The Free to Be Podcast

Free to Be (NEPA)

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Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals led by Rev. Lauren Applegate, that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Hosted by Rev. Lauren Applegate and Byrnese Craig

May 20

Ep 11: We Interview Dawn Fenner from Essentials Cafe!

Today, Lauren and Byrnese are sitting down with Dawn Fenner, the Executive Director of Essentials Cafe in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Essentials Cafe is A pay-what-you-can community cafe whose mission is to reduce food insecurity in the Lehigh Valley and to provide a place where friendships and where friendships and understanding can flourish across all socio-economic groups. They strive to create a place of equality where everyone, with different gifts, abilities, and resources, has the opportunity to eat, find welcome, and contribute as volunteers. Patrons at the Café donate what they can to eat food together in a warm and hospitable environment. Volunteers work together to grow, cook, and serve food in warm and welcoming ways. As you'll hear in our episode today, in 2025 Essentials served more than 13,000 guests, and more than 8,000 of then paid less than the suggested price - so we think they're absolutely living into their mission! If you want to learn more about Essentials, connect, volunteer, or stop by for a meal, they are located at 418 3rd Ave in Bethlehem, PA. You can also find them online at ⁠https://www.essentialscafe.org/ ⁠ and on ⁠Facebook.⁠ Thanks again to Dawn for joining us! Thoughts? Questions? Things you'd like to hear us cover in future episodes? Send us an email and let us know! Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: (Byrnese) ⁠⁠⁠@pastorbyrnese⁠⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
May 6

Ep 10: Practice Makes Easier

This week on the podcast, we're talking freedom from perfectionism, the joy (and work!) of life with a puppy, and what's going on in your brain when you practice that difficult work of growth. Thoughts? Questions? Things you'd like to hear us cover in future episodes? Send us an email and let us know! Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: (Byrnese) ⁠⁠@pastorbyrnese⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Apr 23

Ep 09: Let's Talk About Love

Love - it's a word we use a lot! Today, Lauren and Byrnese challenge some of the assumption our society holds about what love truly is, and wonder how we embrace and practice love in our own lives. You're invited to join the conversation! Share this episode with your friends and family, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you might have. Got any ideas for a future podcast topic? We'd love to hear it! Email Lauren at Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: (Byrnese) ⁠@pastorbyrnese⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Apr 8

Ep 08: Chaos Check In

The chaos just won't quit - spring is here and we're entering this season carrying lots of questions about how to stay grounded, thrive, and live in freedom. Check out this week's episode as we explore all of this, and more! You're invited to join the conversation! Share this episode with your friends and family, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you might have. Got any ideas for a future podcast topic? We'd love to hear it! Email Lauren at Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: (Byrnese) @pastorbyrnese Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Feb 25

Ep 07: Self Care

We're chatting self-care today! What is it? Why bother? We have thoughts. Registration for the Free to Be Retreat for Moms is live! Click this link for all the details and to sign up. Here are the questions we discussed. We'd love to hear from you, send us an audio message via Instagram DM responding to one of these questions and we'll try to work some digital audio magic to include it in our next episode! 6 Self-Reflection Questions for Self-Care From Katrina Leggins 1. What does self-care look like for me in this season of my life? 2. What gets in the way of me taking care of myself, and why? 3. Which self-care practices help me feel most grounded and connected to myself? 4. After I care for myself, how do I notice my mood, thoughts, and body change? 5. What have I recently discovered or realized about myself? 6. What do my mind, body, and spirit need from me today? Join the conversation! Share this episode with your friends and family, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you might have. Got any ideas for a future podcast topic? We'd love to hear it! Email Lauren at Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Feb 11

Ep 06: Finding Your People

In this episode, we talk about conflict, growth, change, and the real challenges of finding community. If you're wondering 'how do I make friends?' this episode might be encouraging or helpful for you! Also, for our pastor friends (we see you) we're getting into systems theory. Join the conversation! Share this episode with your friends and family, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you might have. Got any ideas for a future podcast topic? We'd love to hear it! Email Lauren at Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠⁠ and ⁠mannabethlehem.com⁠ Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Jan 28

Ep 05: Chatting Craftivism

In this episode, Byrnese is sharing about her practice of Craftivism - the conversation touches on staying grounded in the midst of life's challenges whether they're personal change or global headlines, ways to be in community, and how to engage hobbies thoughtfully. Links to items we discuss in this episode: Quilting & Suffrage Free FPP Alphabet Quilting Pattern (Free for a short time only) Byrnese's Craftivism Group Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠ and mannabethlehem.com Contact us: Lauren: Lauren@freetobecommunity.org Byrnese: hello@mannabethlehem.com
Jan 14

Ep 04: Engaging MLK Jr. Day with Free to Be

Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠ ⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe (follow this link for a contact form as well, or reach out through socials!) Links to things we discuss in this episode: Joe Davis, Poet & Author Austin Channing Brown, author of I'm Still Here and Full of Myself Tricia Hersey, Bishop of Sleep and founder of the Nap Ministry Osheta Moore, pastor, spiritual director, and author of Dear White Peacemakers The Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney author of The Womanist Midrash (Byrnese's favorite) and The Women's Lectionary (Lauren's favorite), among many other works.
12/24/2025

Bonus Christmas Minisode!

Lauren and Byrnese chat Santa and traditions in this short mini episode (for adult ears only, please don't play this conversation with your children around if they still believe in the Christmas magic around Santa!) We hope you have a joyful holiday and a wonderful start to the new year, surrounded by the people you love most this season. Much love from your friends at Free to Be! Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠⁠@free_to_be_community⁠⁠ ⁠⁠FB: Free to Be⁠⁠ Online: ⁠⁠godslove.org/freetobe ⁠
12/06/2025

Ep 03: Finding Freedom During the Holidays

Thank you for tuning into this special holiday episode. We'll be talking about how to navigate the holidays, how to deal with the stress of a busy schedule and family life. So if that sounds interesting to you, stick around, tune in, and enjoy the episode. Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: ⁠@free_to_be_community⁠ ⁠FB: Free to Be⁠ Online: ⁠godslove.org/freetobe
11/07/2025

Ep:02 - Staying Grounded in the Chaos

In this episode, we answer one of your questions - how do we stay grounded when it feels like the world is burning down? Resources: The Road Back to You The Enneagram Institute Free Enneagram Test Do you need resources to get through this year safely? Whether you're impacted by the shutdown or just facing hardship, visit out webpage and contact us - we'll do everything we can to help connect you to local resources. Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Free to Be is led by Pastor Lauren Applegate - a woman in recovery, mom, wife, and pastor. She loves going to the beach, brewing coffee, riding roller coasters, and reading books. She is on a journey of honoring the freedom she has found in relationships where God’s love is made real, and is showing up to welcome and encourage others into the same kinds of relationships. Join Lauren and cohost Byrnese Craig as they engage listener questions and explore what it means to live Free. Follow along on socials! IG: @free_to_be_community FB: Free to Be Online: godslove.org/freetobe
10/14/2025

The Free to Be Podcast - Pilot Episode!

Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Join hosts the Rev. Lauren Applegate and Byrnese Craig in this podcast pilot as we discuss Free to Be, a bit about our stories, conflict and how to connect!

12 Episodes

Free to Be is a community of small groups of families and individuals led by Rev. Lauren Applegate, that come together for mutual support, truth speaking, story sharing, and connection building. Through these conversations and time spent together, we are able to find and live in freedom, and support others as they do the same. Hosted by Rev. Lauren Applegate and Byrnese Craig

Creator

Free to Be (NEPA)
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

12
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Free to Be (NEPA)
Show Website

The Free to Be Podcast