Y’all I am PUMPED.  Today’s guest is the go-to-girl when you need to be spiked with a healthy dose of TRUTH & ENCOURAGEMENT & MOTIVATION.  In fact, entire communities are being built around it as we speak. My friend, Chelsea Thomas, is a powerhouse for the Lord all because she is willing to walk in obedience and show up in her weakness to do the things He has called her to do.  And it hasn’t come easily…or without struggle. 

On today’s episode, we touch on something we haven’t breached with other guests yet: financial and professional struggle. What do you do when it all falls apart? What do you do when everything you’ve built your life on slips out from under you? Don’t miss Chelsea’s golden nuggets on why we don’t have to lose everything even when we “lose everything” if it’s built on the right “something”…and how we can be set up for what’s next if we are paying attention to what God is doing all around us.  If you’ve ever struggled with identity, purpose, professional struggle, fear of losing it all, or how to rebuild…this one’s for you, sis.

Chelsea Thomas and her husband Levi (their love story is one of my favorites btw!) are owners of two F45 Training locations (Chesterfield, MO and Ofallon, IL) as well as an upcoming Oregon location! They have two spunky and adorable kiddos - Maycee and Layton - with plans to keep growing (I’m giving life to this comment for ‘23 for them, ha!). I just know you’ll fall in love with sweet Chelsea just like I have.

Come hang out with me and meet my mountain moving sister-in-Christ, Chelsea!

Chelsea’s IG: @_chelsthomas

Chelsea + Levi’s F45 IGs: @f45_training_chesterfield, @f45training_ofallonil, @f45training_northalbany 

Email Chelsea to collab: [email protected] 

Maria’s IG: @RiaRambles 

Take Part Foundation: Take-Part.org

As always to recommend a guest, email [email protected].

Some people just do the whole community thing really well, and today’s guest, Erin Kramer, is one of those people. She has been one of the foundational “mama warriors” who taught me by example how to suffer and still shine light. Erin lets people in, she has reverence for the story  God is writing through their family’s life, and she isn’t afraid of what you might think about all of it because she knows what she values and she knows what’s true.  Today’s convo was actually my first episode I recorded, but I saved it for today :)

On today’s episode we dive into the real emotions and fears that come at the beginning of a “fight”, how to shift your mindset in order to grow, and how to use that growth to shine light - not just for yourself, but for all those around you.

Professionally, Erin has been a Speech Language Pathologist for 12 years and now serves full time as Director of Gwendolyn’s Gifts, the nonprofit she founded with her husband inspired by their daughter, Gwen! In 2010, she married her highschool sweetheart, Mark (who is just as awesome!).  And together, they have three beautiful daughters that each have their own unique story. Erin is also a foster mom (currently on pause), adoptive mom, and special needs mom all in one.  

Come hang out with me and meet my sweet and powerful friend, Erin.

Erin’s IG: @emkramer10

Gwendolyn’s Gift IG: @gwendolyns_gifts

Learn more about + support Gwendolyn’s Gifts: https://gwendolynsgifts.org/ 

Maria’s IG: @RiaRambles 

Take Part Foundation: Take-Part.org

As always to recommend a guest, email [email protected].

Today, I want to do something a little different and share a very special person in my life with you, the daughter of my aunt who inspired the motto Let Your Fight Shine, my cousin Nina Dufrenne. Nina is mama of 4, part time photographer, and social media influencer on the rise who can relate to struggle unlike any person I know: from a traumatic accident at 2 and losing her father at 12, to infertility, miscarriage, birthing triplets and walking through the end of her own mama’s life this past July.

This conversation to me is like sitting down for a big cup of coffee with your sister or best friend.  We talk a little fast, we laugh a lot, and we realize some big life “aha’s” right in the moment.  More than anything I hope that you walk away inspired by Nina’s story of choosing joy despite her circumstances and with a deeper understanding of the real stories behind Let Your Fight Shine that have shaped this mindset for me from 7 years old. 

I feel like we are opening our diaries to you with this one.  I hope you are ready for the ride ;)  

Nina’s IG: @elle.plus.four

Nina’s TikTok: @elle.plus.fourr

To support Nina’s photography business: Louelle & Embree Photography 

Maria’s IG: @RiaRambles 

Take Part Foundation: Take-Part.org

To recommend a guest, email [email protected]!

Welcome to the Let Your Fight Shine Family, y’all! We are so pumped to launch our podcast with my new friend and humble powerhouse, Stephanie Brooks. Stephanie Brooks is a true Midwestern girl at heart and style who is currently living in Texas. She enjoys spending time with her husband of almost seven years and their young kids. Inspired by her daughter Charlotte, who had a traumatic birth injury, she and her husband founded The Charlotte Letter, an adaptive clothing company that is boldly making steps major brands have failed to make in the adaptive clothing world for kids! Stephanie enjoys hand embroidery and watching Husker football in her small amounts of free time.

On today’s episode we dive into the nitty gritty of special needs parenting - the highs, the lows, and the opportunities to solve everyday problems that many don’t even know they face! Steph is a true example of what it means to turn a struggle on its head and innovate through it in order to usher God’s light into a place many have allowed to remain dark.  You don’t have to be a special needs parent to appreciate the beauty in her story and to take a little bit of the light along with you in your own fight. 

The Charlotte Letter IG: @TheCharlotteLetterClothing

Shop the Charlotte Letter: https://thecharlotteletter.com/collections 

Support Adaptive Clothing for a Family in Need: https://thecharlotteletter.com/pages/subscribe

Maria’s IG: @RiaRambles 

Take Part Foundation: https://take-part.org 

To recommend a guest, email [email protected].

Welcome to Episode 1 of LYFS! We are so happy you're here.

Listen and subscribe for more episodes starting next Wednesday!

Follow along with our host Maria @riarambles or learn more about our sponsor - Take Part Foundation at Take-Part.org.