Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs
by Karen Stubbs | Birds on a Wire
Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs is a podcast designed to encourage and equip moms through the precious, busy, challenging and life-changing journey of motherhood. Karen Stubbs is a wife, mother of four and founder the Birds on a Wire—a ministry for moms. What started in 2011 as a small group of women from Andy Stanley’s North Point Community Church meeting in Karen’s basement, quickly turned into a nationwide ministry. Hosted by Sunny Williams, Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs is a resource offering Godly, practical advice on the topics every mother has questions about: mommy guilt, our children’s faith, potty-training, divorce, our teenagers dating, the toddler years and more!
Episodes
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541: How to Know When to Push Your Child… and When to Back Off
When should you push your child to do something hard, and when is it better to back off? Today Karen and Emily are answering questions straight from our Wire Talk Insiders about stubborn kids, sibling bickering, big feelings, and building confidence. If you've ever wondered whether you're being…
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540: Are You Helping Your Kids - Or Holding Them Back? with David Thomas
What if making life easier for our kids is actually making it harder for them to grow up? Counselor David Thomas joins Karen and Emily to explain why struggle is GOOD for our kids and how doing hard things builds confidence and capability. Listen in and you’ll be challenged to resist the urge to...
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539: Raising Kids Who Don’t Need You with Elizabeth Pehrson
What if one of the best things we can do for our kids is let them struggle? Mom of eight and founder of The Exchange, Elizabeth Pehrson, joins Karen and Emily to talk about parenting for the long game. If you have a hard time watching your child fail, forget, or face the consequences of their...
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538: Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child with Dr. Chinwé Williams
Parenting a neurodivergent child can feel lonely, especially when the people around you don’t understand what everyday life looks like. Counselor Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Karen and Emily to unpack neurodivergence, executive functioning, and the important difference between “won’t” and “can’t.”...
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537: Raising Calm(ish) and Confident Kids with Dr. Chinwé Williams
Big emotions can leave even the most confident mom wondering, Is this normal… or should I be concerned? Counselor Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Karen and Emily to explain what’s happening in our kids’ brains when they completely lose it and how we can partner with them to teach coping skills so they...
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536: Finding Peace As A Working Mom with Erin Mashaw
Working moms carry a lot, and sometimes we make the load even heavier by carrying things God never asked us to! Erin Mashaw joins Karen and Emily to talk about mom guilt, comparison, and that nagging feeling that you’re always disappointing someone.If you’re constantly wondering whether you’re...
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535: How to Set Boundaries Without Building Walls with Debbie Causey
Boundaries can feel uncomfortable, but they’re essential for healthy relationships! Counsellor Debbie Causey joins Karen and Emily today to explain what healthy boundaries actually look like, how over-functioning hurts the people we’re trying to help, and how to know when it’s time to say no. If...
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534: Relationships that Make Parenting Harder
Sometimes it's not the kids - it's the adults around them that make parenting so difficult! Today we are answering your questions about difficult in-laws, boundaries with extended family, and tricky friendships that can make even simple parenting scenarios more complicated. Tune in and learn...
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533: When Your Child’s Behavior Scares You
Have you ever looked at your child and wondered, Where in the world is this behavior coming from? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by big emotions, difficult behavior, or a child you just can’t seem to figure out, this episode is for you. Karen and Emily share practical insight and tools to help you...
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532: Am I Making the Right Parenting Decision?
Ever wish God would just TELL you what to do? Today, Karen and Emily tackle parenting decisions that don’t have a clear right or wrong answer; from kindergarten readiness and family size to going back to work and navigating technology at school. If you’re facing a parenting dilemma, we hope this...
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531: Are We Making Our Kids Less Capable? with Sissy Goff
Kids today are becoming increasingly afraid of risk and discomfort- are parents part of the problem? Today bestselling author and counselor Sissy Goff joins Karen and Emily to talk about her new book, Capable, and why loving our kids well sometimes means encouraging them to do hard things. Sissy...
