I’m so excited to welcome Sarah Rice back to Bookish Talks with Lia! Sarah previously joined me to talk about her book Gospel-Shaped Womanhood, and in this bonus episode released as we are all gathered at The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference, we’re looking ahead to her upcoming Bible study, Becoming a Gospel-Shaped Woman.

This study walks through Ephesians over ten weeks and is designed to help women understand their identity in Christ and apply Scripture in everyday life. Sarah and I talk about the heart behind the study, why Ephesians is so rich for identity and growth, and how to approach Bible study with clarity and confidence.

You can preorder Becoming a Gospel-Shaped Woman in the conference bookstore or online at 10ofThose, using code LIA10.

In this episode, we cover:
• The message of Gospel-Shaped Womanhood
• Why Sarah created this companion study
• How Ephesians shapes our identity in Christ
• What to look for in a faithful Bible study resource
• Encouragement for growing in God’s Word

Friendship can be one of God's greatest gifts, but building and maintaining meaningful relationships isn't always easy. In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest Bailey T. Hurley to discuss her new book, The Friendship Devotional: 40 Days to Move Past Loneliness and Find Your Community.

Bailey shares why so many women struggle with loneliness, what it looks like to cultivate deeper friendships as adults, and how Scripture can guide us through every season of friendship. We also discuss the four stages of friendship growth—Planting, Tending, Pruning, and Blooming—and practical ways to build stronger, more intentional relationships.

In this episode:

• The four seasons of friendship growth
• Making new friends as an adult
• Navigating friendship challenges and conflict
• Becoming a better friend through spiritual growth
• Practical ways to deepen relationships
• Finding community in every season of life

Connect with Bailey:

Website: https://baileythurley.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileythurley

Grab the book: The Friendship Devotional: 40 Days to Move Past Loneliness and Find Your Community

In this episode, author Dustin Crowe joins me to discuss his book Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste. We talk about how seasons of suffering, waiting, spiritual dryness, and uncertainty can become places where we more clearly see God’s presence and work in our lives.

Dustin unpacks key wilderness stories in Scripture including Hagar, Moses, David, Elijah, and Jesus, helping us understand how God is faithful and purposeful even in difficult and disorienting seasons.
We also discuss his journey into writing and publishing, his pastoral ministry, and how believers can grow in trust when life feels unclear.

If you are in a season of struggle or transition, this conversation will encourage you that your wilderness is not wasted and God is still at work.

Connect with Dustin Crowe

• Website: https://indycrowe.com
• Books: Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste and The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks
  

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I am joined by Megan Hill, author and managing editor for The Gospel Coalition. We’re discussing her booklet Sabbath Rest, part of the Disciplines of Devotion series from Crossway.

In this episode, we talk about what Sabbath rest is, why God gave it to us as a gift, and how to practically implement it in everyday life.

Megan shares wisdom on slowing down in a culture of constant busyness, creating rhythms of rest, and learning to view Sabbath not as a burden, but as an opportunity to delight in God and commune with Him more deeply.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

⁠Sabbath Rest⁠ - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

Bible Study - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

Evangelism -  Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

Fasting -  Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

Prayer - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

Worship - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I am joined by author and Bible teacher Emily Jensen, co-founder of Risen Motherhood, to discuss her booklet Worship from The Gospel Coalition’s Disciplines of Devotion series.

We talk about what it looks like to move beyond a limited view of worship as something reserved for Sunday mornings and see it instead as a daily, whole-life response to who God is and what He has done.

Emily shares how worship can be practiced in everyday rhythms through our words, our works, and even our “why,” offering practical encouragement for women living in a distracted, do-it-all culture.

We also talk about how worship shapes ordinary moments, why small and mundane faithfulness matters, and how women can grow in devotion to God when life feels full and scattered.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

Worship⁠ - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Bible Study - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

Evangelism -  Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

Fasting -  Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

Prayer - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

Sabbath Rest - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Emily

• Instagram: @emilyajensen
• Website: emilyajensen.com

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠
  

In this episode, I am joined by author and Bible teacher Glenna Marshall to discuss her booklet in Crossway’s Disciplines of Devotion series, Bible Study.

Together, we talk about what it looks like to build simple, sustainable rhythms for studying Scripture, especially in the middle of a distracted and busy culture.

 Glenna shares practical encouragement for women who want to grow in consistency, move past overwhelm, and find real joy in God’s Word.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

⁠Bible Study⁠ - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

⁠Evangelism⁠ -  Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

⁠Fasting⁠ -  Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

⁠Prayer⁠ - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

⁠Sabbath Rest⁠ - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

⁠Worship⁠ - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Glenna Marshall:

 Website: glennamarshall.com 

Instagram: ⁠@glennadmarshall

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Annie VanderHeiden, author of Cradled: Christ's Care for Postpartum Moms. 

