Table Talks with the Tares
Husband and wife duo MJ & Ash believe honest self-reflection is a critical component in growth. Listen in on their conversations as they process what their words and actions are currently cultivating in their home, work, relationships, and ministry.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
We’re kicking off a new series all about setting realistic goals for our family and individually. In this episode, we unpack how our approach to goal-setting has shifted this year being less about crushing checklists and more about cultivating the kind of people we want to become. We’re talking habit-based goals, rightly ordering our loves, and getting clear on wha’s actually important in this season.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to “do it all,” this one’s for you.
Resources mentioned:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/1th/4/11-12/s_1115011
https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/2co/3/18/s_1081018
https://a.co/d/goo4rGW
https://a.co/d/gbWxbvL
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/146-seeking-the-sacred-work-of-ordinary-days-what/id1661247515?i=1000731579553
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Jan 05, 2026
Monday Jan 05, 2026
We’re kicking off the year by talking about where we’re at with tech and health in our home because to be honest, both could use a reset. From managing screen time with our kids to realizing we’ve been leaning hard into convenience (hello, Chick-Fil-A nugs), we’re reflecting on what’s working, what’s not, and the one degree changes we’re making to feel more like ourselves again. If you’re needing a health revamp too, listen in!
Bible verse:
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Brazo de Mercedes recipe we used: https://panlasangpinoy.com/brazo-de-mercedes-cake-recipe/
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-107-artificial-intelligence-pondering-the-correct/id1661247515?i=1000683768395
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
As we wrap up the year, we’re reflecting on the rhythms that helped us keep our sanity in a season of constant unpredictability. From cozy book moments with the kids (thank you, Christmas gifts) to kitchen chaos trying to recreate Gram’s iconic cookies, we’re reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and what we want more of in the new year.
Resources mentioned:
Book: https://a.co/d/1FJK5e0
Love Style Episodes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-how-we-love-argue-the-vacillator-how-it-affects/id1661247515?i=1000613984775
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-26-how-mj-loves-the-avoider-what-i-would-tell-my/id1661247515?i=1000614852622
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-27-how-the-vacillator-and-avoider-collide/id1661247515?i=1000615699628
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-28-lessons-of-a-vacillator-and-avoider/id1661247515?i=1000616625402
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-119-how-to-avoid-getting-sucked-into-a/id1661247515?i=1000702501261
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
In this episode, we break down a recent conflict and how we worked through it. We talk about how ADHD shows up in our relationship especially in moments of tension, how differently we experience conflict, and the tools we’re using to move toward each other instead of away.
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/143-whats-in-my-adhd-parenting-toolkit-what-actually-helps/id1661247515?i=1000727849431
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Dec 15, 2025
Monday Dec 15, 2025
In this episode, we’re taking inventory. We share how we’re applying the things we’ve been learning lately to both marriage and parenting, what’s landing, what’s missing, and what needs more attention in this season. It's a real-time check-in and reminder that growth takes time.
Resources mentioned -
Books:
ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans
The Joy of Slow: Restoring Balance and Wonder to Homeschool Learning
Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life
Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives
Little Men (Puffin Classics)
The Blue Fairy Book: Illustrated by Henry Ford and G. P. Jacomb-Hood
Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men
The Awakening of Miss Prim: A Novel
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE A Story for Children; the Chronicles of Narnia Volume 1
Resources that have shaped my philosophical view of education:
Homeschool Made Simple
Home - Homeschool Made Simple
The Commonplace
The Commonplace | Classical CM Home Education
Mother Academia Course: Mother Academia 2026 | (I think we're calling it a personal curriculum these days.) | Study with me!
Discipleship Course: Life On Life Discipleship
Next episode recommended: 153 - Why Running Without Margin Always Catches Up to You
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: The Honest Underscore.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Running on fumes? Same.
In this episode, we’re talking about how lack of sleep can crank up the tension in our home and how we’ve learned to recognize and navigate it without turning on each other. It’s honest, practical, and full of the little things that help us reset when we’re running low.
