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
Finding a Home in the Local Church with Dusty Smith- Episode 50
This is EPISODE 50 of our show! Can you even believe it?! Fifty episodes is a fun and special milestone in podcasting, and we've got a fun and special episode…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How the Local Church Can Support Local Schools with Maegan Little- Episode 49
As a former math teacher (true story!) and as a mom, school is a place that is near and dear to my heart. How can our local churches love and support our local…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Decluttering Your Heart and Home with Julia Ubbenga- Episode 48
We have talked about living healing and whole in our minds, bodies, and relationships, and this week, we make the shift to our places. Home is where we are our…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
What Your Single Friends Wish You Knew with Aleigh Porter- Episode 47
Living wholeheartedly in the midst of a story you wish were different is no small thing, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. When I wanted to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Finding Hope After Divorce with Melinda Olsen- Episode 46
We advocate for strong and healthy marriages, but things don't always work out the way we hope. How does one find hope in the midst of divorce, and how do we…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Building a Healthy Marriage with Tondra Gregory- Episode 45
We make and use plans for everything from our finances to our meals to Bible reading, but so many of us make no such plans for our relationships, especially…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How to Make (and Keep!) Friends as an Adult with Kristen Strong- Episode 44
We are going all in today on one of our most requested topics by listeners: friendship! Here to help us navigate this important conversation is a new friend of…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Loving Our People Without Pretense with Courtney Doyle- Episode 43
We are continuing our conversations on living both healing and whole, and today we shift our focus to what that means in the context of our relationships…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Finding Freedom in Your Body with Lisa Whittle- Episode 42
No one I know is 100% content with their body. Knowing that's the case, I wanted to give us a framework for processing living healing and whole in our bodies…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Living Whole in Our Bodies After Loss with Kendall Carver- Episode 41
How do we live well in our bodies when we have experienced great loss in them? We are continuing our conversations on living both healing and whole, living…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Bridging the Gap Between Our Mental and Spiritual Health with Dr. Lindsay McVety, part 2- Episode 40
Today's episode is part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Lindsay McVety. Go back and grab part 1 before getting started with this episode! With so much about…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Impact of Trauma with Dr. Lindsay McVety, Part 1- Episode 39
With so much about trauma online these days, I wanted to give us some handles on what it looks like to be both healing and whole in our minds. I am in no way…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Season 3 Trailer
Whether you've been here from the jump or this is your first time tuning in, I'm so glad you're here! The Bitter and the Sweet podcast is a show where we tell…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Reclaiming Your Life After Grief, Loss, or Trauma with Kimberly Haar- Episode 38
If you've ever asked, "why me?" this episode is for you! My friend Kimberly Haar has been there (me too!). Kim is a therapist and author who has the most…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How to Care for Kids in Foster Care with Abbey Roberson- Episode 37
I know you care about caring for vulnerable kids and families as much as I do, and with May being National Foster Care Month, there was no better time for this…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Truth About Postpartum Depression with Rachael Hunt Elmore- Episode 36
May is mental health awareness month, and today, we are talking about mental health in motherhood. So many moms are suffering in silence, and joining me to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Grieving with Hope and Finding God's Goodness with Mallory Pendergast- Episode 35
In the face of tragic loss, how do we grieve with hope? After losing her husband, Garrett, to brain cancer in May 2024, Mallory Pendergast has walked the hard…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Your Infertile Friend with Kayla- Episode 34
It's National Infertility Awareness Week and your girl turns 35 this month. Join me for this special solo to talk about: turning 35, and coming to terms with…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Name the Fear and Stop Playing Small with Mary Marantz- Episode 33
What if perfectionism, procrastination, and people pleasing all share a root? And what if that root is...fear? Best-selling author Mary Marantz is here to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How to Trust God in Heartbreak with Claudia Campbell- Episode 32
How do we trust God when our hearts are so broken we're not even sure how to pray? My new friend Claudia Campbell is here to walk us through it. Claudia is the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Showing Up for Your Life with Gaye Lindfors- Episode 31
Do you ever find yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop? What if we started anticipating God's goodness instead? My friend Gaye Lindfors is an author…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene with Heidi Ashe- Episode 30
Six months after Hurricane Helene, a friend of mine who lives in Western North Carolina is here to tell her story. My friend Heidi Ashe is a lifelong resident…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
You're Not Too Late for Your Life with Rebecca George- Episode 29
If you've ever looked at a circumstance in your life and thought, "It's too late," this episode is for you! Joining me to talk about why you're not too late is…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
You're One Choice Away from Change with Justin and Trisha Davis- Episode 28
How do you know when a pattern in your life is personality or preference, vs. when it has become dysfunctional? And once you realize you've moved into…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Getting Honest with God and Living Whole with Jenn Jett Barrett- Episode 27
Living whole is holy work, and it starts with getting honest with God. My friend Jenn Jett Barrett and I got to dig deep on what she calls "the holy work of…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Your Calling and God's Timing with Ashley Minor- Episode 26
What do you do in seasons of waiting, when your calling and God's timing aren't lining up the way you thought they would? My friend Ashley Minor is here to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How Changing One Word Changed Everything with Kayla- Episode 25
Changing one little word shifted a whole mindset for me. Maybe it can do the same for you? So many times, we try to overhaul our lives all at once. All it…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Staying Present in a World of Distractions with Sherri Crandall- Episode 24
If you want to stay present in your life but get distracted by all of this *waves around wildly*- this show is for you! We are digging into staying present…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Finding Your Way Back to God with Ashley Martin- Episode 23
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
Trusting God's Love for You with Rachael Adams- Episode 22
We may "know" God loves us in a general sense, but we have a hard time understanding His love and trusting His affection for us, personally. My friend Rachael…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Starting Over Somewhere New with Neshe Lee Sloan- Episode 21
This past fall, a listener asked if we could talk about making friends as an adult after moving to a new place. My friend Neshe Lee Sloan is here to talk us…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Finding Your Purpose with Danita Cummins- Episode 20
How do we find our purpose? Is that the right question to ask? What does "purpose" even mean? Does everyone feel the pressure to find their purpose the way I…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Living an Intentional Life with Cristina Slabic- Episode 19
Season 2 of The Bitter and the Sweet podcast is all about living wholeheartedly, and that begins with living intentionally! When I wanted to talk about living…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Season 2 Trailer
The Bitter and the Sweet podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. I absolutely love getting to be with you…
The Bitter and The Sweet PodcastOne Thing to Relieve Pressure in Your Life with Kayla- Episode 18
If you've ever felt the pressure to be "on" all the time- for your people, for your job, for the whole internet, or even for God- this episode is for you! In…
The Bitter and The Sweet PodcastPraying with Expectancy with Jackie Aviles- Episode 17
In our final guest episode of 2024 (another solo to come!) , we are digging into prayer with my friend Jackie Aviles. Jackie is a writer and speaker who works…
The Bitter and The Sweet PodcastGetting Quiet with God with Simi John- Episode 16
Our Comfort & Joy series continues this Advent, as we lean into spiritual disciplines (practices that connect us with God). This conversation is all about two…
The Bitter and The Sweet PodcastThe Comfort and Joy of Scripture with Lindsay May- Episode 15
Advent is HERE, and I'm so excited to kick of our Advent series today! "Comfort & Joy" is a series all about spiritual disciplines. If that doesn't sound very…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
You Don't Have to Choose Between Grief and Gratitude with Kayla- Episode 14
If there is one thing I hope you take away from our grief and gratitude series, it's this: you don't have to choose. In this solo show, I'm sharing: a "what…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Why Caring for Caregivers Matters with Jess Ronne- Episode 13
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and while I'm not currently a caregiver, I know how important this topic is. I knew the exact right person to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
When Sudden Loss Changes Your Story with Mallory Stokes- Episode 12
Some losses are so sudden and profound, you could have never seen them coming. That's the kind of loss we are talking about today. Mallory Stokes was in the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
How Grief Invites Us to Build Something New with Dawn Mann Sanders- Episode 11
When you're grieving, you know that, while THE world hasn't ended, it feels like YOUR world has. My friend Dawn Mann Sanders deeply understands this feeling…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Choosing Hope Over Cynicism on a Breast Cancer Journey with Caitlan Reese Killian- Episode 10
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that should mean more to us than just wearing lots of pink! My friend Caitlan Reese Killian is the host of the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Isaiah's Story and Loving Your Friend Through Infant Loss with Hannah J Clements- Episode 9
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and I'm so grateful to get to introduce you to one of my friends who has infant loss as part of her…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family You Hoped Would Be with Kayla- Episode 8
We tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all around here, and today, it's my turn! This is a very special solo episode- just you and me…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family You Choose with Sam Williams- Episode 7
We've talked about many different kinds of family relationships on the show, and today I'm thrilled to talk about the family we choose- our friends! Our guest…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family You Offer with Lauren Alexander- Episode 6
When I wanted to talk about offering a sense of family to people who don't have that (for whatever reason they may not), I knew Lauren Alexander was our girl…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family of God with Sarah Wood- Episode 5
If you're looking for a conversation about church hurt that holds the tension of being both honest and honoring, you're in the right place! When I wanted to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Your Family of Origin with Kristen Hallinan- Episode 4
No matter your marital status or parenting status, we all have a family of origin. Today on the show, we are going there! I could think of nobody better to…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family You're Building with Jennifer Bishop Smith, Part 2- Episode 3
One of my favorites and yours, Jennifer Bishop Smith, joins us this week for part 2 of our conversation on the family you're building! Part 1 was all about our…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
The Family You're Building with Jennifer Bishop Smith, Part 1- Episode 2
The family you're building starts with your marriage, and I can't wait to start here together with my dear friend, Jennifer Bishop Smith! Jennifer is the…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Disappointment & Dreams- Episode 1
Welcome to The Bitter & The Sweet podcast! I'm so excited and grateful to get to do this, and to get to do this with YOU! We kick things off with a little…
- The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Trailer
Welcome to The Bitter & The Sweet Podcast, a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. Join host Kayla M. Cook every…