If Not For This Podcast

About If Not For This Podcast

Hi, I'm Jess! If Not For This Podcast is our space to talk about the moments and choices that really shape our lives. The big ones, the small ones, and the ones we didn't even see coming. It's a mix of honest conversations, stories, and reflections about the "what if's" we all have. Sometimes its funny, sometimes its real, but it's always exploring how we ended up where we are and maybe where we're heading next.

Publisher

Jess Norman

Category

education · health & fitness · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Feb 2025

Latest episode

25 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Dec 2025

   Holiday Hearts & Hard Conversations: Parenting Through the Season

   The holidays don’t come with a manual, especially when blended families, shared custody, and big emotions are involved. In this episode, Jess and Jay unpack the real-life challenges of navigating family dynamics while keeping their children’s hearts at the center of it all. They share what it looks like to set aside their own expectations, embrace changing relationships, and create meaningful moments, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. With faith as the foundation and grace as the guide, Jess and Jay remind us that resilience, love, and connection can carry us through even the most complex seasons. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Finding Balance 09:38 - Returning to the Gym 23:49 - Navigating Christmas After Divorce 52:00 - Holiday Emotions and Family Dynamics About Jess Jess is a storyteller and seeker of meaningful connections in Texas by way of Baton Rouge, LA. Geaux Tigers! With a passion for humor and authenticity, she explores life’s complexities and embraces each experience with wild grace. You can find Jess rearranging her room for the third time this month, designing the perfect outfit for an upcoming rodeo, or hugging a friend for way too long! She has been married to her Texas farmer for eight years, and the two have blended a beautiful crew of five children, ages 12-19. You can hear all about their marriage and world over at their joint podcast, Moving On Again. Together, the duo has set out to get ALL of the goodie from this life they have graciously been given! Deeper connections with themselves and others, an even stronger family, a bulletproof marriage, and a life you have to recover from in the end! Giddy up!

2. 

   4 Dec 2025

   Chaos, Career & ‘How Did We Get Here?’ with Emily Sharkey

   This week, Jess sits down with Emily Sharkey, key voice of the Shark Farmer (https://sharkfarmer.com/) media world, for a fast-paced, funny, and heartfelt conversation. Shark Farmer is a storytelling hub spotlighting the real, raw, and often hilarious lives of rural America, spanning podcasts, radio, TV, and a whole lot of Midwest charm. Em talks about career plot twists, the chaos-and-charm combo of motherhood, and the magic of embracing the unexpected. Packed with plenty of laughs, real-talk moments, and a dash of “wait, how did we get here?”, this episode celebrates the messy, hilarious, heartwarming ride of figuring life out, with a little help from your people. About Jess Jess is a storyteller and seeker of meaningful connections in Texas by way of Baton Rouge, LA. Geaux Tigers! With a passion for humor and authenticity, she explores life’s complexities and embraces each experience with wild grace. You can find Jess rearranging her room for the third time this month, designing the perfect outfit for an upcoming rodeo, or hugging a friend for way too long! She has been married to her Texas farmer for eight years, and the two have blended a beautiful crew of five children, ages 12-19. You can hear all about their marriage and world over at their joint podcast, Moving On Again. Together, the duo has set out to get ALL of the goodie from this life they have graciously been given! Deeper connections with themselves and others, an even stronger family, a bulletproof marriage, and a life you have to recover from in the end! Giddy up!

3. 

   13 Nov 2025

   When Opposites Attract (and Do a Little Healing Too)

   This week, Jess grabs the mic to take you right into the heart of her beautifully blended life, joined by her guest, co-parent, and husband, Jay. Together, they unpack the wonderfully weird dynamics of merging families, comparing their totally different upbringings and how those backgrounds still clash, or blend, into their everyday routines and parenting choices. Jess gets real about what it’s been like learning to loosen her grip on control, while Jay tags in with his own take on navigating love, boundaries, and the chaos of step-parenting. Along the way, they share the surprisingly practical strategies, communication hacks, and mindset shifts that help stepparents and kids actually understand each other (or at least try to). About Jess Jess is a storyteller and seeker of meaningful connections in Texas by way of Baton Rouge, LA. Geaux Tigers! With a passion for humor and authenticity, she explores life’s complexities and embraces each experience with wild grace. You can find Jess rearranging her room for the third time this month, designing the perfect outfit for an upcoming rodeo, or hugging a friend for way too long! She has been married to her Texas farmer for eight years, and the two have blended a beautiful crew of five children, ages 12-19. You can hear all about their marriage and world over at their joint podcast, Moving On Again. Together, the duo has set out to get ALL of the goodie from this life they have graciously been given! Deeper connections with themselves and others, an even stronger family, a bulletproof marriage, and a life you have to recover from in the end! Giddy up!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Contact If Not For This Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.