Listening with Love

Colin Hubbell opens up about his first relationship and what it taught him in how people have different outlooks on what love is. Colin shares on how important it is to work on becoming a better version of yourself so that you’re not tearing down other people with you. He reflects on the value of doing things independently and understanding what it means to be alone in order to find yourself.

quotes: 

“That’s the big thing about relationships when they come to an end, you only get one side of the story.” -colin

“Sometimes two people, even who are wonderful people can’t make it work and that’s okay.” -colin

“Everyone’s level of degree of what we give can be different.” -caili 

Ashley Cahoon talks about what an LDS mission is and shares her own experience of going on a mission back in 2023. She shares the challenges of what it was like being on mission and having to return home early. Ashley shares her journey on finding God again and recognizing that sometimes searching for the next best thing isn’t what we’re suppose to do, rather it’s noticing the blessings that’s already around us.

Please note this episode addresses sensitive topics of: mental health, eating disorder and self-harm.

quotes: 

“God’s timing truly is perfect regardless of our perception of the timing.” -ashley

“We often times don’t hear God give us the next best thing. We are easy to look other places for it when it’s just things we have to notice instead of take for granted.” -ashley

“Find the blessings in where you are I think is so important, because if we keep looking elsewhere we’re kind of chasing the world..” -caili  

Diana Stevens and Caili met a couple of years ago through work. Diana tells her story of being in an orphanage and how her uncle and aunt chose her and her brothers. Diana beautifully shares the love that comes from being on the receiving end of adoption, and the selfless love it takes for someone to choose to adopt.

Penelope Campion and Caili met in college through mutual friends. Penelope shares her story of losing her father when she was 9 years old and then having to watch her mom go through an alcohol addiction. Penelope talks about how this affected her and her other siblings and how her relationship today with her mom has come a long way. Please be aware this episode speaks on sensitive topics like alcohol, bulimia, and self-harm.

Through listening to my friend’s story, I’m graciously reminded over and over again how you never know what someone has been through. Everyone’s carrying a story with them.

Both Jenna and Caili share the positives of what they have seen the LDS church do and the importance of respecting and loving those who believe differently than them. Jenna talks about her own beliefs and core values and how she felt a little deceived in seeing a different perspective of the one true church. Jenna talks about how the afterlife is seen differently depending on how it brings people comfort, and how important it is to create spaces for empathy and understanding for those who choose to stay in the church and for those who choose to leave. 

Jenna Westenskow and Caili met in their social work classes. Jenna shares what it was like growing up LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and watching her sisters transition out of the church, and seeing how her parents responded. Additionally, Jenna talks about her bishop, her experience being in seminary, how grief is a process for people, and expressing how love isn’t choosing to like only a part of someone but how love means accepting all of someone.

Ava Minshew and Caili have known each other since they began their job. Ava shares about how friendships naturally grow apart and how friendship is an investment. Both Ava and Caili share some of their favorite qualities they value in friendships, how you don’t always need to be a 100% friend to everyone, and they share what they hope and long for in their future friends. 

Ivette Guzman and Caili met freshman year in their first social work class. Ivette shares why she wanted to major in social work, as well as why she feels this field of work is under appreciated. Both Ivette and Caili talk about what they have loved so far about this major and how you don’t have to be a social worker to advocate for people. Just being a kind human being to others is one form of power that can make an impact. 

Both Sierra and Caili share how their faith impacted their friendship with each other. They both share how there comes a time when you have to choose what you want to believe in and figure out for yourself what your beliefs are. From talking about the church culture, to sharing how we can have beautiful friendships with those who believe differently than us, and to recognizing whether religious or not, we as human beings are more similar than different. 

Sierra Edmondson and Caili met through their job two summers ago and have grown a strong friendship since then. Sierra shares with Caili what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is and the history of the church and the significance of the LDS temples. Sierra talks about The Book of Mormon and how it came to be and shares the difference between The Book of Mormon and the Bible, but also the value of how they both go hand and hand with each other. Sierra shares beautifully how faith is not a comparison of us against other people, but rather it’s us against ourselves and our own journey with God.