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I really love the way Amanda Held Opelt writes and thinks, so it was a joy to talk about what’s lighting her up these days, most specifically the idea of provisions. Amanda has steeped herself in what that word means, both in terms of the food of her region of Appalachia AND what it means to have bodies that depend on the provision of food. Please raise your hand if you’ve ever had a complicated relationship with food. Okay, now keep your hand up if you are wondering how to pronounce Appalachia. You’re in the right place. Amanda is our girl for this work.  Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and life in Southern Appalachia. Amanda studied Liberal Arts at Bryan College and is pursuing a Masters in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. She spent nearly 15 years in the non-profit sector, and has written for Christianity Today, Plough, and 100 Days in Appalachia. A proud resident of Boone, North Carolina, Amanda enjoys life in the mountains with her husband and two young daughters. Links from the Episode: Amanda’s Website Provisions Amanda’s Substack Wendell Berry Dolly Parton Star for Jesus Stephen Crotts Sorghum Boil A Hole in the World Eutychus Jairus’ Daughter Book recommendations: Ramp Hollow Demon Copperhead Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Hello hello and welcome back to For Real for Season Five! Yippee! Let the adventure continue! Nobody lives, breathes, and wrangles adventure like my guest today. All these many moons ago when For Real was just a wobbly-legged idea, the very first episode we released was a conversation with my dear friend Bob Goff. I couldn’t think of a more fitting or delightful way to start this banner season than to circle back and ask Bob a few more questions. Listen, if you, by chance, need a shot in the arm today, you’re in the right place. No further ado needed: listen in on my conversation with author, speaker, chief balloon inflater, and very dear friend, Bob Goff. Bob Goff is the author of the New York Times bestselling books Love Does, Everybody Always, Dream Big, and Undistracted. He is the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda, an attorney, and the founder of Love Does—a nonprofit human rights organization operating in 14 countries. He's a lover of balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams. Bob continues to be inspired by friendships he’s developed with others around the world who live their lives pursuing strategic ways to help others. You can typically find Bob writing and taking calls from his boat, welcoming people to The Oaks—his Southern California retreat center, or at an event speaking. Bob's greatest ambitions in life are to love others, do stuff, and, most importantly, to hold hands with his wife, Sweet Maria Goff, and spend time with their amazing kids and grandkids. For more, check out BobGoff.com and LoveDoes.org. Links from the Episode: Bob’s Website Jody Luke Love Does Work in Uganda Work in Mogadishu Work in Afghanistan Kim’s Books 2 Corinthians 3:2-4 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Work in San Quentin Prison Matthew 25:31-46 San Quentin Learning Center 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Mark 9:23-25 Podcast with Lex Gillette Maria Goff Summer Reading Episode Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Today is a total treat for me because we are having a bonus conversation with two of my very favorite human beings. My daughters Ana and Thea join me today to help you map out some options for summer reading. Three unapologetic book girls, gathering to nerd out, finish each other’s sentences, and try not to forget that other people are listening in. Happy summer! Get yourself a spot on the porch or dock or poolside and bring a book (or eight) for good company! Links from the episode: SS Edmund Fitzgerald Going Clear Goodreads NYT Book Review Christianity Today Book Award Amanda’s Episode J.R. Briggs’ Episode Katherine & Alex’s Episode Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack GIVEAWAY! Win a copy of books from this season! Book recommendations: Kimberly Stuart Novels Nonfiction Anthropocene Reviewed Crying in H Mart Braiding Sweetgrass Fearfully and Wonderfully Made River of Doubt Shooting Up Jesus books Imagine Heaven Star for Jesus After College C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters Mere Christianity Chronicles of Narnia A Hole in the World The Art of Asking Better Questions Treasures in the Dark Fiction books J. Ryan Stradal Lager Queen of Minnesota Tom Lake (audio) Emma M. Lion Series The Correspondent The Great Gatsby Fyodor Dostoevsky Anna Karenina Emma Gone with the Wind Crime & Punishment Pride & Prejudice For kids Percy Jackson Series Heroes of Olympus Hunger Games Harry Potter Keeper of the Lost Cities Ruta Sepetys Crossover Solo Love & Gelato Tweet Cute A Pho Love Story Lessons in Chemistry TBR The Calamity Club Born a Crime Jane Austen Jane Eyre Eugene Peterson What I Ate in One Year Kristin Hannah The Nightengale The Women Winter Garden

Goodness, am I excited for you to hear this episode! Today’s guest, Jonathan Tepper, has written a memoir that is a story of love, grief, and a persistent curiosity about the world. Jonathan grew up as a missionary kid in Spain, where his parents ran a drug recovery center, first in their own home with their four young sons in tow, and now for thousands of people in over twenty countries. Yowza, is this a story, and yowza, was it an honor to learn from Jonathan. I cannot wait for you to listen to this conversation with author, financial whiz, missionary kid, and Rhodes Scholar, for Pete’s sake, Jonathan Tepper. Jonathan Tepper is the author of several acclaimed financial books, including The Myth of Capitalism. A Rhodes Scholar, he earned degrees in History and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MLitt from the University of Oxford. Born in the U.S. and raised in Mexico as a very young child, Jonathan came of age in Madrid’s San Blas neighborhood, where his parents ran one of the country’s first drug rehabilitation centers. Shooting Up is his first memoir, offering a deeply personal view of life at the intersection of faith, addiction, and resilience. He and his wife Stacey have a two-year-old who is a human hurricane of curiosity and keeps them busy. Jonathan returns to Madrid as often as he can. Links from the Episode: Jonathan’s WebsiteShooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and AddictionThe Last DanceA Grief ObservedFlying Over 96th StreetGIVEAWAY! Win a copy of books from this season!Book recommendations: A Strategy for Daily LivingNaples 44Empire of the Sun Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I get to chat with a new friend today, Timothy Jones. Tim is a pastor, writer, former magazine editor, scholar, and he is also a person who is deeply curious about how to make big ideas about God feel less intimidating to the average person. He is warm and kind and someone I think you’ll love learning with and from. Enjoy this conversation with the author of the new book Fully Beloved: Meeting God in our Heartaches and Hopes, Timothy Jones. Timothy Jones is a pastor and author known for helping people uncover greater warmth and depth in their relationship with God. His books include Awake My Soul: Practical Spirituality for Busy People; The Art of Prayer; and Celebration of Angels. Tim enjoys good stories and playing old-time banjo music. He lives near Nashville with his wife, Jill. Links from the episode: Tim’s WebsiteTim’s SubstackFully BelovedJulian of Norwich1 John 4The Art of PrayerSehnsucht1 Thessalonians 4:12-14Matthew 27:45-47Psalm 22GIVEAWAY! Win a copy of books from this season! Book recommendations: The Lord of the RingsTolkien’s CalligraphyMatteringVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Today’s conversation comes out of my own curiosity of how to come alongside people who are in recovery for substance misuse or addiction. Caroline Beidler is the person to help us do this well. Caroline is an author, speaker, and managing editor of Recovery.com, where she combines research and expert insight on addiction and mental health. Because she can draw on how it feels to be both the one struggling with addiction AND the one loving someone in those same trenches, Caroline has so much to teach us on how to understand and act with both wisdom and compassion.  Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and managing editor of Recovery.com, where she combines research and expert insight on addiction and mental health. Drawing from her own recovery journey, she is the founder of the Women's Recovery Leadership Foundation and helps others find healing through her newsletter and podcast, Circle of Chairs, which reaches thousands weekly. Caroline’s next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery, a compassionate and practical guide to understanding addiction and supporting loved ones through recovery, hits shelves April 2026. She lives in eastern Tennessee with her husband and seven-year-old twins. Links from the episode: Caroline’s WebsiteWhen You Love Someone in RecoveryThis is Your Brain on Drugs CampaignProdigal SonHope Research Centerkimberlystuart.com/giveaway Book recommendation: Steps Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Kendall Mariah, I think you’ll find, is not only a really lovely human being, she is one surprise after another. We chat about the surprises, I assure you, as well as about her new book, This Little Fire of Mine. Just know that we went a mile deep AND I did start to wheeze after laughing at one of her stories. I’m talking straight-up searching for albuterol. See? Full of surprises. I loved this conversation and loved getting to chat with Kendall about her heart and mind and way of being in the world.  Kendall is a lifestyle content creator, photographer, and brand strategist whose honest storytelling has cultivated a deeply connected online community. As a business owner, military spouse, and adoptive mom, she speaks authentically about the intersections of faith, identity, and everyday life. Links from the episode: Kendall’s WebsiteThis Little Fire of MineAngela Y. Davis QuoteGIVEAWAY! Win a copy of I Like You So Much!Book recommendation: Love Does Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis has written about so many varied and fascinating things, I can’t even keep up. Dr. Kramer McGinnis is a frequent contributor to Christianity Today, she is a college musicology professor, and she is currently spreading the word about her new book while working on another to release next year. She also is a mom of three kids ages eight and under. (I think she sleeps, but I cannot confirm.) We tackle a lot, including her research for The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Failed a Generation of Evangelicals. I hope you leave our