Fresh Start Family Show

Latest Episodes:

Faith & Science, Side by Side (Trusting Your Intuition as a Parent) with Meaghan Hampton Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

What happens when your intuition as a parent… starts to conflict with what you’ve been taught about faith?

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Wendy sits down with former student and turned Christian counselor and parenting educator Meaghan Hampton to explore the tension so many parents feel between faith, science, and their own inner knowing.

Meaghan shares her journey from overwhelmed young mom to licensed counselor, and how learning about child development, attachment, and the nervous system completely shifted the way she understood both parenting and her relationship with God.

Together, they unpack the harm that can come from fear-based parenting models, the misconceptions around “biblical discipline,” and how faith and science were never meant to compete, but to beautifully support one another.

They also talk about what it really looks like to trust your intuition again, especially if you were raised to ignore it, and how humility, repair, and relationship are the true foundations of both healthy parenting and authentic faith.

This episode is a breath of fresh air for any parent who has ever thought…“there has to be a better way.”

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? Save your seatfor the FREE guide & workshop!

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There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: The Scandinavian Secret to Helping Your Kids Spend More Time Outside with Linda McGurk Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

What if the secret to raising calmer, healthier, more resilient kids… was as simple as getting outside more?

In this eye-opening conversation, Wendy sits down with author and outdoor advocate Linda McGurk to explore the Scandinavian philosophy that’s changing the way families think about childhood, nature, and everyday life.

Linda shares her journey from Sweden to the U.S., and the culture shock she experienced when she realized just how disconnected many families have become from the outdoors. From canceled recess to fear-based parenting, she began to see how modern life is quietly pulling kids away from one of the most essential parts of being human… nature.

They talk about the concept of friluftsliv (open-air living), why there’s truly no such thing as bad weather, and how outdoor play, even the messy, risky kind, is exactly what kids need to thrive.

This episode will gently challenge the way you think about safety, structure, and what it really means to support your child’s growth.

And it just might inspire you to open the door… and step outside together.

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? Save your seatfor the FREE guide & workshop!

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Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: How to Help Your Child Handle Emotions, Set Boundaries, and Build Emotional Strength with Alyssa Blask Campbell Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Wendy welcomes back Alyssa Blask Campbell, bestselling author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and Big Kids, Bigger Feelings, for a powerful conversation about helping older kids build emotional strength, navigate boundaries, and move through big feelings with support.

Alyssa shares why middle childhood is often overlooked, even though elementary-age kids are still developing major emotional regulation skills. Together, Wendy and Alyssa talk about why parents don’t need to fix every hard feeling, how co-regulation still matters as kids grow, and why strong boundaries help children feel safe when they’re offered with calm, clarity, and respect.

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠⁠⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠⁠⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? ⁠⁠Save your seat⁠⁠for the FREE guide & workshop!

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Better Ways to Read the Bible: (Engaging with Scripture in a Healthy, Accurate Way to Help You Raise Kids in a Faith They Don’t Have to Heal From) with Pastor Zach Lambert Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Wendy welcomes Pastor Zach Lambert, author of Better Ways to Read the Bible, for a hopeful and honest conversation about engaging with scripture in ways that bring life, not fear.

Zach shares how many people have experienced harm through rigid or fear-based interpretations of the Bible, and how a healthier, more Christ-centered approach can help families rebuild trust, deepen faith, and raise kids in a faith they don’t have to heal from later.

Together, Wendy and Zach explore why questions and doubts aren’t threats to faith, how harmful biblical interpretations often reveal themselves through bad fruit, and why parents can feel empowered to read scripture with humility, courage, and compassion.

This conversation is a beautiful invitation for parents who want their homes, churches, and faith communities to reflect the way of Jesus, rooted in love, justice, gentleness, and flourishing for all people.

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? ⁠Save your seat⁠for the FREE guide & workshop!

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How to Help Teens Delay Sexual Activity—Without Shame or Fear with Kimberly Wolf Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

What if the key to helping your teen make safer, more thoughtful choices around sex… wasn’t control, silence, or fear?

But connection, honesty, and real education?

In this powerful and refreshingly honest conversation, Wendy's joined by sex educator Kimberly Wolf to talk about how we can guide our kids through one of the most misunderstood (and often avoided) topics in parenting, without shame, awkwardness, or panic.

They dive into what kids are actually being exposed to these days (it’s a lot), why avoiding the conversation can backfire in big ways, and how simple, everyday moments can become opportunities to build trust, safety, and confidence in your child.

You’ll learn why kids who receive clear, respectful, fact-based education are actually more likely to delay sexual activity, and how to become the safe place your child turns to when it matters most.

This episode is honest, eye-opening, and incredibly empowering, no matter what your background or belief system is.

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? Save your seatfor the FREE guide & workshop!

