This is Part I of a very special podcast for March for Life week. My friend Lacy Miske (formerly Dodd) was a classmate at Notre Dame. We reconnected back in 2019 over baby products when we were both expecting. But the Lord has just been  keeping us connected over conservative values and love for ND and our country. She served in the military upon graduation while I served in the White House.

I knew of her story, getting pregnant senior year at ND, but I didn't know the real story and I wanted her to tell it. This was all God and His timing. Little did I know until about two days before the interview was - this was the first time both her and her daughter would be sharing their story together publicly. Friends, I am humbled and honored to have hosted these two amazing women. You have to hear the story - and this - is just Part 1 with Lacy.

I pray both of these podcasts bless you as much as they blessed me. God is so good and faithful. I pray whoever needs to hear this, gets to hear it. To God be the glory.

I know how easy it is to want to jump on the weight-loss train at the start of the new year. But I want to challenge you to pivot. If you know in the back of your mind that you are going to start this and not stick with it, maybe it's time to realize something. Maybe that annual diet only fixes the outside and that's why it doesn't stick. Maybe you are supposed to get better from the inside out and maybe God wants to help you do that. Listen this week as you consider your new year's resolutions to hear what I'm talking about.

I know how easy it is to want to jump on the weight-loss train at the start of the new year. But I want to challenge you to pivot. If you know in the back of your mind that you are going to start this and not stick with it, maybe it's time to realize something. Maybe that annual diet only fixes the outside and that's why it doesn't stick. Maybe you are supposed to get better from the inside out and maybe God wants to help you do that. Listen this week as you consider your new year's resolutions to hear what I'm talking about.

Christmas is such a beautiful season. We get to celebrate Jesus' birth and see our families to make new memories. Joy is overflowing. But in the midst of that, we can also have deep pain. Maybe we're grieving the loss of a loved one, or one who is distant or just a difficult season in life. It's bittersweet, because in the midst of our pain, we have this joy in Christ. We have this hope. I don't want you to miss what this season is all about. All of that pain is exactly why Jesus was born in a manger. I just want to remind you if you are in the midst of pain, even it's hard to feel joy, you can have hope. Merry Christmas.

I'm so excited to bring you this interview. Erin is an author of over 15 books and is a major part of Revive Our Hearts Ministries where she leads Bible Studies and hosts a podcast called, "The Deep Well." I loved this interview. If you are ready to just get right to some of these major things we all struggle with around food and weight, you've got to give this one a listen.   We cover some of meatiest topics: 

- what fasting means to us, 

 - how the Lord is the one who satisfies us more than any food,  

- scarcity, 

- the bad fruit of sin that's in our lives that is the real issue in our hearts, 

- and, how could we not do - shame around food.  

So much good stuff and all just centered around our Savior. Just a beautiful conversation I'm sure I'll return to again and again too! So make sure you check it out!

Do you struggle with post-Thanksgiving guilt about what you ate? Are you trying to manage the stress of the holidays and turning to the food to cope? Sometimes when turn to the food, we're trying to control what we can't and we just have to rely on the only one who can give us the comfort we need. Watch or listen this week as I briefly talk about how God is with you in that place. Then you'll hear a testimony from Kara Frost on her struggles with how food restriction affected her health and how she realized leaning into Jesus was the better path for healing. 

Also - we have merch now! Head over to our instagram at @getrealwithmeredith to find out more details or to place your order! 

This is a message for Christians disheartened by the 22 Midterm elections. There is no better time than Thanksgiving approaching to remind us of where our only true hope lies. Having worked in politics at the White House, I can tell you what I found out - it's never been Washington where your answers will be found. It's in Jesus. If your expectations were set on God fixing things with the elections, maybe it's time to shift your focus.

Maybe He wants to do something different in you, to take you deeper - or, take others deeper with Him. We don't know His plans. We just have to trust that they are good, and greater than anything we could imagine, or even the enemy could plan.

Watch or listen this week as we study why Christ in us is the hope of glory, how Jonah lived a lesson we can learn from, and a little bit of history - to learn what you may have in common with those who were at the first Thanksgiving.

This is my Heart for America. I feel the Lord calling me because of my background in politics to encourage you to vote on November 8th.

So, when we’re in our twenties, many of us don’t really care about elections. I know I didn’t. But when you look at the issues at stake, our vote does matter. That’s why it’s so important to grow up and vote.

Watch and listen this week as I talk about why making informed decisions about what you believe and voting for them is an important part of growing up. I’ll talk a little about my perspective on the country now as someone out of politics and remind you why God is such an important part of it all.

Then I’ll give you an example of what’s going on in our state of Michigan on Election Day with something called Proposition 3 backed by some insights on the teen brain. If we’ll let every individual make decisions about abortion, then we’re telling teens and younger that they can handle it. They cannot.

So watch/listen. Get informed. Use your voice. Get out and vote.

This week we are talking about that temptation that is staring you in the face this time of year - that Halloween candy. As it sits there and tempts you in bite sizes, you think you can handle just one. But not all of us can do that. Join me as we get real about what may or not be a sugar issue for you, and let me help you lean on the one who can help you deal with it. Hint: It's not you alone or your willpower. If you struggle with overeating the sweets from now until the holidays, you may want to check this one out.

This is for my older listeners and younger ones. For the older ones who may have children you are trying to raise and point toward Godly influencers. For the younger ones, I'll give you some direction on how to actually find these Godly role models we're talking about. But the beginning will be focused on where some of us as older women get our insights. We read Christian books, and some of them we're finding aren't lining up with our values. I want to help you address that issue that tugs at our hearts and help you navigate how to find and be the Godly role model we're called to be.