The Small Town Girl Podcast with Jenn VanHekken

Kayla Sluka joins me for a conversation about race, allyship, and finding herself without any boxes to check.  She shares her journey from growing up in a very diverse area of New Mexico, where having brown skin was just a part of everyday life, to her move to West Michigan where she began to see and feel the differences around her.

She shares the wrestling that she has had to do around finding her identity as a bi-racial women, the way that she has begun to navigate conversations about race and social justice, and the importance of taking sustainable steps toward reconciliation.

You don't want to miss this conversation, so make sure to listen in at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast or anywhere you get your favorite podcast episodes!

22-year old Anika Pitcher sits down and shares her story of addiction and mental illness, and the way that her family, and the God that chases after us, helped her turn her life around.  

She shares the way that "typical college drinking" became an opening for alcohol abuse, the role of anxiety and depression in her life both as an alcoholic and in recovery, and the absolute power of getting to lead worship and truly understanding the words that she gets to sing.

Plus, we talk about the new dreams that God is laying on her heart, why sharing our story with others is so important, and the importance of never giving up on those we love...even when they seem like they are too far gone.

Listen in to this incredibly powerful story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere that you get your favorite podcast episodes. You don't want to miss it!

Find Anika's YouTube channel here to hear more of her story.

We're finishing up our Enneagram series with our Enneagram 9s, Steve Deur and Alina VanHekken.  Steve and Alina sit down and share their experiences as Peacemakers and Mediators, and the steps they are taking to learn to step gracefully into conflict.

Plus...we talk about what it's like to see all sides of a situation, why its important to learn about others' perspectives and life experiences, and how Steve and Alina are both learning to raise their voice and recognize that their presence matters.

Sarah LeFebre and Chris VanHekken sit down and talk all things Enneagram 8.  We chat about the difference between being domineering and being assertive, the ways that leadership comes naturally to them, and why they are so passionate about lifting others up.

Plus...Sarah's husband Matt and I join in to talk about what it's like to love an Enneagram 8, what we've learned along the way, and how we've learned to create space for vulnerability.  You absolutely don't want to miss this episode. Check it out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you get your favorite episodes.  Listen in today!

Monica Steimle-App and Kevin Stinehart sit down and share their experiences as adventurers, enthusiasts, and all-around optimists. We talk about the ways they are learning to embrace negative emotions as they arise, how they focus on the now, and the joys of road-tripping without an itinerary.

Plus...they share why it's so important to surround themselves with great teammates and partners, how they stay focused and organized, and why life is much better when it's filled with rainbows and unicorns.

Listen in at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you get your favorite episodes. 

Marc Driesenga and my favorite girl, Kaitlyn Van Hekken, sit down and talk all things Enneagram 6.  We talk about loyalty, fear, and why T-Charts and Venn Diagrams are their favorite tools for decision-making.

Plus...we talk honestly about anxiety and mental illness, the way that they each deal with those in authority, and why Allyship is so important to both of them.  

Listen in as Marc and Kaitlyn share what it's like to face their fears and step forward courageously into the future...even when they're scared of the consequences.  Find this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you find your favorite podcast episodes.

Jodi Schaap and Ashley Tuitel sit down and talk about their experience as Enneagram 5s. They share the difficulty of opening up and being vulnerable, their personal need for space, and why invitations are so important to them.

Plus we talk about why Enneagram 5s push so hard to take care of themselves, the difference between knowledge and understanding, and what they are learning about themselves and others along the way.

Listen in to this (and other) great Enneagram episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, and anywhere you get your favorite episodes.

I sit down with Jodi Dykstra and Brendon Enders, both Enneagram 4s, who share all of their experiences as Individualists and Romantics.  They talk about being in touch with their own emotions and wishing others were too, the push-pull of being accepted vs. being unique, and the way that creativity and artistry has played a role in their lives.

We also talk about the movie phenomenon...the idea that Enneagram 4s see the world around them like a movie and their lives as a role within it...plus they share their best advice for other Enneagram 4s out there and their best advice for loving an Enneagram 4 well.

Listen in today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you get your favorite podcast episodes!

Rob and Jill Garrison sit down and share their experience as Enneagram 3s.  We talk parenting, team-building, and why it's so hard to turn everything off and just relax.

They share the way that self-reflection and investing in personal growth has helped them grow into better versions of themselves, and how understanding that each person sees the world differently has been a game changer for building their business.

Plus...we talk friendships, marriage, and the importance of acknowledging our failures in order to grow from them.  It's a great episode with two of my all-time favorite Enneagram 3s.  Find it today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Jennvanhekken.com/podcast, or anywhere you find your favorite podcast episodes.

Ali McGee and Jeff Schipper, both Enneagram 2s, sit down and talk all about their experiences as Helpers, Givers, and all-around genuinely nice people.

They share why it's so hard to say no to others, the way they both have a hard time separating their needs and their feelings, and how investing in their own well-being has been a game changer.

Listen in as Ali and Jeff share their lives as Enneagram 2s and help us all understand how to love others (and ourselves) better!