The Collide Podcast

What does it look like to live a life of purpose, even when the path is wildly unexpected?

In this inspiring episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Liz Bohannon to talk about finding purpose, pursuing passion, and making a meaningful impact in the world. Liz shares her unlikely journey from journalist to founder of an ethical fashion brand, offering insights on social justice, creative leadership, risk-taking, and empowering women. Whether you’re dreaming big, navigating uncertainty, or trying to figure out how to live a life that matters, this episode will remind you that your impact doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Liz is the founder of Sseko Designs, an ethical fashion brand that provides employment and educational opportunities for women in East Africa. Her work in social enterprise has been featured on Shark Tank, Bloomberg Business, and Ingram’s 30 Under 30. Liz is passionate about gender equity, creative leadership, and using business as a force for good. Her story is a powerful example of what happens when you choose courage over comfort.

• How to turn an unexpected path into a purposeful mission
• How Beginner’s Pluck™ can help you reframe failure, spark curiosity, and rediscover your sense of purpose
• What it takes to lead with creativity and conviction
• Why making mistakes might just be part of your calling

If you’ve ever felt like your story is too messy, too average, or too uncertain to matter, this episode will reignite your belief that God can use your exact path for powerful good. You’ll be reminded that purpose isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up with courage, creativity, and heart.

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How do you begin to heal when your story has been marked by betrayal?

In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Kristyn, a licensed mental health therapist who specializes in trauma and walks closely with women navigating heartbreak, betrayal, and restoration. Kristyn shares her own powerful story, offering insight, compassion, and wisdom for anyone who finds themselves in the aftermath of relational pain. Whether you’re trying to decide whether to stay or go, or simply searching for a way forward, this conversation offers a safe and grace-filled space to begin the journey toward healing. You’ll be reminded that even in the deepest pain, Jesus shows up—often in the most unexpected ways.

Kristyn is a licensed mental health therapist with a focus on trauma work in children, teens, and women. She also facilitates DivorceCare at a local church in Bellingham, helping individuals navigate the pain and complexities of marital separation and loss. Kristyn is especially passionate about walking with women healing from betrayal, no matter where their story leads. Her experience, faith, and empathy make her a trusted voice for those learning to trust again.

• How to begin healing after betrayal in a marriage
• What it looks like to walk with Jesus through heartbreak
• Why your story matters—no matter how messy it feels
• Insights from a therapist on navigating trauma and relational loss
• How faith and professional care can work together in the healing journey

If you’ve ever felt broken by someone you trusted or unsure of how to move forward, this episode will speak directly to your heart. You’ll be reminded that your pain is not the end of the story—and that healing, restoration, and hope are possible with Jesus walking beside you.

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It can be extremely difficult to know how to introduce and nurture a relationship with God for kids of all ages. How do you communicate a love that big and amazing with toddlers? Elementary kids? Preteens? Today on the podcast we welcome Tamara Lindhout, who has been a teacher for 20 years and works at a Christian school where she has impacted countless families with her gift of teaching kids about who God is.

After the important roles of wife, mom and nana, Sue is a Christian teacher, reader, writer and mentor. Having experienced spiritual fluctuations and the accompanying emotional rise and fall of each, Sue has wrestled with the valleys of sin and the heights of grace. To walk with another experiencing the same is a privilege she doesn't take lightly. A believer in "Everyone needs a good listening to," she listens emphatically, especially mentees. In this episode we got the privilege of hearing from Sue about 4 practical and impactful ways we can invest in other women.

Clinton and Charity founded Restored 2 More, a ministry focused on helping couples rebuild intimacy after infidelity and helping women heal from betrayal.This ministry is the overflow of God’s healing in their own story which they powerfully share in this episode. Infidelity is a subject that brings so much pain and yet these two offer hope and freedom! We can’t wait for you to listen in.

Brian C. Steele is a pastor, speaker, and author. After spending nearly a decade studying Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure, he loves helping people to find God’s kingdom right beneath their feet. His teaching venues have ranged from thousands of people in “megachurch” sermons to workshops and one-on-one coaching. Brian is the author of “The Kingdom Field Guide” - an Amazon #1 bestseller that leads people through immersive experiences to live in God’s kingdom. He is also a professional geologist and is in (partial) recovery from a bird-watching addiction. He delights in exploring the alpine wilderness with his wife, Katie, and dog, Banner.

Find Brian’s book at: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Field-Guide-Finding-Really/dp/1952602173

We hear all the time from amazing women who feel a rising up in them to lead, use their gifts, influence for the better, and to change the world. So, we brought in one of the best leaders we know to teach us about development, knowing yourself, and being effective. Todd King has been in ministry for decades serving in various roles including as a youth minister, a missionary in South Africa, and a lead pastor at multiple locations in the PNW. With a specialization in leadership development, team building and vision casting Todd has a passion to advance God’s Kingdom and start more churches.

