Pop them bottles! It’s another very special bonus episode with Rachel and Tracy to celebrate their first year (give or take a few months) of hosting the Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast! Rachel reflects on the origin story of the podcast, while Tracy proclaims their shared respect for author and teacher Jennie Allen before unveiling the announcement of the very first Isn’t it Lovely? Book Club, featuring Jennie Allen’s latest book, Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World (Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!). Tracy and Rachel express gratitude for their incredible community of listeners and look toward a future that continues to highlight Sioux Falls-based stories, while also expanding to new cities. And it wouldn’t be an episode of Isn’t it Lovely? without a What Are You Loving? segment featuring books, empowering quotes, and, of course, food.

Jennie Allen Website: https://www.jennieallen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jennieallen/

Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jennie Allen

What Are You Loving?

Rachel: Breadico Sourdough Bread Company

Tracy: The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

“It is not by regretting what is irreparable that true work is to be done, but by making the best of what we are. It is not by complaining that we have not the right tools, but by using well the tools we have. What we are, and where we are, is God’s providential arrangement, - God’s doing, though it may be man’s misdoing; and the manly and the wise way is to look your disadvantages in the face, and see what can be made out of them.” - F.W. Robertson

Tracy and Rachel are honored and delighted to sit down with literal history-maker Kimberly Reed to discuss her wide-ranging career in Washington D.C. and groundbreaking role as the first female Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). Kim expertly weaves anecdotes from her childhood and personal life into experiences from her professional life, including reflecting on delivering a hot cocoa demonstration as a nine-year-old girl to a panel of 4-H judges, which sparked the healthy self-confidence she would one day need to sit before the U.S. Senate for the two and a half year process that eventually led to her confirmation (with bi-partisan support!) with the EXIM bank. Kim encourages listeners to consider the avenues and opportunities they have to serve others and help make the world a better place, while also including a shoutout to past guest and friend of the show Luke Lindberg and the vital importance of mentoring. Tracy marvels at the epic tale of how Kim had a mere one hour notice to prepare to take her oath of office and what she found on her bookshelf that gave her the encouragement she needed, while Rachel cannot get over “Poppers” as an adorable nickname for a grandfather. Later, city girls Rachel and Tracy hilariously lament the fact that they missed out on the advantages of being involved in 4-H.

Episode Mentions:

Kim Reed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedkimberlyann/

Export-Import Bank of the United States: https://www.exim.gov/

Belt and Road Initiative: https://www.beltroad-initiative.com/belt-and-road/

Midwest Agricultural Export Summit: https://www.siouxfalls.business/sioux-falls-hosts-midwest-agricultural-export-summit-drawing-national-leaders/

Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds, and Congressman Dusty Johnson

4-H: https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/lukelindberg

Luke Lindberg Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast Show Notes and Interview: https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/lukelindberg

Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima

https://www.loreal-finance.com/eng/news-release/loreal-signs-agreement-acquire-it-cosmetics

It’s a BFF extravaganza in the studio as Tracy and Rachel welcome Courtney Collen and Katrina Yde to the podcast for a conversation about all things friendship! Courtney and Katrina share their Meet Cute as inspiration for how to pursue friendship past the college years, while Tracy and Rachel delight in the ways these women serve as one another’s biggest cheerleaders. Katrina graciously provides complimentary therapy as she and Tracy consider the importance of making peace with conflict or tension in relationships as well as how to nurture a safe place for vulnerability even when it feels awkward. Courtney and Katrina express how the pain of feeling left out in childhood inspires a desire to be inclusive and welcoming in adult friendships, while illustrating intentional and empowering ways to engage in the types of behaviors that can change up less healthy norms and rules. Tracy suggests Katrina draft a Friendship Manifesto for all to sign, while Rachel and Courtney rhapsodize over office supplies. Obligatory mentions of Goodreads ensue as well.

Episode Mentions:

Courtney Collen’s Instagram: @courtneycollen; @courtneymcollen

Katrina Yde’s Instagram: @katrinayde

Forward Counseling’s Website: https://www.forwardcounselingllc.com/

Forward Counseling’s Instagram: @forwardcounselingllc

JY6 Foundation Website: https://www.jy6foundation.org/

JY6 Foundation Instagram: @jy6foundation

"Why Making Friends in Midlife is so Hard": https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/01/how-to-make-new-friends-midlife/621231/

"How to Make Friends as an Adult":

https://www.thecut.com/article/how-to-make-friends-as-an-adult.html

What Are You Loving?

Read Across America

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Women’s History Month

Sioux Falls Arc of Dreams

Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Rachel and Tracy cozy up for a morning coffee (and smoothie) with Colorado resident Kelsey Hargadine as she details how she began her lifelong calling into the heart of Uganda and how, with the help of relationships, we all have a zealous YES that we can step into. Kelsey discusses practical steps to listen and eliminate the noise and distractions in our lives and how, in doing so, we are intentional in what we let into our minds and clear the way to be actively hearing from God. Tracy and Rachel ask on behalf of a “friend” and the “friend’s friend” specific noise “the friend” should eliminate to hear better. Kelsey also presents the topic of failure and how paramount failure is to growth, exploring how her roundabout move to Singapore taught this valuable lesson. In the end, Kelsey talks about her upcoming book she is writing and encourages everyone into relationships because God made us to be relational and even though relationships can be messy, they are always worth it. Rachel & Tracy both ask Kelsey about her first impression of Sioux Falls, and to no one’s surprise she confirms that it is (sigh) very cold.

Episode Mentions:

ROWAN Website: https://loverowan.org/

ROWAN Instagram: @love.rowan

ROWAN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveROWAN/

Francis Chan: https://www.crazylove.org/

“Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.” — John Maxwell, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/628070.Failing_Forward

‘“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Notice it does not say, faith comes from having heard. The whole nature of faith implies a relationship with God that is current. The emphasis is on hearing…in the now!’ — Bill Johnson

“It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible.” ― Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles

Throne Publishing: https://thronepg.com/

“What has felt like your resting place is now a starting line.” Dream Big, Bob Goff https://www.bobgoff.com/books

What Are You Loving?

Kelsey: Lumify Eye Drops: https://www.lumifydrops.com/

Rachel: Dear White Peacemaker: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace by Osheta Moore. https://osheta.com/dear-white-peacemakers/

Tracy: Daily Detox Smoothie from Daily Clean Food & Drink https://dailycleanfood.com/

Isn’t it Lovely? Season 5 hits the ground running as Rachel and Tracy welcome photographer, creative director, foodie extraordinaire and Sioux Falls Hype Man Vince Danh to the podcast for a long-form interview celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit, major life pivots, uplifting communities - and his willingness to wait for really good food. Vince shares how his path to becoming a lawyer shifted the moment he picked up a camera during a 6-month (U.S. State Department Commissioned!) trip to Southeast Asia and fell in love with capturing the moments and stories unfolding around him. He highlights how growing up in Sioux Falls with a strong family bond and supportive mentors provided him with the foundation to consistently help out and support others in every area of his life. Vince teaches Rachel and Tracy an Australian accent party trick, while Rachel tries to persuade Tracy and Vince to demonstrate secret fraternity/sorority handshakes and chants. Tracy and Vince extoll the virtues of Kerrygold butter, while Rachel grapples with the knowledge that not everyone fondly remembers (or remembers at all) the Lilith Fair Music Festivals.

Episode Mentions:

Vincent Gene Website: https://vincentgene.com/

Vincent Gene Instagram: @viva_la_vince

4Front Studios Website: https://4frontstudios.com/

4Front Studios Instagram: @4frontstudios

Greater Than Zero Percent Website: https://www.gtzp.org/

Greater Than Zero Percent Instagram: @greaterthanzeropercent

Vince Danh Sioux Falls Business Journal Feature

Loyola University Chicago Website: https://www.luc.edu/

KOTO (Know One Teach One) Website: https://www.koto.com.au/

Anthony Bourdain: https://explorepartsunknown.com/

Pho Quynh Vietnamese Restaurant Website: https://phoquynhsf.com/

Vaney Hariri and Think 3D Solutions Website: https://letsthink3d.com/

Alterations and Tailoring by Lee and Company Website: http://alterationsbylee.com/

Tarquin Argentinian Restaurant Instagram: @tarquin_sf

Yummy House Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Cantonese-Restaurant/Yummy-House-589940278336629/

Lunar New Year

YouTube Lilith Fair Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDQMwRbBbW9dFIY&start_radio=1&v=3s1bZLh4mJA

Tom Holland and Zendaya Relationship: https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/photo-gallery/48632570/image/48632576/Everything-Zendaya-Tom-Holland-Have-Said-About-Their-Friendship

Tracy and Rachel celebrate the Season 4 finale of Isn’t it Lovely? by welcoming Sioux Falls Christian Elementary School Principal Dr. Kym Johnston to the podcast! A daughter and granddaughter of educators, Kym reflects on a passion for education that dates back to playing school as a little girl, reveals how the belief of a leader inspired her dream and goal of becoming a principal, and offers encouragement to those walking through seasons of discomfort and growth. Tracy and Kym discuss the double-edged sword of increased technology in the classroom and how to utilize it to better enhance, yet not replace, instruction, while Rachel marvels at Kym’s ability to greet every student (and their siblings) by name in below-zero temperatures at morning drop-off while looking like a million dollars. Kym models ways to demonstrate to your professional team that you trust and care about them and reminds us that all children seek to feel safe and loved. Tracy and Rachel request advice for helping children embrace imagination and empathy, while also learning the finer points of South Dakota’s geography, despite combined decades of living in the Mount Rushmore State.

Episode Mentions:

Sioux Falls Christian School Website: https://www.siouxfallschristian.org/

Psalm 46 (NIV)

Sephora: https://www.sephora.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/

Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It’s Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind… by Louie Giglio

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

Daughter of the Reich: A Novel by Louise Fein

Look’s Marketplace: https://www.looksmarket.com/

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen A. Jenson and Debbie Fox

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. Kristen A. Jenson and Debbie Fox

It’s a celebration of collaboration and empathy as Isn’t it Lovely? welcomes community leader Rich Merkouris to the podcast! After reflecting on a childhood that encouraged outreach, Rich identifies the life-changing moment a casual joke to a college professor set him on a trajectory to engage with his community in a personal way. Rich and Tracy discuss the notion of holy discontent and the ways the entrepreneurial spirit thrives in the nonprofit/service sector — and when it’s equally vital to set individual ideas down to creatively partner with others. Rich and Rachel explore the importance of humanizing social issues, preserving dignity, and challenging personal biases to compassionately acknowledge the complex dynamics of addiction, mental health, and accessibility. In an inspiring call to action, Rich reminds listeners that the core issue for so many individuals is hope and that success doesn’t have to be either/or; it can be both/and. Rachel and Tracy conclude the episode with a years in the making love letter to Sioux Falls, its people, and…its airport.

Episode Mentions:

Rich Merkouris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmerkouris/

Empower Sioux Falls Website: https://www.empowersiouxfalls.com/

Randell Beck

Sioux Falls Hope Coalition - https://www.sfhopecoalition.org/

211 Helpline Center - https://www.helplinecenter.org/

Jacky’s Restaurant - http://www.jackysrestaurants.com/

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls Regional Airport -https://www.sfairport.com/

Be inspired to change the world as Tracy and Rachel welcome Washington D.C. powerhouse Michelle Bekkering to the podcast! Sharing powerful illustrations and real-life experiences from a career that has taken her around the globe, Michelle champions both emotions and economics as tools to invite listeners to adopt a global perspective in uplifting and empowering girls and women. Tracy and Michelle discuss the power of storytelling and open, respectful communication, as well as the importance of being culturally and contextually aware and challenging unintentional arrogance in the search for common ground. Rachel and Michelle address the value of also finding local partners and embracing change in one’s own backyard through holding the hand of the person you are helping. Rachel feels connected to the woman in Jordan running for Parliament who recognized the value of a well-timed wink; Tracy ponders incorporating Michelle as the third Isn’t it Lovely? podcast host.

Episode Mentions:

Michelle Bekkering at the US Global Leadership Coalition: https://www.usglc.org/staff/michelle-bekkering/

Michelle Bekkering’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-bekkering-11b77684/

EmBe’s Website: https://www.embe.org/

EmBe’s Instagram: @embesf

Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls Website: https://sfmcc.org

Tracy and Rachel are equal parts trepidatious and joyful to unveil Isn’t it Lovely?’s very first holiday special! Snuggled into Tracy’s dining room and surrounded by Yuletide splendor, Tracy and Rachel quickly discover how challenging it is to interview…each other. Featuring special segments including a lightning round of Christmas questions and a holiday-themed What We’re Loving This Week, the episode ultimately shines a light on what is most lovely of all: Isn’t it Lovely’s extraordinary guests and incredible listeners.

Episode Mentions:

White Christmas Movie

A Charlie Brown Christmas

O Holy Night by Music Travel Love

O Come O Come Emmanuel by Lauren Daigle

Last Christmas

The Christmas Shoes

Frosted Sugar Cookies

The Beatles

The Story of the Birth of Jesus

Katie Twedt, owner of FORM Fitness Studio + Boutique, radiates energy and light on the podcast during a positive and inclusive conversation about health and wellness. Acknowledging, yet gently deconstructing, the guilt and shame that can surround these topics, Katie instead models grace and acceptance, encouraging an examination of health markers other than a clothing size or number of the scale, including energy, sleep, relationships, and more. Rachel is delighted to learn that Katie is almost singlehandedly responsible (in the eyes of Isn’t it Lovely?) for the flourishing of Lululemon clothing in Sioux Falls, while Tracy thanks Katie for helping her embrace biker shorts.

Episode Mentions:

FORM Fitness Studio + Boutique Website: https://www.formfitnessboutique.com/

FORM Fitness Studio + Boutique Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formfitnessboutique/?hl=en

American Girls Podcast:https://www.americangirlspod.com

Blow Dryer Brush:https://www.ulta.com/p/volumizer-4-in-1-blowout-brush-pimprod2019104?sku=2571341