Pivotal People

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with Melanie Cox, author of the book "You Have to Know," and talk about the hidden battles so many women carry, from shame and regret to the fear that God’s love depends on performance. Melanie shares hard stories and bold truth about redemption, identity, church pain, and what changes when we start liv...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with Chick-fil-A Operator and franchisee, Wesley Key about losing his faith in seminary, building it back through one simple lunch, and learning the hard way that success cannot silence the voice that says we are not enough. We trace how awards, grief, COVID-era pressure, anxiety, and surrender reshape his leadership...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with novelist Johanna Vann to talk about writing "Where Wilted Flowers Bloom" and why a fictional story can tell the truth about grief more powerfully than a stack of nonfiction. We also share the behind-the-scenes reality of publishing, motherhood, and faith that doesn’t rely on tidy answers when life...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Subscribe to the Pivotal People newsletter for new episodes, giveaways and more: https://stephanienelson.com/newsletter/ We sit down with executive coach and entrepreneur Tony Caliendo to unpack his new book “Less Over More,” a simple framework for clearing out the wrong more so we can build a life that actually fits. We tal...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with author Melissa Miller about the strange loneliness of getting what we prayed for and still feeling overwhelmed, disoriented, or exhausted. We name change fatigue, explore why good transitions can hit the body like stress, and share practical rhythms that help us find solid ground again.  • Melissa’s story of rel...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Alcohol can be the most accepted coping tool in the room and the hardest one to question out loud. We sit down with Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober and a senior sobriety coach, to talk about what happens when drinking stops feeling “fun and normal” and starts feeling like a default setting you can’t turn off, even...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with Christian leader, speaker and author Kendall Mariah to talk about how doubt, discomfort, and “soul friction” can strengthen real faith instead of destroying it. We name the pain of performative Christian culture and come back to Jesus as the clearest measure of what belief should look like.  • Kendall’s back...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! If you have ever hit a big milestone and immediately felt the quiet panic of “now what,” this conversation will land hard. We sit down with Dr. Dave Jones, a former professional hockey player turned Air Force veteran, sport performance psychology expert, executive coach, and Christian marketing leader, to unpack why goals ca...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with Pam Baker, founder of "Widows Who Wine" and author of "Where's the Key to the Safe"  to talk about rebuilding life after loss through friendship, purpose, and practical preparation. We also get into the uncomfortable but essential money and paperwork realities that hit families durin...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Success can go to your head. Failure can go to your heart. And if you’re building something from scratch, it’s easy to let the business decide who you are. We sit down with Brett Smith, Executive Director of the Center for LIFE at Miami University (Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship), to dig into what foun...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! A 13-year-old says, “I want to go to Uganda,” and a whole future cracks open. That’s where our conversation with Dr. Janelle Aby goes, and it’s why it sticks. Janelle is a physician, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University, and the medical director of the newborn nursery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospita...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with Jessica Patay about the moment a diagnosis changes a family’s life and what “bravery” looks like when caregiving becomes a daily reality. We share how community support can protect caregiver mental health and why her book, "Suddenly Brave Together" aims to meet moms right at the defining moment. • foun...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with Bailey T. Hurley to get honest about why adult female friendships feel so complicated and how to build the kind of connection that actually lasts. We talk practical questions, realistic expectations, and faith-driven ways to stop chasing approval and start showing up with courage. • why time gets scarce in a...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with health coach Jen Trepeck to explain the gut microbiome in plain language and why it affects immunity, mood, hormones, skin, and cravings. We also share practical ways to rebuild gut balance with food, smarter supplement choices, and one small habit you can start right away. • what the gut microbiome is and w...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with DEI strategist and leadership coach Israel Greene about why most DEI efforts don’t stick and what it takes to build cultures of real connection. We explore how listening, emotional intelligence, and business-aligned leadership practices turn inclusion into something durable instead of divisive.  • Israel’s path...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with sports counselor Brooke Ewert about what athlete mental health really looks like behind the highlights and why support often starts with identity, grief, and better conversations at home. We share practical tools for anxiety, injury, perfectionism, and retirement transitions that apply to elite athletes and to t...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We explore how identity, language, and harm reduction shape recovery and what friends and families can do that actually helps. Caroline Beidler shares her story, practical tools, and evidence-based resources that save time and protect dignity. • early trauma and the search for peace • finding faith, fellowship, and recovery...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Regret feels like a weight, but we treat it as a signal that points to what we value most and what we still can change. We break down Daniel Pink’s research on regret, share a personal reconnection story, and offer a simple way to turn regret into one small next step. • reframing regret as a useful emotion and a values signa...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We talk with Elizabeth Cole of SoloParent.org about how community, safe groups, and faith help single parents move from isolation to strength. She shares practical ways advocates can help, why no-fix listening heals, and how consistent support shapes healthier homes for kids. • scale of single-parent homes and isolation • st...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! A raw, hope-filled conversation with author and ministry leader Willow Weston about childhood pain, a radical encounter with Jesus, and the honest work of forgiveness that turns wounded collisions into healing ones. We explore naming hurts, stopping reinjury cycles, and saying small yeses that God multiplies. • Collide’s mis...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We redefine wellness with Jen Trepeck, moving from diet rules and the noise of headlines to foundations that build strength, energy, and choice. We talk body composition, habits over willpower, how to eat for stable energy, and how to spot hype in nutrition news. • defining wellness as dignity of choice and energy • ignoring...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We sit down with educator and nonprofit leader Emilio Parga to explore how children, teens, and families can process grief with honesty, dignity, and ongoing support. Practical tools, better language, and small acts turn awkward moments into real care that lasts. • origin story of the Solace Tree and 9/11 catalyst • why kids...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! We unpack why so many teens feel like hope sits just out of reach and share a clear path to rebuild identity, belonging, and purpose. James McLamb explains a coaching model that equips everyday adults to guide young people toward meaning and measurable next steps. • three core struggles: identity, relationships, purpose • wh...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Listen to a fascinating conversation with neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren about how the art of "Self-Brain Surgery" can change your life for the better. Do you want to have more peace, contentment and happiness? How about less ruminating and worrying? If so, Dr. Warren's teachings can help you. We explore how the...

Let us know what you think about this episode and share it with a friend! Welcome to our second episode with Kristi Nelson, author of the wonderful book, "Wake Up Grateful." I read her book 4 years ago when she was on the podcast the first time and it has influenced my perspective and life outlook ever since. I asked her to come back on to share her wisdom with our larger audience today....