The Problem With Perfect

“There is always a seed of opportunity planted in the field of despair.” -John Wampler, The Problem With Perfect Lizzy Wampler was just 9 years old when she and her parents learned that the aches in her legs were not growing pains. Instead, they were something much worse. Lizzy had osteosarcoma, an aggressive cancerous tumor in her bone, that would take her life just 15 months later.  Now nearly f...

We've never been more accessible and our lives have never been more on display.  Undeniably, technology has transformed our interactions and shaped the way we communicate.  As a result, in some ways, we've never been more connected. Yet in other ways, we've never felt more insecure and disconnected - forever worried about showing others who we really are instead of who we want other...

Decisions, decisions.  What to wear to work. What to say in an email. How to respond to your partner or co-worker. What route to take home from work. How much money to spend on your upcoming vacation. The list of decisions to be made seems never-ending which is why we find ourselves so worn out at the end of the day that something as simple as what to eat for dinner becomes OVERWHELMING?!  Psychol...

Did you know that more than 40% of Americans say they've gained weight since the beginning of the pandemic - with the average gain being 26 pounds.  Are you surprised that nearly 60% of us say that COVID has also negatively impacted our mental health?  Or that we've increasingly become accustomed to being and feeling disconnected from others?  While this podcast isn't going to magic...

We all have lies we believe. Some of them are preached loud and clear in our culture, while others have been subtly reinforced to us throughout our lives. Either way, it often takes decades to see these lies for the destructive thoughts they have become.  In this episode, we explore one of Brene Brown's teachings that discusses some of these lies and how they are holding us back. Listen in on...

Let's be honest - Thomas isn't the only Jesus follower who has had doubts. In fact, most of us at one time or another in our lives find ourselves wondering about what we (really) believe.  Is God always for me and can he be trusted? Is the Bible really God's infallible word?  If God is good, why aren't Christians? Whatever your questions might be, what do you do with them? Who...

We all have limited amounts of energy, so protecting it, conserving it, and using it wisely is critical to our success and happiness. We intuitively know this, but yet we've likely found ourselves burnt out and exhausted. So what does it mean to "protect" our energy?  And how do we go about doing it? Listen here for five extremely practical tips to help you take back your energy and...

Bible verses can be the reason we have hope during the hardest times in our lives, but what if we are getting them all wrong? In this episode, we go over three bible verses that are commonly misused and talk about the truth of what they are really saying in the context of our lives. 

The Bible says to give thanks to the LORD because he is good and his steadfast love endures forever. But what do we do when that doesn't feel true for us? How do we recover from a season when God and his goodness feel far from us?  In this episode, we tackle this topic that is often tough for Christians to discuss - especially if you want the perfect life and the perfect relationship with God...

Beauty isn't just skin deep and neither is real transformation. Just ask Amber Blumberg. After the birth of her second child, Amber found herself in her early 30s and sick and tired of being sick and tired. That's when she decided to make a change and like many of us, she started working from the outside in. Knowing she needed to drastically change the way she moved and fueled her body,...

Why is it so hard to ask for what we want? This can be a problem in our career, relationships, intimacy, and even in our spiritual lives. In this episode, you will learn how to ask for what we want, why it’s so hard for us to make the ask, and how to move past it so you can have more opportunities given to you.  HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS (6:08) What’s the research behind asking for what we want?  (12:13)...

It's difficult for perfectionists to separate who we are from what we do. Unfortunately, we often define our worth by our latest achievements. But what happens when the pressure to do more and do it better drains us, leaving us physically and mentally exhausted?  In this episode, we look to Olympic gymnast Simone Biles for the answer. With the whole world watching, Simone unapologetically dec...

What are the habits you need to start in your 20's to stay healthy later on in life? This episode gives you three tips to start living a healthy lifestyle now so you can thank yourself later.  HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS  (08:13) how to not develop destructive habits in your 20’s that will carry out in the rest of your life.  (16:29) How to come up with a wellness plan for your life  (20:31) How to cr...

If ever there is a day filled with hopeful expectations of perfection, it's your wedding day. We grow up dreaming and planning for the day when we walk down the aisle and ride off into the sunset. But somewhere between this fantasy and reality, things unravel.  What is supposed to be a day centered around celebrating love and commitment all too often becomes a source of conflict - especially...

In part two of our series, we continue our conversation with mental health expert Lauren Eisleben. In this installment, we shift our focus from defining church and trauma to the nitty gritty of what church hurts look like, why they occur so frequently, and how we can be part of the solution instead of the problem.  Want to learn how to make space for believers who are questioning their faith witho...

Church is supposed to be a safe place where we can be transformed by the love of people and our God. But for some people, nothing is further from the truth.  Betrayal, abandonment, and shaming are all real experiences for many who hoped and believed better from a community of believers. Even worse, these disappointments combined with religious rules, have left many people further from God than whe...

How do we define masculinity?  In this episode, we will do a deep dive into what it means to be  "manly," why it's stereotypically harder for men to open up and be vulnerable with other men, and how to leave toxic masculinity in the dust. The Cliff notes (07:04) How do you define trauma?  (07:56) The difference between small t trauma and big t trauma  (11:00) How trauma impacts your...

How do you love the parts of your body that you hate? Or at least learn to not speak negatively about them. We all have a problem with perfection when it comes to our bodies. In this episode, we are giving you four ideas to ditch the negative self-talk and start learning to love yourself a little more.  Dive in deeper to the body image conversation on Body Image with Registered Dietitian Caroline ...

When it comes to society's  definition of "Daddy Issues," daddies and daughters both get a bad rap. In reality, dads aren't always all to blame for their daughter's relational insecurities. And daughters aren't the only one with attachment issues that arise as a result of their caregivers being emotionally unavailable.  In this episode, join us for a conversation that...

Body Image... if we're honest, it's something we all struggle with. If you've ever thought to yourself, "I wish my stomach was flatter"  "If only I could lose 10 pounds" "This new diet is what I need to finally get to the weight I want to be"  "I ate bad this weekend so I need to be good this week and go to the gym a lot"  You might have some...

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence says these are three examples of unalienable rights given to each of us by our Creator.  So, what does it mean to pursue happiness? And how do you know when you've achieved it? How do you know if and when you're happy? It's a simple question that's not so simple to answer. Maybe that's why the inte...

Need a good laugh?  Join us for part two of our interview with comedian Jaron Myers - the mastermind behind the Chick-Fil-A rap that now has more than 2 million downloads. In this episode, Jaron takes us behind the scenes and explains how he pulled it off - including blowing up a car. Special Guest: Jaron Myers Jaron is a Missouri boy who became an internet phenomenon with his Chick-Fil-A rap vide...

Before Jaron Myers became a viral comedic phenomenon, he says he was an anxious, miserable mess.  Surprisingly, it wasn't success that made him into the genuinely joyful guy he is today. Instead, it was an intense moment of desperation with God that helped him replace his rule-following, box-checking religion for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus. From high school worship lead...

It is often our pain that fuels our passion. This is Sarah's story. After 20 years as a TV reporter covering trauma, Sarah Hill's media diet of reporting the day's headlines ultimately had made her sick. Insomnia, forgetfulness, and anxiety culminated in terrifying panic attacks, shattering any illusion of perfection. In fact, the attacks led her down a road looking for help, where...

Mother's Day can bring a mix of emotions, including appreciation, joy, sadness and PANIC. Whether you're a mother, a daughter or someone looking to bless a mom in your life, this episode is one you won't want to miss.  No matter what your budget, we've got you covered on ideas for making this Mother's Day stress free and affordable. Because as we all know, often the best t...