Episode 124. Welcome to Radical Radiance™

I’m thrilled to share the rebrand of the podcast with you today by sharing my heart behind what God has been doing in me alongside one of my very best friends Danielle Chambers. Go listen on your favorite podcast platform!

Unedited Transcript

I am so excited to have you today. This just kind of popped into my mind. Some of my people are gonna remember you from, um, our write, the word study that we did together. Do you remember that? Yes. Last fall, either last fall or early. Or a late summer, I guess that was so fun when we did a live every night.

That was really fun. So we did, um, Danielle does a really cool thing called bright, the word where she walks with people and encourages them to write God's word every day. It's like the funniest thing ever. So you actually get to follow her, but we did a little thing together where we did an Instagram live every night and I loved it.

That's sort of been the history of our friendship though, which is where I would love to start of like, You just keep saying yes, to being a part of like my crazy ideas and I do the same for you, and it's the most fun thing of my life. And so I want people to know and hear like, how did we meet the length of our friendship?

I want them to hear that from your perspective. Okay. So we were talking about this actually last time you were in town. I live in Tennessee. I think we've been friends for the better part of a decade, if not longer. And so we met, I worked at the church that you attended and you were a small group leader for some of our college girls.

And I was in charge of. Leading the college leaders, I guess you could say. Yeah. And we met for coffee, right? I think so. And really the rest is history, always food, always coffee, and yeah, we hit it off. And I remember just being like, I want to just continue to be her friend. And since then, there has never been a time I've ever left your presence where I haven't.

Inspired and where we haven't come up with some crazy idea that we want to execute as soon as possible, even if it's ridiculous. I know, I know it's, those things are like the most fun to dream about with you. And we were just talking about one last night that this could be a precursor to that's all I'm going to say.

And people. People are going to love it one day when it's actually the season for it, but we're getting better at being like, Hey, this is a great idea of something we could do together. We both know this is not the season, but one day it's going to be great. So I love that. That's a part of our friendship and that's a part of just to, we've always been to each other.

So I love creating with you. I love just dreaming with you. That's so fun. And, um, that's kind of the reason why you're here because. You are one of, probably my top five people that I love to just, I don't know, unpack what God's doing in my heart with, and this is sort of the beginning of what people are going to know about the change in the name of the podcast and kind of what God has been doing in my heart over the last really six months or so.

So we're going to get into all that here in a minute, but the fun part of this episode is I get to hand the mic to you, which is. Awesome. I'm so excited to be that and get to have a really fun conversation with you about radical rights. So let's do it. I'm so ready for this. First of all, for the people listening, if you guys do not have Marco polo for all of you are out of town, long distance friends, it has been a godsend for us.

And it has been an absolute blast, even though you're over eight hours away from me, it has been so much fun to literally have a front row seat at all of the things that the Lord's doing in your ministry and your life right now. So I could not be. More pumped about this. I have a gigantic sunshine on my notepad over here.

That stands for radical radiance. I am very, very, very excited to, um, to kind of flip the script a little bit and, um, ask you the questions. So I'm looking forward. I know it's going to be so fun. Okay. So let's start back at the beginning. I want to hear what really. Made you start the show, a podcasting.

What made you go down the avenue that you went into and honestly, what made you pull the trigger on podcasting? The first place? Yeah, it always seems like something fun to do. I had always dreamed of maybe. That being a form of content that I created one day, but I just never really had the time before.

And I got married. Um, I lived in Knoxville, which is where we knew each other, although we've only lived in the same place for a very short span of time. Um, even though we've been friends for 10 years, but in that season, I was really commuting a pretty good way to a job wearing, like I was never really at home.

I didn't, I just didn't have the capacity to. And so when I married my husband, Just a little over two years ago, I moved eight hours away from you and from Tennessee and really started a whole new chapter of life. And in that new chapter of life, I found myself having to pass duty that I didn't have before.

And I know, um, there's a season for everything, right? Like there's gonna come a day where my schedule will change and things will look like. Um, and maybe I won't have the time that I have right now, but I found myself and kind of in the midst of the tailwind of change that happened in my life where I became a pastor's wife, I started a new job.

I moved, I was working from home. And so it was a little not, I don't even want to use that word because I truly did have the desire to encourage and equip women in a way that we do throughout the show. But I also. Was lonely. I had very few new friends where I lived and the opportunity to really connect and meet with other people that I admire.

And I look up to and I just don't have great conversations with that sounded really great. And that season of change to me. And so at the beginning of 2020, Was when I launched the show. Uh, but I started sort of dreaming about it and recording episodes late in 2019. So probably from October to January.

There are sort of about a three month lead time kind of coming up to the launch. And I had no idea what God was going to do and that it would turn into, um, kind of what, what is happening now, but I'm just so grateful for everybody that said yes so far. And everybody who's going to say yes. Um, in the coming months for radical radiants, we've already recorded so many.

Episodes that I just, I can't wait for everybody to hear. So it was an outlet for me in the beginning. Um, that's the short answer to your question, Andy. What's so great is the fact that you were listening to the Lord about the timing of it. Because as we've already said, we talk, we have these ideas and then all of a sudden we want to execute.

And I think it's really great how the Lord put that exact timing for you. And I think knowing right before the pandemic, To begin. It really became, I think an outlet, not just for you, but for a lot of us listeners to meet all of these new people and connect with all of these new people, um, that we wouldn't have otherwise.

So I think that's really, really neat to see how the word did that, but I want to know. Okay. So what surprises you the most, or I guess what makes you the most excited about what God has done in the podcast so far? Because I feel like from the beginning to now, there has been so many amazing things that have happened and behind the scenes, you and I geek out every time.

Record a podcast for like, oh my gosh, she's having this person on. What's been the most exciting, I mean, second, to getting to like talk to your, some of your heroes, right? Like that is so much fun and something I never take for granted, but I think what blows me away all the time is just hearing the stories of people who listened to a conversation and on their way to Kroger or on the way home from a really hard day at work or on a run.

Um, where they were processing something, then that, that topic just met them right. Where they were at. Um, those stories are why I do what I do. And I think it was Jenny Allen that used this term, but I thought it was really good as she was talking about podcasting. She said, really? It's like, you're discipling people in their earbuds and.

To hear stories of what God does through that is just really special. You know, you get on, you get on zoom and sometimes you feel the conversation was awesome and you can't wait for people to hear it. Sometimes you're like, I know that I'll speak to somebody. And sometimes it's those episodes that people will come to me about and just hearing kind of what God does with like our fishes and loaves, if, if you will.

Um, sometimes that happens months later, you know, I'll record it. Something that, you know, even right now, we're recording on into the fall and I won't hear those testimonies of what God did until, I don't know, maybe 20, 22, you know? And so that's just really special to hear over and over what God's doing in people's lives.

And it just makes me think of that verse that I feel like we say all the time, visions three 20, where it says he can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine, I think. Um, that would be the truth that I would speak over what I have found throughout the last year and a half of, uh, what makes me really excited is just watching God multiply, um, the conversations that we're having and the impact that they're having in people's.

Okay. So the Ginny Allen quote, discipling in earbuds. That's amazing. I love that. And that's so true. I love that the Lord works like that. I have seen so often that he will work in the small things. And like you said, going on a run, having your headphones in, just listening to a story or a conversation of people who love the Lord and.

I think that's absolutely incredible. And what I love is that that is the measure of success for anything that we put out there. The measure of success is not anything other than. How it impacts the kingdom and that's all up to the Lord. And so whenever he puts something on your heart like that, and then you're able to execute in the way that he's asked you to, it's amazing to see the harvest.

So, um, I just want to encourage you in that, because I feel like that has been, this has been a season of amazing harvest, I think, in that area. So. I think anyone who has been engaged in this podcast and especially for me. So now I want to ask, because we've talked about how the podcast kind of came to be.

So when did you begin to feel like this shift coming? When we talk about where the podcast has been and where it is going, when did you kind of feel that stirring of, okay. I think there may be some change on the horizon. Yeah. I can remember at the end of last year, Starting to feel like, okay, I love the name of the podcast, but I don't think it's going to be the name forever.

And that was really all God gave me at the time. And the more the show continues to grow. And the more that God continues to grow me in the process and all those things, um, I really wanted to move in a direction that I would still love in five. You know what I mean? And who knows how long God will have me the show and what that looks like in the future.

We don't know that, but I wanted sort of an umbrella that all the conversations that we're going to have to come underneath and it still makes sense. Right? So for people who are listening today and you don't know me, and maybe somebody shared this episode with you, because they're excited about the relaunch and you don't know my whole story, the show was called, do the thing movement and really win.

Sort of this heart of coming alongside women and cheering them on and whatever God's called them to do. And as I continue to seeing what people need and what my people wanted to hear from me, there were conversations that they wanted me to have. And that I really wanted to have about, about marriage, about body image, about sort of holistically all of these things that really matter in our walk with Christ.

To help us kind of walk most fully into what he's called us to do. And so the term radical radiants kind of developed over time. I started realizing really all I want to do is help women shine for Jesus. Like whatever that looks like in their lives. I want to have conversations and create resources and write books and speak on things that will help women do that more fully.

And so one of the, the scriptures that God kept bringing me back. Over and over again was Psalm 34. And in verse five, it says those who look to him are radiant and their faces are never covered in shame. I love that scripture so much. I love it so much. It just makes me want to go run some labs. And I, I kept coming back to it.

I was seeing it everywhere. I think one of the cool things that God will do when we just asked him to give us clarity is he will often do that through his word. And that was one of the cool things that I saw God do throughout this whole process is just sort of affirmed me in different places in scripture and kind of this idea of radiating the love of Christ of helping women do that.

Um, you and I both are actually reading through the Bible chronologically and with the Bible recap this year and when I was passing through Exodus probably in February or so, when I was really feeling like, okay, yeah, we're going to pull the trigger on this. And this was one of the surprises that God gave you.

That was so fun when I was reading about Moses. So this is Exodus 34. Moses had just spent 40 days and 40 nights in the presence of the word and inverse. I think it's 34. It's verses 29 through 35. That's sort of the story, but it says his skin was glowing because he had been in the presence of God. And I just love the thought of.

Creating things and conversations and books, and just resources for women that will help them be in the presence of God, so that they shine the light of Christ in, in their lives. And so seeing that in the life of Moses was really cool. And then I got within days of that, a friend texted me. And she had been praying alongside me about this.

And, um, she was reading her Hebrews and she sent me a screenshot of her Bible. And she was like, uh, did you know that it Hebrews one verses one through three, it says that Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. And so we just started seeing like this, this footprint of Moses's skin was glowing, the radiance of Christ.

When we look to him, we radiate him and we're not, our faces are never covering Shane. Like it was everywhere for me. And so that was, that was really it. And just this, this thought of like, we think about the process of sanctification, which is a really big word that just basically means like, we become more like Jesus, right?

Like the more we spend time in his presence. The more, we become more like him. We're able to radiate him more fully. And so if I could say anything like, like that's, that's it, that's what I want to do for women. That's what I want to encourage women with. And so that's kind of over the last probably eight or nine months kind of what God has done in me.

And really just through his word, confirming that, um, kind of as he set the tone for the direction of. I think it feels like natural and organic shift, almost like the next step, because I feel like that's something that you've already been doing for so long and it's kind of like, it, it took its own shape and now it's almost like you're honing in on.

This beautiful idea that I think encompasses so much of what you already do. And so much of the people, um, that are a part of this. So I want to know though, how did you choose the exact words, radical radiant? So it's a beautiful theme and a beautiful thought, but how did you actually narrow it down to that specific?

First of all, I told you yesterday, it just rolls off the tongue. Like honestly, like saying it. Radical Korean. What do those two words mean to you? Kind of how did you, um, or maybe it was just a lore that kind of placed it on you, but those two words specifically, how did that become kind of what encompassed?

Yeah. I love that. Well, one day I was playing around in Canva. This is just the real, real, this is what actually happened. And. Canvas the best thing in the whole wide world. That is the best thing in the whole wide world. And I was playing around with just words, which I'll do often if I'm trying to title something or whatever.

And so I was pretty hung up on the word, radiance. I just didn't know what I was going to pair it with. And, um, goodness, do we love an alliteration that rolls off the tongue? And so I remember just typing a bunch of words, like next to radiance and all of a sudden it was like, Practical readings, like that's good.

I like that. And it was around the same time as my husband was getting home from work. And so I remember him coming to my office and he gave me a hug and he looked at my screen because I was naturally, I was, I was just making up logos and trying to play around with it. And he was like, what are you doing?

And I was like, I think this is what the podcast and he was supposed to be, and he loved it. And so it just, it sort of stuck over time. And when we think about the word radical elect, that's a big, strong word, right? Like it really means to be set apart. And when we look at. Who we are in Christ and what that looks like to the world that does and should look different than what we see around us in the world.

And so, I mean, again, kind of echoing what we've already said. That's really, my heart is that women would walk away from conversations that we have, the resources that we create really feeling equipped and encouraged. To live a set of part likes of Christ and to radiate him just in our life, to the world around them.

That's absolutely beautiful. And it is just like your personality. And it's what makes me so happy that the Lord uses something that you love. Like just having a creative moment for him to just kind of be like that. Did it. This is it. I just think that's so kind of him, um, to give you something in that way.

And I also think a lot of times we feel like we have to go into prayer and fasting to get the answer from the Lord. And while that. Absolutely something that we need to do a lot of times, like you said, it's like, he gives us little tiny stirring in your heart and then he keeps backing it up with scripture.

And with all of these things in your life that it's just keeps pointing to this one thing. And I just think that's so kind of him and, and I love that you listened to that because I'm so excited for the next step for this, because of just what I think it will mean for so many people and how it's very easy for us to feel like when we follow the Lord sometimes.

It can be, we want people to understand how great the Lord is. And, and I think that's the thing is the more you're in, you're in his presence, it's the more you actually do radiate. And so I just love that that's going to be on the forefront of everything. Um, it makes me very excited, but, um, anyways, I just love that.

So now I need to ask. What makes you excited? I've told you what makes me so excited. What makes you excited about the new brand in general? What is the thing that you're just like the most pumped about as you begin to form this as you move forward? Yeah, I was, I think about what God is doing in me and what I'm excited to work on in terms of writing and speaking and things like that.

Like we said kind of at the beginning, I think it's, it's a better umbrella of saying what I'm already doing. And that excites me because who knows what, how God is going to lead and what I'll be working on in a couple of years in terms of writing and things like that. But I do feel confident that God has given me a sort of this new umbrella to kind of host everything underneath.

And when I think about the conversations that we have. Um, this really applies to every piece of our lives, right? We, we can't compartmentalize our walk with Christ separate from these other pieces of our lives. So when we think about our life, our work, our calling, our relationships, our marriage, all of those things that marry together that are the pieces and compartments of our lives, we get to play.

The radiance of Christ and the ability to radiate him into the world, around us, into all of those places in our lives. And so the ability to do that through all of these things really makes me excited. Some people would call it a rebrand. I think it's just sort of a reframing of what God's already doing in my life and in the lives of the people who get to listen and, um, get to take part in what God.

I liked that you said reframing. I love that idea. And I think also what's encouraging is the fact that the Lord has taken. All of these amazing women who are listening to this podcast, and it's almost like he's showed you who they are. And he's like these people you are. And these people who listen are radical and they're radiant for me.

And so I love that that's already a calling. And so as you step in and move forward, um, it's like, there's a promise over the next step. And I absolutely love that. And that's super exciting. Okay. So now you have a Patrion. I would love for you to explain what is patriotic people that don't know. And, um, for those who are already members of Patrion, what does that look like?

Moving forward? Will anything change? Yes. Okay. I love Patrion. Um, so what Patrion is, if you're not familiar with the platform, is it is a really cool extra sort of platforms, space for creators like me. Like you. Speakers writers, podcasters to really host those extra bonus conversations and resources that they want to give to their audience and really be able to connect with them in a more intimate way than just stories on their Instagram or a podcast conversation that feels maybe very distant from them.

So it gives you more access to the person that you're listening to. It gives you more resources coaching and that kind of thing. So for us, Nothing is really going to change on Patrion other than like, it's gonna look and feel a little different because it's a new brand, which is really fun. But the great thing about the platform is there.

An endless sort of backlog that continues to be added to every single week of bonus episodes. So depending on what tier you join, um, there are several things that you will get access to, but one of them is a bonus episode that we do with every single guest where we just get to know them on a little bit more of a fun, deeper level for five or 10 minutes.

And we ask really important questions, like what are some books that you're reading, they're really helping you, that you want people to know about. And, um, If you were to have like a favorite karaoke song, what would it be like? Those are the most fun answers in question. I know it says a lot about a person and then probably one of my favorite questions that we're asking all of our guests right now through the lens of this new brand is what about Jesus makes you writing it?

And Daniel, the answer to that question make me, like, we be crying almost every time. It's like 50 50 on like people crying when they actually answer the question, but I get teary almost every time, 100%. Yeah. And, and it just gives me so much insight too into life. How God is speaking to different people.

And it's been a really fun question to ask. So all of those bonus interviews, even the ones that we we posted and you would have access to, if you were a member long time ago, they're all there for you. And that will continue to grow as time passes. We also for the next tier up, we do monthly book giveaways.

So we try to ask each publisher of each message that we, that we talk about on the show to donate a copy of the book, to our Patrion audience. And so each month we do a monthly book giveaway on our zoom party that we do for that tier, where everybody gets to hang out with me, ask me questions, talk about conversations that they loved on the show or questions that they have and things like.

And then if you are a podcaster or aspiring author or speaker, and there's this. You really feel like you just want somebody to come alongside you and do some coaching each month, we have a coaching option as well. And so there's sort of three tiers that we have it split into depending on your budget and kind of what you want to invest back in the show.

And I've learned alongside some of my other podcasts or friends that this is really important to say. And so I'm going to say it. This is one of the ways that we continue to drive the show forward and to be very sure. Financially covers some of the costs of the software that we use and the editing tools that we use.

And a lot of the things that it requires to make the show happen. And so it's always really special when somebody comes in and wants to be a part of what God is doing. And so even. Um, that doesn't sound super fun to you, but you're like, Hey, I just want to be a part of what God's doing through this show.

That's a great way to do that. So those are a few of the things that we offer there. And, um, you can head on over to my, my Instagram or any of the places where you connect with me. And it's real easy to find where you can find. What I like about Patrion is for those of us who don't have maybe a brick and mortar store, this is a really great way to support a small business for somebody who is a creator.

And I really love that. And also for the record, I've hung out with you many times and I'm just saying a zoom party with you is a very fun part.

Yeah. It's. So if anyone's on the fence about picture on, just try it out, go to zoom party and then you'll be hooked. Yeah. Also I'm always up for a book giveaway. Oh yeah, me too. I just, I, I feel kind of like not to be a copycat, but something Annie downs always says on her show is like, I only have people on my show that I am either friends with or that I want to be friends with.

And. I kind of feel the same way. I say a lot of no's, but I really like my yeses really matter and who comes on the show. And so I think people who've listened for any amount of time would know and recognize that. And so when I then on the other side, get to give away that message, that becoming an author myself, I know how deeply rooted that book is into, into that author.

By the time somebody holds it in their hands. To be able to then be like, Hey, here you go. Like, go read their work, go like God, speak to you through what they're doing. And so that's a real gift to me to get to do that for you. I think that's so fun and I'm really glad that you're able to do that, but also, um, on the same exact vein, you have a really, really amazing resource you're giving away to celebrate the launch of radical radiance.

Okay. Tell us all about it. This is very active. I know I'm so excited about it. So I wanted a way to kind of take people on the journey that God and I have been going down for the last seven or eight months of really looking at yeah. Where across the pages of scripture, do we see evidence of this, this idea of radiating the love of Christ, uh, um, all of those things, and your mind is probably already wondering to some of the passages that may feel really well-worn, but it's really fun to look at them all kind of in succession and incremental.

Chronological order. And so what we're giving away and I'm, oh, I could just let go run laughs about this and so excited. It's called the shine bright journal. And so it's a hundred page PDF journal that has space to pray to process, to use what, um, people it's kind of a fancy word and like the inductive Bible study method.

So there's space to sort of unpack. W what the passage means, how to apply it to our lives, all of those things. Um, all of the places in scripture where we see. That the Bible talks about what it looks like to radiate the love of Christ. So, so yes, we talk about Moses, that passage that we talked about really, or we talk about how the church is to be a city on a hill.

We talk about all of those places where we see evidence of that. And, um, and even a few extras, like how do we develop more fully. The fruits of the spirit. And what does that look like and how does that play into, um, being able to radiate the love of Christ, all of those things. So you can download that by going to my Instagram, there's a link in my bio that you can go download that for free and.

I can't wait to see how God speaks to you. I'm so excited about it as someone who has participated in your devotionals and the things that you have sent out, um, like the emails that you send things from your blog, things from your Instagram, all of those things, there is so much depth to what you write.

And there's something really great about. Steadying together, um, with an online community. So I'm very excited about the shine bright journal. I cannot wait. I'm really looking forward to it. I know me too. So share it with your friends. It's free so anybody can go and download it. Um, it will send you an email just right after you fill out the form that will give you a week to download the journal.

And so. Then what that will, what will happen there as well? It'll add you sort of, to our insider community where you'll get to hear about, um, the conversations that we're going to have before anybody else knows you'll get to have access to coupon codes and things that we promote. Um, I try to really save those things for my email community, because those are the people that are my people and are listening and are being a part of what God is doing.

And so. Signing up for the shine, bright journal will sort of enter you into that as well, so that you can keep up with all guidance student, um, kind of through the show. So I'm just so excited. I, when I was dreaming about this episode and kind of what, how I wanted to introduce this to people, my literal first thought was, well, I can't have anybody, but Danielle be a part of it.

So yeah, I'm just really. I'm just grateful for you and for our friendship and that you listened to my crazy ideas and you cheer me on and all of that. So I'm just so grateful for you for the record. Your crazy ideas are usually amazing ideas. It's been such a blast too. Kind of be on this journey together and just whatever, wherever the Lord is taking us, I've really, really enjoyed.

Um, just being able to have a hive grill and hopefully I've always, and will always be your hype girl. It's been so much fun also. I have so enjoyed asking you these questions. I am really, really, really looking forward to what's coming. And also just from someone who knows you personally, I can say that this is how you live.

Um, you're who you are online is an overflow out of your relationship with the Lord and who you are to the people around you. And so I could not be more excited for all of the people who listen to you and get to know you through the podcast and through all the things that you're putting out and for the people to come.

No yet, but will, I'm really excited for them. That's really fun to dream about to you to think that people are going to listen to this that have no idea about the show yet. So that's. Okay. So I think it'd be really fun if we gave a little taste of what Patrion bonus questions and episodes look like. So can I ask you the questions that you ask your guests?

Yes, please. I love it. Okay. Number one, question. One of my most favorite questions of all time. What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given? Okay. I sent this to my mom earlier, and this is the first thing that's coming to my mind. And I love when people say that like, Hey, I don't know that this is the best, but this is what comes to mind in this very moment for this particular juncture.

And so I heard somebody say this this morning, I thought this was really good. When you get to where you're going, go back for people who are still where you came from and. I know somebody on any up-downs show. Um, so that this morning, and they were talking about this whole industry of speaking and writing and things like that.

And I got to go to the first mopper that I've been to in about three years last week. So it's funny that we're having this conversation now. And I don't know that. I think we actually did talk about this, but it was one of the first conferences, like industry specific that I was able to go to where I felt like.

I had something to offer people, you know, like in conversations, I felt like I was able, which was such a gift to be able to, to give more than I took. And, um, There were just a lot of moments where I had the opportunity to speak into somebody's book idea or to help them ideate through talking through their podcast.

And it's just really fun when God gives you the opportunity to do that. And I don't want to miss those moments when I get to walk alongside other people in this industry. And so when we get to where we're going, not that we're ever going to arrive or gods, we know all that, right. But when we have taken a step of obedience and God has blessed it, and we look behind us and we see somebody taking that similar step of obedience and we know the roadblocks that are coming, or we know things that you only learn through experience when I'm given those opportunities to share, I just won't take them.

So I love that piece of advice. Yeah. When you said that, Over here, making faces of love for that quote. What I love about that is I think it is so important when you get through a stage of life or you're in a different season and you can look back in the past and actually recognize the lessons that you were taught by the Lord.

I always want to be the person that I didn't have in that season. If I have the option to be yeah. And I actually love that piece of advice as well, because I feel like that kind of encompasses a lot of do the thing in a lot of radical radiance. So, um, it's very interesting to me that that piece of advice sticks out to you because I feel like it slides right along with the calling of your life, um, in this season right now.

No, I love that me too. What is, this is going to be so hard. What is the best book you've read lately? How do you even choose? I don't know. Good luck with that. When I, when I looked at these questions, I started getting a little bit of anxiety because I mean the number of books that I, I just, I feel so blessed to be able to like talk to authors all the time.

And I get to hear about so many amazing messages, but the one that comes to mind that I read cover to cover about a month ago. Was breaking free from body shame by just Conley. We're talking here in a few weeks and, um, that will be an episode that's coming soon on the show for people and to get excited about that.

But I'm really excited about what God's doing through, um, through Jess and through that message of equipping women to overcome, um, body shame. And it was a really important book for me. It was really, it was just a really pivotal in my mindset about that and actually read it on. I was traveling for work and I read it on a plane and I can't wait to tell her this, but I was like, we were like D boarding the plane and I just finished the book and I could have just like random marathon.

I was so excited. And so I'm standing in the aisle and I'm holding the book in my hand. And. This girl, next to me asked me what I was reading. And I mean, I just word vomited on her, like my top takeaways from the book. And she, I mean, I think she was a little, like half creeped out and half like totally ordered the book as soon as she walked away from me.

But it is, it is great. It is just, it's a really important message for women right now. So that would be one that I've loved that I'm telling people about. Let me tell you something that I feel like the Lord is doing, and I keep seeing him do through. The people that are serving him is he is just continually showing us all the theme of, and just like driving it home.

He is. Yeah, freedom from blank or whatever. Freedom from body shame, freedom from, you know, this. And so number one, that book is now on my to read list. Number two, I love her. I love just Connelly, super excited about that. But number three, what an amazing book, because again, the presence of the Lord is freedom.

And so that makes me super excited to read on, because I feel like in this season right now, I continually hear him saying I am freedom. And so that's really cool. I love that. That's so good. Okay. Now something I take very seriously, honestly, which is karaoke. Um, so go to karaoke song. Oh, I get to think about this all the time.

And the answer is very easy for me, man. I feel like a woman should not find you would have not said that if you would not have said that I would have literally just walked out of my house right now because I never would know you that well. And number two, what other song is there to sing karaoke? There is no other, except maybe something best Celine Dion.

Yeah, Shannon all the way. Fantastic, fantastic choice. Um, I approve of that and let's go sing karaoke as soon as possible. Please, please. Okay. What is something you are loving right now? Oh, man. What is something that I'm loving right now? Here's something I'm loving right now. So we have not previously had a great coffee shop to go to in our town.

