Beautiful Shifts

In this episode, Andrea shares about the profound loss of her young husband to brain cancer in 2002 and how it reshaped her life. As a new mother navigating grief, she found herself on an unexpected path—one that led to a deep passion for functional nutrition and using food as medicine. What began as a personal search for healing became a calling to help others, changing the course of her career a...

Parenting neurodivergent kids can come with unique challenges and opportunities for growth. In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl Cardall, a passionate mental health advocate, educator, and host of the Fight Like a Mother podcast. As a mother of five, Cheryl understands the complexities of raising children with extra challenges and neurodiversity such as ADHD and anxiety. After experiencing a l...

In this continuation of Vickie Walker's story, she shares how her journey took another transformative turn when her children came out as LGBTQ+. Her oldest son, Jeremy, was the first to come out, followed by her son AJ - who survived the Trolley Square mass shooting - and later, her daughter, Alex. Having been deeply rooted in her LDS faith, these experiences led Vickie through a faith transition....

In this episode, we sit down with Vickie Walker, founder and executive director of Circles of Comfort, to hear her deeply personal story of loss, trauma, and healing. Vickie's life changed forever on February 12, 2007, when her husband, Jeff Walker, was killed in the Trolley Square mass shooting, and her 16-year-old son, AJ, was critically injured. Vickie shares her journey through grief, the impa...

This Valentine's week, we're talking about love and belonging. We share about our visit to The Other Side Academy, the rehab program that changed the life of our past guest, Dylan Gibson. The love and community we saw there were powerful reminders of what true belonging looks like. We also reflect on Brene Brown's insights and the importance of extending love and belonging to those around us. Hope...

In the second half of this powerful two-part series, we pick up where Dylan's story takes a pivotal turn. After years of addiction, crime, and incarceration, Dylan faced a life sentence - until he made a decision that changed everything. Encouraged by the unwavering belief of his grandmother, he took a leap of faith and joined The Other Side Academy. Through accountability and the support of a com...

Dylan Gibson's life spiraled from a childhood marked by trauma leading to years of drug addiction, crime, incarceration, and despair. In this first episode of a two-part series, we follow his journey from a turbulent upbringing and struggles with heroin dependency to rock bottom - when an unexpected act of love from a stranger and the unwavering belief of a family member spark hope. This pivotal m...

In this episode, our guest Lindsay Staples (one of Lindsay's closest friends!) shares her experiences moving and living in various parts of the country, being an elementary school teacher in Harlem, New York, and the lessons she learned along the way, including how these experiences shaped her approach to life. From navigating major life transitions like becoming a mom to working in crisis prevent...

Today we talk with Ellen Young about her journey through several major transitions. From going through cancer as a young teenager and living with a resulting disability to studying women's studies in college, to navigating cultural and personal shifts including marrying young, going through a divorce, and leaving the LDS church, Ellen shares how these experiences shaped her life and how she came t...

We're kicking off the New Year with a good one! Brandie shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt to reach her goal of becoming a therapist and offers insights on self-esteem, radical acceptance, and navigating life transitions. We discuss embracing personal growth, avoiding common goal-setting and mindset traps, and finding humor along the way. Brandie's perspective is an inspiring and upliftin...

In this episode, we reflect on the guests we’ve had in December—people who look outward, give back to their communities, and remind us of the good happening in the world. We share highlights from Season 3 of 2024 and the amazing guests we've had on the podcast, and share some recent personal highlights.  Thank you for being part of our podcast community and for continuing to listen and support us....

Today, we're honored to share a special re-release of our conversation with the late Don Ward, a beloved teacher and lifelong advocate for Utah's refugee community. Known as "everyone's favorite teacher," Mr. Ward taught for 35 years at Jordan and Alta High Schools in Sandy, Utah, and spent the last 15 years supporting refugees through the Ward Foundation, a nonprofit he established through his ef...

In this episode, we meet Beth Young, an inspiring woman who has dedicated her life to compassion and service. Drawing on her family's legacy of helping others, Beth has made it her mission to support those experiencing homelessness. From her socially conscious upbringing to her service in the U.S. Army, Beth shares how these experiences shaped her life leading to a passion for advocacy. Settled in...

This week we continue our tradition of having a gratitude episode Thanksgiving week, sharing a few thoughts on gratitude and revisiting a past episode. We love having a chance to reflect on the impact gratitude can have and how we can incorporate it into our lives.    Speaking of gratitude, we're so grateful for all you! Those who continue listening and supporting the podcast, those that are new h...

Greg is a husband and father and recently graduated with a Master's in Mental Health Counseling. Today he shares about several life transitions in his life focusing on his LDS faith transition. He gives valuable insight from a therapist's perspective for those going through faith transitions, those actively participating in their belief systems, and those seeking to understand others. He also give...

Mason Sawyer is a devoted father, public speaker, and host of the 10Ninety podcast. In July 2021 Mason lost his wife, son, daughter, brother, and nephew to a tragic car accident. Mason was on our podcast previously (July 30, 2024) to share about what he has been through and how he began podcasting and sharing his story to help and connect with others. Today Mason joins us as part of our faith seri...

Today Katie shares her story of learning to share emotions after her sister passed away, finding the addiction recovery program, learning to overcome depression and anxiety, navigating faith doubts, and finding comfort staying in the LDS church. Katie is very thoughtful and kind and share her experiences and life lessons in a relatable, genuine way in this touching, uplifting conversation.    Kati...

Tova is the author of the memoir The Book of Separation as well as three novels including a national bestseller. Today Tova joins us to share about her journey questioning and ultimately leaving Orthodox Judaism as well as her marriage, which led to writing The Book of Separation, a memoir about heeding your inner compass, even if it means walking away from the only life you've ever known. She sha...

Today's episode is a re-release of an episode from last fall that is one of our highest listened-to episodes. Brenda shares about living around the world including serving as a mission president couple for the LDS church, and how she has learned to support her children in their LDS faith transitions. She shares about the difficulties as well as coming to a place of acceptance and love, benefits th...

Stan grew up in a fundamental conservative Pentecostal religious community in Arkansas, was a teen minister, and became a highly influential Lead Pastor by the time he was an adult. Led by a desire to expand and make room for all, Stan went on the journey of becoming a progressive Christian Pastor and shares his fascinating story in this moving and thoughtful conversation today. We're honored Stan...

Today Shaylee and Reggie join us to share about how they sold their home and moved their family of six to Tanzania in September 2023, fulfilling a dream many years in the making. This move exposed their children to a new way of life, culture, and people in hopes that they would each walk away with new perspectives, priorities, and a unique understanding of the world. Now back in the United States,...

Hannah joins us today to share her unique journey as a child bride to a well-known polygamist, later earning her GED and leaving the polygamist lifestyle in 2012, and as a single mom of four pursuing a career in nursing. Now a Family Nurse Practitioner, Hannah shares about gaining the courage to leave, freeing herself from oppression, and tools for giving yourself permission to live the life you w...

Today Britt shares her story of being a devout member of the LDS church including being a seminary teacher, to deconstructing her beliefs and entering a stage of nihilism, to finding meaning and spirituality beyond religion, and now practicing spirituality in a tangible and beautiful way. We discuss concepts and tools she uses with her clients and topics from her new book No Nonsense Spirituality....

Today SarahAnn shares her story of being diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and living with this chronic life-threatening condition for over twenty years. She shares about founding the Chest Wall Injury Society where she works as CEO, and how she has gone through life facing mortality and embracing fear and beauty. SarahAnn is incredibly smart and inspiring and we admire her example of following passion...

Today we are joined by Nathan Garn, Shantil's husband, who shares the experience of having their oldest son Payton born with a life-threatening condition (spinal meningitis, which led to hydrocephalus, which led to a severe seizure disorder). Nathan and Shantil share the challenges and life lessons they've learned from Payton having grit and finding joy through his chronic health conditions, and t...