The Jess Connolly Podcast

Let’s start this week off with some good news. Listen to this Monday Mini podcast episode for some quick and practical encouragement to kick off your week and ground you in your calling. No matter what this upcoming week brings our way, we can start it off-centering ourselves on the good of others and the glory of God. Have you ever wondered if you’re in the right spot? We’re looking to Psalm 16:6 for encouragement and affirmation that we are. You’re in the right spot because God is there. Do you feel like you’re not enough or too much for the space you’re in? What if that wasn’t even possible? Declare His worthiness. Do you feel like there’s nothing good here? What if that wasn’t even possible? Count the fruit. Do you feel like you’ve made a mistake along the way? You can fix it. We can get caught up in comparing ourselves to what we see on the left or the right. Our spot may very well look different than someone else’s. We can get caught up in questioning whether or not God is here if this is on purpose. You’re in the right spot because God is there. Let’s start this week off by agreeing that right, where we’re at, is beautiful and on purpose. You were placed right where you’re at to go and tell. We're praying over your week, and we believe that God is mighty in you. We'll see you Thursday!

Last week in our ‘Running Your Race’ podcast series we went deep; this week, we’re going light! We’ve been contemplating this episode for months – it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before, but we’re so excited about it. Are you ready to hear what we’re talking about? Here’s the thing – being women on mission can be tough. It can be heavy. It’s good for us to be whole and human – to have an outlet outside of our everyday reality, to be able to relate with people we encounter, to enjoy the talents of some of God’s creation. For many of us, that means watching TV. How do we keep things light and enjoy television for entertainment, but still learn from what we’re consuming? Go with us if you want - this is a fun one! We start with a disclaimer right at the beginning: we know this episode isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! If you prefer interviews or coaching sessions, we get it – if this doesn’t serve you, we’ll catch you next week! (Make sure to download our Running Your Race guide – it’s a free tool designed to help encourage you as you run your own race, whatever that looks like for you!) In this episode, Jess and her lifelong friend JPH (Jennie) are talking about: When we watch TV Why we love watching TV (the lightness, the culture, how it relates to women) And specific TV shows that we’re drawing valuable life lessons from, like: the Real Housewives (yes, really), Yellowstone, Downton Abbey, the West Wing, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and more Also in this episode: Abide, the #1 Christian meditation app. Get started now with 25% off a premium subscription by downloading the Abide app at abide.co/gals. You’ll get additional stories and meditations, premium music, soothing sounds, and more. Don’t miss: GO TEAMS: Have you heard about Go Teams? If you want to start a podcast, write a book, teach the Bible, or start a small business, then our group coaching program Go Teams is for you. The waitlist is open now – join here for a discount and first chance to register! FREE ‘RUN YOUR RACE’ GUIDE: Download our free guide to encourage you to keep going while you run your own race, whatever that looks like for you. GO + TELL GALS COMMUNITY: Have you joined our community Facebook group? We dive deeper into topics shared on the podcast, we share about our products and exclusive discounts, and really - we just connect women on mission with one another. This community is free and it's waiting for you! Join here.

Join us for our very first Monday Mini podcast episode. Basically, we just want to provide some good news for your Monday, to kick off your week with something that is both life-giving and also practically helps you live out your calling. No matter what this upcoming week brings our way, we can start it off centering ourselves on the good of others and the glory of God. You are known by God. Isn’t it funny how people say, “God only knows” or, “Lord knows” when they don’t actually know the definite answers to something? But, truly - God really does know.  Everyone wants to know God, but what if we take the time this week to be known by God? Let's turn to Psalm 139. God knows how weak you feel and He called you anyhow. God knows what you need before you do. God knows the mistakes you’ll make and He still appointed you. He knows the end of this story. He knows your thoughts and fears, you don’t have to hide them in shame.  You are known by God and that is grace. You are known by God and that is friendship. You are known by God and acknowledging that leads to power. How would you live this week, your life, differently if you acknowledged that you’re known by God? You're known, seen, loved, and held. How does that change the way you go and tell? We're praying over your week, and we believe that God is mighty in you. We'll see you Thursday!

This month on the GATG podcast, we’re talking about running our race - throwing off what hinders us and pressing into what we’ve been called to. This episode with Jess’s husband, Nick Connolly, is a follow-up conversation to Nick’s interview back in 2018 (listen here!) – at the time, they were both pretty fresh off the heels of wanting to quit. In light of this month’s theme, we wanted to hear from Nick again, over 3 years later, to see what has changed, how he has processed this subject, and really – how we can keep going. Nick answers: What is his current calling What most makes him want to quit How we can encourage our partners and friends when they need to keep going Plus he shares his thoughts on resistance We pray this episode (and the rest of this month’s episodes) encourages you to keep going as you run your race. You were placed right where you’re at on purpose, and God is mighty in you. Also in this episode: Abide, the #1 Christian meditation app. Get started now with 25% off a premium subscription by downloading the Abide app at abide.co/gals. You’ll get additional stories and meditations, premium music, soothing sounds, and more. Don’t miss: GO TEAMS: Have you heard about Go Teams? If you want to start a podcast, write a book, teach the Bible, or start a small business, then our group coaching program Go Teams is for you. The waitlist is open now – join here for a discount and first chance to register! FREE ‘RUN YOUR RACE’ GUIDE: Download our free guide to encourage you to keep going while you run your own race, whatever that looks like for you. GO + TELL GALS COMMUNITY: Have you joined our community Facebook group? We dive deeper into topics shared on the podcast, we share about our products and exclusive discounts, and really - we just connect women on mission with one another. This community is free and it's waiting for you! Join here.

This episode continues the conversation started back in Episode 121 about boundaries. We get a lot of questions about boundaries for women on mission, so we’ve devoted an entire month of podcast episodes to this exact topic. Whether you have zero boundaries set in your own life, are skeptical about setting boundaries, or are the most boundaried human ever, you’re welcome to join this discussion. It’s our hope that these episodes will address the challenges women on mission face with setting and honoring boundaries, give some Scriptural backing to boundary setting, and share some helpful resources. In this episode, we walk through five pain points on boundaries: When our boundaries disappoint people When you have to set boundaries on good things When boundaries go too far When our boundaries are broken A note on pleasing people Also in this episode: GO TEAMS: Have you heard about Go Teams? If you want to start a podcast, write a book, teach the Bible, or start a small business, then our group coaching program Go Teams is for you. CALL-IN COACHING: Don’t miss our very first call-in coaching segment! Jess coaches Go and Tell Gals coach, Chrissy Huffman, on her boundaries. Chrissy has a hard time saying ‘no’ to people and things because they’re typically good things and she doesn’t want to disappoint people. We can all benefit from hearing the very practical coaching Jess gives to Chrissy about this topic. The role-playing scenario was so helpful to see all the way walked out! BOOKS ON BOUNDARIES: Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud Safe People by Dr. Henry Cloud Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton Don’t miss: FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY: Don’t miss our February giveaway! Leave a review OR share about the GATG podcast on Instagram (and tag us!) - then let us know here that you entered. We’ll choose a winner of an item of choice from the GATG Shop as a thank you! Enter here. FREE BOUNDARIES GUIDE: Download our free boundaries guide to begin naming and communicating your own personal boundaries. GO + TELL GALS COMMUNITY: Have you joined our community Facebook group? We dive deeper into topics shared on the podcast, we share about our products and exclusive discounts, and really - we just connect women on mission with one another. This community is free and it's waiting for you! Join here.

We’re continuing our podcast series on boundaries with a Q&A-style chat with Team Go + Tell Gals. In this episode, we’re sharing our perspective as a team that works together, works on the internet, works while being friends/caring about each other’s personal lives - while still actually working and staying focused on what God has called us to. We’ll also talk a little bit about our individual boundaries with work and technology and what works for each of us. We’re all five in different roles and seasons of life, so we have to adjust our boundaries accordingly. Questions we’re answering: How in the world do we get anything done when we all care about our work and one another? How do we separate our work from our personal lives? How do we keep good boundaries with the internet as a whole, since this is where we work? What are helpful boundaries we have in place around working and tech? After our team Q+A on boundaries, Jess, Caroline, and Anna stick around to have a chat about running! How are these two conversations related? Because we run together, often during work time - and it makes sense and feels life-giving for us! Ever since the release of Breaking Free from Body Shame and the start of Good Body Gals, our online exercise subscription (learn more here!), we’ve started talking a lot about running online, and the Internet has been curious. We talk about: How we started running together before (and sometimes during) work What running does for us spiritually/emotionally What running “slow” actually means Can other women join our “Slow Runners Club”? Also mentioned in this episode: Download our free boundaries guide to begin naming and communicating your own personal boundaries. Map to More, Go + Tell Gals’ newest project, is a printed guide that will meet you right where you’re at. It has questions, coaching strategies, Scripture, and action steps to help you define your path, clarify your calling, and make your next move. You were made for more. Learn more here. Don’t miss our February giveaway! Leave a review OR share about the GATG podcast on Instagram (and tag us!) - then let us know here that you entered. We’ll choose a winner of an item of choice from the GATG Shop as a thank you! Enter here.

In this episode, we’re continuing our series on boundaries with an incredibly wise conversation with Charaia Callabrass. She’s a wife, mother, content creator, curator of hilarious Tik Tok videos on Instagram, and a truly gifted truth teller. Her God-given mission is to put words to the things we don’t like to talk about and equip people to be courageous enough to stay soft. Charaia and Jess talk about boundaries, especially in regards to creating and consuming content on the Internet. You’ll hear Charaia speak to: How she knows she’s not staying soft How she stays on the Internet when it feels hard How boundaries are part of a “house” (it’s a metaphor… listen in!) Letting God be the main character of your story The problem with labeling people as toxic And so much more wisdom We think this episode is deep, wise, and funny - we laugh a lot, we talk about a lot about boundaries and a little about petty internet things, but truly: we just talk about what it’s like to be a woman on mission in an Internet-centered world. Also mentioned in this episode: Map to More, Go + Tell Gals’ newest project, is a printed guide that will meet you right where you’re at. It has questions, coaching strategies, Scripture, and action steps to help you define your path, clarify your calling, and make your next move. You were made for more. Learn more here. Don’t miss our February giveaway! Leave a review OR share about the GATG podcast on Instagram (and tag us!) - then let us know here that you entered. We’ll choose a winner of an item of choice from the GATG Shop as a thank you! Enter here.

In this episode, Jess is leading us in a conversation all about boundaries. We (Jess and Go + Tell Gals) get a lot of questions about boundaries for women on mission. After taking to Instagram and receiving an overwhelming response, it’s safe to say this is a topic of interest to our friends and followers. We’re so blessed for your openness, and want you to know that no matter your current relationship with boundaries, you are welcome here. If you have zero boundaries set in your own life, if you’re skeptical about setting boundaries, or if you’re the most boundaried human ever, you’re welcome here. It’s our hope that these episodes will address the challenges women on mission face with setting and honoring boundaries, give some Scriptural backing to boundary setting, and share some helpful resources. In this episode, we walk through six points on boundaries: Some boundaries will work for you, some won’t. Boundaries are specific to the person holding them. Boundaries as defensive, not offensive. Did Jesus set boundaries? Access isn’t equity. When is the right time to set a boundary? Make Saying No Okay Again. We’ve got about five more points to share on boundaries - stay tuned for part 2 of this conversation, coming soon! If you want to spend some time digging into your own boundaries this week, download our free boundaries guide. Also in this episode: Anna and Caroline join for a brief chat about Map to More, Go + Tell Gals’ newest project! Map to More is a printed guide that will meet you right where you’re at, with questions, coaching strategies, Scripture, and action steps to help you define your path, clarify your calling, and make your next move. You were made for more. Learn more here. Have you joined our community Facebook group? We dive deeper into topics shared on the podcast, we share about our products and exclusive discounts, and really - we just connect women on mission with one another. This community is free and it's waiting for you! Join here.

In this episode, Jess starts by sitting down with the incredible Morgan Harper Nichols. (Seriously - she's so incredible that this is her third time on the podcast!) These two creative women talk about Morgan's current season and what it looked like to write her newest book (releasing Feb. 15), Peace is a Practice.  Just like we have to inhale breath to breathe out, we must be built up to encourage and lead others. This episode talks about how women can do that, since it’s not something someone else will do for us. If you ever feel like: you can't keep up you crave space you need some peace you're called to be creative you don't have enough energy you need to set different boundaries to find peace ...then this episode is for you. After Jess and Morgan's conversation wraps up, Jess shares a quick coaching session about boundaries to help you find peace. What if our frantic search for self-care is because we give up ground we weren't meant to? What if we didn’t have to vacillate between leading and outpouring, and then sheltering and putting ourselves back together? What if we guarded our hearts appropriately all the time, we didn’t give away too much of our energy, and we kept the routines and rhythms that protect our soul as sacred? Here are some things to help with boundaries that lead to more peace: Get rest consistently. Know your rule of life. Identify boundaries and keep them. Buy Rhythms of Worship + Work Did you hear our ad about Go Teams? If you're a woman called to Writing, Small Business, Podcasting, or Ministry, and you could use some help getting started or getting unstuck, Go Teams are for you. You'll get 6 weeks of online group coaching sessions, a community of women to run with, and resources to help you take your next step. Join the Go Teams Waitlist. If you found Jess's quick coaching on boundaries helpful, download our free resource to help you with your boundaries and tune in to next week's episode, all about boundaries.

Welcome to the first Go + Tell Gals podcast episode of 2022! This one's got a few moving parts, but hang through it - we think it's very helpful. Please listen to our announcement right at the beginning. Kennesha is obediently stepping into something new and beautiful that God has asked her to, which means stepping down as a co-host from the podcast. We're so grateful for how she has led powerful, engaging conversations over the past 9 months and shifted this podcast (and all of GATG) for the better. She's accessing her God-given desire and is creating space for what He has called her to - and nothing could be more on-brand or beautifully connected to GATG than that. Join us in rallying around our friend Kennesha and praying for her as she moves in obedience. Follow along with her on Instagram to keep up with what's next. Now, into the episode - a coaching session from Jess and a Q+A to help start our year off on the right foot. We need a more comprehensive, intentional, spiritually-awake, and intelligent plan to move into this year with victory, compassion, gentleness, and tenacity. We could just hide our head under the pillow and say, “I can’t even”, but that is not what this season is begging of women on mission. Your life, your God-given gifts, your community, and your relationship with God are worth more than a flippant start to this year. These all deserve and require reflection and intention. The good news: God is mighty in us. He generously gives wisdom to His daughters, and He has placed us where we’re at - even in this year, on purpose, for the good of others and the glory of God. So in this episode, we’re going to hold all of the tension - with all of the hope. Honestly, we're grateful that it’s not commonplace to start a year pretending like it’s always going to be our best year yet. Your year matters. Let's act like it, and do/ask these 4 things: Go back to the last thing God told you to do. What is not making you stronger? How can you adjust your pace, your plan, your perception of fruit and still be obedient to what God has called you to? Insert delight + abundance. Also mentioned in this episode: The Breaking Free from Body Shame Bible study is here! Get the five-video series (over 2 hours of content) and/or 50-page study guide to help you break free from the broken beliefs we all hold about our bodies that hold us back from our fullest life. Get the study, get a group together, and get ready to break free. Order the Bible study here. Have you joined our community Facebook group? We dive deeper into topics shared on the podcast, we share about our products and exclusive discounts, and really - we just connect women on mission with one another. This community is free and it's waiting for you! Join here.