Claim OwnershipGirls Night with Stephanie May Wilson
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© 2024 Stephanie May Wilson
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Navigating Decisions & Transitions One Girls Night at a Time.
Welcome to Girls Night, the go-to podcast for women in their Everything Era, that wildly confusing decade-ish where we have to make many of the most significant decisions of our lives all at the same time. (Career, marriage, motherhood, and more!)
Thankfully, we don’t have to do it alone.
The best girls nights aren’t just about eating pizza in sweatpants with your friends — they’re about problem solving and leaning into the collective wisdom of women, and that’s what this podcast is all about.
Join host Stephanie May Wilson as she interviews some of the world’s wisest women on the topics that keep us up at night. You’ll walk away from each episode with both clarity and confidence — knowing what your next step is and also how to take it.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about what’s going on in the United States politically — how to wrap our minds around it, how to stay informed without losing our minds, and how to participate in a way that creates the real, lasting change we want to see for our communities.
A few caveats here:
Why are we talking about politics? Because I don’t know about you, but this topic DEFINITELY is coming up at my girls nights. And if we talk about something at our real life girls nights, I want to make sure we’re talking about it here too!
I know that not all of our listeners live in the United States. I actually don’t currently live in the United States. But the majority of our listeners are in the States, and as I’m learning as a US citizen living abroad, the things that are happening back in my home do really affect the rest of the world. But if this episode doesn’t really apply to you, feel free to skip! We’ll catch up with you at the next one.
So, who’s going to walk us through all of these questions and help us find some peace and clarity? My friend, Sharon McMahon, of course.
After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people rely on her for non-partisan, fact-based information as "America's Government Teacher." In a time where flashy headlines and false information often take the spotlight, Sharon is a reliable source for truth and logic.
In this episode I ask her if what’s happening in the US is truly unprecedented and how it measures up to other seasons our country has been through. We talk about how to get along with people who think differently from you and what that looks like, how to stay sane while also staying informed, and how to make the real, lasting change we want for our communities.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what’s been happening in our country the past several months, you’re not alone. In these uncertain times, it's refreshing to hear a voice of clarity and hope. That's exactly what Sharon brings to the table. I can’t wait for you to hear from her!
One last thing before we dive in:
This season, we’re doing a really fun giveaway each week as a thank you for supporting this show (and the women who put it together!).
This week, we’ll be picking one winner of a $50 visa gift card — perfect for hosting a girls night of your own!
To enter, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show as you’re listening, and share it on social media. Make sure to tag me! I’m @SMayWilson.
One last thing: I know that some of our episodes are pretty personal (in fact, a lot of them are) and so I want you to know that you don’t have to share the exact episode you’re listening to in order to enter the giveaway. You can just share the show in general.
(That way you’re not accidentally giving your Aunt Susan and all your old high school friends information about your personal life that you don’t necessarily want them to have!)
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Sharon!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today we’re sharing one woman’s courageous journey of living with an autoimmune disorder and navigating the challenges of motherhood.
I know there are women listening who dream of being a mother. But for those living with chronic illness or other health complications, that dream can come with uncertainty and doubt. Even if you haven't walked this path, you may know the ache of longing for something that feels just out of reach. Today's conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered if their dream of motherhood will ever become a reality.
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Ashley Fenker. Ashley is the author of a new book called Good (Enough) Mother. In this new collection of stories and essays, Ashley explores the complexities of chronic illness, modern motherhood, and faith.
Ashley’s story is full of hope and resilience – I was so inspired by it and I know you will be too!
One last thing before we dive in:
This season, we’re doing a really fun giveaway each week as a thank you for supporting this show (and the women who put it together!).
This week, we’ll be picking one winner of a $50 visa gift card — perfect for hosting a girls night of your own!
To enter, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show as you’re listening, and share it on social media. Make sure to tag me! I’m @SMayWilson.
One last thing: I know that some of our episodes are pretty personal (in fact, a lot of them are) and so I want you to know that you don’t have to share the exact episode you’re listening to in order to enter the giveaway. You can just share the show in general.
(That way you’re not accidentally giving your Aunt Susan and all your old high school friends information about your personal life that you don’t necessarily want them to have!)
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Ashley!
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 how to identify your attachment style and feel more fulfilled in your relationships.
To help us with this, I invited my new friend Eli Harwood on the show! Eli is a therapist, author, and online you might know her as the Attachment Nerd — and she’s passionate about helping people understand attachment and learn how to relate in more secure ways.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard about attachment styles but you’re not really sure what they are or why they matter — and that’s why I’m truly obsessed with this episode. I learned so much and I can’t stop thinking about what I learned. This is the absolute KEY to healthy relationships, and I can’t believe I didn’t learn about this sooner!
One last thing before we dive in:
This show is all about women supporting women — and so that’s why, this season, we’re doing a really fun giveaway each week as a thank you for supporting this show (and the women who put it together!).
This week, we’ll be picking one winner of a $50 visa gift card — perfect for hosting a girls night of your own!
To enter, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show as you’re listening, and share it on social media. Make sure to tag me! I’m @SMayWilson.
Again, we’ll pick the winner at the end of the week and all you have to do to enter to win a $50 visa gift card is share about the show on social media and tag me, I’m @SMayWilson on Instagram.
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Eli!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
As a new mom, I desperately needed guidance on what to worry about and what to let go of. I'm sure many of you can relate to those frantic 2am Google searches! That’s why today we're diving into the top 5 things new moms can stop worrying about, and the 5 essential things that deserve your attention.
There’s no better person to help us with this than my favorite parenting guru, Emily Oster! Emily is the founder and CEO of ParentData, a data-driven guide to pregnancy and parenting, and a Professor of Economics at Brown University. Emily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions.
I’m also excited to share about her brand new newsletter called PregnantData that is loaded with resources about trying to conceive. Head to the show notes for the link! You can always find our show notes at Girls Night Podcast.Com!
Emily's resources have saved me from so much unnecessary stress and anxiety as a new mom. I can’t wait for you to hear from her!
One last thing before we dive in:
This show is all about women supporting women — and so that’s why, this season, we’re doing a really fun giveaway each week as a thank you for supporting this show (and the women who put it together!).
This week, we’ll be picking one winner of a $50 visa gift card — perfect for hosting a girls night of your own!
To enter, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show as you’re listening, and share it on social media. Make sure to tag me! I’m @SMayWilson.
Again, we’ll pick the winner at the end of the week and all you have to do to enter to win a $50 visa gift card is share about the show on social media and tag me, I’m @SMayWilson on Instagram.
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Emily!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
This last April I wrote a book called Create A Life You Love: How to quiet outside voices so you can finally hear your own. In the book, we talked about the voices we grow up with as women — and there are a lot of them — all telling us who we should be, what we should look like, how we should behave, how we should spend our time, what we’re allowed to do, what we’re not allowed to do, and more.
The most confusing thing about this is that oftentimes, the voices disagree. One section of the peanut gallery says we should be doing this, while another section would judge us HARD for doing that exact thing.
Some of the loudest voices when it comes to who a woman should be come from the church. I know they have in my life. And in a lot of ways, that’s a good thing. Our faith — the bedrock of who we are and what we believe — should absolutely impact who we become.
The problem is… while many of us are looking to God to tell us who we are and what we should do with our lives, oftentimes that message has gone through a bit of a game of telephone. The message started one way, but by the time it reached our ears, it was something completely different.
A few years ago, I came across a book that changed my life. It’s called The Making of Biblical Womanhood — How the Subjugation of Women became Gospel Truth. The book takes a look at what women are told in the church today — and then traces the thread back through history — trying to figure out where it came from and if what we’re being told God wants from us is actually what God said in the first place.
Today on the show, I’m so honored to get to welcome my new friend, author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood, Beth Allison Barr. Beth is James Vardaman Endowed Professor of History at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she specializes in medieval history, women's history, and church history.
This episode is SO powerful — and if you have questions about what we’re supposed to be doing as women and where exactly those rules came from, this episode is for you.
One last thing before we dive in:
This show is all about women supporting women — and so that’s why, this season, we’re doing a really fun giveaway each week as a thank you for supporting this show (and the women who put it together!).
This week, we’ll be picking one winner of a $50 visa gift card — perfect for hosting a girls night of your own!
To enter, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show as you’re listening, and share it on social media. Make sure to tag me! I’m @SMayWilson.
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Beth!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today we’re continuing our “How She Does It.” series. About once a month we do a profile of a woman who’s living a beautifully, unique life and we'll get to hear the behind-the-scenes of how she does it.
And I’m so excited because today we’re talking with my dear friend, Suzanne Kianpour - I call her Suzy. Suzy is an Emmy-nominated journalist, documentarian, and presenter who has reported from conflict zones and corridors of power as a BBC foreign correspondent. She is the founder of Helmet to Heels, a platform amplifying the voices of women driving global impact, and the host of News with Suz, a series blending international affairs with fashion and culture.
Suzy is a force to be reckoned with - a confident, passionate, and inspiring individual who has spent years telling the stories that need to be told. I know you'll love hearing about her journey and the lessons she's learned along the way.
Don’t forget — all season long we’re doing a weekly giveaway — all you have to do is take a quick screen shot of the show as you’re listening and share it on social media. This week, our winner is going to get a $50 visa gift card — perfect for a girls night of your own!
Again, all you have to do is take a screenshot of the show and share it on your social media. Tag me @smaywilson and you’re entered to win! We’ll pick a winner every week!
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Suzy.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today we’re talking about how to improve your sleep so you can feel your best. I'm willing to bet that, like me, you're craving a restful night's sleep but, somehow, it always feels just out of reach. Whether your mind is racing with worries or your to-do list is overflowing, it can be tough to wind down and get the sleep you need.
That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest, who also just happens to be my incredibly wise and wonderful cousin! Dr. Sarah Jeffrey is a licensed naturopathic doctor and co-founder of Aya Naturopathic Medicine. With specialized training in natural approaches to stress and sleep issues, she combines science and compassion to help her patients feel their best. Dr. Jeffrey is passionate about empowering women to take charge of their health and believes small lifestyle changes can make a big difference.
I can’t wait for you to hear from her today!
Don’t forget — all season long, if you take a quick screen shot of the show as you’re listening and share it on social media, each week one winner will get to pick something out from the Girls Night Gift Shop! Make sure to tag us! We’ll pick a winner every week!
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Sarah.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today we’re talking about how to heal, move forward, and find your spark again after a rough breakup. We're mainly focusing on romantic relationships, but honestly, these tips can apply to any meaningful relationship that's ended - whether that's with a friend, a family member, or even a job. So, if you're looking to rediscover your passions and purpose and overall sense of self after a tough split, you're in the right place!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Dr. Morgan Cope. Dr. Morgan is a relationship scientist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. She studies how people's sense of self is changed by romantic relationships. Her research investigates how breakups affect people’s identity, as well as how to recover and avoid breakup pitfalls after relationships end.
Morgan is amazing. I so wish I had had her as a resource the gazillion times I got my heart broken over the years.
And don’t forget — all season long, if you take a quick screen shot of the show as you’re listening and share it on social media, each week one winner will get to pick something out from the Girls Night Gift Shop! Make sure to tag us! We’ll pick a winner every week!
Okay, with that said, let’s dive into my conversation with Dr. Morgan Cope!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today is officially the launch of Season 20 of Girls Night! I can hardly believe it! We’re kicking off the new season by talking about a topic that’s so close to my heart and that’s singleness.
I recently had a raw and honest conversation with a close friend about the challenges of singleness and dating. As she shared her feelings of frustration and uncertainty, I offered her some advice that resonated deeply with both of us. Today, I want to share that same advice with you, in the hopes that it might bring you comfort, clarity, and renewed hope.
If you're feeling stuck, uncertain, or overlooked in your own journey, you’re not alone and this conversation is for you!
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Friends, the wait is over! Season 20 of the Girls Night Podcast drops on Monday, February 3rd! Head over to your favorite podcasting app and make sure you're subscribed!
On this show, we talk about the Everything Era: that wildly confusing decade-ish where we have to make some of the most significant decisions of our lives, typically all at the same time. If you’re anything like me, it probably feels like a lot — how do you even know what you want out of life? And even once you’ve figured that out, how do you make it happen?
Thankfully, we don’t have to figure this out alone. I’ve invited some of the smartest women I know onto the show to walk us through the topics that keep us up at night. We’re going to learn from both their expertise and their experience and you’ll walk away not only knowing what your next step is, but with the support you need to actually take it.
No matter who you are, where you come from, or what decisions you end up making, you’re welcome here.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but today is our very last Girls Night episode of 2024 and of Season 19! I’m closing us out with a solo episode — we're chatting about how to reflect on the past year and prepare for the year ahead!
This episode was inspired by the project I’ve been working on for the past few months, but really the past few years, and that’s my New Years Reflection & Intention Journal. In it, I finally get to introduce you to the New Year's Journaling process I’ve been doing for the last ten years.
Friends, 2025 is full of possibilities, and it all begins with a clear vision and intentional steps. Today’s episode is going to help us take action toward the life we actually want to live.
I can’t wait for you to tune in!
P.S. We will be back for Season 20 of Girls Night in February of 2025! We have incredible guests and topics in store for you!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m excited about this episode because I know many of you are navigating what I call The Everything Era – the decade-ish when we have to make 80% of most biographically significant life decisions all at the same time. Career, relationships, family, and identity are all intersecting, bringing immense pressure and expectations along with them.
We know what this feels like for us — inside our heads and circumstances and lives — but we don’t always know what this feels like to other women. It’s so easy to wonder, “Am I the only one struggling this way?” “Is anyone else going through this too?” So today, we’re taking a step towards finding that out!
Our guests for today’s episode are my new friends, Danielle Robay and Simone Boyce. Danielle is a TV host, journalist, and content creator known for her open-hearted + compelling interview style. Simone is a journalist and multidimensional storyteller who lives audaciously, leads with curiosity and embodies radical self-expression. Danielle and Simone are co-hosts of The Bright Side, a daily Podcast from Hello Sunshine. The Bright Side brings your daily dose of culture and inspiration – with the latest trends, celebrity interviews, and real conversations with women doing amazing things while navigating life’s transitions, both big and small.
Through their podcast and other projects, they've gathered invaluable insights into the challenges and successes women face in their careers, relationships, and personal growth — and basically, in this episode, I’m picking their brains about what they’ve discovered along the way. I cannot wait for you to hear from them!
Here’s my conversation with Simone and Danielle!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I can’t wait for today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to talk about money with your spouse as a newlywed.
Money is stressful for everybody, but it's especially hard on newlyweds. You have your own money and now suddenly what's yours is theirs and what's theirs is yours and you have to figure out how to spend (and NOT spend) it all together.
And really, whether you’ve been married for 2 years or 20 years, money is always going to be a topic of discussion, so the earlier you can talk through this, and learn how to talk about it, the better!
Our guest for today’s episode is a Girls Night favorite — my friend, Rachel Cruze. Rachel is a two-time #1 national bestselling author, financial expert, and podcast host. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people how to avoid debt, budget, and win with money at any stage in life. Rachel believes it’s possible for anyone to turn around their finances and build a life they love.
The advice Rachel shares in this episode is everything I wish I could go back and tell myself and the beginning of marriage — so grab a note pad if you can because she’s sharing all the tips!
Okay friends, let’s hop into the episode!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today's episode is deeply personal for me as we dive into the topic of IVF and infertility treatments. My husband and I shared our IVF journey on Girls Night episode 94, but with recent misinformation circulating online surrounding this topic, I've invited a trusted expert to help us figure out what information is actually true and what just isn’t.
That expert is my new friend, Dr. Lucky Sekhon. Dr. Lucky is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and OB/GYN based in New York City. Dr. Sekhon is passionate about empowering women with accurate, evidence-based information on reproductive health and fertility. She has personally gone through IVF, which has deepened her understanding of the challenges her patients face.
In our conversation, Dr. Lucky explains what IVF is and, maybe equally as important, what it’s not. We also discuss other fertility treatment options like egg freezing, IUI, and more!
Whether you’re currently facing a fertility issue or, like me, have been diagnosed with infertility, OR whether you’re wanting to know your options when it comes to having a family in the future — I hope this conversation will ease your mind by helping you know the facts and what options are available for you and your family.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Friends, I’m so excited because today we’re back with another episode in our How She Does it Series where I’m sharing profiles of women we look up to.
Today’s guest is someone I’ve looked up to for a long time and that’s my new friend, Katelyn James. Katelyn is a photography educator based in Richmond, Virginia, with 30,000 students around the globe and co-owns an entrepreneurial-based micro-school for kids in their community called Acton Academy Westend. Her passion lies in teaching the power of personal branding and empowering others through her education.
In today’s episode, she’s sharing about her journey of becoming a business owner and a mom and the doors that have opened as a result of her hard work, grit, and determination.
One of the first questions I ask her is what is the accomplishment she’s most proud of and I think her answer is going to surprise you — I know it did for me, but in the very best way!
This is one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve had here on Girls Night, so let’s dive right in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to take the first step (and then next 10!) when pursuing your dreams.
We all are dreaming about something — maybe it’s something we want to happen in our lives, maybe it’s something we want to happen in the world because of our lives. And if you have a dream, you also have a few things that go along with it — fear, insecurity, uncertainty, and discouragement. (Among other things.)
Sometimes, figuring out what we even want to do in the first place is the issue. Other times we know what we want to do, but getting started (and then keeping going!) is a whole other story.
No matter where you are with your dreams for your life, I cannot WAIT for you to meet our Girls Night guest for today.
Our guest for today’s episode is Liz Bohannon. Liz is a social entrepreneur and the founder of Sseko Designs, a socially responsible fashion company. She is also a Forbes Top 20 speaker, the author of the best-selling book Beginner's Pluck, the host of the Plucking Up Podcast, and a partner at Noonday Collection.
I’ve followed Liz for years and her book, Beginner’s Pluck, totally changed my life. I cannot wait for you to hear from her!
Let’s hop into our conversation!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Friends, I’m so excited because today we’re back with another episode in our How She Does it Series where I’m sharing profiles of women we look up to.
Today’s guest is my new friend, Bri Summers! After Bri landed what she thought was her dream job after college she quickly realized that her dream job — the one she’d been working toward FOREVER, wasn’t actually so dreamy. In fact, she realized that she wanted to do something totally different and that’s when she decided to strike out on her own and build a business based on her hobbies, passion, and expertise — and that’s when her company, Brighten Made was born. Brighten Made is an artful branding and web design studio for lifestyle brands. I first stumbled upon Bri’s work as I was in the design process for my apparel line, The Girls Night Gift shop, and fell in love with everything she does!
In this conversation, we’re talking through the things Bri had to overcome and figure out to get to the place where she is today — from receiving pushback from naysayers to navigating the pressures of motherhood and overcoming her own fears and insecurities that held her back.
Bri is someone who is doing incredible things in the world and making a difference in the creative community — I know you’re going to love her!
Okay, with that said, let’s hop into our conversation!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about color analysis and finding your personal style.
To walk us through this, I invited my new friend Lindsey Myers, to join us! Lindsey founded Created Colorful in 2020 while navigating being a new mom. Pouring any energy she had into her kids, Lindsey slowly realized she had nothing left for herself. Hope came crashing into her life once she learned color analysis–a process where each person has a set of colors that objectively flatters them. From there, she was hooked. Through sharing her findings on Instagram, Lindsey quickly was flooded with requests and became a CEO “overnight” when Created Colorful was born. Lindsey and her team have helped more than 20,000 clients to date find their colors and reignite self-confidence.
I was blown away by the impact colors can have on our style, but also our confidence and how we show up in the world!
I can’t wait to share this with you! Here’s my conversation with Lindsey.
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1Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
A few weeks ago, I recorded a video to share with women in our community who purchased something from my shop during my blog birthday sale. It was called the 12-in-12 workshop and in it I shared 12 of the most important things I’ve learned in the last 12 years of my life. But, the more I thought about it, these are things that I wish I could tell every woman, so, instead of just sharing it with a portion of our community, I wanted to share it with everyone! So that’s what we’re doing today!
In this conversation, we’re talking about boundaries, friendships, figuring out what you want to do with your life, how to dream, how to fail, and so much more!
These things have absolutely changed my life in the very best way, and I cannot wait to tell you about them!
Okay, let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to stop running on empty and prioritize your emotional, spiritual and physical needs.
If you’re anything like me, you’re trying your best to do it all and be the person that everyone needs you to be, even if it comes at the expense of your own health and well-being.
We all know that isn’t a sustainable way of living and eventually leads to things like stress and total burnout.
That’s why I invited today’s guest, Debra Fileta, back on the show to help us out! Debra is a licensed professional counselor, podcaster, speaker, and author who specializes in dating, marriage, and relationship issues, along with mental and emotional health. She recently released a book called Soul Care where she teaches us 6 practices Jesus implemented in His own life and ministry and how we can apply those same practices to our lives.
Two of my favorite practices she explains in the episode were protect and savor. More about that soon!
Okay, let’s hop into my conversation with Debra!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to understand your personal finances and build a stronger relationship with your money!
If you’re someone who feels overwhelmed by budgets, savings, and investments, you're not alone. In this episode, we explore what financial freedom and security really mean — and why it doesn’t require giving up everything that brings you joy (Any other coffee shop lovers appreciate that?).
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Shanna Skidmore. Shanna is a former fortune 100 financial advisor turned business consultant, educator, and international speaker. With clients and students in more than 26 countries, Shanna has helped thousands of entrepreneurs over the last 15 years build profitable & sustainable businesses while leading a life they love. She also has amazing advice for managing your personal finances, whether you’re an entrepreneur or not.
I loved this conversation because Shanna takes the scary or intimidating parts out of personal finances and offers really practical tips on how to set yourself up for a great financial future, whatever that looks like for you!
Okay, I cannot wait for you to hear from her. Let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to unplug from our devices so we can be more present in our everyday lives.
I couldn’t wait for this topic because I know firsthand how tough it can be to break free from the constant pull of our devices. We tap into social media with the best intentions, only to emerge from the digital haze thirty minutes later, wondering where the time went. If you can relate, today’s conversation is for you!
Our guest for today’s episode is my dear friend, Hannah Brencher. Hannah is a writer, TED speaker, and entrepreneur. She founded The World Needs More Love Letters, a global community dedicated to sending letter bundles to those who need encouragement. She also wrote a book called, The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World. In this book, she shares about the exhaustion she felt from her constantly plugged-in lifestyle and the challenge she undertook to change that — the challenge being unplugging from her device for 1,000 hours in one year!
Her results after completing the challenge are pretty astounding – you’ll hear more about them soon! My hope is after hearing Hannah's story, you'll be empowered to reassess your own relationship with technology and be more present for the things that matter most.
Alright, friends, let’s hop into my conversation with Hannah!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited for today’s episode because you get to hear from two of my favorite humans on the planet, my dear friends, Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor. Marri and Rachel have a brand new kid’s Bible coming out this week called The Book of Belonging and to say I am overjoyed and ecstatic about it is a huge understatement.
I knew I needed to invite them both on the show to not only talk about the book and incredible backstory, but also what the process was like while writing and illustrating it.
I loved this conversation so much because it reminded me that when God stirs our hearts to action, he equips us to do the hard thing, no matter how daunting the task (or how unqualified we feel!).
I can’t wait for you to hear from them! Let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited because today we’re revisiting an amazing conversation I had with my dear friend, Hanna Seymour, a few years ago. If this is your first time meeting her, Hanna is an amazing writer, mentor, Bible teacher, and she’s the host of an incredible podcast called No Matter What with Hanna Seymour. She’s also one of my closest friends, and I just love the conversation we have in store for you!
Here’s a little bit of background on this episode before we dive in:
So, awhile back, I got a message from one of our listeners that just stopped me in my tracks. I’m going to read it to you.
She said, “Hey Stephanie, I have been listening to Girls Night for awhile now, and hearing you and your guests talk a lot about God and having a relationship with Him. I am not a Christian, but I think I might want to be one. I think I might want to have a relationship with God, but I’m not sure what that really means, or where to start. Can you help me?”
I LOVED her question because I remember exactly where I was when I was asking the very same thing. Also, as I was writing her back, I realized that there really aren’t very many resources to help with this specific moment in faith.
If you go to church, or read a book about Christianity, or listen to a Christian podcast, you’re usually walking in the middle of the story. It’s sort of assumed that you’ve started the journey, that you have some background information about God and Jesus, and for a lot of us, that’s not true.
When I became a Christian, I didn’t know ANYTHING about God or Jesus. I had been to church a few times, but I didn’t remember a thing from it. I really was starting from square one. (You’ll get to hear more of that story today!)
In this episode, you’ll hear me ask Hanna all of the questions I was asking at the very beginning of my faith journey.
Questions like:
What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
How do we actually begin a relationship with God?
What kind of life change should we expect to see in becoming a Christian? And what if we become a Christian but our lives don’t really change? What do we do then?
How do we put our full hope and trust in God, even when we can’t physically see Him?
And that’s just the beginning.
If you are new to your faith journey, or if you’re like, “I’m not a Christian, but I have some questions,” this episode is for you.
But also, if you’ve been a Christian for awhile, or even for your whole life, this episode is for you too.
I think so many of us come to a place where our faith just feels a little bit stale. We’ve been doing this forever, and so in some ways, it’s become routine. I know for others of us, we’ve been a Christian for a long time, but we’ve never really had a big transformation moment with God. We hear other people talk about how much God has changed their lives, and while we would LOVE to experience God in such a tangible, life-changing way, that just hasn’t been our story.
If you’re in either of those places, I know this episode will really help.
Guys, I have to be honest with you: This is my favorite episode about faith that we have ever done here on the podcast, and I can’t wait to dive in.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today, we’re revisiting a conversation I had with my friend, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, on setting boundaries.
If you’ve been a Girls Night listener for a while now, this isn’t the first time you’re hearing me talk about boundaries. And it’s because this has been a HUGE lesson for me.
I am historically bad at knowing what I want and what I need — at drawing lines and saying no.
And for the longest time, I was okay with that. (Maybe even a little bit proud of it?)
I like being helpful. I like being needed. I like feeling useful, capable, and strong.
For years I thought that this was the best way to love the people I love: To always put their needs above my needs, to say yes to everything, to give but never take, and to have everything that’s mine be theirs without limit — whether it was my stuff, my space, my time, or my energy.
This is what I thought would lead to the healthiest, closest relationships. But over the last few years I’ve learned that the opposite is true.
Boundaries are an absolutely essential part of healthy relationships. They’re an essential part of a healthy life, of a healthy US.
And that’s what we’re talking about here today.
Our guest, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, is a renowned cardiac anesthesiologist, professor, bestselling author and CEO and Founder of Brave Enough. Sasha is also a wife and a mother who has walked through seasons of loneliness, anxiety, and complete burnout. Needless to say, she has had to learn about boundaries the HARD way.
She wrote a book called, Brave Boundaries: Strategies to Say No, Stand Strong and Take Control of Your Time where she helps us find the courage to implement boundaries in our own life.
Here are just a few of the things she’s going to teach us in this episode:
How to take a personal boundary inventory and identify what boundaries we need
Why saying no to others and yes to ourselves isn’t selfish and can actually help us be a better version of ourselves (and love our people better!)
How to kindly respond to someone if we receive backlash for the boundary we’ve set
And so much more!
One of my favorite things that Sasha says in the episode was, "The world will set your boundaries if you don't set them for yourself” and that couldn't be more true.
Friends, if you’re feeling anxious, burned out, or overwhelmed in life right now, this episode is for you!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today, we’re revisiting a conversation I had with my dear friend, Emily Ley a couple years ago. We’re talking about super busy seasons of life, and how we can bring some order to the chaos!
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 to
How to prioritize what’s most important in your life, your family's life, and in your business’s life
And how to stay consistent in your faith when life feels really busy
If 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!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Okay, friends, today’s episode is going to look a little different than usual! While getting settled in Spain these past few weeks, I haven’t had as much time to record new Girls Night episodes, although that will be changing VERY soon now that I have my little podcast studio set up in our apartment!
In the meantime, over the next few weeks, I 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 revisiting a conversation I had with the incredible Dr. Marisa G. Franco where we talked about making and keeping friendships!
Marisa wrote 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 in
How to not only make new friendships but also keep our friendships
What an attachment style is and how we can figure out what ours is
How to make new friends as an adult and improve the quality of our friendships
And 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!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today my husband, Carl Wilson, is joining me to give you guys the scoop on what it’s been like to pack up our life and move our family to Spain!
We're answering your biggest questions about our move abroad — sharing the emotional highs and lows of leaving behind our life in Nashville and living out our dream, all while navigating life with two toddlers.
This transition has been a wild ride, but it's already taught us valuable lessons about embracing change and living intentionally. We can't wait to share our story and inspire you to do the same – to live a life that's authentic, meaningful, and truly yours.
Okay friends, let’s jump into the episode!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today, we're talking about how to stay true to who you are no matter what changes life brings your way
I'm looking forward to diving into this topic because, let's face it, change can be tough — and even tougher when it affects our livelihood or loved ones. This conversation felt incredibly timely and relevant considering I’m in the midst of a major life transition myself, having moved my family to Spain. And I know I’m not the only one — so many women in our community are walking through big changes in their lives as well.
So that’s what we’re diving into today!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Najwa Zebian. Najwa is a Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, speaker, and educator. Since self-publishing her first collection of poetry and prose in 2016, Najwa has become an inspiration to millions of people worldwide and a trailblazing voice for women everywhere - name dropped by the New York Times, The Huffington Post, and CBS News, among others. She has published books of poetry and self-development that followed her journey of healing, building a home within, letting go of her conditioning and reinventing herself. Her newest book, The Only Constant, explores the power of embracing change.
My hope is that by hearing Najwa's story — one of hope, power and resilience — you will have the courage to make change in your own life and fully embrace the person you were created to be!
Okay, you ready? Let’s dive into our conversation!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking with my new friend, Joanna Gott. Joanna is a first time single mom through international adoption and the Content Director for Emily Lex Studios — Emily Lex is an amazing watercolor artist, author, and her childhood best friend!
And today, Joanna is sharing all about her story and what the adoption journey looked like for her!
I wanted to have this conversation because I know there're so many women — both single and married — in our community who are interested in adoption, but aren’t sure where to begin. You might be asking questions like, “Is it harder to adopt a child as a single parent?” or “How much does adoption cost and are there any ways to find support?” Joanna is going to help us through all of this!
Before we dive in, I want to let you know that we ran into a few technical issues when starting the episode, so her introduction and part of the first question is missing. Because of that, Joanna was so gracious to give us a little recap of her introduction and some context for her background and story.
So, as I mentioned, Joanna is a mom and the Content Director for Emily Lex Studios. Her fun fact is that she knows the entire dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller video and she once won first place in a Michael Jackson Thriller dance contest. Incredible. Right!?
After this, I asked her the first “How She Does It” question, which was this –
"Here on the show, we’re talking about what I like to call… The Everything Era — this weird, wonderful, and wildly difficult span of years between our late 20s and early 40s during which we make the most biographically significant decisions of our lives (Career, marriage, motherhood, and more!) —all at the same time—and in front of an audience, no less. It’s a LOT. There’s so much pressure, specifically on women, for our lives to look a certain way, and by a certain time.
So, to start, can you tell us what this has looked like for you? What are some of the biggest “supposed tos” you wrestled with during your Everything Era?"
Here was Joanna’s answer:
“The biggest challenge for me in this era was that I was at a point in my life when things should be getting "settled" and it all kind of fell apart. My marriage of 10 years ended, my career came to a screeching halt, I was not actively pursuing a relationship with God, and suddenly this "life plan" I thought I had just didn't exist. So in my mid to late thirties I made the decision to start all over. I sold everything I owned (my house, car, all my furniture) and moved to Waco, TX where I did not know a single soul and started a brand new job. It was terrifying and hard to let go of how I imagined my life would look, but it was also such a beautiful season of growth and refinement.”
Okay, more on that in the episode! Joanna is the best and her story truly embodies what it looks like to create a life you love on your own terms.
Again, our conversation will start a little abruptly, but you’ll catch on really fast!
Alright, let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. As you guys know (as I hope you know!) my family and I just moved to Spain! I’m sitting in our Airbnb in Granada right now as I record this, so I definitely have travel on the brain. That’s why today we’re talking about travel points — specifically how to maximize your travel credit card points so you never have to pay for a plane ticket again!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Abby Hatteberg. Abby is the owner of Wayfaren, Dallas mom of 3, who’s attempting to travel the world with her favorite people. She teaches others how to maximize their credit card points and miles to take multiple bucket list trips a year...for nearly free! Abby and her family have traveled to places like Italy, Hawaii, Switzerland, Disneyland, Cabo San Lucas, Norway, and SO many more for a true FRACTION of the actual cost...and she wants to teach YOU to do the same!
In the episode, she’ll be sharing how travel points work, what’s the best card to get started with, how to use your credit cards responsibly (and not wrack up tons of debt or ruin your credit), and so much more!
If travel is something you’ve always wanted to do, but it just feels way too expensive, make sure you tune in, because Abby is giving us all of the steps we need to take to make this a reality!
Last note here: I have travel credit cards and the points we’ve earned from them have made a massive difference in our ability to travel over the last 10 years or so. BUT, in this episode, I learned SO MUCH that I didn’t know AT ALL. I cannot wait to put into practice the things Abby taught me and I’m so happy you get to hear from her too!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to better understand yourself and your kids using the Enneagram.
Since the Enneagram has gained popularity in the past few years, I’m guessing most of you are at least somewhat familiar, but, if you need a refresher, The Enneagram Test is basically a personality assessment to help us know ourselves better and to help us overcome some of the roadblocks in our lives and become the best versions of ourselves.
I personally love using the Enneagram because it has helped me understand my heart and my mind and my personality SO MUCH BETTER.
But, something I haven’t spent as much time on is learning how I can use Enneagram as a tool to better understand my kids and learn how they feel and process things. And that’s why I cannot wait to share today’s conversation!
Our guest for today’s episode is my friend, Beth McCord. Beth is an accomplished Enneagram speaker, author, coach, and teacher with over two decades of dedicated experience. Her passion lies in helping individuals rewrite their life stories, empowering them to realize that lasting change and meaningful relationships are possible. Beth's mission led to the creation of the Your Enneagram Coach community—a nurturing space where individuals safely explore the Enneagram. Her most recent book is called, The Enneagram for Moms: See the True Colors of Yourself and Your Children as God Intends, and I cannot wait for you to hear more about it!
I absolutely loved this conversation and I know you’re going to love it too!
Here’s my conversation with Beth.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today we’re continuing our brand new series on the Girls Night Podcast called, “How She Does It.”
About once a month we do a profile of a woman who’s living a beautifully, unique life and we'll get to hear the behind-the-scenes of how she does it.
We’ll also talk about what things she does or, maybe more importantly, doesn’t do to make it all happen!
The idea for this series came to me while I was writing my new book, Create A Life You Love, and so I want to read you the passage that inspired it.
Over the years, I’ve spent more and more time looking for women who are breaking the mold—creating lives that look like them and feel like them and work for them. And the more I see, the more I notice, the more empowered I feel to create my own life in a way that’s a little different, a little outside the lines, but that looks like me, feels like me, and works for me and my family. — Create a life you love
That's my hope for these episodes.
I’m so excited about today’s episode because we’re talking to my dear friend, Christy Wright. Christy is an author, podcaster, certified business coach, dynamic speaker and personal development expert. I’ve been a huge fan of Christy for years — she’s truly one of the most inspiring women I know!
The plan for the episode was to go through all of my usual questions that I ask for this series. Questions like “What “supposed to’s” have you wrestled with in your Everything Era?” and “How did you do things differently?”
We made it through the first two or three and then totally changed gears… but in the best way possible!
This conversation is one I wasn’t expecting, but totally needed, and I think you’ll feel the same way. We talk about listening to God’s voice, interpreting signs, following God’s lead (even when it feels scary), and so much more!
Christy has so much faith and wisdom — you’re going to love her! Okay, let’s dive into the conversation!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about How to make your travel dreams a reality.
I’m excited about this episode because if you’re anything like me, you want to travel and explore new places, but there’s a few things that tend to hold you back.
First, traveling is expensive. You really want to make travel a priority, but between plane tickets, lodging costs, and other travel expenses, it gets to be a lot.
Two, you don’t know who to travel with. Maybe you’re single and not sure if you want to travel solo or you're married but it seems like none of your friends are able to travel.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone, but today’s guest is going to help us!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Whitney Haldeman. Whitney is a Luxury Travel Advisor and Founder of Blonde Atlas, a luxury boutique travel company that provides planning services for individual clients, as well as group tours for women called Atlas Adventures. She is passionate about connecting like-minded women who have a shared love for travel.
In this episode, she’s helping us figure out how to incorporate travel into our lives no matter our budget or whether or not we have someone to go with.
One of my favorite tips she shares is splitting time between budget friendly lodging and luxury lodging — more about that in the episode!
If you have the itch to explore and want to make your travel dreams a reality, this episode is for you! Okay, let’s hop into my conversation with Whitney!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode.
When writing my book, Create a Life You Love, I did a ton of research on what life has been like for women throughout history. One of the biggest themes I’ve found is that throughout history, women have had next to no authority over their lives. And while that’s been getting better — we have more options today than any generation of women in history, we also are carrying more than any generation of women in history, because the more we’re able to “do it all” the more we’re being expected to actually, “DO IT ALL.”
That’s why I cannot wait for you to hear from today’s guest!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Paula Faris. Paula is a journalist, author and Founder of CARRY Media, which advocates for working moms. Paula’s mission is to make sure being a working mom works!
One of my favorite parts of the episode is when she talks about the “mom default” and why so much of the load seems to be left in the hands of women — and what we can do to change that!
Paula is funny, and brilliant, and an advocate for real change — you are going to love this conversation! Let’s hop into the episode!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
A few weeks ago, my husband Carl and I hosted a virtual live girls night of sorts with the incredible crew of women who helped me launch my new book, Create A Life You Love.
Nothing was off the table — we had them send in any and all questions they had for us, and we answered as many of them as we could.
We made sure to record that Q&A session, and I’m so glad, because now we get to share it with you.
In this episode, we’re talking about marriage, dating, pursuing your dreams, and we’ll be answering a few questions about moving to Spain — what that looks like and what we’re most excited about!
This was such a fun conversation to have, especially with mine and Carl’s 10 year wedding anniversary coming up in early July!
So, without further ado, let’s dive into my conversation with my husband, Carl Wilson!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to become an informed voter and avoid misinformation on the internet.
I’m excited about this episode because if you’re anything like me, you feel the weight of the political tension happening in our world right now – especially as we’re inching closer to election time! Your social media feeds are filled with everyone and their mom’s opinions on leaders and policies and, before you know it, you’re feeling angry, frustrated, and confused. And, on top of all of that, you’re wondering if your vote will actually make a difference or if it will just get lost in a giant pool of people.
Friends, if you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone and I cannot wait to introduce you to today’s guest!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend and go-to politics guru, Sharon McMahon. Sharon is on a mission to curate facts, fun, and inspiration by educating Americans on democracy, politics, and history. After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon took her passion for education to social media to combat political misinformation with non-partisan facts.
In this episode she’s helping us figure out which news sources are helpful and which ones might be unhelpful, why our votes matter, how to manage our mental health during elections, and how to set boundaries with family members around political conversations (and avoid arguments).
Friends, I love this episode because it’s a (actually fun) conversation about politics (for the girl who hates politics! 🤣).
No matter what political party you align with, this episode will help you find out what’s most important to you so that you can make an informed decision this November.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I am so excited for what we have going on this week. Put on your coziest sweatpants and listen in, because today we’re talking all about boobs!
I’m excited about this episode, because, if you're anything like me, you haven’t spent a ton of time learning about your breast health. Sure, you know the basics and they’re a part of who you are, but you also have some questions that maybe you’ve been too embarrassed or uncomfortable to ask. Questions like “Is it normal to experience pain in xyz scenario?”, “Should I be doing a self breast exam and how often,?” or “How do I control my boob sweat?”.
Also — as we go through life, are there things we’re supposed to know about our boobs? Ways we’re supposed to take care of them? I wasn’t aware of any for so long, and I always worried that I was missing something.
If you can relate to any of those things, I’m so glad you get to hear this conversation!
Our guest for today’s show is Dr. Gillian Goddard. Gillian is an endocrinologist in private practice in New York City and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. I first discovered her work after reading an article she collaborated on with Emily Oster from Parent Data called An Owner's Manual for Breasts. The research was so helpful and informative, so I knew we needed to have her on!
This episode is especially close to my heart right now, because I had a bit of a health scare last week. I had my second ever mammogram, and thought it would be a simple check-up. But it turns out, they needed to go in to take another look, and then I actually ended up having to get a biopsy!
Thankfully, I’m totally fine. The spot was benign. But that experience has me more resolved than ever to talk about things on the show that are just not talked about enough.
Our bodies are incredible — and they’re also kinda complicated sometimes — but thankfully, we don’t have to figure ANY of this out alone. Let’s dive into the episode!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to get on the same page about household responsibilities with your spouse.
Question for you –
Do you and your spouse (or partner or roommate) ever have a hard time figuring out who is responsible for managing certain household tasks? This could apply to chores, paying bills, or making meals.
Okay, another question for you –
Are you frustrated because the majority of household tasks always seem to fall on you?
Friends, I’ve lived in that tension before, but, today’s guest (and her book) changed everything for me and my relationships in general!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Eve Rodsky. Eve is an expert on the gender division of labor. She wrote one of my favorite books called, Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). In it, she discusses the issue of unequal labor in the home, why this is hurting our relationships, and what we can do to fix it.
One of my favorite parts of the episode is when she explains the concept of being the “She Fault” and why so much of the domestic work falls in the hands of women. More about that soon!
Friends, whether you’re married, engaged, single, or dating, I know there’s something for you in this episode!
Okay, one more quick thing before we dive in –
I wanted to let you know that there are a handful of cuss words in this episode, so if you’re listening with tiny ears around that repeat everything like my girls do, maybe put some headphones in for this conversation!
Alright, let’s jump into my conversation with Eve!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about why it’s so important that we stop trying to be the “perfect” Christian.
Tell me if any of this sounds familiar to you:
You try to do all of the “right” things like pray and read your Bible, but sometimes it feels like you’re checking boxes off a to-do list rather than experiencing real intimacy with God.
Or maybe you feel like you need to do X,Y, & Z, you fill in the blanks, in order to be a “good Christian” or person of faith.
Or, if you don’t have your quiet time (or whatever the thing is you feel you’re supposed to do), you feel like a bad Christian and that God must be disappointed in you.
Does any of this resonate with you? If so, I want you to know you’re not alone and we’re going to work through this together.
Our guest for today’s episode is Kimberly Stuart. Kim is a writer, speaker and podcaster. Her most recent book is called, Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit): Rediscovering the Grace that Sets Us Free. In it, she’s reminding us that our faith is not about trying to be good enough or doing all of the right things — instead, it’s about accepting the free gift of God’s grace.
Kim is hilarious and warm and relatable and wise. I can’t wait for you to meet her.
One of my favorite quotes Kim says in the episode is this, “There is more than enough grace to cushion every single fall every single day.” Yes and amen to that!
I hope this conversation reminds you how loved you are and that there’s room for everyone at God’s table! Okay, let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about friendship, specifically how to navigate friendship conflict and find forever friends.
To help us with this, I invited a Girls Night favorite back on the show, my dear friend, Danielle Bayard Jackson! Danielle is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections. She has a brand new book out called, Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships.
This book offers the strategies we all need when navigating our friendships and she’s sharing several of those strategies with us in today’s conversation! She’s also sharing more about “friend types” and how to know which one you are!
One of my favorite moments of the episode was when she shared her advice for setting boundaries in your friendships. Y’all need to listen in, because you’re going to LOVE what she has to say about this!
Okay, friends, make yourself cozy — here’s my conversation with Danielle!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to stay present even if you’re not exactly where you want to be in life.
I’m excited about this episode because if you’re anything like me, when you’re going through a waiting season, all you want to do is skip forward and get to the “good part” where it feels like you have your life together again. Or maybe you want to skip ahead because what you’re currently facing — in your job, in parenting, in a relationship — is too hard, too messy, or not at all where you pictured you would be at this time in your life.
Friends, I get it. I’ve been there too. But the more waiting seasons I’ve lived through, the more that I’ve discovered that they're not something to wish away. They’re actually something to lean into, and today’s guest is going to teach all about this!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Ruth Chou Simons. Ruth is a bestselling author of several books and Bible studies, an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and speaker, using each of these platforms to sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. I’ve been a fan of Ruth for years and love the work that she does. Her newest book is called, Now and Not Yet: Pressing in When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More.
In the description she says this book is showing us how to “embrace the biblical truth that someday is made up of thousands of right nows” and that’s really what this episode is all about!
If you’re feeling stuck in your current circumstances, I hope today’s conversation is the reminder you need that no season is wasted and it’s possible to grow in the right here and right now.
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I’m so excited about today’s episode.
Here’s the thing — we’ve all been there. We’ve all had days where it feels like our emotions are getting the best of us or our minds can’t stop racing. These moments are so frustrating because often we think, “I shouldn’t be feeling this way” — but still, we do! And these feelings have a way of impacting every facet of our lives — our relationships, our career, our body image and so much more!
But, the truth is, it’s okay to feel our emotions, what matters is how we respond to them!
Our guest for today’s episode is Dr. Alison Cook. Alison is a psychologist, podcast host, and the author of three books, including her newest book called, I Shouldn't Feel This Way: Name What’s Hard, Tame Your Guilt, and Transform Self-Sabotage into Brave Action. For 20 years, Alison has helped women, ministry leaders, couples, and families learn how to heal painful emotions, develop confidence from the inside out, forge healthy relationships, and fully live out their God-given potential.
One of my favorite parts of the episode was when Alison shared her strategy on how to “name, tame, and transform” our thoughts. I will be using this all of the time!
Friends, my hope is that you leave this episode feeling like you have a better grasp on how to navigate your tricky emotions and have more compassion for yourself.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today, I’m so excited to read a section from my new book, Create A Life You Love.
Did you know that the average woman makes most of her biggest life decisions between her 25th and 35th birthdays? Who you are, what you want to do with your life, where you’ll call home, who your people are, which person you’ll share your life with, and whether you’ll have kids—there's major pressure (internal, external, and even biological) to decide the major plot points of our lives, all within just a few short years.
My book, Create a life You love, is a guided journey of self-discovery, helping you take the pressure off what you think your life is supposed to look like by now and intentionally, confidently, and authentically build the life you actually want to live — a life that looks and feels like YOU.
The book comes out THIS WEEK, and you can order or purchase a copy wherever books are sold. I’m SO excited and honored to share this with you. Okay, so for today’s episode, I want to actually read a section of the book to you! Eeek, I can’t wait to share this with you. Let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about how to decorate your home (when you’re not a professional home designer).
Decorating a home can feel challenging because there are so many different components to consider, but, like most things in life, there are some guidelines we can follow to help make things a little bit easier!
To walk us through this, I invited a Girls Night favorite back on the show and that’s my dear friend and home design enthusiast, Myquillyn Smith. Myquillyn, also known on social media as “The Nester,” believes every home has a silver lining. She's created a beautiful home in 15 different houses and she loves teaching how to create beauty in imperfect circumstances. She recently wrote a book called, House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget. In it, she shares 100 universal decorating truths that apply to every house. One of my favorite rules that she shares is, “you can’t ruin something you already hate” — more about that in the episode!
This episode inspired me to look at my home through a new lens and I hope it does the same for you! Ready? Let’s dive in!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today you’ll hear the advice I WISH I would have had when I was single.
Today’s episode is going to look a little different than usual. If you’ve been around our Girls Night community for a while, you know that it’s girls only. (With the occasional exception of my husband Carl). Today, we’re breaking that rule — but I promise it’s for a really good reason!
Our guest for today’s episode is my long-time friend, Ryan Wekenman. Ryan and I met back in college at a campus ministry we were both a part of, but today he’s the teaching pastor at a church called Red Rocks Austin. He recently wrote an incredible book called, Single Today: Conquer Yesterday's Regrets, Ditch Tomorrow's Worries, and Thrive Right Where You Are.
In this episode, Ryan is sharing his journey as an unmarried pastor for over a decade. He has such a unique perspective on this topic and I knew we needed to have him on! Ryan is the REAL DEAL.
He’ll talk us through some of the biggest struggles we all face when we’re single — “How do I respond to a relative who keeps nagging me about my relationship status?” “How do I stop comparing my timeline to the other people in my life?” “Can I experience intimacy even as a single person?” “Is there something wrong with me for wanting to be single?” or “Is there something wrong with me because I’m not married yet?” And that’s just the beginning!
If you’re a single person in your twenties or thirties, I hope this episode will bring you so much encouragement and remind you that you’re not alone!
Okay, ready? Let’s dive into my conversation with Ryan!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
I’m so excited about today’s episode. Today we’re talking about why your 20s & 30s are some of the most important years of your life and how you can make the most of them!
To walk us through this, I invited none other than the twentysomethings expert herself, Dr. Meg Jay. Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in twentysomethings. I read her book, The Defining Decade, about a decade ago, and it totally changed my life. And she actually has a new book releasing this week called, The Twentysomething Treatment which is about young adult mental health — I cannot wait for you to hear more about it!
In our conversation, Meg is teaching us why the twentysomething (and thirtysomething) years are so critical in shaping who we are. Along with that, she’s sharing her research on the young adult mental health crisis in America and her best solutions for improving your mental health, and your life in general!
My hope is that you’ll walk out of this episode feeling less alone knowing that it’s totally normal to struggle with life in your 20s or 30s, but also, feeling so equipped to take your next steps forward. You don’t have to do this alone!
Okay, you ready? Here’s my conversation with Meg!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
As you may know, I have a new book coming out soon called Create a Life You Love and in it I tackle what I call the Everything Era — that wildly confusing decade-ish where we have to make some of the most significant decisions of our lives, typically all at the same time.
I've spent the last 10 years wrestling with these big life decisions and the pressure that comes with them — and I've talked to countless women who are doing the same. But I didn't know it was a thing — actually a thing — until two years ago when I heard a statistic I will never, ever forget.
In a rare study of life-span development, researchers at Boston University and the University of Michigan found that 80% of our life’s most defining moments happen before we turn 35. In fact, the average woman makes the majority of her biggest life decisions in the decade between her 25th and 35th (ish) birthdays.
So… I wasn't exaggerating, it wasn't my imagination, this season of life is actually as big, and hard, and consequential as it feels. So that's when I started to dig. I needed more information. I wanted to know more about what's happening in us during these years, and what's happening around us.
I also started to wonder what these years have looked like for the generations of women who have gone before us, because I realized I didn't actually know.
I have learned SO MUCH as I’ve heard stories of women from past generations. The more I’ve learned about women’s history, the more I understand why our lives look the way they do today.
This is why I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest!
Our guest for today’s episode is my new friend, Sarah Gristwood. Sarah is a former film journalist and now writes books about women’s history. Her most recent is called, Secret Voices: A Year of Women’s Diaries. In it, she analyzes a collection of excerpts from women’s diaries, looking back over four centuries to discover how women’s experience—of men and children, sex and shopping, work and the natural world—has changed down the years. And, of course, how it hasn’t.
I LOVED this conversation, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Before we dive in, I wanted to read you just a little snippet of my new book, Create A Life You Love — because in it, I explain why learning about women’s history has meant so much to me.
“Recognizing the pressures women have been under throughout history helps me feel like I’m not alone. I’m part of a large sisterhood, and I’m honored to be.
This truth is especially helpful to me during times when I start to wonder if the pressure I’m feeling is imagined—if the expectations I’m sensing are really as heavy and forceful as they feel.
As I look back at the centuries of pressure and expectations and opinions about women’s lives and how they should spend them, I see that yes, this actually is as big as it feels. And that’s so validating. It helps me be kinder to myself as I navigate all of this. I hope it helps you too.”
“Not only is it helpful for me to know that this pressure isn’t new—that women have always had people breathing down their necks telling them what they should do and how they should live—but also, the more I find out about the expectations placed on women throughout history, the more I understand why some of the decisions I’m trying to make in my own life today feel so heavy.”
You guys, Sarah is the best. I can’t wait for you to meet her. You ready? Let’s dive in.
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
Today’s episode is going to be a little different than usual! A few weeks ago, my new friend, Jacqueline Genova, invited me to be a guest on her podcast called How to be Wellnstrong. We talked about all different types of transitions women face in their 20s and 30s — and we talked so much about dating and breakups and what I wish I could go back and tell myself in the midst of all of that.
I loved our conversation so much, I asked Jacqueline if I could share it here with you guys! She was so gracious to say yes and so that’s the episode you’ll hear today! Jacqueline is in the interview chair, and I’m answering the questions!
We’re going to be talking about…
How to heal from a hard breakup
What to do if your friend gets into a relationship or marriage before you do
How to be happy for your friends even when you’re still waiting
How to navigate the dating scene
Why you should give online dating another try
And that’s just the beginning!
I’m so excited to share this conversation with you!
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Hey friends! Welcome to Girls’ Night!
On the show today, we’re talking about how to decide if you should stay where you are, move to a new city, or move back home.
To walk us through this I invited my dear friend, book editor, and now literary agent, Carly Kellerman, to join us!
In this episode, Carly is sharing the story of leaving her home and community in Michigan for a season to move to Nashville. She was leaving SO much behind with that move — a support system and a home she LOVED — but she’ll say that leaving it all behind for a season was one of the best decisions she ever made. I can’t wait for you to hear why.
But then, we’re talking about the decision she made a handful of years later to move back home and she walks us through the expectations and fears and insecurities she had to overcome when making that decision.
Friends, if you’ve ever contemplated moving to a new city or moving back home, but you’re not sure what your next steps should be, this conversation is for you!
One of my favorite things Carly says in the episode is this: "You have to take the steps in front of you and do it with boldness and hope and strategy and faith." Yes to that!
You ready? Let’s dive in!
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I loved hearing this episode! It was very encouraging for me in my season right now.
This episode was exactly what I needed to here! Stephanie, you are an amazing speaker and haven't great women to help us all. Carrie, your ability to not fear rejection is inspiring!
I loved this! Such good advice. Thank you! :)
Thank you so much! I also struggle with emotions but I feel blessed after listening to this and understanding better the role they play in our life. God bless you! I love this podcast truly! :))
Loved this episode so much! Great advice and I wish I had known of all these things much earlier. Thank you and God bless! 💗
Great episode with practical tips! Thank you!
Loved it! Thanks for a great episode. Also just love this amazing podcast ! :)
This was an amazing podcast. I want to build my community of girlfriends but I'm working and getting my masters. Any Advice?
I love listening to these podcasts!😍😍 A highlight everytime!
the girl's night podcast is one of my favorite parts of the week! I drive a lot for work, so to have a podcast that feels like home in the car with me is such a gift. Stephanie and her pals (and Carl, her hubs) make you feel loved, seen, heard, and there's no fake stuff going on, either. this podcast covers all kinds of topics that you already love to chat about with your girls, or that you wish you could chat about! it's honest, it's real, it's hilarious and it truly feels like you've been welcomed in to the coolest inner circle of incredible, badass women who want you to be the best version of yourself possible. I love it. if you've been searching for a podcast that somehow feels like a real life wine, pizza and real talk party, you've found it. Jesus is made known, the gospel radiates, and man does it make you laugh. and ya know what, if Jesus isnt your thing, you're still going to feel so welcome and loved. Stephanie encourages and empowers in a way that makes you feel supported an
Fun personal connection to Amy Hannon- I'm from NWA and her husband Sam was a youth pastor at my church. Amy's store is tight down the road from my parents' house