The SavvyCast

Latest Episodes:

The Truth About Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. and How to Prepare for the Worst May 19, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Shawn Rowland, CEO and founder of JASE Medical, joins me to share about the importance of medical preparedness.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, Dr. Shawn Rowland joins me to share about his company JASE Medical. Dr. Rowland is the founder and CEO of JASE Medical, a company dedicated to medical preparedness. By creating JASE Medical, Dr. Rowland aims to make medications easily accessible for people in case of any medical shortages or emergencies. In this episode, he shares all about how JASE Medical works, what causes medical shortages, and so much more!

Who Is Dr. Shawn Rowland?

Dr. Rowland is a board-certified family medicine physician. He trained at academic institutions and community hospitals across the country and has extensive experience administering care to underserved populations. His experiences working on our Southern border during COVID-19 ultimately led him to form JASE Medical as a means of furthering his mission to empower everyone to be better prepared medically.

Outside of his work, Dr. Rowland, his wife, and 4 girls enjoy hiking and skiing in the mountains of northern Utah where they reside.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What is JASE Medical? How did it come to be?
How does JASE Medical work?
What caused medical shortages within the last few years?
How is JASE Medical making antibiotics and other medications easily accessible?
Why is it important to get a JASE Case or JASE Daily?
What changes need to be made so that medical production and shortages are no longer a national security concern?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Jase Medical Website - Use code "SAVVY" for $10 off!
Instagram: @jasemedical

I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be SO appreciated! If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on Youtube. Blessings to you!!!

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Patient Health Advocate: Why it's Important to be Proactive with your Healthcare with Krista Hughes

3 Main Movements to Yield the Greatest Health ROI

A Candid Conversation with the Tarence Girls on Having Jamie As a Mom May 12, 2023

Show notes

In this special Mother's Day episode, my three daughters Ellie, Jud, and Emma join me to share all about what it is like to have me as their mother.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, I am joined by three very special guests! My three daughters Ellie, Jud, and Emma join me for a special Mother's Day episode. They share all about their experiences growing up and what it is like having me as a mom. There is no such thing as a perfect mother, and I hope other parents can glean something from listening to our experience. We had such a fun time recording this episode together, and we hope you have just as much fun listening!

Get To Know My Three Daughters:

Ellie is our first child and is the typical firstborn. She is an Enneagram 3 and is driven, goal-oriented, and independent.
Jud is our second daughter and is an Enneagram 2. She is joyful, a peacemaker, deceptively competitive, a mother to all, and wants everyone to be happy.
Emma is our youngest and is our "unicorn" daughter. She is an Enneagram 4, relational, spookily discerning, fun-loving, candid, and direct.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What do you think about when you think of your childhood?
How would you describe Jamie's personality in just a few words?
What do you think Jamie could improve upon as a mom?
What advice would you give to mothers?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review, and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be SO appreciated. If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on YouTube. Blessings to you!

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Let's Talk Common Sense and Biblically Based Parenting with Steve Hines

Zane Shares Insights on Fatherhood, Parenting, Marriage & More

Let's Talk Common Sense and Biblically Based Parenting with Steve Hines May 05, 2023

Show notes

Parenting children in today's culture can be extremely tricky to navigate. In this episode, author Steven Hines joins me to share his valuable and insightful parenting advice.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, Steven Hines joins me to discuss his book Salt, Light, & Kids. In this book, Steven shares how to raise children to be the salt of the earth and light of the world our culture desperately needs. Steven and his wife are long-time friends of mine and Zane's, and we have had the privilege of witnessing them parent their children first-hand. They have also provided valuable advice to us as we raised our three girls. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone seeking out Biblically sound, practical advice on parenting. In this episode, Steven shares what led him to write Salt, Light, & Kids, how to navigate today's cultural challenges, how to raise children to have servants' hearts, and so much more!

Who Is Steven Hines?

Steven Hines lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been married to his high school sweetheart, Leigh Ann, for 35 years. They have invested in the lives of younger parents for decades, both through parenting study groups and in one-on-one relationships. As the father of two adult children and the grandfather of two little girls, Steve's passion for families continues to grow as the challenges of the present culture intensify. Steve is a former C.P.A., a life-long entrepreneur, a junior high and high school lacrosse coach, and an ardent musician.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What is the meaning behind the title–Salt, Light, & Kids?
What motivated Steve to write this book?
How do we as parents protect our children from the confusion of the world's values?
What is the difference between love and acceptance?
What is the concept of living a "simple life" & why is it important to not always have a busy schedule?
How do you provide your children with the best lives you can possibly give them while also not just handing them things throughout their life?
What are practical ways that we can raise our children to have servants' hearts?
What advice would Steven give to parents about their children with social media?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Buy Salt, Light, & Kids on Amazon
Buy Salt, Light, & Kids at Barnes and Noble
Listen to Salt, Light, & Kids on Audible
Follow Steve on Instagram: @saltlightandkids

