Mess and Meaning

Hello, this is Matt, and he's a teacher . . .

In this episode, I chat with one of the good guys of the internet, Matt Eicheldinger. He’s a veteran teacher and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who knows a thing or two about the power of stories to connect and inspire us. 

We talk about the significance of small moments, Matt’s fast rise to fame after unclogging a parking lot drain, and the profo...

Dr. Morgan Cutlip is a relationship expert who knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood, and she’s committed to helping moms navigate it better. In this episode, we do a deep dive into the mental load, intensive parenting, and the great expectations of modern motherhood.

Morgan shares what you can do on the toilet to improve your life, why stuffing your needs typically backfires, and how partners can close t...

Brenna Milleville, owner of popular Christian apparel company Elly and Grace, shares how a nudge from God led her away from a career in public policy to an unexpected life of entrepreneurship. 

We talk about living your values, fending off copycats, and the long commutes with tear-stained cheeks that ultimately prepared her for Elly and Grace.

Brenna's all about leaps of faith and letting God lead, and you&ap...

In part two of the mompreneur mini-series, I chat with Assia Mahmood, owner of Windhaven Academy, children’s book author, and host of the She Busy podcast. We discuss some of the parallels between entrepreneurship and parenting, the importance of resilience and delegation, and how to make sure you don’t die on a hiccup.   

Assia shares what it was like growing up in a wildly entrepreneurial family, how she launched a daycare just as...

In the first installment of a new mompreneur mini-series, I chat with the co-owners of The Bluebird Design Co., Krystin King and Vanessa Harrell, on adult friendship, entrepreneurship, and their best home organization tips for parents.

Is it really a good idea to go into business with your best friend? How do you juggle competing priorities at home and work without the guilt? And why is my family completely oblivious to th...

Dr. Dave Schramm is an associate professor and family life extension specialist at Utah State University, and he has given more than 600 presentations around the world on happiness, marriage, and parenting. 

We talk gratitude, the power of French fries, and the two places our phones shouldn’t go with us. We also discuss the loneliness epidemic, Dr. Dave's “secret sauce” for thriving families and businesses (the basis of his TED...

This episode features personal stories and reflections on grief from my friends Stephen Shanabrook and Davenna Ward, as well as an interview with Dr. Jennifer Ryan, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and the managing director of I Choose Change in Allen, TX. 

No one is immune to loss, and when it happens, we don’t get to skip the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. Consider this episode your permission to feel it a...

Amberly Lambertsen is a certified family life educator, marriage coach, and host of the Prioritize Your Marriage podcast. In our chat, she shares candid personal insights and practical tips to help couples make their marriages a priority throughout every stage of life.

We also discuss inappropriate reels, postpartum diapers, and her kids’ obsession with hotel toilets as we brainstorm ways to reclaim the fun and spontaneity in our re...

Dr. Scott Stanley, one of the leading relationship and commitment experts in the world (and an overall groovy guy), packs this episode with research-based insights and time-tested advice from his more than 40 years in the field.

We also chat about septic tanks, little forks, and kitchen massages as we translate relationship science to real life. 

Researchers have long known the hallmarks of happy marriages; unfort...

Hi, I'm Dr. Kara, and this is the Mess and Meaning podcast. It's a show for busy parents like you who want to ditch the spin cycle for a more intentional life of connection and purpose. 

If you're ready to build a life you love, listen in for thought-provoking interviews, cutting-edge research, and relatable personal stories as we learn more and live better, together.       

*New episodes every oth...