I Thought Hating Myself Would Change Me

He Didn’t Feel Ready. God Called Him Anyway

Description What do you do when life knocks the ground out from under you, your faith feels tired, and God keeps calling you into something you do not feel qualified to carry? In this episode, Jim sits down with Dan Parr, publisher and narrator of the Easy to Understand, Read Bible, for a conversation about reluctant obedience, spiritual weariness, and the way God uses His Word to rebuild people from the inside out. Dan shares the powerful story of how his life began with his mother’s courage and prayer, how a simple act of kindness from a church helped draw him back to God, and how reading Scripture for himself changed everything. He also opens up about losing a Fortune 500 career just before Christmas, stepping deeper into the Bible project in the middle of uncertainty, and learning to trust God when the path stopped making sense. Together, Jim and Dan talk about why this work became more than a literary project, what reading the Bible out loud revealed about the character of God, and why so many tired believers do not need a complicated fix. They need to come back to prayer, Scripture, and real fellowship. If you feel battle-worn, spiritually off, or like you need to come back to God in a real and honest way, this conversation will meet you there. In This Episode, You Will Learn * Why Dan calls himself a reluctant Bible publisher and narrator * How God used loss, disruption, and uncertainty to redirect his life * What reading the Bible out loud revealed about the love and character of God * Why grace can be harder to receive than people think * How Scripture became a lifeline instead of just a project * What to do when you feel spiritually tired or far from God * Why prayer, the Word, and Christian fellowship still matter so much * How to stay faithful when you do not feel qualified Time Stamps 00:00 Intro and why this conversation is for the weary 00:28 Meet Dan Parr and the scope of the Bible project 01:35 The story of Dan’s mother choosing life 04:49 A flood, an unexpected gift, and the road back to church 06:54 “The Bible read me” and Dan’s turning point 08:21 Learning grace instead of trying to repay love 10:20 Reluctance, self-doubt, and obeying anyway 14:23 What reading Scripture out loud taught Dan about God 16:36 Why this became a lifeline, not just a literary project 17:16 Losing a Fortune 500 career three weeks before Christmas 19:35 How Dan’s media background prepared him for this calling 21:12 What walking by faith has looked like in real life 22:43 What to do when you are tired, drifting, or need to come back 24:48 Where to find Dan and the Easy to Understand, Read Bible Key Takeaways * God often calls people who do not feel qualified * Grace is a gift, not something you pay back * Scripture does more than inform you. It exposes, heals, and redirects you * From Genesis to Revelation, God keeps making a way back to Himself * Loss can become the doorway into calling * When your faith feels worn out, start simple * Prayer, God’s Word, and Christian community are still the basic anchors * Obedience does not always feel dramatic. Sometimes it just looks like staying faithful today Connect with Dan Parr 🌐 Website: https://www.parrdanmevoices.com [https://www.parrdanmevoices.com] 🎧 Listen to the Easy to Understand, Read Bible on Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Dan-Parr/B0C9H1C21Q [%E2%81%A0https://www.audible.com/author/Dan-Parr/B0C9H1C21Q] 📱 Social: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greatvoicetalent/] Connect with Jim 1. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/] 2. 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/ask] 3. 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/leadwithjim] 4. ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://youtube.com/@leadwithjim] 5. Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/leadwithjim] Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-in-the-grind/id1767405179] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1nw8OCTdwQAqjx0hzuRQQM?si=6038435315bd4bde] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://iheart.com/podcast/260758213/] ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.leadwithjim.com]. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Busy Isn’t the Same as Productive

Description Most people do not need another productivity hack. They need to tell the truth about what is actually stealing their focus. In this episode, Jim sits down with Mister Productivity™ for a practical conversation about overwhelm, digital distraction, impulse control, and why true productivity is bigger than calendars, apps, and getting more done. Mister Productivity™ shares how he went from losing his corporate job to building a life around helping people reclaim focus, and why productivity has to be defined by your real season, not somebody else’s standard. Together, Jim and Mister Productivity™ unpack why busy does not always mean productive, how to stop defaulting to “I can’t,” why going analog can help break the pull of your phone, and why sometimes the most productive thing you can do is step away and reset. They also talk about chronic illness, grace, daily habits, and why staying grounded in Christ starts with Scripture, not screens. If you feel scattered, distracted, or tired of confusing motion with progress, this episode will help you slow down, refocus, and build a healthier rhythm. In This Episode, You Will Learn * Why overwhelm is often bigger than a time management problem * How Mister Productivity™ defines productivity in real life, not internet life * Why you need your own definition of productivity for your current season * How to stop defaulting to “I can’t” before you have even tried * A simple analog way to reduce distraction and protect your focus * Why rest can be productive too * How to tell the difference between being busy and actually moving forward * Why reading the Word before touching your phone changes the tone of your day Time Stamps 00:00 Intro: Faith and focus in a distracted generation 00:57 What Mister Productivity™ actually helps people do 01:58 How Mister Productivity™ got started 04:33 When productivity became more than to-do lists and apps 07:11 The first step for people who feel scattered 08:35 Defining productivity in seasons of illness or limitation 10:55 Stop defaulting to “I can’t” 15:33 The easiest way to fight distraction is to go analog 19:17 What to do when you are not feeling it 21:52 Busy is not the same as productive 23:12 How Mister Productivity™ stays grounded in Christ 25:42 Where to connect with Mister Productivity™ Key Takeaways * Productivity is personal, and it has to fit your real life * You do not have to copy somebody else’s system to make progress * “I can’t” is often a default response, not a proven fact * Writing things down on paper can help break the cycle of digital distraction * Sometimes stopping is wiser than forcing bad work * Being busy and being productive are not the same thing * For believers, staying grounded starts with prayer and the Word Connect with Michael Struczewski A.K.A. Mister Productivity™ 🌐 Website: ⁠https://misterproductivity.com/ [https://misterproductivity.com/] 📱 Social: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/misterproductivity/], ⁠⁠⁠YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@MisterProductivity],⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstruczewski/], X.com [https://x.com/MarkStruczewski], ⁠TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mark.struczewski?lang=en] 💪 Free Productivity Scorecard: Available on his website [https://misterproductivity.com/] 🎤 Podcast: The Mister Productivity™ Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mister-productivity-podcast/id1257109620] Connect with Jim 1. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/] 2. 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/ask] 3. 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/leadwithjim] 4. ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://youtube.com/@leadwithjim] 5. Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/leadwithjim] Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-in-the-grind/id1767405179] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1nw8OCTdwQAqjx0hzuRQQM?si=6038435315bd4bde] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://iheart.com/podcast/260758213/] ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.leadwithjim.com]. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

If You Never Heal It, It Will Show Up in How You Lead

Description A lot of leadership problems do not start on the outside.They start underneath the surface. It is easy to focus on strategy, performance, and productivity while ignoring the deeper issues that quietly shape how we lead. But when you do not know yourself, have not dealt with what is driving you, or keep running without healthy rhythms, it will eventually show up in your leadership. In this episode, Jim sits down with Greg Woodard, author of Leadership From Within: Navigating the Path Toward Soul-Driven Success, for a thoughtful conversation about self-leadership, trauma, personality, sustainable rhythms, and what it looks like to lead from a healthy internal place. Together, Jim and Greg talk about the gap between who you are and how you lead, why personality and past experiences matter more than most people realize, how unaddressed trauma leaks into relationships and leadership, and why healthy rhythms are not optional if you want to lead for the long haul. They also talk about perfectionism, fear, imposter syndrome, and the simple truth that sometimes growth begins when you stop overthinking and finally move. If you have been feeling stuck, stretched, or aware that something deeper may be affecting the way you show up, this episode will help you slow down, look inward, and lead with greater intention. In This Episode, You Will Learn * Why self-awareness is one of the foundations of healthy leadership * How personality, wiring, and past experiences affect the way you lead * What happens when trauma goes unaddressed in a leader’s life * Why unhealthy inner wounds always spill into relationships * How Greg built sustainable rhythms during high-pressure military service * The difference between spiritual practices for others and spiritual care for yourself * Why leaders must protect their own soul instead of waiting for someone else to do it * How perfectionism and fear keep people from moving forward * Why action matters more than endless preparation when it comes to growth Time Stamps 00:00 Intro and why internal leadership matters 00:27 Meet Greg Woodard and his background in military chaplaincy 02:58 Greg’s new book, Leadership From Within 03:46 The gap between who you are and how you lead 04:20 Why knowing your wiring matters in leadership 06:25 Tools like DISC, Enneagram, StrengthsFinder, and self-awareness 07:19 How childhood experiences and attachment shape adult leadership 09:05 Trauma, unhealed wounds, and the impact on relationships and leadership 12:53 Self-imposed pressure, transition, and slowing down after military life 15:30 Walking, reflection, and making space for healthier rhythms 16:48 Why Jesus modeled a slower, more intentional pace 17:36 Why leaders must prioritize their own soul care 18:42 Greg’s framework for rhythms and sustainable leadership 20:15 The four rhythms: relational, physical, emotional, and spiritual 22:15 False rhythms and doing spiritual work for others while neglecting yourself 22:56 What to do when you feel stuck, limited, or afraid 23:24 Why leaders have to move before clarity fully comes 24:27 Perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and finishing what you start 26:16 Where to connect with Greg and learn more about the book Key Takeaways * Healthy leadership starts with knowing yourself. * Your personality, past, and wiring affect how you lead. * Trauma that is never addressed will leak into leadership and relationships. * Sustainable leadership requires intentional rhythms. * Leaders must care for their own soul instead of waiting for permission. * Spiritual activity is not the same as spiritual health. * Perfectionism can quietly keep you stuck. * Sometimes the next step is not more thinking. It is movement. Connect with Greg Woodard 🌐 Website: https://www.gregwoodard.com/leadership-from-within [https://www.gregwoodard.com/leadership-from-within] 📱 Social: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/gregoryswoodard/], ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryswoodard/],⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/gregorywoodard] ⁠ Connect with Jim 1. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/] 2. 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/ask] 3. 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/leadwithjim] 4. ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://youtube.com/@leadwithjim] 5. Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/leadwithjim] Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-in-the-grind/id1767405179] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1nw8OCTdwQAqjx0hzuRQQM?si=6038435315bd4bde] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://iheart.com/podcast/260758213/] ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.leadwithjim.com]. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

I Thought Hating Myself Would Change Me

Description What if the thing keeping you stuck is not a lack of discipline, but the shame driving everything underneath it? In this episode, Jim sits down with Jonathan McLernon for a raw conversation about trauma, emotional eating, self-sabotage, faith, and the long road back from self-hatred. Jonathan shares how a violent trauma in South Africa cracked open deeper wounds, how binge eating became a way to cope, and why trying to control himself harder only made the cycle worse. Together, Jim and Jonathan unpack the hidden link between shame and addiction, why some people know all the right things but still cannot change, and how a punitive view of God can keep faith trapped in the head instead of rooted in the heart. They also talk about the coach who met Jonathan with compassion instead of condemnation, the question that exposed how little value he had for himself, and why real healing often begins with much smaller steps than people expect. If you have ever felt stuck in cycles of emotional eating, self-sabotage, harsh self-talk, or trying to force your way into healing, this episode will help you see why shame never sets people free and why compassion is not weakness. It may be the starting point of real change. In This Episode, You Will Learn * Why emotional eating is often about pain, not food * How shame can keep self-sabotage alive for years * What Jonathan means by being a “cerebral Christian” * Why a distorted view of God can block real healing * The difference between behavior control and heart-level change * Why compassion felt dangerous to Jonathan at first * The question that exposed the root of his self-hatred * How small actions can begin rebuilding self-worth * Why progressive healing is more realistic than instant change Time Stamps 00:00 Intro: The brain, the body, and healing 00:43 Meet Jonathan McLernon and the work he does 03:16 Trauma, gifts, and the suffering that reshaped his life 05:12 What it means to be a “cerebral Christian” 07:23 Moving faith from the head to the heart 12:54 When coping mechanisms stop helping you cope 14:41 Why willpower and tight control kept failing 17:08 Why compassion felt soft, risky, and unsafe 19:13 The question that changed everything 21:04 “He gave him a robe, not a straitjacket” 22:16 How to begin healing when you do not have support 23:40 The power of small actions that rebuild worth 26:14 Why healing is usually progressive, not instant 27:00 Near-death trauma, betrayal, and rebuilding again 29:19 Jonathan’s “x-ray vision” and seeing people’s potential Key Takeaways * You cannot shame yourself into lasting change. * Emotional eating and addiction are rarely just about the behavior. * A harsh inner world often hides under high performance. * More control is not always the answer. Sometimes it is the trap. * Compassion is not weakness. It is often the doorway to healing. * Small actions can begin changing a deeply damaged identity. * Faith can stay trapped in the mind when the heart still fears God. * Healing usually happens step by step, not all at once. * People need understanding more than condemnation. Connect with Jonathan McLernon 🌐 Website: https://jonathanmclernon.substack.com/ [https://jonathanmclernon.substack.com/] 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BTBA_podcast [https://www.instagram.com/BTBA_podcast] ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BTBA_podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BTBA_podcast] Connect with Jim 1. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/] 2. 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/ask] 3. 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/leadwithjim] 4. ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://youtube.com/@leadwithjim] 5. Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/leadwithjim] Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-in-the-grind/id1767405179] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1nw8OCTdwQAqjx0hzuRQQM?si=6038435315bd4bde] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://iheart.com/podcast/260758213/] ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.leadwithjim.com]. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How to Fight for Your Teen When They’re Falling Apart

Description When your child is battling depression, trauma, anxiety, or self-harm, it can feel like your whole life turns into survival mode. In this episode, Jim sits down with Jenn Robb, nurse practitioner, author of Warrior Mom Rising, and mom of a daughter who walked through severe mental health struggles, to talk about what it really looks like to fight for your child without losing yourself in the process. Jenn shares the warning signs they saw, the weight of trying to keep her daughter alive, the guilt and self-blame many moms carry, and how surrendering control to God changed the way she walked through the hardest season of her life. Together, Jim and Jenn talk about caregiver burnout, how to find the right counselor, why moms do not need to know everything said in therapy, and the practical ways a parent can become a safe place for a struggling child. They also unpack the tension between faith and suffering, and what it means to keep showing up when healing is slow. If you are walking through mental health struggles with your child, or love someone who is, this conversation will give you hope, wisdom, and a few practical next steps. In This Episode, You Will Learn * How to recognize when a teen’s struggle is more than “just a phase” * Why moms often lose themselves while trying to save their child * What healthy advocacy looks like during a mental health crisis * Why finding the right counselor matters more than finding the fastest one * How to support your child without forcing them to tell you everything * Why self-care is necessary for caregivers, not optional * What surrendering control to God can look like in a real crisis * How faith can hold when your family is walking through pain Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 00:18 Meet Jenn Robb and her background in medicine 01:08 Her daughter’s mental health struggle begins 02:53 Trauma, depression, PTSD, and anxiety hit hard 03:39 Why mothers often become the voice for their child 04:31 Warning signs that it was more than a phase 06:28 How Jenn almost lost herself trying to keep her daughter alive 07:14 Why you cannot pour from an empty cup 08:20 Jenn shares the heart behind Warrior Mom Rising 10:06 Where God was in the middle of the crisis 10:51 The moment Jenn realized she had to surrender control 12:38 Wrestling with anger, pain, and trusting God 13:33 Finding purpose in pain 15:01 Helping a child live, trust, and keep faith after trauma 17:14 The lies moms tell themselves in the middle of the battle 19:39 The first steps for moms whose child is struggling right now 20:40 Why the right counselor matters so much 21:27 Why parents do not need to know everything said in therapy 22:51 The “mousse cake” code word and a practical support tool 24:27 Does the counselor need to be Christian? 26:22 How this journey changed Jenn’s prayer life 27:47 Where to find Jenn, her book, and free resources Key Takeaways * A child’s mental health crisis can quickly become a caregiver crisis too. * Losing interest in what they once loved can be a major warning sign. * Moms often carry guilt that does not belong to them. * You can advocate hard for your child without trying to control every detail. * The right therapist fit matters more than choosing the first available option. * Your child needs a safe place, not constant pressure to explain everything. * Taking care of yourself helps you care for your child better. * Surrender is not quitting. It is trusting God while still doing your part. Connect with Jenn Robb 🌐 Website: ⁠ [https://www.5ampodcast.com]https://warriormomcoach.net/ [https://warriormomcoach.net/] 📱 Social: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/warriormom_jennrobb], ⁠⁠⁠Threads [https://www.threads.com/@warriormom_jennrobb],⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/jenn.robb.2025/] , Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Warriormom_jennrobb/] 📘 Book: Warrior Mom Rising [https://warriormomcoach.net/book-devo] 🎁 Free resources: Tips for finding the right counselor and tools to help moms feel more equipped [https://warriormomcoach.net/] Connect with Jim 1. 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/] 2. 🎙️ Ask a Question: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com/ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.leadwithjim.com/ask] 3. 📱 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://instagram.com/leadwithjim] 4. ▶️ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lead with Jim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://youtube.com/@leadwithjim] 5. Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@leadwithjim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/leadwithjim] Support & Engage with the Show ✅ Subscribe to The Unshakable Life wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-in-the-grind/id1767405179] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1nw8OCTdwQAqjx0hzuRQQM?si=6038435315bd4bde] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://iheart.com/podcast/260758213/] ✅ Leave a 5-star review if this episode encouraged your faith. ✅ For more faith-driven leadership content, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leadwithjim.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.leadwithjim.com]. Thanks for listening! Never miss an episode of The Unshakable Life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app—and if this resonated, share it with a friend who needs the tools to develop an Unshakable Life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]