Not My Story

Sarah invites her husband and Not My Story producer/editor Ben Westfall to join her in this final episode. They reflect on common themes that surfaced throughout the life of the podcast, guests or ideas that stuck with them, as well as behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the podcast's creation and final chapter.For full episode notes, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson returns to Not My Story for the Art + Ash series. Sarah and Curt discuss what it looks like to live out the truest version of our stories within the context of community by asking two important questions of ourselves and of each other. They go on to talk about Curt's newest book The Soul of Desire (coming October 2021 with IVP), which includes a framework for how we can pursue both beauty and connection within confessional communities, even in the presence of suffering.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Curt, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Reader, writer, and professor Karen Swallow Prior joins Sarah in episode 46 of Not My Story. They begin by talking about how good literature affects the way we see and experience the world (including a few must-read suggestions from Karen!). Sarah and Karen also discuss the distinction between art and creativity, and Karen shares about her own wrestling to make her words beautiful when her first response to writing isn't artful but analytical. Their conversation also dives into social media, what it looks like to approach platforms like Instagram and Twitter as an avenue for beauty and goodness, holding both beauty and brokenness, and practical thoughts on cultivating a creative life.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Karenl, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In Not My Story episode 45, Sarah is joined by Rachel Kang—writer of poems and prose and founder of Indelible Ink Writers. Sarah and Rachel explore what it means to be “creative” in our everyday lives and how perhaps we need to redefine “the creative” within church and culture. Rachel shares a bit of her own journey, particularly how she has shifted her view of writing and making music from a “hoarded hobby” to a way of giving and cultivating community with God and with people. For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Rachel, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Shawn Smucker and Maile Silva—writers and co-hosts of The Stories Between Us podcast—help Sarah kick off the Art + Ash series with a candid conversation about the creative life. They chat about some of the joys and struggles they've experienced navigating two writers living under the same roof, while also parenting their six kids and fostering a family culture that prioritizes creative pursuits. Maile talks about how essential writing is to her overall health and wellness and how she's had to wade through difficult seasons of her career not going as planned. Sarah, Shawn, and Maile also discuss comparison, finding a creative outlet (even if it's not your career), and creativity in seasons of struggle.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah, Maile, and Shawn, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In episode 43, Ashley Hales joins Sarah to talk about the seemingly upside-down freedom she's found within the goodness of God's limits. Ashley is the author of A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits (coming Sept. 14, 2021) and invites us to reframe how we think of limits—as an invitation instead of a restriction. Ashley shares some of her own story of questioning cultural values of hustle and of independence and how some basic boundaries can help us embrace a fuller, more connected life..For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Ashley, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Heather Lobe Johnson tells her story of looking for her worth in external validation, resulting in a string of broken relationships. She talks about getting divorced at age 24 and searching for who she was out of the brokenness while still trying to be a mom to her two-year-old son. Sarah and Heather talk about co-dependence versus interdependence in relationships, the good and not-so-good things people did to support Heather, and discovering the lavish grace of God.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Heather, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Grace is a word used often in church circles, but what does this word really mean in the midst of everyday life? Jill E. McCormick—host of the Grace In Real Life podcast—joins Sarah in episode 41 of Not My Story to explore these questions together. Jill talks about her own journey being a “try-hard girl” and wrestling with what grace really looks like day in and day out, especially when life did not go as planned. They talk about the tendency toward striving, how to extend compassion to yourself and to others, and a few practical ways to live a grace-filled life.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Jill, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In episode 40, pastor and author Jay Y. Kim joins Not My Story to share his experience not only leading a church through a pandemic, but also launching a book about the church's need for physical presence at a time when everything went digital. They dive into the joys and the struggles that come with leadership, the gift of generous assumption, and the need for community. Toward the second half of their conversation, Sarah asks Jay where he's finding hope for the church in such a divided cultural climate and what it looks like to remain part of the church while still holding faith questions.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Jay, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In episode 39, Sarah is joined by slow-living advocate and Our Island in the City Podcast host, Jodi Grubbs. In her twenties, Jodi unexpectedly became a young widow—a traumatic event that shifted the course of her life and her faith. Jodi's story offers a glimpse into what it looks like to be pursued by God in the midst of deep grief, to be held even when she didn't know it. Sarah and Jodi talk about processing loss and moving forward, the role of authentic community in her healing process, and how slow living became an important part of Jodi's soul care. This conversation offers a tender and hopeful glimpse into the grace found in grief as well as the ways we can be gentle to ourselves and others.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Jodi, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In this special Father's Day episode, Sarah welcomes her dad, Barry Bender, to Not My Story to talk about what has and has not gone as expected raising four kids. With 37 years of fatherhood under his belt, Barry shares about the differences between having children in the home versus parenting adult kids, the importance of prayer, and how he has been intentional along the way. You especially do not want miss his nuggets of wisdom he shares toward the end.For full notes from today's episode and more, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.For more ways to connect and to sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Meredith McDaniel, licensed counselor and author of In Want + Plenty, sits down with Sarah to talk about the “great pause” of 2020. Meredith shares what it was like to have her plans for debuting her first book uprooted and how she shifted her expectations. She also talks about what it has been like to walk alongside her clients in such an intense season of isolation, upheaval, and division. Sarah and Meredith discuss wilderness seasons and uncensored conversations with God, the things they hope we take with us out of pandemic life, the value of sharing and holding stories, and much more.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Meredith, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Spiritual director, therapist, and writer Ryan Kuja sits down with Sarah to tell the story about being abducted in Zimbabwe and the resulting trauma he experienced. Ryan shares about how that unexpected event fractured pieces of who he was, the ways trauma manifested itself in his body and his life, and how he found healing ways to move forward in therapy and in contemplative Christianity. Now a trauma-informed therapist himself, Ryan also shares some important insights about what trauma is, how we can recognize it, and ways we can extend compassion to others.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Ryan, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Latasha Ferguson—educator and host of the Overcome to Become Podcast—joins Sarah in episode 35 to share her story of becoming a teen mom and navigating single parenthood while still trying to figure out her identity and relationship with God. Latasha talks about her early years of stubborn resistance, the struggles of being a single mom of two girls, and how God has relentlessly pursued her in it all. Sarah and Latasha talk about the role of community in our everyday lives, holding on to hope, and how our stories connect us.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Latasha, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah’s newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Catherine Ricketts, a Philadelphia-based writer and musician, talks with Sarah about the consecutive loss of both her father and brother, speaking candidly about the different ways grief manifested itself in her life and in her relationship with God. Catherine reflects on the juxtaposition of grief and joy as she was simultaneously falling in love while also caring for her dying father, only to be followed by the tragic death of her brother and a season of intense questioning. Sarah and Catherine discuss moving forward when you no longer feel “safe” from pain, finding hope in God’s mercy, and letting the love of God change how you see the world.To connect with both Catherine and Sarah and access the full show notes, go to NotMyStoryPod.com.TAKE THE HOPE*WRITERS QUIZ to find out where you are on the six-stage writing path.Subscribe to Sarah’s newsletter The Shelf for more stories, recommendations, and reflections.

Writer, activist, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, Terence Lester sits down with Sarah to tell a number of stories—from the formation of his not-for-profit organization to his unexpected journey to becoming a communicator. Sarah and Terence talk about where Love Beyond Walls began, its mission, and how to see people in poverty or facing homelessness not as problems but as “people going through problems.” They talk about the human desire to be seen, what happens when we allow ourselves to be interrupted, as well as Terence’s newest book, When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together.For full episode notes and additional episodes, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah’s newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of Growing Slow, tells the story of how she traded her fast-paced journalistic career in the city for a life on the farm. Jennifer talks about coming to grips with her limitations as well as the physical, relational, and spiritual effects of running too hard for too long. Sarah and Jennifer discuss what it looks like to “un-hurry your heart” in practical, everyday ways as well as embracing the various seasons of our lives.For show notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Jennifer, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com.Join Sarah’s monthly newsletter, The Shelf, at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe for more stories, resources, and reflections delivered right to your inbox.

Pastor-turned-poet and literary agent John Blase tells his story of how an unforeseen season of change disrupted not only his career and family, but also his identity and lens on faith. John reflects on what he thought his fifties would look like, the losses that seemed to stack up, and what happened when the dominoes fell. In this conversation, Sarah and John discuss what it looks like to wade through grief, embodied prayer, having compassion for our younger selves, and more. For show notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and John, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Join Sarah’s monthly newsletter, The Shelf, at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe for more stories, resources, and reflections delivered right to your inbox.

Blogger, author, and marketing professional Anna Kettle shares her unlikely story of pursuing a slower, simpler, more soulful life, a journey that led to her writing the book Sand Between Your Toes. Sarah and Anna talk about practical ways to embrace a different pace of life, navigating internal noise and distractions, and the tension between pursuit and surrender. The second half of their conversation shifts to Anna’s journey with recurring pregnancy loss and how she walks well with grief on a day-to-day basis when the future remain unknown. For show notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Anna, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Join Sarah’s monthly newsletter, The Shelf, at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe.

Counselor, writer, and boundaries coach Kerrah Fabacher joins Sarah in episode 29 to talk about making and keeping friends in adulthood. They begin by chatting about Kerrah’s family, work, and podcast, and then Kerrah tells the story about her first experience with deep friendship and how it changed her. Sarah and Kerrah talk about some of the struggles of being the new person in the room or trying to make friends alongside jobs, kids, marriages, or other commitments. Kerrah also gives some great tips on what it looks like to be authentic in our everyday lives. For show notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Kerrah, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Get your free download of “What’s Your Story?: 50 Questions for Reflection & Conversation” as well as Sarah’s monthly newsletter at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe.

Pastor Nirup Alphonse joins Sarah to talk about some of the unexpected things that have surfaced in fatherhood. Nirup shares stories from early parenthood, including how his cultural background impacted his perspective, and what he’s learned along the way—about not only diapering, but also what it looks like to be a daily disciple-maker with his kids. Sarah and Nirup spend a bulk of the conversation discussing what it looks like to parent through the lens of becoming, the need to build trust, and the power of forgiveness. For show notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Nirup, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Get your free download of “What’s Your Story?: 50 Questions for Reflection & Conversation” as well as Sarah’s monthly newsletter at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe.

Julie Short—a higher ed professional, Enneagram Coach, and co-host of the Momnesia Podcast—joins Sarah to talk about what hasn’t gone as planned in motherhood and how friendships have made all the difference. They chat about some of the difficulties Julie has faced with infertility, a high-risk pregnancy, and even life as a working mom, as well as the joys she has experienced along the way. Julie opens up about how crucial friendship have been in her motherhood journey, and (because we had to go there) how the Enneagram informs how she parents. For show notes and ways to connect with both Julie and Sarah, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Download “What’s Your Story?: 50 Questions for Reflection & Conversation” and join Sarah’s newsletter community at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe.

Jonathan Puddle, host of The Puddcast and author of You Are Enough, joins Sarah in episode 26 to talk about the breakdown of his relationship with his father and the reconciliation that followed. Jonathan gives us a glimpse into his childhood and to what contributed to the distance between himself and his dad. They talk about Jonathan’s complex range of emotions, the wrestling he did with God, and what ultimately led him toward a path of restoration with his father. To see the show notes and find ways to connect with both Jonathan and Sarah, visit today’s episode page at NotMyStoryPod.com. Join Sarah’s newsletter community for even more stories, resources, and reflections at www.sarahewestfall.com/subscribe.

Podcaster and writer Jodi Rosser joins Sarah to tell her story of navigating life after divorce. In this conversation, Jodi shares how divorce broke her in so many ways, but out of the wreckage, God began to put her pieces back together. Sarah and Jodi discuss how divorce is a unique grief that is often ongoing and unseen. They talk about Jodi’s struggle to navigate not only her own complicated emotions, but also the feelings of her two young sons and her new life as a single mom. As a former self-proclaimed perfectionist, Jodi shares how she’s found new freedom and strength through a life of vulnerability, community, and dependence on the goodness of God. To connect with Sarah or Jodi and find links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com. Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter The Shelf for additional updates stories, resources, and reflections at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe.

Singer-songwriter and author Kate Hurley joins Sarah to share her unexpected story of prolonged singleness. As a former musician with Enter the Worship Circle, Kate talks about her experiences touring and what it looked like to find community while on the road. We talk about her expectations for adulthood—dreams that included marriage and motherhood—and what her conversations with God looked like when those desires seemed so far off. Kate shares openly about what the church did (and did not) do well in surrounding her as a single woman and reflects on how unraveling her thought patterns has helped move her into deeper connection with God and with others. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the single life or wanting to love their unmarried friends or family members well.For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.Sign up for Sarah’s monthly newsletter The Shelf and additional offerings at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe.To connect, you can find Sarah on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Marriage rarely goes exactly as anticipated. In this episode, Sarah talks with Deb & Gibson Hopper about how they found each other after their first marriages ended in divorce. They share about their experience blending families, navigating expectations, and establishing new traditions. Now married for twenty-six years, Deb and Gibson offer valuable insights on healthy communication, developing friendships outside marriage, the importance of sex, and more.For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.Join Sarah’s email community at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe and receive your copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected.

Shannan Martin, author of The Ministry of Ordinary Places, joins Sarah to talk about her unlikely journey from a picture-perfect life on the farm to a messier, but fuller way of living alongside her neighbors in Goshen, Indiana. Sarah and Shannan talk about what it really means to follow Jesus’ command to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” They discuss what love looks like on the ground, practical ways to connect with neighbors, how to navigate differences, and more.For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.Join Sarah’s email community at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe and receive your copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected.

In episode 21, Sarah talks with Dr. Alvin Sanders—president and CEO of World Impact—about our relationships to poverty, justice, and Jesus within the local church. Dr. Sanders shares about his start in urban ministry and how his experiences have reshaped his understanding of poverty and of God’s desire for all communities to flourish. They discuss what it looks like on the practical level for individuals and local churches to engage in redemptive poverty work, right where they are. For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.Join Sarah’s email community at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe and receive your copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected.

In episode 20, Sarah talks with Rachel Joy Welcher, author of Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality. Rachel shares how pervasive views on sexuality within the church in the early 2000s shaped her expectations as a teen and young woman, but when those expectations didn’t pan out, she was left asking big questions about sexual purity and following Jesus. In this conversation, Sarah and Rachel talk about purity culture, how sexuality impacts our relationships, navigating unmet desires, how to have good dialogue about sexuality within the church, and more.For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.Connect with Not My Story on Instagram and Facebook.Join Sarah’s email community at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe and receive your copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected.

From pandemic life to racial injustice to a divisive election, the past twelve months have been hard. Many things stand between us, causing us to question, “Where do we go from here?” In episode 19 as part of the [you + me] series, Sarah invites psychiatrist, speaker, and author Dr. Curt Thompson to talk about all that has transpired in 2020 and to lend insight into how this year of the unexpected has impacted us relationally—with God and with each other. They talk about the effects of isolation, pursuing vulnerability in the face of differences, and dismantling shame. Their conversation also explores what to do when God seems silent and one question we should all be asking in the year ahead. For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com. Join Sarah’s email community at SarahEWestfall.com/subscribe and receive your copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected.

Kicking off the [you + me] series, Sarah talks with author, professor, and Enneagram teacher Drew Moser about how understanding who we are impacts how we live. Drew shares about how he struggled to find himself in his twenties as his plans began to fall apart, but how answering the question “Who am I?” shifted not only his career path, but also his relationship with God and with others. They talk about self-awareness, decision-making, the Enneagram, and resources for figuring out a sense of self. For full show notes and links from today’s episode, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.

Six years ago, Dorina’s life took an unforeseen turn when her husband Eric Lee was diagnosed with melanoma cancer. In episode 17, Dorina shares about losing her husband, becoming a young widow, and navigating life as a single parent to their three girls. She talks candidly with Sarah about her season of wrestling with God and the crazy-but-beautiful plot twist Dorina did not see coming. Their conversation also includes how to combat the fear of losing a loved one, the comparison trap, running, books, food, and more. To get all the links from today’s conversation, visit NotMyStoryPod.com for episode notes. Join Sarah’s email list and get your digital copy of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected at SarahEWestfall.com, and stay connected on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kristina never envisioned herself as a pastor’s wife—let alone an adoptive mom with six kids. But that’s just how God chose to grow part of her family and her faith. In episode 16, Kristina opens up with Sarah about their adoption journey and what it’s been like to join her husband in full-time church ministry. They chat about the expectations Kristina put on herself early on as a pastor’s wife, the questions she held for God when adoption did not seem rational, and what she has learned about relentless love along the way.To get direct links from today’s conversation, visit NotMyStoryPod.com for full episode notes.Connect with Sarah and the Not My Story podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

In November 2015, Davey Blackburn came home to find his wife, Amanda Grace, tragically murdered during a home invasion. Davey was left to pastor their church as a single dad of their fifteen-month-old son Weston. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Davey to hear his story and to talk about how God turned a “festering, rotting thing” into an avenue of grace. He talks about grief, his path toward healing from the trauma, and the ways God showed up in his darkest moments. Davey’s story is ongoing, continued in the life of his family and his work as a writer, speaker, podcaster, and coach through Nothing is Wasted Ministries.JOIN the Not My Story Community on Facebook for connection, community, exclusive content, and conversation after each episode.Go to NotMyStoryPod.com for links from this episode.Connect with Sarah on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Have you ever sensed God saying “not yet”? In episode 14, Sarah sits down with Dr. Julia Hurlow who shares about a long season of waiting—a ten-year journey that involved multiple moves, job uncertainty, and dreams deferred. Sarah and Julia talk about contentment, the role of community, and finding a sense of “home” when nothing goes as planned.CLICK HERE FOR FULL EPISODE NOTESBECOME A MEMBER of the Not My Story Community

ABOUT THE EPISODERacial reconciliation and healing was not the work that Dr. Lucretia Berry originally picked. Her younger self envisioned a future well-entrenched in the black community: her college, her career, her church, and ever her future husband and family. But that is not the path God laid out. In episode 13 of Not My Story, Lucretia talks with Sarah about her experiences growing up within black America, moving to a predominantly white area, agreeing to partner with her pastor to transition their historically black church to a multiethnic congregation, and marrying a white man. In 2015, all these experiences converged when Lucretia founded Brownicity.MEET THE GUESTDr. ​Lucretia Berry​ is the founder of ​Brownicity - Many Hues, One Humanity, an agency dedicated to advocacy, education, and support for racial healing and antiracism. She is a wife to Nathan, mother of three little girls, and a former college professor whose love for humanity led her to author ​What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Towards Racial Healing,​ a journey guide designed specifically for ‘beginners.’ She is the Anti-race/ism Curriculum Specialist for Community School of Davidson (NC), a contributor for (In)courage.me, a TEDx and Q Ideas speaker (Charlotte), and a Senior Consultant for Point Made Learning’s The American Dream Game.​You can connect on Instagram with Dr. Berry at @lucretiaberry or with Brownicity at @brownicity.EPISODE NOTES- HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) - CLICK HERE to see the College Navigator’s list of accredited HBCU institutions in the United States- Lucretia’s TED talk - “Children will light up the world if we don’t keep them in the dark”- Music mentioned: Vineyard, Hillsong, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin- Brownicity Membership - CLICK HERE to learn more- What Lucretia is reading: Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nurburn and American Blindspot by Gerardo Marti- hope*writers- b.kids: LET’S LEARN ABOUT - new preschool and elementary age kids course from BrownicityTo connect with Not My Story on Instagram: CLICK HEREGet a free download of Interrupted: Prayers & Meditations in the Unexpected, written by Not My Story host Sarah E. Westfall.

Brian Dixon shares his unscripted journey from aspiring rock star and teacher to becoming a co-founder of hope*writers, a business coach, a podcaster, and an author. Brian talks candidly about his early struggles with finding his place and with seeing life through the lens of “not enough.” He tells the story that led him not only to live out his gifting, but also help others do the same.CLICK HERE to take the hope*writers quiz.Go to NotMyStoryPod.com for full notes on this episode and for Brian’s complete bio and ways to connect.

After studying at Oxford, Chuck DeGroat experienced a personal breakdown that led to major changes not only in his career path but also his faith. In episode 11, Chuck recalls his journey from being a man with all the answers to a man who experiences God in the questions. Sarah and Chuck discuss the dangers of chasing prestige and of looking at faith through a dogmatic lens. They talk about parenting, writing, reading, and his most recent book, When Narcissism Comes to Church.For more about Chuck or this episode, check out the show notes at NotMyStoryPod.com.Connect with Not My Story on Instagram for new episodes, highlights, news, giveaways, and more.

In episode 10, Sarah talks with Molly Huffman about the “treasures found in darkness.” Molly shares about the loss of her mom in her early twenties and how she struggled to understand why God didn’t seem to hear her prayers. They discuss what it was like for Molly to wrestle with her grief and her faith—and then to experience loss again a few years when her son passed away and her marriage fell apart. Molly’s story is one of incalculable loss, but we have so much to gain from her perspectives on faith, lament, and the love of God.For full episode notes: go to NotMyStoryPod.com.CLICK HERE to follow Not My Story on Instagram and enter the August 2020 giveaway.

Friendship can be complicated—especially as adults. In episode 9, Sarah sits down with Amanda Anderson—speaker and author of All My Friends Have Issues: Building Remarkable Relationships with Imperfect People (Like Me). Amanda shares her story of how a broken friendship became an unexpected wake-up call to unhealthy relationship patterns with friends, family, and even God. In this conversation, Sarah and Amanda talk about Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA), skewed views on Christian friendship, and how to build healthy relationships as adults.For full episode notes, go to NotMyStoryPod.com, and be sure to connect with podcast on Instagram for all the latest updates, giveaways, and more!

What if we saw ethnicity as a crucial part of our stories, connecting us not only to each other, but also to God? In episode eight of the Not My Story podcast, guest Tasha Jun talks about how discovering her ethnic identity became a pathway for greater understanding of God, herself, and the world. Tasha encourages us to consider how who we are and where we come from play an integral part in our own spiritual development and sense of belonging. Sarah and Tasha also discuss travel, writing, books, and more.For full episode notes, to go notmystorypod.com. To connect with Not My Story or Sarah on Instagram at @notmystorypod.

Performance, praise, perfection—what happens when they’re not enough? In episode seven, Nicole Zasowski talks with Sarah about how she had built an identity and a career based on her achievements. She notes how she “treated God like a vending machine,” which even worked for a while—until it didn’t. A cross-country move became the turning point when Nicole’s carefully curated life began to crumble, and Nicole began to ask God some difficult questions. In this conversation, Nicole and Sarah talk about career, loss, identity, miscarriage, and how to hope when your hands are empty.For more about Nicole and full episode notes, to go notmystorypod.com. You can also follow Not My Story on Instagram at @notmystorypod.

Former running back turned financial advisor, Willie Smith, tells his story of when football dreams were shattered by injury at age seventeen. Willie and Sarah talk about misplaced identity and how to hold plans with an open hand. Willie also opens up about his experience as a black man in America, especially in the wake of events precipitated by the George Floyd murder. Willie generously shares his own stories and insights and offers thoughtful reflections on how America can continue to move forward toward racial equality.To get full notes from today’s episode, go to notmystorypod.com, where you can also download your free, limited-time copy of the ebook Show Up.

In episode five, Michelle Krol opens up about what it’s been like to raise five sons (including quadruplets!) and how motherhood has been an unexpected avenue of healing from deep childhood wounds.For full show notes, go to notmystorypod.com.For updates, articles, and more from Sarah, you can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter.

Sarah sits down with lawyer and author Seth Haines. They talk about coping with pain, alcohol abuse, embracing a life of sobriety, and how stillness and solitude are avenues into deeper attachment to God.Seth is a self-proclaimed working stiff who considers himself lucky enough to call the Ozark Mountains home. He has been married to the love of his life, Amber Haines, for twenty years, and together, they have four boys. Seth enjoys good sentences, good music, good food, and good fly fishing.For notes from this and other Not My Story episodes, go to notmystorypod.com.Follow this link to find out more about hope*writers and take the 30-second writing path quiz.

In episode three, Sarah welcomes Trevor Atwood to the Not My Story podcast. Trevor is lead pastor of City Church in Murfreesboro, TN, which he planted with his wife Keva in 2011. During this conversation, Trevor talks about how his life and marriage was taken apart and rebuilt by God during his five years in seminary.For complete episode notes and ways to connect with episode guests, go to notmystorypod.com. You can also follow Not My Story on Instagram for additional news and guest info.

In episode two, Sarah chats with therapist and author K.J. Ramsey about chronic illness, suffering, and showing up for other people in the midst of grief and pain. K.J. also shares about her book This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers.For detailed notes and links from the conversation, visit notmystorypod.com. You can also connect with Sarah, K.J. and other Not My Story podcast guests on Instagram.

In this introductory episode, Sarah invites her husband Ben Westfall to help kick off the podcast and join her in telling a few of their own unplanned stories. They talk about their faith, family, and the loss that changed them.For full show notes, go to notmystorypod.com.Connect with the podcast on Instagram at @notmystorypod.

Welcome to Not My Story—a conversational podcast about faith and the unexpected. Author and speaker Sarah E. Westfall talks with guests about the unplanned pieces of their lives and how those narratives shifted their understanding of God. Full episodes start May 2020, but you can catch the sneak peak here, where Sarah reveals what you can expect from the show.To get the latest, subscribe to the show and follow along at NotMyStory.com or on Instagram.