When you think of worship, what likely comes to mind are devotional songs sang in a group. Whether it’s done with raised hands, hymnal books, a full drum set, or a beautiful choir, the idea of worship often involves music. But what’s behind the music? In this episode of the podcast we have Carlo Furlan, who has been a Worship Arts pastor for 13 years, help us zoom out and look at worship in an entirely different way.

Asking for help can be one of the hardest things to do as a human being. Whether it’s help around the house, help sorting through past traumas, help with your children, or help for your mental health, women often feel they are expected to hide their struggles. It takes incredible bravery to admit to yourself, and to others, that you could use support. Today on the podcast we’re interviewing Kara Carroll, who is the Middle School Ministry Coordinator with YoungLife and is one of the most magnetic people we know. Kara shares her story of seeking healing and help, and it’s an incredible testament to her strength and the faithfulness of God to meet us right where we’re at.

When everyone else seems connected and you feel like you’re on the outside looking in, Jesus reminds us that we were made to belong.

The holidays are supposed to be filled with family, connection, joy, and celebration—but what happens when your real life doesn’t look anything like the picture-perfect version you see on Christmas cards, movies, and social media?

Pastor Kurt Ingram joins Willow for an honest conversation about loneliness, belonging, broken relationships, and our deep human need for connection. Kurt explains that the holidays often magnify the distance between what we hoped our relationships would look like and what they actually are. That gap can leave us feeling even more disconnected during a season when it seems like everyone else belongs somewhere.

But beneath our longing for the perfect gathering is something much deeper: we want to know that we belong.

Kurt takes us back to the heart of the Christmas story and reminds us that Jesus didn’t enter a picture-perfect scene. He entered the mess of humanity. God came near so that we would know our worth, experience His presence, and understand that we are invited into His family—not once we have everything together, but right in the middle of our mess.

Willow and Kurt also talk about the complicated reality of relationships that have been wounded by conflict, rejection, trauma, grief, or loss. Kurt offers wisdom for holding two things at once: healthy boundaries and hope for reconciliation. We don’t have to pretend everything is okay or put ourselves back into unsafe situations simply because it’s the holidays. But we also don’t have to give up believing that God is capable of bringing healing and restoration.

And when the family or community we long for isn’t available to us, Kurt encourages us not to wait passively for belonging to find us. Connection requires risk and vulnerability. Sometimes we need to accept an invitation that doesn’t look like what we imagined, reach out to someone ourselves, or create space at our own table for someone else who is longing to belong too.

If you’ve ever felt lonely in a crowded room, disconnected from family, disappointed by the holidays, or like you’re looking through the window at everyone else’s belonging, this conversation is a reminder that you have a place with Jesus—and you can help create that sense of belonging for someone else.

Kurt Ingram is the pastor of Roosevelt Community Church in Bellingham, Washington. Throughout his years in ministry, Kurt has served with Young Life, pastored in Philadelphia, lived in the jungle of Peru, and now serves his community in the Pacific Northwest.

Kurt has a heart for people who are marginalized, forgotten, or feel like their voices aren’t being heard. As Willow shares, he is someone who “practices what he preaches” and lives out his faith through the way he welcomes and cares for others.

• When your holidays don’t match your expectations: Let go of the pressure to create the perfect experience. Sometimes the fantasy of what the holidays should be makes the reality hurt even more.
• When you feel like you don’t belong: Remember that your longing for connection is deeply human. We were created for relationship—with God and with one another.
• When you feel pressure to pretend: Real belonging doesn’t require you to hide what you’re actually experiencing. Pretending to be someone you’re not can deepen disconnection rather than heal it.
• When a relationship is broken: Tell the truth. Reconciliation doesn’t mean ignoring hurt, eliminating necessary boundaries, or pretending something didn’t happen.
• When someone is unsafe: Give yourself permission to create distance. You can protect yourself while still remaining open to the possibility that God can bring repentance, healing, and restoration.
• When you’re waiting to be included: Show up. Accept an invitation, reach out to a friend, invite someone for coffee, or create your own gathering. The connection you’re longing for may require vulnerability and initiative.
• When God feels far away: Look for Him in the mess rather than only in the beautiful moments. Emmanuel means God with us—in our pain, disappointment, loneliness, laughter, joy, and unmet expectations.
• When you notice someone else on the outside: Welcome them in. Jesus continually made people who felt marginalized, broken, and unwanted know that they belonged before they had everything figured out.

You don’t have to manufacture the perfect holiday to experience meaningful connection.

Maybe your family looks different than you hoped. Maybe a relationship is broken. Maybe grief has left an empty seat at your table. Maybe you’re waiting for someone to invite you in—or wondering whether anyone notices that you’re lonely.

Kurt reminds us that belonging often begins with risk, vulnerability, presence, and welcome.

Instead of comparing your life to what you see through someone else’s window, look around at what—and who—is already in front of you. Be willing to show up. Invite someone in. Share what you have. And remember that the heart of Christmas is a God who entered our messy world to say: You belong. You are welcome. You are family.

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