The Alli Worthington Show

How to Follow Your Calling in Community with Lisa Whittle

Hey, friends! I am absolutely thrilled to have my good friend Lisa Whittle back on the show today as part of our Smart Girl Summer series! We go behind the scenes in Lisa’s story and share never-before-told stories of our friendship over the years along with our co-founding Called Creatives. I can’t wait for you to hear this one! Listen in as Lisa talks candidly about a season she experienced with wanting to step away from what she knew deep in her marrow God had called her to do. It is often a challenge to push through the hard places in pursuing our God-given missions, and Lisa brings so much truth-telling to this topic for us.  We also debunk the self-sabotaging mindset that if we don’t have success in the beginning or in the first few years, even then, “it’s just not meant to be.” We both agree what this means is that maybe it’s merely the time to acknowledge you’re in some pretty good company because we’ve all been there at some point or other in our callings and creative endeavors.  Lisa Whittle is the author of eight books, a sought-after Bible teacher, founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus over Everything podcast. Lisa is also the co-founder of Called Creatives and has been featured in numerous media outlets. Listen in to learn more about: How Lisa wanted to quit writing after book 3 or 4 and seriously contemplated going back to school to become an interior decorator, an attorney, or a chef! The ways we can over-spiritualize the hard places in our lives and self-sabotage ourselves. The importance of keeping company with other people who have things in common and who make us better. Favorite quotes: ~One of the biggest lies is that we are the only one that is facing rejection or lack of traction or whatever the case may be. And so, because we are very self focused and we only know our own experience I think the most powerful thing is when women find community with other women. ~Just because you have hit an impasse, just because you have come to a place where you are feeling uncomfortable or you are getting a rejection or things did not go smoothly that does not mean you need to quit, that is a sign that you are in a very normal situation of trying to move forward in a calling or a creative entrepreneurship role. ~There’s something about keeping company with other people who not only do we have things in common with,  but also make us better. ~ If you are a woman who is concerned about doing business with another woman do your due diligence but I wouldn’t let your trust issues get in the way. Links to great things we discussed:  Called Creatives About Lisa - Lisa Whittle Breaking Bad (TV Series 2008–2013) - IMDb Magnetic Eyelashes - Amazon Lightyear (2022) - IMDb Remember Two Things - Album by Dave Matthews Band - Spotify Vaseline - Amazon  Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli 

How to Dream Again with Bianca Olthoff

Hey hey! Welcome to week three of our Smart Girl Summer Series as I continue to speak with my most brilliant friends sharing behind-the-scenes stories that you won’t hear anywhere else.  Be sure to listen in today as I chat with author, speaker, podcaster, Christian leader, and my long-time friend, Bianca Olthoff.  We talk about how the early death of a dream she had for her future actually led to her discovering what God called her to do.  Don’t miss how she references the word reboot many times throughout this interview… such wisdom is found in each mention! I promise! Bianca Juarez Olthoff is the best-selling author of Play With Fire and How To Have Your Life Not Suck and host of the We’re Going There podcast. She is a passionate Jesus-loving, Bible-teaching, book-writing MexiRican who loves to help people navigate life, connect in community, and live significantly.   Listen in to learn more about: How Bianca believes God has graced her for various seasons of life (including this VERY BUSY current one) and how He does the same for each one of us as well. Creating space in our lives to look back on our hardest seasons to see how far God has brought us (and take the time to celebrate the spiritual success and growth found there!) The practical ways Bianca accomplishes so much in her everyday life, including what she learned after tracking 14 days of her life. Favorite quotes: ~ If the Lord is asking you to lay this down it’s because it’s not Yours to carry and when you pick this up it will be with even greater strength. ~ When you’re building a business, when you're building your purpose , when you’re walking in you’re calling -it’s like triage, I need to invest in the things that are actually going to live. ~Anointing does not mean awesome, it means you are set apart. ~ Identify your voice. What is your teaching style?   ~ Right now we have access to every amazing biblical communicator there is across the world. What happens is that we are prone to emulate the voice , the sound of other people we admire. That’s great to be inspired by, It’s dangerous to be influenced by. Links to great things we discussed:  Bianca Olthoff -website Jack Harlow - First Classeriess [Official Music Video] - YouTube Top Gun: Maverick (2022) - IMDb Keeping Up With the Kardashians Streaming Online - Hulu Hollywood Flawless Filter de Charlotte Tilbury | Sephora Stracciatella (ice cream) - Wikipedia Lightyear (2022) - IMDb Tuesday Night Music Club - Album by Sheryl Crow | Spotify Amazon.com : IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Finishing Powder Confident Motherhood Community Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli   

Smart Girl Summer with Kasey Van Norman

We’re continuing our Smart Girl Summer Series this week with Kasey Van Norman! Remember, Smart Girl Summer is a series featuring some of my most brilliant friends sharing behind-the-scenes stories that you won’t hear anywhere else.  Kasey is a bestselling author, counselor, cancer survivor, and Bible teacher. But I invited her on the show to talk about hard things. Kasey has a passion for trauma therapy, and I wanted her to share her perspective on trauma, faith, what God means to her, and how nothing is wasted in our lives This episode is not meant for young kids, as we cover some difficult topics, but my sincere hope is that our conversation will touch your heart. More on Kasey: She has 20 years of experience as a mental health therapist and has traveled the country encouraging others with God’s Word for 10 years. She loves connecting with women through retreats and events and is a plenary speaker for the Extraordinary Women Conferences and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Listen in to learn more about: The winding path that led Kasey to her role as a trauma therapist and what we all need to know about trauma What God needs from us before He sends us into sit with someone and hold their story Generational trauma, and the important steps we can take to process and prevent it. Favorite quotes: Trauma really is an experience that you had in your life that at that moment, was so far outside of your emotional wheelhouse, of what you knew to be true that it so radically shifted the internal landscape of your brain, your mapping, the way your pathways moved and it wrote itself in and created this threat response. A 5 year old speaks to safety, 15 year old determines “Who can I trust” and 25 year old says,  based on those 2 messages and core beliefs “This is who I am going to let myself be intimate with.” You can be in the Church serving, in leadership, a full blown believer going to heaven when you die and still be in complete bondage. That’s the work of trauma- it is accessing those old pieces of us that are still very present and allowing them to speak. The Bible is not waiting on me to change , the Bible is not waiting on something to be true, it is a book that is true no matter who I am. Links to great things we discussed: Kasey Van Norman - Website  Love on the Spectrum - Netflix show  Top Gun: Maverick (2022)  Green Goddess Glow Oil - Milani Cosmetics Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)  Dune Movie  Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV Mini Series 2022)  Lenny Kravitz- Mama said album The Pet ID Jingle Free Peace of Mind Dog Tag - Amazon.com Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli 

Smart Girl Summer with Emily Ley

Watch out! Hot Girl Summer is so last year. And Smart Girl Summer is here to take its place. So let’s celebrate! Smart Girl Summer is a five-week series featuring some of my most brilliant friends sharing behind-the-scenes stories that you won’t hear anywhere else. And we’re kicking it off with Emily Ley! Tune into today’s episode to hear all about Emily’s childhood dream of writing children’s books and how it’s become a reality with her soon-to-release book titled, You’re Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For. How exciting, right?!  Plus, we spend quite a bit of time discussing her joys, struggles, wins, and failures in her life as an entrepreneur from the beginnings of her business, Simplified, through today. So much goodness here on so many levels. Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified® - a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. She is the author of several national bestselling books. Listen in to hear: The one piece of advice Emily would love to share with entrepreneurs. Ways she kept moving forward when things got tough. Emily's dreams for the future for Simplified (hint: it involves simplifying other parts of your life beyond your planner) and her life as an author. Favorite quotes: I had to constantly redefine what success looked like for me. My goal was to create a job for myself that allowed me the flexibility to be the mom that I wanted to be. It is important to become a master of one thing and then move on to the next. Decide what matters utmost to your life,  whatever that is -  Name it and don’t forget it , and every time  you have to make a decision for your life, family or business go back to that. That’s the candle you hold it up against. As long as you have strong roots you will make good choices. Links to great things we discussed:  Apple airpods Vinters daughter serum Augustinus bader serum Paris Apartment Book- Lucy Foley Asana software application  Emily Ley website  You’re always enough - Book  The Chicks- Spotify playlist  Pink Nudes Mineral Eyeshadows - Pacifica Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli

How to Hear from God with Becky Thompson

Friends! You do not want to miss out on this conversation with my friend, Becky Thompson! She is probably best known for her books on motherhood, but recently, she’s ventured in a new direction, spirituality. In her newest book, God So Close, she leans into all things related to the Holy Spirit (and she takes us along with her!). If you’ve ever found yourself asking why God doesn’t speak to you or who exactly is the Holy Spirit, this episode is for you! I hope you’ll be blessed by our conversation. Becky Thompson is the author at http://www.BeckyThompson.com and is the founder of the Midnight Mom Devotional community on Facebook, where over one million moms gather nightly for prayer. She has a captivating way of encouraging women (and men) in need of hope, healing, and the Heavenly Father's love. Becky lives in NW, Oklahoma, with her husband, Jared, and their three children. Listen in to learn more about: What it looks like to live more fully in the presence of the Holy Spirit Who the Holy Spirit is, how we hear from Him, and why He is important The gifts of the Spirit and how we can use our gifts to impact the world and share the message of Jesus  Favorite quotes: ~The enemy hasn’t taken the power away from the church, He has  simply done his best to make us believe that we don’t possess it. A life awakened to the Spirit is a life lived listening to God, listening to His voice and remembering that you are more than you can see and more than what you feel and that God has a purpose even for the little things in your life. ~The Holy Spirit is a speaking member of the Trinity.  ~What happened in the early church was not just for the early church, it was a continuation.  ~There aren’t people who don’t hear from God, you just haven’t learned how He speaks to you specifically yet. ~When we don’t have the realization that we are supernatural beings that happen to live in earthly bodies, that our supernatural lives began the moment we said Yes to a saving relationship with Jesus, that eternity began then for us. We were born not just of flesh, but we were born of spirit, alive in that moment for eternity. ~If the spiritual gifts are tools given to us by the Holy Spirit so HE can move through us, then, it makes them less about us, less about the gift and more about the person on the other side. Links to great things we discussed:  Spiritual gifts - Romans 12:3-8 Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12  Becky Thompson's Website Lion -Elevation Worship song Marvel Movie Series Rees Howell's Biography - Book  Natural Sea Sponge Sonic drive in app Top Gun; Maverick 2022 Chris Tomlin - Always song Shadow liner - Sephora Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli

How to Move Forward When We are Divided with Sarah + Beth of Pantsuit Politics

Is it possible to build a kinder society even while we’re stuck in conflict? Today’s episode couldn’t be more relevant than it is today.  Sarah and Beth of Pantsuit Politics  literally wrote a book to navigate this question! They join me to talk about their upcoming book, Now What? How to Move Forward When We’re Divided (About Basically Everything). Listen in as they share the one thing they want you to know — you are NOT alone if you find yourself tired of the anxiety, frustration, and fear that seem to be almost commonplace nowadays in your connections with other people, both online and in real life.  I don’t know about you, friend, but this feels like an important (and maybe long overdue) conversation for us to lean into given the cultural climate we find ourselves in right now. Sarah Stewert Holland and Beth Silvers host Pantsuit Politics podcast featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and named by Apple Podcasts as one of the Best Shows of 2021. They are also the authors of I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversation (2019). Listen in to learn more about: How our families of origin inform our views on politics and the ways we connect with others + reasons why this particular chapter of the book was written and rewritten multiple times. Ways to have conversations about current events with the kids in our lives. Navigating our differences in friendships + how being in connection does not mean being in agreement. Favorite quotes: ~My faith informs less about my policy positions and more about the way I treat other people in the course of discussing politics. ~I hope that my faith builds in me a quiet but strong patience with other people and with myself. I hope that my faith makes room to change my mind when circumstances in  the world have changed because with politics we are often just talking about what we prioritize at the moment. ~Don’t think that because your political identity is not shared that  everything is broken. ~Something in what you absorbed from the people who raised you, the people who taught you what love means, the people who taught you what scarcity and fear mean - something connects to those bigger picture opinions and in our houses where we don’t have to make policy, we don’t have to all agree on who we have to vote for,  in our houses we can have much more deeper and interesting conversations with each other if we are willing to trace that thread back. ~Conflict can be a source of connection; it does not necessarily have to be a source of disconnection. Links to great things we discussed:  Pantsuit Politics - Beth and Sarah's Website Sarah's Instagram  Beth's instagram Somewhere in the vicinity of my heart - Song Missing Piece - Vance Joy song Atlanta - TV Series Succession - TV Series Lost City- Movie Doctor Strange - Movie Moon Knight   Everything Everywhere all at once - Movie One Touch- Blood glucose app Cladwell - App Massage Therapy gun Antrhopologie - App Peloton - App Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation song Physicians Formula - Loose Powder Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli 

How to Have Great Relationships with Eric Barker

If I asked you to list all of the relationships in your life, we’d be here a while, wouldn’t we?! From friendships to romances and everything in between. We’re human, and God designed us to engage with others! That’s why I’m so excited to share this insightful conversation with Eric Barker, the Internet’s resident relationship expert. Of course, you know, I just had to ask him what made him decide to dive into the science of relationships in the first place, and his answer did not disappoint my friends!  Listen in as Eric talks to us about how he challenged some of the age-old relationship advice we’ve all received with science and skepticism. And how that experience led him to more fulfilling friendships, love, and community. This is so, so good. Eric Barker is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller “Barking Up the Wrong Tree,” which has sold over half a million copies and been translated into 19 languages. It was even the subject of a question on “Jeopardy!” His new book, “Plays Well with Others,” was released earlier this month. Listen in to learn more about: What surprised Eric the most in his research for this book on relationships, [Hint: It has absolutely everything to do with friendships!] How to navigate negative and positive sentiment override and how they impact our relationships Productive ways to begin an argument or hard discussion that preserves both parties’ humanity in the conversation Favorite quotes: ~Friendships make us happier than any other relationship yet friendships don’t get the kind of respect or attention because friendship is completely voluntary.   ~ We are just not that good at reading others. Human beings in general default to trust and cooperation. We do want information but not all the information. In some ways it is our brain trying to protect us.  ~ Screaming matches only lead to divorce 40% of the time. The issue is that you scream when you care and when you stop screaming you stop caring. What precedes divorce is  living parallel lives where you don’t interact and don't yell and scream, because you don’t even care anymore. ~ The four things that are more predictive in divorce are all to do with how you talk, how you communicate. They are - Criticism, Defensiveness, Stonewalling and Contempt. ~ Friendship Is fantastic, makes us happier than anything else but there’s a whole new level of synergy when friends become a group, a community.  Links to great things we discussed:  Memento Theme song - David Julyan Severance - TV Series  Ozark - TV series Amazon Kindle - App Bose Noise canceling headphones - Amazon Plays well with others - Book Barking up the wrong tree- Eric Barker's previous  book Eric Barker's website Doctor Strange - Movie Ray LaMontagne ft. Sierra Ferrell - I Was Born to Love You Bare Minerals - Well rested eye brightener Confident Motherhood Community Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli 

How to Pursue Your Dreams in Community with Lisa Whittle

Hey Friend! Today I’m bringing back a special BONUS episode from the archives that I can’t wait to share with all the dreamers in my audience! I know you’ll love this one, especially if you’ve ever felt called to write, speak or maybe even start your own podcast!  My good friend and Called Creatives Co-Founder, Lisa Whittle, joins me on the mic today to give you an inside peek at what goes on at Called Creatives, our coaching community with hands-on training for women who want impact and influence. Lisa and I talk about following your dreams and how to push past the things that are holding you back. We discuss being called to write and speak and how to overcome the fear of rejection, failure, perfectionism, or thinking what you want to do is not what God has called you to do. Listen in to hear all about: The most common thing that holds women back who feel called to write. How overthinking, making assumptions, and compartmentalizing impacts God’s plan for us and how He wishes for us to partner with Him to fulfill His purposes on this Earth. What happens when you let go of the excuses that are holding you back from your full potential. We know that in order to achieve your dreams, you need someone to walk alongside you, telling you exactly what you need to know. Don’t worry if you’re not quite there yet; we’re going to give you the pieces to get there!  In Called Creatives, we help you reach your dreams with trainings and monthly LIVE coaching calls. You’ll love our special mastermind collectives where you will be connected with 3-5 women who know what you’re going through and can guide you down the right path. As a Called Creative member, every month, you’ll receive… LIVE, 90-minute interactive group coaching call with Alli and Lisa Writing training sessions that will equip you to become a better writer, establish your voice and get traction  Speaking training sessions designed to help you develop your unique message, sharpen your speaking skills and leverage speaking opportunities  Guest training sessions with industry leaders (publishers, agents, writers, speakers) Plus, you will also… The opportunity to join a FREE mastermind to provide deeper accountability, resources, input, and relationship within the community Have on-demand access to the online library of resources and trainings Expand your network of like-minded women who are pursuing their calling and cheering each other on Join specialized communities of fellow entrepreneurs, women in ministry, and podcasters inside the bigger Called Creatives community Connect directly with Lisa, Alli, and the Called Creatives team through the private online community platform Listing in the 2022 directory of members to help expand your network Head on over to Called Creatives to sign up today! xo, Alli 

How to Be a Difference Maker with Kyle Idelman

How does God want to use you to have an impact? If this question has ever crossed your mind, today’s episode is for you, friend! I am super excited to share this recent conversation I had with Kyle Idelman as he talks to us about the Jesus way of changing the world--loving people one at a time. Most of us don't want to spend our lives being time-wasters, space-takers, binge-watchers, or game-players. We want to be difference-makers. Kyle does an amazing job in giving us practical ways we can do that in our everyday lives.  Kyle Idleman is a bestselling author and the senior pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, one of the largest churches in America. He’s most widely known for his award-winning book, not a fan., which has sold more than 1.3 million copies and has sparked a movement among believers. Kyle has authored other books, including One at a Time, The End of Me, gods at war, Grace Is Greater, and Don’t Give Up. Kyle and his wife DesiRae have four children and live on a farm where he does no farming.  Listen in to learn more about: The profound impact and influence we can have in the lives of others and the best way to go about it.  How the use of the two words “Jesus saw” preceded some of the most amazing stories of transformed lives.. The bystander effect, how it keeps people from making an impact in the lives of others, and some practical steps to begin making a difference today.  Favorite quotes: ~ We tend to define influence or influencer to describe someone who has a certain amount of social media following. While that has impact and influence, the most profound influence we can have is almost always one person at a time. ~ When Jesus loves people one at a time it begins with His eyes, it begins with what HE saw. One of the things I really would challenge people about is to pray a simple prayer of “ Jesus help me to see people the way you see them,  give me eyes for the one”.  ~ One of the most important pieces is availability, is just saying    “OK ,I’ll do it, I am available” - That, saying Yes to God and being available to God is a big piece of this and is certainly  consistent in how God calls people throughout the Old and New Testament - He invites but we have to be available and have a willingness to do it.  ~ Jesus talked about if you want to be great then you become the servant of all, you make yourself less. Greatness is not defined by attention, it is defined by servanthood. In this episode I answered this question: What are some small changes I can make to feel happier everyday? (32:47) Links to great things we discussed:   It's always been you - Phil Wickam song The Office - TV Series Life 360 app Kyle Idleman Website One at a time -Kyle Idelman resources The Crown - TV Series King of my heart - Song  Worship for Fierce Faith - Spotify Playlist Loreal - Magic Perfecting base  Confident Motherhood Community Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli 

How to Stay Present in the Here & Now with Jeanne Stevens

Hello and welcome! Today I am joined by the amazing speaker, leader, and writer, Jeanne Stevens. Let me just say that I waste no time at all in this episode by asking her all of my many questions about her trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro, You heard that right… Mt. Kilimanjaro! That’s so amazing! I asked the questions, and she delivered my friends… from hilarious to deeply personal thoughts; she shared all the details with us about what God was doing in her in the midst of this life-changing experience. And interestingly enough, Jeanne shares how she wonders if her book didn’t actually start to take shape during her experiences on Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Her soon-to-release book is called What’s Here Now?, and I just love the subtitle - How to stop rehashing the past, rehearsing the future, and start receiving the present. So good. I promise you don’t want to miss listening in to hear Jeanne teach us how to embrace the present moment and all that God has for us here, now. Jeanne Stevens is also the founding and co-lead pastor of Soul City Church in Chicago, one of America's fastest-growing urban churches. Prior to starting Soul City Church, Stevens was on the pastoral staff at Willow Creek Community Church and North Point Community Church. Jeanne's passion is to help people wake up to their purpose as they pursue a life of wholehearted freedom. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Jarrett, and their two children. What’s Here Now will be available nationwide on May 17, 2022.  Listen in to learn more about: Valuable questions to ask ourselves as a way to come into our “now” moments often throughout the day,  How the present is where God lives, and it is where God invites us to live with Him. The differences between our automatic self and our authentic self.  Favorite quotes: ~ When things don’t go the way you believe they should go, it is packed with all the very best learning.  ~ It was such a great inner teacher for me to not make it to the top and to unwind all of what that meant in my life. ~We are so inclined to think about what happened, to go to the ‘what was, the what ifs and all I had was what IS’ ,this present moment - here on the mountain. And the thing to do each day was to put one foot in front of the other and to be present with that. ~I was doing the work of God but the work of God was deteriorating in me. ~What I began to realize and recognize in my own life  was that the places  where I was most hanging out were in the past and in my future. I was all about rehashing things that already happened or rehearsing things that had not yet happened and I wasn't allowing myself to be present to this NOW moment.  ~I need to locate myself to this location and check into this present moment. In this episode I answered this question: How can I calm myself down when I am feeling stressed so often? (44:17) Links to great things we discussed:  Mindjogger - App Jeanne Stevens - Website Jeanne Stevens - Instagram  Holy Spirit Come Song - Patrick Mayberry Inventing Anna - TV Series The Dropout - TV Series  I guess I haven't learnt that yet - Shauna Niequist Book  Amazon - Ziploc bag organizer Amazon - Milk Frother Confident Motherhood Community Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli