Embrace Podcast

A message Andrea received on Instagram inspired this topic for the last episode of Embrace Podcast's 2nd Season! It lead to questions like - can people outside the faith experience happiness - yes. Can they be moral people - yes. But Andrea uses Philippians 2:1-4 to describe how we can differently encourage and serve others since we are united in Christ. He calls us to, with humility, even value others higher than ourselves. God has helped me see clearly, faithfully follow him, and love others deeply. If you're on the fence in your faith journey then this one's for you! If you're considering having a closer relationship with God - let me tell you, it only makes it better, I promise! And the best part is this… you're always one decision away from a totally different life.

This is another Bible-head episode, if you're looking for that then you're in the right place! Carrie is a female that's on a mission with True & Lovely Co to equip women and shake up traditional church grounds. We're used to men dominating the field of teaching scripture context and deeply studying God's word. Her comment, “women are for more than just childcare,” kind of shows the vibe of this interview! Theology and actually understanding what you're reading is so valuable, especially if you are really getting out there and want to defend as a Christian why you believe what you believe. When I received the True & Lovely Co book - let me tell you I instantly saw how beautiful it was and made me want to sit down and explore the colorful and thought-out pages. If you're looking for a Bible study this is a great one! @trueandlovelyco

What started as a school project, Megan created an Instagram page to begin to encourage girls live for Jesus. Follow @shelivespurposefully - it's full of informative carousels, relatable reels, and basically helps you shift your mindset from being rooted ‘in the world' to feeling ‘in the spirit' on the daily. As Megan was in the engagement season during the recording (but is married now!) she talks a lot about not settling. It shows that her followers trust her because they DM and ask her advice about personal situations, and that can get pretty intense! Ultimately, she longs to guide them in walking purposefully and seeing God in even the most practical things. She shares her testimony about chasing perfectionism as a pastor's kid to finally graduating to a more mature understanding of God after her faith was tested when she was young.

I mean, I knew Anne's company “Library 4 Kiddos” was going well; that's why we had her on! But now picture her leading an interactive story time in a city library with SEVENTY-FIVE toddlers. Parents are lining up for membership and are on waitlists to get access to her weekly Zoom read-alongs and children booklists. Anne knows libraries can be an intimidating space for parents. Where to start? What's age appropriate? Listen to this episode and see what current trends to stay away from. For example, you wouldn't find her recommending a book that portrays evil as something good - which is surprisingly popular these days! She shares about her evolving faith and journey to marrying Samuel Sey, a Ghanian-Canadian Christian Blogger.

Lead Worship Pastor at Wellspring Church NYC, Patrick keeps it light and thought-provoking while thoroughly discussing why Christians are known for singing to God - which is unique to any other religion out there! Even if you've never been a “singing-in-church-kinda-person” - no problem! He guides us how to pray through the process and start to be more open in public. No matter what's going on in our life circumstances, corporate worship creates space to connect with other believers and hear from God.

Jessie is a 12-time published author that's on a mission to make resources for young girls in her Life, Love and God Series. Some titles include books called, “Crushes: Why Guys don't have to make or break you,” Family: How to love yours and help them like you back,” and “Unashamed: Overcoming secret sins no girl wants to talk about.” The titles say it all! In our interview we discuss not only the benefits of growing up in today's world like how much opportunity and education they have access to, and how much encouragement they have to follow their dreams. But also the the hardships of Generation Z ('97-2010 birth yrs) and Gen Alpha (starting 2010's) like the social media influence, stress and pressure on them to be perfect, and how much more they're exposed to then millennials (80's-'96) ever were. If you are looking to mentor and guide younger women to Jesus whether it's face to face or online - or you are raising young children, you gotta check out this episode!

She runs Christian Girls P.O.P (stands for Purpose, Obedience and Prayer) a digital online ministry for young girls and a teaching podcast. The content she creates is easy to understand and practical, rooted in the word and focused on the young girls heart and the battles they face. This interview is honest, vulnerable, and spicy! Stephanie shares her testimony and how growing up she was dealing with parents separating, suicidal thoughts, and emotionally abusive relationships. Being raised in church, she smoothed things over like everything was ok but on the inside she was broken and lost. Re-dedicating her life to Christ in 2013 changed everything and God worked wonders in her heart compelling her to teach Bible-basics to girls that had a “rachet and messy” story like hers.

We're here to talk all about GRACE! How is grace a gift to us? Host Andrea Ager Montalvo sits down again with Stephanie Bright as she continues her redeeming faith story with the theme of, “I thought I was too far gone, but His grace said otherwise.” Romans 2:4 says that it's actually God's kindness that leads us to repentance and Hebrews 4:16 reminds us that our confidence comes from the throne of God's grace. Lots of studious research and note-taking were done before this one, and don't think it's going to bore you to sleep because they are diving deep while having fun!

Emma Dotter is passionate about our generation knowing the Bible and how to study it! She's a content creator that writes, podcasts and makes videos to help equip her followers in truth and love. Andrea was shocked and inspired by how much scripture she's written on her heart and can reference at the drop of a hat! The main topic in this episode is how we can get our hearts aligned with God's & recognize who we are in light of who God is. Creator vs creation. Father vs. child of God. When Emma was thirteen, she prayed for a hunger for God's word - and it's obvious by hearing our convo that he answered that prayer 10x over. Her goal is to ask big life questions, always be learning and live a set-apart life that points others to Jesus.

Lindsey Strickler is the Marketing and Media Director for the nonprofit FAITH RXD. Their mission is to unite and strengthen the fitness community to live for Christ, share His love, and serve the world: just awesome. Lindsey describes in depth the kind of friendships that come out of local meet-ups and how natural it is for the people that want to become leaders to get mentored by other rooted Christians and strong athletes that meet at the faith workouts at CrossFit gyms. Halfway through the interview it was actually Lindsey's counter-cultural views on purity and intentional dating that stole the show. Her personal reflection that, “There is so much purpose in singleness,” in her long-term chapter of holding high-to-the-sky standards for men and saving herself for marriage was the biggest take-away. This conversation shows that having a deep love for God helps us want to honor him in all facets of our life and find contentment in each season.

If you've ever struggled with why you workout, what to eat and how you see yourself in the mirror, this episode of Embrace Podcast is for you! Charissa deep-dives into her personal training and nutrition experience that lead her into the world of body building and earning her bikini pro card. She struggled with unhealthy eating habits and body shaming that lead her to pursue other fitness avenues and the “work hard and be proud of yourself” environment of a CrossFit gym. Her recent 2019 conversion into the Christian faith and finally surrendering her life to God both changed her heart and her worldview. She started seeing her purpose more clearly, and appreciating the way God wired her and the gifts he gave her. Her motive for creating the “Christ-Centered Body Image” course is to empower women to see themselves the way God sees them.

Founder of “The Cheru Challenge” Jenny Jones had God-sized dreams of using her influence in CrossFit to benefit and change lives of children across the globe that were dying from lack of clean water. She's raising a small army of children, leading at Real Hope Community Church and raising $100,000 through World Vision. And…. How does she manage to do it all?! This episode personifies the painful reality of daily life that African youth live (picture a 6-year old walking 3-miles roundtrip) and the dangers they normally face to get the dirty pond water their villages depend on. Coming full-circle, Jenny explains the solution to the problem and the generosity, passion and kindness people show even though they'll never get to meet the people on the receiving end. Tune in to find out how kettlebell swings, squats and lots of running are making an astonishing impact.

A tribute conversation honoring the life of Becky Conzelman. This episode paints a picture of how well she loved and what she was all about - and that's Jesus. Jim speaks vulnerably and lovingly of his late wife and how his family got through her death while doing their best to trust in God's sovereignty. This is a family update for the FAITH RXD community (which together they Co-Founded in 2013) that blew up and connected athletes worldwide for the gospel. Re-living favorite memories of an intentional friendship and Jim sharing thoughts on recent inspiration “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortland. Brainstorming five ways to help guide your children in their faith walk and foster strong relationships with them that models integrity and builds trust.

Putting himself out there as pastor, evangelist and CrossFit gym owner, Kelly Barcol shares his own formation of faith and being in awe of what God's doing through service and building authentic relationships. “One man, one time,” is all it takes to invite someone to Jesus and eventually even into an actual church building. Kelly expands on the lasting results of a youth mentorship program that fundraised and poured $150k into 10 boys that were “least-likely to graduate from high school” over the course of six years at CrossFit Winnersville in Valdosta, GA. Kelly raves about the character transformations and baptisms he got to see in the Josh Sullivan Program through hard daily workouts, after-school tutoring and a tight-knit community.

Salim Muslimani has an incredible story converting into the Christian faith. He shares about his upbringing that was full of drugs and violence, which lead to chasing the wrong things in life. His whole world flipped when he started going to church and started having a real, authentic, soul-changing relationship with Christ. “Straight Talk with Salim” is a passionate teaching podcast where he features episodes like “Who is Jesus” and breaks down difficult to understand Bible verses. He also offers practical tips on how to pray and involve your family in faith conversations and worship.

Jessica Lucero is a USA Weightlifting National Record Holder in the 59kg weight class, and shares about her new transition going from a lifetime of competitions to becoming a Coach & starting a Youth Competitors Program called Uplift Weightlifting! We reminisce on hilarious feel-like-you're-there training stories and how important your mindset is in the world of strength training. She proudly represented America's Stars and Stripes 3x at the World Championships as she chased the Olympic dream. We discuss motherhood, postpartum athletics and reflect on our mentorship with late Becky Conzelman and how to invite God into your athletic careers through prayer and Bible study.

This is all bonus material, a conversational follow-up to “Episode 5: What to Expect in Pregnancy & Birthing Strong.” We discuss what “laying in” means and how to let go of the preconceived expectations of our bodies being able to ‘bounce right back'. Acceptance, staying positive during sleep deprivation and leaning on Jesus are all topics of conversation!

Nast Whitson is a runner, personal trainer, CrossFit gym owner, BirthFit coach and most importantly was MY doula! She bridges the gap between fitness and birthing in a way that empowers mamas through her course Birthing Strong. We discuss the spiritual side of the birthing process, and why it was so intimidating for me personally. We talk about how playing worship music during your delivery can help you release control and surrender to the process! In this episode she offers advice, sets realistic expectations and helps navigate through a woman's “Game Day.”

If you're a digital creator or consider yourself "influenced" by your social media favs - you'll relate to these conversations about what it takes to build an online brand! As a Counselor, Stefanie Rouse helps singles "find the one that God has for them," and couples thrive in their engagement and marriage. Stefanie says her ministry is a “diary of Jesus saving her.” She is known for her Christ-centered-relationship focus, breathtaking photography and her willingness to be vulnerable. Andrea and Stefanie met at a Christian Influencer event with Louie Giglio, what a moment they'll never forget!

Andrea interviews Caitlin Zick, the Director of Moral Revolution and discusses everything from purity in Christian culture to swapping personal stories about what dating looked like for them and how to invite God into the process. A good quote, “The truth is so foreign and the lies are so familiar,” when talking about entertainment and how confusing it can be for young-adult believers that are trying to navigate the dating scene. Watch out- this episode will make you BLUSH!

My first episode of Embrace Podcast is a personal update and a deep dive into a recent trial I experienced. I share about my recent loss during the 11th week of pregnancy and the prayerful support I experienced from our online community afterwards. Show Notes & Quotes: “God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.” - John Piper “Honest, in-the-moment prayer with God is not something that needs to be sterile and sweet. It doesn't need to be done in a particular way or offered with the best kinds of words… Whether we are in deep soul distress or dealing with daily frustrations, our Lord is the one who encounters his people as we cry out to him.” Ann Swindell - @RisenMotherhood

Autumn Miles is everyone's best friend and hype girl. She is the founder of Autumn Miles Ministries, an organization devoted to spiritually challenging the way women think. We chat about the power of prayer, living a life of faith for your kids, and her family's adoption journey. She is a passionate advocate for domestic violence victims, women in ministry, and adoption and has a Spirit-led joy that is contagious. www.autumnmiles.com

Vaneetha Risner's story is one you will not want to miss. She is a grace filled woman who identifies as a "Sufferer," through her journey with polio, loss, divorce, and anger with God. Her spiritual maturity to walk us through our suffering and equipping us to meet others in their places of despair is a true gift. We all try to wrap our lives in the most beautiful wrapping paper, but it's not until it gets torn off that we achieve the true gift of what God has for us. www.Vaneetha.com

Cody is a Christian, Husband, Dad, Teacher, Author and Coach and has learned to pursue being strong for those tasks that God has prepared him for. Viewing our body as something to steward is the first step in finding a lifestyle that is sustainable and not getting roped into the diets, the Instagram, and someone else's standards of what you should be. We had a great chat about these things and Cody's book, Strong For Your Tasks. Check him out at www.CodyWieler.com  

Jody Paar is a moving storyteller who gives all the glory to God in sharing her testimony. Jody is a survivor of human trafficking and trauma and knows what it feels like to be paralyzed by fear. But she is NOT her past and God has given her a beautiful future. Author of BOSS and advocate for women and children, Jody's story leads us to the saving grace of Jesus and the healing power of forgiveness. @thejodypaar jodypaar.com

Does he.... well, after studying a bit, we think he does! Since God gives famous athletes a bigger platform does that mean he cares more about their fitness than the rest of us? In this episode Andrea goes through 1 Timothy 4:8 and how physical value is of some importance because it's temporary and just affects us only here on earth; and contrasts it with how important our spiritual fitness is, knowing it will last forever. Does it change when you exercise intensely for a season of your life and then eventually scale back? In the end, we are called to take care of ourselves because our bodies are a temple. If glorifying God is important to us, then our goal should be to make choices that will steer us away from sickness and point us towards wellness so that we can truly live out our callings for him.

Today we have Kristin Jones who is a close friend that I've done many Bible studies with over the years. She has tons of faith-based experience in non profits in Bangladesh where she met her husband and had 3 kids. She's super interesting and always growing and changing. I'm struck by her humility with her giftings and how she is always trying to serve by learning from others. If you want to get in touch with her, you can DM her on Instagram @k_factor

Pat Burke is a 6x CrossFit Games competitor and a gym-owner that lived and breathed fitness for over a decade. For years, they were daily workout partners and as sponsored athletes prepared to throw down on CrossFit's biggest stage. Their friendship consisted of heavy weightlifting, high-skill gymnastics like handstand walking, legless rope climbs, and even swimming in lakes in Colorado. But this conversation about FAITH and how much Pat has gotten back to his roots over the last year was the first of its kind. They dive deep into how he started bringing his family to church recently, how his worldview has changed and what it looks like to let go of control and simply trust the process as he starts reading the Bible. This is an episode full of reminiscing, story-telling and a God-honoring shift of perspective. IG: @prburke

Brenna Milleville started a t-shirt design company in her home and it's now exploded into the full fledged clothing company, Elly and Grace. Her inspirational and bible-based T's are an amazing reminder of God's grace throughout the day. We also dive into her struggle with infertility and what it's like working with your spouse (something we have in common!) Check our her clothing line at ellyandgrace.com or on IG: @ellyandgrace

Inka Mathew is the designer and creator behind 139MADE. God placed a burden on her heart to join the fight against human trafficking. Her apparel company partners with anti trafficking organizations to raise awareness and funds to rescue victims around the world. Her designs are as beautiful as her heart and we hope her story inspires action and education. www.139MADE.com

Andrea answers questions from her Instagram and in true story-teller fashion lets people in on the behind the scenes to their burning questions. Why don't you talk about CrossFit, you should! Do you think you'd ever compete again? And our personal favorite, "Are you a born-again Christian or something" and other loaded questions she brings life to. Andrea tells the story of why she got baptized in 2015 and what a night and day difference her years of competing were before and after. Before they were filled with an "I started from the bottom and now I'm here" attitude and the rest she was filled with gratitude for even having the chance to be in her own shoes on the competition floor. Perspectives change as we grow, and this is a spiritual journey that's worth tuning in for!

Carrie Beamer is a fellow CrossFit Competitor who I loved training with. We get to the bottom of why we even stick to competing and her upcoming CrossFit Games. She also loves Jesus and tells us how He has freed her from the perils of perfection and the doors he opens and closes. Carrie also has a wedding coming up! We talk about Christ-centered engagement and working and training together with her fiance, Mitchell. IG: @carrielynnandmitchel

Matt Brown is the founder of THINK E(ternity). Think E aims to provide resources to point people towards the fulfillment we can only get from God. He's an author, podcaster, and Dad who wears many other hats. He has interviewed so many people in the faith including Greg Laurie, Christine Caine, Daryl Strawberry. We chat about his new book "Truth Plus Love" and about finding his fulfillment in Christ. @evangelistmatt ThinkE.org

Ben Alderman is a competitor, functional fitness trainer, creator of the Iron Mile and gym owner…but mostly a great friend of mine! We dive into what God is teaching him lately and how freaking busy he is but that God can even teach him things through the struggle. He has grown his family through adoption and we talk about his passion for it. He began The Overcome Project, a faith based non-profit he started to help foster/homeless kids build relationships and have a fun outlet through CrossFit gyms. You can find out more about Ben here: IG:ironmilefitness @the_overcome_project www. theovercomeproj.org

Nikki is an old friend from my LA CrossFit days. She's the founder of The Empowered Mama which helps pregnant and postpartum women work out safely and create new habits. She is also mom to amazing 3 year old, Bode! We chat about her faith journey, how to even start reading the Bible and how she's brought that into her parenting. Nikki was also so gracious to share her story of pregnancy and the decision she faced about whether to continue with her pregnancy or not.  You can find out more about Nikki on IG: @nikkirica @the.empowered.mama and at www.nikkirica.com

Rainy Worzella is a friend, mentor and self taught theologian. She was instrumental in growing my faith using facts, history, logic, and apologetics. The amount of knowledge this woman possesses has been a true blessing to me and so many others. Her class, Drive By Theology, has discipled new and matured Christians through the Bible and the very real facts that our faith is based on. Pull up a notebook and a cup of coffee for this one. And stay tuned through the end where we chat through Philippians 4:4. You can reach out to Rainy at: rainydayw@gmail.com

Angela Donadio is back for part 2! We get to talk more about Angela's personal story and her books "Fearless" and "Astounded." Fearless follows the biblical stories of different women and the impact they can have on us today. I really found myself relating to these women having brought them to life in this book. Serving women is a true passion of Angela's, she even spent some of the interview speaking wisdom into my life. We chat about how to trust the Lord through trials, finding the miracles, and being an adventure junkie. www.angeladonadio.com IG: @angeladonadio

Angela Donadio is a powerhouse of gifts. From pastor, to musician, to advocate, to author, her life experience is such an inspiration to me. In our first episode, we talk about Voice of the Voiceless. As its founder, Angela works in remote parts of Africa to empower rural women through micro-enterprise opportunities and the message of the Gospel. Angela walks the walk and with such humility, giving all honor to God. You will love the stories she tells of church planting and evangelism outside her culture and comfort zone. Get ready for some "wow moments!" www.angeladonadio.com IG: @angeladonadio

Kirsten Sandoval and I met by way of her amazing food brand Mesa De Vida. Kirsten uses her extraordinary chef skills to whip up sauces from a variety of world cuisines. Not only are they delicious, but they fit into our Whole30 challenges, paleo diet and can be found at Whole Foods! But once we chatted with Kirsten, we realized why we really loved this food. HER STORY! She started to take control of her health through the foods she chose to eat. This trickled down to how she wanted to be a healthy model for her daughter and also to create this brand of foods without all the processed nonsense. She believes in loving and honoring our bodies because we are so lucky to have them and I couldn't agree more!

It's a family affair today with last week's guest Dr. Karlie and her husband Brian Causey! Brian's story truly gets to the logic and soundness that our Christian faith is based upon. Brian is a director at a Seattle, Washington-based investment company and is a real brain. He was not raised in the church and we chat about his journey in search for truth. He's the author of Trading Gods where he tackles the big objections to faith raised by skeptics. Find out more about Brian and his writing at www.briancausey.com

Dr. Karli is an amazing friend and the creator of The Postpartum Restoration Plan. Our bodies were made to do amazing things and Dr. Karli is all about getting them MOVING (especially during and after pregnancy!) It was really tricky to know what was appropriate fitness while baby James was growing for 9 months, and how to get moving after he was born. Dr. Karlie breaks down how fitness changes by trimester and the importance of postpartum exercise and health. And what's more is how her faith plays into her passion for her helping others with their bodies.

Regan Long says she needs 10 more hours in her day, and after talking to her I see why! She is the strong force that this world needs. Mother of 5, author, advocate and creator of The Real Deal of Parenting, we got to cover so many great topics. So many that I know we are going to need a second interview someday. Regan gives all glory to God's perfect timing even when it hurts. She remarried her ex-husband, has written extensively on raising her kids amidst "just surviving", and is a pro-life and anti-trafficking advocate. You can check out more info below: @officialreganlong @therealdealofparentingofficial www.therealdealofparenting.com www.reganlong.com

This is a short little preview of the work Pam does to get your baby sleeping. She used baby James as an example and walked me through some ideas. It was invaluable to me and shows the value of getting a professional in your life.

Today we are getting down to sleep training business with Pam Snyder. Pam is the founder of Fruitful Families Coaching and specializes in sleep coaching for infants as well as family coaching for a holistic approach to parenting. I've got to tell you, we dive DEEP into my personal journey with a newborn and the challenges Pete and I have now encountered in our marriage. It's raw, it's real, and I hope it blesses you to hear. Pam's wisdom and grace changed me in 1 hour, you're gonna love it! We'll have a bonus episode specifically for sleep training for those mamma's out there who are in the thick of it or preparing to be. https://www.fruitfulfamiliescoaching.com/

We have best selling author Mary Marantz on today and we get to chat about her new book, Dirt. You've got to hear her story from her upbringing in a trailer of the West Virginia mountains and her faith journey in becoming a Yale law graduate. She encouraged me that God's past faithfulness demands our present trust that he will use our gifts. Mary's storytelling ability makes her a joy to talk and listen to. Get more info about Mary here: @marymarantz www.marymarantz.com

We've got a world traveling photographer and author of 6 books here today, Me Ra Koh. Her photography captures the beauty of humanity and it definitely reflects the beauty that Me Ra brings to her art.  Me Ra's new book “4 Minutes To Hear God's Voice” brings a really practical approach to trusting God with our big decisions. She also includes these disciplines in her family culture with her children whom she homeschools. I love a good teachable moment, and this episode is FULL of them. Get more info about Me Ra below! IG: @merakoh www.merakoh.com

Nicole and I accidentally went on Valentine's Day double date because I wasn't looking at my calendar, and it was honestly the best way to celebrate! Founder of Iridescent Women, Nicole aims to represent the diversity and uniqueness of women and speak to the relevant issues women face today. We chat about polarization among Christians and how we can take self transformation and make it God's transformation if we let Him lead. Nicole is a gifted leader and speaker and I continue to learn from her every time we meet up. Check out the work she is doing at www.iridescentwomen.com

We kick off with author, speaker, blogger and Boy Mom, Monica Swanson! She was pure joy to speak to. I don't know what was more refreshing, her heart or the cool Hawaiian breeze blowing behind her. We got real about having hope in raising your kids. She is a BOY MOM of 4 who is dedicated to raising her boys into men. I learned so much from this mom who is in the next life stage from me. Hearing that we need to let our faith be an example to our children was an amazing dose of wisdom. I know you're just going to love Monica's desire to raise children of character. Get to know Monica and her writing at: IG:@monicaswanson www.monicaswanson.com