The Talk: A Joy Of It Podcast

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In this episode, host Ashley Bell speaks with Amber Kanallakan about her recent blog post for Joy of It, called “Navigating Our Spiritual Nervous Systems.” Amber shares what motivated the post and her personal experience of trying to navigate spiritual wounds and unmet expectations. She discusses what changes she has seen in the local church and how church leaders can help navigate the collective trauma from the pandemic.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:47] Two truths and a lie
[06:10] Goals for the upcoming year
[08:56] The inspiration behind her blog post
[14:46] Reentering the building
[22:35] Biggest changes in the local church
[31:16] How the church can differentiate in community
[37:47] How church leaders can help navigate
[54:07] The biggest gift church leaders can offer
[58:30] A homework assignment

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In this episode, host Ashley Bell speaks with Joi Hailey, an associate worship pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin and a musician who recently released an EP called “Living For You.” Joi talks about the blog she wrote called “Grieving and Waiting” for Joy of It. She shares what inspired her to write it and share her experience of having a miscarriage.

Time stamps

[00:00] Intro
[02:52] A trip to Disneyworld
[07:39] Meet Joi Hailey
[09:54] Why she wrote “Grieving and Waiting”
[13:13] Having kids four years apart
[18:44] How the church can help with grief
[23:53] How grief bring us closer to the Lord
[30:48] Psalm 27:13
[35:33] A homework assignment

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In this episode, host Ashley Bell continues her discussions on the rhythms of transformation with Jillana Goble, an author and speaker. Ashley and Jillana talk about the rhythm of love and raising children as a foster mom, biological mom and adoptive mom. Closing the month with May, which is also Foster Care Awareness Month, Jillana previews her new book, A Love-Stretched Life: Stories on Wrangling Hope, Embracing the Unexpected, and Discovering the Meaning of Family, that comes out on June 7. She shares how she allowed her story to unfold as she wrote the book and how fostering has informed the way that she loves.

Time stamps

[00:00] Intro
[02:11] About Jillana
[03:14] Her childhood favorites
[06:22] Feeling loved and appreciated
[09:25] Her new book, A Love-Stretched Life
[11:14] Why she wanted to share her story
[18:52] The title behind the book
[20:06] How friendship has shaped Jillana
[27:42] Does everybody have the ability to be a friend?
[35:58] How fostering informs the way that she loves
[42:45] Seeing hope through the last two years
[53:15] Questions to ask before fostering
[58:29] Sharing her son’s story in her book
[1:06:14] A homework assignment and recommended reading

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In this episode, host Ashley Bell speaks with Renee Boucher from PrayerPDX about transformative prayer. Renee shares how prayer has changed the way she leads and how she got involved with PrayerPDX. Listen as she discusses with Ashley on how recent events have revitalized prayer.

Time stamps

[00:00] Intro
[02:43] Two truths and a lie
[08:53] How Renee got involved with PrayerPDX
[11:21] Her passion for Portland
[19:21] How prayer has changed the way Renee leads
[23:51] Building the habit of prayer
[38:47] A revival with prayer
[48:53] A homework assignment

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In this episode, host Ashley Bell takes a break from talking about the Rhythms of Transformation and talks about the last three years with the pandemic and racial reckoning. She speaks with her friend, Sam, who is Taiwanese-American. Sam talks about his life, his community, and how he’s processed the last three years and all the heaviness that has happened during that time.

Time stamps

[00:00] Intro
[01:51] Meet Sam
[04:35] Five for Five
[17:08] How the pandemic affected Sam
[24:12] The importance of mental health
[28:54] How Sam has taken care of his mental health
[33:21] The risk of vulnerability
[39:55] Our desire to live independently
[47:00] How this season changed his leadership style
[53:07] A brief homework assignment
[56:57] Stretch your muscle

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Season Two is titled Rhythms of Transformation, where we'll be talking about both traditional spiritual disciplines as well as non-traditional spiritual disciplines that God uses to transform our character, relationships, and work life. In this episode, host Ashley Bell talks to Connie Armerding, an executive coach and leadership consultant, writer, speaker, and licensed pastor. She is passionate about equipping ministry and marketplace leaders through creating spiritually and emotionally healthy cultures among leaders and their communities. Ashley’s conversation with Connie centers around rest, boundaries and how not to burn out.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[01:10] A new year, a new season
[02:26] A little game with Connie
[06:53] Who is Connie Armerding
[09:04] What she’s passionate about
[14:27] What she’s learned in 2021 and will carry in 2022
[18:45] Something she’s letting go of this year
[23:57] What is burnout and how to know if you are burnout
[35:23] Implementing a routine of rest
[45:41] Connie’s challenge for the week

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In this second part of this two-part series, host Ashley Bell continues her conversation with Ruben Alvarado, a pastor who works in the field of vocational training for adults with disabilities. He discusses his journey throughout ministry and the surprising lessons he learned along the way.

Time stamps

[0:01] Intro
[1:36] Ruben’s journey
[4:49] Lessons learned through ministry
[12:22] Individualized ministry
[18:37] Restored belonging
[30:29] Disabilities and the Christian faith
[42:26] Closing
[42:39] Opportunity to respond
[43:15] Creating a more inclusive environment

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In the first part of a two-part series, host Ashley Bell talks to Ruben Alvarado, a pastor who works in the field of vocational training for adults with disabilities. Before Ruben discusses disability theology, he first provides insight into his life. He shares what it was like growing up in his small hometown and the adjustment after his move to Seattle. He talks about how he incorporates his roots in this work and the pain points that helped shape who he is.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:03] Five for Five
[06:26] Growing up in his hometown
[08:58] Moving to Portland
[10:54] Incorporating his roots in his work
[12:30] Pain points that shaped Ruben
[15:53] Unity from a Christian point-of-view
[20:49] What evangelical should be
[26:13] Ruben’s passions

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Joy of It co-founder, Joy Roberts. They talk about the core competency of responsible decision making and the ability to make constructive choices about personal and social behavior. They discuss the importance of understanding how our individual choices and decisions can have a ripple effect.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:52] Add laughter to your life
[03:52] Two truths and a lie
[08:46] Five for Five
[15:55] Responsible decision making
[21:29] HALT
[26:28] Highlighting in scripture
[32:07] What we’re leaving the next generation
[35:36] Five steps of problem solving
[39:38] How to accurately identify a problem
[44:16] What it looks like love your neighbor this season
[52:36] Encouraging words
[53:32] A brief homework assignment

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Alexa Mason about hospitality. Alexa shares her passion for hospitality and how to be a friendly and authentic presence. Listen as she talks about the many ways to approach hospitality and how to create a warm and welcoming space.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[01:53] Meet Alexis
[05:59] A rule of life that Alexis goes by
[07:39] More about Alexis
[08:54] Her passion for hospitality
[13:34] What is hospitality and what it’s like to live it out
[20:27] How to be a hospitable presence and authentic
[32:04] Mary and Martha
[34:30] Hospitality can be thought in many ways
[39:14] Creating a warm, hospitable space
[47:33] The function of space
[51:08] Southern hospitality
[55:42] Hospitality in church
[1:01:28] A brief homework assignment

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Valarie Pearce, director of content development at Friendzy and Joy Roberts, Joy of It co-founder. They talk about the core competency of social awareness and how it connects with relationship skills. They also talk about how to build the muscle of empathy and how to handle tension and conflict in a relationship.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:11] On today’s episode
[02:41] Meet Valarie and Joy
[06:03] A brief story
[07:23] Something new they learned this week
[12:28] What is social awareness
[16:57] The importance of asking questions
[18:48] What are relationship skills
[23:08] We are stewards of relationships
[27:12] The heart of perspective-taking
[29:31] Healthy relationships have tension and conflict
[33:42] Sometimes you don’t have to engage
[41:57] A brief homework assignment

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Valarie Pearce, director of content development at Friendzy and Julie Widman, Joy of It co-founder. They talk about the core competency of self-management, the ability to manage our thoughts and emotions, and how they play out with our actions. They discuss how you can fine-tune the skills of self-regulation and self-control by assessing your self.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[01:04] On today’s episode
[01:15] Do you make your bed?
[08:17] Meet Valarie and Julie
[10:51] Defining self-management
[15:10] Fine-tuning that skill of self-regulation
[18:00] A choice to self-manage
[25:47] Spirit of self control
[28:23] Any growth in self-management?
[37:17] A brief homework assignment

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Connie Armerding, Joy of It Content Developer and a curriculum writer for JOI Friendzy, and Dr. Marcella Chiromo, a psychology consultant who has worked in the mental health field for over 10 year and also a curriculum writer for JOI Friendzy. Connie and Marcella talk to Ashley about social and emotional learning through the core competency of self-awareness. They talk about how self-awareness can aid us in our identity, development and having mutually beneficial conversations.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[01:07] On today’s episode
[02:40] Meet Connie and Marcella
[05:02] What lesson from 2020 did they carry into 2021
[10:12] What is self-awareness?
[15:46] What do you value?
[18:13] Recommendations for health & continuing the journey
[23:05] Finding trusted companions
[29:07] Productive conversations with someone who isn’t self-awareness
[42:02] Ways to practice self-awareness
[51:13] A brief homework assignment

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In this episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Joy of It co-founders, Julie Widman and Joy Roberts, about social and emotional learning (SEL). They discuss how to use SEL as a tool for hard conversations as well as engage in mutually beneficial conversations. They share why this is important to them through personal stories.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:27] On today’s episode
[08:14] What is social and emotional learning
[14:28] Acknowledging concerns
[19:28] Building relationships and community
[23:05] To foster healthy curiosity
[32:02] Let’s talk about the big elephants
[34:44] Why is this important?
[40:42] Storytime
[49:47] Remaining vulnerable
[52:13] A brief homework assignment
[52:47] What to expect on the next episode

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In this first episode of The Talk podcast, host Ashley Bell talks to Joy of It co-founders, Julie Widman and Joy Roberts, about cultivating spaces for life giving conversations. They discuss what drives their passion for real, relevant, and relatable conversations and the platforms they are creating to have them. Julie and Joy also share how and why they started Joy of It.

Time stamps

[00:01] Intro
[02:09] On today’s episode
[03:11] Two truths and a lie
[10:46] How did Joy of It came to be
[15:59] The passion for real, relevant, relatable conversations
[23:27] Some platforms to have these conversations
[27:18] What to expect on the next episode
[27:55] A brief homework assignment

The Talk: A Joy Of It Podcast: Recent Episodes

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