Midlife can feel like standing at a crossroads - full of change, transition, and often, questions we didn’t expect. It’s a season that can shake our confidence, but it’s also a powerful invitation to pause, reflect, and grow.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Terri Watson, a board-certified clinical psychologist, to explore how counseling can be a life-giving tool for women in midlife. Dr. Watson shares wisdom on when therapy might be especially helpful, the unique benefits of returning to counseling at different stages of life, and what to consider when choosing between online and in-person sessions.
Whether you’ve been curious about therapy or are simply navigating the uncertainties of midlife, this conversation will encourage you to embrace support and step more fully into who you’re becoming.
FIND MORE ABOUT DR. TERRI WATSON
Dr. Terri's Book- The Client's Guide to Therapy
FEW THINGS MENTIONED
The Book of Romans on Hope
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What thinking has blocked you from considering counselling?
- How might God use counselling as a vehicle for healing in your life?
- Who could help you find trusted counsellor in your area?
- If you did the visualization exercise, how can you keep your word or phrase accessible for when you need 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 immediately make you happier and healthier
Our bodies need our attention. When stress comes knocking, we often don't realize how much we hold. We need a way to slow down and release the physical tension. Our guest Whitney Simpson discovered this need after a major medical crisis. Stretching and holding poses through yoga allowed her to be fully present in her skin while praying and meditating. A Christian spiritual director - she helps people work through practices that are attuned to their whole selves.
Much of what we talk about on this episode has to do with slowing down and noticing what is happening in our bodies. It is tempting to ignore how our bodies keep the score, but ignoring doesn't offer what we need. Our bodies need our attention.
In a stage of life where you may be caring for people above and below you in age, working hard at your paid job, and feeling new aches and pains, it is often easier to push aside physical discomfort or tension than to acknowledge it. This episode will remind you how to be present enough to notice what your body is carrying and how God can meet you in your movement and breath.
FIND MORE ABOUT WHITNEY SIMPSON
Whitney Simpson- Website
Whitney Simpson Book- With God in Every Breath
Whitney Simpson Podcast- Exploring Peace Meditations
FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Whitney's Other Books
- Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit
- Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Advent Devotional for the Whole Self
Hebrew "ruach", "nouma"- Breath, Spirit or Wind
Alex Kuykendall's Book- Loving My Actual Life
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- If you were to choose one word to describe your relationship with your body now, what would it be?
- Where in your day could you build in the habit of taking several deep breaths or practicing breath prayer?
- What practice can you put into place to feel more integrated with your body?
- Is there a time in the next few days, you could commit to 10minutes of meditation?
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 wondered how science can actually deepen your faith and help you know God more fully?
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. William West—respected medical doctor, author of Sacred Science, and someone whose own life has been shaped by both the lab and his faith. Together, we explore how faith and science aren’t enemies at all, but beautifully woven together in ways that reveal the wonder of God’s creation.
Dr. West shares moving stories from his work in oncology and his personal journey of belief, showing how each breakthrough in science can point us closer to the Creator. You’ll hear about the divine fingerprints hidden in the details of the universe—and how scripture and scientific discovery can speak in harmony.
If you’ve ever felt torn between your faith and your curiosity, this conversation will remind you: God is the Author of it all.
FIND MORE ABOUT DR. WILLIAM WEST
Dr. William Book- Sacred Science
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What has been your understanding of the connection between science and faith?
- What did you learn in this interview that reinforced your faith?
- How can we consider more of what is happening around us and how it reflects God's creation?
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 have controlled some aspect of your child's life their entire life and now you are expected to let go?! To let them make mistakes and decisions without you?! Yes and no. Yes to letting go and making decisions on their own. But you don't have to leave them completely alone. This is the fine line of parenting young adults, you are now the coach.
In the second part of this two-part conversation, Krista and Alex talk through some of the ways they are letting go as they launch young adults toward independence. There is no one, right way. However there are questions we can ask ourselves as we enter conversations and decisions with intention. What do we pay for? And for how long? Do we speak up if we see a red flag in a relationship? What about when they need to move back home?
We know that parenting young adults in today's world can feel a bit like running in the dark. We are here to say you are not alone and this is your moment to rise to meet the newest challenge of the day!
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Phrases to use on your young adult
- That sounds really hard.
- I know you will make a thoughtful decision.
- I believe you will find the courage you need to get through this.
- You're made for good things and that doesn't change based on what happens today.
- I know this is your decision, I trust you'll figure it out and I am cheering for you.
Quotes
"Adolescents may also share what's on their minds as a way to spill their jumbled thoughts on the table where they can survey and perhaps organize them. Adults can help create the space teenagers need to do this. So long as we remember to listen without interrupting and hold back from adding our own thoughts to the pile. Much of what bothers teenagers cannot be solved. We can't fix their broken hearts, prevent their social dramas, or do anything about the fact that they have three huge tests scheduled for the same day. But having a problem is not nearly so bad as feeling utterly alone with it." Lisa Demore
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- How can you take on more of a coaching role with your young adult?
