Christa Vickers-Smith joins me on this first episode of the year on The WHoly Mom Chat Podcast with her blissful journey of #healing after seasons of great suffering. A native Richmonder, Christa has experienced firsthand the power of prayer, of the body of Christ, bearing each other's burdens and seeing every joint supply. Her passion has become pursuing wholeness in spirit, soul, and body, and walking alongside others in their journeys.

Christa was born and raised in a God-fearing #Christian home, knowing Jesus and His Word, but she experienced Him deeply when she was desperately longing for a #physicalhealing. It started from a migraine as a teenager and escalated to kidney stones, fibromyalgia, insomnia, low immunity, and weak adrenal system (and more health crisis) over the course of seven years. She went through multiple back surgeries, endometriosis surgery and the list goes on. 

Tune in to learn more about Christa's healing journey: 

 -  Dealing with the physical trauma 
-   Lightbulb moment which revealed her the cause within herself
-   Pivotal moments in the healing journey 
-   The power of belief and prayer
-   Three pieces of wisdom

Favorite Quotes:

"God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power and love and sound mind” – 2 Timothy 1: 7

"God made our bodies so incredibly, intricately that we can evaluate danger and go."

"My journey was not quick, not like an instant gratification of work. There were layers and things had to get peeled back. But at the end of it, I am forever changed. I will never be the same."

To Connect with Jenny 

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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We've all gone through transitions. Transitions are a part of life: going through stages in life, relationships, parenthood, loss of loved ones, career moves, and so on. These changes can be hard to deal with. However, we can be intentional and learn to cope with these inevitable transitions better. 

Christy Wright joins me today in the podcast, sharing her story of Transition from a Ramsey personality of Ramsey solutions with 12 years of expertise as a certified business coach, dynamic speaker, and personal development expert to something new. Christy has thousands of hours of experience speaking professionally on some of the most significant stages in the country, and she now uses that experience to teach others how to make the impact they want to make. Whether running around the stage or after kids, challenging leaders, or changing diapers, Christy makes the most out of her life and helps others to do the same.

Christy encourages us not to give up our faith in God, as He always has better plans for us. After all, He is the one who chose you for His purpose, and He will pave the way for it. She also describes her emotional and spiritual struggles during the transition phases and how she overcame them with a leap of faith in God and belief in herself.

She is the #1 bestselling author of 'Business Boutique,' 'Take back your time' and 'Living True.' Christy is masterful at teaching people how to craft messages they are excited to share and confident to deliver. She has been featured on Today Show and Fox News, Success, Entrepreneur, and Women's Day Magazines.

Listen to the podcast to find out more about:

·      The journey to her life purpose (3:40)

·      The spiritual impact of the transition phase (7:00)

·      Concept of reset and change in seasons of life (16:00)

·      Dealing with emotional struggles of transitions (19:26)

·      Counseling process and a new vision in life (24:00)

·      Three pieces of wisdom (35:00)

Favorite quotes:

"When I obey Lord in a difficult situation, it doesn't get easier. It becomes harder. Eventually, He will bring me the perfect ones."

"Things happen in the wilderness that prepares us for a blessing. I have learned the importance of a reset in this wilderness."

"In your transition, God brings you through a wilderness to reset you: reset your mind and intimacy with Him."

"If you have peace and sovereignty, you can walk the steps even if you are super scared."

To connect with Christy: 

Website: www.Christy-Wright.com

Follow IG: @Christy.Wright

Facebook: OfficialChristyWright

Join her new course: StopWingingIt.com

To connect with Jenny: 

Website: http://wholymom.com/

Follow IG: @wholymom

LinkedIn: Jennifer James

Facebook: wholymom

Email: [email protected]

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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With Thanksgiving this week in the US and the holiday season around the corner, let's get our hearts, minds, and spirits ready and be intentional in our homemaking. To discuss this topic, I invited Ruth McKeaney to share her experience. 

Ruth is the author of "Hungry for Home." As a constant host, she goes to the heart of what makes one feel at home. Every day, her goal is to make her home a safe place, so her family and her guests have the opportunity to have their deeper needs met. Intentional homemaking, in its most idealized form, creates a setting where vulnerability and honesty are valued and protected, understanding and grace are fostered, and love is freely given. It's time to recover the richness of community lost in the today's hustle and bustle. We can still slow down. We can still prioritize our family and friends over our "to-do" lists. We can still find beauty in the midst of chaos. We can still sit around the table with bowls of pasta and laugh until two in the morning. We can still go home.~ Ruth McKeaney

This episode also discusses the significant phase of the identity crisis she experienced and how she overcame it. She also shares her journey to finding her purpose when lovingly challenged by her uncle to seek God for. Ruth McKeaney is a former Attorney General for the state of Virginia and Assistant Commonwealth #39's Attorney. Ruth and her husband, Bob, are raising their five children on their restored historic farm in Berwyn, PA. Hillside Farm was featured in the books Stone Houses and Theology of Home and exhibited in multiple home tours and a few magazines.

Listen to the podcast for our conversation. Here are the quick glimpses

3:26- Ruth about her life

4:17-  Identity Crisis 

14:40 - Being the best of yourself

20:37- Launch of Hungry for Home

23:10- Struggles and ignition to passion 

Favorite Quotes:

"Everyone, despite your ethnicity and religious beliefs, is yearning for a home." 

"You don't realize as a mom, your whole identity becomes your children."

"It was an amazing experience to sit back and watch the Lord work."

To connect with Ruth: 

Website: https://www.hungry4home.com

Follow IG: @hungryforhome

Facebook: HungryforHome

YouTube: https://youtu.be/F0IgsqCarEI

Purchase Book: https://www.hungry4home.com/shop

To connect with Jenny: 

Website: http://wholymom.com/

Follow IG: @wholymom

LinkedIn: Jennifer James

Facebook: wholymom

Email: [email protected]

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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  "Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had." Motherhood is challenging. It is like a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs. It can be overwhelming, and at times it can be the best dose of happiness. Katherine Wintsch joins today's podcast with her extraordinary charm. Katherine dedicates her life to making the lives of mothers easier. Katherine is the founder and CEO of The Mom Complex. She is a mother of two teenagers and the author of 'Slay like a Mother', a popular book that combines her journey with her groundbreaking research on motherhood. According to the Parade magazine, the book is one of the Top 10 Life Changing Self-Help Books of the Year. Her research has also been featured by 'The Today Show,' 'The New York Times, 'The Wall Street Journal, and 'Fast Company.'

               Katherine shares her journey of motherhood and explains how she managed her struggles and slayed her 'Dragons of self-doubt.' She also expresses her thoughts on why moms suffer and struggle and her ways of overcoming it. According to her, Gatekeeping moms are prone to stress and anxiety, and everyone must make time for themselves. Organizing and decluttering even relationships can keep our mental health on track, and to maintain a sane mind, we should love ourselves. Self-love is not wrong, and moms should find time for self-care.

Here are the quick time stamps:

03:27 Introduction and about her book, 'Slay like a Mother.'

05:26 'Dragon of Self-doubt' and path to freedom.

08:35 Slay your dragons of Self-doubt

10:30 Reconnecting to the self.

16:00 Are you a 'gatekeeping mom'?

29:54 Dealing with mom guilts.

32:42 Three pieces of wisdom 

To connect with Katherine:

Sign up here to receive our Slay Like a Mother newsletter.

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

Write a book review here on Amazon.

Buy a Slay Like a Mother book.

YouTube  video.

Slay Like a Mother Website.

The Mom Complex Website.

Katherine's Blog. 

To connect with Jenny: 

Website: http://wholymom.com/

Follow IG: @wholymom

LinkedIn: Jennifer James

Facebook: wholymom

Email: [email protected]

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom 

I am here to remind you that YOU MATTER. Your feelings, desires, unspoken needs, and all of you have a purpose. I am here to walk with you and to cheer you on. I believe in you. YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS SEASON!  So, let's rediscover our true selves, reclaim our time, energy, care for ourselves to be the woman we want to be, and most of all, THRIVE. Let us rise and show up as a better version of ourselves!  Together we can support each other and live in our purpose. Let's do this!

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month which includes miscarriage, infertility, failed cycle, infant loss, ectopic, stillbirth, child loss, SIDS, neonatal loss, TFMR, chemical pregnancy, and embryo loss. To every person who has experienced any of these difficult experiences, I see you, I feel your pain, and I am holding space for you. 

In this week's podcast, we will discuss the journey of infertility. Infertility, in simple words, is the inability to reproduce. It affects both men and women. It can be challenging for people to sail through the physical and mental pressure of infertility and its treatments. Michelle Mercurio joins me today with her journey through infertility and the struggles she faced. 

According to her, letting go of all the guilts and living with self-love is a great medicine to make healing happen. Self-love can do wonders in thought processing and boosting confidence. She says focusing on a 'to-be list' instead of a to-do list should be the priority. There will be many ups and downs, and many identities will be crashed, but one should not need external things to like themselves. Questioning your beliefs and why you believe them makes corrections and clears the thought process. 

Listen to the podcast to learn how Michelle overcame depression and how she coped through all her heavy days. Here are the quick timestamps: 

04:30- Michelle's infertility journey with PCOS 

08:05- Treatments and accepting phase 

18:20- Dealing with Depression 

28:30- Healing and letting go 

38:00- A Note of Help 

Favorite quotes: 

"The reason we fear judgments is that we are so harshly judging ourselves."

"If I love myself, I can show up for others better."

"Relationship with others is based on our relationship with ourselves." 

To connect with Michelle: 

Website: https://michellemercurio.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemercurio

Follow IG: https://www.instagram.com/michmerc/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aYkwTShrPXMOlkQbnJIag 

To connect with Jenny: 

Website: http://wholymom.com/

Follow IG: @wholymom

LinkedIn: Jennifer James

Facebook: wholymom

Email: [email protected]

To support my podcast, PayPal or Venmo: @wholymom

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It aims to provide adequate knowledge about Breast Cancer and to spread awareness among women to save lives. In this week’s podcast Morgan Adams joins me today with her inspiring story about how she overcame breast cancer two times. She addresses herself as a ‘WARRIOR TO WOMEN’S HEALTH’ and shares her journey and experiences. 

According to Morgan, trusting the inner voice is important because our body knows what it needs more than anyone. Making health care a priority is a key factor to prevent and diagnose any unusual illness or disease. In this Pink Month, my aim is to spread awareness and educate people about breast cancer and how early identification plays a vital role in curing breast cancer. Morgan’s journey is a great example for this. Tune in to the podcast to hear her journey and her recovery phase.

HERE ARE THE QUICK TIME STAMPS: 

04:52 – MORGAN’S BREAST CANCER JOURNEY 

10:22 - MAMMOGRAM AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION 

13:20 - INNER VOICE AND GUT FEELING 

16:30 – RECOVERY FROM CANCER AND ITS IMPACTS 

25:15 - CHRONIC INSOMNIA AND WHAT IS A HOLISTIC COACH  

31:06 - ADVISE TO NEW MOMS FOR A HEALTHY SLEEP 

33:28 - THREE PIECES OF WISDOM 

 Favorite Quotes: 

“GO WITH YOUR GUT, KEEP ASKING” 

“MY JOURNEY MADE ME VERY FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF AND TRUSTING MY GUT “ 

About Morgan: Morgan lives in Richmond, Virginia and a two time breast cancer survivor. She advocates for a lifestyle of disease prevention and integrating holistic strategies for cancer treatment. Morgan Adams is a holistic sleep coach for women who struggle with getting a good night's sleep consistently. Her goal is to help women feel better and to live better with a good night’s sleep. She is an accredited health coach and holistic sleep coach with advanced certifications in sleep science. Morgan spent almost decades using prescription sleeping pills despite knowing that her overall sleep quality suffered. She now inspires and teaches other women how to achieve good sleep without the usage of sleeping aids.  

To Connect with Morgan Adams: 

Follow IG : https://www.instagram.com/morganadams.wellness/

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganadamswellness/

Website: Morganadamswellness.com 

To Connect with Jenny 

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom 

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Gary Thomas has joined me this week on the podcast to provide insight regarding toxic relationships (familial, intimate, professional, friendships).  In this week's conversation, Gary is able to help us recognize people that are toxic and ways in which we can move on from these painful relationships. Toxic individuals not only affect the relationship, but they bring us down and add to our daily stressors. It’s important to understand that toxic people slowly chip away at your well-being. As a mother, I enjoyed the conversation with Gary because it brought up the importance of healing and putting ourselves first. This conversation is inspired from Garry’s book: When to Walk Away. 

