Fireside Talk Radio

Gallery Owner and Jewelry Designer, Neita Fran Ward joins Cathy to talk about how to nurture creativity in ourselves and others. As always, Neita Fran focuses on others, but Cathy presses her to reveal how God used Neita Fran's desire to help others, thus exposing her own artistic talent. God is very creative Himself, we know! If you've ever wondered about the risk and the natural process of creating your own business you won't want to miss her story. Neita Fran's authenticity and down-to-earth way will inspire your own heart to dare to do something wonderful!

Organic Soil Specialist James Van Dyke joins Cathy to talk about some of the lessons he's learned in his quest to turn sand into nourishing, fertile soil. Starting with Biblical insight, James expounds on how businesses are learning that efficiency of reclaiming and recycling turns out to be the quickest route to profit margins. Citing a personal example of a field that would not grow a thing, James explains how he's learned to appreciate the process of culling, replenishing, and germination. Applying lessons from nature, he takes it a step further with spiritual meaning. You won't want to miss what this successful entrepreneur shares about caring for customers!

Environmental Scientist James Van Dyke joins Cathy to talk about what young families can expect when they dig into entrepreneurship. No stranger to the daily challenges facing start-ups, James helped develop Texas Organics, a company devoted to solving soil issues with rich, nourishing compost, often specific to the site's needs. Meanwhile, he and his wife have taken on numerous house renovation projects. How do they do it with a young family, too? Did his mom know he was an entrepreneur in the making? He shares the story of height-defying jungle gym climb as a tribute to his own mother's patience and wisdom. You won't want to miss what James learned in the process of combining hard work and dirt, ahem, I meant to say, soil!

Suzy Shepherd joins Cathy to explain the Four Principles of how love can undergird all our relationships. As mom in a blended family with nine kiddos, Suzy gets to practice the four relationship principles on a daily basis. When asked how she and her husband manage their unique family blend, she laughs that they’ve “resigned themselves to the idea that laundry and dishes are forever." Don't miss the lessons this energetic and insightful lady shares from her own life.

Gifted communicator, Suzy Shepherd tells her personal story of how brokenness transformed her life. A Divisional Director of Stonecroft and founder of the sisterhood, Suzy is dedicated to helping women connect with each other. She shares how the support of good women in our lives can make all the difference. Suzy devotes her life to nurturing all relationships through her teaching, writing, training, and speaking. You won't want to miss the personal insight this dear lady shares straight from her own experience. Suzy shares how Four Principles can transform all our relationships.

Christian Communicator and thought leader, Lori Boruff joins Cathy for more up close and personal conversation. Lori shares from from her extensive experience about how grief can set a son or daughter onto a self-destructive path. Lori's heart broke as her own son went to prison, only to see her prayers answered as his life turned around. Now the leader of a well-known and effective ministry to those rebuilding their life after incarceration, her son is one reason Lori shares her wisdom and experience so freely.

Communications Guru, Lori Boruff, (Life Coach, Professional Speaker, and Co-Owner of Christian Communicators) joins Cathy to tell the story of having a son in jail. She describes what she calls her "personal nine-eleven moment." When they arrested her son, taking him away from their home in handcuffs, Lori's life direction changed instantly. Yet, she says, "God had plans for her family and "it was a good direction even in that painful moment." If you have a friend with a child in prison, Lori teaches us what to pray and what to say. She even links the common thread of loss and grief for those who end up in prison. Don't miss this amazing episode!

Award-winning Author Sandra Merville Hart joins Cathy to talk about her wonderful Civil War era book, A Rebel in My House. Both sides of the conflict receive tender grace from Sandra in this engaging, action-packed story. With compassion, Sandy creates characters to love. Cathy asks questions about her inspiration and decision-making when it comes to handling history respectfully. With five books out by this time next year, Sandra is a rising star in publishing circles. For Sandy, climbing out of the box, means creating stories that reflect compassion for people and respect for history.

When adults discourage a child from pursuing God-given talents, a creative child can feel boxed in. Author and Speaker Sandra Merville Hart and Cathy talk about escaping the box. Sandy wrote her first book in third grade. Sandy shares how a few poorly chosen words slammed her blossoming talent for story-telling and writing to a halt. If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your active, creative child, Sandy gives you lots of encouragement, sharing how a few positive words reenergized her love of writing. How do we create when everyone around us says, “No Way!” If you’ve ever wondered if you have what it takes to pursue a dream against all odds, or train your kids to, this is the episode for you!

One of Cathy’s favorite thought leaders, Sarah Cumming, the head of Promise Academy, joins Cathy to chat about how communities benefit when joy and justice team up. Sarah describes the best kind of communities, when joy enhances respect and justice. “In a (healthy) community you come to things as equals. There’s not a skewed power dynamic. Joy says its good for us to be together and, as equals, to learn together,” says Sarah. Sarah shares insight about how students, donors, volunteers, teachers, all benefit from a discipleship mindset. If you’re making decisions about how to best educate your children or encourage your grandchildren, don’t miss what this wise educator and mom shares from her heart!

In this episode, thought leader Sarah Cumming shares how education can enhance justice in communities. She tells of her love story with education. Sarah is leveraging all her experience, including at the famous Manhattan Christian Academy, to benefit east Texas. She’s leading the charge for Promise Academy, the first Christian school in north Tyler, an underserved area. At Promise Academy, they’re joining “families to nurture kingdom-minded citizens who work for justice, economic opportunity, ethnic harmony, hope for the family and joy in their communities.” Just for fun, Cathy also gets the scoop on her love story with her hubby, too. If you love how education and justice can enhance each other, don’t miss Sarah’s story! (Notice how we worked love in there one more time?!)

Dave and Barb Howe share what works in the battle for freedom from porn addiction. How can wives or mothers bring up the topic when they suspect there's a problem? What can moms do to help their young sons avoid porn addiction? How can churches offer hope to men? Barb offer wisdom and even some catch phrases that soften the drama. This courageous couple takes on one of our culture's most taboo topics with grace and insight. Don't miss this episode for battle-worthy strategies!

What if you found a stash of, ahem, uncomfortable magazines or a special file on your spouse's computer? Are their symptoms that indicate your spouse may be struggling with a porn addiction? Together husband and wife team Dave and Barb Howe talk about how porn affected their marriage. She opens up about the battle for her marriage, offering a prayer strategy that works. He shares the ways men can be deceived into thinking no one is affected when they start fooling around with porn. Author of the book, Live are and Free, Dave shares key ways men can gain victory.

Jon Drury, author of Lord, I Feel So Small, shares how even the most successful man may experience feelings of weakness, inadequacy, shame, and fear. These emotions can be overwhelming for men. Men may even isolate themselves and withdraw. Always practical, Jon offers ways women can identify the challenges their men face, offering truth and support. He even talks about specific prayer strategies, including friendships for men. You won't want to miss this chance to peek behind the screen about what our men really feel. Thank you, Jon!

Jon Drury openly declares himself a man who had to search for significance. This successful leader, a pilot and pastor, shares his own personal battle with the lies that led him to believe he was insignificant. Out of his despair, he learned to look to God alone for his significance. “It’s strange that the low place would be the place of power," he says, "The Lord fellowships with the lowly person." Have you ever battled for your own significance? Are you wondering what is bothering the successful man you love? Jon gives us specific lies and the truth that will set you and those you love free!

Professional Counselor and Pastor Chris Legg joins Cathy in a lively, often amusing, discussion about how wives and husbands can engage with each other in a way that maximizes their parenting. What makes men feel insecure? What's the unique platform fathers have in the lives of their kids? How to communicate approval to your husband or family? Ever failed to get the message across to your man? Who hasn't?! You're gonna chuckle along as Chris shares example sentences that work! He even called our podcasts “insider trading” because of the great tips shared there. He promised to come back soon and talk about sex on air, so stay tuned for more adventures (if by adventure, you mean great life hacks!

Professional Counselor and Pastor Chris Legg tells how he became enamored with family and creating community. He grew up exploring the woods around historic Nacogdoches Texas as a child. As young adult, he soon discovered families face serious traumas. An accidental leader for his first youth group, Chris was so young he grew a beard to distinguish himself from the kids. Nothing prepared him for the night a young man knocked on his window because his light happened to be on. Listen in as Chris shares his story of finding the right woman for him, and more importantly, learning to be the right man for the job.

In this episode, civic leader Tony Johnson joins Cathy to blow away the myths we may all believe about mentoring young people. Is it too big of a commitment? Will it cost your whole family? If I only have an hour a week, can I even make a difference? Cathy asks Tony all the hard "let's get real" questions. You won't want to miss his answers. (We love the way his deep chuckle reassures Cathy that she is not alone in asking.). If you've ever considered mentoring, but felt afraid, you'll love this! Tony offers tips on finding appropriate boundaries, followed by lots of success for everyone, especially the kids you take on.

On this episode, community leader Tony Johnson tells how his parents prepared him for the active leadership role he enjoys in all aspects of his community, even serving as president of the local school board and Chamber of Commerce simultaneously! If you're wondering how some kids develop a work ethic, tune in as Tony shares generation-tested tips passed down to him from his own dad. He also reveals how to identify the kid who needs extra attention. He talks us through what effective attention sounds like. If you are a youth worker, teacher, or a battle-weary parent, you won't want to miss Tony's insight and encouragement.

Adventurous. Humble. Funny as heck. Katie Butts joins Cathy to give us tips on how to be a blessing to families like hers. This beautiful mother of two children, each uniquely formed and gifted, explains how God has extended unimaginable joy into their family. When we see a kid with blades at the beach, how do we coach our kids? If our kids ask honest questions, should we hide in shame? How do we extend commonality to everyone? Yep, Katie brings a wealth of experience and insight to help us navigate into a place of peace and delight even if the world seems overrun with new medical adventures daily.