Living Wholehearted Podcast With Jeff and Terra

Do you ever wonder how you can be an agent of hope in a world of so much hard news? Maybe you are looking for your own signs of hope these days? This episode will not only inspire, but reminds all of us that hope comes in all shapes and sizes.   Amy Wolff is not only one of our neighbors and friends, she is a TEDx speaker coach and founder of the Don’t Give Up Signs Movement. Married and raising t...

There are just some topics we talk about today that seem like a no brainer and a taboo topic all at the same time. One of those topics is divorce and with so many directions we could go, we are particularly discussing how one heals after the ending of a long-term marriage and emotional turmoil that follows and how the church can do a better job of supporting those going through divorce.   Our gues...

Leading with integrity is rooted in a lifestyle and starts from the inside out. We love when we get to share stories of leaders who are living wholehearted and trying to match their inner world to their outer expressions. Artists, particularly musicians, have a unique battle. Olivia Pothoff has been singing since she was three years old and longed to be a musician who sang for Jesus. However, she...

When we planned InCourage 2020 (now called @courageousgathering ) for March 13 & 14, little did we know what would lie ahead in 2020. On the eve of our rehearsal, the Oregon govenor said that groups could no longer gather in the state of Oregon due to the beginnings of what we would come to call - a global pandemic. Though women were flying in from around the country, we had everything in plac...

The very word QUIET TIME can seem archaic in our day in age. However, as we unpack the link between psychology and theology and leadership at Living Wholehearted, a common thread in becoming wholehearted is knowing the One who made us and walks with us in our day to day lives. Whether you call it “renewing our minds” and “reframing” or “schemas” - reading the Bible is a central part of taking our...

We know we just had Jonathan Pitts on the podcast this last January. (Listen to episode #60). But we just wanted more! He just released his book, “My Wynter Season” and there was more to learn.   As you may remember, if you have been hanging with us for awhile, Jonathan is an author, speaker, and the executive pastor at Church of the City in Franklin, Tennessee. He previously served as the executi...

We are Jeff and Terra Mattson, a husband and wife team who is helping leaders live with integrity. We started @living_wholehearted ten years ago to bring professional counseling and consulting to leaders who felt alone in the work they do both at home and in their work spaces. Now, we have a team of professionals, books, @mycourageousgirls , and this podcast. Though we share a passion for people,...

As the founders of Living Wholehearted, Courageous Girls, and the Living Wholehearted Podcast, we wanted you to know a little more about our journey together. In fact, Valentine’s Day was our first date. Don’t be fooled... Jeff didn’t know it was Valentine’s Day!  We are not just business and ministry partners, we are husband and wife. And WE STILL LIKE EACH OTHER after all these years. That’s a m...

We had an incredible time listening to Dr. Ron Archer. It’s Super Bowl week and though you might not be interested in football, you will be blown away by our conversation. We usually stick with 30 minute interviews, but we couldn’t stop listening and craved more. So you bet we will have Dr. Archer back on the podcast!   Dr. Ron Archer is a world-renowned inspirational speaker, business executive,...

We are diving into an important topic today addressing abuse and how the church can grow in health and wholeness in our response to survivors. We talk about why victims do not speak up, helpful messages from the pulpit and not so helpful messages. We address how a person can find healing from their abuse and the compassion needed for the long journey. Listen to the first half of this vital convers...

Our guests are helping us dive into an important topic of how do we help sex abuse survivors, as well as prevent more abuse in the church. This is never an easy topic, but a vital one we are passionate about and think it’s a key to shrinking all our integrity gaps. Today we have Joel and Kimberly Harris who are transplants from Portland, Oregon to South Dakota, where Joel is a pastor and worship l...

In Part 1 of this discussion on abuse and trauma, we share a story with you that is far too common. You might not be someone who has faced addiction or has a story of abuse. However, we can guarantee that you know someone who has and they often do not look like they are trauma survivors. 1 and 3 girls are sexually abused and addiction follows most abuse survivors as they try to cope with the pain....

What a powerful conversation with Jonathan Pitts. Jonathan shares the journey of loosing his wife unexpectedly and the process of coming alongside his four girls as they all make room for a new way of living. As a leader parenting daughters and co-founder of a ministry for tween girls, we felt like we were talking to a kindred friend. Jonathan is an author, speaker, and the executive pastor at Chu...

If you are like most parents, you were already battling the age of screen time way before a world pandemic. 2020 just sunk us into a deeper dependency on our devices as schools moved online, work meetings moved to zoom, and we were told to “socially distance.” In this episode, author David Murrow brings us hope in the midst of a confusing time. Know you won’t be shamed or guilted. You will be enco...

Welcome to part 2 of trusting God through the hard. If you didn’t hear the beginning of Ted and Ally Hotchkiss’s story, take time to hear their love story (we all love a good love story). Stories of hope in the midst of darkness are reminders of how resilient we can be, regardless of our circumstances. Though we all want a comfortable, easy life (or so we think), the purpose of our lives is far gr...

Trusting God through the hard is…well…hard. We are bringing you stories of hope through the darkness because we know that 2020 has taken its toll and winter can be a hard time for many. Though it’s the most wonderful time of the year and many wait all year long for the Christmas season, it can also bring difficult emotions and reminders of what life is not. For some, the hard doesn’t go away just...

Jeff and Terra have been richly blessed by many leaders and mentors in their life over the years. Today, they unpack a simple yet profound message of grace with one of the leading experts on the subject, Bill Thralls. Though we often throw this word around, we rarely apply it to our lives and our realities. Grace is one of the greatest reasons we can hope in the midst of darkness. It’s the reason...

The Christmas season is considered “the most wonderful time of the year.” And yet, it can also bring up enormous grief and reminders of loss as a song comes on the radio, the smells in the air remind us of what was. Living Wholehearted means we bring all of who we are to our lives, including the pain of our stories. We have the privilege of listening to Stan and Lori Thomas, as they share about ho...

Monte and Stephanie found themselves at the edge of burnout. In part 2, we dive deeper into their recovery process and how Monte ended up being a counselor after decades of leading in business and full-time ministry. If you have not listened to Episode 53, stop and listen first. The Schmidts have been married 31 years and have five children, including two adopted girls with disabilities. Steph has...

Monte and Stephanie found themselves at the edge of burnout. Monte was hiding for years as he served in various leadership roles, including ministry. Stephanie was unaware of Monte’s inner world until he hit a wall. Monte was adopted at birth and a depression survivor. This episode unpacks their journey together - through his healing journey. They have been married 31 years and have five children....

Susan has been in ministry for 19 years and has a passion for serving and equipping women in ministry. She is the founder and president of God Girl Nation community. Susan is on the sales and author acquisitions team at David C Cook, a non-profit Christian publisher, where she works with churches, ministries, and authors to develop resources that teach and make disciples for Christ. She also trave...

Sometimes we want to talk about hard issues, but we are unsure where to start or how to maintain civility while holding to our convictions. Joi Hailey, Associate Worship Pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church just outside Portland, OR, is an African American female leader who is engaging and helping others to engage in these hard conversations with love, compassion, and hope. She shares her own...

Robin Jones Gunn is not only an award winning author of over 100 books, she is one of our daughter’s FAVORITE AUTHORS. Her well known Christy Millers series is a regular conversation in our home as we unpack the lives of Todd and Christy in ordinary moments. I just loved my (Terra’s) time with Robin, a kindred spirit, who loves women and their girls. Listen as Robin shares her spiritual journey, h...

Sometimes we wonder about our significance and is God using us? Talking with Cynthia is like chatting with a good friend, who reminds us that all He needs is a willing heart. Cynthia Yanof is a relatable wife, mom, blogger, and the host of the Pardon the Mess podcast. A former lawyer, she is a part of @christianparenting.org helping parents in every stage of like know that their imperfect parentin...

Youth are struggling with big needs right now. With a global pandemic, isolation, racial tensions, and more, teenagers are having even bigger emotions like anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. Youth leaders are often on the frontlines, joining the team to help our teens process life. We decided to talk with two of the best professional youth pastors we know, who have been in ministry for a...