Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to create your own family culture — what that means, why it’s so important, and then how to practically do it!To be honest, this is something I’ve thought about a lot since becoming a mom, but it’s also something I thought about even before having kids! If you’re anything like me, you’ve had this idea that your family needs to do things a certain way — this could be in any category: The way you eat, spend money, spend time, what you value, what you prioritize, how you do holidays, and more. These ideas might come from the way you were raised — the way your parents did things — or from how your friends are doing things or from social media. But over the years I’ve been learning something that’s been incredibly freeing for me: Your family culture should be a reflection of YOU. There’s not one right way to do this. You get to decide what this looks like. And that’s what we’re talking about today!Our guest for this episode is our new friend, Jodi Mockabee. Jodi is a photographer, writer, blogger, speaker, social media influencer, and mother of five. She has a new book called, The Whole and Healthy Family and I can’t wait to talk more about it!Here are just a few of the questions I’ll be asking Jodi in the episode:Where do we begin with creating a healthy family culture and what does that look like?How do we sort through the things we experienced as a child and determine what we want to be a part of our family life and what we want to do differently?Is it okay if the way we do things is different from what others in our inner circles are doing?How do we form a family culture that aligns with our values?And so much more!One of my favorite parts of the episode is when Jodi shares a story about a choice her family made when attending church and how that one decision positively impacted their whole congregation! It’s super cool. I can’t wait for you to hear from her!

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!So friends, since the holiday season is officially here, I wanted to revisit one of my all time favorite Girls Night episodes. It’s a conversation I had a few years back with Carl’s mom, and my amazing mother-in-law, the one and only Kathy Wilson. As we speak, I’m just now getting back from a beautiful family Thanksgiving celebration that Kathy put together for 22 people and so I knew I needed to reshare this conversation because truly she is the hostess with the mostess!Now, here’s what you need to know about Kathy before we dive in: She basically invented pinterest. That’s not true, but it feels like it. She has incredible style, impeccable taste, and almost everything I know about style, design, home decor, hosting, and more, I learned from her. In today’s episode, she’s going to be sharing with us…   How to make our house feel like home (with a nurturing, inviting ambiance)  How to decorate our homes without breaking our budgets How to make our homes feel warm and inviting for guests Actually doable tricks to being a great hostess How to make friends today that we’ll still be friends with in 30 years.  I’m so excited for you to get to hear from her.

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!Today, we’re welcoming back my dear friend Ainsley Britain to Girls Night. Ainsley is an Author, Podcast Host, and Enneagram Coach, helping young adults embrace their confidence, date healthy and discover their identity in Christ. She has a new book called, Don't Date a BooBoo Dude: Raise Your Standards, Realize Your Worth, and Remove Shame from the Dating Game. And that’s what we’re talking about today – how we deserve to be treated in a relationship. Here are just a few of the things we’re talking about in this episode: What you deserve (and don’t deserve!) in a relationshipWhat an unhealthy relationship looks like and how to know if you’re in one What to do if you’re in a relationship that’s less than you deserve (how to ask for the things you want, and how to know if you should give this person another shot or if it’s time to end it).And moreFriends, if you’ve ever settled for less than you want in a relationship because you’re worried you won’t be able to get more (been there!) this episode is especially for you!

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about super busy seasons of life, and how we can bring some order to the chaos!Our guest for this episode is Emily Ley. Emily has been on the show once before, but she’s someone I’m endlessly inspired by, so I’m so thrilled to have her back!Emily is the founder of Simplified, a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Her newest book, Sure as the Sunrise is 100 daily meditations on God’s mercy and delight to greet each morning with hope and joy. Along with being an author and entrepreneur, she’s also a wife, a mama of three kids, a friend, a woman of faith and so much more. She truly does it all and in this episode I pick her brain on how she makes it all happen! (And the quick answer to that question is, “She doesn’t do it alone!)Here are just a few of the things she’s going to share about in the episode:How to structure our days to make everything run more smoothly What tools and resources have been most helpful for keeping her schedule organized  How to figure out what to say no toHow to prioritize what’s most important in your life, your family's life, and in your business’s lifeAnd how to stay consistent in your faith when life feels really busyIf you’re feeling stressed out with a busy schedule, or just want to make your everyday life a little easier and more efficient, Emily’s tried-and-true systems are going to be a game-changer for you! 

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about friendship. I learned SO MUCH from our guest, and I can’t wait for you to hear from her. Our guest for today’s episode is Dr. Marisa G. Franco.Marisa has a book called Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends. Marisa is a brilliant psychologist, international speaker, and New York Times bestselling author. She is known for digesting and communicating the science of human connection in ways that resonate deeply enough with people to change their lives.Here are just a few of the things she’s going to teach us in the episode:Why friendship is essential no matter what stage of life you’re inHow to not only make new friendships but also keep our friendshipsWhat an attachment style is and how we can figure out what ours isHow to make new friends as an adult and improve the quality of our friendshipsAnd so much more!If you’ve been desiring deeper connections in your friendships, you’re in the right place. Marisa seriously has an abundance of knowledge to share with us on this topic – I can’t wait for you to hear from her! 

Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Toni Collier. Toni is a Hope Coach, author of Brave Enough to Be Broken and the founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, an international women’s ministry that helps women process their brokenness and reclaim hope. After a lifetime of childhood trauma, navigating a toxic marriage and divorce, an unhealthy church, becoming a single parent and feeling betrayed, Toni has learned how to find hope and healing in the midst of her pain. And that’s what she’s sharing with us today! Here are just a few of the things she’s going to teach us in this episode: How to rebuild your life after experiencing brokenness and painHow to release ourselves from the pressure of perfectionismHow God can restore our hope and use our past experiences for goodWhy therapy has played a vital role in her healing journey And how the practice of gratitude can change your lifeFriend, if you’re in a hard season right now, or you’re looking back at your past and wondering how any good can come from it, this episode is for you.I’m praying you walk away feeling so encouraged. Your story is NOT over!

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!Today’s episode is a hard one, but a really, really important one. Today we’re talking about what to do if you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts. We’re also talking about how to heal and move forward after a tragedy. You guys know I’m all about mental health — I want to talk about it as often as possible. But you may not know that I’ve lost several friends to suicide throughout my life. And the thing is — I know I’m not the only one. That’s why I wanted to talk about it here on the show.Our guest for today is Kayla Stoecklein. Kayla is an author, speaker and mother of 3 little boys. Kayla became an unexpected widow in August 2018 when her husband, Andrew, the pastor of their large church in California, died by suicide. With three young boys also grieving and a heart full of pain, it became her mission to bring hope and help to others who have faced unexpected hardships.She recently wrote a book called, Rebuilding Beautiful: Welcome What Is, Dare to Dream Again, and Step Bravely into What Could Be  – I can’t wait for you to hear more about it! Here are a few of the things she’ll be talking to us about in the episode First, she shares about the stigmas surrounding mental health and why it’s so important for us to check in on our loved ones Next, she talks through what to do if we know someone who is struggling with their mental health or suicidal thoughts and how to seek helpAnd finally, she shares how to start healing and rebuilding your life after you’ve gone through a hardship or a tragedy. This episode is incredible. The things Kayla shared with me were just amazing. I am so deeply grateful for the work she’s doing.The second we hung up the phone, I immediately texted several friends about it. This is a conversation I know I’ll be sharing and re-sharing for years to come. I’m praying this conversation is as helpful for you as I know it’s been for me.If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to seek help. Here are resources for you: 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (available 24 hours), you can also call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Here is their website: https://988lifeline.org/

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to learn what your feelings are trying to teach you. I love this episode because if you’re anything like me, you experience a lot of feelings in any given moment, and you’re not always sure what to do with them. For a lot of us, we feel totally overwhelmed by our feelings — our feelings run the show, telling us what’s true about ourselves and the world around us. But then others of us tend to stuff our feelings — and as a result we miss out on so much intimacy — with God, with our people, and even with ourselves.But there’s a third option — a beautiful and better way, and that’s what this episode is all about.To talk us through this I invited my sweet friends, Mac & Kenz back on the show. They’re the founders of Delight Ministries, and an amazing hub of resources called, “For the Girl” and they recently came out with a brand new Bible Study called “In My Feels.”I loved this conversation and I cannot wait to share it with you. 

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s conversation. Today we’re re-sharing a conversation I had a few years ago with my dear friend, Caroline Schandel.If this is your first time meeting her, Caroline is a brilliant writer, speaker, and Bible teacher. She’s a woman I’ve looked up to for years — she’s taught me so much about who God is and about who I am because of who God is, and I am so so so happy we get to revisit this conversation! In the episode we’re talking about waiting. How to trust God in the midst of long waiting seasons, how to tune into what He’s up to along the way, how God uses these seasons to transform us, and so much more.Friends, if you’re waiting on something today — a job, a spouse, an answer, a home, a move, a positive pregnancy test, or anything else — this episode is for you. God has us. He’s taking care of us, and I’m praying that you walk away from this episode believing that more than ever. 

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!As I mentioned in last week’s episode, we’re kicking off this season by sharing a few of our favorite past episodes having to do with singleness, dating, and relationships. Today we’re sharing the conversation I had with my sweet friend, Jena Dunay, in episode number 75. At that time, she was Jena Viviano, but, a little spoiler alert, she ended up marrying the amazing guy she talks about in this episode, which is so fun! Y’all Jena is incredible. She is the Chief Learning Officer for a wealth management firm and is just a total boss. She's also an alumni of my online course, Love Your Single Life!A little while back, Jena and I were at lunch and we were talking about some of the things she learned along the way in her journey of singleness and dating, and I loved her heart and her perspective so much, I just knew we had to record another episode together. I’m not kidding when I say this is one of my favorite Girls Night episodes EVER!One of my favorite takeaways from the episode is a story Jena shares about a time when she completely broke down at a thanksgiving breakfast from feeling defeated in her single life, an experience I think so many of us can relate to. But what really amazed me are the words her friend said to her a few days later that she’ll never forget and that I believe so many of us need to hear, too. Friend, if you can relate to feeling tired and discouraged and disappointed by your love life so far… this conversation is for you.