Today's episode is on a topic that was actually requested by a follower! Jesse and I are diving into something very close to my heart: navigating back-to-back senior years with our daughters, Kathrynne and Kaitlynn! It has truly been a whirlwind of emotions and logistics, but Jesse and I are opening up about our experiences - the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected lessons that we have learned along the way. With our having back-to-back seniors, it has definitely been a mix of emotions...

Do you ever feel like you're just barely keeping your head above water? If so, this episode of The Crystal Paine Show is for you! Jesse and I have been married for 21 years and we've learned and grown a lot in those years -- and tried a lot of different things that worked and many things that didn't. In this conversation, we share some of our simple systems that keep us sane and help us to have breathing room in our days to enjoy our life and invest in what matters most. First up, we talk...

This episode is a reminder to trust your God-given intuition. If you feel something is wrong or off, get it checked out. In this podcast, we share the story of Micah getting really sick recently and how it ended up landing him in the hospital. We got so many questions from you all about his illness and how we knew when it was time to take him to the hospital/what we experienced, that I thought recording a podcast episode sharing in-depth might be helpful. We're so grateful that Micah is doing...

Join Jesse and I this week as we sit down together for a personal episode where we tackle some burning questions submitted by followers on Instagram and share some life updates. (Including a story about a recent travel mishap where we ended up locked out of our own house at 2 a.m.!!) We kick things off by discussing our recent trip to Kansas for Easter -- our first time to fly with all three younger kids in over a year. We went to a goat farm, connected with friends we hadn't seen in a long...

This week's podcast guest is Kaitlynn (my 16-year-old!) who is here to discuss the details of her unforgettable trip to Singapore and Indonesia! Join us as Kaitlynn shares exclusive insights into her trip, talks about why she chose to go on this trip, and all the highlights (and a few lowlights) of the experience.  The trip started out rocky with a delayed flight that caused their group to miss their a 17.5-hour flight to Singapore and end up stranded in San Francisco at 2 am in the morning!...

There were tears and there was laughter on this episode of the podcast, because we talked about the vulnerable (and sometimes difficult!) topic of belonging. And my guests were Chris and Julie Bennett, the authors of Fighting for Family: The Relentless Pursuit of Building Belonging. As the title of their book would suggest, Chris and Julie are passionate about relationships and community. In the conversation, they share about how family isn't just the people who you are related to, it can...

Silas makes his formal debut on the podcast this week by joining Jesse and me to share about their trip to DC. He's joined in on a few podcasts in the past when he was much younger and didn't say much, so I'm excited for you to get to hear more from him now that he's older and less scared of the microphone. :) Jesse and Silas recount the adventures they had on the 8th grade school trip, including flying Southwest (and winning some vouchers), Arlington, the Holocaust Museum, the 9/11 Memorial...

I’m guessing many of you have seen the funny crunchy video comedy clips from Really Very Crunchy on Instagram or TikTok or YouTube. Emily and Jason Morrow are the talented writers, producers, and actors for these and I got the privilege of interviewing Emily in-studio recently about her brand-new book, Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner’s Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life Without Adding Them to Your Personality. As my word for the year is health, I’ve especially loved Emily’s videos and...

Today's episode is a fun departure from our recent more serious topics. Join me and Jesse as we take a lighthearted stroll down memory lane, exploring the quirks and charms of growing up in the 1900's. Okay, so we were born in 1980 and 1981 to be exact, but it was still the 1900's and so much has changed since then! Born before the millennium? Get ready for a nostalgia-packed ride! The inspiration for today's episode comes from a meme about being from the 1900's that sparked a flood of...

This week, I get to share a conversation I had recently with Sara Hagerty -- and it's one I think you'll love and be deeply inspired by! I know I was! Sara is the author of The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries and I resonated so deeply with her story and this book. In fact, it is my first 5-star read of 2024! In this episode, Sara and I take a dive into her inspiring journey of facing limitations, from a challenging road to motherhood, 13 years of infertility, adopting...

Join Jesse and I this week as we discuss the sensitive topic of losing and rebuilding trust with teens after they've broken it. Inspired by a question from an Instagram follower, I share insights on the importance of having conversations before resorting to consequences. We highlight the importance of seeking to understand our teens' perspectives (we don't have to agree with them, but I think we should make the effort to try to understand) and adjusting consequences based on their willingness...

It's the second week of February and Jesse and I are giving you an update on our 2024 goals! I try to stop at the end of every month and reflect on where I'm at, how I'm doing on my goals and habits, and what tweaks I need to make.  Today we share what has worked so far this year, what's not working as well, and what we're learning. From hitting 47 hours of outdoor time in chilly January and making a habit of getting 90 grams of protein almost every day to struggling with turning off screens...

This episode is perfect as we approach Valentine's Day... because every married person needs to listen to what Annie F. Downs shares in this episode. And all of the single people need to listen to this episode to be encouraged by Annie's story and life!  Annie is the author of a number of books, including her newest children's book, So Happy to Know You! We talk about her days as a teacher that inspired this book, her heart behind writing this, and how God has given her so many opportunities...

I consider the mark of a good book one that makes you laugh and get teary-eyed in the space of a few pages. Cynthia Yanof's book, Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life, did that very thing for me. Her ability to bring humor into life's messiness is beautiful and one we can all learn from. In this episode, we touch on some of her story and lessons she's gleaned. We talk about her experiences as an older mom with kids in college, high school, and first grade and how...

So much has happened over the last few weeks, so today we're sitting down to share a fun episode filled with lots of family updates and news. I share a crazy travel story, talk about my surprising sourdough journey, we give you some can't-miss cold shower updates (please laugh!), talk about a book I finished recently, and tell you about a book light we love! We hope that this podcast episode feels like you are sitting in our living room with us chatting about life and things we're thinking...

Today, I'm sitting down with my friend Heidi Lee Anderson, whom I initially met on Instagram, but our online friendship turned into a real-life bond. Join us as we dive into Heidi's inspiring journey and discuss her new book P.S. It's Gonna Be Good, which explores how God's Word addresses our deepest questions about faith, fear, and everything in between. Heidi opens up about facing a cancer diagnosis over a decade ago and the emotional rollercoaster that followed. From chemotherapy to...

Every year since 2016, I've chosen a word for the year. For me, this has been pretty life-transforming as this word serves as sort of my over-arching theme for the goals and hopes for the year. And it also is one that I refer back to again and again throughout the year as I make decisions and think through what to commit to and what to say no to. In this episode, Jesse and I explore why I chose the word I did for 2024 and how I am intentionally seeking to live it out with the choices I make...

It's 2024 and we're kicking off this year with a podcast episode sharing about five significant changes we're making in our lives/schedules to be more intentional and purposeful. Because Kierstyn is starting preschool, we are tweaking our daily routine in three significant ways: getting up and out the door by 7:25 a.m., getting our younger three to bed by 7:30 p.m., and me turning off my screens at 8:30 p.m. This isn't just about change for the sake of change, it's about aligning our lives...

Welcome to the final episode of The Crystal Paine Show for 2023! I am so thrilled to bring back a familiar voice – my daughter Kathrynne! In this episode, we reflect on Kathrynne's first semester of college, exploring the highs, lows, and the valuable lessons learned. From the challenges of living independently to the joys of making new friends, Kathrynne shares her perspective on the transition from high school to college life. We take a dive into her initial uncertainty about the chosen...

I hope that you will join me for this exciting and thought-provoking conversation with Shane Standord, author of the book JourneyWise: Redeeming the Broken & Winding Roads We Travel (The Eight Blessings of the Beatitudes of Jesus)! ​​Shane has a truly powerful story to tell that's driven by his unwavering faith, strength, and astounding resilience in the face of life's biggest challenges! He shares about his journey as a grandfather, 30-year pastor, and founder of the West Center for...

I am joined this week by Lauren Gaines, author of Unshakable Kids: Three Keys to Raising Spiritually Strong and Emotionally Healthy Children. As someone who often discusses emotional language and nurturing emotional health in your kids, I have received many, many questions from moms about teaching these concepts to young kids, so Lauren is joining me today to help me tackle this topic! Lauren is a mother of three with a background in school psychology, and she provides practical insights and...

This year has been stretching for our marriage. We’ve had some really hard and spark-less days. In fact, at the beginning of the summer, I looked into Jesse’s eyes and said: “This isn’t working. Something needs to change.” We talked about how we felt like we’d been running on empty in our marriage, that we’d been trying to tap into any reserves we had but we were now hitting the bottom of the barrel. Maybe some of you who have walked through challenging seasons can relate? It wasn’t any one...

I try not to have favorite podcast episodes, but I just really, really loved this episode and can't wait for you to hear it. I hope it inspires and warms your heart as much as it did mine! This week, I got to sit down with Ginny Yurich, the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, to delve into her impactful work and discuss her latest book, Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future! Ginny has deeply inspired me through her work...

Jesse and I did something we've never done before for this episode: we recorded it twice! Not because of technical issues, either. Listen in for why (and you can laugh!) In this week's podcast, we share a candid glimpse into some struggles we've experienced in recent months that prompted a conversation that led to a change in our daily lives. We talk about some of the hurdles that come with working from home and how these have impacted us recently. We also talk about how to be honest when you...