Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Amanda Taylor is the woman behind From Playgrounds to Psych Wards, where she shares her story of postpartum mental illness, recovery, motherhood, faith, and hope. After the birth of her fourth child in 2013, following a traumatic labor and delivery, Amanda experienced severe postpartum mental health challenges that ultimately became an 18-month journey through postpartum psychosis, hospitalization, and recovery. Today, she uses her story to help other women and families recognize the warning signs, ask for help, and remember that there is hope beyond the darkest seasons.
We talk about the difference between the normal challenges of new motherhood, postpartum depression and anxiety, and something more serious like postpartum psychosis? In this powerful conversation, Amanda shares her firsthand experience of racing thoughts, sleeplessness, becoming disconnected from reality, hospitalization, and the long road back to herself. We talk about the warning signs that require immediate support, the critical role caregivers and family members play, how postpartum mental illness can impact a marriage, and how friends and church communities can practically support a struggling family. Most importantly, Amanda shares a message of hope for the mom who cannot imagine feeling normal again: your story is not over, you are not a burden, and healing is possible.
In This Episode:

Understanding the differences between postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis

Warning signs that may indicate a postpartum mental health emergency

Mania, racing thoughts, confusion, rapid speech, and becoming disconnected from reality

Why caregivers should trust their instincts and seek an evaluation when something feels wrong

The importance of listening to the perspective of spouses, siblings, and caregivers

How postpartum psychosis affected Amanda’s marriage and family

How her husband continued to see Amanda beyond her mental illness

The practical ways friends, family, and church communities can support a struggling family

Why sometimes the best way to help is to simply show up and do something

Asking for help and finding one trusted person to say, “I’m struggling”

Amanda’s experience of feeling like she would never have a normal life again

Why postpartum mental illness does not have to define the rest of your story

Connect with Amanda Taylor: 

Website: Home 

Instagram: Amanda Taylor (@amandataylor.life)

Links Mentioned: 

From Playgrounds to Psych Wards: By Amanda & Colby Taylor

Emergency Resources: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department when someone may be experiencing psychosis or presents an immediate danger to herself or others.

Emergency Resources: Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Emergency Resources: Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773 or text HELP to 800-944-4773. The PSI HelpLine is not an emergency service. Postpartum Support International

The Engaged Life

Related Episodes:

Shame, Perfectionism and Smiling Depression :: Misty Persefield and Stephanie Coker [Ep 154]

Hope and Help for Taboo Topics in Postpartum Care :: Krystle Howald [Ep 467]

Postpartum Depression :: Brittany Turner [Ep 277]

Featured Sponsor: 

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Vicki Courtney is an author, speaker, and mom who has spent years helping parents navigate the hard conversations that come with raising kids in today’s culture. Through her books and ministry, she equips parents to talk honestly with their kids about faith, culture, relationships, and the challenges they’re facing.
In this top 10  episode (which originally aired on March 18, 2019), Vicki and I talk about how to parent with courage and humility in a culture that can feel increasingly unfamiliar to Christian families. Instead of parenting from fear, Vicki encourages us to make space for honest questions, lead with love, and create an environment where our kids know they can come to us with anything. Even when the world feels uncertain, Jesus is still our hope, and our kids need parents who are willing to walk alongside them as they wrestle with faith.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Vicki came to know Jesus and the ministry God called her to

The culture our kids are growing up in and why it can feel increasingly unfriendly to the Christian faith

Why we need to teach our kids to walk in truth while leading with love

How to make room for meaningful conversations by creating margin in your family

The pressure moms feel to make sure their kids are doing everything: sports, music, activities, academics, and more

Letting go of the belief that we have to orchestrate our children's futures

Giving our kids room to fail, wrestle, and learn from failure

Creating an environment where our kids feel safe coming to us with anything

Why real-time conversations and our attitude toward our kids matters

Parenting without shame, finger-wagging, or pretending we have it all together

What the prodigal son and the older brother teach us about God's grace

The challenges young men are facing as they grow into adulthood

Finding hope when you're afraid of the world your kids are growing up in

Connect with Vicki Courtney: 

Website: Vicki Courtney 

Instagram: Vicki Courtney (@vickicourtney)

Facebook: Vicki Courtney

Links Mentioned: 

5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter: By Vicki Courtney

5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son: By Vicki Courtney

The Prodigal God: By Timothy Keller

Revolutionary Parenting: By George Barna

Related Episodes:

How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577]

Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep. 251]

The Parenting Shift That Changes Everything :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 572]

Featured Sponsors: 

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Finding Jesus Countdown to Christmas Kit: Finding Jesus is a fun and meaningful countdown to Christmas that turns seeking Jesus into a daily family tradition. You can find the Finding Jesus Countdown to Christmas Kit at SeekHimFirst.com/HEATHER. You can also order on amazon here.

Today’s guest is Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and a longtime advocate for helping families save money, manage their finances, and live with greater intention. Crystal is passionate about helping women find financial peace and make practical changes with whatever they have, wherever they are. 
In This Episode
We’re talking about the fear, stress, and emotions that can come with money, and how to move toward greater financial peace. Crystal shares practical habits anyone can start using today, whether you’re paying off debt, trying to save, or simply wanting to feel more confident about where your money is going. We talk about: 

Why so many women have fear around money

How to align your spending with what matters most

Navigating money differences in marriage

Understanding emotional spending

Simple ways to start saving more

Why we often use money to feel like we are helping our kids

Crystal’s 1-hour money plan

Looking at your finances with your 90 year old self in mind 

Trusting God as your provider, even in lean seasons

Connect with Crystal Paine: 

Website: Money Saving Mom® | Saving Families Money Since 2007 

Instagram: Crystal Paine 🌻 MoneySavingMom (@themoneysavingmom)

Facebook: Money Saving Mom

Links Mentioned: 

The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women: By Crystal Paine

5 Day Budget Makeover 

Budget Spreadsheet 

Related Episodes:

Budget Isn’t a Dirty Word :: Ericka Young [Ep 244]

Reflecting on Financial Priorities :: Ericka Young [Ep 286]

Hope When You Hit a Financial Bottom :: Erin Odom [Ep 177]

Featured Sponsors: 

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As moms, it can be easy to confuse parenting with controlling. We want our children to make wise choices, succeed, and avoid pain. But fear can quickly turn our desire to help into nagging, manipulation, or control. Sarah Stephens joins me to talk about what it looks like to move from controlling our children to mentoring, discipling, guiding, and loving them well.
Sarah shares how God has taught her that our calling is not to control outcomes, but to remain faithful to the process. We talk about seeking wisdom from above, listening for God’s voice, recognizing the difference between conviction and condemnation, and learning to entrust our children and their choices to God.
In this episode, we talk about:

Why control is often motivated by fear

Learning to focus on the process, not the outcome

How to know when to speak up—and when to let something go

The only control we’re actually called to have: self-control

Seeking God’s wisdom instead of simply collecting more information

Learning to recognize God’s voice

How comparison can steal a mom’s peace

Asking, “Can my child recover from this?”

Parenting, guiding, and loving our children even when we disagree

Praying for our children and leaving it at the feet of Jesus 

What it looks like to say, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done”

Connect with Sarah Stephens: 

Website: Sarah Stephens - Equipping Women for Every Day 

Instagram: Sarah Tunstall Stephens (@sstephenstx)

Facebook: Sarah Tunstall Stephens

Links Mentioned: 

Boundaries: By Dr. Henry Cloud and  John Townsend

Have a New Teenager by Friday: By  Dr. Kevin Leman 

 Related Episodes:

Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323]

How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577]

How to Hear God’s Voice: Freedom Prayer and Abiding in Christ with Jennifer Barnett [Ep 576]

Featured Sponsors: 

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Family relationships can be complicated! So how do we navigate changing family roles, competing expectations, boundaries, and communication while protecting the relationships that matter most?
In this episode, Stacy Reaoch joins me to talk about the challenges that can come with family relationships and what it looks like to choose connection, extend grace, and build bridges even when things feel awkward or difficult. Stacy co-wrote Making Room for Her with her own mother-in-law and shares wisdom from interviewing women across different generations about their experiences.
We talk about:

Why family relationships can become challenging when roles and expectations change

Navigating competing expectations around time, holidays, and extended family

Knowing when to speak up and when to let something go

Why unsolicited advice can create tension—and what to do instead

How parenting preferences can create conflict between generations

Choosing the relationship over the small things

What grandparents can do to build trust with their adult children and their spouses

Finding small ways to show love and move toward a family member, even when it feels awkward

How to support your adult child's marriage without taking sides

What to do when you're concerned about your child's marriage

Learning to navigate a new relationship with your daughter-in-law or son-in-law

Practicing patience, humility, and healthy communication

Trusting God with relationships that feel impossible to repair

Connect with Stacy Reaoch: 

Website: Stacy Reaoch 

Facebook: Stacy Reaoch

Instagram: @stacyreaoch

Links Mentioned: 

Making Room for Her: By Stacy and Barbara Reaoch

The Word in Our Home: By Ben, Stacy and Barbara Reaoch

Related Episodes:

How to Have Healthy Conflict :: Lynn Hoffman [Ep 307]

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 387]

Adult Child Estrangement: What to Do—and How to Hold On to Hope :: Dr. Jim Burns [Ep 587]

Featured Sponsors: 

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