Girls Night #253: Stop Trying to be the “Perfect” Christian (This is Important! Here’s Why…) — with Kimberly Stuart

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to become an informed voter and avoid misinformation on the internet. I’m excited about this episode because if you’re anything like me, you feel the weight of the political tension happening in our world right now – especially as we’re inching closer to election time! Your social media feeds are filled with everyone and their mom’s opinions on leaders and policies and, before you know it, you’re feeling angry, frustrated, and confused. And, on top of all of that, you’re wondering if your vote will actually make a difference or if it will just get lost in a giant pool of people.  Friends, if you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone and I cannot wait to introduce you to today’s guest!  Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend and go-to politics guru, Sharon McMahon. Sharon is on a mission to curate facts, fun, and inspiration by educating Americans on democracy, politics, and history. After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon took her passion for education to social media to combat political misinformation with non-partisan facts.  In this episode she’s helping us figure out which news sources are helpful and which ones might be unhelpful, why our votes matter, how to manage our mental health during elections, and how to set boundaries with family members around political conversations (and avoid arguments).  Friends, I love this episode because it’s a (actually fun) conversation about politics (for the girl who hates politics! 🤣). No matter what political party you align with, this episode will help you find out what’s most important to you so that you can make an informed decision this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I am so excited for what we have going on this week. Put on your coziest sweatpants and listen in, because today we’re talking all about boobs!  I’m excited about this episode, because, if you're anything like me, you haven’t spent a ton of time learning about your breast health. Sure, you know the basics and they’re a part of who you are, but you also have some questions that maybe you’ve been too embarrassed or uncomfortable to ask. Questions like “Is it normal to experience pain in xyz scenario?”, “Should I be doing a self breast exam and how often,?” or “How do I control my boob sweat?”.  Also — as we go through life, are there things we’re supposed to know about our boobs? Ways we’re supposed to take care of them? I wasn’t aware of any for so long, and I always worried that I was missing something. If you can relate to any of those things, I’m so glad you get to hear this conversation! Our guest for today’s show is Dr. Gillian Goddard. Gillian is an endocrinologist in private practice in New York City and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. I first discovered her work after reading an article she collaborated on with Emily Oster from Parent Data called An Owner's Manual for Breasts. The research was so helpful and informative, so I knew we needed to have her on!  This episode is especially close to my heart right now, because I had a bit of a health scare last week. I had my second ever mammogram, and thought it would be a simple check-up. But it turns out, they needed to go in to take another look, and then I actually ended up having to get a biopsy!  Thankfully, I’m totally fine. The spot was benign. But that experience has me more resolved than ever to talk about things on the show that are just not talked about enough. Our bodies are incredible — and they’re also kinda complicated sometimes — but thankfully, we don’t have to figure ANY of this out alone. Let’s dive into the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to get on the same page about household responsibilities with your spouse. Question for you –  Do you and your spouse (or partner or roommate) ever have a hard time figuring out who is responsible for managing certain household tasks? This could apply to chores, paying bills, or making meals. Okay, another question for you –  Are you frustrated because the majority of household tasks always seem to fall on you?  Friends, I’ve lived in that tension before, but, today’s guest (and her book) changed everything for me and my relationships in general!  Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Eve Rodsky. Eve is an expert on the gender division of labor. She wrote one of my favorite books called, Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). In it, she discusses the issue of unequal labor in the home, why this is hurting our relationships, and what we can do to fix it.  One of my favorite parts of the episode is when she explains the concept of being the “She Fault” and why so much of the domestic work falls in the hands of women. More about that soon!  Friends, whether you’re married, engaged, single, or dating, I know there’s something for you in this episode!  Okay, one more quick thing before we dive in – I wanted to let you know that there are a handful of cuss words in this episode, so if you’re listening with tiny ears around that repeat everything like my girls do, maybe put some headphones in for this conversation!  Alright, let’s jump into my conversation with Eve! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about why it’s so important that we stop trying to be the “perfect” Christian. Tell me if any of this sounds familiar to you: You try to do all of the “right” things like pray and read your Bible, but sometimes it feels like you’re checking boxes off a to-do list rather than experiencing real intimacy with God.  Or maybe you feel like you need to do X,Y, & Z, you fill in the blanks, in order to be a “good Christian” or person of faith. Or, if you don’t have your quiet time (or whatever the thing is you feel you’re supposed to do), you feel like a bad Christian and that God must be disappointed in you.  Does any of this resonate with you? If so, I want you to know you’re not alone and we’re going to work through this together.  Our guest for today’s episode is Kimberly Stuart. Kim is a writer, speaker and podcaster. Her most recent book is called, Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit): Rediscovering the Grace that Sets Us Free. In it, she’s reminding us that our faith is not about trying to be good enough or doing all of the right things — instead, it’s about accepting the free gift of God’s grace.  Kim is hilarious and warm and relatable and wise. I can’t wait for you to meet her. One of my favorite quotes Kim says in the episode is this, “There is more than enough grace to cushion every single fall every single day.” Yes and amen to that!  I hope this conversation reminds you how loved you are and that there’s room for everyone at God’s table! Okay, let’s dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about friendship, specifically how to navigate friendship conflict and find forever friends. To help us with this, I invited a Girls Night favorite back on the show, my dear friend, Danielle Bayard Jackson! Danielle is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections. She has a brand new book out called, Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships.  This book offers the strategies we all need when navigating our friendships and she’s sharing several of those strategies with us in today’s conversation! She’s also sharing more about “friend types” and how to know which one you are!  One of my favorite moments of the episode was when she shared her advice for setting boundaries in your friendships. Y’all need to listen in, because you’re going to LOVE what she has to say about this! Okay, friends, make yourself cozy — here’s my conversation with Danielle! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to stay present even if you’re not exactly where you want to be in life.  I’m excited about this episode because if you’re anything like me, when you’re going through a waiting season, all you want to do is skip forward and get to the “good part” where it feels like you have your life together again. Or maybe you want to skip ahead because what you’re currently facing — in your job, in parenting, in a relationship —  is too hard, too messy, or not at all where you pictured you would be at this time in your life. Friends, I get it. I’ve been there too. But the more waiting seasons I’ve lived through, the more that I’ve discovered that they're not something to wish away. They’re actually something to lean into, and today’s guest is going to teach all about this! Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Ruth Chou Simons. Ruth is a bestselling author of several books and Bible studies, an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and speaker, using each of these platforms to sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. I’ve been a fan of Ruth for years and love the work that she does. Her newest book is called, Now and Not Yet: Pressing in When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More.  In the description she says this book is showing us how to “embrace the biblical truth that someday is made up of thousands of right nows” and that’s really what this episode is all about! If you’re feeling stuck in your current circumstances, I hope today’s conversation is the reminder you need that no season is wasted and it’s possible to grow in the right here and right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m so excited about today’s episode. Here’s the thing — we’ve all been there. We’ve all had days where it feels like our emotions are getting the best of us or our minds can’t stop racing. These moments are so frustrating because often we think, “I shouldn’t be feeling this way” — but still, we do! And these feelings have a way of impacting every facet of our lives — our relationships, our career, our body image and so much more!  But, the truth is, it’s okay to feel our emotions, what matters is how we respond to them!  Our guest for today’s episode is Dr. Alison Cook. Alison is a psychologist, podcast host, and the author of three books, including her newest book called, I Shouldn't Feel This Way: Name What’s Hard, Tame Your Guilt, and Transform Self-Sabotage into Brave Action. For 20 years, Alison has helped women, ministry leaders, couples, and families learn how to heal painful emotions, develop confidence from the inside out, forge healthy relationships, and fully live out their God-given potential. One of my favorite parts of the episode was when Alison shared her strategy on how to “name, tame, and transform” our thoughts. I will be using this all of the time!  Friends, my hope is that you leave this episode feeling like you have a better grasp on how to navigate your tricky emotions and have more compassion for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! Today, I’m so excited to read a section from my new book, Create A Life You Love.  Did you know that the average woman makes most of her biggest life decisions between her 25th and 35th birthdays? Who you are, what you want to do with your life, where you’ll call home, who your people are, which person you’ll share your life with, and whether you’ll have kids—there's major pressure (internal, external, and even biological) to decide the major plot points of our lives, all within just a few short years. My book, Create a life You love, is a guided journey of self-discovery, helping you take the pressure off what you think your life is supposed to look like by now and intentionally, confidently, and authentically build the life you actually want to live — a life that looks and feels like YOU.  The book comes out THIS WEEK, and you can order or purchase a copy wherever books are sold. I’m SO excited and honored to share this with you. Okay, so for today’s episode, I want to actually read a section of the book to you! Eeek, I can’t wait to share this with you. Let’s dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to decorate your home (when you’re not a professional home designer). Decorating a home can feel challenging because there are so many different components to consider, but, like most things in life, there are some guidelines we can follow to help make things a little bit easier!  To walk us through this, I invited a Girls Night favorite back on the show and that’s my dear friend and home design enthusiast, Myquillyn Smith. Myquillyn, also known on social media as “The Nester,”  believes every home has a silver lining. She's created a beautiful home in 15 different houses and she loves teaching how to create beauty in imperfect circumstances. She recently wrote a book called, House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget. In it, she shares 100 universal decorating truths that apply to every house. One of my favorite rules that she shares is, “you can’t ruin something you already hate” — more about that in the episode!  This episode inspired me to look at my home through a new lens and I hope it does the same for you! Ready? Let’s dive in!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night! I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today you’ll hear the advice I WISH I would have had when I was single. Today’s episode is going to look a little different than usual. If you’ve been around our Girls Night community for a while, you know that it’s girls only. (With the occasional exception of my husband Carl). Today, we’re breaking that rule — but I promise it’s for a really good reason! Our guest for today’s episode is my long-time friend, Ryan Wekenman. Ryan and I met back in college at a campus ministry we were both a part of, but today he’s the teaching pastor at a church called Red Rocks Austin. He recently wrote an incredible book called, Single Today: Conquer Yesterday's Regrets, Ditch Tomorrow's Worries, and Thrive Right Where You Are. In this episode, Ryan is sharing his journey as an unmarried pastor for over a decade. He has such a unique perspective on this topic and I knew we needed to have him on! Ryan is the REAL DEAL.  He’ll talk us through some of the biggest struggles we all face when we’re single — “How do I respond to a relative who keeps nagging me about my relationship status?” “How do I stop comparing my timeline to the other people in my life?” “Can I experience intimacy even as a single person?” “Is there something wrong with me for wanting to be single?” or “Is there something wrong with me because I’m not married yet?” And that’s just the beginning!  If you’re a single person in your twenties or thirties, I hope this episode will bring you so much encouragement and remind you that you’re not alone!  Okay, ready? Let’s dive into my conversation with Ryan! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices