Melissa Clark

Hey Friend!

We are in the middle of a year-long series to help you live a healthier life.

Today’s discussion on racism can be a little difficult to listen to, but I hope you listen with open ears.

On the podcast today, I’m joined by Dr. Derwin Gray. He is a pastor, former NFL football player,  speaker, and author.  In our discussion today, we take a deep dive into racism in America, what the bible has to say, and how we can be color-blessed, not just “colorblind.” We also discuss his new book, How to Heal Our Racial Divide.

Dr. Derwin Gray is the co-founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church (TC), a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a popular conference speaker and the author of Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart, Building a Multiethnic Church, The Good Life, Limitless Life, God, Do You Hear Me?

Derwin earned a Master of Divinity degree, with a concentration in Apologetics, from Southern Evangelical Seminary under the mentorship of the renowned theologian, Dr. Norman Geisler. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in the New Testament in Context at Northern Seminary. Derwin met his wife, Vicki, at Brigham Young University, and they have been married since 1992. They have two adult children, Presley and Jeremiah.

Listen in to learn more about:

• Derwin’s journey of experiencing racism firsthand as a child growing up in Texas.
• Knowing the difference between prejudice and racism and what can we do about it.
• We lose the power of the Church when we look to politicians to give us our theology.
• Derwin shares examples of system injustice and practical steps to what we can do about it.

Resources

Connect with Derwin

Website: https://www.derwinlgray.com/

Pick up a copy of Derwin’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Heal-Racial-Divide-Reconciliation/dp/149645880X

Check out this episode!

Each week of this season of the  Thrive and the Art of Living Free podcast, we focus on a particular health focus to help you a better version of yourself. This week we continue as we talk about your sex life. (Yes, you read that correctly!! )

FYI – As you can tell by the title this is not an episode for little ears. So pop in those earbuds or listen when the kiddos aren’t around.

On the podcast today, I’m joined by Sheila Gregoire, mom,  speaker, and the author of 9 books on marriage and sex, as well as the face behind the largest single blogger marriage site. Today, we dive into ways to have a happier and healthier relationship, myths in marriage an,d so much more!

Sheila Wray Gregoire is the face behind ToLoveHonorandVacuum.com, the largest single-blogger marriage blog. A sought-after speaker, she’s also an award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex and The Great Sex Rescue.

Sheila has a Masters in Public Administration and a Masters of Arts in Sociology, both from Queen’s University. Sheila built the successful blog, To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, with traffic of one million page views a month. Her email list is 45,000 strong, and her social media reach is over 100,000. Her podcast, Bare Marriage, has more than 5,000 downloads each week. She is an award-winning author with seven royalty-published books. A sought-after speaker, Sheila has spoken at churches and conferences around the globe.

Listen in to learn more about :

• The four most common myths in marriage
• Sex isn’t just for men, it is also for women
• Why “duty” sex is not healthy in your marriage
• Sex gets better the longer you are together with your spouse

Connect with Sheila

Website: https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sheilagregoire

Facebook: https://facebook.com/sheila.gregoire.books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheilagregoire

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdO1v4LdyqZV-m_VMlH5VGg

Pick up a copy of Sheila’s new book: https://greatsexrescue.com/,, and

Check out this episode!

Each week of this season on Thrive and the Art of Living Free podcast, we are focusing on a particular health focus to help you a better version of YOU. This week is no different as we are focusing on our spiritual health as it relates to the way we attach to God.

On the podcast today, I’m joined by Krispin Mayfield, a fellow Licensed Professional Counselor, author, and father of 2. . I know that you will enjoy our chat where we discuss his new book, the ideas behind attachment science, and how it affects our relationship with God.

Krispin Mayfield, LPC has a background in full-time ministry and is now in private practice as a licensed professional counselor in Oregon, where he and his wife, D.L., live with their two children. Trained in attachment-based emotionally focused therapy, Krispin has served for over ten years in church trauma-recovery programs. In his writing, podcasting, and speaking, Krispinexplores the integration of faith and psychology, and his writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant, Aleteia, Boundless, and Fathom.

Listen in to learn more about :

• What is attachment science and how does it influence our faith?
• The 3 types of attachment styles
• God gave us emotions and why it is important to express them.

Resources

Need a therapist? Check out Psychology Today, NAMI, or email Melissa for assistance.

Connect with Krispin

Pick up a copy of Krispin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Attached-God-Practical-Spiritual-Experience/dp/0310363799

Website: https://www.krispinmayfield.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krispinmayfield/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/k__mayfield

Check out this episode!

As we continue our year-long series on the five components of you being YOU, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to take the next step in your relationship with food.  Becoming the version of ourselves that God intended takes work on all levels. Whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, it is a journey of hard work, and there is no quick fix.

On the podcast today, I’m joined by inspiring and lovely Jennifer Taylor Wagner sits down with me to share her journey with weight loss, overcoming her childhood experiences, and finding happiness within accepting her body as it is.

Today is one of those episodes where you will want to take some notes, so get your notebooks ready!

Jennifer Taylor Wagner is a certified fitness instructor and successful blogger. She is passionate about challenging the way we think about health wellness and regularly writes on healthy living. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids.

Listen in to learn more about :

• Jennifer’s journey with body image issues, moving over 30 times as a kid,  and how she managed to overcome a negative relationship with food.
• Getting smaller does not equal getting healthy as well as you can be any size and have an eating disorder.
• Practical steps to heal your relationship with food, diet, and exercise.

Resources

Need a therapist? Check out Psychology Today, NAMI, or email Melissa for assistance.

Connect with Nicole

Instagram: @JenniferTaylorWagner

Website:https://jenniferwagner.co/

Pick up a copy of her book, Your Good Body: Embracing a Body-Positive Mindset in a Perfection-Focused World

Check out this episode!

We all know that having a positive outlook on life is good for mental well-being. If the last two years have taught us anything, life isn’t always positive. We all deal with painful emotions and experiences. While emotions can sometimes be unpleasant, we need to express them honestly and authentically.

On the show today, I’m joined by a fellow therapist, Whitney Goodman. We talk about toxic positivity, gaslighting, and the importance of processing our emotions—even our painful ones.

Additionally, we also discuss Whitney’s new book, Toxic Positivity, and practical action steps on recognizing if we are operating with toxic positivity in our relationships.

Whitney Goodman is a radically honest psychotherapist behind the popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit and the Collaborative Counseling Center owner, a private therapy practice in Miami. She helps individuals and couples heal past wounds and create the life they want. Goodman lives in Miami with her husband and their two dogs, Luna and Charlie, and their son.

Listen in to learn more: 

• What is toxic positivity?
• The dangers of toxic positivity, especially among the minority community
• How is gaslighting connected to toxic positivity?
• The difference between listening and hearing

Resources we discussed

Connect with Whitney

Instagram: @sitwithwhit

Website: CollabCounseling.com

Pick up a copy of her book, Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy

Books Mentioned :

The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier

Check out this episode!