Episodes

Send us a text In this episode, DJ Stutz talks with Andrew Peterson—Christian singer-songwriter, and author of The Wingfeather Saga—about weaving faith into every aspect of life. Andrew shares how he integrates faith into his family’s daily routines, making it a natural part of parenting and relationships. They discuss the power of storytelling, music, and art in fostering spiritual growth and teaching the beauty of truth. Andrew emphasizes the importance of discernment in media and parenting...

Send us a text In this episode of Imperfect Heroes, DJ Stutz chats with Ashlee Terry about the role of faith in parenting and building spiritual resilience in young children. Ashlee shares her story of recovery after a traumatic accident in January 2024, reflecting on how her childhood experiences with church, Sunday school, and Bible camp anchored her during life’s storms. Together, they discuss the importance of creating a faith-filled foundation that gives kids the strength and understanding ...

Send us a text Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Imperfect Heroes so you never miss an episode! In this episode, DJ Stutz chats with Lenora Edwards, a board-certified speech-language pathologist, about the powerful link between spirituality and parenting. They explore how curiosity strengthens faith and builds meaningful family connections. Lenora shares tips on using tone and non-verbal cues to guide children’s spiritual questions while fostering open, judgment-free conversations....

Send us a text In this episode, DJ Stutz chats with Kristina and Herb Heagh-Avritt, married for 33 years, about raising two boys while blending differing spiritual beliefs. Tune in as they share how they honored unique perspectives and built a unified foundation for their family. As founders of Vibrant Family Education, Kristina and Herb discuss empowering parents through homeschooling, integrating life skills, traditions, and spirituality. Stay tuned while they offer practical tips on setting ...

Send us a text In this episode of Imperfect Heroes: Insights into Parenting, DJ Stutz delves into the importance of spirituality in raising compassionate, mentally healthy, and service-minded children. Drawing from her wealth of experience, DJ discusses how aligning on spiritual beliefs as parents and modeling healthy communication can set the foundation for a strong spiritual life. She shares practical advice for starting spiritual conversations early, creating teachable moments, and encouragin...

Send us a text Join DJ Stutz as she chats with E.A. Maynard, co-host of Call With Dads and founder of Homessor.com, about the powerful connection between fatherhood and gratitude. Eric shares practical tips for raising grateful kids, including limiting screen time, encouraging outdoor activities, and fostering family bonds. Learn how his stepdad’s influence shaped his parenting style and how Homessor connects educators with families. This heartfelt episode offers actionable insights for dads an...

Send us a text In this episode of Imperfect Heroes: Insights into Parenting, DJ Stutz chats with Nicole Oke, an award-winning children's book author, Girl Scout leader, and wildland firefighting professional based in Boise, Idaho. As a mom of two daughters with big emotions, Nicole knows firsthand how crucial it is to teach kids emotional intelligence. She shares practical ways to help children identify, process, and regulate their emotions, using her bestselling book Penny Panda and the Gift of...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ chats with Dr. Emily Guarnotta, a psychologist and maternal mental health specialist, about how practicing gratitude can really impact our well-being as parents. Emily explains that gratitude is something we can choose to practice anytime, helping shift our mood and outlook, especially during tough moments. She also shares her work at Phoenix Health, where she supports new parents dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety, and how gratitude can be a tool ...

Send us a text Download your free copy of “Donation Bingo: Giving to Kids in Need” here: https://www.imperfectheroes.net/resources In this episode, DJ dives into the importance of cultivating gratitude in young children and how it can lead to a life filled with joy, humility, and stronger relationships. Drawing inspiration from Glenn Beck's "trilogy of holidays" framework—Thanksgiving (humility), Christmas (welcoming Christ), and New Year (renewal)—DJ emphasizes how gratitude naturally connects...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ explores Critical Race Theory (CRT) in education. As parents, it’s essential to understand what our children are being taught, especially when it impacts their self-image and how they view others. DJ's guest, Dr. George Maurer, author of "Critical Race Theory in Your School: How to Fight Back," offers insights on how parents can identify and address CRT in schools. Dr. Maurer explains the difference between CRT and ethnic studies, highlighting how CRT’s focus ...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ sits down with guest Dinalynn Rosenbush to discuss the role parents play in teaching children bravery. DJ and Dinalynn dive into practical strategies for fostering courage in kids, starting with something as simple as allowing them to dress themselves or take minor, calculated risks to boost confidence and independence. Parents are natural role models for bravery, and they explores how you can lead by example, encouraging your children to take risks, face chal...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ chats with Dana Diaz about the bravery it takes to parent through tough circumstances. Listen in as Dana shares her journey of raising her son while navigating a challenging marriage affected by narcissism and alcoholism. Stay tuned as she emphasizes the importance of leading with love, respecting her son's autonomy, and teaching him resilience. Dana encourages parents to focus on the next right step, embrace honesty, and avoid overcomplicating things. She als...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ explores the critical role bravery plays in a child's development and why our society needs courageous individuals more than ever. Bravery isn’t about being fearless—it’s about recognizing fear and choosing to act despite it. DJ offers practical tips for parents to foster bravery in their children, like modeling bold behavior, creating opportunities for safe risk-taking, and celebrating effort over perfection. She also discusses the importance of positive self-...

Send us a text In this episode, DJ sits down with Ryann Watkin, a passionate speaker, educator, wife, and mother of three, to explore how self-discipline plays a critical role in shaping compassionate, emotionally healthy families. With her unique blend of curiosity and life experience, Ryann dives deep into the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and family life. Ryann Watkin is a self-proclaimed existential question-asker, book lover, and inspiration junkie. After navigating acute postp...

Send us a text In this special episode of Imperfect Heroes: Insights into Parenting, DJ Stutz sits down with Wolfgang Bennion, a young, first-time father who's just beginning his parenting journey. Wolfgang, a recent history graduate and second lieutenant in the army, shares his experiences raising his 15-month-old son, Leo, and how he’s incorporating self-discipline into his parenting approach. Together, DJ and Wolfgang dive deep into the importance of self-discipline—not only for children but...

Send us a text In this episode, host DJ Stutz is joined by Missy Yandow, a pediatric sleep consultant and potty training coach, for an insightful conversation about the crucial role of self-discipline in parenting. Together, they break down why consistency is the cornerstone of teaching self-discipline to our kids, sharing practical tips and real-life examples along the way. Missy dives into the importance of establishing routines, and the discussion also explores the power of weekly family mee...

Send us a text Listen in as DJ and Jeff Nelligan, a dad and author, discuss the importance of self-discipline in children. He emphasizes the role of routine, such as using a big calendar to manage daily tasks, and the significance of doing the right thing even when unobserved. Nelligan shares practical tips like involving children in household chores and enrolling them in team sports to build self-discipline and resilience. He also stresses the importance of parents modeling calm behavior and se...

Send us a text If you’re looking for effective ways to raise responsible, confident, and well-behaved children, this episode is packed with valuable information. In this episode, DJ dives into the essential skill of teaching self-discipline to young children. Listen in as DJ explores what self-discipline means for kids and why it’s crucial for their development. She explains how self-discipline is a key part of executive function, helping children make thoughtful decisions and understand the im...

Send us a Text Message. Vote for the Imperfect Heroes Podcast: https://womeninpodcasting.net/imperfect-heroes-insights-into-parenting/ In this episode, DJ Stutz is joined by Kat Newport as they explore the critical topic of teaching children how to manage conflict in healthy, constructive ways. Together, they dive into the importance of conflict resolution in parenting, offering practical insights for identifying and addressing parent-child conflicts. Kat, a mother of four, shares her real-life...

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we continue our exploration of nurturing kindness in both words and actions within families and children. Join DJ Stutz and special guest Courtney Hart as they delve into the critical importance of teaching kindness to children, both typical and those with neurodiverse backgrounds. This conversation highlights the essential role of clear communication and deep understanding in fostering kindness. We also discuss how to instill emotional intelligence, empa...

Send us a Text Message. Join DJ and her guest, Mariela De Santiago as they discuss the importance of teaching kindness and embracing diversity in early childhood. Listen in as they talk about the significance of modeling kind behavior, using positive language, and practicing empathy and compassion towards others. Stay tuned as they share strategies for teaching empathy and sharing with children as young as 2-years-old, including giving children choices. They also share the importance of creating...

Send us a Text Message. Join DJ Stutz in this episode as she delves into the importance of teaching children kindness and empathy, exploring the progression of how these values develop over time. Listen in as DJ emphasizes the crucial role of modeling kindness and providing opportunities for children to practice it. Stay tuned as she shares practical tips and personal anecdotes on promoting kindness and charity in kids, highlighting the significance of these values in conflict resolution. Disco...

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, DJ and guest Christian Yordanov discuss the importance of nutrition in supporting children's health, particularly for those with autism. Listen in as they talk about the need to identify and address specific nutrient deficiencies through dietary changes, supplementation, and lab testing. Stay tuned as they also discussed natural approaches to improving children's health, including managing common childhood health issues like constipation. Additionally, DJ...

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, DJ and special guest, Rachel “Roque” Stutz (DJ’s daughter) are discussing the various types of risks that parents and children encounter, including physical, emotional, and social risks. In the segment, they share their approaches to encouraging children to take calculated risks while balancing safety and fun and challenge the traditional definition of cowardice, arguing that it's not always about facing danger head-on and that running away from a danger...