The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast: Recent Episodes
Alexandra Kuykendall & Krista Gilbert
Longtime friends and authors Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall share relatable, practical and fun conversations on faith, motherhood and leadership. Often inviting another friend into the conversation, listeners will be inspired to take that next step, do that hard thing, and encourage their family and friends to do the same as they walk through the doors God opens. Let's be world changers for good right where we are!
In all of our excitement this spring we forgot to mention that we are taking the month of June off! No new episodes until July.
We will connect with you again in July and until then, remember, it's our time to rise!
Ever thought about going back to school to pursue that career you've always dreamed of—but life just got in the way?
In this episode, Ashley Larkin shares her inspiring journey of returning to school to study counseling—all while raising three teenage daughters. We dive into what it really takes to make a big move like this, from learning how to discern your next right step to leaning on community support and pushing through the challenges of stepping back into the classroom after years away.
More than anything, Ashley reminds us that your worth isn’t tied to your resume—and it’s never too late to go after something new. If you’ve been wondering whether this could be your next chapter, Ashley’s wisdom and encouragement will help you!
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED * The Big Five Test * Strength finder Test
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How does your wiring point you toward next steps? 2. How can you borrow someone else's beliefs or courage on your behalf, and how can you ask that person to offer some belief or courage to you, that you can hold onto? 3. Is there a word phrase or image that keeps resurfacing for you? 4. How can you practice receiving God's love?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
How do we face what makes us scared? How do we muster up courage when all we feel is afraid? Midlife has no shortage of fears, those things that are out of our control and threaten to bring us harm, or at least discomfort. We wake up in the middle of the night, we ask God for definitive outcomes, but mostly we wish for clarity and certainty when those outcomes were never promised. We have to figure out how to live with fear. We have to figure out what courage looks like.
In this episode, Alex and Krista share their process when they are facing fear and want to make courageous decisions. Hear how they understand God's call toward courage and the Biblical characters that exemplify it. We would love to know, what makes you afraid? And how do you find courage?
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Bible verses
- John 10:10
- Matthew 8:23-27
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Joshua 1:9
Book
Courageous
Atomic Habits- James Clear
Quote
Krista's Quote on Courage
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Ever felt like you're not enough, or that someone’s going to find out you don’t belong? You’re not alone—and Mary Marantz gets it.
In this honest and inspiring conversation, Mary—author, speaker, and host of The Mary Marantz Show—shares her journey from growing up in a trailer in rural West Virginia to graduating from Yale Law and becoming a bestselling author. But this isn’t a highlight reel. Mary opens up about wrestling with fear, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the pressure to constantly strive for more.
We talk about what it really means to feel stuck (especially in midlife), why procrastination isn't laziness, and how urgency can actually be a gift. Mary also breaks down the difference between setting goals and living with intention—and why that distinction matters.
If you’re tired of chasing worth and ready to reclaim your story, this episode is for you.
FIND MORE ABOUT MARY MARANTZ Mary Marantz - Website and Instagram
Mary Marantz Book- Underestimated
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Mary's Other Books
-Dirt
-Slow Growth, Equals Strong Roots
Other Books
-Be The Unicorn
Mary's Podcast Show
-The Mary Marantz Show
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Is there an area of life where you are feeling stuck? 2. What face of fear is feeding that: Perfectionism, procrastination, people pleasing etc? 3. How can you show up with authenticity in every area of your life so that you feel integrated as you go through your days? 4. Where do you feel like you've put on imposter syndrome as a means of self-protection? 5. How can you show up with intention daily to help you live in integrity?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
How do we face grief when it feels overwhelming? How do we keep from being bitter when life turns out differently than we planned for? What do we say to God when we're simply pissed off and don't want to face the day because we did not ask for this kind of day?
Our faith does not need to be shallow, offering us only minor comfort for minor problems. Jesus understands pain and grief in ways no other human can. Yet we feel like we shouldn't go to him with our actual heartache.
Linda Dillow shares some of her life story with us. She is a woman who knows grief and anger. She also understands that life doesn't always get easier, sometimes it gets harder. And yet she has discovered some heart practices that connect her to God in these most grieved places.
If you are looking for more than a superficial faith, you are longing for a theology that withstands the worst life can throw at you and a relationship with Jesus that is authentic, push play. Linda is a comfort and a model of what it is to choose to turn back to God while asking the Holy Spirit to heal.
We want this kind of faith for us and for you.
FIND MORE ABOUT LINDA DILLOW Linda Dillow's Book- Hope for My Hurting Heart
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Psalms 139
Romans 5
Chokmah- A Hebrew word meaning -Wisdom
Philippians 3
Linda's Book
Calm My Anxious Heart
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What would you title the hard story you are living through right now? 2. Linda shared about her journey of forgiveness, who might you need to forgive and what is keeping you from doing that? 3. What is a declaration of hope that you can write over your story today? 4. What would it look like for you to worship in the minor-key right now?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
We did it—500 episodes! Today, we’re celebrating this incredible milestone by taking a look back at the conversations that have shaped us, stretched us, and stayed with us.
From unforgettable guests who made us laugh, to powerful lessons that changed the way we think and lead—this episode is a tribute to the moments that mattered most.
We’re sharing the episodes we return to again and again… and the ones you keep talking about too.
Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or just found us recently, this 500th episode is a celebration of the journey we’ve taken together.
Come celebrate with us!
LIST OF FAVORITE EPISODE John Mark Comer - The Secret to Enoying Your Life
5 Episodes That I Think of Often
- 388 How Boundaries Help Us Get What We Really Want for Christmas with Sasha Shillcut (people are upset when you establish new boundaries bc they benefitted from your lack of boundaries or are resentful they didn’t maintain the same boundary)
- 444 Love, Pray, Listen, Parenting Young Adults with Mary DeMuth (emphasis on maintaining relationship)
- 266 Our Relationship With Alcohol with Jenn Kautsch (Her own story of determining alcohol was no longer serving her)
- 376 Midlife Is No Joke: The Big Questions in Midlife (The things that used to work no longer do)
- 332 This Cultural Moment: Facing Reality with Jen Oshman (On being an informed citizen with boundaries)
Krista
Inheritance Gone Right with Sean and Jill Maher
Helping your young adult kids find their career path with Tyler Lafferty
The Soul of Shame with Dr Curt Thompson
Midlife is no joke - The big questions in midlife with Kelly Flanagan
Resilient Faith with Jerry Sittser
5 Guests I Won’t Forget
- 181 Kay Warren on Depression and Anxiety
- 377 Midlife Is No Joke: Marriage with Jimmy and Irene Rollins
- 310 Moving Through Grief and Loss at Christmas with Nancy Hicks
- David Thomas —> 274 Parenting Teens: Navigating Emotions & 165 Parenting in the New Year
- 261 Katherin Wolff on Suffering
Krista
Parenting Young Adult Children with Dr Jim Burns
Seven Surprising Ways to Rest with Dr Saundra Dalton
Candace Cameron Bure
Jackie Green and Lauren McAfee - how to be a person of legacy
What Healthy Relationships do and don’t have with Gary Thomas
5 Episodes Where I’ve Implemented Something I Learned
- 446 Styling Fashion Over 40 with Julie Powell and Krista Olufson
- 437 Jumpstarting Your Midlife Health with Megan Dahlman
- 414 Beat the Frumpy - on fashion with Jammie Baker
- 312 The Healthy Way: Productivity and Habits with Tanya Dalton
- 430 The Art and Heart of Holiday Gathering with Anna Watson Carl
Krista
Ep 493 Experience God, Really with John Eldredge - quote + God being “right here” in you + pausing + day, week, month year plan for renewal
Lead your mindset with Emily Love
The Secret to Success with Jeff Henderson
Mental Training for Your Athlete and Yourself with Trisha Kroll
Healthy Relationships 101 with John Townsend
5 Episodes That Brought Me Joy (It was all about the guests)
- 455 & 456 Building a Lasting Legacy with Rick and Diane Thomas
- 445 Maximizing Your Look with Rebecca Reid, Color Analyst
- 326 The Brain Game: The Soul of Shame with Dr. Curt Thompson
- 305 The Family Legacy Series with Eric Peterson
- 95 Sally Clarkson
Krista
Cultivating a Marriage that Lasts with Dan Allender
The Secret to being instantly understood with John Trent
Lisa Bevere - b/c she’s awesome
Kate Merrick - b/c there’s no one like Kate and it’s a moving story of faith
Edie Littlefield Sundby - Movement heals the body
5 Episodes Others Have Talked About
- 421 & 422: What I’ve Noticed About You: Our Keys to Longterm Friendship
- 373: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Photo Organization with Casey Von Stein
- 469: Who Am I If?
- 378 Midlife is No Joke: Menopause with Dr. Carol Tanksley
- 472: Faith-Driven Voters: Questions We Ask as We Cast Our Ballots With Kaitlyn Schess
Krista
How to feel the feels with Aundi Kobler
Fighting for Family with Julie and Chris Bennett
DISC your way to better relationships
How to incorporate meaningful rituals into milestone birthdays
Innovation and creativity - two secrets to living life well with Ken Wytsma
She’s Re-launching - most recent episode on going back to work
SPOTIFY LINK TO THE PLAYLIST OF EPISODES WE MENTION
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books
Sacred Marriage- Gary Thomas
Sacred Parenting- Gary Thomas
And She Still Laughs- Kate Merrick
The Mission Walker- Edie Littlefield Sundby
Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out - Jim Burns
Try softer-Aundi kolber
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
We are returning to our conversation with Kristen Douglass and Tammy Strait around re-entering the workforce after a mothering break. Whether you stepped out fulltime, took a part-time role for a number of years, or simply are looking for a pivot in your career as you enter midlife, this conversation will let you know you are not alone.
We are reminded that our mothering can have lots of transferrable skills, making us great leaders in the workplace. On the flip side, our work outside the home can offer us opportunity to provide financially for our families and give our kids insights in to what it is to live a multifaceted life.
From differentiating between facts and feelings to balancing work and family life, Tammy and Kristen speak directly to the midlife woman making career decisions. You are more than any of your roles. You are complex and your lane is wide for you to walk in step with God's good plans for you. We look forward to hearing where you are as you Relaunch your work life. IT IS YOUR TIME TO RISE!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Book
A Non-anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders by Mark Sayers
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. If you are a mom, what mothering skills have helped you in your work? 2. On the flip side, how has your work life impacted your mothering for good? 3. Consider a pressure you have experienced in the last 20 years. How has that refined you to increase your holiness and make you more impactful at work?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
So many women in midlife are stepping into something new—switching careers, transitioning roles, or heading back to work after time spent raising kids. If that sounds like you, you’re going to love this episode on re-launching your next chapter with purpose and courage.
In part 1 of this 2-part series, we sit down with Kristen Douglass, MD, and Tammy Strait, JD—two incredible women who share their real-life journeys from professional life to stay-at-home motherhood and back again. Together, we unpack the messy, meaningful middle of returning to work: rebuilding confidence, facing fears with faith, and remembering what we’re truly capable of.
We talk about the power of persistence, the courage it takes to do something uncomfortable, and the importance of not letting obstacles keep you from what you’re meant to do. Kristen shares her story about being the person in Oregon who took the longest break from medical practice—and successfully fought to get re-credentialed. (Spoiler: it wasn’t easy, but it’s seriously inspiring.)
This episode is filled with hard-earned wisdom on overcoming limiting beliefs, recognizing the value of motherhood in the workplace, and learning to lead with open hands. Tammy and Kristen offer encouragement that’s both practical and heartfelt—reminding us to separate facts from feelings and to own our worth in a fresh, new season.
If you’re standing at a crossroads with your work or calling, this episode is for you.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW There is nothing that we do that can mess up God's plan over our lives.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What is a fear you have about transitioning with work or re-entering the workforce? 2. Kristen and Tammy both re-entering the workforce for different reasons, what is prompting you to make the transition in this season of your life? Name it specifically. 3. What skills have you gained from all of your experiences that will translate no matter what arena you are in?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Feeling a bit like the world has gone mad? Are you feeling like an outsider? Wondering where or how your understanding of God fits in today's cultural moment? Not sure how to respond in conversations when a certain topic comes up? This episode is for you!
No matter the issue of the moment, God invites us to be with people who think and live differently. The question is how do we do it in a way that honors God, others, and ourselves? Patrick Miller joins us to talk about the times we live in and how disorienting it can feel. He also offers practical approaches to conversations and situations that can feel awkward or downright uncomfortable without making them combative.
It is a tricky time to disagree. And yet, it is a joy to be with people who don't always see the world as we do. This is the tension Patrick speaks of that makes us joyful outsiders. This is one you may come back to often and will want to share with others.
FIND MORE ABOUT PATRICK MILLER Patrick Miller & Keith Simon website - Joyful Outsiders
Patrick Miller's & Keith Simon Book- Joyful Outsiders
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Podcast
Ten Minute Bible Talks Devotional Bible Study
Truth Over Tribe: Christian Takes on Culture, News & Politics
Jeremiah 51
Jeremiah 29
Genesis 1
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. When have you recently felt like an outsider? 2. Patrick said Christians have always been outsiders, how does this truth shift your perspective on what it means to be an outsider? 3. What would it look like the next time you feel like an outsider to invite Jesus to sit next to you and offer wisdom? 4. How are you uniquely positioned to bring joy into the world?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
When we think of addiction, our minds often go to the "big three"—alcohol, drugs, and pornography. But addiction takes many forms. Workaholism, shopping, sugar, people-pleasing, and even exercise can become compulsive and harmful. The hard truth? We live in the most addicted culture in history.
In this conversation, Ian Morgan Cron joins us to explore how the 12 steps offer wisdom beyond traditional addiction recovery. We all need them and can apply them in our day-to-day lives. He shares his personal journey and reminds us that addiction isn’t a black-and-white issue—we’re all somewhere on the continuum, and the principles of recovery can benefit everyone.
One of our favorite takeaways from this episode: “We get sick alone. We heal together.” We dive into why community is essential for lasting wellness and why open conversations—especially with teens and young adults—are key to navigating today’s world.
If you’re ready to break free from unhealthy patterns and step into a healthier, more whole version of yourself, this episode is for you.
FIND MORE ABOUT IAN MORGAN CRON Ian Morgan Cron- Website and Instagram
Ian Morgan Cron Book- The Fix
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Ian's Books:
-The Road Back to You
-Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale
-The Story of You-Enneagram
"The absence of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection"- Johann Hari
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Ian describes addiction as an internal problem that you are trying to solve through external means what is that behavior for you? 2. Where do you think you fall on addiction continuum? 3. What mood altering behavior is having negative ramifications in your life? 4. What action can you take to learn about the 12steps and how it can help you?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healt
Eric Scofield has an incredible story about his dad building a plane. You need to listen to our conversation to believe it. And from that he learned many of his bigger life lessons around how God made us and for purposes beyond our own imagination.
If you are feeling discouraged today, listen to this episode.
If you are wondering if God still has good things for you, push play.
If you think your best days are behind you, enjoy the conversation.
Midlife can make us wonder if we truly are "built to fly" or maybe our flight time is short. Eric reminds us that God can do a good, and even new, thing in us so we can live a full and fruitful life.
FIND MORE ABOUT ERIC SCOFIELD Eric Scofield – Website
Eric Scofield book- Build To Fly
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED * Proverbs 23:3,4 * Ephesians 4:27 * James 5:26 * James 1:15 * John 10:10
"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts so that you do not know where you are going." - C. S. Lewis
Live No Lies book by John Mark Comer
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How can you be a person who is faithful, available and teachable? 2. Who in my life can I invest in who is FAT, (Faithful, Available & Teachable) 3. Consider a recent crash in your life, what does rebuilding the plane look like for you right now? 4. What in your life is behind that glass that you are trying to get, just like the chocolate in the story? 5. What need do you think that will fulfill? 6. How realistic is it that your chocolate (whatever it is), will fulfill that desire for you, or will it turn to dust in your hands?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you
Have you ever learned something, thought you had it down, and then—boom—you realize you need to learn it all over again in this season of life? Yeah, us too.
This week, we’re diving into the lessons we’re re-learning in midlife and what scripture has to say about them. We talk about how fear sneaks into our decision-making now more than ever, the shift in how our kids watch and learn from us as they grow, and why it’s time to embrace strong over skinny.
We also unpack the surprising power of journaling for mental clarity, the societal shift from risk-taking to playing it safe, and why we still need to take risks in this stage of life. And of course, we get into friendship—how midlife invites us to reconnect with old and new friends in deep and meaningful ways.
If you’re finding yourself re-learning some big truths in this season, you are not alone—this episode is for you!
A FEW THINGS AND BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED -Matthew 6:34
-Centering Prayer song by Porter's Gate
-Interior Freedom Boon by Jacques Philippe
-James 4:8
-Romans 12:2
-Psalm 9
-Proverbs 3:5,6
-Isaiah 41:10
-House of David series on Prime Time
-Proverbs 31:17
-Deuteronomy 16,17
-Mark 12
-Hebrews 10:24-25
-1 Peter 1:3-6
-Psalm 56:3
-Matthew 19:26
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What are you re-learning right now? 2. Are these welcome lessons or are you fighting the circumstances that are leading to them? 3. How can you find God in what you are learning? 4. What do you think He would say to you if you could hear His audible voice today? 5. What limitation can you thank God for today that help you more fully depend on Him?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
We talk a lot about our spiritual life, but how do we move from words to experience? From the head to the heart? To a place of knowledge to deep bone belief? Author and spiritual guide John Eldredge gives us questions to ask and practices to put in place that will help us encounter God's presence in the here and now. An incredible conversation, you WILL NOT want to miss what John says to those of us who have been living out our faith for years. We can still experience Jesus in a fresh way.
You may know John from his bestselling book Wild at Heart or you may be familiar with the Pause app intended to help us in our spiritual journey. Whether you're familiar with the Eldredge name or are just being introduced to this seasoned spiritual leader, you will want to press play and listen in on how God is beckoning you back to him and how you can say "yes".
FIND MORE ABOUT JOHN ELDREDGE John Eldredge Book- Experience Jesus. Really
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Interior Freedom by Jacque Philippe
Union with Christ Book
William Augusto -Worship Instrumental Music
Pause App
John's Books
-The Secret Romance
-Wild at Heart
Bible Verse
Ephesians 3
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Ask God what issue are we working on right now? 2. What is taking space in your heart that isn't allowing room for God? 3. Take a minute to practice benevolent detachment
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and health
Today is part 2 of discussing how we can grow and shape our relationships with our adult siblings. Siblings are special because they know us over the entire span of our lives. They also walked in similar shoes as children, having grown up in the same family, and that produces an understanding and knowing that is special.
As we get older, life gets busy and we sometimes neglect these anchor relationships. Today we are discussing how we can intentionally grow them, work through conflicts that arise, and step into each other's lives in a meaningful way.
We know everyone has a different starting place when it comes to relationships with siblings. If you are someone who would like to work toward greater intimacy and trust with your siblings, regardless of where you are right now, these two episodes will offer both inspiration and practical steps.
This week covers ideas for staying current on one another's lives, what investing in our siblings' children looks like, how to show up for one another, and what it means to let each other evolve and change. You will walk away inspired to get closer with your siblings!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW -Voxer.APP
-Let Them Theory Book by Mel Robbins
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How can you know our siblings in the present tense? 2. How can you work through conflict with your siblings while it's still small? 3. How can you lean on each other's strength in decision-making whether that's around aging parents or maybe another issue? 4. What is a next step that you can take with your adult sibling?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Adult siblings often know us in ways others simply can't. The shared history, the developmental years, the shaping of each other in our most formative stages, create dynamics that we aren't able to duplicate. Depending on your relationship with your siblings, you might feel they are your most trusted life companions.
We are doing a two-part series with Krista and her brother Mitch and sister Kendra on the value of adult sibling relationships. This week we cover the unique role siblings can play, the importance of showing up in the details and milestones, and the opportunities we have to care for each other well in the midst of midlife stress.
We know everyone has a different starting place when it comes to relationships with siblings. If you are someone who would like to work toward greater intimacy and trust with your siblings, regardless of where you are right now, these two episodes will offer both inspiration and practical steps. This week is heavy on the why: Why should we care about the relationships today? Next week will cover some of the unique tensions adult siblings hold. Both are important as we move toward greater support for each other and health.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW * "Our Parents leave us too early, our spouses and children come along too late, our siblings are the only ones who are with us for the entire ride." Jeffrey Kluger * John 1:5 * Vika's Spotify- Kendra's Daughter
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How are your relationships with your siblings? 2. In what way do your siblings know you in a way that nobody else does? 3. How can you show up for your siblings in this season? 4. How can you cultivate relationships with your niece and nephews?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
"Marriage can be heaven, and marriage can be hell." -Dan Allender
Anyone who is married knows that marriage can reach the extremes of human experience, and sometimes even in the same day. It's the lab in which we grow personally, and where we grow together. It's also the place where everything can fall apart.
Today Dan Allender of The Allender Center joins us to explore the transformative power of marriage, particularly in midlife. He talks about the deep work of understanding one another's stories, the role of trauma in relationships (even if you feel like you don't have any), and the necessity of dealing with emotional triggers.
Dan is both funny and deeply inspiring. He is an expert at the top of his field, and also the first one to reveal and share what he is experiencing in his own imperfect marriage.
You will gain insight into the complexities of relationships, the importance of change-agents in marriage, the dynamics of conflict resolution, and come to a fresh understanding of how fighting for marriage is deeply spiritual work.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW: The Deeply Rooted Marriage: Cultivating Healing, Intimacy, and Delight by Dan Allender and Steve Call
Unwanted by Jay Stringer
website-Dan Allender
Quotes from the episode: 35% of divorces are "gray divorces," meaning they involve couples 50 years of ago and older.
Our brains have the power to change, but only by engagement deeply within what we'll call our right hemisphere, our emotional portions.
If there is not a fabric of forgiveness, then we are in deep waters without a paddle.
Difference is where almost all conflict begins.
70 % of the conflict in marriage does not have a right answer.
You grow in trust by the capacity to deal with conflict, not to resolve, but to a deepened understanding. And to a deepened understanding allows us to allow difference to continue to occur.but without either the fear or the judgment that's often there.
I hope the sense of having work to do is kind of like, I get to put my foot on the neck of evil here. Hell no, I do not want something that has lingered in my body and my heart and my mind to continue to shape something of how I respond to the future.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What part of your story can you re-engage with your spouse in order to work toward greater healing? Hint: think about what triggers you. 2. What part of your spouse's story can you re-engage? 3. If 70% of all arguments don't have a "right answer," how can you adjust how you've been approaching a conflict area with your spouse? 4. The change agents Dan lists in his book are humility, honesty, kindness, curiosity, defiance, and an intention to bless. What one is most needed right now in your marriage? 5. How can you "stand on the neck of evil" and push past a particularly difficult part of your marriage?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Every year right around Valentine's Day we share some things we are loving that make our lives a little easier or more fun. This is a break from the thoughtful conversations we've been having, it settles in on some pretty practical tips. From books and podcasts to snacks and beauty products, Alex and Krista want to make sure you know what they are loving right now.
How about you? What makes your life more entertaining? What makes you smarter? Who are you following? What are you wearing? We want to know all of these midlife hacks because when you find something good, you need to share!!
This is one of our most popular episodes every year, tune in and get sharing your things you love.
THINGS WE LOVE * Foods
- Athletic Brewing Company Non-alcoholic beer
-Nutrail Nut Granola
-Truffle oil
-Chobani Low Fat Greek Yogurt
-Quinoa Crisps Dark- Chocolate + Cherry
-Built Puffs Protein Bars
-Stone-Ground Grits
- Kitchen Gadgets
-All Clad Instant Read Digital Thermometer
-6-3/4 Coat Cast Iron Round Wide Dutch Oven
-Silver Flatware
- Podcast shows
-The Warrior Mama with Bethany Kimsey
-Up Until Now with Kristen Hallinan
-SmartHer News with Jenna Lee
-The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
-10% Happier with Dan Harris Podcast
-Rethinking with Adam Grant
-
How to build a great culture with restaurateur Danny Meyer
-
Books
-Lead with Prayer
-Celebrating Abundance
-The Let Them Theory
-Eat Like a Girl
-The Anxious Generation
-Build the Life You Want
- Music
-Corner Room Band
-Porter's Gate Album- Sanctuary Song
-When the Day Comes- Nico & Vinz
- Instagram Follows
-Arthur C. Brooks
- Adam Grant
-Simon Sinek
-Dr Mary Claire Haver(OBGYN)
-Josh Weather Official
-The Leighton Show
- Fashion & Beauty
-Wide Leg Twill (Spanx Pants)
-Steve Madden Hayle Ankle Boots
-L'Oréal Glotion
-Mother Jeans
-Blow-Out Curlers
-Color Wow Root Cover-up
-Women's Cozy Slippers
-Essence Volume Lash Boosters
-Charlotte Tilbury Red Hollywood Vixen Lipstick
-Thorne Supplement
-WaterProof Black Fancy Cards
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Teenagers: it's the best of times and the worst of times. We love them with our whole hearts, and they're also hard. Some are thriving, some aren't. We are quick to point fingers back at ourselves when things go wrong, and we breathe a sigh of relief when it's going right.
In this conversation, Alex and Krista discuss parenting teenagers with Melissa Kruger, vice president of discipleship at The Gospel Coalition and author of Parenting with Hope. Melissa speaks about the challenges and joys of raising teens in a complex world. We hit on understanding the spectrum of teen experiences, the role of prayer, and the need for open communication.
Melissa discusses the significance of tailoring parenting approaches to individual children and the necessity of maintaining hope amidst challenges. Teens today are facing pressures we simply did not have. Their challenges are different, and it serves us well to try and stand in their shoes.
You will walk away encouraged and re-centered from this episode!
FIND MORE ABOUT MELISSA KRUGER Melissa Kruger's -Website and Instagram
Melissa Kruger's Book- Parenting with Hope
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Proverb 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing
SOME QUOTES FROM THE SHOW: "I actually think it's sports and activities, it's scholastic achievement, and it's social acceptance. Those are the three, what I call, idols of our age that I think really raise the temperature in parenting teens right now."
"When you step back and say, huh, maybe it would really matter that our family had family dinners every night, and we're gonna fight for that. Maybe it would really matter that we have space to actually get a little bored and do a puzzle as a family."
"So many teens do not get the amount of sleep they need. That leads to greater rates of depression, which leads to greater problems down the road in other areas. And we're like, but they have to be at all these things (activities) or they won't be well-rounded. Who cares if they're well-rounded?"
"In the Barna research, the amount of pressure that kids feel is different than previous generations. And yes, technology is a part of that, but also just the ramp up of all of these things of doing club sports by the time you're seven or eight. All of that plays into this level of pressure and stress."
"Those simple acts of being in God's Word, being a mom of prayer, and being in church matter so I can parent well. I call it a three-legged stool."
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What is your current measure of hope with your teenager? 2. How can you better address what is going on inside of your in order to better parent your teen? 3. What of the three idols she mentioned, sports and activities, academic success, and social acceptance is most out of balance in your home? 4. What can you do to create a more healthy rhythm in this area? 5. How can you build your hope in Christ for you, for your own spiritual strength?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Have you ever stuffed a feeling? Yeah, it happens for lots of reasons. We are afraid, don't like discomfort, or have been taught that certain feelings are bad. But no amount of pushing down makes the emotion go away. We need to deal with them at some point.
Therapist and author Aundi Kobler joins the podcast with why we may be avoiding certain emotions and practical approaches to face them in manageable pieces. There is no need to rush in head first. We can allow our bodies and brains to experience a little at a time. Through this paced approach and safe relationships, we can begin to experience our full range of emotions.
We encourage you to listen in as one of the best voices of today gives us her "Try Softer" approach to delving into what is likely scary territory. But remember it is our time to rise and meet the moment. 2025 may just be our year to open ourselves to emotions we have been avoiding.
FIND MORE ABOUT AUNDI KOLBER Aundi Kolber's - Website and Instagram
Aundi Kolber's books- Take What You Need
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -John 10:10
-Aundi Kolber's books
- The Try Softer Guided Journey
- Try Softer
- Strong Like Water
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What has kept you from acknowledging emotions you know are there? 2. What would it look like to allow yourself to give those emotions a seat at the table? 3. What is your window of tolerance for those emotions right now? 4. What kind of support do you need to be able to face some of those emotions, and how can you get it?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediat
What is the one place in your home you avoid? Has it built up clutter? Become the catch all for the things you don't know what to do with? Or is it full of items that have sentimental value that you can't throw out and yet feel stuck?
This month we are talking about things we avoid and how we can face them. This week we are covering things we avoid in our home. Items we don't know what to do with that grow into piles, areas, even rooms that have taken on a life of their own. Professional organizer Morgan Tyree speaks from her newest book, Take Back Your Home: How to Organize Every Room For a Stress-Free, Mess-Free, Happy Home. She gives us tools to get behind the of the avoiding, (it's deeper than you might think) and then practical step by steps to overcome them.
You won't want to miss this conversation that helps you determine what space you can tackle next as you organize your living and working space in the new year. It's time to take back your home.
FIND MORE ABOUT MORGAN TYREE Morgan Tyree- Website and Instagram
Morgan Tyree Book- Take Back Your Home
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Snags mentioned:
-Schedules
-Purchases
-Experiences
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How are you wired; are you more of a diamond or arrow, maybe more relaxed, a circle or bolt? 2. How does your wiring impact how you manage your space? 3. What areas are you avoiding in your home, what snags are impacting your avoidance? 4. How can you face an area you are avoiding in the next few weeks, what accountability do you need to put in place?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
We've all heard of nightmare stories about inheritance gone wrong. Our mission today is to help you do it right. Inheritance, wealth transfer, wills, estate planning... whatever you call it, no matter the amount, it's important to be intentional around how to best pass on property, money, and items after someone passes away.
This is kicking off our series this month "Things We've Been Putting Off." We're going to be talking about some areas we've been ignoring and what we can do to step into those arenas equipped and with courage.
This subject of estate planning is one of those subjects that we often avoid, yet it is extremely relevant to us as people in midlife, and it's also relevant as our parents age.
Joining us to today are Sean and Jill Maher. Sean is a principal at Valley Forge Financial Group and CEO of Valley Forge Family Office in Pennsylvania. Jill is a licensed psychological counselor. This powerteam wrote the book, The Greatest Gift: Nine Principles to transfer your legacy along with your wealth.
In this conversation, we explore the complexities of inheritance, camping on themes you may not associate with estate planning such as family values, traditions, humility, and generosity. We discuss how these elements shape the way wealth is passed down and the emotional implications involved.
The Mahers share personal stories and insights on how to navigate difficult conversations about money and inheritance, highlighting the need for open communication and understanding within families. They also address the challenges of fairness versus equality in inheritance and the significance of creating a safe environment for these discussions.
This is a practical and helpful conversation you don't want to miss!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW: PART 2 The Greatest Gift Book: to receive a $5 discount, enter code: ourtimetorise
Storyworth
Purposeful Planning Institute
Internal Family Systems
Homeboy Ministries
Project Healing Waters
TV Show: Succession
Movie: Knives Out
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What helps you stand in humility when it comes to money conversations? 2. How can you make sure your children know the fullness of your story, or your parent's story, or the people who came before you? 3. What would growing the muscle of generosity in this season look like? 4. How can you have conversations around assets that can be fair or equal? 5. What spiritual practices can you implement that will protect your flame? 6. How can you go into conversation regulated rather than mirroring the stress or fear of another?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthie
We've all heard of nightmare stories about inheritance gone wrong. Our mission today is to help you do it right. Inheritance, wealth transfer, wills, estate planning... whatever you call it, no matter the amount, it's important to be intentional around how to best pass on property, money, and items after someone passes away.
This subject is relevant to us as people in midlife, and it's also relevant as our parents age.
Joining us to today are Sean and Jill Maher. Sean is a principal at Valley Forge Financial Group and CEO of Valley Forge Family Office in Pennsylvania. Jill is a licensed psychological counselor. This powerteam wrote the book, The Greatest Gift: Nine Principles to transfer your legacy along with your wealth.
In this conversation, we explore the complexities of inheritance, camping on themes you may not associate with estate planning such as family values, traditions, humility, and generosity. We discuss how these elements shape the way wealth is passed down and the emotional implications involved.
The Mahers share personal stories and insights on how to navigate difficult conversations about money and inheritance, highlighting the need for open communication and understanding within families. They also address the challenges of fairness versus equality in inheritance and the significance of creating a safe environment for these discussions.
This is a practical and helpful conversation you don't want to miss!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW: Purposeful Planning Institute
Warren Buffet Talks to His Kids About His Will, You Should Too
John Gottman, The Four Horseman
The Greatest Gift Book: to receive a $5 discount, enter code: ourtimetorise
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. In what ways have you been avoiding a conversation regarding estate planning or money? 2. In what area can you practice the tool I feel I need? 3. How can you create a common purpose as a family? 4. What is one action step you can take this week regarding this topic?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
In this final episode in our Advent “Make Room” Series, we are focusing on the greatest virtue of all: LOVE.
Jamie Finn, author, advocate, and speaker joins us to discuss her ever evolving definition of love. We explore the sacrificial nature of love, the complexity of love, and what it mean to first receive love from God so we are enabled to truly love others, even when it’s hard.
The conversation culminates in a reminder of the essence of Christmas: God’s sacrificial love for humanity. This is a great episode to listen to as you prepare your heart for Christmas week. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Jamie's Books
- Foster the Family
- Filled- Devotional
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Who feels inconvenient for you to love this Christmas season, and how can you ask God to join you in loving them? 2. How can you receive love from God this season? 3. How will this better prepare you to love others? 4. Where do you need to embrace humility?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier
As we consider joy during Advent we ask why don't we experience it more here on earth. Our guest this week, Paul Robie, says Christians should be the most joyful people on the planet. We have the Good News to direct our steps and our spirits.
This wrestling with joy is likely why joy is an Advent theme since the beginning of Advent themes. We can collectively consider what it means to hold joy in our lives. We can also encourage each other in the practical ways we can cultivate it. Paul is a lifelong pastor, current church consultant, and mentor to seminary students. Practices of faith and how they form us are what he talks about all day long and we get the benefit of his wisdom in this series.
Whether you are wondering why others aren't more joyful, or wanting to experience joy this Advent and in the new year, this episode is for you.
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -One Thousand Gifts- Ann Voskamp
-Happiness- Randy Alcorn
-Happiness Is a Serious Problem- Dennis Prager
-The Road Less Traveled- Scott Peck
-Psalms 1
-John 15
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How have you separated happiness and holiness? 2. Do you agree that Christians should be the happiest people in the world? 3. Who or what am I allowing to steal my joy? 4. What expectations can you let go of in order to make room to be surprised by joy?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
December is starting to move quickly, who could use some peace right about now? We are in an Advent series and today we are making room for PEACE.
Joining us is pastor, seminary professor, and coach Jim Singleton. In this insightful and compelling interview, Jim helps us explore the concept of peace in a chaotic world, focusing on the need for both external and internal peace.
We dive into the historical context of peace, the impact of digital distractions, and the importance of spiritual practices. Jim highlights the cost of true peace, the concept of holy indifference, and the deeper meaning of SHALOM as peace amidst conflict.
If you want practical steps to access shalom, hear about the role of community in finding peace, and discover the connection between creativity and spiritual well-being, this rich conversation is for you.
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED - Joshua 3
-Mark 1
-Philippians 4
-Acts 16
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What distraction are keeping you from following the Ark? 2. What high reward are you looking for at a low cost? 3. Does your peace feel more like broth or stew? 4. Whether you are having broth or stew, where is the connection in your daily practices to that, how does the feeling that you are either eating broth or stew how are your daily practices supporting that or not supporting that? 5. How can you use Godly community to encourage and grow the shalom of God in your life?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and health
Advent is the season anticipating Christmas. This first week of Advent we kick off a four-week series covering the timeless themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.
We start this week with hope.
Hope is the anticipation that good can happen. And when we know God is good, we can believe he can make good happen. Hope is also believing Christ will return. This is why we focus in on hope during Advent.
Whether you light an Advent candle on a wreath, read a special devotion, or simply consider the miracle that is God coming as a human baby, we hope you will take a moment to consider what it means to anticipate the coming of Christ. Then and again.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Krista's Advent EBOOK you can download and use with your friends or family
-Matthew 1:18-21 NIV
-Abigail Luxury Travel Advisory
-Loving My Actual Christmas
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How would you like to celebrate Advent this season? 2. What are you hoping for that is out of your control? 3. Are you trusting in God's larger plan? If so, how? And if not, why? 4. What can you do today to articulate your expectations for the next few weeks to yourself, to God and to a friend? How can you right size those expectations?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happi
Let's get ahead of the holiday season this year rather than feeling stressed all the way through it. We want to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas as much as the people around us!
In this episode, we share five practical and helpful tips for navigating the Christmas season with joy and intention. We dive into the importance of embracing the true meaning of Christmas while managing the chaos that often accompanies the holidays.
Join us as we discuss setting boundaries, effective communication, meal prep strategies, decorating tips, and the significance of maintaining a positive mindset throughout the festive season.
Join us holiday magic makers!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Amish Cinnamon Rolls
Holiday 3 Ring Binder
Definition of Metacognition: awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.
Colossians 3:12-15
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Are there boundaries you need to set for this holiday season? 2. Who do you need to communicate with around plans, how can you communicate with them today? 3. What cooking can you do now to save time in the heavy Christmas weeks? 4. Is there a mindset change you need to make about how you're going to think about coming events, how can you decide now to think differently?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Marriage in midlife is no joke! We have often spent exhausting years caring for kids and have given each other the left over time and attention. We also are being introduced to new stressors and need to figure out how to navigate this together. It's hard. It's also worth the work.
We invited Dave and Ann Wilson back to the podcast to talk specifically about cultivating love during this changing and often challenging time. Thank goodness we aren't alone in this journey. Dave and Ann are honest about their challenges, about the changes happening now and offer hope that midlife can be a time of deep love and connection for couples. A refreshing take for those of us that need hope or healing in our marriage.
FIND MORE ABOUT DAVE AND ANN WILSON Dave & Ann's– Website and Instagram
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Romans 15:5-6
Episode 180 with Dave and Ann Wilson
James Davis Book-Doing Life with Your Adult Children
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How has marriage in midlife been for you, how are you and your spouse connecting? 2. What topics are difficult for you to navigate? 3. How has parenting adult children surprised you, and how has this phase of parenting impacted your marriage? 4. How can you get to a level five deeper conversation with your spouse? 5. What are a few questions that you can ask? 6. Where would you like to be running hard together, what steps do you need to take?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and health
We're headed into the cozy season of the year and there is nothing better than soup on the stove when the weather turns chilly. It's also a time when we get out the soft blankets and curl up on the sofa to take a breath, read a book, or sit by the fire.
In today's episode we are talking all about SOUP and SABBATH - nourishing our bodies and our souls with author and speaker Kathi Lipp.
We talk about the importance of meal planning (and the best free meal planning tool there is), the significance of the table, Kathi's favorite soup recipes, involving family in the preparation of a meal, and the value of making meals ahead of time so we can rest.
Kathi helps us grow in our understanding of sabbath, and the need for self care. You are going to love this well-timed episode!
FIND MORE ABOUT KATHI LIPP Kathi Lipp's – Website and Instagram
Kathi Lipp's Book- Sabbath Soup
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Gin -Tomato Soup
From Overwhelmed to Organized: A Step-by-Step Guide to Clutter-Free Meal Planning
Motion App- To stay organized
Chatgpt- Meal plan
Sam's Club- Order App
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Accidental Homesteader
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. In what ways can you set yourself up for success in this season? 2. What do you need to launch, leverage and let go off to have that success 3. What can you do to meal plan more efficiently to save some stress in your life? 4. How can you be looking ahead to the holiday season and prepare so that you can rest and enjoy when you are with your people? 5. In what ways do you need to pay attention to your balance of peace and joy?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happi
Grief is something we don't choose. It arrives and we have to decide how we are going to deal with it. In midlife we can be faced with new types of grief. We want to live with it and move through it with health. The question is how?
Our guest, Mattie Jackson understands deep grief. The loss of her husband in an accident less than one year after they were married took her to her deepest pain. She talks us through her own healing and how her friends supported her. The wisdom she shares is valuable for anyone who wants to stand with those they love.
If you are experiencing grief, know someone who is, or want to be prepared when the unexpected happens, this conversation is for you. Truly, you don't want to miss Mattie's insights. You will be better for it.
FIND MORE ABOUT MATTIE JACKSON Mattie Jackson - Website and Instagram
Mattie Jackson's Book- Through the Valley of Grief
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED "When grief opens a door it yells out to all the past griefs to come and get through that door with it" Dr Curt Thompson
Happiness co-exists with unhappiness.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How can you lean into God with your grief, rather than avoiding it? 2. When have you felt grief's door open and all of the past griefs come running? 3. When have you been given an identity that fear said would define you the rest of your life? 4. What is the one most important takeaway for you in the interview today?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
The mother-daughter relationship can be one of the richest and most rewarding bonds we get to experience here on earth. It can also be one of the most complicated, especially in the teen and young adult years.
Today we are thrilled to have Sandra Stanley and Allie Stanley Cooney, authors of Meet Me in the Middle, discussing the importance of foundations in the mother-daughter relationship. They emphasize the need to root our identity in faith and how it affects every aspect of life.
We also discuss the significance of pursuing and valuing the relationship a mother has with her daughter, even during times of tension and conflict, and what it looks like to become students of our daughters. We also cover forgiveness, and the importance of allowing time for healing, not dictating when forgiveness should occur.
This episode is unique because we get to hear from a mother's AND a daughter's perspective. If you are looking to improve your relationship with your daughter, this episode is for you!
FIND MORE ABOUT SANDRA STANLEY & ALLIE STANLEY Sandra Stanley's- Website and Instagram
Allie Stanley's - Instagram
Sandra & Allie's book- Meet Me in the Middle
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Galatians 6:7-9
3 Superpowers
-Forgiveness
-Gentleness
-Appreciation
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Was there anything from the interview you really want to adopt or take with you, maybe it was a phrase, a prayer, or a concept? 2. What is one way you can get healthier as a mom? 3. In the interview Sandra & Allie talked about appreciation, forgiveness and gentleness as a superpower, which one do you most need in your relationship with your daughter right now? 4. How can you continue to pursue your daughter in this stage of your relationship? 5. How could you incorporate more fun into your time with your daughter?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
The final episode in our ELECTION READY series, today Krista Gilbert is interviewing Alexandra Kuykendall about how we love our neighbor in the midst of an election season.
Seeking out goodness when life is great is easy, but when we have political disagreements or challenges that come our way, this is when it becomes really hard. In today's episode, Alex explores how to maintain a positive outlook, the role of prayer, and the significance of self-awareness and emotional regulation.
She also emphasizes the need for intentionality in finding goodness in others and the importance of loving neighbors, regardless of political differences.
We can feel so helpless when it comes to election season. This is one thing we can control: focusing on God's goodness and drawing close to others as a result. Listen in and be encouraged!
QUESTION TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Who has seen the best in you and made you feel loved, and what did they do to make you feel that way, and how can you mirror those behaviors? 2. What is one thing you can pre-decide about how you want to have election related conversations or just political conversation? 3. How can you pray for the presidential candidates that we have this year and local leaders? 4. Who is one neighbor you can care for this month? 5. In what area do you mostly need a reframe to seek out goodness?
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Episode 299 Original Episode on Seeking Out Goodness
Philippians 4:8
James 1:27
Colossians 1:16-17
Fruits of the spirit
- Love
- joy
- peace
- Patience
- kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Continuing our “Election Ready” series, we are talking today about the importance of bridge building and having conversations around faith and politics - especially during an election year. If this idea seems impossible to you, it’s even more important to listen in on our discussion.
Joining us is Lindsey Medenwaldt. Lindsey is the Director of Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, holds a masters in apologetics from Denver Seminary, a JD from St. Mary’s School of Law, and another master’s degree in public administration. Her varied background gives her a unique lens for political conversations.
In this episode we talk about why it’s important for Christians to articulate their beliefs and engage in conversations with gentleness and respect. We also highlight the importance of keeping the gospel as the anchor, and focusing on Christ amidst political disagreements.
Lindsey shares insights on bridge building, including the importance of truth and genuine friendship. But we don’t just talk about these ideas, we also offer practical tips for navigating challenging political conversations.
In the heat of this election season, you’ll be so glad you turned in!
FIND MORE ABOUT LINDSEY MEDENWALDT Lindsey Medenwaldt- Website and Instagram
Lindsey Medenwaldt- Bridge-Building Apologetics: How to Get Along Even When We Disagree
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -1 Peter 3:15
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Is there an area of my life where I want people to think like me, if so why is this so important to me? 2. What is God prompting me to let go? 3. In what relationship can I work on listening for understanding?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Have you noticed? There is an election coming up.
For this reason we are going to be talking about how to get through the election season with intention and grace the next few weeks. We are kicking off this little mini series with the best of the best: Kaitlyn Scheiss. She has her MDiv from Dallas Theological Seminary, is now getting her doctorate from Duke Divinity School and has written two books on how to engage with political life as a Christian.
This is not a conversation about who to vote for. This is a conversation about how to approach the election: the questions we can ask to be informed, the questions we can ask that shape the posture of our hearts, and the questions we can ask of each other to learn from one another.
Likely you are ready for this election season to be over. Here is a little motivation to stay in the conversations (especially the local ones!) and consider how to love your neighbors and honor God with your vote.
FIND MORE ABOUT KAITLYN SCHEISS Kaitlyn Scheiss- Website and Instagram
Kaitlyn Books- The Ballot and the Bible & The Liturgy of Politics
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Vote411
League of Women Voters
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What issues are you caring the most about this election, how can you inform yourself about these issues from multiple sources? 2. How can you look to the expertise of others on issues you don't know much about? 3. How can you be a good winner this election? 4. How about a good loser? 5. What work can you do locally that will contribute to the flourishing of your community?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and hea
If you’ve ever been on the other side of divorce, or if someone close to you is navigating divorce, you know the ‘life quake’ that follows. In today’s episode, we are diving into enabling behaviors, financial fears, loneliness, and the ripple effect divorce has on relationships.
Joining us for this conversation is writer and speaker, Tracie Miles, who founded the Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery Program. Tracie shares her personal journey through divorce and how she overcame shame, shifted her mindset, and embraced support from family and friends.
If divorce has become a part of your story, this episode is for you.
FIND MORE ABOUT TRACIE MILES Tracie's- Website and Instagram
Tracie's Book- God’s Got You
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Living Unbroken– Tracie’s other book
Tracie's Mantras that helped her navigate her situation
-You've got this.
-The end of your marriage is not the end of you.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How has divorce intersected with your life? 2. If you've been through a divorce are there thoughts that are not serving you? 3. How can you reframe those thoughts? 4. If you are walking alongside someone who is experiencing divorce, how can you intentionally reach out to them this week? 5. Is there a mantra you can adopt that would help navigate this situation?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Jesus is the bread of life. But what about the bread at our table? Is there any connection?
Kendall Vanderslice, baker and theologian, sees a direct connection between the making and consuming of bread with the good news that God is present and working. A conversation like no other - Kendall walks us through the value of eating together, the bread making process, and how we can love our neighbors through simple acts like offering some homemade bread.
You may be surprised how much this conversation brings you to some deeper spiritual longings and reminds you that the tangible of today can be a great metaphor for the intangible hope of heaven.
FIND MORE ABOUT KENDALL VANDERSLICE Kendall's -Website and Instagram
Kendall's Book- Bake & Pray
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Alex's book- Loving My Actual Neighbor
Types of bread mentioned:
Moravian sugar cake
Stollen Bread
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What rhythm of food prep can you incorporate into your routine that will help you slow down? 2. How can prayer be part of this rhythm? 3. How has food helped you feel more connected to others in the past? 4. What cultural bread would you like to learn to make this year? 5. How can you love your neighbors through baking this fall and holiday season?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthie
We all hit life seasons or situations that strip us of an identity or reality we once had, and we find ourselves asking, “Who am I if ________________?” Fill in the blank.
Who am I if I don’t look the way I used to? Who am I if my kids are leaving home? Who am I if I have limitations? Who am I if my relationship failed?
In this episode we talk about these questions and much more. Leading with scripture, we turn to God to discover what He has to say about each of the “What if” statements. We also get real about change, transition, and struggle.
If you’ve ever said, “It’s not supposed to be this way,” this episode is for you!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW * Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 * 2 Corinthians 4:16 * Isaiah 46:4 * 1 Peter 3:4 * Romans 12:1 * Philippians 1:20 * Psalms 32:8 * Isaiah 30:21 * Isaiah 43:19 * Psalms 28:2 * Philippians 4:6-7 * Isaiah 40:29-31 * Psalms 23:4 * Isaiah 46:4 * Isaiah 54:5-6 * Psalms 34:18 * Jeremiah 29:11 * John 14:17
-The AndyStanley Leadership Podcast
-Hidden Potential Book
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Which Who am I question resonated with you, have you been wrestling with it lately? 2. Do you feel untethered or disoriented in any part of you life, how is God meeting you there? 3. What can you reframe today? 4. Is there an arrow God is offering that is pointing you in a given direction?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Sometimes a story comes to us that we know will offer our podcast listeners an important perspective on the world - that will help us all rise - to meet life's challenges. Ben's story of mental health struggles and sexual abuse is one of those. We invited him on to share so we as parents of young adults can gain insights, empathy, and better understand what it is to live through these specific challenges as a young person today.
Ben Locke graduated early from high school to start his college soccer career, but was quickly injured and unable to play. He found himself at the mercy of a school trainer who sexually abused him while he was in a vulnerable position desperate to get back on the field. Ben's story highlights how power differentials can fog decision making and influence behaviors in ways we wouldn't choose. Ben's opportunity to transfer schools was his eventual ticket out.
But from there the disbelief, anger, and eventually grief were challenging. Ben's ability to articulate his experience, including his feelings at every step of the process, is helpful for those of us who want to care for victims, prevent abuse, and understand depression. This is an episode worth listening to as you care for young people around you.
FIND MORE ABOUT BEN LOCKE Ben Locke's -Website and Instagram
Ben Locke's Book- In Our Suffering, Lord Be Near: Prayers of Hope for the Hurting
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -On Fire- Book
-Helplessness produces rage
-Anger is Sad's bodyguard
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Think about a part of Ben's story that moved you, consider why that Part of his story resonated so deeply. 2. How can you respond differently to other peoples behavior or anger knowing there may be some deeper issues underneath? 3. How can you invite God to be with you or your child in the suffering in this moment?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Do you have a college student who could use a care package from home right about now? In this Back to School series we are talking about practical ways to support our teens and young adults, and care packages are a fantastic way to do that.
Krisi Monsiviaz is joining us to talk about why college care packages matter, what to put in them, and what the favorite item is every time (according to her kids). Krista Gilbert shares her approach to putting together these boxes of love from home and some of her favorite go-to items.
Staying connected to our college students while they are away from home matters. This episode will inspire you to get something in the mail!
FIND MORE ABOUT KRISI MONSIVIAZ Krisi Monsiviaz- Website and Instagram
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -Krista's College Care Package Group Blog Post with pictures and ideas
–Silly String
–Hand Slap Game
-INFO for Families
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. In thinking about college care packages, what scaffolding can you implement for yourself to make sure they happen this year? 2. Who can you involve in this process with you? 3. Who else can you encourage through a care package this year? Is there another college student who could use some care package love from you?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
We are in a back to school series for moms in midlife. Gone are the days of crayons and kid-sized scissors, and on are the days of cheering for our high schoolers and their friends with creativity and intentionality. There is no better mom to lead us in this conversation than Krisi Monsiviaz. Her creative flare combined with her organized execution gives her ideas that can be scaled up to serve an entire team, plus families, and friends.
Perhaps you are planning to be Team Mom and carry an official role in organized support. Or maybe you have a few free hours in your schedule and want to use them with purpose to support your high school student and his teammates or cast mates. Maybe your daughter wants to host a dinner at your house or make gift bags for her squad. The principles laid out in this conversation can be applied and tweaked to meet the needs of the kids right around you.
We know the high school years are busy. Let's not let the busy of practices, homework, and jobs get in the way of intentional gathering, gifts, and grub. Teenagers like all three of those.
FIND MORE ABOUT KRISI MONSIVIAZ Krisi Monsiviaz- Website and Instagram
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -Team spirit bags
-Team Breakfast
-Post game pizza with the team
-Create Lyniads
-Bring speakers to talk to the teams
-Parents pray for the team young adults
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What team or community group can you bless this year? 2. What was your favorite idea from the episode? 3. What do you need to make your idea for your group or team a reality?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
High school senior year is a special time for teens and for their parents. For many moms, the beginning of senior year means the beginning of the lasts. There is some grief there. How do we balance the end of one phase of a young person's life with the celebration of this transition? Both Krista and Alex just finished a senior year and they invited their friend Courtney DeFeo to talk about her experience facing her first senior year as a mom.
This episode touches on topics like college deadlines, getting a job, and navigating parties and substances. From prom to graduation, there are so many special markers of transitioning out of the childhood school years and into adulthood. We cover how each one of us tries to be open with ongoing communication with our children, setting boundaries, and being realistic about the challenges they may face. They also highlight the need to tailor experiences and celebrations to each child's preferences and personality.
Courtney DeFeo is the host of the Pardon the Mess podcast and lives in the Dallas area with her husband Ron and their two high school-aged daughters. We know you'll appreciate her honesty and sense of humor as she approaches what can be a scary time for a mom.
FIND MORE ABOUT COURTNEY DEFEO Courtney Defeo's - Website and Instagram
Podcast: Pardon the Mess
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED * Pay attention to where the child gravitates * Tailor the party to the child
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What is a conversations or what are some multiple conversations you need to have with your senior? 2. In what way can you offer more independence to your child this year? 3. What needs to go on your calendar now to make sure you make the most of your child's senior year? 4. How can you encourage your senior and call out all of the good things you see in him or her? 5. What skills or experience can you help your child with in order to set him or her up for the next season of their life?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Do you have a milestone birthday coming up? Or does your child? Milestone birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate and mark significant moments and we want to make the most of them.
Sometimes these special occasions spark joy and excitement, other times they signal grief or loss. In this episode we talk about learning to embrace both ends of the spectrum. We also discuss why it's important to pause and make space for celebrating well in the midst of busy and full lives.
But you know us, we also go practical. Grab a pen because we offer many ideas you can implement with yourself, your family, or your friends for their special day. From text bombs to concerts to lottery tickets to cooking classes, we will get your creative juices flowing as you come up with your best idea for the celebration.
This is part of what a full life is made of... join us!
Some Things You Heard On The Show Leavenworth, Washington
The Post Hotel
Turning 13: A meaningful way to celebrate your child
16 surprises for a sweet sixteen
Psalms 139
Questions to Help You Rise 1. What milestone birthday is coming up that you can celebrate well?
-
Are there any grief points that you anticipate as a part of this milestone birthday?
-
What is the opportunity in this milestone birthday?
-
How would you or the birthday person most like to be celebrated?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Do you find yourself wishing you had deeper friendships? Or maybe you long for those deeper ties with your own children.
In this episode we're talking specifically about relationships in this middle season of life. Our guest, Billie Jauss, podcast host, writer, and wife of a Major League Baseball coach, guides us through four different kinds of relationships. She uses this framework to help us adjust our expectations of those in our circles.
We talk about painful experiences, human connection, Uber drivers, teens and young adult children, and how to use positive virtues for growth.
If you want to relationship better, this will help.
FIND MORE ABOUT BILLIE JAUSS Website: Billie Jauss
Instagram: billie_jauss
Podcast: Family Room
Billie's Book: Baseball Family
Some Things You Heard On the Show: John 13:34-35- Love command
Four Levels of Relationship
- Accidental acquaintances
- Social circle
- Kindred spirit
- Forever family
The 9 core qualities
- selflessness
- compassionate
- respectful
- trustworthy
- generous
- inclusion
- support
- peacemaking
- encouraging
-Mindful Christianity- Instagram account
-Read the Bible
-Marriage course- Alpha course based of UK
Questions to help you rise: 1. What relationship needs to be put in another category than it's currently in? 2. In what places can you be more aware of meeting those accidental acquaintances? 3. What would it look like to be more selfless in your current relationships? 4. How can you show gratitude today for those people in your forever family?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Alex and Krista bring the Fun & Fire format back for a little summer inspiration. Though summer feels like it is starting to wind down. What?! Already?! They are not ignoring those things they still want to happen. From the whimsical to the practical, hear what summer items are still on their to-do lists!
And what's getting them fired up? Prices these days! Are you feeling the pinch of the pocketbook? We feel your pain and we give you some of the ways we're making our dollars stretch right now. From travel savings to back to school shopping, we put some of our tried and true savings ideas to work.
What is left on your summer list? And how are YOU making your dollar stretch these days?
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Matthew 6:28-29
Code for ThredUp thrifting: 45% off plus free shipping on your first order: Referral link
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What is one thing you can put on the summer calendar that you have not yet done this summer? 2. Where has God provided in the past for you? 3. Where do you need for Him to provide right now? 4. How can you walk and trust that He will meet your needs in the future? 5. What are some practical steps you can take right now that will help stretch you dollar?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
If you've ever wondered, 'Help! What is my young adult going to do with the rest of their life?' then you're in the right place. Or maybe you ARE the young adult asking, "How do I figure out what to choose for a career when I can't even decide what to have for breakfast!?"
Rest easy, today we are diving into the exciting and sometimes overwhelming journey of helping you or your young adult discover their future path.
Our guest is Tyler Lafferty, author and co-founder of Seven2, 14Four and Strategy Labs, as well as an educational non-profit called Slingshot. For more than twenty five years he has been following his passion of helping students dream big and discover new opportunities.
The episode explores the journey of career discovery and mentorship, emphasizing the importance of dreaming big, introspection, and taking risks. It addresses the challenges faced by young adults and parents in navigating career paths and provides practical guidance for self-discovery and pursuing passion and purpose.
If you are wondering where to go on this career path journey, either as a young adult or the parent of a young adult...this will help you take the first step. You will want to share this episode with the young people in your life!
Find out more about Tyler or Slingshot Tyler's website: Slingshot Tyler's book: Be More Like You Book
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -Build a network of people to help you in your career path.
-IDEAS Framework is an acronym;
I- Introspection- Better understanding who you are as a human.
D- Design- Design a plan of the job type, the people, and company that you need to learn more about.
E- Exploration- Go & Do( Having the information interviews, Job shadows, & internships)
A- Adaptability- Understanding if you are on the right path, can be done through journaling your experience.
S- Service- Value of finding your connection to the community Be in the Service of Others(BISTO)
QUESTION TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How could you open up conversation around your child's interest and talents? 2. How can you help your child better understand their personality, and what strengths come with that type? 3. How can you indicate to your child or the young person in your life that it's okay to not have answers, how can we take some pressure off as we have this conversations?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
If you've ever wondered, 'Help! What is my young adult going to do with the rest of their life?' then you're in the right place. Or maybe you ARE the young adult asking, "How do I figure out what to choose for a career when I can't even decide what to have for breakfast!?"
Rest easy, today we are diving into the exciting and sometimes overwhelming journey of helping you or your young adult discover their future path.
Our guest is Tyler Lafferty, author and co-founder of Seven2, 14Four and Strategy Labs, as well as an educational non-profit called Slingshot. For more than twenty five years he has been following his passion of helping students dream big and discover new opportunities.
The episode explores the journey of career discovery and mentorship, emphasizing the importance of dreaming big, introspection, and taking risks. It addresses the challenges faced by young adults and parents in navigating career paths and provides practical guidance for self-discovery and pursuing passion and purpose.
If you are wondering where to go on this career path journey, either as a young adult or the parent of a young adult...this will help you take the first step. You will want to share this episode with the young people in your life!
Find out more about Tyler or Slingshot Tyler's website: Slingshot Tyler's book: Be More Like You Book
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Build a network of people to help you in your career path.
QUESTION TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How can you open up your thinking about your child's career path? 2. Who are some other people in your child's life, who they can have a meaningful conversation with? 3. What assumptions do you hold about your child's career path journey?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
What does the Gospel, the big message of who God is in the world, have to do with the here and now? Everything.
Midlife is a time of transition, often unexpected change, and trusting that God is with us every turn and upheaval is a gift that stabilizes us in a season that can feel anything but stable.
Courtney Doctor is the perfect person to be with us in this conversation. Through her work as the Director of Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition, Courtney speaks with women of all life stages about how God's big story right sizes our current stress. When we remember who God IS and what he PROMISES, we can feel a little more sure that we will get through the day. No amount of midlife stress will change God's nature or plan for the world.
This is an episode about God meeting us where we are right now at this very moment. We hope it meets you in your deepest need - he can and he does.
FIND MORE ABOUT COURTNEY Courtney's Website and Instagram
Courtneys book- From Garden to Glory
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Other books mentioned:
Prayers in the night by Tish Harrison Warren
Growing Together by Melissa Kruger
One to One Bible Reading by David Helm
Even Better than Eden by Nancy Guthrie
Scriptures mentioned:
Exodus 34
Matthew 26
Psalms 23
John 17
Genesis 3
QUESTIONS TO MAKE YOU RISE 1. What small part of your life feels mundane that could be a place where you see God today? 2. How does knowing that God is reconciling all things to himself bring you peace? 3. Is God answering a prayer in a way that you are not seeing?
Why does abandonment cut so deep? Our guest, Dieula Previlon, reminds us that we are hardwired for relationships and when that need is threatened, we feel pain. Abandonment can be the threat or the actual experience of being left, excluded, rejected, unseen, or uncared for. We can carry this wound from childhood or we can be experiencing it now in midlife. Whether through a divorce, a friendship loss, or even a child growing up and leaving, abandonment can leave wounds that need tending.
Dieula reminds us to stay present for each other. Our emotional availability is the counter to abandonment. She also covers how we can work through our feelings of abandonment from God. As both a trained therapist and ordained pastor - Dieula offers us a wholistic roadmap for healing.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DIEULA Dieula's website
Dieula's Book- Does God see me?
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED -Genesis 2:18
-Sweet magnolia- On Netflix
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Where have you felt the deep cut of Abandonment? 2. How has Abandonment impacted your attachment style? 3. Who can you go to for support as you face your feelings? 4. What would it look like to invite God into your plan?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Summer is already fun, but here's a few ideas to add to your list! The more intentional we can be about planning ahead, the more likely it will be that room will be made for those moments that make summer special.
In this episode we talk about outdoor summer concerts, pool time, picnic chicken, fresh flowers, charcuterie boards, frozen treats, some favorite makeup finds, and more.
Join us and let's get in the mood for S-U-M-M-A-H!
Takeaways * Don't forget about free concerts in the park as a fun and free entertainment option during the summer. * Invest in a portable picnic table for convenient outdoor dining experiences. * Try making picnic chicken in a sourdough bowl for a delicious and unique meal. * Consider buying paper bouquets as a creative and long-lasting alternative to fresh flowers. * Experiment with frozen fruit treats like frozen grapes soaked in Prosecco or frozen watermelon and bananas. * Explore the Starbucks spicy refreshers for a refreshing and less sweet summer drink. * opt for comfortable wedge sandals for a stylish and comfortable summer footwear option. * Host summer charcuterie parties with themed boards like breakfast, birthday, chocolate, fruit and cheese, or s'mores. * Use lip pencils for a more defined and put-together look during the summer season.
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED * Wild Card Podcast with Rachael Martin * Trader Joe's- Fresh flowers * Fresh Cut Paper- Paper flowers * J.crew- swim wear * Volatile- Wedge Flipflops * Rebecca Reid Podcast episode #445 * Steve Madden- Parra wedge sandals
QUESTION TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What can you schedule or put on your calendar now to make summer more fun?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Rick and Diane Thomas, also known as Krista's parents, have so much wisdom we couldn't limit our conversation with them to one episode, so we are bringing you part two. You don't want to miss what these two wise people have to say about creating a legacy - something that will last past their time here on earth.
They are an inspiration around living with intention as they share how they maintain fun in their daily experiences, continue to model open communication within their family, and how to embrace the season you are still in!! In this episode we cover how to welcome others into a growing family, how we can support our aging parents, and what faithful participation in a church community can look like.
These two are a treasure. In fact, Alex decided we should dub them "America's grandparents"! They are kind, funny, generous, and continue to live a life of curiosity, adventure, and investment in people. They are a model for us to rise and meet the moments of today, even if those moments are different than those of yesterday.
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED "Legacy is not something we leave for people, but it is something we leave in people".
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What are you doing to cultivate fun and growth in your life? 2. How can you show practical love and presence to the older people in your life? 3. How could you move more fluidly through this season? 4. How can you better embrace other peoples passions and personalities
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Creating a legacy in this world is something that is hard to measure, but easy to identify. Legacy is not something we leave for people, it’s something we leave IN people. The impact is profound, and the ripple effect lives far beyond us.
Legacy is something we all want to leave, but how do we do it?
Today on the podcast we are diving into this very topic with two of the most qualified people on the subject: Rick and Diane Thomas – otherwise known as Krista’s parents. They live out legacy better than anyone else we personally know, and we wanted to share their hard-won wisdom with you.
We talk about the importance of intentional legacies, the impact of strong family values, and the significance of building relationships across generations. Rick and Diane share their experiences of creating a close-knit family, fostering a sense of community, and continuing to grow and explore new adventures in their own lives.
They emphasize the importance of faith, generosity, and being present in the lives of the people closest to them. You will walk away from this episode inspired to create a legacy that lasts in your own life
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. How does your family story impact your legacy? 2. What are some small actions you are taking to build the legacy of your family? 3. How can you invest in new relationships and maintain long standing ones at this stage of your life? 4. How are you continuing to open your world?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Conflict...it's something we all come up against and many of us shy away from it as soon as there is any hint of it. We forget that disagreement itself is not bad; as people we are not always going to agree on everything. Then we throw in some misplaced expectations and some big emotions and conflict can suddenly move from a natural part of a relationship to something destructive. We can quickly move into unhealthy patterns and hurtful words, actions, or tones...and this is why we shy away.
But our guest Donna Jones, reassures us that conflict doesn't have to be awful. In fact healthy conflict is actually possible! Through listening with intent to understand, deciding what is ours to carry and taking responsibility for that, and recognizing how our personality responds to potential conflict, we can approach conflict with confidence rather than fear. We can talk about the problem at hand rather than each other. We can work toward common ground while believing the best in each other.
Conflict is unavoidable. Let's not make it terrible. Let's decide to face disagreement, knowing we can be respectful and kind with intention.
FIND OUT ABOUT DONNA JONES Website: Donna Jones
Instagram: donnaajones
Donna Jones Book: Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED James 1:19
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE -Do you tend to push into conflict? Or pull away from it? How has your personality impacted how you view conflict?
-Who can you listen to this week with the intent of better understanding this person?
-Are there things you are carrying that you shouldn't be?
-How can you take responsibility for what is yours to own in a conflict? And allow others to carry what is theirs?
Do you have a high school graduate this year? Or does someone you know? In this episode Alex is interviewing Krista, asking questions such as: -How do you celebrate a high school senior well? -How do you help them practically prepare for college? -How do you say goodbye when it’s time for them to leave (nooooooo… I’m not ready!)? -And what do you do about this grief over the loss?
In this conversation, you will find practical advice and helpful questions to ask. Krista emphasizes the importance of communication, setting expectations, and planning ahead. She also discusses ways to make graduation and the moment of departure feel special and recognized.
No matter where you find yourself – fully party planned or not even started, happy or sad, prepared or completely unprepared, this episode is for you!
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED HOW WE SAY GOODBYE BEFORE OUR CHILDREN GO TO COLLEGE
Takeaways * Communicate with your child about their expectations and what success looks like to them * Plan and budget for the expenses of launching a child to college * Make graduation and the moment of departure feel special and recognized * Acknowledge and cope with the emotions and grief that may arise during this transition * Find joy in the journey and embrace the new chapter
Before College weekend questions
- What will make this fun for you?
- What will make this feel special for you?
- What does support look like to you during this time?
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What conversation do you need to have with your child now about graduation coming up? 2. What is important to you as you mark this transition? 3. What can you do now to practically prepare for fall? 4. How can you have that significant conversation with your child before he/she leaves?
What if instead of fighting our family, we fought FOR our family? This is the charge Chris and Julie Bennett are putting in front of us. That sounds like something we want to do, but how do we practically implement it?
The Bennetts give us practical ways to implement grace, forgiveness, and hope into our relationships with our children, our spouse, and those we bring into our family fold. Family is about belonging - so our aim is to create a place of honesty, safety, and grace. Chris and Julie speak from a lifetime of fighting for their family together.
If you are needing both some inspiration and practical help today, this conversation is for you. The world hands us a lot to deal with, especially in midlife. We don't have to fight with those we love, as much as we have to fight for a family culture that demonstrates wild love.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHRIS & JULIE BENNETT Chris & Julie's - website
Chris Bennett's - Instagram
Julie Bennett's - Instagram
Chris and Julie's book- Fighting For Family
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED The chosen - Tv show
1 peter 1:23- Imperishable seed
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. What would it look like to fight for your family in this season, rather than fight with your family? 2. Think of someone in your life who seems particularly complicated, how can you embrace them in their complexity? 3. Who or what do you need to forgive? 4. What prayer can you craft for your children to pray over them consistently?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Have you ever asked the question, "Does anyone like me?" Maybe people used to like you, but you are wondering if they do now. Or maybe your son or daughter is asking that question.
Few admit they have these thoughts, and even less talk about them out loud. We're changing that! Today on the podcast we are discussing the topic of feeling liked and building friendships. We explore the middle school mentality that often resurfaces in adulthood, the impact of transitions on confidence, and the transfer of insecurities from failed relationships.
You will learn how many hours it takes to build a new friendship and what we can do to open ourselves up to new relationships.
Midlife can shift our friendships - we're here to help!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SARAH Website: sarahbragg.com Instagram: sarahwbragg
Sarah's Book- Is Everyone Happier Than Me?
KEY TAKEAWAYS: * The middle school mentality of questioning whether people like us often resurfaces in adulthood, especially during times of transition. * Being introspective and self-aware can help us recognize and address our insecurities and negative patterns of thinking. * Building friendships takes time, with casual friendships requiring 40-60 hours, and deeper friendships requiring over 200 hours of quality time together. * Being open to new friendships, even on a casual level, can lead to meaningful connections and a sense of belonging. * Noticing the good in ourselves and approaching relationships with curiosity and compassion can enhance our ability to build and maintain friendships.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Has there been a season or circumstance where you have been more prone to feeling like no one likes you? 2. How could you focus on showing how much you enjoy others around you today, rather than focus on how others feel about you? 3. What are some qualities you have that make you a good friend? 4. How could you convey a posture of openness to others around you today as you are out in the world?
Molly Stillman's story is not all laughter and fun. She lost her mother at an early age. But it was watching her parents maneuver through hardship with levity and humor that modeled to her that life is always a combination of good and hard. Through their story and her own - Molly offers concrete examples of how taking ourselves and our circumstances too seriously can rob of us the joy that is also available.
In this episode, Molly emphasizes the importance of the human experience in balancing joy and pain. Whether it's cracking a joke to break tension in a moment or realigning what is important when details of life surprise us, you will be encouraged that in your disappointment, frustration, or grief, you can have a lens of holding everything with lightness. God's plan is always at work. We can allow laughter and levity in to places and moments that need the reminder that there is still good news and goodness in our days.
Connect with Molly Molly's website and Instagram
Molly's Book: If I don't laugh, I will cry
A few things mentioned on the show China Beach Tv show
Airplane movie
Questions to Help You Rise 1. What kind of humor do yo enjoy? 2. What is your natural response when faced with a stressful situation? 3. How could you add some levity to your responses? 4. What could you incorporate to your life to bring more lightness? 5. In what relationship do you need to add some humor, some play, or levity?
Do you fear artificial intelligence (AI)? or augmented reality (AR)? Do you wonder what is going to happen if we, as a culture, transition to using these technologies more and more?
We wonder that too. That's why we decided to have Jen Richey on the podcast. Jen is the Chief Strategy Officer of Gravity Jack, Inc. an augmented and virtual reality company. She is also a committed Christian who is striving to use their technology to further the gospel message in the world.
In this conversation, Jen helps us define artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) and how they can be used as tools. Most notably, she emphasizes the importance of understanding the limitations and biases of AI and the need to be discerning when using AI tools (this was an especially surprising part).
Jen also shares her personal journey with technology and how her faith has influenced her work in the tech industry. She encourages all of us to approach technology with wisdom and to find ways to do our creative best to use it for the Kingdom purposes.
You will walk away from this episode less fearful of technology and more inspired to use it for good!
Find out more about Jen Richey on LinkedIn follow on Instagram or check out her website gravityjack.com
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW ChatGPT
Bible GPT
War Tribe of Benyamin AR game
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What new insight did you discover about AI or AR after listening to this episode?
In what way have you allowed fear to root inside of you surrounding technology?
What action do you feel led to take after listening to this episode?
What good could you bring to the world using technology?
Our bodies are changing...and well...that means our bodies are changing ;).
Our trusted, go-to OBGYN, Dr. Carol Tanksle,y is back on the show to remind us that as our bodies change our need for intimacy does not. In fact, midlife can be a time of great emotional upheaval, or at least of emotional awareness, which can then impact how we experience sex. The combination of physical changes with all of the other external life circumstance changes, it's no surprise our bodies don't respond like they did twenty or even ten years ago.
After decades of working as a physician and speaking with thousands of women, Dr. Carol gives incredible advice to both married and single women about the need for intimacy and self-care during midlife. As whole people, we must address all areas of ourselves in order to be fully healthy.
No topic is off limits and we know this is one you want to talk about, so here we are. Sex in midlife. It's a thing. Let's make it a very good thing as God intended.
Connect with Dr. Carol On her website
A few things mentioned on the shoe Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
Good Clean Love personal lubricant
Geneev.com
Dr. Carol's Guide to Women's Health
Dr. Carol's episode with us on menopause
Dr. Juli Slattery's episode on Difficult Conversations: Talking About Sexuality
Questions to Help You Rise * How is midlife impacting your body? * How are you feeling about sex these days? * If you are married, how can you talk to your spouse about sex and what you would like? * What is one thing you can do today to "deal with your stuff" as Dr. Carol mentions at the end of the episode?
Do you struggle with aging? Do you look in the mirror and wonder where the person you used to be went? Or maybe you are even having a hard time reading this description because your eye sight is changing but you don’t want to get glasses.
In this conversation, Heather Creekmore, author and coach, discusses the fear of aging otherwise known as Gerascophobia – yes, there is really a name for it. She highlights the cultural shifts and ageism that contribute to this fear, as well as the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards.
Heather emphasizes the importance of settling the heart issue and finding contentment in our identity, rather than relying on external validation. She also addresses the personal choices we make regarding our appearance and the need to avoid judgment towards others.
This episode explores the challenges and questions that arise with aging, particularly in relation to physical appearance and body changes. It delves into topics such as dealing with gray hair, struggling with body changes and weight gain, settling identity, and embracing aging gracefully and gratefully.
Let’s be people at Our Time To Rise who get BETTER with age!
Find out more about Heather Creekmore: On her website OR Instagram
SOMETHINGS YOU HEARD IN THE SHOW Netflix show: Nailed it
Heather’s book: The 40 Day Body Image Workbook
“Do we want to believe the word or do we want to believe the world?”
“Who do I want to become? and how do I become that person now?”
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE In what area are you most struggling with aging?
What does God want you to know about this area of your life?
What is unique about the age you are right now that you don’t want to miss?
Who do you want to become?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
Just because we are middle-aged doesn't mean we need to look frumpy. In fact, fashion stylists and Instagram duo Julie Powell and Krista Olufson teach us just the opposite. This is a time in our lives when we want to feel good. How we dress in the morning can help with that.
On their Instagram profile @lastseenwearing, Julie and Krista teach us how to style clothes instead of just wearing them. From accessories (hello belts are a big deal!) to the cut of a jean, we talk through how we can look fresh and up to date as our bodies and styles change. It's the small things that make us look put together and then we feel our best as we walk through our days.
If you are looking for some practical help in how to be age-appropriate in your fashion (we do not need to dress like our daughters) while also current, this episode is for you. Because as we rise to meet life's challenges we want to look and feel our best.
Connect with Krista and Julie on Instagram and website
Some things mentioned Comfortable shoe brands:
-Dolce vita
-Birken stock- Sandals
-Dr scholl's
-Mephisto- Sandals
-Sam Edelman
Jewellery:
-Miranda Frye
-Maggie bracelet
-Risen Jewellery- Christian Jewellery
-Kinsley Armelle
Some questions to help you rise 1. Do you feel tension between your faith and an interest in fashion?
-
What action step could you take to organize your current clothes into styled outfits?
-
When you do an inventory of your clothes, what do you have enough of and need to stop buying?
-
What can you purchase to make more styled outfits with what you already have?
-
How could you use accessories to spice up your current outfit?
Do you want to make the most of your natural beauty? Do you want to feel good in the clothes you are wearing?
In this conversation, Rebecca Reid, a certified personal color analyst, discusses the power of color analysis and how it can enhance personal style and beauty. She explains that each person is unique and their coloring should be reflected in their color palette.
Rebecca also discusses the comeback color analysis is making in the world and the benefits it offers, such as simplifying decision-making and saving time and money. We camp in the idea of "harmony" in color choices and how it be a game changer as we consider how to look our best.
We define such terms as undertone, value range, and chroma and why these matter. You will be happy to also know that the colors that looks best on you also apply to make up. Yes ladies, we get to simplify our make-up drawers in this episode also (BIG win)!
If you are curious about how color can help you feel and look your best, this episode is for you.
Find Rebecca Rebecca's: website and Instagram
Some Things You Heard on the Show: Jewish Matchmaking on Netflix
The Munsell System (color analysis)
True Color International
Question to help you rise: 1. When you heard Rebecca talking about how God made your coloring uniquely and intentionally, how did that make you feel?
-
When have you felt “in harmony” with your coloring?
-
How could you cultivate more peace with how God made you?
-
How could you simplify your closet and make up drawer based on what you learned today?
Parenting young adults is no joke. We have all of the same love for them and yet little control. We watch them make decisions and wonder where we fit in their lives these days.
We invited author and mom Mary Demuth to the show to discuss challenges parents face when their children become adults. Mary reminds us that parenting is an ongoing journey, and parents still have a mission once their children leave home.
Mary provides practical advice on how to love, listen, and pray for adult children, and how important it is for a parent to be authentic and vulnerable in sharing their stories as a way of helping their children transition to adulthood.
Mary emphasizes the importance of being an active listener in maintaining a strong relationship with the children while setting boundaries and practicing independence.
This can be a lonely time for parents and we want to face these challenges together!
Find Mary
Mary’s book- Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy
Mary’s website and Instagram
What you heard on the show
Mary’s 52 weekly prayer pdf
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Questions to help you Rise
- What is your mission as you parent right now?
- How are you being authentic and vulnerable as you share your own stories with others?
- How can you better participate in active listening with your adult children
- Are your prayers focusing on expressing love and support, or are they attempts at controlling your kids?
- How can you pray towards God’s heart for them this week?
Buckle up Enneagram lovers – we’re diving into your favorite topic in light of marriage today. If you want to be more self aware, and improve how you operate in your most primary relationship, this episode is for you.
Joining us is Christa Hardin, therapist and Enneagram expert. She is host of the popular Enneagram + Marriage podcast.
Today she helps us understand why understanding our Instincts within each number of the Enneagram is important, why knowing where we are in the Conflict Triad matters, and how we can be more whole and balanced as a couple using the strengths of each group.
From self-soothing techniques to language we can use for greater connection, Christa illuminates how this tool can help us in growing and deepening love.
CHRISTA’S BOOK The Enneagram in Marriage
PREVIOUS ENNEAGRAM EPISODES TO LISTEN TO What’s your number? Understanding the Enneagram 101 with Suzanne Stabile The Enneagram and Spiritual Health with Doug and Adele Calhoun The Enneagram and Your Authentic Self with Marilyn Vancil
A QUICK RUN DOWN DESCRIPTION OF EACH NUMBER Type 1 – The Improver Type 2- The Giver Type 3 – The Achiever Type 4 – The Individualist Type 5- The Observer Type 6- The Trust Builder Type 7- The Enthusiast Type 8- The Protector Type 9- The Peace Maker
UNDERSTANDING INSTINCTS WITHIN EACH NUMBER Self Preserving Instinct – take care of you and your family using security measures
Sexual Instinct – the desire to create together; to merge and attract
Social Instinct – the desire for social connection and purpose
CONFLICT TRIADS (HARMONIC GROUP) – KNOWING HOW YOU CAN WORK THROUGH CONFLICT Types 2, 7, + 9 – Positivity types – think in ideals, comfort, love
Types 1, 3, + 5 – Linear and logical types in conflict
Types 6, 8, + 4 – Emotional reactivity and passion types – deeper and more passionate care- OK putting cards on the table and showing how they really feel.
The best is when we can combine positivity, depth / passion, and maintain logic. When couples do all three, they start to argue in ways that get traction.
“Where there is life, there’s hope.”
-Tolkien SELF SOOTHING TECHNIQUES * Take deep breaths * Lament (ie. who your spouse isn’t) * Take time with the Lord * Go on a walk * Take a break from conflict
“Focus on what you are together as a couple instead of what you aren’t.”
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Within your number, what instinct do you fall in? Self preserving, sexual, or social? 2. Look up your number plus your instince and see what it says to increase your self awareness. 3. Where do you fall in the conflict triad? 4. What can you do to broaden your skill set in conflict (get practical and specific). 5. When can you create a time to discuss the principles in this episode with your spouse?
WE LOVE OUR SPONSOR - LEGACY CHANGER
It's one of our favorite episodes of the year. Word has it, it's one of yours too. In honor of Valentine's Day here are a few things we are "loving" right now.
From our favorite boots to our must have nail polish, this episode settles in on the practical. It is THINGS we love after all. This is the one time each year we give it to you sister to sister, the things that are making our life work, or at least a little more enjoyable.
Click on this link to get the e-booklet with all of the links to the items we talk about. You. Do. Not. Want. To. Miss. This.
Do you ever feel you are living in a world gone mad? Do you question whether peace is really possible?
Brant Hansen, author and popular radio host, joins us for this important conversation with his quick wit and thoughtful ideas. We talk about being unoffendable and choosing peace, what it looks like to outsource our worries to God, and how we can trust God's plan, even when life spins out of control.
Brant also explores the beauty of the Kingdom of God and the transformative power of focusing on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. He encourages us to memorize scripture as a way to combat anxiety and replace negative thoughts with God’s truth.
If you want more freedom, gratitude, and joy in your life, tune in.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance by Brant Hansen
Unoffendable by Brant Hansen
Unoffendable Study Guide with DVD
Dallas Willard “Joy is a pervasive sense of well being regardless of circumstances.”
Patriots Super Bowl Comeback Game Highlights
This Cultural Moment Podcast Episode – Resilient Faith with New Testament Scholar Dr. Jerry Sittser (we are not the only Christians in history who have struggled)
Tim Ferris
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. With whom do you need to be more unoffendable? 2. How can you better cultivate peace in your life? 3. What are you putting your attention on that needs to shift? 4. What would it look like to dance?
WE LOVE OUR SPONSOR! Check out the Legacy Changer book by Kristen Hallinan. LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
You know the moment. You've said "Hello", but don't know what to say next? Yeah, we know that moment too. Which is why we are doing an episode on what to say when you've forgotten someone's name and you really feel like you should know it. Or you run into somebody at the grocery store and don't want to get into the hard details of how life has actually been going.
We are all human. We don't always have the perfect response or eloquent conversation starter. This episode won't change that, but it might get you thinking about how to handle the most common moments in your own life when you feel a bit tongue-tied. We are here to think ahead together so that we can be intentional in those slightly awkward moments with people we know and those we don't.
How do we operate in the world when we want to be kind, honest, and also curious...and are just at a loss for words? This episode is meant to give some practical suggestions from our podcast hosts Krista and Alex AND is meant to get a conversation started. Comment below on what you say, when you have forgotten somebody's name.
A few things mentioned in this episode: Knowing What to Say: Finding the words to fit any situation by American Girl
Harvard's blog about The FORD Method
The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon
Sharon McMahon aka @sharonsaysso on Instagram
The Gottman Institute
Some questions for reflection -How do you want people to feel as you are having a conversation?
-Where do you tend to get stuck in small talk?
-How can you be prepared before you go into a situation so that you can avoid some conflict?
-What are some scripts you can have ready?
Are you someone who wants change but is afraid of the unknown? Do you ever wonder what would be on the other side of making a move that feels uncomfortable?
Joining us today is best selling author, speaker, TV personality, and coach Michelle McKinney Hammond. Splitting time between Ghana and Chicago, Michelle is no stranger to change and innovation.
She has moved from writing to speaking to singing to fashion designing to conference hosting… and more. At every stage Michelle evolves and creates, and she encourages us to do the same.
We also dive into the topic of mindset and why this is vital for the health and thriving of our lives. In this interview you will laugh, be inspired, and sharpened.
If you want to get better at embracing change, listen in!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MICHELLE Book: When Shift Happens
Visit her website to learn more
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW The Design Lab -Stanford
Genesis 2
Rock for the Rock – Michelle and Relevance (music)
JOIN THE 7 DAY MASTER YOUR MINDSET CHALLENGE! QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What do I really want?
What change in my life can I embrace as a pathway to new opportunity?
What part of my mindset needs to shift so I can see the change in my life differently?
How can I invite God into the change happening in my life? What would that look like?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
There's no kinda stress like money stress. The good news is the new year offers an opportunity to examine our spending habits and their root causes. We didn't want this new year marker to pass without looking at how we can evaluate our tendencies and be intentional with how and where we spend.
We brought you the best for this conversation. Shawna and David Sullivan discuss the importance of addressing money issues in the new year with honesty and no judgement. They highlight the three primary mistakes people make with money: overspending, mindless spending, and oversaving. They emphasize the need to address the heart issues behind these mistakes and approach money as a reflection of values and priorities.
Shawna and David also share their personal experiences in navigating money differences in their 20-year marriage. They offer a great reminder that this conversation around money decisions is bathed in grace. Jesus is better than anything money can buy. We can encourage each other in that good news as we make daily decisions with our money.
Connect with David and Shawna Through Shawna's website or Instagram
A few things mentioned mint.com
ynab.com (You Need A Budget)
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Shawna's download 7 Do's and Don'ts for Your Time and Money in the New Year
Some questions for reflection (from Shawna's download) When thinking of spending, ask yourself:
- Does this line up with my values?
- Is this necessary?
- What is one investment goal I have for this year?
Head over to Shawna's website to find more thoughtful questions to get your spending lined up with your priorities.
Do you feel frustrated and a bit confused about how to best care for your body in midlife? You are in good company.
In this episode health coach Megan Dahlman encourages us to focus on four essential pillars of health. Most of us are good at one or two, but rarely all four.
Megan educates us on what we need to know about bone density, muscle mass, healing, and balance, and why these are especially important in our season of life.
Our health is vital to our wellbeing. If you are a woman in midlife, or approaching midlife, you want to hear what’s in this episode!
Find Megan Dahlman on her website or Instagram
WHAT YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
Balance ideas you can do while brushing your teeth
Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz
Jumpstart 30
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE 1. Which pillar of health needs your attention this year? Fitness, nutrition, stress management, or sleep? 2. What is one habit you can stack on another to increase your health? (ie. mobility exercises while brushing teeth) 3. Knowing muscle mass and bone density are critical to aging well, what is one pivot you can make to incorporate more strength exercises? 4. Do you tend to be more like the tortoise or the hare? In what area would it be beneficial for you to become Team Tortoise?
FOUR PILLARS OF HEALTH IN MIDLIFE FITNESS
NUTRITION
STRESS MANAGEMENT
SLEEP
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Have you ever felt frustrated by New Year’s resolutions? Do you tend to set the same goals over and over with little progress?
Today on the podcast hosts Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall talk about effective goal setting and what elements need to be addressed in order to make lasting change. They also address common mistakes people make when the calendar turns.
Krista, a life and leadership coach, coaches Alex through one of her goals for 2024 in real time. Alex is real, vulnerable, and open as she shares about her goal and what gets in the way of her success in this area. Push play to find out what it is and to witness the effective goal setting process.
If you want to make changes that last this year, listen in!
DOWNLOAD THE EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING WORKSHEET QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE * What is the one goal you want to focus on for the next 90 days? * What is your deeper why behind that goal? * What are your limiting beliefs that come up against this goal? * What is a powerful thought you can repeat when the limiting beliefs arise? * What is your roadmap to achieve your goal? It is helpful to create systems that set you up for success.
What is the "wilderness"? It's when our understanding of God does not match our experience.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Faith Eury Cho talks about the raw honesty we can have with God and how that plants roots for friendship.
As we look ahead to the new year we want to be considering how to live a faithful life, how to rise to meet the moments in front of us, even when we're not FEELING our faith. Gratitude. Curiosity. Thanksgiving. These are practices we can use to remember who God is, invite him into our daily minutia of life, and thank him for what he has already done and has yet to do.
If you're wondering how to face the next few weeks or next year, we invite you to listen in to this conversation and tell us how you are cultivating a real friendship with the living God.
Connect with Faith On her website or Instagram
Mentioned on the show Faith's new book Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence
Questions for reflection -How do you see God drawing near to you?
- In what ways can you be more honest with him as you end this year?
-How can you live in expectation that he will be with you, no matter what you're facing, in 2024?
Christmas doesn't arrive on our terms. Whether we are ready for a party or not, the holiday is still here. It's okay to be sad (and if you are, it's okay to give yourself permission to be sad.) It's also okay to have grief and joy at the same time or on different days. There is no right way to feel this Christmas.
Our guest for this episode, Jami Nato, knows a few things about grief during the holidays. Her life as she knew it fell apart nearly a decade ago - right between Thanksgiving and New Year's. For years to follow she couldn't figure out why she wasn't better able to welcome the holiday season. She needed to give herself permission to grieve. From infidelity to addiction to that missing person at the table, we cover how heartbreak can feel acute this time of year.
And yet....we also know the very holiday we are celebrating right now is our reminder that God comes near to us because he loves us. He doesn't come because we have put together lives, just the opposite, he comes because we need him. If you are feeling low today, or you love someone who is, this is a great listen to remind us all that God loves the sinners - that's all of us - and he is with us no matter what.
Connect with Jami On Instagram, or Facebook
A few things mentioned Jami's book This Must Be the Place: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Discover Your Purpose Today
Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss by Dorina Gilmore-Young
Some questions for reflection -How are you going to make sure you take care of yourself in your grief?
-How are you going to reach out to a friend who may be hurting?
-How might you hold on to the hope that is Christmas?
To all of the Christmas movie buffs in the world, this episode is for YOU. In this fun episode Alex and Krista list their top ten holiday movies to watch PLUS snack ideas to go with each one.
With winter comes cozy movie time and snuggling up on the sofa. We list some classics that are in the must-watch category and a few new feel-good films.
Let’s get in the holiday spirit together!
GET THE FREE 10 HOLIDAY SNACK AND MOVIE IDEAS BOOKLET HERE
As we enter this Advent season, we may be faced with a new way of doing things, new circumstances, or even new grief. Sometimes the words and structure of others can help bring new life to our prayers and spiritual practices. Sometimes liturgy, the set form of a religious experience, can offer a scaffolding we didn't even know we needed.
We invited Kayla Craig into our conversation about the power of borrowed prayers. When someone else's words speak to our spirits, we can experience the Body of Christ in a powerful way. This time of year, Advent, lends itself especially well to introducing "borrowed prayers" into our rhythms. We remember the saints before us and those who celebrate and remember Christ's first arrival still today.
As you consider what it means to introduce liturgy into your season, we pray that it gives you a rich connection to the Church and to your own practices of remembering the birth of Christ as we wait for his return.
Connect with Kayla On Instagram here and here. This is her substack and her website.
A few things mentioned Kayla's new book for families, Every Season Sacred: Reflections, Prayers, and to Nourish Your Soul and Nurture Your Family Throughout the Year
From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving based on Luke 1:46-55 Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams , Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
liturgylink
We praise your greatness, O Lord, and our spirits rejoice in you, our Savior. You looked with favor on your unlikely servant Mary, and she delivered a blessing for all generations. You, the Almighty, have done great things, and your name is ever holy.
From the depth of your compassion, you gave life to Jesus, your Son, who came to show mercy on those who need you most, from generation to generation. His perfect love showed your strength, and his humility made the proud stumble. His death cast down from their thrones the powers of death, and his resurrection lifted humanity up from the lowliness of the grave.
Come upon us now with your Holy Spirit, and let your power overshadow this meal, O Most High. As we share this bread and cup, fill us with the life of Jesus Christ. May we bear him into the world once again, so that we may empty ourselves of unjust wealth and fill the hungry with good things.
Make us your servant people, signs of your promise of mercy, in the name of the coming Christ. We pray in his name, saying…
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Every Moment Holy A Liturgy for the Christmas Season
Questions to consider Are borrowed prayers helpful for me? Do they feel comforting? Do they give words to my feelings and experiences?
How might I experience a liturgical church service in a way that brings me closer to the saints around the world?
How does my own faith story impact my worship style?
Today we are diving into holiday planning dynamics.
Talking about specific scenarios and comments from listeners, we discuss issues such as what happens when roles shift, or need to shift, how to have productive conversations that honor people, and what it looks like to put your own spin on old favorites.
Whether you are happy holiday roles are shifting, or you are mourning a loss or change, this episode is for you!
SCRIPT FOR CONVERSATIONS: “It would be a gift and blessing to me if….”
“Would you be willing to meet with me about Christmas? I have some ideas I’d love your input on.”
“I would really love to ___________________. I realize this is breaking from tradition and I want to honor how you feel about that. Can you tell me your thoughts?”
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE UP 1. Who do you need to switch seats with to become the holiday pilot? 2. Who do you need to have a conversation with about the holidays? 3. How can you better honor the people involved in your holiday gathering? 4. What does it mean for you to be the adult this year for the holidays?
“RECLAIMING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS” – A FREE HOLIDAY PLANNING EBOOK SCRIPTURE “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 6:4 (The Message)
LET’S CONNECT FRIENDS! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
It's that time of year - when we look at calendars and either get excited or feel overwhelmed. Anna Watson Carl, people gatherer extraordinaire, walks us through the why of holiday gathering and how to take the pressure off of ourselves.
As a woman who loves a good dinner party, Anna tells us some of her past holiday mistakes and how she learned from them. As a trained chef, she gives us actual food ideas for both a sit down event or a mingle and snack kind of party. (See below for recipes.) If rosemary, garlic, fig sauce, and lemon curd sound like your kinds of holiday foods, you are going to love Anna's recipes from her blog and cookbook, The Yellow Table.
Holiday gathering is meant to be fun. Whether you're a host or a guest at an event, you will walk away from this conversation with both practical ideas and inspiration. It is the science and the art of holiday gathering.
Connect with Anna Blog: https://www.theyellowtable.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annawatsoncarl/
Newsletter: https://substack.com/@annawatsoncarl
Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/The-Yellow-Table-Celebration-Gatherings/dp/1454917652
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/22the4UQcZc Mentioned on the show Anna's cookbook The Yellow Table: A Celebration of Everyday Gatherings: 110 Simple and Seasonal Recipes
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Dishes to Bring to a Party:
Fall Quinoa Salad with Brussels Sprouts & Delicata Squash Kale Salad with Winter Squash and Pine Nuts Rosemary Shortbread Pecan Squares
Festive Holiday Menu: Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin with Rosemary Fig Butter
Crispy New Potatoes with Rosemary
Haricots Verts with Dijon Shallot Vinaigrette Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Lemon Curd
Homemade Hostess Gifts:
Spicy Rosemary Cocktail Nuts Maple Pecan Granola
Dorina Gilmore-Young’s French toast casserole
Some questions for reflection What are your priorities this season?
How do you want your guests to feel after a gathering?
How do YOU want to feel this season?
Christmas decorations have already been in the stores for months, but now it's time to get serious about holiday shopping. Why? Because we want to make the most of our time and money, and we want to be thoughtful gift givers.
Alex and Krista lay out seven people you may have on your shopping list and some ideas on what to get for them. From husbands to teenagers, parents to coworkers, we've got you covered. Some principles on what to consider when selecting a gift and some detailed suggestions on what might be the perfect idea.
This is heavy on the practical as we offer a few episodes in the coming weeks on preparing for the Christmas season. Your December self will thank your November self as you check things off of your to-do list like shopping and wrapping.
Merry Christmas!
A few things mentioned: FOR TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS TSA pre-check
Nail gel kit with light
Custom Converse
Portable speakers
Spike ball
FOR HUSBANDS Pizza oven: Ooni or a little less expensive Solo brand
Outdoor Weber gas griddle or grill cover
ABC dates
FOR FRIENDS Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie’s book of prayers
FOR TEACHERS Krista’s soft peanut brittle
FOR BUSINESS PARTNERS Crate + Barrel white bakeware
FOR YOU Coaching with Krista
Some questions to consider Who is on your list? What is your budget? When is your deadline for shopping done? When is your deadline for wrapping?
The DISC is one of the leading assessments to help people learn to communicate better in the workplace and in relationships. In Part 1 last week we broke down what the letters stand for, and how we can learn to self identify our natural tendencies in conflict, pacing, processes, interpersonal relationships and decision making.
In Part 2 this week we’re looking at how the types interact and what potential sticking points may surface because of our style. We also discuss each type in leadership positions and what the potential strengths and pitfalls may be as they lead.
Join us as we interview DISC coach Krista Gilbert on how to be more self aware and insightful about the way you work with others in any arena.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW TO TAKE THE DISC ASSESSMENT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, A COUPLE, OR A GROUP SIGN UP HERE. “Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse.” ― Barbara Brown Taylor
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE * How do you see your DISC type conflicting with another DISC type? * How can you adjust your communication style to work more effectively with that person? * What is your one BIG takeaway from the DISC assessment information?
LET’S CONNECT FRIENDS! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
DiSC® is a personal assessment tool used by more than one million people every year to help improve teamwork, communication, and productivity, especially in the workplace, though there are also tremendous personal benefits when using the DISC.
DISC provides a common language people can use to better understand themselves and those they interact with—and then use this knowledge to reduce conflict and improve working relationships.
In this episode DISC coach, Krista Gilbert, shares about the four D-I-S-C types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance or Conscientiousness. We dive into why t’s so important for leaders to be self aware and how they can use this insight to better relate to those around them.
If you want a powerful new tool for your relational and work tool box, this episode is for you!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE DISC Krista can help you if you would like to take the DISC assessment and receive a comprehensive report and debrief. SIGN UP HERE.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW D – DOMINANT
Seeks control Decisive Direct Results oriented
I- INTERPERSONAL
Persuasive Spontaneous Friendly Doesn’t mind the spotlight
S- STEADY
Team oriented Follows through Stays loyal Accepting of others
C-COMLIANT
Compliant Analytical Planner Needs Accuracy
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU GROW * What type do you most identify with – the D, I, S, or C? * What is one of the greatest strengths of that type that you embody? * What is one growth area you know you need to work on? * How can you use this tool to help you become a better family member? a better colleague? a better friend and neighbor?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Every once in a while we release an episode called Fun + Fire.
Sometimes it's lighthearted and sometimes we delve into something hard. Today we are camping on the lighter side, discussing what we are loving and also drawing attention to a big problem for all of womankind.
You'll have to listen to see what it is.
If you want some practical ideas for the season and also want to laugh a little, join us for this fun conversation.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW:
Krista's 10 Days of Fall Vibes on Instagram.
Here are the categories:
DAY 1: DÉCOR SWAPPING IN THE FALL
DAY 2: FALL MEAL PLANNING
DAY 3: A FALL TABLESCAPE
DAY 4: RE-SETTING A MORNING ROUTINE IN THE FALL
DAY 5: THE VERY BEST AMISH ZUCCHINI BREAD
DAY 6: HARNESS FALL TO MAKE MEMORIES
DAY 7: THE BEST ITALIAN SOUP RECIPE
DAY 8: HUNT THE GOOD – PRACTICING GRATITUDE
Day 9: OUR EASY FALL CANDY MIX
Day 10: DECORATING YOUR FRONT PORCH FOR FALL
Coach Prime
Ugg platform boots
Free people platform boots
New balance sneakers
Edda Knee High Boot by Naturalizer
Life is changing. What we used to be responsible for, may no longer be in our charge. Whether it's work-related, a parenting dynamic, or caring for parents who used to care for us, when our purpose shifts we may start to wonder who we even are anymore.
Enter Rachel Joy to the conversation. As someone who coaches women on their identity and purpose, Rachel gives us some practical ways to think about changing "assignments" throughout life. Our identity, who God says we are, does not change, but our purpose - or assignment of what we're in charge of - might. We cover grief when things change when we don't want them to, transitions as times when old lies might resurface, and the importance of trusted friends to challenge wrong thinking and celebrate our victories.
If you are in a season of shift, we encourage you to remember who God is. And if you aren't really sure, this is a great time to seek him out. His love for you defines you. No matter your boundaries and allotments - your larger purpose is to walk this life with him.
Follow Rachel On her websites:
www.s-coaching.org www.sparrowcollective.org
On Instagram:
@rachelrjoy
@_sparrowcollective
@_s_coaching
A few things mentioned on the show Sparrow Collective
Identity Course
Identity Sheets
Questions for reflection What are the lies I’m believing? What are the fears around the lies that I’m believing? Are their idols that I’m worshipping other than God?
Questions for reflection What passions has God given you? What burdens has he given you? What are the gifts he has given you? What are the spheres of influence he has given you?
In part two of our series on parenting teens and young adults, today we once again join with therapist and author Kristen Hatton to discuss the realities of raising this generation.
Using a hot seat format, we hit some of the most challenging topics. From vaping to bullying to eating disorders to sex, we’re “going there” in this episode.
If you want a refreshingly honest, faith-informed perspective on teen parenting, this conversation is for you.
**If you didn’t listen to part 1, be sure to listen here.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Birds and Bees Ministry
The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Take some time to journal or talk through these.
- Be a student of your teen or young adult – what do you notice?
- Are you under or over parenting? What evidence is there of this?
- How can you love your child’s friends well?
- What can you do to address the heart of your child (rather than focusing on behavior modification)?
- Who could help you navigate this season with your teen / young adult?
- What activity can you do with your teen / young adult to connect right now?
Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Are you raising teens or young adults? Then these next two episodes are just for you. In part one of this two part series, we are talking about rising to meet this specific season of parenting.
Therapist, author and parent Kristen Hatton joins us to discuss over and under parenting (and how to not do either), how to live with the uncertainty of not knowing a child’s future and how to avoid the trap of codependency.
We know this is a tricky time in life. We’re WITH you in it! Let’s rise together.
Find Kristen Hatton on her website.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Kristen’s new book – Parenting Ahead
Our interview with Curt Thompson – neurologist and expert in the integration of neuroscience and faith
Adam Young, the YOU diagram
Codependent No More
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Friendship is intentional. If you want depth to this lifeline of a relationship, you need to make it a priority. In our second part of our conversation around healthy friendships, Krista and Alex continue with their discussion of attributes they've noticed about each other that have strengthened their relationship over three decades.
From humility to honesty a friendship requires trust - often over time. It also requires the kind of commitment that creates safety. But how do we incorporate these building blocks into our everyday interactions? How do we have the kinds of relationships that are both encouraging and challenging us to growth in the very best ways?
We hope this conversation inspires some reflection on your own friendships and encourages you to consider where you want to invest your time and energy this year. We all want friends. We all want to be good friends. We don't often pause to consider how we are doing in this arena. This series is intended to help us do just that.
I few things mentioned Boundaries and Safe People by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Reflection questions When was a time a friend believed the best in you? How did that feel?
How well do you keep confidences? Who can you trust to keep things confidential?
Who is within arm's reach that you would like to become better friends with? What can you do with intention this week to reach out to that friend?
The podcast co-hosts, Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall, have been friends for over 30 years. Because of this, they have observed qualities and behaviors in each other that make the other person an especially good friend. Podcast listeners often ask about their friendship, but they've never talked about it at length on the show...until now.
Using what they notice in each other as friends, Krista and Alex, are able to talk through what makes a good friend. Some of the things they highlight are personal qualities or character attributes, and some are how those qualities play out practically.
Quality friendship is critical to a healthy and thriving life. If other relationships in your life are changing, or if you simply want to be a better friend, focusing in on the kinds of friendships you are working toward can improve your overall health. It is our time to rise and be the kinds of friends we'd like to have.
A few things mentioned on the show The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study on Happiness
Loving My Actual Neighbor: 7 Practices to Treasure the People Right in Front of You
The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days
Questions for reflection How would you like to be a better friend to others?
How can you give a long-term friendship new priority?
What practical things can you do to ask better questions? Be a more active listener?
How can you be intentional about checking in on a friend's milestones and important moments?
It’s time to reset our homes for fall! Do you want to create warm and cozy for the season? We’ve got a few decorating and styling tips for you in this episode.
Join our conversation with Ahn Lin, designer and host of the popular blog Girl and the Word, as we discuss creating places of joy, peace and hope. She also gets very practical, telling us what lightbulbs to get for the best ambient lighting.
Our exterior impacts our interior. Ahn is a great example of someone who used design and space to help heal trauma in her life. She helps people discover how they can do the same.
This is a great episode to usher in September this year.
Follow Ahn Lin on Instagram
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Astronaut Star Galaxy Projector Light
3 SPACES TO HAVE IN YOUR HOME: a place of joy (Ahn’s plant wall)
a place of peace (Ahn’s tea corner)
a place of hope (see Ahn’s cross altar)
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE * What is one change I can make to create more “cozy” in my home this fall? * Where is my place of joy, my place of peace and my place of hope? * Is there a place of my home that isn’t serving me? * What can I do differently in that space?
Let us know on Instagram how you liked this episode!
As summer comes to a close we know you are getting back into your fall routines. This likely means you are busier and you still need to make dinner.
The problem is what to make? Amiright?
Krista and Alex talk through their own pantry staples, what they consider a great weeknight meal, and then ten actual dinner ideas that are healthy, taste good, and most of all SIMPLE!
Listen in to get ideas going and find recipe links below. Because dinner should be nourishing for those who eat it and enjoyable for those who make it.
The start of the new school year also signals each of us to get back to our routines. Whether we have kids in school or not, it’s a natural time to hit the reset button.
In this episode we talk about getting one percent better, how to make our brain work for us rather than against us, what daily habits matter and how we can cast a vote towards who we want to become.
We learn to boss our brains and make pre-decisions that help us get to where we want to go. If you are wanting to reset your mind and systems this fall, you’ll love this conversation.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Krista’s Daily Dozen Checklist
Kelly Minter’s podcast episode
Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith’s podcast episode on rest
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE Take some time to journal or talk through these.
- What is one area where you are 2 degrees off?
- How can you course correct in this area?
- What pre-decisions or pre-decision do you need to make?
- In what area do you need to boss your brain?
- What is the one change you want above all others in your routine this fall?
LET’S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Sometimes the signs of a growing season are not exactly what we're looking for.
When we think growth we don't always think discomfort, but the term "growing pains" exists for a reason.
In this episode we talk through disappointment, feeling stuck, frustration, loneliness, and letting go.
Whew! That's quite a list.
It's also an opportunity to check your circumstances and ask if there is an opportunity for growth.
As we talk about rising up to meet life's challenges, this episode names the what and the how of that process which in the end can result in personal growth.
And isn't that what we want? To grow to be the best version of ourselves that God is calling forward when we meet these uncomfortable circumstances.
It is our time to rise.
Follow Ashley On Instagram, TikTok, or check out her website
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
Things mentioned on this episode Proverbs 31 Ministries
Ashley's new book Tired of Trying: How to Hold On To God When You're Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten
Questions for reflection 1. Are you feeling frustrated, forgotten, or lonely? What circumstances have led to those feelings? Where might there be a place for you to rise up and grow? 2. Has God hurt your feelings recently? Write out a prayer that tells him with full honesty how you are feeling. 3. Where is one area of your life where you are letting go? How does it offer new space for something new?
We are back after a month off talking about how to create a culture of joy with author and leader Jen Jones.
In this episode we discuss what joy is, how to tap into it, and what it looks like to build culture around it, in our families and in the workplace.
As we turn the corner into a new upcoming school year, let’s lead with joy!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Joy is an elevated perspective
Galatians 5:22- being connected to God results in abounding JOY
The Gap and The Gain
Home with Havila Podcast
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE UP 1. What circumstance is robbing your joy? 2. How would your perspective change if you made a decision to focus on God in the midst of this circumstance, rather than focusing on the circumstance itself? 3. What is something practical you can do to help create a culture of joy in your home? 4. What is something practical you can do to help create a culture of joy in your workplace? 5. How can you remind yourself daily to hold onto an “elevated perspective?”
Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.
Or message us on Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!
Embracing change. It can hurt.
It can be awkward. And it often doesn't come naturally, but embracing the prickly reality of change is the best tactic when dealing with a change we can't avoid.
This week Alex and Krista talk about facing change. In so many ways we know that change is inevitable, and yet we try to avoid it. We fight against it. But what's the point of fighting it if we know it's coming?
Let's embrace it!
This can feel like hugging a cactus.
Why would we want to embrace something so difficult? Because it's better to accept it and move forward, than resist the inevitable. Living with a lens of opportunity gives change a new purpose. It means we can grow! With God's help we can hug that cactus!
Don't miss the conversation between Alex and Krista as they talk about how they are facing changes today.
Mentioned on this show Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur Brooks
Questions for Reflection * How are you facing change right now? * How are you feeling about the change * Is there an opportunity for growth for you in your current change?
Do you struggle with caring too little about clothes?
Do you stand in front of your closet and say “I have nothing to wear!”?
Do you keep clothes that are two sizes too small in hopes that you will one day fit in them again?
Do you not know what to buy for your wardrobe so all of your clothes will go together?
If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, this episode is for you! Come learn about how to navigate the world of fashion from a healthy, faith-centered perspective.
Jammie Baker, a professional stylist, joins us today to give us her best tips and tricks.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Spanx undetectable underwear
Know your body shape + bring in your natural waist
Madewell
Evereve
Nordstrom
Sam Ettelman – Oatmeal suede heel
Heel inserts – Dr. Sholls or Vivian Lu
Veha Sneaker
Nordstrom Black Maxi
Trouser pant with elastic waist
Tuckernuck
New Balance 327
How to create an intermixable wardrobe: 4 core neutrals + 3-4 colors + a couple of prints
Tennis Dress
“One of the biggest problems is that women don’t transition our closet when our life or body transitions.” – Jammie Baker
We all do it. We look at someone else and bring out the mental measuring stick. We also know it's not good for us. So what is a woman to do?
In this episode of Our Time to Rise, Sarah Hauser talks about the burden of comparison and why we pick it up and carry it. In some ways we can't prevent those feelings from bubbling up, but we can address them early so they don't grow into something bigger and more toxic.
Whether it's body image, tax bracket, title and position, or family dynamics, we can all do a little assessment of where we tend to compare and how we can flip that behavior to celebrating someone else's good fortune and accomplishment.
This conversation goes deeper than "just don't do it". Sarah gives us real, practical approaches to how we can move away from comparison.
Connect with Sarah On her website, on Instagram, or sign up for her monthly newsletter here.
Sarah's New Book All Who Are Weary: Finding True Rest By Letting Go of the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Carry
Questions for Reflection to Help You Rise 1. What burdens am I carrying that I was not meant to carry? 2. In what area am I experiencing grief that I need to let go of? 3. In what area am I experiencing comparison? And how can I let go of that?
Life is full of both good and grief. Play and pain. Laughter and tears.
As part of our new podcast format, we will occasionally bring you an episode we call Fun & Fire. Where we talk about one light-hearted thing we are loving these days, which is bringing fun to our actual lives, and one thing that is keeping us up at night and maybe motivating us toward change or at least getting the fire going.
We are airing our first Fun & Fire episode this week where we are literally talking about fun (party tips) and fire (gunfire in schools.) We won't always be so literal in these themes of fun and fire, but this round we are. Our Time to Rise brings with it intentionality and responsibility. This is meant to give you a little more insight into how we're approaching our days, what is silly and sad in our everyday.These are what fuel the topics we select. We hope you enjoy our first ever Fun & Fire.
We'd love to hear what YOUR fun and fires are right now? What is keeping you up at night? What is making your day more enjoyable?
Give us your fun and fire.
A few things mentioned on the show: Balloon arch form
Disposable adult bibs
The Onsite Foundation
Sandy Hook Promise
Reflection questions to help you rise: Fun:
- What makes a party enjoyable for you as a guest? As a host?
- Who can you recruit to co-host your next event?
- What can you keep as a fun task for yourself and what can you outsource?
Fire:
- Where do you feel the impact of gun violence in your life?
- What can YOU do to make kids safer in your community?
- Who is already doing something to make a change that you believe in that you can join?
We are stepping off of Memorial Day and into SUMMER!
Who's ready?!
If you're waving your hand in the air, then this episode is for you.
If you're slowly lifting your hand because you're not sure if you're ready, then this episode is for you.
If you are shaking your head, wondering how you are so unprepared, then this episode is for you.
Shawna Sullivan is back to continue the conversation about being intentional with our time in the summer months with kids at home. We pick up right where we ended in the Part 1 episode, so go listen to that first if you haven't already.
In this episode we talk about:
-Life lesson benefits of side-by-side time
-How to create alone time for everyone in your home
-Shawna's summer rhythm of rotating through the different types of time
-Inviting friends, for both moms and kids, along on your activities
-The concept of easy plus one to add the "special" to any part of your day
-Offering kids loose structure as a jumping off point for their creativity
-Using summer as a time to recalibrate to our family's values
If summer feels overwhelming, this episode will give you the confidence to know that it's your time to rise. You can meet the new challenges that summer months bring, and not only meet them, but see them as opportunities for new ways to connect and grow. We are so glad you are joining us in this conversation about smart strategies for summer.
Summer's coming.
And it's coming fast.
Moms need some smart strategies to get us through. Why? Because summer has different rhythms, expectations, and needs. And every summer our kids are different ages than they were in summers past. The old ways may no longer work. It's our time to rise.
In this two-episode conversation, we invite Shawna Sullivan to share her strategies for getting things done while also enjoying her kids. We cover:
-Family principles to fall back on when planning
-How summer offers a reset for time together
-Planning with the end goal in mind
-Doing a family inventory of what an "enjoyable summer" looks like
-On days and off days during summer months
-Face-to-face vs. side-by-side vs. alone time for moms and kids
We are having this conversation NOW, before summer has completely snuck up on us. And the great news is there will be more next week with Part Two!
Get Shawna's free download As mentioned on the show, Shawna has created a resource for Our Time to Rise podcast listeners. Grab her Ten Simple Strategies to help you enjoy summer rather than dread it or regret it. You can download the here.
Connect with Shawna On her website or Instagram
Listen here On iTunes
Questions to help you rise up For journaling or reflecting with friends, here are some questions to help you rise up to meet what summer presents.
-
What do I have time for that I haven’t had time for in the last season?
-
What could I focus on with my kids this summer?
-
At the end of the summer when someone asks me how my summer was, how would I like to answer?
-
What are the principles that
In part two of Rising to Reinvention, Alex and Krista dive right into what keeps us stuck, naming the role of fear in shackling progress. They also give practical tips and tricks to utilize when approaching new or challenging circumstances or situations.
As they explore the process of reinvention, they reveal when transformation happens, how long it takes, and what it requires.
And who needs to stop overthinking and overanalyzing decisions? Yeah, they tackle that too.
If you missed part one, be sure to go back and listen. We can all benefit from some reinvention!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW The 12 Week Year
Podcast episode with Crystal Woodman Miller Columbine Survivor
The Gap and The Gain
Dr. Amy Cuddy Power Pose Ted Talk
Spokane Pivot (Moth storyslam)
“The good work of change happens while we are in motion. It’s a process that we go through. Reinvention is a series of small steps that reinvigorates our internal life.” — Krista Gilbert
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE UP – ANSWER THESE IN A JOURNAL OR WITH A FRIEND. 1. In what area is fear making your decision for you? 2. Where are you in “the gap?” How can you shift your thinking to be in “the gain?” 3. What area could you focus on for twelve weeks and who could help you get “in motion?”
LET’S CONNECT! CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM AND BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO STAY IN THE LOOP.
We are kicking off the rebranded podcast, Our Time to Rise, talking about REINVENTION.
With change come opportunity.
We get to evaluate where we are, where we want to be, and figure out how to move forward with hope, optimism, courage, and faith.
This is part one of a two part mini-series on how we reinvent ourselves, what stops us from doing so, and how we overcome obstacles and rise to the moment we are given.
You are going to love this topic – dive in with us and let’s rise together!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Ken Wytsma podcast interview on Create vs. Copy
Isaiah 43:19: "See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
From Psychology Today: On Women and Anger Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Dr. Sasha Shillcut interview on boundaries
“We undertake all things as if we were establishing immortality for ourselves on earth. If we see a dead body, we may philosophize briefly about the fleeting nature of life, but the moment we turn away from the sight the thought of our own perpetuity remains fixed in our minds. Death is an abstraction to us, something technically true but unimaginable as a personal reality.”
16th-century Protestant theologian, John Calvin Questions to Help Us RISE UP
(answer these in a journal or with a friend)
- Do an evaluation: where are you? your age, your situation, your stage, your marital status, your job, your kids, your general well being? How do you feel about where you are? Is this where you want to be?
- In what area do you want to move off autopilot and do something differently? What is that area? How can you get uncomfortable and get in a new space?
- Where are you overwhelmed by your reinvention and how can you pick one thing to focus on for 90 days.
CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM AND BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO STAY IN THE LOOP.
Our Time to Rise is a podcast talking about rising to meet life challenges, seasons, opportunities, and changes with strength, courage, optimism, and faith.
Join popular podcast hosts, Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall, as they explore stories, topics, practical ideas, and challenges, and unpack what it looks like to rise to the moment.
Subscribe for updates.
Today is the day! We are announcing the new name of our podcast!
The Open Door Sisterhood is not going anywhere – our retreats will still be called The Open Door Sisterhood Retreats – but the podcast is going to have it’s own name.
On today’s episode we discuss the five reasons we decided to change the name, the names that didn’t make the cut, and we announce the name that was decided upon in two minutes.
We can’t wait to share this with you! Look at us embracing growth and change – let’s do this TOGETHER!
What is something we all need? We do every day? That God made us to do? Sleep!
And yet many of us struggle with getting consistent, quality sleep. Dr. Val is here to the rescue. An M.D. and a sleep specialist, she works with women on creating sleep habits that allow them to be more effective in the world (ahem...world changers for good right where they are.) She joins us in an informative conversation about our sleep challenges and how they change as we age.
Here's the good news: Dr. Val says it doesn't have to be hard! We talk through sleep apnea in women, wind down routines that train our minds and bodies to know it's time for bed, and ways to tell our thoughts they are not welcome at 3:00a.m. If good sleep feels impossible to attain, this practical conversation will explain some of the common challenges women face and small changes we can make to feel more rested tomorrow.
Connect with Dr. Val On her website or Instagram
Her free checklist of questions to ask your doctor if you're exhausted
A few things mentioned on the show sleephoria.com
Oura Ring
Fitbit
iwatch
Trader Joe's lentil soup
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Sleep Is a Skill podcast
Sleep Apnea Stories
Next week Our big announcement!!! The new name of the podcast will be released and we'll share all of our thinking behind it.
We make a million tiny decisions every day. When our home systems are not strong, those small decisions can become big ones. We can't find the keys. We don't know if we have any tuna. We wonder where that belt has gone. We did have a belt like that right?
When our home systems are strong, our home is working for us rather than us working for our homes and stuff. Professional organizer, Morgan Tyree, returns to the sisterhood to talk about her tips for the hot spots around the house. From the kitchen to the garage, she gives us common trip up points and how we can maximize those areas to work for us.
We can't change some things about our homes, but we can influence what comes into them on the front end and then how we organize what stays. No matter your space set up, Morgan covers how you can make your home work for you rather than you working for your home. That is leading your life in your home!
Connect with Morgan On her website, Instagram, or Podcast
Listen to this episode On itunes
A few things mentioned on the show Erasable labels from the Container store
Morgan's books Take Back Your Time, Your Hospitality Personality
We hear about the idea of shame, it's a concept that has been talked about a lot the last few years. How do we define it? What is shame? And how should we address it?
Our guest on this episode, Jasmine Holmes, describes shame as the feeling or need to hide, much like humanity felt in the Garden of Eden when sin entered the world. As we leave our Easter celebrations behind us on the calendar, we can remember the victory we find in Christ.
Jesus's resurrection makes a new way for us. This hope and renewal can be true in our shame journeys as well. When we remember the freedom we have in God's grace we can move forward without hiding from God.
Jasmine Holmes is a mom to three young boys, teaches history, and writes from her home in Jackson, Mississippi. In this conversation, Jasmine walks us through some questions to ask ourselves when we feel the need to hide, and some proactive steps we can take as fallen people to be held accountable by a trusted community of people who love us.
Identifying and working through shame is not a one and done experience, but a process we work out throughout our lives. Jasmine's perspectivepoints us to move toward Christ, instead of hiding from him, when we get those feelings that we've done something wrong. He knows us and loves us already.
We hear about the idea of shame, it's a concept that has been talked about a lot the last few years. How do we define it? What is shame? And how should we address it?
A few things mentioned on the show The Pilgrim's Progress (modern English version)
The Soul of Shame by Dr. Curt Thompson
Changes That Heal by Henry Cloud
Brene Brown: We Need to Talk About Shame
Jasmine's new book: Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame
Part two of our Lead Your Mindset episodes, today we discuss
+confidence +why failure and discomfort are catalysts for deep change and growth +who we can learn from in the world of mindset +three things we can start doing today to develop and grow our thinking.
Emily Love, life coach and thought leader, is back to help us sort all of this out.
And Krista Gilbert, also a life coach, weighs in on how to structure our morning routine and set our intentions and mindset for the day ahead.
Change your mindset, change your life.
Join us!
Find Emily on her website or Instagram.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Self Doubt Questions: Can I? Will I? Do I?
We can turn those into statements:
I can (show up to this meeting professionally) I am (willing to do hard things) I will (show up confidently to this event / meeting) I do (believe in the gifts God has given me and the abilities I have)
“Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.” “Pain is the greatest motivator for growth.”
75 Day Hard
MINDSET INFLUENCES Dr. Caroline Leif
Martin Seligman
Dr. Anita Phillips
Man’s Search for Meaning
MINDSET MANTRAS Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Love + Light
“Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.”
Essence Words: exuberance, wisdom, magic, radiance, love
Sasha Shillcut interview on Boundaries
3 THINGS TO START DOING TODAY FOR MINDSET 1. HUNT THE GOOD – Write 3 good things and WHY they happened. 2. Write up a T chart – write up the lie and the truth (what we want to be true or what is true) 3. Ask these five questions: what lights my heart on fire? what keeps me up at night? what makes me stand out in a crowed room? what have I dreamt about doing but I’ve never done? what do other people tell me that I’m good at?
Krista's MORNING MAGIC ROUTINE 1. Get 7 hours of sleep 2. Get up when your alarm goes off – don’t push snooze 3. Practice visualization for 30 seconds 4. Spend 10 min. to 1 hour setting intentions for the day and reflecting / spending time with yourself. 5. Practice specific gratitude 6. Move your body 7. Harness the Progress Principle by choosing how you will move one step forward in something you care about
Our thoughts determine our lives. They are that important.
This is why mindset matters. We can’t talk about leading our lives without first talking about leading our mindset.
Emily Love, a certified life coach and thought leader, offers valuable thoughts around how we identify our mindset, how we call out lies we’re believing, what role feelings play, and how we can use a mindset shift to change how we are moving through the world.
Then Krista, also a life coach, chimes in afterwards about resetting the brain and how to use visualization to help set an upward spiral in motion in your thinking and life.
You cannot miss this episode. If you want your life to be better on any level, this episode will help you do that.
Find Emily on her website or Instagram.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Mindset – an established set of attitudes held by someone; Your mindset is what you believe to be true about yourself, others, and the world.
Susan David – feelings are a signpost
Mindset for kids:
Right before a test, what do you think? When you head to that test, here is what you can believe about yourself: I can do this – I’ve prepared.
What would be the ideal thing you would want your coach to say? Now the parent can become the voice of what the child is really hoping to hear.
We are taking a unique look at adventure today as we continue in our Lead Your Life series.
You've probably heard of the hero's journey in literature. On this episode we discuss our own hero's journey and what change, adventure, risk, fear, other people, and God have to do with it.
Jessie Cruickshank holds a degree from Harvard in Mind, Brain, and Education.
She is also a nationally recognized expert in disciple making and the neuroscience of transformation. Added to that resume is mountaineering and a background in outdoor education.
If you want to be encouraged to live a better. more adventurous story - join us for this episode!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW:
Stages of faith development - James Fowler
Starting with IDENTITY:
Fill in "I am" statements..... Consider - what is the story God is inviting me into?
The hero's journey - Joseph Campbell : Universal narrative that humans repeat in the arc of storytelling
- A person who is called to an adventure
- Who turns down the adventure
- But then life compels her to reconsider and take the challenge
- She meets a guide and a goes on the path.
- On the way she transforms from ordinary to a hero.
Question: Where are you on the hero's journey?
Adventure is the invitation to move outside our comfort zone (physical, emotional, social, spiritual chanllenge)
We continue to talk on the podcast about leading our lives. Prayer brings us into continued relationship with God as we consider how he wants us to move forward. Not only that, when we pray with Scripture, we are being transformed in the process because God's word changes us!
On this episode of the Open Door Sisterhood podcast we sit down with Jodie Berndt who for decades has been helping women learn to pray using Scripture. Jodie shares her own story about how using Scripture as a building block for her prayers gave them extra power and made them more interesting. This new way of praying helped her see the Bible has something to say about EVERY aspect of our lives.
You don't want to miss this honest and tender interview as we talk through common roadblocks women face when praying. We remind each other that God wants to hear our prayers. No topic is off limits with him. Noone is disqualified from coming to God. He wants to hear from us. Jodie ends our time by praying with us. When you push play you will not only hear about prayer, you will experience it with the sisterhood.
Connect with Jodie On her website or on Instagram
A few things mentioned on the show Moms In Prayer
Jodie's books:
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens
Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children
Praying the Scriptures for Your Life
Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage
Sign up for our email list HERE
When we are looking at leading our lives, one of the first places to peek under the hood is time management. How we spend our minutes, hours, and days adds up to a life, and usually we aren’t spending them they way we’d really like to when we take an honest look.
Today Crystal Paine, the Money Saving Mom, joins us to discuss how she gets it all done in a week using her 6:2 system, how to use get enough sleep, drink enough water, and track our habits. Crystal is a woman who runs a full time business, has six children, volunteers at her church, and writes books - her latest on time management.
She is sharing her secrets today and we all get to benefit.
If you want to lead a more intentional life with your time, this episode will help!
Some things you heard on the show:
Crystal’s new book Time Saving Mom
CRYSTAL’S 6:2 PRIORITY AREAS Friendships / Relationships Home Marriage Business Kids Health
Atomic Habits
Crystal’s Habit Tracker
Monica Swanson knows what it means to be intentional in relationships at home. She makes decisions with the end goal in mind. She wants kids who love God, like each other, and are helpful by default. Those end goals shape their daily rhythms, how they talk to each other, and even their vacations. We dive right into the Lead Your Life series talking about family relationships because if ever there was a place where we need some intention, it's with those right around us.
Monica comes to us from the Aloha state. A mom to four sons who are growing and leaving home, she is able to look back a bit and evaluate what helped their family get where it is today. There was intentional time together, both as a family, but also with siblings. Their family culture didn't just happen, she and her husband Dave made decisions on purpose. Whether you have mental roadblocks to making some changes at home or logistical ones, Monica gives us the pep talk we need to face what might be holding us back from leading our families in the way we want them to go. This is a part practical, part inspirational conversation that you don't want to miss.
Sometimes the things that matter most to us, get our leftover attention. By leftover we mean the time we have left after all of the pressing things are taken care of. The people in our homes deserve our intentional best. Monica gives us some practical next steps to lead our family relationships. And as we say on the episode, we KNOW she lives what she teaches. She gets us. She knows what it's like to lead a family with intention.
Connect with Monica On her website, on Instagram, or on her podcast
A few things mentioned Monica's new book Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, And Do The Dishes Without Being Asked
Uno
Spicy Uno
The latest research on girls and anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation
Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide by Clay Clarkson
Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family by Ruth Chou Simons
Krista's coaching services
We are starting a new series today called LEAD YOUR LIFE! For this first episode, Alex and Krista are diving into WHY leading our lives is better than defaulting to life – which is so easy to do.
In this episode we explore why each day is a new opportunity to lead our lives better than yesterday, how different people respond to change, and some areas we are doing well, and some not so well.
Giving some of our best resources for growth, we focus on how to take next, small steps in our actual lives. We are excited to dive into this new series with you!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Steve Cuss
The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth
The Good Life
5 Different Kinds of Fear:
- Fear of failure
- Fear of trading security for the unknown
- Fear of being overextended financially
- Fear of what others will say or think
- Fear that success will alienate peers
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! We announced last week and that Alex and Krista are available to bring the magic of the Sisterhood retreats to YOUR group!
They are taking their proven strategies and are available for hire to come run a group retreat for your:
- leadership team
- work team
- donors
- executive directors
- ministry groups
- friends
If you are interested, email krista@theopendoorsisterhood.com for more information.
It only happens once a year. It’s not Christmas, but it might feel like it as Alex and Krista give you their best tips, reads, recipes, and fashion items they’ve collected over the last year.
It’s the annual Things We Love episode for the Open Door Sisterhood Podcast!
Yes, we are ready with our favorite lip gloss combo (aka “the triple threat”), our must reads, and the sneakers that make teenagers' heads turn (in a good way!) These are things we love and because we're sisters, we're sharing them with you.
We laugh at ourselves a lot in this one (because, hello, we can be ridiculous). We hope this love vibe shines through the airwaves as you push play this Valentine's Day!
Our favorite things you heard about on the show Beauty:
Here’s the triple threat combo from Emily Love’s sister Ashley.
-
Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick Kim KW - Nude
-
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner - Iconic Nude
-
Fenty Glass Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer - Fussy
Style Edit root touch up
Cerave Vitamin C serum
Cetaphil daily oil-free facial moisturizer Spf 35
Cerave Skin renewing night cream
Heatless curling set for hair
Gifts to Give:
30 oz. Stanley Cup in cream $30
Stoneware kitchen sink caddy $15 (can put spray or dish soap and wooden scrub brush )
Kate Spade stud earrings $38
Favorite Home Items or Decor:
Victoria Black Vase from CB2
Smith & Hawken Outdoor black lanterns (I use them inside and outside)
In the Kitchen:
Nextrend Garlic twister
Over sink roll up dish drying rack
Magnolia Clear Glass Mixing Bowls
9 x 13 ruffled ceramic baking dish by Crate and Barrel
Apps or websites:
Gametime (ticket deals for events)
Going.com (formally Scott’s Cheap Flights)
Clothing:
New balance sneakers
Patagonia Nano Puff Parka
Nuuly subscription - I’m trying it ($88 for 6 styles)
Costco bras - Bali
Favorite Tip:
- Put a dash of bleach in your water for flowers to kill bacteria and they’ll last longer
- Make any drink fun with fresh berries, mint, and sparkling something
- Paint and new light fixtures changes any room
Favorite Netflix, Movie, or Prime:
Enola Holmes (Netflix)
The Swimmers (Netflix)
The Rings of Power (Prime)
Favorite Instagram Inspiration:
hidingintheclosetwithcoffee Amy Betters-Midtvet
Littlehouseonchestnut
Stylinbyaylin
mikedonehey
Must Reads:
From Strength to Strength
The God Shot by Tara Leigh Cobble
The Culture Code: The Secrets of HIghly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet by Shauna Niequist
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Favorite Recipes:
The soup recipe I made up for a friend’s going away party that now everyone loves
The Italian Meatball Soup
Rave Reviews Dip - one of my easiest apps
Almond cherry scones (Easter coming up)
Thank you to our sponsor for this episode The Truly Co.
WE'RE ABOUT GOSPEL-CENTERED ENCOURAGEMENT Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
We Create Thoughtful Content, Beautifully Designed. The Truly Co is a team of women who have purposefully declared where we put our trust as we wrestle with our faith. In a world filled with confusion, chaos, and depression, we choose to walk by faith and be led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our source. He is our rock. And we share our stories of the things he has done in our lives. We are friends, sisters, mothers, and daughters. We are creatives, writers, business leaders, and human-lovers who are in various life stages. We invite you to join us. We love partnering with amazing women (that’s you!) as we share our voices through writing, photography, and podcasts or video. Find Truly Magazine Here
What if we could really discover this year what it means to live a blessed, abundant life? And not only discover it, but live it?
Kelly Minter, beloved Bible teacher and speaker, joins us this week to share what she learned about living life to the full through studying Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. We talk about why we sometimes don’t recognize the counterfeit path to abundance the world offers, how to invest in the eternal, and what it looks like to let go of “fair” and grab on to grace.
Kelly is someone who inspires with her keen insights and deep faith. You will walk away inspired to live more abundantly in the year ahead.
The Blessed Life: A 90 Day Devotional Though The Teachings & Miracles of Jesus
Kelly Minter’s Joseph study – Finding God Faithful
Face to Face Prayer Book with Kenneth Boa
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR – PRIMALLY PURE Primally Pure values your health and gets you results with their line of non-toxic skincare products made with ingredients you don’t have to google. In addition to offering an incredible line of products (my favorites are the deodorant and dry shampoo ), Primally Pure takes the guesswork out of creating a skincare routine with their easy-to-use skin quiz found on their website.
Creativity can feel like something we'll get to someday. Like when the kids are grown or the kitchen is clean. If we let it, that someday can turn into delay and even never. Why are we talking about this as part of our series The Healthy Way? Because we believe actively practicing creativity helps us live out how God made us.
Founder of Coffee + Crumbs, Ashlee Gadd, talks with moms all around the world about motherhood and creativity. Our conversation focuses in on how to get started when it's been a while, why creating together is a reflection of doing life together, and how to incorporate some practices into our actual lives that will get the creative sparks going.
You don't have to consider yourself an artist to be creative. You simply need to be someone made in the image of God. You ARE creative, now let's get on with the work of recognizing when we are already practicing creativity, and intentionally adding some outlets into our everyday experiences that help to break up the monotony and see the world with new eyes.
Listen to the episode here On iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/fVgFB-FagSc Connect with Ashlee On her website, on Instagram, through Coffee + Crumbs.
A few things mentioned on the show Ashely’s new book Create Anyway
Tricia Goyer
The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
Julia Cameron
I love prompt
Rhythm 52 Writing Prompts by Katie Blackburn
Sign up to receive Ashlee's 5 Little Sparks to Inspire You Out of a Creative Rut
Thank you to our sponsor Grit and Virtue
At Grit and Virtue we equip women on a mission to build unstoppable momentum, become spiritually confident, and to never feel alone on the journey.
Shop the collection
How healthy is your relationship with technology? Do you use your phone? Or does your phone use you? That is a question asked on this week’s podcast and it hits very close to home.
Too few of us ask how we are honestly doing when it comes to digital input. We see “other people’s” digital addiction, but don’t recognize it in ourselves.
Jay Kim, pastor and author, lives in the heart of the Silicon Valley and writes about how we are being formed by the input we receive. He challenges us to be formed in the ways of God rather than Tik Tok or Instagram.
If you are anything like us, you will walk away with important insights about how to better use technology in 2023.
Some Things You Heard On The Show:
Analog Christian – Cultivating Resilience and Wisdom in the Digital Age by Jay Kim
Analog Church by Jay Kim
Unoffendable by Brant Hansen
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken
Michigander Band
Abby Holiday Music
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR Grit & Virtue Journals are for writing down thoughts, bullet journaling, note taking, business planning, writing gratitudes, pouring out prayers, and much more. The linen cover and classic design compliment any space. This is our personal journal of choice – we promise you will be thrilled with the quality and design.
They are American made and each page has a quote of wisdom and truth at the bottom. You can order a journal here and tell them you are a part of the Sisterhood!
As we look at the new year, we can set health goals for ourselves. That's good! We can also set goals for our families. But how does one do that? And what happens when kids grow (read live into their free will and have opinions of their own) and make decisions we as moms find "unhealthy"?
Jodi Mockabee has a home full of teenagers and joins the sisterhood to discuss creating an environment that values health within our homes. We talk the basics of nutrition and exercise, but we also talk about modeling healthy behaviors, how to set realistic habit goals for ourselves, and when to allow our kids to experience natural consequences. Everything from pornography to food choices, we consider both the how and the why of leading our families toward health.
Mom, if you are wondering where to start in your own life, if you feel like your kids are harder to convince to move their bodies these days as you drag them out of bed, if you have ever wondered how you should handle a repeat unhealthy choice, this episode is for you. Jodi offers practical tips to move toward health in mind, body, and soul in the new year.
Connect with Jodi You can find Jodi through her website or on Instagram!
https://youtu.be/tNJm4b66Mpg Listen to this episode You can find it on iTunes or watch it here.
A few things mentioned on the show Jodi’s new book The Whole & Healthy Family
Episode 274 of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast with Bethany McDaniel, Primally Pure founder
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen A. Jensen
Pure Desire Ministries
Francie Winslow
Dr. Juli Slattery
Fight The New Drug
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR – THE AMAZING PRIMALLY PURE Primally Pure values your health and gets you results with their line of non-toxic skincare products made with ingredients you don’t have to google. In addition to offering an incredible line of products (my favorites are the deodorant and dry shampoo ), Primally Pure takes the guesswork out of creating a skincare routine with their easy-to-use skin quiz found on their website.
The company’s Founder, Bethany, is a mom of two and farmer’s wife who truly cares about the integrity of the ingredients they use and the products they create. Primally Pure’s products are made at their headquarters in Southern California (not in a third party lab) by their team of skincare chefs for maximum freshness and purity.
Primally Pure offers a happiness guarantee and they will give you your money back if you aren’t satisfied, but I know you will be – their products are truly tr
Statistics tell us that church attendance is down, and many are leaving the traditional church. COVID also led to decreased church attendance as people got comfortable sitting in front of televised services in their pajamas. Today on The Healthy Way Series we are exploring the role of in-person church and its value in our lives.
Author and church expert, Ericka Anderson Sylvester, offers insight into how to find the right church for you or your family, what to do if your spouse or children don’t want to go with you, and why it’s never too late to return to a church body after being absent.
If you have been considering going back to church, or attending church for the first time, this episode will be encouraging. If you are a regular church attendee, this episode will help remind you why it is important to continue investing in the local church body.
We’ve never covered this topic on the podcast before and we’d love to hear your thoughts!
THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Ericka’s new book: Reason to Return: Why Women Need The Church and The Church Needs Women
Fresh Expressions
How to find a new church 101
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR – THE AMAZING PRIMALLY PURE Primally Pure values your health and gets you results with their line of non-toxic skincare products made with ingredients you don’t have to google. In addition to offering an incredible line of products (my favorites are the deodorant and dry shampoo ), Primally Pure takes the guesswork out of creating a skincare routine with their easy-to-use skin quiz found on their website.
Happy New Year sisters!
We are starting 2023 with our annual Healthy Way series. All things new are impacted by expectations, sometimes expectations set us up for success, and sometimes they don't. How do we move toward growth as we change the calendar page without striving? Do we put our faith in God or in ourselves to make changes? If we peel back the layers of our intentions, what do we find?
We cover all of these questions with Scarlet Hiltibidal. We also hear about how she grew up in the green room of SNL (true story) and how her early adventures impacted her view of the world. A great way to start the new year, a sister-to-sister chat that swings between childhood memories, the impact of strangers, hiding under the bed covers in China, and seeing a relationship with God as a gift.
We'd love to know what you are hoping for as you move into 2023? What are you hoping for? How do you balance the agency God's given you with knowing you don't need to do anything to earn God's love? Join the conversation!
Connect with Scarlet On Instagram, or her website.
A few things mentioned SNL
Victoria Jackson
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2
Scarlet's first book Afraid of All The Things
Scarlet's new book You're The Worst Person in the World
"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
Hoping for Happiness by Barnabas Piper
Thank you to our sponsor https://servantcoffee.com/ Servant Coffee is backed by the simple belief that we should always consider how we can serve others well in this world. At the intersection of innovation, creativity and unwavering drive is a coffee that focuses our passion for progress on providing quality and tasteful support to collaborators and consumers alike.
Do you feel a little bit frazzled this Christmas season? Are you wondering if you can get it all done? Maybe you don’t have to… or maybe there are options beyond those swirling in your head.
Join us as we talk to Hannah Anderson, author of the Advent book Heaven and Nature Sing. Hannah reminds us to slow down and savor the season. She also offers permission to work by our own rhythm and calendar as opposed to those around us.
If you are needing your soul to breathe a little bit today, this episode is for you.
This will be our last episode in 2022. We’ll see you for the Healthy Way Series in 2023!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR Thou Art Exalted Ministries
The Gift Calendar - ORDER HERE
Boundaries give us the protection we need to live out our priorities. They protect our energy for the things that are truly most important to us. If we can remember the benefit of boundaries, we are better able to establish and maintain them. Sounds easy, right? We know it's not. This is why we've invited Dr. Sasha Shillcutt to our series on what we really want for Christmas.
From what freaks us out about setting boundaries (psst... it's our fears of others' responses), to the ways we can even know what we want (this involves consistent alone time), we talk through why it's so hard for us to say "no" even when that is clearly our best response.
Boundaries are not selfish. They are in fact a way to ensure that we are best able to serve where and how God has called us. Jesus himself had some serious boundaries and we talk about those too on this episode.
Don't hesitate, get going on deciding what you really want the next month, and what boundaries might be needed to make those happen, and then rip off the band-aid and have a brief (maybe hard) conversation so that you can be intentional about getting what you actually want this Christmas.
Connect with Sasha On her website or Instagram
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/AGdNbbSMk_4 A few things mentioned Sasha's new book: Brave Boundaries: Strategies to Say No, Stand Strong, and Take Control of Your Life: The Key to Living Empowered
Thank you to our sponsor Thou Art Exalted Ministries
Start 2023 with a Scriptural foundation to each day. This beautifully illustrated 5x7 Scripture calendar features original paintings from the "Fabric and Soul" series by ThouArtExalted Ministries founder, Annie Pajcic.
Each month features a different Bible verse and artfully designed artwork print on a 5x7 card to set the tone for the month ahead. And when that month is over, simply flip over the card to reveal another month's beautiful illustration. Pair it with the optional bamboo-style, antique gold stand for the perfect complement to your entryway, desk or counter top.
Makes a great gift for a teacher, mother in law, daughter, boss or anyone who loves Scripture and art. Also available is a bamboo-style, antique gold stand for the perfect complement to your entryway, desk or counter top, purchase both together here.
ORDER HERE
Do you have anyone in your life who is hard to buy for at Christmastime? Do you find yourself saying “I have no idea what to get him / her- they don’t need anything!” If so, this episode is for you.
Krista and Alex begin by talking about why gift giving matters and the spirit that fuels the tradition. We then give you TONS of ideas. From low cost ideas to experiences to subscriptions to tech – we’ve got you covered.
There is no question that the longer we wait to decide what we are giving, the more stress builds, adding to our holiday frenzy. Listen today – decide on your gift – then ENJOY the holiday season!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Priya Parker – The Art of Gathering
BUY SERVICES THAT HELP * housecleaning * babysitting * pet sitting * dinner delivered * tech support * personal trainer
THINK LIKE AN AUCTION HOST – PLAN EXPERIENCES * Trader Joe’s basket * golf simulator time * tickets to a show * fly fishing guided trip * basketball game tickets * dinner cooked by a local chef (or you!) * tea party for 8 * pop up picnic in the park * red party – everything is red * a standing date once a month * classes * overnight or weekend away * dueling piano bar * summer concert
HOMEMADE GIFTS * art work * poem * macrame * family travel maps * recipe book * homemade limoncello or kahlua * bench made from railroad ties * advent wreaths * video of parents or grandparents talking about their lives
SUBSCRIPTIONS Audible
Spotify
Adventures in Odyssey Club for kids
The Olive Press
Olympia Postal Previsions Club
Murray’s Cheese
Jenny’s Pint Club
TECH GIFTS Portable speaker: Wonderboom 2
Portable car battery charger (for anyone who has a car)
Smart Frame: Skylight
Air tags (to find things) – this one is a car keyring
Remarkable
Alex and Krista offer inspiration for prayer and conversation around your Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering. Sprinkled with prayers, and even a historic Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, is a sister-to-sister conversation meant to give you the part practical, part inspirational you need to set your table and event.
Whether you're trying to figure out how to get conversation flowing or you don't know how to do a prayer given the guests in attendance, we offer some ideas that might help get the creative ideas churning. We want you to be able to honor your guests and honor God by setting a spot where people feel comfortable expr essing gratitude.
This is one you might refer to again and again as you consider what it means to gather those you love. We hope you listen as you cook, clean, or drive as part of your Thanksgiving holiday prep. But most of all we hope you know we believe you are world changers for good right where you are, wherever that might be.
Listen to this episode: You can listen on iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/LGqQnrySzF8 A few things mentioned: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) from The New Living Translation:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
Grace After Meals From To Bless The Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue
"We end this meal with grace
For the joy and nourishment of food,
The slowed time away from the world
To come into presence with each other
And sense the subtle lives behind our faces,
The different colors of our voices,
The edges of hungers we keep private,
The circle of love that unites us.
We pray the wise spirit who keeps us
To change the structures that make others hunger
And that after such grace we might now go forth
And impart dignity wherever we partake."
Questions for the table: 1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving or holiday memory?
-
If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?
-
What’s the best gift you have ever received?
-
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
-
What’s the best book you’ve read and what made it so special?
-
Share about a time when you had a need. How was it met?
-
If you could meet your great great grandchildren what wisdom would you pass on
to them? What would you want them to know?
-
If you could spend one day doing a job that you are not currently doing, what would you do?
-
What’s one thing that you would love to do in your lifetime that no one knows?
-
What’s your biggest fear?
-
If you were going to open a restaurant, what would the concept be?
-
What’s the strangest thing you believed as a child?
-
If a movie was made of your life, who would play you?
-
What was your biggest fashion faux pas ever?
-
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
-
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Prayer cards for the dinner table Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Psalm 100:
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Thank you to our sponsor Grit and Virtue
Beautiful journals for you to have as a keepsake and of course to give as a gift.
15% off your first order with promo code Sisterhood15. If you want to purchase a bulk order for your team, retreat, or women's gathering, you can do so as well. Charlena will also include a bonus Journaling Guide for your attendees. Visit: www.gritandvirtue.com to learn more and to order.
Hygge is trending, but what exactly is it? And why are we putting it in our Holiday series? Yes, today is the start of our Holiday series where we are looking at what we REALLY want for Christmas. And Hygge is one of the things we really want.
Hygge is a Danish practice that centers on slow living, shared moments, and fostered friendships. It nurtures beauty, contentment, and well being. When we cozy up to a fire with a warm drink in a mug, that is hygge. When we light candles, bake fresh bread, or gather around a wooden table for a hearty meal, that is hygge as well. Hygge is cozy. It’s home.
In this episode Jamie Erickson, author of the new book Holy Hygge, unpacks some of the tenets of this Danish practice and marries them with deep theological truths. We hear how Hygge can increase our sense of fulfillment and joy around the holidays and how we can bring this inviting concept into our daily lives.
Join us for this very interesting episode!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Holy Hygge: Creating a Place to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson
Joshua 4 Rememberance Stones
Timothy Keller Christmas Advent book Hidden Christmas
Unwrapping The Names of Jesus (for kids)- Asherita Ciuciu
Unwrapping the Names of Jesus (for adults)
Tsh Oxenreider Shadow and Light – A Journey Into Advent
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR - PRIMALLY PURE Primally Pure values your health and gets you results with their line of non-toxic skincare products made with ingredients you don't have to google. In addition to offering an incredible line of products (my favorites are the deodorant and dry shampoo ), Primally Pure takes the guesswork out of creating a skincare routine with their easy-to-use skin quiz found on their website.
The company's Founder, Bethany, is a mom of two and farmer's wife who truly cares about the integrity of the ingredients they use and the products they create. Primally Pure's products are made at their headquarters in Southern California (not in a third party lab) by their team of skincare chefs for maximum freshness and purity.
Primally Pure offers a happiness guarantee and they will give you your money back if you aren't satisfied, but I know you will be - their products are truly transformative for the skin (perhaps touch on personal experience briefly!) and their blogis also full of information and knowledge to empower you in confidently making healthier decisions and becoming the most vibrant version of yourself.
Midlife comes with additional financial challenges. We are often paying bigger bills (think education for our kids, care for our parents, and paying of mortgages) and we are considering our financial future.
Questions like: Do we have enough coming in every month to cover what we need? Will we have enough in the future to last our lifetime? Can we give our kids a four-year college education? Can we address needs we have now while not taking away from retirement?
We bring you financial planner Kate Redden to consult us on all of the stressful questions that money and midlife bring up. She works with clients every day helping them to identify those stress points, understand where they are currently and where they want to head in coming years.
We often don't talk about money stress, but no topic is off limits for the sisterhood. This is a part practical, part inspirational conversation in that we give you both the why and the how of making a financial plan in order to relieve the stress of the unknown.
Connect with Kate Through her website, Linkedin, or email: kredden@meritfa.com
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
A few things mentioned on the show Mint.com
Quicken
“Hot water heaters tend to blow up in mid-life for some reason.”
Thank you to our sponsor Coffee that's crafted to serve. Servant Coffee is backed by the simple belief that we should always consider how we can serve others well in this world. At the intersection of innovation, creativity and unwavering drive is a coffee that focuses our passion for progress on providing quality and tasteful support to collaborators and consumers alike.
Subscriptions are available and they ship around the country. Why not send someone coffee on the regular as a thank you or Christmas gift? You will be a world changer for good by purchasing Servant Coffee for someone you appreciate.
Some call midlife the “sandwich season” because people in this age group are parenting young adult children while caring for aging parents.
Today we are discussing how to care well for our parents as they age, and the opportunity we have to become more Christ-like in the process.
Jane Daly, author of The Caregiving Season, is joining us to talk about her own experience caring for both of her parents. We explore the difference between “parenting” and “coaching” our parents.
We also discuss how to take away car keys, what happens if their mind fails before their body, what information we need to have on file in case of a death or injury, and how to divide up caregiving duties between siblings.
If you are nearing a caregiving season, or are in one right now, this episode will be a source of encouragement, help, and inspiration.
You can find Jane at her website
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW The Caregiving Season by Jane Daly
Faithful Counseling
If you are in midlife, likely you've walked past the mirror, or tried on a pair of pants, and wondered what in the world? Sister, you're not alone! We are talking about what is going on and how we can faithfully and appropriately respond to how our bodies (ahem...tummies) are changing.
We are bringing Alisa Keeton, Founder of Revelation Wellness, to the conversation. She knows what it is to be fit and as a woman in midlife, she also knows how bodies can change quickly. We cover three areas of change unique to this stage of life: hormones, eating, and movement. (Spoiler: we tend to eat more indulgently and move less these years.)
But there is hope! God has created us to live ALL of our years fruitfully. We can use resistance training, walking, and mindfulness to strengthen our changing bodies while giving them what they need for today. You will both learn and be inspired by this episode (remember the part practical, part inspirational we're always talking about?)
Hear how you too can love your changing body during midlife.
Connect with Alisa On her website or on Instagram
A few things mentioned Revelation Wellness
Francie Winslow
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur C. Brooks
"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” -Psalm 92:12-15
RevWell TV
Revelation Wellness podcast
Alisa's words “To really be connected in your body means to be fully present without judgment.”
"83% of women in midlife say that their body image in midlife has to do with their midsection."
"Stop working so hard."
“God has more for us, but it’s new and everyone hates new.”
“Midlife is the time to stop thinking about what you’re eating and ask yourself why you’re eating.”
Perhaps the number one stressor listeners have expressed about the season of midlife is parenting teens and young adults. How do we maneuver these new waters when the consequences to kids' decisions seem so serious? How do we know when to step in and when to back off? And even deeper, how do we deal with our own self image when our kids make decisions we wouldn't make for them?
We are bringing you the best in Evan and Elisa Morgan. With credentials from years in ministry, decades in marriage and parenting, and their share of stressful parenting decisions, they share their wisdom in what it means to parent in midlife. We talk about the differences between parenting teens and young adults, how to move away from parenting promises and center in on parenting principles, and what to do when you are faced with two bad options as a parent.
With honesty like you've never quite heard before, the Morgans speak from experience in walking with God through painful parenting years. If you think a Christian podcast episode on parenting couldn't possibly understand YOUR depth of pain, you might be surprised by what you hear. This isn't an episode about how to get it all right in parenting. Quite the opposite. This is about how to welcome God into our process as we grow in this phase of life.
We’re half way through the “Midlife is No Joke” series and we are pausing to hear from Krista and Alex about their personal experiences in midlife.
We cover stressors, opportunities, sleep issues, trusting God in hard times, the purpose of exercise, resources, and what is saving our mid-lives right now.
Our sister straight talks are always honest, and offer a layered look at our series topic. Join us!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Kelly Flanagan Interview
Create vs Copy
Greenbluff Apple Farms
Vashon Island
Lauren Daigle
Spotify Family Plan
Maverick City Worship
Shane & Shane
Kelly Minter Joseph Study
Boundaries
Henry Cloud Videos & Courses
Friendships in midlife are sometimes complicated, but they don't have to be. On the podcast today we are diving into how to be a good friend, how to neighbor well, and how to cultivate diverse relationships that add richness and texture to life.
Popular author, Shannan Martin, joins us to share her wisdom on creating community - what worked, and what didn't. You will walk away more equipped for healthy, authentic, and strong relationships after listening.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW: Start with Hello – Shannan Martin’s new book
Loving My Actual Neighbor: Seven Practices to Treasure The People In Front Of You – Alexandra Kuykendall’s book
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
When we asked you, our podcast listeners, what you'd like to hear about when it comes to midlife, one topic stood above the rest: menopause. Our bodies are changing, often in ways we never knew they could or would, and we don't know what to do. The sisterhood is the perfect place to come for questions you might not want to ask anywhere else. We bring you trusted experts and this conversation is no different.
For this widely requested topic, we couldn't ask just anyone to join us, we needed to find the best. And we did in OB-Gyn Dr. Carol Peters-Tanksley. She has lived through menopause herself and has guided women over decades through "the change." She covers everything from weight gain to mood swings, hot flashes to hormone surges. You will not only learn a ton (we did!) you will be encouraged that what you are going through is a normal part of human development.
If you are experiencing the classic signs of menopause, are wondering what's ahead, or simply want to know what the fuss about estrogen supplements is, this episode is worth your time. We can't change aging, but we can have a better sense of what's actually happening in our bodies. Dr. Carol is a knowledgeable guide who anticipates our questions before we even ask them. Nothing says sisterhood like this.
Connect with Carol Through her website
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/Ug5TwxN3jUw A few things mentioned: Estrace
Vagifem
The Menopause Manifesto by Jennifer Gunter
Gennev online clinic
The SWAN Study
Dr. Carol Ministries
Dr. Carol's course Navigating Midlife
Dr. Carol's book Dr. Carol's Guide to Women's Health
Dr. Carol's e-book Dr. Carol's Guide to Sex and Menopause
Dr. Carol's Hormone download
Thank you to our sponsor Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
Do you find yourself navigating a marriage in midlife? There are unique challenges that couples face in this time of life.
Maybe you’ve been married a long time and are needing a fresh way to navigate old patterns. Or maybe you are struggling to stay married and wonder about your future as a couple. Or maybe you simply desire to bring life and joy back as a couple. Wherever you find yourself, this episode is for you.
Jimmy and Irene Rollins are no strangers to difficulty in marriage. As pastors of a large church, they seemed to have it all together from the outside. But on the inside they were crumbling. Irene was battling alcohol addiction, and Jimmy was struggling with overeating and pornography. They became comfortable with disfunction.
Now healed and whole, as individuals and as a couple, Jimmy and Irene lead a couples ministry to people all over the world. They honestly share about what turned their marriage around and how each one of us can do the same. There is wisdom sprinkled all throughout this episode. Don’t miss this one!
Find out more about Jimmy and Irene at Two=One or join their online community with your spouse! or follow them on Instagram.
Follow The Open Door Sisterhood on Instagram
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Imago Marriage Therapy – image of familiar love
Here is what I observed…. this is what I made up about that… here is how that impacted me… would you
Quotes from the interview:
“Without affirmation, everything feels like accusation”
“Practice doesn’t make things perfect, it makes things repetitive”
“You can’t be upset about the marriage you refuse to work on”
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: PREP DISH The Open Door Sisterhood gets two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
We are kicking off a new series on the podcast this week! We are calling it Midlife is No Joke.
Because midlife brings responsibilities from many directions. It also brings lots of change. These combined can act as a pressure cooker of stress, or at least an uncharted path as we respond to changing roles, relationships, and responses (ours and others.)
Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a clinical psychologist turned fiction author who explores the big questions of life in both areas of work. His experience "sitting in the chair", as he calls it, along with his own midlife journey, offers the sisterhood insights about the common questions many of us face as we realize we are no longer young and we still have some years of life left.
Who am I as my roles change? Where am I headed? Is there pain involved in this new change? How do I discern God's path for me? These are not light questions and Dr. Kelly gives us some approaches on how to listen to our responses in our heads and bodies as we confront these bigger questions.
We've got a lot to cover about midlife over the next several weeks, and we are diving in headfirst with the big questions because we all have them.
Connect with Kelly On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
A few things mentioned The first time Kelly was on the podcast: Episode 58 on Shame, Worthiness, Belonging and Purpose
Kelly's first book, Loveable: Embracing What is Truest About You, So You Can Truly Embrace Your Life
His new book, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell: A Novel
Marie Kondo
Co-Dependent No More by Melody Beattie
The Busy Mom’s Guide is wrapping up today with a Sister Straight Talk with Krista & Alex. They open with discussing some important areas we didn’t get to yet – like time management and the strategies we’re using to plan our days.
We also talk about add on chores, the benefit of coaching, how to make time for relationships, apps that come in handy, and how God can meet us right in the middle of our stress.
Come join this discussion and let us know your thoughts!
Message us your comments on The Open Door Sisterhood Instagram page!
Follow Krista on her website or Instagram
Follow Alex on her website or Instagram
THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Morgan Tyree’s 10 Minute Organizing Challenge
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Focus Keeper App
Pomodoro Method App
Tanya Dalton
Voxer App
Kelly Minter’s Joseph Study
The Open Door Sisterhood gets two weeks free of Prep Dish. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
She was making deodorant in her kitchen sink because she loved using natural ingredients. Seven years ago Bethany McDaniel had a dream to get natural deodorant and soaps into the hands of others. She had no idea she would soon have a warehouse, a headquarters, and a staff to help her get those products into the world.
We talk with Primally Pure natural products brand owner and founder, Bethany McDaniel, about how she started her company, how she manages motherhood and boss lady roles at the same time, and how she schedules almost everything. She remind us that hard is kind of normal when you're in charge and that instead of seeing obstacles as problems to avoid, they are opportunities to try something new.
Join us for this conversation about how motherhood and an entrepreneurial spirit can work together as we are women who are world changers for good right where we are. Being a mom can mean limitations on our time, resources, energy, and attention. It can also force us to be laser focused as we pursue the dream God has given us. And who are we kidding? He knows that dream, he can help us creatively make it happen.
Connect with Primally Pure Find their products here and follow them on Instagram
Listen to the show Always available on iTunes or watch on YouTube.
A few things mentioned Primally Pure deodorant
Primally Pure dry shampoo
Primally Pure spa
Janessa Leone hats
Thank you to our sponsor 2 Free Weeks of Meal Plans HERE~ We know that busy moms need help getting dinner on the table. This is why we've invited Prep Dish to partner with us to bring you The Busy Mom's series.
Their weekly meal plans offer you meals that are
-quick & easy
-delivered straight to your inbox
-adaptable to your family's needs (gluten free and dairy free options available)
-answer the question "What's for dinner?"
And the BEST NEWS: Open Door Sisterhood get two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
Are you the kind who has thousands of photos on your phone with little to no organization? Do you get overwhelmed when you look at your camera roll and wonder if these precious memories are safe and backed up? If your answer is yes, you are in good company.
In this episode we break down how to best organize our digital photos, how to delete duplicates, how to safely backup our camera roll, when to use an external hard drive, how to do a better job of printing photos, and how to get those precious vintage photos into a digital form.
This episode is practical and incredibly helpful. Let’s clean up our digital clutter and get organized!
Check out Casey's website for tips, services, and help!
Apple Photo App – Photos Take Out
Amazon Prime Photos – install on phone and it will back up entire icloud
External Hard Drives:
Seagate
Western Digital
Tobisha
Getting Photos from Print to Digital:
Epson Fast Photo – can scan at 300, 600, or 1200 DPI
PhotoMyn
Sharing Photos We Have:
Chat Books – Monthly Minis
Aura Digital Photo Frame
imovie
Songs for Videos
Music Bed
“I often have to tell myself, done is better than perfect.” – Casey Von Stein
FOR LIFE COACHING, VISIT KRISTAGILBERT.COM THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: PREP DISH The Open Door Sisterhood gets two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
Bunmi Laditan hasn't always prayed like she does now. Her faith in recent years has grown and with it she finds herself praying all day long in a constant conversation with God. This episode in The Busy Mom's Guide series is about prayer. Not holy, big word prayer, but gritty, honest prayer that says exactly how we're feeling and what we're thinking.
We are always striving for part practical and part inspirational in our podcast episodes and this conversation hits the perfect balance of both. Bunmi reminds us of the good news of the Gospel. As a relatively returner to faith, her excitement about God's care for us IS inspiring. She also tells us why as a mom she prays for her kids (as her parents prayed for her for many years.) If you are a mom of older kids you will be inspired to pray for them.
Bunmi also shares about HOW she prays. She gets practical. She reads Scripture, journals, anoints her children with oil, and whispers and screams. She goes to God as her father and believes in his gentleness as he receives her. This sense of safety gives her the freedom to be completely honest in her prayers. She knows God won't reject her but will welcome her words.
If you are a mom who has never prayed you will find a friend in Bunmi. If you are a mom who wonders if your prayers matter, you will be reassured they do. If you are a mom who is tired of the fluff, we've got you. This conversation is for you.
Connect to Bunmi You can find Bunmi on her website and on Instagram and Facebook
Listen to this episode on iTunes or watch it here:
A few things mentioned in the interview Bunmi's new book: Help Me God, I'm a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights
https://www.amazon.com/Help-Me-God-Im-Parent/dp/0310365074/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EWYQD0C8YIS7&keywords=bunmi+laditan&qid=1660621133&sprefix=bunmi%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1&asin=0310365074&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:5 (NIV)
Stormie O'Martian
Thank you to our sponsor: 2 Free Weeks of Meal Plans HERE~ We know that busy moms need help getting dinner on the table. This is why we've invited Prep Dish to partner with us to bring you The Busy Mom's series.
Their weekly meal plans offer you meals that are
-quick & easy
-delivered straight to your inbox
-adaptable to your family's needs (gluten free and dairy free options available)
-answer the question "What's for dinner?"
And the BEST NEWS: Open Door Sisterhood get two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
Do you struggle finding time to declutter, pick up the house, or keep systems going? Some women are organized and structured in most everything they do – others, not so much.
Dana White, aka The Slob Comes Clean, joins us to talk about the 5 minute pick up, how to return items to the place that makes the most sense, and what freedom in finding our cleaning style looks like.
If you are desiring to start off your fall on a clean note, tune in!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: PREP DISH 2 FREE WEEKS OF MEAL PLANS The Open Door Sisterhood get two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
If we know one thing about moms it's that we're busy. And if we know anything about this time of year it's that the busy ramps up. So we are kicking off our back to school series we are calling The Busy Mom's Guide. We're starting by talking about how to engage with Scripture in the middle of parenting chaos. As our guest Hunter Beless says, there is no quiet these days for the "quiet time."
Hunter is the author of the children's book Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible. Those approaches work for moms too. We can place Scripture where we'll read it. On the steering wheel of our car, next to the kitchen sink, in our pocket. If we can see it, we can read it. We can also listen to it. Often the best approach to engaging Scripture when we never sit down is to have it playing over us and around us. Hunter understands that this is a unique time in a woman's life and it requires unique approaches.
From Scripture memorization to dinner time readings to habit stacking (you'll want to hear this one), we talk about what it means for busy moms to eat from the bread of life. We need to nourish our souls on God's good word and the busier we are, the more we need it. So how are you going to engage with Scripture today?
A Few Things Mentioned: Hunter’s podcast The Journeywomen Podcast
Hunter’s children’s book, Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible
"They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” -Deuteronomy 32:47
"Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Matthew 4:4
"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6
"How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103
SEEDs Family Worship
The Dwell Bible app
Scripture Typer app
Atomic Habits by James Clearr
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever." Psalm 23
“Let us consider if we’re not spending time with God, why we’re not.” –Dallas Willard
Things Hunter Said:
“If I really want to know that God is who he says he is, I’m going to open up this book and ask him to show me…to show me who he is.”
“We need the Gospel. And we don’t just need it one time, we need it every day.”
Thank you to our sponsor: 2 Free Weeks of Meal Plans HERE~ http://prepdish.com/sisterhood Subscribe - PrepDish.com prepdish.com We know that busy moms need help getting dinner on the table. This is why we've invited Prep Dish to partner with us to bring you The Busy Mom's series.
Their weekly meal plans offer you meals that are
-quick & easy
-delivered straight to your inbox
-adaptable to your family's needs (gluten free and dairy free options available)
-answer the question "What's for dinner?"
And the BEST NEWS: Open Door Sisterhood get two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.
Victoria Deurstock was learning principles of design and immediately recognized how they transfer to our spiritual lives. The flow of a room or a space can easily reflect peace. Or not. The same can be true of our hearts. What is allowing or preventing God's peace from flowing through us? If you are looking for peace, Victoria has some ideas about how you can find it and make it. A writer, speaker, and coach who lives in the intersection of heart and home, she knows how peaceful settings can be created and peaceful hearts can be centered. Krista has a quick, thoughtful conversation with Victoria where they consider what it means to live peace out in our schedules, pace, and physical spaces. From de-cluttering to focal points, design principles also speak to spiritual principles. Victoria also tells why she thinks we should stay away from Pinterest and even Instagram when considering our spaces (that's worth hearing!)
This conversation will inspire you to rethink how you set up your space, and maybe even how you set up your life. Connect with Victoria On Instagram or her website
A Few Things Mentioned The Farm Chicks Vintage Fair
Victoria's devotional books
Leave a Review LET’S GET SOCIAL: LEAVE A REVIEW
Summer opens up some time to get creative and do those projects in our homes we’ve been meaning to get to during the year. Liz Marie Galvan, queen of cozy + cottage, joins the Sisterhood today to talk about how we can tap into our the designer in each of us.
Liz, the owner of The Found Cottage, has a knack for putting a warm, inviting, and highly styled touch on everything she does. In this episode she offers tips on how to overcome paralysis, how to style collections, and how to express our individual personality without fear.
You will walk away inspired to make a fresh mark in your own home.
Connect with Krista Gilbert or The Open Door Sisterhood on Instagram.
You can connect with Liz Marie on her website, Pinterest, or Instagram
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Liz Marie’s Library Room
The great pumpkin shelves we talked about
The Farm Chicks Antique Show
Marburger Antique Show
Elkhorn Antique Show in Wisconsin
Springfield Antique Show in Ohio
Today is the first day of summer! The season often means putting on a swimming suit and facing the fun. Humor writer and comedian Anna Lind Thomas joins the sisterhood to talk about how she is never ready for summer and swimming suits. With a funny and practical twist Anna covers swimsuit shopping (make it an event), finding a suit that flatters (skirts are cute and functional), and harnessing all of the confidence of our good bodies as we enjoy the summer with our people.
Naturally this conversation takes us into deeper topics like how we speak to our bodies, how we honor them, what confidence looks like, and how our mindset about our bodies and aging impacts how we are able to enjoy our reality. There is no turning back the clock, we will never look like we did decades ago, so acceptance is part of the process of loving the bodies we have today.
Whether you're needing a little inspiration to embrace your 2022 body, or you want a reminder that God gives us bodies and we get to use them to do his good work in the world, this episode will be a good start to the summer months. Now get outside and enjoy the world God has made! Happy Summer!
Connect with Anna On her website or Instagram
A few things mentioned on the show Anna's new book I'm Not Ready For This: Everybody Just Calm Down and Give Me a Minute
Anna's first book *We'll Laugh About This Someday: Essays on Taking Life a Smidge Too Seriously*
Catherine O'Hara
Oreo Mega Stuf
Whole Foods Chantilly Cake
Episode 38 of The Open Door Sisterhood Fashion: Tips for Telling Your Fasion Story with Megan Cobble
Today we are wrapping up the “This Cultural Moment” series with a sister straight talk with Krista and Alex.
We discuss why it is so hard to honor people with different ideas, how Ephesians 6 holds a secret to living well in this period of time, what grid we can use to filter our decisions, and what it looks like to lean into hope.
Join us for this honest conversation, and let’s “get our joy back” as we lean in to this moment of time in which we get to live.
Arthur Brooks in Conversation with Simon Sinek – a podcast episode about honoring people and differing with their ideas
*10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual* f*orces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. --Ephesians 6:10-16*
The Chart we referenced from Authentic Church by Vaughn Roberts
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.
Our Sponsor: Simply Be Box
Their goal at Simply Be Box, through the subscription box & community, is to help teen + tween girls grow in their relationship with Jesus, know & love how they are uniquely created and encourage them to live out their faith & be a light in this world.
Simply Be Box has provided a discount code for our The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast listeners!
Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase.
Head over to their website SimplyBeBox.com and Subscribe Today! You can also follow them on Instagram @SimplyBeBox.
We've been talking about what it means to live in "this cultural moment" as a follower of Jesus. No wonder the topic of parenting has popped up in this series a number of times. This episode is dedicated to how we as parents navigate decisions and conversations when cultural norms conflict with our own values. Can anybody relate?
We are thrilled to bring you Deborah Porter, the Ultimate Mom Coach, as we talk through social media, expectations of perfection, family non-negotiables, and difficult conversations. Deborah's wisdom soaks through in every word. She reminds us to approach our own views and our kids' opinions with humility, encourages us to ask for forgiveness when we've made mistakes, and to keep offering our children love as they navigate this world.
Our faith is about reconciliation with our heavenly father. Our parenting posture can mirror that spirit of welcoming home over and over. We know you'll find this conversation to be helpful and hopeful as you guide the young people in your life to think through cultural norms, hot topics, and headlines. Deborah reminds us that we can't control what our kids think, but we can teach them how to think as they face the world.
Connect with Deborah On her website or Instagram
Listen to this episode On iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/mhdZScWoXUA A few things mentioned on the show Curt Thompson interview
Jerry Sittser interview
The five love languages
Maverick City Worship, Wait on you
Deborah's freebies
Things said “Perfection was never the goal, love is the goal”
“We can’t tell them what to think, but we can teach them how to think.”
“God makes up the difference.”
Thank you to our sponsor Simply Be Box Are you looking for a gift for the teen or tween girl in your life that she will LOVE & you can TRUST? Simply Be Box is the perfect gift for her!
Simply Be Box is a faith-based subscription box for teen & tween girls filled with fun, positive, on-trend items, and encouragement to Simply Be who God created her to be.
Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase.
What’s Inside a Simply Be Box: Each box is focused around one of what they call the “Be Attitudes”. (Be You, Be Strong, Be Kind, Be a Friend…) These are reminders of who God created each girl to be and how He wants her to live.
Each box has both a seasonal & inspirational theme and includes something to…
· Read – Faith-based devotional, book, or bible study
· Do – Craft, game, puzzle, or activity
· Wear – Clothing, jewelry, or accessory
· Eat – Healthy snack or sweet treat
· Display – Candle, cross, sticker, sign, or magnet
· Use – Health & beauty product, accessory, or gadget
Boxes ship Quarterly – Fall Box in September, Winter Box in December, Spring Box in March, Summer Box in June
2 Ways to Subscribe…
1. Annual Subscription – Pre-pay for 4 boxes & save! [Total of $250 for 4 Boxes, includes shipping. Auto renews annually until paused or cancelled]
2. Seasonal Subscription – Auto renews each quarter until paused or cancelled [$67.50 per season, includes shipping]
Their goal at Simply Be Box, through the subscription box & community, is to help teen + tween girls grow in their relationship with Jesus, know & love how they are uniquely created and encourage them to live out their faith & be a light in this world.
Simply Be Box has provided a discount code for our The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast listeners! Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase. Head over to their website SimplyBeBox.com and Subscribe Today! You can also follow them on Instagram @SimplyBeBox.
As people of faith, doubt scares us. We ask questions such as: Does doubt mean our children will never return to faith? Will I ever experience God again? Is God angry or punishing me for my doubt? How does doubt differ from unbelief? What should I say to those who are doubting?
Joining us for this important episode is A.J. Swoboda, award winning author, theology professor, and speaker. A.J. walks us through doubt vs. unbelief, how to respond to doubt, the definition of deconstruction, why this generation may be struggling with questions about faith, and why talking through doubts with trusted people matters.
We are sure the wisdom shared in this episode will speak to you and offer a fresh and helpful perspective.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE EPISODE After Doubt: how to question your faith without losing it
Deconstruction is the idea of undoing something. It comes out of the German post modern tradition.
Skye Jethani – The Holy Post Podcast
Preston Sprinkle: The Center for Faith, Sexuality, & Gender
The Bible Project
In Faith & Doubt Podcast with AJ Swoboda & NiJay Gupta
John 20 – Jesus never rushes. He waits 7 days to show Thomas his scars. It is abundantly clear that Thomas’ faith crisis was not Jesus’ faith crisis.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
Simply Be Box is a faith-based subscription box for teen & tween girls filled with fun, positive, on-trend items, and encouragement to Simply Be who God created her to be.
Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase.
This is a special episode we wish we didn’t have to release: On School Shootings with Columbine High School survivor Crystal Woodman Miller. As we all reel from the senseless tragedy of the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde, Texas, once again this subject comes to forefront of our minds and hearts.
We are asking the questions: What if this happens to my child? How do I talk to my kids about this? How do survivors of school shootings ever learn to live life again? How do we stop this? These are some of the questions we attempt to address in this interview.
Beginning with Crystal’s personal story, she helps us understand what it really means to be a “survivor,” to trust God in the hardest of circumstances, and to find life again after tragedy.
When hard things happen, here at The Sisterhood we circle up. This is what we are doing today.
This is not a part of our regular series, but a special episode released in light of recent events. May God build our faith and may we trust God over our fears.
Resources:
Triumph Over Tragedy - a healing retreat for survivors of mass shootings
To my Fellow Survivors - an open letter to survivors of mass shootings
You can reach Crystal Woodman Miller through her website
What is the opposite of something that is real? A counterfeit. It's even more than that, it tries to come off as authentic and real, but it is fake. Our guest in this week's episode has a new book titled Cultural Counterfeits: Confronting 5 Empty Promises of Our Age and How We Were Made For So Much More. In this conversation we talk with Jen Oshman about five promises the world offers women today that don't follow through.
Jen is a faithful follower of Jesus that wants to face the reality of cultural norms without necessarily buying into them. She talks with us about being informed, having winsome conversations, and coming to terms with the losses we might face when we challenge cultural counterfeits. She reminds us that Jesus is worth the price of our discomfort and he always wants us to be looking for what is true and real. He asks us to face reality with full confidence that in the end grace and hope in him are what we'll find.
If you are feeling frustrated by the common narrative that you must either embrace the cultural tides or hide from them, Jen offers a third way. She encourages us to look at our closest places of influence, where we will impact the world with the most depth and begin there. As we take seemingly small steps of faith we will find ourselves on a bigger journey with God that is made up of small step after small step. This episode is certainly centered on what we charge each other with here at the sisterhood, "Be a world changer for good right where you are." Jen gives both the why and the how of this call.
Connect with Jen You can find Jen on her website, podcast, or Instagram
Listen to this episode Listen on iTunes or watch it here:
Things you heard mentioned Jen's books Cultural Counterfeits and Enough About Me
Jen's podcast All Things
"Human wellbeing requires harmony with reality."
"We are called to be a porch light in a dark night."
Thank you to our sponsor Simply Be Box Are you looking for a gift for the teen or tween girl in your life that she will LOVE & you can TRUST? Simply Be Box is the perfect gift for her!
Simply Be Box is a faith-based subscription box for teen & tween girls filled with fun, positive, on-trend items, and encouragement to Simply Be who God created her to be.
Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase.
What’s Inside a Simply Be Box: Each box is focused around one of what they call the “Be Attitudes”. (Be You, Be Strong, Be Kind, Be a Friend…) These are reminders of who God created each girl to be and how He wants her to live.
Each box has both a seasonal & inspirational theme and includes something to…
· Read – Faith-based devotional, book, or bible study
· Do – Craft, game, puzzle, or activity
· Wear – Clothing, jewelry, or accessory
· Eat – Healthy snack or sweet treat
· Display – Candle, cross, sticker, sign, or magnet
· Use – Health & beauty product, accessory, or gadget
Boxes ship Quarterly – Fall Box in September, Winter Box in December, Spring Box in March, Summer Box in June
2 Ways to Subscribe…
1. Annual Subscription – Pre-pay for 4 boxes & save! [Total of $250 for 4 Boxes, includes shipping. Auto renews annually until paused or cancelled]
2. Seasonal Subscription – Auto renews each quarter until paused or cancelled [$67.50 per season, includes shipping]
Their goal at Simply Be Box, through the subscription box & community, is to help teen + tween girls grow in their relationship with Jesus, know & love how they are uniquely created and encourage them to live out their faith & be a light in this world.
Simply Be Box has provided a discount code for our The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast listeners! Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase. Head over to their website SimplyBeBox.com and Subscribe Today! You can also follow them on Instagram @SimplyBeBox.
Standing up for truth in this cultural moment can be challenging and vulnerable, just ask Dr. Christina Crenshaw, an associate of Cultural Engagement and Leadership with Dallas Theological Seminary. In 2021 she was thrust in the media spotlight after taking a stand on a current hot button issue (which we talk about in this episode).
From asking more questions, to finding studies and data around the topic at hand, to leaning into lived experience, we get a full picture of what it means to be equipped for hard conversations as Christians.
If you have ever found yourself discouraged by current cultural norms, this whole series is for you.
You can find Christina on her website or Instagram
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith
SIMPLY BE BOX Are you looking for a gift for the teen or tween girl in your life that she will LOVE & you can TRUST? Simply Be Box is the perfect gift for her!
Simply Be Box is a faith-based subscription box for teen & tween girls filled with fun, positive, on-trend items, and encouragement to Simply Be who God created her to be.
Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase.
How do we live a Christian faith in today's cultural context? What is required of us? What should be concerned about? If anything? How do we talk to our kids about changing cultural norms? And what doe the Bible say about all of this uncertainty we are feeling?
We are starting a new series on the podcast this week we are calling This Cultural Moment to talk about these very questions. In fact this series is something you all have requested. We start with an incredibly encouraging and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Jerry Sittser.
Dr. Sittser recently retired as a professor from Whitworth University and his newest book, Resilient Faith: How the Early Christian "Third Way" Changed the World gives us some historical reference for where we are today. We are not the first Christians to feel disoriented or overwhelmed by our cultural environment and we can be refined as we walk through spaces that are pushing us past (maybe way past) our comfort zones.
From questions to ask ourselves as we're parenting to spiritual practices we can employ Jerry offers practical and hopeful responses for today's Christians. He also gives us hope that living a life of faith often involves a "third way" that is unfamiliar, yet intriguing, to those living near us. We can have a resilient faith as we do the internal work God asks of us to grow into mature followers of Jesus living in today's world.
Things mentioned on the show Whitworth University
The Atlantic
An article in the Atlantic, Why the Past Ten Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
An article in the Atlantic, Why American Teens Are So Sad
Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone, The Upswing
Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Dumez
Jerry's new book Resilient Faith: How the Early Christian "Third Way" Changed the World
The New Catechismal, contact Jerry for more
Notable quotes “Politics is a really bad religion. We all need to be political, and involved to some degree, but we can’t expect from politics what we can only expect from God.
When we turn politics into God we’re in serious trouble. ”
“Jesus is not only the way to life, through his death and resurrection, Jesus is also the way of life.
Both are equally true and important.”
"Small is beautiful if it's faithful to God."
Our sponsor for this series Simply Be Box
Are you looking for a gift for the teen or tween girl in your life that she will LOVE & you can TRUST? Simply Be Box is the perfect gift for her!
Simply Be Box is a faith-based subscription box for teen & tween girls filled with fun, positive, on-trend items, and encouragement to Simply Be who God created her to be.
What’s Inside a Simply Be Box:
Each box is focused around one of what they call the “Be Attitudes”. (Be You, Be Strong, Be Kind, Be a Friend…) These are reminders of who God created each girl to be and how He wants her to live.
Each box has both a seasonal & inspirational theme and includes something to…
· Read – Faith-based devotional, book, or bible study
· Do – Craft, game, puzzle, or activity
· Wear – Clothing, jewelry, or accessory
· Eat – Healthy snack or sweet treat
· Display – Candle, cross, sticker, sign, or magnet
· Use – Health & beauty product, accessory, or gadget
Boxes ship Quarterly - Fall Box in September, Winter Box in December, Spring Box in March, Summer Box in June
2 Ways to Subscribe…
-
Annual Subscription – Pre-pay for 4 boxes & save! [Total of $250 for 4 Boxes, includes shipping. Auto renews annually until paused or cancelled]
-
Seasonal Subscription – Auto renews each quarter until paused or cancelled [$67.50 per season, includes shipping]
Their goal at Simply Be Box, through the subscription box & community, is to help teen + tween girls grow in their relationship with Jesus, know & love how they are uniquely created and encourage them to live out their faith & be a light in this world.
Simply Be Box has provided a discount code for our The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast listeners! Use Code ODSSummer10 to receive $10 Off Your Subscription Purchase. Head over to their website SimplyBeBox.com and Subscribe Today! You can also follow them on Instagram @SimplyBeBox.
We are wrapping up The Brain Game series today with a Sister Straight Talk – which simply means we share our insights, a-ha moments, and chat as if we were sitting around a table with you over coffee.
In this episode we asked Dr. Lucretia Berry, founder of Brownicity to join us. We discuss the power of releasing lies, how neuroscience has helped us alter the way we manage thoughts, and how harnessing the brain can help us in conversations around race and healing.
We also talk about the three core lies: I am helpless, I am worthless, I am unloveable. If you have ever found yourself repeating one of these in your narrative, you aren’t alone. We share the one we are most likely to believe.
Join us as we reflect on neuroscience, faith, and life.
SHOW NOTES:
Lucretia’s website – brownicity.com
Hues of You – Lucretia’s book
We are wrapping up The Brain Game series today with a Sister Straight Talk – which simply means we share our insights, a-ha moments, and chat as if we were sitting around a table with you over coffee.
In this episode we asked Dr. Lucretia Berry, founder of Brownicity to join us. We discuss the power of releasing lies, how neuroscience has helped us alter the way we manage thoughts, and how harnessing the brain can help us in conversations around race and healing.
We also talk about the three core lies: I am helpless, I am worthless, I am unloveable. If you have ever found yourself repeating one of these in your narrative, you aren’t alone. We share the one we are most likely to believe.
Join us as we reflect on neuroscience, faith, and life!
THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Lucretia’s website – brownicity.com
Hues of You – Lucretia’s book
Switch On Your Brain By Dr. Caroline Leif
“We make our decisions and in the end our decisions make us.” – John Wooden
There are three core lies we believe:
I am helpless
I’m worthless
I am unloveable
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Phil.4:8
John A Powell “We have to be hard on systems and easy on people.”
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
What if we could be present in all circumstances without judgment? What if we could step back from the moment, observe it, and ask God to reveal himself to us? What if we didn't let our emotions drive our thought processes, but gave them a comfortable spot in the passenger seat where they were buckled in, but not directing?
Dr. Regina Chow Trammel works with social work students at Azusa Pacific University and counselors in training and she has been studying the overlap between mindfulness and Christian practice. There is in fact space for a faithful Christian to pause and enter a mindful state in order to listen for God's voice. We promise this isn't wonky, in fact it echoes meditation and welcoming prayer that Christians have practiced for centuries. If you ever wondered if Christian faith and mindfulness go together, this is the episode for you.
The Brain Game is the series we're in. We hear a lot about neuroscience these days and want to know how all of the new research and findings connect to our faith. They aren't siloed topics, but helpful information that inform each other. In this conversation we talk about our trauma responses, the vagal nerve, and the parasympathetic nervous system. All of these physical responses impact our emotional responses and vice versa. As we practice mindfulness we are able to slow our racing thoughts down so our bodies can relax and we can more objectively observe our situations. It's a beautiful thing.
So don't wait. Take a deep breath, be mindful of where you are and how you're feeling, and push play on this episode.
Mentioned on the show Regina's book A Counselor's Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in Biblical Practices and Theories written in partnership with John Trent
https://www.amazon.com/Counselors-Guide-Christian-Mindfulness-Practices/dp/031011473X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=D18TUIU4PDHU&keywords=regina+chow+trammel&qid=1650922868&sprefix=regina+chow%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1 The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Dr. Stephen Porges
Lectio 365 app
Pray As You Go app
John Trent Interview on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast
Memorable quotes “Mindfulness is a practice of joy, not happiness or toxic positivity, but joy.”
“A Christian definition of mindfulness: Paying attention to the current moment, inviting God into that, and abiding by his voice in that moment.”
Thank you to our sponsor Faithful Counseling
In week two of our series, The Brain Game, we are exploring the neuroscience of thinking on the good and wonderful. For many of us this is not our natural state of mind. We prepare ourselves for the worst and wait for the proverbial “shoe to drop.”
But what if we did the exact opposite of that? What if we instead expect the good and hold the posture of positive anticipation? Nicole Zasowski, a marriage and family therapist, joins us to explore practices such as thankfulness, celebrating others, savoring, and honest communication.
This episode will help change your mindset and in doing so, may alter the way you live your life.
Connect with Nicole on her website or Instagram
Nicole’s Book What If It’s Wonderful?
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THIS EPISODE: The Hedonic Treadmill – what it is
Winning the War of Your Mind by Craig Groschel
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Brene Brown: Why joy is vulnerable – On Foreboding Joy
Join Our Newsletter - we want YOU in the Sisterhood!
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
As we begin our new series on the intersection of Christian faith and neuroscience, Dr. Curt Thompson, joins us. The stories we tell ourselves are often incomplete, incorrect, or clouded by shame. He reminds us we need to retell the stories we believe about ourselves using the framework of the Gospel and the new heaven and earth. He emphasizes the importance of being together in community and how belonging is the antidote to shame. Dr. Thompson is a practicing psychiatrist who writes and teaches about how neuroscience can better help us understand how we function in the world. He also is a practicing Christian and explains how spiritual practices are in fact tapping into the brain in a way that helps us tell these more complete stories.
With humor and insight Curt Thompson reminds us that God doesn't expect perfection from us, in our work, our relationships, and especially our parenting, but he does want us to be present and redemptive in our actions. Being together in life, fully known by others, allows us to experience a full life of love and hope.
Dr. Curt Thompson’s books:
The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves
The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community
Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections Between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships
Curt’s podcast Being Known
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
We are wrapping up our Raise Boys, Change the World series today with a Sister Straight Talk with Krista and Alex. They discuss the most important lessons they learned from the guests on this series as well as their own insights about raising boys.
The topics range from fatherlessness to allowing boys to grow in independence to how to connect better with our sons. If you care about a young man in your home, your family, your church, on your team, or in your neighborhood, this episode is for you!
We are wrapping up our Raise Boys, Change the World series today with a Sister Straight Talk with Krista and Alex. They discuss the most important lessons they learned from the guests on this series as well as their own insights about raising boys.
The topics range from fatherlessness to allowing boys to grow in independence to how to connect better with our sons. If you care about a young man in your home, your family, your church, on your team, or in your neighborhood, this episode is for you!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Dr. Anthony Bradley Heroic Masculinity
Raising Sons of Promise by Rolund C Warren
James Clear Atomic Habits
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
LET’S GET SOCIAL If you enjoyed today’s episode we would love for you to rate the podcast in iTunes
or tell us what you liked or learned.
Find us on the Gram! We love it over there.
Host of the Boy Mom podcast and mom to four young men, Monica Swanson, gives us the mom to mom encouragement we all need today. Monica talks about instilling faith, identity, and healthy influences in boys' lives. She talks about good character qualities, how we help our boys identify them and grow into them. From fostering sibling relationships to redirecting unpleasant attitudes, Monica gives us both the how and the why of inspiring our boys toward good character. Perfection is not the aim in our parenting. Hope and encouragement are. We are real people raising real people and things don't always go as we want them to. Monica understands this and encourages us to not give up as we parent and to continually point our growing boys and young men toward character qualities to aspire toward and actively develop.
If you are in the middle of raising a boy, or know someone who is, you will want to introduce them to Monica Swanson and all things Boy Mom.
Heard on the show Monica's list of character developing resources
Monica's podcast Boy Mom
Monica's book Boy Mom: What Your Son Needs Most from You
Coach Carter
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Looking for help getting unstuck with your boys? Open Door Sisterhood Podcast Co-Host, Krista Gilbert, is a certified home coach who can help you get unstuck as you run up against some parenting challenges. As a mom of four, including three young men, she understands the challenges parents face today. Perhaps you need a fresh perspective or approach. Set up a consultation call with her here.
We can’t talk about raising today’s boys without putting them in context in the generation in which they are being raised: Generation Z (kids ages 13-18). Generation Z is coming of age during a global pandemic and during a time when school shootings are not uncommon. They are the first generation in the history of the world that can claim the title “digital natives.” These markers are shaping who they becoming and what questions they are asking.
Joining us today is Tanita Maddox, Assistant Regional Director for Young Life and Adolescent Culture Expert. Tanita studied Generation Z in her doctoral program and has been working with youth for over twenty years. She has an up close look into the lives of kids living in this generation and helps us understand how we can better meet them where they stand.
Whether you are a parent, a boss, a youth leader, a teacher, or a coach, this episode will be helpful as you seek to understand Generation Z and the precious teens that fill our homes, schools, churches, workplaces, and teams.
Will you fill out our quick survey so we can hear from YOU, Sister?
Young Life
The top question kids are asking in this generation: Is it safe or am I safe?
What they need to hear from us: they are courageous, they are strong, they are capable
Barna Research articles on Gen Z for further reading
Question to ask often to a Gen Z teen: On a scale of 1-10 how’s your mental health?
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR Faithful Counseling
Host of the popular mothering podcast, Don't Mom Alone, Heather MacFadyen is right in the middle of parenting four boys. As we continue in our series on Raise Boys, Change the World we of course needed a few mom experts to join. Heather is one of those moms.
In this episode, we talk about noise levels, energy levels, and schooling choices. We cover how Heather approaches her relationships with educators, other moms, and her husband and how this web of support makes her a better mom as she faces life with four sons. We cover what it means to be "deregulated", how we can help our boys and ourselves get back to a place of healthy functioning when energies or feelings are high. And we cover the importance of boys witnessing a marriage where mom and dad choose each other.
Heather gives us her take on the state of boys right now (spoiler: she says they're "numbing out") and how we as the adults around them can help them build resilience in order to prepare them for lives of service as they leave home. If you are in the middle of raising kids, boys or girls, you will glean encouragement and wisdom from Heather's perspective.
Do you have sons? Or do you care about the young men in your life – nephews, friends, grandsons, church members? Then this series is for you! Today we are kicking off “Raise Boys, Change the World.” Jon Tyson, lead pastor of Church of the City in New York and popular author, joins us to talk about how to be intentional with our boys. Jon discovered that other cultures all around the world had similar rituals around raising boys in their tribes and villages. He then took those ideas and implemented them with his own son, cultivating intentionality and significance.
We cover some ground in this episode talking about toxic masculinity, male passivity, intentionality, pornography, sowing and reaping, character, and relationships. There is much wisdom here – don’t miss it! And be sure to pass this along to anyone who wants to help raise young men of courage and character.
SHOW NOTES:
Follow Jon Tyson on Instagram
Church of the City NYC
Jon Tyson’s Podcast – Church of the City NYC – Podcast
The Intentional Father: a practical guide to raising sons of character and courage by Jon Tyson
YWAM
The Data Are Clear: The Boys Are Not Alright – The Washington Post
Masterclass
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
James Hollis
Many societies had this formula of six conscious steps for raising sons:
1. Separation of the environment of childhood (put in environment with older. men to be formed)
2. Death of childhood psychology
3. Process for formation – the story of their community, religion of their community, the skills needed to function in a healthy way
4. Sent out on “the ordeal” – masculine moment where they test and see. Focused on courage and skill aquisition.
5. Welcomed back by the community of men.
6. Integration back into society
Susanna Wesley
Great Quotes from the interview:
We don’t sow and reap in the same season.
Ask: What is a question that gives me access to their hearts?
Consistency vs. intensity is the key to parenting
The goal is to convert childhood authority to adult friendship
With older kids, keep asking about the 3 big questions of life:
character is destiny – who are you becoming with the freedom that you have?
vocation – what are you thinking about your future?
relationships – how are viewing sex and dating
Keep conversations running around these three topics:
What are you learning about God?
What are you learning about yourself?
What are you learning about life?
Humanize the struggle, but don’t minimize the impact.
Lent, the forty days leading up to Easter, begins tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast we talk about the tradition of practicing Lent, how it fits into the Church's liturgical year, and how it reflects the natural world's rhythm of moving from winter to spring and the spiritual rhythm of waiting for the Resurrection.
Lent may feel unfamiliar to you or it may hold undertones of legalism. You may just know it as the time of year you give up something you like because you "should", a challenge of sorts. This conversation helps us frame the intention behind Lent. The practice includes three pillars: fasting from something, adding something, and giving during Lent. When these three things are done in tandem we get the rich experience of practicing Lent in a way that builds anticipation toward Easter.
Tsh covers how to use practices with our kids, how her new book, Bitter & Sweet can be a guide, and how to be realistic as we introduce new practices into our rhythms. It's not too late to decide to make Lent different this year. You can add some intention to your days so that you are turning toward God as you consider Holy Week and all we remember and celebrate.
The dream team is back for Part 2 of our Marriage and Sex mini-series. Dr. Juli Slattery and Francie Winslow help us understand why healthy sexuality is a vital part of our marriages and how we can overcome lies and previous barriers or pain and move forward. Whether you have been married twenty five years or three months, this episode will help offer a Godly perspective and encourage you to lean in to sex the way God intended.
If you are looking for wisdom in this area, you will find it here.
Java with Juli Podcast
Heaven in Your Home Podcast with Francie WInslow
Finding the Hero in Your Husband by Juli Slattery
Rethinking Sexuality by Juli Slattery and Gary Thomas
The Married Guy’s Guide To Great Sex by Cliff and Joyce Penner
A Celebration of Sex
We start at the top of this episode saying we've got the "dream team" on. We're not joking. Dr. Juli Slattery and our dear friend Francie Winslow are two of our favorite women. They bring wisdom and roots into any conversation having to do with marriage. And since we can't get enough of them, we're bringing them back next week for Part 2.
In this first half of our conversation we talk about why marriage matters, the power a wife holds in a marriage, and whose responsibility it is to change when things aren't going well. This isn't a conversation that pretends everything is easy or all of our marriages are conflict-free, it IS a conversation however that reminds us that marriage is about a bigger story and putting the effort in to work toward health is worth the work.
If you are struggling to remember when things were good, if you are needing a reminder about the purpose of marriage, if you simply don't know where to start in choosing hope, this conversation could be for you. Juli and Francie are a trusted pair. They have your best interest in mind and remind us all that God is for us and for marriage.
It’s that time again. This is our annual “Things We Love” episode for Valentine’s Day where we highlight our favorite things of the past year.
From beauty products, to books we are reading, to new food products we love, to home must haves, this episode gives you some fun ideas for yourself or for those you love. Of course we love people the most, but these are simply some great ideas to make life work better.
Enjoy listening in on this light hearted conversation.
Things You Heard On The Show +This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own – these are products we use in our everyday real lives and love to use. Enjoy!
BEAUTY / FASHION PRODUCTS Hot Tools Curling Iron 1 ½ in. barrel
Mac Powderkiss long stay lipstick – date maker color
NARS – behave blush
Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity Oil free volumizer for hair
Tanologist face and body drops
Free People platform boots
Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation
FOOD Chomps grass fed beef sticks
Shamrock Farms Rockin Protein Builder Shake
Bobo Bites
Cucumber Mint sparkling water by Good & Gather from Target
Lagunita’s Hoppy Refresher, sparkling hop water
Lakanto Drinking Chocolate
Lakanto Maple Syrup
Nutpods pumpkin spice creamer
It’s that time again. This is our annual “Things We Love” episode for Valentine’s Day where we highlight our favorite things of the past year.
From beauty products, to books we are reading, to new food products we love, to home must haves, this episode gives you some fun ideas for yourself or for those you love. Of course we love people the most, but these are simply some great ideas to make life work better.
Enjoy listening in on this light hearted conversation.
Things You Heard On The Show +This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own – these are products we use in our everyday real lives and love to use. Enjoy!
BEAUTY / FASHION PRODUCTS Hot Tools Curling Iron 1 ½ in. barrel
Mac Powderkiss long stay lipstick – date maker color
NARS – behave blush
Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity Oil free volumizer for hair
Tanologist face and body drops
Free People platform boots
Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation
FOOD Chomps grass fed beef sticks
Shamrock Farms Rockin Protein Builder Shake
Bobo Bites
Cucumber Mint sparkling water by Good & Gather from Target
Lagunita’s Hoppy Refresher, sparkling hop water
Lakanto Drinking Chocolate
Lakanto Maple Syrup
HOME PRODUCTS Faster to Way to Fat Loss with Abby Miller (home workouts)
Signo Uniball Pens
Electric blanket throw
Target huge black lanterns
Chess set from Etsy
Shark vacuum
Portable Hand held vacuum
Smart plugs
HP envy printer
Epson Printer
BOOKS WE LOVE Strengthening The Soul Of Your Leadership
Every Moment Holy – Grief, Death, and Hope
100 Prayers Every Christian Should Know
The Art of Gathering
True Companions
Being Mortal
Bitter and Sweet – A book for Lent
Journey Towards Wholeness
INSTAGRAM FAVES Good news movement for genuine fun
Monica Swanson for mom and surfing inspo.
SmartHerNews on headlines of the day
KJP
Upworthy
Dr. henry cloud official
On Site workshops
Host to perfection
Laus Healthy Life
MOVIES / TV / PODCASTS Up First Sunday Rachel Martin interviews Dr. Francis Collins on Bridging the Divide Between Science and Faith Bridging the Divide: A Scientist’s Search for Truth and Faith
Kelly Corrigan Wonders
The Veritas Forum
Maid
CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Apple TV (Last year said Ted Lasso, Morning Show, season 2 not as good)
Yellowstone
Change is inevitable. But that doesn't mean we always welcome it. This conversation with Gem Fadling closes up our Healthy Way series for 2022. Why talk about change and health? Because we can resist change and cause all kinds of extra stressors. Or we can accept it and move forward in the Spirit.
Gem is an author, and coach, that helps women move through change. We talk about internal change and external change, the difference between them, and how they often go hand in hand. How does suffering enter into change? What about midlife? In other words, we cover it all.
Push play. Listen in. And hear what Gem has to say about moving forward. It has to do with three key letters: OAW. Spoiler alert, these refer to Open, Aware, Willing. We look forward to hearing how you are taking that next step, doing that hard thing, in new areas this year. Hint: we're talking about change.
Since COVID stormed the globe, mental health has been a main topic of conversation. But the reality is that this conversation has been building for many years due to increased digital use, social media, fractured families and communities, and our understanding of the definition of mental health. 1 in 5 adults experience mental health problems each year and depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. On top of that, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds.
This is a topic we need to discuss openly and often. Joining us today is the founder of Wonderfully Made, Allie Marie Smith. Allie has walked her own difficult journey with mental illness and is now using her story and that experience to help teens and young women.
There is hope, and you will hear that all throughout this interview. God has not left us, but is with us in our trials, our struggles, and our realities. Join us in this important conversation.
Since COVID stormed the globe, mental health has been a main topic of conversation. But the reality is that this conversation has been building for many years due to increased digital use, social media, fractured families and communities, and our understanding of the definition of mental health.
1 in 5 adults experience mental health problems each year and depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. On top of that, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds.
This is a topic we need to discuss openly and often. Joining us today is the founder of Wonderfully Made, Allie Marie Smith. Allie has walked her own difficult journey with mental illness and is now using her story and that experience to help teens and young women.
There is hope, and you will hear that all throughout this interview. God has not left us, but is with us in our trials, our struggles, and our realities. Join us in this important conversation.
Learn more about Allie and her ministry on her website.
Links: Wonderfully Made by Allie Marie Smith
Kate Merrick
Solvang, California
Kintsugi Pottery
Wonderfully Made – resources
Sheila Walsh
It’s OK Not To Be OK – book by Sheila Walsh
On Anxiety and Depression - our podcast episode with Kay Warren
Since COVID stormed the globe, mental health has been a main topic of conversation. But the reality is that this conversation has been building for many years due to increased digital use, social media, fractured families and communities, and our understanding of the definition of mental health.
1 in 5 adults experience mental health problems each year and depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. On top of that, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds.
This is a topic we need to discuss openly and often. Joining us today is the founder of Wonderfully Made, Allie Marie Smith. Allie has walked her own difficult journey with mental illness and is now using her story and that experience to help teens and young women.
There is hope, and you will hear that all throughout this interview. God has not left us, but is with us in our trials, our struggles, and our realities. Join us in this important conversation.
Learn more about Allie and her ministry on her website.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Wonderfully Made by Allie Marie Smith
Kate Merrick
Solvang, California
Kintsugi Pottery
Wonderfully Made – resources
Sheila Walsh
It’s OK Not To Be OK – book by Sheila Walsh
On Anxiety and Depression - our podcast episode with Kay Warren
Kay Warren’s website – resources for mental wellness / for churches approaching mental health
What if this new year we resolved to have better limits? What if more quiet is what we really need? How about if we build a "spacious life" so that we can experience more of God in 2022?
As part of our Healthy Way series, we talk about our spiritual lives and how we must create space for that part of ourselves to commune with the Holy Spirit. Ashly Hales talks the practical of what that looks like. As a fellow mom of four, she joins Alex and Krista in the chaos lots of kids (and their activities) can bring. And yet Ashley has committed to some limits so that their family rhythms bring peace more often than frenzy.
Do you feel like 2022 is calling for more energy than you have to give? Are you wanting to know how to best set limits while still pursuing things you love? Do you want to trust there is enough if you aren't always producing, but are sometimes simply delighting in the good gifts God has given you? If so, this conversation is for you.
Female friendships can be… complicated. Today in the Healthy Way Series we are looking at how to be healthier in our friendships in 2022. If you’ve ever struggled in friendship, or if you need some encouragement on how to cultivate deeper and more meaningful relationships, this is for you!
This is one of our favorite topics as a Sisterhood. We are big fans of authentic female relationships that build up rather than tear down. We are also fans of Andi Andrew, author, speaker, and pastor. Andi shares her wisdom and experience in a way that helps us see our part in creating healthy sisterhood.
If you are ready to strengthen and nurture your friendships this year, dive in to this episode!
Female friendships can be… complicated. Today in the Healthy Way Series we are looking at how to be healthier in our friendships in 2022. If you’ve ever struggled in friendship, or if you need some encouragement on how to cultivate deeper and more meaningful relationships, this is for you!
This is one of our favorite topics as a Sisterhood. We are big fans of authentic female relationships that build up rather than tear down. We are also fans of Andi Andrew, author, speaker, and pastor. Andi shares her wisdom and experience in a way that helps us see our part in creating healthy sisterhood.
If you are ready to strengthen and nurture your friendships this year, dive in to this episode!
You can find out more about Andi on her website or about their church on their website as well.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW Friendship: It’s Complicated by Andi Andrew
Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend
FASTer Way to Fat Loss with Abby Miller
Resolved: The 5 Most Important Decisions You’ll Make This Year a 10 day group coaching experience with Krista Gilbert
As we head into 2022 we want to be intentional about how we use our time and talents. We invited productivity expert Tanya Dalton to kick off the Healthy Way series and the year. Because we don't want to be frantic women running from task to task, responding to the crisis of the minute, but women working out of our priorities with a plan on where we're going and how we'll get there.
Tanya shares the Five Ps with us: Purge, Process, Prioritize, Protect, and Propel. These Five Ps set up a weekly and daily framework for deciding what needs to get done and when. It is simple and effective as we consider where we should focus our energies and attention. Tanya also talks to us about "stacking habits", an approach to intentionally build healthy habits into our routines so they become automatic parts of our days.
We know productivity and habits can both be unhealthy. Certain mindsets can push us toward the hamster wheel life. That's why we want to focus on them in our Healthy Way series. We want to use our time in a "healthy way".
If you are wanting to add some structure to your time, if you would like to be productive, but not frazzled, if you would like to know HOW to decide what you should work on, this episode on healthy productivity and habits is for you.
Wrapping up this year's Christmas is Coming Series, Krista and Alex talk about what God is teaching them, what they are letting go of, the power of "Oh Well," and their ritual for reflection as they contemplate the past year and look forward to the one ahead.
Christmas is a time of joy, but it also highlights the pain some are experiencing. Krista and Alex offer a helpful prayer and perspective as people navigate both.
Listen in as you are driving around shopping for last minute gifts, whipping up something special in the kitchen, or taking a much needed walk. Let's finish out 2021 together!
If you listen to anything this Christmas season, listen to this conversation with Nancy Hicks. She lost her son to cancer this year and she shares with us what this Christmas season means to her. It is raw. It is powerful. And it approaches grief with such honesty you won't know what hit you. God didn't come as a savior over two thousand years ago to save us from our comfortable lives, he came to rescue us from our real pain. That's not a free pass from experiencing loss, it's an invitation to sit with him in authentic tenderness. And anger? Oh she covers that too. Nancy covers how to approach grief this Christmas. If you are wondering how you're going to face the holiday because of disappointment, loss, anger, please push play and then let us know what you think.
Tama Fortner is a mom to college aged kids. She can look back with clarity on the ways she managed (and mismanaged) the Christmas years throughout her mothering career. This episode is full of Tama, Krista, and Alex’s insights on helping moms manage Christmas, keeping the special without keeping the crazy.
Tama shares some easy recipes, how she divides and conquers on food responsibilities, and how she creates gifts themed around what someone loves. We talk through how to manage a child’s gift request that parents aren’t willing or able to fulfill and how to approach the child about the why behind the decision.
Whether you are wanting to simplify food or gifts, you are wanting to ensure you keep the holiday season meaningful, or you simply want some fresh encouragement as you step into a busy few weeks, this episode will break down how a few moms consider food and gift choices this time of year. Tama’s new devotional book is titled Simply Christmas, and it’s about keeping the simple in Christmas.
In this last episode of our Legacy Series, Alex and Krista share about how we can harness traditions and rituals to help build family legacy.
The holiday season is the perfect time to be having this conversation, as Thanksgiving and Christmas provide opportunities to pause, reflect, and order our lives.
Legacy is what is left behind after we are gone. Each one of us leaves a mark, either intentionally or unintentionally. Our actions, repeated over and over again, create an invisible thread between us and others.
Today Daniel and Kendra Tillman, co-founders of Living Well Today Marriage Ministry, join us to talk about the impact marriage has on legacy, how a blended family can make a positive impact, and how kindness and humility change a family.
The Tillmans also encourage parents to take their role seriously, while simultaneously offering their children freedom to have their own relationship and journey with God.
Legacy is a big concept. Join Open Door Sisterhood podcast hosts Alex and Krista as they talk about what legacy means to them. When applied to a family system a healthy legacy can pass down values and seeds of faith that will impact generations to come. That sounds nice doesn't it, but HOW do we live so that we know we are leaving the kind of legacy we are wanting?
First we must know what our goals are. How do we want to be remembered by those we leave? What do we want to remain once we're gone? When we get those questions answered, we will know where we're headed. Then we can make decisions on opportunities offered us based on those priorities. We can implement habits into daily life that ensure we are making micro decisions toward the kind of life we want to live and the legacy we want to leave.
If you are wanting to live with intentionality, if you are considering what your larger family story has been, if you want to be intentional about how you shape your family story from here, push play. And then leave a comment here about what legacy means to you. How have you seen it play out (healthy or unhealthy)? And how would you like to leave the world better than you found it?
There are two words that encapsulate this episode: humility & faithfulness. These are themes that many talk about, but are difficult to practice and live out. So when a person encounters someone who embodies these traits, it is a rare and precious gift.
Pastor, author, and speaker Eric Peterson is the son of the late Eugene Peterson, who wrote The Message translation of the Bible. Eric describes what it was like growing up as the son of a spiritual giant, what he learned from his father’s example of humility and faithfulness. A fourth generation pastor, Eric shares how his own ministry was impacted by not only Eugene, but also by his grandfathers.
Krista was moved to tears several times in this interview, as it speaks to the profound power of a life well lived, and the impact that leaves on those following behind.
This episode reminds us that legacy is not left in things, but in people and relationships.
Rachel-Ruth was born into a family known for its Christian faith. Her mother is Anne Graham Lotz and her grandfather is the evangelist Billy Graham. Rachel-Ruth, now a mom to three teenage daughters of her own, talks about how the seeds of a faith legacy are planted and then watered.
Authentic is a word that comes up quite a bit in this interview. Rachel-Ruth says living an authentic life in front of our kids will let them know Jesus is relevant to everyday situations. Admitting when we mess up, asking for forgiveness from our kids and from Jesus, and moving forward are all key. For moms who want to make a spiritual change in their life, so they can authentically model a life of faith to their children, Rachel-Ruth simply says, "Start today." Pick up your Bible, read a few verses, and tell your kids what you are learning.
From someone who is known by her family's legacy of faith, Rachel-Ruth reminds us that we all can plant the seeds. We all have the ability to choose a life that follows Christ and if we are moms, our kids are watching. Tune in to hear Rachel-Ruth's three questions to ask when reading the Bible. It will transform how you read Scripture and how to encourage your kids to do the same.
If there was ever a time we needed kindness, it’s now. And as we approach the holidays, the discipline of practicing kindness is especially important.
Joining us for the last episode of our Seeking Out Goodness Series, Becky Keife, author of The Simple Difference, and community manager for (in)courage, reminds us that simple actions make a significant difference, and that we don’t have to agree with people to listen well and treat them with dignity and respect.
Becky helps us define what kindness looks like, and offers practical examples of how we can move into the holidays reflecting the kindness Jesus models.
As we seek goodness in the world, turning to our own actions is a great place to start.
Sign up for THE CHRISTMAS REMAKE!
Visit the show notes here
It seems fitting on that on the day Alex's new book, Seeking Out Goodness, hits bookshelves, we would invite a number of sisters to share with us about how they are seeking out and finding good in the world. We asked the attendees of the 2021 Open Door Sisterhood Mastermind Retreat to share with us how they are seeing God at work and how they are seeing evidence of his goodness.
From family to creation to provision of a bathroom for a family of six, these diverse answers remind us that we all see echoes of God's goodness through different lenses. For many it's how we interact with others, for some it's about God's direct gifts of his presence and his word, and for others, it is new friends and kindred spirits that bond quickly.
This is a sisterhood roundup. We want to hear how you are looking for and finding God's goodness in the world. Tell us here, and more importantly, put on new eyes so you can see God's goodness. Whether this is a reminder of what you've known for a long time, or good news you are hearing for the first time: God is with us, he has not left us, and he is good.
D.J. Jordan has worked for CNN, Fox News, U.S. representatives, and a U.S. Senator. Today he is Senior Vice President with Pinkston PR firm in Washington D.C. He is seasoned at looking for the good in places and people and he helps us remember as Christians we can look for the good in every sphere of public service. Despite what the media tells us, Christians are working together for good across typical divides. There is good to be found.
From the reputation of D.C. politics to the changing cultural tides, D.J. explains how faithful Christians can not only look for and find the good, we can help make good happen. In this episode, we talk civil discourse, bipartisanship, and being a trusted neighbor. We discuss ministries that are engaging culture with common values and action and how there are consequences for good that we may not know this side of heaven. We cover how the loud minority often gets the megaphone and the faithful servants are in the background doing their work. Yes, there is good to be found, we just need to do a little investigating to find it.
If you are looking for a rich conversation around how we as Christians can have both private and public engagement with our non-Christian neighbors in a way that is meaningful and hope-filled, this episode is for you. It will encourage you. There is good to be found and we can be world changers for good right where we are to do our part to change the cultural tide.
Seeking out goodness is a discipline on ordinary days, but it is even more important in hard seasons of life. Joining us in the Seeking Out Goodnessseries is Lisa Whittle, author of The Hard Good.
Lisa knows the pain of loss and can relate to resisting change. Yes she also talks about the sadness that accompanies our unwillingness to accept the present and adapt. She encourages looking for love rather than the let down, and seeking contentment in the small.
If you are in a season of hard, loss, or change, you will love the wisdom poured out in this episode.
Our very own Alex has a new book releasing in a few weeks and we want to give you the FIRST sneak peek at some of what she covers in the pages. In this episode, Krista interviews Alex about why she wrote the book, why the process of looking for what is good is important to us, and how she structures practical next steps so listeners can begin seeking out what is good.
Whether you are overwhelmed with heartache or the state of the world, or just feel a little bored with the monotony of your daily life, this book is meant to give you tools to have new eyes to see what is already around you. God is still good. He is still here. And so we can trust that his goodness continues all around us, we just need to find it. This book is about the process of seeking out goodness.
Because Alex wanted this book to give the practical how, she uses Philippians 4:8 as her structure. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (NIV) How do we see what is noble? Or admirable? How do we look for the lovely? Or consider what is true? How do we do this all with humility and kindness? This episode is just a taste of what Alex covers in the book. We hope you listen and let us know how you are looking for the good right now.
Fall is the perfect time of year to push the refresh button on our lives.
Hosts Krista Gilbert & Alexandra Kuykendall talk about their favorite home systems, chores, work / life balance, and tried and true recipes.
Abby Turner is ready to encourage the sisterhood to open our homes and invite people over before we overthink things. Why? Because hospitality isn't about the fancy menu or immaculate home; it's about people! It's about serving as Jesus served. When we discipline ourselves to make our homes and tables available to others, we are ensuring that we are serving those around us. We can't wait for the perfect time, because that will never happen. Abby says hospitality is a discipline, not a spiritual gift.
In true Open Door Sisterhood fashion, Abby is part practical and part inspirational. Not only does she provide a faith foundation for why we should practice hospitality, she also gives us lots of things to think about as we look ahead to fall and even the holidays. Planning goes a long way. Grocery stores can help with the prep. Simplicity can help make it happen. And again, it's all about the people! So what can we do ahead of time, to be able to enjoy people in the moment? This episode provides some clues to help eliminate avoidable holiday stress.
Abby gives us some great easy recipe ideas, she offers her best holiday timesaving tips, and she reminds us that we can bring the fun to others. Whether it's taking a friend dinner at HER house or simply bringing a friend a coffee on the soccer sidelines, hospitality is about having a heart of service and we can do that anywhere! Don't wait another second, go ahead and push play and get ready for a fall hospitality reset.
A chill is in the air and the seasonal shift is beginning. As we wave goodbye to summer and welcome fall, we are also looking to refresh our routines, home systems, and menus. Today begins our new series: Fall Reset.
Sarah Molitor, from @modernfarmhousefamily on Instagram, joins us to share her practical ideas on time management and home systems. As a homeschooling mom of six boys, we have a great deal to learn from this capable mama. She also lets us in on her secret to dinner time (it has to do with a sheet pan), and the fall traditions she treasures the most (you won’t expect this one).
You will be inspired to reboot your own life this fall as you listen to our inspiring conversation. Get a cozy pumpkin spice latte and settle in with us for this great episode!
No question, motherhood stretches us. In our Sister Straight Talk episode of this series, Krista and Alex talk about how expectations and transitions are big opportunities for mom-growth.
Expectations, or should we say unmet expectations, are a trademark of motherhood. Our hosts talk about the "macro" and "micro" of mothering expectations. From how our kids will complete a chore to how we'll feel as moms, we often don't know we have expectations until they aren't met. Transitions are also a constant. As soon as we feel we've mastered, or at least have a handle on, a certain phase of parenting, things change. How we respond to these changes can impact the tone of our families and who we are becoming as women.
No matter the stage of mothering you're in, from pregnancy through the empty nest, you have a chance to meet expectations and transitions with open hands and a readiness to stretch out of your comfort zone. God uses your role as a mom, to shape you in good ways. These stretch marks can sometimes feel like battle scars, but they tend to help us grow in traits like patience, resilience, and wisdom, all traits that are good to increase. Join this relatable, hope-filled conversation with your sisters who give it to you straight on motherhood.
Building resilience in motherhood is one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our families. We need it as moms, and our children need it as they make their way through life.
Joining us on the third episode of this Motherhood series, Rhonda Stoppe speaks honestly and candidly about the challenges she faced as a mom, and how she found the strength and faith to keep taking steps forward. Rhonda raised a son with special needs, adopted a child who needed a home, and struggled through two different moves.
You will be encouraged and inspired to love God deeper, trust Him more fully, and see trials as opportunities through this episode.
We are in a series highlighting the various ways motherhood grows us. Often we do not think about how creativity can be an integral part of motherhood, but that is exactly what can emerge if we allow it.
Rachel Kang, founder of Indelible Ink Writers, talks about how she finds time to write in small pockets of time while parenting her two young boys, and how motherhood has increased her imagination.
Often, moms neglect their own creative pursuits to care for the needs right in front of them. In this episode we look at how creativity and the duties of motherhood can not only co-exist, but enhance and strengthen the other.
Sarah Bragg, host of the Surviving Sarah podcast, says motherhood has grown her up. She has changed through the challenges she's faced as a mom. And boy isn't that true of motherhood? We try new things, face new feelings, overcome new challenges and as a result we are stretched in ways that don't leave us. These stretch marks act as our reminders of growth and that our children are a gift God uses to grow us up as well.
In this episode Sarah brings her candid voice to the conversation as we consider what it means to live an authentic life in front of our children, how to accept our limitations while choosing growth in some areas, and how honesty helps with both of these efforts. We consider the women we ARE vs. the women we wish we were and how we have to get past some of the mothering expectations (read pressure) we put on ourselves.
Motherhood is a gift. In large part because our kids act as a mirror, or as Sarah puts it, a highlighter, to all of who we are. We discover parts of ourselves (from anger to unconditional love) and skillsets that help us understand ourselves better. You will walk away from this interview remembering that God already sees and knows every part of who you are as a woman and a mom. You can let go of some of those self-imposed expectations and celebrate the unique, creative person you ARE as a mom.
We've had our summer school of sorts with professors from around the country talking to us about how art and faith enhance each other. Consider this episode with Krista and Alex the class discussion. Our two podcast hosts sit down together and talk about what challenged them from the previous episodes in the series, what they want to change in their own lives as a result, and how engaging with creative works enhances our understanding of who God is and who our neighbors are.
These two talk about the power of story, the need for shared experiences, their creative outlets, and God's reflection in us as makers. Though you get to listen in on their thoughts, this is meant to be a group discussion. Tell us about what struck you! Where are you inspired to interact with the arts? How has art impacted your faith? What kind of creative expression gets you feeling or thinking?
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -Pablo Picasso
Music is powerful and has echoes of the eternal within it. It also can see us through difficult and dark times.
Ginny Owens, an award winning singer / songwriter, author, and speaker joins us to talk about the role music has played in her life and faith from a young age. As a blind singer who literally sings in darkness, she also carries the message that anyone can learn to find a melody in dark and lonely seasons.
You will be captured by Ginny’s story, and inspired to find your own way to weave music into your faith story.
When we think of art, we often think of the canvas and the painter. Visual arts, from paintings to drawings, sculpture to tapestry, are creations that can both inspire and intimidate us. Art historian Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt joins us for our "summer school series for grown-ups" on faith and art to remind us we have what is needed to interact with the visual arts. We don't all need to be art historians to be able to appreciate and respond to the artwork around us.
Elissa is an art and art history professor at Covenant College and gives us insights on how to think about our own interactions with visual arts. From the importance of seeing art in person to appreciating the making involved we can all learn more about our neighbors by interacting with the work. Elissa encourages us to not automatically dismiss art we don't care for, but use our discomfort as an opportunity to learn more about the stories involved. In this way art we don't like can be a bridge to learn, and therefore love our neighbors, more fully.
Whether you're looking for some inspiration to approach your local museum with new eyes, or you are wanting to pull out some pencils and paper to sketch your backyard view, this third episode in our series will help you see the world around you with fresh eyes and know that there is much to find that is true and beautiful.
We often don’t think of theatre as an avenue for exploring our faith, but today on the series we discuss the unique role the theatre arts can play if we engage as a participant or active audience member.
Mitchell Thomas, chair of the theatre department at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, joins us to share his expertise. We talk about how storytelling can help us as we move through life, how we can bring our faith to the stage in multiple ways, and why it’s important to explore all types of theatre.
At the end Mitchell shares multiple theatre exercises that will give your family permission to be silly together in your own living room. Krista has experienced the fun these bring as Mitchell is her brother and he does these around the campfire every summer with her family.
This is a topic you may have not thought a great deal about and it may just open up a whole new world – listen in!
We're back! The podcast took a break in June and we are back with a new series on faith and the fine arts. We like to think of it as a summer school for grown-ups where we get to take all of the electives we didn't have time for in school. As we think through the arts, we can look for what is true and beautiful and how that is a reflection of God's nature. That's our kind of curriculum!
We are kicking the series off with English professor Karen Swallow Prior to talk about the benefits of reading good literature. We discuss why reading literature matters, how our reading habits are changing with technology use, and the importance of setting aside time and space to appreciate the beautiful. Karen explains how experiencing lessons with a character helps to grow our empathy in a different way than simply reading the moral of a story and how reading can enhance our Christian faith.
It's not too late to do some fun summer reading. This conversation can inspire you to pick up an old classic or a modern novel. Karen reminds us that speed doesn't matter when reading through a novel, so no pressure to check books off your list, but she does share some of her favorites in case you need a recommendation from a professor. Consider this your summer school English class that will change how and why you are picking up that great novel.
Today is the last episode in the “Secrets Of A Centered Soul” series, and Alex and Krista talk about what they learned, what they loved, and some practices they employ that weren’t discussed in the series.
From being in nature, to journaling, to intentionally creating spiritual friendships, you will hear how Krista and Alex keep their souls centered, and how they are continuing to grow.
This episode feels like sitting down to talk to a sister about the series as a whole. It’s straight talk, pure and simple. Join us!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg
“Try practicing your way into faith” – Blaise Pascal
“There’s nothing accidental about the spiritual life. It requires our intention – our agency. It requires that we show up.” -Dallas Willard
I Told The Mountain To Move – Patricia Raybon
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” – John Muir
“If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy. There’s truth in that. Both sin and busyness have the exact same effect—they cut off your connection to God, to other people, and even to your own soul.” – Corrie Ten Boom
Pray As You Go App
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun
Walter Brueggemann – Praying the Psalms
As we talk about what it means to have a centered soul, we must talk about how we communicate with God. Prayer is our ongoing conversation with the one who made us and loves us. It's mysterious and sometimes overwhelming to consider God hears any of what we feel or say. We invited award-winning author Patricia Raybon to this series to talk with us about how we talk with God.
Patricia reminds us of the simplicity of prayer. It is about spending time with God. This means we don't have to always be talking, we can simply be. But when we have something to say, we don't need to edit, we can bring our full thoughts and hearts into the ongoing conversation. Prayer takes time and Patricia reminds us that we can't skip over relationships, we must invest time.
We find our prayer life is often reflected in our tangible life. We can love people well by being with them, making ourselves available, and putting aside our agendas. Honest, agenda-free prayer helps us love others better because it gives us the practice we need to be open to what unfolds. If you feel intimidated by prayer, stuck in your prayers, or wondering if praying is even real, push play and listen in to our conversation.
Habits. Many have them around morning coffee, exercise, repetitive words, or before bed rituals. But have you ever considered turning your faith into a habit?
As we dive further into our Secrets To A Centered Soul Series, Jen Pollock Michel, an award winning author, helps us see how turning our faith into a habit can transform our days, and eventually, our entire lives. Through the five practices of seeing, living, loving, knowing, and obeying, we learn how to nurture a vibrant life of faith.
The Holy Spirit can feel a bit mysterious, the part of the Trinity we can't quite get our arms around. In our continuing series on Secrets of a Centered Soul, Jeannie Cunnion shares with us about the gift of the Holy Spirit that all followers of Jesus receive. Jeannie doesn't want us to miss out on all the Holy Spirit has to offer us. From comfort to counsel to power, we have a gift we can tap into.
Jeannie shares with us 5 things we can know right now that will help us better understand and receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is for our good, never leaves us, and dwells within us. In this episode, we talk about the healing power of the spirit and what it looks like for someone else to walk in the spirit. If you are facing challenges and are asking God for help in taking that next step, doing that hard thing, the Holy Spirit is available to you.
For the person who is seeking a new hope, wanting to know God's nearness in a powerful way, this conversation will act as a reminder that the Holy Spirit is our strength and we can face so much more when standing in its power.
What role does movement and the body play in spirituality? Elizabeth Peterson, spiritual director and yoga instructor, is here to guide us in our understanding.
In this Secrets of the Centered Soul Series, we are looking at various ways to deepen our relationship with God. In this episode we talk about why movement matters and the healing power found in being present in our bodies.
For the first time ever on our podcast, we have Elizabeth guide us through a short live spiritual practice. We pray it will be a blessing for you.
If you are looking to grow spiritually, you’ve come to the right place.
We are kicking off our new series, Secrets of a Centered Soul with pastors, spiritual directors, and Enneagram trainers Doug and Adele Calhoun. They share how the Enneagram is a tool that helps us better understand ourselves so we can know better how to connect with God.
As Doug says in the episode, "So much about the spiritual life is about awareness." The Enneagram helps us become more aware of our blind spots, patterns, and false narratives so that we can put on the new identity that Christ offers his flock. We go through the "not enough narrative" of each Enneagram number and which spiritual practices can help each number better connect to God's heart.
This new series is about tools and frameworks you can use in your everyday life to live with a centered soul. One that is centered on Christ. "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." -Colossians 1:17
In this final episode in our Spring Refresh Series, our Sisterhood Home Coach, Krista Gilbert, answers your questions about problem areas, redecorating, and how to refresh an outdoor space.
We talk closet clutter, when to keep an item and when to give it away, how to organize kids’ papers and artwork, and what to do with the many paper piles around the house.
Krista also gives an easy to follow four-step plan for redecorating a space that needs some love.
You will love this practical episode as you refresh your home this spring.
Jam packed with practical ideas, professional organizer Lisa Trigsted shares with the sisterhood her best tips on stuff management for a family. Known on social media as Neat Freak Mckinney, Lisa shares her simple yet life changing tactics for families who are swimming in stuff.
So what does Lisa suggest? First, edit out the extra things. Then maintain new organizing systems with a weekly reset. These simple tactics can change how your family manages and relates to stuff. Once organized Lisa encourages listeners to challenge themselves to a spending freeze and eventually incorporating the one-in-one-out rule.
We spend a good part of the conversation covering how to get family members on board with an organizing plan and how to tackle big projects and maintenance as a team. Lisa understands the real-life challenges moms have in keeping a space organized and doesn't shy away from the "but how?" questions. You will feel absolutely inspired and empowered to tackle that stack of papers or overstuffed closet after listening to this episode. So go ahead and push play for your next dose of our series on Spring Refresh.
Krista has been home coaching Alex on her laundry room the past few weeks to kick off spring cleaning, and we are talking about the experience on the episode today. The laundry room dilemma led to coaching around other spaces, and also to identifying some important internal discoveries along the way.
We explore what holds Alex back from doing what she knows she needs to do in her home, how she was able to push past those obstacles, and what she learned and accomplished.
You will hear parts of your own story in this one and it will encourage you to make changes that will propel you forward.
If you are a person who needs a little bit of motivation to get your spring refresh going, or any kind of refresh, this is a great place to start.
We've all been home a loooonnnngggg time and it may be our spaces need a spring refresh. Wendy Trigsted is working to make a peaceful home. It doesn't just happen though, she intentionally thinks through the systems that need to be in place to make things run smoothly. From laundry systems to Easter baskets, this mom of four gives us her tips to simplify in order to increase peace.
This is the first episode of our series on Spring Refresh in our homes. Heavy on the practical Wendy shares with us how she cleans out a closet, how she stores and uses her cleaning supplies, and how she decides if she should make a purchase for her home. In the first five minutes of this conversation, Wendy gives us three easy, quick tips we can do TODAY to create more peace in our space (and bonus they are all 100% FREE.)
No matter the size or style of your home, the ages and stages of those you live with, you will be able to increase peace this spring season. You won't want to miss this very practical conversation with Wendy Trigsted. Her principles work well for any family size or season. And who doesn't want a little more peace as we refresh for spring?
In this episode Krista and Alex wrap up the series Teens: The State of the Union. They discuss what impacted them most, what changes they are making in their parenting because of what they heard, and what felt practical.
They also weigh in on their experience parenting teens – what’s been hard, what’s been helpful, and what they would recommend.
Join us as we have a sister to sister conversation, and as we attempt to make the most of the teen series.
Communications professor Heather Thompson Day talks about Gen Z's use of technology and social media and how these tools impact how they communicate (or don't) with the world around them. From developing a low tolerance for discomfort to managing how others perceive us, Heather offers professional insights into how social media is shaping a generation.
For parents of today's teens who feel at a loss on how to help their kids navigate this world of screens, posts, and likes, this conversation gives insight on practices families can take together. From meditation on Scripture to family check-ins we can open new channels of connection with our kids that help them identify and feel their feelings while learning about disappointment and discomfort.
Social media can feel like a beast (because it is!) and Heather doesn't let us forget it has addictive features that rewire our brain when we're engaged with it. We don't have to despair though. We can have meaningful relationships with our teens that help anchor them in the actual world and gives them the tools to better manage the technology.
Are you in a house with a teenager who is experiencing big emotions? Or maybe there isn’t enough communication around emotions and you want to help your teen be able to name them better. Whatever your situation, this podcast will offer tools to help you parent well through the emotional ups and downs of adolescence.
David Thomas, a well known therapist and author, brings his expertise to the conversation. He talks about the four emotional milestones that will help any teen, why the Enneagram plays an important role in this conversation, and how we can coach our children on how to handle their big feelings.
David is a fan favorite around The Sisterhood and this episode underscores why. After listening, you will walk away better equipped to parent your teenager with more love, grace, and hope.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW THE FOUR EMOTIONAL MILESTONES * Vocabulary – to name what I’m feeling in life * Perspective – learning to put all of life in the right category (pain scale) * Empathy – a well researched ingredient to healthy relationships. The ability to understand the feelings of another. * Resourcefulness – taking the emotion to something constructive
In essence, it’s helping our kids learn how to identify what they feel & how they feel about it If they can’t see it on the grown ups they trust, it’s incredibly hard to develop it.
Are My Kids On Track?
The Backdoor To Your Teen’s Heart
“To the degree that teens can predict you they will dismiss you.”
The Path Between Us – Enneagram book
Suzanne Stabile’s Podcast – Enneagram Expert
Katie Bulmer has been traveling the country talking to sorority women about identity, strength, sisterhood, and of course relationships! Katie comes to The Open Door Sisterhood with insight on the big questions parents can help their daughters ask as they enter the dating world. Questions like, "What is important to me?" "What am I dating for?" "What am I looking for in a relationship?"
We also cover, how technology impacts dating today, what science can teach young people about "hook up culture" and bonding, how media and pornography influence teenagers' impressions of sex, and how we as parents can ask questions that help our daughters (and sons) come to answers about what they want for themselves.
Katie's expertise falls on the girl end of the spectrum, but many of the principles we cover are great for both boys and girls. Have lifelong conversations with your kids about dating and sex, model the healthiest marriage you can to the kids in your home, and pray without ceasing for both your child and the person he or she is dating. We can't go wrong with these overarching goals leading the way.
Sex and pornography are topics that feel uncomfortable for parents to talk about, but if we aren’t our children’s main sex educators, culture will be.
If you wonder how to navigate this over sexualized society with your teen or pre-teen, this interview will help equip and encourage.
Rodney and Traci Wright, authors of How To Talk With Your Kids About Sex, travel the country as speakers and educators about healthy sexuality.
We cover how to start talking about sex early, what it looks like to heal from our own experiences, how we can frame this topic in a way that is helpful, and why vulnerability is important.
Consider sharing this episode – most parents need help navigating this tricky topic.
National trends show we are sending kids off to college with impressive resumes, but without the tools to handle their emotions or make meaningful social connections. Educator Margo Long joins The Open Door Sisterhood to give us the "state of the union" as far as teenagers' social and emotional health. A lifelong educator of educators, Margo has spent her career training young adults as they enter the education field. She has worked specifically with gifted students who often have the academic skills to complete assignments or talent to compete athletically, but not the emotional and social skills to be truly successful.
Margo reminds us that it is never too early to introduce the language of feelings to our kids. We can ask them about tasks AND ask them how they feel about the tasks at hand. We can also practice speaking and listening through regular times at the dinner table or through weekly family meetings, giving everyone the chance to take a turn sharing successes and struggles. As kids grow we give them age-appropriate space and responsibility so they can practice the range of social, emotional, and academic skills they will need to be successful adults.
The pandemic has made it especially difficult for teenagers to have meaningful connections with people outside of their immediate family. We can be intentional about their stressors and our conversations around them as we move ahead. This conversation can help us coach our teens with a little more intention.
Every year Alex and Krista do a round up of their favorite things from the past year. From beauty products, gift ideas, kitchen gadgets, clothing picks, TV shows and more, they give their best and most useful tips.
It’s Valentine’s Day and though YOU are really our favorite, we also like to share other “practical” favorite things with you. Part 2 of this episode will be sent to our email subscribers this week via email. Sign up at The Open Door Sisterhood to get the second part.
THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW FAVORITE BEAUTY PRODUCTS Monat Hair Products
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brush #7B Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo PATRICK TA Monochrome Moment – Blush Brush #1 Burt’s Bees Hand Cream
FAVORITE GIFTS TO GIVE Secret Hitler Game
7 Wonders Game (strategy)
Gold Pepper Mill
###### iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Dash & Windshield Car Mount Phone Holder Desk Stand Pad & Mat for iPhone
Le Creuset Stoneware 9 x 12
Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book
Studio Series Ink Pad Set (15 colors)
FAVORITE HOME DECOR Cozy Earth Sheets – Krista’s item of the year
Mon Chateaux Luxury Collection faux fur rugs
XFi Pod Wifi Extender
IN THE KITCHEN 12 qt. Yedi Air fryer
The Always Pan – replaces your fry pan, saute pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest.
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Machine
Costco Business Center to stock my own convenience store
Nutpods
Capers
FAVORITE APPS Pray As You Go my item of the year
Lightroom & Canva
FAVORITE CLOTHING Faux leather Spanx leggings
Scallop apple watch silver/gold jewelry strap
Street Level Reversible Tote – black
Barefoot Dreams Lite Long Cardigan
Ann Taylor Loft seasonal clearance
Amazon essentials
Jannuu face masks
FAVORITE PODCASTS The Bridgetown Daily – walked Krista through COVID
The Art of happiness with Arthur Brooks
Nice White Parents, 5 part series by the NYT
Eryn Eddy wasn't setting out to develop a lifestyle fashion brand. She simply wanted to reinforce the message she was giving her music fans, "You are worthy of love." Her unplanned t-shirt adventure has turned into a business shipping products around the world. But in all of that fashion merchandising, Erin began to absorb the message for herself. She began to dig deep into what it means to be worthy of love and practice self love. This meant examining long held beliefs about herself and contrasting them with what the Bible said about her. It led her to places of honesty with herself and with God.
In this 30-minute conversation we talk through what resilience looks like, how to determine if someone should be speaking into you, and how caring for ourselves allows us to better care for others. We cover how to take first steps when feeling overwhelmed and how those first steps give us confidence for next steps. Eryn tells us what she wrote on her mirror with dry erase marker and why she celebrated with a night in a Tiki Airstream trailer.
If you are wondering how to deal with feelings or thoughts that are destructive, this episode could be a good place to start. It's easy for us to tell you that "God loves you", it's much harder to absorb that message. This conversation will offer some first steps toward health.
Learning to stand up in our confidence is a life-long, ever changing journey. What even is confidence and how do we get it? and why do we feel confident in some areas and not others?
As we look at getting Healthy in 2021, we feel that this topic of confidence is important for our journey ahead.
Alli Worthington, author, business coach, and speaker gives us sharp insight on this topic. Her book, Standing Strong: A Woman’s Guide To Overcoming Adversity And Living With Confidence offers us a road map for developing confidence in our lives, both this year and life long!
Moving our bodies is essential for health. Running and walking is one simple, yet powerful way to do that. Running and track coaches Shawn Young and Dorina Gilmore-Young give us some strategies on how to start even if the thought of running a block sounds exhausting. We cover so much more than running though. We hear their story of love after tragedy, how running can be a spiritual practice, finding community in exercise, how to get kids moving, and setting goals and face setbacks.
These two met through running, but their story took a few turns on the trail and in life before they married. Part love story, part training guide, this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast reminds us that moving our bodies can get us closer to God and to each other. That sounds like so much more than losing a few new year pounds, doesn't it? Grab your earbuds and go on a walk outside and listen to this special conversation with husband and wife and co-authors of the new book Run, Walk, Soar, Shawn Young and Dorina Gilmore-Young.
s your relationship with alcohol complicated and layered? Do you or does someone you know struggle with wine-o-clock or with keeping alcohol in check? You aren’t alone. In fact, it is a common struggle.
Jenn Kautsch, founder of sobersis.com, is a pioneer of sober minded living. She leads a community of women who are gray area drinkers. No labels, no all or nothing mentality, but women who feel as though drinking is a bit more prominent in their lives than they want it to be.
In this conversation you will find a sober-minded approach to life that is infused with love, authenticity, acceptance, freedom, and support.
As we head out of the holiday season and into the new year, we may be tempted to swing from extremes when it comes to food. We've enjoyed more than we should and now we are going to focus on rigidity. Tilly Dillehay challenges us to examine our relationship with food and our own tendencies that take us away from God's good intent: to enjoy the gift of food for the flourishing of our bodies and relationships.
Tilly talks about "four poles" of extremes and how we can shift our mindsets away from extremes toward health. As a woman who struggled with an eating disorder for years, Tilly knows how food can be used as an exterior control tool for inner turmoil. Her solution to a healthy approach to food is grace and relationships. When we seek more of who God is and his purposes here on earth, we become less obsessed with food and more likely to enjoy and use it with a healthy lens.
This isn't a conversation about how to lose the COVID-20 you gained in 2020 or how to cook with a calorie count in mind, it is a step back that asks What was God's intent with food in the first place? And how can I experience his goodness through meals with others?
One of the most profound places we leave our mark is in the family. Christmas is a time we are spending concentrated amounts of time with those we love, and with those who are hard to love.
Rhoda Shultz is the queen of Christmas and the queen of family. But it hasn’t always been easy. She wrote a book about their difficult experience with their son, his prodigal journey, and what it looks like to reflect the love of Christ to our children and spouse in the midst of deep struggle.
In this interview Rhoda speaks of God’s work and purposes in seasons of uncertainty. She encourages all parents to pitch a tent in God’s faithfulness, allowing Him to complete the good work He began in us and our children.
Let’s listen in today and be inspired as we strive to love those right in front of us and make a mark that will live far beyond us.
Ruth and Patrick Schwenk were living a busy life of faithful service, planting a church, raising their four children, when 43-year old Pat was diagnosed with a blood cancer. Their faith became paramount as they navigated questions of mortality, certainty, and God's character. Could they trust that God was with them in the middle of this storm?
A tender, honest conversation about what it means to have faith tested. There were doubts, fears, support, love, pain, and trust. Ruth and Patrick talk about how they had to receive care from their congregation, how the illness helped create a culture of honesty within their church, and how they both had to learn to trust God's goodness like they never had before.
Obedience and faithfulness in the midst of unexpected suffering and stress change us and leave an impression on those around us. As we consider what it means to be faithful, we must consider where God is and who he is when life is uncertain and difficult.
Do you truly believe that God wants to use ALL of who you are for His purposes? Your natural gifts, abilities, and strengths, but also your pain, sadness, and failures?
When we are continually trying to live someone else’s life, we will never find purpose or satisfaction in our own. Jamie Ivey talks with The Sisterhood today about what it looks like lean into your unique self and integrate all of who you are in order to live out your unique calling in the world for the glory of God.
When we look at how to leave our mark in the world, beginning with accepting ourselves and our unique story is vital. Join us in this important conversation.
Katherine Wolf was just 26-years old when her life changed forever. She suffered a significant stroke that left her disabled. In a wheelchair, deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, and one hand that doesn't work, she spent years learning to eat and stand up. In this first episode on our new series of Leaving Your Mark, Katherine inspires us with her resilience and faith despite her continued challenges.
Katherine wants us to know her spirits are good now, but there were many dark days. Days when she wondered if God had forgotten about her or simply if it would be better if he'd let her die. She now knows that suffering is always a season. That it won't always be as bad as it is today and that God refines us in the dark places. Katherine's words of encouragement speak directly to our core as she reminds us that everyone suffers as part of life and when we hear God's voice in the midst of suffering we step into a new kind of identity and beauty.
If you don't listen to anything else this Advent season, we encourage you to listen to this conversation with Katherine Wolf. She reminds us that God comes in the darkness. This is exactly what we celebrate at Christmas. You will feel less alone after listening to this episode.
We thought we’d do something a little different to close our “Still Home For The Holidays” series.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we chose a section from the “Reclaiming the Table” chapter of Krista’s book Reclaiming Home to read to you in the first part of this episode. Krista talk about the importance of the family table and some tips on how to prepare meals in advance.
In the second part of the episode Krista reads a touching story from Alex’s book Loving My Actual Neighbor. This story is a reminder that a little bit of kindness and love can make a significant difference in the life of another.
Both of these will encourage and inspire you as you prepare your heart and your home for the Thanksgiving this year.
Looking for practical, helpful, and easy tips on Holiday decorating? You’ve come to the right place. Shannon Acheson of homemadelovely.com offers her best tips and holiday secrets.
We talk about organizing Christmas decorations, decluttering, how to put together a holiday vignette, what do when everyone has a different opinion on decor, and how to make old items new again.
Before you get your house ready for the holidays, listen to this first!
Every year families need to make adjustments to changes and for many families this will be a year of pivoting from holiday traditions. We are bringing our expert holiday merrymakers Jody McNatt and Terri Conlin to the podcast to share with us how they have made holiday changes over the years as their families have grown and what they are doing this year to keep the Christmas spirit going in their homes.
We talk about flexibility around traditions, having an empty seat at the table, incorporating new family members into traditions, and helping those still at home when someone needs to be somewhere else for the holiday. We invited these two women on for this particular conversation because they are especially good at creating spaces and moments that facilitate meaningful connections at home or apart.
Grab your coffee and some laundry to fold and join our sister circle as we talk through how to approach Thanksgiving with gratitude and transition into Christmas practically and spiritually. This holiday may look different than in years past, but it can still be meaningful and memorable (in a good way).
We will {still} be home for the holidays this year. This month we are in a series by that title. Our hope is to help you get creative as you navigate a holiday season like no other.
Sharing her best holiday hacks, The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi, joins us to talk about decision making, gift ideas, and how to streamline our processes. She also gives us her #1 gift idea for friends and teachers, and offers tools on everything from social media use to decorating.
This episode will get you in the Holiday spirit, offer needed perspective, and equip you with great ideas. Join us as we “lazy genius” this COVID Christmas!
If ever there was a year to celebrate Christmas, it's this one. We need the reminder that God loved the world enough to enter our space. Yet, we are coming off of a year of incredible heartache. We are carrying that additional stress into an already hectic (and yes stressful!) time of year. How do we increase peace?
In this episode, Krista and Alex give us their top ten tips to helping create some peace during this unprecedented time. These are steps you can take NOW (yes even at the end of October!) to be setting your family up well for a Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday in the middle of a lingering global pandemic. From practical tips to a bit of inspiration around why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, you will be inspired to make the upcoming season as meaningful as possible.
So don't forget to listen and don't forget to sign up for our Christmas Remake, a 3-week interactive course that gets you organized for everything from meal planning to decorating to shopping. As we say do the work now and your December self will thank your November self for all of the work you did.
For the past five weeks we’ve been talking about how to have hard conversations around suicide, politics, race, sexuality, and social media. Today’s episode wraps up that series with hosts Alexandra Kuykendall and Krista Gilbert sharing their takeaways on the series.
They discuss what they learned, what they are doing differently, what is sticking with them, and how they will approach hard conversations with new strategies. Krista and Alex also describe the difference between peace making and peace keeping (hint: they are not the same thing).
Join us as we finish out this series!
Election Day is 3 weeks away. Whether you're a person who typically likes talking political ideas, or you tend to shy away from these kinds of conversations, we can all agree this election cycle is proving to be tense. Likely you've already had some difficult conversations and you're wondering how to move through the next few weeks (and beyond!)
Our guest Sarah B. Anderson knows what it is to talk politics. She grew up in a family where her parents worked for politicians and they attended White House events. Eventually, her dad even ran for President! She gives us lots of tips on what it is to be a hope-bearer (a world changer for good right where you are) when political differences come up.
Should we avoid tense conversations? Do politics really matter in a kingdom worldview? What's our responsibility as Christians? How should we stand apart from the chaos of the moment? How do we model good civic discourse to our kids? What does unity look like when we have differing takes? All questions we cover in 40 minutes. Don't wait, press play on this timely and relevant interview.
As a nation, we are talking about race. True to the Sisterhood, we are diving into honest conversations around this topic. This is part 2 of a two part series, so go back and listen to last week’s episode if you missed it.
Today we are interviewing our guests about their personal stories. We discuss what it is like being a person of color in their communities, workplaces, and families. You will be inspired by their courage and strength, and troubled by some of their experiences.
Both of our guests are professional hard-conversation-havers. Maggie John is Producer and Host of the Canadian television show Context Beyond the Headlines where she does just that, gives context to the day’s headlines from her studio outside of Toronto. Shannon Polk is both an attorney and pastor, in the process of merging two congregations (one predominantly white the other predominantly black) into one in Flint, Michigan. They are trusted voices here at the sisterhood and we are so glad to have them for not one, but two episodes as we dive into how to talk about race.
We recorded these episodes a few weeks ago. Even since recording, the headlines have highlighted the reality, tension, and pain surrounding these conversations. They are difficult, yet important, which is why we are not avoiding them. We are approaching them together, as a unified sisterhood, fighting for a better way to have hard conversations.
As a nation, we are talking about race. For some these conversations have been going on for generations and for others open conversations about race are new territory. No matter where you find yourself in the larger conversation, this episode is for you.
Both of our guests are professional hard-conversation-havers. Maggie John is Producer and Host of the Canadian television show Context Beyond the Headlines where she does just that, gives context to the day's headlines from her studio outside of Toronto. Shannon Polk is both an attorney and pastor, in the process of merging two congregations (one predominantly white the other predominantly black) into one in Flint, Michigan. They are trusted voices here at the sisterhood and we are so glad to have them for not one, but two episodes as we dive into how to talk about race.
We recorded these episodes a few weeks ago. Even since recording, the headlines have highlighted the reality, tension, and pain surrounding these conversations. They are difficult, yet important, which is why we are not avoiding them. We are approaching them together, as a unified sisterhood, fighting for a better way to have hard conversations.
Suicide and mental health are increasingly important social issues. In the United States suicide rates continue to rise, and many psychologists and counselors warn we are in a mental health crisis. It is wise for us to learn and pay attention, for ourselves, our children, and those we love.
Kayla Stoeklein’s world changed suddenly and dramatically when her husband, a well known mega-church pastor in California, committed suicide. She was left as a widow and a single mom of three young sons. Kayla talks about her experience today and what she has since learned about mental health, suicide, and grief.
Sisters, this is a topic we can’t ignore. There are too many hurting, isolated, and burdened. If you find yourself in this place, we care, and you are not alone. If you are walking with a loved one who is struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, you also are not alone. We are carrying burdens together. Listen in.
HARD CONVERSATIONS SERIES: SUICIDE & MENTAL HEALTH Suicide and mental health are increasingly important social issues. In the United States suicide rates continue to rise, and many psychologists and counselors warn we are in a mental health crisis. It is wise for us to learn and pay attention, for ourselves, our children, and those we love.
Kayla Stoeklein’s world changed suddenly and dramatically when her husband, a well known mega-church pastor in California, committed suicide. She was left as a widow and a single mom of three young sons. Kayla talks about her experience today and what she has since learned about mental health, suicide, and grief.
Sisters, this is a topic we can’t ignore. There are too many hurting, isolated, and burdened. If you find yourself in this place, we care, and you are not alone. If you are walking with a loved one who is struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, you also are not alone. We are carrying burdens together. Listen in.
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW How to Journey Through Grief and Loss with Linda Lawrence Hunt
Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 1-800-273-8255
On Anxiety and Depression with Kay Warren (podcast episode)
What You Need To Know About Suicide Podcast Episode
We are diving into the topic of hard conversations. There are some general principles that apply when having respectful, mutually honoring conversations around difficult topics, and then there are a few specific topics that carry a particularly heavy burden. Sexuality is one of those hot button issues of the day that triggers high emotions. We hear from listeners often that this is one of those topics that easily brings up anger, controversy, or shame. Here at the sisterhood we want to give you useful, practical tools that help you in your actual lives. We created this series, and selected this topic, with you in mind.
Our guest, Dr. Juli Slattery, is cofounder of Authentic Intimacy. She is a psychologist who has dedicated her career to helping women have these hard conversations. She walks us through God's good intention for our sexuality, the varying components (it's not just physical!), and how to broach the subject when needed. From sexual abuse, to infidelity, to pornography, and masturbation, Juli doesn't shy away from the ways sexuality can be misused. But she also promises there is healing and hope.
If you are needing to have a hard conversation with someone in this area because one or both of you are struggling, Juli reminds us that gentleness and humility will bring us back to God's design for desired intimacy. An episode packed with both information and encouragement, it will help you talk about sexuality with grace and love.
Hard conversations are a part of life. This is especially true in our current climate. In this new series titled, “Hard Conversations,” we will be tackling how to move through these interactions with conviction, grace, and respect.
Today we bring on Daniel Darling, author and Senior Vice President of National Religious Broadcasters, to talk about how we engage in helpful and sharpening conversations on social media.
Many of us engage on social media to discuss current issues, and it’s important for us to think through how to do that well. Others ignore all posts regarding current events and opinions, and that may not be the way to go either.
Join us as we strive to have healthy and productions hard conversations.
We know that this is a school start like no other. It is an especially uncertain time for college students and seniors in high school. We bring you a sisterhood expert to help navigate conversations with the young people you love about school and life decisions during COVID. Emily Jamieson is an academic and life coach for young people. She spends her days helping them navigate school and life decisions and knows the unique circumstances and feelings they are experiencing right now.
In this interview Emily not only gives us insight into what college students and high school seniors are thinking and feeling, she gives us practical approaches to conversations that might be difficult. From how to give feedback to a resistant teenager, to fostering moments of creativity together, her ideas are grounded and based on years of mentoring young adults. For any grown up trying to support young people in the middle of a pandemic, for any parent wondering how to get their teenager out of their funk, for any loving mentor that is working to guide a student's decisions, you won't be disappointed in this conversation.
In true sisterhood style this episode is both practical and inspirational as we talk through how to best support college students and high school seniors during a pandemic.
Whether you are homeschooling or part-time schooling this year, chances are you need to re-purpose a space in your home to accommodate the needs of your children and family.
In this episode Krista Gilbert, a professional home coach, breaks down how to get creative about space, and how to make your home work for you in this season of COVID and life. We discuss creative ways to think about the spaces you already have, the questions to ask, and how to actually set up a space that will work for school.
As a bonus, Krista also gives her best tips and ideas for homeschooling, giving practical resources and hacks that will make your schooling experience more enjoyable this year.
Tune in families – you need this one!
Some Things You Heard On The Show: kidney table
flat-shelved shoe rack
Multi-Colored Markers
fun scissors
No Stress Chess
A Variety of Stickers
Mind Bender Books
Action Study Bible
Action Study Bible Devotional
Laminator
Rotary Paper Cutter
Kids Magazines Kids Sports Illusttrated
National Geographic Kids
101 Things Every Girl Should Know
Clubhouse Jr.
Brio
Book Series The Little House Series
Chronicles of Narnia
Educational Resources Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Children’s Book of Art
Rosetta Stone Spanish Program for Kids
Typing Club
Weekly Planner Pad
Boom box
Your Story Hour
Adventures in Odyssey
Hank the Cow Dog
World Map
If you enjoyed today’s episode we would love for you to rate the podcast in iTunes or tell us what you liked or learned.
And be sure to find us on the Gram! We love it over there.
It's back to school time. But likely this year school is looking a little different for your family. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of families doing school part-time or full-time at home, we've got some ideas for you. Seasoned homeschool moms Katie Westenberg and Erica from My Busy Bees and Me lead us through some of their best approaches to school and family 24/7.
The word of the day for moms doing school at home is freedom. That may seem counterintuitive given the fact we feel trapped at home, but we can have flexibility in how we approach everything from schedule to curriculum. We hear how Erica and Katie maneuver that fine line between teacher and mom, the books they like to read aloud to their kids, and the benefits they see to doing school together as a family.
Whether you are taking the educational lead as homeschool mom for the year or you are working with your children's teachers around online school, this interview will remind you that you can do new and brave things. You will be setting the tone for school at home in your house and your kids need you at your best. So put on your seatbelt mom, it's back to school time COVID style!
Are you deciding whether to stay at a job or find something new? In this episode Krista and Alex shoot straight about what questions to ask and what you might want to consider as you make your choice.
The last episode in the Work Flip series, they also discuss how COVID19 has impacted their work lives, how narrowing margins push toward innovation, and ten ideas for quick cash.
If you are wrestling with your work life, this whole series is for you!
Round Top Texas is known for two things: The Texas Antique Show and pies. Tara Royer Steele is the owner of the Pie Haven and when the pandemic shut down the annual spring antique show that typically sustains her pie shop for the next six months, she knew things had to change. Enter the creativity that constraints offer. Tara did a pivot on her pie business and found herself working in ways she never felt she had time to try before.
Tara is a real woman, a "street level" kind of Texas gal, that tells it honestly. We talk about how to get honest feedback from those around us, what it looks like to talk money decisions with a spouse, and how a "no" isn't necessarily an indication that a dream shouldn't be pursued, it might just mean an adjustment is needed. Tara shares about real life scheduling pivots, working to keep employees paid, and using what she had, a commercial kitchen and a community reputation, to build a new arm to her business when things could have been described as bleak.
If you are wondering if now is the time to make a change in your work life, if you are dreaming about something new, if you are finding some of the pandemic parameters might actually be opportunities, this is the episode for you.
Many people are re-considering work. Whether it is to increase income or flexibility, this unique moment in time has been a catalyst for change. Today we are looking at how to choose the most profitable idea and how to set up a plan to move forward.
Business expert Rachel Proctor generously shares her experience, wisdom, and advice on how we can pivot well or create a new business. From confidence, to branding, to the three P's of business, you will walk away more equipped and empowered to begin for the first time, or re-start.
Working women - we've got you! and we're all in this together!
The COVID-19 pandemic has created chaos for many families. Women are finding themselves in the middle of the upheaval, needing to make up for lost income or needing increased flexibility to care for children home from school. For those in frontline positions as part of their paid work, health risks may be an additional stressor as women determine what they need from their work life under unprecedented circumstances.
It's for this reason we invited Joanna Meyer to help us kick off our newest series, Work Flip, where we'll be exploring what it means to pivot in work due to the pandemic. Joanna leads the Women and Vocation Initiative for the Denver Institute for Faith and Work. She also serves as the Director of Events and Sponsorships, creating meaningful opportunities for Christians to consider what it means to serve God in and through their work. In this conversation we cover the God-given purpose of work, how women are uniquely called to vocation and leadership, and how the pandemic is offering unique opportunities for women to advocate for themselves at work.
Whether you work for pay or not (and we cover unpaid work in this episode), you'll be reminded that God gave us work as part of our design. When we feel different roles pulling at us, we can step back and use some creativity to meet the world's needs with our talents while (hopefully) gaining income. An episode for any woman in the world who knows she was made to be a world changer for good right where she is ... through her work.
The last episode in our “Hone Your Voice” series, Alex and Krista shoot straight about what it means to navigate conflict better while maintaining our voice. We also cover what it means to “steward” our voices. Meaning, what does responsibility look like when using our voice, especially as people of faith?
We wrestle in this episode with the hardest parts of having a voice and using our voice in a world often divided and in tension. We even give a specific real-life scenario and talk through how each of us would respond.
Come with us and explore, in earnest, these last important topics when it comes to honing our unique voice in the world.
---> Included in the show notes today is a FREE DOWNLOAD recapping our best tips from the "Hone Your Voice" series. This is useful as a reminder or for teaching others.
New York Times bestselling author and For The Love podcast host Jen Hatmaker, is a mom to five teens and young adults. For this reason we invited her on to our Hone Your Voice series to speak directly to moms as we help our teens and young adults discover, use, and hone their own voices. Jen's honesty leads us through a rich conversation we are happy to share with you.
With her signature wit, Jen reminds us that much of parenting is loving and letting go. We laugh (and cry real tears) through this episode as we talk about helping our kids step over the threshold of childhood and into adulthood. Jen reminds us that so much of parenting is modeling. We as moms must discover and use our own voices if we want our children to do the same. Here at the sisterhood, we couldn't agree more which is why we are bringing you this series.
So go ahead and push play and get ready to do some honest evaluation as you consider what it means to have a home with honesty, where failure is seen as opportunity for growth, and walking our kids into adulthood is something to be celebrated rather than feared.
As we seek to hone our voice, there are some practical changes we can make in our communication. The queen of practical, Deborah Smith Pegues, harnesses her years of experience in corporate America to instruct the rest of us on what is helpful, and what is not. After a successful career as an executive, writer, and speaker, she has much to say about using our words for good.
Deborah talks about how we can be powerful and warm, how to embrace silence, and how we can leverage our natural tendencies for strong leadership.
Winsome and engaging, you will love this interview and will discover more tips on how to hone your unique voice.
Paula Faris uses her voice more than most in her professional work. As a former host of The View and Good Morning America, Paula knows that when she speaks, people are listening. She hasn't always felt qualified though. Her fear of inadequacy and intimidation of others' expectations made her hesitate to step in front of the camera. On this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, we hear how she pushed through her fears and use her voice.
Once at the "top of her career", Paul was burnt out. A series of personal crisis made her realize she needed to slow down. She stepped down from her roles at The View and Good Morning America and now hosts the popular ABC podcast Journeys of Faith, taking with her the skills and passion she brought to television.
We cover faith calling vs. vocational calling, being tired vs. being burned out, and work vs. identity. If you are afraid to step into the places God is calling you, this conversation could give you the push you need to step into them regardless of your fear.
We believe at The Sisterhood that God has given us each a unique voice to use in the world. We are positioned in places with people to speak hope and truth over situations. We may feel this now more than ever.
In this new "Hone Your Voice" series we want to bring you both practical coaching and insights that inspire you to develop your voice for today. In this episode we feature Dr. Sasha Shillcutt who shares her journey of finding her center in her adult life, and how she began exercising her voice, especially at a table with mixed genders and high achieving professionals.
You will be interested in her insights about why women apologize, how female leaders are perceived, and practical ways to disagree with others while still respecting their viewpoints. An MD, author, and speaker, Sasha has an important message to share with women about finding their unique voice in the world, and overcoming fear to share it.
Our older kids had distinct hopes and maybe some pretty solid plans about how their summer would look. Enter COVID-19 and we're all adjusting to this new summer reality. With varying physical distancing measures in place around the country, and many group activities cancelled, we have an opportunity to help our older kids find purpose in their "new normal".
Enter Kristen Hatton and Greta Eskridge, two moms who are intentional about the everyday moments and stand out memories. With Alex and Krista in the mix, these four women have 15 kids between them! From work ethic to intentional rest, family books to managing food needs this is a great listen on the early end of your summer.
We recorded this conversation, full of practical COVID-sensitive ideas a few weeks ago. Because of this we don't cover protests, hard conversations, or citywide curfews, though these are likely topics of interest to our listeners with older kids at home. Here you'll find more discussion about quality time, making memories with our kids, and creating a sense that family is a place they will want to come back to. We pray these are timeless topics regardless of the day's headlines.
We're living in an interesting time. It seems just as we're getting through one piece of difficult news, another arises. As we head into summer, we want to acknowledge that life for us and our children feels heavy. Protecting mental health is vital as we navigate all that is before us.
Colleen Blake Miller, a registered psychotherapist and speaker, offers The Sisterhood wisdom and help on how we can protect and foster solid mental health in our children during these months.
From acknowledging feelings, to honesty in our communication, to replacing bad habits with good ones, we cover practical ideas that will help families as they move forward in a tough season. We also dive into ways to help your children grow spiritually this summer.
What do we do with kids who are too young to entertain themselves for days at a time but too big to be carried around in a backpack all day? Especially when a global pandemic causes most large group (or any sized group) gatherings to be cancelled for the summer? Well, we brought in the experts for you: Mia St. Clair and Crystal Miller are both moms of littles and they've got the ideas.
Let's talk practical when it comes to kids. We've got the everyday, the special, the food, and the crafty. From theme dinners to water play (when the pools are closed) Alex, Krista, Crystal, and Mia all chime in on this mom-to-mom conversation. When we say The Open Door Sisterhood is part practical, part inspirational, this is a practical-heavy episode.
We see you moms. We know you have some unexpected bumps this summer due to COVID-19. We're here to give a few ideas that might spur more ideas that meet your family's needs perfectly. So don't delay, press play, and then give us your best summer tips and hacks in the comments on the shownotes.
Because of COVID19, summer is cancelled for many of us. Okay, we realize it's not really cancelled, but it feels that way as camps, programs, classes, and vacation spots send apology letters and emails about why they can't open as usual.
Today begins a four part series we're calling, "Summer is cancelled: Now what?" We begin today with guest Jessica Smartt talking about perspective. How can we change our lens to see that our situation is no different than the hardships endured by many in our history, and to find courage in the stories of those who have gone before.
But we don't stop there. We also move into some practical ways we can re-structure our plan for summer by setting up a rhythm for our days, allowing opportunities for work, and using the extra time to build family memories outdoors. Join us for this helpful conversation!
High school and college graduations around the world have been cancelled due to physical distancing requirements from COVID-19. We feel a collective disappointment because we know this is a marker and a celebration for graduates and their families. If you have a graduate in your circle, you are likely trying to figure out how to celebrate your senior within the current parameters for group gatherings.
Krista and Alex invite author and podcast host Monica Swanson on this episode to talk through why we should be intentional about creating both meaningful and fun experiences for our graduates and how we can do that with varying levels of restrictions in place. All three moms bring different experiences, personalities, school communities, and local distancing restrictions to the conversation, offering a variety of ideas. No matter your circumstances, there is an idea in this episode for you.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we strive to offer listeners content that is part practical and part inspirational. It's the how and the why. This episode is no different. You will be reminded that life markers matter and you'll be given ideas on how to creatively mark your graduate's transition.
Working moms, this one is for you. Do you find yourself in a new normal with the stay at home order? Are you struggling to get the same volume of work done that you did before? Do you need some new ideas to stay focused or motivated?
In this week's episode Alex and Krista discuss how quarantine has impacted the working mom. They discuss the value of limitations, the pressure of expectations, and what it might look like to pivot in our thinking and in our schedule.
This is a continually evolving and changing topic - the home / work balance. Let's work it out together!
Marriage during a pandemic is no joke! We know this is likely a unique season for relationships. Many have not experienced this much "together time" in recent years or ever! Perhaps financial stress is high or worries about the health and safety of a spouse or others we love is putting you on extra edge. No matter the "different" in our circumstances, it helps to recognize that every relationship goes through various seasons.
We brought relationship expert and therapist Debra Fileta to the sisterhood to talk about her newest book Love In Every Season. She describes the flow of relationships through various cycles and how working through each one well prepares you for the next. From the newness of spring, to the hot passion of summer, the colorful conflicts of fall, or the quiet of winter you can determine which season you are in these days and how it can build toward overall health.
Sister, we know this may be a difficult time at home simply because of the unexpected stress that life is throwing at you and your spouse. No matter your season you can make intentional choices to love each other well. You have agency in how you respond to each other. We pray this is an encouragement.
Yes, this life in a pandemic is new. Last week hosts Alex and Krista dove into their emotional responses to the situation. This week they look at the practical opportunities that arise because there is a virus that forces most of us to stay home. This is a unique moment, how will we make the most of it?
From teaching kids life skills, to TV suggestions, to how to love our neighbors during this time, to ideas for games to play, to how to celebrate birthdays, we look at how we can redeem this time for good in our homes and in our lives.
If you want to learn how to make more of your time at home focused and intentional, this episode will help.
Links from Today's Episode:
Lenore Skenazy
Intentional Chore Scheduling (DISH DUTY!)
The Tiger King
The Grizzly Man
Redeeming TV:
Just Mercy
Little Women
Mr. Rogers
Rudy
The Greatest Showman
McFarland USA
Kit Kitridge American Girl
Loving My Actual Neighbor
Great Read Alouds for families:
Love Does by Bob Goff
Everybody Always by Bob Goff
Footloose Dance - you can learn too!
Vidhug website - makes video making a snap for the bday person!
Games:
See Krista's Mega List. of Games on her website
Code Names
Coup
Left, Right, Center
Crazy Powerpoints
Basketball Tournment
Nightly Trivia using CrowdPurr
Dr. Henry Cloud's Podcast
Morgan Tyree - Capsule Wardrobe Challenge & Organization Challenges
We are all experiencing something new, life under a pandemic. It is unique in its grief, its circumstances, its universal impact, its opportunities for connection. How can we capture this unique time for our personal growth and to grow closer to God?
Hosts Krista and Alex share a bit of their emotional responses during the COVID 19 arrival and spiritual practices that are helping them move through their days. An honest discussion of what keeps them up at night and how God is meeting them and inviting them to share in Christ's suffering.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply exhausted, this episode is intended to ground you as we talk about "gritty peace" and the unchanging nature of God grounds us in a way our circumstances can't. We love you sister and we want you to know you're not alone. This episode is meant to be a place of rest and encouragement as you push through the quarantine life.
If you feel as if your emotions are wildly swinging during this unsettling time of the Corona Virus, you are not alone. Many report feeling a paralyzing fear one moment, anger and frustration the next, then an unexplainable feeling of gratitude and peace. Does it feel like whiplash sometimes? It does to us.
Sara Hagerty, well known author and speaker, assures us that this is not only normal, but necessary as we learn how to authentically name our feelings and take them to God.
If you have struggled though sheltering in place, and have wondered what to do with all of your emotions, especially in light of your faith, this podcast will help.
Anjuli Paschall knows what it is to escape the uncomfortable. However in this time of pandemic, when the walls seem to be closing in on us, it feels nearly impossible to escape where we are. Anjuli's invitation is to stay. Stay in your uncomfortable circumstances, feel the hard feelings, and invite Jesus into those place to experience his transformation.
In an honest, timely, and poignant interview we hear how this mom to five is "staying" during the pandemic. Though she may want to avoid, deflect, or escape the places of friction and tension, she is choosing to consciously be present so that God can do his work. For most of us who are literally staying at home because we have no other option, this mindset of choosing to stay gives us opportunity to grow and allow Jesus to meet us in our real moments of need.
From big griefs to small moments, this invitation to bring the holy into our reality may be just what you need to fully experience what God has for you during this season of "stay".
We’ve all heard about Wuhan, China, the birthplace of the notorious Corona Virus. What we haven’t heard as much is a direct interview with someone on the ground, in lockdown, on the twenty fifth floor of an apartment building.
Rebecca Arendell Franks wrote a Facebook post from quarantine in Wuhan that went viral. After lamenting their experience in several other posts, her husband challenged her to write about the good things springing out of their situation.
Alex and Krista asked Rebecca to come on the show to talk about what it has been like walking through the season of the Corona Virus from Wuhan. No matter where you are on your own journey with the virus, sheltering in place, or freely moving, you will find pieces of your own journey in Rebecca’s story.
We are living through an unprecedented global pandemic. We have not experienced anything like this in our lifetimes. As we consider the likelihood of weeks at home, kids off from school, and what it means to practice social distancing, we wonder what exactly we should do to prepare for the unknown.
Our guest Kathi Lipp brings us the "safe and sane" approach. We need to be prepared and wise about our choices, but not panic and operate from a scarcity mindset. We must remember to care for our neighbors out of abundance, control what we can control, and practice faith for God to carry what we cannot. Kathi brings us both practical next steps, empathy for where we are today, and most importantly hope that we will get through this together.
From shopping lists to mindset shifts, you won't want to miss this conversation so relevant for today's dilemmas. Where else are you going to get both the practical and inspirational as we face the unknown today that COVID 19 brings? We are here for you sister trusting God is with you and goes ahead of you.
The phrase "world changer" is thrown around on Pinterest memes, slogans, and yes, even here at The Sisterhood. But what does it really mean to be a world changer?
In this episode Krista & Alex break down The Sisterhood definition of what this phrase really means, and how we can start being a world changer in our actual lives, right where we are, today.
Gena Thomas joins us for the second part of the interview to share her story of helping a Honduran five year old who was separated from her mother at the border. This story helps us see how God can take small, faithful steps, and turn them into giant leaps of faith and hope.
Find Alex Kuykendall on Instagram or her website
Find Krista Gilbert on Instagram or her website
Find Gena Thomas on her website or connect with her on Twitter
Kerri Pomarolli is a woman who likes to laugh. A professional comedian, she has appeared on The Tonight Show 29 times. From Comedy Central to church auditoriums, her reputation for clean comedy has taken her around the country. She sees her comedy as the assignment God has given her and though she doesn’t feel like a typical Hollywood gal, she is happy to work.
We laughed more than usual in this episode, but that doesn’t mean we only covered light topics. Kerri talks about her divorce, her unique co-parenting arrangement, and how she makes the most of circumstances she didn’t want or plan for. She focuses on what she does have rather than fixating on what she doesn’t.
If you want a little levity in your day, push play. Kerri makes us laugh while reminding us that no one’s lane is easy, but if we stay in the one God has given us we will certainly be most fruitful. A fun conversation that swings between the Girl Scouts as a mafia to ring to going through divorce while in the public eye, it is filled with honesty and truth. Kerri Pomarolli is now the sisterhood’s comic.
Do you ever feel like you aren’t fully enjoying your life? Or that you don’t like the person you have become? Do you sense that life is moving so fast that you are missing it?
In this interview, John Mark Comer (one of Krista’s favorite teachers) shares the secret to discovering a full and meaningful life. It isn’t an intuitive answer, yet one that holds great power if we take hold of it and put it into practice.
You will be challenged and delighted by the wit and wisdom shared in today’s interview – don’t miss it!
A Community of Honor in a Culture of Contempt – sermon on Bridgetown Podcast (one of Krista’s all time faves)
One of the frightening aspects of human trafficking is it can happen to anyone. While we may have the vision of a woman being kidnapped, drugged, and forced against her will, this is often not the scenario. More likely it happens very slowly and subtly, with someone a victim knows.
Rebecca Bender has such a story. A normal, small town teen, Rebecca was a high school athlete and honor roll student. After meeting a man she fell deeply in love with, her projected future of happily ever after turned into a living nightmare.
This is a sobering account of one woman's story into the world of human trafficking, and how God plucked her out and gave her the intelligence and skills to help FBI, homeland security, and police forces around the globe, as well as those recovering from exploitation.
This is an interview you don't want to miss.
It’s that time of year again. As a tribute to Valentine’s Day and all things practical, Krista and Alex talk about things they are loving right now.
Are you looking for a great movie? Recipe? Perfume? How about a tip that makes their days go well? At the end of Sister Interviews we hear what podcast guests use to make their lives work well. We hear what they can’t live without. This is the episode where your hosts share their best collection of favorites from the last year.
As the sisterhood we are part practical, part inspirational. This episode lands in the practical.
Have you ever had a season where you doubted God? Do you fear that one of your children will never come back to faith? Do you wonder if God is angry at you for asking hard questions?
Today Robin Dance joins us to share how God brought her through a long season of doubt, and how she ultimately ended up on the other side of it.
If you’re struggling through darkness today and don’t know where to find the light, this interview is a great place to start.
Macon, Georgia
Berghausen, Germany
Berghausen Castle
Neutrogena Make Up Wipes
EOS lipbalm
Mint Ice Breakers Gum
Max Lugavere – Genius Foods
Samin Nosrat – Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
Becky Keife – No Better Mom for the Job
Richella Parham – Mythical Me
Sarah Mae – The Complicated Heart
Steven Pressfield – The War of Art
Valentine Tea Party
Robin Dance’s Apple Pie
Melanie Dale
Understanding how we operate and how others operate can move us toward relational health. The Enneagram is a popular tool to understand people's motivations and behavior patterns. It seems fitting to look at this paradigm as we finish our 2020 Healthy Way series on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.
Enneagram expert Marilyn Vancil walks us through our authentic and adapted selves and how we can move from unhealthy patterns to more integrated selves. It is here we will find freedom to live out of who God made us to be. Marilyn shares the "suffering" of each Enneagram type when they live from their adapted selves. She offers a guide to pivot toward health in each pattern.
Here's to a healthy 2020 sisters! We know that our bodies, souls, and minds can be renewed as we head into the new year. Sometimes it's a matter of simply taking that next step and doing that hard thing so we can be healthy enough to be world changers for good right where we are.
It's week #3 of The Healthy Way Series and we think it's time to cover a topic that profoundly impacts our souls: how we engage with the Bible.
Have you ever struggled to make reading the Bible a regular part of your life? Do you sometimes wonder what makes the truth in the Bible the absolute truth over every other individual truth out there? Have you been hurt by a Christian and refuse to engage because of the hypocrisy you see and experience?
In this interview, Lauren Green McAfee, PHD student of public theology and founding member of the team who started Museum of the Bible, tackles all of these tensions and also helps explain why it is critical we take our engagement with the Bible seriously.
If you want to get healthier spiritually this year, this is a great place to start.
Not What You Think: Why The Bible Might Be Nothing We Expected Yet Everything We Need
Museum of the Bible
U Version Bible App
The Bible Project
The Lumo Project
The Bible Re-Cap Podcast – Tara Leigh Cobble
NIV – MESSAGE Dual Translation Parallel Bible
NRSV translation of the Bible
Seeds Family Worship
Blue Letter Bible App
The Organizing Box
We feel we're in a constant struggle with technology. We see the benefits (it's so helpful when it's helpful!), but we also experience the consuming nature it can have when overused. Psychologist Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee trains young people and adults around the country on how to manage technology. She is realistic, funny, engaging, and understanding. She helps us see our need for controls without shaming our tendencies to use.
If you've wondered if technology is affecting you, (hint: it is!), you'll want to listen to this incredibly helpful conversation. Dr. Doreen helps us remember that we are embodied souls that need to be present where our bodies are. Technology is not going away, we must find a way to manage it so it doesn't manage us.
We know this episode will go down as a sisterhood favorite. Part practical, part inspirational, it will help you to take that next step, do that hard thing, to be a world changer for good right where you are.
It's time for our annual Healthy Way Series! Each Tuesday in January we dive into a different aspect of health. Today we are kicking it off with Alisa Keeton, founder and director of Revelation Wellness, and Wendy Speake, author of the 40 Day Sugar Fast.
Alisa begins by educating us on why movement is so powerful - not only for our bodies but for our emotional and mental health as well. If you want to be inspired, encouraged, and challenged, no one does it quite like Alisa. You will find fresh motivation and courage for the New Year through her words and coaching.
Wendy follows discussing the benefits of cutting sugar from our diets. The reasons may surprise you. We expect her to talk about the physical benefits, and she does, but Wendy also dives deeply into the spiritual growth that comes with saying no to sugar for a period.
Join us as we re-commit to health and to living more fully and alive!
We've been there. Aimlessly wandering through the store, looking for things to fill the stockings. With a week left before Christmas, this task of getting stocking stuffers is often left to the last minute scramble. It can feel both unnecessary and wasteful. How do we add some fun, practicality, and creativity to this Christmas tradition? This episode may not change your life, but it could change how you stuff some stockings next week. Sisters we are talking about the practical, the fun, the themed and the surprising. Be warned we laugh through much of this quick 30-minute conversation. Are you ready to stuff some stockings?
What if there was one approach to people that would change everything about the way people feel about working for you and being in relationship with you? In this episode we talk about the one thing that will bring success to any organization, family, church, and business.
Jeff Henderson, entrepreneur, speaker, pastor, and business leader shares his wisdom learned over years of experience and through his interactions with Chick Fil A founder and president, Truett Cathy.
This interview has the potential to positively change the trajectory of your future and life, both personally and professionally.
Our first ever dad/daughter interview! And just in time for the holidays when family interactions can be more frequent and addictive behaviors can flare. Rob Koke and his daughter Danielle Germain tell us about her journey with addiction and how her road to recovery felt from both of their perspectives. . A story full of loss, grief, redemption, and new beginnings. It gives us all a place to stand and begin the difficult conversation (both internal and with others) around addictions. The humility that Danielle and her dad bring to this conversation gives us all freedom to approach our relationships and our coping mechanisms with more honesty. . Whether you are a parent wondering how to support a child, a person living with addictions yourself, or simply want to know how to better support the people around you, this interview is for you. It is vulnerable, tender, and offers hope to all of us that recovery is possible.
Every fall we go on a quest to find everyday world changers. You nominate them. We choose them. They are incredibly inspiring, and prove that each one of us really can make a difference right where we are.We are featuring three women today.
The first is Rebecca Smith. Rebecca was a mom and Etsy shop owner who had a knack for sewing and an eye for design. When the business outgrew her, she hired a woman to help make bags who lived in her town. Little did she know the large impact that one small decision would make.
MaryLynn Kenary, our second world changer, has been living with cancer for more than two decades, and is currently in stage four. She shares about how she has used her condition to reach out to others and build a deeper faith.
And wrapping up the episode we have Alyssa Haley sharing about her big dream of creating a community center for youth right in the middle of the town where she lives.
Let's allow these women to inspire us to go futher and deeper. And may it help propel us out of our comfort zones and into all that God has for us.
When Kelly Minter moved to Nashville years ago it wasn’t to become a Bible teacher or to write a cookbook, she was pursuing the music dream. After multiple signed and failed record deals, Kelly had the chance to do two things she hadn’t set out to do: write and publish a Bible study and travel to the Amazon. Both of those opportunities took her down unexpected roads, or through unexpected “open doors”.
A jump-right-in kind of conversation where we felt like we starting with years of friendshipas our foundation, Kelly felt like an instant sister. We hear about her newest book, a cookbook she wrote with friend and chef Regina Pinto. We learn about the books that have influenced Kelly’s interest in healthy, fresh food and how her brother’s pizza dough didn’t make the cookbook cut because it is just too complicated. A woman of humble spirit and mighty strength we were inspired to get cooking and invite others over.
A delightful interview you won’t want to miss. The “work sweatpants” vs. “home sweatpants” tip that any work-at-home woman can relate to is enough of a reason to tune in.
Do you have a favorite place to go and relax or reflect? A spot you feel a little more at home in the world? Chances are it is a place your soul can breathe and open up.
Whether we are experiencing deep loss, processing an experience, or simply taking a pause from the hectic pace of modern life, we all need those places of peace.
On today’s episode, Linda Lawrence Hunt describes how deep grief and loss birthed first a global foundation, then a passion for creating a warm and inviting space where countless individuals could come and find respite. She inspires us to not only find that for ourselves, but to create it in our own unique way for others.
Whether choosing new paint colors, planting a garden, cooking a savory meal, or building a fire, we can all create places where souls can breathe.
On this Election Day special, Kathryn Freeman talks us through civic engagement, difficult conversations, and asking questions to learn. A seminary student who already holds a law degree, Kathryn has worked for over a decade in public policy. But don't let that intimidate you, Kathryn simply loves people and wants systems to work on their behalf.
Kathryn reminds us that as the Church, we are like God's orchestra: we each have our unique role to play. We can't all be experts on every issue, but we can learn and be passionate about a few. She thinks a good starting place is to focus on issues that most impact our neighbors. She also reminds us that ultimately God cares about justice and the work is his. We are meant to do our part that helps us love him and our neighbors well.
As we approach family conversations over the holidays, Kathryn offers us great tips on how to learn and listen in order to better understand various points of view. A sisterhood conversation on being world changers for good right where we are.
We’re beating the Christmas stress this year. Do you want to join us? Bring on the joy, peace, and merry! One of the primary ways we plan to do this is by employing a concept called “third way thinking.”
The third way is about getting creative, opening up possibilities, and planning. We like this concept here at The Sisterhood, and we really like it as we discuss how to do the Christmas season better.
In this episode we cover expectations vs. expectancy, how to navigate difficult dynamics around scheduling Christmas, planning for traditions, and what it might look like to rethink gift giving.
It may seem early to be talking about and planning for Christmas, but come December you’ll be so glad you did. A peek into what we’ll be covering in The Christmas Remake, this conversation will get you ready for “less stress and more memories” this season.
You may be familiar with Auntie Anne's Pretzels, the soft warm pretzels served around the world. What you likely don't know is the story of Auntie Anne herself. The most we've ever cried during an Open Door Sisterhood interview, Anne Bieler's humility and gratitude for God's redemptive love is moving.
Having grown up in the Amish community of Pennsylvania, Anne learned to value family, faith, and hard work. However, she did not learn how to talk about her feelings. So when tragedy hit when she was a young mother, Anne didn’t know how to express her grief. The pain she experienced from the loss of a child changed her story.
Anne tells of the darkness she encountered during the years that followed and the redemption she experienced through confessing her secrets to her husband and receiving his love and acceptance. Her message of confession and the power of sharing our stories will leave you changed.
If 70% of success in sports is mental training, then the most critical area of any sport is the six inch playing field between our ears. Turns out, the same principles that are used for mental discipline training for athletes are also secret weapons for everyday people like us who regularly face difficult scenarios, dilemmas, and problems.
Trisha Kroll joins us to talk about her experience playing Division 1 volleyball at the University of Kansas, and what she learned about the mental part of the game. She and her husband own and run a non-profit organization called The Difference Makerwhose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of athletes by training, equipping, and inspiring them in sports and in life.
Whether you are listening to this to be able to help your child, to educate your athletes, or to simply become stronger mentally, you will walk away with nuggets of gold to start applying today!
For more than two decades Sissy Goff has been counseling girls and their families. In recent years she has noticed an increased number of girls struggling with worry and anxiety in her counseling practice. This is backed up by national trends. In this episode we explore why that is and what parents can do to help girls of all ages recognize their worry and manage it so that it doesn’t manage them.
From naming your worry to running around the block to calm down to intentional breathing exercises (for girls and parents), Sissy gives the sisterhood practical approaches to parents as we help guide our daughters through the waters of worry.
For any woman and anyone who loves girls and wants to know more about how to care for them, this conversation with Sissy Goff isn't to be missed.
Our fall kitchen series is designed to help inspire and equip you to get dinner on the table. Meal time matters. Studies show that families who set aside time for family dinners reduce their children’s risk of destructive behaviors and foster belonging, safety, and confidence.
But let’s be honest. We also want our food to taste good when we gather around the table! Today Melissa D’Arabian joins us for Part 2 of this two part special series with tasty recipes and helpful ideas. Winner of Season 5 of The Food Network Star, Melissa is no stranger to the kitchen or to creating delicious meals for the masses and also for her family of six.
Whether you are cooking for a crowd, or cooking for a small few, this episode will underscore the value of the table in your life.
Abby and April, as they're known at The Open Door Sisterhood, know a thing or two about getting dinner on the table. Both working moms with lots of mouths at home to feed, they both love to cook and have a realistic approach to what actually works. From meal planning to trying new recipes, these two real-life sisters give us practical tips to everyday cooking.
These ladies are the chefs at The Open Door Sisterhood annual Mastermind Retreat. We have tasted their food (and experienced their low-stress approach in the kitchen) and can fully vouch for their expertise. Delicious, healthy, and simple food is what they focus on in their own homes and they bring that to their readers at their Everyday Table blog. Rightly named they are speaking to the man or woman who may not have experience or time to do something fancy, but still want to cook delicious food.
This is the first of a two-part series on getting dinner on the table. We know fall is the time families are getting back in their routines, and you sister, are trying to figure out what's for dinner. Listen to our friends talk about the simplicity of meal planning and how it can save you time, money, and stress. And who doesn't want that?!
We are celebrating our 200th episode on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast! To celebrate we thought it would be fun to answer questions from our listeners. So…. you asked and we answered.
In this episode you will hear about our childhoods, how we came to faith, what jobs we had before podcasting, and who influenced our lives growing up. You will also get a peek into what episodes impacted us personally of the last one hundred.
Sister, we want to express our deep gratitude for joining us every week and for becoming a part of our Sisterhood tribe. We are continually impacted by the people we encounter through this podcast, including YOU and our guests.
Thank you for taking that next step, for doing that hard thing, and for being a world changer for good right where you are! #powertothesisterhood
"You become what you behold" -William Blake
Ruth Chou Simons looks for God's beauty all around her. Whether out her back door in Durango, CO, or in the faces of her six sons, or the leaf of a plant in her living room, beholding what God creates reminds her that she is not in charge. It also helps shape her into a woman more aware of God's purposes.
In this conversation we talk to Ruth about her love of art, her very long "overnight success", how Instagram gave her a push toward making her art public, and how she chose to live where she does. A homeschooling mom, business owner, author, and artist, Ruth is very down to earth despite her Renaissance woman credentials. You will find a friend in her as you listen.
For the woman who wonders if her ordinary circumstances matter. For the one who wishes she was doing something fabulous. For the sister in need of a reminder that her one life is surrounded by beauty. Do not miss this Open Door Sisterhood conversation.
Why can’t all of our relationships be easy? And why is it that some are harder than others? This week’s episode explores difficult relationship patterns and the skills needed to have hard conversations.
Scott Vaudrey, retired ER physician, pastor, and executive coach, teaches us how to talk through a difficult conversation, and what work we need to do in our own heart beforehand.
The tools offered in this episode could dramatically change your important relationships.
Christina Meredith went from homeless foster youth to Ms. California to an active member of the U.S. Army. An unlikely path, yet when you hear this interview you will find Christina to be a likely heroine when it comes to overcoming. Her fortitude and clarity of thought are evident. From childhood abuse to foster care to homelessness, Christina found God in the middle of her most difficult circumstances and credits her healing to his power.
In this episode we hear some about Christina's childhood, how ROTC gave her the structure and discipline she needed as a teenager, how she advocates for foster youth today, and her suprising entry into the pageant world (it started in a Whole Foods!) From confusion as a child to feeling like an outsider as a young woman, Christina's resilience is remarkable and her reliance on God is inspiring.
Not your typical soldier, Christina defies "typical" in all areas. Fighting against statistics of where she "should" be, Christina believes God has her where she is on purpose. You won't want to miss this Sister Interview.
The Open Door Sisterhood's First Ever Book Club Episode!
Do you feel like your family is spinning out of control? Do you sometimes wish you were closer and more unified with those living under your same roof? Or maybe you're a parent who does a lot for your children, but you lack real connection & relationship.
You're not alone. Every parent struggles to live intentionally, and every family must learn that foundations are built moment by moment over a long period of time.
If you are ready to kick your fall off with greater purpose and deeper relationships, this episode (and bookclub) is for you! Beginning September 1st, we will be exploring what it practically looks like to reclaim your home, one action at a time.
BONUS: In today's episode Krista also gives her "top 5 tips" in various areas of Reclaiming Home. You won't want to miss it!
"If the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it."
Belinda Bauman believes we have capacity to hold each other's pain. She is a woman who has witnessed the consequences of war, has listened to horrific stories, and has wondered what she is to do with the grief she is holding as a result of bearing witness. A conversation that highlights Belinda's adventurous life path while taking us on the journey of what it means to practice empathy.
It was the story of one woman on the other side of the world that changed Belinda's perspective and gave her eyes to see empathy in a new way. In this conversation we hear about their friendship, about Belinda's mandate to tell her friend's story, and how that developed into One Million Thumbprints, an effort to raise awareness about violence against women in war torn countries.
Both practical and inspirational, you won't want to miss this beautiful message of incarnational love. From sister to sister, around the world and back, we can practice our empathy muscle by listening, changing our perspectives, and actively peacemaking in our world. No better way to be world changers for good right where we are.
Is there anything more powerful in our lives than relationships? They can bring us to the heights of happiness and also to the pit of despair. Some are simple, some are very complicated. Every one of us must navigate our way through these rough relationship waters our entire life journey.
John Townsend, a nationally recognized expert and voice in this arena, joins The Sisterhood to offer his expertise on how we can do relationships better. From creating a life team, to discerning if a person is trustworthy, to learning how to ask for what we need, Dr. Townsend offers solid navigation principles.
This interview hits hard on the practical - - you will walk away with helpful ideas you can implement immediately with the people right around you.
After deciding to follow Jesus, Vivian Mabuni believes the most important question in our lives is "Who is in control?" In this conversation we hear from the the themes of her new book Open Hands, Willing Heart. Vivian points us back to surrender, a process that isn't done just once in the Christian life, but over and over. We know you will find Vivian as warm and inspiring as we did. This episode is full of gems. From her new podcast idea to the value of learning from voices with diverse cultural, ethnic, and life experiences. She shares about assumptions she's made about people and times she's doubted that God would provide. A fellow journeyer, Vivian speaks truth grounded in her own struggles. Sisters you won't want to miss this episode. We felt like we made a new friend (and we actually did!) Vivian's desire to live with open hands and a willing heart to serve God however and wherever he calls is just what the sisterhood is about. As you prepare to walk through the door God has opened in front of you, grab your earbuds and listen.
Generation Z is the first group in history to grow up in post-Christian America. They are also considered the first “digital natives.” This influences culture, and culture influences our children. As parents it is vital that we learn how to communicate and walk alongside in a way that equips and empowers.
Eight years ago Vicki Courtney released two wildly successful books that handed parents five conversations they needed to have with their son or daughter. What Vicki didn’t know is how quickly culture would evolve. She was recently asked to revise the books and proceeded to add sixty percent new material. She shares with the sisterhood what she learned about our children’s generation.
Whether your child is five or fifteen, you will greatly benefit from the wisdom discussed in this episode. A must listen for every parent!
When Shelley Brouwer's third child Hallie was born, she had no idea how her life and understanding of it would be turned toward heaven. Born with special needs, Hallie's optimism and welcoming spirit impacted everyone she met. In this episode we hear about Hallie's life and Shelley's process of living with her and now living without her.
A raw conversation about what it means to live an unconventional life marked by special needs. How Shelley's identity changed with Hallie and then again as Shelley came to faith. We hear about Shelley's home staging business that started accidentally with a friend and has grown beyond expectations to now stage over 85 homes a month.
For the mom of the special needs child. For the mom who has lost a child. For the woman who is wondering if the Christian faith has anything to offer her. For the friend of anyone in these places in life. This episode will keep you thinking for weeks after as together we explore the value of one life and its impact on the world.
Whether we like it or not, life is a series of changes. How we navigate those changes is vital to our future as well as our health and well being. Studies show, however, that most of us resist change and do everything we can to avoid it.
Kristen Strong is no stranger to change. When she married an Air Force pilot, this set her on a course of moving every few years and living a life completely opposite from that of her predictable childhood. Kristen had to learn to adapt to new surroundings, value the growth that accompanies change, and most of all, to rely on her faith to sustain her during the hardest times.
If you find yourself in the midst of any change - from the change in a relationship, to a change in health, a physical move, job change, or any other circumstance that has turned your world upside down, this episode will offer encouragement for the journey.
Cara Meredith joins The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast in a candid conversation about race, marriage, and parenting. Cara recounts her eharmony romance with her now husband James, son of the civil rights leader by the same name, James Meredith. Their courtship opened her eyes to the privileges she unknowingly had as a white girl growing up in the United States. She recognized blind spots she hadn't considered as she viewed the world through her husband's experiences.
In this episode we talk about marriage, families of origin, expectations, talking to kids about race, and selective history. We cover mistakes made, intentions, trying again, and imperfect attempts at learning. A conversation for us all as we "give up on saving face" as Cara says, and move toward honesty and what is true.
Pick up a copy of Cara's book The Color of Life and in the meantime push play to hear how listening and learning are helping Cara understand God's creation with a more complete picture.
Many of us struggle to make time for fun. With so many practical needs shouting for our attention, we forget to value it and honor it like we do with other important habits.
Mandy Arioto, president and CEO of MOPS International, joins us to share how she weaves creative fun into her friendships, marriage, family, and world.
We talk about how friendships flourish when a person stops trying to be cool and instead goes over the top, why Mandy put on her wedding dress at the beach for her ten year anniversary, and how the absurd actually cements memories for a lifetime.
You will be inspired to welcome spice back into your days and kick boredom out the door!
New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup didn't set out to found a large company when she started her blog Living Well, Spending Less, but as she shared her journey toward financial peace with her readers, she realized how much her experiences and practical tips were resonating with readers. Now she reaches more than 1 million women per month encouraging them to create a life they love. "Do it scared" has been a mantra in her own business and when she found her readers quoting it back to her, she knew it was a topic worth exploring.
In this episode of the podcast we hear Ruth's business story and talk through her new book Do It Scared. Ruth's research uncovered 7 archetypes of fear, different ways we limit our actions because of fear. Ruth tells us about each type, its upside, and its limiting belief. From perfectionism to fear of rejection, we all have at least one fear archetype we lean toward. Find out what yours might be.
A quintessential Open Door Sisterhood conversation that pushes us all to take that next step, do that hard thing, to be world changers for good right where we are.
When Mary was growing up on a mountaintop in a small logging town in West Virginia, she never dreamed that she would one day become a Yale Law graduate turned wedding photographer sensation. Yet, that is exactly what happened. You will be captivated by Mary's compelling story, and at the same time learn about the art and heart of photography in today's episode.
We cover practical tips and tricks as well as the art of storytelling through the lens. If you are a simple iPhone photographer, or one who makes a living behind the camera, you will love learning from the best of the best in the industry.
In an Open Door Sisterhood Podcast first, we are doing a joint episode with the Surviving Sarah podcast! That means you can listen to half of the conversation here on our podcast and head over to Episode 180 of the Surviving Sarah podcast to listen to the second half of our discussion about...you guessed it, Surviving Summer!
We are choosing to do this shared episode with our great friend Sarah Bragg because we want you to get to know her. And bonus, we brought on two more of our shared friends, Kate Merrick and Morgan Tyree, as the experts in how to be intentional about being with our people and using time well in the summer months. In this episode we talk about being present. What does that mean? How are we distracted? And what are we distracted from? Over on Surviving Sarah we talk through the time management aspect of summer so that WE CAN be present with those we love best.
This is also an Open Door Sisterhood Podcast first because we feature five, yes five! voices. Consider it your sisterhood round table on intentional approaches to making the most of your summer (especially if you're a mom!) From social media to busyness, we all need to see the forest from the trees and lay out what is most important to us in the summer months.
Head over to Surviving Sarah Episode 180 to hear the other half of our conversation.
Have you ever considered the impact your life could have on others for eternity? Have you ever thought about gathering a group of women, or a group of teenagers together to dive into scripture? If you've ever wondered what kind of difference you could make in the world, this episode is for you.
Today we are bringing you a two part episode highlighting Christian mentoring and discipleship. We begin with Brenda Jacobson, founder of the MomAid online community and author of Something to Stand On discussing mentoring. We end with Kandi Gallaty, author of the book Disciple Me, and co-founder of Replicate Ministries. Kandi offers important insights about discipleship.
Come learn with us!
Alia Joy didn't know she had Bipolar Disorder until she was an adult. Married, living life as a homeschooling mom, she'd always thought her manic phase was who she was and she got down sometimes with depression. In this final episode of our Mental Health Series, Alia shares what it's like to live with mental illness. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be in depression, to have suicidal ideation, or to try to manage regular responsibilities and relationships while living with mental illness, this conversation offers an enlightening perspective.
Alia describes sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot scratching the label off of her first prescription of anti-depressants from shame of the original depression diagnosis. Contrast that to now years later, writing and speaking openly about life with mental illness. Her honesty paired with her ability to articulate her experiences is a priceless combination for those of us wanting to know we are not alone or who want to better understand the experiences of someone we love.
In true Open Door Sisterhood fashion, this episode (and entire series) is part practical and part inspirational. We don't want mental health to have a stigma that keeps us from talking about it. It's too important not to dive in, learn, and discuss this life-impacting issue. As Alia says, God is with us whether we feel it or not in this dark place. We don't need to be afraid.
One of the troubling aspects of suicide is that not all people display obvious signs that they are at risk. There are some behaviors we can watch for, however, and some measures we can take to help curb the alarming growing statistics of suicidal deaths.
Joannie DeBrito, the Director of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family, and co-creator of Alive to Thrive: a curriculum about suicide prevention, joins us to talk through all aspects of this troubling topic.
This is a hard conversation to have, sisters. We know. Yet, as the church, we have a responsibility to be equipped and informed surrounding the topic of suicide so that we can help bring light and hope to hurting people, some of whom are living in our same circles or even homes.
Do you know the signs? Do you know what to do or say if you suspect someone is suicidal? Do you know what resources are out there? What help is there for someone who is contemplating suicide? Join us and let's all learn together.
This information could save a life.
In our first ever podcast series on mental health, we sought out a series of voices that represent both the clinical and personal understanding of how mental illness can impact us all. Whether you are concerned about your own mental health, or that of someone you love, we think you'll find hope and next steps in this three part series. Our first guest is Kay Warren who talks about her own struggle with depression and losing her son Matthew to suicide. This interview covers both Kay's personal story and the practical knowledge she now has around how to care for ourselves when we are in a depressive state, signs a child or teenager might be struggling, and how to reach out for help.
Kay shares when she suspected her "feelings" might be depression, when she suspected her son might be dealing with more than a sad phase, the loneliness she felt as his mental illness became more complex and acute, and the opportunities she thinks the church has in caring for people suffering from mental illness. Kay shares openly because she wants to remove the stigma of mental illness, especially within Christian circles. She is using her own pain as a catalyst to help others in theirs.
As a founder (with her husband Rick Warren) of Saddleback Church, Kay is a prominent voice in Christian circles. She is now using her voice to educate church leaders on mental illness and resource them so they can better support and serve their congregants who are struggling. You will find this episode to be both inspirational and practical, knowing you can find help as you work toward mental health and support others to do the same.
Marriage is often one part Hallmark channel to three parts messy, especially if you've been married for a while. The goal is to grow in grace, grow in love, and grow in depth as the years pass, but in order for this to happen, we need to learn how to pivot.
Dave and Ann Wilson, cofounders of Kensington Church and Family Life Weekend to Rememberspeakers, share with raw honesty about their rocky beginning and their journey toward growth and wholeness in their marriage.
As an NFL chaplain for the Detroit Lions, Dave understands that successful marriages have nothing to do with money or power, but rather humble servitude, kind words, and lots of cheerleading.
Jordan Lee Dooley didn't set out to be a voice of authenticity online, but rather fell into it when she started, of all things, an Etsy shop while she was in college! In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast we hear how the product packing parties with her college friends turned into late night conversations that then became honest and inspirational Instagram posts. Today she is encouraging young women as they manage the transitions from college into adulthood.
In this conversation we hear how she met her husband (kind of on Instagram until he knocked on her front door), how being rooted in faith gives us confidence to listen and learn from all kinds of friends, and how her faith moved from knowledge to personal during her college years. We talk through the pressures that opportunities can offer and how to avoid the trap (and stress) of looking for that single calling in your life.
Jordan is FULL of energy and this conversation reflects it. A full force ahead personality she depends on those around her to help her filter through ideas and plans. You'll love hearing about her community is growing and why she feels passionately about helping women through life transitions.
Hooray, it's spring! And you and I both know what that means: spring cleaning. Or in our case today, organizing.
Tracy McCubbin, owner of LA's #1 organizational company, guides us through the process of de-cluttering. But isn't just about throwing stuff out, she's also in the business of putting good in.
We discuss why people hold on to things they don't need, what happens in our brains and bodies when there is an overload, and why we must schedule in time to de-clutter.
Use this seasonal trend to your advantage and join us in decluttering our lives.
Author Emily Freeman was paralyzed by a decision. Not because the consequences were dire, but because both options were relatively good. The weight she carried around from her unmade decision made her examine the process. This is where The Next Right Thing podcast, and now book, were birthed. A decision making framework that focuses less on the decision itself, and more on how it is made.
When making a decision most of us lead with our head, heart, or intuition. Each of these approaches presents unique strengths and challenges in the decision making process. Most of us deal with input clutter, but don't have a regular source of output. Silence, solitude, and stillness can offer intentional output if we remember God's presence with us in them.
No wonder Emily's podcast and new book are so popular! We all suffer from some level of decision fatigue. You will be affirmed and reminded that every large decision is made up of many small ones. When overwhelmed with the task in front of us, sometimes the best thing is to zero in on the next right thing and do that.
We often hear the term "love your neighbor" but what does that really mean? Who is our neighbor anyway? And why is it important to love them? In an increasingly divided world, where people are often stretched to a place of little margin, this can feel overwhelming and impossible.
Today on the podcast, our own Alexandra Kuykendall joins us to talk about why the lost art of neighboring deeply matters. In fact, it may be more important than it has ever been. We discuss practicals like leaning into the awkward, how to lighten up, and why praying for hard people works.
Leading by example, Alex helps us understand how genuine, compassionate, and loving relationships with those right around us not only builds a better community, but a better life.
Amy Julia Becker's assumptions about many things changed when she had a child born with Down syndrome. Suddenly she saw the world through a new lens and better understood how her own experiences were shaped by privilege. Amy Julia began to study theology and disability in order to broaden her understanding of the world, what it means to reflect God's image and how people's different gifts are valuable.
Entering the world of disability led Amy Julia to examine how she was parenting and the assumptions she was making about people outside of her immediate circles. She realized her own "normal" didn't reflect the richness of God's world and she set out to make some changes. As a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, married to the headmaster of a boarding school, Amy Julia is uniquely positioned to examine what it means to live a life of privilege, specifcally as a married, white woman.
A conversation based on Amy Julia's journey, this episode opens up questions for all of us. How are we listening to different voices with different experiences? How much do we know about our country or local community's history? How do we develop relationships with people different than us? A podcast that gets us all thinking about how to use our head, hands, and heart for God's purposes.
When we are going through hard times, we wonder if we will ever recover or be happy again. Our very breath is knocked out of us and we struggle to find the meaning in what we are going through and how it can be used for our good.
Kim Walker Smith, founder of the Jesus Culture band and movement, is no stranger to pain. The abuse she endured as a child left her broken, with a fractured sense of self. After a failed suicide attempt, Kim found herself opening up to God for the first time in her life. Where God took her from that shattered moment to now is nothing short of a miracle.
Kim's journey to wholeness inspires all of us to allow God in to re-write the story of our pain for good, in our lives, and in the lives of others.
Cari Jenkins is a pastor to people who don't have one. What does that mean? It means spending time with people, asking lots of questions, listening for God’s voice, and allowing her imagination to be used by God. In this beautiful conversation about growing in faith, Cari gives sisters freedom to look for God in the world by finding things that reflect his character.
With 20 years of local church experience, Cari uses her gifts and experience to make the Kingdom of God tangible. We talk about feelings and actions, looking for Jesus in places that feel untraditional or unconventional, how God brought her to the type of pastoring she does today, and how we recognize God's voice when we know his character.
We hear about the unique community Cari lives in where she loves to host, redecorate daily, play often and create beauty. She aims annually to host over 500 people for meals in various forms and to encourage true hospitality in others. Cari says you are always welcome at her table and this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast feels like a dinner conversation you can take with you. Don't miss our friend Cari.
No matter what age our children are, we never stop being a parent. Yet, when they reach adulthood, our relationships change. We must learn to be healthy in this new, somewhat complicated place of adult to adult. If we don't make that transition, our children will suffer and so will we.
Dr. Jim Burns, president of Homeword, joins us to offer his insight into not only how we begin early to prepare for this stage, but also how to navigate difficult conversations, what to do if our kids move back home, and what to do if we don't approve of who they are choosing to date and/or marry.
Turn out, helping our children launch into adulthood is just as much about us as it is about them.
Shannan Martin says she found her voice in the country and her story in the city. A mom of four, married to a jail chaplain, Shannan spends her days among her neighbors, finding God's purposes right where she is. An inspiration to all of us to look right around us and see who needs care, this interview is a don't miss for the sisterhood.
We talk with Shannan about the adoption of her children, especially her oldest son Robert, how Twitter has changed her life, her award winning salsa, and how being with her neighbors keeps her grounded. A woman who not only looks for evidence of God right where she is but also opens her heart and mind to learn about what is right and true. Shannan inspires us to be willing to change our ideas and our understanding of how the world works.
We are certain you will feel a kinship with Shannan. She is honest about what it means to re-evaluate your framework and to be humble in the process. An episode for any woman who is willing to face her neighbors, see their realities, and stand with them in the process.
Do you find yourself putting aside your dreams for another time or season in life? Do you wonder what would happen if you actually pursued your passion instead of letting it fall to the wayside? You aren't alone.
Today on the podcast we are talking to Rachel Marie Martin, single mother of seven, who rose from poverty to the pages of Inc. magazine. She challenges us to discover who we are, how we are uniquely made, and how we can pursue the dream God has placed in our heart.
It’s our third annual Things We Loveepisode on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.In honor of Valentine’s Day, Alex and Krista want to give you some of their favorite things these days. From beauty products to books, to wardrobe staples and podcasts, you’ll see what’s in their shopping carts and social media feeds.
This is a light-hearted episode that falls heavy on the practical end. But what do we truly love that we don’t explicitly say on the show? YOU! We are grateful for God’s provision to bring this community together and that you are interested in the part practical, part inspirational approach of the sisterhood. Let’s continue the good work of encouraging each other in all areas of life so that we may walk through the doors God is opening.
If you liked this episode, but missed our past "Things We Love" episodes, head over to Episode #118 or Episode #45 to hear more things we love to have around.
What are your favorites these days? Don’t keep them to yourself, share in the comments below.
Lisa Leonard’s name has become synonymous with her jewelry design company, Lisa Leonard Designs. Started out of the spare hours of her day caring for her son with special needs, Lisa’s hand stamped jewelry business combined with her blog has grown to a multi-million dollar company with more than 300 employees in five countries. A woman who has walked through many doors God has opened, she has a story worth telling.
Despite her business success, Lisa felt paralyzed by her responsibilities and asked her husband Steve for a separation. Through counseling she realized she was taking on other people’s feelings and didn’t know how to ask for what she wanted. In this interview we talk through how she and Steve continue to work on their relationship, how Lisa actively practices saying what she needs, and her imginary file box that helps her from taking on others’ feelings.
We talk through her creative process, how she carves out silence to make mental space for new ideas, what a typical day looks like and how she learned she owns two forklifts. You won’t want to miss this honest and insightful conversation with jewelry designer Lisa Leonard. An episode for any woman who has wondered am I too afraid to say what I really want?
Friendship. It is a word that brings joy to your heart or sadness to your soul. Or maybe both at the same time. To have a true, safe friend who is on your side and in your corner is what we all long for and desire, but she can be hard to find.
Sally Clarkson, author of Girls Club, joins us for the final topic on The Healthy Wayseries: Friendship. We talk about why friendships can be difficult, especially among Christian communities, how we can be a healthier friend to others, and how we can help our children cultivate strong bonds and friendships, with us and others.
We believe in having a tribe of sisters here at The Sisterhood. If you do too, you'll love this episode.
As a medical physician Saundra Dalton-Smith knows about healthy living. So when she hit burnout, she knew something had to change. She began to look at what both science and Scripture say about being whole and discovered seven different types of rest are required for a sustainable life. In this portion of The Healthy Way series, we hear from Dr. Dalton=Smith about these different types of rest, why we need them, and how to get them.
Saundra’s research found we need spiritual, physical, emotional, creative, relational, sensory, and mental rest in order to live out the full life God describes in John 10:10. In a world with constant demands and distractions, we must know how best to rest in a way that will restore where we are depleted. This means examining where we give out and how to best renew that area of our lives. Part practical, part inspirational, every woman will be able to relate to the need for restoration in at least one area of her life.
For the woman whose mind races when she lies down at night, the one who feels like she is constantly pouring out in relationships and never receiving anything in return, or the one who has run out of new, creative ideas, this episode offers practical approaches to many common frustrations. A holistic approach Dr. Dalton-Smith wants us to thrive and her words direct us toward the how.
Is parenting in this day and age difficult? Well, let's start with the statistic that, currently, in the U.S. we have the highest numbers of anxiety in kids than any other time in history. Anxiety and depression are at a peak point. According to the CDC, the suicide rate is triple what it was in 2000. Substance abuse? Loneliness? All on the rise. It is safe to say that parenting this generation of kids has some unique challenges that make it more important than ever for parents to be learning, growing, and paying attention.
The sisterhood is deeply grateful for the work that David Thomas does at Day Star Counseling in Nashville, Tennessee as the Director of Family Counseling, And today he brings all of that wealth of experience and wisdom to the show for the benefit of all parents who are in the trenches of raising the next generation.
David offers help and practical solutions for parents on how we can help reduce our children's anxiety, how we can help open lines of communication as a family, and what it means for behavior to "travel down the leash." He also gives his professional opinion on the two actions that hurt our children most, and the two that most demonstrate love and health.
If you are a parent, this episode is an absolute must.
In the second part of The Healthy Way series we bring you New York Times bestselling author Karen Ehman to talk about getting healthy in marriage. Karen speaks from decades of experience as a married person. Her themes center around pushing ahead in the mundane and "showing up" even when annoyances are heavy. A realistic look at the everyday details of married life, we talk through the larger purpose of marriage and why we need to be paying attention to this relationship in the first place.
In true Open Door Sisterhood fashion, this interview tackles both the inspirational and practical pursuits. We hear how Karen tackled differences in parenting, disagreeing in front of their children, distinguishing between "different" and "wrong", and letting the small things go. From boredom to attraction Karen's straight talk helps us all know we are not alone in the mundane of marriage and she encourages us to not give in to mediocre, but to push forward for a marriage that is refining and refreshing to the world.
If you are a woman who is married or would like to be married someday, we encourage you to listen in on this conversation. Loving our spouse well may only be 10% sexy, the rest is showing up for the work, but the reward is 100% worth it. This episode is a great reminder of both the why and how to make our relationship a priority even when, especially when, we see the ordinary days stretch ahead.
Food and fitness can be tricky. We often find ourselves on either end of the extreme spectrum: too strict and obsessed, or undisciplined and out of control. The relationship we develop with our bodies matter, and it's important we give this aspect of health the time and attention it needs to be well.
To kick off our annual Healthy Way Series in 2019, Michelle Myers joins us to discuss how we can develop a healthy relationship with food by staying out of food jail, what it means to give morality to food, and how we can clean up our diet while still enjoying birthday cake on our child's birthday with no guilt.
We also dive into do-able fitness ideas that you can incorporate today into your busy lifestyle. Our bodies want to move, and we look at some creative ways to do just that.
As we stare down a New Year, most of us look to these two topics first, so let's tackle them together, and land in the healthiest place: the one called FREEDOM.
If you aren't quite ready for Christmas yet, this podcast is for you. In this episode we offer last minute holiday hacks that will help you get ready for the big day. Or maybe you just need some fresh inspiration - this will help with that too!
Need appetizer or dessert ideas? They're in here. In a gift panic? We offer an idea that won't require frantic running around the mall. Struggling to "create Christmas?" Learn why it's best to draw on the five senses for holiday memories, and how we can think through that a little better.
This practical episode will move you toward the goal of the holidays: to get centered & organized so that we can enter in to Christmas with the joy, peace, and love that Christ came to the world to give.
We know you are looking for meaningful gifts this time of year and so we want to introduce you to some sisters who will not only help you find beautiful, handcrafted items, they will also allow you to be a world changer for good right where you are. This episode features two women who are using retail as a way to employ others and then giving us the chance to partner with them by creating a market for these items that we can participate in.
Bethany Tran is the founder of The Root Collective, a custom shoe company with shoes made in Guatemala. Her travels five years ago led her to the slums in Guatemala City. Bethany knew people there needed jobs and wished someone would do something about creating them. She realized her passion for this issue was part of God's prompting to use her connections and talent to create a marketplace in the U.S. for Guatemalan made shoes.
Sabrina Dorman-Andrew was working fulltime and parenting her two three-year old daughters when her husband heard a woman at their church speak about sex trafficking in Uganda. Sabrina's efforts to sell Ugandan-made beads to support women leaving the sex trade opened her eyes to the world of trafficking. She now has two storefronts and an online store that carry fair trade products and products made by women at risk of being trafficked. From buying her first building (a story you shouldn't miss) to her new connections in Maldova, Sabrina continues to be surprised at God's provision and faithful leading.
If you want a little inspiration this holiday season, this is the episode for you. And if you want some tips on where to shop you came to the right place too.
In our efforts to make this holiday season more meaningful, we want less stuff, more memories. We think there's a good chance you do too! In the second part of our two-part Christmas series, Less Stuff, More Memories, we asked some of our friends to share their stories and tips on making more memories. Our guests share stories about what it means to create meaningful memories and sustainable traditions with their families. From serving others, to realistic holiday parties, to Christ-centered moments, this episode is a group round-up of stories and tips. Part practical and part inspirational in true Open Door Sisterhood Christmas style.
Alex and Krista also cover some of the tensions of Christmas and ensuring the memories we're making are positive ones. They also talk about how books can help make holiday memories, what a desire to serve together as a family during the holiday season could be prompting your family for the long term, and how gifts can help make memories. Everything conveyed in this episode is intended to offer you freedom sister. Freedom to not do more right now, in a memory making frenzy. Freedom to enjoy simple, slow tools that extend memories past now and into the new year. Freedom from pressure to do things perfectly as you focus in on the people right in front of you.
If you like this topic, we recommend you head over to Episodes 31 through 33 of the podcast for some of our best takes on Less Stuff, More Memories. Power to Christmas sisters when done sisterhood style.
No matter how hard we try, most of us struggle to make the Christmas season what we hope it will be. If you are like us, you may be resolving to make it better than last year. To do this, we must re-center on what makes Christmas fun and meaningful? That is why we are doing our signature series called Less Stuff, More Memories.
In this two-part conversation, we have rounded up some experts to share with you their best tips in two categories: less stuff & more memories.This first part airing today is all about how we can reduce the clutter surrounding the holidays, covering topics such as organization, budgeting, decorating, generosity, and gift giving.
Today’s experts will give you ideas and tools on reducing the “stuff” of Christmas. The goal here is LESS STRESS, and who doesn’t need more of that?
If you are reaching for a healthier and happier Christmas this year, you've come to the right place.
Anne Bogel is a woman who lives the literary life. In fact she hosts the popular podcast What Should I Read Next? where guests talk through books they've loved and Anne makes recommendations on, you guessed it, what they should read next. Her equally popular website, Modern Mrs. Darcy, echoes her literary tendencies, while giving readers a taste of the practical along with the books.
In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, Anne catches us up on her new book, how she came into blogging, and of course some reading recommendations. We learn how to pronounce her hometown of Louisville, KY, how to fit reading into a busy life, and how one idea to led to another and another to give her blogs, books and a podcast for readers. A gracious, entertaining, and lovely new friend, you'd expect nothing else from the woman so many turn to as their personal book club consultant.
If you are a bibliophile, look no further, Anne is a kindred spirit (all of you Anne of Green Gables fans caught that didn't you?) If you find learning imperative, this is your friend. If you simply want to know what someone who reads books a week considers her favorites, listen in too. You may just find your next request for your own Christmas list or library hold.
We know Christ came to speak life, but then how come our inner critic keeps showing up and stealing the mic? If we’re honest, she’s a harsh one, saying things we’d never dream of saying to others: You’ll never measure up, you’ll fail again tomorrow, you just can’t get it right.
Our guest Hayley Morgan joins the sisterhood to teach us how to talk back to ourselves in ways that promote truth, grace, and love. We can learn to turn down the volume on the negative loops we run through our brains, and train ourselves to believe better, and therefore think better.
If you've ever struggled to quiet the inner voice of negativity and doubt, this interview will be an encouragement and source of hope!
Candace Cameron Bure has been in the spotlight since she was a girl, but no one could be more down to earth than this mom of three. From her early days on Full House to her spot as a host on The View, fans have been following Candace through every phase of her life. In recent years she has been a voice promoting kindness and civility in all situations. After speaking with her we can see why. Everything about this woman is simultaneously thoughtful and bold. A true sister to watch and learn from.
In our hour with Candace we hear why parenting teenagers has been her favorite, how she fits fitness into a very busy schedule (it involves an electric toothbrush), deciding when to say "yes" to hard things, and the power of going first in kindness. We hear how she met her husband (and how he learned English in part by watching Full House reruns), about her new children's book, and when making a way into new territory often is simple obedience to God's call.
We recorded our conversation with Candace while she was in Canada taping a Christmas special for the Hallmark Channel. In the midst of long taping days, she made time for the sisterhood. We get the sense that's how she operates. Get your favorite cozy drink, put the Hallmark Channel on pause, and settle in for a great episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. You will feel you have a new friend in Candace Cameron Bure.
When we hear the phrase "world changer" we often think of someone doing something big and crazy to make a difference in the world. While those words definitely include those kinds of influencers, "world changer' can also be the everyday person faithfully showing up in small ways for those around her.
Welcome to the Sisterhood's 2nd Annual World Changer Quest. In the fall we go looking for every day difference makers . You nominate them. We choose them. Today we are featuring three of these women on the podcast. This year our focus was on people who are making small investments of their time for big impact on their worlds.
The first world changer is Sarah Quezada. Sarah is passionate about bringing people to the table surrounding the topic of immigration. We talk about what opened her eyes to this issue, how we can foster difficult conversations, whether we find ourselves in agreement or not, and how we can treat all people with dignity, no matter their situation.
The second world changer is Krisi Sonneland. An everyday mom of five, Krisi spends much of her time investing in Fellowship of Christian Athletes at her son's middle school, and volunteering with the high school youth group at her church. We were both inspired and touched by Krisi's heart for today's youth, and found her words to be full of truth and love.
The third world changer is Grace Patterson. Grace uses her work in an underserved elementary school to bring hope to children and glory to God. At the young age of 25, Grace is committed to using her position to practically help children, and give them places to be equipped and encouraged.
You will be inspired by these three women who have one thing in common: they've decided to change their worlds for good. And the good news? You can too.
Renee Swope doesn't want to let women's self-doubts have the final word. Rather she wants the world to experience all women have to offer when they hear God's call and step into what he has for them. Popular writer and speaker, Renee shares her own struggles with self-doubt and some practical tools she has to fight them as unwelcome thoughts and feelings creep in to her head and heart.
In this conversation we hear about Renee's 20-year tenure on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries. A journey that started with her volunteering when Proverbs 31 was simply a newsletter for stay-at-home moms, to growing with the organization. From overseeing the speaking team to the radio programming, Renee loved the opportunity to try new things and make existing elements better. It was her need for friendship that brought her to Proverbs 31 and in the process she learned about her own wiring, what she needs to live a healthy life, and how even at the height of all that fun where and how self-doubt played in.
If you find yourself comparing a part of your life to others', if you wonder if you're the right person for the job, if you think you don't have what it takes, self-doubt might be your battleground. Join us for this honest conversation as we examine the common struggle for all of us: believing what God says about us is actually true.
Essential oils have been around since the beginning of time, but they have not come center stage until recent years. The craze has begun. Popular in creating a spa-like atmosphere, essential oils are used for aromatherapy. However, they don't just smell good, they also boast medicinal affects that many say help heal the body.
Edie Wadsworth, a physician, was once skeptical about these oils and doubted they could make much of a difference. But after experiencing the powerful affects of the oils personally, she went to work full time helping people get well using essential oils (and other healthy habits).
In this episode we talk about why essential oils work, where to start, what oils are the most effective, and how to begin incorporating them into daily life. If you've ever wondered what all the fuss is about, or if you just want to have a deeper understanding of essential oil use, this episode is for you!
Her name is Myquillyn, but she is known to many online as "The Nester". She helps us create cozy spaces in our homes, often with items we already own, can find outside, or can salvage on the cheap. For those of us challenged in creating spaces that speak, she gives us tips, and for those who are already in a constant state of furniture rearranging, she encourages us to keep feathering the nest. Her new book Cozy Minimalist Home tells us the why and how of creating an inviting space without all of the stuff.
In this interview we hear how Myquillyn now waits for the "right" item when decorating a room before running out and buying the cheapest she can find, how she works with what she has while in the waiting, and how she pairs back rather than adds more to create a cozy space. We learn some design tips that are hidden in her new book from choosing the right sofa to sizing an area rug to a room, the practical in us can't stop. If you want to know why you should buy a houseplant or a larger throw pillow, this is the conversation for you.
Just in time for fall and cozy weather, get your cozy minimalist self going with this fun, inspiring, and practical episode with The Nester. You'll hear one of our favorite family traditions ever, one you could start with your family in preparation for Christmas. In the meantime, take ten items out of a room and see how it feels.
Do you struggle with knowing what is your best yes? Do you have a vision for where you want your life to go? Successful businesses know what they value, know where they are headed, and can articulate it clearly. We can do the same as individuals.
On the podcast Mary Tomlinson, former Disney Executive and President of On-Purpose Partners, coaches us on how to create our own two-word purpose statement that will give us direction and clarity for our lives. The first part of the interview features Mary's coaching. The second part is a "workshop" where Alex and Krista talk about how they landed on their personal purpose statements.
You may be surprised by how much this simple phrase will help you as you navigate life!
"They loved me back to life."
Sarah Thebarge knew what it was to feel alone. So when she met a Somali woman and her five daughters on a commuter train in Portland, OR she found an unexpected kindred sister. The story of their emerging friendship and Sarah's battle with breast cancer draws parallels between different circumstances with a common thread. In our interview with Sarah we hear how this everyday encounter changed everything about Sarah's story.
Now a physician's assistant in San Francisco, Sarah's story takes her through graduate school, across the country, and then across the world to practice medicine in what was deemed "the unhappiest country in the world". The limitations practicing medicine in the developing world made Sarah more comfortable with the dying. Her own journey with breast cancer has helped her understand suffering.
From ordinary connections with our neighbors to how to impact a child's life in the developing world, we are inspired to look beyond our comfort and convenience to live the God-intended life. You will be changed by hearing Sarah's story and we are grateful to have her with the sisterhood. A beautiful conversation about what entering others' grief looks like and how it makes us truly alive.
Many of us confuse hospitality and entertaining. We think that practicing hospitality equals a picture perfect table and gourmet food, and we end up feeling insecure and inadequate when our reality doesn't match the magazine spreads. But what if true welcome was more about servanthood than performance?
In today's interview, Jen Schmidt joins The Sisterhood to point us to the truth that authentic hospitality is about loving others well and simply opening up our doors for the purpose of making others feel special. In an often cold and detached culture, we can be a part of helping others feel that they belong somewhere. This can even happen on the go.
If you want to live a life of welcome, this interview will help inspire you to do so!
Patrice Gopo's story takes her around the world and back. From Jamaica to the U.S. to South Africa with some Zimbabwe, Spain, and more thrown in, her ciruitous route is not just evidenced in her passport, but in her career path as well. We don't want to give it away, but there is some romance, some friendship, some career changes, and some self discovery. We talk through what it means to accept the nuance of someone's story and Patrice offers her own as an example.
A mom of two girls now, she fits her writing into the pockets of her everyday life. An engineer by training and then a businesswoman with a heart for justice, all of the colors in Patrice's life make up who she is. From writing in real life time chunks to growing up in Alaska, Patrice is an instant, trusted friend. You won't want to miss out on this rich conversation about race, friendship, and acceptance.
Patrice's experiences shaped her new book of essays, All The Colors We Will See. Head to bookstores to find her debut book (Barnes and Noble has selected her as a new writer to read!), but first head to the podcast to get a taste of what you'll find. You will be encouraged to make a way through nuance in relationships and life.
Books, especially those that are well written and crafted, have power. If we allow, they can shape our thinking, mold how we see the world, and impact how we interact with others. When we read about true heroes, we learn how to become one. When we watch a character weather challenges, we find out what qualities are needed for to overcome. When we step into another's shoes, we gain compassion we did not have previously. In short, reading has the potential to literally change our lives.
Sarah Clarkson, author of Book Girl, joins us to share how books have influenced the trajectory of her life, and how they invite beauty, strength, and belonging. The intelligence, insight, and depth Sarah brings to the discussion is, in itself, beautiful.
If you have been one of those who has never been a reader, or who simply isn't taking the time in life to read, this will inspire you to dive in to good literature to equip you for life, and feed your heart and soul.
"On the other side of our fear is our purpose."
Founder of the socially conscious fashion brand Noonday Collection, Jessica Honegger is a world changer by anyone's standards. Though she has a built a business from scratch, she doesn't always feel brave. Quite the opposite, she feels scared. But she does whatever is set in front of her anyway. This is where Imperfect Courage comes in. Jessica is on a charge to remind women that courage involves doing it scared.
In this unforgettable interview we hear how Jessica's parents shaped her, why she walked away from debutante life, her motivation for starting Noonday Collection, and how she recently got featured in Forbes. Jessica's energy inescapable. Her honesty is refreshing. And her challenge to all of us to do the thing in front of us scared is inspiring. Jessica has the stories in her own journey to back the charge to cheer each other on while not allowing fear to have the last word.
If you want more of the values of the sisterhood - rooting for other women, taking that next step, doing that hard thing, being world changers for good right where we are, you will not be disappointed with this interview. It could not epitomize The Open Door Sisterhood more! .
It's time to hit the books. If you are sending kids back to school, (or are the student in your house), the change from summer-mode to school-mode can be drastic. Podcast hosts Alex and Krista help us think through routines that will help families make that adjustment. Both moms of four kids, they cover everything from school lunches to their own grief at another summer done.
In true Open Door Sisterhood fashion this conversation is part practical, part inspirational as Krista and Alex speak to the why and how of getting families ready for the school year. You'll hear Krista's five things she does every morning and why Alex has a hair appointment this week (hint: it has to do with having something to look forward to after first day drop off). How do we manage the new level of crazy that comes with fall? This episode will give you some insight into how our hosts tackle the new year.
Sister, don't be afraid to make this school year about you too. This is a fresh start to focus on some areas of life that you want to tackle with fresh oomph. Take that next step, do that hard thing, so you can be a world changer for good right where you are. Whether that is in the carpool rotation or the office cubicle, this can be a great "year" to do something new or re-focus on an old passion. Made with you in mind, you won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind Back to School episode.
Most of us are all too familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Whether it is due to our own decision making, challenging news, unexpected events, financial strain or emotional weight, this is a topic we intimately understand. The problem with this state of mind is it takes us out of the game. We succumb to the stress and stop living a life of joy, abundance, and fruitfulness.
We are not the only ones who feel this way. My guest, Kay Wyma, talks about how overwhelm also negatively impacts and damages our youth. There is a solution. All of us, adults and children alike, can stand up under the pressure, and lean into truth, hope, and light.
If you or your children are overwhelmed by any part of life right now, this is your interview!
Are you about to send your child off to college? Or are you anticipating that time in the near future? Author Carol Kuykendall is back for the second episode of this special two-part series where we discuss the joyful and complicated nature of letting go of our children as they move through the teen years and into college.
Starting with high school graduation, we talk about lowering expectations, and how to make your child feel celebrated and loved. We then move to the much-anticipated college drop off: how we can set it up for success, how and how not to say goodbye, and what each college student needs from their parent during this time. Having spoken and written about this topic for decades, Carol offers timeless wisdom and sound perspective.
We know that this can be a vulnerable and difficult season for parents. The sisterhood is with you!
There is something about letting our children step into the world that feels counter to our parenting instincts. Author Carol Kuykendall has been speaking and writing on the topic of parenting and letting go for decades. The re-release of her popular book Give Them Wings: Preparing For the Time When Your Teens Leave Home offers great opportunity for the sisterhood to talk about this topic. In fact, our very own Krista Gilbert contributed to the updates in the book and Alex wrote the foreword. In other words, we believe in Carol's message.
This is the first of a two part series on this topic. This episode covers the high school years: what we're feeling, how our kids are separating, and how we move into the "consultant" role. We cover fear, how to address it as it comes up, tailoring fun to our family and individual kids, and looking past the immediate to the long-term goal of adult relationships with our kids. We understand how we've likely been letting go in small ways for years and how fighting our urdges to rescue our kids from hard things hurts rather than helps them. A must listen for parents approaching and in the middle of parenting teenagers.
Within minutes we are crying as this topic goes straight to the tender place for a mother. No matter your phase of parenting, you will benefit from the principles Carol shares about letting our kids grow into the people God has called them to be. That is what we want after all. Sometimes it takes the sisterhood to remind us.
The Bible tells us to pray, and we also seem to know that language intuitively in our spirits. When something bad happens, what is the first thing most of us do? Pray. But what really is prayer? And does it make a difference to God when we pray? Also, does it matter HOW we pray? What does prayer really do?
These are some of the questions we tackle in today's episode with Elisa Morgan, author of The Prayer Coin. Elisa lets us in on a little secret about the two essential ingredients to prayer, modeled by Jesus himself. They are simple, yet have the power to transform our prayer lives.
If you've been feeling stuck or stale in your prayer life, this interview will help. If you want more authentic communication with God, this will lead you there. If you want to know why prayer matters, this episode will answer that question.
Join us for this rich discussion on an important topic.
Fear God, Live Brave. These are the principles that guide Katie Westenberg's daily decisions. What does it mean to have courage? Is it the absence of fear? How about the fear of God? What does that look like? Though heavy questions, Katie examines them within the context of her smalltown, mom of four life which not only helps us understand the concepts, but shows us how she is living them out. Author of the popular blog, I Choose Brave, our conversation with Katie is one you won't want to miss.
We hear about Katie's loss of a child in utero, how grief played out in the months that followed, what it's like to live in the same small town where she grew up, why she chose to homeschool her kids, and the life she imagined as a high school student. From book recommendations to her family's favorite summer cake recipe (sure to be a kid favorite since soda pop is involved) to how she schedules her homeschooling days, this episode is full of both the practical and the inspirational.
We are always looking for sisters to spur us on. Katie has been one of those women in our lives and we are thrilled to share her with the larger sisterhood. If you are looking for inspiration to do a hard thing and next steps for moving toward courage, this is the interview for you.
Using meaningful rituals is one of the best ways to celebrate those milestone birthdays that mark a coming of age or "set apart" occasion. In this interview, Krista explains how her extended family uses rituals to mark two very special birthdays.
This episode will spark your creativity and help you think through how you can incorporate meaningful traditions into your family or community for birthday celebrations. Krista discusses the importance of ritual and how it deepens connections and provides a sense of belonging. She then moves to the practical application of what her family does to mark the 13th and 18th birthdays of all of the children in her family.
Whether planning a child's birthday or an adult's, you will be inspired to think of your own unique way of incorporating ritual and tradition to elevate important moments and transform them into unforgettable occasions.
From motherhood to work life, Kayla Aimee has had to adapt to unexpected turns the last decade. Her first child arrived very early, a micro-preemie throwing her into the world of NICU mothering. Now a mom to two, Kayla and her husband recently switched roles in the work/home life and Kayla has gone from stay at home mom to family breadwinner. We hear how the transition has gone for her and her husband as they've swapped major roles in the home. In all seasons of family life adaptability has been key.
In this Sister Interview we talk about comparison, how to recognize it when it's happening, and when needed how to shut it down. Now a fulltime, professional social media manager, we hear Kayla's take on social media consumption, when to take breaks, and the importance of remembering no one's feed gives the full picture of a life or situation. A great reminder for all of us.
Kayla's latest book, In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence is now available. The perfect companion to our conversation with Kayla about avoiding comparisons and living into the life God has given you with confidence, no matter the unexpected turns.
Do you ever wonder how the next generation is going to grow up with a healthy view of sexuality? Do you struggle talking about sexuality yourself? Sometimes we want to start conversations with those we love, but we just don't have the words. On this podcast we dive into the important and vulnerable topic of healthy sexuality with honesty and candor.
Pastor and Pure Desire speaker Rodney Wright joins us to help clarify shame vs. guilt, what intimacy really is and how we move toward it in relationships, and how an understanding of neuroscience matters when it comes to pornography and addiction. We also talk about why early intervention is critical, when a behavior is a problem rather than a pattern.
If you are a parent, you can't miss this episode. But really, don't we all need it? Any human who struggles in big or small ways in the area of healthy sexuality will benefit from this discussion. Let's learn how to talk about this together and how we can foster helpful and faith-filled conversations in our homes and relationships.
Jamie Ivey is a woman on the go. Fellow mom of four, wife to worship pastor Aaron, creator and host of the very popular podcast, The Happy Hour With Jamie Ivey, it's no surprise she has lots of energy. She also has a refreshing honesty as she talks about her own journey, her struggles (both past and current), and her faith. There is no pretense here, simply a woman who shares her story so others can see Jesus in the redemption.
We laughed a good deal, we covered some tough stuff, and we get great podcast recommendations from the podcast master herself. From traveling for work, to grandparents stepping in, to her husband's cooking, to pornography, we cover A to Z and back again. No topic is off limits, no question too personal. An encouraging word on how to be a safe person for other women when they confess sin and loving God more than pleasing people.
The perfect episode to listen to as you go about your actual life. Part practical, part inspirational, Jamie is the quintessential sister. We think you'll agree that this is one conversation that will go down in sisterhood history as we talk about the freedom offered through Jesus alone.
S-U-M-M-E-R T-I-M-E! It's what we wait for all year long. We often have high hopes and big dreams for our summer months, yet the reality of unscheduled days can hit hard. If you have kids at home this summer and want some help figuring out how to do the daily schedule well, we're here to help. Or if you want tips and ideas on what to read, what to eat, and what to wear this season, this episode is for you too!
Krista and Alex tackle all things summer. From designating a day of the week for baking, to the best porch swing to purchase, to how to get your kids off their screens, to the best bag for travel, they help you think through these fun and important months that break up the school year.
What does it mean to be a woman of legacy? To have an impact beyond today? The Open Door Sisterhood is set to equip women to do just that, design a life that has an eternal imprint. And mother/daughter duo Jackie Green and Lauren Green McAfee, of the Hobby Lobby Green family, are on a similar mission to inspire women to think past today. Their new book Only One Life features women throughout history who have followed God's call to live with legacy in mind.
Our conversation with Jackie and Lauren covers stories from their own family and decisions to women featured in the book. We talk through generosity, specific callings, what is eternal, and how we can discern where God has placed us for influence. Nothing could reflect the spirit of The Open Door Sisterhood more than this conversation with two women walking through the doors God is opening to act as world changers right where they are.
From fighting busyness to the discipline of saying "no" we hear how these two women discern the opportunities in front of them. A multi-generational message that rings true no matter your stage of life, we can be sowing into what will last for eternity. An inspiring conversation that pushed us to once again consider this one life we've been given and how we are spending it.
Summer is the perfect time to break out the fishing poles, pop the tent, and hit the trails. It's a chance to put the electronics away and open ourselves up to good conversation and creative thinking. For the first time in Open Door history, Krista's husband, Erik, an avid outdoorsman, joins her to talk about camping, backpacking, and mountain climbing.
If you are wanting more connection with your family, if you are tired of feeling pulled apart or distracted by the pace of modern life, or if you want to break through barriers in a relationship with someone close, this may be one way to do that.
Join in the conversation and be inspired to plan your next adventure in the outdoors!
Hannah Brencher didn't aim to create a global love letter writing campaign. A recent college graduate, she was living in New York City and feeling isolated. She realized writing letters to strangers helped her take her focus off of herself. In her struggle with depression, this focus switch helped her mental health. But when she started sharing about her letter writing, her services were requested and before she knew it people around the world were writing their own love letters.
In our conversation we hear Hannah's TED Talk story, what her parents said when she told them she was quitting her job to write letters, and how she met her now husband after ten days on a dating site. Hannah talks about her depression, how a major setback in her mental health prompted the writing of her second book, and how routines help her stay healthy. Hannah's story is almost unbelievable and yet it's real. One letter on a subway has turned into an international movement to encourage strangers through words.
Hannah tells a story about one letter campaign recipient who said the letters "restored his faith in humanity." If you are needing a little good news today, listen to this episode. It's about looking beyond ourselves to see the people right in front of us.
What if you could learn a tool that would change the way you communicate? What if you could speak in a way that inspires action and change? Would you be interested? Us too. That's why The Sisterhood invited Dr. John Trent to come on the show to talk about a time-tested communication tool: word pictures. Jesus used them, and as it turns out, so should we.
Word pictures help us convey our thoughts and feelings with clarity and honesty. They help cut through confusion and misunderstandings, and convey love in ways that our family and friends will never forget. It's absolutely true. Krista has tried this out already and it's working. She believes this will forever change the way she communicates with others both personally and professionally. Listen, learn, and then give it a try!
Shannon Polk is a modern day Renaissance woman. An attorney, a nonprofit consultant, and most recently an associate pastor, Shannon combines head work with heart work. We'll hear how Shannon lives an integrated life as pastor, wife, and mother, how her legal training impacts her ministry work, and how racial reconciliation plays out in her own church. From uncomfortable conversations about race to finding out from doctors that she would only have one child, Shannon's story is rich with pursuing God in every part of life.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we encourage women of faith to walk through the doors God is opening. Shannon has sometimes wondered about the timing, but has always trusted God's wisdom in making things happen when he has. Whether you are 40 and pregnant, a woman working with all men, a mom trying to maneuver work-home tensions, this interview has something for you.
We have a knack for spotting sisters from a distance. We're so glad we invited Shannon up to the mic, so we can learn from her story. Don't miss this interview. You'll be better for it.
We are committed to helping you with practical matters in your life here at The Sisterhood, so we like to offer suggestions and help on financial health, knowing that this is an important need. As summer approaches, many of us dream of vacations and memorable experiences with our friends, family, and children, but the question must be answered: how do we prepare for them financially? My guest, Emily G. Stroud, helps us answer this question. Offering helpful tips and ideas, Emily walks us through what it looks like in the budget to put a priority on special trips and experiences.
Along with vacation advice, Emily also offers tips on smart investing as we plan and prepare for the future. While some of these aren't new concepts, they bear repeating, over and over and over again, because we all could use reminders on what is the wise way to handle our money.
Listen in and plan to do those FUN things with your people!
New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Bevere, joins The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast in a one of a kind interview. We talk about her newest book Adamant: Finding Truth in a Universe of Opinions. Lisa explains how she establishes fences (not walls) in her own life to ensure she has clarity of mind and purpose in pursuing God in a time in history where "anything goes" messages question the idea of absolute truth. Lisa explains why scripture is her foundation for clarifying confusion and finding comfort in trial.
A woman on the go, (like from continent to continent), Lisa must steady herself with good habits. We hear how she journals with Scripture, the Bible translations she prefers, the commentaries she goes to first, and her espresso habit. If you are a woman looking for inspiration to know God's word better and with more purpose, this episode is for you. Lisa inspires us to search for truth in God's own words rather than from memes and tweets.
God puts a longing for eternity in each of our hearts. We can look for answers and hope in news feeds or people, but Lisa claims we will always be disappointed. Our adamant, unchanging God is the only place we can go and find our longings fulfilled. Why not cut through the noise of our times, and search for hope in the one who does not change?
'Tis the season for....ORGANIZING! Is anyone else getting the spring cleaning - throw it out - organize every drawer in the house- bug? Us too. That's why this week the sisterhood is hosting Morgan Tyree, a professional organizer, to talk about tips and tricks for organizing the various sections of our homes.
This organization will help you in countless ways. Not only will you know where things are and what you have, but you will also reclaim the peace of mind that comes from having an organized, functional space. Because, after all, house clutter = mind clutter.
Join us as we dive into this healthy seasonal rhythm of spring cleaning / organizing!
Sherri Crandall is a woman willing to walk through the doors God opens, even if she's not quite sure what's waiting for her on the other side. Her most recent move took her from a place she loved to a place God had been preparing for years. As doors have opened she has seen just enough of God's preparation to say "yes" and then has been surprised when looking back at the details he has woven together. Sherri is warm, welcoming, thoughtful and persistent. The kind of combination we can't get enough of at the sisterhood.
In this interview we talk about Sherri's job changes, her family, her son Spencer's country music career, her love for moms around the world and her relationship with Monica Rovira which unknowingly set her on the path where she is today (psst you can listen to our interview with Monica on Episode 41). You can hear Sherri's warmth shine through, her general positivity, and her desire to dream on others' behalf. From homemade spaghetti sauce to cheering on our kids and everything in between, you'll walk away with at least one good tip for your daily life.
Everyone deserves a friend like Sherri. Since we can't introduce her to all of you in person, we figure this is the next best place. Listen in and be encouraged sister. God prepares details before we understand or see them. Sherri will attest to that.
For the past several years, there's been a buzz about a self-assessment tool known as the Enneagram. The purpose of it? To know thyself. It is a system of classifying personality types based on a nine-pointed starlike figure inscribed within a circle. While it may seem the Enneagram suddenly surfaced into the milieu of culture, in fact it has been in existence for centuries. If you've ever heard anyone say, "I'm a 2 with a 3 wing," or "That's such a 7 thing to do," chances are you've encountered Enneagram-devotees who have used it to further their self-discovery.
Suzanne Stabile is a highly sought-after Enneagram Master who has taught over 500 workshops worldwide. She joins The Sisterhood to teach us the basics of this system: the origin, what exactly it is, how we can use it in our individual lives, how it helps us in relationships, how to understand our motivations, and what it looks like to be healthy and unhealthy in our number. We also address criticisms of the Enneagram and talk through how it differs from the other self-assessments out there.
If you are looking to understand yourself and others better, if you've heard about the Enneagram but can't get a handle on exactly what it is, or if you simply want to learn more about this helpful tool, you've come to the right episode. Listen in and learn!
Karen Stott is the master at the work-life balance. Not afraid of the "b word", she sees balance as maintaining a healthy rhythm in her workload while knowing her own capacity. When she was building her photography business, Karen had a difficult time finding a support system that would encourage both work and family, so she started The Pursuit Community to help women entrepreneurs.
We gain some insight into Karen's approach by what she tells her children about completing a task: Do it with excellence, do it to completion, and do it with joy. If she can't meet those standards on an assignment, Karen takes a pass. We hear how camping is her husband's love language and how Karen is learning to speak it, why Voxer works as a work tool within a restricted work schedule, and what essential oils are her daily go-tos.
You won't want to miss this interview with a woman who truly is working to be a world changer right where she is and is giving other women the tools to do the same. If you are looking for some inspiration on how to reconnect with your husband or want to learn how to make your shower a diffuser for essential oils, tune in to our conversation with Karen Stott.
Some couples choose to be childless in our culture, but when this decision is not made by choice, it can be devastating. Almost 5 million couples in the US experience infertility at some point in their marriage, and many more suffer miscarriages, or the loss of children. Some singles who are moving beyond child-bearing years also mourn the idea that they will not get to experience biological parenthood.
Whether you or someone you know is navigating childlessness, this conversation with Chelsea Patterson Sobolik will be a ray of hope. Receiving life-altering news at age 19, Chelsea is no stranger to the deep pain that accompanies barrenness. While her story may be different than yours, you will find the common threads of disappointment, struggle, grief, and sadness to be the same.
Krista also shares a personal story in this interview that became a defining moment in her life (caution: she cries more than she has in any other interview to date).
From her office on Capitol Hill, Chelsea provides some helpful resources for walking through childlessness, offers suggestions of what we can do to support foster care and adoption, and helps us know what NOT to say to a woman struggling with this issue.
Belle means beautiful in Latin, and that is exactly what Erin Weidemann is trying to help girls define. Using women of the Bible, Erin has created a company whose mission is to teach girls about prayerfulness, patience, bravery, leadership, and loyalty. The hope is that girls would not only learn about these women of faith, but would then adopt those traits and live them out in their daily lives.
Erin's enthusiasm is contagious, and her ideas brilliant. She uses five women of the Bible (Hannah, Esther, Abigail, Ruth and Deborah), five traits, and five virtues to teach timeless character. As a former teacher Erin incorporates language, visual elements and acronyms to help girls learn the practicals of traits like courage (see SHIELD acronym in the show notes). In fact it was her years of teaching that inspired her to consider how to teach her own daughter about the women of the Bible and Bible Belles was born.
Whether you are listening for your daughter or for yourself, you will walk away inspired to deepen your faith, character, and leadership. Because these women's stories and the virtues we learn from them span time, space and stage of life.
Sister, grab your teenage daughter and listen to this interview together. As the youngest guest to date on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, YouTube sensation Chelsea Crockett talks with host Krista Gilbert about everything from how she met her boyfriend (Twitter was involved), to how she started making YouTube videos, to what it's like living with over a million followers.
Beauty is at the center of Chelsea's message. She started her YouTube channel to share makeup tips with other girls and heard lots of questions with deeper undertones. This led to a book about beauty and what it means to pursue God's idea of beauty. A girl suddenly in the spotlight, Chelsea walks through both the inspirational and the practical in this sister interview.
For the woman who wants to better understand the teenage girl she loves to the one who just wants a good red lipstick tip, this episode will make you consider the influences in your life that shape your idea of beauty. You are loved sister. We know that you are made in God's image. His imprint is all over you. We hope this young woman, reminds you of that simple truth.
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by today's youth sports culture? Do you wonder what to do when everyone else seems to have their children on club sports teams by age 8 or 10? Have you ever considered whether or not to talk to a coach and how to best do that? Are you a coach who wants to make a difference in the lives of your players? If so, this episode is just for you!
Darcy McMurray has experience on all sides: she's been a player, a coach, a parent, and an child educator and advocate. She deeply understands the psychology and benefit of team sports and how it can equip our children for life. She also understands that it can be a harsh and unrelenting world to navigate. Darcy argues that both aspects are beneficial in the long run in our kids' lives.
We begin the interview covering positive coaching and team building strategies, then move into how to help our kids talk to their coach when there is a problem, and finish with parenting tips that help no matter what sport your child plays.
If you have a child in the world of sports, or if you are a coach, this is a must-listen!
Alli Worthington has a mantra, “Show up. Be real. Love others. Don’t quit.” As a mom to five boys, wife, business coach, Director of Propel Women, an author and speaker, she was forced to face some fears when her husband became ill a few years ago. A woman who was juggling more than seems humanly possible was faced with the limitations of her very human reality.
As Alli faced her fears, she found there were some things she could do to manage them. She shares her wisdom with the sisterhood. Alli calls the things to avoid The Five Bad B’s: Busyness, Blame, Binge, Bury and Brood. But not to worry Alli also has the counterpart to what we should avoid: The Four Good A’s. These are Awareness, Avoid (the Bad B’s), Asking Jesus for help, and Attack the problem.
You won't be surprised that Alli is a seasoned business coach with a strategic approach to tackling problems. This conversation is the epitome of the sisterhood. Part practical and part inspirational, it's the perfect episode to help you get out of a winter rut.
It's our second annual Things We Love episode on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. In honor of Valentine's Day Alex and Krista want to give you some of their favorite things these days. From beauty products to books, cleaning hacks to podcasts, you'll see what's in their shopping carts and social media feeds.
This is a light-hearted episode that falls heavy on the practical end. But what do we truly love that we don't explicitly say on the show? YOU! We are grateful for God's provision to bring this community together and that you are interested in the part practical, part inspirational approach of the sisterhood. Let's continue the good work of encouraging each other in all areas of life so that we may walk through the doors God is opening.
If you liked this episode, but missed our first Things We Love episode, head over to Episode 45 to hear more things we love to have around. What are your favorites these days? Don't keep them to yourself, share in the comments below.
Maggie John enters Canada’s living rooms on a daily basis. As co-host of the country’s longest standing daytime talk show, 100 Huntley Street, she speaks words of hope to her audience that stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic. As the first black host of the show, Maggie knows she is a trailblazer. But being in front of the camera is not what she originally set out to do. Her passion is story telling and so she was trained as a producer. In her current role she is able to pull out the details of guests’ stories from the interviewer’s chair.
In this interview, we hear how Maggie's taping days consist of hair, makeup and lots of wardrobe changes, but her ordinary is also trenched in the ordinary tasks of family life. From mental setbacks to her mother's Macaroni Pie recipe we cover it all. A great representation of the sisterhood, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
From fashion style to interviewing Lecrae, to books that have had a deep impact on her, we are sure Maggie will capture your heart as she did ours. We could have kept the conversation going for hours. Don’t miss this engaging conversation as we put her on the other end of the questions and interview the seasoned interviewer.
This fifth and final episode of The Healthy Way series is with our sister of heart, Kristen Kill. A homeschooling mom to five Kristen knows the distractions of a busy life. Finding moments to care for her soul can feel like an impossible task. Kristen shares how she finds those pauses and how we can to, no matter our schedules or number of little people at home.
Spiritual health is an important part of who we are as people. It's not a luxury, but a necessity if we are to flourish. Because God made us more than physical beings, He gave us each a soul. It doesn't cost us anything but time to come to Him in our daily routines, and we can be confident God meets us in these moments. Kristen's new book, Finding Selah, helps us to meet Jesus in the midst of the mundane and marvelous. Our souls can be rejuvenated by the one who made them.
Whether you are needing a little inspiration in your spiritual life or overcome with with grief and desperation, God will meet you. We pray this episode offers some practical help as you take that next step and do that hard thing to get healthy in your spiritual life.
You won't want to miss this inspiring and practical conversation about getting healthy in relationships with one of today's leading voices on marriage and relationships. Gary Thomas offers the sisterhood some ways in which we can assess the health of our relationships and how we can move forward with people who are difficult for us to love. We hear how humility (thinking less about yourself) and righteousness (living according to God's agenda) impact the overall health of all relationships.
As we delve into getting healthy in relationships, we naturally uncover some difficult topics. From pornography to domestic violence Gary offers next steps a listener can take in her family life. From responding to unhealthy people in a healthy way to pursuing holiness over happiness we hear how relationships are often uncomfortable. From parenting kids through hard moments to recognizing the abundant life is the obedient life we are reminded that we often must take the long view when thinking about relationships. There is much wisdom packed into a single hour.
This interview goes down as one of our favorites to date. Part practical, part inspirational, it reminds us of the need for healthy relationships and how God directs us toward them. You will find, as so many have, that Gary's voice is one of gentle and unwavering truth.
Rachel Cruze has a plan for financial health. That's no surprise given she's the daughter of financial counselor to many, Dave Ramsey. Rachel is now grown, with her own family, talking to her peers about all things money and budget. Like her dad, she has lots of principles to guide money decisions and practical tips to make them a reality. We are sure you will find Rachel approachable and fun as we talk through a topic that can carry lots of dread.
From setting financial goals with your spouse to teaching kids about money, this episode is full of ideas you can implement today. We talk how expectations and comparison can impact our spending, why we need an emergency fund, and how to start paying off debt. No matter your financial position or current tax bracket, Rachel's strategies and advice ring true.
The third portion of our new year series The Healthy Way, Rachel is the perfect voice to be speaking to the sisterhood about getting healthy with money in 2018. A topic that can often feel dry or intimidating, Rachel makes us feel empowered to make small changes that will have big impact in years to come. Whether making a monthly budget or having a conversation with your spouse about debt, this episode of the podcast cheers you on. You can move toward financial health this year. We are here to help you take that next step and do this hard thing!
Kara Hicks is passionate about feeding her family well. And she's just as passionate about helping you do the same. Known on Instagram by the handle @kara_thewholemomma, she offers other moms tips on making meals and snacks approachable and healthy through a whole food diet.
If Whole 30 sounds intimidating to you, don't worry Kara talks through doable steps and how it can be modified with families in mind. She's realistic about the challenges of a full Whole 30 diet, but offers ways to implement small steps if the idea of eating better sounds appealing. As with all of our guests on The Healthy Way series, Kara gives three easy next steps women can do if they are wanting to have a healthier diet but are overwhelmed at the prospect of changing everything.
From sugar content in yogurt, to a whole foods alternative to flavored coffee creamers, we cover it all. We even talk Diet Coke and deoderant. Whether looking for a food revamp in your new year, or simply wanting some encouragement to make a few small yet significant changes, this episode is perfect. It is a sister-to-sister, we can take this next step together, kind of conversation and we don't want you to miss it.
We are heading into a five-part series as we begin 2018. We are calling this January series The Healthy Way because we will be discussing healthy approaches in various areas of our lives. From fitness to finances to relationships, you won't want to miss the sisterhood walking through the doors the new year has for us in health.
We kick off our series with our friend and fitness coach, Tammy Strait. We begin our conversation, and series, talking goal setting. Why do we set goals? What do we get out of the process? And what happens when we don't achieve what we originally set out to do?
We move into more specifics around fitness. As Founder of COR44, Tammy understands the building blocks of fitness. We talk through efficiency, motivation and weight and cardio training. An approachable discussion at a time of year when many of us are evaluating our fitness and making a plan (or setting goals!) in this area.
Tammy is a trusted sister. As we talk through topics that can feel intimidating to many, you'll be encouraged to hear how she approaches goal setting in general, and around fitness specifically. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or simply wanting to move your body with more intention, you'll find this first episode of The Healthy Way series part part practical and part inspirational. Just as we like it in the sisterhood.
Kindness is a virtue we recognize immediately. It warms the soul, refreshes the heart, and provides solace. We love to be on the receiving end of kindness, but it is equally important to be on the giving end. Today Kendra Roehl, Julie Fisk, and Kristin Demery and I discuss why practicing kindness is not only good for our children, but for our own hearts as well. We get very practical on how we can incorporate this virtue into the life we are already living, with the people right in front of us.
Whether you are hosting a big family gathering, serving at church, or simply spending time with your kids at home, Christmas is a perfect time to incorporate intentional acts of kindness into your life. This episode will inspire and encourage as you round the corner toward December 25th.
Although mom pressure is not a new concept, our generation of mothers seems to be suffering from it more than our mothers or grandmothers did. We feel responsible for everything: do my kids go to the right schools? Are their friends good influences? Is my food clean and organic enough to not cause cancer? Am I teaching my children enough about faith? Am I doing enough to build my child's self-concept? If they don't make this team will they ever be able to play again? If we can think it up, we'll worry about it.
Jeannie Cunnion, author of Mom Set Free, is on the show today talking about how we can learn to recognize our tendencies and then set ourselves free from anxious thinking, mom-guilt, and the burden of having to do life perfectly for our families. If you've ever been kept awake at night worrying about your children for any reason, this podcast is for you!
Jerusalem, her husband Nathan, and their two boys Wylie and Miles, live in rural Arkansas where they are attempting to live a slower version of modern life. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. From farm life to being outside, to exploring the liturgical calendar, we hear how Jerusalem lives her days.
A girlfriend's conversation about her crazy name (you won't believe the family history on this one!), how she started into blogging, what makes for a good scrambled egg, and how to slow down and enjoy today are all covered. We hear about Jerusalem's Advent wreath, Sabbath bags, and what makes for a good pair of scissors. Part practical, part inspirational, this conversation won't disappoint as we live full swing in the Advent season.
As we talk through what it means to practice faith in our everyday experiences, we pray this episode is an encouragement during a busy time of year. As you do your daily tasks, know that God is present. When we slow down we are able to notice his beauty. That is our prayer for you, a bit of slowing and noticing.
Serena Thompson is a part farm girl, part entrepreneur, part chef, part decorator. You may know her as the trusted voice and CEO behind the nationally acclaimed Farm Chicks Vintage and Handmade Fair held in Spokane, Washington. People are struck by her artistic talent, but just as equally touched by her childhood story of growing up without electricity or running water in the woods of Northern California, and how that has shaped her signature style.
If you are looking for direction on how to create a down home Christmas, look no further than Serena. From foraging in the woods for evergreen boughs, to homemade pies, to porch decorating tips, to how to make a natural Christmas tree look beautiful, we talk about the elements that create a Farm Chicks' holiday.
Don't miss this insider peek into Serena's life during this special and meaningful time of year. She is full of helpful tips and ideas, including the secret trick to a good fruit pie!
Kate Merrick's life on a small ranch in California where she home schools and surfs sounds idyllic from the outside. And yet tucked in her story is heart wrenching grief of losing her daughter, Daisy, to cancer. Her journey has led her from bitterness to joy in the midst of her reality.
In this conversation we hear about Kate's journey as a mother with a sick child, how she married into a surfing family, the church she is part of and it's global growth. A true sisterhood interview we cover the practical to the inspirational and back again. Kate is one you want to sit with (preferably on the beach) and cover all the topics. Her combination of intensity and abandon confirm the title of her new book, and Still She Laughs.
This is one Open Door Sisterhood Podcast episode you won't want to miss. This surfer girl turned pastor's wife is genuine and resilient, curious and lovely, wild and free. We welcome her to the sisterhood and we welcome you as well.
What is Advent? And how do we celebrate it? Co-hosts Krista and Alex dive into the purpose behind the season and how marking this sacred preparation time as a family can be significant. Whether warm fuzzy childhood feelings come when considering this time of year, or uncertainty about what exactly we're talking about, this episode is for you.
The themes of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace are big concepts and family Advent devotionals can feel overwhelming in an already busy time of year. The simple Advent wreath (or log) can offer a tangible reminder of these ideas and point to why they are significant during Christmas. Alex and Krista offer some other practical applications for families in how to incorporate these larger themes into the weeks ahead. Whether an internal transformation or an external demonstration, let the themes of Advent be a guide for how to spend this holiday season.
Don't let Advent pass you by this year. Make a plan for how to usher in Christmas with a preparation of the heart. We trust this episode will give you a little inspiration and practical help in that direction.
A true Open Door Sisterhood Podcast interview! Co-host Krista Gilbert interviews her partner in the sisterhood, Alexandra Kuykendall, about her new book Loving My Actual Christmas. They talk about the experiment Alex conducted last Christmas season because she wanted to have a less stressful and exhausting holiday. In the midst of her actual life she searched for more hope, love, joy and peace. What she found is that much of her newfound appreciation of the holiday stems from remembering the story that God so loved the world...he sent a baby.
This is the behind the scenes interview where we hear what Alex thinks about the experiment a year later. She shares the stories in the book that have stuck with her, what Christmas means to her now, and how she hopes to extend her celebration through the 12 Days of Christmas. This isn't about beautiful Christmas cards or Pinterest worthy meals. This is about remembering together that Jesus is the hope of the world and his arrival is worth preparing for and celebrating.
You won't want to miss this candid and intimate conversation between our podcast hosts as they talk about grief during the holidays, reconciling the difficult of the world with the hope of Christmas and taking the knowledge of God with us into their everyday Christmas experiences. Here at the sisterhood we want you to love your actual Christmas because God pursued us all when he stepped onto earth all those years ago.
We like to say we are part practical and part inspirational here at The Open Door Sisterhood. For that reason we are tackling the topic of Christmas in the same way. We want the whys and hows of the season to be covered. So we bring you the first of a three-part series on Christmas. Our focus now, before the holiday swoops in and takes over, is preparation. We know a good plan can help us all enjoy the season as we carry out the merrymaking.
Who better to talk holiday organization than Kathi Lipp? We knew she was the sisterhood's go-to woman on managing the Christmas chaos. You will love this fun conversation with one of our favorites as we cover food, budget, and all things in between. We also cover what to keep and what to let go of (hint: you choose) when going through a first Christmas without someone and how to support a friend during a grief filled holiday.
There's no question the plan helps ease the anxiety. Even if there are some hard parts to this Christmas season, it will feel more manageable, and therefore more enjoyable, if some intentional preparation has been implemented. A freedom inducing episode, you will leave with permission to plan a holiday season that includes elements your family enjoys and letting go of the extras. Stay tuned for the next two episodes as we cover more about the Christmas in front of us.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that reminds us to live a life saturated with gratitude, overflowing with grace, and aware of our abundance. Let’s use this seasonal opportunity to lean into these virtues and create habits that last long after the pumpkin pie and turkey are cleared from the table. Joining Krista today is Courtney DeFeo, a woman who is known for sprinkling virtues and kindness into the daily routine of life. We talk about how to help our kids practice thankfulness, how to carry a sense of dignity and joy to people we interact with, and what it looks like to love when family dynamics are hard (and even when they’re not). We also take an honest look at how pride stalls and prevents relationships, why it’s OK to look like a fruitcake for Jesus, and why it’s important to get outside for a gratitude walk. This episode will inspire you to make the most of your Thanksgiving holiday! Our beloved listeners, we want YOU to know how very thankful we are to have you as a part of the sisterhood! As a thank you, and a “We Love You!” please download a free printable of Colossians 3:15-17 on the website for your Thanksgiving table, or to tape on your refrigerator to remind you to let Jesus have the run of the house while you cook!
It's safe to say Jess Connolly is a dynamo. She's one of the cofounders of SheReadsTruth, one of the owners of Amen Paper Company, co-author of USA Today Best Seller Wild and Free, and the co-founder of The Influence Conference and Network. We caught up with her in her new office space in Charleston, SC and talked to her about how she manages life with four kids and a big to-do list.
Though her resume is impressive, we focused some of our conversation on her limitations. What she can do within her given work hours, or more importantly, what she can hand over to somebody else. From work projects, to home projects, Jess is a big fan of recruiting help and doing what's need to be a healthy woman. From weekly counseling sessions to workouts with her teammates, we hear how Jess maintains her own health in order to be most effective for the work God has given her.
Jess believes God wants women to move toward holiness. Living under the covering of grace and on mission flow out of that space. Her new book Dance, Stand, Run is for the woman who wants to serve God. This interview is as well. You will feel more able to tackle the day in front of you after hearing Jess' wisdom and practical tips for being a woman on holy ground.
We went on a quest. We wanted to know the world changers in your life. Who takes that next step? Does that hard thing? In order to walk through the doors God is opening. Who is a world changer for good right where she is? Well we got great nominations from you, our listeners, and we are featuring two of the women in this special episode of the podcast.
Meet April Farlow and Becky Jarvis, two women who have felt unique assignments from God. Though one stepped out in her community and one grew her family, they have many themes in common. They both are working toward orphan care. How that plays out in their lives is quite different. Neither one set out to be where she is today, but both surrendered their plans to God's. And in that step by step surrender they've found purpose and God's call to be world changers right where they are.
You will be inspired to walk through the doors God is opening by hearing these two stories. We are sure of it.
#Powertothesisterhood
It’s been a little over a year since we started The Open Door Sisterhood podcast, and today we celebrate 100 episodes! Yes, you read that right, 100! This episode is a look back by our co-hosts, Krista and Alex, at all who have walked through the doors of the sisterhood. We invite you to come in and hear some of the highlights!
All guests and episodes have been a place for growth for guests and listeners alike. At The Open Door Sisterhood we celebrate and encourage one another with our stories and expertise.Though impossible to pick favorites, Krista and Alex talk through some episodes have changed the way they think, live and ask questions. They share the new ideas they’ve taken away, which guests inspired and impacted them in unique ways, and who offered practical ideas and tips they’ve incorporated into their daily routines.
If you are new to The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, this hour will point you toward specific episodes you won’t want to miss. If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ll be reminded of inspiring guests and engaging conversations. All is meant to remind us that God opens doors for us to walk through and sometimes we need the sisterhood cheering us on. #powertothesisterhood
Sometimes something happens and your life takes an unexpected turn. Candace Payne is a viral sensation whose video of trying on a Chewbacca Mask became the most-viewed Facebook Live video to date (170+ million views). As a result, she has been thrust into the spotlight, featured in more than 3,000 media outlets and has interviewed with major media such as “Good Morning America,” “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” The New York Times, PEOPLE and Cosmopolitan. All because the audience resonated with her unmasked joy that shined through her masked face.
Candace talks with Krista about her life, joy, laughter, overcoming obstacles and motherhood. We hear about Candace's use of humor in the midst of dark circumstances, what overcoming has looked like in her life and how her faith impacts her view of joy. This is a one of a kind conversation with a one of a kind woman that you won't want to miss.
Candace recently launched a video series with TLCme and her first book, Laugh It Up releases in the next few weeks. Candace lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and ornery pug. You won't regret taking a few minutes to learn about the woman behind the mask.
Becky Kiser is a woman who does the next thing in front of her. When she looks back to see the ground she's covered, she's surprised and sometimes overwhelmed. But she focuses back on the next step. Becky is the founder and CEO of Sacred Holidays, she's a certified Myers-Briggs Personal Coach, and a mom to three girls. She is a woman on a mission to keep Scripture in front of other women. Whether a prison, or a Christmas tea, Becky's hope is to keep women filled.
In this episode we talk Myers-Briggs types, what childcare looks like, being open about what makes the spinning plates of life work. From Sacred Holidays to writing projects we break down how Becky takes that next step, does that hard thing, in order to be a world changer for good right were she is. Both insightful and funny, creative and intentional, and a Thinker on the Myers-Briggs personality type, she is uniquely wired to do the work set in front of her. She is a joy to listen to and we are thrilled to have her as part of the sisterhood.
You won't want to miss this interview that is classic Open Door Sisterhood. Part practical and part inspirational, Becky Kiser is a woman we are happy to introduce you.
Freezer cooking is for the person who wants to save money, save time, and save their sanity. Truly! Whether you are a mother of many, a two person family, or living alone, freezer cooking will benefit your life. It is hard to get a healthy, wholesome meal on the table every night of the week. This will help tremendously!
On the show today we talk about why freezer cooking works, what you need to get started, how to form a cooking group, and some helpful freezer cooking tips. I also include some of my all time favorite recipes that are go-to crowd pleasers. We all need those meals that can go straight from the freezer to the oven, soups that can be pulled out for the big game day, or ideas for marinades. I've got you covered on this short and helpful episode!
Melanie Shankle remembers her grandparents and the way they loved her through the small things. There wasn't a parade or lots of fanfare. It was walking down the street in the afternoon for an ice cream. They made regular moments special because they loved her in them. The small things held meaning. In her new book, Church of the Small Things, Melanie considers the everyday elements of significance that make up a simultaneously ordinary and incredible life.
No surprise, we laughed our way through this interview with Melanie Shankle. From grey roots to Chris Tomlin as her college worship leader, to the recent increase in the tooth fairy's payout and overall game, we cover the everyday moments that make up Melanie's life. Her wit and willingness to laugh both at and with her own routines and decisions endear her to us. We are confident you will find a girlfriend, yes a sister, in Melanie Shankle.
For the woman who needs a lift in her day. For the woman who finds herself in a life of small things. For the woman who knows a little lighthearted sisterly talk would do her good, this episode is made for you.
Sally Clarkson is a woman who loves the table. She knows that it can be an anchor for families and friends to gather. It can be a place of tradition. It can be simple or elaborate, but it must always be welcoming and safe. A trusted voice on areas of parenting and homemaking, our conversation with Sally is one that will inspire you to make your table a place of refuge for those in your home.
We at once felt as though Sally understood us as women and moms. Both what we hope for and our current realities. We talk about her young adult children coming back to the table, the recipes they request when they’re home from their lives abroad, and the conversations that linger into the evening because they started at the table. We hear the beginnings of Whole Heart Ministries and what they are doing today.
You won’t want to miss this encouraging and insightful conversation. From Christmas Eve dinner to getting kids to sit (or not) at the table, you’ll find a trusted fried and mentor in Sally Clarkson.
Service is a great antidote for the self centered culture in which we live. Most of us want to help nurture this in our children, and give them a heart for a world, but often we don't know where to begin. How do we start? What do we do? Should we help globally or locally?
Tricia Goyer, author of the new book Walk It Out, joins me on the podcast today to talk about these questions and more. She offers fresh perspective on how to use experiences from our past to help others, why giving away crockpots to teen moms makes a difference, the best story series she reads with her kids to learn about the world, and how her daughter ended up as a missionary in the Czech Republic.
Service has the potential to truly change and transform us in multiple ways. Let's learn from this master teacher together.
It's fall! And for many families that means football. This special episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast features two women with similar stories that surround family and football. In both cases it's about reaching out to a young man, a football player, offering him a safe place to live, and in the process changing their family forever. In fact the details they share may sound eerily like a movie you know. We are calling this our special Blind Side episode.
Jolene's story started with her husband who is a high school football coach in Washington state. As coaches do, he developed a relationship with a player, Roderick. When Jolene's husband learned Roderick was in crisis, homeless with no support system, he invited him to come to their home and live with them. It quickly became evident to Jolene and her husband that Roderick was meant to be part of their family. He is finishing high school this semester headed to Washington State University to study and play football.
Emily's story started in their neighborhood. She joined together with some other moms to care for a young man needing support, Garett Bolles. Each of the moms took a night once a week to offer him dinner and some homework help. Emily's family's relationship with Garett grew and when he became homeless, Garett came to live with them. They got him ready for junior college and then he transferred to the University of Utah to be close to home. Last spring Garett was drafted by the Denver Broncos and is beginning his NFL career as a husband, father and son.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we point women to be world changers right where they are. There is no question these two women are. They looked at a young man within their circle of influence and opened their hearts in ways that felt risky, but they would now say were with immeasurable reward. How does one measure gaining a son? A truly inspiring special episode of the podcast just for you.
Katie Davis Majors did an extraordinary thing as a young adult. Right after high school she moved from Nashville to Uganda and eventually adopted thirteen girls. Her story was chronicled in the New York Times Best Seller Kisses From Katie. But much has happened in her life since that book came out. She's gotten married, had a son, and the ministry she started to support Ugandan children and families has grown. But she has also experienced great loss. In this interview we pick up where Kisses From Katie left off.
In this interview we hear about Katie's life today, how God has shown her to trust him despite prayers not being answered in the way she'd wanted, and what it's like to get close to someone after loss. We learn about the ministry she started when she first moved to Uganda, and how it has grown over the years. You won't want to miss this episode with an amazing woman who does radical things with a humble obedience because she hears God's call.
In a culture of comfort it's important for us to hear voices like Katie's. We may not be called to go to the other side of the world or to adopt a number of children, but we are called to a humble obedience. Katie's story is full of next steps, hard things that she tackled in order to be a world changer right where she is. She didn't begin her journey to Uganda at 18 knowing her life would look like it does today, she simply took that next step.
If you've ever wondered if constant exposure to social media is having an effect on teenage girls, the answer is yes. While we can't be sure of the depth of the impact, we do know that it contributes to feelings of low self-worth, the desire for approval, and perfectionism. These, in turn, can lead to other self-harming behaviors.
After realizing that her daughter had an eating disorder, Kristen Hatton decided to investigate what lay beneath the surface of her own child's issue, and along the way discovered that the feelings her teen was battling was a common experience for many teen girls.
We discuss how story can lead to better conversations about important topics in the home, how enabling differs from helping, and why it's important to create a culture where it is OK to fail. Don't miss this important episode!
Rachel Swanson was coloring with her daughter and searched for a devotional coloring book they could do together. She didn’t find anything on the market and decided to create one of her own. We hear how God prompted her to pursue this project and her journey became one of taking the next step, doing the hard thing, in order to be a world changer for good right where she was.
A woman who encourages other women to pursue their dreams, is doing the same in her own life. Hear how Rachel, a life coach, urges women to identify and carve out time for the things that give them the most joy. We also hear how she tells her identical twin boys apart, what she is willing to give up precious sleep for..
Rachel invites us into her process as if we were sitting across from each other. A warm, lighthearted episode, we hope you’ll find one sister’s story of walking through the doors God is opening to be both inspiring and encouraging for you to do the same.
In a world where bigger, louder, and more seems to be the goal, Sara Haggerty is on a quest to find the quiet, unseen places. Or more specifically, to meet God in those places. It’s hard to do when you have a house full of children. And yet even when we are surrounded by people we can feel unseen. It's these moments of feeling misunderstood, invisible or overlooked that we can find God has not forgotten about us.
This interview is in a word: delightful. Sarah’s humor, combined with her earnest pursuit of God’s purposes for her, are both endearing and inspiring. She shares about feeling invisible along her journey of infertility, her adoption story, and then surprise pregnancy process, and her new book Unseen. A beautiful reminder that God knows us and is with us when it feels the world has forgotten our pain.
You won't want to miss this sister interview. It is both practical and inspirational, just how we like to do it here at the sisterhood. And don't forget to find Sarah's newest book.
Art and creativity can be powerful tools when we are wading through difficult emotions and a journey of healing. Today on the Hey Sister! show we discuss how art can help us look at scripture in fresh ways, how visuals can be a form of prayer, and how the act of practicing all forms of creativity can foster growth and strength.
Gayla Irwin, author of Creative Moments of Grace, explains what major life event thrust her into a deeply painful place and what role art played in her own life as she dealt with her overwhelming grief.
In the show notes on theopendoorsisterhood.com Gayla provided a helpful list of extensive resources for anyone looking to use art on their healing path.
Shauna Shanks' life changed in an instant. The moment her husband told her he didn't want to be married anymore. No surprise, everything stopped. And in her cries out, God gave her a clarity to fight for her marriage by focusing on 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter in the Bible about love. Her discipline to display love to her husband became a spiritual journey of obedience, then developing into a deep intimacy with God. A beautiful example that even the most devastating of circumstances can be used for God's good.
In this interview we hear Shauna's marriage story. How she felt they were doing before her husband dropped the bomb of news on her, why she stayed and tried to work through it, the people that held her up along the way, and how her husband's heart softened over time. We talk through the feeling of love versus the action of love, how Shauna was able to quickly forgive her husband, and what kept her going in moments of discouragement. Shauna knows not every story of infidelity works its way to reconciliation, but because hers did, she wants to share that reuniting is a possibility.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we are cheerleaders for women who take that next step, do that hard thing in order to be world changers for good right where they are. Shauna's story of obedience to God's specific direction in her life is a great example of what we hold dear at the sisterhood. May it be a story of inspiration to you, regardless of your circumstances or marital status. Let us be clear, we know there are often valid and honorable reasons for a wife to say enough when it comes to infidelity and broken trust. Sometimes reconciliation is possible, and often it isn't. This is Shauna's story. As it turns out Shauna's marriage survived. We celebrate restoration when we find it.
What does it mean to honor your life? In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast we dive into this question with author and speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst. She starts by asking "Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered, 'Where did I go? Whose life am I living?'" After hearing from many women, Chrystal believes this is a common feeling. That we are disillusioned from our daily purpose and need to get back in line with how God made us. That somewhere in our journeys we drift from that little girl and the spark she had for life, to a woman disappointed with where she is.
In this episode we talk through expectations, disappointment, changes big and small, and how to get to "ground zero" of our lives. Crystal shares the acronym GAIN (Gifts, Abilities, Interests and Nature) as a tool that can help women reconnect with, or discover for the first time, who God created them to be. We talk through facing feelings head on versus stuffing them and the behavior that results from both. We also hear about Chrystal growing up the daughter of church planters and what Sunday suppers looked like in her house.
A dynamic conversation, Chrystal does not disappoint in either the laughs or the wisdom. Her journey has included being a single, teen mother, homeschooling her kids, serving at her church, and writing her first book with her father. We welcomed Chrystal with a wholehearted podcast hug into the sisterhood and we know you will find her a kindred spirit in this journey of living out our faith within the context of our circumstances. This episode is all about taking that next step and doing that hard thing in order to honor the life God has given you.
Are you someone who has to move a lot because of a job? Or maybe you are a military family who has to continually plant, and then uproot. Or maybe you have recently made a decision to move because you want to be closer to family or friends. Whatever the reason, today on Hey Sister! we are discussing how to create home wherever you are -- whether you are choosing the place, or it's being chosen for you.
My guest today is Bekah Di Felice. After years of moving as a military family, Bekah decided to write about her journey to create home amidst the transience in her new book, Almost There: Searching For Home in a Life On The Move. We talk about how we create a new definition of home, what it means to be a pursuer of people, what the first thing is that a person should do when moving into a new house, and practical ways we can make a new geographical location feel more familiar.
We also touch on how people can help others create a sense of home who are moving into their area. Too often, when we are the ones who are rooted in a place, we forget to keep reaching out and inviting others into our comfortable circles.
This interview will offer fresh inspiration as you strive to make home wherever you are!
Michelle Warren swears she's not political, that she simply wants to help her neighbors. It was this drive that thrust her into the advocacy arena. As the Advocacy and Strategic Engagement Director for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Michelle directs national advocacy around platform issues: immigration, mass incarceration and education equity. Her desire to advocate for policies on behalf of her neighbors took her on an unexpected path, back to graduate school to get her Masters in Public Administration, and now traveling around the country speaking to groups about these issues.
Michelle's community work started locally in Denver where she continues to be involved in her church, and works to fit in laundry and grocery shopping for her family amid her busy travel schedule. Michelle's proximity to those living with fewer resources inspired her desire to be informed. This in turn pushed her toward action, believing that God calls us to act when we see injustice played out. Whether immigration reform or incarceration, Michelle sees beyond the issue as purely theoretical or theological, but to the people impacted by the topic at hand.
A quick mind and a passionate resolve combined with a desire to follow God's call to justice, you'll be fascinated to hear how each step in Michelle's journey led her to where she is today. For the woman who wonders if she should take that next step, for the one who is willing to do the hard thing, for the Jesus follower wondering if God is calling her to get off the bench on an issue and into the advocacy arena, this episode is a must.
Movement is healing according to Edie Littlefield Sundby. So when she was diagnosed with stage 4 gallbladder cancer, Edie began to walk. Her journey became a pilgrimage. A long and hot one along the El Camino Real Mission Trail. First through California and then through Mexico, making her the first person since the 1770s to walk the sixteen-hundred-mile mission trail. But our interview with Edie starts at the beginning, her beginning. One of 12 children on an Oklahoma cotton farm, no electricity, working from an early age, then putting herself through college and moving up the ranks of tech companies and starting her own, she had nothing to prove when the cancer diagnosis came.
A pilgrimage is often a journey to the past. Edie Littlefield Sunby hiked the El Camino Real Mission Trail as a way of dealing with her present. However as she took step after step of gratitude along her journey, she connected to many of her childhood lessons of grit, gratitude and God's provision. This sister interview gives us a peek into Edie's childhood on an Oklahoma cotton farm, her rise in the corporate tech world, and her pilgrimage of miles and miles through the desert with only one lung. We hear about the vaquero cowboys who guided her through the Mexican portion of the trail, how her husband could follow her progress through the desert, and why she felt compelled to take this journey.
Truly a story like none other we've highlighted on the podcast, you will not want to miss Edie's tale of grit and healing. She is a woman of deep faith and strong character. Her determination to live paired with her acceptance of her diagnosis is inspiring.
Have you ever gone through a season that knocked your confidence? Or maybe you've never figured out how to harness confidence at all. Whether you are struggling with getting confidence back, or striving to discover it for the first time, this interview will give you fresh insight into what creates confidence and how we reclaim it for our own, despite our circumstances.
Using her own story as a starting place, Tricia Lott Wiliford shares how she lost all confidence and joy after watching her husband suddenly die in her arms. As a widowed single mom, she was thrust into a two year darkness. The trauma birthed a deep depression from which she was not sure she would recover.
In this interview we discuss how to grieve well, what confidence is, and how we can lean into joy even in the midst of adversity. We also dig into courage journals, the "I'm too much" syndrome, why it makes all the difference to smile first, what her brother taught her about jealousy, and her unbreakable rule in the dating world.
You will love Tricia's honesty, warmth, and wisdom in this interview!
Nicole Johnson knows busy. As a mom of two and a dramatist with Women of Faith she was maintaining a steady pace. And then a life event sent her in a downward spiral she couldn't escape. She realized she needed to find internal calm in the midst of external crazy. This episode is our conversation with her about this journey.
Nicole explains what it means to react verses contemplate in stressful moments, why fear and avoidance of being still can cripple us, and how facing hard feelings is often not as hard as we think it will be. We talk through the Prayer of Examen, what that has meant for Nicole and how she makes a quiet space in her home when she needs to recenter. This is a conversation that challenges us to stop in order to be in the difficult places. Not something we often want to do. But as Nicole explains we can find a richness of God's presence and care for us in our brokenhearted places.
You will want to listen in to this conversation. In a world of busy we can intentionally and unintentionally avoid our pain. In our attempts to mask the difficult we miss how God can meet us in all circumstances, feelings and fears. We don't need to keep moving sisters. We can stop and feel the pain and hurt. God meets the brokenhearted right where we are. He is already in our grief and fear. We need to stop long enough to recognize and settle into his presence.
Candice Curry's story has had its share of heartache. From a father who was a con man and battled mental illness, to divorce and infidelity, to unexpected triplets and financial strain, she knows what it is to live under pressure. And yet she walks through life these days with a freedom she attributes to God's restoration of her spirit and her marriage. A refreshing straight forward storyteller, Candice is frank about her past and her current freedom, giving Christ credit for the drastic change that happened in her family.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to have three infants at once, to have a father who stole cars and gave them to you as birthday gifts, to celebrate your daughter's step-mother because she is both beautiful and kind, then this is the episode for you. Candice talks about healthy co-parenting, the gift of step-parents, and God's use of a broken air conditioner to save her marriage. As a mom of five, she cooks for a crowd and an age span of kids. We are certain you will find her a kindred spirit as she finds true refreshment in God's provision.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we are committed to highlighting women's stories. Women who say yes to God in all kinds of circumstances. Candice has a unique story, one that in some ways none of us can relate to and in other ways all of us can. We walk the same road toward hope, no matter where are steps land along the way.
As our teenagers grow, we do our best to set them up for success for life. We teach them to drive, set up a bank account, help them learn about car insurance and credit, and offer support for college applications. But what about an issue equally important, that could profoundly affect the rest of their lives? Do we spend the same amount of intentional energy and time talking to our teens and young adults about sex?
Tracy Levinson, author of Unashamed - Candid Conversations about Dating, Love, Nakedness, and Faith, joins Hey Sister! today to speak candidly and directly about the most pressing issues surrounding this topic. You will be surprised, and maybe even blush a little, as we dive honestly into issues not frequently talked about in a public space.
Whether you are a parent of young children, looking to prepare and equip, or you are in the midst of the teen/young adult years, this podcast will embolden you with courage and hope.
Sharon Miller has found herself in some public conversations in recent years. As a PhD, writer, and soon to be author, her voice is one of encouragement to women pursuing Jesus. She sifts through Scripture to discern if particular expectations and behaviors are cultural or are indeed directed by God's word. Sharon holds a posture of listening to learn. Whether with friends who bring difference to the conversation or her own Bible, she wants to know what is, so she can better understand and walk through the doors God is opening.
We talk with Sharon about her research, the impact of speaking to others about their potential, and the value of having a support system cheering you on. We hear why she started writing years ago, how her writing platform has grown and created some interesting online interactions, and how asking for help is one of her must haves in life. We learn a little about her new book, Free of Me, and the difference between diminishing ourselves and right-sizing ourselves to God's greatness.
Sharon's warmth comes through in this interview. We are sure you will find her to be a woman on your side as you pursue a life of following Jesus. She is humble in her accomplishments, takes a posture of learning both in the classroom and the living room, and points us all away from ourselves and back to the greatness that is God. You will feel her gentle nudge to pursue Jesus with a sincere heart after listening to our conversation.
What happens when life changes suddenly? Gari Mitchell was living her regular life in 1988. She was taking her two kids to school, enjoying tennis with her friends, when she had a routine sinus surgery. She woke up to debilitating depression that lasted for ten years. And then a phone call a few years later from the FBI changed her new normal even further. The following months resulted in her husband, Bo, going to prison for ten months while Gari tried to hold their life together.
-
A woman whose life was turned upside down a few times, she found an intense intimacy and dependence on God. With years now since those events went down, she can see with a clarity that time and perspective offer that God’s presence was palpable and her own growth exponential during those difficult years. She talks about her children's journey, how she was spiritually prepared for the difficult when it came, and how those years impacted her marriage for the better.
-
Gari’s story is one of life changing dramatically and quickly, of feeling as though the rug had been pulled out from under her. It is a story of clinging to Jesus in the middle of the darkness, wondering if life will ever feel good again. It is one of perseverance, and ultimately victory, because God was right there in the middle of the heartache. Yes, Gari’s story is one for the sisterhood because it is about those doors we must walk through and find God on the other side.
Like a sleeping giant, anger can sit dormant or relatively calm until we become parents. Then, suddenly, it can feel like it wakes up and takes over. If you feel that parenting triggers anger, on any level, this podcast is for you.
My guests for this episode, Amber Lia and Wendy Speake, are the authors of Triggers: Exchanging Parent’s Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses.We discuss common parenting issues that cause us to explode inappropriately at our children. Moving beyond simple parenting tips on how to change your child’s behavior, Amber and Wendy offer biblical insight that gets to the deeper internal places of the heart.
From setting reminders on your phone, to coming up with new plans for old patterns, to affirming positive behavior, we discuss practical ways that parents can break the cycle of anger and emerge more patient, kind, grace-filled and effective.
What happens when prayers aren’t being answered? At least in the way we are asking God to answer them? When the circumstances we desperately want to change, don’t? In this episode we talk about this with our guest Ann Swindell. Her new book, Still Waiting, is birthed from her own experience of moving through life within the context of unanswered prayers. Where she has been still waiting.
We talk with Ann about living with trichotillomania, postpartum depression, and years of unanswered prayers. This is a conversation about calling out what we hope for and trusting God regardless of his timing. This is not a faith for the faint of heart. But one that believes God is good regardless of circumstances because that is his nature. There's no question this is the part of life that is hard. We are here to talk about the difficult places.
For the woman who is crying out to God and waiting for his answers. For the woman who wants to be compassionate to her sister on that journey. For the woman who needs to be reminded that God’s promises are dependable, but don’t always arrive in the packaging we expect. This is the sisterhood.
Lisa Whittle is a woman who gets to the bottom of things quickly. She calls herself a bottom line person. So she tells it as she sees it, but always with a humble spirit. This combination of self disclosure with honest (and sometimes uncomfortable) truth makes her a voice worth listening to in this noisy world.
A mom of three, we cover Lisa's latest adventures of moving, and then moving a year later back into the same house, feeding high school football players, holding to her own family's plans loosely while trying to discern God's voice and direction. You will be inspired as she talks about getting tired of her own comfort and pushing toward Jesus regardless of the cost, letting go of her own ideas of how his plan should go, and recognizing her change is sometimes God's intended outcome. We hear about Lisa's new book Put Your Warrior Boots On, what opening her home looks like now, and what she thinks it might look like in the future.
Lisa's straight forward style seasoned with humor makes her both endearing and relatable. You won't want to miss this conversation with a trusted sister. A great one to share with any woman who is tired of living a flat faith and is willing to put sensible, reasonable options aside in order to follow God to unexpected places even if it might seem crazy by the world's standards.
Change is an inevitable part of life. Whether we are looking at personal or cultural shifts, dead end roads, a strained relationship, or a season of crisis, we will be forced to deal with transitions. What we get to choose, however, is how we navigate that challenge.
Ken Wytsma, author, speaker, innovator, and social entrepreneur, shares with us how we can explore various aspects of creativity and imagination that lead us toward a healthy, confident, more innovative life mindset -- one that helps us harness creativity to take charge of our lives, navigate changing times, and ultimately, flourish and succeed.
You will walk away from this interview with countless nuggets of wisdom that you can apply to your life today, in whatever situation you are facing. Personally, the concepts discussed in this episode have been life-changing for me and came at the perfect moment in time.
Our prayer is that this will be an interview that will come to you at just the right time as well.
Catherine McNiel found herself in the middle of mothering. Pregnant, with two small children already underfoot, she was forced to tackle the question, what happens to a mom's spiritual journey? Do exhaustion and distraction prevent mothers everywhere from having a deep and meaningful spiritual life? Or does God perhaps have a rich spiritual journey available to moms right here and now?
In her book Long Days of Small Things, Catherine tackles this question by discovering the spiritual disciplines already built into a mother's days. She shares some of those practices with us on this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, (along with her favorite apps and go-to drink.) An encouraging conversation for any mom who has ever wondered, can I connect with God during these minutes, days, years of caring for small people and living in the middle of the mundane?
A great episode to share with your mama friends and to take this episode with you as you complete your everyday, not-so-glamorous, tasks. A conversation for the laundry folding, swim team driving, kitchen sweeping activities. Because these small moments are the doors that God has opened for us, and no door is too small, or too insignificant, for his purposes.
Ruth Bell Olsson has ended up in some places she didn't expect. Whether in the middle of The Congo talking with victims of sexual violence, or leading a needle exchange for intravenous drug users in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, her destination is often not what she had in mind when beginning her journey. But it is always people that bring her to these unexpected places. Those she is journeying with who challenge her to think in a new way about God's world, and those she is serving in the moment who help her see God's love with more clarity. People and their stories draw her in. One step leads to another and...voila...another unexpected place.
We are sure you will feel inspired, challenged, and moved by Ruth's description of her journey as an adult, going deeper in her faith to love her neighbor in new and difficult ways. You'll hear how her church experience put her in a position to learn about HIV/AIDS, advocate for those living with the disease, and grow in friendship with unlikely partners. We hear Ruth's desire to be available for God and others, what it means to her to have a teachable spirit, and how she avoids clutter of any kind. Ruth's is a story of growth and transformation. One that begins with the plea for others to teach her and show her and for her willingness to listen.
You won't want to miss this interview with Ruth. She calls herself an advocate. We call her a friend to many. An hour of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast well worth your time.
Whether you had an amazing father growing up, or one that caused deep wounds and pain, every one us can speak to the power of a father. The relationship we have with our father affects us in profound ways.
In this special Father's Day episode, Dr. Meg Meeker, author, renowned speaker, and pediatrician, joins me in talking about how every father has within him the ability to be the hero his children need. We also talk about how women and specifically, moms, play an important role in making this successful. Whether you are married, divorced, or widowed, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Our children desperately need their fathers and this vital relationship will determine the stability they feel in the world and determine the future decisions they make.
As the author of Hero: Being the Strong Father Your Children Need, Dr. Meeker takes us by the hand and mentors a nation on how fathers can put on not only the name father, but hero.
Kelsey Hency was looking for a place to read and write. She couldn't find what she was looking for, so she created something new. Fathom, an online magazine for Christians who wrestle with the issues, who don't always find their voice in the current narratives, who perhaps ask more questions than they find answers. If you are a reader, a person who wonders, a question asker, even a doubter, join us for this conversation with Kelsey. You won't be disappointed.
In this hour we cover Kelsey's journey to create Fathom, some great reads and her favorite cookbooks. (Spoiler alert: both she and Krista have made marshmallows from scratch, Alex is nowhere in their culinary category.) We talk about curiosity, how to utilize the people around you when working within the limits of your actual life, and of course a few cooking tips. Kelsey may be as close to a Renaissance woman as the sisterhood as yet to find. She covers art, writing, seminary, living overseas and the candy thermometer in less than hour.
We are sure you will be just as smitten with Kelsey as we now are.
Kristin Schell wants to be a front yard person. In an effort to do life in a way that was accessible to her neighbors, to facilitate relationships in their everyday experiences, she put a picnic table in her front yard and painted it turquoise. She had no idea that would become a movement of turquoise tables around the country.
You'll hear in this episode that Kristin is a dear friend to both Alex and Krista. She shares a love of hospitality, food and the table. As she discovers ways to get to know and build connections with her own neighbors, she shares tips with her readers.
In this episode, on the actual launch day of her new book, The Turquoise Table, we talk about hospitality, what can happen at a front yard table, how shepherds' pie can be modified without lamb, and Kristin's new partnership with the Tuesday Morning retail chain. Don't miss this conversation in our own virtual front yard. May the sisterhood be a turquoise table right here for you to stop by, listen, and make new friends.
Does it feel like technology is taking over your life? Do you feel frustrated, sad, and discouraged when every person in your family is glued to a screen rather than interacting with one another? You're not alone. Research shows that we all are struggling with the screens that sits comfortably at our fingertips.
Andy Crouch, executive editor of Christianity Today and author of The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place joins Hey Sister! today to discuss how we can utilize the best parts of technology for good, but also reclaim our relationships and balance with our devices.
Making good choices about technology in our families is more than just using internet filters and determining screen-time limits. It's about building character, wisdom, and courage rather than accepting technology's promises of ease and instant gratification. It's about developing our heart, mind, soul, and strength when were tempted to settle for entertainment and consumer satisfaction.
You will not want to miss this episode that addresses one of the biggest issues facing our generation. You will walk away with a better idea of what family is for, what we can do to put technology in check, and how we can cast a larger vision for what kind of people we want ourselves and our family members to become.
Mary DeMuth strives to live with a generous spirit. And by all measures we think she is living out her desire. A writer and speaker in her career, she makes it her business to help other writers with their business. Whether in a mastermind group or on her website, Mary promised herself years ago that she would not hide any insider tricks, but rather would help others as they pursued their call to write out words for God's glory.
In our conversation on the podcast we hear about Mary's love of cooking, how her palette changed when she lived in France, how she formed her own personal prayer team, and how the garden taught her to choose small and tend large. We hear about her decision to write about her family despite hurtful details, what her word for the year is and why she works to build an email list of readers. In true Open Door Sisterhood form, this is an interview that is part practical, part inspirational.
For any person who wonders how to get feedback from others, who wants to change patterns developed in their early years, who finds gardening or cooking a metaphor for life, this episode is for you. We invite you to get to know Mary better as we talk through the open doors she has walked through in the last decade.
Lisa-Jo Baker knows a few things about friendship. As the manager of the (in)courage community she has set a space for women to experience belonging in both the online space and real world arena. Her new book, Never Unfriended, tackles the tricky dynamics of female friendships: why are they important, the roadblocks to finding, growing and sustaining healthy relationships, and how we can move past those blocks toward healthy, mutual friendships.
In our conversation with Lisa-Jo we hear about her most recent move in the D.C. area, how that put her in a position to look for new friends and how awkward always plays a part in that process. We cover reaching out to the "new girl" when our lives already feel full, how to move past friendship wounds from the past, and how God meets our needs in ways no friend (or husband or child or parent) ever can.
We are sure you will love Lisa-Jo as much as we do. She is honest, fun and insightful as she talks through a topic all women must deal with: friendships. Whether you feel confident in this area or can name specific wounds from the past, you will gain insight into how to be a good friend to others while experiencing the joy of God-gifted friendships.
Drained. Exhausted. Empty. Barren. Does this describe how you feel? Most of us reach a point at some time in our lives where we feel like we're camped in dry land. When we get to this place we don't have the energy or the motivation to dream or move forward in our areas of giftedness and calling.
Suanne Camfield joins us today to help us find water in the desert. She guides us through what it feels like to have a stirring deep inside of us and how God guides and shapes us through that sense of calling. We talk about how our goal shouldn't be a vocation or even discernment, but rather how our aim should focus on becoming the person God designed us to be. It is about having the wisdom and courage to step into the places of our most vulnerable longings.
In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast, Elisa Morgan does what she does so well, she draws us in with her combination of storytelling, humor and insight. A communicator on the stage, page and radio waves to audiences around the world Elisa is an author of 25 books, speaker, radio host, mom, wife, grandmother and President Emerita of MOPS International. She has a lifetime of leadership experience. It has not all been easy (perhaps the biggest understatement of they year!), but she has done her best to be obedient in each call and season.
Our conversation with Elisa covers parenting the teenager who is in rebellion mode, what it means to be called and "uncalled" in ministry, and how she lives these days as interruptible as possible. From marriage after the kids leave home to reminding our teenagers about who they uniquely are, Elisa offers wisdom for women wanting to love those around them well. She is bold and fun and vulnerable in this hour of conversation.
In true Elisa fashion we are laughing as we are learning through her storytelling and insights throughout our conversation. You won't want to miss this part tender, part truth-filled episode of the podcast. A perfect addition to your hour long commute or chores at home. Push play and join the sisterhood!
Christie Purifoy gets her hands dirty. Her garden and property Maplehurst, are her current places to create. As a former English professor she lived for years in a thought-centered creative space. Her new physical space and work feed her writing in a different way. A mom of four she fit right in with Alex and Krista as they talked books, cooking and having space for people to enter a family home. Join their conversation as they cover seasons, grief, and some of this former English's professor's favorite reads.
This episode is perfect for Spring as many of us are looking outside and even planting a few seeds in our own gardens. You will hear how Christie landed at her Pennsylvania farmhouse named Maplehurst, the things she was looking for in her new home and the process of letting go of the career track she'd always pictured. Tragedy hit Christie's family this year. We talk through what that has meant for her and how her book's release landed right in the initial weeks of grief.
We are certain you will enjoy this talk about writing, expectations, cycles of creation, cooking, making, gardening, and the creative life. We found an instant friend in Christie and we think you will as well. A completely delightful hour that we invite you to enjoy.
Do you have a big event coming up? Maybe a graduation party, a wedding, a family reunion, a milestone birthday, or a baby shower? Me too. That’s why I decided to reach out to my friend, Michele Dirks, for help with the details.
As a former caterer, Michele is the master at planning for large groups of people. Whether in her home at her famous annual Christmas party, or feeding 500 in a rural Honduran village, this woman embodies the gift of hospitality on a grand scale.
Today we talk about the nuts and bolts of planning for a party: budget, how to work on a timeline, what kind of food to serve, how to think creatively about theme and decorations, how to keep food cool and/or hot, and what not to forget. Using my upcoming graduation party as an example, Michele walks us through party planning 101.
I have no doubt you will walk away from this episode more equipped to get out there and throw a crazy good party that will be a gift to your family and friends!
All recipes and products mentioned are in the show notes on theopendoorsisterhood.com
Some people have a moment in life when everything changes. Rebekah Gregory is one of those people. A spectator at the 2013 Boston Marathon, Rebekah was standing near the finish line with her five-year old son Noah and some friends when a bomb went off only a few feet behind her. Rebekah's life was spared, but after months in the hospital and dozens of surgeries she eventually lost her left leg. This is a true story of courage, perseverance, and moving forward despite life's unexpected turns.
In this inspiring and emotionally charged interview (yes the hosts might shed a tear or two), we hear one mother's story of pushing through tragedy for the sake of her child. Rebekah walks us through the day of the marathon, how her legs acted as a shield protecting her son, and the heroic people who walked into a danger zone to save her life. We hear the details of the trauma on her body and emotions over the following months and how her life is changed today.
We are sure you will be inspired by Rebekah's story and share The Open Door Sisterhood's appreciation of her mutual strength and vulnerability. She reminds us sometimes the doors we walk through are ones we never hope for and God is still present in them. Won't you join us in listening to this beautiful story of hope despite tragedy?
There is a difference between the absence of fear and being "fearless". Kelly Balarie talks to The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast about what it means to fear just a little bit less with each decision and step, how worry and anxiety are rooted in fear, and how fear prevents us from loving others well. We hear about Kelly's journey to overcoming fear and about that one time her husband took her out to dinner and asked her what she was doing with her life. Kelly's book Fear Fighting was featured on The Today Show when Kathy Lee Gifford chose it as one of her favorite things of 2016! (Let's give a sisterhood cheer for that!)
Kelly says if God is love, Satan is fear. We must fight fear because it prevents us from living in God's freedom. We spend our time worrying about what we can't control instead of living in God's immediate grace. In this episode we cover the difference between saying "I'm sorry" and "Will you forgive me?", the importance of teaching our children forgiveness, and how living in grace can help us fight fear in our own heads. We also cover asking restaurants for their recipes, how a sunset top's off any moment and the ways different translations of the Bible speak to us in fresh language.
Please join us for this interview that is in true Open Door Sisterhood spirit, part inspirational, part practical, as we tackle the topic of fear and how it can manifest itself in different ways. And you don't want to miss the creamed corn discussion. Because who doesn't love some creamed corn goodness?
Shame is a buzz word in our culture, but do we really know what it is, and what it does to our inner self? What about our children? How does shame manifest itself in our kids, and does our parenting unintentionally foster that?
Psychologist and author Kelly Flanagan joins me to break down the nature of shame, and also to talk about how we can awaken to embrace our truest, worthiest selves and then allow ourselves to be embraced by others. One of my favorite conversations to date, and the very first male (!!!) on the podcast, Kelly helps us understand that healing and spiritual growth progress from worthiness, through belonging, and then into a sense of purpose.
You may also know Kelly from his letters to his daughter that went viral (see links in below). This conversation will not only inform and shape you, but if you have children, your parenting as well. Don’t miss it!
A Daddy’s Letter to His Little Girl (about her future husband)
Words from a Father to His Daughter (from the make-up aisle)
Mo Isom was a Division I college soccer player when she asked God to wreck her life. And that's exactly what he did. Mo was playing goalkeeper for Louisiana State University, her father had recently taken his own life and she was pondering the purpose in hers. She found herself upside down (literally!) in her car. The overwhelming encounter she had with God in the minutes immediately following this severe car accident gave her new eyes to see the life in front of her.
As a senior at LSU, she found herself in another whirlwind of sorts when she decided to be the first female to try out for an SEC football team. Whether a car crash or media storm, Mo learned to hold onto God in the middle of it, focusing in on her character, obedience and trust through every step. In this interview we hear Mo's story, her desire to go where God sends and her family life now.
We laughed through this great conversation, immediately feeling a kinship with Mo and we know you will too. Her open, straight talk immediately lets you know she is not holding back. We are sure you will love this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.
You might be surprised to know the depths of Liz Curtis Higgs' story. This woman who has written more than 30 books, and is a popular conference speaker, had some difficult early adult years. Her attempts to find comfort and relief through self-destructive behaviors were interrupted when someone told her the truth of God's love. This truly was good news. It was life transforming, so much so, those around her took notice. She's been talking about Jesus and studying the characters of the Bible ever since.
In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast we focus in on Liz's story, the Easter story, and how God used women specifically in Scripture and continues to use them around the world today. A conversation that reminds us that there is nothing, simply nothing, that disqualifies us from receiving God's love. From the story of the prodigal son, to Mary of Bethany, to the cross with Jesus' mother Mary, and finally Mary Magdalene, Liz reminds us over and over that God meets us where we are, is concerned for us in every circumstance and releases us to tell others about his forgiveness.
As we approach Easter we relish this conversation with Liz. She helps us see the human side of these characters as they encounter the holy in the middle of their pain. We hope you listen in and remember the Easter story is for you.
Do you want to learn to manage money better? Do you want to know how to make your money work for you? Financial expert and author Ericka Young is visiting with sisterhood today to help. Ericka is the president and founder of Tailor-Made Budgets which she opened in 2005 after she and her husband Chris were able to climb their way out of nearly $100,000 in debt. Ericka just released her new book, “Naked and Unashamed: 10 Money Conversations Every Couple Must Have” in February 2017, which hit the Amazon Bestseller List.
In the podcast we cover why women are such a critical factor in the family budget, what programs work best, what prevents us from getting the financial help we need, and how to have helpful conversations with your spouse about finances. We also cover how to teach our kids about managing money and what we can do to better educate them as they grow up.
Plus, don't miss Ericka's favorite budget-friendly go-to meals at the end of the episode. This is a practical and helpful episode that will move you toward greater financial freedom and strength.
Heather Avis has learned that the lucky few are people who find God's wonder in unexpected places. A mom of three, in this episode we hear about Heather's adoption journey, how Down Syndrome entered her life, and what her first book The Lucky Few is all about. A fresh, candid, joy-filled voice of parenting in the everyday, Heather will feel like an instant friend. She reminds us all that sometimes the fear of the unknown is much worse than the reality of what God has for us in it. In fact that very thing we fear can become the vehicle for us to experience more of God's grace.
A conversation every mom will be able to relate to, Heather is an advocate for adoption and for parenting kids with special needs. She has developed an Instagram account, Macy Makes My Day, intended to show the positive side of life with Down Syndrome. Through this account she has gained friends and community that have spilled into her physical life as well. We talk Sundance Film Festival swag (we all want to know, right?!), Trader Joe's, and California livin'.
Whether a mom of a typically developing child, or one with special needs, you will gain some encouragement and ideas about how you can advocate for all kids in your community. Whether a mom through birth or adoption, you will hear your own story in Heather's as she talks love and strong-willed kids. Whether a mom or not, you will be reminded that the lucky few find God in unexpected places.
It can feel awkward knocking on a neighbor's door. Even more so if small talk is not your thing. For introverts the desire to love others well must be balanced with their own need for alone time to refuel. Kendra Broekhuis went into a 30-day challenge to love her neighbors unaware that her introverted tendencies would be significant. Until they were.
Listen to his interview with fellow introvert (and fellow INFJ) Alex while Krista, the extrovert in the threesome, digs in. From the benefits to living in an apartment building to moving relationships from the casual to the intentional, everyone will be able to relate to the desire for connection wherever we're placed.
You'll hear Kendra's actual life, the voices of her small children, chorusing in the background as she talks with The Open Door Sisterhood about hosting when you're not a cook, finding commonalities as starting places for new relationships, and reaching past them to make friends who are a reflection of God's diverse creation.
If we could figure out the formula for how to be happy and execute that equation everyday we would. But happiness isn't quite that easy. There are many facets to what creates a happy life, a happy mind, and a happy environment. It is one of the most universally desired emotions, and yet one of the hardest to achieve.
Happiness expert, and author of The Happiness Dare, Jennifer Dukes Lee, joins me on this episode to break down the question, what exactly is happiness and how do we get it? What elements in life create happiness, and which ones destroy it? What does God have to say about happiness? We hear all of the time, "God is more concerned with our character than our comfort," so doesn't that mean He doesn't really care if we are happy? We talk about these questions and more.
Jennifer also walks us through her happiness quiz. Learn to identify your happiness style and why that is important as you relate to the world and people around you. You may be surprised at what makes you feel truly happy!
Sarah Jakes Roberts grew up in the spotlight. As the daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes her teenage insecurities were fueled by living in the public eye. She became pregnant at 13, had her baby at 14 and began her parenting journey. Now the mom of 6 with her husband Touré Roberts, Sarah is maneuvering the life of a blended family while co-pastoring their own church in Hollywood, CA.
In this episode Sarah's life experience is evident. Her wisdom is clear as she talks through how to find your place as stepmom (and how to support your children's stepmom), what it means to teach kids about healthy boundaries through living in overflow, and the need to "forgive and remember" in order to prevent entering into familiar yet unhealthy patterns. Her tone is warm and her words ring of truth. You can tell she wants the best for women and uses honesty about her own life as a starting place to talk through choices and responses.
This transparent conversation with Sarah is quintessential Open Door Sisterhood because it is both practical and inspirational. You will leave feeling understood, spurred on to do better, with some practical approaches to facing the uncomfortable in order to thrive. This isn't a show about skimming over the issues, but rather recognizing the pain that might be hidden and how it informs our decisions today.
Though Esther Fleece is in one of the happiest seasons of her life, having just exchanged wedding vows only a couple of months ago, this wasn't always the case. Abandoned by both of her parents by the time she was a teenager, Esther is no stranger to deep and profound loss.
With heart-breaking honesty, Esther opens up about a pivotal moment in her childhood when she was positioned in a court room to divide her parents. This set her on a course to hide her pain, pretend she was okay, and "suck it up." And she did... for many years.
After traveling the world with a well known organization, speaking to large crowds, and climbing the ladder in her career, Esther's world came crashing down when she could no longer run from the painful past that haunted her. It was then that she went on a journey that led her to the language of lament.
In the interview we not only talk about her personal story, but also discuss what lament is, why we need it, and how it heals us. We also dive into what mental illness does to a family, why the church must be careful about what it says about pain and loss, and how we can use scripture to guide us toward wholeness.
This interview invites us into the language of lament and how we can learn to speak it in our own lives. Join us!
Culture is talking about sex. The music and movie industry is talking about sex -- all.the.time. Is the church? Are we communicating enough about what healthy sex looks like in marriage? Real-life sex, not just how it is portrayed on the silver screen.
Do men have a greater sex drive than women? What is mutual sex? How is pornography affecting the marriage bed? How do we have honest conversations with our spouse about this topic? What is the deal with the 50 Shades craze? Krista covers all of this and more with guest Dorothy Greco.
Dorothy Littell Greco is a photographer, writer, and author. She writes on how following Jesus changes everything in places such as Christianity Today and Relevant Magazine. Her first book, Making Marriage Beautiful, was released at the beginning of 2017.
Listen in on our conversation today about how to improve sex in marriage in order to breathe new life into our primary relationship.
Jessie Minassian just made a big move and finds herself nestled in the middle of a national forest, hours from anything more than a country store. Her relocation to Hume Lake with her family was a big transition, but an answer to her prayer of "Lord send me". A woman willing to join God in what he is already doing, this is just one ways that Jessie has said "yes" in recent years to the open door in front of her.
Jessie's warmth shines through our conversation as she talks through parenting teenagers, writing Bible studies, and transitioning her own girls out of homeschooling. Her desire to walk through the doors God opens, whatever they might be, is evident in every aspect of her life. She is a woman who loves a good pen and Amazon Prime, and maybe, just maybe, sunbathes on her dining room table (you'll need to listen to the end to hear about that).
You won't want to miss this delight of a mom, friend and sister that joins us for this round of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.
Founder of the IF:Gathering, author, and Bible teacher, Jennie Allen inspires women to encounter God. She works hard at the work in front of her and a few years ago realized she might be working too hard, trying to prove to everyone that she was good enough, up to the task. Her journey to let go of expectations and allow God to do his job is chronicled in her new book Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard.
In our conversation with Jennie we talk through letting go of approval. We cover everything from God taking us to places where trust is required in order to increase our dependence on him, to how and why Jennie prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" this last year, to our call to disciple a few within our immediate reach. This interview will inspire you to trust more and strive less as Jennie reminds us of God's sovereign plans.
If you're a woman who is tempted to perform, who seeks approval from God, who is slightly exhausted from all of the striving, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Jennie challenges us to let go of control and walk in obedience no matter the cost because God's plans are good. His plans can be hard, but they're always good.
New York Times bestselling author and Proverbs 31 speaker, Karen Ehman, lives on alert. She waits to hear "heart drops", those hints that indicate a way to someone's heart, so she can best love those around her while managing the demands of her busy life. Karen is excellent at taking a broad topic like "loving well" and breaking it down to practical steps we all can follow.
In this interview we cover everything from how to schedule check-ins with friends to how to offer teenagers a soft landing place in your home. Karen's honesty about her own struggles with listening and loving without distraction normalizes the challenges to putting this life of other-centered living into practice. She reminds us how pausing in the middle of our normal busy to focus on someone else's needs and offers hope that small efforts can make big impact.
You won't want to miss Karen's wisdom in both this interview and her newest book. She is simultaneously encouraging and challenging as she reminds us of God's call to love those around us.
Valentine's Day....a day of love! Whether you are snuggling up with a honey, making dozens of cookies for class parties, or wondering why we have this holiday in the first place, we invite you to join us for our first annual Things We Love! episode.
This is about fun and practical. Please know that the things most dear to our hearts aren't actually things at all. But if you were to buy us some Valentine's gifts, these might be on our wish lists. And we think you should know about them too (also please know none of these are sponsored responses, they truly are our go-to items.)
So go ahead and listen in. We are delighted you have joined us for this Valentine's Day special. No matter what day of the year you are listening, we hope you feel loved.
We go into some interviews knowing the guest will offer The Open Door Sisterhood a wealth of wisdom. Author Patricia Raybon was one of those and so we jumped right into the big stuff. From race relations to divided families we wanted to make sure not a minute of this episode with one of our favorites was wasted. As you listen you will hear Patricia's tender nature and years of life and walking with Christ speak through her.
Patricia shares some about what it is to be "living while black" in today's climate, her relationship with her Muslim daughter, and the simple steps we can take to move toward people (like actually saying "hello" to our neighbors) in a time where divisions feel strong. Her approach is humble and wise. Truly a dear conversation with a woman who does not oversimplify issues and yet does not over-complicate her responses to them.
Patricia's signature honesty speaks to what it is to step into the uncomfortable in order to be more in step with God's purposes on earth. If ever there was an episode of The Open Door Sisterhood worth listening to, it's this one. We are sure you will walk away encouraged to walk through that next open door.
It's February, and many of the New Year's Goals we created are starting to fade into the distant past. Are you tired of setting goals and failing? In this episode we talk about how to set goals that will actually stick, what the keys are to successful goal setting, and how we can address the mind, body, AND spirit in the process.
This short episode will encourage you and give you practical tools for improving your life - one small step forward at a time.
Designer and now author, Erin Loechner, is up these days (or we should say nights) with a baby. A baby she went to retrieve from the hospital as soon as she received a phone call. That seems to be how Erin's life works. From starting a website to a show on HGTV.com, Erin and her husband follow adventure. Or adventure follows them.
From the midwest, to Hollywood, back to the midwest, Erin's journey has often been fast and furious. But her new book Chasing Slow is about just that, deciding to live life at a slower pace one intentional decision at a time. Her popular site DesignForMankind.com has reflected that life change. Starting as a holding place for design ideas, the site now peeks into Erin's family life and newfound pace.
Join us as we hear Erin's story and how she is embracing her total parts these days. We cover her whirlwind adoption story, how she found herself in Hollywood and why detours work for her. We know you will find a kindred spirit in this creative mama who jumps right into work and love. We found her to be simply delightful.
A Sister Interview with a Latin flair, in this episode Monica Rovira brings the world to the sisterhood, reminding us how God is working through women around the globe. A native Colombian living in her adopted country of Guatemala, adapting resources for a U.S. ministry to meet the needs of Latin American women, Monica truly is a world changer.
Monica leads MOPS International's efforts in Latin America, working to introduce moms with young children to God's love. Throughout our conversation it is evident that Monica has the beautiful combination of vision and hard work that allows her to partner with God as he does his work. We talk through cultural differences between developing and developed countries, how event planning is different in Latin American culture than in the U.S. and why she works to keep her support network happy. Monica reminds us that relationships are the foundation for support and that when we approach other cultures with a posture of listening and learning those relationships can flourish.
From how to keep vision fresh, to trusting God through every open door, you won't want to miss our conversation with this sister.The first Open Door Sisterhood Podcast episode recorded with someone who lives outside the United States, we're sure you will be inspired to reach outside your daily norm through relationships.
A bottoming out of life can lead us to ask questions. Like who am I? Really? Michele Cushatt's battle with cancer did just that. As a professional speaker who lost a good portion of her tongue to the disease, as a mom who was too sick to get off the couch for many months, for a woman who was used to convincing herself that she was capable to take on the next thing, she had to re-examine where her identity truly lay.
You will be challenged and inspired in this conversation with Michele as we talk through what a true identity in Christ looks like, how we often have to have loss to find it, and the difference between depression and grief. We talk through what it means to be a good friend, qualities to look for in safe friends and what makes one qualified to step into her calling. From self-doubt to loss, Michele gives us some tips on how to become unstuck and find purpose no matter our stage of life or circumstances. It has to do with our assets and the needs right around us.
You want want to miss this episode of coaching from the expert coach herself. Turn on the treadmill, get out the laundry, this is going to be one great hour!
Esther Emery and her family just moved...from a yurt to a cabin she and her husband built from scratch with trees from their property. She is a homesteader, working on the skills of homemaking and sharing her experiences and knowledge with her followers. It is an intentional, alternative lifestyle. And one she wasn't planning on. Until life got difficult a few years ago and things needed to change.
In this episode we talk with Esther about the heartache that caused some external changes (like going off of the internet for a year), which led to internal reflections and work (her own coming to faith and reconciliation with her husband). We talk through what it means to choose to love your spouse and choose to trust when that very trust has been broken, the benefit of stopping and slowing down as a family, and the determination to make the ordinary count. From homeschooling to canning Esther's life is filled with connection to God's creation.
At a time of year where we talk all about fresh starts, fashion may be a place you look to toss out the old and welcome the new. After all, sales at the mall are in full post-holiday swing. But what if fashion is more than buying that trending riding boot or Patagonia pullover? What if style is actually much deeper than that, and an expression of our spiritual nature?
In this interview, fashionista Meghan Cobble sheds some light on confidence, body type, what makes a person beautiful, and how to choose the right colors. Blending faith and fashion, a duo rarely seen together, you will walk away with a new perspective and more equipped in how to express yourself to the world.
Alisa Keeton has always been a fitness fanatic, but as her faith deepened so did her understanding of what physical wellness is about. In order to minister to people's whole selves ... body, mind and spirit... she founded Revelation Wellness, an approach that works on making people physically fit so they might serve God in the world. Alisa's passion is undeniable and you will be inspired as you hear her talk about the purpose behind caring for our bodies and making them strong in order to be healthy and how physical health can help us become healthy in other areas of our lives.
In our conversation we hear how Alisa unwinds with her husband and two children, how and why they've implemented an evening family hour, what being 'whole' means to her, and the difference between being skinny and being fit. Revelation Wellness offers workout options for every fitness level and body size. On-line or in person classes bring fun, fitness and faith to men and women around the globe. As you listen to Alisa, it will be evident that her desire to inspire and instruct has created a network of Fitness Teachers / Gospel Preachers.
Do you need to re-center on the heart of Christmas? In this short, 17-minute Hey Sister! special, Krista and her family read scripture to instrumental Christmas music. Play it while you drive, while you light the Advent candles, while you take a run, wrap the final gift, sit by the tree.
Sisters, let's share the reading of scripture together.
The professional young woman has a unique set of life circumstances. Kat Armstrong wants her to know the Gospel of Jesus fits right there in the midst of them. However many professional women in their 20s and 30s are deciding church doesn't have a place for them. Polished is an outreach Kat helped found to gather young professional women with the idea of introducing them to the Gospel and to a local church.
In this episode we'll hear about Kat's process as she co-founded Polished with her friend Stephanie Giddons, how it has grown from an initial chapter to multiple sites, what it takes to start a new chapter and why they work so hard to make it all happen.
Kat is a mom, a pastor's wife and a passionate ambassador for Jesus right where she is. A world changer for good we like to call it around here at the sisterhood. Won't you listen to this episode? We are certain you will fall smitten with Kat, just as we were when we interviewed her. She is articulate, passionate and resourceful. This is an episode for any woman who cares that the women around her know God's love.
Mom of four girls Kari Kampakis is working to help girls everywhere navigate social media. What does that mean? Well it means getting to the heart of matter: what is your identity grounded in and whose approval are you seeking? These are the questions central to Kari's new book Liked: Whose approval are you living for? for tween and teen girls.
In this episode, Kari joins Krista and Alex as they talk through how to parent while not being the helicopter mom, helping girls decide when they're ready to jump into the world of social media, and having boundaries with technology use when girls are with their friends in person. This is a mom-to-mom conversation that moms of both tween and teen boys and girls will find helpful.
In the third part of our three part Christmas series Less Stuff, More Memoriesco-hostesses Alex and Krista focus on incorporating the story of Jesus' birth into the season's routines and activities. From stories and activities your preschooler will participate in, to ways you can incorporate spiritual rituals with tweens and teens, Alex and Krista share how they incorporate the nativity into Advent.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we cherish the Christmas season because it refocuses many aspects of our life on this holiday that commemorates our Savior's birth. Won't you join us for this episode as we talk through some practical steps as we steward the sacred story and pass it on to our children?
From favorite children's books to sacred music there are some intentional moves we can make as we keep this holiday season sacred.
Oh Christmas traditions! They can be so much fun! And they can be so much stress! In the second part of our three part series, Less Stuff, More Memories, Krista and Alex talk through how to create meaningful, memorable traditions during the holiday season with your family, when to take a break from a tradition and involving kids in the planning and execution of things they enjoy. Because traditions are about memories, not stuff, and that's our hope for this Christmas.
Traditions are about creating a sense of belonging that speaks into each member of a group or family's identity. Not in an obvious way, but in a subtle, "this is who we are" way. Let's make traditions something sustainable, fun and flexible as we plan out our time together. Is it time to modify an old standby? Drop a tradition that was good for a season? Or even start a new one? Can we say "we'll try this" without feeling the lifetime commitment the tradition word can hold? Join us in this conversation as we explore what it means to have meaningful Christmas traditions.
Christmas is known for its magic. It is also known for spending, stuff and stress. Why not recenter on what makes Christmas fun and meaningful? That is why we are doing a series on Less Stuff, More Memories. In this series we break down topics of gifts, traditions and the spirit of Christmas so we can focus on making memories with those we love. This holiday season doesn’t have to be about the stuff, it can be about the memories and the people who share them and ultimately the person. Jesus who came as a baby because God so loved the world.
This first in our three-part series covers gift giving. How can we give less stuff? And when we do give tangible items, how can we make them meaningful? Krista and Alex talk through how to give gifts that show love, alternatives to tangible things, and making gifts memorable and unique to the recipient.
No matter your Christmas budget you'll find this episode to be full of different ideas for the kids and grown-ups on your shopping list.
Linda Lawrence Hunt is no stranger to loss. After two bouts of breast cancer, losing her brother and parents, and walking through the loss of her daughter, Krista, in a tragic accident in Bolivia, Linda has known the pain that most only fear. Linda herself went on a journey, desperate to discover how to find hope in the midst of such sorrow.
Springing out of the place rose The Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship, a tribute to her daughter's work and heart for people around the world, and her recent book, Pilgrimage Through Loss: Pathways to Strength and Renewal After the Death of a Child.
But even if you or a loved one haven't suffered a loss to that degree, this interview is for anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind - from a death, to a loss of health, to a loss of a relationship, or the loss of financial stability.
Linda offers hope, light, and strength to anyone traveling through the dark valley of loss.
We recorded this episode with Tricia Goyer while she had fourteen people in her home. So if it sounds like she is hiding in the bathroom, it's because she is. But this is the norm for this mom of ten who manages to feed people one soup pot at a time. Where her approach is an open-handed one trusting God to provide food, space and energy to love those under her roof.
You’ll hear how Tricia’s family grew from an unplanned pregnancy when she was 17-years old to the large family she has today, what adopting children with past trauma is like, and how homeschooling fits into it all. Her honesty about how she manages this whirlwind of a very full life reminds us that perfection is not the goal, obedience to God's prompting is.
Tricia is a true inspiration to us as she uses prayer and creative time management to write, parent and run a huge household.
Katelyn Beaty has recently taken a big step. Into what...she is still waiting to find out. As the youngest and first female managing editor of Christianity Today magazine, Katelyn was doing work she found meaningful and interesting. And yet she sensed God calling her to a new season. And so she quit. With no backup plan. No "next" in order. Because sometimes that open door is very much into the unknown.
It seems fitting that this major work change would all be happening after the release of her first book on women, vocation and the Church (see below). We talk to Katelyn about her process to sense God's change for her next, what it looks like for women to use their gifts freely and how this presidential election has offered her opportunities to speak in venues like CNN and The Washington Post.
We recorded this interview the morning after the presidential election. Though the nation had only known the results a few hours, we could tell the divisiveness from the election cycle wasn't going away anytime soon. Listen to our conversation with Katelyn about how women in the Church can move toward unity despite political differences.
An insightful and inspiring sister interview that reminds us all that God's spirit is one of dignity as we do our work in the world.
How-to guides about how to plan well for big holiday meals abound, but food preparation is not the only piece of the pie in making our Thanksgiving or Christmas meal tradition meaningful and fun. Along with meal planning, it is helpful to think through how to set the table for connection (even before we sit down to eat), how to proactively avoid family conflicts, and how to use mealtime to build relationships and deeper bonds.
Emily Ley is a woman who understands busy. As the founder of Emily Ley Paper, Inc. and The Simplified Planner, she runs a business while parenting three children under five. And she recently released her first book, Grace Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy. It helps that her business is centered around women simplifiying their lives, she knows the systems that work.
A jam packed episode of helpful tips, from Sunday night routines to saying "no" to good things, Emily tells us how she developed a planner with the busy woman in mind. She doesn't over-complicate the life management tool, she (no surprise) keeps it simple. And as a busy woman she practices what she preaches.
You are sure to find Emily charming, inspirational and full of ideas on how to live with a posture of grace over a posture of perfection.
Every group, big or small, has a culture. If you've visited another country, you've seen the way people act and how they feel about being a part of that nation. There are certain norms, behaviors, and rituals that shape the people in that environment.
Companies also have cultures. Think of Nike. It is the innovator of athletic wear, and its brand communicates what they value: sports, comfort, trends, pro sports, female athletes, and working out...hard.
Every company has a mission statement that drives their company culture. Likewise, we as families also have a culture. If we create a family mission statement, it helps drive that culture that we are creating in our homes.
Listen to this episode to help you create a family mission statement for your family.
Go to theopendoorsisterhood.com to download a template for your mission statement.
This episode of The Open Door Sisterhood is close to our hearts because it talks about two things we can't escape: parenting and grace. Mom of four boys and author Jeannie Cunnion joins us as she talks through what parenting with grace looks like in her life. A fresh conversation on a classic subject, you will be sure to be encouraged and inspired to love others and yourself through the lens of acceptance and love.
Jeannie gives us great book suggestions, tells what it's like bringing a new baby into a house already filled to the rim with boys, and how parenting her fourth is different from parenting her first. Jeannie's warmth and genuine care for other moms is evident in this interview. We are sure you will feel the same care we did as she talked us through the good news that every day offers us new opportunities as parents to love our kids with grace.
Please join us for this conversation with our friend Jeannie, a trusted voice to learn from in a time when encouragement might feel rare. Airing on this historic election day, give yourself a gift of warmth and allow this new friend to remind you of God's love and acceptance for you as you stumble through the hard days.
Francie Winslow has a special place in our hearts. A woman of the Spirit, she humbly speaks wisdom to us at every turn. Whether her earnest prayers or gentle approach to guiding her children's hearts, we are always encouraged to take that next step, do that next thing.
As a homeschooling mom who tries to simplify her life in order to keep quiet and restful rhythms, she often goes against the grain, or at least the typical. She has been speaking and writing often these days on intimacy in marriage, but this episode centers on her family rhythms and her intentionally minimal use of technology in her daily life so that she might make space for God to speak to her heart and for her to respond.
In this episode you will learn how their family creates and practices daily declarations about the truth of who they are, how she is keeping multiple journals at once, and the power of words to build people up or tear them down. Like all of our conversations with Francie, you will leave feeling inspired to focus with more intentionality on the parts of your life and the relationships that matter most. Please listen to our precious sister!
Annie Pajcic’s last name rhymes with magic. That’s no surprise to us because she is pure magic and joy. in fact we think the expression “she lights up a room” was created with Annie in mind. She radiates Jesus with her every fiber. She is a joy because she overflows with joy.
In this episode, Annie talks with us from her home and studio in Jacksonville, FL the week following Hurricane Matthew. A mom of four, the hurricane might be a good analogy for how life feels sometimes. But Annie's joy prevails. An artist, Annie creates Bible studies for teen and tween girls and women that incorporate art making. Her ministry Thou Art Exalted Ministries, Inc., is a valued resource for parents and youth group leaders looking for creative ways to engage their daughters in God's word. In fact the aim of Thou Art Exalted Ministries is to equip this generation to know Christ through the creative expression of God's Word.
We promise you'll love this conversation about following dreams, making art and watching God do things you never thought possible. In true sisterhood fashion we hear everything from Annie's prayer life to her favorite chapstick. From using art as a conversation starter to why you must only use low temp glue guns when working with kids. An episode of fun and inspiration all wrapped up into one package. Kind of like our friend Annie.
What happens when a girl turns 21? How about when a podcast does? We have a little bit of a party. And we reflect on how far we've come and where we're going.
That's exactly what we're doing on this 21st episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. Co-hostesses Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall talk through what this whole podcast thing is about. Why they're doing it. What the intent is and what the core values of the sisterhood are.
Though these two typically interview other guests, in this episode they interview one another, giving listeners an insight into their friendship and their unique personalities. Join in to hear how they met in a college theater production, what keeps their lives working well as they each parent four children and the difference between full schedules and full lives.
You only need to go on Teresa Swanstrom Anderson's Instagram feed to know she likes all things girly and pretty. But don't let the pink and glitter fool you into thinking she is meek. Quite the opposite, Teresa is a fierce mother of six who has traveled to the other side of the world more than once to bring home four of her children.
In fact in this episode you will hear stories of Teresa's childhood years in Guatemala City where she often army crawled from room to room in the airport hanger she lived in with her family as gunfire rang around their makeshift home. Weren't we right? Fierce.
In this episode of the Open Door Sisterhood Podcast you will hear about Teresa's recent Bible teaching efforts, how she manages 5 school pick-ups and drop-offs, why she began throwing dinner parties for women she often didn't know well and how she welcomes dinners delivered on her doorstep (to a pink front door we might add). You will be charmed, entertained and inspired by Teresa's stories.
Did you know that as soon as 8th grade you can start preparing your child for college? Many of us wait until our student is a junior or senior to start the process, but there are some important things we need to know and do before that point. And if you are already there? Well, this interview will be very timely and important for you.
Jeannie Burlowski is my guest on this episode. She is a full time college consultant who helps parents set their children up for success after high school. Her new book, Launch: How to get your kids through college debt free and into jobs they love afterwards, will release in late 2016.
Whether you have young children, middle schoolers, or high schoolers, this interview will put invaluable tools in your college toolbox.
t's no wonder our interview with Jess Wolstenholm was all about living an authentic faith in front of our kids. It was her combination of authenticity and love for Jesus that drew us to her at our first "chance" meeting. Two years ago we sat next to Jess and her partner at Grace for Moms, Kristi Chowny, at a conference luncheon and immediately hit it off. Jess has a warmth and a genuine interest in others that is evident in every interaction. We know you will love her too.
During this episode we cover what it means to live an authentic faith in front of your kids, how to simply and naturally talk about spiritual matters as a family and Jess' newest discovery to help with dark circles under her eyes. (Sidenote Alex ordered this trick from Amazon within days of recording this episode). We know you will appreciate her emphasis on grace. There is no right way to mother and no right way to talk to your kids about Jesus. And yet Jess is full of great ideas and resources for you to try and find what works for your family.
We recorded this episode before the three of us were most recently together. Just this weekend Jess came to Idaho to spend time with the sisterhood at the Open Door Sisterhood Mastermind Retreat. Whether in person or through the podcast airwaves, Jess is a delight and an encouragement to moms. We know you will love to sit in on our conversation with her.
Kendra Tillman wants you to know you are stronger than you think. Yes you mama, with the work to be done at home and in the office. With dinner to be made and bills to be paid. She sees women doing the calling God has put in front of them and she is their cheerleader.
A mom of three herself, Kendra recently took a huge leap and quit her full-time job to pursue her dream of being a full-time entrepreneur. She made this move before it made sense on paper. But her husband was supportive and the change hasn't looked exactly as she thought it would, but that's what a step of faith is, one where the results aren't guaranteed.
In this episode we hear some about this recent decision, her annual event she puts on for women and teen girls in the Phoenix area titled, you guessed it, You Are Stronger Than You Think, and starting a local chapter of Black Girls Run. In our discussion on StrengthsFinder as a tool to know yourself and others better, we discover that all three of us, Krista, Alex and Kendra, share a top strength: Belief. Which explains a lot about Kendra's decision to take a risk in order to live as she believes God is calling her.
Sarah Harmeyer is a special guest on our podcast because she is so dear to both of us. In fact we taped this episode when Sarah was sitting in Krista's real life kitchen. Sarah is a people gatherer. A woman on a love mission as she likes to say and she has invited many to join her in loving people around the table.
In this episode you will hear the how and why behind Sarah starting Neighbor's Table, the difference between being a good cook and a good hostess, and why others are buying Sarah's dad's handcrafted tables. You won't want to miss this genuine expression of Sarah's desire to make others feel welcome in her backyard and how we can do that in our own homes with the people right around us.
Join Sarah on her love mission and listen to this episode to hear more about Neighbor's Table.
Our interview with mother and writer Wynter Pitts delighted us with surprises. With four girls at home Wynter unknowingly founded a magazine for tween girls. By unknowingly, we mean she didn't set out to make a magazine, she simply was a mom wanting to create something for her daughters. Appropriately named, For Girls Like You, organically developed into a quarterly magazine and is now a project her entire family works on together.
But the family's creative flare is not isolated to the written word. Wynter's eldest daughter Alena acted alongside Priscilla Shirer in the box office hit War Room. In this podcast episode we hear what the movie taping process was like, how Alena trained for the double dutch stunts and how a mother's understanding of God's use of her children was broadened.
Wynter's interview inspired us to broaden our thinking about how we could be world changers WITH our children right where we are. God's plans for Wynter's family are unique and suited just perfectly for who they are. What next step might you take with your family to walk through a door that God has opened?
Months ago Krista's sister, Kendra, said to Krista, "You have to meet Katie!" Soon after, Krista told Alex the same thing. And now we are saying to you, "You have to meet Katie!"
A writing instructor at Whitworth University, a contributor to the popular Coffee and Crumbs blog, Katie's writing is stunning. It puts words to our feelings and more importantly points us toward a larger truth as we grapple with the uncomfortable. Her own journey this summer has been marked by her son's developmental diagnosis, moving him from temporary delays to perhaps lifelong challenges. This has shaped every aspect of Katie's life. From her work to her marriage to her faith, she keeps returning to what she knows to be true. About her family. And about who God is.
You will hear Katie's tender spirit in this conversation as we talk about this journey she is still on, what has helped her the last few months, and how she memorizes Scripture. From pens to cold brew coffee Katie's life (and writing) are in the details. We're not kidding when we say, "You have to meet Katie!"
Kendall acts as the Executive Producer and Emcee of MOMcon (MOPS International's national gathering of over 3,000 moms) and has recently taken on the job of Leadership Experience Content Strategist for the organization. In our conversation we talk through how to make work/life balance decisions when there are kids to raise and expectations to be examined. What a difference a mentor makes and our responsibility to call out the good we see in others.
We also cover the rounds from who will be on the main stage at MOMcon, to what music Kendall is listening to and who she reads first thing in the morning. You won't want to miss this fun and significant conversation.
Cherie Lowe is known as the Queen of Free. She developed a reputation for freebies as she shared her story of debt reduction on her blog. Soon she was not only sharing money saving tips, she was sharing the heart behind why she and her husband Brian wanted to eliminate their consumer debt. And it wasn't just a little credit card bill, they had over $127,000 worth of consumer debt.
We talk with Cherie about their decision to pull back in spending, pay off debt and how that plays out in their current budget. We also talk about how to use our most precious commodity: our time.
You won't want to miss this episode with Cherie. It is both practical and inspirational as we all try to be wise with our money.
Susie Davis is the kind of woman we could talk to for hours. Because she is in a word: wise. She talks to us in this episode about how mentoring relationships have naturally happened over the years through her relationships with younger women.
Susie is a mom to three and a mother-in-law to almost three. We talk about the tragedy Susie's own young life that began a journey of intense fear. This fear followed her into adulthood and an encounter with God. Out of that came her book Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World.
Listen in to hear about her favorite pens that come in seasonal colors (Oooh yes!) and why going outside helps her clear her mind. You really won’t be sorry you joined us for this episode and you will have a new podcast to add to your list in Letters to My Daughters because you will want more of Susie!
It's our tenth episode of The Open Door Sisterhood podcast and we are pleased to welcome Stacey Thacker to the sisterhood! In this interview we hear about Stacey's life with her husband and four daughters, how she found the title of her new book Fresh Out of Amazing, and what she read that helped her when her father died unexpectedly a few years ago. This is a story of God opening unexpected doors in the midst of grief and a child with chronic illness. You will be encouraged as you hear Stacey's story.
Krista and Alex talk with writer and blogger Tammy Strait about the struggles of parenting, about believing Psalm 139 when it says that we are enough, and about great running gear for runners (and wanna-be runners).
This is part 2 of a two part interview with my co-host and author Alexandra Kuykendall about her new book, Loving My Actual Life. Tammy Strait joins us as a guest co-host. We talk about health, body image, what to do about our constant connection to social media, and how to keep perspective in the midst of parenting.
This is part 1 in a 2 part interview with author Alexandra Kuykendall about her new book, Loving My Actual Life. We talk about how we met, the book cover, finding adventure, breath prayers, dates, and how it's a challenge to love our actual lives.
With all of our goals and structure for the summer we sometimes forget to take a load off with our kids and play! A session full of ideas on how to do this for all ages. From preschoolers to teenagers we’ll have the ideas you need to be “fun mom” once in a while.
The weather is nice, and the opportunities are plentiful for hiking, biking, running, and swimming. We will explore how to make summer exercise fun, how to get on top of healthy eating, and other ideas for promoting health and wellness as a family.
Wait, we need to teach our kids to tie their shoes? And ride public transportation? And manage money? All by the time they need to leave the house? Summer is a great time to fit in those practical teachings that will allow them to be functioning adults someday. No matter the age of your children, moving them toward independence can be a fun adventure for mom and kids.
Because Alex was on a well-deserved vacation, Krista was joined in this episode by special guest and life skills extraordinaire Rebecca Coors from Colorado.
Our children become ninjas when it comes to media and summer. How do we possibly stay on top of their use? From implementing limits to using technology for good, we’ll look at how to develop some safeguards and strategies that not only protect our kids, but keep us from flushing their tablet down the toilet.
From referee to memory maker, moms can’t control sibling relationships, but they can shape them. For many households summer is the season with the most “together time.” This can create tension and opportunity for connection. We’ll look at how to use your influence to minimize sibling conflict and increase bonding during the long days together.
It’s always better to go into summer with a plan. How will you schedule your summer days? Your weeks? What are your goals for the summer as a whole? For you and for your family? These are some of the questions we are tackling in week #1 of the Summer Survival Series.