Welcome to the first episode of the You’re Not Alone series.

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Leslie L. Jackson: author, speaker, retired U.S. Air Force veteran, and devoted mother. Leslie shares her incredible journey from brokenness to purpose, reminding us that no matter how dark the season, God is able to redeem every part of our story.

Together, we discuss healing, identity, resilience, and the life-changing power of reaching for community when you need it most. Through biblical truth, authentic storytelling, and unwavering faith, Leslie offers hope to anyone wondering if God can still use their pain for a greater purpose.

If you’ve ever felt alone, discouraged, or like your story was too broken to be redeemed, this conversation is for you.

Remember, you’re not alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Moving from brokenness to purpose
• Finding hope through life’s hardest seasons
• The importance of community and asking for help
• Discovering your identity in Christ
• God’s faithfulness in the middle of pain
• Walking confidently in your God-given purpose

About Leslie

Leslie L. Jackson is an author, speaker, retired U.S. Air Force veteran, and devoted mother. She brings a unique voice of resilience, compassion, leadership, and unwavering faith to audiences seeking hope, healing, and renewed purpose through life’s most difficult seasons. Through biblical truth, authentic storytelling, and practical encouragement, Leslie inspires people to embrace their God-given identity, overcome brokenness, and walk confidently in the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Stay Connected with Leslie

📖 Diamond in the Rough
diamondintheroughbook.com (http://diamondintheroughbook.com/)

📱 Instagram: @ditrbook

Stay Connected

🎙️ Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod
✨ Personal: @simplyashcash

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not alone. Your support helps these conversations reach the people who need them most. 

In this episode of Rooted & Radiant, I sit down with entrepreneur, business leader, and father of three boy, Jon Sexton, for an honest conversation about faith, perseverance. and learning to trust God even when his presence feels distant.

Together, we explore what it means to keep showing up in faith, navigate uncertainty, and trust that God is still working even we can't see it. If you've ever wrestled with doubt, felt stuck in a waiting season, or wondered where God is in the middle of your story, this conversation is for you.

About Jon:

Jon Sexton is an entrepreneur, business leader, and father of three boys whose career has spanned fitness, real estate, television, construction, and technology. His passion is leading with purpose and encouraging others to trust God through every season.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Trusting God in Difficult Seasons

01:54 Jon Sexton's Journey of Faith and Entrepreneurship

03:47 Dealing with Loss and Feeling Far from God

06:41 Challenges with Church and Faith Community

08:38 Practical Habits to Stay Connected to God

10:27 The Power of Prayer and Discipline

12:17 Resources for Rebuilding Faith

15:28 The Role of Rejection and Hardship in Growth

18:00 Overcoming Rejection in Music and Business

21:21 Lessons Learned from Hard Seasons

23:19 Encouragement for Those Feeling Distant from God

26:01 Closing Prayer and Final Words

Connect with Jon

Instagram: @jon.sexton

LTK: https://linktr.ee/Jon.sexton

Stay Connected:

Follow the podcast for new episodes every Thursday.

Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

TikTok: @simplyashcash

What if joy isn’t waiting for you on the other side of the breakthrough?

So often we tell ourselves, “I’ll be happy when…” When the job comes through. When the relationship works out. When life finally feels settled. But what if God is inviting us to experience His joy right here, in the middle of the waiting?

In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between happiness and biblical joy, why we don’t have to put our lives on pause while we wait for answered prayers, and practical ways to cultivate joy even when life feels uncertain.

If you’ve been walking through a season of transition, disappointment, or simply wondering where God is, my prayer is that this conversation reminds you that His presence hasn’t left you. He is still working, even in the middle of your story.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The difference between happiness and biblical joy
• Why you don’t have to wait for the finish line to experience God’s goodness
• Five practical ways to choose joy this week
• Scriptures to anchor your heart in seasons of waiting
• How God’s presence becomes the source of lasting joy

Scriptures referenced:

• James 1:2-4
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• Psalm 16:11
• Nehemiah 8:10

Let’s stay connected!

🤍 Follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode every Thursday.

🎙️ Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

✨ TikTok: @simplyashcash

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who could use the reminder that joy isn’t just found at the end of the journey. Sometimes it’s discovered one faithful step at a time.

Transition can feel uncomfortable. It’s the space between what was and what’s next. It often comes with uncertainty, unanswered prayers, and moments where it feels like God is quiet.

But what if the quiet seasons are the very places where God is doing His deepest work?

In this episode, we’re talking about how God uses transition to prepare us before He positions us. We’ll explore why waiting is never wasted, what Scripture teaches about hidden seasons, and how to keep trusting Him when the next step isn’t clear.

If you’re navigating change, waiting on an answered prayer, or simply trying to trust God with what’s ahead, I pray this conversation reminds you that He hasn’t forgotten you. He’s still working, even when you can’t see it.

Let’s stay connected! 🤍

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to:

• Follow Rooted & Radiant on Spotify so you never miss a new episode.
• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating if the podcast has encouraged your faith. It helps more people discover these conversations.
• Share this episode with a friend who may need the reminder today.
• Connect with me on Instagram:

Thank you for being part of the Rooted & Radiant community. I’m so grateful you’re here. Until next time, keep staying rooted in Christ so you can live radiant in every season. 🤍

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of following Jesus, especially when you’ve been praying, believing, and trusting… yet nothing seems to be changing.

If you’ve ever wondered if God has forgotten you, if His silence means He’s absent, or if you’re simply tired of waiting, this episode is for you.

Today we’re talking about what God may be doing behind the scenes, why waiting isn’t wasted, and how to remain faithful when the answer hasn’t come yet.

My prayer is that this conversation reminds you that even in the silence, God is still working.

✨ If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend, leave a review, and connect with me on Instagram.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Faith in Hard Seasons

02:41 Personal Journey of Waiting

09:30 Lessons from Waiting

12:22 Practical Steps During Waiting

15:38 Encouragement and Conclusion

Let’s stay connected:
🤍 Personal: @simplyashcash
🎙 Podcast: @rootedandradiantpod

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Growing Together in Friendships

02:15 Honest Communication: The Key to Healthy Friendships

04:37 Celebrating Success Over Competition

08:18 Intentionality in Friendships: Building Connections

As we wrap up our June friendship series, we’re ending with a conversation about what it truly means to grow together.

Healthy friendships aren’t built on staying the same. They’re built on making room for change, extending grace, communicating honestly, and choosing one another through every season of life.

In this episode, we explore what it looks like to build friendships that can withstand life’s transitions, celebrate one another without comparison, and become the kind of friend we’re hoping to have. Whether you’re navigating new seasons, strengthening long-time friendships, or learning to cultivate deeper community, this conversation will encourage you to invest in relationships that are rooted in love, authenticity, and growth.

If this month’s series has reminded you of the beauty of biblical community, I pray you leave feeling encouraged to intentionally nurture the friendships that help you become more of who God created you to be.

Thank you for joining me throughout this June series. I can’t wait to continue growing alongside you.

Let’s stay connected!

Personal Instagram: @simplyashcash
Podcast Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Update

02:58 The Importance of Rest

05:39 Community and Support

08:07 Reflection and Personal Growth

This week’s episode looks a little different.

As I continue recovering from tonsillitis, I felt it was important to practice what I often preach: listening to your body, honoring your limits, and embracing rest without guilt.

Instead of a full episode, I’m sharing a short encouragement about the importance of rest and the role community plays in helping us through difficult seasons. We live in a culture that celebrates hustle and constant productivity, but sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is slow down and allow ourselves to heal.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, stretched thin, or simply carrying more than you were meant to carry alone, this episode is your reminder that rest is not weakness. Rest is wisdom. And community isn’t just something we enjoy during the good times. It’s something we lean on when life gets hard.

✨ Let’s stay connected:

Personal Instagram: @simplyashcash

Podcast Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

Take care of yourself this week. Drink the water. Take the nap. Ask for help. Let people love you well.

And remember: you don’t have to earn your rest.

Until next time, stay rooted in what matters and radiant in who God created you to be.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Pain of Friendship Changes

00:56 Friendship Grief Is Real and Valid

01:51 Replaying Conversations and Finding Closure

02:52 Balancing Gratitude and Grief

03:49 Valuable Lessons from Ended Friendships

06:12 Building Walls vs. Embracing New Relationships

07:52 Hope for Future Friendships and Romantic Relationships

09:20 Understanding Seasons of Change

10:14 Practical Steps for Healing from Friendship Loss

11:16 Focusing on Lessons and Trusting God’s Plan

Not every heartbreak comes from a romantic relationship.

Sometimes it’s the friend who slowly stopped calling. The friendship that drifted apart. The relationship that ended without closure. Or the person you thought would be in your life forever who is no longer walking beside you.

In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about friendship grief, navigating changing seasons, and what to do when relationships no longer look the way they once did.

We’ll talk about:

✨ Why friendship loss can hurt so deeply
✨ How to grieve relationships without bitterness
✨ The difference between a seasonal friendship and a toxic one
✨ What God may be teaching you in the transition
✨ How to make peace with relationships that changed without your permission

If you’ve been carrying disappointment, confusion, or heartbreak around a friendship, this episode is for you.

Friendships may change, but God’s faithfulness never does.

🎙️ Stay Connected:

Instagram: @simplyashcash
Podcast Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and tag us listening!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Relationships and Sisterhood

02:53 The Importance of Reciprocity in Relationships

05:59 Understanding Why We Chase Unreciprocated Relationships

08:43 Identifying Healthy Relationship Patterns

10:50 Choosing People Who Choose You Back

Have you ever found yourself constantly reaching out, making the plans, checking in, and carrying the weight of a relationship while wondering if the other person would notice if you stopped?

In this episode of Rooted & Radiant, we’re talking about one of the hardest but most freeing lessons we can learn: choosing people who choose you back.

Whether it’s friendships, dating relationships, family dynamics, or community, healthy relationships require mutual investment. We’ll explore why we often hold onto one-sided relationships, how to recognize when a relationship is no longer being reciprocated, and how God calls us to pursue meaningful connection without abandoning our own worth in the process.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, unappreciated, or emotionally exhausted from doing all the work, this conversation is for you.

✨ In This Episode:
• Signs of a one-sided relationship
• Why we chase unavailable people
• The difference between loving people and carrying them
• How to set healthy boundaries without becoming bitter
• What reciprocal relationships look like
• The freedom that comes from choosing relationships that are mutually life-giving

📖 Scriptures Mentioned:
• Philippians 2:4
• Psalm 139:14
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

💭 Reflection Question:
What relationships in your life feel mutually life-giving, and which ones may need a boundary, conversation, or reevaluation?

🎙️ Stay Connected:

Instagram: @simplyashcashPodcast Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend who may need this message today. Your support helps us reach more women with conversations that inspire faith, growth, and authentic community.

Until next time, stay rooted, stay radiant, and keep choosing the relationships that help you become who God created you to be. 💕

Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks like constantly pushing through.
Feeling emotionally numb.
Being exhausted no matter how much you sleep.
Losing excitement for things you once loved.
Or feeling like you’re carrying the weight of everything while still trying to show up for everyone else.

In this week’s solo episode of Rooted & Radiant, Ashley gets honest about burnout, survival mode, and the pressure to constantly produce in today’s world. This conversation dives into the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual impact burnout can have on our lives and why rest is not laziness, it’s necessary.

In this episode we discuss:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Burnout and Its Impact

02:04 Understanding Burnout: Signs and Symptoms

05:45 The Importance of Rest and Sabbath

08:47 Recognizing the Effects of Burnout

12:53 The Necessity of Boundaries and Self-Care

18:32 Spiritual Rest and Connection with God

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, emotionally drained, or stuck in survival mode, this episode is for you.

Stay connected with me:
Instagram: @simplyashcash
Podcast Instagram: @rootedandradiantpod

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to share it with a friend, tag me on your stories, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 🤍