Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, connects you the listener with people and resources to help you feel less alone. Consider it an invitation to "withness".

  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Finding Your Purpose and Authentic Self in Motherhood with the Enneagram :: Suzanne Stabile *top 10 episode* [Ep 562]

    In this episode, Suzanne Stabile, internationally recognized Enneagram expert and mom of four adult children, shares her personal story and how the Enneagram has shaped her approach to parenting. She explains that the Enneagram isn’t about changing who we are, but about understanding how we see the world and choosing how to act with intention. She reminds us that there’s no one right way to parent; motherhood requires recognizing differences, extending grace, and embracing our own authentic path.

    Suzanne dives into the practical applications of the Enneagram in family life, showing how it can transform relationships with your children, your spouse, and other moms. She explains the energy and tendencies of different Enneagram types—from aggressive and dominant types to dependent and withdrawing types—and how understanding these patterns can bring unity instead of conflict. Parenting is never easy, and mistakes are inevitable, but Suzanne emphasizes that grace covers our shortcomings. By using the Enneagram as a tool, we can parent with more awareness, respond with empathy, and honor our own authentic selves while guiding our children with love. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Enneagram Types as Animals: Ones are Worker Bees, Twos are Kangaroos, Threes are Eagles, Fours are Butterflies, Fives are Owls, Sixes are Bunny Rabbits, Sevens are Monkeys, Eights are Lions, and Nines are Turtles.
    • Grace covers the places we fall short
    • Set appropriate priorities: You can’t do it all.
    • Be mindful in child-centered families: When the focus is entirely on the children, much can get overlooked, and it often reflects a broader cultural expectation.
    Connect with Suzanne Stabile: Links Mentioned: Related Episodes:

    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Green Chef: Head to Greenchef.com/50ALONE and use code 50ALONE to get fifty percent off your first month then 20 percent off for two months with free shipping. 
    • Cove: Make protecting your home a top priority. Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 60% off your first order! And if you get a survey, please let them know you heard about Cove from this podcast.
    • Thrive Causemetics: Amplify your Spring look with Thrive Causemetics. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 
    2 March 2026, 6:15 am
  • 52 minutes 11 seconds
    School Choice Series: Public School Options with Emily Fenlaw:: [Ep 561]

    In part three of my School Choice Series, I sit down with my friend Emily Fenlaw to talk about all things public school. With four children who have experienced everything from traditional public school to the talented and gifted program, an all-girls school, and an arts-focused school, Emily has navigated the many options and transitions that public education can offer.

    She also shares candidly about parenting children with ADHD — walking through 504 plans, medication decisions, and the ongoing process of learning how to support executive functioning at home. Through it all she learned to be a student of her child to discover the best path for them. 

    My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • The beauty of building relationships with families from all walks of life
    • How introverts and extroverts can uniquely flourish in public school environments
    • You can only make the best decision you can with the information you have

    • The challenges of public school and navigating relationships with other parents

    Connect with Emily Fenlaw: Related Episodes:

    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Inspire Bible for Kids: The latest Bible in the bestselling Inspire Bible line, packed with activities for boys and girls ages 7 to 12. With over 400 ready-to-color line-art illustrations, wide margins for creativity, devotional readings and trivia questions, journaling prompts, memory verse prompts, fun facts–and more–all to bring God’s Word to life for young hearts. Discover more at www.InspireBibleforKids.com
    • Barefaced: If you want to see results and find a skincare routine you’ll actually stick to, this is where I recommend starting. Head to barefaced.com and use code DMA for 15% off at checkout plus free shipping. Barefaced: less steps, better skin.
    • Cozy Earth: Discover how care in every detail transforms simple routines into moments of true comfort and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code DMA for up to 20% off. 
    23 February 2026, 6:10 am
  • 50 minutes 41 seconds
    School Choice Series: Private to Public School with Misty Persefield:: [Ep 560]

    In part two of my School Choice Series, I sit down with Misty Persefield, a mom of three, to talk candidly about navigating school choice from the early years through high school. Misty shares her family’s journey through private and public schools, the fears she faced, and the peace that came from trusting God rather than comparing herself to others. This conversation offers reassurance for moms carrying the weight of making the “right” educational choices and highlights the importance of keeping fear out of the decision-making process.

    My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Challenges of private school, including finances and high expectations
    • The importance of knowing yourself, your child, and your family culture
    • Pivoting from private to public school for high school
    • Starting kids early vs. late, especially for boys based on birthdays

    • Preparing kids for college by “taking off the bubble wrap” while they’re still at home

    Connect with Misty Persefield: 
    Related Episodes:


    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Cove: Make protecting your home a top priority. Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 70% off your first order! And if you get a survey, please let them know you heard about Cove from this podcast.
    • Raising Daughters by September McCarthy: Most moms don’t need more advice—they need reassurance. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation with your daughter thinking, I said that all wrong, this book is for you. We’re raising girls in a world that’s loud, confusing, and constantly redefining womanhood. And before we can guide our daughters, we have to remember who we are in Christ. Raising Daughters meets you right where you are and gives you one faithful next step at a time—because raising daughters is holy work. It takes grit, grace, and guidance, and you’ll find all three here. Grab a copy here. 
    • Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. 
    16 February 2026, 6:15 am
  • 1 hour 5 seconds
    School Choice Series: Homeschool to Private School with Kris Habashy :: [Ep 559]

    In episode one of my School Choice Series, Kris Habashy shares her family’s journey from homeschooling to Christian private education. From navigating dyslexia to the challenges of transitioning middle schoolers, Kris offers a heartfelt, honest look at the joys, struggles, and unexpected growth that come with trusting God in your educational choices.

    My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Why Kris initially chose to homeschool and how her personality and family dynamics played a role.
    • The challenges of transitioning kids from homeschooling to private school — especially in middle school.
    • The importance of nurturing your own growth as a mom while guiding your kids.
    • Families navigating dyslexia, learning differences, or anxiety around school transitions.
    Connect with Kris Habashy: Links Mentioned:  Related Episodes:

    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Branch Basics: And here’s the good news — Branch Basics is now available everywhere you shop: at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and of course, BranchBasics.com. Tossing the toxins has never been more convenient! And for anyone grabbing the Premium Starter Kit, you can still get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with our code [DMA].
    • Honeylove: Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/DMA. Experience the new standard in comfort and support with Honeylove.
    • Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.
    9 February 2026, 6:10 am
  • 54 minutes
    Parenting a Spicy Child: How to Stay Calm, Set Boundaries, and Keep the Connection :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 558]

    Parenting a spicy child can feel overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting, especially when traditional parenting advice just doesn’t work. In this episode, Mary Van Geffen joins us to talk about what it really means to parent a strong-willed, spirited, intense child without losing yourself or crushing their spirit.

    So often, as moms, we unknowingly tie our identity and worth to how our children behave. When our kids are calm, compliant, or successful, we feel like we are doing a good job. When they are loud, explosive, or struggling, we internalize it as failure. Parenting a spicy child brings this tension to the surface and forces us to ask deeper questions about where our identity really comes from. This conversation invites moms to loosen their grip on performance-based parenting and remember that our value is not measured by our child’s behavior, but by who we are and whose we are. 

    Here is some of what we cover: 

    • How to stay connected to your child so you can guide them long-term
    • A practical calm down recipe for flare-ups and explosive moments
    • How to set boundaries without crushing your child’s spirit
    • Why you are not responsible for your child’s happiness
    • How to support the mild child in a family with a spicy sibling

    Connect with Mary Van Geffen: 


    Links Mentioned:  

    Related Episodes:


    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Barefaced: If you want to see results and find a skincare routine you’ll actually stick to, this is where I recommend starting. Head to barefaced.com and use code DMA for 15% off at checkout plus free shipping. That’s DMA for 15% off plus free shipping. Barefaced: less steps, better skin.
    • Green Chef: Right now go to Greenchef.com/alonegraza and use the code alonegraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef and FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait. 
    • Cove: Make protecting your home a top priority. Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 70% off your first order! And if you get a survey, please let them know you heard about Cove from this podcast.
    2 February 2026, 6:25 am
  • 56 minutes 22 seconds
    Paul David Tripp on the Everyday Habits That Shape Your Marriage *Top 10 Episode* [Ep 557]

    *Republishing our most downloaded episodes, one a month this year*

    Whether you’ve been married for a few years or are approaching a milestone anniversary, a healthy marriage takes intentional work. Marriage isn’t built in the big, dramatic moments, but in thousands of small habits and daily interactions that over time lead to either a God-honoring, joy-filled relationship—or one marked by strain and self-focus.

    Author and speaker Paul David Tripp joins me to talk about how those everyday habits shape our marriages and how to identify the ones that need to be uprooted. Drawing from nearly 50 years of marriage, Paul helps us see our relationships through the lens of the gospel.

    “A biblical view of marriage is a sinner married to a sinner in a fallen world—but with a faithful God. That means we can’t coast. There are things in each of us that threaten our marriage, and we need God’s grace every day.”

