Anchored by the Sword

In this episode, I am joined by Justin Kendrick, pastor, church planter, and author of Out of the Hurricane . Justin shares his powerful journey of coming to faith in Christ and the life-changing peace and hope he found in surrendering to God. Together, we explore themes of resilience, discipleship, and the importance of building an internal foundation that endures life’s hurricanes. Key Topics Di...

Today's episode is with Jessica Ronne—author, speaker, nonprofit executive director, documentary producer, and a mother of eight, including a son with profound disabilities. Jessica’s newest devotional, Caregiving with Grit and Grace , is a powerful resource of encouragement and hope for caregivers navigating the complexities of caregiving. Jessica shares her journey of faith, beginning with her s...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Christy Boulware, author of Nervous Breakthrough , as she shares her powerful journey through anxiety and panic attacks. From being a successful corporate go-getter to experiencing her first panic attack on a beach in Cancun, Christy opens up about the long, hard road to healing and how she found peace in surrendering to God. Christy discusses the importance of ad...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I’m joined by the incredible Tawana Lowery—an author, international speaker, and women’s leadership coach with over 20 years of experience empowering women of faith. Tawana shares her deeply personal story of overcoming unimaginable trials, including grief, divorce, and trauma, and how God turned her pain into purpose. Tawana’s journey reminds us that no mat...

In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Winkler, author of Permission to Be Imperfect: How to Strive Less, Stress Less, and Sin Less. Kyle shares his personal journey of overcoming insecurity, striving, and the weight of perfectionism through the transformative power of God’s grace. We dive into: * Kyle’s faith journey, from childhood struggles with shyness to finding freedom in God’s unconditional...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, author, and speaker Tiffany Bluhm. Tiffany is a powerful voice on the intersection of women’s liberation, spiritual formation, justice, and leadership. She’s also the Executive Director of a foundation development organization in the Pacific Northwest, a wife, and mom to two sons. Tiffany shares her incredible journey of being adopted as a young child fr...

Today, I am joined by award-winning journalist, pastor, and author Lee Weeks to discuss his powerful new book,  Sunday at the Tracks . Lee shares his journey from growing up as a preacher’s kid to pursuing a journalism career, and how God redirected his path into ministry and storytelling. In  Sunday at the Tracks , Lee highlights 36 powerful faith stories from the NASCAR community, including driv...

In today's episode, I sit down with Donna Amidon, a wife, mom, musician, and Bible teacher, to talk about her freedom story and her book,  Tracing His Promise . Donna shares how a simple ornament exchange sparked a deep revelation of Jesus’ presence throughout the Old Testament, transforming her family’s Advent tradition into a faith-filled journey. We explore the concept of the Jesse Tree, a mean...

In this episode, I’m honored to introduce you to Liza Lovett, someone I connected with through a podcasting group. Liza shares her powerful story of surviving and healing after six years in a Christian cult. Her journey of disentangling her beliefs, rediscovering God’s true character, and finding peace offers hope to anyone navigating spiritual trauma. Liza now works with survivors of abuse, with...

On today's episode, we explore the new release of  Emotional Confidence  by Alicia Michelle. Alicia’s powerful story of overcoming perfectionism and learning to embrace her emotions through a medical crisis led her to develop tools for other women facing similar battles. We talk about: The intersection of science and faith in managing emotions. Alicia’s personal testimony of healing and how God us...

Today, we’re starting season 15 off by diving into a powerful conversation on mental health, beauty, and the healing power of quietness with Sarah Clarkson, author of  Reclaiming Quiet . Growing up in a Christian home, Sarah faced a traumatic diagnosis of OCD at the age of 17 and battled intrusive, troubling thoughts. In the midst of her struggle, she grappled with doubts about God's goodness, esp...

In this episode, I am talking with my friend, Melanie Waldman, author of  "Look What Love Has Done: My Journey Toward Freedom and Fullness."  Melanie shares her incredible story of transformation from a life filled with chaos, trauma, and fear to one marked by the profound love and freedom found in Christ. With raw honesty, she takes us through childhood struggles, tumultuous family dynamics, and...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Mikala Albertson , author of the newly released book Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife . Mikala opens up about the personal challenges that led her to consider faith more deeply, particularly after her husband began struggling with addiction. She shares her journey of seeing marriage differently—not as two people being the same, but as individuals...

On this week’s episode, I am joined by Diane E. Arnold , a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and the author of the brand-new book, 12 Habits for a Sound Mind and a Joyful Life . Diane also runs The Family Collective alongside her family, helping others build stronger relationships after overcoming their own challenges, including her husband’s public affair. Diane’s journey of healing and redemption...

On today’s episode, I get to have a raw and powerful conversation with Joy Skarka, Director of Discipleship at Authentic Intimacy, about turning pain into passion and the journey to healing and freedom. Joy’s story is one that many women can relate to but few speak openly about. She shares how, after being sexually assaulted on her third day of college, she was plunged into a season of pain, isola...

In today’s episode, I’m honored to sit down with David Bowden, spoken word poet and founder of the nonprofit, Spoken Gospel, as we talk about his newest book, Learning to Be Loved . David has spent over 15 years traveling the world, speaking to thousands, performing spoken word poetry, and sharing the gospel. Despite the outward success—millions of views on YouTube, performing in front of 200,000...

In this episode, I sit down with Rev. Chris Lee, also known as “the internet’s favorite vicar,” to dive into his latest book,  Know You Are Beloved . Chris shares his incredible journey—from feeling lost in his faith to discovering the love of Christ during his mission work in Tanzania. His story reminds us that no matter where we are or what we’ve done, God’s love is constant and unwavering. Chri...

In today's episode, I am so excited to chat with my new friend, Hannah Brencher, author, writer, and mental health advocate, about her new book The Unplugged Hours , releasing today. Hannah opens up about her journey with mental health, her battle with severe depression, and the transformative power of her faith. Though she grew up resistant to her mother’s beliefs, everything changed when she...

I am so excited about today's episode! I got to hang out with my friend, Mikella Van Dyke, whose new book and Bible study,  Chasing Sacred , releases today. Mikella shares her incredible journey from growing up as a missionary kid in Thailand, where her family was dedicated to Bible translation, to her early years as a ballet dancer, and how she found her identity in dance. But when marriage,...

In this episode, I get to hang out with my new friend, Sophie Hudson to discuss all things sports and her latest book,  A Fine Sight to See: Leading Because You Were Made for It . Sophie shares insights from her journey in leadership and writing, highlighting the importance of recognizing and embracing the unique ways God has equipped each of us to lead. We dive into the significance of taking an...

On today's podcast, I am so excited to have Kat Vazquez back as our first second time guest!  The first interview was with her and her husband, Jorge back in episode 63.  She has a new devotional out and I absolutely love spending time with her! Her fire for God is truly contagious!! She talks about a time in her life where she was beat down and she really needed to understand who she was. In her...

Today's episode is with my first mother-daughter duo, Sandra Stanley and Allie Stanley Cooney. They co-wrote the book, Meet Me in the Middle, which release today! The share their experiences of growing up in the church and how they both discovered their callings in college and developed a relationship with God that was their own. They talk about how they walked through Allie's battle with...

In this today's episode, my friend, Chelsea Ohlemiller, author of "Now That She’s Gone," shares her insights on navigating grief, rediscovering faith, and the power of legacy. Her story, though not what she envisioned, is beautiful and impactful, with her mother still present in a different, but meaningful way. Grief, as Chelsea teaches, reveals what is crucial in our healing process...

Today's episode is with my friend and fellow Ohioan, Barb Roose. She talks about how to explore the themes of freedom and strength in the face of life's challenges. Barb shares her personal journey of overcoming performance-based worth, addiction in her household, and the anxiety and stress that many women face today. She emphasizes the power of God's grace, the importance of mental he...

My guest today is my new friend, Babbie Mason. She has a new Bible study that comes out today called, Each One, Reach One: Everyday Ways You Can Shine God's Light. She wants women to know how much Jesus loves and calls women to share their faith and experiences with others. She reminds us that this can happen through a simple kind comment or compliment. I love how she has a discussion on the G...