Our Time to Rise in Midlife

Shannan Martin says she found her voice in the country and her story in the city. A mom of four, married to a jail chaplain, Shannan spends her days among her neighbors, finding God's purposes right where she is. An inspiration to all of us to look right around us and see who needs care, this interview is a don't miss for the sisterhood. We talk with Shannan about the adoption of her children, esp...

Do you find yourself putting aside your dreams for another time or season in life? Do you wonder what would happen if you actually pursued your passion instead of letting it fall to the wayside? You aren't alone. Today on the podcast we are talking to Rachel Marie Martin, single mother of seven, who rose from poverty to the pages of Inc. magazine. She challenges us to discover who we are, how we a...

It's our third annual Things We Love  episode on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. In honor of Valentine's Day, Alex and Krista want to give you some of their favorite things these days. From beauty products to books, to wardrobe staples and podcasts, you'll see what's in their shopping carts and social media feeds. This is a light-hearted episode that falls heavy on the practical end. But what do...

Lisa Leonard's name has become synonymous with her jewelry design company, Lisa Leonard Designs. Started out of the spare hours of her day caring for her son with special needs, Lisa's hand stamped jewelry business combined with her blog has grown to a multi-million dollar company with more than 300 employees in five countries. A woman who has walked through many doors God has opened, she has a st...

Friendship.  It is a word that brings joy to your heart or sadness to your soul.  Or maybe both at the same time. To have a true, safe friend who is on your side and in your corner is what we all long for and desire, but she can be hard to find.   Sally Clarkson, author of Girls Club, joins us for the final topic on The Healthy Way series:   Friendship.  We talk about why friendships can be diffic...

As a medical physician Saundra Dalton-Smith knows about healthy living. So when she hit burnout, she knew something had to change. She began to look at what both science and Scripture say about being whole and discovered seven different types of rest are required for a sustainable life. In this portion of The Healthy Way series, we hear from Dr. Dalton=Smith about these different types of rest, wh...

Is parenting in this day and age difficult? Well, let's start with the statistic that, currently, in the U.S. we have the highest numbers of anxiety in kids than any other time in history.  Anxiety and depression are at a peak point.  According to the CDC, the suicide rate is triple what it was in 2000.  Substance abuse?  Loneliness? All on the rise.  It is safe to say that parenting this generati...

In the second part of The Healthy Way series we bring you New York Times bestselling author Karen Ehman to talk about getting healthy in marriage. Karen speaks from decades of experience as a married person. Her themes center around pushing ahead in the mundane and "showing up" even when annoyances are heavy. A realistic look at the everyday details of married life, we talk through the larger purp...

Food and fitness can be tricky.  We often find ourselves on either end of the extreme spectrum: too strict and obsessed, or undisciplined and out of control.  The relationship we develop with our bodies matter, and it's important we give this aspect of health the time and attention it needs to be well. To kick off our annual Healthy Way Series in 2019, Michelle Myers joins us to discuss how we can...

If you aren't quite ready for Christmas yet, this podcast is for you.  In this episode we offer last minute holiday hacks that will help you get ready for the big day.  Or maybe you just need some fresh inspiration - this will help with that too! Need appetizer or dessert ideas?  They're in here.  In a gift panic?  We offer an idea that won't require frantic running around the mall.  Struggling to...

We know you are looking for meaningful gifts this time of year and so we want to introduce you to some sisters who will not only help you find beautiful, handcrafted items, they will also allow you to be a world changer for good right where you are. This episode features two women who are using retail as a way to employ others and then giving us the chance to partner with them by creating a market...

In our efforts to make this holiday season more meaningful, we want less stuff, more memories. We think there's a good chance you do too! In the second part of our two-part Christmas series, Less Stuff, More Memories , we asked some of our friends to share their stories and tips on making more memories. Our guests share stories about what it means to create meaningful memories and sustainable trad...

No matter how hard we try, most of us struggle to make the Christmas season what we hope it will be.  If you are like us, you may be resolving to make it better than last year.  To do this, we must re-center on what makes Christmas fun and meaningful? That is why we are doing our signature series called Less Stuff, More Memories . In this two-part conversation, we have rounded up some experts to s...

Anne Bogel is a woman who lives the literary life. In fact she hosts the popular podcast What Should I Read Next ? where guests talk through books they've loved and Anne makes recommendations on, you guessed it, what they should read next. Her equally popular website, Modern Mrs. Darcy, echoes her literary tendencies, while giving readers a taste of the practical along with the books. In this epis...

We know Christ came to speak life, but then how come our inner critic keeps showing up and stealing the mic? If we're honest, she's a harsh one, saying things we'd never dream of saying to others: You'll never measure up, you'll fail again tomorrow, you just can't get it right. Our guest Hayley Morgan joins the sisterhood to teach us how to talk back to ourselves in ways that promote truth, grace,...

Candace Cameron Bure has been in the spotlight since she was a girl, but no one could be more down to earth than this mom of three. From her early days on Full House to her spot as a host on The View, fans have been following Candace through every phase of her life. In recent years she has been a voice promoting kindness and civility in all situations. After speaking with her we can see why. Every...

When we hear the phrase "world changer" we often think of someone doing something big and crazy to make a difference in the world.  While those words definitely include those kinds of influencers, "world changer' can also be the everyday person faithfully showing up in small ways for those around her. Welcome to the Sisterhood's 2nd Annual World Changer Quest.  In the fall we go looking for every...

Renee Swope doesn't want to let women's self-doubts have the final word. Rather she wants the world to experience all women have to offer when they hear God's call and step into what he has for them. Popular writer and speaker, Renee shares her own struggles with self-doubt and some practical tools she has to fight them as unwelcome thoughts and feelings creep in to her head and heart. In this con...

Essential oils have been around since the beginning of time, but they have not come center stage until recent years.  The craze has begun.  Popular in creating a spa-like atmosphere, essential oils are used for aromatherapy.  However, they don't just smell good, they also boast medicinal affects that many say help heal the body.   Edie Wadsworth, a physician, was once skeptical about these oils an...

Her name is Myquillyn, but she is known to many online as "The Nester". She helps us create cozy spaces in our homes, often with items we already own, can find outside, or can salvage on the cheap. For those of us challenged in creating spaces that speak, she gives us tips, and for those who are already in a constant state of furniture rearranging, she encourages us to keep feathering the nest. He...

Do you struggle with knowing what is your best yes?  Do you have a vision for where you want your life to go?  Successful businesses know what they value, know where they are headed, and can articulate it clearly.  We can do the same as individuals. On the podcast Mary Tomlinson, former Disney Executive and President of On-Purpose Partners, coaches us on how to create our own two-word purpose stat...

"They loved me back to life." Sarah Thebarge knew what it was to feel alone. So when she met a Somali woman and her five daughters on a commuter train in Portland, OR she found an unexpected kindred sister. The story of their emerging friendship and Sarah's battle with breast cancer draws parallels between different circumstances with a common thread. In our interview with Sarah we hear how this e...

Many of us confuse hospitality and entertaining.  We think that practicing hospitality equals a picture perfect table and gourmet food, and we end up feeling insecure and inadequate when our reality doesn't match the magazine spreads.  But what if true welcome was more about servanthood than performance?  In today's interview, Jen Schmidt joins The Sisterhood to point us to the truth that authenti...

Patrice Gopo's story takes her around the world and back. From Jamaica to the U.S. to South Africa with some Zimbabwe, Spain, and more thrown in, her ciruitous route is not just evidenced in her passport, but in her career path as well. We don't want to give it away, but there is some romance, some friendship, some career changes, and some self discovery. We talk through what it means to accept th...

Books, especially those that are well written and crafted, have power.  If we allow, they can shape our thinking, mold how we see the world, and impact how we interact with others.  When we read about true heroes, we learn how to become one.  When we watch a character weather challenges, we find out what qualities are needed for to overcome.  When we step into another's shoes, we gain compassion w...