The Lounge

Laura Wifler
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Monthly

The (secret) podcast where Laura answers subscriber-only questions about writing, business, clothes, design, motherhood, books, creativity, and everything in between. Because you all are who make this work happen. Like the free monthly newsletter but on steroids. Let's lounge. laurawifler.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Sep 1

    “I don’t like music because I don’t like heavy metal.’”

    My debut poetry collection, This Side of the Sky, is almost here, so today we are celebrating with a FREE POD FOR ALL and talking about poetry for people who don’t think they like poetry (and for people who do). I’m joined by my friend, fellow poet and artist Kate Lab (@KateGoesCreating) to talk about how both of us somehow became poets after once feeling intimidated by the whole genre, why poetry seems to be finding a new audience right now, and how to actually read a poem if your usual response is, “Um...what does this mean?” or, “Snoozerrrrr.” Here’s what Kate has to say to that: “Saying ‘I don’t like poetry’ is almost like saying ‘I don’t like music because I don’t like heavy metal.’” Hear, hear! We guarantee we can find you something you like, as long as you’re willing to try out a few. We also get into the deeper reasons to read poetry and how it can help us make sense of the human experience and be used in personal devotion and prayer with the Lord. This is part book celebration, part poetry crash course, part conversation about hope. Let’s Lounge! Timestamps: * 00:23 — So...what if you’re not a poetry person? * 05:02 — How to actually read poetry * 09:03 — Behind This Side of the Sky * 14:00 — Why poetry can reach places ordinary words don’t * 20:46 — What do you hold onto when life is hard? * 28:50 — What makes Christian poetry different? * 34:04 — A crash course for the poetry-beginner * 36:56 — More poetry to look forward to * 41:17 — Putting your work into the world Mentioned in this episode * This Side of the Sky: 101 Poems & Scriptures for the Hungry, Hopeful, & Homesick — Laura Wifler (Amazon Link.) Or get it for just 12 bucks here! * Kate Lab / Kate Goes Creating on IG * All Things Beautiful: Poetic Prayers and Scriptures for Every Season — Kate Lab, coming April 13, 2027 * Stephen Witmer’s devotional guide to George Herbert’s poetry Thank you for listening to The Lounge. If you have a question for me for next time or a topic you’d like me to cover, drop it in the comments or email me at hello@laurawifler.com. And if you email, just mention you’re a subscriber so I prioritize your note! To get The Lounge in your podcast feed: Spotify: * Paid Subscribers - First go into your Substack account and link your Spotify and Substacks together, then click this link to subscribe to the show. * Free Subscribers - Use this link (yes, the same one as paid) to subscribe to the show. It’ll auto recognize if you’re paid or free, and serve you the correct episodes (I hope, ha!) Apple Podcasts * Paid Subscribers: You will find a private “Listen in podcast app” link on each episode page or in your Substack account settings (click out of email an onto the platform)—you can then add it yourself to receive all episodes in your feed, both paid and free. * Free Subscribers click here - this link will only allow free pods to appear in your feed) For more from Laura: * Grab her debut poetry book, This Side of The Sky * Visit her personal website. * Follow on Instagram * All Laura’s books. * Want to grow your Bible brain? Sign up for the Sword Drill waitlist. * Write and publish your next children’s book with Laura * Build your author website in minutes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurawifler.substack.com/subscribe

    “I don’t like music because I don’t like heavy metal.’”

  2. Jun 18

    When Doubt Feels Scary: A Conversation on Faith, Honesty, and Jesus Meeting Us There

    Many of you have read about my journey with doubt, and what helped me walk into a fresh season of belief. At the height of my public ministry in the midst of young motherhood, personal grief, medical hardship, marriage strain, and major life transitions, I found myself asking the terrifying question: What if none of this is real? If any of this resonates with you or a friend, I pray this episode of The Lounge blesses you. And today, in a fun turn of events, I’m in the interview seat! To celebrate the release of their new book, Jesus Will Meet You There: Finding Strength and Comfort in the Savior Who Understands (everyone go run and order!), I was honored to join my friends Kristen Wetherell and Sarah Walton for an honest conversation about doubt—what it can feel like, why it often shows up after suffering, and how Jesus meets us in our doubts with compassion. Because this conversation is so close to my heart and seems to resonate with so many of you, I left it free for all subscribers. Thank you to the paid subscribers for making this possible. If you’d like to join them in supporting my work and keeping as much as possible free for those that can’t afford it, you can do so at the button below. Kristen and Sarah handle this topic with such delicacy and I’m so grateful. This is a deeply encouraging conversation about bringing doubt into the light, the kindness of trusted friends who don’t panic, and the slow, faithful work of God holding on to his people. In this episode, we talk about: * Why doubt can feel so frightening, especially when your whole life is shaped by faith * The shame and embarrassment that often keep people silent * How bringing doubt into the light can loosen its grip * The difference between doubt and unbelief * Why feelings are real, but not always fact * The comfort of Thomas’s story and Jesus’s tenderness toward doubters * How spiritual habits can carry us when our emotions feel unsteady * Why “I want this to be true” can be an honest and faithful prayer * The assurance that Jesus holds onto us, even when we feel weak Thank you for listening to The Lounge. If you have a question for me for next time or a topic you’d like to see me cover, drop it in the comments or email me at hello@laurawifler.com. For more from Kristen and Sarah: * Kristen’s website * Sarah’s website * Order their new book: Jesus Will Meet You There: Finding Strength and Comfort in the Savior Who Understands. For more from Laura: * Grab her debut poetry book, This Side of The Sky * Visit her personal website. * Follow on Instagram: @laurawifler * All Laura’s books. * Write and publish your next children’s book with Laura * Build your author website in minutes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurawifler.substack.com/subscribe

    When Doubt Feels Scary: A Conversation on Faith, Honesty, and Jesus Meeting Us There

  3. Apr 24

    Risen Motherhood Reunion + A Giveaway! (Closed)

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurawifler.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Jan 15

    5 Personal and 5 Professional Goals for 2026

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit laurawifler.substack.com I showed up to pod with my mug of tea, a very serious need to tell you about my $7 Amazon press-on nails, and a fresh page of 2026 goals. We’re talking personal and professional resolutions with massive start-of-year energy. Let’s Lounge. Things Discussed (My 2026 Goals) Personal * Pray intentionally with my husband. * Keep working on my health + chronic pain. * Practice less consumerism—I’ll do another summer “95-Day No Buy.” Who’s with me? * No screen time before bed. (#itsscience) * Read more Christian nonfiction. Professional * Launch my poetry book well - coming September 2026! * Is Substack long-term? * Stay on Instagram in a sustainable way in 2026. * Protect my “brain power” by narrowing my focus. * Put on my big-girl pants and get serious about managing my own business finances (rather than leaning on my husband for everything). Tune in to hear me unpack them and explain more!

    5 Personal and 5 Professional Goals for 2026

  5. 10/23/2025

    Forrest Frank, Harry Potter, Personal Convictions, and More

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit laurawifler.substack.com It’s time to Lounge, and this one’s a ride. I’m sharing my thoughts on whether Christians should read Harry Potter (you know my answer, so this is more like my “why,”) what forgiveness has really looked like for me in hard relationships, and why I’ve quietly changed my mind about the idea that “content is king.” I also talk about how I stopped chasing trends, what it means to create without chasing outcomes, and entering spicy territory … my thoughts on Forrest Frank and the Dove Awards drama—because you asked, not because the world needs my thoughts. 🤪 As usual there’s a lot going on in here and I love getting to chat with you! Questions Answered * Should Christians let their kids read Harry Potter? * How can someone share their writing as a Christian without feeling egotistical? * How do you trust God through relational conflict and heartache? * What’s the most unhinged AI prompt you’ve used lately? * What belief have you changed your mind about? * Is it still possible to break into the influencer or writer industry right now? * What do you think about Forrest Frank not going to the Dove Awards? * What fall trends are you loving? * How do you find contentment in clothes/home/stuff when you love design and aesthetics?

    Forrest Frank, Harry Potter, Personal Convictions, and More

  6. 09/16/2025

    How To Teach Your Girls About Body Image 🎧🎉

    Today is the day! It’s the launch of my brand new children’s book, Your Worth Never Wavers: Discovering True Beauty and Worth as a Girl Made By God. 🌷 I’ve already heard from a few of you who somehow landed early shipped copies (?!) that you and your girls are loving it. Yay!! I just love thinking about all of you snuggling on the couch or sitting on the back deck with your kids reading any book I’ve written. God is so kind! To celebrate the launch of the book, I’m welcoming my very first guest (!) to The Lounge: author and Bible teacher Lisa Whittle. Lisa has been a kindred spirit on the topic of body image and inherent value for girls and women and she and I have a lot of similar thoughts. I always love seeing how God works in “trends” in Christian publishing, inspiring different authors to do unique work on the same topic—and Lisa is one of the many incredible writers doing work in this area through her new Bible study, Body & Soul: A Biblical Look at the Whole Person God Created You to Be—a great companion to Your Worth Never Wavers. While normally The Lounge is for paid subscribers only, because I believe this conversation is so important and (and as a book birthday present!), I’m making this free for everyone today. If you like the podcast, it drops once a month just for paid subscribers. Inside the pod, you’ll hear us talk about Lisa’s new Bible study Body & Soul, why a whole-body theology changes everything, and how to help girls (and ourselves) think about bodies, beauty, and worth through a gospel lens. We cover Imago Dei vs. imaging Christ, how to talk about modesty without shame or panic, and practical ways to model a healthy relationship with food, movement, and clothes at home. It’s honest, frank, and deeply hopeful. Come listen in! We Discuss / Questions Answered * What is whole-body theology and why does it matter day to day? * Imago Dei vs. imaging Christ—what’s the difference for Christians? * Is lasting freedom from body obsession possible? * How to talk about bodies and worth with younger girls (ages ~3–8) * How to shepherd tweens/teens through beauty, social media, and comparison (ages ~10+) * A wiser way to approach modesty (beyond rules or shame) * How to model health: food, exercise, habits—without obsession or neglect * Why serving others often quiets self-obsession * The one theological truth Lisa hopes every woman and girl carries Resources Mentioned * Lisa Whittle’s Website * Body & Soul — Bible study by Lisa Whittle * Your Worth Never Wavers — children’s book by Laura Wifler * Candace Cameron Bure Podcast featuring Lisa Thank you for listening to The Lounge. If you are a paid subscriber and have a question for me for next time or a topic you’d like to see me cover, drop it in the comments or email me at hello@laurawifler.com. For more from Laura: * Visit her personal website. * Follow on Instagram: @laurawifler * All Laura’s books. * Write and publish your next children’s book with Laura. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurawifler.substack.com/subscribe

    How To Teach Your Girls About Body Image 🎧🎉
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The (secret) podcast where Laura answers subscriber-only questions about writing, business, clothes, design, motherhood, books, creativity, and everything in between. Because you all are who make this work happen. Like the free monthly newsletter but on steroids. Let's lounge. laurawifler.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Wifler
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Laura Wifler
  • Show Website
    The Lounge

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