Straight From The Heart(land)

Christine is so happy to welcome Sarah Lubach back on the podcast for this important conversation about race and the events of the past few weeks. We discuss what we're learning, how we're failing, wh...

China's divorce rates skyrocketed after COVID-19 which gets Christine thinking about how all of our relationships - friendships, marriages and co-workers - will fare after all of this. How are we hand...

Christine is discovering all sorts of quirks of her own and her family's during the quarantine. Plus, quirks that only a quarantine would bring into our lives (hello, social distance parades, zoom hap...

It's holy week! That seven days between Palm Sunday and Easter, filled with reflection, worship and traditions. How will COVID-19 change our approach to this coming weekend? I have mixed feelings and ...

From my quarantine to yours....hello! Checking in to see how everyone is doing and sharing my personal ups and downs, including a major revelation that I got yesterday just when I desperately needed i...

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Straight From The Heart(land)! Happy birthday to you!! Christine is celebrating four years of podcast fun and talking about living ou...

My word for 2020 changed! Hear why and how this year's word is challenging me to stop riding the emotional roller coaster and start responding vs. reacting. Plus, What's Making My Heart Beat!...

In honor of MLK Jr Day on Monday, Christine is sharing frankly about the lack of diversity in her own life and why she thinks that is. True confessions...and plans to change this reality. Plus, crazy ...

I set out to read 52 books (one per week) in 2019. Did I make the goal? Find out in this week's episode, including who are my favorite authors and what are my top picks for best books of the year. Plu...

When the weather outside is frightful, a cozy movie sounds so delightful! In this week's podcast episode, Christine brings you her top, family-friendly holiday movies. Check this list twice because th...

Yes, there's much to be thankful for. But before we share gratitude around the table on Thursday, I have a few things I'd like to get off my chest.  Plus, two important questions related to Thanksgivi...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in your mind or heart? Me, too! In fact, I probably described all of us at some point. But, now more than ever we can all use some soul minimalism.  What is it?? Just li...

Christine is turning 45 and talking all about it in this week's podcast, including how unfair it is to peak physically at 22, being compared to Daisy Duke and learning to embrace the phrase, "I don't ...

Didn't lead with a hug? Failed to take them to the doctor in a timely manner? Yep, done it! After a broken collarbone, a sprained wrist and twisted knee (and that's just this fall!), Christine has lea...

Raise your hand if you're feeling stressed out. {Christine with both hands raised high.} Whether it's a perfect storm of scheduling demands, crazy circumstances you didn't expect, or your own procrast...

This is the best time of year for tv! All of our old favorite shows return and lots of new ones promise us hours of viewing pleasure. It's good to be a tv watcher right now! Christine shares the scoop...

Ever experienced identity theft?? Christine may have just lost hers! Listen to this week's podcast to hear about her car buying adventure, how she handed over her info, how we all face identity theft ...

Are you a good or bad decision maker? And does faith simplify or complicate your process? Join Christine in this week's discussion about making decisions and how her 20-something self had A LOT to lea...

After two crazy incidents involving Kwik Star's grace and generosity, Christine reflects on the generosity of strangers and whether it is easier to give or to receive. (This episode could also be titl...

Just in time for those fall sports contests kicking off this week, Christine is sharing her thoughts on a recent editorial written to rein in unruly sports parents and adult fans. Listen to make sure ...

After almost throwing in the towel on the podcast altogether, Christine is introducing a new format: short and sweet episodes containing God's HEART spoken straight from her HEART to your HEART. Take ...

We're at the point in the summer where our kids' diets are made up primarily of fruit snacks and Cheez-its and we find random cups on every surface in our homes. Help!! This week's episode is offering...

With warm July temps comes the need for shorts and the dreaded swimsuit (gasp!). In this week's episode, Christine discusses summer body anxiety and how a full life and lots of fun just might be waiti...

Grab your friends and a cold drink - it's time for TRIVIA!! The topics are all summer related and will get you reminiscing about your favorite summer foods, songs, blockbusters, etc. Can you beat Sara...

It's time to create that summer bucket list and this week's episode has all kinds of ideas to help you do it! From family fun to yummy food, road trips to rainy-day options, this week's podcast is sur...

Summer is finally here and that means time to find a good beach read!   In this week's episode, we're getting you started with our 2019 summer reading list. Favorite authors, books we've read ...

We're finally experiencing warmer temps in the Midwest and so it's a good time to chat about Spring and Summer fashion trends for 2019. Christine and Sarah talk crop tops, body suits, dad shoes.....an...

Whether you're a Disney fanatic or vowed to never go (like Christine before she went), this episode has all you need to know to plan your first Disney trip. From FastPasses and Magic Bands to food, ri...

Repeat after us: It's not you, it's May. It's not you, it's May. It's not you, it's May. In this week's episode, Christine unpacks why the month of May is so crazy, yielding its nickname, "the new Dec...

It's Mother's Day week and Christine and Sarah are reflecting on their collective 25 years of motherhood and sharing lessons they've picked up along the way. Plus, the Pulse and What's Making Our Hear...

Ever been to a grand opening with those giant scissors? In this week's episode, you get to hear from the woman who invented them. (Seriously.) As part of our "I Love My Weird Job" series, Christine in...

In this week's podcast, we continue our "I Love My Weird Job" series with fiction author, Rena Olsen. Rena is a master storyteller crafting intriguing suspense in her books, "The Girl Before" and "Wit...

We're launching a new series this week about weird jobs and our first guest is the ONLY person Christine knows who does this job.....pageant consulting!! Ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes worl...

When someone in our life is experiencing success, why is it so easy to fall into competition vs. celebration? Why do we compare ourselves to one another and see the world through the eyes of scarcity ...

In over three years of the podcast, the topic of social media has been one of our most consistent. We've debated its effects on our kids, our relationships and our hearts. Now, in this week's episode,...

Sometimes we make faith complicated and the best solution is to go back to the beginning. To wrap up our "Faith In Real Life" series, Christine interviews her 13 year-old daughter, Tess. In the interv...

We continue our "Faith In Real Life" series with guest, Michael Meggison. (Leave it to Michael to earn us our first-ever "Explicit" podcast rating - thanks, Megs!) Michael shares what faith looks like...

We continue our Faith In Real Life series with retiree, empty nester, and mentor to Christine and Sarah, Mary Stier. After an illustrious career, Mary entered full-time ministry and is currently compl...

We launch a new series this week called, "Faith In Real Life." It's a discussion about how faith grows and expresses itself in different phases of life and our first guest is Bridget Rauch. Bridget is...

We are up to our necks in snow around here and kind of over it. (Okay, we're totally over it!) But, it got us thinking about our beauty routines and how they change (for the better or worse) during th...

Woo hoo!! Christine's husband Michael is on the podcast this week and they're talking about the division of household labor between them. Who handles which chores and why? As well as, how did they com...

Have you given up hope? Does believing in a good future feel too painful? Then this episode is for you! We wrap up our Belonging series looking at God's heart for us to "be longing" for the good gifts...

We continue our series on Belonging taking a look at the one person we're guaranteed to belong to perfectly - God. He chose you to be part of his family, a place you'll always belong, and wants you to...

We weren't meant to do life or faith alone. We were created to belong to one another and do life in community. But, what does that mean and how can we make that happen in our own lives? Join Christine...

Kids have so many options for activities these days. It's enough to make your head spin just thinking about it, let alone bust your budget and schedule. In this week's podcast, Christine identifies th...

Ever felt the pressure to perform or be perfect? Tired of trying to gain others approval while losing yourself in the process? In this week's podcast, Christine and Sarah discuss their own struggles w...

Christine interviews Simple Purposeful Living's Erin Port about strategies for kicking off the new year, including goal setting and how to find success by making those resolutions both simple and purp...

Remember that "Grown-Up Christmas List," classic song by Amy Grant? In this week's episode, Christine and Sarah create their own grown-up Christmas lists, including peace on earth and a solution to mi...

What's your favorite Christmas treat, song, or movie? Do you have a favorite gift or memory? In the second week of Christmas with the Meggisons, Christine asks her kids these questions and also what t...

The Meggison kids are taking over the podcast sharing with Christine all about their Christmas traditions, including the ones they like, the ones they don't (can you say Christmas lights??), and which...