Podcast appearances and mentions of hope writers

Podcast Notes: Your Book is Your Mission Statement Host: Brian DixonPodcast Title: Hope Books Podcast Key Takeaways: Your Book is Your Mission Statement: Your book reflects your journey, your challenges, and your message to the world. It serves as a banner of freedom and hope, showing others that transformation is possible. The Power of Your Story: Your life experiences, especially moments of being stuck, are your reader's starting point. Writing about your past challenges provides hope and a path forward for those currently struggling. Structure Your Book: Part 1: The Prison – Describe the low point in your life. Part 2: The Path – Share the actionable steps you took to overcome. Part 3: The Promise – Highlight the transformation and the life you now live. Connection with Your Reader: Identify your reader's pain point and meet them where they are. Use your story to walk alongside them, offering hope and practical steps. Your Story as a Gift: Reframe past challenges as blessings. Sharing your story not only helps others but also redeems your experiences. Action Steps: Write It Down: Identify a story where you felt stuck and write it in detail. Post It: Share your story on social media to start connecting with your audience. Dream Big: Envision the book you want to write and take steps to make it a reality. Encouragement: Your story matters. There are people waiting for your words of hope. Hope Writers is here to guide and support you in crafting your message. Quote to Remember:“Your book is your banner of freedom. It's your mission statement to say, ‘You can do this.'” For more resources and support, visit Hope Books.

Welcome to episode 420! Today, it's just me, and I'm tackling one of the most frequently asked questions I've received since the release of my first book, If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry. And that is… “How do I get a book published?” A recent study showed that more than 80% of Americans dream of writing and publishing a book. So, in today's conversation, I'm going to walk you through the basics of book publishing and share the tips and tricks I learned along the way. If you've ever imagined holding your own book in your hands or are just curious about the publishing world, stick around. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer idea of where to start and how the process works! 2:37 – Understanding Your Options  ·      The different approaches to publishing ·      Getting an agent ·      Creating a book proposal  6:50 – Finding Your Team ·      Researching agents who specialize in your genre ·      Putting together your query letter ·      Showing agents your personality 12:03 – The Book Proposal Process ·      What is a book proposal? ·      Showing your knowledge and commitment ·      Sample chapters  15:49 – Self-Publishing and Hybrid Publishing ·      Hiring your team ·      Don't forget about marketing! ·      Considerations for hybrid publishing 19:25 – Okay… So Where Do I Start?!  ·      Polishing your manuscript ·      Having a book proposal ·      Defining your goals + researching options ·      Establishing relationships + thinking about marketing ·      Don't give up!  FEATURED QUOTES  “If you don't hear back or you get a rejection, you can't let it discourage you. Tons of successful, famous authors have received multiple rejections before finding the right fit. So, you are not alone. It is part of the process.”  “The writing community in general is incredibly supportive and has been vital in my own process.”  “Publishing a book, writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint…Rejections are going to happen. Timelines are going to change. Things are not going to go the way that you want them to go, but you have to keep going. You have to have that end goal in mind and focus on the end result that you're really, really looking for, because that part is incredibly rewarding.” Punchline Agency https://punchlineagency.com/ Hope Writers https://www.hopewriters.com/     Connect with me:   http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly     GET YOUR COPY of ‘IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'LL CRY” TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv     About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?   Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world. 

Brian Dixon shares his story of a business breakup and the challenges that came with it. When his team's online business grew rapidly during Covid, the cracks in the foundation became apparent. Hoping to sell the company, the deal fell through, leading to disappointment and uncertainty for everyone. He shares how he decided to make an offer and take over the company himself, and the challenges that came up after that, including the departure of many of his team and staff.Despite these setbacks, Brian remained determined to keep the business afloat and provide for his family. He relied on his faith and made tough decisions, such as inviting a controversial speaker to a conference, which led to both support and criticism. Through it all, Brian learned the importance of clarifying his target audience and staying true to his vision. He discusses the challenges he faced in his business and how he had to shift his focus to serving his true audience. He talks about the significant drop in members and the financial struggles he experienced while trying to move forward. However, he learned how to use this as an opportunity to rebuild and diversify his income streams. Brian emphasizes the importance of starting with your people and being clear about what you stand for and against. He shares how his hard story has become a hope story and encourages others to embrace their own journey.Brian Dixon is a best-selling author, podcaster, conference speaker and business coach. He is passionate about helping people grow their impact and their income online through Hope Writers.Learn more about HopeGuide and Ryan Pink Join us on YouTube to watch full episodes Help us amplify the message!Please subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Please Rate and Review the podcast on Apple and Spotify!

How do strong women encourage each other and NOT compete? How do we fight the temptation to compare ourselves to the women around us? What does it look like to be in friendship and really feel free to cheer each other on? In today's episode, Jess and special guest Alex Hoover sit down to discuss these questions AND MORE. They laugh, cry a little, and expose the biggest areas in which they are tempted to compare themselves to other women. This episode is for you! This isn't my podcast; it's ours.  Let's go. Don't miss:  Tired of Being Tired⁠ is now out! Click the link to get your copy, + make sure to share it with your family and friends. ⁠⁠⁠Want to spend this summer thriving and not just surviving? Jess has got you covered! Jess has created a digital guide to help you and your family craft a summer you can all enjoy. Make a plan for the months ahead with 45 guided pages to help you along. Get the ⁠Summer Survival Guide⁠ & use code SUMMER2024 for $5 off! This summer, we're equipping you to seize your season and find abundance right where you are. Each month, we'll release a new, limited-run product. Hats, gratitude journals, posters, and more are COMING SOON! Be the first to know when each new item drops.⁠ ⁠Join the waitlist!⁠ Have you ever thought about writing a book? Did you know that one of the best ways to share your story is to write it down? Whether you've considered writing your memoir, a Bible study devotional, a fiction novel, or even a how-to guide, Jess has something exciting to share. Jess invites you to the 'Start Your Book This Summer Challenge' from our friends at Hope Writers. To sign up for this free five-day challenge to start your book this summer, visit ⁠hopewriters.com/summer⁠. Struggling to read your bible? Listen to God's word effortlessly using Dwell. The Jess Connolly Podcast is partnering with Dwell, and you can get 25% off your year subscription at ⁠www.dwellapp.io/jess.

How are your 2024 goals going? In this episode, Jess shares how her 2024 goals are shaping up (spoiler alert: not amazing!) and how she's processing that with grace and truth.  This episode also includes a fun, quick ‘Ask Me Anything' segment - you guys submitted some amazing questions!  If you're crushing your goals, you'll love this episode! If it's time to regroup for you as well, you'll find deep relief and peace when you tune in. This episode is for you! Don't miss:  Tired of Being Tired is now out! Click the link to get your copy, + make sure to share it with your family and friends. ⁠ Want to spend this summer thriving and not just surviving? Jess has got you covered! Jess has created a digital guide to help you and your family craft a summer you can all enjoy. Make a plan for the months ahead with 45 guided pages to help you along. Get the Summer Survival Guide & use code SUMMER2024 for $5 off! This summer, we're equipping you to seize your season and find abundance right where you are. Each month, we'll release a new, limited-run product. Hats, gratitude journals, posters, and more are COMING SOON! Be the first to know when each new item drops. ⁠Join the waitlist! Have you ever thought about writing a book? Did you know that one of the best ways to share your story is to write it down? Whether you've considered writing your memoir, a Bible study devotional, a fiction novel, or even a how-to guide, Jess has something exciting to share. Jess invites you to the 'Start Your Book This Summer Challenge' from our friends at Hope Writers. To sign up for this free five-day challenge to start your book this summer, visit hopewriters.com/summer. Save on Nuly! Shop here with Jess's discount code.

How do we dream when we feel broken? How do we cast vision when we're in the thick of grief? This week, Jess sits down with the best dreamer she knows (her husband, Nick Connolly) to help her answer this question. If you're in the best season of your life - you'll be inspired and encouraged to dream bigger! If you're in the hardest season of your life - this might be the life raft you desperately need. Get ready to be empowered to pursue your boldest goals as Nick dives deep into what it truly means to dream again. This is not just my podcast; it's our podcast, and we pray this episode is a blessing to you! Let's go Don't miss:  Tired of Being Tired is now out! Click the link to get your copy, + make sure to share it with your family and friends. ⁠ If you're ready to reignite your dreams, grab your Dream Again Guide, crafted by Nick Connolly. This summer, we're equipping you to seize your season and find abundance right where you are. Each month, we'll release a new, limited-run product. Hats, gratitude journals, posters, and more are COMING SOON! Be the first to know when each new item drops. ⁠Join the waitlist! Have you ever thought about writing a book? Did you know that one of the best ways to share your story is to write it down? Whether you've considered writing your memoir, a Bible study devotional, a fiction novel, or even a how-to guide, Jess has something exciting to share. Jess invites you to the 'Start Your Book This Summer Challenge' from our friends at Hope Writers. To sign up for this free five-day challenge to start your book this summer, visit hopewriters.com/summer.

Summer is here, and we know that during this season, rhythms change; nothing is normal or the same, and once we return to normal in the fall - we can be a little thrown off course!   Let's not make this summer one that makes you feel behind, stuck, or like you're not making something for your life. No matter your season, Jess is on your team today. If you spend the next few months in a cubicle, carpooling kids, or even if NOTHING is changing in your life, this episode is for you. Let's go Don't miss:  Tired of Being Tired is now out! Click the link to get your copy, + make sure to share it with your family and friends. ⁠ Want to spend this summer thriving and not just surviving? Jess has got you covered! Jess has created a digital guide to help you and your family craft a summer you can all enjoy. Make a plan for the months ahead with 45 guided pages to help you along. Get the Summer Survival Guide & use code SUMMER2024 for $5 off! This summer, we're equipping you to seize your season and find abundance right where you are. Each month, we'll release a new, limited-run product. Hats, gratitude journals, posters, and more are COMING SOON! Be the first to know when each new item drops. ⁠Join the waitlist! Have you ever thought about writing a book? Did you know that one of the best ways to share your story is to write it down? Whether you've considered writing your memoir, a Bible study devotional, a fiction novel, or even a how-to guide, Jess has something exciting to share. Jess invites you to the 'Start Your Book This Summer Challenge' from our friends at Hope Writers. To sign up for this free five-day challenge to start your book this summer, visit hopewriters.com/summer.

Molly Wilcox is an author and coach. She has an English degree and has been featured on Bible Gateway, Darling Magazine, Grit & Virtue, and Way Media. Her first book “How Much More?” released in August. As a certified Hope*Writers coach she empowers faithful creatives to chase after their God-given dreams. When she isn't writing, reading or coaching, she's probably showing a stranger pictures of her mini goldendoodle pup.   She lives with her husband in Franklin, TN. To connect with Molly find her blog at MrsMollyWilcox.com or find her on social media @MrsMollyWilcox --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/airriaunte-mercer/message

Have you ever experienced burnout in your relationship with God?  Glad you found The Parable Podcast and joining me today is author, church advocate, and entrepreneur Ericka Andersen discusses faith burnout and how God is in the details of our lives.  She shares how she was shocked to see the statistics of what burnout looks like in the local church, especially for women."I don't want to see this to happen because, I see what happens when people leave their faith. And it is not going to be good for our society, our community, and its not going to be good for the world" - Ericka Andersen16 million women left the church in the last decade and Ericka was intrigued and concerned by that number and it has increased exponentially.  There is something going on there and she dives into why this number affected her and chose to write a book on it to encourage others.Our Conversation Points:Faith Burnout is RealCreating space to share authentically in all church spacesExtending faith legacy to our kidsHow are we able to see the details of God in our life?Do you have support in the church?Spiritually absent or uninvested in the churchReflection Questions:Who is someone in your life that you can pray for that may be in a season of wondering if they should return to church or struggling with their faith?Maybe that person is you and you're going to church and feeling complacent, stuck, or unsure.  What can you do or pray to him about so you could draw back to the desire of Him?Connect with ErickaInstagram | WebsiteReason to Return: Why Women need the church and the church needs womenJude 1:22 How to support The Parable Podcast: #1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher). #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together. #3 Are you in need of a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? Contact Danielle to learn more.

Molly Wilcox is an author and coach. She has an English degree and has been featured on Bible Gateway, Darling Magazine, Grit & Virtue, and Way Media. Her first book, “How Much More?” was released in August. As a certified Hope*Writers coach, she empowers faithful creatives to chase after their God-given dreams. When she isn't writing, reading or coaching, she's probably showing a stranger pictures of her mini goldendoodle pup. She lives with her husband in Franklin, TN.     Connect with our guest   www.MrsMollyWilcox.com Instagram https://instagram.com/mrsmollywilcox?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=   Don't forget to join our Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/24CaratConversationsPodcastGroup Rhonda Velez  www.rhondavelez.com https://instagram.com/realityoflife02?igshid=1dpidv6xl9exi  

Have you ever wished you could have a conversation about grief and get really practical? How did you overcome this? How did you deal with hard emotions? How did you walk through your grief? This week on the podcast, I have this honest conversation with Clarissa Moll about her new book, *Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving after Loss. We talk about the myths of grief and just some practical tools that really helped Clarissa after her husband passed away in a tragic accident. One of my favorite parts is when we talk about emotions and I love this classroom setting illustration that Clarissa gave me. It really resonated with me and I hope it does with you too. You do not want to miss her wisdom. Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Clarissa's book: *Beyond the Darkness. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/ukymgg/beyond-the-darkness-book-giveaway Book Recommendations: *Lament for a Son by Nicolas Wolterstorff *Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies Clarissa Moll (MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa's writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. Her husband's first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa's new afterword. Clarissa's debut book, *Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living With Grief and Thriving after Loss releases with Tyndale in 2022. Clarissa co-hosts Christianity Today's “Surprised by Grief” podcast and hosts the weekly Hope*Writers podcast. She lives a joyful life with her four children and rescue pups and proudly calls both New England and the Pacific Northwest home. *Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

What Lies Beyond the Darkness of Life's Hardest Moments?Clarissa Moll's new book is a companion, a gentle guide, for those of us who are hurting from great loss. She's a writer, a podcaster, a mother of four, and a widow since 2019 when she lost her husband Rob in the prime of his life. Today's Friday Conversation is a great talk about her journey with grief, and how she decided to help the rest of us learn to move forward so we can discover the hope that lies beyond the darkness. Clarissa Moll's Official BioClarissa Moll (MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa's writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. Her husband's first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa's new afterword. Clarissa's debut book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Walking with Grief and Thriving After Loss releases with Tyndale in 2022.Clarissa co-hosts Christianity Today's “Surprised by Grief” podcast and hosts the weekly Hope*Writers podcast. She lives a joyful life with her four children and rescue pups and proudly calls both New England and the Pacific Northwest home.Music by Tommy and Eileen Walker(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )Some music on the show comes from Tunetank.com  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Courtnaye Richard is the founder of Inside Out Media Group, LLC - a faith-based PR, Marketing & Mentorship Agency. In her 15 years of experience, she has worked with platforms such as PBS, CBN, TCT, Yahoo, local television and print publications. Courtnaye is also the founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye, a ministry that helps women grow in Christ, while equipping them for their calling. She is an author, contributing writer for ibelieve.com and YouVersion. Her speaking appearances include She Speaks, Hope*Writers, FlourishWriters, and Entrusted Women's Conference. Her blog, Inside Out with Courtnaye reaches thousands of women across the globe!

In this episode, Rachel shares her story and struggles with taking leaps. She also shares how we can shift our perspective when it comes to the leaping lifestyle and how that shift sets up our children to become leapers.In this episode, we talk about:Two things that hinder us from taking leaps of faithNormalizing leapings in every season of lifeWorking through the resistance we feel in taking leapsInviting God into the unknownsNormalizing leaps for our childrenAssessing our confidence in our decision-making abilityResources and Links:Email | contact@rachelgscott.comDevotional Not Available yet but you can find the series on the blog Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Connect with Rachel at:https://rachelgscott.com/http://the5leaps.com/https://www.instagram.com/iamrachelgscott/https://www.facebook.com/iamrachelgscottText 'Podcast' to 216-279-7174 or  https://my.community.com/rachelscott

Are you living like an orphan or as the daughter of the King? These words are from my podcast episode this week and they really stuck with me. In fact, I was doing my quiet time and I am studying the names of God and one of the lessons was on the story of Moses and the burning bush. In the notes, it said that Moses was asking two questions, “Who Am I?” and “Who Are You?” to God. I think we ask ourselves these same questions and that is what I want you to think about today: Who are you and Who is God, especially in the hard times of life? I love what Elise Day Parker shares on the podcast this week. She is my special mom story, and I am so excited to have her talk about her two roles: she is a stepmom, but also she has lost two babies in the middle of a pregnancy. In this episode, she has a quote about loss and what she learned about God that is so profound and deep. I cannot wait for you to hear the truth she shares as well as her honesty and vulnerability. Book Recommendations: *The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner *What Christians Should Know About the Importance of Forgiveness? By John Arnott *Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend *Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst *I Will Start Again Monday by Lysa TerKeurst *The Hard Good by Lisa Whittle *Try Softer by Aundi Kolber *Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World by Elise Daly Parker, Michelle Wilbert, Jodi Kinasewitz, and Jess Carey I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out: Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book or you can click here to take a quiz to see where you are on the six stage writing path. Elise Daly Parker is a certified life coach, writer, and speaker. She's the creator of the MomVision  podcast - helping moms savor not just survive seasons of motherhood with clarity, confidence, and calm. Elise offers coaching through hands-on practices, including powerful tools like Vision Boards. She helps moms know, love, and accept themselves where they are, and empowers them to take small steps that add up to a happier, healthier, more balanced/less stressed life. When Elise got married and had kids, she found it more challenging than she imagined. Now she shares some of her lessons with transparency to give moms help and hope on their motherhood journey. Download Elise's 5 Scriptures to Help You Savor Not Just Survive Motherhood. Elise has been married to Chris for 37 years, has four daughters and two sons-in-love, as well as two grandchildren. She lives in New Jersey, where she can see NYC on the horizon. Elise is also the co-author of a new devotional journal, Unshakable Peace in an Unsteady World. Her website is EliseDalyParker.com. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook @elisedalyparker. *Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

How do you grow deeper in your faith? What does that practically look like? What do you daily or weekly to help you grow your roots deep? Last week on the podcast, we talked about the importance of growing deeper roots as we discussed the book, *Rooted. If you missed Episode 114 with Banning, I highly recommend going back and listening to it. Now, this week, I had an idea while taking a shower, which I believe was from God. I thought, What does that look like practically? Maybe you need to do an episode that has nuts and bolts on what does it look like for Jodi to grow her roots deeper? Maybe you can invite friends to share too. And just like that, an idea for a real practical episode was birthed. So friend, that is what I decided to do. I am pushing back the episode that I planned to release today and instead recorded this solo episode about what I personally do daily and weekly to grow my roots deeper. I have to say that it was special to trace back and see how God has deepened my walk with Him. I have lots of great resources to share with you too, so please check out the show notes with all the links. My hope and prayer is that you will continue to grow deeper in your faith and stronger in your relationships in 2022! Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of the Immerse Book: *Messiah. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/jyutxx/immerse-messiah-book-giveaway Check out: Proverbs 31 Ministries: I recommend their devotionals and their First 5 App Immerse Books: *Kingdoms, *Poets, *Chronicles, *Beginnings, *Prophets, *Messiah *Jesus Calling by Sarah Young Depth Podcast Episode 1: Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst Depth Podcast Episode 106: Praying the Scriptures Over Your Life -- Jodi Berndt Depth Podcast Episode 76: The Chara Project Depth Podcast Episode 95: She Hears Bible Study I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out: Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book or you can click here to take a quiz to see where you are on the six stage writing path. *Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

About Sharon Hughson:Sharon loves stories, having escaped into them for many years, and she understands the struggles writers face to finish a book, get it ready for a publisher's eyes and then getting it into readers' hands. The journey can be soul-sucking…when you try doing it alone. As a certified Hope Writers coach, Sharon ascribes to ICF standards. With experience as a published author and freelance editor, Sharon can't wait to be your Story Sensei, Plot Wizard and Brainstorming Buddy.Links mentioned in the episode:Reflections Series - Sharon  Houghtonhope*writers (hopewriters.com)Sweet Promise Press – Books you can believe inOne Stop For WritersKristen LambEveryone needs a coach blog postWelcome | NaNoWriMoKindle VellaConnect with Sharon:Sharon Hughson, Author – A Hero on Every PageSharon Hughson, Author (facebook.com)https://twitter.com/SharonLHughsonSharon Hughson | GoodreadsWrite Your Book Nook | FacebookBook Editing Blueprint A Step-By-Step Plan To Making Your Novels Publishable Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/emmadhesi)

Thanks for joining me for episode 85! Christine Wood is an author and pastor in Australia. We met through Hope Writers which is an online writing community. We talk about pastoring, writing, and traveling. Check out her book below and connect with her on Instagram.  Instagram living_with_margins  All is Calm (book) Hope Writers  www.thisisherstory.life www.joanncbastien.com       

Did you hear last week's episode? It is so exciting! I celebrated 100 episodes on the Depth Podcast last week! In honor of that, I share some of my favorite highlights—some of the behind the scenes and some of the God moments over the last couple years. I realized really quickly that I needed another episode that I could not fit it all in one, so this week, I am sharing Part 2 of celebrating 100 episodes! If you missed Part 1, I highly recommend checking it out. But before I get to the episode, I wanted to tell you about hope writers! I actually counted up the episodes that I interviewed a Hope Writer! How many of the 100 episodes do you think were Hope Writers? I was pleasantly surprised with how many and would love for you to listen to the podcast to hear the exact number. I have met some of the most amazing people through Hope Writers. They have inspiring stories. They are writers and authors, and it is such a great community. I am so excited to announce they are opening their doors for membership from Monday September 20th- Friday September 24th.  If you are a writer or you have a God Story in your heart and you are interested, I definitely encourage you to check out Hope Writers. Here is a direct link if you are interested in joining. Favorite Episodes Episode 37: John Brownlee -- Father's Day Episode 60: Pat Brownlee -- Family Traditions Episode 34: Jamie Brownlee Turgeon -- Special Mom Story Episode 70: Brownlee Sisters -- Love Languages Episode 2: Milan and Kay Yerkovich -- *How We Love Our Kids *Note: If you are interested in purchasing these books, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Writing can be a lonely business. Sitting alone for several hours, just you and your words. This is when a writing community or collaboration can be of real benefit.In this episode, I chat with Niki Hardy from Hope Writers and the author of Breathe Again. How to Live Well When Life Falls Apart.Niki talks to me about how she found the encouragement that she needed from Hope Writers. She believes that without their support, her book would never have been published. In this episode we discuss:What members get from Hope Writers when they joinWhy Niki wrote her bookNiki's writing process. How Hope Writers differs from other communitiesUsing newsletters to promote your writingResources:Hope WritersBreathe AgainNiki HardySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

(00:00-9:14): Today, Brian welcomed guest co-host, Clarissa Moll! Clarissa is an Author, Co-Host of Christianity Today's “Surprised by Grief” podcast, and Host of the weekly Hope*Writers podcast. Learn more about Clarissa and her writing at clarissamoll.com  (9:14-25:29): Brett McCracken, Senior Editor & Director of Communications at The Gospel Coalition and Author of “The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World,” joined Brian and Clarissa to chat about his Gospel Coalition article, "The Depressing Dead End of ‘Your Truth,'" and his discussion on TGC Podcast "Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstruction and the Church." Learn more about Brett at his website, brettmccracken.com and connect with him on Twitter at @brettmccracken (25:29-33:56): How can we support loved ones as they face loss and tragedy? Brian and Clarissa chatted about this and discussed Clarissa's Gospel Coalition article, “4 Ways to Love Someone Blindsided By Loss.” (33:56-43:32): Brian and Clarissa talked about the importance of biblical literacy. They also commented on a Twitter video from Karen Swallow Prior.   (43:32-53:36): Robyn Chambers, Executive Director of Advocacy for Children at Focus on the Family, joined Brian and Clarissa to chat about the See Life 2021 Digital Episodes, Option Ultrasound, and the See Life 2021 live event on Saturday, August 28th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX at 7 p.m. CT. Learn more about See Life 2021 at focusonthefamily.com/see-life     (53:36-1:01:39): Brian and Clarissa talked about life during the pandemic and discussed Clarissa's Gospel Coalition article, “Life Is Reopening. Why Am I Still So Sad?”  (1:01:39-1:09:53): Brian and Clarissa talked about being representatives of Jesus Christ at our jobs. They also commented on a video of Dr. Tony Evans from the 2021 Send Conference.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(00:00-9:14): Brian and Aubrey shared their thoughts on Peter Newman's Gospel Coalition article, “Why Do We Go to Church? Because We're Forgetful.  (9:14-26:27): Clarissa Moll, Author, Co-Host of Christianity Today's “Surprised by Grief” podcast, and Host of the weekly Hope*Writers podcast joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about finding God's hope in the midst of grief, her Gospel Coalition article “Life Is Reopening. Why Am I Still So Sad?” and the new edition of her husband, Rob Moll's book, “The Art of Dying: Living Fully into the Life to Come.” Learn more about Clarissa at clarissamoll.com and connect with her on instagram at mollclarissa *This interview originally aired on 6/29/21* (26:27-35:25): What's the difference between having knowledge about God and knowing God through a personal relationship? Brian and Aubrey chatted about this topic and commented on a clip of Preston Sprinkle's recent interview with Francis Chan.   (35:25-44:06): Brian and Aubrey chatted about Tim Keller's Relevant Magazine article, “You Never Marry the Right Person.”  (44:06-1:03:15): Dr. Caroline Leaf, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Bestselling Author, and Host of the podcast, “Cleaning Up The Mental Mess,” joined Brian and Aubrey to chat about her new book, “Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking” and the Neurocycle app. Learn more about Dr. Leaf at drleaf.com and connect with her on Twitter at @DrCarolineLeaf *This interview originally aired on 5/21/21* (1:03:15-1:12:07): Brian and Aubrey discussed Jared Brock's Relevant Magazine article, “10 Ways to Simplify Your Life.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(00:00-8:49): Brian and Aubrey talked about the Florida Condo Collapse and reacted to the news about “Scottie Pippen saying Phil Jackson is a 'racist' who tried to 'expose' Kobe Bryant.”   (8:49-27:39):  Kate Shellnutt, Senior News Editor for Christianity Today joined Brian and Aubrey to chat about the new Christianity Today podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, the SBC Annual Meeting, and her article, “Why Church Can't Be the Same After the Pandemic” Learn more about Kate at kateshellnutt.com and connect with her on Twitter at @kateshellnutt (27:39-37:33): Brian and Aubrey shared their thoughts on David French's blog post at The French Press, “When the Aliens Come, Will Their Arrival Destroy Our Faith?” (37:33-47:42): Should pastors give medical advice? Brian and Aubrey discussed this and commented on the news about “Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church paying restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit about a COVID-19 cure claim.” (47:42-1:04:56): Clarissa Moll, Author, Co-Host of Christianity Today's “Surprised by Grief” podcast, and Host of the weekly Hope*Writers podcast joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about finding God's hope in the midst of grief, her Gospel Coalition article “Life Is Reopening. Why Am I Still So Sad?” and the new edition of her husband, Rob Moll's book, “The Art of Dying: Living Fully into the Life to Come.” Learn more about Clarissa at clarissamoll.com and connect with her on instagram at mollclarissa (1:04:56-1:14:14): Aubrey shared a fun story about sitting next to Michael Jordan at a play on her 21st birthday! And...did you know that today is the 50th Anniverary of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Brian and Aubrey chatted about this and other memorable moments from this day in history.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan Raynor sits down with Carla H. Hayden, COO of hope*writers, to talk about the one question that will help force clarity at work, even if you're not the boss, 3 excellent tips for showing love to remote teams, and how a personal quarterly retreat became an integral part of Carla's work rhythms.Links Mentioned:Carla Hayden on LinkedInCoffee with Carla on InstagramHope WritersJordan Raynor WebsiteJordan Raynor BookshelfThe Call To Mastery on Apple PodcastsJordan Raynor Email

If you’ve been doing the sacred work of watching, listening, and paying good attention, we're grateful for your hard work. You don't have to be in the spotlight to make a difference, I know that full well. But what if now is the time to tell us what you see, hear, and notice? What if now is the time to use your voice and let us hear how it sounds? Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Get $100 off your first month with Talkspace (Code: NextRightThing) A Million Little Ways  The doors to Hope*Writers are open this week. Learn more here. Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Visit emilypfreeman.com/podcast for a transcript of this episode.  

Have you ever had to wrestle with God? Maybe you are walking through a difficult circumstance and you are asking God the tough questions: Why God? Why is this happening to me? I am so excited for you to hear Bethany Kimsey’s special mom story. She had to wrestle with God in her late teens when she got a doctor’s diagnosis that she was not going to be able to have kids. I love what Bethany shares on the podcast about what God taught her in the middle of that wrestling. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of this episode. Now, I don’t want to give anything away but I just love that nothing is impossible with God, even if the doctors tell you otherwise. I promise you do not want to miss this miraculous story!  Bethany also offers amazing wisdom for moms. One of my favorite quotes she recently shared on Instagram is “We cannot parent perfectly. But we can parent surrendered to the One who does parent perfectly.” As a recovering perfectionist, this truth was so freeing. I know you are going to love the wisdom that Bethany shares!  Bethany Kimsey is a Hope Writer just like me!  I am excited to share that Hope Writers is opening their doors for membership this week.  If God has placed a message on your heart and you have a desire to write, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers community.  They have incredible teachings and wonderful support!  Click on this Hope Writers Link if you are interested. As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of Grace-Filled Warriors stand together and walk triumphantly behind the One who sets them free from performance, doubt, and fear.  Bethany has learned the freedom of applying gospel truths to the daily details with children. Over on her podcast, "When God Breaks Through," we learn together how to take spiritual truths into the micro and macro moments of motherhood. How do we make this fuzzy intersection of real life mothering and the gospel clearly defined for vision and confidence? Connection happens when we meet together in the real spaces-- the kitchen tables of life-- sharing stories of hope, truth, and grace.  She would love to connect to encourage you! She has a free download "How do we have gospel conversations with our children at different ages and stages?" you can grab at this link: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/607a40fa6b2fd805959a2464 You can also find her writings and teachings over at her website bethanykimsey.com or on her podcast “When God Breaks Through.” You can also connect on Instagram or Facebook as well. Podcast Link: https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethanykimsey/

In this month's Resonance 104.4fm show, Juliet talks to academics Owen Holland (University College London) and Bertrand Taithe (University of Manchester) about how writers responded to the Commune of Paris of 1871, both during its two-month existence from March to May 1871, and over the following decades. They talk about the print culture and intellectual circles that existed in Paris and France at the time; how writers such as Gustave Flaubert, Victor Hugo, Arthur Rimbaud, George Sand and Émile Zola reacted to the Commune at the time, and throughout the rest of the 19th century; how British authors responded in the 1880s, and how this shaped the mythology of the Commune; and how this interest in the Commune's memory became less the concern of literary writers and more of political theorists in the early 20th century. For a full list of references in this month's show, please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/suite212 for as little as £1 per month.

Have you ever used the words: And Yet?  Maybe you’ve said, “God, things are really hard, And Yet, I feel closer to you than ever before.” Katy Epling used these words “And Yet” on the podcast this week as she shared her special mom story, and it really touched my heart. I love that Katy honestly shares the ups and downs of parenting a child with special needs. According to Katy, the joys far outweigh the struggles. Also, Katy gives us practical ways we can come alongside and help another family as well as some hurtful words to avoid. You do not want to miss all the wisdom she shares with us! Lastly, Katy and I met through Hope Writers and her Life on Purpose Summit. She even has a book called Life on Purpose. She loves to share with others that God created them on purpose for a purpose!”  I cannot wait for you to hear what birthed this truth that God created each one of us exactly as we are. To listen, click the link in the bio. In fact, I am so excited for someone to win a signed copy of Katy’s book: *Life on Purpose. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/life-on-purpose-book-giveaway/ Katy Epling is a writer and speaker in northeast Ohio. The author of *Life on Purpose: 30 Days of Listening to the One Who Calls You, Katy loves to encourage women to root their identity in Christ. Her mission is to live her everyday life on purpose, for a purpose—and to help everyone she encounters to do the same. Her writing has been featured on sites such as The Huffington Post, Today Parents, The Mighty, and Relevant Magazine. Katy also has a short ebook devo written for parents of kiddos with special needs. It's called You are Not Messing This Up, and it's available here. Katy and her husband Jon have three beautiful children, who provide her with never-ending material, both dramatic and comedic. When she isn’t writing or speaking, she can be found packing lunches, folding laundry, and making dinner. (And on rare occasions, sipping a chai latte with a friend.) You can find her online at katyepling.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram. I am so excited to announce that Hope Writers is opening their doors again. If you have a message to share, or a book on your heart, I highly recommend joining the Hope Writers Community. Here are some resources to check out: Click here to check out 10 questions to ask yourself before you write a book. Click here to discover where you are on the 6 stage writing path. If you are interested and have any questions about Hope Writers, please let me know. I am happy to answer them. *Amazon Affiliate Link

Brian Dixon spent the first part of his professional life as a seventh-grade language arts teacher in Columbia, South Carolina. As he struggled to work with classrooms full of kids who couldn’t read, he learned lots of tips on how to be a teacher - and knew he needed to write a book. He did all the steps, but in the wrong order, and became a business coach while amassing over a dozen rejection letters. Now, at Hope Writers, he encourages his members to get their message out by following the steps of the publishing process. He helps them engage their audiences and share meaningful words without sacrificing a meaningful life.  Today, Brian joins the podcast to share what he learned from his own experiences with rejection, how he helps people conquer their fears and become published authors, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who have common goals. Get Access to the Full Show Notes! To get access to the full story and to all the resources mentioned during today's episode, visit TribeHub.com/117  

Talking Real, a live talk show where Megha Upadhyaya and her guests bring you weekly insights dedicated to creativity & creatives. This episode spotlights writing and publishing with Melody Pendlebury. She is an elementary school teacher by day, and an author any time she has left. She has published five books and has founded her own publishing liaison company, The Publishing Room. She also works for a writing organization called Hope*Writers. She is currently working on a middle grade novel. Reach out to her at https://www.melodypendlebury.com/

It's the 73rd episode of Hear and Now Podcast! Thank you for joining me this week as I have Mary Kate Brown on to discuss her writing journey and Hope*Writers.TranscriptWhere to Find Mary Kate: Instagram // Book a Time with Mary Kate // Her Book Contributions Blog/Website: marykateb.comJoin Hope*WritersResources:luminance: sophialebano for 15% off // code NONTOXIC for free sampleAlways Linked: Blog // Shop // Creative Studio // Hear and Now Podcast SurveyGet in touch with me: hello@sophialebano.comSocials: Instagram @sophialebano // Facebook @hearandnowpod // Pinterest @sophialebano Click the link to check out Buzzsprout and get a $20 Amazon gift card for the purchase of any paid plan! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=449567

I sat down with Brandy Wallner of Hope*Writers to talk about three things writers and creatives need to succeed.1. A guide2. Good, fresh information3. CommunityBrandy is a community writer for Hope*Writers, tasked with building community and keeping members on track. For more about Hope*Writers https://lifeandmission.com/hopeDo you dream of publishing your writing but you’re not sure what to do next (or where to start)? Check out this free quiz to help you identify where you are on the writing path.I am a Hope*Writer affiliate, which means if you become a member of the Hope*Writer community, I get paid. That helps keep this podcast going. Thank you!Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/kayhelm)

I am so excited to have Andrea Bourgeois on the podcast this week as we talk about her new Bible study, *Just Breathe: a modern day Exodus Journey to Revive Your Soul.  What I love is that she parallels our walk with Jesus with the Israelites journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. We talk about what is it like to be in the wilderness season as Andrea shares her pain to purpose story. We also discuss what it is like to cross over into the promised land, and I love the practical ideas we share for gathering those remembrance stones. Also, I find it fascinating that God provided for the Israelites daily with the manna as well as the cloud by day and pillar by night. Maybe like me, you set a goal to spend time with God daily this year. Did you ever wonder why daily is so important?  In the Bible, it says, our daily bread, not weekly or monthly. Excited to dive deeper into the importance of daily meeting with God on this episode too. I promise you will not want to miss the truths Andrea shares. Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Andrea’s book: *Just Breathe.  All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodirosser.com or you can click this direct link: https://jodirosser.com/giveaways/just-breathe-book-giveaway/ Lastly, if you have a goal for writing, I am excited to announce that Hope writers is opening their doors again this January. If you ever had a dream of writing a book or just writing in general, then you will not want to miss this opportunity to join this writing community! I will be posting about it all week on Instagram, but I am super excited about this book giveaway. Link to Hope Writers: 10 questions My friends at Hope Writers created this free guide just for you. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Write a Book: Link to Hope Writers Quiz: Do you dream of publishing your writing but you’re not sure what to do next (or where to start)? Check out this free quiz to help you identify where you are on the writing path. Andrea P. Bourgeois, Author / Speaker / Bible Teacher / Co-Founder of Pain into Purpose Summit Andrea is passionate about giving people tools to discover God’s faithfulness by studying God’s word, turning pain into purpose, and inspiring others to share their story with the world. She is a high school teacher by day and a writer by night. Her and her husband Brian reside in Southwest Louisiana with their four-year-old son.  You can connect with Andrea on her website: https://andreapbourgeois.com/ as well as on Instagram @andreapbourgeois/

Brian is a Co-Founder and Director of Growth at hope*writers. He is an author, business coach, and marketing strategist with a doctoral degree in education technology from the University of San Diego. Brian helps authors, speakers, and aspiring messengers create a sustainable business by growing their platform and creating compelling online courses. His book, Start With Your People, submits that the secret to work you love and a life that matters is found in relationships. Found out more and join the Hope*writers community!  https://mikebrennan--hopewriters.thrivecart.com/join-monthly-jan2021/  

Writing is a passion for Pamela Stephens and has a blog to share thoughts and experiences. This journey helps her learn more about herself, helps attain goals and dreams. When people ask what she does, her answer is "I'm in the business of making friends." Pamela joined the Hope Writers community several years ago to help with motivation and to demystify writing. She learned there is the "art of writing" and the "business of publishing." Writing can be overwhelming without the right support; you can easily become discouraged too. Being part of a community of other writers has provided not only motivation, but inspiration as well. And we both agree that writing can be therapeutic. Learn more about Pamela at HelloPamelaJo and more about the Hope Writers community.

For this last episode of 2020 we wanted to talk to you about how we end the year with a look back and kick off the new year planning for the year to come. Key Topics: Year End ReviewPlanning Next YearOne Word List of resources mentioned in episode, suggested reading & social media handles:The Lazy Genius Holiday Dockethttps://www.thelazygeniuscollective.comChristianity Today Article, The Real 12 Days of Christmashttps://www.christianitytoday.comAndrea Holmes Art, https://www.aholmesartstudio.com/Hope*Writers, https://www.hopewriters.comAtomic Habits by James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsEmail Usinfo@coffeetimeconversations.comFollow Coffee Time Conversations, or Robert or Rebecca on Social Media: InstagramCoffee Time Conversations - https://www.instagram.com/coffeetime.conversationsRebecca - https://www.instagram.com/prince_beckRobert - https://www.instagram.com/robertprinceFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/coffeetimeconversationsWebsiteCoffee Time Conversations - https://www.coffeetimeconversations.com

Book 8 is a memoir looking at different aspects of hope written by a fellow Hope*Writer. Hope*Writers is an online community for writers of hope. This book tells the story of the author’s personal journey with hope in difficult situations. Think you know which book I'm featuring today? Tune in to see if you're correct, and possibly add this beautiful memoir to your TBR pile.

We are starting a new series on WORK because no matter if you are working at a corporate office, for a nonprofit, at a church, in the home or for yourself, we ALL have hard things that we dream of doing. And one of the things I get asked about often is HOW TO WRITE A BOOK. So on today's episode, I share with you a framework for beginning to follow your dream of book writing, and a few tips I've learned along the way. "The reason people read nonfiction books is because they have a question or they need to solve a problem." In order to know the path, you need to know the problem that you are wired to solve. (Hint: you are already passionate about it, it's just a matter of making space to fully explore where it's taking you) Some of the links from today: Brunch and Slay (https://www.brunchandslay.com) The And Campaign (https://www.andcampaign.org) Find my studies on Right Now Media! (https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/Speaker/999497) Hope Writers (https://www.hopewriters.com) Author Coaching (https://www.authorcoaching.com) *I made mention of a recent podcast where I was a guest, talking about women in ministry--if you want to listen to that one, you can find it here: Stay Curious Podcast. (https://staycuriousrva.podbean.com/e/men-surrounded-by-men-w-nicole-unice/)

Your voice matters! If you are a writer at any stage in your writing journey we encourage you to check out Hope Writers and all of their free resources as well as consider joining their exclusive community! Check out: LeadStoriesMedia.com/partners for more info! Join us on Thursday, September 17th at 11am Central time for a 20 minute Facebook Live with Pastor Steph and Hope Writers Co-Founder - Gary Moreland! 

In this special episode of Talk Therapy, I'm talking with author Emily P. Freeman about how we can all use writing as therapy. Whether you're an aspiring writer feeling defeated staring at a blank page or someone who just wishes they would journal more,  Emily offers some practical steps on how to get started. She also explains how boundaries can help increase creativity, clears up some misconceptions of what it means to write, and shares about Hope*Writers - a community of working writers dedicated to helping you make progress as you learn to balance the art of writing with the business of publishing. Links Mentioned: Allison Fallon Take the Hope*Writers 30-Second Quiz Connect with Rachael on the website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

Brian J Dixon on making money in ministry, taking care of relationships, and having those difficult but important conversations. Connect with BrianWebsite: https://briandixon.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/brianjdixon/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbrianjdixonTake the Hope*Writer quizMore about Hope*Writers: lifeandmission.com/hopeDisclosure: Links may be affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.Support the show (https://www.paypal.me/kayhelm)

Today's episode is short and sweet, and I am talking about why I have a business journal—a work journal. Yes, a separate journal, completely dedicated to my work. And I'll be telling you why I think you should have one too. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/79.   Resources from this episode: Hope*Writers (doors open Sept. 14!) Hope*Writers’ Free Quiz: Discover Your Writing Stage Episode 045 - How to Journal C12 2 Second Lean audio link 2 Second Lean book link Emily P. Freeman The Next Right Thing podcast   Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Today’s episode is going to be a great one! My guest today is Brian Dixon from hopewriters.com. Brian and his partners have built an incredible membership site where they help female writers their blogs and books out there into the world. Over the last couple of years they have built a 4,000 member membership site paying around $50/month, can you imagine that? We are going to cover the value of business partnerships, actually having a business partner, business relationships, what happens when you burn a bridge, what happens when you let somebody down. How do you make that right? And, we’re also talking about how you can use lifetime membership to increase your bottom line and make big money fast!

There is something so fun about getting a behind-the-scenes look at something like publishing. We all read books, but y’all the whole industry is something else. There’s so much happening, and it’s all really interesting! Well, some of it is. Today, I want to share with you five things I learned about launching a book that I didn’t know before. Stuff Mentioned Preorder The Lazy Genius Way and get the entire Lazy Genius Library for free just for preordering. Details here! If you missed the episode A Peek Inside The Lazy Genius Way, you can listen to it here. My thoughts on goals and goal-setting: Quit Setting Stupid Goals, How I Handle Screwing Up My Goals, A Goals Pep Talk, and The Lazy Genius Sets Goals. If you’re interested in being part of a community, check out Hope*Writers. They open their doors to new members three times a year. Download a transcript of this episode.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Jonathan Rogers talks with Emily P. Freeman, author of The Next Right Thing, creator of the Next Right Thing Podcast, and co-founder of the online writing community Hope Writers. They discuss writer's block as a form of decision fatigue, the demand on our attention created by unmade decisions, the problematic desire “to be great,” how her training as a sign language interpreter has made her a better listener, and what a difference can be made by merely investing in our aspirations to write. Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/member See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I am sharing the 20 minutes in 2020 technique I learned from Hope Writers. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tammy-phillips3/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tammy-phillips3/support

This week's episode is a powerful and moving testimony of God's unfailing goodness in the midst of an incredible trial. Bethany is joined by writer and speaker Kelly Streiff to talk about trusting in God’s goodness when life is hard. Kelly shares about how after the unexpected loss of her first child, she learned what it meant to trust God for who He is, rather than just what He can do for us. She and Bethany discuss having faith in the midst of trials, understanding the character of God, and how God works in the midst of our pain.This episode is brought to you by Hope*Writers, an online community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. Find out more at hopewriters.com/womenencouraged.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/womenencouraged)

This week, Allison Chambers shares her foster to adopt story. I love how God placed on her heart this calling to help foster babies. What started as only a desire for emergency placement quickly changed as both her and her husband attended the foster training classes. With three boys at home, they knew in their heart, God was calling them to adopt one more. I just love their faithfulness in taking the next step.  Allison honestly shares the ups and downs of foster care as well as her road to adoption.  She encourages all of us to get involved by either taking classes or coming along side and supporting foster families.  Love her practical ideas of how we can help! Friends, you don't want to miss this beautiful story of how God blessed them with sweet Judah. Book Recommendations (*Amazon Affiliate Links) *Adopted Twice- children's book *How We Love Our Kids- parenting book Hope Writers Has God placed a message on your heart that He wants you to share with others?  Do you feel called to write? Are you looking for a supportive community to come along side of you? I have been a Hope Writer for a year now and love it!  Joining and building community has truly made such a difference for me.  The trainings and teachings are helpful and insightful.  If you are interested, let me share with you some helpful free tools: Reimagine 2020 Webinar: Discover your writing rhythm, uncover your creative call, and finally bring your writing to life in only 20 minutes a day. May 2020 video series: How to (finally) make progress in your writing journey Quiz for the writer path 10 questions PDF: you ask yourself before you write a book Member Stories Membership for Hope Writers only opens up a couple times a year and next week (May 18-22) is one of them. Friends, writing can be a very lonely process, so community is so important! If you listen to my podcast, you can see that many of my guests I have met through Hope Writers. The Hope Writers Community is incredible and I highly recommend it.    

It’s every young parent's nightmare and it’s some parents' reality. My guest this week shares with us her family’s story through her son's addiction, overdose, and recovery. She describes what it looks like through the eyes of a faithful mother who did all of the right things but still found herself in the middle of a war. We talk about her struggles with bipolar disorder and her husband's experience with Coronavirus. She has sweet encouragement for all of us moms - we are not alone in these struggles! Katherine James attended Columbia University, where she also taught undergraduate fiction. Her debut novel, Can You See Anything Now?, won Christianity Today's 2018 Fiction Book award and was a semifinalist for the Doris Bakwin Award. Her new book A Prayer for Orion is out now and is very beautifully written. She lives in West Chester, PA with her writer-philosopher-preacher husband, they have three adult children who are more awesome than everyone else in the world and she prays for them every night. WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: coping with the pandemic with your family geologically spread out Kate’s husband’s battle with COVID-19, recovery, and what God taught them through it Kate’s bipolar diagnosis and journey the “shoulds” while going through with depression altering the definition of joy from feeling to faith how medication has helped Kate the misconceptions and guilt of having a child who’s an addict predispositions for addiction how Kate’s son’s addiction both strained and grew her faith the use, shame, repeat cycle resources for parents helping a child with drug addiction LINKS MENTIONED: HopeForHurtingParents.com Clean by David Sheff You Are Not Alone by Dena Yohe CONNECT WITH KATE: website | instagram | facebook CONNECT WITH EMILY: website | instagram | facebook | patreon EPISODE SPONSORS: Purple Mattress: visit purple.com/msw and use promo code MSW to get $150 off any mattress order over $1500 (terms apply) Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: a fairytale podcast for kids about extraordinary women from all over the world Hope Writers: take the 30-second quiz for writers today at hopewriters.com/msw SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon  SHARE THE STRUGGLE! If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together! Do you love Mom Struggling Well? Please leave a review here!

Perhaps you feel like you are living in a season of loss right now.  Our calendars have changed, life doesn't look quite the way we imagined it would. We have all faced loss because of COVID 19. We want to be people who believe in God's goodness, no matter what. But what do we do when life doesn't feel good? When God doesn't answer our prayers the way we've asked or imagined? Or when we feel like disappointment has taken over a season of our life? What do we do? It's really not about what we do but what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. He has given us the gift of hope and planted it deep within our hearts. I've invited Kelly Streiff to be a guest on my podcast today to share her story with us. She isn't a stranger to loss or grief and today she is going to share with us about her daughter Imogen, who now lives in heaven. It is a story of heartache and loss, but it is also a story of hope.  Kelly Streiff Website If you would like to learn more about Hope*Writers click here.

Megan Hill, author and editor for TGC, joins Bethany to talk about her book A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church. Megan shares the importance of growing as a believer in Jesus in the context of His church and how our identity is uniquely connected to the body of Christ.This episode is brought to you by Hope*Writers, an online community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. Find out more at hopewriters.com/womenencouraged.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/womenencouraged)

Every leader has a message to share, but we’re not always sure the world wants to hear it. How can you move past the fear and start sharing that message? In this special bonus episode of the podcast, I’m chatting with Wall Street Journal best selling author Emily P. Freeman. We’re diving into Emily’s leadership journey and how her view of herself as a leader has shifted in recent years.  We also talk about writing as a form of leadership, and what to do if you’re not sure how to start. If you’ve ever felt the call to write but you feel like it might be selfish or you’re maybe even a little afraid of success, this is the episode for you. About Hope*Writers Emily and I also chat about her membership community for writers, Hope*Writers. This is a group that I joined about a year ago and have found it incredibly beneficial as I work towards my own writing goals.  Sign up for the free training, Reimagine 2020: Discover your writing rhythm, uncover your creative call, and finally bring your writing to life in only 20 minutes a day. This will be hosted by Emily and you’re sure to learn something valuable even if you don’t join Hope*Writers. Hope*Writers will be open to new members between May 18-22, 2020. Click here to take a free quiz (before May 18th)  or learn more about Hope*Writers (between May 18-22). If you decide to join hope*writers using my affiliate link (https://estherlittlefield.com/hopewriters), you will get free access to my “Grow Your Audience” masterclass on June 5th! This will help you with creating a clear plan to start finding the people who will actually read your writing. Access the show notes at estherlittlefield.com/emily Key Points Discussed: Emily’s life & leadership now [5:10] Emily’s leadership journey [6:35] How her view of leadership has changed How writing has a played a role in Emily’s faith and leadership journey Writing as leadership [13:00] Emily’s mission statement [14:40] Emily’s advice for someone who wants to start writing [17:30] Navigating success [20:00] Writing when you feel like it might be selfish [23:00] Leadership lessons as a co-founder of Hope*Writers [26:05] It all comes back to you as the leader People need you to be the leader Leaders are Learners [28:25] Key Quotes from the Episode: “All writers are leaders. We all have that seed in us.”  “Every writer knows what she wants to say. What she doesn’t know is if people will want to read it.” “There is a path, and you’re already on it.” “You have a God who can handle it. He is perfectly capable... to nudge you in the right direction if you go off track.” “Do not let the fear of ‘what ifs’ and fear of your own self get in your own way from getting the message into the hands of your reader.” “Being overly clear is never the problem; it’s always the other way around.”   Resources Mentioned: Faithful Presence by David Fitch Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 by Dallas Willard A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller Hope*Writers Quiz (this will take you to a free quiz or details about joining if it's open)   Connect with Emily P. Freeman:   Emily’s Website Emily’s Instagram Hope*Writers Free Writing Quiz Hope*Writers Instagram   Emily P. Freeman is the Wall Street Journal best selling author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways. Her newest book, The Next Right Thing, offers a simple, soulful practice for making life decisions. Emily is also the host of The Next Right Thing Podcast. She also co-founded the membership site hope*writers, a community of working writers dedicated to learn to balance the art of writing with the business of publishing.    She earned her MA in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Friends University. In her writing and speaking, Emily always seeks to create space for the soul to breathe, offering fresh perspective on the sacredness of our inner life with God. Emily and her husband live in North Carolina with their three children.    Connect with Esther and Holly: Esther’s Website Holly’s Website Instagram Facebook Group Facebook Page   This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/emily.

Today, I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Twyla Franz.  We are both Hope Writers, and I just love the intentionality in her life.  Even as an introvert, Twyla opens her heart and home to her neighbors, and she encourages others to do the same through her writing and podcast.  Her passion for “Doing Life Together” is contagious and you do not want to miss what she shares about direction vs. pace, one of my favorite parts. I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode. Twyla blogs about her passion, neighborhood missional living, hoping to make it feel less intimidating for others to begin to open their own hearts, lives, and homes to their neighbors. She sees our call to fulfill the Great Commission as an invitation to be disciple-making-disciples not just in the faraway places, but also right where we live—in our own neighborhoods. Twyla writes weekly at The Uncommon Normal, and an audio version of the posts is now available as a podcast under the same name. You may also connect with her on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter. Books Recommended by Twyla: *The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell *The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman *One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp *The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp *The Way of Abundance by Ann Voskamp   *Amazon Affiliate Link    

Today, I cannot wait for you to hear my conversation with Brian Dixon, one of the co-founders of Hope Writers. His new book, *Start With Your People, encourages you to be intentional with the people God has placed in your life.  Whether you are trying to get a message out to a specific audience through a book or trying to be more purposeful with your kids and family, Brian offers some great wisdom.  You do not want to miss what he vulnerably shares at the beginning of his book. Honestly, it is my favorite part!  I promise you that you do not want to miss this episode. Dr. Brian Dixon believes you are here for a purpose. A podcaster, conference speaker, and business coach, Brian is passionate about helping high potential leaders and teams thrive in a world of overwhelming options.  He has a doctoral degree from the University of San Diego.  You can learn more about his coaching and access his free downloadable resources at BrianDixon.com. *Amazon affiliate Link

Since adults make over 35,000 decisions every single day, it’s no wonder that this idea of doing the next right thing feels like such a relief. But there are also times when doing the next right thing doesn’t seem like enough. Maybe you’ve been practicing this simple discipline for a while now and still, it’s not leading to where you thought it would lead or bringing results you hoped to see by now. If you can relate, listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Hope*Writers is accepting new members through Friday, January 17th Start here if you want to take the Hope*Writers quiz My book, The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download Transcript

You CAN make progress as a writer. You can find clarity. You can focus your message and find your reader. And you can make real writing friends who ‘get' what you're going through, because they are too. To take a real step toward being a working writer go to hopewriters.com/join. But only through Friday. (Then we close to serve hope*writer members.)

I love putting the proper importance on food and meals and gathering around the table but not wasting energy on the wrong things. Those wrong things look different for everyone listening, but today we’re going to figure out what matters and what doesn’t around your winter table. Stuff Mentioned The list of actual meals my family is eating from my Winter Dinner Queue this season. Hope*Writers is opening its doors to new members now through Friday, January 17th. If you already know you want in, you can click here to join using my affiliate link. If you’re interested in the From Dreaming to Doing webinar hosted by Lazy Genius mascot Emily P. Freeman, click here. Here’s how I built my fall dinner queue and here’s what we ate last summer. If you need a refresher on brainless crowdpleasers, here you go. And here’s a link to last week’s episode on planning your time this winter if you missed it. Download a transcript of this episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You CAN make progress as a writer. You can find clarity. You can focus your message and find your reader. And you can make real writing friends who ‘get’ what you’re going through, because they are too.  To take a real step toward being a working writer go to hopewriters.com/join. But only through Friday. (Then we close to serve hope*writer members.)  

What is it like to rescue children from going into the system?  Listen in as I have a chat with Frances Chaisson. We're talking about her ministry work at the Rescue Station, health & wellness, and her beautiful adoption story. Frances is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus and bringing hope and encouragement to a world that desperately needs it.  Frances was born and raised in Puerto Rico but has called Florida her home for over 20 years. Frances and her husband Jeff recently became parents of their adopted 16-year-old daughter Renee. Together, Frances and Jeff lead Salty Family Services, a ministry dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect in their community.  When she is not pouring into ministry work, you can find her hanging out with her family, breaking a sweat at the gym, cooking or working on her writing. Frances is a member of Hope*Writers and her desire is that God will use her new blog to encourage others to pursue God and answer His call to GO courageously where He leads them. As a certified wellness coach, she enjoys helping others develop a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves dark chocolate, Starbucks cold brew coffee, and early mornings. Connect with her and follow her blog at franceschaisson.com and https://www.instagram.com/franceschaisson/ and via email: frances@salty.org I'd love to connect with you as well. Hop on over to my blog at dorisswift.com. I have free gifts for you there. Grab my free list of Fear Fighting Scripture verses! I also want to give you my free ebook, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling. Need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page at dorisswift.com/speaking Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/doris-swift/message

What is it like to rescue children from going into the system? Listen in as I have a chat with Frances Chaisson. We're talking about her ministry work at the Rescue Station, health & wellness, and her beautiful adoption story. Frances is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus and bringing hope and encouragement to a world that desperately needs it. Frances was born and raised in Puerto Rico but has called Florida her home for over 20 years. Frances and her husband Jeff recently became parents of their adopted 16-year-old daughter Renee. Together, Frances and Jeff lead Salty Family Services, a ministry dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect in their community. When she is not pouring into ministry work, you can find her hanging out with her family, breaking a sweat at the gym, cooking or working on her writing. Frances is a member of Hope*Writers and her desire is that God will use her new blog to encourage others to pursue God and answer His call to GO courageously where He leads them. As a certified wellness coach, she enjoys helping others develop a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves dark chocolate, Starbucks cold brew coffee, and early mornings. Connect with her and follow her blog at franceschaisson.com and https://www.instagram.com/franceschaisson/ and via email: frances@salty.org I'd love to connect with you as well. Hop on over to my blog at dorisswift.com. I have free gifts for you there. Grab my free list of Fear Fighting Scripture verses! I also want to give you my free ebook, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling. Need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page at dorisswift.com/speaking --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/doris-swift/message

Beth Bruno and Richella Parham talk about the very normal and yet crippling beast of comparison so many of us struggle with. In Richella's new book, Mythical Me, she writes of her own story of comparison due to a visible birthmark as well as her lifelong journey of comparing herself to a composite woman. Finally determining to end the constant comparison, she launched out on a quest to find freedom.Connect with Richella:FacebookInstagramTwitterWebsiteMythical Me Book Connect with Beth:Sign up for a monthly City GuideInstagramFacebookWebsiteA VOICE Becoming Book

Brian Dixon is a podcaster, conference speaker, and business coach who is passionate about helping authors, speakers, and aspiring messengers create a sustainable business through growing their platform and creating compelling online courses. Brian has a doctoral degree from the University of San Diego and is the co-founder of Hope Writers, a membership site of over 2,000 working writers. In this episode, Brian talks about the inspiration for his new book, tips for putting people ahead of projects and living a people-first lifestyle, why we need to outgrow our upbringing, the importance of leading with humility as you put yourself out there in increasingly public ways, why he strives to peak when he is sixty-five years old, his advice for becoming a voice of influence, and more!

Sometimes asking for help is the hardest thing to do, but you’re allowed to ask for help, no matter the circumstance. It’s good, in fact, to ask for help. And today, we’re talking about the ways to do it – the different kinds of therapy and different reasons why or why not you might pursue them. Plus, I talk about how to be a good friend to someone else who needs help. It’s a heavy topic, but one that I want to join in the flow of normalizing it. Links You May Find Helpful If you’ve thought about joining Hope*Writers before, now is your chance! The doors open Tuesday, October 1 through Friday, October 4. Take the quiz to see where you are on the writing journey, and they’ll send you a notification when the doors open.  My friend, Laura Tremaine, hosts the 10 Things To Tell You podcast and normalizes therapy and mental health struggles in her Internet space. Check out her Instagram highlights or listen to her podcast. I suggest starting with the episode called 10 Thoughts on Anxiety.  Lazy Genius mascot and all-around beloved person Emily P. Freeman talks about how to be a good listener on her podcast The Next Right Thing in episode 94 called Ask the Second Question. The Liturgists podcast recently released a series of episodes on the Enneagram, specifically about the instinctual postures and the 27 subtypes. If that makes no sense to you but you’re interested in learning about the Enneagram, I have two episodes about it: The Truth About Your Enneagram Number and How to Make Sense of Yourself. The National Institute of Mental Health has a comprehensive overview of crisis hotlines and how to get started in finding a mental health provider in your area on their website.  Download a transcript of this episode. October 3, 2019 Update: Some Lazy Genius listeners chimed in with some thoughtful commentary on terms and distinctions not included in this episode. I’ve listed them below: “In California, my official title is Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In my state, all therapists have to have a minimum of a master's degree plus supervised 3000 intern hours in order to be eligible for Licensure. I know all states have different titles for various offerings of mental health professions. The description you gave of counselors in the episode is what my training was, but we are known as therapists where I live. I thought it might be helpful for your audience to know that the area they live in may use different titles as they explore their options.” “Psychiatrists have a MD, not a PhD (although of course, some may have PhDs in another field). They go through medical school and a psychiatric residency.” “I am a clinical social worker, and beyond my master’s degree in social work, I had to get about 2,000 supervised hours, and pass a test at a clinical level. For most social workers who do not want to teach at college or do research/get a PhD, this is the highest level we attain to. Social work is a strengths-based area, instead of deficiency based, as some areas are.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today’s guest, Brian Dixon is the author of Start with Your People: The Daily Decision that Changes Everything. He has a doctoral degree in education from the University of San Diego. He has consulted with universities, publishers, nonprofits, and hundreds of coaching students to help them clarify their message and serve their ideal audience. As a podcaster, conference speaker and consultant, Brian is passionate about helping high performers thrive in a world of overwhelming options. Brian is the second man I’ve had on Real Talk with Rachael (the first being my husband) and I invited him on because I have been very impressed with not only his online presence but how he truly does lead with people first. He is genuine and authentic, and we did some real talk about all kind of fun topics today, like: What made him change how he was doing things in life and business years ago (his answer was so vulnerable!). The power of the 360 assessment (and what it is) 3 tips for working from home without sacrificing your family or business How to figure out what is obvious to you that can help other people His wife's role in his online business Why more men aren’t in the online space (this conversation was rich!) And so much more wisdom and insight you don't want to miss! Special thank you to today’s show sponsor, Hope Writers, a community for writers that I am a part of each month. I love their teachings, encouragement and community. Brian is a co-founder of Hope Writers and he shared about a quiz you can take to figure out where you are on your writing journey. Go to rachaelgilbert.com/hopewriters to take the quiz! Connect with Brian on his website and Instagram. Connect with Rachael on the website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

Get ready for an incredible, insightful conversation with Brian Dixon.     Brian is a global keynote speaker, marketing strategist, and business coach dedicated to helping others discover and live out their purpose. He is also the creator and host of the podcast “The Clarity Sessions” where he helps people get clarity on who they are, what their message is, where they want to go, and the process of how to get there.     Additionally, Brian is the Co-Founder of “Hope Writers”, a membership site of over 2,000 working writers and the Author of the new book “Start with Your People”.     We discuss:     -The daily decision that changes everything   -Brian’s traumatic car accident and being told he’ll never walk again   -Asking yourself “is my diagnosis going to be my death sentence?”   -The 2 questions you can ask to show up for your people in the best way   -Income vs. Impact   -Why you always have something to offer   And so much more.   Brian’s story will inspire you, encourage you, and pull you even closer to living the life you were born to live ... don't miss it.   Even more, be sure to subscribe to the Born to Impact podcast to ensure you get notified as new episodes release each week!   After listening, connect with Brian on Instagram @BrianJDixon and pick up a copy of his book “Start with Your People” on Amazon.

The Time I Asked for a Whole Lot of Feedback - In this episode Brian discusses what drove him to ask 53 people for anonymous, personal feedback. He also talks through some of the common roadblocks that keep entrepreneurs from succeeding. 

Hey friends! Welcome to the last episode of season three, and it's a treat. We're finishing up with a special BONUS interview with one of our favorite people (though we may be a little biased), Heather Avis. Not only does she co-host this podcast, she is mother to her three adopted children, two with Down Syndrome, and creator of the hit Instagram account: @theluckyfewofficial. In case you haven't heard (and we sure hope you have), Heather's newest book, Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating A Space Where Everyone Belongs, comes out on June 25th! In this special episode, we're chatting about the writing process, the inspiration, and the reason behind the timing of this extraordinary book. Scoot Over and Make Some Room captures Heather's funny yet fierce spirit as she tells stories of her children and champions anyone on the margins. Tune in as Heather reads a portion of her “Wildflowers” chapter and discusses who this book is supposed to challenge- which is anyone who has some room to make for others! So friends, who is missing from your life? Can you make some room for them on your couch? We hope you'll join this powerful movement to make some room by pre-ordering your copy today. Help Heather reach her 25 by 25 goal: 25,000 copies sold by the release date, June 25th! Plus, when you pre-order, you get special freebies-including the first chapter of the book! Thank you for joining us for another season! We will be back very soon, and we are very excited! For now, keep shouting the worth and shifting the narrative by making room for anyone missing from your couch. And as always, don't forget to own your influence wherever you are. SHOW LINKS PRE-ORDER your copy of Scoot Over and Make Some Room by Heather Avis here. Head on over to scootoverbook.com for more content and insight, and then join the book launch team! Learn more about Heather Avis and her family at theluckyfew.com or on Instagram at @theluckyfewofficial You can find every episode from Season 3 here! SHOW SPONSOR: HOPE*WRITERS Have you ever thought about writing a book but didn't know where to start? Well, Hope*Writers believes that you're already on your writing journey! Take their FREE 30 second quiz to find out where you are on your journey and where you can go. Visit hopewriters.com/quiz to take the quiz today! CHECK OUT HEATHER'S NEW BOOK Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/support

On this bonus podcast Steph and Jo speak with Emily P. Freeman, author of 5 books and founder of Hope Writers - a community for writers of all stages who want to take their writing to their next level! Lead Stories is so thankful to partner with Hope Writers because we deeply believe in what they do! If you are thinking about writing, have just started writing, or have been writing for a while - the Hope Writers Community is for YOU! Hope Writers is a community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. They offer live weekly training, an engaged community, and an online library filled with writing + publishing resources. Training and investment to move you further along on your path! The community opens only a few times a year – and the next window opens on May 21st – 24th Here are some free resources to help you consider if it’s a fit for you:  Check out hope*writers Writer Path Quiz Or Newbie’s Publishing Guide Or Expert Answers to 20 Questions Writers Ask And when you’re ready for the next step... Sign up to join the May hope*writers community. (Link will be live May 21st-24th)  Don’t wait forever – we need your words!!

Happy one year of Behind the Bliss! In today’s episode, Mary Scott and Rachel debrief over their first year of podcasting: wins, biggest shockers of podcasting, lessons learned, exciting dreams for year two, and so much more! We cannot thank our incredible community enough for catching our vision and making another year happen! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/48 This episode is sponsored by Hope*Writers. Did you know that If you've ever thought about writing a book, you are already on the writing journey? We've partnered with our friends at hopewriters.com to share a free, thirty-second quiz to see where you are in your writing journey, and to help you move forward in getting your story out of your mind, and into the hearts and minds of others. If you have a message of hope to you long to share, Hope*Writers wants to help you use it to inspire your readers. hopewriters.com/quiz

“Moral of the story: Potty training is the worst.” - Heather. That's right friends. We're tackling this fun topic today, but most importantly, chatting all about the many memorable moments from this season! We even have Tesney Davis back on to tell us what just might be every parent's favorite piece of good news- her 13 year old son Kirill is now officially potty trained! Tesney says her hope that her son can accomplish anything has been restored. What a gift it is to celebrate this milestone with her, and all of our listeners! This season has been a blast sitting down with extraordinary women who advocate in unique ways. We've discussed privilege and perspective with Amy Julia Becker, dual diagnosis with Tesney Davis, and how to own your influence every single day with the lovely ladies at the Dear Mom, Conference. Friends, thank you for joining us this season. As we admire our guests, don't forget to celebrate the work you're doing too! You are owning your influence by raising your child. Keep showing up. Keep shouting the worth. We are so grateful to shift the Down Syndrome narrative together. Don't forget to join us next week for our final episode of the season featuring an interview with the one and only Heather Avis. We're talking all about her new book: Scoot Over And Make Some Room, and you won't want to miss it! You can find every episode from Season 3 here! Do you need potty training tips? We got you covered! Read the James Carr/Linda Leblanc research that Tesney used to potty train her son here. Check out the book that Heather found helpful in potty training her daughter here. SHOW SPONSOR: HOPE*WRITERS Have you ever thought about writing a book but didn't know where to start? Well, Hope*Writers believes that you're already on your writing journey! Take their FREE 30 second quiz to find out where you are on your journey and where you can go. Visit hopewriters.com/quiz to take the quiz today! CHECK OUT HEATHER'S NEW BOOK Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon. Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few's NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/support

Michelle Sullivan has found her voice, and she's using it to host a podcast, run a clothing company, and most importantly— advocate like a mother. She credits all of this to her 5 year old son, Eli, who has Down Syndrome. Eli helped his mama own her creative influence to launch Littlest Warrior, a clothing company that starts conversations about different abilities while contributing back to this community by supporting adoptions, non-profits, and more! Michelle's advocacy has evolved into her Advocate Like A Mother Podcast where she celebrates mothers of kids with different abilities who are owning their influence to shout their child's worth. Today, we're chatting with our friend (AKA family member), Michelle Sullivan, a mama of four, clothing designer, and now podcaster who is using her gifts in incredible ways. So friends, what's your fave Littlest Warrior Tee? Join us for Season Three Episode Eight to hear which shirts we have in our closets (hint: pretty much all of them!) and then shop online to support worthy causes and valuable messages. Happy Advocating, friends! Connect with Michelle Sullivan! Find Michelle on Instagram Find Advocate Like A Mother Podcast on Instagram Advocate Like A Mother Podcast Website Find Advocate Like A Mother on Facebook Shop Littlest Warrior Apparel: Instagram Website Facebook SHOW SPONSOR: HOPE*WRITERS Have you ever thought about writing a book but didn't know where to start? Well, Hope*Writers believes that you're already on your writing journey! Take their FREE 30 second quiz to find out where you are on your journey and where you can go. Visit hopewriters.com/quiz to take the quiz today! CHECK OUT HEATHER'S NEW BOOK Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon. Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few's NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theluckyfewpod/support

Brian Dixon, along with two other remote co-founders, run Hope*Writers, a membership community for authors. Brian tells us the interesting ways they work with their founding teams as well as the employees.  With a focus on collaboration rather than competition, Brian and team are hyper-focused on culture. Brian's team works hard on the community culture and it helps to solidify their team culture. Listen in as Brian gives us some really different ways they cultivate their remote work culture. 

We thought we’d welcome the fall with getting back to the basics — in this case, in the kitchen. Kendra knows her way around a kitchen and loves being there. But she also loves helping us keep things really simple, so we don’t lose our minds when it comes to just feeding ourselves and our family. She’s got a knack for cooking basics, kitchen set-up, and planning our menus so we eat what we want, without last-minute panic runs to the store or hail-mary it to the drive-thru. Notes From This Episode: Kendra’s blog + podcast, The Lazy Genius Collective Kendra on Instagram Tsh on Instagram and Twitter Kendra's Magic Question Cheatsheet Sign up for Hope*Writers — it closes tomorrow! Kindly leave a review! Become a patron: Support this podcast + get access to my secret show Sign up for 5 Quick Things, the weekly email For any links and codes from our lovely sponsors, head here

Amber Rae began her work in marketing, but then took a giant leap of faith and moved into work as an artist, which for her, also took a major move across the country for a clean do-over. She ended up doing some pretty cool installations across New York City, and eventually, took her experience and encouraging voice and put it to use encouraging others to take risks with their own work and art. The title of her book says it all about her approach. Notes: Amber on Twitter & Instagram Amber's website & book, Choose Wonder Over Worry Tsh on Twitter & Instagram Women’s Work on Twitter Sign up for Hope*Writers! Join us on Patreon!

Sure, summer needs a routine but not quite the kind you might think. I'm not pulling a fast one; I really mean a different kind of routine. Listen in to get some new ideas. Companion Episodes: The Lazy Genius Morning Routine The Lazy Genius Evening Routine The Lazy Genius Fall Rhythm Download a transcript for this episode! Check out Hope*Writers! The membership window closes this week! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re both personality nerds, so it’s no surprise that our Myers Briggs letters and Enneagram types have come up multiple times on the podcast before. In today’s episode, we’re devoting our entire conversation to the ways our personalities can affect our creative lives. There are probably hundreds of personality typing systems out there, but today we’re focusing on three that have had the biggest impact on our creativity: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Enneagram, and Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies. You can now support Chasing Creative on Patreon! Resources We Mentioned Reading People by Anne Bogel Creative You: Using Your Personality Type to Thrive by Otto Kroeger The Sacred Enneagram by Chris Heuertz The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile The Road Back to You podcast 16personalities.com A recent Hope*Writers podcast interview with Ian Morgan Cron The Selfie Podcast series on enneagram The Enneagram Institute online resource Explore Your Type online resource The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies quiz Mini Book Club The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Sherlock Holmes Series by Arthur Conan Doyle Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Here's where you can find Ashley Personal Blog: Ashley Brooks Writes Business Website: Brooks Editorial Twitter: @brookseditorial Instagram: @brookseditorial Pinterest: @brookseditorial Here's where you can find Abbigail Website: Inkwells and Images Twitter: @abbigailekriebs Instagram: @abbigailekriebs

Niki found herself with a rectal cancer diagnosis only a few short years after losing both her mother and sister to different cancers. She knew her disease was not terminal, but the diagnosis was enough for her to be faced with very real fears and a lot of anger. Her family had only moved to the United States two years earlier, so they were still building community when she was diagnosed and they certainly felt like outsiders with their obvious British accents. Niki and her husband decided to handle the situation with complete vulnerability: they were honest with their kids and talked openly with the congregation where her husband was the pastor. They coped with humor and had to make difficult decisions about how they would fight for their marriage or allow the stress to drive them apart. Niki saw grace as she realized how known and loved they were by their community in North Carolina - they were surprised by how deeply people cared for them and were willing to step into the mess cancer had created in their life. Niki is cancer free now and continues to live vulnerably and openly and lean into the the hard stuff; even though vulnerability can feel like weakness, she no longer believes that "if you're strong, nothing is wrong." Niki wants to encourage people who are facing a huge challenge in life to remember that you don't "have to wait to feel joy or beauty again...There's joy and beauty in the middle of it." She encourages leaders to model authenticity and be intentional about helping people and stresses the importance of helping leaders by initiating doing kind and helpful things. Niki's Answers To The Fun Questions: • What are you loving right now? Coaching her daughter's lacrosse team. • What’s your favorite food/meal/snack? A cup of tea with a flapjack (an English granola bar). Try Niki's flapjack recipe at NikiHardy.com/recipes • What are you doing to take care of yourself? Not enough. Trail running with the dogs and reading when she leaves time. • What are you doing to be brave? A podcast! Writing and blogging with vulnerability (and thankful for groups like Hope*Writers that encourage and support community) Connect with Niki: BLOG: NikiHardy.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/NikiHardyauthor TWITTER: twitter.com/NikiBHardy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/Niki.Hardy Connect with Becky: BLOG: BeckyLMcCoy.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BeckyLMcCoy TWITTER: twitter.com/BeckyLMcCoy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/BeckyLMcCoy PINTEREST: pinterest.com/BeckyLMcCoy NEWSLETTER: BeckyLMcCoy.com/email  Share your Sucker Punched story at BeckyLMcCoy.com/Submissions Please subscribe to and rate this podcast to help others find Sucker Punched. NOTE: Sucker Punched is the podcast formerly known as Stories of Unfolding Grace