If summer has you feeling "all the feels", you're not alone! Wrapping up this season with some real life summer inspiration. AND...if you haven't caught up on all of this past season yet, be sure to add those conversations to your summer playlist because there are some absolutely incredible guests you won't want to miss! You'll find conversations with life coaches, entrepreneurs, artists, authors, designers, speakers, and friends on everything from marriage and parenting to making decisions, running a business and what it means to live a successful life. 

Melissa Ice joins us on the podcast this week to share more on her story of helping empower and employ women and girl survivors of trafficking and how she’s embarked on a journey of seeing broken relationships restored and seeing women’s stories changed, positively, forever. 

You’ll hear more on when the pull to serve is greater than fear, how we can live in community and relationships when the world focuses more on individualistic living, and how doing the next right thing is simply enough - even when it means walking away from something because you can’t give it your “yes” anymore. As a pursuer of dreams, entrepreneur in a handful of business ventures, Founder of a social enterprise, Chief Vision Officer and mom of two, Melissa shares what leaving a legacy looks like and a lesson learned on what to expect from others (especially when you have high expectations of yourself). 

- More About Melissa - 

Melissa is the Founder & Executive Director of The Net, an anti-trafficking non-profit that has served over 1,000 survivors since 2012 where they seek to empower and employ women and girls. The Net launched a social enterprise called The Worthy Co, that employs survivors to make products where Melissa serves as Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer. Melissa was named Fort Worth Inc’s 400 Most Influential People, Fort Worth Magazine’s Best Philanthropist in 2018, and Fort Worth Business Press 40 Under 40. She is married to her husband Jamey of 15 years and has two little girls. 

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Worthy Co The Net  Casa de Ice on Instagram @casa_de_ice

You can follow Melissa on Instagram @melissaice *---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! It's a good place to be. 

In this episode with Jenny Nuccio, founder and CEO of Imani Collective, Jenny shares more on her latest book Let It Be Wild: Stepping into Unknown and Finding a Home -  She’s encouraging us all to take ownership of our inspiration and faith and surround ourselves with positive voices and influences to keep pushing forward.  Jenny’s story of living a “wild” life will encourage you to try new things, take a few small risks, take care of YOU, trust the journey you’re on and courageously step into the unknown. 

“...because it's truly trusting the journey and the process that God had me on of just stepping into something completely out of my control and then truly finding myself at home and comfortable in this ambiguity of a life.” - Jenny Nuccio

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You can find out more at jennynuccio.com, on IG @shopimanikids 

---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! It's a good place to be. 

Monica Swanson is back on the podcast to talk about "Raising Amazing" kids - “ones who love God, like their family and do the dishes without being asked”.  Amazing kids grow out of amazing families and as Monica explains these don't happen by chance. Monica shares more on how to pour into our kids lives in ways that shape them and inspire them into young adults that are ready to launch into the world. You'll hear more what we as parents actually CAN even when we feel there is so much that we can't do and why adversity is the fuel for greatness. 

"How can you give your kid this beautiful, wonderful, comfortable life, but also grow them to have the kind of character that's gonna open doors and really be what they need most to face everything out there in the world..." - Monica Swanson

_____________________ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

BOOKS by Monica Swanson: Raising Amazing & Boy Mom

Check out her website at monicaswanson.com 

Follow Monica on Instagram @monicaswanson_ and Facebook @thegrommom

Jodie Berndt joins us this week to share marriage insights, encouragement, and honest truths about the “perfect" soulmate. She has so much wisdom on how we can love our spouses better and make enjoying them a priority. You’ll hear the greatest thing you can do for your marriage and even a few tips on parenting priorities. She's bringing her humor and wisdom to this life-giving conversation to encourage you today! 

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

3:25 40 years of marriage - marriage insights and does the perfect soul mate really exist?

6:57 The greatest thing we can do for our marriage 

8:39 You don't get very far into marriage before you realize you need some help.

20:14 parenting priorities 

22:15 Word of encouragement for marriages based on your work with so many couples 

22:54 Your spouse is not a mindreader 

38:45 Guest perspective: What does success look like to you?

41:36 Truths & Takeaways

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

> You can learn more about Jodie, her Praying the Scriptures series, and access more resources at jodieberndt.com

(my favorite downloadable resource: 31 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR YOUR MARRIAGE)

> Follow Jodie on Facebook @jodieberndtwrites or on Instagram @jodie_berndt

> Jodie’s Latest Book: Praying the Scriptures Over Your Marriage:  Trusting God with Your Most Important Relationship

Rebekah Lyons joins us this week to talk all about building a truly resilient life in this must-listen episode. She shares some of her own personal experiences with emotional health and anxiety and will guide you through  the five rules of resilience so you, too, can thrive in difficult times. You’ll hear more on the power of community and adversity and how they can awaken us to greater things as we build resilience together. 

>>>EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[1:38] More on Rebekah’s story past and present

[8:54] Rules of Resilience

[10:52] Rule #1 PLUS the free therapy available ot you

[12:38] Rule #2

[13:41] Rule #3

[13:54] Treat anxiety as your friend

[14:46] Anxiety does not define you

[15:57] The fancy word for “fear”

[16:16] Rule #4

[16:26] Rule #5

[17:29] Adversity - the teacher 

[20:47] “...Resilience is getting comfortable with pain.”

[23:25] There’s no shame in feeling what you’re feeling

[27:25] Guest perspective - What does success look like to you?

[30:44] Truths & Takeaways

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ABOUT REBEKAH LYONS

Rebekah is a national speaker, host of the Rhythms for Life podcast, and bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal, You Are Free, Freefall to Fly, and Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope and Meaning. Rebekah is a mom of four, two of whom have Down syndrome. An old soul with a contemporary, honest voice, Rebekah reveals her own battles to overcome anxiety and depression--and invites others to discover and boldly pursue their God-given purpose. You can follow along on her website at rebekahlyons.com  or on Instagram and Facebook @rebekahlyons.

---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

Soul Care Mentor, Bonnie Gray, walks you through how to transform life’s chaos into calm. If you’re tired of feeling anxiety, overwhelm, and have found yourself running on empty far too often, you’re not alone and this conversation is for you.  Bonnies shares practical tips on how to enter into a space of rest and prepare yourself to face life’s challenges with renewed well-being, confidence, energy and gratitude.  She’ll reveal why soul care and self care both matter, why you can’t think your way out of stress, how to rewire your brain for emotional well-being, and 3 lies that trigger anxiety and 3 truths to set you free. 

About Bonnie: 

Bonnie Gray is a Soul Care mentor and the author of Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm, Whispers of Rest, Finding Spiritual Whitespace and Sweet Like Jasmine. Having healed from PTSD, Bonnie is passionate about helping thousands of listeners detox stress and flourish in emotional wellness with God’s love through soul care, Bible Study and prayer. Bonnie is mom of two teenage boys and resides in Silicon Valley. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[2:10] Bonnie’s story

[7:45] About Breathe - why she wrote it and why it matters

[13:44] Soul care coaching

[19:48] Panic attacks, “be still”, and trusting

[27:43] When you don’t feel like your cheerful self 

[34:57] Absorbing others stress, panic attacks and seeing a therapist 

[39:14] Ambitions scripture calls us to

[40:49] You can’t think your way out of stress

[43:05] lies that trigger anxiety and 3 truths to set you free

[49:23] Go get yourself some flowers 

[51:43] Being emotionally honest is…

[58:30] How do you teach your kids what you’ve learned about anxiety, soul care, and self care?

[1:07:00] Social media, how our brain interprets it and healthy rhythms to establish 

[1:18:55] Truths & Takeaways

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Soulcarequiz.com

Follow Bonnie on Instagram @thebonniegray

---> If you’re new here, welcome! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of the inspiring and encouraging conversations with friends, entrepreneurs, and mentors on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave your feedback here (scroll down and you can click on the stars or write your thoughts) or feel free to share this episode with a friend. You can also follow along on instagram @annicafischer. Glad you’re here! 

Artist Anne Neilson invites us to experience the brushstrokes of life on the canvas of our lives in this conversation - allowing brushstrokes, textures, and explosions of color that come through every trial, joy, heartache, and hope we encounter to shape us and create beauty. Through sharing her own personal journey, she’s coming alongside of your in yours as you uncover the gifts within you, right where you are, even in the messes, the mundane, and the mistakes. You’ll hear more about creating impact with whatever you have, taking leaps of faith, not being afraid of failure, staying true to who you are and what you’ve been called to and the power of a heart and life surrendered. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[1:35] Brushstrokes of Life & Anne’s story 

[1:26] The “D-” in 10th grade art

[4:31] Your life as a blank canvas

[6:56] The message in our messes 

[9:47] When the voice of discouragement sneaks in

[14:29] Lesson learned along the way - drown out the doubts and naysayers

[16:05] Stay true to what God has called you to

[17:31] The small whisper that led to her next step

[19:26] Selling the first 1500 copies - from Oprah to Kathy Lee Gifford and beyond

[21:40] When hobby turned ministry 

[24:28] The power of surrender and contribute right where you are

[27:03] It’s hard to partner with God when our fists are clenched

[28:22] One step at a time 

[29:36] “We could change the world with that” &  the leap of faith moment

[31:37] Challenges and obstacles in staying true to our vision

[32:40] What advice would you give someone trying to figure out what’s next?

[36:40] What does success look like to you?

[38:44] Comparison is the thief of joy 

[42:21] Truths & Takeaways

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ABOUT ANNE NEILSON

Well known for her ethereal Angel Series, which are inspiring reflections of her faith and recognized for their stunning use of color. In response to demand for more access to her acclaimed Angel paintings, Neilson published two coffee table books and launched Anne Neilson Home, a growing collection of luxury home products, including candles, note cards, Scripture cards, prints, and journals. Neilson also owns Anne Neilson Fine Art, a gallery located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Representing more than 50 talented artists from across the world, the gallery is dedicated to being a lighthouse in Charlotte and beyond, illuminating the work of emerging and established artists and is the author of the newly released book, The Brushstrokes of Life. Find Anne on her website at www.anneneilsonhome.com or on Instagram @anneneilsonhome AND @anneneilsonfineart.