According to Gary, not every difficult person is toxic. Those that are toxic people want to control you, haunt you, and enjoy conflict. He speaks about how to incorporate faith, restraint, self-soothing methods, and forgiveness in our journey to walk away from toxic relationships. Join in and plunge into the episode to explore more about it.

Listen in to learn more about: 

{04:00} Identifying Toxic People

{06:20} Toxic People and Scripture

{09:25} How to Walk Away Physically

{11:00} How to Walk Away Mentally 

{12:25} Toxic Marriage and Licensed Counselors

{16:00} Self-Soothing

{26:00} Forgiveness

{28:35} Three Pieces of Wisdom

Favorite Quotes

“Lord, I pray…that they’ll become a person of love instead of hate.” 

“Take the temptation to fixate on toxic people as motivation to plan to do something healthy in a healthy relationship.”

“Don’t let someone tear you apart. God created you not just to be loved but to love others.” 

“Relationships are key to who God made us to be.”

About Gary:

Gary is a best-selling author and international speaker. He has worked to foster personal growth by means of scripture and community outreach. His incorporation of the Christian faith and public speaking have allowed him to identify how to end the chain of toxic relationships and how to find our way to a journey full of healing and self-love. If you’d like to hear more about what Gary’s advice is you can check out his book When to Walk Away. 

To Connect with Gary:

Follow on IG: @garythomasbooks 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGaryThomas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GaryLThomas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-thomas-26b44a14/

Website: https://garythomas.com

To Connect with Jenny 

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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Kari Trent-Stageberg has joined me this week to provide knowledge regarding the path to healing and understanding domestic violence as a first-hand survivor herself.  Domestic violence is one of the most threatening issues which can curtail one's mental and psychological growth. Individuals may face verbal, emotional, or physical abuse that may leave you questioning everything you’ve ever said or done in a relationship. Experiencing this abuse has been shown to leave lasting effects that are even more profound than physical damage itself. Due to the toll that is left by domestic violence, it is important to understand the narrative through first-hand experiences which is why Kari has joined the podcast today.

According to Kari, the first and foremost thing to escape from domestic violence is to recognize such a toxic relationship and tackle it in the most appropriate manner, followed by setting a safety plan and boundaries. It will not be a cakewalk unless one gets proper guidance and knowledge regarding this evil. Listening to the words of a survivor will help others to be fit enough to fight brilliantly against the abuse. So don't hesitate to plunge into the episode to explore more about it. 

 Additionally, for anyone that may be experiencing domestic violence and needs further resources or guidance please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Listen in to learn more about: 

{03:40} The Journey of Kari as A Survivor

{05:00} Abuse Defined

{07:00} Book Suggestions on Abusive Relationships

{11:20}  Along with Faith

{14:00} Strategies and Pieces Of Advice To Apply

{16:30} National Domestic Violence Helpline Number

{27:25} Three Pieces of Advice

Favorite Quotes:

“You are not created to do life alone.” 

“An abundance of counselors is wisdom.”

“It’s always one step forward, three steps back…God is so kind, he is so faithful, and he is not going to leave you where you are.”

About Kari: 

Kari is a wife and mother. She has experienced an IVF journey which blessed her with a little boy. Growing up she was part of a faith-filled home with no paradigm for what abuse looked like. Through her journey she has walked away from faith, eloped, grown closer to God, and found her way to the beautiful family she now has. Her struggles have allowed her to bring hope, healing, and knowledge to both her and others faced with similar situations.

To Connect with Kari:

Follow on IG: @karitrentstageberg

https://www.karitrentstageberg.com/

To Connect with Jenny

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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Johanna Stamps joins me this week on the podcast. We have both found purpose in igniting joy and our conversation is filled with laughter and wisdom. Johanna shares her journey from burnout to surrender as she left the big city behind and chose to let her plane home fly away while she sat on the beach. 

Listen in to learn how she left behind the rhythm of infrastructure in New York to discover the rhythm of nature in South Africa. Her profound wisdom covers topics such as processing childhood trauma, the impact of a truly amazing and historically significant grandmother figure, Corrie Ten Boom, grief, and what it means to truly trust God in each season of life.

Listen in to learn more about:

• {05:00} Putting family first in this season
• {005:50} Going to South Africa 
• {06:30} Finding a rhythm of nature versus a rhythm of infrastructure
• {08:00} Meeting her husband
• {09: 40} Pregnant and alone
• {10:04} The next part of the journey
• {14: 50} Corrie Ten Boom
• {16:40} Childhood Trauma: deep pain and deep joy coexist
• {18:30} Encapsulating grief and working to joy
• {22:43} Handling setbacks

Favorite Quotes:

“I want to start one life well and finish 2 lives beautifully.”

“One of the biggest things was coming to a place of beautiful surrender with my family. And choosing to put my family first in this season.”

“This can’t break me because God has created me with a purpose, so how can I move forward out of this.”

“Every stumbling block can be a stepping stone as well.” 

About Johanna

Johanna, a 20-year business veteran both in Africa and the US, decided to step into the role of a lifetime: full-time caretaker to her little one and two elderly parents.  Her current goal is to start one life well and finish two lives beautifully!  Simultaneously, she is using this time to realize a lifelong dream of working one-on-one with people.  Johanna is a certified Christian Grief Coach and is starting a counseling masters program in the fall in order to walk the most difficult parts of life's journey with her clients.  Through her own deep healing, she has discovered a unique aspect of her resiliency, being intentionally rooted in joy, especially during times of significant suffering.

To Connect with Johanna:

Positive Doing Coach

Follow on IG  or Facebook: facebook.com/Positive Doing

To Connect with Jenny

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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June is PTSD Awareness month, and I am honored to share my conversation with Anne Smith. Listen in as she shares about her healing journey from the little red flags at the beginning to the blessed awareness that they haven’t had an episode in over 5 years.  Anne’s open, honest, and loving approach to her story is inspiring and gives hope to those who are also struggling with feeling like they are walking on glass eggshells as they navigate the unique journey through PTSD. 

It is important to remember that PTSD looks different for everyone. It is the result of any kind of trauma and can be experienced at any age. While we most often associate PTSD with soldiers, according to the DSM V, PTSD is most experienced by and can last longer in women. Knowledge is power and you have the ability to change your story. If you feel you are experiencing PTSD, I encourage you to seek the help of a professional. Resources are available for all moms here.  

Listen in to learn more about:

• {02:55} All about Anne
• {04:50} What is PTSD?
• {05:52} How Anne’s story began 
• {07:40} Beginning the recovery process
• {09:49} Walking alongside someone with PTSD
• {11:25} Secondary Trauma
• {15:26} Healing Journey
• {23:06} The 3 Ps Anne brought to her marriage
• {32:52) Reconciliation

Favorite Quotes:

“Conflict resolution starts in our hearts and then within our homes.”

“God comforts us so we can comfort others.” 

“There is always hope. Be vulnerable and find support. Get help.”

About Anne

Anne Smith describes herself as a broken, healing daughter of Christ, learning to walk in His way and sit at His feet.  Her life has taken many twists and turns, but as a woman who loves adventure, she is up for the challenges.  She received her BA from UVA in political science, and MA from King's College London in Conflict Security & Development from the renowned War Studies Department. She has a passion for travel and conflict resolution. She has spent time working and living in Jordan and Afghanistan where she worked with the Department of Defense. She met her husband there who was a Special Forces soldier with the 5th group. Upon returning to the States, she moved to Nashville to be with him. After just a few weeks of marriage symptoms of PTSD started to raise its ugly head in her husband. They currently live in Richmond, VA and their family is made up of three stepchildren, twin 5-year-old girls, a 2-year-old boy, and a 5 month baby boy.

To Connect with Anne:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annewsmith/ 

To Connect with Jenny

Follow on IG: @wholymom or Facebook: facebook.com/wholymom

Have Questions? Send me an email at: [email protected].

To Support My Podcast, use: Paypal Or Venmo: @wholymom

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