The Life You're Made For with Dr. Heather Penny

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny shares why sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause with intention. Together, we explore the difference between reacting and responding, the practice of emotional intelligence, and how creating “Grace Space” helps us lead ourselves and others with greater peace, curiosity, and connection. This conversation is an invitation...

Every life includes moments that feel like a turning point—unexpected challenges, difficult decisions, or plot twists you didn’t see coming. At these crossroads, the noise gets louder. Opinions, fears, pressure, and uncertainty can pull you in a hundred directions. But what if the strategy you’re looking for isn’t outside of you… it’s already within you? In this episode join Dr. Heather Penny and...

There are seasons when everything shifts at once. Roles can change, priorities might evolve, and life speeds up. In the middle of it all, a quiet question surfaces: What do I actually want now? In this conversation, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with her husband, Darren, to explore how to stay grounded in an ever-changing world. Together, they talk about the importance of anchoring yourself in what...

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Heather Penny invites you to slow down and take an honest look at the thoughts you’ve been rehearsing. Every repeated thought becomes a root, and those roots are ultimately directing your growth. But this conversation goes deeper than just mindset. It’s about coming home to yourself. Heather shares a transformative perspective: you belong to you. And from that pl...

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Heather Johnson from Bridgeway Church in Roseville, CA to explore what it really means to experience transformational growth. From navigating seasons of caregiving to stepping into leadership as the first woman to preach at her church, Heather shares how growth is rarely comfortable but always meaningful. Together, they...

In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Jennifer Draughon, President of Neptune Aviation Services, for an honest conversation about leadership, growth, and the discomfort that often comes with becoming better. Jennifer shares how her leadership is grounded in truth, trust, and transparency as well as why creating Grace Space is essential for building teams tha...

On this episode of The Life You’re Made For, Dr. Heather Penny talks with Dr. Nathan Herzog, Dean at Biola University in Southern California, about the discomfort of growth and what it really takes to lead well. Why does everyone want breakthrough but resist the process? Nate shares why clarity, confidence, and courage are essential for stepping into uncomfortable seasons, and how leaders grow by...

On this episode of The Life You’re Made For, host Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Tiffany Loeffler, Executive Director of the nonprofit The Alliance, serving at-risk and foster children, to discuss sustainable leadership and how meeting real human needs shapes the way we lead. Together, they unpack what it looks like to create healthy rhythms, protect your personal life from work overflow, and bu...

What can white-water rafting in the Grand Canyon teach us about leadership and life? In this episode of The Life You’re Made For, host Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Michelle Riddell to explore how leadership begins within and is shaped through clarity, courage, and connection. Drawing from a rafting trip that became a lived leadership lesson, Heather and Michelle talk about caring for yourself,...

Leadership doesn’t start with strategy or skills, it starts within. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Nick Breitbart to explore why inner work is essential for healthy & influential leadership. Together they unpack the idea of Grace Space as a practice of compassion, curiosity, and candid feedback that creates room for growth. From self-awareness and blind spots to character al...

Sit down with Dr. Heather Penny as she has a chat with an old friend, Jason Squires. Jason brings a blend of entrepreneurial clarity and creative courage, helping people see creativity not just in art or writing, but in leadership, systems, problem-solving, and yes, even spreadsheets. In this conversation, Jason shares what it looks like to recognize burnout, reclaim his creative voice, and allow...

Join Dr. Heather Penny as she sits down with Kacee Squires for a conversation about changing holiday traditions and the freedom that comes from reassessing what truly matters. Together they talk about outgrowing old rhythms, asking better questions, and giving yourself permission to pivot instead of pushing through. At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful truth: you don’t have to end...

Some episodes feel less like a recording and more like real life. This is one of them. Dr. Heather Penny (known better as mom) sits down with her son Luke, the Luke from the book dedication for Grace Space. This is an honest, tender, sometimes funny conversation about what “Grace Space” has looked like between them over the years. Together they talk about practicing grace, missing it, rebuilding i...

A new kind of leadership is emerging and this generation is reshaping it with empathy, cooperation, and authenticity. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny sits down with Dr. Lisa Smith, professor at Pepperdine and author of Hammer & Fire, to explore how young leaders are redefining what it means to lead well. Lisa shares why today’s young adults see leadership as a shared enterprise, how they va...

Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Brian Taylor. In this episode, we explore what authentic leadership really looks like. Leadership isn’t just strategy; it’s relationships, trust, and the courage to stay curious. We talk about building circles of people who can see you, challenge you, and cheer you on. Because no leader can do it alone. You’ll hear practical tools like learning to pause b...

It’s easy to look like a great leader on the outside while quietly falling apart within. In this episode, executive coach Brian Taylor shares his journey from high performance to personal breakdown as well as how rediscovering his faith, family, and inner peace transformed the way he leads. Heather and Brian unpack what happens when achievement outpaces what you want to be doing, why slowing down...

We all hold clarity, confidence, and courage within us—they’re not earned, they’re uncovered. In this episode, Dr. Heather Penny talks with Kimberly Miller , co-author of Boundaries for Your Soul , about how true leadership starts from the inside out. Together they explore how self-awareness, compassion, and a healthy inner dialogue can transform the way we lead. Learn how to quiet your inner crit...

Join Dr. Heather Penny and Neptune’s President, Jennifer Draughon, as they unpack what it means to lead from the inside out. They dive into overcoming false beliefs, building trust, and finding the courage for tough conversations. If you’ve faced self-doubt, conflict, or burnout in leadership, this episode will equip you with practical insights to lead with authenticity, responsibility, and resili...

Join Heather Penny and her husband, Darren, as they explore what it means to lead with your whole self. From mentors who shaped their paths to the daily choices that keep us aligned, they share how authenticity, integrity, and wholeness transform leadership. Walk away encouraged to slow down, listen to your life, and give yourself permission to lead with courage and peace. Step into The Life You&a...

As the series on relationships and this season of The Life Your Made For wraps up, join Audrey Kostka and Dr. Heather Penny as they talk about how life long relationships lead to amazing things!  In The Life You’re Made For, Heather talk about the “tire swing”—those moments that remind us of simple joy.  Sometimes people forget what brings them life. They get so caught up in doing that they forget...

If you’ve ever felt your friendships shift as life changes—like when your kids leave the nest, your schedule empties (or overflows), or you crave connection beyond surface-level chats—this episode will speak to you deeply. For this podcast conversation, we turn the tables with Kelley Gray interviewing Heather. It is a warm, honest conversation about adult friendships: the longing for deeper bonds,...

In part 2 of It’s All About Relationships , Heather and Darren explore what makes a relationship truly sacred—not because it’s perfect or forever, but because it meets us at just the right moment in our lives. When a connection endures through changing seasons, it becomes something rare and deeply meaningful. We ask a question that keeps guiding us back to the heart of connection: Does the person...

In this first episode of It’s All About Relationships , we explore the powerful role relationships play in our lives—from work and friendships to family and romantic partnerships. Learn how to build trust, communicate clearly, and navigate challenges with intention and grace. Whether you’re seeking more authentic connections or looking to strengthen existing bonds, this episode offers practical to...

Who do you turn to when you're walking through pivotal life moments? In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Sharol Josephson, a relationship coach, mentor, and trusted guide known for her deep wisdom and heart-centered approach. Sharol has spent years walking with people through pivotal life moments—from career crossroads to relationship struggles—and brings a wealth of insight into wh...

Who is one of your favorite people to talk with? I had a fun conversation about good guides with one of my all-time favorite people, my husband, Darren Penny. You’ll hear us discuss the role of guides in our lives—how to seek them, how to be one, and how to navigate life with humility, courage, connection and vulnerability. Through personal stories, like Darren’s search for guidance in the absence...