The Happiest Lives Podcast

This is the second episode in the series Happiness and Unhappiness: Finding Jesus in the 50-50 . Life will always hold both joy and sorrow—but happiness doesn’t happen by chance. It’s something we build through habits, perspective, and practices that make room for the Holy Spirit to flow through us. In this episode, Jill shares the three movements of a happy soul—delight in the Lord, contentment i...

This is the beginning of a new series— Happiness and Unhappiness- Finding Jesus in the 50/50. Life is both. We often think happiness means the absence of unhappiness, but what if they’re two separate tracks we walk at the same time? In this episode, we’ll talk about how joy and sorrow can coexist, why unhappiness isn’t a sign that something’s gone wrong, and how learning to hold both can lead to a...

This is the final episode in the series The Listening Life: How to Hear God’s Voice. Over the last few weeks we’ve learned to slow down, turn on the lights, and make space to hear from God. But how do we carry that into the messy middle of our real lives? In this episode, I’ll share how a couple learned to lay down heavy burdens in prayer, how waiting with longing can actually bind our hearts to G...

Have you ever sat down with God feeling heavy, distracted, or unsure where to start—and walked away renewed? In this episode, I share exactly what happened during a 45-minute meeting with the Holy Spirit. I came with aches, longings, and discouragement, but God met me with truth, shifted my perspective, and reminded me that what feels dormant is not dead. We’ll talk about why we resist honesty, ho...

Have you ever sat down for quiet time and walked away feeling like you just checked a box — but didn’t really connect with God? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Happiest Lives Podcast, I share a practical, 45-minute structure you can use to turn your quiet time into an intentional meeting with the Holy Spirit. This simple nine-step rhythm will help you worship, process your thoughts, engag...

Have you ever wondered if you’re really hearing God’s voice—or just your own thoughts? In this first episode of The Listening Life series, Jill Lillard unpacks what it means to live attuned to God’s presence and guided by His Spirit. Through the “one thing” thread woven across Scripture—David’s desire for God’s presence, Mary’s attentiveness, the rich young ruler’s call to surrender, and Paul’s fo...

This is the final episode in the series Truth in Love: The Courage to Correct and Be Corrected. Over the past five weeks, we’ve looked at what it means to offer correction in a way that reflects the heart of God—truthful, loving, and wise. But today we’re flipping the perspective. What does it look like to receive correction without spiraling into shame, defensiveness, or fear? In this episode, Ji...

This is part four in the series Truth in Love: The Courage to Correct and Be Corrected. Correction isn’t easy—and when we step into it, it’s tempting to slip into the role of “fixer,” as if it’s our job to make someone else change. But scripture reminds us that’s not our role. We are called to speak the truth in love, with gentleness and humility, while entrusting the outcome to God. In this episo...

This is the third episode in the series Truth in Love: The Courage to Correct and Be Corrected. In this conversation, Jill explores one of the most important skills for healthy, godly relationships: discernment. How do you know when to speak up and when to let love quietly cover an offense? Both can be acts of love. Both can protect trust. Both can honor God. But knowing which response to choose i...

This is Part Two of the series Truth in Love: The Courage to Correct and Be Corrected. When you see something that feels wrong, do you speak up—or stay silent? In this episode, we ask: Who am I to say something? We’ll explore why correction matters, what it can look like in everyday life, and the real reasons we often hold back—fear of man, not wanting to seem judgmental, cultural individualism, m...

We’re kicking off a new series called Truth in Love: The Courage to Correct and Be Corrected . In this episode, we take a fresh look at what correction really is—not punishment, but an invitation. Not shame, but love. You’ll learn how God uses correction to shape us, not reject us—and why we so often resist it. I’ll share a personal story about how one letter from my mom became a turning point in...

If you’ve been feeling anxious, burnt out, emotionally flat, or just off—this episode is for you. In the final installment of our Hormones, Happiness & the Holy Spirit series , I’m joined by certified Christian health practitioner Cristal DuBois to explore the fascinating connection between your nervous system, adrenal health, and spiritual well-being. Cristal brings wisdom and compassion as s...

This is the eighth episode in our Hormones, Happiness & the Holy Spirit series, where we’re exploring what it really means to live with joy—emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Today we’re talking about desire and drive. God created you with longings—for meaning, connection, and purpose—and the energy to move toward them. But what happens when that drive gets misdirected? When passion tur...

This is the seventh in the series on Hormones, Happiness, and the Holy Spirit. If you’ve been feeling more anxious, irritable, or just not like yourself, it could be connected to perimenopause or menopause. In this episode, Jill talks with Dawn Valentino, a registered nurse and holistic health practitioner, about what’s really going on in your body, how hormone changes impact your mood, and what y...

Part 6 of the Hormones, Happiness & the Holy Spirit Series “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” — John 7:38 In this episode, we’re talking about the Holy Spirit, not as a vague presence or a future reward, but as a real, active, present force living in you right now. If you’ve been feeling dry, stuck, or like you’re chasing breakth...

This is Episode 5 in the series Hormones, Happiness & The Holy Spirit. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—journaling, praying, renewing your mind—and still feel stuck, discouraged, or just plain off, this episode is for you. Today I’m joined by my favorite guest (and husband), Dr. Richard Lillard—a clinical psychologist with decades of experience in both therapy and int...

In this fourth episode of our Hormones, Happiness & the Holy Spirit series , we’re talking about the thoughts behind your feelings—because the stories you tell yourself are shaping how you feel, how you act, and how close you feel to God. If your brain is the hardware, your thoughts are the software—and outdated programming rooted in fear, shame, or scarcity can keep you stuck. Today, I’ll wal...

In today’s episode of The Happiest Lives Podcast , we’re continuing our Hormones, Happiness, and the Holy Spirit series with a deep dive into brain health . Jill shares insights from her recent certification as a Brain Health Practitioner with the Amen Clinics and introduces six key brain systems that influence how you think, feel, focus, and function. You’ll learn: Why your brain is like the hard...

What if your mood struggles weren’t just in your head—but in your gut , your diet , and even your sun exposure ? In today’s episode of The Happiest Lives Podcast , I’m joined by Christian nutritionist Chelsea Blackbird as we continue our Hormones, Happiness, and the Holy Spirit series. We’re diving into the body-lifestyle-mood connection —how things like amino acids, protein, and sunlight directly...

What really makes us happy—and what gets in the way? In this kickoff to a new series, Jill Lillard explores happiness from a whole-person, Spirit-led perspective. Drawing on her experience as a therapist, coach, and ministry leader, she unpacks how our thoughts, hormones, and spiritual life all interact to shape our emotional well-being. You’ll learn: Why happiness isn’t about ease or getting what...

Part four of our Loosening Your Grip Series. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Heather Gilion as she shares her family’s journey through her son’s cancer diagnosis and the decision to amputate his leg. This isn’t a teaching. It’s not a step-by-step. It’s a real-life story of loss, faith, and the kind of surrender you don’t plan for—but choose because it’s the only good option. If you’re h...

Part 3 of The Loosening Your Grip Series.  If they would just change, everything would be better… right? In this episode, we’re talking about what really happens when we try to manage the people we love—and how to let go without giving up. You’ll learn how to stop living in someone else’s model, how to set boundaries without detaching, and why true peace doesn’t come from controlling others; it co...

This is part 2 of the Loosening Your Grip Series . You had a vision for how life would go- the timeline, the outcomes, the relationships. But what happens when reality looks nothing like the dream? In this episode, we’re talking about that gap. About what it means to release the picture you were holding and trust that God is still writing a good story. We’ll unpack Jacob’s striving, our tendency t...

This begins the new series: Loosening Your Grip. What if the very thing you’re trying to control is what’s actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, I’m sharing a really personal story. Years of chronic pain, self-reliance, and striving brought me face-to-face with a hard truth: I’m not in charge. And that’s a good thing. We’ll talk about why control feels so tempting, what happens when we hit...

Worry might feel responsible. It might feel productive. But it’s not. It’s just a mental habit—one you’ve rehearsed for years. And today, we’re turning it around. In this final episode of the Habit Turnaround series, we’re breaking down why worry shows up, how it hooks you, and what to do instead. I’ll teach you a simple, powerful tool—The Four P’s: Panic, Pause, Pray, Praise—to interrupt the spir...