Shows / The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Bitter & The Sweet Podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. Join Host Kayla M. Cook every Tuesday for conversations about disappointment and dreams, grief and gratitude, the bitter and the sweet.
Episodes
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Still Their Mom: Real Stories of Pregnancy and Infant Loss- Episode 105
It is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, which can often feel like something sad but distant...until it becomes part of your story. It is part of my…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Why You Shouldn't Quit with Kaitlin Chappell Rogers- Episode 104
If you've ever been wanted to just give up, this conversation is for you! Today's episode is a conversation I got to have with my friend, Kaitlin Chappell…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Finding Your Way Back to God with Ashley Martin- a replay we need
When you look up and realize you've taken a wrong turn or gone down the wrong path, how do you find your way back to God? My friend Ashley Martin and I got to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Where Is God When We Are Grieving? with Lisa Appelo- Episode 103
What do we do with the space between what God could do and what He chooses to do? Where is He in our grief? I got to have an incredible conversation about…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Grace Will Be There (Even in the Stories We Would Not Choose) with Katie M. Kelley- Episode 102
What is grace? How does it meet us where we are? This is the conversation I was so excited to have with a new friend of mine, Katie M. Kelley about her new…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
When Addiction Enters Your Family, There Is Still Hope with Tara Norbeck- Episode 101
September is National Recovery Month, and in honor of that, we've got a very special conversation for you today with my friend, Tara Norbeck. Tara is an author…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Why You Need to Celebrate (Even When It's Hard) with Garrett Cook- Episode 100
It's our second birthday insert confetti poppers + party horn sounds and we are celebrating BIG around here! Joining me for our second birthday celebration and…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Freedom and Self-Control: Is There a Balance? Two Question to Consider- Episode 99
Because of Jesus, we walk in freedom, and yet we are called to walk in self-control. What does this look like to hold both? In this short episode (less than 10…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Antidote to Shame- Episode 98
If being hard on yourself is your default setting, this is your invitation to try something different. In this short episode (less than 10 minutes!), we are…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Faith That Grows in the Dark: Staying Rooted in Seasons We Would Not Choose- Episode 97
Infertility and loss are parts of my story that I would never, ever choose, but I know that I know God more because of them. In this short episode (less than…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Noticing the Good God Has Already Given You to Do- Episode 96
As simple as it is, goodness can feel obscure. In this short episode (less than 10 minutes!), we're diving deep on what it means to be good, living out the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Small Acts, Big Impact: Foster Care, Caregiver Support, and Loving Our Local Schools- Episode 95
Caring for the vulnerable can look "big," but often, it looks small to us. The good news is God cares about both the big and small, and He puts us in places to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Truth About Church Hurt and Finding Your Way Back- Episode 94
It can feel complicated to love God but feel wary of His people. When it comes to church hurt, sometimes it's hard to know if what happened to you was just…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
What If Knowing God Is More Simple Than We Think?- Episode 93
Our people need us, our to-do lists get long, the demands get loud, and our phones are insanely distracting. Somewhere in all that noise, we forget to just be…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Married, Single, Divorced: Living Fully at Every Relationship Status- Episode 92
Marital status can feel like a defining feature of our lives, but it doesn't have to be! Join me and some of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we talk about…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
When You Wonder If God Is Kind- Episode 91
Kindness sounds simple enough...until it isn't. With honest thoughts on the times kindness is harder than it looks, what it means that love is kind, and…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Grace to be Patient When You've Been Patient Long Enough- Episode 90
If you've been patient and put in the time, but you're still waiting... If you're wondering if you should keep waiting or just move on... If you've watched…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Peace We Were Made For- Episode 89
In a culture fueled by outrage and fear, is it possible for us to have peace? With practical help for breaking anxious thought loops and living at peace with…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
No Toxic Positivity: Joy That Doesn't Ignore Your Pain- Episode 88
One of the most important things to me in the making of this episode on joy was that it not become some Pollyanna, joy is all around us-type episode, full of…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How to Love When Your Heart Feels Hard- Episode 87
How do I love my people above my own preferences? How do I love when I've been hurt, or when I'm disappointed, or when I feel like I've been let down? How do I…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
You Don't Have to Make Summer Perfect: Letting Go of the Pressure to Make This the Best Summer Ever- Episode 86
Feeling the pressure to make this a perfect summer? In today's short solo episode, we're talking about releasing the pressure of a summer bucket list, plus…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Overwhelmed? You Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar- Episode 85
So many of us are walking around with the weight of the world on our shoulders. The pressure to hold it all together is real, but what if we could trade our…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Jesus and Therapy: Breaking the Silence around Mental Health and The Church with Rebecca Woodman- Episode 84
If you've ever thought or been told you should "just pray more" when it comes to your mental health, this conversation with my friend Rebecca Woodman is for…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Living Selflessly Without Losing Your Worth with Morgan Krueger- Episode 83
Why are we so naturally drawn to prioritize ourselves? What does it actually look like to live selflessly without losing sight of our God-given worth as image…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Grace in Hard Places: Family of Origin, PPD, and Foster Care- Episode 82
While we are in between National Infertility Awareness Week and Mother's Day, I wanted to bring you some of the very best of the conversations we've had about…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Infertility, Grief, and Gratitude: What Helps, What Hurts, and the Family You Imagined (NIAW Special)- Episode 81
It is National Infertility Awareness Week- a week that is near and dear to my heart, as infertility is part of my story. This week, I'm sharing my personal…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Alcohol Recovery, Faith, and Finding God at Rock Bottom with Ashley Martin- Episode 80
This episode is a return to conversations with friends, and I'm so excited about that! Today's discussion is a special one with my friend Ashley Martin. Ashley…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Come Back Home- Episode 79
Feeling disconnected from God or struggling with church? In today's short 10-minute episode, we are talking about what it truly means to return to God, where…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Why Judas Betrayed Jesus: A Heart-Level Holy Week Reflection- Episode 78
It is Holy Week, the most sacred week on the Christian calendar. It is really easy for us to skip to celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, but let's not rush…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Boundaries: Trusting God with the Ones We Set and the Ones Set For Us- Episode 77
In this short solo show (under 10 minutes!), we are diving into boundaries: where we see them in scripture, boundaries we set, boundaries that are set for us…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
One Reason Women are Tired, and What God Offers Us Instead- Episode 76
In this short solo show (under 11 minutes!), we are diving into one reason why women are so tired these days, and what God offers us instead. This is an…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
When God Doesn't Fix It- Episode 75
In this short solo show (just under 10 minutes!), we are digging into difficult circumstances we all face in life: when God doesn't fix it. LINKS Episode 74…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Facing Chronic Illness with Hope and Honesty with Lily Mitchell- Episode 74
If you are living with chronic illness or if you know and love someone who is, today's episode is one you are not going to want to miss! My friend, Lily…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Living Fully in Your Season and Why That Matters with Shannon Scott- Episode 73
Today's episode is a conversation all about living into your season with my friend, Bible teacher and podcaster Shannon Scott. Shannon is the host of the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Where Heaven Meets Your Hurry with Ashley Minor- Episode 72
Can we be honest about what we want? Is it okay for Christians to want things, or is that selfish? How does what we want impact our perception of waiting…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Figuring Out What Really Matters with Cynthia Yanof- Episode 71
Get ready to laugh, cry, and feel so seen. I did all three while we were recording this! I loved this conversation with a new friend of mine, Cynthia Yanof…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Deciding When to Say Yes and When to Say No with Keagan Hayden- Episode 70
How to we determine what to say yes to and what to say no to? How do we know if hardships are because we're doing something right, or because we're doing…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Grief and the Grace That Covers It All - Episode 69
This is our fourth and final week in our "best of" mini-series: 4 weeks of bringing you some of the best of all the conversations we've had on The Bitter & the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Your Mental and Spiritual Health Matter- Episode 68
We are in week three of our "best of" mini-series: 4 weeks of bringing you some of the best of all the conversations we've had on The Bitter & the Sweet!…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Why You Need Friends and How to Find Them - Episode 67
We are in week two of our "best of" mini-series: 4 weeks of bringing you some of the best of all the conversations we've had on The Bitter & the Sweet! Today's…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Starting over? This is for you - Episode 66
We are kicking off season 5 with a "best of" mini-series: 4 weeks of bringing you some of the best of all the conversations we've had on The Bitter & the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Season 5 Trailer
The Bitter & the Sweet podcast has always been and will continue to be a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. In…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Love We Long For, Advent Week 4 with Pastor Dusty Smith- Episode 65
We've spent four weeks together preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation at Christmas. In…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Joy You're Looking For, Advent Week 3 with Pastor Dusty Smith- Episode 64
Our Advent series continues today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Peace We Need, Advent Week 2 with Pastor Dusty Smith- Episode 63
Our Advent series continues today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
A Thrill of Hope, Advent Week 1 with Pastor Dusty Smith- Episode 62
Our Advent series kicks off today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Mixed feelings on Thanksgiving? Listen to this. - Episode 61
We're all holding a mixed bag that doesn't go away just because it's Thanksgiving. The holidays are a magnifying glass, making everything feel bigger, for…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Lessons From the Women in the Lineage of Jesus with Kayla- Episode 60
As we look ahead to Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus, join me for a look at His lineage, the women we find there, and what we can learn from their…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Considering Going to Counseling? Listen to This with Kayla - Episode 59
As we continue our conversations about who we are in light of who God is, today's episode is all about living as people who Jesus has set free. Today, we are…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Getting Honest with God and Living Whole with Jenn Jett Barrett- a replay we need
As we continue to talk about who we are in light of who God is, I wanted to revisit a conversation I had earlier this year with my friend, Jenn Jett Barrett…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Then and Now: Grieving a Miscarriage with Kayla- Episode 58
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness feels like something sad but distant...until it happens to you. In this episode, I'm sharing my own story of grieving the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How to Grieve in Healthy Way with Hannah Clements, Part 2- Episode 57
My dear friend Hannah Clements is a mom who has experienced the loss of her son, Isaiah. She is also a licensed clinical mental health counselor. Her personal…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
In Our Losses, We are Carried with Hannah Clements- Episode 56
How does loss impact our sense of identity? October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month. It's good and right to have a month to remember, but for those…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How God Loves Us Through His People with Vivian Mabuni- Episode 55
We've been talking a lot about identity around here, and today we are digging into who we are in the context of community and why that matters with a new…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Who is Jesus? -Episode 54
In this short solo show (just under 10 minutes!), we are digging into who Jesus is and what that means about our identity in Him. Connect with Kayla on…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
What It Means For Us to Be God's Masterpiece- Episode 53
In this quick (less than 10 minutes!) solo show, we are digging into what it means for us to be God's masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), remaining and abiding in…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Trusting God's Love for You with Rachael Adams- a replay we need
As we are digging into our identity in Christ, living as the people God created us to be in light of who He is, I wanted to revist a conversation we had…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
But God... - Episode 52
So much of understanding who we are and who we were made to be hinges on our perception of God's love for us. Maybe, before today, you've never heard that God…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Behind the Scenes of Podcasting: Happy 1st Birthday, The Bitter & the Sweet!- Episode 51
It's our first birthday *insert confetti poppers + party horn sounds* and we are celebrating BIG around here! Joining me for our first birthday celebration is…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Season 4 Trailer
We've done FIFTY episodes and ONE WHOLE YEAR together here at The Bitter & the Sweet podcast, and the best part is, we are just getting started! In just 2…