The Serene-ish Podcast

What if "just enough" is actually enough? In this episode, we explore the pressure to do more, be more, and carry more, and why so many of us end up exhausted in the process. Together, we talk about the difference between faithfulness and over-functioning, the challenge of letting go of unrealistic expectations, and the freedom that can come from embracing our limits. If you've ever...

In this episode, we continue our conversation about what it means to truly hold space for others. We explore why deep presence can feel so difficult, the subtle ways we try to fix or rush people through pain, and how compassion often looks more like being with one another rather than problem solving. Together, we reflect on emotional safety, listening without judgment, and the quiet power of simpl...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to “hold space” for someone we love. Whether a friend is grieving, overwhelmed, questioning faith, or simply struggling through life, many of us want to show up well, but aren’t always sure how. We talk about the difference between listening and truly being present, why the urge to fix can get in the way, and how to stay grounded in difficult conver...

In this episode, we talk about moving through times of melancholy, apathy, and emotional fatigue. Sometimes it feels like grief, sometimes exhaustion, and sometimes just a squirrel stretched out on a fence saying, “I’m done.” We explore how to tell the difference between apathy, peace, and surrender, and what it looks like to respond with honesty instead of shame. This is a serene-ish conversation...

In this episode, we explore what it means to experience faith and spiritual formation outside traditional church spaces. We share personal stories of encountering God in unexpected places, and why more and more people are finding themselves on the “margins” of institutional faith. We talk about what leads people there, what can be found in those in-between spaces, and how the margins can become fe...

In this episode, we share a powerful story of land, legacy, and restoration through Inoanāiwi, a nonprofit working to return Hawaiian land to Native Hawaiian families.  We reflect on the cultural and spiritual significance of land in Hawaiʻi, the impact of loss through colonization, and the hope found in restoration. We share personal stories, moments from a recent land celebration, and what this...

Join us as we explore what it means to listen to your body as a source of spiritual and emotional guidance. From those subtle nudges to full-on “we’re not doing this today” moments, we reflect on how our bodies often speak wisdom we’ve been taught to ignore. We share personal stories, wrestle with what it means to trust our bodies, and talk about simple ways to stay connected to both our physical...

In this episode, we step into a conversation about a recent moment in public discourse: a post by Donald Trump referencing Barack Obama and Michelle Obama that many named as racially charged and deeply harmful. We explore why things like this don’t land in isolation, and why they carry particular weight for many of us. Together, we share about what gets stirred up—anger, grief, exhaustion—and why...

In this episode, we’re getting real about what peace actually looks like in the midst of everyday stress. Let’s be honest, life doesn’t always look serene. We share stories from real-life moments when our inner calm got tested (yes, including the one involving a screaming goat 🐐), and what helped us come back to center. You’ll hear us talk about weighted blankets, emotion boxes, and why sometimes...

We’re Brenda Renderos and Larissa Marks, and The Serene-ish Podcast is your space for some honest conversation about keeping our humanity in a complicated world. In our very first episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on who we are, how our friendship formed, and why we started a podcast about serenity…with a very intentional -ish . We’ll share what listeners can expect from this space: honest c...