Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

This week's guest is the incredible Dr. Emily Smith, who you might also know as the Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist on social media. Emily is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Surgery at Duke University and at the Duke Global Health Institute.

With a background that includes four years at Baylor University, a PhD in Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill, and an MSPH from the University of South Carolina, Emily brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Beyond her professional achievements, Emily is a devoted wife of 20 years, the mom of two incredible children, and shares her home with a sweet golden retriever and golden doodle puppy.

I am so excited to dive into Emily's story and the heart behind her new book, The Science of The Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors, with you today. Stay tuned for a powerful conversation that challenges, uplifts, and encourages a deeper understanding of what it means to truly love our neighbors.

6:04 – Emily 101

• Born in eastern New Mexico
• Moving around, medical school + research at Duke
• A passion for global engagement + public health

14:07 – The Good Samaritan

• Two questions from the Good Samaritan story
• The Science of the Good Samaritan
• Recognizing and addressing structural injustices

20:35 – Becoming Authentic Neighbors

• Moving beyond token gestures of kindness
• Recognizing the historical context of poverty and inequality
• Shifting from shame to understanding
• Emily finding her calling

29:49 – The Birth of "Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist"

• Responding to the pandemic
• Navigating rapid online growth + hostility from strangers
• Finding courage in the face of adversity
• Discovering a like-minded community

44:44 – The Work of Neighborly Love

• Taking a deeper look at "Science of The Good Samaritan"
• Recognizing injustice + entering the conversation like a good neighbor
• Heart-centered faith
• A call for courage

FEATURED QUOTES

"Epidemiology is the science of the Good Samaritan... it's a science of quantifying who is most at need so that we don't walk by."

"It feels very natural as a person of a Christian faith to do the type of science that I do, because it's quantifying those that are typically overlooked."

"When we consider health for our children, we want them to be fully healthy, thriving, happy, live out their full potential. So why don't we want that for the rest of the world?"

Learn more about Dr. Emily Smith:

https://www.facebook.com/friendlyneighborepidemiologist/

https://emilysmith.substack.com/

https://www.instagram.com/friendlyneighborepidemiologist/?hl=en

https://globalhealth.duke.edu/news/epidemiologist-next-door

Our guest this week is the incredible Adrienne Bankert, award-winning national news anchor and host of "Morning in America" on News Nation. With an impressive background that includes five years at ABC News, two Emmys for her work on "Good Morning America," and coverage of global events from Tokyo to Paris, Adrienne has worked with some of the biggest names and headlines throughout her career.

We'll chat about Adrienne's career journey, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her book, "Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone." This book focuses on the genuine and transformative influence of kindness and offers guidance on building authentic connections in various aspects of life, be it within teams, friendships, or even with strangers.

Adrienne is an amazing woman and getting to hear her story and wisdom was such a treat. I know you're going to love this conversation!

3:24 – Adrienne 101

• A passion for storytelling
• Growing up in a small town
• Internships and connections in college
• Becoming a news anchor
• Balancing confidence and fear throughout her career

15:25 – The Emotional Challenges of Journalism

• Adrienne's approach to traumatic stories
• Adopting a mindset of service
• Being present, safe, and a voice of comfort

25:00 – The Power of Kindness

• Adrienne's book
• Who do you want to be?
• Being authentic
• Muscle memory for being more fulfilled and relatable
• Stop living in fear

38:42 – Profound Lessons

• Making an impression with the time you have
• Authenticity in journalism
• Connect with Adrienne

FEATURED QUOTES

"I came from very humble beginnings, and I think that prepared me for where I am today."

"As you do venture out, it becomes easier and easier to stay confident. And also, to balance… You learn how to be confident without being too aggressive, and you learn how to be humble without being passive."

"When you stimulate your life with kindness on a regular basis, it has a biological, psychological and physical change that you will find in your personal life and your professional life and in your mental health."

Learn more about Adrienne:

https://www.newsnationnow.com/

https://www.newsnationnow.com/author/adrienne-bankert/

https://www.instagram.com/abontv/?hl=en

Today's guest, Anh Lin, is a celebrated interior stylist known for her captivating designs and thought-provoking writing, including The Abundant Life Devotional Journal. Anh is also the creator of the popular faith and lifestyle blog, Girl And The Word, which has since expanded its influence through YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, and her online shop, The Hooga Shop.

In this episode, we dive deep into Anh's powerful story and how these experiences have shaped her unique perspective on design and life. We also discuss her new book, Forever Home: Moving Beyond Brokenness to Build a Strong and Beautiful Life.

Listen in as we talk about moving beyond brokenness, embracing a fulfilling and meaningful life, and so much more. This conversation with Anh was such a delight. I just know you're going to love it!

3:35 – Anh 101

• Born in Vietnam
• Moving to Pasadena, California
• Losing her father to cancer
• Finding Jesus in the darkest times

19:14 – Resilience Through Faith

• Jesus has overcome the world
• Suffering is a universal experience
• God can empathize

24:48 – New Beginnings

• A newfound appreciation for life
• Seeking therapy
• Healing + a deeper connection with God

34:07 – The Journey To Interior Design + Writing

• An unexpected path to interior design
• Gaining a social media following
• Moving beyond brokenness and restoring a sense of peace

FEATURED QUOTES

"I think that's exactly what a life with Jesus gives you. He allows you to live beyond the physical and beyond the cultural demands and seek to purpose."

"My ultimate hope is that Forever Home can be a guidebook to helping you restore the sense of peace that has been hijacked by trauma."

"You can start small instead of feeling overwhelmed by tackling entire rooms at a time. It all begins with a deconstruction process. And at first, being in this demolition phase might feel like a tear down. But it's only when you demolish this old life, can you actually rebuild something new and better for yourself."

Learn more about Anh:

https://www.girlandtheword.com/

https://www.instagram.com/girlandtheword/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo-jdu6ue5Wv-oe5-PSNvQ

I am beyond excited to announce that after 7+ years in the making, my book, If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came in This Room For, is now available for pre-order. It feels so surreal that this day is here.

Today I'm going to give you a glimpse into this journey and share the inspiration behind writing this book. This memoir is the story of my testimony. It's a story of brokenness, shame, and regret, but most importantly, it's a story of restoration, redemption, and healing. This project has been an absolute labor of love that I cannot wait to share with you!

Whether this is your first time listening, you've been here since day one, or something in between, I'm grateful for each one of you who has been a part of this incredible journey so far. I pray that this book makes you laugh, cry, and realize that even the messiest, muddiest, most broken parts of your story can be redeemed.

1:57 – A Special Announcement

• Pre-ordering my memoir
• A labor of love
• The inspiration behind this book

7:39 – What Is This Story About?

• My mother's passing
• My journey with loss, debt, and brokenness
• Transformation and redemption through Jesus

13:49 – Support + Share!

• Where you can pre-order the book
• My prayer + excitement for this journey
• My new website + more!

FEATURED QUOTES

"I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that in less than five months, you are going to hold in your hands a copy of my book… of some of the most honest and vulnerable words I have ever written and shared."

"My prayer is that as you read this book, that you can see that even the messy, muddy, broken parts of your story can be redeemed- that there is no one that is too far gone to be redeemed and to be forgiven. That we all make mistakes."

"Life is the both and; it is about living in the tension of the grief, and the joy and the beauty and the brokenness."

PRE ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

This week, we have an incredible guest, Jay Hewitt, joining us. He is a pastor, author and motivational speaker, and his life journey is nothing short of a remarkable testimony of courage and faith.

At the age of 37, Jay was confronted with a devastating diagnosis- terminal brain cancer. Through this experience, he found strength in God and embraced his calling to be a storyteller. His memoir, I Am Weak, I Am Strong, is coming out this fall, which details his extraordinary journey to become an Ironman while battling cancer.

Living in Orange County, California, he cherishes his family and continues to inspire others with his unwavering faith and empowering messages. His journey reminds us of the boundless strength within each of us. Join us for an incredibly moving and powerful conversation that you do not want to miss!

2:47 – Jay 101

• A calling to ministry
• Jay's family
• Battling brain cancer
• Jay's testimony

9:00 – Embracing New Assignments

• From student ministry to new adventures
• Launching a church + discovering new giftings
• Saying 'yes' to where God leads

15:59 – Jay's Diagnosis + Journey

• The discovery of Jay's brain tumor
• Finding the right surgeon + the surgery
• Jay's cancer diagnosis + shortened life expectancy
• A shift in prayer

33:48 – The Ongoing Journey

• Holding on to hope and faith
• Inspiration for the Ironman
• Beginning training and chemo

49:05 – Resilient Faith

• Combining one's calling with confidence
• Asking in faith
• Cooperating with God's work

55:59 – Jay's Life Today + Wisdom

• Current health status
• Living each day to the fullest
• Depending on God's strength

FEATURED QUOTES

"In 2 Corinthians 12:10, God says, 'My grace will sustain you.' And that's what I've been learning through this whole thing."

"I've just come to realize, it's only by God's grace that we have today. And it's not just me. It's you. It's the people next to us. The people listening right now. It's by God's grace that we have today."

"I need to dream like I'm gonna live forever and live like it's my last day. And that's how I keep moving forward in this life of uncertainty with my specific type of cancer."

Pre-order your copy of I Am Weak, I Am Strong, available November 14th, 2023:

Our guest this week is the remarkable Jay Kim, who serves as the lead pastor at West Gate Church in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, and a teacher in residence at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz. Jay is not only a gifted pastor, but a seasoned writer, having authored several books, including Analog Church and Analog Christian, and most recently, the 40 Days Through The Book: Colossians Bible study.

In addition to his writing and pastoral roles, Jay co-hosts two podcasts: Barna's Making Space podcast and Western Seminary's ReGENERATION podcast, and is an incredibly talented speaker and educator. If you're someone who loves diving into scripture, you are going to love this episode. His ability to bring the text to life and make complex concepts clear is truly inspiring.

Listen in as we dive deep into the background and cultural context of the book of Colossians in this episode and explore how it directly apply to our lives in the present day. Get ready to be educated, entertained, and moved as Jay Kim shares his incredible wisdom and perspective with us.

• Growing up in Silicon Valley
• A father, pastor and writer
• Jay's testimony

• Why Colossians?
• The relevance of Colossians
• "My truth" is gaining prominence

• Laying out the cultural context
• Parallels between ancient Colossians and our struggles today
• Jay's revelations during his studies

• Being chosen by God is a statement of love
• Taking God's love for granted + understanding costly grace
• Becoming people of love, compassion, and humility

• God is in control
• Finding peace in God's promise

"Finding some people who love you and care about you and are willing to sort of lean into whatever you're going through. It's just….it's a lifeline."

"Your motivation, your desires, your intention- point them to God and the things of God and then think about what that means for your life….That's the life of centering or reorienting yourself around Jesus."

"My prayer, then, and my prayer now is the same. It's that people would find an immense hope and comfort and confidence for life, in knowing that someone else is in is actually in control of the human story."

Learn more about Jay:

https://jaykimthinks.com/

In this episode, join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachael Powell, the Chief Communications Officer of Passages. Passages is an organization with a remarkable mission – they've brought over 10,000 Christian college students to Israel while helping them to grow as leaders and caring community members on their college campuses.

Rachael has a profound passion for Gen Z and younger millennials, and in this conversation, she shares her insights on how to best care for and nurture the faith of the next generation. Through her role at Passages, she aims to inspire young minds and help them dig deeper into their faith. Tune in as she discusses the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and deeper connections in church life, especially for younger generations.

Before we dive into the episode, please note that this conversation was recorded well before recent events in Israel and Gaza. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who are suffering and impacted by this current situation.

• An unexpected path to passion
• Becoming a part of Passages
• Transformative experiences in Israel

• The history, culture, and tangibility of Christianity
• The power of a firsthand experience
• Digging deeper into your faith

• The unique challenges faced by Gen Z in this digital age
• The deconstruction movement
• Craving community and deeper understanding
• The power of contextual discipleship

• Finding genuine in-person connections and community
• Creating a supportive environment to ask questions
• Wrestling with faith

• The power of authenticity
• Curiosity and a willingness to listen
• Being open about your journey and faith struggles

• Authenticity over flashiness
• Reconnecting with ancient roots
• Embracing the community experience

"We like to say that Israel is like drinking from a firehose, and that when you leave, you will probably have more questions than what you came with. And that's not a bad thing. That's the beginning of a journey to becoming deeper in your faith and really understanding."

"It begins with this challenge in Israel of digging deeper, but it doesn't end there. It continues with community and curiosity throughout life."

"I think even some of our concepts about how our faith has to be so individualized is also not a Middle Eastern concept. Faith in the Middle East is a community. It's a group of people living together, who all believe the same things and often meet together to ask each other questions to read scripture out loud, right? To live in community."

https://www.passagesisrael.org/

Connect with Rachael: [email protected]

Today I'm so excited to be joined by the remarkable Sharon Jaynes, a renowned international speaker and best-selling author of 26 books with nearly 1 million copies sold. She's a prominent voice in the global faith community, having served as the former Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-host of their radio program.

Sharon's latest book, "Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe," is a 30-day guide to praying purposely over your children. In this conversation, we explore how parents, grandparents, and anyone invested in a child's life can use the words of scripture to pray with intention and impact.

Join us as Sharon walks through 16 distinct areas of prayer, offering a heartfelt pattern for praying over the people you love, from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet. This discussion touched my heart profoundly, and I pray it will do the same for you!

• An unexpected path to book writing
• Starting up Proverbs 31 Ministries
• A passion for teaching the word of God

• Where did the 'head to toe' concept come from?
• Using scripture as a guidepost for everyday life
• The challenges and stresses of today's world on children

• The significant impact that adults can have on children's lives
• Sharon's journey to faith
• The transformative power of prayer

• Why does prayer matter?
• We are called to pray
• God is always working behind the scenes
• Adversity leading to spiritual and personal growth

• Walking through each landmark from head to toe
• Praying in alignment with God's word
• A pattern of prayer
• Relinquishing control

• There's no right or wrong way to pray
• There are no perfect parents, but we can be praying parents
• God is always working, even when we can't see it

"If you pray the word of God, you're praying the will of God"

"God will make the pain in our meanwhile, worthwhile."

"Our responsibility is obedience, and God's responsibility is the outcome."

"There are no perfect parents, but we can all be praying parents."

Sharon's Website: https://sharonjaynes.com/

Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonejaynes/?hl=en

Sharon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharonJaynes/

Today we're celebrating seven – yes seven! – years of producing this podcast and want to take a quick second to thank YOU for being a part of the show, reaching out, listening, and giving us the motivation to keep producing new shows.

We are excited to welcome on Ike Miller, a pastor who helped start Bright City Church along with his wife, Sharon, back in 2018. Ike has written about the intersection of theology, mental health, and family of origin issues. He's developed a passion for helping others who grew up in difficult circumstances after confronting his own family history of substance abuse disorders.

He's a great friend to our family and we wanted to bring him on to share this message about understanding how difficult childhoods prepare us for healthy relationships, which he writes about in his new book Good Baggage. We don't hold back when it comes to childhood trauma, how we can move forward, and why everything doesn't necessarily happen for a reason.

