Doing Life Differently

This week, we’re continuing our Fear series by talking about worry. I’m sharing what it looks like to accidentally worship my fears instead of trusting God with them.This episode is an invitation to seek His presence before asking for His provision.I’m learning how much peace comes from that shift!Listen to Daily Bread with Pat Barrett & Kari Jobe📲 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

In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and coach Julia Woods, someone who has deeply impacted my life and my marriage for over a decade.We talk about one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck: our inability to get curious about what we don’t know...we don’t know. You see, we love being right because it makes us feel in control, but that often keeps us blind to the very thing that could lead to breakthrough. (And it's what almost got me fired from coaching with Julia!!)Julia and I unpack how this shows up in marriage, business, faith, and everyday life, and why tension is often a sign that something meaningful is trying to be revealed. We also talk about pride, humility, shame, and how blaming others can feel safer than looking inward.If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like you’re doing “all the right things” but still not seeing change, this conversation is an invitation to pause, get curious, and consider what you might be missing.📲 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📷 FREE! Winter Composition Reset ⟶ Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up.Save $260 on your own LumeBox! I’ve been using my LumeBox red light therapy before bed to support inflammation, skin health and relaxation.Click here to save on LumeBox!Building a website? I’ve used Showit for over 15 years because it lets me build a website that looks like me without fighting tech. Click here to try it for FREE for 30 days!We LOVE Thrive Market for lower prices on snacks and goods that fit our budget and our goals for a healthier home. Get 40% off your first purchase with my referral link HERE!Follow Julia on InstagramMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

I've never considered there was another way to pursue business outside of fear and shame to motivate me. YEP, I said it. In this episode, I’m talking about the empire mindset and how fear has shaped the way I’ve shown up as a business owner.For a long time, I believed fear and pressure were the reason I was successful.I’m learning how unhealthy that was and what it looks like to operate from trust instead. This is an honest conversation about fear, self-reliance, and choosing a different way forward!📲 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

In this episode, I’m sharing a parenting wake up call I didn’t see coming.I started noticing mouth breathing, teeth grinding, big emotional dysregulation, and signs that one of my kids wasn’t getting truly restorative sleep.So I invited my friend Brianna from Toothpillow on the podcast, and this conversation connected so many dots for me!!We talk about the surprising symptoms that can trace back to airway and palate development, what sleep apnea can look like in kids, and why this is about so much more than straight teeth.If you’ve ever thought, “Is this just normal kid stuff… or is something actually off?” I really want you to listen.Get a FREE Toothpillow Consult and $200 off treatment when you check out using code JAMES at Toothpillow.com📷 FREE! Winter Composition Reset ⟶ Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up.📲 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 GPTSave $260 on your own LumeBox! I’ve been using my LumeBox red light therapy before bed to support inflammation, skin health and relaxation.Click here to save on LumeBox!Building a website? I’ve used Showit for over 15 years because it lets me build a website that looks like me without fighting tech. Click here to try it for FREE for 30 days!We LOVE Thrive Market for lower prices on snacks and goods that fit our budget and our goals for a healthier home. Get 40% off your first purchase with my referral link HERE!Mentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

This week, I’m starting a new series on fear and how it shows up in our everyday lives. I’m sharing how I’m learning to recognize fear and understand what it’s trying to do in me.Fear can move us toward anxiety and control, or it can move us toward wisdom and faith.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

Middle school doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, invisible, or soul-crushing.In this episode, I’m sitting down with two of our oldest learners from Acton Academy West End to talk honestly about what school feels like when kids are trusted, challenged, and given real responsibility.My husband and I started Acton Academy West End four years ago with my sister and brother-in-law because we believed learning could be different.More human.More empowering.More alive!!As we prepare to launch our Acton Middle School, I wanted parents to hear directly from the learners themselves, not from a brochure or a sales page.Wondering if Acton is right for you? The first step is to read or listen to Courage To Grow (by Acton Founder, Laura Sandefer)Reach out to Acton Academy West End to apply for Fall 2026! https://actonacademywestend.com/apply------------------------📷 FREE! Winter Composition Reset ⟶ Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up.📲 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 GPTSave $260 on your own LumeBox! I’ve been using my LumeBox red light therapy before bed to support inflammation, skin health and relaxation.Click here to save on LumeBox!Building a website? I’ve used Showit for over 15 years because it lets me build a website that looks like me without fighting tech. Click here to try it for FREE for 30 days!We LOVE Thrive Market for lower prices on snacks and goods that fit our budget and our goals for a healthier home. Get 40% off your first purchase with my referral link HERE!Mentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

A recent conversation with my dad and memories from some of the hardest moments of my life reminded me that loving people doesn’t always require the right words or a perfect response. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply showing up.This episode is a gentle invitation to notice where God might be calling us to be present for someone this week, trusting that our presence alone can be a powerful act of love.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

This episode is a little crunchy… but stay with me! I’m sharing the health and wellness shifts I’m making in 2026, not from a place of perfection, but from a place of awareness, grace, and learning as I go.From saying no to our microwave and heavy fragrances, to rethinking everyday things like butter, salt, pillowcases, and even how I walk, this is about choosing what feels right for this season.Not all at once, and not perfectly.And definitely not without Chick-fil-A still making an appearance!!If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by “doing health right,” I hope this episode helps you find your own middle ground.________________📷 FREE! Winter Composition Reset ⟶ Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up.MENTIONSNUTRAFOLOurPlace Wonder Oven Pro Weighted VestSatin PillowcaseRedmond's Real SaltWe LOVE Thrive Market for lower prices on snacks and goods that fit our budget and our goals for a healthier home. Get 40% off your first purchase with my referral link HERE!Building a website? I’ve used Showit for over 15 years because it lets me build a website that looks like me without fighting tech. Click here to try it for FREE for 30 days!Save $260 on your own LumeBox! I’ve been using my LumeBox red light therapy before bed to support inflammation, skin health and relaxation.Click here to save on LumeBox!📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

I'm sharing from a place of vulnerability this week. My current reality is that I have 4 children who are all under 9 years old. They have ZERO chill. I quickly slip into victim state... "Why me, God?" I don't like the way it feels and it only perpetuates the situation. So this week, I'm trying to reframe what my situation is. I'm trying to carry the responsibility like it's all on my own...And friend, it SO isn't. The invitation is: offer prayer endlessly to surrender our day and ask for HIS control, HIS love and patience. 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

Friendship as an adult is complicated, and for a long time, I don’t think I realized just how much it mattered to me!In this episode, I’m sharing five shifts I’ve made in the way I approach friendship that have completely changed the depth, richness, and connection I experience now. These aren’t big, flashy ideas. They’re small, intentional choices that have added so much meaning to this season of my life.If you’ve ever longed for deeper friendships, felt unsure how to build them, or wondered why connection feels harder than it used to, this episode is for you.📷 FREE! Winter Composition Reset ⟶ Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up.Save $260 on your own LumeBox! I’ve been using my LumeBox red light therapy before bed to support inflammation, skin health and relaxation.Click here to save on LumeBox!Building a website? I’ve used Showit for over 15 years because it lets me build a website that looks like me without fighting tech. Click here to try it for FREE for 30 days!📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

This is part two of our conversation about the victim trap, and today I’m focusing on the reframe.In this episode, I talk about what it actually takes to move out of a victim story once you recognize it. Reframing isn’t easy. It requires humility, courage, and a willingness to question the stories your own mind keeps telling you.We’ll talk about how to spot victim thinking in your language, why some relationships keep us stuck, and the questions I ask myself when fear and control start to take over. Most of all, this episode is about remembering that you have a choice, and that choosing a new story can change how you show up in your life.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 2026, is passion more important than profitability in your business?Because here’s what I’ve learned after 17 years of business:Passion is life-giving. It fills you up and reminds you that your work matters. Profitability is life-giving too, just in a different way. It feeds your family, pays the bills, and gives you stability. The problem is when either one drifts into an unhealthy place. When passion turns into perfectionism and control. Or when profit turns into fear, pressure, and that heavy “I have no choice” mindset.In this episode I’m sharing what it looked like when I started from pure overflow passion, what shifted over time, and how I found my way back without burning everything down. I also walk through a few common scenarios business owners find themselves in and the five practical ways I’ve learned to re-balance purpose and profit.📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

This week’s Weekly Dwell is a heavier (but important) conversation. I’m talking about something that has stolen joy from my life in the past and still tries to creep in if I’m not careful: the victim trap.This mindset shows up everywhere—in business, marriage, parenting, leadership, and friendships...and often hides behind our best qualities like perseverance, responsibility, and drive. In this episode, I share personal stories of how those gifts can quietly turn into self-sabotage when fear and control take over.Part two is coming next week. Thanks for listening, and I’m really glad you’re here.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

The nature of something changes the outcome...and how that’s true in our walk with God. In this episode I'm sharing a simple, real-life story that led me to think about why faith can feel different in certain seasons, even when we’re doing the same outward things.This is an invitation to slow down, seek Him more intentionally, and grow in understanding who He really is.Scripture I’m dwelling on:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”— Colossians 3:1–2 (ESV)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

What if you get to the end of your year and you feel...disappointed?In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and teammate Becca for an honest conversation about what to do when your year doesn’t go the way you hoped.We talk about the crossroads we all face when something flops or life throws a curveball.Do you panic, pivot, pause, or persevere?I share what 2025 has taught me about releasing control, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and choosing a healthier perspective on disappointment as we head into 2026.📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

This is the final episode in our Advent Weekly Dwell series. I share how hope doesn’t usually become real for me by accident...it requires a decision.The Christmas story reminds me that even when Jesus was born, very few people actually knew or recognized what had happened.Hope entered the world quietly, and it had to be sought out.It’s never too late to turn your heart toward Him. Even three days before Christmas, we can choose to seek, to soften, and to let the story of Jesus change us... and in turn, change how we show up for our families and our lives!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

As the year comes to a close, I’m sharing a different way to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re headed.Instead of asking what worked and what didn’t, I’m asking a deeper question: What still feels magnetic?I walk through what has been truly life-giving for me this year, what has been heavy, and how I’m learning to pay attention to God’s leading instead of forcing excitement that isn’t there anymore.If you’re feeling tired, conflicted, or unsure about what’s next, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and tell yourself the truth.Episode Mentions: Join KJ All Access (Behind The Scenes Membership for Photographers)📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

Welcome to week three of our Advent Weekly Dwell series. Today I’m talking about something I keep bumping into in my own life — how often I can’t see that what God is doing is actually what I’ve always needed, because it doesn’t look the way I expected.I reflect on how people dismissed Jesus because He came in an unlikely way, and how I do the same thing when my story feels messy or off script. I share a friend’s surprise pregnancy that felt overwhelming until she found out she was carrying the girl she had prayed for...a reminder that God can be giving us the desire of our hearts in a form we don’t recognize at first!!I also open up about my own health journey and the faith it takes to believe I’ll someday look back and see His hand in it. This episode is an invitation to trust that even when life doesn’t look “right,” God may still be writing something good.🎄 Use code KATELYN15 to save 15% on the Good Kind Advent Blocks

Last year I ate a steak and woke up in the middle of the night thinking, “This is it… I might actually die.”My eyes were swollen shut, my body was one big hive, my blood pressure tanked and I collapsed on the bathroom floor. That night led to a diagnosis I had never even heard of before: alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to mammal products that so many people are being told is a life sentence.MENTION: Dr. Labelle – SAAT Provider in Virginia BeachMy Blog on Alpha Gal📲 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 GPTMentioned in this episode:The Winter Composition ResetThe Winter Composition Reset is a free guide designed to help photographers stay sharp during the slow season. Learn how to practice composition indoors so you’re confident and ready when shoots pick back up. GET IT NOW: https://geni.us/dld-winter-reset

Welcome to week two of our Advent Weekly Dwell series. Today I’m sitting in a truth that keeps hitting me harder the more I think about it: Jesus didn’t have to come the way He did...but He chose to!!I talk through why the humility of the Christmas story isn’t random or weak, but deeply intentional. God wasn’t after a power show. He was after connection. He came close, entered our world as a baby, and lived in our shoes so we could know His love and trust His heart.This week I’m inviting my kids (and myself) to wrestle with the “why” behind the nativity, because the way He came reveals what the gospel has been about all along.🎄 Use code KATELYN15 to save 15% on the Good Kind Advent Blocks *I said we weren't sponsored in the episode, but they recently gave us this code to share!!*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