Thriving in Christ | Burnout, Stress, Leadership, Faith & High Performance
For Christian Women Professionals & Servant Leaders called to live, lead, and serve from renewal for the Kingdom. Top 2.5% Globally Ranked. → Do you feel at times stressed, depleted, or on a “busy treadmill,” with Sunday night blues - even though you love what you do? → Do you sense blocks in reaching your highest potential for the Kingdom, despite already carrying significant responsibility and impact? → Do you struggle to fully replenish yourself and access the peace that surpasses all understanding - no matter how many programs you’ve tried - and worry that self-care and deep renewal will only add more to long to-do list? → Do you wrestle to stay grounded, clear, and expansive in your impact - especially in high-stakes situations? If this is you, welcome. You are not lacking discipline. You are not lacking faith. More often, what’s missing is sustainable renewal. Many of the solutions available today act like band-aids - placed on top of an already burdened foundation, shaped by chronic stress, cultural conditioning, and misconceptions about what it truly means to live and serve in Christ. In this show, we take a different approach. Through the integration of science, psychology, and Christian faith, this show helps you: → Return to a place of inner renewal - accessing the “living waters” of Christ from within → Align your body, mind, heart, and soul - reducing inner fragmentation and restoring a grounded inner life. → Simplify your daily habits from the inside-out - building sustainable rhythms that support your life and leadership without adding pressure. → Access clarity, peace, and grounded presence - especially in high-responsibility and high-stakes moments. → Expand your capacity to lead and serve with joy and peace - not from striving, but from renewal, alignment, and co-creation with God. This is not about doing more. It is about learning how to return - again and again - to God within, where your strength is renewed, your inner life is restored, and your leadership flows from your soul. Hi, I’m Dr. Ioana Popa - co-founder of Team For The Soul® Institute, physician-psychiatrist educator, spiritual care & executive coach, speaker, and trainer. As a woman deeply committed to serving others and to my faith, I found myself saying yes to every need, carrying increasing responsibility, and quietly moving toward chronic stress and burnout. I believed that catching up on rest during weekends or vacations would be enough - but it was not. After experiencing burnout twice, I sought help through both psychology and Christian faith - only to find fragmented guidance, often disconnected, or even at odds. Over time, I realized that if I wanted to live, lead, and serve in Christ with clarity, energy, and joy, I needed something different. A simple, integrated way of living - rooted in renewal, grounded in Christ, and supported by both science and faith. This is the work I now share with you. If you are ready to grow toward your highest potential - from a grounded, renewed foundation in Christ - you are in the right place. Let’s begin. Sending you many blessings and prayers in Christ, Dr. Ioana NEXT STEPS: ✝️ Want to get my WEEKLY emails with updates, events, and special invitations? JOIN 'Thriving In Christ' Resources: https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up ✝️ Ready to lead in Christ with Joy, Peace & Purpose? Set up a complimentary Free Consultation to learn about how I can support you: https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall CONNECT: Website: https://teamforthesoul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drioanapopa/ DISCLAIMERS: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul® Institute. All information provided on this platform is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.
Episodes
300 | A Story of Transformation: Biblical Mentorship for Christian Women, with Robin Greenlee
What if the breakthrough we've been praying for begins with someone willing to walk alongside us?
In this encouraging Renewal Conversation, Robin Greenlee, a Bible teacher, banking risk manager, and mentor, shares how intentional mentorship, biblical wisdom, and God's faithfulness helped lead her from a season of depression into a life of purpose, healing, and helping others grow in Chris
299 | Centering Reset: God's Way to Increase Your Capacity
Your capacity grows strongest when your soul learns to slow down with God before it moves forward for Him.
The world rewards relentless effort, but Scripture reveals a different rhythm - one where waiting on the Lord becomes the very source of renewed strength. When your inner life is grounded in Christ, your leadership becomes lighter, clearer, and more fruitful.
In this Centering Reset,
298 | When Tragedy Shakes Your Faith: Trusting God Through Life's Hardest Seasons | Sheila Krygsheld
Loss has a way of shaking the foundations of what we believe. But what if our deepest questions during these times could become the very place where our faith grows stronger?
In this week's conversation, we explore how one woman's journey through unimaginable tragedy became a testimony of hope, resilience, and a deeper understanding of God's goodness.
Our guest in Renewal Conversation tod
297 | Centering Reset: The Power of Being Nurtured by God
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296 | You're Not Meant to Fight Your Body: Christ-Centered Fitness with Ashley Perry Lambert
Sometimes it is so easy to treat our bodies like a project to fix, instead of a gift to steward.
We can care for everyone around us with patience and compassion, yet quietly carry frustration, shame, or disappointment toward our own bodies.
Somewhere along the way, movement becomes another obligation, another measure of success, instead of another place to meet with God.
In this Renewal C
295 | Centering Reset: Trusting God Before You Have the Answers
What if the freedom we’re longing for is not somewhere outside of us… but something Christ is already inviting us into?
Many high-capacity Christian women carry pressure so constantly that striving starts to feel normal. But inner freedom in Christ is possible: a quieter mind, a steadier heart, and a soul no longer driven by fear, urgency, or endless pressure.
In this Centering Reset, we
294 | When Life Shakes You - How to Anchor Your Soul in Christ with Mary Carmen Englert
There are seasons when life doesn't fall apart all at once - it slowly pulls your attention, your peace, and even your relationship with God in a hundred different directions.
Lasting renewal isn't found by trying harder, but by returning, day after day, to simple rhythms that anchor your heart in Christ.
In this week's conversation, Mary Carmen Englert shares how suffering, gratitude, si
293 | Centering Reset: Wisdom Is More Valuable Than Intelligence
Sometimes the greatest challenge isn't that we don't know enough. It's that life moves so fast we no longer create space to recognize God's wisdom when He is already offering it.
In a world overflowing with information, opinions, and artificial intelligence, perhaps the question is no longer, "How can I learn more?" but, "How can I become quiet enough to receive true wisdom?"
In this Cent
292 | From Heartbreak to Hope: Healing Through Loss and God's Redemption with Felicia Brown
Some of life's deepest wounds might come from what happened to us; and overcoming our past, reshaping our present, and recreating hopes for our future is all a part of healing.
In this inspiring Renewal Conversation, therapist and emotional regulation coach, Felicia Brown, shares her personal journey through loss, adoption, faith, and healing.
Her story is a reminder that adversity doesn'
291 | Centering Reset: The Surprising Psychology of Hope
Hope can feel challenging to hold onto when life is uncertain.
Whether you're navigating a difficult season, waiting for answers, or carrying a dream that hasn't unfolded the way you expected, it's easy to wonder if things will ever change and if God is going to answer our prayers.
This week, you can spend a few minutes to do a powerful RESET toward HOPE as a decision to tr
290 | If Nobody Was Watching, Who Would You Become? Healing and Renewal with Antoinette Berrafato
Sometimes, the path to healing begins in places we never expected - where faith meets surrender and restoration quietly takes root.
This week's guest on Renewal Conversations, Antoinette Berrafato, offers a story you won’t forget - moving from elite Army combat medic to fighting for her own life after a devastating injury that left her dependent on constant care. But what happened next is
289 | Centering Reset: The Power of Awareness
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do isn't push harder - it's pause. A few moments of intentional awareness can help you step out of autopilot, quiet the noise, and remember that God is closer than you think.
This encouraging episode explores how awareness creates space between what happens to you and how you respond. Drawing from both neuroscience and Scripture, you'll discov
288 | The Hidden Leadership Skill That Shapes Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Faith
In today's busy culture it is common for most of us to get pulled in a hundred different directions - so no wonder that we can feel drained at the end of the day.
And then somewhere between the endless demands of our lives and the desire to serve God well, it's easy to lose sight of what truly deserves our attention.
We might not be able to change our external reality at all times, but is
287 | Centering Reset: Leading from Calm Instead of Reactivity
Have you ever reacted to something and immediately wished you had responded differently? When life feels overwhelming, it's easy to get swept up in stress, emotions, and the demands of the moment.
In this week's Centering Reset, you'll discover why emotional overwhelm isn't a personal failure - it's often your nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do. Learn simple, science-
286 | Following Christ Sometimes Means Walking Away: Faith, Discernment & Renewal with Nakia Edwards
I hope you are well! It is not uncommon for us to feel "off" or as if something just isn't right, as we go about our week.
Many times this feeling is not a sign of failure - but a signal that something in our lives is out of alignment.
In this week's Renewal Conversation with Dr. Nakia Edwards, Nurse Practitioner and Christian Content Creator, we talk about how she has learned to discern
285 | Centering Reset: Grow Your Leadership Capacity Without Burning Out
As we go about our week, it is not uncommon to try to expand our capacity and lives while quietly running on depletion.
But true capacity is not built through constant pressure, over-functioning, or pushing harder.
God’s invitation is actually to enlarge our lives from the inside out - strengthening our psychological and spiritual growth, our roots, before expanding our reach.
So the invi
284 | You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone - Faith, Therapy and Healing with Megan Bonynge
I hope you had a blessed week! Here is an insight to consider - What if your overwhelm isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong - but a sign you’ve been carrying too much without the support you need?
This week, I talk with Megan Bonynge, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and together, we explore the quiet reality of “survival mode” and how learning to discern between what truly ma
283 | Centering Reset: The Inner Freedom Christian Woman Long For
What if the freedom we’re longing for is not somewhere outside of us… but something Christ is already inviting us into?
Many of us carry pressure constantly - so much that striving starts to feel normal. But inner freedom in Christ is possible: a quieter mind, a steadier heart, and a soul no longer driven by fear, urgency, or endless pressure.
In this Centering Reset, we tap into how to r
282 | The Hidden Cost of Perfectionism - Finding Rest in Christ with Andrea Fortenberry
Today, I want to share about a common phenomenon: many of us women carry a quiet pressure to do everything well, hold everything together, and never fall short.
This typically stems from a perfectionistic part of us, which can often help us, but at times can lead us into tiredness, stress, and even a disconnect with God.
I had the joy of interviewing Andrea Fortenberry, author, podcast ho
281 | Centering Reset: Feeling Scattered? Focus on What Actually Matters
When your attention is scattered, your energy follows, and even meaningful work starts to feel draining.
So, what if this week is not about expanding in every direction, but about returning to what God is already growing in you?
In this Centering Reset podcast episode, you will hear more about how intentional focus drives peace, impact and altogether - purposeful living. It also invites y
280 | Can’t Hear God Clearly? How to Discern His Voice and Find Peace, with Heather O’Brien
There are moments when you pause and wonder: Is this God leading me… or just my own thoughts trying to make sense of things?
In a world full of noise, inner narratives, and pressure to figure everything out, discerning God’s presence requires more than effort - it calls for alignment, attention, and a deeper relationship.
In this Renewal Conversation with Heather O’Brien, Healing Coach an
279 | Centering Reset: You’re Carrying Too Much - Release This
You are carrying more than you were meant to carry.
Not everything on your mind, your schedule, or your heart belongs to you in this season.
What if letting go is not necessarily a loss, but the very way God is creating space for clarity, peace, and new life?
The message in this week's episode of Centering Reset emphasizes that what’s often missing isn’t faith or discipline, but sustainab
278 | Your Nervous System Is Stuck in Stress - How to Retrain It in Christ, with Cynthia Damaskos
If you find yourself unable to relax - even when everything looks “fine” on the outside, you’re not alone.
Many of us women live in a body that hasn’t learned how to feel safe on a daily basis.
On this topic, I had the joy to (re)interview Cynthia Damaskos, a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, and we shared insights about retraining our inner response patterns grounded in faith a
277 | Centering Reset - When You Don’t Have Clarity, Do This Instead
When you feel like there are endless decisions to make and the plate you carry is too full, all you want is a hint of clarity and direction.
And finding the patience to wait can be difficult.
This Centering Reset podcast episode is about learning how to be okay in the in-between - the seasons where you don’t have clear answers yet.
Instead of chasing quick fixes, it invites you into somet
276 | Your Grief Can Be Healed - How to Move Forward in Christ, with Victoria Volk
At some point or another, deep loss and hardship have affected all of us. But even our deepest moments of grief do not define us, nor restrict us from discovering our True Self. Because in God's great goodness, healing is possible.
In this week's Renewal Conversation, Victoria Volk, an advanced Grief Recovery® Specialist, shares her own experiences of childhood trauma and drifting from fa
275 | Centering Reset: Return to Your Soul in Christ
It is easy to feel overwhelmed and run on empty when life gets busy and we have so much on our plates.
In this Centering Reset podcast episode, I invite you to take a short pause to align your mind, heart, body, and soul with God, so you’re not just pushing through, but actually leading from the living waters of Christ.
Because, at the center is a simple, but powerfully aligned reminder:
274 | When You Don’t Know What to Do - The Psychology of Faith in Gethsemane
There are moments in life, vocation, and leadership when the decision in front of us feels heavier than anything we’ve carried before.
We may be praying, thinking, and seeking clarity - and still feel the weight of uncertainty and pressure.
Gethsemane reminds us that even Christ faced this kind of moment, not by avoiding it, but by entering fully into a relationship with the Father.
In th
273 | Centering Reset: God Is Speaking - Are You Positioned to Hear?
God is speaking… but in the middle of a full week, it’s easy to miss it.
Not because He is silent, but because His guidance is often steady, quiet, and requires us to turn toward Him.
If you’ve been carrying responsibility, uncertainty, or decisions without clear answers, this is your invitation to pause and reposition your heart.
In this episode, we practice returning to trust, recognizi
272 | Lessons from the Resurrection - Part 3: God Is Closer Than You Think, with Jody Hudson
Many of us love God deeply, and yet there are moments when He feels distant, especially in seasons of pressure, grief, or uncertainty.
The Resurrection reveals something surprising: what looked like absence was not the end, but the beginning of a deeper awareness of God’s presence.
In this Renewal Conversation, we explore how faith moves from something we practice at certain times of the
271 | Centering Today: The Reset Your Soul Needs This Week
If your week already feels heavy and it’s only Tuesday, you are not alone, and this is for you. You don’t have to carry everything on your own, and you don’t need to add self-care and renewal as another task to your list.
There is a way to return to a deeper center in Christ, one that brings steadiness, clarity, and real support, even in the middle of your responsibilities.
In this episod
270 | The Empty Tomb Felt Like Loss - Why Trusting God Feels So Hard in Uncertainty
Many of us love God deeply - and yet there are seasons when He feels distant, unclear, or even absent.
The Resurrection reveals something surprising: the empty tomb, which first felt like loss and confusion, became the very place where faith deepened.
Psychologically, this reflects how secure attachment is not built only through closeness, but through moments of separation, uncertainty, a
269 | Why Pushing Harder Isn’t Working: Lead with God’s Direction Instead. With Leslie Nunn Reed
Many Christian women leaders feel the weight of responsibility when things stall - wondering if they need to push harder, fix more, or carry the burden alone.
But what if the breakthrough you’re seeking isn’t about striving, but about learning how to see clearly, ask better questions, and partner with God in what is already unfolding?
In today’s Renewal Conversation with Leslie Nunn Reed,
268 | Resurrection Leadership: When Growth Mindset Isn’t Enough for Christian Women
In this month’s mini-series, we explore lessons from the Resurrection, bridging science, psychology, spiritual care, and Christian faith, to support you as you navigate work, family, and leadership.
The reality that Christ rose from despair and death is a powerful reminder that growth and renewal are always possible, and that nothing can overcome God. Even in the most difficult seasons, t
267 | Why Successful Christian Women Burn Out: Health Warning Signs You Miss, with Amy Loden Tiffany
Do you have questions about your health or wonder about certain signs and symptoms, but are perhaps a bit nervous to ask your doctor? If so, you are not alone, and this episode will offer you some encouragement.
Dr. Amy Loden Tiffany's journey is a refreshing reminder that God meets us right in the middle of our careers, challenges, and everyday decisions. From standing firm in her faith
266 | Why God Seems Distant When You Pray - The Hidden Role of Attachment
Many times we carry a quiet tension: we pray, we believe, and yet… sometimes God feels distant.
Not absent in theory - but distant in experience. And over time, this can create confusion, self-doubt, or even a subtle fear that something is wrong with your faith.
What if the feeling that God is distant is not about God at all… but about how the mind has learned to relate?
This week,
265 | Anxiety in High-Achieving Women: A Christian & Science-Based Approach, with Dr. Robyn Graham
Anxiety doesn’t always show up the way we expect, but there are often warning signs that will tell us when it is near.
In this renewal conversation, Dr. Robyn Graham, an Anxiety Breakthrough Strategist and creator of the CCC method, unpacks how anxiety often stems from a dysregulated nervous system, quietly shaping behaviors like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the constant pressure t
264 | How to Talk About Christ Without Pushing People Away
This week, I re-share an episode about talking with others about your faith, from my own personal experience.
It is because of one experience that I turned back to God several decades ago, and we can use this model to help others be curious about God!
The uniqueness of Christianity and the awe of who Christ is can develop a great deal of enthusiasm, thus making conversations somewhat inte
263 | Hallway Prayers: Faith & Resilience in a High-Stress Career, With Dr. Kayla Fresco
Have you ever felt guilt for dedicating time to your career or perhaps caring for others while things at home are not quite done?
In this renewal conversation, Dr. Kayla Fresco, a physician and mom, shares about the pressure many Christian women feel as they juggle demanding careers, family life, and their faith.
From the isolation of medical training (which I can attest to) to finding a
262 | Stop Leading From Exhaustion: Faith-Driven Sustainable Leadership
I pray for you and hope that you all had a wonderful week!This week I am re-sharing this inspirational video to help you lead and give in Christ from a grounded presence.
Many of us have learned to lead from the mind, push through with willpower, or rely heavily on the heart. While this can work for a season, over time it often leads to exhaustion, subtle disconnection from God, and
261 | Digital Fasting for Christian Women: Reclaim Your Focus, Peace & Prayer Life, with Dr. Randa Anderson
What if your exhaustion isn’t just from your workload - but from your screen time? This week, Dr. Randa Anderson joins me, and together we explore digital fasting and digital discernment - a Christ-centered approach to reclaiming focus, inner peace, and spiritual clarity in a constantly connected world.
Drawing from psychology, science, and the wisdom of the Orthodox Christian tradition,
260 | Stop Striving: How Christian Women Can Tune Into God’s Presence
I pray you are well! This month, we revisit some important past episodes following the theme of FAITH, as we walk with God during this Lenten season.
In this episode, I share some important concepts about connecting with God and why He might sometimes feel distant, although He is everywhere, filling all things.
We long to encounter God everywhere, not just in church, but in the midd
259 | Christian Women in Leadership: Trusting God One Step at a Time, with Kathy Abraham
In this powerful conversation, Kathy Abraham shares how her journey from physician assistant to entrepreneur to full-time ministry leader reveals a “red thread” of vocation: to love God, know God, and make Him known. This episode is a reminder that God wastes nothing - every season, skill, and even failure prepares you for your next assignment.
All for the glory of God!
Kathy is a Christi
258 | Strong Faith-Empty Tank? Time to Rejuvenate with One Small Step Today
*Do NOT drive or operate machinery during this Contemplative practice*
Restoration IS possible! And here is a quick Christian restorative practice to help you reset as you enter into the weekend.
This guided contemplation, inspired by Psalm 139:10, helps you listen for Christ’s gentle guidance across your day - body, heart, mind, and soul. This way, you can find renewed capacity and susta
257 | Healing After Burnout: From Surviving to Thriving - Preventing Burnout, Part 4
If you are already burned out - or close to it - you may feel a quiet urgency to “get back to yourself,” to recover, to feel alive again. At the same time, the idea of doing one more thing can feel overwhelming. leaving many women to ask, “Is real restoration even possible for me?”
Psychology and medicine offer an important truth: burnout recovery does not begin with effort - it begins wi
256 | Burnout & Belief Systems: The Hidden Mindsets Keeping Christian Women Exhausted
*Do NOT drive or operate machinery during this Contemplative practice*
RESTORATIVE PRACTICE:
If you are longing for a moment of silence with God, I invite you to listen to this episode, with a guided Christian contemplation to help you.
Together, we will take a sacred pause to remember: God calls you to faithfulness, not exhaustion - and His shadow is a place of rest, safety, and joy.
In
255 | The Hidden Beliefs That Fuel Burnout - Preventing Burnout, Part 3
What if burnout wasn’t only about your workload - but the hidden beliefs quietly driving you? In this powerful episode of Thriving in Christ, I unpack the subtle mindsets that accelerate chronic stress, reminding us that while responsibilities are real, the “lens” we view them through can either drain us or lead us toward peace.
Beliefs about responsibility, excellence, calling, and what
254 | Rest for Your Body: A Guided Christian Contemplation for Busy Women of Faith
*Do NOT drive or operate machinery during this Contemplative practice*
Here is a quick Christian restorative contemplative practice to help you reset as you enter into the weekend.
Rooted in Matthew 11:28 - 30, today's guided practice helps you receive God’s light, renewal, and gentle yoke of love from head to toe - offering deep replenishment in the midst of your full days and busy lives
253 | Burnout Changes Us: The Science You Need to Know - Preventing Burnout, Part 2
Many women often tell me, “I don’t feel like myself anymore.” And, you may notice you’re more irritable, more tired, less patient, or strangely unable to slow down - even when you desperately want to.
Prayer feels harder.
Rest feels elusive.
And you might quietly wonder why faith alone doesn’t seem to be fixing this.
What science helps us see is this: burnout is not just emotional or spir
252 | If Burnout Is Not a Failure, then What is it? - Preventing Burnout, Part 1
There is a quiet moment for many of us when we realize that although we are functioning, delivering, and showing up, yet something inside is missing, feels empty, flat, or tired in a way rest alone doesn’t fix.
You may wonder, “What is happening to me?” and even start doubting yourself or your faith.
When this happens, we need to consider another possibility: that we might be experiencing
251 | Your Body is For You, Not Against You: Connect & Listen to Your Body, With Dr. Brook Sheehan
In this episode of Thriving in Christ Show, I sit down with chiropractor and functional health practitioner, Dr. Brook Sheehan, for a powerful conversation about the body - an area many Christian women unintentionally neglect while serving, leading, and striving.
Dr. Sheehan invites us to shift from “pushing through” to partnering with God’s design, reminding us that our bodies are not me
250 | Good Habits Shouldn’t Exhaust You: The Power of Wisdom & Environment; Rhythm-Habits Part 4
Most likely, you are deeply familiar with doing hard things. At work, at home, in your church. And you are probably rewarded to push through exhaustion, complexity, and responsibility more times than you can count.
That perseverance has served you well in leadership and service.
But when it comes to daily renewal habits - prayer, rest, Scripture, or simply stopping work at a humane hour -
249 | Raising Up God’s Daughters: Faith, Entrepreneurship, and Kingdom Calling, with Elaine Lankford
It is very common to put pressure on our identity as professional women. And yet sometimes, we are unsure or confused.
Well, after a 16-year nursing career - and seasons of profound loss and professional upheaval - Elaine Lankford, realized that God was gently realigning her heart from identity in career to identity in Christ, showing her that He never wastes anything.
On a mission trip t
248 | Decision Fatigue Is Stealing Your Peace (Here’s the Fix); Rhythm-Habits Part 3
So much of your day is probably spent responding to emails, making decisions, managing crises, and people’s needs. By the time you reach the end of the day to care for your own habits or spiritual practices, your decision-making energy is often depleted, even if your desire for God remains strong.
And you might even tell yourself, “Next time I’ll pause and take care of myself.” But in the
247 | Trusting God With Your Career, Health & Purpose: A Christian Woman’s Journey, with Erica Jones
As Christian women professionals, your days are busy. And building in routines and healthy habits can be a challenge.
In this Renewal Conversation, I spoke with Erica Jones, creator and founder of Elevays, who shares how God gently led her from seasons of uncertainty into a calling that aligns faith, family, and meaningful work. Her story reminds us that God often reveals our purpos
246 | The Science of Small Steps: How to Change Without Burning Out; Rhythm-Habits Part 2
Many Christian women professionals and servant leaders live with a quiet, constant tension → “I know what would help me… but I don’t have the bandwidth.” You long for prayer rhythms, movement, rest, or gentler mornings - yet even good intentions feel heavy.
This is not because you don’t care. It’s because your nervous system is already carrying too much.
When life is full of responsibilit
245 | Navigating Uncertainty and Pivoting Executive Career with Faith, with Kim Patten
As Christian professional women, we work really hard to build our careers. Then, after some time, something tells us to switch careers or pivot in our direction of life. This could be to stay at home with the kids, to care for a loved one, or a completely different opportunity.
This is not easy and can not only bring about confusion, but struggle and pain too.
This week, I interviewed Kim
244 | Identity Before Discipline: The Missing Key to Lasting Habits - Rhythm-Habits Part 1
As we step into January, I want to pause with you - not to add more goals, but to ask some deeper questions:
- How can you implement successfully rhythms and habits that sustain you so that you can keep on going?
- How can you stay on course, not just in your work, family and church life, but in your personal renewal and spiritual life?
- And how can you keep your Renewal Intentions set a
243 | Always Tired? How Chronic Stress and Thyroid Health Affect Christian Women, with Esther Yunkin
In this Thriving in Christ episode, I had the joy of interviewing Esther Yunkin, a registered nurse and Hashimoto’s specialist, on how chronic stress can quietly lead to burnout and autoimmune issues in high-performing Christian women. Together, we reveal how many women continue serving and striving until their bodies signal distress, long before they recognize the warning signs.
Esther e
242 | Why Most Resolutions Fail, but Faith-Based Intentions Actually Transform You
As a new year approaches, many Christian professional women feel called to set intentions, yet traditional resolutions often lead to frustration and burnout (by as early as February or March), rather than renewal.
If this happened to you, you are not alone! When energy fades, or prayers feel dry, it’s not a personal failure - it’s a sign that goals rooted only in performance need deeper a
241 | Faith, Burnout & Time Stewardship: Multiply Our Impact as Christian Women, With Lissa Figgins
In this Renewal Conversation, I speak with Lissa Figgins about moving beyond burnout by learning to steward time as a gift from God. Lissa shares how her own journey - from striving and exhaustion to faith-centered clarity - taught her that time, like manna, is meant to be received daily with trust and intention.
Lissa invites women to see time as something to steward for God’s purposes,
240 | Believing Before Seeing: Transform Your Thoughts Through God’s Promises
Here is an important topic to discuss as you gather with friends and family in the upcoming week: the depth and power of Beliefs.
You know what it’s like to carry a vision: to set goals, lead others and move projects forward before outcomes are guaranteed.
But even strong women of faith, like you, can feel the tension between believing and the reality of what you see, and this sometimes f
239 | Renewal Conversation: Feeding the Poor and Caring for the Vulnerable, With Jane Kourtis
In this week's Renewal Conversation, I had the joy of interviewing Jane Kourtis, who is an attorney of 23 years, a faithful leader, mother and grandmother.
Her journey in Christ was shaped from childhood as the daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest, where the beauty of hymnology, liturgy, and the five-sense experience of worship formed her spiritual foundation.
Her ministry leadership exten
238 | The Healing Power of Connection: Restoring Peace, Belonging, and Strength in Christ
You make hard calls all day — decisions that shape people’s futures, teams, organizations, and your family. Everyone looks to you for clarity, composure, and care.
Yet sometimes, when the meetings end and the quiet sets in, there’s a question beneath the surface: who holds you while you hold everything else?
In this episode, we will focus on who is supporting you and the healing power of
237 | Serving with Stillness: Cultures, Unity & God’s Guidance, with Spyridoula Fotinis
Many Christian women professionals and servant leaders feel the tension between the responsibilities they carry and the longing to remain grounded in Christ while serving across cultures, communities, and complex spaces.
In a world where leadership often feels loud, fast, and constantly demanding, faithful leadership can look surprisingly different—quiet, discerning, and deeply rooted in
236 | Transformed From Glory to Glory: Becoming the Woman God Designed You to Be
Christian women professionals and leaders often measure worth by productivity, titles, or impact — even spiritual service becomes performance.
Beneath excellence lies quiet exhaustion and fear: “Am I enough?” or “What if they find out I’m not as strong as I look?”
Our culture is focused on results and productivity, but God is inviting us to conform to HIM and not to the world.
Today - we
235 | Post-Traumatic Growth & the Unique Journey with God: Walking with Christ with Rebecca Hogg
Even the strongest Christian women professionals and servant leaders carry stories of hard seasons—moments that stretched them, humbled them, or left them quietly wondering how God could bring renewal out of what felt broken.
In today’s episode, we explore how post-traumatic growth is not just a psychological concept but a personal and sacred journey where Christ meets us with compassion,
234 | Busy? Stressed? Time for Renewal & Hope with Scripture, for Christian Women | Dr. Ioana Popa
Are you feeling tired at the end of the week? Are there a lot of things going on in your life? Do you need to take a pause and regenerate with Christ at the center?
Wrapping up the year while we prepare for Christmas can be challenging and can bring much stress. But we know that God is everywhere, filling all things, including in times of stress. And where there is God, there is HOPE.
Tod
232 | Healing With IFS: Meeting Our Parts With Christ’s Compassion: IFS Part 7, With Dr. Ioana Popa
Today, we are bringing to a close the MINI SERIES on Internal Family Systems (IFS), by discussing the Steps for the HEALING JOURNEY, with Christ at the helm.
Through the might of the IFS psychological methodology, along with the work of the gentle spirit of God at work within us, healing is possible.
It's possible, when we meet the different parts of ourselves with the same compassion tha
230 | Avoid Burnout: Internal Family Systems & Christianity-Part 6 POLARITIES, With Dr. Ioana Popa
I hope you are well! Here is Part 6 (out of 7) of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Christianity series, which addresses polarities.
This is relevant in our lives as it is common to feel that there is an internal war, as we carry on with our responsibilities.
We might be smiling on the outside, but stressed inside, and in time, this can lead to burnout.
Polarities is a term used in IF
229 | Awed by God’s Beauty in All Things, With Thomaida Hudanish
What does it take to move past doubt - doubt in ourselves, in others, or situations we are in? Is there a different mindset that can help us overcome this doubt?
And what does it mean to see beauty as a characteristic and a resourceful state of being, as a way to get to know God?
These are thoughts and questions that Thomaida Hudanish and I talk about in this week's Renewal Conversation.
228 | Let God Soothe You: Internal Family Systems & Christianity-Part 5 EXILES, With Dr. Ioana Popa
As we keep growing both professionally and personally in Christ, we become better versions of ourselves and we see the transformation.
Nonetheless, life happens, and we might get triggered, respond in ways that we are not proud of, and then start wondering "What did I do wrong?", "Why can't I fix this?" or "Why can't I do this?" and we feel we go backwards or in circles instead of forward
227 | How the Light of Christ Shines Through Our Struggles, With Debbie Caudle
In this week's Renewal Conversation, I had the joy of talking with Debbie Caudle, who is a marriage therapist and relationship coach with a passion for helping Christian couples repair what’s broken, rediscover what matters, and rebuild marriages with purpose.
Through her signature Marriage in Bloom recovery program, Debbie equips women (and couples) to face the hard stuff: conflict
226 | Soothing Parts-Internal Family Systems & Christianity-Part 4 FIREFIGHTERS, With Dr. Ioana Popa
What happens when an unwanted fire erupts in someone's home? The firefighters are called and they respond quickly to help put out the fire before it spreads.
Similarly, when we have internal fires (pain, suffering, sadness, shame), they need to be put out; therefore, we have internal parts that show up quickly to distract and soothe our mind and body - the Firefighter part.
As described i
225 | Trusting the Unchanging God in Our Relationships and Beyond, With Lisa Anderson
Have you wondered what it truly means to trust God? It can actually look like many different things, such as co-creating with God, taking steps in faith, being comfortable with the unknown, following an open door, or simply believing that He can and will show up for you.
This week, I had the joy of interviewing Lisa Anderson, the director of Boundless program for young adults at Focus on
224 | Internal Family Systems & Christianity, Part 3-MANAGERS, With Dr. Ioana Popa
In Hebrews, St. Paul tells us this: "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." - Hebrews 12:1 (NIV).
As Christian professional women & servant leaders, we lead in many capacities, which brings a great amount of responsibility, and therefore, to keep ourselves moving forward, we call upon our "Manager Par
223 | For a God-Given Body Weight, Use Science & Scripture Instead of Diet, With Dr. Laurette Willis
This week, I had a Renewal Conversation with Dr. Laurette Willis. She is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, who is known as the Christian Weight Loss Coach and founder of Weightloss Without Willpower (3 W's), where she uses psychological knowledge to help women lose weight without dieting. She is also the founder of Praise Movement Ministry (an alternative to Yoga).
She is passionate about
222 | Internal Family Systems & Christianity Part 2 – Access Your True Self, With Dr. Ioana Popa
We could be at work, at home, with friends, or on social media, and all of a sudden, someone says something, and we are triggered. What was once a peaceful state turns into worry, frustration, or self-doubt.
Sometimes we can think through a situation and return to our center, but at other times, the emotions and thoughts linger in the back of our consciousness, draining us.
What do w
221 | Christ’s Compassion & Humanity: Practical Tips for Christian Women, With Kerry Pappas
It’s common for us to take from what we see in the world around us and use this as a barometer of our life's expectations and practices. But how many times do we pause and think, what did Jesus do? And what can we learn from Christ's life and interactions?
This week, I was delighted to interview Presvytera Kerry Pappas, who has studied Christ’s compassion and the ways He took care of
220 | Internal Family Systems & Christianity, Part 1-OVERVIEW, With Dr. Ioana Popa
💡 WEEKLY TIPIf you've ever felt grounded and peaceful one day and wake up the next, feeling self-critical and frustrated, then you are not alone. There is a reason for this.
This state of being internally fragmented makes us feel like we are taking two steps forward and one step back.
And we mistakenly take any state of being as our identity. But our true identity comes from Christ.
So th
219 | Can We Rewire Our Brain With God? Integrating Science With Christian Faith, With Dr. Angela Deulen
Many people often question the integration between their Christian faith and science/psychology. They wonder, how can these two exist together?
Actually, there is NO contradiction! And here is why - Science and Christian faith respond to different questions.
This week, I interviewed Dr. Angela Deulen, a Professor of Psychology at California Baptist University, who helps her students and c
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