Today's Heartlift with Janell

Send us a text The story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well is familiar to many, but what if everything we thought we knew about her was filtered through centuries of misinterpretation? Dr. Caryn Reeder joins us for a paradigm-shifting conversation that challenges traditional views of this remarkable biblical figure. For generations, sermons have painted the Samaritan woman as a sexual si...

Send us a text Dorcas Cheng-Tozun joins us to discuss her new Bible study, "Mental Health: Experiencing God's Care for Our Mind, Body, and Spirit," and shares her personal journey through burnout, depression, and healing. We explore how faith communities can better respond to mental health needs with compassion rather than judgment, while discovering how scripture reveals God's...

Send us a text Dr. Dru Johnson , author of What Hath Darwin To Do With Scripture? challenges our understanding of creation, evolution, and faith through an intellectually curious exploration of Darwin's observations and biblical narratives. This conversation bridges seemingly opposing worldviews by examining how Genesis might be the most Darwinian text of the ancient world. • Creation stories...

Send us a text Marine biologist Rachel G. Jordan explores the intersection of faith and science through her experiences studying ocean life. Her book "If the Ocean has a Soul: A Marine Biologist's Pursuit of Truth through Deep Waters of Faith and Science" reveals profound spiritual insights discovered in underwater ecosystems while challenging readers to embrace both scientific curi...

Send us a text What are you chasing? The elusive promise of fulfillment through success, recognition, relationships, or material possessions? Mikella Van Dyke is well acquainted with this pursuit. Growing up as the daughter of Bible translators in Thailand, she experienced firsthand the challenge of finding her identity amid cultural transitions before discovering that while she thought she was ch...

Send us a text A Summer Replay of One of Our Favorite Conversations here on the podcast: Episode 108. Dr. Alison Cook guides us and helps us understand: What if the overwhelming thoughts and feelings you've been trying to suppress, ignore, or overcome could actually become your greatest allies? In this profound conversation with Dr. Allison Cook, PhD, we delve into a revolutionary approach to...

Send a text The power of protective maternal love transforms families, communities, and ultimately our world. When Tara Hackney adopted her daughter from India, a transformative realization occurred during a tender moment of singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children" to her traumatized toddler. The beloved song's lyrics—"red and yellow, black and white"—suddenly felt exclus...

Send a text What if the moments spent endlessly scrolling are robbing you of the life you were meant to live? In this eye-opening conversation, Janell welcomes Allie Marie Smith, founder of Wonderfully Made and author of "Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God and Reclaim Your Joy." Allie shares her profound personal story of battling severe depression...

Send us a text What happens when society values people solely by their economic output? In this powerful conversation, Janell welcomes classics scholar Nadya Williams, author of "Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity" (IVP) , to explore how our modern devaluation of motherhood parallels pre-Christian attitudes toward women and chi...

Send us a text  Dr. Holly Catterton Allen reveals that spirituality is crucial to childhood resilience. She explains that children are born as spiritual beings with an inherent capacity for deep relationships with self, others, and God. She challenges traditional approaches to children's faith formation by emphasizing contemplative practices and "wondering questions" instead of form...

Send us a text What if the secret to truly nourishing your body isn't just about what you eat, but how safe you feel when eating it? This transformative conversation with nutritional therapy practitioner and author Meredyth Fletcher reveals the profound connection between our mental state and physical health in ways you've likely never considered. In her newest book, "The (Good) Foo...

Send us a text Today's conversation with Naeem Fazal, author of "Tomorrow Needs You: Seeing Beauty When You Feel Hopeless, " explores finding beauty and hope amid trauma and darkness, offering a powerful message of transformation for anyone feeling hopeless. • Naeem shares his extraordinary testimony of encountering Jesus supernaturally after growing up Muslim in Kuwait. • The conce...

Send us a text Emily Assel shares how the Word of God transforms motherhood and the power of making declarations over our lives and families. • Understanding how connecting with God changes the way we parent. • Learning to use small moments with God rather than feeling guilty about lacking hours for study. • Discovering the difference between "manifestation" and biblical declarations. •...

Send us a text "Often, motherhood is when we need God the most and yet have the least amount of time to spend with Him. But just as we desire to love and meet the needs of our children, so our Heavenly Father longs to do the same for us. Too often our time limitations and the guilt that comes with them, keep us from his arms and his transforming power. But the truth is, God knows the seasons...

Send us a text So proud to be in Feedspot's Top 100 Mental Health Podcasts: https://podcast.feedspot.com/mental_health_podcasts/ Today's Heartlifting Episode: Something is stirring in the hearts of women across generations. That quiet voice urging us toward purpose beyond ourselves—toward becoming maternal presences in a world desperately needing wisdom, nurturing, and light. In this sou...

Send us a text Sandra Glahn's journey begins with eight failed pregnancies and a devastating question: If motherhood is a woman's highest calling, what was her purpose? Raised in a culture where women were expected to channel all spiritual gifts into raising children, her infertility triggered not just personal grief but a profound spiritual identity crisis. This compelling conversation...

Send us a text Dr. Sandra Glahn shatters misconceptions about the goddess Artemis of Ephesus and reveals how cultural context transforms our understanding of biblical passages about women's roles in the church and family. • Artemis was not a fertility goddess but actually "nobody's mother" – a virgin huntress who was known for killing women and children. • Artemis worship domin...

Send us a text Through personal stories and theological insights, New Testament Scholar and author Sandra Glahn challenges traditional views of motherhood and explores how maternal presence can be expressed beyond biological childbearing. Her journey through multiple pregnancy losses led to profound questions about women's purpose that ultimately expanded her understanding of female calling i...

Send us a text Dr. Kevin Chapman shares biblical principles for mastering our emotions through cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that align with God's Word. His robust approach shows how we can transform our emotional responses by understanding the true purpose of emotions and learning to respond to them in healthier ways. • Emotions aren't our problem – our responses to them creat...

Send us a text What if your very life depended on rest? For author and Master Naturalist, Eryn Lynum , diagnosed with Addison's disease at just 14 years old, this isn't a philosophical question—it's reality. With adrenal glands that no longer function, Erin's body can't produce the stress hormone cortisol, making overwhelming stress potentially fatal. Yet from this soberin...

Send us a text Janell welcomes Aundi Kolber, a Licensed Professional Counselor and author, to explore how the flow of strength helps us move beyond trauma to true flourishing. Aundi reminds us "that seeing resurrection is no small thing." • Aundi explains the "window of tolerance" – the optimal zone where we can feel emotions without being overwhelmed. • Trauma can narrow our w...

Send us a text Psychological flexibility transforms how we mother and mature. I welcome psychologist Jill Stoddard to explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help women navigate anxiety, stress, and the challenges of parenting with more significant presence and authenticity. • Understanding psychological flexibility as being present, being open to internal experiences, and making v...

Send us a text Today is National Picture Book Day, so we celebrate by bringing the voices of Rob and Amy Dixon to the table. In this episode, I speak with Amy and Rob Dixon about their new picture book, Penny Preaches , which helps normalize girls in church leadership roles. We: • Explore the theological frameworks of complementarianism versus egalitarianism in church settings. • Understand how wo...

Send us a text Tracy Braylock, holistic nurse and well-being advocate, joins us in exploring the revolutionary concept of relaxation as a radical act of faith. We discuss how believers can engage their God-designed relaxation response to exist in a state of peace regardless of external circumstances. In this episode, Tracie and I discuss: • Understanding radical relaxation as removing stress from...

Send us a text Brittany Piper, author of "Body-First Healing: Get Unstuck and Recover from Trauma with Somatic Healing."   Brittany transforms our understanding of trauma recovery with her groundbreaking approach that places the body—not just the mind—at the center of healing. After surviving sexual assault, foster care experiences, and profound loss, Brittany found conventional therapy...