Upside Down Influencer

I’m a content creator who loves Jesus. John is a Pastor who doesn’t create content but IS a consumer. Annnnd we’ve both got some rules for ourselves as Christ followers on social media! John’s are more global and mine are more personal. But, I think as Christ followers we should all have our list. This is a two part series. Come back for part two and let us know what YOUR rules are in the comments...

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it looks like to pursue social media wholeheartedly without slowly compromising the convictions God has placed on my heart. In this episode, I’m opening up about my interest in stepping into UGC, the tension I feel around making a living online, and the questions I’m asking as a Christ follower who also feels called to go full throttle with social media. I apolo...

What if you were in a massive social experiment for 42 days, cut off from the outside world and could potentially leave with 5 million dollars? Cory Sims did just that on a show called Beast Games, created by the famous Mr. Beast. With $5 million dollars on the line and millions of eyes on him, Cory’s faith, integrity, and character were impossible to miss. Despite walking away with nearly nothing...

AI is rapidly changing the world. And just like social media, it’s a tool. But as Christians, we also know that the enemy loves to distort and misuse things that were meant to serve people. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Dale Wallace, creator of Ask LYTE, a Christian AI platform. They talk about how people are ACTUALLY using AI, some of the dangers hiding beneath the surface, and what Dal...

In this episode, Mrs. American Tiffany Thornton shares how God redeemed her story and how she’s now using her platform for His glory. Jessica and Tiffany talk about her testimony, how Jesus carried her through (and got her out of) domestic violence, what it’s like to navigate the pageant world as a Christian, and why she feels called to use her influence to advocate for others and point people to...

As Christians, we’re called to love one another. But if we’re honest, that’s not always what it looks like online. In this episode, Jessica is joined by April Terrell, a care ministry leader, to talk about how we often show up on social media. They dive into heart posture, how to discern when to engage, when to step back and what to do when something on social media is simply beyond you. Connect w...

What happens when new believers suddenly have big platforms? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Pastor Ryan Britt to explore that very tension. As more people come to faith online, they’re often looked to as spiritual authorities before they’ve had the chance to truly become rooted. So how should they navigate that? And how should the Church respond without elevating them too quickly or teari...

It's easy to believe our “weaknesses” disqualify us from influence. We look at others online and count ourselves out. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Joshua Delp, whose story challenges that lie. Josh leads, teaches and speaks while living with a stutter that once made him question whether he could ever speak or lead publicly. They talk honestly about fear, obedience, and learning to trust...

Can someone actually be called to be a social media influencer? And what if your calling doesn’t fit neatly inside a church building, even though you feel like it should? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Kadi Cole, a seasoned leadership coach and ministry leader with experience spanning both church and secular spaces. Together, they challenge the assumption that ministry only happens on a s...

How do you know if the Holy Spirit is prompting you to post… or if it’s just you? Or what about when something online just seems a littleee off, but you're not sure why? How do we discern these things? In this episode, Jessica talks with Dr. Adam Flynt about discernment in the digital age. How do we hear God’s voice clearly, filter what we consume online, and steward social media as a mission fiel...

Is it ever worth “cheating the system” to gain followers or influence as a Christ follower, even if it works? Even if it leads to growth, opportunity, or money? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Evan Werthman, the creator behind Snaxsonville, to unpack the tension believers face in the online space. As Evan has experienced real success on social media, he’s seen the good, the bad, and the ug...

Christmas is meant to feel joyful. Yet for so many people, the holidays tend to magnify what they’re already carrying … (grief, loneliness, comparison, disappointment, even pressure to perform online.) In the middle of social media’s highlight reels, it can feel like you're the only one struggling. In today’s episode, Jessica invites licensed family + marriage therapist Rebecca Maxwell from the Je...

If you’re a Christian creative, you know how easily "calling" can get tangled up with platform. In this episode, Jessica talks with Christian folk artist and songwriter Brice Davis about the tension between calling and platform and what it really means to choose faithfulness over fame in a social media society. Brice shares his journey in Christian music, how he navigates social media as an artist...

In this episode, Jessica chats with Kelly Saxton about what it really looks like to navigate dating apps, long-term singleness, and faith in modern culture. What does it look like to stay faithful in your singleness in a world of swipes, situationships, and seasonal dating pressure? Kelly shares her honest experiences with online dating, how she sets boundaries that honor God, and what it means to...

Audrey may wear camo, but she is learning what it means to live anything but blended in. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Audrey Wikan - hunter, content creator, and spokeswoman for Drake Waterfowl. Together, they talk about navigating social media in the outdoor industry, Audrey’s walk with Christ, finding purpose beyond performance, and living with integrity in a world driven by image. So...

What happens when a pastor becomes a food influencer? Jessica talks with Trey Curry (@treylovesfood) about why Christians should make the best content on the internet. As Christ followers, it’s easy to see social media as dangerous or “worldly”, but Trey reminds us, it’s a tool! The question is, who’s using it? Will we let the enemy dominate these spaces, or will we step in and create with excelle...

Post Charlie Kirk assassination, a lot of Christians are asking themselves how they can live differently. In this first solo episode, I’m sharing what God has been teaching me about living set apart in a world that constantly tells us to conform. From embracing the season you’re in, to pursuing  friendships, showing hospitality, and staying obedient in your walk with God, I’m unpacking the ways He...

What does it look like to chase excellence in your sport while keeping your identity rooted in Christ? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, I’m joined by 18-year-old Emma Heck, a rising star in the weightlifting world who uses her platform to point people to Jesus. Emma shares her journey into weightlifting, the highs and lows of competition, and what it’s like to have influence in her sport...

What happens when you reach the dream everyone else is chasing…only to realize it still leaves you empty? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, Jessica sits down with former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion, Josh Wells to talk about his journey from small-town football to the big stage of the National Football League. Josh shares the highs of making it to the top, but also the surprising em...

How do you make a living on social media and still follow Christ faithfully? In this episode of Upside-Down Influencer, I sit down with Chelsea Shull, a content creator who works in both the influencer and UGC (user-generated content) world.  Chelsea shares her journey into influencer marketing, what success looks like to her, and what real influence is vs just a viral video. She also opens up abo...

In this episode, we’re diving into the questions most Christ followers on social media aren’t asking out loud, but are probably thinking about! Should we be posting pictures of our Bible and coffee on Instagram? Is it okay to ask God for followers? Can we record our quiet time with the Lord and still call it authentic? Should we expect worldly success when we share about Jesus online?  These are t...

Are we being vain? How do we know? In today’s culture, many things get so “normalized” that we almost get desensitized to how self obsession can actually look. Listen, I am not trying to be over the top and say you can never post a photo of yourself or that we can’t celebrate wins. However, I DO think there needs to be more conversations around this topic because as Christ followers, our social me...

Constant notifications, endless scrolling and nonstop multimedia... distraction isn’t just a nuisance… it’s a battle for our attention and affection. How can we guard our hearts and minds against the things that pull us away from Christ? In this episode, I’m joined by Caitlin Armstrong from The Church of Eleven22 to unpack this important topic. We talk about the difference between what is sinful a...

In a culture obsessed with visibility and validation, Tyler Workman’s story offers a needed, counter-cultural reminder: you don’t need a platform to be faithful. As the founder of Okoa Refuge, Tyler shares how God called him into full-time missions work. Not with fanfare, but through years of quiet obedience. In this episode, we talk about the unseen years, when no one was clapping, no one was pos...

In this episode, we dive into a tricky topic: Self-promotion. In the age of social media, the lines can get blurry. To help navigate this conversation, I invited someone who has spent years wrestling with this tension. Josh Sinke has served with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) for over 16 years, leading global mission trips and mentoring young leaders. He’s also been a worship leader for more than two...