Echos of Impact

No one really prepares you for the moment your kids don't need you the same way anymore. In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Kate Battistelli, bestselling author, speaker, and mentor to women in every season, to talk about identity, purpose, and what it looks like to follow God when life changes in ways we didn't expect. Kate shares her incredible journey—from Broad...

Ep. 29: When You Feel Forgotten by God and Everyone Else: The Power of a Simple Invitation with Sue Donaldson "I have a lot of people in my life… so why do I still feel lonely?" In this encouraging episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Sue Donaldson—author, speaker, and host of the Welcome Heart: Living a Legacy Life podcast—to talk about something so many of us feel but don't always s...

Have you ever woken up already feeling behind… before your feet even hit the floor? In this encouraging episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Carol Feil—Christian speaker, author, and biblical lay counselor—to talk about something so many of us quietly struggle with: the inner critic. Carol is refreshingly honest about her own journey as a recovering people pleaser and the internal voi...

What do you do when you say yes to Jesus… and nothing changes? In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with Laura Crosby, speaker, writer, and longtime ministry leader, to talk about what it really looks like to follow Jesus when it doesn't feel the way we expected. Laura has spent over 40 years in ministry, encouraging others to pursue a deeper, more personal relationship...

What do you do when God doesn't answer your prayers the way you hoped? In this heartfelt episode of Echoes of Impact, Briana sits down with Lacey Morefield—photographer, wife, mama, and storyteller—for a deeply moving conversation about infertility, adoption, grief, trust, and the goodness of God in the middle of unanswered prayers. Lacey shares her family's long and painful road through infertili...

What do you do when you still love Jesus… but church no longer feels safe? In this heartfelt episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with co-host Briana Gray for a deeply personal conversation about church hurt, healing, and what it looks like to find your way back when church no longer feels safe. Cherise shares her faith journey—from growing up as a pastor's kid to navigating painful seaso...

In fourth grade, a single sentence on a playground changed the way Adrienne saw the world—and herself. In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down with Adrienne (one of our most-loved returning guests) for an honest, faith-centered conversation about what it means to be different, to feel marginalized, and to keep showing up with courage and grace. Adrienne shares the...

In today's episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana lean into a question many of us are quietly wrestling with: How do we follow Jesus without becoming hardened in a culture marked by anger, polarization, and constant noise? It feels like outrage is everywhere — online, in conversations, even within our own hearts. So what does it actually look like to hold convictions while still leading wi...

What if the place that should have ended your life is the very place God used to save it? In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Pauline Boyce, a Kansas City mama and grandma whose story is living proof that Jesus is not intimidated by your past. Pauline shares how a childhood marked by deep trauma led to years of meth addiction, relapse, and ultimately priso...

If you've ever felt like you're crushing it on the outside but spiritually running on empty, this conversation will meet you right where you are. In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Briana Gray sits down with Carole Evans, host of the Faith + Work podcast and Director of IT Support for a cell phone retailer overseeing 800 locations and 7,000 employees, to talk about identity, purpose, an...

What if the pain you wish away is the very place God is doing His deepest work? In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down with Lindsey Lavender, founder of Live On Mission Ministry, to talk about suffering, faith, and trusting God when life does not make sense. Lindsey shares her story of a life-altering accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, chronic ill...

What if God isn't asking you to give something up because it's bad, but because He's offering something better? In this reflective and honest episode of Echoes of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down for a heart-to-heart conversation to welcome a new year and explore what it looks like to listen closely when God invites us into something deeper. Together, they talk about words for the year, identit...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of loss (death of a spouse), alcohol use, and eating disorders (anorexia + bulimia). Please use discretion as you listen. In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Briana Gray and Cherise Thompson sit down with Heather Palmer—Kansas City local, yoga teacher, and author of Gold-In Cracks—for an honest conversation about resilience, surrender, an...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Amber Keller—follower of Jesus, wife, mom of three girls, writer, and coordinator of a women's prison ministry—to talk about purpose, obedience, and what it really means to follow Jesus into hard and holy places. Amber shares her story of growing up as a missionary kid in Peru during years of terrorism, navigating...

In this honest and reflective episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down for a behind-the-scenes conversation about something many Christians wrestle with—but don't always name: the difference between being busy for God and actually bearing fruit. We talk about how easy it is to slip into checklist Christianity—doing all the "right" things, staying involved, showing up faithfully—whil...

In today's episode of Echos of Impact, we sit down with Katharine Rose—writer, speaker, and host of the podcast Eternal Echoes—for a rich and deeply meaningful conversation about purpose, obedience, legacy, and listening closely to God's voice. Katharine shares her personal journey through striving, wilderness seasons, delayed obedience, and surrender. She opens up about learning the hard way that...

Trigger Warning: In this episode, Lisa shares honestly about her journey with addiction, including substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and the emotional impact on her children and family. We encourage you to listen at your own pace and take care of your heart as you do. In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Lisa Herrington, a wife of 41 years, mom of four, grandmother...

In this heart-to-heart episode of  Echos of Impact , Briana and Cherise sit down for one of their monthly conversations — the kind where we open our Bibles, open our real lives, and invite you into what God has been speaking in this season. This week's episode unfolds around two powerful images: ✨ a surprising word from God — "Get your house in order" — and ✨ a vivid picture of sitting at a tiny...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of medical trauma, cardiac arrest, and near-death experiences. Please listen with care. In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with Kate, a Kansas City native, wife, mom of six in a blended family, nana of three, and women's Bible study leader. This conversation is tender, faith-filled, and full of the kind of perspective th...

In this heartfelt and restorative episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Emily Love—Kansas City native, event designer, and spiritual director in training—to talk about what it means to slow down and let God do the deeper work within us. Emily shares her powerful story of burnout, slowing down, and learning that rest can be the hardest work of all. Through seasons of exhaustion, recover...

In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise flips the script and sits down with her co-host, Briana Gray , to hear her God story. Instead of interviewing another guest, we get to lean in and listen as Briana shares how God has held her "on a short leash" through small-town beginnings, overseas mission trips, miracles on the other side of the world, and the quiet, ordinary moments of mothe...

In this heartfelt episode of Echos of Impact, Briana Gray and Cherise Thompson sit down with Precious Warren—a writer and homeschool mom passionate about helping families rediscover wonder. Living in Kansas City with her husband and two children, Precious shares how play and prayer often intertwine in her home, and how God literally renamed her Precious, transforming how she sees herself and her p...

Tina Smith on trading performance for God's peace ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of abuse and childhood cancer, which may be sensitive for some listeners. In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Tina Smith—a licensed therapist, author, and coach for women in leadership and entrepreneurship. Tina's story is one of deep faith, perseverance,...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of child loss. In this tender, faith-filled episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Nikki Moore—wife, mom, and entrepreneur—to share her powerful story of loss, faith, and the beauty of community. Nikki grew up in Northern California but has called Kansas City home for the past 25 years. She's been married to her husband, Brent, for 22...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes brief discussion of abuse and excommunication within a religious setting. Listener discretion advised. In this deeply insightful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Lisa Gray — a licensed marriage and family therapist and author whose story moves from legalism to grace and from conflict avoidance to healthy connection. Lisa special...