The Problem With Perfect

The Problem With Perfect

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If perfection is an illusion, why are so many of us chasing it? We live in a world that is constantly telling us we need to be it all and have it all to be worthy. It leads us to hide our imperfections and overcompensate our strengths - and leaves us exhausted. Join hosts Robin May and Denise Bickel for meaningful, cross-generational conversations that will leave you uplifted and encouraged about a future freed from the problem with perfect.

Episode List

When Life Turns Up the Heat

Mar 10th, 2026 11:00 AM

What if the very things we try to avoid in life- the discomfort, the struggle, the seasons that feel too heavy- are actually the moments shaping who we are becoming?In this episode, we explore Tapas, the third Niyama in yogic philosophy. Often translated as “heat” or self-discipline, Tapas invites us to stay present in life’s refining fires rather than running from them. It’s the courage to sit with discomfort long enough to discover the transformation waiting on the other side  Together we discuss:Why discipline isn’t about punishment, but about strength of characterHow crises can either break us down or break us openThe role discomfort plays in spiritual and personal growthHow faith, perseverance, and even ordinary challenges can shape us in powerful waysJoin us as we consider that the greatest growth might happen when we choose not to escape the fire, but trust it  instead. 

When Silence No Longer Feels Faithful With Ashely Gross Minor

Feb 24th, 2026 12:00 PM

Some conversations don’t start with answers.They start with a shift you didn’t see coming.In this episode, Robin sits down with Ashley Gross Minor for a deeply personal and honest conversation about what happens when something that once felt foundational and sacred begins to feel messy and complicated.Ashley spent more than a decade immersed in what many call the “K-World” of Kanakuk Ministries. She was a camper, leader, mentor, and believer whose faith was shaped in that space.But recently, something changed.After engaging with a widely circulated conversation featuring Elizabeth Carlock Phillips on The Shawn Ryan Show, Ashley found herself wrestling with questions she could no longer ignore.This episode isn’t about proving facts or revisiting headlines.It’s about what happens internally when new information collides with long-held trust.It’s about the tension of holding both gratitude and grief. Of reconciling meaningful spiritual experiences with difficult realities. Of deciding what responsibility looks like when silence no longer feels right.This conversation may challenge you. It may resonate with you. It may simply invite you to reflect more deeply.(Listener discretion is advised as we discuss sensitive issues related to child sexual abuse.)Special Guest: Ashley Gross MinorAshley Gross Minor is a wife, mom, and business owner whose life has been deeply impacted by her experiences with Kanakuk Ministries. In fact, she spent more than fourteen years deeply embedded in what many refer to as the Kanakuk “K-World.” She was a camper. A staff member. A recruiter. A graduate of the Institute. A KLIFE director. A leader. A mentor. She sent children she loves to camp. She gave her life to Christ there at twelve years old.For most of her life, this wasn’t just a camp. It was a spiritual home.But recently, Ashley listened to a three-plus- hour conversation between Elizabeth Carlock Phillips and Shawn Ryan on The Shawn Ryan Show. This conversation deeply impacted her understanding of what has unfolded over decades within the organization. She joins Robin on this episode to discuss her personal experiences at Kanakuk and why she can no longer remain silent.Show Notes:The Shawn Ryan Show: Elizabeth Phllips- Camp Kanakuk: Exposing One of hte World's Largest Summer Campshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQriYkW8KQWebsite Ashely mentions: https://factsaboutkanakuk.com/Sexual Abuse Resources for the Columbia, MO area:True North of Columbia (formerly Rape & Abuse Crisis Service / RACS)24/7 crisis line: 573-875-1370 or 800-548-2480Services: confidential counseling, advocacy, support groups, legal/hospital accompanimentServes Boone County and surrounding areasServices are free or low-cost for survivors. SNAP – Survivors Network of those Abused by PriestsHotline: 1-877-SNAP-HEALS (1-877-762-7432)Peer support, advocacy, and referrals to therapists familiar with clergy abuse. The Hope of SurvivorsNational organization focused specifically on clergy sexual abuse and spiritual abuse recovery. These organizations are especially helpful when you want a clinician who understands spiritual betrayal, faith injury, or church dynamics.RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)24/7 hotline: 800-656-HOPEOnline chat and local provider referrals nationwide. Missouri Coalition / State Sexual Violence NetworkHelps connect you to community rape crisis centers and trauma therapists across Missouri. 

The Practice of Contentment (and Why It’s So Hard)

Feb 10th, 2026 12:00 PM

What if contentment isn’t something we chase, but something we practice?In this episode, Robin and Denise continue their journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, arriving at the second Niyama: Santosha, which is the practice of deep, inner contentment. Together, they explore what it means to find peace in the present moment, regardless of external circumstances, and why our constant striving for “what’s next” may be keeping us from fully living now.Through personal stories, practical reflections, breathwork, gratitude, and both biblical and scientific insight, this conversation invites you to pause, let joy linger, and consider the paradox of non-seeking. If you’re tired of waiting for life to finally feel good, or realizing you might be wishing it away, this episode offers a gentle, grounding reminder: contentment begins within.Show Notes:The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

When Faith Shifts: A Journey from Evangelical Church to the LDS Church With Kathy Hahn

Jan 27th, 2026 12:00 PM

What happens when long-held faith begins to raise deeper questions?In today’s episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend Kathy Hahn. Over nearly twenty years of friendship, I’ve watched Kathy live out her faith sincerely while also wrestling honestly with complex theological questions.A little more than two years ago, Kathy made the decision to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she and her husband have since been baptized and are now actively serving.In this thoughtful conversation, we explore what led her to the LDS Church, how she has reconciled theological differences with her former beliefs, and what it means to follow conviction when faith evolves.This episode is about curiosity and understanding in a world that too often doesn’t appreciate either. Special Guest: Kathy Hahn

How to Feel Lighter in a Busy and Overstimulated World

Jan 13th, 2026 12:00 PM

Six months into our journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, we pause to reflect on what it really means to let go. Not just of our stuff, but of expectations, busyness, self-judgment, and the heaviness we carry inside.In this episode, we finish our exploration of Aparigraha (nonpossessiveness) and begin our inward turn into the Niyamas, starting with Saucha, the practice of purity. But purity here isn’t about perfection, appearances, or having it all together. It’s about lightening our load, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, so we can meet each moment with clarity, compassion, and presence.Join us as we talk about what it might look like to stop “planning ourselves” and instead love ourselves as we are. This is an invitation to slow down, to be present, and to become a safer place for ourselves and for others.If you’re feeling weighed down, scattered, or quietly exhausted by trying to do it all right, this conversation offers a gentler way forward - one rooted in presence, peace, and learning to let joy linger.Show Notes:The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

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