Mary Scott Mercer

Full circle moment! Mary Scott interviewed me the first time I ever publicly spoke about my life back in 2017! What an honor to sit down with her today and catch up almost 10 years later! Mary Scott is such a joy to be around. We talk a lot about what life looks like now with 2 kids and the wild journey she went on to get back to Columbia. I appreciate Mary Scott's honesty and her ability to welcome other women into her weight-loss journey. She is brave. You can follow along with Mary Scott's journey on Instagram! I am thankful to have reconnected with her and for her friendship at this stage of our lives! Enjoy! 

I am so thankful to be able to sit down with my friend Ginny Tate! As I mentioned in the intro, this episode is a really tough one! I think it is an important topic to discuss, even if it is hard. I am blessed to know Ginny and to have witnessed the road she walked over the last couple of years! Ginny experienced Intimate Partner Violence in her marriage, and that is what we discuss today. Praise God for women like her who tell their story!Currently, one in three women worldwide experiences IPV, which is a global health concern (Napier et al., 2023).According to the World Health Organization (WHO), VAW is a pervasive problem that “negatively affects women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health” (WHO, 2024).IPV is defined as “any violence that occurs within a relational context with a romantic partner, whether that partner is current or from a past relationship” (Kelly et al., 2022, p. 147), including “physical, emotional, psychological abuse” (Kelly et al., 2022, p. 147) and “sexual coercion” (Napier et al., 2023, p. 323). Physical abuse can be briefly defined as acts of physical hostility, which can include hitting, kicking, throwing, or any other form of physical coercion, with the possibility of causing harm to the individual (Mulat et al., 2022). Psychological or emotional abuse, which is often the most common form of IPV, involves emotional manipulations, including subtle put-downs, gaslighting, and other means to control a current or former partner (Daw et al., 2023). Sexual coercion or sexual assault are the undesired sexual advances, including touching, or expressions of desire that can occur at varying degrees, consistency, or invasiveness from either a stranger, current, or former partner (Foubert et al., 2021).

So happy to be back with my friend Linzy Mallon! Linzy and I connected 10 years ago when she was working at a non-profit here in Columbia, where my mother volunteered! I have enjoyed watching Linzy navigate the ups and downs of life and her honesty through it all.  Linzy sits down with me to share her story and the devastation of what it is like to suffer a miscarriage. She beautifully talks about what it looked like to lament truly and how the Lord sustained her through the deepest valleys of her life. I am so thankful for her honesty and for her ability to articulate what it is like to experience a miscarriage.  I so admire Linzy's courage and strength! I am so thankful she came on to talk about her story and how God continues to use her! 

Happy Monday! Hopefully, we are fully into fall now and can start wearing sweaters! I am so excited to sit down with my friend Ashley Mack! As I said in the intro, Ashley and I have known each other for 20+ years and graduated from Hammond together! Go Skyhawks! Ashley and her husband, Erv, recently navigated a season of life that was not part of the plan (don't we all). If you have walked with Christ long enough, you unfortunately feel the stings of sin, and sometimes that comes from the hands of believers. Ashley and I sit down and talk about when Christians hurt... and what it looks like to navigate forgiveness! Ashley speaks to my wounded soul and is just a wonderful example of taking everything before the Lord. I am so thankful for her friendship and the example she and her husband set in walking through seasons of disappointment! She is a blessing to so many, and I am so excited to sit down with my LONGTIME friend, Ashley Mack! 

Episode 2! I am so excited to sit down with my friend Amy Young! Amy is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at CIU, where we met, and she has an incredible story! Amy is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Certified Substance Abuse Therapist. You will hear her drop some acronyms in the episode, but this is what they mean! She is licensed in Georgia and South Carolina and sees people virtually! Amy is such an overcomer, and when we were first introduced, people knew we would get along. I admire the work Amy has done personally and professionally, and this episode is raw and real. I hope listeners enjoy it. This is not an episode you want children to hear, so headphones in! If you hear this episode and think "Amy is the therapist for me," below is a link to contact her about therapy! Enjoy! https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/amy-d-young-dahlonega-ga/723267

SEASON 2 We are so back! I am excited to kick off Season 2 of the podcast with my friend Anna Stuart! As I mentioned on the show, Anna and I have known each other for over a decade!  Anna sits down with me to talk about grief and the way she walked through the sudden death of her older sister, Sallie, on December 25, 2023. I love Anna's candor and her ability to describe how she felt as she walked through the hardest season of her life. She and her twin sister continue to honor Sallie today, and it is a beautiful picture of how God can use the worst moments of our lives to his glory! I asked Anna at the end, if Sallie were sitting here today, what would she tell her, and I will let the listeners hear for themselves, but I also asked her to text her twin Catherine and ask her, and this is her response: "That I love her, and she was a wonderful big sister, and I can't wait to see her again!"  Amen. I love this episode. I love all my episodes, but this one hit home for me because Sallie and I were the same age and lived very similar lives. She is in the arms of her Savior now, and it is an honor for me to sit down with Anna and talk about her life! 

You can't keep me away from a microphone for too long! I wanted to record a holiday episode because I know this time of year is hard for many people, and that's okay! In this episode, we discuss what it truly means to navigate the holidays with your emotional, spiritual, and relational well-being intact. From family triggers to loneliness, unrealistic expectations, and boundary fatigue, we navigate the pressures that arise during this time of year and explore practical ways to stay grounded. You’ll hear therapist-informed insights, faith-centered encouragement, and simple tools you can use to care for yourself well. If the holidays feel overwhelming, this conversation will help you find your breath again.I am so thankful to Jenna Bridgers and Susan Van Horn, who took the time out of their day to record this episode. It will resonate with many people. 

One of my lifelong friends. We met 19 years ago as freshmen in college, playing volleyball, and the rest is history! This episode needs a trigger warning. Kelsey has an incredible story, but it is not for little ears! She articulates what she went through with grace and truth! I am so thankful for her friendship and what she has meant to me over the years! It is a blessing to do life with her! Kelsey is a mom of 4 and married to DR! She is an artist, barber, and I am trying to think what else she does, along with being a wife and mom. Kelsey suffers from a rare disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and just had her 20th surgery. She is a fighter and loves the Lord. I can't think of a better way to end this season than with a friend who has walked a long road with me! Enjoy! 

I love this episode! I know I say that about every episode, but I am proud of Susan for leaving her comfort zone and sitting down with me to talk about grief! This is a complex subject to talk about because until you've been in it, you do not have words to describe it. Susan broaches this subject with grace and truth, and it is an Incredible episode to hear, especially if you are walking through grief right now! Susan is married and lives in Columbia, where she has a private practice for counseling. She is a dear friend I have known most of my life, and  I consider her an incredible mentor and friend! If you or someone you know needs help walking through the stages of grief, please do not hesitate to reach out! This is what the podcast is for!