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

Episode 162: The Love Language That Matters Most with Dr. Gary Chapman

After 25 years of marriage, I've learned one critical thing: my husband loves a good gift, and I'd prefer someone just unload the dishwasher. And that's just one of the m

Episode 161: Max Lucado on Unbreakable Courage and Staying Steadfast in Hard Times

I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Max Lucado many times over the years, and somehow it never gets old. He’s someone so many of us have admired for years and y

Episode 160: Where Is God in This? Tammy Trent on Trusting Him Through the Hardest Seasons

Last week on MESSmerized, I talked about what happens when you’ve prayed and prayed . . . and nothing seems to change. You know God is good. You know He hears you. But so

Episode 159: When You’ve Prayed and Prayed . . . and Nothing

Tell me I’m not alone. Have you ever prayed for something so long that you’ve started wondering, “Are You there, God? It’s me, Cynthia.” Today we’re talking about Habakk

Episode 158: How God Wired You: The 8 Great Smarts with Dr. Kathy Koch, PhD

I recorded this interview right before meeting some friends for lunch, and I could not stop talking about it. By the time lunch was over, they had all bought the book. Th

Episode 157: Catching Up with Candace Cameron Bure: Christmas Movies, Finding Hope & Grandmotherhood

WE’RE BACK! After taking August off, MESSmerized is officially back for a brand-new fall season. I’ve got lots to catch you up on in the intro, and first I just want to s

Episode 156: Adult Kids: Send Help (with Dr. Kathy Koch)

Remember the time I accidentally killed off a guest? Me neither. 😬 Okay...so I confidently announced on another podcast that sweet Dr. Kathy Koch had been dead for years.

Episode 155: How to Build Lasting Friendships with Becky Harling

Last night I had my Wednesday lunch girls over to celebrate a few birthdays, and as I looked around the table, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful. We've done life

Episode 154: FIFA, Facelifts, and Freshmen Home for the Summer with Melissa Radke

This week, Cynthia and Melissa catch up on everything from ambulance rides and college move-out day to porch geese, peptides, protein goals, and why neither of them can p

Episode 153: Everything's Not on the Line (Including Father's Day Apparently) with Jonathan Pitts

Well... this was supposed to be our Father's Day episode. Then summer happened. Life got a little unhinged (in the best of ways), and Father's Day came and went before we

Episode 152: Making Marriage Easier: Week 2 with Arlene Pellicane

Welcome to MESSmerized! 🎤🎉 A quick note before we begin . . . If you're one of the many new friends who recently joined us via email, I'm so glad you're here. Every wee

Episode 151: Making Marriage Easier: Week 1 with Arlene Pellicane

If you've ever looked at your marriage and thought, We're fine... but this could be better, this two-part series is for you. Today, Arlene Pellicane reminds us that small

Episode 150: When Motherhood Looks Different: Encouragement for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids with Somer Colbert

This is the last week of our Mother’s Day Month of episodes, and we’re ending with a conversation that I think so many moms need to hear. This week I’m joined by my frien

Episode 149: A Conversation With One of My Besties: Real Friendship, Real Life, Real Bible Study (with Stephanie Martin)

It’s Mother’s Day Month on Messmerized, and this week I’m bringing on one of my very favorite mom friends, Stephanie Martin. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually look

Episode 148: The Tone of Your Home, Championing Women, and What’s Next with Courtney DeFeo

If you’ve ever cried after dropping a kid at college and then immediately enjoyed the quiet house and clean kitchen… this episode is for you. I sit down with my friend, s

Episode 147: My Mother’s Day Gift to You 💐💐—You Need to Hear This (with Sharon Mankin)

Happy Mother’s Day week, friends. Truly—sending you lots of love this week. 💐 Now before I say anything else… I implore you to listen to this episode. Consider this your

Episode 146: What College Didn’t Teach Them: Molly and Kate on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Person

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’m kicking off a month of conversations focused on moms and the people we love most—and it felt only right to start by bringing on o

Episode 145: The “Crisis of Capability”: David Thomas and Sissy Goff on Raising Kids Who Can Handle Real Life

Today’s episode starts with my youngest… accidentally macing the entire second floor of our house. If you haven’t heard this story, you’re missing out. And then, natural

Episode 144: Understanding Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating with Sallye Clark

Today’s show is an important one—and we’re covering a topic I’ve never brought on the podcast before. I sat down with Sallye Clark, a licensed counselor who specializes

Episode 143: Stop Putting It Off: Jon Acuff on Procrastination, Goals, and Getting Started

I think we need a drum roll . . . like seriously. 🥁🥁🥁🥁 Today on the show we have Jon Acuff. And let me just start by saying—I’m a HUGE Jon Acuff fan. And today’s show fe