Raising Wonder

With Joel & Mikayla Trousdale

Matt and Nicole sit down with Joel and Mikayla, two friends who have taught them a lot about what good friendship looks like during the parenthood years. They discuss making friends, maintaining and pouring into deeper friendships, and how to model healthy friendship for our kids. Listen in for all this and more.

With Teresa McMahon and Jenna Lodge: When the Passenger Becomes the Copilot

The Gillettes met Teresa and Jenna as adults, but the strong foundation of their relationship that began in Jenna’s childhood could still be easily seen and felt. Listen in to their discussion on how their relationship was formed, grew, and has remained so strong over the decades.
If you’ve ever wondered what your relationship with your child could look like as he or she grows into adulthood, this episode is for you!

With Alison Gersen Perez: The Importance of Art for Kids…and Everyone!

Art educator and artist, Alison Gersen Perez, chats with Nicole about the many benefits of art for our and kids’ wellbeing. Whether you think you’re an artist or not…whether you love getting out those art supplies or they intimidate you, this episode has something for you!

With Renee Shafer: Navigating the Fostering & Adoptive Journey

Matt and Nicole talk with Renee Shafer about her experiences as a foster and adoptive mother. Renee shares heartfelt stories and practical wisdom with listeners who might be walking this path themselves, or who know others who are.

With Susie Delo: Situational Awareness for the Family

Susie Delo, founder of You Matter Foundation, based right here in Meadville Pennsylvania, joins the Gillettes to share about ways to keep our families situationally aware, confident, and safe. Topics related to trauma are briefly discussed and might not be suitable for young listeners.

With Janelle Teeple: When Our Kids Face Illness

Matt and Nicole spend time with Janelle Teeple as she shares about their family’s experience with childhood cancer. Janelle speaks of the fight each of them walked through and continue to show as their daughter is a survivor now consistently showing clear scans.
Whether it’s something minor or something significant, when our kids are sick, all we want as parents is for them to be comforted and to heal. Every child and family’s journey is different, and Janelle shares a ton of hard fought wisdom around ways to support our children, ways to find support ourselves, and ways to support others as they navigate childhood illness.

With the Gillettes: How Raising Kids Affects Your Relationship

Are you raising kids while in a relationship? There are a lot of beautiful and hard things about this season of life. Matt and Nicole share how children have affected their relationship, in both the wonderful and challenging ways. If you are also in this time of life, remember you’re not alone. Grab your partner and give this episode a listen.

With Mary Collins: It Takes a Village...and Tea Hats Help

The Gillettes share a true gift of a person with listeners, their dear friend Mary. She is one of the reasons Nicole and Matt are able to find rest and refreshment, as well as stamina to continue in their work, because Mary offers them wisdom, love, and babysitting. Join the conversation by hearing Mary’s heart behind why and how she serves in this way, and be encouraged. Oh and the tea hat thing? Stay til the end to find out in what that’s about.

With the Gillettes: When the Progress is Slow

What do we do when progress is slow? Is slow progress better than no progress? How do we remain optimistic during the waiting, and what type of people should we have in our corner?
Matt and Nicole discuss these things and more as they relate to Wonder, parenting, and life in general. Check out this first episode of the new year for some food for thought, as well as for new updates.
And a huge thank you to all the listeners who are making this little ole podcast one of the best things about The Raising Wonder Foundation!

With Bethany Fields: Happy at Hometown

Meadville PA native, Bethany Fields, shares with the Gillettes what it is like growing up, going to college, and now raising kids in the same hometown area. Listen in to this joy filled episode that also does not fail to deliver on some profound wisdom around what sticking by a place’s side can do for family resilience.