Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Melissa Kruger serves as the Vice President of Discipleship Programming at The Gospel Coalition. As an author and Bible teacher, she regularly teaches women in her community and speaks at conferences around the country. I'm so excited to have her on the show today to talk about her latest book, Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens For Christ in a Secular Age, and dive into the ins and outs of raising teenagers. We talk about transitioning with your children as they grow, modeling a life of faith, creating a prayerful home, and so much more. In a culture that often implies that the teenage years are miserable and difficult, Melissa encourages parents to not overlook the beauty and joy in this chapter. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or simply someone who influences young lives, this conversation is SO important, and I can't wait for you to hear it! 2:00 – Melissa 101 Vice President of the Gospel Coalition Mother of 3 and wife Former math teacher An unexpected path to writing 16 books 6:42 – Changing The Parenting Narrative The negative narrative surrounding parenting teenagers and tweens Understanding the development stages of this time period Being gracious and patient with teenagers + adapting your parenting style 14:21 – The Gracious Home Vs. The Permissive Home Setting boundaries and allowing for mistakes A lack of structure leading to negative outcomes Setting boundaries as a parent Allowing children to face consequences in a safe and supportive environment 21:25 – Parenting Through Different Stages Transitioning parenting styles from one stage to the next Recognizing children as independent human beings Walking alongside your children as they make their own decisions Avoiding placing your identity in your children's actions or behaviors 33:03 – Modeling Faith Being gracious with failure as a parent Setting the example by walking with God Incorporating prayer into everyday life as a family Connecting with Melissa FEATURED QUOTES "I think growing up with our teen in some ways, is remaining curious about who they are and not making assumptions about why they're pushing back on something." "I think it's really tempting as a parent sometimes to place a lot of our identity and in our teen…we start trying to control who they become, rather than walk alongside them as they're becoming who God made them to be." "Learning how to make a mistake is actually a life lesson." "I always say aim for patterns, not perfection." Learn more about Melissa: https://melissabkruger.com/ Get your copy of Parenting with Hope https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Hope-Raising-Christ-Secular-ebook/dp/B0CFTGDKJ1 The Gospel Coalition https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly GET YOUR COPY of 'IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'LL CRY" TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

My guest this week is the lovely Myquillyn Smith, also known as The Nester. She is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Welcome Home and Cozy Minimalist Home. For over a decade, she has been encouraging women to embrace imperfections and live boldly in their spaces through her blog. Myquillyn's home in North Carolina has been featured in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, Cottages and Bungalows, and more. As a practicing imperfectionist, she believes in the power of small changes, putting nail holes in the wall, and taking the time to make a place feel like home – even if you're renting. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her, hearing her perspective on creating a space you'll love, and learning more about her latest book, House Rules, which is set to release on April 23rd. I just know you're going to love her too! 3:07 – Myquillyn 101 Starting "The Nester" in 2007 Learning to build a home by moving frequently Teaching universal decorating truths 9:55 – Making a Home The perfectly staged homes seen on social media Embracing imperfection in home decor Making your space feel like you 17:45 – Establishing Roots Where You Are Taking ownership of your space, even in rentals or temporary spaces The perfect circumstance will never come The power of simple changes in home design 29:06 – Design Insights The genesis of Myquillyn's passion for decorating Understanding design principles like scale, contrast, and lighting The Inspiration behind Myquillyn's book, House Rules 38:39 – Embracing Imperfection Being a practicing imperfectionist Learning to take risks in home decor and life You can't ruin something you already hate Connecting with Myquillyn + pre-ordering House Rules FEATURED QUOTES "I've never met a home I haven't loved. I believe every home has a silver lining." "I 100% believe it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." "Where else can we take a risk if not at home?" Learn more about Myquillyn: Pre-order House Rules: https://www.amazon.com/House-Rules-Decorate-Every-Budget/dp/0800744748 The Nester https://thenester.com/ The Nester podcast https://thenester.com/podcast/ Myquillyn on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thenester/?hl=en Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly GET YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

My guest this week is the incredible Mattie Jackson Smith. Mattie is an author, podcaster, and speaker whose life took an unexpected turn when she tragically lost her 28-year-old husband to a traumatic brain injury just weeks before their first anniversary. Her first book, Lemons on Friday, offers a raw and honest account of her journey through grief, providing solace and guidance to others navigating the lonely and difficult path of widowhood. Outside of her writing career, Mattie is the host of the podcast In Joy Life, where she encourages her listeners to choose joy in any season or circumstance. We dive deep into Mattie's story today as she transparently shares what it looked like to wrestle with God in life's darkest moments, ask hard questions, and bring her hurt and doubts to Jesus. She has so many powerful things to say about finding God in the questions and navigating life after loss. I absolutely loved getting to spend time with her in this episode and know you will too! 2:21 – Mattie 101 Born and raised in Nashville in a country music family A passion for creative writing Owning a wine bar in Nashville Losing her husband after a brain injury Mattie's memoir, Lemons on Friday 14:04 – Honesty in Grief Sitting in anger with God Biblical examples of emotions and suffering Embracing your emotions instead of suppressing them 24:45 – Finding God in the Questions Lamentations 3 How writing helped Mattie begin to heal God's invitation to bring our questions, doubts, and struggles to Him 36:09 – Navigating New Beginnings The secondary losses that come with grief Redemption is not a replacement Navigating dating after experiencing loss Honoring the past while embracing the future Connecting with Mattie FEATURED QUOTES "I lived my life and the worst thing I could have imagined happened. And through that God not only has worked miracles in me through the grief and healing process, but he fulfilled this desire that he planted in my heart at 19." "God not only can handle it but invites me to bring it to Him." "What I hope people see from my life is you do have agency to choose joy, even in the worst of the worst of it." Learn more about Mattie: Get your copy of Lemons on Friday https://www.amazon.com/Lemons-Friday-Trusting-Greatest-Heartbreak/dp/0785241272 In Joy Life podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-joy-life-with-mattie-jackson/id1667357187 Mattie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattiejackson/?hl=en Mattie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mattiejacksonofficial/

Join me in this week's episode as I sit down with my dear friend and extraordinary human being, Kim Butler. Kim is the lead coach and founder of The Whiteboard Room, where she empowers creatives, leaders, and companies to unlock their true potential through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. With a heart fueled by faith, family, and a passion for adventure (and a Diet Dr. Pepper), Kim's coaching journey has touched countless lives, including my own. I'm thrilled to have her on the show to share more about her story, her mentoring process and what it looks like to set personal and professional goals and walk them out in faith. 3:53 – Kim 101 Kim's job at The Whiteboard Room Kim's passion for helping people overcome obstacles and set goals Merging coaching and consulting The power of goal setting 8:25 – Following God's Call Life lessons from a desk job Inspiring people to see the best in themselves Kim's journey to the world race Sitting with God's silence 16:32 – In The Waiting Sitting in the waiting Remaining faithful in God's timing The careers that led Kim to where she is today 23:27 – The Creation of The Whiteboard Method How Kim created The Whiteboard Method What Kim's mentor process looks like Working in alignment with your life 32:04 – A Work in Progress Real client stories Kim's experience being Molly's mentor The power of accountability Getting in touch with Kim FEATURED QUOTES "Goal setting became this like linchpin that I started to see, wow, there's so much power in this very simple thing. And nobody does it." "Your platform is not your purpose. It is just the place that you get to live out your purpose." "To know where you're going and who you want to be, you have to know where you've been and who you are." Learn more about Kim and The Whiteboard Room: https://www.thewhiteboardroom.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thewhiteboardroom/ https://www.facebook.com/THEWBROOM/ Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly GET YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

The day is FINALLY here! Yesterday marked the official launch of my book, which means you can now purchase If I Don't Laugh I'll Cry everywhere books are sold! To make this moment even more special, I'm joined by the one and only John Stillman in today's episode. Although he didn't prepare his interview questions (but don't you worry- he never fails to prepare a joke or two) we had a blast reminiscing about the journey of bringing this book to life. From the initial days of the writing process to receiving my first-ever feedback from early readers, every step of this adventure has been nothing short of incredible. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has supported me on this journey. Whether you've preordered the book, left a review, or simply shared in the excitement, your support means the world to me. If you're planning to get your hands on a copy soon, I can't wait for you to read it! Until next time, happy listening + happy reading! 0:11 – Presidents, Past Boyfriends & The Making of a Memoir Selecting Millard Fillmore The boyfriend chapter The evolution of If I Don't Laugh I'll Cry 8:09 – … Now What? A second book? Anticipation of reader feedback The publishing process Molly's favorite chapter 14:32 – Chapter By Chapter What it's like to work with an editor Crafting an engaging narrative and chapter titles Where chapters of the book were written 21:07 – Completing the Book The book's content and structure The hardest chapters in the book to write John's dialogue in the book The Dark Knight + Googling "racketeering" 29:16 – Final Thoughts Positive feedback from male readers Designing the book cover Buying the book in person FEATURED QUOTES "The initial idea was really just to tell a debt story... I think as I began to work on the outline I realized that more of that backstory needed to be included than I think I originally thought." "I think the thing I'm most looking forward to is hearing the stories of people who are reading it." "I can say, I'm not I'm not sick of myself. That sounds really weird to say, but I mean… I'm not sick of this book. Like, I'm not over it. I am more excited about it than ever. And I'm just genuinely excited for people to read it." Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly GET YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

This week, I'm thrilled to welcome the most special guest ever on my show- my dad. With the release of my book just around the corner (coming out next week- can you believe it?!) I couldn't think of a better time to have him on the podcast. Together, we dig into some of the stories that are (and aren't) talked about in my book. Join us as we laugh, reminisce, and share stories of the joys, the challenges, and everything in between. My dad has such powerful things to say about gratitude, slowing down, choosing love, and finding joy in the darkest of moments. This conversation is so special to me, and I am so excited to share it with you today. Without further ado, let's jump into this conversation with Tom Buckley. 3:34 – Tom 101 Tom's upbringing + challenging relationship with religion Going to college, joining a fraternity, and career as a teacher Difficulties in marriage, battles with alcoholism and homelessness Tom's journey to sobriety + spiritual growth 26:49 – Parenting Perspectives Reading the memoir Watching children make mistakes and learn from them 36:28 – Choosing Love Tom and Lynda's marriage that defied the odds Prioritizing sobriety, God, and the good of the family The importance of love, respect, and kindness 48:28 – Rule 62 Looking for the good throughout Lynda's sickness Not taking yourself too seriously Appreciating what life has taught you Tom's favorite chapter in the book 48:28 – Life lessons at 80 Tom's life today with Cindy Slowing down and appreciating the present Trusting that things will work out when you get out of your own way FEATURED QUOTES "That's what life is about. It isn't about failure, it's about getting back up." "If you take yourself too seriously, you just lose sight of all the things that really are important." "In the 'getting through it' stage, you gain experience and knowledge that you can use to get out of it. You can find places for help and guidance that will work." "You want to see who the winners are? Follow the laughter." Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly Preorder my book: PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

PREORDER MY BOOK - IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'LL CRY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib My guest this week is the hilarious Dustin Nickerson, a comedian from Seattle now suffering in Southern California. In 2020 he released his debut comedy special Overwhelmed, which is currently one of the highest-rated specials on Amazon Prime. His humor has graced the screens of Comedy Central, Netflix with Kevin Hart, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Fox, and Hulu, and his stand-up clips have garnered tens of millions of views. Dustin is also the author of How To Be Married To Melissa and co-host of the podcast Don't Make Me Come Back There. If you want to laugh today, this is the episode for you! I have been a long-time fan of Dustin's work and I'm so excited to have him on the show today to share his perspective on life, marriage, comedy, and more. You're going to love this one! 12:07 – Dustin 101, Toby Keith, and Bojangles Dustin's Twitter bio Molly's first date at a Toby Keith concert Bojangles Biscuits Dustin's fan base 21:46 – Set Bedtimes and Mouthguards Adult parties need bedtimes Middle-aged friendships The beauty of marriage 27:40 – If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry Dustin and Melissa's viral video Dustin's relatable humor Evolving as a comedian 33:44 – Finding Your Funny Authenticity in creativity Bombing in stand-up Understanding your audience 41:41 – The Solider Dog, The Late Late Show and Dustin's Book Dustin's memorable career moments The dedication behind success Connecting with Dustin FEATURED QUOTES "The only way to get good at stand-up comedy is to do stand-up comedy." "No comedian is beloved by everybody. You're not trying to get everyone to love you. You're trying to get the people that do love you, or will love your stuff, to find you." Learn more about Dustin: Dustin on Tour: https://www.dustinnickerson.com/ Dustin's Comedy Specials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs2QQYow6VX9nDpDwCspiqQ Dustin on social media: https://www.facebook.com/dustinnickersoncomedy https://www.instagram.com/dustinnickerson/?hl=en https://twitter.com/DustinNickerson How To Be Married To Melissa: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/how-to-be-married-to-melissa/ Don't Make Me Come Back There Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-make-me-come-back-there-with-dustin-melissa-nickerson/id1434215707?mt=2 Melissa's Target Outfit Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@dustinnickersoncomedy/video/7327676165953457451 Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly PREORDER MY BOOK - IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'LL CRY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

We have such an incredible guest joining us for today's show! Bola Sokunbi is a certified financial instructor (CFEI), money expert, speaker, and founder of Clever Girl Finance, one of the largest personal finance media platforms for women in the U.S. Bola received the 2021 Financial Education Instructor of the Year Award from the National Council of Financial Educators and is a 4x best-selling author of the Clever Finance Series and her book, Choosing To Prosper. She is passionate about helping women take control of their money stories and live life on their terms. Bola has such amazing things to say about breaking free from a limiting money mindset, being intentional, and giving yourself grace along your financial journey. I could not be more excited to have her back on the show with us today to share her story and wisdom with all of you! 4:49 – Bola 201 Bola's life as a business owner, mom, and wife Releasing 4 books Bola's career journey and mission Pursuing her business on her own terms 22:35 – Embracing Imperfections in Money Management "Low dough March" Tips for curbing impulsive spending Embracing imperfections and finding solutions that work for you 40:57 – The Wealth Paradox The cultural attitude towards money Wealthy individuals being idolized and demonized Common misconceptions about wealth Money as a tool 51:24 – Final Takeaways Breaking free from a limiting money mindset Learning from others, being intentional, and open-minded to opportunities Changing dynamics in the financial planning industry Connecting with Bola FEATURED QUOTES "I had an idea that I wanted to build a business that would help women- that would empower women to not feel any shame or any judgment about their finances." "Automation is a tool that can help you save and help you get out of debt faster, that can help you invest more. Leverage the tools and resources that can help you help yourself." "Give yourself that grace. We're all making money mistakes." "Money is not anything. It's a tool. It doesn't make you good, it doesn't make you evil, it doesn't make you kind, it doesn't make you hideous… it… amplifies who you are. If you're a good person, you're a great person with money. If you're an evil person, you're a worse person with money. It's a tool." Learn more about Bola: https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/ Clever Girl Finance Book Series https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bola-Sokunbi/author/B076GP7FS3 Bola's book, Choosing To Prosper https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Prosper-Triumphing-Adversity-Achieving-ebook/dp/B0B4V644NT The Clever Girls Know Podcast https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/podcast/ Clever Girl Finance on social media https://www.instagram.com/clevergirlfinance/ https://www.youtube.com/clevergirlfinance https://www.facebook.com/clevergirlfinance/ Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

I am so incredibly excited to sit down with Joy Clarkson in this week's episode. Joy wears many hats - from being a research associate in theology and literature at King's College London to serving as the Books and Culture Editor for Plough Quarterly. Completing her Ph.D. in theology at the University of Saint Andrews, she's also the face behind the popular podcast Speaking with Joy and the author of several books, including her latest release, You Are a Tree, which we chat about today. This conversation was so rich, and it was such a delight to unpack some of the powerful metaphors found in scripture together. I hope you join us as we learn more about the inspiration behind Joy's new book and talk about how God uses imagery and nature to help us better understand ourselves, our relationships, and the mysteries of life. 7:06 – Joy 101 Living in Scottland and teaching theology in London Joy's books and podcast Joy's love for tea, music, and baking 13:03 – The Origin Story for Joy's book Frequently relocating as a child Joy's lifelong connection with trees Living in one place for 27 months Exploring trees in Scripture 18:50 – Nature's Lessons The profound metaphors found in nature God's intentional creation The 7 metaphors explored in Joy's book 26:44 – Metaphors of Mystery God's intentional design woven into creation Embracing childlike wonder to see God's presence and intentionality Using metaphors as tools to describe the mysterious aspects of creation 40:59 – Final Takeaways Unpacking "love is a disease" The metaphors of trees and travel Connecting with Joy FEATURED QUOTES "Scripture itself… it's not just a rulebook…doesn't give us a bunch of abstract, philosophical truths about God- it draws on our experiences of the natural world, and our experiences of light and height and depth, to help us understand ourselves and our relationship with God." "I think metaphors kind of keep us open to the many facets of things and the mystery of being alive." "We are created to belong in this world, and to have a relationship [with] it and to find meaning in it." "To be in the world and to flourish we do need to have roots, we do need to be like a tree and stay in one place. But even the best tree human life is still a temporary life and we still have this sense of belonging for a home that isn't here." Learn more about Joy: https://joyclarkson.substack.com/about Check out You Are a Tree: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Tree-Metaphors-Nourish/dp/0764238256 Check out Aggressively Happy: https://www.amazon.com/Aggressively-Happy-Realists-Believing-Goodness/dp/0764238248/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=LfzV1&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=144-9553475-8087324&pd_rd_wg=LvZyp&pd_rd_r=6d7bd05c-79fe-4760-962e-083df08e9a43&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk Speaking with Joy podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-with-joy/id1310614879 Joy on social media: https://www.instagram.com/joynessthebrave/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/p/Joy-Clarkson-100063508753020/ https://twitter.com/joynessthebrave?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

My guest this week is the amazing Donna Jones. Donna is a national speaker, church planter, pastor's wife, and self-described bible explainer with a remarkable speaking portfolio spanning 26 states and 4 continents. Donna is also the host of the weekly That's Just What I Needed podcast and the talented author behind Seek: A Woman's Guide to Meeting God, Taming Your Family Zoo, the Get Healthy Bible Study Series, and more. In honor of her newest book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life, she joins us today to share powerful strategies for handling conflicts with grace and truth. We talk about everything from navigating disagreements to the biblical foundations of forgiveness. I know there is something valuable in this conversation for everyone- get ready for a good one! 2:29 – Donna 101 Pastor's wife and church planter National speaker, writer, and mom Passionate about conflict resolution Gym, coffee, and shoe lover 7:04 – Healthily Handling Conflict Communicating thoughts, feelings, and opinions with grace and truth Donna's unique perspective on conflict through ministry Don't make the small things big and the big things small 18:31 – The Art of Listening & Disagreeing Gracefully The conflict continuum Listening to understand Learning to disagree without being disagreeable 34:20 – Forgiveness Forgiveness is a command, choice, and promise Starting with the "want to" Inviting Jesus into the pain It's never too late 49:28 – Takeaways Ordering Donna's book Connecting with Donna Free online resources FEATURED QUOTES "I would like to hope that this book serves the purpose to help people avoid things that will make them regret how they handled some conflict in their life." "If you have conflict with someone, it does not mean you are a bad person, they are a bad person, or your relationship is somehow defective or bad." "When we invite Jesus into those spaces, He doesn't shame us. He sympathizes because He leans towards us and He whispers, 'I know. I felt it too. I get it. I understand. And I can help.'" Learn more about Donna: https://donnajones.org/ Get your copy of Healthy Conflict/Peaceful Life: https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Conflict-Peaceful-Life-Communicating-ebook/dp/B0CDKY8YNJ Donna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnaajones/ Donna on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnajonesspeak/ Connect with me: http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly Preorder my book: PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib

My guest this week is the incredible Rose Booth. With over 30 years of experience in technology and publishing, Rose is a dedicated mentor and counselor, passionate about ministry and teaching. She is also the co-host of the podcast, One Single Thought. In December 2021, Rose's life took a turn when she became an amputee, offering her a new perspective on life. Her first book, Dancing in the Valley: Finding Life and Joy Amidst the Shadow of Death Nipping at My Heels, was released in December 2023. I'm so excited to have her on the show today to share her inspiring story and talk about the power of surrender, as well as the growth that comes from navigating through dark valleys. Her story is such a powerful reminder that, even in our darkest moments, God is faithful and His plans for us are always good. 2:03 – Rose 101 Rose's involvement with her church + journey as an author and podcast host Being born to parents who experienced 18 years of infertility Being instilled with a sense of independence from a young age 16:50 – Facing the Valley Rose's series of health complications and surgeries Grappling with questions of faith and purpose Rose's pivotal moment of surrender 27:45 – Navigating Setbacks The unexpected setbacks that kept Rose from healing Deciding to undergo amputation Yearning to be with Jesus 36:44 – Finding Strength in Surrender Encouragement for those in the valley Growing in the darkest places God is working all things for good 46:13 – Takeaways + Rose's Life Today How Rose is doing physically today Publishing her book + future projects FEATURED QUOTES "The worst time of my life, God used to make my dreams come true." "God will grow you more when you're in the darkness than He ever will in the light. It's one of the only things that grows in the dark and it's our faith." "If we think in the valley that we are where we're supposed to be because it's part of God's plan, then we know that this is ultimately going to work out for His good and His glory." Learn more about Rose: https://www.rosebooth.net/ Order Rose's book, Dancing in the Valley https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Valley-Finding-Amidst-Nipping/dp/1955051240/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X9EWQA7QFLWY&keywords=dancing%20in%20the%20valley%20rose%20booth&qid=1701392519&sprefix=%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1 One Single Thought podcast: https://www.rosebooth.net/podcast Rose on social media: https://www.instagram.com/rosieboo65/

This week, I am sitting down with the incredible John R. Miles, the driving force behind the wildly popular Passion Struck podcast and nationally recognized radio show. With a background as a former US Navy officer and a senior executive at a Fortune 50 company, John is celebrated as a transformative leader in intentional behavior change and personal mastery. He's an author, entrepreneur, and visionary in modern leadership and I'm so excited to have him on the show today to talk about his new book and the transformative power of purpose-driven living. Stay tuned for a powerful conversation on overcoming adversity, fostering authentic connections, embracing gratitude in our daily lives, and much more. I was truly inspired by my conversation with John, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 2:38 – John 101 John's unique career path John's book + the "pinball life" 10:01 – Breaking Free from the Pinball Life The self-discrepancy theory Intentionality as a muscle Life crafting + identifying goals Building a foundation through pillars of support 20:50 – Awakening to Purpose John's unexpected career shifts John's wake-up call and journey towards a more meaningful path Aligning with your true calling 32:43 – Gratitude, Connection, and Purpose Our innate desire for purpose The power of connection and service Being vessels for a greater purpose 40:42 – Hope in Hardship The transformative power of pain and hardship Focusing on the small wins The path to rebuilding 48:15 – Takeaways Connecting with John Matt Doherty's story FEATURED QUOTES "When we're acting like a pinball, we're completely unintentional, we are so distracted by the world around us, so caught up in the matrix, that we're not allowing ourselves to live with intention- to craft the life we want, to become a self-realized version of ourselves that God put us here to actuate in our life." "We can have suffering and be self-compassionate. We can experience trauma and be forgiving. But I think too many of us hold on to these things as either ors." "We all can rebound, but it takes intentional action to do so." Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/ Passion Struck Podcast: https://passionstruck.com/passion-struck-podcast/ John's new book, Passion Struck: https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Struck-Powerful-Principles-Intentional/dp/B0C8G5R5FZ John on social media: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesjohn/ https://www.youtube.com/c/johnrmiles

My guest this week is Matt Brown, the founding and senior pastor at Sandals church in Riverside, California. From a humble eight-person church plant in 1997, Sandals Church has now expanded to 14 physical campuses across California, with a digital footprint touching 110,000 people weekly. In our conversation, Pastor Matt shares insights from his latest book, Every Day a Miracle. He challenges us to explore the everyday opportunities for miracles and invites us to see Jesus not just as a savior but as a healer. I can't wait for you to join us for this powerful discussion filled with laughter, tears, and deep reflections on faith and prayer. 2:17 – Matt 101 The early years of church planting Matt's hobbies and interests outside of pastoring A vision to be real as a church 13:16 – The Power of Confession and Repentance Modeling confession for the next generation A story of miraculous healing 20:31 – Faith-Driven Miracles The inspiration behind Matt's book, Every Day A Miracle God answers all prayers with yes, no, or wait Miracles in moments of desperation 28:12 – Participation in Miracles Getting real with God Repetition and meaning in prayer Trusting and worshiping amid uncertainty 40:27 – Journeying with Jesus Matt's prayer for people reading his book Asking "how" instead of "why" during disappointment The complexity of healing 52:21 – Takeaways Connecting with Matt Pre-ordering Every Day A Miracle FEATURED QUOTES "If you want to heal, you've got to get real…That's just the only way it works." "I'm not one of these super uber charismatic people that's always believed in miracles… I'm a Baptist, who has been compelled by repeated evidence that they happen, that miracles are real, and they happen every day." "I cannot guarantee the miracle you want, but I do guarantee the miracle you need." "There's a very little chance of that prayer being answered if your audience is the people around you and not the God in heaven." Learn more about Matt: Sandals Church https://sandalschurch.com/ Pre-order Everyday a Miracle https://everydayamiraclebook.com/ Matt on social media https://www.instagram.com/matthewstephenbrown/ https://twitter.com/pastormattbrown https://www.facebook.com/pastormattbrown/

Today we're joined by my good friend, Shannon Leyko. Shannon is an author, podcast host, mother of three, and a military wife who recently moved from Alaska to Florida with her family. As a former Miss New York for the Miss America Organization, classically trained vocalist, and reality television development producer, Shannon has worn many hats throughout her life. Along with this, her book, You're Completely Normal, achieved recognition as one of the Top 50 Hot New Releases in Self-Development on Amazon in 2020. Shannon currently works as a ghostwriter and content creator for a world-renowned psychologist and is the host of the podcast Paring Down, where she helps listeners live a more intentional, decluttered life. Stay tuned for a powerful conversation on embracing the non-linear path, cherishing the present, and being mindful of what truly matters. I know you're going to love it! 7:31 – Shannon 101 Becoming Miss New York after college Moving to DC and Virginia Beach Becoming a military wife and moving to Alaska Writing a book, moving to Florida, and starting a podcast 13:08 – A Non-Linear Path Societal pressure to follow a linear life trajectory The inspiration behind Shannon's book, "You're Completely Normal" Guiding children to be content with their individual paths Nonlinear paths leading to personal growth and wisdom 26:22 – The Power of Patience Taking your next step in faith The human tendency to take matters into your own hands Peace through trusting in God's plan 32:54 – Decluttering and Slowing Down How living in Alaska inspired the Paring Down Podcast The power of intentionality and gratitude The sentimental aspect of decluttering Swedish death cleaning 54:07 – Don't Save the Good Wine Living intentionally and for the now Wear the sequin pants The frailty of life Creating a calm home environment FEATURED QUOTES "It will all come together if you just continue to pursue the things that God calls you to that bring you joy, and not always just move through with urgency." "If I remove this urgency from my life, this idea of where I want to go, what success means to me…remove all of that and just put on God's lenses and say, 'I trust in His will. Let me sit back and listen to what He wants from me.' That… makes our lives so much better." "Be mindful and present right now, because today matters. Use the good things. Don't put the quilt that your grandma sewed for your child in the closet because you don't want anything to spill on it. Put it on their bed. Let them use it." Learn more about Shannon: https://www.theexpertbeginner.com/ Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paringdownpodcast/ The Paring Down Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paring-down-realistic-minimalism-to-live-more-intentionally/id1713108995 Shannon's Book, You're Completely Normal: https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Completely-Normal-Trading-Should/dp/0578742616

My guest this week is the incredible Susie Larson, who you might know as the host of the popular radio show, Susie Larson Live. Susie is also a best-selling author and national speaker who is passionate about helping people discover the depth of God's love, the value of their soul, and their calling in Christ Jesus. Susie is a two-time finalist for the John C. Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award, has authored over 20 books and devotionals, and touches the lives of over half a million people weekly on social media with her daily devotionals. We'll be diving into her newest book, Waking Up to the Goodness of God: 40 Days Toward Healing and Wholeness, and exploring what it means to intentionally embrace God's goodness each day. Susie has such a powerful story of faith, healing, and resilience and has amazing insights into what it looks like to make space for hope in our lives, even in the darkest of moments. 3:34 – Susie 101 Susie's family and upbringing Starting as an author and speaker and becoming a full-time talk radio host Susie's journey through high-risk pregnancies and Lyme disease Embracing the goodness of God 17:09 – Trust in the Midst of Loss Choosing trust over bitterness in the face of life's hardships Leaning into God's goodness Actively imprinting God's goodness on the heart 24:50 – Making Space for Hope We can't afford to live without hope Spend time getting to know God Finding older mentors that have a fire for God 29:23 – Spiritual Resiliency Affirmations and declarations rooted in biblical truths Battling inner critics and countering the lies of the enemy How Susie rewired her brain while battling Lyme disease 37:16 – Overcoming Fear + Closing Thoughts The significance of 40 days in healing Pushing through the wall of fear to expand your ministry and purpose Ordering Susie's book and where to find her radio show FEATURED QUOTES "I would say a large share of Christians might have right theology around salvation- they know they're saved, but they don't know they're loved- and that makes a very big difference." "Maybe you're in between crises, and in between storms… this is the perfect time to be looking around and noticing the goodness of God all around you." "There are legitimate reasons for fear in our day. But there's even more legitimate reasons for faith because our future is bright in Jesus." "If you're willing to apply yourself to the truth of God, change will happen." Learn more about Susie: Susie's Book, Waking Up to the Goodness of God https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Goodness-God-Wholeness/dp/0785294716 Susie's Radio Show: https://myfaithradio.com/programs/susie-larson-live/ Susie's Website: https://www.susielarson.com/about

Welcome to the first official episode recorded in 2024! After an incredible year filled with so many inspiring conversations, I've decided to shake things up and steer away from the usual New Year's resolutions talk this year. Let's face it, there's nothing inherently magical about January 1st. So instead, I want to share some of my favorite lessons from the podcast and life in 2023. I hope this episode encourages you and inspires a fresh perspective on the year ahead! 3:51 – Word of the Year Reflecting on the last two years This year's word: "flourish" Your word of the year 7:16 – The Podcast in 2024 8 years of the podcast Switching up formats this year Getting creative and breaking routines 9:43 – "If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry" Recording my audiobook Prayers for this journey Pre-ordering the book Mini book tour 13:41 – Top 5 Episodes of 2023 Episode 334, Megan Hyatt Miller Episode 369, Jay Hewitt Episode 373, Dr. Emily Smith Episode 345, Jamie Winship Episode 376, Ginny Yurich 23:29 – Encouragements For This Year Saying "no" to more things and "yes" to the right things Giving yourself room to try new things and mess up Learning when and when not to apologize Creating margin in your summer FEATURED QUOTES "I want to give you the encouragement to, this year, give yourself the space to break routines. Give yourself the space to get creative, give yourself the space to try something new." "I'm encouraging you to say no to more things, so that you can say yes to the right things. This is not a new concept. But it's easier said than done." "I am so excited about what this podcast is going to look like this year."

We're kicking off the new year with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere. They are Doctors of Psychology and founders of the Soul Shepherding Institute, a ministry dedicated to helping pastors, leaders, churches and more thrive with Jesus in emotional and relational health. Bill and Kristi have authored several soul care books and resources, such as their newest book, "Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith." I'm so excited to have them on today to explore the relationship between our spiritual lives and mental health. Stay tuned as we talk about how embracing our feelings can lead to greater joy, peace, and spiritual growth. 4:25 – Bill and Kristi 101 A background in counseling and ministry Starting Soul Shepherding in 2009 9:21 – Psychology and Faith Spiritual Directors vs Spiritual Counselors All truth is God's truth Embracing emotions to deepen your relationship with others and God 19:43 – The Enneagram Using the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual growth Unconscious sin, dysfunction, and areas of growth Dealing with distressing emotions to cultivate positive emotions 27:15 – Embracing Emotions, Empathy, and Faith Anxiety as a repressed emotion Empathy and understanding with the Enneagram Jesus' emotions and faith 38:12 – Breaking Free into Greater Joy Taking action when dealing with anxiety and depression Finding words for your emotions + seeking support Bill and Kristi's recommended resources FEATURED QUOTES "We just realized that all the people who are helping other people are prone to neglect their own soul. And so that's our niche, to reach in there for the people that are really committed in their relationships in their work... and to really help them care for their own soul so that their work, their ministry, can be coming out of the overflow of God's love to them." "God doesn't want us to be hiding our emotions. He wants us to be emotionally honest with him, like the psalmist." "Jesus shows us perfect faith in God. He shows us how to have healthy feelings and thriving faith. He shows us how feelings and faith are not necessarily enemies. Some people think that they don't get along with each other, but actually being aware of our emotions and learning to care for our emotions and other people's emotions…helps us become more like Jesus." Soul Shepherd Website- https://www.soulshepherding.org/ "Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith" Book- https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Feelings-Thriving-Faith-Emotionally/dp/0800742818 Soul Shepherd Enneagram Resources- https://www.soulshepherding.org/enneagram/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuQwau6brhW2gSyD3j64zm6zbSQIfbfanPcY0jg0uitQPjGzELTh_yIaAqdeEALw_wcB Meet with a Spiritual Director- https://www.soulshepherding.org/spiritual-directors-directory/

This week, I'm excited to welcome Ginny Yurich, a homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside- a global movement reclaiming childhood and fostering family connections through nature-based play. Alongside her husband, Josh, Ginny is the brilliant mind behind the 1000 Hours Outside lifestyle brand, featuring an online store, app, podcast, a brand new book, and much more. Whether you have kids or not, this episode is an absolute must-listen. We dig deep into issues that resonate, especially for those of us stuck behind desks and indoors all day. This conversation was deep, thought-provoking, and left me feeling challenged and convicted in the best way. It's easily one of my top 10 favorite episodes of all time, and I'm so excited to share it with you! 3:36 – Ginny 101 Struggles of early motherhood A playdate that changed everything Transformation through outdoor time Writing about this experience 15:07 – The Power of Outdoor Play The challenges of modern parenting Making small, intentional changes in daily routines Building outdoor habits as a family The power of friends and community with outdoor activities 34:11 – Embracing All Seasons The magic of winter Leaning into the unique experiences each season brings Cultivating grit and resilience 41:55 – Parenting in a Changing World Balancing structured and unstructured activities Encouraging self-discovery and independence Rethinking the college-centric path 1:01:21 – Takeaways + Words of Encouragement The power of pre-ordering books The long-term impact of parenting choices Celebrating real-life, hands-on experiences FEATURED QUOTES "If all that time, all those memories, all that relationship building, all of that connection, all of those moments of exhale- if those had gone to screens, our life would be so much less full….This is about bringing balance back to childhood." "What I've learned over the past decade is that this is a step that you take as a family. And the step is awareness. It's about knowing that, when we play outside, it benefits every single member of your family, from your newborn to your grandmother to your great grandmother." "There are long-term effects to the choices that we make. And this is their life, this is their childhood. And it's important to understand, at least to a small degree, what self-directed childhood play does for kids. And it does an immense amount." Learn more about Ginny: https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/ https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/about-us https://www.amazon.com/Until-Streetlights-Come-Brightens-Uncertain-ebook/dp/B0BW11WHTN/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1703003496&refinements=p_27%3AGinny+Yurich&s=books&sr=1-1

Jenny and Dave Marrs have been restoring and renovating historic homes since 2004. You may know them as the stars of the HGTV show Fixer to Fabulous, where they showcase their amazing work in their charming hometown, Bentonville, Arkansas. Jenny and Dave believe that beautiful spaces are often imperfect and full of character, much like those who live there. Faith, family, and community are the driving forces behind everything they do, and I'm so excited to have them share their story with you today. Listen in to learn more about the heart behind the work that they do, their passion for nonprofit and community engagement and what it means to lean into intentional living. 5:35 – Jenny and Dave 101 Moved to Arkansas in 2004 Started a family building company Getting picked up by the HGTV network 12:02 – Cultivating Hope Jenny's fundraiser that evolved into a nonprofit Establishing a partnership in Zimbabwe Empowering orphaned teenagers through agriculture 19:49 – Called To Adoption A heart for adoption and family preservation Misconceptions about adoption and foster care Acknowledging the brokenness and trauma that comes with adoption 28:25 – Home and Heart Incorporating charitable passions into their HGTV show A passion for restoring older homes and preserving history The logistics of moving a home to a new location The cultural shift in homeownership 51:04 – Intentionality In Your Space Jenny's book release Making your home work for you and your family Where to find Jenny and Dave FEATURED QUOTES "There's so much beauty in adoption and redemption and all of that but it is all very much rooted and trauma and loss and brokenness, which is just the reality." "Your family's story changes…when we moved out here 10 years ago, our twins were just about to turn four. Now they're bigger than Jenny is…there's always a shift and a juggle to make it fit our family's current needs." "You can always paint the walls back and sell it… you can make changes and take risks… it's about giving yourself permission to love the space where you live."

This week, I am thrilled to have the incredible Ciara Laine Myers as my guest. Ciara is a mother, award winning business owner, and author of the book Glasses Off: Seeing God When Your Vision is Gone.This book is an collection of personal stories and life lessons brimming with heart, passion, and raw authenticity that will resonate with every reader. In our conversation today, Ciara and I dive into the depths of vision and purpose in life. We learn more about Ciara's story, what led her to write this book, and reflect on the beauty that comes from embracing both the dreamer and the visionary within ourselves. Stay tuned as we chat about the delicate balance between dreaming and doing, the importance of humility in fulfilling our calling, inspiring others with our gifts, and so much more! 2:45 – Ciara 101 Growing up in the faith Starting a group counseling center Being called into the writing industry 8:52 – A Calling To Write A strong calling to stop digital work The genesis of Ciara's book Finding and living one's purpose, calling, and vision 21:28 – Living With Purpose The role of purpose and meaning in longevity Adam and Eve in the garden Practical approaches for pursuing purpose in your life 33:23 – Balancing Vision and Action The distinction between being a dreamer and a visionary Bringing your dreams to fruition and inviting others into the process Being confident in one's calling while maintaining humility 43:28 – Closing Thoughts Daily date with God + what this looks like for Ciara How to connect with Ciara FEATURED QUOTES "God is an example to us of how we need to be a visionary. If he had stopped at the dreaming, none of us would exist." "How can I serve one person with my gift? Awkwardly? Humbly? Just one soul. How can I do that? If I throw a concert and only one person comes, it's more than worth it." Learn more about Ciara: https://veiledfree.com/

This week's guest is the incredible Dr. Emily Smith, who you might also know as the Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist on social media. Emily is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Surgery at Duke University and at the Duke Global Health Institute. With a background that includes four years at Baylor University, a PhD in Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill, and an MSPH from the University of South Carolina, Emily brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Beyond her professional achievements, Emily is a devoted wife of 20 years, the mom of two incredible children, and shares her home with a sweet golden retriever and golden doodle puppy. I am so excited to dive into Emily's story and the heart behind her new book, The Science of The Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors, with you today. Stay tuned for a powerful conversation that challenges, uplifts, and encourages a deeper understanding of what it means to truly love our neighbors. 6:04 – Emily 101 Born in eastern New Mexico Moving around, medical school + research at Duke A passion for global engagement + public health 14:07 – The Good Samaritan Two questions from the Good Samaritan story The Science of the Good Samaritan Recognizing and addressing structural injustices 20:35 – Becoming Authentic Neighbors Moving beyond token gestures of kindness Recognizing the historical context of poverty and inequality Shifting from shame to understanding Emily finding her calling 29:49 – The Birth of "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist" Responding to the pandemic Navigating rapid online growth + hostility from strangers Finding courage in the face of adversity Discovering a like-minded community 44:44 – The Work of Neighborly Love Taking a deeper look at "Science of The Good Samaritan" Recognizing injustice + entering the conversation like a good neighbor Heart-centered faith A call for courage FEATURED QUOTES "Epidemiology is the science of the Good Samaritan... it's a science of quantifying who is most at need so that we don't walk by." "It feels very natural as a person of a Christian faith to do the type of science that I do, because it's quantifying those that are typically overlooked." "When we consider health for our children, we want them to be fully healthy, thriving, happy, live out their full potential. So why don't we want that for the rest of the world?" Learn more about Dr. Emily Smith: https://www.facebook.com/friendlyneighborepidemiologist/ https://emilysmith.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/friendlyneighborepidemiologist/?hl=en https://globalhealth.duke.edu/news/epidemiologist-next-door

Our guest this week is the incredible Adrienne Bankert, award-winning national news anchor and host of "Morning in America" on News Nation. With an impressive background that includes five years at ABC News, two Emmys for her work on "Good Morning America," and coverage of global events from Tokyo to Paris, Adrienne has worked with some of the biggest names and headlines throughout her career. We'll chat about Adrienne's career journey, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her book, "Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone." This book focuses on the genuine and transformative influence of kindness and offers guidance on building authentic connections in various aspects of life, be it within teams, friendships, or even with strangers. Adrienne is an amazing woman and getting to hear her story and wisdom was such a treat. I know you're going to love this conversation! 3:24 – Adrienne 101 A passion for storytelling Growing up in a small town Internships and connections in college Becoming a news anchor Balancing confidence and fear throughout her career 15:25 – The Emotional Challenges of Journalism Adrienne's approach to traumatic stories Adopting a mindset of service Being present, safe, and a voice of comfort 25:00 – The Power of Kindness Adrienne's book Who do you want to be? Being authentic Muscle memory for being more fulfilled and relatable Stop living in fear 38:42 – Profound Lessons Making an impression with the time you have Authenticity in journalism Connect with Adrienne FEATURED QUOTES "I came from very humble beginnings, and I think that prepared me for where I am today." "As you do venture out, it becomes easier and easier to stay confident. And also, to balance… You learn how to be confident without being too aggressive, and you learn how to be humble without being passive." "When you stimulate your life with kindness on a regular basis, it has a biological, psychological and physical change that you will find in your personal life and your professional life and in your mental health." Learn more about Adrienne: https://www.newsnationnow.com/ https://www.newsnationnow.com/author/adrienne-bankert/ https://www.instagram.com/abontv/?hl=en

Today's guest, Anh Lin, is a celebrated interior stylist known for her captivating designs and thought-provoking writing, including The Abundant Life Devotional Journal. Anh is also the creator of the popular faith and lifestyle blog, Girl And The Word, which has since expanded its influence through YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, and her online shop, The Hooga Shop. In this episode, we dive deep into Anh's powerful story and how these experiences have shaped her unique perspective on design and life. We also discuss her new book, Forever Home: Moving Beyond Brokenness to Build a Strong and Beautiful Life. Listen in as we talk about moving beyond brokenness, embracing a fulfilling and meaningful life, and so much more. This conversation with Anh was such a delight. I just know you're going to love it! 3:35 – Anh 101 Born in Vietnam Moving to Pasadena, California Losing her father to cancer Finding Jesus in the darkest times 19:14 – Resilience Through Faith Jesus has overcome the world Suffering is a universal experience God can empathize 24:48 – New Beginnings A newfound appreciation for life Seeking therapy Healing + a deeper connection with God 34:07 – The Journey To Interior Design + Writing An unexpected path to interior design Gaining a social media following Moving beyond brokenness and restoring a sense of peace FEATURED QUOTES "I think that's exactly what a life with Jesus gives you. He allows you to live beyond the physical and beyond the cultural demands and seek to purpose." "My ultimate hope is that Forever Home can be a guidebook to helping you restore the sense of peace that has been hijacked by trauma." "You can start small instead of feeling overwhelmed by tackling entire rooms at a time. It all begins with a deconstruction process. And at first, being in this demolition phase might feel like a tear down. But it's only when you demolish this old life, can you actually rebuild something new and better for yourself." Learn more about Anh: https://www.girlandtheword.com/ https://www.instagram.com/girlandtheword/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo-jdu6ue5Wv-oe5-PSNvQ

I am beyond excited to announce that after 7+ years in the making, my book, If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came in This Room For, is now available for pre-order. It feels so surreal that this day is here. Today I'm going to give you a glimpse into this journey and share the inspiration behind writing this book. This memoir is the story of my testimony. It's a story of brokenness, shame, and regret, but most importantly, it's a story of restoration, redemption, and healing. This project has been an absolute labor of love that I cannot wait to share with you! Whether this is your first time listening, you've been here since day one, or something in between, I'm grateful for each one of you who has been a part of this incredible journey so far. I pray that this book makes you laugh, cry, and realize that even the messiest, muddiest, most broken parts of your story can be redeemed. 1:57 – A Special Announcement Pre-ordering my memoir A labor of love The inspiration behind this book 7:39 – What Is This Story About? My mother's passing My journey with loss, debt, and brokenness Transformation and redemption through Jesus 13:49 – Support + Share! Where you can pre-order the book My prayer + excitement for this journey My new website + more! FEATURED QUOTES "I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that in less than five months, you are going to hold in your hands a copy of my book… of some of the most honest and vulnerable words I have ever written and shared." "My prayer is that as you read this book, that you can see that even the messy, muddy, broken parts of your story can be redeemed- that there is no one that is too far gone to be redeemed and to be forgiven. That we all make mistakes." "Life is the both and; it is about living in the tension of the grief, and the joy and the beauty and the brokenness." PRE ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

This week, we have an incredible guest, Jay Hewitt, joining us. He is a pastor, author and motivational speaker, and his life journey is nothing short of a remarkable testimony of courage and faith. At the age of 37, Jay was confronted with a devastating diagnosis- terminal brain cancer. Through this experience, he found strength in God and embraced his calling to be a storyteller. His memoir, I Am Weak, I Am Strong, is coming out this fall, which details his extraordinary journey to become an Ironman while battling cancer. Living in Orange County, California, he cherishes his family and continues to inspire others with his unwavering faith and empowering messages. His journey reminds us of the boundless strength within each of us. Join us for an incredibly moving and powerful conversation that you do not want to miss! 2:47 – Jay 101 A calling to ministry Jay's family Battling brain cancer Jay's testimony 9:00 – Embracing New Assignments From student ministry to new adventures Launching a church + discovering new giftings Saying 'yes' to where God leads 15:59 – Jay's Diagnosis + Journey The discovery of Jay's brain tumor Finding the right surgeon + the surgery Jay's cancer diagnosis + shortened life expectancy A shift in prayer 33:48 – The Ongoing Journey Holding on to hope and faith Inspiration for the Ironman Beginning training and chemo 49:05 – Resilient Faith Combining one's calling with confidence Asking in faith Cooperating with God's work 55:59 – Jay's Life Today + Wisdom Current health status Living each day to the fullest Depending on God's strength FEATURED QUOTES "In 2 Corinthians 12:10, God says, 'My grace will sustain you.' And that's what I've been learning through this whole thing." "I've just come to realize, it's only by God's grace that we have today. And it's not just me. It's you. It's the people next to us. The people listening right now. It's by God's grace that we have today." "I need to dream like I'm gonna live forever and live like it's my last day. And that's how I keep moving forward in this life of uncertainty with my specific type of cancer." Pre-order your copy of I Am Weak, I Am Strong, available November 14th, 2023: https://www.zondervan.com/p/i-am-weak-i-am-strong/

Our guest this week is the remarkable Jay Kim, who serves as the lead pastor at West Gate Church in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, and a teacher in residence at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz. Jay is not only a gifted pastor, but a seasoned writer, having authored several books, including Analog Church and Analog Christian, and most recently, the 40 Days Through The Book: Colossians Bible study. In addition to his writing and pastoral roles, Jay co-hosts two podcasts: Barna's Making Space podcast and Western Seminary's ReGENERATION podcast, and is an incredibly talented speaker and educator. If you're someone who loves diving into scripture, you are going to love this episode. His ability to bring the text to life and make complex concepts clear is truly inspiring. Listen in as we dive deep into the background and cultural context of the book of Colossians in this episode and explore how it directly apply to our lives in the present day. Get ready to be educated, entertained, and moved as Jay Kim shares his incredible wisdom and perspective with us. 3:47 – Jay 101 Growing up in Silicon Valley A father, pastor and writer Jay's testimony 16:51 – 40 Day Bible Study Why Colossians? The relevance of Colossians "My truth" is gaining prominence 25:44 – Jay's Writing Approach Laying out the cultural context Parallels between ancient Colossians and our struggles today Jay's revelations during his studies 37:26 – Honoring God's Love Being chosen by God is a statement of love Taking God's love for granted + understanding costly grace Becoming people of love, compassion, and humility 46:23 – Jay's Prayer For This Study God is in control Finding peace in God's promise FEATURED QUOTES "Finding some people who love you and care about you and are willing to sort of lean into whatever you're going through. It's just….it's a lifeline." "Your motivation, your desires, your intention- point them to God and the things of God and then think about what that means for your life….That's the life of centering or reorienting yourself around Jesus." "My prayer, then, and my prayer now is the same. It's that people would find an immense hope and comfort and confidence for life, in knowing that someone else is in is actually in control of the human story." Learn more about Jay: https://jaykimthinks.com/

In this episode, join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachael Powell, the Chief Communications Officer of Passages. Passages is an organization with a remarkable mission – they've brought over 10,000 Christian college students to Israel while helping them to grow as leaders and caring community members on their college campuses. Rachael has a profound passion for Gen Z and younger millennials, and in this conversation, she shares her insights on how to best care for and nurture the faith of the next generation. Through her role at Passages, she aims to inspire young minds and help them dig deeper into their faith. Tune in as she discusses the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and deeper connections in church life, especially for younger generations. Before we dive into the episode, please note that this conversation was recorded well before recent events in Israel and Gaza. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who are suffering and impacted by this current situation. 3:44 – Rachel 101 An unexpected path to passion Becoming a part of Passages Transformative experiences in Israel 7:08 – Visiting Israel: A Journey of Faith and Identity The history, culture, and tangibility of Christianity The power of a firsthand experience Digging deeper into your faith 10:56 – Discipling Gen Z The unique challenges faced by Gen Z in this digital age The deconstruction movement Craving community and deeper understanding The power of contextual discipleship 19:09 – A Safe Space Finding genuine in-person connections and community Creating a supportive environment to ask questions Wrestling with faith 32:29 – What Gen Z Is Looking For? The power of authenticity Curiosity and a willingness to listen Being open about your journey and faith struggles 40:04 – Shifting Church Culture Authenticity over flashiness Reconnecting with ancient roots Embracing the community experience FEATURED QUOTES "We like to say that Israel is like drinking from a firehose, and that when you leave, you will probably have more questions than what you came with. And that's not a bad thing. That's the beginning of a journey to becoming deeper in your faith and really understanding." "It begins with this challenge in Israel of digging deeper, but it doesn't end there. It continues with community and curiosity throughout life." "I think even some of our concepts about how our faith has to be so individualized is also not a Middle Eastern concept. Faith in the Middle East is a community. It's a group of people living together, who all believe the same things and often meet together to ask each other questions to read scripture out loud, right? To live in community." https://www.passagesisrael.org/ Connect with Rachael: [email protected]

Today I'm so excited to be joined by the remarkable Sharon Jaynes, a renowned international speaker and best-selling author of 26 books with nearly 1 million copies sold. She's a prominent voice in the global faith community, having served as the former Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-host of their radio program. Sharon's latest book, "Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe," is a 30-day guide to praying purposely over your children. In this conversation, we explore how parents, grandparents, and anyone invested in a child's life can use the words of scripture to pray with intention and impact. Join us as Sharon walks through 16 distinct areas of prayer, offering a heartfelt pattern for praying over the people you love, from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet. This discussion touched my heart profoundly, and I pray it will do the same for you! 6:46 – Sharon 101 An unexpected path to book writing Starting up Proverbs 31 Ministries A passion for teaching the word of God 10:10 – The 'Head to Toe' Series Origin Where did the 'head to toe' concept come from? Using scripture as a guidepost for everyday life The challenges and stresses of today's world on children 15:48 – Influence Beyond Parents The significant impact that adults can have on children's lives Sharon's journey to faith The transformative power of prayer 22:05 – The Nature of Prayer Why does prayer matter? We are called to pray God is always working behind the scenes Adversity leading to spiritual and personal growth 32:41 – The 16 Prayer Landmarks Walking through each landmark from head to toe Praying in alignment with God's word A pattern of prayer Relinquishing control 48:51 – Sharon's Parting Words There's no right or wrong way to pray There are no perfect parents, but we can be praying parents God is always working, even when we can't see it FEATURED QUOTES "If you pray the word of God, you're praying the will of God" "God will make the pain in our meanwhile, worthwhile." "Our responsibility is obedience, and God's responsibility is the outcome." "There are no perfect parents, but we can all be praying parents." Sharon's Website: https://sharonjaynes.com/ Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonejaynes/?hl=en Sharon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharonJaynes/

Today we're celebrating seven – yes seven! – years of producing this podcast and want to take a quick second to thank YOU for being a part of the show, reaching out, listening, and giving us the motivation to keep producing new shows. We are excited to welcome on Ike Miller, a pastor who helped start Bright City Church along with his wife, Sharon, back in 2018. Ike has written about the intersection of theology, mental health, and family of origin issues. He's developed a passion for helping others who grew up in difficult circumstances after confronting his own family history of substance abuse disorders. He's a great friend to our family and we wanted to bring him on to share this message about understanding how difficult childhoods prepare us for healthy relationships, which he writes about in his new book Good Baggage. We don't hold back when it comes to childhood trauma, how we can move forward, and why everything doesn't necessarily happen for a reason. 6:29 – Ike 101 Celebrating five years at the church on Sept 30 What fueled the book How the pandemic brought a lot to the surface 15:31 – Defining Co-Dependency Differentiating the definition from symptoms Trauma related loss of self Plays out in different types of situations 17:55 – Sorting through your baggage Learning to identify and disarm our baggage Ability to read emotions Figuring out what context to use that 25:45 – Improving theology to provide support Creating space in our theology for the impact of trauma Building a theology around redemption Being okay with people angry at God 38:17 – Parenting Recognizing when you're screwing up Asking for forgiveness Realizing our parents are people with lives of their own 58:48 – Good Baggage Reflect on your pain points Dig up that pain an deal with it Connecting with Ike FEATURED QUOTES "We typically think of codependency as people pleasing, but really, it's fundamentally about a loss of self. That, in that context, whatever we went through, in some trauma, it forced us to be someone other than ourselves in order to survive, in order to appease someone else to protect ourselves mentally, emotionally, or physically. And so you just kind of become whoever you think others need you to be because you've lost your sense of self of who you are." "We need to create more space in the church just for being able to say that not all sin is just strictly about my sheer disobedience to God, but that as a broken human being, I'm acting out of that because of brokenness that was done to me." "I think that's kind of a bit of it for me is that ability to say, I don't know that I can explain all of why it happened, but where do I want to go from here? What kind of life do I want from here?" Learn more about Bright City Church: https://brightcitychurch.com/ Get Ike's Book Good Baggage: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Baggage-Difficult-Childhood-Relationships/dp/1540902862

Every parent struggles with maintaining their own identity while also trying to pour all their energy into being a mother or a father. Our guest this week knows all about that. Dr. Morgan Cutlip knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood and she's been determined to help others navigate that with more success. You might have come across her on social media, her podcast, her blog, or through the courses on her website. She also just published a new blook called Love Yourself Without Losing Yourself, and it's all about how moms can beat burnout and banish guilt. But even better, it actually provides some practical tips for taking care of ourselves. Her focus might be on motherhood, but you'll quickly realize that this also applies to the dads out there. Really, anyone with kids can benefit from listening to Morgan and that's why we're really excited to bring you this interview. 4:05 – Morgan 101 Her experience in the relationship education field Struggling with motherhood What pushed her to make this her mission 10:24 – Challenges of motherhood Overwhelming amount of advice about what's right and wrong Conflicting advice from social media 'experts' What she learned from her parents 24:19 – Parenting now vs past generations Every generation faces its own set of challenges No child will leave their childhood experience without something Putting parenthood on a pedestal 30:33 – Mom guilt Intensive mothering Giving yourself permission Putting your own identity on the backburner 47:19 – Her book 3 reasons self-care irritates her 5 areas that exist in all relationships Touch purposefully FEATURED QUOTES "I know I didn't have the answers, but I knew I had the skill sets to figure out how to empower moms to navigate motherhood differently. And so that's when I made up my mind, this is what I wanted to do." "We have overcorrected, and it's all done with good intentions. But sometimes too much of a good thing becomes bad. And we have left ourselves in a place where we are parenting so intensely, that we can't help but feel like we're regularly getting it wrong." "Sometimes we need that permission to not make everything about our kids, right. And I think a lot of us then if we if we act on that permission, we will feel guilty about it. And so we have to deal with what's underneath that guilt in order to get that get rid of that because it's not serving us." Connect with Dr. Morgan Cutlip: https://drmorgancutlip.com Get her book 'Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself': https://drmorgancutlip.com/book/ About Dr. Morgan Cutlip: Dr. Morgan Cutlip knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood, and she's determined to help mothers navigate it better. She is experienced and trained in translating psychological theory and research into practical, accessible, and actionable advice, which she shares with her clients and social media followers (@drmorgancutlip) and through her courses, podcast, and her blog as cofounder of MyLoveThinks.com. Dr. Cutlip earned her masters in human development and family science and her doctorate in counseling psychology. She is a mother of two wild kids, wife of her high school sweetheart, and life-long lover of all things relationship. Buy the book here: LOVE YOUR KIDS WITHOUT LOSING YOURSELF. For more information, visit https://www.mylovethinks.com/links/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/drmorgancutlip/

What if your past could become your passageway to true connection? This week, we welcome the author of Get Past Your Past, Jason VanRuler. Jason opens up about his journey from a broken home and the struggle trying to avoid repeating those same patterns. He brings insights on healing, the power of vulnerability, and the role of psychological care, self-help, and healthy relationships in our lives. I love this conversation with Jason because we really dive deep into the journey of healing from our past and how challenging that can be. We talk about how we find the courage to be vulnerable with people around us and how it is really important to feel it to heal it. We get deep in this episode and I know you're going to love it as well. 3:10 – Jason 101 Coming from a broken home with trauma and chaos and abuse When did things begin to change for him? The things he wanted to do differently when he reached adulthood 12:09 – Feel It to Heal It Why is it so difficult for people to deal with grief? Bringing other people into the equation to help you heal Opening up and building trust incrementally 20:03 – Steps to find someone to be vulnerable with Taking it step-by-step, there is not shortcut Don't try to make someone your person How we think about it and talk about it changes over time 29:41 – The struggle to forgive ourselves When did you stop deserving forgiveness? Common thread for people that struggle with forgiveness Honoring people we hurt by being better 41:46 – Action steps you can take Be honest with yourself about what's going on Recognizing the cost Hope is always there even if you can't see it FEATURED QUOTES "If you don't know how to do it differently, you return to what you know. And within a couple of years, I just sort of built the life I was running from." "I think the best way we can honor the people we hurt is by being better. And we can't be better if we if we don't forgive ourselves because people don't improve what they don't value." "If you're in this season and this space, use that growth. And remember that when you feel those times of regret in those moments, that's actually a sign you changed for the better. Because you never would have noticed it otherwise." ____ Connect with Jason: https://www.jasonvr.com/ Get Jason's book 'Get Past Your Past': https://www.amazon.com/Get-Past-Your-Facing-Connection/dp/0310367417

I am so excited to be joined by Christa Hardin this week, founder of Reflections Counseling Center and the host of the immensely popular Enneagram and Marriage podcast, which has over a million downloads. For over two decades, Christa has been helping couples find renewal and happiness together. Utilizing the Enneagram, alongside other research-based marriage tools, she works to offer couples a deeper understanding of their unique strengths and shadows. This episode brings a powerful exploration of how our individual personalities influence our ability to communicate in relationships. We'll also dive into the exciting release of Christa's new book, "The Enneagram in Marriage: Your Guide to Thriving Together in Your Unique Pairing," which is set to hit the shelves this month. 4:02 – Christa 101 A calling to working with couples Using the Enneagram as a tool in counseling "You shine brighter in the world when your gifts are in harmony together" 18:43 – Understanding your spouse The 9 types of Enneagram personalities Seeking out how to love each other Express what you're learning about yourself 28:42 – Relationship dynamics through the Enneagram Working with couples of different Enneagram types Recognizing strengths and shadows within a relationship Bringing your unique gifts to the table 35:40 – Some common enneagram parings Enneagram 1 and 3 Enneagram 8 and 9 Marriage as a marathon, not a sprint 41:46 – Using the enneagram to learn about yourself Starting generous conversations Date nights each week Christa's new book coming out October 3rd, 2023 FEATURED QUOTES You shine brighter in the world when your gifts are in harmony together. By looking at the way our spouse sees the world differently, we do become more expansive. There's these little cues you can start giving to your spouse as you come to know your personality. https://www.enneagraminyourmarriage.com/home Jesse Eubanks show: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/podcast/jesse-eubanks-332/ Ian Morgan Cron show: https://www.stillbeingmolly.com/podcast/enneagram-ian-morgan-cron/

Today I am thrilled to be joined by Chuck and Ashley Elliott, content creators who you may recognize from platforms such as YouVersion or RightNow Media. Beyond their online presence, Chuck is a pastor at Bethel Church in Evansville, Indiana, while Ashley serves as a licensed counselor. Recently, Chuck and Ashley co-authored a transformative book titled I Used to Be ____. Life can take unexpected turns, and when you find yourself grappling with loss- whether it's the loss of a relationship, a job, a sense of security, or an identity- you enter the realm of "used to be." It's a space that can feel stifling, leaving you trapped in memories of what once was. But Chuck and Ashley are here to remind you that while it's natural to dwell in this space for a while, it's not where you're meant to stay. This episode dives deep into the heart of grief and the path to healing. This is such a powerful conversation that I am so excited to share. 4:39 – Chuck and Ashley 101 Meeting at Lee University Finding their love for ministry together The story behind I Used To Be _____ 11:56 – Experiencing grief Grief is not linear Everyone's journey is unique What does God want for us? 27:33 – There is hope God does not want us to stay stuck in these places The Lord is near to the brokenhearted God is worth the sacrifice 38:00 – What God teaches through suffering Through suffering and grief, God can do his best work John 3:30 47:47 – Navigating seasons of loss Acknowledge big and small losses Breathe and be patient with yourself The complex interplay between grief and joy 47:47 – Supporting those in grief Find creative ways to offer support Don't feel like you have to say the perfect thing Be present FEATURED QUOTES Don't feel like you have to say the perfect thing because there is no perfect thing to say. When you show up, you don't have to say something to take away their pain. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. When you don't feel like you're okay, tell someone you don't feel okay. You can be joyful and grieving at the same time. You can laugh and cry at the same time. https://www.chuckandashley.com/

Hey there, amazing listeners! I'm excited to share today's special episode with you. You see, today marks a significant milestone for me: I'm celebrating my 38th birthday! What better way to celebrate than with all of you? Birthdays, especially as we grow into adulthood, carry this intriguing blend of excitement, reflection, and dread. Lately, I've been pondering this unique tension surrounding birthdays, especially the big ones ending in "0." Now, I'll admit when I hit 30, I wasn't exactly thrilled. But as the years rolled by, my mindset shifted, and I find myself loving my late 30s. What's changed, you ask? Well, it's this newfound appreciation for life that I've developed. Life is a precious, fragile thing, and I've been deeply reminded of this truth the past couple of years. So, for my birthday special, I'm sharing five heartfelt prayers with you – prayers for my own growth, for my kids, my husband (whose 40th we won't mention), and my friends. These aren't just for birthdays; they're wishes for the year ahead, full of hope and purpose. I invite you to listen in, no matter where your own birthday falls. Together, let's embrace the journey, celebrate life, and look forward to the amazing possibilities each new year holds. 4:39 – Prayer of Gratitude Expressing deep gratitude for life's blessings Asking for wisdom and guidance through a posture of gratitude Practicing daily gratitude 5:55 – Prayer of Praise Praising God for who He is, what He's done, what He's doing and what He will do Praising God for your growth in mind, body, and spirit Appreciating God's involvement in the details 6:51 – Prayer of Reflection Looking back on the journey of life, with all its challenges, successes, regrets, and growth Letting go of regrets and fears that have weighed you down How do I use the regrets and mistakes that I've made to grow and to move forward? 8:04 – Prayer for Wisdom James 1:5 – God grants wisdom to those who ask Seeking guidance for decisions, steps, and the next right things to do in your life journey Learning from those who have experienced much in life 10:25 – Prayer for Joy and Celebration Cultivating a joyful spirit and embracing celebration Finding joy in the little things Making the most of opportunities, being present in the moment, and creating meaningful connections FEATURED QUOTES We are all living on borrowed time. And so a birthday is something to celebrate. How do I use the regrets that I have or the mistakes that I've made to grow and to move forward? Wisdom is the prayer that we pray that God always says yes to.

I am so glad to be back! I took three weeks off from the podcast. If you have been here since the beginning, you know that I've only taken one week off in the past seven years. It was one of those summers where I gave myself time to rest, and I pulled out some replay episodes. I planned to come back last week, but I got sick and lost my voice. I am here now and am so excited about what's on the horizon, especially my first book coming out. This week is a solo episode and we're talking about figuring out your vision and purpose for your life. 5:18 – Have a vision The Bible says where there is no vision, people perish. Ask yourself, if money were no object, what would you do with the rest of your life? What do you think God put you here to do? 7:34 – Spend time with God Are you regularly spending time with God? Are you reading the Bible? That's God's love letter to us. Reading the Bible will help you spot the fake, phony lies. 10:51 – Pray This sounds overly simplistic. But when you are intentional with prayer, things happen. Call on your Heavenly Father. You can pray literally anytime. 13:03 – Be part of a Godly community Take an extra step and invite people into your space and your life. You cannot do this alone. Cultivate a Godly community. FEATURED QUOTES Today, I'm going through the three things that really begin to help you understand what your vision and purpose is for your life. Ask yourself, if money were no object, what would you do with the rest of your life? Are you regularly spending time with God?

This episode originally aired July 29th, 2020. A few months ago, I heard about this show called The Chosen. It depicts the life of Jesus and the disciples in a unique way, taking a look at Jesus' life, and how the disciples became disciples. When I first heard about it, I was skeptical, but I gave it a try. After the second episode, I was hooked! Not only have I watched the entire season once, I've actually watched it though three times now. When I fell in love with the show, I started to do more research on it. Not only is it a unique show in and of itself, it's also the first series that is the #1 crowd-funded media project in history. It even has its own app! As I began to dive deeper, I learned more about the company producing the show, Angel Studios, formerly VidAngel. The show is directed by Dallas Jenkins, the son of Jerry Jenkins, who wrote the Left Behind series. I wanted to know more about VidAngel and why this platform wanted to produce a show about Jesus in such a unique way. My guest this week is Neal Harmon. Neal is the CEO and cofounder of Angel Studios formerly VidAngel, a streaming service that allows parents to skip objectionable content in entertainment using groundbreaking technology. VidAngel has been highly profiled for The Chosen, and its other incredible family-based content like Dry Bar Comedy. VidAngel recently made headlines by offer all of its streaming content for free during the Covid-19 pandemic, provided that people agree to social distancing of course. My conversation with Neal was incredible and refreshing He was very transparent about the story of VidAngel as it experiences growing pains and lessons many young companies experience. You're going to love this conversation with Neal, so let's dive in! 4:30 - The Neal 101 Neal grew up in Idaho working on dairy farms and even tried to start his own cattle business at one point, but as he got older and learned more about the world, he started working with web businesses. After experiencing a spectacular failure right out of college, he started a company called OraBrush, a tongue cleaner that got rid of bad breath. OraBrush went from zero sales to global distribution in just a few years, thanks to YouTube marketing. Later a company reached out to Neal and his brother, cofounders of OraBrush, to help them market Poo~Pourri! The Poo~Pourri ad campaign was so successful that it turned Neal and his brother into an ad agency. Shortly after that, they started VidAngel, which is something Neal and his three brothers wanted to create for their own families. Neal's favorite movie is Cinderella Man. The movie portrays people having character, even in their darkest moments, but the movie has a coach who has a foul mouth. Neal wanted his young kids to be able to see the story, but didn't want them hearing or repeating those words in their home. VidAngel allows you to take popular movies and TV shows, and skip over content you don't find appropriate for your own home. It's like a pre-programmed remote. Neal and his brothers had a bigger vision for VidAngel, too. They wanted to have a bigger impact on media and on the world. They knew that if they found the people who valued protecting their families by using technology to skip over specific content, that they would also have a group of people they could also distribute content in a manner that would be a better fit than what Hollywood provides. 10:53 - A Broken Feedback Loop The creators in Hollywood love to see who wins the awards each year, but it seems they are essentially making movies for each other. About three fourths of the revenue in the box office comes from the family friendly movie, but half the titles coming out of Hollywood are rated R. VidAngel is bridging the gap to give creators a feedback loop. If audiences are skipping over certain scenes, creators can learn how to adjust the content that is affecting their market. It allows them to listen to their market, rather than their peers. When there is immediate feedback, there is acknowledgement of an issue and something productive can be done with that information. Since big studios own the distribution channels, they can also fill those with what they chose. VidAngel's feedback loop helps create a voice for those without access to big distribution channels. 14:10 – Resistance, Controversy, Transparency, Growth During the summer of 2016, VidAngel faced a lawsuit with The Walt Disney Company. It was a shock to VidAngel because before they started their service, they actually wrote The Walt Disney Company in good faith and transparency, telling them about the service, giving them information on the users they'd tested it with, and asked for their feedback. They shared their own reasoning for why they thought what they were doing was ok, but also gave The Walt Disney Company an opportunity to let them know if they thought anything being done was unlawful. VidAngel heard no response from The Walt Disney Company until a year later whe

This episode is a replay that originally aired on August 7, 2019. (Click the featured times below to jump forward in the episode) Laughter is the best medicine, and Kevin Fredericks (KevOnStage) is here to talk about how humor can heal and bring us together. Kevin does it all. He has nearly 5 million followers and 140 million views on YouTube. He's a fast-rising entertainer who's already sold out a 50 city self-produced tour, written and produced several TV shows and movies, and grown All Def Digital from 300,000 fans to nearly 10 million fans. Join me in laughter for this fun show with KevOnStage. 3:45 - The Kev 101 Kev's first comedy show was a church talent show while in high school, and during college, he and his brother transitioned to creating plays. After some local success, Tyler Perry's booking agent came to see one of the plays. They thought it was their big break, until they realized it would still cost $300,000 for them to produce their own play. Kev's kids were young at that time, so the family decided to quit doing plays and focus on raising their children. With the rising success of YouTube stars, Kev suggested they put some funny sketches online to try and grow their notoriety and then travel to promote their plays. After their videos gained immediate viral success, Kev and his team transitioned primarily to feature video content for social media. Kev quickly started his own channel, quit his job and added a stand-up routine to his repertoire. Making funny videos on the internet has played a huge role in Kevin's career success. Kev and his family moved to Los Angeles where he worked in the TV industry, and has since gained vast experience with editing, directing, and digital media. The majority of his work now consists of producing content for YouTube, podcasts, and his stand-up routine. 13:45 – Relatable Unites We are drawn together by our shared human experiences, and that is even more powerful when mixed with humor. While Kev is a comedian who is a Christian, he is not a Christian comedian. He makes jokes about himself, his family, his experiences, music, married life, the audience, Bobby Caldwell, etc. to reach more people and more audiences who are not all Christians. Kev wants to use his platform to show that you can have a good life with God. Often his fans find a good message in his jokes and relate that feeling to getting back to church. When Kev feels like his comedy isn't going over well with the audience, instead of introducing shock value to his material, he'll go back to jokes he knows go over well. In the early days, he'd just leave early. "It's totally ok to get off the stage if you are not doing your job, which is to make people laugh." 26:18 - Sharing is Caring The world wide web has allowed Kev success by building a dedicated audience online. It's much easier to do 30 minutes of standup when the audience already knows you and likes you. Kev was already well-versed in stand up before his online career took off, so audiences were able to witness a well-oiled comedy machine once Kev started going viral. With all the negativity you can find in social media or the daily news, Kev has used his social media presence as a platform for influencing people in a positive way. Kev's ultimate goal is to produce long-form content independently for himself as well as for other creators. 31:59 - Comedy Tour and What's Next Kev is traveling with his Real Comedians of Social Media Tour with Tony Baker, TM, and Doughboy. On the major cities tour stops, Kev and his wife also record their podcast with the live audiences before the comedy lineup begins. As the lines between TV and social media are blurred, Kev is seeing continued success in opportunities outside of the traditional Hollywood route. Kev has a new show on Facebook Watch called Kev on Everything where he learns new skills, completely unscripted. He also plans on adding other forms of entertainment (like music!) into his stand-up shows. One of the greatest things about being creative and sharing creativity in the age of social media is that that the opportunities to spread your ideas have no physical boundaries. 38:11 - Getting to Know Our Guest Listen to hear who Kev names as his favorite comedians and biggest influences, what song he has to sing along with anytime it comes on, and a recent joke that was a complete flop. Most importantly, you'll hear what it means to Kev to run a business with purpose.

My guest this week is Ruth Chou Simons, is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies, including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker, using each of her platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people's hearts. Through her online shop at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God's grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are parents to six boys. Her newest book is, "Pilgrim: 25 Ways God's Character Leads Us Onward." You are going to love today's conversation! 6:38 – Ruth 101 GraceLaced.com started as a blog. She wanted to write about God's grace. In one decade, she had six boys, started a school and started a church. Her boys are ages 10 to 21. 12:00 – Your unique gifts Use your unique gifts for the glory of God. Ruth loves writing and coloring and painting. Be creative in how you will use your unique giftings for God's glory. 15:59 – Read your Bible Read your Bible. Soak it up. It takes practice to get the rhythm of quieting your heart to hear God's word. 23:23 – Pilgrim Ruth's new book, Pilgrim, is a devotional style book with shorter readings. The book includes Biblical truths and attributes. 29:08 – Remember God's character We need to remember God's character when we're in the wilderness. When we're on a journey, we won't always know why things happen. 34:20 – Go deeper Go deeper in your walk with the Lord. He will lead you on your journey. 37:34 – The unknowns Ruth has been in seasons of unknowns, not knowing how God was going to provide. When you go through major life transitions, every season brings questions you don't have answers to. And that's ok. We're all headed to one destination – and that's to see our Savior face-to-face. FEATURED QUOTES We had six boys, started a school and started a church – all in the same decade. And it was a lot. I've always been someone who sketches and draws. All along, I've always known I was artsy. The truth is, I'm not the most talented watercolorist or artist there is. I just have chosen to use my brush and my paints in a very specific way that has met a need in the body of Christ. Go deeper in your walk with the Lord.

My guest this week is Inés Franklin. She currently serves as a teaching pastor at Mariners Church, where she preaches sermons and writes and teaches theology and discipleship courses. Inés is the founder and president of Trochia Ministries, a Christian discipleship ministry, which seeks to provide resources designed to equip and encourage believers to develop genuine, mature, and resilient faith. Inés is also the author of the new book, Uncharted: Navigating Your Unique Journey of Faith. This book offers lessons learned from Inés' own courageous journey of faith. We go deep in our conversation today, and her testimony is incredibly powerful. You will be blown away by her story. 2:42 – Inés 101 Inés is from Puerto Rico. She teaches on Sunday mornings in English and Spanish. She is the CFO for a real estate business she owns with her husband. Inés and her husband have a blended family and 9, soon-to-be 10, grandchildren. 10:55 – Her faith journey Inés and her six siblings were raised by a single mom in poverty with a lot of government assistance and help from family members. Inés' mom had no interest in going to church, but her grandmother took them to church. Inés wanted to go to heaven as a child and thought about taking her life to get there. 19:16 – It's never too late It's never too late to come to Christ. When Inés' life crashed, she was desperate for life again. She was hungry for a new way. You can't jump a divide between you and God on your own effort. God is the one who bridges that divide through Jesus on the cross. 28:09 – Seminary on her heart When God puts something on your heart, it won't go away. Inés decided to go to seminary school in her 40s. 39:19 – Extending forgiveness When you extend forgiveness to yourself, you let go of the pride you have. None of us like to walk into grief, but you need to remember that none of us are perfect. Sadness is the consequence of sin. Grow into a deeper relationship with God. 48:40 – Faith is mysterious Don't be afraid to ask questions. They are essential. God isn't offended by our questions. FEATURED QUOTES I wanted to go to heaven. I heard about heaven, and I wanted to go right away. You can't jump a divide between you and God on your own effort. God is the one who bridges that divide through Jesus on the cross. When God puts something on your heart, it won't go away. I was not kind to myself, but I was forgetting how human and vulnerable I am. Even today, after 20 years of walking with Jesus, I'm still capable of doing things that are wrong. Questions are essential. God is not offended by any questions we ask. https://www.inesfranklin.com/

My guest this week is Curtis Chang, a theologian, consulting faculty member at Duke Divinity School and a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. His ministry experience includes serving as a senior pastor of an Evangelical Covenant Church in California, a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and engaging in racial reconciliation work in Soweto, South Africa. Curtis is the founding Executive Director of Redeeming Babel, a nonprofit that helps Christians engage the wider world. He also hosts the Good Faith podcast where he discusses how Christian faith intersects with culture, law, and politics. His latest book, The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self, was released in May. 3:26 – Curtis 101 Curtis has always stood at the intersection between the world of secular institutions and work and Christian faith. He wrote a book about anxiety because it is a pervasive pandemic, and Christianity has something to say about it. 7:49 – Shame of anxiety In the Christian faith, there's a tremendous amount of shame around anxiety. Some see it as a flaw, lack of faith or sin. Curtis has suffered from anxiety for his much of his life. He once had a catastrophic breakdown and had trouble sleeping. Anxiety is the most profound opportunity for spiritual growth we may have. 12:44 – Anxiety spectrum We all exist somewhere on the anxiety spectrum. There's a difference between anxiety and anxiety disorder. Anxiety is the fear of loss. An anxiety disorder is when our response to anxiety is dysfunctional and unhealthy. 19:38 – Avoiding the unavoidable Many Christians fall into the trap of thinking that bad things won't happen to them because they are believers. But Christians experience loss, too. God did not let you down if you experience a loss. You can't avoid the unavoidable. 23:43 – How to handle loss The real promise of the gospel is not loss avoidance, but loss restoration. You have to go through loss to get to future restoration. 25:22 – Anxious children Your kid's anxiety can make you anxious. Curtis has two daughters. He has tried to jump in and make their anxiety go away. But that makes them more anxious. Instead, he holds their loss and empathizes with them. 35:40 – Anxiety and politics Why talk about anxiety and politics? Because you can't respond to what's happening with politics without acknowledging the pervasive anxiety around it. Politics can be a toxic drug. 48:32 – Advice about anxiety If you want to lessen anxiety, get curious about what you're feeling and experiencing. FEATURED QUOTES The best way to understand me is, I'm someone who has always stood at the intersection between the world of secular institutions and work and the Christian faith. There is a pervasive and growing pandemic – and it is a mental health pandemic – of anxiety. The Christian faith has something really helpful to say. There's a tremendous amount of shame around anxiety. I write as somebody who knows of the painful reality of anxiety. Anxiety is actually the most profound opportunity for spiritual growth we may have. https://redeemingbabel.org/ https://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Opportunity-Worry-Doorway-Your/dp/031036728X

My guest this week is the incredible Sandra Byrd, an experienced devotionalist who has authored more than 50 books. Sandra's newest devotional, Dwell, was just released and focuses on the heartwarming topic of home. She created this devotional to draw inspiration from window views and cozy armchairs to spend time with God. It's the perfect book to keep on your nightstand or coffee table and help you feel closer to God when you read it. Her previous devotionals for women include The One Year Home and Garden Devotions (from which Dwell was drawn) and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional. In addition, her tween devotional, One Year Between You and God, is a bestseller. Sandra is also an editor and writing coach who is passionate about helping writers develop their talents. 3:30 – Sandra 101 Sandra is a Christian woman, mother, grandmother, author, book and writing coach and editor. She is also a foodie and loves long walks by the water. 4:51 – Food as art Foodie is more than just liking to eat. It's about enjoying recipes and learning about food. Sandra enjoys all the senses when she's around food, and it's like an art form to her. 6:56 – Sensory beings Taste can bring us closer to Jesus. Cuisines can help us learn about cultures. God made us to be sensory beings. When we navigate the world using our senses, we enjoy it more fully. God uses sensory illustrations in the Bible to help us understand His word. Sandra only drinks Jasmine tea when she's spending time with God. She associates the smell with God. 13:10 – At home with God We often look for mountaintop experiences with God, but most life events are pretty mundane. We need to feel God in the place where we spend most of our time, at home. 20:19 – Our forever home God never lets Sandra write about anything that she hasn't experienced. She and her husband had to leave their dream home after he got cancer, so home became part of her story. Sandra thought that was her forever home, but she was wrong. Our forever home is in Heaven, not here on earth. 31:59 – Devotionals and prayer partners Set yourself up for success to spend time with the Lord. Set out your Bible, set reminders on your phone and tell family that you'll be doing your devotionals. A good devotional is like a prayer partner, in a sense. 46:08 – Most fun book The most fun book she wrote? Her Tudor books. FEATURED QUOTES God made us to be sensory beings. When we navigate the world using our senses, we enjoy it more fully. That's where peace comes from – if we have our home as a refuge. God is our home. And our physical surrounding is our home. God never lets me write about anything that I don't experience. A good devotional is like a prayer partner, in a sense. https://www.sandrabyrd.com/ About Sandra Byrd: The author of more than fifty books, Sandra's work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including a starred review from Publisher's Weekly and multiple starred reviews and Best Book selections from Library Journal. Other awards include the Historical Novel Society's Editor's Choice award, two Christy Awards nominations, a Bookpage Top Pick for Romance, and inclusion on Booklist's Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list. Sandra is an experienced devotionalist. Her newest devotional, Dwell, will be published in Spring 2023. Previous devotionals for women include The One Year Home and Garden Devotions (from which Dwell was drawn) and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional, which was named by Called Magazine, the #1 magazine for Christian Women, as among their favorite, must-read books. In addition, her tween devo, One Year Between You and God, is a bestseller. As an editor and an in-demand writing coach, Sandra is passionate about helping writers develop their talents and has mentored hundreds of writers at all stages of their writing careers. For testimonials about her editing and book coaching, please visit sandrabyrdbookcoach.com. A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and serve ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family. About Dwell: Dwell 90 Days at Home with God Because God dwells in us and we dwell in Him, evidence of Him surrounds us, right where we live. And He wants us to lean in to Him, enjoying security in His love and comfort from His companionship. Join Sandra Byrd for 90 days of devotional readings that will lead you to a place where you feel at home with God. She draws inspiration from do-it-yourself projects, gardening, home decor, and more, and then pairs each story with biblical insights that nurture gratitude and deepen faith. You'll love the earthy look of this devotional with a scattering of full-page photos and full color throughout, this warm, inviting devotional will feature beautifully on a nightstand or coffee table and provide fresh encouragement for the soul. With stories from rea

My guest this week is Jenell Jones, an education entrepreneur who is currently operating two childcare and early learning centers. Her centers specialize in providing high quality learning experiences to children who experience trauma in low-income areas. In her spare time, Jenell prides herself by staying active in her church community in Arizona. She enjoys sharing her time, talent, and treasure with all those in need, and thoroughly enjoys sharing her experiences as a natural, foster, and adoptive mother through the lens of Christianity. Jenell has seven children and is grateful that God allowed her to be the mother of each of them. 3:42 – Jenell 101 Jenell says she is a normal person and loves her seven children. She often feels mom guilt and wanting to do more for her children. 6:06 – Shattered In her just released book, Shattered, Jenelle shares her honest take on the adoption and foster care system. Jenell's family is one of those families where, if somebody needs something, they end up at Jenell's house – whether it's two days or two years. 8:41 – Helping children feel whole again One of Jenell's foster children was hospitalized and told the nurse she was hearing voices. Not much can shock Jenell, but that did. Doctors aren't always able to help kids with trauma and brokenness feel whole again. 15:27 – Advocating for children Jenell is sharing her story about the foster and adoption system to bring the issues to light. There is no voice for children in the system. People aren't showing God's children when they're leaving children to fend for themselves without a voice. 23:56 – Protecting children's privacy Jenell tries to protect her children's identities while sharing their stories. Doctors need more data from real situations to help children. 28:29 – Separating siblings Jenell's daughter has 10 siblings, and she couldn't take all of them, unfortunately. It's hard on kids when they are separated from family. 32:19 – Looking ahead Jenell is trying to get the word out about her book. To help her, visit JenellJones.com. FEATURED QUOTES I am just like a normal person. I like to pride myself on being a mom of seven. We are one of those families where, if somebody needs something, they end up at our house – whether it's two days or two years. I've started with telling my story to rally other people around us. We're not showing God's love when we're leaving those children out there. https://www.jenelljones.com/ https://www.jenelljones.com/books About Jenell Jones: Jenell M. Jones is an early education entrepreneur, currently operating multiple early learning centers, which specialize in providing high quality learning experiences to children who experience trauma in low-income areas. Her education background includes earning a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorders from Arizona State University. A native of Phoenix, Jones has provided her expertise to families for the last decade and currently hosts private discussions with other foster and adoptive parents on current issues affecting the nontraditional home. Through her life experiences, passion is the source by which she governs herself to make a difference. The goal is not to be perfect but to assist others in rising through difficulties. Jones' blueprint of success can be summed up in a few statements: Be tenacious, be kind, be loving, but most of all…be forgiving. Find out more about her at JenellJones.com. Adoptive mother shares first-hand experiences of under-supported foster and adoptive parents PHOENIX, Arizona – Adoptive and foster parents assume there will be adequate resources to support their growing families – but too often, the system doesn't follow through. In "Shattered" (AuthorHouse, May 16, 2023), Jenell M. Jones tells the raw truth behind America's foster and adoption system, sharing the day-to-day realities and challenges of raising children with mental and physical limitations, and tells parents (and would-be parents) what they most need to hear: It won't be what you expect, and you are not alone. With the trajectory of today's society, we can all agree that parenting is difficult. Choosing to foster and adopt proves to not be an easy feat. Parents are in constant competition with societal influences and sometimes feel it's an uphill battle. These same parents are often told they will be supported in the rearing of their children and that adequate resources would be made available. But what happens when you discover the system that promised to help you, would betray you? What happens when you decide to enter into another realm of difficulty – fostering and adopting children who come with mental and physical baggage? Meet Jenell M. Jones, an adoptive mother who is still trying to find the answers to these questions. In these pages, you will see through a mother's eyes as she shares her deepest pain for her daughter, "Mercy." In the end, justic

My guest this week is the hilarious and amazing Elizabeth Passarella, the author of two books, "It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway" and "Good Apple." She is contributing editor for Southern Living and former editor at Real Simple and Vogue. Elizabeth has spent more than 20 years writing about food, travel, home design, and parenting in outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Parents, Martha Stewart Weddings, Coastal Living, Airbnb Magazine, and Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn. Elizabeth grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children. 4:18 – Elizabeth 101 Elizabeth is a writer and has lived in New York City since 1999, but she's a Southerner at heart. Her books are humorous essay collections about her life, including parenting, marriage, friendships, her faith and some politics. 7:22 – New York City Elizabeth's dad encouraged her to attend college up north and move somewhere different from where she grew up. She finally realized how fun and high energy New York City was. Once she got to New York, she didn't plan to be there long-term, but she felt a spiritual calling that it was home. 19:56 – Books and family Elizabeth's mother is supportive but wants her to stop writing books, especially ones that talk about their family. Elizabeth enjoyed working part-time for magazines and also raising her kids. A former magazine editor turned literary agent asked Elizabeth to write a book. 25:28 – Green lights from God There were lots of green lights with writing a book. God made it very clear to Elizabeth that she should keep writing. God kept opening little doors, so she kept going. 35:11 – Taboo Christianity It can feel taboo to be a Christian in New York City, but the city has a lot of churches. It's a misconception that there aren't a lot of Christians in New York. 40:21 – Raising kids in the city Elizabeth didn't take her kids to touristy areas in New York City until friends came into town and wanted to see the sights. Living in New York City, space is the biggest thing you give up. Elizabeth has a minivan, but her family mostly walks everywhere. FEATURED QUOTES Once I got to New York, I didn't think it was where I was going to live forever. But it was a cosmic, spiritual transformation in me. I just knew in my bones that this was home. There were lots of green lights with writing a book. God made it very clear that, "You're doing what I want you to be doing. Keep doing it." It's a misconception that there aren't a lot of Christians in New York. There are a lot of thriving churches here. I'm not always fighting to hold onto God. He's fighting to hold onto me. He's fighting to hold onto all of us. https://www.elizabethpassarella.com/ https://www.elizabethpassarella.com/books

My guest this week is Karrie Garcia. As a pastor, life coach, author and CEO, Karrie inspires change in others by boldly sharing her journey to freedom. With more than 10,000 hours of experience under her belt, Karrie has been speaking formally since the age of 19. Her audiences range from church small groups to crowds of thousands. Karrie's authentic, raw, and fearless approach to addressing challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable, topics makes those who hear from her feel known, loved, and accepted. She started the nonprofit Freedom Movement in 2014 with the understanding that every single one of us is broken and has wounds, many of which are not often addressed within traditional church environments. Karrie's new book, Free & Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be, is available now. 10:22 – Karrie 101 Besides being a wife and a mom of three kids, Karrie trains people to heal through their trauma. Karrie wanted to know God deeply, but she didn't know how to deal with the harm and heartache she experienced at home. 21:36 – Struggling through addiction Karrie has been sober 21 years, but she still struggles with drug addiction. She got off drugs because she was going to die. No one is doing drugs just because they want to. Something deeper is going on. 34:26 – What has helped her heal? Her entire book is about healing and connection to self, God and others. Pause the things you're doing today and look at who you were when you were younger. What role did you have to play in your family? Write down one, two or three stories about how you played that role. How did you protect yourself? 44:56 – Broken and in need People often come to Christianity broken and in need, and they think they're supposed to have their life more together than they do. But that is a lie. Jesus asks us not to be scared. Trust in Him. 52:20 – Honesty People often put on masks and don't have real, honest conversations with people. Connect to yourself first. Be honest with yourself first and then be honest with God. FEATURED QUOTES I wanted to know God deeply, and yet I didn't know how to encounter or faceoff or even really embrace the stories of harm and heartache that were in my home. I've been sober 21 years. However, I still struggle with addiction. I got off drugs because I was going to die. I take very complex things and simplify them. We must see the story before we see the sin. You're on drugs? OK, what's the story? https://www.wearefm.org/ https://www.amazon.com/Free-Fully-Alive-Reclaiming-Created/dp/0310366445

My guest this week is the incredible Jodie Berndt. She is a wife, mother, speaker and author of the best-selling Praying the Scriptures book series, which teaches to use God's word to enhance your prayer life. Her newest book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage, is available now. She and her husband Robbie have four children, and they live in Virginia Beach. Jodie has such a deep well of wisdom, and I loved this conversation all around marriage. 2:56 – Jodie 101 She has been married to her husband for nearly 38 years. They both went to University of Virginia. Things Jodie planned to do with her life didn't usually work out. She has enjoyed the unexpected nature of where life has taken her. Jodie met a woman whose husband was an author. Jodie began writing for him. 7:11 – How her series was born Jodie's first book was about miracles. She loved using the Bible to help her pray for her family and herself. That led to her book series about Praying the Scriptures 12:20 – Work vs. personal life People often introduce Jodie as a prayer expert or warrior. But she doesn't feel comfortable with those titles. She is just someone who's aware of her own need for God's help. Jodie asks God to help her, even when it's hard to obey Him. 15:34 – Clogging the prayer lines? Some people tell Jodie they feel bad about praying for simple things, like a child's field hockey team or wanting a new refrigerator. They see it as "clogging the prayer lines" when there are more important things happening in the world. When you pray about the little things, it lets you live with a greater sense of gratitude. 23:12 – Getting to know God Prayer isn't so much about getting things from God as it is about getting God and getting to know Him better. 25:08 – Prayer and marriage People kept asking Jodie for a book about prayer and marriage, but she didn't think the world needed any more. She already had a lot of books on her shelf about marriage. Her passion for the project developed as she worked on it. 40:18 – Praying together Praying with your spouse can be awkward, especially if you have different styles of prayer. You can download a 31-day prayer calendar that has suggestions for topics, like generosity. 53:20 – Favorite thing to do with her husband Jodie loves being grandparents together and going boating. FEATURED QUOTES I kind of fell backwards into writing, but it's been a fun journey. People will often introduce me as a prayer expert or prayer warrior. I'm just like, "Whoa, whoa! I don't consider myself an expert or a warrior. I consider myself who's really aware of her own need for God for his help." I think, "God, help me obey you, even when it's really hard." The best stuff comes out of the wrestle. When you pray about the little things, it lets you live with a greater sense of gratitude. Prayer isn't so much about getting things from God as it is about getting God and getting to know Him better. https://jodieberndt.com/

Welcome to Episode 350! I can't believe we're here. I'm coming up on 7 years in podcasting, which is incredible, and I've had the chance to talk with so many amazing people. Every 10 episodes I do a solo show. And it's really just me! No team. No people sitting nearby. Just me sitting by myself at my desk in my office/recording studio. I wanted to do something fun for this episode, so we're doing a "Get to know me" show. 2:02 – Get to know me Back in high school, I created my own website on GeoCities. People used to share fun "get to know me" info. Let's jump into some questions you have about me! 5:11 – Am I named after anyone? No, I'm not named after anyone. My name is Irish. My parents always wanted to have a girl named Molly. 5:33 – Do I have kids? Yes, Lily and Amos. And two boys, Elijah and Malachi, who went to Heaven during pregnancy. I always wanted 5 kids, so I adopt my friends' kids. 6:03 – Last time I cried? I cry all the time. I'm a sympathy crier. 7:01 – Do I use sarcasm? Not as much as my husband. 7:34 – What I first notice about people? What they're wearing and if I think they're real or phony. 8:43 – Scary movie or happy endings? Hard pass on scary movies. 9:09 – Favorite smells? Flowers – roses and peonies. Also, the smell of my house, especially my bed and sheets. Is that strange? 11:14 – Hobbies Playing guitar and reading, if I have time. Also, anything farming. I have several "granny habits," like canning, cooking and food preservation. 12:54 – What did I want to be when I grew up? I wanted to be on Saturday Night Live. Seriously, that was my dream. 13:56 – How tall am I? I'm 5'3" on a good day! 14:48 – Favorite and worst subjects in high school? Loved writing, hated math. 16:07 – Favorite childhood memory When my mom took my friends and me to see NSYNC in concert. 18:24 – Extrovert or introvert? I'm an introvert … really! I just love my alone time. That's how I recharge. 20:02 – Am I a good cook? Yes! I love to cook. 21:02 – Where would I love to live? Right where I am. 22:43 – First movie I saw The Wizard of Oz. I was obsessed with it. 23:02 – One word that describes me Loyal. 23:56 – Something that amazes me Living on the farm and seeing life happen around me. FEATURED QUOTES I love doing this podcast. I get to sit down with so many cool people. I cry all the time. I'm a sympathy crier. Do I use sarcasm? Not as much as my husband. I have developed what I call "granny habits" over the last couple of years. I really like to can and cook and do food preserving.

My guest this week is Jenny Nuccio, a mom, wife, coach, mentor, and founder and CEO of Imani Collective. What first started as a non-profit training program has developed into a social enterprise and holistic women's empowerment program in Mombasa, Kenya. Jenny started going to Kenya when she was 18 and started Imani Collective at 21. She didn't have mentors along the way and humbly entered every door asking countless questions. Her journey felt extremely lonely and she realized so many others were in her shoes. Jenny wants women to not only come alive in who they are but also realize that they are fully capable of chasing their dreams. Jenny is a good friend of mine and was on the show in April 2021. Listen to her previous episode. 3:15 – Jenny 201 Jenny lives in Kenya and was just in the states traveling for a week. She is now Dr. Jenny Nuccio and proudly uses that title, but she's not a medical doctor. Her new book, Let it Be Wild: Stepping into the Unknown and Finding a Home, comes out May 29. 9:12 – Creative process Jenny's creative process has changed over the years. She used to journal, and now she shares thoughts by voice notes. Her book takes people behind the scenes of her life and work. Her short stories take people through the highs, lows and lessons learned. 13:16 – Radical listening Ask yourself: What are you doing to radically listen and create change? Jenny is always fighting against the narrative of quick change in communities. She wants to empower people and aid communities for the long term. 21:10 – Let it Be Wild Jenny's family always called her the wild one, so that inspired the name of her book. Her family didn't travel much, but Jenny now travels all over the world. When she was young, she had audacious bravery. 30:40 – Challenges and the future After Covid started, her business grew 116%. They handed out thousands of masks to the community. She was blessed with more business, but it was a challenge. 41:30 – Quieting the inner voice Jenny allows herself to feel emotions and have some stagnant days. Hiding under the covers is OK for awhile, but don't stay there. 47:05 – Get to know you What brings her the most joy? Her daughter's laugh. FEATURED QUOTES My expertise is the social enterprise world. I'm always fighting against that narrative of quick relief. How are we doing empowerment and development that is actually aiding communities for the long term? What are you doing to radially listen and create change? When you're young, you have audacious bravery. https://www.amazon.com/Let-Be-Wild-Stepping-Finding/dp/B0C1TKJ2DW HTTP://www.letibewildbook.com

My guests this week are Dr. Ed Gravely and Dr. Pete Link Jr. Ed serves as Professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University and occupies the Ott Chair of Theology there. He has been teaching koine Greek and New Testament at the university and graduate level since 2002, and the focus of his research and writing is in the field of Textual Criticism. Ed serves as an elder at his church in the Charleston area. He is married and has two children. Pete serves as an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University. He teaches biblical Hebrew, Old Testament, and hermeneutics with a focus on the Torah. Dr. Link earned his PhD from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2012, and he currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Southeast Region of the Evangelical Theological Society. In addition to his academic work, Pete also serves as a Groups Pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Summerville, S.C. God has blessed him and his wife, Becky, with five wonderful children. 3:30 – Pete 101 His background is in radio, TV and film. He was a failed screenwriter. Pete gave his life to the Lord at age 31. 5:30 – Ed 101 He is married with a 16-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter. One of the best things about living in Charleston is putting Christmas lights in palm trees. 7:10 – Bible 101 Pete and Ed wrote the book, "Bible 101," to be a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to the ins and outs of the Old and New Testaments. They spent about 6 to 8 weeks writing the first draft of the book. They think Biblical illiteracy is a problem. 16:00 – New and Old Testaments The amount of Old Testament that is assumed by the New Testament writers is substantial. Paul is sort of the spark notes for the Old Testament. 27:41 – What order to teach the Old Testament? They wondered what order would be best to teach the Old Testament. While reading the Bible, you can begin to see the patterns of God's mercy. 36:36 – How should I live in this world? Think about the things you need to hold onto and the things you need to let go of, because you are passing through this world. 42:54 – Asking God questions God is not afraid of our questions. 44:20 – What to say to nonbelievers? Some people have very particular and meticulous questions, and you can work to answer those. Does the person you're talking to consider the Bible to be innocent until proven guilty or guilty until proven innocent? 57:26 – Get to know you FEATURED QUOTES We sent the book to friends, asking, "Does this make sense to you?" – Pete This book sort of fell out of the sky into our laps. – Pete We certainly believe that Biblical illiteracy is especially bad right now. – Pete I can remember how intimidating the concept of the scriptures were. – Pete The amount of Old Testament that is assumed by the New Testament writers is substantial. – Ed I often tell my students that in many ways Paul is sort of the spark notes for the Old Testament. – Ed https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bible-101/Edward-D-Gravely/Adams-101/9781507219805

My guest today is Dr. Heather Thompson Day, an interdenominational speaker, an ECPA bestseller and contributor for Christianity Today and Newsweek. She is also the host of Viral Jesus, a new podcast with Christianity Today, which charts in the top 200 of all Christian podcasts in the U.S. Heather is an Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University. She is passionate about supporting women, and runs an online community called I'm That Wife, which has more than 270,000 followers. Heather's writing has been featured on outlets like the Today Show, and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and The Wall Street Journal. She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches for young people. She is the author of 8 books; including I'll See You Tomorrow, and It's Not Your Turn. She resides in Michigan, with her husband, Seth Day, and their three children, London, Hudson, and Sawyer Day. 3:41 – Heather 101 Heather always says, when trying to describe herself, that she is forever a teacher and forever a student. She works in the communications space in pop culture and always wanted to be a writer. 10:31 – Relational resilience Heather credits the people she surrounds herself with for helping her succeed. She believes self-reliance is a myth. We are created to exist in relationship with other people. 16:51 – Toxic relationships A friend hurt her, and she was forced to determine: Is this an incident or a pattern? Heather has been a bitter, jealous friend, and he tries to extend the same grace to her friends. 29:20 – The strength of weak ties The strength of weak ties theory says make an effort in relationships, even if it's not deep. Stop looking for the best friend or the soul mate and just start saying, "How do I prioritize the relationships that I do have, wherever those are and whatever those look like?" 35:17 – The definition of friendship The definition of friendship is one that is mutually productive and characterized by mutual positive regard. Love is the blending of trust and joy. 50:25 – Get to know you Last thing that made her laugh? Talking with her students. Last thing that made her cry? Taylor Swift's breakup. FEATURED QUOTES I always say, when I'm trying to describe myself, that I am forever a teacher and forever a student. Self-reliance is a myth. You were created to exist in relationship to other people. In my world, words mean things. Stop looking for the best friend or the soul mate and just start saying, "How do I prioritize the relationships that I do have, wherever those are and whatever those look like?" https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/ About Heather Thompson Day: Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker, an ECPA bestseller, and has been a contributor for Christianity Today and Newsweek. She is also the host of Viral Jesus, a new podcast with Christianity Today which charts in the top 200 of all Christian podcasts in the U.S. Heather is an Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University. She is passionate about supporting women, and runs an online community called I'm That Wife which has over 270k followers. Heather's writing has been featured on outlets like the Today Show, and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and The Wall Street Journal. She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches for young people. She is the author of 8 books; including I'll See You Tomorrow, and It's Not Your Turn. She resides in Michigan, with her husband, Seth Day, and their three children, London, Hudson, and Sawyer Day. About "I'll See You Tomorrow" In a culture where people easily and hastily cancel relationships rather than cultivate them, discover what the Bible has to say about how we need to keep showing up for one another—even when we feel like walking away. We are surrounded by choices. If we want to watch a movie, we have multiple platforms we can choose from. If we grow tired of a friend or conversation, we leave them on read. It's never been easier to tune out and make a switch when something doesn't go perfectly or when we are offended. It's easy to cancel something from our lives when it comes to technology, television shows, or choices of food and drinks. But what about canceling friends or family members when we are disappointed or offended by them? In I'll See You Tomorrow, communication professor Dr. Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day tackle difficulties that people face in relationships and help them navigate through relational disappointment, conflict, and fear. The dangers of a relational cancel culture are a timely one.

My guest today is the incredible Mignon François, a speaker, entrepreneur and community leader who has inspired thousands. Mignon is the Founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection. A multi-million dollar bakery brand she created from scratch. Since planting its roots in 2008, Mignon's business savvy has earned her the titles of "Woman of Legend and Merit" by Tennessee State University, "Emerging Business Leader of the Year" and Black Enterprise Magazine "Family Business of the Year Award." In her new book, Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe, Mignon shares her story of climbing out of a life of continuous upsets, struggle, and lack to building a legacy that would bless her and future generations. 8:07 – Mignon 101 Mignon is a mother of 6 plus 1 and a grandmother of 8. She followed Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps plan and put money in envelopes to budget. Her neighbor asked her to bake cupcakes, but all Mignon had was $5, so she had to make it work. Mignon turned $5 into $60 that night and $60 into $600 by the end of the week. 15:01 – Healing and hope Mignon turned her ancestors' enslavement into healing and hope for future generations. She is passing privilege onto her children and grandchildren. 23:58 – Prosperity Mignon felt that God was telling her she'd be prosperous. At the time, she was living in a home without regular electricity and water. She had so many business ideas and realized she was never afraid to fail. She was afraid to be successful. 32:28 – God's idea Mignon sees her successes as God's idea. God blessed her and started putting things in her hands that she could give. 34:25 – Highs and lows Mignon realized that things weren't happening to her, they were happening for her. Highs and lows work together for your good. All things work together for your good. 50:25 – Get to know you Last thing that made her laugh? She laughed at herself. Last time she cried? After the shooting in Nashville. FEATURED QUOTES I turned $5 into $60 that night and $60 into $600 by the end of the week. I've been flipping that money for 17 years. I have been sitting in a home that doesn't have regular electricity, and I have been sitting in a house where the water doesn't turn on. I was never afraid to fail. I was afraid to be successful. It took for us to be at rock bottom for us to realize that there was nowhere else to go but up. https://www.amazon.com/Made-Scratch-Finding-Success-Without/dp/B0BV7G8F7C/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1682356529&refinements=p_27%3AFrancois+Mignon&s=books&sr=1-1