Listen to Your Life

In the first full episode of Season 2, I’m thrilled to have my husband Noah join me as a co-host 🙌

Together, we share the “why” behind our health journeys and what we’ve loved most about them so far. We also talk about what it means to pursue a well-lived life—even alongside chronic suffering—drawing hope and inspiration from God and his good creation. 

You’ll also hear some fun stories that involve the great outdoors — like Noah’s 16-day, solo backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail outside Yosemite Valley (and the many letters I gave him as a keepsake) ⛰️🌲California’s natural beauty never ceases to inspire us. 

As you set intentions for this new year, we hope you find encouragement and a healthy nudge to do one small thing today to invest in your health so you’ll (Lord willing!) be around for years to come, enjoying life to the fullest with those you love most 💛

Further Resources:

Bailey Gillespie on Instagram

Noah Throssel on Instagram 

Books by Rich Roll⁠ 

⁠Episode 9: Get Unstuck with Justin McRoberts

Here For a Good Time by George Strait⁠ 

Jimmy Miller Foundation⁠ - veteran surf therapy

John Muir Trail | Yosemite Valley, CA

Lectio 365 prayer app

Mount Shasta | Redding, CA

Pacific Crest Trail | Pacific Coast

The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien - Houses of Healing

Welcome to Season 2 and 2025, my friends! I'm so happy you're here, and I can't wait to continue having soulful conversations about faith, health, and well-being.

Cheers to living fully, even in the face of our deepest longings.

Music: "Onward" by Wonderland, licensed from Artlist.

Further Resources:

Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin: Patient Trust

Instagram: @listentoyourlifepod @baileylgillespie

Bailey Gillespie's writings on Substack

Welcome to Episode 13, the final episode of Season 1 and 2024!

In this episode, I talk with Bekah Buchterkirchen, a small business owner from the Pacific Northwest who just released her debut devotional book, Seen in the Unseen. (She also includes an audiobook version!) Bekah is wise and grounded, sharing her unexpected grief as a new mom, the gift of mentorship in college, and how she makes space to write and spend time with God in the margins of motherhood. She closes by reading her favorite prayer from Lectio 365.

Enjoy the conversation!

Further Resources:

Bekah's Website

Bekah's Substack, The Middle Moments

Seen in the Unseen Book

Advent 2024: The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by She Reads Truth

Create Anyway by Ashlee Gadd

Lectio 365 App

Today's guest is Tanner Olson, an author, poet, and speaker who writes under the name Written to Speak. In this episode, Tanner opens up about how his personal journey intertwines with Advent—a season of waiting and longing. He delves into topics like writing, adoption, and hope. He also treats us to two beautiful poems. Enjoy the conversation!

Further Resources:

Tanner Olson’s Website

Instagram: ⁠@WrittenToSpeak⁠

Substack: Tanner Olson

Pre-order Tanner's new children's book, All the Things I Say to God

I’ve Never Seen a Moose in the Wild (Poem)

For You Are Not Forgotten (Poem)

Tanner & Bailey’s favorite restaurants in Nashville:

City House  

Lockeland Table

TennFold Brewing

Today’s guest is Meg from Meg’s Reading Room. In this episode, we talk about making space for peace and gentleness in the midst of hard things and how a reading life can support that.

Meg hails from New York, is the wife of a librarian, and spent the year cultivating a reflective #bookstagram space online. This summer, she also started a podcast where she goes deeper into this topic with friends. With two little boys who share a rare genetic disease (VLCAD), life is not easy and time is precious. But the gift of community and a meaningful personal project has made all the difference.

Meg is wise and funny, inspiring us to slow down and pay attention to what matters most. I think this is the perfect way to begin the Advent season. Enjoy the conversation!

Further Resources:

Instagram: @MegsReadingRoom 

Meg’s Reading Room Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

In Kiltumper: A Year in an Irish Garden⁠ by Niall Williams

Mary Oliver’s poetry

Reclaiming Quiet and Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

⁠The Farmer’s Wife⁠ by Helen Rebanks

VLCAD

In Episode 10, Bailey talks with Lexi Dacy, a good friend and fellow writer whose joyful, hope-filled presence is so needed in the world (and in future bookshops!). Lexi shares about her BookTube channel, the wonder of first-time motherhood, found family, and what writing a cozy fantasy book is teaching her about life. 💛

Enjoy the conversation!  

Learn more⁠⁠⁠⁠ at⁠ ⁠baileygillespie.com ⁠or follow on Instagram⁠ ⁠@baileylgillespie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Further Resources:

⁠Lexi on Instagram⁠ (@LexiDacyBooks)

⁠Lexi on YouTube⁠ (@LexiBetweenTheLines) 

Lexi’s Favorite Books Roundup: 

• ⁠Anne of Green Gables⁠ 

• ⁠Harry Potter Series⁠

• ⁠Howl’s Moving Castle⁠ 

• ⁠The Chronicles of Narnia⁠

• ⁠The Hobbit⁠ 

⁠Cozy Fantasy⁠: “‘Cozy fantasy’ is a subgenre of fantasy. It's all the magic, world-building, and adventure of traditional fantasy but without the life-or-death stakes. As the word ‘cozy’ suggests, this subgenre is the lighter side of fantasy.” —USA Today

“It’s not about your work, and it’s not about you making great work. It’s about you becoming the kind of person who makes great work.”

This is the first thing I remember hearing Justin McRoberts say, and it stuck. Justin has done it all — he’s a coach, spiritual director, author, retreat speaker, songwriter, and podcast host. In this episode, we talk about Justin's role in helping people get unstuck, hearing God’s voice, and why we should seek the wellbeing of our enemies. Enjoy the conversation!

Listen on Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music — and feel free to leave a review or a comment. 💛

Further Resources:

Justin McRoberts on Instagram

Anam Cara Ministries (Spiritual Direction)⁠

4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again

Welcome to this guided nature walk! This will be a 30-minute experiential time of movement and reflection to help you connect with God, yourself, and the natural world. Find a place that brings you peace, and set out prepared to wander while you enjoy encountering the world in a fresh way. If you can, choose a natural setting where there are trees, water, or other foliage to look at. Or try a library, bookshop, or gallery — anywhere you can take time to simply be.

At the end, there will be some journaling questions in case you'd like to reflect on your walk. Feel free to enjoy this guided walk any time you need to slow down, find calm, and connect with God.

* Songs are composed by Simon Wester - music licensed from Artlist.

* Journaling questions inspired and adapted from the Pray As You Go app's guided prayer walk, "Walking with God."

In Episode 7, Bailey Gillespie defines her terms and explores what it means to listen to our lives, a resonant phrase from the works of Frederick Buechner. She also shares some autumn favorites and leads listeners in a reflective exercise. Enjoy the conversation!

You can learn more⁠⁠ at ⁠baileygillespie.com or follow Bailey on Instagram ⁠@baileylgillespie⁠⁠

Subscribe to Bailey’s Substack newsletter

Other resources mentioned:

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis, all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” —Frederick Buechner, Now and Then: A Memoir of Vocation

Paleo-AIP Apple Crisp Recipe

The Farmer's Wife: My Life in Days by Helen Rebanks

The Remarkable Ordinary by Frederick Buechner

Vanilla Pumpkin Scented Candle - Trader Joe's

In Episode 6, Bailey Gillespie hosts a special conversation with her mom, Patty. The two swap stories about the books that formed them as children, and Patty tells a moving story about two book-inspired dreams that came true much later in life—involving a cardinal sighting and high tea in Scotland.

Listeners are encouraged to read widely and be on the lookout for how God is speaking to them in the midst of their reading lives.

Enjoy the conversation!  

Subscribe to Bailey’s Substack newsletter

Follow Bailey on Instagram ⁠@baileylgillespie⁠