Speak Healing Words

"All of us are born with a deep need of mothering."-Elizabeth BergetIn this tender and deeply meaningful conversation, Janell sits down with Elizabeth Berget to explore the sacred, unseen work of motherhood and how it reflects the nurturing, compassionate heart of God. Together, they talk about the beauty and exhaustion of caring for others, the quiet sacrifices mothers make, and the ways motherhood shapes us spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Whether you are a mother, have been mothered, or are longing for deeper healing and connection, this episode offers a gentle invitation to see love, presence, and caregiving through a sacred lens—and to discover the maternal heart of God woven through it all.

What if your body has been trying to tell you something?In this gentle Mental Health Awareness Week conversation, Janell explores the quiet connection between emotional health, the nervous system, and the body's wisdom. Through her personal cardiac healing journey and reflections on somatic awareness, “Listen to the Quiet Language of Your Body” invites emotionally weary women to slow down, notice their limits, and begin listening with compassion instead of shame.Your body is not your enemy.It may be carrying stories that need tenderness, rest, and healing.

What does it mean to surrender during a healing journey?In this gentle Mental Health Awareness Week conversation, Janell shares how her cardiac event became an invitation to stop striving, slow down, and listen to what her body and soul truly needed. “Healing Requires Surrender” explores the courage to release pressure, honor limits, and allow healing to happen slowly, honestly, and gently.If you are emotionally exhausted from trying to hold everything together, this episode is a reminder:You do not have to carry life alone.

"Rest is anything that connects your mind and body" (Tricia Hersey, The Nap MinistryIn this tender Mental Health Awareness Week conversation, Janell shares the hard-earned lesson her cardiac healing journey taught her: rest is not weakness. “Napping is Holy Work” explores the guilt many women carry around slowing down, the wisdom of listening to our bodies, and the sacred invitation to heal gently. If you are emotionally weary, exhausted, or struggling to give yourself permission to rest, this episode offers compassion, hope, and a softer way forward.

Strong women need rest, too. Rest is not weakness.Rest is wisdom.Your body was never designed to carry endless pressure without care, restoration, and gentleness.This Mental Health Awareness Week, may we release the guilt around slowing down and remember: healing often begins with rest. Visit Janell's revised and revitalized website: ⁠Heartlift Wellness⁠Join a community of thoughtful women on The Heartlifter Way: ⁠Heartlift Wellness on Substack⁠Order Janell's most recent book:⁠ Stronger Every Day

In this opening episode of our Mental Health Week Series, Janell invites emotionally weary women into a gentler way of carrying life. Together, we explore the quiet exhaustion so many women hold beneath the surface while trying to stay strong enough for everyone else. This conversation offers compassionate encouragement, emotional honesty, and spiritually grounded hope for women longing to be seen, supported, and less alone. If your heart feels heavy, overwhelmed, or tired from carrying too much in silence, this episode is a reminder that healing begins when we stop pretending we have to carry life alone.Visit Janell's revised and revitalized website: Heartlift WellnessJoin a community of thoughtful women on The Heartlifter Way: Heartlift Wellness on SubstackOrder Janell's most recent book: Stronger Every Day

"There's an accessible way to do mornings, a real way to do mornings, so that you can wake up to a life you love. In the hardest seasons of my life, I found a way to make mornings not just bearable, but beautiful."-Jennifer Dukes Lee, How To Love Your Morning: Faith-filled Habits to Build a Life of Joy and Purpose One Day At a TimeWhat if your mornings didn't feel rushed… but restored?In this gentle and practical conversation, I'm joined by bestselling author Jennifer Dukes Lee to explore how we can create vibrant morning rhythms in order to begin our days with intention, calm, and grace. Together, we talk about simple rhythms that help quiet the noise, center your heart, and create space for what matters most.If your mornings feel overwhelming or hurried, this episode offers a softer way forward.Come take a breath… and begin again.Visit Jennifer's website: Jennifer Dukes LeeDiscover Your Morning Archetype: What Am I?Claim Your Free Gifts: Order Jennifer's new bookFollow Jennifer on Instagram: Jennifer Dukes LeeListen to E219, Part 1, with Jennifer and Janell: Stuff I'd Only Tell GodListen to E220, Part 2, with Jennifer and Janell: Stuff I'd Only Tell God, Q & ARead an Excerpt from Jennifer's book: How To Love Your MorningMeet Janell at Heartlift Wellness on Substack: Yes! Subscribe to the Podcast + Leave a Review: Yes!

A Note: Formerly “Today's Heartlift with Janell,” this podcast is evolving into The Heartlifter Way—a gentler, more embodied path forward. If you've been here for a while, you may notice we're beginning again—gently. And I'm so glad you're here for what's next. Notice that we've started afresh with "Episode 1." Ending at Episode 365 and starting again at 1 is actually beautifully symbolic:365 → a full year, a full cycleEpisode 1 → a new beginningBegin again—gently.Welcome to Today's Inaugural EpisodeWhat if nothing is wrong with you?What if your body has been trying to care for you all along… and just hasn't been heard?In this opening episode of The Heartlifter Way, Janell Rardon invites you into a gentler way of living—one that doesn't rush, force, or overwhelm, but instead begins with awareness, compassion, and small, faithful steps.Together, you'll explore what it means to come home to yourself—connecting your thoughts, feelings, and body in a way that fosters safety and steadiness from within.You'll also be guided through a simple, calming practice to help you begin noticing your body with kindness.This is your starting place.A quiet beginning.A gentle path back to yourself.Visit Janell's refreshed, revitalized website: www.janellrardon.comBecome a vibrant, thoughtful member of our online community: Heartlift Wellness on Substack

