Terri Hitt is an experienced mom of four, a longtime mentor to women, and the author of The Good Mom Trap. After raising children in two different generations and walking through adoption, grief, and God’s refining process, Terry now helps moms break free from the pressure of “good” parenting and focus on raising children with eternal purpose.

In this conversation, Terri opens up about:

• Why the desire to be a “good mom” can become a trap.
• The difference between parenting behavior and parenting the heart.
• How faith changes the way we approach motherhood.
• Why Christ-centered parenting matters more than perfection.
• Practical ways to build a home that points children to Jesus.
• The power of relationship, consistency, and spiritual surrender in motherhood.

If you have ever felt like you are falling short as a mom, this episode will remind you that your job is not to be perfect — your job is to lead your children toward Christ.

Grab The Good Mom Trap https://a.co/d/0gRyXMGP

The easiest first step to connect with Terri is emailing info@terrihitt.com or visiting www.terrihitt.com to book a complimentary 30-minute coaching call.

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

Ever notice you can binge Christian reels, podcasts, and sermons for hours… and still feel spiritually empty when you finally put your phone down? This episode is a real-talk conversation about Christian content overload, how even “good” content can become your new noise, and what it looks like to return to time with the Creator instead of living on a steady diet of content creators.

We share our own stories of:

• Following countless Christian influencers, pastors, and worship accounts
• Binging sermons and Christian podcasts while calling it “time with God”
• Letting quiet time become an aesthetic or performance instead of a genuine meeting with Jesus
• Using planners, Bible highlighters, apps, and “spiritual” shopping as a substitute for actually opening the Bible

You’ll hear us unpack:

• How to recognize when Christian content has become an idol or a distraction
• The difference between being with Jesus and just consuming information about Him
• Why Mary vs. Martha still matters in a digital, always-on world
• Signs you’re spiritually overloaded, even when everything you’re consuming is “good”
• Simple swaps to trade constant content for real time in God’s Word and presence

We’ll also share practical ideas to help you gently detox from content overload:

• Small ways to turn off the noise (even if you love sermons and podcasts)
• Simple, realistic rhythms for quiet time as a worn-out Christian mom
• Creative tools like verse walls, Bible note-taking, and Scripture memorization that pull you into the Word instead of back onto social media

This episode is for you if:

• You feel guilty that you’re “always listening” but rarely in your Bible
• You call podcasts, reels, or sermon clips your quiet time
• You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering why Christian content isn’t filling the emptiness
• You’re ready to meet with Jesus Himself, not just the people talking about Him

If this episode hit home, share it with a friend who’s drowning in “good” Christian content but craving real time with Jesus. Then come tell us in the Unlikely Housewives community one small swap you’re making this week to spend more time with the Creator instead of the scroll.

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

How do we help our kids stay rooted in their faith when their textbooks, teachers, and TikTok feeds all seem to say, “Science has replaced God”?

In this conversation, we sit down with Doug Ell—MIT grad, former atheist, lawyer, and self-proclaimed ultra-nerd—who spent decades studying molecular biology, physics, and the human genome, only to discover that the evidence points powerfully toward a Creator, not away from Him. He shares how reading dense grad-level science texts on airplanes slowly dismantled his atheism and led him to Jesus through logic, data, and wonder at the “code of life” written into our DNA.

We talk about how public schools often present only one narrative (Big Bang, Darwinism, no design allowed) and why that can quietly bully kids into believing faith is anti-science. Doug walks us through simple, accessible ways moms can talk about DNA, fine-tuned physics, and creation with their kids—even if you don’t consider yourself a science person.

If you’ve ever worried that you’re sending your kids into a spiritual battle with rubber bullets while the culture is fully armed, this episode will encourage you, equip you with better questions, and remind you that God is not afraid of science—and neither do your kids have to be.

• Doug’s website and book: Counting to God (science-and-faith resources, talks, and articles) https://countingtogod.com/
• Doug’s graphic novel: Godproof https://a.co/d/040nVjQk
• Short animated videos explaining science and faith for teens https://www.discovery.org/v/all-life-runs-code/
• Books we referenced:
  • Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
  • The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• Creation Museum and Ark Encounter

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🎙️Are you wanting to share your message with thousands through podcasts? PodMatch is the place you need to be. Join here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/unlikelyhousewives

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

Hey housewives! We are getting real (and ridiculous) in this laugh-out-loud episode of The Unlikely Housewives, confessing the petty things that drive Christian moms batty—from dishwasher disasters to toilet paper tragedies. It's unfiltered therapy, reminding us God loves (and laughs at) our flaws while we sanctify slowly.

