Ep 143 // What If Your Most Fruitful Years Are Still Ahead? Walking with Giants in the Harvest Season of Life with Author Lori Melton

What if midlife isn’t the end of your calling—but the ripest part of your story?

In this heartfelt and hope-filled conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with author and spiritual director Lori G. Melton, co-founder of The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center. Together they talk about what it means to slow down, listen for God’s voice, and live fruitfully in every season—especially the “harvest years” of midlife.

Lori shares how her new book Journey with a Giant was born out of her own empty-nest transition and a longing to walk with God more intimately. She introduces the beautiful practice of learning from the “great cloud of witnesses”—spiritual giants who’ve gone before us—and how their faith can guide our steps today.

If you’re a woman wondering what’s next, craving deeper connection with God, or longing to see purpose in this new chapter, this conversation will remind you: the best fruit may still be growing in you.

• You’re Not Done Yet: Midlife isn’t a winding down; it’s a harvest season filled with wisdom and impact.
• Learn from the Great Cloud of Witnesses: Discover how studying faithful believers from history can strengthen your own walk with God.
• The Power of Spiritual Direction: Why sacred listening helps you discern God’s “new thing” in your life.
• Create Space for Stillness: How solitude and “Days Alone with God” can rekindle intimacy with the Father.
• Fruitfulness Requires Pace: Learning to walk—not run—with God brings more lasting impact than constant productivity.

What might it look like for you to slow down, listen for God’s voice, and see this next chapter as your most fruitful yet?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!
• Looking for a holiday devotional? Check out Untangled Advent here!

• Website: lorigmelton.com
• Book: Journey with a Giant – Learn how to walk with the faithful witnesses who’ve gone before you
• Podcast: The Sanctuary Stirrings (featuring the Journey with a Giant series)
• Facebook: Lori G. Melton

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Ep 142 // How to Understand Scripture (and Love It Again) with Seminarian Monica Ritchie

Have you ever opened your Bible and thought, “I should love this more than I do”? You want to hear God’s voice, but the words feel confusing, repetitive, or even distant. You long to experience Scripture the way others describe it—alive, personal, and powerful—but you’re not sure how to get there. If that’s you, this conversation will feel like a deep breath.

In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with author, podcaster, and theologian Monica Ritchie to talk about what happens when you accept God’s invitation to go deeper.

Monica shares how seminary took her faith “from black and white to full color,” and how learning to read Scripture with context, curiosity, and humility can completely transform the way you relate to God. Together, Megan and Monica unpack how theology becomes embodied in our everyday lives—and how a more accurate understanding of the Bible leads to greater intimacy, not just information.

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for decades or are just rediscovering your faith, this episode will give you practical tools and spiritual encouragement to fall in love with God’s Word all over again.

• Faith in Color: When you learn to read Scripture deeply, your faith becomes vibrant, not formulaic.
• Hearing God’s Invitation: God’s leading often feels like an impression or invitation, not a loud command.
• Theology in Real Life: What you believe about God shapes how you love, lead, and live—it’s not just head knowledge.
• Permission to Slow Down: You don’t need to “finish” your Bible reading plan; you need to linger with God.
• Read with Curiosity: You can honor God’s Word by asking questions, studying context, and inviting the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth.

Where might God be inviting you to slow down and see His Word with fresh eyes?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

• Website: MonicaRitchie.com → Download her free Read Your Bible Better guide.
• Instagram: @itsmonicaritchie
• Podcast: Theologically Fashioned
• Upcoming Book: Fashioned by Faith (Releasing August 2026)

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Ep 141 // Is Hearing God the Ultimate Growth Tool? Business Strategist Bryan Harris Says, Yes!

What would shift in your life and business if you truly believed God speaks—and that He wants to guide you in real, practical ways?

In this powerful conversation, Megan sits down with Bryan Harris, founder of Growth Tools, to talk about his journey from pragmatic marketer to Kingdom entrepreneur who has learned to listen to God’s voice in every area of life. From healing prayers at his kitchen table to business breakthroughs that defied logic, Bryan shares candid stories of how God turned his “whiteboard strategies” upside down—and why hearing from God is the ultimate growth tool.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God still speaks today—or how to discern His voice in the midst of daily decisions—you’ll walk away with fresh hope, practical frameworks, and an invitation to deeper relationship with Him.

• God still speaks—and He wants to guide you. Bryan discovered that asking God simple questions opened the door to profound transformation.
• Your biggest business breakthrough may look illogical. When Bryan took a sabbatical during a tough revenue season, God multiplied results beyond what his team thought possible.
• Hearing God’s voice isn’t just about strategy—it’s about relationship. God’s primary goal is time with us and teaching us to trust Him.
• Discernment happens best in community. Inviting others into the process helps filter God’s voice from personal bias or confusion.
• Everyone can hear God. The key is creating space, listening without filters, and testing what you hear through Scripture and godly community.

• “If that’s true—that you can ask God a question and He will answer—it should be on the front of the brochure when you walk into church.”
• “God’s number one optimization point is relationship with us—time together and talking together.”
• “You can’t listen to God, follow Him, and end in death. It is impossible.”
• “Our job isn’t to decide what’s good and bad—it’s to listen, obey, and trust the One who does know.”

Where in your life or business are you relying more on your own whiteboard strategies than on God’s voice? What might shift if you paused, listened, and trusted His leading instead?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website:meganbnilsen.com
• Social:Instagram,Facebook,LinkedIn
• Grab the Book:Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift:30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery callto see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Website: growthtools.com – Get 7 days of free coaching and learn how to build high-ticket coaching offers while listening to God in the process.

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Ep 140 // What Does God’s Impartial Love Really Mean—and How Do We Live It Out? With Bible Teacher Oghosa Iyamu

In this powerful conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with Bible teacher and author Oghosa Iyamu to unpack what Scripture means when it says God’s love is impartial. Together they explore why impartial love matters in a culture driven by comparison, comfort, and competition—and how embracing it can transform your faith, relationships, and daily obedience.

• God’s Impartial Love Defined – Oghosa explains the difference between God’s impartiality (He doesn’t judge by outward status) and His impartial love (His radical hospitality that welcomes the undeserving through Christ).
• Small Acts of Bold Faith – Faithfulness isn’t only about big leaps like moving across the country; it’s about everyday obedience, like posting a vulnerable message or showing up when it feels uncomfortable.
• Breaking Comparison Traps – Both Megan and Oghosa share their struggles with hiding behind others’ ministries and the courage to step forward in their own God-given calling.
• Comfort, Competencies, and Comparison – Oghosa challenges the church to evaluate how these three cultural values sometimes replace God’s impartial perspective.
• Audience of One – A reminder to anchor our worth in Christ, not likes, followers, or human approval.

Quotable Quotes:

• “Sometimes it’s harder to be faithful in the small moments than the big moments—because only God sees them.”
• “God’s impartial love is His radical and generous hospitality to welcome the undeserving.”
• “It can look spiritual to hide behind other people’s ministries, but often we’re really avoiding rejection.”
• “God is the one who empowers. He gives the gift and the wisdom to know how and when to use it.”

If you’ve ever wrestled with comparison, doubted God’s goodness in hard seasons, or longed to fully believe His love is for you, this episode will encourage and equip you.

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website:meganbnilsen.com
• Social:Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book:Untangled Faith+ Companion Journal
• Free Gift:30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery callto see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

📖 Learn more about Oghosa’s new Bible study Forever Welcomed and discover how God’s impartial love changes everything.

Follow Oghosa on Instagram

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• hearing God’s voice
• faith and obedience
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• Kingdom life coaching
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• living for the audience of One
• how to trust God’s love

Ep 139 // Chasing the Wrong Dream? How to Discern God’s True Call for You with Online Business Coach Stefanie Gass

What happens when everything you’ve built crumbles, your identity feels lost, and God asks you to surrender the very things you’ve clung to for success? In this episode, I sit down with Stefanie Gass—Christian business and podcast coach, mom of two boys, and seven-figure CEO—who shares her powerful journey from chasing worldly success in network marketing to radically aligning her life and business with God’s call.

You’ll hear how God spoke to her in a dream with the words “Start a podcast,” how she learned to recognize her “discernment alarms,” and how surrendering idols like alcohol and social media opened doors she never imagined. This conversation is a masterclass in letting go, tuning in to the Holy Spirit, and walking in bold obedience—even when you don’t know the outcome.

Key Takeaways:

• 🌱 Discernment alarms—how to recognize unrest in your spirit as God’s nudge to pivot.
• 🕊️ The role of surrender and prayer in uncovering your true calling.
• 🔑 Why social media can become an idol—and how stepping away can create space for God’s direction.
• 🎧 The story behind Stefanie’s God-given podcast dream and how obedience led to exponential growth.
• 🙌 Kingdom ROI vs. worldly ROI: why God’s results look different (and better).

Quotable Quotes:

“Earthly success is fleeting. It’s built on nothing—and it can be gone in an instant.”

“Your discernment alarms are the Holy Spirit saying, enough. Will you listen?”

“You only live one time. Borrow God’s confidence and take the shot.”

Reflection Questions:

1. What “discernment alarms” have been going off in your life lately?
2. Are there any areas where you may be rationalizing an idol rather than surrendering it?
3. What small, obedient step could you take today to make space for God’s direction?
4. How would your business, family, or faith shift if you trusted God’s Kingdom ROI over worldly results?

Connect with Stefanie Gass:

• Website: stefaniegass.com
• Podcast: Online Business for Christian Women
• Free 5-Day Bootcamp: The Profitable Podcast Bootcamp – use code MEGAN at checkout to join free!

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+ Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Keywords:

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Ep 138 // Speaking the Truth in Love…and Learning to Hear It Too: Practicing Charitable Orthodoxy

What if speaking the truth in love is only half the equation? What if real spiritual maturity also requires us to hear the truth in love? In this episode, Megan unpacks the concept of charitable orthodoxy — holding tightly to the core truths of our faith while relating to one another with humility, grace, and respect.

• What charitable orthodoxy is and why it matters for Christians today.
• The difference between truth without love (harshness) and love without truth (relativism).
• Why people often misinterpret what we say — but rarely misinterpret themselves.
• How Denver Seminary frames charitable orthodoxy as a posture of listening before speaking.
• The Grace & Truth Matrix from Gravity Leadership: Hang Out, Check Out, Call Out, Call In.
• Practical steps you can take to embody conviction and compassion in your relationships.

• “People don’t always hear what we meant to say. They only hear it through their own lens.”
• “Charitable orthodoxy isn’t weakness. Being charitable is Kingdom strength.”
• “Giving truth in love takes courage. Receiving truth in love takes humility.”
• “Let’s be kind people who don’t just defend the truth, but dignify the person across from us by listening well.”

1. When was the last time you spoke truth without much love? What happened?
2. When was the last time you avoided speaking truth in order to “keep the peace”? Why?
3. How do people experience you — more grace-heavy, truth-heavy, or balanced?
4. What assumptions or biases might be coloring the way you hear others?
5. In which relationships is God inviting you to move from “calling out” to “calling in”?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Ep 137 // Living with Legacy: Vision, Mission & Family Impact with Leadership CoachSharon Mankin (Part 2)

What kind of legacy are you leaving?

In Part Two of my conversation with life and leadership coach Sharon Mankin, we build on the foundation of core values and move into the bigger picture: living with vision, mission, and legacy. Sharon shares personal stories, practical coaching wisdom, and real tools her family uses—like their written vision and mission statements—to shape impact that lasts for generations. Whether you’re entering a new life season or simply longing for more intentional living, this episode will help you take the next step.

(*If you haven't listened to Ep 136 // Part One, Hearing God’s Voice & Discovering Your Core Values - go do that now!)

What You’ll Learn in Part Two:

• How to navigate life transitions like empty nesting with clarity and peace.
• Questions to help you discern your commitments in a new season.
• Why legacy is shaped by everyday choices, not just big milestones.
• How to create a family vision and mission statement that reflects your values.
• The “Three Vs” framework Sharon’s family lives by: Vision, Values, Verbiage.

Quotable Moment:

“Legacy isn’t only what’s written in your eulogy—it’s what people feel when you walk away.”

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.comfor your free guide!
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Want to explore your dream? Grab this free resource! 5 Questions to Ask to Determine Your God-Sized Dream

Connect with Sharon:

Website: sharonmankin.com

Keywords:

• Sharon Mankin interview
• Kingdom Life Coaching podcast
• core values coaching
• family mission statement
• creating a family vision
• Christian legacy building
• intentional living
• spiritual leadership in family
• living aligned with values
• family discipleship
• building a legacy of faith
• Christian women leadership
• empty nest transition
• navigating life seasons
• legacy and impact
• vision and values framework
• generational faith impact
• Christian coaching insights
• mission-driven living
• living with eternal perspective

Ep 136 // Hearing God’s Voice & Discovering Your Core Values with Leadership Coach Sharon Mankin (Part 1)

Do you ever wonder how to recognize God’s voice in your everyday life? In Part One of this powerful conversation, I sit down with life and leadership coach Sharon Mankin to explore her faith journey and how she’s learned to listen for God’s whisper. Sharon shares deeply practical tools—like journaling “wondrous things” in Scripture and embracing the awkward moments that lead to authentic connection. We also begin unpacking the importance of core values as the foundation for how we live, love, and lead.

What You’ll Learn in Part One:

• Sharon’s first unforgettable moment hearing God say, “Come, follow Me.”
• The practice of writing “WT” (wondrous things) in your Bible to mark God’s voice.
• How awkwardness often becomes the doorway to connection and growth.
• Why prayer “on the spot” can transform daily faith.
• A first look at core values—what they are and why they shape everything.

Quotable Moment:

“Maybe awkwardness is just the doorway God uses to show us a wondrous thing.”

Note: This is Part One of my conversation with Sharon. Don’t miss Part Two, where we go deeper into legacy, vision, and mission—and you’ll walk away with practical steps to create intentional impact in your family and community.

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.comfor your free guide!
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Want to explore your dream? Grab this free resource! 5 Questions to Ask to Determine Your God-Sized Dream

Connect with Sharon:

Website: sharonmankin.com

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Ep 135 // Singing Through the Fire: Lara Silverman on Chronic Illness, Surrender, Love, and a Theology of Suffering

What happens when it seems God opens the door to your dream job…and then, the door slams shut?

Lara Silverman—a Stanford-educated lawyer, jazz singer, actress, and now author—was on the cusp of a thriving career when a rare neurological illness left her largely bedridden. In this raw and hope-filled conversation, Lara shares her powerful journey through suffering, surrender, and a breathtaking love story with her late husband, Matt.

With honesty, humor, and deep faith, Lara invites us to wrestle with the hard questions: Why does a good God allow suffering? How do you keep hope alive when healing doesn’t come? Can beauty really rise from ashes?

Her new memoir, Singing Through the Fire, is not just a story—it’s a testimony of courage, intimacy with Jesus, and a love that even death cannot extinguish.

• Surrender in the Valley: What Lara learned when God asked her to release her dream job and later her health.
• Theology of Suffering: Why prosperity gospel clichés don’t hold up in the face of chronic illness—and what Scripture really says.
• A Holy Love Story: How God brought Matt into her life at the height of her illness, and the eternal hope their marriage continues to embody.
• Finding God’s Intimacy in Pain: How surrender opened space for Lara to experience God’s presence in powerful ways.
• Eternal Perspective: Why heaven reframes our questions about love, loss, and the goodness of God.

• Buy Lara’s Memoir → Singing Through the Fire (Available now on Amazon)
• Follow Lara Silverman on Instagram: @singingthroughfire_author

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith + Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.com for your free guide!
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

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Ep 134 // Brave Women, Mighty God: Saying Yes to the Holy Spirit with Author Laura L. Smith

What does it look like to follow the Holy Spirit’s nudge—especially when it’s risky, countercultural, or downright scary? Best-selling author Laura L. Smith joins me to share her journey of saying “yes” to God’s call—from corporate careers to seminary studies, from motherhood to ministry. Together, we unpack the lies women believe, the courage found in biblical women’s stories, and the everyday ways God nudges us toward Kingdom impact.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I know if it’s God’s voice?” or felt the tension between fear and faith, this episode will strengthen your courage and remind you that God equips you for every calling.

• “As far as ways to hear from the Lord, making time for Him is a great way to hear from Him.” – Laura L. Smith
• “God empowers and equips us to do crazy things that have huge ripple effects.” – Laura L. Smith
• “Sometimes hearing God isn’t an audible voice—it’s peace after prayer, a word from a friend, or even a poem on a chalkboard.” – Megan Nilsen
• “We so underestimate what we are capable of. We make ourselves much smaller than God ever intended us to be.” – Laura L. Smith

1. God’s voice is personal – He speaks uniquely to each of us through Scripture, prayer, community, journaling, and even unexpected signs.
2. Courage is cultivated – Like Esther, Mary, and Hannah, bravery grows through prayer, fasting, and trust in God’s promises.
3. Your yes matters – Whether it’s leaving a career, stepping into seminary, or sharing your faith with a neighbor, your obedience has ripple effects beyond what you can see.
4. Truth replaces lies – God’s Word calls us chosen, holy, and His masterpiece—no matter what lies we’ve believed about ourselves.
5. Faith is contagious – Living authentically and openly as a believer invites others to ask questions and see Jesus in you.

📖 Connect with Laura L. Smith:

• Instagram: @laurasmithauthor
• Website: www.laurasmithauthor.com
• Book: Brave Woman, Might God: 30 Things You Can Do
• Grab a FREE CHAPTER of Laura's book here!

✨ Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith + Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.com for your free guide!
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

👉 If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations on hearing God’s voice and living with Kingdom courage.

Keywords:

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