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

  1. Nov 1

    Podcast Pep Talks: Love and Loss with Byrnese

    Welcome to our new Podcast Pep Talks , where twice a month you'll hear from us for a short meditation or pick me up to carry into your week. This week you'll hear from Byrnese as she reflects on the nature of love, and grief, and all the ways love has the power to stretch beyond space, time, and yes, even death. Did this episode resonate with you, or did someone come to mind while you were listening? We'd love to encourage you to share, especially if you think this podcast could help someone you care about take another step toward freedom and joy in their own life. 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

  2. Oct 20

    Podcast Pep Talks: The Power of the Pause with Lauren

    Welcome to our new Podcast Pep Talks , where twice a month you'll hear from us for a short meditation or pick me up to carry into your week. This week you'll hear from Lauren as she reflects on the power of "the pause" in conversations and relationship, especially at moments when things get heated. Did this episode resonate with you, or did someone come to mind while you were listening? We'd love to encourage you to share, especially if you think this podcast could help someone you care about take another step toward freedom and joy in their own life. 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

  3. Oct 15

    Ep 13: On Feminine Rage

    Feminine Rage - we're experiencing it, and we're getting into it. A content warning for this episode, our discussion includes references to gender based violence. Parents might choose to listen to this one with headphones rather than on car speakers if small ears are listening in. 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

  4. Oct 4

    Podcast Pep Talk: The Changing Light with Byrnese

    Welcome to our new Podcast Pep Talks , where twice a month you'll hear from us for a short meditation or pick me up to carry into your week. This week you'll hear from Byrnese as she reflects on the ways the light changes, and how we experience that in our lives. Did this episode resonate with you, or did someone come to mind while you were listening? We'd love to encourage you to share, especially if you think this podcast could help someone you care about take another step toward freedom and joy in their own life. 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

  5. Sep 20

    Podcast Pep Talk: Seasons with Lauren

    Welcome to our new Podcast Pep Talks , where twice a month you'll hear from us for a short meditation or pick me up to carry into your week. First up we have Lauren with an encouragement about how we live into, and through, season of our lives. 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

  6. Sep 15

    Ep 12: The Podcast is Back!

    We're back! Season 2 of the Free to Be Podcast is kicking off with some exciting announcements (future topics? pep talks? sign us up!) and we're sharing some of the work we've been doing with a local community based campaign in the Lehigh Valley. 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

  7. 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

    Ep 11: We Interview Dawn Fenner from Essentials Cafe!

  8. 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

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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Free to Be (NEPA)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Free to Be (NEPA)
  • Show Website
    The Free to Be Podcast