Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and today I'm sharing something deeply personal — my own breast cancer diagnosis, the fear in the waiting that came with it, and how God met me in a season where nothing about my life felt familiar anymore. This isn't an easy story, but I believe it's an important one. If you've ever faced a diagnosis that turned your world upside down, or you're...

Jody Allen, author of Hidden Heartache , joins [Your Name] to talk about surviving a marriage broken by her husband's pornography addiction — and finding hope after divorce she never wanted. A raw, honest conversation about shame, healing, and ministering to women walking the same road. If you've ever carried shame that wasn't yours, this episode is for you. Find out more about The Flourish Retrea...

In this bonus Kitchen Table episode, host Carol Roper shares her personal story of how God called her into ministry at just 29 years old — and the 30+ years of twists, turns, and seasons of confusion that followed as she pursued that calling. Carol opens up about what it feels like to sense the tug of the Holy Spirit pulling you toward something deeper, even when the path forward isn't clear. If y...

In this first Kitchen Table episode of the fall season, we ask a question if we knew how hard it would be would we do it anyway? Through a personal story of chasing a dream career, hitting financial hardship building a small business, and crying out to God for a way out, this episode explores what happens when an answered prayer doesn't look like relief — and how perseverance, faith, and trust can...

There's a moment in every woman's story where she wonders if she's lost her way — where the calling she once felt so clearly suddenly feels confusing, heavy, or out of reach. I know that moment well. In fact, when I first met today's guest, I was standing right in the middle of it. I was discouraged, frustrated, and honestly ready to give up on the dream God had put in my heart. But God met me thr...

In this special live episode, retired NYC firefighter Niels Jorgensen shares his firsthand account of serving at Ground Zero on 9/11. Niels reflects on the courage of first responders, the loss of nearly 3,000 innocent lives, and his own battle with a rare leukemia caused by toxin exposure during the recovery efforts. Recorded in front of a live audience, this conversation also honors our local Fo...

She grew up in a home marked by addiction, instability, and zero faith influence. When a friend invited her to church at fifteen, everything changed — except her parents' response. They kicked her out, leaving her alone on the streets with nowhere to go. But God wasn't done writing her story. With the help of a local church who gave her a place to live, she finished high school, went to college, a...

In this powerful episode, Phyllis Robertson Thomas — daughter of Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty — shares the incredible story of discovering her biological father through a DNA test, a revelation that led her into a family she never knew she had and a redemption story only God could write. Phyllis opens up about navigating identity, healing from long‑buried wounds, and experiencing God's grace i...

Liz Cobo says that nothing has deepened her faith and changed her walk with Jesus like studying the Bible. Studying God's Word literally changed her life. Things that were once important priorities aren't anymore. Things that were once afterthoughts are now at the top of her list.  Scripture is God's self-revelation and is available to anyone willing to take the time and make the effort to read an...

In this episode of Carol sits down with Christy Braddock to share a powerful redemption story that proves no mistake is too big for God's grace. At just 15 years old, Christy discovered she was pregnant and spent years carrying the weight of shame, believing she had permanently disqualified herself from a blessed life and a strong family. But God had a completely different plan for her future. If...

Mary Marantz knows how fear can hold us back. Even though she was able to leave the musty single-wide trailer of her childhood in West Virginia and make her way to Yale Law School, she always carried the fear that she would be found out. Even though she had worked hard and earned every grade and scholarship she received she thought others saw her as an imposter. So, she strove to be the best at ev...

If you've ever wondered whether your story really matters — or questioned how your past, your personality, and your experiences fit into God's calling for your life — this episode is for you. I'm sharing the behind‑the‑scenes story of how I stepped into women's ministry, the unexpected ways God used my past to shape my purpose, and why I believe so deeply in helping women discover their own callin...

If you've been feeling stuck, restless, or unsure what God is asking of you in this season, the Flourish Retreat might be the turning point you've been praying for. This 3‑day Christian women's retreat on Kiawah Island is designed to help you find clarity, purpose, and direction through powerful teaching, personalized coaching, and deeply meaningful community. In this episode, Julie Bagwell shares...

Please be aware that this content is not suitable for young children. George Carneal grew up in the '70s, raised by a Southern Baptist minister in the ultra-conservative Bible Belt where his world revolved around the church, country fried chicken and trying to fit in with other boys. As disco music pulsated through the speakers in his bedroom, he plotted his escape from the misery and boredom of S...

Some stories don't just inspire you — they reroute your whole calling. This summer, I'm bringing back one of the episodes that changed everything for me. If you listened to  Fear Is a Liar back in June, you remember the couple whose testimony stopped me from shutting this podcast down altogether. When I was ready to pack up the mic and call it quits, their story reminded me why Building Strong Hom...

Today we're kicking off our Summer Throwback Series — a little every‑other‑week tradition where I'm pulling some of the most loved episodes from the archives, dusting them off and letting them bring encouragement to you again. And I knew exactly which one needed to go first. My conversation with Sophie Hudson , based on her book Giddy Up, Eunice , is one of those episodes that feels like a deep br...

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of how my writing journey began—during a season when the empty nest was approaching, purpose felt uncertain, and God whispered a new calling into my heart. Fourteen years ago, I took a trembling step of faith and attended my first writers conference alone. What followed was a rollercoaster of fear, embarrassment, and a moment so humiliating I near...

If you're walking a difficult journey through what may feel like insurmountable debt right now and see no way out, my guest today will give you hope. Tiffany Miliander was a single mom who was left with $64,000 in debt when she divorced. But she was determined not to let that debt linger and paid all of it off in four short years. Debt can feel like a mountain you never asked to climb, but Tiffany...

Have you ever looked back and realized comfort kept you from saying yes to something that mattered? In this episode, I'm sharing how a moment from Taylor Sheridan's new series The Madison stopped me in my tracks and reminded me what it really means to love well — especially in marriage. This isn't a review of the show, and I'm not endorsing all its content. But there's a powerful theme woven throu...

When you're facing a diagnosis, a fear, or a season of waiting, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the unknown. In today's episode, Tommy Jennings shares a powerful testimony of courage, peace, and unshakable faith as he battles Hodgkin's Lymphoma — a fight he's been in for six years. Tommy's story is raw, honest, and deeply hope‑filled. After exhausting every treatment option, he now lives in the t...

Have you ever doubted your faith? Wondered if God isn't real? I dealt with this issue a couple of decades ago and wondered how I could go on doing "all the things" while struggling with doubt. Today I want to share a fascinating story about how an elephant can be similar to testing our faith. To see photos of the bridge, watch on YouTube I Almost Walked Away Sign up for my monthly newsletter The K...

Between school messaging, social media trends, and cultural pressure, it can feel like the world is speaking louder to our kids than we are. But you have more influence than you think — and today's conversation will help you use it wisely. If you're a Christian parent feeling overwhelmed by the rise in gender confusion , you're not alone. Everywhere you turn—schools, social media, even kids' frien...

Whether you call it a veranda, piazza, stoop or porch, these appendages to our homes can have a positive impact on our family and community. It doesn't have to be fancy or huge to be a welcoming respite away from the chores, homework and television. Make it as comfortable as you can and invite the kids and hubby outside for a change of scenery and a bit of togetherness. And include the neighbors o...

What scars do you carry? Maybe you've had a c-section (or 3) and don't want to wear a bathing suit anymore (among other reasons). Maybe you've been injured in an accident and try to disguise the evidence. Or maybe you've suffered from cancer and now have an ugly scar as a reminder of your survival. Whatever the reason, it's natural for us to want to cover unsightly scars from public view. When I w...

Home isn't just a place—it's a story. When my husband and I set out to build our forever home on his family's farm, we weren't just choosing land; we were choosing legacy. Every step across those pastures reminded us that roots matter—both the ones in the soil and the ones in our hearts. And as we stood beneath a solitary oak, we realized this journey was about more than a house. It was about buil...