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In this episode, host Mandy Black wraps Season 3 of the podcast and makes some announcements about upcoming events and things to be watching for over at www.msmandyblack.com. Season 4 of the podcast will be back in the late fall/winter 2020 Resources Discussed: Being The Beloved Single Ladies Retreat Story Of Her Community: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast www.instagram.com/msmandyblack

On this episode, in solidarity with the Amplify Melanated Voices Movement, Mandy highlights the powerful stories of four women who have a powerful message and a story to tell.  Featured in this episode are past guests, Kennesha Buycks, Arielle Estoria, Irene Rollins, And Jade Simmons. Listen to their full episode and find the links to their social media and websites at the "Show Notes" link below.  Show Notes: www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/amplified Story Of Her Community:  www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast

Jessica Shakir has been working as a Hair + Makeup Artist for 22 years with celebrity clientele that includes Colbie Caillat, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, Selma Blair, The Backstreet Boys, and Eminem. Her clients often refer to her as their Beauty BFF! She’ll help you look gorgeous, but more importantly, she’ll empower you to FEEL beautiful+ LIVE brave so you can fulfill your God-given assignment here on Earth! On this episode Jessica shares some of her own love story - she is someone who didn’t get married until her late thirties and has such a powerful testimony of what it looks like to not only date with dignity, but also to make the most of your single years. She chats all about what it was like to wait well and trust God during her single years. As well as what it means to her to date with dignity and set the bar high when it comes to sex, marriage, the space between almost but not yet. 

Karrie Garcia is a pastor, life coach, author and CEO who inspires change in others by boldly sharing her journey to freedom. Karrie is not afraid to wade through deep waters, because she has seen first hand how God’s true redemptive purpose for our lives does not begin once we’re free from pain, rather it stems directly out of that pain.  Today, Karrie is on a mission to redefine freedom for others through her nonprofit, Freedom Movement. Since 2014, she has fostered an environment at Freedom Movement where anyone can begin to process and heal, whether they’re taking their first or their last step on the road to freedom through the organization’s tours, events, workshops and one-on-one coaching. Karrie is also the author of The Exchange, an interactive nine-week course through which she guides individuals and groups from hurting to hope with readings, videos and reflections. On this episode Karrie shares some of her own story of the brokenness that she had to walk through to get to the freedom that she walks in and leads from today. Mandy and Karrie chat all about how to navigate the questions and doubts that we all inevitably experience at some point in our faith journey’s. And we chat about how to claim freedom in your life and live from a place of authenticity and wholeness.  SHOW NOTES STORY OF HER INSTAGRAM COMMUNITY SINGLE LADIES RETREAT INFO

Meshali Mitchell is a widely sought after portrait photographer originally from Arkansas, but now residing in Texas. The quality of her work stands alone, known by its immersion in heart and soul. She owns and operates Meshali Mitchell Photo, which is run out of her home but takes her all over the world. She is a creative image builder, confident in her style, and recognized for her ability capture the true heart of a moment. She has also been featured on sites such as West Elm and CB2 Home Decor On this episode Mandy and Meshali chat all about how Meshali got to where she is now as a widely sought after photographer. And then they dive into the conversation of home and heart restoration. Meshali tells the story of how -  back in May of 2018 through an unforeseen step of faith, the combination of a deep love for Christ, a heart for restoration, and an eye for creativity - she purchased an 1886 Farmhouse. During this time, she began to document the restorative process, noticing how closely it paralleled her personal story of restoration--room by room, piece by piece. Soon after, she began to realize the house was all of our stories. Broken to beautiful. Beauty from ashes. Nothing too far beyond God’s reach. This current project and movement “A House God is Building” is now being carried across the nation into hearts of people who desperately need to be reminded of the restorative, transforming power of Christ’s love. EPISODE SHOW NOTES STORY OF HER INSTAGRAM COMMUNITY

Justine Campbell is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and holistic Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, podcaster and healthy living enthusiast, sharing her passion for cultivating the healthy life using the power of real food + non-toxic living. Her healthy living and preventative wellness company is pioneering the preconception prep movement and works to educate and empower women + couples to help overcome fertility issues, optimize pregnancy outcomes, revamp postpartum health and create littles who flourish. Justine lives in sunny Southern California with her husband Matt, two darling daughters and fluffy Sheepadoodle, Teddy and adores slow spa days, family bedtime snuggles and laughing so hard you cry On this episode Justine and Mandy are talking all things holistic health wellness and preconception preparation. Justine shares some of her own story of loss when it comes to her fertility journey, as well as how her experiences of loss catapulted her into her calling to help other couples find success in their fertility journey. She shares practical tips and tricks for how to eat right, manage stress and prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy. She even talks about the role that the man plays in the relationship when it comes to a couples fertility health. So if you are someone who is hoping to get pregnant someday, whether that be tomorrow, or 10 years from now, this episode is for you.   SHOW NOTES STORY OF HER INSTAGRAM COMMUNITY

Hosanna Wong is an Author, Bible-Teacher, and Spoken Word Artist who shares captivating stories of a powerful God with churches, conferences, prisons, & other events around the country year-round. She is passionate about empowering this generation to know who they are, & boldly live out their purpose. On the show today Hosanna opens up with her spoken word piece I Have A New Name. She then shares all about her experience growing up on the street of San Francisco and how that formed the woman she is today and the ministry that she leads. And then Mandy and Hosanna have a rich conversation all about the joy and freedom that comes through living into your full and true identity. As well as the importance of living from your identity and not for your identity.  Click Here For Show Notes Follow the Story Of Her Community on Instagram

On this episode Mandy talks all about how to be a non-anxious presence in the midst of the COVID19 Pandemic. She shares all about the science behind how to wire our brains for happiness. And then shares five practical tips and tricks on how to live a less anxious, more joyful life. She also speaks all about the importance of gaining perspective and seeing the silver lining in the midst of everything that is happening in our world right now. SHOW NOTES: www.msmandyblack.com/covidandmentalhealth CONNECT WITH MANDY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast

On this episode Mandy has a conversation with Kennesha Buycks. Kennesha is the creator of Restoration House--a home and lifestyle brand + blog focusing on creating spaces that fulfill beyond the aesthetic and that speak to the restorative aspects of home. Kennesha is a Southern transplant to the Pacific Northwest, she has a passion for connecting others, gathering, and inspirational styling and design.  On this episode Kennesha shares her own story of home and heart restoration. She speaks all about the initial inspiration behind Restoration House and how often our homes can reflect our hearts, our desires, and our history. She also shares some practical tips and tricks for home design. And then in the second half of the interview (at about 34 minutes) Mandy and Kennesha  shift directions and talk all about Racial reconciliation, intentional living, and the difference between being not racist vs being anti-racist. This is an incredibly rich and full conversation. You won't want to miss it. 

On this episode Mandy is chatting with New York Times best selling author and fashion journalist, Lauren Scruggs Kennedy.  Lauren received international media attention after an accident in 2011 in which Lauren walked into an airplane's spinning propeller, losing her left eye and her left hand and sustaining brain damage. In this episode Lauren and Mandy talk all about how the aftermath of her accident really led her to challenge her own definition of beauty, identity, and purpose. They also chat all about the inspiration behind the LSK foundation, which was founded by Lauren and exists to restore dignity and ignite faith in girls and women who have lost limbs. This interview is chalk full of truth, empowerment, and inspiration. SHOW NOTES: www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/laurenscruggs SOH COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast BEING THE BELOVED RETREAT: www.msmandyblack.com/beingthebeloved  

On this episode host, Mandy Black, shares her top 10 Favorite Things. Her list includes her favorite books, skincare products, jewelry line, and her favorite recipe ideas. This episode serves as a holiday gift and recipe guide.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES:  www.msmandyblack.com/living/favoritethings SOH COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast  

On this episode host, Mandy Black, talks all about her thoughts on whether soul mates exist, how to find "the one", and whether love is a choice or a feeling. She gets raw and shares her own story of letting go and rebuilding her thought processes and belief systems around romantic love. She suggests that healthy thriving relationships are to be built, not found. And she challenges the cultural model of love and romance.  SIGN UP FOR WOMEN'S RETREAT EPISODE SHOW NOTES STORY OF HER COMMUNITY

Irene Rollins Co-Pastors i5 City, a church just outside of Baltimore, Maryland alongside her husband Jimmy Rollins of 20 years. Together they lead the church, while keeping their first ministry top priority, which is their marriage and parenting their three children, Kayla, Jaden, and Maya. Irene’s strength ministry is found in helping others find purpose in their pain through embracing their unique stories. She hopes to inspire others to pursue healing and restoration in their own lives, through being transparent about her story of overcoming addiction, co-dependency, and trauma. In this episode, Irene get’s real and talks about her own battle with alcoholism. She talks about how her addiction nearly destroyed her entire life…including her marriage and her relationship with her family. She shares about her experience in rehab and what the journey to sobriety and freedom has been like for her. And then we also dive into the conversation of how to heal from past pain and brokenness in your marriage. And how Irene’s journey to sobriety has truly been transformative for the health of her marriage.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES SOH COMMUNITY WOMEN'S RETREAT SIGN UP

Lindsey Maestas is an author, podcaster (Living Easy Podcast), speaker, and entrepreneur. She is a wife and a momma to two sweet boys. And her passion for talking about real life from a place of vulnerability and openness propels her forward with the goal of bringing hope and reminding others that they’re never alone. On this episode, Mandy and Lindsey dive into the conversation of “how to heal from a sexual past and live fully into God’s beautiful plan and design for your future relationships and for your sexuality”. Lindsey gets real and opens up by sharing her own story of heartache and sexual trauma, as well as her battle with sexual promiscuity as a young woman. She shares her transformation story of how God truly took her story and past heartaches and pains and turned them into something beautiful. She uses her story and the lessons learned from it, to speak so much hope into the lives of women, and to remind us all of our worth and value, and the beautiful plans that God has for us all.    EPISODE SHOW NOTES: www.mandyblack.org/podcast/lindseymaestas SIGN UP FOR THE WOMEN'S RETREAT: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-whole-leader-retreat-lead-your-whole-life-tickets-77952611359   STORY OF HER COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast

On this episode Mandy is talking all about Identity and Self-Worth. She challenges the cultural approach to identity that says that our true identity and worth come through looking inward and falling more in love with ourselves. And she poses the question, "What if our true identity and worth comes instead from looking outward and upward to a more loving, more perfect, and more beautiful God?" Mandy talks about how she believes that as humans we aren't naturally hard wired to fall in love with ourselves in a way that is neither egotistical or self-absorbed. Instead, we are naturally hard-wired to fall in love with something much bigger and greater than us. Something and someone outside of ourselves, our Creator. And only through falling more in love with Him, are we able to see ourselves rightly. Only through falling more in love with Him are we able to see ourselves through a lens that is not distorted or manipulated by culture, and therefore love ourselves (and others) purely, in a way that is neither self-seeking or egotistical. In this episode Mandy also references Timothy Kellers book, The Freedom Of Self-Forgetfulness EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://mandyblack.org/podcast/self-love-vs-self-forgetfulness/

Brandi Murphy is the founder of The Connection Table, which is an online community with a message that is all about providing space in our days to focus on what matters most. They believe that human connection is the birthplace of joy and meaning in life, and therefore create practical tools to help others live from a place of vulnerability, courage, and compassion.  Brandi has spent her career in education and lives with her three kids in the Los Angeles area. On this episode Brandi and Mandy dive into the conversation of how to cultivate real, authentic connection with others, God, and ourselves. They discuss the very real struggle of loneliness, fear and vulnerability in relationships. And also, how often instead of dealing with our emotions and feelings we opt to just run from them. Brandy offers up the question, "What if what feels unbearable to face, is actually just unbearable to suppress?" What if we’re doing ourselves a huge disservice by not being honest with ourselves about what we’re feeling? In our non-stop rate race society where we high five business, we often don’t stop to really check in with ourselves and listen our lives and to what God is speaking to us about our lives and our deepest feelings and emotions. So this episode serves as a bit of a guide on how to check in with yourself…and how to cultivate real lasting connection with others.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES:  www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/brandimurphy STORY OF HER COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast  

Jo Encarnacion is a women’s health and lifestyle coach who has dared to lead hundreds of women down a path of radical self acceptance, gaining her recognition by being named one of the top 20 Health + Wellness Role Models by Arrianna Huffington. She has partnered with some of the most prestigious brands in the world such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Underarmour, Soulcycle and countless others. Additionally, she has been featured in countless publications such as Refinery 29, Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue, and many many more. However the limelight did not begin so bright. After growing up in an immigrant family, Jo started out as a hairstylist & early mother at 21 where she struggled with depression, anxiety, and hating her own self image which quickly turned to self destruction. In 2013 she started her fitness journey and with the #gofitjo she shared the raw side of wellbeing from topics like eating healthy, juggling a demanding creative lifestyle while balancing modern day motherhood, overcoming depression, and facing body image issues. Her hashtag quickly turned into a movement with a huge following and now @gofitjo is all about empowering women to cultivate inner strength and uncover their raw, real, authentic selves in the fitness industry that is dominated by aesthetic and physical appearance. So on todays show Jo and I are diving deep into the conversation of self-worth, body diversity, body positivity, and mental health. Jo shares all about her story of reclaiming her life, her story, and her message after walking through years of battling body image and mental health issues. She also speaks to where she is at today and offers some inspiring words of advice and wisdom to those who need a little inspiration.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES:  www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/joencarnacion STORY OF HER COMMUNITY:  www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast  

On this episode Mandy interviews writer and poet, Nicole Gulotta. Nicole is the author of Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path, as well as Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry. Nicole has been featured in countless publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Kinfolk, Gather, and many more. As the founder of the Wild Words community, she helps writers embrace the season they’re in, create at their own pace, and care for their minds and bodies along the way. On this episode Nicole shares all about her journey as an author, as well as the story behind both of her books. We then dive into the conversation of seasonal creative living, which is essentially just a way of observing and navigating our creativity as humans. It's a way of extending grace to ourselves for the things we're experiencing...it’s a way to see and acknowledge the varying seasons we go through in our creativity. To be thankful for the past and excited for the future, but to be fully present in the season that is now. So in this interview Nicole shares all about each of the different seasons, as well as some very practical rituals and routines to practice in each season. So I do hope you all enjoy! EPISODE SHOW NOTES: www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/nicolegulotta STORY OF HER COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast  

On today’s episode I am sitting down with the beautiful and inspirational, Jessica Shakir. Jessica has been working as a Hair + Makeup Artist for 22 years with celebrity clientele that includes Colbie Caillat, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, Rachel Hunter, Selma Blair, The Backstreet Boys, and Eminem. Her clients often refer to her as their Beauty BFF! She’ll help you look gorgeous, but more importantly, she’ll empower you to FEEL beautiful+ LIVE brave so you can fulfill your God-given assignment here on Earth! As a TV Beauty Expert, Jessica has been regularly featured on national TV segments on shows including ABC’s FABLife and The Dr. Oz Show. She is currently the Key Artist for Praise and Better Together on TBN, and has worked on set of The Talk, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, and America’s Next Top Model. Jessica is the Founder of My Beauty BFF, an educational platform specializing in Inner Beauty + Makeup Workshops for the woman who’s passionate about “Blending Beauty + Faith!” On the show today Jessica shares her own story of loss and love, and triumphing through adversity to become the woman she is today; free, confidant, and sure of her identity and worth in Christ. She shares all about her journey as a celebrity make-up artist, as well as why she is so passionate about passing on the message to her clients that beauty cannot be applied, only uncovered. We chat all about how to step into your authentic beauty. And then near the end Jessica shares the story of how she met and fell in love with her husband, as a 36 year older virgin. She shares all about why they made the decision to wait to kiss until they got engaged. And we discuss the extent to which truly knowing your worth and your true identity can impact your romantic relationships. There is so much goodness and truth in this episode. I’m just going to give you a heads up that Jessica preaches, so I hope that you all are incredibly empowered and encouraged through our conversation.  EPISODE SHOW NOTES: www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/jessicashakir STORY OF HER COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast  

On this episode Mandy interviews Sarah Adler of Simply Real Health. Sarah is an entrepreneur, nutrition coach & healthy lifestyle expert, food blogger, cookbook author (x 2) and owner of Simply Real Health—a company on a mission to teach people how to live healthier lives, made simple. Sarah opens up by sharing all about her refreshing approach to food and cooking, which is essentially an approach that puts the focus back on eating real food and cooking with wholesome ingredients. In our day and age of fad diets and calorie counting, Sarah is a fresh voice, reminding us all that health and wellness is much more simple than we make it out to be. She reminds us that eating is supposed to be a joyful thing…and being healthy is less about following some strict diet, and more about eating real, wholesome foods that makes us feel our absolute best. In this interview Sarah also gives some very practical pointers about how you can rewrite your relationship with food and incorporate more real foods into your diet. She also shares all about how she has found balance in her own life while balancing being a wife, mother, business owner, and even a Lululemon ambassador. Her words are refreshing and life giving and a reminder that it is possible to pursue your dreams while killing it as a wife and a mother. There is so much goodness and inspiration in this episode, so I hope you enjoy!  SHOW NOTES: www.msmandyblack.com/podcast/sarahadler STORY OF HER COMMUNITY: www.instagram.com/storyofherpodcast