Podcast · Kids & Family

Coffee + Crumbs Podcast

by Katie Blackburn, Ashlee Gadd · English · Kids & Family

The Coffee + Crumbs Podcast is your companion for kitchen cleanups, stroller walks, or the daily carpool hustle. Join hosts Ashlee Gadd and Katie Blackburn as they chat about the beautiful, holy work of motherhood. We hope you leave this show feeling safe, known, encouraged and loved.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 34 min
Latest: 7 Apr 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Apr 2026 · 25 min

Carrying the Burden with Her

Sometimes, the answer to the question "How are you really doing?" can feel like cement in your mouth. But often, it's an honest answer that unlocks meaningful friendships. Join us today for a conversation with Coffee + Crumbs writer, Cara Stolen—our resident outdoorsy girl—as we discuss backpacking, friendship, and the intersection between the two. We hope this episode inspires you to grab your best gal pals for a hike (or walk!) and let them in on what's really going on. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S11 · E18 · 31 Mar 2026 · 22 min
Making Friends is Sweet and Sour
For some of us, making friends as kids was challenging. The same can be true now, as adults. But you can turn a sour situation into something downright sweet when you show up as your whole self. Today, we're talking with YIGC contributor Neidy (naydee) Hess who shares about the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful of finding your people. We hope this conversation gives you permission to embrace the awkward, grieve the losses, but also delight in your community. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month,…
S11 · E17 · 17 Mar 2026 · 30 min
When Friendships Change
Many of us have experienced a significant shift in a friendship that we thought would last a lifetime. It's painful and can be hard to talk about, which is why we have C+C writer Sonya Spillmann on the podcast today to share about the vulnerable essay she wrote for YIGC called "When Friendships Change." You'll hear about the role food played in one specific friendship, and Sonya tells us what she knows now that she didn't know then. This conversation invites you to see your friendships, both past and present, as the gifts they truly are. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous…
S11 · E16 · 10 Mar 2026 · 22 min
When Faith and Doubt Go Hand in Hand
In today's episode, we're taking a slight detour from friendship and hospitality to dive into the writing process with our resident "Writing Yoda" — Callie Feyen. How does doubt fuel our writing? How do we keep a posture of curiosity while witnessing to the world? What might happen to our art if we viewed creativity as part of our inheritance? We hope this conversation gives you a peek into the behind-the-scenes writing process of You're In Good Company , and perhaps even inspires you to write a story yourself (no happy ending required). This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous…
S11 · E15 · 3 Mar 2026 · 22 min
Food is a Love Language
Food is a love language, and if it's your love language, this episode is for you. Ruth Gyllenhammer, writer and content director for Coffee + Crumbs, joins Ashlee and Katie to talk about getting out of your comfort zone, the gift of being fully present, and what it looks like to feed our families. Whether you're away from home, or looking to start new rhythms around your family table, we hope this episode encourages you to practice hospitality right where you are. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as…
S11 · E14 · 24 Feb 2026 · 25 min
Hospitality Is For Strangers Too
Today, in our ongoing You're in Good Company series, Molly Flinkman tells us about the time she invited nine strangers into her home for Thanksgiving. She fully owns what an insane situation it was while also making a compelling case for why it mattered so much. In this episode, you'll hear how Molly came to value this kind of hospitality—why she keeps her eyes open for strangers in need—and she'll also give some smaller scale suggestions about how this can play out in our real lives. In all the stories she tells, Molly invites us to consider the question she continually asks herself: What…
S11 · E13 · 17 Feb 2026 · 26 min
"What Can She Have?"
Today, writer Becky Morquecho joins us to chat about the challenges of food restrictions and what they've taught her about hospitality. She shares the hardships of her daughter's medically necessary strict diet but also encourages us with big and little ways friends make them feel included in the midst of barbecues and birthday parties. Whether you or your child is gluten-free, diabetic, has a dairy or nut allergy, or a rare metabolic disorder like Becky's daughter, we hope this episode says "We see you!" and maybe even inspires you to keep an extra jar of pickles in the fridge for someone…
S11 · E12 · 10 Feb 2026 · 27 min
Hospitality as a Creative Calling
