Podcasts about fostering

After the biodiversity panel from the last episode, I got to thinking about how protecting biodiversity is so often reduced to the life forms that humans value. The ones we find beautiful, friendly, or otherwise useful to us directly. Cuddly mammals, majestic birds, colorful butterflies and flowers, etc.    In many ways though, these living beings are only able to survive and thrive if the critters that we dislike are abundant in the same spaces. Many flowers are pollinated by bugs most would find annoying. A lot of cuddly mammals feed on weed species or our own crops. Eagles and owls need an abundance of rodents and reptiles if their populations are to grow. Many invasive exotic species are working tirelessly to restore damaged and imbalanced ecosystems.    It's kinda like trying to lose body fat in just one area of your body. You can't just pick the parts that are desirable to you and expect the whole interconnected system to accept that. Collectively we need to embrace the restoration and stewardship, especially of the lower trophic levels of the food web that support all the higher levels above.    In the last panel we touched a little on the tolerance and adaptation required to share space with predators and birds that threaten livestock and crops, recognizing their role despite the challenges that come from having them around.    Today I'll be revisiting some of my favorite interviews from previous seasons in which we talked about three specific categories of overlooked and undervalued wildlife.    My hope is that we can welcome these into a broader conversation about biodiversity, and maybe even convince you to work to promote greater diversity and open pollination of your crops and livestock, the full range of insects, and even rethink your management of invasive species in your land or on your farm. 

In this episode, Fostering the Spark, we dive into how ICU nurses can stay passionate, curious, and connected to their purpose through continual growth and learning. Because let's be honest—nursing is intense, and CICU nursing brings an entirely different level of emotional, mental, and clinical demand. Without challenge, support, or opportunities to grow, it's easy to feel burned out or stagnant over time. But the spark that brought you into this profession doesn't have to fade. In this conversation, we explore how to keep fostering that sense of purpose, curiosity, and connection throughout your career. We talk about why this topic matters, what inspired this discussion, and how growth in nursing isn't always about doing more—it can also be about staying engaged, inspired, and grounded in why you started in the first place. Co-Hosts and Guests: Laura Valido, BSN RN (Nationwide Children's Hospital); Natalie Pleiman, MSN RN (Cincinnati Children's Hospital); Yaeji Kim BSN; Editor: Laura Valido, BSN RN Producer: Saidie Rodriguez, MD (CHOA/Emory) Sponsor: Seattle Children's Hospital

In this episode of High Velocity Radio, Lee Kantor interviews Josh Block, leadership expert and author of People Matter at Work. Josh shares lessons from his unexpected transition into leadership and discusses how investing in people can drive both organizational performance and long-term success. He explores the importance of creating a thriving workplace culture, developing […]

This week on Herbal Radio, host Lucretia VanDyke is joined by the clinical herbalist and the Executive Director of the Berkeley Herbal Center (BHC), Ashley Campos. Join us as they explore: Ashley herbalism journey: from student to director Fostering and recognizing diversity in herbalism education Upholding the sacredness of plants while pursuing a career in herbalism Holding space for spiritualism in clinical practice Creative ways to connect with plants through music and art Cacao as medicine: far beyond an indulgent treat As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism.

Today's Guest Host : Kay Smythe-Hill -Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer (Ret.) joins “National Report” to break down the reality of Iran's current military capabilities and detail a highly strategic mission by the 82nd Airborne and the U.S. Navy to secure critical sea lanes, move oil out of the Gulf, and effectively bypass Iranian interference. -Jeff Metcalf, father of slain teen Austin Metcalf, joins "Rob Schmitt Tonight" to discuss his faith, what the killer's violent supporters represent, and the words of Austin's twin brother that he was forced to hear many times over during the trial. -Newsmax's Carl Higbie addresses protestors making the Karmleo Anthony verdict a race issue. -First lady Melania Trump announced her new initiative, “Fostering the Future Accounts,” a program that aims to empower foster youth by providing them with the financial assets, education, and tools necessary to achieve true independence as they enter adulthood. -On "Finnerty,” Rob exposes “biased” media reports, slamming the ousted news anchor Scott Pelley and other journalists. Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at ⁠http://Newsmax.com/Listen⁠ Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at ⁠http://NewsmaxPlus.com⁠ Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : ⁠http://nws.mx/shop⁠ Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: ⁠http://nws.mx/FB⁠  -X/Twitter: ⁠http://nws.mx/twitter⁠ -Instagram: ⁠http://nws.mx/IG⁠ -YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV⁠ -Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV⁠ -TRUTH Social: ⁠https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX⁠ -GETTR: ⁠https://gettr.com/user/newsmax⁠ -Threads: ⁠http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX⁠  -Telegram: ⁠http://t.me/newsmax⁠  -BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com⁠ -Parler: ⁠http://app.parler.com/newsmax⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When forests are treated purely as commodities, with no regard for preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change, we all suffer for it, humans and wildlife alike. But my returning guest, forestry scientist Dr. Suzanne Simard, explains that a conservation-minded approach to logging can protect forests while still satisfying economic interests. Podcast Links for Show Notes Download my free eBook 5 Steps to Your Best Garden Ever - the 5 most important steps anyone can do to have a thriving garden or landscape. It's what I still do today, without exception to get incredible results, even in the most challenging conditions. Subscribe to the joegardener® email list to receive weekly updates about new podcast episodes, seasonal gardening tips, and online gardening course announcements. Check out The joegardener® Online Gardening Academy for our growing library of organic gardening courses. Follow joegardener® on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and subscribe to The joegardenerTV YouTube channel.

La selección de México inauguró la fiesta mundialista con una victoria sobre Sudáfrica, pero en las afueras del estadio continúan las marchas y movilizaciones sociales. Previo al inicio del juego entre México y Sudáfrica, algunos encapuchados lanzaron vallas metálicas a las vías del tren ligero, varios manifestantes bloquearon vías. Los Knicks de Nueva York lograron una remontada histórica y ganaron ante los Spurs el 4to juego de la final de la NBA. En las afueras hubo festejos violentos y caos. Más de 90 millones de personas en el centro y el noreste del país están bajo el impacto de fuertes tormentas y calor extremo. Continúa la tensión en oriente medio. El presidente Trump aseguró que canceló nuevos ataques militares contra Irán horas después de que había anunciado intensificar la guerra. 

This show is made possible thanks our members! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate   Thank you for your continued support! Description:  In a time of climate catastrophe, genocide, mass incarceration and political turmoil, people need to work together – better! That's why lifelong activist Dean Spade has written “Love in a F*ed Up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell, Together”. Which tools can help people and social justice movements face conflict and emerge stronger (rather than weaker)? Which stories do we tell ourselves that aren't helping us think — or act — in our best interest? In this timely conversation, Spade shares tips on how we might get our interpersonal houses in order so that we're better equipped to show up for others and the causes we care about. Spade is a lawyer, educator, and author of “Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)”, and “Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of the Law”. He's the director of “Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back!”, and in 2002 he founded the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in New York City, a law collective that provides free legal services to trans and gender non-conforming people who are low income and/or people of color. He has useful things to say about romance too, which are worth bearing in mind, as the Valentine's marketing crush hits, as Laura reflects in her commentary. “. . . Most of us are taking in all the bad news by ourselves through a screen . . . One of the best things we can do to support our own wellbeing through the overwhelm is be with others, joining any kind of project in our communities, a creative project, a mutual aid project . . .” - Dean Spade“The typical self-help genre is very focused on the individual. It doesn't contextualize the kinds of suffering that everyone's going through in a broader feminist analysis, anti-capitalist analysis, anti-racist analysis . . . If we understand that our individual suffering is a bunch of bigger scripts, . . . it can be a little bit freeing.” - Dean Spade   Guest:  Dean Spade, Author, “Love In A F*cked-Up World: How To Build Relationships, Hook Up, And Raise Hell Together”, “Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)” and more.   Watch the broadcast episode cut for time at our YouTube channel and airing on PBS stations across the country  Subscribe to episode notes via Patreon   Music In the Middle:  “We are Rising” by activist, singer and songwriter, Taína Asili.  She created the song for One Billion Rising's 2020 global campaign..  And additional music included- "Steppin"  and "All The Ways" by Podington Bear. RESOURCES: Recommended book: “Love In A F*cked-Up World: How To Build Relationships, Hook Up, And Raise Hell Together” by Dean Spade, *Learn more here (*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.) Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • The New Transgender Movement: Race, Poverty, Gender, Policing, and Pinkwashing, Watch ​​•  Emergent Strategies for Abolition: Andrea J. Ritchie's Toolkit for Activists: Watch / Download Podcast •  Mariame Kaba: Rooting Out Our Culture of Harm: Watch / Download Podcast: Episode & Full Uncut Conversation •  adrienne maree brown: Pleasure Activism and Black Women's Legacy of Joy, Watch (06:58) / Download Podcast:  Full Uncut Conversation (37:20)   Related Articles and Resources: •  Our Best Option for Defending Ourselves From Trump's Second Term Is Each Other, by Dean Spade, November 12, 2024, TruthOut • Checking in with Dean Spade (ep181), December 9, 2024, Gender Reveal Podcast •. “The Mask Is Off:”  Dean Spade and Susan Stryker on Trans Resistance in Trump's America, by Them, December 18, 2024, Them.us Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

I know I've said this before, but being asked if cat overpopulation was a conversation I'd be interested in was an easy yes for me! I'm so happy to share this conversation I got to have with Deborah Felin Magaldi. Deborah works with Helen Sanders Cat Paws in the Los Angeles area, where they're making progress, and have learned a lot to be able to teach others (us). Deborah met Helen Sanders back in 2001, and Cat Paws became a legit non-profit in 2010; they've rescued/fostered around 5,000 cats and kittens, and if you think about how many might have reproduced, that number could be so much larger. She once took in 29 cats and newborn kittens! The numbers and stats she shares are hard to hear, but also are empowering. Fostering can be so rewarding if you have the right opportunity, and knowing that you're helping someone who is completely dependent on you gives all the warm fuzzies.Helen Sanders Cat Paws says that fostering cats and kittens has the highest impact for homeless cats, and that accessible spay/neuter is the single most powerful tool communities have to stop the cycle. They also have a "kitten kit" for rescuing newborn kittens with formula, bottles and instructions. On their website they show you how to DIY, which I thought would be a great group activity to have handy in communities. Deborah says that equipping communities makes everyone a first responder. She also said that we can help by lobbying to our local municipalities about ending backyard breeding. I'm really grateful for Deborah's experience, and that she's sharing what she's learned so freely. I'd love to foster some animals someday now. Have you fostered or rescued pets? tell me all about it, please!Learn more about Helen Sanders Cat Paws, and get the DIY Kitten Kit instructions at their website: https://helensanderscatpaws.com/Their YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@CatPAWSRescueTheir Instagram page is here: https://www.instagram.com/helensanderscatpaws/Send me a message!Support the showLike this episode? Send me a message!Please follow the podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel Email me at amysgardenjam@gmail.com Amy's Garden Jam site (podcast has its own tab on this site!)Amy's email newsletter: How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - hear more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow here on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/skate_cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the BEST customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esg...

Welcome to Eduro Learning's "Refresh Your Coaching Practice Series" This is a special podcast series designed to support you in refreshing your coaching practice. It's called (you guessed it), Refresh Your Coaching Practice. This series is an opportunity for you to reflect on your current practice as well as look ahead and consider opportunities for growth. You'll notice, as you listen, that we're following the Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching: with episodes on clarity, consistency, and community, so you can refresh your practice on all three elements. Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh *If you're interested in learning more about Eduro Learning's Thrive Coaching Certificate program, click here.  And to join the waitlist for our 2026-27 cohort, click here. Let's Connect: Our website: coachbetter.tv EduroLearning on LinkedIn EduroLearning on Instagram EduroLearning on YouTube Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Join our #coachbetter Facebook group Learn with Kim Explore our courses for coaches Watch a FREE workshop Articles from Kim 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia) How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia) When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward) Books & Chapters from Kim: Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book) Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter) All of Kim's articles can be found here

In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Jami sits down with Candace Smouse, a TFI advocate from Spokane, Washington, who is a foster, adoptive, and birth mom to six kids. Fostering as a family for five years, Candace shares her journey of opening her home to children with special needs and navigating the unique joys and demands of raising her now-adopted son who has autism. She explores the common fears foster parents face when considering a special needs placement and offers insight on moving forward through the unknown with faith and expectation. Candace candidly details the realities of bringing her son home just before his fourth birthday as his fourth placement in a short span of time. She describes the initial challenges of caring for a child who was completely nonverbal, not potty trained, and struggling with behavior and severe dietary restrictions. Through her family's story, she highlights the exhausting early months, the complex dynamics and feelings of parental guilt that can surface with biological siblings, and the turning point of finding the right in-home therapeutic support. The conversation also breaks down the different levels of autism to help listeners better understand the wide spectrum of care children may require. Candace shares practical advice on how to become a "squeaky wheel" and fiercely advocate within the school system, utilizing resources like Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and special education accommodations. Ultimately, this episode provides deep encouragement for any caregiver feeling isolated or overwhelmed in the thick of special needs parenting. Candace points listeners toward a profound hope rooted in the Lord, reminding foster and adoptive families that they are never truly alone and that stepping into the hard places can expand a family's world with unexpected blessings, deeper empathy, and unconditional love. About the Guest Candace Smouse is a TFI advocate based in Spokane, Washington. She has been married for 18 years and is a mother to six children through birth, foster care, and adoption. With five years of active fostering experience, Candace is deeply passionate about serving the foster care community, supporting families, and sharing the lessons she has learned through years of dedicated care for her adopted son with autism. In This Episode An introduction to Candace's background and how a recurring dream prepped her heart to accept a special needs placement. The realities of navigating the foster care licensing system and handling the emotional weight of saying no to difficult placements. A look into the early days with her son Anthony, including the challenge of being his fourth placement in less than six months. Understanding the three levels of autism, ranging from high-functioning traits to intense, around-the-clock physical care needs. Navigating the hidden challenges of special needs parenting, such as public outbursts, sibling jealousy, and the pressure of public judgment. Learning to advocate in the school system by utilizing therapeutic partners, tracking data, and calling IEP meetings. How special needs parenting expands a family's perspective, fostering deep empathy, awareness, and immediate acceptance within biological children. A message of hope and perseverance for caregivers enduring seasons of parenting exhaustion and spiritual despair. Resources + Links Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative - https://theforgotteninitiative.org/ Follow TFI on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theforgotteninitiative/ Full Spectrum Parent by Christian Parenting (podcast) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/full-spectrum-parent-christian-autism-support-special/id1589016732 The Warner Boys by Ana and Curt Warner (book) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40552513-the-warner-boys Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm (book) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/163659.Ten_Things_Every_Child_with_Autism_Wishes_You_Knew  

This month on Laura Flanders and Friends, we're revisiting conversations around solidarity, kinship and what it means to be human.  This week Dean Spade shares tips for putting our interpersonal houses in order so that we're better equipped to show up for others and the causes we care about. This show is made possible thanks our members! To become a sustaining member go to https://LauraFlanders.org/donate   Thank you for your continued support! Description:  In a time of climate catastrophe, genocide, mass incarceration and political turmoil, people need to work together – better! That's why lifelong activist Dean Spade has written “Love in a F*ed Up World: How to Build Relationships, Hook Up, and Raise Hell, Together”. Which tools can help people and social justice movements face conflict and emerge stronger (rather than weaker)? Which stories do we tell ourselves that aren't helping us think — or act — in our best interest? In this timely conversation, Spade shares tips on how we might get our interpersonal houses in order so that we're better equipped to show up for others and the causes we care about. Spade is a lawyer, educator, and author of “Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)”, and “Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of the Law”. He's the director of “Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back!”, and in 2002 he founded the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in New York City, a law collective that provides free legal services to trans and gender non-conforming people who are low income and/or people of color. He has useful things to say about romance too, which are worth bearing in mind, as the Valentine's marketing crush hits, as Laura reflects in her commentary. “. . . Most of us are taking in all the bad news by ourselves through a screen . . . One of the best things we can do to support our own wellbeing through the overwhelm is be with others, joining any kind of project in our communities, a creative project, a mutual aid project . . .” - Dean Spade“The typical self-help genre is very focused on the individual. It doesn't contextualize the kinds of suffering that everyone's going through in a broader feminist analysis, anti-capitalist analysis, anti-racist analysis . . . If we understand that our individual suffering is a bunch of bigger scripts, . . . it can be a little bit freeing.” - Dean Spade   Guest:  Dean Spade, Author, “Love In A F*cked-Up World: How To Build Relationships, Hook Up, And Raise Hell Together”, “Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)” and more.   Watch the episode cut airing on PBS stations across the country at our YouTube channel Subscribe to episode notes via Patreon   Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: • The New Transgender Movement: Race, Poverty, Gender, Policing, and Pinkwashing, Watch ​​•  Emergent Strategies for Abolition: Andrea J. Ritchie's Toolkit for Activists: Watch / Download Podcast •  Mariame Kaba: Rooting Out Our Culture of Harm: Watch / Download Podcast: Episode & Full Uncut Conversation •  adrienne maree brown: Pleasure Activism and Black Women's Legacy of Joy, Watch (06:58) / Download Podcast:  Full Uncut Conversation (37:20) Related Articles and Resources: •  Our Best Option for Defending Ourselves From Trump's Second Term Is Each Other, by Dean Spade, November 12, 2024, TruthOut • Checking in with Dean Spade (ep181), December 9, 2024, Gender Reveal Podcast •. “The Mask Is Off:”  Dean Spade and Susan Stryker on Trans Resistance in Trump's America, by Them, December 18, 2024, Them.us Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Question: We're new foster parents and have noticed that our child is hiding food in their backpack, closet, and even under the bed. We make sure there's always plenty to eat, so we're confused and a little concerned. Is this something we should be worried about? Why might they be doing this, and how should we respond in a way that helps them feel safe?Resources:Practical Solutions to Typical Food Issues with Adopted, Foster, & Kinship KidsPhysical and Emotional Health Issues Common with Foster KidsPanel of Parents Adopting Older Kids: Surviving That 1st YearSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

Cohort Launches "Innovation Alliance" Encouraging Start-Ups to Scale in Michigan

EACD 2026: Fostering self generated movement with low cost and technology based strategies (Dr Susan Duff, Dr Theresa Sukal Mouton)

George Felix, CMO of Chili's, joins us to tell the story behind one of the most impressive brand turnarounds of recent years. From iconic menu items like chips and salsa and the famous margarita to viral social media moments and creative partnerships, George explains how Chili's became culturally relevant again and reignited growth.Before Chili's, George played a key role in the legendary Old Spice turnaround, and in this episode he shares the lessons he's learned from transforming legacy brands. We discuss the power of nostalgia, making the most of your agency relationships, influencing product and pricing decisions, and why the customer experience often drives more value than advertising alone.Timestamps00:00:00 - Start00:02:07 - The famous Chili's chips and salsa00:03:39 - The famous Chili's margharita00:06:32 - Why Chili's has signature items00:08:01 - How Chili's became one of the biggest brand turnarounds in history00:10:51 - The importance of working with people you trust00:12:26 - George's role in the Old Spice turnaround00:18:10 - How to build the case for increased brand investment00:21:16 - The power of nostalgia for a legacy brand00:25:57 - How George pitched an idea to his creative agency and they bought it00:29:03 - The System1 data for the Chili's ad00:30:45 - Fostering a great client / agency relationship00:38:19 - How experience drives better ROI than marketing00:42:43 - The viral cheese pull trend00:45:45 - How can a brand create cultural relevance?00:48:45 - Chili's brand collaboration with Tecovas Boots00:51:19 - How George has influence over the Product “P” in marketing00:54:51 - How to leverage the Pricing “P”00:57:43 - The concept of “barbell pricing”01:00:27 - What is the most important attribute for a successful CMO?

Today marks the launch of National Fostering Awareness month, and research by Tusla shows that many are not aware that they might actually be eligible to be a foster carer. Speaking to Anton about her experience as a foster carer was Noeleen O'Reilly. Also Anton spoke to Jacqueline Smyth, Tusla National Lead for Foster Care.

It's in the News! The top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. Top stories this week include: Afrezza inhaled Insulin is Approved for Kids, CGM + Ketone Monitor gets European approval, Food Coloring & Diabetes Study, Device Recalls include Omnipod and Dexcom, Beta Bionics shares more about their patch pump, ADA conference info and more! This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider. Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom  All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Episode transcripts: Welcome! I'm your host Stacey Simms and this is an In The News episode.. where we bring you the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. A reminder that you can find the sources and links and a transcript and more info for every story mentioned here in the show notes. ADA starts this week – safe travels to those of you heading to New Orleans. We'll be covering remotely so please follow on social – make sure to Like the FB page or join the group. We've got a wrap up episode planned for this podcast as well as some indepth interviews with the newsmakers from the conference. I will see some of you next week in Chicago. We have a couple of seats left for our Club 1921 dinner on June 10th in Northbrook – this is a FREE dinner for HCPs and patient leaders – all about screening for T1D. More info on the website under the events tab. Okay.. our top story this week: XX Afrezza inhaled insulin is now approved for kids and teens. The FDA okayed MannKind's afrezza for children 6 and older with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. MannKind says its proprietary Technosphere drug delivery platform enables the rapid absorption of insulin into systemic circulation. This follows FDA approval earlier this year for an update that revises recommendations for the starting mealtime dosage when patients switch from subcutaneous mealtime insulin regimens. MannKind also completed enrollment in February for a study evaluating the initiation of Afrezza therapy shortly after type 1 diabetes diagnosis in pediatric patients.   The company said it made Afrezza available for eligible patients for $35 or less per month. Desmond Schatz, professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said: "Mealtime insulin can be especially challenging for children because eating and snacking patterns, activity levels, and daily settings like school and sports often vary. With its rapid onset and dosing at the start of a meal, Afrezza may help clinicians better match insulin therapy to how children and families live day to day, while offering a needle-free mealtime option." Lots more to come on this – we're working on a bonus episode with one of the pediatric endos who worked on the clinical trials that led to this approval – hopefully have that out later this week. https://www.massdevice.com/mannkind-fda-approval-inhaled-insulin-children/ XX FDA has agreed to consider a new drug for the treatment of adults with type 1 and chronic kidney disease. Finerenone (fy-near-uh-known) is currently approved in the US for adults with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes and for adults with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or greater. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present in over one-third of adults with diabetes, and because it's such a serious condition, interventions are needed to reduce its incidence and help people live a long and prosperous life. https://www.docwirenews.com/post/fda-grants-priority-review-to-finerenone-snda-for-type-1-diabetes-associated-ckd XX Abbot gets European approval for the world's first dual glucose‑ketone sensing technology for people with diabetes. They're calling this Libre Duo and Libre Duo 10 Day, and it's designed to continuously measure glucose and ketone levels every minute. Abbott plans to begin launching Libre Duo systems in select European countries later this year. Libre Duo delivers up to 15 days of wear and will be offered to adults ages 18 and older. Libre Duo 10 Day offers up to 10 days of wear and is intended for people ages 2 and older. Abbott is also working with leading pump companies to allow automated insulin delivery (AID) systems to connect with the sensors. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2026-05-27-Abbott-secures-CE-Mark-for-worlds-first-dual-glucose-ketone-sensing-technology-for-people-with-diabetes   XX Huge recall for Omnipod. Insulin says a manufacturing issue through ongoing product monitoring that could result in insulin under-delivery  with specific lots of its Omnipod 5, Dash and Eros pods. Insulet said the scope of this action reaches approximately 7 million pods. This issue is separate from the March recall that affected certain Omnipod 5 lots. According to the Acton, Massachusetts-based company, some of its affected pods may have a small tear in the tubing (cannula) just above the skin. This tear lands between the pod and the point where the cannula enters the body. If this occurs, insulin may leak outside of the device instead of being fully delivered into the body as intended. This may lead to under-delivery of the therapeutic.   Individuals using an affected pod may notice wetness on the skin or pod adhesive or detect the smell of insulin. However, some cases may prove difficult to detect and go unnoticed. Of the approximately 7 million pods included in the action, approximately 60% have been consumed or are expired. The pods affected by the correction represent approximately 8.5% of the 2025 global Omnipod pod prodcution. Insulet says it has sufficient supply to replace affected pods. It expects no disruption to product availability. The company said it has notified the FDA and all other relevant regulatory authorities of its action.   The full list of affected pod lots can be found here. https://www.massdevice.com/insulet-another-omnipod-5-recall-dash-eros/ XX Dexcom is warning that certain scrapped glucose sensors have been stolen and resold. Dexcom said it has not received any reports of severe adverse events associated with the stolen product. One lot of scrapped devices carries a risk of infection for sensors that are not properly sterilized, and another lot had an elevated internal testing failure rate, meaning users would have an increased risk of having no sensor readings available. Dexcom said the affected sensors were stolen during the destruction process and then sold by third parties. The company routinely scraps sensors that do not meet its standards. The sensors are sent to a third-party vendor for destruction and recycling.   Dexcom said it traced sales of the stolen devices to Pharmsource, which is not an authorized Dexcom distributor but supplies some independent pharmacies and U.S. durable medical equipment distributors. Because of this, pharmacies that purchase products from Pharmsource should review their inventory, Dexcom said.   People with sensors from the affected lots should not use those sensors and can call customer support to request replacements. Dexcom has set up a website to help users check if their devices are affected. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/dexcom-warns-of-scrapped-glucose-sensors-being-resold/821139/ XX XX   Beta Bionics plans to debut its first insulin patch pump by the end of the second quarter of 2027, subject to Food and Drug Administration clearance. The device, called Mint, would be compatible with Beta Bionics' interoperable automated glycemic controller, a software that allows for the pump to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on readings from a glucose sensor. Beta Bionics first unveiled the prototype for Mint last year at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions. The device is expected to have a similar size and wear time, at three days, to Insulet's patch pumps on the market. It would have a 200-unit insulin reservoir.   Mint differs by containing a mix of reusable and disposable components. Beta Bionics plans to make the device exclusively available in the pharmacy channel, building on its existing agreements for its current iLet insulin pump. Beta Bionics is one of several diabetes tech companies developing patch pumps to compete with market leader Insulet. Tandem Diabetes Care and Medtronic spinoff MiniMed have also announced planned patch pumps. Tandem said it plans to file a 510(k) submission this quarter for a tubeless version of its small, durable pump, and Medtronic plans to submit its patch pump to the FDA this fall.   https://www.medtechdive.com/news/beta-bionics-to-launch-its-first-insulin-patch-pump-to-compete-with-insulet/821091/ XX CVS puts Zepbound back on it's coverage list – with it's Caremark PBM. They also added Foundayo, Lilly's obesity pill. CVS had dropped Lilly's Zepound last summer but kept competitor Wegovy. It'll be back at Caremark October first. All three of the nation's largest pharmacy ⁠benefit managers ​now cover Lilly's full obesity medicine portfolio. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/cvs-brings-back-coverage-lillys-obesity-drug-zepbound-2026-05-28/   More to come, including a new benefit from metformin for women, something new from Tidepool, big news for T1D in Austalia and more.. XX A new study suggests that higher long-term exposure to food colouring additives — including both synthetic and natural colourings commonly found in processed foods and beverages — may be associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from more than 108,000 adults in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort between 2009 and 2023, following participants for a median of just over eight years. During that time, 1,131 participants developed type 2 diabetes. The study found that people with the highest intake of total food colouring additives had a 38% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with non- or low-consumers.   Several specific additives were linked to increased risk, including caramel colouring additives such as total caramel (E150 family), plain caramel (E150a), sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d), and beta-carotene (E160a). Additional associations were observed for curcumin (E100), anthocyanins (E163), paprika extract (E160c), lutein (E161b), and cochineal-derived colourings (E120). "Our findings revealed positive associations between widely consumed food colouring additives and type 2 diabetes incidence," the authors wrote, adding that further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind the findings and whether food colouring regulations should be reevaluated. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/use-common-food-colours-tied-high-type-2-diabetes-risk-2026a1000hes XX Big news for Australia – their Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approves Tzield. Tzield is now approved in Australia to delay the onset of stage 3 (or clinical) T1D in people aged eight years and older with stage 2 T1D – the early, pre-symptomatic stage of the condition, where changes in blood glucose levels have begun but insulin therapy is not yet required. Breakthrough T1D Australia Chief Executive Officer, Sydney Yovic, said the approval represented a transformational moment for Australians affected by T1D. https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2026/05/landmark-approval-of-tzield-in-australia-ushers-in-a-new-era-of-delay-for-type-1-diabetes/155036/ XX https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/05/diabetes-pregnancy/687324/ XX A common diabetes drug may hold great potential to help with aging, even if scientists aren't exactly sure why. According to a study, the drug metformin doesn't just help patients to effectively manage their type 2 diabetes. it may also give older women a better chance of living to 90. Scientists in the US and Germany used data from a long-term US study of postmenopausal women.   Records for a total of 438 people were selected – half of whom took metformin to treat diabetes, and half of whom took a different diabetes drug, sulfonylurea.   While there are some caveats and asterisks to the study, those in the metformin group were calculated to have a 30 percent lower risk of dying before the age of 90 than those in the sulfonylurea group. The study used age 90 as the marker for 'exceptional' longevity. However, scientists aren't yet sure that the drug extends lifespan, especially in humans – which is part of the reason for this study. RCTs could follow further down the line to dig deeper into these results, the researchers suggest. In the meantime, as the global population continues to skew older, studies continue to find ways to keep us healthier for longer and reduce damage to the body as we age. https://www.sciencealert.com/a-common-diabetes-drug-is-linked-with-exceptional-longevity-in-women XX The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) will host the 2026 Scientific Sessions from June 5-8 in New Orleans. The ADA's Scientific Sessions is the world's largest diabetes meeting, convening an expected audience of over 12,000 leading physicians, scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals from around the globe. The premier diabetes meeting, which is also offered virtually, will feature the latest scientific findings in diabetes and obesity, where leading experts and peers will share findings in research for prevention, care, and cures at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Key themes will include: Advancing obesity and metabolic health: Prevention, early detection, and disease modification: Improving cardiometabolic outcomes: Transforming care through innovation and access: New research will highlight how technology, artificial intelligence, and implementation strategies are reshaping diabetes care—reducing treatment burden, expanding access, and enabling more person-centered care. Advancing beta cell replacement and cure strategies: Fostering innovation: On Saturday, June 6, from 4:30-6:00 p.m., the Innovation Challenge, which debuted in 2023, invites emerging companies to pitch novel ideas to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. A panel of judges, with input from a live audience, determines which contestants will earn a private audience with potential funders. XX Tidepool, the nonprofit leader advancing innovation in diabetes technology, announced that Tidepool+ Direct Connect is now available through the Epic Showroom. Built on SMART on FHIR, Direct Connect brings interactive diabetes device data directly into Epic workflows, helping clinicians use patient data during routine care. "Tidepool has always focused on making diabetes data more accessible and actionable," said Brandon Arbiter, CEO. "We're excited to empower clinicians using Epic with insightful, intuitive patient data that fits directly into their encounter workflow so they can use it to improve care in the moment it matters."   Tidepool+ Direct Connect supports scalable deployment across Epic-enabled health systems. This architecture enables faster, more intuitive rollouts, enhancing Tidepool's existing EHR integration capabilities.   Direct Connect is part of Tidepool's ongoing work to improve how clinicians can use timely and relevant diabetes device data during patient visits to help drive better health outcomes.   The feature is now available in the Connection Hub of the Epic Showroom.   https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527780274/en/Tidepool-Launches-in-Epic-Showroom-to-Bring-Diabetes-Device-Data-into-the-Point-of-Care XX

Joel Spruance | Galatians 3:23-29May is Fostering and Adoption Awareness month. In this message Joel shares on his own experience adopting and how God adopts us as sons and daughters.

In this final #coachbetter episode for Season 7, Kim talks about the challenge of feeling like you're constantly in day-to-day mode, without being able to be intentional about planning for what's coming up next. As educators we are busy and now AI is pushing us in a variety of ways to try to do even more, often with less resources. It can feel impossible to keep up. And that often leads us to think that we have to do more, even faster. But that is not the case - it is pausing for reflection. Kim relates this to the power of coaching and how it forces us to slow and take time to process our thinking. Find the show notes for this episode here. Let's Connect: Our website: coachbetter.tv EduroLearning on LinkedIn EduroLearning on Instagram EduroLearning on YouTube Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Join our #coachbetter Facebook group Learn with Kim Explore our courses for coaches Watch a FREE workshop Articles from Kim 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia) How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia) When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward) Books & Chapters from Kim: Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book) Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

From textbook dependency to a "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" approach. Fiona Hunter, founder of Kids Club English shares how to confidently step away from set materials to create authentic, play-based language experiences for young learners. From managing the psychological hurdles of letting go of the coursebook to structuring lessons around picture books, Fiona explains how stepping back allows young learners to take true ownership of their language.Watch with captions here.TALKING POINTS1. The textbook tension: engagement, syllabus pressure, and the progress gap2. Why moving away from a coursebook requires us to rethink our teaching3. The "Starter, Main Course, and Dessert" framework for structuring lessons4. How giving young learners ownership over their activities sky-rockets motivationABOUTFiona Hunter is a teacher, teacher trainer and the founder of Kids Club English. Originally from Scotland and now based in the south of Spain, she has worked in ELT for over twenty years, teaching in Spain, the UK, Argentina and South Korea, including at the British Council. She holds a DELTA with Merit and specialises in teaching preschool and primary learners.Now working independently, Fiona creates her own flexible, play-based courses built around stories, songs, games, crafts and drama - without relying on coursebooks. Through Kids Club English, she shares classroom-tested resources and runs an online Teacher Membership supporting freelance teachers and small language school owners who want to feel more confident, less overwhelmed and better equipped to build engaging, language-rich lessons for young learners.RESOURCES & REFERENCES

HC Liam Coen, DE Travon Walker and DC Anthony Campanile speak with the media following Monday's practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEShop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityUtilize the fastest and easiest way to look up and order parts and tires with PartsTech absolutely free.Click here to get started: https://geni.us/PartsTechTransform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros! Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros In this episode, listeners hear the story of a small-shop owner's journey to purchase and grow TenPin Motors in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The conversation focused on the challenges of transitioning from technician to owner, including finding and training quality staff. A key theme that emerged was the importance of building lasting customer relationships and delivering a superior client experience to stand out in a competitive market. The discussion also explored the realities and concerns of scaling to multiple locations, highlighting industry trends toward consolidation and the difficulty of maintaining quality and culture as shops grow.00:00 Buying the dealership08:21 Discussing small town expansion plans14:49 Transitioning from technician to business management16:35 Realizing the need to plan22:32 Creating a welcoming atmosphere27:13 Adjusting Services After Technician Left35:03 Focusing on customer care in auto shops40:14 Upgrading marketing and customer service45:41 Increasing Profit While Managing Costs49:17 Planning Future Business Growth53:24 Concerns about expanding quality01:00:47 Fostering positive industry growth

Join us for an engaging and insightful chat with Katie Trowbridge, educator-turned-CEO and author of the latest leadership book, Lead Boldly Think Deeply. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the boardroom and reveals how experiences in both spaces are more alike than you might expect. Throughout the episode, Katie highlights ideas from her book as she talks about creating genuine connection, building trust, and encouraging creativity on your team, whether you're working in-person or remotely. She offers useful tips like introducing a "recess" to the workday, making meetings more meaningful, and asking questions that inspire deeper thinking. With stories, research, and ready-to-use advice, this conversation will help you rethink your approach to leadership. If you want to build a culture where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to think deeply, you will not want to miss Katie's inspiring perspective.

Exploring AI's Impact on Education, Workforce, and Personal Growth with Ben Tasker Join Dr. Rod Berger in this insightful episode of Quantum Leap as he speaks with Ben Tasker, a leader in AI education and workforce transformation, about the rapid evolution of AI and its profound implications across industries. Discover how AI can amplify human potential, reshape education, and drive personal and organizational adaptation. In this episode: The personal journey of Ben Tasker from healthcare data science to AI education The emotional and practical impacts of AI on jobs and skill development How AI is changing higher education, including microcredentials and personalized learning Strategies for preparing for perpetual change in skills and career paths The concept of "panic to pivot" in upskilling and lifelong learning The importance of mindset and agility in navigating AI-driven transformation Generational differences in attitudes toward AI and education reforms How continuous learning and adaptability are key to future success Practical advice for young people and parents on navigating career uncertainty The role of literacy—AI and human skills—in shaping a resilient future Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome and overview of AI's expanding potential (01:56) - Ben Tasker's background and journey into AI (04:23) - The human-centric origins of AI and data science (07:22) - AI's threat and opportunity in the workplace (09:06) - The rapid evolution of generative AI models (11:22) - Personal anecdotes on learning and experimentation (14:08) - The generational divide in AI understanding at graduation ceremonies (16:07) - Challenges of keeping education current with AI advancements (18:56) - How AI shifts thinking and professional skills (22:32) - The importance of human versus AI skills (26:18) - Redesigning education systems for speed and competency (29:21) - From panic to pivot—upskilling success stories (33:48) - Navigating unpredictable career paths (36:57) - Fostering adaptability in the next generation (40:36) - The importance of mindset in AI integration (44:44) - Connecting with Ben Tasker for ongoing learning and collaboration Connect with Ben Tasker: LinkedIn Website Supporters: End to End Services Light Leap AI About the hosts and further episodes:   Stay tuned for more thought-provoking conversations on how AI shapes our future. Follow Dr. Rod Berger for updates and insights.

Whether you are looking to buy or have already acquired a practice, it's essential to have the right people in place to help you not just grow but thrive. In this episode, MDRT member D. Kyle Atkins, CFP, CLU, and president of Succession Resource Group David Grau Jr. share how to navigate the challenging task of finding the ideal employees to support the future of your business. Episode breakdown: 0:31 – Seeing hiring as an investment that requires hard work 2:19 – When you can acquire not just revenue but talent 3:23 – If an important person is leaving from the business you're acquiring 4:56 – Fostering a well-paid and positive office culture 9:58 – What to look for to identify and hire that rare, great candidate 12:17 – Recognizing that everyone struggles with hiring and that you can't interview for culture

Welcome back to The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast with Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio. This week's topic: Feelings and journaling (real life edition) We recorded in the middle of a heatwave, so we're talking dysregulation, grumpy kids, and how hard it can be to “do the right thing” when everyone's overstimulated. What we actually found helpful: A feelings wheel (free printable) to help kids find more precise words than just “angry/sad” A simple empathy prompt: “How do you think your sibling feels?” Journaling alternatives for kids who hate writing: drawing feelings, scribble pages, talking, creativity, movement, baking A reminder that feelings aren't just cognitive — sometimes kids regulate best through safe physical outlets Schedule note: We're taking a short one-week break, then we'll be back with a general catch-up episode (summer plans and a bit of a chat). After that, we'll return to the topic challenge with protest and social change. Season 5 Sponsor: Strew (home education logging app) This week we're sharing a quick behind-the-scenes feature: Study Points settings. In the Study Points area you can choose an education style (child-led learning, Waldorf/Steiner, Charlotte Mason, unschooling/deschooling, or general home ed) which can change how the Study Points categories are shown. It's totally optional, but a handy way to get an at-a-glance view of what you've been logging over time. Use code 'bighomeed' if you try Strew. https://strew.app/ Thanks for listening — subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend. Find us on Instagram and TikTok, and at www.bighomeedpodcast.com .

Fostering self-reliance while also caring for those in need here and around the world -- those are both missions of a new humanitarian center just opened by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church News reporter Aimee Cobabe joins in-studio to discuss how this new center brings together people of all faiths, working towards the commandment to "love thy neighbour as thyself."

Josh Davidson is the creator and co-founder of Night Zookeeper, an award-winning online learning program that helps children fall in love with reading, writing, and creativity through games and storytelling. Josh is passionate about giving kids the confidence to see themselves as writers and creators, and he speaks regularly about the power of play, stories, and co-created worlds in education.Josh and I have a great time talking about inspiring creativity and a love of learning in kids. We get into the challenges he faced creating his show and he provides a lot of great tips for budding content producers. You'll want to tune in!For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode186.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis speaks with Dr. John DiGarmo and Jen Lilley about their experiences in foster care and advocacy. They discuss their personal journeys, the challenges faced in the foster care system, and the importance of community support. The conversation also highlights their upcoming book, 'Called to Foster,' which aims to provide an honest guide for those considering fostering. The episode emphasizes the need for awareness and advocacy in the foster care system, as well as the emotional and practical realities of fostering children in crisis. The discussion also touches on the fears potential foster parents may have, the significance of community, and the transformative experiences that come from loving and caring for children in need.Pickup a copy of their book "Called to Foster?: An Honest Guide to Getting Started"https://a.co/d/0e6BFfwpDr. John DeGarmo's website: Foster Care Institutehttps://www.drjohndegarmofostercare.com/Jen Lilley's website:https://www.jenlilley.com/TakeawaysFoster care is a unique lifestyle full of sacrifices.Advocacy for foster children is crucial, especially during crises.Personal experiences shape the understanding of foster care.Community support is essential for foster parents.Awareness can lead to increased involvement in foster care.Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help.Fostering requires a different parenting approach due to trauma.The book 'Called to Foster' offers insights and guidance.Foster care can be more challenging than anticipated.Humor can be found in the toughest fostering moments. Fostering is both challenging and rewarding.Family support is crucial in the foster care journey.Taking an orientation class can provide valuable information.Foster parents need to love children unconditionally.Children in foster care need stability and structure.Foster care can lead to personal growth and empathy.Respite homes are essential for supporting foster families.Fostering can positively impact biological children.Every child deserves love and attention.Foster care can strengthen one's faith and sense of purpose. Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.Meet kids awaiting adoption.Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

In #coachbetter episode Kim and Diana talk about ways that you can spot patterns and trends in your coaching data for the year. Kim was recently talking to our current members of the Coach and we talked about how important it is to just start collecting data and building in a practice of reflection - even if you are worried that you won't have "enough" data. The data you collect right now can become your baseline data to refer back to in future years. Even if you're not sure what data to collect, or what to do with the results, waiting until you feel ready just delays your progress. When you start now, you get the opportunity to: collect that baseline data, learn what kinds of questions you want to ask, and  better understand how to analyze and unpack the data you find Find the show notes for this episode here.  Let's Connect: Our website: coachbetter.tv EduroLearning on LinkedIn EduroLearning on Instagram EduroLearning on YouTube Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Join our #coachbetter Facebook group Learn with Kim Explore our courses for coaches Watch a FREE workshop Articles from Kim 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia) How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia) When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward) Books & Chapters from Kim: Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book) Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

*Disclaimer: This topic is not intended for young listeners. Please use discretion.   Maximize PLEASURE in Marriage by Understanding Your Wife Better: An Interview with Francie Winslow (Episode 294)   Proverbs 5:19b NLT “May you always be captivated by her love.”   *Transcription Below*   Francie Winslow is a wife, mom, and intimacy evangelist. Three fun facts about Francie:   NO. 1 I saw a glimpse of Jesus' heart one day as a 19-year-old, when I sat in a Thai brothel with girls my age. My friend and I bought two girls for the night so we could take them to dinner and shower them with REAL LOVE. It was there that I realized there was nothing more that I wanted than to give God all of me.   NO. 2 I got married when I was 20, after knowing my husband for only 10 months, and dating him for less than 5 months. Total craziness, I know, but so clearly the way God was leading me.   NO. 3 My husband and I have 6 kids, some with special needs and chronic health issues. So yeah, life right now is a bit crazy. But it never lacks for excitement as I learn about the things they really need and how God is working in me as I serve my family in every season.   Francie's Website   Follow along with her @franciewinslow   Thank you to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Questions and Topics We Cover: As moms, how do we go from “touched out” to “turned on”? How can we realistically choose to still prioritize connection, right in the middle of the busy? After diving into this topic for many years, will you share what you have learned about orgasm?   Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 4. Fostering a Fun, Healthy Sex Life With Your Spouse With Certified Sex Therapist and Author, Dr. Jennifer Konzen 7. Easy Changes to Enhance Your Sexual Intimacy in Marriage With Christian Sex Therapist Pioneers, Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner 63 Maximizing Sexual Enjoyment During the 3 Most Challenging Seasons in Marriage with Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner 252. Maximizing Sexual Connection as Newlyweds to Long Term Marriages and Recovering from a Sexless Marriage with Dr. Clifford & Joyce Penner   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 2:05) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   I'm thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage. Their weekend marriage retreats will strengthen your marriage, while you enjoy the gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org slash savvy.   I'm so excited to welcome back my returning guest, Francie Winslow. This conversation is going to be geared a little bit more toward understanding women, but I want you to know it's going to be very beneficial for both husbands and wives. I think husbands are going to appreciate getting a glimpse into how their wife's body works, and how they can love them better and serve them, even in the bedroom, so that they can enjoy a more fulfilling sex life with you as their spouse.   And for wives, I believe you're going to appreciate your feelings or your vague thoughts being put into words, because Francie has this way of articulating big ideas and making them bite-sized and understandable through all of her wisdom. So, not everything will apply to every wife, but I hope that everyone gets to find encouragement and enjoy a deeper sexual connection with your spouse after listening to this message and applying the wisdom.   Here's our chat. Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Francie.   Francie Winslow: (2:05 - 2:07) It's so good to be here, thanks for having me.   Laura Dugger: (2:07 - 2:20) Well, I'd love to begin with this idea of sharing sparks, because I was so intrigued the first time that I heard you teach on this topic. So, can you just explain more about this concept?   Francie Winslow: (2:22 - 5:56) Sure. Well, I think the idea really just came from this experience that my husband and I have had of knowing that, kind of in movies, it's portrayed that romance is just always fiery and passionate, and then you get married, you have kids, real life sets in, and it's like, hey, what does this actually look like to have a sex drive or to have a sense of passion in your marriage? And just for some context, because I think context helps, I have six kids from 18 down to 7, some pretty significant special needs, autoimmune diseases.   We've got a lot packed into our little home. And so, then you have a marriage that you want to stay on fire, you want to stay growing, but life is full, life is hard. And so, it's just easy to feel like the fire's just gone out.   And my husband and I work really hard on intentionality in our sex life, and we kind of came up with this idea called sparks, because sometimes that's all you have, is like a tiny spark, and that's actually okay. You think about a campfire, really what you need is you just need a spark, and then you just need to blow on it a little bit, and it turns into embers and then can turn into a fire. And so, we talk about rather than like, I've lost my sex drive, or do you have high sex drive or low drive, kind of releasing that concept and the heaviness that can be around that concept and just talk about cultivating sparks.   And a spark is essentially just a bit of desire, a bit of arousal, a bit of attraction, and we can kind of be so busy in our day that we might have a fleeting thought of, oh, it would be nice to be together tonight, and then you just forget about it. But rather than having a fleeting thought or a sensation in your body and letting it pass, we talk about sharing our sparks. And so, we'll, if I have a thought of, hey, I'm thinking about your biceps today, you know, like something playful and fun, and how much I am attracted to you, I'll text it to him or he'll text it to me.   Or if we're in person, we'll share our sparks by, you know, grabbing each other and pulling each other into the pantry for a second, having a little makeout or having a little, you know, quick, playful petting session, and we're just being playful for 30 seconds here, 30 seconds there in the middle of real life. And it's a way to say, hey, I'm bringing my little spark, you're bringing your little spark, and we're doing, honestly, the best we can in the, in the midst of real life in the midst of real hard to keep our fire going. And it is amazing the impact that that's had on our marriage, because it's just easy to assume, we're just too tired.   And then days go by weeks go by and, and really roommate, the roommate rut sets in or disconnection or even pain because you begin to miss each other. And it feels hard to get reconnected. So, we've found it to be really beneficial and simple just to say, okay, if I have a fleeting feeling in my body, a little sensation, a little attraction, a little arousal, a little desire, a little flirtatious energy, I'm just gonna express it as quickly or as sincerely as I can in that moment.   Like I said, sometimes it's through text, sometimes it would be a quick phone call, hey, you know, I'm thinking about you tonight, or, you know, playfully, like, what are you wearing, or like a text a little, a little invitation to connection later. And it's those little things that make a really big difference. And I would say the physical things, especially like grabbing each other, hey, we'll say to our kids, mom and dad need to have a quick conversation, like real serious, and then we'll go to the laundry room or go to the pantry.   And it's just those literal 30 second exchanges that are so small that make a really big difference in keeping the fire going in our marriage. And it's super meaningful, especially in these really busy seasons.   Laura Dugger: (5:58 - 6:21) I love that because you've also pointed out, I think, in the past that you don't buy into the whole who has high libido, who has lower drive. Rather, you see it as energy that can be fostered. And also, then just that connection of we have the spark, but then sharing it, it can ignite faster.   So, anything else you'd like to add about?   Francie Winslow: (6:22 - 9:35) Yeah, I think that's good to bring it up. I mean, a spark is like a bit of energy. And if you think about like a spark of fire, like that creates something and a spark of desire in your marriage, or a tiny spark of arousal is sexual energy.   And so, I think of it as how do I grow sexual energy. And that, ironically, has to be a really intentional thing. It has to be like, I think about being with my husband, I actually spend time, maybe even my planner thinking, okay, I'd like to have sex, we'd like to have sex at some point this week, what day would be best where I'd have the most energy or where he would be, you know, not as stressed out because he had a lighter workday or maybe not have to early morning, you think about your week, your time, in terms of energy. And when you think about sexual energy, when we might have the most sexual energy or creating sexual energy.   And so, we've realized that we came to that point of kind of forsaking the high drive and low drive identities, because I think they can become Oh, he's the high, I'm the low, or vice versa. And that can feel heavy. And it can feel like pressure, like I feel ashamed, because I'm low, he feels disappointed, because he's high, whatever it might be.   And that can switch for men and women as well. And rather than seeing it as that, and maybe we've just like, life has beat us up. So, neither of us have a high drive at this point.   And but yet, we still have a very active sex life without that clinging to who's high and who's low, because we're both committed to growing our sexual energy. And so for me, that looks like thinking about being with him, it looks like tuning into my body in a sensuous way, as a tired mom, and that looks like holding my cup of coffee or cup of tea intentionally and like feeling sensation in the everyday moments from wafts of you know, steam coming from my coffee to the sunlight on my face to washing in the shower, I can actually realize that I've had years where I will do the whole shower routine and not feel a thing like I didn't even notice sensation from shampoo or from the loofah or from lotion, I just did it robotically to get through the chore of caring for my body. And I've switched really to think of it as being paying attention to my body paying attention to sensation paying attention to how nice it feels to wash my face with a soap that smells good. And it's those things of going slow and being embodied and paying attention to my body and sensations that does transfer over to help me remember, oh, I want to foster awareness of my body.   And being aware of my body is a way of fostering sexual energy, because I'm thinking about how things feel. And I'm thinking about my body and how it's responding to touch. And then that helps me honestly feel more when my husband touches me.   So, we can talk about that later about the issue of kind of feeling numb in our bodies. But I think that that is a reality for marriage later on is that we can become numb in our sex life, because we're just busy, and we're tired, and things are routine, and we're kind of bored. And so fostering sexual energy, getting out of our heads and into our bodies, thinking about our times together, growing our skills, sexually learning about learning about sex, learning about anatomy, all of those things are ways to grow sexual energy, as well as just the playfulness of the sparks and, you know, pulling each other into the pantry and having a quick makeout session, those kinds of things.   Laura Dugger: (9:36 - 10:53) I love those practical examples. And I think you're right; we should get to numbing or what it feels like maybe later on in marriage. But let's go back to Newlyweds or especially new moms, because just for all of marriage, sexual connection is going to cement us together.   So, of course, the enemy of our soul is going to want to do anything at every stage to make us too busy, too distracted, to have that intimate connection. And many times, new parents have things that make it difficult and challenging to connect. But it's not like it gets any easier, because then other difficulties are going to come in, whether that's raising older children or medical issues that come in or perimenopause and menopause.   So, there are always going to be obstacles. But I want us to be wise, whatever season we're in right now, to cultivate our delight and connection in every season. So, I don't know about you, Francie, but the most common phrase I've heard new moms tell me is, I've had people touching me all day.   I don't want him touching me at night. And I'd love for you to offer us a healthier narrative.   Francie Winslow: (10:54 - 14:47) Yeah. Well, I don't get to speak in person very often because of my commitment to be really invested at home with my kids. But I am speaking a few times this spring to some moms' groups.   And the theme is from touched out to turned on. So, I just want to affirm, if anybody is feeling that they are for sure not alone. I hear it all the time as well.   And there is this dynamic of I'm so touched out; I don't want to be touched anymore. And the thing I've learned in understanding our bodies, understanding sexuality, and especially female sexuality is that we are not only coming to the table with our bodies and our anatomy, we're coming with our nervous systems. And so there is this thing at play where we have been having stimulation come at us all day through media, through our phones, through needs of others, and we are touched out.   And another word for that would be overstimulated. And so, I would say you're not broken, you're not hopeless, you're overstimulated, and you're exhausted. And it is very hard for a woman to come into a place of arousal or desire from that place of what's probably fight or flight, that feeling of I just can't be touched anymore.   I am so overwhelmed. I feel like this bubbling over of anxiety or a place of like shut down and disconnected, I want to withdraw. And so those are two nervous system states that we often go in when we are overdone, overcooked, too much has been coming at us.   And so, when we're in that place, and we're feeling overstimulated, and like, I don't want to be touched, I would say the invitation is simply to take a minute and realize, oh, I'm not broken. I'm not actually as unavailable, maybe as I think I need to become available to myself for a minute, I need to reset, I need to remember that my body needs rest in order to connect and communicate that rather than it being like, oh, don't touch me, I've been touched out. And it looks like feels like rejection.   It's more of an invitation to care for yourself, knowing that, oh, in order to be available for connection, I need to see it not as another chore, but a place to be nourished and a place to reconnect to my own body. And that sexuality was meant to be a place of nourishment, and care and rejuvenation, not just another need to be meeting. And so, I think that's the other mindset shift is we need a minute to rest, reconnect to our bodies, maybe a shower, maybe a bath, a minute to say, okay, I'm very overstimulated, I do need a second.   And then to see that. And this is a call out to the husbands to like your job is to love your wife so well that she comes out of a sexual experience nourished. And if that's not happening in your marriage, know that that's actually the design of sexuality.   And it might take some communication and work to switch our mindset. Because a lot of times we've been raised with a mindset that maybe X is a man's need. And another thing we have to do as wives, but that's actually a real huge lie.   It's not about a man's need. It's about connection. And it's about nourishment.   And it's about fully giving ourselves to one another and being cared for. And so what amazes me is the power of sexuality, even orgasm release, pleasure to be able to wash out a woman's nervous system and like a bath like oof, I got reset, I got this sense of the rush of the sexual hormones, the serotonin and the oxytocin and this place of deep connection is God's design for us. And so having this flip a mindset of it's not another need I have to meet, but it's actually a nourishing gift to me to get into my body to receive pleasure.   There is a transition I think we need to give ourselves grace for to like, okay, I might want to shower and I might want to get out of my head and back into my body a little bit, but it really was designed to be a gift. And so that's, that's kind of my invitation is for women to receive it as a space that should be nourishing and can be nourishing and actually really healthy for her mind, body and spirit, even in tired seasons.   Laura Dugger: (14:48 - 15:10) I appreciate what you said there, because you're flipping it from all day, maybe we are receiving very unpleasant touch. But this is a different type of very pleasant touch to be receiving, or we've been giving all day. This is the refilling, nourishing.   And I think if we change our minds first, then our body can follow.   Francie Winslow: (15:10 - 16:10) And there is an element to I think, creating an environment that does feel safe to let go. Because I think if you think about moms, they're giving all day, they've got the babies nearby, the monitors on, you know, the laundry piles huge, like there's all these distractions, and it doesn't actually feel like that safe of an environment to be nourished. And so, I would say even take that into consideration of what would make sexual experiences with your husband feel nourishing to you.   And it might mean a really nice candle is lit or just a few things to change the environment to signal to your nervous system. Oh, yeah, this is a time of nourishment, not just okay, now I've got to switch, you know, here and meet another need. But this is a time to be beautiful.   I would maybe put a noisemaker on for you, you know, to drown out some of the feeling that you're going to be heard, or you might wake up the baby, make sure the door is locked. Just take a minute to feel like you're giving yourself a gift in that time as well. And sometimes that can help to kind of quiet the environment to make it feel like a place where you want to let go and you really want to receive.   Laura Dugger: (16:11 - 16:51) That's good. And the husbands can be so participatory with this, even that they have so much strength and usually more energy and sex gives them energy. So, if they can find creative ways to, I think, separate her as much as possible from mom to lover.   So, I mean, people are aware of these like put if the husband does the bedtime bath routine or can finish the dishes or just do those physically taxing tasks so that she can have that transition time. I think there are just endless ways to be creative. And I'm assuming husbands would be so motivated to love and serve their wife that way.   Francie Winslow: (16:52 - 17:08) Yeah, yeah, I think it's definitely a reality to think, okay, what does it look like for us both to step forward and really love each other? Well, and that will just probably be different for every couple but being able to know that you can use your voice and say that, hey, I really want to connect this would help me.   Laura Dugger: (17:09 - 17:25) That's good. So, we've addressed that obstacle then of physical touch. But let's also talk about the constant noise in our minds as women.   So, how can we move from getting stuck in our head to waking up our body?   Francie Winslow: (17:26 - 21:44) Yeah, well, I mentioned it a little bit earlier. But I'll know for for me, I feel if I'm not very purposeful in the way that I take in technology and take in my phone, I can easily just live in a state of perpetual kind of humming anxiety, and not really know why. I mean, apart from like the parts of life that are really hard, and paying attention to, okay, what am I allowing in?   What am I allowing to have access to me? What am I meditating on? How much white space?   Am I giving my heart or am I like listening to a podcast 24 hours a day, or, you know, constantly having stuff in versus creating space for quiet in my body. And in my heart, just even to hear myself breathe, or to sit with some instrumental music and just be for a and not be performing or producing or consuming something. That's been a big thing for my nervous system, honestly, in that context.   But I think the other thing that I mentioned earlier was our five senses. And I talked to women all the time who say I'm struggling with pleasure, I'm struggling with orgasm, I don't feel a whole lot. And there's a couple reasons we don't.   But one of the reasons is we live so much in our head, with all the things we have to think about our to do list that never ends the and I think the part of having a phone is that the Instacart is there, the Amazon is there, the emails from the school are there, it's just always something that we need to be thinking about or processing. And that can cause us to live so much in our heads that we kind of live from our, our head up our neck up, and we neglect the fact that we have an entire body. And so I often be reminding myself, get out of your head and into your body feel, feel even just like your belly exhaling when you breathe, like that's so small, but if you can slow down enough to take five slow deep breaths, you'll feel your heart rate go down, you'll feel the sense of awareness even of God's presence of the sense that He's with you the sense that you know, you can navigate whatever you need to with peace. And so, I do a lot of things like take a walk without my phone. I'll sit on my back porch even just to sit in the sun for a minute to let the sun on my body and I'm always aware at this point, I want to feel things in my body because God gave us five senses to be present to the moment to be present to our kids to be present to Him.   There's that classic book, Brother Lawrence, the practice of the presence of God. And it's this practicing awareness of God's nearness. And it's a practice.   And not to make a leap that makes two people, people feel too uncomfortable, but to practice pleasure is a thing to get out of your head and into the sense of awareness in your day of sensation, a beauty of love of the presence of your kids, their smiles, their faces, and then in pleasure to be super aware of the presence of your husband, of your own self with him of the love that you're having of the feelings you're having in your body.   And the noise that comes at us all day basically robs us of that awareness. And so, I think that the world's system of operating right now is maybe intentionally unintentionally, I'm not sure, bent on making us numb to God, to each other, to ourselves, to our souls, and to true genuine connection. And so, I think it's a real fight for me to live connected to myself, to God, to others.   And what does it look like to really be present? And that's actually such a unique key to pleasure, to sexual pleasure that we wouldn't necessarily connect. We would think it's about like, oh, tips or positions, but it's actually about becoming present.   And the noise coming at us tries to rob us of that presence, that awareness. And so, I think it's a very integrated conversation, whether it's talking about spiritual intimacy, sexual intimacy, obviously friendship, wherever we're trying to connect with someone or God, but the call is to be present and embodied. And that's what Jesus was.   He was an embodiment of God. And He came to actually connect in a genuine face-to-face way. And yeah, so I think of when I think of the noise of my phone, the noise coming at us all the time, it's just draining of my energy, of my sexual energy, of my emotional energy, on all the levels.   And it's constantly a reminder of God saying, “that's not your design. Your design was connection and presence and how that hits all the markers in all the relationships.”   Laura Dugger: (21:45 - 24:26) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Friends, I'm excited to share with you today's sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Do you feel like you need a weekend away with your spouse and a chance to grow in your relationship together at the same time? Winshape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that provides weekend marriage retreats to help couples grow closer together in every season and stage of life. From pre-marital to parenting to the emptiness phase, there is an opportunity for you. Winshape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even when it seems things are going smoothly, so that they're stronger if they do hit a bump along their journey. 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Thanks for your sponsorship.   Getting out of our mind, getting into our body, how you said paying attention to your coffee and those five senses outside the bedroom, then when you're inside the bedroom, I remember Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner just saying, thank God for every tingly feeling that you get. I think you're more aware of your body in those times of intimate connection if you're practicing that outside of it, which is what you're advising. I guess one other super practical tip, I love it that a friend years ago told me the way she transitioned from work into sexual connection with her husband, they invested in a massage table. She would get 20 minutes or whatever on the table and he would just relax her head to toe and then they enjoyed that connection so much more.   Francie Winslow: (24:27 - 28:23) Absolutely. Yeah, there's different types of touch. I talk about this in one of my podcasts, but there's therapeutic touch, which is like, “hey, I think I need a foot rub. I just need to relax.”   Then there's nurturing touch. I will walk up a lot of times to my husband and just stand there and that signal of like, just hold me.   I just need to be touched in that way, not groped. I don't even need to be playfully touched. I just need to be secure and held.   Sometimes that's what we need to let go and let our nervous systems calm down. I will say even like a hug for 30 seconds, you can feel your body, hug until you feel yourself let go because you feel yourself soften. Noticing the sensations of, Wyatt and I went on a date the other day and I could feel myself.   I was just noticing the sensations of my body and I'm like, I'm gripping. I'm gripping everything. That's not a great way to go into a date.   Talking through like, okay, what is it that my body is gripping onto? It's so much stress, so much pressure. Then we ended up having a great date, but I was able to name those things like, what is my body needing?   What am I feeling? Where am I now? That just comes from awareness, and it comes from practicing being present to what's happening in my body, in my nervous system and what do I need?   There's therapeutic touch, nurturing touch. There's obviously playful touch like tickling or just being flirtatious. Then there's sexual touch.   There's a wide range of what sexual expression and nice and gentle touch can look like that can open you up. I think getting out of your head and into your body and not being afraid of your body. I think as Christian women, we were raised with a real fear of our bodies and a real fear of pleasure.   I know I was feeling like the word pleasure was even a really dirty word. It wasn't something I should be thinking about. It wasn't something that I had permission to even explore because it had a real sense of negative connotation to it.   God's just really set me free from that because I'm realizing it's my design. There are countless pleasure zones all over my body by his good design, by his orchestration. He made my body.   There's not one part of my body he's ashamed of, and I don't need to be either. Realizing that God did make the female body with way more than double the capacity for pleasure than a male body has. That's a gift for us.   It's a gift for our emotions. It's a gift for our mental health. It's a gift for our creativity.   You said men get more energy from sex, but actually, it's like when a woman really let's go and she really let's go because we have a hard time letting go. That doesn't mean crazy. It just really means you turn off your brain, and you really receive.   There is a restart that happens. Usually, creativity does flow because it's the sense of different parts of your brain are reactivated and you are nourished. Sexuality was meant to be a creative act in procreation, but also in energetic movement through your body of what love creates.   Love multiplies. Love grows. Not being afraid of our bodies, not being afraid of feeling, but praising God, like the penner said for every tingle.   I'll say in terms of awareness in the bedroom, if you're having trouble feeling or you're having trouble feeling pleasure or reaching orgasm, there's three tips that I've heard that I really like is breath, breathing in that moment, coming back to your breath because a lot of times we can be intimate and still be in our heads. Our bodies are there, but our minds are somewhere else. We're thinking about the grocery list or thinking about why am I taking so long or is he having fun or do I look not good?   Do I not look good to him? Where our brains are stuck in a lot of different places and getting out of our head back into our body with breath. Slowing down, really conscious, slow breathing, movement, going back and forth, and then vocalization, like using a moan or a hum or a yes.   Those three things are often helping you get back in your body, helping bring your attention back to sensation and can enhance the moment through paying attention in those ways.   Laura Dugger: (28:24 - 28:59) Those are so good. The only one I would add, I'm sure you would incorporate this as well, is prayer. I've heard a wife tell me before that she will pray every time they come together, whether she's praying just in her mind, not even out loud with her husband, but just, Lord, help me experience orgasm or help us to enjoy this time or whatever the prayer is.   You also brought up playful touch then. Can you just unpack why play is so powerful as it relates to our sex life?   Francie Winslow: (29:01 - 30:36) Well, I think that we can get so serious in life and we can get so exhausted and overwhelmed and then sex can become a task, or we just are now stressed about it. For us, quite simply put, playfulness has just been an invitation to revitalize our connection and to remember that we don't have to take things so seriously. I think our playfulness has come through even just like silly text messages.   I say silly, but they're intimate, they're playful, they're between us. Little things that we've done, like you have certain names for certain positions and so you can speak in code and that can be a fun way to connect where nobody else knows what you're talking about, but you're sharing connection. Getting your heart rate up together, things like playing literally, like playing a sport, exercising together, having playful times together outside of the bedroom is so powerful.   Getting your heart rate up together is actually a real libido booster. If you go work out, you just feel this energy together in general or going on a walk, we like to do that. By the time you come back from your walk, if you've walked briskly, you feel this sense of connection and a little bit more drive.   You can even make games like, hey, whenever I wear this necklace, it's me giving you a little bedroom wink. We've done that where we have little signs to each other that, hey, I'm thinking about you, I'm so into you, see this necklace I'm wearing. There's just so many playful ways that you can connect that remind you, oh yeah, we're on each other's teams, we're for each other.   This is not a have to, this is a get to, and this is a special place just for us to really build the connection.   Laura Dugger: (30:37 - 30:52) One step further then with that play and movement, I've heard you talk about for females, nonlinear movement of our body. Can you share about how that, again, outside the bedroom can impact inside the bedroom?   Francie Winslow: (30:52 - 35:31) Yeah. I have a membership community called The Circle, and we talk about this a lot because it's a bit like rewiring, especially Christian women's minds to connect to their bodies in a genuine way. Our culture in general has raised us to not embrace the masculine but requires us to be masculine in a lot of ways, just with how what's required is getting stuff done, standing in line, standing in traffic.   It's very much task-oriented, get stuff done, stay busy. The female design is much more nonlinear. It's much more creative.   It's much more life-giving than just task and just to-do list all day. When we stay in that do, do, do, and go, go, go mode, we lose our ability to flow and to be playful as women. I know when I am in task mode all day, I feel rigid rather than open.   By God's design, the female body itself speaks of curviness. It speaks of receptivity and openness, but sometimes in our structured lives that we lead where we have to get stuff done, we close off that space through stress and through just this response of rigidity and overwhelm. Movement is a great way to loosen up, to open up to access playfulness as a woman.   I've heard people call it nonlinear movement, and I think that's great because literally you don't have to be a good dancer, but it's just begin moving. I've taught in this membership group that I have just practical ways. We practice and we laugh and we talk about how it's going, but it's really creating new neural pathways in our own brains, new habits, new ways of embodying our own selves in our lives that remind us of who we are and help us access a playfulness.   What that looks like for me is I can just be brushing my teeth, and I'll just do figure eights with my hips. That's just nonlinear movement, and it's just a way to move my body and be like, oh, yeah. It's like doing shoulder rolls.   You're like, oh, I didn't know I was so tense. I didn't know I was gripping. I didn't know my posture was all hunched over because I've just been tense all day, and our bodies are holding on to that tension.   Nonlinear movement is playful. It's also a way to release tension. It's also a way to remember, oh, yeah, I'm a woman, and I have hips, and it's fun to move.   I'm not even that great of a dancer. I don't feel super sexy when I move, but then I remember I can be playful, and it kind of unlocks another layer of our sensuality and our beauty and helps us remember that we are lovely and attractive and desirable and not just kind of to-do list on stairways walking around getting stuff done. Nonlinear movement can look like a lot of things.   I've spent my 39th year, I decided on my birthday, I'd been thinking, reading, praying a lot about it, but my 39th year, I decided I'm going to befriend my body this year. I did things that whole year, like nonlinear movement, like just cultivating pleasure in my body in a lot of different ways to really befriend and honor my body and call it good, like God called it, because I had lived for so long kind of at a distance from my body and afraid of my body and afraid of, honestly, femininity in a way because I didn't know how to grid that, and I didn't know what it looked like to be holy and to be integrated, to be holy and to be an alive sexual woman. It just kind of seemed like I needed to shut most of it off, and God's been doing a healing work in me for the last several years, and that's part of it, is just simple things like dancing in my room when nobody's looking, turning on music that doesn't have to have like a certain lyric or notion to it, but I just get to move, and there's something about moving our bodies where we get to really let go of a lot and remember the design that we have for creativity and beauty, and yeah, that's just a fun way to do it, but a little practical is trying figure eights while you're doing your toothbrushing or stirring your spaghetti.   A funny one that makes me laugh and makes everybody laugh when I have them do it is spelling your name with your hips, and so you just realize, oh, oh my gosh, you know, you're moving your hips in all sorts of directions, but by the time you finish, you feel more open, and you feel more alive and awake in your body, and I think, I know I'll speak for me, I feel many days if I'm not intentional very unalive in my body because I just am exhausted, but it's those intentional places of befriending our bodies, paying attention, and honoring our beautiful bodies allows us to enjoy it more, being a woman, being a wife, being present, and it sure does make it a lot more fun to participate in it rather than just feel like life is happening to us all the time.   Laura Dugger: (35:32 - 35:59) Okay, and then speaking of that, life happening to us all the time, we talked about maybe newlyweds or new parents, but as we transition into middle age, maybe we're parenting older children at that point, or we're assisting with aging parents, or facing demands with work or our health. How can we realistically still choose to prioritize connection right in the middle of busy?   Francie Winslow: (35:59 - 36:01) Yeah, you mean with our spouses?   Laura Dugger: (36:02 - 36:02) Yes.   Francie Winslow: (36:02 - 41:05) Yeah, yeah. Well, I think it, for us, I'll say it comes from really just seeing it as a priority. It's one of our biggest rocks, you know, like when you have a jar, and you have rocks, and you only have so much room, you have to figure out what are your biggest rocks, and intimacy together is for sure one of our biggest rocks because we see what we've called, I've called forever the ripple effect of sex, that there is a ripple effect that comes from intimacy and connection, I think by God's design, and it's the same with our connection with God, that there is a ripple effect that comes from our connection with God. When we're connected and we're growing with God, other things benefit, right?   We see it in our ability to show up as parents, and at work, we see the ripple effect of intimacy, and I'll say the same thing mirrors in marriage, that there is a profound ripple effect from sexual intimacy specifically, and there's other forms of intimacy in marriage that are really important, but sexual intimacy is the only type of intimacy that is shared in marriage alone, and so you can have deep friendships, and partnerships, and ministry, and prayer teams, and, you know, small group leaders meetings, and you can have growth, and closeness with a lot of types of people and groups, but sexual intimacy is the full giving of yourself, naked, unashamed, fully to another, and it's a real place of vulnerability, and I think as we're aging, as I'm beginning perimenopause, as we have almost, we're launching our first kids into college, we've got a bunch of special needs younger kids, what I'm realizing is I don't just need to have sex because it's good for our marriage, we need it because it's good for us. We really need it for our own nervous systems.   We need it for comfort, and for grief, and for trauma processing, and for the bonding of us together, because we're clinging to each other as seasons change, and as dark seasons are on us, it's almost like this refuge that God has given us, and so I think seeing sexual intimacy as a really deep place of provision, not just, oh, it's something we need to do, like exercising, because it's good for us. It is, but there is a deeper invitation to the meaning, and the power of oneness, and union, which is, again, that reflection of our union with God, and it's a gift for our bodies, our nervous systems, in changing seasons as well.   It's a real place of connection that we need, and so I think in terms of prioritizing it, it's one of our big rocks, and so this point, 20 years in, it's not unusual for us to have intimacy many times every day of the week. I guess I just say that as our marriage is 20 years in, and it's more deep, and more beautiful, and more pleasurable, and more meaningful than ever, and in my changing body, in our tiredness, I feel more confident, and more awake to my body than ever, and I love that, that I feel more confident than I did when I was 20, right? I feel more pleasure, because we know each other more, and we've leaned in to learn each other, and we've wept together, and we've grieved together, and we've gotten lost together, like we've had the highs and the lows, and that's, I think I want to cast that out as vision for young marriages, like it's worth it to keep growing, it's worth it to lean in, it's worth it to know each other, and to continue to press on together, because there's deep riches in that intimacy, and for friends who are in the older years, I'm walking with women right now who've been married 35 years, and they're waking up to their best marriage ever, because they're waking up to their bodies, and they might be 60 years old, but they're finally confronting the shame that's held back, they're finally confronting the lies about pleasure, and about sex being for a man only, and they're realizing that they have an entire body to get to know, and to share in marriage, and it's like a whole new territory that they're encountering, and there's freedom and healing happening, because they've had to have conversations that are hard, but actually unearth things that need to be healed, and I think that's the other bit of sexual intimacy that doesn't often get talked about, is that sexual intimacy is so intimate, it does not occur without the heart being present, and so if hard things come up in sex, it's usually because hard things need to come up, and vulnerability and intimacy requires, intimacy requires vulnerability, and that vulnerability is the space for the hard things to come up, and then in the presence of God, through prayer, through love, you address those, it might be hard, it might be painful, and then there's space to say, hey, let's work through that, let's lean in, let's keep loving each other, find help, and it continues to grow the marriage deeper, and so that's what I've found in our marriage, and with women I'm walking with, is that it's not always an easy uphill, you know, like ascent, but it's highs and lows, but over time, throughout the seasons, prioritizing oneness, prioritizing sexual communication, prioritizing time together, to practice pleasure, getting to know each other, those are the spaces where actually I've seen God do a lot of healing.   Laura Dugger: (41:07 - 42:40) I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Heinrichson from episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities, and we are thrilled with the final product, so I hope you check it out. There you're going to find all of our podcasts, now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living.   You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax-deductible so that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com.   Well, and even with you sharing how often you're connecting, that requires saying no to some other, probably sometimes good things, too.   Are there any practical examples you have, again, of what you and Wyatt have not prioritized in order to give this time and space?   Francie Winslow: (42:41 - 45:06) Yeah, I mean, I don't want to put ourselves on a pedestal or sound so radical, but we really try to limit screen time and phones a lot. I would say my husband is very radical with this. He really is never on his phone and makes it a point to not be, and I appreciate that in the way he leads in our family.   I feel like I'm doing stuff that needs to be done on my phone, and I can easily get pulled into scrolling, but that's been a big thing we say no to. We just really don't do that in our beds. We don't bring it into our bedrooms.   We don't, because we just see that it can easily be like it just pulls us away from each other, and so that's kind of a non-thing, which I think is a big culture shifter that phone is not a part of our marriage or our time in the evenings. And yeah, with a lot of kids, we definitely have to prioritize. We do hotel dates quite frequently, which I can't remember if I've talked to you about or not, but that's been a huge gift in busy seasons of parenting.   We scoot away to a local hotel for just a day, not even an overnight. We'll do like a long date, like maybe a four-hour stretch, and what that really gives us in terms of not just quantity, because it's not as much quantity, it's the quality of connection that we found, and being in a hotel room for four hours or so, we really get to let go and focus. And so, I think that that's a big part of it is, oh, it's not just about like checking the box, but it's really letting go together and learning.   And those have been some of the hours we've spent together. It's like learning what feels good, learning how to linger with each other, learning how to go slow and not be rushed, learning how to communicate and learning how to care for one another. We'll do like king treatment or queen treatment, where you spend 20 minutes on one person, and then the other person gets 20 minutes, and you take turns, and it's just this exchange of care that doesn't happen in a busy life.   But we found that sneaking away to do that every couple of weeks has been a real treat to figure out how to prioritize. But yeah, definitely saying no to... And I mean, the truth is, it doesn't take that long to connect.   So, it's not like you have to say no to massive things, but I think it's saying yes to putting your energy towards each other and not spending your energy completely on every other thing except your marriage.   Laura Dugger: (45:07 - 45:25) Okay, well said. And maybe somebody's hearing this and they're not there right now. So, regardless of whatever season of marriage they're in, how can they revive a sex life that's been asleep or has become complacent?   Francie Winslow: (45:25 - 46:44) Yeah. Well, I think if it's a place where you are desiring and you are the one desiring, I think it's saying, hey, I really desire connection. What would it look like if we tried this again, if we leaned in?   And if hopefully there's a sense of, yeah, I miss you too. I miss us too. And if not, it's a space where you can grow in your own understanding of your body, how your body works, and you can continue to learn how your spouse's body works and try to love them even without making a big plan, but just showing up more skills or showing up with more investment at times can communicate, hey, I'm showing up with a little bit more knowledge and I'm enjoying it more.   Because I think when you learn a little bit more, you can receive more, you can be more present. And sometimes just working on you and your mindset can have a trickle-down effect. But I think definitely an invitation to say, hey, we're busy and I value you and I value us and I just want more connection.   What does that look like? Yeah, I think it definitely takes two. It takes two to really grow, to be honest.   And so, I think it can be a place where even that can be a hard conversation that has the potential to unearth, hey, are we too busy? It does require a sense of investment. And sometimes that can require conversations.   Laura Dugger: (46:45 - 46:56) Francie, also, you are a wealth of knowledge. You've studied this topic for years; you've brought it before the Lord. So, what can you share with us that you've learned specifically about orgasm?   Francie Winslow: (46:57 - 50:30) So, orgasm for anybody who is brand new is simply like a fast contraction of your muscles in your pelvic floor and around the nerve endings that are linked to pleasure sensors in your brain. And so, when those contract really fast, it feels like a whoosh or a powerful punch of pleasure, and it brings tingles and contractions, and it feels great. So, people come to me a lot.   They're like, I can't have an orgasm. And so one of the biggest keys to having an orgasm, again, is understanding your body and not expecting your body to work like a man's body, not expecting it to just automatically work by penetration, which is a lot of times what men think is if you just have intercourse, you should have an orgasm. But a woman's body is much more intricate, and she has a clitoral structure kind of hidden behind her external anatomy.   So, you can't see it all, all the time. I do have one here. I have other models, but this is a clitoris.   And so, this is hidden behind your outside vaginal tissues. And so, but this is all pleasure anatomy. And so, your clitoris has over 10,000 nerve endings and that is over double what a man's penis has.   We're maybe afraid to touch our bodies, but this is good in God's design, and it is that the clitoris is stimulated. And so, it can be manually, you can touch it, your husband can touch it. Sometimes before sex, you can have orgasms or even during, definitely during, but that comes with stimulation.   And so I think sometimes women think I just, it should happen automatically, but it happens through blood flow to your tissues, to your whole body really, because your whole body becomes kind of alive with pleasure, but the blood flow allows engorgement of all of this tissue, which allows it to feel better and allows it to feel pleasure. And so, a clitoris, a clitoral orgasm is one type of orgasms, but there's lots of types of orgasms that your body can experience with also a female superpower. And it happens when we're able to let go and we're able to actually feel, which comes back to our earlier conversation of being awake in our bodies and aware of sensation and connected to feeling in our body and connected to awareness.   And so, orgasm is a beautiful gift from God. There's many types of orgasms. Women can have multiple orgasms.   That means can peak over and over and over again, not just once, but the bottom line is when God created, he created male and female, but he created woman last. And it seems like when you look at it metaphorically, that woman is like the exclamation point of beauty and pleasure. She was like the final, yes, she has double the amount of pleasure capacity than a man does.   And I think it's because it delights God that women are fully alive in their bodies. And so, I do have a pleasure masterclass on my website because it took me and wound up and afraid of my own body, but this is God's design and he's not afraid or ashamed of our bodies. And the more we understand how God designed our bodies, the more we can really celebrate his design.   And to me, that's worshipful. And it's honoring to him as our creator, because he made us wonderfully, right? And the Psalm says that my soul knows well, and it's like this catching up.   He made us wonderfully. Do we believe it? And part of is education and understanding that our bodies are good.   So, orgasm is a great gift, definitely one worth exploring and learning.   Laura Dugger: (50:31 - 50:41) It's so wonderful, Francie. And are there any other practical ways that we can maximize pleasure in our marriage, both for husbands or wives?   Francie Winslow: (50:43 - 53:59) Yeah, I think this sounds a little bit silly, but practicing pleasure is a real thing. We often feel like I should just know how to do it. It should just work, but it takes communication and it takes time.   And going back to awareness, it takes us being able to understand our bodies. And so, I know the pinners recommend this as well. It might push some people's buttons, but it's exploring your own body.   You have to know your body to share it well. It's a really awkward and uncomfortable thing to not know what's down there and then supposed to be giving it away to your husband. That's I think a sin against ourselves, to be honest, because we are essentially violating ourselves if we don't even have connection to ourselves.   And then we're trying to give it away and expecting our bodies to express or experience something. We have to be embodied, connected to loving, blessing, and agreeing with the fact that our bodies are good. And that doesn't happen unless we know our bodies.   And so, I would say that the pivotal thing for me and many women, and it might make people feel uncomfortable, is you must know your body. You must experience your body. You must believe it's good.   And in order to be able to share it genuinely without shame, because shame is the biggest pleasure killer. And shame is straight from hell, straight from the enemy in the garden that they were originally naked and unashamed. And in comes the deceiver and the accuser of God's children.   And they suddenly become aware of their nakedness and covered in shame and they start hiding. And so, God has an invitation to us to release shame in our sexuality as we bring our sexuality into his light, into the light of his word, into his presence. And part of that is for me, it was definitely realizing my body is good.   So, spending time with your own body, getting to know what feels good for the sake of being able to share it with your husband is a big breakthrough point for a lot of women. And even confronting like, oh, when I'm alone with my body, I actually feel so much shame. Talk to God about that.   God, do you feel ashamed of my body? Is it a shame that I'm sitting here with my body? Can I look at my body in the mirror and actually say, thank you, God, for this beautiful body?   Can I take a mirror down there and explore my body and have joy rather than shame? And if we can't have joy and if we only have shame, that's okay. That's just an invitation to healing.   And so that's what I mean when I say sexuality is also this invitation to healing because shame is so tightly wound around the conversation and shame is the opposite of what Christ died for. He died that we would be free and that it's not this selfish freedom. It's this life-giving freedom where love can really be shared and expressed.   So, I would say that the number one thing is that women love and know their bodies and then can share them from that place of sharing a gift that they have actually received first. Because until we receive the gift, it's an awkward thing to try to give it away. And I think our husbands are hopefully wanting and willing to learn too.   And so, it can be a joint effort that we learn about our bodies together, that we discover our bodies together, learn how to communicate and learn how to love each other well in a place of joy and care. Because that, I think, is a beautiful space of worship to God.   Laura Dugger: (54:01 - 54:43) And just to echo what you said, I think it was Dr. Jennifer Kanzen who shared the same sentiment of women, it's really hard to see your private parts. So, get a handheld mirror and look and see what every part is and be aware on your body. I also want to make sure people aren't hearing what you're not saying.   And so, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I don't hear you saying, be selfish and masturbate to take away time from you and your spouse being together. You're saying, learn your body and your parts so that you and or be together with your spouse while you're doing this so that you can both experience greater pleasure. Is that right?   Francie Winslow: (54:43 - 56:15) Exactly. But what I'm not saying is satisfy yourself apart from your husband and then don't ever connect. Nobody wants that.   That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about building sexual intimacy in your marriage and sexual healing in your journey as a woman who wants to be integrated. And so, yeah, I think there could be a whole conversation on this because it can be a hot button.   And I'm glad you're willing to go there because we need honesty. We need our daughters to be able to have this sort of conversation with us and not feel like there's things that we just need to do in secret. Because I think anything you feel like I have to have this as a secret, that's also like, ah, like, let's talk about it.   And so, what I call self-cultivation is not a secret. And it's something you share with your spouse. And it's something that, hey, I want to get to know my body.   And that's actually in my journey. My husband was like, hey, you need to get to know your body. I bless you to like have some alone time because you're so wound up in shame.   You don't even know. You can't even feel. And so, it really, it was rooted in our experience as him commissioning me basically to befriend my body.   And I think that that's, it's a different paradigm, but I appreciate the many sex therapists who are believers that agree with that menu, that idea of you have to experiment and explore to know how to genuinely articulate what you want rather than just laying there and assuming your husband can read your mind. And so, it's, again, a place of communication and saying, hey, this is where I'm at. Is this okay?   What does this look like for us? And this is my desire is intimacy and connection with you.   Laura Dugger: (56:16 - 56:41) And I love how you are explaining how you invite the Lord into that process for every person to ask him, what do you have for me? What do you want me to learn? What do you want to reveal to me about sex?   And none of us want to miss out on any good gift that he has to offer. So, France, you could continue teaching us and you have so many resources. Can you just share where you would direct us to go online after this chat?   Francie Winslow: (56:42 - 57:19) Sure. Yeah. Well, I have several courses and growth guides on my website.   So, franciewinslow.com and just spaces. If you wanted to have these conversations with your husband or maybe just wanted to grow on your own. And if you're looking for conversations exactly like we're having today, ongoing, I have a community membership group that we meet monthly on zoom to literally have conversations like this that are so life-giving because we're all on a journey and it's fun to be able to talk about places that we've had barriers and how we're growing.   And that's called the circle. So, I have that as well. So, lots of resources and ways to plug in and keep growing.   Laura Dugger: (57:20 - 57:36) Wonderful. We'll add the links in the show notes for today's episode. And Francie, you're already familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Francie Winslow: (57:37 - 58:14) Well, it's not that fancy and it's going to sound extremely simple, but it's take a walk without your phone every day. It's part of that awareness and that coming back home to God who is in us with us all the time. And those simple deep breaths, remembering that we have him in us.   And a lot of times it's just that simple reminder of a minute unplugged in God's creation that helps me to kind of come back home to him and recenter to be filled up for all that comes my way. So, I'm a big fan of unplugging. That's so good.   Laura Dugger: (58:14 - 58:42) And it's just always such a joy to get to spend time with you. And God has given you these enormous gifts of teaching and this ability to synthesize knowledge from so many places and then make it beneficial and applicable for all of us as it relates to sexual intimacy in view of what God has for us in marriage. So, thank you, Francie, for sharing all this goodness today and thank you for being my returning guest.   Francie Winslow: (58:42 - 58:43) Absolutely. Thanks for having me.   Laura Dugger: (58:45 - 1:01:59) One more thing before you go.   Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you.   But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own.   So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can

With transportation touching nearly every aspect of daily life, advancing technology is rapidly changing how we get around our local region. We sit down with Derrick Herrmann, Chief of Transformational Technology at PennDOT, to explore how the agency is preparing for a future that includes AI-powered traffic systems, automated vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, drones, and advanced air mobility. Derrick walks us through PennDOT's role in regulating emerging transportation technologies, supporting first responders, and using real-time data to improve roadway safety and reduce congestion – and so much more.OUR PARTNERSouthern Chester County Chamber of CommerceLINKSPennsylvania Department of TransportationWebsite: pa.gov/agencies/penndotCareers with PennDOT: pa.gov/agencies/employment/penndotPennDOT's upcoming ~$100million of EV charger funding: pa.gov/evcommunityOpen data platform: data-pennshare.opendata.arcgis.comGIS layers for PennDOT: gis.penndot.pa.gov/onemapPennStart: pennstart.orgAdditional LinksAV RideBeta TechnologiesDrone 814GovernmentJobs.comPennsylvania SPCAState Employees Combined Appeal (SECA)Transportation OrganizationsAASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)ITS AmericaFederal Aviation Administration (FAA)NASEO (National Association of State Energy Officials)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)PAVE (Partners for Automated Vehicle Education)Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionRIDC of WestmorelandTransportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC)Pennsylvania UniversitiesBucknell UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversitySafety21 at Carnegie Mellon UniversityLarson Transportation Institute at Penn StateHarrisburg UniversityLocal Bands and ArtistsThe Menzingers – Tasker-Morris StationThe Wonder Years – A Raindance in TrafficThe Starting Line – IslandCarly CosgroveTigers JawBalance and ComposureTitle FightBike RoutesAugust Burns RedModern BaseballSweet PillmewithoutYouKid DynamiteGrayscaleValenciaMan OverboardHandgunsRelated EpisodesAdvocating for Sustainable Transportation with Tim PhelpsTranscriptThe full episode transcript will be posted here as soon as it is available.

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!What if families had support before a crisis led to foster care? In this episode, we talk with Dr. David Anderson, psychologist and founder and executive director of SAFE Families for Children, about a community-based model that helps keep children safe while supporting parents through difficult seasons. Dr. Anderson also serves as Executive Director of Lydia Home Association in Chicago and has been recognized as an Ashoka Fellow and Prime Movers Fellow.In this episode, we discuss:For someone new to SAFE Families, how would you explain what it is?Can you share a little about yourself and what drew you to create SAFE Families?Who are the families you serve, and what situations bring them to you?Why is a program like SAFE Families especially needed right now?What happens to families when this kind of support isn't available?How is SAFE Families different from traditional foster care?What kinds of training and screening do volunteers undergo?What support do volunteers receive along the way?What are the main ways people can get involved?Can you share a story or two that captures the impact of SAFE Families?What do families or volunteers often say after being part of this?Who tends to be a great fit for this kind of role?What hesitations do you hear most, and what would you say to those concerns?If one of our listeners is interested in serving this community, what's the first step to get involved?For a parent or caregiver listening today who feels underwater or overwhelmed, what encouragement can you offer?Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, LA Williams sits down with respected automotive leader Milt Whitesides from SS Auto and Cycle Brokers for a conversation that goes far beyond selling cars. What actually separates average dealerships from elite-performing stores? Is it inventory, traffic, advertising, or is it something much deeper happening inside the culture, leadership, and daily habits of the dealership itself? "Average never creates extraordinary." – LA Williams With decades of experience leading high-performing dealerships, building winning teams, and transforming store operations, Milt shares powerful insight into the mindset, structure, and discipline required to create long-term dealership success. "Serve your team, serve your leaders, and serve your guests. That's what makes the big difference." – Milt Whitesides This episode explores why leadership matters more than ever in today's automotive industry, how process consistency impacts profitability, and why culture is often the hidden factor behind both dealership growth and dealership failure. Without giving away the full blueprint, LA and Milt touch on the power of accountability, communication, relationship-building, inventory strategy, and the shift from traditional dealership operations to a more modern, intentional approach. "Mindset creates everything. If you think you're a 40-car-a-day store, you're a 40-car-a-day store." – Milt Whitesides If you're a dealer principal, GM, manager, or automotive professional looking to elevate your dealership beyond average performance, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership, culture, and operational excellence. Remember, the great dealerships are not built by accident. They are built by intention!   Key Takeaways: ✅ The transformation from average to elite dealership performance hinges on a disciplined approach to leadership, process execution, and fostering a positive culture. ✅ Building strong customer relationships should be prioritized over traditional, transactional approaches, integrating service-minded principles throughout the dealership. ✅ Setting and sticking to systematic daily habits, such as the 'morning five,' can substantially impact personal and professional growth within the automotive industry. ✅ Developing a comprehensive acquisition strategy that goes beyond relying on auctions is crucial for sustainable used-car inventory management. ✅ Fostering a service-oriented culture requires ongoing mentorship, relationship building, and aligning everyday activities with overarching dealership goals.   About Milt Whitesides Milt Whitesides, a seasoned veteran in the automotive industry with over 35 years of experience, has held pivotal roles such as General Sales Manager, General Manager, and Managing Partner. He is renowned for his expertise in dealership leadership, culture development, and volume enhancement. His innovative strategies have been recognized with numerous accolades, including awards from FCA Stellantis, Mitsubishi, and Subaru. Milt's leadership at Sanderson Ford has been instrumental in achieving a groundbreaking sale of 734 units, making him a leading authority on high-performance dealership operations.      Unlocking Success in Car Sales: The Importance of Leadership, Culture, and Execution   Key Takeaways Transformational leadership and culture are essential for high-performing car dealerships. Successful execution in car sales relies heavily on systems that save stress, time, energy, and money. Effective team building and relationship management directly impact dealership performance and culture.   Transformational Leadership: Driving Change in Car Dealerships In the rapidly evolving automotive industry, old-school tactics are being replaced by transformational leadership, emphasizing relationship building over intimidation and fear. "They just used to beat it into us, right? They just used fear and intimidation," reflects Milt Whitesides, shedding light on an outdated model no longer effective in today's market. Now, building relationships and demonstrating leadership by example are crucial. The shift highlights the need for leaders to engage directly and personally with their teams, showing team members that they're committed to the same goals and willing to "do any of the things that you're coaching, you're willing to do and show them how to do it." Such engagement fosters a culture where employees aren't just workers, but integral parts of a larger vision, contributing significantly to the dealership's overall success.   Systematic Execution: Creating a Blueprint for Success Systems in car sales aren't just about maintaining order; they're about creating consistent, scalable success. As LA Williams aptly states, "Systems save you stress, time, energy, and money." This philosophy highlights the necessity for dealerships to adopt robust processes that ensure every member of the team understands their role and the steps needed to achieve their goals. Incorporating structured training programs for both sales staff and managers ensures everyone is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for their roles. Milt Whitesides emphasizes the importance of thorough, hands-on training, stating, "We're coaching, we're training, we're mentoring, we're motivating, we're inspiring." This comprehensive approach ensures that processes are not just guidelines, but actionable, effective strategies that elevate performance across the board. The execution of such systems inevitably leads to improved sales outcomes, as demonstrated by dealerships achieving extraordinary sales figures, like 734 units. This level of performance isn't accidental; it's the result of consistent application of systems and processes designed to optimize every facet of sales operations.   Relationship Building: Fostering a Culture of Excellence The success of a dealership heavily depends on the relationships forged within its walls. Whitesides elaborates on the transition from a transactional mindset to one focusing on relationships, not just with customers, but within teams as well. "For me, it's about relationships now," he states, indicating a paradigm shift necessary in modern dealerships. To bridge the gap between average and exceptional, Whitesides suggests serving the team members and customers becomes the priority. "You serve them," he advises, underscoring how an attitude of service permeates every interaction, creating a cohesive and motivated workforce. This approach yields a twofold benefit — it enhances customer experience and bolsters internal morale, aligning everyone's efforts towards achieving common goals. The implications of such relationship-focused efforts are manifold. Dealerships become welcoming environments where employees thrive, leading to higher customer satisfaction and, ultimately, increased profitability and market share. In the dynamic world of automotive sales, success hinges on effective leadership, rigorous execution of systems, and strong relationship management. By shifting towards transformational leadership, instilling systematic execution through training, and fostering a culture where relationships are prioritized, dealerships can achieve unprecedented success. Embracing these changes positions them to not only compete but excel in a market where customer expectations and competitive pressures are continually rising. Such strategic realignment and commitment to innovation can transform dealerships into industry leaders.      Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Erika Kitzmiller, a research associate professor at the University of Chicago and author of the new book, Unchartered: How One Public High School Transformed First Generation College Success. Drawing on her own background as a former middle school teacher and a proud first-generation college graduate, Kitzmiller shares the insights gained from an intensive, multi-year case study of a public high school pseudonymously named Clayton. While the school boasted a near-100 percent college acceptance rate, only half of its alumni were successfully graduating from college. To address this gap, Kitzmiller and Clayton's principal designed a unique practice-to-research partnership that centered student voices, incorporated alumni interviews, and directly empowered youth agency. The conversation explores pragmatic, on-the-ground structural changes implemented at Clayton that did not require massive budgets or flashy technology. Kitzmiller discusses how the school expanded elective choices, created a dedicated senior college seminar embedded directly into the school day, and shifted student supports from an opt-in model to an opt-out expectation. The duo also notes the tangible benefits of Advanced Placement classes, which allowed students from low-income backgrounds to gain academic confidence and bypass large university introductory courses that frequently act as academic hurdles. Beyond policy shifts, Kitzmiller highlights the vital role of building trust over long horizons and honoring the human stories of public school educators through detailed teacher portraits. This episode offers a grounded perspective on how K-12 institutions can actively prepare first-generation students for post-secondary endurance. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Erika Kitzmiller and her new book; 01:00 - Erika's background as a first-generation college graduate and middle school teacher; 02:45 - Initiating the practice-to-research partnership at Clayton High School; 05:30 - Fostering student agency, course catalogs, and college options; 11:00 - Transitioning to opt-out support systems and embedded senior seminars; 12:30 - The pragmatic value of Advanced Placement (AP) classes for low-income student persistence; 18:00 - Bringing a first-generation college success mission into K-12 environments; 22:30 - Navigating research collaboration, school district permission, and funding levers; 30:30 - Humanizing public education through rich teacher portraits; 34:00 - Rebuilding community trust and relational connections within schools; 39:30 - Final thoughts and expressing gratitude to frontline educators. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

In #coachbetter episode Kim talks with Iain Henderson, Director of The Bridge at Wellington College. This is a peek into a conversation they had for Iain's podcast that we're excited to share with you here.  Iain and Kim have been having ongoing conversations about how coaching is implemented differently in different school settings and this conversation highlights a number of key topics that have come up many times, including: the importance of agency in the coaching process embracing a coach-like approach in any interaction  what we hope are the goals or outcomes from the coaching process how we design coaching relationships and avoid "coaching-by-stealth" the impact of different types of coaching models - like: what happens when we mandate coaching, and the repercussions of aligning coaching with evaluation coaching in the age of AI This conversation explores the deep power of coaching as adult development to support the flourishing of all educators in our schools. If you are interested in why coaching is so powerful - and some very important constraints to the coaching process that can make or break your program - this episode is for you! Find the show notes for this episode here. Let's Connect: Our website: coachbetter.tv EduroLearning on LinkedIn EduroLearning on Instagram EduroLearning on YouTube Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Join our #coachbetter Facebook group Learn with Kim Explore our courses for coaches Watch a FREE workshop Articles from Kim 3 Innovative Instructional Coaching Models (Edutopia) How Instructional Coaches Can Balance Confidentiality and Accountability (Edutopia) When We Invest in Coaches, We Invest in Teachers (The Learning Professional, Learning Forward) Books & Chapters from Kim: Finding Your Path as a Woman in School Leadership (book) Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools (chapter)

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Question: We are seriously considering becoming foster parents.  We have 2 children by birth, and I am really worried about how this will affect them and what I can do to prevent some of the negative effects.Resources:The Impact of Fostering and Adoption on Kids Already in the Family (Resource)Talking with your Resident Kids about Foster Care or Kinship Care (Resource)What You Should Know About Disrupting Birth Order in Adoption & Foster CareSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

Accountants aren't supposed to embrace failure. It runs counter to everything the profession is built on. But K.C. Eames, who leads operations at Dark Horse, has spent time thinking carefully about why that instinct holds firms back, and what it actually takes to build a culture where people feel safe to experiment. Recorded live at Bridging the Gap 2025, her conversation with Terrell Turner on Episode 264 of The Unique CPA covers her main stage talk on making it safe for accountants to fail, how Dark Horse uses open communication to surface and celebrate new ideas, and what it felt like to retool her presentation at the last minute to lead with personal stories rather than a framework. She also reflects on the kind of tight-knit, genuinely collaborative community that keeps drawing her back to Bridging the Gap year after year. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

In this episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast, Wayne Stender delves into the evolving landscape of education, emphasizing the importance of fostering a love for learning over traditional metrics like grades and GPAs. Drawing from Proverbs 4:13, Dr. Kathy stresses that instruction and a desire for knowledge should be the focus, rather than the pressure of achieving honor roll status. The discussion touches on the historical shift towards standardized education and critiques the current free market approach, highlighting a recent interview with Arne Duncan, former Secretary of Education, who pointed out the lack of coherent educational goals and strategies at the national level. Dr. Kathy encourages parents and educators to prioritize meaningful learning experiences for children amidst the complexities of modern education.

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Foster families are doing significant work to support both the children in their homes and the parents of those kids. What do they need to thrive in this work? We talk with Cathleen Bearse, a licensed therapist, foster mom, and the creator of Fearless Fostering. She supports foster and adoptive parents with practical tools, emotional guidance, and trauma-informed strategies with her real-life experiences and clinical expertise.In this episode, we talk about:Your organization is called ‘Fearless Fostering' – what does that mean to you right now in the work that you do with foster families every day?What makes fostering profoundly worth it in your life and in your family, even when it's hard?What are some unexpected joys in fostering that people don't hear about enough?When things feel heavy, how do you recommend resource parents reconnect with their ‘why'?What are the challenges that catch foster parents off guard the most?Where do you see foster parents becoming depleted or overwhelmed?What is often misunderstood about the emotional weight of fostering?How does isolation show up in foster parenting?How can fostering strain a household without the right support?What patterns have you seen in marriages or partnerships under stress?How does chronic stress show up in foster parents' mental and physical health?What early warning signs should families not ignore?If you could give every foster parent four supports, what would they be?CommunityTherapeutic SpacePermission to UnschedulePermission to Focus on “Just You”What does realistic self-care actually look like for foster parents?Where should foster parents begin if they realize they need more support?How can they pursue continuing education without becoming overwhelmed?What would you say to someone who wants to foster but fears they aren't strong enough?What is one message you want every foster parent to hear today?Finally, what would a strengthened foster family look like five years from now if we truly supported them well?Resources:Self-care for Foster ParentsWhat is Respite Care and How Do I Access It?What Foster Parents Want You to Know About FosteringSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

"Praxis" is when you put theory into practice, and this is something we try to do at The Winsome Conviction Project. On today's episode, Tim and Rick talk about a recent praxis experience involving two religious universities. This spring, Biola University hosted faculty and students from Brigham Young University for a series of constructive dialogues on points of agreement and disagreement between Christianity and Mormonism. Tim and Rick discuss three ways the dialogues were impactful, and they also discuss points for application for listeners.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Have you considered fostering? What might be holding you back? Join us for a conversation with Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, to explore what it takes to be ready to foster, what the licensing and placement process looks like, and how to navigate relationships with the child's birth parents while providing a safe place for the child to land. Laura is the author of First Time Fostering and brings awareness and advocacy for foster families to social media spaces.In this episode, we talk about:How can someone tell if fostering might be the right step for them?What are some common misconceptions about foster parenting that you often hear from people who are just starting to explore it?What mindset shifts do people often need to make before stepping into foster parenting, especially around trauma and reunification?Once someone decides to move forward, what does the licensing process look like?What tends to surprise people about that process?How should families prepare the people already in their lives—a partner, kids in the home, or extended family—for fostering?What kind of support system do new foster parents need?How can they start building that before they get their first placement?When you're waiting for your first placement, what are some basics you should have ready in their home?What is it actually like to get that first placement call and welcome a child into your home?In those first hours and days, what are some practical ways foster parents can help a child feel safe and supported?It's important to remember that reunification is the goal of foster care. What does co-parenting mean for foster parents? Why is it a crucial element of fostering?In foster care, children often still have relationships with their families, especially when reunification is still the goal. How can foster parents begin building a respectful relationship with a child's parent?How can foster parents help facilitate connection or healing with the child's parents?How do foster parents navigate the reality and emotions of a child leaving their home, for another placement, or for reunification?How should they support their resident children for that loss?What are some of the other hard realities of foster parenting that people should be prepared for?What would you want a newly licensed foster parent to know before they say yes to their first placement?What keeps you anchored in this work and committed to supporting others?Resources:Becoming a Foster ParentWhat Foster Care Alumni Want You to Know23 Crucial Questions toSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review.  This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:Weekly podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

What if the leadership crisis everyone's talking about isn't a talent problem—but a systems problem? In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, I sit down with Muriel Summers, founding principal of the first Leader in Me school and a global voice in transforming how schools think about leadership. From her work at A.B. Combs Elementary—twice named the top magnet school in America—to influencing thousands of schools worldwide, Muriel has helped redefine what leadership actually looks like in K–12 education. We dig into a bold idea: leadership isn't a title or a personality trait—it's a set of habits that can be taught, practiced, and lived by every student. In a time when schools are navigating staff shortages, budget pressures, and questions about student readiness, this conversation challenges the idea that leadership development is "extra." Instead, it makes the case that it's foundational. Muriel shares real stories, hard truths, and practical insight on how schools can move beyond surface-level student voice and build cultures where every kid sees themselves as a leader. If you've ever wondered why students disengage—or what it really takes to prepare them for life beyond school—this episode will push your thinking in all the right ways.

May is National Foster Care Month! For today's episode, we've invited author Jamie Finn to help us discover how faith and foster care are deeply connected. Jamie Finn opens up about the surprising realities that reshaped her family’s mission. You’ll hear what truly sustains foster families through their hardest seasons. Listen in for practical wisdom that applies whether you foster yourself or simply want to love foster families well. Key Takeaways: Trauma reshapes the brain. Regulated parents create safety for dysregulated children Foster families thrive when their community refuses to look away Following Jesus leads us toward discomfort, not away Mentioned in this Podcast: Ebook – What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity https://www.instagram.com/fosterthefamilyblog/ https://www.fosterthefamily.org/ https://www.filledretreat.com/ https://www.filledtogether.com/ Book – Foster the Family by Jamie Finn Book – Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent’s Heart by Jamie Finn Book – God Loves Kids: A Gospel-Centered Book About Foster Care by Jamie Finn Podcast – A Parenting Framework for Adoption and Fostering? Yes! | Ep. 157 Podcast – Parenting Adopted Children: Building Connection After Trauma | Ep. 272 Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We'd love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Jamie C. Finn is the author of the bestselling book, Foster the Family, as well as Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent's Heart, and a new children's book, God Loves Kids: A Gospel-Centered Book About Foster Care. She is the founder and President of Foster the Family and founder of the Filled Gathering. She uses her social media accounts to offer a glimpse into the real life of a foster parent and provide encouragement to tens of thousands of foster and adoptive parents. Jamie is the mother to 7 children through foster care, adoption, and birth. She lives in Sicklerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Alan. © 2026 Connected Families .stk-ff19205-container{box-shadow:7px 5px 30px rgba(72,73,121,0.15) !important}.stk-ff19205 > .stk-separator__bottom{transform:scaleX(-1) !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-ff19205-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-ff19205-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}} .stk-4bc716e{align-self:center !important} .stk-d485067{align-self:center !important} .stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:30px !important}}4 simple messages.1 simple framework. .stk-837ad59 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:19px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-837ad59 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:19px !important}}Get the FREE ebook, and start your journey toward better, more connective discipline in your home.

When the world feels this heavy, this broken, it can feel almost frivolous to make space for art. And in the classroom with so much content to cover, can we really slow down enough to create and take an artful approach to learning with students? Who has time to write poems or pause over a beautiful image when we're al barely keeping our heads above water? But think about what we're left with if we don't. If we strip away beauty and creativity and connection, all we have left is the grind. The compliance. The systems that are exhausting us in the first place. I recently talked to Rebecca Bellingham and Veronica Scott about this. They're educators, writers, artists, and the co-founders of Artful Belonging Studio. They're also the authors of the new book, "The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging." Listen as we discuss: What does an artful lesson look like when you have content standards to cover and no time? How do you do cultural heritage months in ways that invite all students in instead of making them feel obligated? And where should teachers start if they want to try this work? Rebecca and Veronica brought so much warmth and wisdom to this conversation. Listen in. Or read the transcription here.