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/131-embracing-lifes-lows-strategies-when-youre-not/id1661247515?i=1000715120895
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Dec 01, 2025
Monday Dec 01, 2025
“Rest is not indulgence, it’s obedience to how we were made.” - Dr. Richard Swenson
In this episode, we’re talking about what it actually looks like to create margin in the middle of a full life. From shifting expectations to tweaking routines, we’re sharing the small but intentional changes we’ve made to get more aligned, breathe a little easier, and make space for real rest without dropping the ball on everything else.
Resources mentioned:
Margin: https://www.amazon.com/Margin-Restoring-Emotional-Financial-Overloaded/dp/1576836827/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DYL5S70YOAVP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2H01AXY9fykr5P1X3FXkwjbMUpekSUHeen7QdfZt_BN3VEaDDMHJQcCMQDZcToOYMNHEGRI8qz7QQpMq88j1S-TrkWCq_R52O_Zp5sHFCNTCIdTmeQlahY1od67ddc5-vSG5dM6jEJ0hTJ2P2Rk6TWjnq52JnPECB6E8kaFCm7Vyvko68Teyuta-iXIA6gbA3Ue7-PDrvSL-35LGHXlo2t4bhB-Y0t1oGDCXeTAitzk.IHDg5cTB3bZKo-yea9tkYNvAY-aVrR405DSZlyhACkU&dib_tag=se&keywords=margin&qid=1764547695&sprefix=margin%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/150-why-you-should-run-your-family-like-a-business/id1661247515?i=1000736086043
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
We’ve laid the groundwork with our family vision and weekly meetings, and now we’re getting intentional about the kind of values we want to pass on to our kids. In this episode, we share how we’re building a simple system to capture the truths, phrases, and principles that help steer our children’s imaginations and affections toward what is good, true, and beautiful. It’s all about turning big ideals into repeatable everyday language our family can live by.
Resources mentioned -
https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B5KIDGM483TB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.raziX_bpmhwc-YgbtsxDRY5c3HcE7xOx_zo-QAjZTnMXR6KYoOz1uD0sugYMFI-Dm-_ilVLu9I9HQdcMAr6rc83uhDoEBlc5sBHiUZG81EX-tdho-jSk0p9VftaGNMdUd-jANiOmo6enCsG920N-M416wx-oBdOT9d1MlTm-0JywvDBJ0caFD8yryIOijjhARt3l3hq6PBk7nN-WyJ7-7dGasuE58y9NpXWjk5q5jW8.Ugd7y5gKdPRtGzLZvVXJg_bSuvmM38hGnVdNslihqgQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=wanting&qid=1763931870&sprefix=wanting%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1
https://www.youtube.com/@thecommonplacehomeschool/videos
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-commonplace/id1568956517
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/150-why-you-should-run-your-family-like-a-business/id1661247515?i=1000736086043
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Family meetings with a newborn?!
Yeah, it sounds kind of impossible, but somehow, we’re making it work. In this episode, we talk about how we squeeze in a family meeting, why it’s been clutch for staying connected, and how it helps us stop side-eyeing each other mid-week. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a game changer for keeping communication open and making sure we’re on the same team, especially when we’re running on fumes.
Resources mentioned:
Fitness Programs — Tony Horton Life
Yoga With Adriene
Next episode recommended: 150 - Why You Should Run Your Family Like A Business
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: The Honest Underscore.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.
Monday Nov 10, 2025
Monday Nov 10, 2025
Let’s be real, crafting a family vision sounds great... until you’re knee-deep in diapers, dishes, and meltdowns. In this episode, we talk about why having a clear vision for our family actually does help in the chaos. From how we parent to how we set the tone in our home, naming where we’re headed brings clarity, peace, and more unity. We share how we’re trying to create language around habits and character and invite you into our process.
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-99-when-a-visionary-and-an-optimizer-make/id1661247515?i=1000676482321
Table Talks with the Tares: where we explore how to close the gap between what we intend and what we do, one honest conversation at a time.
Visit our website: http://www.honestunderscore.com.
Join our monthly newsletter for a curated blend of exclusive leadership insights, personal reflections, and resource releases delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter!
For questions, please email us at hello@honestunderscore.com.