    My hope is that this conversation encourages you to re-engage your marriage with renewed faith and confidence in what God can do.

    What we talk about:

    • How marriages are shaped by thousands of small moments
    • Why daily habits matter more than big moments
    • Identifying healthy and harmful marriage habits
    • How sin turns us inward—and why marriage is a covenant of community
    • Confession, forgiveness, and navigating conflict
    • Unity vs. uniformity in marriage
    • The role of the fruit of the Spirit in a thriving marriage

    • Why isolation harms marriage and community helps heal it

    Connect with Paul David Tripp: 


    Links Mentioned: 


    Related Episodes:


    Featured Sponsors:

    • Thrive Causemetics: Amplify Your Every Day. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 
    • Cozy Earth: These viral pj’s are so good they sold out during the holidays, and now they’re back with an exclusive deal only available January 25th to February 8th. Head to cozyearth.com today and use my code DMABOGO to get these pj’s for you and someone you love! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here!
    • Cash App: For a limited time, new Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code FAMILY10 in their profile at signup and send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.
    26 January 2026, 6:15 am
  • 46 minutes 6 seconds
    How to Help Anxious Kids: Max Lucado on Parenting, Faith, and Finding Peace [Ep 556]

    Are we living in the most anxious generation ever? In this powerful and hope-filled conversation, Max Lucado joins us to talk about anxiety, mental health, and the unseen struggles so many kids and teens are facing today—and what parents can do about it.

    With constant access to phones, social media, and nonstop information, anxiety often shows up sideways in our kids through anger, withdrawal, or fear. Max explains what’s happening in the brain, why anxiety feels like an alarm that never shuts off, and how parents can become a soft place to land when emotions run high.

    We also talk about the importance of parents addressing anxiety in their own lives, how worry steals joy and peace, and why our presence (not perfection) is what God desires most. Max shares encouragement for praying parents, reminding us that Jesus never turned away a parent who asked for help for their child. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Why today’s kids are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety
    • The physical and emotional toll of chronic worry
    • Why a parent’s physical presence matters more than we realize
    • Max Lucado’s personal faith journey and what God taught him about presence over performance
    Connect with Max Lucado: 

    Links Mentioned:  

    Related Episodes:

    Featured Sponsors: 

    • Cove : Make protecting your home one of your New Year’s resolutions! Check out Cove at covesmart.com/DMA or use code DMA at checkout for up to 70% off your first order.
    • Wayfair: Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Every style. Every home. 
    • HiyaHealth: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.
    19 January 2026, 6:04 am
  • 42 minutes 5 seconds
    How’d I Miss That? Parenting Perspective, Praying for Your Kids & Trusting God’s Process :: Cynthia Yanof [Ep 555]

    My friend and Sidetracked podcast co-host, Cynthia Yanof, joins me to discuss her new book, How’d I Miss That?

    Cynthia shares hilarious and poignant stories about family and kids that help uncover deeper truths—reminding us that God has a plan, and there’s no formula for this parenting journey. We often stress over things that feel big at the moment, like preschool registration or making the “right” sports team, but what really matters is having an eternal perspective—focusing on who our kids are becoming at 25 and who we are becoming as parents. In this episode, we talk about:

    • How to pray audacious, faith-filled prayers over our kids
    • Trusting the process, even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment
    • Why not all friendships are meant for every season of parenting—and being intentional about your inner circle
    • And we wrap up with some fun hosting tips from Cynthia

    Connect with Cynthia Yanof: 


    Links Mentioned:  


    Related Episodes:


    Featured Sponsors: 

    • BUBS Naturals: Live Better Longer and kick 2026 off the right way! BUBS is running a HUGE New Year New You sale PLUS for a limited time only, our listeners are getting 20% OFF at BUBS Naturals by using code [DMA] at checkout. Bubsnaturals.com
    • Branch Basics: And here’s the good news — Branch Basics is now available everywhere you shop: at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and of course, BranchBasics.com Tossing the toxins has never been more convenient! And for anyone grabbing the Premium Starter Kit, you can still get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with our code [DMA]. 
    Thrive Causemetics: Amplify Your Every Day. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 
    12 January 2026, 6:05 am
  • 49 minutes 8 seconds
    People Skills That Strengthen Friendships, Marriage, and Family :: Debra Fileta [Ep 554]
    Moms, life throws us into so many conversations every day…

    Talking with our kids, navigating our husband’s work party, connecting with other moms, or building our own friendship. All of these moments show who we are and how we communicate.

    Today, Debra Fileta, counselor, author, and podcaster, joins me to share practical tips on how to communicate effectively with friends, family, and loved ones. In our tech-driven world, we’ve lost many opportunities for genuine connection, and often we don’t realize how we come across when meeting new people or entering a room full of strangers.

    Debra shares insights from her new book, People Skills, to help us connect in deeper, more authentic ways. Here’s some of what we cover:

    • Relationships and people skills: The strength of your relationships depends on the skills you bring into them. 
    • Communication matters: In a tech-driven world, real-life interactions with tone, body language, and facial expressions are more important than ever. 
    • Understanding communication styles: Learn the four types—assertive, aggressive, passive, passive-aggressive—and how to navigate them. 
    • Practical tips for being a great conversationalist: Honor your story, honor theirs, and create space for give-and-take in relationships.
    Connect with Debra Fileta: 

    Links Mentioned:  

    Related Episodes:Featured Sponsors: 

    • Honeylove: Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/DMA. 
    • Cove: Make protecting your home one of your New Year’s resolutions. Check out Cove at covesmart.com, use code DMA for an additional 10% off your first order —easy, affordable, and peace of mind guaranteed.
    • Green Chef: Go to Greenchef.com/ALONEGRAZA use the code ALONEGRAZA to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait. 
    5 January 2026, 6:05 am
  • 41 minutes 25 seconds
    Overwhelmed at Christmas? The Women of the Bible Who Understand :: Mary DeMuth [Ep 553]
    In this episode, author, podcaster, and speaker Mary DeMuth returns to share the inspiration behind her latest work, which spotlights overwhelmed women in the Bible—women whose stories have often been minimized or overlooked. From Mary the mother of Jesus to Hagar to the widow with two mites, these women model faith, resilience, and wholehearted trust in God.

    We talk about how Christmas can be both beautiful and heavy. Mary opens up about her own seasons of overwhelm, from her water breaking on Christmas Eve to sleeping in a barn the week before Christmas. She reminds us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived through the deepest fears a mother can face, yet she remained faithful as a disciple. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Why Christmas often heightens grief, trauma, and unmet longings
    • The consumerism of the holiday season vs. the simplicity of God with us
    • What Shalom really means: wholehearted, whole-bodied peace rooted in surrender
    • Jesus’ care for the overlooked, the aging, and the marginalized
    • The definition of “Whelm” which  refers to out-of-control stress,  “overwhelmed” is that same stress amplified beyond capacity
    Connect with Mary DeMuth: 

    Links Mentioned:  

    Related Episodes:Featured Sponsors: 

    • Green Chef: Go to Greenchef.com/ALONEGRAZA use the code ALONEGRAZA to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait. 
    • Policygenius: With Policygenius real users have gotten 20-year $2 million policies for just $53 a month. Don’t wait until next year. Give your family the gift of security today with Policygenius. Head to Policygenius.com to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save. 
    • Thrive Causemetics: Complete your holiday look. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 
    15 December 2025, 6:15 am
  • 53 minutes 23 seconds
    How to Feel More Secure in Your Marriage and Family :: Marc Cameron [Ep 552]
    In today’s episode, I sit down with Marc Cameron, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to explore one of the most influential (and often overlooked) elements of our emotional lives: attachment styles. Drawing from more than 80 years of research, Marc breaks down how our earliest experiences with our families shape the way we connect, communicate, handle conflict, and relate to the people closest to us well into adulthood.

    This episode offers a compassionate and scientifically grounded roadmap for understanding yourself and the people you love. Whether you identify as avoidant, anxious, vacillating, disorganized, or relatively secure, you'll walk away with clarity, validation, and practical tools for building healthier patterns of connection. Here is some of what we cover: 

    • Why attachment styles are not personality traits, but relational survival strategies formed early in life
    • Why “secure” doesn’t mean perfect; it means the relationship feels predictable and safe most of the time
    • How attachment ruptures can be healed in adulthood through awareness and practice
    • Why the holidays amplify attachment triggers—family roles, old wounds and unresolved expectations
    • How to move toward secure attachment by learning emotional language, practicing repair, and using the comfort circle 
    Connect with Marc Cameron: 

    Links Mentioned:  

    Related Episodes:Featured Sponsors: 

    • Thrive Causemetics:  Complete your holiday look with Thrive Causemetics. Luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA
    • Honeylove: Treat yourself or someone you love to Honeylove this holiday season and right now you can save 20% at honeylove.com/DMA
    • Story Worth: Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years–Storyworth Memoirs! Right now save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to Storyworth.com/dma. 
    8 December 2025, 6:15 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App