Jesus Over Everything

By Lisa Whittle: Author, Speaker, Founder of Lisa Whittle Ministries, LLCSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Personal Journals

Jesus Over Everything episodes

October 21 Sekou Browne on Gender Imbalance in the Church, Bad Advice for Singles, and Why We Need More Spiritual Mothers
What is the church missing when it comes to singleness, and what would it actually look like to get it right? In this episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle sits down with storyteller, singles ministry advocate, and author Sekou Browne for one of the most honest and needed conversations about dating and singleness in the church. Sekou unpacks why physical and relational chemistry is not unspiritual, what the gender imbalance in the church is doing to single men and women, why telling singles to “just stop looking” is bad theology, and what the church could learn from Ruth and Naomi about showing up for the people who want to be married. Whether you are single, married with single friends, or a church leader trying to figure out how to serve your congregation well, this conversation will both challenge and encourage you.

Listen in to learn more:
(01:41) Why married people are more out of touch with dating in 2026 than they realize
(04:42) Why chemistry (physical and relational) is not unspiritual and why it matters for a lasting marriage
(11:25) The things we say to single people: well-meaning, but are they helpful or harmful?
(15:22) What singles actually need and why presence matters more than answers
(18:00) How social media has fundamentally changed how we date and how we see ourselves
(21:50) FOMO and the lie that unlimited options are actually out there
(22:37) Why single women are quietly leaving the church (and what’s driving it)
(26:10) Does celebrating marriage have to mean neglecting singles? How to hold both well
(29:46) What the story of Ruth and Naomi teaches us about building a connection culture in the church
(36:31) Why singles are going to therapists and coaches instead of the church
(38:10) What church leaders need to understand about long-term singleness
(40:29) Sekou’s last word on Jesus

Mentioned in the Episode:
Novel — Coming Up Short by Sekou Browne: https://www.sekoubrowne.com/books
One-on-One Coaching with Lisa: https://www.lisawhittle.com/coaching-with-lisa
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking

Connect with Sekou Browne:
Website: https://www.sekoubrowne.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koubrowne/?hl=en
Substack: https://yokednewsletter.substack.com/
Join the Coming Up Short Early Reader Team: https://www.sekoubrowne.com/coming-up-short-reader-team
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
43 min
October 14 Annie F. Downs on Modern Dating, Dreaming Again, and Getting Out of Your Own Way
The Jesus Over Everything podcast exists for one reason: honest, unhurried conversations about what it actually looks like to put Jesus first: in your relationships, your doubts, your big questions, and the ordinary and complicated moments of everyday life. This brand new season brings more of exactly that. More real talk. More wisdom from people who have lived it. More of the conversations you didn’t know you needed until you were twenty minutes in and couldn’t stop listening.
Kicking off the season is one of Lisa’s oldest and most beloved podcast guests: Annie F. Downs, who Lisa credits as her very first interview on Jesus Over Everything. A lot has changed since then. Annie just got engaged, is about to share a home for the first time, and has written a book about the very thing she spent decades living: what happens when you stop letting fear, regret, and the voice of “I can’t” make decisions for you.
This conversation goes everywhere, and all of it is worth it.
Listen in to learn more:
(01:32) Giving ourselves permission to be amateurs and extending grace to others
(06:34) Getting married won’t solve all your problems and what Annie discovered about falling in love at 46
(08:08) Do we underestimate the choice of marriage?
(11:46) What we don’t understand about dating in 2026
(15:13) How married friends can better support the single people in their lives
(20:00) How do we respond responsibly to regret without letting it define us?
(25:36) Why hope is crucial to keep dreaming
(30:19) The practicality of dreams: how to tell painful truth in loving ways
(36:50) Crucial questions to ask ourselves about how we hide our bodies
(39:05) Do we suffer from “Christian martyrdom syndrome?”
(41:02) The privileged conversation, and why boldness is still the call
(44:31) Annie’s last word: is Jesus worth it?

Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — Don’t Let That Hold You Back by Annie F. Downs: https://www.anniefdowns.com/dont-let-that-hold-you-back
Book — God Knows by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking

Connect with Annie F. Downs:
Website: anniefdowns.com
Instagram: instagram.com/anniefdowns ; instagram.com/thatsoundsfunpodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/anniefdowns
X: x.com/anniefdowns
YouTube: youtube.com/@AnnieFDownsTSF
TikTok: tiktok.com/@anniefdownstsf
Podcasts: That Sounds Fun ; Let’s Read the Gospels ; Annie's miniBFF Podcast
TV Show: I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs
Online Community: Single Purpose League
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
48 min
August 26Summer Reset: REPLAY // Lisa Bevere on Being Misunderstood
What do you do when your voice is misunderstood, or when the pressure to stay silent feels louder than the call to speak? In this final episode of the Jesus Over Everything Summer Reset series, Lisa Whittle sits down with New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and self-described "fire-breathing preacher" Lisa Bevere for a conversation that is as timely as it is convicting. From a major cross-country move to going gray to navigating the tension between the fear of man and the fear of God, Lisa Bevere speaks with the hard-won clarity of a woman who has learned to hold fast to what is true when culture makes that costly. Rooted in Matthew 10 and a sobering William Booth quote from the founding of the Salvation Army, this conversation is essential listening for anyone who has ever felt the pressure to shrink, go quiet, or wonder whether their voice still matters.
Listen in to learn more:
(01:00) Lisa Bevere shares about the morning she thought she had blown up her life
(03:22) Why proximity and community matter more than ever
(05:13) Going gray, aging on camera, and why Lisa Bevere is unapologetic
(08:12) Why Lisa Bevere started saying no to invitations
(20:00) What it means to be misunderstood and why it’s more common than we admit
(35:00) What it looks like to refuse to be bluffed into silence
(47:37) What Bible verse Lisa Bevere is clinging to right now
(49:00) William Booth's warning for the 20th century
(50:37) Lisa Bevere's last word on Jesus
Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — God Knows by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows

Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Lisa Bevere:
Website: https://lisabevere.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabevere

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabevere

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcl4TqG6bsnhapQNlYfziCg
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
46 min
August 19Summer Reset: REPLAY // Stereotypes and Other Unhelpful Assumptions
How do we honor people well who aren't living our same reality? In this Summer Reset episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle takes on the assumptions, stereotypes, and casual phrases that quietly communicate to single people in the church that their life is somehow less complete, and to married people that everyone shares their experience. From the well-meaning Instagram post telling single friends to "get yourself a husband who..." to the thoughtless question asking parents if they're planning more children, Lisa makes the case that we are far more self-absorbed in our conversations than we realize, and that the church can and should do better. Rooted in Matthew 28:19 and a clear-eyed look at what our highest call actually is, this episode is for the single person who has felt unseen, the married person who didn't realize how they were landing, and anyone who wants to love the people around them with more intention.
Listen in to learn more:
What the Bible actually says about singleness, marriage, and our highest call as human beings

Why Matthew 28:19 levels the playing field, and what that means for how we see each other

The assumptions married people make without realizing it (and why they land the way they do)

The assumptions single people carry too (and the stereotypes that go both directions)

An example from Lisa's personal life and why presumptive conversations are more painful than we think

A challenge to align our hearts with the mind of Christ
Mentioned in the Episode:
Episode — Maddie Pruitt on Dating and Marriage: https://www.lisawhittle.com/joeshow/joe-s10e15

Book — God Knows by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows

Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
11 min
August 12Summer Reset: REPLAY // Susie Larson on Redeeming Your Story
What does it mean to truly draw near to God? Not as a method or a spiritual technique, but as a settled confidence in who he is and how he feels about you? In this Summer Reset episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle sits down with author, speaker, and renowned radio host Susie Larson for a conversation rooted in Susie's book, Closer Than Your Next Breath. Susie draws on the story of the Israelites, brain science, her own 30-year battle with chronic illness, and the transforming power of pondering God's love to make the case that the presence of God is not a feeling to chase. It is a reality to inhabit. For anyone navigating hard circumstances, carrying the weight of a complicated story, or wondering whether their prayers are reaching God's ears, this conversation is a reminder that goodness is coming, and that a settled heart will know it when it arrives.

Listen in to learn more:
(05:47) Will we recognize an answer to prayer when it comes?

(07:13) What to do while you wait.

(12:00) Susie's 30-year battle with chronic illness and what it taught her about the presence of God.

(18:00) Why the presence of God isn't a feeling to chase.

(25:00) How to build a redemptive narrative at the exact moment a lie is vying for position

(32:00) Brain damage, limbic rewiring, and what Susie did to reroute her own neural pathways.

(39:55) A 30-day challenge that will change your brain structure, your faith, and your whole physiology.

(40:23) Between "big" encounters, how you can experience the love of God.

(42:02) Susie's last word: What God thinks about you and why no one can change his mind.

Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — Closer Than Your Next Breath by Susie Larson: https://www.susielarson.com/closerthanyournextbreath

Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking

Connect with Susie Larson:
Website: https://www.susielarson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susielarsonauthor

Radio Show: https://www.susielarson.com/susielarsonlive
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
45 min
August 05Summer Reset: REPLAY // The Truth About Generational Sin
You may have heard it said: "Jesus may be in your heart, but grandpa is in your bones." It's a statement that captures something real about family history and its hold on us, but is it actually true? And is it biblical? In this Summer Reset episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle takes on one of the most talked-about and least-understood topics in Christian culture: generational sin. Drawing from personal Bible study, scientific research on epigenetic inheritance, and her own family history, Lisa unpacks what the Bible actually says (and doesn't say) about generational sin, what we have the power to change, and why the blood of Jesus is a stronger force than any family bloodline.
Listen in to learn more:
The Pete Scazzaro statement Lisa “partly” agrees with

What "generational sin" actually means and why the term doesn't appear in the Bible

Epigenetic inheritance: the science on stress, trauma, and DNA being passed down

The difference between inheriting patterns through proximity and inheriting sin through a bloodstream

What we do have the power to change (and what only Jesus can do)
Mentioned in the Episode:
Bible Study – God Knows by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows
Book – Good Baggage by Ike Miller: https://ikemiller.com/good-baggage
Episode – Ike Miller on Good Baggage: https://www.lisawhittle.com/joeshow/joe-s10e17
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
15 min
July 29 Summer Reset: REPLAY // Candace Cameron Bure Podcast: Why Can’t I Feel Free in My Body?
What if the missing piece in every body conversation you've ever had wasn't a new program, a better routine, or the right expert, but a theological foundation you never knew you were missing? In this special Summer Reset episode of the Jesus Over Everything podcast, we're sharing something a little different: a conversation that was so good, we had to bring it here. This is the premiere episode of Season 11 of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, where Lisa co-hosted alongside Candace for a full season dedicated to body, soul, and faith. In it, Lisa introduces the concept of whole body theology: a biblical framework that reframes how we see ourselves not as projects to fix, but as whole persons created for God's glory. Both women get vulnerable about their own long and complicated histories with body image and disordered eating, the exhaustion of conflicting health information, and what it actually looks like when the Word of God becomes the foundation, not just another tool in the stack. If you've ever felt exhausted by the endless cycle of health information, or wondered why knowing better has never quite been enough, this conversation is for you. And if this episode resonates, the full season is waiting. Check out all 12 episodes on YouTube!
Listen in to learn more:
(08:41) Why Candace chose this theme, and the viral moment that started it all
(11:36) How Lisa's Body and Soul Bible study came to be and what it changed for her personally
(17:28) Lisa and Candace get vulnerable: their body stories, eating disorder history, and what shame taught them about themselves
(25:44) The exhaustion of diet culture, conflicting expert advice, and the needle that never stops moving
(31:15) The one kind of rest we're all craving (and why it isn't sleep)
(33:55) What is whole body theology?
(39:05) The glorious exchange: what Christ's incarnation has to do with how you see your body
(40:56) Listener questions: skincare, motivation to move, and practical starting points

Mentioned in the Episode:
Bible Study — Body and Soul by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/body
The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, Season 11 (full season): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXPIFDUXHLUnAVeI8Frzg-T8zKnExvPL1
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Get the Whole Body Guide: https://www.lisawhittle.com/body-tips

Connect with Candace Cameron Bure:
Website: https://candacecbure.com
Instagram: @candacecbure
The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast Website: https://ccbpodcast.com
Podcast Instagram: @candacecameronburepodcast
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
46 min
July 22Summer Reset: REPLAY // Self-Care or Self-Obsessed?
Is self-care selfish or is neglecting yourself the real problem? Continuing the Summer Reset series on the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle tackles one of the most loaded terms in modern culture and offers a distinction that changes everything: it's not whether you practice self-care, it's what the end goal of your self-care actually is. Lisa answers listener questions directly – including her personal take on Botox, lip injections, hair extensions, and eyelash enhancements – before getting to the heart of what she really wants to talk about: four red flags that signal self-care has crossed into self-obsession, and what it looks like when a Jesus follower takes care of herself for the right reasons.
Listen in to learn more:
Why Lisa's opinions about aging and appearance have shifted since her 30s

Listener questions answered: Botox, lip injections, hair extensions, eyelash enhancements: where does Lisa land?

The cultural pressure on women to pursue enhancements

Why self-care is not a bad word

The one question that separates godly self-care from self-obsession

Four red flags that self-care has become self-obsession

What it looks like to care for yourself in a way that gives you longevity to serve Jesus for the long haul
Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — Jesus Over Everything by Lisa Whittle: https://www.lisawhittle.com/joe
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
19 min
July 15 Summer Reset: REPLAY // Alisa Keeton on Experiencing a Body Revelation
Continuing the Summer Reset series on resetting your body, this conversation picks up where the last episode left off – not with behavior modification, but with the deeper question underneath it all: How do we actually see ourselves, and where did that story come from? Alisa Keeton has spent 35 years at the intersection of faith and wellness, and what she brings to this conversation isn't a program, it's a framework. Alisa unpacks the way chronic stress rewires the brain, the way childhood shame messages shape our relationship with food, and the way the body was designed not to be worshiped or punished. Lisa brings her own story to the conversation as well, including what God showed her about neglecting the body while serving Him with everything else. If you’re looking for a spiritually grounded, scientifically informed path toward genuine freedom in the body, this episode is for you!
Please note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders and body image. It is not recommended for young or developing children.
Listen in to learn more:
(02:15) Alisa's vertigo wake-up call: what chronic stress does to the body
(07:39) What God has been showing Lisa about years of neglecting her body for ministry
(09:32) Why body, mind, and spirit can't be compartmentalized
(10:40) The neuroscience of chronic stress and what it means for your faith
(26:15) The price the next generation is watching us pay
(31:25) Childhood shame and food: how innocent messages become lifelong patterns
(35:42) How to “break up” with what you think your body should look like
(40:52) Alisa's last word: your body is for ability, not vanity
Mentioned in the Episode:
Book — The Body Revelation by Alisa Keeton: https://www.revelationwellness.org/TBR/
Revelation Wellness (programs + community): https://www.revelationwellness.org
Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Alisa Keeton:
Website: https://alisakeeton.com
Revelation Wellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelationwellness
Revelation Wellness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revelationwell
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
39 min
July 08Summer Reset: REPLAY // Breaking Up with Disordered Eating
What do you see when you look in the mirror, and what story have you been telling yourself about your body? Continuing the Summer Reset series on the Jesus Over Everything podcast, Lisa Whittle steps into one of the most personal conversations she has ever had on the show, drawing from her own experience with disordered eating to offer a spiritual perspective on what it means to pursue genuine freedom in the body. Speaking not as a clinician but as a Bible teacher, Lisa identifies two specific ways we stay stuck, and the one question from John 5 that cuts to the heart of it all.
Please note: this episode contains a trigger warning for eating disorder content, including specific discussion of behaviors. It is not recommended for young or developing children.
Listen in to learn more:
A song called "Skinny," and why it stopped Lisa in her tracks

What disordered eating actually is and why so many are quietly living with the lie of it

Breaking up with the lie of disordered eating

Breaking up with exchanging one unhealthy habit for another

John 5 and the life-changing question Jesus asks

Why freedom starts with telling the full truth to yourself and to someone else

A word for anyone who feels too far gone
Mentioned in the Episode:
Song — Skinny by Emmy Russell: https://youtu.be/QGCmjl8k6TE?si=BiRBv7mxk3delZuV

Book — The Hard Good: https://www.lisawhittle.com/good

Book — Jesus Over Everything: https://www.lisawhittle.com/joe

Book — God Knows: https://www.lisawhittle.com/godknows

Invite Lisa to Speak: https://www.lisawhittle.com/speaking
Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.lisawhittle.com
Substack: https://letsbeclear.substack.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lisawhittleofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawhittle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisawhittleofficial
12 min

About Jesus Over Everything

From the publisher's feed

In the Jesus Over Everything podcast, best-selling author and speaker Lisa Whittle provides listeners with on-the-go encouragement, Bible teaching, dynamic guest interviews, and practical how-tos for…