In this episode we look back at how it started (a guest room closet + $20 mic + TV tray) and how God has grown us, our marriage, and this show over seven years—from fear and hustle to rest and trust. We talk about money, messy action, viral moments, criticism, love languages, parenting, and what "success" actually looks like for our family now.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." – 2 Timothy 1:7

⏱ Episode Timestamps

(Approximate – for your listening convenience)

00:00 – Welcome + 7 years of podcasting & 37th birthday
03:10 – Starting in a tiny closet with a $20 mic + messy action over perfect action
08:45 – "Can we afford this?" Money fears, stewardship, and still saying yes
14:30 – Social media spouse vs. no-social-media spouse (and Facebook Marketplace 😅)
20:20 – When episodes go viral, national media, and how the internet has changed since 2018
27:40 – The evolution of the show: politics seasons, homeschool seasons, and letting God set the themes
35:15 – Rest, surrender, and learning not to control everything
43:30 – How fear drove our hustle, and how God shifted our hearts and rhythms
50:45 – Love languages, marriage work, and realizing "I was serving my language, not yours"
1:00:10 – Parenting together: discipline, respect, and presenting a united front
1:08:30 – Work, motherhood, and the pull to find worth in what gives you a "report card"
1:17:00 – Redefining success for our family (time, presence, and faith over just numbers)
1:24:00 – Hopes, prayers, and open-handed trust for the next season of the podcast

💡 What We Talk About in This Episode

How a tiny closet and a $20 mic turned into a 7-year podcast

Why "messy action beats perfect action" (and why you really don't need a fancy setup)

Starting a creative ministry when you're not being great stewards with money yet

Being married to someone who isn't on social media (and why that's actually a gift)

Viral episodes, national media features, and why going viral isn't always fun

How the internet has gotten harsher since 2018—and what that does to your heart

Letting God quietly shape "seasons" of the show without over-planning content

The connection between control and fear—and how that showed up in work, marriage, and motherhood

Moving from hustle fueled by fear to work fueled by trust and rest

Love languages: why ours clashed, how we humbled ourselves, and what changed

Parenting as a team: not correcting each other in front of the kids, and choosing your "hills to die on"

The tension between mission, work, and home… and how God re-ordered priorities

Redefining success: not just financial, but spiritual, relational, and emotional health

Living with open hands: having no big "launch" on the horizon and trusting God with the next step

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28

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📖 A Thread Through the Episode

So much of this conversation comes back to:

Moving from fear → trust

From control → surrender

From hustle → rest

From self-worth in performance → identity in Christ

We've watched God gently re-order our priorities:

Our marriage

Our parenting

Our work

This podcast

And honestly? We wouldn't have believed this is where He'd take us when we were just two exhausted parents in a tiny closet with a TV tray and a cheap mic.

💬 Let's Chat

As you listen, consider:

Where are you operating out of fear instead of trust?

Where might control actually be the "polished face" of fear in your life?

What would it look like for you to work from rest rather than striving?

How would you define "success" if you let Jesus hold the pen?

Drop a comment: What's one area where you want to invite God to re-write the story this year?