The Gospel & Everything Else... with Mallory Smyth

Raquel of The Little Rose Shop shares how The Gardener helps families navigate miscarriage and child loss with hope.

Preorder: ⁠The Gardener⁠

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Go To: SEEK 2027

Among all the burdens we carry, the loss of a child, whether through miscarriage or otherwise, changes us forever, leaving an ache in our hearts that may never fully heal this side of Heaven. Processing our own grief is difficult enough, but how do we explain to our other children that their sibling is no longer here? Where do we even begin?

This week on The Gospel & Everything Else, Raquel Rose, the founder of The Little Rose Shop, joins me for a moving conversation about motherhood, miscarriage, and the hope we have in Christ. After experiencing four miscarriages herself, Raquel knows firsthand how difficult it can be to walk children through the loss of a sibling. That experience inspired her to collaborate with Maddie Cain and Jillian Chapman to create The Gardener, a beautifully illustrated children’s book that gently helps families talk about pregnancy and infant loss through the lens of Christian hope.

Don’t miss this interview y’all, Raquel’s story is powerful and began long before The Gardner ever became an idea. Alone in a Chipotle, holding a postive pregnancy test, Raquel was terrified, but God was already moving. What He has done her life, He can do in yours. 

Want a signed copy of my book Rekindled? Email me at [email protected], and we can get that going.

If you want to dive into my other work, you can purchase one of my Bible studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected].

Have a great week,

Mallory Smyth

Also: Was Fr. Chad Ripperger Silenced? Comedian Iliza Schlessinger’s has a great take on how society talks to women, and I got in a fight with my family about Halloween decorations.

I have developed a policy in my life. If I read a book but don’t apply it to my life—which is all books—I reread it.

This means I’m on my third read of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. And as I finish the book, there are three passages screaming at me from the past.

C.S. Lewis, the self-proclaimed “most reluctant convert” to Christianity, had a prophetic quality to his writing, and we would be wise to listen to what he had to say.

Do you want to get trapped by the pitfalls of modern life? Do you want to get to the end of your life and realize you didn’t live it well? I bet you don’t.

I don’t either.

These passages help us examine the cultural water we are swimming in and make an intentional decision about how we want to live. You don’t want to miss this discussion.

Also, Susan Dell and her husband, Michael Dell, of Dell Computers, just announced that they are giving $6.25 billion away to 25 million American children. It’s the kind of thing that should be universally praised, but instead, everyone is talking about Susan Dell’s surprising appearance. There is something to learn here, so we are going to talk about it.

And Marco Rubio gave a speech on Western civilization, and it’s reminding me of the inheritance we have received from the ancient Church. . 

If you want to support Spirit Juice Studios Juice Box content for kids, head over here to become a supporter. 

Want a signed copy of my book Rekindled? Email at [email protected] and we can get that going. 

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Have a great weekend,

Mallory Smyth

Also: Susan Dell goes viral for something other than her wild generosity, Marco Rubio tells us about our inheritance, and I grapple with the monotony of daily life.

I have developed a policy in my life. If I read a book but don’t apply it to my life—which is all books—I reread it.

This means I’m on my third read of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. And as I finish the book, there are three passages screaming at me from the past.

C.S. Lewis, the self-proclaimed “most reluctant convert” to Christianity, had a prophetic quality to his writing, and we would be wise to listen to what he had to say.

Do you want to get trapped by the pitfalls of modern life? Do you want to get to the end of your life and realize you didn’t live it well? I bet you don’t.

I don’t either.

These passages help us examine the cultural water we are swimming in and make an intentional decision about how we want to live. You don’t want to miss this discussion.

Also, Susan Dell and her husband, Michael Dell, of Dell Computers, just announced that they are giving $6.25 billion away to 25 million American children. It’s the kind of thing that should be universally praised, but instead, everyone is talking about Susan Dell’s surprising appearance. There is something to learn here, so we are going to talk about it.

And Marco Rubio gave a speech on Western civilization, and it’s reminding me of the inheritance we have received from the ancient Church. .

If you want to support Spirit Juice Studios Juice Box content for kids, head over here to become a supporter.

Want a signed copy of my book Rekindled? Email at [email protected] and we can get that going.

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Have a great weekend,

Mallory Smyth

Also: The Pope visits France, Is God Nonbinary?, and I pray a rosary out loud with my Uber driver.

All over my news feed this week, I have either seen articles and commentary on what has become known as, “The Cornell 7,” or every single person talking about it. This story is enraging. 

Some people are crying out because seven young men seem to have escaped real consequences for completely degrading one young woman who was intoxicated and on drugs. Other’s are calling for proper due process saying there is currently no proof that what happened at a party in 2024 was not consensual. 

Either way, even if justice is served according to the law, why does the law feel like such an inadequate remedy for this situation? 

Because it is. 

In today’s episode of the Gospel and Everything Else, we are going to explore how the Gospel is challenging us to do better as a society. 

If we want stories like this to become rarer, we can’t have our cake and eat it to. We cannot depend on the law to teach us morality. There has to be something more, a call to something higher.

My heart breaks for everyone involved in the story, especially the young woman as I mention in this episode. But societal soul searching is called for. 

Also on this episode:

Pope Leo visits France and proves that there is always a reason to hope in the world. Another clergy member of a different church makes the bold and confident argument that God is nonbinary. Is she right? And I decide to listen to the Holy Spirit during my travels. 

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Happy Friday everyone,

Mallory Smyth

Also: Celine Dion makes a comeback, A priest is overwhelmed during the mass, and I get a message from Heaven on the same weekend I win a mechanical bull riding contest.

Have you ever asked Chat GPT, or another chat bot, a life question and be weirded out by just how good its answer was? 

It feels like it knows you, understands you, can really help you…

Although chat bots can be great tools, there is a very thin line between using them as for productivity, and being ticked into having somewhat of a “relationship” with them. If we are not careful, these human mimickers can lead us into dark and dangerous places. 

That is exactly what happened to a girl named Hannah who shared her story on Oprah. She told of how her “relationship,” with Chat GPT led her into New Age spirituality claiming that it acted like a cult leader and even convinced her to quit her job. 

Lucky for her, she realized the delusion and broke free. But this viral clip raises many questions. How should we engage with chat bots who learn our habits every time we interface with them. Why is New Age spirituality and its very close sister, The Occult, SO popular. What does it teach and how is it different from Christianity?

We are going to talk about all of it today. 

Also, Celine Dion sang in public for the first time in six years, Fr. Brent Bowman became visibly overwhelmed while consecrating the precious blood of Christ during the mass, and Archbishop Fulton Sheen wants to be my friend!

Don’t forget to get your tickets to Heaven in Stone and Glass

as well as

The Fulton Sheen Movement Conference

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Happy Friday everyone,

Mallory Smyth

Plus: The Jurors of Lindsay Clancy Trial, Raves at a Cathedrals, Tragic Anniversaries, and the Sins I Can’t Quit

For Catholics, this month is the month of Sheen. Archbishop Fulton John Sheen will be beatified on September 24th. It has been a long time coming and after years of road blocks, this incredible man is finally on his way to sainthood. 

Whether you love Archbishop Sheen, know little about him, or nothing about him, you will enjoy this episode. I will share how I came to know and love him, what makes him so remarkable, and some of my favorite stories about his life which can be found in his delightful autobiography, Treasure in Clay. 

He once said, “We need an American Saint.” And while we have a few of those, I wonder if he knew he would one day join the ranks. Let us imitate him and he imitated Christ. 

Also in this episode, we will talk about the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s murder, what the juror’s have said about the Lindsay Clancy mistrial, and why turning a cathedral into a spot for a rave isn’t the greatest of ideas. 

Don’t forget to get your tickets to Heaven in Stone and Glass

as well as

The Fulton Sheen Movement Conference

Also check out Laura Phelps podcast Good Friday Sister

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Happy Friday everyone,

Mallory Smyth

Also: TikTok atheist pretends God is real for 30 days, and cathedrals are the best buildings ever built

Just when we think there is no good news to be found, Dolly Parton interrupts our normal dower, divisive, news feeds with… her death. 

Sad as it may be, and death is always sad, through her passing, Dolly Parton has yet again reminded us that it is always possible to be a light in an often dark culture. 

Over the past week, Dolly’s interviews and performances have been all over social media. And as I watched her hilarious, quick witted, almost always gracious, and sometimes inappropriate remarks, something struck me. Through out her very public life, through which she was often made fun of and criticized, Dolly Parton could have easily hardened her heart. But she didn’t. That is what I believe made her so lovable. 

So today, let’s look at how Dolly handled her fame and take some notes. It is very easy to fall into cynicism and close our hearts off to others. But the scriptures tell us repeatedly, “do not harden your hearts.” We would be wise to listen, because, those with cynical, bitter, and hardened heart will have a very hard time receiving God’s abundant life.

Also, Brian Guan pretended God was real for 30 days, and I bet you don’t have to guess how that experiment ended. And, I will share with you how visiting Chartres Cathedral changed my understanding of what these magnificent structures seek to tell us. 

Don’t forget to get your tickets to Heaven in Stone and Glass 

as well as 

The Fulton Sheen Movement Conference

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Have a great week,

Mallory

Also: Harry and Megan are headed to the U.K, Karoline Leavitt leaves her job, and I went on a silent retreat.

The way the Lindsay Clancy murder trial blew up should be studied by historians for many years to come. Only a couple weeks ago this story was small compared to other national stories, and I took an interest in it because of the role psychiatric drugs played in Lindsay’s demise. What does that say about our medical system? THAT is a conversation worth having. 

After listening to one podcast that shared a few too many details, I decided to step back. The story is too tragic. The facts are too dark. 

But just as I decided I was finished with this story, it took on a life of its own. Women around the nation are obsessed with this trial down to questioning the accepted narrative. Was it her, or her husband? It’s a question no one directly involved with the trial is asking, but inevitable thanks to our constant access to the internet and every detail of every story. 

As sensational as this case is, the real conversation to be had has to do with our collective response. And what it is showing isn’t good. 

Friends, we have a media consumption problem in our society. We all know it, but I don’t think we realized how bad it actually is. 

So, dive into this week with me on this episode of the podcast. We can do better. We need to do better, and I hope to offer a vision for how to start moving in the right direction. 

Also, Harry and Megan are headed back to the United Kingdom after spending the past six years publicly hating on their family and his country. What lesson can we learn from their actions?

And Karoline Leavitt is leaving her role at the White House to be present to her children. It’s a good decision and highlights what the good life actually is. 

Want more about Megan and Harry? Check out this past episode of The Gospel and Everything Else. 

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Picking up “The Screwtape Letters” as my choice for better media this week,

Mallory Smyth

Plus: "Yesteryear", New York's Assisted Suicide Law, and Solomon's Wisdom

It’s the end of the summer, and while I’ve been trying to live in the present moment, avoiding my earning for cooler weather and football season, one trip to Hobby Lobby did me in. 

I saw a few leaves painted on canvas next to a 40% off sign, and it was over for me. Good bye summer. Hello, fall. 

Unfortunately, as summer leaves us, I’m afraid the feel good vibes of the news cycle have left us as well.

Most of the stories I have come across lately are negative, so let’s look at them through a gospel centered lens and learn a thing or two. 

First, Ariana Grande has been worrying us for years now. But, it all came to a head a couple weeks ago when she released her new and disturbing music video, “Petal.” Hint: she is bone thin and covered in blood. 

This is not the sign of a person who is doing well spiritually, emotionally, or physically. So, we are going to pray for her and then talk about the nature of worship because her story is unfortunately a reminder that every god eventually demands a sacrifice. So choose your god or God carefully. 

Also, New York Governor Kathy Hochul cited a Catholic funeral as part of the inspiration that help her make assisted suicide legal in New York. Would that Catholic Church approve? I bet you know the answer. We will talk about why.

And, Yesteryear is the book of the summer, but its far more revealing than I think the author wanted it to be.

Don’t forget you can still get the talks from the Blessed is She Virtual Scripture Summit. Use code: MALLORY10 for 10% off.

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Prepping for cooler weather,

Mallory Smyth

Why is seeing old stuff SO impactful? 

I was asking myself this question as my husband and I chased buried saints, and entered countless churches during our week in Italy. 

Regardless of the answer to that question, the reality remains that old things: marble fashioned into the image ofMary holding her son, mosaics meant to last forever, columns, paintings, statues, and graves DO have a profound affect on those who are willing to listen to their message. 

Past generations preach the gospel message through these ancient creations, and if we listen, it will change our lives. 

Or at least, that’s my experience.

The most precious things I brought back from Italy occurred within me as the fruit of my prayer. So let’s talk about it! 

Also, the novel “Theo of Golden,” is JUST SO POPULAR this summer. And there’s a reason for that. In this episode I give my food for thought. 

The book isn’t just about kindness. It’s about identity. And it’s a truth we all sorely need to accept and live out. 

Don’t forget to sign up for the Blessed is She Virtual Scripture Summit. Use code: MALLORY10 for 10% off. 

If you want to dive into my other work you can purchase my book Rekindled, or one of my Bible Studies.

Also, if you need a refresher on the Gospel message, check out the first episode of this podcast.

Did this episode speak to you? Please share it with a friend so we can grow the show!

Need a speaker at one of your events? Email me at [email protected]

Sipping an Aperol Spritz in honor of the trip,

Mallory Smyth