We are kicking off season 5 with a "best of" mini-series: 4 weeks of bringing you some of the best of all the conversations we've had on The Bitter & the Sweet!

Given that we are in a brand new year, we are getting things started with the best of starting over. Join me and some of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we talk about:

• starting over somewhere new
• building new friendships and being open to all God as for us
• finding our way back to God
• how getting clear in our calling helps us fight shame
• common patterns that hold us back
• healthy boundaries and walking in forgiveness
• where intentionality meets faith

LINKS

Starting Over Somewhere New with Neshe Lee Sloan (Episode 21)

Connect with Neshe on Instagram

Neshe's coaching page (writers, don't miss this!)

Visit Neshe's website

Finding Your Way Back to God with Ashley Martin (Episode 23)

Connect with Ashley on Instagram

Visit Ashley's website

You're One Choice Away from Change with Justin and Trisha Davis (Episode 28)

Connect with Justin and Trisha's ministry, RefineUs

Connect with Trisha on Instagram

Connect with Justin on Instagram

Get your copy of One Choice Away from Change

Living an Intentional Life with Cristina Slabic (Episode 19)

Connect with Cristina on Instagram

Visit Cristina's website

Get your copy of Cristina's book, The Intentional Life

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

The Bitter & the Sweet podcast has always been and will continue to be a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all.

In just 2 minutes, take a look back at where we've been in our first four seasons, and where we are going in season 5 (can you believe it?!), as we stop looking at our limits as liabilities and learn to live into them, instead.

Season 5 kicks off January 6, 2026. Let's go!

We've spent four weeks together preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation at Christmas.

In the fourth and final episode of our Advent series, it's all about love.

I considered doing our Advent series solo, but the more I thought and prayed about it, I really felt that we all need to be pastored, to have a pastor's voice speaking into our lives and helping us navigate this sacred (and sometimes chaotic) season. There is no pastor I trust more than Dusty Smith.

Full disclosure: Dusty is my pastor. I have known him for two decades, and I can tell you with certainty that 1- he is a trustworthy person with the utmost integrity, and 2- our church is growing and thriving under his leadership. I'm so grateful to get to have him on the show for this series.

Pastor Dusty and his wife, Jennifer, planted Depot Church in North Carolina 12 years ago, where he is lead pastor. Dusty and Jennifer have four sons, ages 5-16.

Join Dusty and I as we talk about:

• the ways we miss God's love for us, even if we "know" it's true
• internalizing the love of God for us personally
• looking for love in misplaced places (even the good ones)
• one characteristic of God that will encourage you if you're waiting or going through something hard
• what to do when you don't feel God's love
• Dusty's favorite Christmas scripture

LINKS

Advent Week 1 with Pastor Dusty Smith: A Thrill of Hope

Advent Week 2 with Pastor Dusty Smith: The Peace We Need

Advent Week 3 with Pastor Dusty Smith: The Joy You're Looking For

Connect with Dusty via Depot Church

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

Our Advent series continues today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation at Christmas.

This is the third week of Advent, and this conversation is all about joy.

I considered doing our Advent series solo, but the more I thought and prayed about it, I really felt that we all need to be pastored, to have a pastor's voice speaking into our lives and helping us navigate this sacred (and sometimes chaotic) season. There is no pastor I trust more than Dusty Smith.

Full disclosure: Dusty is my pastor. I have known him for two decades, and I can tell you with certainty that 1- he is a trustworthy person with the utmost integrity, and 2- our church is growing and thriving under his leadership. I'm so grateful to get to have him on the show for this series.

Pastor Dusty and his wife, Jennifer, planted Depot Church in North Carolina 12 years ago, where he is lead pastor. Dusty and Jennifer have four sons, ages 5-16.

Join Dusty and I as we talk about:

• the joy of the season
• holding both grief and joy at Christmas time
• helping our kids experience joy and focus on the reason we celebrate
• walking in step in the Spirit
• finding joy in waiting seasons

LINKS

Advent Week 1 with Pastor Dusty Smith: A Thrill of Hope

Advent Week 2 with Pastor Dusty Smith: The Peace We Need

Connect with Dusty via Depot Church

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

Our Advent series continues today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation at Christmas.

This is the second week of Advent, and this conversation is all about peace.

I considered doing our Advent series solo, but the more I thought and prayed about it, I really felt that we all need to be pastored, to have a pastor's voice speaking into our lives and helping us navigate this sacred (and sometimes chaotic) season. There is no pastor I trust more than Dusty Smith.

Full disclosure: Dusty is my pastor. I have known him for two decades, and I can tell you with certainty that 1- he is a trustworthy person with the utmost integrity, and 2- our church is growing and thriving under his leadership. I'm so grateful to get to have him on the show for this series.

Pastor Dusty and his wife, Jennifer, planted Depot Church in North Carolina 12 years ago, where he is lead pastor. Dusty and Jennifer have four sons, ages 5-16.

Join Dusty and I as we talk about:

• defining peace, and the places we look for it
• the good and right pursuit of peace in our lives
• how to know when we have gone from pursuing peace to idolizing peaceful circumstances
• where Christmas chaos comes from, and how to combat it
• the peace that is available to us in and because of Jesus

LINKS

Connect with Dusty via Depot Church

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

Our Advent series kicks off today: four weeks of preparing our hearts and our minds for the coming of Jesus, as we look forward to celebrating the incarnation at Christmas.

This is the first week of Advent, and it's all about hope!

I considered doing our Advent series solo, but the more I thought and prayed about it, I really felt that we all need to be pastored, to have a pastor's voice speaking into our lives and helping us navigate this sacred (and sometimes chaotic) season. There is no pastor I trust more than Dusty Smith.

Full disclosure: Dusty is my pastor. I have known him for two decades, and I can tell you with certainty that 1- he is a trustworthy person with the utmost integrity, and 2- our church is growing and thriving under his leadership. I'm so grateful to get to have him on the show for this series.

Pastor Dusty and his wife, Jennifer, planted Depot Church in North Carolina 12 years ago, where he is lead pastor. Dusty and Jennifer have four sons, ages 5-16.

Join Dusty and I as we talk about:

• what Advent is, and why we observe it
• defining biblical hope
• what to do when hope is hard to find
• where we see hope in the Christmas story

LINKS

Connect with Dusty via Depot Church

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

We're all holding a mixed bag that doesn't go away just because it's Thanksgiving. The holidays are a magnifying glass, making everything feel bigger, for better or worse.

In this short and candid episode, Kayla is getting real about holding grief and gratitude, hard seasons, and why we don't have to be afraid of the dark.

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

As we look ahead to Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus, join me for a look at His lineage, the women we find there, and what we can learn from their stories.

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram