Lament of Hope

Kate Marczewski sat down with me to discuss her grieving process after her sister's (Nightbirde's) death, Kate's love for missions, and the importance of Christian community.

This was such a fun episode to put together! Huge thank you to my fellow ladies, Emma Armbrust and GraceAnna Schmidt. In light of the recent Oscars, I didn't think it was too late to publish an episode on the film, Barbie. So, sit back and relax as three Christian gals discuss Barbie. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Emma Warren joined Celtic Woman less than a year ago, and now is touring the U.S. for their 20th anniversary tour. Emma talked with me about  her experience with the group so far, how she unwinds during the hectic tour schedule, and what song she hopes to try her hand at someday.

Jessica Steen is a Canadian actress who is currently acting in the CBC Heartland series. Jessica talked with me about the unhealthy obsession culture has for depressing entertainment, aging in acting, and her take on the spirituality of nature.

Elizabeth Ford knows what it is like to be hungry. She grew up sitting outside of 7-Eleven asking customers for quarters so that she could buy a hotdog. Elizabeth talked with me about her upbringing, her relationship with her mom, and how she came to start BetterALife, a nonprofit organization in Purcellville, Virginia that ministers to children and families in need.

Inna Sahakyan talked with me about her filmmaking process for Aurora's Sunrise, an animation that documents the story of Armenian genocide survivor, Aurora Mardiganian. Inna and I discussed the historical accuracy of the film, how much atrocity to portray to a film audience, as well as Inna's desire for humanity to reestablish justice for all.

Anita Tatlow and her husband form the Christian music group Salt of the Sound. Anita discussed her philosophy of worship music, living in Hong Kong, and the adoption of her first son.

Simone Porter is an accomplished violinist who has performed with several orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Simone talked with me about her journey with the violin starting as a three-year-old, the struggles of being a professional musician, as well as her book favorites.

Jess is a mother, entrepreneur, and a registered nurse in a birthing center who has a passion to encourage women in their motherhood journey. Our world, including the medical community, can be a large source of discouragement and stress for new moms. Jess' input is a breath of fresh air and hope for women wanting more information on pregnancy and motherhood.

I really enjoyed getting to speak with Todd from Voice of the Martyrs. We discussed the importance of believers remembering their persecuted brothers and sisters, not only in prayers for their freedom, but in prayers for sustainment during difficult times. It is easy to romanticize believers who are being persecuted around the world. However, Todd emphasized that those suffering need Christ's comfort and encouragement to persevere.