No More Perfect Podcast with Jill Savage

Buckle up, this is the episode where we are covering all things sex! You may feel embarrassed to talk about sex candidly or you may even feel like sex is still a dirty word from your childhood. Whether you have a history that includes pornography, an affair, or sex before marriage, there are many things that can impact how you approach sex with your spouse. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are very few “do nots” when it comes to sex within marriage and a whole lot of freedom.

To help us get more comfortable about the topic of sex and to discover God’s instruction on the topic, we have some expert friends joining us. Bill and Pam Farrel are international speakers, authors of 60 books, relationship specialists, and together they co-direct Love-Wise Ministry. Bill and Pam have been happily married for 44 years, and have three grown sons and seven grandchildren. They live on a boat that is docked in Southern California.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How men and women can work together to build intimacy
• Why we should design the sex life we want in marriage
• The importance of having candid conversations with your spouse
• And so much more...

I'm so excited for this episode and I hope you are too! Let's talk about sex!

Find resource mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/bill-pam-farrel-213

(We've been sharing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.)

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Are there some aspects of your relationship where you often feel worked up, angry, or even like things aren’t fair? This is a prime breeding ground for resentment to take root. This could be a result of something your spouse has done or something they aren’t doing that causes resentment to boil up inside of you. However, resentment often grows as a result of an issue in our own hearts.

In this episode, we are exploring how to untangle resentment in your marriage. Joining me is Chelsea Damon, author of I Thought This Would Make Me Happy. Chelsea ​​is an author, blogger, foster and biological mom, and wife to Josh. She is passionate about cultivating a loving family and helping others do the same.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What causes resentment to grow in marriage
• Why it is important to examine our hearts regularly
• How to combat resentment with gratitude
• And so much more...

I can’t wait to hear how this conversation has helped you!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/chelsea-damon-212

(As we start into our fifth year of the podcast, you'll start hearing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.)

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Our phones are often the first thing we interact with when we wake up and the last thing when we go to bed. We check it at all hours of the day to remain connected and fill the empty moments.

There is rarely a moment that goes by in our busy lives when we don’t have access to technology. It’s quite literally in the palm of our hands! But is this 24/7 access to it healthy? Is it doing more harm than good? It’s often not until we start intentionally unplugging from it that we realize how much it was taking from our lives.

My guest, Hannah Brencher, has experience with slowly putting technology back in its place as she has navigated the tug-of-war between staying plugged in and powering down. She is a writer, a TED speaker, and an entrepreneur. Hannah was even named one of the White House’s Women Working to Do Good.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How to cultivate a lifestyle that unplugs
• The power of presence
• Some first steps to striking a balance with technology
• And so much more...

This is a super practical episode that I know you will love!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/hannah-brencher-211

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

A little over a year ago, we shared about how we got invited to go to Africa. In this episode, we are sharing the rest of the story!

This is actually part two of Episode 135 - To Uganda with Love with Pastor Zachariah. If you want to know more about how this all began, be sure to give that one a listen.

There were so many amazing God stories that happened before, during, and after our trip, and we are so excited to share those with you!

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The crazy God story of how this all started
• Why it’s important to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading
• Some of the amazing ways only God can connect our lives
• And much more!

We are so amazed at all the connections God has made as a result of ONE interaction on our way to a coffee shop in Alabama!

Find resources mentioned and more in the Show Notes: jillsavage.org/uganda-again-210

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

 What do we do when life seems to fall apart at our very fingertips? Can God still use even the terrible experiences for good in some way?

In this conversation, we are talking about why no experience is ever wasted in God’s economy. And my guest, Davey Blackburn, knows this personally.

In 2015, Davey Blackburn’s life was turned upside down when his pregnant wife, Amanda, was murdered in a home invasion. The unthinkable happened and Davey had to pick up the pieces of their broken life while caring for their 18-month-old son.

As a high-profile criminal case unfolded over the next several years, Davey took on the seemingly impossible task of finding the strength to restore his shattered soul. He is now the founder and director of Nothing is Wasted, a ministry dedicated to helping others navigate trauma, tragedies, and major life transitions.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How God meets us in our pain
• How the work of healing occurs in a process
• The importance of forgiveness being a choice, not a feeling
• And so much more...

I hope you are encouraged by this conversation, especially if you are in the midst of loss or difficult life circumstances.

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/davey-blackburn-209

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I spent 20 years of my life as a pastor’s wife. The role of a pastor’s wife is a precarious space to occupy as stereotypes, expectations, and pressures abound! Today, I’m talking with three pastor’s wives and they are giving us an inside look at the ins and outs of this role.

Jessica Taylor, Jenna Allen, and Stephanie Gilbert are co-hosts of the Pastors' Wives Tell All podcast and co-authors of Pastors’ Wives Tell All: Navigating Real Church Life with Honesty and Humor. Collectively, through their Pastors’ Wives Tell All ministry, they are breaking down walls within the Church and crushing the pastor’s wife stereotypes with a little bit of ministry, therapy, and a whole lot of Jesus.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Some of the stereotypes people often carry of a pastor’s wife
• The importance of pastors’ wives finding their own calling
• Ways that we can encourage and support those in this role
• And so much more...

This is an important conversation for all of us to understand better how to love the spouse of our pastor well.

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/pastors-wives-208

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Where is it that you most experience connection? Whether it’s grabbing tea with a friend, sharing a meal with family, or even gathering together for a game night, there’s something so inviting and connecting about a table. It’s a place where community is formed, a meal can be shared, and where people gather to do more than just eat. Throughout the Bible, God uses tables to invite us into His presence.

My guest today is Dr. Lina Abujamra. Lina is a Pediatric Emergency Room doctor who now practices telemedicine full-time. She is also an author, Bible teacher, and oversees the ministry of Living with Power. Lina has made it her mission to ignite a passion for Jesus in the hearts of people and to help them experience His healing and the power of hope. Lina was born in Beirut, Lebanon, but now calls Chicago home (although she is a huge Green Bay Packers fan).

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The interesting significance of tables through Scripture
• How communion is a reminder of our connection with God
• How to connect with God and our community
• And so much more...

I hope this conversation is nourishing for your soul!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/lina-abujamra-207

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I have my hubby, Mark, with me this week for a conversation on conflict in marriage. Now, conflict is inevitable when you live in close quarters with someone, but even more so when you merge lives together! How you approach life can rub up against the way your spouse approaches life, and this can lead to conflict and even accusations that harm our connection and intimacy.

Accusations and conflict can happen in all kinds of relationships, but we want to focus in on how these can impact the marriage relationship.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The spiritual warfare wrapped up into disconnection
• Accusations to avoid when conflict rises
• How to reduce conflict in your marriage
• And much more!

We hope this episode helps draw you closer to your spouse and strengthens your marriage!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/reduce-conflict

Have you noticed the shoutouts at the beginning of our episodes lately? This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I will never forget the day I got a call from my doctor’s office and the words “Jill, you have breast cancer.” turned my world upside down. Suddenly, I was thrust into a new world filled with unfamiliar vocabulary and sometimes more questions than answers. 

My guest Beth Wilmes has also had this experience. Beth took her experience walking through breast cancer and founded Faith Through Fire, a nonprofit that exists to reduce the fear and anxiety that breast cancer patients feel and replace it with hope and a path toward thriving. She is also an author and podcast host of Besties with Breasties Podcast.
 
In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Beth’s journey through breast cancer
• The physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual toll a diagnosis can have
• Why support needs to be unobtrusive
• And more!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/beth-wilmes-205

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

As we start into our fifth year of the podcast, you'll start hearing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.

We launched our own non-profit, and we want to tell you about it! The Life 2.0 Foundation is the non-profit arm of JAM Savage Ministries. Our mission is to help others create a 2.0 life in both the U.S. and Africa. We are currently helping several orphanages in Africa, offering training for marriage coaches in Uganda, and funding our scholarship fund for marriage coaching and Marriage 2.0 Intensives here in the USA.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Some of the God-stories that led us to start our own non-profit
• Our vision to have an impact across the world
• How to link arms with others who want to make a difference
• And much more!

We are so excited to share all that God has been doing behind the scenes in this episode!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/nonprofit-foundation-204

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Grief can come over us like crashing waves. We most commonly experience it when we have lost a loved one, but grief is wider than that and can accompany all kinds of circumstances. It can happen at the end of a relationship, the death of a dream, or the shock of a diagnosis that you did not see coming. The loss we feel when we experience grief can feel like too much to bear on our own.

My guest in this episode knows all about grief. Steve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, and the former lead teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. He is also the author of Grieve, Breathe, Receive.

In 2018, Steve announced publicly that he was resigning from his dream job as a lead pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. The next morning as he was taking a walk to process all the thoughts and feelings tumbling around in his mind, he cried out to Jesus in desperation, begging for an answer. "What am I supposed to do now?" He expected nothing, but the silence that had overwhelmed him broke as a gentle whisper impressed three words upon his heart: grieve, breathe, receive.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Steve’s personal journey through grief
• Practical lessons seasons of grief can teach us
• The best way to understand and move forward through grief
• And so much more...

This conversation meant so much to me and I hope it is meaningful for you as well!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/steve-carter-203

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We see the term "female empowerment" throughout mainstream media and it is referenced often in our culture today. This could be defined as believing in yourself or looking within to find the power to succeed.

But what happens when we grow weary by trying to do it all in our own power? What happens when we come to the end of ourselves? Jesus offers a better way. In this episode, we are talking about being empowered by Christ.

My guest, Becky Beresford, used to believe and even promoted some of society’s lies to women. But in God’s kindness, Becky came to the end of herself and embraced the healing truth found in the Bible. Tired and frustrated with self-dependence, Becky invites us to be God-dependent. In her latest book, She Believed HE Could, So She Did, Becky invites us to join her as she dismantles commonly held misconceptions and lies so we can live in real freedom with confidence in God.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How to navigate life when you "just aren’t measuring up"
• The importance of cultivating belief in God’s faithfulness
• Well-intentioned phrases that don’t speak the truth
• And so much more...

I believe you will be inspired by our conversation today!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/becky-beresford-202

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Content Warning: This episode does discuss challenging topics like child abuse and suicide. Please listen carefully or consider skipping this episode if those topics could be triggering for you.

As a parent, we would do almost anything for our children and strive to protect them from the dangers in the world. However, when my guest took their child to the hospital to get a bruise checked out, he never imagined it could end with an arrest and time in prison.

Matt Everly is usually behind the scenes with our podcast, and not behind the microphone. Matt has edited every podcast episode for us for the last two years as part of my son's content marketing agency. We are so grateful for his work and talent! In addition to his editing skills, he has quite the story to tell. He’s walked through hardship after hardship, yet he has remained steady in his faith.

Matt is an inspiration to me and I hope he will be to you as well.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The frightening and unexpected journey Matt walked
• How his faith was tested through this season and what faith looks like for him today
• Why having a strong community made all the difference
• How he and his wife navigated such a challenging season for their marriage
• And so much more...

I hope you are inspired by our conversation today!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/matt-everly-201

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Can you believe it? This episode is not only our 200th episode, but it also marks our four-year anniversary of the podcast! Incredible! I can remember when our kids were pushing us to start a podcast and I could think of numerous reasons not to do the podcast. And I’m so glad I didn’t listen to those reasons!

Today, the No More Perfect Podcast ranks in the top 2% of podcasts globally and we have over 365,000 downloads! It just blows our minds that we would be at this place today!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Some behind-the-scenes on how we decided to start the podcast
• Our most popular episodes and our personal favorite episodes
• Why we’ve focused on relationships in many of our conversations
• Our hope for the podcast going forward
• And much more!

Thank you for being a faithful listener. We can’t wait to bring you more great episodes!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/celebrate-200

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Have you been called shy or quiet before? Or perhaps you’ve considered yourself a “wallflower.” The truth is that we all have felt like we couldn’t find our place at one time or another. We may have even been labeled as one of these things by others and then struggled to overcome that label.

The truth is that labels create limitations. This is why I'm eager to have Cally Logan on the podcast today. She is the author of The Wallflower That Bloomed: Finding Your Place at the Lunch Table of Life and wants to invite you to unleash the God-given potential inside you, step into the fullness of who you are, and embrace the brilliance that is inside of you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it means to be a wallflower
• How to break free from the labels that society places on us
• Steps to discover your authentic self
• And so much more!

I hope this conversation inspires you to discard your artificial self and discover the real you!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/cally-logan-199

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Most people go through life almost on autopilot, especially when things are going well. We cruise through life and it can be hard to imagine life any other way. However, life can take a sudden left turn when tragedy or the unthinkable happens and our entire world is thrown into crisis. It can be hard to even know how to recover or figure out the next steps.

That is what this episode is all about: preparing for the unthinkable. This is something that my guest, Meredith Flint Sowers Koen, knows about all too well. Meredith has owned and operated Flip-Flop Gymnastics in her hometown of Rolla, Missouri since 2004. But tragically in 2009, her life changed in an instant when her husband, Seth, was in a car accident that left him immobile and nonverbal due to a traumatic brain injury.

Today, Meredith uses her experience to help others avoid the pitfalls of putting emergency planning on the back burner. Most importantly, she wants to show others the kind of love Christ has blessed her with as she navigates those twists and turns of life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How a normal August day took an unexpected turn
• The age you should begin estate planning
• Helpful topics to discuss with your loved ones
• And so much more!

I hope this conversation helps open your eyes to the importance of planning, even for the worst.

Find resources mentioned and more on the show notes: https://jillsavage.org/meredith-koen-198

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Mark is back with me on the podcast today to help answer a question we hear often: “What makes the difference in people who are able to overcome difficult things?" This could be in regard to marriages that are restored or lives that experience growth and transformation. Are there elements that make transformation more possible?

In our coaching, we’ve seen some couples turn their entire relationship around for the better while others just can’t seem to find common ground to make progress. While some failures can be traced back to one spouse expecting the other to do all the work or an unrepentant heart, we’ve found there are several elements that can drastically improve the likelihood of successfully transforming relationships, personal growth, and life circumstances.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The common elements of transformation
• The role surrender has in the process of change
• The proper place for our emotions
• And more!

I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/elements-transformation-197

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

What do you do when you are offended? Do you quickly let it go, or do you sit and ruminate on it? If you, like most people, tend to do the latter, it can create bitterness, resentment, and pent-up anger in your life and in your heart.

Living in a place where we are constantly offended is an unhealthy place to be. My guest today knows this all too well. Brant Hansen is an author, nationally syndicated radio host, advocate for life-changing healthcare to children through CURE International, and the writer of Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better.

In his book, Brant explains how giving up your “right” to be offended can be one of the most freeing, healthy, simplifying, relaxing, refreshing, stress-relieving, and encouraging things you can do.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How holding on to things can harm us
• Why you should use traffic as forgiveness practice
• The personal benefits of letting things go
• And so much more!

I hope this conversation is helpful as we navigate anger and offenses in our daily lives!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/brant-hansen-196

Join me at the Empty Nest Full Life Retreat: jillsavage.org/retreat

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

There’s nothing better than a story of hope! When we hear of someone who has overcome struggles, it puts things in perspective and inspires us to persevere in the midst of our own challenges.

My guest today has risen above truly desperate circumstances. Peter Mutabazi survived on the streets of Uganda for five years before one man saw potential in him and changed Peter’s life. Today, Peter is a single dad to countless foster children and his three adopted children, Anthony, Ryder, and Skyler. He is the founder of Now I Am Known, an organization that supplies resources to support vulnerable children.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Peter’s experience living on the streets of Uganda
• How the kindness of a stranger changed Peter’s life
• What Peter has learned on his foster care journey
• And so much more!

I hope you find this conversation as inspiring as I did!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/peter-mutabazi-195

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

These days, teen girls are under relentless pressure to measure up to peers and social media influencers. The expectations feel impossible to meet.

Today, I’m partnering with my friends Lee Nienhuis and Shannon Popkin to share a conversation about this important topic. Lee and Shannon are authors and speakers who have teamed up to write a book, Comparison Girl for Teens, that gives help and hope to moms and daughters navigating this challenge. We’re exploring what teen girls need to break free of the comparison trap and how moms can come alongside our daughters to encourage and affirm them.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How comparison follows us through every stage of life
• Dealing with the way social media increases our tendency to compare
• How learning to live “me free” increases our peace
• And more!

I hope you find this conversation as encouraging as I did!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/lee-shannon-194

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Are you frustrated with getting older?  As women, it’s easy to feel discouraged as our lives and bodies change. That’s why I’m so grateful for our guest's wisdom today!

Joining me for this conversation is Heather Creekmore, host of the internationally popular Compared to Who? podcast. Heather is a body image coach, former fitness instructor, and author who is devoted to helping women break free of body shame. She has spoken to thousands of women and encouraged them with the truth of the gospel, and her passion is helping women stop comparing and start living.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Practical steps women can take to feel at peace about aging
• How culture lies to women about their value
• Why finding a “second mission” can make us feel alive again
• And more!

I know you will enjoy our conversation!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/heather-creekmore-193

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Do you feel rested and at peace, or do you feel like your soul is all over the place? 

These days, many of us struggle with anxiety to some degree, and that’s what we’re talking about in this episode.

Joining me for this conversation is award-winning author and Bible teacher Tessa Afshar. Drawing from lessons she learned while battling anxiety in her own life, Tessa is sharing about a journey that cultivates a well-rested soul. I’m so glad to have her with us today, especially because her historical fiction books are some of my all-time favorite novels!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Tessa’s story of coming to faith from a Muslim background
• The connection between burnout and anxiety
• Tessa’s career as a writer 
• And more!

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/tessa-afshar-192

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I’m happy to have my husband join me for this episode! It’s been a little while since Mark and I shared a conversation on the podcast, and today we’re talking about the power of our words.

If we fully realized just how dangerous careless words can be, we might take our speech more seriously. Our words can bring destruction or healing depending on how we speak, as Mark and I have learned from personal experience.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The difference between internal processors and external processors
• Specific ways Mark and I each have grown in how we use our words
• Three practical guidelines for using words well
• And more!

I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/power-words-191

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

How do you respond when someone else’s choices wreak havoc on your life?

Sometimes, someone else's choices can turn the lives of those closest to them upside down. I've certainly experienced that in my own life, and yet, even in the most unfair circumstances, God wastes nothing.

Today, my friend Cathy Applington is joining me to help us better understand how hope can be restored even when relationships can't. In 2013, Cathy’s world was shaken to the core as her husband’s actions caused life-changing consequences for her and her family. Cathy was a pastor's wife here in Normal, IL, and today she works with Sanctuary in Trauma, a ministry for women who have suffered from trauma and loss.

In this episode, we talk about:

• A passage in Scripture that held Cathy steady when her world was falling apart
• Allowing family members space to heal from trauma in their own way
• How Cathy’s journey led to the creation of Sanctuary in Trauma
• And more!

I know you’ll appreciate Cathy’s wisdom as much as I do!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/cathy-applington-190

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Have you ever been in a season of life where you felt trapped in a relentless lifestyle?

Years ago, Mark and I wrote a book called Living with Less so Your Family Has More. One of the key concepts woven throughout that book was the idea of choosing to live with less stress, less money, and less activities than what is the cultural norm. When I read Brenda Yoder’s new book, Uncomplicated, I felt like I had a friend with a similar passion for that message, so I asked her to join me here on the podcast.

Brenda is a counselor, speaker, author, and educator from Shipshewana, Indiana. She is the author of Fledge: Launching Your Kids Without Losing Your Mind and Uncomplicated: Simple Secrets for a Compelling Life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Lessons Brenda has gained from observing the slower-paced Amish culture
• How living an uncomplicated life starts on the inside, not with your calendar
• Why too much information can decrease our self-confidence 
• And more!

I know you’ll enjoy this conversation with my friend, Brenda!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/brenda-yoder-189

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I wish this weren’t the reality we face, but the truth is that anxiety is skyrocketing among people of all ages and stages of life. When you add the whirlwind of teenage hormones into the mix, you’re looking at anxiety amplified to the max.

Joining me for this conversation is Kimberly Sells, a mom of four who lives in Wisconsin near beautiful Lake Michigan. Kim has learned some hard parenting lessons on faith, trust, and surrender during a stormy season of raising an anxious teenage girl. I am so grateful that Kim, with her daughter’s permission, is sharing her story with us today.

Kim’s daughter was a seventh-grader thriving in the world of competitive gymnastics when the pandemic brought ordinary life to a halt, launching her into a three-year journey with debilitating anxiety and depression.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Lessons Kim learned through her daughter’s anxiety journey
• Insights for dealing with our own strong emotions when we see our kids struggle
• Why mentors are so crucial along with practical tips for finding a mentor
• And more!

I hope you find this conversation with Kim as courageous and inspiring as I did!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/kimberly-sells-188

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Do you ever find yourself feeling paralyzed when it comes to prayer? You certainly wouldn't be alone! However, what if prayer could be as effortless as chatting with a friend? Many of us struggle to understand prayer because we've only witnessed it modeled in a formal way before meals, at bedtime, or at church.

What if we could learn to engage in regular, honest conversation with God?

In today's episode, we're diving into how we can cultivate a personal prayer life and discover our unique prayer styles. Joining me for this conversation is Janet McHenry, a national speaker and the author of 27 books, including Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The difference between having a "prayer life" and a "praying life"
• Examples we see in the Bible of various styles of prayer
• How understanding your prayer personality can enhance your relationship with God
• And more!

I'm praying you'll find value in this conversation with Janet!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/janet-mchenry-187

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Conflict…it’s one of our favorite topics in the world. Just kidding! Most of us try to steer clear of conflict, and those of us who embrace it honestly don’t always handle it in the healthiest ways. We’ve certainly all had moments where we looked back at how we handled a conflict and wondered: Why did I handle it that way?

In this conversation, we are taking a look at the many aspects of conflict, from how we can honor God when we’ve been hurt, how to communicate when we’d rather retaliate, and how we can move toward others when it seems so much easier to run away.

Joining me for today’s episode is my friend, Donna Jones. Donna is deeply passionate about helping us apply God’s Word so it changes our lives, our relationships, and our world. She is a pastor’s wife and an international speaker. Donna is also the author of four books, including her latest, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• The single factor that determines success in resolving conflict
• Common mistakes that make conflict worse
• Tips for having hard conversations
• And so much more!

It's a treat to have Donna back on the podcast. Listen in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/donna-jones-186

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

If you’ve heard our marriage story, then you likely know that I believed our marriage could be restored even when Mark had checked out and was pursuing another relationship. This is often referred to as “standing for your marriage,” but it could also be described as a waiting season. While I wouldn’t wish a season like this on anyone, the lessons I learned while waiting were invaluable. Those lessons have become the heart of our online course, The Wait Is Not Wasted.

Several of my friends and coaching clients have also had to endure this season of waiting in their marriage, and my friend Tiarra Atkinson is one of them. Tiarra married her husband, Anthony, in May of 1999, but there was a season when she had to stand for her marriage for nearly two years.

Tiarra Atkinson is a licensed clinical social worker and a self-described “brain science nerd.” She works at a brain health center as a therapist specializing in the intersection of physical and mental health.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Tiarra’s story of standing for her marriage
• Factors that can contribute to your relationship breaking down
• How to utilize a season of waiting
• And so much more!

I’m grateful that Tiarra and Anthony are open about their story! Even if you are not struggling in your marriage, there are so many powerful takeaways you’ll hear in this episode. Listen in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/tiarra-atkinson-185

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We want to talk with you about a question Mark and I get asked often. People really struggle with finding an answer or finding resolve to this question: How do I forgive myself? Many times, they would say, I can’t, or I don’t even understand what I should do with that. 

Sometimes, it can feel like you are “unforgivable,” and it would be better if you just locked those feelings away. When we choose not to address it, it can lead to bitterness, self-loathing, self-hatred, and more. Those feelings don’t stay locked away; they leak out all over the relationships that mean the most to you and can eat away at your soul.

If you’ve made a mistake or if you’ve really messed up, you have to walk through the steps of self-forgiveness, which is the topic of this episode.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Your steps of self-forgiveness
• The power of God’s forgiveness
• What work you likely still have to do after forgiveness
• And more!

Join us for this important conversation!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/forgive-yourself-184

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Life can be a bit messy. Whether that’s a literal mess of toys all over your living room, a kitchen full of dirty dishes, and laundry piled high or an internal mess of feeling behind on work, issues in our relationships, and more!

Whatever mess you are facing in your life I have a truth for you—God is at work even in the mess. We can sometimes struggle to believe that statement! The truth is that God is present in the messiness of life.

I can’t think of a better guest to help us navigate the mess than a woman who wrote a book titled Life Is Messy, God Is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life. Joining me today is Cynthia Yanof. She is a wife, mother, podcaster, blogger, author, and an everyday girl who is committed to not taking herself too seriously. Cynthia is passionate about speaking, writing, foster care, and hanging out with as many friends as possible.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Cynthia’s experience of foster care and adoption
• The inspiration behind her book
• Common lies we believe about the struggle of life
• How to find sanity in the chaois o
• And so much more!

Listen in as we talk about the messy, less-than-perfect parts of life!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/cynthia-yanof-183

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Adversity is a part of life. We can sometimes think that having a relationship with Jesus makes us exempt from hardships that can cause fear, anxiety, and even trauma. While that isn’t the case, it is true that our relationship with Jesus can change how we handle and respond to the adversity that comes into our lives.

Joining me for this conversation is Karen Bettison. Karen served as a Bible translator, a literary specialist, and a medical missionary with Pioneer Bible Translators for 25 years. She currently works as a nurse and has been an educator, author, speaker, and Bible study leader in the US and Africa. Karen is the author of the new book I Will Fear No Evil: A Missionary’s Faith Journey Through Fear, Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma. Karen and her husband, Jim, have raised four children and reside in rural Missouri.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The unique support missionaries need
• Reminders that hardship is a reality for everyone
• How God can use what you’ve been through
• And so much more!

Listen in as Karen shares more about her experiences as a missionary and how she has overcome adversity in her own life.

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/karen-bettison-182

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

It's time for another bonus episode! We ​​like to share these bonus episodes every once in a while, and their purpose is to give you some quick encouragement and support that you can apply to your life.

This one might look a little different as I want to share something with you that has been on my heart. The concept for this episode came when our daughter closed her art business this fall. If you are in the entrepreneurial space, you know it can be hard work before your business finally takes off. But even then, there is no guarantee you will be successful.

In life, we often face these hard decisions and we can underestimate the impact an individual has when they support something they love.

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/make-difference-181

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

The topic we’re exploring today has been requested many times over the last year. I asked my friend, Sarah, if she would be willing to share her experience and wisdom with us as she has an adult child who is estranged and put up some big boundaries.

Sarah is also a licensed counselor and understands this issue from both a professional and a personal perspective. She has asked that we change her voice to maintain her anonymity. We are so grateful that Sarah has graciously agreed to share her wisdom and knowledge with us on this sensitive topic.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• The reasons estrangement happen
• What our child needs from us
• The importance of doing your own healing work
• And so much more…

If you have adult children, even if they aren’t estranged, you need to hear this episode!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/adult-children-180

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Do you have a book you’ve read that you feel like everyone should read? For us, that book is Enough by Sharon Jaynes.

It was on our shelf 12 years ago when Mark and I were restoring our marriage. Even though it is written for a female reader, Mark read it and was profoundly changed by it. Now, it’s the number one resource we recommend to our coaching clients who struggle with self-worth.

Sharon is a dear friend of mine and although she has been on the podcast a number of times, we have not had an episode that focused on her book Enough. Today, we are going to fix that as we talk about the core message of silencing the lies that steal your confidence.

For 10 years, Sharon served as Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and she also was a co-host for their daily radio feature. She’s a speaker and the author of 26 books.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Sharon’s journey that led her to write Enough
• The root of the lies we believe
• Practical ways we can replace lies with truth
• And so much more!

I know you will love this conversation with Sharon. Listen in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/sharon-jaynes-179

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Over 1,100 coaching sessions. 17 marriage intensives. 3 weeks in Africa. 49 podcast episodes. Can you believe this is the final episode of 2023?

Mark and I have gotten in the rhythm of using the final episode of each year to recap all that has happened in the year. Join us today as we take a look back at this year, what God is up to, and what we are looking forward to in the new year! We are so excited to be able to share all this with you!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Stories of what God has done in our lives in the last year
• What has us the most excited about 2024
• Why we are making a point to prioritize rest
• And more!

From our home to yours, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/our-home-178

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Have you heard of a “marriage edu-tainer” before? It’s a combination of education and entertainment all around the topic of marriage. When Mark and I do marriage coaching, we like to be sure the advice we give comes with a dose of compassion, honest conversation with occasional humor, and that it helps you know you’re not alone while taking your marriage to the next level.

When we met fellow marriage coaches Jay and Laura Laffoon, we immediately connected with their humorous style and genuine hearts. The Laffoons are self-proclaimed marriage edu-tainers and are real people with real lives walking through a real marriage. Sound familiar?

Jay and Laura host the Celebrate Your Marriage event at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island yearly. Their humorous and entertaining transparency offers couples permission to laugh with each other and the courage to continue growing a future together.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Three issues that consistently show up in marriages
• The role of sex in marriage
• One of the best things you can do for your marriage each day
• And so much more!

We hope you enjoy their witty style and advice as much as we do!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/jay-laura-laffoon-177

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Do you ever get the feeling that you are meant for something more? Or maybe you struggle with wanting to do something great, while longing for a simple, ordinary life. We can often feel the tension between these two and wonder if we have to sacrifice one for the other.

My guest today has written a book all about this tension. Kelly Needham knows what it is like to long for a feeling of purpose in the here and now. Kelly and her husband, Jimmy, co-host their podcast, Clearly. She is also the author of a new book titled Purposefooled: Why Chasing Your Dreams, Finding Your Calling, and Reaching for Greatness Will Never Be Enough.

What I want you to know is that you were absolutely meant for something more but the answer isn’t to go bigger or smaller. Listen in to my conversation with Kelly to find out what I mean!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Kelly’s story of longing for something more
• The importance of shepherding your own heart
• How to find fulfillment today
• And so much more!

Thanks for listening!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/kelly-needham-176

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Self-care has become an increasingly popular topic! One of my free ebooks is all about ten self-care strategies to help reduce stress and it just so happens to be the most downloaded.

While most of us can agree that we need to take better care of our mental and physical health, too often we overlook the care of our souls. The truth is that without soul care there is no self-care.

That’s why I invited Amber Albee Swenson to join me for a conversation all about taking better care of our souls. Amber is a wife, mother, speaker, and author of seven books including Soul Care: Nurturing Your Spiritual Wellness.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why soul care makes a difference in our daily lives
• Practical ways we can care for our souls
• Helpful tips to receive nourishment from God
• And so much more!

Thank you for joining in as we discuss how you can better care for your soul!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/amber-swenson-175

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Do you want to make Christmas extra special this year? To do this, things like giving special gifts, gathering the family in a certain way, or even decorating with intentionality may come to mind. But what if making Christmas special wasn’t about anything you did externally but what you did internally?

What if you took your heart on a journey to see Christmas through new eyes? I asked Ocieanna Fleiss to join me in this episode so that we could go on that journey. Ocieanna is a wife, mom, speaker, and author of multiple books, including her Christmas devotional Awaiting the Manger.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Stories from Ocieanna’s Christmas devotional
• Practical ways you can look at Christmas differently this year
• How you can look for Jesus in the Old Testament
• And so much more!

My prayer is that this conversation will deepen your understanding of Christmas!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/ocieanna-fleiss-174

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

As the old saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. I have the privilege of receiving a lot of newly published books in my mailbox, but rarely do I get truly excited about them. However, when I saw the cover of my friend’s new book, I couldn’t wait to start reading it.

The title of the book is You Have Permission: Developing a Personal Mission Beyond the Walls of Church by Pete Cocco. I love that message! God has a mission for you—a simple, unique, and personal mission that extends beyond the walls of the church. This topic has been a passion of mine for quite a while now and I love that Pete is providing a vision of something we all need to understand.

Pete Cocco loves seeing people reach their God-given potential. In addition to being a campus minister for 25 years, he has served as a pioneer coach in multiple ministries and organizations in over ten countries. It’s his experience outside the walls of the church that has produced in him an unwavering belief that all people need to be activated toward a personal mission.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why you should give yourself permission to dream big
• Why your mission doesn’t have to occur in the church
• The five permissions to help you understand your personal mission
• And so much more!

Thanks for listening in and learning more about this topic with me!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/pete-cocco-173

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

God is known as “the comforter,” but in times of pain, it can be hard to feel like He is near to us. Those who experience ongoing pain know all too well that it reaches far beyond the physical body. Pain is felt emotionally; it’s felt spiritually, relationally, and even financially for many people. Even when healing seems very far away, the tenderness of God’s love is near to us.

Having personally experienced the trials and hardships of pain, my guest, Dr. Michelle Bengtson, gives hope and help through her podcast,  social media channels, and new book, The Hem of His Garment: Reaching out to God When Pain Overwhelms.

As a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, Michelle offers a unique expertise that combines years of clinical study with deep biblical application to give readers a more holistic understanding of their pain and their place in God’s family.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Michelle’s journey through pain
• The things we can learn from experiencing pain
• What to do when we are in the depths of pain
• And so much more!

I hope you benefit from this fresh take on pain and God's faithfulness in times of trouble!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/michelle-bengtson-172/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We cannot heal what we don’t admit is broken. Yet too many of us pretend, perform, and try to appear perfect which keeps us striving instead of thriving.

