Best Kari Bartkus Podcasts (2024)

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[Ep 164] 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons 9:59

9h ago9:59

9:59

I remember when my kiddos were little. Those months after bringing a baby home just radically change how you do life, don’t they? From trying to figure out how to get some sleep to finding time to shower to learning what temperature to warm their bottle and when they can start eating different foods… it’s just all so much. Journaling in that season…

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[Ep 163] Letting God Use Our Wounds: A Conversation with Russell Joyce 40:50

14d ago40:50

40:50

(There are a few technical glitches in here. I apologize in advance!) What wounds do you carry around with you? I have scars on my arm from a childhood disease, places where the skin is darker than the rest. For you, it might be a physical scar from an experience that left you scraped and bleeding. Or it might be something deeper: a fear of close r…

1
[Ep 162] The Most Important Thing 9:43

1M ago9:43

9:43

Do you ever have one of those moments when you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God has laid something on your heart? Maybe it’s an idea. Maybe it’s a truth from His Word. Maybe it’s a calling. It is these things that I often write down in my journal. These words from God that I want to remember and hold onto and keep thinking about. Well, I …

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[Ep 161] [Journal Reviews] Guided Journals for Grief 12:37

2M ago12:37

12:37

C.S. Lewis wrote, “You can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears.” And tears often come when we lose something or someone that was very important to us. The truth is, grief is something we all experience, especially when we lose someone we love, but even when we experience other loss, like the loss of a job, the death of a …

1
[Ep 160] When Life Changes, Re-evaluate 10:59

2M ago10:59

10:59

Isn’t it funny how, once you get settled into a good routine, something will change that makes it out of whack? Your child finally starts sleeping through the night, but then they start waking up super early. Or you dedicated nights for your quiet time, but then your teenager decides to use that time to chat with you before bed. Or you theme out yo…

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Episode 110: Surrendering for a New Season 6:31

2M ago6:31

6:31

Follow along with me on InstagramBy Created for This with Danielle Roberts

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[Ep 159] Loneliness and Belonging: A Conversation with Sarah Westfall 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

Something that I have often struggled with as an adult is making new friends. It’s easier when you’re younger and in school. You see your classmates every day or kids from youth group each week. You’re given opportunities to interact and see if there is someone kind of like you that you could be friends with. Talk with. Hang out with. But as an adu…

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[Ep 158] Burdens vs. Loads: Discerning When to Help Someone (Re-release) 9:35

3M ago9:35

9:35

Several years ago, my family and I got to raise a tiny caterpillar. For weeks, we hunted down milkweed to feed it. We watched it grow. And we saw it create its little chrysalis. We even got the blessing of watching it come out of the chrysalis, and caught most of it on video. It was such a beautiful moment. While our little pet didn’t have any majo…

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[Ep 157] A Closer Look at Digital Journaling Apps 8:34

4M ago8:34

8:34

A new app popped up on my phone with one of the latest updates, and it's a journaling app! Did you get it, too? Did you try it? What do you think? I confess, even though I do some digital journaling (which I’ll talk about later in the episode), I haven’t tried any sort of journaling app yet. But I know there are several journaling apps out there. H…

1
[Ep 156] How to Spend the Day in Prayer 10:43

4M ago10:43

10:43

In preparation for homeschool next year, I’ve been pre-reading some missionary biographies that we’ll be using for our history curriculum. And in the one on Amy Carmichael, it shared several times when she would spend the day in prayer, seeking the Lord on one question or another. For example, should she build a house for the Bible study she led wi…

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[Ep 155] When Talking Doesn’t Help 11:33

5M ago11:33

11:33

When you are going through something like betrayal, depression, or deep grief, it can be hard to talk about what is going on inside of you. And I dare to say, there are times when talking doesn’t actually help the situation. I remember when I struggled with depression in college, and every time I talked about it, it just seemed to make things worse…

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[Ep 154] [Journal Reviews] Guided Journals for Depression and Anxiety 15:05

5M ago15:05

15:05

When you are struggling with depression or anxiety, it can often feel heavy. Overwhelming. Hopeless. The worries and fears you carry around can impact every aspect of your life. The sadness can overshadow every other thing around you. I know, because I’ve been there. Have you? And in addition to counseling or coaching or seeing a doctor, journaling…

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[Ep 153] Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference? 9:54

5M ago9:54

9:54

It wasn’t that long ago that I led my Journal Gently Mini Workshop, and during that time, I led women through three different journal prompts that focused on perspective. And here’s the kicker: I only offered five minutes for them to write about each one. But you know what? So many of them were surprised at how much they were able to cover in only …

1
[Ep 152] How to Decline an Offer of Help Gracefully (Re-Release) 14:55

6M ago14:55

14:55

Have you ever had someone offer some sort of support or help to you that you didn’t necessarily want, but you didn’t know how to say no without hurting their feelings? When you are hurting or struggling or need some extra help, you do get to have a say in the matter. You can choose which counselor you want to meet with. You can decide which friends…

1
[Ep 151] [Written Spiritual Direction Session] Standing Stones: Stories of God’s Faithfulness 13:07

7M ago13:07

13:07

Have you ever wondered what it was like to experience a spiritual direction session? What happens? What do you talk about? While some coaches will air live coaching sessions, I can’t very well do that, for two different reasons. One, I don’t do live spiritual direction sessions, since I focus on written spiritual direction. And two, spiritual direc…

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[Ep 150] [Behind-the-Scenes] Are You Honest with Yourself? 8:57

7M ago8:57

8:57

A few weeks ago, I led the first Journal Gently Mini Workshop. During this time, I took one piece of the Journal Gently program and expanded it to an hour of teaching and writing exercises. We focused on perspective and the role it plays not just in our journaling but in our healing, as well. And today, I’m going to play a short section from the mi…

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Episode 109: Caring for Others Well with Kari Bartkus 39:04

7M ago39:04

39:04

It’s so good to have someone help you work through this topic when it can be a challenge to know how to care for others. Kari Bartkus is a Spiritual Director to hurting Christian women but uses a modern-day letter-writing approach perfect for those drawn to quiet spaces and written words. Kari shares her acronym CARE from her book, Courageous Care:…

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[Ep 149] What Are You Feeling Possessive Of? 9:09

8M ago9:09

9:09

“Mom, I need a tank top!” “Okay, borrow one of mine.” “Mom, I’m out of body wash.” “You can use my soap until we get you some more.” “Mom, I can’t find my brush.” “Go ahead and use mine.” My daughter is now at the age where she is starting to share and borrow some of my things. And most of the time, it’s completely okay. But I will admit that there…

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[Ep 148] Don't Vacuum While the Dog's Sleeping: A Story About Juggling Responsibilities 6:57

8M ago6:57

6:57

It’s almost a If You Give a Mouse a Cookie type story. You know the one? If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to want a glass of milk. If you give him a glass of milk, he’ll probably ask you for a straw.” And so on. Well, if you vacuum while the dog’s sleeping, then you’re going to wake him up. If you wake him up, he’s going to need to go outsi…

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[Ep 147] The Flip-Out Rule in Journaling 10:18

9M ago10:18

10:18

“I don’t want to face that again. It feels like too much.” Many of my clients have experienced tremendous grief or trauma in their lives, and as we seek God together through our writing back and forth, there is often a pressure they are feeling—whether from themselves or family members or friends—to use journaling to write about their deepest wound…

1
[Ep 146] Introduction to Journaling: Creating Your Own Journaling Routine 12:09

9M ago12:09

12:09

When I say the word journal, the image that might very well pop into your mind is that of a woman sitting with a notebook at a quiet desk, writing for 20 or 30 minutes about her deepest thoughts and fears. Or maybe you think back to your teenage self, when you recorded the day’s events and poured out your heart on paper. Or your grandmother, keepin…

1
[Ep 145] Holding Your Word of the Year Close All Year Long 13:22

10M ago13:22

13:22

Diligent. Rooted. Ask. Unhurried. Those are some of the words I’ve held through the past four years as a way to set an intention for the year, a focus or theme to keep me moving in a particular direction. Diligent and rooted were for those first years of business, doing what I needed to do to build a strong foundation and get things started right, …

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Episode 108: Life Lessons from the Little Red Wagon with Ron Simmons 26:11

10M ago26:11

26:11

In this episode of Created for This, I’m talking with Ron Simmons who served as a state representative, CEO of a wealth management company, and is a father and grandfather. We’re talking about Ron Simmons’ book Life Lessons from the Little Red Wagon. In this episode of Created for This, I’m talking with Ron Simmons who served as a state representat…

1
[Ep 144] How to Create Both a Short and Long Journaling Routine 8:57

10M ago8:57

8:57

One of the things my clients often ask about is how to journal while they are on vacation, or if family is staying over, or even now, over the holiday season, when schedules and routines are different than the norm. And I think that is such a great question. Something that has really helped me—and them—is creating two different journaling routines.…

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[Ep 143] Start Noticing What You Enjoy 7:34

11M ago7:34

7:34

"Start noticing what you enjoy." That was my journal entry for September 10, 2023. And to be honest, it wasn't even handwritten in a journal. It was on the Notes app on my phone. I had been reading an article online by a mixed media/abstract artist, and her words gave me pause. What do I enjoy? Today's conversation is short and sweet, but it's also…

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[Ep 142] [Journal Reviews] Guided Journals and Devotionals for Advent 9:00

11M ago9:00

9:00

How are you getting ready for the mystery of Christmas? That is a question I learned to hold when I served as a children’s ministries director. Our curriculum described Advent as the time to get ready for the mystery of Christmas, and Lent as the time to get ready for the mystery of Easter. A mystery, indeed. For why would God become flesh? Why wou…

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[Ep 141] The Gift of Your Presence: Caring for Others by Being Interruptible 10:17

11M ago10:17

10:17

There are times when people come to us and end up interrupting something we were already doing. Like when our kids need help filling up their water bottles. Or when a dear friend is having an especially tough day and just needs to be with someone. Or when a family member calls and needs to figure out how to handle a situation they’re in. How would …

1
[Ep 140] Recognizing God’s Invitation to Reach Out to a Hurting Friend 9:52

11M ago9:52

9:52

I have an announcement for you: I wrote a book. An actual book that you will be able to buy in paperback form that I plan to launch this book later this month, right as we’re going into the holiday season. Because holidays can be hard, and I know you. You want to find ways to serve and care for those who are struggling this holiday season. And this…

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[Ep 139] 3 Truths to Remember During a Difficult Holiday Season (Re-Release) 12:05

12M ago12:05

12:05

It is now November, and that simple change in month means that so many of us are starting to think about the holidays—planning and buying gifts and decorating. But for some of us, holidays also bring along a bit of sadness or stress. Holidays can be hard for numerous reasons. It could be that a loved one has passed during the year, and so it’s our …

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[Ep 138] Holy Hush or Holiday Hustle: Which Will You Choose? 8:56

12M ago8:56

8:56

Can I confess something to you? I don’t always look forward to the holiday season. Perhaps it’s my previous years in ministry, planning ahead for the events and programs and using every last ounce of energy to pull it off, only to fall exhausted on the couch when all was said and done. Sometimes when you’re in ministry or volunteer roles, you get b…

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Episode 107: The Power of Stories We Tell Ourselves and Others with Dianna Kokoszka 34:04

