The Strong Women Podcast

We're diving into the first part of A Christmas Carol , starting with an introduction to the greedy, miserable miser Ebenezer Scrooge. My daughter Abigail joins me today to explore who Scrooge is at the beginning of the novel, and how his encounters with the ghost of Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Past begin to change him ... or do they? Tune in and find out!   This episode of the Strong...

Today we flip the script, and my friend Maggie interviews me about Advent. This season is meant to prepare us for Christ's coming—and there are so many meaningful ways to observe it. Whether you're new to Advent or not, tune in for a conversation about the depth and beauty of Advent and the many ways you can observe it through music, art, reading, and tradition. You might just learn some things ab...

Growing up with an emotionally abusive father, Kim Tschirret believed she needed to perform for love and approval. She found solace during her turbulent adolescence in taking care of her horse. After she met Christ, He began to heal her and eventually led her to open an equine therapy ministry to help kids in crisis find healing. Today, she shares how God's steadfast love has taught her to rest in...

From volunteering in her teen years to now serving as Director, Aimee Huber has worked with First Choice Pregnancy Resource Centers in New Jersey for 33 years. When the state unfairly targeted First Choice in 2022, God called Aimee to a deeper level of trust in Him. Through this ongoing challenge, Aimee has learned to find her strength in the God who does unexpected things.   First Choice Women's...

From bookstore shelves to social media groups, there's no shortage of guidance out there for raising babies, toddlers, and teens. But what about those of us parenting adult children ? What does it look like to love them well without over - parenting or disengaging? What if they're estranged from us? Gaye Clark joins us this week to share her well-earned wisdom about walking with Christ as we paren...

God doesn't need you to do big things for Him . He wants you to take the small steps of obedience that are right in front of you. These small steps eventually led Amy Ford to start Embrace Grace, a ministry dedicated to helping churches support women and families facing unplanned pregnancy. Tune in to hear how the Ch urch can make abortion unthinkable by creating a culture of love, encouragement,...

Have you ever grieved so deeply that you can't find the words to pray? In seasons of suffering, praying prayers written by other believers can help us bring our weary hearts to the Lord. Jessika Sanders and Eric Schumacher have written a book of these prayers , I n His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis . They join us this week to talk about the comfort and power of prayer i...

In our sexually confused culture, "The Talk" just doesn't cut it anymore. But neither does silence about sex, especially from the Church. If talking to the next generation about sex makes you feel overwhelmed, unprepared, or just plain awkward, this conversation is for you! Kristen Miele, founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, equips us to disciple the next generation toward healthy, God-honoring sexuality....

Do you wonder if God will forgive that sin or heal that wound? The one that still haunts you? You'll want to listen to today's episode. After a dysfunctional family life, sexual abuse, and two abortions, God saved Sheri Friedman and led her on a long journey of healing. Sheri's story reminds us that God redeems the darkest parts of our stories and frees us to offer His redemption to others.     He...

What anti-life lies do pro-life Christians believe? According to Riley Schneider, many Christians have subtle assumptions about children, parenting, and flourishing that contradict their pro-life convictions. And these lies are hindering the pro-life movement. As a young woman who faced death head-on, Riley is passionate about promoting life by advocating for unborn babies and parents in crisis. T...

When Jullie and Matt Love opened The Well, their goal wasn't just to serve great coffee, but to share the life Jesus promises in John 4:14. Through deep conversations and ongoing relationships, they're making disciples in one of the most diverse and busy cities in the country. Tune in to see how their commitment to loving their literal neighbors over the long haul has transformed their community a...

How can the Church lovingly engage with the transgender movement? This week, Dr. Katie McCoy guides us through the complexities of gender ideology, celebrating the diversity between men and women, and exploring how Christians can effectively care for those affected by transgender ideology. Join us to understand the balance of truth and love in this challenging conversation.   Summit Ministries - h...

"When our churches are ugly, it's a bad witness." That's what this week's guest believes—what do you think? Roberta Ahmanson is Christian, journalist, and art lover. Alongside her husband Harold, she advocates for Christians filling the world and the Church with beauty. Tune in to discover why art matters and why our sacred spaces should reflect the beauty of the Heavenly City.   Peter Bruegel art...

In 2019, Päivi Räsänen was charged with "hate speech" after publicly sharing her biblical convictions about marriage. Through three public trials, Päivi has continued to speak the truth in love. Tune in to hear her story and what she has learned about God through it all.     Show Notes:   Strange New World by Carl Trueman     No habit is neutral. To help you develop Christ-centered habbits, grab a...

Are you waiting for different circumstances to flourish i n y our faith ? You don't have to wait , because God is at work right where you are. Ruth Chou Simons , author of Now and Not Yet , remind s us that we can deepe n our relationship with God even when we ' re not yet where we want to be. Tune in for an encouraging discussion on seasons of waiting, freedom from striving, and resting in God's...

D ependence i nvites us to experience greater joy in the Lord —and Joni Eareckson Tada ' s life testifies to this joy . S he joins us today to share the wisdom she's gained through years of following Jesus. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and tune in to hear what God is teaching Joni about Himself in this season of life.     Show Notes:   Delighting in the Trinity  by Michael Reeves   The Boys in th...

Christianity is exploding across India. For the last 25 years, Rebecca Stanley has participated in God's work there through evangelism, church planting, and advocating for the vulnerable. Rebecca joins us in-studio to share how God is building His Church in India and bringing life and purpose to men and women on the fringes of society. Kairos Global Foundation   Kingdom Unleashed b y Jerry Trousda...

Grief, trauma, and shame thrive in the darkness—but honesty enables us to walk in the light of healing and freedom. Tune in for a story of redemption and healing from Anne Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels. More than a successful businesswoman , Anne is a woman of God who has walked through devastating loss and trauma and discovered the freedom that comes when we share our burdens with tho...

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy.   Crystal Downing   joins us this week to talk about the 20 th -century Christian author, Dorothy   Sayers.   Crystal is   C o- D irector of the   Marion E.   Wade Center at Wheaton College ,   wh ere scholars   re...

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy.   Lorie Smith is   a graphic designer and the   founder and owner of 303 Creative .   She's   also   the center of a landmark Supreme Court case   regarding   freedom of speech —a case she has just won thanks to her...

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guests today are Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, affectionately called "The Lindas . "   I   love how these two ladies in different seasons of life looked at the world around them and asked ,   "What is missing t...

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guests today are Linda Noble and Linda Stewart, affectionately called "The Lindas . "   I   love how these two ladies in different seasons of life looked at the world around them and asked ,   "What is missing t...

We are taking a small break this July to gear up for season five of the Strong Women podcast. But during this break, we decided to re-air some episodes that we thought you would enjoy. Our guest today is Rachelle Starr , founder of Scarlet Hope . At 2 1 , Rachelle felt God calling her to minister to women trapped working in strip clubs in her city of Louisville , KY. Today, she shares some of the...

Many assume prison is the last place to encounter God . B ut He is powerfully at work there through His people, both inside and out, fulfilling the promise to " proclaim liberty to the captives " and " set at liberty those who are oppressed " (Luke 4:18). Heather Rice-Minus, CEO of Prison Fellowship, has witnessed this firsthand in her work for prison reform and restorative justice. She joins Sara...

Thanks to our relationship to technology, people are more disconnected than ever. Screen addiction is stunting real relationships, especially for kids and teens. How can we help young people pursue real, face-to-face relationships in the age of screens? Friend of the podcast Dr. Kathy Koch joins Sarah live at CCNC 2024 to answer that question and inspire us to foster deep connections and genuine f...