Episode 10: Season 1 Finale — The Fruit of Growth with Dr. Karen Bergstrom

In this season finale, Carissa Fleming and Debbie Brunet sit down with longtime mentor and leadership coach Dr. Karen Bergstrom for a deeply encouraging conversation about growth, identity, and the healing power of safe relationships. Karen draws from decades of leadership, coaching, and nonprofit work to share how our earliest experiences shape us — and how truth, community, and faith help us grow beyond them.

What You'll Learn

• Why healthy growth starts with desire and a grounded sense of self
• How early experiences can distort identity and create limiting beliefs
• The four common roadblocks to growth: dependency, abandonment, failure, and inferiority
• Why truth, kindness, and safe relationships are essential for healing
• How being witnessed in community can unlock growth and emotional freedom

Key Takeaways

• Growth is possible at every stage of life
• Identity should be rooted in truth, not past experience or future hopes alone
• Healing often happens when we move from isolation into safe community
• We don't have to carry our stories alone

Resources & Links

Townsend Leadership Program — Dr. Karen Bergstrom

Connect with Dr. Bergstrom via email or on LinkedIn

Learn more about the TPRAT

Join Us at the Fall 2026 Becoming Evergreen Retreat

Ready to take your growth off-screen and into community? Register for the Becoming Evergreen Retreat →

In Episode 9 of the Becoming Evergreen Podcast, Carissa and Debbie explore the nuances of cultivating genuine connections, emphasizing vulnerability, intentionality, and Biblical principles. They share practical insights on building an inner circle of growth-minded individuals and navigating barriers like perfectionism and vulnerability.

Key Topics Covered:

• The biblical model of relationship from John 15:15 and modeling after Jesus
• What makes a relationship healthy: give and take, curiosity, vulnerability, proximity
• Different levels of friendship: inner circle, confidants, acquaintances, and their importance in various life seasons
• The role of vulnerability: sharing story, asking for help, trust, and safety in relationships
• Barriers to community: perfectionism, unhealthy partnerships, cultural differences, and unreciprocated effort
• The importance of orienting life around Christ for unity and intentional growth
• Practical ways to cultivate community: time, structure, prayer, and seeking Holy Spirit's guidance

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to community and our model of biblical relationships

02:34 - How healthy relationships thrive: vulnerability and give/take

04:45 - Levels of friendships: inner circle, confidants, acquaintances

07:00 - Vulnerability in building trust and sharing stories

09:20 - Barriers such as perfectionism, cultural differences, and unhealthy ties

12:04 - Living and orienting around Christ for unity

15:00 - Practical steps for cultivating and deepening community relationships

17:00 - The power of intentionality, asking for help, and Holy Spirit’s guidance

18:30 - Final encouragement: we are made for connection

Resources & Links:

• Register for the Becoming Evergreen Fall 2026 Retreat
• Henry Cloud’s Book "Never Go Back" 
• Henry Cloud’s Book "Necessary Endings"

Connect with Debbie and Carissa:

• Carissa on LinkedIn
• Debbie on LinkedIn

Have you ever felt like your habits just aren't working — no matter how hard you try? The problem might not be your discipline. It might be your season.

In Episode 8 of The Becoming Evergreen Podcast, Carissa Fleming and Debbie Brunet dig into why aligning your habits and goals with your current season of life is the missing key to lasting growth. They explore the difference between first and second order desires, how your temperament shapes your routines, and why community might be the most underrated habit tool you have.

If you've been white-knuckling your goals and wondering why nothing is sticking, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Why your season matters more than your strategy
• First vs. second order desires (and how they drive your habits)
• How temperament affects what rhythms actually work for you
• The role of community in sustaining growth
• Biblical principles of timing and spiritual rhythms

Chapters

00:00 Seasons and Habits: A Trader Joe's Perspective

03:19 Understanding Seasons in Life and Scripture

06:19 Desires: First Order vs. Second Order

08:33 The Role of Habits in Achieving Desires

11:04 Temperament and Its Impact on Practices

13:58 Community and Support in Different Seasons

16:16 Setting Goals and Building Habits

19:12 Navigating Interruptions and Maintaining Peace

21:45 Identifying Limiting Beliefs and Spiritual Rhythms

24:13 Life-Giving Habits and Fun Activities

27:16 Reflection and Moving Forward

To register for the upcoming Fall 2026 Becoming Evergreen Retreat visit: https://www.becomingevergreen.com/retreats

This conversation is Part 2 of a conversation between Debbie Brunet and Carissa Fleming. They explore the impact of limiting beliefs and lies on one's calling and personal growth. Understanding our stories, identifying lies, and embracing our identity can unlock our true potential and purpose.

Key Topics

• The connection between identity and calling
• How lies and beliefs impact personal growth
• Practical exercises for identifying and replacing lies
• The role of community and spiritual practices in healing
• Reflecting on life stories to understand God's purpose

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Limiting Beliefs and Identity

02:43 The Importance of Personal Stories

05:10 Life Mapping and Reflection

06:56 Understanding the Harsh Judge vs. Observant Self - John Townsend

10:31 The Impact of Lies on Our Calling

18:34 Journaling and Replacing Lies with Truth

22:13 Building Relationships and Community Support

26:09 The Journey of Transformation and Growth

Keywords: limiting beliefs, personal growth, calling, identity, spiritual journey, story reflection, lies, truth, faith, transformation

Learn more at BecomingEvergreen.com

Debbie Brunet and Carissa Fleming, explore the power of journaling for self-reflection and the impact of internal lies on our lives. It delves into the theology of lies and truth, the role of community in overcoming lies, and spiritual disciplines for addressing lies. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing internal lies, navigating difficult seasons, and the impact of lies on our lives.

Key Topics

• The importance of journaling for spiritual clarity
• How lies affect our identity and faith
• Biblical strategies for renewing the mind
• The role of community and accountability
• Spiritual disciplines that foster growth

Takeaways

• Journaling helps focus and invites the Holy Spirit to speak.
• Lies about ourselves and God can deeply impact our faith.
• Romans 12:2 emphasizes transformation through renewing the mind.
• Community provides light and accountability in spiritual battles.
• Spiritual disciplines like prayer and scripture meditation are vital.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Becoming Evergreen

03:12 The Power of Mind and Identity

06:16 Understanding Lies and Truth

08:52 Theological Perspectives on Lies

11:52 Recognizing Internal Lies

14:16 Overcoming Lies Through Scripture

16:10 Capturing Thoughts and Community

18:56 Spiritual Disciplines for Growth

21:57 The Power of Journaling

23:22 Walking in Truth and Its Impact

24:17 Life to the Full: A Partnership with the Lord

25:00 Becoming Evergreen outro.mp4

To learn more visit BecomingEvergreen.com

The conversation explores the concept behind Becoming Evergreen. How do you develop a growth community for leaders seeking purpose and lasting impact? The Becoming Evergreen Growth Model will help leaders build their lives around what matters most. The discussion delves into unlearning limiting beliefs, the importance of community, and the role of relationships in growth, culminating in the fruit of growth and impact.

Takeaways

• Becoming Evergreen Growth Model
• Identity and Insight
• Rhythms and Relationships
• Fruit of Growth

Learn more at BecomingEvergreen.com

Summary

This episode explores the holistic approach to spiritual and personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of heart, mind, and body in becoming evergreen. Hosted by Debbie and Carissa, it offers practical insights on cultivating habits, overcoming pressures, and aligning with God's purpose.

Key Topics

Holistic spiritual formation

The role of the heart, mind, and body in transformation

Practical habits for spiritual growth

Overcoming societal pressures and perfectionism

Aligning life with God's purpose

Chapters

00:00 Daily Life and Contexts

05:40 The Human Experience and Resilience

11:50 Striving vs. Resting in Jesus

11:54 The Burden of Striving and Perfectionism

15:01 The Limits of Willpower

18:15 The Journey of Transformation

24:06 Becoming Evergreen: A Lifelong Process

Learn more atBecomingEvergreen.com

Summary

Explore the holistic approach to spiritual formation focusing on the heart, mind, body, and soul. Learn practical ways to attune and restore your inner life to align with God's purposes.

Keywords

spiritual formation, soul care, heart, transformation, Christian living, spiritual rhythms, Dallas Willard, prayer, submission, hope

Key Topics

• The role of the heart in spiritual formation
• Practical ways to attune and restore the inner life
• The importance of submission and humility in growth
• How to build daily spiritual rhythms
• The interconnectedness of heart, mind, body, and soul

Takeaways

• Life must be organized around the heart to be truly transformed
• Submission to God begins with confession and humility
• Strong roots in Christ are essential for spiritual resilience
• Daily spiritual rhythms cultivate lasting change
• Hope is rooted in the Holy Spirit's presence within us

Key Themes

• The Heart of Spiritual Formation: Attuning to God's Design
• Transforming Your Inner Life: Practical Steps for Soul Care

Sound Bites

• "The heart is the core of who we are, shaping everything."
• "Submission begins with confession and humility."
• "Christ's Spirit lives inside us, giving hope and power."

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Transformation and Spiritual Formation

02:42 The Role of the Heart in Personal Development

06:16 The Importance of Submission and Trust

10:45 Navigating Life's Challenges with Faith

17:18 Cultivating Growth Through Community and Connection

20:41 The Hope of Transformation Through the Holy Spirit

Becoming Evergreen podcast introduces the hosts, Carissa and Debbie, who share their passion for growth, purpose, and the concept of Becoming Evergreen. They discuss the idea of the easy yoke, address burnout and disconnection, and emphasize the importance of creating space for rest, connection, and engaging with nature and community. The podcast aims to help listeners reconnect with God, themselves, and others in a meaningful way.

Takeaways

• Passion for growth and purpose
• Addressing burnout and disconnection

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing Becoming Evergreen
• 06:24 The Easy Yoke
• 12:18 Addressing Burnout and Disconnection
• 19:12 Creating Space for Rest and Connection

What if leadership didn’t require hustle, burnout, or striving—what if it could flow from rest instead?

In the very first episode of the Becoming Evergreen Podcast, hosts Carissa Fleming and Debbie Brunet introduce the heart behind the show and invite listeners into a different way of growing and leading—one that is rooted, resilient, and sustainable in every season of life.

Learn more at BecomingEvergreen.com.