In this Part 2, we pick up right where we left off going deeper into the aftermath of addiction and the choices that come when survival becomes the priority.

Lisa opens up about boundaries, self-preservation, and the moment when empathy has to coexist with hard decisions. This part of the conversation explores what healing looks like when trust has been broken, and how choosing yourself doesn’t mean you failed, it means you survived.

We talk about:

When compassion turns into self-sacrifice

The difference between supporting someone and losing yourself

What healing looks like after addiction and betrayal

If you’ve ever loved someone in active addiction or had to walk away to protect your own peace, this episode is for you.

In this first part of our special interview, we sit down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what addiction leaves behind, not just for the person struggling, but for the people who love them.

Lisa shares her story of loving someone through addiction, navigating betrayal, and surviving the emotional fallout that comes with broken trust, confusion, and hope that keeps getting tested. This isn’t a polished recovery story—it’s real life, told in real time.

We talk about:

What it’s actually like to live beside addiction

How betrayal shows up in ways you don’t expect

The emotional toll of staying, hoping, and trying to hold everything together

This conversation was too important to rush; we decided to make it into two episodes. Make sure you don't miss out on this amazing interview!

In this deeply personal episode of Patience in Progress, Mel, Shel, and Karissa sit down to explore a question many people wrestle with quietly: Can grief and faith exist at the same time?

Through honest conversation, raw stories, and faith-centered reflection, the hosts talk about what it feels like to pray, receive answers, and still feel unsettled. They discuss the reality of moving forward when peace comes in fragments, not all at once, and how faith isn’t the absence of doubt, fear, or grief, but the decision to keep walking anyway.

This episode touches on:

Prayers that are answered without emotional clarity

Choosing obedience when peace feels delayed

Navigating grief, loss, divorce, illness, and unanswered prayers

The sacred space where anger, faith, and trust can coexist

Finding peace in small moments when life feels overwhelming

With vulnerability, humor, and compassion, this conversation reminds us that letting go can be holy and painful at the same time, and that God often honors effort over perfection. If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith is “enough” while you’re grieving or felt like you’re failing spiritually because peace hasn’t come yet this episode is for you.

As always, be patient with yourself. Progress is still happening, even when you can’t see it.

In this episode of Patience in Progress, we talk about the mental load, the invisible, exhausting work of managing life that so many women carry every single day.

From being the household “CEO” to emotional labor, constant anticipation, and the resentment that builds when the load isn’t shared, we break down why this weight is so hard to explain and even harder to put down. We discuss relationships, parenting, boundaries, control, and what it actually looks like to release some of that pressure without guilt.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or mentally exhausted even when you “should be resting,” this episode is for you.

In this episode, we put Gen X and Gen Z side by side and ask the questions everyone’s thinking but not always saying out loud. From values and communication styles to expectations about work, relationships, and life, this conversation shows just how different and surprisingly similar these generations really are. No scripts, no filters, just honest perspectives and a few laughs along the way. Let’s see what they both have to say.

Have you ever said yes when you wanted to say no, then felt resentful and didn’t quite know why? Or worried that setting boundaries makes you difficult, selfish, or unkind? This episode is for you.

In Episode 7 of Patience in Progress, Mel, Shel, and Karissa dive deep into what boundaries really are, and what they’re not. We break down why boundaries feel so uncomfortable, especially for people pleasers, parents, and anyone who was taught to put others first at all costs. Spoiler alert: boundaries aren’t about controlling other people they’re about protecting your peace.

We talk about:

Why lack of boundaries leads to resentment, burnout, and silent anger

How to recognize the emotional and physical signals that tell you a boundary is needed

A simple three-step boundary-setting framework

Why over-explaining is often a trauma response

How to communicate boundaries clearly (without guilt or long explanations)

Boundaries with family, work, dating, parenting, and friendships

Why holding boundaries (especially with consequences) is the hardest but most important part

This conversation is honest, relatable, and practical, with real-life examples and reminders that boundaries aren’t mean they’re necessary. Because peace doesn’t come from being easy. It comes from being honest.

As always, be patient with yourself. Progress is happening even when setting boundaries feels uncomfortable.

The new year is supposed to feel fresh and motivating… so why does January often feel so heavy?

In this episode of Patience & Progress, Mel, Shel, and Karissa sit down for an honest conversation about what real growth actually looks like as we step into 2026. We talk about what we’re leaving behind from last year, habits, mindsets, and survival patterns that once protected us but may now be holding us back.

From the pressure of New Year’s resolutions and the myth of instant transformation, to learning how to reflect on the past without drowning in regret, this episode is a reminder that progress doesn’t happen all at once. We explore why change feels uncomfortable, why small steps matter more than perfect plans, and how grace, especially toward ourselves, is often the missing piece.

If you’re feeling behind, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward without burning out, this conversation is for you. You don’t have to rush. You don’t have to reinvent yourself overnight. Sometimes progress looks like slowing down, letting go, and choosing just 1% better.

This is the final chapter of our three-part “Getting to Know Your Hosts” series, we get to know Mel and her stories that have helped shape who she is.

In this episode, Mel shares how the twists, losses, hard choices, and seasons of survival didn’t break her… they shaped her. Life doesn’t move in straight lines, and neither do we. Every struggle, pause, and unexpected detour is part of what brought us here to this space, this podcast, this season of becoming.

As Patience in Progress continues to unfold, our hope is simple: that as you get to know each of us and the stories that formed us, you’ll start hearing pieces of your own story too. The conversations ahead will come from real life, messy, meaningful, unfinished, and we hope they create connection, understanding, and a reminder that growth doesn’t require perfection… just patience.

Thanks for walking this part of the journey with us. This isn’t the end—it’s the foundation.

In this episode of Patience in Progress, we finally turn the mic toward Shelly.

Episode 4 gives you listeners the chance to truly get to know Shelly, her background, her family life, and the experiences that shaped her into the woman behind the voice. Shelly shares her story with honesty and heart, opening up about the roles she’s carried, the challenges she’s faced, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

This conversation lays the foundation for why Patience in Progress exists. Shel talks about navigating hard seasons, the importance of showing up for the people you love, and how patience, growth, and even humor play a role in moving forward when life doesn’t go as planned.

If you’ve been listening and wondering who Shelly really is, this episode gives you that deeper look. It’s real, relatable, and full of the kind of conversation that reminds you progress doesn’t happen overnight — and that patience matters.

In this episode, we sit down with Karissa and get to know her on a deeper, more personal level. She opens up about her life struggles, the experiences that have shaped her, and the moments that have defined her journey. You’ll hear what makes her tick, what motivates her, and how she continues to push forward with grace and humor.

We also lighten things up with some fun facts and stories that remind us why we adore her so much. Tune in for an honest, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss.