In this Mother’s Day episode, I share 10 important life lessons I learned from observing my incredible mother, Olya—who was born in the Soviet Union during a time of significant persecution and adversity. Her story includes experiences of living under KGB surveillance, being denied an education due to her beliefs, and her brave immigration to the U.S. Her life stands as a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and joy amidst suffering.

Here I share ten lessons I learned by her example, a woman who would not allow darkness to overshadow her light. This episode is a tribute to every mother who loves passionately, lives with purpose, and creates a legacy that impacts generations to come.

What about you? What are some valuable lessons you learned from your mother?

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What happens when life feels like too much for too long? In this powerful episode, Kara Stout joins us to share her remarkable journey through wave after wave of loss—from surviving a near-stroke just one month after marriage, to losing both parents to cancer, enduring a decade-long path to motherhood through infertility and adoption, and experiencing the heartbreak of a failed adoption before finally bringing home her daughter, Nora.

Through it all, Kara found not just survival, but supernatural peace. She opens up about the raw honesty she brought into her relationship with God—an honesty that turned anxiety into strength and suffering into sacred ground. As a trained counselor and author of An Untroubled Heart, Kara offers wisdom for anyone walking through grief, anxiety, or long seasons of waiting. Her story reminds us that peace isn't found in perfect circumstances, but in a faithful God who meets us in our pain.

If you're in a waiting season, searching for peace, or grieving deeply—this conversation will help you feel seen, strengthened, and reminded that you are not alone.

An Untroubled Heart is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and other retailers.
Connect with Kara on Instagram @SincerelybyKara or at karastout.com

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Navigating the Fourth Trimester with Rachel Taylor: Essential Insights for Postpartum Recovery

Postpartum recovery is far more than a six-week checkup—it's a profound physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation that deserves greater care and attention. In this episode, we’re joined by Rachel Taylor, a registered nurse with 15 years of experience in mother-baby care and author of After Baby Comes: Physical, Spiritual and Emotional Recovery for Postpartum Moms.

Rachel shares powerful insights into the often-overlooked fourth trimester, offering hope and practical wisdom for new mothers navigating this tender season. We discuss:

• Why postpartum is a transition, not a permanent state
• How to distinguish baby blues from postpartum depression and anxiety
• The truth about physical recovery timelines and why it takes longer than six weeks
• Simple yet powerful practices like diaphragmatic breathing to aid healing
• How spiritual rhythms can shift in this season without guilt
• The importance of community and creating a “how you can help me” list before birth
• Why you are uniquely designed to be the mother your child needs

If you’re in the postpartum season—or love someone who is—you’ll walk away feeling seen, supported, and equipped.

Find Rachel’s book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or ChristianBook.com, and connect with her at mamadidit.com or on Instagram @mamadiditofficial for more encouragement and resources.

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Have you ever said yes to something that stretched you beyond your capacity? 

In a few weeks, I’ll be hiking 67 miles on the Appalachian Trail with two of my  friends, Lauren and Stef. Both are marathon runners. It’s not just for the adventure (though it’s definitely going to be one). It’s to honor my grandmother, Tasia.

At 16, she was forced by Nazi soldiers to walk nearly that same distance—67 miles—with nothing but a letter from her grandmother and the words of Psalm 91 to carry her. “No harm will overtake you.”

And here we are, generations later, choosing to walk—freely, intentionally, and for a cause that matters. We’re raising money for @charitywater to help build a well for a community that doesn’t have clean water. 100% of every donation goes directly to the well.

Training hasn’t been easy (hello 30lb backpacks), but the kindness and support we’ve already received has reminded me—none of us are meant to do hard things alone.

Maybe you’re not hiking 67 miles, but I know you’re carrying something heavy. Let this be your reminder: you are stronger than you think, and generations before us have done hard things.

If you want to be part of something meaningful, you can donate or learn more here: https://www.charitywater.org/67miles/67miles

And as you go about your day, know that I am cheering you on. Live boldly. Love deeply. And let’s make this life count.

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Living for over a century gives a unique lens on what truly matters. In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca Drick, a radiant 103-year-old who shares her extraordinary journey and the powerful simplicity behind her long, fulfilling life. From milking cows at six years old to sewing thousands of unipads for women in developing countries—her story is one of resilience, purpose, and everyday joy.

Key Takeaways from Rebecca’s 103 Years of Wisdom:

• Farm Roots & Responsibility: Grew up with six brothers on a fruit farm; began milking cows in first grade.
• Simple, Wholesome Diet: A lifetime of apples, home-cooked meals, no processed food—and intermittent fasting.
• Purpose at Every Age: Has sewn over 3,000 reusable pads ("unipads") for women in need—just in the past five years!
• Daily Routine: Bible study, gentle exercise, sewing, and reading keep her days meaningful.
• Resilience Through Hardship: Lived through the Great Depression, WWII, and the loss of two husbands—yet continues to "keep going."
• Lifelong Relationships: Family, 4-H clubs, and decades of reunions sustained deep, life-giving connections.
• Graceful Aging: Accepts her limitations with peace and focuses on what she can do—not what she can’t.
• Simple Joys: Novels, Rummikub, and desserts continue to bring delight.
• Her Life Mantra: “Do your best. Be as good a person as you can be.”

Whether you're seeking inspiration, struggling with life’s challenges, or curious about what it means to live well for 100+ years, Rebecca’s perspective will leave you feeling encouraged, grounded, and full of hope.

Let’s live simpler, love deeper, and keep going—just like Rebecca.

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Betty Baker, a 101-year-old, shares her joyful journey through life, engaging in activities like crossword puzzles, reading, and painting despite physical limitations. Key points include:

• Approaching 102, she remains mentally sharp and active.
• Everyday she pushes herself to stay engaged rather than sedentary.
• A 63-year marriage highlighted the importance of shared values.
• Caring for her husband with Alzheimer's 
• Her experience of living through WWII 
• How her faith contributed during difficult times
• Her take on diet, and lifestyle for longevity
• A century of change has shaped her perspective on life's priorities.
• She emphasizes staying positive by focusing on abilities rather than limitations

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Mary Morantz shares her journey from a single-wide trailer in rural West Virginia to Yale Law School, exploring how growing up without resources creates deeply ingrained patterns of self-doubt and self-sabotage that follow us into adulthood. She reveals surprisingly simple shifts to break free from limiting beliefs and stop playing small, even when we feel simultaneously called to something greater while doubting we'll ever get there.

• Growing up in poverty "does something to your brain" that makes you expect to fail before you even start
• When we don't trust our capacity to handle success, we subconsciously shrink back down to fit what we believe we deserve
• Expanding capacity happens through setting small but meaningful commitments and keeping them consistently
• The 12 faces of fear include self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
• For first-generation success stories, "more" often feels like betraying where you came from
• The paradoxical solution: to quit playing small, start with small consistent actions that rebuild self-trust

Preorder Mary's book "Underestimated" at namethefear.com where you can also take the Achiever Quiz to discover your specific type and download the first chapter for free.

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Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board-Certified internal medicine physician and work-life integration researcher. She founded Restorasis, which promotes workplace wellbeing through the 7 Types of Rest Framework™ aimed at burnout prevention and work-life balance. As a busy physician, author, and mother, she helps high-achievers address work-rest imbalances and achieve a thriving lifestyle. 

An international wellness expert, she has been featured in various media outlets Prevention, MSNBC, Women's Day, FOX, Fast Company, Psychology Today, INC, and TED.com. and authored the bestseller "Sacred Rest," which discusses the seven types of rest necessary for productivity and happiness. And today we will be diving into her latest book called Being Fully known which she Challenges Readers to Discover the Freedom of Authentic Emotional Rest, Being Fully Known invites readers on a transformative journey to silence self-doubt and the limiting beliefs that keep us stuck to embrace the fullness of our God-given identity.

If you consider yourself a high-achiever or a go-getter, this episode is for you.

Links to Dr.Saundra Dalton-Smith:

Restquiz.com

https://www.drdaltonsmith.com/

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A few thoughts for Women in honor of Women's History Month.

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Dr. Chris Palmer serves as the Dean of Ministry and Theology at Southeastern University. He earned his PhD from Bangor University in Wales, UK, and has authored eight books. His research focuses on the Book of Revelation, the concepts of suffering and theodicy. In this episode, Dr. Palmer sheds light on the enduring question of suffering: If God is good, why does He permit good people to endure suffering?

Dr. Palmer in this episode:

• Describes how witnessing the aftermath of Pol Pot's killing fields in Cambodia sparked his research journey
• Explains how historical events like the 1755 Lisbon earthquake shifted cultural perspectives on God and suffering
• Analyzes three major theodicies: free will theodicy, soul-making theodicy, and greater good theodicy
• Argues that Scripture doesn't attempt to reconcile God's goodness with evil's existence
• Proposes that living with hope and justice represents a form of protest against evil

Dr. Palmer is working on a book titled "A World Without God" 
(Zondervan, 2026)

Link to Dr. Chris Palmer

https://www.instagram.com/chrispalmer/

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