The Bearing Life Podcast

Life experiences often lead us to seek answers to key questions: how we bear our burdens well, how we help others bear their burdens, and how we bear fruit or find purpose and passion in spite of difficult challenges. Join Dr. Julie Shannon each week as she explores practical compassion through conversations and stories about life realities (singleness, infertility, childlessness, grief, depression, divorce, job loss, mental health, etc.) Special interview episodes will feature guests who share personal stories about their own life realities—how they walked through them, who helped them, and what life looks like on the other side. | Theme song written & performed by Joe Passarelli, Dan Wecht, and Alex Shipley | Cover drawing by Ben Humeniuk | Learn more at drjulieshannon.com or find her on IG @julieshannonofficial

Building Community 03/06/2024

Building Community In this episode, Joe Battaglia joins me to talk about culture, community, and how we can positively engage with others in our lives. He offers much wisdom on showing up and investing time together in order to help one another grow, and his perspective will inspire you to value and build community in your life. Joe is a Broadcaster, Author, and Founder/President of Renaissance Communications, a media company providing platforms for communicators of biblical truth. He is also the Executive Producer and General Manager of the nationally syndicated radio program "Keep the Faith," heard nationally in over 300 markets and numerous countries overseas with a weekly audience of 2 million. For over 16 years, he has been involved in the promotion of hit movies such as War Room, God’s Not Dead, The Polar Express, and I Can Only Imagine (to name just a few). Joe is the author of several books, and his latest release is Make America Good Again: 12.5 Biblical Principles to Unite Our Nation, Restore True Greatness, and Reshape Our Political Rhetoric. Thanks for listening! Connect with Joe Battaglia: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/30261938

Writing New Chapters 02/21/2024

Writing New Chapters A. M. Peters joins me in this episode to talk about truly living life, cultivating courage, and countering the need for approval and the comparison trap. Hearing how he overcame adversity and his willingness to pursue career changes and embrace new seasons of life is truly inspiring. I know you will walk away from this episode with a renewed sense of resolve to pursue your passion and experience authentic joy and peace. Tony grew up on the eastside of Los Angeles, CA and defied the odds by graduating from UCLA and Loyola Law School. For 11 years he was a successful trial lawyer and at the age of thirty-seven he was sworn into the Los Angeles Superior Court Judiciary where he presided over criminal courtrooms for two decades. His desire to work for real heart change in others inspired him to change his own life and pursue his passion for storytelling. He is the author of three novels, has written a TV series that is currently being pitched to multiple streaming platforms, and is at work on a romantic comedy. He has been married to his lovely wife, Patricia, for thirty-six years and they have three adult children who are each pursuing their purpose-filled, creative dreams. Thanks for listening! Connect with A. M. Peters: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/30043578

Pursuing Your Dreams 03/15/2023

Pursuing Your Dreams In this episode, Roger Murrah joins me to discuss persistence and the pursuit of dreams. Roger is a highly successful songwriter and music publisher in Nashville, Tennessee. With four decades of hit songs, dozens of awards, and millions of records sold, Roger has not only impacted the lives and hearts of listeners, but also influenced and mentored artists in their pursuit of careers in the music industry. What a fun and inspiring conversation about life journeys, new seasons, and confidence! His authenticity and wise words will encourage you in your pursuit, no matter your dream. I walked away refreshed with a new sense of resolve to go after my dreams with dedication and I know you will discover the same. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/26242305

Women on Mission & Ministry 02/23/2023

Women on Mission & Ministry Join Sue Edwards, DMin, Kelley Mathews, ThM, and me as we have an encouraging conversation about their new book 40 Questions About Women in Ministry, intergenerational friendship & mentoring, teamwork, and women walking well together on this life journey. No matter your faith, stage, or season, you will gain so much wisdom and inspiration from these two women I call dear friends. They each have full lives with mission, ministry, purpose, and work, and they have also co-written six books together over the last twenty-three years. Come listen as we talk about a variety of topics and ways we can live out a mission of unity, kindness, and respect. Thanks for listening! Connect with Dr. Sue: Connect with Kelley: * Buy their new book: * /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/26025546

Resilience & Joy 02/01/2023

Resilience & Joy Diana Spann is a master facilitator in classic trauma healing and joins me on the podcast to talk about joy, heart wounds, resilience, rest, and the rhythms of life. She offers insight on how we can learn to see ourselves, grow in ways of processing pain and grief, and become people who walk well with others. Heart wounds can impact our everyday life, identity, and maturity. Just as we seek medical attention with a physical wound, we need to know what to do when we experience heart wounds that need our attention and care. In this episode you will learn more about mending heart wounds, building resilience, and fueling joy. Diana offers rich insight and wisdom on spiritual practices, brain-training, finding our path of purpose, faith, and identity. I learned so much and know you will too. Thanks for listening! Connect with Diana: If you are interested in joining a Joy/Building Maturity Cohort, contact Diana via email (above). Each cohort has 8 spots available. Weekly gatherings of 75 minutes. Must purchase the book, . This cohort is designed for us to practice and learn together about resting in God, building joy, listening with God, and more. We learn best in a modeling, imitating community. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25803447

A Life of Music 01/27/2023

A Life of Music Greg Jones joins me on the podcast to talk about his life of music. We explore how the influence of music and guitar began and talk about the people who sparked his interest and mentored him. What Greg has learned along the way, how he pursues his dream daily, and his philosophy on putting in the time towards excellence, will inspire you in your own interests and efforts. He offers rich wisdom about dedicating time to your craft and developing your talent with intention. You’ll be encouraged to seek wisdom, invite mentors, and dedicate yourself to developing and honing your own brand and form of artistry, creativity, and life passions...and you might just hear how much of a positive impact you can have when you make yourself available to mentor others in your particular field or interest. I so admire his talent, work, and dedication and can’t wait for you to hear this episode. Thanks for listening! Connect with Greg (be sure to message or email him if you are interested in taking guitar lessons with him): /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25752879

Shaping a New Year 01/09/2023

Shaping a New Year The start of any life season can feel overwhelming, uncertain, and even exciting! The beginning of a new year offers much of the same. Wherever you find yourself right now, join us and hear Joseph Bojang's practical, wise advice on how to build your confidence, set your dreams in motion, and act as agent or influencer in your own life. During our conversation, you will learn simple yet effective ways to begin with small goals and develop a throughline for your life. Joseph provides clarity on how to break down goals and dreams in manageable ways. He offers great creativity and assurance for planning, pivoting, and living out our best life. Can't wait for you to hear all he has to share! Thanks for listening! Connect with Joseph: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25545600

Cultivating Dreams 12/22/2022

Cultivating Dreams What can we do to cultivate a dream we laid down years ago? Or maybe a dream we've never reached for or thought possible? Join us and hear Debbie's incredible journey of how she pursued a long ago dream: who helped her, how it surprised her, and what new dreams grew out of it. As you listen to our conversation and hear Debbie's fascinating story, you will find great encouragement and inspiration to give yourself permission: to dream, to try, to fail, to not fail. I can't wait for you to be inspired by her life! Thanks for listening! Connect with Debbie: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25413588

Life Transitions 11/30/2022

Life Transitions How can we positively navigate transitions in our lives? We all face times of change (welcome and unwelcome) in our personal lives, families, work, and in community with others (in person and online). Dr. Peggy Banks and I talk about ways to lead our lives well, know ourselves better, influence others, and counter wounding words from our past. Her story and wisdom will inspire you! I'm really motivated to move through the "periods of adaption" you'll hear her explain in the episode. Connect with Dr. Peggy Banks: Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25176399

Authentic Life 11/18/2022

Authentic Life I always appreciate the fun and wise conversations with Dr. Les Carter on The Bearing Life®️ Podcast! In this episode, we talk about authenticity - how it plays out in our lives; what it means, how it looks, and ways we can grow in empathy and curiosity. It's a great one and I can't wait for you to listen in! Connect with Dr. Les Carter: Episode 25: Episode 16: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/25057578

A New Season 11/02/2022

A New Season Welcome to Season 5 of The Bearing Life® podcast! In this episode, you'll hear a brief update on my upcoming book about weathering life storms and also a story about the challenge I faced and encouragement I received from a small sign in a store window. Its short message made me stop in the middle of the sidewalk and think about life and how I/we handle the unexpecteds (both good & challenging). This season, we will touch on life dreams, perseverance, authenticity, and self-development - you don't want to miss an episode! I've loved having these conversations with others and hearing their amazing stories and I can't wait to share them with you. I know each one will offer encouragement and hope. Remember, we aren’t alone in our challenges or our joys. You are a unique creation, lovingly created for this time and place in order to live out your true life (gifts and talents) and love others well. Your story matters. Let's go... /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/24882423

Valentine's Day Community 02/10/2022

Valentine's Day Community This episode replay offers great wisdom and ideas for gathering community anytime, and especially during the Valentine's Day season. I talk with Annie Tucker, Founder of Take A Bite Blog, about the realities of singleness and the defining steps we can take to walk through this season of life. We can wait well with our hope! Connect with Annie: Website: Facebook: Instagram: /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/22091930

Countering Burnout 10/27/2021

Countering Burnout Joining me on The Bearing Life® Podcast is Dr. Michelle Pokorny to talk about burnout. She offers incredible insight to help us have a better understanding about practices and habits for life balance and mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. How do we handle our lives when seasons of too much become a way of life? What can we do to change or let go of patterns of behavior for our protection, health, and well-being? /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20952995

Notes of Friendship 10/20/2021

Notes of Friendship Join me and my friend, Jennifer Quinlan, on The Bearing Life® Podcast this week as we look back and talk about our lifetime of friendship...how we first met, ways we’ve reconnected throughout life, and how we’ve maintained our closeness over the years. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20874797

Traveling the Terrain 10/13/2021

Traveling the Terrain October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month and this week I share a practical, easy, impactful way we can join together on October 15th to support those in the midst of an often-lonely road of infertility, miscarriage, infant, and child loss. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20799401

Big Dreams 10/06/2021

Big Dreams In this episode of The Bearing Life®️ Podcast, I have a conversation with Neil Tomba, who lived out a big dream. Neil is the senior pastor of Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, TX, and the author of The Listening Road. Neil started dreaming of bicycling across the United States 18 years ago. We talked about his June 2019 trip across the US. He rode 3000 miles in 33 days from Santa Monica, CA, to Annapolis, MD. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20721380

Purpose Through Disability 09/29/2021

Purpose Through Disability In this episode of The Bearing Life®️ Podcast, I talk with Mike and Sharyn King, the founders of Powered to Move. Mike and Sharyn share their story and the mission of Powered to Move: Putting Christ’s love in action by providing people with disabilities opportunities for physical fitness. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20639018

Codependency 09/22/2021

Codependency I talked with Dr. Les Carter this week on The Bearing Life®️ Podcast. In this episode, we discuss codependency and how relationships and engagement with others can drift into an imbalance. We talk about ways to define and remember who we want to be in moments of misunderstanding and conflict. Learn how to identify patterns of unhealthy behavior. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20557976

Processing Trauma [Ep 28] 09/15/2021

Processing Trauma [Ep 28] Any trauma you have experienced is worth discussing and processing. In this episode with Kat Nasseri, PT, DPT, WCS, we discuss how the body can be impacted by trauma we have experienced over our lifetime. Kat shares how to evaluate conflicts and how to identify trauma and process your emotions. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20477660

A New View 09/08/2021

A New View Dr. Julie Shannon invites you to listen to the new season of The Bearing Life® Podcast. In this season you’ll hear a variety of guests speak about perseverance, pursuing dreams, and overcoming obstacles. It will be an inspiring and encouraging season! In addition, Julie shares about her move, a new hobby, life lessons, and how we can reach out to others in joyful times and challenging ones. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/20402123

Getting Ready for Mother's Day [Ep 26] 03/17/2021

Getting Ready for Mother's Day [Ep 26] This episode is for everyone! As we prepare for special celebrations this Mother’s Day, remember to reach out to women and families walking through infertility or child loss to support them on what can be a painful day. For those walking through child loss or infertility, you are not alone. I encourage you to invite others into your pain and not to stay silent in your grief. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/18323336

Narcissism [Ep 25] 03/03/2021

Narcissism [Ep 25] What does narcissism mean? Am I a narcissist? Are YOU a narcissist?? Dr. Les Carter and I explore this topic and how to find emotionally healthy people to walk beside us in life—while also being an emotionally healthy person! /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/18170027

Family Legacy [Ep 24] 02/24/2021

Family Legacy [Ep 24] Dr. Willie O. Peterson is a longtime friend and mentor. I’ve always enjoyed our conversations! This week, you can listen in as he shares the story of the legacy of faith and love his parents passed on to him, his siblings, their families, and so many others in their lives. Dr. Peterson tells how his parents overcame adversity to build a connected family. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/18070949

Contentment in Singleness [Ep 23] 02/10/2021

Contentment in Singleness [Ep 23] This week I share an inspiring, fun, and practical conversation with my friends Lacey Congdon and Angela Cirocco. We talk about helpful ways to find true contentment and practical ways to walk through this Valentine's season as a single. We can live purposeful lives right where we are. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/17893541

Let's Come Together [Ep 22] 02/03/2021

Let's Come Together [Ep 22] We are one month into 2021. How is it going for you? Does it still feel a bit like 2020? In this episode, I share how we can come together as peacemakers and unifiers to help make our world a better place to live…and maybe leave some of 2020 behind! /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/17800499

Carrying Stress: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction [Ep 21] 01/27/2021

Carrying Stress: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction [Ep 21] In this week’s episode of The Bearing Life® Podcast, we have a revealing conversation about how stress manifests within the body and the frustration and pain that results. My guests, Candice and Kat, share how a diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction exposed a taboo topic among women. Today, we are shedding light on pelvic floor dysfunction and TALKING about it! /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/17706821

The Weight of Grief [Ep 20] 01/13/2021

The Weight of Grief [Ep 20] This week, I have a conversation about grief trauma with my friend, Ann Golding. We cover this deep topic as Ann shares her story of traumatic loss. We discuss how to help one another bear the burden of great grief. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/17526824

What Do You Carry Into 2021? [Ep 19] 01/06/2021

What Do You Carry Into 2021? [Ep 19] What a year 2020 was! As we close the chapter on last year, let’s consider what we carry into 2021. Do you carry fear? Comparison? Anxiety? Make 2021 the year you focus on living today. In this episode, I share defining steps you can take each day to intentionally move through this difficult season. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/17440751

Holiday Proxemics [Ep 18] 11/18/2020

Holiday Proxemics [Ep 18] In this episode, I speak with Katherine Hill, my friend and creative director for The Bearing Life® Podcast and the DJS Brand. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/16855229

Adoption [Ep 17] 11/11/2020

Adoption [Ep 17] In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I spoke with Maggie during this episode of The Bearing Life® Podcast. As an adopted child herself, Maggie shares helpful information about the adopted child experience and wisdom learned in her biological family search. /episode/index/show/bearinglife/id/16764854

The Bearing Life Podcast

TOPICS