The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

My guest for The Happy Hour #373 is Aarti Sequeira. Most people know Aarti as winning season six of The Next Food Network Star, and hosting her own cooking show Aarti Party. Aarti is married to Brendan and together they have two daughters, Eliyah and Moses. They recently moved to Raleigh, NC after living in LA for two decades. Y’all, this was a really special episode and Aarti has a WORD for us. In today’s episode, Aarti talks about how growing up in Dubai during the Gulf War sparked a deep passion for news and journalism. She eventually got a job at CNN and although it was her dream on paper, she always felt like something didn’t fit. Aarti ended up moving across the country, and through a long season waiting for another job opportunity, she found comfort in cooking AND later accepted Christ as her personal Savior. How amazing is it that God truly meets us in any season? Sometimes we end up in places or paths that we never expected, but I LOVE when Aarti says, “His dreams for me have always been more delicious and rich and huger than I have always imagined, and I just follow the breadcrumbs.” WOW. There is SO much more to this episode that you need to hear. Don’t skip out on it! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #372 is Mike Nawrocki. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, I know what might ring a bell: VeggieTales! Mike is the co-creator of VeggieTales and the voice of Larry the Cucumber! In today’s episode, Mike talks about how we came to meet Phil Vischer (voice of Bob the Tomato), and what led them to starting VeggieTales. Can you believe they were only in their mid-20s when it launched?! Mike also talks about how he initially went to college for biology with hopes of doing medical missions, and somehow ended up completely changing his plans. Sometimes we have goals in life that result in a massive change, and it can make us feel guilty for not accomplishing what we originally set out to do. But I love when Mike says, “There’s nothing wrong with a goal, but always be mindful that God may have something else in store for you.” What a great reminder. Have goals, but be open and willing to God moving you where He wants you to go. For links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #371 is Jemar Tisby. Jemar Tisby is the CEO of The Witness Inc, an organization dedicated to Black uplift from a Christian perspective. He writes about race, religion and culture in national news outlets and his newsletter, Footnotes. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast and a PhD candidate in History at the University of Mississippi. This is SUCH an important conversation and one that we can learn a lot from. In today’s episode, Jemar answers questions like what we can do about racism and why it’s important to care about it. He tackles hard topics like the death penalty, mass incarceration, and the importance of justice. He also dives into the difference between racial justice and racial reconciliation, and the church’s role in valuing both diversity and justice. Jemar says, “Christians have been such a big part of racism, that they have to be a big part of dismantling it.” For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #370 is Jonathan “JP” Pokluda. JP is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. Author of best-selling "Welcome to Adulting," and newly released "Outdated", JP seeks to offer Millennials and Gen Z a roadmap for dating in a world that desires to find love that lasts when dating has changed. JP has such a great word for both young people and parents as we talk to our kids about dating. This episode is so timely with the release of both of our books! In today’s show, we talk a bit about JP’s past before choosing Jesus at 21 and the life transformation that followed, as well as what it looks like to be a Christian in today’s world without the culture and motions. JP also dives into some of the misconceptions of dating, singleness and marriage and how we can honor God in any stage we are in. I love when he says, “We’re not looking for the one, we’re looking for someone as a follower of Jesus who is also a follower of Jesus.” SO true. I’m so thankful for the ministry JP is doing, and helping people approach dating and singleness in a healthy, God-honoring way. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #369 is my favorite person and partner: My husband Aaron Ivey! For those of you who are new around here, Aaron and I have been married for almost 20 years! He leads the creative team at The Austin Stone and is the head worship pastor. He’s a songwriter, mentor, amazing father and author - he truly does all the things! Aaron is my most favorite person to talk to so I love whenever he joins me on the podcast! We talk about SO many great things in this episode so make sure you listen to the whole thing! In today’s show, Aaron talks about feeling called to build relationships with people who don’t know Jesus, and focusing on who we want to be rather than what we want to do. Aaron also dives into why we felt led to write COMPLEMENT, and his experience in the last year of being diagnosed with clinical depression. It’s not an easy thing to walk through mental illness or walk through it with a loved one, but it’s so important to have these conversations to remind ourselves that it’s not our fault and we are not less than because of it. I love so much when Aaron says “You’re not flawed because of any sort of mental illness. It’s actually just a part of your wiring, it’s a part of the way that you were formed. And God even wants to restore that - He might not fix it, but He wants to do something in and through you.” What a beautiful encouragement, that even in our brokenness God wants to make it matter. I’m so proud of Aaron’s passion for who he wants to be and his commitment to allow God to lead him every step of the way. So thankful we get to share this project together! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #368 is Emily Lex. Emily is a talented artist and passionate about sharing truth. Her first book, Freely & Lightly: God’s Gracious Invitation to a Life of Quiet Confidence, releases on March 2nd and it is absolutely filled with beautiful words of encouragement. Emily is a long-time friend and has probably been on The Happy Hour more than any other person! In this episode, Emily dives into the challenge of having to pivot her business and how her change of interests affected her brand. She talks about how sometimes we do things that we were never meant to do, and how she came to a point of having to block everything out and just focus on God. I love when she says, “It required risk and obedience, but what it did was put my soul at rest which is really what I was after. And that’s what I think obedience will do.” For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #367 is Christy Nockels. Christy Nockels is an author, worship leader and singer-songwriter with a passion to help others understand how to communicate with God. Her podcast, The Glorious in the Mundane, inspires listeners to find the wonder of God at work in their everyday moments. She also just released her first book, The Life You Long For. I cannot believe Christy has never been on The Happy Hour but I’m SO thankful we finally made it happen! In today’s episode, we talk about preparing to launch our kids into adulthood, inviting the glorious into the mundane, and the importance of rest. Christy also dives into this idea of surrendering the outer rings of our life to God and living from the bullseye instead. We sometimes feel this need to manage our lives because not knowing can make us restless. But I love when Christy says “That’s life with God - it’s the mystery rather than us managing. It’s the supernatural principles of His word and they actually work.” This conversation was so needed for me - it’s always a great reminder to know what God can do in our lives if we just surrender. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #366 is Kait Warman. Kait Warman is an inspirational speaker, a popular relationship coach, and the host of The Heart of Dating podcast. She helps thousands of men and women on their journeys through the conversations on her podcast, social media platforms, one-on-one relationship coaching, and online courses. Kait also recently released a book called Thank You For Rejecting Me which is about transforming pain into purpose. Make sure you check it out! Kait is an absolute joy to talk to and I’m so excited for you to hear our conversation today. In this episode, we talk about things like purity culture and ways that the church can improve this conversation. I absolutely LOVED when she mentioned her exercise of helping women write out what they bring to the table in their relationships - we need more of that! Kait also dives into the message behind her book of finding purpose in rejection. Married, single or dating, we all fear rejection. It is a totally common human response which is why it’s so important to talk about. But Kait worded it so well when she said “One day, through time - through pressing in - even in all the muck and all the hardness, there will be beauty brought in its time.” For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #365 is Scott Sauls. Scott is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, a multi-site community in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also published five books, including 'Jesus Outside the Lines' and his latest, 'A Gentle Answer.' You may recognize Scott from our Faith & Politics special in the fall, and I’m so thankful he is joining us again! Y’all, Scott dropped so many gospel-filled words in this conversation, summarizing it just won’t do the show justice. In today’s episode, we talk about the timeliness of his book A Gentle Answer during a year like 2020, and the difference between American and Global Christianity. Scott also dives into what we can do to make sure we have the gentleness of Jesus, and fighting against our natural pull towards self-righteousness. He says “Don’t look for a bypass road around Jesus to get to character. You’re never going to become gentle without going straight through Jesus.” OOF. Grab and pen and paper for this interview - you’re going to need it. Scott has the most pastoral spirit and I always walk away feeling challenged to become more like Jesus. Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE

My guest for The Happy Hour #364 is Lisa Harper. Lisa Harper has been involved in ministry for 30 years as a Bible teacher, director of women’s ministry and writer of 12+ published books. Her newest devotional Life: An Obsessively Grateful, Undone by Jesus, Genuinely Happy, and Not Faking it Through the Hard Stuff Kind of 100-Day Devotional is not only fantastic, but probably my favorite subtitle I’ve ever heard! In today’s episode, we talk about Lisa’s adoption journey with her sweet daughter and the struggle of missing community through the isolation of COVID (I know we talk about it a lot but it's truly a sign of the times!). Lisa also dives into the importance of intimacy with Jesus and the hunger of wanting to know Him deeper. I love when she says “It’s not enough to go to church on Sundays. It’s not enough. We need to know Jesus through His love letter of scripture.” I am so thankful for Lisa’s constant authenticity and passion for helping people know Jesus deeper. Pick up a copy of her devotional Life! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE