14 | What If Being Seen Changes Everything? Compassion, Dignity, and Faith in Action with Karen Davidson

When You Wonder If You'll Always Carry This with Dr. Larry Brant

Sometimes the heaviest burdens are the ones no one else can see. The things we've carried for years. The stories we've never told. The guilt, shame, grief, trauma, or memories we fear others wouldn't understand. In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with Dr. Larry Brant, Navy chaplain, ministry leader, and advocate for those navigating PTSD and moral injury. Together they explore what happens when people carry pain in silence, why safe spaces matter, and how healing often begins when we are finally seen and heard without judgment. Whether your wounds come from military service, grief, trauma, abuse, loss, or experiences you rarely talk about, this conversation offers hope, compassion, and a reminder that restoration is possible. In This Episode * What moral injury is and why it differs from PTSD *  How guilt and shame can shape the way people see themselves * Why carrying pain alone often makes healing harder * The importance of safe, judgment-free spaces * How trauma affects relationships, faith, and identity * What restoration really means after difficult experiences * Why healing doesn't require becoming who you were before A Quote to Carry With You "People need a safe place to unburden themselves." Reflection Questions • What burden have you been carrying alone? • Is there someone safe with whom you can share part of your story? • What would it look like to take one small step toward healing? Connect with Dr. Larry Brant Website: https://restoring-the-broken.com/ [https://restoring-the-broken.com/] His book, Restoring the Broken: https://amzn.to/43RROsa [https://amzn.to/43RROsa] Email: chapsbrandt@yahoo.com [chapsbrandt@yahoo.com] Resources Learn more about soul care, coaching, and encouragement at https://bakingpastor.com [https://bakingpastor.com] If this conversation stayed with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need the reminder: You do not 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.

21 | When You Keep Showing Up... Barely: Finding Clarity When You Feel Stuck with John Salzwedel

Have you ever looked around and thought: "Nothing is technically wrong... so why does everything feel so heavy?" In this episode of At the Counter, Laura sits down with coach, speaker, and author John Salzwedel for a grounded and honest conversation about what it means to keep going when clarity feels out of reach. For years, John led a successful career, yet underneath the accomplishments, something wasn't lining up. He found himself showing up, getting things done, and doing everything he was supposed to do, while quietly feeling disconnected from the work and purpose that once energized him. Together, Laura and John explore what happens when life feels foggy, when busyness becomes overwhelming, and when you're carrying so much that you can no longer hear yourself think. This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, overloaded, or unsure about what comes next. In This Episode • Why feeling stuck doesn't mean you're lost • The difference between being overwhelmed and lacking direction • How busyness can create emotional and spiritual fog • Why identifying your values matters • Making decisions without shame • Finding clarity when everything feels overwhelming • Small steps that help you move forward • Why your worth is not tied to productivity or success Counter Pause Take a slow breath. What feels heavy right now? Not what everyone else thinks should matter. What feels heavy to you? And what is one small step you could take toward clarity? You don't have to solve everything today. Just take the next step. Breath Prayer Breathe in: God of wisdom... Breathe out: Show me the next step. About John John Salzwedel is a coach, speaker, and author of STOP Leaving Life on the Table. After nearly 30 years in the insurance industry, John began asking deeper questions about purpose, responsibility, and what it means to build a life that fits. Today he helps people think clearly when something important is on the line, cut through overwhelm, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence. Resources & Links Connect with John: https://www.theCoach.vip/podcast [https://www.theCoach.vip/podcast] Book: STOP Leaving Life on the Table by John Salzwedel https://amzn.to/43j9qNa [https://amzn.to/43j9qNa] A Gentle Reminder You don't have to have your entire future figured out. Sometimes clarity begins with one honest question. Sometimes purpose begins with one small step. And sometimes showing up barely is still showing up. 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.

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.