Season 3, Episode 19
Whoa, the holidays are here already and the pressures can be real. In today’s episode, my guest Sue Moore Donaldson, and I explore how to drop some of the baggage around what we expect of ourselves and others when it comes to holiday festivities.
As an author, podcaster and public speaker, Sue uses her own experiences to help us relax around our imperfections. That can be, and often is, the first step in moving through the holidays with less stress and more joy. Through her faith base as a follower of Christ, she encourages us to surrender our own demands on ourselves to God and go with the reality of what is instead of always reaching for what used to be. Having God in the driver’s seat of our lives as well as our holidays, we can let go of the outcome, that probably will not be perfect, and just enjoy the activities.
Sue has a great sense of humor and uses that interwoven with wisdom and authenticity to share personal stories and experiences. Very few people do not relate to the types of stories Sue gives us to reflect upon and identify with in our own lives.
She gives some great ideas on how to de-stress our holidays and make them more enjoyable for us and others, including:
Being real by accepting our limitations with time, resources, etc.
Surrendering our will to God (a practice that takes time).
Allowing others to use their own creativity and contribute to the meal or festivities.
Not feeling guilty if we cannot meet the expectations of others.
There are many other hints on de-stressing on her website and to connect with her there, just go to https://welcomeheart.com. Have a look at her resources.
And as a special resource for our listeners, she has supplied some valuable information at these links:
https://welcomeheart.myflodesk.com/ecd7a865-232d-4c6d-ae6e-352f0f60334e
https://welcomeheart.com/laura-padgett-sue-donaldson
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 18
Please note: This is a re-broadcast of an earlier episode that was taped and aired in 2021. The subject is domestic abuse, and because it is October (National Domestic Violence Awareness Month), I wanted to air this again. The topic follows my September episodes on bullying. Domestic abuse is in fact one of the most commonly seen areas of bullying because it relies upon the unequal power structure.
The dates and times mentioned in this episode are from September of 2021. But the message is one we need to hear often as it is not going away, and in some ways the problems are worse.
Karen DeArmond Gardner is an authentic voice in the area of domestic abuse, having lived thirty years in a marriage where her husband was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive. In this first of a two part interview, she shares what she learned, when she decided to leave but mostly how she, with the love of her family and relearning about the love of God, began her healing journey. Today she is living a life of freedom in a new marriage of eleven years, and is helping educate and advocate for those still living in intimate terrorism.
Karen tells of the defining moment when she realized she had had enough and that she needed to get out of the home. She helps us understand what domestic abuse or intimate terrorism really is, why we cannot always recognize it and in what ways the church and society fail women due to distorted doctrine and lack of resources. According to Karen, leaving is just the beginning and not the end of healing from the trauma of an abusive marital relationship.
Tune in as she candidly unpacks the truths, myths and processes in the traumatic time after making the decision to leave. She has written a book that she states is not a how to book. Rather it is a Biblical-based guide to rediscovering the love of God and relearning that He indeed loves us and can be trusted to keep His promises.
The Safe House – Your Safer Place app is on both IOS and Android.
Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God’s Promise of Real Freedom by Karen DeArmond Gardner available at Amazon.com or on
Another One Free website https://anotheronefree.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 17
Please note: This is a re-broadcast of an earlier episode that was taped and aired in 2021. The subject is domestic abuse, and because it is October (National Domestic Violence Awareness Month), I wanted to air this again. The topic follows my September episodes on bullying. Domestic abuse is in fact one of the most commonly seen areas of bullying because it relies upon the unequal power structure.
The dates and times mentioned in this episode are from September of 2021. But the message is one we need to hear often as it is not going away, and in some ways the problems are worse.
Karen DeArmond Gardner is an authentic voice in the area of domestic abuse, having lived thirty years in a marriage where her husband was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive. In this first of a two part interview, she shares what she learned, when she decided to leave but mostly how she, with the love of her family and relearning about the love of God, began her healing journey. Today she is living a life of freedom in a new marriage of eleven years, and is helping educate and advocate for those still living in intimate terrorism.
Karen tells of the defining moment when she realized she had had enough and that she needed to get out of the home. She helps us understand what domestic abuse or intimate terrorism really is, why we cannot always recognize it and in what ways the church and society fail women due to distorted doctrine and lack of resources. According to Karen, leaving is just the beginning and not the end of healing from the trauma of an abusive marital relationship.
Tune in as she candidly unpacks the truths, myths and processes in the traumatic time after making the decision to leave. She has written a book that she states is not a how to book. Rather it is a Biblical-based guide to rediscovering the love of God and relearning that He indeed loves us and can be trusted to keep His promises.
The Safe House – Your Safer Place app is on both IOS and Android.
Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God’s Promise of Real Freedom by Karen DeArmond Gardner available at Amazon.com or on
Another One Free website https://anotheronefree.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 16
“Before you hate, think of Cait.” This is the statement that began P.E.E.R. Kindness, an organization started by our guest, Maya Haynes, after her teenage daughter Cait completed suicide in 2015.
In the second part of this two-part series on turning the tide on bullying, my guest Maya Haynes and I discuss some of the tools her organization PEER Kindness utilizes to help identify this behavior and take steps to change it. She and her team go into schools and out into communities to share what can be done to identify, intervene and report such behavior.
Talking with students, educators and parents, as well as various entities like churches, she empowers those who are being bullied, those who are watching this and the families dealing with the person who bullies and the one who is bullied. She also shares some insights into why people bully. We discuss the examples many adults display and thereby make bullying behaviors seem acceptable.
She gave one example of being able to help a young man who had been displaying bullying behaviors for many years. They did this by working with equine therapy to teach compassion. This was a turning point for this young man’s life as well as his family’s. Giving details of resources and services offered by PEER Kindness, Maya emphasizes the need to address all aspects of bullying with coaching, counseling and various therapies depending upon individual and family needs. She also reminds us that we do indeed need each other to accomplish a safer school and community environment for everyone.
We talked, at length, about young people in our society witnessing the way adults treat each other with unkindness and incivility. Then, seeing those behaviors as examples of how to disagree and/or communicate, they put these tactics into practice too. Whether we admit it or not, young people watch and often imitate the behaviors of the adults in their lives. She offers some practical steps to help us return to civility in our interactions as adults, so we can better help our kids to interact with civility in their relationships as well.
Find out more information about P.E.E.R. Kindness and connect with Maya Haynes, or find resources to start turning the tide on bullying in your area, go to:
https://www.peerkindness.net/
To connect with Laura Padgett, host of this podcast, go to
https://lauralpadgett.com/
To check out music from April Metzler, go to
https://aprildmetzler.com/home/music
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Season 3, Episode 15
“Before you hate, think of Cait.” This is the statement that began P.E.E.R. Kindness, an organization started by our guest, Maya Haynes, after her teenage daughter Cait completed suicide in 2015.
I am joined today by Maya Haynes, the mother of a young woman who in her teens completed suicide as a result of being bullied. Sharing from her own experiences during and since that time, she tells us that many of the kids who observed this behavior toward her daughter had reported it, with no results. Therefore, even though they witnessed it, they did not know what to do.
From the voices of her daughter’s classmates and other community members, Maya formed P.E.E.R. Kindness, an organization dedicated to helping communities combat bullying behaviors by helping both those bullied as well as those who bully others. They offer tools, education and support to students, teachers, parents and community members who are trying to turn the tide in bullying situations. Her goal is to increase that percentage by helping students feel empowered to stand up for their fellow students.
Maya shares the concerns of students and parents who are asking, “What is bullying, what is not? When do I step in, when do I not? What is normal conflict?” She related a classic example of cruel, repetitive behavior toward her daughter that demonstrates what bullying clearly looks like. While teaching the students what to say and do, she states that 57% of bullying stops when peers intervene by saying, “Stop that. We don’t do that here.” She wants to increase that percentage. She says that for both the one who stands up and the one who is being bullied, there is a change in the way they see themselves, feel empowered and this can change the culture where the bullying is being perpetrated.
Maya shares many tips and tools in this episode for turning the tide on the bullying epidemic in our schools, communities, country and world.
Find out more information about P.E.E.R. Kindness and connect with Maya Haynes, or find resources to start turning the tide on bullying in your area, go to:
https://www.peerkindness.net/
To connect with Laura Padgett, host of this podcast, go to
https://lauralpadgett.com/
To check out music from April Metzler, go to
https://aprildmetzler.com/home/music
Season 3, episode 14
Today, I’m joined by Annie Perdue-Olson, a certified coach with a Masters of Arts in Human Resources and Change Leadership. Annie has fifteen years in her current coaching work of helping leaders and teams be healthier in their relationships and workplace processes. In this episode Annie stresses the impact of three particular issues in leadership roles. Those are feeling overwhelmed, dealing with people problems and facing testing of confidence.
Overwhelmed feelings can impact personal and spiritual health in a negative way when leaders and/or team members do not balance the tension between the product and people’s needs. She encourages leaders to know themselves, their strengths and brilliance. She encourages us to slow down sometimes, get mentors, meditate and play. She talks about her own experiences but acknowledges that everyone reacts to being overwhelmed differently. In her practice she uses various assessment tools to help her clients see their strengths.
Annie tells us that grace is a big part of being a good and effective leader. Instead of being in control of outcomes we need to practice grace and understanding that others are not perfect and neither are we. People problems can often be avoided by understanding grace and not expecting others to be just like us. She emphasizes that when we let go of outcomes, we can avoid the heaviness of the burden to change others.
While addressing the testing of our confidence, she encourages us to shift or pivot in mindset and let go of negative messages. She tells us to view ourselves in view of God’s grace and love, not through the lens of not being able to complete tasks or lead effectively. She says that confidence is built, sustained and restored (when lost) by reflecting on those times when we have experienced victories and felt like we have accomplished what we set out to do.
To learn more of Annie’s amazing and powerful work, visit her website at https://www.leadingbettertogether.com. This is a one-stop shopping spot for hearing her podcast episodes from “Lead Your Leaders” Podcast, reading her blogs and finding her social media as well as seeing all she offers in her business of coaching leaders.
To catch up with Gabriel Tafoya, the composer, producer and performer of the song “The Pivot” on this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, episode 13
Do you ever feel you are in a rut? Today, my friend and fellow Christian podcaster, Jerry Dugan, joins me as we discuss the definition of being in a rut. As host of the podcast, “Beyond the Rut” Jerry helps us identify when we are in a rut and how to get out, and beyond it. He explains that being in a rut is doing the same activities day-after-day, week-after-week, and feeling unproductive. There’s no passion or excitement in the rut. We are just sort of on autopilot. It usually starts with a gut feeling of just being stuck.
He tells us that we can count on being clueless when the rut is sneaking up on us. Calling on his own experience, he explains that in 2022 he knew his work was not going to be lasting or leave a legacy despite high salaried employment. When entering work, the following week, he saw that his life was going nowhere professionally and he didn’t know he was in a rut until he came face-to-face with the toxicity of his work place. He began to evaluate his life and take steps to move out of the stagnation he felt in his work environment.
He asks us to evaluate our lives from five F’s, and he explains what each one means.
Faith
Family
Fitness
Finances
Future growth
Jerry has a powerful and inspiring story that is based in authenticity. He encourages us to go forward out of the rut by identifying that we are in a rut, first of all, and understanding that we do have choices, even if they may seem a little scary. His experience of being unhappy and unproductive in his work situation is familiar and relatable for many of us.
Placing emphasis on his personal responsibility to get out of his rut, as well as listening to those closest to him, Jerry talks about the path he forged to go forward. He has changed his life and the lives of many others by his example. He encourages us to resist defining ourselves by our title or income in the workplace but rather by what we want to be known for. He reminds us that “Life is just too darn short to live stuck in a rut.”
Jerry is very generous with his time and talents when it comes to helping others find their passions and purpose in life. He gives us some practical steps to address the five F’s above and how to take steps to remedy areas where we are not feeling fulfilled.
To get a copy of Jerry’s Book, “Beyond the Rut: Create a Life Worth Living in Your Faith, Family, and Career” go to Amazon at https://amzn.to/3LPykN4
Jerry is also offering this in audio book form for listeners of “Livin’ What You’re Given” for free at https://beyondtherut.com/audiobook
To check out Jerry Dugan’s website go to https://beyondtherut.com/
To connect with Stephen Ray Watts from the band Dotsero Praise Fellowship go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
Season 3, episode 12
I was excited to sit down with former senator and house representative, Don Coram, from the Western Slope of Colorado today. Our conversation focused on a frank and honest discussion about how we can begin to turn from toxic political division in America, and toward unity and healthy discourse with civility.
When asked how we, in the USA, have gotten to this point of malignant polarization, Senator Coram offered his opinion based on his experience as a lawmaker and a citizen. He tells us that we now have elected officials who are being rewarded for bad behavior. We’ve turned a blind eye to the fact that these people are not concerned about the future of this country, or the issues we are facing, but rather on making a name for themselves.
When asked how we can fix this situation, he replied that when the voters get sick of the extremists on both sides running the show, we will become more involved in the changes that need to be made. He encourages people to get involved by having dialogues with people who think differently. Calling on his own experience in authoring bipartisan bills in the Colorado chambers of government, he believes that regardless of party, most of us see things the same way about 80% of the time.
One of Senator Coram’s passions is educating our youth on our history, all of that. He calls this education without indoctrination and reminds us that if we do not know our history (especially the not so pretty parts of it), we are bound to repeat our mistakes.
Some of the organizations that are helping to spread the word on unity over party are listed below along with their websites. Also listed below is contact information for our sponsor today, the Coffee Trader and our musician, Gabriel Tafoya.
Unify America at https://www.unifyamerica.org/
Unify Montrose at https://www.unifymontrose.org/
Restore the Balance at https://www.restorethebalance.org/
Country First at https://www.country1st.com/
To visit the website of our sponsor for this program, Coffee Trader, go to https://www.thecoffeetrader.com/
To catch up with Gabriel Tafoya, the composer, producer and performer of the song “The Pivot” on this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
Season 3, Episode 11
Drawing from personal experiences of living in different countries, having a diverse employment background, running successful companies and being involved in the Colorado Democratic Party, my guest today, Kevin Kuns and I explore how we can turn the tide on the toxic political landscape we are now living in. We also discuss what the word “patriot means” and how that word is being used against our groups of citizens today.
Kevin helps us identify some ways we have become polarized politically, what is dividing us and how we can begin to walk into unification beyond our differences. He shares his experiences on the campaign trail when he was running for office to represent District 58, on the Western Slope of Colorado. One of the things that impressed him most was that people he spoke with were not angry about issues. They were angry and frustrated by not being heard.
He stresses that a lot of people in the USA are moving away from extremism and the divisiveness that are threatening our democracy. He says we need to move into dialogue and listening to each other, while understanding we all pretty much have the same values and respecting each other’s right to hold different opinions.
By way of encouraging us to be in conversation and respect for each other, he referenced a book called, “A Bigger Table,” by John Pavlovitz. This book is available on Amazon Books.
Besides the ideas above, Kevin encourages us to check out some of the organizations around the USA dedicated to restoring civility and offering all voices a chance to be at the table. Some resources for finding and/or participating in these organizations are found below.
Unify America at https://www.unifyamerica.org/
Unify Montrose at https://www.unifymontrose.org/
Restore the Balance at https://www.restorethebalance.org/
Country First at https://www.country1st.com/
To visit the website of our sponsor for this program, Coffee Trader, go to https://www.thecoffeetrader.com/
To catch up with Gabriel Tafoya, the composer, producer and performer of the song “The Pivot” on this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 10
Mary Hess is the host of the Back Forty Podcast, where she shares stories of people who are navigating the second half of life. She gives examples of topics she is sharing to offer truths and hope as well as the message that we are not alone in some of the changes, struggles and joys of living life in the back forty.
Mary says that her generation, which is generation X, was the one that began talking about the things her boomer parents just did not discuss. Mary wants us to know we do not need to fear the aging process. She reminds us that the Lord used lots of people when they were older or even what we now consider elderly.
She says we still have so much to give as older people. But, to withhold our knowledge and wisdom of what we have learned along the way, is not fair to the generations coming along behind us. God asks us to leave a legacy as older men and women, by sharing and teaching younger men and women.
Mary believes that many of the topics she is talking about on her podcast episodes typically were not discussed or talked about previously. And she thinks they should be talked about in order to prepare people for what to expect in the aging process. She also says we need to remember we always have the choice to think positively and to help new mental highways open in our brains. She believes this is one thing that can lead to peace. Positive thinking and gratitude are gifts we can give to God in response to all He has given to us.
Mary wants us to be talking about physical, mental and spiritual changes we are experiencing as individuals and as couples during the aging process. But she wants to help people walk into the realization that God has purpose at every age and every stage. She wants us to be aware that we are children of God no matter our age.
To reach out to Mary go to https://www.theback40podcast.com. There you will find all the links to subscribe, find out more about her and listen to her podcast episodes.
To connect with Stephen Ray Watts from the band Dotsero Praise Fellowship, the musician playing the song, “Amazing Grace” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
To check out San Juan Brews in Montrose, go to https://www.sanjuanbrews.com or https://www.facebook.com/sanjuanbrews
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Season 3, Episode 9
It is hard to believe that two years ago, I launched my first podcast episode. Here we are now two years down the line and going strong. In this solo episode I want to share my gratitude for people who have helped me along the way including my friends and family, as well as all the great guests who have agreed to be interviewed.
I have learned a lot about many subjects. And I have been inspired by the stories of folks just livin’ what they’ve been given by being creative, even in the toughest of circumstances. We don’t have a lot of control over what happens to us but we have nothing but control over how we react and move forward or stay stuck. It is always our choice.
In the last two years I have met people from all over the world who have mentored, encouraged and inspired me. Their stories have challenged me to be a better person, more compassionate with myself and others and mostly taught me to see the world through different lenses. What great gifts these are. I hope you, my listeners, have been inspired, encouraged and mentored too. I hope you will keep listening, learning, growing and finding inspiration for your own lives as we journey together on a path to live in awe, wonder and gratitude.
I’m including the information on all the generous musicians who have allowed me to use their inspiring creations too, as well as the information on the sponsors for this episode.
To connect with Stephen Ray Watts from the band Dotsero Praise Fellowship go to https://dotseroband.com
To catch up with Gabriel Tafoya, the composer, producer and performer of the song “The Pivot” on this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
To hear more music by Christine Marie, she is available on iTunes. Her email is CMarie127@outlook.com
To check out San Juan Brews in Montrose (our sponsor for this episode), go to https://www.sanjuanbrews.com or https://www.facebook.com/sanjuanbrews
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 8
Today we welcome The Drill Sergeant of Life, Beatrice Bruno, to help us understand how we sometimes get in our own way by practicing self-sabotage. Speaking from her own experience and from parts of her books based on letting go, letting God and getting what we want out of life, Beatrice is a refreshingly authentic voice that speaks truth into the idea that turning the tide begins with each of us.
Being in the U.S Army helped Beatrice in the area of discipline that was needed and still is needed to move into sticking to the tasks at hand until completion. She is a motivational speaker, prolific author and grief counselor. She shares the vision of going up a hill in the mountainous areas around her and seeing a vision of herself standing in her own way. God was clear in saying “You have to go around yourself in order to progress forward.”
Encouraging others to find ways to progress beyond the messages of “you can’t, you have never and you will never do that,” she teaches us that sometimes we are more afraid of success than failure. She gives some practical steps that can guide us in the direction of getting over ourselves, fear of failure, and letting go of the P.A.S.T. (people, places, possibilities and situations that should be terminated).
She stresses the fact that sometimes we intentionally limit ourselves so that we do not succeed. That leads to a self-fulfilling prophesy that can restrict our forward progress and keep us stuck.
The two books we reference in this episode are called, “How to Get Over Yourself and Let Go of the P.A.S.T.” and “How to Get Over Yourself, Get Out of Your Own Way, and Get What YOU Want Out of Life!”
Those are available, as well as many other books, resources and contact information at http://www.drillsergeantoflife.com
To check out San Juan Brews in Montrose, go to https://www.sanjuanbrews.com or https://www.facebook.com/sanjuanbrews
To catch up with Gabriel Tafoya, the composer, producer and performer of the song “The Pivot” on this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
Season 3, Episode 7
Today, my guest Michelle Rohlf, and I talk about the pain suffered when children estrange themselves from their parents. She wants us to know that this is not a unique situation, and we are not alone if we are in this place.
Talking from her own experience that is chronicled in her book, “Losing Her, Finding me: A Mother’s Story of Estrangement and Self-Discovery,” she shares a story that is all too familiar to many parents. Her journey includes the ups and downs of trying to reconcile with her daughter, counseling for the two of them, recognizing her own character deficits that contributed to the overall situation.
During her journey she found a Christian-based, twelve-step program to help her cope with and recover from codependency. She defines codependency as putting your identity in something or someone outside yourself and being dependent upon whatever they do to complete you and define your purpose. She tells us we are important apart from others.
Feeling she wished to just die, she turned to an honest assessment of who she is, whose she is, and finding her own worth by God’s lens while letting go of the need to please people while sacrificing her own self-worth and God-given purpose. Calling upon her faith she continues to inventory her feelings, reactions and actions in order to maintain emotional balance. Through inventorying her own contribution to problems, making amends, offering and granting grace and forgiveness she and her daughter have managed to reconcile.
She also emphasizes respect and boundaries for yourself and practicing respect and observation of boundaries of others. The tool of detachment has helped her maintain this balance and her emotional sobriety she has achieved in her recovery journey from codependency.
Her advice to other parents in this situation? Honor your need to grieve. Honor boundaries. Be gentle with yourself and know you did the best you could.”
To learn more about Michelle, her book, her work with helping parents who are estranged from their children, look for her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Amazon by typing her name, Michelle Rohlf. Where she is available on these sites will come up. Or you can go to Michellewrites@gmailcom.
To check out some work on codependency, find books by Melody Beattie on Amazon.
To hear more music by Christine Marie, she is available on iTunes. Her email is CMarie127@outlook.com
If you have an interest in the group Celebrate Recovery, this is their website https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
To connect with Laura, go to https://lauralpadgett.com/
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Season 3, Episode 6
In part two of this two-part series about turning to the light, my friend James Early and I explore how we can embrace the mindset of Jesus Christ. In part one we unpacked some myths around who we sometimes think Jesus is in order to support our agendas. But if we really want to know what Jesus was/is all about, we need to try to think in the mindset of Christ, which is as a selfless servant.
In order to do this, we need to study what Jesus said, what He did, how He treated others, how He worshiped and followed God- not according to His own will but that of God. We also need to be willing to put ourselves aside and do the will of the Father. That means humbling ourselves by admitting we cannot do things on our own and yielding ourselves to the plans God has for us.
To know the mindset of Christ, we need look to the results of our work to see if those are the fruits of the spirit or not.James encourages us to embrace the fact that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and in fact we are living in it right now. We have the choice to see our lives as part of participating in the Kingdom right here and right now.
To reach James Early go to https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com There is a place to sign up for his podcast and you will also be given a prayer guide and other resources. If you go to https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin you will have access to more resources as well. Please listen to these details within the podcast to see exactly what James is offering Laura’s listeners and his listeners.
To catch up with Christine Marie, the musical artist performing “Follow the Light,” you can go to CMarie127@outlook.com or check out her music on iTunes.
To connect with Laura, go to https://lauralpadgett.com/
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Season 3, episode 5
My friend James Early, from The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, and I explore who Jesus is from a spiritual lens. James says that we tend to assign human attributes to Jesus to support our own agendas. We project onto Jesus, as well as other people, our own characteristics. Our mind is the lens through which we see Jesus. But if we really do want to follow Jesus, we need to follow His example and not what we “want” to believe about Him.
Through stories of different aspects and truths of the Bible, James challenges us to look at Jesus through what He did and said, what He was trying to teach us and our choices around all of that. We need a bigger perspective of the whole picture of reaching all of mankind and not just those who think like us. He says Christ was not exclusive religiously.
Seeing through a spiritual lens means truths are revealed by what God tells us about Jesus, and that should always take precedence over what other people, including politicians, military leaders, nationalists or religious leaders try to tell us. If we stay in the word and listen, it is very clear who Jesus was/is and what He expects of us when walking this life path. One of the best ways to do this, according to James, is read and study the Sermon on the Mount found in the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7.
To reach James Early go to https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com. There is a place to sign up for his podcast and you will also be given a prayer guide and other resources. If you go to https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin/, you will have access to more resources as well. Please listen to these details within the podcast to see exactly what James is offering Laura’s listeners and his listeners.
To catch up with Christine Marie, the musical artist performing “Follow the Light,” you can go to CMarie127@outlook.com or check out her music on iTunes.
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, episode 4
Did you know that antisemitism is not only back in the U.S. and the rest of the world, it is on the rise? Don’t believe it? Listen in as my friend, and former broadcast journalist, Dave Segal and I explore this topic on a national and local level.
Born and raised with the idea of religious inclusion, Dave shares stories of growing up in a family where there were Jewish, Christian and even Buddhist faiths practiced. Dave has practiced various faith paths in his life, including a great many years in Judaism. He shares stories of his experience recently of trying to visit a Jewish Synagogue and hearing the precautions that need to be taken due to concerns over antisemitic violence.
As with some of my other episodes on trying to turn the tide on racism, we do not point fingers, shame or blame. Dave and I share the same objective. That is to help educate people on the issues that are threatening our families, countries, churches and world.
Dave shares some resources for those of us interested in seeing the tide turn on this and all forms of hatred, including Ken Burns’ film on America and the Holocaust (Available on PBS and at libraries near you) and the website for the Anti-Defamation League – ADL at https://www.adl.org/
To connect with Gabriel Tafoya, who provided the song, “The Pivot” for this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, episode 3
It’s so easy to be praising, peaceful and happy when all things are going well. But how do we react when things are not going well? What about the path we thought was going to be the one we chose to live our life on but ends up being riddled with detours? What happens when questions are asked but the answers are nowhere close to what we desire? What do we do when those questions seem to go unanswered altogether?
During this interview my guest, Lori Ann Wood, talks openly and honestly about questioning God at the time of a life-threatening diagnosis. She speaks about doubt which asks, “Is God always good?” She explains that sometimes it does not feel like He is there.
Questions were her lifeline to God and not a means of dividing her from Him. In fact, God has told us that our questions are welcomed and we can question and still be faithful. During her illness, she says she learned her faith was strengthened by being honest with God and leaning into Him with her doubts. She talks about learning lament and relinquishment.
You don’t have to be living this kind of a detour in order to learn from this woman’s journey and the honest, brave work she shares in order to let others know we are not alone in our feelings of betrayal, laments, doubt and questions.
To connect with Lori Ann Wood, please go to https://loriannwood.com where you can read more of her story, her blog, find out more about how to order her book, “The Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted.”
To connect with Gabriel Tafoya, who provided the song, “The Pivot” for this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 2
Lies. A word we have become all too familiar with in the past few years. But what are they? Who tells them? Who believes them? Interesting questions, but perhaps more interesting are these questions. Who doesn’t tell lives? Who doesn’t believe them?
These and other questions are what my guest, award-winning author, Patricia Raybon and I discuss in this episode of “Livin’ What You’re Given” in an attempt to try to turn from lies. Through her latest fiction novel, “Double the Lies,” Patricia calls us to challenge where the lies we believe, and perhaps tell, come from. Maybe they come from our culture, our traditions, or from lessons passed down based in fear and unchallenged misinformation.
These are all found when we examine the history of Denver, Colorado in the 1920’s with regard to racial injustice, inequity and exclusion under the rule of the KKK. Ms. Raybon’s work is well-researched and presented through the lens of a young black female amateur detective involved in and trying to solve a murder. She has two days to solve a case where she is the prime suspect, simply because she is not white.
Although it is easy to dismiss this as a story based in facts that no longer apply, that is another lie. Our brothers and sisters of colors still face many of the same injustices and biases today that deny them equity, equality and dignity.
So, what do we do with this history, especially if we want to be advocating for change? We stop denying and shying away out of our own defensiveness. We educate ourselves to truth and choose to turn from the lies. Patricia gives us several tools to do just that by doing our own internal work and then checking out these voices on Instagram and Facebook. She points us to #readmorewomen, #readmoreblackwomen and #readmorewomenofcolor.
To find out more about this versatile, award-winning, truth-seeking artist, go to https://www.patriciaraybon.com, where you will find her essays, blogs, opportunity to join her writing community, and of course her books including “All that is Secret,” and “Double the Lies” – her two latest fiction novels.
To connect with Gabriel Tafoya, who provided the song, “The Pivot” for this episode, go to gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 3, Episode 1
As we start the third season of “Livin’ What You’re Given” and focusing on the theme of “Turning the Tide,” I interview Sherry Jones. She is a Certified Christian Life Coach, author, speaker and podcast host of the “Sherry Speaks Life Podcast.” Today she shares her passion for “speaking life.” As we emerge from so much death, fear and loss during the pandemic, Sherry encourages us to look at ways to now turn that tide by speaking the truth of positivity in the face of massive negativity and being grateful for what we do still have.
Sherry defines speaking life as taking negative thoughts and examining them through the lens of positive messages based in Scripture, then using that positivity to be who God calls us to be. Talking from her personal experiences as a basis for her mission to help others stop putting themselves down, living in the past and staying stuck in pain and guilt, she explains some ways we can effectively turn self-destructive behaviors around.
She offers some practical tools that may help us dismiss the negative in order to embrace and live the life we have been destined by God to live. She tells us, “The first person you need to speak life to is yourself.”
She has authored two books, one of which “Speak Life Moments: A Transformational Journey” she offers a twenty-one-day devotional designed to help us restore and renew our joy. Her coaching program is designed to help people find their passion and using that passion to fulfill the purpose for their life.
To connect with Sherry, check out her podcast episodes as well as her books and coaching program, visit her at: https://sherryspeakslife.com
To connect with Stephen Ray Watts from the band Dotsero Praise Fellowship, the musician playing the song, “Stepping Out of the Boat” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 22
Episode #22 of season two of Livin’ What You’re Given rounds out the year of 2022 that primarily addressed choices. It also ends my two-part series on finding, sharing and being grateful for our gifts from God, as well as encouraging others to find and share their gifts too.
In this solo episode I share the road I traveled from trained secular dancer to praise dancer in the world of sacred movement. I reveal the resistance, the discouragement, and self doubt around using dance in the worship setting as praise, prayer, gratitude and even healing. All gifts given to us by God have a time and place He wishes them to be used. But it is not uncommon for those in authority to try and fashion the destiny of our gifting.
Despite all the rough spots, God has given me opportunities to share this gift with and for Him all across the U.S. as well as in Canada. It is my great hope that my story will encourage others, who have or still are facing similar roadblocks on their journey, to stay hopeful and faithful to their calling. Waiting upon the Lord has many rewards, not the least of which are the lessons learned while holding space in our race until the Lord’s will is made clear.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “The Perfect Gift” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
Season 2, Episode 21
Yes, you are gifted, talented and creative. You are created in the image of the great Creator. Believe that. The gifts you’ve been given are for the glory of God, the fulfillment of your soul and the benefit to others.
Today, in one of my rare solo episodes, I explore some of the reasons why we do not see ourselves as creative, or gifted. I talk about why, in my life, I have given real estate in my brain to the reasons that I (for decades) believed I could not offer my gifts because they were not as good as that of others or I could not bring a perfect product to the offering table.
As I share a personal, and hopefully humorous but poignant, story about believing I had to compete and compare myself to another, I hope to shine some light on why we need to focus on what we have been given and not feel bad because we do not have the same gifts as another. We are all uniquely gifted and I want to offer some inspiration to walk into that truth rather than think we must be just like, or better than, someone else. To compete and compare is to dismiss the beauty of our own gifts from God and to relinquish the opportunity to say “Thank You” to the one who gifts us with nothing but good.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “The Perfect Gift” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
Season 2, Episode 20
In the second installment of this two-part interview, Annette (AJ) Spurr shares more gems from her book, “The Simple Joy of Seeing God.” Those include some of the following high spots.
The anecdote for fear is focus on God and not our circumstances, according to AJ. She calling on the story of Peter stepping out of the boat and being able to walk on water until he switched his focus from Jesus to the fact that he was standing on nothing but water. She makes the point that people often refer to Peter as the guy who almost drowned by getting out of the boat. But she points out that maybe we need to look at him as the guy who actually stepped out of the boat.
We also discussed the importance of practicing transforming or renewing our minds by noticing the little things in life that can foster joy and gratitude. By using a gratitude journal, she was able to start seeing and reflect upon answered prayers – more things to be grateful for. Tracking answered prayers is a great way to practice gratitude.
She talks about the importance of not only practicing thanksgiving ourselves but training our children to say the secret passwords, “Thank You.” She challenges us to remember that in order to be truly grateful we need to express thanks to the gift giver, especially God. This leads us to operating in God’s economy and being a joyful giver.
To catch up with Annette, go to her website at https://seeinggod.com.au, where you will also find a link to her book. It also is available on Amazon.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “The Perfect Gift” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 19
Right in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday here in America, we have lessons on gratitude and joy from across a few different ponds. Annette (AJ) Spurr, from Australia, is an author, freelance writer, wife, mom and on a mission to help us recover our joy and gratitude.
Based on many research sources to support her book, she shares some insights about how we may have lost our joy and ways we can recapture it. “The Simple Joy of Seeing God,” her first book, starts by telling us some of the elements that may keep us from living in joy and gratitude. In episode one of this two-part series, we talk about three major factors that subtract joy from our lives. She also offers some practical solutions to remedy the situation.
1. Chronic lack of awe. We no longer have a childlike wonder as we observe, move through and share our world. We’ve lost the ability to see the daily miracles around us. One way to recapture our awe? Go outside and spend time in nature.
2. Avatar effect. AJ tells us that we live in a comparison culture with no point of reference other than that outside ourselves. That leads to comparing what we have to what others have or appear to have. One of the ways to combat this is to simply remember we are loved by God who is our good father and being grateful for what we do have while finding value in our lives through gratitude.
3. She talks about the secret passwords, “Thank you” for helping us enter into the presence of God. Gratitude does not come easily in many cases but practicing just saying “thank you” daily or even hourly helps to shift our perspective and move us into the presence of God. She says, “We are not just thankful to be in His presence. We are in His presence because we are thankful.”
In part two of this two-part series, Annette shares three more gems useful for not only identifying our lack of joy, but also practicing ways to reclaim it.
To catch up with Annette, go to her website at https://seeinggod.com.au, where you will also find a link to her book. It also is available on Amazon.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “The Perfect Gift” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 18
Gwendolyn Burton is an authentic voice for those grieving and those trying to come along side of those grieving. By sharing her story of losing her 26-year-old son, five years ago, she talks about the many lessons she has learned and is still learning about the process of healing from loss.
Taking time to grieve fully and freely in our own time and giving the grace and space for others to walk that road freely and fully is her message as she speaks and writes about unpacking the misunderstandings around the grieving process. She shares that we cannot make the pain less but can say and do things that can make the pain worse, even though we may mean well. Gwen offers some practical ways to just be available and helpful without trying to “fix” the grieving person but help honor where they are.
She emphasizes the need for self-care by validating feelings and reaching out in order to honor grief especially at the holiday time.
To reach out to Gwendolyn for her book “You Don’t Know Just How I Feel: Hope for the Grieving Heart” or for resources and/or support go to https://www.gwendolynoburton.com/
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 17
This week, I am joined by my friend and fellow Christian author Patricia Raybon, as she celebrates the one-year anniversary of the release of her debut novel “All That is Secret”. She shares what she has learned on this journey including how hungry people are to learn the history of the great centennial state of Colorado.
Patricia talks about how the truths in this book, especially about the hold the Ku Klux Klan once had on every county, town and city in Colorado in the early 1900’s, have been met with gratitude for her ability and courage to tell the truth. In a time in our USA when we are surrounded by and immersed in malignant conspiracy theories supported by no evidence, Ms. Raybon brings facts based on years of verifiable research.
This same fact finding and digging for truth are the foundations of her sequel, “Double the Lies” releasing in February of 2023. Truly if we believe that the truth will set us free, we’ve a great deal to gain from writers and storytellers like Patricia Raybon. And as she wishes us all peace, who offers us the freedom to find that in telling, accepting and teaching the truth.
Website for Patricia Raybon is https://www.patriciaraybon.com/
Check here to sign up for her newsletter, to be encouraged and to find information on how to purchase her books including the link to purchase All that is Secret on Amazon.
Twitter at twitter.com/PatriciaRaybon
Facebook at Facebook.com/PatriciaRaybonAuthor
Also find her work at Our Daily Bread, Be Encouraged or Day Spring.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 16
What does it mean to kick against darkness? For that matter, how do we define darkness? That is what my guest Rodney Olsen and I explore today.
Rodney discusses his own podcast, Bleeding Daylight and what he means by kicking the darkness until it bleeds daylight. He says that as followers of Jesus, there are times when He calls us to identify the darkness and kick against it in order to bring the light into our world, communities and churches. In this episode we examine the idea that social justice issues are intricately related to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In this conversation, we talk about why social justice is a loaded term as others may see that as preaching a social gospel and not preaching the salvation in the Gospel of our Lord. Rodney explains that social gospel is indeed part of holistically walking, talking and sharing what we have been sent here to walk, talk and share. He reminds us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. And what that really means. He shares his experiences in doing just that, as we talk about his work and ministry centered in addressing global childhood hunger and poverty, while introducing them to the Lord Jesus Christ.
To find out more about Rodney and listen to some of his podcast episodes go to https://www.bleedingdaylight.net/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 15
Do you often find yourself rejecting or downplaying compliments given, but receiving and retaining negative comments? Well, you are not alone if the answer is “yes.” We all do it, so why?
My guest today is author and speaker Dawna Hetzler, who joins me to answer that question and more on this topic. Drawing on personal experiences and observations, she explains some of the factors contributing to our unwillingness to see ourselves as valued, valuable and worthy of the good life has to offer.
We discussed her latest book, releasing in September 2022, “Free to Receive: Become Your True Self by Knowing What to Accept and What to Release.” In this work, she encourages us to notice the patterns in our lives that may need to be changed in order to accept ourselves and live our best life. She also says that many of these patterns are formed from the wrong messages we received in the past and may be affecting our self-image now. She calls these childhood giants.
She shares tips, from her own journey, that can help us identify, examine and maybe unpack the unhealthy and untrue messages we carry on our journey.
This book, along with her first one, “Walls of a Warrior,” are available on Amazon.com by searching for the titles or for Dawna Hetzler. The release date is September 9, 2022. It will be available by the time this airs.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
Connect with Laura Padgett at https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 14
Perhaps the best summary of the interview with my guest today is summed up in Jeremiah 1:4-8
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
Esther is a young lady I met four years ago, and through listening, mutual respect and intentionally finding time to be together, we have forged a relationship based on our mutual faith base, our love of dance, writing and good coffee as well as shared experiences. No doubt you are thinking that I am the mentor (as I am several decades her senior) and she is the mentee, right? You just might be surprised to find out that those roles have switched back and forth over the course of the past four years.
I’ve learned more from Esther than I can list here, and we discuss some of those lessons in this episode. She reminds us that different generations can learn and grow together but as older people we need to do our best not to minimize the experiences of younger people. True, we may have gone through something similar but it was not the same. Listening for the differences while not saying things like, “Well, I know because I’ve been there,” goes a long way in building lasting friendships and mentoring partnerships (on all sides).
Esther also reminds her generation that older people have a lot to offer and can help them through tough times, if the young are willing to learn. Although the experiences of older people are not precisely like the experiences of today’s youth, she encourages her peers to learn from the experiences of another generation.
Putting some of Esther’s words into practice can only serve to help us come together and treat each other as if we really do belong to each other – because we do. Wise beyond her years, this kind, caring and loving young lady will restore your hope in our younger generation. And by hearing our story, maybe you too will choose to be mentored or to mentor.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 13
What are the advantages of stepping into the shoes of another? Today I am joined by Neil Matthews, host of “Other People’s Shoes” Podcast, and we explore the moments of pause when we choose to intentionally listen to others. Can we perhaps put ourselves aside and put another first in order to just bring more understanding to a confused and sometimes self-absorbed world? Can we listen with respect even if we are not ever going to totally understand?
Crediting his church upbringing for his posture of “others first”, Neil gives some examples of how we can set our own priorities and agendas on hold in order to try and see through another person’s lens. He seeks out people for his podcast who believe they do not have value and asks them why they feel that way. He seeks to help people find their voice and value.
He shares two examples of guests who had stories that impacted his life and encourages us to walk into the growth experienced when we can listen to others. Although Neil has had many years as a podcaster and has had hundreds of guests, he says these two really impacted him by discussing issues he had heard about but had limited knowledge or understanding about.
To find out more about Neil go to https://www.opspodcast.com/ for all that Neil is doing with his podcast.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 12
Wife, mother, author, speaker, podcaster and successful business woman, Casey Alexis, joins me as we talk about our identities that have been dependent upon and now are moving away from what we do or accomplish. She says that many of us are now, especially after the effects of the COVID, redefining ourselves as being the reflection of the creator and not playing to the approval of the creation.
She emphasizes that women do not need to compete because we are not competitors as the world teaches, but Sisters in Christ with unique gifts, talents and identities. We discuss the lies and the truths around finding the healing rather than the soothing offered to us in various communities
“Right now, in churches we have a lot of hurt people and we need more healed people. It’s time for the church to move back into the healing roles that Jesus models. Sometimes people in churches are known by the ‘stuff’ we have going on and not as the people God wants and created us to be,” Casey says.
She shares some practical ways we can begin to become effective minsters of the Gospel as God intended us to be. We have a huge opportunity to walk into the honor of being able to help by providing what we can provide in the tough times we are facing right now. Casey emphasizes that it is an “honor to serve.”
To reach out to Casey or find her blog, podcast and books go to https://beingeve.social/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 11
My guest today is host of the Intentional Encourager Podcast. But that is only one of his many titles. He is also a successful business leader and author of “People Buy From People.” He shares with us some strategies for cultivating “people first” attitudes but being intentionally encouraging. He talks about his dad being the original intentional encourager and the impact that had on his life and others.
But what does encouragement mean? What does the word intention mean? We need to learn how to give more than we receive. That is true intentional encouragement. Why are we reluctant to intentionally encourage others and how can we find ways to do that?
We are no longer a deference society (meaning we no longer want to give more than we receive). And that attitude is creeping into our churches. We have become opportunistic.
To hear Brian’s podcast, go to any platform where you find podcasts and type in The Intentional Encourager with Brian Sexton. Also check out his YouTube channel.
His book, People Buy From People is available at Amazon.
He is on these social media platforms:
Linkedin.com/in/briansextonmba
Instagram at The Intentional Encourager Podcast
https://www.facebook.com/Brian.TheIntentionalEncouragerPodcast
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 10
My guest today, Pastor Marcus Watson, joins me to talk about ways we can begin to see unification in our relationships, our country, our world and especially in the church. We discuss the need to resist “thingification.” What is thingification? In the church it is when we see those around us in the pews and even those who do not attend as things, numbers, people who represent a good image for the church. It is when we lose sight of what the true meaning of mission really is.
So how do we avoid doing this? We start becoming aware of when we are thingifying people. We stop doing that by paying attention to what God is doing all around us, especially outside the walls of the church building. We stop trying to control outcomes and start listening to what people need and want. Then we join in the mission to take the mission outside the walls and into our communities.
Dismissing thingification and search for shalom through listening and trying to understand other points of view can help us improve our relationships in families and at work, as well as in our churches and communities. Maybe it can even help us to contribute to healing our world, one person at a time.
To reach out to Pastor Marcus Watson go to https://www.markuswatson.com where you will find links to his books, his podcasts and his blog as well as how to connect with him.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 9
The host of Truce – History of the Christian Church Podcast, Chris Staron, joins me to talk about what we need to know of the good stuff and bad stuff of Christianity. We haven’t been acting very Christ-like in the past few years, Chris tells us. We sometimes do things and make choices but we may not know why. We’re going to try and unpack some of that for you today.
We need to know our past in order to understand where we are now, according to Chris. He helps us examine terms like evangelical and fundamental from an historical lens as well as what they mean today. He encourages us to do the work of the Lord and not react to the extreme theologies that have always been around and probably always was will be. There is no real answer in the extreme belief systems. Most people are in the middle, with only about 23% comprising the extreme ends.
He shares his personal belief that if we love others, and discourage fear, we can begin to heal our relationships, especially within the church. Chris challenges us to dialogue with those who think differently from us and to relinquish the need to have the last word.
In sharing a few tips to walk life as compassionate Christian, Chris suggests we look at how we can talk with and maybe serve those who do not think like, look like and/or worship like us. We are invited to give as our Lord Jesus modeled giving.
Chris Staron is the host of the Truce Podcast; a history show that explores the Christian Church. He’s also the author of the novel “Cradle Robber” and the writer/director of the Christian films “Between the Walls” and “Bringing up Bobby”. You can hear the Truce Podcast on any platform offering podcasts including Apple, Stitcher and Spotify.
To get his book “Cradle Robber” you can find it wherever you get e-books.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 8
In part two of this two-part interview, Reverend Mark Sowersby talks openly about his choice to forgive and his choice to write a book so others can also walk into the freedom of forgiveness. He says that when he started on this journey he was overwhelmed by the mountain of pain and sorrow. As he learned to lean more on God, he saw that God’s mountain of grace, mercy and love were bigger than the mountain of the elements of his abusive past.
He shares how his pain, anger and hurt were all-consuming for part of his life. But he chose to trust one small step, one small pebble at a time. He tells us about his decision to relinquish the victim status in order to walk into freedom.
He shares some trail markers (practical steps) for us on the path to forgiveness, Including:
Prayer
Love
Trust
Submission
Confidence
Freedom from anger and resentment
To catch up with Rev. Sowersby and/or purchase his book go to Amazon or https://www.forgivingthenightmare.com/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 7
In part one of a two-part interview, Reverend Mark Sowersby shares his story of a childhood riddled with abuse of all sorts. He shares about his powerlessness and confusion associated with that abuse. He talks about his struggle with facing the truth of what had happened to him and how his identity was shaped as a victim with a chip on his shoulder. He speaks honestly about his struggle with pride, anger and unwillingness to trust.
In this session Mark shares some information about the myths around forgiveness. And he openly shares why he saw the need to forgive those who had abused him and why he chose to write this book.
We explore these topics and more that are found within the pages of his first book “Forgiving the Nightmare.” You can find a link below if you are interested in purchasing this book.
To catch up with Rev. Sowersby and/or purchase his book go to Amazon or https://www.forgivingthenightmare.com/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 6
My guest today, Michelle Lazurek, shares her personal walk with anxiety that led her into understanding her need for total surrender to God. The idea that we are to surrender is indeed a struggle for many people, as is anxiety.
Through authentic testimony, she helps us understand that it is okay not to be okay. She offers encouragement through her new book, “I Surrender All (Sort of)” for living an honest walk that, although difficult, is the best way to heal and then be an authentic voice for others struggling with healing too.
She speaks about the importance of reaching out for help from professional counseling and the two very important lessons she learned in this process that led to wisdom around surrendering. Showing her vulnerability around what she learned when releasing performance, perfection and pride, she shows that true surrender can be accomplished with God’s help and our willingness to do the work. She also shares some practical steps for people who want to begin to adopt a life of surrender.
To learn more about the multiple-genre work Michelle has published including “I Surrender All (Sort of)” go to her website at http://www.michellelazurek.com. You will find ways there to connect with Michelle, read her blog and purchase her books.
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 5
As Easter is just around the corner, we pause to reflect on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this episode Pastor of the Montrose United Methodist Church, Lisa Petty, and I discuss the word resurrection.
According the dictionary the word resurrection means to find something that has been forgotten or lost, or to give new life into something that has died. Is it possible this concept can be used in our daily lives as we choose to resurrect our minds, our attitudes, our souls? Is it possible that we even need to look more closely into this concept?
Sharing insights from a recent message delivered to her congregation, on February 13, 2022, Pastor Lisa poses some questions and even some challenges for us to consider doing just that. Could our lives, relationships and the world be a better place if we were aware that sometimes we need to adjust these areas of our lives for the better?
To find out more about MUMC go to https://www.montroseumc.org/
To hear more of Pastor Lisa’s messages online go to https://www.facebook.com/montroseumc.org
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 4
This week James Early and I ask the question, “Who is this guy, Jesus?” from a modern day perspective. The answers we share are based on our own observations and opinions, only. But in this friendly and interactive conversation we still want to discuss this from the perspectives of:
Religious leaders of the day.
Politicians
Business leaders
Followers of Jesus
We are not going to answer the question for the listener. More importantly, we challenge the listener to answer for themselves, “Who is this guy, Jesus?”
To learn more about James Early and his podcast, check him out at https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/podcast. And he has a special gift for those who have listened to this episode on my podcast if you go to his website https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, he can be found at: https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 3
In this episode my friend James Early and I explore the age old question of “Who is this guy, Jesus?” Different times, different cultures, different people and different religions all have different answers to this question.
This week we pretend we are at the very first Palm Sunday. We walk into the streets of Jerusalem and find a man riding on a donkey, people shouting and waving palm branches. We start asking people what is going on and who this guy on the donkey is. We want to know why everyone is here and what all the fuss is about. We ask:
Religious leaders of the day.
Politicians – Representatives of Rome
Business leaders
Followers of Jesus
We are not going to answer the question for the listener. But we will share information from what we have available from the Bible. More importantly, we challenge the listener to answer for themselves, “Who is this guy, Jesus?”
To learn more about James Early and his podcast, check him out at https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/podcast. And he has a special gift for those who have listened to this episode on my podcast if you go to his website https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin/
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, he can be found at: https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 2, Episode 2
In our everyday lives, it is hard to imagine what we do or say can and probably does touch souls. On this episode I share the legacy of a pioneer in sacred dance, a woman who was my teacher and mentor. In many ways she deeply touched my soul. And she taught me that the dance can be used as expression to touch the souls of others.
She not only taught me how to do the most soul satisfying dance I’ve ever done, she showed me how to take no for an answer gracefully and to continue in my own journey as a pioneer in this art form. Although not often seen as an acceptable worship art when I first started in early 2000’s, it is now being offered as prayer, praise and worship in hundreds of congregations in the United States and worldwide.
Please join me as I offer a tribute to a beautiful soul who was sent to earth to touch the souls of many in a powerful way for the glory of God. I pray her story will inspire you to touch the souls of others with your words, actions and mostly with your art.
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, he can be found at: https://dotseroband.com
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Season 2, Episode 1
We live in a world where we are called upon to make choices on a daily and maybe even an hourly basis. During the last two years, we have all felt restrictions for our ability to make decisions. But even in the face of restrictions, there are still many decisions we can, should and will be making.
But sometimes our decisions are made on the basis of patterns established from various input sources. These may include childhood memories or teachings.
Join me as I open season two of Livin’ What You’re Given with a personal story about one of the messages I received as a young child about why I was not recognized by God. Having carried that message for many years, it was the love of Christian friends and a selfless mentor that helped me move into the reality that I am in fact loved and recognized by God. So are you.
Perhaps this story will strike a chord with one of the listeners out there too. Perhaps it will inspire a person to move toward unpacking the untrue messages and opening themselves to the true messages.
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing “If You Only Knew” on this episode, he can be found at: https://dotseroband.com
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Season 1, Episode 29
I spent ten years as Captain of the Elves on the team called Rebels Without a Claus. During that time, I was privileged to be with some of the most selfless, generous, loving women I’ve ever known. We were volunteers in making merry, bringing cheer and joy to each Christmas Season in and around the Denver Metro Area. There are hundreds of stories of our adventures that we could share. And in this episode, we have chosen to share a few of those in an effort to help others see that, although we are entertainers to a point, our real job was to bring smiles, hope and joy to the Christmas Holidays that often can be riddled with stress. As the job evolved over a decade, it became clear that this was a ministry of sorts in our communities.
The ladies joining me on this episode bring tales of some of the funniest and the most touching moments they experienced while in costumes as Santa’s helpers. As they continue the legacy, even though the Capt. has retired, it is the hope of the team that we not only relate why we do this special work, but that we will inspire listeners to be in service, and maybe even ministry, in some way in your communities too.
Blessings and Merry Christmas from Rebels Without a Claus and their retired Captain.
The song for this episode is called, “The Perfect Gift” and is provided by Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero. Their contact information can be found at https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 28
Author, speaker and coach of creatives, Allen Arnold joins me today as we talk about the price our creativity pays when we are unable to dismantle the three pillars – comparison, competition and control of Queen Perfectionism. Allen has a fresh way of recognizing perfectionism in ourselves when we honestly look at our hold on being happy only when things go as we want them to go.
When we think we are valued for what we do and not who we are, as children of God first, we can miss the blessings of being in creative processes with God.
He tells us that concentrating on being flawless in our relationships, our holidays or any aspect of our lives can author toxic emotional environments for ourselves and all around us. Instead of competing, comparing and attempting to control outcomes, Allen encourages us to release people and situations into the care of God. By being expectant for God to do great things instead of clinging to our expectations of how we think things should be, we can find blessings not only at holiday time but all year around and in all situations.
He challenges us to think about who we want to be, what kind of atmosphere we want to create and how we want to show love instead of demanding perfectionism in our world.
To find more about Allen Arnold, his books and other work visit his website at http://www.withallen.com.
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him or find out more about his music at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 27
Speaker, award-winning author and a licensed parent and family educator and parent coach. Lori Wildenberg, joins me today as we unpack the myths around perfectionism. Through the authentic voice of a mom of four, plus three (in-love kids), she offers suggestions for alleviating stresses brought on by perfectionistic expectations during our holidays.
With suggestions and insight, she helps us see that embracing the reality, “We are All imperfect” can enrich and, in some cases, save our relationships while creating treasured memories and more solid relationships for a lifetime. Through her gentle, truthful way, Lori walks with us as we embrace the reality that relationships (families especially), and life in general are indeed messy. And she reminds us that Pobody’s Nerfect.
To reach out to Lori, find her books and resources visit: https://loriwildenberg.com/
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
To connect with Laura go to https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 26
Author, podcaster and blogger Sarah Geringer shares some practical tips around how to simplify the holiday season and put perfectionism at bay this year. She tells authentic stories around lessons she has learned on her parental journey about what can serve as avenues to author meaningful and memorable holidays.
By dismissing the three handmaidens of perfectionism – comparison, competition and control, we can relax into peace this season. Yes, we can do this. We discussed Sarah’s book, “Christmas Peace for Busy Moms”. In her book as well as this interview Sarah and I discuss ways to make relationships the priority for the holiday celebrations, have reasonable expectations of ourselves and others and modeling healthy values around spending and holiday participation for our children.
To learn more about Sarah’s books, blog, speaking topics and podcasts, check out her website at https://www.sarahgeringer.com/. You can reach out to her there to find where she is located on other social media sites as well as how to connect with her.
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 25
With the Holiday Season upon us, we usually see an increase in stress. That stress can be magnified for the people giving care to a loved one. Sharing her experiences as a caregiver and a consultant for caregivers my guest, Nadine Roberts-Cornish, shares her wisdom to help release some of that stress.
Nadine offers resources for and suggestions of some ways we can support the caregivers in our world and ways for the caregivers to feel good about asking and receiving that support. Speaking about the truths, myths and blessings of the journey from the lens of the person giving care and the one receiving care, Nadine gives us examples of connecting with the caregiver and the care recipient by offering simple, loving ways to show support.
Through her two published books, Tears in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience and Prayers in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Peace, she offers valuable and authentic insights and encouragement into the caregiver’s journey.
To purchase her books or reach out to Nadine for services her company provides for caregivers contact her at https://tcgcares.com
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 24
In the Bible Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matt 5:48 NIV. But did He really mean He expects us to be perfect? James Early, Bible Study teacher, blogger and host of “The Bible Speaks to You” podcast, joins me today to help us unpack the language in this verse so we can examine what Jesus really meant.
In this series of “Livin’ What You’re Given,” we are seeking to help dismiss the myths and pressures around the idea that we can and should attain perfection. James reminds us that as we see ourselves as perfect, we often feel others are less than, even in the body of Christ, if they do not do things as we do or see things as we see them.
As we walk into the halls of the castle that houses the Queen Perfection, supported by her handmaidens of Comparison, Competition and Control, we see that even in the relationships with the Disciples and Jesus, there was evidence of the unhealthy elements that support perfectionism. It is possible for us to identify and put aside the perfectionistic traits that harm us, our families, our churches and often remove the joy and peace of our holidays.
To learn more about James Early and his podcast, check him out at https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/podcast. And he has a special gift for those who have listened to this episode on my podcast if you go to his website https://thebiblespeakstoyou.com/livin/
And do check out episode 103 to hear more about James’ take on the perfectionistic attitude.
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 23
Tis the season to be jolly, generous, family-oriented and oh yes…Perfect, right? Wrong.
Please tune into this episode where I describe why I think this is such an important time of year to dismiss the Queen Perfectionism, supported by her three handmaidens or court assistants – comparison, competition and control. When we focus on being better than, doing more than and holding onto controlling all outcomes, we risk not only loss of joyful parts of the season, but damaging relationships and authoring deterioration of our serenity and mental health.
Drawing from lessons I learned as I spent years performing, competing in and teaching the art of dance, we discuss the damage to the soul when our goal is perfection. Let’s try to find ways to put Her Majesty and her handmaidens out the door for our Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would love to hear how you are showing the Queen the door this year too. You can reach me at the contact info on my website below. You can also find my blog entree and other podcast episodes there.
To connect with Laura go to https://lauralpadgett.com
“The Queen’s Court” composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
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Season 1, Episode 22
Join my guest, Sue Donaldson, and me for a fun-filled romp through the castle of the evil queen Perfectionism as we dismiss her three handmaidens – Competition, Comparison and Control. As Sue shares her stories with wit, humor, and authenticity about what she sees hospitality is, you will feel like you have known her forever. One of those reasons is because she is open, warm and has a great message and tips about helping us connect with others regardless of how inadequate we feel.
She helps us to understand that entertainment is always about the host but hospitality is about the guest. And if we can get over our egos we can dismmiss the excuses that cause us to compete, compare and try to control so we feel perfect in our hospitality endeavors. She has some tips and helpful resources for us at the links listed below too.
Sue blogs at WelcomeHeart: Knowing and Showing the Heart of God and hosts a weekly podcast: Make it Count: Living a Legacy Life- https://welcomeheart.com/podcast
Sue’s books include and can be found here: https://welcomeheart.com/from-welcome-heart
Come to My Table: God’s Hospitality and Yours
Hospitality, 101: Lessons from the Ultimate Host, a 12-Week Bible Study
Table Mentoring: A Simple Guide to Coming Alongside
Say Something Special: 252 Conversation Starters, The Ultimate Guide to Stimulating Table Talk
Sue’s 15 keynotes and 8 Retreat Series can be found here: https://welcomeheart.com/speaking-topic-detail
Join Sue’s FREE Hospitality Facebook group Welcome Heart, Welcome Home https://www.facebook.com/groups/welcomeheart
FB https://www.facebook.com/suemooredonaldson/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/suemooredonaldson/
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 21
Worship services, fellowship gatherings, Bible Studies, men and women’s groups, outreach to church members and the marginalized communities in need of food, clothing and visitation. These are just a few things that have typically defined churches in the U.S. Then COVID hit, and it hit hard. This was a harsh blow to churches who were told to close their doors immediately for an undetermined amount of time.
My guest today is Pastor Lisa Petty of the United Methodist Church in Montrose, CO. The story of how the leadership and church members in this rural church pivoted in and out of their pews is inspiring. Through prayer, conscious decision-making and heart wrenching choices, this congregation chose to continue worshiping God, loving each other and their community well.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” Psalm 84:10 (NIV). This verse calls all who claim a Judaeo-Christian faith base to ask and answer the question, “Where exactly are God’s courts?” Pastor Lisa and MUMC redefined worship with online and outside services as well as making worship packages and delivering tablets loaded up with worship services to shut ins. Their determination to love each other and their community meant being creative in finding ways to deliver meals that once were served daily in the church basement once they could not let anyone in the building. So, they hired a food truck to deliver meals in the parking lot. The tender story of meeting with parishioners through their windows and on cell phones will melt your heart.
These are just a few ways this church rose to the occasion of loving each other well while in lock down of COVID. They are a stellar example of “When the going gets tough, the tough get creative.”
To find MUMC on line or to find out about times and days of worship services and outreach opportunities go to: https://www.montroseumc.org/
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 20
The unspeakable pain of losing a child, at any age, is our topic today as my guest shares her journey and her pivot forward from that agony. Gwendolyn Burton lost her adult son to a seizure from his epilepsy. In the hours, days, weeks, months and years since his passing she has walked a path of deep dark days, tears that spoke to God for her pain as she could not, and seeing truths about how we are taught to grieve loss and how we often “try” to help those who are grieving.
In this episode, Gwen talks about her observation of not wanting to show her true pain because she did not want to cause others to hurt. This is an all-too-common place for those grieving loss to find themselves in. Once Gwen decided she needed to be real to heal, she knew she needed to dismiss the idea that others’ pain was more important than her healing through authenticity.
She says she will never be totally healed from this wound until she is reunited with her precious son, Miles, in their eternal home. She also notes that her earthly healing has been increased by reaching out to others. Gwen founded Sister’s in Solace (SiS), a support group for mothers of child loss, and is currently writing her first book, “You Don’t Know Just How I Feel.” Additionally, she is keeping Miles’ legacy alive by establishing the Christopher Miles Burton Memorial Scholarship.
To find out more about Gwen, her upcoming book, the CMB Scholarship or to reach out to her please visit: https://www.gwendolynoburton.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 19
Could you save your life if you had to? Could you pivot from a mindset of panic and into one of self-preservation? That is exactly what Realtor Dawna Hetzler had to do while showing a house to a man who was threatening her life and demanding she comply with his instructions. She tells of the slow motion, tunnel vision of reality when she knew she was in a dangerous and maybe even deadly situation.
Because she carries a firearm and is trained in its use, Dawna was able to escape harm and maybe death. She not only relates that this could happen to anyone, she is intentional about telling people to train, train, train if you are going to be a firearm carrier. Additionally, she emphasizes that a gun may not be your choice for self-defense but to always be aware of your situation and be on alert for possible danger.
Dawna has used this experience to train other realtors in safety measures and often collaborates with a former police officer turned realtor in this endeavor. She is convinced that her life was not saved because she carries a gun, but because she knew how to and was willing to use it.
Dawna is the author of the book “Walls of a Warrior” and has another book coming out in 2022. She is a national speaker and founder of Jericho Girls Ministry based in Denver, CO.
To follow Dawna Hetzler’s blog, find her books, or learn more about Jericho Girls Ministry, she can be found at: https://dawnahetzler.com/
“The Pivot” was composed and performed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 18
After decades of writing award winning nonfiction books as well as articles for such publications as In Touch Magazine, Our Daily Bread, Guideposts and many more, Patricia Raybon decided to finish a novel she had stared years before the 2020 COVID lock down. This novel is a Christian fiction mystery about a clever, black, female theologian who takes on the daring challenge of solving crime in the 1920s KKK era in Denver, CO.
In this interview, Patricia tells us why she chose to pivot genres, what she is hoping will come from this book, which is based on research of the time period, and how she sees this as being right in line with her mission of writing at the dangerous intersection (especially today) of faith and race.
Her journey is one of saying, “Yes” to God and taking a leap of faith. To find where to buy this new book, “All That is Secret”, as well as connect with Patricia on various platforms, see her information below.
Website for Patricia Raybon at patriciaraybon.com
Twitter at twitter.com/PatriciaRaybon and Facebook at Facebook.com/PatriciaRaybonAuthor
On my Faith Journey Newsletter at http://bit.ly/2jgpasW
Also find her work at Our Daily Bread, Be Encouraged for Day Spring.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 17
Calling all creatives. If you have ever been in an audience for one of Allen Arnold’s presentations, you will know that his words, his work and his honest accounting of his own life is a blessing of inspiration and encouragement. He invites us to offer our storytelling as a way to “nudge people toward a welcome awakening.”
If you have never been in one of his presentation audiences, here is your chance to listen to a man whose life is spent helping others bring their creative gifts forth not only for God, but with Him. Allen welcomes us into a world of God’s promises by telling us to just have a desire, voice our willingness and get excited about God’s plan for us when we enter into life of creativity with expectancy. Then sit back and watch God do more than we ever expected or could have ever dreamed of.
While discussing the invitation in his latest book, “Waves of Creativity”, Allen shares many nuggets of how to live into a mystery that hold no guarantee other than God. He encourages us not to settle for anything less and to reject living in a small story life.
To find books by Allen Arnold go to Amazon.com and look for “The Story of With”, “Chaos Can’t”, and “Waves of Creativity”.
Connect with Allen on his website at http://www.withallen.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 16
It would not be uncommon for a person blessed with multiple gifts and talents to use those for their own fame, calling attention to their accomplishments. But that is simply not the case or intentions of my guest today, Deonte Bolden.
This actor, author, play write, producer and podcaster has a completely different take on how his gifts should be used. And he shows that in his many productions and two books. In discussing his latest book with me today on my podcast he explains that the real fulfillment for him comes when he hears or sees that his work has made a difference in calling attention to and raising awareness of issues we need to address in our societies.
His latest book, “Differently Abled” does just that. Relating his own experiences of watching what life was like for his older brother, Jaquan, Deonte chronicles truths, dismisses myths and encourages readers of all ages to understand that people with disabilities “Have big hearts, are intelligent and have feelings too.” Although a children’s book by design, this work and his words call all of us at any age to begin pivoting our attitudes while modeling that bullying and exclusion are unacceptable.
To find more on Deonte including where to buy his books go to
Instagram.com/DeonteBoldenProductions
Facebook.com/deonteboldenproductions
http://www.deonteboldenproductions.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 15
Stephen Watts and his wife owned a successful jazz club in Downtown Denver. He also was a successful musician, touring with a band he helped create. He and his wife hosted multiple international events in their club. Then COVID hit. Suddenly his opportunities to tour, play music and run his business went away. He and his wife struggled to keep their business viable. But like so many others, they had to close.
With few options for work, he had to find a way to pay bills. He accepted a job or “side hustle” as he calls it. He began delivering flowers. During one delivery he found a new opportunity to do his unique ministry of speaking to and helping other alcoholics begin their journey of recovery, as he had done many years before.
In this interview, Stephen unpacks some of the gifts he received even in a time when the world, his in particular, seemed to be disintegrating before his eyes. His words of encouragement, inspiration and faith are a wonderful example of how to look, even in the dark times, for the gifts God is offering. His gifts are always perfect.
If you wish to check out some of Dotsero’s music, see below.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 14
Jerry Schemmel told himself, “If you are dead, you are not going to be able to do anything. But if you are not, if you happen to survive and are not hurt seriously, don’t panic. Don’t flee the plane but try to help other people and stay calm.”
Those were his thoughts the last two minutes before the plane crashed. He did survive, and he did help others out. But he also witnessed the death of many around him.
In this episode Jerry relates what it was like to spend forty-five minutes knowing that the plane was going to crash, and not everyone was going to walk away. He talks about survivor’s guilt, dealing with the post traumatic trauma and how he pivoted in his life into a ministry to take his story to others who have suffered trauma.
He also encourages others in his book, “Chosen to Live: The Inspiring Story of Flight 232 Survivor, Jerry Schemmel.” You can find that at Amazon Books.com
“The Pivot” composed by Gabriel Tafoya. You can reach him at gtmeanboyz@gmail.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 13
What is the cave? According to Pastor Scott Distler, the cave is that place in your life where you retreat when you have been hurt. In his book, “The Cave: When Ministry Becomes Misery”, Scott shares the story of being betrayed heading into the four signs that can signal we are heading into the cave. The four signs he talks about are fear, isolation, self pity, hopelessness. He introduces us to those well-intentioned dragons who believe they are on a mission of good but can do great harm.
But he also wants us to know what he learned in the cave and how he pivoted out by involving his wife with sharing his authentic feelings, looking for and reaching out for help, offering specific prayers, looking for the fingerprints of God along the journey and walking into forgiveness.
Whether you are a person who has a paid position as a pastor, you are a lay minister or you find yourself being betrayed and hurt by someone in any situation, this book will help you to walk in, through and out of that cave in healthy and authentic ways. A gift for your mental and spiritual health when the dragons come calling.
To find this book from Pastor Scott Distler go to https://www.amazon.com/Cave-When-Ministry-Becomes-Misery
Also available from Barnes and Noble
Go to your local bookstore and ask for the title and author.
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 12
In part two of our two-part interview, Karen DeArmond Gardner talks about life after she left her abusive marriage of thirty years. She tells us that leaving is just the beginning and not the end on the road to healing from domestic abuse. As she discusses various aspects of seeking help from God and her family, she tells us about writing and publishing her book, Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God’s Promise of Real Freedom.
Karen says this is not a self help book but a book to help women who have escaped domestic abusers learn to love, rely upon and trust again, starting with their relationship with God. By her own account she is a myth buster, truth teller and freedom fighter. And her words in this interview as well as her book prove that to be exactly who she is. Founder of Another One Free Organization, she will inspire you to listen to, learn from and believe the women who are in abusive relationships. Even if you are not in this situation, chances are you know someone who is. Her contact information for her book and website are below.
The Safe House – Your Safer Place app is on both IOS and Android.
Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God’s Promise of Real Freedom by Karen DeArmond Gardner is available at Amazon.com.
Another One Free website https://anotheronefree.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 11
Karen DeArmond Gardner is an authentic voice in the area of domestic abuse, having lived thirty years in a marriage where her husband was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive. In this first of a two part interview, she shares what she learned, when she decided to leave but mostly how she, with the love of her family and relearning about the love of God, began her healing journey. Today she is living a life of freedom in a new marriage of eleven years, and is helping educate and advocate for those still living in intimate terrorism.
Karen tells of the defining moment when she realized she had had enough and that she needed to get out of the home. She helps us understand what domestic abuse or intimate terrorism really is, why we cannot always recognize it and in what ways the church and society fail women due to distorted doctrine and lack of resources. According to Karen, leaving is just the beginning and not the end of healing from the trauma of an abusive marital relationship.
Tune in as she candidly unpacks the truths, myths and processes in the traumatic time after making the decision to leave. She has written a book that she states is not a how to book. Rather it is a Biblical-based guide to rediscovering the love of God and relearning that He indeed loves us and can be trusted to keep His promises.
The Safe House – Your Safer Place app is on both IOS and Android.
Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: Reaching for God’s Promise of Real Freedom by Karen DeArmond Gardner
available at Amazon.com
Another One Free website https://anotheronefree.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 10
In my next installment in the series about pivoting, author Deb Hall talks about the various pivot points of not being able to conceive or give birth to a biological child. Infertility is a subject few people are brave enough to talk about outside of close family circles and support groups. But Deb has written a book that openly deals with the pain, frustration and feelings of hopelessness that can be part of this journey. It is her hope that this work will help others to no longer feel alone on this path.
In her book Barren and Beautiful: Discovering Joy and Healing in the Wake of Infertility, Deb shares her own story of pain, loss, healing, and eventually the realization of blessings and gratitude for the joy she has found in her own life and in the process of adopting two boys. Her authentic, tender approach to helping readers find hope and healing is a work inspired by her faith in God and a desire to help others find ways to heal and thrive. Even if this is not a subject you have dealt with personally, perhaps this book will be of value to someone you may know.
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Barren-Beautiful
To connect with Deb Hall go to http://thewriteinsight.com/
Email is deb@thewriteinsight.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 9
Years invested in education and experience can author the message that we are stuck in a profession or relationship because of our investment. But sometimes we have to make the decision to pivot out and into something that feeds our soul, encourages our true mission and ministry and feeds that creative soul God gifted us with.
Join Dr. Don Owsley as we explore the paths of pivoting when necessary and what that may look like as we yield to the God who paves our way and determines what we are to do with our lives and for others.
A story of walking through the fears of rejecting the images others promote for us to conform to. If you are considering a new path, a new direction or a new way to serve others, this story is for you.
References mentioned:
Don Owsley website: https://www.relavate.org/ where Don blogs and offers services information on his books.
Website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
Website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 8
What happens when you kiss your spouse goodbye and go to work, then get a call telling you that was your last kiss with your beloved? What happens in the hours, days, weeks and years as the healing journey progresses?
Beatrice Bruno is a woman who has been pivoting her whole life in beauty, strength and grace. Please join us as she candidly shares the lessons she learned during the stages of her grief as she pivoted into widowhood and a ministry God gave her to help others pivot in their own grief and pain as well.
Beatrice Bruno, The Drill Sergeant of Life, leaves no soldiers behind…no matter what branch.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrillSergeantofLife/
Website: http://www.drillsergeantoflife.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 7
Eric Nevins is my first guest on the section called pivoting on my podcast. In this episode Eric tells us how he discovered he was not doing what he was called to do and decided to pivot out of the financial world and use his experience in podcasting to help other people launch and improve their podcasts.
Eric encourages listeners to weigh the cost of staying where they are not fulfilled against the cost of stepping out into a world where their hearts are longing to be. His experience as a podcaster and his story of his own career pivot makes Eric an authentic voice in the world of life changing decisions.
You can catch up with Eric, listen to his podcast Halfway There or check out other spiritual growth resources at https://ericnevins.com/
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 6
We start a new series this week, lasting at least two months, where we talk about pivoting in circumstances as a result of our own choices or choices made by others that affect us but are out of our control. Join my guests and me as we explore what it is like to pivot out of jobs, life altering results of violence or catastrophe. We will talk about the difficulties faced when suddenly finding ourselves grieving the loss of a loved one or understanding the issues of infertility or cancer.
It is a great line up friends to help you no matter what your age, stage or circumstances to keep livin’ what your given.
Website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
Website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 5
At the age of 75, after decades of loyalty to her employer and multiple awards for excellence as an employee, Rebecca Danigelis was called into a management office and told this would be her last day. No notice, no warning. The reason? According to her son, Sian-Pierre Regis, “She was fired for being too old.” Even though Sian-Pierre could not get her another job, he could tell her story. And tell her story he did. It turned out to be a story that was universal with thousands of people responding and saying this was their story too.
Through the use of terrific storytelling and photo journalism, the movie Duty Free was born. The trailer was viewed by over thirty-eight million people and premiered in thirty theaters in May 2021. But this is not just a story of loss. It is a beautiful story of pivoting in unfairness of ageism while modeling honesty, grace, beauty and love. All of these attributes define the mission of this mother and son team to dismiss the myth saying that as we age, we no longer have worth or the ability to be useful to our society.
If you see only one movie in 2021, let it be Duty Free. Details on how to do that are below on the website listed. I think you will want to hear and see this story time and time again.
Website for Movie Duty Free and information about Impact Campaign https://www.dutyfreefilm.com/
FB page for Duty Free Film to keep up with upcoming announcements including a big one coming soon https://www.facebook.com/DutyFreeFilm
Changing the Narrative to end ageism https://changingthenarrativeco.org/
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 4
“Loosening the reins and leaning into a creative life” is the philosophy of my guest this week, Jayme Mansfield. And she tells us how she does that in fine art and in her writing journey.
In her latest book, “Seasoned,” she chronicles a story through the lens of fiction that is based on real life experiences. While unpacking some of the issues and challenges that were faced by the main characters in her book, she shares common threads that reflects the challenges faced by many older couples when finding a second chance at love.
Hope, faith and forgiveness in gentleness are themes that Jayme shares as we walk this road with two people carrying baggage of the past, navigating family dynamics and the truth of challenges faced by couples no matter the stage or age. In an expertly crafted book, she shares that older people are still valuable and wise with needs, wants and desires for companionship, community and love.
The book “Seasoned” is available, along with other books by Jayme and information about her art studio at her website https://www.jaymehmansfield.com
The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotseo https://dotseroband.com
The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 3
Marla is most grateful for her role as daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves her deeply and knew how to restore broken areas of her life… and continues to do so. She had the awesome privilege — and challenging job — of taking care of her earthly father, Bob Lindstrom, when his wife of 60 years who was also her mom, Bev, passed away in 2016.
When Marla became a caretaker for her father she tells us their relationship was not that of best friends. She and her father were not close. But God had some lessons planned for her as she said yes to this role. She also learned about love, reconciliation, redemption and restoration as she began to see changes in herself while learning from both her earthly and heavenly father.
She shares with us several poignant stores all of which taught her what it means to not merely live FOR God, but to live vibrant life in communion WITH Him, enjoying his presence!
Marla is an award-winning writer coach and mentor, editor, book project manager and creative journalist (particularly fond of telling peoples’ true stories). She loves encouraging others to succeed in using and developing the gifts God has given them, and she’s proud of the recognition they’ve earned. She had the privilege of serving on the ground floor of Good Catch Publishing as a freelance project manager, editor and new writer trainer from February 2008–April 2019. She has helped in the writing and publishing of 30 books.
To reach out to Marla, you can find her at:
TellYourStoryToo@msn.com
Facebook: Marla Lindstrom Benroth, Writer Coach & Creative Journalist
Telling God’s Ways Through Peoples’ Stories
“Fighting for Integrity” by Dr. Russ Frase found at https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Integrity-Russ-Frase
Website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotseo https://dotseroband.com
Website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 2
In the first several sessions of this podcast, we explore some of the myths, truths, beauties and challenges of the aging process. One aspect of aging that fits all of the above is caregiving. My guest today is Nadine Roberts Cornish is a lady who takes care of those who take care of others. She helps shed light on some of the challenges we may face and the resources that are available as we face those challenges as caregivers and as those who are receiving care. Nadine points out that there is no way a caregiver cannot be changed to reach their higher self when on the caregiver journey.
She defines conscious caregiving as caring on purpose with intent and a plan. She shares stages of caregiving and resources for finding help and support for the caregiver in the journey of caring for a loved one or friend.
Nadine attended the University of New Orleans where she studied Business Administration. In 2013 she earned a professional Certification in Gerontology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She is also a Certified Senior Advisor, Freedom Coach and Elite Life Coach and Founder of the TSE Master Mind Group for women business owners.
Through her two published books, Tears in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience and Prayers in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Peace, she offers valuable and authentic insights and encouragement into the caregivers journey.
To purchase her books or reach out to Nadine for services her company provides for caregivers contact her at https://tcgcares.com
Website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero https://dotseroband.com
Website for Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Episode 1
Every age and stage offer us opportunity to enjoy beauty, growth, grace and purpose. Dismissing the messages that others put on us that attempt to define us, especially as we become older, is the first step into enjoying the life we have been given. We are loved, cherished and important to God in all our places and spaces on life’s journey. The aging process is not to be devalued, avoided or dismissed as not worthy of honor.
Join Laura on her first solo episode as she describes why she lives by the philosophy that when the going gets tough, the tough get creative.
Website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotseo https://dotseroband.com
Website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com
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Season 1, Pilot
The regular, weekly episodes of this podcast will begin on my 70th birthday of June 9, 2021.
This is the pilot episode for my podcast. In it, I explain my process of overcoming fear of technology as well as dismantling and dismissing negative messages fueling doubt around completing this project.
We can achieve new goals, find varied ways of creating and sharing our gifts no matter our stage or age. We can be defeated by lack of confidence that is based in misinformation or the wrong belief about our limitations. The only person who can limit us is ourselves.
Bio: Laura is a multi-awarded author of two books, available on her website, as well as a dancer, public speaker and storyteller. For information on how to buy her books, schedule her for a speaking engagement or teach a class on dance or writing, see her website at the address listed below. If you want to follow her storytelling blog, that is also available on her website.
Laura’s website: https://lauralpadgett.com/
Website for music from Dotsero Band: https://dotseroband.com/
I’m eager to watch this bloom open! Happy birthday, and congratulations, Laura!
Thank you so much Laura and thanks for all the support and prayers. What a journey. So much better with my peeps by my side. Luv ya.