Instructions For Living a Life is a podcast that explores stories at the intersections of faith and mental health. We'd love to hear yours.
06/05/2022
Chrisie’s new book is now available, filled with her trademark honesty and fierce vulnerability. Recommended for survivors of s*xual assault & religious trauma, and those who love them.
Betrayed With a Kiss is the story of how one South Carolina United Methodist pastor, the Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass, found God and spiritual transformation out of the heartbreak and trauma of an abusive marriage and other mental anguish. Raised a “good girl” pastor’s daughter in a wholesome Ch...
28/04/2022
Friends, we’ve had a wonderful experience with this podcast, being given the gift of being able to interview and befriend amazing people, hearing and sharing their stories. You’ve supported us with your messages, kind words, and prayers over the years, for which we are truly thankful.
With that being said, we’ve decided to bring Instructions For Living a Life to a close. Our episodes will remain accessible wherever you listen to your podcasts, and we hope that they continue to encourage you toward being willing to share the truth of your own journey with others.
Chrisie has written a book exploring her own story, which we encourage you to check out. It’s brave and honest, which shouldn’t surprise any of you.
The newest book from the Advocate Press aims to shine light into the problem of s*xual assault and intimate partner violence through the true story of a South Carolina United Methodist pastor who lived it. The book, “Betrayed With a Kiss: One Pastor’s Story of Finding God In the Wake of Sexual.....
14/08/2021
Ep. 70 - "I Think Everybody Should Go To Rehab" with Lauren Zehnle
In this important 70th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, we're joined by St. Louis addictions counselor, Lauren Zehnle. Lauren shares some of her own journey into addiction and recovery, highlighting the vital role that finding a supportive therapist and treatment played in her own life.
Lauren invites us to consider the power of supportive community, both inside and outside of the therapeutic settings, processing addiction as being a "disease of isolation" and the gift it is to be able to be open about the messiest parts of your life and have others love and accept you. She also explores personal responsibility and neurology in relation to addiction, the struggles that the family members of addicted persons can experience, setting boundaries and developing communication, and the need to focus not so much upon returning to "what was" but rather building toward something better.
This is a powerful and encouraging conversation, and one that we hope you will share with anyone struggling with substance use and abuse, chemical dependence or addiction, and alcohol addiction, as well as with family members of those who are wrestling with addiction.
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Find 'This Naked Mind' by Annie Grace, the book Lauren mentioned about about addiction and alcoholism, wherever books are sold. Also, visit Annie's website for further resources and information: https://thisnakedmind.com/
If you are struggling with addiction and need group support, visit either AA or NA to find a meeting near you:
Alcoholics Anonymous: https://aa.org/
Narcotics Anonymous: https://na.org/
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Lauren Zehnle is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the co-founder of St. Louis Addiction Counseling (http://stladdiction.com/). She has had a thriving private practice for over ten years, working exclusively with clients struggling with substance abuse. Lauren has been the featured speaker for many NAMI events, has been featured on KSDK News/KSDK-TV (St Louis) and was a guest lecturer at Westminster College MO. She is passionate about being a part of the recovery community in St. Louis and believes in the importance of dismantling the stigma surrounding the treatment of addiction and mental health.
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
20/07/2021
Ep. 69 - "New Language For An Older Story" with Daniel Johnson
Daniel Johnson is a 37 year old with a masters degree in applied linguistics. He’s lived and worked with teachers in schools all over the world, including in South Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, Japan, and the United States. Language is something Daniel understands, and he’s spent quite a few years helping others understand it as well.
Daniel’s father lived with Bipolar Disorder, spending almost the last ten years of his life in a depressive state in a nursing home facility, but Daniel and his brother weren’t offered an understanding of what was happening until they were in their 20’s. You could say that Daniel Johnson has spent long years learning new language for an older story, and you’d be right. In fact, in order to cope with his father’s death and mental illness, Daniel began to make use of the story he was piecing together. In 2019, he decided to write a screenplay about his father’s life.
In this 69th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Daniel invites us into the cathartic, word and memory-rich journey that he has been on for the past several years. This is an episode filled with the realities of what it is to have and be shaped by the complexities of family, both that which we delight in and that which can haunt us. We’re grateful for Daniel’s willingness to share some of the story behind the story, and we hope that you’ll share it with others who might have interest.
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Daniel Johnson has three kids and a beautiful wife with whom he sings and make music (https://thebellandthehammer.bandcamp.com/music). He also makes music in some other bands (https://bareshisteeth.bandcamp.com/ and https://koalafires.bandcamp.com/album/the-beeping-in-our-hearts), gave a TEDx Talk once in Seoul (https://youtu.be/GVGN9Mkv5dw), and has developed a board game that’s well on its way to publication. He lives in Ohio.
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
11/06/2021
CONTENT WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING:
Su***de; death; grief; loss
It’s with very heavy hearts that we share that our friend (and 5th episode guest on IFLAL), Steve Austin, lost his life recently. Steve was very open about his long struggle with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts, even as he encouraged the church toward more openly addressing issues of mental health. Please pray with us for his family, and consider supporting this fundraiser on his behalf.
If you’re feeling weighed down, depressed, or overwhelmed, friends, please know that you’re not alone. You are loved.
Steve Austin, a well-known advocate within the faith, mental he… Kristie Lawley Burch needs your support for Memorial Fund for Steve Austin's Wife & Children
07/04/2021
Ep. 68 - "Don't Feel Guilt About Living" with Leanor Inez Ortega Till
Many of us have felt at some point like we don't quite know where we fit in the world. Growing older, in many ways, can be a journey of discovering just who it is that we actually are. Along the way, we may encounter people who understand things about us, friends with whom we share commonality and connection, and spaces in which we can finally dare to ask questions and learn more about what we truly think, believe, and hope for.
Leanor's story is filled with journey, self-discovery, and discovering that sometimes it's not just about finding where you fit - instead, it may also mean blowing up old ideas and expectations and building anew in the aftermath.
In this 68th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Leanor warmly shares about discovering Christian alternative music, joining a still-touring ska band, losing and regaining the support of family, and the transformative process of grief and loss in relation to faith. She also invites us into her struggles with depression, self-identity, and anger and shares openly about her appreciation of both therapy and psychiatric medication.
This is a thoughtful, often funny, and deeply honest episode of the podcast, and we're very excited to share it with all of you.
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With a loud laugh, high energy level, and heart for encouragement, Leanor Inez Ortega Till loves sharing about the saving grace of Jesus! At 18, she left college to travel the world, playing saxophone in the Christian ska-punk band, Five Iron Frenzy.
For decades, the band has toured the U.S. and abroad, performing and sharing their joy at clubs, festivals, Warped Tour, and outreach concerts. In 2000, Five Iron Frenzy helped launch a church filled with misfits, skeptics, the earnest and eager, and other other like-minded followers of Jesus. Scum of the Earth Church (Denver) was the incubator for Leanor's early ministry. She served in ministry there for 16 years, curating the art gallery, honing her preaching skills, and became the Director of Women's ministry.
Today she serves on staff at Denver's Urban Skye, bringing hope to several spaces beyond church doors including the Denver Women's Correctional Facility, a vast apartment and trailer park outreach, home pastoral care, pre-marriage and marriage support, and whatever needs the community has that she is able to meet. Please consider being a part of Leanor's support team, as she raises 100% of her wages and ministry expenses: urbanskye.org
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
26/03/2021
Hey, friends!
Some Instructions For Living a Life-related news for you: our friend, Jeff Allen (of IFLAL’s Episode 55) has started his own mental health podcast, Simple Mental Health. He’s a couple of episodes in, and his upcoming episode MIGHT just feature someone you know. Okay, fine - here’s a hint: it’s IFLAL’s own Adam Baker.
Ep. 67 - "We Can Do Hard Things" with Tyler Strange
Infertility. Pandemic. Pregnancy. Placenta abruption. Emergency. These are serious, life-changing words. They impact and stick with you. In this 67th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, the Rev. Tyler Strange shares how these words have shaped his life, that of his family, and those of the church communities that he serves.
A stutterer, Tyler knows well the power of what is said and unsaid. This is nowhere more obvious than as Tyler offers us thoughtful, vulnerable self-reflection, in turns addressing his mental health struggles, church planting and creativity, talking through coaching and goal-setting, and quoting Ariana Grande, Vanilla Ice, or Hamilton to better help us to understand his journey.
This is a rich and meaningful episode, one that we hope you'll find yourself returning to again and again. We're excited to share it with you, and hope that you'll share it with others.
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The Rev. Tyler Strange is a born-and-raised Travelers Rest Devildog. You could say that lowcountry South Carolina is in his bones. A graduate of Clemson University and the Candler School of Theology - Emory University, Tyler now serves the South Carolina Conference of the The United Methodist Church as the pastor of two churches.
Tyler remains a coach at heart, having coached high school baseball and football teams, and loves helping others to wrestle with doubt and faith. He is also committed deeply to spreading hope like confetti.
Ep. 66 - "We Can Talk About Surgeries" with Sami Pack-Toner
Recovering from bodily injury and surgery isn't the easiest experience for anyone, particularly if you are dealing with significant pain. In this 66th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Sami invites us into her journey through medical procedures and aftercare, advocating for pain care as a woman, and what it's like to need help when people don't believe that you require it. Sami dives into how she has learned to care for herself, exploring the necessity of play, finding activities that bring her life and joy, and being more intuitive about what she's eating and doing to support her holistic well-being.
Sami also opens up about the role that therapy, particularly EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has played in her recovery from a serious car accident and the post traumatic stress that followed. This episode is full of deeply personal honesty as this pastor, wife, and friend processes how she's walked through pain, embracing change and newness along the way.
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The Rev. Sami Pack-Toner is a Montana native who after a grad school adventure in North Carolina has found herself back again in Big Sky Country. She is currently a United Methodist pastor, serving churches in the Mountain Sky Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Sami and her husband are always on the lookout for outdoor adventures, living as they do in the mountains near a ski resort, and have found being in nature to be a vital part of their self-care and life together. Among Sami's favorite activities are cooking, outdoor sports, weightlifting, and caring for her three dogs and one cat.
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
19/02/2021
Ryan Dunn of United Methodist Communications’ Compass Podcast recently interviewed Chrisie and Adam about the church’s complicity, role, and responsibility when it comes to encouraging mental health awareness. Instructions For Living a Life (obviously) comes up quite a bit in the conversation!
Dissecting where the faith community has hurt and helped the conversation around mental health. And what still needs to be said?
09/02/2021
Ep. 65 - “You’re Only As Sick As Your Secret” with Todd Garten
Todd Garten has a true ability to light up a room. Whether in church, social settings, or in his role as the St. Louis Race Director for Cupid's Undie Run, a fun, underwear-clad foot race that raises money to combat neurofibromatosis, Todd is someone who quickly and readily shares his joy and seeks it for others.
In this 65th episode of Instructions For Living a Life, Todd also impressed upon us his commitment to honesty, curiosity, and openness. Whether in processing his experiences in what some might call a "pray the gay away" program, his journey through divorce and coming out fully as a gay man, or wrestling with questions of faith, mental health, or how we can pursue wholeness and healing together, you will find Todd to be someone unafraid to share who he is or what he hopes for.
We're truly grateful for the chance to share this episode with you, and hope that you'll share it with others who might also enjoy and benefit from it.
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In addition to his five years of working as the St. Louis Race Director for Cupid's Undie Run, Todd also works for Doorways, an interfaith non-profit organization that provides housing and supportive services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Prior to joining Doorways, Todd was the International Relations Director at the Continental Singers Ministry in Ventura, California, where his work exposed him to public relations and event management while giving him the opportunity to work in Kenya, India, Cambodia, Singapore and China.
Originally from Abilene, KS, Todd has deep commitments to social justice and endeavors that enrich the community. Todd and his husband, Mike, enjoy movies (especially Back to the Future), traveling, cooking, and time with family.
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
25/01/2021
Ep. 64 - "I Am Not Afraid, For I Was Born To Do This" with Meredith Hopping
It's 2021, y'all, and Instructions For Living a Life is back. No, seriously, as in we've recorded multiple episodes and are recording more even as we type this. It's happening, and we're so excited about it. Thanks for your patience!
For our 64th episode, we're excited to welcome St. Louis, Missouri stand-up comedian, Meredith Hopping, who takes us on an often hilarious, always thoughtful exploration of living with anxiety, appreciating psychiatric care, and wrestling with the church over fear, language, purity culture, and shame.
Meredith is fiercely honest, with her bravery and clarity often expressed through humor, and this episode casts that honesty across a wide spectrum. Whether we're talking about divorce, healthy embodiment and s*xuality, talking with kids about s*x and bodies, postpartum depression, or being REALLY forthright about what birth actually entails, the conversation is a rich and rewarding one.
We're excited to be back in the swing of things here at Instructions For Living a Life, and are grateful for the gift of Meredith's time and story.
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Meredith Hopping is a stand-up comic living in St. Louis, MO. She's the granddaughter, daughter, and ex-wife of United Methodist Ministers, and somehow, she’s still a Christian! Meredith is also a mother to three amazing children. Yes, everyone says that, but hers know how to roast her, so, this is for real. Follow her on social media to see her fumble through life, and get show information () on Facebook, Insta, and elsewhere, and follow her sketch duo: Homespun Sisters. Finally, check out “Hump Day Hoppy Hour,” Meredith's Facebook live comedy show, happening on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
Booking info: [email protected]
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Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform:
1) iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/yabwbumd
2) Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/y49fy6fv
3) Soundcloud: http://tinyurl.com/yxbjcbyb
4) Stitcher: http://tinyurl.com/yxzotosm
5) Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y6ac2crc
Thank you for leaving us positive reviews on the podcast platform of your choice, and please share this episode with your friends. We appreciate you.
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What is Instructions for Living a Life?
Welcome to Instructions For Living a Life, a podcast co-hosted by Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass and Adam Baker. Here, we're grateful to explore the stories of people who live at the intersections of faith, belief, ministry, and mental health.
These are normal, everyday people - parents, pastors, photographers, authors, dreamers, doubters - people who wrestle with what it means to live, move, and have their being in the life and skin which they've been given. You might be one of them. Their willingness to share their stories is a gift to us, and we hope, a gift to you as well.
Sometimes the thing that frees us is the realization that we are not alone. The world is full of people who wonder what it means to be faithful and diagnosable, or how it's possible to be anxious and fearful (even as you are hopeful). Many of you have survived horrors, while others wonder if they can survive themselves. Believe us, you are far from alone. This is a place where we hope that you are reminded that honesty, vulnerability, and openness are things to be treasured, not feared.
If you have a story you'd like to share, please contact us at [email protected] - we'd love to talk with you.
Thank you for your stories, and thank you for listening.
*NOTICE: Because these are honest, vulnerable stories told by real people, we do not ask them to censor themselves, their language, or what they have experienced. As a result, if stories involving grief, loss, s*xual assault, abuse, anxiety, and a lot of other stuff that people really, truly deal with every day are offensive to you, or you get angry about occasional colorful language, we respect you and your opinions, but you might want to listen to another podcast. Still, anyone is welcome to listen, learn, and grow with us. Thank you.
