MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose

• Episode 126: Chain-Smoked Christmas Gifts and Finding Advent Hope with Stephanie Martin

  Today I pulled in one of my closest friends, Stephanie Martin, because nothing says “professional podcast” like asking a bestie 24 hours before recording to jump on the show. We kicked off with Thanksgiving—where Stephanie described having college kids home as “being held hostage in the best way,” which perfectly sums up the chaos of adult children wandering in and out of your kitchen like feral cats. We swapped childhood Christmas memories (her patriotic tree covered in American flags, my chain-smoked Barbie RV) and confessed our modern traditions—like how I make my family decorate the tree even though none of them enjoy it, and how Stephanie is skipping Christmas cards this year because she feels like God is calling her to slow down and actually see people.The heart of the episode was Advent hope. We talked about the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, the anticipation of the Messiah, and the different reactions to Jesus’ birth—opposition, seeking, apathy, expectancy. It led us to ask: How are we approaching Jesus this season? And how might real hope help us loosen our grip on perfect holidays, perfect kids, perfect everything?We wrapped with two essentials: husbands who buy their own presents (I literally labeled gifts “To Mike, From Mike”) and the Christmas songs we cannot stand. Stephanie declared Wham off-limits, and I begged the world to retire “Christmas Shoes” forever.Stephanie ended with a beautiful prayer for hope, rest, and hearts open to whatever God is doing—right here in the middle of our messy, imperfect holidays. Can’t wait for you to listen today!All things Cynthia Yanof Advent books we discussed:Waiting Here For You - Louie Giglio Come Let Us Adore Him - Paul David Tripp Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Episode 125: A Jesus, Walmart, and Paper Plates Holiday Hospitality with Abby Kuykendall

  Today I got to sit down with my new friend Abby Kuykendall, author of Let the Biscuits Burn, and y’all… this girl brought the hospitality revival I didn’t know we needed before Thanksgiving week. Abby has a toddler, another baby due in January, and somehow also managed to write a book in the fog of postpartum life. Meanwhile I once forgot to defrost a turkey until Thanksgiving morning, so we are clearly operating at different skill levels.Abby and I talked about real biblical hospitality—not entertaining, not “tour my pristine home while I panic about the baseboards,” but the Jesus kind. The kind where the table matters more than the menu, and people matter more than pillows arranged at the right angle. She walked us through how hospitality isn’t just a spiritual gift—for many of us it's a spiritual discipline we learn, like piano lessons except far less traumatizing .We also get super practical (because most of us are one bad casserole away from calling it quits). Abby shares her go-to grocery store hacks, why pizza rolls and pigs in a blanket turn grown adults into joyful children, and how even a messy house can preach “you belong here.” Plus: conversation cards, decorating tips, and simple gatherings you can actually pull off. This episode is the pep talk we all need before heading into the holiday hosting gauntlet. Lower the bar. Invite the people who might otherwise be alone. Light a candle. Put out the paper plates. And for the love of all things holy—let the biscuits burn.P.S. By now, you probably have gotten the memo that pre-orders have started for my new book, How’d I Miss That? If you have NOT pre-ordered yet, I would be so grateful if you’d consider doing that right now! Thank you, friends. 💗💗💗All things Cynthia Let the Biscuits Burn by AbbyA Living Table by AbbyListen to Abby's Podcast HereSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Episode 124: Turkeys, Traditions, and Facelifts in Istanbul with Melissa Radke

  Here’s part two of our shows with my hilarious friend Melissa Radke. This week we pregame the holidays: Texas “sweater weather” that isn’t, Spanx leggings that are life-changing, and crowning Thanksgiving’s Best in Show (Honey Baked Ham, spinach salad, corn casserole—made by the right cousin). We confess our family wild cards (Melissa and her zany mom vs. my husband the political pot-stirrer), share one thing we’re grateful for (her: Remy thriving at college; me: surviving another book), and give 10-second writing advice: write daily, say it out loud, pray, hold the path loosely.Then we hit Christmas: Melissa’s sacred story—her son Elisha passed on Christmas morning, and how the Lord has spoken into that timing through the years.  Loss and love, together. We speed-run gift drama (parents wanting gift cards and gifting hand-me-down “treasures”), Favorite/Unfavorite Things parties, and Melissa’s… Istanbul facelift pitch. We close with most-hated carols (“Christmas Shoes” and that bossy “figgy pudding”), plus 2026 hopes and big prayers.Follow The Radke Show, grab Chicken Fried Women for gifting, and thanks for laughing through the nothing-that-became-something series with precious Melissa.P.S. By now, you probably have gotten the memo that pre-orders have started for my new book, How’d I Miss That? If you have NOT pre-ordered yet, I would be so grateful if you’d consider doing that right now! Thank you, friends. 💗💗💗📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women (https://bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen)🎥 The Radke Show on YouTube (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube)🎧 The Radke Show on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple)📝 Melissa's Stretch Marks on Substack (https://bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack)TrimFit - https://bit.ly/beautifulyu The Swim Romper - https://bit.ly/RomperSwimsuit💌 Follow & Subscribe📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → (melissaradke.substack.com)📱 Instagram→ (https://www.instagram.com/msmelissaradke/)📱 Facebook→ (https://www.facebook.com/MelissaRadkeStretchMarks/)📱 TikTok → (https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaradke)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Episode 123 A Show About Nothing — and Everything Hilarious — with Melissa Radke

  Today’s episode is pure delight and zero agenda, which honestly might be my favorite combination. My friend Melissa Radke is here — author of Chicken Fried Women, host of The Radke Show, queen of honest humor, and possessor of my favorite character quality . . . calling it like it is. I invited her on for one reason and one reason only: she makes me laugh. No outline, no topic list, no heavy message — just two friends, two microphones, and a commitment to talk about everything and absolutely nothing at the same time. Think Seinfeld (a show about nothing), but with menopausal commentary, nipple Band-Aids, and college-kid drop-off trauma.We kicked off by addressing the betrayal heard ‘round the world: my husband signed me up for a half marathon. Six weeks. And yes, I’m run-walking, and yes, I got passed by a man in khakis walking his dog. Melissa brought her wisdom on chafing, and we somehow ended up talking about sleeping in your makeup, why hot flashes should count as cardio, and the science of not peeing in the shower. (We listen, we don’t judge… mostly.)We also touched the tender things — kids leaving for college, missing them and cheering them on at the same time, and the bittersweet gift of watching them grow up and go. Plus some light commentary on body image, reverse body dysmorphia (hi, it’s me), and why Lands’ End swim shorts should honestly sponsor this show.And great news — this is part one of a two-part series with Melissa because once we started, there was no stopping. Next episode, we’re diving into the holidays. Until then, follow The Radke Show, grab Chicken Fried Women (wrap it with a wooden spoon — trust me), and get ready to laugh.Let’s do this, friends — a show about nothing that somehow ends up being everything.P.S. By now, you probably have gotten the memo that pre-orders have started for my new book, How’d I Miss That? If you have NOT pre-ordered yet, I would be so grateful if you’d consider doing that right now! Thank you, friends. 💗💗💗All things CynthiaChicken fried women📖 Melissa’s Book – Chicken-Fried Women (https://bit.ly/ChickenFriedWomen)🎥 The Radke Show on YouTube (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowYouTube)🎧 The Radke Show on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/TheRadkeShowApple)📝 Melissa's Stretch Marks on Substack (https://bit.ly/MelissaRadkeSubstack)TrimFit - https://bit.ly/beautifulyu The Swim Romper - https://bit.ly/RomperSwimsuit💌 Follow & Subscribe📝 Subscribe to Stretch Marks on Substack → (melissaradke.substack.com)📱 Instagram→ (https://www.instagram.com/msmelissaradke/)📱 Facebook→ (https://www.facebook.com/MelissaRadkeStretchMarks/)📱 TikTok → (https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaradke)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Episode 122 Winning the Battle in Your Mind with Pastor Max Lucado

  Can we possibly begin with a few “important” announcements today?First, I just got back from Las Vegas last night, and let’s just say the flight was so bumpy I was fully convinced I’d be meeting Jesus before we touched down in Dallas. By God’s grace, I lived to tell the tale. ✈️🙌 We were in Vegas because Mike ran a marathon (woop woop!) and I… well, did not. I did, however, put $20 in a slot machine and walked away with $100—so there’s that. Second, and probably more importantly, if you’re not following me on social media yet, I’d be so grateful if you’d take a quick second to do that now. I’ve got a big announcement coming this week, and your likes, comments, and shares would mean the world to me.And speaking of announcements… today on MESSmerized is the one and only Max Lucado. 🙌Any time I get the privilege of sitting down with Pastor Max, it’s a conversation that stays with me. If you’ve ever read one of his 44 books (yes, forty-four), listened to a sermon, or heard him speak, you already know: Max has a way of taking the most complicated spiritual truths and making them feel both gentle and profound.We kicked things off with some behind-the-scenes honesty about writing books—how quiet the process can be, how hard it is to balance storytelling with honoring God’s Word, and why Max still remembers the book he wouldn’t give anyone (hint: it was number one). But then, Max takes us deeper, reminding us how our thoughts shape our beliefs and how our beliefs shape our behavior. He walks us through practical, biblical tools to “take every thought captive,” and how picky thinking can keep us from spiraling into false narratives.And of course, because it’s Max, we talk about real life too—like his black mold situation, anxious thoughts that snowball too fast, and why we need people who love us enough to speak truth into our blind spots. This episode is packed with wisdom, grace, and practical takeaways, whether you’re heading into the holidays a little anxious or just trying to quiet the noise in your mind.Grab your Diet Coke and lean in—this one’s a good one. 🥤✨Tame Your Thoughts by Max LucadoFollow me on Social!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/messmerized-funny-and-faith-based-encouragement-in-marriage/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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