We’re talking about the realities of new motherhood—the identity shifts, the physical exhaustion, and the quiet moments where you might wonder who you even are anymore.

Annie shares from her own postpartum journey and reminds us that Christ meets us right in the middle of it all. Through the ordinary, repetitive tasks of caring for a baby, we can begin to see the extraordinary care of Christ for us.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why Annie felt led to write Cradled
• The emotional and spiritual challenges of postpartum
• Identity struggles in new motherhood
• How everyday tasks like feeding and soothing can point us to Christ
• What it really looks like to “look to Jesus” in exhausting moments
• Practical ways the church and community can support postpartum moms

About Annie:
Annie VanderHeiden is the former editor of Risen Motherhood and now spends her days freelance writing and editing, serving in her local church, and caring for her two little ones. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys long walks, drizzly days, and a good mug of matcha. Annie is passionate about encouraging moms with the truth of the gospel in everyday motherhood.

Connect with Annie:

• Get a copy of Cradled: Christ’s Care for Postpartum Moms by Annie VanderHeiden
• Instagram: @anniekvanderheiden
• Website: https://www.annievanderheiden.com

Connect with Lia: 

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

• Big Bible Stories for Little Hearts Yoto Cards
  

In this episode, I’m joined by author and Bible teacher Sharonda Cooper. We spend time getting to know her and hearing more about her parenting journey as a mom who has launched two kids. Sharonda shares from her own experiences in motherhood, offering both encouragement and perspective for whatever season you may be in.

We also talk about her 5-week devotional, Wisdom for Parenting, and how it helps moms apply biblical wisdom to the everyday challenges of motherhood while rooting their identity in Christ.

This conversation includes practical moments as we walk through real questions of parenting, while keeping our focus on the deeper work God is doing in us as mothers.

In this episode, we cover:

• Sharonda’s motherhood journey and what it looked like raising and launching her children
• The heart behind Wisdom for Parenting
• Applying biblical wisdom in everyday parenting moments
• Encouragement for moms in different seasons
• Rooting your identity in Christ in the midst of motherhood

About Sharonda:

Sharonda Cooper is an author and Bible teacher who serves as a content coordinator for women’s initiatives at The Gospel Coalition. She is also a fitness trainer and holds two engineering degrees from MIT. Sharonda is currently pursuing her MDiv in apologetics and philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She lives in Texas with her husband and has two adult children.

Connect with Sharonda:

• Instagram: @sharondaecooper
  

Get the book:

• Wisdom for Parenting
• Evangelism 

Connect with Lia: 

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In this episode, I’m joined by Amy DiMarcangelo, author of the 5-week devotional,  Wisdom for Fighting Sin. This resource dives into what it looks like to trust Christ in the ongoing fight against sin and how the gospel gives us real hope in the middle of it.

We talk about how to bring our struggles to God honestly without shame, and what it means to rely on Christ instead of ourselves in the fight for obedience.

Amy shares how gospel truth reshapes the way we think about temptation, confession, and growth in holiness, and encourages us to keep turning back to Christ again and again.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to respond to sin without falling into shame or self-effort

• The importance of confession and honesty before God
• How the gospel gives both hope and help for daily obedience
• Why we shouldn't minimize our sin

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Wisdom for Fighting Sin  by Amy DiMarcangelo
• The Discipline of Grace  by Jerry Bridges

Connect with Amy:

• Instagram:@amydimarcangelo

• Grab the book Wisdom for Fighting Sin 

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast

In this episode, I’m joined by Brad Wetherell, senior pastor at a church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, to talk about his book Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness.

We spend time unpacking what it really means to be united with Christ and how that truth speaks directly into our everyday experience of sin, guilt, and fear. Brad walks us through how Scripture frames the Christian life—not as striving in isolation, but as living out the reality of what has already been made true in Christ.

We also talk about why so many believers feel worn down in their fight against sin, where misunderstandings about sanctification often show up, and how union with Christ reshapes the way we think about growth, struggle, and obedience.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure of what real spiritual growth looks like, this conversation points you back to the hope and freedom we have in Jesus.

In this epsiode:

• The story behind Saved to Sin No More
• Why union with Christ matters for everyday Christian life
• Why believers still struggle with sin
• How Scripture reframes guilt, fear, and spiritual discouragement
• What real growth in holiness actually looks like
• Practical encouragement for weary Christians

Buy the book: Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness

Connect with Lia:Bookstagram: @liarossreads

Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast