Chained No More

Connie Wills, an Ambassador for the Legacy Coalition, shares the joys and the challenges of raising our own grandchildren in our society today. She talks about the financial issues, discipline, loyalty issues, the effects on marriage, and extended family dynamics. She also talks about how to lovingly raise these hurting children in crisis.

Laura Pretherbridge is an author, an international speaker, and a stepfamily life coach. For this podcast, she discusses the many challenges that stepfamilies face during the holidays; chaotic schedules, finances, differences in beliefs and the battle between the exes. She gives meaningful and some profound advice and practical tools to make stepfamily homes more peaceful during the Christmas holidays.

Krista Smith-Larson, author of "The Big D...Divorce Thru the Eyes of a Teen" and developer of several game resources for teens, shares her story of being divorced, living as a single parent and the struggles she had with her hurting teen kids. She talks about the three main challenges teens face with parents divorcing...Self Identity, Self-Worth, and Communicating how they really feel. She gives tips for parents to invite healthy relationship with their kids, things NOT to do and so much more. Her website shows her amazingly affective resources. www.sonsetpointministries.com www.journeythroughdivorce.com

Kristen Welch, the author of "Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World", shares her story about how she turned from entitled to grateful and is teaching her kids to do the same. A trip to Kenya and seeing the poverty there made such an impact that she and her family founded Mercy House to help poverty-stricken families around the world. Kristen gives many tools and concepts to help parents make some changes in the atmosphere of their home and go from entitlement to gratitude.

Chris and Rahnella Adsit, the founders of "Branches of Valor" discuss challenges of our first responders in our country today. The police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, run toward crisis when the rest of us run from it. They are brave, usually fearless, strong and trained. There is another side to them and that is the personal toll on their emotions, marriages, psychological health, and their faith. The Adsits discuss all of this and some of the resources they have that can help our first responders.

Nanette Kirsch, author of "Denial", tells her story of sexual abuse and discusses the effects of abuse as a child, teen and adult. She talks about healing, practical tools, resources, and how her faith led her out of such damage. She discusses the pros and cons of confronting an abuser, and the effect it has on the entire family unit. Excellent resource!

Karen Dancey, author of "Mountain of Hope", tells her story about her experience with her first husband's suicide. She shares about what led up to it, how it affected her and their three small sons, how she found hope and healing and how her family is doing today. She talks about how people can help someone in grief and ways they should not try to help. Karen is open, encouraging and inspirational.

Lynn Huffman, author of "Quiet Waters", shares her journey about being born into a Wiccan family. Her mother was the High Priestess of several covens and Lynn suffered horrific ritual abuse as a child. She tells the story of her abuse, her awakening, and her healing through counseling and the heading hand of God.

Dr. Michelle Bengtson is an author, speaker, and neuropsychologist. She brings her experiences, education and professional wisdom to our show and discusses anxiety in our children. She talks about what is causing it, how we can help lessen it and how to have a home with less stress, anxiety, and develop more peace in our homes. This podcast is full of practical tools on how to achieve a calmer environment at home, as well as help our kids/grandkids process all the uncertainty in our world today. Excellent resource for families today!

Author Linda McCutcheon, tells about her experiences of 12 years as a single mom and shares what she learned through it. She shares the challenges, such as loneliness, endless responsibilities, the devastation of divorce, helping kids maneuver through the shattering of the family and how they all survived it. A great practical resource for those who are single parents and for those who know people who are.

Dr. Rick Marks, from Live the Life Ministries, tackles the subject of spiritual abuse in the modern church. He discusses what it is, why it happens and how it affects congregants. Dr. Rick also shares what steps to take if you suspect it is happening in your church and what not to do. This is a thought-provoking and uncomfortable subject, but very important in our country today.

Author, Michele Howe, talks about how the Empty Nest canbe a positive experience if families prepare for it and learn how to adjust to their "new normal." She talks about preparing kids to successfully leave home, the rekindling of romance in this time of life,and how to adjust to having adult children, in general. A delightful interview that will be a good resource for any parent, married or single, who find themselves in an empty house.

Author, speaker and educator, Cynthia Tobias, discusses strong-willed kids vs. stubborn kids. She talks about the strengths and weaknesses of these kids and how parents can guide them to use those strengths as they grow into adulthood. Cynthia gives many affective concepts and practical tools so homes can be more peaceful and less stressful. She makes it easy to understand and then implement.

Kathy and her husband live in Beaumont, Texas, one of the hardest hit towns by Hurricane Harvey. On this podcast, she shares her experiences from the tine they got the first warnings to today, as they watch their community dig out from under all the debris and devastation. She shares how she and her husband survived, but also how their faith helped them through this horrid storm. She shares about the human spirit and how all people helped one another and worked together. Compelling, yet inspiring show!

Author and speaker, Wendy Speake, talks about the triggers that kids can be to cause our anger to rise as parents. She shares encouraging concepts as well as practical tools to help listeners turn their home into a more peaceful place for their families. She talks about how to make this new school year a smoother experience with our busier schedules and more pressure. Excellent resource.

Gordon and Carri Taylor tackle the unique topic of Step-Grandparenting. They have been married for over 30 years and have a big step-family. They lead a highly-respected step-family ministry, and have several resources to help step-families with their challenges. The Taylors talk about trust issues, loyalty issues, discipline issues, holiday issues, financial issues, and share how a person can prepare to be the best step-grandparent possible. Excellent resources!

Larry Fowler, Founder of The Legacy Coalition, discusses three barriers that can happen between grandparents and their grandkids...geographical, relational and spiritual. He discusses why the barriers exist, what they look like, and how they can be lowered, so relationships in families can flourish. He talks about the difference between control and influence; advice-giving and question-asking and how these can transform relationships. Excellent content and resource.

Susan Young of Susan Young International, tackles the challenging topic of stepping out of ruts of life, finding your worth and purpose, setting and realizing goals and being transformed in the process. Susan is a vibrant woman, an inspiring speaker,and an excellent trainer for individuals and top notch corporations around the country. Her faith and her compassionate heart are evident in all she does in business and ministry. Great resource!

Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna, the co-authors of "Middle School: The Inside Story," talk about the challenges and the joys of mid-schoolers as they change, develop and try to "grow up." These ladies talk about what kids are thinking and feeling, how parents can have better understanding, how to relate to their changing child and have more peace at home. Excellent content, concepts, and tools.

Deb Potts wrote the book, "Making Peace with Prickly People" and discusses the concepts and practical tools to help listeners achieve more peace in their relationships. Whether they are family, at the workplace, or anywhere else, she discusses the challenges. She discusses 4 killers of relationships, how to make changes in ourselves if we might be the "prickly person," and how to set up healthy boundaries.