Fireside Talk Radio

Tired of folks who tell you to simmer down? Culture Influencer Cynthia Tobias joins Cathy with tips for strong-willed folks of any age. How do you work with folks who tend to be threatened by strong women? We don't have to apologize for being strong! Strong women can work together without intimidation by focusing on strengths. How do our strengths free us from intimidation? She shared tips for curbing strong wills (yours or your kiddos)! If you struggle to make sense of why God gave you (or your kids) so much determination and drive, you're gonna love this!

Education Guru Cynthia Tobias joins Cathy to share the story of how God called her to an amazing life as a strong woman. Well-known for her work on learning styles, her multiple books have influenced a whole American education philosophy. From her experience in law enforcement to teaching in High School, she was invited by Focus on the Family to write a book. Her Focus broadcasts are some of the most popular ones ever. Don't miss what this amazing, strong woman has to say about Gods plan for each of His children!

SharRon Jamison joins Cathy to talk about how friendships look when we seek our God-given potential together! Because sometimes we all feel left out, anxious, and unloveable, right?! “In fact, some women even shared they felt lonely and felt starved for companionship. They wanted and yearned for confidants; they missed connecting on a deep level. But, they also shared that they feel scared, overwhelmed and isolated because building friendships was so draining or filled with drama,” to quote SharRon’s website. Don’t miss her wisdom on how to claim Relationship GPS and CIA (Constancy, Intimacy, and Accountability) to create healthy, lasting friendships.

Who hasn't felt left out of the in crowd? Ever wonder why your friends care about you? SharRon Jamison epitomizes what it means to be a Friend Maker. A perfect antidote to the Mean Girl Syndrome, Cathy asked SharRon to share from her heart. “Relationships are so important to me. It took years for me to learn how to be a friend,” SharRon says tenderly. Clearly, even the most successful women commonly feel isolated, insecure, and anxious. Every day, women tackle lots of gut-wrenching responsibilities; we need to support each other. Fortunately, healthy friendships provide the security we all need as we courageously take risks. SharRon shares how to put aside self-bullying. Have your kids been bullied at school? Or, maybe you’re discouraged at work or work! She offers wisdom on seeking our God-given potential and embracing our beautiful uniqueness. You won’t want to miss what this amazing woman shares about being a true friend!

Co-Host Anna Krafve Pierce and Cathy share their best and worst from Mother's Day past. How do you ask for what you really want? Who do you recruit to help you build the marvelous motherhood moments you're dreaming about? No more crunchy scrambled egg breakfasts for you! Plus, an easy smeasy craft to regale toddlers. Don't miss this authentic conversation about turning your Mom's Day into marvelous!

Hushed whispers accompanied the shuffle of a chained man dressed in an orange jump suit. In this episode, Judge Carole Clark joins Cathy to explain how Trauma Informed Care is bringing real justice to families. Of course, if you’ve ever spent a day in family court as an observer, you know it’s bewildering. Now, with a powerful insider’s perspective and 20 years as a family court judge, Judge Carole is offering hope and healing to families. So, what is Trauma Informed Care and how is it helping?

Judge Carole Clark learned early in her life to appreciate what the courts could do. Her first job out of college? Child Protective Services. From CPS Worker to judge, she’s seen it all. Now, she shares her story with Cathy in order to call attention to Trauma Informed Care. In the past, family courts tended to see the same families over and over, according to Judge Carole. Obviously, the justice system is groaning under the weight of providing justice to families in crisis. Now, through Trauma Informed Care all those involved in our justice system create dramatic and lasting change in families. If you've ever dealt with custody battles or suffered in court, you will not want to miss what the good judge has to say!

Co-Host Anna Krafve Pierce joins Cathy to put her creative energy as a mom, artist, and teacher to work for us. Cathy asks Anna questions about the best ways to inspire your creative children to prosper and flourish, especially when you get a few uncharted days together! Starting with her deep conviction that we are ALL creative, Anna offers 3 principles for cherishing your kiddos' inner inspiration and creativity. How do we make the most of mess ups, in art or in life?! This podcast will energize the way you spend your Easter holiday together.

“Unfortunately, abortion is equated with politics in this country, but it is so much more than that. This is beyond political lines. This is so personal. People don’t understand that this decision will determine the quality of their life, really for the rest of their life,” Dr. Grace English says. 

As a physician, she knows more about the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of trauma after abortion than most folks. Dr. Grace shares her unique viewpoint with Cathy, including a healthy dose of compassion and empathy since she's post-abortive herself. If you've suffered with the trauma that follows abortion, you'll want to hear what this insightful and compassionate doctor has to say.

Dr. Grace English joins Cathy to share her story of abortion and recovery. These two dear friends talk at a deeply personal and authentic level. How did they make the decision to abort? What did they learn through the experience? How did they each get help? What resources are out there now? How can Christians talk about this topic with compassion? They even share how and why they look forward to meeting their children in heaven. Dr. Grace brings all her medical expertise to the table, along with a healthy dose of compassion, empathy, and yes, her well-known sense of humor and joy. You will want to catch this exceptional conversation on an extremely tough topic.

