Coffee + Crumbs Podcast

Today we're joined by Adrienne Garrison, a writer, educator, and podcaster, whose life and work explore hospitality as both a creative practice and a form of survival. From a years-long holiday cookie swap that followed her across states, to designing meaningful learning experiences for her children, to podcasting as an act of deep listening, Adrienne invites us to consider what it means to host others with intention. We talk about loneliness, belonging, and the fierce hope that generosity might lead to connection, and how these experiences shape the stories we tell. Whether you love throwing dinner parties or crafting sentences, this conversation reframes hospitality as a brave and deeply creative act.

This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.
While Adrienne is organizing podcasts and cookie swaps, we're over here trying to get our act together; listen to this bonus episode to see what's working and what's not: Organize My Life, Please.
For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.



Show notes: 
Pre-order You're In Good Company

Adrienne on Substack

Adrienne's website

Adrienne's Coffee + Crumbs essays

Worlds Within podcast series

I Will Wait by Adrienne Garrison

Exhale Creativity podcast

Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Coffee +Crumbs on Substack

From lessons learned while living overseas to her small town library storytime, today author Kim Knowle-Zeller shares how blessings can bind us together. You'll hear how she started offering and receiving blessings and how it may be easier than you think to create a welcoming culture with your own hospitable words. Kim reminds us that building community takes time but encourages us to keep initiating. We hope this episode inspires you to see the power in gathering and offering words that bless others along the way. 
This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.
Kim encourages us to invite a friend for coffee while the kids play or start an in-person book club; listen to this bonus episode to see how else we're Taking Friendships Out of the Group Chat.
For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.


Show notes: 
Pre-order You're In Good Company

Pre-order Small Steps by Kim Knowle-Zeller

The Beauty of Motherhood by Kim Knowle-Zeller and Erin Strybis

Kim on Substack

Kim on Instagram

Kayla Craig

Kate Bowler

Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey

The last episode of the Risen Motherhood podcast

Exhale Creativity

Coffee +Crumbs on Substack

Welcoming others into our lives and our homes can get messy. Food spills, a glass breaks, dinner burns. Even when it all goes according to plan, there are still dishes to wash and tables to clear. But today, we're talking with C+C writer, Sarah Hauser, about how we can expect, and even embrace, the messes. Be warned, though. This episode may end up inspiring you to throw literal confetti in your house. Make sure to have the vacuum cleaner ready.
This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.
Sarah inspires us to splurge on planned messes for the sake of hospitality; listen to this bonus episode to find out When We Splurge and When We Save.
For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.


Show notes: 
Pre-order You're In Good Company

All Who Are Weary by Sarah Hauser 

A Meal With Jesus by Tim Chester

Sarah's website

Sarah on Substack

Sarah on Instagram

Sarah's Coffee + Crumbs essays

Kaleidoscope Kids

Coffee + Crumbs on Substack

When it comes to hospitality, for author, yoga teacher, and C+C writer Melanie Dale, it's a family affair. Join Ashlee and Katie as they talk with Melanie about one of her essays in YIGC, "We'll Be Your Family on Christmas Eve," and get the scoop on her annual Christmas Eve party. From what her parents taught her to what she's passed on to her kids, Melanie shares her tips for leaving a legacy of hospitality. Find out which ingredient in her chili recipe is straight out of a horror movie, her worst dinner party ever (oof, the smell!), and how she pivoted from Christian nonfiction to middle grade paranormal fantasy with her new book, GIRL OF LORE!
This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.
Melanie Dale has written a handful of books; listen to this bonus episode to find out our Favorite Books of 2025.
For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Show notes: 
Pre-order You're In Good Company

Pre-order Girl of Lore by Melanie Dale

Melanie's website

Melanie on Instagram

Melanie's books

Melanie's Coffee + Crumbs essays

Halloween contest win #1

Halloween content win #2

Chelsea's bacon crackers (add red pepper flakes for a little heat!) 

Coffee + Crumbs on Substack

We are thrilled to be back with a brand new podcast series to go along with our brand new Coffee + Crumbs book, You're In Good Company. In upcoming weeks, you'll hear from every writer who contributed to this collection of essays—a true preview of what's inside these pages. First up, Katie shares how making sourdough is a metaphor for letting grief and healing take its time, while Ashlee introduces us to the idea that "friendship" can be a verb; it's something we do with commitment and consistency. We hope this episode (this whole series, really!) encourages you to live out the gift of friendship—right where you are, with the people in front of you.
This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join us (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast.
Releasing You're In Good Company is a huge win; listen to this bonus episode to hear more about What Went Right for us last year.
For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Pre-order You're In Good Company.