What do you do when your child’s “default state” is upside down? In this energetic and heartwarming episode, we explore the world of Bex, the star of The Bounciest Monster, who brings to life what it's like to parent a child with boundless energy, sensory needs, or ADHD. Author Sarah…
Ever feel like your living room just exploded into an art studio, a puzzle factory, and a soccer field—all at once? In this episode, we meet Max, the lovable character helping kids learn how to manage their excitement, energy, and everyday messes. Inspired by real-life parenting moments, Max is more…
In this episode, we dive into the delightful and relatable world of Bex in The Bounciest Monster, a high-energy character inspired by real-life parenting adventures with ADHD. Author Sarah Sparks shares how Bex—full of bounce, excitement, and unstoppable motion—helps kids and families embrace energy while learning important self-regulation skills. Whether…
The Little Monsters on Their Shoulders: Talking Anxiety, Self-Worth & Support for Kids In this deeply important episode, we shine a light on the rising tide of anxiety and depression in children—where an estimated 1 in 12 U.S. kids ages 3 to 17 experiences social anxiety, and over 5 million…
In this empowering episode, we explore how the most meaningful relationships in life happen when we show up as our true, unfiltered selves. Through the lens of a shape-shifting monster character, our guest dives into the concept of “masking”—especially how young girls often hide their true emotions or traits out…
In this heartfelt episode, we explore the quiet struggles many parents face behind the scenes—juggling personal healing while still showing up for their children. Our guest shares her experience of parenting through a traumatic brain injury, reflecting on her mother’s journey before her, and the emotional weight of comparison in…
In this vibrant and insightful episode, we explore how summer reading can be more than just a strategy to combat the “summer slide”—it can become a joyful, memory-making adventure for the whole family. Featuring the Monsters on Mill Street series, we highlight how stories filled with heart, humor, and emotional…
In this soul-stirring episode, our guest reflects on her early experiences in church—navigating faith as a rule-follower and rule-breaker all at once. She recalls how, even before she understood it, God was quietly showing up for her in deeply personal ways. One memory stands out: a picture of Jesus holding…
In this delightfully nostalgic episode, we step into the heart of 1978—where fashion meant K-stick pens, Star Wars was king, and the Sears catalog was a portal to every kid’s dream. Our guest shares how these small but meaningful details helped bring her characters to life in the memoir, including…
In this reflective episode, we explore the quiet, powerful thread of faith that often goes unnoticed until we look back. Our guest shares how, while writing her memoir, she believed her faith journey began in her twenties—but a rediscovered childhood Bible told a different story. As she flips through its…
In this moving episode, we dive into one of the most unexpected and tender moments in the memoir—the Bonanza dinner scene. Unlike any other part of the book, this chapter captures a version of the author's father that feels lighter, joyful, and fully present. It’s a rare glimpse of a…
What if the “good old days” weren’t behind us, but happening right now? In this poignant episode, we explore a powerful moment of "backward nostalgia"—a realization that time doesn’t erase love, it reveals it. As our guest reflects on seeing her father both as a young man and in his…
In one of the most touching and nostalgic scenes from her memoir, our guest takes us on a heartfelt shopping trip—not just with her family, but with each version of herself. Inspired by her sister Kim’s tradition of gifting children what they truly want, this moment becomes more than just…
In this brutally honest and strangely poetic episode, we spiral into a scene that feels all too familiar—crying in a closet beneath a polyester pantsuit, gold shag carpet catching the fallout. Our narrator reflects on the absurdity of memory, the shame spiral that follows a rough night, and the oddly…
In this deeply moving episode, we explore a transformative moment from Amy Daughters' time-travel memoir where her grown-up self tells young Amy, “I believe in you.” It’s a turning point not just in the story—but in her faith. As she reflects on how that moment reshaped her relationship with God,…
She’s always been a storyteller—but for the first time, she turned the lens inward and began telling her own story. In this episode, we explore how personal moments—navigating her children’s anxiety, big emotions, and everyday struggles—became the foundation for the Monsters on Mill Street book series. These aren’t just children’s…
What does resilience look like when you're living out of suitcases and sleeping on your aunt’s couch during high school? In this powerful episode, we hear the raw and beautiful story of a mother and daughter who lost their home—but never lost their joy. While navigating homelessness during her junior…
Meet Skye—the shape-shifting star of Monsters on Mill Street who reminds kids (and adults!) that hiding who we are doesn’t make us safer, just smaller. In this heartwarming episode, we dive into Skye’s unique gift: she can transform to fit any situation. Wings to fly, legs to leap—there’s nothing she…
In this deeply moving segment, we shine a light on Love Smiles, a powerful nonprofit that brings moments of comfort and joy to children battling pediatric cancer—one book at a time. Founded by Jenna Kmiec after her own daughter was diagnosed with cancer as an infant, Love Smiles was born…
Children’s mental health has never been more important—and in a world full of noise, negativity, and pressure, kids need stories that offer hope, courage, and connection. In this inspiring episode, we spotlight the Monsters on Mill Street book series, a powerful resource helping kids navigate tough emotions through fun, engaging…
Amy Daughters didn’t just write a book—she opened a portal. In this unforgettable conversation, we dive into You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, a hilarious, heart-healing, time-travel memoir that reminds us of something powerful: love really is the answer—even when the question is, “Should I…
Sometimes the most heartfelt attempts at empathy come from the littlest voices. In this warm and moving episode, we share a touching (and hilarious) story of a 3-year-old trying to comfort a friend in the hospital recovering from a double mastectomy. Sitting quietly beside her, the little girl gently took…
What if the parent you always thought didn’t like you… actually loved you in the deepest, most enduring way? In this powerful episode, we explore how writing—and revisiting the past—can reveal a love that was always there but hard to see. Our guest shares the emotional realization that her mother,…
When you lose a parent young, like Ann did, there's a lifetime of missed conversations. In this powerful episode, we talk about the deep grief of losing a father at age 11—and the adult moments that never got to happen: no aisle to walk down together, no heart-to-hearts, no father-daughter…
