Go & Be

What kind of home are you creating around you? Do you make it a safe space to ask questions? Are you someone that sets the stage for your own children to seek?

Today, Michelle McCullough and Christie Gardiner discuss Joseph Smith, the Restoration, and how his mother created a safe environment for him to ask questions. 

As Christie says, there are many ways to feel about the Restoration and Joseph Smith, and it can be easy to feel shame or fear about the questions you have. But instead of feeling that way, congratulate yourself for being a seeker, like Joseph was. By seeking, you can receive your own personal revelation, and with that revelation you can go and be and share your experiences to inspire others.

Have you found your true voice? Do you know who you truly are and have you accepted that person? Debra Bonner, singer and gospel choir director, is here today with Christie Gardiner and Michelle McCullough to talk about her philosophy of finding your one true voice. 

Have you always wanted to hire a stylist? Or do you struggle knowing what to wear on a daily basis? Is getting dressed fun and joyful for you?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, today’s episode is for you! Paige Sorensen, a professional stylist, sits down with Christie Gardiner and Michelle McCullough to talk about fashion and finding the right style for who you are right now! 

Not only does she give some great tips on how to fill your closet with clothes that bring you joy, she asks Christie and Michelle questions from her fashion survey—questions she wants you to answer, too! Tune in to find out what these questions are and then comment and join the conversation. 

Have you ever felt guilty for not being a better mother? Have you ever felt like you’ve had to sacrifice your own talents and passions to put the needs of your family first? Today, hosts Christie and Michelle talk about Christie’s first book, You Are the Mother Your Children Need and the experiences that brought that book about. Even if you don’t have children, this episode is just as applicable to you, and we hope it will inspire you to see that you absolutely have permission—even a responsibility—to be exactly who you are.

If Christie could summarize her book into six words, they would be “Show up as you with God.” The problem is that so often mothers get caught up on that “as you” part. But the fact is that the essence of who a mother is is who their children need.

Christie spent much of the beginning of her motherhood no longer pursuing her acting career, even though it was something she loved. Later on, she realized her daughters enjoyed who she was when they were in a play together—her own talents were helping her family, not getting in the way of it.

When you decide to start showing up as you are, it won’t be pretty or easy, but it will be wonderful and oh so worth it. Join us today to learn more about how to change the mindset around motherhood and just go and be you!

How do you become a truly authentic individual? You can find out by watching today’s episode, which features Jennica Anusua, a mental health professional, artist, actress, and musician. She talks about her life experiences with hosts Christie and Michelle and how these experiences molded her own authenticity.

Adopted from India at age one by a single woman, Jennica began her life journey beating the odds at an orphanage to start a life with her new mother in America. From a young age, she knew she wanted to help people from all over the world. She now currently works with refugees and makes it her purpose to represent and elevate women of color.

So how did she let her experiences shape her into someone who is truly authentic? She learned to embrace her multi-faceted self and realized that “learning to embrace all your facets is the path to authenticity.” She asked herself, “Do I like me in this skin? If I don’t like me, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.” 

We can all learn a thing or two from Jennica’s path to authenticity. Tune in today to feel inspired to find and embrace all your facets so you can increase your own authenticity! 

What's your most embarrassing moment? Today, hosts Michelle and Christie discuss their most embarrassing moments. Remember we all are crazy and have insane lives, but we are going into the world and we are being what our Heavenly Parents want us to be. Go into the world and be you!

Have you ever wanted to be more intentional with your day but struggled to find the time or to know how to go about it? No matter who you are, you’ll always benefit from having a morning and evening routine, and that’s just what we’re going to tackle today.

Hosts Christie Gardiner and Michelle McCullough compare routines to a spiritual buffet offered by our Heavenly Father. Not everything works for everyone, and you don’t need to do it all, but there is an abundance of opportunity there for you to benefit from, even if it doesn’t seem possible for you to take the time right now.

What are some things that have helped you in your morning and evening routines? We’d love to hear your thoughts down below!

Have you ever wondered how to let the Lord make more of your life? Or maybe you want to be more of an instrument in His hands. Today, longtime author and historian Heidi Swinton is here to help you figure out how to do just that, along with our hosts Michelle and Christie.

Heidi, whose one of many accomplishments is writing Thomas S. Monson’s biography, has learned that she hears Him in the words of the Book of Mormon. Every time she starts reading it again, she gets a new copy so that it’s sort of a clean slate. She’s better able to hear Him speak new thoughts and inspirations.

Heidi also knows that while she hears actual words when the spirit speaks to her, that isn’t how it works for everyone. There are numerous ways to hear the Lord speak to you and if you open your heart, you realize you can hear Him in many different ways. 

As you search and question how to let the Lord lead you in your life’s purpose, ask yourself, “Is this going to result in drawing me closer to Christ?” And remember that, as Christie says, “there’s never an expiration date on your ability to hear Him. We can hear Him anytime we’re ready. It’s never too late to start hearing Him.”

Are you yearning to find ways you can hear Him in your everyday work? Today, painter and artist Rose Datoc Hall sits with Christie and Michelle to talk about how she shows up to hear Him in her work and art. And as someone who has painted New Testament scenes for 30 years, she has invaluable insight.

Rose felt led to paint spiritual subject matter as she began her artistic career. Her work is her testimony and a reflection of what she’s going through spiritually at the time. Art is the tool she uses to connect with God and to hear Him, which is why she recently decided to reevaluate the way she paints Jesus. Although she doesn’t know what He looks like, she knows what He feels like, and she wants others to feel Him through her work.

How have you felt connected to God through your work? Let us know in the comments below!

How do you personally know Jesus? What’s your story of getting to know Him? In today’s episode, Sandy Freckleton Gagon, artist and author, discusses her experience painting Bind Up the Brokenhearted with Michelle and Christie and how this experience taught her valuable lessons about Jesus Christ.

It’s a beautiful painting and story that was created “line upon line” as she got to know her Savior personally by reflecting on what happened the day the model for her painting came to work. The symbolism of Christ and the lamb in her personal account applies to anyone who wants to get to know the Savior on a more personal level. 

No matter what we’ve been through or what we’re going through, Jesus Christ is ready to welcome us into His arms. We can “lean against the chest of the Savior and melt in” by hearing and seeking Him. Join us today if you want to learn how the Savior can heal, redeem, and rescue you.