The Problem With Perfect

We all want to live longer and healthier lives. It's why we exercise, eat right and try to get enough sleep. But what if I told you this desire for healthy longevity should be another reason for regularly attending a faith service? This is precisely what a group of scientists recently concluded in a new article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). And what's even more surprising is what generation seems to be ahead of the curve on this revelation.

Join us for a compelling discussion on faith, health, church attendance, and why it should matter to us all. 


Resources:

Spirituality in Serious Illness and Health
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2794049

Regularly attending Religious Services Associated with Lower Risks of Deaths of Despair: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/regularly-attending-religious-services-associated-with-lower-risk-of-deaths-of-despair/

A New Chapter in Millenial Church Attendance:
https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-2022/

For nearly half of his life, Matt May has been focused on ONE thing: becoming a teacher. Convinced by a special teacher in his life that he has something valuable to share with the world through his writings, Matt made it his life goal to share that passion and vision with others. 

Now a first-year English teacher and two-time cancer survivor, Matt is back on the podcast to update us on his life, hopes, and dreams for the future. With wisdom beyond his years, this episode is one that will leave you inspired and intrigued. 

Special Guest: Matt May
Matt May is the son of co-host, Robin, and is now known as Mr. May to his students at Hickman High School in Columbia, MO.  A gifted writer and speaker, Matt continues to be transparent in his journey as he processes his cancer experiences - in hopes that we can all be honest with one another about our struggles. 

Resources: School's Out for the Summer and Many Teachers are Calling it Quits
https://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-out-for-summer-and-many-teachers-are-calling-it-quits-11655732689

Gen Z continues to shape how our society approaches all facets of life - including our work. Focused on maximizing their time connected to a deep purpose, this generation rejects the idea of going above and beyond in their careers. Instead, they've decided to do what they need to do at work and reserve their energy for the things that bring them the greatest joy.

Is Gen Z on to something that other generations have been missing? Or are they entitled and unmotivated and quitting on life? Join us as we ask these questions about quiet quitting in the workplace, with our friends, and even in our marriage. 

Resources:
If Your Co-Workers are Quiet Quitting, Here's What That Means:
https://www.google.com/search?q=wsj+quiet+quitting&oq=wsj&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j35i39j0i20i131i263i433i512j0i131i433i512l2j0i67j0i512j0i131i433i512l2.3843j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

We all have things we know we should start and stop - or start and stop again. Yet the fear of failure and the shame that comes with it keeps us stuck in old habits.

Join us for this practical episode on how to embrace the change you start building habits to change your life. 

Growing up we learned to sing how sticks and stones would break our bones but words would never harm us.  As adults, we can see the good intentions behind this load of crap.  Words - those said about us and those we say to ourselves - shape how we see and feel about ourselves. 

As recovering perfectionists, we know this all too well. So join us for this episode as we unpack five destructive things we were told and discuss why we'll never pass them along to the women in our lives. 

What is an anti- goal, you ask?

Consider this: what is the one thing about your current job that you really dislike? The part of your job that if you never had to do it again would make you beam with excitement? 

Then imagine a day when you never had to do it and find a way to make it your reality. This is an anti-goal.

Sometimes in life it’s easier to know what you don’t want than what you do, which is why anti-goals can be so helpful. 

Join us as we explore this intriguing idea and play it out in our own lives. 

Jesus told us that there would be no escaping the hardships of living here on this broken earth with broken people. Yet the pain, disappointment, and fear of day-to-day life can sometimes be more than we can handle. Instead of dealing with our emotions, we distract ourselves, numb ourselves and avoid them for as long as possible.

How about you? Do you find yourselves doing anything and everything but dealing with your painful emotions? If so, you'll want to give this episode a listen and consider how to set the distractions aside and make room to process the emotions that may be keeping you from moving forward.


Resources:
How to Cope With Emotion Using Distraction
https://www.verywellmind.com/coping-with-emotions-with-distraction-2797606

How to Stop Seeking Distractions from Your Emotions
https://www.wikihow.health/Stop-Seeking-Distraction-from-Your-Emotions

9 Really Bad Things that Happen to Your Health When you Avoid your Emotion
https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/9-really-bad-things-that-happen-to-your-health-when-you-avoid-feeling-your-emotions.htl

Kindness Matters - or does it? 

In a country divided by everything from political parties to women's rights, and vaccinations - it's easy to find someone who doesn't see the world the way you do. What isn't so easy is showing them kindness. 

But why? Why is it so difficult to be kind and caring to people who don't share our values? Our opinions?

In this episode, we discuss the science of caring - why we care about the people we do and why caring for others is so difficult - and the art of building bridges.

Resources: The Science of What Makes People Care
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_science_of_what_makes_people_care

Come Let Us Reason Together
https://www.whatwentwrong.us/come-let-us-reason-together-1?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2_OWBhDqARIsAAUNTTGTItFp20luDiiIDbAjGO8qXa52FpYxUuS6xkLBOObIy8B7U-kABh4aAuaxEALw_wcB

"If you build it, they will come" was made famous in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. But it could just as easily be referring to The Toasty Goat coffee shop in Columbia, MO as a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield. 

Siblings Rachel and Nate, with their spouses Danelle and Josiah, dreamed of owning a place that was designed to connect their community with great coffee in an inviting and family friendly surrounding. Little did they know that when they opened their doors less than a year ago, it would be a overnight success. 

Join us for this episode as Robin interviews sister-in-laws and co-owners Rachel Bryan and Danelle Prevette to discuss how their dream became a reality and how they now juggle owning a business with homeschooling, parenting seven children under the age of six and being wives. 

Special Guests:
Rachel Bryan and her husband, Josiah, are co-owners of The Toasty Goat and parents to three children. The business mastermind of the coffee shop, Rachel's background is in education - which she puts to good use as she homeschools. She loves Sharpies, laminating things and bright colors.

Danelle Prevette and her husband, Nate, are also co-owners of The Toasty Goat and parents to four children.  A nurse by profession, Danelle takes special care that everyone who comes to The Toasty Goat feels seen, known and at home. She loves animals and being outdoors and has a passion for houseplants (and a green thumb). 

Good friends are good for our health but finding and maintaining friendships can be difficult. In this episode, we discuss a recent article on friendship and talk about all the likely (and unlikely) ways to make and keep life-giving friendships. 

Conversation based on The Six Forces of Friendship by Julie Beck, June 10, 2022: 
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/06/six-ways-make-maintain-friends/661232/

Other Resources:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-mindfulness-friendships-enrich-your-life-and-improve-your-health/