Radiant Awakening

What does it really mean to grow, overcome failure, and recognize the gifts God has given you?

In this episode of Radiant Awakening, Sierra sits down with Chris Hunsicker to explore the connection between personal growth, healthy relationships, leadership, and faith. After years of working as an addiction counselor and coaching tens of thousands of leaders around the world, Chris shares what he's learned about helping people become better—not through shame or blame, but through accountability, self-awareness, and respect.

Together, they discuss how our beliefs about ourselves shape our relationships, why we need to stop letting failures define us, and how parents can help their children recognize their God-given gifts. Chris also shares practical exercises for reflecting on life's successes and failures, learning from difficult experiences, and moving forward with greater confidence.

Whether you're working on your marriage, raising children, developing as a leader, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this conversation offers meaningful reminders about growth, redemption, and the value of every person.

00:00 Your Worth Is Never on the Line: The Foundation of Healthy Relationships
01:30 From Treating Addiction to Coaching 30,000 Leaders: Chris's Story
05:40 The Hidden Reason Chris Hunsicker Devotes His Life to Healing Families
08:40 The Truth About Personal Growth: Stop Blaming Everyone Else
13:30 The Marriage Moment That Changed How Chris Sees Love and Patience
19:00 How to Bounce Back From Failure Without Losing Your Self-Worth
21:00 Shame-Based vs. Respect-Based Parenting: Why the Difference Matters
28:40 A Powerful Year-End Exercise to Turn Your Failures Into Life Lessons
38:00 How to Help Children Embrace Their God-Given Gifts Instead of Feeling Ashamed
50:30 How to Trust Your Intuition and Stop Playing Small

CONNECT WITH CHRIS
Website: https://chrishunsaker.com

ABOUT RADIANT AWAKENING
Radiant Awakening is a space for honest conversations about faith, personal growth, relationships, and discovering the purpose God has for your life. Join us as we explore the experiences and insights that help us grow into who we're meant to become.

Chronic illness can change your life, your identity, and the way you see yourself—but it does not change your worth.

In this episode of Radiant Awakening, Sierra talks with licensed clinical social worker Lindsey Weber about the emotional side of chronic illness, including grief, invisible illness, asking for help, spoon theory, productivity, purpose, and self-worth.

They also discuss why high-achieving women with chronic illness are often misunderstood and why living a meaningful life may require redefining what success looks like.

Find Lindsey:

Website: lindsayweberlcsw.com

Instagram:  @the.chronic.therapist 

00:00 Chronic illness affects more than your body

03:30 Why a diagnosis can bring grief

06:00 When chronic illness changes your identity

09:00 Why grief with chronic illness isn't linear

14:00 “I don't want to be a burden”

18:00 You don't look sick—but you are

22:00 Spoon theory explained

27:00 The guilt of not keeping up

33:00 Purpose is not productivity

41:00 Your worth hasn't changed

What if your identity has nothing to do with your job, your past, your appearance, or what other people think of you?In this episode of Radiant Awakening, Sierra Larson talks with Hannah Rosela about finding your identity in Jesus, letting go of rejection and abandonment, discovering your purpose, and learning to show up authentically—even when life is messy.Hannah shares her incredible story of growing up between cultures, finding freedom from the identities she had picked up along the way, and learning to boldly walk in what God has called her to do.You don't have to have it all figured out to make an impact. You just have to be willing to show up.00:00 – From Haiti to Africa: Hannah’s Unforgettable Story03:25 – The One Thing That Never Changed07:05 – Growing Up as a Third-Culture Kid11:15 – “Am I Still Worthy?”: Hannah’s Identity Crisis15:30 – Your Identity Is Bigger Than Your Skin Color20:05 – Who Are You Without Your Job or Status?24:10 – Learning to Stop Rejecting Yourself28:15 – When You Outgrow People in Your Life32:40 – God’s Vision Doesn’t Mean It Happens Overnight38:05 – You Have to Become Before You Can Receive43:20 – You Don’t Have to Be Fully Healed to Make an Impact48:30 – Stop Hiding: Show Up as Your Authentic Self

