The Jess Connolly Podcast

Sometimes the fear of rejection keeps us from showing up as our true selves. In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess unpacks why rejection hurts so deeply, how seemingly small moments of being overlooked or left out can shape the way we see ourselves, and how the belief that we have to be useful or needed to be lovable can lead us to people-please and lose ourselves in the process.Together, we explore the difference between rejection and correction, why following Jesus doesn't guarantee everyone will like us, and how to stay openhearted in a world where rejection is inevitable. This isn't about becoming someone who doesn't care what people think. It's about learning to live freely, love courageously, and trust that another person's rejection doesn't change God's yes over our belovedness.

What if your humanity isn't a liability, but your greatest resource?In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess sits down with returning guest and therapist Kobe Campbell to talk about why asking for help can feel so hard, especially for women who are used to being the helpers. From learning to ask for more to embracing healthy interdependence, Kobe offers wisdom on vulnerability, disappointment, relationships, and what it looks like to let people show up for us. They also explore the difference between acting like the woman we think we're supposed to be and living freely as the women God created us to be.If you've ever struggled to ask for help, worried that you're taking up too much space, or felt like you have to keep it all together because you're the one everyone else depends on, this conversation is for you.The Art of Starting Over By:Kobe Campbell

Maybe you're not afraid of aging. Maybe you're just scared of not being seen. In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess Connolly sits down with her friend Anna Mae Groves to talk about cultivating a life that feels good, embracing the beauty of getting older, and learning to let go of the pressure to prove ourselves. From daily walks and simple self-care to taking a sabbatical and learning to say no, they share practical ways to care for ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually in every season of life.Together, Jess and Anna Mae unpack the tension between privilege and obedience, why caring about how we look doesn’t have to mean idolizing beauty, and how we can stop comparing our lives to others and start cultivating the life God has given us. ⁠Cylar deodorant → ⁠⁠ Anna Mae’s Instagram → ⁠

I don’t think you’re lazy. I just think you might be scared.In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess sits down with author Jon Acuff to talk about procrastination, fear, and what’s really happening when we feel completely stuck. Jon’s work reframes procrastination as a learned coping mechanism rather than a character flaw - which means beating yourself up might not be the thing that finally gets you moving.Together, Jess and Jon unpack the fears hiding underneath procrastination, the difference between rest and avoidance, and how small actions can help us move again without waiting to feel completely confident or ready. If you’ve been staring at the same dream, decision, project, or next step for months, wondering what is wrong with you, this conversation offers a different question: What if you’re not lazy? What if you’re scared?

We talk all the time about being afraid to fail. But what if you’re also afraid it might actually work? In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess talks with entrepreneur and former Go + Tell Gals team member Caroline Lunne about ambition, calling, and having the courage to actually go for it.Together, they explore both sides of the fear: the fear of failing that convinces us not to try and the fear of succeeding that makes us wonder what will happen if our lives actually expand. What will people think? Can I handle the responsibility? Who will I become? This isn’t a conversation about hustling harder or building something impressive. It’s about refusing to play small when God has given you something to steward—and learning to move toward faithfulness even when failure and success both feel scary.