That’s a journey that I used to be on myself! I often say that my books are a result of my mistakes and personal growth. That’s why so many of them (and even this podcast!) have “No More Perfect” in the title. Authenticity is freeing and I have come to experience that freedom and so has my guest today.

Justin Davis is the author of a new book titled Being Real > Being Perfect. He’s an author, speaker, and pastor. Justin has dedicated his life to helping people experience life change through the power of authenticity. Along with his wife, Trisha, he founded RefineUs Ministries where he shares his personal story with honesty and transparency. They live in our hometown of Indianapolis, IN.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• How to stop turning to our performance to see our worth
• Why we create “false selves”
• The first step to embracing your authentic self
• And so much more!

This is a very personal topic that I've had to tackle in my own life and I hope it helps you in yours!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/justin-davis-171/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Welcome to another bonus episode of the podcast! Mark and I like to share these bonus episodes every once in a while, and their purpose is to give you some quick encouragement and support that you can apply to your life.

In this episode, we want to share something with you called “Impact Over Intent.” This is a huge issue for relationships that can cause us to communicate defensively instead of empathetically in how we are communicating with our spouse, family member, or anyone in our life.

Whether you have a misunderstanding in your relationship or when communicating with someone is hurting, we often unintentionally focus on our intent, trying to explain why we said what we did. All the while, we miss how those comments landed on that other person’s heart, and we miss the opportunity to be understanding to the hurt they are experiencing as a result of how what we said was received.

Thank you for being part of the No More Perfect community. We hope this episode is helpful!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/intent-impact-170/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We often talk about restored marriages on this show because that is a core part of Mark and I’s story. However, we recognize this is not the case for every couple. Restoring a marriage takes two willing people, and if there is only one, the marriage may end in an unwanted divorce. My guest, Brandi Wilson, understands this reality all too well.

In 2016, her husband, who pastored a megachurch, walked away from the church and their family. As Brandi’s 20-year marriage dissolved, she also lost her church community, her dreams for the future, and a huge part of her identity. She and her three boys began a new journey marked with deep grief and suffering but also with hope, freedom, and peace.

Today, Brandi thanks God for the redemptive healing in her life and reassures other newly single women that they are not alone and that divorce is not the end of their story.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Encouragement for life after divorce
• How to support people going through difficult situations
• The importance of learning who you are
• And much more!

Whether your marriage is going through a tough season, you want to support someone who has gone through divorce, or your own marriage has ended, I hope today's episode will encourage you!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/brandi-wilson-169

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Are you feeling disconnected? Struggling to know the next steps to find your tribe of people? I was what you might consider a “late bloomer” when it comes to female relationships. I never seemed to click with the whole girlfriend thing and it wasn’t until I became a mom that I had a strong desire to spend time with other women that knew that knew what I was going through.

Now I’m so personally passionate about the topic of friendships and belonging that I spent an entire year writing a book on it! The result was my Better Together book.

My friend, Katy McCown, is joining me today to talk about all things belonging, friendship, and community! Katy recently released her own book about belonging titled She Belongs: Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ. She is an author, speaker, podcaster, mom, and wife to former NFL quarterback Luke McCown.In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• What it means to belong
• The importance of intentionally investing in one another
• The biblical benefits of belonging
• And much more!

This is a topic that is near and dear to me, and I hope you benefit from this conversation!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/katy-mccown-168/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I am a girl who had a daddy who loved her like Jesus loves us. My dad passed away almost four years ago, and although he wasn’t perfect, he exuded Christ in his daily life and it showed in the way he expressed his love for me.

Not everyone has a good relationship or fond memories of their fathers. Mark’s experience of his father was just the opposite of mine. He carried the pain and impact of his father wounds into adulthood. As a result, he’s had a lot of healing to do.

Today, we are talking about father wounds, and it’s a topic that my guest understands well. Kia Stephens is the founder of Entrusted Women, and a contributing author for iBelieve.com and Proverbs 31 Ministries. She’s also the author of a book titled Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God’s Perfect Love.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• What a father wound looks like
• The different types of father wounds we may carry
• How God the Father is different from our earthly fathers
• And much more!

Whatever kind of relationship you had with your dad, I hope this will be an encouragement to you!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/kia-stephens-167/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Prayer is the work of a parent from the moment your child is first placed into your arms all the way through their adult years. In fact, the best thing you can do for your child is to pray for them consistently. If you don’t have any children, we can still have an impact on our friends’ children, neighborhood kids, nieces, and nephews by intentionally praying for them.

My friend, Sharon Jaynes, likes to say that we can’t be perfect parents, but we can be praying parents. For 10 years, Sharon served as Vice President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-host for their daily radio feature. She is the author of 25 books, including her newest release Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe. Sharon currently writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries and teaches at their She Speaks Conference.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• How prayer is linked to control
• The importance of praying for your child’s thoughts
• 16 landmarks you can use to pray for your child
• And much more!

I hope these landmarks inspire you to pray more intentionally for your child in whatever season of life they are in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/sharon-jaynes-166

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When it comes to conflict in relationships, things can get messy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a marriage relationship, a parent-child relationship, or even a friendship. Conflict has a way of dividing and destroying if we don’t have the necessary skills to repair it.

This week we met with a couple that is working through conflict with their adult daughter. As we were discussing the importance of listening skills and how to clean up conflict in a relationship, we realized just how important the information was and decided to share it with you here on the podcast.

Regardless of the conflict or who it is with, we all need to learn both how to handle other people’s hurt and how to respond in a loving way that can help heal it.

Join Mark and I as we share:

• Why we need to focus on impact over intent
• Important principles for handling conflict
• What we can say to communicate empathy and validation
• And more!

We pray this episode is helpful to you today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/conflict-165

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I would be what some people call “fashion-challenged.” I seriously need something like Garanimals for adults. For those that aren’t familiar with Garanimals, it is a mix-and-match clothing brand for children where every piece of clothing matches using animal icons. Finding the right outfit is as easy as matching the animal! Well, my friend Shari Braendel has made it easier than ever for women to dress in a way that complements their God-given features.

Shari started Fashion Meets Faith many years ago and served as a speaker for us multiple times at the Hearts at Home conferences I used to host. Fashion Meets Faith is now known as Style by Color, and it’s been a lifesaver for me! The heart of Style by Color is to help you delight in the way that God designed you.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• How your inner beauty can meet your outer beauty
• Why colors matter
• Quick tips for accessorizing
• And much more!

Shari has helped me so much with my fashion sense over the years, and I know hearing this conversation will benefit you too!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/shari-braendel-164

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

You have heard me say it before and I’m going to say it again—words matter, a lot! If there is anything Mark and I hear in our marriage coaching time and time again, it’s individual couples misusing their words with each other. It isn’t only couples, though. We all need to learn how to measure our words and experience self-control with our emotions.

Sarah Molitor is joining me this week as we explore the power of our words. She’s a wife and mom to seven kids (you read that right!) and the author of a new book titled Well Said: Choosing Words that Speak Life, Give Grace, and Strengthen Your Faith and Family.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• What our words reveal about our hearts
• Practical ways to be more intentional about your words
• Why taking a break may be the best thing for your communication
• And much more!

Everyone can benefit from this conversation on how to use our words well. Listen in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/sarah-molitor-163

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Today’s topic is a tough one—addiction. It can tear marriages and families apart and leave loved ones feeling helpless, desperate, and alone. The partners and families of those struggling with addiction can be left grasping for order in the chaos and knowledge in the unknown.

I know this because we have dealt with this in our own family. It’s overwhelming, disorienting, and can even feel hopeless at times. That’s why I’m so glad that Travis Thompson said yes to joining me for this episode.

Travis is a licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive experience in addiction therapy. He has worked at both long-term care and short-term treatment facilities, including intensive outpatient programs for mental health and substance addiction and outpatient clinics with a family-centered focus. His new book, To Those Left Behind: Helping Partners and Families Understand and Heal from Addiction, is a compassionate and practical guide for the partners and families of addicts. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Some reasons why people become addicted
• Why healthy boundaries are vital
• The best step you can take today to support your loved one
• And more!

I pray this conversation gives you hope for the future!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/travis-thompson-162/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

In our journey through life, we tend to think of surrender as letting our own will be taken prisoner. Our American culture even teaches us to value our freedom and independence above all else. However, the reality is that surrender is the key to a successful life. If you are a believer, it’s also a vital part of the Christian walk. A lack of surrender can cause us to get stuck in our journey, leading to anger and a desire to control everything around us.

Today, Mark is joining me because surrender is a big part of our story. Surrender is an important thing not only to understand but to recognize the role it should play in our day-to-day.

Join Mark and I as we share:

• How surrender and control are connected
• Why it's okay that God’s plan doesn’t always make sense
• What it looks like to let go of doing things your way
• And more!

We pray this episode is helpful to you today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/surrender-161/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When a person suffers a loss, they enter the realm of “used to be.” They used to be married. They used to be employed. They used to be pregnant. They used to be sons, daughters, mothers, or fathers. There can be deep loneliness, sadness, and grief in that “used to be” space. This can be a space where it is necessary to dwell for a while, but it is not a space we are meant to remain.

My guests today are Chuck and Ashley Elliott. Chuck is a pastor, and Ashley is a licensed counselor, and together they have written a book, I Used to Be ___: How to Navigate Large and Small Losses in Life and Find Your Path Forward, which they wrote after experiencing recurring miscarriages and broken trust. They also offer consulting services for businesses and Christian life coaching together.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• The losses we can grieve other than a death
• How grief can lie about our faith
• What it looks like to move out of a negative head space
• And much more!

Loss is a part of life that we can’t avoid this side of Heaven, and I greatly appreciated this opportunity to talk with Chuck and Ashley

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/chuck-ashley-elliott-160/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

As marriage coaches, one of the things that we see missing from so many significant relationships is kindness. It may seem like a simple thing, but the truth is, the more comfortable we get in a relationship, the more we forget to offer kindness to one another.

That needs to change, but making that shift isn’t always easy. Joining me to help us understand this is bestselling author, speaker, and pastor, Greg Atkinson. In his new book, The Secret Power of Kindness, Greg challenges us to be the change we want to see in the world.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How it takes intentionality to be kind to others
• The role forgiveness plays in offering kindness
• The importance of choosing to heal
• And much more!

Listen in as we explore how to unlock kindness for yourself and others!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/greg-atkinson-159

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Is "happily ever after" a myth or reality? Unfortunately, most couples don't ride off into the sunset after their honeymoon. Marriage is hard, and maybe you are in a place where you feel that today.

Our guests, Bob and Dannah Gresh, have been there. They decided, like Mark and I did, to participate in God's redemption story for their marriage. Together, they discovered something better than romance—a love that endures—and you can too! Whether your relationship is struggling from pornography, addiction, an affair, broken trust, or years of unhappiness, Jesus Christ can help you redeem the broken places in your marriage.

We are so glad to have Bob and Dannah Gresh with us! Dannah is a bestselling author and sought-after teacher. She is the co-host of Revive Our Hearts, a daily podcast for women, and the founder of True Girl, which provides mother-and-daughter connection tools. Bob is the founder of a new model in Christian education known as Grace Prep. Dannah has recently released her book, Happily Even After, which is all about their story of battling pornography and lust together.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Hope for finding "happy" after you've experienced hurt
• Why it's vital to include your spouse in repentance and healing
• The importance of improving your skills in marriage
• And much more!

I hope you are encouraged and that this conversation strengthens your marriage!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bob-dannah-gresh-158/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Everyone knows how important it is for a house to have a strong foundation. If a foundation is weak or it has problems, the house will begin to tilt, sag, water might come in, and the house could even collapse if not corrected. A foundation supports and holds everything in place and the same thing happens in our bodies.

Our bodies need to have a strong foundation in order to have good health and this starts with our core, but most of us don’t realize that is far more than our abdominal muscles. Our core is a complex group of muscles that includes nearly every part of our body except for arms and legs. Now that’s new information to me! Your pelvic floor is the foundation that holds up and supports your core.

To help us learn more about this topic is my good friend and very own pelvic floor therapist, Poonam McAllister. Poonam attended school in Bombay, India for a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. She opened Central Illinois Institute of Balance (CIIB) in 2007 and added pelvic floor to her offerings in 2008.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Some of the symptoms that require pelvic floor therapy
• What pelvic floor therapy may look like
• How your pelvic floor impacts your relationships
• And much more!

This topic is a little different from our normal content but it’s one that has benefitted me personally and it can be beneficial for you too!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/poonam-mcallister-157/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Welcome to another bonus episode of the No More Perfect Podcast! I tend to put these bonus episodes out there once every other month and their purpose is to give you some quick encouragement and wisdom for your life.  Thank you for being here!

Usually, when I do a bonus episode I do it on my own or with my husband, but today I’m joined by my friend, Keli Reese! Keli is a married mom of five and the founder and speaker for Ministry in Mothering.

Keli and I are talking about seasons of life, life transitions, and three things you need to consider before making a change!

Thank you for being part of the No More Perfect community!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bonus-life-transition-156

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Waiting is a natural part of the human experience. Each and every one of us will experience waiting numerous times throughout our lifetimes. It may be waiting for physical healing, waiting for the prodigal to return home, waiting for relationships to mend or to heal, waiting to trust to be rebuilt, waiting for careers to take off, or waiting for our spouse to engage in the marriage.

Unfortunately, most of us struggle to wait well! We can be more than a little impatient in the waiting and be unsatisfied when the results aren’t what we expected or hoped for.

In this episode, we want to flip the script for you on the topic of waiting. We want to help you think about waiting in a different light. Mark and I invite you to think about waiting not as an uncomfortable process, but as an invitation to grow.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How waiting is actually a gift
• Why waiting can bring “impurities” to the surface
• The peace that comes from God when we trust Him with the outcome
• And much more!

Thanks for listening in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/waiting-well-155

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Every one of us experiences setbacks and disappointments in life, but some of those are harder to come back from than others. Whether that be a season of illness, hardships from life circumstances, or perhaps you are going through issues with your relationship or marriage.

My guest understands this as he faced a life-changing challenge at just six years of age when a severe childhood illness left him profoundly deaf. In spite of that obstacle, John learned how to read lips and speak clearly through speech therapy. Pastor John Meador today preaches weekly at Cross City Church near Dallas-Fort Worth to a congregation of 3,000 people. We have much to learn from John as well as his insight about some of the Bible’s greatest comeback stories.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How John lost 95% of his hearing
• A few of the greatest comeback stories in the Bible
• Encouragement for when you face difficulties
• And much more!

I hope you enjoy and receive as much encouragement from this episode as I did!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/john-meador-154

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

In this episode, Mark and I are tackling a unique topic that we’ve never really covered before! It’s the topic of alcohol and specifically how it can affect our lives and our relationships if we aren’t careful.

If you grew up in a conservative Christian household, you may not have had any exposure to alcohol growing up and that may leave you wondering if it has a place in your life at all as an adult. Whatever your background or past experiences with alcohol, this is an important topic as we determine what is good and healthy to have in our daily lives.

To help us unpack this topic, we asked Matt and Amy Edwards to join us. Matt and Amy are the hosts of the podcast, An Alcohol-Free Marriage. Amy is also a certified coach who focuses on one-on-one coaching and offers a group coaching program called The Alcohol Free Spirit Experiment.

They happen to live just a few miles from us in central Illinois and we are excited to have them on the podcast talking about this very important discussion around alcohol.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• The circumstances that led each of them to give up alcohol
• Why moderation may not be the answer
• How we condition our brains to turn to alcohol
• And much more!

This is such an important topic and I hope this conversation is an encouragement as we navigate the topic of alcohol.

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/matt-amy-edwards-153

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Since our marriage crisis 11 years ago, Mark and I refer to ourselves as “Mark & Jill 2.0” and that’s because we are very different people than we were in our 1.0 status. So what was that journey from 1.0 to 2.0 like? Well, we dug in, we found our hidden heart issues, and we realized how much they were sabotaging our lives and relationship. Then, we did the work to heal those issues.

This journey of healing is one that many of us need to take, but few of us understand why or even the huge difference it can make in our lives. I’ve asked my friend, Annette Chesney, to help us unpack this topic. Annette works closely with women to repair their hearts, rediscover their best selves, and reawaken their powerful purpose as they create a beautiful life of their design.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Three hidden heart issues that may be sabotaging your life
• What happens when we have unmet needs
• Some steps you can take to start the process of healing
• And much more!

Listen in as Annette helps us uncover three major hidden heart issues that could be sabotaging your life!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/annette-chesney-152

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

External success does not mean there are no internal struggles. And yet, we often idolize celebrities and follow people on social media that look like they “have it all together.” If you have ever heard me speak or read any of my books, you’ve probably heard me say that we need to stop comparing our insides to other people’s outsides. Well, today’s conversation is going to illustrate why.

My guest today is Tasha Layton. She is a contemporary Christian musician, Season 9 contestant on American Idol, former backup vocalist for Katy Perry, and named one of Billboard’s Top 5 female Christian artists of 2020. Despite all her success, she couldn’t escape the lies that had taken root early in her life.

In her new book, Look What You’ve Done, Tasha shares the lies she allowed herself to believe as she struggled with comparison, self-image, and the uncertainty of finding her purpose. And most importantly, Tasha shares how God continues to bring her wisdom and truth regarding who He is, and who she is meant to be.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• About Tasha’s journey
• The power in naming your emotions
• The difference between conviction and condemnation
• And much more!

I hope this conversation brings you hope and helps you uncover the lies in your life!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/tasha-layton-151

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I have my husband with me today because we are celebrating 40 years of marriage this week! Can you believe it? We were 19 and 23 years old when we got married.

As we were talking about the last 40 years of life spent together, processing, and remembering both the good and the not-so-good times, we realized that there were a few pieces of advice we would give to our younger selves.

As we take a look back, we are uncovering the hidden gems we learned throughout the years of marriage and we want to share them with you! We hope this helps and encourages you whether you have been married for one, five, ten, or even 40 years!

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Some of the principles that made the difference in our marriage
• How our past can have a big impact on our present
• Why asking good questions can help in an argument
• And much more!

Thanks for listening in!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/40-years-marriage-150

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Welcome to another bonus episode of the No More Perfect Podcast! We like to surprise you every once in a while with some quick and helpful podcast goodness, just for you. Thank you for being here!

In this episode, Mark and I discuss the powerful principle of “Pray, Don’t Say.” This phrase helps us slow down our reactions, be thoughtful about our responses, and seek God’s leadership in our relationships. We started using this phrase about the transition into the empty nest life, making the transition from sharing our opinions about our adult child’s life to holding back our thoughts unless we’re asked for them. However, this principle applies to all areas of life, including marriage, work, and other relationships.

This is a great principle to remind us to talk to Jesus before we talk to our spouse, our child, our coworker, etc. We hope this bonus episode is an encouragement to you this week!

Thank you for being part of the No More Perfect community!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bonus-pray-dont-say-149/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When a little one enters the world, there is a balance that needs to be struck between taking care of baby and taking care of mom. I know each time we added a new little one to our family, I had to figure out that balance all over again.

Whether you are a new mom or a soon-to-be grandma, this episode’s conversation will address all things moms, babies, and how to take care of both. Helping me dive into this topic is Rachael Elmore. She is a licensed therapist and a Christian counselor, as well as the author of A Mom Is Born: Biblical Wisdom and Practical Advice for Taking Care of Yourself and Your New Baby.

11 years ago, Rachael overcame postpartum depression in her own life after she became a new mom. Today, she has a passion for helping other moms do the same through her thriving Christian counseling practice, her book, and social media.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Who is affected by this adjustment period
• How to spot the difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression
• The best way to support new moms
• And much more!

I know everyone can benefit from this conversation about supporting new moms!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/rachael-elmore-148

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Would you like to know a little-known fact? Well, one of the most accessed blog posts on my website is a post titled When a Woman is Addicted to Pornography. It was first published in 2017 and it is still one of the most popular posts.

Our world primarily talks about lust and pornography as a “man’s problem” but a 2016 Barna study actually found that 20% of Christian women use porn on a regular basis. These women suffer silently and often feel alone with nowhere to turn.

My guest, Jessica Harris, totally understands that experience. She’s made the journey from being addicted to pornography to being set free. Jessica is recognized as a leading voice talking about female porn use and addiction in the church. Her latest book, Quenched, helps women understand God’s abundant grace when struggling with pornography and sexual shame.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Jessica’s own story of finding freedom from porn
• The three signposts of shame
• How shame keeps us from running to God
• And much more!

This is such an important topic and I hope this episode opens the door to find hope and spark conversations!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/jessica-harris-147

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Many years ago when I was a young mom, I read two books that I had actually just picked off the shelf at a Christian bookstore. Those two books absolutely changed my life and my mothering—A Mother’s Touch and A Mother’s Time—and the author was Elise Arndt.

To say that this lady has been an influence in my life would be a huge understatement. Elise has now entered the 80th year of her life, but she still has a heart to invest in women and mothers. And in this episode, Elise is taking some time to invest in you!

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• About the importance touch has in our children’s development
• What makes us a “success” at mothering
• The balance between putting our children or our marriage first
• And much more!

Elise’s books meant so much to me as a new mom and I hope you enjoy our conversation in this episode!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/elise-arndt-146

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

We live in an age of an endless and overwhelming amount of information. Whether or not we realize it, it can start to take a toll on us. It can begin to affect our personal well-being and create depletion, exhaustion, impatience, and it can bring out versions of ourselves that we are not very proud of. When this happens, it means that our heart needs a reset. But how do we find the reset button?

My friend and guest for this episode, Rachel Macy Stafford, says that we need to start by tapping into what delights our hearts and brings peace to our souls. She is a New York Times Best Selling author of five books including her newest book, Soul Shift: The Weary Human's Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. Rachel invites us to embrace life and cultivate connection despite the distractions around us.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How “doing it all” doesn’t equate to having everything together
• Why we tend to neglect the things that matter to us
• Practices we can cultivate to make a soul shift
• And much more!

Thanks for listening in to my conversation with Rachel about creating a soul shift that will help you reclaim joy!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/rachel-macy-stafford-145

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

As I talk to women in the second half of their lives, I often run into the belief that the most meaningful moments of life are behind them. But what if the most meaningful moments of life are really yet to come?

I talk about this in my Empty Nest, Full Life book. This midlife or second half of life is actually where we get to enjoy what I refer to as our “encore season of life.” We have so much to offer the world in this second half of life. We know more than we did in our early years, we’ve done more, we’ve lost more, and we’ve loved more. Because of our experiences in the first part of our lives, we get to leverage all that we have learned and offer it to the world in a fresh, new way.

Helping us unpack this topic is Dawn Barton. Dawn is a speaker, entrepreneur, mentor, and the author of Midlife Battle Cry. She is passionate about helping others find joy through their hardships and in her latest book she is calling women to their “second-half mission.”

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How your best years are still to come
• Your experiences and lessons learned can benefit others
• Finding joy in writing the next chapter of your life
• And much more!

I hope you enjoy this conversation about finding and redefining your second half of life!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/dawn-barton-144

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

If there is one principle I have learned in nearly 40 years of marriage, it’s the principle that love is a choice. It’s a decision. It is not a feeling.

Dr. Gary Chapman believes that as well because “choice” is in the name of his newest book. Dr. Gary Chapman is an author, speaker, and counselor who has a passion for helping people form lasting relationships. You may recognize his name from his book, The 5 Love Languages, which is a resource that Mark and I often use in our marriage coaching (Gary also wrote the foreword to our book No More Perfect Marriages). Today, he is going to help us understand even more about love and how it is a conscious choice in our relationships.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Why love is more than an emotion
• A review of the 5 Love Languages and what they look like in action
• Highlights of a few of the 28 stories featured in his latest book
• The perspective shift Mark took from our last conversation with Dr. Gary Chapman
• And much more!

It is always a pleasure when I get to have a conversation with Dr. Gary Chapman and I'm glad I get to share it with you this week!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/gary-chapman-143

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When Mark and I went through the dark season in our marriage, it’s no surprise that we sought out counseling. However, what most people find surprising is that our counselor focused more on untangling our childhoods than our skills as a couple. That was exactly what we needed in order to restore our marriage and move forward!

We all have a past, but what we don’t often realize is how much what happened “then” affects us now. (Even if your "then" wasn't very negative!) This is the topic we are going to dig into in this conversation and it applies to every person, even if you aren't married.

Helping me navigate this is Pastor Elliott Anderson, who is the Assistant Professor of Psychology at Judson University and the Pastor at Solid Rock Church in Elgin, IL. Elliott’s areas of expertise include counseling, identity formation, sexuality, addiction, adoption, foster care, marriage, family, and the integration of faith and psychology. He’s the author of several books and co-host of the podcast Love and Life Media. When I learned about his resources, I couldn't help but notice how similarly he speaks and thinks to Mark and I!

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Why the key to your future often lies in the past
• The three A's that tear down intimacy
• The importance of making the decision to find healing
• And so much more!

I really enjoyed talking with Elliott and am eager to share this episode with you!

Show Notes:  https://jillsavage.org/elliott-anderson-142

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Our marriage when off the tracks in 2011, when Mark was in a full-on midlife crisis, affair included. It would take us two years to move from being on the verge of divorce to a healed and improved Mark & Jill 2.0. I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through infidelity, however, it can be a wake-up call that reveals the places of hurt, pain, and dysfunction that should have been addressed a long time ago.

In this episode, Mark and I are sharing more about recovering from infidelity and the essentials of healing broken trust. We work with many couples who are at different stages of the infidelity journey, which is why we are so open with our own story.

It can be so valuable to have someone walk alongside you as you navigate rebuilding trust and recovering from infidelity, but even more than that, our hope is that this episode will give guidance to anyone no matter where you are on this journey. 

Join us as Mark and I share:

• The first step to recovering from infidelity
• The difference between conviction and condemnation
• Why hoarding our hurts damages your marriage
• And more!

Infidelity recovery is absolutely possible! And you can have an even better marriage than what you had before.

Show Notes:  https://jillsavage.org/affair-recovery-141

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Welcome to another bonus episode of the No More Perfect Podcast! We love surprising you with extra podcast content that's super practical and beneficial for your life – it's our way of saying thank you!

Mark is joining me as we dive into the often challenging world of communication within a marriage, as a result of our Love Styles. Many people experience anxiety or avoidance when it comes to expressing emotions and connecting with their spouse. We're exploring how to handle those moments when we might take things personally and offer an alternative perspective to reframe our responses in those situations.

We hope this bonus episode brings encouragement and support to you this week!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bonus-140/

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Are you an innie or an outie? We’re not talking bellybuttons here; we are talking about how you deal with clutter. Innies tend to "file," while outies tend to "pile." I am naturally an outie, so I tend to pile, and that led to some disorganization challenges that took me quite a bit of time to finally overcome.

After 30 years in women’s ministry, I know that home organization is a topic that many of us struggle with. So in this episode, I asked my friend, Crystal, to join me for a conversation about organizing. Crystal Larkin is the owner of Crystal Clear Professional Organizing and former Director of Speakers for Hearts at Home.

Join me as Crystal shares:

• The obstacles that prevent us from clearing clutter
• Strategies to C.L.E.A.R. clutter
• The importance of decluttering before you organize
• And more!

I’m so excited to dive into this topic with her today!

Show Notes:  https://jillsavage.org/crystal-larkin-139

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

For those of us who are married, we would testify that there are times when marriage is hard. There are ups and downs and challenges that we face while learning how to blend two lives into one. You may often hear Mark and I talk about that in this space.

Relationships can often hit bumps in the road. This is true of marriages, family relationships, or close friendships. But sometimes those relationships are more than disappointing or difficult. There are times when marriages can be destructive and relationships are toxic. If we are in a destructive relationship, what should we do?

My guest, Leslie Vernick, specializes in this. She helps women walk in truth, find their voice, and invite their partners into healthy change so that destructive patterns can be broken. Leslie is a relationship coach, international speaker, and author of seven books, including The Emotionally Destructive Marriage and The Emotionally Destructive Relationship. She lives in the Phoenix, AZ area and has two children and three grandchildren.

Join me as Leslie shares:

• What the Bible says regarding relationships and wicked people
• The difference between challenging and destructive relationships
• Unhealthy relationship patterns we can bring into marriage
• And more!

I hope you are encouraged and strengthened by this conversation!

Trigger Warning: I want to let my listeners know this episode contains mentions of physical abuse, rape, and injury to a child. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, consider skipping this one or at least skipping the story of injury to a child at 11:00 - 11:30.

Show Notes:  https://jillsavage.org/leslie-vernick-138

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I’ve got a question for you: What happens when life hits you hard? Do you crawl inside yourself and hide? Do you throw your hands up and give up? Or do you wipe yourself off and get back up again?

In this episode, I am talking about resilience, and to help me do that is my friend, Kelley Tyan. Kelley is a wife, mother of two, as well as the author of the book and host of the podcast, Addicted to the Climb.

Join me for a meaningful and uplifting conversation as Kelley shares her wisdom on:

• What it means to be resilient
• How focusing on fear produces more fear
• The power of setting your mind to do something
• And more!

This is such an important conversation. I hope it is exactly what you need to hear today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/kelley-tyan-137

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Life transitions can be tricky. There are hard changes that we don’t see coming and then there are welcome changes that we also have to navigate. Change in general can bring a flood of conflicting feelings from joy and delight to vulnerability, fear, and anxiety. As one season closes and another begins, we often find ourselves asking: What on earth am I supposed to do now? That’s what we are going to be talking about in this episode.

My guest, Nicki Koziarz, like so many others, has wondered “what now” during seasons of change. She has often felt lost in the middle spaces of life, including transitioning from working in an office to working from home, raising teenagers on the edge of adulthood, and navigating the painfully slow process of adoption. Nicki recently dug into the middle spaces of life in her latest book, Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are. Nicki is an author and speaker at Proverbs 31 Ministries.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The core struggles we face in seasons full of transitions
• The different stages of life
• Why we should dream about our future
• And more!

I know you will be encouraged by what Nicki shares about life and experiencing changes!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/nicki-koziarz-136

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Boy, do we have a story for you! It’s a story of how God connects the dots and meets needs even when we can’t see how circumstances could ever connect in that way. This summer, Mark and I are going to minister to marriages in Uganda but to tell you how we end up preparing to minister to hundreds of pastors and their wives, we have to tell you about a road trip to Florida. This episode will look a little different from our regular episodes as we share how a pit stop at a coffee shop led to Mark and me booking a trip to Uganda.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How we decided to put a trip to Uganda on our calendar
• God’s unique ability to connect the dots and cause our lives to intersect
• The importance of being open to what God is doing
• And more!

Listen in to hear how God orchestrated events for us to connect with pastors in Uganda!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/pastor-zachariah-135

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

In today’s gotta-have-it-all culture, exhaustion and hurry seem to be a badge of honor. We hustle hard, strive even more every day, and believe our “superhuman” tendencies are amazing! But the truth is they are alarming!

So what does it take to rock the boat enough to wake up our soul and address this? My guest today, Christy Boulware, has asked that question of herself. A severe panic and anxiety disorder diagnosis forced her to stare the answer dead in the eyes. Her fast-paced, heavily driven life finally caught up with her.

After taking steps to heal from her nervous breakdown in 2011, Christy turned her pain into purpose and founded Fearless Unite, a nonprofit organization that helps men and women of all ages overcome fear and anxiety by stepping into their God-given purpose and identity. She’s the author of the new book, Nervous Breakthrough: Finding Freedom From Fear and Anxiety in a World That Feeds It.

As a quick warning for my listeners, I want to mention that there will be instances where we talk about suicide in this episode. If you have an aversion to this topic or are around little ones, I recommend skipping this episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Christy’s story of overcoming her severe panic and anxiety disorder
• Some of the key factors that cause stress or can trigger anxiety
• The role surrender plays in managing our fear and anxiety
• And more!

I hope this conversation is encouraging to you wherever you listen!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/christy-boulware-134

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

How do you find peace when you are not in a very peaceful state of mind? And where do you find the words to talk to God about peace when it feels like your whole life is spinning out of control? In a world that is filled with stress and anxiety, it can seem that peace is difficult to find. We often turn to prayer too late and then wonder why it didn’t work.

Helping me dig into this topic is Brooke McGlothlin. She is the co-founder of Million Praying Moms. Brooke is also a podcaster and author of six books. One of her latest books is Everyday Prayers for Peace. She’s a wife of over 21 years and a mom to two teenage boys.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The role that prayer has in our job as moms
• Understanding the difference between our role and God’s
• How to uncover peace in your everyday life
• And more!

I'm praying this conversation is encouraging to you wherever you listen!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/brooke-mcglothlin-133

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Today, Mark is joining me to talk about the subject of personal growth. It’s no secret that we did a lot of work on our marriage that we now affectionately refer to as “Mark & Jill 2.0”. But what you might not hear us talk about specifically as much is how much growing we had to do on our own before our marriage could take on new life.

Whether you're feeling like you're stuck in survival mode or you're eager to make a significant change in your relationships, the key is to start with personal growth. Mark and I talk through some practical insights on how to begin your personal growth journey and why it's essential for your well-being and the success of your relationships.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How to cultivate a growth mindset
• Strategies for pursuing a thriving life
• The impact of a growth mindset on every area of your life
• And more!

I hope this episode is exactly what you need to hear today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/personal-growth-132

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...