A deeply authentic conversation with superstar author and speaker Jen Hatmaker on her new book, Simple and Free. Plus all kinds of other great topics like building community, bringing up kids, screen time, COVID-19, writing and so much more. Jen is just brilliant a a real force of nature.

In Her Own Words

The high-level stuff: I’ve written several books including NY Times bestsellers For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie. I host The For the Love Podcast which has won a bunch of awards, and I speak all over the country. I created the Jen Hatmaker Book Club where I nerd out every month with thousands of women who believe good books are everything and stories still matter. I lead an online community of millions of women, and they are my life force, personal think tank, and comic relief.

The low-level stuff: I still use a paper calendar which you will pry out of my cold, dead hands. I also use my original AOL email account unironically. I love cooking but am a terrible teacher in the kitchen because I just want all those kids to leave me alone. Big fan of 90’s country music. I can drive a boat and pull kids on a tube. I secretly like Totino’s frozen pizza which costs like $1.19 and I’m not sorry. I don’t like sad movies; never seen a Nicholas Spark film. My favorite show is CBS Sunday Morning. We live in a 1908 farmhouse which is very creaky and thus helpful while raising teenagers who might want to leave at 3:30am. I love concerts but only when we can sit down now; we aren’t Olympians. The Secret Garden was my first favorite book. I drink Almond Joy Flavored Creamer in my coffee and won’t be reformed. These are all the important facts of my life (favorite Facts of Life character: Jo).

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Read The Book That Inspires The Show

Paul Samuel Dolman, author, podcaster, and speaker, presents What Matters Most (the book!) a series of interview transcriptions from more than twenty inspirational Nashville and Tennessee residents, including special guest the journalist and author Bill Moyers.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, former Governor Don Sundquist, Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal, Grammy Award-winning entertainer Wynonna Judd, and many more share intimate and inspirational aspects of themselves.

This twentieth anniversary edition also features bonus material from thirty more notables from Tennessee, including local business owners, spiritual leaders, coaches, radio personalities, authors, and educators.