What if the person you're hiding from... is yourself?Psychologist and spiritual teacher Patrick Marando joins Radiant Awakening to explore why so many people lose touch with who they really are—and how to reconnect with their authentic self.We dive into self-love, childhood conditioning, trauma, boundaries, purpose, emotions, and what it truly means to live your truth.If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, self-doubt, anxiety, or feeling like you've lost yourself, this conversation is for you.Topics include:• Authenticity & identity• Self-love and acceptance• Trauma & emotional healing• Healthy boundaries• Finding purpose• Living with peacePatrick's Book: *Waking Up To Yourself* (available on Amazon)01:15 – Patrick's Journey Into Psychology & Spiritual Growth05:10 – What It Means to "Wake Up"09:18 – Finding Your Authentic Self16:04 – Trauma, Emotions & Healing23:12 – Why Most People Feel Disconnected30:47 – How to Discover Your Purpose37:25 – Setting Boundaries Without Guilt45:40 – "If People Knew the Real Me..."53:55 – Self-Love vs Self-Criticism1:01:40 – Can You Change Without Hating Yourself?1:06:45 – Patrick's Final Advice

He was ready to end his life… then he saw Jesus.Jeff and Bryre Craigen share their shocking journey from chronic illness, New Age spirituality, stripping, burnout, shame, and searching for love… to radical healing and finding their identity in Christ.🙌 Check them out on their instagrams: @bryreroots and @thejeffcraigenIn this episode:• Supernatural healing testimony• Leaving New Age practices• Freedom from shame• Identity in Christ• Healing from burnout & anxiety• Relationships, purpose & faith• How Jesus changed their livesWATCH UNTIL THE END for one of the most powerful conversations on healing, purpose, and God’s grace.01:52 – The Night Jeff Almost Took His Own Life05:01 – Seeing the Face of Christ in a Vision10:42 – Instant Healing From Chronic Pain & Autoimmune Disease17:36 – From Stripping & Sugar Daddies to Jesus24:10 – Leaving New Age Spirituality, Tantra & Healing Modalities30:58 – Praying for a Godly Marriage & Meeting Each Other38:22 – “Naked and Unashamed” — Freedom From Shame47:03 – How to Stop Letting Your Past Define You57:11 – Identity in Christ vs Performance & Burnout1:06:48 – Discovering Your God-Given Purpose1:18:12 – A Powerful Prayer for Anyone Feeling LostCheck them out on their instagrams: @bryreroots and @thejeffcraigen

Big thanks to our guest Thuy Nguyen who is back with part 2!We talk about feeling unhappy at work, recognizing that a fast-paced environment may not match our true pace, and how clarity can build confidence, purpose, and better health. We explore the pressure many second-generation Americans feel in collectivistic cultures—expectations to become high-status professionals, financially support and “retire” parents, and align identity with family needs—plus how those pressures can fuel low self-esteem, depression, and withdrawal. We discuss finding support through community (including Subtle Asian Mental Health), preserving cultural identity while creating healthier boundaries for our children, and shifting from scarcity to abundance through contribution that isn’t only financial. We also share how faith, self-worth, therapy or coaching, and “rebirth” conversations can help with transitions, burnout, and living authentically, and we close with where to find coaching via Instagram and Facebook.00:00 Unhappy at Work00:50 Family Expectations Pressure04:52 Finding Support Community06:16 Culture Identity Balance07:23 Abundance Giving Mindset16:23 Depression to Authenticity17:43 Rebirth Through Coaching19:10 Where to Find Her20:03 Client Review Closing

Big thanks to our guest Thuy Nguyen! In this Radiant Awakening episode I interview Thuy, a Northern California-based Vietnamese nurse, wife, mom, and life coach, about her path from bedside nursing to hospice and coaching. Thuy describes cultural and family pressure to pursue “safe” careers, then disillusionment with nursing as metrics, insurance limits, and reduced integrity eroded patient-centered care, contributing to burnout, GI symptoms, and relationship strain. A car accident and concussion became a turning point, pushing her to reassess authenticity, seek therapy and coaching, and interview for roles aligned with her needs, leading to hospice nursing. As hospice and caring for her ailing father intensified demands, she cut back hours and trained through a coaching program, emphasizing that clarity builds confidence, purpose, and reduced stress and illness. She now helps overwhelmed, over-functioning moms and professionals, and discusses limits of insurance-driven mental health care versus coaching for goal and identity development.

00:00 Burned Out At Work00:50 Meet The Guest01:34 Nursing Burnout Wakeup Call05:35 Signs Youre Misaligned12:19 Finding The Next Step17:56 Reevaluating Work And Boundaries22:01 Becoming A Life Coach27:08 Clarity Confidence And Health30:35 Overfunctioning And Self Worth35:24 Therapy Coaching And Access37:49 Building Your Best Life

Special thanks to our guest Kurt Francom!

Check out his podcast: Leading Saints

Visit his Instagram: @kurthal

And don't forget to read his amazing book: Is God Disappointed in Me? Removing Shame from a Gospel of Grace

We welcome author and content creator Kurt Francom, who shares how shame can slip into even good lives and distort our perceived divine identity by making us believe God is perpetually disappointed. We explore the contrast between mortal expectations and divine grace, using examples like a newborn’s unconditional acceptance, Jesus’ baptism, and God’s pattern of calling imperfect people. We discuss how people often overcompensate through behavior to escape shame, while real validation comes from God and identity-based connection rather than box-checking. Kurt recounts a pivotal retreat moment when he felt God tell him he’d be loved even without scripture-reading, and how that reframed his gifts and purpose. We also talk about parenting without shame, humility and apology, and viewing guilt as a natural result of turning from God—not a divine “stick”—with grace drawing us back.00:54 Meet Kurt Francom03:20 Why Shame Shows Up08:18 Overcompensating For Shame12:20 Finding Identity In God15:24 Kurt’s Grace Breakthrough20:18 Gifts Purpose And Calling23:54 Redefining Intelligence26:54 Gifts Made in Gods Image28:05 Invited Into Bigger Stories30:46 Let Your Identity Shine34:10 Why Shame Works Too Well36:14 Apology Humility Healing37:41 Guilt Versus Shame40:50 Grace Not Disappointment

Big thanks to our amazing guest Richie T! Be sure to check them out on:

Instagram and Facebook: @theculturalhall and @richiesteadman

Youtube:  ⁨@TheCulturalHall⁩ 

Website: theculturalhall.com

DJ Business: Best DJ In Utah

In this Radiant Awakening episode, we talk with special guest Richie T about his journey from being raised in Utah and serving an LDS mission in Cleveland to a long career in commercial radio, a reset sabbatical in Chicago studying at Second City, and ultimately working for himself as a DJ, storyteller, and long-running podcaster. We explore how stepping away from old patterns helped him reconnect with values like community, creativity, playfulness, and reading, and how outside pressures and social media can distort identity and self-worth. Richie shares his ongoing work to stop relying on external validation, ground his worth in being a child of God, and live with deeper integrity in relationships. We discuss purpose as continual growth, using gifts to give others respite, and a core mantra: never give up.

00:52 Meet Richie T

01:27 Utah to Chicago Reset

08:33 Values and Balance

10:49 Outside Voices and Comparison

12:45 Breaking Validation Addiction

28:06 Purpose Through Service

29:33 Making People Feel Seen

31:20 Vulnerability and Hard Questions

34:56 Identity Shifts in Marriage

40:43 Authenticity Versus Projection

44:46 Loving Beyond Job Titles

50:51 Trusting the Next Chapter

52:35 Never Give Up Mantra

54:08 Where to Find Richie

Special thanks to Libby Tanner for joining us! Find her on:

Instagram: @libbytannerauthor

Check out her books everywhere including Audible! One of our favorites is Better Than Gelato!

In this inspiring episode of Guiding Light, Jenna Carson and Sierra Larson sit down with author Libby Tanner to discuss her journey from small-town girl to acclaimed novelist. Libby shares her passion for storytelling, the transformative experience of living in Milan, and how she balances writing with motherhood. She provides valuable advice on setting boundaries, creating systems to pursue your passions, and the importance of not waiting to follow your dreams. Libby's insights are not only motivational but also offer practical tips for women looking to reclaim their time and focus on what truly brings them joy.

00:00 Introduction to Storytelling Passion

00:31 Meet Libby Tanner: A Journey from Small Town to Author

02:15 Libby's Writing Journey and Inspirations

05:22 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Motivation

11:15 Empowering Women to Pursue Their Dreams

19:20 Balancing Marriage and Personal Fulfillment

30:27 Supportive Relationships and Communication

30:54 Expressing Needs and Emotions

32:11 Finding Time for Your Dreams

32:53 Practical Tips for Pursuing Goals

34:52 Creating Effective Systems

37:08 Habit Stacking and Essentialism

42:25 Balancing Family and Writing

47:41 The Joy of Being a Published Author

49:54 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts