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Brunch with Babs Costello : Hospitality, Heritage & Helping Moms Thrive [Ep 571]
Don't Mom Alone Podcast
05/04/26
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In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Babs Costello—beloved home cook, mom of four, grandmother, and viral content creator who proves it’s never too late to start something new. After launching her social media presence at 71, Babs has become a source of comfort, wisdom, and joy for millions.
We talk about the beautiful chaos of raising a family while running a business, how she built a supportive community of moms, and why the dinner table can be the most powerful place for connection. Babs shares practical tips on meal planning, keeping kids engaged during dinner, and how preparing ahead can make hosting feel effortless.
She also opens up about her children’s book, Did Your Mother Ever Tell You...?, a project made even more special with the help of her grandchildren. This episode is a reminder that when life feels overwhelming—“when it rains, it pours”—those storms can still bring growth, beauty, and deeper connection.
Whether you’re a busy mom, a grandmother, or someone wondering if you’ve missed your chance to start something meaningful, Babs’ story will leave you inspired to begin right where you are.
In this episode, we cover:
- Simple meal planning strategies for families
- How to keep kids engaged at the dinner table (and why it matters)
- Turning everyday moments into meaningful family traditions
- Overcoming fear and embracing new beginnings at any age
- Lessons from her grandmother on faith, hospitality, and joy
- Facebook: Brunch with babs
- Instagram: BABS (@brunchwithbabs)
- Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?: By Barbara ("Babs") Costello
- Every Day with Babs: By Barbara Costello
- Celebrate with Babs: By Barbara Costello
- Stewarding Sacred and Spiritual Disciplines at Home :: Jennifer Pepito [Ep 464]
- Help! My Kids Don’t Know How to Do Anything : Building Life Skills This Summer :: Katie Kimball [Ep 525]
- Honoring Moms, the Unsung Heroes :: Rebecca St. James [Ep 466]
Featured Sponsors:
- Green Chef: Head to Greenchef.com/50alone and use the code 50alone to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months.
- Honeylove: Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. For a limited time, Honeylove is offering up to 50% off sitewide during their Memorial Day sale. Use our exclusive link to shop at honeylove.com/DMA.
Previous Episode
Talking to kids about sex can feel overwhelming—but avoiding the conversation doesn’t make it easier. In this replay episode, Megan Michelson and Mary Flo Ridley break down how to approach these important topics in a way that feels natural, age-appropriate, and shame-free.
Instead of relying on a single, awkward “talk,” they encourage parents to build an ongoing dialogue that evolves as kids grow. From early childhood curiosity to teenage years and deeper conversations about puberty and masturbation, this episode offers practical tools to help you stay calm, confident, and connected.
We cover how to introduce basic biology (like seeds, eggs, and conception), how to respond when your child isn’t interested in the conversation, and why tone matters more than perfection. You’ll also learn how to navigate common parenting moments—like little ones exploring their bodies—without shame, while still setting healthy boundaries.
As kids get older, the conversation shifts. Megan and Mary Flo share how to approach puberty, why “shoulder-to-shoulder” conversations can be more effective than face-to-face talks, and how to handle more complex topics like masturbation in a way that balances honesty, guidance, and emotional awareness.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about when to start, what to say, or how to say it—this episode will give you a clear, grounded approach.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why “the talk” doesn’t work—and what to do instead
- How to start conversations about bodies and sex at a young age
- Age-appropriate language for explaining reproduction and biology
- What to do when your child avoids or shuts down the conversation
- Why tone and delivery matter more than saying everything perfectly
- Website: Birds and Bees
- Instagram: Birds and Bees | Online Course | Megan Michelson (@birds__bees)
- God's Design for Sex Series: By Stan &Brenna Jones
- Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys By David Thomas
- Gender and Sexuality :: Preston Sprinkle [Ep 370]
- Let’s Talk about Sex :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 328]
- Sexual Identity and Radical Ordinary Hospitality :: Dr. Rosaria Butterfield [Ep 301]
Featured Sponsors:
- Thrive Causemetics: Amplify your spring look with Thrive Causemetics. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.
- Cozy Earth: This spring, give yourself the kind of comfort that lives with you all day — not just the moment you get home. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code DMA for an exclusive 20% off.
Next Episode
My dear friends, who I've been chatting with for 10 years, are back! David Thomas and Sissy Goff are seeing a growing "crisis of capability" in kids. In this conversation, we talk about their new book Capable and why the goal isn't to raise confident kids. It's to raise resilient ones.
If your child won't try out for a sport, avoids new friendships, or struggles to take initiative, you're not alone. Many kids today are hesitant to step into discomfort, and many parents feel unsure how to help without pushing too hard or stepping in too quickly.
David and Sissy share a powerful reframe: confidence isn't something kids magically gain. It's something they build through repeated, uncomfortable experiences. And instead of chasing success, we should be helping our kids become sturdy, able to handle challenges, setbacks, and real life.
We also talk about why we need to move from reactive skills to proactive strength-building, and how small, everyday opportunities (like ordering food, making appointments, or trying something new) can shape long-term resilience.
This episode is both practical and deeply encouraging, especially if you're navigating anxiety, motivation struggles, or the pressure to "get it right" as a parent.
In This Episode, We Cover:
- The difference between capability and confidence
- Why many kids today avoid risk and discomfort
- 5 key strengths: competence, flexibility, perseverance, humility, and gratitude
- 100 practical ways to build independence
- Why habits matter more than quick fixes
- How to motivate teens who won’t engage
- Website: Raising Boys and Girls | Tools, Tips, and Hope for Strong Families
- Instagram: Raising Boys and Girls (@raisingboysandgirls)
- Facebook: Raising Boys and Girls
- Capable: By Sissy Goff and David Thomas
- I Am Capable: Unlocking the Secret Strengths Inside of You – Boys and Girls Workbook and Activity Guide to Grow in Grit, Resilience, and Confidence: By Sissy Goff and David Thomas
- Helping Kids Do Hard Things, Strong-Willed Kids, and Growing Through Failure :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 522]
- The Art of Nurturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119]
- “How Can I Help My Kid Make Friends?” :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 483] Summer of Mentorship week 6
- Emotional Milestones :: Sissy Goff and David Thomas [Ep 160]
Featured Sponsors:
- Branch Basics: And here’s the good news — Branch Basics is now available everywhere you shop: at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and of course, BranchBasics.com. Tossing the toxins has never been more convenient! And for anyone grabbing the Premium Starter Kit, you can still get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with our code [DMA].
- Hiya Health; We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.
- The updated and revised And the Bride Wore White by Dannah Gresh equips you to speak with clarity and confidence about sexual integrity and God’s good design. Rooted in biblical truth and full of grace, this trusted resource helps you start the conversations that matter most— and guide the next generation toward healing, wisdom, and a deeper love for Jesus. For over two decades—and more than 300,000 copies later this message is still changing lives. Get your copy of And the Bride Wore White today
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