Roots and Wings Podcast

Publish Date 10-1-18 In this episode Brittany gets to interview her mother-inlaw Diane Estep. This is Part 1 of a great conversation Brittany and Diane has as Diane shares her story of becoming a wife, entering into the life of pastoral ministry and becoming Momma to their two boys. She shares some wonderful insight and parenting wisdom gained from her years as a Mom and Partner in Ministry with her husband Eddie.

Publish Date 9-24-18Life comes at all of us sometimes hard and fast, sometimes gentle and slow. None of us are guaranteed anything other than the moments we have right now. Join Brittany and Chip in this episode as Britt shares some real life things happening in her and Jeff's lives right now and what God is revealing to their hearts. The idea that we really only have this moment and how important to never take for granted but rather count every blessing and celebrate every single day.Links to things mentioned in this episode:Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation - "Great Love and Great Suffering"Rend Collective - "Counting Every Blessing"

Publish Date 9-17-18Recently Chip was inspired by a podcast episode from Rob Bell all about "Menuha" or "Rest", "Shabbat", "Sabbath" Chip and Brittany talk about the legalism that can sometimes surround the idea of observing a "Sabbath" and how that has caused some of us to grow weary of the practice and maybe even ignore it all together. Chip shares some of the take aways from Rob Bell's podcast episode that resonated with him and inspired him to explore the rhythm of Menuha and what it means for the fulness of our lives. We hope this conversation will encourage you in finding opportunity and meaning in taking a rest from your work and discover the spiritual significance of celebrating a season of creating/building/working through rest.​Rob Bell's Podcast Episode #204 "Menuha!"

Publish Date 9-10-18This episode deals with the topic of friendships and all that goes with that. Why are friendships important, how do we help our kids develop friendships, how do we encourage healthy friendships, how can we be sure our child's friends will be good for them? These are just a few questions Chip and Brittany get into in this episode. Give us your feedback share some of your ideas with us and our listeners.Email: Chip@ChipRichter.com  Brittany@ChipRichter.comRoots and Wings Podcast On FacebookRoots and Wings Podcast on InstagramRoots and Wings Podcast on Twitter

Publish Date 9-4-18In this episode we are glad to welcome Brittany back to the microphone after her few weeks away working through some major career, life and family changes. In fact that and the season of change we all find ourselves in, transitioning from summer to fall, back to school, new seasons of life and so on is what inspired this conversation. How does your family handle change? How do you feel personally when it's all happening? What do you do with all those feelings you are feeling and what about your kids? How do you help them in the midst of major changes that come your way? We touch on some of those questions and more in this episode.If you're a regular listener and find an episode helpful or inspiring please share that episode with someone you know who might also appreciate it. Use the share button in your podcast app and pass it on. We're sure you've heard it before, "please rate and review this podcast"... and yes that is a good thing to do because it helps this podcast show up in searches on iTunes easier, but we really think the very best way to grow our audience and community is by people sharing it with other people in a real and personal way. So if you would please do share this episode or the website with that person you just thought of who might get something good out of listening.​Roots and Wings Podcast on iTunes Apple Podcasts

Publish Date 8-27-18This episode comes to you direct from the shores of Lake Erie where Chip is finishing up the summer season at Lakeside Chautauqua. He still flying solo in this one and adding a few thoughts to the episode from last week all about feeling a little anxious as we send our kids off to a new school year. Chip says, "I've been "liking" lots of pics being posted on my social media platforms from families I know whose kids are starting their "First Day of (kindergarten, 1st Grade... fill in the blank here) and reading the accompanying comments of their parents. I can't help but pick up as I read between the lines some of the anxiety in those comments... and in truth I can sure understand that... I remember sending my kids off to kindergarten, 1st grade, first day of junior high or first day of high school (YIKES)... those were anxious times for me for sure and I can relate! In the first place you can't believe they are old enough to be doing this! In the second place you're certain they are not ready for this! And finally in the third place there's nothing you can do about it... ready or not, it's happening and there's not a thing you can do to slow it down or delay the inevitable and anxiety may be running high."​This week we are sharing a few more practical parenting tips to help support your kids during the school year whatever the season they're in (Elementary, JR High, High School even College).

Publish Date 8-20-18In this episode Chip is flying solo as Brittany is not able to join the conversation because she Jeff are up to their eyeballs in a new transitional season of starting a new job, moving and starting work on a Masters degree. Actually a lot of what Brittny is doing has to do with the phrase Back to School! Here in the final weeks of summer we are squeezing out the last drops of summertime while looking ahead into the transitional season of Back To School. The phrase "Back to School" may bring cries of "oh no say it isn't so" from the kids and "I thought it would never get here" from the parents! If your morning the passing of summer or doing a happy dance for back to school time most parents, and their children, will at some point experience along the way a bit of anxiety that comes with a new transitional season.We hope this episode will be encouraging for you and inspire you to get connected with other parents who might be feeling the same emotions and anxieties and to go to the One who knows us and our kids the best and who loves us all more than we can imagine!

Publish Date 8-13-18In this episode Brittany and Chip talk about and explore the importance of nurturing and providing kids the opportunity to use their imaginations and creativity. They talk about some real life experiences of how imagination and creativity came into play in their household and some of the fun results of that. We hope you'll be inspired to look for opportunities to give your children's imaginations and creativity a chance to not only grow but thrive.Lady Bug's Living Room  available on iTunes

Publish Date 8-6-18 This is kind of a different episode... Brittany and Chip recorded this one together in the back yard at a picnic table in Lakeside just getting a chance to catch up and chat. We hope you enjoy this episode and are inspired by some of what they share about what's been happening in their lives and how God is touching and speaking to their hearts. There's some fun Father/Daughter moments in this one too... we hope ya'll like it.There are lots of links mentioned in this episode so here you go: Chip's New LIVE Concert DVD Mount Vernon University Everybody Always - by Bob Goff Lakeside Chautauqua in Lakeside, Ohio Roots and Wings on Facebook Roots and Wings on Instagram Roots and Wings Podcast Website  

Publish Date 7-30-18This episode is a part 2 of a conversation with Chip joined his daughters Brittany and Megan as they talk about a topic that can be very sensitive for some families. Nurturing a healthy self-esteem and body image is so important for our children, especially girls although boys are needing just as much encouragement and parenting in this too. We live in a culture/society overly focused on outward appearances. Children, especially tweens and teens are literally being bombarded with messages of "what you should look like"... do you remember Junior High, remember the first day of school going to 7th grade? The pressure and anxiety kids feel is very real as parents and grandparents we really need to be aware and have a strategy to help our children grow up to have a healthy (and we should put the emphasis on "Healthy") sense of confidence, self esteem and body image.Brittany and Megan shed some light on this topic from a girls perspective and share some personal things they experienced growing up and how they maneuvered this delicate and sometimes difficult time of life. Chip offers some thoughts about how to make a strategy and a few tips. 

Publish Date 7-23-18In this episode Chip is joined by not only his daughter Brittany but also his daughter Megan as they talk about a topic that can be very sensitive for some families. Nurturing a healthy self-esteem and body image is so important for our children, especially girls although boys are needing just as much encouragement and parenting in this too. We live in a culture/society overly focused on outward appearances. Children, especially tweens and teens are literally being bombarded with messages of "what you should look like"... do you remember Junior High, remember the first day of school going to 7th grade? The pressure and anxiety kids feel is very real as parents and grandparents we really need to be aware and have a strategy to help our children grow up to have a healthy (and we should put the emphasis on "Healthy") sense of confidence, self esteem and body image.Brittany and Megan shed some light on this topic from a girls perspective and share some personal things they experienced growing up and how they maneuvered this delicate and sometimes difficult time of life. Chip offers some thoughts about how to make a strategy and a few tips. 