• Celebrating five years at the church on Sept 30
• What fueled the book
• How the pandemic brought a lot to the surface

• Differentiating the definition from symptoms
• Trauma related loss of self
• Plays out in different types of situations

• Learning to identify and disarm our baggage
• Ability to read emotions
• Figuring out what context to use that

• Creating space in our theology for the impact of trauma
• Building a theology around redemption
• Being okay with people angry at God

• Recognizing when you're screwing up
• Asking for forgiveness
• Realizing our parents are people with lives of their own

• Reflect on your pain points
• Dig up that pain an deal with it
• Connecting with Ike

"We typically think of codependency as people pleasing, but really, it's fundamentally about a loss of self. That, in that context, whatever we went through, in some trauma, it forced us to be someone other than ourselves in order to survive, in order to appease someone else to protect ourselves mentally, emotionally, or physically. And so you just kind of become whoever you think others need you to be because you've lost your sense of self of who you are."

"We need to create more space in the church just for being able to say that not all sin is just strictly about my sheer disobedience to God, but that as a broken human being, I'm acting out of that because of brokenness that was done to me."

"I think that's kind of a bit of it for me is that ability to say, I don't know that I can explain all of why it happened, but where do I want to go from here? What kind of life do I want from here?"

Learn more about Bright City Church: https://brightcitychurch.com/

Get Ike's Book Good Baggage: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Baggage-Difficult-Childhood-Relationships/dp/1540902862

Every parent struggles with maintaining their own identity while also trying to pour all their energy into being a mother or a father. Our guest this week knows all about that. Dr. Morgan Cutlip knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood and she's been determined to help others navigate that with more success.

You might have come across her on social media, her podcast, her blog, or through the courses on her website. She also just published a new blook called Love Yourself Without Losing Yourself, and it's all about how moms can beat burnout and banish guilt. But even better, it actually provides some practical tips for taking care of ourselves.

Her focus might be on motherhood, but you'll quickly realize that this also applies to the dads out there. Really, anyone with kids can benefit from listening to Morgan and that's why we're really excited to bring you this interview.

4:05 – Morgan 101

• Her experience in the relationship education field
• Struggling with motherhood
• What pushed her to make this her mission

10:24 – Challenges of motherhood

• Overwhelming amount of advice about what's right and wrong
• Conflicting advice from social media 'experts'
• What she learned from her parents

24:19 – Parenting now vs past generations

• Every generation faces its own set of challenges
• No child will leave their childhood experience without something
• Putting parenthood on a pedestal

30:33 – Mom guilt

• Intensive mothering
• Giving yourself permission
• Putting your own identity on the backburner

47:19 – Her book

• 3 reasons self-care irritates her
• 5 areas that exist in all relationships
• Touch purposefully

FEATURED QUOTES

"I know I didn't have the answers, but I knew I had the skill sets to figure out how to empower moms to navigate motherhood differently. And so that's when I made up my mind, this is what I wanted to do."

"We have overcorrected, and it's all done with good intentions. But sometimes too much of a good thing becomes bad. And we have left ourselves in a place where we are parenting so intensely, that we can't help but feel like we're regularly getting it wrong."

"Sometimes we need that permission to not make everything about our kids, right. And I think a lot of us then if we if we act on that permission, we will feel guilty about it. And so we have to deal with what's underneath that guilt in order to get that get rid of that because it's not serving us."

Connect with Dr. Morgan Cutlip: https://drmorgancutlip.com

Get her book 'Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself': https://drmorgancutlip.com/book/

About Dr. Morgan Cutlip: Dr. Morgan Cutlip knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood, and she's determined to help mothers navigate it better. She is experienced and trained in translating psychological theory and research into practical, accessible, and actionable advice, which she shares with her clients and social media followers (@drmorgancutlip) and through her courses, podcast, and her blog as cofounder of MyLoveThinks.com. Dr. Cutlip earned her masters in human development and family science and her doctorate in counseling psychology. She is a mother of two wild kids, wife of her high school sweetheart, and life-long lover of all things relationship.

Buy the book here: LOVE YOUR KIDS WITHOUT LOSING YOURSELF. For more information, visit https://www.mylovethinks.com/links/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drmorgancutlip/