The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

My guest for The Happy Hour #383 is Lauren Chandler. Lauren is an author and worship leader at The Village Church where her husband, Matt Chandler, is the lead pastor. Lauren is a mother of three and their family currently lives in Flower Mound, Texas. She also recently released a Bible Study called With Us in the Wilderness which walks through the book of Numbers - it’s so encouraging and well-worth your time! In today's episode, Lauren dives into what it was like walking through her own seasons of wilderness in ministry and family, and how crying out to the Lord helped her move forward one step at a time. Friend, the book of Numbers is such a profound book to study because every single one of us can relate - all of us have had a wilderness season in our lives. You may wonder if that’s ever been you, but I love how simply Lauren puts it: “A wilderness season is anything that leads us into something uncomfortable.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #382 is Kat Harris. Kat Harris is a Brooklyn-based educator, podcaster, + her first book Sexless in the City will be released on April 20th! She is Co-Founder of the online publication The Refined Woman, and host of The Refined Collective Podcast. In today’s episode, Kat dives into changing the narrative around purity culture, not only to equalize men and women’s responsibilities in it, but also to remove the stigma of shame within conversations about sex. There are certain things about sex that aren’t talked about enough in the church to both single and married people, and we should acknowledge that being informed on this topic from both biblical and scientific perspectives is not sinful - it can truly be so helpful in fostering healthy conversations around sex. I love when Kat says “Any story that starts and ends with shame, I can know right off the bat that is not God’s heart for me.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #381 is Arden Bevere. Arden Bevere is the youngest son of John and Lisa Bevere and the cofounder of Sons & Daughters, a movement committed to raise up a generation of uncompromising followers of Christ who will transform our world. Arden also released a book earlier this year called Redefined: Confronting the labels that limit us. In today’s episode, he gets vulnerable about his season of walking away from Christ, learning from regret and how to earn back trust. Arden also dives into what it’s like being a millennial, and the problem of labels as opposed to identity and calling. It’s so easy to view ourselves through the lens of our failures and feel as though we are unworthy of being used by God because of that. But I love so much when Arden says “Through scripture, God never labels His people. He only calls them.” He has called every single one of us to make Him known and bring Him glory - He will not leave any one of us out. So thankful for that reminder today! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #380 is Bri Stensrud. Bri is the director of Women of Welcome, a Christian community that pursues Christ-like welcome to immigrants. Bri has so much experience in many different human justice and advocacy spaces. From protecting the unborn to adoption to holistic pro-life views and immigration, Bri is someone who leads with compassion. Bri is a dear friend and someone I admire so much for the work she is doing for vulnerable populations. I love getting to talk with her as she challenges me to look at things harder and longer, and it always shows me that there is more than meets the eye. In today’s episode, we talk about her expanded view of pro-life and what it means to act as different parts of the body of Christ. Bri also touches on some of the criticism and loneliness of having a holistic pro-life view, and the strains it can cause in relationships, churches and families. The holistic pro-life view tends to be criticized because of a political gap - people who advocate for social justice generally tend not to advocate for the unborn and vice versa. But Bri teaches us that it can truly be both/and. I love so much when she says “You’re going to confront people in your family, people in your church, people in your community who are not going to understand what the love of God compels you to do. But you should do it anyway.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #379 is Amy Wolff. If you have been listening to the podcast for a while, then Amy Wolff is a familiar name to you. Amy is a speaker coach, motivational speaker, author and founder of Don’t Give Up Movement. Amy also just released her newest book Signs of Hope which is beautifully written and a must-read for anyone and everyone! In today’s show, Amy dives into the story of Signs of Hope and how it was the start of a journey - not just one of encouraging people who are like her, but also encouraging those who are very different from her. It’s easy to say “You matter,” to someone just like you; it’s a lot harder to tell someone they matter (and truly mean it) if they believe, vote, speak, and live differently than you do. But I love so much when Amy breaks down the difference between empathy and endorsement and says “We don’t have to agree. That is not a prerequisite to love.” For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #378 is Francis Chan. Francis Chan has been a pastor for over thirty years. He is a New York Times–bestselling author of several books, including Crazy Love and Letters to the Church. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married nearly thirty years and co-authored You and Me Forever. Currently, Francis and his family split their time between ministry and church planting in Northern California and Asia! First off, Happy Good Friday! I am so thankful to be joined by Francis on this important day leading up to Easter. Friends, I feel like I cannot say enough good things about this conversation and yet I’m speechless at the same time. I walked away from this knowing that it may be my favorite interview of the entire year. Francis’ newest book, Until Unity, just released yesterday and it could not have come at a better time. At this moment in time, we see over and over that we’re willing to sacrifice unity to pursue truth or vice versa, and we’ll come after one another trying to convince ourselves that we’ve got it right. Not only does this tear apart the body of Christ, but it shows how shallow our love is and how much we are lacking the Holy Spirit. I love so much when Francis says “If the Holy Spirit is truly in us and God is grieving some of the words that come out of our mouths, we’ll know it - because we ourselves will feel that grief.” For the full summary and bonus content from this episode, click the links to the show below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #377 is Gretchen Saffles. Gretchen is the founder of the online community Well-Watered Women, and author of The Well-Watered Woman, leading readers to discover the refreshing well of God’s Word so they can experience fullness and peace beyond their circumstances. The Well-Watered Woman and the companion devotional journal, The Well-Watered Life, are releasing next week! In today’s episode, Gretchen talks about society’s criteria of a “good Christian woman” and how to combat that with God’s word. Gretchen also dives into the true meaning of a well-watered woman, and what it looks like to really be with Jesus. I love when she says “The goal of the well-watered woman is not to become this perfect person. It’s to know Jesus and to become like Him together.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #376 is Richard Lui. Richard Lui is a journalist and News Anchor on MSNBC and NBC News. He just released a book called Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness which talks about his journey of exploring selflessness amidst his father’s Alzheimer's diagnosis. In today’s episode, Richard shares what it’s like to care for an aging, sick parent while also being on a fast career track, and the beauty of growing through hardship. Richard also talks about how our society is so deeply affected by selflessness or lack thereof. Exploring selflessness is not something that is inherently natural for us as human beings - it’s truly something we need to constantly exercise. I love when Richard says, “It’s okay not to be perfect, but to strive for the perfect opportunity.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #375 is Ross Lester. Ross is the Pastor of Preaching at The Austin Stone Community Church. He is originally from South Africa, and has now been in the states for three years with his wife, Sue and children. I’m so thankful for Ross’ voice and his perspective on the world as a Christ follower who grew up overseas. In today’s episode, we talk about the American Church vs. American Culture, and his experience of learning what it looks like to be a pastor in the states through an international lens. Ross also dives into the problem of Christian nationalism, and lays out 10 signs of it at play. It’s not an easy or comfortable thing to talk about, but it’s so important to address as followers of Christ and be aware of what we put our faith into. Ross says, “The problem with Christian nationalism is that it is framed as a culture war, rather than a call to follow Jesus.” Oof. What I respect most about Ross is that he knows the potential cost of speaking on these topics, but knows his calling to obey and honor Christ is so much greater. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #365 is Carlos Whittaker. Carlos Whittaker is an author, speaker, and self-professed hope dealer. He speaks at some of the largest churches in the country and at conferences including the Orange Conference, Catalyst, MomCon, and many others. He is also the author of Moment Maker and Kill the Spider, and his newest work Enter Wild. Carlos lives with his wife, Heather, and their three children in Nashville. In today’s episode, we talk about the problem of finding our identity in what we do, and overcoming lies from the enemy. Carlos also talks about stepping into hard conversations in order to better love and understand one another. It’s no secret that there’s a lot of division in our world today, and sometimes it feels like disagreeing with people and loving them well have to be mutually exclusive. But I love so much when Carlos says “We’ve got to learn to not stand on issues, but walk with people.” What an important reminder. I’m thankful for Carlos’ passion to love and walk with people through their individual journeys and experiences. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #373 is Aarti Sequeira. Most people know Aarti as winning season six of The Next Food Network Star, and hosting her own cooking show Aarti Party. Aarti is married to Brendan and together they have two daughters, Eliyah and Moses. They recently moved to Raleigh, NC after living in LA for two decades. Y’all, this was a really special episode and Aarti has a WORD for us. In today’s episode, Aarti talks about how growing up in Dubai during the Gulf War sparked a deep passion for news and journalism. She eventually got a job at CNN and although it was her dream on paper, she always felt like something didn’t fit. Aarti ended up moving across the country, and through a long season waiting for another job opportunity, she found comfort in cooking AND later accepted Christ as her personal Savior. How amazing is it that God truly meets us in any season? Sometimes we end up in places or paths that we never expected, but I LOVE when Aarti says, “His dreams for me have always been more delicious and rich and huger than I have always imagined, and I just follow the breadcrumbs.” WOW. There is SO much more to this episode that you need to hear. Don’t skip out on it! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #372 is Mike Nawrocki. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, I know what might ring a bell: VeggieTales! Mike is the co-creator of VeggieTales and the voice of Larry the Cucumber! In today’s episode, Mike talks about how we came to meet Phil Vischer (voice of Bob the Tomato), and what led them to starting VeggieTales. Can you believe they were only in their mid-20s when it launched?! Mike also talks about how he initially went to college for biology with hopes of doing medical missions, and somehow ended up completely changing his plans. Sometimes we have goals in life that result in a massive change, and it can make us feel guilty for not accomplishing what we originally set out to do. But I love when Mike says, “There’s nothing wrong with a goal, but always be mindful that God may have something else in store for you.” What a great reminder. Have goals, but be open and willing to God moving you where He wants you to go. For links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #371 is Jemar Tisby. Jemar Tisby is the CEO of The Witness Inc, an organization dedicated to Black uplift from a Christian perspective. He writes about race, religion and culture in national news outlets and his newsletter, Footnotes. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast and a PhD candidate in History at the University of Mississippi. This is SUCH an important conversation and one that we can learn a lot from. In today’s episode, Jemar answers questions like what we can do about racism and why it’s important to care about it. He tackles hard topics like the death penalty, mass incarceration, and the importance of justice. He also dives into the difference between racial justice and racial reconciliation, and the church’s role in valuing both diversity and justice. Jemar says, “Christians have been such a big part of racism, that they have to be a big part of dismantling it.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #370 is Jonathan “JP” Pokluda. JP is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. Author of best-selling "Welcome to Adulting," and newly released "Outdated", JP seeks to offer Millennials and Gen Z a roadmap for dating in a world that desires to find love that lasts when dating has changed. JP has such a great word for both young people and parents as we talk to our kids about dating. This episode is so timely with the release of both of our books! In today’s show, we talk a bit about JP’s past before choosing Jesus at 21 and the life transformation that followed, as well as what it looks like to be a Christian in today’s world without the culture and motions. JP also dives into some of the misconceptions of dating, singleness and marriage and how we can honor God in any stage we are in. I love when he says, “We’re not looking for the one, we’re looking for someone as a follower of Jesus who is also a follower of Jesus.” SO true. I’m so thankful for the ministry JP is doing, and helping people approach dating and singleness in a healthy, God-honoring way. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #369 is my favorite person and partner: My husband Aaron Ivey! For those of you who are new around here, Aaron and I have been married for almost 20 years! He leads the creative team at The Austin Stone and is the head worship pastor. He’s a songwriter, mentor, amazing father and author - he truly does all the things! Aaron is my most favorite person to talk to so I love whenever he joins me on the podcast! We talk about SO many great things in this episode so make sure you listen to the whole thing! In today’s show, Aaron talks about feeling called to build relationships with people who don’t know Jesus, and focusing on who we want to be rather than what we want to do. Aaron also dives into why we felt led to write COMPLEMENT, and his experience in the last year of being diagnosed with clinical depression. It’s not an easy thing to walk through mental illness or walk through it with a loved one, but it’s so important to have these conversations to remind ourselves that it’s not our fault and we are not less than because of it. I love so much when Aaron says “You’re not flawed because of any sort of mental illness. It’s actually just a part of your wiring, it’s a part of the way that you were formed. And God even wants to restore that - He might not fix it, but He wants to do something in and through you.” What a beautiful encouragement, that even in our brokenness God wants to make it matter. I’m so proud of Aaron’s passion for who he wants to be and his commitment to allow God to lead him every step of the way. So thankful we get to share this project together! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #368 is Emily Lex. Emily is a talented artist and passionate about sharing truth. Her first book, Freely & Lightly: God’s Gracious Invitation to a Life of Quiet Confidence, releases on March 2nd and it is absolutely filled with beautiful words of encouragement. Emily is a long-time friend and has probably been on The Happy Hour more than any other person! In this episode, Emily dives into the challenge of having to pivot her business and how her change of interests affected her brand. She talks about how sometimes we do things that we were never meant to do, and how she came to a point of having to block everything out and just focus on God. I love when she says, “It required risk and obedience, but what it did was put my soul at rest which is really what I was after. And that’s what I think obedience will do.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #367 is Christy Nockels. Christy Nockels is an author, worship leader and singer-songwriter with a passion to help others understand how to communicate with God. Her podcast, The Glorious in the Mundane, inspires listeners to find the wonder of God at work in their everyday moments. She also just released her first book, The Life You Long For. I cannot believe Christy has never been on The Happy Hour but I’m SO thankful we finally made it happen! In today’s episode, we talk about preparing to launch our kids into adulthood, inviting the glorious into the mundane, and the importance of rest. Christy also dives into this idea of surrendering the outer rings of our life to God and living from the bullseye instead. We sometimes feel this need to manage our lives because not knowing can make us restless. But I love when Christy says “That’s life with God - it’s the mystery rather than us managing. It’s the supernatural principles of His word and they actually work.” This conversation was so needed for me - it’s always a great reminder to know what God can do in our lives if we just surrender. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #366 is Kait Warman. Kait Warman is an inspirational speaker, a popular relationship coach, and the host of The Heart of Dating podcast. She helps thousands of men and women on their journeys through the conversations on her podcast, social media platforms, one-on-one relationship coaching, and online courses. Kait also recently released a book called Thank You For Rejecting Me which is about transforming pain into purpose. Make sure you check it out! Kait is an absolute joy to talk to and I’m so excited for you to hear our conversation today. In this episode, we talk about things like purity culture and ways that the church can improve this conversation. I absolutely LOVED when she mentioned her exercise of helping women write out what they bring to the table in their relationships - we need more of that! Kait also dives into the message behind her book of finding purpose in rejection. Married, single or dating, we all fear rejection. It is a totally common human response which is why it’s so important to talk about. But Kait worded it so well when she said “One day, through time - through pressing in - even in all the muck and all the hardness, there will be beauty brought in its time.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #365 is Scott Sauls. Scott is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, a multi-site community in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also published five books, including 'Jesus Outside the Lines' and his latest, 'A Gentle Answer.' You may recognize Scott from our Faith & Politics special in the fall, and I’m so thankful he is joining us again! Y’all, Scott dropped so many gospel-filled words in this conversation, summarizing it just won’t do the show justice. In today’s episode, we talk about the timeliness of his book A Gentle Answer during a year like 2020, and the difference between American and Global Christianity. Scott also dives into what we can do to make sure we have the gentleness of Jesus, and fighting against our natural pull towards self-righteousness. He says “Don’t look for a bypass road around Jesus to get to character. You’re never going to become gentle without going straight through Jesus.” OOF. Grab and pen and paper for this interview - you’re going to need it. Scott has the most pastoral spirit and I always walk away feeling challenged to become more like Jesus. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #364 is Lisa Harper. Lisa Harper has been involved in ministry for 30 years as a Bible teacher, director of women’s ministry and writer of 12+ published books. Her newest devotional Life: An Obsessively Grateful, Undone by Jesus, Genuinely Happy, and Not Faking it Through the Hard Stuff Kind of 100-Day Devotional is not only fantastic, but probably my favorite subtitle I’ve ever heard! In today’s episode, we talk about Lisa’s adoption journey with her sweet daughter and the struggle of missing community through the isolation of COVID (I know we talk about it a lot but it's truly a sign of the times!). Lisa also dives into the importance of intimacy with Jesus and the hunger of wanting to know Him deeper. I love when she says “It’s not enough to go to church on Sundays. It’s not enough. We need to know Jesus through His love letter of scripture.” I am so thankful for Lisa’s constant authenticity and passion for helping people know Jesus deeper. Pick up a copy of her devotional Life! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guests for The Happy Hour #363 are Matt and Laurie Krieg. Matt and Laurie are the authors of the book An Impossible Marriage, and hosts of the Hole in my Heart podcast. I’ve had their book for a while and finally dove into it last month. Guys, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read on marriage - I devoured every single word. In this episode, they share their story of Laurie’s same-sex attraction, and yet their commitment to fighting for their marriage. Matt and Laurie are so vulnerable about their challenges, and the importance of taking moments to remember that God truly sees us. I loved when they talked about allowing God to work through us to meet the needs of others, and the wonderful gift that marriage is to show people the Gospel. They say “When we die to self, we show the world how Jesus died to be one with us as we be one with our spouse.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #362 is the wonderful Faitth Brooks. Faitth Brooks is a writer, speaker and anti-racism educator. Faitth also works as the director of programs on Be The Bridge, and is also the host of the Melanated Faith Podcast. Faith currently resides in Atlanta, GA. Y’all. I am so very excited to share this conversation with you, and am beyond thankful for Faitth’s willingness to be both vulnerable in her experiences and gracious in educating us on Black History. In today’s episode, we answer questions like “What is the big deal with Black History month?” and “Why is it important to learn about it?” I’ll admit that I was uninformed as a high-schooler in understanding Black history, and I’m so grateful for people like Faitth who explain why it is SO important for Black people to share life from their point of view - and how much more important it is for us to love them by actively listening. I really appreciated when she said “When it comes to loving people and people of color, allow us to show up as our full selves…” It sounds like it’s such a small ask, but it is truly so profound. I hope this challenges us to lay down our pride, listen to and engage with people’s experiences and resist the urge to apply one person’s story to an entire people group. It’s not always easy and it’s certainly uncomfortable, but WOW is it worth it to love people the way Jesus has called us to. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #361 is Annie F. Downs! I know for a lot of you, Annie needs no introduction - she is a bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host of That Sounds Fun. Annie is based out of Nashville and just released her newest book, That Sounds Fun! Y’all, Annie is such a dear friend of mine and talking with her is always a joy. I was on her podcast a few months back and we had a BLAST so I’m very excited that she’s joining me today! In this episode, Annie shares about how she is someone who loves big and felt shame for that in the past because she couldn’t hide the fact that she loves the people in her life. Sometimes we have this thing in our lives that we feel like is a missing chip, but it’s really such an intentional gift that allows us to bless others. I LOVE when Annie says “Every single one of us feels like we have a missing chip. A missing thing that God did not include when He made us. And the reality is that is your superpower. That is the thing you were born to tell us about and to show us and to give to the world.” PREACH. 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #360 is Sissy Goff! Sissy is a counselor in Nashville at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be, both as individuals and families. Sissy is a sought-after speaker for parenting events and the author of twelve books, including her newest, Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry & Anxiety. This conversation was SO helpful for me, both as a parent and an individual. In today’s episode, Sissy talks about her experience as a counselor for young girls, how adolescents are struggling with isolation during the pandemic and what we can do to help! She also dives into practical steps on how to be present for our children as they go through teenage years during this unique time in our world. I really appreciated when she mentioned that sometimes our children’s anxious feelings can translate into anger because they haven’t learned how to express those feelings yet. She says, “Anger is a secondary emotion. There’s typically something under the anger.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #359 is Amy Crouch. Amy Crouch is currently a junior at Cornell University studying linguistics and English! She is also the co-author of the book My Tech-Wise Life which she wrote with her dad, and talks about how to pursue digital wellness in teens and families. In this episode, Amy talks about what she’s looking forward to in 2021, the beauty of the sabbath as a way to rest from technology, and helping teens learn useful digital habits. Amy also dives into the importance of focusing on real human connections in both others and ourselves before turning to social media. I absolutely loved when she said “I think social media is about creating a brand. It’s about creating a version of yourself that appeals most to an algorithm, that appeals most to the people who are seeing it. You’re given the opportunity to create the version of yourself that you want to be, that you want others to see. And that is so powerful and so tempting, but it is so far from who we actually are and from what real connection is.” What a truth-bomb. For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #358 is Nate Knapper. Nate Knapper is the Founder & CEO of The Joseph Project, a nonprofit organization that connects human trafficking survivors with pro bono legal counsel. As a federal law enforcement officer, he served on a Detroit-based anti-trafficking squad, where he investigated human trafficking and child exploitation matters. In today’s episode, Nate tells us what domestic trafficking is and what it isn’t, and the common misconceptions about trafficking. Nate also talks about his organization The Joseph Project and the unbelievable story that led him to starting it through simple acts of obedience. I love when Nate says, “Sometimes what God is asking me and what He is inviting me into is this invitation to see the big within the small." For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #357 is Dr. Tony Evans! Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. He just released a new book called U-Turns: Reversing the Consequences in Your Life. Y’all. I don’t normally get nervous for interviews but I was SO excited to talk to Dr. Evans. He is truly such a wise leader and I’m honored he is joining me on the podcast today.In this episode, he talks about finding true rest and hope in the person of God rather than our own solutions, and what it looks like to align our life choices with the word of God. Dr. Evans also dives into what is going on in our world right now and the problem of attaching Jesus to our culture and agendas. It feels like there is just as much division in the church as there is in our nation and it can cause us to lose sight of the Kingdom by focusing on saving our culture. Dr. Evans dropped SO many truth bombs in this interview, but he really impacted me when he said “God is not going to skip the church house to fix the White House.” Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #356 is Hannah Brencher. Hannah Brencher is an author, TED speaker, and online educator with a heart for advocating for mental health and the power of discipline in daily life. In this episode, Hannah tells us about balancing being both a new and working mom, leaning into our strengths, and creating boundaries for social media - you have to hear about her phone box! Hannah also gets vulnerable as she shares about going through a season of life-threatening depression, which led her to write the words from her newest book, Fighting Forward. She had to truly fight to show up for herself, and recognize the people who were showing up for her. I love so much when she said “The lies are loud...and sometimes the only way to combat those on top of truth is to say ‘Okay - the evidence is right here that I’m showing up, there’s evidence that I’m moving forward. But I can’t reflect on that evidence or rehearse that evidence if I don’t know what it is.’” For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #355 is Rachel Cruze! Rachel Cruze is best-selling author, financial expert and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people to avoid debt, save money, budget and how to win with money at any stage in life. Her latest book Know Yourself, Know Your Money: Discover WHY You Handle Money the Way You Do and WHAT to Do About It just released - make sure you check it out! In today's episode, we talk about the blessing and challenge of family in 2020 and working on boundaries for 2021! Rachel also dives into the WHY behind our money. It’s easy to learn the how, but it’s so important to know the why and how the why relates to our personality and desires. I really appreciate when Rachel says “Control can be a bad word. But what you can control is a good thing - that you need to be wise and steward it.” For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #354 is Ben Higgins. Ben Higgins is best known from season 20 of ABC's hit series, The Bachelor. I am such a fan of the work that Ben is doing and I’m so glad he joined me on the podcast today! In this episode, he tells us about his excitement for his wedding this year, as well as his upcoming book Alone in Plain Sight which gets vulnerable about feelings of loneliness. He also dives into his transition of going on missions trips with a hero mentality to developing true kinship with people, leading him to start his organization Generous Coffee! I really loved when he said “The world you are comfortable with is not the world that most are used to.” It’s really easy to forget that how we serve is just as important as the serving itself. For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #353 is Amy Ford. Amy Ford is the President of Embrace Grace, Inc., a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of providing curriculum and leadership support for churches nationwide to open their arms to young women with unplanned pregnancies. Embrace Grace is utilized by over 700 churches across the nation and world. She is also the author of Help Her Be Brave: Discover Your Place in the Pro-Life Movement. My friend, Bri, connected Amy and I a few months ago and I am so happy she did! In today’s episode, we talk about our new goals for 2021, the work that Embrace Grace is doing to empower women with resources, and her own story of going through an unplanned pregnancy. Amy also tells so many incredible stories about encountering women with unplanned pregnancies in the most unlikely places, and the importance of pro-love action beyond the pro-life stance. She worded it so perfectly when she said “You can’t just vote a certain way. You have to be able to walk alongside her and put our actions to our beliefs. If you’re pro-life, where’s the action behind it? Because that’s where the radical change is going to happen.” For the full summary and links to the show, click below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #352 is Emmanuel Acho! Emmanuel Acho is a former NFL player, host of Speak for Yourself talk show, but most people know him from his viral YouTube series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man which launched in 2020. He also released a best-selling book of the same title that I’ve been absolutely raving about since I read it! Make sure you pick up a copy if you haven’t yet! I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new year than with Emmanuel Acho! In today’s episode, Emmanuel talks about looking back to find the beauty in the chaos of 2020, the lifetime opportunity of partnering with Oprah, and writing his book in SIX WEEKS. Y’all. Can you believe that?! He also dives into the topics we talked about on our family’s episode of his YouTube show, and what it really means to maintain Black culture. The number one question I received after our episode aired was “What does it mean to maintain Black culture?” This is personal for me as a mom raising Black children, and Emmanuel really challenged me when he said “You can raise a Black child, but raise them white-cultured.” I always want to make sure that I am not only exposing my kids to white culture, but to Black culture, too. I want to create a safe space for them to be who they are. 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

Jamie had the opportunity to co-host an episode with the Love Thy Neighborhood team this month. We don't want you to miss it, so we are dropping it here for you to enjoy! Be sure you check out more from Love Thy NeighborhoodChristians believe God made women, but what happens when that identity gets twisted by both the church and the culture? A single mom, a pastor’s wife, and a feminist all wrestle with what it means to be a woman. This episode is produced in partnership with The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. Featuring Wendy Alsup (Is the Bible Good for Women?), Lisa Bevere (Godmothers), and Courtney Reissig (The Accidental Feminist). Co-hosted by Jamie Ivey.

Today is the last episode of 2020! My guests for today are my wonderful team members, Lyndsey and Abby! If you’ve been listening to The Happy Hour for a while, you probably know who Lyndsey is - she has her hands on anything and everything coming through Ivey Media. We couldn’t do this without her! Abby is our newest team member and content manager! She writes all of our show notes, and manages content for a few of our social platforms. We got together to do a Year in Review for you, and we had the best time doing it. We talk about our favorite episodes of the year, some big wins for Ivey Media, most listened to episodes, and more. We also tease at some fun projects coming up in the new year. Here’s a hint: Go subscribe to my YouTube channel - you’ll learn more about it there! Two big wins I have to acknowledge from this year - 1. We released DOUBLE the episodes! 2. We started having men on the podcast! We also got into some incredible conversations, some of which can even be uncomfortable, but I’m always so proud of my listeners for being willing to go there with us! This has been a crazy, eventful year. But in the midst of it all, I never take for granted what an honor it is to share these conversations with you. Our team is so hopeful and excited for 2021, and we can’t wait for you to join us along the way! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

Merry Christmas from the Ivey’s!!! Today’s episode features all of Team Ivey! That’s right - Aaron, Cayden, Amos, Deacon & Story all join me for today’s Happy Hour Christmas Special! If you know anything about the Ivey crew, it’s that it always gets a little wild when we’re all together and today is no different! We read from our absolute favorite Jesus Storybook Bible, talk about our favorite Christmas traditions, sing Christmas carols - all the fun things! We also play a Christmas trivia game, and let me tell you - it gets pretty competitive. I love when the fam joins me on the podcast, and whether you’re listening on Christmas day, the day after, a week later, whenever - we hope our fam brings you a laugh today! Have a very special holiday with family and friends, and we pray that you would be reminded of Christ’s love for you today and every day. Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Song: Ikson - Christmas (Vlog No Copyright Music)Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.Video Link: https://youtu.be/25YY3RKGZZE Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #349 is Francine Rivers. Francine Rivers is a New York Times best-selling author. She’s written over 30 books, her most well-known work being Redeeming Love. My mom is absolutely giddy that Francine is joining me on the podcast today - we’re big fans and I’m sure so many of you are, too! In this episode, Francine tells us about everything from the importance of friendship in marriage to her excitement for her upcoming 2021 film Redeeming Love! She also talks about transitioning from writing steamy romance novels to Christian fiction, and the process of growing in her faith to understand the depths of God’s love for us. I love when she says, “With Christian fiction, it’s never meant to replace the real thing. It’s an introduction so that it hopefully makes people hunger and thirst for that kind of love.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #348 is Alli Worthington. Alli Worthington is an author, speaker, podcaster and business coach for entrepreneurs. Her most recent book, Standing Strong, is such an encouraging message about living with confidence and becoming great women of God. Fun fact: Our books actually released in the same week! I love sharing these moments with friends and seeing other women step into obedience in what God has called them to share. Alli Worthington is a long time friend and a Happy Hour OG and I’m so excited she is back on the podcast today! In this show, she talks about leaning into the dreams God has placed in our hearts, the difficult decision she made to leave a job she loved, and the importance of trusting God to come through the way He always does. She also dives into the idea that there is room for all of us to step into the spaces we feel called to, even though there is nothing new under the sun. Sometimes we feel like we can’t do that thing that we feel called to do because so many other people are doing it, too. But I love so much when Alli says “God has us do things, similar things, in our own version of it because only we can have our life experience. Only we can put a certain spin on things that will resonate with our little piece of the pie. But the pie is big enough for everybody.” Y’all. That is SO GOOD. 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #347 is Jonas Myrin. Originally from Sweden, Jonas Myrin is a Grammy and Billboard Music award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. If you think you’ve never heard his work, there’s a good chance you have! He’s made an incredible impact with several chart-topping songs, including “10,000 Reasons” with Matt Redman. Y’all. This is probably one of my favorite interviews we’ve done this year, and I am so excited to share it with you. In this episode, Jonas tells us about life as a missionary kid and what brought him to the States, the meaning of success as a follower of Christ, and learning to be his true-self as a believer within the music industry. Jonas also shares about unexpectedly losing his dad to COVID-19 earlier this year, and the beautiful moment when he led his dad in worship as he left this earth and met his Maker. We have all experienced our own kinds of grief and loss this year, and it can feel so overwhelming to make sense of it and feel peace through such a difficult time. But Jonas worded it so perfectly - he says, “Even in loss, even in going through the darkest night, God is still there. And He wants to be there with you in the darkness.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #346 is Rondell Treviño. Rondell Treviño is the Founder and Director of The Immigration Coalition—a faith-based non-profit providing clean drinking water to Latino, Immigrant, Migrant, and Asylum-Seeking communities along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Rondell speaks on issues of Immigration and engaging in politics from a biblical perspective at Churches, organizations, and conferences around the United States. I have been wanting to chat with Rondell for a long time and I’m so happy we made it happen! In today’s episode, we talk about the sanctifying rollercoaster of 2020, what led him to starting the Immigration Coalition and how we can partner with them to provide clean water at the border! Rondell also talks about how to engage with politics in healthy and biblical ways, remembering that we are citizens of heaven above all. I love when he says “People feel like you have to choose a side. You don’t have to choose an extreme side. There’s always a balance that Jesus brings to the table.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #345 is Lysa TerKeurst. Lysa is someone who needs no introduction, but in the off chance that you are new to this space, let me tell you about my dear friend! Lysa TerKeurst is a best-selling author, speaker and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her books include Uninvited, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and most recently Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. Lysa has continued to be a leader for Christ-following women, and I’m consistently blown away by her words and faithfulness to God’s mission. Lysa is a Happy Hour veteran and I’m so thankful she is back on the podcast. In today’s episode, Lysa talks about leaving room for God to move, what God revealed to her about forgiveness, and partnering with Harper Collins publishing to give people a place to share their stories! Lysa also goes into depth about the message of forgiveness and hurt, and why it was such a difficult message to write because it’s such a difficult message to live. But I love so much when she says, “We don’t conjure up forgiveness from inside of us. We simply throw our arms up, and we receive forgiveness from God.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #344 is Terence Lester. Terence Lester is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. He is also the author of I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People. Terence is an incredible example of what it looks like to be a doer, and I’m so excited to share this episode with you today. In this show, Terence talks about growing up in Atlanta, running away from home at sixteen years old, and the man who discipled him and changed his life. Terence also talks about the common misconceptions about people experiencing homelessness, and the importance of seeing people by building relationships in our communities. I love so much when he says “Home goes beyond just four walls and a roof. Home is community and belonging.” Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #343 is Jamie Grace. Jamie Grace is a contemporary Christian music artist who started her career at age 14. She has made several albums, and recently released a book called Finding Quiet: My Journey to Peace in an Anxious World. In today's episode, Jamie talks about finding quiet through seasons of change, growing up in the public eye as a teen star, and the process of transitioning her image from child fame to a grown, married adult with a family. She also shares about her experience with mental illness and postpartum depression, and how important it is to seek help when we need it. I think in a lot of ways we all struggle to ask for help because it makes us feel inadequate or less than, but I love when Jamie says “I cannot rely on my feelings, which are so inconsistent. I have to rely on the truth.