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

25 | When Healing Happens Quietly with Melissa Prusinski

Healing doesn't always happen in dramatic moments. Sometimes it looks like taking one more faithful step. Sometimes it looks like learning to breathe again. Sometimes it happens so quietly that you don't notice the change until you look back and realize how far you've come. Today, Laura welcomes Melissa Prusinski, founder of Our Healing Farm and author of Say Howdy to Healing and Hope! A Guide to Restoration Through Faith and Horses [https://amzn.to/4eV7EZi]. Through her own journey with trauma, chronic illness, late-stage Lyme disease, and deep dependence on the Holy Spirit, Melissa has discovered that healing isn't about becoming tougher. It's about becoming whole. Together they discuss: • Why healing is a process instead of a destination • Living beyond survival mode • Nervous system healing and emotional restoration • Listening for the Holy Spirit in everyday life • What horses can teach us about slowing down and trust • Letting go of old wounds without pretending they never happened • Why God often works in quiet, unseen ways If you've ever wondered why your healing feels slow, or if you've worried that you're not making progress, this conversation is a gentle reminder that God is still working beneath the surface. Breath Prayer Breathe in: Make me whole. Breathe out: One quiet step at a time. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's always room for you at the Counter. Connect with Melissa Her book: Say Howdy to Healing and Hope!: A Guide to Restoration Through Faith and Horses [https://amzn.to/4wwX8gA]- https://amzn.to/4wwX8gA [https://amzn.to/4wwX8gA] Our Healing Farm Website: https://www.ourhealingfarm.com/  [https://www.ourhealingfarm.com/] 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.

24 | When You Don't Recognize Your Life Anymore... and Still Keep Going with Jay Setchell

Life doesn't always unfold the way we imagined. Sometimes illness changes everything. Sometimes loss reshapes our future. Sometimes we wake up one day and realize we hardly recognize the life we're living. In this episode, Laura welcomes Jay Setchell to the Counter. Jay has survived multiple near-death experiences, paralysis, dozens of surgeries, and more than seventy operations. Yet through every challenge, he has discovered something deeper than endurance: the strength that God places within each of us to keep taking the next step. Together they explore: * What to do when life looks nothing like you expected * The difference between hope, belief, and faith * Finding strength within life's hardest seasons * Why small steps matter more than giant leaps * The importance of community when life feels overwhelming * Learning to persevere one day at a time * Discovering purpose even after life changes Jay's story isn't simply about surviving difficult circumstances. It's about learning that even when life changes, God hasn't changed. If your life feels unfamiliar, overwhelming, or you've wondered whether you still have purpose after everything you've been through, this conversation is a reminder that your story isn't over. Breath Prayer Breathe in: God of strength... Breathe out: Help me keep going. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's always room for you at the Counter. Connect with Jay Learn more about Jay and his work at NeverQuitting.com [https://neverquittrying.com/] 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.

23 | When Some Things Never Fully Resolve with Rev. Rebecca Foster

Some questions don't have easy answers. Some hurts don't disappear overnight. Some chapters of life remain unfinished longer than we'd ever choose. Today, Laura is joined by Rev. Rebecca Foster, an ordained minister with a background in chaplaincy and death care. Rebecca has walked closely with people through some of life's most tender moments, where questions don't always have answers and what people need most isn't someone to fix the situation, but someone willing to stay present. In this gentle conversation, Laura and Rebecca explore what it means to live faithfully with the things we can't fix. Together they discuss: * Living with unanswered questions while trusting God * Why presence is often more healing than having the right words * What forgiveness really looks like (and what it doesn't) * How to place unresolved situations into God's hands * The "holy tension" of faith and suffering * What people nearing the end of life say matters most * Learning to let go without pretending the hurt never happened If you've been carrying unresolved grief, broken trust, unanswered prayers, or questions that may never fully be answered this side of heaven, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: You don't have to carry them alone. Breath Prayer Breathe in: I place it in Your hands. Breathe out: You are holding me. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's room for your questions here. Connect with Rebecca: You can learn more about Rebecca and connect on threads at rev.rctfoster  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.

22 | 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.