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IFLAL - May 13 2021 - Lauren Zehnle by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 69 “New Language For An Older story” with Daniel Johnson by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 68- "Don't Feel Guilt About Living" with Leanor Ortega-Till by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 67 "We Can Do Hard Things" with Tyler Strange by Instructions for Living a Life

Recovering from bodily injury and surgery isn't the easiest experience for anyone, particularly if you are dealing with significant pain. In this 66th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Sami invites us into her journey through medical procedures and aftercare, advocating for pain care as a woman, and what it's like to need help when people don't believe that you require it. Sami dives into how she has learned to care for herself, exploring the necessity of play, finding activities that bring her life and joy, and being more intuitive about what she's eating and doing to support her holistic well-being. Sami also opens up about the role that therapy, particularly EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has played in her recovery from a serious car accident and the post-traumatic stress that followed. This episode is full of deeply personal honesty as this pastor, wife, and friend processes how she's walked through pain, embracing change and newness along the way.

In this 65th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Todd also impressed upon us his commitment to honesty, curiosity, and openness. Whether in processing his experiences in what some might call a "pray the gay away" program, his journey through divorce and coming out fully as a gay man, or wrestling with questions of faith, mental health, or how we can pursue wholeness and healing together, you will find Todd to be someone unafraid to share who he is or what he hopes for.

For our 64th episode, we're excited to welcome St. Louis, Missouri stand-up comedian, Meredith Hopping, who takes us on an often hilarious, always thoughtful exploration of living with anxiety, appreciating psychiatric care, and wrestling with the church over fear, language, purity culture, and shame. Meredith is fiercely honest, with her bravery and clarity often expressed through humor, and this episode casts that honesty across a wide spectrum. Whether we're talking about divorce, healthy embodiment and sexuality, talking with kids about sex and bodies, postpartum depression, or being REALLY forthright about what birth actually entails, the conversation is a rich and rewarding one.

Instructions for Living a Life returns for another season with a raw story of church trauma. Nathaniel invites us to hear how he endured toxic church leadership, a fractured congregation dealing in the aftermath, writing an album to work through his grief and pain, and helping to create a church that is honest about pain.

Ep. 62 "Failure Has Been My Biggest Teacher" with Kyle Meier by Instructions for Living a Life

The O'Keefe Brothers stories continue

Ep. 60 "Not Just a Heart Issue: Part 1" with Tommy, Casey, and Kyle O'Keefe by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 59 "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" with Karen Workun by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 58 "A Different Perspective" with Jason Ashe by Instructions for Living a Life

Ep. 57 "You Can't Kill the Flower That Blooms" with Bishop Hope Morgan Ward by Instructions for Living a Life

Amanda* offers hospital chaplaincy in a time of pandemic, an unfolding tragedy following on the heels of a devastating Nashville tornado. Still, she is insistent upon keeping her eyes open for "the good gifts of today". Rather than being in denial of pain, Amanda shares with us the necessity of setting limits for oneself, seeking regular therapeutic support, and acknowledging the stress that helping and caring for others can place upon your body and your mind. For her, poetry (both writing and reading) is vital, allowing her space to breathe and process all that her heart is facing and trying to make sense of. Amanda acknowledges the challenge of carrying the suffering and grief of others, along with daily discerning where her authentic presence will matter most. Her commitment to avoid automatically doing 'spiritual things' for those she encounters is admirable, with her choosing instead to first learn about who they are and what they love. Might we all be willing to answer our deep inner call for connection in similar ways.

eff invites us into laughter and openness, brainstorming coping skills and addressing awareness, advocacy, and the need for us to have grace with those who don't understand that our faith and mental health are inescapably woven together. We had a wonderful time speaking with Jeff, and encourage you to share this episode with anyone who might benefit from it.

Ep. 55 "A Really Good List of Questions" with Brent Levy by Instructions for Living a Life

After a traumatic church experience caused Brendon to leave vocational ministry, now many years later he is doing ministry in an unexpected place-the gym.

Sarah discusses how stigma works and how working with those with a substance addiction made her realize her own biases.

Ep. 50 "It Was So Much Easier Having Certainty" Jay Bakker by Instructions for Living a Life