The Saltworks

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You love her and we have her back— Dr. Emily Jones is on the podcast with us this week to tackle another conversation on an uncomfortable topic: grief. 

Like every other topic, Emily brings wisdom, truth, grace, and even humor into these topics that can feel heavy and uncomfortable, and grief is no different. 

While walking us through lessons and truths about grief Emily shares her personal stories and experiences through family crisis and ultimately, in the passing of her Dad. 

In all of this, what I kept feeling through Emily’s story and insight is that we have permission to grieve. Unlike parenting and other uncomfortable conversations we might have, Emily leaves room today for what grief can look like in so many different experiences— and in so many different hearts. Because grief shouldn’t be compared. 

Whether you are grieving right now, you love someone who is, or if grief is an old friend, we hope you find solace in today’s episode that grief shouldn’t be compared, God is still good, joy still exists and even commingles with our sorrow, and that grief can actually be an act of worship through lament.

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It’s still January, and we’re all still dreaming of the blank slate before us. We wanted to take this week to talk with you on planning your year with intentionality. Naturally, we had to revisit the topic of word of the year– covering what it is, what it isn’t, what it can be, and why it’s so helpful. We also share encouragement and advice on setting better rhythms and habits for ourselves and our families, as scripture beckons us to live wisely and purposefully. What I love about this episode is that we get the opportunity to talk about how having clean closets and better morning routines won’t make us more godly, but without as much distractions and busyness, it can help us to live more presently in the purposes God has for us. We hope you enjoy it and leave today feeling encouraged and empowered to make even the smallest changes to create margin for the most important parts of life– loving God and loving people. 

For the Power Sheets Goal Planner we talked about in this episode as well as many other helpful resources, check out Cultivate What Matters. 

If you haven’t read Habits of the Household, make sure you get your copy!

To grab the study on Rest Lindsay mentioned or check out many other great topical studies, check out Daily Grace Co.

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Happy New Year and welcome back, friends! I can’t believe it’s already 2026, and that will for sure take me a month or two to get used to writing. We are starting this new year together with a wonderful episode I just know you’re going to love. Nicole Gregory is on the podcast with Lindsay and myself, and you won’t want to miss it. If you don’t know Nicole, she is so much fun, but she is just full of authenticity and an open book when it comes to just about anything— her story included. Nicole talks about growing up with a great childhood and how her parents divorce began the habit of building a wall of protection around her that led to self-sufficiency in so many areas. Through heartbreak,  marriage, making her 5 year plan, seeking for identity in work, and raising + protecting her kids, Nicole illustrates how so many things led to her continuing to build her walls around her heart and those she loved. But the beautiful part is hearing how the Lord used His word, people, and EMDR counseling to break down those walls. It’s relatable, convicting, and the perfect start to our new year together– we can’t wait for you to listen!

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If we’re being honest, sometimes we can secretly feel like the Christmas story is so well-known that we don’t really need to spend time with it during the season. In an application-heavy culture, we can question the necessity of sitting in the story again and again. But perhaps that’s why we need to. Because the Christmas story was the beginning of the fulfilment of prophecy. It was the Gospel unfolding. And maybe what we need more than another how-to is simply to sit in wonder and awe at His feet. So today, we want to do that with you. 

In a Christmas Favorites episode, Lindsay and I participate in a This or That Christmas edition challenge, compare notes on favorite traditions, movies, and foods– but most importantly, we dive into our favorite parts of this miraculous story we call Christmas as we sit in wonder at all God’s done and who He is.

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Despite all of the magical things that Christmas time brings each year, this season can often be characterized as busy, stressful, and tiring. We’ve all felt it— some might even call it holiday burnout. But I want to reframe our perspective today by going back to the first Christmas in hopes to persuade you that no matter what our circumstances, Christmas can and should still be one of the sweetest times for us as believers. A time that instead of everything depending entirely on us— something we simply get to receive. This was a topic I got the privilege to share at the North Monroe Christmas Gathering recently, and I wanted to share it with you here as you prepare for the holidays in your home.

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We have a great show for you this week! Hannah Hughes is on the podcast, and she is sharing her story about growing up with common misconceptions about what a “good” Christian is. Hannah is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, and barista in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about sharing what God has taught her in her story. As a teen in church dealing with taboo topics like mental health, depression, and suicidal ideation, Hannah vulnerably shares her story of dismantling what she thought the Christian walk should look like as she shares her incredibly engaging story of what her Christian walk has looked like. Hannah brings truth and wisdom to hard topics like the science and spirituality in mental health, striving versus abiding, and redefining purpose in God’s terms. Hannah shares stories from her life in seasons of depression, miscarriage, mentorship, and ministry as she illustrates God’s perfect love and redemption in it all. Trust me, make sure to listen and share it with a friend who needs it, because Hannah brings powerful and much-needed truths to these conversations. 

For more from Hannah Hughes, make sure you check out her show and give her a follow so you can stay in the loop of what comes next!

Podcast: https://thehannahhughes.my.canva.site/by-words-links

Instagram: @thehannahhughes

YouTube Channel: @thebywordsshow

Check out Hannah’s book Waking Up: Living Open. 

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Alecia Bryant is on the podcast today, and trust me you don’t want to miss it! For those of you that know Alecia, you know she is fun and full of knowledge of God’s Word. For those of you that don’t know her, you’re in for a treat. A mom and former high school English teacher for over 15 years, Alecia has a deep love for both words and the upcoming generation. Now Alecia is writing content with Lifeway for that very same age group as well as speaking at events and breakouts. So often we can enter into conversations with younger generations with preconceived notions and misconceptions that may be hindering our reach– and may not even be true. Alecia dispels some of the lies we tend to hold, gives questions that the upcoming generation is asking, and sheds light on the many unseen battles they are facing. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles– give it a listen. You’ll be so glad you did. 

For more information on these topics, make sure you check out the links below!

Parents, click here for biblical resources to help you disciple your teens. 

Click here for Alecia’s recommendation for a bible study adults and teens can do together. 

And of course, make sure you check out Lifeway.com for all the wonderful resources, bible studies, and content they provide.

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It’s finally here! THE most requested conversation we have on the Saltworks is happening today, and we are so excited! Dr. Emily Jones is on the podcast, and we are asking all the questions and diving into these topics that are often deemed “uncomfortable.” For anyone listening with little ears, we are covering topics from body safety to sex to pornography and more specifically: how we can talk to our kids about each. Emily does a phenomenal job of taking us through each stage of childhood and adolescence and what conversations we might begin introducing around each topic. From simple bathtub conversations with toddlers to helping teens set dating boundaries, we are covering it all.  If you don’t know Emily, you will just love her. She takes topics we don’t know what to do with and brings forth insight, wisdom, statistics, and so much relatability. In it all, Emily challenges us as parents to really think about where the discomfort originates, how we can be proactive in both our self awareness, past baggage, and preparation for all the conversations to come. Parents, it’s packed with both truth and grace, so listen, take notes, and leave empowered and encouraged! 

For some resources mentioned in today’s episode, make sure to check out the following links! 

Birds & Bees Instagram 

The Birds & Bees Online Course 

Good Touch Bad Touch 

Good Pictures Bad Pictures 

As always when Emily joins us, we love to share about the wonderful work she does everyday. For more information, check out the links below!

The Center for Children and Families

For counseling requests for Emily or to learn more about her, click here!

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We have a powerful episode this week for you! Cody Bauman is on the podcast, and he is sharing his story of the loss he and Leslie have experienced through miscarriage, their heart for adoption, and their love and advocacy for the world of foster care. We loved hearing the perspective from a husband and dad, and we know you will too. If you don’t know Cody, he is a servant everywhere he goes– from working in engineering, to teaching physics during his lunch hour, to volunteering in the children’s ministry, loving his family so well, and of course, his service in the foster community. As you will hear, he and Leslie both have walked so many difficult roads of heartbreak, but the family God has formed around them, both their nuclear family and support group, is nothing short of amazing. If you have ever felt the tug towards adoption or fostering, this episode is for you. If you have wanted to serve and contribute outside of opening up your own home, this episode is for you. We can’t wait to share it with you, as I know you will get so much out of what Cody shares. 

For more information on organizations mentioned in the episode, make sure you check out the links below!

Project 2.5

Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home

Connect One Child

And lastly, don’t forget to put the celebration honoring Terry Slawson’s nearly 29 years of dedication to Seeker Springs on your calendar! If you don’t know Terry, make sure you go listen to his episode in Season 3! But for the many of you that do, don’t miss the opportunity to go give him a hug and thanks for all he’s done in his service to the community! 

The celebration is at the Lodge at Seeker Springs located at the address below on November 1st from 4-6 pm. But if you can’t make it, make sure to donate here to give toward the $30,000 Legacy Challenge! 

The Lodge at Seeker Springs

1280 Okaloosa Road

Eros, LA 71238

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Happy Tuesday, friends! We are excited to be back with you this week diving into God’s Word. If you know us, you know we love to share others’ stories of faithfulness and part of that is unpacking the stories we’re given in Scripture. So today, Lindsay and I are digging deep into a story from Matthew 25 Jesus told his disciples about his second coming, and more pointedly, how to steward the lives we’re given until that time. It’s the Parable of the Talents and for me, there can be a lot of questions wrapped up in this one, so we are taking the time to sit down, read through, and discuss what Jesus was telling us, because we are living in that exact space of time right now. The truth is, God has put tools in each of our hands to steward in this season, and we need to remember both what those are and the importance of what He can do with them.