For Real with Kimberly Stuart

Let’s talk about parenting and breast cancer and the pandemic and all the things that are distinctly PLAN B (C? D? Z?), but can we please figure out how to laugh about it? If that sounds like the way to go, you need to listen to my conversation with author Melanie Dale. Melanie’s newest book, Calm the H*ck Down: How to Let Go and Lighten Up About Parenting had me in stitches, even in the tough parts, which is, of course, the point. I think you are going to love hearing Melanie’s fantastic help on how to approach the life you’ve been given with laughter, honesty, and practical ways we can all lighten up.

Melanie is the author of four books, including her latest, Calm the H*ck Down: How to Let Go and Lighten Up about Parenting. She’s a writer for the TV series Creepshow and her essays are featured monthly at Coffee+Crumbs. For the last five years she played numerous zombies on The Walking Dead when she wasn’t writing or parenting her three kids from three different continents. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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On this episode of For Real, I learn a bunch from author Marcus Brotherton, whose new book, A Bright and Blinding Sun, tells the true story of an accidental hero. Marcus has written extensively about military heroes, and I loved learning about how he distills huge movements in history into stories that show the triumph of the human spirit. We also discuss the woes and joys of doing publicity for your work and how to maintain a healthy mindset when in the throes of a book launch. This is a must listen if you are an aspiring author!

Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor dedicated to writing books that inspire heroics, promote empathy, and encourage noble living. Four of Marcus’ books are New York Times bestsellers, five are national bestsellers, four have been optioned for movies, and one is an international bestseller. His books have also appeared on USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, Wall Street Journal, and ECPA bestseller lists. Born in British Columbia, Marcus earned a bachelor’s degree from Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree from Biola University in Los Angeles, where he graduated with high honors. He lives with his wife and their three children in the Pacific Northwest. You can find Marcus online at MarcusBrotherton.com and @MarcusBrotherton.

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I have long loved and admired Sarah Bragg, so it was such a delight to have her join me on For Real! Sarah is the friend you want to move next door, fire up a pot of coffee, and put in a few hours of chatting on the front porch about what it’s really like to be a mom, writer, podcaster, and carpool driver. Sarah has a passion to help folks survive right where they are, and I know you’re going to love hearing her heart.

Sarah Bragg is a popular podcast host, communicator, and author. You can find her on iTunes hosting the podcast Surviving Sarah. She is also the author of A Mother’s Guide to Raising Herself: What Parenting Taught Me About Life, Faith and Myself. She is also a wife, mother of girls, and a creative entrepreneur. Sarah and her family reside in Tennessee. You can find more from her at SarahBragg.com and @sarahwbragg.

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On this episode of For Real, we dive into the potential minefields of sex and intimacy, and Sheila Gregoire was the perfect person to help us know better in order to do better. It was an honor to chat with Sheila, a woman who is on the front lines of bringing hope and freedom to some dark spots in the church. For her book The Great Sex Rescue, Sheila interviewed 20,000 Christian women, and her research illuminates both what we are doing well and how we can move toward a more life-enriching, healthy view of sex and relationships. I learned a ton from Sheila and her book, and I can’t wait for you to listen in on our conversation.

Sheila Wray Gregoire is the face behind To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, 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. Sheila has a Masters in Public Administration and Master 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. She is a frequent contributor at Family Life Canada events. Her latest book, The Great Sex Rescue, was featured in the New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, and Washington Post. She has bylines at Religion News Service, Relevant Magazine, and other news sources. Sheila and her husband Keith, a pediatrician, live in Belleville, Ontario. They have two grown daughters and one very adorable grandson who lives down the road. She enjoys hiking, birdwatching, RV camping trips, and board games. And she knits - even in line at the grocery store. Find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Jeanne Stevens is a fellow Midwest girl! Hooray! I was honored to finally meet her and have her on For Real. Jeanne lives with her family in Chicago, where she co-pastors Soul City Church. You know that I only chat with folks who will be real with us, and let me just say that Jeanne perfectly fits that bill. Her new book, What’s Here Now? How to Stop Rehashing the Past and Rehearsing the Future—And Start Receiving the Present, is like a litmus test for how to really flourish in the right here, right now. I loved the book and loved learning from Jeanne in this conversation.

Jeanne Stevens is one of the lead pastors of Soul City Church in Chicago’s dynamic West Loop neighborhood, which she and her husband, Jarrett, started in 2010. Soul City is one of the fastest-growing urban churches in the United States. Jeanne has had the opportunity to lead and speak into the lives of thousands of people across the U.S. and around the world.

She is a sought-after speaker, leader, and writer. Her passion to develop people to live boldly & fully gives her a unique voice of hope and challenge.

Jeanne is the author of multiple devotionals including the newly released Less is More as well as Everyday Brave, Grit & Grace, and You Are Enough. Her newest book What’s Here Now? is available now.

In addition to pastoring Soul City Church, Jeanne finds great joy in being a wife to Jarrett, and a mom to her son, Elijah, and daughter, Gigi. You can find her online at JeanneStevens.com and on Instagram.

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