We most associate parenting with raising the young; but there is more to it. Parents have a key role for as long as they live, and the long view provides needed perspective for parents of all ages. John and Sofia discuss a practical approach to parenting adult children, highlighting what changes, and what doesn’t.

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Spouses seek to share their lives in the deepest way possible. But the spiritual life—which should be at the very center of each person’s life—presents unique challenges in sharing. John and Sofia consider this crucial but under-considered feature of married life, offering a hopeful and practical approach, especially fitting for Lent.

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We are animals, so seasons are a key feature of human life. But we often miss this. Winter is a clarion call to slow down and look inside—our homes and our hearts. John and Sofia discuss how to make this winter a time of coming home and discovering the deeper richness we long for.

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As temporal creatures, it is fitting for us to mark certain times for new beginnings. January is an excellent time for such intentionality. John and Sofia take a principled and practical approach to making the new year an occasion for examining our life and refocusing on what is most important, starting at home.

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The most wonderful time of the year is often also remarkably difficult for several reasons. John and Sofia discuss how we can face these challenges, making them part of the gift of this unique holy season.

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What both men and women do in the home is often very hidden. This can be strikingly beautiful and at times quite painful. John and Sofia reflect—with the help of a spiritual masterpiece—on what we can learn about this regular feature of homelife from the remarkable hidden life of Joseph of Nazareth.

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Giving gifts is integral to how most of us celebrate Christmas, but discerning how to do it is challenging. John and Sofia discuss how a principled approach can help us avoid common pitfalls and make our gift-giving a truly life-giving part of our Christmas celebration.

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One of the most urgent of parental duties often does not get the attention it demands. Our children need our serious, principled, and courageous direction in the area of romantic attraction and dating. John and Sofia discuss how parents can grow close to their children in providing the wisdom and perspective today's young people so need.

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All humor aside, a man has a daunting task in doing for his wife what the marriage relationship calls for. John and Sofia read excerpts from a remarkable text by St. John Chrysostom and discuss its practical implications for every day life.

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We all notice it but often feel stumped at how to address it. The loss of responsibility is not random. Knowing its causes can go a long way in improving our own life and giving direction for forming our youth for true success. John and Sofia dig into the reality of responsibility and how to cultivate a sense of it.

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Eating well should be a major focus in the home; but it’s often hard to know where to start. John and Sofia share how Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions changed how they eat, and how it can do the same for you, one simple step at a time.

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Beginnings and endings are always important, and nowhere more than in daily life in the home. Simple routines can make all the difference. John and Sofia discuss principles and concrete practices for starting and ending our days well.

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Experience shows that really listening to one another is at the heart of marriage. But it is so hard to achieve. John and Sofia frankly share the ups and downs of their own spousal communication, shedding light on how such difficulties can be a gift, part of an ever-surprising plan for marriage

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Good philosophy makes clear: the power called ‘imagination’ has a dramatic while often unnoticed influence in our life. It is central in forming our thoughts and desires. Recognizing this truth gives practical direction for rethinking daily practices for ourselves, our children, and all our loved ones, starting in our home.

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John’s lecture from LifeCraft Day at the Barn is a hard-hitting presentation of why music and dance matter, of the problems we face in this area today, and of what we can do to harness their power for good in our homes and communities.

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Hospitality is much more than just a nice way to spend time with people; in the loss of real hospitality households have suffered a serious wound. Join John and Sofia in discussing the fuller nature of hospitality and why and how to rediscover it for the sake of fulfilling the deepest calling of the household.

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What to do for our children’s ‘education’ is one of the most important and difficult issues. This immediately demands some clear thinking about the overall goal in raising children. Join John and Sofia in a wide-ranging discussion that addresses how to think about academic formation in light of the deeper issue of personal formation through every-day life in the home.

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Are dishes, laundry, and cleaning more of a woman’s work? Is it important for men to do such work in the home? If so, why? Join John and Sofia in considering an important and challenging aspect of making a household today.

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The pervasive decline in manners leaves many wondering what can be done and what difference it makes. Join John and Sofia in considering age-old principles that both show how crucial good manners are and point to how we can work to restore them, starting in our own homes.

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Vacations have a significant role in making a household. With an intentional approach, grounded in a couple of key distinctions and principles, we can make our vacations restful and fun even as we build relationships and deepen our family culture. Join Sofia and John in thinking about this unconsidered aspect of family life.

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An Interview with Chris Vander Woude

The heroic death of Tom Vander Woude highlights the extraordinary beauty of his ‘ordinary’ life. You will be deeply moved by this account of a man’s death and life as told by his son. Here is an inspiring yet down-to-earth example of a true man of the household for our times, whose potential cause for canonization is being considered.

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We know that how we raise our children will make them different from many of their peers, but often we don’t recognize just what this really means for them. John and Sofia discuss how the challenge of being different calls both for a careful examination of what we ask of our children as well as a readiness to understand and enter their suffering. These principles apply also to anyone striving for a truly human life today.

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You want to bring the power of great music to your home but don’t know where to begin. It can be daunting. Here are five concrete steps that anyone can take. Join Sofia and me in addressing how to act on the principles discussed in The Hidden Power of Music episode. We name many of our favorite pieces, artists, and musical groups of various genres.

Chapters

The Power of Music in the Home

08:01 Changing Our Musical Choices

14:15 Establishing Music Rules in the Home

31:40 Assigning Great Music to Family Members

39:11 The Role of Sacred Music

41:33 Loosening the Bow Strings: The Role of Music in Life

42:56 Exploring Classical Music: Recommendations and Insights

45:14 Folk Music vs. Classical Music: Understanding the Differences

49:06 The Impact of Music on Movement and Celebration

55:11 Choosing Festive Music: Enhancing Gatherings and Celebrations

01:00:52 Music Appreciation: Engaging with Classical Music Together

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Easter is the feast of all feasts. It undergirds all true festivity and leisure. Yet we often struggle to celebrate it well. John and Sofia offer a practical approach to how our Easter celebration—including before and after Easter Sunday—can transform and elevate our homelife and provide a focal point and pattern for the whole year

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Finding truly enriching activities that are enjoyable and don’t require a lot of planning can be difficult. Walking—whether just around the cul de sac or across hills and dales—has the potential to transform life in our homes. Join John and Sofia in this surprising conversation that goes to the heart of homelife and offers a hopeful, practical, and simple boon for the whole household.

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Being spiritual leader is perhaps the most difficult, under-examined, and central aspect of a man’s place in the home. Renowned theologian and online celebrity Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. joins John Cuddeback in discussing the challenge and beauty of spiritual headship. Themes include: the difference spiritual headship makes in the spiritual life; spiritual ramifications of complementarity; the graced exercise of authority; marriage as means of salvation; the feminine spiritual genius, and more!

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Anyone living an intentional life needs to reflect on how to do movies right. This is especially crucial for parents in view of the challenge of screen time and world-view formation—for young and old. Join John and Sofia as they offer a realistic, hopeful, and principled approach to actualizing the positive of movies in the home.

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Central to our problem with time is that we miss the real issue, and so real solutions evade us. It’s not about becoming more productive, but becoming more alive, by rediscovering ordinary daily practices. Join John and Sofia in taking a fresh look at time, why it’s so challenging today and how we can transform how we live in it, starting at home.

Chapters
00:00 The Nature of Time in Our Lives
03:05 Transcending Time: A Philosophical Perspective
05:53 The Impact of Time on Family Dynamics
08:56 Contemplation vs. Productivity
12:09 The Historical Shift in Our Perception of Time
14:54 Finding Leisure in a Time-Obsessed World
28:32 The Nature of Time and Work
33:46 Living Beyond the Tyranny of the Clock
39:51 Experiencing Timelessness in Daily Life
52:19 Creating Timeless Moments Together

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Boethius wrote: "Music is part of us, and either ennobles or degrades our behavior.” Plato and Aristotle saw it as central in education and in living a fully human life. Join Sofia and me in a hard-hitting discussion about how the music we listen to can be a deadly Trojan horse or a life-giving force in the heart of our homes.

LIFECRAFT 2 WEEK MUSIC CHALLENGE: Music: A Two Week Challenge - LifeCraft

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Many of us, especially spouses and parents, struggle with it. But self-care is crucial for everyone, and is an opportunity to deepen a marriage and become better parents. Join John and Sofia in discussing a rich notion of self-care, offering principles that apply at all stages of life.

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We have both the power and calling to make others happy, a truth portrayed in stunning fashion in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, one of the great stories of all time. Join John and Sofia for a dramatic reading and reflection on the unforgettable scene of the dance at Fezziwig’s warehouse, which sheds a brilliant light on marriage, household, and the joyful meaning of life.

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Christmas stands out as perhaps the most significant annual opportunity to craft a certain kind of life in our home. It’s when we show ourselves and those around us who we really are and want to be. Join John and Sofia as they share specific ideas for making your household’s observance of Christmas an extraordinary expression of life.

For more ideas on how to make your household flourish this Christmas including Christmas carol resources, Advent calendar DIY's, read-alouds on Spotify, Sofia's list of favourite Christmas stories, and more - head over to Sofia's Corner on our website!

Sofia references the book: A Certain Small Shepherd by Rebecca Caudill and illustrated by William du Bois.

Also, feel free to join us LIVE for our LifeCraft reading group as we discuss Hilaire Belloc's A Remaining Christmas. Sign up at Live Readings - LifeCraft

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It’s about so much more than keeping up with the neighbors. Decorating our home at Christmas can be an essential part of a deeper preparation for the holy days and so also a great tool in the art of crafting the good life in our home. Join John and Sofia in reflecting on the amazing fruits a deeper approach to decorating can have for us and our loved ones, at Christmas and all year.

Be sure to head over to Sofia's Corner on our website for a downloadable Advent Calendar, instructions on how to make an Advent Wreath, a Christmas Carol resource download, and more!

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It was once so ordinary that people couldn’t picture life without it. Singing together is a basic form of shared life in the home, and Sofia argues it is a wonderful part of God’s plan for the household. Join us as we discuss overcoming fears and objections and offer practical tips for recovering this precious lost art. Also, check out our downloadable recordings at Sofia’s Corner so you can get started in your home!

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Interior design matters. Given our bodily nature, the spaces in our home have significant influence on life-in-the-home. Paige Rien, an author and designer who had five seasons on HGTV on a top-rated show, combines the best of design with a counter-cultural philosophy rooted in the mission of the Christian home. Join me and Paige in discussing how the tools of design can serve beauty, truth, and goodness.

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What we eat is a major determinant of our bodily health and much more. The right approach to food nourishes us in many ways and is a central feature of a flourishing household. Join Sofia and me in discussing just how food can be an ‘instrument’ of crafting a truly good life in our home. Features suggestions from Wendell Berry and our own kitchen.

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Wifery refers to something beautiful that every woman is called to be as well as to a very concrete art at the heart of life in the home. The richness of the term comes from the richness of what it is to be a woman. This lecture defines, explains, and inspires, offering concrete action steps for rediscovering and enacting the art of being a woman, especially in the amazing form this takes at the heart of a home.

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How we bury our dead expresses our basic view of life. But we have lost our traditions of burial, and so our lives are impoverished. Renewing how we bury our loved ones is part of renewing life in our home. Join Sofia and me in discussing principles and concrete ways we can reclaim this essential practice of human life.

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If motherhood demands all, can there still be space for anything else? Does being a good mother mean having no personal projects? Nell O’Leary shares her journey of discovery about what motherhood demands. Join Nell and me in discussing how the ‘oblation’ of motherhood actually calls for an appropriate diversity of pursuits.

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Husbandry names the heart of what every man is called to be; it also names a very concrete art that is the foundation of life in the home. The richness of the term comes from the richness of what it is to be a man. This lecture defines, explains, and inspires, offering concrete action steps for rediscovering and enacting the amazing art of being a man.

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One of the hardest things to understand is even harder to enact. Authority and submission are essential to marriage, and yet today we have a cacophony of voices attacking and defending what often are caricatures of reality. Join Sofia and me in considering this key to getting marriage right.

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A very difficult part of intentional parenting is knowing what to focus on. Specific goals allow for more focused and fruitful labors. Sofia and I made a list of 5 things we know we want to instill in our children. Join us as we discuss them and share suggestions for how to go about cultivating them.

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All men and women can be stewards and have the joy of ‘taking care’ of things. It is written deep within our nature. No prior experience necessary. Join Sofia and me and discover how every home can be a homestead, regardless of your background and the color of your thumb.

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Now more than ever, our children need grandparents in their lives; indeed, it can make a profound difference. Are we doing all we can to facilitate this? Join Sofia and me as we look at challenges and opportunities from both sides—how parents can invite grandparents to a more central place in the home, and how grandparents can step up to their God-given place in their grandchildren’s and children’s lives.

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Crafting the good life together calls for a shared vision. But what if spouses disagree, or one spouse isn’t really engaged in the same way? This happens quite often and need not induce panic. Join Sofia and me in discussing what all of us must face to some degree. Working through this challenging situation can be yet another means of growing ourselves and our relationship.

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What does a man really ‘propose’ in a marriage proposal? What is the project, if she accepts, that they set out on together? Our understanding and practice of ‘household’ has been eviscerated, so it’s no surprise spouses often don’t know what can really unite us, until death parts us. Join Sofia and me as we unfold the lost notion of household in its astounding richness and concrete practicality—including for the unmarried​. This provides a foundation for many of our other podcast discussions.

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Nothing is more important to parents, and nothing will demand more of us. Parents can’t assure that children will make good decisions, but we can be intentional about doing our part. The first place to look is in ourselves and our marriage. Join Sofia and me as we consider a few specific principles for orienting homelife around its central mission—giving our children the best start we can.

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Feeling overwhelmed is common, especially in households today, so we need to have a strategy for addressing it, for our own sake and for those we love. Join Sofia and me as we make some distinctions and seek principles for a better approach. This gives an opportunity to rethink roles in the household and discover a path to deepening the marriage relationship.

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Getting married we assume we’ll have a great friendship. Yet often it doesn’t turn out as we hoped, or it seems harder than it should be. In this episode, Sofia and I turn to an ancient wisdom about the nature and kinds of friendship and apply it to marriage. Any true friendship is a masterpiece requiring we understand what we’re seeking and how to forge it. This is true in spades of what can be the greatest of friendships, marriage. Join us as we discuss this central life-challenge, share some of our story, and offer helpful principles.

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Though we parents know it is our responsibility, things our children so need to hear from us—about chastity, dating, and marriage—are often not addressed, or not at the right times. This leaves our children vulnerable and unprepared for key challenges, and it deprives us of one of the best contexts to deepen our relationship with them. A better approach to ‘sex education’ treats it as integral to forming children in virtue. John and Sofia discuss when and how to have great conversations with our children, and how to lay foundations from the earliest days in spousal interactions, family eating habits, table manners, and more.

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Is woman as heart of the home an outdated and misleading stereotype, or is it what we should be striving for? In a postmodern age, can or should a woman’s place in the home be like it was in the pre-Industrial Revolution home? John and Sofia ask hard questions and offer some nuanced angles as they discuss this singularly important issue. In the end it’s not about theory, it’s about practice. Today, in the world in which we live.

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Our annual pig slaughter addressed fundamental issues we didn’t even know we had. Indeed, it has become a kind of microcosm of the life we try to make in our home. In this episode Sofia and I share our experience of raising and slaughtering pigs and reflect on how it has been for us a key feature of our homesteading, providing a work that connects us to our bodies, to one another, and to the earth. Whether or not raising and harvesting pigs is high on your list, we think you’ll appreciate a discussion of the unique place of this kind of work in any home.

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We want Sunday to be different in our home. But where do begin? There are so many forces working against our making Sunday what we know it could be. John and Sofia take a principled but concrete and practical approach, from liturgy and prayer to family read-alouds and walks. Sunday can be not only the most important day but also leaven for the rest of the week. It can be the starting point and cornerstone of renewing life in our home. Join us! 

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Save the Date!  Join John and Sofia Cuddeback on March 19th, for the launch of "The Intentional Household," a LifeCraft Podcast, where we take a dive into the radical renewal of homelife, from crafting the personal relationships at its heart, to planting time, porch time and prayer time.

We can thrive in these trying times, but it demands we rediscover and re-examine time-tested principles, and be intentional in applying them today.

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"Should we homestead?" This burning question of our time reveals our deep need in an increasingly dis-connected society to re-connect both with the people around us and with the earth.  John and Sofia Cuddeback propose a distinction that can be the key to thinking clearly about this issue. All of us can and should practice homesteading in one sense; but we might not buy twenty acres and a cow.  Join us, as we seek to sort this out. It will take us to the foundations of making any household today!

https://life-craft.org/