Today we're joined by Adrienne Garrison, a writer, educator, and podcaster, whose life and work explore hospitality as both a creative practice and a form of survival. From a years-long holiday cookie swap that followed her across states, to designing meaningful learning experiences for her children, to podcasting as an act of deep listening, Adrienne invites us to consider what it means to host others with intention. We talk about loneliness, belonging, and the fierce hope that generosity might lead to connection, and how these experiences shape the stories we tell. Whether you love…
S11 · E11 · 3 Feb 2026 · 28 min
The Hospitable Power of Words
From lessons learned while living overseas to her small town library storytime, today author Kim Knowle-Zeller shares how blessings can bind us together. You'll hear how she started offering and receiving blessings and how it may be easier than you think to create a welcoming culture with your own hospitable words. Kim reminds us that building community takes time but encourages us to keep initiating. We hope this episode inspires you to see the power in gathering and offering words that bless others along the way. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If…
S11 · E10 · 27 Jan 2026 · 32 min
Expect the Mess
Welcoming others into our lives and our homes can get messy. Food spills, a glass breaks, dinner burns. Even when it all goes according to plan, there are still dishes to wash and tables to clear. But today, we're talking with C+C writer, Sarah Hauser, about how we can expect, and even embrace, the messes. Be warned, though. This episode may end up inspiring you to throw literal confetti in your house. Make sure to have the vacuum cleaner ready. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to…
S11 · E9 · 20 Jan 2026 · 36 min
We'll Be Your Family
When it comes to hospitality, for author, yoga teacher, and C+C writer Melanie Dale, it's a family affair. Join Ashlee and Katie as they talk with Melanie about one of her essays in YIGC, "We'll Be Your Family on Christmas Eve," and get the scoop on her annual Christmas Eve party. From what her parents taught her to what she's passed on to her kids, Melanie shares her tips for leaving a legacy of hospitality. Find out which ingredient in her chili recipe is straight out of a horror movie, her worst dinner party ever (oof, the smell!), and how she pivoted from Christian nonfiction to middle…
S11 · E8 · 13 Jan 2026 · 33 min
You're In Good Company
We are thrilled to be back with a brand new podcast series to go along with our brand new Coffee + Crumbs book, You're In Good Company . In upcoming weeks, you'll hear from every writer who contributed to this collection of essays—a true preview of what's inside these pages. First up, Katie shares how making sourdough is a metaphor for letting grief and healing take its time, while Ashlee introduces us to the idea that "friendship" can be a verb; it's something we do with commitment and consistency. We hope this episode (this whole series, really!) encourages you to live out the gift of…
S10 · E13 · 24 Jun 2025 · 28 min
Foster Care: Everyone Has a Role to Play
Today, we're talking all things foster care with Jessica Mathisen, a foster, adoptive, and bio mom. Jessica sheds light on the enormous need for vulnerable kids to have a safe place to call home, misconceptions about foster care, challenges for foster families, and how churches, neighbors—and essentially everyone —can help in some capacity. Good news: being a Super Christian is not a prerequisite for making a difference. If you're feeling convicted by this conversation (we sure are), she encourages us to take the next baby step because we'll never know all the good that God is doing with…
S10 · E12 · 10 Jun 2025 · 42 min
On Fatherhood with Tanner Olson
Today, we're doing things a little differently—our guest is a dad . Author and spoken word poet, Tanner Olson, shares his heart (and humor!) as we chat about his long journey to fatherhood and what God has taught him along the way. Tanner's words and vulnerability are profound as he reminds us to s l o w d o w n , notice the world around us, and that there's always hope in the midst of hardship. Oh, and he also tells us what dads actually want for Father's Day, so don't miss out. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do…
S10 · E11 · 27 May 2025 · 44 min
Hi, I'm New Here with Lindsay Swoboda
Whether it's a different job, or another church, or yet another military move, we've all been the new girl at some point in our lives. Today, author Lindsay Swoboda—who's moved seventeen times!—joins us to chat about how we can hold the unknowns of a Life Raft Season loosely, yet intentionally. Lindsay shares her best tips for creating a sense of home, encourages us to sit with our kids in their pain instead of trying to take it away, and challenges us to pursue new friendships, even if it feels awkward. We hope this conversation gives you the confidence to build a life of connection, no…
S10 · E10 · 13 May 2025 · 39 min
Ask a Mentor Mom with Krista Gilbert
One of our all-time favorite guests and unofficial Mentor Mom of the C+C team, Krista Gilbert, is back to answer alllllll our questions about motherhood. A mom to four grown kids, Krista shares her best advice for marital disagreements (humility is underrated), tailoring parenting to kids' individual needs (one-on-one time is key), and navigating the conversations we'd rather avoid (like, changing bodies and sex). From sibling relationships to responding to our kids' choices, Krista graciously reminds us that it always starts with us and our modeling, but it doesn't end there: our identity…
S10 · E9 · 8 Apr 2025 · 44 min
Talking to Your Kids about Porn with Greta Eskridge
Today we're joined by author Greta Eskridge, who shines a light on how to approach a dark topic with our kids: pornography. The stats tell us it's not a matter of if our kids will be exposed to porn, but when . Luckily equipping our kids doesn't have to be as scary as we think. Greta shares practical language for age-appropriate, hope-filled conversations and makes a strong case for moms to lead the way. We hope this episode gives you the confidence to talk with your kids about porn so they can stay safe in our digital world and also grow into sexually whole adults. This show is brought to…
S10 · E8 · 25 Mar 2025 · 41 min
Take What You Need with Aundi Kolber
One of our all-time favorite guests, Aundi Kolber—author, mother, and therapist—is back, and today she's encouraging us to take what we need. Aundi sheds light on how and why we end up disembodied, how to reclaim connection with our God-given needs (especially as moms), and how we can play the role of participant in our own healing. Whether you're struggling to notice what you're lacking or struggling to prioritize your own care, we adore Aundi's nudge to approach ourselves and circumstances with tenderness, but also a touch of fierceness that proclaims, "I matter." This show is brought to…
S10 · E7 · 11 Mar 2025 · 38 min
What's Saving My Life Right Now
From rediscovering the art of thrifting to embracing breathwork, today we're sharing what's keeping us grounded in the midst of life's demands. While Ashlee's fueling her body with protein smoothies and filling her Little Free Library with hope-filled books, Katie's got Jackie Hill Perry in her earbuds and Half Baked Harvest meals on her plate. We hope this episode inspires you to find a workspace with loads of natural light (it doesn't have to be a coffee shop!) and a sliver of time to finally clean out that junk drawer. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack…
29 Jan 2025 · 35 min
Making a Mother E5: This Is Not Your Fault
Amanda spends two years of her impressionable adolescence under the care of Larry Nassar, former family medicine physician and team doctor of the US women's national gymnastics team. Having not fully understood that what she experienced was abuse, it's only later—when Amanda and her husband struggle to conceive—that the details of her painful story come to light. Then, just as the case against Larry begins to hit the media, Amanda becomes pregnant. She steps forward, along with 155 other women, to testify against Nassar in court. Amanda uses her voice for the daughter she's carrying, and in…
22 Jan 2025 · 32 min
Making a Mother E4: Why Aren't We Doing Things To Change This?
Jerrell's first baby is born six weeks premature, despite an otherwise typical and healthy pregnancy. At her postpartum appointment, she learns that Black women are 60% more likely to give birth prematurely than white women, and that Black maternal and infant mortality rates are more than double those of white women — regardless of socio-economic status or education. Experts weigh in on why these disparities exist and challenge all of us to ask: what are we doing about it? "Making a Mother" is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Host:…
15 Jan 2025 · 34 min
Making a Mother E3: You're Not Gonna Quit On This Kid
From the time she is young, Faith has a desire to foster or adopt, and assumes it will happen after she gets married. But a life-changing conversation with a pastor challenges her to pursue foster care, even though she is a 29-year-old single woman. This one decision sets off a cascade of events that lead her to motherhood, love, and a fresh appreciation for how God's plan isn't constrained by our idealized timelines. "Making a Mother" is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Host: Julie Vlahon. Writer: Sonya Spillmann Music, Sound…
9 Jan 2025 · 38 min
Making a Mother E2: Your Story Doesn't End Here
When Kate receives the call about a newborn boy in need of foster care and a forever home, her heart is ready to open wide. Assured that the baby's mother is unlikely to regain custody, she dreams of a future with this child. Meanwhile, Cindy begins to see glimmers of hope amidst all her struggles. Fueled by faith and a determination to turn her life around, she begins the hard work of creating a stable home. Through time and a mutual love for the same baby boy, Kate and Cindy form an unlikely friendship. Together, they navigate the complexities of love, sacrifice, and what it truly means to…
8 Jan 2025 · 36 min
Making a Mother E1: Did I Do Something Wrong?
After struggling with infertility, IVF and multiple losses, Kate and her paraplegic husband choose to pursue adoption through the foster care system. Meanwhile, Cindy—battling homelessness and addiction—gives birth to her sixth child, a boy, who is immediately removed from her care. In the next episode, we learn how these two women's stories collide and intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Content warning: sexual assault and pregnancy loss. "Making a Mother" is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Host: Julie Vlahon. Music, Sound…
19 Dec 2024 · 3 min
Making a Mother: The Trailer
Making a Mother is a collection of raw, honest stories about some of the complex circumstances and unthinkable challenges women face in the pursuit of motherhood. These stories speak to the physical scars left on our bodies, as well as the emotional scars left on our hearts. Featuring universal themes of loss and redemption, broken dreams and resilience, deep heartache and unwavering love—each episode showcases one woman's unique story of courage, hope, and tenacity. Making a Mother will be released in January of 2025. If getting a peek into these stories moves you the way it moves us, we'd…
S10 · E6 · 17 Dec 2024 · 42 min
Imperfect Memory Keeping
From deserted baby books to the tens of thousands of photos sitting on our phones, it's easy to feel perpetually behind in memory keeping. Today, as we talk about the challenges of commemorating all the milestones, we also share our imperfect wins and how our approach has drastically changed since becoming first-time moms. Katie has a revelation about redefining what is actually worth remembering, while Ashlee shares her desire to capture the "essence" of her kids instead of data. We've come to the conclusion that a) we need to lower our expectations, and b) the chaotic, silly, and…
S10 · E5 · 4 Dec 2024 · 34 min
Creative Gatherings
Today, we're taking a look at hospitality with a twist(!) and sharing intentional creative gatherings we've either hosted or been invited to. Ashlee raves about a good ol' fashioned book club (surprise, surprise), show-and-tell parties, and gives more gold stars and hearts for Galentine's Day, while Katie loves commemorating the change of seasons—think fall soup competitions and end-of-summer backyard movies—and also makes a point to honor special dates like friendaverseries in unique-to-you ways. We hope this episode inspires you to host your own creative get-together. And hey, if you only…
S10 · E4 · 12 Nov 2024 · 47 min
Taking Care of Our Skin with Dr. Cameron Chesnut
Today we're talking with a board certified dermatologist, Dr. Cameron Chesnut, about how aging affects our skin. Dr. Chesnut gives us holistic insight on our most potent anti-aging defenses (exercise! sleep! nutrition!) and gives us the sought-after scoop on which products actually do make a difference (collagen! retinols! Vitamin C!). He also weighs in on the great sunscreen debate, gives the pros and cons of Botox, and takes our rapid-fire "worth it, or not?" quiz. Whether you're planning to age naturally or maximize modern technology to erase your wrinkles, we hope this conversation…
S10 · E3 · 29 Oct 2024 · 43 min
Reimagining Neighborhoods with Elizabeth and Chris McKinney
Just in time for the most divisive political week of the year, special guests Elizabeth and Chris McKinney—authors of Neighborhoods Reimagined —are here today to share the importance of finding common ground with those living near us. How do we go from pulling into the garage and shutting it behind us to actually befriending our neighbors? Using the Beatitudes as a launching point, the McKinneys offer encouragement and practical tips (simply wave! remember names! start a Facebook page! invite one or two families to gather with you!) to create neighborhood flourishing. This show is brought to…
S10 · E2 · 15 Oct 2024 · 34 min
Left Out with Jill Atogwe
Today, our girl Jill Atogwe is back (!) to chat about her new children's book: Left Out — a rhyming reminder that while God didn't give everyone the same bodies or abilities, everything God left out is something He can use for His glory. From pool party insecurities and complicated health issues to feeling "left behind" in certain stages of life, we confess that trusting God's limits and timing is not always easy—even though we know it's always for our good. We hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone, and also encourages you to be on the lookout for other women who might be…

About Coffee + Crumbs Podcast

Coffee + Crumbs Podcast is a English kids & family podcast from Katie Blackburn, Ashlee Gadd. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Katie Blackburn, Ashlee Gadd
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 34 min
Latest episode: 7 Apr 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1093725475

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