Article Sources Referenced In This Episode:

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Jamie Announces New Role With Birmingham/Nashville Christian Family Magazines

How Apogee Strong's Mentorship Program Turns Young Men Into Tomorrow's Leaders

Jamie Announces New Role With Birmingham/Nashville Christian Family Magazines Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The Savvy Cast, Laurie Franklin joins me to share all about Birmingham Christian Family magazine. Laurie is the founder of The Christian Family Publication, which produces the Birmingham Christian Family and the Nashville Christian Family. In this episode, Laurie shares how she founded The Christian Family Publication, the different resources BCF offers, and how the publication provides great tools, testimonials, and community support to families in Birmingham.

Who Is Laurie Stroud Franklin?

Laurie Franklin is the founder of The Christian Family Publication, Inc. based in Birmingham, Ala. The company published its first magazine, Birmingham Christian Family, in 2000. Since then, similar publications have been added in other markets including Nashville, TN. The goal of the publications is to spread Good News in communities across America. Laurie grew up in Birmingham, AL the daughter of a Lutheran minister. She attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, and graduated with honors in English. She pursued a career in broadcast journalism, serving as a medical reporter and news anchor. Later as the founder and editor of a national health magazine, she developed and implemented public relations and advertising campaigns for a national health corporation. She is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses entrepreneurship program. She and her husband Adam Franklin are the proud parents of five sons.

What Is Birmingham Christian Family?

Birmingham Christian Family was founded in 2000 as part of The Christian Family Publication with a desire to help connect families to their community for family-friendly fun, faith-based events and to connect those who are suffering trials and tribulations in their life with resources to help them walk through those hardships.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What is The Christian Family Publication?
What is Birmingham Christian Family?
How does Birmingham Christian Family provide readers with resources?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be SO appreciated. If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on YouTube. Blessings to you!

How Apogee Strong's Mentorship Program Turns Young Men Into Tomorrow's Leaders Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Matt Beaudreau shares about Apogee Strong, his company dedicated to instilling character and leadership in men through mentorship.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, Matt Beaudreau joins me to talk about his mission to provide young men with sound mentorship. He believes that today's young men are tomorrow's leaders and is passionate about mentoring to build character and leadership. This passion led him to co-found Apogee Strong, which is an online mentoring program for young men and fathers. In this episode, Matt shares the details of his company, why male mentorship is especially important today, as well as what resources he recommends to help parents home-educate their children.

Who Is Matt Beaudreau?

As a keynote speaker, consultant, and coach to organizations around the world, Matt Beaudreau's clients have ranged from Wells Fargo, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin to American Eagle, Cedars-Sinai, and the United States Air Force. Matt has a reputation as a provocative thought leader in educational and personal development practices. He is a two-time featured TEDx speaker and he was named Corporate Trainer of the Year at Stanford University, having spoken to over 250,000 people across the world.

In 2017, Matt Beaudreau founded Acton Academy Placer Schools; schools that utilize the Socratic method, with an emphasis on self-direction and cultivating confident, independent young people with a strong sense of character and personal responsibility. He has since helped to open multiple campuses around the world.

Pulling from his experience in the Acton model, in January of 2021, Matt co-founded Apogee Strong with Tim Kennedy. Apogee Strong is a mentorship program designed for young men ages 12-22 to take on challenges presented by men who have come before them, in order to learn to lead. It is a right of passage through mentorship, action, and self-discovery so that young men can become true leaders. This has blossomed into a mission to bring back classic masculinity in the home and fueled the launch of the Apogee Strong Dads Program in 2023.

His podcast, The Essential 11, is also geared towards emerging leaders, garnering advice from the world's leaders in business, sports, music, and entertainment.

Last, but certainly not least; Matt is the founder of the Apogee Strong Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 that provides scholarships for school, experience, camp, and leadership opportunities for young men around the world.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

How did Apogee Strong come to be?
What are some of the biggest challenges and obstacles for men today?
How are school systems failing young people?
What are good options for home education when parents work outside of the home?
How can parents/guardians have the resources to home-educate their children?
What are the benefits of Apogee Strong?
What is in the future for Apogee Strong?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Acton Academy
Apogee Strong
@mattbeaudreau on Instagram
@apogeeprogram on Instagram
To help fund scholarships for Apogee Strong, listeners can donate here

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Zane Shares Insights on Fatherhood, Parenting, Marriage & More

How to Mentor Young Men to be Their Best Selves

Mother of the Bride Tips to Look & Feel Your Best on Their Big Day Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to your son or daughter's wedding day, it is so important to feel your best! In this episode, I share how I am preparing to get "wedding ready" for my daughter's special day.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, I am sharing my top recommendations for how to prepare for your son or daughter's wedding day! A wedding is an incredibly special day for the entire family, and there are plenty of things you can do as the mother of the bride or mother of the groom to prepare for your child's big day. In this episode, I get raw and real about how I am preparing to look and feel my best for my daughter's upcoming wedding.

A Few Things To Consider For Your Child's Special Day:

Teeth whitening
Hair extensions/Toppers/Highlights- For more information on this, check out this blog post about hair extensions and this podcast!
Brazilian Blowout or Smoothing Treatment for your hair
Cosmetic Procedures- A CO2 Laser procedure helps with sun damage and hyperpigmentation.
Botox- Jamie recommends getting this done 2-3 weeks before the wedding.
Brow Lamination/Tint- Check out this podcast episode for more information about brow lamination.
Cheek/Lip Filler

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Reveal Beauty website- Dr. Michael Clinton performed my cosmetic surgery and also does my lip filler. If you're interested in having a C02 laser procedure done, mention Family Savvy for 20% off at Reveal Beauty.
For filler, I also recommend my dermatologist, Dr. Jo Lynn Herzog.
RawwBeauty- Deanna Irwin at RawwBeauty does my brows.

If you like this podcast, check these out:

My Tips and Top Picks for Dresses for Mother-of-the-Bride (and Bride-to-Be)

Why Brows Should be a Beauty Routine Priority + Options for Making Them Beautiful

Patient Health Advocate: Why it's Important to be Proactive with your Healthcare with Krista Hughes Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

Krista Hughes, a nationally acclaimed patient health advocate, joins me to share about the importance of patient advocacy.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, Krista Hughes joins me to discuss patient health advocacy. Krista has over 25 years of medical experience and now serves as a nationally acclaimed patient advocate. She has clients all over the US, and she focuses on any type of healthcare. In this episode, Krista shares exactly what patient advocacy is, who can benefit from it, and how to be proactive about your health care!

Who Is Krista Hughes?

Krista Hughes, BCPA, is a board-certified patient advocate and founder & CEO of Hughes Advocacy. Ms. Hughes advocates for better health care for her clients in Alabama and elsewhere. She has over 25 years of experience working in the medical industry, where she equips, empowers, educates, and teaches patients how to get the best care they need and deserve. Ms. Hughes has emerged as a national advocate for patients. She was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Beccera to serve a three-year term on the National Advisory Council (NAC) for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

A resident of Birmingham, Ms. Hughes is the first Alabamian known to have ever served on the prestigious council that addresses the quality of care in the United States. Additionally, she is an ambassador and committed partner with the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, a Patients for Patient Safety US Champion, a member of the National Patient Safety Board, and an active member of the Greater National Advocates Organization and Solace Health. She is also an APHA Emeritus member of The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA), a former Board President of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC), a former Board Member of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, and a former Emerging Leader of The Women's Network (TWN).

Ms. Hughes believes in healthcare for all; patients should be treated equally with dignity, compassion, and respect. It is an honor and privilege to assist patients and their loved ones in their healthcare journey. Ms. Hughes is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of Alabama, where she earned a degree in communicative disorders.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What is a patient advocate? How did it become Krista's passion & profession?
What is Hughes Advocacy?
How frequently do people die from preventable medical errors?
What are the most common kinds of medical errors?
How can someone be proactive with their healthcare?
What does a patient advocate do? Why is it important to have one?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Vaginal Health: Best Practices + Tips with Lizzie Harbin

3 Main Movements to Yield the Greatest Health ROI

Building beyond Grief: Morgan Cheek's story of the loss of her twins, international adoption, and business built to help others cope Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

Morgan Creek joins me to share the powerful story of losing her twin daughters to a rare genetic mutation called HECW2. She shares about her daughters' diagnoses, her family's grieving process, and how this experience has changed her own platform.

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, Morgan Cheek of @seedsandleaven joins me to share her powerful testimony. Morgan and her husband had twin girls who were diagnosed with HECW2. HECW2 is an incredibly rare genetic mutation, and her girls were two of only seven children in the world to have it at the time. In this episode, Morgan shares about grieving her twin daughters, the process of adopting her son, and how she began WinMo Fitness to help people cope with trauma while building a healthy lifestyle.

Who Is Morgan Cheek?

Morgan Cheek is the author of three books, the latest being Even In Darkness. She is the co-owner of WinMo Fitness, an online fitness company that specializes in fitness programming, nutrition coaching, and coaching accountability. Morgan has her Master's in Social Work, and WinMo Fitness also partners with studios and retreat centers to do conferences that focus on the mind/body connection and how the power of movement can tremendously help with trauma and stress.

She and her husband, Hugh, have three children- two in heaven, Bailey Grace (6) and Ally (7), and one on earth, James (who was adopted from China at the age of 7 and is now 11). Morgan is passionate about helping people believe they are already loved and accepted by God as is. She longs to help others understand how to live their best, authentic lives in the midst of all seasons. Additionally, Morgan is an endurance athlete who loves any kind of physical challenge. You won't ever come to her house without finding several candles lit-and probably her latest baking project, too.

Questions Answered In This Episode:

What is HECW2?
Did Morgan have any help when caring for her twin girls?
What was the adoption process like for adopting their son?
What symptoms did her twins experience as a result of HECW2?
When Bailey Grace passed, did Morgan know that Ally was also going to pass?
What has the grieving process been like for the entire family?
How has Morgan's platform changed over time and what is it like now?
What is WinMo Fitness and how did it come to be?
How has fitness been a coping mechanism for Morgan?
How can listeners connect with WinMo Fitness?

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

If you like this podcast, check these out:

Emily Hutchinson Shares Her Story of Love, Loss, and Becoming a Beloved Baking Influencer

Andrew Ryan's Testimony: Overcoming Church Hurt, Sexual Abuse, and Alcoholism

Jamie talks with Cabinet Professional Paul Salter About Her Renovation Project Faves Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

This week Paul Salter of Cabinetry Refinishing Enterprises joins me to discuss the details of my new kitchen and bathroom cabinets!

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, I am sharing all the details about my new kitchen and bath cabinetry. If you have been following along with @family_savvy on Instagram, you know that we have been undergoing several home renovations. In this episode, I chat with Paul Salter of Cabinetry Refinishing Enterprises about different cabinetry trends, how to maximize storage space, and the details of my new kitchen and bathroom cabinets. To hear more details about our home renovations, stay tuned by following @family_savvy on Instagram and subscribing to The SavvyCast!

Who Is Paul Salter?

Paul Salter was born and raised in Birmingham and received a business degree from The University of Alabama's Business School in Management and Structure Strategy with a specialization in their Entrepreneurship program. After graduating in 2010, Paul moved back to Birmingham to work at Cabinetry Refinishing Enterprises. He helped the Birmingham location grow from 3 employees and 1 location, to multiple locations and dozens of employees. Paul is married to Lauren Salter who is a Pulmonary Supervisor at the Kirkland Clinic. Paul jokes that she saves lives while he saves kitchens. They also have a 3-year-old daughter named Cate Colee Salter who is the light of their lives.

Questions Answered

What is the difference between totally redoing all the cabinetry vs. refacing cabinetry?
What are inset cabinets? Why choose those over an overlay cabinet style?
Is it popular or trending to have lighting inside and under your cabinets?
How can you maximize your storage space in your cabinets?
What are the different kinds of pull-outs that you can add to your cabinets?
Is adjustable shelving standard for cabinetry or do you have to specifically request that feature?
Why did I choose drawer stacks instead of typical lower cabinets?
What features were added to my bathroom & why?
Why did my designer and I choose tall cabinet doors?
How to get paneled appliances?

Resources In This Episode:

Paul Salter: Psalter@cabinetryrefinishing.net
Cabinetry Refinishing
Laura Dockery

If you like this podcast, check these out:

I Chose ALL Marble for my Renovation: Would I Do It Again?

The Changes in My Kitchen Renovation That Made the Biggest Impact

My Tips and Top Picks for Dresses for Mother-of-the Bride (and Bride-to-Be) Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

This week I am sharing my tips and top picks for finding fabulous wedding attire, whether you are the mother-of-the-bride (MOB) or the bride-to-be!

Episode At A Glance:

This week on The SavvyCast, I am discussing all things wedding attire. Some of you may know that our precious daughter, Jud, recently got engaged, so we are in full wedding planning mode! In this episode I share my savviest tips for dress shopping, whether you are the MOB or the bride-to-be. Additionally, I share some of my "top picks" for dresses and shoes that I have found so far.

My Best Tips:

Start dress shopping 8 – 12 weeks in advance. This will give you plenty of time to find something you love, and it'll give you time to have any dress altered.
Shop for multiple dresses. You'll need one for the bridal tea/shower, one for the rehearsal dinner, in addition to a wedding day dress.
Use Rakuten when shopping to save money.
If you're on the fence about which size to purchase with a certain dress, purchase one in both sizes if you can. Then, you can return whichever size doesn't fit.
When shopping online, use the filter to show only the dress options you are truly interested in. For example, I like sleeveless dresses for summer weddings, so I would use the filter to only show me sleeveless dresses. This can be the most efficient way of dress shopping because it will only show what you're looking for.
Keep in mind about the return policies for the dresses you purchase.
I recommend purchasing a Spanx thong. It helps keep everything in while also not having any underwear lines.