Our Time to Rise in Midlife

Latest Episodes:

Ep.519: The Questions Get Bigger: Talking About Adoption with Teens and Young Adults with Sherri Crandall Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Most resources around adoption focus on early childhood—when questions are simple and development is more predictable. But what happens when our kids become teens and young adults, and the questions grow deeper?

In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Crandall, children's book author and VP of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The MomCo, Sherri opens up about her family's path to adoption and the evolving conversations she's having now with her daughter, Lexi, as she steps into adulthood.

Together we explore:

Why it's important to invite young adults to lead conversations about identity, heritage, and belonging
How to honor each child's unique story, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all narrative
Practical ways to help adopted young people connect to their cultural roots

If you're a parent, family member, or anyone who loves an adopted child, this episode is especially for you. Join us as we dive into what it really means to walk alongside someone through adoption during the teen and young adult years.

FIND MORE ABOUT SHERRI CRANDALL

Sherri Crandall's – Website and Instagram

Sherri Crandall's Book- Lexi the Butterfly

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

If you are not adopted, consider for a moment what it would be like to enter adulthood with no connections to your birth family, what questions would you picture rising up in you?
If you are an adoptive parent, how can you let your child or young-adult lead the conversation around adoption?
How can you honor your child's heritage and birth family in both your traditions and conversations?
What message do you want to make sure they know from you?

LET'S CONNECT!

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Ep.518: Giving Your Children Unconditional Love with John Trent and Kari Trent Stageberg Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

John Trent and his daughter Kari Trent Stageberg understand family dynamics. They want families to be strong and welcoming. But how? How do you offer a blessing to those you hold most dear? The father-daughter duo take a fresh approach to the classic book The Blessing to encourage families today to incorporate key Biblical elements so that kids grow up knowing they are loved. Parents are setting patterns for future relationships.

Parents pay attention. No matter the age of your children - you can give them building blocks to receive God's love. Push play on this episode for more.

FIND MORE ABOUT JOHN AND KARI

John Trent's – Website and Instagram

Kari Trent Stageberg - Website and Instagram

John and Kari's Book- The Blessing

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Books

The Merge for Marriage

Bible verses

Quote

"It's not that we fear God's best, we fear how painful His best can be" Cs Lewis

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

Who was it who looked at you with unconditional love and acceptance?
What part of this interview felt most relevant to your life now?
If you could make one shift or change based on what John and Kari said, what would it be?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.517: Motherhood is Not Your Highest Calling with Vicki Courtney Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Motherhood and identity often get so tightly woven together that it feels impossible to separate the two. But what if motherhood isn't our highest calling? What if it's a beautiful and significant part of who we are, but not the ultimate definition of our purpose?

As our children grow, into their teen and young adult years especially, it becomes crucial to rediscover and redefine who we are beyond motherhood.

Today, we are joined by author and speaker Vicki Courtney. Vicki is not only a seasoned writer but also a mother who has walked this journey, learning how to release control and embrace life outside of her children.

Moms, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. It's a timely reminder that while motherhood matters deeply, your ultimate identity rests in something far greater.

FIND MORE ABOUT VICKI COURTNEY

Vicki Courtney's – Website and Instagram

Vicki Courtney's Book- Motherhood Is Not Your Highest Calling

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Vicki's other books

-Move On

-5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter

-5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

How does it sit with you to hear that motherhood is not your highest calling?
How can we be more intentional about how we speak about our calling and identity with our children?
What can you do to cultivate intimacy and growth in your marriage in this season or this week?
What can you do to cultivate parts of yourself toward growth and discovery?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.516: The Critical Role of Friendship with Toni Collier Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Life is not meant to be lived alone. Throw some midlife stress in the mix and we really aren't meant to handle life's storms without the scaffolding of a community of friends. Toni Collier joins us to share her experience facing huge life challenges and how her friends were there in her darkest moments.

What does friendship look like these days for you? Do you feel like you are pulled in multiple directions? You have guilt you haven't offered your friends more of your attention? How about vulnerability? Are you willing to trust those around you? How about repairing when things have been fractured? How can you find friends if you are feeling all alone?

We talk through the unique aspects of female friendships in midlife. How to discern who to invest in, who to hold tight, and who to welcome to the larger group. If you are lonely this episode is for you. If you are exhausted this episode is for you. If you want to be a good friend to those around you this episode is for you.

FIND MORE ABOUT TONI COLLIER

Toni Collier's – Website and Instagram

Toni Collier's Book- Don't Try This Alone

Toni Collier's Podcast- Still Coloring

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

-Kurk Thompsons Concept

(To be Seen, Soothed, Safe and Secure)

-Jim Murphy Book- Inner Excellence

-Lysa TerKeurst Book's- Good Boundaries and Goodbyes

- Forgiving What You Can't Forget

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

In what area of your life have you been isolating or hiding?
Who could you bring into your close circle?
If there is one thing you are taking away from this interview, what would it be?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.515: Parenting in the Next Chapter - Shifting Your Role as Kids Grow Up with Catherine Hickem Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Parenting doesn't stop when our kids turn 18, but it sure does change. In this episode, we're talking about what it really looks like to navigate the young adult years with these children we love so much.

We dig into that tricky shift, moving from the role of "director" to more of a "guide on the side." You'll hear honest insights about letting go, building trust, and learning how to communicate in a way that actually works for this new season.

It's not always easy, especially when every instinct tells you to jump in and fix things, but there's real beauty when we step back, trust our kids' choices, and cheer them on.

Joining us for this episode is Catherine Hickem, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and the founder of Parenting Adult Children Today. With over 40 years of experience in parenting and therapy, Catherine is dedicated to equipping parents with the tools needed to love and support their adult children effectively.

If you're ready to build healthier, stronger connections with your adult kids (and maybe even enjoy the ride a little more), this conversation is for you.

FIND MORE ABOUT CATHERINE HICKEM

Catherine Hickem – Website and Instagram

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

Is there an expectation you need to grieve when it comes to your adult children inorder to enter with curiosity into their lives?
What would a pause or a statement look like if you don't know how to respond?
Is there a conversation that needs to be had, in order to move forward with a young adult child?
Is there any anger you need to get underneath and what fear or sadness lies underneath that anger?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.514: Messages We Pass to Our Children About What God Says About Us with Hosanna Wong Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Hosanna Wong has been traveling the country (literally, you need to listen to her story) and speaking to women about what it means to know and and believe what God says about us. Our pathway to freedom is allowing God's good words in Scripture to meet us in our daily experiences. It's through the everyday soaking that we can know God better and therefore know ourselves better.

We know that childhood messages can set a trajectory for identity and so we talk about how to both counter negative messages we've absorbed along the way, and offer words of hope to future generations. Hosanna is now married and a (little) more settled in San Diego, but she still travels frequently to present to groups about God's love for them.. She often hears women say they wished they'd known and absorbed these messages earlier in life, and so she has created a children's book titled, What God Says About You.

Listening to Hosanna's story, her thoughts on friendship, faith, and truth, will remind you of how dramatically God can intervene in each of our hearts. We can live in freedom. Our first step is listening to what God says about us.

FIND MORE ABOUT HOSANNA WONG

Hosanna Wong's - Website and Instagram

Hosanna Wong's Book- What God Says About You

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Poem- I Have a New Name

Book- Live no Lies by John Mark Comer

Book- You are More Than You've Been Told by Hosanna Wong

Book- The Seven Primal Questions by Mike Foster

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

How do messages from your childhood impact your understanding of who you are?
How are you learning about who God says you are?
How can you spend time in scripture that works for how you are wired?
In what ways is God calling you to move forward in freedom?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.513: How to Make the Most of Counseling in Midlife with Dr. Terri Watson Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Midlife can feel like standing at a crossroads - full of change, transition, and often, questions we didn't expect. It's a season that can shake our confidence, but it's also a powerful invitation to pause, reflect, and grow.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Terri Watson, a board-certified clinical psychologist, to explore how counseling can be a life-giving tool for women in midlife. Dr. Watson shares wisdom on when therapy might be especially helpful, the unique benefits of returning to counseling at different stages of life, and what to consider when choosing between online and in-person sessions.

Whether you've been curious about therapy or are simply navigating the uncertainties of midlife, this conversation will encourage you to embrace support and step more fully into who you're becoming.

