Bookish Talks with Lia

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Rice, author of Gospel-Shaped Womanhood: How Losing Yourself and Finding Your Identity in Christ Changes Everything. Sarah shares her journey of faith and how understanding our identity in Christ transforms our lives as women. We discuss the biblical truths that inspired her writing, the significance of a Jesus-centered identity in today’s culture, and the practical ways women can live out their faith daily. If you're seeking encouragement to embrace your identity in Christ and live out your calling as a woman of faith, this episode is filled with wisdom and practical insights grounded in Scripture.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @gospelshapedwomanhood

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Gospel-Shaped Womanhood: How Losing Yourself and Finding Your Identity in Christ Changes Everything by Sarah Rice

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In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Adam Powers, the pastor behind @ReformedShelves on Instagram, to talk about how he came to know Christ, his love for Reformed theology, and the intentionality behind curating his personal library.

If you're curious about curating a meaningful library of Christian books or diving deeper into Reformed theology, this episode is packed with insight and encouragement.

Episode Highlights

Connect with Adam

Books Mentioned in This Episode

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In this episode, I chat with Brandi Davis, the bookworm behind @becomingbookbybook, about her journey into Christian bookstagram and how reading widely has helped her grow deeply in her walk with Christ. Brandi shares the rewards of curating her platform, how she selects books for her community and the challenges of balancing life and content creation. If you're looking for inspiration to dive deeper into solid Christian books, this episode is full of encouragement and practical insights.

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In this episode, we chat with Walter Shaw, the Christian book reviewer behind @wtsreads. Walter dives into his journey with Christian books, sharing his testimony, the mission of WTS Reads, and practical advice for building a theological library that strengthens your faith. Whether you're new to theological books or looking to deepen your reading, this episode is packed with insights on curating a collection that glorifies God.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Walter:

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Tim Challie’s Daily Kindle Deals: https://www.challies.com/kindle-deals-for-christians/

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In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I open up about my experience of breaking free from bad theology, especially after a close friend walked away from their faith. Though this season was difficult, the Lord led me to a high view of Scripture, which became my anchor through the challenges. I'll discuss the books that played a crucial role in helping me rediscover biblical truth and how they shaped my understanding of God. Tune in for an honest conversation about how God used both Scripture and these books to transform my thinking and deepen my love for sound doctrine.

Episode Highlights:

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

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In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Dr. Natalie Brand, theologian, Bible teacher, and author of The Scuttlebutt Letters. Together, we explore why theology is crucial for every Christian woman, how understanding doctrine strengthens our faith, and how Natalie makes theology accessible, especially for women who feel intimidated by it.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Natalie Brand:

Instagram: @nataliebrandauthor

Books Mentioned in this episode:

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In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, we sit down with Oghosa Iyamu, the founder of Un.Scrambled—an online community dedicated to bringing clarity to life’s confusion through Scripture. Oghosa shares her journey as a Christian content creator and writer, providing valuable insights on living out your faith in practical ways, the challenges of creating content, and how to deepen your connection with God's Word.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Oghosa:

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-⁠⁠Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by Paul David Tripp

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In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I sit down with Bailey T. Hurley, friendship coach and author of Together Is a Beautiful Place. We explore the beauty and challenge of building and maintaining godly friendships as Christian women. Bailey shares her insights on navigating friendship breakups, healing from past hurts, and how to foster deep, Christ-centered relationships even in the midst of busy seasons like motherhood. Whether you're looking to cultivate new friendships or strengthen existing ones, Bailey offers practical wisdom to help you live out godly friendships in a meaningful way.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Bailey:

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-⁠The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship⁠ by Jonathan Holmes

-The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally and Sarah Clarkson

-Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World by Sally, Sarah & Joy Clarkson

*Disclaimer: We Should Get Together by Kat Vellos and Friendfluence by Carlin Flora are not Christian books. While they offer valuable insights on the topic of friendships, there may be ideas or language in these works that do not fully align with the values and beliefs upheld by Lia Ross Reads. As always, we encourage readers to approach these resources with discernment and hold them up to the truth of Scripture.

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In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, Lia Ross sits down with Jonathan Holmes, Founder and Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling, to discuss how parents can help their children build a Christ-centered identity. Drawing from his experience in biblical counseling and insights from his new book, Grounded in Grace, Jonathan offers practical guidance on navigating the pressures teens face today.

Even if you don’t have children, this episode is still relevant, as Jonathan addresses the extremes of mental health within Christian culture and the importance of a balanced, biblical approach.

Connect with Jonathan: Follow Jonathan on Instagram: @akjonathanholmes

Order your copy of Jonathan’ Holmes’ new book Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ

Amazon

New Growth Press 

*affiliate links

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship by Jonathan Holmes

-Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa Kruger 

-Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy That Is Our Strength by Bryan Chapell

-Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change, Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp 

-Confessions by St. Augustine 

-Together Is a Beautiful Place: Finding, Keeping, and Loving Our Friends by Bailey T. Hurley

Looking for virtual biblical counseling?

Check out Fieldstone Counseling: https://fieldstonecounseling.org

Welcome to Bookish Talks with Lia! 🎙️ I'm your host, Lia Ross Reads. This is the very first episode of a podcast that's been in the works for over a year, and I’m thrilled (and a little nervous) to finally be here with you.

In this episode, I’m taking you on a journey through my personal story—how I came to know Christ, how my bookstagram community Lia Ross Reads began, and the heart behind starting this podcast.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure—don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more! 

Disclaimer: This is our first episode, so thanks for bearing with us as we iron out the sound quality and other details. We appreciate your patience and support as we get started!

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