Life with Amy

Courageous Parenting Book: https://amzn.to/4fIyiDY

Courageous Parenting podcast & Program:

https://courageousparenting.com (https://courageousparenting.com/)

Main Ministry site:

BeCourageousMinistry.org

IG @Courageous.mom @courageous.parenting

FB @CourageousMom @CourageousParent

Takeaways

• Every season of life, even the ones that feel like a detour, is preparation for the season God has ahead. You do not need to force a dream before its time.
• Mentorship goes both directions. The women who mentor others well are the ones who never stop being a mentee themselves.
• A large percentage of older women in the church feel unqualified or unequipped to mentor, and that belief is keeping the next generation without the guidance it needs.
• The family unit is the training ground for the body of Christ. Reconciliation, forgiveness, respect, and confession are first learned at home.
• Angie and her husband Isaac built Courageous Parenting, a podcast with over 410 episodes, a Parenting Mentor Program that has walked over 3,000 couples through biblical parenting, and a book, Courageous Parenting: Biblical Parenting in Unprecedented Times, covering 31 real topics families face today.

Amy sits down with Angie Tolpin, wife to Isaac, mom of nine, and co-founder of Be Courageous Ministry, for a wide-ranging conversation about surrendered plans and the ministry that grows out of them. Angie shares how she once believed she would be a lifelong single missionary after seasons of ministry work in Turkey and Mexico, and how a mentor's blunt correction, that her ministry would expand through marriage, redirected her entire life. She talks candidly about the dream that "died" when an unplanned pregnancy ended her plans for youth ministry, and the new dream that was born in its place.

The conversation moves into the heart of Angie's work: Titus 2 mentorship. She explains why so many older women in the church, by her account roughly 90 percent in one ministry she helped lead, say no when asked to mentor younger women, and unpacks the lie she believes sits underneath that hesitation. From there, Angie and Amy talk about the family as a training ground for the body of Christ, the years Angie spent homeschooling nine kids while planting a church that now meets in a tent to 180 to 250 people each Sunday, and the physically difficult pregnancies, including hyperemesis gravidarum and bed rest, that shaped her first book, Redeeming Childbirth.

The episode closes on Angie and Isaac's newest project, Courageous Parenting: Biblical Parenting in Unprecedented Times, a book built from 26 years of parenting and hundreds of podcast episodes, designed to be worked through chapter by chapter with scripture, discussion questions, and marriage challenges built in. Angie's message throughout is consistent: growth does not come from reading a good book and walking away unchanged. It comes from doing the work.

Connect with Megan:

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

Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/themeganmaypodcast/

From Zero to Four book: https://amzn.to/4bclcgL

Takeaways

• Grief and joy are not opposites. You can grieve a loss and still find real, sustaining joy in the same season, sometimes in the same day.
• Success is not a house, a bank account, or a car without rust. Real success is internal growth: who you become through the hard season, not what you have to show for it.
• Isolation is often the first instinct in grief, but it is the opposite of what helps you heal. Reaching out for help, prayer, and community is what actually moves you forward.

Summary of the episode

In this first-ever guest episode of Life With Amy, host Amy Poepping sits down with her longtime friend Megan May, author, podcast host, speaker, and self-described "modern farm wife," for an honest conversation about walking through one of the hardest seasons of her life.

Megan shares what happened after her family sold their home and moved to her husband's family farm: four weeks living in a camper, then months in an unfinished cottage with a shower curtain for a bathroom door, all while grieving the unexpected loss of her mother-in-law before they ever arrived. She talks candidly about what that season stripped away and what it rebuilt in her, including a completely new definition of success built on growth and faith rather than comfort and appearances.

The conversation moves into how grief and joy can live in the same space at once, why asking for help is one of the hardest and most necessary things a person can do, and how Megan's faith journey, which started eight years ago over coffee at Amy's church, carried her family through both the season of adoption and the season of loss. Megan closes with practical, hard-won advice for any woman in a hard season right now: stop trying to see the whole picture, make the next right choice for today, and do not carry it alone.

Host Amy Poepping shares her “train theory,” comparing life to a train that moves at different speeds, makes stops, and sometimes changes tracks. She explains that people board and leave our train in different seasons—from childhood friends and teachers to adult relationships—often through painful transitions, personal growth, or God’s pruning and redirection. Reflecting on her friendships, wedding party, motherhood capacity, and a recent move from Minnesota to Texas, Amy emphasizes viewing new relationships as the “next” season rather than replacing the old, and accepting that closeness can change without total loss. She addresses grief, including losing her father-in-law, and encourages listeners to stop people-pleasing by focusing on who truly matters now and likely at life’s final stop, embracing both departures and new momentum.

00:00 Welcome Back

00:28 Train Theory Setup

01:36 Life Train Speeds

02:58 Who Rides Along

04:46 Friendship Seasons

06:26 Final Stop Reality

07:55 Weddings And Change

09:20 Moving To Texas

12:12 Pruning And Redirects

16:15 Grief And Momentum

18:05 Stop People Pleasing

21:11 Embrace The Journey

21:57 Closing And Next Episodes

Takeaways

• There's a real difference between being interested in something and being committed to it, and that distinction determines whether you'll actually finish what you start.
• Slow, steady, consistent steps beat inconsistent bursts of motivation. Starting and stopping repeatedly is more exhausting than simply staying the course, even at a slower pace.
• Your pace is allowed to change with your season of life. What consistency looks like during a cross-country move is not what it looks like in a calmer month, and both are valid.

Summary of the episode

Amy opens this solo episode with a sentence that stopped her in her tracks during a church service: "Starting things is easy. Finishing things is biblical." As a self-described dreamer, visionary, and risk-taker, Amy has always found it easy to launch new ideas, but finishing has never come naturally to her. She unpacks that tension through the lens of her own June, a month spent moving her family from Minnesota to Texas, packing up a life, and starting over in a new home.

She talks candidly about how that season stripped her capacity to keep up with things she cares about, like moving her body daily, and how she's rebuilding that consistency now in July, one evening walk and one 20-minute workout at a time. She also references Patrick Lencioni's book "The Working Genius," which helped her and her former team identify where they naturally operate best, and confirms what she already suspected: finishing has never been her superpower.

The episode turns toward a bigger idea about calling and follow-through. Amy shares a conversation with a friend about the difference between being interested in something and being committed to it, and argues that when God calls you to something, He calls you to finish it, not just start it. She closes with an encouragement to listeners to identify what they've started and stopped, and to return to it with slow, sustainable, consistent steps rather than waiting for a burst of motivation.

Key Topics Covered:

• The difference between starting something and being called to finish it
• Rebuilding consistency after a major life transition (the family's move from Minnesota to Texas)
• Patrick Lencioni's "The Working Genius" and identifying your natural strengths
• Being interested vs. being committed
• Why slow, steady consistency outperforms sprint-and-stop patterns
• Faith, calling, and finishing what God has asked you to start

Takeaways

• Reflecting at the halfway point of the year, not just in December, gives you a clearer, more honest read on your goals and lets you adjust course while there's still time to use it.
• Writing down one good thing from each of the last six months, no matter how small, breaks the habit of only remembering what went wrong or unfinished.
• Extending yourself grace during a season of major change, whether that's a business transition, a cross country move, or a new routine, is part of healthy growth, not an excuse.

Summary of the episode

In this solo episode, Amy Poepping pauses to mark the halfway point of 2026 with a real, unfiltered mid-year check in. She opens up about the whirlwind of the last six months: selling her flower shop to a former employee on January 1st, a house hunting trip to Texas in February, a life-changing trip to Nepal that included views of Mount Everest and Mount Annapurna, buying a house in Texas at the end of April, hosting her women's event Embracing Grace, and a jam-packed May full of travel, a business conference, and family time. Then came June: a cross country move that left her living out of a suitcase for weeks and, by her own admission, barely touching her business.

Amy uses her own year as a case study for a bigger point. It is easy, especially for women and entrepreneurs, to slide into comparison and self-criticism when we look back at a year in progress instead of noticing what actually went right. Rather than letting June's chaos become a reason to spiral, she walks through how she chooses to extend herself grace, and she invites listeners to do the same with their own first half of the year.

The episode closes with a practical challenge: write down one good thing from each of the last six months, then name a couple of hard or sad moments and ask what you learned from them, not to dwell, but to notice. From there, Amy turns the lens forward, sharing her own goals and excitement for the second half of 2026, from new schools for her kids to a milestone cruise with her husband, and encourages listeners to build their own list of what they are looking forward to.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why mid-year reflection matters as much as a New Year's resolution
• Amy's biggest wins from the first half of 2026: selling her flower shop, a trip to Nepal, buying a house in Texas, and hosting Embracing Grace
• How to reflect on hard seasons, like a cross country move or a new financial routine, without spiraling into self-criticism
• A simple journaling exercise: one good thing from each of the last six months
• Why comparing your timeline to someone else's keeps you stuck
• Setting goals and building excitement for the second half of the year

Takeaways

• God shows up through ordinary people in ordinary moments — but only if you are paying attention and living open to receive it.
• Courage and clarity often arrive in that order: you make the bold decision first, and the confirmation comes after.
• The people God sends into your life may never know the impact they had. Be willing to be that person for someone else.

Summary of the Episode

In this episode of Life with Amy, Amy Poepping shares two God wink stories from the final days before her family's big cross-country move from Minnesota to Texas — moments she never wants to forget, and never wants to stop telling.

Story one: Two days before leaving Minnesota for good, Amy books a same-day haircut for her son Chase at the only open slot at a small-town barber shop — a Monday-morning appointment she grabbed that very morning. What she expects to be a quick errand turns into something entirely different. The barber, a young guy her age, turns out to have grown up in Tyler, Texas — exactly where Amy and her family are headed. An appointment that was supposed to take 20 minutes stretches to 45. They talk about East Texas fishing and hunting, faith, business, baseball. Amy walks out of that shop more certain than ever. What she finds out later: the barber had almost not come in that day. He had planned to drive to Texas to visit family, changed his mind, and opened his schedule at the last minute. That is why there was one appointment available. That is why they were sitting in those chairs.

Story two: Wednesday comes fast. Amy's husband is driving the moving truck; Amy flies solo with their three kids from Minneapolis to Texas. In the hallway near their gate, she stops to take a breath — and a stranger, a man her age with two little kids, looks over and says: "You guys look like you're on an adventure." She tells him they are moving to Texas on a leap of faith. He leans in. He asks if she is a Christian. And then he asks if he can pray for her. They stand together in the middle of the Minneapolis Airport — Amy, her kids, this stranger and his brother — and he prays over them. He tells her afterward that he almost kept walking, but he felt a nudge from God, and he listened.

Amy closes the episode with the prayer she comes back to constantly: God, help me to live with my eyes, my ears, and my hands wide open to who you have for me. In their final hours in Minnesota, that prayer was answered twice.

Key Topics Covered

• Believing in God moments, God winks, and God nudges — not coincidence
• The story of the barber from Tyler, Texas who had one last-minute opening
• How a 45-minute haircut appointment brought clarity and confirmation about the move
• Flying solo with three kids from Minnesota to Texas while her husband drove the moving truck
• The stranger in the Minneapolis Airport who asked if he could pray for Amy's family
• What it feels like when God sends confirmation in the final hours before a big leap of faith
• How courage comes before clarity — the decision to be brave happens first
• What it means to live open: eyes, ears, and hands wide to who and what God has for you
• Encouraging others to lean into their own God nudges, because you may never know your impact

Takeaways

• Not every big decision has a right answer and a wrong answer. God gave you free will — a moving car is easier to steer than a parked one.
• Don't confuse fear of the unknown with spiritual discernment. Hiding in prayer while avoiding a decision is not the same as waiting on God.
• Clarity often comes after the courageous step, not before it. Obedience matters more to God than the outcome.

Summary of the Episode

In this solo episode of Life with Amy, Amy Poepping picks up where last week left off — fresh from a cross-country move from Minnesota to Texas — and dives into one of the most important lessons the move taught her: how easy it is to over-spiritualize our decisions.

Amy opens up about hitting decision fatigue hard during the months of praying, planning, and processing this massive life change. She talks about the moment a mentor called it out in her — asking for signs, waiting for burning-bush clarity, and essentially mistaking fear of the unknowns for spiritual discernment. What followed was a total perspective shift.

She breaks down the difference between genuinely waiting on God and hiding behind prayer out of fear, and reminds listeners that God's design includes free will. Not every decision is A or B. Most decisions have a whole alphabet of options that could all be good. The real question isn't "which one is the right one?" — it's "which one aligns with your values, brings you peace, and allows you to move forward in confidence?"

Amy also shares one of the most powerful sentences she's ever heard: "Sometimes we're praying for clarity, and God is asking us to be courageous." She unpacks what it looks like to move the car forward one mile per hour so God can actually steer it — and what it means to trust that obedience matters more to Him than the outcome.

The episode closes with a direct challenge to listeners: what are you over-spiritualizing right now? What decision is sitting on your plate that you're calling prayer but that's really just fear? Amy invites you to take one courageous step and trust that God goes before you.

Key Topics Covered

• What it means to over-spiritualize decisions and how to recognize it in yourself
• Decision fatigue and why big life changes make it worse
• The difference between praying for clarity and hiding behind prayer
• How God's design of free will factors into big decisions
• Why not every decision is right vs. wrong — and why that's actually freeing
• The parked car metaphor: why God can redirect a moving step, not a parked one
• "Sometimes we're praying for clarity, and God is asking us to be courageous"
• Why obedience matters more to God than the outcome
• How Amy's move from Minnesota to Texas made all of this real
• A direct challenge: what are you over-spiritualizing in your own life?

Takeaways

• Good things can be both exciting and incredibly difficult.
• Sometimes God asks us to be courageous instead of waiting for complete clarity.
• Major life transitions often begin when we choose obedience over comfort.

In this deeply personal episode, Amy shares the story behind her family's decision to leave Minnesota and relocate to East Texas. After years of prayer, unexpected business transitions, family changes, and closed doors, Amy and her husband Casey felt called into a new season of life.

Amy opens up about selling Joyful Blooms, navigating the loss of her father-in-law, stepping away from the family farm, and learning to trust God's direction even when the path wasn't completely clear. Through faith, prayer, and a willingness to take courageous action, their family found peace in making one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

This episode is filled with encouragement for anyone facing uncertainty, major life transitions, or a season where God may be asking them to trust Him more deeply.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Amy and her family are moving to Texas
• The emotional challenges of relocating with young children
• Selling Joyful Blooms and transitioning ownership
• The closing of important chapters in life
• Trusting God's timing and direction
• Learning to discern God's voice
• The difference between seeking clarity and choosing courage
• Navigating grief, change, and uncertainty
• Building faith through obedience
• Preparing for a fresh start in a new state

Takeaways

• Busyness is often celebrated in society, but it is not a measure of success or fulfillment.
• Every "yes" comes with a sacrifice, making intentional scheduling essential.
• Healthy boundaries help protect family time, marriage, faith, and personal well-being.
• Children can enjoy activities and sports without allowing them to consume family life.
• Slowing down requires communication, intentionality, and regular reevaluation of priorities.

In this heartfelt episode of Life with Amy, Amy challenges one of society's most celebrated habits: busyness. Drawing from her own journey of selling her flower shop and embracing a healthier pace of life, she shares why being constantly busy is not something to aspire to.

Amy explores the difference between a life that is beautifully full and one that is overwhelmed by hustle culture. She discusses family priorities, setting healthy boundaries, avoiding overscheduling children, protecting marriage and family relationships, and learning to say no even to good opportunities.

Whether you're navigating sports schedules, work commitments, parenting responsibilities, or simply feeling stretched too thin, this episode offers practical encouragement to slow down, communicate better, and intentionally create a life centered around what matters most.

Key Topics Covered:

• The cultural obsession with busyness
• Hustle culture versus intentional living
• Creating a healthy slowdown
• Family values and scheduling decisions
• Why every yes is a no to something else
• Setting healthy boundaries
• Avoiding overscheduled children
• Protecting marriage and family relationships
• Communication during busy seasons
• Living with purpose instead of regret
• Faith, priorities, and long-term perspective
• The importance of rest and Sabbath

Takeaways

• Your first few minutes awake can dramatically impact your mood, energy, and stress levels
• Small intentional habits create more sustainable morning routines than extreme overhauls
• Prioritizing hydration, movement, sunlight, and mindset can improve your entire day

In today's episode, Amy shares why your morning routine may be affecting far more than just your mornings. From avoiding phone distractions and starting the day with prayer to getting sunlight, prioritizing hydration, and creating healthier habits, Amy breaks down simple strategies for building more intentional mornings without adding overwhelm.

This episode is packed with realistic morning routine advice, practical habit shifts, and encouragement to stop living in reaction mode and start creating mornings that support your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why checking your phone first thing creates stress and overwhelm
• The connection between morning habits and nervous system regulation
• Prayer, gratitude, and creating intentional space before the day begins
• Sunlight, fresh air, and supporting your body's natural rhythms
• Why hydration and protein matter before coffee
• Creating healthy routines for yourself and your children
• Building sustainable habits that actually stick
• How intentional mornings improve sleep, energy, and productivity