In today’s special year-end holiday episode, host Heather Creekmore welcomes author and speaker Cynthia Ruchti to the show for an uplifting conversation perfectly suited to the busy woman navigating the Christmas season. As the holidays approach, the to-do lists are long, and the “reason for the season” can easily get lost amid shopping, family obligations, and endless tasks. Heather Creekmore and Cynthia Ruchti encourage listeners to pause, ponder, and rediscover the wonder of Christmas, focusing on spiritual renewal rather than exhausting productivity.

Together, they discuss Cynthia’s Christmas devotional, her insights on noticing God’s presence, embracing lingering and pondering, and shifting our attitudes to receive what God has truly prepared for us—even in the midst of chaos, disappointment, and the “distribution of labor” that often falls to women during the holidays. The episode is packed with relatable holiday circumstances, biblical reflections, real-life stories, and practical encouragement to rest in the joy, awe, and wonder that Christmas offers.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why slowing down and observing brings more spiritual refreshment than staying busy

• The power of “lingering”—with God, with loved ones, and in the moment

• God’s upside-down kingdom and the abundance found in trusting Him with our time and resources

• Noticing God in both the seen and the unseen aspects of the Christmas story

• The message of redemption woven throughout Scripture, from Isaiah to the nativity

• What holiday mishaps (yes, even broken goblets!) can teach us about perspective and joy

• Reframing holiday serving as a gift for ourselves, not just for others

• How to keep awe and wonder alive in our hearts, even when Christmas feels like another item on the checklist

• Practical encouragement for busy moms and grandmas feeling the holiday load

• Using Cynthia’s 26-day devotional for a richer, more intentional holiday season

Resources & Links:

• Get Cynthia’s Christmas devotional book, Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence (available on Amazon and hemmedinhope.com) *Amazon affiiate link, a tiny portion of your purchase will support this ministry.

• Connect with Cynthia at hemmedinhope.com or cynthiaruchti.com

• Explore Cynthia’s other books—fiction and nonfiction—through her website

• Sign up for the next 40-Day Journey at: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

 

Don’t forget: Whether you’re listening on your way to pick up gifts, hauling kids to their next party, or just stealing a quiet moment, this episode will leave you refreshed and ready to focus on what matters most this holiday season!

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Are you feeling crushed by the pressure to lose weight? You’re not alone. In this honest and compassionate episode, Heather Creekmore tackles the overwhelming desire so many women carry to lose weight—even when we know the struggle all too well.

Heather Creekmore dives deep into the real reasons why our culture is fixated on shrinking our bodies, the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, and what it means now that nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US have tried these weight-loss shots. Whether you use them, are considering them, or tried them and now feel even more burned by diet culture, this episode is for you.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why so many of us feel pressured to be thinner, especially during the holiday season

• How body image struggles are magnified by social media, holiday events, and cultural expectations

• What the Gospel teaches us on humility, worth, and where our true value is rooted (hint: it’s not in the scale or in being the “thinnest one in the photo”)

• Real talk about the cost—mentally, physically, and spiritually—of making weight loss your primary goal

• Encouraging reminders that your struggle is not a “you problem,” but a symptom of a wider issue in our society

• Practical steps for what to do when the desire to lose weight feels overwhelming

If you’re tired of wrestling with disappointment from the latest weight loss trends, or you need encouragement to find freedom from the idol of body image, tune in for wise, compassionate truth that will point you to lasting hope.

Special Invitation:
Ready for a new way—one that invites more freedom, less comparison, and true worth? Don’t miss the announcement about the next 40-Day Body Image Journey (starts January 20th)! Head to improvebodyimage.com to learn more.

Share this episode with a friend or leave a review if it encourages you—your support helps others find hope and healing too.

Stop comparing. Start living. Listen now to “When the Want to Lose Weight Is Overwhelming” on Compared to Who?

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On this episode of Compared to Who?, Heather Creekmore sits down for a candid conversation with Nicole Warren Renard, also known as Nicole the Nomad. Nicole’s journey has taken her through pageants, the Miss America stage, social media influence, and even to competing on Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay. But beneath the highlight reel, Nicole opens up about the ever-present challenge of comparison—whether it's sizing herself up against others, herself from different seasons of life, or the high-pressure environments of televised competitions and motherhood.

What’s Inside:

• Facing Comparison in High-Pressure Environments: Nicole reflects on feeling like the "least experienced, least qualified" contestant on Next Level Chef, and how self-doubt and comparison can trip us up—even in the most exciting opportunities.

• Identity and Confidence: Discover how grounding her worth in Christ empowered Nicole to compete in both pageants and cooking shows without letting failure or criticism define her.

• Comparison in Motherhood: Nicole shares honestly about the struggles of comparing herself to other moms on social media, and even to her pre-mom self. She offers practical ways to keep your heart and mind anchored in truth during big life transitions.

• Practical Tips for Freedom from Comparison:

  • Breath prayers and staying in constant conversation with God

  • Practicing gratitude to shift focus away from “not enough”

  • Setting healthy boundaries with social media

  • Keeping an eternal perspective during mundane or behind-the-scenes seasons

• Life Skills and Pageant Myths: Nicole debunks stereotypes about the pageant world, explains how it developed her confidence and skills, and how she focused on the positive outcomes rather than just winning.

• Holistic Health & Rhythms: Nicole shares the value of consistency and structure in daily routines for mind, body, and soul health.

• Faith in the Everyday: Learn how Nicole incorporates prayer and scripture into her daily life, even as a busy new mom, modeling an abiding relationship with God for her daughter.

Favorite Quotes:

• “At the end of the day, if all of that was stripped away, nothing I do or don't do changes the fact that I'm a human created with purpose and that I have value that is given to me through Christ.”

• “I'm quick to give up on myself and say, well, I don’t know what else it could be… And I compare myself to that.”

We Talk About:

• The mental game of competition and why comparison can knock out even the most talented contestants

• How gratitude can’t coexist with complaining, and practical ways to cultivate a grateful heart

• Why embracing every season—including the “unseen” work of motherhood—is building an eternal legacy

Sponsored by:
WeShare Christian Medical Health Sharing — health care designed with your peace of mind. Get a free, no-obligation quote and waive the $149 application fee by going to: www.weshare.org/heather

Connect:
Find Nicole on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more as Nicole the Nomad. Get recipes, travel guides, and more at Nicole the Nomad’s website.

Next Steps:

• Sign up for Compared to Who?'s 40 Day Journey or grab the 40 Day Body Image Workbook on Amazon.

• Leave a 5-star review and share this episode if it encouraged you!

Remember:
You can stop comparing—and start living!

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This powerful episode of the Compared to Who? podcast dives deep into the story of Cheri Garcia, a nationally recognized recovery advocate, entrepreneur, and the founder of Cornbread Hustle. Cheri joins Heather Creekmore to share her extraordinary journey through addiction, bulimia, and the relentless pursuit of approval and achievement.

What You’ll Hear:

• Cheri’s Hidden Struggles: From a “typical” all-American upbringing to battling addiction, reveals how her father’s meth use triggered a desperate search for approval, leading her down her own path of substance abuse. She opens up about her history with meth, alcohol, and bulimia, as well as the shame that hid behind her achievements.

• Entrepreneurial Escape: Despite her addictions, Cheri became a successful entrepreneur, starting businesses—even while still in high school. Listen as she describes how workaholism became a new kind of drug, and why success could never satisfy her underlying wounds.

• Rock Bottom & Surrender: Cheri’s story takes a pivotal turn after a DWI arrest, propelling her toward sobriety. She shares the moment on Christmas Day when she chose to give herself the “gift of sobriety” and the spiritual awakening that followed, including a haunting worship song, a powerful Bible verse, and a deep confrontation with God.

• Breaking the Shame Cycle: The conversation explores the difference between guilt and shame, the importance of vulnerability vs. mere transparency, and why secrets keep us sick.

  Cheri explains how confessing your struggles—no matter how dark—can set you free.

• Mental Health and Medication: In a refreshingly honest discussion, Cheri talks about her journey with mental health and the complexities of accepting help, including medication, after years of trying to "pray harder" through her pain.

• Community & True Friendship: Hear how authentic community, especially among women in recovery, helped Cheri finally accept herself without needing to "offer" anything.

Key Takeaways:

• Recovery is often a journey of switching unhealthy fixes for healthier, but sometimes still unsatisfying, ones.

• Healing from shame requires bringing secrets into the light and embracing community.

• Vulnerability—not just transparency—is where true transformation happens.

• Sometimes faith and mental health treatment go hand-in-hand, and there’s no shame in seeking help.

• You are worthy of love, friendship, and community, apart from your achievements.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Cheri on Instagram: @luminous_cheri

• Find out about We Share: weshare.org/heather

A Note from Heather:

If you find yourself struggling with addiction, body image, or feeling like you have to achieve to be worthy, let this episode remind you: You’re not alone. There is hope, healing, and community waiting for you.

Listen & subscribe for more honest stories that help you stop comparing and start living!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This deeply moving episode of Compared to Who? features Anne Beiler, the original creator of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, as she shares her powerful personal story of trauma, loss, and ultimately, healing. Host Heather Creekmore guides a vulnerable discussion on the profound role confession plays in emotional and spiritual recovery, especially after devastating events.

What’s Inside:

• Anne's humble beginnings growing up Amish and lessons on hard work that later inspired Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.
• The tragic loss of her young daughter and how this event marked the beginning of her struggle with spiritual confusion, grief, and “the life of pretense.”
• Anne Beiler honestly recounts the pain and consequences of being taken advantage of by a pastor, the isolation of living with secrets, and the burden of shame and guilt.
• The breaking point: how years of carrying trauma and secrecy led her to the brink, and how her journey shifted the moment she bravely confessed the truth to her husband.
• Practical steps and biblical wisdom around confession, including
• Anne Beiler's “new view of confession” based on James 5:16—confessing faults to one another as a path toward true healing.
• The three types of confession: Anne identifies as keys to lasting freedom: private (bedside) with God, journaling, and verbal confession to another trusted person.

• Encouragement and actionable advice for anyone carrying burdens, trauma, or secrets: You are not meant to walk alone.

Key Takeaways:

• Confession is not just about admitting wrongdoing; it’s about reclaiming connection, authenticity, and health—spiritually, mentally, and physically.

• Secrets and shame fester in isolation, but openness (even when terrifying) is the beginning of transformation and hope.

• Healing from trauma often requires courage to take responsibility, to stop blaming others, and to believe you’re worthy of freedom and forgiveness.

• The body truly does “keep score”—emotional pain can manifest physically, but light begins to pierce the darkness the moment you step into honesty and connection.

Resources Mentioned:

• James 5:16 and 1 John’s call to “walk in the light as He is in the light”

• Book recommendation: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (Amazon affiliate link)

Connect & Learn More:

• Find more about Anne Beiler, one of the WeShare ambassadors, and her advocacy for healing and wholeness.

• Looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance? Visit weshare.org/heather for a free quote and exclusive enrollment benefits.

Final Encouragement: If you are struggling with secrets, shame, or trauma, let today be the day you take a courageous step. Find someone to connect with, be brutally honest about your pain, and embrace the freedom that comes from confession and community.

**This episode was part of a paid partnership with WeShare: Healthcare by UHSM. 

Visit: weshare.org/heather for a free quote or to learn more about this Christian healthshare company.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you tired of letting fears—big or small—shape how you live and see yourself? In this powerful wrap-up to our "Fear Free Fall" series, Heather Creekmore tackles one of the most common (and sneaky) fears: the fear of gaining weight. But that's just the beginning. This episode goes deep, unearthing all the little day-to-day worries that seem so normal… until you realize they’re holding you back.

Heather asks tough questions: Where do our fears about weight really come from? Are our fears about gainign weight about health…or worth? What does the Bible actually teach about bodies, value, and holiness—and are we prioritizing “taking care of our temple” over what God specifically asks of us? Heather shares surprising biblical truths, eye-opening cultural stories, and practical steps to trade fear for faith—even if your fear is “just how I am.”

Whether you find yourself obsessing over the scale, or caught in smaller worries that never seem to quit, you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective and actionable advice. Don't miss Heather’s candid encouragement and the very real invitation to find freedom, trust, and joyful expectancy… starting today.

🔗 Referenced Episodes:

• What Is Gluttony (And What Isn’t)?

• The Daniel Fast: Surprising Truths

✨ If you’re interested in further steps, check out Heather’s 40 Day Body Image Workbook, or join an upcoming group for community encouragement.

Ready for less comparison and more joy? Hit play and start living free from fear!

 

For more helpful resources and to join Heather’s weekly email, visit improvebodyimage.com. And if this episode helps you, leave a review and share it with a friend—it makes all the difference!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What is gluttony really? If you’ve ever worried about overeating, obsessing about food, or wondered whether enjoying that extra slice of cake is a spiritual failure, this episode is for you. Best-selling author and host Heather Creekmore dives deep into the true heart behind gluttony—exploring why our modern definitions miss the mark and how diet culture and church culture have distorted our understanding.

Heather reframes gluttony, drawing on biblical insight, church history, and thought-provoking examples from C.S. Lewis and Tim Keller. She challenges the idea that gluttony is simply about having seconds or what’s on your plate and asks powerful questions about cravings, control, and where we derive our satisfaction.

Plus, Heather explores how misplaced fears about food can keep us stuck and why true freedom comes from surrender—not self-denial. Whether food has become a source of stress or you’re striving for perfect control, this conversation will open your eyes to new ways of understanding your desires and finding satisfaction.

Ready to rethink gluttony and experience food freedom? Listen now for practical encouragement, spiritual wisdom, and a fresh take you won’t want to miss!

Episodes Mentioned:

• What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gluttony? (Heather references this episode where she goes through the whole Bible on this topic)

• Craving Jesus vs. Craving Food (with Erin Todd)

• More on body image: The 40 Day Body Image Workbook

• Tim Keller's sermon on Gluttony: The Case of Achan

For links and more resources, visit improvebodyimage.com or find Heather’s books on Amazon!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this encouraging episode of the Compared to Who? podcast, host Heather Creekmore delves deep into the ever-present fear of missing out—aka FOMO. As part of the “Fear Free Fall” series, Heather unpacks the spiritual roots of FOMO, exploring how it impacts our faith, contentment, and even our relationship with God.

Heather explains that FOMO isn’t just a modern phenomenon brought on by social media; it goes back as far as the Garden of Eden. Through honest reflection and biblical truth, she challenges listeners to consider whether FOMO is really about doubting God’s goodness and wondering if He’s holding out on us.

You’ll learn:

• Why FOMO can reveal a lack of “little faith” in your daily life

• The connection between social media envy and spiritual insecurity

• How the story of Adam and Eve perfectly illustrates our struggle with FOMO

• Why God’s timing isn’t the same as God’s favor, and what that means for you

• The myth of competition and the futility of trying to “win” at life through comparison

• How to stop chasing others’ dreams and dig into your unique, God-given calling

• What true abundance and blessing really look like—and how it differs from what social media promises

Heather encourages listeners to stop focusing on someone else’s life and instead trust that God’s plan for YOU is personal, intentional, and truly satisfying. If comparison has kept you feeling “less than,” this episode offers authentic hope and practical gospel wisdom to help you stop comparing and truly start living.

Resources & Links:

• Heather Creekmore’s Website & 10 Days of Encouragement

• The Book: The Comparison Free Life

• Coaching with Heather Creekmore

Connect with Heather:

• Instagram

• Facebook

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and help others find gospel-based encouragement!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Struggling with the fear of suffering, control, and uncertainty? In this powerful episode, Heather Creekmore dives deep into why so many women wrestle with the need to avoid pain—especially when it comes to body image, health, and the quest for comfort. Discover the spiritual roots that drive our desire for control and comfort, learn how suffering can actually point us to God rather than away from Him, and hear the inspiring true story of how suffering transformed Tara’s life.

Heather doesn’t shy away from tough questions: Are we trusting in our own ability to avoid discomfort, or are we open to what God can do through seasons of pain? With honest reflection, practical encouragement, and biblical wisdom, this episode explores how surrender can play a vital role in your faith journey—and how God can use suffering for a greater purpose.

Plus, Heather shares resources to support you, details about the upcoming In His Image conference in Dallas, and ways to connect for ongoing encouragement.

Ready to find hope in unexpected places and finally stop fearing suffering? Hit play and discover the freedom that comes with faith beyond your circumstances.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Improve Body Image resources

• In His Image conference (Dallas, Texas)

• Previous episodes about the fear of rejection and body image.

Connect with Heather and the team by visiting: www.improvebodyimage.com and find out how you can get coaching, join one of our courses or groups, check out Heather's books and Bible reading plans, and so much more.

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever feel like nothing in your life will ever be good enough? In today’s honest and insightful episode, Heather Creekmore opens up about her struggles with CDD or “Chronic Disappointment Disorder”—a feeling that no achievement or special day is ever truly satisfying. She explores the root of this persistent discontent and uncovers how fear, envy, and comparison play into our longing for "enough."

Heather dives deep into the heart-level issues fueling our dissatisfaction and shares practical wisdom on searching for true contentment in Christ. Drawing lessons from Tim Keller’s teachings on envy, Heather reveals how comparison, restlessness, and selfish ambition point us toward deeper spiritual problems, including idolatry. The episode is packed with personal stories, scriptural references, and actionable advice for anyone weighed down by the fear of never measuring up.

If you struggle with body image, success, or just feeling like you’re perpetually missing out, Heather walks you through how to identify envy, repent, and redirect your heart toward worship and gratitude. Ultimately, this episode is filled with hope—reminding us that our deepest satisfaction can only be found in Jesus and in the coming kingdom.

Episode Highlights:

• Personal stories of disappointment, from vacations to Mother's Day

• Discontent, envy, and their spiritual dangers

• How reslessness and comparison are more than just “bad habits”—they're rooted in envy

• The connection between body image, identity, and idolatry

• Scripture references: James 3:16, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Proverbs 14:30

• Tim Keller’s two directions for overcoming envy: upward (fear of the Lord) and forward (hope in Christ for the future)

• The crucial role of repentance and confession—not just positive thinking

• Surrendering goals and desires to God for genuine change

• Turning discontent into worship and gratitude

Resources & Links:

• The Comparison Free Life by Heather Creekmore*

• 40 Day Body Image Workbook*

• Tim Keller’s Sermons on Envy (Listen here)

Connect with Heather:

• Compared to Who? Website

• Instagram

• Facebook

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.