Ditching Perfection

Jesus asked over 300 questions in the Bible. Instead of coming to hold lectures, Jesus came to have conversations. In this first episode of Jesus Q&A, Jesus' question, "What do you seek?" reminds us that Jesus cares about what we care about. We're all looking for something... and even if we're searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places, Jesus invites us to walk wi...

What if, amidst the uncertainties and complexities of life, we discover that the answers we seek are hidden within the questions Jesus asked? Join me on Tuesdays AND Thursdays for 10 minutes of Scripture study, real talk conversation, and prayer. Let's keep pursuing wholeness in Jesus rather than trying to have it all together. ..... I'd love to connect with you on instagram! You can find...

Today, my friends, Matt Beltman and Molly Wighaman are here to chat with us about how music unites us with others, grounds us in difficult times, and seeps into our souls to create meaningful anthems for our lives.  You’re going to love this conversation with these two thoughtful college students who are studying ministry, and serving in the local church. They each are clearly devoted to Jesus, ha...

I am so excited to welcome my new friend, Herminia Esqueda to the pod. Herminia is a pastor, multicultural director, and an Equity, Diversity, Access and Inclusion Administrator in state government. She is an incredible communicator of the Gospel and reminds us of the important call to be a people of reconciliation and peacemaking.  So, in today’s conversation, she encourages us to partner with Go...

Today, we are talking about prayer and Scripture, which are often some of the first spiritual practices that come to mind when we think about ways to connect with God… Yet, engaging with prayer and Scripture are often some of the most challenging rhythms for us to maintain.  In this week’s episode, my new friend, Rachael Wade is here to give us ideas and inspiration from her own journey about how...

The day that Jesus was crucified was one of the darkest days in history. In the midst of Jesus' crucifixion, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These words were filled with anguish, but also with a startling glimmer of hope. You may be experiencing unexpected darkness in your life too... and the good news is that we don't serve a God who runs from suffering...

In today's conversation, my friend and licensed counselor, Alaina Henry is here. In this important conversation, we chat about: - Mindfulness as a way to stop the flurry in our brains to become more aware of God's presences, - How we've both benefited from therapy and anxiety medication, and - How seeking help from mental health resources does not make you a less faithful follower of Jesus.  The P...

If you… are a strategist who loves to launch new things, feel more connected with God as you connect with others, or are feeling stuck and need inspiration about how to make a broader impact in your community… This episode will ignite passion and purpose in you as we learn from my friend, Katie Castro, about living with an ethic of we!  Katie Castro is a speaker, strategist, and serial entrepreneu...

My dear friend, Lauren Willis, is my guest on the podcast today. She and her husband, Joel, are some of our closest friends. This fall, Lauren chose to step away from her very successful corporate career as she and Joel moved to Paris, where Lauren is now training to be a pastry chef at Le Courdon Bleu.  During our conversation today, Lauren shares with us how movement and creativity help her conn...

On today’s episode, we will be chatting about warning signs of burnout, how to practically structure our days around what really matters, and God’s invitation to be still. This week, the Pantone color that I chose is called Ibiza Blue. It is an island off the coast of Spain with the most beautiful waters. When I think of an island vacation, I think of rest, reprieve, and retreat...  and stillness...

My friend, Pastor Jeni Hall, is here to talk to us about how repeated patterns in our lives form and shape us. She shares ideas with us about how to create rhythms of connection with God centered around the activities we participate in every day… like drinking coffee! :) She also shares with us about fasting. This is timely, because this episode is airing during Lent. We often give things up durin...

Ryan and Ashley Gage are back this week to chat with us about how to be bridge builders, and what it looks like to see and value each other. If you didn’t hear part 1 of our conversation, I highly recommend that you go back and listen to episode 45. Friends, I want to let you know that I am on this journey with you. I have a lot to learn about the centuries and centuries of racial injustice, and t...

The birthday celebration continues today! I am announcing the giveaway winners, continuing the conversation with Sister Maria Juan, and spilling the beans about the new series that we're launching in March!  To learn more about Carly and her ministry, visit carlycommunicates.com.

The Ditching Perfection podcast is 1 year old, so we are throwing a party! My dear friend and Catholic nun, Sister Maria Juan, is here to share with us about choosing celebration and finding joy in simplicity. Truly, this party is for YOU! I am so thankful for the community we are building together in our little corner of the internet. You are sharing hope, love, and light in a world where people...

My friends, Ryan and Ashley Gage, are here to help us kick off Black History Month! We are talking about the gift of listening to one another's stories, widening our lenses, and how God invites us to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19). I am so thankful for my friends, Ryan and Ashley, and I am excited for you to become friends with them too! The Gages live in Nampa, Idaho where Ryan s...

Have you ever asked any of these questions: What in the world is God doing? Where is God? How does this challenging season fit into the bigger picture of my life? If so, today’s episode is for you! My friend, Laurie Short is here — and she wrote a book about how to hold onto faith when things don’t seem to be adding up. And today is so special because her book, “Faith,  Doubt, and God’s Myste...

Have you ever found yourself totally knocked down by something unexpected? It may be a text from a friend, or feeling ghosted by another friend. Maybe it was just one piece of constructive criticism from your boss that sent you over the edge? I’ve been there, and surprisingly, what we need most in those moments are some snacks and a nap! We are talking all about this as we look at Elijah’s story i...

To kick off 2023, my husband, Mike, is hosting the show and interviewing me! In this episode, we chat about Top Golf, my *slight* (okay, maybe not so slight) obsession with brightly colored clothes, and how trying new, hard things is a necessary part of our spiritual growth. We are excited to invite you to the Bartlett fam table for this conversation! Check out my new Bible Study, " The Gift of th...

I am very excited to introduce you to our guest today: Kat Armas. Kat holds a Mdiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is the host of the Protagonistas podcast, where she highlights stories of everyday women of color. She has written for Christianity Today, Sojourners, Relevant, Christians for Biblical Equality, Fuller Youth Institute, and Missio Alliance. She also speaks regularly on ra...

The last couple of years have been marked with such division and polarization. Almost everyone I know has had relational tension because of politics, current events, and differing worldviews. Today, on the podcast, my wise, thoughtful friend, Rev. Christine Youn Hung is here to talk with us about the THIS AND THAT of necessary healthy tension and peacemaking. As we dive into Isaiah 11:1-10, she an...

Christmas is often thought of as the season of joy. There are twinkly lights, joyous carols, and delightful sweets around every corner... but for many, this season brings about different emotions: frustration, loneliness, or sadness. If you aren't feeling so "sparkly" and joyful this season, you aren't alone. Jesus has come to meet you right where you are... in the middle of this AND that. Today,...

On the podcast this Advent season, we are going to be diving into the weekly Old Testament lectionary passages from the book of Isaiah. As I've been reading and researching for this series, I've noticed that there are contrasting images and themes throughout the passages: Dark and light Joy and sadness Conflict and peace Brokenness and restoration Wastelands and wildflowers Most of the seasons of...

It is our last installment of the Enneagram series, and my friend, Matt Chitwood is there to chat with us about:  💡 What it is like to be an Enneagram 9, 💡 How his time living in rural China taught him that loneliness is not to be feared, and 💡 How God has helped him see that healthy conflict can actually foster closer connections. Matt is a writer and speaker focused on U.S.-China relations, e...

This week, we are diving into a conversation on the Enneagram 7, with my friend, Liberty Fleming!   Liberty will be chatting with us about: 💡 What it is like to be an Enneagram 7, 💡 How questioning the status quo has paved a way for a life of adventure, and  💡 How learning from people from different cultures all over the world has deepened her understanding of God.    Liberty Fleming is the fou...

This week, we are diving into a conversation on the Enneagram 6, with my friend, Zach McCauley! Zach shares with us about: 💡 What it is like to be an Enneagram 6, 💡 How “God with us,” compels us to be with others, and 💡 What wake surfing has taught him about living in the present (rather than withdrawing in fear). Zach McCauley is an industrial engineer, avid reader, and urban farmer from the P...