Recorded spontaneously on the evening of Wednesday, September 10, 2025, this timely and heartfelt episode of Intentional Motherhood comes in response to the devastating news that shook Utah Valley University—and the broader Utah community.

As a professor at UVU, Kelsey Redd shares raw, personal reflection following the fatal shooting of political commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was killed during a campus event earlier that day. She addresses the deeply emotional weight of the tragedy—not only as a mother grieving the loss of a father to young children but also as an educator and neighbor grappling with the transformation of a place of learning into a scene of terror.

In this brief, reflective message, Kelsey explores how to explain such grief and violence to young children. Using the symbolism of the local Healing Field and the backdrop of remembering September 11, she offers a gentle approach rooted in faith: affirming that God has a plan, that peace and healing are possible, and that even amid tragedy, there is hope to hold onto.

Do you ever feel like motherhood has you stuck in serious mode—managing meltdowns, meals, and messes—while joy takes the backseat? In this episode of Intentional Motherhood, Kelsey Redd, mental health counselor turned stay-at-home mom of four, unpacks why playfulness isn’t optional—it’s essential for your mental health and your family’s connection.

Through a simple story of jumping off the dock with her kids, Kelsey reveals how present, playful moments can:
🌊 Reset your nervous system and shift you out of stress mode
💖 Reconnect you with your own joy and inner child
🌱 Transform family dynamics by modeling presence and “yes” energy
📖 Invite you into deeper reflection through her new Purposeful Living Journal HERE.

Motherhood doesn’t have to feel like constant “no’s,” endless productivity, or autopilot survival. When we choose purposeful play—even just 5 minutes of silliness, barefoot nature time, or role-reversal games—we create moments of alignment that help us and our kids thrive.

👉 Tune in to learn how to bring more play, presence, and purpose into your everyday life with your little ones.

Connect with Kelsey: @creating.intentional.mothers

🔗 Grab Your Guides

In this special first-ever interview episode, Kelsey sits down with her older sister and role model mom, Alyssa Redfearn, to talk about the intentional choices that shape family culture. Alyssa—mom of four and co-founder of her family’s Wild Boys Sourdough Company—shares how she and her husband are raising kids with strong values around faith, hard work, and contribution.

You’ll hear how their family motto “Jesus has my back and I’ve got His” guides their kids’ personal faith, why they see work as a gift instead of a burden, and how entrepreneurship has become a hands-on way to teach accountability, teamwork, and generosity. From baking sourdough to delivering loaves around their neighborhood, Alyssa’s kids are learning real-world skills and discovering the joy of building something together.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration to define your own family culture, or just curious how another mom is approaching motherhood with intention, this episode will give you fresh ideas and encouragement.

Subscribe now, share this show with a mom friend, and join the conversation!

Local Utah County listeners can order Wild Boys Sourdough @wildboyssourdoughco

Connect with Kelsey:

Grab Your Guides

@creating.intentional.mothers