BRIGHTER Steph Eckert & Laura McDougall

Today’s episode is the second part of Steph sharing her postpartum journey after her second born. In this part Steph shares how God helped reorder her perspective and thought life. This episode reminds us that we serve a redemptive God; he doesn’t hold back blessings from us based on our records. When we choose to fix our eyes on Jesus, the difficulties of this world don’t feel as heavy, for His burden is light!

Includes: the podcasts origin, visions, endometriosis, Aslan, unmerited favour

Timeline:

1:15 - Moving back home & finding stability as a family of 4

2:30 - When the idea of the podcast came to be

5:30 - God’s miraculous plan for more children

18:00 - Hearing God speak through visions and prophetic word

23:00 - They say medical marvels, we say miraculous pregnancies

26:00 - Preparing for another postpartum journey

28:45 - Reorienting our perspective to God’s sovereignty

31:00 - It takes a village

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

In today’s episode Steph shares her postpartum story after the birth of her second born. You’ll hear Laura and Steph discuss the common difficulties of the early postpartum phase including the differences between postpartum depression and the baby blues. In this first part of their conversation Steph goes into detail about how she went into crisis, the aftermath and the immediate support that followed. Stay tuned for next week’s episode to hear the second part of our conversation, where Steph shares more on God’s unmerited favour over her life!

Includes: sleeplessness, suicide, postpartum psychosis, wraparound support

Timeline:

2:00 - Why Steph decided to share

4:45 - The challenging first few weeks of postpartum

12:50 - Defining: postpartum, postpartum depression and baby blues

15:30 - Hitting the waves of denial

19:30 - When the future became black

23:10 - No longer alone

30:30 - Experiencing postpartum psychosis

34:45 - The difference having wraparound support made

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

Today’s episode is part two of our conversation with Becky Mathieu where we’re continuing to discuss children’s mental health. We talk about the relief that comes with receiving the correct diagnosis, while also mentioning the risks in ignoring concerns. In this episode we return back to the gospel; remembering that despite the consequences of the fall God is still sovereign and has a plan for each child.

Includes: Peace despite diagnosis, broken pelvis, the one stone left unturned, the can’t versus won’t approach, thankfulness

Scriptures included: Jeremiah 29:11, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Proverbs 4:23, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8-9, Isaiah 26:3

Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley https://www.dsasc.ca/uploads/8/5/3/9/8539131/welcome_to_holland.pdf

Community Resources:

-Merrymount - https://www.merrymount.on.ca/

-Thames Valley Children’s Centre - https://www.tvcc.on.ca/

-Vanier Children’s Services - https://www.vanier.com/

-Children and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) https://www.ontario.ca/page/child-and-parent-resource-institute-cpri

-Craigwood Children, Youth and Family Services - https://www.craigwood.ca/

Timeline:

1:50 - Moving forward in the face of fear

3:00 - Relief and peace that getting the correct diagnosis can have

7:00 - The risks in ignoring concerning behaviours or lacking skills

8:45 - Looking at our children’s needs through the truth of the gospel story

11:00 - The hope we can hold onto; God is here

15:00 - The can’t versus won’t approach

16:00 - Why we shouldn’t put our hope in treatment

18:15 - Remembering that we’re compiled of our spirit, soul and body

19:15 - God prepared us in His Word for mental health

23:10 - The importance of a balanced approach in addressing mental health concerns

26:00 - Having a thankful and steadfast heart on Christ

29:25 - Encouragement to seek out resources and ask for help

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

In today’s episode, we kick off Season Two of the Brighter Podcast with special guest Becky Mathieu. She is a Child and Youth Worker, Registered Psychotherapist, and after-hours on call chaplain. In part one of our conversation with Becky, we go over some of the most common issues that children face in mental health, as well as what’s “normal”, and the worries and fears parents go through.

Includes: common children’s mental health issues and what behaviours to look out for

"Kids do well if they CAN, not if they want to" - Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/index.htm

Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley https://www.dsasc.ca/uploads/8/5/3/9/8539131/welcome_to_holland.pdf

Timeline:

3:40 - Becky Mathieu’s introduction

6:00 -Common mental health issues among children

7:50 - Every behaviour has a function

16:00 -Range of normal; symptoms don’t always mean a diagnosis, consult with your doctor

21:00 - Developmental delay versus developmental disability

26:40 - Fear of getting a diagnosis and the peace of the gospel

31:35 - God created Holland; moving forward in the face of fear



As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

In this episode, Steph and Laura reflect on the first season of the Brighter Podcast, share some laughs, and chat through what their hopes are for the next season. Even in this casual conversation, Steph and Laura remind listeners that they are not alone in their struggles and that God has designed us to be in relationship with him.

Includes: ways to share the podcast, thoughts on the next season, Owen Wilson, the intended purpose of the podcast: resource of encouragement

Timeline:

2:15 - Reflecting on recording the season

4:00 - Update on Season Two

6:00 - Encouraging listeners to share the podcast

9:00 - You’re not alone

9:55 - Recapping on the main topics

14:30 - Episode ideas for Season Two

19:00 - Clips from our conversation with Leonard Terry

24:00 - Owen Wilson’s “wow”

25:30 - How to get involved

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.

Today’s episode is part two of a conversation we had with Leonard Terry, where we continue the discussion on mental health and the church. Leonard shares insights on what the church has to offer people that can’t be found anywhere else, as well as personal stories of salvation and what it means to actually love someone affected by mental illness. We were all brought to tears during this conversation, and we believe that these words and discussions will have power to liberate you on your journey, wherever you are at.

Today’s episode will also conclude Season One at the Brighter Podcast. You can look forward to a Season One Recap episode next week, where we’ll share our reflections from the past months of recording, why we’re taking a break, and what you can expect for Season Two.

Includes: church culture and privilege, 1 Timothy 2:17, spiritual forces, when the bible feels like an obstacle, experiencing fatherlessness, and sharing the gospel through actions

Timeline

2:00 - Three things the church has to offer:

     2:00 - God’s design for us to live in community

     4:00 - Opening our hearts in worship can help elevate our mental health

     6:50 - The Word of God can help us overcome

9:20 - When the bible doesn’t feel like the source of hope people say it is

15:00 - Leonard’s understanding and view of the church as a child

19:00 - Showing God’s love to people who don’t fit the Christian mold

22:55 - Testimonies of Leonard walking out God’s steadfast love

As always, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram (@brighterpodcastministry). If you're new, come follow us for encouragement, testimonies, and other bonus content to draw you nearer to God, wherever you may be on your journey.