FIND MORE ABOUT DR. TERRI WATSON

Dr. Terri's Book- The Client's Guide to Therapy

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Soul Collage

The Book of Romans on Hope

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

What thinking has blocked you from considering counselling?
How might God use counselling as a vehicle for healing in your life?
Who could help you find trusted counsellor in your area?
If you did the visualization exercise, how can you keep your word or phrase accessible for when you need it?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.512: The Spiritual Practice (and Power) of Stretching and Breathing with Whitney Simpson Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Our bodies need our attention. When stress comes knocking, we often don't realize how much we hold. We need a way to slow down and release the physical tension. Our guest Whitney Simpson discovered this need after a major medical crisis. Stretching and holding poses through yoga allowed her to be fully present in her skin while praying and meditating. A Christian spiritual director - she helps people work through practices that are attuned to their whole selves.

Much of what we talk about on this episode has to do with slowing down and noticing what is happening in our bodies. It is tempting to ignore how our bodies keep the score, but ignoring doesn't offer what we need. Our bodies need our attention.

In a stage of life where you may be caring for people above and below you in age, working hard at your paid job, and feeling new aches and pains, it is often easier to push aside physical discomfort or tension than to acknowledge it. This episode will remind you how to be present enough to notice what your body is carrying and how God can meet you in your movement and breath.

FIND MORE ABOUT WHITNEY SIMPSON

Whitney Simpson- Website

Whitney Simpson Book- With God in Every Breath

Whitney Simpson Podcast- Exploring Peace Meditations

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Whitney's Other Books

Hebrew "ruach", "nouma"- Breath, Spirit or Wind

Alex Kuykendall's Book- Loving My Actual Life

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

If you were to choose one word to describe your relationship with your body now, what would it be?
Where in your day could you build in the habit of taking several deep breaths or practicing breath prayer?
What practice can you put into place to feel more integrated with your body?
Is there a time in the next few days, you could commit to 10minutes of meditation?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.511: Faith + Science: understanding divine creation through the natural world with Dr. William West Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how science can actually deepen your faith and help you know God more fully?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. William West—respected medical doctor, author of Sacred Science, and someone whose own life has been shaped by both the lab and his faith. Together, we explore how faith and science aren't enemies at all, but beautifully woven together in ways that reveal the wonder of God's creation.

Dr. West shares moving stories from his work in oncology and his personal journey of belief, showing how each breakthrough in science can point us closer to the Creator. You'll hear about the divine fingerprints hidden in the details of the universe—and how scripture and scientific discovery can speak in harmony.

If you've ever felt torn between your faith and your curiosity, this conversation will remind you: God is the Author of it all.

FIND MORE ABOUT DR. WILLIAM WEST

Dr. William Book- Sacred Science

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

What has been your understanding of the connection between science and faith?
What did you learn in this interview that reinforced your faith?
How can we consider more of what is happening around us and how it reflects God's creation?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Ep.510: A Checklist for Parenting Young Adults PART 2 with Krista Gilbert and Alex Kuykendall Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

You have controlled some aspect of your child's life their entire life and now you are expected to let go?! To let them make mistakes and decisions without you?! Yes and no. Yes to letting go and making decisions on their own. But you don't have to leave them completely alone. This is the fine line of parenting young adults, you are now the coach.

In the second part of this two-part conversation, Krista and Alex talk through some of the ways they are letting go as they launch young adults toward independence. There is no one, right way. However there are questions we can ask ourselves as we enter conversations and decisions with intention. What do we pay for? And for how long? Do we speak up if we see a red flag in a relationship? What about when they need to move back home?

We know that parenting young adults in today's world can feel a bit like running in the dark. We are here to say you are not alone and this is your moment to rise to meet the newest challenge of the day!

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Phrases to use on your young adult

That sounds really hard.
I know you will make a thoughtful decision.
I believe you will find the courage you need to get through this.
You're made for good things and that doesn't change based on what happens today.
I know this is your decision, I trust you'll figure it out and I am cheering for you.

Quotes

"Adolescents may also share what's on their minds as a way to spill their jumbled thoughts on the table where they can survey and perhaps organize them. Adults can help create the space teenagers need to do this. So long as we remember to listen without interrupting and hold back from adding our own thoughts to the pile. Much of what bothers teenagers cannot be solved. We can't fix their broken hearts, prevent their social dramas, or do anything about the fact that they have three huge tests scheduled for the same day. But having a problem is not nearly so bad as feeling utterly alone with it." Lisa Demore

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

How can you take on more of a coaching role with your young adult?
What part of your relationship could use some clarity and how can you be kind through clarity this week?
How can you encourage your young adult to create a web of supportive relationships?
How can you live your faith out authentically in front of the young adults in your life?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

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