Mom is Not Your Only Name with Kate Battistelli

Mom is Not Your Only Name

Old School with Michele Vrabel - Featuring Kate Battistelli

Summary

In this heartfelt episode of Old School with Michele Vrabel, Michele welcomes Kate Battistelli, author of The After Party of the Empty Nest: Mom is Not Your Only Name. Kate shares her remarkable faith journey, starting with her unexpected rise to stardom as the lead in the 1981 national tour of The King and I alongside Yul Brynner, where she also met her husband. She recounts their transformative salvation experience in 1984 at an all-black holiness church in Jamaica, Queens, which marked a turning point in their lives. Kate’s story is one of embracing “God Dare” moments, including the bold decision to lay down her Broadway career to follow God’s calling, eventually leading her to homeschool her daughter, Christian artist Francesca Battistelli.

The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities of the empty nest phase, as Kate discusses how God led her to writing after her daughter moved out. Prompted by a divine nudge to turn 15 parenting principles into a book, Kate overcame self-doubt to become an author, encouraging women to find their “mom and” purpose. Michele and Kate connect over shared experiences of life transitions, self-publishing, and the importance of obedience to God’s plan. Kate’s message is clear: don’t let fear hold you back from the fulfilling second act God has prepared, whether it’s writing, ministering, or pursuing a long-buried dream.

Keywords

• Faith Journey

• God Dare

• Empty Nest

• Obedience

• Christian Living

• Second Act

• Motherhood

• Purpose

• Healing

• Writing

Chapters

• 00:00 - 07:51 Introduction and Personal Connection

• Michele and Kate discuss their locations (Arizona and Tennessee) and a humorous story about a Christian matchmaking service in Franklin.

• 07:51 - 16:28 Kate’s Faith Journey and The King and I Story

• Kate recounts her unexpected role as the understudy and eventual lead in The King and I with Yul Brynner, meeting her husband, and their salvation experience in 1984.

• 16:28 - 26:20 The God Dare and Writing Journey

• Kate shares how God led her to lay down her Broadway career, homeschool her daughter (Christian artist Francesca Battistelli), and embrace writing after a divine prompting to turn 15 parenting principles into a book.

• 26:20 - 41:28 Navigating the Empty Nest and Finding Purpose

• Kate and Michele discuss the challenges of the empty nest phase, self-publishing, and the importance of finding a new purpose through obedience to God’s calling.

• 41:28 - 46:17 Key Takeaways and Closing

• Kate shares her nugget of wisdom: “Don’t be afraid to do what God’s calling you to do.” She offers listeners a free introduction and first chapter of her book by texting “afterparty” to 44144.

• 46:17 Outro

• Michele wraps up the episode and prepares to stop recording.

Connect with Kate Battistelli

• Website: KateBattistelli.com

• Instagram: @KateBattistelli

• Facebook: Kate Battistelli

• Book: The After Party of the Empty Nest: Mom is Not Your Only Name (available on Amazon)

• Special Offer: Text “afterparty” (one word, no spaces) to 44144 to receive the introduction and first chapter of Kate’s book for free.

Connect with Old School with Michele Vrabel

• Podcast: Old School with Michele Vrabel

• Instagram: @sweetartbyshelly

• Facebook: Michele Vrabel

• Website: www.michelevrabel.com