You are about to discover how to embrace your life as a childless woman who wanted to have a family and never could. This is where we combine mindset shifting tools with practical tips so you can break free of outdated societal norms that condition us all to believe that women without kids don’t measure up to the moms. This is where we take action on processing grief and accelerating the healing journey so you can feel free. When childless women awaken their self-worth, they transform from h ...
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Popular LDS Podcast "Latter-Day Lights" gives members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the opportunity to share their stories of inspiration and hope to other members throughout the world. Stories that members share on Latter-Day Lights are very entertaining, and cover a wide range of topics, from tragedy, loss, and overcoming difficult challenges, to miracles, humor, and uplifting conversion experiences! If you have an inspirational story that you'd like to share, hosts Sc ...
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God Can Create Beauty from the Ashes of Our Lives: Tracy Jo Rollins' Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Tracy shares some incredible stories of the challenges, trials, blessings, and joys she's experienced throughout her life, along with some valuable life lessons she's learned along the way. From struggling with self-worth and seeking forgiveness, to becoming a divorced single mother at 19 and serving her own special mission, to bui…
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121: The Keys to Responding to "You're So Lucky You Don't Have Kids"
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! This might be one of the most "triggering" remarks that parents make to people who don't have kids. If you wanted kids, you sure don't feel very lucky, right? In fact, you might feel pretty unlucky. Have you had this scenario come up before? I have and I'm going to walk through the st…
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Unexpected Loss, Emotional Infidelity, & Learning to Love & Forgive Yourself: Sheri Ramirez's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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Can you imagine losing your husband when you're only 22 years old? In this weeks episode, Sheri Ramirez shares her heartbreaking story of young love, and the tragic loss of her first husband to a rare kidney disease. She also opens up and shares her struggle with emotional infidelity in the midst of trying to cope with the overwhelming challenges a…
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120: Do You Have Kids? How to Respond with Grace
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! So many childless and childfree women hate this question. A simple "no" answer often leads to awkward silences or the other party trying to back track or fill the space. But what if you could answer this question with ease and grace and both you and the person asking the question coul…
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Addiction, Divorce, and Finding Spiritual Resilience: Morgan Dastrup's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Morgan Dastrup shares his story of how God loves us unconditionally and is always there for us, even when we make mistakes or things don't go as planned in our lives. As Morgan opens up about his journey, he takes us through some of the highs and lows of his life—from educational challenges, to serving a mission, to online dating, …
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Helping Our Youth with Depression, Anxiety & Mental Illness: Dr. Kyle Jones' Story - Latter-Day Lights
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How do we help our youth struggling with mental heath? In this episode, Dr. Kyle Jones openly shares his 20-year journey through the challenges of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and how the power of faith has helped him through it. This episode breaks down the stigma surrounding mental illness within religious communiti…
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119: How To Shift Your Reaction to "Miserable Childless Cat Ladies"
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! If you are anything like me, you're probably tired of hearing about JD Vance and the comments he made publicly about childless women being miserable cat ladies and having no stake in America's future. I'm not even American, and yet angry reactions to this have been filling my feed the…
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Vinney's Back! Answering Personal Questions About His NDE: Vinney Tolman's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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When Vinney was 25 he died in a Dairy Queen bathroom. His original episode was so incredible that we invited him back for a in-depth Q&A session to answer some of the pressing questions about his Near-Death Experience that our viewers have had since being on the show. This episode explores how Vinney's NDE has impacted his career path, and the emot…
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118: 7 Signs You Might Need a Mindset Tweak
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! If you want to be able to answer questions like “do you have kids” with authenticity instead of awkwardness, you must shift your mindset. It's not enough to just rehearse how you'll respond. And if you're anything like I used to be, what you're rehearsing might feel more defensive and…
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Finding Love, Faith, and Strength as a Blended Family: Donna Morris' Story - Latter-Day Lights
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What does it take to raise a blended family in the church? Donna Morris shares her incredible journey of becoming a step-mother to 6 children at age 23, and navigating the unique challenges of trying to raise a blended family in the gospel. Now a mother of 9 and a grandmother of 8, she reflects on some of the many experiences, difficulties, trials,…
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117: Stop Waiting For Time to Change Everything
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! "Time heals all wounds" is the biggest lie we've been told about grief. I used to believe this lie, myself. After any sort of big emotion, I thought time would eventually clear it away. This is a super-short solo episode where I break down why this common, widely-held belief is actual…
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116: How to Answer The "Insensitive" Questions and Comments
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Do you have kids? Who's going to take care of you when you're old? What's your purpose then? You can borrow my kids anytime! You've probably heard them all, or at least some of the questions and comments that bother us women without kids. Maybe you've thought to yourself, or maybe eve…
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Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Inspiring Stories from the Marcovia Project - Emily Hemmert
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What if education could be the key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty? Join us as we welcome back Emily Hemmert for her third appearance, sharing remarkable updates on the Marcovia Project - a nonprofit initiative that has transformed the lives of 122 students in Honduras. From the crucial role of the church's Self-Reliance Program to th…
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115: Let's Talk Terminology for Women Without Kids
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Childless? Childfree? Woman Without Kids? Take your pick! I've been really curious about how women who don't have kids and wanted them identify themselves. Some appear to be really attached to the Childless Not By Choice term, and yet my own experience and in the multiple discussions …
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Love, Loss, and the Promised Blessing of an Eternal Family: Angel Coates' Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Angel Coates shares the heartbreaking loss of losing her husband to a tragic car accident, and how her and her family were able to lean on their knowledge of the gospel and the promise of eternal families to give them peace. Angel also shares how, through this difficult experience she's been able to provide additional comfort and h…
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114: Navigating Loneliness As a Childless Woman
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Feeling lonely is one of the most common complaints I hear from childless women so if you're feeling lonely, you are definitely not the only one! I felt lonely too when I first started down the path to permanently childless, especially once my husband seemed to have moved forward with…
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Living on the Run and Receiving Pinpoints of Light: April Giauque's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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Have you ever been on the run for your life? In this episode, April Giaugue shares her gripping story of marrying a husband with Schizophrenia, and living for years in a difficult and dangerous world that constantly blurred the lines between reality and fantasy. With the church as her north star, she held on to her faith during the darkest times of…
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! There was a time when I didn't quite feel like I had found a place within the childless community and the reason was that I had not done IVF. It seemed as though so many of the women there had tried IVF and they had this common language and terms that I wasn't familiar with. Then I re…
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From Video Game Addiction to Serving God: Grant Johnson's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Grant Johnson, a psychology student from Southern Virginia University, opens up about his battle with video game addiction and how it affected the world around him, including his mood, motivation, relationships, and even his view of reality. Fortunately, Grant was able to find ways to overcome his addiction, serve a mission, and ge…
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112: How to Get Through Emotions After Speeches Like Harrison Butker's
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College ruffled a LOT of feathers, especially within the childfree community. There were a lot of insults thrown at him, arguments started on social media comment sections, even calls to cancel his NFL contract. Were they justified?…
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From Catholic to LDS: Dr. Fred Dodini's Search for Additional Truth and Light - Latter-Day Lights
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From a young age growing up in a Catholic home, Fred had strong desires to become a priest, but several years into his studies he realized that he had a lot more questions than answers. Fortunately, through a series of inspired events, Fred was able to find the answers he was looking for in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and has b…
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111: Purpose is Not Something You Find (Part 2)
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Download your free guide to Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy! Last week I talked about how purpose is not something you "find". It's also not a singular mission. It's not a destination. And it doesn't have to be big. On…
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Finding Humor and Hope in Adversity: Brian Boyd's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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Ever wonder how laughter can be a lifeline in the midst of mental health struggles? Join us as we sit down with Brian Boyd, a substitute teacher whose humor and resilience have made him a beloved figure in his community. Brian opens up about his journey, sharing many of the difficult trials and challenges he's had to face throughout his life. Fortu…
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110: Purpose is Not Something You Find (Part 1)
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Download your free guide to Finding Purpose Beyond Parenthood: Getting Through Grief and Triggers to a Life of Meaning and Joy! Purpose is not some concept that you find. It's not a destination. It's not singular. And it doesn't come from having kids. I understand why you believe it d…
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God Loves Us and Blesses Our Efforts: Jordan Robin's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Jordan Robins shares his story of growing up as a young man dealing with seizures and depression, and how God helped to strengthen him in his darkest moments. Jordan also reflects on various experiences throughout his life where he has been able to love, serve, and bless others through the priesthood. *** Please SHARE Jordan's stor…
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109: The Unsung Sisterhood of Women Without Kids, With Ruby Warrington
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! It is so clear to me that Ruby Warrington is a thought leader in the childfree/childless space! She has authored, Women Without Kids: The Revolutionary Rise of an Unsung Sisterhood, and in my view, the whole book was revolutionary. She discusses concepts that were swirling around vagu…
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Embracing Life: Devin Cummins' Inspiring Tales from Jerusalem - Latter-Day Lights
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In this special episode, Devin Cummins shares some of the unforeseen obstacles, challenges, and trials, along with several blessings and "God Winks" he's experienced during his travels across Cambodia, Vietnam, Dubai, and even Jerusalem - which is where we caught up with him. Devin's travels definitely give you a different view of the world we live…
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The Spiritual Awakening of a Marine - An Unexpected Journey: Devin Cummins Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Devin Cummins talks about his life as a marine, and his journey in the military and law enforcement. He also shares some of his most difficult and darkest times, and how the prompting of a bishop helped to save his life. Devin's story, while seasoned with challenges and trials, is also steeped in resilience, and is a powerful testa…
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108: The Hidden Things You Didn't Know You Were Grieving
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Many childless people don't even realize they are grieving. Who would have known you can grieve the loss of an imagined future? What I find is that many women without kids, even those who choose not to have them, feel some sort of grief and it's not always the loss of that future. Ide…
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Choosing Joy Amidst War & Tragedy: Michele Green's Incredible 90-Year Journey - Latter-Day Lights
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When Michele Green was a little girl living in Vietnam, her town was brutally attacked by escaped convicts from a nearby prison, and most of her family were killed, including her parents. Now an orphan, Michele's life looked bleak. But God had a plan for her that eventually led her to the gospel, and ultimately to the United States. With her new fo…
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107: 5 Steps for Navigating Mother's Day as a Childless Woman
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! These are 5 steps you haven't heard before. You've probably heard people talk about staying off social media and opting out of Mother's Day emails. Maybe doing something nice for yourself and saying "no" to the celebrations. These are all valid things you can do to avoid feeling the p…
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106: The Wisdom of Aging As a Childless Woman
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Menopause is a huge transformational time for women and another topic that we don’t talk about enough. Women may joke about their memory, or hot flashes or complain about heavy periods. But they don’t talk about the deep stuff. The vulnerable stuff. Or the scary stuff. There is SO muc…
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Guiding The Youth Towards Positive Mental Heath: Jeff Howard's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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Note: This episode discusses various issues that our youth are facing today, including suicide and how to recognize and help those who may be struggling; however, the overall message is positive, and emphasizes faith and hope. ----- In this episode, Jeff Howard, a high-school counselor discusses the alarming mental state of our youth and the diffic…
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! It's hard to fit in when you are in the minority. Childless women over 40 make up roughly 20% of the population (depending on what country you live in). Sometimes I wonder how many of them are living in the larger cities because it sure feels like everyone around me in my little town …
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Sharing More About His NDE - A Year of Reflection: Jerry Paskett Returns to Latter-Day Lights
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In this special follow-up episode, Jerry Paskett shares more information about his near-death experience, his recovery, the psychological battles endured, and the patience and perseverance that have become an integral part of his life. Jerry also shares some of the spiritual insights and lessons he's learned since his experience, and how it's helpe…
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104: What If NOT Having Children Was the Norm in Society?
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! In our current society, women without kids make up anywhere between 15 and 25% of the adult female population, depending on the country. Recently, I started to wonder what life would look like - what grief would look like - if that were reversed. If mothers were in the minority, would…
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A Tragic Car Accident & Overcoming Incredible Odds Through Faith & Prayer - Shanna Arnold's Story: Latter-Day Lights
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When Shanna was 15, she and two friends were in a terrible car accident where her best friend passed away and Shanna was in a coma for three and a half months with bleak prospects of ever recovering. But through the faith, prayers, and blessings of her friends, family, and community, Shanna was able to overcome the odds, make a full recovery, and c…
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103: What To Do When Your People Just Don't Get It
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Have you ever come away from a conversation thinking "gosh, "people just don't get it"? Either they say something insensitive or simply can't empathize with your childless circumstances. It's definitely happened to me. Even recently. But the mistake I see in the childless space is the…
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Navigating Life's Storms and Finding Hope, Faith, and Redemption: Carl Hovey's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Carl Hovey shares several difficult challenges that he has faced throughout his life, from his family losing their home and being forced to live in a tire shed, to his brother unexpectedly dying from cancer as a young boy, to being picked on and bullied to the point that he dropped out of school and left the church. But God had a p…
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102: Navigating Anger as a Childless Woman
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Anger is an emotion that comes up a lot with my childless clients who wanted kids. Anger can be a really complicated emotion because it's not only an emotion in and of itself, but it can also disguise other emotions. What makes it even tougher to manage is that most little girls are t…
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101: How Childless Women Will Change the World
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! As I embark on the next 100 episodes on the Awakening Worth Podcast, I spend this session reflecting on the deeper reason I keep hitting record and why you should keep hitting the play button. I've come to realize that so many of us are stuck in this pronatalist ideology and it's impa…
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Celebrating the Savior Through Music: Andy Lloyd's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this weeks episode, professional organist and composer Andy Lloyd shares his love and passion for creating beautiful, timeless organ compositions centered around the life, death, and resurrection of the Savior. Andy's celebrated works have graced the halls of many famous concert halls and cathedrals, from Notre Dame in Paris to his upcoming perf…
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Jesus Christ: Easter Glory - Easter Music for the Soul by Nathan R. Bradford - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode leading up to Easter, Nathan R. Bradford tells the story of how he was inspired to compose the touching album "Jesus Christ: Easter Glory" and how it can bring us all closer to the Savior leading up to His death and glorious resurrection. To LISTEN to Jesus Christ: Easter Glory, go to: https://linktr.ee/nathanrbradfordmusic *** Plea…
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A Brain Tumor, 2 Aneurysms & Having Faith & Gratitude: Roseanne Service's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Roseanne Service shares her story of how God has been with her through several life threatening events including a serious car accident, a brain tumor, and 2 aneurysms. But in her darkest moments, she has learned to lean into her faith and be grateful for all of the blessings in her life. Roseanne is an inspiration to anyone strugg…
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From Foster Care to Forever Hugs: Jeannie Barnard's Inspiring Story - Latter-Day Lights
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When Jeannie was 5 years old, her dad drove her to the salt flats and left her there alone in the middle of the night. Little did she know that this was just the beginning of the incredibly difficult trials and challenges she would face in her life. But God had a plan for her, and while it would take many years, she was finally able to discover the…
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100: From the Partner's Perspective, with Mike Johnson (my hubby)
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! Celebrating 100 episodes today! My husband, Mike Johnson, and I mark this special occasion together on the podcast with a conversation that makes its way through life without children from HIS perspective. As we share the narrative of our journey, from the heartbreak of miscarriage to…
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Excommunicated as a Bishop and Finding His Way Back: Dave Higham's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Dave Higham shares how during his 3rd time serving as a bishop in the LDS church, he was excommunicated for 5 years. This led to the painful loss of his marriage and many friends, strained family relationships, and guilt for the consequences of his actions and the effect they had on others. But even through the darkness and pain, D…
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99: Why You Need Energetic Womb Healing, with Dr. Jennifer Reimer
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! The moment I sat in quiet meditation with an energy healer, I never anticipated the floodgates of emotional pain that would open from my womb space. That pivotal encounter ignited a journey into womb healing, leading me to create womb healing retreats that help women to release emotio…
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Triumphing Over Addiction and Embracing Self-Love: Trevor Heninger's Story - Latter-Day Lights
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In this episode, Trevor Heninger shares his remarkable journey of triumph over a 30-year battle with addiction, and how the practice of self-love was the compass that guided him through his darkest hours. His story is a testament to the transformative power of the atonement through compassion, forgiveness, and brotherhood. Trevor also shares his in…
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98: What We REALLY Need to Be Talking About on International Women's Day
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Send me a text and tell me what you're struggling with the most! This episode is a bit controversial. I think there's this an expectation that if you are a woman, you are onboard with everything International Women's Day stands for. But I'm not known for just getting on board with something simply because of an expectation. Do I want women to rise?…
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