Do you ever find yourself stuck in the same cycle of falling into sin, trying to change, and only ending up right back where you started? The good news is—you’re not alone in this fight we all face, and you can break free from sin and shame. In this episode, Lauren breaks it down into four sections:

1. Why we are in this battle of sin
2. How sin steals our life, joy, and peace-and why we need to fight it head on
3. Practically fighting sin
4. Why we can leave sin and shame in the past and find freedom!

If you’re ready to break the cycle and step into lasting freedom, this conversation is for you.

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In this episode, Lauren sits down with author and longtime family friend, Hannah Beth Brown. Hannah Beth shares her journey of following God’s calling to write a book—even when she felt unqualified. Together, Hannah Beth and Lauren talk about trusting God in early adulthood when there seem to be so many paths to take and “timelines” to follow. They also discuss the themes of Hannah Beth’s latest book, Fruit Pursuit, which explores the Fruit of the Spirit and reminds us that growing in godliness isn’t about being better—it’s about abiding in Christ and allowing God to do His work in us.

Find Hannah Beth's book here!

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In part 2 of Lauren and Riley’s conversation, Riley shares how pressure and overworking from sports led her to discover the true value of rest. She opens up about her long-time struggles with anxiety and how God freed her from it in a powerful moment at Unite, a nationwide college revival movement.

Riley reflects on a season of loneliness and feeling spiritually isolated, and how that very season shaped her into the leader she is today within Christian ministries at NC State. Lauren also shares her experiences with depression and God’s deliverance from it. 

Whether you’re on a mountaintop, in a valley, or somewhere in between, this conversation is an invitation to remember: seasons don’t last forever — but what God teaches us in them does.

Lauren joins Pastors Dan Lukhard and Jonathan Zavaglia as they break down two prevalent (and complex) questions people ask about Christianity:

1. How do we know the Bible is true?

2. Is Christianity the only “right” religion?

Dan, Jonathan, and Lauren discuss how we got the Bible, the historical evidence that points to its reliability, and how all Scripture tells one coherent story: redemption through Jesus Christ.

In response to the second question, Dan, Lauren, and Jonathan explore what sets Christianity apart from other religions. Dan also addresses the fallibility of relativism—the idea that truth is merely personal or subjective.

We know that these are TOUGH questions surrounded by heavy debate. Nonetheless, the hope of this episode is to help guide you into deeper knowledge and confidence, and to continue to spark conversations like these!

Lauren talks with Riley Frey, a fellow student at NC State with a passion for fitness, sharing the Gospel, and using sports and exercise as a way to grow personally and glorify God. Riley shares the ups and downs of competing in sports at a national level in high school, as well as her decision process in choosing not to continue at the collegiate level.

She also explains how, as her faith deepened, her mindset around fitness shifted away from pressure and toward using exercise as a way to steward her life and health well. Lauren and Riley end part 1 of their conversation with sharing practical advice on fitness (hint: it doesn’t have to be complicated, and everyone’s journey looks totally different!).

In the second part of their conversation, Dan, Jonathan, and Lauren answer a third question: how do I handle doubts about my faith? Having doubts and questions is a normal part of the Christian walk, and addressing them can actually deepen and strengthen our faith. Lauren, Dan and Jonathan talk about the importance of expressing your doubts to others, and most importantly, turning to God, who gladly welcomes us with grace and patience. They also share practical resources to help answer other difficult questions and common doubts Christians face. 

In this episode, Lauren shares an honest look at the past year-which in short, was quite the journey:

-how chasing the wrong attention led to her drifting in her faith and staying stuck in shame 

-the months when life felt like “everything was falling apart”

-struggling with acne and confidence

-a season of severe depression

-how God redeemed her situation with restored joy, purpose, and confidence

Lauren ends with sharing 4 lessons that 2025 taught her about confidence, changing seasons, the influences around you, and mental health, as well as where she is headed in life now.

Welcome to season 2 of the Live By Light podcast! In this episode, Lauren gives an introduction to the show. Lauren is a student at NC State who is passionate about Jesus and helping others live out their faith. Lauren outlines three major points about the podcast: the who, the why, and the what. Lauren gives insight into who she is and what she values, why she is doing this podcast, and what you can expect as a listener!