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PODCAST

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose

Welcome to Cynthia Yanof’s newest podcast, MESSmerized. Each week you’ll hear funny, authentic, and vulnerable conversations around everyday life, parenting, and following Jesus. A variety of guests will challenge us to pursue a life filled with the things that really do matter. Cynthia Yanof is the host as well as an author, speaker, wife, and mother. She’s relatable, funny, and dead-set on never taking herself too seriously. Whatever mess you’re walking through, odds are she’s right there with

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

38:25

Episode 161: Max Lucado on Unbreakable Courage and...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/10/07

I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Pastor Max Lucado many times over the years, and somehow it never gets old. He’s someone so many of us have admired for years and years, which means I decided it was time to ask him a few questions I’ve been saving. You’re welcome. 😊 Today Pastor Max tells us the spiritual habit that has shaped his faith more than any other, what he wishes every 40-year-old knew, what every 70-year-old needs to remember, which Bible character he most wants to sit down with in

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45:18

Episode 160: Where Is God in This? Tammy Trent on...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/09/30

Last week on MESSmerized, I talked about what happens when you’ve prayed and prayed . . . and nothing seems to change. You know God is good. You know He hears you. But sometimes it still feels like He’s nowhere to be found.That’s why this week’s conversation with Tammy Trent feels so timely.Tammy lost her husband in a tragic diving accident in Jamaica on September 11, 2001, and that loss began a very real journey of asking God where He was in the middle of unimaginable pain.Today we’re talking about

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32:04

Episode 159: When You’ve Prayed and Prayed . . . and...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/09/23

Tell me I’m not alone. Have you ever prayed for something so long that you’ve started wondering, “Are You there, God? It’s me, Cynthia.”Today we’re talking about Habakkuk and what prayer looks like when God feels silent, His answer makes no sense, or nothing seems to be changing.Habakkuk gives us three things to hold onto:Honesty. God can handle the real prayer—the frustrated, confused, “Where are You?” prayer.Higher ground. Sometimes we need to get out of the weeds, quiet the noise, and let God’s

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46:34

Episode 158: How God Wired You: The 8 Great Smarts...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/09/16

I recorded this interview right before meeting some friends for lunch, and I could not stop talking about it. By the time lunch was over, they had all bought the book. That’s how much this conversation got me.And so . . . I’m thrilled to have Dr. Kathy Koch on the show today. The last time she was here, the response from you guys was incredible, and she was gracious enough to come back—even after I mistakenly called her dead one time. 😂Today we’re talking about her book 8 Great Smarts, and I’m

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45:23

Episode 157: Catching Up with Candace Cameron Bure:...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/09/09

WE’RE BACK! After taking August off, MESSmerized is officially back for a brand-new fall season. I’ve got lots to catch you up on in the intro, and first I just want to say thank you for giving me a little space to step away and recharge. It was so needed, and now we’re coming back firing with some incredible guests this fall.And there was really only one way to kick things off: my dear close personal friend Candace Cameron Bure. And by “close personal friend,” I mean we’ve never actually met in

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45:34

Episode 156: Adult Kids: Send Help (with Dr. Kathy Koch)

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/07/27

Remember the time I accidentally killed off a guest? Me neither. 😬 Okay...so I confidently announced on another podcast that sweet Dr. Kathy Koch had been dead for years. Turns out she's very much alive, incredibly gracious, and has a fantastic sense of humor.If you're wondering how to parent your adult children without driving them—or yourself—crazy, this episode is for you. We talk about the practical, biblical wisdom in Dr. Kathy's new book on navigating relationships with adult

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32:57

Episode 155: How to Build Lasting Friendships with...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/07/17

Last night I had my Wednesday lunch girls over to celebrate a few birthdays, and as I looked around the table, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful. We've done life together through babies, college kids, aging parents, health scares, marriage struggles, celebrations, disappointments, and all the ordinary moments in between. It reminded me how much we were created for community. We need people who know our stories, tell us the truth, laugh with us, pray for us, and show up when life gets

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51:33

Episode 154: FIFA, Facelifts, and Freshmen Home for...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/07/08

This week, Cynthia and Melissa catch up on everything from ambulance rides and college move-out day to porch geese, peptides, protein goals, and why neither of them can pretend to care about the World Cup anymore.Melissa shares the story behind her recent car accident (and the surprisingly attractive ambulance crew), while Cynthia relives her own ambulance horror story involving a stretcher apparently designed for someone much smaller than either of them.They also compare notes on life with college

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43:52

Episode 153: Everything's Not on the Line (Including...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/07/01

Well... this was supposed to be our Father's Day episode. Then summer happened. Life got a little unhinged (in the best of ways), and Father's Day came and went before we could get it out. Which, as it turns out, is fitting for a conversation about parenting, grief, family, and trusting God when things don't go according to plan.This week I sat down with my friend Jonathan Pitts, and we talked about fatherhood, grief, remarriage, blended families, raising daughters, and the things

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35:58

Episode 152: Making Marriage Easier: Week 2 with...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/06/17

Welcome to MESSmerized! 🎤🎉A quick note before we begin . . .If you're one of the many new friends who recently joined us via email, I'm so glad you're here. Every week we talk about faith, family, relationships, and all the messy places where real life meets God's goodness. My hope is that you'll leave encouraged, challenged, and reminded that God is at work—even in the ordinary moments.Welcome to the community. I'm so grateful you're here.— CynthiaHey Friends,What if

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33:28

Episode 151: Making Marriage Easier: Week 1 with...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/06/10

If you've ever looked at your marriage and thought, We're fine... but this could be better, this two-part series is for you. Today, Arlene Pellicane reminds us that small actions repeated over time create big results and that healthy marriages are usually strengthened—or weakened—not by dramatic moments, but by the little things we do every day. Arlene shares some surprisingly doable ways to create more connection in everyday life, including the importance of putting down your phone, having

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41:34

Episode 150: When Motherhood Looks Different:...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/05/27

This is the last week of our Mother’s Day Month of episodes, and we’re ending with a conversation that I think so many moms need to hear. This week I’m joined by my friend Somer Colbert to talk about parenting, expectations, fear, faith, and what it looks like to trust God when the journey doesn’t unfold the way we imagined. Whether you're raising a neurodivergent child or walking closely alongside someone who is, I know you’re going to appreciate today’s show. Somer shares such practical wisdom

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47:44

Episode 149: A Conversation With One of My Besties:...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/05/20

It’s Mother’s Day Month on Messmerized, and this week I’m bringing on one of my very favorite mom friends, Stephanie Martin. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to follow Jesus in the middle of real life—busy schedules, motherhood, distractions, exhaustion, comparison, guilt, and all—this conversation is for you.Stephanie is one of those people who genuinely loves being in God’s Word, and honestly, I’ve always admired that about her. So I wanted to sit down and ask her all the

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44:24

Episode 148: The Tone of Your Home, Championing...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/05/13

If you’ve ever cried after dropping a kid at college and then immediately enjoyed the quiet house and clean kitchen… this episode is for you. I sit down with my friend, speaker, and longtime Pardon the Mess host Courtney DeFeo for a conversation that somehow covers Target boycotts, Auburn obsession, empty nesting, insecurity, friendship boundaries, and the emotional climate of your home—all while making you laugh harder than you expected.Courtney shares why she’s stepping away from Pardon the Mess

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49:34

Episode 147: My Mother’s Day Gift to You 💐💐—You Need...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/05/06

Happy Mother’s Day week, friends. Truly—sending you lots of love this week. 💐Now before I say anything else… I implore you to listen to this episode. Consider this your Mother’s Day gift from me. It is that good. Like sit-in-the-car-after-it-ends-because-you-need-a-minute good.I sat down with Sharon Mankin, and it turned into one of those conversations that stirs something in you. At the core, she reminds us: you’re not as confused or off-track as you think—you’re probably just moving too fast to

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44:36

Episode 146: What College Didn’t Teach Them: Molly...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/04/29

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’m kicking off a month of conversations focused on moms and the people we love most—and it felt only right to start by bringing on one of my own kids.So I sat down with Kate (my daughter) and Molly (her “great friend,”)—who showed up in matching bonnets from the Dollar Store… which honestly tells you everything you need to know about how this episode starts. If you missed these two last time they were on the show . . . you are in for some real fun today. They’re

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31:54

Episode 145: The “Crisis of Capability”: David Thomas...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/04/22

Today’s episode starts with my youngest… accidentally macing the entire second floor of our house. If you haven’t heard this story, you’re missing out.And then, naturally, we pivot to: are we raising kids who can actually handle life?I sat down with my friends from Raising Boys & Girls, David Thomas and Sissy Goff, and we talked about why so many kids today feel overwhelmed, anxious, and honestly… kind of incapable. Not because they’re not smart or talented—but because somewhere along the way,

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37:51

Episode 144: Understanding Eating Disorders and...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/04/15

Today’s show is an important one—and we’re covering a topic I’ve never brought on the podcast before.I sat down with Sallye Clark, a licensed counselor who specializes in eating disorders, to talk about something that touches so many families. We unpack the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, and why that distinction matters. What struck me is how often this isn’t really about food at all—it’s about control, anxiety, perfectionism, and the deeper things going on

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36:48

Episode 143: Stop Putting It Off: Jon Acuff on...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/04/08

I think we need a drum roll . . . like seriously. 🥁🥁🥁🥁Today on the show we have Jon Acuff. And let me just start by saying—I’m a HUGE Jon Acuff fan. And today’s show feels a little bit like a redemption story for me, because the first time I had him on, I didn’t fully know who I was talking to (which still makes me laugh/cry a little). Since then, I’ve read the books, listened to his podcast, made my family listen to the podcast… and now I’m all in. So truly—I cannot wait for you to hear this

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45:22

Episode 142: Hosanna, Easter Ham, and Reframing Holy...

MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in... ·

2026/04/01

Hey Friends, Happy Easter Week! 🐣🌷✝️I hope you’re enjoying this week and finding a few quiet moments to slow down and really consider all that Jesus has done for us. I know how easy it is to rush right past it—we’ve heard the story, we know how it ends—but I hope we’re all pausing and stepping back to consider Holy Week again with fresh eyes.On the podcast today is one of my faves—a pastor from my church, Steve Frissell. We’re covering everything from workout routines that involve picking things

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