Episodes

Welcome, listeners, to another episode of Fierce Calling! In this episode, Creating Safe Spaces: Mental Health, Faith, Family, and Connection, our host Doris is joined by the incredible Lori Wildenberg, a licensed parent and family educator, also known as a parent coach. Lori is here to discuss her journey and share her profound insights on topics ranging from faith and parenting to overcoming challenges in life. Our conversation with Lori begins with a thought-provoking analogy. She also share...

My special guest, Julie Holmquist, an author, speaker, and host of the Kairos Moments podcast, shares her insights on calling out the gifts and talents in women. She loves helping equip women in what God calls them to do. He leads and uses Julie in empowering women in their callings and purpose. In this episode, Julie emphasizes the importance of words of affirmation and how they can truly uplift and encourage us on our paths. She also sheds light on the need to discern the source of feedback a...

Welcome to Fierce Calling! In this episode, Finding Hope: Navigating Dysfunction and Difficulties in Life with Dr. Mel Tavares, Dr. Mel opens up about her personal journey, filled with difficult choices, challenging relationships, and health issues. Despite these hardships, Dr. Tavares has dedicated her life to supporting and empowering women facing similar struggles. Growing up in a dysfunctional environment, Dr. Tavares understands the weight of making tough choices. She shares her experience...

On this episode, Reflections on Caregiving, Faith, and A Legacy of Love, join host Doris Swift as she welcomes author Ann Coker to the show. Ann shares her journey of compiling her husband Bill’s sermons into book form. Despite facing challenges, including Bill’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the couple’s move to Indianapolis for caregiving support, Ann’s passion for seeing Bill’s message in print has driven her forward. She encourages listeners to document their own treasures and experiences, as i...

On this special edition episode of Fierce Calling, we explore the concept of supernatural joy, of purposeful pruning, abundant fruit, and how maintaining a posture of praise to the Lord can lead us to a fruitful life. Pruning, as discussed in this episode, becomes a necessary process for bearing much fruit. We learn the power of asking the Lord to remove things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him, allowing us to grow and thrive. The significance of abiding in Jesus is highlighted, showing...

What stuff would you only tell God? In her guided journal, Stuff I’d Only Tell God, my return guest, Jennifer Dukes Lee, creates space for people to reflect on their deepest feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams. She gives everyone permission to release their whole selves into God’s hands and allows them to embrace the true, weird, beautiful, and wonderfully made creations God created them to be. Stuff I’d Only Tell God is a fun and provocatively creative guided journal filled with exercises to he...

Have you ever found yourself on a path you didn’t choose, but it made all the difference in your life? In this episode of Fierce Calling, I’m talking with my friend Lori Ann Wood, a Christian writer and heart failure survivor. We’re talking about wrestling with faith and navigating life’s detours to find the faith we’ve always wanted. Lori shares her personal experience with heart failure, questioning her faith, and the value of asking questions. The episode encourages listeners who may be goin...

Friend, what is threatening to steal your joy today? Do you struggle with finding your place? What about when you feel left out, passed over, or uninvited? Our minds can really do a number on us. So many things threaten to steal our joy, so let’s talk about this issue today. I can relate to feelings of not belonging and feelings of being left out. But you know what? Truth be told, I’ve done that to others too. Yup, (gulp) guilty as charged. I remember it well—my first-grade birthday party. I ...

Have you ever compared yourself to the Proverbs 31 woman and failed miserably? When we read this passage in the Bible, at first glance we might view her virtues as unattainable. But when we do, we’re missing what this passage is truly all about. Did you know the Proverbs 31 passage holds a military theme? Or that it is an acrostic poem of the Hebrew alphabet? Listen to this week’s episode, Why we are the Proverbs 31 woman–A Fascinating Look Into the Hebrew Text, and gain a new and fresh perspect...

Do you struggle with finding just the right words to say what you feel? Need a special gift for your mom or that mama figure in your life? I’ve got just the thing! This week on Fierce Calling, I’m sharing an episode I did with Blythe Daniel and Dr. Helen McIntosh last March. This mother-daughter team co-authored the book, I Love You, Mom! Cherished Word Gifts From My Heart to Yours, and it’s filled with precious word gifts for a mom’s heart. Since Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away, now is t...

What if parenting could be peaceful, purposeful, and playful? Have you ever considered play as being just as important for adults as it is for kids? Today, we’re chatting about how we were created to play. My guest this week is Joy Wendling, who is passionate about helping moms enjoy parenting as they teach their children about Jesus. She’s also passionate about reminding us we were all created to play and can encounter Jesus through play. Her name fits her perfectly! She is a joy to talk with...

Are you on a journey to find true health? I sure am! What if we could be fueled into transformation and find the place where grace meets health? Today we’re talking about vision-driven choices for grace-fueled health, and you won’t want to miss this conversation. My guest this week is Robin Rhine McDonald, who is passionate about helping people find balance, get healthy, and create sustainable healthy lifestyles. Through her own health journey she discovered why so many are unable to find true ...

Have you ever experienced some type of trauma, perhaps childhood trauma? This week I welcome back my friend, Danielle Bernock. Danielle found healing from childhood trauma and neglect and now it’s her fierce calling and mission to help others find healing. Because Danielle is walking in her calling, others are overcoming trauma through the love that heals. Danielle is passionate about seeing others not just survive, but thrive and reclaim what rightfully belongs to them in the name of Jesus. I...

Have you ever felt called to step out in faith, but thought it sounded crazy? Today we’re talking about the pivot. There’s freedom in the pivot and changing our direction to follow God’s plan. My guest this week is Connie Albers, author of Parenting Beyond the Rules: Raising Teens with Confidence and Joy The title alone says it all and we’re talking about the book, and so much more. This show is not just for parents, it’s for anyone with a Fierce Calling. That’s you! I know what Connie shares ...

Have you struggled with anxiety or know someone who has? Then you’re in the right place today because we’re talking all about stomping out anxiety with God’s truth. My guest this week is Caris Snider, author of Anxiety Elephants: 31-Day Devotional to Help Stomp Out Your Anxiety, and Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys and Tween Girls. So listen in with a friend and please share this important episode. I know what Caris shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! Favorite Quotes from Stomp...

Have you felt it? That urge to plunge head-first into something bigger than yourself–to be used by God as a beacon of hope in the lives of others? But there’s that one thing –that hurt, pain, betrayal, loss, whatever-it-is that binds you up and holds you back. So how do we walk in our calling while our hearts are still mending? Your heart needs the Healer to mend the shattered shards as only He can. And even though you know that He can you wait because surely, a broken heart cannot be of servic...

Have you ever thought about it? What is the difference between peace and complacency? What about comfort vs. comfortable? We all want peace, don’t we? But it got me thinking about how easily complacency can disguise itself as peace. There’s something I used to pray about continually. Something important. I don’t worry about it and I feel at peace about it, but then it struck me. Although I’ve surrendered it to God, I’ve also stopped praying about it. Perhaps rather than having true peace, I’ve...

Have you ever felt called to step out in faith, but you’ve hesitated? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the things? Sometimes it takes laying things down so we can Do The Thing. My guest this week is Rebecca George, author of Do The Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl . The title alone says it all and we’re talking all about it. I know what Rebecca shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! Please share this episode and listen in while I have a ...

If you’ve ever asked questions like, does God really see me? Would Jesus leave the 99 to go after the 1 if that 1 was me? This episode answers those questions in a tangible way. The biblical answers to those questions are yes and yes–but what does it look like in real life? Born and raised Mormon, my friend, Michelle Mercer, had never experienced anything beyond religion. She shares a powerful & personal encounter with Jesus–the ultimate love story. Jesus undeniably pursued her when He wasn’t ev...

What does hope look like when we’re called into dark places to share it? My guest this week is Rachelle Starr. She’s the founder of Scarlet Hope, a non-profit that is sharing the hope of Jesus with women in the adult entertainment industry. This episode is powerful! Although we’re talking about Jesus, we’re also talking about subject matter not suitable for little ears. Rachelle is the author of Outrageous Obedience: Answering God’s Call to Shine in the Darkest Places. When she was 23, Rachelle...

Have you ever struggled with insecurity and found yourself searching for significance? My guest this week is Rachael Adams, and she can relate. She’s passionate about reminding women that their lives matter and that, as children of God and followers of Christ, our lives are significant. We talk about living a life of significance & purpose. Rachael is the author of A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life. She shares how our little lives and what we have to offer are in God’s han...

Who are the young people in your life? Don’t you love seeing them using their gifts to impact the world? Today’s episode is quite unique and you are in for a treat. Whether you’re a mom, grandma, aunt, teacher, have friends with kids, tweens, and teens, you’ll love this episode. My guest is William Daniel, and he loves to bless people with the gift of laughter. In fact, he wrote a joke book for kids. William is a middle schooler and the author of You’re Joking Me: Jokes for Kids By a Kid. He en...

Did you know you have a unique voice? Unique quirks? Unique experiences that help shape your calling and purpose? Whether we’re business owners, employees, ministry leaders, or volunteers, we can all leverage our uniqueness to do what we were created to do. My guest today is Katie Hornor. We’re continuing the conversation we began a year ago, and this is better than a Part II–because although this episode builds on the first one–we gain a fresh perspective . We are called to shine our lights, n...