Have you ever woken up already feeling behind… before your feet even hit the floor?

In this encouraging episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Carol Feil—Christian speaker, author, and biblical lay counselor—to talk about something so many of us quietly struggle with: the inner critic.

Carol is refreshingly honest about her own journey as a recovering people pleaser and the internal voice that whispered, "you're not enough." Through years of walking with God—and learning to truly apply His Word—she discovered a life-changing truth: we are seen, known, and deeply loved by the God who created us.

Together, Briana and Carol explore what it looks like to recognize the lies we've believed, take our thoughts captive, and replace them with truth. This conversation is both grounding and freeing—reminding us that our thoughts don't have the final say… God's truth does.

• Carol's journey from people-pleasing and perfectionism to freedom in Christ

• How the "inner critic" shows up in everyday thoughts and decisions

• The power of taking every thought captive and renewing your mind

• Why knowing Scripture isn't the same as living it

• The importance of boundaries—especially in seasons of motherhood and ministry

• How God continues to call and use us in every season (it's not too late)

• Learning to trust God's timing instead of comparing your journey to others

"My inner critic is so strong, it has me defeated before my feet even hit the ground."

"You're not the wrong mom. You're not the wrong wife. Trust where God has you."

Don't miss Carol's devotional: Freedom From the Inner Critic https://carolfeil.com/shop/

Website: https://carolfeil.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolfeil/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolFeilWriter

Have you ever noticed the voice in your head being louder than God's truth?

What would it look like to pause… and replace that voice with what God actually says about you?

We'd love to hear from you—come share your thoughts with us on Instagram or inside our community 💛

Follow us on Instagram: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories like Carol's.

Until next week, friends 💛

What do you do when you say yes to Jesus… and nothing changes?

In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with Laura Crosby, speaker, writer, and longtime ministry leader, to talk about what it really looks like to follow Jesus when it doesn't feel the way we expected. Laura has spent over 40 years in ministry, encouraging others to pursue a deeper, more personal relationship with God. And in this conversation, she brings so much wisdom, honesty, and grace.

Laura shares how saying "yes" to Jesus didn't come with the emotional experience she expected—in fact, it felt like nothing at all. Together, Cherise and Laura explore what it looks like to trust God in the quiet, to recognize His voice in everyday moments, and to live with a childlike expectancy of "what's next, Papa?"

• Laura's faith journey—from growing up in church to discovering a personal relationship with Jesus

• The moment she said yes to Jesus… and felt nothing

• The difference between faith based on feelings vs. faith rooted in truth

• Learning to recognize the "whispers" of the Holy Spirit

• Why small acts of obedience matter more than we think

• How God uses everyday moments to shape our purpose

• Letting go of titles, roles, and expectations to rest in your identity as God's beloved

• What it looks like to stay open, curious, and expectant with God

"I said yes to Jesus… and absolutely nothing happened."

"Your small yes might matter more than you'll ever know."

Listen to Laura's resources and learn more: https://lauracrosby.me/Get Laura's book Choosing Welcome at Advent: https://amzn.to/4rdJBrsFollow Laura on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauracrosby/

How are you learning to trust God—even when you don't feel anything?

We'd love to hear from you—share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!

Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/

Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories like Laura's.

Until next week, friends! 💛

What do you do when God doesn't answer your prayers the way you hoped?

In this heartfelt episode of Echoes of Impact, Briana sits down with Lacey Morefield—photographer, wife, mama, and storyteller—for a deeply moving conversation about infertility, adoption, grief, trust, and the goodness of God in the middle of unanswered prayers.

Lacey shares her family's long and painful road through infertility, the physical and emotional toll that season took on her, and the ways God met her in the darkest moments with tenderness, nearness, and unmistakable reminders of His faithfulness. From a Spirit-led step toward adoption to the beautiful story of welcoming their son Asher, and later the miraculous pregnancy and birth of their son Brooks, Lacey's story is a powerful reminder that even when life feels uncertain, God is still good.

Together, Briana and Lacey talk about purpose, what it means to trust God when His plan looks different than your own, and why Scripture becomes the anchor that keeps us grounded when our feelings threaten to pull us under.

This episode is especially meaningful for anyone walking through infertility, grief, disappointment, or a season of longing. It's a gentle reminder that God is not absent in your pain—He is present, personal, and drawing you close to Himself.

• Lacey's journey through infertility and the grief of unmet expectations

• The physical pain and medical challenges that deepened an already difficult season

• How God led Lacey and her husband toward adoption

• The beautiful story of welcoming their son Asher and building a relationship with his birth mom

• The unexpected miracle of conceiving Brooks after years of infertility

• Why Lacey says she wouldn't change the hard parts—and how they revealed God's character

• The role of Scripture memory in suffering, waiting, and marriage

• How God comforts us in our affliction so we can comfort others

• The importance of remembering and retelling what God has done

"Jesus, would You just make me more like You and make me know You."

"I've come to love the fact that He is my ultimate good."

"I have evidence that my God hears me."

"God desires to pull you close to His side and to be the God of all comfort to you."

Website: http://www.laceyrenestudios.com Instagram: @laceyrene.studios

Have you ever walked through a season where God felt silent—only to look back and realize He was working all along?

We'd love to hear your story. Share with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group.

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/

Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If this episode encouraged you, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing powerful, faith-filled stories like Lacey's.

Until next week, friends. 💛

What do you do when you still love Jesus… but church no longer feels safe?

In this heartfelt episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with co-host Briana Gray for a deeply personal conversation about church hurt, healing, and what it looks like to find your way back when church no longer feels safe.

Cherise shares her faith journey—from growing up as a pastor's kid to navigating painful seasons when leadership failures and broken community left her grieving. While her relationship with God was never in question, her relationship with the church was. Through seasons of disappointment, bitterness, and rebuilding, God gently taught her how to separate His heart from human failure.

Together, Cherise and Briana explore what it means to love the church again—not blindly, not naively—but with wisdom, grace, and maturity.

• Growing up in a pastor's home and developing a personal faith

• A pivotal moment of obedience that shaped Cherise's walk with God

• How church hurt impacts community, identity, and trust

• The difference between losing faith in God and losing trust in people

• Why disengaging from church can quietly stall our spiritual growth

• How to rebuild trust in church without ignoring pain

• What to do when church doesn't feel safe anymore

• Learning to love people with grace instead of cynicism

"Your pastor is human. If your faith was built on them instead of God, it will shake."

"Rejection isn't rejection—it's redirection."

"If you stop engaging in community, you stop the forward movement of His purpose in your life."

"God's banner over me is love—even in the valley."

This conversation is for the woman who:

• Has been hurt by church leadership

• Feels hesitant to walk back into a sanctuary

• Loves Jesus but struggles with the institution

• Is tired of carrying bitterness but doesn't know how to let it go

You are not alone. And your story is not over.

Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/

Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

Have you experienced church hurt? What helped you find your way back—or what's holding you back right now?

We would love to hear from you. Send us a message or share your thoughts in our community.

In fourth grade, a single sentence on a playground changed the way Adrienne saw the world—and herself.

In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down with Adrienne (one of our most-loved returning guests) for an honest, faith-centered conversation about what it means to be different, to feel marginalized, and to keep showing up with courage and grace.

Adrienne shares the first time she experienced racism as a child, how subtle microaggressions still show up in adult life, and what it looks like to navigate identity, belonging, and "code switching" in different environments. Together, we talk about the Church's role in acknowledging injustice, listening well, and reflecting Heaven on Earth through unity, humility, and love.

This episode is tender, challenging, and deeply rooted in Scripture. It's an invitation to open our eyes, soften our hearts, and learn how to love better.

• Adrienne's first experience with racism (and how it shaped her sense of belonging)

• Microaggressions in adulthood (including boundaries, dignity, and autonomy)

• What "code switching" is, and why it's exhausting for marginalized people

• Being labeled as "other" even within your own community

• The reality of being treated differently in medical settings and the weight Black women carry

• Why "good intentions" don't erase real harm

• The Church's responsibility to acknowledge injustice and speak up

• What it looks like to listen, learn, and lift others up with humility

• Scriptures that ground Adrienne when conversations feel heavy (Mark 6:11, Titus 3:1–5)

• "Be proud of who you are."

• "Acknowledging the problem is the first part of the solution."

• "When I say you have privilege, I'm not saying you don't struggle."

• Instagram: @[AdrienneHandle]

• Website: [Insert Link]

• Mentioned in the episode: learning resources like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work, James Baldwin, and more

Have you ever realized you didn't fully understand someone's experience until you slowed down and listened?

Reflection question: Where might God be inviting you to grow in compassion, courage, and humility this week?

Share your thoughts with us:

• Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram

• Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community

• Interested in joining The Woman's Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community: https://echosofimpact.vipmembervault.com/home

• Ready for a fresh start? Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana: https://calendly.com/echosofimpact/complimentary-life-audit?month=2024-12

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue creating space for honest conversations that lead to healing, growth, and deeper unity in the Body of Christ.

Until next week, friends. 💛

In today's episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana lean into a question many of us are quietly wrestling with:

How do we follow Jesus without becoming hardened in a culture marked by anger, polarization, and constant noise?

It feels like outrage is everywhere — online, in conversations, even within our own hearts. So what does it actually look like to hold convictions while still leading with compassion? To speak truth without becoming combative? To stay anchored in Christ without mirroring the chaos around us?

This conversation is honest, reflective, and rooted in Scripture. We explore how Jesus modeled both boldness and gentleness, why anger itself isn't the problem, and how our hearts can remain soft in a world that feels increasingly reactive.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Loving people who are angry (and what that really requires)

• Having real relationships with people who believe differently than you

• The difference between restoring a relationship and trying to win an argument

• Why face-to-face conversations matter more than online debates

• What it means to "overcome evil with good"

• How to guard your heart in an outrage-driven culture

Ultimately, this episode brings the focus back where it belongs — our personal walk with Jesus.

Transformation doesn't start "out there." It starts in us.

Where do you feel most tempted to react instead of respond? Or where has God been challenging your heart to stay soft?

Come share with us on Instagram or inside our Facebook community. We love hearing from you.

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/ Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to follow the show and leave a review? Your support helps us continue sharing conversations that point women back to hope, healing, and purpose.

Until next week, friends 💛

What if the place that should have ended your life is the very place God used to save it?

In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Pauline Boyce, a Kansas City mama and grandma whose story is living proof that Jesus is not intimidated by your past.

Pauline shares how a childhood marked by deep trauma led to years of meth addiction, relapse, and ultimately prison — and how God met her there with mercy, truth, and people who refused to give up on her. She opens up about the fear and shame that tried to define her, and the daily surrender that helped her rebuild her life.

Today, Pauline sees her everyday work as ministry. As a DoorDash driver, she asks God to place people in her path — and He does. From quiet moments of grief on someone's driveway to prayers whispered on the side of the road, she reminds us that purpose is not always a platform. Sometimes it is simply loving the person right in front of you.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, addiction, relapse, and prison.

• Why shame keeps people stuck — and how bringing things into the light breaks its power • How prison became a turning point Pauline now calls God's grace • The difference between fear-based thinking and God's truth • What it looks like to depend on God daily, not occasionally • Why purpose is often found in the people God places in your path • How Pauline treats DoorDash like ministry and prays for strangers in real time

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today. And if you haven't already, leaving a review helps more women find these stories of redemption and purpose.

Where do you feel most tempted to root your identity in what you do instead of who you are in Christ?

Come share with us on Instagram or inside our Facebook community.

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/ Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing stories that point women back to hope, healing, and purpose.

Until next week, friends 💛

If you've ever felt like you're crushing it on the outside but spiritually running on empty, this conversation will meet you right where you are. In this inspiring episode of Echos of Impact, Briana Gray sits down with Carole Evans, host of the Faith + Work podcast and Director of IT Support for a cell phone retailer overseeing 800 locations and 7,000 employees, to talk about identity, purpose, and what it looks like to live out your faith in everyday life.

Carole shares what it was like growing up as a pastor's kid, where expectations were high and "feedback" often felt like judgment. Over time, fear of rejection and abandonment led to self-protection, emotional walls, and perfectionism. But God used seasons of motherhood, marriage, and spiritual dryness to gently draw her into a more relational, surrendered faith.

Together, Briana and Carole explore how purpose is less about doing something big and more about being rooted in Christ and loving people well, no matter what role you're in.

• How identity can quietly shift into an idol (especially as we get older)

• Pastor's kid pressure, church hurt, and learning to trust people again

• What self-protection looks like: perfectionism, staying "strong," and keeping relationships surface-level

• What spiritual dryness can look like when you know the Bible but aren't living relationally with God

• The shift from reading Scripture to "find yourself" to reading it to find God

• Ruth as a story of redemption, endurance, and the reminder that nothing is wasted

• Surrendering work, ambition, and self-reliance

• Practical ways to bring Jesus into meetings, emails, leadership, and hard conversations

• "Everyone has a seat at the table" and why we should never limit who God can use

• "People should know that I'm God's disciple by how I love them where they're at."

• "Sometimes we think if something is hard, maybe that's God telling us we shouldn't do it."

• "Kindness doesn't mean we don't have accountability."

• "Nothing is wasted in the hands of God."

• Website: www.caroleevansministries.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithandworkpodcast/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553997307693

• Faith + Work on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-work/id1827509182

Where do you feel most tempted to root your identity in what you do instead of who you are in Christ? Come share with us on Instagram or inside our Facebook community.

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/ Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing stories that point women back to hope, healing, and purpose. Until next week, friends! 💛

What if the pain you wish away is the very place God is doing His deepest work?

In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down with Lindsey Lavender, founder of Live On Mission Ministry, to talk about suffering, faith, and trusting God when life does not make sense.

Lindsey shares her story of a life-altering accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, chronic illness, and years of recovery. Through it all, she has learned to hold tightly to the truth that suffering is never wasted when it is placed in God's hands.

With honesty and humility, Lindsey invites us into a tension so many of us live in. Believing God is good while still hurting deeply. Trusting Him even when healing looks different than expected.

This conversation does not rush to explain pain. Instead, it gently reminds us that God is present, faithful, and worthy of praise in every season.

What We Cover:

• Lindsey's faith journey and the accident that changed her life

• Walking through grief, loss, and suffering with honesty before God

• Why following Jesus does not promise an easy life

• Trusting God when miracles do not come the way we hope

• What it means to live on mission even in weakness

• How God uses suffering for His glory and our growth

Key Quotes: "Miracle or not, He is worthy." "Suffering is never wasted with God."

Connect with Lindsey Lavender:

Live On Mission Ministry Website https://liveonmissionministry.com/

Follow Live On Mission on Instagram @liveonmissionministry

Follow Lindsey on Instagram @lindseyleelavender2024

Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1Z6JC2gqZp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Listen to the Live On Mission Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SY1Hpei3PsjjJfMqLrnLN?si=3gD9dOqgSwiofYcX9Kpe-A

Subscribe on YouTube https://youtube.com/@liveonmissionministry?si=ousQXKfpylmbXcC5

Join the Conversation:

How has God met you in a season of suffering? We would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or inside our Facebook community.

Follow us on Instagram Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/

Join our Facebook Group Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

Final Notes:

If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing stories that point hearts back to God's faithfulness.

Until next week, friends 💛

What if God isn't asking you to give something up because it's bad, but because He's offering something better?

In this reflective and honest episode of Echoes of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down for a heart-to-heart conversation to welcome a new year and explore what it looks like to listen closely when God invites us into something deeper. Together, they talk about words for the year, identity, obedience, and the quiet ways God confirms His direction in our lives.

Briana shares her journey of giving up alcohol for six months—not out of shame or obligation, but out of obedience—and what God revealed to her through that season. Cherise reflects on the vision God gave her for the year ahead and how Scripture, confirmation, and everyday rhythms have shaped her sense of renewal and hope.

Together, Briana and Cherise explore what it means to surrender something that may be good in order to receive something better, and how faithfulness often unfolds one small, intentional step at a time.

• Choosing a word for the year and allowing it to unfold prayerfully

• How God confirms His invitations through Scripture, repetition, and timing

• Briana's experience giving up alcohol for a season and what it revealed spiritually, emotionally, and relationally

• The difference between something enhancing what's already good versus becoming a way to cope

• Identity, obedience, and trusting God with both public and private decisions

• Encouragement for anyone sensing God's nudge to pause, surrender, or listen more closely

"Sometimes God isn't asking you to give something up because it's bad, but because He's offering something better." "You don't really see what something has become until you stop."

Have you ever felt God invite you into something deeper—even when what you had felt good or familiar? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation with us on Instagram or in our Facebook community.

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/ Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

Interested in joining The Woman's Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community here: https://echosofimpact.vipmembervault.com/home

Ready for a fresh start? Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana: https://calendly.com/echosofimpact/complimentary-life-audit?month=2024-12

If this episode encouraged you, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing honest, faith-filled conversations that point people back to God's voice and direction.

Until next week, friends. 💛