Our Time to Rise in Midlife

Latest Episodes:

Ep.181: The Mental Health Series - On Anxiety & Depression with Kay Warren May 07, 2019

Show notes

In our first ever podcast series on mental health, we sought out a series of voices that represent both the clinical and personal understanding of how mental illness can impact us all. Whether you are concerned about your own mental health, or that of someone you love, we think you'll find hope and next steps in this three part series. Our first guest is Kay Warren who talks about her own struggle with depression and losing her son Matthew to suicide. This interview covers both Kay's personal story and the practical knowledge she now has around how to care for ourselves when we are in a depressive state, signs a child or teenager might be struggling, and how to reach out for help.

Kay shares when she suspected her "feelings" might be depression, when she suspected her son might be dealing with more than a sad phase, the loneliness she felt as his mental illness became more complex and acute, and the opportunities she thinks the church has in caring for people suffering from mental illness. Kay shares openly because she wants to remove the stigma of mental illness, especially within Christian circles. She is using her own pain as a catalyst to help others in theirs.

As a founder (with her husband Rick Warren) of Saddleback Church, Kay is a prominent voice in Christian circles. She is now using her voice to educate church leaders on mental illness and resource them so they can better support and serve their congregants who are struggling. You will find this episode to be both inspirational and practical, knowing you can find help as you work toward mental health and support others to do the same.

Ep.180: Learning to Pivot in Marriage with Dave & Ann Wilson Apr 30, 2019

Show notes

Marriage is often one part Hallmark channel to three parts messy, especially if you've been married for a while. The goal is to grow in grace, grow in love, and grow in depth as the years pass, but in order for this to happen, we need to learn how to pivot.

Dave and Ann Wilson, cofounders of Kensington Church and Family Life Weekend to Rememberspeakers, share with raw honesty about their rocky beginning and their journey toward growth and wholeness in their marriage.

As an NFL chaplain for the Detroit Lions, Dave understands that successful marriages have nothing to do with money or power, but rather humble servitude, kind words, and lots of cheerleading.

Ep.179: Jordan Lee Dooley Apr 23, 2019

Show notes

Jordan Lee Dooley didn't set out to be a voice of authenticity online, but rather fell into it when she started, of all things, an Etsy shop while she was in college! In this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast we hear how the product packing parties with her college friends turned into late night conversations that then became honest and inspirational Instagram posts. Today she is encouraging young women as they manage the transitions from college into adulthood.

In this conversation we hear how she met her husband (kind of on Instagram until he knocked on her front door), how being rooted in faith gives us confidence to listen and learn from all kinds of friends, and how her faith moved from knowledge to personal during her college years. We talk through the pressures that opportunities can offer and how to avoid the trap (and stress) of looking for that single calling in your life.

Jordan is FULL of energy and this conversation reflects it. A full force ahead personality she depends on those around her to help her filter through ideas and plans. You'll love hearing about her community is growing and why she feels passionately about helping women through life transitions.

Ep.178: Spring Organizing 101 with Tracy McCubbin Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

Hooray, it's spring! And you and I both know what that means: spring cleaning. Or in our case today, organizing.

Tracy McCubbin, owner of LA's #1 organizational company, guides us through the process of de-cluttering. But isn't just about throwing stuff out, she's also in the business of putting good in.

We discuss why people hold on to things they don't need, what happens in our brains and bodies when there is an overload, and why we must schedule in time to de-clutter.

Use this seasonal trend to your advantage and join us in decluttering our lives.

Ep.177: Emily P. Freeman Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Author Emily Freeman was paralyzed by a decision. Not because the consequences were dire, but because both options were relatively good. The weight she carried around from her unmade decision made her examine the process. This is where The Next Right Thing podcast, and now book, were birthed. A decision making framework that focuses less on the decision itself, and more on how it is made.

When making a decision most of us lead with our head, heart, or intuition. Each of these approaches presents unique strengths and challenges in the decision making process. Most of us deal with input clutter, but don't have a regular source of output. Silence, solitude, and stillness can offer intentional output if we remember God's presence with us in them.

No wonder Emily's podcast and new book are so popular! We all suffer from some level of decision fatigue. You will be affirmed and reminded that every large decision is made up of many small ones. When overwhelmed with the task in front of us, sometimes the best thing is to zero in on the next right thing and do that.

Ep.176: Loving My Actual Neighbor with Alexandra Kuykendall Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

We often hear the term "love your neighbor" but what does that really mean? Who is our neighbor anyway? And why is it important to love them? In an increasingly divided world, where people are often stretched to a place of little margin, this can feel overwhelming and impossible.

Today on the podcast, our own Alexandra Kuykendall joins us to talk about why the lost art of neighboring deeply matters. In fact, it may be more important than it has ever been. We discuss practicals like leaning into the awkward, how to lighten up, and why praying for hard people works.

Leading by example, Alex helps us understand how genuine, compassionate, and loving relationships with those right around us not only builds a better community, but a better life.

Ep.175: Amy Julia Becker Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

Amy Julia Becker's assumptions about many things changed when she had a child born with Down syndrome. Suddenly she saw the world through a new lens and better understood how her own experiences were shaped by privilege. Amy Julia began to study theology and disability in order to broaden her understanding of the world, what it means to reflect God's image and how people's different gifts are valuable.

Entering the world of disability led Amy Julia to examine how she was parenting and the assumptions she was making about people outside of her immediate circles. She realized her own "normal" didn't reflect the richness of God's world and she set out to make some changes. As a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, married to the headmaster of a boarding school, Amy Julia is uniquely positioned to examine what it means to live a life of privilege, specifcally as a married, white woman.

A conversation based on Amy Julia's journey, this episode opens up questions for all of us. How are we listening to different voices with different experiences? How much do we know about our country or local community's history? How do we develop relationships with people different than us? A podcast that gets us all thinking about how to use our head, hands, and heart for God's purposes.

Ep.174: Letting God Re-Write Our Pain with Kim Walker Smith Mar 19, 2019

Show notes

When we are going through hard times, we wonder if we will ever recover or be happy again. Our very breath is knocked out of us and we struggle to find the meaning in what we are going through and how it can be used for our good.

Kim Walker Smith, founder of the Jesus Culture band and movement, is no stranger to pain. The abuse she endured as a child left her broken, with a fractured sense of self. After a failed suicide attempt, Kim found herself opening up to God for the first time in her life. Where God took her from that shattered moment to now is nothing short of a miracle.

Kim's journey to wholeness inspires all of us to allow God in to re-write the story of our pain for good, in our lives, and in the lives of others.

Ep.173: Cari Jenkins Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Cari Jenkins is a pastor to people who don't have one. What does that mean? It means spending time with people, asking lots of questions, listening for God's voice, and allowing her imagination to be used by God. In this beautiful conversation about growing in faith, Cari gives sisters freedom to look for God in the world by finding things that reflect his character.

With 20 years of local church experience, Cari uses her gifts and experience to make the Kingdom of God tangible. We talk about feelings and actions, looking for Jesus in places that feel untraditional or unconventional, how God brought her to the type of pastoring she does today, and how we recognize God's voice when we know his character.

We hear about the unique community Cari lives in where she loves to host, redecorate daily, play often and create beauty. She aims annually to host over 500 people for meals in various forms and to encourage true hospitality in others. Cari says you are always welcome at her table and this episode of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast feels like a dinner conversation you can take with you. Don't miss our friend Cari.

Ep.172: Parenting Adult Children with Dr. Jim Burns Mar 05, 2019

Show notes

No matter what age our children are, we never stop being a parent. Yet, when they reach adulthood, our relationships change. We must learn to be healthy in this new, somewhat complicated place of adult to adult. If we don't make that transition, our children will suffer and so will we.

Dr. Jim Burns, president of Homeword, joins us to offer his insight into not only how we begin early to prepare for this stage, but also how to navigate difficult conversations, what to do if our kids move back home, and what to do if we don't approve of who they are choosing to date and/or marry.

Turn out, helping our children launch into adulthood is just as much about us as it is about them.

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