Faith & Fitness Favorites

Are you ready for this? It’s our LAST favorites post of this series. It’s been nearly 31 days, y’all. You’ve stuck with me all month and I’m so grateful. I hope you’ve been encouraged, heard some inspiring stories, and found some fun new products you never knew you needed 😉

I thought today I’d share some of my favorite podcasts, because whether they inspire my faith or keep me company when I’m working out (or traveling, or doing dishes, or trying to work on projects in my office) these are some of my favorite friends in my phone.

Around the Table (Jacey Verdicchio & Maggie McDaris) – This podcast feels like sitting at a coffee shop with two friends who are smart, funny, and real. It’s one of my favorites and I make sure to save a few episodes on my phone before I fly. From their site: Around the Table is the perfect balance of intention and indulgence. Dietitian and chef Maggie McDaris joins blogger Jacey Verdicchio of The Balanced Wife to talk food, intentional living, hospitality, and the ups and downs of life lately as 20-something ladies. Our goal is to help you live purposefully without skipping dessert! Pull up a chair and join us around the table. You’ll feel refreshed and inspired when you leave- promise!

The Big Boo Cast (Melanie Shankle & Sophie Hudson) – Sophie was one of the first bloggers I remember following when I first discovered blogging, and I love so much that both she and Melanie continue to invite readers and listeners into their wonderful every day lives – with hilarious storytelling and relatable honesty. It is incredibly refreshing to follow bloggers and podcasters who simply love what they do.

The Popcast  (Knox & Jamie) – I’ll be honest and tell you that this one won’t be for everyone. I find it hilarious (are you seeing a theme with these first few?) with a Gilmore Girls-esque quick witted banter about all the pop culture you could ever ask for. From their site: The Popcast is the Denzel Washington of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, it is a weekly argument / conversation between Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden about all things pop culture. Frequently we discuss silly celebrities, inexplicable trends, and the most conversation-worthy TV shows and movies.

The Relevant Podcast – There are very few podcasts that I listen to every week – most I’ll save and listen to as I have time. But the Relevant podcast is a highlight for me each week. I love the hosts, the guests, and the format that is so different from the rest of the podcasts on this list. From their site: The RELEVANT Podcast features the creators of RELEVANT magazine discussing the stuff that matters to your life, with in-studio music performances and interviews thrown in for kicks. The weekly show is an off-shoot of RELEVANT magazine, which covers faith, culture and intentional living.

That Sounds Fun (Annie F. Downs) – I’m so grateful to consider Annie a real life friend, and one of the most wonderful storytellers I’ve ever met. And so incredibly funny (see…there it is again!). Her podcast is an invitation into the things that she thinks are..well…fun! From her site: Less like a podcast and more like coffee with friends, Annie’s podcast, released every other Tuesday, features her favorite things and favorite people. On any given podcast, you can expect to hear about new books, faith conversations, restaurants, travel stories, musicians, and really any of Annie’s friends that she can wrangle around a microphone. Pretty much, if it sounds fun to Annie, she wants you to hear about it.

Hopeologie (Emily P. Freeman & Myquillan Smith) – These two. It actually seems a little unfair that God would bless two women from the same family with such artistic talent, amazing storytelling skills, and beautiful hearts. But I’m so glad He did, because we get to benefit from their overwhelming awesomeness. Recorded with their dad, Gary, their podcast is inspiring, challenging, and – yes – funny. From their site: Ready to embrace hope no matter how things appear? Let’s chip away at discouragement and find delight in our right-now homes, families, and souls. The Hopeologie podcast is the monthly audio conversation from Hopeologie.com, usually featuring sisters Myquillyn Smith (the Nester), author Emily P. Freeman, their dad Gary Morland, and the rest of their family. We believe Jesus is the ultimate hope, and we love trying to see him in the middle of dysfunction.

Mud Stories (Jacque Watkins) – I had the honor of spending some time with Jacque this past weekend at Raising Generations Today. The internet has brought some incredible women into my life, and I love her so much. She has a heart of gold, a phenomenal story, and a love for Jesus that shines in everything she does. Her podcast gives women the chance to share their messy stories so that others might be encouraged and find hope. From her site: A podcast dedicated to bringing you inspiration in your muddiest moments, hope to make it through your mud, and encouragement for you to know, you are not alone. We’ll talk about how God meets us in our suffering, how His grace sees us through our difficulty, and how His mercy finds us in our failure. And we’ll explore all the ways God redeems and restores situations by hearing inspirational words from others’ lives–words born out of their very own adversity. In the end we’ll discover how God works even the most difficult circumstances for our good, in His time.

Mom Struggling Well (Emily Thomas) – This gal, y’all. She is a phenomenally talented artist, one of the most encouraging women I’ve ever met, and has the biggest heart for moms. Her new podcast is delightful and I just love anyone who takes a risk, does something scary, and jumps in with both feet. You will love her and the women she’s featured. From her site: Mom Struggling well is a…podcast about the very real challenges of mothering that also includes light-hearted stories to inspire and encourage.  Each week I will interview a different guest about the topic of mothering and all the shenanigans which that entails.

God Centered Mom (Heather MacFadyen) – Heather is one of the few people I will willing allow into my hamster bubble. She is the extrovert to my introvert, the boy mom to my girl mom, the Texan to my Pennsylvanian. She is as real, hilarious, and warm as they come, and she pushes me to be a better woman of God in everything she does online. From her site: Life is messy. Some days (some hours) are harder than others. How do you ride the crazy waves of motherhood? Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, understands the wild ride. In this podcast she interviews guests about staying God-centered in a shaky mom world. Hearing vulnerable moments and examples of God’s faithfulness in the past, helps you, the listener, build firm faith foundations for the future. Reminding us of our position–centered in God’s presence and love.

Feathers (Amy J. Bennett) – Amy is one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met. She is adorably southern, married her high school sweetheart (like I did), works at a bank (like I did), and has three beautiful children. The story of how God brought feathers into her life is really phenomenal, and her podcast brings such hope & encouragement. From her site: Feathers is a podcast which shares stories of God speaking and His people having just enough faith to believe Him and obey. Each week we interview one guest who shares their story of faith. Perhaps God called them to something which seemed scary or crazy and they had to trust Him and obey or perhaps God asked them to travel a difficult road and asked them to remain faithful to Him. I hope Feathers inspires you and encourages you to take flight in your own faith.

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Did I miss any podcasts that you love? I’d love to add some more to my subscriptions, so share in the comments or tag me on social media (I’m @crystalstine pretty much everywhere) and let me know what you’re loving!