Episodes

What happens when you go to bed living one life, and when you wake up, that life has totally changed? In this episode of Fierce Calling, Doris welcomes Lisa Appelo, author, speaker, and Bible teacher, who is passionate about helping women find hope in grief, talk about loss, seek comfort in God, and find hope when life takes an unexpected turn. Lisa suddenly became a widow in her forties and began walking through grief with her seven children. She shares how that experience led to her first bo...

Are you fearful of AI? How are you currently using it? In this episode of Fierce Calling, Doris welcomes back Misty Phillip for a candid conversation about all things AI, surrendering a meaningful season, recognizing when good work has run its course, and trusting that nothing in your story is wasted. Misty shares how she transitioned from building Spark Media to working alongside her husband in cybersecurity and AI, and why it’s so important for Christians to have a seat at the AI table. We’r...

How can parents help their children build a strong foundation in Christ before the noise of culture shapes their worldview? In this episode of Fierce Calling, I welcome back Lee Ann Mancini to discuss biblical parenting, critical thinking, family discipleship, and the importance of relationship from the earliest years. In a previous episode which you can find here, we talked all about her book Raising Kids to Follow Christ, and in this episode we go even deeper, including the Raising Disciples C...

Welcome to the Fierce Calling Podcast, where we explore how God uses our stories—especially our hardest seasons and deepest passions—to call us into His purpose. I’m your host, Doris Swift, and today I’m joined by Julie Lefebure: author, speaker, mentor, and host of the Encouragement for Real Life podcast. Julie Lefebure shares her journey of encouraging women to refuse to settle for less than God’s best, and how her most recent book, Made for More: 365 Devotions for the Woman Who Refuses to Set...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, Doris sits down with Sarah Jean Snyder, author of He Said Saga: The Daughter’s Story. The conversation focused on Sarah’s deeply personal journey—her father’s battle with MS, her own diagnosis, and how these experiences intersected with her spiritual growth. A key theme that emerged was how the purpose behind Sarah’s writing evolved over a decade, transforming from sharing her father’s story to encouraging others through her faith. The discussion ...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, I welcome my new friend Jac Marino Chen. Jac shares her remarkable testimony of being saved by Jesus Christ out of the darkness of abuse, addiction, New Age practices, and the occult. We’re also talking about her new book, Ensnared: Escaping New Age and Occult Practices Through Biblical Truth and Gospel Hope, which is now available for pre-order. From a self-described sorceress practicing ritual magick to discovering true freedom through faith in...

Hi Friend, Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s episode, Doris sits down with Shalene Roberts, a part-time homeschooling mom of five, writer, small business owner, and author of the heartwarming children’s book Bruce the Brave. Shalene Roberts is passionate about helping women cultivate grace-filled homes and anchor their families in Christ. Together, they delve into her new book, When Mothering Is Hard and No One Sees: Where Gritty Meets Glorious in God’s Eternal Plan for Moms, which ori...

Hi Friend, Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s heartfelt episode, Doris sits down with her dear friend and sister in Christ, Cheri Fletcher, to discuss how to navigate grief conversations, honor precious memories, and find purpose through life’s deepest losses. After the loss of her daughter Annie in 2023, Cheri created Beyond “I Don’t Know What to Say” Grief Cards, a resource designed to spark meaningful conversations and keep memories of loved ones alive. Together, they talk about the ...

Hi Friend, Welcome to this new episode on the Fierce Calling podcast! We’re so glad you’re with us—whether you’re a regular listener or a new friend stopping by. 🎙️ This Week’s Episode: An Honest Caregiver – Ann Coker’s Reflections of Love, Loss, and Legacy On episode 223, Ann Coker returns to share from her new book, An Honest Caregiver: Facing the Reality of My Husband’s Dementia. Ann Coker cared for her husband, Bill, for 14 years after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. She opens up about the raw...

Welcome back to the Fierce Calling podcast! In this powerful episode, host Doris Swift is joined by her longtime friend and award-winning author Maria Morgan, whose latest and soon-to-be-released book, Hope Ignited: Set Free from the Grip of Anxiety and Depression, offers a faith-centered, holistic approach to healing. Maria Morgan opens up about her own journey through seasons of anxiety, depression, and psychosis—sharing how past trauma collided with present challenges and led her to some of h...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s episode, Doris sits down with her friend and powerhouse leader Bunni Pounds—founder and president of Christians Engaged, senior vice president at Family Policy Alliance, and author of Jesus in Politics: One Woman’s Walk with God in a Mudslinging Profession. Together, they dive into Bunni Pounds’s incredible journey of faith, leadership, and calling, including her bold vision for “America Reads the Bible”—an unprecedented, nation-wide Bible reading event...

Hey, friend! Welcome to the Fierce Calling Podcast, where I usually talk with guests who are taking action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect, but not this week. This is Christmas week, and I am replaying an episode I recorded back in 2022, Are You Ready for Christmas? A Special Christmas Episode with a Christmas Poem & Prayer. It was the year of Hurricane Ian, and our home flooded for the first time. Little did I know that two years later, we’d experience yet another hou...

We have a powerful new episode to share with you! This week, Doris Swift welcomes the incredible Mary DeMuth—author of over 50 books, literary agent, artist, podcaster, and global speaker—who shares her story and wisdom on finding freedom, healing, and joy through surrender. Here’s what you’ll find in this inspiring conversation: ✨ The Freedom of Surrender Mary opens up about her latest devotional, The Freedom of Surrender: 40 Devotions for a Joyful Life in Christ. She shares how her journey w...

We’re excited to bring you a fascinating episode this week! Doris welcomed Dr. Mikel Del Rosario, professor, author, and host of the Apologetics Guy podcast, to talk about his brand new book: Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Making Sense of Historical Claims. Many have wrestled with doubt or faced tough questions from loved ones about who Jesus is, did Jesus claim to be God, and the reliability of the Bible. This episode is packed with encouragement, practical insight, and real stories that will...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, host Doris Swift sits down with award-winning author Kristen Hogrefe Parnell for an inspiring conversation about faith, fiction, and trusting God’s unique timeline. Kristen shares her journey from writing young adult suspense to crafting women’s fiction rooted in faith, revealing how her own experiences—like waiting for her husband and navigating motherhood—have shaped her stories and perspective. We dig into the power of Christian fiction to ref...

Are you feeling weighed down and searching for more joy in your life? Well, you’re in the right place! Welcome to another uplifting episode of Fierce Calling! This week, Doris Swift invites us to explore and rediscover joy — what joy truly is and how we can reclaim it, even in life’s toughest seasons. Doris is joined by two extraordinary guests: Karen Whiting, a prolific author, speaker, and certified writing coach, and Pam Farrel, beloved for her wisdom on relationships and joy, and co-author o...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode #215, host Doris Swift is joined by returning guest Valerie Ellis—author, speaker, teacher, and founder of Our Everyday Parables, a multi-author site dedicated to bringing families resources where faith and fun meet. Valerie’s passion for connecting kids with biblical truth through engaging books shines as she shares about her journey, including inspiration from her own two boys and her background as a certified teacher. Doris and Valerie dive int...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this important episode, host Doris Swift welcomes guest Heather Creekmore—a writer, speaker, coach, and the host of the popular “Compared to Who?” podcast—to talk about a struggle many women face but rarely speak about openly: body image. Heather shares her deeply personal journey, beginning in childhood and traveling through years of dieting, disordered eating, and the belief that changing her body would finally bring happiness. Even marriage and motherhood di...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, host Doris sits down with Melissa McLaughlin, an author, teacher, and speaker, who writes to uplift and inspire followers of Christ.. Melissa opens up about her faith journey, including her unexpected bout with debilitating health issues that led her to an unexpected and unplanned early retirement from her teaching career. What could have been a season of loss became a time of deep spiritual renewal, as Melissa rediscovered her identity in Christ ...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s episode, I welcome a very special duo: mother-daughter team Donna and Charity Amidon. Donna—an accomplished author, speaker, and Bible teacher—returns to the show to talk about her impactful book, Tracing His Promise: Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us. But this time, there’s a creative twist: Donna’s daughter, Charity, an exceptional artist and illustrator, joins the conversation to share her unique role in bringing this...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s episode, host Doris Swift sits down with Kate Battistelli—author, speaker, and one of the hosts of the popular Mom to Mom Podcast. Kate shares her powerful story of stepping from a career in theater and the New York Broadway scene into an unexpected life of faith, family, and purpose after coming to know Christ at the age of 29. Together, Doris and Kate explore what it means to step into unknown seasons—such as the empty nest—and discover new meaning a...

On today’s episode of Fierce Calling, I’m talking with Hadassah Treu, an award-winning international author, poet, and blogger, who is passionate about encouraging the brokenhearted and helping others find hope in difficult seasons. Hadassah encourages us to discover the blessings and purposes in the painful seasons of our lives. From Bulgaria to Austria and back, Hadassah shared how her most painful experiences have become the birthplace of blessings, and how surrendering our struggles to God ...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, host Doris Swift welcomes back her friend and returning guest, Rebecca George—author, speaker, and founder of the Radical Radiance podcast community. Doris and Rebecca dive into themes every woman can relate to, including living in that “in-between-almost-but-not-yet” season, and the struggle of waiting on God’s timing in a world telling us to hurry up, because we’re falling behind. Rebecca shares insights from her newest book, You’re Not Too Lat...

Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In today’s episode, host Doris Swift sits down with Jessica Ronne—author, speaker, caregiver advocate, and founder of the Lucas Project—for an inspiring conversation about faith, resilience, and answering God’s call in the midst of life’s biggest challenges. Jessica opens up about her lifelong journey as a caregiver, from growing up as the eldest of twelve siblings to raising a blended family of eight children, including her son Lucas who has profound disabilities...