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Seek First CEO: Neuroscience, Scripture, & Spirit-led Strategy for High-performing Christian Women
Seek First CEO: Neuroscience, Scripture, & Spirit-led Strategy for High-performing Christian Women
Author: Heather Shriver Burns: Master Neuroscience Business Coach, Certified Biblical Life Coach, and Speaker
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The must listen to podcast for high achieving servant hearted Christian entrepreneurs who love JESUS and want to use their life & business as a ministry to grow God’s Kingdom.
Welcome to the Seek First CEO podcast, a community for high achieving servant hearted entrepreneurs committed to seeking God first and keeping God first in life and business!
If you believe you’re called to impact the world through your business, then you’re in the right place!
Hi friend! I’m Heather, teacher turned serial entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and your host of the Seek First CEO, podcast! I’m passionate about helping Jesus loving women start finding their worth in Whose they are, not what they do.
As a Certified Master Neuroscience Coach, I’m here to help you learn how to manage your mind and emotions so you can faithfully manage your business while fearlessly fulfilling your calling. If you want to get your mindset and heartset in sync with the Father so that you confidently walk in your true identity and learn to live in FLOW with the Holy Spirit?
If your heart’s desire is to grow in your faith and be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then let’s GROW GIRL!
Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seekfirstceo
Learn: www.heathershriverburns.com
Connect: coachheathershriverburns@gmail.com
Welcome to the Seek First CEO podcast, a community for high achieving servant hearted entrepreneurs committed to seeking God first and keeping God first in life and business!
If you believe you’re called to impact the world through your business, then you’re in the right place!
Hi friend! I’m Heather, teacher turned serial entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and your host of the Seek First CEO, podcast! I’m passionate about helping Jesus loving women start finding their worth in Whose they are, not what they do.
As a Certified Master Neuroscience Coach, I’m here to help you learn how to manage your mind and emotions so you can faithfully manage your business while fearlessly fulfilling your calling. If you want to get your mindset and heartset in sync with the Father so that you confidently walk in your true identity and learn to live in FLOW with the Holy Spirit?
If your heart’s desire is to grow in your faith and be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then let’s GROW GIRL!
Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seekfirstceo
Learn: www.heathershriverburns.com
Connect: coachheathershriverburns@gmail.com
263 Episodes
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What do you do when God doesn’t answer your prayers?
In this raw and honest episode, Heather opens up about a deeply personal moment with her daughter that sparked a bigger question many Christian women in business are quietly asking:
If God can answer prayers… why does it sometimes feel like He isn’t?
This conversation challenges the way we’ve been taught to view prayer, moving from a posture of begging to one of alignment, authority, and identity.
Heather unpacks the tension between faith and perceived silence from God, and introduces a powerful reframe:
What if it’s not that God isn’t answering…
but that we don’t fully understand what He’s already given us?
Inside this episode, you’ll explore:
Why prayer may not be about asking, but aligning
The difference between feeling powerless and being equipped with power
How belief systems and nervous system patterns impact your leadership and results
Why many high-capacity Christian women feel stuck despite doing “all the right things”
The role of identity in accessing authority in business and life
If you’ve ever felt frustrated, confused, or quietly questioning why things aren’t shifting in your business despite your prayers, this episode will meet you right where you are.
This is not about having all the answers.
It’s about opening a deeper, more honest conversation.
NEXT STEPS
If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to go deeper, Heather invites you into her private podcast experience:
Rewire to Reign
CONNECT WITH HEATHER
Heather loves hearing from listeners! Her DM's on Instagram are open. Shoot her a message to ask her any questions, share your takeaways, or to request a specific topic on the podcast.
Many Christian entrepreneurs say they want to build a Kingdom business.
But most are still building for the Kingdom instead of from it.
In this episode, I unpack what actually shifts when righteousness, peace, and joy become your internal operating system — and why a truly aligned business flows from embodiment, not effort.
If your business is successful but still feels heavy, this conversation will challenge how you measure growth and what it really means to lead from the Kingdom.
In This Episode:
The difference between building for God and building from the Kingdom
Why peace — not revenue — is the first metric of alignment
How nervous system patterns distort leadership and decision-making
The hidden cost of scaling while internally dysregulated
What changes when your identity shifts from performer to daughter
Why Kingdom leadership produces fruit without self-abandonment
If you’re a six-figure female founder who knows she’s capable of more influence, more revenue, and more impact — but refuses to build it at the expense of her peace, family, or faith —
I’m currently opening a limited case study inside Seek First CEO Academy.
Message me on Instagram with the word CEO to apply.
Jesus said the Kingdom is within you.
So why does it feel so hard to experience peace, joy, and freedom — even when you love God and lead a successful business?
In this episode, I unpack why high-performing Christian women often struggle to access the very thing they’re building for — and how nervous system wiring, over-functioning, and identity patterns quietly block what can only be received.
In This Episode:
What it actually means that the Kingdom is “within”
Why high-capacity women avoid going inward
The hidden link between performance and safety
Why you can’t out-pray a dysregulated nervous system
The difference between working for peace and receiving it
What Jesus meant about becoming like a child — and why that confronts achievers
If you’re scaling to multiple 6 or 7 figures but still feel restless, braced, or unable to slow down, this conversation will expose the real root.
I’m currently opening a limited case study inside Seek First CEO Academy for six-figure female founders ready to scale from peace instead of pressure.
Message me on Instagram with the word CEO to apply.
My first business looked good. My current business feels good.
For years, I built something that honored God publicly — but internally, I was anxious, braced, and driven. I could post the verse. I just wasn’t living from it.
In this episode, I break down what Jesus actually taught about the Kingdom — and why it changes how you build your business and how you live your life.
What We Cover In This Episode:
Why the Kingdom is not something you work toward
Why Jesus said you must become like a child to enter it
How to identify the fruit
The difference between a "Christian" business and a Kingdom business
The real diagnostic test Jesus gave us
And what the Kingdom actually produces
If peace isn’t present, something else is running your business.
This episode is about identity, where you’re building from, and what your business is revealing.
If it speaks to you, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message on IG and let me know what resonated.
And if you're interested in joining the next co-hort for my 6-month coaching and mentorship program, DM me the word "FLOW" and let's talk.
There’s a hidden shame many entrepreneurial mothers carry but rarely admit.
You built your business to create more freedom and presence for your family. But instead, you found yourself pulled toward your business because it feels easier to engage with than motherhood.
Not because you love your kids less.
But because your business rewards you in ways motherhood doesn’t.
This episode breaks down the nervous system patterns behind this experience and why motherhood and business often expose deeper internal conditioning around safety, performance, and identity.
This is not about choosing between being a present mother and a successful entrepreneur. It’s about increasing your internal capacity so you can sustainably hold both.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Why business can feel more rewarding than motherhood
The nervous system impact of building success from pressure
The hidden cost of the “boss babe” era
Why so many high-performing mothers feel shame and internal conflict
How your brain links productivity with safety
Why success doesn’t resolve internal pressure
The real reason burnout happens
How regulation changes both motherhood and business
This Episode Is For You If:
You feel guilty for enjoying work more than motherhood at times
You struggle to fully unplug from your business
You are successful but internally exhausted
You want to feel present without losing your ambition
You want success that doesn’t cost your peace
Key Takeaway:
Motherhood isn’t the problem.
Your business isn’t the problem.
Your nervous system determines your capacity to experience both with peace.
When that changes, everything changes.
READY FOR THE INTERNAL CHANGE THAT WILL TRANSFORM EVERYTHING? Apply to Made to Flow today.
Send me a message with the word "FLOW" on Instagram.
You took the day off.
You booked the massage.
You did the bubble bath.
And you still woke up tired.
If that’s you, this episode is for you.
You’re not bad at self-care.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’ve just been addressing the surface.
Because a spa day can interrupt your schedule —
but it doesn’t interrupt your pattern.
And if your pattern is to carry everything, fix everything, and absorb everyone else’s emotions… you’ll rest — and then pick the weight right back up.
In this episode, we redefine self-care for high-performing women and entrepreneurs. We explore:
The difference between self-care and soul care
Why emotional overload lingers even after rest
The five layers of real self-care (emotional, relational, boundary, nervous system, identity)
The over-functioning pattern that keeps ambitious women exhausted
Simple ways to begin off-boarding emotional weight
If you’re still tired after the spa day, it’s not because you need better self-care tips.
It’s because you’ve been carrying too much for too long.
And that’s the deeper work.
Ready to go deeper and do the work that actually changes how you feel inside? That's what we do in MADE TO FLOW. You can have a business and a life you love that feels peaceful.
Message me on Instagram with the word "FLOW" or email me at heather@heathershriverburns.com to apply.
In this episode, we’re getting honest about the real reason high performers struggle to slow down—even when they know rest is biblical, healthy, and necessary.
We’re breaking down what’s happening in your nervous system when you try to rest (hello, guilt + restlessness), why information alone doesn’t change behavior, and how small, intentional micro-rests—re-trains your body to feel safe enough to actually enjoy rest.
Because rest was never meant to feel like punishment.
It was meant to feel like a big exhale.
We’ll also go there: for many high achievers, busy-ness isn’t ambition—it’s avoidance… and can be a sign you’ve lost intimacy with yourself, God, and what you actually need.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The #1 nervous system reason rest feels hard (and why discipline won’t fix it)
How high performers subconsciously link rest = lazy and work = safety
Why “Sabbath” can become another performance metric (and how to reclaim it)
What titration is and why small rests work better than big ones
Simple micro-rest practices that help your body stop panicking when you slow down
How to shift from collapse-rest to joy-based rest you actually look forward to
If you’re ready to stop collecting self-care tips and start rewiring what’s underneath the grind…
DM me “ACADEMY” and I’ll send you the details on my program built for high-performing women who want to rewire their internal world and live rich and rested—without shutting down their ambition.
You don’t need more Bible verses.
You don’t need new strategies.
You don’t need better mindset shifts.
You need to learn how to integrate what you already know.
In this episode, we unpack why high-performing, Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs can consume incredible content—books, podcasts, sermons, strategies—and still feel capped, frustrated, or tense at their next level.
This isn’t a discipline problem.
It’s not a faith problem.
And it’s not a motivation problem.
It’s an integration problem.
We talk about why information alone doesn’t create change, what integration actually is (and what it’s not), how your nervous system and patterns shape behavior under pressure, and why unlearning is often required before anything new can truly land.
This conversation is designed to help you see the gap—not fill it with more content.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Why knowing the truth doesn’t automatically translate into lived experience
The difference between information, revelation, and integration
How most systems teach you what to think but not how to integrate truth into daily life
The science behind why insight doesn’t override patterns or nervous system responses
Why high performers feel especially frustrated at their next level
How patterns are formed for safety—not logic
Why more content often increases pressure instead of change
The role of unlearning before true transformation can occur
What it means to understand your internal world as a Kingdom entrepreneur
Why this isn’t about trying harder, being more disciplined, or consuming more
Key Takeaways
Information lives in the mind; behavior is driven by the nervous system
Integration is how truth moves from head → body → decision → daily life
Under pressure, you don’t default to what you believe—you default to what’s integrated
Growth and expansion expose integration gaps, not personal failure
Sustainable leadership requires internal capacity, not just insight
A Note on Faith
Scripture consistently points to transformation as a process, not a download.
Renewal produces fruit when truth is lived—not just understood.
This episode uses faith as an anchor, not a weapon—and science as an explanation, not a replacement.
Next Steps
This podcast isn’t meant to give you more information.
It’s meant to help you recognize why nothing changed—and discern what kind of work is actually required next.
If you’re listening and thinking, “This is the gap I’ve been hitting,” you don’t need another episode.
You may need a different environment.
👉 DM me the word “INTEGRATION” on IG if you want to explore whether my work is the right next step for you.
This isn’t for everyone—and that’s intentional. I love working with women ready to change their lives from the inside out!
You were never meant to build the Kingdom through your business. So what were you meant to do?
Jesus didn’t invite His followers to build something for God. He invited them to do something different.
In this episode, we return to Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom and explore a quiet but powerful shift many leaders miss: the Kingdom isn’t something you do for God—it’s something you learn how to live from with Him.
This is a conversation about alignment over effort, inheritance over earning, and why capacity—not calling—is the real bottleneck for most leaders. We’ll walk through the keys Jesus gave for accessing the Kingdom and why high performers often struggle—not because they’re doing life wrong, but because the Kingdom operates from the inside out.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why Jesus never instructed anyone to build the Kingdom—and what He actually said instead
The difference between achievement-based living and Kingdom alignment
Why high performers feel friction with trust, surrender, and rest
The six Kingdom keys Jesus taught: trust, childlikeness, dependence, repentance, internal access, and inheritance
How productivity can quietly replace intimacy with God
Why your struggle isn’t a faith problem—it’s a capacity problem
What it actually means to live from the Kingdom, not for it
Want access to the Rewire to Reign Workshop? Grab that HERE.
Ready to upgrade your internal world to align it to the Kingdom? DM me "OVERFLOW" on IG and let's talk.
When someone asks “How are you?” it’s easy to default to “I’m fine.” But for high-performing Christian women, “fine” is often code for functioning—pushing through stress, carrying massive responsibility, and calling it normal. In this episode, Heather breaks down the subtle signs your nervous system is stuck in go-mode, why “safe” can feel unfamiliar, and how to start shifting out of chronic activation without abandoning your calling.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The two types of “I’m fine” (polite fine vs. protective fine)
Why high performers can look calm while their body stays braced
The difference between being safe and feeling safe
How chronic stress becomes your nervous system’s baseline
Why “this is just leadership” is a lie that costs you peace
A simple reset you can use when your mind won’t turn off
Signs You Might Be “Functioning,” Not Fine:
You can rest, but you can’t receive rest
You wake up tired even after sleep
Your brain starts solving problems the moment you wake up
You feel most alive under pressure (deadlines = fuel)
You’re calm in chaos, anxious in calm
You hit milestones and feel… nothing
You constantly feel behind, even when you’re ahead
You carry responsibility in your body (jaw/shoulders tight, shallow breathing)
You struggle to fully exhale and be present
A Question to Sit With:
“What does safe even feel like for me?”
(Not “my life is unsafe”—but “does my nervous system know I’m safe?”)
Try This (60-Second Reset):
One hand on chest, one hand on belly
Inhale through your nose for 4
Exhale for 6
On the exhale, unclench your jaw and soften your shoulders
Say: “In this moment, I am safe.”
Notice: does your body agree? If not, that’s information—not failure.
If This Episode Hit Home…
You’re not broken. You’re patterned. And patterns can be rewired.
Call to Action: Join Rewire to Reign™
If you’re ready to stop building your life and business on adrenaline, Rewire to Reign™ is your next step. In this workshop, Heather will help you identify your stress patterns, understand why they became “normal,” and start retraining your system so you can lead with peace, confidence, and capacity.
➡️ Join Rewire to Reign™ here: https://www.heathershriverburns.com/offers/87YhtPFK/checkout
Share This Episode With a Friend Who:
always says “I’m fine” but her body says otherwise
can’t turn her brain off
feels guilty when she rests
is doing meaningful work but feels internally maxed out
Keywords/SEO Tags:
nervous system dysregulation, high-functioning anxiety, chronic stress, Christian entrepreneur, burnout prevention, women leaders, somatic tools, faith and neuroscience, nervous system regulation
We love new beginnings — new years, new opportunities, new seasons.
But if you’ve ever wondered why:
a new year didn’t change how you feel
a new opportunity didn’t change your patterns
believing harder didn’t lead to lasting change
…this episode is for you.
In this conversation, I’m sharing the truth about new beginnings that most people never hear:
real change doesn’t happen through mindset alone.
I talk about:
Why fresh starts often don’t create different outcomes
The difference between leaving something behind and actually changing internally
What “Egypt” really represents — patterns, cycles, and old ways of operating
Why faith, truth, and good intentions aren’t always enough to create transformation
If you’ve tried to think differently, believe differently, or pray differently —
but still find yourself defaulting to the same internal experience —
it’s not because you’re doing it wrong.
It’s because change requires rewiring, not just resolve.
Ready to REWIRE your internal world for the dreams in your heart?
Join the Rewire to Reign™️ Workshop - January 21 from 12-2 EST (9-11 MST). See you there!
In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest myths about nervous system work and what every Christian woman needs to know before starting this journey.
If you’ve ever thought nervous system work means you’ll always be calm, or if you’ve worried it was “too new age,” this conversation will set you free.
Here’s what I’ll cover:
Why healing often feels worse before it feels better
What scripture actually says about pruning, stress, and regulation
How neuroscience and faith confirm each other
What you can realistically expect when you begin this process
If you’re a high-performing woman who’s tired of pushing past your limits, this episode will give you both clarity and hope.
👉 Ready to step into deeper healing and peace? Join me at the Secret Place Retreat, where I’ll guide you through biblical + brain-based tools for nervous system regulation and soul restoration.
DM me the word "SECRET" on Instagram to ask any questions and to apply.
Take a look at all the info for The Secret Place Retreat here. (7 spots remain as of 9/18)
The world feels chaotic right now, doesn’t it? With constant bad news, cultural pressure, and endless noise, it’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. But here’s the truth: you were never meant to hold it all.
In this episode, I share:
Why it’s okay to release what you were never designed to carry.
How to shift from leading out of pressure to leading from peace and overflow.
The importance of listening for God’s specific direction instead of bowing to fear or outside expectations.
A guided Lectio Divina with Psalm 23 to help you pause and practice hearing His voice.
I know rest doesn’t come easy for leaders—but it’s exactly what you need most. That’s why I created the Secret Place Retreat. This is your invitation to step away from the noise, breathe deeply, and encounter God in a way that restores your soul and gives you fresh clarity for the season ahead.
👉 Learn more about the Secret Place Retreat HERE.
If this episode spoke to you, I want to connect.
Message me on Instagram @heathershriverburns for daily encouragement and to learn more about my coaching and retreats.
This week, I’m back after a break—and I’m sharing the raw truth about transition. We moved our family across the country from Pittsburgh, PA to Phoenix, Arizona and it's been BRUTIFUL.
Transition can be both brutal and beautiful. It’s the tension of excitement and grief, of trusting God while wrestling with what is still yet to come.
In this honest episode, I share:
Why transition is always a both/and (not just good or bad).
The pitfalls to avoid when you’re in between the old and the new.
Three powerful truths to help you navigate your own transition season with courage and faith.
If God has you in transition right now, this one’s for you.
If this episode spoke to you, I'd love to connect and pray for you while you're in transition. My DM's are open on Instagram!
HELLO FRIEND! We have a BIG update for you. We are so excited about this next chapter and I look forward to all that's to come.
In the meantime, come say "hi" on Instagram!
X,
Heather
You’re doing everything “right.”
The business is growing. The money’s coming in. People see you as successful.
But deep down… something feels off.
You’re tired. You’re emotionally disconnected. Your relationships are strained.
And while your business is thriving, your life feels like it’s quietly falling apart.
In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the high-achieving woman who is winning in business but losing in life.
We’re going to talk about what’s really behind the burnout, the disconnect, and the constant striving—and why more strategy is not the answer.
You’ll hear:
My honest story about chasing success in a business I didn’t love
The patterns I see in my clients who come to me for strategy but stay for healing
Why your nervous system, your belief system, and your relationship with God all impact your business more than you think
What you can do when you realize the life behind the business needs more attention
Let this be your invitation to stop pretending everything’s okay and finally get to the root of what’s really going on.
Need someone to walk with you through this?
DM me the word ROOTED over on Instagram @heathershriverburns.
I’d love to support you as you begin building a solid foundation that allows you to love both your business and your life.
In this quick but powerful episode, I'm sharing a spontaneous encounterI had with the Lord while on a walk—an encounter that sparked a question that could shift everything in your business and your life.
What do you really believe about God?
God whispered, "I’m better than you think I am." That one statement unraveled years of performance, striving, and fear-based thinking...and replaced it with awe, freedom, and truth.
You’ll hear:
How this powerful question can help you find the freedom you desire in your business.
How our belief systems shape 90% of our actions (yep—even in business).
The six core beliefs we address in Heather’s programs (God, self, time, money, failure, success) and why they matter so much.
What it means to align your thoughts with Kingdom truth instead of defaulting to a lie.
A real-life reflection that’ll challenge and encourage you to check your beliefs at the root.
This episode is short—but it’s not surface. It’s an invitation to pause and ask:
If God really is better than I think He is… how would I show up differently today?
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re ready to heal your relationship with God, yourself, and others—join us at the Secret Place Retreat.
This is more than rest.
It’s restoration.
It’s clarity.
It’s hearing from God again (or for the first time in a long time).
And it’s coming home to who He created you to be.
Space is limited. DM Heather “RETREAT” on Instagram or visit The Secret Place Retreat to apply.
Your Next Steps:
📌 Screenshot this episode and tag @heathershriverburns with your biggest takeaway.
📌 Leave a review—it helps other faith-driven women find this podcast.
📌 Share this with a friend who needs this simple reminder: God is better than we think He is.
Let’s be honest—many of us are doing all the “right” things:
We’re reading our Bibles.
We’re praying.
We’re serving.
We’re leading.
And yet… we still feel disconnected from God.
We wonder, Why can’t I hear Him? Why does He feel so far? Is it something I’m doing wrong?
In today’s episode, we’re gently (but boldly) reframing those questions—and offering a new perspective rooted in both neuroscience and spirit-led truth.
You’ll hear:
Why you might not have a hearing problem—you might have a nervous system problem
How trauma, stress, and high-functioning burnout impact your ability to feel safe in stillness
The brain science behind why intimacy with God feels so hard when you're in survival mode
Why rest and regulation are the gateways to spiritual clarity—not more religious effort
How performance and pressure often mask a deep disconnection from yourself
The freedom that comes when we stop hustling for God and start being with Him
This conversation is for the woman who’s tired of trying harder, doing more, and still feeling like she’s missing something.
You are not spiritually broken.
You are just ready for a new rhythm—one of peace, presence, and partnership with the Holy Spirit.
DM “FREEDOM” on Instagram to learn more or continue the conversation:
https://www.instagram.com/heathershriverburns
Join us at The Secret Place Retreat (June 26–28, 2025):
https://thesecretplaceretreat.com
(only 5 spots open at the time of this recording)
In today’s episode, we’re having a vulnerable conversation about a
If this episode speaks to you, and you’re ready to heal from the addiction to achievement and build a business and life you love
DM me the word "HEALED" on Instagram.
Let’s continue the conversation—and walk into freedom, together.
f you’ve been feeling out of sync lately—disconnected from yourself, from peace, or from God—this guided imaginative prayer is for you.
In this episode, I’m inviting you into a sacred space of alignment,
Not hustle.
Not striving.
Just alignment—heart, mind, body, and spirit—with the One who holds it all together.
This isn’t about performance.
It’s about presence.
Whether you’re stuck in survival mode or spiritually burnt out, this prayer will gently lead you back to truth, peace, and partnership with Jesus.
Let yourself breathe.
Let yourself receive.
And let this be the moment you remember—you’re not made to strive your way into alignment. You’re invited to surrender into it.
If this prayer spoke to something deep in you—
Screenshot it. Share it with a friend. Let her know she’s not the only one trying to hold it all together.
✨ And if you’re craving more moments like this…
More space to pause.
To pray.
To align…
I’m creating a private podcast just for guided prayers like this—designed to help you stay rooted and regulated in your faith, even in the middle of your busy life.
👉 Want access when it launches?
DM me “PRAYER PODCAST” on Instagram @heathershriverburns or email hello@heathershriverburns.com and I’ll keep you in the loop.
And if you’re realizing you need deeper support to get back in alignment—in your soul, your business, or your life…
DM the word “COACHING” and we’ll talk about how I can walk with you through this season of growth.
You’re not meant to do it alone.
You just get to say yes to His pace, His peace, and His plan.



