The Tried & Truth Podcast: Rethinking Success for This Season

Artist Anne Neilson invites us to experience the brushstrokes of life on the canvas of our lives in this conversation - allowing brushstrokes, textures, and explosions of color that come through every trial, joy, heartache, and hope we encounter to shape us and create beauty. Through sharing her own personal journey, she’s coming alongside of your in yours as you uncover the gifts within you, right where you are, even in the messes, the mundane, and the mistakes. You’ll hear more about creating impact with whatever you have, taking leaps of faith, not being afraid of failure, staying true to who you are and what you’ve been called to and the power of a heart and life surrendered. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[1:35] Brushstrokes of Life & Anne’s story 

[1:26] The “D-” in 10th grade art

[4:31] Your life as a blank canvas

[6:56] The message in our messes 

[9:47] When the voice of discouragement sneaks in

[14:29] Lesson learned along the way - drown out the doubts and naysayers

[16:05] Stay true to what God has called you to

[17:31] The small whisper that led to her next step

[19:26] Selling the first 1500 copies - from Oprah to Kathy Lee Gifford and beyond

[21:40] When hobby turned ministry 

[24:28] The power of surrender and contribute right where you are

[27:03] It’s hard to partner with God when our fists are clenched

[28:22] One step at a time 

[29:36] “We could change the world with that” &  the leap of faith moment

[31:37] Challenges and obstacles in staying true to our vision

[32:40] What advice would you give someone trying to figure out what’s next?

[36:40] What does success look like to you?

[38:44] Comparison is the thief of joy 

[42:21] Truths & Takeaways

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ABOUT ANNE NEILSON

Well known for her ethereal Angel Series, which are inspiring reflections of her faith and recognized for their stunning use of color. In response to demand for more access to her acclaimed Angel paintings, Neilson published two coffee table books and launched Anne Neilson Home, a growing collection of luxury home products, including candles, note cards, Scripture cards, prints, and journals. Neilson also owns Anne Neilson Fine Art, a gallery located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Representing more than 50 talented artists from across the world, the gallery is dedicated to being a lighthouse in Charlotte and beyond, illuminating the work of emerging and established artists and is the author of the newly released book, The Brushstrokes of Life. Find Anne on her website at www.anneneilsonhome.com or on Instagram @anneneilsonhome AND @anneneilsonfineart.

Lauren Fuhr, artist and designer, joins us on the podcast to talk all about creating something original, meaningful relationships, purposeful living, and the art of boundaries. Lauren shares tips on building genuine connections with people, entrepreneurship, and the importance of enjoying the season that you’re in. After this conversation with Lauren, you’ll be inspired to notice more of the small things around you, recognize your limits and perhaps set some boundaries in your life, chase a definition of success that actually aligns with who you are, and have some practical tips on personal and professional growth. 

-About Lauren Fuhr-

​​Based in Denver, CO, designer and artist Lauren Fuhr has worked with notable brands both locally and nationally, including Magnolia, Amber Lewis Interiors, House & Garden Magazine, and more . She creates paintings, home décor, and apparel that promote an artful, beautiful and purposeful lifestyle.

Follow Lauren and her work on Instagram @laurenfuhrdesign.co or visit her website at www.laurenfuhrdesign.com

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[1:43] The story behind the art 

[4:36] Did you begin with the confidence to do your own thing or did you work for someone first?

[4:48] Taking the pressure off with a day job 

[9:32] What is purposeful living?

[11:29] Is your art a true outflow of something that's happening in your own life or inspiration that you received somewhere else? How do you start a creative endeavor?

[14:10] The importance of boundaries 

[16:47] Lessons learned in building relationships and building a brand

[19:45] Building authentic and genuine relationships

[21:09] How do you stay true to who you are and what do you wished you'd learned sooner?

[21:45] Enjoying the season that you’re in

[24:05] Spouses fingerprints on the work we create 

[27:46] How can we really begin to see greater art and wonder all around us? 

[30:30] A tip for anyone who wants to start a business without a business background

[35:35] What does success look like to you?

[40:15] Truths & Takeaways 

This week, we’re talking with Lauren Chandler about pursuing our dreams and sharing our gifts AND how to come alongside our spouses as they pursue theirs, too! We’re talking about the inspiration behind her work, growing together with our spouses, and knowing when to rest and take a step back from what's before us. Lauren shares insights on her love for stirring people's hearts, advice for anyone with a dream or desire who feels like now isn't the right time PLUS you won’t want to miss her top 3 parenting tips - yes, please! 

Learn more about Lauren’s work and what she’s up to on her website at laurenchandler.com 

Or you can follow along on Instagram @laurenchandler

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[4:25] Lauren on being a beauty seeker 

[5:06] How do you infuse the idea of stirring up beauty and stirring up people's hearts into each of the areas of your life? 

[10:40] The art of creating based on what we’re learning

[11:17] My sob story from their marriage conference 

[17:00] When we let the walls down 

[17:16] Tips for when both spouses have dreams, desires and vocation/calling to pursue 

[19:17] No season is wasted - The gifts and the dreams He has put in your heart - He will grow them even there in those maybe more hidden places for the time when it's your turn to have the room be made for you.

[24:05] How do you know when to take a step back and rest?

[29:15] For someone who has dreams, desires, or there is something that they want to go back to school to do, or work to create, or a business to start, or a ministry to start BUT they feel like now is not the time, what would you advise?

[30:42] Planting the seeds for our dreams

[33:33] 3 Parenting Tips for parents today 

[46:52] What does success look like for you or your home?

[49:51] Truths & Takeaways

Do you feel like emotions get the best of you when you’re triggered? Do you simultaneously desire stronger, richer, healthier lives and relationships - especially the one with your spouse? Amber Lia joins us this week to talk all about flipping the switch on how we view marriage “triggers” and leads us into a conversation all about opportunity for growth in our homes and lives. She invites us into her own journey and work around marriage, parenting, and health triggers, what she’s learned, what they signal, and how to use them to create transformation in our own hearts and minds.  She reminds us of an important truth - whatever you’re going through today is not the end of the story. 

We unpack two of the most common marriage triggers - being too busy & idolizing expectations we place on our spouses. Amber talks about success and the grittiness and resilience it requires, who modeled it best, how the obstacles before really can be the way. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 

[2:53] Amber’s story/not alone in your struggles

[6:03]the desire to protect our reputation 

[8:12] Flipping the switch: triggers are opportunities

[10:20] What level of frustration and anger is okay?

[10:50] Applying truth “in our own backyard”

[12:34] Not alone in your struggles 

[13:34] Triggers are a signal for growth 

[14:46] Marriage triggers

[17:11] Two of the most common marriage triggers

[19:26] The idol of "spouse expectations" 

[24:04] The legacy of our marriage - practical tips

[26:53] What you do today matters

[28:20] What do you wish you’d learned sooner?

[33:35] We're here for a reason

[37:00] The obstacle is the way 

[40:00] Truths & Takeaways

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Mentioned in this episode: 

Find Amber Lia at amberlia.com or on Facebook or Instagram @therealamberlia

Facebook Group - Gentle Parenting w/ Amber and Wendy 

Books mentioned in this episode >>> 

• Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

--> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

Michele Cushatt joins us this week and we're talking all about life's ups and downs and everything in between. An honest, inspiring, and vulnerable conversation you didn’t even know you needed.

Michele is a three-time head and neck cancer survivor, four-time author, leadership and executive coach, international speaker, and mom of six kids. She’s the (reluctant) expert of trauma, pain, and the deep human need for authentic connection and enduring faith. 

In this conversation, she's sharing more on how to maintain a solid belief in a good God when life feels like it's falling apart, the difference between joy and toxic positivity, and the destructive power of shame. Plus, Michele shares simple truths that will remind you that you're not alone on your journey.  A conversation filled with hope, mentorship and practical tips that don't require more "work". 

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[1:50] Michele’s story 

[10:35] "I get what it feels like to be like at the end of your strength and to not know up from down anymore and to not know what you believe anymore."

[11:27] Suffering - what it is and what it does

[14:27] Space for BIG feelings

[16:12] The Practice of perspective 

[17:32] How do you come alongside of people whose faith is failling?

[18:16]  You're not alone in feeling like you don't have it together

[19:36] Being a mom is the hardest thing

[20:13] Vulnerability is so critical - we cannot endure real life in isolation

[24:10] Shame steals significance 

[29:27] What do you wish you'd known sooner?

[32:17] Mistakes are a fantastic classroom

[35:16] Truth vs. toxic positivity 

[39:28] What does success look like to you?

[42:05] Truths & Takeaways

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE >>>>

Michele's new book - A Faith that Will Not Fail  

Michele’s Website:

Follow Michele on Facebook @michelecushatt

on Instagram @michelecushatt

---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

Podcaster, author, wife and mom, Tara Sun joins us this week on the podcast. She is sharing more on her latest book release all about surrendering your story and more on her journey towards freedom from control.  In this conversation, Tara talks about trading control for greater peace and joy, reminds us of what there is to gain in the “waiting” and how your story is still being written even in those seemingly quiet seasons. If you find yourself anxious and gripping control often, worried that you don’t have a five year plan mapped out, or feel like you’ve run yourself ragged in trying to figure it all out, you’ll be encouraged by this episode. 

Follow Tara on Instagram @misstarasun

Check out Tara’s Podcast > Truth Talks with Tara

Check out Tara’s latest book > Surrender Your Story

Website: tarasunministries.com

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[3:40] Freedom from control & surrendering your story

[4:50] When our stories don’t play out the way we expect 

[5:34] The journey towards finding freedom

[9:12] The hard part about surrendering... 

[10:08] What does trusting God with our stories look like?

[14:25] What God can do with our trust vs. what we can do with our life

[18:04] Waiting vs. manipulating the timing of things 

[21:25] your story is written in the waiting too

[25:00] Impatience is the antithesis of surrender and here's why

[28:00] Tara’s hope for her new book > Surrender Your Story

[29:10] Guest Perspective: What is one thing you wish you’d known sooner?

[31:22] Guest Perspective: What does success look like?

[35:17] "Truths & Takeaways"

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---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

In this Behind the Brand episode with enewton, founder Elizabeth Newton shares her tips on pushing through the hard things, the value in who you surround yourself with, how we rise by lifting others up, and some of her lessons learned along the way.  If you love a good story about something ordinary turning into something extraordinary, you'll love this conversation. 

You’ll hear Elizabeth share how her business was built one relationship at a time and the true gift found in celebrating others.  Whether you simply love a good brand story, are in the middle of chasing a dream, or are uncertain of what you even want to do, she’s got something for you! 

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Enewton Website

Shop local - find the local retailer nearest to you here

---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

If you’ve ever felt like you were in a true place of spiritual apathy, good news you weren’t alone or maybe if that’s right now for you, you’re not alone.  In this episode, worship leader, writer, and co-founder of Dwell Ministries, Aaron Williams joins me on the podcast to talk all about his latest book he co-authored with Kathyrn Maack, Whole: The Life Changing Power of Relating to God with all of Yourself. 

Here’s what you’ll hear: what to do when you experience roadblocks in your spiritual journey, more on all those personality profiles we all know and love, what it looks like to increase your self-awareness as it relates to experiencing more on your spiritual journey, one of the most growth oriented things you can do, what it means to delight more and why finding “balance” isn’t what we really need. 

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Episode Highlights:

[2:30] When dreams pivot 

[5:04] Why did you all choose to write about this topic?

[6:28] It’s a normal experience to feel spiritual apathy

[9:05] All about the book: Whole: The Life Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Your Self

[11:55] Our personality profiles and their impact 

[13:23] When we experience roadblocks in our spiritual journey 

[15:00] Increasing our self- awareness

[15:54] What piece of advice would you share for people who feel like they're lacking in “abundance”?

[17:30] Freedom from the check-list syndrome

[22:06] The question we need to ask ourselves often

[24:08] If we will “trace the ray back to the sun”…

[25:00] Finding balance vs. transformation

[31:47] You never know what you left to unlock

[34:56] One of the growth oriented things you can do is…

[37:00] Truths & Takeaways

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Book: The Life Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Your Self

Follow Aaron: on Instagram @aaronwmusic  

Aaron’s website

Follow Kathryn on Instagram @kat_maack

For more encouragement, inspiration, and stories on life, business, faith, parenting and everything in between, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow along on instagram @annicafischer.  See you there!

This week we’re going behind the brand with Thistle Farms, a non-profit social enterprise built and grounded on “love”.  For 25 years, Thistle Farms has lit a pathway of healing and hope for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. They believe that “love is the strongest force for change in the world, because love has the power to heal” and you will definitely hear evidence of that in this conversation with Dorris Walker-Taylor. Dorris currently serves as Thistle Farms Senior Relations Community Ambassador and is also a graduate of the residential program and a survivor. You’ll learn a lot, laugh, and maybe even cry as you hear her story of hope, be inspired by what Thistle Farms has established and the work it continues to do, be reminded of what can become of small beginnings, and learn what a “single candle” can do. A story of… Hope. Healing. Small Beginnings. Big Impact. Love. 

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

1:40 Behind the Brand Thistle Farms: How it started + Doris's story

26:40 A place built on love, grounded in love

31:39 “Love heals every body.”

32:00 The small rays of light - “Single candle cut through the darkest night” 

32:20 What can we do?

33:04 Everybody has a story - all of us can do one little thing

33:33 Drops of hope add up

33:46 Heal, employ, empower

39:06 Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?

41:10 A challenge 

40:50“Prayers do not have an expiration date”

43:11 Truths & Takeaways

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Mentioned in this episode: 

Thistle Farms website + Shop/Visit

Follow Thistle Farms on Instagram @thistlefarms

Thistle Farms Programs 

Hope is Always Real by Dorris Walker-Taylor

This week, my friend and executive life coach, Katy Akester, joins us on the podcast.  If you're feeling stuck, having trouble making decisions, living at the corner of imposter syndrome and self-protection, this one is for you! Katy shares her insights from her experience working (and meeting her husband) in improv, working in executive leadership for a global non-profit, and helping individuals gain clarity and greater self-awareness as an executive life coach. Katy also shares more about when seeking inspiration crosses over into shame and self judgement and the best place you can start when you're lacking confidence and feeling indecisive. It's jam packed with simple truths and lessons learned that'll meet you right where you are. 

You can find Katy on her website at katyakester.com

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[6:25] Being open-handed

[7:40] For those who don’t know what they want to do with their life

[9:15] What holds people back?

[11:23] If you lack confidence or feel stuck...

[14:16] If you feel “stuck”, self-protection might be playing a role.

[16:10] If you're a "performer"...

[17:34] Confidence is an “internal thing”

[20:00] What are the values you live by? What makes you tick?

[20:32] Where to start when indecisiveness and tensions rise 

[21:25] Are you living your life with the lens of judgment?  

[24:34] Comparison and imposter syndrome

[28:57] Diversity who you’re learning from & following

[30:00] Lessons from improv

[36:15] Being and building community (from the lens of improv)

[40:00] Examples of how to live “yes, and” 

[41:55]  Guest perspective - how do you define success?

[44:00] Final tip from Katy 

[46:23] Truths & Takeaways