The God And My Girlfriends Podcast

We are back with Pt. 2 of our conversation with Tiffany Lee (Plumb music) and Melissa Jackson as we discuss Tiffany's faith shift and how a perfect storm of circumstances led her into re-thinking everything she knew about life and love and spirituality.

Pre-order Plumb's new album: Candy Coated Waterdrops Reimagined

And our friend Amie Pronk rejoins us in the girlfriend seat this week as they talk about what makes life worth living. Also, Amie and Stacey help Marcia do some inner child work. :-) 
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About Plumb: As a musical artist, Plumb has sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. Originally signed as a contemporary Christian music recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock and EDM, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the contemporary Christian music market.

Plumb has co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows.

And she is the author of two books, “Need You Now” and “Fight For Her”

To learn more about Plumb:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumbmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plumbmusic/

 
About Melissa Jackson:
Melissa Jackson is strategic marketing manager, brand developer, and website creator. Melissa works for the General Council on Finance and Administration for the United Methodist church as their marketing services manager. She has lived in Nashville for 25 years. She spent six of those years working as a graphic designer for Word Entertainment and Warner Bros Records, and four years as the Director of Creative Services for Trevecca Nazarene University. She loves to write, read, vacation with her husband and two daughters, fish, play board games, and loves to curate playlists and listen to her vinyl collection.

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Many of you know Tiffany Lee by her stage name, Plumb. She has toured the world, sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. 

Today, we just get to talk to "Tiff" as her best friend, Melissa Jackson calls her. Tiff and "Melis" give us a beautiful and authentic view into their friendship and both give some amazing advice on how to navigate long-term friendship, how to hold one another accountable, and how to critique each other without coming across as being critical. We know you guys are going to take what you hear today into your own friendships and be better for it!

Also, this is just Part One of this interview. We had such a rich and vibrant conversation that we broke it up into two parts, so make sure you listen again next week for the rest of the conversation!

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About Plumb: As a musical artist, Plumb has sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. Originally signed as a contemporary Christian music recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock and EDM, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the contemporary Christian music market.

Plumb has co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows.

And she is the author of two books, “Need You Now” and “Fight For Her”

To learn more about Plumb:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumbmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plumbmusic/

 
About Melissa Jackson:
Melissa Jackson is strategic marketing manager, brand developer, and website creator. Melissa works for the General Council on Finance and Administration for the United Methodist church as their marketing services manager. She has lived in Nashville for 25 years. She spent six of those years working as a graphic designer for Word Entertainment and Warner Bros Records, and four years as the Director of Creative Services for Trevecca Nazarene University. She loves to write, read, vacation with her husband and two daughters, fish, play board games, and loves to curate playlists and listen to her vinyl collection.

To order Stacey's honey:
https://www.instagram.com/rockypointbees/

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Are you finding yourself at a crossroads? Do you find yourself wondering "What now, God?" -- well even if you aren't in "mid-life" right now, you're going to love this inspiring conversation with our guest, Debbie Cunningham.

Debbie is a jazz recording artist, author, speaker & podcast host. After spending more than a decade in the music business and singing about love & romance, she decided to write a book about it… and published her first book, Dancing in The Kitchen in 2019. — In it, Debbie shares stories and strategies for couples to build lasting love even when life is challenging. 

In 2023, she began to notice how most women feel a sense of loneliness and a lack of connection through the midlife years. Debbie felt God nudging her to encourage them on line by starting a podcast called Midlife Crescendo. There she encourages women to not just survive midlife changes but intentionally cultivate and pursue their passions through this second phase of life. 

Personally, she enjoys spending time with her husband Derek, her 2 kids and 2 grandsons, traveling, and pausing for afternoon tea or the sunset as often as possible. Debbie resides in Franklin,Tn.

You can connect with Debbie here:
Her website: https://debbiecunningham.net
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiecunninghamofficial/
OR for the podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifecrescendo/

To sign up for her FREE WEBINAR, Four Keys to Launch Your Midlife Dream, go here: https://debbiecunningham.net/4keys

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Sitting in the girlfriend chair this week is Melissa Jackson.
Melissa Jackson works for The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church as a Visual Content Specialist and Brand Development Strategist. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, Tim, her two daughters, June and October, and their dog Frankie.

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Without a doubt, we have had the most requests asking us to dive into friendships and the nuances behind making and keeping good friends here on the podcast. Insert our guest this week - Lea Sims! This lady brought some amazing insight on female friendship, why it's so important, how to make good friends and BE a good friend. You guys are going to LOVE what Lea has to say. We also talk about getting "un-stuck" in life, and a bit about her faith journey and how deconstruction has played a part. This episode is a bit longer than usual but it was too good to cut it down! Don't miss this conversation.

ABOUT LEA: Lea Sims is a Christian author and teacher living in Jacksonville, Florida, who writes fiction books, study guides, and resources to help women find freedom, identity and purpose in their lives, ministries and careers. She has written two books, Running From Monday and Waiting On Tuesday.

She has since spent 19 years in women’s ministry leadership, where she has followed the call of God on her life to rescue, teach, and equip women in the church—advancing that goal against the backdrop of an evolving global church, debates around the role and value of women in ministry, and the increasing need for female voices on critical theological issues. By day, she is the chief marketing officer for a global healthcare NGO, shaping narrative and brand messaging for an organization whose mission she is deeply passionate about. And at all times, she is a grateful daughter of God, wife, mom, grandmother, and friend.

To connect with Lea:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lea.sims
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lea_sims/

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RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Books:

Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times, by Otis Moss III

With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman, by Howard Thurman

Be The Bridge, by Latasha Morrison

Fierce Love, by Rev Jacqui Lewis

Theologizin’ Bigger, by Trey Ferguson

Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson

Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, by Esau McCaulley 

Jesus and the Disinherited, by Howard Thurman

Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance, by Reggie L. Williams

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Book Clubs coming up:

In March on Wednesday nights:
Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for An Evolving Faith, by Sarah Bessey

For all the info on this group and to sign up, go here: https://godandmygirlfriendsministries.org/online-book-clubs 

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Starting March 17th on Sunday nights:
The Way of Integrity, by Martha Beck

Join the FB group, The Deconstruction Zone for more info, or email Stacey at [email protected] for more details.

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Our special guest this week is Brandi Wilson. Marcia and Stacey talk with Brandi about her newest book, "Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing after your Marriage ends". Brandi has managed to write the perfect handbook for handling life after loss, betrayal and heartbreak. But her advice isn't limited to divorce. What she learned and is sharing with us all now, is great advice for navigating any kind of grief and loss. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!

Brandi Wilson is an author, coach, and speaker who has been in leadership for more than a decade at Leading and Loving It, a non-profit created to empower women to love life and ministry. Brandi has helped plant two churches and is passionate about walking alongside single moms and divorced women as they navigate parenting and life. Her latest book is Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing After Your Marriage Ends. Brandi lives with her three sons in Nashville, TN. And you can find all about her and what she is doing at lovebrandiwilson.com.

To connect with Brandi:
Her website

Her Instagram

Her Facebook

Order Brandi's book

More about Brandi's coaching

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And in the girlfriend chat, Stacey and Marcia welcome Stacey's real life girlfriend, Roni Saulsberry for the first time to the podcast. We discuss social media usage, how much news is healthy to take in, and more....

Instagram post discussed in girlfriend chat 

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Our special guest this week is Amanda Held Opelt. Marcia and Stacey talk with Amanda about her newest book, "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and The Myth of The Blessed Life".  If you have ever wondered why life can seem so hard, even though you are trying your best to do everything "right", this episode is for YOU.

Also, Juli-Maners Hood returns in the girlfriend seat and brings us a beautiful "good news" story that you don't want to miss!

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Amanda is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors, and has written for Christianity Today, Premier Christianity, and 100 Days in Appalachia. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.

To connect with Amanda:
Sign up for her newsletter

Amanda's official website

Amanda's YouTube

Amanda's Instagram
Amanda's Twitter

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Juli's Good News Story
TikTok like to see Grandma get surprised

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Our special guest this week is Danielle Shroyer. She is a spiritual director, author, speaker, and former pastor. She is the author of three books, most recently Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place.  In addition to her spiritual direction practice, she leads groups and retreats, creates spiritual formation resources, and serves as a dream work mentor for the Haden Institute. Danielle is a graduate of Baylor University and Princeton Theological Seminary and was a founding member of the emerging church movement. A 2nd Dan Taekwondo black belt and a yoga enthusiast, she and her husband Dan have two college aged children. They live in Dallas with their rescue dog and a patio of feral cats.

In our conversation with Danielle, we discuss themes from her book, "Original Blessing: Putting Sin In Its Rightful Place" which was the 2016 Illumination Award Gold Medal winner for Theology. It's a fantastic book and we know you will learn so much from this conversation about Original Sin and how that theology came to be.

To connect with Danielle: https://danielleshroyer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.shroyer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.g.shroyer
https://www.beasoulninja.com/author/beasoulninja/

Also, in our girlfriend chat, we introduce our friend Amie, who shares a bit about her faith journey. Amie is open, vulnerable and authentic and we appreciate her willingness to share her story. You may find some of your own in hers as well. Don't miss it!

Make sure you check out our new  GAMG Podcast Instagram, Facebook and YouTube pages so you can share your thoughts along with us.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegamgpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegamgpodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegamgpodcast

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

 Our special guest this week is Pastor Trey Ferguson. Pastor Trey is a Miami-Dade County based minister, writer, and podcaster whose passions include jokes, justice, and Jesus. He’s the creator of New Living Treyslation–a podcast that retells and relates scripture in a modern vernacular–and a co-host of Three Black Men, a podcast where he muses on theology and culture with Sam Gay, Robert Monson, and a wide array of riveting guests. The author of Theologizin’ Bigger, Trey also writes and publishes regularly in his newsletter: The Son Do Move. When he’s not creating content, he can be found annoying his wife Jessica and their three children with his childlike sense of humor.

To connect with Pastor Trey: www.pastortrey05.com

Also, this week in our girlfriend chat segment,  we talk to Stacey's girlfriend, Danielle Wolbert about their women's ministry and Danielle's mission work in Haiti and Nicaragua.

*If you would like to know more about Danielle's mission work or support her in her next mission trip, just go to www.thevine.co 
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To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

On our Season Four Premiere, Stacey and Marcia look back on a few of their favorite moments in Season Three and look ahead to what is coming up in Season Four.

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Mentioned in episode:

Our brand new Instagram! Follow us for all the podcast news:
@thegamgpodcast
https://www.instagram.com/thegamgpodcast/
https://linktr.ee/thegamgpodcast

Guests from Season 3 we mentioned:

Marg Mowczko--
Marg's website: https://margmowczko.com/
Our interview with her: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpacking-biblical-baggage-with-special-guest-marg/id1557667063?i=1000634590580

Judy Peterson--
Our interview with her: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-only-loves-wrong-people-w-judy-howard-peterson/id1557667063?i=1000637393155

Liz Jenkins--
Her website: https://lizcooledgejenkins.com/
Our interview with her: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nice-churchy-patriarchy-with-special-guest-liz/id1557667063?i=1000639037862

Guests coming up in Season 4:

Trey Ferguson - https://www.pastortrey05.com/

Danielle Shroyer -- https://danielleshroyer.com/about/

Brandi Wilson -- https://lovebrandiwilson.com/

Stacey's FB Group, The Deconstruction Zone

The Bible Project

YouVerson Bible App

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Our special guest this week is writer, preacher and former college campus minister, Liz Cooledge Jenkins. Liz is the author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband and their black cat Athena. Her writing can be found at Sojourners, The Christian Century, Christians for Social Action, Feminism and Religion, and Red Letter Christians, among other places; she also blogs at lizcooledgejenkins.com and Instagrams as @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers.

We talked with Liz about recognizing patriarchy in the church, how to confront it (or how to walk away from it), what discernment is, how women can find themselves in the stories of women in the Bible and much more. It’s an inspiring and encouraging conversation and I know you guys will love it. Be sure and pick up her book soon!

To order her book: Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity from Evangelicalism.

And in the girlfriend seat this week is singer/songwriter/author, Staci Frenes. Staci joins Marcia and Stacey to reflect a bit on 2023 and shares some insightful questions to ask your family and friends around the holiday table this year.

Staci Frenes Christmas CD “Light of Love” - https://stacifrenes.hearnow.com/light-of-love

Staci Frenes book “Love Makes Room” - https://www.stacifrenes.com/

Resources mentions in the episode:
Advent devotions:
Kelli Gotthardt -— Waiting and Wonder

Scott Erikson — An Honest Advent 

Rev Benjamin Cremer — newsletter - https://benjamin-cremer.ck.page/profile

To learn more about Stacey and her work:  https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed

To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org