Girls Night with Stephanie May Wilson

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we have my real life friend, Jordan Lee Dooley back on the show to teach us how it’s possible to really like our lives (even when we’re not exactly where we want to be).Jordan has a new book called, Embrace Your Almost: Find Clarity and Contentment in the In-Betweens, Not-Quites, and Unknowns. I love this because so many of us have found ourselves here. So many of us are experiencing heartbreak, disappointment, lost dreams, and never-ending delays. We’re in seasons of waiting — waiting for a relationship, a promotion, a baby, or a big move. We’re in a place where our life just isn’t working out the way we thought it would, the way we really, really want it to. And that’s HARD. It’s even harder to know what to do when we’re in this place. Do we try harder? Do we keep pushing? Do we give up and walk away? How do we know? And as we’re waiting, what do we do in the meantime? Jordan’s going to walk us through all of this and more. I can’t wait for you to hear from her.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites. Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Allie Casazza. Allie is an amazing wife, mom, podcaster and business owner, helping women rid their lives of physical, calendar and mental clutter to make space for the things that are most important in life. And that’s what this episode is all about!Today Allie is going to walk us through a process that will help us declutter our homes and destress our lives. Don’t you love that? I think we ALL need this in our lives. I learned so much from Allie in this conversation, and just one of the things she taught me was that when we declutter our homes, it reduces our housework by 40%. 40% isn’t that insane?!The second we finished our conversation I dove immediately into a closet to start the decluttering process, and I have a feeling you’re going to do the exact same thing. Keep me updated, okay? If you find yourself buried in a closet while you’re listening to this episode, I want to see it. Send me photos! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today you’ll be hearing part two of my conversation with my amazing therapist, Christen Reed, from Ready Nest Counseling in Nashville! If you haven’t listened to the part one episode, make sure you go back and listen to that one first.In this two-part episode, we’re talking about becoming a mom — why it’s such a big transition, what you can do to prepare for it, and some really practical pieces of advice and wisdom to help you through it. (Especially in those first few months).Like I said, if you didn’t listen to part one, go back and listen to that part first. But today in part two, we’re focusing on:How to ask for help as a new mom — and why needing help is NOT a sign of failure or weakness or a sign that we’re somehow a bad momWhy it’s so important for us to take care of ourselves, how to actually do that, and how to drop the guilt so many of us feel when we doHow to filter through all of the advice that’s out there for first time moms, so we can figure out what’s best for us, our family, and our new babyAnd moreAnd then at the end of the episode, since Christen is my therapist, we talk about therapy — why it’s so important, how it can help, and how to find the right therapist for you (even if you’ve struggled to find someone who is a good fit in the past!).I said this last week, but this is a pretty vulnerable topic for me. Becoming a mom is by far the hardest transition I’ve ever been through. But I wanted to share the whole story of how this went for me, because if you’re struggling in the same ways I was, it’s so important to me that you know you’re not alone.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.Our guest for today’s episode is Christen Reed. Christen works as a licensed marriage and family therapist at Ready Nest Counseling here in Nashville. And not only is she an amazing therapist, she’s MY therapist. Christen has been there with me every step of the way as I’ve gone through the most gigantic transition of my entire life — becoming a mom. And that’s what we’re talking about today. We’re talking about becoming a mom — why it’s such a big transition, what you can do to prepare for it, and some really practical pieces of advice and wisdom to help you through it. (Especially in those first few months).Now, I have a few disclaimers to share with you before we dive in: First: It is a tad unconventional for you to be meeting my therapist. (She and I had tons of talks and signed lots of papers having to do with boundaries and confidentiality and making sure that we keep our therapist/client relationship as safe and sacred as it’s always been!)So I just wanted to let y’all know that.Second: I wanted to let you know that this is a pretty messy, vulnerable topic for me. In this episode, you’ll hear why I had such a hard time in the first few months of being a mom — why I say that it’s the hardest transition I’ve ever gone through. And the reason I want to be so honest about this is not to be discouraging (that’s the LAST thing I would want to be), but it’s because I don’t ever want you to have to go through any of this alone.I was actually talking to my sister about this a few weeks ago.Maybe your first few months of mom life won’t be that hard, and if that’s the case, AMAZING! I’m so so happy for you.But if this is really hard for you — I want you to know that you’re not alone in that. You’re not weak, you’re not a bad mom. This is hard. And you’re not alone in feeling that way. One last thing I wanted to say: Christen and I had so much to talk about in this episode that we actually had to split it into two parts. But trust me, it’s so worth it. So today you’ll be hearing part one of our conversation, and next week we’ll air part two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites. Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Kristen Newton, who goes by KB. KB was a former DJ for the Indiana Pacers (so cool, right?), but she recently started a new venture to help millennial women find, cultivate, and keep amazing friendships. Now, you guys hear me say it at the beginning of every episode because I think it is 1000% true — life is so much better when we walk though it together as girlfriends! But maintaining healthy friendships isn’t always easy. And that’s why I wanted to have KB on the show. She’s here to talk about how we can deepen friendships (and heal some of our unhealthy ones) by having honest, authentic heart conversations. She’s going to give us some super practical tips and steps to help us find and form friendships that go way beyond the surface. True friendships, deep friendships. I just love that.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.In today’s episode, I’m chatting with my sweet friend, Robin Long, who actually joined us all the way back in the second episode of Girls Night. Robin is a pilates instructor and the creator of an online community called Lindywell (previously called The Balanced Life) where she provides quick and efficient online workouts for busy women. Robin is passionate about empowering women to feel good in their own skin, and that’s exactly what she does! Today, we’re talking about how to be consistent in your health journey. I think a lot of us have big ambitions when it comes to our health and fitness goals, especially at the beginning of the new year, but then lose momentum a few months or even a few weeks in! Robin’s going to share practical, and actually doable, tips that have helped her stay committed to her health for years now, and she’s going to teach us how we can do the same. If you’re feeling a bit lost or frustrated in your health journey, whether it’s with food or fitness or both, please know you’re not alone! I’ve actually been feeling the exact same way lately. And that’s why I was so excited to talk to Robin. I left this conversation feeling so refreshed, motivated, and like I can ACTUALLY do this, and I know you’ll feel the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.Today’s guest is my friend, Carrie Grace. Carrie is a motivational speaker who travels all around the country speaking to businesses and teams, and one of the things she teaches them how to do is to take more risks!I met up with Carrie awhile back, and, y’all, she’s amazing. She has this quality about her where she seriously is not scared of rejection. She’s the kind of person who knows that if you don’t ask the question, the answer is always no. She loves taking risks and the things that have happened in her life because of those risks are amazing.My heart was pounding the whole time she and I were at lunch, and as we talked, I found myself dreaming in a whole new way, wondering what crazy leaps I could take, and actually not being afraid of the rejection I might face in the process.And that’s why I just knew we had to have her over for a Girls Night.Friend, if you’re feeling stuck or lonely or like your dreams are just too far off, this episode is for you! My hope is that the stories Carrie shares from her own life will inspire you to be bold, take risks, and see what amazing things come of it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!At the moment we’re in between seasons here on the show. But while we’re waiting for our next official season to begin, we thought this would be a great time to pull some of our favorite episodes out of the Girls Night archive. This is the perfect time to catch up on episodes you might have missed, or listen again to old favorites.Today we’re talking about negative thought patterns and how God’s word can help us break free from fear and take back our joy.Our guest for today’s episode is Margaret Feinberg. She’s a writer, speaker, and podcaster and has a brand new book called, More Power to You: Declarations to Break Free from Fear and Take Back Your Life. You guys, I’m SO EXCITED about this episode, because the practice that Margaret talks about in this book, the one she’s going to teach you today, has absolutely transformed my faith and my life over the last 10 years or so.It was so cool talking to her about it, because I’ve never known how to describe or explain or teach this concept, but (as you’ll hear!) it’s been a mainstay of my faith practice for years, and I can’t even tell you how much of a difference it’s made in my life.Seriously — this is the practice that helped me go from truly being my own worst critic, to actually feeling beautiful, and loved, and good enough in my own skin. (I’ll explain more in the episode!)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about why confidence in ourselves is the key to great friendships!Our guest for today’s episode is my friend, Amy Weatherly. Amy is a wife, mom, an author, and co-creator of Sister I am With You. She is passionate about helping women embrace courage, confidence, and purpose for their life.I recently read the book she co-authored with her friend, Jess Johnston, who we’ve also had on the podcast, and it’s called, I’ll be There But I’ll be Wearing Sweatpants. I absolutely loved the book, but there was one chapter in particular that Amy wrote and it totally blew my mind, so I had to have her back on the show to talk with us about it!Here are a few of the questions I’ll be asking Amy in the episode! How do our personal insecurities affect our friendships? Why does how we feel about ourselves matter for friendship? How do we build confidence in ourselves and truly love ourselves? Once we find confidence in ourselves, how do we bring that confidence into our friendships?And so much more! Amy has amazing wisdom when it comes to friendships, and she is just so much fun! You’re going to love her! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve had conversations on the podcast before about wrestling with doubts or what to do when your faith is not feeling like it used to. But this time we’re taking it a step further.Today’s episode is for the woman who feels totally lost in her faith. It’s for the woman who feels angry with the Church or with God and honestly isn’t sure what to do or if there’s a place for her anymore. It’s also for the woman who needs to be reminded that she’s not alone in feeling this way.Our guest for today’s episode is my dear friend, Caroline Schandel. Caroline is an Associate Pastor at an incredible church in Atlanta. And, she’s one of my favorite mentors and friends in my life. She’s so kind and wise and wonderful and I’m so grateful for the voice she’s been in my life over the years.Here are just a few of the questions I’ll be asking Caroline during the episode: Is there still a place for us in the Church if we’re messy and unsure about basically everything?If we’re feeling distant from God is that our fault? Like, is it because we haven’t been trying hard enough?Do we need to agree with our pastors about everything in order to go to a particular church? And what do we do if there are things happening within our churches or church leadership that we don’t agree with? If we’re feeling totally lost in our faith and angry at God or angry at the church, what do we do? Is it okay for us to feel these things?How do we heal from church hurt and how do we talk to God about those things?And so much more!Friends, these are really tricky questions that we don’t have all of the answers to, but Caroline truly handles them like a champ and has some amazing wisdom to share with us. I hope you leave this conversation knowing that you’re not alone and feeling a little more peace and comfort where you are today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices