Bookish Talks with Lia

Latest Episodes:

Seeing God in Wilderness Seasons with Dustin Crowe Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, author Dustin Crowe joins me to discuss his book Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste. We talk about how seasons of suffering, waiting, spiritual dryness, and uncertainty can become places where we more clearly see God’s presence and work in our lives.

Dustin unpacks key wilderness stories in Scripture including Hagar, Moses, David, Elijah, and Jesus, helping us understand how God is faithful and purposeful even in difficult and disorienting seasons.
We also discuss his journey into writing and publishing, his pastoral ministry, and how believers can grow in trust when life feels unclear.

If you are in a season of struggle or transition, this conversation will encourage you that your wilderness is not wasted and God is still at work.

Connect with Dustin Crowe

Website: https://indycrowe.com
Books: Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste and The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Pursuing Sabbath Rest with Megan Hill May 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I am joined by Megan Hill, author and managing editor for The Gospel Coalition. We’re discussing her booklet Sabbath Rest, part of the Disciplines of Devotion series from Crossway.

In this episode, we talk about what Sabbath rest is, why God gave it to us as a gift, and how to practically implement it in everyday life.

Megan shares wisdom on slowing down in a culture of constant busyness, creating rhythms of rest, and learning to view Sabbath not as a burden, but as an opportunity to delight in God and commune with Him more deeply.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

⁠Sabbath Rest⁠ - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

Bible Study - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

Evangelism - Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

Fasting - Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

Prayer - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

Worship - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Worshiping Beyond Sunday Morning with Emily Jensen May 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I am joined by author and Bible teacher Emily Jensen, co-founder of Risen Motherhood, to discuss her booklet Worship from The Gospel Coalition’s Disciplines of Devotion series.

We talk about what it looks like to move beyond a limited view of worship as something reserved for Sunday mornings and see it instead as a daily, whole-life response to who God is and what He has done.

Emily shares how worship can be practiced in everyday rhythms through our words, our works, and even our “why,” offering practical encouragement for women living in a distracted, do-it-all culture.

We also talk about how worship shapes ordinary moments, why small and mundane faithfulness matters, and how women can grow in devotion to God when life feels full and scattered.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

Worship⁠ - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Bible Study - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

Evangelism - Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

Fasting - Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

Prayer - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

Sabbath Rest - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Emily

Instagram: @emilyajensen
Website: emilyajensen.com

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Studying Your Bible with Joy with Glenna Marshall May 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I am joined by author and Bible teacher Glenna Marshall to discuss her booklet in Crossway’s Disciplines of Devotion series, Bible Study.

Together, we talk about what it looks like to build simple, sustainable rhythms for studying Scripture, especially in the middle of a distracted and busy culture.

Glenna shares practical encouragement for women who want to grow in consistency, move past overwhelm, and find real joy in God’s Word.

Disciplines of Devotion Series

⁠Bible Study⁠ - Glenna Marshall & Winfree Brisley

⁠Evangelism⁠ - Sharonda Cooper & Winfree Brisley

⁠Fasting⁠ - Cassie Achermann & Winfree Brisley

⁠Prayer⁠ - Courtney Reissig & Winfree Brisley

⁠Sabbath Rest⁠ - Megan Hill & Winfree Brisley

⁠Worship⁠ - Emily Jensen & Winfree Brisley

Connect with Glenna Marshall:

Website: glennamarshall.com

Instagram: ⁠@glennadmarshall

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Navigating Postpartum with Gospel Hope with Annie Vanderheiden May 05, 2026

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Annie VanderHeiden, author of Cradled: Christ's Care for Postpartum Moms.

We’re talking about the realities of new motherhood—the identity shifts, the physical exhaustion, and the quiet moments where you might wonder who you even are anymore.

Annie shares from her own postpartum journey and reminds us that Christ meets us right in the middle of it all. Through the ordinary, repetitive tasks of caring for a baby, we can begin to see the extraordinary care of Christ for us.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

Why Annie felt led to write Cradled
The emotional and spiritual challenges of postpartum
Identity struggles in new motherhood
How everyday tasks like feeding and soothing can point us to Christ
What it really looks like to “look to Jesus” in exhausting moments
Practical ways the church and community can support postpartum moms

About Annie:
Annie VanderHeiden is the former editor of Risen Motherhood and now spends her days freelance writing and editing, serving in her local church, and caring for her two little ones. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys long walks, drizzly days, and a good mug of matcha. Annie is passionate about encouraging moms with the truth of the gospel in everyday motherhood.

Connect with Annie:

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Resources Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Big Bible Stories for Little Hearts Yoto Cards

Parenting with Wisdom with Sharonda Cooper May 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by author and Bible teacher Sharonda Cooper. We spend time getting to know her and hearing more about her parenting journey as a mom who has launched two kids. Sharonda shares from her own experiences in motherhood, offering both encouragement and perspective for whatever season you may be in.

We also talk about her 5-week devotional, Wisdom for Parenting, and how it helps moms apply biblical wisdom to the everyday challenges of motherhood while rooting their identity in Christ.

This conversation includes practical moments as we walk through real questions of parenting, while keeping our focus on the deeper work God is doing in us as mothers.

In this episode, we cover:

Sharonda’s motherhood journey and what it looked like raising and launching her children
The heart behind Wisdom for Parenting
Applying biblical wisdom in everyday parenting moments
Encouragement for moms in different seasons
Rooting your identity in Christ in the midst of motherhood

About Sharonda:

Sharonda Cooper is an author and Bible teacher who serves as a content coordinator for women’s initiatives at The Gospel Coalition. She is also a fitness trainer and holds two engineering degrees from MIT. Sharonda is currently pursuing her MDiv in apologetics and philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She lives in Texas with her husband and has two adult children.

Connect with Sharonda:

Instagram: @sharondaecooper

Get the book:

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Trusting Christ in the Fight Against Sin with Amy DiMarcangelo Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by Amy DiMarcangelo, author of the 5-week devotional, Wisdom for Fighting Sin. This resource dives into what it looks like to trust Christ in the ongoing fight against sin and how the gospel gives us real hope in the middle of it.

We talk about how to bring our struggles to God honestly without shame, and what it means to rely on Christ instead of ourselves in the fight for obedience.

Amy shares how gospel truth reshapes the way we think about temptation, confession, and growth in holiness, and encourages us to keep turning back to Christ again and again.

In this episode, we cover:

How to respond to sin without falling into shame or self-effort

The importance of confession and honesty before God
How the gospel gives both hope and help for daily obedience
Why we shouldn't minimize our sin

Books mentioned in this episode:

Wisdom for Fighting Sin by Amy DiMarcangelo
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges

Connect with Amy:

Instagram:@amydimarcangelo

Grab the book Wisdom for Fighting Sin

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠
Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast

Fighting Sin and Finding Freedom in Christ with Brad Wetherell Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by Brad Wetherell, senior pastor at a church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, to talk about his book Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness.

We spend time unpacking what it really means to be united with Christ and how that truth speaks directly into our everyday experience of sin, guilt, and fear. Brad walks us through how Scripture frames the Christian life—not as striving in isolation, but as living out the reality of what has already been made true in Christ.

We also talk about why so many believers feel worn down in their fight against sin, where misunderstandings about sanctification often show up, and how union with Christ reshapes the way we think about growth, struggle, and obedience.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure of what real spiritual growth looks like, this conversation points you back to the hope and freedom we have in Jesus.

In this epsiode:

The story behind Saved to Sin No More
Why union with Christ matters for everyday Christian life
Why believers still struggle with sin
How Scripture reframes guilt, fear, and spiritual discouragement
What real growth in holiness actually looks like
Practical encouragement for weary Christians

Buy the book: Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness

Connect with Lia:Bookstagram: @liarossreads

Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast

Resting in Christ as Imperfect Moms with Abbey Wedgeworth Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by author and Bible teacher Abbey Wedgeworth. We’re talking about her new book, Help! I’m Ruining My Kids.

In this conversation, we talk about the weight of our shortcomings in everyday parenting moments and how easy it is to feel like we are not measuring up. Abbey helps us think biblically about motherhood, pointing us back to Christ instead of self-reliance.

We talk about:

The pressure moms feel in everyday parenting
What to do with our sense of failure and shortcomings
Resting in Christ instead of ourselves
How grace meets us in weakness, not after we fix ourselves

If you are a mom who feels the gap between the mother you want to be and the mother you feel like you are, this conversation will encourage you.

Connect with Abbey:

Website: https://www.abbeywedgeworth.com
Instagram: @abbeywedgeworth

Books by Abbey Wedgeworth:

Help! I’m Ruining My Kids
Held
Training Young Hearts series

Connect with Lia:

Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠

Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Finding the Courage to Grieve with Brittany Lee Allen Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Brittany Allen, author, wife, and mother, to talk about her book Free to Weep: Finding the Courage to Grieve and Embracing the God Who Heals.

The last time Brittany was on the show, we talked about her book Lost Gifts. In this conversation, we turn to the topic of grief more broadly and what it looks like to walk through suffering honestly.

We talk about the messages many of us hear in hard seasons like “suffering is good” or “at least it could be worse,” and why those can leave us feeling confused or alone. Brittany helps us name the common lies we tend to believe about suffering and gently points us back to the truth of who God is.

Together, we discuss what it means to grieve well, how to hold both sorrow and truth at the same time, and the comfort of knowing that God is near to the brokenhearted. If you are walking through grief or want to better support someone who is, this episode offers thoughtful, biblical encouragement.

In this episode, we cover: