What happens when vulnerability meets community?

In this powerful live session from the Agora Network Ministry Cultivate Women’s Conference in Hamilton, ON, host Catherine Gillard and fellow puzzlers Sue, Tracy, Val, and Nicole (producer) dive deep into the messy, beautiful work of creating spaces where transformation and hope can flourish. This isn't your typical feel-good podcast episode—it's a raw, honest conversation about the struggles we all face and how we can better support each other through them.

In this bonus episode of “The Puzzlers” the team takes a step back to explore the insights and themes from their past season 2. They discuss the importance of rest, community, and embracing vulnerability, emphasizing that healing and connection often come through shared experiences. Through laughter, reflection, and authentic conversations, they highlight the transformative journey of puzzling through life and faith together.  

As we wrap up this season, what’s the one takeaway or insight from these episodes that you’ll carry forward in your own journey? Please share them with us in the comments.

Show Notes

Connect with The Puzzlers LIVE on May 2 & 3, 2025 at CULTIVATE, Agora Ministry’s first annual women's conference, designed to build community and foster spiritual, relational and emotional growth. More information is available here.

It may have four letters, but PLAY is NOT a "four letter word"! Too often, the way we live may suggest otherwise. True play involves self-expression, but what if you don't even know what play looks like for you? Spoiler - it isn't the same for everyone, but you can find yours. Play is a modern day expression of hope. Play is the natural fruit of trusting in God. So come with us - let's PLAY!!

Show Notes

Identify Your Play Nature (questions to consider) https://nifplay.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/take-your-play-history-2023.08.02.pdf

Play Personality Quiz - National Institute for Play

Understanding your Play Style - An Illustrated Guide to Play Types

And for those who like to dive a little deeper, including some neurological foundations of play ...Why We Play - National Institute for Play

Tracy's "Time to Play" Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FC5r1sRjAJDjXEP46neri?si=dpKk8t6fRcOVqPRf9m6_6Q&pi=c20Cnw6CTk-o5

Primary Books, Referenced Directly:

The God Who Plays: A Playful Approach to Theology and Spirituality  by Brian Edgar

Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul  by Dr Stuart Brown

Dangerous Wonder  by Michael Yaconelli

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Fear of Failure is an Emotional Hot Button Topic! In this episode explore with The Puzzlers some of WHY it is so hard to be imperfect, make mistakes or fail. Find some freedom with us as we discuss roots of our fear of failure and triggered responses.  Find permission to be imperfect as you redefine definitions of failure and success and look for reflection over perfection moving forward!”

Show Notes

To find out more about Catherine's courses and life coaching offers, or simply to connect with her, please go to her website https://www.catherinegillard.com

Sue's Book Shadow Gifts: Finding Beauty in the Darkness  can be purchased here.

For a full transcript of this episode and/or more information about The Puzzlers, please⁠⁠ go to our website.

Our modern lives are so full and so fast-paced! Between trying to keep up and trying to get ahead, most of us find ourselves tired and worn out with very little space to take a breath. Is there a better way for us?  And what's God's take on it? Join the Puzzlers for Episode 3, where we seek answers to the question, "Why is it so hard to rest?”

Show Notes

Book link to Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose

For a full transcript of this episode and/or more information about The Puzzlers, please⁠ go to our website.

“How are you?” Maybe one of the most frequently asked questions in day-to-day life. It’s a common greeting often responded to with the easy, feel-good answer of “Good-and you?” - even when life is challenging. Puzzle with us over why it’s often hard for us to wholeheartedly share our reality: the good, bad and ugly.

Show Notes

Please click here to link to Trauma Healing Groups offered by Agora Network Ministries. An organization dedicated to helping individuals move towards greater mental health, where our Puzzler Catherine serves as the Trauma Healing Lead.

John Roedel's poem Patchwork Heart can be found here.

For a full transcript of this episode and/or more information about The Puzzlers, please⁠ go to our website.

Season 2 of "The Puzzlers" kicks off with a re-introduction of your hosts: Sue, Val, Tracy, and Catherine. They reflect on moments of faith, growth, and creativity that they experienced since the last season was aired. Together, they explore the theme of granting ourselves permission—to rest, play, fail and talk about the tuff stuff - while teasing thought-provoking questions that shape this season's episodes. With heartfelt stories and a playful energy, Season 2 promises a transformative journey of discovery, connection, and uncovering God-sized dreams.

SHOW NOTES

Connect with The Puzzlers LIVE on May 2 & 3, 2025 at CULTIVATE, Agora Ministry’s first annual women's conference, designed to build community and foster spiritual, relational and emotional growth. More information is available here.

To learn more about Val's Book and to order The Worry/Free Challenge, please go to her website by clicking here.

Sue's Book Shadow Gifts: Finding Beauty in the Darkness can be purchased here.

Connect with Catherine as a transformational life coach by going to her website.

Curious about her cute canines? Learn more about Tracy's new business at happyheartshavanese.com or by emailing her at [email protected]

For a full transcript of this episode and/or more information about The Puzzlers, please go to our website.

Last episode we left you with a few questions to ponder: Is life just supposed to be hard, especially as a christian, or is there any way to build our capacity to handle struggles in life?  

In this episode we will puzzle over how we CAN grow in capacity to navigate struggles in life and regain wholeness. Join us as the puzzlers discuss ruptures, repairs, rebuilds and resilience. Along with a lot of laughter we get pretty excited as we springboard off one another with discoveries we've each had in cultivating self awareness of our personal capacity to not just live holy but feel whole. Connect with us as we share deep aha moments that increased our ability to live in peace versus fractured from our best version of ourselves. We talk about perceptions, expectations, building reserves, honoring our personal limits, as well as necessary permissions we need to give ourselves to fuel with joy in a fractured world. 

Do you ever just want to quit? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed you are not sure you will find your way through? Do you ever feeling like just throwing in the towel? Yep! Us too.

You are invited into our conversation as we open up our hearts to share about this vulnerable, and all too familiar, piece of life’s puzzle. You will hear The Puzzlers share about ways we’ve been overwhelmed, what we have needed (need!!) to quit in order to continue, and how we have been encouraged to carry on.  If you ever wonder how you will make it through, this episode, dear listener, is especially for you. We are cheering for you!

In this episode we will puzzle over the topic of grief - something most people try to avoid talking about - even though we will all experience grief in our lives. Our host, Sue, will share her heart-changing experiences of loss and grief and will present listeners with the concept of grief as a “shadow gift” - something of beauty that comes out of life’s darkness. We will consider the relevance of one of Sue’s favourite quotes: “Joy shared is doubled, Sorrow shared is halved”. We’ll also look at the reason behind why our culture tends to hide our grief from others, how hiding grief is part of the problem, and real-life examples of how our Puzzlers have had their needs met during periods of grieving. 
Join us in this real and inspirational discussion about the messy gift of grief.