Anchored with Purpose | Faith, Family, Purpose, Dreaming, Planning, Overcoming Anxiety, Overcoming Overwhelm

What if your curiosity about a sober lifestyle isn’t random… but an invitation from God?

Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Amy Fuggi and Judi Daigle to talk about faith, freedom, healing, and what life can look like on the other side of alcohol.

This conversation is about awareness, healing, and discovering the joy, peace, and clarity that can come when we remove the things numbing us from fully experiencing life with the Holy Spirit.

Amy and Judi share their powerful personal stories, including how Jesus radically transformed their relationship with alcohol, the lies culture teaches women about drinking, and how they now help other women who are “sober curious” or struggling silently.

Whether you rarely drink, feel dependent on that nightly glass of wine, or simply wonder what life could feel like without alcohol, this episode offers hope, encouragement, and a reminder that you are deeply loved by God.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What it means to be “sober curious”
• Amy and Judi’s personal faith journeys
• The role alcohol played in stress, anxiety, and emotional numbing
• How faith and the Holy Spirit transformed their lives
• The neuroscience behind alcohol and dopamine
• Why alcohol can increase anxiety and depression
• Letting go of shame and labels
• The difference between white-knuckling and true freedom
• How Jesus meets us with compassion and healing
• The beauty of awareness, healing, and joy on the other side

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Held Holy with Judi Daigle
• Live Free From Alcohol with Amy Fuggi
• Walking with Purpose
• Church of the Nativity
• The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children

Chapter Timestamps:
00:00 – Introducing the conversation around sober curiosity
02:00 – Amy’s faith journey and returning to the Catholic Church
08:40 – Judi’s powerful healing story
16:00 – The season of life that sparked change
25:00 – The lies culture tells women about alcohol
33:00 – Life, joy, and faith on the other side of drinking
39:00 – How alcohol impacts awareness of the Holy Spirit
44:00 – How Amy and Judi help women today
51:00 – Jesus and the woman at the well
57:00 – Powerful transformation stories
1:00:00 – Why awareness matters
1:04:00 – How to connect with Amy and Judi

Catholic sober curious, Christian sobriety podcast, sober lifestyle for women, Catholic women and alcohol, faith and sobriety, alcohol free lifestyle, Holy Spirit and alcohol, Christian women healing, freedom from alcohol, Catholic podcast for women, sober curious movement, overcoming alcohol with faith, healing through Jesus, alcohol awareness, Christian coaching for women

What does it mean to embrace the feminine genius in today’s world? In this inspiring episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa sits down with Catholic publisher and educator Heidi Bollich-Erne, founder of The Better Part Journal, a beautiful new print journal created to elevate the voices, experiences, and intellectual contributions of Catholic women.

Heidi shares the powerful story behind the journal’s name, including the dream that inspired it and the connection to Mary of Bethany choosing “the better part” at the feet of Jesus. Together, Melissa and Heidi dive into topics like the feminine genius, women’s voices in the Church, slowing down in a noisy digital world, discernment, creativity, faith-filled leadership, and following the call God places on your heart.

If you’ve ever felt a holy discontent, sensed God calling you toward something more, or wondered how your gifts can serve the Church and the world, this conversation will deeply encourage you.

✨ Ready to build a simple daily faith routine? Grab your free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal here: Free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – Heidi’s Background & Story

05:00 – Who Is Edith Stein?

08:15 – The Story Behind The Better Part Journal

11:00 – What’s Inside the Journal

16:00 – Women’s Voices in the Church

20:40 – Why Print Instead of Digital

24:30 – Slowing Down in a Noisy World

29:15 – Letting the Holy Spirit Lead

34:45 – Encouragement for Women Feeling Called to More

41:50 – How to Find The Better Part Journal

43:45 – Final Thoughts & Encouragement

Resources & Links Mentioned:
• The Better Part Journal Website: https://www.thebetterpartjournal.com/
• The Better Part Journal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578958392539 

This episode is a beautiful reminder that God often calls us through holy discontent, unexpected dreams, quiet nudges, and open doors we never planned for ourselves. When women embrace their gifts, lead with faith, and remain open to the Holy Spirit, incredible things can happen.

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe to the Anchored with Purpose Podcast so more Catholic women can discover these conversations.

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If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by clutter in your home, your schedule, or even your thoughts, this episode is for you.

Melissa sits down with Gina, host of Pruning to Prosper, to talk about how decluttering is about so much more than just organizing your space. It’s about creating room for God to move in your life.

Gina shares how she went from helping women organize their homes to helping them clear mental and spiritual clutter, all rooted in faith and the power of the Rosary. You’ll walk away with simple, practical steps to get started, along with a fresh perspective on how your environment impacts your peace, your purpose, and your ability to say “yes” to God.

This conversation is equal parts practical and powerful. It will leave you feeling lighter, encouraged, and ready to take your next step.

Key Takeaways:

• Why clutter is not just physical but mental and spiritual
• How God created order first and why that matters for your home
• The connection between your environment and your ability to hear God
• A simple 3-step method to start decluttering today
• How to let go of emotional attachment to “stuff”
• Why your home can become a place of ministry and hospitality
• How routines and systems create freedom and peace
• The role of the Rosary in bringing clarity, focus, and direction
• How decluttering can open the door to purpose and transformation

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Gina
01:00 Gina’s story and how Pruning to Prosper began
03:00 Why decluttering is about more than your home
05:00 Creating space to hear God more clearly
08:00 Using your home for ministry and hospitality
10:00 Why your environment impacts your peace
13:00 Creating a home you actually want to be in
15:00 The power of the Rosary in daily life
20:00 Where to start when you feel overwhelmed
22:00 Gina’s step-by-step decluttering method
25:00 Letting go of emotional attachment to things
33:00 What your family actually values and remembers
37:00 Using what you have instead of saving it
41:00 A powerful transformation story
45:00 What a peaceful home really feels like
48:00 Systems that make life easier
51:00 From cluttered life to purposeful living
56:00 How to connect with Gina

Resources & Links:

• Gina’s Podcast: Pruning to Prosper: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pruning-to-prosper-catholic-declutter-organize-motivation/id1613434502 
• Connect with Gina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pruningtoprosperpodcast/ 

 Free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal: https://anchored-with-purpose.kit.com/fb72f69cdf 

Catholic podcast, decluttering tips, Christian home organization, faith and home, Catholic motherhood, rosary and daily routine, how to declutter your home, mental clutter, spiritual growth for women, Christian personal development, organizing your home, simplify your life, Catholic women podcast, finding peace at home, faith based habits, Christian routines, hospitality in the home, living with purpose, overwhelmed mom help, home systems and routines

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like you’re constantly trying to “balance” it all and still falling short?

In this powerful and relatable conversation, I sit down with Bethany Rees, founder of Leadership on the Rocks, to talk about what it really means to lead with faith in every area of your life. From motherhood to career to personal growth, Bethany shares a refreshing perspective on leadership, identity, and how to move from chaos to clarity.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things but still missing peace, this episode will remind you that true leadership starts from within and is rooted in Christ.

• Leadership is influence and you are already a leader in your home, work, and relationships
• Why “balance” is a myth and how to embrace harmony instead
• How to stop chasing the perfect system and start anchoring your life in God
• The difference between building a life on sand versus building on the rock
• How to overcome overwhelm by shifting your identity back to Christ
• A simple but powerful first step to reset when you feel stressed or stuck
• Bethany’s “Body of Leadership” framework: head, heart, hands, and guts
• How to take your thoughts captive and replace comparison with truth

00:00 Introduction + Meet Bethany Rees
02:00 What Leadership Really Means (Hint: You’re Already One)
03:45 The Story Behind “Leadership on the Rocks”
06:30 Overwhelm, Stress, and the Lie of Self-Help
10:30 Identity in Christ vs. Identity in the World
13:20 From Balance to Harmony in Everyday Life
17:00 Raising Independent Kids Through Intentional Leadership
20:00 Breaking Free from Comparison and Negative Self-Talk
24:00 Bethany’s Leadership Framework (Head, Heart, Hands, Guts)
30:00 Leading with Faith in Secular Spaces
34:30 How to Move from Overwhelm to Clarity
36:00 The Power of Prayer in Everyday Moments
40:20 Where to Connect with Bethany

🌐 Website: https://www.leadershipontherocks.com
🎙️ Podcast: https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/podcast
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-rees 

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Have you ever caught yourself wondering if you’re behind in life, faith, or business?

In this episode, I’m sharing something that’s been on my heart in a very real way. Recently, I’ve had moments where I’ve questioned my own timeline, wondering if I should be further along or doing more. But through prayer and reflection, God keeps bringing me back to this truth:

You are not behind.

In this episode, we’re talking about how God doesn’t reveal your purpose all at once. He reveals it one step at a time. If you’ve been waiting for clarity, feeling stuck in comparison, or holding back because you don’t have the full plan, this is your reminder to trust Him with your next step.

We also connect this conversation to this month’s theme, from building a daily faith practice after Lent, to taking action in your life and business, to stepping into leadership.

📖 Free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal: https://anchored-with-purpose.kit.com/fb72f69cdf 

Key Takeaways:

• Why the feeling of being “behind” is often rooted in comparison
• God’s timing is different from your timeline and it is always intentional
• Clarity often comes after you take action, not before
• Why you don’t need the full blueprint to move forward
• The power of praying for your “next right step”
• How a daily faith practice helps you hear God more clearly
• A simple question to help you take action today

Chapters:
00:00 You are not behind
02:00 How this episode fits into this month’s theme
03:30 The comparison trap and feeling behind
05:00 God’s timing and Ecclesiastes 3:11
06:30 Trusting God without the full plan
08:00 How God reveals purpose step by step
09:30 Why clarity comes through action
11:00 Proverbs 3:5-6 and trusting God
12:00 Stop waiting and take the next step
13:30 One question to help you move forward

Resources & Links:
🎧 From Lent to Lifestyle episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/73-from-lent-to-lifestyle-how-to-build-a-daily/id1775076672?i=1000754688886
🎧 Interview with Kara Williams: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/78-god-gave-you-this-for-a-reason-with-kara-williams/id1775076672?i=1000761282052
📖 Free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal: https://anchored-with-purpose.kit.com/fb72f69cdf 

Call to Action:
If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend who needs this reminder. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss next week’s conversation on leadership.

Christian podcast, Catholic podcast, faith and purpose, trusting God, God’s timing, feeling behind in life, overcoming comparison, daily faith practice, hearing God’s voice, personal growth for women, Christian personal development, faith based encouragement, purpose driven life, Anchored with Purpose podcast

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to launch a course, podcast, or online offer because of tech overwhelm, this episode is for you.

In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Kara Williams, who helps women simplify tech and confidently bring their ideas to life. We talk about the real reason so many women stay stuck, how to move past perfectionism, and why having someone walk alongside you changes everything.

One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Kara’s story of how God closed a door she thought she was meant to stay in, only to lead her into something even more impactful. If you’ve been wrestling with uncertainty, this will encourage you to trust His plan.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea, this is your sign to take the next step.

• Why tech overwhelm is NOT the real reason you’re stuck
• The mindset shift every woman needs before launching
• How perfectionism is actually fear in disguise
• The simple first step to move your idea out of your head and into action
• Why over-consuming courses can keep you stuck
• The power of having someone walk alongside you step-by-step
• How automation and systems prevent burnout in your business
• What it looks like when God closes one door to open another
• Why your calling matters and shouldn’t stay hidden

00:00 Welcome + Meet Kara Williams
02:30 Kara’s journey from stay-at-home mom to tech expert
05:30 The real struggle women face when launching online
08:00 Why courses alone don’t get you results
10:45 The first step to launching your idea
14:45 Perfectionism, fear, and taking action
17:10 Getting unstuck when you feel overwhelmed
20:45 What systems and automation actually look like
24:20 Staying in your lane to avoid burnout
25:45 How faith shaped Kara’s business journey
27:30 When God closes a door and redirects your path
29:30 How to connect with Kara

Connect with Kara Williams:
Website: Helpmekara.com
Instagram + Facebook: @helpmekara

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to:

• Subscribe to the podcast
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
• Share this episode with a friend who’s been feeling stuck

catholic podcast for women, christian entrepreneurship, faith based business, overcoming fear and doubt, tech overwhelm, course creation for beginners, launch an online course, christian women in business, purpose driven life, hearing God’s call, faith and business, perfectionism and fear, building a business with God, online business systems, automation for entrepreneurs 

Lent may be over, but what if this is just the beginning?

In this reflective episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa walks you through a powerful post-Lent reset to help you hold onto the faith habits you built during Lent and turn them into a sustainable daily rhythm.

If you felt closer to God, more intentional, and more grounded over the past season, this episode will help you identify what worked, what didn’t, and how to carry that momentum into your everyday life.

Through simple, practical questions, you will reflect on your time with God, prayer life, scripture habits, journaling, and more so you can build a faith routine that actually fits your real life.

You are not starting over. You are building something that lasts.

• How to turn your Lenten habits into a sustainable daily faith practice
• Why consistency matters more than perfection in your spiritual life
• Simple reflection questions to help you evaluate your time with God
• How to create a realistic routine that fits your current season of life
• The power of gratitude, scripture memory, and intentional prayer
• How to recognize when God is speaking to you in everyday moments
• Why your faith practice should feel life-giving, not overwhelming

00:00 Welcome + Post-Lent Reset
00:01 Why You Should Not Lose What God Started
01:08 Reflecting on Your Time, Place, and Rhythm with God
02:22 Creating a Sustainable Faith Routine
03:00 Starting Your Day with Gratitude
04:45 Scripture Memory and Hearing God’s Voice
07:08 Choosing Devotionals with Intention
07:08 How Scripture Shapes Your Day
08:10 What Are You Hearing from God
09:33 Prayer That Feels Like a Conversation
10:30 Journaling and Finding What Works for You
11:30 Building Your Faith Lifestyle Going Forward
12:00 Encouragement to Keep Showing Up

• Start the devotional: From Lent to Lifestyle: From Lent to Lifestyle: Building a Daily Faith Practice that Lasts
• Download the free Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal sample
• Shop the full Anchored with Purpose Faith Journal

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In this faith-filled conversation, Melissa sits down with Mindy “Mindo” Backsen, a wife and mom from North Dakota whose story is rooted in obedience, surrender, and trusting God when the next step feels uncertain. Mindy shares how she left a demanding career in insurance, stepped into social selling and coaching, and discovered that true alignment happens when Christ is first, not second.

Together, they talk about how overconsumption, urgency, and striving quietly steal our peace, and how Scripture, quiet time with God, and fixing our eyes on Jesus bring clarity in confusing seasons. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, spiritually dry, or unsure of your next step, this episode will remind you that you are not stuck. You are being invited deeper. And God is working, even in rebuilding seasons.

Mindy’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindybacksen
Mindy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindy.backsen
Christian Women Building Business Together: https://christianwomenbuildingbusiness.com/

• Peace comes from alignment with Christ.
• You may not have control, but you do have a good God.
• Overconsumption of voices creates confusion.
• Discernment check: Is this bringing peace or pressure?
• Uncertainty is part of life, but your certainty can be Christ.
• You are not stuck.
• Small, obedient steps compound over time.
• Stop giving away your power to distractions and negativity.
• The stirring for more is not random. God multiplies obedience.

00:01 Welcome + Meet Mindy Backsen
00:49 Mindy’s story: career, motherhood, and feeling called to “more”
02:37 The leap of faith and surrender
04:22 Putting Christ first and finding alignment
07:47 Seeking God wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29)
10:37 What steals peace: urgency and overconsumption
13:30 Discernment: peace vs pressure
15:40 Navigating uncertainty and divine redirection
18:23 You are not stuck: fixing your eyes on Jesus
21:45 Being an ambassador of Christ in daily life
23:42 The stirring for more and small obedient steps
28:20 Where to find Mindy
29:15 Teaser: the “divine detour” story

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Have you ever wondered, “How do I actually hear from God?” Or felt stuck asking, “What is my purpose?”

In this faith-filled episode, I’m answering two powerful questions from women in our community and chances are, you’ve asked them too.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, unsure of your direction, or disconnected from God’s voice, this episode will remind you that your purpose is not something you have to figure out alone. It is something you walk into with God, one step at a time.

We talk about how God speaks, often in quieter ways than we expect, how to recognize His guidance in your everyday life, and how to release the pressure of having everything figured out.

If you are craving clarity, peace, and direction, this episode is for you 💙

• Purpose is often found in everyday faithfulness, not just big moments
• God is already guiding your path, you are not alone in figuring it out
• God speaks most clearly through Scripture and daily relationship with Him
• Quiet time helps you hear God in a noisy world
• The desires on your heart may be invitations from God
• Open and closed doors can be God’s direction and protection
• Your purpose unfolds over time, not all at once
• Ask God for your next right step instead of the full plan

00:00 Welcome and the questions we are answering
02:00 Why we feel stuck in our purpose
03:30 What purpose really looks like
05:00 How God speaks through Scripture
08:30 Creating space to hear God in the quiet
11:00 Recognizing God through your desires
13:30 Open and closed doors as direction
16:00 When you still do not know your purpose
18:30 The next right step prayer
21:00 Final encouragement and invitation

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
YouVersion Bible App
Bible in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz
From Lent to Lifestyle devotional

If this episode spoke to you, I would love to hear from you 💙
What is one small step you feel God inviting you to take?

Be sure to subscribe and leave a review so more women can find this message

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What if the hardest moments in your life could become the very thing that helps others find hope?

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Melissa Wilkinson sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly - educator, former superintendent, leadership coach, and founder of the Spark Hope Community. Dr. Kelly shares the heartbreaking story that shaped her life when she lost her younger brother in a tragic accident at just 15 years old.

Rather than allowing grief to define her story, Brandi chose a different path. Through decades of leadership in education, personal healing, and deep faith, she discovered that hope is not just a feeling - it is a daily practice and a choice.

Dr. Kelly also shares how burnout and health struggles led her to step away from her high-pressure superintendent role and into a new calling - helping women leaders reconnect with purpose, reflection, and faith through the Spark Hope Community.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure of your purpose, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone and hope is always possible.

Dr. Brandi Kelly Website, Lead with Hope Podcast, Spark Hope Community and Free HOPE Leadership Clarity Assessment:
https://sparkhopeedu.com

• Hope is not passive. It is a daily choice that requires intentional action.
• Difficult seasons can become the foundation for a meaningful purpose.
• Leadership becomes healthier when we create space for reflection and pause.
• Journaling, prayer, and Scripture can help us hear God more clearly.
• Women leaders thrive when they have safe spaces for connection and encouragement.
• Your story and your struggles may be the exact encouragement someone else needs.

Want to build a daily faith practice that lasts? Join my plan on the Bible App: From Lent to Lifestyle: http://bible.us/r/He5 

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Brandi Kelly
00:45 Trigger warning and episode overview
01:30 The tragic loss of Brandi’s younger brother
05:40 Choosing hope after trauma
07:00 Learning to ask God for daily direction
08:45 Stress, burnout, and stepping away from leadership
11:30 Facing uncertainty after leaving the superintendent role
12:40 Writing the book Lead with Hope
13:00 The origin of the Spark Hope framework
14:30 The HOPE system: habits, optimism, purpose, excellence
15:10 Mindset struggles, perfectionism, and people pleasing
16:20 Creating the Spark Hope Community for women leaders
18:30 Why reflection is essential for leadership
20:50 Daily practices: Bible reading, journaling, and prayer
23:00 Reviewing your journal and celebrating growth
24:50 Scheduling reflection into your life
25:20 The power of community for women leaders
27:45 Creating safe spaces for vulnerability
28:00 Encouragement for women feeling overwhelmed
29:40 Turning pain into purpose
30:00 Where to connect with Dr. Brandi Kelly

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