Echos of Impact

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive content, including discussions of childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed.   In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down with Tisha Hensel, co-lead pastor at The River Church Family in Raytown, Missouri. Tisha’s story is one of resilience, restoration, and radical faith. With over 20 years in ministry, a background in biblical studies, and a heart deeply rooted in community, Tisha brings a refreshing honesty to what it looks like to trust God through seasons of deep trauma, healing, and leadership. Tisha shares her powerful testimony of growing up in a tumultuous and abusive environment, finding Jesus at eight years old, and learning to trust Him with her life through unimaginable circumstances. Her story is a beautiful reminder that God is faithful not only to redeem our brokenness but to restore what was lost—and often in ways we never could have imagined. Together, Cherise, Briana, and Tisha talk about wrestling with Scripture, healing from childhood trauma, finding your voice after abuse, and what it means to love and lead others out of a place of restoration.     What We Cover: Tisha’s journey from surviving childhood trauma to stepping into pastoral leadership Wrestling with Scripture as a path to living out God’s purpose The critical role of community in healing from abuse and neglect How God restores what the enemy tried to steal—and often multiplies it What it looks like to love others well in small, meaningful ways Finding your voice without striving for perfection Challenges and joys of being a woman and co-leader in ministry The ongoing, layered journey of healing, counseling, and trusting God     Key Themes: Restoration after trauma Beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61) Obedience over sacrifice The importance of authentic community Liberating stories to restore connection Partnership and humility in marriage and ministry     Key Quotes: "Liberating stories lead to restored connections." "God didn’t cause the brokenness, but He is perfectly positioned to restore it." "Even when I couldn’t see it, God was sewing something back together."     Connect with Tisha Hensel: 📧 Email: tisha@rivercentral.org 🌐 Learn more about The River Church Family: www.rivercentral.org     Join the Conversation: How have you seen God restore something broken in your life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group! Follow us on Instagram - Podcast Page Follow us on Instagram - Life Coaching Page Join our Facebook Group - Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start? Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today.   If this episode blessed you, would you take a moment to follow us and leave a review? Your support helps us continue sharing inspiring stories like Tisha’s. Until next week, friends! 💛  

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics related to teen pregnancy.   In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Pachion Moore, a devoted single mother, life coach, and passionate advocate for young women navigating unexpected challenges. Pachion’s story is one of resilience, redemption, and discovering God’s purpose even when life takes an unexpected turn. At 17 years old, Pachion’s world changed overnight when she found out she was pregnant—through a phone call to her mom, not even directly to her. Facing disappointment, judgment, and loneliness, she could have let shame define her story. Instead, she chose perseverance, leaning on the quiet strength of her family and eventually rediscovering her faith. Today, Pachion uses her journey to encourage and empower young women walking similar paths. Together, Briana, Cherise, and Pachion dive into what it means to find beauty in the middle of brokenness, and how community, God's timing, and courage can lead to healing and hope. What We Cover: Pachion’s journey through teen pregnancy and rebuilding her life How judgment and shame impacted her early motherhood years The loneliness of being a young, single mom—and how God met her there Finding healing and belonging through a supportive church community Pachion’s work with nonprofits helping women get back on their feet The heart behind her upcoming nonprofit to serve teen and single moms Lessons on trusting God in hard seasons and slowing down to hear His voice Key Themes: God brings beauty from ashes Community is often God’s way of loving us Your mistakes do not disqualify your purpose It’s a hard season, not a hard life Practical Application: Encouragement for anyone facing an unexpected detour in life Reminders that God's love is constant, even in our lowest valleys Practical resources for young women needing support Key Quotes: "It's a hard season, not a hard life." —Pachion Moore "Slow down enough to hear from Him." —Pachion Moore     Connect with Pachion Moore: Follow Pachion on Instagram:@pachionbreonaSubscribe to her Substack:https://www.pachionbreona.com/substack Follow her journey and learn more about her life coaching and nonprofit work Check out Pachion’s book: Know Ur Self!: A Journal for Women Who Want to Take Fierce Control of Their Lives Check out the book Deserts to Mountaintops: The Pilgrimage of Motherhood, featuring Pachion’s story: Find the book on Amazon      Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories. Until next week, friends! 💛

In this heart-centered episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise dive into a conversation that’s been stirring in their spirits—how to carry the burdens of others in a way that honors God without losing themselves in the process. Through personal stories, Scripture, and vulnerable moments, they unpack what it really looks like to help others from a place of spiritual abundance, not self-reliance. Whether you're a natural helper, someone navigating burnout, or simply longing to love others better, this episode is for you. Briana shares a vivid dream that revealed a deeper truth about how God shows up for us even when we think we’re the ones doing the helping, and Cherise shares a personal story of a friendship strained by blurred boundaries and unmet expectations. Together, they reflect on Galatians 6, what it means to “bear one another’s burdens,” and how Jesus models both compassion and boundaries.     What We Cover: Briana’s vulnerable dream about burden bearing and God's protection Cherise’s story of supporting a friend through crisis (and what happens when we lose healthy boundaries) How self-saviorism sneaks into our helping The true Biblical call of Galatians 6:1–2—and what it really means to bear one another's burdens Practical tools for guarding your heart while still loving others well How to spot the difference between helping and enabling Why small acts of kindness matter more than you realize The importance of safe spaces and community in carrying burdens together     Key Quotes: "We’re called to bear each other’s burdens—but we were never meant to carry the weight alone." "Helping doesn’t mean saving. It means pointing people to the only One who truly can."     Connect with Us: 🎙 Follow Echos of Impact on Instagram: @echos_of_impact 🌟 Life Coaching + Purpose-Driven Growth: @thewomanssuccesscode 💬 Join our Facebook Community: Echos of Impact Community 🌱 Interested in growing in faith, purpose, and community? Learn more about The Woman’s Success Code here. 🎯 Ready for a fresh start? Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana here.

This episode comes to you over Easter weekend—a time when we reflect on the ultimate story of death to life through Jesus. And today’s conversation echoes that same redemptive arc. It’s a story of heartache and healing, of losing everything and still choosing to rise. Jami Nato shares how God brought resurrection to the most broken places of her life—and how humor became the net that catches hearts long enough for the Gospel to land. In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Jami Nato—writer, speaker, Substack essayist, and author of This Must Be the Place—to talk about the raw, redemptive beauty of finding your purpose through pain. Jami opens up about surviving marital infidelity, rediscovering her voice, and how humor, honesty, and healing have collided in the life of a woman determined to follow God's call—even when it didn’t look like she imagined. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of marital infidelity. Please use discretion as you listen. Now pursuing her Master’s in Theology, Jami reflects on the identity loss she felt as a stay-at-home mom within conservative Christian spaces—and how her journey through suffering led to unexpected life and purpose. From writing her first blog post to dreaming about prison ministry, she reminds us that the path to purpose is rarely linear—and that God never wastes our pain. Together, Briana, Cherise, and Jami explore what it means to take up space with your story, to forgive deeply, and to follow the “breadcrumbs” of calling, even when the next step feels unclear.   What We Cover: Jami’s journey of rediscovering identity after betrayal Why the message “just be a good Christian wife and mom” left her feeling lost The power of storytelling and humor as ministry Reframing “taking God’s name in vain” to reflect our daily actions and identity Why forgiveness is a miracle, not a formula How God used Jami’s pain to strengthen her faith and marriage Encouragement for women who feel stuck or unsure of their purpose Why you don’t need the whole map—just the next breadcrumb Key Quotes: “Forgiveness isn’t selfish. It’s a miracle. And it only happens through the power of God.” “You are not broken for wanting more—you’re becoming who God created you to be.” “We’re all living in another woman’s garden. Your healing will become someone else’s harvest.”     Connect with Jami Nato: Read Jami’s book: This Must Be the Place Subscribe to her Substack: https://jaminato.substack.com Follow Jami on Instagram: @jaminato     Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories. Until next week, friends! 💛

Aurielle Lindblom, a married mom of four and retired baseball wife, shares her inspiring journey of faith and resilience. She recounts the challenges of her husband's professional baseball career, including their time in South Korea, and the heart-wrenching diagnosis of her daughter’s heart condition. Aurielle emphasizes how faith anchored her through fear and uncertainty. She reflects on finding purpose in everyday roles and highlights the power of community, worship, and journaling during life's toughest moments.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of grief, sudden loss, and abuse. Listener discretion is advised. In this deeply moving episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with her longtime friend Mindy Greaves to talk about one of the most difficult seasons of her life—the unexpected loss of her younger sister, Meg, in 2022. What unfolds is a powerful conversation about grief, healing, and the unmistakable hand of God even in the darkest valleys. Mindy opens up about how her sister’s sudden death rocked their family and how, in the midst of heartbreak, God revealed His presence in undeniable ways. From dreams that felt like glimpses of heaven to unexpected confirmations of God’s nearness, this episode is a tender testimony to the God who sees us, walks with us, and redeems our pain. In This Episode, We Cover: What it means to live a life of purpose rooted in surrender and obedience How Mindy and her family navigated unimaginable loss and took in her sister’s twin boys The incredible dream Mindy had, exactly one year before Meg’s passing, that brought supernatural peace and comfort How grief and joy can coexist, and the difference between pure joy and circumstantial happiness Why it’s okay to question, cry out, and come to God with raw honesty How Meg’s legacy lives on through Mindy’s new role at Mother’s Refuge, a ministry that supports young, single mothers The power of intercession, community, and the unseen seeds of faith planted long before the storm Mindy’s story is both heartbreaking and hope-filled. It reminds us that even in the ashes, God is bringing beauty and preparing a harvest we can’t yet see. Key Quotes: “Grief feels heavy, but when we give it to God, He waters it. And in time, those seeds start to sprout.” “I had no strength to speak at her funeral. That was the Holy Spirit. I just said yes.” “God doesn’t waste pain. What the enemy meant for harm, God is using for healing.”   Show Links: Watch the Celebration of Life that has been watched by thousands around the world (go to minute 42 where Mindy starts sharing) Celebration of Life Service for Meg  Learn more about Mother’s Refuge: https://mothersrefuge.org Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories. Until next week, friends! 💛

Trigger Warning: This episode includes sensitive topics such as grief, trauma, loss of children, and struggles with addiction—including pornography. Listener discretion is advised. In this powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise welcome back two incredible past guests, Adrienne Story and Kayla Edwards, for a deeply moving conversation about miracles. From physical healings that defy medical explanations to the quieter, everyday miracles we often overlook, this episode explores the ways God shows up in our lives—sometimes instantly, sometimes after a long season of waiting, and sometimes in ways we never expected. Together, we wrestle with an essential question: What happens when the miracle doesn’t come? How do we continue trusting in God’s goodness when prayers seem unanswered? What We Cover: 💛 Miracles of Physical Healing – Kayla shares the harrowing journey of her husband’s battle with COVID-19, where doctors gave him no hope of survival, yet God had a different plan. Adrienne recounts her sister’s unexplained, instantaneous healing after years of suffering. 💛 The Waiting Season – The tension of faith in seasons where healing and breakthrough don’t come quickly—and how pressing into God can change everything. 💛 Beyond the Obvious: The Everyday Miracles – How God moves in unseen, quiet ways, from marriages being restored to hearts being healed from addiction. 💛 When Prayers Seem Unanswered – How do we hold onto faith when God’s answer is different from what we desperately hoped for? Adrienne and Kayla share their personal experiences of loss and grief while still clinging to God’s goodness. 💛 The Power of Perspective – The way we view our circumstances can shift everything—what seems like unanswered prayer may actually be God’s perfect timing in disguise. Key Quotes: ✨ “The waiting is painful, but it’s in the waiting where God moves the most.” – Kayla Edwards ✨ “Sometimes, the miracle isn’t what changes—it’s how God sustains us through what doesn’t.” – Adrienne Story ✨ “God’s goodness isn’t defined by whether or not we get what we prayed for. He is good, no matter what.” – Cherise Thompson Listen to Their Stories: 🎧 Our first episode with Adrienne Story: Spotify | Apple 🎧 Our first episode with Kayla Edwards: Spotify | Apple 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Accountability & Addiction Recovery Covenant Eyes – Internet accountability software for freedom from pornography Celebrate Recovery – Christ-centered recovery for addictions, hurts, and habits Pure Desire Ministries – Groups and tools for sexual addiction and betrayal trauma recovery Faith & Healing Support Faithful Counseling – Christian-based mental health therapy GriefShare – A support group for those navigating the loss of a loved one It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst – A faith-filled guide for when life doesn’t go according to plan The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson – Bold prayer and persistent faith   Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories. Until next week, friends! 💛

In today’s powerful episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Mallory Steffen to share a story of hope, redemption, and the transformative power of God’s grace. As a speech-language pathologist living in the Kansas City area with her husband and two boys, Mallory opens up about the trials her family faced, including her husband’s struggle with alcoholism and the brokenness that nearly tore them apart. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses alcoholism and extramarital affairs. Please use discretion when listening. Through raw and honest storytelling, Mallory reveals how, in the darkest moments, God’s love broke through to bring restoration not just to her marriage but to her entire family. Her testimony reminds us that no one is ever too far gone for God and that His grace covers even the most shattered places in our lives. What We Cover: Mallory’s Journey: From a picture-perfect facade to facing the reality of her husband’s alcoholism and anger. Hitting Rock Bottom: How her husband’s surrender to God became the turning point for their family. The Power of Surrender: Why letting go of control opened the door for healing and forgiveness. Choosing Sobriety for the Family: Mallory’s decision to support her husband’s sobriety by making changes in her own life. Building on the Rock: How their faith became the unshakeable foundation for their marriage and family. Practical Wisdom: Encouragement for anyone struggling in their marriage to seek God individually and together. Key Quotes: “God can use even our sinful nature to bring us back to Him.” — Mallory Steffen “We were in the pit, but God lifted us out and set our feet on the rock.” — Mallory Steffen     Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories like Mallory’s. Until next week, friends! 💛

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of loved ones. Please use discretion when listening. In this deeply moving episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Rachel Maxwell to explore the evolution of faith, the power of surrender, and the beauty of finding God in the midst of doubt and loss. Rachel shares her powerful testimony of walking away from faith, wrestling with questions about suffering and loss, and ultimately experiencing a transformational encounter that brought her back to Christ. Rachel’s story is one of questioning, seeking, and ultimately surrendering to God’s greater plan. She opens up about how church hurt and personal struggles created distance in her relationship with God, but how He pursued her relentlessly, even when she wasn’t looking. Her testimony is a reminder that God meets us where we are and that faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting Him in the process. What We Cover: Rachel’s journey from being raised in church to struggling with doubt and disbelief. How personal loss and unanswered questions challenged her faith. The pivotal moment when God answered her deepest questions and transformed her heart. The importance of surrender and how it changed her relationship with God. How Rachel and her husband navigated faith shifts together and became active in their church community. The impact of faith on their children and the power of discipleship. Encouragement for those struggling with doubt or feeling distant from God. Key Quotes: “God already knows what you're feeling. He already knows what you're going through. So why are you hiding?” “He left the 99 to find the one. I was the one.” “People think they have to clean themselves up before coming to God. No—God meets you where you are and walks with you through the rest.” Connect with Rachel: While Rachel doesn’t have a public platform to share, she encourages listeners to find a supportive faith community and surround themselves with people who will walk with them through their journey.     Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories like Rachel’s. Until next week, friends! 💛

⚠ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions on the loss of a loved one. Please use discretion while listening. In this heartfelt episode of Echos of Impact, Briana and Cherise sit down with Jessica Honnell McLennan, a wife, mother, and woman of deep faith who has walked through unimaginable grief and discovered hope and purpose on the other side. Jessica shares her powerful story of love, loss, and redemption. After losing her first husband, Wes Honnell, in a tragic accident, she was left to navigate life as a young widow and mother of three. Through her journey of grief, she has seen God’s faithfulness, found healing in unexpected places, and even opened her heart to love again. Now married to John McLennan, Jessica offers wisdom and encouragement for those walking through their own seasons of sorrow. What We Cover: ✨ Jessica’s journey through profound loss and how faith sustained her ✨ The challenges of grieving while raising young children ✨ How God provided community and support during her darkest moments ✨ Wrestling with forgiveness and finding peace after tragedy ✨ The story of how she met her now-husband, John McLennan, and what it looks like to honor her past while embracing the future ✨ Practical advice for supporting loved ones through grief Key Quotes: 💬 “You can either be a victim of your circumstances, or you can rise above them.” 💬 “Grief doesn’t shrink our capacity for love—God is a multiplier.” 💬 “Forgiveness and wisdom can go hand in hand.” Connect with Jessica Honnell McLennan: 📲 Instagram: @MrsHonnell   Join the Conversation: How has God used everyday moments, like tending a garden, to speak to you? Share your thoughts with us in the Echos of Impact Facebook community! Follow us on Instagram: Echos of Impact Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community Take the Next Step: Ready to dig deeper into your purpose? Join The Woman’s Success Code! Learn more here. Want to work on personal growth? Schedule a complimentary Life Audit with Briana today: Book here. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing inspiring stories like Callie’s. Until next week, friends! 💛       Join the Conversation: How are you finding God’s glory in your daily life? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in our Facebook group!: Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram | Life Coaching Instagram Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community     Take the Next Step: Interested in joining The Woman’s Success Code? Discover how you can grow in faith, purpose, and community. Learn more here! Ready for a fresh start?  Schedule your complimentary Life Audit with Briana today. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and leave a review. Your support helps us continue to share inspiring stories like Jessica’s. Until next week, friends! 💛