The Speakeasy

Today we're talking about anxiety, not the casual "I'm stressed" kind, but the kind that takes over your body, your thoughts, your sleep, your peace, and your sense of safety.
My friend Maddie Joy Fischer joins me to talk about our very real stories with anxiety, panic, fear, and the lies at the root of it all. We both know what it's like to feel trapped by fear and to wonder if this is just how life will always be. But we also know what it's like for God to meet us there, unravel self-reliance, expose the lies, and begin rebuilding something truer and stronger.
In this conversation we talk about:
how anxiety can start small and slowly take over

health anxiety, panic attacks, and feeling unsafe in your own body

the lie that says "I'm not safe" and the truth that answers it

fear of man, self-protection, and trying to stay in control

what it looks like to come to the end of yourself

why healing is often not linear

how God uses even the darkest seasons for redemption

what surrender actually looks like when you're in it

This episode is full of honesty, Scripture, and hope for the person still in the thick of anxiety, and for the person who loves someone who is.
If you've ever felt like fear was driving the bus, this conversation is for you. There is freedom in Jesus. There is truth stronger than the lies. And there is hope, even here.
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Today's conversation is one I didn't expect to have, but I'm so glad we did. I'm joined by Ben Higgins, known from The Bachelor franchise, but more importantly, a man willing to talk honestly about something many of us feel and few of us admit: loneliness.
Ben's book, Alone in Plain Sight: Searching for Connection When You're Seen But Not Known, explores what it's like to feel invisible, even while millions are watching. From reality TV to marriage, from church culture to platform pressure, Ben opens up about insecurity, performance, and the quiet fear that if people really knew us, they might not like us.
We talk about:
The difference between feeling unlovable vs. unlikable

Why social media connection doesn't cure loneliness

Performative Christianity and losing yourself in the process

The courage it takes for men to admit loneliness

How slowing down exposes what's actually going on inside

Letting the right people speak into your life, and guarding your heart

This isn't just a "Bachelor" conversation. It's about identity, community, vulnerability, and what it means to be fully known without performing.
If you've ever wondered whether God actually likes you, or struggled to believe that the real you is enough, this episode will meet you there.
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You don't have to perform to belong, and you don't have to navigate healthcare alone either.

Today we're diving into the wide world of youth sports, and fair warning: this one might give you permission, step on your toes… or both.
Ed and Brian are former athletes, longtime sports ministry leaders, and dads currently navigating youth sports with their own kids. They're also the authors of Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports, and this conversation is honest, clarifying, and deeply needed.
We talk about what they call the "youth sports industrial complex," how we went from backyard games and rec leagues to a $40+ billion industry built on travel teams, specialization, year-round pressure, and future anxiety. How did we get here? What changed from when we were kids? And most importantly, do we have to ride this train?
In this episode we unpack:
The cultural shifts that reshaped youth sports

Why sports don't automatically build character

How pride, shame, and self-centeredness quietly grow unchecked

The difference between sports formation and spiritual formation

Why parents — not coaches — are the primary disciplers

How to respond to wins and losses in a gospel-shaped way

Creating boundaries within the system (even if you stay in it)

The power of gentleness, security, and apology

Spoiler: This isn't about pulling your kids out of sports. It's about recognizing that sports culture will disciple your child if you don't, and learning how to counterform that culture with intentional, Jesus-centered parenting.
Whether you're all-in on travel ball or wondering if you should opt out altogether, this episode will help you slow down, breathe, and ask better questions.
Your corner of the bleachers can look different.
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Today's episode is all about raising boys, even if you're a girl mom like me. I sat down with Rebekah Lovell, author of Boyhood Resurrected, for a powerful and honest conversation about how modern systems are failing our boys, and what we can do about it.
We talk about how boys are hardwired for adventure, movement, risk, curiosity, and strength, and how over-scheduling, over-screening, and over-labeling can slowly extinguish the light in their eyes. Rebekah shares her family's journey navigating early schooling challenges, why institutional systems often misunderstand boys, and how moms (especially!) play a crucial role in protecting and cultivating their sons' masculine design.
This conversation will step on a few toes — gently. We talk about:
The difference between discipline and suppression

Why movement and autonomy matter

Screen culture and its impact on boys

The myth of being "behind"

Adventure as a developmental need

Respect as a love language for boys

Raising driven, courageous men in a culture hostile to masculinity

Even as a girl mom, I found so many parallels. Childhood matters. Wonder matters. Agency matters. And truthfully, this conversation ultimately points back to Jesus and how God intentionally wired our sons.
If you're raising boys (or love someone who is), this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you.
Sponsor: Nutrafol
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It's not one-size-fits-all — they offer targeted formulas for postpartum, menopause, stress, and lifestyle factors.
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Welcome back to the Big Easy Podcast with everybody's favorite guest, my husband, Jeremy. This episode is a candid, hope-filled conversation about what God has been doing in us lately: in our faith, our marriage, our home, and our conversations.
While the recent "Ending Well" series focused on reflection, this episode is about real-time transformation. Jeremy shares how a simple observation: watching me consistently in the Word sparked a hunger for Scripture and spiritual leadership. From listening to the Bible on Audible during long commutes, to diving deep into biblical manhood, marriage, and trust in God, his walk with the Lord has grown in tangible, visible ways.
We talk honestly about pride, fear, independence, and what it looks like to actually trust God with leadership, prayer, and obedience, especially inside marriage. We share how God has been working in both of us simultaneously: building one, dismantling the other, and bringing us into a healthier, more aligned rhythm together.
This episode also touches on:
Biblical leadership without ego

Trusting God over fear of failure or misunderstanding

Letting go of people-pleasing and over-explaining

Taking thoughts captive and renewing the mind

How Scripture practically changes everyday life

What it looks like when faith becomes central in marriage conversations

If you're praying for growth in your marriage, longing for deeper faith, or wondering if real change is possible: this episode is for you.
God is still moving. Look what He has done, and what He's still doing.