That's Just What I Needed Podcast

What happens when your world falls apart, and you’re forced to rebuild? Or do you simply end one season of life, and you must turn the page to a new season?   Endings can be hard. We know that. But beginnings can be challenging, too. Join me for an inspiring chat with Dawn Mann Sanders , author of When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life . Dawn shares her personal journey...

Loneliness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a real issue, as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That is quite the stat! In this episode, I sit down with author and speaker Cindy McMenamin to talk about her new book, The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated. Cindy dives into how modern technology and the aftermath of the pandemic have created a “new l...

What if chasing purpose is actually stealing your peace? Today,  I chat with Danita Cummins, author of Promise Over Purpose: Unveiling the Path to a Peace-Filled Life. Danita shares how the pressure to “find your purpose” can overshadow the serenity that comes from resting in God’s promises. With over 8,800 biblical promises to anchor us, we dive into how shifting from a purpose-driven mindset to...

Hey Friends - Happy New Year! As we enter 2025, I know that you, like me, want to start the year out on the right track. It’s been my experience that truly great, lasting, and impactful things begin with prayer. So on today’s episode, I share prayers that have been meaningful for me–they come straight out of scripture–and why they are important.  But on today’s episode, we don’t just talk about pr...

Hey Friend–Merry Christmas!   This short episode is perfect to listen to alone or with your family.   Join me on a heartwarming journey through the "Jesus Storybook Bible" in this uplifting podcast episode! Discover the transformative power of God's love and redemption as we explore the true meaning of Christmas.    Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or simply curious about deepening your faith...

Sometimes, life isn’t tied up in with a pretty bow. Twelve years ago, Kay and Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life; Saddleback Church) lost their youngest son to suicide. In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Kay Warren about navigating the profound grief of losing a child and what to do when our hearts and minds are filled with “Why?” or “What if?” Kay shares her journey after her son Matthew's...

Feeling overwhelmed by the holiday rush is an all-too-common experience, and Amanda K. Jass knows this feeling intimately. The holiday season brings loads of extra activities and commitments - but are we choosing the best ones? Inspired by her own journey through the chaos of Christmas, Amanda joins us to share her heartfelt creation, " Discovering Christmas ," a 25-day Advent devotional crafted f...

Discover how to find hope and strength in life's darkest moments with our guest, Dustin George. In this episode, Dustin, a lead pastor and author from East Tennessee, shares his personal journey of enduring 20 years of trials and how these experiences inspired his new book, " Before Dawn: Knowing God's Presence in the Dark Seasons of Life ." He enlightens us on ways to recognize God's presence eve...

Hey there, friend!   The holidays (and many “regular” days!!!)  can sometimes leave us feeling completely wiped out.   Some circumstances have a way of depleting us, don't they?   Inspired by a heart-to-heart I had with my daughter Ashton, I'm sharing a message I originally delivered to the women of my home church. We're diving into how God can help us in the midst of tough times and endless deman...

What if there was one habit that could shift your attitude, make you more content, improve your relationships, alter the atmosphere in your home, and increase your love for God? Would you want to know what it is?   Of course you would!    In this episode, we explore the transformative power of gratitude and its impact on health, relationships, and well-being. You likely already know gratitude is g...

Do you ever feel like you're going round and round with the same issues? Have you ever wondered, " Why am I not more_____ by now?” Have you ever wondered why you struggle to be a “better” Christian? In this episode, I sit down with the inspiring Megan Fate Marshman to discuss her new book, Relaxed: Walking with the God Who's Not Worried About a Thing . Together, we explore the comforting idea of a...

Join us for an insightful chat with Jim Burns, founder of Homeward and author of A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity: God's Plan for Sex and Your Body . Jim shares his wisdom on discussing sexual integrity from a Christian perspective, offering guidance for parents and grandparents to support young people in navigating sexuality with faith and moral clarity. We tackle the challenges of talking t...

It’s easy to allow Jesus’ love to flow through us when everything is going our way, right? But what about those times when people, circumstances, and just plain ‘ole life is tough? On today’s episode, I sit down with Marnie Swedberg, a dynamic mentor, speaker, author, and founder of the world's largest Christian Women’s Speaker resource. Marnie shares how we can be a “flow-through” vessel of Jesus...

  Emotional scars. We all have them.   Whether they’re wounds we can trace back to childhood or recent hurts we’ve just gotten past, we all need to know how to deal with our scars and, even better, how they can be redeemed for good.   Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Michelle Bengston, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and best-selling author. Together, we explore how her...

How do we truly see beyond the surface of our lives?   On this special episode for National Blindness Awareness Month, I’m joined by two amazing guests—legally blind author Judy Kirby and voiceover artist Annie Donnellan. Judy shares the profound spiritual lessons she’s learned from her vision loss, as detailed in her book Blurred Vision. Anne brings an extra layer of humor and insight from narrat...

Can love and faith really turn a life around after addiction? On this episode of That’s Just What I Needed,  I sit down with Taylor and Tessa Armstrong to hear their incredible story. Taylor, once a member of a popular hard rock band, opens up about his struggle with addiction and feelings of self-worth, even though he grew up in a loving Christian home. This conversation is real and raw as we dig...

    Can you spot manipulative behavior in your relationships? Or even in yourself?    No authentic believer wants to be manipulative or to be manipulated, yet it happens. All, The. Time.   It’s time to uncover the subtle and not-so-subtle ways manipulation can creep into our lives so we can course correct, guided by God’s Word.   In this episode, we explore how to identify and address our own susc...

Ever wonder how shame can silently shape our lives and how to break free from its grip?   Join me for a powerful conversation with award-winning author Joy Schneider as we unravel the origins of shame, from Lucifer's fall to Adam and Eve's experiences. Joy shares her journey and offers profound insights into the pervasive issue of shame, revealing its deep-rooted impact on human nature and on our...

  You’ve had one and so have I–a totally crazy week! Can you imagine finding peace amidst the stormiest weeks of your life?    How do we find peace in seasons like this? That’s the question on the table in this week’s episode.    Discover how to maintain serenity even when facing the chaos of a packed schedule and looming threats. We explore the profound message of John 15 from the Bible—where Jes...

Hey Friend!     Busy. Exhausting. Confusing. Complicated. These adjectives describe modern life, don’t they? And yet….most of us long for a little more simplicity and a little more balance.   In today’s episode, I chat with the fabulous  Brenda Yoder, a counselor, career woman, and mother, as she shares insights from her new book, Uncomplicated: Simple Secrets for a Compelling Life. Drawing from h...

Hey Friend!   Do you ever grapple with shame and guilt? The answer for most of us is “yes” at least on some level.    My guest today knows all about the bondage guilt and shame brings. But she also knows how we can be set free!    Join me as I sit down with Sarah Ferraro from MomCo, formerly Mops International, to hear about her courageous journey through an unplanned pregnancy at 18 and the subse...

Hey Friend!   What would you do if your partner revealed a heartbreaking secret that shattered your trust?    This episode features a compelling story of resilience and transformation as marriage mentors Jill and Mark Savage take us through their 41-year journey, marked by Mark's struggles with depression, anxiety, and a midlife crisis that led to an affair. Jill opens up about the divine guidance...

Hey Friend!   What if your relationships could improve by simply shifting your focus?    This week, I went deep into the podcast vault to re-air one of my favorite episodes.  Featuring insights from Bob Hughes, a seasoned marriage and family therapist, and Judy Hughes, a life coach, the episode explores how shifting from a need for specific outcomes to a focus on genuine love can transform relatio...

Hey Friend!   It’s back-to-school season, which means whether we have kids or not, our attention turns to children. Sadly, we look around our culture and see throngs of kids who aren’t flourishing, they’re floundering.  Anxiety. Depression. Loneliness. Aimlessness.    We don’t want the children we know to struggle like this.    So, what can we do?    How can we help the kids we know (our kids and...

Hey Friend!   If you’ve ever said, “I’m exhausted!” You’ll love this episode!    Rest isn't just about sleep, and Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-certified internal medicine physician, knows this first-hand. After battling burnout, she discovered that true restoration involves seven distinct types of rest ( who knew? ). This is why we can get a good night’s sleep and still feel tired!   Join me...