The Verbal Process

Katie is back with a bonus solo episode announcing big changes in the podcast next season. She processes through the obstacles we face while trying to make memories, and find peace, in the madness of December.

If someone asked you if your faith lives in your head or in your heart, how would you respond? Have you ever thought about who God is to you? Is he a judge in the sky? A genie granting wishes? A pupeteer pulling the strings? Your dad!? We tend to personify what we cannot understand. Katie and Mandy sit down with guest Ally Ley to get real about deconstruction in the church, the problems with a "house of cards" style faith, and the importance of exploring and understanding who God is to you. They also discuss the sacred feminine traits of God that we often look past. Could he be more than the box we keep him in? Ally is a graduate of the Chistian Spiritual Formation and Soul Care Masters program at Denver Seminary. As a trained Spiritaul Director who owns her own practice, she is dedicated to creating space for individuals and groups to encounter God in transformative ways. She companions women on the journey of wholeness, specializing in female faith leaders and mothers. She delights in walking with women as they examine everything from perfectionism, to shame, to taking up their space as leaders, to integrating the various parts of themselves and their stories as they are unleashed more fully into the freedom of who God has created them to be.  Show notes: Searchable directory for Christian Spiritual Directors: https://www.graftedlife.org/ https://anamcara.com/    

Mandy and Katie open up about the feeling of being taken for granted by their spouse in parenting and marriage responsibilities, and how good it feels to point the finger at their husbands shortcomings. But they eventually unfold the layer beneath that, where their role of loving well, appreciating what their spouse does offer, and owning their own shortcomings might just be worthy of discussion. They challenge each other to self reflect and shift their posture of critical correction to a posture of accountability and gratitude.    Shownotes: Weekly Spouse Check-In Questions: This week I am thankful that you... What did I do this week that made you feel loved and honored? Is there anywhere in our marriage where God is missing Is there anything you need that I haven't been giving you? Is there anything that I've done that hurt you? Is there something that I used to do that you wish I would restart? How do you feel about our split of responsibilities What do you think about our sex life? What's coming up next week? How can I pray for you?   ReEngage Marriage Courses Near You: https://www.reengage.org/

Katie and Mandy talk with Author and Board-Certified Coach, Chris Janssen, MA, BCC, about what it means to coach and how we can apply the framework from her latest book "Living All In".  "Living All In" gives you the tools to tap into your resourcefulness, embrace an empowering mindset, and move to action. Chris shares what she's learned, personally and from her clients, then places the keys to a life you love in your hands. In "Living All In" you will learn to think thoughts that serve you and dump those that don't, because you are magnificent and you deserve the right to decide how you feel and show up for the life you want. In this tranformative guide you will discover: Strategies to identify and overcome unhelpful narratives you may tell yourself. Techniques and tools to cultivare a positive mindset. Inspiring success stories that showcase the healing power of embracing change. Chris Janssen is a Board-Certified Life Coach with a Masters in Counseling Psychology who has helped hundreds of clients, successfully and sustainably, move forward with a mindset that serves them. In 2021 and 2023, Brainz Magazine named Chris on of the Global Top 500 Influential Leaders for her accomplishments in mental health and dedication to helping others. For more information visit: www.chrisjanssencoaching.com       

You never quite know what lies behind someone's facade. It can be extremely tempting to take people at face value but everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about. Katie and Mandy talk about how hard it is to override our humanity with compassion and empathy but agree that we have a shared responsibility to work on ourselves, let down our walls of self preservation and walk alongside people through this one life. Love God and Love Others is not just something we recite but something we need to practice.

Blessing others with our gifts is an amazing way to show someone love. It can be anything from a simple act of kindess such as a compliment to a more significant gesture such as donating to a charity or volunteering at a local shelter. Katie and Mandy have guest Sarah Gillis on for a rich discussion about what a life of serving can look like, and how to start a legacy of serving as a family. They talk about how to find ways to serve that align with our natural giftings. Sarah grew up watching her mother volunteer and it grew a strong internal desire to serve with her family and a hope to instill the heart of a servant in her children. Together they talk about everything from serving in the classroom and coaching soccer to local ministry and global outreach. Everyone possesses unique talents and giftings to give back which is part of the beauty of how we were designed. The hope is to encourage everyone to take a step forward in giving back.

Love Outsourced is bringing joy, one laugh at a time and is on mission to spread laughter and lighten hearts through an incredibly quick, convenient and personalized card service. You have to hear Katie and Mandy break down Mandy's new venture that will become an empire and change the world.

Katie and Mandy process having unrealistic expectations of others, themselves and God. They speak of the challenges they face when reality does not match expectation. They talk about the natural and cultural inclination to bail, suffer and wrestle when your expectations are not met and how accepting your own humanity, showing grace to others and allowing God to be God can help. They work through what it looks like to set realistic expectations and how that can help yield stronger relationships personally, intimately and spirtitually.

Prayer can be intimidating! Mandy and Katie talk all things prayer, the awkwardness, the importance, the simplicity of it. The greatest part about praying is knowing God wants to hear from you.  Once you start the conversation, God responds.

When our faith feels ungrounded, something we are certain of begins to feel uncertain, or someone we hold in high regard lets us down, we experience pain. We begin to lose hope. This is where disillusionment begins. Katie and Mandy sit down with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole to discuss her life's work poured into her newly released book, "The Night is Normal: A Guide Through Spiritual Pain." Alicia describes how even though faith shines best in full sun, it grows depth in the dark. That the roots―and fruits―of spiritual pain are actually an invitation to deep love. She explains "night faith" and how the night is not our enemy, but in fact―the night is necessary. Dr. ABC, a former atheist, an award-winning author and international speaker has messages that have been featured on TBN, Daystar, Propel, Christianity Today, Guideposts, FaithGateway, and "Chicken Soup for the Soul." Often described as a captivating communicator, Alicia speaks, writes, mentors and serves as the founding director of Leadership Investment Intensives, Inc., a non-profit devoted to providing personal soul-care to leaders in the marketplace and church. Her book, "Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours," is highly regarded by leaders and learners around the globe. She holds a doctorate in Leadership and Spiritual Formation (George Fox Evangelical Seminary). With her husband Dr. Barry Jay Chole) of 27 years, she joyfully parents their three extraordinary children in a country home off of a dirt road surrounded by loads of laundry, laughter, and love.  To learn more about Alicia, visit her website at www.aliciachole.com , on Instagram @aliciabrittchole or on twitter @aliciachole.   

Katie and Mandy talk about what it looks to be a mom with no energy, a wife with no patience, and how life can feel like you are walking around as an exposed ball of nerves with little to no margin.  They express how important it is to lean into God harder during these times and offer tools to help you keep focused on what matters. Katie and Mandy give you hope that these seasons too shall pass and you will eventually make it back to yourself. 

Mandy and Katie break down what it means to be a ride or die friend and share certain characteristics that help make friendships stand the test of time.

Mandy and Katie sit down with long time friend and Pastor, Will Freyschlag, to discuss how asking better questions ultimately leads to a stronger relationship with God. They talk openly about the importance of humility, community and context when discussing faith. Will candidly explores how confusing and challenging the Bible can be, why people are leaving the church and offers helpful perspective for believers and non-believers alike.     

Katie and Mandy discuss the affect others have on their decision making, and the importance of self-awareness when it comes to what influences them. From mentors to friends to the white noise of the masses, it seems to be getting harder to discern God's voice from the blur of opinions around us. Mandy brings some applicable tools to the table and they peel back the layers on what can hold us back from a state of true peace and purpose.

Mandy and Katie breakdown the lyrics to their favorite song off NF's new album, “Hope”. It's one of those songs your soul can't deny!

Mandy and Katie talk to friend Courtney about what it looks like to lament.  Lamenting is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.  It is more than the feeling of heartache.  It is openly admitting to God your intense and confusing pain.  Courtney details the pain and confusion she's experienced in life and how she's always been able to remedy it with control until now. She talks about "sitting in the suck" and how that led her to lament and the peace that comes with it.

Mandy and Katie have the sex talk. When it comes to raising six chicks between the two of them, it's obvious they need to process what it looks like to raise girls in a hypersexual society. Through both hilarity and sincerity, they process how to ensure their daughters respect themselves and understand the rewards of purity.

Mandy and Katie celebrate new mom, Sam Knipp, and her journey through infertility and adoption. Sam talks about remaining expectant through 8 years of countless attempts to become a mom.  When it would have been easier to give up hope, Sam talks about each step of the way being critical to developing her heart and soul, so that she was fully prepared to receive the miracle that had been in the making.

Mandy and Katie reminisce about a time when they weren't so lame.  It's easy to let the day-to-day details of life take over but what if you were challenged to see everything through the lens of humor until it became a habit? After all, if you believe there is life beyond this one, why take it so seriously?

Mandy and Katie sit down with friend and surrogate, Ellen Berger, to discuss what led her to carry and give birth to a baby for someone else.  Ellen explains that she knew it was her calling to help others have the family they yearned for. Through prayer and optimism Ellen details the journey of being rejected from surrogacy agencies to giving birth to a beautiful baby and all that came along with it. 

Mandy and Katie celebrate their 1-year anniversary of The Verbal Process and 10,000 downloads by discussing everything this last year has revealed to them. They breakdown their WHY and how that has inspired them to take action on their God given and purpose driven work. 

Content warning: emotional and sexual abuse of children. Mandy and Katie sit down with their friend, former elite US gymnast, Bree Schlereth to break down her journey of unpacking childhood abuse. Bree was one of the hundreds of sister survivor gymnasts seen and treated by Larry Nassar, former world renown sports medicine physician turned convicted serial child molester.  For 18 years, he was the team doctor of the United States Women's National Gymnastics team, where he used his position to exploit, deceive, and sexually assault hundreds of children and young women.  Bree explains how she endured pain and trauma yet has been able to keep perspective through God's love and truth which ultimately led to her healing. 

Katie breaks down her heart wrenching mission trip to Guatemala and the emotions of seeing oppression, hunger, suffering, and the joy that exists for those living inside of it. The women of Guatemala are cut off from education after 6th grade, culturally mistreated by men, and expected to amount to very little outside of child rearing. Katie and Mandy talk about the role "Convoy of Hope" plays in coming alongside of those who are in desperate need, and not just giving them handouts, but empowering them to break generational ties. They dig in to how only God has a way of using dire circumstances to provoke change. 

Katie recaps her time away from recording. Katie not only explains what landed her back living with her parents for a stint but takes us on her internal journey to intentionally prioritize motherhood, friendship and self-reflection.

Join Mandy and Katie as they kick off Season 2. Mandy walks us through what it's like to trust fall and believe that God has greater things ahead. She became a mother of two, quit her 20 year career and stepped into a season where she can no longer answer the question “What's next?”.

Mandy and Katie close out Season 1 and reflect on what The Verbal Process means to them. Together they have brought you their stories and the stories of others in hopes you see that love wins and God is in all of it. Stories of pain, joy, suffering and redemption from incredible guests brave enough to open their hearts in hopes of transforming others. They end the season challenging all to love themselves and others more and better each day. Don't miss this final episode! Goodbye season 1…hello season 2!

Garth Brooks sums it up perfectly in his song Mom. “And when she's talking to you, make sure you listen close, ‘cause she's gonna teach you everything you'll ever need to know. Like how to mind your manners, to love and laugh and dream. She'll put you on the path that brings you back to me.” Today, Katie and Mandy bring you Katie's mom, Hilly Humberson. They walk with Hilly through her motherhood journey, gleaning wisdom, while getting a sneak peek into the woman responsible for raising Katie and Mandy's husband, Andy, to love God and others.

Let's honor women in our lives who have nurtured us. Whether you love your own children, someone else's children, four-legged children or have decided that having children isn't something you want to pursue, we are all greatly affected by the role of motherhood with our own moms–by the pain of their loss or the impact of their presence. Today, Katie and Mandy bring you Mandy's mom. They walk with Laurie through her motherhood journey, digesting pearls of wisdom while getting a sneak peek into the woman responsible for raising Mandy.

Mandy and Katie get in the holiday spirit by sharing some of their favorite things to give and receive. Buckle up as they reveal amazing gift ideas for friends, spouses, kiddos or your favorite elf. Happy shopping!

Life isn't always up and to the right.  Andrea Kitsmiller knew from a young age that she wanted to work in ministry and serve God.  She had visions of the perfect marriage, the perfect life but God had different plans. Today, Andrea is a strong believer that transformation comes through transparency. Join Katie and Mandy as they walk with Andrea through her journey of addiction, disordered eating, lack of self-worth, and failed expectations. Andrea opens up about how her idea of what life would be versus what life is, has proven to more fulfilling and God-breathed than she could've expected.

You don't always have the power to control, but you do always have the power to surrender. The more we overestimate our ability to control, the more we underestimate the power and goodness of God. To live this out takes faith. Join Katie and Mandy as they reflect on the common theme throughout the season…blessings that follow surrender. 

Motherhood doesn't always start in the womb. April Fallon knew from the time she was born, her calling was to adopt, to work with the vulnerable and be a voice for children.  Today, April is the adoptive mom of four and shares her journey through her four successful adoptions along with three disrupted adoptions. Join Katie and Mandy as they walk with April through her journey of adoption, the beautiful messy journey of love that not only changed the lives of the April, her husband, and her children but the birth parents they took in along the way. April Fallon is currently the host of the Adoption Now podcast and is spreading adoption awareness by sharing people's stories of adoption around the world.

People pleasers tend to be good at tuning into what others are feeling. They are often empathetic, thoughtful, caring individuals, but possess an unhealthy urge to please others, even at their own expense. "People pleasing" behavior arises when compassion spills into worrying about what others think of you, allowing it to dictate your self-image and choices. Join Mandy and Katie as they talk through identifying their people pleasing tendencies. They share what has encouraged them to change their mindset from earning the acceptance of others to earning the respect of others. 

We all want to step into purpose and unlock who God created us to be. We want to lead courageous lives and make a difference in the lives of others. What if being courageous looks different than we imagine? Join Katie and Mandy as they talk to their friend, and successful author, Jamie Klusacek about what true courage is, and how you can embrace the life God is calling you towards.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." When Katie and Mandy first started hosting a faith-based podcast without a perfect Christlike resume, they questioned feeling qualified to share God's name with believers and non-believers alike. But turns out God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Join Katie and Mandy as they talk about getting lit and sharing their light with others.

Mandy and Katie talk to Mandy's more heroic half, and Katie's brother from the exact same mother, Andy Humberson, about the journey to discovering and embracing his purpose.  Andy talks about leaning into who God created him to be, embracing intentional living, boldly setting goals and asking himself, "What do I want?"

Anyone else feel like their value comes from how much they accomplish? What if you did less in order to accomplish your most meaningful work? Join Mandy and Katie as they talk through margin, and how it carries different meaning for different people. They discuss how to take inventory of where you are physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually through the P.I.E.S exercise and dive into Gary Thomas' book, "Sacred Pathways,” as a way to increase awareness around intimate connection with God and how that lends itself to prioritizing what matters most. 

What emotions come up for you when you think about budgeting? Saving? Donating? Investing? Join Katie and Mandy as they talk to Mason Samuels a.k.a. Katie's hubby about the behaviors and heart that drive sound financial decision making. Mason runs True Wealth Advisors in Denver, CO. His approach to finances using biblical principles and truths are what set him apart in his pursuit of integration between faith and work. He has helped thousands of individuals, families and business owners work towards and achieve their financial goals. In this episode, he shares advice based on common financial mistakes and successes he's seen throughout the years. 

We all want to be the perfect mom to our children, but where does that concept even come from? Simply being a mom is challenging enough, but comparison to others and chasing unrealistic expectations can lead us to feeling like we're never doing enough for our kids. Join Mandy and Katie as they share mom guilt stories, and encourage all moms in the game to stay strong. Take a mom break to listen, and remember that your children need every perfectly imperfect part of who you are. 

Why does God allow bad things to happen? This question is frequently asked among Christians and Non-Christians alike, and can be the reason many resist faith entirely.  If God is all-powerful, in control and loving, then why do we continue to suffer, experience horrific tragedies, and face trials? Join Katie and Mandy as they pose these questions to guest Brent Myers. Brent, who currently serves as a pastor, lovingly discusses free will, forgiveness, control, and relationship.  Our hope is to better understand God and how He remains close even when we feel He is far away.

The rate of complaints in American conversations is 70-84%. Yet none of us like to hang out with complainers. Join Katie and Mandy as they share their favorite thing to complain about but challenge both themselves and you to step back, look at the big picture, resist criticism and practice gratitude. In the words of Maya Angleou, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." 

When a child is born, so is a mother. The journey of motherhood that begins at birth is unpredictable. 15% of women are formally diagnosed with Postpartum Depression. It's hard enough to experience PPD, and even harder dealing with the stigma attached to it. Katie & Mandy sit down with their friend Katie Echer who explains first hand, how living with Postpartum Depression impacted her ability to step into motherhood. Katie shares what pulled her out of the dark season, and where God showed up along the way. Join us and learn how to identify Postpartum Depression in yourself and others. 

Being preggo ain't easy, but you have to laugh! How many things surprised you about being pregnant? Did you pee your pants from sneezing or hate your husband for not knowing you needed donuts? The pregnancy books do not fully explain what to expect while expecting. Join Mandy & Katie as they share hilarious tales from their friend's pregnancies & laugh at their own experiences from a combined 48 months of eating for 2.

Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer, Abby McQueeney Penamonte, opens up about pushing her body to extreme measures as a way to cope with life's hardships. From ultra marathons to weight lifting competitions, pushing her body to the breaking point left her searching for something more meaningful inside and out.   

What's steering your decision making? We have a hunch that the endless data, information overload, and people's opinions may factor in a little too much. How do you know if it's the Holy Spirit guiding you or just another fleeting thought or opinion? Studies show that pairing your gut feelings with analytical thinking is proven to be stronger than relying on intellect alone. Let's talk about how to listen to that still small voice, and how our lives can improve when we tap in to our intuition more intentionally.

Let's talk anxiety baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Let's talk abouuuut it. Anxiety is rampant, and it's not a one-size-fits-all issue. Join Mandy as she candidly descibes living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and offers ideas to help manage. Join Katie as she learns how to  come alongside those suffering from the big A.

Katie and Mandy talk with their friend Jess about her mental health journey, from panic attacks to being diagnosed with Bipolar II, and her experience weaning off medication in hopes of becoming a mother. She highlights where God showed up and how her faith grew along the way. 

We were created to be in community and we crave connection, but isolation and self-protection have become the norm. Vulnerability is described as uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. So rather than approach relationships vulnerably, we tend to do the opposite...but is that God's best for our lives? Join Mandy and Katie as they tap in to their desire to form new relationships and the obstacles that stand in the way of new and lasting connection. 

Katie takes us through her story growing up in a Christian family, but struggling to own her own faith until a life away from God left her broken. Join her as she candidly describes seeking the approval and validation of others, and attaching her self worth to empty values, until finding that only God could create a life of purpose and peace. You'll laugh along the way, and maybe even find yourself motivated to step into exactly who you were designed to be.

Mandy steps out in courage to tell her story. Join her as she shares a vulnerable account of how she became the person that those around her get to experience today. Through high highs and low lows, she discovered the common theme was how God was in all of it. This is a story of transformation from feeling unworthy to beloved. From forgiven to fully redeemed. 

"The Verbal Process" Podcast invites you into meaningful conversations where hosts Katie Samuels and Amanda Humberson process deeper layers of faith, womanhood, and purpose that are often hiding behind the outward facade of our image obsessed culture. Their hope is to create a fun and relatable space where all masks are removed, quirks and idiosyncrasies are celebrated, and their listeners feel encouraged to step into their God given purpose and identity.