Ever feel like we're living in a Planet of the Apes sequel nobody asked for?

In this episode, I'm talking about the spiritual bananas the world keeps handing us and why vacuum-sealing rotten fruit never turns it into something good. Spoiler: fear doesn't become peace with time, and bitterness won't turn into banana bread.

I'm getting real about how to anchor yourself to sanity when everyone else seems to be losing theirs, and what Jesus's approach teaches us about breaking free from primitive mindset.

If you're tired of getting pelted with recycled opinions and ready to cultivate something that actually lasts, this one's for you.

Hint: It involves throwing away the bananas and making room for strawberry preserves.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Don't Invest in the Bananas
01:30 - The Planet of the Apes Problem
03:00 - What We're Getting Pelted With
06:00 - The Right Fruit vs. The Wrong Fruit
07:30 - Why Vacuum-Sealing Rotten Fruit Never Works
10:15 - Jesus's Approach
12:00 - Breaking the Primitive Mindset
14:00 - What to Preserve Instead
17:00 - Prayer
17:45 - Outro

KEY INFO:

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23
Length: ~18 minutes
Topics: Fruit of the Spirit, Cultural Chaos, Discernment, Spiritual Growth

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Ever feel like you're drowning in a mud puddle while acting like you need a life raft? Yeah, me too. In this episode, I'm tackling that gloomy voice in our heads that sounds suspiciously like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh—you know, the one convinced everything is conspiring against us.

Here's the thing: COVID turned us all into Eeyores somehow, normalizing a victim mentality where we're waist-deep in water calling it an ocean. But I'm here to tell you how pink inflatable birds became my spirit animal when negativity reared its ugly head. 

So grab your metaphorical floaty and join me as I figure out how to be awkward, imperfect, and unapologetically fabulous—even in the mess.

01:00 - Meet Your Inner Eeyore (He's the Worst)

02:00 - COVID Turned Us All Into Depressed Donkeys

03:00 - Are You Bringing Sunshine or a Complaint Convention?

04:00 - Your Words: Medicine or Straight-Up Poison?

05:00 - I Created a Flamingo Cult During Lockdown

06:00 - Meet Tilly: Our Pink Mascot of Chaos

07:00 - I Became the Oprah of Flamingos (You Get a Flamingo!)

08:00 - People Swimming in Mud Puddles: A Springfield Love Story

09:00 - Job 11:16 or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Puddle

10:00 - You're Not Drowning, You're Just Dramatic

11:00 - Find Your Floaties (No, Really, Find Them)

12:00 - Put a Flamingo on Your Problems

13:00 - Prayer for Hot Mess Flamingo People

14:00 - Two Songs: Pick Your Soundtrack (Eeyore or Fabulous?)

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

I'm getting real about life with a buckshot brain—you know, the kind that walks into the kitchen to make dinner and ends up reorganizing the hall closet while something burns on the stove. This episode tackles the guilt, the chaos, and the grace of living scattered, including a very honest confession about my legally blind husband tripping over things I've left in random "logical" places. I'm also sharing 5 things that help me wrangle my focus back to what actually matters (most of the time). Spoiler: God's not waiting for you to get your act together before He shows up.

Chapter Tracks:

1. 0:00 – Intro: Buckle Up, Buttercup
2. 1:00 – My House Is a Booby Trap (Sorry, Philip)
3. 2:00 – When Someone Else's Organizational System Lasts Exactly Six Days
4. 3:00 – The Guilt Spiral Nobody Asked For
5. 4:00 – Hyperfocus Is Great Until Dinner's on Fire
6. 5:00 – Accidentally Becoming a Human Speed Bump
7. 6:00 – Philippians 4:8, But Make It ADHD
8. 7:00 – Three Rooms Away From the Original Mission
9. 8:00 – Jesus Said His Yoke Is Light So Why Am I Like This
10. 9:00 – Five Things That Actually Help (Sometimes)
11. 11:00 – That Church Sign Came for Me Personally
12. 12:00 – Fearfully, Wonderfully, and Chaotically Made
13. 14:00 – Inviting God Into Every Room You Wander Into
14. 15:00 – A Prayer for Buzzing Brains
15. 16:00 – Outro: He's Already in the Scatter

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Ever feel like you're fighting for a seat at tables where nobody actually wants you there? Yeah, me too. And honestly? I'm exhausted.

Here's the thing: I spent way too long trying to prove I belonged at the "important people" table—the leadership table, the ministry table, that table where everyone seems to have their act together. But something shifted for me recently. What if I was never meant to be at THAT table? What if God's been preparing a completely different seat?

If you've been second-guessing your gifts, exhausting yourself trying to fit in, or listening to the comment section of your life louder than God's voice? This episode is for you.

Time to stop scrapping for crumbs and start feasting at the right table.

Grab your coffee (or whatever gets you through the day), and let's talk about what happens when you finally realize you're not the backup casserole—you're the beloved child at the Father's table.

