Who knew that a single rock could teach me so much?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/be-an-example-and-a-light?lang=eng

Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Timothy 4:12
12 ...but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

In today's episode, I have the amazing opportunity to sit down with my oldest daughter, Siobhan. We discuss what it's like to be a teenager in todays society and what it's like to try to grow your testimony in an increasingly turbulent world. She has some interesting insights! 

We also discuss the amazing opportunity that she has to be a peer mentor in a special needs seminary class and how that has helped her grow her testimony. 

Kelly Leonardi was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He played basketball at Highland High School and then at the University of Utah. After hanging up his basketball shoes, he transitioned to running a successful logistics company.

Kelly has an amazing amount of respect for his great friends who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he never found himself ostracized or 'othered' for not being a member. He was always welcomed into his friends homes with open, loving arms. A testament to the mutual respect that existed between him and his buddies. An important 'little lesson' that we can all use a little more of.

Kelly loves his family and will jump at the chance to share his talents and abilities with those around him.

A few quick  thoughts about gratitude

Sally Johnson wears many hats. She is an immigrant, a mother, a wife and personal trainer. And she's my friend! Everyone needs a friend like Sally who builds them up and encourages them to be their best selves. I think everyone should have a friend like Sally.

When Sally immigrated from Iran as a young child, she brought with her a fun loving spirit and a desire to live in the moment. Those qualities have served her well and she made the transition from the corporate world to her true passion as a personal trainer. Seriously, I've seen her in action with her clients and its amazing to see her at work and to see how she treats the many people who work with her.

Amanda Luker is a Texas girl at heart who has planted firm roots in Utah-and I am so blessed to count her as one of my very very very good friends (and luckily our husbands are great friends as well). 

Amanda and I discuss her new career working in local government and all of the lessons that she has learned in that arena. We talk about her calling as Young Women's President in our ward (congregation) and how awesome it is for her to hang out with such amazing teenagers -two of them being my daughters. And we wrap things up with a beautiful story about the unexpected that Heavenly Father answered her prayer and helped her connect with a friend.

I love having the chance to sit down and talk with good friends! And for this episode I got to do just that. Megan Pizarro is the Relief Society President in my ward (she oversees the women's organization in my church congregation) and she is also a dear friend. She's also been one of the biggest supporters of this podcast and for that I am so so grateful! 

In this episode, Megan and I talk about her calling as the Relief Society president and the very important lessons that she's learned along the way as she served the women in our ward and as she has learned to rely on  Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the people that she serves alongside. We also discuss some of her unique life experiences that  help her be more effective at reaching out to those who are struggling and showing empathy to all of those that she encounters. She has an amazing story that it truly inspiring!

What can tomatoes teach us about being a good neighbor and good minister? Turns out, they can teach us a lot! Maybe not the actual fruit, but the plants and they way they grow. Through analyzing the way the branches and leaves were growing, I have grown to have a better understanding about how I can reach out and help the people around me and in doing so, hopefully serving the way that the Savior wants me to.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/be-with-and-strengthen-them?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/22?lang=eng
(Matthew 22:37-39)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/john/13?lang=eng
John 13:34-35)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18?lang=eng
(Mosiah 18:8-9)

Surba  Tucker is a certified personal trainer and someone who I am so lucky to call my friend. Born in Wisconsin, raised in Sierra Leone and then finding himself in Salt Lake City has given him a wealth of amazing life experiences. At any given time, you can find Surba doing an amazing and sometimes gravity defying workout, performing handstands in front of an iconic building or trail running through the Wasatch Mountains and beyond.

In this episode, Surba shares some profound stories from a recent solo trail run in the Grand Canyon (rim to rim), the lessons that he learned from a life altering concussion and how gratitude plays a huge role in his every day  life. He even talks about the mental shift that happens when you begin to look at work as 'play'. 

Find Subra on Instagram! @SurbaFit and @SurbaNatGeo

There are reasons that there are two parts to this interview with Toni Ragsdale. Reason 1, people really like the shorter episodes and I know that interviews will end up being longer, so why not just give the listeners two episodes? 1 a little bit longer and 1 a little bit shorter.  Reason 2, Toni had amazing stories to share and I didn't want to cut too much content. So two episodes this week!

If you are inspired by Toni Ragsdale and the Fill the Pot ministry, I invite you to visit their website and find out how you can help! I promise you won't regret the experience!

https://www.fillthepot.org/