So What? Why It Matters, with Nancy Hicks
Hold onto your headphones as we join former QVC host, theologian, and international speaker Nancy Hicks with candid and timely discussions as to “why it matters” around a host of topics including: faith, communication, marriage, sex, culture, creativity and more! Featuring special guests and Nancy’s signature style of passion, grit and glamour, this podcast will be a weekly “kick in the pants” to guide us toward our passion in life, and help us as we develop our own confident voice and start living for what really matters.
info_outline
Announcement: We’re Wrapping Season 1
05/05/2021
Announcement: We’re Wrapping Season 1
A message from Nancy and the So What? podcast team as we bring the first season to a close.
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18987287
info_outline
Unraveling Body Shame & Embracing Beauty at Every Age: Mary DeMuth
04/27/2021
Unraveling Body Shame & Embracing Beauty at Every Age: Mary DeMuth
We’ve all been there: standing in front of the mirror, plucking another gray hair with tweezers, wondering when we got this stretch mark or when that roll got there. We’re so critical of our bodies, thanks to messages we received when we were still running around with skinned knees and gap-toothed grins: “You must be beautiful to be loved. And beautiful looks like young, thin, and firm.” How do we widen our scope of “beautiful?” How can we fight back those messages and claim the worthiness of our bodies, just as they are right now? This week, Nancy sits down with Mary DeMuth, an author and speaker who shares her long road to recovery after experiencing sexual abuse in childhood. That trauma impacted the way Mary has viewed her body throughout her life. And today, Mary and Nancy dive into what it means to be kind to our bodies at all stages. Mary leads us through the “why” of the negative messages we receive about our bodies throughout our lives, and shows that no matter what stage we’re in, we are worthy of love and our bodies are worth celebration. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18868085
info_outline
Changing Our Habits and Hangups Around Sex with Dr. Cheryl Sparks
04/20/2021
Changing Our Habits and Hangups Around Sex with Dr. Cheryl Sparks
Yep, we’re going there—we’re starting a brand-new series called Sex and the Whole Ball of Wax. Listen, we know “sex” is a loaded word for many, and in this series, we’re talking about a range of issues around sex. Here’s where we’re starting: can you remember what you were taught about sex growing up? How much of the information you received did you find helpful—and how much was plain wrong, or didn’t apply to you whatsoever? And how much of that information—the stuff you actually needed—was left out? Nancy sits down with one of her dearest friends, Dr. Cheryl Sparks, a counselor with extensive experience helping couples think through their habits and hangups around sex. With tenderness and vulnerability, Nancy and Cheryl talk through some of their earliest experiences with sex and how what they were—and weren’t—taught as kids and how that informed their actual experiences in the bedroom later as adults. They talk through the difficulty of switching from messages like “sex is bad” to “now that you’re married, charge ahead, sex goddess!” Cheryl gently helps us explore what it would look like to broaden our definitions around what’s “normal” and “successful” when it comes to sex, so that we can more easily experience the joys and intimacy the gift of sex can bring. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18782129
info_outline
Building a Beautiful Story from the Ashes of Pain – Nona Jones
04/13/2021
Building a Beautiful Story from the Ashes of Pain – Nona Jones
As we close out the Faith in the Firestorm series, we hope each of us has found a connection point. We’ve wrestled with so many hard topics here—finding sanctuary, being a comfort for the wandering, moving forward and clinging to hope in the face of death. To wrap this powerful series, we’re going to talk with someone who shows us strength, perseverance and determination: author and director of faith-based partnerships at Facebook, Nona Jones. Nona lived through a childhood filled with trauma, and today she’s channeled her pain into serving and ministering others. Nona and Nancy talk through what it was like for Nona to grow up in an environment filled with abuse and neglect, how Nona found safety and love for the first time in church, and how she used her strength to launch herself into an executive role at a Fortune 100 company when we was only 23 years old—and also to create a ministry that serves women around the world. Nona shows us that we are not the thing that broke us. In fact, we are capable of anything. And with His love and power, we are unstoppable. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18668378
info_outline
A Season of Wandering in Faith—and Coming Back: Pastor Sheryl Brady
04/06/2021
A Season of Wandering in Faith—and Coming Back: Pastor Sheryl Brady
In some of the harder seasons of our lives, we may find ourselves asking questions, “How am I supposed to get through this?” or, “How could a good God let something so awful happen?” And when answers don’t come easily or maybe don’t come at all, we may find ourselves in a season of doubt and wandering. In this next installment of Faith in the Firestorm, Nancy talks with Pastor Sheryl Brady of The Potter’s House, who shares her own season of wandering that followed the deaths of her older sister and mother just a few years ago. As a prominent church leader, Pastor Brady felt the pressure to smile and give others hope in public, while inside she was losing her own hope and questioning how God could let her down in such a profound way. When Pastor Brady decided to take away the walls of “having to be strong” and publicly share her grief with her church community, she received an outpouring of love and support she could have never predicted. While seasons of suffering may cause us to wander, they also give us empathy for others who are going through hard seasons. And sometimes, that love quietly leads us all back to believing in a God who never leaves us to face out troubles alone. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18605156
info_outline
Finding & Offering Shelter in Our Storms: Holly Hayes
03/30/2021
Finding & Offering Shelter in Our Storms: Holly Hayes
At the end of the day, we all need a space where we feel safe and known. We need a sanctuary. And as we see in the next installment of our Faith in the Firestorm series, a sanctuary isn’t always a place. As our next guest Holly Christine Hayes shows us, sanctuary can also be our people—the ones who hold us close during our darkest moments and help us crawl out of the pit. Holly is a survivor, advocate, author, and entrepreneur. In 2018, she founded The Sanctuary Project, a nonprofit that gives emotional and financial support to women who have experienced human trafficking, violence, and addiction. Nancy and Holly walk through Holly’s own journey through human trafficking, and identify how we can find safe places—and people—to turn to when we feel scared and alone. With her life and work, Holly shows that each and every one of us has the power to not only find sanctuary, but to be one for others. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18509126
info_outline
Staying Anchored in Every Decade - Women of Faith’s Thelma Wells
03/23/2021
Staying Anchored in Every Decade - Women of Faith’s Thelma Wells
Have you ever been on a boat in the middle of the ocean? Did you ever find yourself clutching the boat when the winds began to blow, and the waves began to toss the boat up and down, to and fro? In those moments, when it feels like the boat might tip over any second, there’s something holding it fast: the anchor. And in our next installment of our Faith in the Firestorm series, renowned speaker, author, and Women of Faith alum Thelma Wells reminds us that no matter what comes our way, our faith is the anchor that will keep us rooted and strong. Thelma is 85 years young, and decade after decade, Thelma’s done the hard work of breaking new ground: in the 1960s, she was the first Black woman hired at John Deere (though she was hired as a secretary, she was relegated at first to the mailroom), and in the 80s she went on to become a VP at NorthPark National Bank in Dallas, where she wrote the first book on banking operations in the state of Texas. Thelma has walked in faith every step of the way, inspiring generations of women to remember that through faith, we can be and do anything. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18391133
info_outline
Faith in the Firestorm: Nancy’s Lament During Her Own Storm
03/16/2021
Faith in the Firestorm: Nancy’s Lament During Her Own Storm
We begin a brand-new series this week on So What? And it’s one that couldn’t come too soon, especially after the harsh year we’ve experienced around the globe: we’re talking about how to walk through a season where our faith is tested by extreme circumstances, and how we can come out on the other side. Nancy vulnerably shares about her own faith firestorm, one that she and her family have unthinkably found themselves in: Nancy’s 28-year-old son David, a student pursuing law and public policy at Harvard, has been battling Stage IV colon cancer for two years. Nancy turns to the book of Lamentations and a few moments with Jesus to remind us that lamenting is an integral part of our faith experience, and why exploring our questions and doubts is so important to our journey. She guides us through four actionable steps that have helped her as she moves through her own faith firestorm, and reminds us that our faith isn’t tied to an outcome—it’s tied to a Someone. And no matter what happens to us, God is still so, so good.
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18301136
info_outline
How to Be a Lazy Genius: Kendra Adachi on Embracing What Matters, Ditching What Doesn’t
03/09/2021
How to Be a Lazy Genius: Kendra Adachi on Embracing What Matters, Ditching What Doesn’t
We’re wrapping up our self-care series this week, and as we’ve seen, there are dozens of ways to care for yourself, from giving yourself rest and checking in with your mental wellness, to writing down what’s going on in your head and more. We’ve got one question that, well, gets to the heart of this podcast: what truly matters to you? Today, we’re going to learn how to be a genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don’t, thanks to the solid advice of New York Times bestselling author and podcaster Kendra Adachi, AKA The Lazy Genius! Kendra and Nancy talk through Kendra’s journey as a recovering perfectionist, and how taking off the armor of being perfect might feel scary, but the rewards of letting others into your life are absolutely worth it. Kendra also shares how to reframe your priorities, and why that practice helps you clear the mental clutter that’s weighing you down. Equal parts hilarious and insightful, Kendra reminds us to respect ourselves enough to embrace what truly matters to us—and to respect others for what matters to them. And when we give ourselves permission to embrace only what matters and let go of what doesn’t, we are open the door for more joy and confidence in our days. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s “Called to Confidence” 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18203246
info_outline
Your Voice Matters: Allison Fallon on How Writing Changes You
03/02/2021
Your Voice Matters: Allison Fallon on How Writing Changes You
This week, we’re looking at self-care through a different lens—one that involves pen and paper. On the surface, writing down your thoughts doesn’t seem like a way to care for yourself. But time and again, it’s been proven that a daily writing practice can transform your life (even if you’re not a writer!). That’s what our next guest, author and entrepreneur Allison Fallon, shows us. As she researched her new book The Power of Writing It Down, Allison discovered that writing can help you change the way you think about a situation, tapping into an entirely new part of your brain that helps you process your thoughts without so much emotion. As Allison walked through painful divorce, she found that writing her story down and asking herself more questions took her from center to spectator, which helped her see how to move her life forward a bit more clearly. Allison reminds us that when you change the story you tell yourself about yourself, you change your life. And no matter how big or small your voice may be, your experience matters and your voice needs to be heard. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s Called to Confidence 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18138335
info_outline
Recharging Your Joy through Self-Care – Margaret Feinberg
02/23/2021
Recharging Your Joy through Self-Care – Margaret Feinberg
As we charge ahead in our self-care series, today we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of what it actually means to take time to care for our minds, bodies, and souls. So many of us are stuck with 40 items on our to-do but only the time to complete 10—even though we feel like we should be able to complete all 40 and beat ourselves up when we don’t. Podcaster and author of More Power to You Margaret Feinberg knows that cycle all too well. Margaret found herself worn down during COVID, and burned out from people pleasing long before that. But during her months in quarantine, she discovered when she gave the world a time-out and began to focus on taking care of herself first, in small and big ways, she began to regain some of the energy and passion and confidence that used to be part of her days. Margaret tells Nancy why self-care isn’t a solitary act—even in the midst of pandemic, it can be a community-building exercise that helps us create a more welcoming and loving world for everyone. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with Nancy’s Called to Confidence 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/18039842
info_outline
Feeding Your Soul, Growing Your Fire – Bunmi Laditan
02/16/2021
Feeding Your Soul, Growing Your Fire – Bunmi Laditan
We’re forging ahead in our self-care series and diving into one of the hardest parts of self-care: how to care for our souls, the fire that keeps our zest for life burning. Our guest today, Bunmi Laditan, is a mom of three and a gifted writer who just released a brand-new book called Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens (including the the viral social media account, The Honest Toddler!). Bunmi’s superpower is getting vulnerable and sitting with people in the dark places—because she’s traveled through the dark herself. Bunmi grew up in an extremely observant Christian home with Nigerian parents, and at 16, she found herself living on the streets then, and a couple years later, married her Jewish high school sweetheart when she decided to convert to Judaism. After she and her husband divorced, Bunmi also felt divorced her from the culture and faith she’d grown to love, and her life began to unspool. Bunmi reveals how God met her in some of the darkest moments of her life, reminding her He loves her—and all of us—right where we are. And when we live in that love, that’s when our souls truly flourish. * * * Breathe life into your soul and find your God-given power with my Called to Confidence 20-day guide. Download your FREE copy at .
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17953085
info_outline
“I’m Not Okay. I Need Help.” – Auntie Anne Beiler’s Journey Through Depression
02/09/2021
“I’m Not Okay. I Need Help.” – Auntie Anne Beiler’s Journey Through Depression
Today we turn a page in the So What? Chapter and begin a brand-new series—this time, we’re talking about *real* self-care. Let’s be honest: when it comes to self-care, many of us think it’s as simple as drawing a warm bath or reaching for a good book—which are totally valid ways to care for yourself. But sometimes, we need a little something more. We need to treat the real problem and not just the symptoms so can truly care of ourselves. In this episode, we’re diving straight into the deep end and talking about how to care for mental health with a fierce mental health advocate named Anne Beiler—you probably know her as Auntie Anne of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Today Nancy and Anne walk through Anne’s incredible life story from growing up in an Amish family and becoming the family baker, to marrying at 19, to losing her 19-month-old daughter Angie and falling into a deep depression spiral that led to years of suffering trauma and abuse at the hands of someone she trusted. Anne shares how she battled her way back to health and clarity to build an empire while rebuilding her mental health—and why asking someone for help is the first step toward healing. * * * Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17866223
info_outline
Do You Mean It? - Actionable Steps to Live Authentically with Cece Jones-Davis
02/02/2021
Do You Mean It? - Actionable Steps to Live Authentically with Cece Jones-Davis
In the final episode of the Better Communication series, we’re talking about something that seems simple, but it’s actually not: saying what you mean, and then living it out. Why is that so important? Because when we don’t do what we say we will,, it severs those bonds of trust between us. And when was the last time you saw a relationship thrive on broken trust? Nancy and guest Cece Jones-Davis, an ordained minister and social justice activist who practices what she preaches, dive into how we can line up what we say with what we do. Nancy and Cece talk about how to translate your words into actions, and why taking the time to communicate in ways that are mindful of who we are builds authenticity, and creates trust and connection with those around us. * * * Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17778929
info_outline
Connect or Divide? How Technology Impacts Our Relationships – Andy Crouch
01/26/2021
Connect or Divide? How Technology Impacts Our Relationships – Andy Crouch
In many ways, technology can give us a sense of omnipotence. We can ship anything we need right to our door. We have countless pieces of information at our fingertips, and the simple ability to communicate with people thousands of miles away. But this God-like ability can have its pitfalls. Yes, technology has improved lives in countless ways, but has it taken away our ability for “real” connection and authenticity? Andy Crouch is a thought-leader in the tech space, and his books My Tech-Wise Life and The Tech-Wise Family (written with his daughter Amy!) focus on how our evolving relationships with technology have changed the way we relate to and communicate with each other—or don’t. Andy and Nancy share how to use tech and devices in healthy, intentional ways that enhance our lives, so we can bring our families and personal relationships closer together. *** Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17687147
info_outline
To Have Real Conversations, Be Curious: Morgan Harper Nichols
01/19/2021
To Have Real Conversations, Be Curious: Morgan Harper Nichols
Newsflash: if you’re not curious about the people you’re talking to, if you’re not curious to befriend and get to know others, then you’re missing out on some incredible connections that can make your life even more rich. It’s hard to believe that Morgan Harper Nichols, the viral Instagram poet and artist, battled self-doubt. But Morgan reveals that when she began to take the pressure off herself as an introvert, and when she began to get curious and started connecting with people one on one and learning their stories, she began to unlock her creativity. And today, Morgan tells the stories she’s learned about from those new connections in her beautiful art, and through her two books, All Along You Were Blooming and her brand-new one, How Far You Have Come. Morgan and Nancy talk about how to set fear aside and become more open and vulnerable, how to hit hard topics head on, and why embracing curiosity as we talk to other people can not only make us better communicators—it can create a world filled with more love and empathy. * * * Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17598170
info_outline
Want to Heal the World? Be a Great Listener – QVC’s Shawn Killinger
01/19/2021
Want to Heal the World? Be a Great Listener – QVC’s Shawn Killinger
You know what’s harder than it looks? Listening. Being present and tuning into someone while they share their heart is a privilege, but let’s be honest: sometimes it feels like a chore (moms of small kids can relate!). Other times, listening can pump us full of fear or make us freeze, because we’re not quite sure how to handle the information that’s been handed to us. But one thing’s for sure: listening matters, because listening is how we learn how to meet the needs of the people around us. Nancy’s good friend, QVC host Shawn Killinger is here today to tackle all things listening. As a former news anchor and current on-air talent at QVC, not to mention a wife and mom, Shawn’s a master at opening her heart and receiving what others have to say, because at work and at home, she’s had to practice how to hand the spotlight over to someone else. Shawn shares practical tips you can put in your toolkit today to be a better listener (tip: always stay curious!) and above all, why doing the work to listen more is 100% worth it. * * * Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17598002
info_outline
Nancy Reveals the #1 Secret for Better Communication
01/19/2021
Nancy Reveals the #1 Secret for Better Communication
Welcome to our very first episode of So What? Why It Matters with Nancy Hicks! Nancy’s here to give the lowdown on the first topic we’re tackling in this insightful-but-practical show: better communication. We’re communicating all the time, aren’t we? From texts and emails, to hugs and eye rolls and smirks, just about everything we do says how we’re thinking and what we hold dear. But here’s the deal: we communicate because we were born to connect with other people. And the link that joins people together? It’s love. Nancy breaks down why communicating with love really matters, and shares her #1 secret to communicating more effectively with your kids, partner, friends, and everyone in between—and you can start doing it today. * * * Shrug off toxic expectations and limitations, and step into joy, purpose, and direction. Register for AWAKEN at !
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17597891
info_outline
[TRAILER] So What? Why It Matters, with Nancy Hicks - Show Preview
01/05/2021
[TRAILER] So What? Why It Matters, with Nancy Hicks - Show Preview
Raise your hand if you’re looking for a life that’s more full, where you’re the most real and powerful version of yourself. Got your hand up? Then pop in your headphones and join former QVC host, theologian, and international speaker Nancy Hicks for her brand-new podcast, “So What? Why It Matters.” In this special sneak peek, you’ll learn a bit about Nancy and why the first step toward your best self is answering “So what?” about the genuine, glamourous, groundbreaking, and sometimes gritty parts of our lives. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button so you can get “So What?” right in your favorite podcast app when we launch mid-January 2021.
/episode/index/show/sowhat/id/17435240