Kickstart With Kayla

Sometimes the most meaningful impact doesn’t come from having the right words — it comes from simply showing up. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Virgo to talk about mentorship, presence, and the quiet power of being someone who listens. We share stories from youth ministry, moments of being seen at the right time, and the people who shaped our faith not through authority, but through em...

As a new year begins, many of us feel pressure to set big goals, make resolutions, and completely reinvent ourselves — often without slowing down to ask what we actually need. In this episode, my dad and I talk about a healthier way to approach growth. We discuss the idea of choosing a single word to guide your year, the importance of margin, and how self-awareness can help you grow without burnin...

This episode is a heartfelt and honest conversation about faith, time, and the quiet urgency of the life we’ve been given. I talk about what it means to live with intention, to stop putting off your relationship with God, and to recognize that tomorrow isn’t something we’re promised. Through personal reflection, Scripture, and moments of vulnerability, I share why faith isn’t meant to be something...

Why do other people’s opinions affect us so deeply — even when we know they shouldn’t? In this episode, we talk about fear of judgment, people-pleasing, and the quiet pressure to conform — especially in seasons of change, growth, and calling. I share personal experiences with seeking approval, navigating new environments, and wrestling with the fear of what others might think. We unpack how fear w...

This week, I’m joined by a very special guest — my dad, Bill Fahrner. In this episode, we sit down for an honest conversation about faith, work, purpose, and what it looks like to follow God over the long haul — not just in emotional highs, but in everyday life. My dad shares his testimony, how his faith evolved from something transactional into a real relationship with God, and the moments that s...

Before you set a goal, listen to this. As we step into a new year and start thinking about who we want to become, it’s easy to get caught up in planning, dreaming, and creating big visions for our lives. But before we write the list, make the vision board, or announce our intentions to the world, we have to pause and look inward. In this episode, we talk about the heart behind goal-setting — the d...

This week’s episode is a conversation about faith, fear, miracles, and the way God redirects our lives when we least expect it. My aunt, Angela Halloran-Smith, shares her testimony — from drifting far from God, to ignoring His whispers, to the moment everything changed. This is an episode about trusting God without having the answers, stepping into the unknown, and saying yes when He calls you int...

In this week’s episode, I open up about distractions, stress, and what it feels like to drift from God without even realizing it. After a long, overwhelming week of exams and responsibilities, I found myself struggling to focus, praying for direction, and feeling mentally and spiritually drained. So instead of forcing a topic, I talk honestly about the reality of distraction — how it creeps in, wh...

In this episode, I talk about what it really means to choose compassion over comfort. I reference a viral TikTok experiment where a woman pretended to need baby formula to see if religious organizations would step in to help. The responses revealed something important: it’s easy to say we love like Jesus, but much harder to choose compassion when it costs us something. We dig into why comfort ofte...

What happens when believers stay quiet about their faith? In this episode, Kevin joins me to talk about what it means to live boldly for God in a world that often encourages silence. We open up about the fears, doubts, and distractions that can keep Christians from sharing their faith—and how choosing faith over fear leads to peace, not pressure. Kevin shares his story of rededicating his life to...

Motivation is temporary, but transformation begins when both the mind and spirit are renewed. In this episode, I examine motivation through both a biblical and psychological lens, exploring how faith and science work together to sustain lasting discipline. Drawing from Romans 12 and Matthew 4, I discuss how God calls us to renewal through His Word and how spiritual consistency can reshape our dail...

This week, I’m talking about something real: what happens when the place that’s supposed to feel safe doesn’t. In this episode, I open up about the reality of being hurt or misunderstood within the church and how easy it can be to confuse people’s actions with God’s heart. I share what I’ve learned about grace, hypocrisy, and forgiveness, and how to keep your faith steady when people in the church...

When was the last time you slowed down enough to truly listen to God? In this solo episode, I talk about a season of stress, waiting, and learning the value of stillness. From the pressure of business school applications to moments of burnout, I share how sitting in silence and stepping away from distractions became one of the most transformative parts of my faith. This episode explores what happe...

Ever felt like you don’t fit in? Like no matter how hard you try, you’re still on the outside looking in? This week, I sit down with 13-year-old author London Day, who shares her story of turning exclusion into purpose through faith. We talk about what it really means to find your identity in Christ, why including others matters so much, and how perseverance, worship, and creativity can pull you t...

When was the last time you stopped and realized that God is still working—right in front of you? This week, I’m joined by my friend Alyse for a conversation about faith, friendship, and the miracles we often overlook. Alyse shares how she’s seen God move in her life through healing, prayer, and everyday moments that most of us would miss. From being cleared to drive after epilepsy to witnessing he...

What do you do when life takes you to the lowest point you’ve ever been? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Julieanne Huemmer, who I first connected with through church, to talk about finding God’s strength when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Julieanne shares her testimony of walking through some of the hardest seasons of her life and how God met her in the middle of them. From...

This week, I’m joined by my friend Josh for a conversation about limits, control, and the freedom that comes when we finally admit—we’re not God. Josh opens up about his faith journey and how God’s grace shifted his perspective on life, and together we dig into what it looks like to trust God in seasons of uncertainty, self-doubt, and transition. We talk about the pressure to have it all figured o...

This week’s episode is extra special because I’m joined by my best friend, Leah Godwin. We’ve been through so many seasons of life together—from co-hosting a podcast in high school to walking side-by-side in our faith journeys—and this conversation felt like coming full circle. Leah opens up about her testimony, sharing honestly about anxiety, people-pleasing, and learning to trust God’s plan even...

Discipline is one of the hardest things to hold onto in a world filled with constant noise and distraction. We know what our values are, yet so often the pull of peer pressure, quick gratification, or fear keeps us from living them out. In this episode, I reflect on what it truly means to practice discipline as a student, a Christian, and simply as someone navigating everyday life. I share my own...

Stress isn’t just about being busy or overwhelmed — it messes with your thoughts, your body, and even the way you see yourself. In this episode, I’m joined by my sister Lainey for a real conversation about what anxiety actually feels like and how it shows up in everyday life. From AP exams and panic before big moments to those random waves of fear that hit out of nowhere, we share our own experien...

Friendships can be the greatest blessing—or the quietest downfall. Some friends sharpen you, calling out your potential and pushing you closer to who you’re meant to be. Others slowly shatter your character through gossip, pressure, or drama you never saw coming. In this episode, I share stories from my own life, the prayers that changed my friendships, and the science behind why your circle liter...

What you take in shapes who you become, often without you noticing. In this episode, I am diving into the unseen power of what you watch, read, and listen to, from your morning playlist to the endless scroll on your phone. Discover how lyrics, media, and even background noise can rewire your brain, shift your mood, and subtly pull you closer to — or further from — the person you want to be. With p...

This one’s for the people who feel like they’re never enough — no matter how hard they try. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s like to live with that inner voice that criticizes everything from how you look to how you perform, and how it’s often louder than anything anyone else could say. I talk about where my insecurity started, why our brains are wired to be self-critical, and how faith help...

Sometimes the thing you prayed for falls apart, and it’s not because you failed. It’s because God had something better in mind. In this episode, I share a personal story I’ve never talked about online and what it taught me about rejection, redirection, and trust. We talk about Romans 8:28, how to build a growth mindset, and the neuroscience behind why your brain actually gets stronger through hard...

I didn’t feel qualified. I didn’t feel ready. But God called me anyway—and this podcast was born out of a yes that scared me more than anything else. In this first episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of how Kickstart with Kayla came to be—from a forgotten journal entry to the prayer that wouldn’t leave me alone. We’ll talk about what it means to take a leap of faith, how God equips the call...