Today's conversation is all about breaking down the barriers to hospitality and inviting others into our imperfect homes and lives. Host Heather Creekmore welcomes hospitality expert and author Abby Kuykendall to talk honestly about why so many of us fear having people over, how our obsession with perfection holds us back, and why biblical hospitality is an act of obedience, not perfection.

Abby shares personal stories, practical tips, and a refreshing perspective: God doesn’t ask for Pinterest-perfect homes or Martha Stewart-level parties—He asks for our willingness and intention. The conversation touches on the lies that keep us isolated, how hospitality and body image are linked by the pressure to be “enough,” and the surprising joy that comes from letting others see our real lives, mess and all.

You’ll walk away encouraged to stretch your “hospitality muscle,” start small, and remember that true community isn’t about impressing others—it’s about loving them well. Abby also shares insights and resources from her new book, Let the Biscuits Burn, packed with ways to undo perfectionism in hospitality and embrace the blessing of real connection.

Key Topics

• The barriers and fears around inviting others into our homes

• Cultural messages about self-care vs. the biblical call to hospitality

• The difference between entertaining and true hospitality

• Practical first steps to open your home when you feel intimidated

• Lies from the enemy that keep us from building community

• Why showing our real, imperfect lives builds deeper relationships

• Links between body image issues, isolation, and hospitality

• Abby Kuykendall’s new book and resources for becoming more hospitable

• Using tools (like ChatGPT!) to help break down conversational barriers

• Setting healthy boundaries in hospitality

Noteworthy Quotes

• “God doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for that willingness and heart to be obedient.”

• “When you open yourselves up...this is my authentic, vulnerable self—that opens the door for others to feel comfortable being raw and intimate themselves.”

• “We think we want perfection, but that actually would isolate us from people even more.”

Resources

• Let the Biscuits Burn: Cultivating Real Life Hospitality in a World Craving Connection by Abby Kuykendall
  [Get it wherever books are sold! Includes hosting tips, conversation starters, and more.]

• Connect with Abby Kuykendall:

  • Instagram: @abbykuykendall

  • Website: abbykuykendall.com

  • [Podcast: Let the Biscuits Burn (available wherever you listen)]

• Learn about the In His Image Conference 2025 here: https://www.wonderfullymadenutritioncounseling.com/events/in-his-image-body-image-conference-for-teen-girls-and-women-2025

Connect with Heather

• www.improvebodyimage.com

• Instagram: @comparedtowho

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend who needs encouragement to open their home and heart—imperfections and all.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—every bit helps the message of grace and real connection reach more women!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you tend to feel sadness or let down at the end of special seasons-- like holidays or summer? If so, you could suffer from a (made-up) condition called CDD - Chronic Disappointment Disorder. Heather confesses that she wrestles this condition which keeps her chronically feeling like she should have done more or at least enjoyed the special seasons more. If you feel sad at the end of summer, and are "woulda, shoulda, coulda" over-thinking what you wish your summer had looked like, this episode is for you. Those of us with body image issues have a fabulous way of not just lamenting the end of special seasons, but lamenting lots of other things that don't go according to our expectations. You'll find encouragement and hope from the truth of this episode.

Learn more about Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Ready for the 40-Day Journey? Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What's the best verse for your body image issues? You may assume its Psalm 139:14 (fearfully and wonderfully made) or 1 Samuel 16:7 (God looks at the heart and not the outside)...but Heather has another choice from the book of Jonah! Heather's favorite Bible verse for body image issues may surprise you, but it will also encourage you and help you if you're struggling with worry and obsession over your physical appearance. If you're ready to get to the root of your struggle with body image issues, today's episode is for you.

**This is a replay of an episode from September of 2024.

Learn more about Compared to Who? by visiting: Https://www.improvebodyimage.com

The 40-Day Body Image Workbook: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian

The 40 Day Journey (starts week of June 16): https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Intuitive eating on vacation is trickier than you think, especially if you're used to dieting before vacation and then going "hog wild" while you're off your plan and on holiday. This episode is a live coaching call between Heather and her intuitive eating coaches--Char Lee Cassel and Erin Todd of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast. Char Lee and Erin talk to Heather about how vacation triggers certain habits. They talk about relating to family members that you see on vacation and how certain body image flare ups may happen while with your family of origin. If you've got a summer vacation planned or are just returning from one, this episode may help you figure out what happened or help you plan ahead so you can maintain peace with food and your body, even while you're on holiday.

Listen to other Intuitive Eating Coaching Calls here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/podcast

Learn more about Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast (on hiatus): https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Is all that time on Instagram, TikTock or YouTube affecting your body image? Studies say, definitely. So, why do we still do it? Today, Heather interviews Allie Marie Smith, an author, podcast host, and director of an organization called Wonderfully Made. Allie has a brand new book out on the topic of social media and what she found may surprise or scare you. Today, Heather and Allie talk about the challenges that social media poses to our identity and the way we view ourselves. Allie encourages women to pay careful attention to how social media is affecting them and ask good questions about its usefulness in their lives.

Learn more about Allie Marie Smith here: https://alliemariesmith.com

Learn about Allie's brand-new book, Social Media Reset here: https://amzn.to/4382nX1

(Amazon affiliate link)

Learn more about Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's summer replay will encourage you if you're a Christian women who has ever just woken up and felt less-than in her body. Maybe you call it feeling "fat" or maybe you feel "bleh" or "bloated" -- whatever your choice of words, there's a common feeling we all have some days where we just don't like how we feel in our bodies. Culture tells us if that's your feeling, then you should get on a new plan so you can change it. But, anyone who has struggled with body image issues for a while knows, it's not as simple as changing your body. How we feel about our bodies can change - even if our bodies haven't or don't. You'll learn six different strategies for what to do when you don't like how you feel in your body.

Learn more about Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Learn more about Heather's reading plans on YouVersion here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/youversion-bible-reading-plans-on-body-image-by-heather-creekmore

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Has the weigh-in woman at Weight Watchers shaped your concept of God? Today's episode was inspired when Heather heard a story of a woman whose body image issues and eating disorders could be traced back to the ever-present mental image of the weigh- in person at Weight Watchers. That woman either smiled or frowned, depending on what kind of week the person stepping on the scale had. But, have we twisted this kind of definition of success or failure, sin or holiness on to our infinite God? Is God pleased when we lose weight? Or, is that a concept that doesn't really connect with what we know of our all glorious heavenly father?

This episode will make you think and may challenge you to re-evaluate who you believe God is and what you believe about him.

Mentioned in today's show: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/live-podcast-q-a-using-the-lords-name-to-sell-weig

https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/have-we-christianized-disordered-eating-featuring

Amy Carlson on Self Control (Part 1): https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/is-self-control-really-the-solution-to-our-food-is

Self Control (Part 2): https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/do-i-need-more-self-control-to-stop-eating-feat-am

Learn more about Compared to Who? by visiting: Https://www.improvebodyimage.com

The 40-Day Body Image Workbook: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian

The 40 Day Journey (begins in September): https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Vacation is awesome...but sometimes, for those of us with body image or control issues, vacation can also be stressful. Today, Heather offers four practical tips to help you enjoy your vacation if you tend to be someone who does a lot of stressing around vacation time.

This is a replay from 2022.

Learn more about Compared to Who? at https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Learn about Heather's books here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.