She is Kindred

In this episode, Britt chats with Kathryn Maack, co-author of the book, "Whole." Together, they discuss what it means to love, trust, and follow God with your whole being and how, in doing so, we learn to love others as God intended along the way. Kathryn Maack is the cofounder of Dwell Ministries. She is passionate about the future of the Church and loves catalyzing ideas and people toward their highest Kingdom potential. She and her husband BJ live in Little Rock, AR, and have four kids: Libby, Anna, Rachel, and Andrew. Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Today’s episode is a continuation of our series titled, “How to Be Whole.” The last two episodes have talked about our physical and mental/emotional being, but today we’re diving into the social component and talking about relational wholeness…And we’re doing it with one of my favorite people in the whole world, Carla Powderly. Carla is a kindred spirit and beautiful soul with a heart for humans that radiates in all she does. She’s a licensed professional counselor with her own personal story laced with navigating complex relationships, and I know that the godly wisdom she shares in this episode is going to be life-giving for everyone who listens. Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

In today’s episode, Britt talks with Dr. Sarah Meyer about the pursuit of perfection and more importantly, the pursuit of grace. While discussing her own journey, including struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, she explains how she came to realize that there is no such thing as perfect and that chasing such an unattainable goal only compounds stress in an already stressful world. Dr. Sarah talks about the ways science, therapy, resources, and faith all work together to relieve anxiety and support mental health in their own individual way. She also speaks to the strategies she uses within her own life to help keep her grounded when difficult seasons come.Dr. Sarah Meyer has been married to her husband Mike for 17 years and they have 5 children, ages 9 and under. She graduated with her doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011 and worked full-time in outpatient therapy until starting her family in 2014, when she made the decision to step away from her career and stay home while their children were young. During this time, Sarah struggled with being at home full-time and developed severe depression and anxiety, ultimately spiraling down to the point of suicidal ideations. Through a series of God moments, she was led back into a healthy lifestyle and now has a passion to help other women who are struggling to know that there is hope and space to thrive no matter their season of life. At the end of 2020, Sarah launched “Embrace. Live. Thrive.” and is now on a mission to destigmatize mental health issues in motherhood and educate women on the foundations of self-care.  The Embrace. Live. Thrive Podcast can be found on all major podcast apps. In this episode, Britt talks with Dr. Sarah about:-The pressure to be perfect and why that’s an unattainable goal-The power of empathy and self-compassion-The importance of boundaries, connection, & mindfulness within relationships-The roles of community and faith in mental health support systems-Strategies to utilize and work through adversity and create perception shiftsQuotable“It’s been through a series of...little God moments that He really has taught me that the basis of connection is understanding, vulnerability, empathy, self-compassion, and understanding that we’re all doing the best that we can.”  - Dr. Sarah Meyer“Jesus practiced self-care. He practiced retreat, he practiced compassion for others, but he did that because he was invested in the heart of the Father. And so, as believers, we find that same grace, for ourselves because of the grace that God extends to us.”  - Britt Smith“If you are your true, authentic self, your people will be drawn to you.” Dr. Sarah Meyer“Sometimes what we walk through isn’t completely for us, it’s for those we walk with.” - Dr. Sarah Meyer“We’ve got to have an eternal mindset, but we also have to be open to the fact that God is using the world around us and the people within our communities to bring healing and hope.” - Britt SmithResources:Embrace.Live.Thrive WebsiteEmbrace.Live.Thrive InstaEmbrace.Live.Thrive Facebook PageEmbrace.Live.Thrive LinktreeSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

In today's episode, Britt chats with Dr. LaToya Wiggins about setting boundaries, saying no, and prioritizing the right things for the current season. Dr. LaToya Wiggins is the CEO of She is Nourished, LLC. She is a wellness coach, self-care strategist for Christian moms, and transformational speaker. She transitions moms with multiple children from worn-out to winning so they will no longer feel depleted but develop the necessary healthy habits to be nourished, renewed, and rejuvenated with biblical principles that bring peace instead of self-pity. Dr. Wiggins received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, in 2011. In 2018, she received her health and life coaching certifications from the Health Coach Institute. She is a wife, mother of three sons, physical therapist, and lover of health and wellness. Dr. Wiggins enjoys dancing, comedy shows, and traveling.Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

As we continue our "Pursuit of Less" series, Britt chats with Rebecca Hargraves about fostering spiritual connection through calm, quiet, and practicing intentionality, especially as women of faith. While discussing her own journey to living a quieter life, Rebekah shares the struggles that we experience as women, mothers, and general members of society as we chase the idea of what we think living an abundant life should look like. Rebekah sheds light on what her own journey to pursue less has looked like and in what ways she's redefining what she's been called to do.Rebekah Hargraves is a wife, homeschooling mama of two, blogger, podcaster, speaker, and author whose passion is to edify, equip, and encourage women in their journey of Biblical womanhood, particularly with an emphasis on the gospel and its implications for everyday life. Rebekah's first book, "Lies Moms Believe (And How the Gospel Refutes Them)" released the fall of 2017, and the "Lies Moms Believe" Companion Bible Study came out March 30, 2018. You can find Rebekah on her website, Hargraves Home and Hearth, on Instagram, or on iTunes via The Home and Hearth podcast.In this episode, Britt talks with Rebekah about:Generational busynessHow to cultivate quiet in spite of the world's distraction and noiseFinding the balance between overwhelm & responsibilityHow to meet God in the marginsHow our faith informs our view of intentional living Quotable:“We have to be okay with the life that we’re in right now and the life we’ve been given if we’re ever really going to be able to pursue intentionality.” -Britt Smith“I had to clear out those voices in order to hear the One, the only One, ultimately, that won’t lead me astray, that is perfect, that knows what’s best for me.”  -Rebekah Hargraves“Jesus doesn’t beat Martha up for her hospitality, but he does say that Mary, who is sitting at his feet listening, has chosen the better portion.” -Rebekah Hargraves“If we can break free from the voices that are coming at us, defining abundant life in a way that’s not actually accurate, we can find so much freedom.” -Rebekah Hargraves"I want to be the one that walks with God in every moment, whether it's miraculous or mundane." -Britt SmithResources:Elijah Bible Study by Priscilla ShirerBreathe – Rest & Sabbath focused by Priscilla ShirerIg Examen explainedRebekah’s WebsiteRebekah’s InstagramSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

WIN A COPY OF KIM & ERIN'S BOOK! Enter to win a copy of "The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years" by doing one or all of the following!+ Follow @sheiskindredco - @kknowlezeller - @erinstrybis on Instagram+ Subscribe to the She is Kindred Newsletter+ Subscribe to Kim's newsletter, Walk & Talk+ Subscribe to Erin's newsletter, NourishWe’re kicking off the 2nd season of the She is Kindred Podcast with episode 34 and the start of our new series, “The Pusuit of Less.” We’ve all felt the pull toward more - more possessions, a bigger following, a fuller calendar. And yet, many of us find more somewhat lacking. And we begin to ask the question, “When is enough, enough?”. In a poignant conversation with Kimberly Knowle-Zeller and Erin Strybis, co-authors of the book “The Beauty of Motherhood,” host Britt Nikel Smith explores what it means to find contentment in less because God alone is enough. Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years (Morehouse Publishing, March 2023). She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. Connect with her online at kimberlyknowlezeller.com or on Instagram (@kknowlezeller).Erin Strybis is a Chicago-based writer, mama of two and coauthor of The Beauty of Motherhood.  Connect with her on Instagram (@erinstrybis) and at erinstrybis.com, where you can subscribe to Nourish and preorder The Beauty of Motherhood, releasing March 21.In this episode, Britt talks with Kim + Erin about:Balancing vocation and home lifeRooting yourself in gratitude for all that you have instead of all that you lackGod’s unconditional, eternal provisionIntentionality and clear value settingRaising the next generation to believe they are belovedPractical ways to create perspective shifts, acknowledging every season can be enoughResources Mentioned in this Episode:The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early YearsSIK Ep 15: Identity, Imposter Syndrome and Imago Dei w/Sarah SouthernKimberly Knowle-Zeller’s NewsletterErin Strybis’ NewsletterTo Light Their Way by Kayla CraigThe Book of Common Courage by KJ RamseyDevotions by Mary OliverCoffee + CrumbsMothering SpiritQuotable:"We have enough." - Erin Strybis“We are loved even before we are known.” - Kimberly Knowle-Zeller“I know that God is good. I am imperfect, but He is loving me perfectly in the midst of that.” - Britt Nikel SmithSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

