Make it Make Sense with Dr. Mary McDonald and Maureen Yarborough

About Make it Make Sense with Dr. Mary McDonald and Maureen Yarborough

Welcome to Make It Make Sense with Dr. Mary McDonald and Maureen Yarborough, a compassionate and inspiring podcast dedicated to offering grace for the mess and wisdom for the journey. Dr. Mary McDonald, former superintendent of Catholic schools in Memphis, TN, brings her leadership, experience, and heart, while Maureen Yarborough, a dedicated business owner, shares her practical insights and resilience. What started as a mentorship has grown into a powerful friendship, united by a shared commitment to navigating life's toughest trials. Join them as they offer real talk, encouragement, and insi

Publisher

Dr. Mary McDonald and Maureen Yarborough

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Sept 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

52 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Are or were your 20's the Defining Decade?

   Your 20s might be the most defining decade of your life, but not for the reasons you think. Maureen Yarborough and Dr. Mary McDonald sit down with Emma McDonald, and Annie McDonald for a candid, funny, deeply practical conversation about reinvention, imposter syndrome, and the moves that shape who you become next. What starts with a book about "The Defining Decade" turns into a wide-ranging conversation about career pivots, big life transitions, and the pressure young adults feel to have it all figured out. Maureen and Mary reflect on how their own 20s that were packed with marriage, children, moves, and constant change, while Emma shares the loose goals that helped her aim for being well-traveled, well-educated, and well-rounded without boxing herself in. Annie brings a grounded perspective on focusing on career, opportunity, and making the most of the energy and freedom that come with this stage of life. You'll discover: Why some of the biggest life-shaping decisions happen before you feel ready How to use broad goals to create direction without killing flexibility Why "say yes and figure it out later" has helped build real careers The surprising power of being willing to do the job nobody else wants How to handle imposter syndrome, nerves, and the fear of looking unprepared Dr. Mary also shares the lessons that shaped her across each decade, from teaching and graduate school to public speaking, leading, and starting over when necessary. Emma and Annie push the conversation toward what younger adults actually need now: confidence, practical judgment, and the courage to keep growing without comparing their path to everyone else's. This episode is also a reminder that progress often comes from preparation, curiosity, and a willingness to step into rooms, roles, and conversations before you feel perfectly ready. If you're in your 20s, mentoring someone who is, or thinking about your own next chapter, this one is packed with the kind of advice that sticks. Essential listening if you need a reset on success, timing, and what it really means to become who you're meant to be.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The Dolly Parton Lesson in Staying Authentic Under Pressure

   Dolly Parton was more than a legend - she was a masterclass in staying true to yourself when the whole world tries to turn you into something else. Maureen And Mary reflect on why Dolly’s life, faith, and authenticity resonated so deeply, and why her death felt like losing someone who quietly taught the world how to lead with love. From her improbable rise from a large, poor family to global icon, to the stories behind "I Will Always Love You," Elvis, and the way she handled fame, lawsuits, and criticism without losing her center, this conversation unpacks what made Dolly so rare. Maureen and Mary also explore how Dolly’s universal appeal came from a refusal to judge, a sharp instinct for people, and a commitment to keep her private convictions intact in public. You'll discover: Why Dolly’s authenticity felt bigger than image or branding The story behind "I Will Always Love You" and the grace she showed in conflict How she said no to Elvis at 18 and protected her own work Why her "cheap" look was actually a deliberate, unforgettable persona How she became a model of loving everybody without collapsing into people-pleasing Maureen And Mary connect Dolly’s life to deeper questions about faith, discernment, and what it means to be "in the world but not of it." The conversation also opens into a moving reflection on grief, judgment, and the kind of wisdom that asks better questions instead of rushing to tell you what to do.If you’ve ever admired Dolly Parton, wondered how someone stays grounded under pressure, or needed a reminder that joy, integrity, and love still matter, this episode will meet you right where you are. It’s thoughtful, personal, and full of the kind of hard-earned clarity that lingers long after the music stops.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   What “Knowing” Feels Like When Faith Stops Being Abstract

   What if the feeling you cannot explain is the thing you most need to trust? Maureen Yarborough and Dr. Mary McDonald unpack a deeply personal moment of spiritual clarity, faith, and the unmistakable sense of "knowing" that can change how you see your life, your purpose, and your next step. Maureen shares the unexpected experience that sparked this conversation - a late-night realization that her longtime urge to write a book was really about something bigger: telling the story of faith itself, not packaging it into a book. From there, the conversation opens into a candid reflection on divine direction, the difference between forcing meaning and receiving it, and why some truths only become clear when you stop trying to control the outcome. You'll discover: Why Maureen believes the point is not to manufacture answers, but to recognize the moments when God is speaking How she describes the rare, hard-to-name feeling of spiritual "knowing" and why it feels different from peace, love, or certainty What Sean Ryan's podcast, childhood intuitions, and a striking story about being "almost there" revealed to her about faith and purpose The way both hosts see spiritual warfare playing out in everyday life - in choices, distractions, self-doubt, and the things we let take over Why presence, trust, and staying rooted in the moment may be the most practical path through chaos They also reflect on why certain people seem to carry this quiet clarity, from Dolly Parton's humility and joy to the kind of person who seems fully present in every room. The conversation widens into a powerful reminder that your faith is not just for you - it may be the very thing that helps someone else recognize what they already know but have not yet named.Essential listening if you've ever had a gut-level sense that you were being guided, challenged, or prepared for something you could not yet explain. This episode is for anyone trying to make sense of faith, timing, purpose, and the strange, freeing moment when you finally realize - you know.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings