While we are in between National Infertility Awareness Week and Mother's Day, I wanted to bring you some of the very best of the conversations we've had about family in many different forms.

Your family of origin, postpartum mental health, and foster care are challenging topics, but there is a Grace that covers them.

In this episode, we are talking about hard conversations and boundaries with the family who raised you, postpartum depression and how our mental health impacts the people we love, and caring for vulnerable people without trying to control outcomes.

If you've ever felt the weight of your story, struggled in motherhood, or needed to see hope in hard seasons, this episode offers honest conversations and gentle reminders of God's presence and faithfulness in both the bitter and the sweet.

LINKS

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Get your copy of Kristen's book, Legacy Changer

Connect with Rachael on Instagram

Get your copy of Rachael's book, A Mom is Born

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It is National Infertility Awareness Week- a week that is near and dear to my heart, as infertility is part of my story.

This week, I'm sharing my personal story with infertility, what helps and what hurts to hear from loved ones, and why we never have to choose between grief and gratitude.

LINKS

Episode 8: The Family You Hoped Would Be

Episode 14: You Don't Have to Choose Between Grief and Gratitude

Episode 34: What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Your Infertile Friend

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This episode is a return to conversations with friends, and I'm so excited about that! Today's discussion is a special one with my friend Ashley Martin. Ashley is a speaker, author, and advocate for faith-based recovery.

You may remember Ashley from Episode 23, "Finding Your Way Back to God," where she shared her personal journey through alcohol addiction and recovery. In this episode, we are celebrating the release of her debut book, Lost No More: A Daily Path to God in the Midst of Your Deepest Valleys.

In this conversation, Ashley and I got to talk about surrender, the power of prayer, and how serving others can play a vital role in healing and recovery.

We also discuss what to do if you're at rock bottom (or if someone you love is struggling with addiction), and Ashley shares practical encouragement for navigating those difficult seasons. Plus, we go behind the scenes of the book-writing process and what it's like to publish a faith-based recovery story.

If you or someone you love is facing alcohol addiction or searching for hope, faith, and restoration, this conversation will encourage and inspire you.

LINKS

Listen to Ashley's first episode of The Bitter & the Sweet- Finding Your Way Back to God, Episode 23

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Feeling disconnected from God or struggling with church?

In today's short 10-minute episode, we are talking about what it truly means to return to God, where this theme appears in the Bible, and how it applies to our lives today, especially for those struggling with church or feeling distant in their faith.

LINKS

BibleProject Guide to the book of Joel

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It is Holy Week, the most sacred week on the Christian calendar.

It is really easy for us to skip to celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, but let's not rush ahead. Let's soak in every day of Holy Week this year as we really consider the sacrifice Jesus made.

Before His death and resurrection, Jesus was betrayed by one of His followers. We are digging into that betrayal today, what it looked like then, and what it means for us.

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In this short solo show (under 10 minutes!), we are diving into boundaries: where we see them in scripture, boundaries we set, boundaries that are set for us, and trusting God with them and within them.

Part of this episode comes from a message I brought to a church event not too long ago. If you are interested in having me bring a full length version message to your women's conference, retreat, or church gathering, reach out via my website, kaylamcook.com. I'd love to join you and serve your people!

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In this short solo show (under 11 minutes!), we are diving into one reason why women are so tired these days, and what God offers us instead.

This is an abbreviated version of a message I gave at a women's conference not too long ago. If you are interested in having me bring the full length version to your women's conference, retreat, or church gathering, reach out via my website, kaylamcook.com. I'd love to join you and serve your people!

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In this short solo show (just under 10 minutes!), we are digging into difficult circumstances we all face in life: when God doesn't fix it.

LINKS

Episode 74: Facing Chronic Illness with Hope and Honesty with Lily Mitchell

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If you are living with chronic illness or if you know and love someone who is, today's episode is one you are not going to want to miss!

My friend, Lily Mitchell, joined me for this important conversation. Lily is the kids ministry director at a church in North Carolina, a wife and mom, a small business owner, and Lily lives with chronic illness.

Join Lily and I for a conversation about:

• Lily's own journey with getting a diagnosis (spoiler: it took YEARS!)
• what those of us not living with chronic illness don't know (and can't know) about living with chronic illness
• our response as believers to on-going suffering
• loving our friends with chronic illness well, and
• how we as the Church can do this better

LINKS

Connect with Lily on Instagram

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Today's episode is a conversation all about living into your season with my friend, Bible teacher and podcaster Shannon Scott.

Shannon is the host of the Everything Made Beautiful podcast and Director of Content for QAVA, a Christian streaming platform that creates digital biblical resources to help people go deeper in their faith.

Shannon and I got to talk about

• why seasons matter

• what growth looks like in different seasons

• leaning into the joys and challenges of the season you're in

• dangers of rushing through a season and getting stuck

• the anxiety so many of us wrestle with, and

• living with expectancy and choosing hope over fear in every season

LINKS

Connect with Shannon on Instagram

Listen to Shannon's podcast, Everything Made Beautiful

Check out QAVA

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