Doing Life Differently

"I want to suffer well." (What?!) Yes, suffering is going to happen. And it hasn't been the easiest season in my life currently, but it also has felt like the right season to start this podcast series of The Weekly Dwell. There is always purpose in the pain, and I'm using my life examples of what God is doing to transform my mind. RESOURCESOur Marriage Coach, Julia Woods - https://beautifuloutcome.comListen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

In this episode, I’m sharing the first five changes I’d make if I were starting my crunchy, low-tox living journey all over again. I didn’t grow up this way (hello, Diet Mountain Dew and gummy bears!), so these are the simple, realistic shifts that made the biggest difference for our family, especially after uncovering glyphosate, BPA, and heavy metals in our son’s lab work.👉 Read the blog to get all the links I mention!👉 Follow Katelyn on InstagramRESOURCES:Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine Brain Balance Thrive Market

This week, I’m sharing a reminder that’s been close to my heart: we were never meant to fight alone.After a hard night of tears with Michael, I realized how deeply we need to let others in. To ask for prayer, for help, and for community when life feels too heavy.If you’ve been walking through something quietly, this is your invitation to reach out. Let someone step into the fight with you.Scripture I’m dwelling on:“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2RESOURCESListen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

This one is a wake-up call! I’m sharing the five patterns that quietly end wedding photography brands… and how to turn them around.I’ve coached photographers for 17 years.Within minutes, I can usually tell if a business will make it or burn out.Today I walk through the five red flags I see most often. Use them as a mirror, not a verdict. You’ll hear simple markers for each red flag.You’ll also get practical ways to shift into proactive systems, personal storytelling, and scalable workflows.If this stings a little, take heart!Awareness is step one, and every one of these is fixable.👉 The Business of Wedding Photography is HERE!📲 FREE - "What Your Brand Says About You" Guide🩵 Follow Katelyn on Instagram

This week, I’m dwelling on what it means to ask God for manna for today.When life feels overwhelming (financially, emotionally, or physically) it’s easy to pray for the big breakthrough. But lately, I’ve been learning to simply ask, “Lord, will You give me what I need for today?”This shift has brought peace, clarity, and a deeper trust that He provides exactly what’s needed...no more, no less.If you’re anxious about the future, this episode is your reminder:You have enough for today… and He’ll meet you again tomorrow.RESOURCESListen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of our 15-year anniversary trip to Mexico, and sharing the 10 things we’d absolutely do again on a “just us” getaway.I’m sharing the simple but powerful things that made our time together feel intentional. From setting hopes and boundaries before the trip, to vision casting for our next 15 years, to something as small as deleting Instagram and just being together.MENTIONS: The Resort we stayed at in Mexico📲 FREE - "What Your Brand Says About You" Guide🩵 Follow Katelyn on Instagram 👉 Finally nail your brand voice and show up authentically to your audience with the help of KJ Brand Coach GPT.

A simple moment with my 8-year-old (“Mama, was that even real?”) sent me down a rabbit hole about AI, deception, and trust. We’re raising kids in a world where videos, headlines, even voices can be fabricated—and sometimes we can’t tell the difference.Here’s the hope: as deception increases, the power of truth increases too.When the world blurs the lines, a life rooted in Jesus becomes clearer, steadier, and more compelling.RESOURCESListen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

Lara Casey joins me to talk about reordering our loves, selling a business, a marriage reborn, and healing from the inside out. We get honest about idols, discernment, and the courage to go forward when it would be easier to go back. If you’ve wondered whether the best is behind you, this episode will breathe hope into your next step.LINKS MENTIONED:Connect with Lara https://laracasey.com/FREE - What Your Brand Says About You Guide Get The GPT -- KJ Brand Coach GPT Follow Katelyn on Instagram | Listen to more Episodes | Email Katelyn

Every season of life seems to come with a song, an anthem that meets me exactly where I am.This week, I’m dwelling on the idea of finding an anthem, a song that meets you right where you are and helps draw your heart back to Jesus.From the song that calmed our baby girl, to the anthem that carried us through losing our son James, to the melody that’s helping us surrender in this current season...these songs have marked the most sacred moments of our lives.If you’ve never thought about having an anthem, I want to encourage you to find one. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just a song that draws you back to Jesus in the middle of whatever you’re walking through.RESOURCESSpotify Anthem Playlist Listen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

In today’s episode of Doing Life Differently, I’m sharing something that’s been stirring inside me for a long time...a conversation I’ve been both eager and nervous to have.Ever since 2020, I’ve wrestled with what it looks like to share my faith in a world where every word can be misunderstood or politicized. It’s heartbreaking that even something as simple as saying “we drink raw milk” can feel controversial in 2025. But lately, I’ve reached a breaking point and I’m no longer okay living in fear of being misunderstood.I believe we’re entering a new season of boldness, one that calls us to step out of fear and into purpose. My prayer is that this episode reminds you: you don’t have to change anyone. You just have to live truthfully...and that’s where the real impact begins!Mentioned in This Episode:📣 FREE "What Your Brand Says About You" https://geni.us/what-brand-says-pod KJ Brand Coach GPT – The tool I created to help you craft authentic, personal content that connects.The Book of John in the Bible – If you’re new to faith and wondering where to start, begin here.The Weekly Dwell – My short Monday devotional episodes to help you pause and realign each week.The Story of Baby James - https://katelynjames.com/blog/james-birth-story-down-syndrome-cystic-hygroma-hydrops/ Follow Katelyn on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/katelynjames

I experienced another major health reaction (this time in a foreign country on vacation) with no access to my usual safety nets. Laying there, shaking and praying for relief, I realized yet again: God is bringing me back to surrender. Not because He wants to scare me, but because He wants to free me.If you’ve ever said you trust God but still found yourself clenching your fists around outcomes, health, business, motherhood...this is for you.This week, I’m dwelling on this:What if surrender is not the loss of control I fear, but the doorway to the peace God has already promised me?Let’s walk into that peace together.RESOURCESListen to more episodes- https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon- https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

Today I’m sharing a conversation I had on my friend John Bunn’s Shifting Focus podcast. In this episode, we dig into what it actually looks like to move through different seasons of business without losing your heart. I share the early days of starting my photography business in college, the leap into education, and the moment KJ All Access was born. We talk about how consistency and serving first built a foundation of trust, why passion is the most underrated business necessity, and how my faith reshaped the way I carry success and responsibility. 👉 Learn more and start clarifying your brand voice with KJ Brand Coach GPT.RESOURCES: Get John's "Book Couples from Instagram" Free Guide! https://johnbunn.myflodesk.com/instagram FREE From Katelyn: What Your Brand Says About You - https://geni.us/what-brand-says-pod 🔗 Jump Into MoreListen to more episodes https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesShop the KJ Courses https://shop.katelynjames.com

This week, I’m asking one question: Where does your soul live?Are you dwelling daily with Jesus, or only stopping by when life gets hard?In this Weekly Dwell, I share a story and a simple analogy that reminded me what it really means to live in abundance... not just in the desperate seasons, but in the everyday moments too.RESOURCESNew Morning Mercies by Paul David TrippListen to more episodesFollow Katelyn on Instagram Get a Bible for $4 on Amazon

If you’ve ever felt the weight of discipleship as a parent, wondering if you’re doing enough, if your kids are really “getting it,” or if you’re falling short...this episode is for you.I share the story of how my sister and I stumbled into a simple Friday night rhythm that has completely changed how our kids (and honestly, us too!) see Jesus: popcorn, staying up late, and watching The Chosen with our 8-year-olds.If you’ve been carrying the pressure of leading your kids perfectly in faith, I hope this episode reminds you: it doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most powerful discipleship happens in the simplest family rhythms.Resources I mention:The Chosen (TV series)The Bible - read the Gospel of John first!The Action Bible (comic-style Bible that gave our kids context before we started watching)I’d love to hear if you try this in your own home. Send me a message and let me know what it sparks for your family.And if you’re here as an entrepreneur—don’t miss the end of the episode where I share about KJ Brand Coach GPT, my new on-demand coaching tool that helps you find clarity right in the middle of your messy moments.👉 Learn more and start clarifying your brand voice with KJ Brand Coach GPT.🔗 Jump Into MoreListen to more episodes https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesShop the KJ Courses https://shop.katelynjames.com

This is the very first The Weekly Dwell, a short Monday episode designed to help us slow down, breathe, and remember what’s true.Today’s story starts with something small (a few grocery bags from Wegman’s) but turns into something so much deeper... a reminder that grace isn’t just a distant, eternal promise.It’s for right now.For the messy mornings.For the defensive tones.For the moments you wish you could do over.This week, I’m sharing how one small argument in our home became a beautiful reminder that we always get to go again. Because grace is not an endgame gift. It’s a present reality!So if you’re walking into Monday already feeling behind or frustrated, take this as your permission to begin again!You get to go again.And that is the gift of grace.RESOURCES:Listen to more episodes https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow Katelyn on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW

👉 Learn more and start clarifying your brand voice with KJ Brand Coach GPT.In this vulnerable update, I’m sharing my year-long health spiral—mold, histamine flares, alpha-gal, and a nervous system that just couldn’t keep up. I’ll take you behind the scenes of why our family had to temporarily move out, and what it looked like to make the choice to decide to heal at home. I’m also opening up about EMDR, the functional medicine support that’s been helping me, and even what I’ve learned from simplifying our house (hello, five outfits!). More than anything, I’m unpacking how surrender (not white-knuckling) has completely changed the way I lead, parent, and run my business.And because I know so many of you are craving clarity in the middle of your own messy seasons, I’ll also introduce you to something brand new: KJ Brand Coach GPT. It’s an on-demand coaching tool that mirrors my podcast coaching voice and helps point you back to your own story in real time!🔗 Jump Into MoreListen to more episodes https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesShop the KJ Courses https://shop.katelynjames.comGet a Bible for $4 on Amazon https://amzn.to/4nOhhKW Timestamps00:00 Life update + why the podcast went quiet02:18 Mold discovery, remediation, and lingering symptoms04:41 Alpha-gal, acupuncture, and what actually improved07:01 MCAS-like flares & the hunt for root causes11:41 The breaking point: fight/flight, a Malibu wedding, and dizziness16:16 Surrender > control: what God’s been teaching in the unknown18:44 Coming home: practical steps + praying peace over the house21:07 EMDR, reprocessing, and feeling different in the body23:31 What’s next for the show (and your invitation)

👉 Learn more and start clarifying your brand voice with KJ Brand Coach GPT.Do you really have a strong brand...or just strong visuals? In this episode, we’re unpacking what a brand voice actually is, why it matters for connection and trust, and how to start clarifying yours. You’ll learn:The difference between tone and true brand voiceWhy your voice builds trust before conversionThe simple formula to discover your authentic voiceThree “voice anchors” to keep your content consistentIf your content sounds right but doesn’t resonate, this conversation will help you practice, try on, and refine a voice that finally feels like you.👉 Learn more and start clarifying your brand voice with KJ Brand Coach GPT.🔗 Jump Into MoreListen to more episodes https://katelynjames.com/podcastFollow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katelynjamesShop the KJ Courses https://shop.katelynjames.com

Every entrepreneur falls into one of four identities: the Invisible Beginner, the Polished Pro, the Workhorse, or the Trapped Visionary. In this episode, I’ll help you identify where you are, what’s keeping you stuck, and what winning could look like in your business. ⭐️ Plus, a sneak peek of something brand new coming Monday that will feel like having a coach in your pocket anytime you need it! Join the NEW Brand Mentor Waitlist HERE!Follow Katelyn on Instagram: @katelynjamesFree Resource: 🎧 What Your Brand Says About You

If you had told me a year ago that I’d be sitting across from a therapist, holding buzzing paddles in my hands while my eyes tracked her fingers back and forth… I would have laughed and said, “Nope, not me.”I thought I was fine.I’ve been open about loss, near-death experiences, health struggles, and running a business through it all. I believed that because I could talk about the hard things, I had already processed them.But EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) showed me something I didn’t know—there were little pockets of unprocessed pain still quietly shaping my beliefs, my body, and even my health.In this episode, I share:What EMDR is and why I finally said yes to itThe repeating belief that had been quietly sabotaging me for yearsSpecific moments from my story that shifted from “disturbing” to “sad, but no longer controlling”Why this work matters for entrepreneurs who are living in constant fight-or-flight without even realizing itThis isn’t just a story about therapy—it’s about finally letting your body believe you’re safe. It’s about the relief of feeling like yourself again. And it’s a reminder that you don’t have to keep living with the weight you’ve learned to carry.If you’ve ever wondered whether the pain you’ve pushed down might still be pushing back… this one’s for you.Free Resource: 🎧 What Your Brand Says About You→ A free mini podcast + reflection journal to help you clarify your brand’s message.

Free Resource: 🎧 What Your Brand Says About YouIf your marketing feels like you’re shouting into the void… this episode might be the wake-up call you need.I’ve coached hundreds of entrepreneurs—photographers, real estate agents, coaches, and even multi-million-dollar business owners—and I see the same problem over and over again. They’re posting consistently, they’re doing “all the things,” but their audience still isn’t connecting.The issue isn’t always strategy.It’s often the missing brand boosters!!In this episode, I’m breaking down:What brand boosters actually are (and why they’re not just fluff)How they humanize your brand and make people feel connected to youWhy they work for both brand-new business owners and seasoned entrepreneursHow to start identifying your own brand boosters today!Your audience isn’t just buying what you sell—they’re buying you. And when you get intentional about letting people see the human behind your business, everything changes.JOIN THE WAITLIST! Something's coming this September that will help you build more connection and trust with your audience...and build a purposeful and profitable business! Join the waitlist here to get the scoop first.