What if the walls in front of you aren’t proof that God has abandoned you, but evidence that He’s inviting you to trust Him deeper?

In this powerful and hope-filled episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Heidi Lee Anderson to talk about what it looks like to follow God when life feels anything but easy. From a cancer diagnosis at 23 to lingering fears, unanswered questions, and the ongoing battle for peace, Heidi shares how God met her in the waiting—and how He still meets us when the “Promised Land” feels hard-won. She opens up about fear, faith, and learning to trade the lie that life should be effortless for the truth that Jesus has already overcome. Whether you’re facing uncertainty, exhaustion, or a season that feels like constant battle, this episode will remind you that God is still writing your story—and He is faithful to finish it.

Heidi is a Bible teacher, speaker, author, and the founder of Heidi Lee Anderson Ministries. She’s the author of the devotional All In, All Yours, a 100-day chronological journey through the Promised Land that helps readers see how to seize, live, and rest in God’s best—even when life is hard. Heidi is passionate about helping women trade lies for truth and walk in the freedom and peace Jesus promises.

1. The difference between feeling fear and becoming fearful, and how to stop anxiety from defining you
2. How to navigate fear, anxiety, and uncertainty without letting them define or control you
3. What it looks like to trade the lie “life should be easier by now” for the truth that Jesus has already overcome
4. How God uses the hardest seasons of our lives to grow our faith and expand our spiritual territory
5. Why you can feel afraid without becoming afraid, and how that shift changes everything
6. Remembering what God has done in the past can give you the courage to keep going today

If you’re tired of feeling stuck in survival mode, waiting for the other shoe to drop, or wondering if you’ll ever experience the abundant life God promises—this conversation is for you.

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This episode originally aired in April 2023 and is being re-shared due to its continued impact.

What if letting go of control could actually set you free?

In this powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Tara Sun, author, podcaster and speaker, to talk about the challenges of control, independence, and self-sufficiency. Tara invites us to examine the ways we try to manage life on our own and offers practical insights for surrendering our story to God. Whether you struggle with perfectionism, fear of uncertainty, or the desire to do it all yourself, this episode will inspire you to cultivate a deeper dependence on God that leads to freedom and peace.

Tara Sun is the author of Surrender Your Story and the host of the Truth Talks with Tara podcast. She is passionate about helping others experience freedom through trusting God, letting go of control, and embracing His guidance. Tara’s story and teaching are a powerful reminder that true strength is found not in independence, but in reliance on God’s wisdom and timing.

1. How the need for control can limit your freedom and growth
2. Why surrendering your story is a path to peace and trust in God
3. Practical ways to let go of self-sufficiency and lean into God’s guidance
4. How dependence on God transforms your perspective, priorities, and daily life

If you’ve ever felt burdened by the pressure to manage everything yourself, this episode will challenge and inspire you to release control and trust God fully. You’ll be reminded that letting go isn’t weakness—it’s the gateway to freedom, peace, and a life anchored in His grace.

Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful.

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Join us in Portland!

Join us for our upcomming Collide Conference for Women in Portland! Get your tickets today!

Collide Conference for Women

What do you do when life changes in an instant—and you’re left holding grief while still caring for others?

In this deeply compassionate episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Clarissa Moll, grief advocate, author, and widow, to talk honestly about loss, parenting through grief, and finding hope when the future feels unrecognizable. After the sudden death of her husband while raising four young children, Clarissa learned firsthand how isolating grief can be—and how essential community, faith, and honesty are in the healing process.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Why grief is not something we “get over,” but something we learn to carry
2. How children experience and re-experience grief at different stages of life
3. The difference between healthy and unhealthy compartmentalization in parenting
4. Why fixing grief doesn’t help—but presence does
5. How to support grieving children without overwhelming them
6. What it looks like to ask for help when you’re exhausted and hurting
7. How faith can survive honest questions, anger, and lament
8. Why hope isn’t found in pretending pain doesn’t exist—but in trusting God within it

Clarissa also shares powerful insights on memory sharing, community support, and how grief and joy can coexist—reminding us that suffering does not get the final word.

If you’re navigating loss, walking alongside a grieving child, or wrestling with faith after heartbreak, this episode will remind you that you are not alone—and that healing doesn’t mean forgetting, but learning how to live again.

About Our Guest:

Clarissa Moll is a grief advocate, speaker, and author who specializes in helping individuals and families find hope after loss. She is the author of four books on grief and faith and has created bereavement resources for parents and children navigating loss together. Clarissa is passionate about helping people move from survival to flourishing—without minimizing their pain.

This episode offers compassionate grief support, practical tools for parenting through grief, and faith-filled hope for anyone navigating the loss of a loved one. You’ll walk away feeling seen, equipped, and reminded that even in deep sorrow, God meets us with tenderness, truth, and healing.

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Join us in Portland!

Join us for our upcomming Collide Conference for Women in Portland! Get your tickets today!

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What if your darkest chapter wasn’t the end of your story—but the beginning of something new?

In this honest and hope-filled episode of The Collide Podcast, we sit down with Leeana Tankersley to talk about what it looks like to hope in the middle of devastation, rebuild when life falls apart, and welcome new possibilities after loss, disappointment, or unraveling. Leeana shares wisdom from her own journey as a writer and woman of faith, inviting us to release our grip on hoping for specific outcomes and instead learn how to hope in God—especially when the future feels uncertain.

Whether you’re walking through your darkest chapter, piecing your life back together, or standing on the edge of something unknown, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: beginning again is holy work, and you’re not behind.

Leeana Tankersley is a writer, editor, university writing professor, and the author of six books including Brazen, Breathing Room, Begin Again, and Hope Anyway. With two English degrees and over two decades of experience in faith-centered storytelling, Leeana helps women step out of hiding, reclaim their voice, and live fully. Her work has been featured in CNN, Huffington Post, and Publishers Weekly. She lives in Central Virginia with her three teenagers and her mischievous Labradoodle, Rosie.

1. How to hold hope in the face of your darkest chapter
2. What rebuilding your life can look like after everything falls apart
3. Why letting go of hoping for can open the door to hoping in
4. How to welcome new possibilities when the future feels fragile
5. Why beginning again is not failure—but faith

If your life feels like it’s in pieces—or you’re wondering how to keep going when hope feels thin—this episode will meet you with compassion and clarity. You’ll be reminded that God is still at work, even here, and that no matter how many times your story has been rewritten, always, we begin again.

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How can you build a happy, healthy life while navigating complicated family relationships—and still set boundaries that honor your well-being?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with therapist Greg Fischer, PhD to talk about navigating complex family dynamics and setting healthy boundaries. Greg helps us unpack the unspoken roles, patterns, and scripts many of us inherit within our families—and how those dynamics impact our relationships as adults. Whether you’re navigating ongoing conflict, wrestling with forgiveness, or discerning when boundaries are necessary, this episode will remind you that healing is possible and clarity brings freedom.

Greg is a licensed therapist, assistant professor of clinical psychology at George Fox University, and former pastor with a deep understanding of family systems and relational healing. He holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy and brings both clinical expertise and pastoral wisdom into conversations around conflict, repair, and reconciliation. Greg is passionate about helping individuals and families move toward health, honesty, and sustainable connection.

1. How to take inventory of your family dynamics and relational patterns
2. How to recognize inherited roles and scripts that shape your behavior
3. Whether repair is possible after relational harm—and what it can look like
4. The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation
5. When boundaries are necessary and how to implement them well
6. The best ways to address conflict with a family member in a healthy, grounded way

If you’ve ever felt stuck in painful family patterns or unsure how to move forward without causing more harm, this episode will offer clarity, language, and practical tools. You’ll be reminded that setting boundaries is not unloving, repair takes wisdom, and you are allowed to pursue peace without abandoning yourself.

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What if faith was never meant to be complicated?

In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Kelsey Jenney, a longtime Young Life staff member, speaker, and certified Spiritual Director, to talk about what it looks like to keep our relationship with God simple - especially in seasons when prayers feel unanswered and hope feels hard to hold. Through meaningful conversation (and a little talk about guacamole, hummus, and peanut butter), we explore what it looks like to welcome God into the ache, practice the ministry of presence, and rest in a faith rooted in relationship rather than striving. Whether you’re weary, questioning, or longing for deeper connection, this episode will remind you that God is near—and simplicity can be sacred.

Kelsey is a longtime Young Life staff member with over 20 years of ministry experience, currently serving in disability ministry through Young Life Capernaum while also traveling, speaking, and hosting retreats. She is a certified Spiritual Director and is pursuing a Master’s in Spiritual Formation at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Kelsey is passionate about prayer, spiritual formation, and creating space for authentic encounters with God rooted in presence rather than performance.

1. Why keeping the gospel simple matters in real life
2. A mantra to hold onto when prayers feel unanswered
3. How to hold hope in the ache without rushing past pain
4. What the ministry of presence looks like in everyday faith
5. How imaginative prayer and spiritual consent invite deeper connection with God

All the Best – Connect with Jesus and find peace through guided reflections on Mary and Martha’s story, helping you overcome distraction, worry, and comparison.

Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful.

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What would it look like to renew your mind by allowing God to meet you in the thoughts you’ve been struggling to change on your own?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with therapist Emily Weidlich, MA, LPC to talk about reframing negative thought patterns as we step into a new year. Emily shares how our internal narratives are often shaped by past experiences—and how, with compassion and curiosity, we can begin to understand and gently challenge those thoughts. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and self-compassion, she offers practical insight into noticing what we think, naming what we feel, and responding to ourselves with grace. Whether you’re feeling stuck in cycles of self-criticism, longing for emotional clarity, or hoping to start the year with intention, this episode will remind you that change begins with awareness and kindness toward yourself.

Emily is a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in counseling from Western Seminary and a psychology degree from Multnomah University. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, she brings a grounded, relational approach to therapy that helps clients better understand their stories and inner world. Emily is passionate about creating a safe, supportive space where people can process the past, identify their needs, and develop healthier, more adaptive ways of thinking and responding to life.

1. How to recognize and reframe negative thought patterns without shame
2. Why understanding your past can bring freedom in your present
3. The connection between thoughts, emotions, and unmet needs
4. How self-compassion can transform the way you relate to yourself
5. Practical ways to approach the new year with intention rather than pressure

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own thoughts or frustrated by patterns you can’t seem to break, this episode will help you feel seen and supported. You’ll be reminded that healing doesn’t require perfection—just honesty, curiosity, and compassion—and that you’re allowed to move forward with grace, one thought at a time.

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What if the small habits you practice every day are shaping your faith and health more than the big moments ever could?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Justin Whitmel Earley to talk about how intentional habits and spiritual rhythms can lead to healing, clarity, and deeper connection with Jesus in the midst of a distracted world. Justin shares about recognizing what our bodies are telling us, the power of small habit shifts, and how spiritual disciplines shape not only our faith—but our mental and emotional health. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by busyness, longing for healthier rhythms, or craving a more grounded spiritual life, this episode will remind you that meaningful transformation often begins with simple, faithful practices.

Justin is a lawyer, author, speaker, and dad of four boys based in Richmond, Virginia. He is the author of The Common Rule, Habits of the Household, and Made for People, books that explore spiritual formation, family rhythms, and the deep human need for connection. Justin is passionate about helping people build grace-filled habits that anchor their lives in Jesus, even amid chaos and digital overwhelm. His story is a powerful example of how ordinary practices can form extraordinary faith.

1. Why your habits play a critical role in your spiritual, mental, and physical health
2. How to listen to what your body is telling you instead of pushing through exhaustion
3. The transformative power of small, sustainable habit shifts
4. How spiritual disciplines can positively impact mental health and emotional resilience
5. Why healing and formation often begin with simple daily rhythms

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, spiritually dry, or overwhelmed by the noise of daily life, this episode will offer practical hope and a gentle invitation to slow down. You’ll be reminded that God meets you in the small, faithful rhythms of everyday life—and that healing doesn’t require perfection, just intentional presence with Jesus.

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Where do you go when God feels distant—even though everyone says He’s “with you”?

In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Bob Marvel to talk about the deeply personal and sometimes confusing reality of Immanuel—God with us. Bob shares about seasons when God felt hard to sense, dismantling the myth that pastors have a “fast pass” to God. Through stories, theology, and lived experience, he offers insight on God’s nearness, spiritual dryness, false assumptions about faith, and how to meet God where you actually are—not where you think you should be. Whether you’re longing for God, walking through doubt, or feeling spiritually hungry, this episode will remind you that God has not moved—and He is closer than you think.

Pastor Bob Marvel has served as Senior Pastor of Cornwall Church for nearly 30 years and comes from a third-generation ministry family. A passionate teacher and shepherd, Bob has helped shape countless lives through his honest, Scripture-rooted approach to faith. His life and leadership reflect a deep love for Jesus, the local church, and helping people encounter a God who is truly present.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why God can feel distant even when Scripture promises He is near
• The myths we believe about who God is “with”—and who He isn’t
• Why pastors don’t have a closer connection to God than anyone else
• How Jesus revealed God’s nearness to the overlooked and unlikely
• Where to look for God when you feel spiritually dry or desperate
• Practical ways to move toward God when you don’t even know where to start

How This Episode Will Encourage You

If you’ve ever felt like God must be disappointed in you, far from you, or accessible to everyone but you, this episode will gently reframe everything you think you know about His presence. You’ll be reminded that God does not wait for you to get it together—He draws near right where you are, offering love, hope, and Himself.

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How do you hold on to hope when grief feels overwhelming—especially during the holidays?

In this honest and powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Doug and Laurie Bunnell to talk about walking through profound loss and choosing hope in the midst of deep grief. They vulnerably share about their experience with unimaginable loss and how God has met them in their pain, offering insights on grief, faith, resilience, and hope—particularly during the Christmas season. Whether you’re navigating loss, carrying quiet sorrow, or entering the holidays with a heavy heart, this episode will remind you that hope can still be found, even in the darkest moments.

Doug Bunnell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham, WA and Laurie Bunnell is a Preschool Director. Together, they are deeply committed to loving and serving people with compassion and authenticity. Their story is a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness in suffering and the courage it takes to keep trusting Him through grief.

1. What it looks like to walk honestly through grief without rushing healing
2. How faith can be stretched—and strengthened—through devastating loss
3. Why hope is still possible, even when circumstances don’t change
4. How to navigate the holidays while carrying grief

How This Episode Will Encourage You

If you’ve ever faced loss that feels impossible to carry—especially during a season meant for joy—this episode will offer comfort, permission to grieve honestly, and hope that you are not alone. You’ll be reminded that God meets us in our sorrow and gently invites us to keep going, one faithful step at a time.

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