The Bearing Life Podcast

This episode is for everyone! As we prepare for special celebrations this Mother’s Day, remember to reach out to women and families walking through infertility or child loss to support them on what can be a painful day. When the Stork Passes By is a resource to equip communities and individuals to help build a bridge between the heartbreak of infertility or child loss and the local church, ministry, family, and community.

For those walking through child loss or infertility, you are not alone. I encourage you to invite others into your pain and not to stay silent in your grief. In Traveling the Terrain, I share how to walk this unexpected road, and to invite your friends to walk this road with you. Before you become overwhelmed by Mother’s Day, connect with a trusted friend and invite them to be a part of your journey.

Connect with Dr. Julie Shannon:

• Website: Julie Shannon
• Facebook: Julie Shannon
• Instagram: @julieshannonofficial

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• When the Stork Passes By by Dr. Julie Shannon
• Traveling the Terrain by Dr. Julie Shannon

What does narcissism mean? Am I a narcissist? Are YOU a narcissist?? Dr. Les Carter and I explore this topic and how to find emotionally healthy people to walk beside us in life—while also being an emotionally healthy person!

Connect with Dr. Les Carter:

• Website
• Surviving Narcissism
• YouTube
• Instagram

Dr. Willie O. Peterson is a longtime friend and mentor. I’ve always enjoyed our conversations! This week, you can listen in as he shares the story of the legacy of faith and love his parents passed on to him, his siblings, their families, and so many others in their lives. Dr. Peterson tells how his parents overcame adversity to build a connected family.

This week I share an inspiring, fun, and practical conversation with my friends Lacey Congdon and Angela Cirocco. We talk about helpful ways to find true contentment and practical ways to walk through this Valentine's season as a single. We can live purposeful lives right where we are.

Lacey Congdon came to know the Lord at a young age but spent a season of her life as a prodigal in the far country. The Lord’s abounding grace and redemption of her life gives her much reason to celebrate.  She has her Master's of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently working toward the Doctorate of Educational Ministry.   She works for an organization that serves refugees and international students.

Angela loves Jesus and dark roast coffee, in that order. She moved to Texas from Buffalo, NY 5 years ago and still can't get enough of Tex-Mex. The unexpected joy of her life is serving as the Minister to Women at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas. Angela has a Master's from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Bachelor's in Nursing from Roberts Wesleyan College. No matter the setting, she delights to walk with women as they discover Jesus' love and grace. She praises God for air conditioning in the Texas summers, and come fall, Angela roots for the Buffalo Bills while yearning for the majestic colorful leaves of the Northeast. She misses snow only in December.

Listen to more: Single Seasons

We're one month into 2021. How are you doing? Still feel a bit like 2020? In this episode, I share how we can come together as peacemakers and unifiers to help make our world a better place to live…and maybe leave some of 2020 behind!

Connect with Julie:

• Website: https://drjulieshannon.com/
• Facebook: Julie Shannon
• Instagram: @julieshannonofficial

In this week’s episode of The Bearing Life® Podcast, we have a revealing conversation about how stress manifests within the body and the frustration and pain that results. My guests, Candice and Kat, share how a diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction exposed a taboo topic among women. Today, we are shedding light on pelvic floor dysfunction and TALKING about it!

Connect with Katlyn Nasseri, PT, DPT, WCS:

• Email: deepsouthdoc@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thedeepsouthdoc

Connect with Candice:

• Instagram: @ccunger

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• PT Locator
• Find a Pelvic Rehab Practitioner

This week, I have a conversation about grief trauma with my friend, Ann Golding. We cover this deep topic as Ann shares her story of traumatic loss. We discuss how to help one another bear the burden of great grief.

Connect with Ann:

• Instagram: @anngolding

In this episode, I speak with Katherine Hill, my friend and creative director for The Bearing Life® Podcast and the DJS Brand. Katherine and her husband have been married for 15 years and they teach the pre-marital class at their church.

We discussed Edward T. Hall’s theory of proxemics and how it applies to interacting with family and friends during the holidays. When we apply this concept to our relationships, we can help create realistic expectations for how we spend our time.

Connect with Katherine on Instagram

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I spoke with Maggie during this episode of The Bearing Life® Podcast. As an adopted child herself, Maggie shares helpful information about the adopted child experience and wisdom learned in her biological family search.

Here are a few books Maggie recommends:

God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Pieces of Me: Who Do I want to Be? Edited by Robert Ballard
The Day We Met You by Phoebe Koehler

Connect with Maggie on Instagram @magsd90

In this week’s episode of The Bearing Life® Podcast I share a conversation with Dr. Les Carter, a best-selling author and therapist. He specializes in anger management and narcissistic personality disorder.

After spending months at home, many people are feeling added strain and pressure from stress and anxiety. Dr. Carter and I review steps we can take to walk through frustrating and uncertain seasons of life.

Connect with Dr. Les Carter:

• Website
• Surviving Narcissism
• YouTube
• Instagram

In this episode, I speak with Rebecca Jowers, Executive Director of Poiema Foundation. The Poiema Foundation, located in the Dallas area, educates the public and raises awareness in order to prevent conditions that foster sex trafficking and other methods of exploitation.

Rebecca and I discuss the steps she took to build the foundation. You will also hear the powerful stories of the women they support.

Connect with Poiema Foundation:

• Website: poiemafoundation.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poiemafound/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/poiemafound
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poiemafoundation/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Internet crimes against children

In this episode, I talk with my friends, Tony and Scott, about their walks through infertility. They talk about the choices they each made together with their spouses. They even share how they would do a few things differently if they could go back.

If you are a man who has experienced the pain of infertility, I hope this episode helps you feel encouraged.  If you have experienced infertility in your past, I hope this conversation inspires you to reach out in understanding and support to a friend who may face a similar path.

In the first episode of Season 2, I talk with my niece, Kristen. Kristen's love for her intellectually disabled son shines through in her commitment to him and her family. Her daily attitude (choosing joy and living a full life every single day) offers encouragement to those around her. Our conversation explores how we can walk well with friends and family who have special needs children.

Resources:

• themighty.com
• thearc.org
• jillshouse.org

In this episode of The Bearing Life Podcast, I talk with my friend Dr.  Sandra Glahn who has walked the path of infertility. We share stories of past experiences and how friends have come alongside us to help us bear our burdens. Learn practical steps to show compassion to friends, family, and co-workers who are walking through life storms.

Also, I reveal exciting news about my book, When The Stork Passes By.

Connect with Dr. Sandra Glahn:

• Website: http://aspire2.com
• Blog: https://blogs.bible.org/author/sandra-glahn/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraglahn/

Resources shared in this episode:

When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden by Sandra Glahn

The Infertility Companion: Hope and Help for Couples Facing Infertility by Sandra Glahn

When the Stork Passes By by Dr. Julie Shannon

Join me in my conversation with Michelle Attar, Pastor of Adult Ministries at Bent Tree Bible Church outside of Dallas, TX. We discuss mental health in the home and the realities of life and relationship. Michelle shares the defining steps she takes with her husband and how their friends practically support them.

Connect with The Good Mood Foundation

• Website: The Good Mood Foundation
• Book: My Pursuit of a Good Mood
• Facebook: The Good Mood Foundation

Are you feeling overwhelmed by social media? This week we unpack how we engage online and how we can make a positive impact on those around us.

Connect with Julie:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

In this episode, I talk with Annie Tucker, Founder of Take A Bite Blog, about the realities of singleness and the defining steps we can take to walk through this season of life. We can wait well with our hope!

Connect with Annie:

• Website: http://www.takeabiteblog.com/
• Facebook: Take A Bite Blog
• Instagram: Annie Tucker

“You do you.” What does that mean in our lives? Really. What does that mean to us? Do we seek to know ourselves or are we too busy and distracted to be intentional and mindful of fulfilling who we were created to be?

Connect with Julie:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

In Part 2 of this episode on bearing grief, I talk with a dear friend about connecting with friends who are processing through grief. How can we effectively bear their grief with them? Make sure to listen to Part 1 of our conversation to listen about the fog of grief.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy by Barbara Johnson