The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

My guest for The Happy Hour #133 is Kate Merrick. Kate is a writer, speaker, pastor’s wife, mama of a teen and a toddler, surfer, part-time cowgirl, and self-proclaimed chicken whisperer. She has been married to Britt for 19 years, and they live in Carpinteria, California, where they founded the Reality family of churches. In 2013, she endured the death of her daughter, Daisy Love, after suffering through cancer treatment for three and a half years. Kate is making her way back toward laughter, and finding life to be filled with good things. In today's show, Kate and I chat about her new book: And Still She Laughs. I have read through most of the book already and was so impressed and surprised by the approach she took to write it. Instead of it being primarily the story of her grief, she details the stories of several women in the Bible who have suffered and persevered. We also talk about her decision to get off social media preceding her daughter's death, and what led her to that decision. We chat about the tension between perspective and comparison - and how comparison robs us of our joy in living the life God has planned for us. And finally (because what happy hour would be complete without it?), we discuss shark attacks and my paralyzing (and very rational) fear of being devoured by a shark. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Hour #132 is Heather Avis. Heather is wife to her man Josh, and mother to the adorable Macyn, Truly and August. After working as an Education Specialist she found herself as a full-time stay-at-home mom when she and her husband adopted their first daughter, Macyn, in 2008. Shortly thereafter, in 2011, they adopted their second daughter, Truly. And in 2013, their son August was born and came home to be theirs. Heather currently resides in Southern California where between oatmeal making, diaper changing and dance parties, she just finished writing her first book and uses her hit Instagram account @macymakesmyday, to share the awesomeness of all things Down syndrome and adoption. In my conversation with Heather, I learn all about the journey that God took Heather and her husband on to bring home their three gorgeous children. Heather shares about how God changed her heart to pursue adopting a child with Down Syndrome. She talks about some of the misconceptions and the language people use when talking about children with special needs. And she also shares the staggering statistics on doctors recommending aborting babies with Down Syndrome. It took my breath away, and I imagine it will for some of you too. This was my first time meeting Heather, and I absolutely loved getting to know her. She cares fiercely for and advocates for the underdog, and she believes God's goodness and beauty are found in the seemingly uncomfortable places. Coming up next week, on World Down Syndrome Day, Heather will release her very first book. I can't wait to read it, and I know you'll love hearing more of her story as well. Make sure to pre-order your copy here. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Hour #131 is Haley Robison. Haley Robison is the CEO at Kammok, a outdoor gear company that designs technical, performance gear for the everyday adventurer. Haley believes in the power of well-designed product to enable life changing experiences, and she aspires to increase outdoor engagement by building a brand that encourages a city-to-trail lifestyle and makes the outdoor experience accessible for everyone. In today's conversation, Haley and I talk about what it's like to be a 31-year-old CEO of a very popular and successful company. Haley shares a bit about the pressures of being a young female executive. We share about our very similar (insert eye roll) experiences camping and brushes with death. She explains the differences between Type 1, Type 2 and the dreaded Type 3 fun. Haley also opens up about singleness and her contentment in this life stage. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Half Hour #26 is my husband, the one and only, Aaron Ivey. Aaron is the only man allowed on the show, unless one of you can connect me with George W. Bush. Aaron is making his fourth appearance on The Happy Hour. You can listen to his previous interviews here: #39, #70 and #100.  In today's show, we give you some sneak peaks into The Happy Hour LIVE! You're not going to want to miss. We have some really fun surprises and an unforgettable night planned for you. You have just a couple more hours to snag your ticket. So, go go go right now and grab one.  We also hear Aaron's latest recommendations on TV and podcasts, the advice he loves to give and what he's aiming for in 2017. We also get an earful of his pet peeves - he's pretty peevey. Peeves and all, he's my favorite guest of all time, and I am pretty sure he's gotta be yours too. Y'all enjoy the show and make sure to hurry over and grab one of the last few tickets for the live shows! {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Aaron's Upcoming Book: Steal Away Home Chef's Table How I Built This Sleeping At Last Silence by Shusaku Endo Music from Jason Poe Connect with Aaron Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsor: Noonday Collection Noonday Collection is a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. When you purchase Noonday accessories, you create a marketplace for artisan businesses, enabling them to provide dignified jobs in vulnerable communities. They develop artisan businesses through fair trade, collaborative design, responsible financing, capacity building and long-term partnership. On February 16, Noonday releases their newest line! If you host a Noonday Trunk show between February 16-28, you could earn gifts from some of their partners over at Lindsay Letters and The Object Enthusiast. Plus, with a qualifying show you'll be entered to win a trip for 2 to Austin! Contact your local Ambassador to book a show today. If you don't have an Ambassador, go to the here and you'll find a match with someone in your area!

My guest for The Happy Hour #130 is Joy Eggerichs Reed. Joy is the Founder of Punchline Speakers, a new agency connecting communicators to opportunities, and vice versa. Joy has also been a speaker herself over the last decade. Between 2005 and 2015 Joy worked as Conference Director for her parents Love and Respect marriage conferences. Then she created the Love and Respect Now website and The Illumination Project small group study as resources for her generation on the topic of singleness, dating and marriage. In 2014, Christianity Today named Joy one of 33 leaders under the age of 33 shaping the next generation. In our conversation today, we chat about Joy's love for the art of improv, while she educates me on some of the theater lingo. We talk all about her latest venture, Punchline Speakers, and where they're heading and how you might be able to be a part. Joy and her husband are in the process of moving to Paris, France, so she shares what she has learned about French culture and American perceptions. We also chat about our possible diagnoses of Worst Case Scenario Disorder (WCSD) and our mutual experienced fear of sharks in swimming pools. Oh, this conversation has it all. We end with one of my favorite dinner table questions - would you rather be rich or famous? Joy tried her best to wiggle herself out of that question, but she finally caved after some pressure. I loved loved loved having Joy on the show. I think you will love hearing from her, her contagious laugh and what she's up to these days. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Hour #129 is Rebekah Lyons. Rebekah is the author of Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning and now You are Free: Be Who You Already Are. She is a mother of three, wife of one, and dog-walker of two living in Franklin, TN. Alongside her husband, Gabe, she serves as co-founder of Q Ideas, a nonprofit organization that helps Christian leaders winsomely engage in culture. When she's not busy writing killer books, you can find her reading and sipping a discriminating cup of coffee. In today's show, we cover it all. We start where all happy hours should start - a review on jumpsuits. If you don't know, Rebekah can rock a jumpsuit better than just about anyone out there. I later learn that one reason she can pull them off so effortlessly is because she's riding a bike with her son for about an hour every day. So, if you need a new goal, there you go. Riding a bike may just earn you a jumpsuit. In less trivial conversation, Rebekah shares about her newest book, You Are Free, which was just released yesterday. Y'all have heard me (at nauseam) talk about book covers, and this one is one of my favorites. It even feels good. Rebekah talks about the process of writing the book and battling the lies of the enemy to walk in obedience and write her story. She also shares about her family and their move to New York City with three kids, and how her son very cleverly caused himself to be sick at school day after day to communicate to his parents that it was time to move on. I am majorly inspired by Rebekah, and I hope that you are too. Make sure you hurry over and grab a copy of her latest book. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Half Hour #25 is my friend, Jennie Allen. Jennie is a speaker, author, teacher and the founder and visionary of IF:Gathering. IF: Gathering has since become one of the fastest growing conferences and movements in the world, empowering women across continents and denominations to live honestly and deeply. Just a few weeks ago, Jennie published her highly anticipated third book, Nothing to Prove. Jennie lives with her husband Zac and their four children in Austin, Texas. Jennie has made previous appearances on The Happy Hour #12 and The Happy Half Hour #4. She's back today to catch up, chat about her newest book and the latest IF: Gathering. She also answers our newest half hour questions, including her favorite meal, what she'd tell her 30-year-old self and the advice she usually gives. Y'all enjoy catching back up with Jennie. Hope you have a great weekend, and have a happy hour with a friend! {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show Jennie's Book: Nothing to Prove IF: Gathering Beth Moore's LIT Grit by Angela Duckworth The Crown Lush's Bath Bombs Music from Jason Poe Connect with Jennie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsor: PrepDish Prep Dish is a healthy subscription-based meal planning service. When you sign up, you'll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After a couple of hours on the weekend, you'll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. You'll save time and have some amazingly delicious meals like Smoky Paprika Chicken Legs with Roasted Carrots, Parsnips & Fennel or Turkey & Zucchini Lasagna. Allison is offering listeners one month for just $4! You can't beat it. Check out PrepDish for this amazing deal! Use code: happyhour

My guest for The Happy Hour #128 is my friend, Julie Manning. Julie is a wife to her husband, John, mother of three fun-loving boys, and pediatric nurse practitioner. At the age of 25, Julie left her career in corporate America to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. While in nursing school, the Lord birthed a passion within Julie to care for children born with heart disease. Little did she know seven years later, she would learn that her own heart was sick. The Lord’s pursuit of Julie’s heart and soul through the valley of facing many uncertainties has developed a fire within her to live intentionally from moment to moment as if it may be her last. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Hour #127 is Sally Clarkson. Sally is the mother of four wholehearted children, a popular conference speaker, and champion of women everywhere. She is the best-selling author of numerous books and articles on Christian motherhood and parenting, including her most recent release, Different, written with her son. Sally lives in Monument, Colorado and loves Jesus, her family, reading, music, tea, traveling, long walks, and her golden retriever, Darcy. On today's show, Sally and I chat about writing her newest book with her son, Nathan. Growing up as an out-of-the-box kid with OCD and ADHD, Nathan writes about his experiences and thought patterns, and Sally writes about her journey in parenting him (mistakes and all). In our conversation, Sally shares more about the book - how it came to be, what it was like to write with her son, and what she learned along the way. Her wisdom in parenting kiddos with different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses is so valuable. Sally and I also chat about disciplining children based on their personalities. Finally, she talks about how she is passionate about making sure she is filled up, so that the people that draw from her, draw riches and not poverty. For the full summary and links to the show, click the link below! Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // YouTube GET ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

My guest for The Happy Half Hour #24 is Debra Parker. Debra is all about freedom and wild pursuits. She follows Jesus and manages the her party of six. She's a self-described beach dweller and anywhere adventurer. She is also the Founder of Wildfire Collective: Podcast + Happenings + Justice Initiative.   Debra first joined me on The Happy Hour for episode #10, when we talked about sex trafficking, her adoption story and celebrity crushes. She's back today to catch up and fill us in on the latest going ons in her life. We chat about what success looks like for her, what she would like her legacy to be, and what she would tell her 20-year-old self. Sage advice there, y'all. I hope you love catching back up with Debra.  {You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!} Links from the Show For Her Prayer Initiative Wildfire Collective Podcast Wildfire Collective Happenings This Is Us Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James Music from Jason Poe Connect with Debra Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Connect with Jamie Facebook // Twitter // Instagram Sponsor: Noonday Collection Noonday Collection is a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. When you purchase Noonday accessories, you create a marketplace for artisan businesses, enabling them to provide dignified jobs in vulnerable communities. They develop artisan businesses through fair trade, collaborative design, responsible financing, capacity building and long-term partnership. On February 16, Noonday releases their newest line! If you host a Noonday Trunk show between February 16-28, you could earn gifts from some of their partners over at Lindsay Letters and The Object Enthusiast. Plus, with a qualifying show you'll be entered to win a trip for 2 to Austin! Contact your local Ambassador to book a show today. If you don't have an Ambassador, go to the here and you'll find a match with someone in your area!