Episode Highlights

Pull up a chair amid the shoe piles and dive into these relatable rants:

• Dishwasher loading drama: Tetris pros vs. straw-in-lid purists, plus basement dishwashers that hide Tupperware forever.
• Toilet paper wars: Over vs. under, and the horror of rolls just set on top (or worse, under in guest baths—we fix it!).
• Shoe explosions & "rapture" moments: Six pairs by day's end, lining stairs, and magic coffee tables that "disappear" messes.
• Wet towels on floors (then screams in the shower), overflowing trash with face-up paper plates, and couch pillows/blankets everywhere.

Our audience chimed in with duplicates galore—proving pettiness unites us:

• Cupboards/drawers left open (ADD or awareness fail?).
• Trash Q-tips bouncing off full cans, couch chaos, and blankets strewn like nobody lives here.
• The "think less, laugh more" mantra for overthinkers, because God created humor for sitcom families like ours.

We asked the men—they've got petty gripes about us too (stay tuned to the end). Awareness is step one; grace covers the rest.

These "ridiculous yet relatable" quirks point to bigger heart lessons, but today? Just laugh. God likes us wild ones anyway. Think less, laugh more!

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with decluttering pioneer Barbara Hemphill to unpack the real reason your home keeps getting & staying messy—clutter is delayed decisions, not a mom-fail. You’ll learn how emotional and spiritual clutter show up as piles on your counters, why organizing containers aren’t the solution, and how to make small, grace-filled choices that actually stick. If you feel like you’re constantly cleaning and never caught up, this conversation will give you permission, perspective, and a practical starting point.

• How Barbara’s simple idea that “clutter is postponed decisions” instantly reframes the shame you feel about your home.
• Why your physical clutter is often a reflection of emotional and even spiritual clutter—unprocessed grief, fear, guilt, or perfectionism.
• Real‑life mom examples: the mail pile you keep “just in case,” the kids’ art you don’t know how to handle, the closets you avoid opening.
• The difference between organizing and deciding—and why pretty baskets won’t fix a house full of undecided stuff.

• You’re not messy, you’re maxed out: your brain is carrying too many open tabs and unfinished decisions.
• God is not asking you for a Pinterest house; He’s inviting you into a more peaceful, sustainable way of living.
• Small faith‑filled steps count: one drawer, one surface, one decision at a time is still holy work.
• There is no “behind” in your home—there is only the next loving decision you can make today.

Action Steps from the Episode:

• Choose one “hot spot” (counter, nightstand, chair) and work on just that area for 10–15 minutes.
• Use the 3-decision rule for every item: Keep (and give it a home), Toss/Recycle, or Donate/Give away.
• Create one simple “home” for your biggest daily frustration (backpacks, mail, keys, toys, shoes) and tell your family where it now lives.
• Start a “grace bin” for sentimental or “I don’t know yet” items and only decide when it’s full.
• Pair decluttering with your faith: pray as you sort, play worship music, and let each decision be an act of surrender.

Connect with Barbara's here:

FREE WEBINAR: http://lesscluttermorelife.com/unlikely

https://www.productiveenvironment.com/

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.hemphill.73

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

We are so excited to welcome our guest, Michelle Spottifora, founder of Faithful Workouts. She blends faith, fitness, and food to empower women in strengthening bodies and faith. Topics include biblical wellness, body image victories, and habits for energy.

Michelle Spottifora inspires many women via Christian workouts, retreats, and programs transforming lives through scripture and community. Her path: 1980s fitness without faith, then motherhood/church sparked conviction to infuse Jesus into her classes.

Key Topics

• Faith-fitness fusion: ABCs—Ask God (James 4:2), Believe (Mark 9:23), Check motives (1 Peter 5:7).
• Momentum starters: 5-min songs, routines, alarms, cues like shoes by your Bible.
• Ideal workouts: Cardio, strength (fights 40+ muscle loss), core (back pain prevention), balance, stretch—target 150 min/week.

4 Health Tips for Women Over 40 Evidence-based from diverse studies, tailored for women:

1. Movement

150 min/week across cardio, strength, core, balance, flexibility; efficient multi-muscle moves.

Sustains metabolism, averts falls/injuries, fuels purpose.

2. Whole Foods

Emphasize real foods; embrace "get to" gratitude over diets.

Acts as medicine, builds lasting vitality.

3. Hydration

Flavor water (berries/mint); maintain 70% body water.

Sharpens focus, accelerates calorie burn.

4. Added Sugars

Cap at 24g/day; gradual cuts via labels.

Curbs cravings, promotes youthful joints/skin.

Learn more about Michelle and connect with her here: https://faithfulworkouts.com/

Join Michelle’s faithful workouts community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithfulworkouts/

Workout videos on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/faithfulworkouts

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💙 Support the Unlikely Housewives! Represent with our UH Merch! bit.ly/unlikelymerch

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with licensed professional counselor and perinatal mental health specialist Emma Donaldson, who walks alongside Christian moms in the postpartum season. She shares how becoming a mom herself shifted her from trauma work into perinatal mental health, and why so many women quietly spiral with anxiety while still loving Jesus and their babies deeply.

Emma helps us name the postpartum anxiety mistakes Christian moms don’t see coming: spiritualizing symptoms and assuming it’s “just a faith issue,” hiding intrusive thoughts out of fear of being judged or seen as unsafe, and buying into the “super-mom” myth that a good mom does it all alone with a smile. She also unpacks the massive hormonal crash after birth, the reality of baby blues versus postpartum depression, and how long hormones, breastfeeding, and sleep deprivation can keep your nervous system on high alert.

We get honest about Christian clichés like “just be grateful” or “just pray more,” how they unintentionally deepen shame, and what it looks like instead to anchor your heart in God’s character without denying your mental health. Emma shares why intrusive thoughts are far more common than most moms realize, why they don’t mean you want to hurt your baby, and how safe, faith-informed support can make your shoulders finally drop.

If you’ve ever thought, “I should be grateful, so why do I feel so anxious and crazy?” this conversation will help you see that you’re not broken, you’re not a bad Christian, and you don’t have to keep doing this alone.

Emma Donaldson is a licensed professional counselor and perinatal mental health specialist who supports Christian moms in pregnancy and postpartum. After years of specializing in trauma, becoming a mom revealed just how unique and intense postpartum anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts can be—and how often they’re minimized or spiritualized away. Emma now focuses her practice on pregnant and postpartum women and couples, offering flexible virtual counseling that fits real nap schedules and real-life chaos. She is also the founder of Joyful Mama Mental Wellness, an online space created to educate and support moms with mental-health–informed, faith-integrated care so they never have to feel like they’re “going crazy” alone.

Connect with Emma: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulmamamentalwellness/

Joyful Mama Mental Wellness: https://www.joyfulmamamentalwellness.com/

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🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com

What if God is not asking you to move into the “next big thing” but to be grounded right where you are? In this conversation, Tori and Tracy get real about identity, calling, stay-at-home motherhood, and the exhausting chase for affirmation outside the home.

For the woman who keeps asking, “Am I falling behind?” or “Shouldn’t I be doing more?”—this episode is your permission slip to breathe, be where your feet are, and trust that God has you exactly where He wants you.

• Tori’s 10-year wrestle with being a stay-at-home mom and constantly chasing “God’s will” in the next opportunity, title, or achievement.​
• Tracy’s journey of stepping away from a good, successful thing to lock in at home during a hard season and what it looked like to quiet the noise and get off social media.
• How the word “just” (as in “just a wife and mom”) sneaks into our language and steals the value of the most important roles God has given us.
• The craving for affirmation and recognition—why words of affirmation feel so good in work and ministry, and how unseen faithfulness at home still deeply matters to God.
• Letting go of guilt, comparison, and cultural pressure to “be more” and instead anchoring your identity as a daughter of the King.
• The idea of being grounded not as being stuck or stagnant, but as being anchored in trust like a boat on the waves—still moving, but held secure by Jesus.
• Seeing each season (babies, teens, moving, new church, college-bound kids) as temporary, purposeful, and part of God’s timeline, not a permanent label on your worth.​
• Gratitude for past seasons—even ones that may have come from striving or partial disobedience—and how God still used them for provision, growth, and connection.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You feel pulled between home and hustle and wonder if you’re “wasting” your gifts at home.
• You’ve stepped away from something good (a job, business, or ministry) and are grieving, doubting, or second-guessing the decision.
• You’re struggling with comparison on social media and feeling like everyone else is “ahead” of you.
• You’re longing for peace, presence, and permission to be fully where God has you right now.

• Trusting God’s placement and timing in every season.
• Holding dreams, homes, churches, and plans with open hands.
• Remembering that nothing is wasted in God’s hands—even the seasons we’d label as striving or misaligned.

You are not “behind.” You are not “just” anything. You are loved, called, and placed on purpose right where you are today.

If this episode encouraged you, send it to a friend who is wrestling with her worth, her work, or her role at home, and remind her she doesn’t have to keep chasing the next thing to be in God’s will.

You can also share your biggest takeaway by tagging us on Instagram and telling us what “being grounded” looks like in your current season.

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💙 Support the Unlikely Housewives! Represent with our UH Merch! bit.ly/unlikelymerch

🧖‍♀️Sunlighten Sauna Sponsor: https://get.sunlighten.com/unlikely Save up to $1700!

🗣️Join our community on Facebook and connect with us on Instagram!

⭐️Write an apple review and YOUR review could be read on our next episode!

🇺🇸Hosted by Tori Shirah and Tracy Stine

💌Contact us ➡️ UnlikelyJoCo@gmail.com