PODCAST

ftlpodcast-logo-beigenavy-begin-using-1-1-2021
Artwork commissioned by @threeletterbirds
All-Time Downloads

FOR THE LOVE WITH JEN HATMAKER

Welcome to the For the Love Podcast community. 

New York Times Bestselling author Jen Hatmaker’s life’s work is to lead and serve women as they genuinely show up for their own lives. In these conversations we need not fear the truth, or hard questions, or spiritual curiosity, or challenging unjust systems; that is literally why we are here, and we’re so glad you’ve joined us.  

We believe women living in freedom are the answer to all that ails society. When we are exactly who we are, how we are, where we are, as we were always meant to be, women are the 8th wonders of the world. 

For the love of all that is good, right, wrong, hard, fun, perplexing, wondrous and thought-provoking, Jen’s here for it all with eye-opening conversations with some of the best people on earth.

Awards

NEVER MISS ANOTHER EPISODE!
SUBSCRIBE NOW

FOR THE LOVE! SERIES GUIDE

What does it mean to be in the “middle” of life? It’s different for everyone–maybe for one person it looks like empty nesting, when the kids’ rooms look like museums to their childhood and you’re contemplating what life looks like as your active parenting hours have shifted to part-time. Another may be facing a pivot point in their career–that job/skill they’ve been honing up to this point isn’t panning out to be the dream and it’s time to figure out what’s next. Maybe it’s facing the aging of parents and the needs that come with that. Or perhaps it’s a hard mindset shift– doing things a certain way across a life, perhaps to suit others more than yourself. And now it’s time to decide what is actually wanted for this next season. Whether you’re feeling that “middle” space acutely, or you’ve got a few years behind it or in front of it, we can all benefit from the experience and education that is attained up to that point. In the “For the Love Of the Middle” series, we’ll be walking in the middle of the middle–and having conversations about things like: relationships with our grown kids, what to expect from menopause (and help if you’re square in it), setting ourselves up to flourish as we age, and what we, who are in the middle, have learned from life so far that we can share with our pre-middle sisters. Welcome to The Middle. We’re so glad you’re here (and we promise, you will be too)!

It’s high time that we full-on tackle a subject we’ve touched on in other series, but not fully delved into: sex. We’re talking about pleasure, the workings of our bodies, the concept of desire, what culture teaches us about sex, the things we believe about it–we basically leave no bed sheet unturned with this topic. We’re giving ourselves permission to acknowledge that there is no one right way to talk about sex–but listening to our bodies and the wisdom they have to share prepares us for a great conversation. Everyone deserves to live with joy and confidence within their bodies and it’s our goal with this series to break down the walls that hold us back from the pleasure that has always been ours to claim.

We’ve all ended up where we are today for a reason. But have we ever really examined thr decisions that got us here, and looked differently toward decisions we have yet to make? The “what if’s” in life can either haunt us or cause us to breathe a sigh of relief. We’re going to consider the notion of how life could change for us if instead of thinking about what might have happened or what might be to come, that we actually see what would come to fruition if we just took a leap. What if you quit your job and went for the dream? What if you moved where you wanted? What if you didn’t get the dream you worked on all your life—how do you pivot? In this series we’ll be talking about the hold us back, the reasons to take the leap, and hear from folks who explored the beautiful (and sometimes scary) realm of “what could happen,” and the triumphs and pitfalls within. There is much to embrace in the unknown, so let’s link hands and take a leap into it together.

This year has been a wild ride. It feels like we always say that each December, but truly, the adventure is different with every turn of the calendar. The game changes. The way we look at life shifts. We’ve learned things we didn’t think we could learn. We’ve witnessed things that were incredible and things that were hard. Our journeys might have led us places we never imagined. And here we are, staring another year right in the face—with the notion that once again we can begin anew, and maybe do things differently where we want to change, or keep things going for what continues to give us life.  No matter where your 2022 took you, we want to end it with a bang–with some hope, encouragement, and strength, to take into a brand new year.

Feels like we’ve all had a few life shifts over the last few years, whether it’s returning to “normal” after a pandemic, rethinking the way we work, travel and spending time with each other–so it stands to reason that the way we do holidays is changing as well. Though some holiday traditions may be beloved, we could think of a few that could benefit from a reset. If it doesn’t serve us, make us better, or brings stress instead of joy, how can we re-imagine our holiday traditions to help us make the most out every moment?. We promise we’re not Grinches over here–all of us on the For the Love team adore the holidays–but we’re looking at how we can mix it up a little–from the food we serve, to the music we’re playing, the games that entertain us, and how we gather. Whether you love doing the holidays the way you’ve always done them, or you’re ready to head to an island instead of trudging through snow, we’re here to help you  enhance the traditions that have been passed down so they fit who you are, or, we can inspire you to go rogue this Christmas with something really different. To help us in this journey, we’re bringing in folks who give their perspectives on doing things a little or a lot differently and what they learned by following a more untraditional holiday road.

Here on For the Love, there’s pretty much nothing we love to discuss more than what we put in our bellies. We LOVE it ALL–whether we take on a fancy recipe with the flair of a Julia Child or an Ina Garten, to a clean-out-your-fridge-and-throw-it-all-in-a-pan affair. Who hasn’t binged the Food Network just to have the zen of seeing someone create something so delicious we can almost smell it from the screen to our living room? We hope to recreate that here with this series about the joys of feeding your people. And in a happy coincidence, our venerable host will be launching her very first cookbook during this series (aptly titled “Feed Your People: Slam Dunk Recipes for Your Crew”) which really is just an excellent excuse to dish on the show about good eats and what we love to make for our people. We’re covering everything from what it takes behind the scenes to create delectable delights (and how to make them pop off the page of the cookbooks and foodie accounts we love to follow) to why food is such an integral part or our social and familial connections. Join us and stay for a spell to enjoy some delicious food talk–and how it serves our souls, as well as our stomachs.

Y’all. It’s time to talk about it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the dramatic, the hilarious. That’s right–we’re talking about relationships. As Jen dips her toes back in the dating world post-divorce, what better time to call in the experts? For many of us grown adults who haven’t dated in a thousand years, the methods have changed, the rules have changed (swipe left anyone?) and we’re clueless where to start. And for those of you have been in the mix of it for awhile, you’ll still find something new to learn in these conversations that run the gamut from sex, to matchmaking, to finding love in this new world order. We’ll also talk about what to do when your kids start dating, how to navigate the apps (RIP to our sanity), and what to do if you don’t want to be single, and if you do, how to find the maximum satisfaction out of going it solo. We’ll chat with experts, friends, mentors, leaders–basically the people who have the receipts to give us the goods on what healthy relationships look like and how to nurture and build them to what they need to be. Because at the end of the day, good relationships with ourselves and others are what makes life sweeter.

Welcome to MeCamp 2022!  MeCamp was born in the summer of 2021 when Jen took off to travel the coast of Maine to reset and regroup after her world had seemingly blown up.  What she found, traveling mostly alone for a month, was a reconnection to herself and to others, and a healing in the process. Jen’s on another solo flight this summer and this time she’s bringing her podcast community along along! Jen’s audio “letters from camp” track each of day of her adventures  all the way to Aspen, Colorado, then up, up, up to the shores of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, including a scenic detour in the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park and ending with the cool nights of the Northwoods. 

Sitting down for a good conversation with a friend is one of life's greatest gifts. We dig through the chaos of the world while uncovering what it means to be connected to another. We love bringing you the regular conversations we have weekly with a host of different guests, but every once in a while, a conversation needs to happen over a span of time—not just in one sitting. So, to that end, we bring you For the Love of Conversations! This series will pop up from time to time and each round will bring you a brand new guest and friend of Jen. For the next four weeks we’re talking with Jen’s pal, podcaster and author Kelly Corrigan. Jen and Kelly will dive deep into what it means to be human--from dissecting the way change flips things upside down to understanding how we grow simply by loving the people around us—so pull up a chair and join the conversation with Jen and Kelly. 

The times we allow ourselves to really enjoy the things outside of our regular routine can be few and far between because of the sheer time that routine requires.  We struggle to fit in the things we *love* to do in between the things we *have* to do. What’s your favorite pastime when you’re not tending to the daily grind? Is it gardening? Crafting? Thrifting? Dancing on TikTok? This series is here to celebrate those outside passions and ideate ways to fit those things into our lives more deliberately, and maybe even to spark a bit of inspiration from those who took their favorite pastime and turned it into their full time job. Our guests open the door for us to discover (and re-discover) some ways that we can find fun, peace & joy through extra-curricular activities–and maybe even a new way of living in the process.

Faith can be a polarizing topic in our culture today, in an era where your religious beliefs might be all mixed up with your political views, your moral compass, and your perspective on others who believe differently than you. But what about those people whose faith guides them to make a difference in culture that is about love and acceptance–not hate and judgment?  In this series, we’re talking to changemakers who wear their faith loud and proud, but are shaking up culture both inside and outside the church. They're living their faith out in nontraditional spaces, in places with nontraditional people. And they're showing up in all the places that they are walking with incredible faithfulness and courage to show the heart of a God who’s not in the business of “smiting” us, but loving us. 

Here at For the Love, we’re not afraid to take on topics that we might not all agree on. In that, we like to open our show for dialogue from experts in all fields, whether the subject matter is entertaining, educational or uncomfortable. Because we still live in a culture that pushes and hides some emotionally charged ideas and discussions for the sake of keeping people comfortable, we’re blowing that all up and forging ahead with the For the Love of the Elephant in the Room series. Topics ranging from death, menopause, racism, and sexual brokenness will be at the forefront along with expert guests/real life people who compassionately, thoughtfully and wisely guide us through every stigmatized piece of these situations. So, leave your ear plugs at home, and get ready to address the elephants in the room.

Welcome to the 2021 holiday season! As we come to the end of the year, we wanted to offer you two things that are vital to our peace this season: comfort and joy. That’s why we are thrilled to bring you For the Love of Comfort and Joy. This series has it all. From learning how to serve and host others so they feel loved, to finding the hilarity in the Hallmark moments of life, we want to give you something to hold onto during the chaotic season of holiday parties, family arguments about politics and last minute shopping. Some guests will make you laugh until you cry, while others will just make you cry. It’s a mixed bag of goodies, just like the presents under the tree—and we can’t imagine a better way to close out the year. So grab your peppermint mocha and pop on your Santa hat as we enter into the most wonderful time of year! 

It’s time for us all to focus on ourselves. We are constantly caring for others, caring for our jobs, caring for everyone and everything but ourselves. So, when the time comes and we are rundown and overwhelmed, what steps can we take to truly care for us? That’s what this series is all about. We are talking to the best of the self-care best and diving into all the unique ways we can care for and honor our bodies. From self-love to food to addressing trauma, we are not holding anything back. In this series, For the Love of YOU, we want you to step back, reflect, and take the much-needed time to refresh, renew, and step into who you are truly meant to be.

Take your seat and silence your phones as we present For the Love of Broadway. *Cue the theme music!* We are talking to the best and brightest of Broadway and going behind the curtain to get a peek at what it's like to live under those marquee lights, performing live each night, and the scoop behind the biggest shows! These folks had a dream, a big one, and because of their courage we get the privilege to experience live theater and implement that joy and music into our own lives. 

It’s never too late to dream a new dream. And in our brand-new, end-of-summer series, For the Love of Flipping the Script, we’re talking to the movers and shakers who—at some point—completely reinvented themselves, their careers, their beliefs, or their way of life. These are folks who did a 180 degree turn, who are teaching us things that will broaden our horizons, turn the tables, and change the game—even if it means starting small.

Transitions in life are never-ending. We are constantly growing, evolving, learning, and taking lessons from the past into the present—and that’s so important to our own personal development. However, some transitions are chosen, such as quitting a job, focusing on self-fulfillment, or turning a hobby into a passion. Others are forced upon us, like tragedies, divorces, or life-altering events that leave us wondering how we can ever find our way up again. That’s why we are bringing you For the Love of Transitions. After the year we have all been through, we know how hard it can be to see a light at the end of a tunnel. We have guests speaking to all kinds of transitions, including immense tragedy, pivoting so that we can grow into who we were always meant to be, and shifting our beliefs as we gain new perspectives. Join us as we look at where we’ve been, how we’ve lived through major life changes, and all that we’ve learned as we move into the future. 

Spring is here, and you know what that means! Blossoming, regrowth, cleaning out, all the goodness that comes with a new season. But that doesn’t mean we should leave behind the lessons learned last season. We can be watering what we planted, watching it grow, and trying to become the better humans we’ve always strived to be. There are truths and lessons that come back year after year, reminding us of who we want to be and who we should be. To that end, we’ve gathered some wisdom from a few of our favorite For The Love Podcast guests that speak into what’s happening in our world right now, plus some brand new commentary from Jen as to how we can apply these ideas to where we are in our lives today.  Spring back with as we revisit these time-tested truths while we keep on finding our footing in the present. 

A series so fun, we had to do it twice! Food is one of our highest values here on For the Love because, obviously, it's delicious. But it's so much more than that. A dish might remind us who we shared it with before. A piece of fruit might show us what season we're in, and give us a chance to appreciate the moment right where we are. Food helps us travel and meet new people and cultures, even if our kitchen is the only vehicle for our travel. Our need for nourishment connects us to the table. It connects us to each other.
 
In this series, we're talking to some of the cooks and chefs and foodies we admire about what lights their fire in the kitchen, along with their favorite stories around the foods (and people!) they love.

2020‌ ‌untethered‌ ‌so‌ ‌many‌ ‌connections‌ ‌we‌ ‌hold‌ ‌dear:‌ ‌connections‌ ‌with‌ ‌our‌ ‌communities,‌ ‌our‌ ‌world,‌ ‌and‌ ‌
even‌ ‌within‌ ‌ourselves.‌ ‌But‌ ‌as‌ ‌we‌ ‌turn‌ ‌the‌ ‌corner‌ ‌into‌ ‌a‌ ‌brand-new‌ ‌year,‌ ‌what‌ ‌if‌ ‌we‌ ‌allow‌ ‌ourselves‌ ‌to‌ ‌
think‌ ‌about‌ ‌getting‌ ‌back‌ ‌in‌ ‌touch‌ ‌with‌ ‌who‌ ‌we‌ ‌are‌ ‌and‌ ‌what‌ ‌we‌ ‌value?‌ ‌What‌ ‌if‌ ‌we‌ ‌think‌ ‌about‌ ‌who‌ ‌
we’ve‌ ‌become‌ ‌over‌ ‌the‌ ‌past‌ ‌year‌ ‌and‌ ‌how‌ ‌we‌ ‌can‌ ‌move‌ ‌forward‌ ‌with‌ ‌compassion‌ ‌for‌ ‌ourselves‌ ‌and‌ ‌
others?‌ ‌It‌ ‌can‌ ‌feel‌ ‌scary‌ ‌to‌ ‌reach‌ ‌out‌ ‌for‌ ‌reconnection,‌ ‌especially‌ ‌when‌ ‌we’re‌ ‌all‌ ‌hurting‌ ‌from‌ ‌things‌ ‌
we’ve‌ ‌lost.‌ ‌But‌ ‌when‌ ‌we‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌courage‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌ourselves‌ ‌vulnerable,‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌back‌ ‌in‌ ‌touch‌ ‌with‌ ‌
ourselves‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌around‌ ‌us,‌ ‌we‌ ‌also‌ ‌give‌ ‌ourselves‌ ‌capacity‌ ‌to‌ ‌feel‌ ‌joy‌ ‌again.‌

Happy Holidays (fingers crossed)! 2020 was . . something. But what we learned when we were kids holds true today: a Grinch stealing presents can’t take away the beauty of our connections with each other—and neither can a pandemic. As we pause to celebrate the joy of Christmas and turning the corner into a new year, we want to say a big THANK YOU for sticking with us through a crazy season and offer you just a little fun and hope as you close out 2020.

Listen—we all know it’s been a year. We need some hope, some joy, some relief, some kindness. As we turn our thoughts to wrapping up 2020, maybe we could think about the small moments that weren’t a complete dumpster fire, or remember the people who showed us what it means to go through hard things and come out of the other side. Let’s celebrate the small wins, because we've all experienced a few. And we’ll be able to see them a bit more clearly if we pause for a moment and make space for those things to stretch out in our hearts.

It’s time for each of us to raise our voices with the Black community as we come together to fight for the wholeness and dignity of Black children and adults in our country and across the world. How can those of us who aren’t people of color better understand the experience of what it’s like to be Black in America? To that end, we’re sitting at the feet of experts in the Black community across the spectrum of society—from history and culture, to healthcare and education and spirituality and more—to explore what Black children and adults face every day as American citizens, identifying the systems that hold back their flourishing, but also celebrating the innumerable gifts and beauty they bring to our world.

We’ve been so lucky to host some of the world’s best teachers on For the Love, and their lessons stay with us long after they step away from the mic. And right now, we’re bringing a few of our favorite conversations back to your ears, because what these teachers have to say can help us rise to meet what’s going on in the world in a humble, relevant way.

Are there days you wish you could take a peek inside your spouse’s brain? Maybe you want to understand your kids a little more, or your mom, or your boss. Heck, maybe you want to just understand your own brain and why you feel the way you do, and you’ve run out of Buzzfeed quizzes to help you interpret the world via your favorite sandwich toppings.

You guys, there is a better way—it’s called The Enneagram. Whether you’re an Enneagram expert or wondering what the heck it is, you’ll want to come with us on this 10-episode series to dive deep into all nine personality types and the motivations behind the decisions they make. For literal centuries, the Enneagram has helped countless people revolutionize their relationships and unlock a new level of knowing themselves a bit deeper, and we hope it helps you too.

It's time to claim every gift, dream, curiosity, quirk, conviction and imperfection that makes you you—because showing up as you're truly meant to be makes the world a better place. And to help you walk this journey, we're talking to folks who embody what it means to be fierce, free, and full of fire. They share how they let go of the shackles that held them back, and how they embraced the truth of being the glorious humans they were meant to be all along.

For the Love hit the road in late 2019 to talk to smart, fabulous people with our very first For the Love Live Podcast Tour! Some of you came out for it, and we loved having you. But if you weren’t able to drop All The Things to hang out with Jen on a school night, we totally get it. That’s why we’re bringing these great live moments straight to your ears so you can relive the fun and come away with some of the same insights from these enlightening conversations just as you would if you were sitting in the audience yourself.

New Year. New Decade. New Series!  As we move into a new season, we thought we’d bring a few folks to our podcast table who have epitomized what it means to “keep on walking” in their faith. The “For the Love of Faith Icons” series has us seeking wisdom from some of our most beloved faith leaders as we ask our deepest questions and hear where they’ve found peace and strength to endure.  Just like many of us, these leaders have walked through their own personal crises of faith, doubts, and fears—and they honestly and vulnerably reveal those moments, making us all feel less alone. As leaders, they also examine who we are as a body of believers and bring important insight on to how we can embrace each other and be more open to those outside of our circles. They show us that our faith can expand, evolve, and be inclusive while never losing the heart of the Gospel and our belief in a God who is full of grace and mercy.

It’s here, you guys: we’re at the finish line of the year and of a decade. Sometimes it feels the best we can do is sort of limp across that finish line. But you know what? We don’t have to limp. We can hop, skip, and jump across, if we want, because we get to decide how we want to get through this part of the year. We get to decide how we’re going to take stock of the past ten years and sort of turn the dials on how to start the next ten.

So in this short series, we’re talking to people who have learned a thing or two about perseverance and show us that no matter the season, no matter how busy or tired we are, we have so much choice in the way that we are reacting and more power than we know to push through and finish strong.

We’ve made it through another year—a year of triumphs, learning, mourning, dancing, thinking, doing, all of it. The holidays mark a time to take stock of ourselves and our families, celebrate the good and plan for the new year ahead. In this short series, we’re celebrating the wonders of the season, and what makes the hustle and bustle of the year worth it all (hint: people do!). And spoiler alert: stay tuned for everyone’s favorite annual episode, the all important Holiday Gift Guide!

A few years ago, could we have imagined how much podcasts would mean to us today? There’s something so wonderful about listening to stories that range from everyday life to incredible accomplishments, and something so meaningful about diving into hard topics we’d rather not tackle alone. This series, we’re celebrating some of our favorite shows and hosts: the ones that make us laugh, the ones that make us cry, and the ones that teach us some of life’s important lessons and help us think about the world—and ourselves—in brand-new ways.

Well, folks, it’s HERE. The classes, the teachers, the games, the carpool lines, the after-school activities, the can-I-have-$457-for-the-field-trip? shenanigans, the roller coaster of emotions and schedules and everything else—school is just extra, you guys. But amid the hullaballoo are tender souls trying to learn who they are and who they want to be in the world. And believe it or not, even when they don’t ask, our students enjoy having a sounding board in their parents and loved ones (just like we did). In this series, Jen talks to a few of her favorite students (AKA their last names might be “Hatmaker”) along with a few other special guests who inspire us with their courage, wit, and hard-earned young wisdom.

Truth—what does it mean to you? Our dear friend Rachel Held Evans had a note over her desk that simply said, “Tell the truth.” Her voice is sorely missed, and her dedication to speaking the truth inspired us to think about other truth tellers we know—women and men who have dedicated their lives to speaking their personal truths and relaying facts and realities through their platforms (this is no small thing, especially when it’s harder than ever to discern what truth is). These folks are digging just a little bit deeper so that instead of feeling manipulated by the morass of questionable information, we can unearth what’s really happening and use knowledge to affect good change.

Power comes in many forms. It goes far beyond the beauty, wealth, and status we’re told we need in order to have it. In fact, power comes when we make sure everyone, especially our fellow sisters, can have a life filled with dignity, purpose, and equality. Anyone born into a female body knows we live with a unique blend of challenges to conquer.  In this series, we’ll put the spotlight on women of all stripes -- ladder-climbing mavens, firsts-in-their-field pioneers, innovators, trend-setters, and world-changers -- who are shattering glass ceilings, lifting us up, and challenging us to live our highest values in order to be dynamic people who shape the world.

Friend, no one can care for you better than you. And you deserve a few minutes to stop and think about the ways you’re nourishing your mind, body, and spirit—and how you can turn the dials just a smidge to feel even better. 

In this series, we’re bringing you some of the best thinkers and practitioners who have dedicated their lives to help others take stock of where they are and where they want to go. We’re talking to all kinds of health and wellness experts: physical, mental, spiritual, sexual, even career.  Within these episodes, we’re committed to starting conversations that steer us toward non-shaming practices around our health and well-being as a better way of life.

Exploring our faith is a lifelong experience, and it helps to find some community along the way. Picking up where our earlier series “For the Love of Exploring Our Faith” left off, we now present “For the Love of Faith Groundbreakers,” where we interview writers, pastors, thought leaders—women and men taking a fresh, honest look at their faith experiences. Some of them have questioned long-held beliefs or pushed really hard on what they believe to see if it holds. They've all been on different journeys to find Jesus and have asked themselves what it means to follow Him and love others today. And when they find themselves bristling at the status quo, these brave people are blazing new trails and inviting us to come along and learn beside them.

Can you chart back over your life, and recount the songs that were the defining moments of a given year and remember those lyrics and melodies that literally lent words and feeling to what you were going through? WE LOVE MUSIC, all types of music, and the way it underscores all the seasons of our lives. This series is long overdue—and one that matters to us—and to our listeners, based on the overwhelming amount of requests we received for it. We’ll talk to amazing artists and creators of music during each episode, and discuss what it’s meant to them to write and perform music that resonates sooooo deeply within us. 

Hitting a new year can be refreshing, right? There’s something thrilling about turning the page on a brand-new year and filling it up with new ideas and fresh beginnings.  But sometimes, the urgency in January to Change! Change! Change! can be overwhelming—not to mention shaming and unnecessary. And this year we say: let’s not buy into it. We’d rather focus on how to bloom where we’re already planted. So in this series, For the Love of Good Change, we’re talking to people who have expertise in how to live well, who compassionately take us by the hand and help nourish our lives already in progress: with our bodies, in our neighborhoods, and in the work we’re doing.

In our For the Love community, we’re passionate about giving, no matter what time of year. We keep our eyes focused and hearts open to help people in need, whether they’re our neighbor across the street or around the world. But sometimes we need a little help figuring out where all of our generosity should go.  In For the Love of Giving, we're going to talk about ways we can use our time and money to do something good, and bring you inspiring stories of people who are living the change we wish to see in the world. This is the stuff we love, and we can’t wait for you to meet the extraordinary people and organizations in this series.

Who doesn’t love a good binge-worthy show on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon? We’re all in and celebrating these simple pleasures with For the Love of TV—podcast episodes dedicated to celebrating one of our favorite pastimes! We had a blast getting to know the real-life personalities from the TV shows we love and we know you will too.  Whether you’re into comedies or morning shows, Hallmark movies or dramas, you don’t want to miss a single episode of For the Love of TV!

How could we NOT have a series on a passion SO many of us share? I have had a love for reading since I was a wee book nerd—scarfing down as many books from the library I could possibly get my hands on. It’s no different now as I have all manner of books in my favorite reading places—everything from biographies, to fiction, to psychology, to relatable stories from fellow humans like you and I who share insight into their unique triumphs and failures. I still love losing myself in a book, the feel of an "actual" book in my hands; whether it be paperback or hardcover (no disrespect to digital books--they are a Godsend!) and being delighted, inspired, and often, finding myself in the pages. Good writers can so skillfully relate to us; they can make us howl with laughter (who hasn't been reading on a plane and snorted uncontrollably to the bemusement of our seatmate) or bring us to tears with some pain they poignantly reveal. We’ll run the gamut here with our amazing line-up of guests—authors you know and love, first-time writers, fiction writers, and lovers of books who will guide us to the kinds of works that will bring us life through the remainder of the year and beyond. 

If there's one thing about parenting that I know with complete and absolute certainty, it is this:  It's all a total crap shoot and nobody knows what the heck they're doing. We're all winging it, man. Every last one of us. We're doing the best we know how with our limited training and resources, and putting faith in the notion that all of those nights of lost sleep, all of those hours spent being driven one step closer the the loony farm, all of it.....is going to pay off someday in the form of a well-adjusted kid.  Fortunately, we all have this amazing gift of community where we get to share our experiences and learn from other moms and dads who are figuring it out through tedious trial and error.  In our 10th series of the For the Love Podcast, we're talking with seasoned parents and experts who have learned a trick or two from this parenting gig and we'll discover one example after another that proves that we are not alone in this struggle.

We are coming in hot off of the Exploring Our Faith series that has all of our brains sizzling and now it's time to lighten things up and have some fun.  Grab the sunscreen, some comfy flip flops, your favorite cold drink and that stack of books you've been dying to read and join us for a new series. We're taking the plunge into "For the Love of Summer" to talk about all of the ways you can create a fabulous summer full of unforgettable memories. We'll talk travel tips with the pros, brilliant (but inexpensive) ideas for entertaining the kids, our favorite fashion trends of the season, plus we'll gush over our favorite books to reach for this summer.  Whether you plan to be a beach-bum, a road warrior, or hide out in the AC until fall, we've got you covered with everything you're going to need.

What about racism? Sexuality? The evangelical church? What about doctrine and theology? Best practices and faithfulness? What about the church in the Age of Trump? What about when we don’t agree? All this and more in our new series “For the Love of Exploring our Faith.” We’ve invited spiritual leaders from every denomination and ideology, so if you don’t like one, just come back the next week and hear another perspective. We’re asking hard questions and exploring difficult spaces with some of the smartest, wisest, most faithful leaders of our day. This series is thought-provoking and unfiltered, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Calling all dreamers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, champions of justice: get excited for our next series because these are your people. Thrilled to bring you “For the Love of Women Who Built It”! We are hosting women who’ve built racial reconciliation ministries, mentorship orgs for young women, a Fortune 500 exec who left to start her own company empowering female entrepreneurs, a body product organization staffed by women rebuilding after the sex industry. These women are running the world, and we’re going to talk to every one of them. Whether you are a dreamer like them or simply want to support women-led companies, this whole series is going to rock our world.

This is the series I’ve been waiting for! Get ready to crack up as we kick off "For the Love of Laughter”! We have some of the smartest, wildest, most hilarious comics coming on the show, from Saturday Night Live royalty to YouTube stars to stand-up queens…we’re bringing the funny. We’ll get a front row seat not just to their award-winning comedy but to the winding roads that got them where they are today. This one is going to be fun, guys.

Ready or not, the new year is hot on our heels! As you start writing down your resolutions, filling out your calendar, and dreaming up big, lofty goals for what your next year is going to look like, check out our series that's all about new beginnings! Our guests in this series are experts at rewriting the narrative of their own stories into something that has more meaning, more purpose, and more connection to their own goals for where and who they want to be.  They've waded neck-deep through the muck of stress, overwhelm, loneliness, insecurity, lack of direction and self-awareness and have come out on the other side with so much wisdom and advice for anyone looking to start making big changes in their own lives.  This series if full of practical tools and tips that will help you on your journey to living more authentically in 2018!

You will not want to miss ONE SINGLE EPISODE of the next series on the For the Love Podcast: get ready to adore “For the Love of Fall and Holidays”! We got you covered in every possible way: food and hospitality, navigating tricky relationships during this season, fashion trends for fall and Christmas, how to properly be a football fanatic, Jen’s Favorite Gifts, and even behind-the-scenes stories from a certain beloved Pioneer Woman… We have doctors, fashion mavens, lifestyle moguls, and even a Hatmaker husband. This series is packed with awesome, guys. You’re going to love it. 

We are super excited about the next series on the podcast: For the love of food! As one of Jen’s favorite subjects (and activities), we are delighted to bring you chefs, Food Network stars, cookbook authors, Paleo practitioners, hospitality experts, and people who use food in big and small ways to love people well and heal the world. Foodie or not, you won’t want to miss a single episode of this series! 

Our second series is going to knock you flat out. In keeping with my latest book, Of Mess and Moxie, I am thrilled to bring you “For the Love of Moxie”! I’ll be talking with women who undeniably have pluck, chutzpah, grit, moxie. They’ve built companies and brands, changed entire national conversations, served the world, they’ve overcome. They will inspire you, push you, make you think. I hope you love listening to them as much as I loved talking to them. Bring on the MOXIE.

I’m kicking off our very first series with a subject near and dear to most of our hearts: girlfriends. What we love about them, where it can get sticky, how to make and keep them, why we love them. This will be a 5-episode series with a new episode releasing every Wednesday. I learned and laughed so much, and I hope you will too. Listen and enjoy!

Surprise! Once in a blue moon, I’ll pop in your podcast feed with a surprise special episode, something one-off and a little different from the For The Love series we might be in. Maybe it’s tied to current events. Maybe it’s an important conversation in the world right now, and we need to hash it out in a safe place, in our brilliant and kind community of podcast listeners. Maybe it’s something I know you’ll love and can’t wait to share with you.

Like finding a $10 bill in the dryer or seeing a double rainbow, you never know when a bonus episode of For the Love will drop into your life. So keep your eyes peeled and your fingers crossed!

Ever wondered what you're missing by not being part of the Jen Hatmaker Book Club? Well, wonder no more! In this bonus series, you can listen to interviews with authors of some of our past book club selections. The author interviews are just one of the many perks of being a JHBC member.

To learn about all the benefits of a JHBC membership, or to join, check out the "Book Club" tab at the top of the page.