Publish Date 7-16-18Happy summer everyone... well we are in the "Thick of Summer" right smack in the middle. How is your intentional summer going? Are you getting to all those fun summer plans you made or is your family summer just slip, slip, slipping by? If you're like us you might be a little disappointed that you have not been able to realize some of those amazing plans you had in mind for your family. Well we hope this episode will encourage you not only in your summer plans but in your whole outlook on life and plans and schedules we all make for our families. So take a few minutes with a cold drink, put your feet up and "be still, mindful and present" as you listen to this episode and be encouraged!​Link to things mentioned in this episode:Lakeside ChautauquaEverybody Always - Bob Goff

 Publish Date 7-9-18 This episode will conclude our 5 part interview with Josh and Megan Osborn as they have been telling their family story of their twin baby girls, Finley and Riley, being born at 23 weeks 6 days.  The heartbreak of losing Finley only a few hours after she was born and then Riley's fight for survival. This week they continue to share about the surgeries, procedures and amazing care Riley received in her long stay in Akron Children's Hospital NICU and the day they finally bring her home and reality of the journey ahead.​The Osborns share a story that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, one that has taken them on journey of faith, hope and love. We wanted to give them plenty of time to tell their story and so that's why it's a 5 part interview.... We so appreciate their willingness to open up and give our listeners a glimpse into such a personal and difficult time. Their hope is that some part of their journey will inspire, encourage and build up others who have faced or might be facing a truly difficult family crisis.Riley continues to amaze and inspire us and her Doctors and Therapists. Check out photos and videos as well as follow Riley's progress on the Riley Updates Facebook page. There's also been a Go Fund Me Website set up by friends of the Osborns that will help cover costs for medical procedures and equipment not covered by their insurance. (Links Below)Links to resources mentioned in this interview:Riley Updates on Facebook​Osborn Fmily Go Fund Me23 Weeks 6 Days / Radiolab"The Girl Who Lived" - Akron Children's Hospital 

Publish Date 7-2-18This is part 4 of a 5 part interview with Josh and Megan Osborn as they tell their family story of their twin baby girls, Finley and Riley, and the shock, uncertainty and eventual heartbreak of going into labor and the babies being born at 23 weeks 6 days and losing Finley only a few hours later and Riley's fight for survival. Last week we learned just 24 hours after she was born they got news that Riley was "crashing" and experiencing bleeding in her lungs as well as a grade 4 brain bleed on the left side. The Medical Team caring for Riley has had the difficult job of telling Josh and Megan all of the many bad things that will likely come from the brain bleed Riley is experiencing. Last week when we left off Josh and Megan were about to tell us how they responded to the medical staff when asked if they wanted to continue Riley's care and how they came to that decision.​Josh and Megan share a story that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, one that has taken them on journey of faith, hope and love. We wanted to give them plenty of time to tell their story and so that's why it's a 5 part interview.... We so appreciate their willingness to open up and give our listeners a glimpse into such a personal and difficult time. Their hope is that some part of their journey will inspire, encourage and build up others who have faced or might be facing a truly difficult family crisis.Links to resources mentioned in this interview:Riley Updates on Facebook23 Weeks 6 Days / Radiolab"The Girl Who Lived" - Akron Children's Hospital 

Publish Date 6-25-18We continue with part 3 of a 5 part interview with Josh and Megan Osborn as they share their story of being pregnant with twin girls and the shock, uncertainty and eventual heartbreak of Megan going into labor and the babies being born at 23 weeks 6 days and losing Finley only a few hours later We pick up the story just as Finley's sister Riley is crashing and heading into a really desperate medical situation.​ Josh and Megan share a story that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, one that has taken them on journey of faith, hope and love. We wanted to give them plenty of time to tell their story and so that's why it's a 5 part interview.... We so appreciate their willingness to open up and give our listeners a glimpse into such a personal and difficult time. Their hope is that some part of their journey will inspire, encourage and build up others who have faced or might be facing a truly difficult family crisis.​Links to resources mentioned in this interview:Riley Updates on Facebook23 Weeks 6 Days / Radiolab"The Girl Who Lived" - Akron Children's Hospital