Fireside Talk Radio

In this episode, Cathy and her daughter, Artist and Educator Anna Krafve Pierce talk about how pictures in comic books and magazines prepare an adventurous child to read. The key is sequencing, explains Anna. She includes lots of personal stories about her own kiddos. Also, why would anyone encourage their child to be adventurous? Adventure seems scary to the loving parent who foresees booboos, broken bones, and trips to the emergency room. They cover all this and so much more in today’s blog and podcast. Join in now!

Cathy chats with her daughter, Educator and Artist Anna Krafve Pierce about how reading the classics with her grandparents bound their love for each other. “I shared a vocabulary across generations and across time and now I guess across dimensions,” she says, referencing the fact that all her grandparents exist in heaven now. “Do you consider heaven a different dimension?” Anna’s comparison of heaven to a different dimension will strike your imagination. Time travel books, the Bible, and the classic books really do stretch our children’s imaginations—and ours! How do we inspire the next generation with a love of reading? How can classic books be our best tools? Don’t miss what this gifted educator, artist, and mommy shares about what she does with her own kiddos.

A strong man. A devoted wife. Seems like a rarity, right? Cathy interviews gospel artist, Miles Pike. Together, Miles and his wife travel the globe inspiring through music. Plus, they are winning the heart of their first-born, a responsive three-year old named Lilly. With Dad’s Day, Cathy asks Miles to pass on some special ways parents can give their children the blessing of a big, beautiful faith. What are their secrets for winning the heart of a child? How do they inspiring their own children through music? Don't miss what this tender-hearted musical daddy shares about giving our children the vocabulary they need to talk about deeply spiritual things, even if you're musically-challenged, like, ahem, a certain show host we might know!

Cathy is only kinda kidding hen she says she judges men by how they talk about their wives. She really likes what well-known Christian musician, Miles Pike says about his beloved wife, Martha. Clearly, their life mission unites them in a beautiful way. In this episode, Miles shares more personal stories about music and bedtime with their own kids. Please don’t miss out on what this daddy tenderly shares for inspiring faith in children’s hearts through music.

Scott Kedersha returns to share tons of wisdom with Cathy about growing healthy marriages and families. Who are our role models? "It’s going to be television. We’re gonna learn how to do marriage from the Batchelor, from social media. We’re watching Harry and Megan," he laughs. Fortunately he has a much better way. In this episode, Scott offers insight about the 5 nonnegotiable for communication and conflict resolution. And he adds personal insight about what it means to live as a forgiven person. How do we keep from making the mistakes we’ve watched other people make? Heck, maybe even our own parents! Don't miss the authentic stuff Scott shares from his heart! Yep, their conversation is pretty fast and sometimes funny. So are you ready or knot for a healthy marriage?

Waco's Harris Creek Church Marriage Pastor Scott Kedersha joins Cathy to tell his story. How do we foster wholehearted marriages in community? People always say marriage is hard work. But it's also a gift, according to Scott. You'll LOVE Scott's emphasis on the joy that comes from creating a wholehearted marriage. Don't miss the insight of this devoted husband and dad to four boys!

“Truthfully, at first I didn’t know the best ways to communicate. Eventually I was so frustrated, I didn’t care,” reports Cathy to Re/Engage Director Susan Cox in this extremely personal and transformative episode. “Humility melts the heart of stone. Colossians 3 tells us we are to bathe ourselves in humility,” laughs Susan, adding “Husbands and wives, if you’re listening, when you get dressed every morning, we should bathe ourselves in humility!” Don’t miss what this gifted and humble lady has to say. Join tens of thousands of couples to share tools to restore and reboot a marriage anywhere people are ready for a change. 

Nobody wants a broken marriage. We all want happily ever after and fairy dust. Where is the line for THAT marriage? Yet many of us get to a breaking point of frustration and pain in our marriage. We may feel like giving up. “I showed up broken and wanting to hide,” says Susan Cox, Director of Re/Engage, about the first time she came to her church, Watermark Community Church. Susan shares her story with courageous authenticity. Then, she adds some simple tried and true ideas that actually restore broken marriages. Don’t miss what this down-to-earth gal says about fixing what hurts!

For better or worst? But who wants worse! "There’s a starry eyed bride and groom repeating the vows and when I see them I think they have no clue!” Nancy Kay Grace returned this week to talk with Cathy about creating grace-filled families. Married for 45 years to her hubby Rick, Nancy shares an example of his grace towards her in her "dandelion disaster." Plus, she shares the very personal challenges of loving a prodigal child. “All couples are incompatible. We all married the wrong people.” she adds, laughing and paraphrasing Stanley Hauerwas with a wink. Don't miss what this phenomenal thinker has to say about a power that changes lives all around us!

We all feel overwhelmed sometimes. When our lives overwhelm us, we need grace. But what is grace exactly? Cathy's friend, author and speaker, Nancy Kay Grace talk together about one of their favorite topics. Even before her diagnosis, Nancy knew in her spirit something was wrong. “I shouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night with pain in my tongue,” she says. She shares her amazing story of finding peace as she lived through recurring crises. Grace impacts us all, even if we're unaware of it. Don't miss this chance to recognize the powerful force God has unleashed in your life!

Ever feel like blaming God? Of course. Paula Patton Quinn joins Cathy to talk about how we all sometimes feel forgotten by God. But behind the blame is a false assumption, according to Paula, author of The Questions God Asks. “God is withholding from me,” is the thought behind our feelings of abandonment, she says. How do we help ourselves and those we love when we feel like God is withholding? Easter is a great time to talk about the ways God seeks out companionship with us! Don’t miss what this wise friend and experienced justice-seeker has to say!

Paula Quinn joins Cathy to talk about the tender questions God asks us. Ever wonder what an intimate conversation would be like with a God? The God who seeks companionship with us? Paula explores the tender way God deals with those He loves. Paula wrote one of Cathy's all-time favorite books. With a background in the justice system, Paula knows a ton about mercy, compassion, and companionship even in the toughest times. You'll love her heart!

Wonder how your husband can miss what you just said? Bethlehem Books’ Jack Sharpe returns to talk with Cathy about cherishing marriage by seeking out the glory hidden in each other. This expert on community connects concepts with lightening precision. You can tell Cathy’s processing new info because she gets really quiet! “I was absolutely terrified,” Jack says about trusting God to sell their home and start rescuing children’s classics. Along the way, he learned some gigantic lessons about tuning in to his wife, rather than tuning out the plans God wanted to reveal through her. Listen in as he describes the way they discovered principles about listening and cherishing. All along, keeping commitments to companionship in the community they love.

With our nation sharply divided, is there any hope of unity? Bethlehem Books’ Community Expert Jack Sharpe joins Cathy to talk about values that unite. Plus, Cathy ask him about their rescue mission for...drum roll...classic books! Jack and his beautiful wife, Jean, spent their sabbatical during Texas’s worst snowstorm in a hundred years in the Krafves’ cabin. Normally, the Sharpes live in a community of believers in North Dakota similar to L’Abri. If you’re familiar with the work of  Francis Schaeffer, you’ll know what we mean. In this interview, Jack discusses how normal people can foster community, uniting in spite of differences. Don't miss his timely insight! 

Life throws lots of surprises at us. Frigid temps and snow? Check. Silly mistakes of our youth? Check. But, a faith that is tried by fire is a faith that can be trusted, according to Robin Luftig.  Robin joins Cathy to talk about what she learned about faith in her near-death encounter with a brain tumor.  Cathy has questions. Lots of questions.How do we stay calm in a crisis with all the challenges life dishes out? Not to mention our own silly mistakes?  You’re gonna love Robin’s gentle spirit and the quiet, thoughtful way she answers all Cathy’s questions. Talk about authentic! Listen in as these two unpretentious women talk about the realities of faith in a tricky world. You’re in for a treat today!

What would you do if you only had ten days left to live? Robin Luftig joins Cathy to share she learned about communication by way of a brain tumor. How would you respond if you found out they were about peel a tumor the size of your doctor’s fist off your brain? Maybe you haven’t had a brain tumor. Robin knows shocking pain is not one size fits all. Life changes in a heartbeat. Confusion? Facing our own mortality? Heartache? How do we uncover God’s best during the worst moments of our life? Don’t miss what this amazing woman shares about life, happiness, and trusting God for His best.

Sparking Wholeness’s Erin Kerry joins Cathy to talk about how to restore balance in our lives. Throughout life, stress and mental illness affects us all. Is your boss a bully? Is your child acting out? Does your spouse fail to listen to you? All can produce stress and anxiety. Celiac Disease and thyroid issues? What about the stress of hormonal teenagers, postpartum, or aging parents? What's a woman to do! Join us now for this lighthearted examination of practical ways we can L.I.V.E. And you'll LOVE Erin's acronym!

In this episode, Cathy interviews Sparking Wholeness's Erin Kerry to find out how we can overcome the rampant mental health issues facing families these days. Erin shares her own personal battle with bipolar disorder following a childhood trauma. You’ll love Erin’s down-to-earth attitude and her practical ideas for achieving mental health and wholeness. With authority born out of experience and training, Erin talks about meds, including side affects like hallucinations and many more. She defines mania or hyper-mania. Even with such a tough topic, these two gals chuckle about how hard it can be to figure out if your kids are showing symptoms of mental imbalance or just being typical teenagers. Parenting is not for wimps, that's for sure! Whether you or someone you love suffers with mental health challenges, you won't want to miss this powerful episode!

Anna joins Cathy to talk about one of the huge blessings to come out of probably the weirdest years ever! The silver lining of 2020? The way families got more time together. Last year forced us to rediscover the glory of education. How can we use our kids’ natural curiosity to our advantage this coming year? Your children’s natural curiosity is their ticket to self-learning. Education is glorious. A true privilege. Our American forefathers exalted and treasured education. It’s not enough to get an education and glorify yourself. The purpose of education is to serve others. If ever parents across our nation understood this principle, I guess 2020 proved our willingness to make sacrifices in the name of educating our kiddos. Listen in now for Anna’s hints about how to stir the curiosity of your kids. Don;t miss the glory of education!

Anna joins Cathy with great ideas for how gratitude sparks more devotion in our families. Wondering if the holidays will be fun or furious? Cathy confesses to grumpiness this time of year. Together this mother-daughter duo laugh about family fails. Anna shares personal stories about grandparents' faith. Why is the Can-Can Song a family favorite? Cathy tells about unexpected, crazy answers to prayer. Anna analyzes the ways gratitude prompts devotion, in the hearts of toddlers, and, yes, Mommy's heart, too! Don't miss this very personal celebration of the power of gratitude and devotion.