For Real with Kimberly Stuart

Stephanie May Wilson hosts a wildly successful podcast, Girls Night, and is the author of a brand-new book titled Create A Life You Love: How to Quiet Outside Voices So You Can Finally Hear Your Own. This woman’s heart is for folks wading through what she calls The Everything Era. Between roughly the ages 25 to 35, we make so many formational and transformational decisions. The whole idea can get a tad overwhelming, both for the people living it and for the ones who love them. In this episode, Stephanie offers sound advice, a compassionate heart, and practical tips on building a life that’s made uniquely for you. 8x author and top podcaster Stephanie May Wilson is on a mission to be who she needed when she was younger—walking women through life’s biggest decisions and transitions. Through her books, her podcast, and her online courses, Stephanie helps women take off the pressure of what their lives are “supposed to” look like by now, figure out where they actually want to go in life, and take steps to get there. Stephanie’s been featured on NBC, the Anthropologie blog, and Relevant magazine. She has also been a longtime blog contributor for CNBC’s Nightly Business Report, Darling magazine, and the Christian Mingle blog. When she’s not writing, speaking, or recording a podcast episode, Stephanie is usually packing for a global adventure with her husband, Carl, laughing with her close tribe of girlfriends, or curled up in her Nashville home with her twin toddlers, Annie and Quinn. Find her online at StephanieMayWilson.com and Instagram @smaywilson. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I’m happy to say we have a VIP guest for this episode. Marc Stuart is in the studio. I may have to encourage and persuade a tad bit more than my usual guest interactions, but he did it! And I loved it. Nobody knows me better, cheers for me harder, or can provide behind the scenes more diplomatically than Marc. It was a total joy to force him to talk into a microphone, and I’m pretty sure he still loves me. You can judge for yourself in this very rare and very delightful conversation with the one and only Marc Stuart. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Dr. Nijay Gupta is my bright and thoughtful guest on this episode. Dr. Gupta is a professor at Northern Seminary, and he’s also the author of a book I drank in, marked up, and talked out loud to the entire time I was reading it. It’s that kind of book. Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church, made me wonder how I’ve read the names of real women in the Bible, some of them over and over, and yet didn’t know their stories or the way their stories intersect with ALL of our stories. A conversation that inspired me, taught me, and made me cry off mic, listen in to my chat with Dr. Nijay Gupta. Nijay K. Gupta is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He has written or edited over twenty books including Paul and the Language of Faith, A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies and the award-winner and best-selling book Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. His latest book is called Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling. He also serves as a senior translator for the New Living Translation and co-hosts the popular podcast Slow Theology with Dr. AJ Swoboda. Find him on Instagram @nijay.gupta. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Today I am joined by a remarkable woman. Aundi Kolber is an author, speaker, and therapist, and her books Try Softer and Strong Like Water are insightful, kind, compassionate and so wise. Aundi is a trauma expert and a trauma survivor, and I trust her so profoundly to give sound counsel on a really difficult subject. This conversation is for you if you have been through or are going through trauma, or you know someone who has or is surviving something traumatic. Pretty sure that covers all of us. Listen in as Aundi beautifully reminds us we are not alone and that we are made to be free, whole and flourishing.  Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and the author of the critically acclaimed Try Softer and her best-selling book Strong like Water. She has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi has appeared on Good Morning America, regularly speaks at national events, and is a frequent guest on podcasts such as The Lazy Genius, Typology, and The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Find her on Instagram @aundikolber. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I’m excited for you to eavesdrop on a conversation I had recently with Sarah Bragg. Sarah is a Tennessee girl, mom of two, and the host of the Surviving Sarah podcast. She’s also the author of a new book that tackles all the questions that keep us up at night, especially as we sally forth into midlife. Is Everyone Happier Than Me? gives solid counsel on what it means to stay curious with ourselves and those around us so we don’t miss the good stuff. I think you’ll love this candid and practical conversation with my friend Sarah Bragg. Sarah Bragg is a well-loved communicator and author, you can find her hosting the popular podcast Surviving Sarah. Her latest book is Is Everyone Happier Than Me?: An Honest Guide to the Questions that Keep You Up at Night. She is also the author of A Mother’s Guide to Raising Herself: What Parenting Taught Me About Life, Faith and Myself. She is a wife, mother of girls, and a creative entrepreneur. Sarah is a master at brewing coffee and helping others survive well right where they are. Sarah and her family reside in Tennessee. Check out her podcast, Surviving Sarah, and find her on Instagram @sarahwbragg Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Boy, oh boy, do we have a super fun conversation for you on this episode! I made it exactly zero percent in before needing an inhaler for laughing so hard, if that gives you any indication. Taylor Hughes is making a repeat appearance on For Real, and there’s just something about talking about life with a close friend. Taylor does all sorts of fun things, like solo performing as a magician/storyteller/comedian, going on bus tours with our friend Bob Goff, making Netflix and YouTube specials, and now releasing his second book. We talk about it all and we still didn’t have enough time. That’s what happens with good friends, of course, and I’m so happy you are here to be a part of it all. Listen in to the fun and delight and generosity that is my dear friend, Taylor Hughes. Taylor Hughes fell in love with the art of illusion as a child when his parents bought him a magic kit for his birthday. More than 30 years and 3,000 shows later, Taylor has become known for his signature style of Magic Storytelling. He is the Author of Road to Wonder and has 2 Comedy Magic Specials currently streaming: Chasing Wonder on Amazon Prime and Enjoy The Ride on YouTube. His second book MISDIRECTION: A Magician’s Guide to Spotting and Avoiding Manipulation in Your Life is available for preorder and releases everywhere on February 13, 2024. Taylor is married to his high school sweetheart Katie and they live in Southern California with their two daughters Madelyn and Kennedy. Find Taylor on Instagram @magicstoryteller Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I’m telling you, this conversation was a buoy for my heart. Nick Connolly is a pastor and podcaster, he’s a church planter, and he is, as we will discuss, a statistic buster. He knows a lot about persistence, about pressing on, about taking God up on promises that can feel out of reach. I love the bravery of this conversation. You guys know I’m here for the real answers to real questions, and Nick is our guy, trust me. So listen in and get a shot of courage and tenacity with the pride of Charleston, Nick Connolly. Nick Connolly is the founding and lead pastor of Bright City Church, a ten-year-old faith community located in the heart of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Not only is Nick passionate about church, he and his wife, Jess, have started multiple small businesses and love how business can be used for the Kingdom. Nick and Jess live in Charleston with their four kids: Elias, Glory, Benja, and Cannon. Find him on Instagram @nconnolly. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

In today’s episode, I’m delighted to bring you some fantastic ways to use all those bookstore gift cards burning holes in your pockets. My guest is Meagan Briggs of the Instagram bookstagrammer fame. First of all, I didn’t know bookstagrammer was a word, and second, Meagan is very good at her job. The woman has a busy life, three kids, a husband she loves, a strange affection for running marathons and yet! She reads hundreds of books a year and gives honest reviews to her following. I have found so many wonderful books through her recommendations, so I was delighted she agreed to sit down and chat with me about all things books! Meagan has been a bookstagrammer for 4 years and strives to bring her followers authentic book reviews and book content. She also runs a monthly online book club through Instagram, and they have the best time chatting together and listening to authors share about their books. Find her on instagram @meagansbookclub. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I’m so happy to introduce a return guest to the pod, my mom Patti. No one makes me laugh like my mom, no one has taught me more about faith and courage and pursuing crazy dreams with prayer and humility, and no one gives me more pushback to be a podcast guest like my mom. I love her and am grateful she not only said yes again this year but that she also brought with her Williams Sonoma hot chocolate as a gift. (From here on, I think Patti should contact podcast guests to ask what they’re bringing to recording sessions.) Hot chocolate in hand, Mom and I and the entire Stuart crew wish you and yours a very merry Christmas full of awe, wonder, and a new wash of grace that meets you right where you stand. Comfort and joy in equal measure to you, friends. And so much love, for real. Visit ⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠ for more from this episode.

A couple of weeks ago, I was hearing over and over in my conversations with friends how much stress and confusion and YOWZA come with the holidays. I love this season. I’m probably baking something as you read these words. I’m in. AND I also know this season comes with its fair share of extra. Extra chaos, extra scramble, extra hosting, extra outpouring, even extra grief. So I asked a question online and in private conversations: If you had the luxury of having your own relationship expert on call during the holidays, what would you want to ask? Oh, man, did the floodgates open. And my guest April Bordeau knew just what to do. April is a phenomenal therapist with over thirty years of experience. She’s a founder and the managing director of Care To Change, a counseling center in the Indianapolis area, and she was kind enough to join me in a late-night recording session. We tackle all sorts of things, so buckle up and listen to this super helpful and practical conversation with April Bordeau. April is licensed as a clinical social worker. She is a Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner and certified educator and a Prepare-Enrich & SYMBIS pre-marriage and marriage facilitator. She is trained in Experiential Therapy, Crisis Intervention Teams and NOVA crisis intervention, Theraplay, and the Suicide PAIR program and is certified in EMDR. April is a QPR Master Trainer, is an approved Focus on the Family Counselor, serving on their Michigan Hope Restored marriage intensive team. April is also a Guide for Onsite who offers world-renowned emotional wellness retreats, therapeutic intensives, residential trauma care, and digital resources. April and her husband, Randy (also a certified Prepare/Enrich Marriage Facilitator, and marriage retreat facilitator), have been married for over twenty five years and they have two teenagers. Learn more about why April started Care to Change in this interview on Care to Change’s podcast. Find her on Instagram @april_bordeau_therapist and @care_to_change. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Ashlee Gadd is probably best known for creating Coffee + Crumbs, a life-infusing, creative corner of the internet where moms write and make and share and grow. Ashlee has done this work herself and wrote this beautiful book (her own photography included) called Create Anyway: Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood. We talk about how to continue to create during full (or outright hysterical) seasons, permission slips for moms, and how to get a little less precious about perfect conditions for creativity. We are all wired to make things, so whether your idea of creativity is to write a sonnet or to make spreadsheet into a color-coded extravaganza, this conversation is for you.  Ashlee Gadd is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs--a beautiful online space where motherhood and storytelling intersect. As a writer and photographer, Ashlee has spent her entire motherhood creating in the margins. When she's not writing or vacuuming Cheerios out of the carpet, she loves making friends on the internet, eating cereal for dinner, and rearranging bookshelves. She and her husband have three kids and live in Northern California. Learn more at ashleegadd.com, coffeeandcrumbs.net, and Instagram @coffeeandcrumbs. Visit ⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Today I get the chance to chat with a woman who had a crazy idea that made a lot of people give her the side-eye, but she stuck with it and boy, did it work! Stephanie Nelson, known as the Coupon Mom, took her love of clipping coupons (I didn’t even know there was a love like that), and she turned it into millions of dollars worth of donated groceries and a lot of really happy people who saved money for their families. And her heart is to help people find their own superpower and use it for good. I think you’ll love hearing from the woman who has single-handedly redeemed the Costco mailer for me. Stephanie Nelson is the founder of the Coupon Mom website, which launched the coupon movement that took America by storm in 2008. As a savings expert, Stephanie has appeared on many national and local television news shows, including Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her entrepreneurial Coupon Mom concept started a national cottage industry of other “coupon moms” as she inspired women to start profitable websites in their communities. Her book The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half was a New York Times bestseller. Stephanie currently hosts her podcast, Pivotal People. Find her online at StephanieNelson.com, her podcast Pivotal People, and on instagram @stephanie_nelson_cm. Visit ⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Dr. Emily Smith is a rock star epidemiologist, a UN presenter, and an author, not just of scientific articles I cannot understand but also a new book that I CAN understand. Dr. Emily has done a deep dive into what it means to be a Good Samaritan in 2023, both within our local communities and as people of faith who know God so loves the world.  Emily Smith, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine/surgery at Duke University and at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI). Her debut book, The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors, releases Oct. 24, 2023 from Zondervan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith became known as the Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist through her social media outlets which reached over 10 million people in 2020-2021. She continues posting on the social account and her Substack blog with a monthly reach of 2-4 million. Her work has been featured in TIME Magazine, NPR, the Washington Post, Christianity Today, and Baptist News Global. Before joining the faculty at Duke University, Smith spent four years at Baylor University in the department of public health and was a research scholar at DGHI for two years. Smith received her Ph.D. in epidemiology from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill and a MSPH from the University of South Carolina.  Smith has been married to her pastor-husband for 20 years and they have two fantastic children, one spoiled golden retriever and a new very-friendly goldendoodle puppy. Find Dr. Smith online at emilysmith.substack.com and Facebook @friendlyneighborepidemiologist. Visit ⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠ for more from this episode.

On this episode, we have the ridiculous joy of welcoming Sean Dietrich to the pod. Sean, who also writes under the name Sean of the South, is one of the most creative people I know. He writes long form, short story, fiction, memoir, narrative essay, some of the absolute best stuff on social media, and as of this fall, Kinfolk, one of my favorite novels of all time. I feel a little like a sloth when I think about Sean’s productivity, but he’s such a nice guy, I can only be happy for him (and for us!). I’ll say no more and just let you listen in because this guy doesn’t need any more introduction from a Northerner or anyone else. Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader's Digest, Garden and Gun, The Tallahassee Democrat, the Birmingham News, The Mobile Press Register, and his column appears in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored fifteen books, he is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast, and makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. You can find Sean at SeanDietrich.com and Facebook and Instagram @seanofthesouth Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

Kayla Craig joined us on For Real in our very first season. I loved her then and love her still, so I’m stoked she agreed to talk with me again. Kayla is a writer, a great question generator, a podcaster, a mother, and she writes the words I can’t seem to find some days when I’m talking about and with God. I love the way Kayla stubbornly and persistently invites the holy into ordinary moments and how she does that beautifully in her new book, Every Season Sacred, and in this conversation. Kayla Craig is a former journalist who brings deep curiosity and care to her writing. She's the author of Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way. With a poetic, prophetic voice, she created the popular Liturgies for Parents Instagram account, which Christianity Today named an "essential parenting resource." She also hosts the Liturgies for Parents podcast. Kayla's nuanced and accessible reflections, essays, and prayers are featured in various books, devotionals, and Bible studies. Kayla lives in a 115-year-old former convent in her Iowa hometown, where she hopes to create spaces of welcome alongside her four children, two dogs, and pastor-husband, Jonny. You can connect with Kayla at kaylacraig.com and on Instagram @kayla_craig and @liturgiesforparents. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

I hope you’re hungry because today my guest is Bri McKoy. Bri is a fantastic cook. She’s the cook that you not only want on your Meal Train list, you might fake an injury just so she brings you a meal. But she did not start cooking until forced, so she has empathy for regular people. She is the every-girl that you want in your kitchen, teaching you how to make delicious food with confidence and joy. You are going to love this woman and the way she will help you launch out of any cooking slump, any season.  Bri McKoy is an accidental home cook, the author of The Cook’s Book and a lover of gathering people around her everyday table. She is the creator of The Everyday Kitchen Masterclass, a five-week online course that teaches people how to become more confident home cooks. Find stories and recipes on her food blog at OurSavoryLife.com or watch her videos with recipe tips and tricks and read her reflections on Instagram @brimckoy. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

I'm super excited to be back at the mic to announce our third season of For Real! A third season? Who even are we? What an honor that you take us along on your coffee run, your carpool loop, your drive to the gym if you're that kind of person who will outlast us all because of self-discipline. This season is already making me laugh and cry and want to linger for more. We have already recorded a bunch of these conversations and let me just assure you that you do not want to miss an episode. Season three of For Real launches September 12. Subscribe on your favorite streaming platform right now so you don't miss a single episode!

Our last episode of Season Two! We made it! Again! And oh, man, do we have the best season ender for you. My guest is Jami Nato, and I want to assure you that she makes me snort-laugh. You know that really undignified laughter that makes you feel like you never actually left junior high but are still that awkward kid in braces and Aqua Net? Snort laughter in braces? That’s what I do with Jami Nato, AND I also learn a lot about redemption and forgiveness and how to be the person God hand-made me to be. I think you’re going to love this episode with author, Midwesterner, and fellow child of the 80’s, Jami Nato. Jami Nato is a serial entrepreneur and leader of a multi-million dollar business built on faith, community, authenticity, and courage. Navigating life with her wonderful husband of 14 years and 4 unruly children is her greatest love and challenge. She’s passionate about not doing laundry, hoarding socks, loves using humor, writing and honesty to convey the truth of the gospel. Sharing her own personal over comings with well-timed, awkward humor helps her and her audience navigate through tough topics. While she continually plans for the future, she recognizes God’s role as The Ultimate Curator of her life. Find her online at JamiNato.com and on Instagram @jaminato. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

I’m trying not to hyperventilate. Sara Groves is on the pod today. This means that the woman who has sung the soundtrack to my adult life is ON THE POD TODAY. Sara has been singing my favorite songs for 25 years. She is an exquisite writer, thinker, and truth teller. She puts words and melodies to what our hearts can’t do on their own. And she’s also a Minnesotan, which means she knows how to weather pretty much anything. Lean in, folks, and enjoy a conversation I absolutely loved with singer-songwriter, Sara Groves. Sara Groves is a 25+ year veteran singer/songwriter and recording artist with a passion for justice. Since 2005 she has been an artist advocate with International Justice Mission, a global organization that works to protect the poor from violence. In 2011, Sara and her husband Troy opened a unique community art center, Art House North, in a 115+ year old church. Sara’s 14th and most recent album, What Makes It Through, is a poignant reflection on reconciliation. Troy and Sara live in St Paul with their three children, Kirby, Toby and Ruby. Find her online at SaraGroves.com and Instagram @grovesroad. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

Yowza. This conversation will not let me go. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with a man who knows a lot about Plan B. Strahan Coleman was a touring musician and songwriter for years, and he had a very robust prayer life until he became so sick, he couldn’t get out of bed and he could not muster the energy to pray as he had before. Plus, he was rather irritated with the God of the universe who suddenly seemed very silent and very unwilling to give Strahan the help he needed. If you have ever felt like God isn’t very cooperative or that he’s distant or that prayer is mostly for super spiritual people, this is a conversation for you. I loved it, loved Strahan’s book, and cannot wait for you to listen in on what he had to say. Strahan Coleman is a writer, spiritual director, and award-winning musician from Aotearoa, New Zealand. After spending ten years recording and traveling as a folk artist, he founded Commoners Communion in 2017, a ministry exploring conversations in Christian spirituality. Since then, he has given himself to his passion of helping others deepen their experience in God through his writing, podcast, spiritual retreats, and online prayer schools. He has published Beholding and three prayer books, Prayer Vol. 01, 02, and 03, poetic devotionals inviting the reader into a deeper honesty, vulnerability, and closeness with God. Strahan currently lives by the beach in the Coromandel in Aotearoa, New Zealand with his wife, Katie, and three sons, Mikal, Theodore, and Finley. Learn more about Strahan at his website, CommonersCommunion.com and Instagram @strahanmusic. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.