Imagine Yourself Podcast

There’s a good chance you’re going through something challenging right now.  Maybe you’re even facing a huge mountain of adversity. Whatever you’re dealing with and as impossible as the odds may seem, one way or another, God will get you through. That’s the message of our guest, Angela Scott. She’s turned her misfortunes into a ministry to help other women know that they, too, can turn to the Lord...

Who doesn’t love a good celebration? Celebrating and enjoying traditions and taking time to honor those who have paved the way for us is part of the fabric of America. And Black History is a prominent, distinct, and very valuable piece of that fabric.  We decided to focus in on the significance and beautiful benefits of celebrating the heritage, culture, history, and contributions of Black America...

Prayer has the power to change things and that includes marriages. In this bonus mini-episode, we dig into more of our discussion with Relationship Coach, Rev. Monica Humpal, this time with a focus on faith. So much impact can be made when we pray with and for our spouse, and so much good can come out of looking to the example of Jesus to help us with communication, boundaries and how we treat eac...

Fighting is a given in relationships. While it’s certainly not healthy to constantly be in conflict, it is normal (and potentially beneficial) to argue with your partner.  It’s how you both handle it that can make all the difference. Do your clashes strengthen the bonds of love and respect or rip them apart piece by piece? We called on relationship coach, Rev. Monica Humpal to help us fight fair a...

Are you thinking about a new direction professionally? It doesn’t matter what age or stage or life you’re in, we think this episode may open your eyes to possibilities that you may not have considered. So much has changed lately and there are new and different options that may be on the table for you. We’re spotlighting four interviews with career coaches and experts in the professional space who...

It seems like we are always bombarded with messages about how we should live a healthier life, but it really kicks up every January. That’s all good, but it can be overwhelming... especially because some of the advice or tips contradict other things we hear. So, our goal is simple: cut through the clutter and focus on what you can do now. Over the years, we’ve talked to many wonderful experts in d...

When it comes down to it, a big part of growing in our faith is learning more and more to trust God and His timing. Part of the process is sometimes having to go through things that are (to say the least) challenging and uncomfortable. It helps to hear stories and from others who have walked a difficult path and have turned their tests into testimonies. In this episode, we feature five women we ta...

Mental Health can be a weighty and serious issue, but that doesn’t me we can’t have more casual or even fun conversations about it. In this episode, we hear from some of the mental health professionals we’ve talked to on the podcast. Each one drops nuggets of information and practical advice on topics like experiencing anxiety, feeling depressed, being affected by negative self-talk, taking contro...

These days life coaches are becoming more and more popular. We love talking to them so we can pass along ways to make us better, happier humans. So, let's dig in to help motivate us  in areas we might need to work on, but do it without all the judgement. In this episode we highlight lessons learned from four coaches we talked to in previous episodes. We’ll get eleven keys to self-care ( Kerry...

While everyone is “decking the halls with boughs of holly”, what if this year it doesn’t feel like the season to be jolly? What if grief, depression, loneliness, or something else makes this season especially difficult? We talked to a professional to get some tips especially designed to help with these issues during the holiday season. We hope what Matt Lawson of Chicago Compass Counseling has to...

There’s a wonderful quote that says “gratitude turns what we have into enough.” It’s a simple concept but one that’s worth repeating: if we focus on the things that we DO have instead of what we feel we lack we realize we are truly blessed.  But how can we have NEXT LEVEL gratitude? What does that even mean? We’re releasing this episode just before Thanksgiving, the time when we many of us will go...

It’s no secret that prices have gone through the roof lately. The cost of everything from filling up your gas tank to filling up your shopping cart has spiked. From cat food to cars and hamburgers to houses, we are feeling a big pain in the wallet. Not to mention, sometimes we just consider ourselves lucky to even FIND what we set out to purchase. Words that most folks don’t hear much outside of a...

Ready to reframe your financial picture? Let’s take a good look at your relationship with money. Hopefully, there are many things working well, but there may be mistakes you’re making that you weren’t even aware of. Our guest, financial guru, Kembala Evans wants to help you find ways to make your money work for you instead of against you. Words like budgets, savings, credit scores  and emergency f...

When people in our lives are going through grief or adversity, our hearts break for them. We want to help them, encourage them, let them know we are there for them. As we recorded this episode, Lanee was in the midst of what she called THE toughest season of her life. She gives us advice on what she feels was helpful, not helpful, or even hurtful. Keeping in mind that people are not the same, have...

Would you rather have happiness or joy? Once you listen to this episode, you are sure to have a very clear choice. So many of us are dealing with new situations, uncertainties, insecurities, and difficult times that we can’t control. We might feel like we can’t hold onto happiness or joy. But what if we took a different approach so that we could keep ourselves centered, faithful, and joyful on the...

When a crisis hits or heartbreak happens, it’s certainly no laughing matter. However, at some point in our coping process, humor may have a place. Last week’s guest on the episode “Knocking Down Life’s Obstacles” ,  Lisa Jesswein talked about how learning to laugh at things helped her survive and even thrive during some pretty extreme adversity. In this bonus episode, we’ll hear a little more on t...

Life is full of obstacles and adversity. These unwelcome events and circumstances can vary from being slightly annoying to absolutely devastating. Our guest, Lisa Jesswein has dealt with  A LOT of adversity, most of which would fall into the latter category. It started early for her: from serious medical issues as a child to a near death experience as a teenager, to a health scare that threatened...

When you get together with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, it’s fun to reminisce about the good old days! It can also be therapeutic talking about the not -so-good old days. It’s not so different when you write in a journal and then look back on it days, weeks, years and even decades later! In this bonus episode, we reflect on last week’s chat with Tareka Wheeler of Professional DNA, Change...

How cool would it be to meet your future self? For some of us, it sounds like a great idea, but for others, it feels intimidating because it means changing who we are. This week’s episode is going to challenge you to change how you see yourself, and our guest, Tareka Wheeler, Career and Mindset Strategist of Professional DNA shares a technique that will change the game in a simple, honest, and per...

Feeling like we’re not enough is all too common these days. In a culture that seems to encourage us to be crushing everything on our calendars all while creating Instagram-perfect moments, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. In this bonus follow-up episode for   Can You Really Let Go and Let God?  ,  author & speaker Erica Wiggenhorn talks about feelings of inadequacy, imposter syndr...

Growing up, having confidence in our abilities was the big goal that led to success. But what happens to those of us who struggle with low levels of self-confidence? We might have to try a different route…looking up! We can turn things around by looking to God—exchanging confidence with “Godfidence.” That’s a term that our enlightening guest, Author/Teacher/Speaker, Erica Wiggenhorn, shared with u...

Whether you’re re-visiting an old dream and looking for fresh tactics or have a brand-new vision brewing for your life, the next few minutes may give you just the spark you need. In this bonus episode, we reflect on our last episode with best-selling author Bianca Slone “Is It Finally Time to Make Your Dream a Reality?” . We take the tips and mindsets she used when she decided it was time to re-ne...

Is there a dream or goal you would  pursue if you knew you couldn’t fail? Many of us shove things off to the side because we don’t have the time, energy, or bandwidth to go after them.  However, as technology and working from home has changed the way we do things, and the pandemic has re-ordered priorities, it may be worth re-considering. Here’s a story of someone who did just that! We think you’l...

How do people hear from God? There are many opinions and stories. For most, it’s not through an audible voice, but it can be just as clear to the hearer.  In this bonus episode, we  reflect on two episodes we had recently on faith: When You’re Waiting on God with Lorie Barnwell and Releasing Shame and Perfectionism: Writer Candice Miller Shares her Faith Journey . In both episodes, the power of pr...

No one likes to wait. And the bigger the “something” we’re waiting for to happen, the harder it gets. Trusting God means trusting His timing which is often easier said than done. Every once in a while, a story comes along that helps us remember that miracles do happen, and that God’s timing IS always perfect. We hope you enjoy the story of our guest Lorie Barnwell. Her testimony is raw and emotion...