The Tried and Truth Podcast with Annica Fischer

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  

2022 Wrap Up: Guest Highlights and Favorite Takeaways

It's a wrap! This year's final episode includes my favorite "truths and takeaways" from episodes this past year.  Thanks to all the guests, including entrepreneurs, authors, artists, coaches, therapists, change makers, mentors, and friends for sharing their stories and some of their greatest tips, encouragement, and lessons learned along the way. Let these practical and simple insights serve as a launching pad for your new year! 
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How to Become ”Famous at Home” with Joshua Straub

This week Josh Straub, co-founder of Famous at Home, joins us on the podcast. In this episode w/ Josh we’re talking all about what it means to be "famous at home" as he shares more from the latest book he and his wife, Christi, co-authored. We talk about the chase we’re all on, what gets in the way of what matters most, and how our chase often leaves us empty-handed and wanting more. You’ll be encouraged and challenged to shift your perspective on how you view “parenting” as Josh unpacks the research findings on how to get the outcomes we most desire out of our kids.  
“The greatest red carpet  you’ll ever walk is through your front door.” 
Josh is an author/co-author of multiple books, including children’s books, marriage and leadership coach, and podcast cohost w/ his wife, Christi. They both lead Famous at Home, a company that equips leaders, corporations, and families in emotional intelligence and relational connections.  
You can follow Josh & Christi on Instagram @famousathome and on Facebook @famousathome and at famousathome.com
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[5:16] Paying attention to how we view our families
[6:00] What is the atmosphere of our home?
[7:40] What do you chase, what gets in the way, and what kingdom are you serving?
[9:01] The dopamine bump (not at home)
[10:35] We all have a chase (an “idol”)
[12:56] The greatest red carpet you’ll ever walk on
[15:46] What is it all REALLY about?
[17:14] “How do you help coach people to reground on where their true significance is?”
[18:32] Why we’re still left wanting when our pursuits are reached
[19:50] “You have to a purpose bigger than just accomplishing something.”
[22:48] God allows us to fumble in our chasing because…
[25:07] The relationship between how we feel loved and how we love at home
[26:02] "Parenting" vs. "Becoming" 
[26:21] Findings from a research study on how to get the outcomes we most desire out of our kids 
[29:48] A quick tip/the low hanging fruit
[32:47] Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?
[36:34] Truths & Takeaways
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Famous at Home: 7 Decisions to Put Your Family Center Stage in a World Competing for Your Time, Attention, and Identity
Additional Books by Josh & Christ to Help You and Your Kids Build Healthy, Emotionally Safe Relationships can be found here > www.famousathome.com/resources

Better Together: Pursuing Our Best Life with Lara Burnside

What does it actually look like to authentically support one another and cultivate the relationships we actually want but don’t actually pursue? How can we live our best lives? How can we elevate performance in our businesses? What if today we don't have much to give today? 
We’re answering all of these questions (and more) in today’s conversation with Lara Burnside.  Lara has spent the last 25 years as a coach, speaker, leader in cultural transformation and excellence, and executive all over the country, and has been a personal mentor, friend, and boss over the course of the last decade. 
In this conversation, you’ll find some tried and true tips on becoming your best self (which in turns helps others become theirs), the encouragement to push aside ego and create a better impact right where you are, and lean into the grace and inspiration to become “better together”. 
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
5:42 The first thing we must do before we can give back to others
6:23 Creating elevated performance levels @ work
8:19 Start with “Who are you and what makes you tick?”
9:10 The 4 steps to living your “BEST” life 
10:52 Be “BOLD” enough to try something new 
11:35 Find the moments in life you “ENJOY”
12:36 Cultivate tremendous “SUPPORT” for each other 
13:41 Taking “TIME” for yourself 
14:17 When burnout happens...fast!
17:48 What does courage look like?
22:52 Pushing our egos aside 
30:00 Guest perspective - what does success look like? 
32:49 What we need to think about amidst the chaos 
38:19 Truths & Takeaways
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Books Mentioned in this Episode: 
Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday 
What if It's Wonderful? by Nicole Zasowski 
 

Letting Go of Plans and The Writer’s Journey with Kimberly Stuart

Today we’re sitting down with Kimberly Stuart, author of eight novels, speaker, host of two podcasts, and executive writing coach w/ Bob Goff.  This conversation is everything you didn’t know you needed!  Kim invites us into her own “accidental” story of becoming a writer and shares behind the scenes insights from both writing and coaching hundreds of other writers. Her stories are packed with encouragement and tips for your own creative, personal, or professional pursuits. We're talking about finding freedom and letting go of trying to master that perfect plan, knowing when it's time to abandon or release a project, what holds people back, and how she stays inspired to keep writing. Whether you simply need a dose of humor, a bit of courage, a nudge to make (or not make) that next move, or have a desire to write, you’ll find what you need in this conversation.  
You can follow along and find more of Kim’s books and resources: 
on Instagram @kim.stuart.writes or kimberlystuart.com
Podcasts - 
For Real with Kimberly Stuart   and 
The Writing Room with Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart 
Books - 
https://www.kimberlystuart.com/books
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Episode Highlights
(2:09) Kim’s story - finding her path “on accident”
(7:00) The gift of feeling “seen”
(10:28) The myth about having and executing a plan
(12:15) You don’t need a 20 pt plan. Relax!
(14:34) How do you stay inspired?
(17:30) When the brain does its best work 
(18:33) The beautiful responsibility of getting better
(21:29) Favorite book you’ve written?
(22:44) How do you know when a book is finished?
(26:26) Knowing when it’s time to release or abandon a project 
(34:43) Wading in and out of the waters of guilt 
(37:07) What do you wish you’d known sooner?
(41:17) The checkerboard analogy we all need
(46:38) Guest Perspective - view on success 
(51:52) Truths & Takeaways