The God And My Girlfriends Podcast Hosted by: Marcia Ramirez and Stacey Wynn

As we enter into this political election season, we reached out to former Nashville Mayor and current TN Congressional Candidate, Megan Barry for a chat. We found her lovely, forthcoming, and inspiring.  

Also, Marcia and Melissa Jackson discuss how they are navigating the political climate and why it's important for us as women to pay attention to what is happening right now... and then use our voices... and of course, VOTE.

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ABOUT MEGAN BARRY:
Megan is the daughter of a proud Marine and a stay-at-home-mom. She grew up with her three sisters in Kansas and moved to Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt University. She served on the Nashville/Davidson county Metro Council, and then became the first woman elected Mayor of Nashville/Davidson County.  While in office, she worked across party-lines to promote and pass funding for transportation and road projects across Tennessee. She also created Opportunity Now, a program that creates thousands of paid opportunities for young people throughout the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Bringing together business and community interests, Barry played a key leadership role in attracting professional soccer to Nashville, and forged a public-private partnership that enabled construction of a permanent home for Nashville SC. While mayor, the Barry’s lost their only son, Max, to a drug overdose. Since leaving office, Barry has worked to combat the shame and stigma of substance use disorder by sharing Max’s story. Megan Barry is married to Bruce Barry, and they share their home with two rescue pups, Natasha and Winslow Arizona.
In Congress, Barry will focus on protecting reproductive freedom, addressing gun violence, creating economic opportunities and safeguarding benefits for seniors and addressing the devastation of the opioid epidemic.
Connect with Megan:
Website: https://www.meganbarryforcongress.com/

or on her socials:
Twitter: 
Instagram:
Facebook: 
TikTok: 
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Mentioned in this podcast:
Articles on Election Stress Disorder:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-election-stress-disorder-real/
The amazing Ember mugs:  https://bit.ly/3xMYP0v
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Links to Resources for Substance Abuse Help:
https://www.samhsa.gov   This is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - lots of resources to help people who need access to treatment and other resources.
https://www.shatterproof.org/learn/addiction-resources 
https://countitlockitdropit.org -provides resources on where to drop your unused medications 

God And My Girlfriends MinistriesA non-profit ministry helping women flourish in their relationships with God and others.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Without a doubt, we have the most requests on this podcast to address friendship issues and how to forge more meaningful relationships with women. Today, we do just that! We have as our guests this week, three of the most talented and respected singer/songwriters in Nashville joining us to talk about their careers, their families, their friendship and how they balance them all!

We welcome Emily Shackelton, Jenn Bostic and Sarah Darling this week as they discuss how to forge friendships in a competitive business, how to find balance in their lives and more. You guys are going to fall in love with these three ladies and get inspired too. So join us this week for a great episode!

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:
Emily Shackelton is a singer/songwriter hailing from Biwabik, Minnesota. She celebrated her first Number 1 with Carly Pearce's breakout single "Every Little Thing” in 2018, and recently celebrated her second Number 1 with Pearce's hit song "What He Didn't Do".  Emily was awarded “Breakout Songwriter of the Year 2018” by Music Row Magazine and proudly writes for Winsongs Publishing. Her writing catalog also includes singles and cuts by Reba McEntire, Joe Nichols, Runaway June, Sara Evans, Jana Kramer, David Cook, Lauren Alaina, Chrissy Metz, Joy Williams and more, as well as tv shows like Nashville, American Idol, and Dancing With the Stars.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emilyshackelton/


Jenn Bostic is a soulful singer/songwriter with a hint of pop, blues and gospel. Her hit song “Jealous of the Angels,” written for her late father,  has over 50 million collective streams on YouTube, has gone #1 on various iTunes charts by various artists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Bostic has performed sold out tours across the United States and Europe, including performances on the stages of The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, and Lincoln Center. She was twice named “International Touring Artist of the Year,” by the British Country Music Association (2017/2018).  Her latest album, “You Find a Way,” created with Grammy nominated producer and hit songwriter, Lauren Christy, released July 2022, and was named “Album of the Year” at the 2022 Louder than the Music Awards.
WEBSITE: https://www.jennbostic.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jennbostic/

Sarah Darling’s musical journey has taken her from a small town in Iowa to a global tour to hone her craft and develop her unique sound. Her credits include five full-length albums, multiple singles, including a #1 on the UK Country charts, and many duets. She has over 20 million streams, 11 million video views, and over 90 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry stage. She is one of the first Sirius XM The Highway™ Finds and part of the first class of CMT’s Next Women of Country. She has performed at the CMA Music Fest, Nashville Meets London, British Country Music Festival, British Summertime Festival supporting Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, and more. She has appeared on Conan, CMT, The Bachelor, HLN, Fox & Friends, and more.
WEBSITE: https://www.sarahdarling.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/officialsarahdarling/
To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Church is supposed to be our safe place. Our Christian brothers and sisters are supposed to support us when we are lied about, misrepresented and treated unfairly. What do you do when all that fails you?

Our guest today knows all too well about this kind of church hurt. Aimee has been through it all and is using her voice to help others who are trying to process this kind of hurt. The kind of hurt that shatters everything you knew to be true. Her story is compelling and awful and beautiful all at the same time. Find out how she is walking out of a deeply painful place, with her faith in Christ intact.

We are thrilled to have author/speaker/blogger, Aimee Byrd as our guest this week. Marcia, Stacey and Marie Griffith have a beautiful conversation with Aimee about healing after church hurt and how to move on from that without losing your faith in Christ. Her story is powerful and we know it will be encouraging for many of you.

ABOUT AIMEE BYRD:
Aimee is the author of several books, including The Sexual Reformation, Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Why Can’t We Be Friends?, No Little Women, and her new book coming out May 7th is called The Hope In Our Scars.
She writes about looking for the beauty and wonder in theology—learning about God—and spiritual formation, Aimee writes about the things she hoped to talk about in church. In this quest, she’s found many others who’ve been disillusioned by the church but are still looking for what’s real, beautiful, true, and good. It’s often not where we think it is. She writes regularly on her Substack at https://aimeebyrd.substack.com/

To learn more about Aimee: https://aimeebyrd.com/
To pre-order The Hope In Our Scars: https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Our-Scars-Underground-Disillusionment/dp/0310157145/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1699453248&sr=8-1

More podcasts that dive deeper into Aimee's story:
The Roys Report

The Two Cities Podcast
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Also, our friend Staci Frenes joins Marcia in the girlfriend chat segment and they talk about the complicated emotions surrounding Easter when you are in deconstruction and the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. Join us!
To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

We are back with Pt. 2 of our conversation with Tiffany Lee (Plumb music) and Melissa Jackson as we discuss Tiffany's faith shift and how a perfect storm of circumstances led her into re-thinking everything she knew about life and love and spirituality.

Pre-order Plumb's new album: Candy Coated Waterdrops Reimagined

And our friend Amie Pronk rejoins us in the girlfriend seat this week as they talk about what makes life worth living. Also, Amie and Stacey help Marcia do some inner child work. :-) 
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About Plumb: As a musical artist, Plumb has sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. Originally signed as a contemporary Christian music recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock and EDM, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the contemporary Christian music market.
Plumb has co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows.
And she is the author of two books, “Need You Now” and “Fight For Her”

To learn more about Plumb:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumbmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plumbmusic/
 
About Melissa Jackson:
Melissa Jackson is strategic marketing manager, brand developer, and website creator. Melissa works for the General Council on Finance and Administration for the United Methodist church as their marketing services manager. She has lived in Nashville for 25 years. She spent six of those years working as a graphic designer for Word Entertainment and Warner Bros Records, and four years as the Director of Creative Services for Trevecca Nazarene University. She loves to write, read, vacation with her husband and two daughters, fish, play board games, and loves to curate playlists and listen to her vinyl collection.
To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Many of you know Tiffany Lee by her stage name, Plumb. She has toured the world, sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. 

Today, we just get to talk to "Tiff" as her best friend, Melissa Jackson calls her. Tiff and "Melis" give us a beautiful and authentic view into their friendship and both give some amazing advice on how to navigate long-term friendship, how to hold one another accountable, and how to critique each other without coming across as being critical. We know you guys are going to take what you hear today into your own friendships and be better for it!

Also, this is just Part One of this interview. We had such a rich and vibrant conversation that we broke it up into two parts, so make sure you listen again next week for the rest of the conversation!

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About Plumb: As a musical artist, Plumb has sold over 500,000 records, and over two million singles worldwide. Originally signed as a contemporary Christian music recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock and EDM, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the contemporary Christian music market.
Plumb has co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows.
And she is the author of two books, “Need You Now” and “Fight For Her”

To learn more about Plumb:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumbmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plumbmusic/
 
About Melissa Jackson:
Melissa Jackson is strategic marketing manager, brand developer, and website creator. Melissa works for the General Council on Finance and Administration for the United Methodist church as their marketing services manager. She has lived in Nashville for 25 years. She spent six of those years working as a graphic designer for Word Entertainment and Warner Bros Records, and four years as the Director of Creative Services for Trevecca Nazarene University. She loves to write, read, vacation with her husband and two daughters, fish, play board games, and loves to curate playlists and listen to her vinyl collection.

To order Stacey's honey:
https://www.instagram.com/rockypointbees/
To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org

Are you finding yourself at a crossroads? Do you find yourself wondering "What now, God?" -- well even if you aren't in "mid-life" right now, you're going to love this inspiring conversation with our guest, Debbie Cunningham.
Debbie is a jazz recording artist, author, speaker & podcast host. After spending more than a decade in the music business and singing about love & romance, she decided to write a book about it… and published her first book, Dancing in The Kitchen in 2019. — In it, Debbie shares stories and strategies for couples to build lasting love even when life is challenging. 
In 2023, she began to notice how most women feel a sense of loneliness and a lack of connection through the midlife years. Debbie felt God nudging her to encourage them on line by starting a podcast called Midlife Crescendo. There she encourages women to not just survive midlife changes but intentionally cultivate and pursue their passions through this second phase of life. 
Personally, she enjoys spending time with her husband Derek, her 2 kids and 2 grandsons, traveling, and pausing for afternoon tea or the sunset as often as possible. Debbie resides in Franklin,Tn.

You can connect with Debbie here:
Her website: https://debbiecunningham.net
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiecunninghamofficial/
OR for the podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifecrescendo/

To sign up for her FREE WEBINAR, Four Keys to Launch Your Midlife Dream, go here: https://debbiecunningham.net/4keys
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Sitting in the girlfriend chair this week is Melissa Jackson.
Melissa Jackson works for The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church as a Visual Content Specialist and Brand Development Strategist. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, Tim, her two daughters, June and October, and their dog Frankie.
To learn more about Stacey and her work: https://linktr.ee/clarityunleashed
To learn more about Marcia Ramirez: https://linktr.ee/marciaramirez

To learn more about God and My Girlfriends Ministries: www.godandmygirlfriendsministries.org