Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

What if delighting in God is not about forcing joy, ignoring pain, or checking all the "right" spiritual boxes? In this episode, Melie is joined by Stephanie Rousselle, Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and author of the forthcoming book, Awaken Delight from IVPress. Stephanie shares her journey from atheism to faith, what it means to "taste and see" that God is good, and w...

Sometimes the reason you keep saying "tomorrow" isn't laziness — it's your brain reaching for relief. In this episode, Melie explores procrastination through the lens of faith and neuroscience, unpacking why avoidance often has more to do with emotion regulation than a lack of discipline. She also looks at how burnout, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence can make starting harder, and why sham...

Sometimes the most resilient thing you can do isn't push harder, it's stop fighting reality. In this episode, Melie explores the concept of radical acceptance and why acknowledging what is can be the first step toward healing. Blending faith, neuroscience, and personal experience, she unpacks the difference between acceptance and giving up, why resisting reality often adds to our suffering, and ho...

  Sometimes the hardest part isn't the pain itself, it's not knowing what happens next. In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , we're talking about the emotional, spiritual, and neurological reality of waiting for an answer. Why uncertainty feels so exhausting, what happens in the brain during unresolved situations, and how faith can coexist with honesty in the middle of the unknown. This...

Guest: Sandy Bastien, Author, Entrepreneur What happens when the opportunities in front of you all seem good… but not all of them are actually yours to carry? In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , Melie sits down with entrepreneur, inventor, author, and mother of five Sandy Bastien for a grounded and encouraging conversation about purpose, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and learning how t...

Gentleness doesn't mean being passive, weak, or getting walked all over. In this episode, I sit down with author and family ministry leader Christie Thomas to reframe what gentleness actually is: strength under control. We talk about why gentleness is one of the most misunderstood fruits of the Spirit—and why it's often hardest to practice in the moments we need it most. From conflict and parentin...

Guest: Karen Conlon, LCSW | Transformational Coach | Author | Podcast Host Healing after divorce isn't a checklist… and it definitely isn't a straight line. In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , I'm joined by therapist and Emotionally Wealthy podcast host Karen Conlon to talk about emotional healing after divorce, relationship patterns, and how to move forward in a healthy way . We unpac...

In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , I'm joined by author and podcast host Hope Johnson for an honest, faith-filled conversation about extended singleness, unmet expectations, and trusting God in the waiting. We talk about the tension between longing for something deeply and learning to live fully in the life you have right now. Hope shares wisdom on filtering out unhelpful voices, bein...

Guest: Justin Smith, Founder of the Cray App After a long-term relationship ends, getting back out there isn't just about meeting someone new — it's about learning to trust yourself again. This week, Melie sits down with Justin Smith, the creator of the Cray app , who built it after the end of his own relationship. Instead of just moving on, Justin wanted to understand why we miss the warning sign...

  Show Notes If you've ever wondered whether wanting more automatically makes you less spiritual… this conversation is for you. Today I'm joined by Christian business coach and author Erin Harrigan , and we're talking about the tension a lot of women quietly live in: loving Jesus and also being ambitious. Because somewhere along the way, many of us were taught we had to pick one. We talk about why...

When Something Quietly Hurts Resilience, Dopamine, and the Wisdom of Letting Go There's a part of resilience no one really prepares you for. Not the crisis. Not the breakdown. But the quiet moment when you realize something in your life is slowly, subtly hurting you. In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , Melie explores what real resilience feels like in the nervous system, why calm can f...

For many people of faith,  self-compassion can sound uncomfortably close to self-indulgence or letting ourselves off the hook. In this episode, Melie explores why that tension exists—and why self-compassion, when rooted in Scripture, is not opposed to growth but essential to it. Drawing from research by Kristin Neff , this conversation reframes self-compassion through a Christian lens, separating...

What does resilience actually look like when life is heavy and you're tired of being told to "just push through"? In this episode, Melie sits down with Eric Davis, combat-decorated U.S. Navy SEAL and author of Raising Men , to talk about a grounded, practical definition of resilience that goes far beyond grit and hustle. Instead of white-knuckling hardship, Eric reframes resilience as maintaining...

Have you ever felt invisible? Even while showing up, engaging, and trying to connect? In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , Melie explores the quiet loneliness of feeling overlooked, forgotten, or ghosted. She talks about why moments like repeated introductions, unanswered texts, and fading connections can hurt so deeply, and why that pain isn't a personal flaw: it's human wiring. This e...

January doesn't always feel fresh, clear, or motivating — and if the new year feels heavier than expected, you are not alone. In this short, grounding episode, Melie offers a compassionate alternative to resolutions, reinvention, and pressure. Instead of goals to achieve, she shares three gentle practices you can carry with you into the new year — especially on days when your energy, clarity, or m...

New Year's Eve is often framed as a celebration of fresh starts, big goals, and reinvention. But for many of us, this night feels quieter, heavier, or more complicated than that. In this episode, Melie offers a gentle New Year's Eve reflection for anyone who didn't "win the year," set big goals, or feel ready for resolutions. Instead of focusing on becoming someone new, we honor something simpler...

Christmas Eve sits in the in-between space. Not the miracle yet. Not the ending. Just the waiting. In this special Christmas Eve episode, Melie speaks to those who feel stuck in the middle of healing, rebuilding, and figuring things out. If life feels unresolved right now, this message offers gentleness, perspective, and permission to rest without forcing clarity or cheer. You'll hear reflections...

What does resilience look like when your body is worn down, your energy is gone, and productivity feels impossible? In this gentle, honest episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , Melie talks about resilience on sick days. Not the "power through" kind, but the kind that honors your limits, listens to your nervous system, and allows rest without guilt. Blending neuroscience, faith, and real-life com...

Today's guest,  Lisa Skeffington , is a multi–award-winning psychotherapist, executive coach, and self-esteem expert who has spent more than 25 years helping high-achieving women navigate anxiety, burnout, and hidden emotional wounds. In this conversation, we talk about: What imposter syndrome actually is (and why it's so common for high achievers) How high-functioning anxiety hides behind compete...

This week marks a full year of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires —52 episodes of showing up, telling the truth, and letting God work through the messy middle. Instead of a highlight reel, Melie shares seven lessons this year of podcasting taught her about resilience, creativity, faith, and showing up when life feels anything but polished. In this episode, you'll hear: Why resilience is built through tiny...

In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Melie sits down with author Emily A. Myers —a romance writer whose life and storytelling have both been radically transformed by her journey back to God. Emily opens up about surviving a marriage that slowly dismantled her sense of self, the dark moments that nearly took her life, and the unexpected ways God intervened when she wasn't even looking His...

What if the success you worked so hard for starts feeling… empty? In this episode, Melie sits down with Dr. Sharon Spano — executive coach, researcher, and expert in human development — to explore why achievement doesn't always translate to fulfillment, and what it means when you reach your goals but still feel something missing. This conversation opens up the deeper layers of success, identity, f...

In this heart-centering conversation, Melie   sits down with Jenn Suen Chen —spiritual director, speaker, and co-director of Summit Clear —to talk about how stories shape our faith and our sense of belonging. Drawing from her new book, Dim Sum and Faith , Jenn shares how the ancient rhythm of gathering at the table can teach us about spiritual formation, community, and what it really means to live...

Grief wears many faces. It can look like a death, a divorce, a friendship that faded, or the slow realization that a dream did not work out. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Audrey Davidheiser, a licensed psychologist and Certified Internal Family Systems therapist, to talk about grief in a way that feels human, faith-aware, and actually doable. We start by getting practical about Internal Fam...

What if surrender isn't weakness—but the doorway to real freedom? In this week's episode, Melie sits down with bestselling author and artist Mary DeMuth to talk about her newest devotional, The Freedom of Surrender. Mary has written over 50 books, hosts the Pray Every Day podcast, and has helped countless people heal from trauma and rediscover hope. Together, they dive into what it truly means to...