I Am M.U.C.H. Woman

In the Season 1 finale of I Am MUCH Woman, CortneyJo is joined by Clarissa Buckley, Taleen Dunlap, and Shawna Martinez for a heartfelt conversation on authentic friendship. They explore what it means to be fully seen, accepted, and loved, without performing. Through stories of faith, growth, and shared experiences, the women reflect on letting go of the need to fix others, honoring personal capacity, and showing up with honesty and grace. Together, they embody what it means to be a MUCH Woman in friendship: measured, unafraid, captivating, and heroic. Their message is clear, real friendship is ministry.

Show Notes:

(3:12) Clarissa, Taleen, and Shawna’s thoughts on the episode title

(11:20) How CortneyJo’s guests have learned to stop performing in friendships and be themselves

(19:41) Clarissa’s experience of having a hard conversation that changed her for the better

(22:36) How to know when you don’t have the capacity for a friendship, and how to honor that

(33:25) Do we always have to relate to what others are going through?

 (39:12) The importance of realizing that you’re not always going to get it right

(41:04) What being a MUCH Woman means for CortneyJo’s guests

(48:10) Closing thoughts

Host CortneyJo sits down with her "friendgirls" Dr. Jill Zambito and Dr. Jada Russell for an intimate lunchtime conversation about the essential practices of pausing, healing, and resetting. These three colleagues from the University of Tennessee share personal stories and practical wisdom about why self-care isn't a luxury, it's necessary for sustainable living.

Show Highlights:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:46 Meet My Friends: Dr. Jills and Dr. Jada Russell

02:25 The Importance of Pausing

03:10 Personal Stories of Pausing

12:58 Recognizing When You're on Empty

17:53 Physical Wellness and Healing

25:45 Yoga and Roller Skating Adventures

26:52 Finding Your Thing

27:04 The Concept of Grace and Self-Care

28:48 Spiritual Connection and Personal Growth

30:21 Embracing the Pause and Celebrating Rest

34:09 Audience Questions and Caregiving Advice

43:52 Supporting Self-Care in Relationships

47:30 Final Thoughts and Blessings

CortneyJo sits down with her dear friend and neighbor, Emily Savard, for a conversation on faith, health, and healing on this episode of the I am MUCH Woman podcast. Emily shares her journey from postpartum depression and feeling dismissed by doctors to reclaiming her wellness through small, consistent steps. With a background in public health and a passion for helping others, she now leads a vibrant women’s fitness community grounded in faith, accountability, and joy. Together, CortneyJo and Emily explore self-care, body image, and the power of showing up for yourself and for others with honesty, compassion, and intention.

Show Highlights
(2:58) Why Emily didn’t develop body image issues until after her first child

(11:18) How she got started on her health improvement journey

(18:40) How Emily was impacted by her first fitness challenge

(22:39) What her fitness routine and lifestyle look like today 

(27:08) How working out brought Emily closer to God

(35:19) Why spiritual balance is so important for Emily’s journey

(37:36) What fitness has taught her about sisterhood and jealousy

(44:01) How being a MUCH Woman relates to health, fitness, and nutrition

(47:12) Emily’s encouragement for women struggling to get started

(53:10) Testimonials from women about how Emily has helped them

Links Referenced

• Emily’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alejandra.savard.1/
• Emily’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilysavard90/
• Emily’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-savard-512205142/
• Emily’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilysavard90
• Emily’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emilysavard90

CortneyJo welcomes back her dear friend Cat Samuel to share her inspiring journey of faith and identity. After achieving her dream of attending the University of Michigan with the Gates Millennium Scholarship, Cat’s life took unexpected turns through heartbreak, loss, and seasons of instability. A powerful encounter with God shifted her view from distant Creator to personal Lord, leading her to Missouri, then North Carolina, where true community and discipleship reshaped her faith. Today, Cat shares how moving from performance to surrender, embracing spiritual disciplines, and trusting God’s slow, steady work has transformed her life for His glory.

Show Highlights
(3:03) The early days of Cat’s faith and identity journey

(6:22) How Cat got everything she wanted, but then it all changed

(12:08) Going from seeing God as a distant creator to personal Lord

(19:43) Cat’s move to North Carolina following a stormy season of life

(22:31) Her stormy season of life continues

(30:39) The role that community played in Cat’s healing and growth 

(36:46) What she would say to women who feel caught in performance

(44:01) What being a M.U.C.H. Woman means for Cat today

Links Referenced

• Celebration of Discipline: https://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Path-Spiritual-Growth/dp/1596444541 

CortneyJo takes the guest seat in this episode of the I Am M.U.C.H. Woman Podcast. With Cat Samuel stepping in as host, they explore CJ’s journey of faith, healing, and the origins of M.U.C.H. Woman Ministries. She reflects on past struggles, how Luke 12:48 shaped her path, and the transformation she’s experienced over the years. Through challenges, CortneyJo has deepened her faith, leaning on therapy, scripture, and personal growth. Now, she embraces her identity as a leader, mother, and ministry founder. 

Show Highlights
(2:59) How the I Am M.U.C.H. Woman podcast came to life

(8:26) What life has looked like for CortneyJo on her three-year journey of healing and growth

(16:07) CortneyJo’s current views on relationships

(20:24) How CortneyJo’s relationship with the Lord has evolved over time

(25:12) How she’d answer the question “Who is CJ?” today

(28:37) Where the podcast is heading in the future

(33:27) What being a M.U.C.H. woman means for CortneyJo 

On this episode of the I Am M.U.C.H. Woman, CortneyJo welcomes her therapist, Dr. Brian Humphreys on the show to discuss her journey and the importance of seeking out counseling. A clinical psychologist with 30+ years of experience, Brian shares his passion for grief therapy and supporting millennials. CortneyJo reflects on her personal growth, crediting Brian’s patient, supportive approach for helping her navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and faith. They discuss the importance of finding the right therapist, the M.U.C.H. Woman ethos, and how curiosity—not shame—drives transformation. 

Show Highlights
(1:27) How Brian and CortneyJo met

(3:05) Why Dr. Brian Humphreys enjoys working with millennials

(7:12) Dr. Humphrey’s approach to psychologist

(11:31) How Brian was able to gently help CortneyJo course-correct

(16:46) Changes Dr. Brian Humphreys has seen in CortneyJo

(21:22) CortneyJo’s experience with a therapist before Dr. Humphreys

(26:02) What being a MUCH Woman means for Brian

(34:41) How the women in Dr. Brian Humphrey’s life embody the MUCH Woman

Links Referenced

• Romans 2:4 - “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Romans%202%3A4 
• Dr. Brian Humphrey’s appearance on
  Second Half Stewardship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x65GoNwNuaQ
• Dr. Brian Humphrey’s contact information https://www.christiancounselorsnetwork.com/counselor/4233/ 

In this heartfelt episode, host CortneyJo welcomes her dear friends and spiritual mentors, Don and Cheryl Gibson, to share their inspiring story of nearly 50 years of faith, love, and resilience. Don reflects on overcoming family struggles, feeling called to ministry at 14, and witnessing his father’s salvation. Cheryl shares about her Christian upbringing and their fateful meeting at a youth camp in 1976. Married eight months later, they built a life rooted in teamwork, ministry, and devotion. From navigating early challenges to overcoming a life-changing accident, the Gibsons’ journey exemplifies God’s grace, mutual respect, and unwavering commitment to Christ and one another.

Episode Highlights:
(2:44) Don’s story

(6:53) Cheryl’s background

(8:18) How Don and Cheryl met and eventually got married

(17:47) What led the Gibsons to pursue full-time ministry

(20:53) How they’ve maintained faithfulness through challenging times

(25:37) The importance of seeking insight from others

(30:20) How Cheryl and Don’s relationship changed after a motorcycle accident

(37:50) What being a MUCH woman means for Cheryl

(41:15) What it’s like for Don being married to a MUCH woman

Celisse Lambert joins the I Am MUCH Woman podcast to share her journey from law to ministry, following God’s call in 2021. She discusses the stages of spiritual growth—knowledge, belief, trust, and surrender—and how each builds upon the other. Celisse opens up about overcoming fear and doubt, especially during financial uncertainty, trusting God’s timing instead of relying on her own plans. She explains how she discerns God’s voice through prayer, dreams, and inner knowing, stressing the importance of staying grounded in Scripture and community. Celisse concludes with a powerful reflection on being a MUCH Woman, living fully surrendered to God.

Episode Highlights
(0:57) Celisse’s background

(3:31) How Celisse discerned God’s call to full-time ministry

(9:13) What it was like to trust in God without a backup plan

(12:45) Celisse’s battles with doubt

(17:32) How Celisse feels being in alignment with God’s will for her life

(19:10) How Celisse was able to discern the voice of God

(21:28) The importance of seeking wise counsel

(25:28) How Celisse discerns feelings of peace

(27:33) Celisse’s thoughts on being a MUCH Woman

(30:14) How to connect with Celisse

Knoxville-based clinical psychologist Dr. Janetta Jamerson, aka Dr. JJ, joins the I Am M.U.C.H. Woman podcast for an empowering discussion on breaking unhealthy relationship cycles, embracing emotions, and reclaiming personal agency. Dr. JJ likens growth to mastering video game levels, where confidence and skills build with each challenge. She and CortneyJo explore aligning with God’s inherent goodness, balancing hope, faith, and fantasy, and grieving unrealistic expectations to find freedom. Dr. JJ emphasizes making choices with courage, even amid fear, while CortneyJo shares her journey of “doing it afraid,” inspiring women to grow with authenticity and faith.

Episode Highlights:
(1:34) What typically leads us into unhealthy cycles

(3:10) How we know what’s right for us

(4:49) Thinking of life like a video game 

(6:30) Developing confidence in who Christ made us to be

(8:59) How hope can get you stuck in unhealthy cycles

(10:05) The difference between having faith and fantasy

(14:26) How to free yourself from situations that are not going to work out

(16:41) What it means to Dr. JJ to be a M.U.C.H. Woman

(18:42) Where to find Dr. JJ’s old videos

Links Referenced

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJJ1

CortneyJo is joined by friends Tamika, Cat, and Mya—all University of Missouri alumni—to share the blessings of 20+ years of faith-centered friendship. Reflecting on their spiritual journeys, each woman discusses her unique path: Tamika’s Diary of a Kingdom Mom newsletter, Cat’s missionary work with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Mya’s role as a school principal and entrepreneur. Together, they embody the MUCH Woman values: being Measured, Unafraid, Captivating, and Heroic. Their heartfelt conversation explores the strength, encouragement, and growth that come from godly friendships, emphasizing the joy of community and the power of mutual spiritual support.

Episode Highlights:
(1:18) Why Tamika, Cat, and Mya are still rockin’ with Jesus after 20 years

(9:58) Tamika’s reasons for choosing Cat, Mya, and CortneyJo as her bridesmaids

(14:03) Cat, Mya, and CortneyJo’s memories of that time in their lives

(17:46) How having faith-filled friendgirls has encouragd each woman on her journey

(26:27) What it mean to them to be MUCH Women

(36:15) CortneyJo’s perspective on her friends’ responses

(38:21) How to keep up with Tamika, Cat, and Mya 

Links Referenced

• Diary of a Kingdom Mom: https://diaryofakingdommom.substack.com/ 
• Mod Missions: https://www.modmissions.com 
• Faith Walk Academy: https://www.faithwalkacademy.org 
• Mya’s Gourmet Popcorn: https://www.myaspopcorn.com/ 
• Faith Walk Academy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FaithWalkAcademy/ 

Connect with the Podcast:
Website: https://www.muchwoman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_muchwoman/