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530: How to Stay Calm When Your Child Isn’t with Josh Thames
If you've ever lost your temper with your kids, this conversation is for you. Counselor Josh Thames shares practical tools to help moms stay calm, communicate more effectively, and respond with confidence, even when emotions are running high. Whether you're parenting a child with ADHD, anxiety…
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529: You Don't Have to Disciple Your Kids Alone
You don't have to carry the weight of discipling your kids by yourself! In this episode, Karen and Emily sit down with children's ministry leader Kendra Fleming to share how partnering with your church can strengthen your family's faith without adding more to your plate. As we head into a new...
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528: Marriage First: Why Your Spouse Comes Before the Kids [RE-AIR]
In this listener-favorite episode re-air, Karen and Greg pull back the curtain on nearly four decades of marriage—the good, the hard, the early years, and the season they’re in now. This conversation will make you smile, and maybe even tear up, as they remind us that we serve a faithful God who...
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527: The Secret to Stress-Free Potty Training [RE-AIR]
If you’ve been thinking that summer is the perfect time to potty train, this one’s for you! Christine Clark joins Karen and Emily today - she’s a mom, preschool teacher, and pro who’s successfully potty trained 17 children. From handling accidents with grace to dealing with fear, regression, or...
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526: [RE-AIR] How to Handle Big Emotions and Bigger Attitudes
From tantrums to name-calling to after-school meltdowns, this listener-favorite episode is packed with practical help for moms dealing with big emotions…and even bigger attitudes. Karen and Emily talk about red temperaments, ADHD outbursts, and how to handle disrespectful behavior without losing...
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525: [RE-AIR] Do Less For Your Kids - Parenting for the Long Haul
We're re-airing one of our most popular episodes this week! Karen and Emily sit down with Elizabeth Pehrson to discuss how moms can parent with purpose by focusing on the long game. In this conversation, Elizabeth shares her no-nonsense approach to raising independent, contributing adults.…
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524: My Kid Saw Porn...Now What?
Pornography exposure is happening younger and more often than most parents realize, and it’s affecting both boys and girls. In this episode, Karen and Erin Mashaw are joined by returning guest Kristen Jenson, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, for a practical conversation about what to do…
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523: Simple Ways to Make Summer More Fun
Summer doesn't have to be packed with fancy vacations or elaborate plans to be memorable. In this episode, Karen and Emily share simple, practical ways to add more laughter, spontaneity, and fun to your family's everyday moments. From DQ runs to dance-party cleanups, we hope this episode gives…
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522: How to Build Work Ethic in Your Kids This Summer
Summer brings more snacks, more messes, and more opportunities to teach our kids valuable life skills! Today Karen and Emily are talking about why building a strong work ethic starts at home and why moms should avoid overfunctioning for their children, plus Karen gives practical ideas to teach...
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521: Serving Alongside Your Kids This Summer
Summer is a perfect time to help our kids learn to look beyond themselves. In this episode, Karen and Emily share simple, practical ways families can serve together, whether that’s visiting a nursing home, helping with food recovery, serving on a mission trip, or just paying attention to the…
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520: How to Grow Spiritually Alongside Your Kids This Summer
We’re kicking off a brand-new summer series today! All month long, we’ll be talking about how to make the most of the new rhythm summer brings to your home. In this episode, we’re talking about simple, practical ways moms can grow spiritually alongside their kids. We hope this conversation...
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519: You Are Not Defined by Your Past
As we wrap up our Mothers of the Bible series, we’re looking at one of the most complicated and heartbreaking stories in Scripture: Bathsheba. Her life was marked by loss, pain, shame, and circumstances she never would have chosen, yet God was still at work redeeming her story. In this episode,...
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518: How Do We Trust God When Life Hurts?
Naomi’s story is one of grief and disappointment, but ultimately, it’s about redemption. Today on Wire Talk, Karen and Emily continue our Mothers of the Bible series by looking at how God was working behind the scenes even when Naomi felt abandoned and bitter. If you’re walking through loss…
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517: When God Feels Silent
Today we’re continuing our Mothers of the Bible series by looking at Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel. Hannah was a woman who longed for a child and wrestled with seasons of waiting and disappointment. Listen as Karen teaches through this story, reminding us that God invites us to trust Him, even when...
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516: Letting Go and Trusting God With Your Child
This week, we kick off our month of celebrating moms with a new series: “Mothers of the Bible.” Today we’re looking at the life of Jochebed, a woman who faced unimaginable fear and made an unthinkable choice to save her son. Through her story, Karen and Emily unpack what it looks like to do our...
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515: Trusting Your Mom Gut with special guest Dr. Laura Bleekrode
Are you trusting your mom gut or Googling yourself into anxiety? In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Laura Bleekrode shares wisdom from nearly 40 years of experience to help moms cut through the noise and parent with confidence. We talk about how social media and constant information can erode your...
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514: You Can’t Do It All (and That’s Okay): Surviving May
May can feel overwhelming for moms, filled with endless events, expectations, and emotional moments.Today Karen offers practical wisdom to help you navigate the busyness without losing your joy (or your mind.) From setting realistic expectations to prioritizing what truly matters, this…
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513: Just Say ‘No’ to Mom Guilt!
Mom guilt can make even the best moms feel like they’re falling short. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk through the pressures we carry and the expectations we place on ourselves. They offer a practical, biblical perspective to help you recognize what’s true and what isn’t. We hope you walk...
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512: Dealing with Extended Family Conflict
Family dynamics can get complicated quickly, especially when expectations, boundaries, and communication styles start to clash. Today we’re talking about how to navigate tension with extended family without losing your peace (or your voice.) We hope you’ll walk away with practical ways to...
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511: When Nothing Seems To Work: Second Guessing Your Parenting Instincts
Ever find yourself second guessing your parenting decisions? You’re not alone. In this episode, Karen answers questions from moms navigating school struggles, motivation, and knowing when to step back. We hope you walk away feeling encouraged to trust God with the parenting choices you are…
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510: Am I Ruining My Teenager’s Life?
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I ruining my teenager’s life?” - you’re not alone. Today, Karen answers questions from moms navigating strong personalities, emotional pushback, and the tension between protecting and preparing their teens. With her trademark practical wisdom, she reminds us that what...
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509: Tantrums, Tears, and Temperaments
If you’re in the stage of parenting where tears, tantrums, and big emotions seem to take over every day, you’re not alone. Today Karen and Emily are tackling questions from moms navigating the emotional ups and downs of preschoolers and early elementary kids. They discuss why some kids cry more...
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508: Parenting Strong-Willed Kids Without Losing Your Cool
Last week, Karen talked about the temperaments. This week, she takes that conversation one step further by answering real questions from moms who are navigating strong-willed kids, harsh words, whining, and emotional outbursts. If you’ve ever looked at your child and thought, I know their heart…
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507: How To Handle Big Emotions in Kids
Today Karen and Emily tackle listener questions about kids with big emotions; the pouters, the perfectionists, the rule followers, and the fiercely competitive. Whether your child melts down when they lose, struggles to say they’re having fun, or takes rules a little too seriously, this episode...
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506: Raising Resilient Kids in a Fragile Culture
Are you parenting a Gen Z child and wondering why everything feels so different from when you were growing up? Today Karen and Emily sit down with leadership expert Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders, to talk about the unique pressures facing this generation. From overexposure to information...
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505: Good and Hard Can Run on Parallel Lines
Do you ever feel overwhelmed, overtouched, overstimulated and find yourself wondering, why does this feel so hard? Today Karen answers real questions from moms about marriage, resentment, anxiety, exhaustion, and the emotional weight of motherhood. From mismatched sex drives in the toddler years…
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504: The Myth of the ‘Perfect Friendship’
Friendships in motherhood are rarely as simple as we expect them to be. Today Karen and Emily are continuing our friendship conversation by tackling comparison, conflict, cliques, and what to do when a friendship changes. They answer listeners’ questions about unmet expectations and learning when...
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503: Why Mom Friendships Feel Harder Than We Expected
Friendships in motherhood can feel complicated, especially when old wounds and insecurities get stirred up in new seasons. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk honestly about why friendships can feel hard for moms and how to move forward with grace, healthy expectations, and a “generous...
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502: Parenting Adult Children: How to Let Go Without Losing the Relationship with Jim Burns
Parenting doesn’t end when your kids turn 18. In many ways, it gets more complicated! Today Karen and Erin are joined by longtime parenting expert Jim Burns for a wise and honest conversation about parenting adult children. They talk about releasing control, shifting your role, navigating...
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501: Parenting Principles From Proverbs (Part 3): The Fruit of Faithful Discipline
Discipline is hard, especially when the results feel slow or invisible. In this final episode of our Parenting Principles from Proverbs series, Karen and Emily shift the focus to the long-term fruit of faithful discipline and the peace it brings to both children and parents. Drawing from Proverbs...
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500: Parenting Principles from Proverbs (Part 2): How to Be a Wise Mom
We are celebrating 500 episodes of Wire Talk and using this milestone to talk about something every mom wants: wisdom that actually works in real life. Today Karen breaks down what it means to be a wise mom, not a perfect one, and offers a simple grid for everyday moments by asking, “Will my...
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499: Parenting Principles from Proverbs (Part 1): How to Parent with Confidence Instead of Anxiety
Karen and Emily are kicking off the year with a three-part series about parenting principles we can learn from the book of Proverbs. Today, Karen addresses the confusion many moms today feel around discipline, authority, and the pressure to “get it right.” Drawing from Solomon’s teaching, she...
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498: Choosing Love This Christmas
As Christmas approaches, we are turning our focus to love this final week of Advent. In this episode, Karen and Emily unpack what it looks like to love like Jesus in everyday moments: choosing presence, serving quietly, pausing before reacting, and remembering that we love others because Christ...
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497: How to Tune Your Heart to Joy This Christmas
Joy doesn’t just happen, our hearts have to be tuned to it. In this third week of Advent, Karen and Emily talk honestly about how hard it can be to find joy in the middle of exhaustion, family stress, and the very real unmet expectations of the season. Using the picture of tuning an instrument,...
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496: Preparing Your Heart for Christmas
It’s easy to find ourselves in the middle of December with a packed calendar and an unprepared spirit, carrying bitterness, comparison, or disappointment into every day. Drawing from Matthew 3:3, Karen talks about what it means to “prepare the way for the Lord” so we don’t miss Jesus in the…
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495: Finding Hope This Christmas
Today we’re kicking off our Advent series with a focus on hope. December fills up fast with activities, expectations, and pressure for a picture-perfect holiday, making it easy to place our hope in circumstances, schedules, and our spouses. But what do we do when Christmas doesn’t go as planned?…
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494: Helping Teens Grow Up: Boundaries, Phones & Real-Life Responsibility
Today Karen is tackling your questions about navigating the teenage years, from motivating strong-willed teens to handling independence, changing relationships, and the ever-present “that’s not fair!” Karen shares what worked in her home, including how to stay connected to strong-willed teens,...
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493: The Secret to Stress-Free Potty Training
If you’re staring down the potty training season with dread, this one’s for you! Karen and Emily are joined by Christine Clark—a mom, preschool teacher, and pro who’s successfully potty trained 17 children. From handling accidents with grace to dealing with fear, regression, or defiance, this...
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492: How to Handle a Difficult Mother-in-Law (Without Starting a Family War)
This week, Karen tackles listener questions on navigating everything from over-involved mother-in-laws to family disagreements and unmet expectations. Karen shares wisdom from her 39 years of marriage about when to speak up, when to set boundaries, and how to keep your marriage strong even when...
About this show
Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs is a podcast designed to encourage and equip moms through the precious, busy, challenging and life-changing journey of motherhood. Karen Stubbs is a wife, mother of four and founder the Birds on a Wire—a ministry for moms. What started in 2011 as a small group of women from Andy Stanley’s North Point Community Church meeting in Karen’s basement, quickly turned into a nationwide ministry. Hosted by Sunny Williams, Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs is a resource offering Godly, practical advice on the topics every mother has questions about: mommy guilt, our children’s faith, potty-training, divorce, our teenagers dating, the toddler years and more!
Hosted by
Karen Stubbs | Birds on a Wire
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