16 | When You Love Someone Through the Unthinkable: Faith, Caregiving, and the Strength to Keep Showing Up with Jody Hudson

20 | When You Don’t Have Words for What You Feel: Learning to Trust Yourself Again with Kristan Swan

There are moments in life when something feels off, but we can’t quite explain why. In this Seat at the Counter conversation, Laura is joined by Kristan Swan, a life and spiritual guide who helps people reconnect with themselves through curiosity, reflection, and honest exploration. Together, they explore the tension between inner knowing and external messaging, how conditioning can shape the way we relate to ourselves, and what it looks like to gently rebuild trust in your own voice. Kristan shares how early experiences, relationships, grief, journaling, and self-reflection helped her begin listening to what was true beneath the surface. This is a conversation about noticing, questioning, and learning to honor what you sense, even before you can fully name it. In This Episode, We Explore: • The tension between what you feel and what you’ve been told • Why it can be difficult to trust your inner knowing • How early experiences shape self-trust and identity • The fear that can come with becoming more fully yourself • Learning to listen to your own discernment in relationships • Gentle ways to reconnect with what feels true • Journaling as a practice of noticing and self-trust Soul Care Reflection • What are you sensing, even if you can’t name it yet? • Where might your inner knowing be asking for your attention? • What would it look like to approach yourself with curiosity instead of doubt? Scripture / Reflection “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 A Gentle Resource from Kristan Kristan has created a free workbook, Clouds to Clear Skies Clarity, designed to help you explore your inner knowing, reflect on your story, and reconnect with what feels true for you. https://kristanswan.com/clouds-to-clear-skies/ [https://kristanswan.com/clouds-to-clear-skies/] This resource offers simple, thoughtful prompts to help you slow down, listen inward, and begin putting language to what you’ve been sensing. Connect with Kristan Swan You can learn more about Kristan and her work at:  https://kristanswan.com [https://kristanswan.com] Through her journals, workshops, and guided classes, Kristan helps people explore their stories, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and move forward with clarity and intention. Next Steps Listen gently. Reflect slowly. Trust what stayed with you. If this conversation stirred something deeper, you’re welcome to explore more through Laura’s book At the Counter: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv [https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv] And the companion Soul Pause Journal: https://amzn.to/4dO0GEV [https://amzn.to/4dO0GEV] Closing Pull up a chair. You don’t have to have all the words right away. If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605865/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/thebakingpastor] ☕ The counter is always open. If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com. You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith. And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode. 👉 https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] *****Interested in being a guest on At the Counter with the Baking Pastor? I invite you to listen to a few recent conversations first to get a feel for the heart of the podcast. At the Counter is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life. If it feels like a good fit, I'd love to hear from you on PodMatch: 👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor] Pull up a chair and tell me what you'd love to bring to the counter.

19 | When You Don't Know What You're Feeling: Naming Emotions in Uncertain Seasons with Doug Earl Johnston

There are moments when it's not that you don't feel anything. It's that you feel too much all at once. And none of it has a clear name. In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with author and researcher Doug Earl Johnston to explore what it means to name your emotions, especially during seasons of uncertainty, grief, overwhelm, and change. If you've ever found yourself saying: • I'm just tired. • I'm overwhelmed. • I don't know what's wrong. • I don't even know what I'm feeling. This conversation is for you. Drawing from nearly a decade of research and his book Choosing Emotions, Doug shares why language matters, how emotions shape our lives, and why naming what we're feeling is often the first step toward healing and clarity. As Doug explains, many people struggle to identify emotions because they rely on only a small emotional vocabulary when there may be hundreds of emotional experiences happening beneath the surface. In This Episode • why "tired" and "overwhelmed" only tell part of the story • how naming emotions creates clarity • understanding what you're actually feeling • emotional awareness and self-understanding • the connection between emotions, healing, and growth • why words matter more than we realize • practical ways to begin identifying emotions • learning to approach emotions with curiosity instead of judgment Counter Pause Take a slow breath. Then gently ask yourself: What am I actually feeling right now? Not what I should feel. Not what sounds acceptable. Just what's true. You don't have to solve it. Just name it. Breath Prayer Breathe in: God of truth... Breathe out: Help me notice. About Doug Doug Earl Johnston is a former corporate executive, researcher, and author of Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart. After nearly a decade of research across disciplines and traditions, Doug created a resource designed to help people better understand what they feel and how to move forward with greater clarity. Resources Mentioned Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart https://amzn.to/430dPEM [https://amzn.to/430dPEM] Connect with Doug Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choosingemotions [https://www.instagram.com/choosingemotions] Website: https://choosingemotions.com/ [https://choosingemotions.com/] Gentle Reminder You don't have to carry unnamed things forever. Sometimes healing begins with one honest word. Closing Pull up a chair. There's space for you here. If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605865/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/thebakingpastor] ☕ The counter is always open. If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com. You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith. And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode. 👉 https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] *****Interested in being a guest on At the Counter with the Baking Pastor? I invite you to listen to a few recent conversations first to get a feel for the heart of the podcast. At the Counter is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life. If it feels like a good fit, I'd love to hear from you on PodMatch: 👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor] Pull up a chair and tell me what you'd love to bring to the counter.

18 | When You're Tired of Pretending You're Fine: Hidden Exhaustion, Survival Mode, and the Weight We Carry Quietly

Sometimes the hardest part about exhaustion isn't the exhaustion itself. It's how long you've been pretending you're okay while carrying it. In this solo episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura responds to listener questions and reflections about grief, survival mode, hidden exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and the invisible weight many people quietly carry every day. Together, we'll explore what happens when strength becomes a survival pattern, why slowing down can feel frightening, and how exhaustion often disguises itself as productivity, caregiving, people-pleasing, or simply trying to hold everything together. This conversation is for the people who keep showing up while carrying more than anyone realizes. As Laura reflects, many people become so accustomed to carrying emotional pain quietly that they no longer notice how heavy it has become. In This Episode • hidden exhaustion and emotional fatigue • survival mode and burnout • pretending you're fine when you're not • grief that resurfaces unexpectedly • comparison rooted in exhaustion rather than envy • feeling unseen or unsupported • why functioning isn't the same as flourishing • what gentleness might look like for weary hearts Soul Pause Questions • If you could say one honest thing to God right now, what would it be? • What would gentle look like for you this week? Counter Reflection What have you been carrying for so long that you no longer notice how heavy it feels? You don't have to solve it today. Just notice it. A Gentle Reminder Unseen does not mean unreal. Functioning is not the same as flourishing. And surviving quietly does not make your pain less valid. If you've been strong for too long, tired of pretending you're fine, or carrying more than anyone realizes, this conversation is for you. From the Counter If you're walking through a weary or emotionally heavy season and need a gentle place to process, pray, or breathe a little deeper, Laura offers soul care conversations and coaching sessions. Learn more at: https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] Closing Pull up a chair. You don't have to carry everything alone. If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605865/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/thebakingpastor] ☕ The counter is always open. If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com. You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith. And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode. 👉 https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] *****Interested in being a guest on At the Counter with the Baking Pastor? I invite you to listen to a few recent conversations first to get a feel for the heart of the podcast. At the Counter is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life. If it feels like a good fit, I'd love to hear from you on PodMatch: 👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor] Pull up a chair and tell me what you'd love to bring to the counter.

17 | When You Feel Spiritually Tired: Faith, Pressure, and Finding Your Way Back with Ashton Steven

There are seasons when you're not just tired. You're emotionally stretched thin. Running on fumes. Trying to keep going while carrying pressure, responsibility, fear, trauma, and expectations all at once. And sometimes faith feels tired too. In this deeply honest conversation, Laura sits down with Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist Ashton Stevens to talk about emotional exhaustion, spiritual pressure, fatherhood, healing, identity, and the tension of trying to hold yourself together when life feels heavy. Inspired by his song Edge, Ashton shares how learning to name emotions, listen for God's voice, journal through difficult seasons, and embrace rest became part of his healing journey. The conversation explores emotional regulation, spiritual exhaustion, trauma, faith, and what it means to keep going when you're stretched thin. Based on his reflections, healing often begins by being honest about what you're carrying and learning not to let your circumstances define you. In This Episode • emotional exhaustion and overwhelm • spiritual fatigue and burnout • faith during difficult seasons • emotional regulation and healing • fatherhood, responsibility, and identity • journaling and self-awareness • learning to rest without guilt • staying connected to God when life feels heavy Counter Pause Take a slow breath in... and let it out gently. If you can, rest your hand over your heart. And simply notice: Where do you feel stretched too thin right now? Not where you should be stronger. Not where you need to fix something. Just where you're tired. God is not absent in that place. Even if it feels quiet. Breath Prayer Breathe in: I am held... Breathe out: Even here. Blessing May you be honest about where you're tired. May you release the pressure to hold everything together alone. And may you discover that even at the edge, you are still being held. About Ashton Ashton Stevens is an Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist originally from the Florida Panhandle. Known for his introspective style, Ashton creates music rooted in faith and real-life experiences. His work centers on emotional regulation, purpose, and personal growth, using music as a tool for healing, reflection, and truth. Connect with Ashton Website: https://www.ashtonstevens.com/ [https://www.ashtonstevens.com/] Listen to "Edge": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-IrWD_RYo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-IrWD_RYo] Closing Take a breath. Notice what's in front of you. And remember: There's a difference between being at the edge... and being alone there.   If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605865/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/thebakingpastor] ☕ The counter is always open. If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com. You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith. And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode. 👉 https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] *****Interested in being a guest on At the Counter with the Baking Pastor? I invite you to listen to a few recent conversations first to get a feel for the heart of the podcast. At the Counter is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life. If it feels like a good fit, I'd love to hear from you on PodMatch: 👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor] Pull up a chair and tell me what you'd love to bring to the counter.

16 | When You Love Someone Through the Unthinkable: Faith, Caregiving, and the Strength to Keep Showing Up with Jody Hudson

What happens when someone you love is suffering and no one seems to have answers? In this deeply moving conversation, Laura sits down with author, speaker, and nonprofit founder Jody Hudson to talk about motherhood, caregiving, faith, grief, and the exhausting fight to help a child who was repeatedly dismissed and misunderstood. What began as unexplained pain in Jody's vibrant, athletic eleven-year-old daughter, Alex, became a years-long search for answers that eventually led to a Lyme disease diagnosis after countless doctor visits, emotional exhaustion, financial strain, and unimaginable uncertainty. Together, Laura and Jody explore what it means to keep showing up when life feels impossible. This conversation is about: • loving someone through suffering • caregiver exhaustion and resilience • the heartbreak of not being believed • faith in the middle of unanswered questions • grief, advocacy, and honoring a legacy • finding strength when your heart is breaking This isn't a conversation about easy answers. It's about love that stayed. About Jody Jody Hudson is an author, speaker, philanthropist, and founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. Her memoir, My Promise to Alex, chronicles her daughter's battle with Lyme disease and the unwavering love and advocacy that shaped their journey. Today, Jody continues honoring Alex's legacy through education, awareness, and support for families navigating Lyme disease and chronic illness. Counter Pause Take a slow breath. Where are you carrying something heavy while still trying to hold everyone else together? You don't have to pretend it isn't hard. Just notice. Breath Prayer Breathe in: God, give me strength... Breathe out: Help me keep showing up. A Gentle Reminder Sometimes love looks heroic. Sometimes it looks like continuing to show up when your heart is breaking. Both matter. Connect with Jody Foundation: https://www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org/ [https://www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org/] Book: My Promise to Alex https://amzn.to/4u8BqyS [https://amzn.to/4u8BqyS] Closing Blessing May you know that love is never wasted. May you find strength for the burdens you carry quietly. May you remember that even in suffering, presence matters deeply. Pull up a chair. You don't have to carry it all alone. If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you? [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2605865/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/thebakingpastor] ☕ The counter is always open. If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com. You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith. And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode. 👉 https://bakingpastor.com/ [https://bakingpastor.com/] *****Interested in being a guest on At the Counter with the Baking Pastor? I invite you to listen to a few recent conversations first to get a feel for the heart of the podcast. At the Counter is a gentle space for honest conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life. If it feels like a good fit, I'd love to hear from you on PodMatch: 👉 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor] Pull up a chair and tell me what you'd love to bring to the counter.