In this episode we look back at how it started (a guest room closet + $20 mic + TV tray) and how God has grown us, our marriage, and this show over seven years—from fear and hustle to rest and trust. We talk about money, messy action, viral moments, criticism, love languages, parenting, and what "success" actually looks like for our family now.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." – 2 Timothy 1:7
⏱ Episode Timestamps
(Approximate – for your listening convenience)
00:00 – Welcome + 7 years of podcasting & 37th birthday 03:10 – Starting in a tiny closet with a $20 mic + messy action over perfect action 08:45 – "Can we afford this?" Money fears, stewardship, and still saying yes 14:30 – Social media spouse vs. no-social-media spouse (and Facebook Marketplace 😅) 20:20 – When episodes go viral, national media, and how the internet has changed since 2018 27:40 – The evolution of the show: politics seasons, homeschool seasons, and letting God set the themes 35:15 – Rest, surrender, and learning not to control everything 43:30 – How fear drove our hustle, and how God shifted our hearts and rhythms 50:45 – Love languages, marriage work, and realizing "I was serving my language, not yours" 1:00:10 – Parenting together: discipline, respect, and presenting a united front 1:08:30 – Work, motherhood, and the pull to find worth in what gives you a "report card" 1:17:00 – Redefining success for our family (time, presence, and faith over just numbers) 1:24:00 – Hopes, prayers, and open-handed trust for the next season of the podcast
💡 What We Talk About in This Episode
How a tiny closet and a $20 mic turned into a 7-year podcast
Why "messy action beats perfect action" (and why you really don't need a fancy setup)
Starting a creative ministry when you're not being great stewards with money yet
Being married to someone who isn't on social media (and why that's actually a gift)
Viral episodes, national media features, and why going viral isn't always fun
How the internet has gotten harsher since 2018—and what that does to your heart
Letting God quietly shape "seasons" of the show without over-planning content
The connection between control and fear—and how that showed up in work, marriage, and motherhood
Moving from hustle fueled by fear to work fueled by trust and rest
Love languages: why ours clashed, how we humbled ourselves, and what changed
Parenting as a team: not correcting each other in front of the kids, and choosing your "hills to die on"
The tension between mission, work, and home… and how God re-ordered priorities
Redefining success: not just financial, but spiritual, relational, and emotional health
Living with open hands: having no big "launch" on the horizon and trusting God with the next step
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28
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📖 A Thread Through the Episode
So much of this conversation comes back to:
Moving from fear → trust
From control → surrender
From hustle → rest
From self-worth in performance → identity in Christ
We've watched God gently re-order our priorities:
Our marriage
Our parenting
Our work
This podcast
And honestly? We wouldn't have believed this is where He'd take us when we were just two exhausted parents in a tiny closet with a TV tray and a cheap mic.
💬 Let's Chat
As you listen, consider:
Where are you operating out of fear instead of trust?
Where might control actually be the "polished face" of fear in your life?
What would it look like for you to work from rest rather than striving?
How would you define "success" if you let Jesus hold the pen?
Drop a comment: What's one area where you want to invite God to re-write the story this year?
