What can happen when you say yes to something you’ve never done before? Sometimes, one small decision can lead to unexpected opportunities, new friendships, personal growth, and experiences that change your life. In this episode, Amy welcomes back friends Kelly Henderson and Karyn Whittington for a lively conversation about the power of saying yes—and the surprising ripple effects that can follow.

Kelly and Karyn share how saying yes has shaped their careers, families, friendships, and volunteer experiences. They discuss stepping outside your comfort zone, trying things you might not feel qualified to do, and discovering that confidence often comes after you take the first step. They also explore the “yes, and” approach, the importance of asking questions before committing, and why some of life's most meaningful moments begin with a simple willingness to try.

But saying yes to everything isn't the goal. The conversation also gets into boundaries, people-pleasing, overcommitment, and learning when it's okay to say no. From finding the courage to try something new to recognizing when your time and energy are stretched too thin, Amy, Kelly, and Karyn share practical wisdom, personal stories, and plenty of laughs about making room for the right opportunities. Ultimately, it's a reminder that your comfort zone doesn't have to define your life—and sometimes the best things happen when you say yes.

Quote of the Episode

“I just don't want my comfort zone to be my boundaries in life.” — Karyn Whittington

Links

None

Topics Covered

Saying Yes | Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone | Personal Growth | Unexpected Opportunities | Career Changes | Family and Friendships | The “Yes, And” Approach | Boundaries | People-Pleasing | Avoiding Overcommitment | Learning When to Say No | Faith and Intuition | Finding Balance

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

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Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Sometimes, you have to end one chapter before you can begin another. In this episode, Amy sits down with her longtime friend Christie McGee to talk about the many transformations Christie has made in recent years—including giving up alcohol, changing her approach to food and fitness, navigating divorce and becoming an empty nester, losing her mother, returning to school, and discovering a new direction for her life.

Christie opens up about her decision to stop drinking and what she has discovered on the other side of sobriety. She talks candidly about recognizing that alcohol had become something she couldn't control once she started, the challenges of those first weeks, and the difference she now feels in her sleep, energy, mental clarity, relationships, and overall outlook. She also shares how replacing an unhealthy habit with something positive—including quiet time with God and volunteering—has helped her build a life that feels more meaningful.

The conversation also goes beyond alcohol. Christie shares how she lost weight and built strength through small, sustainable changes rather than extreme dieting, why strength training becomes especially important as we age, and how therapy, faith, self-discipline, and a strong support system have all played a role in her transformation. Ultimately, this is a conversation about recognizing when something isn't working, having the courage to make a change, and being willing to begin again—with your eyes wide open.

Quote of the Episode

“Life on the other side of alcoholism is so beautiful. It's amazing.” – Christie Mcgee

Guest Links

Christie Mcgee - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christieheros.mcgee

Fall Harvest Salad recipe: https://amykeyspodcast.com/misc/Fall_Harvest_Salad.pdf

Topics Covered

Sobriety | Alcohol addiction | Life transitions | Divorce | Empty nesting | Grief | Fitness | Nutrition | Strength training | Mental health | Faith | Self-discipline | Healthy habits | Volunteering | Friendship | Finding your “why” | Starting over

A Note About This Episode

This episode includes candid discussion about alcohol use, addiction, sobriety, and recovery. Christie's experience is personal and is not intended as medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or another addiction, consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional or addiction specialist.

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Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

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Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Birthright of Memphis has been helping women and families in the Memphis community for more than 50 years, offering support during unexpected or crisis pregnancies. In this episode, Amy sits down with Executive Director Kyleigh Glisson and Director of Development Wesley Wade to talk about what happens when someone walks through Birthright’s doors—and why sometimes the most important thing they can offer is simply a place where someone feels welcomed, heard, and not alone.

Kyleigh and Wesley share the many ways Birthright supports families, from pregnancy testing and counseling to parenting classes, maternity clothes, baby supplies, and connections to resources for food, housing, transportation, and other needs. They also talk about the importance of community and the volunteers who help create a network of support for moms and dads who may not have one.

Both women have deeply personal reasons for the work they do. Wesley shares how her own adoption and her mother's teenage pregnancy became part of her “why” for working at Birthright. Kyleigh talks about leaving a career in hair, returning to college, and discovering through her internships at Birthright that this was where she was meant to be. Together, they explain why the hardest days can also be the most rewarding—and why a smile, a hug, encouragement, and simply treating someone with dignity can make such a difference.

Quote of the Episode

“There is hope beyond struggle.” – Kyleigh Glisson

Guest Links

Birthright of Memphis: https://birthrightofmemphis.org/

Birthright relies on volunteers and donations to provide support and material needs for families. Items such as diapers, baby clothing, bottles, blankets, and books are among the things they can use. They also welcome volunteers, community service projects, school projects, and other ways the community can get involved.

Topics Covered

Birthright of Memphis | Pregnancy support | Parenting | Adoption | Community | Volunteering | Nonprofit organizations | Family support | Motherhood | Service | Faith | Finding your “why” | Memphis

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

A little over four years ago, at just 11 years old, Margo Clothier sat down at the beach with a pen and paper and wrote her first song. Today, at 15, she's already a singer-songwriter with four released songs, a growing catalog of original music, a passion for theater, and big dreams that include Broadway and performing on major stages. In this episode, Amy sits down with Margo to talk about how a simple creative moment at the beach turned into a serious pursuit of music and songwriting.

Margo shares how she turns ideas, experiences, and conversations with friends and family into songs, the challenges of writing lyrics and melodies, and why her next album will take her in a country direction. She talks about her musical influences, learning guitar, performing live, overcoming stage nerves, and the excitement of seeing her music reach listeners around the world through social media and streaming platforms. She also reveals that she recently auditioned for American Idol and was selected from thousands of applicants for an American Songwriters Association opportunity.

Beyond music, Margo talks about growing up as one of five siblings, the importance of having friends who support and encourage one another, her love of theater, and her dreams of performing on Broadway and at major venues. The episode also features a special treat: Margo performs a portion of her unreleased song “My Best Friend,” which she wrote for her father.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple message from Margo for anyone who has a creative dream: don't overthink it—just start. Her story is an encouraging reminder that sometimes a small idea, pursued with curiosity and determination, can become the beginning of something much bigger.

Quote of the Episode

“Just do it. If there's nothing stopping you from doing it, then just go for it.” -Margo Clothier

Guest Links

Margo Marie Music

Instagram: @margomariemusic

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/margomariemusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iZISaFoYXNHjH5DBF0QZt

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/margo-marie/1713277507

Topics Covered

Singer-songwriter | Songwriting | Music | Performing | Theater | Broadway dreams | American Idol | Creative inspiration | Overcoming stage nerves | Family | Sibling relationships | Friendship | Following your dreams | Music career

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What does it mean to truly welcome someone who has nowhere else to go? In this episode, Amy sits down with Rene Platten to talk about Room in the Inn, a Memphis ministry that provides people experiencing homelessness with a safe place to sleep, a warm meal, and something just as important—a sense of dignity, connection, and belonging. Rene shares how one encounter with a man waiting for a bed changed the course of her life and inspired her to help create more shelter for people in need.

Rene explains how Room in the Inn began, how the ministry has grown in Memphis, and why the need extends far beyond what many people realize. She and Amy discuss the growing number of families and children experiencing homelessness, the realities of the working poor, and the many circumstances—including job loss, rising rents, domestic violence, illness, and family crises—that can leave someone without a home. They also challenge common stereotypes about homelessness and emphasize the importance of seeing the person rather than simply seeing their circumstances.

The conversation also explores the powerful impact Room in the Inn has on its volunteers. From preparing meals and making beds to doing laundry or simply sitting down and sharing a meal with a guest, there are countless ways to help. Rene explains why the goal isn't to change people overnight, but simply to love them, while Amy reflects on the unexpected blessings, gratitude, and human connection she has experienced through the ministry. Most importantly, they offer a challenge to listeners: step outside your comfort zone, stop stereotyping, and consider how you can help provide someone with a safe place to land.

Quote of the Episode

"Our job is not to change them, it's to love them." -Rene Platten

Guest Links

Room in the Inn Memphis – https://ritimemphis.org

Topics Covered

Homelessness | Room in the Inn | Memphis | Families experiencing homelessness | Children and homelessness | Working poor | Affordable housing | Domestic violence | Volunteer opportunities | Faith | Community | Compassion | Breaking stereotypes | Helping others

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What do you do when life keeps handing you one challenge after another? For Brittany Chance, the answer has been to keep fighting, trust God, and look for the positive—even when circumstances seem overwhelming. In this deeply personal conversation, Brittany shares the extraordinary journey of raising four boys while navigating serious medical challenges, including two sons facing life-threatening illnesses, a premature birth, and her own unexpected diagnosis with a potentially dangerous blood-clotting condition.

Brittany opens up about the six weeks she spent in the hospital with her son Jack after meningitis led to brain swelling and a massive blood clot, and how refusing to give up helped get him the care he needed. She also shares how Jack's medical journey ultimately led to genetic testing that revealed Brittany had the same clotting genes—and a potentially life-threatening blockage that she never knew she had. Along the way, she talks about her youngest son's premature birth, her father's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, and the role her husband, family, friends, and community have played through every difficult season.

Through it all, Brittany's faith remains at the center of her story. She talks about learning to turn to God immediately in moments of crisis, becoming more resilient through adversity, setting boundaries as a parent, making time for her marriage, and finding ways to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan. Her story is a powerful reminder that we may not be able to choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.

Quote of the Episode

"Never stop fighting. Just never give up, because God gave you that gut instinct, that inner fire within you to just fight." -Brittany Chance

Guest Links

None

Topics Covered

Motherhood | Parenting | Faith | Resilience | Raising boys | Medical challenges | Family | Marriage | Early-onset Alzheimer's | Advocacy | Hope | Overcoming adversity | Self-care | Pilates

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What if living a healthier, more fulfilling life isn't about doing more—but about doing less, slowing down, and being more intentional about the choices we make? In this episode, Amy sits down with Tina Beard of Home Sweet Homespun to explore natural living, sustainability, and the simple practices that have shaped the way Tina approaches food, family, work, and everyday life.

Tina shares how growing up in Maine and becoming a mother led her down a path of learning about natural ingredients, gardening, herbal remedies, homemade soap, seasonal foods, and sustainable living. She explains why she makes her own soap without synthetic fragrances or colors, the renewed interest in tallow, what raising chickens has taught her about food production, and why she believes small, practical changes are more sustainable than trying to completely overhaul your life overnight.

The conversation also goes beyond food and products to explore something many of us struggle with: how to slow down in a culture that constantly tells us to keep going. Tina shares her approach to setting boundaries, protecting quiet time, improving sleep, using herbs as part of her daily routine, and noticing the small moments of beauty that we often miss when we're rushing through life. Whether you're interested in natural living or simply looking for ways to simplify and make more intentional choices, this conversation offers practical ideas and a refreshing reminder that you don't have to do everything perfectly.

Quote of the Episode

"If you can find one thing that in a slow moment makes you happy, that's all that you need. And then you can handle the hard stuff." -Tina Beard

Guest Links

Home Sweet Homespun - https://homespunsoaps.com

Topics Covered

Natural living | Sustainability | Homemade soap | Tallow | Gardening | Chickens | Seasonal living | Herbs | Natural skincare | Self-care | Boundaries | Sleep | Simplifying | Mindful living

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Mahjong is having a moment—and if you haven't played yet, Paula Brown and Melissa Taylor are here to explain why so many people are getting hooked. In this fun and lively episode, Amy sits down with the women who taught her how to play American Mahjong to talk about the history of the game, how it works, and what makes it so much more than a game of tiles, strategy, and luck.

Paula and Melissa share how they discovered Mahjong, why they became teachers, and what makes learning the game less intimidating than it may first appear. They explain the basics of the card, the Charleston, strategy, skill and luck, and some of the terminology and etiquette that can make Mahjong seem complicated to newcomers. They also share their advice for anyone who is curious about learning to play.

But the real story may be what happens around the table. The three friends talk about the friendships, fellowship, laughter, mental focus, and sense of community that Mahjong can create. From open play and tournaments to family games and beautifully designed tiles, this conversation explores why Mahjong is attracting players of all ages and why Paula and Melissa believe the game is here to stay.

Whether you've been playing for years, are thinking about taking your first lesson, or have simply wondered what all the Mahjong fuss is about, this episode might just convince you to pull up a chair and play a hand.

Quote of the Episode

"I swear I'm happier after I've played.” -Amy Keys

Guest Links

Truffle Pig – Mahjong classes and more: https://shoptrufflepig.com/

Mahjong Ya’ll email – mahjongyall@gmail.com

Topics Covered

Mahjong | American Mahjong | Mahjong strategy | Learning Mahjong | Mahjong history | Skill and luck | Mahjong etiquette | Friendship | Fellowship | Brain health | Community | Hobbies

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: amykeyspodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.