We live in a very small town and we just had, um, a PJ's coffee open up, like about a quarter of a mile from our house. It takes me like 30 seconds to get there and they have this honey oat milk latte that just rocks off. It's so good. So in fact, I was just sitting here thinking like, maybe I need one, I need one this afternoon.

And so that is just something that I'm loving right now. You do need one right now. I'm just letting you know, that's what you need to do. Wish I just worked with, could share with you. Oh, I know. Listen coffee with you is top tier one of my favorite things to do. Oh, me too. Now people at the coffee shop probably hate us, but that's fine.

Oh, I know we take it one out. Yeah. We take upon other tables for like three hours, but it's fine. Yeah, that's fine. It's worth it. Okay. Who has been the most influential person in your life and why? Man. Okay. Like nine times out of 10, when I asked this question, people give me these incredible stories about their parents and I love every single one of them.

And I could echo. I can echo that as well. And I'll get teary if I do, but career-wise who has been one of the most influential people, because this is for whatever reason, top of mind to me right now, um, as any downs, I got to go see her on tour a couple of weeks ago, and I got to meet her and I told you about that whole experience, but, um, you know, I left.

Feeling like she's who I thought she was. And it was just a really good reminder to me of like those interactions that we have with people who listen to our show or read our future books or things like that doesn't really matter. And I want, um, I want people to leave spending time with me. Feeling the way that Annie made me feel.

And, um, if I can do that for other people and lead them closer to Christ, like that's, that's what I want to do. And so the way that she has done that through her writing and through her podcast and, um, how she makes people feel like they're her friend, like that's. Um, I want to be Rebecca. I don't want to be Annie.

Right. But like the way that she does that fully and is herself fully inspires me to be fully Rebecca. So isn't that what a good influential person does is they don't cause you to imitate them. They cause you to be the best version of yourself because of the qualities that they have in them. Yeah. And, um, yeah.

Who doesn't love any up-downs let's be honest, but I. Totally see why you would think that. And it's always, always amazing. I told you this, I think when you were telling me about meeting her, but so often you hear the quote, never meet your heroes because they'll always let you down. But, um, what I love is when your hero, um, has a common foundation of love for Jesus that you do.

Um, it's, it's the Jesus in that person that you're attracted to, which takes me right into our next question, which is, what about Jesus makes you writing it? Okay. I love this question so much and hearing people's responses is just blows me away every single time, hearing how God is speaking to people and how they feel, um, radiant because of Jesus in their life.

And I think for me in this particular season of life, I think the reminder. That God never changes really, really encourages me like in the midst of a life that has experienced a lot of change, um, over the last couple of years, just remembering that not only does the truth, that God does not change that that rings true.

But when we think about everything else that we know to be true about them, It checks out with the fact that he doesn't change. And if he did change everything else that we know to be true about, God would no longer check out. Right? Like if that one truth was not true. And so when we think about everything else we know to be true about God's character, the fact that he doesn't change matters and all of that.

And so living in that truth in the midst of it, An extreme season of change. That's like one of the only things that makes me write in is being able to trust that, um, one of the most trustworthy things about God is the fact that he doesn't change. Right. And so that's what kind of comes to mind for me when I think of that question.

Okay. That's so beautiful. I get why you cry every time someone answers that question. I think it's because. When, you know, the Lord, your heart is so tender towards him because of how kind he is and how loving and unchanging and, um, what a beautiful answer. I loved that. I have loved this so much more often.

Like maybe part two. I know. Yes. Yes. For sure. I'm so excited just to have you and happy, we'll get to hear a little bit more your voice and get to join us as we launch this new podcast, not new podcast, but we was, we watched this new re framing of what God's already doing. So. Goodness. Thank you so much for being with me today.

Thank you for allowing me to talk to you about this. You truly are an example of radical radiance and Jesus shines through you, and I'm very excited for this next season for you.