Best Kayla Craig Podcasts (2024)

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33. A Holistic Theology Leads us Vulnerable Children (and Their Parents, too) with Dr. Krish Kandiah 51:20

2M ago51:20

51:20

This episode may be the most spiritually rich conversation to date on the Upwardly Dependent podcast. Dr. Krish Kandiah, and Officer of the British Empire and long-time advocate for refugees and orphans, shares incredible stories and deep reflections from his love for God’s word. As the last guest in this series on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, …

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32. Tell Compelling Adoption Stories, but First Make Sure They’re True with Nick Runyon 46:40

2M ago46:40

46:40

Lauren was first introduced to Nick and Whitney Runyon a decade ago, and was drawn to their videography and storytelling across the globe. Both the Pinkstons and the Runyons entered into their own adoption journeys soon after, and as Lauren’s mind has expanded on the issue of orphan care, so has the work and advocacy of the Runyon’s organization, T…

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31. The Failures of U.S. Child Protection, and What Christians Should Know About Safe Families with Sarah Winograd-Babayeuski 54:50

2M ago54:50

54:50

As Lauren says again and again, if you want to see less human trafficking in the USA, start by surrounding vulnerable families while children are young. The majority of domestic trafficking cases involve children who have aged out of or who have interacted with the U.S. foster system. Lauren was eager to interview Sarah because of her extensive exp…

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Embrace Grace: Pro Life, Pro Love w/ Amy Ford | S11 E10 1:18:38

3M ago1:18:38

1:18:38

This week on Sinner Saint Sister, Amy Ford, national speaker and author and co-founder of Embrace Grace, joins us to deliver pro life, pro love encouragement as we seek to create a culture of maternal support in a post Roe world. Amy is wise and vulnerable, generous and hopeful. She understands the desperation around an unplanned pregnancy, laments…

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Leaving Loneliness Behind w/ Regina Boyd | S11 E9 54:45

3M ago54:45

54:45

Regina Boyd, a licensed therapist, author, wife and mom, shares her wisdom on the loneliness epidemic and how to combat our lack of social connection and growing isolation. With reflection, insight, tips, and her own personal struggle, she points us away from the harms of living as lone rangers and towards God’s intention of holy belonging. Connect…

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Neurodivergent Brain in a Neurotypical World w/ Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart | S11 E8 1:06:58

4M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Fan, host, producer favorite, Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is back to talk to us about the highs and lows of ADHD and surviving and thriving in a neurotypical world with a neurodivergent brain. This episode is full of easy explanations, helpful compensations, and as usual, Dr. Lockhart’s warm wisdom. Subscribe/Rate Never miss out on an episode by subscr…

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The Leighton Show w/ Chip Leighton | S11 E7 1:09:45

4M ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Internet sensation, Chip Leighton, joins us to discuss his social media success as everyone’s favorite dad and husband who calls ‘em like he sees ‘em and tells it like it is. Whether he’s instructing other husbands how to overly apologize, highlighting our kids’ idiosyncrasies or inspiring us with teenage snark, he’s taken the internet by storm wit…

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Crossing the Line w/ M. William Phelps | S11 E6 44:09

4M ago44:09

44:09

In a break from the norm, or what you might expect from Sinner Saint Sister, I am interviewing a TRUE true crime expert, M. William Phelps, author of over 40 true crime books, producer host and consultant on many tv productions, and creator and host of the podcasts Crossing the Line and host of Paper Ghosts, respectively. Together we discussed huma…

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Practices for Embodied Living w/Hillary McBride | S11 E5 1:01:04

5M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

Dr. Hillary L. McBride joins Sinner Saint Sister to discuss practices using the body as a tool for healing. Through self-acceptance and self-awareness, Dr. McBride walks us through embodiment and disembodiment, valid arguments/ explanations for both (respectively), and our relationship between our physical beings, cognitive proclivities and emotion…

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Field Notes for the Wilderness w/ Sarah Bessey | S11 E4 1:05:56

5M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Sarah Bessey is a trusted sage and guide. She’s a thought leader— a holy mix of pastor, poet and friend. In this episode we discuss social media, doubt, heartbreak, wig walls, and the release of her fifth book, Field Notes for the Wilderness. Sarah preaches a Gospel that restores the broken and bears the heavy. She’s attentive, wise and playful. Yo…

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178 - Starting the Year Slow 43:11

5M ago43:11

43:11

Robert and Holly talk about starting off a new year slowly (6:23): why it might be important (7:32), some practical ideas for being proactive (13:23), and some tools to keep for along the way (27:08). Things we mention in this episode/other resources: - Ruth Haley Barton’s Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Agai…

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Every Season Sacred w/ Kayla Craig | S11 E3 53:10

5M ago53:10

53:10

Kayla Craig is a writer, entrepreneur, artist, friend, wife, mom and disciple. Her latest book, Every Season Sacred, seeks to breathe room into our lives for deeper spirituality and more meaningful connection.Together we talk about changing seasons and messy middles, shifting priorities and holy space. Her writing is deep but accessible so it shoul…

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Find Your Happy w/ Sheena Melwani | S11 E2 44:34

5M ago44:34

44:34

Every now and then, while scrolling Tiktok, I will watch someone’s content and know for sure that what you see is what you get and immediately want to find a patio for a margarita, or a couch for some coffee, and be friends. Sheena Melwani is one of those media personalities whose positivity is sincere, whose joy is a magnet. It was all my pleasure…

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Fair Play w/ Eve Rodsky | S11 E1 1:03:45

6M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

My guest today, Eve Rodsky, author of Finding Your Unicorn Space and Fair Play, is here to tell us about her highly acclaimed system that completely revolutionizes how women balance their to do lists, reclaim their time, and rediscover what makes them interesting. Her book, Fair Play, is part of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. It has been made into …

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30. To the Women who Mother the World's Children with Kayla Craig 43:46

6M ago43:46

43:46

Kayla and Lauren have been online friends for 10 years, writing and mothering in similar spaces. This conversation takes a deep dive into the relationships parents have with others who mothered our children both before and after they joined our families. Kayla writes heartfelt prayers for parents who are in need of a ministry of words in seasons of…

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29. Helping Organizations Transition to Better Care with Brent Phillips 34:35

6M ago34:35

34:35

Once you see how institutionalizing children can be harmful to their development, how do you continue to be involved with the care of orphans and vulnerable children? Brent Phillips, CEO and Programs Manager at Cherish Uganda, shares how this organization has evolved over the years to best center families within their care strategy. Brent speaks ca…

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28. The Other Side of the Story: Caregivers & Residents Share Their Experiences with Orphanage Tourism with David Sanon & Steph DeLuca Robinson 49:05

6M ago49:05

49:05

It is critical to center the voices of lived experience experts in any human rights conversation. This episode is sure to give you pause at different moments, as David Sanon shares his experience growing up in a boarding school in Haiti, where American donors sponsored his education. After meeting Steph DeLuca Robinson and other trusted partners, h…

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27. Effective Environments for Care in Therapy, Parenting, and Churches with Eric Gott, LPC 2:56:03

6M ago2:56:03

2:56:03

Eric Gott began working with kids who hold difficult narratives as a play therapist in Nashville, Tennessee. He then became a foster dad, and after 3.5 years of courtroom appointments, he and his wife, Leah, became the legal parents of four young children. Eric now serves as a Children’s Minister in Birmingham, Alabama, where he has brought trauma-…

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26. Normalizing the Attachment Journey with Jamie Finn 46:56

6M ago46:56

46:56

Jamie Finn is no stranger to the attachment journey for children and families. Having shared her life as a foster mother for a decade, Jamie knows the beauty and the sorrow of loving kids with difficult beginnings. In this episode, you’ll hear Jamie share the ways her heart posture has changed over the years. If you’re considering becoming a foster…

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25. How Should Foster Care and Adoption Policies Evolve in a Post-Dobbs United States? with Elizabeth Kirk, JD 44:44

7M ago44:44

44:44

In a law-oriented society like the United States, it is critical to engage legal professionals who frame our understanding of adoption and foster care policies in the field of child advocacy. Elizabeth Kirk, who holds a doctorate in law from Notre Dame, is passionate about adoption policy because of the way her own life started and the way she and …

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24. Theological Frames, Medical Ethics, & Embryo Adoption with Dr. Nicholas Darby 51:12

7M ago51:12

51:12

Dr. Nicholas Darby obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and is a distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a managing partner of Florence Medical Associates, where he practices primary care in Florence, Alabama. He served as chief resident during his time at Cahaba-UAB Fami…

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23. A Mother’s Ethical Journey to IVF with Ansley Smith 42:53

7M ago42:53

42:53

As medicine continues to advance, reproductive technologies provide more options to hopeful parents. Lauren’s sister, Ansley, shares her journey to motherhood with great vulnerability. This episode provides a frame for those who have wandered through ethical questions of in vitro fertilization. The things Ansley discusses here offer both challenge …

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A Prayer for a New Year 11:01

7M ago11:01

11:01

Another year has gone, and we greet a new one with reflective hearts. Parenting, like faith, is a constant remembering. We hope you take some time with us this week for a simple breath prayer to remember God’s constant presence with us and another prayer asking for help in remembering the faithfulness of the God of the past and present. May you rem…

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A Prayer for Christmas 15:25

7M ago15:25

15:25

Merry Christmas, friends. Today, we celebrate Jesus embracing humanity—knit together in his mother’s womb, coming into this world as a newborn, and being swaddled and held close to his mother. Pause with us today and this week to reflect on this extraordinary mystery, one that transcends any greeting card scene, holiday movie, or glittering Christm…

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Suffering Well w/ Gloria Purvis 1:05:03

7M ago1:05:03

1:05:03

I have admired the work and example of Dr. Gloria Purvis for quite some time. She is a radio and media personality, Catholic author, speaker, scholar and activist who lives life with humble trust. She hosted Morning Glory, an international radio show, and is now hosting her own podcast, the Gloria Purvis Podcast from America Media. In this episode …

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Episode 136: The Shift Film w/ Brock Heasley 48:59

7M ago48:59

48:59

Writer and Director, Brock Heasley, is always such a delightful, insightful guest. It was all my honor to talk with him about what it’s like to release art into the world as his first feature film is in theaters now!! With the subtlety of good storytelling and the thrill of worthy adventure, The Shift delivers a thrill of hope for today’s weary wor…

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22. Forming Our Theology as we Form our Families with Shannan Martin 51:08

7M ago51:08

51:08

As the mother of four children who joined her family through adoption, Shannan Martin shares how loving and walking alongside the marginalized of her community not only revolutionized her faith, but also made her an unapologetic ally with those who are negatively impacted by the U.S. prison system. Shannan, whose husband is a chaplain in their loca…

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A Prayer for Grief During the Holidays 16:53

7M ago16:53

16:53

The holidays aren’t always the most wonderful time of year. For many, this season is wrapped up in grief and sorrow. This week features a prayer by guest liturgist Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, a foodie, runner, speaker, podcaster, and the award-winning author of numerous books for kids of all ages. She is a remarried widow who is raising three daught…

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21. Reimagining the U.S. Justice System Informed By Survivors of Childhood Trauma with Cyntoia Brown Long 57:41

7M ago57:41

57:41

Since her release in 2019, Cyntoia Brown Long has been able to travel the U.S. speaking about her experience within the criminal justice system where she was tried as an adult and placed in a womens’ prison at the age of 16. Her story started long before her arrest, however, and long before she found herself fearing for her life in the home of a ma…

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20. Stories from Death Row: How ‘Criminal Justice’ is Failing Adult Children of Trauma with Patti van Eys, PhD 1:20:33

7M ago1:20:33

1:20:33

In this episode, Dr. Patt van Eys provides an incredible foundation of understanding about psychiatric illnesses and the U.S. system for diagnosing and treating mental health concerns. Listeners will find this conversation SO helpful as Dr. Patti connects child development, attachment, and dissociation to the critical ages of neurological growth fo…

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A Prayer for Unpacking Advent 13:24

7M ago13:24

13:24

Advent presents us with a sacred invitation: to embark inside an ancient story of what was and somehow is, too. Whether you are moving through this season by lighting Advent wreaths or engaging in other traditions, may you become more aware of the Light of the world. Pray with us as we ask Jesus to help us orient our hearts, letting this time spark…

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177 - Dementia, Memory Ministry, & Informed Compassion (feat. Mary McDaniel Cail) 34:37

7M ago34:37

34:37

Content warning: this episode contains mentions of suicide, miscarriage, and loss. This week we’re joined by Dr. Mary Cail, author of Dementia and the Church: Memory, Care, and Inclusion and Alzheimer's: A Crash Course for Friends and Relatives. She explains why the church’s role can be so important in caring for those impacted by dementia, some ba…

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Episode 174 :: Douglas McKelvey :: Stories of Leaning into Advent, Lament, and Living with Every Moment Holy 1:02:39

8M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Today, I have the absolute pleasure of sharing my conversation with the one and only Douglas McKelvey. Douglas is a songwriter, author, and liturgy writer extraordinaire. I have never met someone like Douglas. His gift with words and passion for Christ cultivates a visceral invitation to be more present in this life, to find your fight again as you…

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A Prayer for Help in the Holidays 15:35

8M ago15:35

15:35

The season of Advent has arrived. We invite you to slow down and soak in the anticipation of this time of year with two breath prayers. As you navigate the holidays and all of the bustle of shuttling kids to and from gatherings, filling up stockings, navigating travel logistics, and so on, we hope you lean into the tenderness of Christ. Kayla’s new…

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Episode 173 :: Carole Holiday :: Stories of Learning Who You Are Again After Loss and Living with Grief 1:12:22

8M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

A self-proclaimed “accidental author”, Carole Holiday was living a very full life as a wife, mother, and nana, until one day, everything fell apart. Her marriage to her childhood sweetheart of over 35 years ended, followed by losing her job and ultimately filing for bankruptcy. Then she developed heart issues because of all the stress, and a contin…

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Episode 172 :: Mike Nappa :: Stories from the Valley of the Shadow, and Blessing Those Who Mourn 1:13:36

8M ago1:13:36

1:13:36

Over the last several years, I don’t think there is anyone who has not been touched by loss or some kind of grief. Today's guest, author, and literary agent Mike Nappa is incredibly familiar with loss and living with grief. In 2016, he lost his beloved wife, Amy, to cancer. In his learning how to live life without her, God has shown him why grievin…

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19. Understanding the Power of Racial Identity for Transracial Adoptees with Angela Tucker 44:06

8M ago44:06

44:06

Angela Tucker has been a long-time trusted voice in the space of transracial adoption. As an advocate for children growing up in foster and adoptive homes, she shares her own experience of finding her safest place amongst others who were raised apart from their birth families. Angela facilitates the connection of a vibrant adoptee community full of…

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A Prayer for Unmet Expectations 13:42

8M ago13:42

13:42

This time of year is often loaded with expectations. Many of us feel we need to come up with unique holiday cards, find the perfect Christmas gifts, make sure our homes look social-media worthy. These expectations can rob us of the joy and magic of the season. Join us in a prayer asking God to help us lay down these expectations, seeing the good th…

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Episode 171 :: Gary Miracle :: Stories of Taking Heart, Persevering in Suffering, and No More Bad Days 1:18:53

8M ago1:18:53

1:18:53

Gary Miracle is an author and a speaker who passionately believes in the power of storytelling and how it unites us and spurs us on when life is tragically hard, and also reminds us who we are and who God made us to be. In this episode, he shares his story of growing immersed in church culture on Sunday but then suffered from an identity crisis the…

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18. Understanding the Power of Racial Identity for Transracial Adoptees with Milton Washington 49:33

8M ago49:33

49:33

***This episode contains themes of self harm, some mild language, and other concepts that may be sensitive to listeners.*** ... Milton Washington leads a number of ventures as he shares a powerful narrative of an identity formed through transnational and transracial experiences. In this episode, he sheds light on the unique origin to his story, and…

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A Prayer for Gratitude 14:42

8M ago14:42

14:42

As we reflect on thankfulness this week, let us forgo the surface-level gratitude that seems pervasive in our consumer culture. Join us as we come to the God of goodness, giving thanks for all that is seen and unseen in our everyday lives. May our rhythms of gratitude be an outpouring of the love we have for God and one another, freeing us from the…

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Episode 170 :: Justin & J.L. Gerhardt:: Stories of Encountering God at the Intersection of Story and Worship 1:14:17

8M ago1:14:17

1:14:17

Justin and J.L. Gerhardt are on the podcast today, and you will love hearing from them! There is an epic retelling of their meeting and falling in love complete with 90’s Hearthrob meet cute and all. More than that, Justin and J.L. share about their journey of God leading them both into ministry with words, calling their family to travel the world,…

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17. How might the American Church Apologize for Institutionalizing Children? with Kimberly Quinley 54:10

8M ago54:10

54:10

Kimberly and Lauren discuss the particular landscape of orphanages in Thailand, where $40M is donated to homes in 2 of the 76 provinces alone. Kim, a veteran advocate for reformed care led by Thai churches and families, shares how she’s seen practices shift over the years, and where donor churches still need to evolve in their understanding of chil…

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A Prayer for Parenting in an Overwhelming World 12:41

8M ago12:41

12:41

The weight of parenting in a complicated and chaotic world can feel like so much, and it’s easy to lose sight of the glimmers of God’s glory around us. Join us as we pray for help in noticing and choosing to trust, even in the darkest moments. May you sense God’s presence with you and your family and experience the gift of wonder, even when things …

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176 - Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care (feat. Dr. Becky Bell Scott)

8M ago

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This week Dr. Becky Bell Scott joins us to talk about integrating behavioral health into primary care settings. Dr. Scott is the Program Director for Social Work in Primary Care Programs at Baylor University. Things we mention in this episode/other resources: - the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health - Collaborative Family Healthcare Association - th…

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Kayla Craig Podcasts

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