Season Eleven

[Bonus] How to Build Habits That Nurture Your Dreams All Year Long || Merritt Onsa

What small steps can you take that will have a lasting impact?

Let's spark some change today that fuels your God-shaped dream and sets the stage for enduring success tomorrow. It’s easier than you might think, and it all starts with building sustainable habits into your life.

296 || [Solo] The Guaranteed Result of Sharing Your Secret Dream Out Loud || Merritt Onsa

How do you commit to a dream if you’ve felt too scared to share it out loud? In this episode for Christian women with a big dream, we explore the importance of speaking your dream out loud, even if it sounds discombobulated or feels uncomfortable, how to use your creativity to bring your dream out of hiding, and a simple challenge to help you get comfortable and find the words you want to use to talk about the dream.

295 || [Solo] Two Ingredients You Need Before Stepping into a Unique Calling || Merritt Onsa

How important are prayer and intimacy with God to our dreams? This solo episode is all about the significance of establishing a firm foundation of prayer and intimacy with God as (or before!) you step into your unique calling from Him. We explore prayer as a foundational practice that’s essential for every devoted dreamer, the importance of developing a close relationship with God, and how prayer can transform your approach to achieving your dreams.

294 || [Solo] The Truth About Pursuing a Big Dream Your Way || Merritt Onsa

How can we learn to surrender our dreams and trust God for the outcome? In this week’s solo episode, we explore the pitfalls of holding tightly to a specific vision for your dream, how to start listening for God’s voice and guidance on the journey, and embracing surrender by letting go of control and trusting God's plan. If you're ready to step boldly into God's path for your dream, hit play and join me on this empowering journey.

293 || [Solo] How to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed by What You Don’t Know || Merritt Onsa

Is it possible to avoid overwhelm when there’s so much more to learn? This episode is about taking inventory of what you already have on hand to support your dream. I have two steps you can take and one commitment you can make that will shift your perspective on what it takes to pursue your God-shaped dream. You’ll consider the gifts God has given you, distractions you need to remove, and how to develop a discerning approach to learning and growth as you take steps in this journey.

292 || [Solo] How to Resist Your Dream Taking Over Your Life || Merritt Onsa

What does the day-to-day of your dream look like? Imagine you could see ten years into the future of your God-shaped dream. What would an “ideal day” in the life of your dream be like? How would you be spending your time? And how do you answer these questions if you have no idea what your dream is to begin with? This episode is about putting intentionality around HOW you will pursue your dream and doing so in a way that it doesn’t take over your life or your relationships.

291 || How Brain Science and Creativity Can Grow Our Faith || Amy Pierson

What does creativity have to do with spiritual transformation? Amy Pierson opens up in this episode about her exploration of creativity and neuroscience in the context of faith. Through this conversation, you’ll learn: how neurotheology deepens our understanding of faith and relationship with Christ, practical steps to identify your personal lament and find your unique purpose, and how to overcome creative blocks and connect with your creativity in a meaningful way.

290 || [PodSwap] Clarifying Your Message One Stage at a Time || with Host Heather Sager

How has self-doubt or perfectionism blocked your progress? In a recent interview with my speaking coach Heather Sager, host of the Hint of Hustle Podcast, we talk about learning to clearly communicate your dream, the power of employing consistent action as your weapon in the battle with perfectionism, and how to step into a leadership role so that you truly can begin to serve others who need what you are creating.

289 || [PodSwap] Why You’ll Always Feel a Little Afraid and That’s a Good Thing || with Host Anne Watson

Have you ever felt afraid when starting to step into a dream? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, most women I’ve spoken to affirm that fear is a regular part of pursuing a dream. In my recent interview with Anne Watson, host of the Swayology Podcast, we have the most beautiful conversation about navigating those feelings without giving up.

288 || [PodSwap] How Do You Start to Dream Big After Divorce? || with Host Joy Bartholomew

I recently talked with Joy Bartholomew, host of The Divorce Confidante Podcast, about how to consider dreams during a life transition like divorce. Whether or not you’ve experienced divorce, you’ve likely lived through seasons where you wondered if you had anything to give to a dream. In this episode you’ll learn how to begin the process of realizing your dreams, how to determine if you're ready to start, and the beautiful transformations that come when you begin to live into your authentic purpose.

287 || [Solo] Find Your Momentum: The 4 Phases of Chasing a Creative Dream || Merritt Onsa

What strategies can help you stay consistent in pursuing a God-shaped dream? In this episode, I share behind-the-scenes tactics I used to start and manage a podcast even though I didn’t know what I was doing, had technical barriers, limited time, and a tiny budget. We cover the ways specific, attainable goals can help tamp down the emotional rollercoaster and what to do when you’re not making any progress on a dream.

286 || [Solo] Top 3 Traps Standing in the Way of Your God-Given Purpose || Merritt Onsa

Seeking clarity and confidence for your dream? Time, money, energy, and having little kids at home top the list of reasons women put their dreams on hold. But I’ve discovered 3 traps that are an even greater threat because we don’t recognize their power. In this solo episode you’ll learn about the transformative power of community in pursuing a God-shaped dream, how to recognize and overcome common obstacles to our dreams, who the Dreamer Lab is for, and how you can join us this fall!

284 || How Pursuit of a Dream Invites Intimacy with God || Kathy Stoops

Kathy Stoops has been on a transformational journey of discovering her true identity in Christ, learning how God’s Word impacts her everyday life, and figuring out how to recall these truths anytime, anywhere. In this episode you’ll learn about: discovering your true identity in Christ (and what it’s really all about), how small action steps can help build your confidence, and cultivating an awareness of God’s presence in your everyday life.

283 || Why Taking Action Is the Secret to Clarity for Your Dream || Brandy Traylor

Why is there so much pressure to figure out the dream before you start? Most women say it’s the fear of getting it wrong, making a mistake, or misunderstanding God’s prompting and falling out of His will. In this episode you’ll learn about pursuing a dream when you’re not sure of the direction or outcome, letting your ideas and ambitions mature over time, and maintaining an open-handedness so that God can redirect your dream if He wants to.

282 || How the Right Community Becomes Fuel for Your Big Dream || Terri Albrecht

Want an incubator for your dreams? Terri Albrecht has been involved in church ministry most of her adult life and has a passion for finding ways to draw people closer to God and each other. In this episode you’ll learn from Terri about how our unique personal experiences shape our dreams from God, the importance of trusting His timing and guidance in the dream, and the mistake of underestimating your gifts and what you have to offer the world.

281 || How to Nurture True Belonging as You Pursue a God-Shaped Dream || Katy McCown

Have you been pursuing a dream all on your own? This week Katy McCown returns to the show with a power-packed episode on the importance of belonging in the body of Christ and the impact of community as we pursue our dreams. Join me and Katy as we unravel the significance of community, acknowledge the challenges, and uncover practical ways to invite others into your unique journey.

280 || [Recast] How to Keep Perspective When You Don't See the Fruit of Your Dream || Katy McCown

Does it sometimes feel like God’s timing doesn’t make sense? Katy McCown always knew she was called to write but she didn’t expect to get the green light when she was eight months pregnant with her sixth child. Today she is the author of two Bible studies, president of She Laughs Ministries, a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a national speaker. Through all life’s uncertainties and surprises, Katy has learned some things about “living sure” even when the future is not.

279 || [Solo] What Will Kids Going Back to School Mean for Your God-Shaped Dream? || Merritt Onsa

How will you find balance between your dreams and your kids’ school routines? Amidst the flurry of back-to-school preparations, are you also quietly pondering what this season holds for your personal dreams? If you’re a mom with kids still living at home, your routines (and theirs) are likely about to shift big time. In this solo episode you’ll learn about creating space for yourself first, building your support system and overcoming fears and doubts that come with big dreams.

278 || 3 Things We Wished We Knew before Starting Our Podcasts || Merritt Onsa & Natalie Blenkush

Starting a podcast helps build a platform for your dream. Join seasoned podcasters Natalie Blenkush and Merritt Onsa as we reveal three secrets we wish we knew about conquering the initial challenges of podcasting. Learn from our podcast launch experiences as we guide you towards a seamless podcasting journey, helping you overcome obstacles with expert tips and making your podcast debut faster and smoother than if you did it all on your own. This is where your podcasting success story begins!

277 || [Recast] How Trusting God Changes the Way You Pursue Your Dream || Krista (Hengesh) Breilh

Krista (Hengesh) Breilh is the Executive Director and Founder of Live Salted, an intergenerational women’s ministry based in Seattle, Washington. Krista shares her infectious enthusiasm for life, unwavering devotion to God, and a remarkable ability to fuse practical wisdom with scriptural truths. Krista is honest about the faith necessary to step into your God-shaped dream, especially when you can’t predict the results (and who can!?)