Lessons & Letters: Recent Episodes
Avery Dixon
Hey there! My name is Avery, and I am the host of Lessons & Letters.
I am a firm believer that vulnerability is a gift. I side with positivity and believe that this world can benefit from any added optimism- big or small. And, it is never too late to hop on the personal growth train. Lastly, my life does not make sense without God in it- so we will be talking all things faith.
Follow Lessons & Letters on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lessons.and.letters/ Follow Avery on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/avesdixx/
Mari Wagner, founder of West Coast Catholic, and host of the Ever Be Podcast, joins the Lessons & Letters podcast to discuss all things: homemaking, hosting, faith and more...
0:00 - Intro to Mari
2:45 - The Perfect Table. The spiritual significance of hosting, are we called to be hospitable?
10:00 - How sharing a meal or welcoming someone into your home initiates vulnerability
14:00 - Practical ways to elevate your guests experience with hosting
28:15- Practical ways to make overnight guests feel comfortable
31:00 - Whether you’re in a dorm room, settling into a new house or revamping your home, advice for making your space a HOME
41:30 - The best way to optimize Pinterest & breakdown the “Pinterest-perfect-picture” to get the results you want for your space
45:30 - Advice for the person who loves learning and Catholic content but needs help in their prayer life
51:00 - Mari’s relationship with Mary & how she prays the rosary
1:00:00- Lesson & Letter from Mari
Find Mari on social: https://www.instagram.com/mari.c.wagner/?hl=en
Ever Be Podcast:
https://everbepodcast.co/
SHOP West Coast Catholic:
https://westcoastcatholic.co/
AHH! I am SO excited because two of my very best friends, Callie Meyer (Cal) and Catherine McNamara (Cat) joined me on the Lessons & Letters podcast to discuss all things FRIENDSHIP...
1:30 - Introduction to Callie & Cat
5:00 - Backtracking - from acquaintances to a beautiful friendship- and how God was weaving the friendship when we didn’t even see it
9:08- How can you show up for friends when they’re in a completely different season than you?
17:00 - Assuming good intent & assuming how your friends are doing
22:30 - Tell tale signs you’re in a good friendship
27:00 - Making friendships from ground zero
39:45 - Friendships fizzling & over-dramatized friendship breakups
45:45 - What destroys a friendship?
53:30 - “Praying behind their back” & how faith plays out in friendships
1:01 - Lessons & Letters
Tune in as Carolyn Li deep dives into all things:
3:00 - Who is Carolyn? The Bridgettine convent and how we got connected
6:45 - Carolyn’s AMAZING faith journey - from questioning if there is a God to a flourishing faith
22:00- Why having no belief is a belief, and why having faith is counter cultural
30:15- Outward and inward beauty and why BOTH are important
35:27- Practical way to take care of yourself as a woman
37:12 - Li Organics: Carolyn’s Skincare Line. How she started her own skincare line and why
44:37- The biggest mistake women make when it comes to skincare
46:00- Deep dive into Li Organics 5 Products
51:40- Carolyn’s Lesson & Letter
Find Carolyn on Social: https://www.instagram.com/lovewithli/
Find Li Organics on Social:
https://www.instagram.com/liorganics/
Shop Li Organics:
https://liorganics.com/
Tune in as Brooke Taylor deep dives into all things:
2:15 - Brooke Taylor, wife, mom, author, blogger, podcaster, retreat leader, radio host (what can’t she do!?) shares who she is & her reversion to the Catholic faith
7:30 - What’s your defining reason for being Catholic?
10:45 - Truth, Beauty, Goodness
13:40 - The Sacred Heart of Jesus, what this devotion means for Brooke + her family and home enthronement
19:00 - I thirst: why does Jesus say this?
25:00 - Practical ways to Catholify your home - physically and spiritually speaking
30:00 - The seeds mothers plant in children
33:30 - Devotions to the saints and Mary: why do Catholics have this?
37:30: Journey from woman, to wife, to motherhood: advice for all the stepping stones and Brooke’s own little way
47:00 - Models for our life and the responsibility of who we say we are
57:00 - Brooke’s Lesson & Letter
Find Brooke on IG: https://www.instagram.com/1brooketaylor/
Brooke's Website:
https://brooketaylor.us/
Tune in as Abby Connolly deeps dives into all the things:
15:00 - feeling torn between what God is calling you to do
17:40 - growing up Catholic + choosing it for yourself
19:50 - it was never mine in the first place
21:10 - not letting limiting factors & fear stop you
26:50- sustaining yourself when you planted the seed but you don’t see it growing
32:00 - the distinguishing difference: the sacraments
37:28 - created to create
45:55- REST. How to find time to play for the sake for play
53:30 - finding your personal identity
Find Abby on social
https://www.instagram.com/abbyconnolly_/
Abby's work
https://www.arccodesign.com/
I am so excited to have my fiancé, Tanner, on the podcast! It's been a dream of mine to have him on and today is the day.
We cover all things:
- Tanner's most embarrassing story
- Tanner's conversion story. Going from no faith to Catholic...
- Our relationship before and after Christ
- Fruits of a relationship with Christ in the center
- What you should be looking for in a potential spouse
- A Lesson from Tanner
- A Letter from Tanner
Link to Peter, the Rock, the Keys, and the Chair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIB-sOBDKkThanks so much for tuning in, if you'd like to hear more please feel free to rate and review the podcast! In the meantime, follow along at https://www.instagram.com/lessons.and.letters/
SUPER excited to take off again with the first guest episode of 2023. Listen in as Claire from The Corporate Catholic Podcast takes over talking all things:
- Her most embarrassing story
- The story behind her Insta handle (@corporatecatholic)
- How to know what God is calling you to do/ where to go/ who to be
- Stop following your passion? NO, that wasn't a typo.
- Tips for staying strong in your beliefs in a world that sees Catholic views/ beliefs as so countercultural
- Truth, Beauty and Goodness in Catholic church
- A lesson from Claire
- A letter from Claire
You can find Claire here:
https://www.instagram.com/corporatecatholic/
Check out the The Corporate Catholic Podcast here:
https://anchor.fm/corporatecatholic
We ARE back... and starting off the year strong with 22 lessons learned in 2022.
Tune in for a ramble of Avery's top lessons learned in 2022 covering:
- How God speaks in the silence
- Catholic church
- What guys need more of (and less of)
- Best advice for couple about to be engaged
- Walking on eggshells with friends
- & why I stopped the podcast for a few months
Link to God's Plan for Your Marriage:
https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Plan-Your-Marriage-Exploration/dp/1644136929
Link to Captivating:
https://www.amazon.com/Captivating-Unveiling-Mystery-Womans-Soul/dp/1400225280/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1341FE0C0QHP6&keywords=captivating&qid=1672700657&s=books&sprefix=captivating%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1
Link to Wild at Heart:
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Heart-Expanded-Ed-Discovering/dp/1400225264/ref=sxin_10_mbs_w_global_sims?content-id=amzn1.sym.f6adc278-60fd-4516-8b02-0dbae28f44f1%3Aamzn1.sym.f6adc278-60fd-4516-8b02-0dbae28f44f1&crid=1341FE0C0QHP6&cv_ct_cx=captivating&keywords=captivating&pd_rd_i=1400225264&pd_rd_r=fc602790-0a34-4bec-a6d6-f4f2c8242f16&pd_rd_w=uVT2N&pd_rd_wg=caHO8&pf_rd_p=f6adc278-60fd-4516-8b02-0dbae28f44f1&pf_rd_r=QD4FMCERTF5XZSM8MQV5&qid=1672700657&s=books&sprefix=captivating%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1-9e7645f9-2d19-4bff-863e-f6cdbe50f990
Link to ask an anonymous question or request for a topic:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfArrX7o0-SoNFLhB6wFc0BfiZ1NnFLhX1LTecfomKeWuNekg/viewform?usp=sf_link
On this episode of the Lessons & Letters podcast, Avery interviews Beth, from Blessed Is She!
Listen in as we cover:
- Beth's most recent embarrassing story
- Tears and how God uses them
- The desires of a woman’s heart and why God put them there
- Trusting with total abandon
- Finding community
- A lesson from Beth
- A letter from Beth
Relationships, intentionality, moving on from past relationships, spreading the good news, embarrassing stories & more!
Listen in as Gigi & Brian share:
- Their most embarrassing stories
- Advice for people wanting to date intentionally, while also pursing Jesus
- Finding "the one"
- How to move on from past relationships
- Mindfulness in all things you consume
- How do we spread the good news?
- A lesson from both Gigi & Brian
- A letter from both Gigi & Brian
In this episode of the Lessons & Letters podcast Avery interviews Maddie from Bumble's Bake Shop!
We cover:
- Maddie's most embarrassing story
- How she built Bumble's Bake Shop while in school
- Turning passion into pursuit
- What Maddie learned about people while working & owning a bakery
- A lesson
- A letter
In this episode of the Lessons & Letters podcast Avery Interviews Maclaine from @acatholicconvo.
We cover:
- Maclaine's most embarrassing moment(s)!
- Why Jesus is better than that bo
- Red flags in relationships
- How to maintain a christian dating relationship
- Living faith boldly and unapologetically
- A lesson
- A letter
Hey Hey! On this episode of the Lessons & Letters Podcast Avery sits down with Catherine McNamara to discuss all the things:
-Cat's most embarrassing story
-Why do bad things happen to good people?
-Mental health
-How to love people well
-How to know God's voice
-Lesson
-Letter
In this episode of the Lessons & Letters podcast Avery interviews Ann Marie Cubberly. She is a teacher, a workout instructor, faith-enthusiast, photographer and a dang good friend!
In this episode we cover:
- Ann Marie's most embarrassing story
- What is a "God wink"
- One of Ann Marie's God wink stories
- The essence of a woman is beauty
- Modesty
- Regaining trust
- A lesson
- A letter
Avery's first solo podcast where she breaks down her love for personal growth and where it came from. She also deep dives into how her life doesn't make sense without brining God into the picture. Stay turned for a story she tells that only her family and close friends know!
Sam Moeller is THAT girl. THAT girl who does it all. She is a director. She is a soon-to-be-momma, she is a workout instructor, she is a volunteer, she is a friend, she is a entrepreneur, she is a wife. And I am SO excited to have her on the 10th episode of the Lessons & Letters Podcast.
In this episode we cover:
•Sam’s most embarrassing story
•”In the business of making people’s day”
•Dating in the 21st century
•How to command a room
•Tactical advice for building confidence
•Mental health in relation to keeping balance in your life
•A lesson from Sam
•A letter from Sam
I can’t get over how wise Sam is, and I am SO excited for you all to hear.
🤍
Avery and her Dad are gonna talk career advice, leadership and relationship advice.
- How did you build this?
- How to not succumb to easy wins, but rather be patient in pursing the long term goal
- The good four letter word, RISK
- What makes you a successful leader?
- How to create a work life balance
- Relationship Advice
In episode eight of the Lessons and Letters Podcast Avery sits down with Grace, founder of Cheers Creative.
Things discussed:
- Stepping into your gift, not hers
- How to find your natural gifts and talents
- Imposter syndrome
- How Grace founded her own marketing agency by age 21
- Seeing God through mental health struggles
Mack Ryan, owner of Mack Media, and one of Avery's childhood friends sits down to chat about all the things:
- Seasons of singleness
- How do you know they are "the one" when getting married
- Mack's engagement
- God in the center of relationship
- Embracing change and finding purpose in it
- What you need to know before you travel the world
Jess Clarke and Avery take a deep dive into:
*letting go of expectations for what relationships are supposed to look like
*staying true to YOU while in College
*Facing comparison traps
*Finding confidence in who GOD says you are
Listen in as Jess Clarke speaks wisdom into these areas!
What would God say about YOU? Jody White, my aunt, second-mom and most faith-filled human joins the Lessons & Letters podcast to share the good news of what God thinks about you and what He would say about YOU.
Also, we discuss cancel culture and the gift of forgiveness and faith.
Being a good person isn't as hard as it seems- it might just be a smile that changes someone's life.
Listen in as Emily Dixon (my sister & best friend) and I discuss the following:
- "it's nice to be important, but its more important to be nice"
-how to stay true to values in each season of your life
-how to know if you're in a good relationship
-&more!
Everyone knows energy is contagious- especially if it's good. On this episode of the podcast, Angie O'Brien, co-founder of Harbor Yoga, shares all about creating good energy. Listen as Angie & Avery deep dive into finding your passion, building confidence and almost everything in between. This is an episode you WON'T want to miss. Turn those headphones up!
Stop waiting until the clock strikes 5pm on Friday. EVERY DAY IS THE WEEKEND if you have that mindset. My uncle, mentor and advice giver, Mike Nolan, shares how he lives every day like it's the weekend.
In this episode we cover how to live every day like it's the weekend, why asking other people questions benefits you and more.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
On the first episode of Lessons & Letters, Avery welcomes her life long bestie and college roommate, Callie to deep dive into trusting the timing for your life and God's plan. Listen as Avery & Callie discuss: Callie's most embarrassing story, why we transferred schools, trusting God's plan and how you know when it's time to make a big change in your life.
Hey it's Avery- the host of Lessons & Letters podcast! I am so excited for this & all the incredible guests I have lined up. We will be talking anything related to life.. from friendships, faith, college, relationships, growing up, etc. Each episode will be centered around a (life) lesson learned, and followed with a letter of encouragement from each guest.