female relationships

What happens when a murder is linked to a group of mothers you're friends with?  In The Other Mothers, a young journalist finds herself in the middle of a wealthy London community of mothers, but as she investigates mysterious deaths, she starts questioning her new friends' intentions.  In this episode, Katherine Faulkner shares her insights on crafting a suspenseful narrative set amidst the dark underpinnings of a local nanny's mysterious death.  She also offers a fascinating glimpse into her writing process and the elements that make a story both thrilling, readable, and relatable.  But we don't just talk about The Other Mothers; we even circle back to her debut Greenwich Park, the books she's reading, plus more.
BOOK:
The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner on Amazon or Bookshop.   
SHOW NOTES & BOOKLIST:
Find the episode show notes and a list of all the books mentioned here.
MORE RESOURCES:
Visit bibliolifestyle.com for more information and resources to help you in your reading journey.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
Join the BiblioLifestyle Community & the Bring Your Own Book (BYOB) Club for a fun, online book club experience!  Come and share books you've read, get inspiration for what to read next, make friends, and encourage each other along the way.  Learn more and join the community: bibliolifestyle.com/community.

THE BIBLIOLIFESTYLE 2024 SPRING READING GUIDE
Spring into reading this season!  Download your free copy of The 2024 Spring Reading Guide when you visit springreadingguide.com.  This year's guide has twenty-one books organized across six categories, plus fun recipes, spring activities, lifestyle tips, and more.   So download your free copy and discover your next favorite book!

What is God's vision for our relationships with other women in our lives? Jenn stops by to address the lies of inadequacy and scarcity that we can so easily believe in our interpersonal connections. Listen for some perspective on how our postures can shift from comparison and competition to solidarity and life-giving support in our communities. 

About the Speaker
Jenn Schultz is the author of She's Not Your Enemy, and she typically writes about messy faith, shaking off insecurity, and pursuing God’s purpose confidently. Her mission is to empower women to ditch shame and striving by finding identity in God and freedom in abundant grace. She is a wife and mom who reads too many books at once, drinks decaf coffee, and speaks in scriptures and movie quotes. Find her @jennschultzauthor on social media and at jennschultzauthor.com.

Episode Notes
1 Peter 5:8  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

It’s so easy for us to make other women the enemy.

Unhealthy comparison isn’t even the root of the issue in this spiritual battle … it’s an identity issue.

“Our view of God- who he is and who says WE are- makes all the difference in how we interact with those around us.” 

"Lie of Inadequacy"

“Rejection is a pain you can actually feel in your body because social pain and physical pain activate the brain in the same places…”

Q: How can we nurture more empathy and compassion that we may have labeled as such especially if they have inflicted wounds? 

 “Embrace the ongoing process”

Romans 5:3-5 TPT 
“Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures  will develop in us patient endurance. 4And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. 5And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy,  because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!”

Follow Jenn!

• Instagram 
• Jenn's Website

Purchase Book Here! 

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On this episode of This Mother Means Business, I’m going to share what I’m working on in my business and personal life right now as an ambitious entrepreneurial mother. I believe every one of our journey’s is a work in progress and there is nothing more powerful than facing your own story along the way! 

Join me as I open up about:
• 5:15 - Creating a positive space for female relationships in my Ambition Mastermind.
• 7:30 - Thoughts on letting go of control, simplifying and “no rush” energy in my business.
• 14:11 - Reshaping and healing perspectives on physical and mental health priorities. 

I want to continue to give you a glimpse into what I’m working through and will definitely continue if you enjoyed this episode. If you found this helpful, I'd love for you to send me a DM on Instagram too! 

Until next time, I appreciate you! 

Laura's Links:
• Website
• Laura's Instagram
• LJSocial Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• TikTok

ROGUE'S POSSESSION is out today!! Otherwise I'm talking about worldbuilding from a character-driven perspective and being aware as an author of what readers want for your characters. 

Buy ROGUE'S PAWN here! (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-pawn) and ROGUE'S POSSESSION here! (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-possession) Preorde ROGUE'S PARADISE here (https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-s-paradise)

Buy THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING here!! (https://jeffekennedy.com/the-storm-princess-and-the-raven-king). The Heirs of Magic series is here (https://jeffekennedy.com/series/heirs-of-magic).
The audiobook of GREY MAGIC is here (https://www.audible.com/pd/Grey-Magic-Audiobook/B09Z77GHDL?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-307001&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_307001_rh_us), BRIGHT FAMILIAR is here (https://www.audible.com/pd/Bright-Familiar-Audiobook/B09WSGFLXW?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-303113&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_303113_rh_us) and DARK WIZARD is here (https://www.audible.com/pd/Dark-Wizard-Audiobook/B09QQRHTYZ?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-294201&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_294201_rh_us).

The Sorcerous Moons series - now in KU! - is available here (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YVVB82N).

If you want to support me and the podcast, click on the little heart or follow this link (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jeffekennedy).

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Thanks for listening!

Herrin Hopper and Holly Harper met in 2015 when their kids were in the same preschool program on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Through normal socializing with other parents, somehow six moms - all married and all living in the same 10-block radius - became friends. Sometime in 2016, Holly disclosed to Herrin that her marriage was in BIG trouble. Infidelity. Anxiety. Depression. At the same time, Herrin was working through her own marriage troubles, but from a different perspective and approach. They began to grow closer together as they navigated this time, offering one another advice and just friendship. When Holly's marriage finally ended in 2018 - Herrin was there for her through the worst of it. Six months later, she and her husband decided to separate as well.  By the fall of 2019, both were living in fancy schmancy high-rise apartments on H Street NE in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, trying to get used to the "new normal." By early 2020, both were starting to consider their next home buying journey. Over a game of Bogle, they  decided to look for a duplex. Less than 10 days later, they had a realtor and went out property hunting. They saw four properties that first day, and the fourth one was "The Siren House." They closed in June 2020 and have been continuing to build community since they moved in.

In this episode Jess and Jess talk with the Siren House owners about what it means to build intentional community, the opportunity to become homeowners, and support other women in that journey, and what it means to parent each others children, setting boundaries, sharing the housing load and living in a mindset of service.

To learn more about The Siren House and their intentional community, visit their website https://www.sirenfoundry.com/

Thanks so much to our sponsors:
Lyssa Seward: https://www.ttrsir.com/eng/associate/279-a-3012-4043609/lyssa-seward
ART International: https://artherapyinternational.org/

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Britt Frank was a drug addict (she's smoked meth out of lightbulbs!), love addict, codependent, borderline personality disordered, clinically depressed, eating disordered and anxious hot mess of a human—despite having degrees and lots of letters after her name, she knows what it’s like to be stuck. 

In this episode, Britt sits down with The Two Jess(es) and explains the process of how celebrating the tiny little "yeses" in our every day is what we need to focus on as we decide we are ready to move from stuck to thriving. She also drops a truth bomb, which is super hard for Jess B to hear. 

Meet Britt!
Britt Frank, MSW, LSCSW, SEP is a clinician, educator and trauma
specialist. She speaks and writes widely about the mental health myths that
keep us stuck and stressed. Britt received her BA from Duke University and
her MSW from the University of Kansas, where she later became an award-
winning adjunct professor. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and
Level 3 trained in the Internal Family Systems therapeutic model. Britt was
a primary therapist at a drug and alcohol treatment center, an inpatient
therapist at a children’s psychiatric hospital, and now owns a private
practice. You can find Britt on Instagram @brittfrank or on her
website www.scienceofstuck.com.

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You may know her from her years as a part of the cast of Grey's Anatomy- but today Kate Anthony is here to answer (and ask!) some tough questions, in her newest role, a coach and mentor for cis-hetero women who are contemplating divorce and asking one of the most important, and difficult questions of their lives. Should I stay, or should I go?

From just a general BLAH marriage, to those that are emotionally abusive and everything in between, Kate has guided hundreds of women through the complex journey of deciding whether they are ready to apply newly acquired tools to their marriage, or doing divorce right. The Two Jess(es) ask all kinds of questions, including, how to divorce without screwing up your kids. Kate has a well thought out and realistically applied answer for pretty much everything!
To find out more about The Divorce Survival Guide, visit https://kateanthony.com/about/

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After the birth of her daughter, Ilsa Manning left the fragrance industry to focus on her family. After a dinner with girlfriends, Ilsa came home one night with the realization that while her time with her daughter was finite, her potential to model what she was capable of as a mother, a woman, an entrepreneur was in fact not finite- but that the possibilities for what her life could become, was INFINITE. 

Ilsa candidly shares how she created her fragrance line in 2015- and the outpouring of inspiration and challenges she came up against as an entrepreneur, but the mindset of "just keep going" and how it has turned into this beautiful company that empowers women, donates funds to Girls on the Run. 

A little bit of education on how fragrance creation works, and industry insider tips, a whole lotta women supporting women power, and gobs of inspiration- this is a really uplifting episode that will make you look at your perfume differently, and yourself as infinite.

Meet Ilsa!
There are no limits at Ilsa Fragrances. Here, we are about encouraging inspiration and beauty through thoughtful, unique creations that empower you to do and be whatever you dream. And as dreams begin when we are children, Ilsa Fragrances donates 5% of net proceeds to Girls on the Run, a nonprofit for girls' empowerment. After the birth of my first daughter, life handed me the opportunity to combine my knowledge, skills and dreams to create Ilsa Fragrances, a company that encourages women to believe in themselves, no matter what obstacle they face. I lacked this all important self belief until my daughter’s arrival in my life. My desire to be the best person I could be for her gave me the confidence I needed to finally pursue my dreams. By taking action and creating Ilsa Fragrances, I hope to teach my daughter, and her little sister, that their capabilities are infinite and that if they can imagine it, they can do it. So to you, to my daughters, and to myself, I say:

Never mind the sky – there is no limit!

https://www.ilsafragrances.com/

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In this week’s episode, Rachel shares how she lived in the story of getting along better with men for the majority of her life than women. She preferred to remove herself from the drama, at least that was her story.

Rachel talks about how Gina Giro from episode #53 posted a picture of her journal entry and was giving gratitude for finding soul-aligned women and friends.

This really got Rachel thinking about how her original story has shifted over time. This one post allowed her the opportunity for reflection to see the abundance of women relationships in her life.

She asks that if you resonate with the stories shared in this episode to reach out. If only to know you are not alone and have the conversation about why and how you feel about being in relationships with other women.

You can connect with Rachel through the following:

IG: @liveyourrawlife

F: Live Your RAW Life (**New Private Facebook Group-Join Today!)

E: liveyourrawlife@gmail.com

Web:www.liveyourrawlife.com

Your support for the podcast is greatly appreciated:

Patreon link:

https://www.patreon.com/liveyourrawlife

If something resonated with you from this week’s episode please subscribe to the show and leave a review while you are there. Every time a review or rating is received it opens up the platform that allows the show to reach a wider range of listeners. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Oh, it's just a little white lie. No harm, no foul....right?
 
In this episode, The Two Jess(es) sit down for a fascinating (and inconclusive) conversation with author of Would I Lie To You?, Judi Ketteler. With authentic curiosity, and in the spirit of self-exploration, Judi makes a case, through her writing, and this conversation, for setting intention to check in with those little white lies.
What motivates us to not tell the entire truth? Is it for the sake of the other person's feelings or safety? Or is it for ours? Is it because we don't want to expend the mental energy it might take to address the truths that we swat at like little fruit flies, demanding us to face...the truth about ourselves or others?
Jess B confesses she lies. A lot. Especially on her Noom app. Jess K (as always) poses some really great questions about how we might move from dishonesty to total honesty with the person that matters the most: ourselves.
Lots of great thought provoking takeaways on this episode!


Meet Judi!
Judi Ketteler has been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She got her professional start working as a copywriter for a small agency, but has been a full-time freelance writer since 2002. An award-winning essayist, she has contributed to dozens of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Magazine, TIME, Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Runner’s World, and others. She is also the author of two books about sewing. Judi has a B.A. in English from Northern Kentucky University, and an M.A. in English from Miami University of Ohio. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children, where she enjoys running, yoga, and doing flips on the trampoline.
Would I Lie To You? The Amazing Power of Being Honest in a World That Lies.
https://www.amazon.com/Would-Lie-You-Amazing-Honest/dp/0806540087

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Just a fun little wrap up to end an incredibly inspiring week of celebrating women! The Two Jess(es) give a rundown on the week's episodes, their thoughts (and feelings, of course!) around the interesting women who have been highlighted:

Monday: Cherie Craft of Smart from the Start
Tuesday: Holly Seibold of BRAWS (Bringing Resources to Aid Women's Shelters)
Wednesday: Jonquilyn Hill of WAMA and host of Through The Cracks
Thursday: Darcy Hubbard of CASA

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Liz Bohannon did what few of us dare to do in our lifetimes: she realized she wanted to make a difference in the world, but what needed to change first, was her own life. So she quit her job, bought a one way ticket to Uganda and ten years later, she runs a collaboration of women on both sides of the pond that have built a beautiful community of belonging and empowerment that she could never have dreamed up, even if she had tried.

Liz brings her wit and passion to this conversation with The Two Jess(es) as she talks candidly about the pressure and angst that comes with believing the 'Passion Propaganda' instead of accepting the reality that passions and visions are really built with hard work and commitment to seeing things through. Her message of extolling creativity over criticism and 'owning your average' are a breath of fresh air in the rat race of self-help and the never ending struggle of self-improvement.

This is an inspiring conversation that left both Jess(es) energized in the best possible way- and they know it will do the same for you.

Meet Liz!

Liz Bohannon is the founder of Sseko Designs, a socially conscious fashion brand, and the author of Beginner's Pluck. She was named a top speaker by Forbes and a Transformational Leader by John Maxwell. She spends her days encouraging and equipping women to build lives (and businesses!) of purpose and impact and her nights and weekends wrestling, snuggling and wrangling her two sons with her husband (and business partner!) Ben.

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Death. It's pretty much the only thing we can count on. Whether you want to think about it or not, it happens to us all. But why are we so scared of actually TALKING about it? In this episode, TTJ(es) invite two friends into the room, one who is having to face the reality of her own mortality much sooner than any of us would expect. Together, they tackle end of life planning, the logistics around how they would like their body handled after they die, and all the different options they didn't know existed.
If you are curious about the death positivity movement, need to pull the trigger (pun intended!) and write that will, or the idea of either being buried in a mushroom suit or having your ashes scattered at Disney World intrigues you, this episode will leave you with the resolve to go out and talk to your loved ones about what you want, as well as what THEY need.

Show Notes:

"Why Millennials are the Death Positive Generation."
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/1/15/21059189/death-millennials-funeral-planning-cremation-green-positive

Special Guests:

Elizabeth Bober (@bookbeealexandria)
Elizabeth Bober is the founder and Executive Director of Book Bee, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all children experience the joy of reading by collecting books from families who have outgrown them and delivering them to programs serving children in poverty. Elizabeth lives outside of Washington, DC, with her two children, husband, geriatric rabbit, and glow-in-the-dark-fish.

Diana Adkins
Diana Adkins is a daughter, sister, wife and momma of 3 crazy kids. She works full time as a marketer but more importantly loves spending time with family and friends, drinking tasty wine, dancing  and traveling the world. Conquering cancer since 2017; she’s still getting comfortable with being called a badass. 

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TTJ(es) (The Two Jess(es) share their personal experiences with grief. JessB lost her mother suddenly 10 years ago, and JessK lost her mother through illness four years ago. In this episode they tackle the process of grieving, anything, but especially grieving the one who brought them into the world. TTJ(es) take a look at the culture of grieving from a societal standpoint and how that differs from the experience of mourning, discuss the non-linear aspect of their sorrow and while there are a lot of tears in this one, there is a lot of laughter connecting them to the beauty of their memories, experiences, as well as reflections on the realization that grief is indeed, a gift.

Show Notes:

The Gift of Grief by Jessica Kidwell:
https://www.writebitchwrite.com/december/2020/1/3/personal-essay-jessica-kidwell

*Showcased at the end of this episode is an original song written by the following:

The song: The Wreckage Of Why, was written collaboratively by Lindsay Herring (vocal), Norman Salant (guitar), Tammy Shaw (vocal), and Andrea Tom, during a songwriting workshop in the fall of 2019.

The Wreckage of Why

The years stack up like old coffee cups
The kitchen’s so quiet
Should I just burn it down
I wish I could tell you once more how I love you
Oh I wish
But there’s no one around
 
I’m looking for answers in the wreckage of why
Wondering will I come back again
A sliver of honey in a fallen sky
Somehow a sweetness remains
 
I’m always half-right
I’m always half-blind
I’ve tilled all the memories at the end of the day
The pull of the past ain’t a reason for leaving
But a house ain’t a reason to stay
 
So I’m looking for answers in the wreckage of why
Wondering will I come back again
A sliver of honey in a fallen sky
Somehow a sweetness remains
 
I’m looking for answers in the wreckage of why
Wondering will I come back again
A sliver of honey in a fallen sky
Somehow the sweetness remains

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