The Small Town Girl Podcast with Jenn VanHekken

Stevie Estler of Built by Stevie, shares how the simple act of installing a ceiling fan in her college apartment led her on a journey to become one of the only female woodworking operations in the country. 

She shares how engaging in counseling and mental health therapy has changed her life, the importance of sharing her story, and why embracing      Plus...she talks about how she handles being a female in a male-dominated field, and why getting up after we've been knocked down is the important work of everyday life.

What She Recommends:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Jamie Ivey

Annie F. Downs

Taylor Nickels

The Popcast with Knox and Jamie

The Bible Binge with Knox and Jamie

What She Says:

"All of a sudden I said...'This is my dream job.'"

"A lot of guys assume that girls only do "diy," but as I began getting better and better at what I was doing...I now have guys that ask me for advice."

"I had to prove myself, where I feel like most guys don't have to prove themselves in this space."

"There is a lot of high school that I don't remember...and it comes from the trauma that comes from my story."

"All of our faith journeys are going to look totally different, and there is not one frame that all of us have to fit into."

Author, Speaker, and Coach, Joy McMillan, sits down and shares her journey from brokenness to purpose, and her passion for helping other women step into their calling.

We talk about the broken relationship between Christianity and sexuality, and about her own story, which started her on a journey of healing that she extends to others as they try to navigate this difficult conversation.

She also shares her heart for helping women find their purpose and live a wholehearted life that leads them to their unique, God-given calling.  Be encouraged today as you listen in to Joy's powerful story.  You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere you find your favorite podcasts.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

What She Recommends:

Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud

Boundaries for the Soul by Cook and Miller

What She Said:

"I think we can curate our authenticity in a way that is not truly authentic."

"It's only once you are truly known that you can be truly loved."

"An excess of sex is exactly the opposite of what is happening in Christian marriages today."

"The world is giving us so many broken messages about sexuality...and the church is just sweeping it under the rug."

Kate Bolt of Living Lark talks all things hospitality and entertaining, and shares her passion for bringing people together.  She shares her favorite risotto recipe, why her color-coded cookbook shelf brings her joy, and the best (and quite surprising) party theme that she's ever planned.

Listen in as Kate shares her passion for food and drink and gives us fun ways to bring our friends and family together, especially as we move out from our quarantine and forward into real life.  Plus...we talk about the best cocktails for summer, for creating in a batch, and for my Enneagram 3 self (hint, hint...it includes a bleu cheese stuffed olive garnish!)

Where to Find Kate:

Facebook

Instagram

Livinglark.com

Order her Cocktail Book here

What She Says:

"I came from a place where I felt like doing things for myself was selfish...I had to get to a place where I could overcome a lot of negative self-talk."

"It took me awhile to stop apologizing for putting myself out there."

"I'm bringing joy to the world.  I'm bringing who I am and inviting others to come along."

"It's important to have those friends that you can say 'come on over' to and not have to worry about cleaning your house."

"Friendships are formed in the kitchen...because food is our common language."

"We are made to be in community...and the real conversations happen when we're sitting around a table."

Nate Kingsbury, lead pastor of Stoney Church, and Founder of More Than a Bus, sits down and shares the story of the way that a mission trip to Toronto changed his heart and how his life in ministry has come full circle.

Plus, he shares what it's like to buy a school bus, how meeting the needs of the least of these has changed his life, and how he's embracing stillness in a new way during this season of Quarantine.

Don't miss out on this episode all about the importance of serving others.  Listen in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you find your favorite podcast episodes.

Where to Find Nate:

Facebook

More Than a Bus Facebook Page

More Than a Bus Website

What He Recommends: 

God Guides by Mary Geegh

What He Says:

"We get so busy that we don't even notice when the sun sets or when the sun rises anymore."

"Sometimes I'm doing more than I'm listening...and that's why God is teaching me to be still during this time."

"I'm a people-pleaser, and I want to keep the peace at all costs...but we're not meant to please others, we're meant to live a life that pleases God."

"We are each one or two decisions away from being homeless ourselves."

"My prayer is that even those who haven't experienced their own challenging times will still have a desire to care for the poor...my prayer is that we will want to take care of the poor and reach out to them."

"When God has given you a dream, don't give up on it. Don't give up on what God has called you to do.  Just listen to the Holy Spirit and do what he tells you to do."

Lisa Anderson, founder of Grace's Table, shares her own story and the way that it led her to come alongside others in the midst of theirs. She shares her heart for teen moms and the importance of reminding them that they are seen, known, and loved.

She also shares the importance of cultivating the desires that God has put within us, and how giving our dreams to God allows him to do more than we can ever ask or imagine. Plus...we talk about breaking down the walls of shame, opening our doors to those around us, and the beauty of doing life around a kitchen table.

Grab your tissue and listen in today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or wherever you get your favorite episodes!

Where to Find Lisa:

Facebook

Instagram

gracestable.com

What She Recommends: 

The Body Keeps A Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Mercy Talk (podcast)

Unlocking Us with Brene Brown (podcast)

What She Said:

"I wanted to give teen moms a place where they could belong before they believe."

"He doesn't give the same gifts to every person, but he does give each person the gifts that they need to accomplish his will."

"Our mission is to move moms from isolation to community as they move toward self-sufficiency."

"Sometimes the best thing that we can do for someone when they are struggling is just to sit in silence with them."

"One of the most powerful conversations we can have with our kids is letting them know when we've missed the mark."

"When we are not doing what God has called us to do, we begin to live in a place of turmoil or unrest."

"The Father calls us by name, and so often we run the other way when what we should be doing is running toward him."

Podcaster, author, and co-founder of The Popcast Media Group, Knox McCoy, sits down and shares his story.  He shares the way that pop culture shaped his understanding of faith, and the way that doubting, questioning, and reconsidering what he thought he knew, brought it all into perspective.

Plus, we talk about which pandemic movies are the best to watch during this time, the phenomenon of WWJD, and why college cheer really is the best sport out there.

Listen in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you get your favorite podcast episodes.

What He Recommends:

The History and Legacy of Judas

An Oral History of Obama's Election Campaign

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. James Mandela

Contagion

Wicked Game (podcast)

Better Call Saul

The Good Place

Devs

Where to find Knox:

Knox McCoy

The Popcast with Knox and Jamie

The Bible Binge

The Wondering Years

All Things Reconsidered

What He Said:

Bestselling author, Wade Rouse, better known as Viola Shipman to his fans, sits down and shares the journey that led him to writing about family, friendship, and the legacies we leave behind.

He shares how writing his memoirs started him on his journey, and how the beauty of Michigan inspired him to harness the spirit of his grandmother, Viola Shipman, and led him to become Michigan's Number 1 bestselling author.

Plus...we talk about his new book The Heirloom Garden, the allure of Bonne Belle Lipsmackers, and why getting a haircut is number one on our post-quarantine lists.  You will be inspired and encouraged by today's episode.  Listen in on Apple, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or wherever you find your favorite episodes.

Where to Find Him:

violashipman.com

waderouse.com

Facebook Fan Page

What He Recommends:

Nancy Thayer: The Queen of the Summer Read

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Anne Lamott

Ozark

Tiger King

What He Said:

"I wanted to write about my family who didn't know what to do with me, but who loved me greatly."

"We don't know where we're going if we don't know where we've come from."

"Fear is normal, but we cannot be a prisoner to it...the worst thing that you can do is listen to your fear."

"Our inclination in this world is to think that we are not worthy and that we should be like everyone else...and we demean ourselves and the unique gift that God has given us because of fear."

"Don't waste the blink that you have been given."

"I want to remind my readers of what matters most in life...that we're with family, that we're connecting with friends...I want my readers to escape from their lives for just a moment and give them some hope."

Andre Berry, School Manager for World Vision's Ignite Program, sits down and shares his journey from Political Science to Education, and the way that the two are so tightly combined.

He shares his passion for being a role model to students who may not have a mentor in their lives that looks like them, and his desire to illuminate the reality of the school to prison pipeline and make a change.

Plus...he shares the importance of fist bumps, why the church should be leading the conversation about Restorative Practices, and how opening students' eyes to social transformation is changing our world.

Where You Can Find Him:

Facebook

What He Recommends:

Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential by Barbara Oakley, PhD

Dave Matthews Band

What He Said: 

"I felt that there was a real need for students, especially in low socio-economic communities, to have educators who were passionate about advocating for them."

"In the past we've used the term 'achievement gap,' but really it's an opportunity gap.  It's a lack of resources that many students face when they lack quality education."

"As early as Kindergarten, we're not applying Restorative Discipline...it's punitive discipline...and it's a disservice to these students.  When we punitize discipline instead of restoring it, students are more likely to return to their negative behavior and it leads directly to the Criminal Justice system."

"Just because we have a Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Education doesn't mean that we understand Cultural Sensitivity."

"What we do for our communities we do for us all."

"We as parents need to put our phones down and turn off Netflix and spend time with our kids to show them that they are important to us."

"If there is one thing constant in this life, it is His love, and His grace, and His mercy."

Hayden Hubers, better known as Hayd, sits down and shares his journey from high school student to recording artist, and the email that changed his life.  

He shares how he's kept his cool despite having his music downloaded over a million times, and why his relationship with God is more important than anything else that he could ever want or need.

Plus...we talk about his friendship with Quinn XCII, the soccer game that was meant to shake him, and why watching Season 2-5 of The Office will change your life.

What He Recommends:

Harry Potter

Francis Chan

Jesus Worldwide

Ecclesia

Quinn XCII

Jeremy Zucker

What He Said:

"20 years ago you couldn't make music this way...if you were a normal kid from West Michigan you couldn't become an artist...but now you can be anyone from anywhere and make music."

"I was wrestling with the question of whether or not I could make secular music."

"I heard God ask me, 'Would you give this all up if I asked you to?'"

"There are a lot of questions, but I also have a lot of peace about where I'm going."

"There is so much pressure to go to a good college, but there is so much more freedom than we think...and every single option isn't necessarily a yes or a no."

Dave and Dina Horne, ministry partners for the Wesleyan Church in Vienna, Austria, share how they are experiencing and journeying through the global pandemic.  They reflect on how the world is processing emotions as a whole, how they are continuing to support pastors across the globe, and why we can still hold on to hope.  

Plus...we talk about Sabbath, Dina's youtube channel, and the blessing and the curse of having home-cooked meals every single day.  Tune in anywhere that you get your favorite podcasts, or at jennvanhekken.com/podcast

Find Dave and Dina Here:

Global Partners

Dina and Friends

What They Said:

"One of the things that is so important is the task of working through and naming our losses."

"I can't just say 'everything is going to work out' without identifying the losses that have come with it."

"I think God uniquely meets us in our suffering, in our weakness, and in our pain...and we don't run after him when things are going well."