing of reading this book right after the book from last week’s episode with Ginger Stache, Chasing Wonder: Small Steps Toward a Life of Big Adventure …and mamas, if I could recommend reading any two books back to back, it would be these two! In Growing Slow , Jennifer addresses all kinds of issues mamas struggle with a...
Aug 08, 2021•57 min•Ep. 119
We’re always chasing after something…why not chase after wonder? The world is filled with wonder. It’s also filled with messages of chaos, burn out, busy-ness, and overwhelm. This past year has been no exception—especially for moms. When I picked up Ginger Stache’s book Chasing Wonder , all of those life sucking messages seemed to disappear. It was like a pressure valve released in my life and I was free to see the wonder around me again. Ginger is a mom and author I am really excited to share w...
Jul 31, 2021•57 min•Ep. 118
“…(then there’s) the societal pressure, stigmas, & expectations that you have to choose one eating way, jump on that ship, then fire cannons at everybody else.” What motivates people to start businesses? Channels? Recipes? Blogs? And what inspires people to choose eating styles? Paleo? Keto? Vegan? Whole 30? What motivates people to do the two together and show up for others with ideas for eating? Maui Mama Jessica Ross is here with us today to share her heart behind her vegan cooking show L...
Jul 24, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 117
I’m sure I’m not the only one who is feeling ready for get togethers and BBQs and celebrations with friends and family. I personally love celebrating and eating together as much as possible…but I do know there is sometimes some trepidation when it comes to planning these kinds of events. Modern pressure tells us we need to host a Pinterest worthy celebration and nothing less. I think in our heart of hearts we know that’s not true, but that doesn’t always make the stress of party or meal prepping...
Jul 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 116
