Episode 128: Melanie Dale

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It’s that time again for another crossover episode with my good friend, Melanie Dale. I hope you enjoy these episodes as much as we do. And this month, we are tackling summer. If you are in the south, summer has begun and many of us have mixed emotions about it. Before I had kids, summer was just another season. After kids, summer now carrying a mixed bag of emotions. I equally dread while looking forward to it. So in this part of the crossover episode, we talk about our feelings about summer, our no’s of summer, how we survive working from home while our people are home and screen time. And per usual, there is some slightly inappropriate dialog. Heaven help us. After you listen to this episode, be sure to jump over to Melanie’s podcast, Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, to hear the other half.

Melanie Dale Summer.png

Links:

Sponsors:

(Amazon affiliate links used when possible--purchasing through these links is an easy way to support the show. Or shop using www.SurvivingSarah.com/amazon and a portion of the what you buy will go back to the show.)

Connect with Melanie:  Website // Instagram // Facebook // twitter // Podcast

Takeaways From Our Conversation:

  • The biggest question burning in Melanie's mind is whether or not you double up on your undies when wearing athletic shorts?

  • In order to survive working from home, you must plan ahead. Have a game plan for how and when you can work. And make sure you have realistic expectations.

  • What are your triggers when your kids are home in the summer?

  • What are your nonnegotiables?

  • What can you let go?

  • What can help you be proactive rather than reactive?

  • Melanie's summer survival tip: buy suave 3 in 1 shampoo/conditioner/body wash and have the kids shower before you go home from the pool

  • Sarah's summer survival tip: drop the comparison - know what works for you. And do one thing once a week that is just for you.

What did you enjoy about this episode? What was your takeaway. Let's continue the conversation  on Instagram or Twitter or you can send me an email here. 

Thank you for following along life with me. I love being apart of your day. And as always, I hope this show helps you survive a little easier.

A new episode every Tuesday... just subscribe.

Subscribe for free on iTunes or Stitcher or your favorite podcast app so that you don't miss out on great conversations with women just like you. Women who are surviving and thriving. You don't have to do life alone. Be inspired, encouraged and entertained by women like Sandra Stanley, Shannan Martin, Jamie B. Golden, Mo Isom, Annie F. Downs, Joni Lay from Lay Baby Lay, Christy Nockels, Kay Warren, Suzanne Stabile and many more.

Did you enjoy today's conversation? Rate the podcast.

My goal each week is to encourage you to survive in this very thing called life. If you were encouraged or inspired or entertained, head over to iTunes and leave a brief review with a 5 star rating.

Here is a recent one from "Tricia865". She said, “I have loved every episode I’ve listened to so far. I feel like sarah is always talking to incredibly relevant, intelligent and awesome people with very relevant and helpful topics. There really is something for everyone here. I’m so addicted that I’ve started going back in time and listening to all the old ones.”

Your review will help get the podcast in front of new listeners who are just like you looking to know that they aren't alone in life. Thank you for being awesome!

Episode 127: Natalie Brenner

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Natalie Brenner joins me for today’s episode. A mutual friend connected us and I knew pretty immediately that you would resonate with her story. Natalie is wife, mom, photographer and author who is passionate about justice, Jesus and digging into a life of grace. She married young and quickly decided to grow her family through adoption.

While walking through that process, she suffered a miscarriage, loss of dreams and loss of jobs. If you have ever been in a place where you experienced both sorrow and joy, then you will relate to Natalie’s story. She learned first hand what it is like for your prayers to be answered in different ways than expected. We talk about her miscarriage, her adoption, the trauma she experienced in child birth, loss of her husband’s job along with some advice for women who are currently left sitting with expectations unmet. 

Links:

Sponsors:

  • Teami Blends - Go to TeamiBlends.com and use the code SURVIVING for 25% off your order of $34.99. Your colon will thank you.
  • The Phonics Museum - Phonics Museum FREE for 2 weeks. Go to PhonicsMuseum.com/SURVIVE to gain access to the freebies to help your child learn to read.

Natalie's Survival Kit:

  • Text Groups with friends

  • Pour over coffee

  • Gilmore Girls

(Amazon affiliate links used when possible--purchasing through these links is an easy way to support the show. Or shop using www.SurvivingSarah.com/amazon and a portion of the what you buy will go back to the show.)

Connect with Natalie:  Website // Instagram // twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // subscribe to her email list

Takeaways From Our Conversation:

  • “Your deepest aches and pains are so valid and so worth tending to. In order for us to love other people well, we need to tend to those spaces.” That is such good advice. Sometimes we want to cover up how we feel and we feel guilty for our feelings. Your feelings are valid and worth tending to. They are worth processing through to get to truth. You don’t have to cover them up. Sometimes life just sucks. There is no other way to say it. You have the permission to sit in the sorrow. But sometimes our deepest pain can be connected to our greatest joy. 

  • What is something that you prayed for that God answered in an unexpected way?

  • Do you feel like you have permission to be honest about your feelings? Why or why not?

  • What are you wrestling with God about? 

  • When is a time that you experienced both sorrow and joy?

  • In what ways have you seen how your deepest sorrow was connected to your greatest joy?

  • What is something that you can do today to help see that God is with you in the midst of the hard?

What did you enjoy about this episode? What was your takeaway. Let's continue the conversation  on Instagram or Twitter or you can send me an email here. 

Thank you for following along life with me. I love being apart of your day. And as always, I hope this show helps you survive a little easier.

A new episode every Tuesday... just subscribe.

Subscribe for free on iTunes or Stitcher or your favorite podcast app so that you don't miss out on great conversations with women just like you. Women who are surviving and thriving. You don't have to do life alone. Be inspired, encouraged and entertained by women like Sandra Stanley, Shannan Martin, Jamie B. Golden, Mo Isom, Annie F. Downs, Joni Lay from Lay Baby Lay, Christy Nockels, Kay Warren, Suzanne Stabile and many more.

Did you enjoy today's conversation? Rate the podcast.

My goal each week is to encourage you to survive in this very thing called life. If you were encouraged or inspired or entertained, head over to iTunes and leave a brief review with a 5 star rating.

Here is a recent one from "Tricia865". She said, “I have loved every episode I’ve listened to so far. I feel like sarah is always talking to incredibly relevant, intelligent and awesome people with very relevant and helpful topics. There really is something for everyone here. I’m so addicted that I’ve started going back in time and listening to all the old ones.”

Your review will help get the podcast in front of new listeners who are just like you looking to know that they aren't alone in life. Thank you for being awesome!

Episode 126: Shaunti Feldhahn

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It was a privilege to welcome back to the show, Shaunti Feldhahn. She received her graduate degree from Harvard University and was an analyst on Wall Street before unexpectedly becoming a social researcher, best-selling author and popular speaker. She joined me on Episode 78 to talk about how men are wired.

But today, I asked her to come back on the show to talk about her new research. We talk about what it looks like to actually find rest. We talk about what true rest really looks like, what was surprising about her research, why women want to remain busy, how fear plays a role, and how to retrain yourself to notice the good which in turn brings you rest. 

Shaunti Feldhahn.png

Links:

Sponsors:

  • BioClarity - You will get your first month for only $9.95 plus free shipping!  That’s a $20 savings and it comes with a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. To get this deal, you need to enter my code "SURVIVE"
  • The Phonics Museum - Phonics Museum FREE for 2 weeks. Go to PhonicsMuseum.com/SURVIVE to gain access to the freebies to help your child learn to read.
  • ButcherBox - For $20 off your first box and an order of FREE bacon, go to ButcherBox.com/SURVIVE and enter SURVIVE
     

Shaunti's Survival Kit:

  • Pulling out perspective

(Amazon affiliate links used when possible--purchasing through these links is an easy way to support the show. Or shop using www.SurvivingSarah.com/amazon and a portion of the what you buy will go back to the show.)

Connect with Shaunti:  Website // Instagram // twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // YouTube

Takeaways From Our Conversation:

  • So much of our stress, worry and anxiety doesn’t have to be there. God promises rest. We often sabotage our own rest. Most of us have bought into the lie that we can have it all and be it all and we are not designed for that. So we have to make choices. Because we don’t want to miss something.

  • We feel better about ourselves when our calendar is full. And we worry about missing out. Social media can feed that in use.

  • Be a person who FEELS at rest even when you are busy and running around. Its not about figuring out how to not be busy. Life is just going to be busy. You have to figure out how to find rest in the midst of it.

  • These are all good things and you have to choose one. You have to believe that you won’t end up losing something but finding something. We have to learn to make choices. There is a common denominator running through the anxiety. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that we haven’t really learned to prioritize.

  • We are allowing things that cause anxiety to be our focus. What can you focus on that is excellent and worthy of praise?

  • Try the 30 day challenge - for 30 days, don't say something negative about that person or situation but instead say something kind and positive and generous.

What did you enjoy about this episode? What was your takeaway. Let's continue the conversation  on Instagram or Twitter or you can send me an email here. 

Thank you for following along life with me. I love being apart of your day. And as always, I hope this show helps you survive a little easier.

A new episode every Tuesday... just subscribe.

Subscribe for free on iTunes or Stitcher or your favorite podcast app so that you don't miss out on great conversations with women just like you. Women who are surviving and thriving. You don't have to do life alone. Be inspired, encouraged and entertained by women like Sandra Stanley, Shannan Martin, Jamie B. Golden, Mo Isom, Annie F. Downs, Joni Lay from Lay Baby Lay, Christy Nockels, Kay Warren, Suzanne Stabile and many more.

Did you enjoy today's conversation? Rate the podcast.

My goal each week is to encourage you to survive in this very thing called life. If you were encouraged or inspired or entertained, head over to iTunes and leave a brief review with a 5 star rating.

Here is a recent one from "Tricia865". She said, “I have loved every episode I’ve listened to so far. I feel like sarah is always talking to incredibly relevant, intelligent and awesome people with very relevant and helpful topics. There really is something for everyone here. I’m so addicted that I’ve started going back in time and listening to all the old ones.”

Your review will help get the podcast in front of new listeners who are just like you looking to know that they aren't alone in life. Thank you for being awesome!

Episode 125: Lynn Cowell

in

Author and communicator, Lynn Cowell, joins me to talk about raising girls to be both strong and nurturing women. Lynn has raised two girls who are now in their early twenties so she has a wealth of experience and knowledge to bring to the table. We talk about advice for raising girls through the tween phase, how she navigated raising girls that were different from each other, how to help girls understand that their worth comes from God, how we as moms can help foster our girls uniqueness and how to raise strong and brave women. This conversation will encourage your heart as a woman whether you have daughters or not. 

Lynn Cowell.png

Links:

Sponsors:

  • FabFitFun - Check out FABFITFUN.com and use the code “SS” so you can save $10 off your first box, making it only $39.99.
  • Hello Fresh - Check out HelloFresh.com/Surviving30 and enter code "Surviving30" to receive $30 off your first box

Lynn's Survival Kit:

(Amazon affiliate links used when possible--purchasing through these links is an easy way to support the show. Or shop using www.SurvivingSarah.com/amazon and a portion of the what you buy will go back to the show.)

Connect with Lynn:  Website // Instagram // twitter // Facebook // Pinterest

Takeaways From Our Conversation:

  • A girl's confidence peaks at 9 years old. Comparison happens after age 9.

  • We can be careful about what we say in front of our girls. Model how to handle rejection or change in body. 

  • During the tween phase, be sure to tell your daughters that they are beautiful but be sure to talk about the internal beauty too. Pay more attention to what is going on in their hearts.

  • Encourage your girls to not build their confidence on that thing (that they love or are good at). Our temptation will be to build our confidence on what we can do but those things can change.

  • "The smaller our daughters' worlds are the harder their life becomes."

  • Proverbs 31 uses a word "noble" which means WARRIOR.  Girls need to know that they can be both BRAVE and NURTURING.

  • Be a chain of courage for your girls. If you are scared. Do it anyways! "And if God is behind it, its gonna happen. but if not, you don’t lose, you learn." We must teach our girls to be brave enought to try. Failure is not bad. "Failure is an opportunity to learn something that you didn’t have before."

What did you enjoy about this episode? What was your takeaway. Let's continue the conversation  on Instagram or Twitter or you can send me an email here. 

Thank you for following along life with me. I love being apart of your day. And as always, I hope this show helps you survive a little easier.

A new episode every Tuesday... just subscribe.

Subscribe for free on iTunes or Stitcher or your favorite podcast app so that you don't miss out on great conversations with women just like you. Women who are surviving and thriving. You don't have to do life alone. Be inspired, encouraged and entertained by women like Sandra Stanley, Shannan Martin, Jamie B. Golden, Mo Isom, Annie F. Downs, Joni Lay from Lay Baby Lay, Christy Nockels, Kay Warren, Suzanne Stabile and many more.

Did you enjoy today's conversation? Rate the podcast.

My goal each week is to encourage you to survive in this very thing called life. If you were encouraged or inspired or entertained, head over to iTunes and leave a brief review with a 5 star rating.

Here is a recent one from "Tricia865". She said, “I have loved every episode I’ve listened to so far. I feel like sarah is always talking to incredibly relevant, intelligent and awesome people with very relevant and helpful topics. There really is something for everyone here. I’m so addicted that I’ve started going back in time and listening to all the old ones.”

Your review will help get the podcast in front of new listeners who are just like you looking to know that they aren't alone in life. Thank you for being awesome!

Episode 124: Brett Trapp

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Brett Trapp, author of the Blue Babies Pink blog and podcast, joins me. His podcast was one of my top recommendations for last year. Brett has a gift of storytelling and his podcast was just that. It is a story of growing up gay and Christian in the south. Brett joins me around the table to tell his story. The conversation isn’t a theological debate. It isn’t question of whether its right or wrong. It’s simply his story. What I’ve noticed in my life is that when we hear someone’s story, empathy follows.

Brett Trapp.png

Links:

Sponsors:

  • FabFitFun - Check out FABFITFUN.com and use the code “SS” so you can save $10 off your first box, making it only $39.99.

Brett's Survival Kit:

  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Jazz Music

(Amazon affiliate links used when possible--purchasing through these links is an easy way to support the show. Or shop using www.SurvivingSarah.com/amazon and a portion of the what you buy will go back to the show.)

Connect with Brett:  Website // Instagram // twitter // Podcast // Facebook

Takeaways From Our Conversation:

  • “Story creates empathy.” I loved that quote. If you are a parent, you know that is true. That’s why you read fiction and story book to your kids. The story opens up conversation about how the characters feel. That is what I hope you felt today. My goal wasn’t to create a theological debate, but to simply create an opportunity for empathy. It's hard to hate someone when you get to know them or hear their story.

  • I think so much of what was said today could apply to other scenarios. If you are carrying any sort of secret, keeping it in the dark gives it the power to make you feel alone and unworthy of belonging. Or I find it easy to be wrapped up in what people think of me. And what he said it so true: “It is an absolute curse to spend your life obsessing about what other people think.” Or if you find yourself really disagreeing with someone about something, how can you give them grace and understanding so that you can still love even though you disagree. 

  • Stepping out in vulnerability is never as bad as you expect it to be.

  • Figure out the people whose opinions really do matter and then don't pay attention to the rest.

  • Advice to parents (listen to the Lifeboats episode):

    • -do no harm - if you have to choose between saying too much or saying too little, just don’t say anything in that moment

    • try to avoid theology conversation in that moment

    • don’t make it about you

    • remind them that you love them and that nothing will ever change that

  • “The key to happiness is accepting things for what they are not what you wish they were.”

What did you enjoy about this episode? What was your takeaway. Let's continue the conversation  on Instagram or Twitter or you can send me an email here. 

Thank you for following along life with me. I love being apart of your day. And as always, I hope this show helps you survive a little easier.

A new episode every Tuesday... just subscribe.

Subscribe for free on iTunes or Stitcher or your favorite podcast app so that you don't miss out on great conversations with women just like you. Women who are surviving and thriving. You don't have to do life alone. Be inspired, encouraged and entertained by women like Sandra Stanley, Shannan Martin, Jamie B. Golden, Mo Isom, Annie F. Downs, Joni Lay from Lay Baby Lay, Christy Nockels, Kay Warren, Suzanne Stabile and many more.

Did you enjoy today's conversation? Rate the podcast.

My goal each week is to encourage you to survive in this very thing called life. If you were encouraged or inspired or entertained, head over to iTunes and leave a brief review with a 5 star rating.

Here is a recent one from "Tricia865". She said, “I have loved every episode I’ve listened to so far. I feel like sarah is always talking to incredibly relevant, intelligent and awesome people with very relevant and helpful topics. There really is something for everyone here. I’m so addicted that I’ve started going back in time and listening to all the old ones.”

Your review will help get the podcast in front of new listeners who are just like you looking to know that they aren't alone in life. Thank you for being awesome!