Real Talk with Rachel Awtrey

If you're excited about a fresh start with this new year, this episode is for you! Hannah Brencher joins us once again to drop some truth bombs that a new year does *not* actually equal a "new you." We're diving into discipline, routines, and structure you can set up in your life to give yourself a fresh start (whether that's on NYE or in the middle of May!). Hannah's new book "Fighting Forward" explains this! It's a guide to beating the lies that may be holding you back. If you're scared of failure or commitment, listen on! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/131 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Hannah on Instagram: instagram.com/hannahbrencher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guessed it - we're talking Christmas again! From our holiday Starbucks orders to more Christmas list ideas, traditions, and how they change with time, Bachelorette. I mean, we talk it all! And who better to join me for this girl chat than one of my besties, Mary Scott Mercer! You may remember Mary Scott if you're an OG BTB fan - she used to host the show with me! What a fun conversation to have her back for. Grab some cocoa, go through the Starbucks line, press play, and join us for this giggly conversation! Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/130 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Need gift ideas for yourself or for others? We're giving you good ideas, talking through our favorite traditions, and funny memories and stories! Need a fun Christmas girl chat?! Look no further! All of the gifts we talked about in today's episode are linked in our show notes: Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/129 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah Lyons joins this conversation to talk through rhythms in life and why they’re so necessary! They not only allow us to have a “beat” to life but they create the margin for us to focus on Kingdom-minded things. If you haven’t already, grab Rebekah’s book, “Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose” where she chats about the 4 rhythms we can adopt and have in our lives today! She goes into each of these in today’s episode while also giving insight into why she values rhythms, her new journal that guides us through 90 days of rhythm, and more! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/128 This episode is sponsored by Helix Sleep: Helix is offering up to $200 off ALL mattress orders for Behind the Bliss listeners at HelixSleep.com/BLISS. Head to that link for up to $200 off and to take your two-minute, customizing quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does that even mean: "the best version of you"? If you were to ask me, I'd say it's the version of me that has seen my faults and flaws and chooses to turn away and choose joy and grace and other fruits. It might mean something completely different to you! But, we can all agree that it's the version of us that feels free, that is constantly learning and growing, that feels like the "best version." Today, Adrienne Camp joins us for a girl talk to chat through all of the things she's learning and growing through in life. Her journey of becoming the best version of herself has been inspiring and encouraging to me. The way she lives life on display, laughing at her mistakes, owning her identity in Christ, and honoring the people around her - you'll hear about it all! You may have heard me talk about the movie "I Still Believe" which highlights a few moments of Adrienne's husband, Jeremy's, life. If you haven't watched this movie, add it to the list! The Camp family has also been up to a lot of other creating and crafting this past year and she shares all about it in today's episode! Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/127 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you’ve been inside of an impossible situation? Maybe this situation was one that you stepped into on purpose, knowing this big God size dream. Maybe, however, the situation was something that you feel was pressed upon you. But regardless, do you feel stuck in an impossible situation? Hear me out on this one: if you don’t find yourself in an impossible situation now, I pray you find yourself in an impossible situation soon! Now, here’s what I mean by that: I think we’re putting impossible situations God is given an extremely cool opportunity to show up and do what he does best. My friend joining me on today’s episode knows the story super well. Kari Jobe joins us in today’s episode to tell us her impossibly awesome story. She’s stealing all the details on her new album “The Blessing” that you might actually be well acquainted with. We laugh, she sings a little bit with us, she shares some fun facts about things going on in her life and I really hope you are encouraged by this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered where God is in your life? Wanted more intimacy in your life with Jesus? Know that God hears you, sees you, and knows you! He knows the places in your heart that you need to be healed, promises you're wanting to see fulfilled, and all of your little quirks. Love that! How do we cultivate a relationship with Him to where we can identify where He is in our life? Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan join me for this conversation! Together, they host a podcast "God Hears Her" and have written a 365-day devotional that helps answer all of these questions! They are so much fun and we had a blast on today's episode! Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/125 This episode is sponsored by Helix Sleep: Helix is offering up to $200 off ALL mattress orders for Behind the Bliss listeners at HelixSleep.com/BLISS. Head to that link for up to $200 off and to take your two-minute, customizing quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the holidays coming up, winter coming in full swing, and this OMG year of 2020, we really could use a reminder about what true rest is! Chances are, you clicked play on this episode because you’re feeling tired, exhausted, and burnt out. Or, you’re close to it and you can tell somethings not right. Well, you’re in luck because today’s episode is going all in to the idea of rest: why we need it, how do we accomplish it and how do we combat burn out when it actually happens. Who better to have a conversation with me than Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith?! She is incredible. She’s a scientist. Today, she’s giving us the ins and outs about how we were created and wired and why we need rest. this message is a lot different than the one that I feel like mainstream media is preaching to us today: get 8 hours of sleep, etc. Dr. Saundra actually shares with us that there are seven different types of rest, not just “physical rest”. She shares the difference between laziness and rests and she also gives us some ideas about how we can find rest in our everyday lives. If you are curious about knowing your mind, your body, and your spirit better, how to honor all three to find rest so that you can be the best version of you that you’ve been called and commanded to be, this episode is for you! IChooseMyBestLife.com Take the Rest Quiz to identify where your rest deficit is! : https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is faith? The more I lean back and think about it I can come up with so many different definitions of what it is and what it means to me personally. In today’s episode, we’re really diving into what is authentic faith and how does it present itself? We answer these questions by comparing it to a metal called “platinum.” Today’s gas or two besties, Michelle and Bethany. They have so much enthusiasm for helping women including other writers and encouraging everyone that they encounter (especially you as a listener today). They join forces and wrote a book together called Platinum Faith.” They joined forces and wrote a book together called “Platinum Faith.” Each chapter outlines a platinum property, a promise, and a prayer for readers. The authors include relatable stories, biblical perspectives, and personal applications to help readers define and pursue a platinum faith. This parallel will blow your mind! If you’re in a season of struggle, trying to identify the real from the counterfeit, and could use a virtual hug from these amazing women, this episode is for you. Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/123 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Order “Platinum Faith” by Bethany and Michelle - https://bit.ly/3oW1I65 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of my favorite topics to chat about is marriage! Here's why: there's a lot of messages that the world is screaming at us and there are not many places these false narratives are being combatted. Today we're talking fighting, sex, how to be invested and involved in one another, bad habits that you may be operating in. Today's guest, Jessica Hottle, is helping me tackle this conversation. I was recently on Jessica's podcast, "What's The Truth Podcast," where we talked a bit about Thomas and my story, what we struggled with, how we encourage others to beat the struggle of the first few years of marriage. This episode is almost a Part 2 to that episode. We dive a little deeper into things that Jessica and I wish we would have known in our first few years of marriage. If you're a bit curious about the nitty-gritty of marriage, funny stories, and "oh good, that's me too" moments, click play! Text "MARRIAGE" to 33777 for a free marriage resource from today's episode! Shownotes + where to find the questionnaire download: https://www.behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/122 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices