The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast

Kayla M. Cook
  • 5.0 (34)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Bitter & The Sweet Podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. Join Host Kayla M. Cook every Tuesday for conversations about disappointment and dreams, grief and gratitude, the bitter and the sweet.

  1. 1d ago

    No Toxic Positivity: Joy That Doesn't Ignore Your Pain- Episode 88

    One of the most important things to me in the making of this episode on joy was that it not become some Pollyanna, joy is all around us-type episode, full of platitudes and pretending.  Here's the thing: I do believe that there's joy all around us. That's because in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, and He's with us always, just like He said.  But man, sometimes we're just SAD, aren't we? How do we embrace joy in every season, even (and maybe especially) when it is hard-won? Is joy available to us now, or something grown in us over time, or is it a someday thing we look forward to? What about when we're sad or grieving, and what about when we stay that way for a long time? Questions like there are what this episode is all about.     LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website

    12 min

  2. Jun 2

    How to Love When Your Heart Feels Hard- Episode 87

    How do I love my people above my own preferences? How do I love when I've been hurt, or when I'm disappointed, or when I feel like I've been let down? How do I love God most when I'm mad at Him? We don't shy away from the hard questions around here, and in this episode about love, we are tackling these (and others) head on! In this honest conversation all about love, Kayla gets real about living as a person of love. With practical tips on how to love in hard seasons, healing a hard heart, and staying rooted in your faith when love feels hard, this episode will remind you you're not alone as you seek to love God and the people He gave you.   LINKS Become an email friend Invite Kayla to speak Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram

    12 min

  3. May 26

    You Don't Have to Make Summer Perfect: Letting Go of the Pressure to Make This the Best Summer Ever- Episode 86

    Feeling the pressure to make this a perfect summer?  In today's short solo episode, we're talking about releasing the pressure of a summer bucket list, plus what's coming up this summer here on the show. Don't miss it!   LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website

    4 min

  4. May 19

    Overwhelmed? You Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar- Episode 85

    So many of us are walking around with the weight of the world on our shoulders. The pressure to hold it all together is real, but what if we could trade our overwhelm and anxiety for peace?  It's possible, and that's what we are talking about today with a new friend of mine, Nichole Suvar! Nichole is the author of I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed. When I heard that title, I thought YES PLEASE- this book is for me and my people. Nichole and I got to talk about managing overwhelm- where it comes from and what we can do about, intentionally connecting with God throughout our days, good stewardship and taking responsibility without taking on things that aren't ours to own. We also got to talk about battling anxiety, cultivating peace, and the attributes of Eden that are still present today, even as we live in a broken world. I loved this conversation with Nichole, and I'm excited we get to share it with you. Links to connect are below!     LINKS Connect with Nichole on Instagram Visit Nichole's website: livewithintent.org Pre-order I Don't Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram

    29 min

  5. May 12

    Jesus and Therapy: Breaking the Silence around Mental Health and The Church with Rebecca Woodman- Episode 84

    If you've ever thought or been told you should "just pray more" when it comes to your mental health, this conversation with my friend Rebecca Woodman is for you! Rebecca is a wife, mom, therapist, and founder and executive director of ChurchxCity, a nonprofit that partners with the local church to bring affordable, Biblically based, mental health counseling to the city of Charlotte.  Rebecca and I got to talk about the stigma around anxiety and depression in faith spaces, how the Church has historically not done a great job when it comes to navigating mental health issues, positive changes in that, and where we go from here. We talked about when it's time to see a counselor or therapist, how to find one, and pursuing emotional wellness in a way that is rooted in faith without shame.  Healing and wholeness matter deeply to God because people matter deeply to Him. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, spiritually exhausted from trying harder, or alone in your struggles, this episode will remind you faith and mental health can coexist.    LINKS Connect with Rebecca on Instagram Learn more about (or connect with!) ChurchxCity Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend

    34 min

  6. May 5

    Living Selflessly Without Losing Your Worth with Morgan Krueger- Episode 83

    Why are we so naturally drawn to prioritize ourselves? What does it actually look like to live selflessly without losing sight of our God-given worth as image bearers (Imago Dei)? I recently got to unpack those questions (and much more!) with a brand new friend of mine, author Morgan Krueger. Morgan is a wife, mom, and Live Original Ambassador. She is the author of two books, including her latest Made to Magnify: Choosing to Live for Jesus When Everything Tells You to Live for Yourself. Morgan and I got to talk about the deep tension between self-centered living and a life that truly reflects Jesus. Together, we got to unpack living selflessly without losing who we were made to be, the everyday choices that shape our spiritual lives, and the powerful invitation God extends to know Him personally. Morgan shares how building trust in God's character frees us from constant striving and performance-based faith, allowing us to rest in His presence instead. This episode brings theology down to earth, with practical insight into what living for Jesus looks like in the ordinary rhythms of life, even on a normal Tuesday. If you've ever wrestled with purpose, identity, or surrender, this conversation will help you reframe what it means to truly magnify God in a self-focused world.   LINKS Connect with Morgan on Instagram Get your copy of Morgan's new book, Made to Magnify Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Visit Kayla's website Become an email friend

    29 min

  7. Apr 28

    Grace in Hard Places: Family of Origin, PPD, and Foster Care- Episode 82

    While we are in between National Infertility Awareness Week and Mother's Day, I wanted to bring you some of the very best of the conversations we've had about family in many different forms.  Your family of origin, postpartum mental health, and foster care are challenging topics, but there is a Grace that covers them.  In this episode, we are talking about hard conversations and boundaries with the family who raised you, postpartum depression and how our mental health impacts the people we love, and caring for vulnerable people without trying to control outcomes.  If you've ever felt the weight of your story, struggled in motherhood, or needed to see hope in hard seasons, this episode offers honest conversations and gentle reminders of God's presence and faithfulness in both the bitter and the sweet.   LINKS Connect with Kristen on Instagram Get your copy of Kristen's book, Legacy Changer Connect with Rachael on Instagram Get your copy of Rachael's book, A Mom is Born Connect with Lauren on Instagram Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Visit Kayla's website Become an email friend

    33 min

  8. Apr 21

    Infertility, Grief, and Gratitude: What Helps, What Hurts, and the Family You Imagined (NIAW Special)- Episode 81

    It is National Infertility Awareness Week- a week that is near and dear to my heart, as infertility is part of my story.  This week, I'm sharing my personal story with infertility, what helps and what hurts to hear from loved ones, and why we never have to choose between grief and gratitude.      LINKS   Episode 8: The Family You Hoped Would Be Episode 14: You Don't Have to Choose Between Grief and Gratitude Episode 34: What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Your Infertile Friend Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website

    25 min
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34 Ratings

About

The Bitter & The Sweet Podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. Join Host Kayla M. Cook every Tuesday for conversations about disappointment and dreams, grief and gratitude, the bitter and the sweet.

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