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #342 is Colton Dixon. Colton Dixon is a musical artist who earned his professional start on American Idol. Fun fact: Colton is now the third American Idol contestant I’ve had on the podcast, how cool is that?! In today’s episode, he talks about the hurt and bitterness he felt after being cut from American Idol, unexpectedly being dropped from his label a few years later, and the terrifying delivery scare he and Annie experienced with their girls. Colton also talks a lot about stepping into new seasons and how those difficulties really shaped him. I love when he says “Without those trials, our faith would be so watered down. Not that God is the source behind the trial, but that He will use it to build our faith.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #341 is Jonathan Almonte. Jonathan was registered in Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program when he was seven years old. Today, he is a manager of Supporter Engagement for Compassion Dominican Republic, serving donors and sponsors of Dominican children. In today’s episode, Jonathan talks about his childhood growing up in deep poverty with a single mother, and how he got connected with a sponsorship program through the local church. He also dives into how sponsorships provide more than basic needs, but also provide a way for children to be introduced to the Gospel. I love when he says, “It’s more than just the $38. It’s making a child a disciple of Christ.” To learn more about how to sponsor a child, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

It’s that time of year again! Holiday Gift Guide is one of my favorite things we do all year, and I cannot wait to share this year’s amazing vendors and products with you! My dear friend, Mica May and I had the best time learning about these incredible companies and small businesses, and we are so confident you’ll have plenty to choose from for your Christmas shopping! We love supporting businesses that are small, women-owned, give-back, or ethical brands, and we have such a special round-up for you this year. Make sure to listen to the full podcast episode to get all the discount codes for the vendors! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #340 is Tracy Foster. Tracy Foster is co-founder and Executive Director of START | Stand Together and Rethink Technology which brings parents and community leaders together to develop "digital health" for raising kids with healthy screen habits. Tracy has SO much knowledge around this topic that is so helpful to me as a mom of four. I’m so thankful she is sharing her wisdom with us today. In this episode, she talks about how to navigate digital health during COVID-19, being a safe place for your kids to talk to about harmful images, and practical steps to protect children from the dangers of pornography. The difficult thing about technology is that it’s a great tool when used well, but it can also be a harmful obstacle. Tracy says “For most of our kids, their screens are probably at risk of being the biggest things standing in the way of themselves actually achieving the goals that they care about most in life.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #339 is Daniel Hill. Daniel Hill is the author of White Awake, White Lies, and 10:10: Life to the Fullest. Daniel is the Founding and Senior Pastor of River City Community Church, located in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. Friends, I cannot fully put into words how excited I am that Daniel is joining us on the podcast today. I completely devoured his book White Awake earlier this summer and have been wanting to chat with him ever since. In today’s episode, Daniel dives deep into his journey of coming face to face with a culture of white supremacy and realizing how many things in his life he never had to think about as a white male. I really appreciated Daniel’s words when he said “Racism is built on a set of lies, and lies belong to the evil one.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #338 is Lisa Bevere. Lisa Bevere has spent nearly three decades empowering women to find their identity and purpose. She is a cancer survivor and a New York Times bestselling author. In today’s episode, she talks about working hard to create a healthy family foundation and her early days as a Christian woman who wanted to be poured into. She also talks about the hard journey of fighting for her place as a woman in the church and her desire to share what God has done in her life. It’s no secret that there is still controversy over the voice of women in some churches and beyond, but I love so much when Lisa says, “God would not have given women a voice if He did not intend them to use it.” 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

My guest for The Happy Hour #337 is Sam Acho. Sam Acho is an NFL player, writer, public speaker, and humanitarian. It’s awesome people like Sam that make me so happy to have men on The Happy Hour! In today’s episode, we chat about fun Super Bowl predictions, the process of transitioning to new seasons, and releasing his new book! He also dives into his journey of learning not to hide his emotions and allowing people to see him for who he is, the same way that The Lord sees us. I love when he says, “When I showed people ‘me’, I wasn’t shunned or rejected or tossed aside or thrown away or cast out. Instead I was embraced. I was loved. I was accepted. I was welcomed.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #336 is Jeff Bethke. Jeff Bethke is the author of several books, including Jesus > Religion, and his most recent book To Hell With The Hustle. I have so much respect for Jeff and the whole Bethke crew, and I’m so excited to have him on the podcast today. In this episode, Jeff dives into his passion for helping families lean into their purpose of glorifying God as a unit and being called to mission as a family. Not necessarily in the sense of a nuclear or corporate family, but rather in the multigenerational family that is the body of Christ. I love when Jeff says, “The picture of family in scripture is such a big table, there’s no one that doesn’t have a seat.” For the full summary and show links, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE