Ep 089: Matt Richardson on Addiction, Identity & Rebuilding Your Life in Christ

Ep 091: Carrie Yost on Illness, Depression & the Unexpected Music Journey That Changed Her Life

What if the thing that saved you… was something you never planned to do? Carrie Yost never expected severe illness to completely redirect the course of her life. A farmer’s wife, mother of seven, athlete, photographer, and follower of Christ, Carrie was used to constantly serving everyone around her. But in 2021, while raising her busy family and supporting her husband in his calling as bishop, her health suddenly began to collapse. Gut issues turned severe. Exhaustion became overwhelming. Depression followed. For someone who had always been active and full of life, it felt like she was drowning. And strangely enough… music became the lifeline God placed in front of her. What started as helping her daughter’s friend improve a simple song about Peter nearly drowning became the beginning of an entirely new purpose she never saw coming. Carrie had no formal music training. She wasn’t a songwriter. She couldn’t even sight read music. But one by one, the right people kept appearing: a mentor, vocalists, producers, collaborators. Doors kept opening. And through songwriting, Carrie began turning her testimony, struggles, and healing into music centered on Jesus Christ, covenants, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that God often works through the very seasons we would never choose for ourselves. Sometimes the hardest chapters become the beginning of the thing we were actually called to do. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now 💬 Share this episode with someone walking through illness, discouragement, or uncertainty 🎶 Find Carrie’s music and free children’s songs at carrieyostmusic.com 📱 Follow her on IG: @carrieyostmusic ▶️ YouTube: [Carrie Yost Music YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdqs_Mi3rPquy18jd52t-A) #CarrieYostMusic #FaithInHardTimes #ChristianMusic #LDSWomen #HandOfGod #FaithJourney #HealingThroughMusic #JesusChrist #ChristianPodcast #HopeAndHealing

Ep 090: Nish Weiseth on Faith With Grit, Hospice Care & Finding God in Life’s Tender Moments

What do people care about most when life is coming to an end? After years as a hospice chaplain, Nish Weiseth says the answer is always the same: relationships, love, and the people who matter most. In this deeply moving episode, hospice chaplain and bereavement specialist Nish Weiseth shares how walking alongside people at the end of life has transformed the way she sees faith, purpose, and what truly matters. Raised in an atheist home in the South, Nish wasn’t handed a belief system growing up. Instead, she was encouraged to figure things out for herself. Everything changed when she attended a Christian camp as a young girl. For the first time, she encountered the idea of God and Jesus — and something inside her immediately clicked. That moment became the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith, discernment, and learning how to hear God’s invitations. Over time, her faith developed what she calls “grit and texture” — not because life became easier, but because she learned to trust God through uncertainty, hard seasons, and difficult decisions. One pivotal moment came when she and her husband were considering a church position in Houston. After a vivid dream and a strong spiritual impression, they chose not to go — a decision that later proved deeply important, even though the path ahead was still difficult. Today, Nish serves families during some of the hardest moments of their lives as a hospice chaplain. She helps patients and loved ones navigate grief, peace, fear, and the sacred questions surrounding death and dying. And through all of it, she’s learned this:  The greatest things in life are not achievements or accomplishments. They are people. They are relationships. They are the moments we choose to love deeply. Her message is powerful: When we recognize the hand of God in our lives, we realize it’s an invitation into something greater than ourselves. And there's no greater adventure than walking with Him. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now 💬 Share this episode with someone navigating grief, caregiving, or faith questions ⭐️ Follow the podcast for more conversations about faith, healing, and purpose Follow her story @nishweiseth Find her workbooks and guides @mightygoodness  #NishWeiseth #FaithWithGrit #HospiceChaplain #GriefAndHealing #MultiplyGoodness #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #HopeInHardTimes #RecognizeHisHand #EndOfLifeCare

Ep 089: Matt Richardson on Addiction, Identity & Rebuilding Your Life in Christ

What happens when you lose everything — your identity, your direction, and even your sense of control? In this episode, Matt Richardson shares his raw and powerful journey through addiction, identity struggles, and ultimately finding true freedom in Jesus Christ. Raised in a strong, faith-filled home, Matt had a solid foundation — but still found himself battling deep internal challenges. From early identity struggles and same-sex attraction, to injuries that ended his athletic path, to years of addiction and destructive behaviors… his life slowly unraveled. Even after serving a mission and experiencing powerful spiritual moments, he fell back into old patterns — eventually leading to divorce, depression, and feeling like he had lost everything. But that breaking point became the turning point. Through intentional repentance, addiction recovery, and choosing to build a personal relationship with Christ, Matt began to rebuild his life from the ground up. He shares what it really means to: * Lose your agency to addiction — and take it back * Stop outsourcing your faith and make it personal * Shift your identity from what you do… to who you are in Christ Today, Matt helps others do the same — guiding people out of addiction and into clarity, freedom, and purpose. His message is clear: God is always giving. But we have to choose to receive. Looking for Christ-centered coaching, DM Matt on Instagram @mattrichardson_podcast for more information. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now ⭐️ Follow the podcast for more real, faith-filled conversations 💬 Share this with someone who needs hope and a fresh start #MattRichardson #AddictionRecovery #FaithInChrist #IdentityInChrist #ChristianPodcast #HealingJourney #BreakFree #RecognizeHisHand #MensMentalHealth #HopeAndHealing

Ep 088: When Life Falls Apart: Tess Frame on PTSD, Healing & Trusting God

What if the hardest thing you’ve ever gone through… was actually preparing you for something greater? In this powerful episode, Tess Frame — author, speaker, entrepreneur, and mother of three — shares her deeply personal story of faith, trauma, and healing. While pregnant with her third son, Tess became critically ill. What started as pneumonia quickly turned into sepsis, leading to an induced coma that lasted four weeks. During that time, she was separated from her newborn baby — a moment that would change her life forever. But even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, Tess began to see the hand of God. From the tender mercies that prepared her before the crisis… to the people who showed up during her recovery… she began to recognize that she was never alone. After the physical healing came a different battle — severe PTSD that impacted her daily life and even her ability to safely care for her children. With courage, humility, and support from others, Tess entered a recovery program where she began the long, layered journey of healing. Through that process, she discovered something life-changing: Healing isn’t instant. It’s built over time — with God, with others, and with a willingness to keep going. Today, Tess uses her voice to uplift and inspire women through her writing, speaking, and her newly launched podcast *Certain Women*, helping others find joy, purpose, and deeper trust in God. Her testimony is simple but powerful: When we learn to recognize the hand of God — especially looking back — we gain the faith to trust Him moving forward. 🎧 Listen now to hear Tess’s full story of resilience, healing, and faith. 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that they’re not alone. ⭐️ Don’t forget to follow and leave a review if this episode impacted you. Find her book "Risen, Bread and Redemption" available on her website tesiahframe.com or follow Tess on IG @tesiahframe.  #TessFrame #FaithAndHealing #PTSDRecovery #ChristianPodcast #RecognizeHisHand #WomenOfFaith #HealingJourney #HopeInHardTimes #ComeFollowMe #PodcastEpisode

Ep 087: Michaela Esplin on Breaking Free from Autopilot & Reclaiming Your Agency

What if the life you’re living on autopilot… isn’t actually the life God is inviting you to live? Michaela Esplin knows what it feels like to look like you’re doing everything right… but still feel completely lost inside. Raised in the Church with strong examples and a solid foundation, Michaela checked all the boxes — but quietly struggled with self-worth, often looking for validation in relationships. In college, everything came to a head. Despite “doing all the right things,” she found herself in a deep depression, engaged to someone who ultimately made her question everything about her future. That moment became a turning point. She realized she had a choice — continue down a path that didn’t align with who she truly wanted to become, or step back, rebuild, and intentionally create a gospel-centered life. So she chose differently. She moved home. Met with her bishop. Rebuilt her relationship with God. And along the way, she learned something that would shape her life and her work: Guilt is a gift from God — it invites us to change. Shame is Satan’s counterfeit — it tells us we "can’t". That shift changed everything. Soon after, through a simple connection her mom made, Michaela met the man who would become her husband. After days of deep conversations and an instant soul connection, they were engaged just five weeks later — and have now built a life together for over 16 years. But one of the most defining experiences of her life came through her son, Ashton. Born with a rare and severe syndrome, Ashton has faced immense physical challenges, including over a dozen surgeries and hearing loss. Yet through it all, Michaela witnessed miracle after miracle — from a perfectly placed specialist who could diagnose him, to innovative doctors who helped restore much of his hearing. For years, she worried about one thing: Would he feel confident in who he is? Then one day, at just 9 years old, Ashton came home and asked why he was different. Before she could even respond, he answered his own question: “I am blessed by God.” In that moment, Michaela realized something powerful: God had already given her son exactly what he needed. And He had been aware of her all along. Today, Michaela helps women step out of autopilot patterns and into intentional, faith-driven living — teaching them how to move from awareness into action so they can experience real growth, deeper charity, and lasting peace. Her perspective is simple but life-changing: When we actively look for God’s hand — we see it more. And when we see it more — we start to believe that He truly knows us. If you feel stuck, disconnected, or like you’re just going through the motions, this conversation will help you start living with intention again. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now. 📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube. 💬 Comment below: Where have you seen God’s hand in your life recently? ✨ And if you’re looking for guidance in breaking free from autopilot patterns, reach out to Michaela at @themichaelanicole #theMichaelaNicole #LiveWithIntention #BreakTheAutopilot #FaithAndGrowth #LDSWomen #RecognizeHisHand #HealingJourney #IntentionalLiving #ChristianPodcast #AgencyAndFaith