Table Talks with the Tares

How do you know you're showing up the way you mean to? You won't unless you stop to check.

MJ and Ash are a husband and wife with completely opposite wiring. Raising kids in the years the intent is high, but the capacity is low. Every week they get honest about the story playing underneath the home they’re trying to build together, share notes and recalibrate before the next week. Because wanting better doesn’t always mean doing better.

Episodes

Jun 22, 2026

26 min

Some days are for laying bricks. Others are for making sure you’re not tearing down the walls.Some days we feel like we’re nailing it. Other days are monotonous, exhausting, and frustrating and suddenly we’re showing up in ways we didn’t mean. Anyone else?Proverbs 14:1 gives clear warning that a wise woman builds her house, while a foolish ones tears it down with her own hands. So, even on the unproductive and exhausting days, remember that not tearing down the walls is still moving you forward.
Resources:Bible verse: “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1Resources referenced:• Book 1 — Amazon
Continue the conversation:→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 153 — Why Running Without Margin Always Catches Up — “Even ‘good’ things produce pain when they exceed our capacity.” - Richard Swenson, M.D.
New drop every Monday. If this one helped, pass it along to help someone else or leave us a review. It’s the best way to help more people see their underscore, too.Stay connected: 🌐   The Honest Underscore | Discover Your Path - Start Today 📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we give the field notes version of the things we’re learning at the table so we can recalibrate what we mean to do with what actually shows up. [Let me into The Greenroom]✉️ Something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com. We always enjoy hearing from you.

Jun 22, 2026

26 min

Jun 15, 2026

27 min

Most family stress doesn't come from the big moments. It shows up in the ordinary transition moments nobody has a clear plan for.
In this episode, we get honest about the 4 daily transitions that were derailing our family life. Not because our kids were misbehaving, but because the expectations were never actually taught. They were just repeated. Every. Single. Day.
We talk about what was missing, the visual system we built to close the gap, and how our kids have risen to the responsibility of running their own routines and looking out for each other.
You'll walk away with:
Why repeating expectations daily usually isn't a discipline problem, it's a training problem
How we identified the 4 transitions where everything was breaking down and what was actually missing
The visual tool that made everything clear, reduced the barking orders, and taught our kids to take real ownership of their routines
Grab the Free Resource:
The Daily Rhythm Charts: Family Bundle -includes editable visual routine charts for ages 2–10 to help your kids take ownership of daily routines.
Grab your free printable bundle and watch your kids rise to it.
→ Daily Rhythm Charts: Family Bundle

Book Referenced:
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 170 — The Thing About Our Family that Others Notice — If transitions are the gap, this episode talks about where setting the foundation starts.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New drop every Monday. If this one helped, share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 http://honestunderscore.com
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain on the frameworks we're testing, the gaps we've found, and the questions we can't stop thinking about. So you can see your own gaps more clearly. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

Jun 15, 2026

27 min

Jun 8, 2026

29 min

The hard part isn't the fight. It's figuring out what the fight is actually about.
In this episode, we talk about what happens when an old pain gets bumped and the reaction that comes out has nothing to do with the person standing in front of you.
You'll Walk Away With
Why some reactions feel bigger than the moment and what that might be telling you.
What it looked like when this showed up for us and why it's hard to trace in real time.
A question to ask before you respond that changes the whole direction of the conversation.
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 100: How Adoption Changed Me — If this one resonated, that one goes deeper as Ash unpacks how this can show up in parenthood, too.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New drop every Monday. If this one helped, share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 The Honest Underscore
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain on the frameworks we're testing, the gaps we've found, and the questions we can't stop thinking about. So you can see your own gaps more clearly. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

Jun 8, 2026

29 min

Jun 1, 2026

28 min

Spoiler: physical touch doesn't mean what you think it does.
In this episode, we talk about the breakdown that happens when we try to love each other well but are speaking different languages.
You'll walk away with:
Why it’s easy to default to your own love language even when you know better
The real moment this showed up for us and how we worked through it
One thing to say when you can feel the conversation starting to go sideways
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 154 — Controlling the Controllables and a Shortcut to Real Connection — Once you know the language, this one is about what happens when you're too exhausted to speak it.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New episodes every Monday. If this one helped, share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 The Honest Underscore
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain with one coaching insight, one lesson worth passing on, and one question to sit with. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

Jun 1, 2026

28 min

May 25, 2026

35 min

Have you ever meant well and still missed the mark?
You didn't need a solution. You needed someone to listen and somehow that got lost.
In this episode, we dig into one of the most common friction points in any close relationship: the moment one person needs to be heard and the other instinctively tries to help. It's not a communication problem. It's a mismatch in expectations. And one small question can change everything.
You'll Walk Away With
Why venting and asking for help aren't the same thing and why mixing them up is a wiring difference, not a character flaw
Why the externalizer and the internal processor hear the same conversation completely differently
Two questions that reset expectations before the conversation goes sideways
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 169 — It's Not What You Say, it's How You Say It — Once you know what kind of conversation you're in, this one picks up from there on tone, timing, and why the same words can land completely differently.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New episodes every Monday. If this one helped you — share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 http://honestunderscore.com
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain on our process with one coaching insight, one lesson worth passing on, one question worth sitting with. Our job — help move your next step from uncertain to clear. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

May 25, 2026

35 min

May 18, 2026

28 min

It started with MJ saying we need to take more risks as a family and somehow that turned into tent camping with a baby.
In this episode, we talk about why having strong rhythms isn't just about running a tight ship; it's what gives you the freedom to shake things up, try something hard, and actually recover from it. Plus, it’s a practical way we're teaching our kids to take measured risks.
You'll walk away with:
Why your rhythms aren't a ceiling, they're a launchpad for taking risks
If you don't know how to do the thing, just do it bad first and go from there
Resources Referenced:
https://youtu.be/gjwofYhUJEM?si=eJ5-LePa6alYe41m
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 133 — The Legacy We Hope to Build, Not Raising Entitled Kids — if raising kids who embrace hard things resonates, this one goes deeper into the legacy we’re trying to build.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New episodes every Monday. If this one helped you, share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 http://honestunderscore.com
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain on our process with one coaching insight, one lesson worth passing on, one question worth sitting with. Our job — help move your next step from uncertain to clear. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

May 18, 2026

28 min

May 11, 2026

44 min

Good intentions don’t automatically create the outcome you hope for.
MJ tried to give Ash a break but the rest didn't actually restore. In this episode we unpack why good intentions miss when people recharge differently, and the real difference between rest and restoration.
You'll walk away with:
How loving your partner well means learning how they refuel
The difference between rest and restoration, and why choosing what you need over what you want is sometimes harder than it sounds
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 12 — The Sabbath: Our Foundational Rhythm— if this episode stirred something in you about rest, this is where we share the rhythm that's anchored our family for years.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New episodes every Monday. If this one helped you — share it with someone who needs it or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people.
Stay connected: 🌐 http://honestunderscore.com
📩 Enjoyed the episode? The conversation goes deeper in The Greenroom. Once a month we pull back the curtain on our process with one coaching insight, one lesson worth passing on, one question worth sitting with. Our job — help move your next step from uncertain to clear. [Let me into The Greenroom]
✉️ Questions, reflections, or something from this episode hit home? Send it our way → hello@honestunderscore.com

May 11, 2026

44 min

May 4, 2026

40 min

This episode is for everyone who's doing the right things and still feels like they're running behind because that's been us lately.
We're getting honest about what happens when the timeline you set for bouncing back from postpartum (your health, your family rhythms, your social life) just doesn't hold. Spoiler: ours hasn’t.
Here's what we're unpacking:
Why “bouncing back” takes longer than we want to admit
What it looks like to actually meet each other where we are
Learning to say no without guilt
If you've ever looked at your life and thought it shouldn't be this hard, welcome to the table.
Continue the conversation:
→ Your Next Listen: Ep. 169 — It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It — Because saying the right thing the wrong way still misses. This is a must-listen on how tone, timing, and delivery can completely change the message in your marriage.
Find the gap. Fix the system. Live with purpose.
New episodes every week. If this one helped, share it with someone who needs it, or leave a review. It's the best way to help us reach more people navigating the same things.
Stay connected: 🌐 honestunderscore.com
📩 Monthly newsletter: one problem, one framework, one thing to try differently. Subscribe here.
✉️ hello@honestunderscore.com

May 4, 2026

40 min

Apr 27, 2026

32 min

Sunday nights started feeling kinda tense… like we were already behind before Monday even hit.
We realized it wasn’t our schedule, it was us being out of sync. Different expectations, missed communication, and all the other little stuff that adds up fast.
So, we started asking 3 simple questions before the week starts. It’s helped us get on the same page and cut down a lot of unnecessary friction.

Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/155-how-we-navigate-a-low-capacity-season-as-a-family/id1661247515?i=1000741341988

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.

Apr 27, 2026

32 min

Apr 20, 2026

35 min

Giving a real time health update and what it’s actually been like after 3 pregnancies. We talk about the pressure to “bounce back,” why we’re pushing against it, and what a slower, more sustainable approach to health looks like. If you’ve ever felt stuck and discouraged when it comes to your health journey, this one’s for you.

Resources mentioned:

Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/167-when-you-find-out-your-spouse-has-adhd/id1661247515?i=1000753984829

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.

Apr 20, 2026

35 min

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