Full Faith, Empty Arms

Shannon Adams
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

A place for those struggling with infertility--especially in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--to find validation in their pain and strength in their faith. Through honest and real conversations, we share stories and perspectives from various types of infertility and loss, always pointing to the goodness of God. Some struggle with infertility for years and then find success. Some feel very driven and guided early on. Some adopt; some don't. The road looks different for everyone. It is SO personal. And hard. If this is you, you're not alone. You're why we're here.

  1. Oct 7

    Episode 20: Weekend Inspiration--What We Learned from General Conference

    Twice a year we gather with others around the world to listen to inspired messages and music from Church leaders in what we call General Conference. Pam & Shannon reflect on themes that stood out, images and analogies that were especially meaningful, compelling music, and ways it all might apply to the struggle of infertility. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.comFacebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find links to listen to the messages from the Oct 2026 general conference here.

  2. Sep 30

    Episode 19: When Your Quiet Husband Has Something to Say

    When your typically quiet, supportive, and steady husband is willing to speak up and share his experience in infertility, your ears might perk up. Shannon’s husband Brandt agreed to be a guest, along with her, on a *different* podcast talking about the struggle they’ve had in creating a family.  Since this was a first, doing it together was an interesting experience for them both.  Being in the hot seat talking about such a sensitive thing is a little different when your spouse is right next to you. You know things are hard on them too, but hearing them describe it to someone else forces you to process it in a new way. In this episode, Shannon and Pam talk the next day about how it all went—especially what was unexpected in how he responded to some questions.   In debriefing the recording, they also touch on some new topics that got brought up and talk about the future of the podcast. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.comFacebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  3. Sep 23

    Episode 18: How We've Handled Baby Showers

    If you've experienced infertility for a prolonged amount of time, you probably get that baby showers can be difficult. We want to celebrate other people's happy news. Every mom deserves to be celebrated and honored. We don't expect anyone to not celebrate just because it's something we're not getting. But with the usual games, humor, stories, and overall vibe--it can get a little messy. If you're throwing a baby shower, we have some thoughts for you to consider as you plan. And if you're struggling with infertility trying to figure out how to navigate the shower invitations without hurting people's feelings, we have some thoughts on that too. We're all in different places, and wherever you are is okay. We're here in it with you. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.comFacebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  4. Sep 16

    Episode 17: Looking Back--Stories, Lessons & Hope

    In this reflective episode, Shannon and Pam revisit some of the most meaningful insights shared by their podcast guests so far. They talk about what it means to trust God when life doesn't look the way you hoped, without pretending that everything is okay. They explore the freedom that comes from letting others see our grief and allowing ourselves to be supported rather than feeling we have to wear a mask.  The conversation also turns to self-worth and failure, especially the tendency to be harder on ourselves than we would ever be on someone else. Infertility can make us feel as though we've failed at something fundamental, but Shannon and Pam reflect on the truth that our circumstances don't determine our worth—and that failure, imperfection, and setbacks can all be part of learning and growth.  They also consider the idea that the story is bigger than we are. What feels like a devastating chapter may be only a small part of a much larger story, and our trials can affect and bless people beyond ourselves.  Finally, they wrestle with perhaps the most challenging idea of all: Can the waiting itself be a gift? Rather than viewing an unwanted season only as time being lost, they discuss using it as an opportunity to learn, grow, strengthen relationships, try new things, and discover what God may be inviting us to become while we wait.  Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: Facebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.com

  5. Sep 9

    Episode 16: When Your Family Doesn't Come Together How You'd Planned--Kristen & Andrew Van Noy on difficult pregnancies, foster care, adoption, and trusting God

    In this episode, Shannon and Pam sit down with Andrew and Kristen Van Noy to hear the remarkable story of how their family grew through infertility, fostering, adoption, miscarriage, unexpected pregnancies, and some incredibly painful goodbyes. Andrew and Kristen share the heartbreak of loving foster children who ultimately returned to their biological family, the difficult decision to surrender rather than fight, and the faith it took to trust that God's plan could be better than the one they had imagined. They also talk honestly about Kristen's struggles with pregnancy, depression, postpartum depression, chronic health problems, and the way those experiences challenged both of them spiritually. Their conversation offers an important reminder that faith doesn't mean never questioning God—and that sometimes we need people who will simply sit with us in the pain rather than try to explain it away. If you've ever wondered why your life, your family, or your answer to prayer doesn't look the way you expected, this conversation is for you. “I don't have my version of what I want. What is it that you want?” And maybe, sometimes, the hardest parts of our stories are the very things that polish us. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: Facebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.com

  6. Sep 2

    Episode 15: Infertility Through a Husband's Eyes

    In this episode of Full Faith, Empty Arms, Shannon and Pam sit down with Alex White, husband of Niki White (ep.9) , to hear a husband’s perspective on infertility. Infertility is often talked about through the experience of women, but husbands are grieving, too—and they don't always grieve in the same way or express it outwardly. Alex shares honestly about the pressures he has felt as a husband, the expectations of church culture, the painful questions people ask, and the different ways he and Niki have navigated disappointment, adoption, faith, and their hopes for a family. Alex also talks about how infertility has affected their marriage, the importance of communication and allowing each other to grieve, and the ways he has found purpose and influence through relationships with children and youth—even without becoming a father himself. With humor and sarcasm mixed into some deeply meaningful conversations, this episode is a reminder that there isn't just one way to experience infertility. Every story is different, every path looks different, and sometimes faith means simply trusting God and continuing to move forward. If you're walking through infertility alongside your spouse, we hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone. Keep moving forward. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: Facebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠⁠fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.com

  7. Aug 26

    Episode 14: The Bigger Picture--Janice Jones on Infertility and Faith

    Janice Jones has a unique perspective on church culture and could have been offended more than once. From being a career-focused young black woman in the military who joined the Church, to 6 years of infertility, to unexpected family needs, her experience, faith, and perspective will leave you inspired and wanting to be better. Janice speaks candidly about the insensitive things people said to her during years of infertility, including the painful suggestion that she simply wasn’t righteous enough to have a baby. Yet through it all, she held onto a powerful conviction: infertility was never evidence that God didn’t love her. She also shares how her faith sustained her through difficult experiences as a Black woman in the Church, how her family taught her to trust in eternal perspective, and how becoming a foster parent to eight nieces and nephews revealed a purpose she couldn't have seen while she was praying for something else. This episode is full of wisdom for anyone living with unanswered prayers. Janice reminds us that we don't get to see the whole picture—and that sometimes a closed door puts us in exactly the place we need to be to bless someone else. Most importantly, she offers a message of hope: you may not receive every blessing you long for in this life, but that does not mean God has forgotten you. If you are struggling with infertility, waiting for an answer, feeling discouraged by church culture, or simply trying to trust God when life doesn't make sense, this conversation is for you. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Email or message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: Facebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠⁠fullfaithemptyarms@gmail.com

  8. Aug 19

    Episode 13: Family is Our Destiny (but in the meantime...)

    Sister Sharon Eubank taught us that no matter our current situation, we can embrace the ideals of the gospel because "family is our destiny." Join us as we discuss that idea and others, including patriarchal blessings, fitting in without kids, and how we fit into the Abrahamic covenant. Please follow the podcast to be notified of future episodes! Message us to share your story on the podcast and join us in supporting each other: Facebook group: Full Faith, Empty Arms-LDS Infertility ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J5UnWMJP9/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: Full Faith, Empty Arms ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/fullfaithemptyarms/⁠⁠

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A place for those struggling with infertility--especially in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--to find validation in their pain and strength in their faith. Through honest and real conversations, we share stories and perspectives from various types of infertility and loss, always pointing to the goodness of God. Some struggle with infertility for years and then find success. Some feel very driven and guided early on. Some adopt; some don't. The road looks different for everyone. It is SO personal. And hard. If this is you, you're not alone. You're why we're here.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon Adams
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shannon Adams
  • Show Website
    Full Faith, Empty Arms

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