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

Aug 18, 2025

40 min

This birth story was wild! In this episode, we share the whirlwind arrival of our daughter, how labor kicked off fast, escalated even faster, and nearly ended with a delivery right at the ER entrance. From barely making it to the hospital to the moment she was born (in 2 hrs flat!), we’re reliving it all. If you love a good birth story or want to hear how we survived the chaos with a whole lot of adrenaline and grace, this one’s for you.
 
Resources mentioned:
Song: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9t5kSGe7rmM&si=ESzt9KenT0AiYUjU
Next episode recommended: Ep 124 Pregnant with Life, Surrounded by Loss
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.

Aug 11, 2025

37 min

This one’s honest, reflective, and maybe a little spicy. We’re talking about how our view of starting a family has changed over the past five years and what we wish we'd known back then. From cultural messaging to Biblical vision, we unpack how we’re thinking about God’s design for family, what it’s looked like for us, and the advice we’d give to couples dreaming about their future family. Whether you’ve got littles now or are still figuring out the timeline, we hope this episode gives you thoughtful perspective to consider.
 
Resources mentioned:
Jeremy Pryor / Family Teams Podcast: The Family Teams Podcast
Next episode recommended: 133 - The Legacy We Hope to Build, Not Raising Entitled Kids
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.

Aug 4, 2025

37 min

We're gearing up for baby #3, and that means diving headfirst into the newborn trenches… again. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to prep for sleepless nights while still showing up for two other kids who (shocker) still need us. From setting up systems at home to keeping our marriage from combusting under pressure, this one’s real, a little raw, and full of practical thoughts if you’re about to do the newborn season all over again or maybe for the first time.
 
Next episode recommended: Ep 8 How Parenthood Changed Us
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.

Jul 28, 2025

38 min

We’re in the thick of it waiting for baby #3 to make her debut any day now, and this season is stretching us in ways we didn’t expect. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to sit in the tension of anticipation, grief, and surrender all at once. We’re learning that waiting isn’t just about being still, it requires some action on our part.
If you’re in a similar season facing unknown outcomes, this one's an honest look at how we’re learning to move forward with confidence and peace.

Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-95-family-dynamics-pt-7-dealing-with-transitions/id1661247515?i=1000673009125

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.

Jul 21, 2025

35 min

This week we’re talking about something we’re actively learning in real-time ➡️ how to help our 5-year-old navigate jealousy without jumping straight to correction or shame. We share how we’re working on checking our own reactions, encouraging a family culture that welcomes vulnerability, and helping her learn to speak truth over what she’s feeling. It’s honest, messy, and hopefully encouraging if you’re in a similar season.

Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-20-relationships-our-conflicting-emotions-how/id1661247515?i=1000609273371

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.

Jul 14, 2025

46 min

It seems like everyone is buzzing about the declining birth rate and implications for the future. In this episode, we’re sharing our vision for what we want our family to be about and how we’re intentionally pushing back against the cultural messages that tell us individualism and self-expression are the ultimate goals of life. We talk about the legacy we hope to build, the roles of fatherhood and motherhood in shaping it, and how we’re learning to lead our home with purpose, not just react to what’s around us. If you’ve ever questioned the “normal” script for family life, this one’s for you.

Resources:
Podcast Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-not-raise-entitled-kids-no-matter-how-much-you/id1447768183?i=1000715765319
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-raise-kids-who-want-to-become-parents/id1447768183?i=1000702024882
Family Teams Resources: https://familyteams.com/
Shawn Ryan Show interview with Katherine Boyle (23:50 - 40:40) - A discussion on the implications of the declining birth rate on the country’s future:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePNdT790gU
‌Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-57-how-to-date-as-new-parents-moving-to-a-new/id1661247515?i=1000640892554

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: 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.

Jul 7, 2025

35 min

After 9 years of marriage, you’d think we’d know each other pretty well—turns out, we really do. In this episode, we play a game of “Guess My Perspective” and try to predict how the other person thinks, reacts, and handles everyday situations. Spoiler: we’re more in sync than we thought.
Next episode recommended: Ep 76 - Why “Preparing for Marriage” Advice is Misleading, Reflecting on how we met, lessons from life we lived in singleness
 
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.

Jun 30, 2025

42 min

In this episode, we’re talking about what it looks like to keep going when you’re running on empty. We share how we each refill our tanks, what we’ve learned about showing up with limited energy and time, and why it’s okay to not be operating at 100%. If you’re in a season where even the basics feel hard, this one’s a reminder that small steps still count.
 
Next episode recommended: Ep 93 - Family Dynamics Pt 5: Self-Care for Parents: Finding Balance in a Busy World
 
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.

Jun 23, 2025

39 min

In this episode, we’re talking about what it’s really like being pregnant the third time around—how we each connect (or don’t right away) with the baby, what’s surprised us this time, and the mix of excitement and reality that comes with growing our family. We also open up about how pregnancy impacts feelings of desirability and intimacy, and how we’re learning to stay close in a season full of change.
Resources mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbmCIQHYUCs The Dumbest Things EV Owners Do - YouTube
https://honestunderscore.com/blog/duality-of-motherhood
Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-111-should-household-and-parenting/id1661247515?i=1000690805482

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.

Jun 16, 2025

49 min

In this episode, we’re opening up about Ash’s recent ADD diagnosis—what led to it, how it’s shaped her day-to-day life, and the strategies she’s learning to work with her brain instead of against it. We also talk about how it’s impacted our marriage, communication, and understanding of each other. If you’ve ever felt like your brain works a little differently (or love someone who does) — this one’s for you.

Resources mentioned:
Book: https://a.co/d/fBe66OO
Podcast episode discussing facts vs. assumptions about ADHD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-adhd-facts-and-fiction-w-dr-stephen-faraone/id1481135244?i=1000677321080

Next episode recommended: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-79-how-i-cured-my-insomnia-after-4-years-3-doctors/id1661247515?i=1000658440692

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.

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