- What part of your relationship could use some clarity and how can you be kind through clarity this week?
- How can you encourage your young adult to create a web of supportive relationships?
- How can you live your faith out authentically in front of the young adults 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 healthier
Parenting young adults can feel like walking a tightrope. You’re not fully in charge anymore, but your influence still matters deeply. So how do you walk alongside them well?
Helpful, but not controlling? Wise, but still letting them make their own decisions? Loving, but with healthy boundaries?
In this first episode of a two-part series, we dive into the art of parenting post-childhood:
✅ Building their confidence without overstepping
✅ Practicing healthy emotional detachment
✅ Equipping them with the practical life skills they actually need
✅ Offering the kind of timeless advice that sticks
Whether you’re guiding a high school senior, a college student, or a 20-something finding their way, this conversation will both ground and encourage you.
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Tyler Lafferty Episode-PART 1: Helping Your Young Adult Find Their Career Path with Tyler Lafferty
Tyler Lafferty Episode-PART 2: Helping Your Young Adult Find Their Career Path with Tyler Lafferty
Donald Miller Great advice- Instagram Reel
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- In what way can you practice healthy attachment with your young adult?
- As an exercise make a list of "You Are" statements that are true of your young adult that you can offer them or with the young person in your life, help them make a list of "I Am" statements that they can use when they need to fall back on remembering what is true of them no matter what.
- What practical coaching can you give around one of the practical life skills that we discussed earlier?
- Where do you need to offer yourself grace, maybe for a past response or maybe a place where you can grow into a new way of responding?
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 often hear the first half of life is about building and the second half of life is about facing limitations. That can be true. What is also true is that many women spend much of their lives investing in others, that the life trajectories we often hear talked about reflect a traditional career path that don't exactly capture a female career path.
The same is true for discussions around lifetime spiritual journeys. The people who have written many of the books we follow about spiritual journeys have been men and so naturally their teachings reflect their experiences. Bekah Stewart, author of the new book Permission to Matter, is a spiritual director who has been considering the spiritual journey of women.
In midlife many of us are waking up to parts of ourselves that have laid dormant for a long time. This has sometimes been out of survival, other times simply out of our caretaking roles. What would it look like if our spiritual path included reimagining life to its fullest NOW? What if we are to reawaken or rediscover parts of us that have been sleeping for a while?
This conversation may bring up some questions for you about the direction you are headed and how God is available to you. Your spiritual journey may be at an exciting juncture as you consider what it means to wake up and stand up. It is our time to rise after all.
FIND MORE ABOUT BEKAH STEWART
Bekah Stewart – Website and Instagram
Bekah Stewart Book- Permission to Matter
FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Caretakers of Our Common House- Carol Lakey Hess
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- Which of the two paths she laid out do you resonate with most? The one of ascent and descent or the one of self-abnegation.
- What is one feature you can identify of your false self? How has it worked to protect you over time?
- How might you wake up and stand up to hidden parts of yourself?
- Who has authority over your decisions over your life, how might you offer God the most authority?
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
It’s hard enough dealing with our own grief, but helping children, teens, and young adults navigate grief and loss is another level of hard, one that we often avoid or find ourselves lacking, not knowing how to do it.
Grief is never one-size-fits-all—especially for kids, teens, and young adults who are still learning how to make sense of the world.
In this conversation, we welcome Clarissa Moll—author, speaker, and widow—who vulnerably shares her personal journey of loss after her husband’s sudden death and what it’s looked like to walk alongside her own children through grief.
Together, we explore how to navigate conversations about death and loss with honesty and care, the unique ways children and adolescents express sorrow, and how presence—more than perfection—is what young hearts need most. From the role of trusted adults to creative outlets for grief expression, Clarissa offers wisdom for every stage of growing up with grief.
Whether you’re parenting a grieving child, mentoring a teen, or supporting a young adult facing deep loss, this episode is filled with practical tools and hopeful truth. Clarissa reminds us: it’s never too late to show up with compassion, courage, and connection.
FIND MORE ABOUT CLARISSA MOLL
Clarissa Moll's – Website and Instagram
Clarissa Moll's Podcast- Surprised by Grief Podcast
Clarissa Moll's Book- Hope Comes to Stay
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Clarissa's More Books
Till We Have Faces-Cs Lewis
Grieving Resources
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- How did you experience grief as a child?
- How does that inform how you talk about grief with your own children?
- Is there a child in your sphere, maybe not your own child, that you could be a trusted adult for?
- No matter how long it's been, is there a conversation around grief that you need to have with someone 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 healthier
FIND MORE ABOUT ALLIE MARIE SMITH
Allie Marie Smith's – Website and Instagram
Allie Marie's Podcast- Wonderfully Made Podcast
Allie Marie Smith's Book- Social Media Reset
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Allie's More Books
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What do you want your legacy to be?
- How does social media serve you, and where is it positive in your life?
- In what way might social media be harming you?
- What opportunities would a social media fast provide?
- What boundaries can you set up to proactively prevent phubbing? (Phubbing means paying more attention to your phone than the person Infront of 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 im
Holy Spirit feel familiar? Intimidating? Confusing? This part of the Trinity can be mysterious. And yet the Spirit is an integral part to living a life of faith. Author Margaret Feinberg joins the podcast to talk about the nature of Holy Spirit, how we can engage and access this delightful part of our Christian experience.
What have you been taught about Holy Spirit? What questions do you have? How might a life that dances in accordance with the Spirit bring you closer to God and to Jesus? These are questions we can walk through our days without considering, but when we do we discover there is more to our spiritual life than we often access. Let's do this together!
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
Does Holy Spirit feel familiar? Intimidating? Confusing? This part of the Trinity can be mysterious. And yet the Spirit is an integral part to living a life of faith. Author Margaret Feinberg joins the podcast to talk about the nature of Holy Spirit, how we can engage and access this delightful part of our Christian experience.
What have you been taught about Holy Spirit? What questions do you have? How might a life that dances in accordance with the Spirit bring you closer to God and to Jesus? These are questions we can walk through our days without considering, but when we do we discover there is more to our spiritual life than we often access. Let's do this together!
FIND MORE ABOUT MARGARET FEINBERG
Margaret Feinberg's – Website, Instagram and Facebook
Margaret Feinberg Book's- The God You Need to Know
Margaret Feinberg's Podcast- The JoyCast
A FEW THINGS MENTIONED
Margaret's More Books
-Tohu Wahovu-representative of watery abyss( large body of water)
Five Prompting from Holy Spirit
- Is the prompting consistent with the scripture and the word of God?
- Does the prompting cause me to love God and love others?
- Does the prompting leave me with deep sense of peace, the shalom?
- Will the prompting yield the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
- Does wise counsel affirm this prompting?
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What has been your experience with Holy Spirit?
- What would it look like for you to pay more attention to the spirit in your life?
- What is a journal prompt you can use to help you listen for Holy Spirit to speak?
- What question can you use to help you discern if what you're hearing is from Holy Spirit?
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 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
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- How does your wiring point you toward next steps?
- 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?
- Is there a word phrase or image that keeps resurfacing for you?
- 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
Book
Courageous
Atomic Habits- James Clear
Quote
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
Mary's Podcast Show
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- Is there an area of life where you are feeling stuck?
- What face of fear is feeding that: Perfectionism, procrastination, people pleasing etc?
- How can you show up with authenticity in every area of your life so that you feel integrated as you go through your days?
- Where do you feel like you've put on imposter syndrome as a means of self-protection?
- 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
Chokmah- A Hebrew word meaning -Wisdom
Linda's Book
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What would you title the hard story you are living through right now?
- Linda shared about her journey of forgiveness, who might you need to forgive and what is keeping you from doing that?
- What is a declaration of hope that you can write over your story today?
- 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
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
- If you are a mom, what mothering skills have helped you in your work?
- On the flip side, how has your work life impacted your mothering for good?
- 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
- What is a fear you have about transitioning with work or re-entering the workforce?
- 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.
- 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
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- When have you recently felt like an outsider?
- Patrick said Christians have always been outsiders, how does this truth shift your perspective on what it means to be an outsider?
- What would it look like the next time you feel like an outsider to invite Jesus to sit next to you and offer wisdom?
- 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:
-Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale
"The absence of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection"- Johann Hari
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- Ian describes addiction as an internal problem that you are trying to solve through external means what is that behavior for you?
- Where do you think you fall on addiction continuum?
- What mood altering behavior is having negative ramifications in your life?
- 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
"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
- How can you be a person who is faithful, available and teachable?
- Who in my life can I invest in who is FAT, (Faithful, Available & Teachable)
- Consider a recent crash in your life, what does rebuilding the plane look like for you right now?
- What in your life is behind that glass that you are trying to get, just like the chocolate in the story?
- What need do you think that will fulfill?
- 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
-Centering Prayer song by Porter's Gate
-Interior Freedom Boon by Jacques Philippe
-House of David series on Prime Time
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- What are you re-learning right now?
- Are these welcome lessons or are you fighting the circumstances that are leading to them?
- How can you find God in what you are learning?
- What do you think He would say to you if you could hear His audible voice today?
- 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
John's Books
Bible Verse
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- Ask God what issue are we working on right now?
- What is taking space in your heart that isn't allowing room for God?
- 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
-Let Them Theory Book by Mel Robbins
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE
- How can you know our siblings in the present tense?
- How can you work through conflict with your siblings while it's still small?
- How can you lean on each other's strength in decision-making whether that's around aging parents or maybe another issue?
- 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
- How are your relationships with your siblings?
- In what way do your siblings know you in a way that nobody else does?
- How can you show up for your siblings in this season?
- 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
- 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.
- What part of your spouse's story can you re-engage?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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