Anchored with Purpose | Faith, Family, Purpose, Dreaming, Planning, Overcoming Anxiety, Overcoming Overwhelm

Summer doesn't have to be packed with camps and expensive activities to make a lasting impact. In this solo episode of Anchored with Purpose , Melissa Wilkinson shares a behind-the-scenes look at her family's summer and the unexpected lessons that have come from slowing down, embracing flexibility, and intentionally preparing her boys for adulthood. After an unexpected start to the summer - includ...

What do you do when God places something on your heart that feels bigger than you? In this episode of Anchored with Purpose, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Shawna DuBois, founder of Gabriel's Retreat Ministries, to talk about faith, obedience, and what happens when God calls you to step into something you never expected. Shawna shares her powerful faith journey—from being a teenager with one foo...

What if joy wasn't something you had to wait for until life got easier? If you've been feeling overwhelmed, burned out, stuck, or like you've lost sight of the joy and purpose God has for your life, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Anchored with Purpose, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Catholic author, speaker, and writing coach Shemaiah Gonzalez to talk about finding joy in diffi...

For years, Melissa struggled to understand the Rosary. It felt repetitive, intimidating, and honestly, she wasn't sure why Catholics were so devoted to it. In this episode, Melissa sits down with Deborah Viña, founder of MG Rosary, for an honest conversation about the Rosary, Marian devotion, and the sacramentals of the Catholic Church. Melissa shares how a recent 54-day novena completely changed...

Have you ever wondered if the gifts and experiences God has given you are preparing you for something bigger? In this episode of Anchored with Purpose, Melissa sits down with Molly Olson, founder of Sacred Anchor Artisans, to discuss faith, creativity, hospitality, and following the nudges of the Holy Spirit. Molly shares her journey from raising six children and helping run a freeze-dried candy b...

What happens when God asks you to let go of the dream you worked years to build? In this inspiring conversation, Melissa sits down with Kristen Ledlow, former NBA sideline reporter, television host, entrepreneur, and mom, to talk about faith, purpose, motherhood, and learning to trust God's plan when it looks very different than your own. Kristen shares her journey from covering the NBA on nationa...

What happens when you say “yes” to the Holy Spirit, even when the path ahead doesn’t fully make sense? In this episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa sits down with Bible App content creator, author, speaker, and soon-to-be podcaster, Thelma Dzwowa, for a conversation full of faith, obedience, divine appointments, and trusting God through every season. From growing up in Zimbabwe, t...

What if your curiosity about a sober lifestyle isn’t random… but an invitation from God? Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Amy Fuggi and Judi Daigle to talk about faith, freedom, healing, and what life can look like on the other side of alcohol. This conversation is about awareness, healing, and discovering the joy, peace, and clarity that can come when we remove the things numbing us from fully ex...

What does it mean to embrace the feminine genius in today’s world? In this inspiring episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa sits down with Catholic publisher and educator Heidi Bollich-Erne, founder of The Better Part Journal, a beautiful new print journal created to elevate the voices, experiences, and intellectual contributions of Catholic women. Heidi shares the powerful story be...

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by clutter in your home, your schedule, or even your thoughts, this episode is for you. Melissa sits down with Gina, host of Pruning to Prosper , to talk about how decluttering is about so much more than just organizing your space. It’s about creating room for God to move in your life. Gina shares how she went from helping women organize their homes to helping th...

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like you’re constantly trying to “balance” it all and still falling short? In this powerful and relatable conversation, I sit down with Bethany Rees, founder of Leadership on the Rocks , to talk about what it really means to lead with faith in every area of your life. From motherhood to career to personal growth, Bethany shares a refreshing perspecti...

Have you ever caught yourself wondering if you’re behind in life, faith, or business? In this episode, I’m sharing something that’s been on my heart in a very real way. Recently, I’ve had moments where I’ve questioned my own timeline, wondering if I should be further along or doing more. But through prayer and reflection, God keeps bringing me back to this truth: You are not behind. In this episod...

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to launch a course, podcast, or online offer because of tech overwhelm, this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Kara Williams, who helps women simplify tech and confidently bring their ideas to life. We talk about the real reason so many women stay stuck, how to move past perfectionism, and why having someone walk alongside you changes every...

Lent may be over, but what if this is just the beginning? In this reflective episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa walks you through a powerful post-Lent reset to help you hold onto the faith habits you built during Lent and turn them into a sustainable daily rhythm. If you felt closer to God, more intentional, and more grounded over the past season, this episode will help you iden...

In this faith-filled conversation, Melissa sits down with Mindy “Mindo” Backsen, a wife and mom from North Dakota whose story is rooted in obedience, surrender, and trusting God when the next step feels uncertain. Mindy shares how she left a demanding career in insurance, stepped into social selling and coaching, and discovered that true alignment happens when Christ is first, not second. Together...

Have you ever wondered, “How do I actually hear from God?” Or felt stuck asking, “What is my purpose?” In this faith-filled episode, I’m answering two powerful questions from women in our community and chances are, you’ve asked them too. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, unsure of your direction, or disconnected from God’s voice, this episode will remind you that your purpose is not something yo...

What if the hardest moments in your life could become the very thing that helps others find hope? In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly - educator, former superintendent, leadership coach, and founder of the Spark Hope Community . Dr. Kelly shares the heartbreaking story that shaped her life when she lost her younger brother in a tragic...

This episode is deeply personal and full circle for me. After 2,470 consecutive days in the YouVersion Bible App, I’m officially a content partner, and my brand-new devotional plan is live: From Lent to Lifestyle: Creating a Daily Faith Practice that Lasts. In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes story of attending the Beyond a Billion celebration in Oklahoma City, hearing from Bobby Gruene...

In this conversation, Melissa sits down with life and business coach Misty Lakes to talk about Godfidence, which is confidence rooted in Christ instead of hustle culture. Misty shares her journey from direct sales into coaching, how God faithfully led her step by step, and why putting Him at the center of our lives and businesses changes everything. Together, they unpack why so many women feel bur...

If Lent already feels like one more thing on your to-do list, this episode is for you. In this encouraging and Scripture-rooted episode, Melissa Wilkinson speaks directly to the busy Catholic woman who feels tired, distracted, spiritually behind, or overwhelmed before Lent even begins. Instead of a picture-perfect or performance-based Lent, Melissa walks through what real Lent looks like in real l...

When the world feels unstable and heartbreaking, it’s hard not to carry that weight in your heart and home. In this episode, Melissa speaks into the fear and emotional exhaustion many women are experiencing as they watch growing struggles within our government, rising division, and devastating stories of families being torn apart and people being detained through immigration enforcement. Entire co...

In today’s episode, Melissa sits down with her new friend Mya Hull, a former top 1% leader in Mary Kay who felt God stirring something deeper, even in the middle of success. Mya shares her origin story, what that leadership season taught her about identity, and the “holy discontent” that led her to lay down what looked good on paper in order to follow what God was calling her into next. You’ll hea...

Perimenopause is the topic so many women are whispering about over coffee, but rarely getting real answers. In this conversation, functional health practitioner Rita Johnson breaks down what’s actually happening in your body during perimenopause and why symptoms like weight gain, inflammation, sleep issues, digestive changes, and mood shifts are not “just aging.” Rita explains the powerful connect...

Vision boards. Visualization. Imagining your future. For many Catholics, these words can feel uncomfortable or even off-limits. Is this New Age? Is it Christian? Is it something we should avoid altogether? In this episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa breaks down why vision is deeply biblical and deeply Catholic when done the right way — with God at the center. You’ll learn how vis...

This is an “earbuds in” conversation, friend. Melissa sits down with Ellen Holloway, host of Charting Toward Intimacy (a leading Catholic intimacy podcast), for an honest, hope-filled conversation about sex, intimacy, and healing in marriage—in a way that’s fully aligned with the Catholic Church. Ellen shares her personal story (including the early struggles of marriage, learning Natural Family Pl...