Leadership and influence are two words that are often tossed around in church culture. At times, it can be difficult to connect with these terms, particularly if you can't identify where you can lead or influence others in your life. But what if I told you that you were a leader and that you had your own sphere of influence? Today I'm chatting with pastor, author, and world-class leader Pastor Craig Groeschel about those very things. In this episode, Pastor Craig shares his wisdom and helps us define the "IT" factor and what “IT” looks like, practically speaking. He talks about what healthy church leadership looks like from his own perspective as well as ways we can apply these insights to our own lives. Leadership looks different for everyone, and we all have opportunities to influence others in our day-to-day living. Pastor Craig also talks about casting vision and why we should create a vision for every area of life. You can find out more in his new book “Lead Like It Matters”. As you listen, I hope you can begin to identify your leadership capabilities and ways that you can be empowered to lead life well. I believe that YOU are an influencer! Share how you are influencing others in your daily walk and tag us on social media @BiancaOlthoff and @CraigGroeschel. Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS Books: Lead Like It Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts *Pre-order the book and get a free 8 Session Video bonus resource.  Winning The War In Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant To Be Safe  Hope In The Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FDo you want meaningful friendships? Have you struggled to meet new friends in your current season of life? How to MAKE and KEEP friends are what we are talking about on this episode! In this conversation, I’ll be talking about · How to build friendships · What are the ingredients for long-lasting relationships · When should we let a relationship end And who better to talk about this than with my closest friends, Jasmine Star, Brianna Glenn, and Melanie Nyema. I may describe ourselves as the Hot Mess Express, but we've maintained our bond for over two decades. It hasn't always been easy, but we have supported one another through many different seasons of life. We exchange stories, talk about our memories together and share the lessons we've learned from our friendship. My hope is that as you listen and walk away with practical knowledge that you can apply to your own friendships. Whether you're dealing with friendship conflict, trying to make time for your friends or looking to build new, intentional friendships, there's something here for you. I'd love to see what your friendships look like and hear about what your friends mean to you. So, don't forget to tag me @biancaolthoff, I can't wait to learn about your nearest and dearest. Thank you for being a friend to me! How about you show your friends some love and set some time aside to catch up and listen to this episode together. Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS: Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends, have you ever found yourself thinking "I guess I haven't learned that yet"? We can make plans and set goals but sometimes life happens, and we find ourselves in a situation we didn't see coming. In today’s episode, I’m talking with writer and storyteller, Shauna Niequist. Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Shauna unpacked this very concept. She talks about the art of gathering around a table, moving her family to New York and mourning the identities that we outgrow. Shauna also shares her perspective on rediscovery and embracing new seasons of life. There is power in putting down the ideas of how others perceive us and simply living as who we are truly meant to be. Just like a lovingly home-cooked meal, Shauna has all the elements to truly satisfy your soul. We'd love to see you recreate the meal that Shauna shared in this episode! Don't forget to tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @sniequist. If this podcast inspired you in some way, pass it on to a friend, because sharing is caring! Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS: Shauna’s Book: I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working Shauna’s Hearty Italian Stew Ingredients Onions Shallots Garlic Carrots Tomatoes Fennel Sausage White beans Spinach Lots of Parmesan Use a soup stock of your preference. Combine all ingredients. Add salt or Italian spices to taste. Sides Loaf of Sourdough Bread Green Salad Vinaigrette made with wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice Drinks Sparkling water Red wine Dessert Blackberries A couple of bars of dark chocolate broken up into pieces Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi Friends! Oftentimes, grief is a process associated with major life-altering situations such as the death of a loved one or a traumatic experience. But there are also smaller instances where feelings of loss can occur, for example, losing a job or a friendship breakup. In today's episode I'm talking about ways we can deal with grief and loss. As we settle into this conversation my heart and my hope is that you can begin to identify areas in your life where you may need to grieve. Or perhaps you've been in a season of loss, and you can find some healing from this conversation. So, whether you're accepting the loss of a dream, beginning a healing journey, or looking for a way to support a loved one through grief, this podcast is for you. As you listen, I hope you can find your shalom and allow God to heal your hurt. Don't forget to tag me @BiancaOlthoff to let me know what healing looks like for you. Love you, ?? B RESOURCES/LINKS: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/well/what-happens-in-the-body-during-grief.html Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi Friends! I hope you came ready to laugh! In today’s episode I chat with Yvonne Orji, an Emmy-nominated Nigerian American actress, writer and comedian. She entertains international audiences and is a sought-after speaker. Her TEDx talk; “The Wait Is Sexy,” has garnered over a million views. In this episode, I get to ask Yvonne the perennial question: Does God have a sense of humor? I’m a firm believer that God not only has a sense of humor but has a great sense of humor. As someone who values humor, wit, and banter, I’ve come to see it reflected in Scripture from the One who created the world. Whether you believe in God or not, Jesus longs to have a relationship with you! So, I can’t imagine that if we, His most valuable creation, have wide varieties of humor that range through individual personalities, that the God of the universe, who created us in His image, does not have one. I hope you enjoy listening to Yvonne as much as I enjoyed interviewing her. Do me a favor, take notes, laugh, and tag @YvonneOrji and I @BiancaOlthoff, on Instagram to win a copy of her fabulous book! Love you, B RESOURCES: Yvonne Orji Book: Bamboozled By Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams https://www.yvonneorji.com/ The wait is sexy | Yvonne Orji | TEDxWilmingtonSalon: https://youtu.be/8zw7AXwnb8M Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi Friends! We’ve all gone through hard seasons in life. And some of us have even been through a season wanting to fulfill a dream or get a promotion or the family that we’ve always wanted and then not being able to get what we want when it seems like we’re almost there. In today’s episode, my guest Jordan Lee Dooley will be sharing with us some practical steps on how to navigate painful setbacks and hardships. Jordan shares how difficult experiences, waiting seasons, and our greatest disappointments can bring clarity to what we really want in life. If you find yourself frustrated because you are not where you thought you should be in life, this episode is for you. Life is filled with unmet expectations, disrupted dreams, uncertainty, and in-between seasons. Lean in and listen to how Jordan’s experiences taught her to take a long pause, audit her life, and learn how to gain greater clarity about what she truly wanted, why she wanted it, and how to begin pursuing it. Friend, if you are in a season of in-betweens, not-quites, and unknowns you are not alone. You belong to this community and we’re here for you. Let Jordan know how this episode has impacted you by tagging us @BiancaOlthoff and @JordanLeeDooley Talk to you next week, friend! Love you, B LINKS / RESOURCES: Book - Embrace Your Almost: https://jordanleedooley.com/eya Safe Families for Children: https://safe-families.org/ Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi Family! Welcome back to a new season of the podcast. On today’s episode we are kicking off season FIVE with the incomparable and uber talented Tasha Cobbs Leonard. I’m excited to jump into today’s interview and topic at hand. I’m sure you’ve seen or heard the phrase BossBabe or GirlBoss. Women are using the tags on photos that demonstrate their professional or personal strength, fearlessness, successes, and ambition, and desire to lift up others in the process. But something about those titles and ethos rubbed me the wrong way. It seems that by having to identify ourselves as GIRLBOSS and shouting our girl-ness and boss-ness from the hashtag rooftops that we’re overcompensating for something – why not just show your success by being a good boss. Tasha could use the hashtag all day everyday of BossBabe, but instead she uses her entrepreneurial, pastoral, and creative prowess to SHOW not tell. I can’t wait for you to get to know and love this beautiful and talented woman of God. Take notes and quotes and tag us @BiancaOlthoff and @TashaCobbsLeonard on social media so we can repost your learnings. I love when our guests know the impact they are having! I can't wait to see what you're learning and loving about this series. Love you, B LINKS / RESOURCES: TashaCobbsLeonard.com Tasha and Kenneth Leonard - The Purpose Place Church Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi friends! We are on a break from our regularly scheduled podcast but between now and when we start our next season, I wanted to pop in and spread some love. If you're new around the podcast, let me welcome you and let you know that I'm excited that you've joined us for our podcast party! It's in my honor to create content that equips and inspires you. I decided to go back to my roots. At my core, I’m a word nerd and Bible teacher so I'm sharing some teachings from the book of James that both Matt and I shared at The Father's House Orange County back in 2020. Yes, the year of the pandemic. You also get access to a Bible study guide for the series that will help you in your journey through the book of James, and it's absolutely FREE. Send an email podcast@inthenameoflove.org to get your PDF today. And if you enjoy the podcast, it would be amazing if you left a positive review and subscribed to the podcast so you don't miss one episode. I hope you enjoy the series and I can't wait for season five. If there was more in season four then there is a vibe in season five! Love you friends! 🖤 B RESOURCES: Email podcast@inthenameoflove.org to get your James Series Guide https://tfhoc.org/ Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Friends! We’re Going There Podcast has hit 1 MILLION downloads and we are here to celebrate!🎉 I took a pause from my day and hopped on a quick call with my twin sister Jasmine Star to process and savor this moment. You know why? Because I wanted to create an Ebenezer moment. A moment that I can look back to and remember how good God has been in my life. But friends, this moment would not have been possible without YOU! I’m so grateful to all of the faithful listeners and for the not-so-faithful listeners too. Because everyone that’s clicked to listen to any of the episodes on any of the platforms has been a part of this milestone. THANK YOU!!! I had a BIG dream, but I got here by starting small. I took the small step of looking up what the beginner podcasting equipment was, and bought it. That step created a ripple effect as I continued to take step after step to launch this podcast. And today, I’m celebrating 1 Million downloads. Yay! If you have listened to 1 of the one million downloaded episodes, share with me what your #1 step is going to be as you pursue your dream. Post on your Stories what your #1 step is and tag me @BiancaOlthoff on it. Like my sister Jasmine said: You need to be ok with having the courage to put yourself out there and be publicly accountable and you need to be ok with being mediocre. You also need to be ok with God blessing what you’re doing to get to step #2.  I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines! Love you friends! 🖤 B RESOURCES: What’s your #1 step? Tag me at http://instagram.com/biancaolthoff Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi friends! We are on a break from our regularly scheduled podcast but between now and when we start our next season, I wanted to pop in and spread some love. If you're new around the podcast, let me welcome you and let you know that I'm excited that you've joined us for our podcast party! It's in my honor to create content that equips and inspires you. I decided to go back to my roots. At my core, I’m a word nerd and Bible teacher so I'm sharing some teachings from the book of James that both Matt and I shared at The Father's House Orange County back in 2020. Yes, the year of the pandemic. You also get access to a Bible study guide for the series that will help you in your journey through the book of James, and it's absolutely FREE. Send an email podcast@inthenameoflove.org to get your PDF today. And if you enjoy the podcast, it would be amazing if you left a positive review and subscribed to the podcast so you don't miss one episode. I hope you enjoy the series and I can't wait for season five. If there was more in season four then there is a vibe in season five! Love you friends! 🖤 B RESOURCES: Email podcast@inthenameoflove.org to get your James Series Guide https://tfhoc.org/ Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices