Sam McManus is a current seminary student who is passionate about helping men pursue what matters most. As a single guy serving other single guys, Sam enjoys speaking to men’s struggles through his podcast, blogs, and online course. After graduating with a business degree from Auburn University, he now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Since his own season of singleness is allowing him to be more available to God, Sam is excited for the Lord to work through him in the time ahead.

Check out his website here.

Check out his podcast here.

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

-Do you decorate your house for all holidays?

-Favorite things

Questions we explore during our chat:

1. Why is it so important to uncover your identity before entering into marriage?

2. What are some of the opportunities that are afforded to singles?

3.How much of finding your spouse is up to you versus what is up to God?

4. What would you say to the people who have an idea to start something, but don’t feel ready or equipped enough to start?

5.What are some of the habits that you do daily to be a good steward of your purpose?

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Erin Kunkle is the co-founder of MAVEN (www.maventruth.com). She is a speaker and co-host of the MAVEN parent podcast. She also is the co-host of The Strong Women Podcast through the Colson Center. She has spoken to parents, mom’s groups, homeschooling groups and at women’s events. In addition, Erin runs the entire Kunkle household, as a master chef, nurse, referee, counselor and laundry connoisseur. She’s also a veteran homeschooling mom of 13 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology/political science from Biola University. Erin lives with her husband, Brett and their five kids in Southern California.

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

-Alley’s social media break

-Chores we dislike the most

Check out Erin’s podcast on how to get kids to do chores here.

-Favorite things

Questions we explore during our chat:

1. Tell us your story. Did you grow up in the church? When did you come to Christ? What’s life like now?

2. You recently launched the Strong Women podcast in partnership with the Colson Center. What is the purpose of the show and what do you hope to communicate to women? Click here to listen!

3. What are some of the lies that our culture tells women. How do we even navigate the lies of the culture?

4. So many kids nowadays grow up in Christian homes and yet, when they hit college or even high school, walk away from their faith. How can moms play a pivotal role in the discipleship of their kids and solidify their children’s faith in Christ?

Check out the MAVEN Parent Podcast here.

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Dawn Ammons, a 20+ year senior casino executive who moved from Las Vegas to Brandon, MS in 2013, debuted her memoir Betting on Faith in e-book form on Amazon in September 2020 – #3 in New Releases in “Inspirational and Spiritualty” behind Pastor Joyce Meyer. The paperback version launches on October 27 at Amazon, Target and Barnes and Noble. 

Dawn tells her story of living a glamorous life as a top casino executive: luxurious travel, big houses, nannies, limos, and private planes. It seemed like the perfect life, and she seemed to be completely happy. So why did she walk away from it all? She was dying inside. 

The child of an alcoholic, Dawn worked her entire life to hide the “family secret” by keeping up appearances. She helped raise her brother, worked her way through college, got married, had a child, and rose to the top in her industry. But behind the scenes, Dawn had been burying her troubles below empty wine bottles and more. 

After years of working in and “wandering” the desert of Las Vegas, Dawn found healing and hope in Sin City through God’s grace and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Betting on Faith tells the story of how this former casino exec battled the Goliaths in her life with Jesus at her side, to receive blessings beyond all imagination. Dawn shares her love of Mississippi with the world. 


Betting on Faith book here.

To contact Dawn for speaking, training and more, email Dawn at [email protected].

Website:Here.

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

-The month of LOVE

-What we have learned from being married

-Favorite things

Fierce Marriage Podcast here.

The Briefing with Albert Mohler Here.

-What name would we choose for ourselves?

Questions we explore during our chat:

1. What inspired you to start writing “Betting on Faith.”

2. What did you learn about yourself while writing the book?

3. What do you hope that people get from reading your book?

4. Tell us why you call Brandon, MS your “Promised Land.”

5. Why do reviews say the book is not just moving – making them cry, but funny!

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Candice is a lover of God! She is a wife, mom, and daughter. She was a school teacher for 15 years. She lives a very simple life. Her favorite thing to do is have people over to her house to break bread together and fellowship with one another. Having a community and family of people is one of the most treasured and valued things in her life. Founder of the makeup or beauty line “ Ever Be”.

Check out the website

Shop here.

Connect on Facebook here.

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

-Lessons from 2020

-Goals for 2021

-Organizing closets

-Our favorite things right now

Dyson Hair Set here.

Allie Beth Stuckey Podcast here

Proverbs 31 Ministries here

Questions we explore during our chat:

1. Where did the idea of EverBe come from?

2. Why do you think it’s so important for beauty to be reclaimed?

3. I love that your makeup package includes an erasable marker, tell us your hopes for that?

Mirror Scriptures here.

4. In your experience what have you learned about the power of “speak it, apply it, be it.?”

Devotional here.

5. How has your life changed since creating this product?

Scripture reference:

Psalm 34-Read here

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Surprise!

We have TWO amazing guest for the month of December! We figured you may be spending more time on the road and wanted to give you a chance to hear some great stories!

Gail Metzbower, “Gabby G”, Radio Host

Up2Me Radio, a brand of Atlanta Life Media, LLC

After raising her family, Gail began to grow a passion for empowering others to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. She felt she was led to a “God appointment” when she met Up2Me Radio’s, Alicia Ward, Author and Radio Host of There is Life After Lay-off at the 2013 Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia to honor her friend, Actress and Executive Producer, Julie Silcott. This meeting led to an invitation to join the Atlanta Life Media, LLC team and as the second of twelve radio hosts added to their Up2Me Radio program with The Up2Me Magazine Show.

To date, Gail continues as host of The Up2Me Magazine Show as “Gabby G”, every Saturday morning from 10am-11am (EST). Currently approaching it’s sixth season, The Up2Me Magazine Show offers a premiere platform for a variety of guests and in the faith-based film industry to go behind the scenes to share their own personal back-stories to offer resources, tips and practical tools that bring inspiration and direction to nearly two million listeners at Up2Me Radio.

Gail, can be found on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and YouTube as well as IHeart Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music and TuneIn for Up2meradio. Website is www.up2meradio.com

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

-Merry Christmas!

-What is different about this year celebrating our Savior’s birth?

-The deconstruction process…why do we believe what we believe?

*1 Peter 3:15

*Colossians 4:5-6

*2 Corinthians 10:4-5

*Philippians 1:7

-Pelvic floor muscles…why they are important?

-Christmas tunes!

Questions we discuss with Gail:

1. You are the Host of the UP2Me Magazine Show with Up2Me Radio. What is the premise of your show; what type of Guests do you like to highlight?

2. What do you hope to accomplish with your assignment the Lord has given you as a host on UP2Me Radio?

3. Can you share some tips/take- aways that the Lord has taught you?

-Habakkuk 2:3

4.Order of Rights Movie

href="https://orderofrightsmovie.com">https://orderofrightsmovie.com

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Surprise!

We have TWO amazing guest for the month of December! We figured you may be spending more time on the road and wanted to give you a chance to hear some great stories!

Chantal Monique Duson has a background in social service and children’s ministry. She has worked with a diverse array of under-served communities.

Monique worked as a Missionary to South Africa for over 4 years, serving children and teachers impacted by drugs, violence, and trauma.

Monique spent 2 decades advocating for Critical Race Theory (CRT), but through a series of events began to see the contradictions of CRT with the historic Christian worldview. She is now convinced that  CRT is not the best way to achieve racial unity and actively speaks out against the use of CRT within the church. Monique’s vision is to promote a vision for racial healing based on the historic Christian worldview.

Monique has a BA in Sociology from Biola University. She is working on a MA in Theology from Talbot School of Theology. Monique founded the Center for Biblical Unity.

Check out the website here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Licensed Independent Certified Social Worker, Lauren currently serves as Director of Whole Child Initiative. She is a Trained Practitioner in the Trust-Based Relational Intervention model, as well as Trauma Competent Care, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Theraplay (Level One). She is also a Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, TF-CBT trained Practitioner, TIPS-MAPP and GPS-MAPP trained Facilitator, Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Phase One Partner, and a Focus On The Family Network Counselor. Lauren is an engaging, passionate trainer and speaker who is equipped to teach, motivate and encourage anyone serving vulnerable children.

WWW.PALMERHOME.ORG

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

– Our favorite things right now

– What we are thankful for this month

Questions we explore during our chat:

-Lauren’s background and how she came to focus on the area of childhood adversity and trauma.

-What qualifies a child as having experienced trauma and how does this impact the child who has experienced it?

-How does Whole Child Initiative seek to equip parents of children who have experienced trauma?

-Ways to use this in their own approach to raising children?

Our Sponsor:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Alisa Childers is a wife, a mom, an author, a blogger, a speaker, and a worship leader. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She is a popular speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences, including STR’s Reality Conference. She has been published at The Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk, the Stream, For Every Mom, Decision magazine, and The Christian Post. Her new book, Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity will release through Tyndale on October 6th, 2020.

You can connect with Alisa online at alisachilders.com

Pre-order Another Gospel today to receive the first two chapters a week early and read through the book with her in a private Facebook book club with weekly livestreams! Go to https://buff.ly/3iias2J to pre-order and claim bonuses!

Small Talk with Alley & Amanda:

– Our favorite things right now

– Life with a new baby

– Motherhood being a labor of love and can feel VERY lonely at times

Questions we explore during our chat:

-What is historic Christianity?

-What is progressive Christianity? Why do you think it’s dangerous?

-Why do so many people find progressive Christianity attractive?

Our Sponsors:

Hart Cottage located in the heart of Oxford. Find them on Instagram @hartcottageandflorals or VRBO Vrbo.com/1880178/

Austin Dillon Photography- Email her at [email protected]

Kaye is back AGAIN! If you missed her and her husband, Eric, in Feburary’s show, make sure you go back and listen. In this episode, Kaye talks about life as a pastors wife, mother, and passion for children with special needs.

Kaye grew up in a small town in North Louisiana, the youngest of five children in the loving home of a high school principal (her father) and school cafeteria worker (her mother). While Kaye is deeply passionate about her own family, she has devoted her life to investing in other families too. In her career both as an elementary school teacher and mental health counselor, Kaye has sought to serve Jesus by loving children and their families well. Kaye was rescued by Jesus at 9 years old and believes kids are often capable of understanding so much more than we give them credit. Kaye received her master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Dayton, specializing in children. 

Eric and his wife Kaye have been married for nearly twenty-four years. They met in college when Kaye became the freshman president of a collegiate ministry and Eric was asked to “mentor” her because he was the freshman president the prior year. He gladly accepted! They were married while in college and since have two daughters, Eden (11) and Evie (9). 

They love Southern California, the beach and exploring new places together as a family!

Susan Cox serves on the marriage team as Director of re|engage at Watermark Community Church.  Her passion to serve in marriage ministry will embrace you (literally) upon your first encounter.  Her heart’s desire is to see all marriages whether they are seeking to enrich or are in need of complete restoration bring glory and honor to God.  If you give her 5 minutes she will share in 30 of how God radically restored her own marriage and changed her life forever!  Before coming into the ministry Susan was a classroom teacher for 29 years.  She currently resides in Rockwall with her husband Raeul of 35 years and two daughters Kristen  and Brittany.