Isn't it Lovely?

01/02/2024

We are walking on sunshine! An absolute dream guest Jessica Merchant of How Sweet It Is () graciously joined us for an energetic and inspiring talk about all the delicious things!! Jessica covers:

🍭 How her journey into food blogging began
🍭 How reading and writing was her first true love
🍭 Navigating motherhood and sharing her life online
🍭The story behind her recipe collab with
🍭 The behind-the-scenes journey to her best-selling cookbooks

We LOVED our time with Jessica and we know you will too. AND make one of her recipes immediately! 🥘

Full Episode
https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/Jessicamerchant 💗✨

Thank you to another sweet partner and our amazing sponsor for sponsoring this episode!

16/01/2024

What a dream to connect with and learn from Dr. Jody Carrington — best-selling author, renowned psychologist, wife, mother, friend, and podcast host! This episode is stacked to say the least with topics like:

💥the importance of emotional regulation
💥the revolutionary act of reconnection
💥the incredible need to support teachers and first responders
💥the holy work we can do for our children
💥“You can’t give away something you never received”

Don’t miss this episode! And if you want more, check out Dr. Jody’s latest book “Feeling Seen: Reconnecting in a disconnected world” and her podcast “Everyone Comes From Somewhere.”

Full episode link in bio! 💗✨
**This episode contains adult language**

🍩HUGE shoutout and thank you to Flyboy Donuts for sponsoring this episode. Check out the ad break in the episode for an exclusive promo for Isn’t it Lovely? listeners! 🍩

31/07/2023

Bradyn Medrano, Boys And Girls Club Of The Sioux Empire Teen and Outreach Director, joins us for a wonderful conversation on the importance of building trust with youth through consistency, attention, and positive reinforcement. Drawing on his own experiences as a kid growing up in a group home who didn’t fit a specific mold, as well as a lack of invested role models, Bradyn explores his calling to devote his life to staying consistent in the lives of children and giving them a voice. He also talks about what our youth are facing today and how we can all intersect with our children in a positive way! Full episode link in bio! 💗✨

HUGE thank you to Ignite Infrared Fitness Studio Sioux Falls for sponsoring this episode! 🔥💪

26/07/2023

This episode was an absolute dream come true for the 𝐼𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓎? team, as Dr. Laurie Landeen is one of our real life heroes! A wife, mother of four, grandmother, veteran of the US Air Force, and a celebrated OB/GYN specializing in robotic and gynecologic surgery and s*xual health, Dr. Landeen has helped countless women and families throughout her prolific career (including delivering two of Tracy’s babies after guiding her through high-risk pregnancies!). In this episode we explore her exceptional work at her intimacy clinic and why s*xual health is such an important component of all of our lives. You won’t want to miss this!
(Please be advised this episode talks in detail about anatomy and s*x.)
Full episode link in bio! 💗✨ (AND a tremendous THANK YOU to Ignite Infrared Fitness Studio Sioux Falls for sponsoring this episode! 🤍)

18/07/2023

What an honor and gift to sit down with Ashleigh Cook of Ignite Infrared Fitness Studio Sioux Falls and hear her amazing story!

It’s an unbeatable trifecta of energy, entrepreneurship, and encouragement as Tracy and Rachel welcome beloved local business owner and fitness instructor AshLeigh Cook to the podcast! AshLeigh shares

12/06/2023

We've been hanging on to this episode for a couple of months and we are so thrilled to finally introduce to you, sunshine herself, Rebekah Scott. A wife, mother of four, owner of several South Dakota businesses including Rebekah Scott Designs & 1948 Leather, and a woman with a special penchant to be your #1 hype woman, Rebekah's middle name might as well be "Encouragement." She has found a way to "One Percent" her dreams and now she is inviting the rest of us to come along. Don't miss this episode!

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/rebekahscott

30/05/2023

For this episode, we sat down for a conversation within the hallowed walls of Start Up Sioux Falls with one of its founders, Matt Paulson. A husband, father, and Sioux Falls-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, Matt talked to us about the early years in his childhood that paved the way for him to be the founder and CEO of Marketbeat, how he cultivates his own children's career interests, the intersection of faith and business, and his heart behind it all. Don't miss this episode!

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/mattpaulson

24/04/2023

It's all about the Benjamins baby on this episode with the energetic, brilliant, and drop-dead gorgeous Sarah Kurtenbach of Moveher Money ! We talk about her journey and relationship with finances, her career path as one of the youngest VPs at a Fortune 500 company, her faith, her heart for young women and how that translated into her new venture moveHer Money!

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/special-guest-sarah-kurtenbach

10/04/2023

We are so thrilled to introduce to you Rebecca Mann Kelly author of the new book 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏: 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑮𝒐𝒅’𝒔 𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 (available on Amazon!) In this faith-centered episode we unpack the original design, the curse in Genesis 3, and the redemption of it all through a man named Jesus. Rebecca details her experience with emotional abuse and gives hope and encouragement to so many women trapped in this same cycle of abuse. This conversation is a culmination of conversations we’ve been having for years regarding the role of women and we cannot wait to hear your thoughts on this topic!💗✨

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/rebeccamannkelly

21/03/2023

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken joined us over a cup of coffee to talk all things identity, marriage, what breaks his heart, the spiritual and physical aspect of fitness, and what TV show has him energized and yelling at the screen! We absolutely loved our time with Paul and were so honored by his time and his authenticity. We cannot wait for you all to hear this!

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/paul-tenhaken

06/03/2023

For years, we have wanted to find a resource & expert on the topic of screen time, social media, and technology not only for this show, but for our own education as we have often thought “how do we parent in this digital age!?” Today, we are THRILLED to introduce you to Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time

✅What is a family tech plan?
✅ What if a child wasn’t ready for a phone, can you take it back?
✅When should you give your child a phone?
✅How do you handle social media?
✅How much time is too much on screens?
✅Should we use our phones in the bedroom?
✅Should you share your children online?

Andrea covers all these topics and more in a graceful and incredible way as she empowers us to do what is best for each of our families while providing practical and proven methods and resources galore. We were changed and enlightened by this conversation with Andrea and we are so excited to get this information into the ears, minds, and hearts of everyone with access to a device and the internet. ✨💗

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/andreadavis

We are also so excited to say that this episode is sponsored by the incredible Ignite Infrared Fitness Studio Sioux Falls ! Listen to this episode to find out why we love Ignite Studio so much and stay tuned for more 🤍🔥

13/02/2023

We are ending this season with a long-time dream guest, Heidi Calmus; a mother, philanthropist & advocate, and the other beautiful half of Dude Dad. She discusses the life-changing trajectory that happened when someone saw her giftings and called it out, what "showing up for people" really means, marriage, parenting, identity, and why being called a "Stay at Home" was so triggering at first. Heidi is an absolute treasure on this earth and we were so honored to have her. Don't miss this supersized episode.

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/heidicalmus

11/02/2023

Hello, my name is Riley Katz and I am excited to be interning for Isn’t It Lovely this semester!

A little bit about me:
I am a senior at Brandon Valley High School and actively involved in Student Council, Peer Helpers, and just finished my last season for the Brandon Valley Dance Team! I am still undecided on a college to date, however would like to study criminal justice/pre-law. I LOVE Mexican food, coffee, dancing, and traveling but am also content with hanging out at home with friends, family, or a good book.

I am looking forward to working with Rachel and Tracy, and this amazing opportunity to learn and grow on their team!❤️❤️

10/01/2023

Looking for a new podcast to listen to at work or on-the-go? Check out our pick for Best Podcast, Isn't it Lovely? Read more about the podcast hosted by Sioux Falls creatives Rachel Gage and Tracy Kirby: bit.ly/3EWwogE

10/01/2023

We are kicking off our 2023 season with special guest Stephanie Ham! Married to her Augustana University college sweetheart and Minnesota Vikings Fullback C.J. Ham (skol!), Steph walks us through her journey becoming a wife, a mother, and obtaining her Doctor in Physical Therapy. She talks about maintaining her identity in the face of many labels, what a true partnership marriage can be, and how giving back under the mantra "favor is for service not for status" is guiding her family!

https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/stephanieham

20/12/2022

In the middle of a great snow storm in the state of South Dakota, we sat down with Janelle Schock from SoDak Clothing and Snowbird Collective and discussed her love for South Dakota and how that translated into a brand and a family-run business. She gives encouragement for other creatives and business owners and talks about family, faith and what's next for the fan favorite brand!
Full Episode Here!
www.isitnotlovely.com/janelleshock

***Discount Code Alert!**** For last minute Christmas gift needs, SoDak Clothing is giving Isn't it Lovely? Podcast listeners 20% off with code "love"! RUN!
www.sodakclothing.com

06/11/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLLa4sz9utw

www.isitnotlovely.com

Full Video Podcast episode of Governor Kristi Noem discussing whether or not it's possible to find the lovely in politics today. She also covers how women can support and champion one another, and the words her mother spoke over her when she was a young girl that changed the trajectory of her life. We hope no matter which side of politics you find yourself on, you will give this episode a listening ear. 💓✨
Kristi Noem
Tracy Kirby
Video by:

In this season’s bonus episode of Isn’t it Lovely? Tracy and Rachel welcome South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to the podcast! Governor Noem shares her experi...

06/11/2022

Is it possible to find the lovely in politics today? We sat down with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and discussed just that and how it can impact all of us. We also talked about how women can support and champion one another, and the words her mother spoke over her when she was a young girl that changed the trajectory of her life. We hope no matter which side of politics you find yourself on, you will give this episode a listening ear. 💓✨
https://www.isitnotlovely.com/episodes/kristinoem
Kristi Noem
Tracy Kirby