Today's conversation is with two of my favorite worship leaders, Jenna Nicholson and Zoe Kuhn, and I've been waiting to have this one for a while.
I first met Jenna and Zoe at a book release event I was producing at church, and they closed the night with a song called "New Thing" that absolutely slayed me. I thought it was just the season I was in that made it hit so hard, but turns out every time I hear it, it strikes me just as deeply. If you're in a season of transition, pain, confusion, or well… anything, this song is a balm to the soul.
Today, we’re talking about hidden seasons… the stretches of time when you’re wondering if God’s plan includes your dreams. Jenna shares about the question God keeps asking her: "If this doesn't happen the way you want it to, do you still think I'm good?" We talk about what it’s like to make music in Music City and how the comparison trap can’t rob you of your calling. There’s so much that’s helpful here.
These two exude joy, and this was a refreshing conversation on every level. Go right now and download their music. You won’t be disappointed, and you WILL be blessed.
Jenna and Zoe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjennaandzoe
Jenna and Zoe's Website: https://www.jennaandzoe.com/
Jenna and Zoe's Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jenna-zo%C3%AB/1447015967
Jenna and Zoe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVHhF17oaPtU2fe5cbIh1Xw
Today's conversation is about holding grief and grace at the same time, and how God meets us in crisis moments we never saw coming. My guest is Leah Outten, author of The 16th Year, a memoir about becoming pregnant at 16 and choosing open adoption for her daughter. Leah's story is marked by an unstable childhood and searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. But at 16, when she found out she was pregnant, that rock bottom moment became the turning point that drew her to the Lord.
We talk about how God has used her story, helping adoptive parents know how to love their child's birth mom well, and improving adoption relationships across the country. Leah also has a devotional called Flourishing Hope inspired by fireweed, a flower that pops up after forest fires, the first sign of life returning after devastation. That's what her story is. God can regrow a forest and beauty even when everything feels burned down to ashes.
If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy or walking through the aftermath of adoption, Leah reminds us: remember what God has done in your life. If you haven't seen it yet, look to stories like hers. Hold onto hope.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction and Background
05:29 | The Turning Point: Teen Pregnancy and Faith
08:23 | Choosing Open Adoption: A Unique Perspective
11:32 | Navigating Fears and Building Relationships
14:20 | Parenting After Adoption: Lessons Learned
17:31 | Grief and Grace: Holding Both Together
20:32 | The Impact of Sharing Your Story
23:25 | Encouragement for Those in Crisis
26:28 | The Role of Community and Support
29:31 | Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoutten/
Leah's Website: leahoutten.com
Leah's Memoir: https://amzn.to/42tE6ew
Leah's Devotional: https://amzn.to/4n69Qyy
Today's conversation is one I didn't know I needed, a conversation about the Holy Spirit that's accessible, theological, and deeply practical.
My guest is Jenny Randle, author of The Promised Presence: An Introduction to Holy Spirit's Power and Authority. Jenny's journey took her from the heart of Hollywood editing DVD features for movies like Kung Fu Panda, to launching churches, raising middle schoolers (which she genuinely loves, and I'm here for that energy), and now writing books that help people understand the power of the Holy Spirit.
Here's what struck me most: Jenny is armed with confetti and creativity, yet she's also navigating a season of heartache and hardship, dealing with ongoing health challenges. She wrote this book while believing for healing, and her husband asked her the hardest question: "What if you don't get the happy ending you're wanting?" That tension, the already and not yet, is woven through this entire conversation.
We talk about the misconceptions so many of us carry about the Holy Spirit. For me, growing up, the Holy Spirit felt like someone with a ruler ready to smack my hand when I did something wrong. That's such a reductionist view of who He actually is. Jenny helps us see that the Holy Spirit isn't just our conscience, isn't an "it," and definitely isn't the ghost of Christianity just spooking around.
We dive into what it looks like to walk with Holy Spirit daily, not just in the big worship moments, but in the mundane moments of doing dishes, parenting your kids, and navigating the grocery store. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in us, indwelling us, when we're cooking dinner and leading meetings.
This conversation is for anyone who's felt weary, overwhelmed, or unseen by God. It's for the struggling, the weak, and those who wonder where God is. Jenny's encouragement? Slow down and see God. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Unwrap Him. Stop living distracted from His presence.
Today's conversation is one I've been looking forward to having... a conversation about profound loss, tangible hope, and the ministry of presence in the darkest moments.
My guest is Ashley Opliger, author of Cradled in Hope: Trusting Jesus to Heal Your Heart as He Holds Your Baby in Heaven and founder of Bridget's Cradles, a ministry that has now placed over 30,000 cradles in 1,600 hospitals across all 50 states.
Ashley's story is marked by deep loss, but what struck me most in our conversation wasn't just what she's walked through, but how she's chosen to steward her story. She's not interested in being defined by her trials, but by how God has used them for His glory and for the good of others. We talk about the loneliness of pregnancy and infant loss, why the ministry of presence matters more than perfect words, and how to avoid the dreaded "at least" statements that so often hurt rather than help. Ashley shares about the sacred work of sitting in grief without rushing to fix it, and how she's had to wrestle with letting God's character (not her circumstances) shape her view of who He is.
This conversation is for anyone who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss, anyone who loves someone walking through that grief, or anyone who needs to hear that it's okay to bring all the hard, honest emotions to God, even the ugly ones.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00 | Journey Through Grief and Loss
09:15 | Cradled in Hope: The Book's Purpose
15:04 | Bridget's Cradles: A Ministry Born from Loss
21:07 | Supporting Grieving Families: Practical Guidance
27:17 | Wrestling with God: Finding Hope in Suffering
30:57 | Anchoring in Faith Amidst Trials
31:45 | Understanding Suffering and God's Sovereignty
33:06 | Bringing Honest Emotions to God
35:22 | Finding Hope in Grief
37:37 | Navigating Unhelpful Comments in Grief
42:44 | The Ministry of Bridget's Cradles
44:25 | Designing a Perfect Beautiful Day
Ashley's Website: https://ashleyopliger.com/
Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
Bridget's Cradles Website: https://bridgetscradles.com/
Cradled In Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cradledinhope/
Cradled In Hope Book: https://www.amazon.com/Cradled-Hope-Heaven-Miscarriage-Stillbirth/dp/0764244345?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Cradled In Hope Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cradled-in-hope-podcast-for-grieving-moms-biblical/id1572324745
I almost didn't record this episode. I've been sitting with these thoughts for weeks, wrestling with whether to speak, when to speak, and how to speak about the cultural moment we're in.
I've been thinking a lot about September 11th lately, about who we were in those days and how we were. Republicans and Democrats wept together. Strangers helped strangers. We saw each other as Americans first, humans first. For all the horror of that day, there was something unexpectedly beautiful about how it stripped away our superficial divisions and revealed our shared humanity.
What a stark contrast to where we find ourselves now.
In this episode, I'm wading into some deep waters about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the response from our culture, and the heartbreaking disunity I've witnessed even among believers. I share why I've drastically limited my social media intake and why I believe we were never intended to bear the weight of the world on our shoulders. I talk about the sacred rhythm of listening first, pondering deeply, and responding with compassion and intention.
I also get vulnerable about my own convictions... why I'm choosing to be a hope-bringer rather than adding fuel to the flames, and what it means practically to guard our gates, embrace the power of the pause, and look for the image of God even in those who make our blood boil.
Everything is on fire, but we don't have to add fuel to the flames. We can choose to carry water instead of matches.
This one's personal, friends. And I'm grateful you're here for the journey.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction: A Call to Reflect
03:34 | The Weight of Words: Navigating Anger and Grief
06:45 | The Impact of Digital Overload on Compassion
09:38 | The Importance of Silence and Listening
12:41 | Shared Humanity in Times of Crisis
15:10 | Rejecting Dehumanization: Embracing the Imago Dei
18:06 | Practical Steps to Foster Hope
22:21 | Navigating Cultural Moments with Wisdom
25:14 | Personal Reflections on Recent Events
29:16 | Choosing Hope in a Divided World
Shannon's Website: shannonsuzannescott.com
Shannon's Instagram: instagram.com/shannonsscott
Today I sit down with Carl and Heather Cartee, married 26 years and hosts of their own marriage podcast, for our first deep dive into marriage on Everything Made Beautiful. This conversation is for every couple - whether you're thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between.
Carl and Heather get real about the biggest challenge they see in marriages today: the epidemic of busyness that leaves couples drifting apart without even realizing it. They share the crucial distinction between marriage as contract versus covenant, and why understanding that difference can transform how you approach conflict and commitment.
This conversation tackles practical tools for reconnecting when you feel like roommates, including their wisdom to "act your way into a feeling instead of feeling your way into an action" and "be interested, not interesting" when drawing out your spouse. We dive into why regular maintenance matters more than crisis intervention and how their own seasons of struggle led them to normalize therapy and community support.
With four teenage boys at home, they offer insight into how their marriage has evolved through different seasons and why the things that initially drew them together also became sources of conflict. They share vulnerable stories about learning to use words as tools for connection rather than weapons, and how God has refined their strengths without diminishing what makes them unique.
Whether your marriage needs a tune-up or major repair, this conversation offers hope, practical steps, and the reminder that if you're not intentionally working on your marriage, you're naturally drifting apart. Their message is clear: don't ever be discouraged - God is fighting for your marriage.
Carl + Heather's Website: https://www.carlandheather.com/
Carl + Heather's Podcast: https://www.carlandheather.com/podcast
Carl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlcartee/
Heather on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.cartee/
I sit down with author Jen Thompson to discuss her book "Return to Jesus: An Invitation to Abide with Him in Every Beautiful, Stressful or Tedious Moment." This conversation is for every woman who feels overcommitted before her feet hit the floor in the morning.
Jen opens up about what prompted her to write the book... that post-pandemic season when life went from zero to 100 mph and she desperately wanted to carry the lessons of stillness into the chaos. We dive into what it really means to abide with Jesus throughout ordinary, overwhelming, and mundane moments rather than compartmentalizing our faith into just the "holy" parts of life.
The heart of our conversation tackles the plague of overcommitment that so many women face. Jen shares practical wisdom about taking your calendar before the Lord, learning to say no without explanation, and why scheduling "no plans days" might be the most counter-cultural thing you can do. We explore why our worth often gets tangled up in our productivity and how saying yes to everything might be robbing someone else of their opportunity to serve. Jen vulnerably shares about her own struggle with shame and how Jesus meets us exactly where we are - no cleaning up required. We discuss why the voices telling us to get ourselves together before coming to God sound nothing like how our Father actually speaks to us.
Whether you're drowning in expectations, numb with busyness, or simply trying to figure out how to meet with Jesus in your current season of life, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and the reminder that you are seen, loved, and held by God in every moment.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction and the Cost of Writing
02:59 | The Heart Behind 'Return to Jesus'
06:02 | Abiding in Busy Seasons of Life
12:33 | Navigating Overcommitment and Saying No
18:44 | Meeting Jesus in Ordinary Moments
22:07 | The Impact of Shame on Our Relationship with God
26:39 | Disrupting Patterns for an Eternal Perspective
27:23 | Disrupting the Mundane: Finding Spiritual Rhythms
30:40 | Seasons of Restoration: God’s Work in Our Lives
37:03 | Recognizing and Embracing Life's Seasons
40:47 | An Invitation to Grace: You Are Seen and Loved
44:01 | Designing Your Perfect Day: A Reflection on Joy
Jen's Website: http://www.jenthompsonauthor.com
Jen's Blog: http://www.trulyyoursjen.com
Jen's Facebook: facebook.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Instagram: instagram.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Podcast: https://jenthompsonauthor.com/the-podcast
Jen's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/
I sit down with Pastor Tony Calabrese, lead pastor at The Gathering in Spring Hill, Tennessee, for a conversation that ranges from his admittedly bougie coffee habits to the deep spiritual work that happens in seasons of transition.
Tony shares how his passion for prayer was shaped by watching his single mom depend on God through difficult circumstances, and why he believes prayer begins with understanding God as Father rather than taskmaster. We dive into his journey of saying yes to his biggest no - church planting - and how God often calls us out of our comfort zones to step into His purposes.
The heart of our conversation centers on transition as spiritual invitation. Tony offers profound insight for anyone feeling stuck between what was and what's to come, explaining why God's perceived absence in difficult seasons might actually be the prime condition for His breakthrough. We explore how the greatest demonstration of God's power at the resurrection was actually what was missing from the tomb, not what was there.
Tony also shares about The Gathering, the church he recently planted after a previous church planting season ended during COVID. He describes this new venture as the most freeing and joy-filled season of his 19-year ministry. Whether you're in a season of transition, struggling with prayer, or simply need encouragement to trust God in the unknown, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for following Jesus through every season of life.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction and First Impressions
04:42 | Transitioning Through Life's Seasons
05:11 | The Coffee Journey
09:12 | The Power of Prayer
14:27 | Personal Stories of Prayer
19:13 | Saying Yes to Our Biggest No
23:07 | Encouragement for Prayer
29:02 | Navigating Transitions
30:14 | Navigating Transitions: The Spiritual Journey
37:01 | The Power of Dependence in Transition
41:29 | God's Silence: A Test of Faith
47:34 | The Gathering: A New Church Community
54:45 | Designing a Beautiful Day: Simple Joys
Tony's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_calabrese_
The Gathering Website: https://www.thegatheringchurch.co/
Tony on QAVA: https://qava.tv/teachers/tony-calabrese/
We're back! I brought all three of my kids onto the podcast for an unplanned family conversation about the whirlwind of changes hitting the Scott family all at once. Maggie's thriving in Orlando at Disney World, Jack just moved to Chattanooga for new opportunities, and Ali surprised us all by getting accepted to a ministry internship in Norwich, England after feeling God's call during a school trip.
With all three kids officially launched, Jeff and I made the decision to sell our Franklin house and pursue financial freedom for the first time in our marriage. I'll be honest... having the house on the market feels invasive, and my kids definitely called me out for my magic eraser obsessions during showings.
We dive into the realities of adulting (spoiler: everything is expensive), how faith becomes your own when you leave home, and why people don't grieve change itself but rather what they're losing. The Scott family will be scattered across the globe now, but we trust God with wherever He's leading us next. This episode is raw, real, and full of the chaos you'd expect from an organic family conversation - including dog interruptions and sibling roasting.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction to Change
03:35 | Navigating Life Transitions
05:45 | Allie's Move to England
08:51 | Jack's Journey to Chattanooga
11:05 | Maggie's Experience of Adulthood
14:01 | Challenges of Independence
16:50 | Embracing New Opportunities
18:30 | Reflections on Family Dynamics
29:17 | Finding Personal Space and Adjusting to Change
31:34 | The Decision to Sell the Family Home
33:23 | Navigating the Emotional Toll of Selling
37:02 | Reflections on Family Dynamics and Memories
40:31 | Embracing Change and New Beginnings
50:49 | Personal Growth and Faith Journeys
56:30 | Trusting God Through Transitions
In this deeply encouraging episode, I sit down with my dear friend Margaret Feinberg to discuss her powerful new book, "The God You Need To Know," which explores the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament—a perspective many of us have never considered.
Margaret vulnerably shares about the grueling journey of writing this book, including mysterious physical symptoms that only appeared when she sat down to write, countless setbacks, and what she calls "spiritual static" that seemed to oppose this message at every turn. But the result is a revolutionary look at how the Holy Spirit has been actively working since Genesis 1:2, not just appearing for the first time at Pentecost.
We dive into why so many believers feel disconnected from the Holy Spirit—often seeing Him as ethereal, less relatable than Jesus, or reserved for "special" Christians. Margaret unpacks beautiful imagery from scripture like the Spirit "hovering" over the deep, using the same Hebrew word that describes an eagle brooding over its young, providing warmth, protection, and provision in our uncertainty.
This conversation is filled with practical wisdom for recognizing the Spirit's work in everyday moments—from simple breath prayers to keeping a daily journal with one question for Holy Spirit. Margaret shares incredible stories of God's surprise and delight in ordinary circumstances, like buying a purse that perfectly matched a grieving friend's Easter dress, reminding us that the Spirit-led life is accessible to all of us.
Whether you've felt the Holy Spirit is silent in your life, wondered how to access the power that raised Christ from the dead, or simply want to live with more intentional awareness of God's presence, this episode offers hope and practical steps for experiencing the fullness of who God is—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This isn't about becoming super-spiritual; it's about recognizing how the God who created you is already uniquely working in your life.
Margaret's Website: https://margaretfeinberg.com/
Margaret's Book: https://www.margaretfeinbergstore.com/collections/all/products/the-god-you-need-to-know-experience-the-holy-spirits-power-and-presence-today-book
Margaret's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mafeinberg/
Margaret's Other Resources: https://www.margaretfeinbergstore.com/collections/all
In this delightful episode, I sit down with my daughters Ali and Maggie for another surprise guest reveal featuring our beloved friend Jordan Hester—complete with confetti and celebration, as always! Jordan is a professional home organizer in the Sarasota area and a certified leadership coach who has become like family to us.
We dive into Jordan's journey from six and a half years in church ministry to finding his calling in home organization, where he combines his gifts of hospitality and encouragement to help people during some of life's most overwhelming transitions. Jordan shares candidly about navigating a "desert season" in ministry, losing his father in 2020, and how grief shifted his perspective on work, life, and heaven.
This conversation covers the art of biblical community during hard seasons, what it takes to be a great leader, and how Jordan has cultivated his remarkable ministry of presence—including why he always carries confetti and never misses an opportunity to celebrate others. We also explore how he's learned to ask for help and find his own sources of encouragement while pouring into so many others.
Whether you're in ministry, going through a difficult transition, or simply need encouragement about finding purpose in unexpected places, Jordan's story is a beautiful reminder that God uses every season—even the desert ones—to shape us for His purposes. Plus, you'll want to grab some confetti after listening to this one!
In this episode, I share about one of the loneliest and weirdest seasons I've walked through in recent years—the strange territory of being nobody where you used to be somebody. It's been over a year since I stepped away from church staff, and I'm only now finding words for this peculiar experience.
When you transition away from ministry leadership, you don't just leave a job—you lose your immediate answer to who you are and what you do. You enter an awkward no man's land where you're still supposed to show up every week because it's "church family," but your role and relationships have fundamentally changed in ways nobody really prepared you for.
I talk honestly about the identity earthquake that happens when your name is no longer attached to a spiritual job description, the grief of going from essential to optional, and why learning to be a normal person is harder than it looks. I also share about the unexpected freedom I've discovered in functional obscurity and why I now pray for this gift for all my ministry friends.
This episode is for anyone navigating the awkward dance of staying put when everything has changed, for those wondering if they've made a terrible mistake or discovered a beautiful freedom, and for ministry leaders who need to know they're not crazy for feeling what they're feeling during transition seasons.
Sometimes the most profound spiritual formation happens not through addition but through subtraction—and sometimes God reveals who we are not by giving us more responsibility but by taking away what we thought defined us.
In this tender episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with my dear friend and beloved worship leader Christy Nockels to talk about transitions, lullabies, and the sacred art of letting go. Christy has just released her second lullaby album, "King Who Never Sleeps: Anthems for Rest," and our youngest daughters have just graduated high school—flying the nest together just like they started preschool together 14 years ago.
This conversation is for anyone navigating the bittersweet beauty of seasons ending and new ones beginning. You are seen in every season! We dive deep into why lullabies aren't just for babies (trust me on this), the unexpected emotions of empty nesting, and how to cultivate identity beyond the daily rhythms of motherhood. Christy shares the story behind her newest songs, including one called "Fly The Nest (Carry You)" that she wrote specifically for this season of releasing our children into the world.
Whether you're a young mom wondering who you'll be when the daily parenting season ends, or you're already walking through the tender transition of kids growing up, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and the reminder that God has beautiful things ahead in every season. Plus, Christy sings a lullaby over all of us at the end—and it's absolutely perfect.
If you've ever needed permission to have a good cry over the passage of time, or if you're looking for encouragement that your faithfulness in the hidden seasons will bear fruit, this conversation is for you.
Christy's Website: https://www.christynockels.com/
Christy's New Record: https://cnock.lnk.to/kingwhoneversleeps
Christy's Book: https://tinyurl.com/9x97y42x
Christy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christynockels/
In this powerful episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with marriage and family therapist Kimberly Haar to discuss her extraordinary journey from trauma to triumph. Four years after Kim's divorce, when she thought she was ready for a new beginning, an unimaginable night changed everything. What started as the worst night of her life became the catalyst for one of the most remarkable redemption stories I've ever heard.
Kim vulnerably shares how she moved from victim to survivor, the sacred space where her healing began, and the choice to forgive the unforgivable—not just once, but over and over again. As both a trauma survivor and professional therapist, she offers wisdom that can only come from someone who's walked through the valley and emerged whole.
This conversation tackles the hard questions: Where is God when bad things happen? How do we not get stuck in victimhood? How do we choose healing when we've been shattered? Kim's story is proof that no one is too broken for God's redemption, and that beauty truly can emerge from the deepest ashes.
Whether you're walking through your own dark valley or simply need a reminder of God's faithfulness, this episode will challenge your heart and strengthen your faith in ways you don't expect.
Be advised: This episode discusses domestic violence and gun violence, but culminates in the hope of Christ.
Kimberly's Website: https://kimberlyhaar.com
Kimberly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kimberly.haar
Kimberly's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyJHaar/
Kimberly's Book: https://kimberlyhaar.com/healing-from-lifes-deepest-hurts-book/
It’s hard to believe we’ve reached 40 episodes of Everything Made Beautiful. This one feels different—because it is.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal update and reflecting on what it looks like to intentionally press pause. Lately, the Lord has been inviting me to slow down, to be fully present for the season I’m in, and to make space for rest, reflection, and renewal.
I talk about the significance of the numbers 7 and 40 in scripture, why I’m stepping back from the podcast for a little while, and how I’m leaning into a quieter rhythm—both for my family and for my soul. I also share where I’ll still be writing during this time and how you can stay connected.
This isn’t goodbye—it’s just a sacred pause. And maybe, just maybe, it’s an invitation for you too.
If you’ve been feeling the pull to breathe, recalibrate, or listen for God’s leading in a noisy world, I hope this episode encourages you to do just that.
Let’s embrace intentional presence together.
In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with author, speaker, and all-around kindred spirit, Rebecca George. From the moment I picked up her book Do the Thing, I knew we shared the same heartbeat for helping women discern God’s calling and walk it out with bold, gospel-centered obedience.
Rebecca shares how her life mission—to leave people better than she found them and help them know Jesus more fully—shapes every part of her ministry. We talk about her newest book You're Not Too Late (and the surprising backstory behind that powerful title), what it looks like to pursue our God-given callings without shame or hesitation, and how to navigate the “meanwhile” seasons of life—those liminal spaces of waiting, longing, and not-yet.
We also explore how unmet desires can either drive us to resentment or draw us closer to God, and how things like envy and comparison often creep in when we’re longing for what we see others receive. Rebecca offers practical wisdom on pre-deciding how we’ll respond in those moments, and we even talk about the necessity of “chill hours”—those hard, cold seasons that actually prepare us to bear fruit.
Whether you’re just starting to sense a nudge from God or you’ve been sitting on a dream for years, this episode is for you. It’s a tender, hope-filled conversation about obedience, timing, and the truth that you are not too late for the good works God prepared in advance for you.
Rebecca's Books
Connect with Rebecca:
Listen to Radical Radiance on Apple Podcasts
Listen to Radical Radiance on Spotify
Friend, if you’ve ever felt like your story was too broken, too messy, or too far gone to be made whole again—this episode is for you.
I had the absolute joy of sitting down with my friend Meshali Mitchell, a gifted photographer, writer, and storyteller whose heart beats with hope and healing. Her book Restored: Partnering With God In Transforming Our Broken Places is more than just a story about renovating an old Texas farmhouse—it’s about the slow, sacred, sometimes painful process of partnering with God as He restores what’s been lost, broken, or buried deep within us.
Meshali shares so honestly about the wounds she carried from childhood, the fear and perfectionism that shaped her early years, and the lies she once believed about herself and her story. But she also shares how God, in His kindness, began to rebuild her life piece by piece—teaching her that restoration isn’t just possible, it’s promised.
This conversation felt like balm to my own soul, and I pray it will feel the same for you. So wherever you are—driving, walking, folding laundry, or curled up on the couch—I hope you’ll join us. Because restoration is real. It’s happening. And yes, it’s for you too.
Meshali's Website: https://www.meshali.co/
Meshali's Book: https://www.meshali.co/restored
Meshali's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meshali/
In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with my longtime friend, David Nasser — a powerful communicator, gifted evangelist, and someone whose personal journey has impacted thousands. David shares his compelling story of fleeing Iran as a child, finding faith in Jesus at 18, and discovering that pastoring wasn't just a profession, but a natural extension of who he is.
We talk about what it means to live on mission, no matter your vocation, and the importance of embracing how God uniquely hardwires each of us for Kingdom work. David reflects on his years leading the world’s largest collegiate ministry and how young adults are uniquely positioned to discover their calling.
We also dive into the brand-new From Grief to Glory Holy Week video series we recorded together with QAVA — a journey through the final days of Jesus' life, one day at a time. David shares what surprised him most as he revisited these familiar stories, how his personal grief brought new depth to Silent Saturday, and why we can't afford to skip over the harder moments on our way to resurrection.
This conversation is real, rich, and rooted in the reminder that we are resurrection people — not just on Easter Sunday, but every day. I can’t wait for you to hear it.
David's Website: https://www.davidnasser.com/
David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnasser/
David's Resources: https://www.davidnasser.com/#books
From Grief to Glory Holy Week Series: https://qava.tv/from-grief-to-glory-david-nasser/
In this episode, Maggie and Ali take over the podcast to kick off something new—our very first “Surprise Guest” episode—and they couldn’t have picked a more perfect guest than our dear friend (and ride-or-die) Kasey Ridling.
Kasey has been part of our family for 15 years. From helping build a children’s ministry from the ground up to Braves games and breakups, she’s been right in the middle of it all with us. She’s not just someone we know—she’s family.
In this episode, we talk about:
We also laugh a lot. (Like, a lot.) And if you're a Braves fan, you’ll want to hear the story of the once-in-a-lifetime night we got to watch a World Series grand slam in person. Pure magic.
Kasey is one of the most thoughtful, wise, and hilarious people I know, and I’m so glad she’s part of my girls' lives—and mine. Whether you're a mama, a mentor, or navigating your own season of waiting, I think you’ll find something special in this conversation.
In this episode, I sit down with my 22-year-old daughter Maggie to talk about something so many of us have experienced—heartbreak. Maggie recently walked through her first serious breakup, and we had an honest, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about what that process looked like for her.
We talk about why Jeffrey and I chose to hold off on dating during our kids’ high school years, what Maggie learned as she navigated her first relationship as a young adult, and how deeply painful and disorienting it was when it ended. Maggie shares how she processed the grief (spoiler: video diaries and lots of tears), how God showed up for her in unexpected ways, and what healing has looked like on the other side.
If you're a mom walking through something similar with your daughter—or you're someone healing from heartbreak yourself—this conversation is for you. We hope it brings you comfort, encouragement, and maybe even a few laughs. Hearts may not be built to be borrowed, but I believe God meets us right in the middle of the breaking. And He’s always making something beautiful, even here.
Chapters
00:00 | Navigating Breakups: An Introduction
03:58 | The Impact of High School Dating Restrictions
06:46 | First Love: The Significance of Maggie's Relationship
10:00 | Realizations and Challenges in the Relationship
12:51 | The Breakup: A Sudden Shift
15:54 | Processing Grief and Emotions
18:50 | Finding Healing and Moving Forward
28:29 | Navigating Heartbreak Together
33:11 | The Role of Faith in Healing
38:06 | Emotional Growth Through Breakups
40:07 | Advice for First-Time Heartbreakers
44:40 | Supporting Daughters Through Heartbreak
47:02 | Setting Standards in Relationships
48:59 | Reflections on Maturity and Growth