Lighten Up with Melanie Dale

Latest Episodes:

Lighten Up #103: Lesley Miller Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

We're in the middle of our series, lighten up about illness, and today I'm talking with my friend Lesley Miller. Lesley and I met through Coffee+Crumbs, she's an incredible writer, and she's currently going through what she calls her second cancer year. Her husband Jonathan had cancer, and now her son Owen was diagnosed last October and has been going through treatment. We chat about the differences and similarities between adult cancer and childhood cancer, and how it's impacted her life and her other kids. Lesley shares what cancer has taught her, how they're coping and lightening up in the middle of this, and how she deals with the emotional burden of caring for her family. She says that the biggest gift people can give to people going through illness is seeing them. She shares how can we support our friends with kids dealing with life-threatening illnesses and advises us to let the parents take the lead. And maybe my favorite part of the interview is her insight into lightening up, how she sees two parts to lightening up - the soul work part and the everyday fun stuff. You have to do the first one in order to have the second. Lesley is incredibly helpful and insightful so if you have people in your life currently walking through childhood cancer and you're wondering how to support them, this is the perfect conversation for you, so listen in and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James
The American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan
Twirl by Callie Feyen

Lighten Up #102: Niki Hardy Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

Today I'm talking with Niki Hardy, author of the new book Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart. Niki is a cancer survivor and she shares how her diagnosis affected her, how she handled telling her kids, parenting with cancer, and how humor helped her and her kids get through her cancer treatments. Also, uh, Niki had rectal cancer, so yeah, heck yeah, we talk about poop. She says, "You're never too young to love your bum." I know this is a conversation about cancer, but it's uplifting and hopeful and will help you reevaluate how you approach life...and also nudge you to get regular checkups and listen to your body. As Niki wisely shares, "Life doesn't have to be pain-free to be full," so listen in and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Preorder Niki's book, Breathe Again: How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart

Connect with Niki:

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Small Great Things and A Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman (Emily was on episode #29 of Lighten Up Podcast!)

Lighten Up #101: Lighten Up...about Illness? Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

Check check, is this thing on? Well hi there. I guess I'm back from hiatus and ready for more podcastery, so I thought I'd start with something super fun and light...illness? I know, illness is not historically a light topic, but we do learn coping tactics for getting through. How do we not descend into hopelessness when we're battling health problems? Today I kick off a new series in which I interview people dealing with various illnesses and how they learn to lighten up in the midst of the hard stuff. For this first episode, I interview myself. I talk about my endometriosis and also supporting loved ones with mental illness, ADHD, trauma, and autism. I also share how I learned to throw out expectations for what life would look like and my daily practice for lightening up. I always say that laughter makes us brave. Life's too long to take the whole thing seriously, so listen in, and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Lighten Up #100: ONE HUNDRED. We did it. I need a nap. Nov 27, 2018

Show notes

I'm celebrating my 100th episode! ONE HUNDRED. This reminds me of the 100th day of school shenanigans when our kids have to bring in 100 items and dress up like 100-year-old people. It's basically, "Let's work in another stupid spirit day." I will not make you do homework to observe this 100th episode milestone, although if you want to celebrate by leaving me a review on iTunes, I would love that so much. I'm celebrating the day by sharing some big news that I've wanted to tell you for a while. I've got stuff percolating over here, and it starts with a broken promise. So listen to the episode to find out what's up, and then, my buddy Sarah Bragg and I talk about work, career, and purpose for our final monthly crossover of the year. We share funny stories from our first jobs, chat about what our dream jobs would be, and discuss how we can find our purpose, whether that's parenting, a dream job, or a dream-adjacent job, something you never thought you'd be doing. It's all important, and how do we figure out what we're supposed to be doing with our lives? Join us to discuss all the things, listen in, and lighten up!

Links from the show:

Coffee+Crumbs "Exhale" community
Big Magic
Check out my new book, Infreakinfertility
Sign up to be email friends with me
Surviving Sarah Podcast – check out the other half of our conversation on work and purpose!
Go be friends with Sarah Bragg!

Lighten Up #99: Alia Joy Nov 13, 2018

Show notes

Today I'm talking with Alia Joy, author of Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in All We Lack. We start out trading colonoscopy stories. Anytime I can exchange poop stories with someone I'm pretty much in heaven. You know. After that, we chat about how we need to lighten up about grammar, then Alia shares about living with bipolar disorder, how she was diagnosed, and the stigma of mental illness. I know I'm not supposed to have favorite episodes but this one is so good. It's my favorite balance of fun and serious. Mental illness can feel so isolating, and Alia's openness with hers sheds light and helps us understand, empathize, and feel less alone. Whether you've had a colonoscopy, struggle with mental illness, or love someone who does, listen in and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Preorder Alia's new book, Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in All We Lack
Find Alia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Alia's website

Alia's essays:

Lighten Up #98: Shannan Martin Nov 06, 2018

Show notes

Today I'm soooo excited for you to get to know Shannan Martin. Shannan is one of my faves. She's wise and fun and I just love the way she's living her life. She's got a new book out, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and we talk about what led her to move from her dream farmhouse in the country to a life in the city. She shares about adopting four kids, including a 19-year-old son who was incarcerated, putting her kids into a "failing" public school with one of the highest poverty rates in the state, and what she's learning with a son who has been incarcerated about the school to prison pipeline. We chat about standing with our neighbors, how to be a good neighbor, and what it looks like to make yourself available and show up for them. Whether you live in the country, the city, or the suburbs like me, there's good stuff here for all of us, unless you live in a yurt on a mountain by yourself...no, even you, yurt-dweller. There's something here for you, too, so listen in, and lighten up.

Quotes from the show:

"People say we need to bring God back in the schools. God is just already there."
"Don't let fear of the unknown hold you back from getting a clear vision of what the kingdom of God looks like."

Links from the show:

Check out Shannan's new book, The Ministry of Ordinary Places
Find Shannan on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
Shannan's first book, Falling Free
David Platt's Radical sermon series
Radical book
Kisses from Katie, Amazima ministry
Kisses from Katie book
My new book, Infreakinfertility

Lighten Up #97: Failure Crossover with Sarah Bragg Oct 30, 2018

Show notes

Today, Sarah Bragg and I are talking about failure on our monthly crossover episode. We pick all the super fun topics. But first, we give kind of an update about our weird fears, she with her extreme fear of a certain violent woodland animal and me with my terror of airborne mating plants. It's a whole thing. Anyway, then we chat about epic celebrity fails and our own personal fails and you guys, this is all soooo embarrassing and should make you feel better or at least in good company. We discuss how you handle failure and also how do you help your kids navigate failure and build resilient kids. Failure is so fun! Hey, we've all been there, so listen in and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Check out my new book, Infreakinfertility
Sign up to be email friends with me
Surviving Sarah Podcast – check out the other half of our conversation on big fat failure!
Go be friends with Sarah Bragg!

Lighten Up #96: Infreakinfertility with Alex Dale Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

Hey and welcome to episode 96 of Lighten Up with Melanie Dale. AND Alex Dale. Because today my husband is joining me to talk about our new book, Infreakinfertility: How to Survive When Getting Pregnant Gets Hard, which is available today! This book has been a dream of mine for many, many years and today I can say, it’s here! Please visit the Amazon and go buy it! Maybe listen to this podcast while you do. Alex and I chat about two main things, our experience with infertility and our experience working together on this book. Lemme just mention here at the beginning in case you’re cranking this podcast around small children, we’re going to be talking a bit about reproductive biology, so…biological terminology ahead. Peach and eggplant emojis, people. Peaches and eggplants. You’ve been warned. So whether you’re dealing with infertility yourself, have a loved one who is, or have experienced the joys and challenges of working with your partner on a project, or appreciate a good penis illustration, there’s something here for everyone, so listen in and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Check out Infreakinfertility: How to Survive When Getting Pregnant Gets Hard
Get a monthly email from Melanie with stories, updates, and fun things
Subscribe to Lighten Up on iTunes or on Stitcher

Lighten Up #95: Tricia Goyer Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

Today I'm talking with Tricia Goyer, author of several million books and mother of several billion kids, about her new book, Calming Angry Kids. Um, you guys, does anybody else have some kids who get a little ragey from time to time or maybe a lot? I mean, don't raise your hand, but I will quietly fist bump you without naming names. Tricia has dealt with some serious anger in her home and offers us some great advice. We talk about how to calm your kids down when they're angry, how to handle it when your kid's anger is directed at you, and most importantly, how to build a relationship with your angry kid when it's hard. I wish I had Tricia on speed dial when things heat up around here, but I have the next best thing, our conversation today. If the anger is burning red hot and heavy, listen in and lighten up!

Links from the show:

Check out Calming Angry Kids
If you liked this conversation, Tricia was on episode #45, too!
Find Tricia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Tricia’s site

Lighten Up #94: Kay Wyma Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

Today I'm talking with author and host of the Say Something Show, Kay Wyma. We chat about that time she freaked out the Secret Service, which was probably a little nerve-wracking in the moment but hilarious now. Then we talk about her book, Not the Boss of Us. Do you ever face overwhelming pressures and expectations or do you find yourself trying to help your kids with pressure at school or with friends? Kay talks about replacing our fears with truth and shares how we can stop feeling so overwhelmed. If the weight of the world is pressing down on you, listen in, and lighten up.

Links from the show:

Check out Kay's new book, Not the Boss of Us
Find Kay on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Say Something Show
Pre-order my new book releasing October 23, Infreakinfertility: How to Survive When Getting Pregnant Gets Hard

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