The Tried and Truth Podcast with Annica Fischer

From Triggered to Transformed: Marriage, Relationships, and Life with Amber Lia

Do you feel like emotions get the best of you when you’re triggered? Do you simultaneously desire stronger, richer, healthier lives and relationships - especially the one with your spouse? Amber Lia joins us this week to talk all about flipping the switch on how we view marriage “triggers” and leads us into a conversation all about opportunity for growth in our homes and lives. She invites us into her own journey and work around marriage, parenting, and health triggers, what she’s learned, what they signal, and how to use them to create transformation in our own hearts and minds.  She reminds us of an important truth - whatever you’re going through today is not the end of the story. 
We unpack two of the most common marriage triggers - being too busy & idolizing expectations we place on our spouses. Amber talks about success and the grittiness and resilience it requires, who modeled it best, how the obstacles before really can be the way. 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 
[2:53] Amber’s story/not alone in your struggles
[6:03]the desire to protect our reputation 
[8:12] Flipping the switch: triggers are opportunities
[10:20] What level of frustration and anger is okay?
[10:50] Applying truth “in our own backyard”
[12:34] Not alone in your struggles 
[13:34] Triggers are a signal for growth 
[14:46] Marriage triggers
[17:11] Two of the most common marriage triggers
[19:26] The idol of "spouse expectations" 
[24:04] The legacy of our marriage - practical tips
[26:53] What you do today matters
[28:20] What do you wish you’d learned sooner?
[33:35] We're here for a reason
[37:00] The obstacle is the way 
[40:00] Truths & Takeaways
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Find Amber Lia at amberlia.com or on Facebook or Instagram @therealamberlia
Facebook Group - Gentle Parenting w/ Amber and Wendy 
Books mentioned in this episode >>> 
Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses
Food Triggers: Exchanging Unhealthy Patterns for God-Honoring Habits
Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses
The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday 
--> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

Life’s Ups and Downs and A Faith That Will Not Fail w/ Michele Cushatt

Michele Cushatt joins us this week and we're talking all about life's ups and downs and everything in between. An honest, inspiring, and vulnerable conversation you didn’t even know you needed.
Michele is a three-time head and neck cancer survivor, four-time author, leadership and executive coach, international speaker, and mom of six kids. She’s the (reluctant) expert of trauma, pain, and the deep human need for authentic connection and enduring faith. 
In this conversation, she's sharing more on how to maintain a solid belief in a good God when life feels like it's falling apart, the difference between joy and toxic positivity, and the destructive power of shame. Plus, Michele shares simple truths that will remind you that you're not alone on your journey.  A conversation filled with hope, mentorship and practical tips that don't require more "work". 
_______EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[1:50] Michele’s story 
[10:35] "I get what it feels like to be like at the end of your strength and to not know up from down anymore and to not know what you believe anymore."
[11:27] Suffering - what it is and what it does
[14:27] Space for BIG feelings
[16:12] The Practice of perspective 
[17:32] How do you come alongside of people whose faith is failling?
[18:16]  You're not alone in feeling like you don't have it together
[19:36] Being a mom is the hardest thing
[20:13] Vulnerability is so critical - we cannot endure real life in isolation
[24:10] Shame steals significance 
[29:27] What do you wish you'd known sooner?
[32:17] Mistakes are a fantastic classroom
[35:16] Truth vs. toxic positivity 
[39:28] What does success look like to you?
[42:05] Truths & Takeaways
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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE >>>>
Michele's new book - A Faith that Will Not Fail  
Michele’s Website:
Follow Michele on Facebook @michelecushatt
on Instagram @michelecushatt
---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 
 

Tara Sun: How to Surrender Your Striving and Find Freedom from Control

Podcaster, author, wife and mom, Tara Sun joins us this week on the podcast. She is sharing more on her latest book release all about surrendering your story and more on her journey towards freedom from control.  In this conversation, Tara talks about trading control for greater peace and joy, reminds us of what there is to gain in the “waiting” and how your story is still being written even in those seemingly quiet seasons. If you find yourself anxious and gripping control often, worried that you don’t have a five year plan mapped out, or feel like you’ve run yourself ragged in trying to figure it all out, you’ll be encouraged by this episode. 
Follow Tara on Instagram @misstarasun
Check out Tara’s Podcast > Truth Talks with Tara
Check out Tara’s latest book > Surrender Your Story
Website: tarasunministries.com
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[3:40] Freedom from control & surrendering your story
[4:50] When our stories don’t play out the way we expect 
[5:34] The journey towards finding freedom
[9:12] The hard part about surrendering... 
[10:08] What does trusting God with our stories look like?
[14:25] What God can do with our trust vs. what we can do with our life
[18:04] Waiting vs. manipulating the timing of things 
[21:25] your story is written in the waiting too
[25:00] Impatience is the antithesis of surrender and here's why
[28:00] Tara’s hope for her new book > Surrender Your Story
[29:10] Guest Perspective: What is one thing you wish you’d known sooner?
[31:22] Guest Perspective: What does success look like?
[35:17] "Truths & Takeaways"
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---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

A Business Built on Celebrating Others with Elizabeth Newton (enewton)

In this Behind the Brand episode with enewton, founder Elizabeth Newton shares her tips on pushing through the hard things, the value in who you surround yourself with, how we rise by lifting others up, and some of her lessons learned along the way.  If you love a good story about something ordinary turning into something extraordinary, you'll love this conversation. 
You’ll hear Elizabeth share how her business was built one relationship at a time and the true gift found in celebrating others.  Whether you simply love a good brand story, are in the middle of chasing a dream, or are uncertain of what you even want to do, she’s got something for you! 
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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Enewton Website
Shop local - find the local retailer nearest to you here
---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 
 

Aaron Williams: Experiencing God with Our Whole Self

If you’ve ever felt like you were in a true place of spiritual apathy, good news you weren’t alone or maybe if that’s right now for you, you’re not alone.  In this episode, worship leader, writer, and co-founder of Dwell Ministries, Aaron Williams joins me on the podcast to talk all about his latest book he co-authored with Kathyrn Maack, Whole: The Life Changing Power of Relating to God with all of Yourself. 
Here’s what you’ll hear: what to do when you experience roadblocks in your spiritual journey, more on all those personality profiles we all know and love, what it looks like to increase your self-awareness as it relates to experiencing more on your spiritual journey, one of the most growth oriented things you can do, what it means to delight more and why finding “balance” isn’t what we really need. 
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Episode Highlights:
[2:30] When dreams pivot 
[5:04] Why did you all choose to write about this topic?
[6:28] It’s a normal experience to feel spiritual apathy
[9:05] All about the book: Whole: The Life Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Your Self
[11:55] Our personality profiles and their impact 
[13:23] When we experience roadblocks in our spiritual journey 
[15:00] Increasing our self- awareness
[15:54] What piece of advice would you share for people who feel like they're lacking in “abundance”?
[17:30] Freedom from the check-list syndrome
[22:06] The question we need to ask ourselves often
[24:08] If we will “trace the ray back to the sun”…
[25:00] Finding balance vs. transformation
[31:47] You never know what you left to unlock
[34:56] One of the growth oriented things you can do is…
[37:00] Truths & Takeaways

Behind the Brand: Love Heals with Thistle Farms

This week we’re going behind the brand with Thistle Farms, a non-profit social enterprise built and grounded on “love”.  For 25 years, Thistle Farms has lit a pathway of healing and hope for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. They believe that “love is the strongest force for change in the world, because love has the power to heal” and you will definitely hear evidence of that in this conversation with Dorris Walker-Taylor. Dorris currently serves as Thistle Farms Senior Relations Community Ambassador and is also a graduate of the residential program and a survivor. You’ll learn a lot, laugh, and maybe even cry as you hear her story of hope, be inspired by what Thistle Farms has established and the work it continues to do, be reminded of what can become of small beginnings, and learn what a “single candle” can do. A story of… Hope. Healing. Small Beginnings. Big Impact. Love. 
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
1:40 Behind the Brand Thistle Farms: How it started + Doris's story
26:40 A place built on love, grounded in love
31:39 “Love heals every body.”
32:00 The small rays of light - “Single candle cut through the darkest night” 
32:20 What can we do?
33:04 Everybody has a story - all of us can do one little thing
33:33 Drops of hope add up
33:46 Heal, employ, empower
39:06 Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?
41:10 A challenge 
40:50“Prayers do not have an expiration date”
43:11 Truths & Takeaways

Living in Alignment and Gaining Clarity w/ Katy Akester

This week, my friend and executive life coach, Katy Akester, joins us on the podcast.  If you're feeling stuck, having trouble making decisions, living at the corner of imposter syndrome and self-protection, this one is for you! Katy shares her insights from her experience working (and meeting her husband) in improv, working in executive leadership for a global non-profit, and helping individuals gain clarity and greater self-awareness as an executive life coach. Katy also shares more about when seeking inspiration crosses over into shame and self judgement and the best place you can start when you're lacking confidence and feeling indecisive. It's jam packed with simple truths and lessons learned that'll meet you right where you are. 
You can find Katy on her website at katyakester.com
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[6:25] Being open-handed
[7:40] For those who don’t know what they want to do with their life
[9:15] What holds people back?
[11:23] If you lack confidence or feel stuck...
[14:16] If you feel “stuck”, self-protection might be playing a role.
[16:10] If you're a "performer"...
[17:34] Confidence is an “internal thing”
[20:00] What are the values you live by? What makes you tick?
[20:32] Where to start when indecisiveness and tensions rise 
[21:25] Are you living your life with the lens of judgment?  
[24:34] Comparison and imposter syndrome
[28:57] Diversity who you’re learning from & following
[30:00] Lessons from improv
[36:15] Being and building community (from the lens of improv)
[40:00] Examples of how to live “yes, and” 
[41:55]  Guest perspective - how do you define success?
[44:00] Final tip from Katy 
[46:23] Truths & Takeaways
 

Shannan Martin: Start with Hello

Shannan Martin joins us this week on the podcast to talk all about the real value of doing life with the people who live closest to us. 
Shannan is the author of Falling Free, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and most recently, Start with Hello - all written around the central theme of “What does it look like to live in this world together?” and “Why does it even matter?”.  I like to think of Shannan as the expert neighbor you want to both “be” and “have”.  She helps you find joy and meaningful relationships in ordinary places like your own backyard.  In this episode, she shares more on the value in building community, a life of intention & interdependence, how to build truer friendships, why we need to learn to receive, what happens when we step out of our homogenous lifestyles and comfort zones, and what builds lasting connection and community. Shannan keeps things simple and practical (which we can all appreciate!).  
You'll walk away with: (1) the permission to abandon the idea that you have to be self-sufficient all the time (2) the encouragement to go first as you embrace the joy that comes from living “actual life” together with those around you, even in the messes and imperfections that it brings and (3) details on her famous pickle recipe. 
“Let’s live actual life together even in the messes or the imperfectness that it brings.” - Shannan Martin
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[7:50] The value in getting to know the people “closest” to us. 
 
[9:30] The sense of security, rootedness, and belonging that we’re looking for 
 
[10:00] Finding more joy 
 
[11:00]  A practical tip 
 
[11:50] It’s not about the decor
 
[12:45] Less about Martha Stewart-ing, more about togetherness 
 
[15:00] How most of us are actually living (aka our “real” lives)
 
[16:08] Truer friendships
 
[17:13] We’re all busy. Make it easy. 
 
[19:06] Behind her books: answering big questions 
 
[21:20] Moving us forward in a life of connection
 
[22:40] Being intentional with opportunities 
 
[25:00] The abundant life vs. the comfortable life 
 
[26:50] Lesson learned: A posture of need
 
[31:20] Learning to receive 
 
[33:25] Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?
 
[36:13] A “love song for the long haul”
 
[39:36] Truths & Takeaways 
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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Website: shannanmartin.com
Twitter: @shannanwrites
Instagram: @shannanwrites
Shannan’s books - Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted -- The Ministry of Ordinary Places: Waking Up to God’s Goodness all around You -- Start with Hello (and Other Simple Ways to Live as Neighbors) 
Shannan’s newsletter & pickle recipe :) - shannanmartin.com/resources
 

Behind the Brand: Awe-Inspired Living with Ginger Curtis, Urbanology Designs

Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs joins us this week on the podcast and you’re gonna love this conversation (and her work even more!). 
“It was a lot of standing on my faith, being brave, defying fear, and doing hard things.” - Ginger 
As an award-winning interior designer (including HGTV’s 2021 Designer of the Year), book author, Instagram influencer, mom of five, and serial entrepreneur, her story is nothing short of amazing. It started during one of the most difficult times of her life battling cancer when she had a realization that you shouldn’t have to be fighting for your life to make the space you’re in beautiful. Through the transformation of her own space and surviving cancer, she began Urbanology Designs to inspire and help others elevate their homes’ beauty, comfort, and function. 
In this episode Ginger shares her perspective on obstacles, how she manages meaningful work both inside and outside of the home, a practical tip on creating a life-giving space, and some entrepreneurial insights on staying grounded and building a culture around your “why”. 
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
[2:05] Ginger’s story 
[4:25] Hold fast to what it means to have a healthy life 
[5:25] We need to women supporting other women
[6:26] The “unlikely start” of Urbanology Design 
[8:40] Leaning in to her surroundings 
[9:59] Transformation and realization
[11:10] “Ginger’s golden nugget” on obstacles 
[12:49] Standing on faith, being brave, defying fear and doing hard things 
[13:33] How have you stayed grounded and grounded your business?
[14:23] So much demands our attention
[17:00] One thing you can do for your home
[18:45] Don’t do everything at once
[20:08] Do not put something in your home that you like. 
[20:45] Your space is constantly competing - you can’t even see clearly
[21:19] Doing meaningful work at home & work 
[23:14] Don’t compare - your situation is a unique, God-given formula 
[23:33] God has given each one of us exactly what we need every single day to live with intentionality and purpose. 
[24:30] The “vision retreat” for your new year
[32:40] What do you wish you’d known sooner in your business? 
[37:44] Guest perspective: What does success look like to you? 
[39:47] There’s no growth in our comfort zone. 
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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Site: Urbanology Designs 
Urbanology Cottage & Urban Fire House (Events)
Beauty by Design: Refreshing Spaces Inspired by What Matters Most 
Follow Ginger and Urbanology Designs on Instagram:
@urbanologydesigns
@urbanologycottage
@urbanfirehouse

Wendy Speake on Triggers, Mom Truths, & So Much More

This week, Wendy Speake joins us on the podcast and WHOA are you in for some encouragement (especially if you’re a mom).  Wendy has a way of meeting you right in the middle of your struggles, whether it’s anger, social media, or sugar!  As a Bible teacher and background as a trained actress, her stories and words will comfort, equip, and encourage you. 
In this episode, Wendy leaves us all feeling equipped and encouraged as we talk about the story behind a handful of her books including: The 40-Day Sugar Fast, The 40-Day Social Media Fast, The 40-Day Feast, Triggers, and Parenting Scripts. If those titles don’t say enough, we dive into topics such as “blaming and shaming”, self control when the kids are out of control, wisdom on how to choose our “yeses”, our role as our kids grow, and what to do when our kids feel a little (or a lot!) like sandpaper. 
Episode highlights: 
5:40 Behind the book - Triggers
9:50 Our tendency when our kids do wrong 
11:00 “Figure out what you mean to say before you say something mean” 
11:40 There’s something God wants to do in us FIRST.
12:36 Blaming and shaming
13:15 Training is long suffering
14:35 Everytime our kids do something wrong…
15:18 What topic/trigger has resonated most?
15:46 “YOU are not a victim, you’re a mom!” 
16:46  Self- control when our kids are out of control 
17:07  Sibling rivalry
19:10 Triggers are opportunities to parent 
22:14 You don’t stop having triggers…
22:43 If you don’t learn how to control your triggers now
23:09 Our job is to “hold the line”
24:18 When your kids feel like sandpaper…
26:23  We all want to love our kids well
31:10 The the social media fast 
37:55 ADVICE: You can’t do everything! 
38:20 “Don’t cry over spilled milk” is for the moms who are spread too thin 
45:55 Guest perspective - what does success look like to you?
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Mentioned in this episode: 
wendyspeake.com
Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses
Parenting Scripts 
The 40-Day Sugar Fast (STARTS JANUARY 9TH)
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Feast
Follow Wendy on Instagram @wendy_speake
Follow Wendy on Facebook @wendyjspeake