Our Time to Rise in Midlife

We did it—500 episodes! Today, we're celebrating this incredible milestone by taking a look back at the conversations that have shaped us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From unforgettable guests who made us laugh, to powerful lessons that changed the way we think and lead—this episode is a tribute to the moments that mattered most. We're sharing the episodes we return to again and again… and t...

We are returning to our conversation with Kristen Douglass and Tammy Strait around re-entering the workforce after a mothering break. Whether you stepped out fulltime, took a part-time role for a number of years, or simply are looking for a pivot in your career as you enter midlife, this conversation will let you know you are not alone. We are reminded that our mothering can have lots of transferr...

So many women in midlife are stepping into something new—switching careers, transitioning roles, or heading back to work after time spent raising kids. If that sounds like you, you're going to love this episode on re-launching your next chapter with purpose and courage. In part 1 of this 2-part series, we sit down with Kristen Douglass, MD, and Tammy Strait, JD—two incredible women who share their...

Feeling a bit like the world has gone mad? Are you feeling like an outsider? Wondering where or how your understanding of God fits in today's cultural moment? Not sure how to respond in conversations when a certain topic comes up? This episode is for you! No matter the issue of the moment, God invites us to be with people who think and live differently. The question is how do we do it in a way tha...

When we think of addiction, our minds often go to the "big three"—alcohol, drugs, and pornography. But addiction takes many forms. Workaholism, shopping, sugar, people-pleasing, and even exercise can become compulsive and harmful. The hard truth? We live in the most addicted culture in history. In this conversation, Ian Morgan Cron joins us to explore how the 12 steps offer wisdom beyond tradition...

Eric Scofield has an incredible story about his dad building a plane. You need to listen to our conversation to believe it. And from that he learned many of his bigger life lessons around how God made us and for purposes beyond our own imagination. If you are feeling discouraged today, listen to this episode. If you are wondering if God still has good things for you, push play. If you think your b...

Have you ever learned something, thought you had it down, and then—boom—you realize you need to learn it all over again in this season of life? Yeah, us too. This week, we're diving into the lessons we're re-learning in midlife and what scripture has to say about them. We talk about how fear sneaks into our decision-making now more than ever, the shift in how our kids watch and learn from us as th...

We talk a lot about our spiritual life, but how do we move from words to experience? From the head to the heart? To a place of knowledge to deep bone belief? Author and spiritual guide John Eldredge gives us questions to ask and practices to put in place that will help us encounter God's presence in the here and now. An incredible conversation, you WILL NOT want to miss what John says to those of...

Today is part 2 of discussing how we can grow and shape our relationships with our adult siblings. Siblings are special because they know us over the entire span of our lives. They also walked in similar shoes as children, having grown up in the same family, and that produces an understanding and knowing that is special. As we get older, life gets busy and we sometimes neglect these anchor relatio...

Adult siblings often know us in ways others simply can't. The shared history, the developmental years, the shaping of each other in our most formative stages, create dynamics that we aren't able to duplicate. Depending on your relationship with your siblings, you might feel they are your most trusted life companions. We are doing a two-part series with Krista and her brother Mitch and sister Kendr...

"Marriage can be heaven, and marriage can be hell." -Dan Allender Anyone who is married knows that marriage can reach the extremes of human experience, and sometimes even in the same day. It's the lab in which we grow personally, and where we grow together. It's also the place where everything can fall apart. Today Dan Allender of The Allender Center joins us to explore the transformative power of...

Every year right around Valentine's Day we share some things we are loving that make our lives a little easier or more fun. This is a break from the thoughtful conversations we've been having, it settles in on some pretty practical tips. From books and podcasts to snacks and beauty products, Alex and Krista want to make sure you know what they are loving right now. How about you? What makes your l...

Teenagers: it's the best of times and the worst of times. We love them with our whole hearts, and they're also hard. Some are thriving, some aren't. We are quick to point fingers back at ourselves when things go wrong, and we breathe a sigh of relief when it's going right. In this conversation, Alex and Krista discuss parenting teenagers with Melissa Kruger, vice president of discipleship at The G...

Have you ever stuffed a feeling? Yeah, it happens for lots of reasons. We are afraid, don't like discomfort, or have been taught that certain feelings are bad. But no amount of pushing down makes the emotion go away. We need to deal with them at some point. Therapist and author Aundi Kobler joins the podcast with why we may be avoiding certain emotions and practical approaches to face them in mana...

What is the one place in your home you avoid? Has it built up clutter? Become the catch all for the things you don't know what to do with? Or is it full of items that have sentimental value that you can't throw out and yet feel stuck? This month we are talking about things we avoid and how we can face them. This week we are covering things we avoid in our home. Items we don't know what to do with...

We've all heard of nightmare stories about inheritance gone wrong. Our mission today is to help you do it right. Inheritance, wealth transfer, wills, estate planning... whatever you call it, no matter the amount, it's important to be intentional around how to best pass on property, money, and items after someone passes away. This is kicking off our series this month "Things We've Been Putting Off....

We've all heard of nightmare stories about inheritance gone wrong. Our mission today is to help you do it right. Inheritance, wealth transfer, wills, estate planning... whatever you call it, no matter the amount, it's important to be intentional around how to best pass on property, money, and items after someone passes away. This subject is relevant to us as people in midlife, and it's also releva...

In this final episode in our Advent "Make Room" Series, we are focusing on the greatest virtue of all: LOVE. Jamie Finn, author, advocate, and speaker joins us to discuss her ever evolving definition of love. We explore the sacrificial nature of love, the complexity of love, and what it mean to first receive love from God so we are enabled to truly love others, even when it's hard. The conversatio...

As we consider joy during Advent we ask why don't we experience it more here on earth. Our guest this week, Paul Robie, says Christians should be the most joyful people on the planet. We have the Good News to direct our steps and our spirits. This wrestling with joy is likely why joy is an Advent theme since the beginning of Advent themes. We can collectively consider what it means to hold joy in...

December is starting to move quickly, who could use some peace right about now? We are in an Advent series and today we are making room for PEACE. Joining us is pastor, seminary professor, and coach Jim Singleton. In this insightful and compelling interview, Jim helps us explore the concept of peace in a chaotic world, focusing on the need for both external and internal peace. We dive into the his...

Advent is the season anticipating Christmas. This first week of Advent we kick off a four-week series covering the timeless themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. We start this week with hope. Hope is the anticipation that good can happen. And when we know God is good, we can believe he can make good happen. Hope is also believing Christ will return. This is why we focus in on hope during Advent. W...

Let's get ahead of the holiday season this year rather than feeling stressed all the way through it. We want to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas as much as the people around us! In this episode, we share five practical and helpful tips for navigating the Christmas season with joy and intention. We dive into the importance of embracing the true meaning of Christmas while managing the chaos that oft...

Marriage in midlife is no joke! We have often spent exhausting years caring for kids and have given each other the left over time and attention. We also are being introduced to new stressors and need to figure out how to navigate this together. It's hard. It's also worth the work. We invited Dave and Ann Wilson back to the podcast to talk specifically about cultivating love during this changing an...

We're headed into the cozy season of the year and there is nothing better than soup on the stove when the weather turns chilly. It's also a time when we get out the soft blankets and curl up on the sofa to take a breath, read a book, or sit by the fire. In today's episode we are talking all about SOUP and SABBATH - nourishing our bodies and our souls with author and speaker Kathi Lipp. We talk abo...

Grief is something we don't choose. It arrives and we have to decide how we are going to deal with it. In midlife we can be faced with new types of grief. We want to live with it and move through it with health. The question is how? Our guest, Mattie Jackson understands deep grief. The loss of her husband in an accident less than one year after they were married took her to her deepest pain. She t...