33: Counterweights to Hold Hope in a Heavy World | Shannan Martin

35: How to Love Your Morning | Jennifer Dukes Lee

"I decided that I couldn’t wait for perfect conditions to start my day out with hope." —Jennifer Dukes Lee Would you consider yourself a morning person? Best-selling author and morning evangelist, Jennifer Dukes Lee, says you are! Join us for this conversation about her latest book, How to Love Your Morning: Faith-Filled Habits to Build a Life of Joy and Purpose One Day at a Time. No matter how you feel about mornings, Jennifer offers practical ideas and gentle invitations to begin each new day with hope, in a way that makes room for your unique personality, preferences, and season of life. Listen to this conversation as we talk about: * Jennifer’s faith journey from doubt as a “wannabeliever” to interrogating Scripture in a way that grew an authentic faith * What she learned from studying over 200 mornings in the Bible—including the very first act of creation! * Why we don't need pressure to be more productive in the mornings * Breaking out of the box of our expectations for what a “quiet time” should look like * Real, simple, accessible practices that help your morning start off on the right foot  * Freedom to be yourself as you approach your mornings in a way that works for your personality archetype * Practical ideas for starting your day in a way that is meaningful to you—in whatever season you find yourself * Invitations to experiment with creative rhythms and rituals that work for you * Why we can’t wait for perfect conditions to be purposeful about how we start our days   Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including Growing Slow, It’s All Under Control, and Stuff I’d Only Tell God. She wants to live her life in such a way that you can’t help but want more of Jesus.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: How to Love Your Morning - https://jenniferdukeslee.com/how-to-love-your-morning/ [https://jenniferdukeslee.com/how-to-love-your-morning/] How to Love Your Morning Bible Study - https://a.co/d/02RnGCux [https://a.co/d/02RnGCux] Connect with Jennifer on her website at https://jenniferdukeslee.com/ [https://jenniferdukeslee.com/] or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/ [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/]. Grab Jillian's free GENTLE guide with self-compassionate reflection prompts - https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/gentleframework [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/gentleframework]   * * *   STAY CONNECTED * Connect with Jillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/] * Want to reach out to Jillian about speaking or coaching? Learn more on her website: https://jilliandebritz.com/ [https://jilliandebritz.com/] * Sign up for the monthly Permission Slips email newsletter: https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe] * Subscribe to Permission Slips on Substack: https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz [https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz] * Be sure to subscribe to Permission Slips so you never miss an episode, and please share or review this podcast to help others find it!

34: Leadership, Motherhood, & Making It Awkward | Mandy Arioto

"So many experiences in our life where we resist the thing that’s going to set us free because it’s a little uncomfortable for a minute." —Mandy Arioto Join me for this conversation with the MomCo Global president and CEO, Mandy Arioto, where we unpack what it means to "make it awkward" in friendships, motherhood, and leadership.  Mandy Arioto is the president and CEO of MomCo Global and is widely known for her unique takes on evangelism, parenting and cultural issues. Through MomCo, which every year mobilizes millions of women and partners with tens of thousands of churches, Mandy serves as the voice of one of the most influential outreach organizations in the U.S. and around the world. She is the author of three books, the most recent being Have More Fun: How to Be Remarkable, Stop Feeling Stuck and Start Enjoying Life. An avid rock climber, Mandy and her husband, Joe, live in Denver, Colorado, with their three kids. Looking for a way to connect with other moms? Share this podcast, then grab coffee to talk about these questions: * Mandy talked about how transformative being a mom is—in areas like your body, your role in the world, and your legacy. How has being a mom transformed you? * What parts of your life as a mom feel unseen or unacknowledged? What might change if you believed that you are seen, by your kids, neighbors, and by God? * Have you ever experienced an awkward moment that helped you connect with someone else? On the other hand, what keeps you from pushing through the awkwardness? * When in your life have you been able to show up as you are, even if it meant crying snotty tears? What was that like for you? * What sounds fun to you this summer? What’s one new thing you want to try in the next couple weeks to change things up?   Connect with Mandy or the MomCo: * How to Have More Fun - https://a.co/d/04UB0neG [https://a.co/d/04UB0neG] * Learn more about the MomCo - https://www.themom.co/home [https://www.themom.co/home] * The Mandy Show - https://www.youtube.com/@the_mandy_show [https://www.youtube.com/@the_mandy_show] * Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mandyarioto/ [https://www.instagram.com/mandyarioto/]   * * *   STAY CONNECTED * Connect with Jillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/] * Want to reach out to Jillian about speaking or coaching? Learn more on her website: https://jilliandebritz.com/ [https://jilliandebritz.com/] * Sign up for the monthly Permission Slips email newsletter: https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe] * Subscribe to Permission Slips on Substack: https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz [https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz] * Be sure to subscribe to Permission Slips so you never miss an episode, and please share or review this podcast to help others find it!

33: Counterweights to Hold Hope in a Heavy World | Shannan Martin

No matter who you are, there are weights you carry that you didn’t choose. Whether the pain is personal or global, there is no denying that being alive can bring a heaviness that will knock us off-balance if we let it. That’s why we need counterweights. We need practices that allow us to take hold of the beauty that already exists right here in our everyday lives. Life is hard, yes. And it’s also beautiful. This conversation with bestselling author, Shannan Martin, felt like a counterweight to me. She is living proof that it’s possible to live open-hearted in a world where it often feels too painful to care. She reminds us that we have agency to love our own lives, shows us how to honor our grief, and invites us to pay attention to the “heavy goodness” that will keep us upright. Some of the highlights from this episode include: * How to find counterweights that balance out the heaviness that comes with being alive * Why it's essential to embrace both joy and sadness honestly—beyond simply writing a gratitude list * Tangible ideas to help you pay attention to the beauty and goodness that are already present * The importance of noticing what we need and also witnessing the ways we care for ourselves * Practical ideas for finding our own counterweights that also help us know ourselves better * Permission to create a life you love—because no one else can love it for you!   Shannan Martin is the bestselling author of several books, including Start with Hello, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and the popular Substack The Soup. Shannan is a wannabe gardener, a news geek, a fighter for justice, and a thrift store stalker. She and her family live as grateful neighbors in Goshen, Indiana, where Shannan is on staff at the local community kitchen.    RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order your copy of Counterweights (and find info about her book tour and her other books!) on Shannan’s website -  shannanmartin.com  Find Shannan on her Substack, “The Soup” - https://www.shannanmartin.com/newsletter [https://www.shannanmartin.com/newsletter] Connect Shannan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shannanwrites/ [https://www.instagram.com/shannanwrites/]     * * *   STAY CONNECTED * Connect with Jillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/] * Want to reach out to Jillian about speaking or coaching? Learn more on her website: https://jilliandebritz.com/ [https://jilliandebritz.com/] * Sign up for the monthly Permission Slips email newsletter: https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe] * Subscribe to Permission Slips on Substack: https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz [https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz] * Be sure to subscribe to Permission Slips so you never miss an episode, and please share or review this podcast to help others find it!

32: Learning to Flourish in a Productivity-Driven World | Bette Dickinson

"Good vine dressers don't pay much attention to the fruit…they pay attention to the health, the quality, and the vitality of the vine. And if you pay attention to those things, quality fruit will emerge." —Bette Dickinson What if your measure of success isn't based on how productive you are, but on your long-term health and flourishing? How can you push back against a culture that over-emphasizes external metrics, and instead tend to your internal well-being? If you are a leader who cares for others, or if you're struggling with burnout yourself, this conversation is for you. Artist and author Bette Dickinson shares about her six-year journey through the vineyard, where she learned firsthand how a real vinedresser cares for the health and sustainable growth of his vines. In 2021, she founded Awakening the Soul, a ministry that creates resources and experiences to awaken the souls of ministry leaders through beauty and wonder. Join us as we talk about things like: * The essential role of beauty in our spiritual journey—and in our healing * How embracing our true identity might actually protect us from burnout * The contrast between value systems that are driven by productivity vs. human flourishing  * Why seasons of dormancy and pruning are necessary for long-term health and growth * The courage and faith required to prioritize people over productivity * Practical steps for leaders who want to shift their organizational culture * Resources for those who want to tend to the roots of their own soul   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * The Art of Vinemaking is a movement of spiritual formation rooted in the rhythms of creation. Companioning the book: ONLINE COURSES | GUIDED COHORTS | RETREATS * Learn more at www.theartofvinemaking.com * Order the book here: https://www.bettedickinson.com/shop/p/artofvinemaking [https://www.bettedickinson.com/shop/p/artofvinemaking] You can also connect with Bette on: * Substack: https://bettedickinson.substack.com/ [https://bettedickinson.substack.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bette_dickinson/ [https://www.instagram.com/bette_dickinson/]   Rare Leadership in the Workplace by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder - https://a.co/d/0bB0Kezj [https://a.co/d/0bB0Kezj]     * * *   STAY CONNECTED * Connect with Jillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/] * Want to reach out to Jillian about speaking or coaching? Learn more on her website: https://jilliandebritz.com/ [https://jilliandebritz.com/] * Sign up for the monthly Permission Slips email newsletter: https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe] * Subscribe to Permission Slips on Substack: https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz [https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz] * Be sure to subscribe to Permission Slips so you never miss an episode, and please share or review this podcast to help others find it!

31: Paying Compassionate Attention to Your Mind, Body & Soul | Aundi Kolber

“Learning to try softer is the work of learning to pay compassionate attention to our mind, body, and soul.” —Aundi Kolber When I think about the people whose work in the world has most impacted my life, Aundi Kolber is at the top of my list! Her writing has provided me with compassionate language that allowed me to participate in my own healing with greater courage.  But here's the thing—Aundi doesn't just know about healing, she is living proof that it's possible, and that wholeness is worth fighting for. I'm honored to share this conversation about what it means to try softer, honor our stories, and keep practicing the work of giving and receiving compassion. Join us as we talk about things like: * Aundi's story of trauma, white-knuckling, and her unexpected path to healing * Recognizing the impact of our culture, even if we don't experience big "T" trauma * Learning to try softer—and why we will never graduate * Ways that our faith experiences might influence our sense of safety * How our window of tolerance helps us to stay with ourselves * Practical ideas for interrupting shame with compassion    Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and the best-selling author of the critically acclaimed books Try Softer,™️ Strong like Water, and Take What You Need. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi has appeared on Good Morning America, regularly speaks at national events, and is a frequent podcast guest. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain.   Resources from this episode:   Aundi's books: * Try Softer - https://a.co/d/0gVPhVGd [https://a.co/d/0gVPhVGd] * Try Softer Guided Journey -  https://a.co/d/02oU9eXF [https://a.co/d/02oU9eXF] * Strong Like Water - v=https://a.co/d/09yYsSon * Strong Like Water Guided Journey - https://a.co/d/0i8f8A4F [https://a.co/d/0i8f8A4F] * Take What You Need - https://a.co/d/0i6F5OKI [https://a.co/d/0i6F5OKI] Connect with Aundi on her website - https://aundikolber.com/ [https://aundikolber.com/] or on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aundikolber/ [https://www.instagram.com/aundikolber/]       * * *   STAY CONNECTED * Connect with Jillian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/ [https://www.instagram.com/jilliandebritz/] * Want to reach out to Jillian about speaking or coaching? Learn more on her website: https://jilliandebritz.com/ [https://jilliandebritz.com/] * Sign up for the monthly Permission Slips email newsletter: https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe [https://jilliandebritz.myflodesk.com/subscribe] * Subscribe to Permission Slips on Substack: https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz [https://substack.com/@jilliandebritz] * Be sure to subscribe to Permission Slips so you never miss an episode, and please share or review this podcast to help others find it!