Best Kayla Phillips Podcasts (2024)

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

25d 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, …

1
32. Tell Compelling Adoption Stories, but First Make Sure They’re True with Nick Runyon 46:40

25d 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…

1
31. The Failures of U.S. Child Protection, and What Christians Should Know About Safe Families with Sarah Winograd-Babayeuski 54:50

25d 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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How To: Enter and Maintain Strong Partnerships with Jaclyn Patterson and Christal Duncan Earle 1:10:29

4M ago1:10:29

1:10:29

Guests: Jaclyn Patterson is the Founder of Shopwise, an online sustainable fashion marketplace, making it easier for people to discover and shop smarter from more than 30 purpose driven brands that prioritize both people and the planet. Christal Duncan Earle founded Brave Soles in 2017. Brave Soles creates handcrafted shoes with upcycled tire soles…

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How To: Funding for Black Women Entrepreneurs with Tia Upshaw and Tashauna Reid 1:10:10

5M ago1:10:10

1:10:10

Guests: Tia Upshaw is a dynamic, serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Blk Women in Excellence. Tashauna Reid is the owner of College Creative Curations, an online stationery store which addresses common student challenges by creating purposeful stationery items. Resources: Learn more about BWIE Connect with BWIE’s workshops and events Che…

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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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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How To: Build Successful Relationships with Freelancers with Jasmine Williams and Sandra Reimer 1:03:06

6M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Freelancing is a very unique style of entrepreneurship. For freelancers, they are able to achieve flexibility and do work they are great at. For founders, freelancers are key contributors to their projects and business. In this episode, we talk about the tangible tools that allow freelancers to be successful and how to develop strong, empathetic an…

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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

6M 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

6M 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…

1
23. A Mother’s Ethical Journey to IVF with Ansley Smith 42:53

6M 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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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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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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Support for Women-led Startups in Canada with Conor Phillips and Natasha Peter 1:12:35

7M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Conor Phillips is an innovator, creative problem solver and serial-entrepreneur, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After working in the tourism industry for several years, Conor recognized that something was missing from how small businesses promote their products and services, and how travellers discover the activities, events, festivals and accom…

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

7M 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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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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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…

1
16. Caring for Vulnerable Families Demands a Church-Wide Response with Jedd Medefind 38:10

8M ago38:10

38:10

As the President of CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans), Jedd Medefind invites people with any skill set or particular burden to care for the needs of vulnerable children and families. Whether that is through offering prepared meals, financial support, intercessory prayer, physical space, or emotional respite, there are things anyone in the Churc…

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Understanding the State of Women Entrepreneurship with Dr.Wendy Cukier and Vivian Liu 1:07:20

8M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Have you ever googled the word entrepreneur? What kind of images show up? Who kind of folks do you see represented and associated with the word ‘entrepreneur’. More often than not, it isn’t women and we believe that needs to change because women are disrupting industries, they are making deep social impact and they are incredibly successful. Guests…

1
15. Shouldn’t we be Qualified Before We’re Called? An Academic Approach to Reforming Care with Dr. Kristen Cheney 1:11:48

8M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

When Lauren was in graduate school, she committed herself to bringing research and data to inform the ways Christians engage with humanitarian issues. Dr. Kristen Cheney is an incredible resource for Churches to understand the psychology of attachment, best practices around child protection, and the need for excellent qualifications in the field of…

1
14. Family Preservation and the Complications of International Church Involvement with Megan Boudreaux 36:30

8M ago36:30

36:30

Like many guests on this season, Megan Boudreaux found herself swept up into the church industry or orphanages. The longer she stayed in Haiti, the more she noticed that something was awry with the North American approach to placing children in institutionalized care. Megan and Lauren discuss the crisis of children aging out of orphanages with no c…

1
13. Why Revisit Orphan Care? with Brandon Stiver 40:26

8M ago40:26

40:26

If there is a good place to start this conversation for our season on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Brandon Stiver is the right person to set the tone. With years of experience in this space, Brandon helped Lauren curate this episode through his knowledge and his connections to voices in this space. He is a co-host of the Think Orphan podcast, a…

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Season Two: Reforming Orphan Care 8:00

9M ago8:00

8:00

Lauren is back with another season exploring the complexities of a global issue that engages many churches, but not always with a cohesive impact. As we follow the mandate of ‘pure religion’ outlined in James 1:27, what does it really mean to care for orphans and widows? What is the invitation to this work, and why isn’t it as simple as a few words…

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How To: Navigate Global Entrepreneurship with Myriam Francisque and Evelyne Nyairo 1:07:55

9M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

The world is your oyster, its full of opportunities. But what about trade agreements, laws, market research, and shipping costs? For entrepreneurs who want to go global, opportunities for growth can quickly feel risky, unclear and even out of reach. For Black and racialized entrepreneurs, these feelings are often amplified. Evelyne Nyairo is the Fo…

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How To: Navigate Parental Leave For Startups with Emma Devin and Lizzy Karp 1:11:21

10M ago1:11:21

1:11:21

In this episode, we will explore Brood’s story, one that came to be through a passion for babies, friendship, and families. Emma Devin and Lizzy Karp have developed a language of care and through this conversation we are able to learn how the words we use affect the experience people can have. This conversation reminds us to look at parents and car…

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How To: Lead Non-Profits and Create Change with Ivy Wong and Megan Poole 1:11:51

11M ago1:11:51

1:11:51

Ivy Wong is the Founder of Ripple Foundation, a non-profit created to inspire imaginations, and foster creativity and literacy for children in Canada. Today, Ripple Foundation serves communities across the country and children and youth at various stages of their writing journeys. Megan Poole is the Manager of Community and Community Relations at T…

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How To: Access Scotiabank’s Women Initiative with Chris McMartin and Melissa Houston 1:10:01

12M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Money matters for entrepreneurs and for business owners. It can also be a source of stress, shame and overwhelm. Chris and Melissa have advice for you to feel more comfortable with making and managing money as a women entrepreneur. Guests: Chris McMartin is our Topic Expert. Chris leads The Scotiabank Women Initiative Small Business Strategy across…

1
How To: Foster Indigenous Values and Systems as an Entrepreneur 1:03:15

1y ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Chelsea Howard is the Founder of Drift Employer Brand Consulting. Chelsea is a workforce strategist, partnering with companies from a range of industries to build human-centric culture and employee experience strategies. Mary Wildman is a First Nations Indigenous woman from Curve Lake First Nation. Mary is a vibrant warrior who works to build relat…

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How To: Fund Your Business and Grow with Kailey Gilchrist and Shelley Kuipers 1:02:18

1y ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Your venture needs funding, how you get there can be up to you. In this episode, Kailey shares NONA Vegan’s fundraising journey while Shelley chimes in with insight and advice for funding your business so you can grow. “Founders should put themselves first. I want to understand their judgment, I need to see that they are coachable. I love companies…

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How To: Navigate Entrepreneurship as a Newcomer with Karla Briones and Vanessa Teran 1:12:58

1y ago1:12:58

1:12:58

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster, with high highs and low lows. Add in navigating a new country and all of the emotions and learnings that come along with it, that is a whole new rollercoaster. In this episode, we hear from two women entrepreneurs who left home and came to Canada for a new life. Through their journeys, we quickly learn that newc…

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12. My Why: Season 1 Summary 21:02

1+ y ago21:02

21:02

For this episode, Lauren spills her heart (and a bit of her life history) to explain the purpose behind this season’s episodes. She discusses how her biblical worldview has changed over time, shares stories from experiences with churches spotted across the world, and offers a hope for a future faith community that stewards responsible Gospel messag…

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11. Good News Must Answer to Bad News (Part 2) with Dr. Aaron Wheeler 55:49

1+ y ago55:49

55:49

Dr. Aaron Wheeler, the Director of Missional Development for Kindred Exchange, chats with Lauren about four different frames through which people see the world and their place in the Story of God. Too often, he says, our evangelism problem is rooted in a limited theology–we have a “good news” that doesn’t match people’s bad news. This two-part epis…

1
10. Good News Must Answer to Bad News (Part 1) with Dr. Aaron Wheeler 48:04

1+ y ago48:04

48:04

Dr. Aaron Wheeler, the Director of Missional Development for Kindred Exchange, chats with Lauren about four different frames through which people see the world and their place in the Story of God. Too often, he says, our evangelism problem is rooted in a limited theology–we have a “good news” that doesn’t match people’s bad news. This two-part epis…

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09. Power Dynamics in African Aid with Jeje Godfrey Nzirimu 59:14

1+ y ago59:14

59:14

Lauren talks with Jeje Godfrey Nzirimu, President and Founder of East Africa Energy Solutions, about the many complications of mobilizing both aid and religion across cultures. Jeje highlights concepts of power dynamics, and explains why so many development efforts fall flat or cause unintended harm. With loads of generosity and grace, he shares wi…

1
How To: Build Your Brand with Reagan Bradley and Rachel Kelly 1:12:49

1+ y ago1:12:49

1:12:49

When entrepreneurs hear Make Lemonade, they likely think of Rachel Kelly – but what is the secret to achieving this and how do you do it? Reagan Bradley, is a personal brand strategist, or in her words ‘a part time investigator, and part time storyteller’, guiding entrepreneurs to find their authenticity, and curate the right story so they can clea…

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08. Vocation as Mission with Rob Touchstone 55:09

1+ y ago55:09

55:09

Rob Touchstone, the Director for the Center for Vocational Discovery at Lipscomb University, shares his journey through different jobs in formal church-based ministry to social enterprise. He and Lauren discuss the Hebrew concept of Avodah, or the convergence of our work also becoming a form of our worship. In this episode, you will hear some new s…

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07. Helping, Hurting, and Questioning the American Dream with Dr. Brian Fikkert 48:40

1+ y ago48:40

48:40

Dr. Brian Fikkert and Lauren discuss what has changed in missional movements since publishing his monumental book, When Helping Hurts. The two have a riveting conversation about economic structures, how financial capital can work against mental health, and how the Western world can learn some of its best lessons from the Majority World. In this epi…

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How To: Be An Emotionally Intelligent Leader with Carolyn Stern and Daisy Wright 1:07:03

1+ y ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Expressing our emotions at work is not always easy, but what if paying more attention to our behaviours and emotional needs made us better leaders? Leaders who could hire according to their emotional inventory, operate in a more self aware state and create emotionally in tuned and strong teams that support business growth. Daisy Wright, who support…

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06. Rethinking Community Development with Derran Reese 47:04

1+ y ago47:04

47:04

Derran, a long-time acquaintance of Lauren from working in Southeast Asia, tackles some big questions around systems of community development. The two take a critical look at recent trends in social intervention, and ask where our best-laid plans for developing communities outside of the West have failed and how we can be more curious as we seek ne…

1
05. Business as Mission with Mats Tunehag 44:20

1+ y ago44:20

44:20

In this episode, Mats shares the history of the Business as Mission (BAM) Global Movement. He and Lauren discuss why business is an authentic way to connect across cultures, how business has been used to unethically enter different countries, and what the future of the BAM Movement entails. From human trafficking to economic justice, this conversat…

1
04. The White Savior Industrial Complex with Rachel Pieh Jones 41:04

1+ y ago41:04

41:04

Lauren and Rachel Pieh Jones discuss what years of living in a different context teaches us about agency, story, and power. Rachel shares how her Djiboutian neighbors respond to short-term interactions with foreigners who assumed charitable roles, and the long-term rebuilding that was sometimes required after Western travelers disrupted social norm…

1
03. Building Cross-Cultural Bridges That Last with Craig Greenfield 37:15

1+ y ago37:15

37:15

In his new book, Subversive Mission, Craig Greenfield invites his readers to consider their spiritual gifts in ministry in the way they partner with God’s justice. This episode specifically tackles a critical analysis of Jesus’ ministry tools and the subversive manner of teaching. Craig and Lauren talk about the ways culture impacts our understandi…

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02. Colonialism & Missions with Mekdes Haddis 42:33

1+ y ago42:33

42:33

As the author of A Just Mission, Mekdes Haddis identifies the history of colonialism in evangelical missions and invites Christians to wrestle with contextualization of their faith. Haddis, originally from Ethiopia, describes her experience assimilating into American churches and the racism she experienced attempting to appropriately inform mission…

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01. Is Jesus Even Good News? with Sara Billups 39:28

1+ y ago39:28

39:28

Lauren talks with Sara Billups, author of Orphaned Believers, about the current state of evangelicalism and what remains to hold onto for Christians today. They discuss major events of the 1980s that led to the current polarization of politics and faith, and point to the future of the American church, casting hope for a changing religious culture t…

1
How To: Navigate Mindset Shifts with Monique Hutson and Cheryl Sutherland 1:01:13

1+ y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Monique Hutson is the Founder and Lead Content Producer of Dom Productions. After running the business for 6 years, her mindset and missions have changed and evolved, they have had to. Cheryl Sutherland is the Founder of PleaseNotes, a business she has built to help women step into their power by building confidence, clarity, and creativity. Togeth…

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Season One: Ethical Evangelism 5:55

1+ y ago5:55

5:55

Welcome to the show where we talk about topics in modern Christianity that are so challenging, they require us to be grounded in something much bigger than ourselves. If you’re here, you’ve likely found yourself hungry for something deeper. You want to find answers for how to hold onto your faith after seeing religion be twisted in a way that has s…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Kayla Phillips Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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