Back in 2023 I was honored to be asked to be an expert voice and contribute to the writing of a chapter in the book Hungry for Hope: Letters to the Church from Young Adults published by Eerdmans and edited by Jeremy Myers and Kristina Frugé. I contributed to the chapter called: Sex is a Gift: The Bigger Gift is Talking About It. I will tell you that I could not have done this chapter without Kristina. She was so instrumental in the entire process for all of the 22 authors involved in the project. This book, I think is so important for faith leaders to read on what many young adults are wanting in their church spaces and beyond. I invited Kristina here to talk about the project and the wisdom she had in helping to create and what she learned in the process.

To many of us find ourselves trapped in not pursuing our dreams. The fear of rejection and not getting it right often get in the way. We may also had been given messages as children that we weren't good enough to go after what we dreamed of. If this resonates with you then this is the episode for you. In this episode Kara talks with Janice Burt who lives her life with the motto: One Fear per Year.  

In this timely episode relating to conversations in the United States, Kara speaks with Danielle Tumminio Hansen, author of Speaking of Rape: The Limits of Language in Sexual Violence.

We keep learning more and more about the brain and how it can change with us and create new pathways. Kara got to totally geek out talking with Stefanie Faye about her favorite subject, the brain.

In this podcast, Kara took the opportunity to interview a man who reframed her story as a youth, her youth minister Ken Grant.  Listen as they discuss topics including leadership, what Christianity is today, social media, race and white privilege. Ken spent time teaching religion in high schools and universities, and has worked full time as a dad and in youth ministry.

There is so much packed into this little episode with Shannon Savage-Howie. We start this interview by acknowledging mid-life and perimenopause. Shannon experienced so many unanswered questions related to her health that later was diagnosed as an autoimmune disease that technically “didn’t fit.”

In this episode, Kara talks with another educator around body literacy, media and the flipping the script around puberty. Many experienced shame and fear in their puberty education and that is why parents seek help from people like Konika Ray Wong who makes puberty education for girls fun and empowering. 

We are influenced by a lot in our early years that affect our sexual lives. Those who work on college campuses and teach human sexuality have noted that there is a rise in rough sex among the students. Some of what this rough sex involves is choking. Dr. Debby Herbenick has recognized how this can be problematic for many reasons, but one is that any constriction of breath can cause damage to our bodies and our brain.

When it comes to reproductive rights that are occupying the attention of the nation and threatening the lives of women, Kara asks the question, “What about the men?” It takes two to tango as we know but men seem to be left out of the conversation. This is why Kara reached out to Men4Choice co-founder Oren Jacobson to get his take on things.

In this episode, Kara talks with Anna Hayek and Marco Orlando on the topic of sexuality health education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities on the topic of sexuality health education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kara and Christina Woods go deep on the topics of role expectations, being the good girl, what success and happiness really mean, and understanding the belief systems we learn that impact how we feel about ourselves.

Reece and Kara discuss the way that the buzz phrase “toxic masculinity” affects those who identify as male and the way their female partners perpetuate this culture.

Kara and Lisa discuss the many things a person can experience with breast cancer and how to advocate to get the best care they deserve.

Shannon and Kara share emotional moments together as they talk about being women, wives, and mothers while maintaining and navigating their identity in church spaces.

If we as a society learned how to operate from curiosity and support, and changed “better than” messaging, we would all be better off.

Alexandra Harbuska, founder of Life With Herpes, talks about the myths around STIs and herpes and sheds light on to what we can do to change the conversation and help support those who do have an STI.

Two sex therapists and a sex educator talk about their deconstruction journey with church and finding their way into being professionals helping people understand their sexuality. Purity culture had a way of convincing people to not listen to their bodies, to follow rules, and providing a limited definition of what love looks like.

More and more people are opening their relationships in one form or another. Kara talks with expert Joli Hamilton on how she works with couples and individuals who want to open their relationship and what that entails.