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Raising Little Justice Leaders: Teaching Kids to Care, Speak Up, and Take Action with Shelby Kretz Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

How do we raise kids who care deeply, speak up with courage, and take meaningful action in the world?

In this important and timely conversation, Wendy sits down with Dr. Shelby Kretz, founder of Little Justice Leaders, to explore how parents can nurture empathy, awareness, and advocacy in their children, without fear, shame, or overwhelm.

Shelby breaks down what it really means to raise a “justice leader,” starting with everyday moments at home. From navigating tricky conversations about language and bias to helping kids understand history in an honest, age-appropriate way, this episode is packed with practical guidance and hope.

Together, they talk about how to approach hard topics with curiosity instead of judgment, why kids are more capable than we think, and how small, consistent conversations can shape a more compassionate next generation.

If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to your kids about fairness, inclusion, or standing up for others, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, empowered, and ready to lead.

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🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? ⁠Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today⁠!

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? Save your seatfor the FREE guide & workshop!

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Why We Keep Repeating the Pain: Healing Repetition Compulsion with Lauren Dollie Duke Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Why do we keep repeating the same painful patterns… even when we know better?

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Wendy sits down with somatic practitioner and author Lauren Duke to unpack the truth behind repetition compulsion, the unconscious pull that keeps us stuck in familiar cycles of pain, conflict, and disconnection.

Lauren shares the extraordinary story of walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago with her family, a bold, healing journey that helped her finally interrupt lifelong patterns of avoidance, reactivity, and emotional pain.

Together, they explore how our nervous systems are wired to repeat what hasn’t been resolved, how awareness creates the opportunity for change, and why real healing often begins when we’re willing to look in the mirror and take responsibility for our part.

This episode will challenge you, empower you, and remind you that even the deepest family wounds can be transformed.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/332 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of ⁠⁠Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home⁠⁠ today!

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠

🤫 Ready to learn my 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong Willed Kids? Save your seatfor the FREE guide & workshop!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Big Feelings, Big Faith: How to Help Kids Find Peace When Life Feels Scary with Dorena Williamson Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

How do we help our kids feel safe when the world feels scary?

In this deeply moving conversation, Wendy welcomes back author Dorena Williamson to talk about her newest children’s book, Every Breath, Every Blessing. Together, they explore how to support kids through big feelings, fear, grief, and uncertainty, while anchoring them in hope, faith, and emotional resilience.

Dorena shares the powerful story behind the book, written in the aftermath of tragedy in her Nashville community, and how it became a tool to help children (and adults) process hard moments with honesty and grace.

You’ll learn how to guide your kids in naming their emotions, using breath as a calming tool, and finding small glimpses of goodness even in the hardest seasons.

This episode is a gentle, grounding reminder that even when life feels overwhelming, we are not alone, and there is always a way back to peace, one breath at a time.

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Growth Mindset & Big Feelings: Yoga Practices That Support Kids with Lauren Chaitoff Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

What if yoga could help kids build resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence, without needing perfection, pressure, or performance?

In this episode, Wendy sits down with Lauren Chaitoff, founder of Yogi Beans, to talk about how yoga practices can support kids through big feelings, hard moments, and the everyday challenges of growing up.

Lauren shares how yoga helps children connect with their breath, bodies, emotions, and inner world in a way that builds self-awareness from the inside out. From holding a pose for one more breath to learning that “yoga is a practice, not a perfect,” this conversation is full of simple, doable ways to help kids grow resilience, self-compassion, and emotional steadiness.

If you’ve ever wished your child had more tools to calm their body, move through discomfort, or believe in themselves when something feels hard, this episode will feel like such a breath of fresh air.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/330 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of ⁠⁠Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home⁠⁠ today!

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠

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Why Celebration Matters: Breaking Free from Cynicism & Pessimism with Nicole Zasowski Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

What if joy isn’t something we wait for, but something we practice?

In this episode, Wendy sits down with marriage and family therapist and author Nicole Zasowski to talk about why celebration matters, especially in seasons when fear, grief, disappointment, or cynicism feel easier to reach for.

Nicole shares how her book What If It’s Wonderful? was born out of a long season of loss, infertility, and learning how to stop bracing for the worst when goodness finally arrived. Together, Wendy and Nicole explore how celebration can become a spiritual discipline, a parenting practice, and a powerful way to retrain our brains to notice God’s goodness in the middle of real life.

This conversation is full of hope for parents who feel stuck in pessimism, fear, or “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” and want to reclaim joy, practice thanksgiving, and help their kids feel deeply celebrated for who they are, not just what they do.

➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/329 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📕 Grab your copy of ⁠⁠Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home⁠⁠ today!

🌵 Raising a strong-willed cactus kid and need a little help? Grab my FREE 'Cactus Kids Survival Guide' today! ⁠https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/cactus⁠

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