Julie Landreth has a passion for healthy and thriving relationships–especially marriages. She is a speaker and wife coach who loves sharing her passion for prayer and how to cultivate a thriving marriage. This conversation with Julie resulted from her reaching out to encourage me last week. I was struggling to feel courageous as I worked on my fear of failure episode, and God used her to speak truth to me. At the same time, she volunteered to just “jump in” the next time I needed a last-minute interview.
096 || When Fear Tries to Tell You You're Not Enough || Merritt Onsa
In this week’s episode we’re talking about fear of failure, which feels ironic because even as I’m speaking on this topic, I’m wrestling with this fear. Sure, I wanted to do this solo episode. In fact, the first 10 minutes or so felt inspired. I was on a roll. But then life happened, I had to hit pause, and a few days passed. When I sat down to wrap it up, anxiety crept in, and I wrestled over and over in my mind with what I wanted to say and whether I could provide any value to this topic.
095 || Because You'll Never Be Fully Ready to Start || Megan Sjuts
In this episode, graphic designer Megan Sjuts of Building 07 teaches us her favorite strategy for combating the ugly feelings that come with comparing yourself to others. You’ll hear how she discovered graphic design (and it wasn’t because she went looking for it as a career) and why not knowing the path in advance doesn’t make it wrong. She also shares the lessons learned from a difficult conversation she had early on with one of her first clients. These will be vital to anyone who is starting a business or dealing with client communications.
Season 5 Bonus Episode || What’s Coming in Season Five
Welcome back! I’m thrilled you’re joining me for Season Five of The Devoted Dreamers Podcast. I’m just back from maternity leave and wanted to take a few minutes to catch you up following my absence, including details on what’s to come on the podcast (like some local, Denver area, meet-up opportunities) and a preview our first episode back.
The podcast will return on October 10th. The first interview of the season is with Megan Sjuts of Building 07. I can’t wait for you to hear her story about what she’s learned in pursuing her dream of a graphic and web design business, including lessons from the first client she disappointed.
On-Air Coaching: Session III with Cynthia Culver & Lois Martin || Bonus Episode #3
This bonus episode is the final of three coaching sessions with listener Lois Martin talking to me and life coach Cynthia Culver. The focus of this call is the Development stage of coaching, in which Lois works through a plan that will produce results aligned with her new direction and mindset. As you listen, consider what actions have (or could) help you trigger the mindset of truth in you, instead of the broken mindset.
On-Air Coaching: Session II with Cynthia Culver & Lois Martin || Bonus Episode
This bonus episode is the second of three coaching sessions with listener Lois Martin talking to me and life coach Cynthia Culver. The focus is on the Direction -- where Lois is right now and how she might establish a new, clear direction for the future. As you listen, keep an ear toward your own story, passions, and the specific dream God has put on your heart for His Kingdom.
On-Air Coaching: Session I with Cynthia Culver & Lois Martin || Bonus Episode
This bonus episode is the first of three sessions you’ll hear with listener Lois Martin talking to me and life-coach Cynthia Culver. In these episodes, Cynthia walks us (via Lois) through the Discovery, Direction and Development phases of coaching. Lois’s goal? To get over what is holding her back from pursuing her God-shaped dream. As you hear Lois processing her experiences in these three conversations, listen with an ear toward your own story and whatever might be keeping you stuck and/or resisting what God has put on your heart to contribute to His Kingdom.
Do You Need to Let Go of Your Dream for a Season? || Bonus Mini-sode || with Heather Conkin
In this mini-sode with Heather Conkin of The Practical Minimalist Podcast, you’ll learn why taking a no-expectations, hands-off break from your dream is a good idea (based on the wisdom of farmers). Heather shares the reasons she’s taking a break from her podcast, what her break looks like, and what might happen when it’s over. If you’ve been searching for a little creative boost, this 15-minute conversation about letting your dream lie fallow may be just what you need.
Every Baby Step Moves You Closer to Your Dream || Bonus Mini-sode
God created you with a purpose. I’m not just saying that. He says it in His word. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) I’m sharing this short “mini-sode” to tell the story about the baby steps that led me to step into my God-shaped dream of podcasting. My hope in these 15 minutes is to encourage you in taking your own baby steps toward your dream. Listen for a list of baby step suggestions at the end for your consideration.
094 || Solo show: Lessons Learned in Two Years of Podcasting || Merritt Onsa
In this episode, I share what God’s been teaching me in the last two years of podcasting. However, these lessons aren’t about starting a podcast. Whatever your dream, you can apply them to your journey. I’ve broken it down into simple takeaways so you can think about how you might start or proceed in following your dream. You’ll learn why you don’t have to be perfect to move forward, how to consider the costs of your dream before you get started, and why fear must not get the best of you in the process.
093 || Because God is Sovereign Even in Your Suffering || Crystal Miller
In this episode, you’ll hear Columbine survivor, Crystal Woodman Miller, talk about how God uses our stories –- no matter how dark and hopeless -- to make an impact for His Kingdom. You’ll learn how the enemy of our souls feeds us lies that trick us into insecurity, comparison, and fear to keep us from making that Kingdom impact. If you’re suffering or grieving or struggling to find hope in a broken world, I pray this interview gives you hope that God is with you in the midst of it all.
092 || How to Believe God's Sovereignty Over Your Dream || Hunter Beless
In this episode, you’re going to be bathed in scripture! Hunter Beless knows her bible and shares the value of being in His word daily. She reminds us of God's power to fulfill dreams regardless of circumstances. You’ll learn about re-orienting your fear of the things of this world to the God of the universe and how that gives us courage to keep taking the next step. She also teaches us about embracing our limitedness with the grace and freedom to do what is within your capacity and let go of the rest!
091 || On Remembering to Include God in Your Plans || Teresa Swanstrom Anderson
In this episode, blogger/author Teresa Swanstom Anderson shares how she went from not wanting children in her 20s to having a house full of kids today. She reminds us that God put each one of us here, in this time and place, for a purpose. You’ll learn about her struggle through a season of waiting for God to reveal His plan for her life and how she figured out the direction she was going wasn’t it. She also teaches us what happens when we forget that closed doors can be an answer to prayer for doors to be opened.
090 || Because You Already Have Permission to Follow Your Dream || Bailey Hurley
In this episode, Bailey Hurley and I talk about friendship – the good and the challenging. You’ll learn how to invest and grow intentional friendships, why Bailey believes loving others is part of our relationship with God, and how to do this not just with grand gestures of hospitality but also with everyday acts of building community. She shares about figuring out your dream, waiting on the fruit of your investment in it, and the joy in pursuing what God created you to do, even when you feel like quitting.
089 || How to Loosen Your Grip on Your Dream || Kristi Hayes
Kristi Hayes’ greatest desire is to influence and inspire families to go into the vulnerable places and serve others. In this episode, she shares about how her business, Be Strong Story, was born and the years prior in which God taught her to hold loosely to her dreams. You will be inspired to work hard at your dream but also to check yourself for clues that you’re gripping it too tightly. You will learn Kristi’s bold but simple strategy to find a mentor and the value of obedience, even if you can’t see the rewards right away.
088 || Why You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Pursue Your Dream || Jessica Mathisen
In this episode, Jessica Mathisen reminds us we don’t have to be perfect to pursue our dream. In fact, our desire for perfection can often stand in the way of our dream. She encourages us that our dream is really God’s dream, and it’s meant for His glory and the good of others. You’re going to love her story about being bold with her former boss to go after a need she knew she could fill. (Don’t we all need a little more boldness as we walk towards our dreams?) You’ll also learn from her why it’s so important to share your dreams with others.
087 || Pursuing the Dream When You Feel Misunderstood || Blythe Scott
In this episode, Blythe Scott talks about Denver City Forum and its mission in the city of Denver to help mobilize and equip the Church to join Him in the “renewal of all things,” to further redemption, and to advocate for the vulnerable through politics and policy. She also shares what it feels like to be misunderstood in her dream, how she’s dealt with that disappointment and offers suggestions, in case it happens with you and your dream. You will also learn the value of not overthinking your dream (which can stand in the way of getting started) and gain a helpful tip about a morning ritual to help curb your thinking so you can be more fruitful and Christ-centered in your day.
086 || How to Lean into God’s Purpose for You || Wendy Bohling
Wendy Bohling is passionate about building a community of working women with faith. Along with her team of speakers and facilitators, Wendy is hosting the Not Just a Rib Conference for Working Women with Faith in Louisville, Colorado on April 28th. In this interview, you’ll hear why she has felt “not good enough” to pursue this dream and learn how God has grown and equipped her to follow it anyway. She talks about the importance of getting quiet before God, so you can hear what He’s saying to you, and believing He knows your needs even when you have no idea where provision for your dream will come from.
085 || How God's Word Can Breathe Life into Your Dream || Heather Holleman
In this interview, Heather Holleman reminds us that we can be deceived into thinking there’s life in the dream, instead of finding life in the Dream Maker. She shares the incredible power and joy we can find in living for the praise of God’s glory, and she reveals her daily practice of confessing the sin of self-exaltation. Finally, she talks about how the Lord may bring us through a season of preparation before we really see our dream come to fruition and what we can do in the meantime.
084 || How to Align Your Dream with God's Dream for You || Elizabeth Grace Saunders
Author and time management expert, Elizabeth Saunders, talks in this episode about the value of owning and sharing your truth, even if some people might not like it. She shares her dream of helping others connect with divine time management principles and draw closer to God as well as revealing how God used her dream to convict and change her heart. She also explains how we can trust God with our time and the choices we make about how we use what He’s given us.