S14 | Intimate Conversations: The Power of Soft Strength in Parenting and Life With Holly Swenson
Holly Swenson’s presence instantly softens a room. An award-winning author, registered nurse, wellness advocate, and mother of four boys, she carries a rare blend of grounded wisdom, calm authority, and deep maternal devotion. Her life and work are rooted in presence, intentionality, and the belief that how we live and parent today shapes generations to come.
Welcoming Holly to this episode of Intimate Conversations, opening Season 14, Dark Night to Divine Light, there was a felt sense of steadiness, elegance, and emotional safety as we explored what it truly means to parent and live from a regulated nervous system, a full heart, and a conscious yes to life.
In this nourishing and deeply practical conversation we explored:
How Holly cultivated her calm not because life was easy, but because adversity taught her how to become the calm in the storm, supported by daily rituals of quiet, meditation, and intentional presence.
What it actually looks like to create non-negotiable space for oneself as a parent, including waking before the household, lighting a candle, making tea, and tending her inner world before tending to everyone else.
Why boundaries are acts of love, not control, and how consistency, kindness, and clarity help children feel safe, respected, and empowered to develop their own sense of self.
The importance of co-regulation in partnership and parenting, and how choosing to remain grounded instead of reactive can de-escalate emotional storms and restore connection in moments of overwhelm.
How Holly and her husband stay aligned as parents through open communication, mutual respect, and shared values, creating a stable emotional foundation for their family.
Why screen boundaries matter deeply for mental health, including no phones at the dinner table, no phones in bedrooms, and intentional unplugging during family time and vacations to restore true connection.
Holly’s powerful STOP, DROP, GROW & GLOW framework, beginning with slowing down and self-reflection, releasing old patterns and trauma, cultivating supportive habits, and finally embodying a life of aligned self-care and presence.
Her reflections on motherhood as a sacred initiation, including releasing guilt around staying home, honoring caregiving as meaningful work, and trusting the seasons of life as they unfold.
The truth that children are some of our greatest teachers, offering wisdom, presence, and reminders to slow down, notice, and live with wonder.
Why softness is not weakness, and how strong, loving leadership in families comes from being both firm and tender, embodied and emotionally available.
This conversation is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember what truly nourishes a family and a soul. It reminds us that presence is medicine, that boundaries create safety, and that when parents tend their own inner world, they give their children a lifelong gift of emotional resilience and love.
You can connect with Holly, explore her book Stop, Drop, Grow & Glow, receive her complimentary Peace in the Pause challenge, and learn more about her Glow Forward parenting course at www.liveyourglow.live.
ABOUT HOLLY:
Holly Swenson is an award-winning, best-selling author dedicated to bringing more wellness, joy, and intentionality to parenting and beyond. A BSN-prepared registered nurse, wellness blogger, and cultural commentator, she is also the mother of four sons and a lifelong student of growth. Her work has been featured in USA Today, magazines, radio, and news media, and she has connected with leading thought leaders worldwide.
Her debut book, Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow (Fall 2023), was born from a deep calling to serve parents. In January 2026, she will launch Glow Forward: Parenting with Presence and Purpose, a transformative online course designed to re-energize modern parenting and positively shape future generations.
CONNECT WITH HOLLY:
Website: liveyourglow.live
Instagram: @hollyswenson_liveyourglow
Find Peace in the Pause- 7-Day Pause Challenge Guide: https://holly-swenson.mykajabi.com
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