The Strong Women Podcast

Do you have a stack of books in your house making you feel guilty? Maybe you don’t remember the last time you read a good book, or maybe you’re itching to find your next good read. Well, today’s episode with Maggie is all about reading. We chat about what we’re reading, how to develop our “reading muscles,” why reading is good for our souls, and more. Also, tune in to hear what’s planned for Strong Women this summer! Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton  The Chance by Karen Kingsbury  Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe  Emma by Jane Austen  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  Theo of Golden by Allen Levi   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is really the parable of two brothers: one who’s ruled by unchecked desire, and the other who’s ruled by legalism and pride. I think a lot of us can resonate with both brothers. We feel torn between what we want to do and what we ought to do. But God designed these two things to be united within us! Using this parable as a framework, my friend Heidi White joins me again to talk about how we can not only do what’s right but also desire what’s right ... and find true freedom and joy as a result. The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life by Heidi White  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery  Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen  The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni    On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting what’s evil, restoring what’s broken, and creating what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch.  The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

If the Church is a “hospital for the sick,” then we should expect it to be full of people who are sinful, broken (just like we are), and different from us. This week, Katie McCoy and I talk about what our relationship with the Church has looked like throughout our lives, and why the Church is worth committing to, even in the face of church hurt. We discuss the trends we’re seeing in church traditions and demographics. We end the episode answering listener questions about when to leave a church, mentorship, being single in the church, and more. This episode and Q&A were recorded live at CCNC 2025.   Primal Screams: How the Sexual Revolution Created Identity Politics by Mary Eberstadt      The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc     

If everything belongs to God, how do we manage the things He’s given us in a way that honors Him and blesses others? How can we find out where He’s calling us invest our time, talents, and energy? Today’s guest, Dana Wichterman, joins me to answer these questions and encourage us to invest everything we have in the Kingdom of God. Impact Foundation  Crown  Stewards Not Owners: The Joy of Aligning Your Money with Your Faith by Dana Wichterman and Bill Wichterman   In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin  None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That's a Good Thing) by Jen Wilken  The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn  The Pilgrim's Progress by Paul Bunyan    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/. Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc

When Danielle Grandholm’s daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, she and her husband found themselves without adequate support. This experience led them to start Rising Kites, a nonprofit dedicated to helping parents of children with Down syndrome. What began as an unexpected journey became a source of blessing as Danielle witnessed God’s providence and grace throughout the process, demonstrating how God can transform challenges into opportunities to serve others and experience His care.  Rising Kites  We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Pam Devito (Illustrator)  The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese    Are you a Christian educator? If so, I’m guessing you want to do more than just impart knowledge to your students. You want to help them develop genuine faith and a Christian worldview that will shape their character and their life. If this resonates with you, I want to encourage you to check out the “Worldview Formation 101” course from the Colson Educators. This free online course will help you understand the purpose of worldview formation and give you practical steps to craft lesson plans that incorporate the Christian worldview. Even better, it will equip you to foster a school culture where your students’ faith is nourished. You can sign up for “Worldview Formation” today at colsoneducators.org.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

We will all face hard things. Will we be the sort of people who resist the challenges and become resentful and bitter? Or will we see suffering as an opportunity to be open to the Lord and trust him? Today, my friend Maggie and I both share how Christ is meeting us in the suffering of a broken engagement and a loved one’s Alzheimer's diagnosis. We also dive into the habits of faith that prepare us to suffer well and how God redeems our suffering to help us know Christ more intimately.    The Secret to Joy-Filled Suffering with Joni Eareckson Tada  The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis  Another Glimpse by Sean Curran  The Book of Common Prayer    On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting evil, restoring what’s broken, and contributing what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

Kori Pennypacker is the founder and CEO of Bible2School. Today she joins me to share her journey from navy wife to ministry leader, demonstrating how women can lead with biblical conviction while keeping Jesus at the center. I know you’ll be encouraged by her testimonies of children encountering Jesus and how the program is creating ripples of faith in schools across the country.  Show Notes:  Bible2School  colsoncenter.org/SWMonthly  Little Book of Forgiveness: A Pathway to Freedom by Kenward Jones  Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze    On Strong Women, we celebrate God’s good design for women in every season of life. It’s all part of a bigger mission: to help the Church be the Church—by celebrating what’s good, resisting evil, restoring what’s broken, and contributing what’s missing. As we approach our June 30 fiscal year end, we need your help to keep that mission going. You can support the next year of Strong Women, as well as all the other resources from the Colson Center, by making your best gift today at colsoncenter.org/swchurch.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

In a culture that increasingly devalues children and mothering, Rachael Carman challenges us to rediscover the profound beauty and value of motherhood, including the moments that feel tiring or even mundane. The vulnerability, sacrifice, and invisible acts of motherhood aren’t just duties to endure but sacred opportunities to meet Jesus and become more like Him.  Show Notes:  Apologia Curriculum  The Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy by Sigrid Undset    Hey, listeners! You’ve probably heard me talk about the Colson Fellows Program here on Strong Women. I'm excited to let you know that the Colson Fellows team hosts one-hour, live, informational webinars that allow you to hear an overview of the program and get your questions answered. The webinars are hosted by the Vice President and Dean of the Colson Fellowship – my good friend, Michael Craven. If you enjoy the conversations we have on Strong Women and want to think more deeply about your place in God’s story of redemption, the Colson Fellows Program might be for you. Colson Fellows will take you on a deep dive study of Christian worldview through books, devotionals, meetings with likeminded peers, and more. If you’re interested, but have questions about the workload, cohort formats, or anything else, I encourage you to sign up for the next live, Colson Fellows informational webinar. You can find a full list of webinar dates and register today at colsonfellows.org/webinar.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

As moms or teachers or mentors, how do we help the young people in our lives grow deep roots of faith before they launch into the world? Today’s guest has some practical answers. As Educators Specialist here at the Colson Center, Billy Hutchinson is all about helping Christian educators form their students in the Christian worldview. But this episode isn’t just for educators! If you play any influential role in the life of a young person, you’ll find encouragement and help in this conversation.  Show Notes:  A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle  Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell  The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward O’Keefe   The Colson Educators Program  The Colson Fellows Program   The Identity Project    Want to know what it takes to be a Colson Fellow? Well, you can find out from someone who’s already been through it by checking out the Pursuit series on the Colson Fellows blog. There, you can read testimonies of men and women like you from different backgrounds who took on the challenge of the Colson Fellows Program and came out on the other side transformed. Start with Catherine Wheeler’s story. She was in my Colson Fellows cohort when I was a leader. She’s an OBGYN and former abortionist whose transformation story really is amazing. You can read Catherine’s testimony and many others by visiting colsonfellows.org/stories.   You don’t have to look far to notice cancel culture is everywhere. Maybe your teen is nervous to speak up at school about being pro-life because she's afraid her opinion will be dismissed. Maybe you're hesitant to voice concerns at work because you're worried about backlash from your co-workers. These situations are common, but speaking the truth with love is our calling as Christians. The Colson Educators course, "Navigating Cancel Culture," can help. In partnership with "No Safe Spaces," the Colson Center and Brett Kunkle teach you how to understand cancel culture, recognize where it shows up, and respond with a Christian perspective. Ready to learn more? Sign up at colsoneducators.org.    The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

The words we sing matter. They ‘catechize’ us, training us to see the world in a certain way and set our affections on something. Today I’m talking with Caroline Cobb, whose Scripture-saturated songs combine Truth and melody. Tune in for a conversation about the formational power of music and being intentional about the narratives we allow to shape our lives.   Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer by Caroline Cobb  Advent for Exiles by Caroline Cobb  Song: A Breath of a Prayer by Michael Card  The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis  The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis  The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien  The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom    You can provide foundational support to the Colson Center by becoming a Cornerstone Monthly Partner. The support of dedicated Monthly Partners helps us invest in believers worldwide as they seek to live with clarity, confidence, and courage. Monthly Partners provide our most dependable level support and get exclusive benefits from the Colson Center in return. To become a Cornerstone Monthly Partner, go to colsoncenter.org/swcornerstone.   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what’s happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc