Authentically Amber: Navigating Life's Anxious Moments & Everything In-Between

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic — Finding Freedom and Faith—Interview with Jon Seidl

Season 2, Episode 10: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic — Finding Freedom and Faith —Interview with Jon Seidl Description: What does it look like when faith and addiction collide? In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Jon Seidl—author, speaker, and storyteller—to talk about his journey as a Christian who became an alcoholic and found redemption through honesty, therapy, and faith. Jon’s new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, is a raw and redemptive look at how grace meets us in our darkest places. Together, we unpack the reality of addiction, how Christians can wrestle with shame, and why telling the truth about our struggles is one of the most powerful ways to heal. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ Jon’s story of faith, addiction, and rediscovering God’s grace. ✨ How addiction can take many forms—and why Christians aren’t immune. ✨ The power of radical vulnerability and storytelling in the healing process. ✨ Practical tools and spiritual steps for overcoming hidden habits and addictions. ✨ Hope for anyone who feels trapped, ashamed, or disqualified by their struggle. Takeaways: ✨ Addiction isn’t a moral failure—it’s a human struggle that needs grace, not guilt. ✨ Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s a weapon against shame. ✨ Freedom starts with honesty—with God, yourself, and others. ✨ Your story, no matter how messy, can be a ministry. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic by Jon Seidl 💻 Website: JonSeidl.com 📸 Instagram: @jonseidl 🐦 Twitter/X: @jonseidl 🎙️ Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic [https://www.jonseidl.com/confessions-of-christian-alcoholic-podcast](Podcast available wherever you listen!) Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to hide your struggles—God can redeem every part of your story and use it for hope, healing, and purpose.

Learning to Live Loved: Healing Fear, Faith, and Family in the Journey of Adulting with Janet Newberry

Season 2, Episode 9: Learning to Live Loved: Healing Fear, Faith, and Family in the Journey of Adulting— Interview with Janet Newberry What if growing up — or “adulting” — wasn’t about becoming more independent, but learning how to live more loved? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Janet Newberry, host of the Love is Fearless podcast and founder of John 15 Academy, to explore how our upbringing, family systems, and church experiences shape our mental health and sense of self. After losing her mom to suicide, Janet found herself on a journey of healing that redefined her faith, identity, and relationships. Through that process, she discovered that love — not fear, performance, or perfection — is what truly transforms us into healthy adults. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ How childhood and family patterns affect mental health in adulthood. ✨ Why many young adults struggle with performance-based faith and fear of failure. ✨ Janet’s story of losing her mom to suicide and finding healing through love. ✨ The difference between “living afraid” and “living loved” — and how to tell which one you’re doing. ✨ How to form a secure identity in Christ as the foundation for emotional maturity. ✨ Encouragement for anyone wondering if God can redeem their past (spoiler: He can—and does). ✨ Practical tools for building healthy adult relationships rooted in truth and grace. Takeaways: ✨Needing help is holy work. ✨Setting boundaries isn't just necessary, but healing. ✨Live to "trust" God, not just "please" God. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Education by Design, Not Default: How Brave Love Creates Fearless Learning [https://www.amazon.com/Education-Design-Not-Default-Fearless-ebook/dp/B07MBQXS9L?ref_=ast_author_mpb] by Janet Newberry 💻Website: john15academy.com (Restoring the Lost Art of Being Family [https://www.john15academy.com/]) 📸 Instagram: @janet_newberry [https://www.instagram.com/janet_newberry/?hl=en] Let’s Connect:💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to earn God’s approval or fix everything to be worthy of love. You already are.

Generations Deep — Healing From Inherited Trauma Through Faith and Therapy— Interview with Gina Birkemeier

Season 2, Episode 8: Generations Deep — Healing From Inherited Trauma Through Faith and Therapy— Interview with Gina Birkemeier Description: Do you ever feel stuck in patterns you didn’t choose—habits, reactions, or beliefs that seem to run in your family? In this powerful episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Gina Birkemeier, licensed professional counselor, trauma therapist, and award-winning author of Generations Deep, to talk about breaking free from generational trauma. Gina’s unique blend of faith, therapy, and science (including the study of epigenetics) helps people understand what’s been passed down—and how to rewrite their stories with God’s help. Together, we explore how to stop repeating cycles of dysfunction and start living out a new legacy of healing, hope, and purpose. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ Gina’s personal story of growing up in generational dysfunction and finding her calling in trauma therapy. ✨ What generational trauma really is—and how it shows up emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. ✨ How faith and therapy work together to help us break family cycles and reclaim our identity in Christ. ✨ The science of epigenetics and how trauma can be passed down through generations. ✨ Practical tools to begin healing your family story today. ✨ Encouragement for anyone wondering if God can redeem their past (spoiler: He can—and does). Takeaways: ✨ You can’t heal what you won’t acknowledge—awareness is the first step to freedom. ✨ Faith and therapy are partners in healing, not competitors. ✨ God doesn’t just want to redeem your story; He wants to redeem your family line. ✨ The past explains you, but it doesn’t have to define you. Resources Mentioned: 📚Generations Deep: [https://www.amazon.com/Generations-Deep-Unmasking-Inherited-Dysfunction/dp/1732954526]Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy by Gina Birkemeier 📚 The Choice [https://www.amazon.com/Choice-Dr-Edith-Eva-Eger/dp/150113079X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YaFPRANZtpk7wbFQH68Dko0U7N7IgVKxaZ7bD3rShtW9EBPnGDDJ-_qZDHaWwlMhswhhEvJDzRL-nxjJnSRNQ-_aU4uCmfocwqfI1lFk9gRAC6mcqTp6ZvkHKh1GN2KeAMr7bIL6IfJJHXfaSXms2UqoqzqJAFZbRfD6JnQUABQ_pqWsJ5YFbQxfMC1CxdVT4jx3fnKkUcnrTh3OgFKOsd5ZcoMXhj67QFyrr9FLMGs.nw6SIGBzasoBU0EClhnImMtaQsCVd4XP1JDAqJa-W-c&dib_tag=se&hvadid=776764040611&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9015859&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=10579908667614470271--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10579908667614470271&hvtargid=kwd-5924234080&hydadcr=9994_13873287&keywords=the+choice+book&mcid=a9f32d5d77f6380590c9633d06035b52&qid=1762192218&sr=8-1] by Edith Eger 📚 Same Kind of Different As Me [https://www.amazon.com/Same-Kind-Different-As-Me/dp/084991910X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y7OMNC2U3L7N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WBM7aVUcMYj3je5TNkxPRKyc7r-_i7AawLBvCduADKWyFerEjLwZGgwfothgfr392zaoy7uZikUFti0pUt8jUaLwTS8MGfql-ZEfCcVvlrVaV-lCwlqsxvkEFYarKUf8p3uQQOdfUi_RH-TBBk1S_5OoYKnp0unQ4TeBVnFbMxI345QocQ8NUfI538siPWKEl5KBknKe1vC1pajni7I8fsDSII7DphwxMDhevK4tml0.JBWyjCVGzOrRepAto91ddSxW7nAR0TWLRS2nCiFHiRw&dib_tag=se&keywords=same+kind+of+different+as+me+book&qid=1762192243&sprefix=same+kind+of+diff%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1] by Ron Hall & Denver Moore 💻 Website: www.GinaBirkemeier.com [https://www.ginabirkemeier.com] 📨 Substack: https://ginabirkemeierlpc.substack.com/ [https://ginabirkemeierlpc.substack.com/] 📸 Instagram: @ginabirkemeier [ https://www.instagram.com/myoutloudvoice?igsh=OWVyYXdmdTdzbHI0] Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to repeat the story you were born into—with faith and healing, you can write a new one.

Managing Emotions with Science and Scripture: Finding Peace with Alicia Michelle

Season 2, Episode 7: Managing Emotions with Science and Scripture: Finding Peace with Alicia Michelle Description: What if emotional control wasn’t about suppressing feelings—but understanding them through both faith and neuroscience? In this practical and hope-filled episode of Authentically Amber, I sit down with Alicia Michelle (pronounced Alesha), certified NeuroCoach, author, and host of The Christian Mindset Coach Podcast, to talk about how Christian women can build emotional confidence using science and Scripture. Alicia’s newest book with Baker Publishing helps readers uncover biblical and brain-based tools to manage emotions, transform thought patterns, and experience peace in every area of life. Through her ADD Method (Acknowledge, Discern, Decide), she shares a powerful, grace-filled process that integrates brain science and God’s truth for real emotional freedom. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🧠 The ADD Method and how to process emotions biblically and practically. 🧠 Managing emotions in relationships, work, and family life. 🧠 How faith and neuroscience work together to handle emotional triggers. 🧠 Tools for staying grounded during seasons of stress or transition. 🧠 The difference between emotional suppression and Spirit-led regulation. 🧠 Why managing emotions is actually a form of worship and discipleship. Takeaways: ✨ Emotions aren’t enemies—they’re indicators pointing to deeper needs and truths. ✨ God designed your brain and body to work with your faith, not against it. ✨ True peace comes when we align our thoughts, emotions, and spirit with Him. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Alicia’s new book with Baker Publishing- Emotional Confidence [https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Confidence-Emotions-Science-Scripture/dp/1540904024] 🎧 The Christian Mindset Coach Podcast [https://aliciamichelle.com/podcast/] 💻 Website: aliciamichelle.com [https://aliciamichelle.com] 📸 Instagram: @aliciamichellecoach Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: Your emotions aren’t meant to control you—they’re meant to draw you closer to the God who created you.

Trauma, Faith, and Finding Hope in Christ—Interview with Esther Smith

Season 2, Episode 6: Holy and Healing — Trauma, Faith, and Finding Hope in Christ (Interview with Esther Smith) Description: What does it look like to walk with Jesus while carrying the wounds of trauma? In this deeply honest episode, I sit down with Esther Smith—licensed therapist, trauma-informed counselor, and Christian author—to talk about how faith and therapy work together in the process of healing. We’ll unpack stigma, shame, and what it truly means to bring our whole selves—body, mind, and spirit—before God. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about needing therapy while following Jesus, this conversation will remind you that faith and healing are not opposites—they’re beautifully intertwined. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: ✨ What trauma really is—and why both “big T” and “little t” traumas matter. ✨ How Christians can better understand trauma without minimizing or spiritualizing it. ✨ The theology of healing: why Scripture supports honesty, lament, and practical recovery. ✨ What trauma-informed counseling actually looks like for believers. ✨ How to find the right therapist and begin your healing journey with grace. ✨ Encouragement for Gen Z and young adults learning to live authentically through pain and faith. Takeaways: ✨ Faith and therapy are teammates, not opposites. ✨ Healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about honesty and surrender. ✨ You can hold both trauma and trust in God at the same time. ✨ Jesus meets you in your wounds, not beyond them. Resources Mentioned: 📚 A Still and Quiet Mind [https://www.amazon.com/Still-Quiet-Mind-Strategies-Changing/dp/1629959219]and Chronic Illness: Walking by Faith by Esther Smith [https://esthermariesmith.com/] 💻 Visit ChristianTraumaCounseling.com to learn more about Esther’s work Let’s Connect: 💻 Website: AmberGinter.com [https://amberginter.com] 📸 Instagram: @amberginterauthor [https://instagram.com/amberginterauthor] Reminder: You don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God—you just have to be willing to heal with Him.