Episodes

  • EP. 14 Holding Loss — and the Choices That Remain

    EP. 14 Holding Loss — and the Choices That Remain
    Mar 25 2026
    Holding Loss — and the Choices That Remain

    When tragedy changes everything… what does it look like to keep going? In this episode, we sit down with Cammie McDonald for an honest conversation about grief, family, and the choices that remain — even in the hardest seasons.

    Rooted in our learned wisdom:
    “Just because a circumstance beyond your control has taken away some of your choices, it doesn’t mean it’s taken away all of your choices.”

    This is a conversation about holding loss, supporting one another, and learning how to move forward — one choice at a time.

    ✨ Reflection Question:
    What choices are still yours, even while you’re holding what’s been taken?
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • EP. 13 The Choices Circumstances Can't Take with Bianca De Anda

    EP. 13 The Choices Circumstances Can't Take with Bianca De Anda
    Mar 4 2026
    On today’s episode of the Let It Be Podcast, we sit down with Bianca DeAnda—a clinical psychologist in Southern California and a longtime connection to Ruthe’s family. Together, we talk about what happens when life doesn’t follow the plan… and how your choices still matter, even when your circumstances feel heavy, unexpected, or out of your control.

    Bianca shares with honesty about grief and growth, the pressure of traditional timelines, and what it looks like to rebuild your identity when a major season shifts. We explore the truth that joy and grief can coexist, how naming hard emotions helps release shame, and why learning to sit with yourself—without roles, titles, or expectations—can become a turning point.

    This conversation is for anyone who has ever thought, “This isn’t what I expected,” and is trying to find a steady next step anyway. Bianca brings grounded wisdom, emotional clarity, and practical hope—reminding us that even if circumstances change your plan, they don’t get the final say in who you become.

    To close, Tim leaves us with a reflection question to carry with you:
    “Who are you when you stop rushing to become who you thought you’d be?”
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Choices Series: The Choices That Are Still Yours

    Choices Series: The Choices That Are Still Yours
    Feb 7 2026
    The Choices That Are Still Yours
    In this opening episode of our new series on choice, Ruthe and Tim sit down to explore what remains within our control when life feels anything but controllable. Through honest conversation, humor, and deeply personal reflection, they talk about circumstances that are handed to us—grief, loss, and unexpected change—and the quiet power of choosing how we respond.

    Ruthe shares the learned wisdom born from walking alongside her daughter Karla during her illness, reminding us that even when choices are taken away, not all of them disappear. Tim brings his thoughtful, curious perspective—challenging, affirming, and grounding the conversation in everyday life. Together, they wrestle with grief, faith and doubt, attitude, community, and the freedom found in choosing joy, presence, and meaning.

    Featured in this episode is a rare and powerful moment—Karla’s own voice.
    Recorded during her illness, Karla reflects on positivity, normalcy, and faith with a clarity and grace far beyond her years. Her words remind us that even when outcomes are uncertain, perspective, joy, and connection are still choices we get to make. Her voice doesn’t just support this series—it anchors it.

    This episode invites you to pause and ask: What is happening in my life right now that I can’t control—and what choices are still mine to make? Whether you’re stepping into a new year, navigating loss, or simply trying to find your footing again, this conversation offers hope, permission, and a reminder that your story is still unfolding.

    A new series begins here on the Let It Be Podcast—and we’re so glad you’re here.
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • Gift Series: Holding Tomorrow With Trust with Myles

    Gift Series: Holding Tomorrow With Trust with Myles
    Jan 22 2026
    Holding Tomorrow With Trust takes us to a snowy morning in Leavenworth, Washington, where we sit down with Myles (“Sasquatch”)—a private, music-loving builder who survived diabetes, colon cancer, chemo, and a heart attack, all in one season. Together, we talk about what it means to plan for tomorrow without living in fear of it, how to advocate for your health, and how to find peace when life feels uncertain. With humor, honesty, and a mix of faith and curiosity, this conversation is a reminder: you don’t have to carry the weight alone.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 16 mins
  • EP.10 Capture the Guilt, Don’t Carry It with Pastor Scott Heider

    EP.10 Capture the Guilt, Don’t Carry It with Pastor Scott Heider
    Dec 30 2025
    Capture the Guilt, Don’t Carry It is an honest, hope-filled conversation about the difference between conviction and self-condemnation—and why guilt so often shows up around rest, productivity, grief, and “not doing enough.” Ruthe and Tim sit down with Pastor Scott Heider to unpack how shame can attack identity, how to capture guilt instead of letting it control you, and how replacing unhealthy thought patterns can bring real clarity and peace. Whether you’re rooted in faith, full of questions, or somewhere in between, this episode offers practical tools—and a gentle invitation to release what you were never meant to hold.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Gift Series: How Will You Recognize the Gift of Your New Normalcy?

    Gift Series: How Will You Recognize the Gift of Your New Normalcy?
    Dec 4 2025
    In this episode of the Let It Be Podcast, Ruthe and Tim step into one of life’s most misunderstood seasons: the transition into a new normal. After years of living in survival mode, structured schedules, and responsibilities that left little room for choice, what happens when life suddenly becomes quiet? When the pace changes? When you get to decide what comes next?

    Ruthe opens up about the unexpected challenges of retirement, the loss of a long-held identity, and the surprising discomfort of having too many choices. Tim brings his trademark curiosity and humor as he explores how we redefine purpose when old roles fade and new rhythms begin to form.

    Together, they ask a meaningful question:
    How do you recognize the gift in a season that feels unfamiliar, uncertain, or even a little uncomfortable?

    This conversation is for anyone navigating transition—whether it’s career, caregiving, an empty nest, grief, or simply stepping into a new chapter of life. It’s a reminder that normalcy isn’t something you return to… it’s something you learn to receive.

    A quiet space, a slower schedule, a shift in identity—
    Maybe the new normal isn’t something to fear or fix.
    Maybe it’s something to recognize as a gift.
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • Gift Series: What if normal IS the gift?

    Gift Series: What if normal IS the gift?
    Nov 21 2025
    In this episode, Ruthe and Tim dive into the often-ignored beauty of everyday life — the routines, the pauses, the simple moments that feel almost miraculous after seasons of chaos or grief. Through stories of unexpected peace, grounding rituals, and the tug-of-war between guilt and gratitude, they explore how “normal” can become one of life’s rarest blessings. Blending faith and agnostic perspectives, honesty, humor, and heart, they invite you to slow down and really consider: What if normal is the gift?
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • Gift Series: When Normal Feels Like a Gift

    Gift Series: When Normal Feels Like a Gift
    Nov 5 2025
    When Normal Feels Like a Gift (Gifts Series · Ep. 1)

    Ruthe and Tim open a new series on “gifts”—not bows-and-boxes, but the quiet mercies that meet us in real life. From Ruthe’s tender story of traveling during Karla’s chemo to the lasting wisdom her daughter shared during that season, they explore how moments of peace can feel like grace—especially in times that are anything but normal. Tim brings humor and honesty through small, everyday encounters that reveal how connection and gratitude can appear in unexpected places. Together, they unpack the difference between gifts and talents, hold space for both faith and agnostic perspectives, and reflect on Matthew 6:34: “Do not worry about tomorrow.” You’ll hear about dog hugs, the freedom of surrender, and how even “bad gifts” can shape character and compassion.
    Show more Show less
    35 mins