After introducing the topic, Lauren mentions emotional perseverance and their episode last week.

Lauren highlights the extreme in conversation of either avoiding talking about suffering, or being insensitive in the things you say. Rick adds that we need to find the middle ground between those two, and not be afraid to just start the conversation and acknowledge the pain.

Lauren references Project Gabriel several times throughout the episode, and the lessons she learned about speaking into suffering through her pregnancy with Gabriel.

Rick brings up how important it is to not just assume what the person who is suffering is feeling, but to really listen to them instead of trying to control the situation when you offer to help. Lauren repeats that it's important to let the other person feel whatever they are feeling so that they can grieve and grow.

Lauren discloses that we can't compare losses with someone who is suffering; each and every loss is valid and significant. She also advices to not wait for someone to reach out for help; instead, offer specific ways you want to help.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Email Rick at [email protected] or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Email Lauren at [email protected] or find her on Instagram. 

After referencing the first episode with Lauren Shaw and a brief introduction of her, the three jump into the conversation about the pandemic and how to thrive during this time despite the fatigue.

Lauren Shaw discusses how it's okay and important to grieve how different our lives are now compared to before COVID. Rick chimes in and reminds listeners to celebrate the things we can do instead of focusing on the things we can't do anymore.

Even though things look very different in our world, Lauren Shaw emphasizes that there are needs (like connection and movement) that will still need to be met, and maybe need to be met in different ways than before. She also mentions that we might find we need more of things now than we did before, like sleep and rest.

Lauren Shaw moves the discussion to talking about checking in with your heart and body each day, asking them what they need each day. She stresses the importance of finding new expectations, and finding accountability for this, as well as setting good boundaries.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Email Rick at [email protected] or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Email Lauren at [email protected] or find her on Instagram.

About Lauren Shaw:

Dr. Lauren Shaw is a licensed clinical psychologist living in Chicago with her husband and three children. She works at The Arlington Center. Find Lauren on Facebook, Instagram, or email her at [email protected] 

Rick begins the conversation by explaining what he means by the word integrity - not just doing what you said you were going to do, but taking it one step further. He references Jesus taking it beyond just committing murder, and Henry Cloud's book on integrity.

Rick gives three words that encompass integrity for him:

1. Wholeness 
2. Reality (and people who hold you accountable to reality) 
3. Efficacy 

Rick emphasizes that so much of integrity starts internally.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Email Rick at [email protected] or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Email Lauren at [email protected] or find her on Instagram. 

Rick and Lauren begin their discussion of grief first by referencing Open Door's episodes on grief. Rick also references a Mayo article about grief and the pandemic. 

Early on, Rick acknowledges that everyone not only has experienced or is currently experiencing grief for something in their life, but that everyone grieves in a different, unique way.

Rick and Lauren then transition into discussing work grief, and how staff departures and change at work can bring about grief.

The two again voice that grief can accompany both the small (like not being able to socialize because of COVID) and the large things (like a death) we experience in life; just because something seems smaller doesn't mean it's not important to you or deserving of grief.

Rick emphasizes that grief shows us our need for God. Lauren brings up that avoiding acknowledging our sadness and grief, or having unresolved grief, can affect us and those around us negatively, so we have to give ourselves (and those in our lives who are grieving) grace and time to heal.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Email Rick at [email protected] or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Email Lauren at [email protected] or find her on Instagram. 

Rick begins the episode by welcoming and introducing Dr. Angie Ward and explaining his relationship with her.

Angie jumps in by talking about her book, 'I Am A Leader.' She shares that when she started out in a leadership position, she struggled with an identity reframing and feelings of being alone as a woman in leadership.

Lauren and Angie clarify for listeners that a leader is anyone with influence, not just an organizational or church leader.

Both Angie and Rick also voice that the conversations of leadership and shepherding are important to both woman and men. Angie expresses that someone's calling from God is what makes them a leader, no matter their circumstances or what their lives look like.

Rick brings up the internal transformation aspect of leadership, and how important that is. Angie adds to this by sharing some stories from her own life where she experienced personal growth on her journey to becoming and seeing herself as a leader.

Angie finishes the episode by spending time talking about the tension that can exist for women in leadership, particularly the tension between home, family, and work.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

About Angie Ward:

Angie is a leadership author and teacher, currently based in Denver, Colorado, where she serves as Assistant Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Denver Seminary. Find her online on her website or on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. 

After an introduction of Tracy, she begins the discussion by sharing some of her thoughts about mindfulness and how significant it is for everyone. Tracy then acquaints listeners with the word dysregulation and the different levels that come with this.

Lauren joins the conversation to clarify with Tracy what mindfulness actually is and how to practice awareness. Tracy conveys that the discipline of "slow down and ground" is difficult, but incredibly influential in our daily life.

Beyond yoga, Tracy and Rick suggest trying mindfulness through conversation, stillness and quiet, picking a word for the day, stress balls, and more. Tracy expresses that making decisions from a different, reframed place is the ultimate goal of mindfulness.

Tracy brings up that the practice of mindfulness can increase the fruits of the spirit in us as Believers.

Rick references some positions and postures in yoga that have forced him to learn lessons that have impacted a lot of areas in his own personal life. Tracy echoes this and voices that we have to sit in a lot of things in our lives that can be uncomfortable but important and necessary.

In closing, Tracy implores listeners to try mindfulness, even if it feels uncomfortable or strange at first.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

About Tracy Serrano:

Tracy is a licensed professional counselor and a registered yoga instructor. She is originally from California, but now calls Knoxville her home. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character…" Rick and Lauren begin this week by referencing this Scripture in Romans 5 to set up their discussion on endurance.

Rick references times in his own life where he's had to put on a brave face and learn endurance, but he follows this up by referencing Paul Tripp's quote about putting our faith and endurance in God.

Rick expresses that as Believers, we shouldn't just try to get through things but should instead find our strength in God so that through endurance, He can grow and transform us.

Rick then takes time to go through four things that help with endurance in the Lord:

1. Endure from a place of security, not anxiety
2. Take time to root yourself in God's truth and encouragement instead of getting caught up in too much social media or new 
3. Process and pray before jumping into things
4. Look for inspiration 

In closing, Rick reminds listeners that once we find our endurance in the Lord, we can share that with those around us.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

Rick and Lauren begin the episode by recognizing the events of January 6; they also reference Greg and RD's podcast episode from Off Stage where they talked about the events as well.

Rick emphasizes how the US democracy has a great need right now for empathy, and Lauren takes time to explain the difference between empathy and explanation.

From there, Rick and Lauren dive into the actual events from what happened at the Capitol and how empathy, both emotionally and cognitively, play into how we should react to the day's events. Lauren ties in her organization Project Gabriel into the talk of empathy, and how important empathy is to her and the organization.

In thinking about empathy, Rick conveys that people have to be accountable for their actions and accept the consequences for what they do, but he also reiterates that we as Believers are called to love everyone.

Lauren references representative Andy Kim helping to clean up the mess at the Capitol, and what that can and should teach us. Rick also references Chris Kennedy receiving a racist letter after putting out a black Santa, and how the neighborhood came along him.

Rick and Lauren wrap up by sharing that we are called to extend love to each other because Jesus extended love to us.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

At the beginning of the episode, Rick and Lauren take time to introduce Russell Biven and share how they know him. Russell then shares some of his story, and how he got into sports.

Russell pauses his story to mention how important it is to let go of the metaphorical masks we wear around each other and just love each other well.

Jumping back into his story, Russell discloses how he got into sports broadcasting and ended up in Knoxville and at WBIR.

Russell reveals how his faith impacts his work; he shares how empathy and sympathy play into his day-to-day life, and how his trust in God is what gets him through hard seasons (like during quarantine or dealing with COVID-19). Russell expresses that he sees every obstacle as an opportunity.

As the episode comes to a close, Russell transitions into sharing a story about his mother when she worked at the YWCA.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

About Russell Bivens:

Russell has been an anchor at WBIR-TV for over 20 years. He lives in Knoxville with his wife Ronda. You can follow Russell on Facebook or Twitter.