Struggle Well School

Latest Episodes:

#193: Watch for God with Vivian Mabuni Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

“Would you just help me trust you, Lord? I want to want to give it all up to you.” If you’ve prayed these prayers, you’re not alone.

We know that the center of God's will is the best place to be, but surrender is easier said than done. A host of hurdles, from busyness and bitterness to complacency and control, can prevent us from moving where He directs. In her latest book, Vivian Mabuni provides an authentic look at what it means to willingly risk saying yes to whatever God asks--and highlights a practical path to the deeper joy of a yielded life.

Vivian Mabuni is a national speaker and author with a passion to share the hope and life found through intimacy with God. With 30 years of ministry experience on staff w/ Cru, she loves teaching about the Bible and providing practical applications. Author of Warrior In Pink and Open Hands, Willing Heart, she lives in Southern California with her husband, Darrin, and their kids. She loves coffee, post-its, sushi and shoes.

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

God’s example of rest and the importance of rest in our lives
what it actually means to “Sabbath”
true surrender to Christ’s will
the grace of God’s preparation for the hard times in our lives
lessons learned from suffering
Vivian’s struggle with imposter syndrome and scarcity mentality

LINKS MENTIONED:

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Choosing Rest Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Africa New Life Ministries Noonday Rustic Leather Wallet

CONNECT WITH VIVIAN:

website | instagram | facebook | twitter

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Jelly Telly: pre-order the Laugh & Learn Bible for 50% off at laughandlearnbible.com with the promo code STRUGGLEWELL LOLA: get 40% off your subscription when you visit mylola.com and use the promo code SWP at checkout

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love Mom Struggling Well? Please leave a review here.

#192: Song of a Wounded Heart with Lora Jones Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

Are you losing hope? Working through trauma? Man. Lora shared with us her journey of finding the other side of a horrible situation, and I’m so thankful for her wisdom and perspective. Lora talks to us about why it’s OK to question God and shares the story that lead her to a crossroads in her faith.

Lora Jones graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Accounting and from Midwestern Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Religious Education. She married J.L. Jones during college and their family became complete with the birth of two children, Janessa and Jayden. J.L. and Lora served the Lord in full-time ministry for nearly 20 years until the family was involved in an automobile accident. Lora alone survived. Currently, Lora is an inspirational speaker sharing her story across the country since 2006. Speaking to audiences of all sizes, her storytelling style enables her to communicate with Christians of differing backgrounds and denominations. Lora is a rock and this one heck of a heavy conversation but it’s a great one!

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

the story of a horrific automobile accident that claimed the lives of Lora’s husband and children
the lasting triggers of Lora’s experience
how God used the shock of what had happened as protection against the weight of grief
how Lora’s community supported her in the wake of the accident
why Lora decided not to move back home after the accident
how we can help others grieve
the comfort Lora found in teenagers and college students
how God restored joy and purpose in Lora’s life
what Lora’s relationship with God looks like now
encouragement to live in the present

LINKS MENTIONED:

Bible Reading Plan Song of a Wounded Heart Spiritual Prepper

CONNECT WITH LORA:

website | facebook

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Prep Dish: get 2 weeks free when you visit prepdish.com/swp Jelly Telly: pre-order the Laugh & Learn Bible for 50% off at laughandlearnbible.com with the promo code STRUGGLEWELL

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#191: June Problem Solved: Enneagram Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

If someone asked you “Do you know your number?”, would you know what they mean? They’re talking about the enneagram, of course! If you like personality tests, you’ll love this episode! Rebecky brought on the first ever Problem Solved guest, Lauren, who is an enneagram coach. She typed Rebecky live on the pod and helped us understand other enneagram numbers in the process. Rebecky can’t decide how she feels about her number, but thinks that it’s probably the worst-case scenario. Emily gets some clarification on EXACTLY what her number is because finding out her perfect number is the right thing to do. Any guesses on what numbers they are?!

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

how the enneagram affected Lauren’s marriage and other relationships
tips for identifying your enneagram type
Lauren helps identify what enneagram type Rebecky is
a brief history of the Enneagram
Emily confirms that she is an enneagram 1 and tells us about her inner critic, “Maude”
how our need for God is reflected through our enneagram numbers

LINKS MENTIONED:

The Enneagram Institute The Road Back to You

CONNECT WITH LAUREN:

instagram | website

CONNECT WITH REBECKY:

website | instagram

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Blume: text SWP to 797979 to get 25% off your first stick of Hug Me deodorant

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#190: It's Go Time with Ali Christian Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

Do you think if you were diagnosed with cancer that you’d think things like “This is a blessing” or “I was chosen for this mission!“? I know that I would NOT be that insightful. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Ali Christian, a wife, mom and business owner born and raised in upstate New York. She was recently diagnosed with stage four cancer, uprooted her family from NY and moved to CA to get treatment. She and her husband are passionate about sharing the story God is writing for them with full transparency & (attempted) full surrender. She shares with us what it looks like when your life stops and you begin a new life as a full-time cancer fighter. She is the definition of a Mom Struggling Well and I am so pleased that she came to share her joy with all of us.

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

Ali’s cancer diagnosis story
living with stage 4 cancer
how Ali’s perspective on her diagnosis shifted from one of doom to an opportunity to minister
what it looks like to keep Ali’s family running during her treatment
being intentional with her husband
two things you shouldn’t say to people battling cancer
how Ali’s cancer has affected her relationship with her kids
the biggest thing God has taught Ali through her battle with cancer
stories of how God has very practically shown up for Ali and her family

CONNECT WITH ALI:

website | instagram | gofundme

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Daily Harvest: get 3 cups free in your first box using promo code SWP Brooklinen: get 10% off your first order plus free shipping when you use promo code SWP

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#189: Summer Summary with the Struggling Sisters Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the beginning of summer? Do you have any major plans? We shared a little bit of both + some of our favorite summer things and, as always, what is killing us softly. For Katie, the ticks are killing her and her family softly and the Penderwick series is giving the Thomas crew life. In this episode, you’ll understand why Em’s boss is constantly considering firing her and learn about two new summer drinks we love. Fake news is Em’s favorite and she really brought it this time. Thanks for listening to this summer-y summer episode, we hope you love it!

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

Emily and Katie’s summer plans
all the things giving us life this summer from deodorant to sparkling water
strange news stories
the incredible story that earned Katie the nickname “Crash”
what’s killing us softly

LINKS MENTIONED:

VISA Greenlight Glossier Boy Brow Schmidt’s Rose + Vanilla deodorant The Penderwicsk 4-Book Boxed Set 1 Second Everyday Chatbooks The Shrink Next Door Ear Hustle All Birds Starbucks Espresso Con Panna Seven drinks

CONNECT WITH KATIE:

instagram

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Better Help: get 10% off your first month when you visit betterhelp.com/swp

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here.

#188: Undercover Counseling with Tara Bremer Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Tara Bremer is the founder of House Peace and has been bringing peace into homes for over fifteen years. She holds a BA in Psychology from Purdue University and a Master's in Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary. She brings this knowledge of the human condition, behavioral psychologies, and habit formations to every home she visits, all with a judgment-free mentality. Whether she's helping you formulate a plan to maximize closet space, or cleaning out your laundry room, Tara and her team love every aspect of the brain puzzle that is organizing and simplifying a home.

In addition to being Birmingham's most trusted and respected home simplifier, Tara puts her experience to the test every day with her own family, as a wife and mother of three.

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

why Tara became passionate about helping others organize their homes
Emily’s therapeutic closet cleaning experience
how having an organized home relates to living a productive Christian life
keeping your mornings organized with a checklist for your kids
decluttering with your kids… or not
how Tara has learned to struggle well by developing structure for her kids

LINKS MENTIONED:

Atypical Jasmine Rae Hair Co. L’ange Le Vite Brush

CONNECT WITH TARA:

website | instagram | facebook

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Better Help: get 10% off your first month when you visit betterhelp.com/swp Prep Dish: get 2 weeks free when you visit prepdish.com/swp

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#187: May Problem Solved: A Menagerie of Problems May 27, 2019

Show notes

Do you think you’re hard to work with? Do you think you come on too strong? We talk through a few of these things and share some friendship and workplace insecurities. We also talk about the loveliness of Emilio Gavin and Rebecky’s pause from her million-dollar corporation + her new stay-at-home status. Rebecky shares more about her workout routine and why it’s working for her right now. It’s great! We had too many problems to solve and they ranged from morning sickness to dog issues. We loved this one and we’re so happy to share it with you!

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

Rebecky’s current life as a SAHM
how Rebecky’s 4-minute workouts are changing her life
tips for dealing with morning sickness
advice on working with a boss with poor communication skills
Rebecky shares her insecurities as a boss and a friend
camping with dogs
confronting nosey neighbors
testing out a minimalist kitchen
deciding when you’re done having children

CONNECT WITH REBECKY:

website | instagram

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Third Love: get 15% off your first order when you visit thirdlove.com/swp Robin Hood: sign up now at struggle.robinhood.com and start your portfolio with a free stock

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#186: Just Em: Lean In May 20, 2019

Show notes

How do you know if you’re struggling well or just plain struggling?

Just Em is back again with part three of a four-part series on what it means to Struggle WELL. This week we deep dive on the second L of WELL. L is for LEAN IN.

TOPICS:

what happens when you stop cursing your situation and get curious about it instead
two things to ask yourself - What if I did something different here? What is God trying to teach me in this situation?
focusing on fixing ourselves rather than trying to change others
seeing the fork in the road as an opportunity
modeling the person we want our children to be
the struggle to stop “kicking the goads”

LINKS MENTIONED:

Download your Struggle WELL printable Part One: Wait Part Two: Expect Part Three: Look Again Daring Greatly

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Daily Harvest: get 3 cups free in your first box using promo code SWP Brooklinen: get 10% off your first order plus free shipping when you use promo code SWP

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

#185: Mental Health with the Struggling Sisters May 13, 2019

Show notes

What are the signs YOU show when you need a mental health break? Do you think you could benefit from counseling but need some real-life details about it? We get deep about our own experiences with counseling and mental health issues but we also share some fun facts about some pretty outrageous arrests lately. Balance, right? From Justin Bieber to the Judds, we cover quite a lot in this episode.

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

how Justin Bieber inspired our mental health topic
mental health arrest stories
how we know when it’s time to work on our mental health
how we’ve been struggling well since April’s episode
how the Struggs in our community have been struggling well by changing their perspectives
we try pancake and maple flavored Peeps in our new segment that we need your help naming
why body scrubber ads are killing Katie softly and a potential tattoo is giving Emily life

LINKS MENTIONED:

Re:generation Celebrate Recovery Boie Body Scrubber

CONNECT WITH KATIE:

instagram

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

BioClarity: save 40% on your skincare routine + get 15% off any product when you use promo code SWP Care Of: get 30% off your first order with promo code SWP30

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here.

#184: Finding Family with Hallie Graves May 06, 2019

Show notes

There is so much to know about foster care. Hallie has a ton of knowledge and such a beautiful perspective on parenting. You guys are going to LOVE her.

Hallie Graves is a 30-something from the great Austin, Texas. Not a fan of the linear life, Hallie’s a speaker and writer, a lawyer with a boutique law firm, a foster care activist, and a #singlefostermom with infant and toddlers, and is overly interested in just about everything. Hallie is passionate about encouraging people to live fully in light of the grace and freedom of Jesus and to use every ounce of all they’ve been given in this life. She loves the Austin library, Broadway shows, queso, yoga, words, traveling, and her people. Hallie’s involved in the Austin Stone Community Church, Foster Village, and The Archibald Project, and has degrees in voice, physics, and law.

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT:

how Hallie became involved in the foster care system
a real look at what it’s like for a child to be removed from their family and placed into the foster care system
things everyone should know about foster care
how Hallie remains positive in the midst of heartbreaking work
choosing our words carefully when we speak about our children when we’re stressed
handling the trauma of attaching to foster children that are later removed
the importance of mental health for foster parents
how we can better support foster parents

LINKS MENTIONED:

Starbucks Medicine Ball (aka Honey Citrus Mint Tea) The Real Mom Podcast Foster the Family CASA Poshmark

CONNECT WITH HALLIE GRAVES:

website | instagram | facebook | twitter

CONNECT WITH EMILY:

website | instagram | facebook | patreon

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Third Love: get 15% off your first purchase when you visit thirdlove.com/swp Baked by Melissa: get 15% off your next order using promo code SWP

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon | Amazon

SHARE THE STRUGGLE!

If you've been encouraged, share this episode with a friend. The struggle is real. We might as well do this together! Do you love the Struggle Well Project? Please leave a review here!

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