Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Do you struggle with how to plan a date? Do you know what to do, where to go or who’s going to pay? Today, we round up this Dating Bootcamp series by giving you practical handles that will help you be more prepared before you go out on a date.  The goal of this series has always been for my single friends to go out on a date. Initiating a hangout with someone you are interested in is a good place to start. Remember these things before you go out:  Set healthy boundaries in advance  The person who asks is the person who pays  Come prepared to have a conversation  Give hints not heaps?  Listen to the other person  Be mindful of the type of food you order  Have no form of physical intimacy  So, if you do the work, put your best foot forward, and take yourself seriously you can find a potential candidate and eventually end up in a real dating relationship. Who knows, you might end up finding your life partner in the process!  My hope is that this dating bootcamp helps you in some way. Tag @biancaolthoff and @meaganherself and let us know how your 30 day dating challenge is going.  Love,  B  RESOURCES/LINKS  Follow Meagan Blanchette’s Dating Journey on Instagram: @meaganherself, her website, or Season of You Podcast  How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow FREE Love Is Resource  TFHOC: How To Set Boundaries / Love Lines WGT email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know where to meet people online? Have you created a dating profile? On a scale of 1 - 5 where does your dating profile score? If your answer is low, we’re here to help!  Has it been difficult for you to run into single people lately? Are you wondering where to go, what to do, or who to ask out? I want you to assess 2 things today: Your community - Where are you hanging out? Who are your friends? What are your hobbies?  Your sparkle - Are you going out of your comfort zone to intentionally let others know that you are single like a pringle and ready to mingle?  Dating is like a taxicab light; if the light is on - you’re signaling that you are ready to date! But before you go out on a quality date, you need to spruce up your profile. That is what Meagan Blanchette and I will be focusing on today. Listen in to learn more on how to create a dazzling dating profile. Tag me?@BiancaOlthoff?and let me know how your profile is shaping up.   Remember, dating is a season that we move through. The intention is to meet the person who you will hopefully spend the rest of your life with.  Love, B  RESOURCES/LINKS  Follow Meagan Blanchette’s Dating Journey -??@meaganherself, Meagan’s Website or Season of You Podcast  FREE Love Is Resource  TFHOC: How To Set Boundaries / Love Lines TFHOC: How To Date || Bianca Olthoff  How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow WGT email:?podcast@inthenameoflove.org  Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email:?bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you gone through some type of trauma in past relationships and are hesitant to put yourself out there again? Are you experiencing frustration with your dating life? What if I told you that I want to challenge you to go on a date this month.  We all know that dating can be risky and uncomfortable but if we're not willing to take a risk there will be no reward. So today, I enlisted the help of Meagan Blanchette, a courageous listener who has volunteered herself as “tribute” to take a 30-day dating challenge. In this first episode of our Dating Bootcamp podcast series, we will be challenging you to:  Give yourself permission to go dating again  Not get tangled in “Situationships”  Get ready to test the waters again  Let’s get ready for the dating journey! But first, I want you to dig deep and answer the following questions honestly:  Am I ready to date?  Why do I want to date now?  What is my list of 50 qualities I look for on a date? 25? 10? What are my 5 non-negotiables? Of the 5 non-negotiables, which ones am I holding loosely?  4. Do I know the risk of love and am I willing to take a risk for the reward?  5. What are my sexual, financial, and spiritual boundaries?  6. What information am I sharing too much of?  7. What are my boundaries regarding time?  This list might seem like a lot but trust me it’s not. You are creating a baseline, a guideline, a roadmap to help you get more comfortable with who you really are and be confident next time you go out on a date.  I’m super passionate about this topic because I did dating wrong. That’s why I want you, your friend, and every single-ready-to-mingle person out there to know that dating can be both pure AND fun when you start out right. I LOVE Love and I want you to succeed in Love! If you answered any or all of the above questions, share them with me @BiancaOlthoff. Join us tomorrow for Day 2 of the bootcamp!  Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS  Follow Meagan Blanchette’s Dating Journey - @meaganherself, Meagan’s website - or Season of You Podcast How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow FREE Love Is Resource  Ben Stuart: Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age TFHOC: The Sex Talk || Pastor Bianca Olthoff TFHOC: Who's In Your Bed // Married Sex // Bianca Olthoff WGT email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email:?bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you embracing the clean girl aesthetic? Is there an outfit that makes you feel your most confident? Do you have a self-care regiment? I'll be unpacking all of this today and explaining why taking care of yourself should be a priority. In this episode, I talk about: · The basics of self-care · Maintaining a personal standard · How taking care of yourself is biblical · Explaining vanity vs maintenance and knowing the difference The church doesn't always like to have conversations about beauty and personal care because it can come across as pursuing vanity. Well, I'm flipping that narrative in this podcast, I want to let you know that having basic self-care standards is not bad but actually biblical. Being presentable, smelling good, and showing up for yourself shows others that you want to be taken seriously and treated with respect.  As you listen, I hope you meet yourself with compassion and remember that it's okay to take care of yourself emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you love a full-face of make-up and hair extensions, this podcast is for you. If you love the TikTok clean girl aesthetic, this podcast is for you. If you prefer no make-up and yoga pants, this podcast is for you.  I love a colorful co-ord and believe that the longer the lash, the better! I hope this podcast encourages you to embrace your individuality with style and grace, in every place. You can tag me @biancaolthoff, I'd love to learn more about your personal style.  Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS  To receive the Free Ruth Resource, email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you part of a blended family? Do you know someone who is navigating step-parenting? Have you wondered how non-traditional families make it work? Well, it's something I know all too well and I'm sharing my own experiences in today's podcast. In this episode, I talk about: Navigating step-parenting The importance of learning from other families Establishing boundaries and roles at home The realities of being part of a blended family I was recently invited to the No Greater Joy Podcast hosted by my friends Peter and Heather Stow to discuss my experience with step-parenting. I'm grateful for the space they created for me to share my story and to increase the visibility of blended families in the church. Throughout the conversation, you'll learn more about how I adjusted to life as a S’Mom (aka Step-Mom). I talk about the lessons I learned and also the emotional impact of step-parenting.As you listen, I hope you gain a new perspective on blended families and how they are part of God's plan. When I married Matt, I also gained Parker and Ryen and they've been a beautiful addition to my life. It hasn't always been easy, but the Olthoff household is one full of love and God's grace.I went from being single to becoming a step-parent REAL quick and it changed my life forever. So, whether you're a step-parent or looking for ways to support a friend or family member who is part of a blended family, I hope this podcast encourages you. You can tag us @biancaolthoff, @peterstow and @heatherstow, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you.Love you, BRESOURCES/LINKSNo Greater Joy Podcast with Peter & Heather Stow Stow MinistriesEp 13: How To Step-Up In Step-Parenting With Parker OlthoffWGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever made a bad decision and regretted it? Are you wondering if there's a way to redeem your story? Do you want to use your experiences to advocate for change? Fox and Rob Richardson speak candidly and with grace about all of this in today's podcast. In this conversation, we talk about: • How difficult circumstances can lead to bad decisions • The realty for men and women who are incarcerated in the U.S. • Having resilient faith in hard times • The importance of prison ministry Fox and Rob's story is one wrapped in grace and full of redemption. They speak openly about mistakes that they made which led to both ending up in prison. Fox talks about how her faith got her through her sentence and how she fought for her husband's release. Rob details the reality of long-term incarceration and talks about the importance of supporting people who are serving a prison sentence. As you listen, I hope you remember that God's grace is sufficient and that in our weakness the Lord is made strong. Whether you're hoping to rebuild your life after incarceration or looking for ways to support people in prison, there's something for everyone in this podcast. We all make mistakes, and we are not defined by our past. There's a God that loves you and wants to turn your test into a testimony. You can tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @foxandrob, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you. Love you,  B RESOURCES/LINKS Book by Fox & Rob Richardson: Time, The Untold Story of the Love That Held Us Together When Incarceration Kept Us Apart Book by Gary Smalley: Making Love Last Forever WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org  Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your mind stuck in replay telling you the same negative thoughts? Are you ready to become aware of what you tell yourself and improve your mindset? Then you’re in for a treat! Today I get to have a life-giving conversation with adoptive mom, entrepreneur, business owner, and my twin sister Jasmine Star on mindset shift. In my eyes Jasmine has always been strong-willed, a driver, and prone to success. She shares with us how she learned about fixed and growth mindset and how it has helped her become aware of the things she was repeating to herself. Her breakthrough came after having a shift from a fixed to a growth mindset. Jasmine learned to empower her brain and apply a different mindset to her situations. There are three main categories of self-doubt that a fixed mindset can keep you stuck in: 1. Over Planner 2. Treading Water 3. Destination Obsessed Friends let’s choose to learn from our challenges and write a different story. Get rid of stinking thinking by choosing the hard of change instead of the hard of stasis. I love that I get to have these conversations and share them with you! Tag me @BiancaOlthoff and @JasmineStar and let us know how you are writing a different story today. Love you friends!  B RESOURCES/LINKS  Jasmine Star Website  B's favorite podcast episodes: From Broke to Billionaire Three Reasons Why People Get Stuck Book resources:  Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday  WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org  Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are you doing to become the best version of yourself? Are you willing to put in the work that no one else will? I want to take you on a journey and help you discover who you can be. We all go through setbacks and failures that might push us into quitting. But keep in mind that they are part of the learning process. Challenge yourself today and take some time to rediscover who do you want to be in life by asking yourself these questions: 1. What am I happy with? 2. What do I want to do? 3. What makes me unhappy? 4. How do I view setbacks? 5. Am I willing to do the work? I know you can do this! And I’m cheering you on from the sidelines. Tag me @BiancaOlthoff I’m excited to see who you want to be in 2023. Love you friends!  B RESOURCES/LINKS WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you having a rocky start to your year? Does it seem like you are starting out on a crazy train? How about we start this season with a positive attitude? Having a word to reflect on throughout the year has always been pivotal in my life and I hope it is helpful to you as well. We all have good intentions when we set resolutions. But let's be honest friends, even though we started out strong, less than half of us made it to the 6-month mark. Focusing on ONE word during the entire year can be very powerful. Not only will you be able to stay focused, but you will also have direction on who you want to be and what you want to step into. Pause, think, and create a list to hone into your word. And remember, don't just be interested in it, be committed to it. Set some time by yourself, with a friend, or your date to go through these steps. I can't wait for you to tag me at @BiancaOlthoff and share what your word for this year is. Love you friends! B RESOURCES/LINKS  Do You Need An Epiphany? // Enough // Matt Olthoff WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you find it hard to establish boundaries? Are you sensitive about and do you struggle to have difficult conversations? Is there a part of your life that you're currently grieving? Lysa TerKeurst is an author and speaker who is tackling all these topics in her newest book. In this conversation, we cover: Defining boundaries and why we need them How boundaries can improve your relationships Tackling tough conversations and how it can provide clarity Grieving the relationships and seasons of life that come to an end Lysa's voice is one I trust and respect, especially when it comes to discussing spiritual and emotional well-being. She shares personal experiences and walks us through her process of re-establishing boundaries. Lysa gives insight into how boundaries are a biblical principle and how honoring our boundaries helps us honor others too. We also talk about acknowledging what didn't work out and grieving those things with little funerals. (Liiisten, this sounds weird but it's a game-changer!) If like me, you have a big heart and lots of feelings, I hope this episode helps you as much as it helped me. Whether you're navigating boundaries in your professional or personal life, there's something for everyone in this episode. Sometimes things don't turn out how we planned, and it's okay to grieve what you lost. Establishing boundaries as you heal can improve your relationships and help you to see all the good that's yet to come. You can tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @LysaTerKeurst, we'd love to learn more about how this episode spoke to you. Love you, BRESOURCES/LINKS Check out Lysa’s new book: Good Boundaries and GoodbyesWGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.orgThis podcast is sponsored in part by Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox! Learn more by clicking here.Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices