Wednesdays With Watson

BECAUSE YOU MATTER

Season 4 Forgiving Trauma Makers

Forgiving Absence: A Tribute To Families Of Service Members, ft. Neil Matthews

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Neil’s Interview With His Dad
Neil’s interview With His Pastor

Neil Matthews was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina where his father was a United States Marine. His dad was one of the last service members out of Vietnam. Neil’s father was loyal to his country and to the Marine Corps–to the point where Neil does not have a relationship with his father as a result of his father’s unwavering loyalty to his job.

So often, Americans are grateful for those who serve on the front lines but we often forget about the sacrifice of their families.  Neil beautifully shares his painful story and how he finds his way to forgiveness and what his relationship looks like with his father today.

We honor Neil, we honor all families who suffer the same, the pain of an absent parent highlighting that something seems more important than them. Neil also shares with us a time when he desperately needed to be forgiven and how an important relationship was healed because he obeyed this commandment of both giving and asking for forgiveness.

Neil is the host of a popular podcast, Other People’s Shoes. He lives in Oregon with his wife and daughter and is an avid Carolina basketball fan.  Neil has a heart for other people and highlights the importance of living life with the understanding that we don’t know what it is like to walk someone else’s story.

Forgiveness, Can you imagine?

You ARE:
SEEN KNOWN HEARD LOVED VALUED

Finding Joy Through Forgiving Unspeakable Trauma, Ft. Nicole Jacobsmeyer

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Buy The Book, Take Back Your Joy

Will you take back your joy? Forgiveness is a good place to start!

Debut author Nicole Jacobsmeyer joins the Wednesdays With Watson Podcast to discuss her journey to Joy that included a choice to lean into the sovereignty of God and chose to forgive unimaginable pain.

“Forgiveness, can you imagine? Forgiveness can you imagine…they are going through the unimaginable”–Hamilton

A little about Nicole:

A little bit about me…

Besides my relationship with Christ, the most important people in my life are: my husband Andrew, my three sons Wesley, Reid and Nate, and our newest bundle of love, Maddie! I love people, comfy clothes, chocolate chips cookies, babies in diapers, watching my kids play sports, writing, and a good glass of red wine.

Since becoming a mom almost 8 years ago, my life mantra has been: Embrace the Chaos! With a husband in the medical field, four kids under 8, and lots of moves in between, I needed an outlet to write. The Embracing Chaos blog was started in 2016. Four years later, I launched nicolejacobsmeyer.com as my author hub.

When it comes to ministry outside of the home, I have a passion for helping women walk in victory, joy, and faith in the face of trials, sorrow, and suffering. I want to help women understand that God is good no matter what life brings and that it’s possible to find lasting joy in Him.

Nicole’s book “Take Back Your Joy” recently hit #1 on Amazon.

Have you ever wondered where God is when life is hard, joy is gone, and you have more tears than tissues?

Does it feel like your circumstances are more than you can handle?

YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

What if in your darkest moments you could:

•          Embrace a clear sense of purpose
•          Stay grounded in God’s Word
•          Serve others with gratitude
•          Choose forgiveness—again and again
•          Discover the freedom of giving up control

In Take Back Your Joy, Nicole Jacobsmeyer shares 10 steps that grew her from defeated and ill-prepared for relentless trials, to living as a joy-filled reflection of God’s faithfulness.

Discover God’s purpose in your pain and find joy again even where you least expect it.

It was an honor to have this beautiful soul on the show.

Scripture: Eph 4:32, Romans 8:18, Hebrew 4:15

Forgiving Domestic Violence with Karen DeArmond Gardner

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The Wednesdays With Watson Podcast is thrilled to bring another survivor of domestic violence to the microphone. Karen DeArmond Gardner brings her story and her wisdom to the microphone. She beautifully tells us about her journey of healing from domestic violence. This episode contains content that debunks many fallacies concerning domestic violence and forgiveness.

Karen reminds survivors that abusers oft prey on those who demonstrate strength and resilience; as she says in the interview, “what victory is there is trying to break a person that has already been broken?”

We discuss the process of forgiveness, and Karen brings such wisdom to the episode, especially as it pertains to scripture that commands us to forgive. This is a not to be missed episode and is an episode that is valuable for all people seeking to understand domestic violence and forgiveness.

Author of “Healing From Domestic Abuse.” We understand as Karen says in this snippet from her book:

“Leaving is just the beginning.
When someone leaves an abusive marriage, life isn’t instantly fixed. The road to healing after domestic abuse is exhausting. But that exit is the first decisive step toward a future of strength and bravery. “–Karen DeArmond Gardner

We hope this episode will bring hope and healing to those who need it. We are so honored to get Karen’s story.

Forgiving Trauma Makers: How do we do it?

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Season 4 Premier as we enter into season 4 with one goal:  How do we obey the commandment of Eph 4:32 when the pain runs incredibly deep and wide?

This solo premiere sets the new season up and also features Amy’s journey with PTSD and the important component of forgiveness. This often misunderstood (and necessary) step in healing is imperative to long-term restoration.

What does forgiveness mean? What doesn’t it mean? How can we get freedom from all the pain of the trauma? This episode is raw and real and it addresses domestic violence and child abandonment.  But it also tells the story of an important component to successful transactions of forgiveness. Amy shares how the story of missionary Nate Saint, his son Steve Saint, Chief Mincayani and the “End Of Speer” story heavily impacted her view of forgiveness.
Potential Trigger For Domestic Violence survivors at 13-15 minutes.

Scripture references: Phil 1:6, Eph 4:32, 2 Sam 24:24, Jude 24-25, John 27

End Of Speer Story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AnomA1dyQI

Childhood Trauma & Adult Burnout, What Is The Connection, What Is The Warning?

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Is there a connection between childhood trauma and the propensity to experience adult burnout? Special guest Marlena Kandell of “Remaking Marley” is back on the Wednesdays With Watson Podcast sharing her story of this vital connection.

A survivor of childhood abuse and an attempt to take her own life, Marley lives an abundant life in service of others; but sometimes forgets to take care of herself.

Survivors of childhood abuse often never learn to regulate their nervous system. This is abundantly clear in the lives of survivors who have thrived professionally. Marley is a great example, and she has wisdom for you, so you don’t have to go the route of the burnout.

This episode is filled with hope and help for those just hanging on. We are incredibly grateful Marley shared with us her burnout story. May it be a caution to us all. This episode is FILLED with wisdom from this young lady.

We also awarded one of two additional scholarships to be given out in 2022. Congratulations to this hero in mental health advocacy, Marley. You are LOVED!