Podcasts by Connections Podcast

Episode 78 - 4 Simple Things to Improve your Mental Health from 2022-02-02T09:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Nicole Yenter as they talk through 4 simple things we can each do to improve our mental health. Nicole is a li...

Episode 77 - What is Your Practice? from 2022-01-20T09:00

Join Sherri Crandall and her guest, Alisa Keeton, the founder of Revelation Wellness. Alisa encourages us to step out of the obsess/neglect patt...

Episode 76 - Keys to Goal Planning from 2022-01-06T09:00

Often we have big plans and set big goals, only to drop them just a few days later. Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Andrea Fortenberry, to talk ab...

Episode 75 - Our Favorite Things from 2021-12-20T21:00

Join Kelli Jordan and Jennifer Iverson for a few minutes of fun as they talk about their favorite things from 2021 and look forward to what's coming for 2022.  What's your favorite hap...

Episode 74 - Perfect Love from 2021-12-01T13:00

At our core, each of us knows we were made to be loving. Jesus demonstrated perfect love, and while we aren't perfect, we are called to love like Jesus. If we love Jesus, loving others is s...

Episode 73 - Embrace Rest from 2021-11-18T09:00

 In this episode, Jennifer Iverson and Kelli Jordan focus on rest. What do we need to rest from? What are the things that inhibit our rest? How can we better manage those things? Let's talk...

Episode 72 - Love Gives from 2021-11-08T15:00

In this episode, Jennifer welcomes Danica Golden, MOPS Philanthropy Officer. Danica gives us practical advice on how to live like a servant, aware and ready to give and serve. She encourages us ...

Episode 71 - A Bold Leader from 2021-10-22T10:00

Sherri Crandall encourages us to consider what next bold step we should each take.  Destiny Leahy, Global Ministry Developer for Africa, shares her story of bolding showing up, learning and pray...

Episode 70 - Creating Community from 2021-10-08T15:00

Jennifer Iverson and Sarah Ferraro explore how to create an atmosphere of community in your group. What does it mean to create a "Sisterhood of Motherhood?" 

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Episode 69 - Open Handed Living from 2021-09-22T15:00

Is our closed-handedness keeping us from giving and receiving all we could at home, in our MOPS group or in the world? Sherri Crandall chats with our guest, Ashley Abercrombie, about how we all ...

Episode 68 - Embrace All For Love from 2021-09-15T14:00

Hey leaders, you have what it takes! As MOPS leaders around the world kick off their MOPS year, join Kelli, Sherri and Mandy as we talk about understanding your value as a leader, embracing the ...

Episode 67 - All In! Loving God with All Our Heart from 2021-08-25T15:00

Join host Sherri Crandall and our guest, Meredith King, as they remind us that we are desperately dependent and should be continuously connected to God. When we forget that, things become heavy ...

Episode 66 - Remembering The Why from 2021-07-31T13:00

Join Kelli Jordan and Andrea Fortenberry for as we reconsider and remember the reason we do what do - in ministry, in our jobs, in life. Let's talk about how important it is to focus on the...

Episode 65 - Being a Servant Leader from 2021-07-21T17:00

Servant Leadership is not a leadership style; it is a leadership philosophy, and the Bible has a lot to say about this philosophy.  With this in mind, join Kelli and Melodi as we talk about what...

Episode 64 - Becoming a Collaborative Team from 2021-07-07T16:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and her guest, Kelli Jordan, as they talk about what collaboration is, what a collaborative team looks like and how to develop a team that works together in order to reach ...

Episode 63 - Introducing our Group Experience Kit from 2021-06-09T20:00

This episode is dedicated and designed for our fearless MOPS leaders! Jenn and Kelli will walk through all the resources that come in your All For Love Group Experience Kit. Listen to all the gr...

Episode 62 - Ask A Pastor from 2021-05-24T11:00

Sherri Crandall asks her guest, Dr. Craig Smith, why he loves MOPS and how it is has impacted his church and community. If you are a MOPS leader, listen in and then share it with a pastor! 

Episode 61 - All For Love Intro from 2021-05-12T19:00

We are launching season 5 of Connections: The Podcast with Sherri Crandall and MOPS CEO, Mandy Arioto. Join them as they discuss the process for developing the MOPS yearly theme and hear their h...

Episode 60 - Celebrating"Decide to Rise" from 2021-04-30T10:00

This is the year we had to arise as mothers in ways we never imagined. We focused on believing we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that embracing the fact that motherhood is a catalyst - n...

Episode 59 - Your Story is YOUR Story (Easter) from 2021-03-12T15:00

As we get close to Easter, we want to talk about the way Jesus changed us and how he continues to change us. Sarah and Jennifer share pieces of their unique stories and then talk about why they ...

Episode 58 - Dealing with Disappointment from 2021-02-15T09:00

 Disappointment, defeat, and frustration can seep into our souls and impact every part of our lives. Strong leaders are able to navigate those feelings without getting stuck in them.  Sarah and ...

Episode 57 - Leading Great Discussions from 2021-01-13T15:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and Sarah Ferraro as they talk about how to lead great discussions. Whether you are meeting online, in person, or some combination of the two, let's focus on engaging ...

Episode 56 - How to End 2020 from 2020-12-02T18:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and Kelli Jordan as we talk about what we've learned and how we want to end this crazy year. 

Episode 55 - Proclaim Peace from 2020-11-15T18:00

Kelli Jordan and her guest, Tyler Jordan (a pastor at Connection Point Church in Raytown, MO) walk through very simple steps in how to pursue, practice and proclaim peace. Our world is filled wi...

Episode 54 - Mom Care from 2020-11-02T07:00

The BEST component of mothering together is that we all have something we can learn from each other. It is important, as the leader, to be awake and alert when a mom shares part of herself and h...

Episode 53 - Military Spouse of the Year from 2020-10-18T19:00

Join Sherri Crandall as she chats with Paulette Fryar, the 2020 Military Spouse of the Year. Paulette talks about her MOPS mom, MOPS mentor and Military Spouse life intersect. 

Episode 52 - The Importance of Real Connection from 2020-09-30T10:00

We know loneliness is an issue for moms and leaders. Even without a global pandemic, women can feel lonely even when surrounded by people. In this episode Sarah and Jennifer chat about what real...

Episode 51 - Pursue God from 2020-09-23T19:00

This year as leaders, we are focusing on the pursuit of excellence by pursuing God, pursuing others and pursuing growth. Today, we sit down with Pastor Darryn Scheske and his wife Loree and chat...

Episode 50 - What Anxiety Does to Your Brain from 2020-08-19T09:00

Kelli Jordan welcomes guest, Dr. Jennifer Degler - a psychologist, life coach, and author who is passionate about helping people create healthy, successful relationships. Jennifer explains how o...

Episode 49 - Moving Forward from 2020-07-22T21:00

Are you struggling to move forward with planning for your MOPS year because so much is unknown? Jo Saxton is an author, speaker, podcast host, and leadership co...

Episode 48 - Let's Talk About Marriage from 2020-06-26T14:00

Sherri Crandall and our guest Francie Winslow agree that connecting with Jesus is the first step to being open to the ways God wants us to nurture our families. Francie talks about ways to manag...

June Bonus Podcast - Leaders and their Pastors from 2020-06-18T21:00

Pastor and MOPS friend Ed Ollie gives every leader a few things she can do to support her pastor. 

May Bonus Podcast - Leading in Uncertainty from 2020-06-03T17:00

Join Jennifer Iverson for just a few minutes of encouragement. Spend five minutes and walk away with a few good ideas. 

Episode 47 - Loving the Mom of a Special Needs Child from 2020-05-27T14:00

Sherri Crandall chats with our guest Terri Conlin about the expectations we have for our life and parenting and the truth that it doesn’t always go exactly as planned. Parenting a child with spe...

Episode 45 - Leading through Disruption from 2020-04-29T15:00

Meredith King and Sherri Crandall talk about how to manage expectations, create clarity and feed our faith in order to lead from a healthy place during the disruption we are all dealing with rig...

Pastor to Pastor with Ed Ollie from 2020-04-20T18:00

Join Pastor Ed Ollie and hear why he believes MOPS is a key strategy that will grow your church, reach your community and bring life change to families. Pastor Ed believes MOPS can be a stabiliz...

Episode 44 - Mentoring During a Pandemic from 2020-04-13T19:00

Mentors have a unique opportunity to show up, speak up and stand up for women in their circles. How can we do that well during this unprecedented time in history? Sherri Crandall and Kelli Jorda...

Episode 43 - Decide To Rise from 2020-04-08T14:00

Sherri Crandall talks with MOPS President and CEO, Mandy Arioto, about where the annual MOPS theme begins, develops and what it means to us. She is encouraging us to pray, own our leadership and...

Episode 42 - One Leader's Look at the To The Full Year from 2020-03-30T21:00

Stacey Morgan is always ready with a crazy story from her own life; whether it be military deployments, carpooling, working for the Smithsonian, skydiving, taking roller skating lessons, or blas...

Episode 41 - The Good Shepherd from 2020-03-02T16:00

In order to understand the MOPS theme verse of John 10:10 and living life to the full, we have to understand the good shepherd as he is described in the verses around it. Join Kelli Jordan and S...

Episode 40 - Finding Leaders from 2020-02-20T21:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and our guest Melodi Leih as they talk through great tips for finding and inviting new leaders into your mission. 

Episode 39 - What's Good For Your Soul? from 2020-01-31T14:00

Katie Rössler is on a mission to help people have thriving relationships and work on being stronger, healthier versions of themselves. She is a MOPS mom, MOPS leader and a licensed professional ...

Episode 38 - Grow Your Group from 2020-01-17T10:00

How do I get the word out about my group? It's one of the most frequently asked questions here at MOPS. It's also a difficult one to answer because every group, community and budget ar...

Episode 37 - Christmas Fun from 2019-12-06T07:00

On Connections: The Podcast we often have serious leadership or mothering conversations. This is not one of those podcasts. Jenn Iverson and Kelli Jordan talk about some of their very favorite C...

Episode 36 - Grateful, Joyful, Hopeful from 2019-11-25T09:00

This year is about the full life. Which means living grateful, joyful, and hopeful. Hosts, Jenn Iverson and Kelli Jordan, chat with three MOPS friends about what that looks like in their lives. ...

Episode 34: The Welcome Experience from 2019-10-28T15:00

Join host Jennifer Iverson and guest Hannah Hladek as they talk about our all leaders, but especially Hospitality, Publicity and Finance leaders, work to create a welcoming experience for moms. ...

Episode 33: The Science of Thriving, Creativity and Service from 2019-10-28T15:00

Host Jennifer Iverson and guest Rebecca Grady dive into the science behind creativity and service. We have the opportunity to encourage moms to have fun, take risks and build stronger relationsh...

Episode 32 - Creating a Thriving Team from 2019-10-23T20:00

Join host Kelli Jordan and our special guest Melodi Leih as they talk about this question, “What does it mean to THRIVE?” 

The word “thrive” is defined by Webster’s Dictionary this way – t...

Episode 31 - Becoming a Thriving Mentor from 2019-10-23T19:00

Jennifer Iverson and guest Kelli Jordan answer the question, “What does thriving as a mentor look like, especially in a setting like MOPS or MOMSnext?”  As a mentor, we have the challenge to thr...

Episode 30 - Have a Thriving MOPS Kids Program from 2019-10-23T19:00

Join host Kelli Jordan and our guest Jennifer Iverson. We’ll use the word THRIVE to think about how we can grow as a leader and grow our MOPS Kids program. (We are using the word THRIVE, but we ...

Episode 29 - Thriving as a Discussion Group Leader from 2019-10-23T19:00

Host Jennifer Iverson and guest Stacey Morgan talk about the importance and influence of discussion group leaders in your group. The DGL position allows the opportunity to be a fearless friend. ...

Episode 28 - Thrive! from 2019-10-23T18:00

Join host Kelli Jordan and our guest Sherri Crandall, VP of Global Ministries and Leadership  Experience as they talk about what it means to thrive, rather than just survive. 

People who t...

Episode 27 - The Intersection of Hope&Sorrow from 2019-10-08T19:00

Kelli Jordan and guest, Sarah Damaska, talk about living in the intersection of hope and sorrow. Shaped by the death of her daughter Annie, Sarah talks about working through grief and finding a ...

Episode 26 - Loving Our Actual Neighbor from 2019-09-20T14:00

As Christians, we know we are called to love our neighbor. We may even grasp that "neighbor" encompasses more than just the people living next door or down the street. But what we too ...

Episode 25 - Create a Welcoming Space from 2019-08-31T10:00

Kelli Jordan and Jenn Iverson talk about 7 tips to making your MOPS group (or any group) a place where moms feel like they belong, want to stay awhile and will definitely come back to. 

Episode 24 - The Global Sisterhood from 2019-08-18T21:00

Hear about what MOPS is doing to impact moms around the world, find out how you can get involved in the Global Sisterhood and plan on meeting global leaders at MOMcon. 

Episode 23 - A Wild Yes from 2019-08-05T21:00

Join Sherri Crandall and our friend, Krista Gilbert as she talks about her journey to the middle of a war zone in Congo and up Mt. Kilimanjaro. She talks about why risk is a vital part of a grow...

Episode 22 - MOPS Leader Resources from 2019-06-05T17:00

Jennifer and Kelli walk through all of the MOPS Leader Resources available to you - including your personal coach, the leader site, leader training and certification and the new MOPS Speaker Net...

Episode 21 - To the Full from 2019-05-06T22:00

Join Mandy Arioto, MOPS President and CEO, as she shares the origin and biblical basis behind our 2019-20 MOPS Theme "To the Full."  Here’s to a year of living the full life. Full of f...

Episode 20 - Changing Expectations from 2018-11-01T22:00

There are times when our plans don't work out quite as we've expected. Our guest, Julie Caton encourages us to consider how we can simplify, pray for God to change our plans if  he nee...

Episode 19 - MOPS Global Sisterhood from 2018-09-03T22:00

MOPS groups are meeting in over 60 countries around the world – from Albania to Zambia – and this movement continues to grow. We believe that something as simple as mom friendships can tear down...

Episode 17 - Design Your Meeting from 2018-07-24T22:00

Let's talk about how to use the MOPS Meeting Plans to design the kind of meeting that draws women in, help s her learn something new, and makes her want to come back again. The Meeting Plans a...

Episode 18 - Daring to Pray with Honest Abandon from 2018-07-24T22:00

Join Elisa Morgan, our MOPS friend and President Emerita, in this honest conversation about prayer. When Jesus prayed in the Garden, he begged for relief from the trial he faced, while utterly comp...

Episode 16 - Leadership Training from 2018-06-05T22:00

Join Paula, Jennifer and Kelli as we talk about the importance of learning new things and developing our skills. Hear all about the MOPS Leader Training and Certification (available to Leaders at t...

Episode 15 - Find Your Fire from 2018-05-19T22:00

FInd Your Fire is about cultivating the passion stirring in your soul while embracing all of the goodness that comes from being a mom. Join Mandy Arioto and Sherri Crandall and think about what you...

Episode 14 - Building Your Team from 2018-05-02T22:00

Join Jennifer Iverson and MOPS Volunteer Stacey Morgan. Whether your group is brand new or you've been meeting for years, we have great tips for finding leaders and building a strong team that...

Episode 13 - Get In the Game for Pastors from 2018-03-26T22:00

The family is under attack. Young families are leaving the church and, in looking at what works in our church to bring young families back, we find that over and over again, it's MOPS. Get in ...

Episode 12 - Overcoming Overwhelmed from 2018-01-22T22:00

Listen in as MOPS friend, author and speaker Kathi Lipp talks about practical ways to recognize and work through the feeling of overwhelm. "Overwhelmed turns us into someone we never wanted to...

Episode 11 - Grateful for What Is from 2017-11-07T22:00

MOPS friend and author Alexandra Kuykendall encourages us to consider how to live a life characterized by contentment - and face comparison, fear and boredom head on.

Episode 10 - A Year of Wonder, Hope and Kindness from 2017-04-24T22:00

Join three Leaders as they answer the question, "What did you learn about Wonder, Hope and Kindness this year?" Then answer the question for yourself!

Episode 9 - Free Indeed: The Theme from 2017-04-10T22:00

Join Mandy Arioto and Kendall Parkhurst as they talk through how "Free Indeed" came to be, what it means to Mandy and what it can look like for you and your groups over this next MOPS year.

Episode 8 - A Fresh Look at Your Leadership Team from 2017-03-07T22:00

We know that this time of year leaders are thinking about what's next. Join Kelli and Jennifer as we talk about finishing well, determining what you want to be known for and simplifying leader...

Episode 7 - Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti from 2017-02-06T22:00

When Shanna woke up on her 38th birthday, she had a to-do list that didn't excite her much. So she threw it out and made another list full of kind things she wanted to do that day. With her ne...

Episode 6 - A Different Kind of Community from 2017-01-09T22:00

We are all broken and that brokenness motivates us to grab hold of things that we believe will help us through the pain. We are all addicted to something – we grab hold of things besides Jesus, sea...

Episode 5 - Sharing Your Story from 2016-12-05T22:00

At MOPS, relationships begin because we have our “momness” in common but they grow because we are willing to talk about the challenges we all face. Are you willing to share your own stories of fun,...

Episode 4 - Be Present from 2016-11-14T22:00

Is it possible to make life feel like a special occasion without sacrificing what matters most to us? Perhaps it’s time to let go of a few details and focus on being present. Shauna Niequist is be...

Episode 1 - People of the Second Chance from 2016-10-26T22:00

Mike Foster shares how we can become and inspire others to be People of the Second Chance. Celebrate those messy places in life and start seeing them as opportunities for God to shine through us. M...

Episode 2 - Living Generously from 2016-10-26T22:00

Mandy Arioto is the President and CEO of MOPS International, and is widely known for her unique takes on parenting, relationships, spiritual, and cultural issues. Mandy loves thunderstorms, is one ...

Episode 3 - Speaking of Jesus from 2016-10-26T22:00

Carl Medearis is an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations. He is the author of Adventures in Saying YES and Speaking of Jesus. Recently Carl spoke during...

Episode 3 - Speaking of Jesus from 2016-10-26T22:00

Carl Medearis is an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations. He is the author of Adventures in Saying YES and Speaking of Jesus. Recently Carl spoke during...