The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

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How is imposter syndrome killing your dream (and your confidence)?

If you’re stuck, stalled out, or struggling to say yes to your dream, maybe imposter syndrome is the thing holding you back.

Are you confused about what imposter syndrome is, whether you have it, or more importantly, how to get over it? If that’s you, this episode is full of hope that you can overcome imposter syndrome with God’s help. You’ll learn how to recognize imposter syndrome, how it impacts you, and why it’s so important to not let another day pass living under this attack on your identity.

You might have imposter syndrome if….

1. It seems to you like everyone else has it all figured out (everyone, that is, but you)
2. You can’t seem to ever get started on your dream
3. You downplay your proven skills and life experience
4. It’s easier to deflect compliments about your abilities than it is to receive them
5. You procrastinate important projects
6. You insist that once you have more education (or experience, knowledge or years under your belt) then you'll be ready to chase after your dream

Your freedom from imposter syndrome is so important that I created a free resource to help you get started. Get the Guided Scripture Reading Plan for overcoming imposter syndrome.

Loved this episode or have a thought you want to share? Come on over to the Facebook group to share what’s on your mind or to ask a question on a topic you wish I had covered.

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
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Are you weary of constantly striving? Have you tried everything to move your dream forward but find that no matter how hard you work it’s never enough?

Erica Wiggenhorn has been where you are. She has walked through the fire and been tempted in her journey to run after self-reliance, people pleasing and self-doubt. It’s the reason she is so passionate about seeing revival in God’s women in order that we might cease striving and choose to surrender and receive the abundant life Jesus promises.

Erica’s latest release Letting God Be Enough: Why Striving Keeps You Stuck and How Surrender Sets You Free is hitting the shelves on September 7, 2021, and she’s on the podcast today to offer up a little glimpse of the grace-filled Bible teaching to remind us of who we are in Christ and how that changes everything.

Erica is passionate about teaching women to dig deeply into God’s Word, to discover your unique purpose, accept God’s promises, and live by His power. I know you’re going to feel so refreshed after hearing from her in this episode.

In it we’re talking about:

1. How our struggle to trust God when things get hard is actually a lack of intimacy with his character. She reminds us that this an invitation to press into Him and ask for help so we can see Him for who He really is: a loving Father.
2. What to do if you’re not hearing from God even though you’ve been praying and begging Him for answers.
3. And how the poison of self-reliance is a tool the enemy uses to keep us questioning our faith and God Himself.

Loved this interview? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode.

MORE ABOUT ERICA:

Erica Wiggenhorn is an award-winning author and the founder of Every Life Ministries, bringing you the truths of Scripture to transform your life. Erica is the author of three Bible studies released by Moody Publishers: An Unexplainable Life, The Unexplainable Church and Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew.

Erica lives in Phoenix with her best friend & husband, Jonathan, and their four children only two of which are human, and the others are furry and adorable. You can connect with her and find out more about her writing and speaking ministry at ericawiggenhorn.com.

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The Devoted Dreamers Podcast is produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad Music Copyright 

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
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Do you ever feel like no one understands your passions? Like they just don’t get why you would pour so much of yourself into this dream? Megan Sjuts returns to the podcast this week to share what she’s learned about building community around your creative work and allowing God to push you out of your comfort zone to build and hone new skills within you.

If you’re ready to stop dreaming by yourself, this is the episode for you!

It’s always such a gift when a guest returns with an update about what God has been doing in her life and dream since she last shared on this podcast. In case you missed Megan’s debut here, you’ll want to go back and listen to episode 95 entitled Because You’ll Never Be Fully Ready to Start.

Megan talked before about not feeling qualified to teach design when she had just graduated from design school. She revisits this story and explains how the challenge of trying something she’d never considered and felt unqualified to do helped her grow.

It’s a reminder that God may use something unexpected to open your eyes to a passion you didn’t know you had or a skill you didn’t know you’d be good at. Because He’s like that, you can take it as permission to try scary things and take risks that feel out of your comfort zone just to see what God will do with it!

We end this conversation discussing the one ingredient that may be lacking in your creative work (Hint: many of you have told me this is true for you) and what you should do to rectify this immediately!

Loved this conversation? Have a thought you want to share? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode or ask a question that you wished we had covered.

Looking for the show notes? You’ll find them right here: https://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/210

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

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Have you ever wondered where God is when your life feels out of control, or your plan isn’t working out the way you thought it would?

Jamie Dodero was on a successful career track in the hotel industry when Covid-19 hit and she was furloughed. This is the story of how God used a significant professional setback (alongside major health issues in her newborn baby girl) to grow Jamie’s faith and fuel her dream to write a children’s prayer book. 

In this interview Jamie and I also talk about:

1. The times of testing you will face when you’re creating something new,
2. The importance of filling your cup first so that you can pour out to others, and
3. How letting go of the illusion of control over your life grows your trust in God.

Loved this interview? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode.

NEXT STEPS:

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW: On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts * Subscribe on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever looked at someone else living her dream and thought, “Wow! She’s so much further along than me” or questioned why dreaming a God-shaped dream is so difficult at times? We see only a tiny glimpse of their journey on social media or IRL but still we think other people have had an easier road or at least haven’t faced the challenges we have in our dreams.

This solo episode is about clearing away misconceptions you have about the path to a dream, how God uses our difficulties to remind us of our need for Him, and the three mistakes we want to avoid in understanding our part versus God’s part in pursuing our dream.

I’ll also share how God has been shaping my perspective on loss and redemption through biblical teaching and through His Word.

As you listen, I encourage you to ask yourself a few questions:

• What’s got you tied up in knots about your dream?
• What’s causing you to believe you’re not on the right road?
• Where do you have a fairy-tale-ending expectation when in fact, the twists and turns could be the exact path that was meant for you?

Loved this episode or have a thought you want to share? Come on over to the Facebook group to share what’s on your mind or to ask a question on a topic you wish I had covered.

NEXT STEPS:

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW: On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts * Subscribe on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

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I’ve got something special and a little different for you this week.

Back in May I was a guest on Connecting in the Chaos podcast, hosted by one of my podcasting students, Heather Oncken.

You might recognize the name. Heather was a guest on Devoted Dreamers for episode 197. We talked about How to Know When God is Speaking to Your Heart. Go check that out if you missed it.

Heather and I had such a great conversation when I was a guest on her show so she gave me permission to replay that conversation from her podcast here. We talked about how we can better support our friends in their dreams and what to do if you’re the friend who’s feeling a little bit alone in yours.

Join me back here next week for another one of my solo episodes to support and inspire you on your journey of following a God-shaped dream.

In the meantime, enjoy this replay of How to Support Our Friends in Their Dreams with me as a guest on the Connecting in the Chaos podcast.

You Might Also Be Looking For: 

Heather’s show notes for this episode

How to Know When God is Speaking to Your Heart, my episode with Heather Oncken on Devoted Dreamers

Learn more about the Your Purposeful Podcast course if you’re looking to launch your very own podcast.

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
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Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Have you struggled to fully commit to an aspect of your dream (or maybe even the whole dream)? Is making important decisions so difficult that you put it off or change your mind repeatedly?

This mini episode is about how Jane Springer battled her fear of failure and finally made a commitment she’d been wavering on for years. Listen to learn about what changed her mindset from fear to freedom in order that her dream could flow.

If you’re ready to finally make an important decision, this is the episode for you!

By the way, a “mini” episode is just a shorter conversation with a past guest sharing an update about her dream since she last came on the podcast.

In case you missed the original episode with Jane Springer in November 2018, she has been spinning her wheels for years, plagued with an inability to commit to one aspect of her dream. But she’s finally identified the problem and decided to move forward as a coach for Christian women in midlife who are ready to enjoy dating again.

My big takeaway from her story is that allowing feelings or fears to take the lead (instead of God) can be one of the greatest contributors to indecision and a lack of forward movement toward your dream.

But how do you stop this unproductive pattern? Jane shares what worked for her, and she and I both believe it can work for you too.  

Loved this conversation? Have a thought you want to share? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode or ask a question that you wished we had covered.

Looking for the show notes? You’ll find them right here: https://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/206

NEXT STEPS >>

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY:
Devoted Dreamers Podcast Facebook Group

BECOME A DEVOTED DREAMERS PATRON:
https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW:
On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE:
Apple Podcasts or Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Are you ever tempted to seek validation or affirmation from others?

Julie Holmquist thought that she had rooted her identity deeply in Christ, but as soon as she started taking scary steps of faith toward a dream, she realized that she was looking to other people to give her what only He could. And that turned out to be a distraction from the true purpose He had put in her heart.

Julie is an author, Bible study leader and host of the Kairos Moments podcast. She loves empowering women to stop playing it safe with their faith, to start leaning into their calling, and to begin putting bold action behind their God-given dreams.

But she starts out this conversation talking first about her dream that died, how she felt about it, and what happened as a result of submitting her loss to the Lord.

In this interview Julie also shares:

1. How to get unstuck from your feelings of loss when a dream dies,
2. Why you’ve gotta stop waiting for someone else to validate you and your dream (and what to do instead) and
3. How abiding with the Lord is the best fuel for your God-shaped dream

Loved this conversation? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode.

NEXT STEPS:

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW: On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts * Subscribe on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Despite the popularity of podcasts (there are 16 million “avid podcast fans” in the U.S., according to a 2018 Nielsen Q1 study), most people don’t realize what it takes to create content on a consistent basis in order to get those episodes into your podcast app.

If you’ve ever considered starting a podcast, the second most important decision to make is how to set yourself up for success so you can maintain consistency without burning out.  

That’s where my new course, Your Purposeful Podcast, comes in!

This bonus episode is a replay of a Live Q&A I hosted on Facebook on July 14, 2021, about the course which provides a simple, step-by-step framework to finally launch your podcast.

God created you for good works, which He prepared in advance for you—the Bible clearly states this. If He’s given you a powerful message to share—whether it’s related to a business, a ministry or even a hobby—podcasting is just one of the ways you can put it out in the world.

Your Purposeful Podcast is a self-paced course, meaning you can engage with the lessons whenever and however you want to. I’ll host monthly office hours on Zoom to answer all your questions and when you sign up you’ll have 24/7 access to our private Facebook group where you can engage with me and the other students in the course.

Want to know more? All the details are here: https://www.merrittonsa.com/yourpurposefulpodcast.

Next week I’ll be back on Wednesday with another interview, this time with Julie Holmquist, an author, Bible study leader and host of the Kairos Moments podcast. Julie loves empowering women to stop playing it safe with their faith, to start leaning into their calling, and to begin putting bold action behind their God-given dreams.

The journey to her dream was a series of starts and stops, so if you’ve felt stuck, fearful, or you’ve been waiting for someone else to validate your or your dream, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss it!

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CONNECT WITH MERRITT:

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GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW: On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts * Subscribe on Android

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Are you guilty of overthinking? You’re trying to figure out every little detail of a project and you’re so bogged down that you can’t even get started. In this mini-interview I bring Lauren Stengele back to the show to share an experience that gives hope to the overthinker and three easy steps for ditching those thoughts in exchange for momentum and direction for your dream.

If you’re ready to ditch worry and overthinking, this is the episode for you!

A “mini” episode is a shorter conversation with a past guest with an update about her dream since she last came on the podcast.

In case you missed the original episode in March 2020, Lauren Stengele is homeschooling her children in two languages because she believes so strongly in preserving her family’s heritage through the Spanish language. Along the way, she started developing Spanish language resources to support her kids and other families as well. As a result, her business, bilingualtogether.com, was born.  

My big takeaway from this one is the reminder that you can stop worrying about what might happen if you were to talk about something new related to your dream.

I think we too easily get caught up in overthinking, which keeps us from being willing to start or try new things. It halts any learning we could glean from our audience and stops our dream in its tracks. I believe this is the harder road to take: thinking we have to get it right the first time, all the time.

Instead, the three possible steps, based on Lauren’s experience, for finding direction and momentum for your dream are to:

1. Stop worrying; instead pray (Philippians 4:6-7)
2. Take a baby step (and ask for feedback)
3. Course correct (based on what you learn)

Loved this conversation? Have a thought you want to share? Come on over to the Facebook group to share your thoughts on this episode or ask a question that you wished we had covered.

Looking for the show notes? You’ll find them right here: https://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/204

NEXT STEPS >>

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY:
Devoted Dreamers Podcast Facebook Group

BECOME A DEVOTED DREAMERS PATRON:
https://www.patreon.com/DevotedDreamersPodcast

LEAVE A REVIEW:
On Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher

SUBSCRIBE:
Apple Podcasts or Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.