The Problem With Perfect

Ever felt like the quest for perfection is more of a curse than a blessing, especially when it comes to your career and emotional well-being? Join us as we navigate these treacherous waters, with Nancy Yeager, the entrepreneurial spirit behind two Fleet Feet stores, guiding us through her inspiring transition from a stable job to a fulfilling career aligned with her passions. 

Also in this episode, we tackle the cold realities of staying active in winter and discuss the vital importance of finding purpose in our work, all while celebrating Nancy's success and dedication to helping others reach their goals. 

So, lace up your favorite running shoes, grab a pair of earbuds, and let’s explore this episode together.

As we embark on a new year, we often find ourselves asking what it would take for us to fulfill our deep spiritual longings. This episode is your invitation to walk with us and the remarkable Beth Bramstedt as we unwrap the complexities of identity, legacy, and purpose. With Beth's wisdom in spiritual formation and church ministry, we're ushering in an empowering discussion to rekindle the joy and vitality in these essential facets of our lives.

In this episode, we recognize that spiritual practice isn't confined to quiet rooms and closed eyes, but is often found in the everyday hustle. From the transformation of scripture to setting intentions that turn mundane moments into divine encounters, we're redefining what it means to connect with the higher power in our daily lives. Listen as we highlight the personal nature of spirituality, where intentionality and openness pave the way to experiencing the divine in all things.

This heartfelt episode promises laughter, tears, and a renewed sense of what it truly means to live a spiritually enriched life.

Special Guest
Beth Bramstedt is the Church Life Pastor and a member of the executive team at Christian Fellowship Church in Columbia, MO. Beth grew up in Kansas City, moved to Ozark for high school, and moved to Columbia to study journalism at the University of Missouri. Beth has more than 25 years of experience in ministry and joined the staff of Christian Fellowship in March of 2020, overseeing the area of spiritual formation. Beth and her husband Chris and I have two grown sons, and two grandchildren and are currently enjoying life as empty nesters!

Beth believes that all people matter to God and were created with a unique purpose. She is passionate about helping people discover that purpose and develop it for the sake of others. Beth enjoys writing, traveling the world, listening to country music, studying theology, trying local restaurants, devouring Christian fiction, and hanging out with friends and family. She is a storyteller at heart and loves hearing, sharing, and experiencing what makes each of us unique. 

What is it about the New Year that inspires us to focus on every little thing we don’t like about ourselves? Why do we start each year ‘doggedly determined’ to fix every flaw? (In case you didn’t know…doggedly determined is a synonym for the word resolution…as in New Year’s resolution.) Who wants to start another trip around the sun doggedly determined to do anything? Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Join us on this episode as we encourage each other to ditch resolutions and make a case for why aspirations and intentions serve us better. Aspirations focus on hope, self-compassion, and kindness. We set our intentions on what we want more of in our life, not those things that tell us we are not enough.

As always, we promise to be transparent and real. To that end, we will be reviewing our Words for 2023 and discussing how they impacted our lives. We will also share our Words for 2024.

We would love for you to email us at [email protected] to share your word for the New Year. (And if you are having difficulty choosing a word, email us at [email protected] and we will send you a wonderful guide Robin created to help you choose the perfect word for 2024.)

This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and embrace God’s gift of another year. May we cherish each moment anchored in faith and a desire to live life to the fullest. Happy New Word!


Show Notes:
To read the article about New Year's resolution we discuss, go to:
https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/

As the final embers of 2023 glow softly behind us, we gather around the warmth of shared stories and revelations. This episode is a mosaic of triumphs, trials, and the heartfelt thanks we owe to the souls that touched our lives. We recount the victories, be it the thrill of the Super Bowl, the resilience in the face of illness, or the medical marvels that reshaped destinies. Our narrative invites you to sift through your own year's tapestry, to find the threads of experiences that will weave into your future.

Join us on this voyage of reflection and anticipation, as we turn the page to a new chapter together.

The holiday season is rife with images of perfection, but the reality seldom matches the dream. In this episode, we recognize the pitfalls of chasing a perfect holiday and offer tips for setting realistic expectations - focusing on what truly matters: connection, love, and the spirit of the season. The art of enjoying the holidays isn't found in flawlessness but in embracing each moment as it comes, complete with its imperfections.

So come, join us in our quest for a merrier, stress-free holiday season filled with love, hope, forgiveness, and grace.

Show Notes:
12 Steps to Avoid Disappointment this Holiday Season by Joshua Becker
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/avoid-christmas-disappointment/

Have you ever wished that you could wave a magic wand, and transform the holiday season from a stress-filled puzzle into a period of genuine joy and peace? 

Let’s dive into that wish together. This episode is your guide to reclaiming the holiday season by navigating and managing its three primary sources of stress: parties, people, and pain. 

For more information: 

https://www.marketsatshrewsbury.com/blog/stress-free-holiday-entertaining

https://bringingkingdom.org/blog/holidays-flipping-the-script-on-stress-and-triggers-to-calm-and-peace 

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/signs-of-holiday depression.html#:~:text=How%20do%20the%20holidays%20affect,such%20as%20dep ression%20or%20anxiety.


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Have you ever wondered what a mission trip across the globe might look like? Join us in an enlightening conversation where we welcome back our co-host, Denise, who takes us on her journey to India – from her struggles as a traveler to her observations about the country and its pressing issues. She paints a vivid picture of the living conditions there, highlighting the challenges of access to clean water, education, and healthcare.  She also shares her inspiring interactions with the Sanjeev John Foundation, an organization committed to offering help to those who need it most in India. 

Denise's trip wasn't just enlightening, it was a deeply personal journey that highlights the rewards and challenges of doing service work abroad. Give it a listen.

Imagine letting AI whip up your workout plans, find recipes using what's left in your pantry, or even craft bedtime stories for your little ones! 

Join us as AI wizard and guest co-host Rachel Keller and Robin delve into these mind-blowing applications of chat GPT, and also discuss how starting with chat GPT doesn't have to be daunting. This episode will guide you on how to navigate this space with beginner-friendly tips and discuss the promising future of AI in tasks in both our professional and personal lives. 

Let's learn, grow, and explore the breathtaking world of AI together.

Special Guest/Co-host Rachel Keller. To learn more from her, follow her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/

Nothing seems to fascinate us more than a good love story. And no love story has the world’s attention more than that of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. 

So what is it about this power couple that intrigues us so much? Why do we read and re-read every article about them and replay their reels more times than we’d like to admit?

Join us for this episode as Rachel returns to co-host with Robin to get to the bottom of this phenomenon. It turns out that there’s good evidence (and lots of fun banter) to explain our obsession with the Travis/Taylor romance and the joy it brings us.  

Guest co-host: Rachel Keller

The holidays are meant to be a magical, peace-filled time for families to reflect on the birth of Jesus, our many blessings, and precious moments spent with family and friends. So, what is it about Christmas that takes those well-intended precepts and turns them into a shopping frenzy, stress-filled expectations, and exhaustion?

We’re here to help with that. Today’s episode offers some tried and true alternatives to hectic holidays.

What to buy for new parents? We got you covered. What would tweens, teens, and in-betweens appreciate? We made a list and we’ve checked it twice. What would bring joy to our senior relatives? Nothing they must fill, dust, or water. Please join us as we offer tips for making your holidays blessed and blissful.

We would love it if you made our holidays bright by leaving a review. We would also love to see your Christmas not-shopping list.

Show notes: 

To read the article we discuss about what moms need, go to:
https://monicaswanson.com/what-a-mom-needs-most-from-her-family-25-things/

Playdough recipe: 
1c flour 
1/2c salt 
2 tsp crème of tartar
1 c water
1 tbsp cooking oil
food coloring of your choice
Mix dry ingredients, Stir in water, coloring, oil. Mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until dough loses shine and rolls around spoon in one lump. Remove from heat, turn out, knead until smooth and free from lumps. When cool, store in a plastic container. (“This recipe must be good; some of the children eat it like candy!”)

Reverse Advent calendar: https://passionatepennypincher.com/reverse-advent-calendar/

Bird wreath feeder:
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/backyard-projects/diy-bird-feeder/diy-bird-feeder-wreath/