Ministry Chick Network Podcast

There's a specific kind of weight that women in ministry often carry, without a name. It's not burnout, exactly. It's not insecurity, exactly. It's the quiet, persistent feeling that you have to earn the right to lead — that you're somehow too much, or not enough, or both at the same time. Amy Cedrone has a name for it: shame. And she's spent years studying how it shapes the way women lead, and wh...

June is almost over. Summer is here. And for the woman in ministry, summer is the one season where the pace actually slows down enough to do something different — if she decides to use it that way. This episode is about making that decision before July starts and the moment passes. Melissa Mashburn and Dr. Brandy Baxter close out June with one honest question: now that you've heard all of this — w...

You've been in ministry long enough to know that the calling doesn't get easier — it just gets deeper. And somewhere between the hard seasons, the budget meetings, and carrying other people's weight while managing your own, you've wondered if you have what it takes to stay in it for the long run. Lori Stansbury has been asking that question for 40 years — and she's still standing. In this conversa...

You already know something is off. The tank isn't empty yet, but you can feel it getting there. And instead of stopping, you've been telling yourself you just need to push through to the next break, the next season, the next time things slow down. Melissa and Brandy want to say something to you about that. In this conversation, Melissa Mashburn and Dr. Brandy Baxter name the thing a lot of women i...

A lot of women in ministry are leading well on the outside and quietly unraveling on the inside. In this conversation, Melissa sits down with Erica St. Bernard — ordained minister, licensed therapist, and founder of Your Life's Well — to talk about protecting your emotional health, your marriage, and the friendships that keep you standing while serving in ministry. This one is going to hit close t...

You've been in ministry long enough to know you're called. What you're less sure about is whether you're equipped — and whether more training is even for someone like you. Maybe you've told yourself seminary is for pastors, or for people with a clear credential track, or for a season of life you can't access right now. Lauren Lowery thought some version of that, too. Then she went to Manila first,...

You have been showing up. In rooms that don't always see you. In roles that don't always have a title. In seasons that didn't always make sense. And somewhere in all of that showing up, you have built something — even if you haven't stopped long enough to recognize it yet. This episode is an invitation to stop and see it. Melissa Mashburn and Dr. Brandy Baxter are pulling back the curtain on what'...

Rejection doesn’t disqualify your calling — it often redirects it. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Jessie L. Young about how God used seasons of rejection, disappointment, and unmet expectations to lead her into a deeper relationship with Him and a clearer sense of calling. From letting go of personal plans to walking closely with Jesus, Jessie sh...

What if spiritual growth isn’t just theological — it’s neurological? In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Harvard-trained neuroscience expert and Whoology founder Jessie Cruickshank to explore how brain science, identity formation, and discipleship intersect. They discuss how God designed us for transformation, why repentance and forgiveness are es...

How do you balance ministry, career, marriage, children, and your relationship with God — without burning out? In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Lysandra Osterkamp — pastor’s wife, entrepreneur, mother of four, and author of  Balancing the Crazy  — about time management, spiritual clarity, and choosing what truly matters. If you feel stretched thin...

Leadership pressure can quietly pull women away from clarity, peace, and spiritual alignment — especially when expectations are high, and responsibilities keep growing. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with transformational leader, author, and educator LaNell Polk to discuss what it truly means to live fully surrendered to Christ while leading with...

Communication isn’t just what you say — it’s how you show up. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with embodiment coach, movement analyst, actress, and author Kristi Bramlett to explore how physical presence, spiritual alignment, and authentic communication shape leadership impact. Kristi shares why connection begins internally, how movement patterns a...

Navigating leadership in today’s workplace can feel complicated — especially for Christian women who want to grow professionally while staying true to their faith. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with ordained minister and longtime public school leader Katrina Collins. Drawing from nearly three decades of leadership experience — along with her ongo...

Many women in ministry and leadership long for real community—not surface-level connection, but relationships that help them grow spiritually, emotionally, and personally. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Erin Pickering, Director of Growth & Communications for Ministry Chick and Director of Conference Operations for BuildGroups. With deep e...

Leadership in ministry often comes with passion and calling — but not always clarity, systems, or support. In this episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Dr. Brandy Baxter — strategic leadership consultant, financial coach, and Director of Leadership & Coaching for Ministry Chick — to talk about what sustainable leadership actually requires. Brandy share...

What if walking with God felt less like striving and more like wonder? In this episode of  The Ministry Chick Network Podcast,  Melissa Mashburn sits down with Jen Weaver — Bible teacher, nonprofit leader, author, and host of the  Good God Talks  podcast. Jen shares her journey of rediscovering wonder in everyday life with God, what it means to lay down a membership community to follow His leading...

What does it look like to lead a multiplying, multi-ethnic, missional church for more than three decades? In this episode of  The Ministry Chick Network Podcast,  Melissa Mashburn talks with Dr. Deb Walkemeyer — Co-Pastor of Light & Life Christian Fellowship in Long Beach, CA, Strategic Catalyst for Multiplication, author, therapist, community leader, and global pastor. Deb shares her journey...

If you’ve ever wrestled with  self-doubt, burnout, or uncertainty in your calling , you’re not alone. In this empowering episode,  Lisa J. Allen , author of  Your Confidence Compass , joins  Melissa Mashburn  to unpack how women of faith can move from  self-doubt to self-leadership  by understanding the intersection of  confidence, calling, and capacity . With over two decades of ministry leadersh...

Leadership doesn’t stop when life gets uncertain — but how we lead often has to shift. In this special episode of the Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Erin Pickering interviews Melissa Mashburn in a deeply honest conversation about leading through an unexpected season of health challenges, shifting capacity, and trusting God when plans change. This episode isn’t about a diagnosis — it’s about disci...

What does it look like to lead with the Spirit in every season of ministry? In this episode of  The Ministry Chick Network Podcast,  Melissa Mashburn sits down with Christy Gibas, Lead Pastor of The Table Church, who brings over two decades of ministry leadership experience and a passion for evangelism, formation, and multiplication. Christy shares her journey from senior sales manager to pastor,...

What does it look like to grow in confidence and purpose as a woman in ministry? In this episode of  The Ministry Chick Network Podcast,  Melissa Mashburn sits down with  Andrea Coli — Executive Director of Lead Bold and Teaching Pastor at CrossWinds Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Andrea shares her own leadership journey, how she has discerned God’s call in challenging spaces, and what has...

Leadership isn’t just an assignment — it’s a journey with Christ that looks different in every season. In this episode of  The Ministry Chick Network Podcast,  Melissa Mashburn talks with Dr. Tiffany Smith, a missiologist, strategist, and writer with a passion for multiplying disciples, developing leaders, and expanding the Kingdom. Tiffany shares what it means to lead from a place of intimacy wit...

How can churches care well for people without burning out their leaders? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn talks with Laura Howe, registered social worker, founder of Hope Made Strong, and host of the Church Mental Health Summit. With more than 15 years of experience in mental health, addictions, and community care, Laura shares practical and faith-based strat...

What does it mean to live fully called — confident in your gifts, yet dependent on God’s wisdom and guidance? In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Sue Ferguson, co-director and content creator for Exponential Women Next, a church planter, and a longtime encourager of women leaders. Sue shares her passion for helping women recognize that they are ca...

Cultivating Wholeness: Enneagram, Self-Compassion, and Spiritual Formation (with Bonni Mace) Healthy leadership starts with wholeness. But too often, women in ministry lead from exhaustion, insecurity, or fear. In this episode of The Ministry Chick Network Podcast, Melissa Mashburn sits down with Bonni Mace — certified Enneagram coach, spiritual companion, writer, and retreat leader. Bonni shares...