Timestamps: [00:00] Why I'm tired of being the object lesson 

[02:30] The table I was actually meant for 

[05:00] Colliding with God's love (and what that changes) 

[08:00] The Saffy Burrito analogy that will make sense, I promise 

[11:00] Moving in boldness when you know you belong 

[13:00] Prayer for the beloved

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Hey, I'm back and dragging through this week to dish some truth. You know those seasons where you wake up already exhausted? Where everyone needs something from you, and you're just trying to show up for all of it? And somewhere in the middle of that chaos, you start believing the lie that everything you're doing is pointless—that maybe you really are good for nothing?

In this episode, I'm diving into how temporary weariness tries to become permanent identity. How "I'm in a hard season" becomes "I am the hard season." And what God actually says about all of this.

We'll talk about:

• Why dead things don't get attacked (and what that means for you)
• The strategy behind feeling good for nothing
• What to actually do when you're in this place
• Why God might want you to take that nap

If you're sitting in that chair, feeling like you're good for nothing, this one's for you.

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Hey there, it's Amber! Welcome back to #RandomDevoThoughts! 🎙️ Ever feel like your brain is on a 24/7 overthinking frenzy? Yeah, me too. From obsessing over texts to having imaginary arguments, I get it—it’s exhausting! 😅 But what if I told you we don’t have to fix it all by ourselves? Dive in with me as we chat about the genius hacks like sticky notes, 30-second pauses, and the 'dump and repeat' trick—all inspired by Matthew 11:28-30. Let's turn that brain chaos into moments of peace. Remember, God’s not keeping score, and your wild thoughts are totally welcome here. 💛 Love you guys, and hey, hit that subscribe button and share this episode with a fellow overthinker. 🙌

00:00 Introduction and Confession

00:58 The Overthinking Spiral

01:41 Lies Our Brains Tell Us

02:36 Jesus' Promise of Rest

06:14 Practical Steps to Combat Overthinking

09:01 Final Encouragement and Prayer

10:15 Closing Remarks

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Hey there! It's Amber, and welcome to another episode of 'Random Devo Thoughts.' In this hilariously honest talk, I dive into why we should thank God for the small stuff—like your last pair of clean underwear! Tune in as I share how a simple prayer about fluffy towels flipped my perspective on gratitude. Get ready for some laughs and a whole lot of heart as we find out why the little things, like finding matching socks, matter so much. Don't miss it!

00:00 Welcome to Random Devo Thoughts

00:43 Episcopalian Prayers and Unexpected Blessings

05:17 The Daily Scavenger Hunt: Finding Gratitude in the Small Things

09:16 Seeing God in the Ordinary

14:46 Challenge: Start a Small Things List

17:00 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

This one's heavy, friends. I'm talking about anger—specifically when it crosses the line into abusive behavior. I share some personal stories about what I've seen (and honestly, what I've been part of) when anger goes unchecked.

Here's the thing: we all get mad. But when yelling becomes your default, when you're constantly losing it on the people you love, that's a pattern. And patterns don't just disappear because you feel bad about them later.

I walk through what it actually looks like to recognize you've got a problem—whether you're the one exploding or you're on the receiving end. I talk about counseling (the real kind, not just venting to friends), genuine repentance (which is way more than saying "I'm sorry"), and why accountability matters so much.

If you've ever wondered, "Is this normal? Is this okay?"—listen to this. If you're the one struggling with anger, there's hope and a way forward. And if you're watching someone you love spiral, you're not stuck.

Let's break these cycles together.

Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Random Devo Thoughts
00:43 Today's Heavy Topic: Dealing with Anger
02:18 Personal Stories and Reflections
04:37 Recognizing and Addressing Patterns of Abuse
09:10 Steps Towards Healing and Change
17:55 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

t

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Hey everyone! I'm Amber, and welcome to another episode of 'Random Devo Thoughts.' With the help of Alexa, my awesome emcee,  delve into a deeply personal episode—the intersection of faith and depression. I challenge the pat Christianese answers and explore how we can be better at offering real support to those who struggle. By looking at historical events like the Great Depression and biblical figures such as Job and David, I shed light on how God's grace can sustain us even amid our darkest moments. Join me for heartfelt insights, practical advice, and genuine support on this difficult but essential topic. Remember, you're not alone—let's find strength in faith together.

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.

Hey friends, it's Amber! In this episode of Random Devo Thoughts, we're embracing our 'espresso squirrel' brains. Ever felt guilty for your scattered thoughts during prayer? You're not alone! Join me as we see how God loves our chaos and teaches us through it. Featuring fun detours through Psalms, Jesus' teachings, and practical tips for a prayer life that’s anything but linear. Let's stop apologizing for our minds and see the beauty in our unique way of connecting with God. Like, subscribe, and share with your fellow scatterbrains. See you in the garden!

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Random Devo Thoughts

00:22 Confession Time: The Struggle with Focused Prayer

01:14 Embracing the ADHD Mind in Prayer

02:30 Biblical Examples of Non-Linear Thinking

03:36 Reframing Your Distractible Mind as a Gift

04:25 Practical Tips for Prayer with a Busy Mind

05:03 God's Unconditional Love for Your True Self

06:39 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

09:08 Closing Prayer and Goodbye

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, podcaster as well as editor and art director for Leading Hearts magazine. She is also co-host of Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa. Be on the lookout for her May 2026 release #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem, One Sticky Note at a Time. Follow her @barefacedgirl on socials for more.