We round out our "Families are Built, Not Born" series with a podcast episode about Chosen Family. Shin-Yu Lee shares her story of finding women, who she calls her Godmothers, to help her regain much of the childhood experiences she lost. She discusses reparenting and learning how to advocate for oneself. Through honest self-reflection, Shin-Yu shares the gift that her chosen family has become and how it's modeling new ways of parenting her own children as she raises the next generation in a new way. Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

In today’s episode Britt talks with Amey Foley about surrogacy and her personal experiences throughout three separate surrogacy journeys. Amey shares practical insight as well as personal implications for anyone interested in beginning the journey for themselves - on either side of the process.  Throughout their conversation, the veil of mystery surrounding this miraculous procedure will be pulled back as they ask hard questions like, "Are we playing God", and wrestle with the ethical dilemmas that ultimately bring about one of God's greatest blessings: children. Amey is a wife and mom to two boys, ages 12 and 7, living in Southwest Missouri. After spending 12 years in Early Childhood Education, she recently made the switch to the medical field where she works alongside her personal OB/GYN and has the opportunity to support women in every stage of their family journey. Amey is currently in her third surrogacy journey, having successfully carried two pregnancies for a couple in France. Episode Highlights: Amey's surrogacy journey x3Stories of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiencesEthical and moral dilemmas when becoming a surrogateReasons to become a surrogate or reasons to use a surrogateThe belief that all children are gifts and the miraculous opportunity to build a family in this way. Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

In today’s episode, Britt talks with Ashley Ensley about fostering and adoption and the roles that these have played within her own family and life. While telling her own story, Ashley shares the ups, downs, ins and outs of what fostering and adoption looked like in her own life as a single woman and part of a married partnership with her own biological kids. Ashley provides insight and takeaways in how the foster system works, including reunification.Ashley Ensley is a Southwest Missouri native who is married with five kids, two of whom were adopted through the foster care system. As lifelong believers in Jesus, she and her husband, Jeremy, followed the call and fostered for a total of 10 years, opening their home to over 40 children along the way. In this episode, Britt talks with Ashley about:-Foster Care and the Foster Care System-Reunification: the main goal of Fostering and what that looks like-Adoption and the effects on her life-The Importance of a Support System within a Family-The affects of fostering on biological children within the home-Her experience with fostering teens and misconceptions around fostering teensResources & Suggested Ways to Support Foster Families and the Foster System:-Google your local county & foster care for trainings and resources-The Karyn Purvis Institute-Get registered as a Respite Provider for your local Foster Care System to provide Foster Parents breaks-Provide meals, supplies, donations (clothing, school supplies, etc.) to Foster Families and FosterChildren“There are always going to be people in your ear that are going to be negative about your dreams, your passions, your desires, and even things that you feel that God has called you to do. And pushing past those can be really hard, especially if it is someone that you really respect and love.” - Ashley Ensley“Your goal is to help support a family, not really to build your own whenever you go into fostering.” - Ashley Ensley“I think whenever people who think about foster care, and people who foster, they think ‘Oh, they really have a heart for the kids.’ But it needs to be more than that, it needs to be a heart for their parents as well and there needs to be a willingness to show them the same sort of grace to come alongside them and say ‘How can we model what strong family bonds look like so that we can help you have some sort of better life as well?’”  -Britt Nikel Smith“The system is not set up to break generational trauma. When the things are not fixed at the root, they’re just going to keep growing.”  - Ashley EnsleySupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

On episode 29 of the She is Kindred podcast, Britt and Dr. Bianca Goodrum travel into the heart of mental health and wellness. Together, they discuss the vital importance of counseling and therapy, and the commitment and hard work required to free us from grief and heal us from trauma. It begins with forgiveness and establishing boundaries, and ends with us realizing every small step has led us to real, lasting change.Bianca D. Goodrum, Ph.D., LPC-S is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Department at Our Lady of the Lake University. Bianca and her father Kenneth E. Goodrum, LPC-S work together in their family counseling private practice Conceivable Resolutions, PLLC. She works with clients through a variety of concerns, including grief and bereavement, depression, trauma, anxiety, and familial concerns.Connect with Bianca on Instagram @goodrumbiancaIn this episode, Britt talks with Dr. Bianca Goodrum about: Holding space for grief, and learning to move forward through it.Historically and culturally, seeking mental health has not been encouraged or openly recommended. Now, we see a shift beginning that encourages us to consider mental health a pillar of wellness. Resources including therapists for BIPOC seeking support in healing from trauma. (Link to resources below)Forgiveness looks different from person to person, and forgiveness may mean establishing a boundary so that the relationship can still exist in a way that is healthy for you. Therapy requires commitment and hard work, and the goal is to take steps (small or big) so that you wake up each day feeling a little better and a little different.Resources mentioned in this episode: Psychology TodayLatinx TherapyMelanin and Mental HealthTherapy for Black GirlsQuotable“Grief is about integrating, how do I take this along with me? It doesn’t go away, you don’t get over it. You just learn to move forward in it.” -Dr. Bianca Goodrum“Instead of compartmentalizing your grief and trauma, putting in these boxes and shipping it out to sea and losing that piece of you, now we are beginning to see ourselves more holistically. When we do that, it opens the door for us to acknowledge and believe that our mental health affects every other part of our being.” -Britt Smith“If you are a learner of life, and as long as you are on this earth, there will always be healing and restoration that is going to happen. ” -Dr. Bianca Goodrum“Small steps are still steps.” -Britt Nikel SmithConnect with She is KindredJoin the Fall Book Club! We’re reading through “Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First,” by Laura Tremaine! Hosted by Alex Cox, each week will feature a guided reading schedule and discussion questions, culminating in a live zoom call with author Laura Tremaine herself! The book club will run until November 1st, 2022 and is totally free to join!If you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us!Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

On episode 28 of the She is Kindred podcast, Britt holds space for Julie Klein’s deeply personal story of being a cycle breaker.  Britt and Julie come together as mothers who deeply desire for the next generation to witness the power and redemption in true forgiveness so that we don’t walk in the old ways of being. And the way to true forgiveness involves making the choice to engage in our grief, to move through the grief, and to accept that grief does not have a timeline. Julie Klein is a social worker/mental health counselor. Though she is not currently in the social work field, her heart remains hopeful for social justice in this fractured world. She currently stays home constantly herding and unschooling her intensely spirited children. A pour-over cup (or two or three) of coffee is her lifeline and keeps her in the game. She is a fierce advocate for showing up with vulnerability and authenticity, believes everyone has a powerful story to share, and is convinced words hold the unique power to connect with others. She writes at the intersection of her evolving faith and the joys of life, the inevitable grief of life, and the gray that is in-between. Though she has called various cities across the United States home, she now resides near Seattle, Washington with her husband and three children. Connect with Julie on Instagram: @julielynnkleinIn this episode, Britt talks with Julie Klein about: Generational trauma presents in different ways from generation to generation.The importance of understanding our old narratives in order to move forward to create new narratives. Forgiveness is necessary so that we can experience true freedom within our new narrativesTherapy including EMDR and medications are incredibly helpful tools to help us heal our trauma wounds. Engaging in our grief is a choice, and it can be overwhelming. Once we move through the grief, we are no longer bound to it and are freed up to move into our new story. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World EMDR TherapyThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About OurselvesQuotable:“When we have understanding and acceptance about our narrative, it empowers us to move on and create a new narrative. To give ourselves the gift of freedom to live in the new narrative is ultimately how we walk in forgiveness because we aren’t held to the old way of being.” - Julie Klein“Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound with chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped. Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness; that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. We become our own liberators. We don’t forgive to help the other person. We don’t forgive for others. We forgive for ourselves. Forgiveness, in other words, is the best form of self-interest. This is true both spiritually and scientifically.” - Desmond Tutu“In someSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Summary + Guest BioIn today’s episode, Britt talks with Gina Birkemeier about generational trauma and how that has manifested within her own story. While referencing her book, "Generations Deep," they discuss having the courage to recognize imperfections and acknowledge that, despite our best efforts, our past can sneak into our present, and affect others in ways we wish they wouldn’t. Gina gives insight on how to heal and acknowledge hurt within ourselves while we work to move forward. It is an enlightening and hopeful discussion for all who are struggling to carry the weight of their past and the trauma and dysfunction of the generations that preceded them.  Gina Birkemeier is a licensed professional counselor, award-winning author, and speaker. She is a doctoral candidate and holds a master’s degree in psychology and theology, along with advanced training in trauma and evidence-based therapies to help people heal. Fueled by a passion derived from being a survivor of generational dysfunction and trauma, Gina has walked with the hurting to help them find hope and healing for nearly two decades. Her teaching and writing are rooted in a combination of faith–defined as a healthy relationship with God–and the sciences of psychology, biology, and epigenetics. In this episode, Britt talks with Gina about: What “generational trauma” actually means and how it manifests Misconceptions and misunderstandings about generational trauma and dysfunctionHealing our inner and past selvesHow to break the cycle and begin to forge new paths for self and future generationsThe cycle of continued healingQuotable:-“The idea is not to wipe away past versions of ourselves but to integrate them into who we are today.” - Gina Birkemeier-“It isn’t so much about the ruptures as it is about the repairs - and what we do moving forward from the ruptures.” - Gina Birkemeier“That’s where the cycle breaks, it’s not that you’re suddenly raising the next generation perfectly, it’s that you’re raising the next generation with integrity, not just for them but in and of yourself, and with a willingness to apologize and make things right when they go wrong.” - Britt Smith“And really, it does come down to taking the initiative to be brave enough and have enough courage to make changes and to recognize when we didn’t make the change when we should have." - Britt Nikel Smith“If you are breathing – there is an opportunity for healing, for change, and for growth,”  - Gina BirkemeierResources: Generations Deep - Gina's WebsiteConnect with Gina on InstagramJoin Gina’s Facebook Group“Generations Deep” by Gina BerkemeierCurt Thompson’s Podcast “Neurofaith”Curt Thompson’s Podcast “Being Known”Curt Thompson’s BooksThe Best of You Podcast by Dr. Alison CookDr. Alison Cook’s WebsiteConnect with our community!Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

 What do we do when we've been betrayed or wronged by another? How do we move forward in healing instead of harboring hurt for a lifetime? Charity Craig begins to unpack these tough questions in today's episode as she shares her personal story of moving forward after her husband's affair. Within our candid conversation, you'll find practical ways to engage in healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation despite betrayal. Charity Craig is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and the founder of Lillian & Co. She lives in the Orlando area with her husband, Matt, and their four children. After working hard to restore the broken places in her marriage post-affair, she's developed a heart for helping other women do the inner work needed to thrive in their relationships as well. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and at her website charitycraig.comSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

We’ve all heard it - The Mommy Wars. Despite our best efforts, there always seems to be an underlying case of “who did it better”?  One of the areas where we see this crop up frequently is within circles of working mothers. Is it better to work out of the house or to be a stay-at-home mom? What if you work in the home and still try to manage taking care of your children? Is that even a realistic possibility? What if you choose not to work at all? It’s an endless cycle filled with societal pressure and copious amounts of mom guilt. And we’re here to jump smack dab into the middle of the conversation today!Host Britt Nikel Smith chats with three different mamas - Anne Boedges, Jackie Hayes, and Ainsley Hoover - about their unique career stories and the way they’re raising their families with intention. They share the challenges and blessings that accompany their choices and have a candid conversation about mom guilt and the ways it affects everyone. Britt talks with Anne, Jackie, and Ainsley about...Equitable family contributionsSocietal pressures on motherhood + careersGenerational expectations and perceived criticismsMom guiltLearning to juggle everything according to your own family’s needsPracticing presence in every situationQuotable:“I didn’t feel like I was pulling an equitable share. It was either all teacher or all mama and I couldn’t find my footing, so I decided to make the change for myself.” - Ainsley Hoover“I just hope they feel how much love went into every day with them.” - Jackie Hayes“Your life doesn’t have to look like someone else. Your work doesn’t have to look like someone else. But we’re all in it together. It’s all worthy work. And at the end of the day, we just want them to know we put all our love into it.”Resources mentioned in this episode:The Mom Hour PodcastSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

In Episode 24 of the She is Kindred Podcast, Britt chats with Alex Davis, an attorney turned writer and coach, whose life goal is pursuing meaningful work that makes her soul come alive. Their conversation centers on giving yourself permission to pivot, personally and professionally, and how we can do the necessary work in order to make our dreams a reality. Alex Davis is a wife, mother, and attorney-turned-entrepreneur. She is the founder of Davis Legal Media, a content marketing agency serving the legal industry. She is also a writer who shares her reflections on all that is good, true, and beautiful in motherhood and family life. Her work has been published in Verily Magazine, Coffee + Crumbs, Public Discourse, FemCatholic, Everyday Mamas, and more. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband Jacob and her two boys.In this episode, Britt talks with Alex about: Doing hard work + heart work to pursue a fulfilling careerLiving along with insecurities, but not giving them control over youThe power of words; making distinctions in what we do vs. who we areCombatting fear of change or starting something newPersonal stories of pivoting from one path to anotherResources mentioned in this episode: Alexandra Davis' Personal BlogMary MarantzThe Mary Marantz Show"Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots" by Mary MarantzShe is Kindred Podcast: "Slow Down and Stop Achieving for Your Worth"Coffe & Crumbs PodcastThe Lovely Life Podcast"The Next Right Thing" by Emily P. Freeman"I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet" by Shauna NiequistShe is Kindred Podcast: Identity, Imposter Syndrome, and Imago Dei She is Kindred Podcast: "Practicing Presence in the Pursuit of Dreams"Quotable:“Is it possible that we could start to believe that every season is preparing us for the next? And the things we’re gleaning in those seasons, even when they might not be ideal for what’s deep in our hearts, they are training us and teaching us so we can learn and listen in the middle of those.” -Britt Nikel Smith“It’s stretching…but it’s also freeing…when you have permission to be a beginner and to be new  at something.” -Alex Davis“If we can make the distinction between who we are and what we do, then it might just open up the door to explore all the possibilities that are available to us.” -Britt Nikel Smith“In the silence we can hear…God’s voice inviting us...to consider something new.” -Alex Davis"Do the very best work you can. Serve people. Be kind. And be grateful that you had the opportunity to do a good, full day of work.” -Alex Davis"Start where you are." -Britt Nikel SmithSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

On episode 23 of the She is Kindred podcast, Britt dives in with fellow mom and photographer Kelly Laramore. They talk openly about starting their own businesses, the joys and challenges when it comes to growing their businesses, and most importantly, the reason why being business owners is their hard-earned dream:  flexibility and freedom of time with their families of young children. This episode is for all the dreamers out there - you can do it but find your community and mentors along the way who will cheer you on!Kelly Laramore (@kellylaramorephotoandfilms) is a storyteller, mom, and lover of pajamas. She is married to her college sweetheart, and mom to six littles. She is also a St. Louis, MO-based luxury family photographer and filmmaker with a style that aims to capture emotion, authenticity, and connection for her clients through photos and films. Kelly is passionate about creating fun childhood memories for her kids and supporting small businesses, especially women-owned.In this episode, Britt talks with Kelly Laramore about: Our desire as moms is to have the freedom of time to be fully present for our children, especially during special events and occasionsThe journey to running your own business is often lonely, and the measure of success looks different from business to business As moms, we need to give ourselves permission to ask for help and outsource when we cannot do it allOwning your own business is incredibly different than a workplace where there are promotions and raises for a job well done. As business owners, it is vital to surround ourselves with a community and mentors to guide us on the path.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Kelly Laramore: Luxury Portrait Photographer and Filmmaker Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making MachineSlow Growth Equals Strong RootsThe Goal Digger PodcastQuotable“As a mom and as a business owner, you have to find your own measure of success along the way. It is not just what someone else is doing if you have to find what makes sense for you and your family.” Britt Nikel Smith“And that is the burden of small business ownership: You have to do it all. There is a definite learning curve that comes with owning a business and learning to prioritize the right things especially when you have a family of your own. And knowing that my time is more valuable to me than money.” Britt Nikel Smith“They tell you family always comes first, in a way. Sometimes work comes first. And I think choosing which comes first in which situation is the hardest thing.” Kelly Laramore“Let this be your permission that if you are in the middle of building a business and you are a mom that feels like I can’t do it all, don’t - don’t do it all.” Britt Nikel Smith“I want to show my kids that women can have a career outside of the home. They can follow their dreams. I want my boys to know one day if they have a wife who wants to work outside of the home and follow her dreams, that it is not sometSupport the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!

Episode 22 of the She is Kindred podcast is a perfect launch into this month’s theme: “The Working Woman.” Host Britt Nikel Smith chats with writer Rachel Marie Kang about pursuing dreams and how we can practice presence in the middle of them. Their conversation leans into building a life that focuses less on “what’s next” and more on “what’s now.” Can we find purpose in all that we do? And can we begin to believe that even the smallest things hold significance and purpose? Rachel believes creativity can and does thrive in the every day and encourages listeners to release the expectations of perfection and practice presence instead. Rachel Marie Kang is a New York native, born and raised just outside New York City. She is a graduate of Nyack College (New York) with a degree in English with Creative Writing and Bible. She is founder of The Fallow House and author of Let There Be Art: The Pleasure and Purpose of Unleashing the Creativity within You. Rachel’s writing has been featured in Christianity Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and (in)courage. She lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Connect with her at rachelmariekang.com and on Instagram at @rachelmariekang.In this episode, Britt talks with Rachel about: God as the dream-giverShifting dreams & the strategy it takes to pursue themLearning to enjoy the process of the pursuitFinding purpose in everything we do and createPracticing presence and setting realistic expectations Choosing perspective over perfectionResources mentioned in this episode: Let There Be Art: The Please and Purpose of Releasing the Creativity within You by Rachel Marie KangShe is Kindred Podcast: Identity, Imposter Syndrome, and Imago Dei "Upstream" by Mary OliverRonne Rock“The Irrational Season” by Madeleine L’EngleRachel Marie Kang Creative CoachingEpisode Quotes:“I think often we can disregard parts of our journey and say, ‘Well, that’s not really my big picture dream.’... And yet, those are the things that are preparing us for what’s next. Every season is preparing us for the next season in our lives.”  -Britt Nikel Smith“Sometimes, dreams are birthed in that soil where you may have experienced a void or a wound and through doing whatever…there’s a healing there. Light shines through and hope comes.” -Rachel Marie Kang“Our art pushes back the darkness in our lives and in this world. Every time you pick up a pen, every time you dance, every time you record a podcast episode, that has the potential to bring light and life into your life and into someone else’s.” -Rachel Marie Kang“Create for pleasure. Create for purpose. Create because that is a way to bring help and hope into the world.” -Rachel Marie Kang“There is worthy work to be done in every season.’” -Britt Nikel Smith// Connect with us on Instagram @sheiskindredco Join our monthly newsletter & never miss an episode!Support the showIf you’ve resonated with the She is Kindred podcast, would you take a moment to rate and review us on Spotify, or iTunes? Thanks so much, sisters! We’re so grateful you’re in this with us! Keep cultivating common ground and common grace!