“I love track and field and when it’s time for me to walk away, I have so much more in life that I can do. But I am not done yet.”

This is what it looks like to trust in God’s timing! Morolake Akinosun is a professional track and field athlete, and also a Rio 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist.

“38 dollars is beyond 38 dollars – it’s a discipleship opportunity to make these children followers of Christ.”

I was absolutely giddy to step into this interview. My guest Jonathan Almonte works with Compassion International as the manager of supporter engagement.

“You do not have to be perfect before you are honest.”

Leading a fashion lifestyle brand might be an unlikely role for someone self-described as “not a fashion guy,” but that’s exactly where ABLE CEO Barrett Ward finds himself. As the visionary behind the rapidly growing Nashville-based company disrupting the fashion industry with a social conscience, Ward was inspired to start ABLE with the mission of creating sustainable economic opportunities for women.

“These people in the first century had the same issues, the same struggles, the same questions, the same concerns that we do now. And if you can identify with those struggles and concerns then ideally, you’ll identify with the solution.”

If you don’t know about the television series The Chosen, you need to know about it! Dallas Jenkins is the creator, director, and co-writer of The Chosen, and I’ve been excited to talk with him for a long time!

“It’s okay to name your desire to the Lord, and it’s okay to speak your disappointment to Him.”

Mitchel Lee is a Maryland native and has served as Lead Pastor since August 2016. His passion is to be a bridge-builder between generations and ethnicities both in the US and internationally through leadership development and church-planting. Mitchel’s first book, Even If, was released in August of this year!

“If you don’t believe that you’re known, seen, loved, if you feel like God doesn’t see you, you’re gonna look to be seen by others.”

That one line can pretty much wrap up this whole interview. MŌRIAH Smallbone joined me for today’s interview and I truly could have spoken to her for hours.

“Jesus gave up being adored by the crowds for the sake of something better and truer. And that ‘better and truer’ was to love you and to love the people around you more faithfully than the crowds could ever allow Him to.”

That was just one of the many times Jesse Eubanks’ words helped me see a deeper version of Christ, and I have a feeling you’ll love this conversation as much as I did.

“Productivity is not about doing more, it’s doing what is most important.”

Let me tell you right now – this conversation with Tanya Dalton shook me to my CORE. Tanya Dalton is a best-selling author, speaker, and nationally recognized productivity expert. Tanya serves as a growth strategist for female leaders. Her highly anticipated second book, On Purpose: The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success just released!

“We’re the already-reached, but not reaching for our Bibles.”

What powerful and convicting words. I always love chatting with the ladies at She Reads Truth and hearing about what they’re doing to develop a community of women who are committed to reading their Bibles together every day. Raechel Myers joined me on this episode and breaks down elements of the church calendar, such as Lent and Advent! S

*TRIGGER WARNING: This episode mentions sexual abuse, assault, and suicide. Please listen with caution.

“The walk has not been easy, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. With everything that comes with the walk, this is where I want to be.

No matter what we’ve been through, our walk with Christ is never easy – and Rosie Rivera’s story is a clear example of that

“Confession is not a ‘guilt’ confession. It’s an ‘aligning with God’ confession. I want to get in line with what is true so I am confessing that this has been untrue, and now I want to believe truly from this core place.”

Heather MacFadyen wrote online before Facebook existed. After years of blog entries, in 2013 she launched a trailblazing podcast called God Centered Mom. In 2018, the show rebranded to the Don’t Mom Alone podcast, and she has a book out NOW of the same name!

“The goal is not to have a perfect teenager…our goal was that they’d love Jesus and love their neighbor.”

This was the interview I needed. Dave and Ann Wilson, founders of a multi-campus church and family coaches, talk all about parenting and launching kids into their identity.

“These deep cries of our heart, these places of pain, anguish, hurt, anger. The place to bring that, first and foremost, is to God in prayer.”

Jamin Goggin serves as a pastor at Mission Hills Church in San Marcos, California. Back in 2017, Jamin released the book “The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb” with his co-author Kyle Strobel.

“Jesus came as a teacher to give us new mental maps to reality so that we can follow Him, live under His teaching, and show up to reality in such a way that we flourish and we thrive and we have eternal life.”

What a beautiful reminder from today’s guest, John Mark Comer. John Mark Comer is the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and the bestselling author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and recently released Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies that Sabotage Your Peace.

30 years ago, Amy Grant released her iconic album Heart In Motion, which launched her career into new heights. Her music is a huge reason for the rise of the contemporary Christian genre and became the first artist in Christian music to have a platinum record. This is Amy’s story of being on the other side of Heart In Motion.

My very first kids’ book is officially out in the world! God Made You To Be You released yesterday and I am so proud of this work. People have asked what inspired me to write a children’s book and it was actually the book I released last October, You Be You! Chapter 8 of You Be You is all about blooming where you’re planted, and that chapter sparked an idea for sharing this message with children. I want the kids in your life to know that God made them with a purpose to fulfill, and it’s important to their friends, family, and community.

A true and powerful statement from today’s guest, Curt Thompson. Curt is a professional psychiatrist with who I became friends recently after joining his confessional community. I was so blown away by his community and the work he’s doing to help people tell their stories more truly.

My guest for The Happy Hour #429 is Skye Jethani. Skye Jethani is the host of The Holy Post podcast and an author of several incredible books, including What If Jesus Was Serious? He was also a writer for Christianity Today, and currently writes daily devotionals. He currently lives outside of Chicago with his wife and three children.

Jackie Hill Perry is back for The Happy Hour #428! Most of you know Jackie but if you’re new around here, Jackie Hill Perry is a faithful follower of Jesus, author, and speaker. She recently released her newest book Holier Than Thou which I absolutely devoured!

My guest for The Happy Hour #427 is Clarissa Moll. Clarissa Moll is an award-winning writer who helps grieving people find flourishing after loss. She co-hosts Christianity Today’s “Surprised by Grief” podcast and hosts hope*writers’ “The Writerly Life” podcast where she encourages writers to craft their own joyful new stories. Clarissa lives in a cute Stars Hollow look-alike town in New England with her four children.