We are often told the Bible is God’s love letter to us, but how are we supposed to live from that truth in the midst of our mundane task list? How do you think fully understanding God’s love for you would change the way you love yourself? Or even others? In today’s episode, Mary sits down with author of A Little Goes a Long Way and Everyday Prayers for Love, Rachael Adams. Rachael hopes to help women realize God’s love and purpose for their lives. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, Today Parenting, and YouVersion.  The pair chat about: How Rachael went from lonely and feeling isolated, to a flourishing community of women very quickly The prompting she received from God when she was doubting her contributions to the world What to do when we feel envious about the giftings another person has received (specifically when it comes to Instagram!) How do we *actually* get together with people and make a difference (especially after 2020!) Why viewing things through God’s Economy changes everything   This episode is here to show you what you focus on is what you will find. And if you’re looking for God’s love, it’s closer than you think. Connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor Listen her to her podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LEICaLbf7Xmckby5yXStV?si=GzofhkguRTS5qo2ayUrsdw&nd=1&dlsi=3cff8d4bd02b4ba9 Snag a copy of her latest book! https://rachaelkadams.com/everydayprayersforlove/

Revive: To return to life. If you need the reminder today that there is NOTHING too dry or too dead for God to revive, to return to life - well, you won’t be able to hit play fast enough. In one of Mary’s favorite episodes yet, she’s sitting down with the one and only, Cleere Cherry Reaves, the popular writer behind the Cleerely Stated Instagram handle. After enduring a life changing season, Cleere realized that when you walk through tragedy, the unimportant falls away by necessity. Which she now sees as mercy. And Cleere is here to make sure she continues living uncluttered and asking the Lord: “What have you called me to?” If this sounds good to you, you can expect a whole lot of that, and more, in this episode. The pair are chatting: How to let God revive your everyday rhythms  Why winter wilderness is not a season to avoid  How to balance a God-given anointing and co-creating with Him How to reframe the bitter pill of everyone around you receiving open doors What to do when you feel like your creativity is limited    Get out your notebooks and highlighters because seriously, every word of this episode is a go-to Truth for your everyday life.   Follow Cleere here: https://www.instagram.com/cleerelystated/?hl=en Buy her devotional here: https://www.cleerelystated.com/pages/revive  

Do you feel like you’re always just one shiny thing away from belonging? In a digital world where it has become normal to share all the new items we are purchasing, Alison Lumbatis is flipping the script on this narrative. From Network Engineer to Personal Stylist, Alison’s journey began after she left her 9-5 and realized she was living in only yoga pants on a daily basis. But the impact on her life didn’t stop with just a lack of cute fashion. She noticed that when she wasn’t getting up and ready for the day that she wasn’t as motivated for her daily activities - she stopped working out, and then she stopped meal planning, then chores around the house slipped. She started to see her yellow flags for depression come up and knew she had to make a change. And that change started small with getting up, showering, and getting dressed each day. And to her surprise, the immediate + positive impact on her life was huge. So to keep herself accountable, she started to blog her daily outfits. She would soon realize that her daily, easy, and motivational outfits were just what other women in the space were looking for, too. Now, with 500k followers on Instagram, a best selling book, and an app to help you feel your most confident in your outfits each day - Alison is on a mission that goes beyond fashion—it's about building self-assurance and direction in every woman's life. Tune in to hear: How to balance a love of fashion without placing your confidence in external things Alison’s 3 steps to cleaning out your closet - for good this time! How to overcome the mindset that you aren’t worthy of nice things Identifying your body shape and how to dress to feel your best What Poppy Syndrome is - and why most women struggle with it Tune in for the support you need to curate a wardrobe that not only fits your style but also resonates with your inner self so you can walk with purpose and embrace each day with newfound confidence. Follow Alison here: https://www.instagram.com/alisonlumbatis/?hl=en Check out her app here: https://outfitformulas.com/  

If you’ve ever looked around and felt like everyone surrounding you was in a happy, joyful season – and you’re just struggling to get through each day without a lot of hope, this episode is going to provide you with some relief. Author, editor, and writing educator, Stephanie Duncan Smith, is here to invite you into her story of walking through her dark night season, and bringing you back out into your next season of light. Through personal stories and informative insights, Stephanie is chatting with Mary about: What the Seasons of the Liturgical Year are - and how they apply to you Why we need to know about Divine Empathy Finding the freedom in feeling what we are feeling, and removing the shame of: “I should be feeling happy now” Is love really worth the risk?? 3 writing techniques to care about your readers, and allow readers care about your story If you’re ready for a new season with deep, Biblical truths to provide light and hope - this episode is here for you.  Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephduncansmith/?hl=en Follow Stephanie on Substack: https://stephanieduncansmith.substack.com/ Preorder her book here:  https://www.slantletter.com/  

You know God is real, and you have a strong faith, but in this season of wilderness you’re left wondering: does God even hear me any more? Join Mary as she sits with author, speaker, entrepreneur and friend, Rachel Wojo.  For Rachel, tragic life events are no stranger. Almost simultaneously, Rachel lost her mother to leukemia, discovered her pastor husband was having an affair for 4 of their 5 years of marriage, and her daughter was diagnosed with a rare, genetic metabolic disorder that causes gradual neurological degeneration that has no cure. So to say that Rachel has experienced deep sorrow and grief is an understatement. But Rachel is here to tell you about the hope that is still tangible when you’re at the end of your rope and are only hanging on by desperate prayers.  Tune in to hear: The important difference between faith and logic - and why this is crucial to moving forward How to allow desperation to pull us closer to God, not push us further away What Spiritual Separation Anxiety is and the biggest trigger of it in 2024 Stories of miracles in Rachel’s life - even if the miracle didn’t start out looking like one Why God’s glory and what works out to our good are not mutually exclusive in our lives   Rachel has a story of redemption, struggle, hope, and faith. If you’re feeling in a long wilderness season, Rachel’s life and insights are here to provide a life raft for you. Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/rachelwojo/ Pre-order her book, DESPERATE PRAYERS here: https://rachelwojo.com/desperateprayers/ For more, head to: https://rachelwojo.com/work-with-rachel/  

It was Hannah Brencher's 33rd birthday when she felt the prompting to turn off her phone. As she reflected on a past year of exhaustion, anxiety, and weariness, she began to wonder if the present moment and who she was in it, would ever be enough. What started as a phoneless day of celebration, connectedness, presence, and rest, gave birth to a one year challenge to unplug for 1000 hours. In The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World (Zondervan, Sept. 2024), author, TED Speaker, and entrepreneur, Hannah Brencher shares her journey from overwhelm to balance and abundance in just a few tech-free hours per day. With a practical and relatable approach, Hannah contends that it is possible to have healthy boundaries with technology.  In this episode, Mary and Hannah are chatting about: How to have a healthy relationship with your phone and social media if your business is online What exactly we are missing out on by mindlessly using our phones Why it’s not actually our fault, but it is our responsibility Tangible steps to get your life back The difference between performing vs authentic creativity    If you start to dig in and unplug, you’ll start to see what’s been waiting for you this whole time. Find all things Hannah Brencher below, and be sure to pick up her latest book, The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/ https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/theunpluggedhours https://www.instagram.com/hannahbrencher/

Sharon McMahon, known as 'America’s Government Teacher,' is an educator with a rich background in government, history, and law. In this engaging discussion, she highlights the importance of individual actions in driving change, sharing inspiring stories of historical women who defied norms. Sharon emphasizes overcoming imposter syndrome and redefining success, while exploring the power of small contributions. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their unique gifts and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Have you ever found your heels dug into an argument that was fueled by the heat of conviction? Or caught in the crosshairs of differing perspectives and wishing there was a better way to disagree?  Join Mary and John Inazu, law professor, author, and speaker, as they discuss the educational gaps in learning to disagree, social media’s impact on conflict resolution, and what it really means to be empathetic.  Tune in to hear,  How to find nuance and empathy in some of our country’s most divisive issues The importance of taking time to understand how the other side thinks about a hard issue Why we need to bring our disagreements offline   If you are longing to see the person behind the position and engage in conflict in a way that doesn’t sacrifice relationship, today’s episode will give you the tools you need to enter into disagreement constructively. John’s grounded perspective is deeply thought-provoking and convicting! This conversation will undoubtedly shift the way you engage with disagreement and offer you a way forward that has honor and respect at the forefront. Friend, truly this is one you won’t want to miss!   Follow John here! https://www.instagram.com/john.inazu/ Check out his new book here: https://www.jinazu.com/learning-to-disagree For full episode notes, head to: https://marymarantz.com/themarymarantzshow More About John Inazu: John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches criminal law, law and religion, and various First Amendment courses. He writes and speaks frequently about pluralism, assembly, free speech, religious freedom, and other issues. John has written three books and published opinion pieces in the Washington Post, Atlantic, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and CNN. He is also the founder of the Carver Project and the Legal Vocation Fellowship and is a senior fellow with Interfaith America. In his newest book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, Inazu draws from his experiences teaching law school to show how it is possible to disagree about hard issues. By finding nuance in some of today’s most divisive issues and taking time to learn how the other side thinks, Inazu gives readers ideas and tools to navigate the differences and disagreements they encounter in their everyday lives without sacrificing their own convictions.

Have you ever felt like you have a story to tell but don’t know where to begin? Do you feel overwhelmed by or disqualified from the process of writing?  Join Allison Fallon, author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Voice, as they discuss the importance of sharing our stories, why we need to reframe the meaning we assign to our stories and the magic found in our ordinary lives. Tune in to hear,  How to become the hero of your own story – and the ripple effect of being the main character  Three ways to begin framing your writing The one person who needs to hear your story most   If you have been wanting to get your word’s out in the world, this episode will be the motiviation you need to break through your writer’s block! Allison has a powerful way of clarifying the muddiest aspects of a story and bringing forth the essence of the author. Ultimately, reminding us that the true gift of storytelling isn’t just for the audience but the storyteller too.  Friend, you won’t get enough of this conversation! Welcome to the hero’s journey of becoming.   Follow Allison here! https://www.instagram.com/allyfallon Check out her new book here: https://writeyourstory.com/  For full episode notes, head to: https://marymarantz.com/themarymarantzshow More About Allison Fallon: Allison Fallon is an author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Voice, a community that supports anyone who wants to write anything. In addition to her books The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life, Packing Light and Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World, she has ghostwritten 11 books and has collaborated on countless others. Through Find Your Voice, she has helped leaders of multinational corporations, stay-at-home moms, Olympic gold medalists, recovering addicts, political figures, CEOs, and prison inmates use her methods as powerful tools to generate positive change in their lives. In her newest release, Write Your Story: A Simple Formula to Understand Yourself, Your Story and Your Purpose in the World, Fallon invites her readers to make the courageous step to write their story because when people believe they are the authors of their stories, it gives them the personal responsibility to decide how stories finish.   

Do you ever catch yourself dismissing your feelings or letting your inner critic boss your emotions around?  ‘I should be happier…’ ‘I just need to think more positively…’ ‘I shouldn’t feel this way…’ Join Mary and Dr. Alison Cook, therapist, author, and podcaster, as they discuss the science behind our shame spiral, the gift of liminal space, and the three-step framework that will transform your mental and emotional health. Tune in to hear,  The science behind our shame spiral Why your inner critic is sabotaging your growth How to make decisions that break cycles of defeat   If you are tired of trudging through life with unresolved emotions and the guilt that you should be responding differently to what you are going through, this conversation will set you on a new trajectory.  Say goodbye to staying stuck in the endless cycle of self-sabotage and hello to clear-minded and brave action toward the life you dream of.  Just remember friend, the only way forward is through. Follow Dr. Alison here! https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/  Check out her new book here: https://www.dralisoncook.com/books For full episode notes, head to: https://marymarantz.com/themarymarantzshow More About Dr. Alison Cook: Dr. Alison Cook is a therapist and host of the top-ranked The Best of You podcast.  Originally from Wyoming, Dr. Alison studied at Dartmouth College (BA), Denver Seminary (MA), and the University of Denver (PhD), where she specialized in integrating psychology and theology. Dr. Alison’s doctoral dissertation centered on the relationship between religion and prejudice. She is certified in Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and is the author of the ECPA bestselling book The Best of You and coauthor of Boundaries for Your Soul, with nearly 100,000 copies sold–  based on the popular IFS therapy model.  Widely recognized as an expert at the intersection of faith and psychology, Dr. Alison empowers individuals to heal from past wounds, develop a strong sense of self, and forge healthy relationships. In her new book,  I Shouldn't Feel This Way: Name What’s Hard, Tame Your Guilt, and Transform Self-Sabotage into Brave Action, Dr. Alison will help you name, tame, and transform conflicting feelings into clear solutions with purpose and confidence.