12M ago34:04

34:04

Today's guest, Dianna Kokoska, can be found on Instagram, or her website. You can order the book through my affiliate link on Amazon. In this episode, Dianna shares: How being a wife and mom has impacted her business. How she started her business as a single mom who pulled her kids door to door in a little red wagon. She found serving people and li…

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[Ep 137] 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don't Know What to Write About 7:08

12M ago7:08

7:08

“I want to journal; I just don’t know what to write about.” Is that you? Do you want to journal and reflect on life and maybe record some important experiences that you’ve had, but once you sit down, you have no idea what to say? Today, I’m going to share three easy ways to journal when you don’t know what to write about. This is great for those wh…

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[Ep 136] 5 Misconceptions of a Christian Spiritual Director 11:11

1y ago11:11

11:11

I was reading a book a few weeks ago about a Christian woman who lost her husband to melanoma. While hard to read at times, it was also very enlightening and inspiring. But then I got to a part where she talked to her spiritual guide for encouragement and insight about what to do next. A spirit guide who used tarot cards and spoke to the lady’s hus…

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[Ep 135] Identifying Signs You're Not Doing Well (And What You Can Do About It) 8:30

1y ago8:30

8:30

We’re all familiar with symptoms that let us know we are not feeling well physically. A fever, cough, or runny nose sends us running for medicine to help us feel better. But I’ve noticed that we each have symptoms that tell us we’re not doing well on a more personal level. Today, I am going to help you identify those signs in your own life so you c…

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[Ep 134] You Have to Push Yourself to Grow (Podcast Rebrand) 9:29

1y ago9:29

9:29

Have you ever tried to grow stronger by lifting weights? I’m not much of a weight-lifter myself, but I know the drill. Start with a low weight and slowly increase it, making it a bit heavier each time. With each successive uplevel, you build more muscle. Or what about running a marathon? Most of us don’t start out running an entire mile. We start w…

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[Ep 133] Can You Just Sit With Me? A Conversation About Grief with Natasha Smith 36:45

1y ago36:45

36:45

Grief impacts all of us in different ways. And today, I want to share a special conversation I had with Natasha Smith. Natasha has a book that is releasing today called Can You Just Sit With Me? And, my friend, it is such a lovely book. She shares her grief story and then she writes about some of the things you’ll hear us talk about today: · Types …

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[Ep 132] Spiritual First Aid in the Midst of Disaster: A Conversation with Jamie Aten 33:20

1y ago33:20

33:20

I’m not sure where you live, but it seems like every location these days is experiencing some sort of disaster: wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods. It’s one thing to experience that on a personal level—let’s say your basement floods after a heavy rain. But it’s another thing to experience that as a community or entire region. I’ve l…

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Episode 106: Kathy Dixon on saying "Oh Yes!" to Business Growth 36:38

1y ago36:38

36:38

Today’s guest is Kathy Dixon, founder and CEO of Oh Yes! Communications. Today she will guide us through how to grow a successful business, sharing the importance of organization, flexibility, and staying grounded in our day-to-day through faith and relationship. In this episode, we discussed: Addressing our weaknesses in business and how to learn …

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Episode 105: Are AI and Chat GPT Dangerous for Christians? with Lewis Ungit 35:24

1y ago35:24

35:24

Lewis and I talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), using it in our business, and how to move forward as Christians. He walks us through what his thoughts are from a technical and theological integrated, biblical aspect. A few points we cover: The question of “should AI be used” is one thing we discuss. Additionally, we look at ChatGPT and how it …

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[Ep 131] Healing in Layers: What Art Taught Me About Grief 13:37

1y ago13:37

13:37

Healing has layers. No, not in the physical sense, like you can pile one layer on top of the other. But we heal from different parts of grief at different times, and sometimes even revisit some areas we thought we had processed already. But instead of using the famous onion example of peeling back one layer at a time, I’m choosing to make it a litt…

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[Ep 130] Is Your Hurt Preventing You From Loving Others Well? 10:13

1y ago10:13

10:13

Today’s conversation is going to be a bit of a heart-to-heart. Because I’ve seen something in my own life that I’m guessing might be happening in yours. It’s something that is hurting a lot of my relationships. It’s hurting people that I love. And I certainly don’t intend for that to be happening. Yet all too often, I don’t do what it takes to chan…

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[Ep 129] [Book Recommendation] The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson 8:56

1y ago8:56

8:56

I don’t know about you, but I love me a good book. There’s just something about sitting down and getting lost in another world for a while—and often gleaning a lesson or two along the way. That’s why I’ve enjoyed recommended some books to you this year. And today is no different. I have a book—well, actually a series of books—that I really couldn’t…

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Episode 104: Danielle and Melissa Whaley Share Top 3 House Management Tips 40:59

1y ago40:59

40:59

God's given us homes to steward, and steward them well. Melissa Whaley joins me to chat about our top three house management tips. These are tips that are practical and ones that can be implemented straight away. As moms, Melissa and I have 10 kids between us. We are giving you things that make sense as moms and business owners because we're right …

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[Ep 128] It's Okay to Have Help (And Some Ideas to Get You Started) 10:53

1y ago10:53

10:53

About six weeks ago, we adopted a puppy. We weren’t necessarily planning for it, and so when we brought the dog home, we had a lot of changes we needed to make. And I’ve had to learn to ask for help when I need it. I’ve had to learn to recognize when something isn’t working and then do something to fix it. And so I want to tell you: It’s okay to ha…

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Bonus Episode: 5 Ways to Know it's Time to Start a Podcast with Stefanie Gass 31:55

1y ago31:55

31:55

I often hear “I don’t know how to start…”, "What do I need to do to get started," or “Is now the right time to start a podcast?” So how DO you know if you’re ready to start a podcast? Is there an ideal time, audience size, or revenue goal that indicates you are “ready”? How do you figure out *when* to take the leap? Who better to help answer this q…

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[Ep 127] How to Choose a Bible You’ll Actually Use 14:06

1y ago14:06

14:06

Bible reading is one of those core spiritual disciplines you think about when you think about the Christian life, right? We are encouraged from a young age to read the Bible every single day. Reading God’s Word helps us to recognize His voice. It helps us know His character and what He values or finds important. It teaches us to know what He cares …

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[Ep 126] [Devotional] Falling Forward 13:26

1y ago13:26

13:26

This week is going to look a little different from normal, because I want to share with you one of the devotions from my devotional, Imagine. Imagine was written based on the spiritual practice of imaginative prayer, which is where you try to imagine what it might be like to be one of the people in the Bible, or to watch a Bible story unfold before…

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[Ep 125] I Just Ordered a New Planner… Here’s Why 7:23

1y ago7:23

7:23

It’s July. And I just ordered a new planner for the rest of the year. This is really hard for me. I don’t like leaving things unfinished. Having a half-used planner is definitely unfinished. Incomplete. It feels like failing. And I don’t know if you ever feel that way, where you want to push through something just to check it off the list and say y…

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[Ep 124] [Book Recommendation] Visit the Sick By Brian Croft 8:38

1+ y ago8:38

8:38

Have you ever had someone in your church or circle of friends become sick, maybe even have to stay in the hospital? And maybe you wanted to visit them, or you felt God nudging you to visit them, but… you just weren’t sure? Maybe you didn’t know what to say. Or maybe you felt uncomfortable in a hospital setting. Or maybe you even thought the person …

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[Ep 123] A Conversation with Marla Beech: Journaling as a Daily Practice 31:54

1+ y ago31:54

31:54

I don’t know about you, but I love to hear about how others journal: what journaling methods they use, if they like to write by hand or type, the materials they use, and the rhythms and practices they have put in place. Because journaling is such a personal thing. What works for one person may not work for another. And really, what works for one pe…

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Kari Bartkus Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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