conversation with some ideas on how to seek out wise voices when looking for guidance as we all raise our kids. And I hope you have a new appreciation for the grace we need to give ourselves as children and as parents. Kelsey Kramer McGinnis is the worship correspondent for Christianity Today. She holds a PhD in musicology and teaches music and theology at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. Kelsey is a coauthor of the book The Myth of Good Christian Parenting and writes broadly on Christian music and the intersection of American Christianity and popular culture. Her next book will examine Christian diet and wellness culture and its impact on women. She lives in central Iowa with her husband and three children. Links from the episode: Kelsey’s SubstackKelsey at Christianity TodayGerman POWs in Iowa during WWIIThe Myth of Good Christian ParentingJim & Lynne JacksonTina Payne BrysonDan Siegel Book recommendations: Jonathan McReynoldsCloser Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

I’m delighted to welcome Nate L. NIcholson to the podcast today. Nate is a creative’s creative. He is committed to making in all kinds of artistic media, everything from visual art to films to short documentaries to books. Nate’s new book In the Beginning We Create hit me at just the right time, and I’m positive I won’t be alone in that feeling. I was absolutely jazzed to find him and his work, and you won’t have to wonder why. Formerly from Chicago and newly relocated to Delaware (our first Delawarean guest I believe), I know you’ll enjoy this conversation with artist and creative, Nate Nicholson. Nathan L. Nicholson is an artist, award-winning graphic designer, consultant, and creative director based in Chicago. He is an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ. In 2024, he received the 40 Under 40 COGIC Achievers Award. Nathan is also the host of the Culture Critic podcast and the founder of NUMA Art, LLC, an independent creative services and communications agency. He is married to Praniece, and they have two children. Links from the episode: Nate’s WebsiteNate’s YouTube ChannelIn the Beginning We CreateGary Area Career CenterGenesis 1Maya Angelou QuoteElevate Black VoicesArtist Who Began at 80Nina Simone QuoteStory of HagarJudge Judy Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

J.R. Briggs is a pastor, seminary professor, coach, consultant, and writer. The Rev. Dr. J.R. Briggs lives with a clear and focused calling: to grow fruit on other people’s trees. His work seeks to bridge the gap between spiritual formation and actionable leadership practices, aiming to help faith leaders and their organizations grow both in their faith and their impact on their communities.  In 2011, he started Kairos Partnerships with a commitment to serve hungry kingdom leaders through leadership coaching, consulting, speaking, and teaching. He loves investing in the KP team of equippers so Kairos Partnerships can invest in all leaders who desire care and equipping.  He has taught in higher education since 2017. After teaching in the practical theology department at Missio Seminary, he now serves as guest instructor at Friends University in their Masters of Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership program and Taylor University in their Masters of Leadership program. He has guest lectured, taught, and spoken at over a dozen universities and seminaries across the U.S. He also serves as the Director of Leadership & Congregational Formation for The Ecclesia Network.  He has written, co-written, and contributed to 15 books on a wide variety of topics and published over 50 articles, both online and in print, including Christianity Today, Missio Alliance, Preaching Today, American Bible Society, and N.T. Wright Online. He hosts the Resilient Leaders podcast, a weekly podcast equipping leaders to grow in their health and effectiveness. In addition to being passionate about serving and equipping leaders, J.R. loves swimming, kayaking, skiing, hiking, reading, traveling, eating sushi and Thai food, and cheering for the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles and the Michigan Wolverines.  Links from the episode: The Art of Asking Better QuestionsTask switchingQuestion hijack studySox the FoxEugene PetersonYeshivaGIVEAWAY! Win a copy of The Art of Asking Better Questions Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Heather Avis is an accomplished speaker, podcaster, an author many times over, and a fierce advocate for families experiencing disability. Heather has helped thousands of people understand better how to value, learn from, and shout the worth of all people, with a specific focus on shifting the narrative of Down syndrome. She and her family of five live in Southern California, and it was my total joy to chat with and learn from her in this rich and honest conversation. For over a decade, Heather has led a movement, reimagining what it looks like when we embrace our differences. Heather is a highly sought-after speaker renowned for her expertise in inclusion, storytelling, advocacy, and shifting the narrative around Down syndrome. Her engaging, conversational speaking style, unique insights, and captivating presence have made her a beloved speaker nationwide. With a gift for weaving personal experiences into compelling narratives, Heather illuminates broader human stories that resonate deeply with audiences with one simple mission: create inclusive spaces where everyone belongs. Links from the episode: Heather’s WebsiteThe Lucky FewBaptism of JesusHope Heals CampGap’s Everyone Belongs Ad Campaign Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Today we have the absolute delight of hearing from Britton and Maggie Buchanan. You might know Britton as the runner-up on season 14 of NBC's The Voice, which is a very fun fact that we certainly discuss. Maggie Buchanan is a writer and hometown girl and family business team member and just the person you want as a neighbor and constant coffee companion. Trust me. You’ll see. I loved talking with these two, and I’m absolutely certain they are the perfect addition of thoughtfulness and North Carolinian sunshine for your day.  Britton and Maggie Buchanan are a young, married couple who are building a home with wide open doors and plenty of windows to let the Light in. Their joined creativity and passion for story-telling drive their faith and their careers. Britton is a singer-songwriter who gained national attention as runner-up on Season 14 of NBC’s The Voice. Since then, he’s toured across the country, released music that has charted on iTunes and Billboard, and collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres. Maggie is a Bible teacher, speaker, and writer with a heart for helping people connect with Scripture in ways that feel honest, accessible, and life-giving. She holds a Master of Divinity, founded Gospel Girl to help women grow in their faith, and now works with her family while continuing to teach and write. Together, they hope their marriage, creativity, and everyday rhythms invite others to feel welcomed, seen, and reminded that they belong to God and to one another. Links from the episode: Britton’s Instagram Maggie’s Instagram Season 14 of The Voice Shoulders of Giant Quote Matthew 25 On earth as it is in heaven Sam Wells Eat Pray Love LA Cemetery with Cultural Events Joan Didion Joanie Mitchell Book recommendations: Slouching Toward Bethlehem The Correspondant Chinatown It’s A Wonderful Life Casablanca Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, is my guest today, and you might pick up a little fangirling here and there because he’s just that kind of guy, okay? I can’t help it. I think so highly of him and of his extraordinary wife Jamie, and I’m just so excited for you to hear from him on writing, yes, but on so so many more things that matter deeply. Things like how writing works with grief, how he gets so much done (hint: it matters who you marry), and on how we all need each other, whether on our own familiar roads or on rural roads in Spain. Listen in, friends, to author, musician, and solid human being, Sean Dietrich. Sean Dietrich is a columnist, humorist, multi-instrumentalist, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader's Digest, Garden and Gun, and his column appears weekly in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored eighteen books and over four thousand columns. He makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, his work has been featured on the Today Show, and he's a really nice guy. Check him out @seanofthesouth. Links from the episode: Sean’s Columns Sean’s Books Sean’s Music Sean’s Instagram Reels Straighten Up and Fly Right Song Story by Sean Over Yonder Downton Abbey El Camino de Santiago Sean’s Hate Mail Kinfolk GIVEAWAY! Win a copy of Over Yonder Sean's book recommendations: The Story of My Life Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

If you are staring down a new year and seriously considering trading in your schedule, your house, your social situation, your entire situation for something new and improved, HOLD ON A SECOND. What if you don’t need a massive overhaul and instead need tiny tweaks? Today we get the chance to learn from the queen of the tweak, the ninja of the simple purposeful life, Erin Port. Erin’s done the work to help us figure out some simple and smart ways to begin, so listen in and learn with me in this conversation with author and entrepreneur and fellow Iowa girl (by way of Switzerland), Erin Port. Erin Port is a writer, entrepreneur, and mother of four. She founded Simple Purposeful Living in 2018 to help busy women simplify life’s overwhelming tasks, creating space for what truly matters. With master’s-level training in education, Erin hosts The Simple Purposeful Living Podcast. Erin offers a line of products, including meal planners, cookbooks, and notebooks. She lives in Polk City, Iowa, with her family. Follow her @simplepurposefulliving. Links from the episode: Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life Megan Reuther Kim’s YouTube Enneagram 3 She Reads Truth Erin’s Gratitude Journal GIVEAWAY! Enter to win a free copy of Erin’s book Erin's book recommendations: Sarah Adams Garden City Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KimberlyStuart.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more from this episode.

For Real isn’t going away! (Just in case long pauses make you nervous.) New episodes will release in early 2026. I know there are treasures waiting for us as we keep asking good questions. Before we reach the end of 2025, I wanted to take a few moments with just me on the mic to share an update and a hearty thank you for the many ways you reached out after the unexpected loss of my dad last summer. This isn’t the story I wanted for my family or for myself, but I’m grateful to be surrounded by people like you.