She Speaks Stories

As you know, our podcast is called SHE Speaks Stories but we love it when a HE can come on and share his story with us! Philip Nation joins our love for storytelling by sharing the steps he’s made in his life that brought him from a shy kid to an educated speaker. He brings to light the importance of coming alongside other believers and strengthening each other through the good chapters, the hard chapters and the ‘carousel chapters’ that inevitably come up in our lives. Philip shares snapshots of moments of decision making, and with a transparent genuine tone really encourages us with wisdom from his years of ending chapters and starting new ones. There are dozens of tidbits and perspectives that we know will bring hope, help and healing into our lives!

Habits for our Holiness Book: https://a.co/d/iV2N1l4

Transformational Discipleship Book: https://a.co/d/gu2nVlk

As you may know, this season is filled with such an eclectic mix of stories all centered around decision making! After the recordings, our co-hosts, Katie and Julia, talk about how the episode went and have been personally impacted and wow’d at what God is showing them through these women’s stories. And our guest this week, Julie Condliffe, once again brought an awesome story to the table! Born in Zimbabwe, educated in the UK, redirected in South Africa… Her story is one that is filled with persevering through hard and over and over again and finding God with his invitation to ARISE. Throughout all the challenges, her desire was to bring hope to the next person. She does so with the perspective of being willing to keep trusting in God even when you are at the figurative (or literal in her case!) end of the road. Julie reminds us that in the hard, ALL things work together for good. She’s seen it, felt it and wants everyone to trust Him too. (To hear more of her story, get her book, Unbreakable!) 

PS

Here’s a little spoiler...but helpful for those who want to copy it down:

Acceptance

Redirection

Intuition

Sacred vision

Enjoy the journey!

Her website: https://juliecondliffe.co.uk/
Her book: https://a.co/d/gHAkL39

It’s always fun to make new connections and hear new stories! (At least we think so, because that’s what this podcast is all about!) When today’s guest, Lori Melton, agreed to share her story we had no idea how many incredible connections we would be making. Lori is an author, podcaster and spiritual director and in this episode shares with us all the decisions that lead up to where she is today. She reminds us that “life with God is an adventure.” And that when we watch out for what God is inviting us to do today, we should DECIDE to say YES. When we do that we will see some amazing connections, live through incredible stories and be able to turn around and give Him the glory for the many days he has given us. Lori also shares some amazing connections with Sharon Sharon Garlough Brown and Mr. Rogers! We truly felt we were chatting with a kindred spirit! 

We hope you’ll tune in and join us in these connections (have we said that word “connections” enough?) But that’s what our time together is really all about, and being with those special individuals, like Lori, who encourage all of us to make time to listen and spend time with Jesus.

PS

If you head over to her website, there is a “Sneak Peak” to her book available to read!

https://www.lorigmelton.com/

Episode with Sharon Glarlough Brown: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-141-sharon-garlough-brown/id1318514560?i=1000516375689

Hey Friends! This should come as no surprise, but we have another epic episode for you! Today we have the very lovely and knowledgeable Dr. Kimberly LeHew! This episode is all about health and the impact our decisions can make ON our health, and the importance of making decisions FOR our health. God walked Dr. Kimberly through so many different paths to give her the tools, perspective and understanding to not only bring her back to Him but combine all these elements together so she could help others! If we want real healing, we need to detox and reset our mind, body and soul, and only then can we truly build health into our lives. Her desire is for everyone to find sustainable health; not a quick fix, diet trick or effortless option. If we do the work we can find ourselves living the lives God wants for us. We are so thankful for Dr. Kimberly’s heart to take what she figured out and discover how she can help others take care of our bodies, minds and souls too! 

https://www.drkimberlylehew.com/

This season when we sit down with guests to discuss the topic of making decisions we have been blown away by the unique and powerful perspective they’ve brought, and not only does today’s episode fit that perfectly, but it also steps deeper into some practical application! Myshel Wilkens is well-spoken and full of truth. With her authenticity she cuts away excuses and she does it with a soft, stable and welcoming attitude. From this beautiful place she asks, “Who is God to you?” because that will determine your decisions. She invites us to let God be as big as he is and shares how she had to sit herself down and have an honest conversation with God. She said she needed to know him for herself. And encourages us all to really take the time to know Him, so we can trust him so we can live our lives fully. There’s a reason why we are here and when we are closer to God we can see all those amazing reasons. In her devotional book she transparently shows us how we can do just as the title states: Arise, Shine and Conquer. You guys aren’t going to want to miss this episode!!

https://www.myshelwilkins.com/

Friends, we are here for a BONUS episode to join with our dear friend Bjou Mushengezi and talk about her Moseka Action Project Gala on October 25, 2025! We want as many people to attend and become educated about the tragedies happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also be encouraged, even if we can’t attend the gala, to support the incredible work Bjou and her team are doing for the lives of so many women and children. In this episode Bjou says that we are here to do God’s work, which is advancing the kingdom by taking care of those who are suffering. This is such a powerful message and reflects Jesus’ ministry. When Bjou talks about the importance of standing together, it reminds us that God has us here for a purpose, beyond comfort. We all can impact the world and help others who can’t stand themselves. This definitely looks differently for each of us, but we hope this episode will open your heart to ask God what exactly that looks like, and we invited you to join us in praying for the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

Moseka Action Project: https://www.mosekaactionproject.org/

Her boys’ first time ministering in Leesburg:

https://x.com/cabot_phillips/status/1970158530612150381

to support her son’s bible ministry: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fuel-their-mission-sharing-gods-word

The Power of Women, by Dr. Mukwege:  https://a.co/d/9JRV5ne 

Past Episodes with Bjou: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-205-international-womens-day-with-bijou/id1318514560?i=1000648484369

Friends, join us as we chat it up with Laine Lawson Craft! Laine walks us through two pivotal decision making times in her life that, as she looks back, literally brought life into her dead marriage and a chance at life for her three prodigal children. Decisions are a huge part of our lives, but are so tricky. In this episode, Laine shares with us how she asked God to close doors, asked God to guide them as they “tapped the water”  and saw again and again how making decisions out of obedience reaped days of blessings. In her wisdom she reminds us that it’s not our timeline, but His, but eventually we can see the good in making the right choice, and how God fueled the ability to survive it! We are reminded to ask God for help just as we are, and see all the good He can bring because He loves us!

Get connected with her or find her books here:
https://lainelawsoncraft.com/

A couple years after the start of our podcast, after Katie and Susan got it going and saw all of these stories changing lives, Gwen joined the team of storytellers. In God’s perfect providence Gwen added an element of creativity that the podcast needed as the story curator. Fast forward to Katie receiving her cancer diagnosis. Gwen was a rock of stability the podcast needed and an element to the foundation of the stories we continue to share today! 

So it is absolutely fitting that we side-step our theme for a moment to share some news from Gwen, during a time where she can use the support she so generously and faithfully provided Katie, during her cancer diagnosis. This episode is an update, but also one where we remember what God is capable of and a story of hope even when we are walking through the valleys. 

Ps

If you’d like to send a note to cheer Gwen on, please send it to: [email protected] and we’ll be sure to pass it on to her!

Link to Praying like Monks, Living like Fools https://a.co/d/7QGVzBk

As we dive into our NEW season with the theme all about decisions we really could not have started with a better guest if we tried! Rosann Coulon joins us in this episode where we talk about how decisions that she made opened up doors for change, hope and the ability to encourage others! She was a “PK” raised in an idyllic home, but like in so many of our lives at times, hardship hit. Rosann had to decide how to process her pain, how to regain her trust and be honest with herself and God. In these steps she was able to “leave a well” for others to find when they were feeling the same dryness in their faith. She responded with “God I’ll keep coming.” How she does this, and what comes next is all shared in this episode! Lean in, friends, this story will change lives!

ps

Psalms 84:6

As they go through the Valley of Baca (weeping) 
    they make it a place of springs (wells);
    the early rain also covers it with pools.

Links: 

Leaving A Well Website, with Blog, Ministry and Book info: 

https://www.leavingawell.com/

Katie and Julia are so excited to share with you our new theme for not just the fall season of 2025, but also the spring of 2026! Yes, this theme has piqued the interest of so many that our guest list overflowed past the fall dates all the way through our spring calendar and we are not disappointed at all. 

In this episode, Katie Hawkins shares kind of where this Making Decisions theme came from and she and Julia chat about how predetermined decisions really can impact our lives and ultimately our stories!

Links:

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton

https://a.co/d/efdZYsQ

Think Ahead by Craig Groeshel

https://a.co/d/3vpwYux 

The Rhythm of Life by Matthew Kelly

https://a.co/d/5f4MdoH