The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

“The problem is when we take a good thing and start serving, and we make it about us.”Friends, this conversation is loaded with truths that challenge us. Brittany Salmon is a professor, writer, and Bible teacher. She is super passionate about taking theology and applying it to everyday lives, and I value her words and perspective so much. Her upcoming book, It Takes More Than Love, embraces both the beauty and challenges of transracial adoption in a raw and authentic way and I highly recommend it!Something that I deeply appreciate about Brittany is how open she is about things she would’ve done differently, and using that to help others know and do better. She also pushes against the idea that everyone should adopt, and that might come as a shock to some people. Adoption is a beautiful but incredibly hard thing for all involved, and not every person who loves Jesus will be equipped to do so. It’s so important to listen to adult adoptees and learn from them how our language and views on these topics matter. Brittany’s book is not here to bring shame to others but to act as a resource and catalyst for change in our hearts.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“God can only get all the Glory when I tell the whole story.”Today’s guest is Ann Voskamp, my dear friend who is truly one of the most prolific writers I know. She is the author of several books including One Thousand Gifts and her newest book WayMaker, which I am confident will be one of my favorite reads of this year.This conversation really dives into what it looks like and feels like to hit rock bottom, and yet discovering that God is there with us. Sometimes we buy the lie that life isn’t supposed to be hard, but the truth is that we don’t get the way of Jesus without having to pick up a cross. Ann shares with us that peace is not a place, but a person - and we will not get out of that pit until we are fully honest with God. Waymaker is a book that asks us “who are we really turning towards?” And Ann reminds us that even though we cannot control the wind, we can control the way of our sail and turn it towards Christ.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“The God of my yesterdays is working in my now, and the God of my now has already gone into my next.”Praise God for that, friends! My guest today is author and founder of Coming Alive Ministries, Jennifer Hand! Her book My Yes Is On The Table is so inspiring and a reminder to come with our hands empty and simply say yes to God.Okay, one thing you should know about Jenn is that she has the BEST stories - I’m talking *leading someone to Christ in a nude Japanese spa* kind of stories so definitely don’t skip out on this one! She also talks about the practical ways we can say yes to God in our day to day, and how our yesses look different from one another based on our seasons of life. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that we don’t have to be unafraid to say “yes”, we just need to be willing to trust God in the next step.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“God is over all of the transitions that we face. He has used all of the transitions that we see to bring about His purpose.”I have been wanting to have Hunter Beless on the podcast for years, and she is also a long-time Happy Hour listener so this was all a huge win! Hunter is the founder and host of Journeywomen podcast and the author of a children’s book releasing so very soon "Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible".Hunter talks with us about homeschooling her children through Covid and walking through the unexpected loss of her father after just weeks of learning that he was diagnosed with cancer. Through this season, she wanted her children to see how much she needs God’s word which led to her integrating Bible literacy into her family time. She breaks down the whole journey for us of how she has walked through repetition and scripture memorization with her children. It is so beautiful and meaningful to see how much little ones really do retain God’s word and Hunter is stewarding that so well. Her children’s book comes out next month so be sure to check it out!Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Alright, y’all. Today is a different kind of Happy Hour episode. Welcome to “Tell Me About It!” The Happy Hour started as a way for me to talk about things we’re loving, things that matter, and just the kind of conversations you would have with a friend over dinner! I wanted to bring back that kind of conversation and since I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the Netflix show CHEER, I asked my friend Jackie Hill Perry to come on and chat about it with me!We break down the whole show so if you haven’t seen it and don’t want spoilers, come back to this one later! We talk a lot about what it must feel like for these kids to come from a small town in Texas and then rise to fame almost overnight. We also have a really deep conversation on cancel culture and holding people accountable. This episode was so fun to record and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!Also, stay til the end of the show because we play Austin Stone Worship’s brand new song called Hope Is Awake!Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“I still struggle, I still fail, I still get overly emotional and overreact…but grace is real. And how beautiful is that?”It’s been way too long since Scarlet has been on the show and I’m so excited to have her back! Scarlet Hiltibidal is the author of Afraid of All the Things, the Anxious Bible Study, and her upcoming book, You're the Worst Person in the World.Interesting book title, right? Well, Scarlet breaks down why this is such great news. A lot of times we say “I’m the worst” or “I’m a mess” and then we just stop there. But the fact that we're the worst and Jesus is the best is so freeing - He was glad to die for us.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“For those of us who follow Jesus, there is a specific calling for us to care about what’s going on in our world.What’s happening in Ukraine is so big, and at times can feel impossible to wrap our brains around. The last couple of weeks has felt heavy and difficult to know how to engage, how to demonstrate I care, and what to pray. I’ve invited my friend, Jenny Yang, onto the show for a special episode on how to learn, pray, and take action on this issue as believers.Jenny Yang works as the Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy for World Relief. World Relief is an incredible organization that works through the church to serve the vulnerable. Jenny states that what’s happening in Ukraine is the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II and as believers, we’ve been called to come near to those in need. She talks with us about how and what to pray for people in both Ukraine and Russia - she even challenges us to pray for Putin to have a change of heart because God commands us to love and pray for our enemies. This is a crisis that can potentially go on for a very long time so she talks us through how to fight compassion fatigue. This conversation was so helpful for me to learn how to pray and engage with what’s happening. There are a lot of great organizations and resources in the show notes if you’re interested in donating or learning more.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

​​“The truth of the Gospel is that we belong to each other and that there are not people who are more reflective of the image of God than other people.”Let’s allow that statement to guide us through every interaction we have with others. Dominique Gillard lives in Atlanta and serves as the director of racial righteousness and reconciliation. I listened to Dominique’s book Subversive Witness and while sitting at the nail salon, I wept. I was so moved by his words and intention on how to leverage privilege.There are people who became instantly uncomfortable by that word: privilege. But what does that word really mean? Dominique breaks it down for us with so much gospel kindness and shares that privilege is a result of a world tainted by sin. It’s not just about race, it’s about so many different groups and elements that make up our broken world. If our flourishing comes at the expense of other people’s lives, are we willing to not flourish in that manner? This conversation is a beautiful reminder that the flourishing of all God’s people matters.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“We can miss out on such a beautiful, God-given life because we’re preparing for the worst.”Okay, any enneagram 6’s relate?! Y’all, this is such an important topic and I’m thankful Nicole is here to talk about it! Nicole Zasowski is a marriage and family therapist in Connecticut, and her newest book What If It’s Wonderful released yesterday. I was so blown away by her words and the practice of celebration as a spiritual discipline.Nicole shares that this book was birthed out of a realization of her inability to embrace joy because she was too afraid of worst-case scenarios. She gives us practical steps on how to make celebration a rhythm, and even doing so when we’re suffering. The thing about life is that seasons are seldom all pain or all joy – they usually go in both directions. And a lot of times we are afraid to embrace the joy because if we do, then we are vulnerable to losing it. But we can celebrate because we have a past record of God’s goodness. Friends, this episode has the potential to impact how you embrace your daily life. Listen well. I hope it’s something we can all practice together.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Fear often leads us to neglect before hate.”This is one of those episodes that will likely make my top 2022 list. I met Catherine McNiel on a Women of Welcome trip to El Paso. She is an author, writer, editor, and speaker who wrestles with the creative, redemptive work of God in our ordinary lives, and truly living as Jesus commanded us to live.Her newest book, Fearing Bravely, was birthed after seeing a discrepancy between how we’re living and talking, and the way Jesus talks and acts. She talks about fear as a frenemy, that while it is something that can protect us, it is also something that people can exploit for their own benefit. It can cause us to neglect the very people that God called us to love. We hear over and over in scripture that perfect love casts out fear. Maybe what we really need is to ask God to turn our fear into compassion, and take seriously what He has commanded us to do. This book and conversation was so convicting for me - I know you’ll walk away with something to chew on!Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Am I willing to grow with this person and am I willing to love this person as they grow?”Happy Birthday to Complement! The marriage book we wrote together on the surprising beauty of choosing together over separate. My special guest is my favorite person in the world to not just record with but really to do anything with - Aaron Ivey! To celebrate Complement’s first birthday, we wanted to dive a bit more into the topic of marriage by having a fun Q&A session!We talk about overcoming the wrong ways that marriage was modeled for us, remembering pain without rehearsing pain, and what it looks like to love someone that is not the same person you said “I do” with at the alter. We hope this episode is as fun to listen to as it was for us to record!Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Even in the hurt and the mess, it’s actually what makes great friendships.”My dear friend, Jennie Allen, hardly needs an introduction to The Happy Hour community but if you’re new around here, let me fill you in! Jennie Allen is the founder of IF:Gathering and author of so many great books, including her newest one Find Your People! We dive head first into this topic and this is a conversation you’re going to want to take notes on.Jennie shares that this was the hardest book for her to write because being vulnerable and saying the things that you’re afraid to say is something she is still working on in her life. We talk about the importance of conflict and that although it can feel scary and awkward, it is safe when you both are committed to the friendship. This message is not just about having 3-5 best friends, but about building a village of friendships where we can truly be there for one another.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Ask God to turn your fear into curiosity.” It’s been way too long since Trillia Newbell has been on The Happy Hour, but better late than never! Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including her newest children’s book The Big Wide Welcome. When she isn’t writing, she’s encouraging and supporting other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers.Trillia and I dove right in today and talked about the conversation of race within the church. Trillia shared that in a lot of ways, this topic became harder to address after she became a Christian. She says that one of the biggest problems is a lack of discipleship which often leads to apathy or fear. Fear keeps us from engaging and if Christ has given us nothing to fear, then what are we afraid of? Trillia shared so many thought-provoking statements and I’m so thankful for her heart.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“When you’re honest about how desperately you wish that God had acted differently in your story and in your loss, and yet still go back to Him, that is the ultimate expression of faith.”Mattie Jackson Selecman is a podcaster and best-selling author of the book Lemons on Friday. Her father is Alan Jackson, so good storytelling has always been in her blood. Tragically, she lost her husband of less than a year, Ben, in September 2018 after he suffered a traumatic brain injury. Despite her grief, Mattie is pushing forward and has dedicated herself to helping others.In today’s show, we talk about how while she has wanted to be an author for a long time, this is the book she never wanted to write. Going through this kind of grief feels truly unbearable, and we don’t talk enough about the spiritual letdown when the miracles we want don’t happen. I really appreciated the honesty when Mattie shares that sometimes we hate what God does with our story, but we still need Him to walk with us through it.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

"We really aren't fighting anxiety. It's a God-given gift that Satan has twisted."That is such a powerful way to look at anxiety and something a lot of us should write on a post-it note so we can always remember. My guest today is Shawn Johnson who serves as lead pastor of Red Rocks Church in Denver, Colorado, a community he and a small group of people started in 2005. His newest book Attacking Anxiety just released yesterday and it is loaded with truth and encouragement for those struggling with anxiety or walking through it with a loved one.We talk about humility and having to be vulnerable with our pain to those around us. It’s not easy to be the person who feels like they are always the one battling, but God gives us community to help us get through moments we never imagined. God offers us freedom, and we can go get it. I also love Shawn’s reminder that we’re not going to get healthy but healthier because we will not be made perfect until we reach eternity. So thankful for Shawn’s vulnerability in this conversation.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Faith is not an eraser for our past. Faith gives us the ability to go into our past to rewrite it with God.”*Trigger warning: Mention of sexual assaultBonnie Gray is an author, an inspirational speaker, and podcast host of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast. Bonnie touches thousands of lives using storytelling, soul care, and prayer. I’m so excited to have Bonnie here to talk about her most recent book, Sweet Like Jasmine.Bonnie grew up as a Chinese-American daughter of a mail-order bride and spent much of her childhood never feeling like she belonged. She talks about going on a journey to learn her own story and going through life with an emotionally abusive mother. There can be so much fear in both learning and sharing our stories because we don’t know what people will think of it. But our brokenness is what brings us closer to God and others. I am so thankful to Bonnie for choosing vulnerability in her story and encouraging us to do the same.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“The enemy loves to keep us in shame because then we won’t think strategically.”Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church, Washington D.C, and author of Single, Dating, Engaged, Married and Rest & War: Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life. I am so grateful for Ben’s pastoral guidance and passion for leading people towards freedom.We talk about how the atmosphere has changed in our culture, churches and country in the last several years, and what it was like to pastor his congregation through January 6th, 2021. We also talk about how well the enemy knows us and our tendencies, and how God has given us an opportunity to be victorious. Sometimes the environment around us gets extreme, but God has given us everything we need to excel.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“It’s not just the fact that God cares about Black people. He does, He cares about who we are. But He also cares about the rest of the world, too and He wants to create a family.”I truly could’ve talked to today’s guest for hours and I’m so excited for you to hear this conversation. Esau McCaulley, PhD is an assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. His book Reading While Black was released in 2020 and is such a beacon of hope - I highly recommend it!In today’s show, we chat about how important it is to sit, read, and listen to stories and experiences that may not affect us. We always have an easy way out of conversations that don’t directly impact our lives. But Jesus calls us to compassion and empathy and to love one another through joys and pains. I love the reminder from Esau that everything we need to love one another well is in scripture - what a blessing it is that we truly have the answer.Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“That is the facade of anxiety. It’s that it will tell you things that are not true or are partly true. But never the full truth.”A lot of us need that reminder. My dear friend Gloria Umanah is back on The Happy Hour and not only am I excited to share this conversation with you, but I’m so thrilled for Gloria to share the wonderful project she is working on.Gloria launched her most recent initiative, Hope Booth: A 3-minute interactive immersive experience that delivers poetic messages of hope in the form of remodeled phone booths strategically placed throughout our cities around the globe. We talk about how the idea for this wouldn’t have happened without the difficulty of the last several years. Gloria also shares that the average person living on the street goes 3-6 months without someone looking them in the eyes, and Hope Booth truly has the potential to change this by reminding people that they are seen and loved. I’m so proud of Gloria for launching this vision that God placed in her heart. Listen to her story and learn how we can come alongside her to make this happen!Connect with JamieFacebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTubeGET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

It’s been four years since the release of my first book If You Only Knew, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Back in 2018, we did a mini-series where I interviewed several people and asked them about their “If you only knew…”. An “if you only knew” is something in your life that you feel people would think less of you if they knew about it. We’ve all got one of those, I’m sure. BUT here’s the good news: there’s truth and forgiveness and freedom from shame through Jesus. He will use these things as part of our story. Heather Macfadyen and Lisa Whittle are amongst a few of the people who shared their stories so to celebrate the birthday of my first book, we are bringing back these two conversations and talking about being free from the shame of our past. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

I know it’s only January but this episode will probably go down as my favorite interview of 2022! Two of my favorite people, Dr. Russell Moore and Beth Moore (nope, they’re not related!) are here to bring you a WORD today. We all know that the last 2 years have been hard and messy, but the three of us chat about the hopeful things that have happened in the midst of it all. We also talk about what it looks like to be a faithful follower of Jesus, what keeps us here loving the Church, and why we should never feel guilty obeying where God is calling us - even if those around us don’t understand. I don’t want to give too much away because this episode is loaded with encouragement and hope. I’m so thankful I get to learn from these two! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

When we can love people and not understand them, it allows so much freedom.” Those words sum up this interview so well. Taylor Tippett is an Instagram friend and I’m so happy we finally got to chat in real life! Taylor is a flight attendant who is known nationally for leaving random notes on airplanes to make people's day, which eventually inspired her book Words From The Window Seat. When not living out of her suitcase, Taylor lives full time in Los Angeles with her husband Joseph, dog, Howdy, and her wide collection of houseplants! We talk about the unique ways that she gets to enter into people’s stories through her job. Being a flight attendant doesn’t really allow for normal church schedules and small group, so Taylor has come to realize that the plane is her “church” and she can spread God’s love in the air. She also talks about her difficult journey of learning to love people even when we can’t understand them. It’s not something that’s natural for us - sometimes it’s a daily choice we have to make. But praise God that His mercies are new every morning, and we can keep trying to love the people He calls us to love. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“It’s healthy for me not to unlock that [phone] until I spend some time in the Word and in prayer.” This episode came at the perfect time and I can’t wait for you to hear it. Justin Whitmel Earley is a lawyer, author and speaker who is passionate about habits and friendship. I was so intrigued by the title of his book Habits of the Household so I dove right in! What I love about his book is that it’s not just for parents who are trying to build good habits in their family - it’s really about anyone who comes in contact with your household and developing habits that improve your quality of life. He talks about practical signals and queues you can set into place to remind you to focus on what’s important, and how goals are often impossible to reach without setting good habits in place. This is a great time to think of a habit you want to invest in! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“The worst thing that could’ve possibly happened just happened, and you’re okay.” My dear friend Morolake Akinosun is BACK! In December, we shared her Jamie Ivey Show interview that originally aired on YouTube in February of 2021, but today is her official Happy Hour debut! Morolake Akinosun is a professional track runner, Olympic Gold medalist, and most recently an Emmy Award winner for her work on Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man! We chatted about where we were on March 13th, 2020 and her recent move to LA! She also opened up about training for the Tokyo Olympics and the disappointment of not getting a spot on the Olympic team. We’ve all had a dream that didn’t happen, and it takes time to grieve the loss of that dream. But I love when she shared that while failures don’t define us, neither do our successes. What a powerful reminder that our worth has never and will never come from our accomplishments. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“It’s not about who we are - it’s about who Jesus is because when we discover His identity, that informs ours. I think I learned the most “fun facts” in this interview than any one I’ve ever done! Pastor Levi Lusko is my guest today and I’m so excited to have him on the show. I was first introduced to him from his book Through The Eyes of a Lion. I remember weeping so much at his words so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his new book. We talk about the 40s being the most fun and productive decade, and how motivated we feel at this stage to fully step into our purpose. We also dive into Levi’s newest book The Last Supper on the Moon where he discusses the importance of communion and breaks down how similar we are to the moon (you’re going to want to hear this metaphor!). This is such an awesome conversation and you will leave with your mind blown! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

HAPPY 2022! Here is part two of our conversation on goals and dreams! In today’s episode, we continue the conversation with Michelle McKinney and we chat about the difference between good goals and great goals, and being honest with ourselves about boundaries and the season we’re in. We also start a new conversation with my friend, Jennifer Allwood! I am always so inspired by her and she offers such great encouragement for the working mom. She talks about how so much more is caught by our children than taught to our children, meaning that they learn more when they see us living it out. There is so much goodness in this conversation so make sure you bring a pen and notepad! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Confident doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you’re going to feel the fear and you’re going to do it anyway.” HAPPY 2022! We want to start off the year a little differently. Back in 2019, we did a mini-series for our Patreon community on goals and dreams. They were such great conversations and are still relevant today, so we want to share them with all of our listeners as we begin to plan and dream for this year and beyond. These episodes will be a little longer than usual, but what I love about these conversations is that it’s not about how to achieve more. It’s about confidently pursuing dreams, while also looking at what we already have and using that well! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“I’m not looking back to change something, I’m looking back to learn, to take notes, to be a kind friend to myself so that when I turn around and look forward, I can do it with more intention and more purpose.” We are closing out 2021 with the one and only Emily P. Freeman! Emily is another Happy Hour veteran and this conversation is the perfect guide to looking back and moving forward. For those who may not know Emily, she is a writer, creative director, and wonderful listener. She is passionate about helping people make good decisions and do the next right thing. We bonded over both being parents of high school seniors and remembering the small things that make up beautiful moments in our lives. We also chat a lot about the nuance in decision-making and why she no longer uses pros and cons lists. Life is made up of so many daily decisions and we can sometimes risk making the wrong decision just to check it off the list. But I love how Emily reminds us that making small decisions every day leads us to make the big decision that once seemed overwhelming, but is now attainable. Thank you for another great year with The Happy Hour! We cannot wait to show you what we have for 2022! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

It’s that time of year, friends! The Ivey Media team is back to recap 2021, tell you our favorite episodes, what we learned about ourselves, and what we love about working together! I always love doing this episode because it’s so cool hearing about different conversations impact each of us in a unique way. We make it a priority to value the quality of content vs. people, meaning some of the greatest conversations we have might be from a guest you’ve never heard of before. Our mission has never changed - to glorify God and tell stories that matter. Thank you so much for listening and supporting this mission. We couldn’t do this without you! Tell us your favorite episodes from this year! Who do you want to see in 2022? What conversations are you itching to hear? We wanna know all the things! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“One of the unique things about Christmas is that you can bring your joy and your sorrow.” I’m so excited to have Dan Darling on the show today! Daniel Darling is a bestselling author of several books, ​​a columnist for World Magazine, and a contributor to USA Today. His book The Characters of Christmas was a game-changer for me in having a fresh look at The Christmas story by seeing how all the minor characters played a part in Jesus’ birth. The Christmas season always feels so busy and it’s easy to forget how beautiful and miraculous the Christmas story is. Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, was born to very normal, unlikely people. God is using ordinary people to do great things in the world, and ordinary people have both joy and sorrow. We can bring it all to Him. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about God in the last 20 years it’s that He makes beautiful things out of our messes and out of our ashes.” Some of you are probably really familiar with my friend Holly Hayes. Her story is full of redemption and she is celebrating 20 years of sobriety, out of trafficking, and a new life in Christ. Holly is a living example that God can not only transform anyone but use anyone to bring Him glory. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Today’s guest is Mitchell Johnson, who works at The Austin Stone as a college director! Mitchell was just 12-years-old when he was caught in the middle of one of the worst natural disasters in the U.S.: Hurricane Katrina. He shares about his experience of not yet knowing how severe the situation was, and within moments the entire first floor was submerged in water. It took four days to be rescued and he had to be separated from his mom so she could seek help. He walks us through his journey from waiting to be rescued on a bridge to being taken to safety in Wichita Falls, Texas. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Motherhood and careers - we know how hard it can be to balance both and Lauren Petrowski is here to break down this journey for us. Lauren Petrowski is a former host of Good Day Austin and has 15 years of experience as a news anchor. She is now a digital content creator and covers topics from food, home, and fashion. In this episode, Lauren gets vulnerable about motherhood, work-life, and asking herself if she really can have it all. She shares about the loneliness of having a baby during a pandemic, and then after 12 years of working as a morning news anchor, she made the hard decision to step away from her role and stay home. We make challenging decisions in life that we know are ultimately for the best, but it’s also okay to grieve the life we had because it mattered to us. This is a conversation that women need to hear more. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“I have no aspirations to be in any title or role other than ‘student of Jesus’ and His way.” What I love about my friend Kat Armstrong is how much she has overcome to be a faithful follower of Jesus. She is passionate about seeing women come to know the scriptures and show up to learn more about His holiness every day. Kat heard the Gospel through a working woman, later sat under Beth Moore’s teaching, and eventually attended seminary where she fought negative stereotypes and established herself as a woman who wants to deeply know and love Christ with her whole being. Kat also gets vulnerable about losing her father to suicide and his long battle with mental illness. She shares about the in-between place of making peace with the past and stepping into the future that allows us to accomplish the goodness Christ has planned for us. I’m so inspired by Kat’s strength and devotion to Jesus in every aspect of her life, and this conversation is a constant reminder of how much Jesus is truly for women. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“All of this obsession about trying to be thin, making myself small (both figuratively and literally) is not bringing the joy and fulfillment into my life that I want.” Isabel Garza is a registered dietitian who is on a mission to help women nourish their bodies with confidence. I am so thankful for the work Isabel is doing and her passion to see women find freedom. Isabel talks about how to learn more about our own bodies and get rid of all the rules that we make about eating. She breaks down the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger, and giving women the power to make good decisions about the foods that make them feel good. If you are curious about women’s hormones, disordered eating, or working through your relationship with food, give this a listen! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Maybe the Giver of existence is the one who led you to this place. Maybe the dream needed to die because there is a deeper desire in you.” Profound and brave words from the talented Scott Erickson, also known as @scottthepainter. I love this interview because it speaks to something so many of us have felt at some point in our lives: Realizing that the life you have is not the life you imagined for yourself. He shares about the reality of dreams dying in us. And even if it is ultimately for our own good, it’s still painful and something worth grieving. He also shares about the problem of seeing Jesus as a product to fix our pain and sadness because when the product doesn’t work in the way that we expected, we throw it away. This conversation is raw and real and something that I’m confident you will find encouragement in. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“I love track and field and when it’s time for me to walk away, I have so much more in life that I can do. But I am not done yet.” This is what it looks like to trust in God’s timing! Morolake Akinosun is a professional track and field athlete, and also a Rio 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist. Earlier this year on The Jamie Ivey Show, I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Morolake about the Olympics, her professional training, and the 2018 achilles tendon injury that almost ended her career. She dives into the healing and recovery process and how she not only overcame the obstacle but finished 10th in the world at a 2019 competition. Morolake is an exceptional woman who gives her all into everything she does. I can’t wait to see what her future holds! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“38 dollars is beyond 38 dollars - it’s a discipleship opportunity to make these children followers of Christ.” I was absolutely giddy to step into this interview. My guest Jonathan Almonte works with Compassion International as the manager of supporter engagement. Last year, I had the opportunity to talk with Jonathan on the podcast and I’m so happy we got to catch up a year later! Jonathan shares about his childhood growing up in poverty and how a 26-year-old college student sponsoring him changed his life forever. It’s easy to think that $38 a month doesn’t do much, but it truly has the power to change the trajectory of a family and give them an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus. This is Kingdom work, friends! We have a goal to sponsor 400 kids over the next year and I know we can do it! Pray about what it would look like for you to take part in this beautiful mission. Go to compassion.com/ivey! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“You do not have to be perfect before you are honest.” Leading a fashion lifestyle brand might be an unlikely role for someone self-described as “not a fashion guy,” but that’s exactly where ABLE CEO Barrett Ward finds himself. As the visionary behind the rapidly growing Nashville-based company disrupting the fashion industry with a social conscience, Ward was inspired to start ABLE with the mission of creating sustainable economic opportunities for women. While living in Ethiopia, Ward and wife Rachel saw firsthand how extreme poverty forced many young women to make difficult choices for money. They wanted to give women the chance to earn a living with dignity. In 2010, they began ABLE by employing women who had overcome the sex industry to make handmade scarves, and it has since grown into a lifestyle brand carrying all kinds of accessories and apparel. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Holiday Gift Guide is HERE! We held our very first live podcast show for our annual Holiday Gift Guide and it was absolutely wonderful! I was joined by my cohosts Jessica Honegger and Jena Holliday to share about 13 incredible small businesses that we think you should shop from this holiday season. Every single vendor has some kind of discount to offer our listeners so grab a pen and paper and get ready to check off your shopping list! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“These people in the first century had the same issues, the same struggles, the same questions, the same concerns that we do now. And if you can identify with those struggles and concerns then ideally, you’ll identify with the solution.” If you don’t know about the television series The Chosen, you need to know about it! Dallas Jenkins is the creator, director, and co-writer of The Chosen, and I’ve been excited to talk with him for a long time! Dallas comes from a creative background and his dad, Jerry Jenkins, is actually the writer of the Left Behind series! I loved getting to hear about how they use creative storytelling to highlight the truth of scripture, and all of the details they include to remind us that these are real stories that happened to real people. Their goal is to err on the side of humanity and truth, and I truly think they are nailing it. So thankful for this conversation with Dallas! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“It’s okay to name your desire to the Lord, and it’s okay to speak your disappointment to Him.” Mitchel Lee is a Maryland native and has served as Lead Pastor since August 2016. His passion is to be a bridge-builder between generations and ethnicities both in the US and internationally through leadership development and church-planting. Mitchel’s first book, Even If, was released in August of this year! This conversation cuts deep. We talk through a lot of “Even if” scenarios and how important it is to decide that God is good before the outcome. We dive into grief and lament and being open about our disappointments with God. When we want something, when something matters to us, we don’t have to pretend like it doesn’t. We don’t have to brush it off and say “oh, it’s fine.” We can feel and express that disappointment to Him, but proclaim “Even if...you are still good.” I needed this reminder today. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“If you don’t believe that you’re known, seen, loved, if you feel like God doesn’t see you, you’re gonna look to be seen by others.” That one line can pretty much wrap up this whole interview. MŌRIAH is a Latinx recording artist, actress and academic born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. At age 17, she left a pre-law program in California to free fall into pursuing music in Nashville. Since then, she has released several albums and has become a champion for seeing diversity in the industry and making room for the next generation of creators. MŌRIAH gets vulnerable about writing from a place of pain in order to help process hard things, and the journey that took her on. I love seeing God use our pain and creativity to minister to others. I’m so thankful for this conversation and loved getting to know MŌRIAH! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Jesus gave up being adored by the crowds for the sake of something better and truer. And that ‘better and truer’ was to love you and to love the people around you more faithfully than the crowds could ever allow Him to.” That was just one of the many times Jesse Eubanks’ words helped me see a deeper version of Christ, and I have a feeling you’ll love this conversation as much as I did. Jesse Eubanks launched Love Thy Neighborhood in January 2014 and amongst all the things they do, I love that they really tackle what it looks like to follow Jesus in this culture. In this episode, Jesse breaks down why and how we can truly trust Jesus with who we are, and how our enneagram type factors into both the way we see Jesus and our understanding of our life story. I hope you walk away from this with so much clarity and encouragement! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Productivity is not about doing more, it’s doing what is most important.” Let me tell you right now - this conversation with Tanya Dalton shook me to my CORE. What I love about this episode is that Tanya talks about something so many of us experience - wanting to dive into our purpose but not knowing what that is. I think so many of us go through life without taking a moment to think about the things that naturally fulfill us and how the strengths God gave us can lead us into a deeper purpose. I just love Tanya’s desire to help women step into the greatness that they were designed for. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“We’re the already-reached, but not reaching for our Bibles.” What powerful and convicting words. I always love chatting with the ladies at She Reads Truth and hearing about what they’re doing to develop a community of women who are committed to reading their Bibles together every day. Raechel Myers joined me on this episode and breaks down elements of the church calendar, such as Lent and Advent! SRT has so many incredible resources to dive into the Word and take time to remember and worship. We also talk about how there’s a lot of scripture-adjacent things that feel like you’ve spent time with God, but you’ve really just heard someone else’s experience of spending time with God. While these things are helpful resources, we never want to use them as a replacement for our own quiet time with the Lord. Thankful for all that She Reads Truth is doing to build a community of bible-reading believers! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

*TRIGGER WARNING: This episode mentions sexual abuse, assault, and suicide. Please listen with caution. “The walk has not been easy, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. With everything that comes with the walk, this is where I want to be.” No matter what we’ve been through, our walk with Christ is never easy - and Rosie Rivera’s story is a clear example of that. Rosie Rivera is a speaker and preacher, mom of 3 and married to a worship leader. Her newest book God Is Your Defender shares her beautiful story of redemption and how God picks up the broken pieces of our lives. Rosie has overcome more by age 15 than some of us will go through in our whole lives. When she recounts the moment God saved her, I was overwhelmed with the love and mercy of our God. When I asked Rosie what is the biggest difference between a life with God and a life with God. She answered, “The peace.” There is no greater peace than knowing our Savior. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“Confession is not a ‘guilt’ confession. It’s an ‘aligning with God’ confession. I want to get in line with what is true so I am confessing that this has been untrue, and now I want to believe truly from this core place.” Heather MacFadyen wrote online before Facebook existed. After years of blog entries, in 2013 she launched a trailblazing podcast called God Centered Mom. In 2018, the show rebranded to the Don’t Mom Alone podcast, and she has a book out NOW of the same name! What I love about Heather is that her content isn’t just for moms. Yes, moms can get so much out of this, but this episode is really about community, listening to the Holy Spirit, and healing - something that can be applied to so many situations and areas of our lives. It’s about confronting and confessing the lies we tell ourselves so that we can align with the truth of who God says we are. This is not the episode to skip, and check out her new book Don’t Mom Alone! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“The goal is not to have a perfect teenager...our goal was that they’d love Jesus and love their neighbor.” This was the interview I needed. Dave and Ann Wilson, founders of a multi-campus church and family coaches, talk all about parenting and launching kids into their identity. Their newest book No Perfect Parents shares easy-to-apply principles that can help foster strong parent-child relationships through adulthood. I always say that being a parent will go down as my hardest job ever, and it’s easy to get caught up in judging my “success” as a parent based on how well my kids turn out. But this episode was a reminder that the best thing we can do for our kids is to not only love them but also constantly remind them of who they are in Christ and what God has the power to do in their lives. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

“These deep cries of our heart, these places of pain, anguish, hurt, anger. The place to bring that, first and foremost, is to God in prayer.” Jamin Goggin serves as a pastor at Mission Hills Church in San Marcos, California. Back in 2017, Jamin released the book "The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb" with his co-author Kyle Strobel. When they first released the book, it was after a journey of realizing that maybe their whole approach to ministry was actually at odds with the heart of God because it was driven by a sense of power. After the release, news broke that one of the people they highlighted as a model for the way of Jesus had a dark secret and downfall. This caused Jamin to not only reassess the book but also face a lot of disappointment and confusion. He has a lot of great insight on how to come before God in our hurt and anger, while also never forgetting to lament over the direct victims of these situations. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE