Real Talk With Rachael Podcast

For the month of December, we will spend every Monday morning in a series called “Praise, Process & Pray through 2021”. Last week, we processed the topic of change, closed doors/redirection, or loss. This week our topic is relationships. Relationships are hard yet we need them. Let’s start by praising God for the relationships we do have. Praise: Thank God for anyone currently in your life. Thank God for what he did in relationships. This year, I grew closer to my oldest daughter and my husband. Process: Broken relationships have the potential to hold great power over us. Dr. Robert Anthony says, “When you blame others, you give up your power to change”. I lost a friendship this year and it left me feeling confused, betrayed, and lonely. Every time that friend comes to mind, I choose to release and bless her. Let’s do that now in our prayer time. Pray: Pray over broken relationships. Pray over 2022, that the Lord will restore broken relationships and bring new ones in as needed. Resource: Six Steps to Cle

For the month of December, we will spend every Monday morning in a series called “Praise, Process & Pray through 2021”. Y’all loved this series so much last year that we brought it back again. Each week the focus will be different, but the theme of praising, processing, and praying will remain the same. I asked the Lord to show me areas he wants us to process before we move into 2022 and the first thing He brought up was change. This can look like closed doors/redirection, or loss. If you tuned in last year, you might have noticed we just processed and prayed. This year, I felt God ask me to add praise. God is always worthy of our praise so let’s start each episode by praising him, no matter the circumstances. Let’s start today by processing change in 2021. Praise:  Psalm 150:5 says “Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”. If you are listening to this message, it means you have breath in your body. Let’s take a moment to use our own breathe to praise the Lord for whatever comes

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Victoria Duerstock. Victoria is a multi-passionate creative and entrepreneur fueled mostly by coffee who pursues her dreams with verve and intensity. Wife and mom of three, Victoria divides and conquers the never-ending to-do list while working to maintain her sanity and pleasant demeanor. Her writing journey plunged her deep into the social media landscape and she enjoys sharing her tips and tricks for growth and engagement with others. Recipient of the 2020 Selah Nonfiction Book of the Year, Victoria has authored six titles, with more on the way. She is the founder and president of End Game Press, a traditional publishing house where ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things. Key Points from Our Conversation: You cannot achieve peace in your marriage without intentionally pursuing it. The busyness is the most common peace stealer in our homes. Decluttering our schedules and homes will help free up peace.  "When it comes to decluttering your

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Dr. Juli Slattery. Juli is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and broadcast media professional with over twenty-five years of experience counseling, and teaching women. She’s the president and co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, a unique ministry devoted to teaching God’s design for intimacy and sexuality. In 2020, Juli launched SexualDiscipleship.com, a platform designed to help Christian leaders navigate sexual issues and questions with gospel-centered truth. She hosts a weekly podcast, Java with Juli, where she answers tough questions about relationships, marriage, and spiritual, emotional, and sexual intimacy. Key Points from Our Conversation: Women don’t understand how to use their power. Understanding healthy marriage means understanding how to use our power constructively and how we often use it destructively. A wife's biggest challenge is wanting to husband to lead, but wanting him to lead the way she wants him to lead. When we direct his acti

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Juli Bevere. She is a co-founder of SonsAndDaughters.tv and she desires to see the sons and daughters of God rise to their potential so that their impact reverberates long after their final breath. Julianna is deeply in love with her husband, Addison, and together they have four adorable offspring—Asher (12), Sophia (10), Elizabeth (7), and Augustus (5). Julianna and her family live in Colorado Springs, but she’ll always be a Texan at heart. Key Points from Our Conversation: In her new book, I AM: Find Your Identity. Claim Your Freedom. Embrace the Adventure, Juli demystifies what the Bible says about us as children of God by defining terms that have been clouded ("holy", "righteous," "called") and explaining how we can contextualize them for our lives. Too often we let comparison be the dictator of what’s enough in our lives. When you’re being cultivated and allowing God to grow you, to figure out who it is you’re needed to be – that’s your calling, not w

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with revivalist, author, and Director of Saturate Global, Jessi Green. After being radically saved in her Manhattan apartment after a radical encounter with God, she has been on a journey to go “all in” and discover the “real” Jesus and ignite the Church for revival. She is passionate about preaching the Gospel, shaking religious systems, and equipping the saints to make disciples. She believes that everyone is qualified to share the Good News and teach others to follow Jesus. While enjoying the sun in North Carolina with her two sons David Leonidas and Ethan Everest and baby daughter Summer Kingsley, she passionately speaks about what it means to follow a Jesus who is alive and wants to transform cities and your life. Key Points from Our Conversation: Revival typically happens when the church is in crisis. Jessi was told, “The harvest begins summer of 2020, prepare the nets.” Revival is happening in every city if we choose to partner with the Holy Spirit.  We

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Becky Keife. Becky is the community manager for (in)courage, an online community where women gather to build community, celebrate diversity, and become women of courage. In addition to daily articles on incourage.me, (in)courage also offers Bible studies, devotionals, and a podcast to help women grow in their faith! Becky is also a popular speaker and is the author of The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact, the Courageous Kindness Bible Study, as well as No Better Mom for the Job. She and her husband live near Los Angeles, where they enjoy hiking shady trails with their three spirited sons. Key Points from Our Conversation: We often think of kindness as being synonymous with being polite or nice, but often it requires courage. We need to be willing to embrace the awkward for the sake of encouraging someone else. “Our words don’t have to be complicated in order to be meaningful.” Jesus often chose kindness through awkward actions

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with my friend Nika Maples about her incredible story. She says, "When I was 20 years old, my plans for my life, career, family, and future fell apart. I was an active sophomore in college, then suddenly I was quadriplegic in the Intensive Care Unit, having suffered a massive brainstem stroke. I could not speak, swallow, or blink. Because I could hear, I listened as doctors warned my family that I had as little as 48 hours to live. There was nothing for us to do but pray. My faith sustained me in ways I can hardly explain, and a year later I walked back onto my college campus on my own two feet. I taught English in public schools for ten years, and in 2007, the Texas Education Agency awarded me the distinguished honor of Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. In that role, I started writing and speaking full time, sharing messages of hope and endurance with education, business, and church groups across the country. I love seeing people experience a renewed sense o

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Michelle Meyers and Somer Phoebus about their new book She Works His Way: A Practical Guide for Doing What Matters Most in a Get-Things-Done World. Michelle and Somer are also moms, wives, women called to work, best friends, and co-leaders of She Works His Way - a discipleship community for working women. Michelle Myers is an author, entrepreneur, and motivator. Michelle launched She Works His Way to pour God's truth into the lives of women in ministry and business. She is the author of Famous in Heaven & at Home. Michelle lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and a daughter. Somer Phoebus is a brick-and-mortar business lover, productivity expert, and pastor's wife. She is part of the She Works His Way leadership team. In addition to an early career in fashion and retail, Somer started and sold two fitness studios. Somer lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters. Key Points from Our Conversation: Through She Works His Way Miche

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm talking with author Christy Wright about her new book Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance. Christy is a #1 national best-selling author, personal development expert, and host of The Christy Wright Show. Since 2009, Christy has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches on personal development, business, and faith. Key Points from Our Conversation: The #1 question Christy gets as a business coach is "How do you balance everything?" What she's come to realize is that balance isn’t something you do, it’s something you create in your life that looks like peace and confidence in your choices, as well as how you spend your time. You want to enjoy your life and be proud of how you spend your time; the path to that is not productivity. “Life balance is not doing everything for an equal amount of time, it’s about doing the right things at the right time.” 4 reasons we feel out of balance: We're doing too much. Our time is finite. We have to make choice

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm chatting with author Lisa Whittle about her new book The Hard Good: Showing Up for God to Work in You When You Want to Shut Down. Lisa has published eight books and her wit and bold bottom-line approach have made her a sought-after Bible teacher. She is also the creator of a companion video Bible study for Jesus over Everything. A pastor’s daughter and longtime ministry leader in issues relevant to the church, Lisa is the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus over Everything podcast, which debuted in the top 25 of Christian podcasts. Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. She and her family live in North Carolina. Key Points from Our Conversation: "The Hard Good" is the stuff that is hard and most spiritually transformative if we allow God to use it and the emotions/feelings that thwart us in the process of change.  "God anoints and app

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking to author Sarah Bragg about her new book A Mother's Guide to Raising Herself. Sarah is also the host of the podcast Surviving Sarah. Along with being a master at brewing coffee and a champion of cheering for others, she is also a mother of two girls and a wife to Scott. She and her family reside in Tennessee. Key Points from Our Conversation: There's a lot of pressure that comes along with believing motherhood is your calling. If it is the greatest thing we can ever do, what about the women who don’t/can't have children? What happens when your kids grow up? Raising kids is valuable, but it doesn’t have to be a pressure point. It’s a relationship. Perfectionism tells us that if we follow the formula and it doesn't work, it must be us. You have to get to the heart of who you are and what your kids need. Be aware of your tendency for perfectionism and don't use it as an affirmation of your worth. Pay attention to your "should soundtrack." When you feel like you sh

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I’m chatting with my friend Rebekah Moes about her personal journey with infidelity in her marriage and God’s power of redemption. Bekah is a Jesus-loving mom-of-five from the DFW area. She and her husband Nick co-founded Family of Hope, a non-profit web-based resource for couples in crisis. Their podcast unFAITHFUL: redeeming infidelity reaches couples recovering from infidelity all over the world. Bekah is passionate about sharing her story and breaking the silence on a lonely road that many couples walk. She believes a healthy “we” starts with a healthy “me,” and knows that journey very well. She loves talking to women about how to live overflowing, Spirit-empowered lives first at home, and then in every sphere of influence. Key Points from Our Conversation: Rebekah initially believed her husband’s pornography addiction was a “struggle” that would resolve itself after marriage, but after things worsened it became clear it was a heart issue. Think of marriage as a mirror

In a recent moment of panic, a mentor offered me some helpful insight - "Your best decisions come from a place of calm." I had become focused on what I was going to do rather than tapping into the power of God.  What unyielding obstacles are you facing today? Don’t panic. Instead, turn to God and trust in His power to do what’s impossible. Discomfort is the price of admission to taking new territory. Get around people who will look for the power of God instead of panicking and get into the Bible. It increases our faith to rely on His power. Resource mentioned: Care and Counsel Bible Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Wendy Pope about her new book Jesus Everlasting: Leaning on Our Counselor, Defender, Father, and Friend. Wendy is the wife of Scott, mother of Blaire and Griffin, author, speaker, and Bible study teacher. She loves lazy Sundays watching golf with her husband, thrift-store shopping with her daughter, and watching building shows with her son. She is the author of several books - Jesus Everlasting, Hidden Potential, Yes, No, and Maybe and Wait and See. Wendy is the Founder and Executive Director of Word Up Ministries. She leads women all over the world to life change through her in-depth online Bible studies. She has led thousands of women through her Read Through the Word daily video study of the One Year Chronological Bible. Down-to-earth and transparent, Wendy teaches in a way that women feel she is speaking directly to their hearts. Key Points from Our Conversation: Wendy's book Jesus Everlasting: Leaning on Our Counselor, Defender, Father, and Fri

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Lauren Chandler about her book With Us in the Wilderness: A Study of the Book of Numbers. Lauren is a wife and mother of three. Her husband, Matt Chandler, serves as the lead teaching pastor at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Lauren is passionate about writing, music, and leading worship, not only at The Village Church, but also for groups across the country. She is the author of the recently released Bible study, With Us in the Wilderness: A Study of the Book of Numbers, Steadfast Love: The Response of God to the Cries of our Heart, the Bible study, Steadfast Love: A Study of Psalm 107, and a children’s book, Goodbye to Goodbyes: A True Story about Jesus, Lazarus, and an Empty Tomb. Key Points from Our Conversation: God’s plan has always involved women and His heart is for women. In Numbers, the test for adultery can be seen as patriarchal, but the heart of God was to give women a chance to vindicate themselves in a male-dominated societ

This week I've really felt God urging me to tell you this - you have the authority to stand your ground, especially in the territories God has entrusted you with.  Through the power of Christ, you can tell the enemy that he cannot take any more territory that has not been given to him.  What is a territory that the enemy has been messing with? I'm standing with you in prayer! Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm chatting with the author of The Joy of Being a Mom, Judy Brisky. Judy has been married to Mike for 31 years. They have two sons: Jacob married to Neeli with 2 baby boys, Bennett and Everrett; Joel married to Danny, they're expecting their baby girl in November. Judy has served in various ministries at her church including worship, women's, marriage, teaching, and speaking. Her heart has always been to encourage moms and when the Lord made a way for her to write a book, it was a huge blessing. She truly believes that we can have joy as moms even in difficult situations because the Lord is good and faithful and He will always be there for us! Key Points from Our Conversation: We all face hard seasons as moms, but we can find joy in parenting because joy isn't based on our circumstances. Joy comes from knowing God's love and trusting Him to see us through anything. Timing is everything. "The when is just as important to God as the what." God loves you and sees you. He kn

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking to the Executive Pastor of Adult Ministries at Gateway Church, Bridgette Morris. She and her husband, James, have been married for 12 years. They have three beautiful kids, two boys, and a girl, who keep them on their toes but are always good for a snuggle. She loves the outdoors and can often be found with her hands in the dirt, tending her garden, or working on a project. Bridgette has been part of Gateway Church since 2008, serving in various ministries and creative areas, including Gateway Worship as a vocalist and worship pastor, and Gateway Performing Arts. She loves living out her passion to see women fully equipped to walk out the calling God has placed on their lives. Key Points from Our Conversation: We have to let go of the perception that everyone else is killing it. No one is "doing it all". You can do everything, but not at the same time. Be mindful, purposeful, and intentional with what you're doing. We have a lot of responsibilities, authority,

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Kelsey Chapman about her new book What They Taught Me: Recognizing the Mentors Who Will Take You from Dream to Done. Kelsey is also a podcaster and personal cheerleader to women building their dream life and business. When she first launched her brand in 2015, she felt all the overwhelming feelings, too. It was scary to take such a huge leap and commit to showing up for a dream she didn’t know would pan out. Mentorship is what pushed her to rise up and continue making her dream a reality. Over the first few years of business, she leaned on the shoulders of several incredible mentors who took her under their wing and taught her how to make the jump from dreamer to doer. Kelsey needed their expert wisdom to shift old perspectives, discover the next right steps that would help her execute the vision, and stay hopeful throughout the journey. Her mentors helped shape her character so she could become the CEO and leader she is today. Now she is excited to