Co-host, Anna Krafve Pierce joins Cathy to brainstorm Staycations on the Cheap. Just in time for Spring Break or Easter, these ideas will give your children fun, hilarious life-long memories without breaking the family budget. Anna also shares her ideas about how to tie a festive day with toddlers to a romantic date night at home. Would you ever take a family trip to a Hispanic market in costume? What are the most unusual places you can think of for a week of picnic adventures? Don't miss this chance to listen in on these two hilarious women brainstorm family fun and cultural education together.

Artist James Kemp joins Cathy and Anna to share how art launched him into an unexpected legacy of chess. He started the Young Artist Institute to give kids a boost to their confidence, but soon discovered they wanted to play chess during their "dry time," the moments when paintings dry between paint applications. Over the years, James became well-known for his pioneering work, bringing the program to schools across Dallas and the Metroplex, not to mention his work in the county jail. If you, too, want to accomplish something life-changing and culture-impacting for the kids you know, don't miss what this experienced civic leader has to say!

Artist James Kemp joins Cathy and Anna to share what it was like learning to paint next to his dad, Tommy Kemp. In African American churches throughout east Texas, Tommy Kemp left his mark on faith and culture, not only as a mural painter, but as a film maker, as well. James talks about the fact that his dad painted with any paint he could get his hands on, most often house paint. He shares how his dad recruited African American congregation members as actors to depict the gospel stories as visual aids for his sermons. You won't want to miss what this witness has to say about his father's legacy.

Tina Meier is a national exert on how to protect our children from bullying, cyber-bullying, and suicide. She tells her story and offers advice and comfort to parents about how to help our kids when faced with bullying. In Megan's case, an adult set up a false identity, pretended to be a friend, then attack with vicious cyberbullying. According Tina cyberbullying is especially destructive because "everybody knows." She tells her story so other parents never experience the trauma and tragedy she did. Riveting and filled with truth, don't miss Tina's story in her own voice!

Tina Meier, Founder of the Megan Meier Foundations says, when it comes to bullying, “Do something as an adult. Don’t stand by and stay quiet. Because you’re not helping our kids or our community. If you report it, then it’s being reported by someone else, it’s not the kid that’s having to try to report it.” In this episode, she shares the symptoms that can alert parents. Also, she included valuable insight about how to help his school kids who are being bullied. Don't miss what this tender-hearted mom, who lost her child to suicide as a result of cyber-bullying, shared about how you can help your child.

Charlotte Canion returns to share wisdom she acquired as a care-giver to her aging parents. With another book coming out this spring to address the feelings of guilt that often plague care-givers, Charlotte is a wealth of ideas about how to take care of yourself as you care for others. A popular speaker and facilitator, she offers tips, like how to teach nursing homes to build raised beds for planting vegetables. She offers practical suggestions on how to engage your aging parents and younger generations to safe guard treasured family stories. If you need a little boost of help, Charlotte will have you laughing and refreshed in the time it takes to listen to this podcast. Don't miss this dear lady's insight!

Elder Care Expert Charlotte Canion joins Cathy to share stories from her 14 year journey of caring for her father-in-law, her father and her mother as their health deteriorated. She watched as dementia, Alzheimers and Parkinson's took their toll on her family, but she knows there are hundreds of other diseases affecting elderly mental and physical well-being. Author of You've Got to Laugh to Keep from Crying, Parenting Your Parents, Charlotte shares authentically, all the while passing along practical tips about self-care for the care-giver. She includes a personal story of sexual abuse in her family and how care-giving culminated in forgiveness. If you're wondering how in the world to take care of yourself and everyone else, don't miss what this beautiful lady has to say!

Author Dana Goodrum joins Cathy to talk about why young people are not going to church. By the time she was a young adult, she says she already had "a plethora, the Pandora’s box of sins and mistakes and things to be ashamed about or quite frankly to be judged on.” Yet, no matter your "Chapter 1," Dana says your story can change into a life that honors God. Now, she's speaking to Christians about how to welcome younger generations back to a life of faith. How can we fight back, when the enemy tells us we're not worthy of God? Dana speaks candidly about how to help others, especially millennials, begin a walk of faith.

Dana Goodrum joins Cathy to share her wisdom on finding purpose in our pain. "There's beauty in broken," she says, "God didn’t cause it, but He allowed everyone's Chapter 1 for a purpose." Chapter 1 of Dana's life taught her to reach out when friends' need encouragement to grasp a life of faith. “The best thing we can realize as Christians is that we all have a “Chapter 1.” She points out that many millennials view the church as a "picture perfect museum," instead of a place where they can get help turning life around. If your church has been wondering why an entire generation of young people are purposefully choosing not to pursue a life of faith, you will not want to miss what Dana has to say!

Co-host Anna Krafve Pierce joins Cathy to share her philosophy of keeping holidays simple, while focusing on passing along true meaning to her small children. She shares some of the Krafve's stories and together this mother-daughter duo brainstorm several simple ideas to give other what they really need, while giving yourself lots of freedom. Anna includes her plan for the simplest, most delightful advent tradition as an example of passing along meaningful ideas to her children, without burdening herself with perfection. If perfection was never on your Christmas list anyway, you'll love the authentic way Anna brings home the holidays.