The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast

You Don't Have to Make Summer Perfect: Letting Go of the Pressure to Make This the Best Summer Ever- Episode 86

Feeling the pressure to make this a perfect summer? In today's short solo episode, we're talking about releasing the pressure of a summer bucket list, plus what's coming up this summer here on the show. Don't miss it! LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kaylacookwrites] Connect with the show on Instagram [https://instagram.com/thebitterandthesweetpodcast] Become an email friend [https://emailfriends.kit.com] Visit Kayla's website [https://kaylamcook.com]

Overwhelmed? You Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar- Episode 85

So many of us are walking around with the weight of the world on our shoulders. The pressure to hold it all together is real, but what if we could trade our overwhelm and anxiety for peace? It's possible, and that's what we are talking about today with a new friend of mine, Nichole Suvar! Nichole is the author of I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed. When I heard that title, I thought YES PLEASE- this book is for me and my people. Nichole and I got to talk about managing overwhelm- where it comes from and what we can do about, intentionally connecting with God throughout our days, good stewardship and taking responsibility without taking on things that aren't ours to own. We also got to talk about battling anxiety, cultivating peace, and the attributes of Eden that are still present today, even as we live in a broken world. I loved this conversation with Nichole, and I'm excited we get to share it with you. Links to connect are below! LINKS Connect with Nichole on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nicholejsuvar/] Visit Nichole's website: livewithintent.org [https://livewithintent.org] Pre-order I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed [https://a.co/d/02YHnwLn] Connect with Kayla on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kaylacookwrites] Connect with the show on Instagram [https://instagram.com/thebitterandthesweetpodcast]

Jesus and Therapy: Breaking the Silence around Mental Health and The Church with Rebecca Woodman- Episode 84

If you've ever thought or been told you should "just pray more" when it comes to your mental health, this conversation with my friend Rebecca Woodman is for you! Rebecca is a wife, mom, therapist, and founder and executive director of ChurchxCity, a nonprofit that partners with the local church to bring affordable, Biblically based, mental health counseling to the city of Charlotte. Rebecca and I got to talk about the stigma around anxiety and depression in faith spaces, how the Church has historically not done a great job when it comes to navigating mental health issues, positive changes in that, and where we go from here. We talked about when it's time to see a counselor or therapist, how to find one, and pursuing emotional wellness in a way that is rooted in faith without shame. Healing and wholeness matter deeply to God because people matter deeply to Him. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, spiritually exhausted from trying harder, or alone in your struggles, this episode will remind you faith and mental health can coexist. LINKS Connect with Rebecca on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYGQoSkCcMP/] Learn more about (or connect with!) ChurchxCity [https://churchxcitycounseling.org/] Connect with Kayla on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kaylacookwrites] Connect with the show on Instagram [https://instagram.com/thebitterandthesweetpodcast] Become an email friend [https://emailfriends.kit.com]

Living Selflessly Without Losing Your Worth with Morgan Krueger- Episode 83

Why are we so naturally drawn to prioritize ourselves? What does it actually look like to live selflessly without losing sight of our God-given worth as image bearers (Imago Dei)? I recently got to unpack those questions (and much more!) with a brand new friend of mine, author Morgan Krueger. Morgan is a wife, mom, and Live Original Ambassador. She is the author of two books, including her latest Made to Magnify: Choosing to Live for Jesus When Everything Tells You to Live for Yourself. Morgan and I got to talk about the deep tension between self-centered living and a life that truly reflects Jesus. Together, we got to unpack living selflessly without losing who we were made to be, the everyday choices that shape our spiritual lives, and the powerful invitation God extends to know Him personally. Morgan shares how building trust in God's character frees us from constant striving and performance-based faith, allowing us to rest in His presence instead. This episode brings theology down to earth, with practical insight into what living for Jesus looks like in the ordinary rhythms of life, even on a normal Tuesday. If you've ever wrestled with purpose, identity, or surrender, this conversation will help you reframe what it means to truly magnify God in a self-focused world. LINKS Connect with Morgan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/morganwkrueger/] Get your copy of Morgan's new book, Made to Magnify [https://a.co/d/04zTTF70] Connect with Kayla on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kaylacookwrites] Connect with the show on Instagram [https://instagram.com/thebitterandthesweetpodcast] Visit Kayla's website [https://kaylamcook.com/] Become an email friend [https://emailfriends.kit.com/]

Grace in Hard Places: Family of Origin, PPD, and Foster Care- Episode 82

While we are in between National Infertility Awareness Week and Mother's Day, I wanted to bring you some of the very best of the conversations we've had about family in many different forms. Your family of origin, postpartum mental health, and foster care are challenging topics, but there is a Grace that covers them. In this episode, we are talking about hard conversations and boundaries with the family who raised you, postpartum depression and how our mental health impacts the people we love, and caring for vulnerable people without trying to control outcomes. If you've ever felt the weight of your story, struggled in motherhood, or needed to see hope in hard seasons, this episode offers honest conversations and gentle reminders of God's presence and faithfulness in both the bitter and the sweet. LINKS Connect with Kristen on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kristen.hallinan] Get your copy of Kristen's book, Legacy Changer [https://a.co/d/0d9QyFg8] Connect with Rachael on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rachaelhuntelmore] Get your copy of Rachael's book, A Mom is Born [https://a.co/d/0fl416tZ] Connect with Lauren on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/allthethingslauren] Connect with Kayla on Instagram [https://instagram.com/kaylacookwrites] Connect with the show on Instagram [https://instagram.com/thebitterandthesweetpodcast] Visit Kayla's website [https://kaylamcook.com] Become an email friend [https://emailfriends.kit.com/]