This conversation with artist Nathifa Sligh was a fun one! Nathifa sits down with Kris on the podcast to share about surviving a civil war in Liberia, coming to the United States as a child, and discovering a love for making, and sending beautiful letters. This episode is full of real talk and encouragement, plus, Nathifa shares how she came to be known as "Juicy Christian" on Instagram. Connect with Nathifa on her Patreon, Youtube and Instagram, as well as her website.

Honorable Mentions

Snow Leopard, Category Pirates (book)

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield (book)

The Practice, Seth Godin (book)

Tim Holtz

Kristina Werner

What Women Create

It was a comment that Kelly left on Kris's Instagram post that sparked a deeper conversation about recovering creativity while navigating healing from trauma. Join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing this episode with friends. Connect with Kelly on her Substack and on Instagram.

Honorable Mentions:

Walking Through Fire , by Veneetha Risner

Refine {the retreat}

*Please note* Neither Kris nor Kelly are therapists. Both are speaking as artists and practitioners of the Christian faith and creative practices.

Guest, Artist, Sheila Atchley returns for a second Refine{d} the podcast, conversation. We jumped right into it and hit record just in time. Listen to our conversation about friendship in the middle years and share your thoughts with us after the episode.

Honorable Mentions

Luke 10:6

"Idol factories" quote (John Calvin)

"Praise To the Lord, The Almighty" (Hymn)

"First things" quote (C.S.Lewis)

Jesus isn't ashamed of you

Join this gentle and important conversation about the death of dreams, learning to let go, laying down our idols and finding delight again. Writer and Teacher, Kimberly Coyle generously shares how she came to find herself back in the classroom--this time as a teacher, doing work she did not set out to do. Listen in as Kimberly shares about the ways grief can overshadow delight and how to reclaim wonder in the practice of delighting again.

Connect with Kimberly on Instagram and through her newsletter.

Honorable Mentions:

Marmee: A Novel Of Little Women (By Sarah Miller)

Today's conversation features our guest, Christy Jones Jackson, founder & Director of The Guest House Project, a retreat for women recovering from sexual betrayal in their marriage. Christy shares how she started the Guest House Project, how that work continues to minister to her in her own healing, and reflects on her most recent time at Refine {the retreat}.

Honorable Mentions:

Sabbath, by Dan Allender (Book)

Anne of Green Gables, By L.M. Montgomery (book series)

Of Note:

Registration for Refine {the retreat} is now open. Find details and reserve your room at Refineretreat.com

Kris and artist, Sheila Atchley, sit down for a conversation about being "Middle Makers," --women coming into their art/vocation in the middle years of life. Listen as Sheila unpacks WHY encouraging women extends far beyond our wildest imagination, and what "trauma, drama, and trauma-drama" have to do with stepping into your vocation. Connect with Sheila on her website and on Instagram.

Honorable Mentions:

"Middle Makers" (Art workshop with Sheila Atchley, hosted by Jeanne Oliver)

Beauty Chasers, by Tim Willard (Book)

Delighting In The Trinity, by Michael Reeves (Book)

Kristin Vanderlip is a writer and artist and the creator of the "Rest Journal", A Journal For Lament. In this episode we dive deep into a conversation about grief and creativity, and what it can look like to unbury your calling. If you're one well acquainted with grief, I pray you find encouragement here. You're not alone.

Connect with Kristin on Instagram and on her website.

Honorable mentions (Books)

Atlas of the heart (Brent Brown)

Spare (Prince Harry)

What My Bones Know: A memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma (Stephanie Foo)

The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion)

Special Note:

*This episode deals with the topic of infant loss. While this isn't the focus of our conversation, if you're sensitive to this topic, take care when listening.*

"Creativity needs community", that's the comment that Christie Purifoy made that launched a whole beautiful tangent in today's conversation on creativity, humility and community. Listen in and be encouraged. This episode is full of goodness.

Connect with Christie Purifoy on Instagram at @chrsitiepurifoy and @maplehurstgarden and connect to her online community, The Black Barn.

Honorable Mentions

Every Moment Holy (Book)

Thursday Murder Club Series (Books)

Joy Ike wears a lot of beautiful hats. As a singer/songwriter, poet, artist and entrepreneur, Joy makes art out of her whole life.

Join us for a delightful, soul-filled conversation about season’s spent in “the waiting room”, painting on the porch, and how Joy’s latest adventure, “Wearing Love” is an invitation and a reminder of a better way to live.

Connect with Joy on Instagram and at Wearing Love Apparel

Stream her music wherever you listen to your favorite tunes.

Honorable Mentions

Basket Weaver, Matt Tommy

Today's guest, Rachel Marie Kang, is the author of the book, "Let There Be Art", and the Founder of Fallow House. Rachel shares about navigating the writing life, when criticism becomes an invitation, and about the book she could not bring herself to return to the library for months (but eventually did).

Mentioned in our conversation

You Are Good, Kari Jobe

Let Me Tell You What I Mean (Joan Didion)

SuperHero Grief (book)

Connect with Rachel on Instagram, & Follow Rachel on GoodReads