Better Together with Barb Roose

Welcome to Summer Strong, our new series created to equip you with what you need to find rest amongst the busyness that this season brings!   Whether you're juggling kids, calendars, or career goals, each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and soul-deep encouragement to help you stay grounded and whole. For the next five episodes, we will be revisiting some of our top conversations from the past about finding hope and strength in challenging times.    Today, Barb will share how God taught her to turn stress into strength, and how you can become an overcomer too!    Let's make this summer your strongest one yet—mind, body, and soul.

Have you ever prayed, “God, what do I do?” These days, our struggle with uncertainty can stop us from making important decisions or cause us to second-guess the decisions we do make. It's stressful trying to figure out what's right and the fear of what will happen if we are wrong.    Join Barb and her longtime friend, author Katie M. Reid, to discuss Katie's new Bible study, God, What Do I Do? They will discuss how to make wise decisions, step into the kingdom calling God has for you, and the importance of trusting in our never changing God.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Katie on Instagram Connect with Katie on Facebook God, What Do I Do? - A Bible Study on James 1-5 About Making Wise Decisions in Uncertain Times Visit Katie's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Katie M. Reid is a Bible teacher, author, and podcaster. Trained in education, Katie teaches around her kitchen table, in the classroom, and around the country. She cohosts The Martha + Mary Show and runs the Martha + Mary Show Sisterhood group on Facebook. Katie is a pastor's wife and worship leader. Through her Bible Study, "God, What Do I Do?" Katie inspires women to make wise decisions in uncertain times. Following Jesus, marrying her husband, and being a mom to five are the best decisions she's made. Connect with Katie at katiemreid.com

For the first time ever, Barb's answering audience questions! Join Barb and her fabulous podcast producer, Tabitha for all the inside scoop! Barb's telling us who her favorite child is, which Bible study she's most proud of and answering spicy questions about how to help friends far from Jesus and which body part is her favorite. Tucked into all of Barb's answers are plenty encouraging words for you!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Barb on Instagram Connect with Barb on Facebook Trusting God with Your Loved Ones Free Resource Stronger Than Stress Bible Study Matthew: Pray Like This Bible Study Visit Barb's Website Listen to Previous Podcast Episodes!

What does it mean to live a good Christian life? Is it being friendly or always seeing the positive side instead of the realities of life's struggles? What if being a good Christian is different from being like Christ?   Join Barb and author Elisa Morgan for a conversation that invites us to peel past the niceness of Christianity and learn to live by the fruit of the Spirit so God can transform us into something truly sweet. Elisa Morgan is the founder of MOPS International and co-host of Our Daily Bread, God Hears Her Podcast.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Elisa on Instagram Connect with Elisa on Facebook Fruitful Living: Growing a Life That Matters Visit Elisa's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Elisa Morgan (MDiv) has authored over twenty-five books including The Beauty of Broken, Hello, Beauty Full, When We Pray Like Jesus, You Are Not Alone, Christmas Changes Everything and her newest book, Fruitful Living.   For twenty years, Elisa served as CEO of MOPS International (The MOMCo) and now is President Emerita. She writes for Our Daily Bread Devotional and co-hosts Discover the Word and God Hears Her for Our Daily Bread Ministries. With her husband, Evan, she has two grown children and three grandchildren who live near her in Denver, Colorado. Her constant companion is Mia, an elderly Jack Russell who shadows her every move.

Join Barb and author of Redeemer, a new Bible study on the book of Ruth by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. At 37 years old, Dorina was widowed with 3 small children. She connected with Ruth's story and over the years has drawn strength and hope. During this conversation, they discuss the many layers of Ruth's story, including the “just-so-happened” moments, should every woman be looking for her Boaz, and most of all, how Ruth's story shows us God's heart for the vulnerable.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dorina on Instagram Connect with Dorina on Facebook Redeemer: God's Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth Visit Dorina's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Dorina is passionate about helping diverse women discover God's glory on life's unexpected paths and flourish in their God-given callings. Dorina has published more than 20 children's books, Bible studies, poetry, and devotionals, including Breathing Through Grief and Walk Run Soar. She also hosts the Global Glory Chasers podcast. She lives in Central California with her hubby Shawn and three courageous daughters.

Everyone has doubts about God but it's hard for us to talk about them. But when we don't talk about them, it actually weakens our faith in Him. In this episode, we explore how honest questions can strengthen, not weaken, our connection with God. Inspired by Niki Hardy's new book, God, Can We Chat?, Barb and Niki discuss embracing doubts as the start of a deeper, more authentic faith. Come as you are and discover the unrelenting love of a God who welcomes your questions.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Niki on Instagram Connect with Niki on Facebook God, Can We Chat? A Daringly Honest Guide to Growing Closer to God, One Doubt at a Time Visit Niki's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Niki Hardy is a proud Brit (now living in the US) and the author of the Audi Award–nominated Breathe Again and One-Minute Prayers for Women with Cancer. Niki has been featured on the Hallmark Channel, Life Today, and Premier Radio.    Having left corporate life, been to seminary, moved continents, planted churches, started businesses and nonprofits, and navigated loss, cancer, church hurt, and painful uncertainty, she firmly believes God loves a cheerful doubter. Niki lives in North Carolina with her husband and ridiculous Doodle, Charlie, who is the main reason their three grown kids come home. Learn more at NikiHardy.com.  

We all know that we should rest but let's be honest, most of us don't. How do we learn how to slow down in a world that keeps getting faster and faster? Barb talks with her friend and bestselling author, Laura L. Smith, about her new book, The Urgency of Slowing Down, and Laura gives practical wisdom on what you need to eliminate and what you can add to help you resist the frantic and hold on to peace and calm.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Laura on Instagram Connect with Laura on Facebook The Urgency of Slowing Down: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Renewal Visit Laura's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Laura L. Smith is a popular speaker and best-selling author tearing down the lies we're bombarded with so we can live in Christ's truth. Her previous books include Holy Care for the Whole Self: Biblical Wisdom for Mental and Spiritual Well-Being and Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms.    A fan of coffee, chocolate, music, books and travel, Smith speaks around the country sharing the love of Christ at conferences and events. She describes her work like this: “I tell stories (through writing and speaking) in hopes of helping others discover what took me so long to see: God's amazing grace is abundant and free for the taking. We can't earn it. And we don't have to. All we have to do is accept it. And when we do, surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.”   She lives in the picturesque college town of Oxford, Ohio, with her husband and the youngest of their four kids (the other three are off on their own awesome adventures). There you'll find her running the wooded trails, strolling the brick streets, teaching local Bible study, shopping at the Saturday morning farmer's market, or going on a sunset walk with her family.  

Is sexual abuse part of your story? You are not alone and healing is possible!   Join Barb for a conversation with certified sex addiction therapist and trauma specialist, Tabitha Westbrook, as they discuss Tabitha's new book Body & Soul, Healed & Whole. Tabitha is a nationally known expert who will share her personal story of abuse and her healing journey. This gentle yet compelling conversation will provide a safe and compassionate place for you to see the heart of God for you and begin your process of healing whether you are single, married or single again.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Tabitha on Instagram Connect with Tabitha on Facebook Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality after Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Visit Tabitha's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Tabitha K. Westbrook, LMFT-S, LCMHC-QS, LPC-S, LPC, is a licensed counselor supervisor, EMDRIA Certified Therapist, EMDR Approved Consultant, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). She also is the founder and CEO of The Journey & The Process, a counseling clinic with offices in Texas and North Carolina. Tabitha and her team specialize in complex trauma with a focus on domestic abuse and coercive control, topics on which Tabitha is a nationally known expert and speaker. In addition to providing training to churches, therapists, and agencies, she helps train domestic abuse advocates through Called to Peace Ministries.

If you are anything like me, prayer can be a bit of a tricky subject at times. Why do we emphasize the positive answers to prayer and not the practice of getting to know God in prayer? What does God want you to know about prayer that will help you draw closer to Him? Join me for a solo episode as I share insights from my new Bible study, Matthew: Pray Like This, about discerning God's revealed will, permissive will and sovereign will. I'm also sharing three prayer principles that reflect Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:7 that help us to ask, seek and knock to know God more.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Pray Like This Bible Study Prayer Board Kit Prayer Resource Page  

Join Barb and her guests, Chad and Adaeze Brinkman, to discuss their new book, White Boy Black Girl. As an interracial couple, Chad and Adaeze discovered that they each carried their own unique baggage into their relationship and had to make the decision to fight through the awkward and uncomfortable moments, even when they wanted to run in the opposite direction.   If there are people in your life that you are struggling to understand or whose differences can at times feel like too much to handle, this episode is for you. Join Barb and the Brinkmans for a fun and uplifting conversation about how the gospel of Jesus can bring us together, even when our differences threaten to break us apart.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Adaeze and Chad's Book - White Boy/Black Girl: What Our Differences Can Teach Us, One Honest Conversation at a Time   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Chad and Adaeze Brinkman are a married couple who intentionally live out their passion of sharing the Gospel of Jesus together in their community. Adaeze works in the creative arts and Chad is a physical therapist. They love traveling and adventuring together, taking in the beauty of God's creation and encouraging others to do the same.

Once upon a time, purity culture promised young Christian girls that all they had to do was save themselves for marriage and their lives would be happily ever after. However, decades later the fairytale of purity culture has turned into a nightmare of consequences for millennial and Gen X Christian women carrying the abuse and pain from a man-made construct that failed to focus on God's truth.    Join Barb for her conversation with Dr. Camden Morgante as they discuss the 5 myths of purity culture and give voice to the spoken and unspoken pain that many of you experience today whether it's sexual dysfunction within a marriage, shame from premarital sex or perhaps even broken marriages because of the toxic purity culture indoctrination as teenagers.    Our prayer is that you find hope, healing and freedom from today's conversation and can move forward with both confidence to believe that you are loved and conviction to live in a way that honors our good God.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dr. Camden on Instagram Connect with Dr. Camden on Facebook Recovering from Purity Culture: Dismantle the Myths, Reject Shame-Based Sexuality, and Move Forward in Your Faith Visit Dr. Camden's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Dr. Camden Morgante is a licensed psychologist with nearly 15 years of experience as a therapist and college professor. She owns a private therapy practice focusing on women's issues, relationships, sexuality, trauma, and spirituality, and is a frequent speaker. Dr. Camden's mission is to help Christians heal their faith from toxic beliefs. She is the author of Recovering from Purity Culture. Dr. Camden lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband and their daughter and son.

Do you struggle with what to pray? You aren't alone if you've called out to God in life's desperate moments and wondered if He's listening. My friend, God hears your prayers, even the most desperate ones.    Join Barb and author Rachel Wojo for a conversation about uncovering the powerful secrets of desperate prayers. As she has lived through the loss of her parents and adult special needs daughter, Rachel will teach you simple 3-word prayers to deepen your trust in God.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Rachel on Instagram Connect with Rachel on Facebook Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments Visit Rachel's Website How To Be A Prayer Warrior For Your Family In Dark Times FREE Class!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Rachel Wojo is an inspirational author, speaker, and podcaster. Through her biblical approach and personal life experiences, Rachel empowers women to discover strength and hope in everyday situations. Despite enduring the loss of her mother, adult special needs daughter, and father, Rachel remains resilient. Rachel is deeply in love with her husband, Matt, and cherishes her motherhood with six children on earth and two in heaven.

How do we rebuild our lives after our hopes and dreams fall apart? Whether it's the loss of a job, a loved one, a relationship, or even our faith, when the sun comes up the next morning, how do we find our way?    After several miscarriages and the sudden death of her husband, author Dawn Sanders opened her Bible and discovered buried treasure in Genesis 1 about how God can bring new beginnings and create fresh starts. If you've felt broken, stuck, or you're struggling today, join Dawn and Barb for this episode and find hope again!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dawn on Instagram Connect with Dawn on Facebook When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life Visit Dawn's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Dawn M. Sanders (MDiv, Bethel Seminary) is a Bible teacher, author, and associate minister at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International (FBCGI), where she serves as the director of the sermon-based life groups ministry. Her passion is expository teaching and sharing that combines her deep scholarship with practical application to help women rebuild their lives. Her debut book, When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life, offers hope and guidance for those facing life's most challenging seasons.

Raising a girl in today's world to follow Jesus is possible! However, if you are a mother, grandmother, auntie, pastor's wife, or small group leader, you need a brand new set of tools to train your beautiful young women in today's culture.    Join Barb and her friends Shannon Popkin and Lee Nienhuis, authors of Teen Comparison Girl, for a brand new conversation equipping you to raise confident, strong Jesus-loving girls in a world that is going after them harder than ever with destructive lies. Make sure that you share this episode with your Christian friends raising daughters!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Shannon on Facebook and Instagram Connect with Lee on Facebook and Instagram Comparison Girl for Teens: Thriving Beyong Measure in a World That Compares Visit the Comparison Girl Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS   From the platform, page, and podcast mic, Shannon Popkin invited you to open your Bible, drink deeply of God's story, and live like it's true. Shannon's other books include Control Girl, Comparison Girl, and Shaped by God's Promises. Shannon also hosts the Live Like It's True Bible podcast and has been featured on Revive Our Hearts, FamilyLife Today, The Gospel Coalition, and Proverbs 31.    Lee Nienhuis is an author, speaker, and passionate Bible teacher whose love for the Lord and the Word is contagious. Lee serves as a Communications Specialist, ministry coach, and consultant for many churches and non-profit organizations. With a heart for Inductive Bible Study and missions, she speaks domestically and abroad communicating a dynamic vision for the next generation and biblical literacy.  Lee's books, Brave Moms, Brave Kids: A Battle Plan for Raising Heroes and Counter-Cultural Parenting are a clarion call for parents who are looking to raise whole hearted Christ followers in this generation.     

Social media can be the most amazing mission field if you know how to leverage it. Instead of being discouraged by its negativity and destructiveness, join Barb and social media expert Becky Robinson to learn how to make social media a tool for ministry. Becky shares 4 inspiring commitments that you can apply to your social media platform. As a result, you may discover how to become the light of Jesus in our online world.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Becky on Instagram Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause Visit Becky's Website Weaving Influence Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Becky Robinson is the Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in digital and integrated marketing services and public relations for authors, business leaders, coaches, trainers, speakers, and thought leaders. Since launching over a decade ago, the firm has provided a wide range of services to help clients launch more than 250 books, enabling authors to build their brands, acquire more business customers, and increase book sales. Becky hosts the Book Marketing Action Podcast, where she shares actionable advice to help authors achieve their goals to reach more readers and enhance their brand. In April 2022, Becky published her first book with Berrett-Koehler Publishers titled, “Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause,” which takes an in-depth look at what it takes to achieve the greatest possible influence, provides valuable advice for targeting key audiences, offers a variety of practical steps for cutting through the noise, shares best practices for cultivating community, and reveals effective strategies for growing an online presence.

Let's jump in to a great conversation about prayer! Join Barb and her friend, author and spiritual director Liz Ditty, as they talk about her new 6-week Bible study, Hear My Prayer: Learning from the Faith of Elijah. In this episode, Liz helps us to ditch the perfectionism and truly be honest with God about the hurt and hardship we are facing. Whether you are a prayer warrior or you have constant problems remembering to pray, we invite you to join us for this faith-transforming conversation and powerful reminder that God hears your prayers.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Liz on Instagram Hear My Prayer: Learning from the Faith of Elijah Visit Liz's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Liz Ditty is a spiritual director, author, preacher, and teacher currently guiding transformative prayer retreats at Mount Hermon Conference Center, nestled in the coastal redwoods of California. A Silicon Valley native and Western Seminary graduate, Liz's central purpose in all she writes and teaches is to gently draw attention to God's presence in our actual—often challenging—lives. Alongside her supportive husband, two children, and spirited dog, Liz finds joy in sparking connection and community with all her people.

Sometimes, our lives get shaken up. For many of us, we experience a devastating “lifequake”. This is the term that bestselling author, Tracie Miles, created to describe those catastrophic life events that leave us shaken, stuck or questioning God's love for us.  In this episode, Tracie and Barb talk about her new book God's Got You: Embracing New Beginnings with Courage and Confidence. Tracie shares her story of finding herself completely knocked off of her feet and shares the steps on how she found the courage and the confidence to trust God in her new season. Make sure to share this episode with your friends who are going through it!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Tracie on Instagram God's Got You: Embracing New Beginnings with Courage and Confidence Visit Tracie's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Tracie Miles is the bestselling author of seven books, director of COMPEL Pro Writers Training at Proverbs 31 Ministries, and the founder of the Living Unbroken Divorce Recovery program. She has three grown children, a son and daughter in law, and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Does figuring out what to feed your family stress you out? Would you like to have the tools to plan ahead, save money and still enjoy a time of rest with your family one day a week?    Join Barb and her longtime friend and treasured mentor, best-selling author Kathi Lipp, as they discuss her newest book Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest. In this episode you will learn Kathi's hottest tips for meal planning and preparation as well as receive a free downloadable worksheet for lunch and dinner ideas when you preorder your copy of the book!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Kathi on Instagram Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest Visit Kathi's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Kathi Lipp is a Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of 20 books, including The Accidental Homesteader, Clutter Free, and The Husband Project; she has had articles published in national media, including Woman's World as part of their “Ask the Experts” feature, Today's Christian Woman, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Crosswalk.com, Discipleship Journal and many others. She is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four young adults.

Abuse can often happen gradually and discreetly, leaving victims wondering if what they are experiencing is truly an issue.  Join Barb and special guests Tricia Lott Williford and Jana Richardson, as they share candidly about abuse, manipulation, freedom, and the path to safety. If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, this is a crucial conversation. In this episode, Tricia reminds us that one of the enemy's tactics is to make us believe that our trauma is either too big or too small to mention. Please don't let your suffering remain a secret. Freedom is possible, and it is possible for you.  Note: We experienced some slight audio issues towards the end as a lawnmower outside tried to join our conversation. Our apologies for the disruption. :)   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Tricia on Instagram Check out Tricia's book, You Are Safe Now. Visit Tricia's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUESTS Tricia Lott Williford has written fifteen books in the last thirteen years. She has authored six titles under her own name and nine titles as a ghostwriter in collaboration with other authors, including a gold medalist, an Emmy award-winning journalist, and a candidate for President of the United States. Her work has appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list, and she has written with Penguin Random House, St. Martin's Press, LifeWay, Tyndale, and NavPress. Tricia championed The Pen and The Page, a weekend writing retreat attended by hundreds of adults; she co-hosts the popular podcast Let's Talk Soon; and during the school year, she teaches fourth grade at an elementary school near Denver. Tricia's newest book is called You Are Safe Now: A Survivor's Guide to Listening to Your Gut, Healing from Abuse, and Living in Freedom.   Jana Richardson, MA, LPC, EMDR,  is an experienced therapist in the Denver area with expertise in counseling victims of trauma, grief, and addiction.

This powerful conversation aired back in February and you all loved it, so we are bringing it back for this special Labor Day episode!   Join Barb and Grace Wabuke Klein, author of Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life, for a conversation on how to trust God's grace and goodness when we're not sure what's happening in our lives. Grace will explain the four seasons of life and how to hold on to hope and believe God for His best in your life.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE gracewabukeklein.com Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life Connect with Grace on Facebook! Connect with Grace on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Grace Wabuke Klein and her husband Phil lead focus412, a ministry that helps churches grow. Through this ministry, they have worked with some of the largest and most influential churches across the country. Grace was born in Uganda during the tyrannical reign of Idi Amin, and her family fled to the United States and settled in Minnesota. Grace has a bachelor's degree in U.S. History from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Master's in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She was on the pastoral leadership team at Faith Church in West Covina, California. For more than 15 years, she had the honor of empowering thousands in their leadership and spiritual growth. Grace and her husband have been married for over five years and reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

Relationships are tough, even when two people truly love God and one another. In this week's conversation, join Barb and certified life coach Lisa Allen for a conversation on how to foster healthy relationships that celebrate differences and complement rather than complicating our lives.  Tune in for the final part of our Stronger than Stress Series! RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Check out Lisa's website. Stronger Than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm Stronger than Stress Bible Study Connect with Lisa on IG! Connect with Lisa on FB!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Lisa Allen has a passion for and connection to women. She has been featured as a keynote speaker at Proverbs 31 Ministries' annual She Speaks Conference, the She Laughs Conferences, and various Women's Ministry keynotes and conferences. Lisa has offered her insights for Charlotte Today Show as a contributor. She has also been a contributing writer for the She Laughs Newsletter, WomensMinistry.net, Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, and more. Her experience as a Board-Certified Life Coach has uniquely influenced her style. She is as comfortable delivering passionate keynotes that leave her audience with a sense of calling and confidence as she is to facilitating training workshops for ministry and staff leadership teams. Lisa is obsessed with personality assessments and enjoys the certifications she's received for Team Coaching, DISC Personality Profile, Enneagram Coach and Gallup StrengthsFinders. Lisa loves fashion and can be found spending her free time watching the latest trends, colors and styles. She also loves pilates. She has logged close to 900 classes since 2017. She's not a “workout” kind of gal and used to joke that her favorite part of any workout is leaving. But, since she has gotten strong and healthy, she wanted to help others do the same. In August of 2022, she became a certified IMX Pilates instructor. You can catch her any given day enjoying or leading a Pilates workout.

When we get stuck in daily cycles of stress it can feel like this is just the way that things will always be! But what if it was possible to stop the spiral and take practical steps towards breaking the seemingly neverending cycle of stress? Listen in to today's episode as Barb provides an easy framework for moving from a place of stress to a place of rest.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Catch previous episodes of the podcast! Stronger Than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm Stronger than Stress Bible Study Connect with Barb on IG! Connect with Barb on FB!  

Are you feeling worn down or burnt out? Many of us are carrying so many burdens and responsibilities that at times it feels like we will be crushed beneath the weight of them. Join us for this week's conversation as Barb speaks with author Ashley Morgan Jackson about burnout, grace, and accepting God's gift of rest in the tough seasons of waiting.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE ashleymorganjackson.com Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You're Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten Connect with Ashley on IG! Connect with Ashley on FB!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Ashley Morgan Jackson is an author, speaker, and social media expert. She formerly worked full-time for Proverbs 31 Ministries and has ministered to her online community for ten years. She is passionate about women learning to let go of the lie that they have to perform for God's love and instead realize they can receive His love, just as they are. Ashley is a wife of fourteen years to her wonderful husband, Daniel, and a mom to two growing boys. The family lives in Charlotte, NC.

Are you stressed all of the time? Do you ever think about running away from your life because it's just too much? You aren't alone! Over 50% of people are highly stressed these days! The problem is that too many of us believe that we're stuck in our stress, but that isn't true! Join me for this new episode of Bold, Brave & Beautiful Podcast called “Too Stressed to Be Blessed." Not only will I tell you about how God taught me to turn my stress into strength, but I'll share how you can become an overcomer, too! RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Preorder the Stronger Than Stress Book Preorder the Stronger Than Stress Bible Study

When the men in our life are struggling, it is natural for us as women to long to help but just don't know what to do! Join us today for part 2 of Barb's conversation with comedian Isaac Witty as he shares his dramatic journey of faith from pastor's kid to successful comedian who hit rock bottom and found his way back to God. Last time, Isaac covered the topics of identity and anxiety and today he will be discussing the topics of self-medication (such as drug use, pornography, and unhelpful distractions), the importance of who men hang around with, and the one truth that brings him comfort even when he feels misunderstood by others. Ultimately, our hope is that Isaac's words will show us as women how best to love, pray for, and support the men in our lives who we love and who are loved even more by our faithful God.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Isaac on Instagram Check out Isaac's Dry Bar Comedy Special “Don't Worry About Me. I'm Fine.” Visit Isaac's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Over the course of a career that has spanned more than two decades, Isaac Witty has perfected a quirky style that doesn't fit the mold of your average clean comedian. With perfect timing and his unique cadence, he hits punchlines hard while also playing pauses for big laughs. Isaac has been a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, Garrison Keillor's “A Prairie Home Companion,” Sirius XM, Thou Shalt Laugh, and The Conan O'Brien Show, among other impressive credits. You can also catch Isaac's recently released Dry Bar special, “Don't Worry About Me. I'm Fine.”

Most of us have men in our lives that we love and our deepest prayer is that those men love Jesus. What do you do when the Christian man in your life is struggling and you are not sure how to help? Join Barb for today's conversation with comedian Isaac Witty who has performed on some of America's biggest stages and listen to his dramatic journey of faith from pastor's kid to successful comedian who hit rock bottom and found his way back to God. Isaac will share his story and address the 5 things that a Christian man must fight in order to have faith. His story will encourage you and help you pray more for the men in your life.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Isaac on Instagram Check out Isaac's Dry Bar Comedy Special “Don't Worry About Me. I'm Fine.” Visit Isaac's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Over the course of a career that has spanned more than two decades, Isaac Witty has perfected a quirky style that doesn't fit the mold of your average clean comedian. With perfect timing and his unique cadence, he hits punchlines hard while also playing pauses for big laughs. Isaac has been a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, Garrison Keillor's “A Prairie Home Companion,” Sirius XM, Thou Shalt Laugh, and The Conan O'Brien Show, among other impressive credits. You can also catch Isaac's recently released Dry Bar special, “Don't Worry About Me. I'm Fine.”

People of color often feel invisible and alienated, even traumatized, by the oppression and discrimination still prevalent in our American culture today. The result leads to not only internalized trauma but also a particular type of aloneness, which author Prasanta Verma defines as ethnic and racial loneliness. Join Barb as Prasanta discusses her new book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, and listen to learn about the exhausting effects of cultural isolation, the dynamics of marginalization, and the weight of being “other”. Prasanta points toward the path of healing which includes the need to share our stories and the importance of finding safe friendships and community.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Prasanta on Instagram Check out Prasanta's book, Ethnic Loneliness. Visit Prasanta's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Prasanta Verma (MBA, MPH) was born under an Asian sun, raised in the Appalachian foothills in the South, and now resides in the Upper Midwest. Her essays and poetry have been published in numerous places online and in print. She has worked as an author, editor, speech and debate coach and public health professional, and wants to help us envision a world where we are all more socially connected and a little less lonely. Beyond Ethnic Lonelienss is her first book.

Does your life feel like it is the opposite of what you've been praying for? Perhaps you've wondered if God has mixed up your life with someone else's because you definitely didn't sign up for the drama that keeps coming your way. In this conversation, Barb and author Nicole Unice discuss Nicole's new book, Not What I Signed Up For, and how to find strength and faith to get through what you never thought you'd have to go through.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Nicole on Instagram Check out Nicole's book, Not What I Signed Up For. Visit Nicole's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Nicole Unice is a pastor and leadership coach who facilitates environments of safety and vulnerability so that leaders and teams can courageously identify obstacles keeping them from their maximum potential. As a sought-after speaker, Nicole has a down-to-earth style that allows even the largest gathering to feel conversational. Nicole is the author of several books focused on spiritual transformation and is a featured speaker through RightNow Media and Punchline. She holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Nicole and her husband, Dave, live in Richmond, Virginia, with their three children and two pups.    As a pastor and community leader, Nicole is the author of several books on healthy faith, honing in on the connection between our emotional and spiritual life. Nicole's books come to life through her popular video curriculum series found on RightNow Media, and she preaches frequently for conferences, churches, and organizations. In addition, She's the host of How to Study the Bible, a popular weekly podcast that has reached people in 188 different countries in the last year alone. Find out more at nicoleunice.com.

Part 1 of this conversation was incredible, and part 2 is finally here! Last time we talked about just how messy love can be. Many of us have had our hearts broken whether by a spouse, family member or friend and found ourselves feeling like the rug was pulled right out from under us. However, in Christ we can find an indestructible foundation.    In today's conversation, Caleb and Stefanie discuss how our broken hearts and lives can be rebuilt by letting God into the darkest parts of our stories. In this encouraging conversation they will also share true stories of transformation, reminding us that nothing is too hard for our God. Get ready for an uplifting conversation about hope, healing and wholehearted love.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Stefanie and Caleb on Instagram! Preorder Stefanie and Caleb's Book - Wholehearted Love: Overcome the Barriers That Hold You Back in Your Relationship with God and Others -- and Delight in Feeling Safe, Seen, and Loved   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Stefanie and Caleb Rouse are relationship counselors, digital creators, and authors. They are dedicated to helping people in all stages of relationships attain a positive relationship with God, others, and themselves so that they can be empowered to act in love, selflessness, and self-control and as a result, have successful and meaningful relationships.   Stefanie and Caleb speak daily to an audience of over 500,000 people across their social media platforms about faith and relationships. Known for their authenticity and vulnerability, they share stories of hope, loss, and love that inspire people from all around the globe.   Before starting their online ministry, Stefanie and Caleb were teachers together at a private Christian school in Southern California. Stefanie taught biblical studies and relationships after being a full-time counselor, and Caleb taught AP World History. Stefanie's master's degree is in marriage and family therapy with an emphasis in theology, and Caleb's masters is in education. They have since taken their skills in education to write and create their signature online course called Cultivate Relationships where they serve their community of singles and married couples. They have seen massive breakthroughs in the lives of their students who have gone from brokenhearted to happily married. Their clients are from all over the world.   The couple spent the first few years online as lifestyle and travel bloggers through social media, being hired by cities and top hotels from all over the country and internationally. Known for their beautiful photography and authentic voice, they shared their experiences and activities together as they got to explore beautiful locations and stay in the top-rated hotels in the United States.   In 2022, Stefanie and Caleb published their first book, A Year of Prayer: Daily Moments of Contemplation, Devotion & Grace. Stefanie and Caleb have been featured in news outlets from across the world for their viral content on social media, as well as made podcast appearances together and separately on topics related to faith and relationships. Stefanie and Caleb currently reside in Pittsburgh, PA. They have two babies in heaven named Asher and Shiloh, and they live with their fur baby, a Pomeranian named Honey Bear.   Stefanie and Caleb enjoy outdoor activities, adventuring together by exploring new cities and countries, and spending time playing board games and watching their favorite shows. They are hopeful romantics, and their passion is seeing others have a beautiful, healthy love story.

Loving people can be so messy. We've all experienced pain or trauma that has caused us to put up barriers in our heart. Whether you were neglected by your parents, ghosted by a boyfriend, or you are estranged from a loved one, it's easy for us to give up hope of having good relationships with the people that we love. Join me and the authors of the new book, Wholehearted Love, and learn the practical tools as well as God's wisdom on how you can live and love others wholeheartedly again.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Stefanie and Caleb on Instagram! Stefanie and Caleb's Book - Wholehearted Love: Overcome the Barriers That Hold You Back in Your Relationship with God and Others -- and Delight in Feeling Safe, Seen, and Loved   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Stefanie and Caleb Rouse are relationship counselors, digital creators, and authors. They are dedicated to helping people in all stages of relationships attain a positive relationship with God, others, and themselves so that they can be empowered to act in love, selflessness, and self-control and as a result, have successful and meaningful relationships.   Stefanie and Caleb speak daily to an audience of over 500,000 people across their social media platforms about faith and relationships. Known for their authenticity and vulnerability, they share stories of hope, loss, and love that inspire people from all around the globe.   Before starting their online ministry, Stefanie and Caleb were teachers together at a private Christian school in Southern California. Stefanie taught biblical studies and relationships after being a full-time counselor, and Caleb taught AP World History. Stefanie's master's degree is in marriage and family therapy with an emphasis in theology, and Caleb's masters is in education. They have since taken their skills in education to write and create their signature online course called Cultivate Relationships where they serve their community of singles and married couples. They have seen massive breakthroughs in the lives of their students who have gone from brokenhearted to happily married. Their clients are from all over the world.   The couple spent the first few years online as lifestyle and travel bloggers through social media, being hired by cities and top hotels from all over the country and internationally. Known for their beautiful photography and authentic voice, they shared their experiences and activities together as they got to explore beautiful locations and stay in the top-rated hotels in the United States.   In 2022, Stefanie and Caleb published their first book, A Year of Prayer: Daily Moments of Contemplation, Devotion & Grace. Stefanie and Caleb have been featured in news outlets from across the world for their viral content on social media, as well as made podcast appearances together and separately on topics related to faith and relationships. Stefanie and Caleb currently reside in Pittsburgh, PA. They have two babies in heaven named Asher and Shiloh, and they live with their fur baby, a Pomeranian named Honey Bear.   Stefanie and Caleb enjoy outdoor activities, adventuring together by exploring new cities and countries, and spending time playing board games and watching their favorite shows. They are hopeful romantics, and their passion is seeing others have a beautiful, healthy love story.

Do you long to live free and fully alive in your God-given purpose? If you're wondering if it's too late or if you've been through too much to experience God's life-changing freedom, you'll be so inspired by this new episode of the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast with author and pastor, Karrie Garcia. After years of numbing her pain, struggling with drug addiction and surviving her mother's devastating suicide, Karrie discovered God's redemptive and healing power in her life so that she could be free and finally fully alive. Now a third-generation pastor, speaker and trauma-informed story coach, Karrie joins Barb for a powerful conversation about silencing the inner critic, finding God's voice of truth, and recognizing the power of knowing one's story.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Karrie on Instagram Karrie's book - Free & Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be The Exchange Online Course   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Karrie Garcia is a pastor, author, and CEO who shares her journey to inspire change in others. She began speaking publicly at 19 and has addressed audiences ranging from small groups to thousands. Despite facing struggles such as drug addiction and the suicide of her mother, Karrie emerged victorious through her faith in Jesus Christ. She founded Freedom Movement, a nonprofit addressing issues of brokenness and pain often unaddressed in traditional church environments, and authored The Exchange, a nine-week course for those seeking hope and healing. Karrie is a pastor, licensed life coach, and CEO. She inspires change in others by boldly sharing her journey to freedom and by using her training in the area of psychology to help others connect their minds with their bodies for a holistic approach to overall wellness. Karrie is currently working toward her Training Certificate Level III at the Allender Center, a program addressing trauma-focused narrative therapy taught by leading Christian psychologist, Dan Allender. Karrie's authenticity and fearless approach to difficult topics makes her a relatable and empowering voice for those seeking freedom and healing. Her new book, Free & Fully Alive, guides readers through embracing their past and discovering a deeper connection with themselves, God, and others.

Do you long to live free and fully alive in your God-given purpose? If you're wondering if it's too late or if you've been through too much to experience God's life-changing freedom, you'll be so inspired by this new episode of the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast with author and pastor, Karrie Garcia. After years of numbing her pain, struggling with drug addiction and surviving her mother's devasting suicide, Karrie discovered God's redemptive and healing power in her life so that she could be free and finally fully alive. Now a third-generation pastor, speaker and trauma-informed story coach, Karrie joins Barb for a powerful conversation about silencing the inner critic, finding God's voice of truth, and recognizing the power of knowing one's story.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Karrie on Instagram Karrie's book - Free & Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be The Exchange Online Course   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Karrie Garcia is a pastor, author, and CEO who shares her journey to inspire change in others. She began speaking publicly at 19 and has addressed audiences ranging from small groups to thousands. Despite facing struggles such as drug addiction and the suicide of her mother, Karrie emerged victorious through her faith in Jesus Christ. She founded Freedom Movement, a nonprofit addressing issues of brokenness and pain often unaddressed in traditional church environments, and authored The Exchange, a nine-week course for those seeking hope and healing. Karrie is a pastor, licensed life coach, and CEO. She inspires change in others by boldly sharing her journey to freedom and by using her training in the area of psychology to help others connect their minds with their bodies for a holistic approach to overall wellness. Karrie is currently working toward her Training Certificate Level III at the Allender Center, a program addressing trauma-focused narrative therapytaught by leading Christian psychologist, Dan Allender. Karrie's authenticity and fearless approach to difficult topics makes her a relatable and empowering voice for those seeking freedom and healing. Her new book, Free & Fully Alive, guides readers through embracing their past and discovering a deeper connection with themselves, God, and others.    

Whether you're carrying emotional wounds from childhood trauma or suffering from anxiety and depression, panic attacks, or intrusive thoughts, you know this isn't what God wants for you. He lovingly knit you together and calls you to a life of abundance. So why do His joy and love feel so far away sometimes? Join Barb and author Laura L Smith, author of the new book, Holy Care for the Whole Self, for a powerful yet practical conversation about how you can develop God-honoring, effective mental health care strategies in your life, starting today! Laura shares the tools that you need to rest in God's unconditional love and to find your strength and peace in Him.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE laurasmithauthor.com Holy Care for the Whole Self: Biblical Wisdom for Mental and Spiritual Well-Being Connect with Laura on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Laura L. Smith is a popular speaker, best-selling author, and Bible teacher leading women to tear down lies so they can live in truth. Holy Care for the Whole Self is her thirteenth book. Most recently she is known for Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms and How Sweet the Sound: The Power and Promise of 30 Beloved Hymns (which sold more than 130,000 copies). A fan of Jesus, her prince charming of a husband, their four kids, almond milk mochas, dark chocolate, music, books, and travel. Smith describes her work this way: “I tell stories (through writing and speaking) in hopes of helping others discover what took me so long to see: God's amazing grace is abundant and free for the taking. We can't earn it. We don't have to. All we have to do is accept it. And when we do, surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.” Laura lives in the picturesque college town of Oxford, Ohio. There you'll find her running the wooded trails, strolling the brick streets, teaching a local Bible study, shopping at the Saturday morning farmer's market, or going on a sunset walk with her family.

Many of us long for lasting peace and stability whether we are healing from painful memories, grieving a recent loss, or simply trying to find a quiet path in a chaotic world. In this episode, interior stylist and popular Instagram influencer, Anh Lin, shares from her new book Forever Home. She was born in Vietnam in a dirt floor home and moved to America when she was two. She lost her father to cancer early in life and lived for years with a difficult, strained relationship with her mother. In her conversation with Barb, Anh combines a unique blend of Biblical teaching and her personal story to teach us how to live free from the pain of the past and invite God to rebuild your brokenness into a beautiful life.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE girlandtheword.com Forever Home: Moving Beyond Brokenness to Build a Strong and Beautiful Life Watch Anh's YouTube Channel! Connect with Anh on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Anh Lin is a dynamic interior stylist celebrated for her captivating designs and thought-provoking writing, including The Abundant Life Devotional Journal. In 2014, Anh's passion for storytelling and empathy for others inspired her to start the popular faith and lifestyle blog Girl and The Word. Since launching the blog, Ahn has continued to expand her influence through YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and her successful online shop, The Hooga Shop. She lives in a renovated 1940s fixer-upper with her husband and adorable corgi, Ollie. Her upcoming book, Forever Home: Moving Beyond Brokenness to Build a Strong and Beautiful Life, set to be released in September 2023, reflects her personal journey and provides insightful guidance for creating a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Today's conversation is an encouraging breath of fresh air to help you live well no matter if you feel like you're on top of the world or the world is on top of you. Join Barb and Grace Wabuke Klein, author of Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life, for a conversation on how to trust God's grace and goodness when we're not sure what's happening in our lives. Grace will explain the four seasons of life and how to hold on to hope and believe God for His best in your life.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE gracewabukeklein.com Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life Connect with Grace on Facebook! Connect with Grace on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Grace Wabuke Klein and her husband Phil lead focus412, a ministry that helps churches grow. Through this ministry, they have worked with some of the largest and most influential churches across the country. Grace was born in Uganda during the tyrannical reign of Idi Amin, and her family fled to the United States and settled in Minnesota. Grace has a bachelor's degree in U.S. History from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Master's in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She was on the pastoral leadership team at Faith Church in West Covina, California. For more than 15 years, she had the honor of empowering thousands in their leadership and spiritual growth. Grace and her husband have been married for over five years and reside in Birmingham, Alabama.

"I've always felt unfit as a Korean but somehow too Korean everywhere else." Tasha Jun has always been caught between worlds: American and Korean, faith and doubt, family devotion and fierce independence. As a Korean American and author of the new book, Tell Me the Dream Again, Tasha has wandered between seemingly opposing worlds, struggling to find a voice to speak and a firm place for her feet to land. In our conversation today Tasha speaks to those who feel unseen or unwanted, letting them know that they are not outsiders to God. When we let all the details of ourselves unfold—when we embrace who we were divinely knit together to be—this is when we'll fully experience his perfect love. *Editor's Note: On Better Together, we emphasize that life is not perfect, and unfortunately in this episode, we had a little bit of imperfect audio towards the end of the interview due to some outdoor work being done in the background. Thankfully the interview is still easy to hear, but we just wanted to provide a little bit of context. Enjoy this wonderful conversation with Tasha Jun! :)   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE tashajun.com Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging Connect with Tasha on Facebook! Connect with Tasha on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Tasha Jun is a Korean American melancholy dreamer, wife to Matt, and mom to Asher, Timo, and Everly. She loves kimchi, french fries, and Marvel movies. She grew up in a multicultural and biracial home, and because of that, she has spent her life navigating cultural collisions and liminal spaces. She is passionate about helping others notice beauty and embrace themselves as wholly beloved image bearers. As she writes about everyday life and cultural and ethnic identity, God has a way of leading her toward the hope of shalom.

Singles often feel left out of church and the gospel, even though Jesus and the Apostle Paul were single. Even when churches preach the significance of singleness from the platform, singles often feel alone and left out in the culture of the church which seems to be built similar to Noah's Ark, that everyone is in sets of two. In her new book, Dr. Danielle Treweek, an Aussie single Jesus-follower, talks with my fabulous podcast producer Tabitha about the eschatological view of singleness and they have a surprising conversation that will raise the eyebrows of those who are married or single. If you've been struggling with seeing your singlehood through the big picture of Scripture or you want to support your single sisters in Christ better, Danielle's interview will give you lots to think about and reflect on. Don't miss this!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE danielletreweek.com The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church Connect with Danielle on Twitter! Connect with Danielle on Instagram!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Dani Treweek is the author of The Meaning of Singleness. She has both a degree and a doctorate in theology and is the founding director of the Single Minded Ministry. She works as the Anglican Diocese of Sydney Research Officer, teaches at a number of theological seminaries and is a regular conference and event speaker.

Introverts unite! Join us for a podcast episode all about you and best of all, you don't need to say or do anything. Barb speaks with bestselling author Holley Gerth about her popular book, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, on how to maximize your God-given strengths while giving yourself permission to accept yourself as you are and not let anything hold you back.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE holleygerth.com The Powerful Purpose of Introverts Connect with Holley on Twitter! Connect with Holley on IG! Connect with Holley on Facebook!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Holley Gerth is an expert snacker and excellent napper. She's also a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, former counselor, and life coach. She imagines a world where we all become who we're created to be, use our strengths to serve, and grow for a lifetime. Holley cofounded the groundbreaking blogging community (in)courage and cohosts the popular podcast More Than Small Talk.

How can mothers raise their daughters with healthy messages about sex, self, and speaking up? What are some of the toxic teachings that need to be acknowledged and challenged? Barb speaks with Sheila Gregoire, author of the popular book, The Great Sex Rescue, about Sheila's book for mothers of daughters titled, She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self and Speaking Up. During their conversation, Sheila reveals data from her survey of more than 7,000 women about how experiences in church as teens affect women's self-esteem and their relationships today.     RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE tolovehonorandvacuum.com She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self and Speaking Up Connect with Sheila on Twitter! Connect with Sheila on IG! Connect with Sheila on Facebook!     ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Sheila Wray Gregoire is an author, podcaster, and researcher into evangelicalism and sex. The founder of BareMarriage.com, together with her team she has surveyed over 32,000 people for her books The Great Sex Rescue and She Deserves Better. Her goal is to change the evangelical conversation about sex to be healthy, evidence-based, and rooted in Christ. A graduate of Queen's University, she's married to her husband Keith, a pediatrician, who writes and speaks with her.    

Have you been grieving and hurting because no one knows how badly you feel? It takes time and space to grieve well, but too often our grief is rushed whether by our own shame about grief or others pushing us to stop grieving. Drawing from her own experience with grief, Natasha Smith talks with Barb about what it means to grieve and to give ourselves permission to sit with our grief so that we can heal in healthy ways. Natasha's new book, Can You Just Sit With Me, equips readers with the necessary tools to connect with God and to find an understanding companion to walk with them through the grieving process.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE imnatashasmith.com Can You Just Sit With Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life Connect with Natasha on Twitter! Connect with Natasha on IG! Connect with Natasha on Facebook!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Natasha Smith is a wife, mom, and NC native. She is a writer, speaker, and podcaster, who shares stories on faith, family, and grief. She has inspired others through her writing for over 12 years. Her work has appeared in Guideposts and Focus on the Family print publications. And Her View From Home, TODAY Parents, Pray with Confidence, and other e-publications.

Learning how to deeply connect with our children can feel challenging at times. How do we answer their tough questions about life, the world around them, or about God? How can we lead them spiritually as they navigate the ups and downs that life inevitably brings? In today's conversation, Barb speaks with Kayla Craig about her devotional, Every Season Sacred, a resource created to help families grow and connect through all seasons of life. Whether your family is walking through a dark time or it feels as if things are in full bloom, this gentle conversation will encourage you to find sacred in every season.  Producer's Note: Unfortunately we ran into some mic issues at a couple of points throughout this interview. Sometimes technology is not our friend! However, thankfully the issues did not last long. We pray this episode blesses you!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE kaylacraig.com Every Season Sacred Liturgies for Parents Podcast Connect with Kayla on IG! Connect with Kayla on Facebook!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Kayla Craig is a former journalist who brings deep curiosity and care to her writing. She's the author of Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way. With a poetic, prophetic voice, she created the popular Liturgies for Parents Instagram account, which Christianity Today named an "essential parenting resource." She also hosts the Liturgies for Parents podcast. Kayla's nuanced and accessible reflections, essays, and prayers are featured in various books, devotionals, and Bible studies. Kayla lives in a 115-year-old former convent in her Iowa hometown, where she hopes to create spaces of welcome alongside her four children, two dogs, and pastor-husband, Jonny.

This current generation of young men longs to see genuine, risk-taking Christianity in action. They desperately need heroes who are genuine, passionate, and noble. Our young men are aching for someone to show them—by example—all it takes to live for Christ. There's a war raging—and moms are the ones who hold the key to victory. In my conversation with best-selling author and speaker, Rhonda Stoppe, today we are talking about 5 principles godly moms need to keep in mind as they are praying about raising godly sons. No matter how old your son is, you can keep praying for him to become a godly man!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE rhondastoppe.com Moms Raising Sons To Be Men Check out Rhonda's YouTube Channel!  Connect with Rhonda on Twitter!  Connect with Rhonda on IG! Connect with Rhonda on Facebook!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST "I could have listened to Rhonda talk all night", is what audiences say about Rhonda Stoppe's honest, engaging and biblical teaching. Rhonda is the best selling author of 7 books, including Moms Raising Sons to Be Men, Real Life Romance, and The Marriage Mentor - which she co-authored with her husband, Steve. As a popular Christian speaker, mentor and author Rhonda has helped thousands of women build no regrets lives. Her appearance at Focus on the Family was named in their “Best of Episodes”. Rhonda has experienced the challenges of balancing marriage, parenting, ministry and homeschool life, and she's ready to share her insights with you! For 40 years she has ministered along side of her pastor-husband. The Stoppes have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren. To follow Rhonda's podcast: Old Ladies Know Stuff , connect with Rhonda and to receive a free chapter from her book, Moms Raising Sons to Be Men please visit: NoRegretsWoman.com.

Are there questions that you would like to ask God but you're too angry or confused to talk to Him? In my conversation with my friend and author Amberly Neese, we step right into uncomfortable questions that Christians ask like: “Can I trust God? What must I do to be healed? Why should I pray?” In her new Bible study, Untangling Faith, Amberly looks at six big questions that Christians ask and invites us to lean in and learn from Jesus. The Bible records over 300 questions that Jesus asks. In my conversation, Amberly guides us toward understanding God's heart and helping us learn how to ask God the hard questions that can actually help us trust Him more.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE amberlyneese.com Untangling Faith: Reclaiming Hope in the Questions Jesus Asked  Untangling Faith DVDs Connect with Amberly on IG! Connect with Amberly on Facebook!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Amberly Neese is a popular speaker/teacher, comedian, author, and all-around encourager dedicated to helping you become the joyful person you were created to be. She helps people like you experience the freedom found in meaningful relationships with God and others. Her bible study, “The Belonging Project: Finding Your Tribe and Learning to Thrive” was released in May 2020 by Abingdon Press. Amberly is a featured speaker for the Aspire Women's Events and the main host and female comedian for Marriage Date Night, two popular Christian events that tour nationally. She and her husband have two teenagers and live in Prescott, Arizona, where they enjoy the great outdoors, the Food Network, and all things Star Wars.

As much as we love that God can heal us from our hurts in the past, what do we do when past hurts start hurting again? Does this mean that we aren't healed or that God didn't do His job? Today, Barb has a powerful conversation with licensed professional counselor and best-selling author Michelle Nietert. Michelle and Barb have been friends for years and she shares helpful and encouraging insights for those who don't understand how or why past wounds can open up again. Michelle recently lost her father and personally, she's rewalking the journey from her childhood trauma again as well. Join us for a heartfelt, vulnerable but helpful conversation on today's episode.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE michellenietert.com Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life God, I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God Managing Your Emojis: 100 Devotions for Navigating Your Feelings Connect with Michelle on IG! Connect with Michelle on FB!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Licensed Professional Counselor of 25 years, Michelle Nietert is the coauthor of the God I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God series, best selling book Loved and Cherished, award-winning Make Up Your Mind, and Managing Your Emoji's. She leads a team of counselors as the clinical director of Community Counseling Associates in the Dallas, TX area. A popular speaker on topics regarding mental health, faith, and parenting, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, and hosts the Raising Mentally Healthy KidsTM podcast. Connect with Michelle at YourMentalHealthCoach.com.

Have you ever read about one of the feasts in the Bible and thought to yourself, "What is that all about?" Well, in today's episode, Barb speaks with author and recovering expat Alicia Akins about how the feasts of the Bible relate to us today and how we can live with faith in the truth that we are called to live an abundant life.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE feetcrymercy.com Invitations to Abundance: How the Feasts of the Bible Nourish Us Today Connect with Alicia on IG! Connect with Alicia on Twitter!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Alicia Akins is a writer and recovering expat based in Washington DC. She is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary and serves as a deaconess at her church. She's the author of Invitations to Abundance and The Gift of the Outsider with Harvest House Publishers.

Becoming a homesteader may sound totally out of reach, but chances are you may already enjoy some of those activities in your day-to-day life. Do you enjoy whipping up a home cooked meal, taking care of your house plants, or creating a cozy home for your family? Well in this episode, our special guest proves that there is a little bit of homesteader in all of us.  In today's conversation, Barb speaks with author and friend Kathi Lipp about her move from Silicon Valley to the mountains of California and her journey to becoming an accidental homesteader. Even if you don't aspire to grow your own vegetables or knit your own clothes, Kathi shows us how we can embrace a simpler and more fulfilling life and create a home that we love.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE kathilipp.com The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned about Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home Connect with Kathi on IG! Connect with Kathi on FB!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Kathi Lipp is the Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of 20 books, including An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can't Get Away, Overwhelmed, and Clutter Free.  Along with being a part of the InCourage at Dayspring writing team, she is the host of Clutter Free Academy the Podcast! with Kathi Lipp, Facebook group Clutter Free Academy, and Clutter Free for Life. As a writing and marketing coach, she is also the host of the Writing at the Red House Podcast and runs both The Writing at the Red House Retreats and The Red House Writers Collective – a writing program that helps authors develop their writing, their platform, and their business. She is often featured in Nation Media, including Woman's World Magazine as one of their “Ask the Experts”, Focus on the Family, MOPSInternational, Crosswalk.com, Girlfriends in God and Proverbs 31 Ministries Kathi lives on her Red House mini-homestead with her husband Roger, a dog, and eight chickens and holds cozy writer retreats for content creators.

For the past decade, Christ follower and social media influencer Sade Solomon has been praying and waiting on God for her Mr. Fabulous and Forever. At the same time, she's wrestled with topics around sex, singleness and abstinence. In 2013, Sade began openly sharing her life changing commitment to abstinence on social media. In today's conversation, Barb and Sade talk about the beauty of God's blessing in trusting Him, but also the ups and downs of waiting to see how God's promises will come to pass. Sade's message will uplift and encourage single Christian women who've been on their knees praying for years, “God, where's my man?”   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE readysetwait.com Ready, Set, Wait by Sade Solomon Connect with Sade on IG! Connect with Sade on YouTube!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Sade Solomon is a NYC-based Creative Entrepreneur and Social Media Personality who boldly and fashionably ignites authentic and candid conversations on topics surrounding sex, singleness, and abstinence. After embarking on her journey of abstinence in 2013, Sade began openly sharing her life-changing commitment on various online platforms while enlightening and inspiring many through her journey. In ‘ Ready, Set, Wait', Sade peels back the layers of truth about navigating singleness and abstinence as a single Christian woman. Her work and commentary have been featured by Good Morning America, Harper's Bazaar, Xo Necole, and Essence.   

Guarding our hearts against temptation is not just something we should strive for before the day we finally get to say "I do". Temptations to sin and compromise can continue into marriage, and as women we need to be aware and on guard. In today's conversation, Barb speaks with author Sarah Wells about two tough seasons in her marriage when she was tempted to stray away from keeping her vows, and how we can all resist our own temptations to sin whether physically, emotionally, or mentally.  Whether you are in a season of wrestling right now or not, this honest and vulnerable conversation can equip you to protect your heart and your marriage.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE sarahmariewells.com American Honey: A Field Guide to Resisting Temptation Connect with Sarah on IG! Connect with Sarah on FB!     ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST In addition to the memoir American Honey, Sarah M. Wells is the author of The Family Bible Devotional Volume 2: Stories from the Gospels to Help Kids and Parents Love God and Love Others, and The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture.   She is also the author of two collections of poems, Between the Heron and the Moss and Pruning Burning Bushes; a chapbook of poems, Acquiesce, winner of the 2008 Starting Gate Award; and a novella-length essay, The Valley of Achor, available on Kindle. Poems and essays by Wells have appeared in Ascent, Brevity, Full Grown People, Hippocampus Review, The Pinch, River Teeth, Rock & Sling, Under the Gum Tree, Terrain.org and elsewhere.   Sarah's work has been honored with four Pushcart Prize nominations, and six of her essays have been listed as Notable Essays in The Best American Essays. She is a 2018 recipient of an Ohio Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council. Sarah earned her BA in Creative Writing and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Ashland University. Sarah is a regular contributor to Root & Vine News and God Hears Her, a blog for women, from Our Daily Bread, and writes marketing content for Spire Advertising. She resides in Ashland, Ohio with her husband, Brandon, and their four children, Lydia, Elvis, Henry, and Izzy (their Westie).

When we are walking through seasons of loneliness, weariness, or feeling abandoned by those we love, it can feel like no matter how hard we try to manage the pain, things just aren't getting better. In today's episode, Barb speaks with author Ashley Morgan Jackson about her season of struggling with mental health and how God showed her that He was always present even when she felt invisible to everyone around her.  If you are feeling alone or unseen, this episode is for you.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE ashleymorganjackson.com Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You're Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten Connect with Ashley on IG! Connect with Ashley on FB!     ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Ashley Morgan Jackson is an author, speaker, and social media expert. She works full-time for Proverbs 31 Ministries and has ministered to her online community for ten years. She is passionate about women learning to let go of the lie that they have to perform for God's love and instead realize they can receive His love, just as they are. Ashley is a wife of fourteen years to her wonderful husband, Daniel, and a mom to two growing boys. The family lives in Charlotte, NC.

Across the country we're still wrestling with how to talk about race well. Where do we even begin the conversation on a topic that is so big and heavy? If you are a parent or grandparent, how do you respond to your children's questions and how often should you talk about race in your home? Today, Barb is talking with Dr. Michelle Ami Reyes, co-author of the book The Race Wise Family, a 2023 recipient of the Christianity Today Book Award. During today's conversation, you will learn a roadmap for how to talk about race in your home as well as many practical tips and fantastic resources to help you answer the hard questions for yourself as well as your kids and grandkids.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE michelleamireyes.com The Race-Wise Family: Ten Postures to Becoming Households of Healing and Hope Connect with Michelle on IG! Connect with Michelle on FB!     ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Dr. Michelle Ami Reyes is a race and culture coach, the course founder of Seasoned with Grace (a program that helps Christian leaders have gracious conversations on race in order to achieve impactful racial change), and she is the award-winning author of Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures.

When our earthly fathers hurt, harm or abandon us, it can leave a deep wound that feels like it will never fully heal.  In today's episode, Barb chats with author Kia Stephens about her experience with an absent father in her life, and the beautiful hope and healing that all women can experience, even if their relationship with their father is never fully restored. We don't have to stay wounded forever, and that is GOOD news! Join us for this hopeful conversation and share it with a friend who needs it. Let's all get better together.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE kiastephens.com Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God's Perfect Love Connect with Kia on IG! Connect with Kia on FB! hopeforhercampaign.com   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Kia Stephens is the founder of Entrusted Women, which she created to equip Christian women communicators of color. A contributing writer for iBelieve.com, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Crosswalk, she is a recurring speaker at She Speaks, the Beloved Women's Conference, and the Entrusted Women's Conference.   Kia's writing has been featured on (in)courage and Ann Voskamp's blog. She has also been a featured guest on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Chrystal's Chronicles with Chrystal Evans Hurst, Better Together with Barb Roose and The Dream of You Podcast with Jo Saxton.   Kia is also the host of the Hope for Women With Father Wounds Podcast and she recently released her first book Overcoming Father Wounds. Kia would love to connect with you on her website, Instagram or Facebook.