Our Time to Rise in Midlife

THIS IS IT. After ten years, hundreds of conversations, and countless moments of laughter, tears, growth, and God's faithfulness… this is our final episode. It doesn't feel like a goodbye. It feels like a commissioning.

What started as two friends sitting behind microphones became something so much bigger than we ever imagined. This podcast became a gathering place — a community of women walking arm in arm through faith, healing, leadership, friendship, heartbreak, growth, and all the in-between spaces of life.

Our hearts are full of gratitude.

We're grateful to every one of you who invited us into your car rides, kitchens, morning walks, and late-night moments. We're grateful for technology that somehow connected our hearts across cities, countries, and seasons of life. And most of all, we're grateful for the way God met each of us here.

On the podcast today, we talk about all we've learned: how healing rarely happens in isolation, why consistency matters, and how authenticity builds trust. We talk about the power of friendship, how endings can also be beginnings, and what it looks like to honor the past while bravely stepping into the future.

As we close this chapter, we want you to know this: you were never just listeners to us. You were companions on the journey. We have felt your prayers, your encouragement, your stories, and your presence every step of the way.

And wherever life takes us next, we'll carry this community with us.

Because at the end of the day, this has always been about more than a podcast.It's been about becoming. Healing. Belonging. And most of all, walking each other home.May you walk forward in love with great courage. Thank you for these incredible ten years!!

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What have you received from Our Time to Rise Podcast?
2. Offer up a word of gratitude to God for that, for where He has met you in that.
3. Where is it my time to rise?
4. Offer you time to rise to God.

Prayer and Declarations Over Our Listeners

-May you walk in the knowledge of being chosen and known, believing God had and has a purpose for you in the circle.

-May you treasure the unique abilities, talents, and gifts you've been gifted, knowing they are to be used for purposes beyond yourself.

-When doubt or fear sneaks up on you and whispers your name, may you turn your head toward the light of Christ and embrace your true identity.

-May you find peace and joy in the work in front of you, believing it has a purpose beyond what you can see.

-May you find pleasure in the small tasks and gifts of ordinary life, believing God chose to enter the world through the smallest way.

-when you make a mistake or experience the pain of failure. May it not convert to shame or end with giving up.

-May grace pour over you and flow through you at every step and may it continually transform your life from the inside out.

-When Pride offers to travel beside you, may you quickly recognize its face and refuse its company.

-May you embrace the hand of humility with a firm grip and embrace the wisdom that comes from her hand.

May you walk with your eyes fixed on service rather than on self.

-When others try to compete or compare, may you instead link arms and be the voice of unity and encouragement.

-May you offer dignity in the form of sincerity, listening, and compassion.

-May you look at the doors as gifts rather than burdens, believing God has His glory in mind when He works out the details.

-When leadership grows your character and pushes you to the end of yourself, may you discover more of God there. Above all, may you walk in love, believing God is love today, tomorrow, and always.

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

What determines if something mattered? When an ending happens, does it mean failure? Or that the things that happened weren't worth the effort? Midlife is full of endings. Some that are expected and others that are not. As Krista and Alex bring the podcast to a close, they reflect on what this ending and so many others mean. Perhaps you are facing an ending. Do you see the purpose in how you invested your time? Your self? Were you changed as a result of what happened? If so, it counts! We are in a constant state of becoming - so all things contribute to who we are. Perhaps a relationship is ending, a marriage even. Perhaps a job is ending, a career even. Perhaps a stage of life is ending, a location even. No matter the change, you have an opportunity to reflect on how what happened has been an investment in who you are. Join Krista and Alex as they consider how ten years of hosting this podcast has impacted them. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

From Strength to Strength- Arthur Brook

Grace in Disguise- Jerry Sittser

Interior Freedom

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What did this season teach you?
2. How did it shape who you are today?
3. Who did it allow you to serve?
4. What strength did it build in you?

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

After nearly a decade of conversations, growth, and shared wisdom, this episode feels especially meaningful… and monumental. In this heartfelt conversation, Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall reflect on the courage it takes to step into uncertainty, release what once felt certain, and trust God with what comes next.

Together, we explore the tension between faith and certainty, the neuroscience behind fear and resilience, and the invitation to hold opportunities — and seasons — with open hands. Whether you're navigating a transition, sensing a new beginning, or simply trying to take the next faithful step, this episode will meet you there.

Because sometimes the bravest thing we can do is trust the unknown. We're doing that in today's episode. Push play to find out how.

In This Episode

• Why endings and new beginnings require courage
• The difference between faith and certainty
• How fear impacts the brain and nervous system
• Spiritual practices that help us embrace change
• What emotional agility looks like in everyday life
• Learning to trust God one step at a time

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

The Road Less Triggered- Dr. Kelly Flanagan

The Road Less Traveled- M. Scott Peck

Emotional Agility- Susan David

LET'S CONNECT!

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

If you are married you likely pray for your spouse. Perhaps it's not as frequent as you'd like it to be, but it happens. Brad and Heidi Mitchell ask the question, how often do you pray WITH your spouse?

Why? Because the Holy Spirit does something special when we come to God with our concerns together. Whether it's a blessing over their day, a shared grief or concern, or the opportunity to talk with God together, prayer with our spouse builds a special kind of intimacy.

But what if my spouse isn't comfortable praying out loud? Brad and Heidi have great tips for that. We must all build our muscles in something new and they offer ways spouses can start praying together on a regular basis, not just when crisis hits, in ways that feel comfortable for everyone.

If you want to strengthen your relationship and build deeper intimacy, coming to God together does just that

FIND MORE ABOUT BRAD & HEIDI MITCHELL

Brad & Heidi Mitchells'- Website and Instagram

Brad & Heidi Mitchells' Book- Build Your Marriage with Prayer

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Brad & Heidi Mitchells' other book- Ruined to Recovery; Help When the Affair is Discovered

Lee Strobel's book- The Case for Grace

Wesley Duewel's book- Touch the World Through Prayer

Bible verse- John 17

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What is one way you can incorporate prayer for your spouse into your routine?
2. What is one way you can incorporate praying together into your routine?
3. Are there areas in your life that you would like to pray that you don't typically pray about together?

Pray a prayer of blessing over your spouse this week.

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

John Coleman has made his career talking to people about aligning their money with their values and we get the benefit of his expertise and wisdom. If money talk intimidates you, don't worry, John speaks to our hearts as much as our heads, as we consider what we truly want and how money can be used to meet goals.

Based on his newest book Good Money, John explores how faith, purpose, and financial wisdom intersect in midlife. As an investor, author, and speaker, he brings practical knowledge with bigger questions. Discoverstrategies for managing money, passing values to the next generation, and redefining retirement for a meaningful life.

We promise, you do NOT want to miss this conversation. We are both eating up John's book and did not want this conversation to end. He understood us AND he had so much encouragement to share. No matter your current financial situation, you can work toward Good Money.

FIND MORE ABOUT JOHN COLEMAN

John Coleman- Website and Substack

John Coleman Book- Good Money

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

John's other books- Passion and Purpose

John's Novel- Miracles

From Strength to Strength- Arthur Brooks

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

If you've ever wondered whether you missed your moment or if it's too late to begin again, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Mitch Matthews, a high performance coach, reframes midlife not as a closing chapter, but as a powerful starting point—one where your life experience becomes the very foundation for what's next. Blending practical strategy, neuroscience, and faith-centered encouragement, he invites you to see reinvention as something accessible, not overwhelming.

In this episode, we explore how curiosity and novelty can reignite passion, why giving yourself permission to start small builds real momentum, and how to quiet imposter syndrome by developing authentic, grounded confidence. You'll hear about practical tools to help you recognize your unique gifts and begin aligning your work and calling with who you truly are.

Rooted in both mindset and faith, this conversation also speaks to the deeper tension many feel between contentment and the desire to dream bigger. Mitch shares how biblical truth affirms your value and calling, while also addressing the real relational ripple effects that can come when you pursue a new path.

This episode is an invitation to honor where you've been, embrace who you are, and step into your next chapter with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

FIND MORE ABOUT MITCH MATTHEWS

Mitch Matthews- Website

Mitch Matthews Podcast- Dream, Think and Do

Mitch's Gift to You-MAKE TIME FOR YOUR NEXT CHAPTER -coupon code to make it free for you is simply: RISE

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

John 10:10

Ephesians 3

Joshua 1:9

Book: From Strength to Strength

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How have you misunderstood confidence and how can you use this new definition to step into unknown territory?
2. In what area has your own thinking held you back?
3. What belief do you need to let go off in order to monetize your skillset and abilities?

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

If you've ever wondered whether you missed your moment or if it's too late to begin again, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Mitch Matthews, a high performance coach, reframes midlife not as a closing chapter, but as a powerful starting point—one where your life experience becomes the very foundation for what's next. Blending practical strategy, neuroscience, and faith-centered encouragement, he invites you to see reinvention as something accessible, not overwhelming.

In this episode, we explore how curiosity and novelty can reignite passion, why giving yourself permission to start small builds real momentum, and how to quiet imposter syndrome by developing authentic, grounded confidence. You'll hear about practical tools to help you recognize your unique gifts and begin aligning your work and calling with who you truly are.

Rooted in both mindset and faith, this conversation also speaks to the deeper tension many feel between contentment and the desire to dream bigger. Mitch shares how biblical truth affirms your value and calling, while also addressing the real relational ripple effects that can come when you pursue a new path.

This episode is an invitation to honor where you've been, embrace who you are, and step into your next chapter with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

On iTunes or watch it here:

FIND MORE ABOUT MITCH MATTHEWS

Mitch Matthews- Website

Mitch Matthews Podcast- Dream, Think and Do

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

John 10:10

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Mitch talked about documenting your brilliance, what would it look like for you to do that over the next week or month?
2. In what area do you need to move from "who am I to do this" to "why not me"?
3. In what area do you need to give yourself permission to take the next step?

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

Addiction has ripple effects. When you love someone who is in active recovery you often don't know if you are saying or doing the right thing to help. Caroline Beidler gives us words of hope: you can't go wrong with compassion. As a person who is walking out her own recovery from substances and a professional who creates resources for others in recovery, Caroline is able to broach this topic from multiple angles.

We talk through boundaries, enabling, and relapse. All topics that impact not just the person in recovery, but those caring for him or her. We also cover neuroscience of addiction and genetic factors that may be at play because family members often struggle with the "why" behind the addiction. And finally how do we have difficult conversations? Especially in the early stages of recovery when hurts on both sides may still feel quite raw? Caroline walks us through all of that.

If you love someone who is in active addiction or in recovery - in any form - this episode will help you feel less alone. It will also offer some practical approaches to potentially awkward conversations so that we can love well. And you can never go wrong with compassion.

FIND MORE ABOUT CAROLINE BEIDLER

Caroline Beidler- Website and Instagram

Caroline Beidler Book- When You Love Someone in Recovery

Caroline Beidler's - Recovery Rhythm Reset

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Recovery Resources- Recovery.com

Bible Verse- Luke 15:20

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How can you hold hope for someone in your life?
2. What is your support system as you support someone in recovery?
3. Do you need to have some non-weird conversation about how to do life together?
4. How can you run with compassion towards someone who is already in recovery or moving in that direction?

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

This episode is one of those conversations that stays with you. Katie Blackburn joins us to share her deeply personal journey through divorce, her husband's addiction, parenting a child with autism, and the long road of starting over as a single mom. With honesty, humility, and so much heart, she opens up about what it really looks like to walk through seasons that feel impossible—and how grace met her there.

Throughout this conversation, Katie reminds us that grace isn't something we have to climb toward—it's already beneath us, holding us through every fall, every setback, and every uncertain step forward. And maybe more importantly, she shows us what it looks like to keep going anyway… one day at a time.

We talk about healing, faith, and the quiet, daily work of rebuilding a life. Katie shares how writing became part of her healing process, how community quite literally carried her when she couldn't carry herself, and why the idea of "doing it all on your own" is one of the biggest lies we buy into. There's also so much wisdom here about what it means to actually move through pain—not avoid it.

In the midst of it all, Katie speaks to hope. If you've ever gone through a season of pain, loss, sadness, or great change, this episode is for you.

We cover:

• What grace actually looks like in the middle of chaos and trauma
• Using writing as a tool for healing and processing pain
• Why community and relationships are essential—not optional—for resilience
• Practical ways to metabolize pain through movement, support, and honesty
• The beauty and strength found in intergenerational living
• Rebuilding faith and hope after loss
• Letting go of self-sufficiency and trusting God's steady grip
• Living "one day at a time" in seasons of crisis
• The impact of self-talk and daily persistence in long-term healing

If This Episode Spoke to You…

Share it with a friend who might need a reminder that they're not alone. And that even here—especially here—grace is already holding them.

Bio: KATIE BLACKBURN is a writer, teacher, and a lifelong learner, but her most cherished role is being a single mom to her six incredible kids. Her favorite thing to do is tell people about the ways God has held her through circumstances that seemed impossible. When she's not taking care of kids or telling stories, you can probably find her riding her bike, pretending she's in the Tour de France. L

FIND MORE ABOUT KATIE BLACKBURN

Katie Blackburn – Instagram and Website

Katie Blackburn Book - Grace Will Meet You There

Katie Blackburn Podcast- Coffee+Crumbs Podcast

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Burn the Ship- Essay

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Has God met you in a difficult place?
2. What did His Grace feel like to you?
3. Why is it important to remember these moments when God has met you?
4. Who can you show up for right now and help in a practical way?
5. How can your feeling inform you about what is going on inside of you?
6. How can you ask and invite God's grace to meet you in the middle of your emotions?

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier

People can often see the many responsibilities we carry - but what about the invisible stress? Do we even recognize what we are carrying?

Personal coach and dear friend Kendra Tillman, joins us to talk through the stress we carry in midlife and how we can name it and move forward.

From body changes that come with midlife to relationship shifts - Kendra gives us some perspective on how to tackle the new normal that is in front of us.

Midlife is an opportunity for us to recognize all that we have accomplished, decide what we are carrying forward and what we want to leave behind. Instead of fixating on loss, we can recognize it and take the best of us forward.

God has not forgotten you. You may be carrying many stressors others can't see. He knows - and we can relate! Know that every change eventually also has an opportunity to rise to meet the moment. This is our time to rise

FIND MORE ABOUT KENDRA TILLMAN

Kendra Tillman's - LinkedIn and Website

Kendra Tillman's - Instagram

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

James 1:27

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What have you learnt about this part of you, about this part of your life, from whom you have been and what you have experienced from the beginning until now?
2. What do you want to carry forward in this new season of life in this one area?
3. What do you want to lay down?
4. How can you start implementing this changes soon?

LET'S CONNECT

Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend.

Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you!

Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier