Coffee + Crumbs Podcast

For some of us, making friends as kids was challenging. The same can be true now, as adults. But you can turn a sour situation into something downright sweet when you show up as your whole self. Today, we're talking with YIGC contributor Neidy (naydee) Hess who shares about the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful of finding your people. We hope this conversation gives you permission to embrace the awkward, grieve the losses...

Many of us have experienced a significant shift in a friendship that we thought would last a lifetime. It's painful and can be hard to talk about, which is why we have C+C writer Sonya Spillmann on the podcast today to share about the vulnerable essay she wrote for YIGC called "When Friendships Change." You'll hear about the role food played in one specific friendship, and Sonya tells us what she knows now that she did...

In today's episode, we're taking a slight detour from friendship and hospitality to dive into the writing process with our resident "Writing Yoda" — Callie Feyen. How does doubt fuel our writing? How do we keep a posture of curiosity while witnessing to the world? What might happen to our art if we viewed creativity as part of our inheritance? We hope this conversation gives you a peek into the behind-the-scenes writing process of ...

Food is a love language, and if it's your love language, this episode is for you. Ruth Gyllenhammer, writer and content director for Coffee + Crumbs, joins Ashlee and Katie to talk about getting out of your comfort zone, the gift of being fully present, and what it looks like to feed our families. Whether you're away from home, or looking to start new rhythms around your family table, we hope this episode encourages yo...

Today, in our ongoing You're in Good Company series, Molly Flinkman tells us about the time she invited nine strangers into her home for Thanksgiving. She fully owns what an insane situation it was while also making a compelling case for why it mattered so much. In this episode, you'll hear how Molly came to value this kind of hospitality—why she keeps her eyes open for strangers in need—and she'll also give some small...

Today, writer Becky Morquecho joins us to chat about the challenges of food restrictions and what they've taught her about hospitality. She shares the hardships of her daughter's medically necessary strict diet but also encourages us with big and little ways friends make them feel included in the midst of barbecues and birthday parties. Whether you or your child is gluten-free, diabetic, has a dairy or nut allergy, or ...

Today we're joined by Adrienne Garrison, a writer, educator, and podcaster, whose life and work explore hospitality as both a creative practice and a form of survival. From a years-long holiday cookie swap that followed her across states, to designing meaningful learning experiences for her children, to podcasting as an act of deep listening, Adrienne invites us to consider what it means to host others with intention. ...

From lessons learned while living overseas to her small town library storytime, today author Kim Knowle-Zeller shares how blessings can bind us together. You'll hear how she started offering and receiving blessings and how it may be easier than you think to create a welcoming culture with your own hospitable words. Kim reminds us that building community takes time but encourages us to keep initiating. We hope this epis...

Welcoming others into our lives and our homes can get messy. Food spills, a glass breaks, dinner burns. Even when it all goes according to plan, there are still dishes to wash and tables to clear. But today, we're talking with C+C writer, Sarah Hauser, about how we can expect, and even embrace, the messes. Be warned, though. This episode may end up inspiring you to throw literal confetti in your house. Make sure to hav...

When it comes to hospitality, for author, yoga teacher, and C+C writer Melanie Dale, it's a family affair. Join Ashlee and Katie as they talk with Melanie about one of her essays in YIGC, "We'll Be Your Family on Christmas Eve," and get the scoop on her annual Christmas Eve party. From what her parents taught her to what she's passed on to her kids, Melanie shares her tips for leaving a legacy of hospitality. Find out ...

We are thrilled to be back with a brand new podcast series to go along with our brand new Coffee + Crumbs book, You're In Good Company. In upcoming weeks, you'll hear from every writer who contributed to this collection of essays—a true preview of what's inside these pages. First up, Katie shares how making sourdough is a metaphor for letting grief and healing take its time, while Ashlee introduces us to the idea that ...

Today, we're talking all things foster care with Jessica Mathisen, a foster, adoptive, and bio mom. Jessica sheds light on the enormous need for vulnerable kids to have a safe place to call home, misconceptions about foster care, challenges for foster families, and how churches, neighbors—and essentially everyone—can help in some capacity. Good news: being a Super Christian is not a prerequisite for making a difference...

Today, we're doing things a little differently—our guest is a dad. Author and spoken word poet, Tanner Olson, shares his heart (and humor!) as we chat about his long journey to fatherhood and what God has taught him along the way. Tanner's words and vulnerability are profound as he reminds us to  s l o w  d o w n , notice the world around us, and that there's always hope in the midst of hardship. Oh, and he also tells ...

Whether it's a different job, or another church, or yet another military move, we've all been the new girl at some point in our lives. Today, author Lindsay Swoboda—who's moved seventeen times!—joins us to chat about how we can hold the unknowns of a Life Raft Season loosely, yet intentionally. Lindsay shares her best tips for creating a sense of home, encourages us to sit with our kids in their pain instead of trying ...

One of our all-time favorite guests and unofficial Mentor Mom of the C+C team, Krista Gilbert, is back to answer alllllll our questions about motherhood. A mom to four grown kids, Krista shares her best advice for marital disagreements (humility is underrated), tailoring parenting to kids' individual needs (one-on-one time is key), and navigating the conversations we'd rather avoid (like, changing bodies and sex). From...

Today we're joined by author Greta Eskridge, who shines a light on how to approach a dark topic with our kids: pornography. The stats tell us it's not a matter of if our kids will be exposed to porn, but when. Luckily equipping our kids doesn't have to be as scary as we think. Greta shares practical language for age-appropriate, hope-filled conversations and makes a strong case for moms to lead the way. We hope this ep...

One of our all-time favorite guests, Aundi Kolber—author, mother, and therapist—is back, and today she's encouraging us to take what we need. Aundi sheds light on how and why we end up disembodied, how to reclaim connection with our God-given needs (especially as moms), and how we can play the role of participant in our own healing. Whether you're struggling to notice what you're lacking or struggling to prioritize you...

From rediscovering the art of thrifting to embracing breathwork, today we're sharing what's keeping us grounded in the midst of life's demands. While Ashlee's fueling her body with protein smoothies and filling her Little Free Library with hope-filled books, Katie's got Jackie Hill Perry in her earbuds and Half Baked Harvest meals on her plate. We hope this episode inspires you to find a workspace with loads of natural...

Amanda spends two years of her impressionable adolescence under the care of Larry Nassar, former family medicine physician and team doctor of the US women's national gymnastics team. Having not fully understood that what she experienced was abuse, it's only later—when Amanda and her husband struggle to conceive—that the details of her painful story come to light. Then, just as the case against Larry begins to hit the m...