THIS IS OUR SEASON FINALE EPISODE! Wow. Thank you so much to all the listeners and supporters of The Maiden Myth Podcast! We will be back. Please follow our socials to remain updated on the launch of Season 2 and to share in this community of women.

For episode 14, my stylist - Shetorra Nichols, joins us in the discussion of gray hair and how it is just a piece of the aging process that many of us are beginning to accept (03:10). Sophia asks, "What is wrong with being old?" (04:45) and if there's possibly a dark side to the adage "Black don't crack" (18:45).

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Co-Host: Jennifer Edison

Guests: Shetorra Nichols

Producer: Philosophia Productions

PA: Imani Luluknu

Sound Engineer: Miguel Castellanos

Special Thanks to Selena Moshell

Hair. So much of our identity lives in it. Our hair shapes the way we see ourselves and affects the way society sees us - whether we like it or not. In the first half of this episode (03:05), we speak to two women - one who has fully embraced her gray hair and another who is slowly but surely learning to accept her new friends. In the second half (20:30), we focus on how we can learn to embrace the changes of life that - as long as we are breathing - will inevitably come.

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Guests: Lashawnda Becoats (IG @runtowardyourlife) and Shetorra Nichols

Producer: Philosophia Productions

Managing Producer: Life Creative Group

Sound Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Sound Design: Johnie Steele

In this episode, we welcome my dear friend,  Erynn to The Maiden Myth podcast to talk about her LAT (living apart together) life journey.   She shares what she enjoyed about the LAT life (19:30) and a few things she didn't (24:15). Sophia and Jennifer discuss if they could be in a LAT marriage (36:10).

If you're looking for more ways to support The Maiden Myth, you can make a CashApp donation at https://cash.app/$TheMaidenMyth

Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Co-Host: Jennifer Edison

Guests: Erynn Hendrickson

Producer: Philosophia Productions

PA: Imani Luluknu

Sound Engineer: Miguel Castellanos

Special Thanks to Selena Moshell

Have you ever been accused of being too independent for marriage? Besides wondering how people expect a single woman to behave and live her life, I’ve often wondered, "When did independence become a bad thing and what makes an independent woman unfit for marriage? In this episode we are examining the lives of 2 women, (02:57) Sana Akhand and (20:09) Mrs. Vivian Cook, both happily married and more independent than any married women I know. They are a part of a growing demographic of LAT couples - couples that “live apart together”.

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Guests: Sana Akhand  (sanaakhand.com) and Mrs. Vivian Cook

Producer: Philosophia Productions

Managing Producer: Life Creative Group

Sound Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Sound Design: Johnie Steele

A woman’s purpose is often tied to her womb. It can be a struggle for women without children to feel as if their lives matter or even have purpose if they don’t have children. In this episode, joined with Dr. Kelly Thomas (00:45), we get real and share joys of being child-free (10:25), regrets of being child-free (14:45), and redefine the meaning of legacy as child-free women (20:05). We also explore the pros and cons of being an older mom.

A special treat - Our guest is also the creator of the musical game, Lyrikel Genius. (https://lyrikelgenius.com) We close out the episode with a few rounds of this game. (35:30) Um... please forgive my competitive nature. 😜

If you're looking for more ways to support The Maiden Myth, you can make a CashApp donation at https://cash.app/$TheMaidenMyth

Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Co-Host: Jennifer Edison

Guests: Dr. Kelly Thomas 

Producer: Philosophia Productions

PA: Imani Luluknu

Sound Engineer: Miguel Castellanos

Special Thanks to Selena Moshell

Cryos, the world’s largest sperm and egg bank reported more than half of their customers are single mothers by choice, SMC’s. Although single mothers still carry a stigma in society, this hasn’t deterred some women from pursuing motherhood in this radical way. In this episode we hear the stories of two women - Hera (3:02) and Aisha (17:21) - who happily chose the SMC life.

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Guest: Hera M. (Host of Seeking Different podcast) and Aisha J. (Host of Start To Finish Motherhood with Aisha podcast) - Both former hosts of Mocha SMC podcast

Producer: Philosophia Productions

Managing Producer: Life Creative Group

Sound Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Sound Design: Johnie Steele

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Do you feel like you are missing out on intimacy that you would normally receive in a romantic relationship? Have you been single for so long you feel it may be difficult or scary to practice vulnerability with a partner? In this episode, I am joined by a therapist and life coach to explore how you can strengthen your intimacy muscles - whether you are married or not.

Abdi Zelaya starts us off by sharing the simple definition of "intimacy" and the many ways it can be explored (5:35). I ask if the length of a person's singleness affects their ability to be vulnerable (12:00).

Ladies and gentlemen, Ashley Blanco (17:16). Ashley shares what she learned from Sobonfu Somé's, The Spirit of Intimacy (18:40) and how we block our experience of intimacy. I share a personal story of experiencing true intimacy with a friend (21:20) and then explore the concept of self-intimacy with Ashley (32:00).

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Guests: Abdi Zelaya, MA, LPC and Ashley Blanco, Kid's Life Coach and Family Partner

Producer: Philosophia Productions

Managing Producer: Life Creative Group

Sound Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Sound Design: Johnie Steele

Special Thanks to Sarah Benibo, Ronald and Dorretta Stephens, Jenna Mountain, PhD (ABD), LPC, CST and Aspen Haus Associates

In the first half of this episode we are discussing ways God has met us in our loneliness and how these intimate moments have transformed the way we see ourselves and our situations. Sophia talks about Immanuel Prayer (7:00) and Jennifer learned the power of stillness (21:00).  

In the second half Lynneise J. joins the conversation (30:45). We discuss church community (34:05) and the phrase that was once quite popular, “Jesus is my husband” (45:00). Before we close out, Lynneise sets the record straight! (1:02:15)

If you're looking for more ways to support The Maiden Myth, you can make a CashApp donation at https://cash.app/$TheMaidenMyth

Join The Maiden Myth community!

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Co-Host: Jennifer Edison

Guests: Lynneise J. ( IG - @lynneise )

Producer: Philosophia Productions

PA: Imani Luluknu

Special Thanks to Selena Moshell

This episode is for the single woman who feels her prayers for a husband have been in vain, to the woman who is struggling with bouts of loneliness, and to the woman who feels - or has been told - she is being punished by God. When your loneliness and/or singleness begins to negatively impact your spiritual life it can alter the way you see God, yourself, and others around you. We are talking about how to get back to a place of true intimacy with your Creator, even in your anger and as you grieve.

Sarah Benibo, my sister and worship pastor of Embassy City Church in Dallas, TX,  joins me on a call. We begin the conversation to discuss the concept of lament and why it isn't explored more in Christian communities (5:45). Sarah shares a powerful definition of lament by theologian N.T. Wright (11:10) that gives us a healthy way to express anger and pain to God. Sarah answers why it is difficult for us to be honest with God about how we feel and how we come out of hiding and enjoy eternal life right now (16:40).  You may be surprised to learn how we practice intimacy with God (26:15) and how loneliness is a morally neutral emotion - and even gift. Sarah gives us a series of questions to take inventory of where we are (33:12).

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Creator, Writer, and Host: Sophia Stephens

Guest: Sarah Benibo IG - @sarah_benibo

Producer: Philosophia Productions

Managing Producer: Life Creative Group

Sound Engineer: Sonca Nguyen

Sound Design: Johnie Steele