She Speaks Stories

In this new episode Katie and Julia continue to chat with guests, aka their new best friends, about times of loneliness. Kristina Kotlus joins them today to talk about her story when she discovered she had brain cancer and her journey of finding an, as she calls it “ an ‘Even If’ faith”. During this time filled with challenges (and so many blessings) she learned that “God is in the business of redemption.” and how okay it is to hold that feeling of loneliness and thankfulness at the same time. When life really gives you lemons, Kristina saw how important it was to be intentional with our perspective, because “Joy is an intentional choice regardless of circumstances.” This and so many other great quotes of perspective and encouragement are peppered throughout our chat in today’s episode and are equally enjoyable in her book (I Quit: Facing Cancer with Faith, Family and Friends.) It’s such a delight to chat with someone who is willing to be honest about the hard, maintaining her sense of humor and shining the light of hope being present even when you least expect it!

I Quit: Facing Cancer with Faith, Family and Friends

https://kristinakotlus.com/

Katie and Julia are excited to begin a theme of loneliness in this new season. Well, excited to be together chatting with new friends, not really excited that so many of us have had such hard and lonely times in our lives. It’s no coincidence that Katie and Julia are continuing to learn so much from one of their favorite podcasters/authors/teachers, John Mark Comer. And Katie opens up this episode with some amazing quotes she’s heard from his podcast. It just sets the stage for this season in a way only God can orchestrate! 

So today, we kick off this season, that we’re calling Stories of Loneliness, with an amazing gal: Lauren Fernandez! We had the best time chatting with her as she authentically shares her story. Lauren isn’t new to sharing her story, she has a blog (momfaithfumbles.com) where she encourages her readers over and over again just by sharing what God is showing her. In this episode we hope to encourage those who are lonely with some practical steps towards seeing a shimmer in the hard. Lauren shares how she learned to “lament to the One who can carry it.” because He truly cares and can use even seasons of loneliness for good in our lives!

John Mark Comer Man's Search for Meaning

Lauren Fernandez's Blog

Katie sits down with a new GUEST host and previous guest, the lovely Jennifer Stovall to chat with their friend, Jessica. Jessica felt lost until she encountered Dana at a Rappahannock Regional Jail event where Dana shared her testimony. For the first time, Jessica heard that freedom was not just a possibility, but a reality she could embrace. Witnessing Dana's journey sparked a newfound hope in Jessica—a hope that this could be her story too.

Jessica’s story is a testament to the power of faith and community in the journey to freedom. As she says, "It’s scary making changes when you don’t know the outcome. Be willing to change and have faith."

Let Jessica’s story inspire you: In Jesus, new beginnings are always possible.

https://www.zoefreedomcenter.org/

https://www.beautyforashesva.org/

https://journeyhouserecovery.org/

Poetry Book Review with Lynn Wyvill

In this episode we hear from Lynn as she walks us through her experience of finding God. She says, “God was present even when I wasn’t aware of it.” And when she looks back and all the steps, she can clearly see him guiding her closer and closer to him. 

She reminds us that in this speedy world of so much, it’s so important to wait on God; “to take the time to be quiet everyday and listen for the Lord.” And after joining us as we chat about her books and newsletter, you’re probably going to want to get in on this goodness! So head over to her website: lynnhwyvill.com 

We also chatted about the book series: Sensible Shoes. If you’re interested in reading these books you can find them here!

Well here we are in 2025! And we are so excited to share with you a little bit of where we’ve been and where we are heading as a podcast! We’re wrapping up two themes from 2024: a season focusing on breaking free from addiction, and a mini Christmas season focusing on epic books to read and share. 

But what do we have in store for our listeners for 2025… well listen in to this new episode where Katie and Julia talk us through their plans for this new year, new season and new theme coming to our She Speaks Stories podcast! It’s one that’s so important and something we’ve all had a season of, or know someone struggling with it now. 

We can’t wait to start and are so happy you are here for it! Because we truly believe what we often say: STORIES CHANGE LIVES!

You've waited long enough! Join us in the PART 2 of one of the most fun episodes Katie and Julia have recorded this year! If you missed Part 1, go enjoy that first, and then come back for this episode, where Katie and Julia continue chatting with Katie's two nieces and her nephew about their poetry book and other fantastic books they or their family members have written.

There is a lot of joy in this episode, as well as a lot of genuine stories and depth. We unpack a little about what poetry is and the impact stories can have!

Links:⁠

In Sunshine or in Shadow: Poems for Every Season⁠⁠

SFC Poets Instagram⁠

Bethany's Books: ⁠The Land Beyond the Waste⁠ and ⁠The Ellyrian Code⁠⁠

Bethany's Website⁠

Anne's Book: ⁠From the Garden to the Grave: Walking in Eden⁠

Pat Daily (Matthew's Father-In-Law)'s Books: ⁠Spark⁠, ⁠Fire⁠, and ⁠Orcland⁠⁠

Pat Daily's Website⁠

Tom Flaherty's Book: ⁠One Thing: Daily Devotions to Inspire Intimacy

We see a lot of “joy” written and sung about during the holidays, and if there’s an episode filled with joy, it’s this one! What a JOYous time Katie and Julia had chatting it up with the Flaherty fam! (So much laughing!) 

Normally we have one guest, and occasionally we’ve had two guests, but never ever have we had three guest… until today! And what a fun gathering of guests! Katie’s nieces and nephew (Children of her brother Tom Flaherty who has been on several of our episodes) joined us from their trip in Mexico! 

Siblings: Anne, Bethany, Matthew and their sister Christina wrote a poetry book together, In Sunshine or in Shadow. And in this episode share a little bit about why and how this incredible book was written. There are poems from all seasons and for all seasons. They are so beautifully, and talentedly written; just dripping with relatable moments and well-thought out rhyming schemes. This family is jam-packed with talent. (Spoiler, they read some of their poetry in the episode!) Their hope is to encourage laughter through the tears, because we can be grateful for the love that carried us through the harder times in our lives. Poetry can be a tremendous vehicle for helping your heart heal.

And it gets better. Not only is their poetry book incredible, they (and some of their other family members) have written books for a variety of readers! 

This episode is SO much fun, but since there were FIVE of us chatting, we decided to cut it in half. So please enjoy PART 1 today, and look for PART 2 in a couple weeks!

Links:

⁠In Sunshine or in Shadow: Poems for Every Season⁠⁠

SFC Poets Instagram⁠

Bethany's Books: ⁠The Land Beyond the Waste⁠ and ⁠The Ellyrian Code⁠⁠

Bethany's Website⁠

Anne's Book: ⁠From the Garden to the Grave: Walking in Eden

⁠Pat Daily (Matthew's Father-In-Law)'s Books: ⁠Spark⁠, ⁠Fire⁠, and ⁠Orcland

⁠⁠Pat Daily's Website

⁠Tom Flaherty's Book: ⁠One Thing: Daily Devotions to Inspire Intimacy

Today’s episode is so fun! Join in on Katie and Julia, sipping their morning coffees and chatting about what some of their favorite books are, not only ones they’ve enjoyed but books they truly think would make fantastic Christmas presents for you and your loved ones! We also give you all a little sneak peak at what our next two Christmas Episodes will be… and they are full of another one of our favorite things: Family! 

There are so so many books listed in this episode (and stories too, of course!) So check out the links below if you’re looking for an easy find of one of the books that we mention in this episode: 

Devotional

My Utmost for His Highest

One Thing

Historical Fictions

Life is Hard. God is Good. Let’s Dance!

Demon Copperhead

The Chronicles of the Kings Collection

Thief of Corinth 

The Zion Chronicles

Mark of the Lion

The Nightingale 

Biographies

Greenlights

Finding Me

She Speaks Stories

King

Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Children’s Books

Love You Forever

Three Trees

Oh the Places You’ll Go

The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine

The Mysterious Benedict Society

There’s nothing wrong with adoring your family and wanting everyone to stay close and be happy. In fact, most mothers would agree that’s our hearts greatest desire. Jennifer shares with us what happens when you hold on that a little too tightly and how God brought her back to Him through lots of layers of hard, in a season of empty-nesting (Or “Extreme Empty-Nesting” as she calls it) during COVID. She walks in the mess of shame and blame during her crisis and discovers beautiful lessons because “God is not afraid of our big feelings.” She learned how to forgive, how to look to God for her source of identity and the importance of feeling heard. Because “When we feel heard we start to heel.” 

This episode is full of wisdom and perspective regardless of where you are at in your hard (We all have hard!) And how great of a feeling it is to release that control and free-fall into our Father’s arms, because He is with us, even when we don’t think so. 

Jennifer is an amazing gal to speak with! If you’re interested in connecting with her more check out these links to her current passions:

IG coaching page: https://www.instagram.com/mustard_seed_living/profilecard/?igsh=MWplN3c0MW05N2Y0cQ==

Email: [email protected] 

Zoe Freedom Center Website: www.ZoeFreedomCenter.org

Contact info: [email protected]

Four years ago, in 2020, Dana chatted with us on our podcast and we were thrilled to have her back on to share more about her story and the incredible things God has done in her life. Dana is full of wisdom and reminds us that “shame and guilt have no control anymore because God created us and HE gets to say what happens in our lives.” Nothing we do is a surprise. He uses the mess we make to use for others to hear about how amazing He is. It’s hard sometimes to push past the lies and the “deceptive evil” but God is so good and he replaced Dana’s desire for drugs with the desire to tell people about Him. 

Even if you don’t struggle with Dana’s struggles, she paints a picture of what it looks like to stop holding onto our sin and mistakes as our identity and instead hold onto who Jesus says we are! It takes a lifetime to get to redemption, so don’t give up, no matter where you are in your story. He’s got great things coming for you! 

Here are some links from Dana: 

Zoe Freedom Center: https://www.zoefreedomcenter.org/about

Dana’s Book: Desperate for a Fix https://a.co/d/1W9UYLS 

Susan’s Book: A Wanderer’s Journey: Part 1 https://a.co/d/7RJF5GJ