Real Honest with Samantha LaBat

Leadership wasn't part of the original plan, but sometimes the roles that shape us most are the ones we never saw coming. In this episode, my friend Shawn shares his accidental leadership story and the lessons he's learned along the way. We talk about navigating imposter syndrome, the difference between leading from scars instead of wounds, and what to do when the responsibility you're...

Just be cause we feel like we know someone, doesn't mean they feel like we do. How do we get the context out of our heads and into the conversation? Today I'm unpacking various things that impact our interpretation of what it means to know someone, including generation gaps as explained by Daniel Moral on Silicon Canals. 00:00 Intro 01:28 Goals Check-In 07:36 What I’m Learning from God rn...

It’s been brought to my attention that when I say “I hate small talk, I want to be deep,” some people have interpreted that as “I want to be dark and sad all the time,” which is not at all the case. So I brought on Cody Beck, one of my best friends, to demonstrate what I find to be a deep and interesting discussion. We revisit last week’s topic, indifference, along with the first chapter of How to...

I used to think indifference was a bad thing, but I’m starting to feel like it’s good, maybe even necessary, because it allows space for us to evaluate things, look at the big picture, see clearly, and decide what action to take to create meaningful change. Let's talk about it. 00:00 Intro 01:30 Goals Check-In 09:00 Topic: Indifference 32:06 Hard Conversation of the Week 43:09 What I’m Watchin...

When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak. - Audre Lorde 00:00 Intro 01:33 Goals Check-In 05:56 What I’m learning from God rn 08:24 Topic: Speak Up 17:42 Hard Conversation of the Week 28:33 What I’m Watching Right Now Thanks for listening! Leave me a review if you want—new episodes on Wednesdays at 6...

Currently obsessed with Netflix’s new reality series, Age of Attraction, and how it highlights that age gaps don’t break relationships - bad communication does. I am notorious for wanting everyone to read my mind (which, yes, I know is impossible, I never said I was sane) and I will probably be in therapy forever just because I’ll never understand how other people’s brains work, but I’m still tryi...

We’ve all heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy” and social media has made this more relevant than other. Spending so much time watching other people’s highlight reels is a great way to feel inadequate.  I believe we all have a purpose in life, and God made us unique individuals for specific reasons. I wasn’t born to be a mathematician, a teacher, or a scientist. I was born to make art....

I don’t know about you, but I grew up pretty pain-adverse. My parents were a bit over-protective and did a little too much for my sisters and I in the name of wanting it to be done correctly, keep everything wrapped in a little bow, and avoid most (or all) of life’s struggles.  Except… that seemed to cause the exact opposite to happen.  We ended up seemingly picture perfect on the outside, but scr...

Reflecting on the need to slow down and rest, and how sometimes getting sick is our body (and God’s) way of forcing us to do that. 00:00 Intro 01:35 What I’m learning from God rn 07:21 Goals Check-In 14:20 Topic: Sick of running 20:29 Hard Conversation of the Week 25:47 What I’m Watching Right Now Thanks for listening! Leave me a review if you want—new episodes on Wednesdays at 6 am CT. Questions,...

Are you too much, or are the people who think so just not your people? 00:00 Intro 01:12 Goals Check-In 09:22 What I’m learning from God rn 14:35 Too Much? 21:58 Hard Conversation of the Week 35:24 What I’m Watching Right Now Thanks for listening! Leave me a review if you want—new episodes on Wednesdays at 6 am CT. Questions, comments, concerns, want to chat? Email realhonestpod@gmail.com.

Let this be your sign to book that solo trip. 00:00 Intro  01:06 Goals Check-in 06:50 What I’m learning from God right now 11:58 Book the Solo Trip! 31:14 Hard conversation of the week 37:01 What I’m watching right now For more info on solo traveling, following @thejenndanielle on IG & YT and reach out to her to book your solo cruise!! Thanks for listening! Leave me a review if you want—new ep...

This week on Real Honest, we explore truth & kindness. If truth without kindness is brutality, and kindness without truth is manipulation, what about being brutally honest for one's own good? If we continue to avoid truth in order to avoid pain, are we actually accomplishing that goal, or delaying the inevitable and making things worse? 00:00 Intro  01:06 Goals check-in 04:44 What I’m lear...

Why can’t we all just mind our own damn business? Too many people are out here screaming into the void trying to change the minds and actions of people they don’t know and will never meet. We’ve been placed in certain people’s lives, and vice versa — let’s focus on the people we do know. 00:00 Intro  00:48 Goals check-in 03:03 What I’m learning from God right now 12:56 Why is it so hard for everyo...

Last week, we discussed what it means to treat your energy like it's expensive. But are we closing ourselves off to true connection when deciding who can afford it? This week, we're diving a little deeper into questions like "What if we're never on the same page?" and "What if the person I choose to give my energy to doesn't choose me back?" 00:00 Intro  04:20 Goals...

As Taylor said on New Heights, you should treat your energy like it's expensive, and not everyone can afford it. Let's talk about how we can do this, and also what other costs are involved besides energy. 00:00 Intro  05:07 Goals check-in 06:54 What I’m learning from God right now 10:23 Treat your energy like it’s expensive 21:06 What’s the cost? 24:52 Hard conversation of the week 31:47 W...

Is it better to have loved and lost, or to have never loved at all? If time lets the fire die, how do we stay motivated? This week on Real Honest I explore these questions, how they apply to relationships, and process through whether having good friendships in the past is helping or hurting my friendships in the present. 00:00 Intro  03:50 Goals check-in 08:20 What I’m learning from God right now...

Let's explore the subtle ways our lives are shaped without us even realizing it. Inspired by John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way , I examine the unconscious spiritual, personal, and psychological formation happening through our habits, relationships, and life stories. 00:00 Intro  00:41 Goals check-in 04:59 What I’m learning from God right now 09:22 Who are you becoming? 23:46 Hard conversati...

Inspired by a lyric from Taylor Swift’s Stay Stay Stay , let's explore what it takes for someone to really “memorize” you. The small, consistent acts that make someone feel seen, understood, and loved. Whether in relationships or faith, learning to notice, remember, and cherish the details can transform how we connect with others. 00:00 Intro  02:14 Relational intimacy 09:02 What makes you fee...

Have you ever felt like there’s something you were meant to do? A purpose, a calling, a mission—something impossible but deeply meaningful that you’re striving for? What if the impossibility is the point? What if we’re meant to need something bigger than ourselves to dream the impossible, to need God, and to keep becoming even when we don't arrive? 00:00 Intro  02:09 Goals check-in/life update...

Healing sounds good. Positive. Rewarding. Exciting, even…until it costs you your comfort. This week, I’m wrestling with a question Lisa Harper recently asked: Do you want to be healed or do you want to be comfortable? Let’s talk about why we resist healing, how comfort keeps us stuck, and what it really takes to let God do the deep work. 00:00 Intro  02:00 Goals check-in 13:30 What I’m learning fr...

Breaking down another song I wrote in high school... 00:00 Intro  03:30 Crying All Alone 06:37 Lyric Breakdown Thanks for listening! Leave me a review if you want—new episodes on Wednesdays at 6 am CT. Questions, comments, concerns, want to chat? Email realhonestpod@gmail.com.

It’s so easy to fixate on what’s missing—but what if what you already have is beautiful, meaningful, and enough? In this episode of Real Honest , I’m reflecting on the power of presence and the gift of gratitude when we stop obsessing over what’s next. 00:00 Intro  02:50 Goals check-in 04:10 What I’m learning from God 06:38 Topic: What if you already have something beautiful? 19:15 Hard convo of t...

We all have something—or someone—we think we need in order to be okay. But what if happiness isn’t waiting on life to go your way? In this episode of Real Honest , I’m reflecting on why true peace doesn’t come from getting what you want, but from learning how to let go. 00:00 Intro  01:23 Goals check-in 07:42 What I’m learning from God 12:19 Topic: Happiness isn’t circumstantial 24:16 Hard convo o...

We all have that thing we’re hoping, dreaming, or praying for—but if it showed up tomorrow, would we be ready? In this episode of Real Honest , I’m reflecting on the gap between desire and preparation—and why growth in the in-between matters more than we think. 00:00 Intro  00:44 Goals check-in 06:59 What I’m learning from God 17:44 Topic: Are you ready for the thing you want (or think you want)? ...

This week on Real Honest , I’m reflecting on a quote from Lisa Harper about why real conversations need real relationship. If you’ve ever tried to go deep with someone who just wasn’t ready—or realized you were showing up with oath-level energy for someone keeping you like a secret—this one’s for you. 00:00 Intro  05:37 Goals check-in 07:20 What I’m learning from God rn 17:11 Topic: Relationship B...