5 Things That Actually Improve Your Mental Health

We've Been Mom Friends for 8 Years & Across 3 States

If motherhood feels lonely, you're not making it up  and you're not the only one. In this Mother's Day episode, host Maggie Freeman sits down with the three women who have been her closest friends for the last eight years: Debbie, Jenny, and Bethany. They live in three different states. They've mostly never been in the same room.  This is a real conversation about what it actually looks like to find mom friends who show up. They talk through what they've learned across every stage of motherhood (from grandmothering down to elementary school), the specific ways diversity in age and season has made them better moms, and the moment Maggie texted the group when the police pulled into her front yard. They name the two enemies of every mother — isolation and futility — and offer practical, hard-won advice for any Christian mom who is tired, overwhelmed, or quietly wondering where her people are. If you've ever thought "I just need someone who gets it" this one's for you. Pass it to a friend who needs the same.

Why You Can't Heal Without Confession (James 5:16)

Why does the Bible tell us to confess our sins to one another and what happens when we stop? In this episode of In Between Sundays, Tony Johnson and Maggie Freeman sit down with Dr Wes Beavis, clinical psychologist, to close out our three-part series on spiritual disciplines with the one most of us avoid: confession. This is not the confession you grew up picturing. It's not a booth, a priest, or a list of guilts read to a stranger. It's James 5:16  "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed" and the conversation asks a question most churches quietly duck. Our crew works through the psychology of shame, why secrets lose their power the moment they're spoken out loud, how to tell a safe person from an unsafe one, and what it takes to build the kind of relationships where real confession can happen. Plus a story from Psalm 32 that will reframe how you read David's whole life, and a lesson from aviation about why one-degree course corrections beat catastrophe recovery every time. 📖 SCRIPTURE REFERENCED James 5:16 · Psalm 32 · 2 Samuel 12 · 1 John 1:9

5 Things That Actually Improve Your Mental Health

Why does it feel like mental health is getting worse… even though life isn’t necessarily harder? In this conversation, a clinical psychologist and pastor breaks down what’s really happening beneath anxiety, depression, and feeling stuck—and why many of us are approaching mental health the wrong way. You’ll learn:  • Why anxiety isn’t always a bad thing  • The difference between normal struggle and being “stuck”  • How labels can quietly shape your identity  • Why boredom might actually be good for you  • The 5 key factors that lead to real mental resilience If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or like something is “wrong” with you—this conversation will reframe everything. You’re not broken. You’re human.

What Worship Really Is (Because It’s More Than Music)

Is worship just singing on Sunday morning? In this episode, we talk about what worship really is, why it matters, and how it goes far beyond music. From Romans 12 to John 4 to Revelation 4, this conversation explores worship as surrender, sacrifice, presence, and a life fully offered to God. We also talk about corporate worship, different worship styles, spiritual pride, authenticity, and what it looks like to worship God in spirit and truth. Whether you feel deeply connected during music or struggle to engage in worship at all, this conversation will help you rethink what it means to glorify God with your whole life. If you’ve ever wondered why worship feels powerful sometimes, distant other times, or bigger than just a song set, this episode is for you. Scriptures referenced: Romans 12:1 Revelation 4:6–11 John 4:21–26 Matthew 4:8–10 If this conversation encouraged you, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s learning how to follow Jesus between Sundays.

How to Pray (When You’re Busy, Distracted, and Don’t Know What to Say)

In this episode, Tony and Maggie get brutally honest about what prayer looks like in real life—when your mind won’t slow down, your schedule is packed, your kids are up early, and you’re carrying anxiety, grief, or distraction. If you’ve ever felt guilty because your prayer life doesn’t match the “perfect quiet time” version you were taught, this conversation will help you breathe again—and take a practical next step. In this episode, we talk about:  • Why prayer is a discipline (and why that matters)  • Breaking free from the “it has to look like this” prayer box  • How to pray throughout the day (not just one perfect morning block)  • Turning distractions into invitations to pray  • Simple prayers you can pray anytime: Help. Thanks. Wow.  • Why Jesus teaches us to pray with boldness (even “shameless audacity”)  • Why you don’t learn prayer by reading—you learn it by practicing Bible verses mentioned:  • Psalm 23  • Luke 11  • James 4:8 If prayer feels awkward, scary, or inconsistent—don’t wait until you “feel ready.” Start practicing today.