The Alli Worthington Show

What to do when you feel called to write and speak with Lisa Whittle

Do you feel called to write or speak? Over the past decade, I have received questions from hundreds of women who feel called but haven’t known where to start. This week, I have a special episode for you that lays it all out! I'm with my good friend Lisa Whittle to share our personal stories of how we built writing and speaking careers. We'll share common misconceptions, practical advice for getting started, and how to take the next step. We are also announcing something extremely exciting for those wanting to step confidently into this space. If that's you, don't miss this episode!   In this episode we discuss: 1. How do I start speaking if I've never been invited? 2. What if I don't have any connections? 3. What do I do if I'm struggling with writer's block?   Favorite quotes: God is doing big things in the hearts of women and we change the world when we share our stories. You may not feel creative, but God has called you to create!  We are launching a coaching community for women who are called to share their messages of freedom with a lost and broken world. We want to remove the intimidation, confusion and frustration of navigating your calling to write and speak by guiding you in developing your gifting, building your message and expanding your reach. On what holds women back-  We think it’s a lack of information or skills, but what really holds us back is our self-doubt and our imposter syndrome. We get overwhelmed because we don’t know where to start. We want to help you start!   On progressing to our goals- If God has called you and you stay obedient to learning what you need to learn and take small steps every day, He will take you exactly where you are supposed to go. You can’t let your present circumstances or your past define where you go in the future.  On deciphering his will and our will- When you walk with God, His dreams for you and your dreams and desires for yourself tend to morph. You will know much more clearly what you’re supposed to be doing with your life if you stay in tune with Him.    In this episode we answer your questions: 1. How do you get started when you are unconnected and feel unqualified? (26:52) 2. How do you know the difference between the dream of writing and speaking being God’s dream for you or a dream you need to let go of? (31:33) 3. Is there anything I can do to position myself as a speaker before I’ve actually been called up to the mic? (35:55) 4. Do I have to be published to be a credible speaker? (43:39) 5. I have an idea of what I want to write about and I’ve begun keeping notes.  But when I open up my computer to start writing I freeze up staring at a blank screen.  How can I take my ideas and thoughts and create something cohesive. (47:31)   As a listener, you have access to Called Creatives today! We are only opening the doors for seven days and you have early access! Called Creatives is a specialized coaching community for women who are called to write and speak.    As a Called Creative member, every month you’ll receive… LIVE, interactive group coaching call with Alli and Lisa. Writing training session that will equip you to become a better writer, establish your voice and get traction.  Speaking training session designed to help you develop your unique message, sharpen your speaking skills and leverage speaking opportunities.  Guest training session with an industry leader (publishers, agents, writers, speakers).   Plus, you will also… Get on-demand access to an ever-growing 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   xo, Alli   www.alliworthington.com/calledcreativeswithlisawhittle  

Beth Moore on fruitfulness, calling, and staying strong.

In this episode, I'm with the one and only Beth Moore. Beth needs no introduction as a trailblazing Bible teacher, author, and speaker-- but we will discuss her call to ministry as a young girl, the fire that keeps her going no matter the circumstances, and what Tuscany taught her about suffering, growth, and God.   In this episode we discuss: 1. How to know if you are actually called or if it's your own desires. 2. Why I almost killed a man on Mount Olympus in her honor. 3. Her enneagram number, favorite mascara, and the one female product you shouldn't wear on stage.   Favorite quotes: 1. A vine produces a grape when a vine is concerned that it may not survive. It has to be under enough stress that it wonders, “I wonder if I’m going to make it here.” It is only then that the grape produces. 2. I feel like there are so many people at risk of quitting because they think that God somehow gave out on them or up on them. 3. If we don’t recognize that going forward involves cutting back to prepare us to go forward and that a lot of times growing looks a lot more like shrinking, then what happens is we quit. 4. I think one of the things I’m most called to do in this era of my life is to cheer people on in their calling. I feel a tremendous responsibility to that. To say to people He’s not done with you. Even if you are going through a time of chastisement with Him, even if you have reaped the whirlwind here. God so faithful. His grace is so immeasurable and He will be faithful. Anybody that cooperates with Him and abides in the vine- He will see to it that we bear much fruit.    In this episode BETH answers your questions: 1. What prompted you to start writing and teaching? (30:33) 2. How do you discern when the calling is from the Lord or your own secret desires? (57:07)   Links to great things we discussed:  1. Beth Moore , Twitter , Instagram 2. Chasing Vines 3. The Crown 4. Moroccan oil 5. Loreal Mascara    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/podcast/bethmoore

Kate Bowler on strength, suffering, and leadership

Today I'm with my friend and brilliant Duke divinity professor, author, and TED Talk presenter Kate Bowler.  We talk honestly about suffering, terminal illness, and how Jesus fits into all of it. Kate will also talk about her fascinating and extensive research about the dynamics of women leading in the church.   In this episode we discuss: 1. Why most women in conservative denominations don't attend seminary. 2. What she discovered after researching the prosperity gospel of health, wealth, and happiness. 3. What it's like to battle Stage 4 cancer at age 35.   Favorite quotes: 1. There’s a fun history of how women have managed to skirt the technicalities of preaching as a vocation. They largely do it as self-taught women. 2. Everyone wants you to only bowl down the middle on every topic and I think there’s something we lose when we don’t allow, especially women, the particularity of their experience.    In this episode I answer these questions: 1. What under-eye concealer won’t make me look like I’m 90? (46:50) 2. Going into 2020 and looking back, what did God teach you last year? (49:47) 3. What email software do you use? (55:25)   Favorite quotes: 1. There’s a fun history of how women have managed to skirt the technicalities of preaching as a vocation. They largely do it as self-taught women. 2. Everyone wants you to only bowl down the middle on every topic and I think there’s something we lose when we don’t allow, especially women, the particularity of their experience.    Links to great things we discussed:  1. Kate Bowler  2. The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities 3. Kate’s Ted Talk  4. Alias TV Show 5. Tarte Travel Shape Tape  6. Ford v Ferrari  7. Jeremy Riddle All Hail King Jesus     Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/podcast/katebowler

Special Breaking Busy episode: Identifying the signs of crazy busy and finding peace and purpose.

HAPPY almost 2020! We're looking to a new year, a new decade--and it's a great time for a fresh start. What if we all started off with less stress, more joy, greater purpose, and a lower chance of burnout? In this special episode, I'm sharing a free chapter from my book Breaking Busy! I'll share my personal story of how busy almost broke me...until I got (a literal) wakeup call....from my bra. We'll take inventory, learn to recognize the red flags of busy, and get a game plan to go from a frazzled to full life. I'm also giving away chapter one from Breaking Busy free today.   Quotes from this episode- 1. Contrary to what many of us have been told, we all have limits. We can't handle it all, nor should we. We have to stop pretending we are superhuman with an endless supply of energy, because we aren't. Embracing our limits and respecting our personal capacity is the key to success and living out our calling. 2. Not taking care of ourselves works in the short run but it always spells disaster for everyone around us eventually. Taking care of ourselves means we’re willing to care for ourselves so we will be able to live out the calling on our lives. Self care is never selfish. You can’t live the life that God created for you if you’re running on fumes. 3. Having a limited physical capacity is not a flaw in my character, it is by glorious design for an incredible purpose to realize my need for him. 4. When God created us, he created us with limitless capacity to love others and a limitless ability to stretch our talents to be used for his glory. 5. We each have a different capacity level. Our levels increase and decrease, depending on our season and our situation. Identifying and respecting our own capacity is life changing and it's the first step to breaking busy. If you love the message of Breaking Busy and want your own copy, you can grab one on Amazon on sale.   Happy New Year, Alli   www.alliworthington.com/podcast/breakingbusy   

Special Fierce Faith episode: What if things fall apart? Identifying and overcoming the fear of the future.

Merry Christmas! As a special gift for you, today's episode is a free recording of Chapter 9 of my book Fierce Faith called "What If Things Fall Apart" ,all about the fear of the future.  The fear of the future can paralyze us, leave us imagining the worst, and keep us from pursuing our God-given purpose and dreams. Today, I share a lot of my personal story with fear as my family faced illness and bankruptcy. I'll also share about the Israelites and the lessons we can take for their journey into the promised land. And, if you know me well, you KNOW there's going to be practical application as well! I'm going to give you a battle plan to fight the fear that will help you start 2020 empowered, strong, and hopeful for the future. I'm also giving away chapter one from Fierce Faith free today.    Quotes from this episode: 1. The enemy of our souls want to distract us, delay us, and discourage us with fear. The enemy of our souls has always used the fear of the unknown to keep us stuck. Instead of forging forward into the Promised Land, we wander around, lost and lonely in our own wilderness. 2. We are so busy looking for the perfect set of circumstances to line up with what we think we must have, we completely miss out on what God had for us all along. 3. The enemy of our souls fights hardest when God is doing a great work in our lives. But we know that he who has overcome the world lives in us. We know that victory is his, and even though we face a battle today, the enemy will not be victorious. We fight from a place of victory because of Jesus. We don't have to fight for victory, because it is ours already! 4. God's presence doesn't mean I'm fearless; instead, it means I can fear less. 5. God wants to strengthen us to face the future. He is building each of us to be the person he created us to be. And sometimes, to reach our promised future, we have to fight to get there.   If you love the message of Fierce Faith and want your own copy, you can grab one on sale on Amazon.   Merry Christmas, Alli   http://www.alliworthington.com/podcast/fiercefaith

Jeff Bethke on saying to with the hustle, wisdom from Frozen II, and living intentionally.

Today, I'm with the brilliant Jeff Bethke to talk about why you may need to ditch the American dream, say "To With The Hustle", and find a way to be human again.  Jeff shares why his family decided to get off the conveyor belt of overachievement, restructure their family life, and take some leaps that were well worth it.   In this episode we discuss: 1. What Elsa and Arendell can teach us about risk-taking. 2. Living wisely in an information overload culture. 3. What it means to live an integrated life.   Favorite quotes: 1. So many of us are trying to achieve spiritual perfection when God is more concerned about spiritual formation. He doesn’t want you to just reach the goal, He wants you to become a particular type of person. 2. A lot of us are willing to make certain sacrifices based on the monetary financial gain rather than asking “Is this job humanizing to me? Is this job where the Lord has actually called me?”  3. There’s a trajectory that our culture puts us on that’s just more, more, more, do, do, do. The pressure seems to compound and the farther we went down this conveyor belt of the American dream, the more we were actually losing practices, formations, rhythms, and rituals that we believe profoundly make us human.   In this episode I answer these questions: 1. How do you deal with writing about family issues and struggles in your books? (46:06) 2. If a Christian commits a sexual sin is it forgivable? If so, why are ministers who have a “moral failure” asked to step down? (52:58) 3. I’m a creative entrepreneur and I hate systems, and so far it hasn’t hurt my growth. Do I have to build systems or can I stay successful without them? (1:00:05)   Links to great things we discussed: 1. Jeff Bethkey 2. To With The Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World 3. Sinach- Waymaker 4. Frozen 2 5. Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope 6. Chasing the Scream: The Opposite of Addiction is Connection 7. Cast iron   Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/podcast/jeffbethke

Beth McCord, Your Enneagram Coach, on how to use the Enneagram for a healthier and happier marriage

One of my most popular guests is back: Beth McCord of Your Enneagram Coach! Today, we are talking about is the Enneagram and your marriage.  We'll chat about how to use the Enneagram for insight into your spouse's perspective, needs, and triggers as well as how to keep turning back to the gospel for our core needs.    In this episode we discuss: 1. How Christians should view the Enneagram. 2. The new Enneagram Instagram account you can't miss 3. How to use the Enneagram for healthier conflict in marriage   Favorite quotes: 1. Understanding one another allows us to have those conversations that are more purposeful and meaningful. It averts conflict and hurting the relationship where it doesn’t need to be. 2. Conflict is not in and of itself isn’t bad. People are going to have different views and desires but it’s how we deal with that conflict that really matters. We all come from different vantage points and perspectives and if we can validate and understand one another then we can work through those conflicts. We can come together and that’s where we can really honor God. 3. The Enneagram, think of it as just a flashlight or an x-ray. It pointing out what’s there or what’s broken like a bone. But the x-ray cannot heal you, it just exposes what’s wrong and what needs healing. The Enneagram is pointing out why we do what we do, our heart condition, and then the gospel shows how to heal it.   In this episode I answer these questions: 1. What did you do for all the birthday parties when your kids were little? (45:27) 2. What do you do when you don’t want to do what God tells you to do? (49:30) 3. How do you know when it’s time to hire employees? I just started a small business and I want to make a plan. (57:02)   Links to great things we discussed:  1. Your Enneagram Coach 2. Becoming Us 3. Becoming Us: Using The Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage 4. Your Enneagram Coach instagram 5. EnneaDog   Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli    www.alliworthington.com/podcast/bethmccord2  

Laura Wifler and Emily Jensen of Risen Motherhood on work, motherhood, and freedom.

Today, we are with the brilliant women behind the podcast Risen Motherhood- Laura Wifler and Emily Jensen.   We chat about how potty training launched their blockbuster show that millions love, what it's like to balance work and raising small children, and how we can use comparison to point us to truth.   In this episode we discuss: 1. What it looks like when two different personalities and styles work together. 2. The importance of community for working moms. 3. How to conquer mom guilt   Favorite quotes: 1. Nothing is perfect. Nothing is guaranteed. But if I don’t have enough time for Jesus then I’m missing something and that’s something that I always try to prioritize no matter what life is looking like that day. 2. When we dig under the surface of what we’re wrestling with in our soul it’s the fact that we feel before the Lord we are not enough. We are not good enough and the good news is that God has sent His son Jesus Christ to be good on our behalf to meet all the measurements and standards. 3. In Christ, we are not called to live with guilt and shame. That’s one of the beautiful things about the gospel is that we don’t have to live with mom guilt or any guilt at all.    In this episode I answer these questions: 1. Do you sleep? How do you get so much done? Tell me your secrets! (48:27) 2. As Christians, is drinking alcohol okay? (52:48) 3. I have an idea for a book. How do I know if it’s a good idea? (57:44)   Links to great things we discussed: 1. Risen Motherhood  2. Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments 3. I asked the Lord 4. Nickel Creek 5. Educated 6. A Little Book on the Christian Life 7. Trader Joe’s Seltzer 8. EOS chapstick     Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli   www.alliworthington.com/podcast/risenmotherhood  

Sarah Mae on healing, making peace with the past, and moving forward with strength

Today, I'm with one of my long-time and OG blogging friends Sarah Mae. Sarah Mae shares the powerful testimony of how she forgave her alcoholic mother, found healing in her own parenting and relationships, and how she found peace after her mother's death.   In this episode we discuss: 1. The moment she realized her cooking was terrible. 2. The hair removal product she literally carries with her everywhere. 3. The chaotic life decision she made twice.   Favorite quotes: 1. Nobody has the authority to tell us who we are but God. 2. We are all just trying to meet our deepest longings that God has given us. We want to be unconditionally loved and we want to make an impact on the world. 3. We heal in community. You have to put yourself out there. It takes work but the work ends in such wonderful fruit of good kindred friendship and really special relationship and healing relationship and so if you don’t have that in your life, you’ve got to go after it. Put yourself out there.  In this episode I answer these questions: 1. What is your best advice for raising siblings who like each other? (44:43) 2. What do you do when you feel overwhelmed by what God has asked you to do? (51:02) 3. How can I get comfortable with the concept that I need to build a platform for myself and my business? (53:57)   Links to great things we discussed: 1. Sarah Mae 2. The Complicated Heart 3. Taylor Swift- Paper Rings 4. The Politician 5. Tinkle Razor  Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :)    xo, Alli   www.alliworthington.com/podcast/sarahmae

John Mark Comer on The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, Work, and Sabbath

I'm joined by the brilliant John Mark Comer, one of my all-time favorite authors and teachers. I love his work so much I think I embarrassed him just a little.  We'll talk about why I pay my children to read his books, the importance of Sabbath, and what it means to live a spiritually disciplined life in a busy, modern world.   In this episode we discuss: 1. Why work isn’t a bad thing. 2. Keeping the Sabbath holy. 3. Practical ways to unhurry life   Favorite quotes: 1. The two major areas where we actually follow Jesus and work out our spiritual formation are family or close interpersonal relationships and work. I think the church does a great job of talking about family, marriage, parenting, relationships, community. What’s there a lot less said about, though I think is changing in the past decade or two, is work and how it dovetails into our spirituality and her apprenticeship into Jesus.  2. The garden was never supposed to stay a garden. Adam and Eve weren’t there to just mow the lawn and take care of things and enjoy life. It was actually supposed to spread out and inevitably become a city had no sin had ever interrupted that project. It would become this garden-like city environment where all sorts of human beings live together in love of God from God and for each other.  3. Sabbath is a practice by which we cultivate a spirit of restfulness. It’s not just one day of the week but seven days of the week.  4. The goal is to become the kind of person in whom literally in our body, in our muscle memory, we have become people of rest.   In this episode I answer these questions: 1. What do you think of the advice that we should just follow our passion? (50:32) 2. Why do Christians say they love Jesus and still act like horrible people? (56:28) 3. When you’re working with your business coaching clients what habits or beliefs are the ones that make some of them unable to succeed? (1:00:01)   Links to great things we discussed:  1. John Mark Comer 2. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry 3. Favella 4. Educated 5. The Current War 6. God of Wonders    Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :)    xo, Alli   www.alliworthington.com/podcast/johnmarkcomer