Stephanie Pletka’s superpower is encouraging other women. She desires to support the busy, overwhelmed mom who feels held hostage by other people’s expectations of her. In this final interview of Season Seven, I hope you’ll laugh at Stephanie’s honest storytelling, be encouraged by her grace-filled presence, throw off all the ridiculous expectations and give yourself permission to be the woman God created you to be.
154 || Writing a Vision Statement for Your Dream || Merritt Onsa
This episode is all about why you need to write a vision statement for your dream, how to do it, and how I’m willing to help you get this done. These steps have helped me so much in my dreaming process because they have forced me to get really honest about the dream, my role in it, God’s role in it, and how I want to share it with the world. Now I’m able to be more precise in defining what the dream actually is and helped me communicate it more eloquently to others.
153 || If Lies Are Keeping You from Pursuing Your Dream || Jessica Hottle
Jessica Hottle’s passion is to see women set free from the lies of this world. She’s written several books on the topic of worth and hosts a podcast called What’s the Truth? tackling the lies we believe and how you can shift back to truth. In this interview we dig into the fear of being mediocre or irrelevant, knowing what season your dream is in and not running ahead of that, how to figure out if you’re striving for the wrong things, and Jessica’s best system for writing a book.
152 || What Happens When You Let God Define Your Worth || Courtney Reimer
Courtney Reimer is on a mission to not only help girls and women know and understand their worth but also to know why they have worth. This interview is a reminder that where we place our hope matters. As Christians we’ve likely heard or been part of conversations about our identity in Christ but living that out feels so complex. How do we place our identity in Him? What does that look like? How do we know if we’re even getting it right?
151 || [Solo] 5 Steps to Shifting Your Dream During a Pandemic || Merritt Onsa
Whether you’ve already started on your dream or you’re still in the starting blocks trying to figure out how to pivot as a result of changing circumstances, now is the time to think creatively about how to move forward and take messy action. What have you got to lose? You will never feel more prepared, educated, or ready to start. Those things are a façade and a stalling tactic. If the dream is there, it’s time for you to take the next step.
150 || When You Struggle to Believe God is Good || Maria Hatch-Bowersock
Whatever your circumstances right now, I pray this honest conversation with Maria Hatch-Bowersock about learning to trust God’s goodness will give you hope to present your requests to the Lord and persist in following Him. There is no worry too big for him; there is no amount of doubt He cannot handle. Maria’s story will help you press into Jesus and come out on the other side of today’s concerns with a deeper trust in God and a desire to abide with Him in all things.
149 || God Uses Hardship to Transform Your Heart || Kara-Kae James
When your circumstances feel overwhelming, it is difficult to imagine the abundant life Jesus offers or even to believe that it is available to you. This very struggle inspired Kara-Kae James to launch Thrive Moms, a ministry to encourage overwhelmed moms to believe that Jesus has something more for them besides exhaustion and isolation. In pursuit of this dream, Jesus also transformed Kara-Kae’s heart.
148 || How to Get Past Worry and Fear so You Can Love and Serve || Alexandra Kaval
Have you considered leaving what feels safe and comfortable to pursue a God-shaped dream? Maybe you fear what others might think if you were to risk so much for your dream or you question whether you could even be successful. Alexandra Kaval has faced those fears, and she has not only survived but thrived in pursuing a career built on what she learned in corporate environments to now serve Christian women in an authentic and meaningful way.
147 || How to Get Past Your Mindset to Share Your Dream || Ashley Johnson
Ashley Johnson is a non-profit founder with a bent toward entrepreneurship and a love of seeing new ideas come to life; she came to this conversation seeking help with her messaging. As we talk you’ll learn the importance of identifying your avatar, how to invite and engage others in your dream, how live video is an opportunity to rehearse and refine your message, and why you can take the pressure off yourself to be good enough to accomplish your dream.
146 || When You Lose Everything but Still Have a Dream || Stephanie May Wilson
As the coronavirus wreaks havoc on our world, it seems everyone has lost something. Even if you still have a job, you’ve lost your freedom with the stay-at-home orders in place. But for those who have lost a great deal more or are just struggling with fear of what could happen next, Stephanie May Wilson has a story of loss at time when her life was already in transition, and while it’s not the same as going through a pandemic, the lessons are incredibly relevant. May you find hope today, even in loss.
145 || How to Shift Your Dream When You Need To || Dianne Jago
As we face a global pandemic, it may feel incredibly difficult to dream right now or to act upon dreams already in motion because our lives and schedules are in total upheaval. This episode is a reminder that no matter what comes your way as you consider and pursue a God-shaped dream, everything is an opportunity to glorify God. Every fear, misstep, or disappointment reminds us that He is in charge and has His hands are upon it all, and every success is an opportunity to celebrate His goodness and grace.
144 || When Little Details are Blocking Your Dream || Lauren Stengele
When you’re just starting out, the small but intimidating details can halt progress toward your dream. Lauren Stengele fell in love with the Spanish language as a child, made a vow to learn it and teach it to her children, and eventually built a business called Bilingual Together to serve other families wanting to homeschool in two languages. She shares her struggles with the little details, a difficult conversation with her husband that almost ended the dream, and how it finally came to life.
143 || 7 Reasons You Need a Social Media Detox || Merritt Onsa
If you have ever wanted to try a social media detox, this solo episode offers seven reasons that will help you decide if doing one is right for you. From realizing how our digital devices rewire our brains (thanks, Cal Newport!), to figuring out where your affections lie, to making space for spontaneous thought and Scripture recall, there are so many reasons to take a break from the scroll and make a conscious decision about how you want to spend your digital minutes.
142 || What to Do When You Fear the Unknown || Rachel Awtrey
Does the fear of what might happen stand in the way of your dream becoming a reality? If so, you’re not alone. Even women who are further along in their dreaming can become stuck by a fear of the unknown. Rachel Awtrey admits to this struggle, and she teaches us her tactics for what to do when it shows up. You also don’t want to miss what it takes to persevere when your dream isn’t dreamy, how to finance your dream at the beginning, and why to create systems and build a board of advisors.
141 || Pursuing a Dream When You Lack the Training || Jaime Fenwick
If God has gifted and impassioned you with a dream, there is no reason to let a lack of training stand in the way of pursuing it. Jaime Fenwick, creator of Bringing Inspiration Home, teaches us about being renewed in our dream, making space for organic creative thought, involving others in the process so we don’t have to go it alone, and building momentum for your dream by getting really specific about the aspect of your dream that most inspires you.
140 || How to Create Powerful Messaging for Your Audience || Strategy Session with Natalie Arent
Through this strategy session with Natalie Arent, you’ll learn about tackling your nerves related to following your dream, narrowing down your niche, and how to message specifically for your audience. Natalie helps Christian coaches and online service providers position themselves as an expert in their industry and attract the people they’re meant to serve with a cohesive visual brand. She has a knack for seeing what her clients struggle to put into words and is a huge fan of sharing your authentic self.
139 || How to Stop Hustling While Still Following Your Dream || Malinda Fuller
If your plate is so full that hustle has become your middle name and stress has begun to negatively impact your life, this episode with Malinda Fuller will speak straight to your need. Malinda is a bold communicator who is passionate about thriving families and helping people grow as disciples of Jesus. She is the author of Obedience Over Hustle: The Surrender of the Striving Heart and has become a trusted voice on the topics of obedience, hustle and living an intentional life.
138 || When God Gives You an Unexpected Dream || Misty Phillip
Misty Phillip has a passion for women to seek Jesus, study the Word, and grow in grace. She has recently transitioned from the role of homeschooling mom to founder of Spark Christian Podcast Conference, coming in February to Houston, Texas. Her story is a vivid reminder that God is not only our Creator but also our provider, and He provides far beyond what we might expect. If your dream feels totally out of your league – way bigger than anything you could ever manage alone – you’ll love this interview.