Feeling stretched thin or spiritually dry? In this episode, we sit down with author Alyson Pryor to explore the beauty and practicality of personal retreat. Drawing from her book Come Away and Rest, Alyson shares how creating intentional space with God isn't just for the few—it's possible even in the middle of a busy life. You'll learn simple, meaningful ways to step away, quiet the noise, and reconnect with God's presence. Whether you have an hour or a full day, this conversation will gently invite you into deeper rest, renewal, and intimacy with Him.Read more on Alyson's website and get her free personal retreat guide: Meet AlysonFind Alyson on Instagram: @alyson.pryorRate and Review the podcast, please: Apple Music Rate and Review the podcast, please: Spotify

Your Genesis 2:7 Beginning is a guided audio meditation created by Janell, rooted in the Heartlifter Way pillar of Retrain Your Brain. In this sacred pause, you are invited to journey back to your very beginning—when God breathed His life into you. As you return to this origin moment, you gently release survival patterns and awaken to a deeper truth: you were created to flourish. Let this meditation help you reconnect with your God-breathed essence, where your truest self is restored, renewed, and alive again.

"Wayfinding is the cognitive and corporeal process and experience of locating, following, or discovering a route through and to a given space. It involves both thinking and physically moving through space. It isn't about signs, it's about HOW people navigate from Point A to Point B. It involves: orientation, route decision, route monitoring, and designation recognition" (travelwayfinding.com).On today's show, Spiritual Director, Deborah Gregory, author of "Spiritual Wayfinding: 33 Walking Meditations for Navigating Life with Embodied Wisdom," shares how a fractured ankle taught her to walk, both physically and spiritually, with God in fresh, new ways. She's named each of her 33 walks and invites us to experience the childlike wonder of silly walks, the freedom of yuck walks, the power of Poohstick walks, and so much more!Grab your tennis shoes and walk into a whole new way of finding God's love in your world.Links and Resources from this episodeVisit Deborah's website: Flourish Spiritual DirectionOrder Deb's new book: Spiritual WayfindingRevisit the podcast archives: E244 Jake Eagle, "How A.W.E. Can Heal Your Heart"E214 Lacy Finn Borgo, "Living with Childlike Faith," Part 1E215 Lacy Finn Borgo, "Living with Childlike Faith," Part 2Visit Heartlift Wellness of Substack: More ResourcesRate and Review the Podcast: THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

"Most days in Jesus' life were ordinary. Most of ours, too."-Amy Lauren PeelerThis week's guest, Amy Peeler, author of Ordinary Time: The Season of Growth, writes, "Normal is necessary. And routines are for things that bear repeating. The church calendar is marked by feasts and fasts, by holy days and special seasons. But more than half the church year is marked by what the church has called Ordinary Time, a period where we grow and mature in Christ."I know for a fact that I underestimate the value of ordinary time. I live for "the next big trip" or "next big event." Or at least I used to. Today my guest, Amy Peeler, shares the great value and necessity of embracing the ordinary. Visit Amy's website: amypeeler.comOrder Amy's newest book: Ordinary TimeListen to Amy's sermons: Rev. Dr. Amy PeelerListen to St. Patrick's Breastplate (Hymn): Porter's GateRead the Nicene Creed hereListen to E290, Part 1: Trevor HudsonListen to E291, Part 2: Trevor HudsonSupport the Show: DonateJoin Heartlift Wellness on SubstackFor more heartlifting resources: janellrardon.com

What does it mean to restory your life? Mary DeMuth, literary agent, author, and podcaster, joins us today to talk about her newest book, Restory Your Life: How Jesus Reframes Your Past, Rewrites Your Present, and Redefines Your Future.Mary writes, "Maybe your story feels too messy. Maybe the wounds of your past still haunt you, keeping you stuck in cycles of pain, regret, or doubt. Or maybe you're just exhausted―longing for purpose and meaning but unsure of how to move forward. But what if the very parts of your story you'd rather forget are the ones God wants to redeem?"Links and Resources from this episodeLearn more about Mary's writing and work: marydemuth.comVisit Mary's Etsy store: marydemuthartFind Janell and Join the Heartlifting Community:Heartlift Wellness on SubstackJanell's website: janellrardon.comOrder Stronger Every Day: 9 Tools for an Emotionally Healthy You and download a free Study Guide.Support the podcast and leave a review here.

"What if fruitfulness wasn't something you had to strive for? What if it ripened naturally from a life rooted in the True Vine?"-Bette Dickinson, The Art of Vinemaking: Spiritual Flourishing in a Productivity-Driven CultureIn a culture that equates fruitfulness with productivity, The Art of Vinemaking offers a countercultural invitation: to move at the pace of abiding rather than striving. Join Bette Dickinson as she guides us into a vineyard where we learn the life-giving rhythms from the vine itself. Read more about Bette and her work: The Art of VinemakingSupport the podcast by becoming a paid subscriber to my Substack: Heartlift Wellness

Ned Bustard, author of St. Patrick the Forgiver, joins us today to share about the fascinating life of the real St. Patrick and to help us discover a remarkable story of love and forgiveness. As we move through the Lenten season, it is important to pause and ask, "What makes forgiveness so difficult, and is it even possible?"Ned Bustard says, "Forgiveness is a gift. It is our calling. It is our job. We can't love if we can't forgive."St. Patrick teaches us that it is "only by the strength of Heaven" that we can ever forgive.Read more about Ned's writing and artistry: www.worldsendimages.com/aboutLearn more about Square Halo Books and Conference: www.squarehalobooks.com/

Send a textEver feel the ground shift under your feet and wonder how to keep standing? We sit down with author and pastor Courtney Ellis, author of Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief, to explore a surprising guide to hope: birds. From mockingbirds that remix the sounds of the neighborhood to sparrows that sing through storms, we unpack how creation itself teaches us to live with uncertainty, grieve honestly, and find rest without checking out of real life.Courtney shares why not knowing can be merciful, especially when our brains crave a full map we're not built to carry. We talk about spiritual practices that keep us present—taking the next small step, looking up instead of spiraling, and honoring the quiet work that rarely trends. Sparrows become a lens for ordinary dignity in a world chasing peacock shine and platform pressure. If you've ever felt invisible, her reminder that “God sees” lands like water in dry soil.This is a warm, grounded conversation for anyone navigating grief, change, or the relentless hum of “do more.” If you're craving presence over performance, mercy over mastery, and a faith sturdy enough for uncertain days, press play. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe to new episodes, and leave a review to help others find our community.Visit Courtney's website: Courtney EllisOrder Courtney's book: Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textWhat if the simple practice of looking out your window could change the way you carry grief? We sit down with Pastor Courtney Ellis, author of Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief," to explore how everyday birdwatching becomes a practice of attention that steadies the soul, awakens faith, and gently leads us toward hope. From the first "spark bird" that turns curiosity into a habit, to the quiet patience of waiting for wings to appear, we trace a path that's grounded, embodied, and surprisingly accessible—even for restless minds.Courtney opens up about losing her grandfather and how choosing to be a granddaughter before a professional reshaped her approach to mourning. Together, we name the cultural gap around grief and offer kinder rituals for moving through loss without rushing past it. Along the way, birds become teachers: vultures as tender witnesses and “priests of the wild,” goldfinches as bright messengers in hard seasons, and even city pigeons as underrated icons of resilience and beauty. Poetry from Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver weaves through the conversation, adding language that can hold both sorrow and joy.If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs gentle hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Tell us: what's your spark bird?Visit Courtney's website: Courtney EllisOrder Courtney's book: Looking Up!Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textA quiet lie can steer a whole life. We sat down with Pastor Gary Thomas, author of Living the Life You Were Reborn to Live: Dismantling 12 Lies That Rob Your Intimacy with God, to name the deceptions that slip into our thinking, even inside church walls, and to rebuild a vision of intimacy with God that can weather real storms. From the first moments, we trace how distraction has become the pattern of our age and why a renewed mind is the only way back to delight, trust, and fruitful obedience.Gary takes us behind his new book and the intentional choice of the word “dismantling”—a call to active agency in pulling down structures that block spiritual growth. We explore how small, untested myths shape daily choices, then map that insight onto spiritual half-truths that leave us frustrated with God. The conversation turns tender and bold when we address “family first.” Jesus warned that allegiance to him can divide households; anchoring identity in the Father's love frees us from chasing validation in our children's responses and equips us to love without bargaining. That shift releases unnecessary shame and restores the courage to hold truth with humility.We also dive into control and the lost art of spiritual adventure. When we surrender outcomes and stay alert to the Spirit's movement, God often uses surprising agents to answer our prayers. Finally, we reframe peace. It isn't situational—stacked on health, money, and harmony—but relational, grounded in the presence of Christ who holds us when the house shakes. If fear imagines futures without God, peace remembers who is with us right now. If this conversation helped you see your life and faith with fresh eyes, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Follow Gary Thomas on Instagram: Gary Thomas BooksVisit Gary's Website: Gary Thomas Get the shownotes: SHOWNOTESSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textStephanie Watson, author and founder of "The Table," shares from her new book, Ruth's Need for a Redeemer: A Bible Study on Loss, Loyalty, and Unexpected Love. We linger on Ruth's crossroads moment: return to what's familiar, or risk the unknown with God. It's the same decision we all might face when our Moab feels safe, but our Bethlehem is calling. In Part 2, we pick up our conversation with Stephanie Watson, author of Ruth's Need for a Redeemer, to explore Ruth's bold decision to cling to Ruth—not to her own comfort, and to cling to God's promises lived through Naomi's life. The scene is raw: Naomi urges a return, grief narrowing her vision; Orpah turns back. Ruth stays, and that single act reframes what healthy attachment looks like in a world that often confuses strength with self-sufficiency.Press play for a fresh, grounded take on choice, grief, community, and redemption. If this resonates, share it with a friend, start a table, and leave a rating and review to help others find the show. What are you clinging to today?Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textStephanie Watson, author and founder of "The Table," shares from her new book, Ruth's Need for a Redeemer: A Bible Study on Loss, Loyalty, and Unexpected Love. We linger on Ruth's crossroads moment: return to what's familiar, or risk the unknown with God. It's the same decision we all might face when our Moab feels safe, but our Bethlehem is calling. Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textNew year, new courage. We're stepping across the threshold with two clarifying questions—what is mine to hold and what is mine to let go—and using them to untangle people-pleasing, set clearer boundaries, and build a steadier inner life. A surprising health scare pressed pause and brought sharp focus to the survival patterns that once kept me safe, especially fawning: the reflex to merge, appease, and smooth over to protect connection.I share how I discovered fawning, what it looks like in everyday moments at work, home, and church, and why it's not manipulation but a nervous system strategy. We unpack detachment as compassionate clarity, not distance, and explore how small practices—breath, body awareness, short honest statements—help us move from automatic yes to thoughtful choice. You'll hear how trauma and memory shape quick reactions in the amygdala, and how unfawning invites a slow rewiring toward psychological flexibility, agency, and peace.Listen to E67, AutonomyListen to E149, Reimagining Our Personal Sense of AgencyRead more from Dr. Ingrid Clayton: FawningSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textStanding at the threshold of a new year, we ask a hard, freeing question: what is mine to hold, and what is mine to let go? We look back on a year of conversations that shaped our hearts, then lean into a fresh practice of healthy detachment that protects, rather than weakens, secure attachment. With Karen Casey's Let Go Now as a guide, we explore how choosing to act instead of react creates the quiet where love grows—and how stepping away from chaos can be the most compassionate move in the room.If you're ready to unhook from other people's storms, honor your limits, and carry a softer, truer strength into 2026, this conversation is your companion. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find their way to peace.Support the ShowBecome a tax-deductible Circle of Trust SupporterSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textA Christmas Eve Meditation for You, MomThe day is loud, the list is long, and yet a quiet song can steady the heart. We pause for a short Christmas Eve heartlift, reading Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55, The Voice translation) and letting its courage seep into the places where we feel stretched thin. This isn't soft-focus sentiment. Mary's prayer names a great reversal: the proud scattered, the lowly lifted, the hungry filled. That vision speaks to the kitchen, the table, and the tangled emotions of hosting and holding a family together.We share the context behind the Magnificat using The Voice translation, then read it slowly so each line can land. Along the way, we draw out why these ancient words are so modern: God's attention rests on the overlooked, dignity comes to those who serve in silence, and mercy doesn't expire with the season. If you've ever felt like your holiday labor is invisible, this reflection says what the gospel says—God notices you. The blessing is not reserved for stained glass; it meets you in flour-dusted hands and late-night wrapping sessions.You'll also hear a simple practice: craft your own Magnificat for the day. Start with gratitude, name a place where you long for God's reversal, and end with trust that mercy endures from generation to generation. Use it as a breath prayer between tasks or as a centering line before guests arrive. By the end, expect to feel seen, steadied, and ready to step back into the celebration with a fuller heart.If this Christmas heartlift encourages you, share it with a friend who needs calm today, subscribe for future reflections, and leave a quick review so more weary hearts can find their way here. Merry Christmas, Heartlifter.Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textA cave near Bethlehem. Stone, straw, and a light that still reaches us. We follow Saint Nicholas's quiet pilgrimage and find our own footing in a season when headlines blur, and hearts grow tired. The story of Emmanuel, God with us, becomes more than a lyric—it turns into a lifeline you can hold, a place you can enter, a presence you can trust when love feels heavy and the calendar won't slow down.We open with Nicholas's years near Beit Jala, exploring how a humble cave shaped his generous life. From there, we turn to the liturgies of Doug McKelvey's Every Moment Holy, to name the ache of too much information and too little strength. What if the most faithful move is to honor creaturely limits? What if justice and mercy begin with yielding the unbearable to the One whose shoulders can carry it? That shift reframes compassion, helping us respond to real needs that intersect our actual lives—family tensions, impatient lines, neighbors on edge—without going numb.Along the way, we offer simple prompts to list your griefs, discern your small share in God's redemptive work, and carry a single phrase of Scripture through the week. The goal isn't to escape reality; it's to live it with Emmanuel—fully God, fully human—beside you.If this speaks to you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs rest, and leave a quick review to help others find this space. What burden are you ready to place on God's stronger shoulders today?Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textWhat if love didn't start with your effort but with God's presence moving toward you? This guided, unhurried reading of 1 John 4:7–21 explores a radical claim—God is love—and shows how that truth can steady anxious hearts, transform relationships, and make faith visible in everyday life.We walk through the text line by line, hearing how the sending of Jesus redefines love as concrete and self-giving. Together we consider why living in love means living in God, how the Spirit anchors our assurance, and what it looks like to “live like Jesus” in the world. The passage dismantles the fear of punishment, replacing it with confidence rooted in perfect love that drives out fear. Then it turns the spotlight on practice: if we say we love God, we must love the people we can see—especially the difficult ones. That challenge is not a burden to earn approval but an overflow of being loved first.Along the way, we pause for reflection. What is your picture of God? How does that picture shape your capacity to receive love and extend it to others? With a simple invitation to open your hands and welcome a fresh touch of grace, this episode blends scripture, stillness, and honest questions that lead to action. If you've been craving a faith that feels less like striving and more like abiding, these words offer both clarity and comfort.Listen and share with someone who needs courage today. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a review to help others find it, and tell us: where do you want perfect love to quiet fear in your life?Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a text"Understanding is the essence of love" (Thich Nhat Hanh).The quiet before wonder can change everything. We move through Advent by stepping into the story of Saint Nicholas—not the myth, but the young man whose hidden generosity saved daughters from slavery and modeled a love that protects dignity. From that spark, we explore how real love is trained, not assumed: a discipline of attention that seeks to understand first, then act with compassion, joy, and freedom.I share why understanding is the essence of love and how it becomes a practical way forward when relationships feel stuck. Drawing on Thich Nhat Hanh's wisdom, we test our affection with two questions: Does this love bring joy, and does it protect freedom? Then we get tactical with Nonviolent Communication, reframing conflict from a win-lose standoff into a process grounded in connection before strategy. You'll learn to name needs clearly, separate needs from solutions, build trust through empathy, and translate requests into positive, actionable language—skills that can change your family table, your marriage, and your holiday gatherings.Threaded throughout is a faith-centered reminder that no human can meet every need we carry. Rooting our belonging in God lightens the load we place on those we love and helps us set boundaries that honor both safety and dignity. With stories of courage, hard choices, and repair, we map a path to wholehearted living where generosity is quiet, presence is powerful, and hope is stubborn.If this conversation helps you breathe deeper or love better, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. What relationship will you train your heart for this week?Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textA storm-tossed sky lantern lands in a front yard with a daughter's message to her dad, and a simple response turns into a global moment of shared grief and hope. That story becomes our gateway into the real Saint Nicholas—an early Christian bishop who noticed the vulnerable, met practical needs with courage, and quietly changed lives in a collapsing empire.We sit down with author and screenwriter Matt Mikalatos to explore his devotional, Praying with Saint Nicholas, and the surprising history behind a figure too often flattened into myth. From Patara to Myra, we step through persecution under Diocletian, the pivot of Constantine, and the Council of Nicaea, where core beliefs were hammered out amid risk and conviction. We revisit the famous dowry rescue that inspired stockings, the confessor tradition that modeled reconciliation after failure, and the gripping moment Nicholas halted an unjust execution—mercy with a spine of steel.Threaded through it all is a practical Advent invitation: become a noticer. Pair 1 John 4:7–21 with small daily acts that restore dignity in your neighborhood. Slip generosity where it's needed, listen deeply to someone who feels invisible, and choose sustainable compassion that protects your mental health while expanding your capacity to love. We also clear up confusion around venerating saints, reframing it as asking trusted elders in the great cloud of witnesses to pray with us, not instead of us.If you're longing for an Advent that feels grounded, historic, and fiercely hopeful, this conversation offers both story and structure. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a one-sentence review to help others find the show. Your voice helps carry this light further.Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Support the show: Your Donation Matters Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the 2025 Advent Guide: The Great Glimmer Hunt Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon

Send us a textSharing a Thanksgiving Prayer/Meditation of Gratitude: Ask for Something Greater. Matthew 7:7 heralds a beautiful message: "Ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."This week's question: "What if your prayers are too small for the life you're meant to live?" In this focused, six-minute guided meditation, we slow down, breathe, and move from timid requests to bold, honest asking rooted in God's generosity. We open with a calm invitation to welcome God into the room, then step straight into the questions we often avoid: Am I afraid of being disappointed? Do I feel unworthy? Do I doubt that God will help?Naming these barriers out loud becomes the first act of courage.If this moved you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What “greater” are you asking for this week?Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a text"Learning to say no to good things so we can experience better things may sound easy, but it can feel really hard - hard to know when it's the thing to do, and hard to do it. Yet there's a healthy vulnerability that comes with saying no."-Dr. Arianna Molloy, Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable WorkSilence and emptiness emerge as surprising allies. Drawing on Thomas Moore, we treat emptiness not as failure but as space for meaning and healthy detachment. Emptiness quiets overcontrol, loosens ego-driven giving, and clears room for wisdom. In today's episode, I offer practices you can start today: guilt-free hobbies, shorter lists, pauses between tasks, and a single-page heart journal. Join our growing community that prizes thoughtful dialogue, empathic listening, and actionable hope. Connect on Heartlift Central (Substack) and our private Facebook group to share your reflections, your haiku, and your next brave step. If this ad-free work serves you, consider a tax-deductible donation at janellrardon.com to help spread the influence of the podcast. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler pace, and tell us: where will you create space this week? Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a text"You're allowed to stop."In this conversation, I explore rest not as a luxury or reward, but as a sacred practice woven into the very heart of creation. We dive a little deeper into Dr. Arianna Molloy's book, "Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work."If God rested, why is it so hard for us?We'll discuss the pressures that drive us to perform and strive, the stories we've inherited about productivity and worth, and what it means to honor our humanity by slowing down. This is an invitation to step into living a life from a place of rest, not when everything is done, but right now, right where you are.Order Dr. Arianna Molloy's Book: Healthy CallingVisit Taylor University's Center for Scripture EngagementRead Hebrews 4:9-11: biblegateway.comListen to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith on E. 93: RESTListen to Eryn Lynum on E. 318: RESTListen to E. 273: Nurturing the Soul with Forest BathingListen to Asheritah Ciuciu on E. 183: Everyday Prayers of RestListen to Asheritah Ciuciu on E. 182: Everyday Prayers of RestListen to E. 14 with Janell: REST: Collecting StrengthSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textHave you ever been asked, "What is your calling?" In Episode 344, Dr. Arianna Molloy, author of "Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work," shares her research and helps us answer that question from a beautiful place of understanding and maturity.In this episode, we reframe calling as a living relationship with God, grounded in community and guided by humility, rest, and gratitude. I also unveil a new monthly format that helps us metabolize ideas, practice spiritual skills, and cultivate sustainable rhythms.Drawing from Dr. Arianna's work on healthy calling, we unpack a practical triad for a sustainable life of purpose: dialogue with God that starts our mornings, interaction that turns trust into action, and maintenance that gently course‑corrects when we drift. We name the third key player—community—and show how burnout ripples outward, while healthy rhythms multiply good in every direction. Along the way, we get honest about enforced rest, health scares, and the sobering gift of learning to move from rest rather than toward it.Humility anchors the conversation. Not self‑erasure, but clear awareness of strengths and weaknesses without fixation. Not hustle, but a lifestyle of learning and the courage to unplug. Gratitude then becomes humility in motion—remembering whose we are, who we are, and who is in charge. Visit Dr. Arianna Molloy's website: Learn MoreOrder Dr. Arianna's book: Healthy CallingWatch Dr. Arianna: Meaningful Work; Should You Put Your Phone Down?; What it Means to Walk Humbly With God; More Than Just a JobSupport the showSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textDr. Arianna Molloy, author of "Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work," shares on "calling burnout" and why it hurts more than standard exhaustion. Regular burnout says, "I don't like what I'm doing anymore." Calling burnout says, "I don't know who I am anymore." To find our way back, she offers a practical, research-backed posture of healthy humility: know your strengths and weaknesses without being ruled by either; live as a learner who isn't threatened by not knowing; and practice the capacity to walk away, rest, and remember you're not God. This is not self-erasure. It's a return to sanity, a way to steward gifts without becoming indispensable to them.We also explore communication as a healing balm for homes and teams. Truthful, kind, and clear messages—spoken, written, and nonverbal—repair trust faster than endless clarification by text. Simple rhythms like visual voice messages, shared gratitude at the table, and sabbath touchpoints keep relationships tender and resilient. Along the way, gratitude emerges as humility in action: a daily reorientation that dissolves cynicism and turns ordinary messes into moments of meaning.If you're a mom, leader, creative, or caregiver wondering how to serve without losing yourself, this conversation offers a grounded path forward. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more heartlifters find their way back to the Caller.Visit Dr. Arianna Molloy's website: Learn MoreOrder Dr. Arianna's book: Healthy CallingWatch Dr. Arianna: Meaningful Work; Should You Put Your Phone Down?; What it Means to Walk Humbly With God; More Than Just a JobSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textPull up a chair at the Dim Sum Table and discover why your story—every tender, tangled part—holds real weight. Janell welcomes Jenn Suen Chen, author of Dim Sum and Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls, to explore how faith, family history, and formation weave together, not as a self-help checklist but as a lived way of being shaped by Scripture.Jenn introduces a four-part arc for spiritual growth—shaping, undoing, awakening, remaking—and shows why the “undoing” we avoid is often where God does His gentlest work. We unpack migration as more than immigration: movement across generations under pressure from war, economics, and longing. Naming those movements reduces shame, expands compassion, and builds what Jenn calls emotional elasticity in our home cultures. Along the way, we sit with a disarming truth from her son: “We don't get to choose what our brain calls hard.” That single line frees us from comparison, inviting honest prayer: Jesus, show me where You are here.Visit Jenn Suen Chen's website: JennOrder Jenn's new book: Dim Sum and FaithSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a text"A heart out of rhythm has a way of revealing a life out of rhythm." Guided by insights from Tom Rosshirt's Chasing Peace: A Story of Breakdowns, Breakthroughs, and the Spiritual Power of Neuroscience, we explore the connection between breakdowns and breakthroughs. We talk plainly about the difference between happiness tied to outcomes and peace rooted in a state of mind, and we practice language that helps dissolve the ego without erasing identity. From breathwork and boundaries to nervous system care, prayer, and honest community, this conversation offers practical routes back to rest—rest that isn't a day off but a daily way of being.We also return to a theme close to my heart: honoring maternal presence as a powerful, often untapped force inside families, churches, and communities. When we mother across ages—biologically or spiritually—we model repair, stability, and hope. My prayer, as I head into a procedure to restore sinus rhythm, is simple: that our hearts would find a God-breathed rhythm, and that our lives would beat with grace, peace, and love. Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textIn this episode, we explore how trauma reshapes belief, what the ancient story of Job reveals about suffering, and how to become trusted listeners who create safe spaces instead of offering quick fixes. Dr. Michelle K. Keener, author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, gives practical tools for mothers, mentors, and faith communities. Other ideas shared in this conversation:• Trauma is defined as overwhelm beyond normal coping• Retribution theology vs compassionate presence• trusted listener traits and spiritual bypassing• liminal space as formative process, not failure• schema theory and the filing cabinet metaphor• missed encounters, memory gaps, and safety• mothering through shame spirals and repair• church as a safe base, partnering with counselingVisit Dr. Michelle's website: Michelle KeenerOrder Michelle's book: Comfort in the AshesSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textThe quiet after the last suitcase leaves can feel like a freefall—or a doorway. We lean into that threshold with Kate Battistelli, author of The After Party of the Empty Nest: Mom Isn't Your Only Name, to reframe the empty nest as an after-party —a time to honor the first act of mothering and step into a purposeful, hope-filled second act. Kate shares the heart behind her directive, “Mom is not your only name,” and why your next chapter isn't smaller—it's just different, and often deeper.Together, we explore the three “bird” archetypes that map this transition—the quick-pivot swallow, the grieving mourning dove, and the balanced robin—so you can name where you are and choose what's next. Kate's story illustrates how courage grows when we respond to quiet nudges with small, faithful steps. We discuss dreaming with the Father without shrinking your desires, finding an “empty next” that builds the kingdom, and utilizing the margins of your day to prepare for new work, study, service, or creative callings.If this episode encourages you, please follow, share it with a friend who's nearing the transition, and leave a quick review so more moms can find the courage to start their after party.Download the Intro and First Chapter of The After Party of the Empty Nest: Text AFTERPARTY to 44144.Visit Kate's website: Kate BattistelliLearn more about Kate's book: The After Party of the Empty NestSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat happens when the warning signals from our bodies become so normalized that we fail to recognize them as distress calls? After experiencing a sudden atrial fibrillation episode that landed me in the emergency room, doctors asked the question that haunted me: "Why did you wait so long to seek help?" The answer was both simple and profound – I had been ignoring my body's desperate attempts to complete stress cycles that had accumulated over the years.This deeply personal episode explores the science behind stress cycles and explains why completing them is essential for our overall well-being. Drawing on Emily and Amelia Nagoski's groundbreaking work, I explain that stress isn't just a feeling, but a physiological cycle with distinct phases that must reach a state of completion. When we continuously interrupt this natural process, moving from one stressor to the next without allowing our bodies to process and release, we remain in a state of hypervigilance that takes a devastating toll on our physical and mental health.Whether you're feeling the early warning signs of burnout or want to develop healthier rhythms, this episode offers seven practical strategies to complete stress cycles and return to a state of flourishing. Revisit these podcast episodes mentioned in today's episode:E337. The Art of Slowing Down with A.C. SeipleE314. Radical Relaxation with Tracie BraylockE272. Forest Bathing in the HallerbosE274. Everything is Reconciled in a GardenRead Dr. Brene Brown's interview with the Nagoski SistersRead the Stanford U article on "Cyclic Sighing"Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat happens when life throws you not just a curveball, but an ongoing series of challenges with no end in sight? Katie Schnack, author of "Everything Is Not Fine," opens up about her journey through her son Shepherd's diagnosis with a rare medical condition called VACTERL.Rather than offering trite solutions, Katie shares how she's learned to hold both joy and sorrow simultaneously. She describes beautiful moments of divine reassurance, like when her three-year-old daughter spontaneously sang "Jesus Loves Me" exactly when Katie had been praying for a sign of God's love. These "everyday epiphanies" became anchors in the storm.The discussion challenges conventional notions of what it means to be "inspirational" during hardship. As Katie's friend wisely told her, "Courage doesn't mean you're not scared; it means you're scared and do it anyway." This reframing allows space for honest emotional processing while still moving forward in faith.For anyone navigating ongoing challenges—whether medical issues, grief, relationship difficulties, or other circumstances without clear resolution—this conversation offers both companionship and practical wisdom. Katie shares how community support, intentional grief processing, and "closing the stress cycle" through physical activity have helped her develop resilience.Visit Katie's website: KATIEOrder Katie's book: Everything Is (Not) FineListen to Janell's Meditative Exercise: The Waiting RoomSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a text*Visiting the archives today in commemoration of 9/11. kWelcome, New York Times Bestseller Michael Hingson, survivor of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, and his guide dog Roselle, as they share profound wisdom about bravery, overcoming adversity, and moving forward with faith as we celebrate our 300th episode.The conversation takes us through the powerful lessons Michael has learned from each of his guide dogs, from Squire to Alamo. These 11 principles form a roadmap for anyone facing challenges: awareness builds confidence, preparation prevents panic, flexibility and faith move you forward. Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textLicensed Counselor, A. C. Seiple, author of The Sacred Art of Slowing Down: Find Relief from Rushed Living, Soothe Your Soul, and Restore Wholeness Within, shares a transformative approach to finding relief from rushed living by embracing the sacred art of slowing down and reconnecting with our embodied selves. Through exploring autonomy, nervous system regulation, and ancient contemplative practices, she offers practical wisdom for tending to our forgotten inner worlds.Pre-order A. C. Seiple's book "The Sacred Art of Slowing Down" wherever books are sold and follow her Substack "All Parts Sacred" for more wisdom on embodied spirituality.Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textThe 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 sinner—a prostitute, a fallen woman. Yet as Dr. Reeder points out, the text of John 4 never once mentions sin or forgiveness. This deliberate sexualization and minimization of her story has had far-reaching consequences, contributing to the silencing of women's voices in Christian communities.What emerges instead is the portrait of a theological intellectual who engages Jesus in the longest recorded conversation in the Gospel of John. Unlike Nicodemus—the powerful, educated man who meets Jesus in darkness and leaves confused—this nameless Samaritan woman meets Jesus in broad daylight and demonstrates remarkable spiritual insight. She becomes what Dr. Reeder calls a "paragon"—a touchstone against which discipleship should be measured.The contrast couldn't be more striking: a marginalized woman becomes the first evangelist while the religious elite remain in darkness. This reversal challenges everything we think we know about spiritual authority and who God chooses to work through. When understood in its historical context, the Samaritan woman's marital history reflects the harsh realities that women faced in the ancient world, rather than a moral failure.This conversation invites us to reconsider how we read scripture and how we value voices in our communities. What might happen if we recognized the theological contributions of those we've overlooked? How might our understanding of leadership transform if we truly saw this woman as Jesus saw her?Learn more about Dr. Reeder's work: Westmont Order Caryn's book: The Samaritan Woman's StorySupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textDorcas 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 deep understanding of our struggles.• Made for Pax creates resources for millennials and Gen Z that incorporate art, justice, and contemplative practices• The harmful myth that "faith is all I need" equates mental health struggles with spiritual failure• Jesus himself experienced trauma throughout his life, giving him a profound understanding of our suffering• Caring for our mental health is a sacred practice that increases our capacity to care for others• Beauty and brokenness coexist in our stories, making space for both healing and struggle• Contemplative practices like loving-kindness meditation can ground us in challenging timesFind "Mental Health: A Six-Week Interactive Bible Study" by Dorcas Chang-Tozin, published by IVY Press, available soon wherever books are sold.Learn more about Made for Pax Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textDr. 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 in Genesis focus on habitats and inhabitants with concern for proper fit to the environment.• Biblical authors call us beyond simplistic views of creation to understand our moral connection to the land.• Darwin's observations about natural selection aren't inherently incompatible with biblical thinking.• The Bible doesn't claim "as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be" but rather envisions a future reorientation of creation.• Procreation in Scripture isn't just about making babies but about great-great-grandchildren we'll never meet.• Parents and grandparents should create "fields with clear fences" where children can explore ideas freely, rather than following intellectual ruts.• Christians are called to "do the work" of understanding for themselves rather than uncritically accepting what others say.Get to know Dr. Dru Johnson: Meet Dr. DruIntellectually and Spiritually Curious? Order Dr. Dru's bookLearn more about The Institute of Creation ResearchCreation Kids Magazine and Fabulous ResourcesSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textMarine 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 curiosity and deep faith.• Biodiversity in marine ecosystems demonstrates how differences strengthen communities rather than divide them.• Faith and science both seek answers to "why" questions, driven by wonder and curiosity.• Topics like evolution and climate change aren't salvation issues, but can become unnecessary barriers to faith.• Rachel's research on sea anemones taught her gratitude for all living things and their capacity to praise God.• Every creature, even seemingly annoying ones like mosquitoes, has a unique way of praising its Creator.• The kingdom of God may include incredible biodiversity - past, present, and future creatures all praising together.Join me at Heartlift Central on Substack, where we'll continue this conversation with Rachel G. Jordan about her beautiful book "If the Ocean has a Soul."Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat 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 chasing God, He had actually been chasing her all along.Mikella's perspective on Scripture and motherhood brings fresh inspiration to those feeling overwhelmed by life's demands. Drawing from Psalm 23:6, where she discovered that "follow" actually means "to chase," she reveals how God's goodness and mercy have been pursuing us with extravagant love. This revelation transformed her understanding of spiritual growth and her approach to raising five children, ages two to ten, while maintaining her ministry.Order Mikella's book: Chasing SacredFind Mikella on Instagram: @chasingsacred and @mikellavandykeVisit her website and learn more about her work: Mikella Van Dyke Revisit Episode 330 and join the August Social Media Reset Challenge with Janell and Author, Allie Marie Smith.Find Allie Marie on Instagram: @alliemariesmithSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textA 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 emotional health through the concept of internal boundaries.Dr. Cook introduces us to the Internal Family Systems model, which recognizes the various "parts" within our souls. These managers keep us organized and productive, the firefighters who rush to numb our pain, and the exiles who carry our deepest hurts. Rather than viewing these parts as enemies to be conquered, she teaches us how to set compassionate boundaries with them and transform them into valuable allies.At the heart of this conversation is a radical truth: you get a say in your own life. For many of us, especially women, we've been conditioned to trust others' voices over our own. Dr. Cook challenges this pattern by showing how spirit-led self-leadership empowers us to honor our God-given voice while maintaining healthy relationships. This isn't selfish—it's stewardship of the unique self God created you to be.We dive deep into the practical "U-turn" process—Focus, Befriend, Invite God, Unburden, and Integrate—that helps us approach overwhelming emotions with curiosity rather than condemnation. Through stories, examples, and theological insights, Dr. Cook demonstrates how this approach differs from spiritual bypassing, offering instead a truly integrated path to healing that honors both psychology and faith.Perhaps most beautifully, Dr. Cook introduces us to the concept of "baptized imagination"—engaging our creative right brain alongside our analytical left brain in our healing journey. Like Jesus teaching through parables, sometimes our most profound transformation comes through imagery and narrative rather than mere logic.Whether you've struggled with people-pleasing, anger, anxiety, or any overwhelming emotion, this conversation offers hope. There's a path to freedom that doesn't require silencing parts of yourself, but instead welcoming them home. Ready to rewrite your story and discover the allies waiting within your soul? Listen now, and take your first step toward inner boundaries that truly set you free.Visit Dr. Alison Cook's website: Boundaries for Your SoulSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textThe 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 exclusionary. Where was brown? This gap inspired Tara to reimagine the lyrics to "every color, every shade, just exactly as He made," creating a beautiful children's board book that celebrates diversity as an intentional part of God's grand design.Tara's story weaves together adoption, diversity, and spiritual formation in profound ways. After raising three biological sons, she and her husband adopted two Indian girls, creating what she lovingly describes as twins born "not from my body, but in my heart." The adoption process—what she calls a "paper pregnancy"—required intentionality, sacrifice, and family-wide commitment. Rather than diminishing her relationship with her sons, adoption enriched their family dynamic and cultivated compassion and nurturing qualities in her boys.This conversation offers a refreshing perspective on the transformative power of motherhood, whether through biological, adoptive, or mentoring relationships. As we embrace diversity and nurture faith in the next generation, we participate in God's grand design—creating a world where every child feels represented, valued, and deeply loved. Ready to explore how your maternal influence can change lives? Listen now and discover how to unleash the power of your presence into the world.Learn more about Tara Hackney's Work: Jesus LovesListen to Jesus Loves the Little Children Adaptation: Jesus Loves on SpotifyRead more on Tara's Blog: Tara HackneySupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat 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 as a teenager that led to hospitalization and a suicide attempt at the Golden Gate Bridge. Through a miraculous encounter with God's love, she found purpose in founding a ministry dedicated to helping women know their God-given value. Now, she's tackling one of the biggest threats to women's mental health today: our relationship with social media.The numbers are sobering. Spending just two to three hours daily on social media equates to losing six to eight years of your precious life to scrolling. "We can now die with more memories of other people's lives than of our own," Allie cautions. She challenges us to consider what we're seeking inside our digital worlds and offers practical boundaries that have helped her overcome addiction while still using social media positively.Most exciting is Allie's invitation to join the "Unplugged and Flourishing Movement" this August - a simultaneous 30-day reset for women of all ages to unplug, reconnect with God, and pray for the young girls whose mental health is being devastated by social media. Join us for this transformative conversation, and discover how unplugging might be your path to rediscovering joy. Learn more and join the movement at alliemariesmith.com.Order Allie's new book: Social Media ResetTake Allie's Quiz: Social Media + Your WellbeingSupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat 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 children. Prepare to have your perspective challenged.Nadia's book "Mothers, Children and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity" examines the striking similarities between ancient Greco-Roman views of women as "intellectually lightweight" and "vessels" for children, and today's cultural messages suggesting women without children are happier and wealthier. When presidential candidates on both sides agree that stay-at-home mothers are "bad for the GDP," we must ask: Have we lost sight of human dignity?Order Nadya's new book: Mothers, Children, and the Body PoliticLearn more from Nadya: Nadya WilliamsRead The Bloomberg Report: Women Who Stay Single and Don't Have Kids Are Getting Richer.Read "Does Having Children Make You Happier?"Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

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 formulaic answers.• Children are born spiritual beings, not just physical, emotional, and intellectual ones.• Spirituality encompasses three essential relationships: with self, others, and God.• Research shows spirituality ranks as a key protective factor in childhood resilience.• Creating space for questions without immediate answers builds authentic spiritual growth.• Simple practices like asking "Who are you in the story?" can open meaningful spiritual conversations.• Children don't need all protective factors to be resilient if they have a meaningful connection to God.• Knowing God as present, understanding, and healing provides "the most powerful resilience armor."Try asking the children in your life open-ended "wondering questions" this week, and see how it enriches your conversations and deepens your connections.Visit Dr. Holly Catterton Allen here: InterGenerate ConferenceOrder "Forming Resilient Children."Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

Send us a textWhat 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) Food Solution: A Shame-Free Nutritional Journey to Food, Freedom, Spiritual Nourishment, and Whole-Body Health," Meredyth helps us make the divine connection between body, mind, and spirit. She shares, "Our bodies are always scanning and asking, 'Are we safe?'" This is definitely a life-giving, life-changing conversation.Visit Meredyth's website: Karpos WellnessOrder her new book: The (Good) Food SolutionWork with Meredyth: Get Started TodaySupport the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International