Do you find yourself seeking validation from the number of likes and follows you get online? Do you feel your value diminish when your perfectly crafted caption doesn't get the results you were hoping? Do you wish you could be less connected to social media? Allie Marie Smith and Kate Merrick talk about the concept of digital minimalism, discussing its importance in vibrant mental wellness and the role it can play in having authentic relationships. They share personal experiences and practical tips for reducing digital distractions, emphasizing the value of living in the moment and prioritizing real-life connections over social media followers. They highlight potential negative impacts of excessive screen time on our mental health and the importance of having boundaries with technology use.

Conversation Topics:

Digital minimalism focuses on optimizing technology use for what truly matters.

Living a life of digital minimalism can lead to greater joy and fulfillment.

Setting boundaries around technology can enhance personal relationships.

Digital distractions often overshadow the sacredness of our lives.

Comparison on social media can diminish self-worth and joy.

Choosing to live in the moment can lead to deeper connections.

Limiting screen time can improve mental health and wellness.

Real-life experiences are more valuable than online validation.

It's important to ask what we gain from our technology use.

Living counter-culturally can lead to a more meaningful life.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Wonderfully Made

02:13 Understanding Digital Minimalism

10:33 The Impact of Digital Minimalism on Life

14:53 The Sacredness of Life and Relationships

19:48 Life Before and After Digital Minimalism

25:35 Practical Tips for Digital Minimalism

27:03 Mental Wellness and Digital Minimalism

33:21 The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

40:16 Living Authentically Beyond the Screen

46:25 The Cost of Digital Distraction

51:28 Empowering Choices for a Better Life

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZMk70b-iLDk

Get our Guide: "15 Social Media Boundaries to Protect Your Joy"

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

Get the show notes https://wonderfullymade.org/2025/06/23/digital-minimalism/

This episode is a very special one! Be the first to experience her new book "Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy." Allie reads from day two, titled "Your Wild and Precious Life." Grab a copy today and invite your friends to join you for a radical, joy-filled journey as you unplug from social media for thirty days, reconnect with God, and reclaim your joy! Share this episode with a friend!

More about Social Media Reset

Discover the joy, freedom, and flourishing life that comes with taking a social media break.

We long for lives full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others. And yet, we have become programmed to seek peace, contentment, and happiness in our phones. Deep down, we know this isn't how we were created to live. As endless scrolling leaves us feeling anxious, depressed, distracted, and alone, we realize our deepest needs cannot be met by turning to social media in every slow and mundane moment.

If you feel like your digital life could use a reset, you are not alone. Allie Marie Smith, life coach and author of Wonderfully Made, has walked this road and found freedom and a more fulfilling life. In Social Media Reset, she invites you to pause for 30 days and seek restoration in your mind, heart, body, and soul.

While the thought of a social media break can feel daunting, Allie is a wise and compassionate guide who will help you:

• Show up for your life with a new level of excitement, intentionality, and joy
• Take inventory of social media's effect on your physical and mental health as well as your relationships
• Restore hope that a life of peace and contentment is possible
• Discover alternate, healthier ways to enhance your life and increase your well-being
• Seek in God what you may seek in your phone through prayer, reflection, and practical application

Whether you're looking to find true connection, rediscover your passions, or a new way of life that brings you joy, Social Media Reset will help you reconnect with what truly matters and guide you toward a life you love, of greater purpose and fulfillment.

Order Social Media Reset on Amazon

Learn more about Social Media Reset

Take the free quiz: How is social media affecting your well-being?

What is one thing in your life that is keeping you from experiencing freedom, joy, and a flourishing life? If you were to remove this one "weed" in your life, how would it transform your life and help you step into your God-given potential? Christie and Allie talk about the power of identifying and removing the "weeds" in our lives that hinder our spiritual and personal growth. With vulnerability, they share their own stories of overcoming challenges, including addictions and unhealthy relationships, and the importance of a relationship with Jesus as our foundation for true transformation. They close by talking about the impact of social media and alcohol on mental health, and the hard work required to cultivate a fulfilling life.

Conversation Topics

Transformation begins with identifying the weeds in our lives.

A relationship with Jesus is the most powerful way to be transformed.

Common weeds include addictions, unhealthy relationships, and self-destructive patterns.

Sin can rob us of a flourishing life, but God's grace offers freedom.

Personal stories of overcoming self-centeredness and vanity.

Alcohol and social media can be significant weeds that numb our pain and hinder our growth.

Tending to our lives requires commitment, wisdom, and hard work.

We have the agency to make changes in our lives that can bring freedom and joy.

The journey towards an abundant life involves replacing negativity with beauty and goodness.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the New Studio

02:31 Transforming Your Life: The Power of Weeding

05:05 Identifying Weeds: Common Struggles

08:16 The Role of Jesus in Transformation

10:36 Personal Stories of Weeding Out Negativity

13:46 The Impact of Alcohol and Vanity

16:55 Social Media: A Modern Weed

19:48 The Hard Work of Pulling Weeds

22:43 Tending to Your Garden of Life

25:04 The Journey to Flourishing

27:59 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Watch this in-studio episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZMk70b-iLDk

Get our Guide: "15 Social Media Boundaries to Protect Your Joy"

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Allie Marie Smith, author of "Social Media Reset," challenged her friend, Chrissy Kirkman, to a social media break. Reluctantly, she took the challenge and shared her experience and the joy and freedom she experienced because of it. They talk about social media's impact on mental health, body image, and personal relationships. Chrissy shares about the hesitations she had, the challenges she faced, and the transformative effects they had on her life. She talks about how her social media break allowed her to reconnect with God and live a flourishing life offline. You'll be inspired to try a social media break! Grab a copy of Allie's book "Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy."

Conversation Topics:

Social media can significantly impact mental health and body image.

Taking a break from social media can lead to personal growth and freedom.

It's important to recognize the signs of social media addiction.

Finding Balance offers resources for those struggling with food and body image issues.

Chrissy's experience highlights the importance of community support in recovery.

Disconnecting from social media can enhance real-life relationships.

Mindful movement and reconnecting with nature can improve mental well-being.

The decision to unplug can be a spiritual journey.

Encouragement to seek God's guidance in making lifestyle changes.

Life is fleeting, and it's essential to prioritize meaningful connections.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Purpose

01:05 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

10:23 Chrissy's Personal Journey with Social Media

20:09 The Decision to Take a Social Media Break

26:46 Life After the Social Media Reset

33:15 Encouragement for Others Considering a Break

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Have you ever experienced grief or an unbearable season of loss? Whether it's the loss of someone you love, a relationship, or an unfulfilled dream, God wants to bring you peace and comfort and walk through this season with you. In this episode, Julie Davies, Licensed Counselor, and your co-host, Christie Myers, talk about finding God's comfort amidst grief and loss. They share personal stories of grief, the stages of grief, and the importance of community and connection in healing. This episode highlights how important faith is in coping with loss, finding joy in difficult seasons, and the promises of God that provide hope during difficult times. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Takeaways

Finding comfort in God is essential during grief.

It's okay to feel sad about loss and brokenness.

Jesus wept, showing us it's normal to grieve.

God wants to bring us peace and comfort.

Grief can manifest in various stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

It's important to let yourself experience grief fully.

Depression can be a normal response to grief, but it should be monitored.

Community support is crucial during times of loss.

Joy can coexist with suffering and can be found in small moments.

God's promises provide hope and strength in difficult times.

Chapters

00:00 Finding Comfort in Grief and Loss

02:51 Personal Stories of Grief and Healing

06:10 Understanding the Stages of Grief

08:49 Coping Mechanisms for Grief

12:08 The Role of Community in Healing

14:58 Joy Amidst Suffering

17:47 God's Promises in Times of Grief

20:47 The Gospel and Finding Hope

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and the author of Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have Is Not the Life You Hoped For. Elizabeth knows what it like to have unfulfilled longings and unmet dreams. In this conversation, she helps us walk through our own areas of loss or disappointment, reminding us that it's okay to grieve the life we hoped for and shares how the spiritual practice of lament can help us find healing. Elizabeth shares six stages that can help us make peace with our stories and move forward even when the future is uncertain. Friend, whatever you story is — be encouraged that God has not forgotten you. Have faith that you can find purpose and joy as you embrace the beautiful and unique life God has given you to live. Get the show notes and noteworthy links at wonderfullymade.org.

Have you or someone you know experienced sexual trauma and abuse? Author and Counselor Tabitha Westbrook joins Allie Marie Smith to discuss the profound impact of sexual trauma and abuse on girls and women's lives. Tabitha shares her personal journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse and an abusive marriage, emphasizing the importance of faith, community, and professional support in the recovery process. They delve into the concepts of sexual shattering, shame, and the often-overlooked issue of spiritual abuse, offering hope and encouragement to those who have experienced similar traumas. This conversation offers a message of hope, healing, and the desire for wholeness. Be encouraged — you can heal and live in freedom!

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Get the show notes

Do you struggle with the fear of failure or trusting God through the difficult seasons of your life? Dr. Heather Thompson Day joins us to talk about the importance of trusting God through life's seasons, navigating fear and failure, and understanding the true meaning of passion. She shares her personal journey of identity and purpose, the role of suffering in discovering passion, and the dangers of emotional numbness. Heather and Christie talk about how to trust God in every season of our lives and how winter seasons can shape us into the woman God created us to be.

Conversation Topics:

-Life is a journey with highs and lows.

-Trusting God is essential in every season.

-Passion is defined as suffering for what you love.

-Identity can be tied too closely to our roles.

-Surrendering means letting in new possibilities.

-Numbness is a choice we make over time.

-We can unlearn fears and embrace life.

-Highs and lows are part of the human experience.

-Wintering seasons can lead to self-discovery.

-God's presence is constant, even when we don't feel it.

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Get the show notes

In this episode, Allie Marie Smith interviews Nicole Zasowski a licensed marriage and family therapist, about the coexistence of joy and pain in life. They discuss Nicole's personal journey through loss and the importance of embracing both emotions. The conversation delves into the neuroscience behind joy and pain, practical ways to practice Thanksgiving, and the significance of agency in personal transformation. Nicole also shares insights from her new Bible study, 'Daring Joy,' which explores the power of celebration amidst life's challenges.

Topics discussed:

Nicole's Personal Journey with Joy and Suffering

The Neuroscience of Joy and Pain

Practicing Thanksgiving in Daily Life

Understanding Emotional Pain

The Power of Agency in Transformation

Daring Joy: A New Bible Study

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Get the show notes

Do you struggle with an eating disorder or chaotic eating? Are you always dieting, restricting, or do you ever binge or purge? In this episode, Allie Marie Smith and guest Brittany Braswell discuss the complexities of eating disorders, their impact on us, and the journey towards recovery. Brittany shares her professional insights, emphasizing the importance of understanding different types of eating disorders, recognizing when help is needed, and the three keys to recovery: science, body wisdom, and faith. They talk about the importance of inviting God into the healing process and offer practical tips to help you heal and find freedom. Keep showing up, fight for recovery and bring God into the center of this struggle. Healing and freedom is possible for you!

Key Points

Understanding Eating Disorders and Their Impact

Brittany's Journey and Professional Insights

Types of Eating Disorders Explained

Recognizing Eating Disorders and Seeking Help

Three Keys to Recovery: Science, Body Wisdom, and Faith

The Role of Faith in Recovery

Practical Tips for Overcoming Eating Disorders

Visit our website.

Get Allie's book "Social Media Reset" Get Allie's book "Wonderfully Made"

Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.

Get the show notes