Fighting For Joy

Latest Episodes:

Episode 64: Fighting for Joy through Menopause May 17, 2023

Show notes

Yep, you read that right! Today I'm releasing an episode on menopause. And, even better, I convinced my hubby to have this conversation with me!

I wanted to address this topic because it's been an area in my life recently that HAS affected my joy, more than I thought it would - and I know the same is true for so many of you because it's become a frequent topic of conversation within all of my friend groups. I'm also seeing it talked about more on social media and heard someone recently say, "Menopause is having a moment!" I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon because it truly is a topic that needs to be talked about more.

I remember watching things kind of fall apart for my mom when she hit menopause. She didn't talk about it though so her journey and subsequent struggles left me with a lot of questions and fears - and I began to dread hitting this stage of life. Instead, I wish I would've just started gathering information myself and forming some habits that might've made the transition a little easier for me. The good news is though, I've found that it's not too late. These last couple of years I've been reading a ton, listening to experienced and knowledgable voices, watching women a few steps ahead of me, scheduling appointments with medical professionals, and trying all kinds of wholistic things to address and alleviate my symptoms.

Menopause can look different for each of us, but I'm hoping that by sharing a little bit of my journey, you'll hear a few things that might be helpful in your own fight for joy through perimenopause and menopause. And, if you’re not in this season yet - I hope you still listen because I WISH I would’ve had a podcast like this when I was younger.

P.S. Men, I think you'll find this episode pretty informative too! :)

Episode 63: Fighting for Joy through the “Both/And” of Mother’s Day: Five Practical Ways to Approach the Day May 12, 2023

Show notes

The question I’ve been hearing a lot this week has been, “What are you doing for Mother’s Day?” For many of us, in fact probably most of us, Mother’s Day is a “both/and” day that holds a wide range of emotions. Celebration AND tears. Joy AND sadness.

It’s definitely become another conflicting day for me in grief. My son Jackson, the one who made me a mom 26 years ago, has been in heaven now for almost 10 years - so this is my 9th Mother’s Day without him. AND/ALSO, I have 3 amazing kids and a wonderful son-in-law who ARE still here and who want to celebrate.

This will also be my 3rd Mother’s Day without my own mom. So yes, on Mother’s Day, I grieve Jackson, and my mom, and can feel pretty tender…AND, at the same time, my heart is so happy that I still have Justine, Will, Turner, and Grace here and rejoice in the privilege of being their mom. Both/and.

On this episode I want to share 5 practical ways to approach the “both/and” of Mother’s Day. These are tools that I personally implement and I can give testimony that they'll help you fight for joy (and hopefully find it!) this weekend.

Episode 62: Fighting for Joy through Cancer May 01, 2023

Show notes

Today I’m really grateful for the willingness of my local friend Jen Poulas to come on the show and talk through some of the difficult things that she has had to walk through in life, specifically fighting, and thankfully beating cancer…not just once, but twice! Almost everyone has been affected by cancer one way or another. The treatments, the isolation, the fear, and the physical changes that often accompany a cancer diagnosis can rob even the happiest person of joy. Listen in as Jen shares about her fight for joy - about facing the news of a cancer diagnosis (twice!), about some of the ways that cancer can change you and affect your whole family, some helpful (and not helpful) things you can do to support someone with cancer, and the importance of clinging to faith and hope every step of the way.

**This episode is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Have you checked them out yet? I can’t say it enough - quality Christian counseling is SUCH a worthy investment and SUCH a powerful tool in the fight for joy in this broken world. I’d love for you to use my 10% code at www.faithfulcounseling.com/fightingforjoy Click on that link to find out more about this online service and begin the process of getting help today!

Episode 61: Five Ways to Fight for Joy with Becky Novacek Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

I think we all have people in our life who inspire us, challenge us, and teach us - people who bring so much good stuff to the table when you get together that you can’t help but be all ears and just want to soak it all in. Becky Novacek is one of those people in my life. Every time we are able to connect, I learn. I leave feeling inspired and encouraged.

You might recognize Becky because she's been on the podcast before (Episode #22 - Fighting for Joy with a Healthy Mindset). I wanted to have her back on now because over the course of the past year she and I have had so many rich conversations about ALL kinds of things and I wanted to share pieces of that with all of you. Today I asked her to share a "Top 5" list of ways that she is fighting for joy in this season of her life. I think you’ll love her wise perspective about things like identity, loving well, and seeking beauty. Becky is so tender to the things of the Lord and I know you'll be blessed by the way she ties everything back to her faith and her relationship with God.

My last episode was with Brooke Kyes, a young mom in her 20s, and today its a woman thriving in her 60s. Its such a privilege to bring you a wide range of perspectives. Each season of life brings its blessings and challenges and its so helpful to hear stories of how to fight for joy through it all! So today, soak in the words of my dear friend Becky. As always, if you find some encouragement in this episode, I would LOVE to hear from you. And, I always appreciate when you share the podcast with others. Its one of the best ways you can support my work and ministry. Thanks for listening!

**Today's episode is brought to you by Faithful Counseling, an amazing online Christian counseling service. I'm excited to offer my listeners 10% off at: faithfulcounseling.com/fightingforjoy. Quality counseling is a worthy investment and can be such a powerful tool in the fight for joy!

Episode 60: Fighting for Joy in Postpartum Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

Today’s episode is with Brooke Kyes, a local teacher and a new mom who said YES to coming on the podcast to have a vulnerable but very important conversation about her postpartum experience. I’ve known Brooke for many years because she and her husband Nathan were longtime, and very good friends of our son Jackson, who passed away almost 10 years ago in June of 2013. They did all kinds of things together growing up and when we went to watch Jackson compete or perform in sports, choir, or band, Brooke and Nathan were usually involved in it too - and our families have been intertwined for many years. It’s been special to watch Jackson’s friends fight for joy like Nathan and Brooke have this past year. I’m excited to share a little bit of their story today through my conversation with Brooke.

You’ll hear early on in our conversation that I assumed we were going to be talking mostly about postpartum depression, but, although anxiety and depression CAN be linked in some ways, Brooke’s struggle since welcoming their sweet boy Oakley into the world has been with postpartum anxiety. I learned a lot by listening to her share and realized there are nuances to what women can experience in postpartum. Motherhood is such a steep learning curve and it's no surprise that becoming a new mom would lend itself to either, or both, depression and anxiety! But for Brooke, her natural wiring and history of anxiety led to panic attacks and a darker time of wondering if she could do this "motherhood thing" right and if she would ever be “herself” again. I’m thankful for her openness and I could tell as soon as we got started chatting that this would be an important conversation to get out to all of you.

Also, I was planning on releasing this episode in another month or so, but with all of the feedback we are continuing to get from the two perfectionism episodes that Eric and I did a few weeks back, I thought that it would be good to release this one next as there CAN oftentimes be a link between perfectionism and anxiety. I also love that this will follow my episode with Liz Gnagy, another young mom fighting for joy! Similar to that episode, I think ALL of you will find some takeaways in this episode, no matter what season of life you are in. Anxiety affects people of all ages and in all seasons of life. And, the important themes that Brooke and I discuss at the end of our time together are applicable to ALL difficulties in life and are great tools in the fight for joy that I want to keep hitting on in each episode. So I’m glad you are tuning in and would love to hear your thoughts after you listen.

Episode 59: Fighting for Joy in a Home Full of Little Ones Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Liz Gnagy and I met when she was a college student and I was a young mom with a house full of little ones - I think our kids were 8, 7, 5, & 4, or something like that. Now, I'm an empty nester and SHE is the busy, young mom! I've loved staying connected with her over the years and admire the ways that she has grown in her faith and keeps fighting for joy. I know she will bring a perspective that many of you can relate to. With 5 little kids, Liz brings a lot to the table in regards to what can tend to steal joy and how to fight for joy in a full, active home like theirs. I appreciated all of the practical things that she shared and I’m sure you’ll have some takeaways. I'm so grateful that God brought Liz into my life all those years ago - and I'm excited to introduce her to you today!

Episode 58: Part 2 of 2: How Perfectionism Hinders Your Fight for Joy Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Today I’m excited to bring you Part 2 of my husband Eric sharing about the progress that he has made and continues to make against perfectionism. I wanted to release these episodes at the beginning of the new year as I think its a great time to evaluate some things in our lives. What’s been working? What hasn’t? What needs to change? Yes, I’m one of those people who gets excited about the intentionality that a new year can bring. But even if you aren’t, fighting against perfectionism and finding joy on the other side of its weight is a worthwhile pursuit at ANY point in the course of a year. But personally I think the start of 2023 is the perfect time [See what I did there? :) "Perfect"!] to think about and consider if there are some changes that need to be made. To start your journey from perfectionism to achievement and experience the blessings that are usually quick to follow: peace, freedom, contentment, feeling more excited about life, feeling less critical of yourself and others, and yes, of course more joy, just to name a few.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1, I encourage you to do so as Eric sets the groundwork there for what he talks about today as he shares the rest of his list of things that have helped him. I'm so proud of the work that he has done in this area and I love the changes I’ve seen in him. His life gives testimony that fighting perfectionism doesn’t bring along with it subpar work, or less success. As a result of the progress he has made, he has achieved MORE - and continues to achieve more. He’s not getting sick, discouraged, or burned out like used to. Instead, he’s actually able to do MORE. Achieve more. Perform better. And, the best part is, it's all with more JOY!

**Today’s episode is brought to you by my unpaid sponsor, Access Period. Access Period is a nonprofit organization in Omaha that provides free menstrual products. Period Poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, affects 1 in 4 women. If you're interested in learning more about Access Period, getting involved with fighting period poverty in your own community, or if you are someone who needs menstrual products, please visit www.accessperiod.com, or find them on Instagram @accessperiod. I’m thankful for their willingness to partner with me and love the work they are doing.

Episode 57: Part 1 of 2: How Perfectionism Hinders Your Fight for Joy Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Happy New Year! It's intentional that the first episode I am releasing in 2023 is about perfectionism because I know many of you continue to struggle with it, and chances are it stole some of your joy this holiday season. I would love to give you some hope as you head into a new year!

Back on Season 3 (episode #35), I had my cousin Sara Waddel on the podcast to talk about her battle with perfectionism. That's when I began hearing some of your stories and realized we needed to have another conversation about it. So today I bring my husband Eric back on the podcast as a follow up to Sara's episode and a way to continue this important dialogue by allowing you to hear another perspective on this topic.

Perfectionism has played a huge role in Eric's life - negatively for so many years, and now positively as he has made so much headway, fighting these tendencies and therefore experiencing new levels of rest, peace, and joy. In order to have him share as much as possible, I did something different on this episode and didn't prepare any questions or notes. I just wanted to give Eric the mic and have him talk, teaching us what he has learned and how he has made progress and fought for joy through it all. I just wanted to listen in along with all of you. I told him there was no hurry and that he should talk for as long as he wanted to, knowing that I would most likely divide it into two episodes. So this is Part 1 where Eric shares a little bit about his personal struggle with perfectionism, his definition of it, and why he believes its crucial to fight against it. Then he begins going through his practical list of things that have helped him to make headway (I think he only gets through two in this first part so you'll have to stay tuned for the rest of the list in Part 2, coming out in 2 weeks)...things that have helped him to go from the discouragement of perfectionism to the joy of achievement. As always, I'd love to hear your feedback and have you share the things that resonated with you.

**Thank you for listening. Today's episode is sponsored by Faithful Counseling, an amazing online Christian counseling service. I'm excited to offer my listeners 10% off at: faithfulcounseling.com/fightingforjoy. Quality counseling is a worthy investment and can be such a powerful tool in the fight for joy!

Episode 56: Fighting for Joy through the Death of a Dream Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

I have an amazing guest to introduce you to today (AND side note, you’ll also get to hear her sing. A first for the podcast!). On this episode my friend Anna Gallatin shares about how she found hope and fought for joy after the dream that she had for her family fell apart. You’ll be encouraged as you listen to the ways that God has restored her joy and continues to redeem her situation.

A lot of our conversation today is centered around “home” - not the house, but what we build and create within the walls. I love this topic because ultimately our earthly homes serve to point us to something greater...what is to come when we are finally and eternally home with the Lord. When we have a beautiful home on this side of heaven, we get a small glimpse in the beauty of what’s to come. It points us to a greater beauty! And, if we don’t get to experience a beautiful home here in this broken world, that TOO can be used to point us to what is to come because it causes us to be so dissatisfied with what we have here and how broken it feels, that our anticipation grows for what Jesus told the thief on the cross next to him is called “Paradise”. This world is not all there is. Something much, much greater is ahead for us as believers. Even the death of Anna’s dream pointed her to something greater. Someone greater!
Okay can you tell I’m excited about this!??! The whole episode is just full of special things and I think it may become one of your favorites.

Episode 55: Fighting for Joy in Combating Addiction Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Today I am excited to welcome back a very special guest, my little brother Dwight (his first episode was #9 in Season 1 of the podcast). Dwight has a hard story but we have seen God work through it in powerful ways - and the life that Dwight has now is a beautiful testimony of God’s grace and mercy.

Almost everyone is affected by addiction in some way, so our hope is that talking about it again today will be helpful for someone struggling - or for someone who knows someone who is struggling. On this episode, Dwight calls you to action and encourages you to seek help as there really is practical help available! Listen in as he shares about completing the 12 steps of his program and the ways that he now serves and helps others in their journey to fight the disease of addiction.

*I want to tell you about a new unpaid sponsor of the podcast, Access Period. Access Period is a nonprofit organization in Omaha that provides free menstrual products to anyone that needs them. Period Poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, affects one in four women. When people don't have access to the products they need, they either stay home from work and school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty, or they use unsafe and uncomfortable alternatives (like toilet paper, socks, or cardboard.)
Too often, period poverty is invisible, which makes it hard to connect with our neighbors who most need help. By supporting Access Period, you'll help to place menstrual products into the hands of the people who need them most, both through the organizations that already serve them, and through free pick-up locations throughout Nebraska.
If you're interested in learning more about Access Period, getting involved with fighting period poverty in your own community, or if you are someone who needs menstrual products, please visit www.accessperiod.com, or find them on Instagram: @accessperiod.

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