Quick note before we get into it: the audio is a little wonky this week. Apparently my headphone mic is, in fact, garbage 😂 and even Descript’s “Studio Sound” couldn’t completely save me. So bear with us—you can absolutely hear everything, we just sound a little less professional podcast studio and a little more two friends talking about money at the kitchen table. Which, honestly, is pretty on brand. 😂

This week, we’re talking about one of those topics that can make people—especially Christians—get a little squirmy: MONEY. 💰😬

Is wanting more money greedy? Are we supposed to just trust God to provide and quit thinking about it? Why do some of us immediately wrinkle our noses when we hear the words rich people? And why can Staci handle an emergency without breaking a sweat but spiral at the thought of running out of cereal before payday? 😂

This conversation was sparked by Shelby Kurz’s article, “How Much Money Is Enough?” Her point stopped us in our tracks: enough isn’t just a feeling. At some point, you have to actually figure out what your version of a good life costs.

So we’re unpacking our own beliefs around money, scarcity, abundance, faith, generosity, hard work, and that Bible verse we’ve all heard quoted as “money is the root of all evil.” Spoiler alert: that’s not actually what 1 Timothy 6:10 says.

We talk about growing up with scarcity, feeling weird about wanting financial success, the difference between loving money and simply having it, and why financial security doesn’t have to mean yachts, mansions and becoming a bazillionaire.

Sometimes your dream is simply:

✨ Buying groceries without doing mental math in the cart

✨ Having money set aside when the car inevitably does something stupid

✨ Taking your family on an actual vacation

✨ Working fewer hours and being home more

✨ Giving generously without worrying about whether you’ll have enough

✨ Having some freaking breathing room

Shelby lays out a simple exercise: calculate your fixed expenses, your real cost of living, a buffer for unexpected expenses, the things you actually want to enjoy, and margin for the future. Then add it up. THAT is your number.

And maybe—just maybe—you’re not as far away from it as you think.

Of course, because this is The Debrief, we somehow also cover hidden snack stashes, expired vehicle tabs, ramen-noodle summers, faux-pineapple zucchini, swimming in fresh milk, and why apparently everyone should own a Squatty Potty. 😂

Your challenge this week:

Forget HOW you’re going to get there for a minute. Sit down and figure out:

What’s your number?

What would it actually cost for you and your family to live comfortably... with margin, rest, fun and room to breathe?

Then take a look at where you are right now. You might be surprised by what you find.

How Much Money Is Enough? — Shelby Kurz, No Small Life

Read Shelby’s article on Substack

How to Solve Your Money Problems Forever — Victor Boc

And YES—Staci officially has another round of the Money Mindset Book Club coming this fall! 📚💸Grab your spot HERE!

If this episode brought up some weird, uncomfortable, “oh crap, maybe I DO have some money stuff to unpack” feelings, you’re not alone. Sometimes the first step is simply getting curious about where those beliefs came from.

Until next week—notice what you have, appreciate the abundance already around you, and remember:

What you notice and appreciate, appreciates. 🌱

Love you mucho. 🤍

This week, we're talking about all the things nobody prepared us for.

From teaching teenagers how much to tip a waitress to teaching our children that it's okay to trust their instincts and walk away from situations that don't feel right, we're realizing just how much parenting is learned on the fly.

We also talk about:

• Farm life adventures, dairy cows, escaped livestock, and learning by doing

• The emotional toll of first responder work and carrying the weight of other people's grief

• Why getting outside first thing in the morning might be one of the simplest forms of self-care

• Job changes, burnout, and learning to "choose your hard"

• Nervous system regulation, changing seasons of life, and trusting God's plan when the path forward isn't perfectly clear

• The music, podcasts, and daily habits that shape our minds more than we realize

As always, we're sharing the messy middle... the funny stories, the hard lessons, and the reminders that none of us have it all figured out.

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and come hang out with us.

Staci's Spotify Playlists:

Praise Up!

Pull Up Those Bootstraps

Jesus Jams

staci cardio

Simple Country Livin'

Karaoke jams

My fave nervous regulation playlist on Spotify

In part two of our Two Badges, One Marriage series, Ruthie and I are joined once again by our husbands, Brandon and Nate, as we pull back the curtain on what life is really like inside first responder families.

We dive into everything from dark humor and coping mechanisms to body cameras, Ring cameras, parenting, marriage, and the challenge of staying connected when work and family seem to consume every ounce of time and energy.

We talk about why first responders often lean on humor to survive difficult situations, how difficult it can be for spouses to understand what happens during a shift, and why giving one another grace matters so much.

You'll hear stories that will make you laugh, moments that might make you cringe, and honest conversations about the realities of balancing careers, kids, exhaustion, and marriage while trying not to lose yourself in the process.

Most importantly, we talk about friendship. At the end of the day, beneath the uniforms, the titles, the long shifts, and the never-ending responsibilities, we're simply people trying to love each other well.

In this episode, we cover:

• Dark humor and why first responders use it

• The challenge of leaving work at work

• Why first responder marriages are unique

• Date nights, parenting, and surviving the chaos

• Maintaining your identity outside of work and family life

• The importance of grace, communication, and intentional connection

• Why marrying your best friend still matters

Grab your coffee, settle in, and join us for another round of laughter, honesty, and complete shenanigans.

And if you're married to a first responder, just know this: you aren't alone.

Join us Sept 12th for Beyond the Siren's continuing education: Zero to 60 Survival & Emotional Wellness