It's Too Wonderful

This is PART TWO of my conversation with Sav!! We dive more intentionally into the concept of embodiment as a woman, specifically talking about themes of purity, femininity, and beauty. We reference prominent women in church history that help inform the way we see our bodies, and the way they are perceived by culture as well as our own personal experiences.

Do you ever wonder how the terms "spirit" and "flesh" relate to our "physical" bodies and "spiritual" souls? Is there a correlation, if at all? Savannah is studying to get her Masters in Divinity at Lipscomb University, and passionately believes in understanding the way our physical bodies impact and effect our faith. In this episode, we talk about the danger of "disembodied" faith, one that purely exists in our rooms and in our heads, arguably preventing a fully transformed life. For all you church history nerds, we get into that quite a bit as well, discussing what we can learn from the church leaders before us. This is PART ONE of our discussion, with part two to come out next week!

We hear the language all the time: that "singleness is a gift" or to enjoy the "season of singleness" while you have it. There are too many mixed messages in American Christian culture surrounding dating and marriage, and it can seem really confusing to parse through the noise to find what is true.In this episode, Joy Beth shares how as a 40 year old woman, she continues to nurture a deep desire and calling for marriage amidst her experience growing up in the south navigating cultural expectations. This episode was deeply inspiring and encouraging for me as a single person who both hopes for marriage and also finds deep joy in singleness!

This is PART TWO of my conversation with Taja, where we dive more deeply into how her mixed race upbringing has uniquely shaped the way she views herself and our culture. There is so much beauty in the diversity of God's creation, and we talk about the importance in recognizing this as we seek to love and understand each other. We chat about empathy and sympathy, how we can't always understand each other's experiences, and how the Spirit and following Jesus allows us to uniquely see each other despite our differences.

As people who follow Jesus, we know our command is to love God and others. However, sometimes we can fall into not loving others, but pleasing them. In this pilot episode of a new mini IDENTITY series, I bring on one of my longest friends to talk about how the Lord revealed her misplaced identity through a period of forced isolation. 

In this continued conversation from last week's "Wilderness: Of People," Marina and I discuss ways the feeling of home and physical spaces intersect, and ways they don't. Last year we recorded and episode about this (my most listened to episode of 2024!!) and now, Marina has some adjustments to make to these thoughts of heaven and home, given her recent experience living in NYC.

"Wilderness" can be a popular word in Christian culture to describe a lonely or hard time, but what does it actually mean, and what are its biblical roots? In this short series I dive into the complexities of wilderness and how we experience it today, though we might not be physically traversing the desert. My friend Marina recently moved to New York City, where she has been re-learning how to follow Jesus when community suddenly changes. We talk about how lonely it can feel when the people around you inevitably shift and change, how that is both a beautiful and stretching part of life, and the intimacy with Jesus found in that wilderness, an isolation from people.

Do you feel unsure of what your next step might look like? Is it hard to muster up trust that Jesus is actually leading you on the "right" path? In the final episode of this series, I read a visual narrative about following Jesus in the wilderness. This story holds a lot of meaning in my own life, and is a gift to have written and be able share with you all. My prayer is that helps you understand and know Jesus as your rabbi, and trust that he is leading you along paths of righteousness, for His name's sake.

This year the act of giving feels weighty. If you feel unsure how to balance consumerism and expectation with gift-giving this season, join me in questioning how we can live this out well as believers. In this episode I explore the dynamics of giving and receiving in the context of the kingdom. I talk about why I give, where I believe the act of giving comes from, and how we can mimic the way the Father gives.

This year I wasn't able to go home for Thanksgiving, and it got me thinking about the way we all long for our heavenly home. My tangible loneliness sparked vision for the spiritual reality we are living in until we are reunited with Jesus in heaven. In this episode, I talk about how feeling homesick for our earthly and/or spiritual families draws us closer to the heart of Jesus.

In the first episode of my four-part advent series, I share the mystery of what it is to remember, and why it is so important in our lives as disciples of Jesus. Reflecting on how we sit at the table as the season transitions from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I wonder how communing and storytelling can interweave to create a holy act of remembering.

Emma Teixeira began her platform "Heaven One Day" in high school out of a desire to share her faith journey with others. Now she has a podcast and works with RUF as an intern discipling college students. We talk about how hard it is to deal with the tension of "platforms" in the name of Glorifying God, the reality of not always seeing fruit in discipleship, and seeing God's presence manifest in different ways across denominations.

AC has served as a worship leader in many cities across the U.S. and abroad for nearly 10 years, but in this episode, we talk about if worship is truly something one can "lead." We also talk about what it means to intercede, and the way worship and prayer intertwine to soften spirits and transform minds. Credits: Music Composition - Judson Gay Intro/Outro Audio Mixing - Nate Spencer

Do you struggle with people pleasing and letting people in to how you're really feeling? In this episode, Avery shares her experience in sharing authentic joy with others, being honest with how romantic books and movies were affecting her ability to love well, and coming face to face with the reality of sanctification. Avery is currently the team leader of Delight Ministries on Belmont University's campus in Nashville, TN.

Ashlynn is studying to get her PhD in Biology at Vanderbilt University. She has loved science since elementary school, but was weighed down for most of her life thinking she couldn't fully pursue science and her faith. On today's episode, Ashlynn shares her journey in discovering how her faith and love for science actually don't oppose each other at all. This reality of intertwining faith into a passion that can seem antithetical to following Jesus is difficult. Ashlynn's vulnerability is encouraging to anyone wrestling through how to follow their passion and Jesus. Credits: Theme Music - Judson Gay Mixing - Nate Spencer

When we know who Jesus is but don't know His heart, He remains an abstract concept, a far away idea that can't actually change someone's life. That's what the Holy Spirit does. A gift Jesus gave us when He left; a counselor who searches the mind of God that we can have inside of us. In this episode, my friend Jacob explains how his life changed when Jesus transformed from someone he knew about to someone he knew more intimately than anyone else. In our conversation, we see who the Holy Spirit is, and what it looks like to know His presence in every moment. Whether this is something you've never heard, a reminder of what you've forgotten, or simply a testament to the power of unity, I encourage you to listen. Credits: Theme Music - Judson Gay Theme Music Mixing - Nate Spencer

Ever feel scared by the fact that you could do anything you wanted to? That this privilege could actually be a burden, because of how many different paths you could see for your life? In this episode, my mentor and dear friend Lexie shares how her life looks much different than she imagined, and the beautiful ways she finds peace and freedom in that. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she also shares some helpful tips if you’re going through an intense season of change & formation in identity.

As an interior architect, the way Marina perceives her physical surroundings helps me see the world in a fascinating light. In this episode we talk about the dichotomy of calling in how it is received and pursued. Marina shares what it was like growing up on a boarding school campus, how feeling isolated from a faith community has shaped the way she sees community and home now. Home is not one place but anywhere we experience the echo of eternal communion. If you're wrestling with where home and community is for you right now, I hope this episode is a great encouragement to you! Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod Music by Judson Gay

Today marks the day of one whole year of It's Too Wonderful... and we are celebrating with the guest of the very first episode, LJ! We talk about how the act of celebration changes as we grow older, and why we celebrate people even when it's hard to show up. LJ asks me about how Psalm 139 has been changing my life this year, and we have a cool chat about what it looks like to dwell in the presence of God in every moment of every day. Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod Music by Judson Gay

You get to meet the creative behind the new podcast cover art and rebrand!! The way Mia creates to further illuminate creation is inspiring to say the least! We chat about all the life things, ranging from honoring the Lord in moving our bodies to the hardest part of giving up control as a creator. You're going to want to stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Mia read her short story inspired by Psalm 127! Literal chills :') Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod !! Music by Judson Gay

Ever made a decision and immediately second guess yourself? Or feel like God might want you to do something that seems too hard or too crazy? In this episode, we chat about the reality of making significant decisions in your life, and what it even means when Christians talk about finding their "calling." Val exudes a joy and peace not of this world! Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

This whole show is based around the idea that knowing ourselves fully is too wonderful to understand, BUT we can’t forget the importance of knowing ourselves in part. Lauren gracefully shares how she has learned to know herself and others in the past four years. This understanding has led to places of scary vulnerability, risk, and trust in God-given identity. We talk about the difference between transparency and vulnerability, receiving your identity from people versus God, and how loving people also means letting them love you.  Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

We're back!! After a bit of a break, I wanted to take a moment to catch up with you all and fill you in on how the Lord is leading me in this season of life. I talk about how post-grad feels, getting rid of my iPhone for a month, and read a story I wrote that is an illustration of how it feels like for me to follow Jesus right now. Cannot wait for everything in store for It's Too Wonderful this year, and as always am so thankful for each one of you apart of this community. ~ Keep up with me & join the community @itstoowonderfulpod on Instagram! Music by Judson Gay

Julia is overjoyed to share how the Lord has completely changed her life! Her story tells of how family and friends have been pursuing her for years, and the moment when her eyes were opened to how God loves her. It was a beautiful reminder for me of how we can love people! We also talk about what it means as a creative person to work from a new identity and the freedom that comes from not needing to become the best.

What does it look like to live like Jesus after feelings fade from a “spiritual high?” When life is mundane, even depressing… how does God continue to work? After serving with YWAM in Hawaii and Mexico and Young Life as a mountain guide in Canada, Sophie knows what it’s like coming from a “mountaintop” to the sometimes painful reality of normal life. In this episode, she shares the many forms faith has taken in her life, and what she has learned from resting in the consistency of our God.  Bible Verses Referenced: Mark 4:1-9 ESV Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !

My dad visited me in Nashville this past weekend, and I thought it was only fitting to have him on the podcast! We talk about what it was like for me to grow up as a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult), his perspective on his own deafness, and how that has shaped us both in beautiful ways. From starting his own graphic design company to competitive skimboarding and mountain biking, my dad is one of the coolest guys I know. What amazes me the most is his contentment in how the Lord has made him, and I think we can all have a little more of that! Give the pod a follow on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

God is scheming all the time, from little glimpses of love in the day to big picture dreams and retrospect of answered prayer and kept promises! Abby's life motto is "God Schemes," and in this episode she speaks to how that has shaped the way she views life. As a designer and small business owner, Abby's drive to bring beauty into the world is contagious. She talks about how she views vision, and what listening to and obeying the will of God looks like in her own life. Listen to this episode to feel inspired, a child-like faith renewed, and fresh vision on your life! Follow the pod on insta - @itstoowonderfulpod Abby's instagram - @abbyconnolly_

Do you feel empty? Tired? Like you’re trying so hard but have nothing to give? Striving can feel like that, and takes many shapes and forms in life. We can strive in school, work, even in our relationships… and in doing so, forget grace. In this episode Maelyn and I talk about how pride and performance-based worth can masquerade as responsibility and hard work, but the Lord calls us to live operating under a radical grace that ceases our striving. References: Book: When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Myth of Self-Improvement with the Good News of Life-Transforming Grace by Ruth Chou Simons Matthew 7: 7-11 Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

Brooke shares how her struggles with speaking and songwriting have kept her trapped in cycles of shame, and what God has done to free her and equip her with the boldness to share her story. We have a real chat about anxiety, the way our bodies process trauma slower than our minds, and what it looks like to be patient with God's timing. follow the podcast on Instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod

Calah Mikal is a singer/songwriter and a mental health therapist, and has just released one of my favorite albums, “As You Come Back Home.” In this episode, we chat about the kind of faith it takes to pray scary prayers, her songwriting process in conjunction with this faith, and the multidimensional love story that is woven into this album. Calah describes it as honest resilience and hopeful nostalgia, and hopes the listener feels like they are coming home when they listen to her music. This conversation was a beautiful glimpse of that intention for me, and I am hopeful for all who listen to feel the same.

People, especially people in Christian circles, tend to talk about life in terms of seasons. Seasons are things that change, and although we all collectively know that, it seems that no matter how much we try to prepare change always throws us off balance! In the spirit of the kickoff to Season 2 we're sitting in the grey of all this. Even though you've likely heard all the metaphors, I hope that this podcast feels like a breath of fresh air in a time where you might feel all over the place! Be encouraged that our God does not change. Come hang for 37 minutes while I talk about what change has looked like for me and what I've been pondering about how it impacts my relationship with the Lord, as well as my plans for Season 2 of It's Too Wonderful! Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod

If I'm being honest, I've felt a lot of shame and fear surrounding the Great Commission. What does it look like to tell people about Jesus with our words? And how do we do it? In this episode, Ashley shares her experience evangelizing in the streets of Europe, how the Holy Spirit equipped her and can equip you too to tell people about the good news of Jesus! We talk about the fear and awkwardness that can come with evangelizing and how to submit to the Lord in our uncomfort. Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !!

Work is idolized in America, and in this episode, Judson and I talk about how being Christian changes what work looks like in our lives. We talk about the meaning we can derive from work, and also what it feels like to have no idea what your future holds, or what you even want it to hold. Sitting in the unknown can be a beautiful thing, and sometimes our indecisiveness can teach us about His control & sovereignty. We also talk about the definitions of glory, love, and goodness, and what the phrase “too good to be true” really means. 

It's the collab you've been waiting for!!! Emma is the host of the Heaven One Day podcast, and in this episode we talk about sharing your faith online, that God is not a feeling, and what it looks like to step out in faith even in fear. Go listen to the episode Emma & I recorded on her podcast, thehodpod! I share a vulnerable part of my story that I hope can help bring healing & grace into the life of whoever listens. It's Too Wonderful Instagram - @itstoowonderfulpod Heaven One Day Instagram - @heavenonedayy

Do you ever feel like you struggle to talk about your faith even among believers? Jordan shares her story of how God worked a clear miracle in her life, and how she uses that part of her story to testify His goodness. We talk about what that looks like among people who don't know Jesus, and among people that do! We also talk about how scary it can be to pray for really tangible and specific things and trusting in His provision. References in this episode: - 1 Samuel 8:6-9 - Hebrews 2:10-12 - 1 John 4:7-21 - 1 John 3:18 - Matthew 6:24-25

Spiritual disciplines, simplicity, slowing down the pace of your life... all these things are part of learning to walk more in the way of Jesus, but can seem really overwhelming. Grace Catherine talks about how we can give ourselves more grace in all of it, and what it looks like to truly have soul rest in knowing that we were created and called good. References in this episode: - Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast w/ John Mark Comer & Jefferson Bethke

Jackson DeRose is only 21 but has been working in the church for almost 10 years! He is currently interning as a youth pastor at his local church in Nashville, and brings the WORD on this podcast about everything from goofing with kids at VBS to battling really hard lies about his identity. This episode is long, but you’re going to want to listen to the whole thing, trust me! Jackson graciously reveals parts of his story to speak love and truth into the life of whoever’s listening. We talk about how we live and believe in lies about ourselves even though we "know" the truth, and what it looks like to get out of that headspace. We also talk about some of the toxic cycles in the American church today, and what we can do as believers to not participate in or enable that cycle, but to be apart of the church in the way Jesus designed. Bible verses referenced in this episode: - Matthew 10:34-36 - John 16:12 - John 8:47 - John 8:31-32 Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

I thought it was time you got to know the girl asking all the questions on a more personal level! In this episode, the host becomes the guest and I answer YOUR questions (questions were submitted on the podcast Instagram - go give it a follow for all the bts content). Listen in to hear how I have come to know and walk with Jesus. I dive deeper into why the podcast is called "It's Too Wonderful," and give you a glimpse into what my dreams are for this show one day! Podcast Instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod

Greta's faith was radically transformed when she was met with a peace that surpassed her own understanding (Phillipians 4:7). As a pre-med student at the University of Minnesota, Greta shares how her first personal encounter with Jesus changed the way she views her schoolwork and goes about her life. We talk about how God moves even in areas we don't explicitly ask Him to, and what it looks like to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

Having just graduated from Belmont University, Leah explains how seemingly scary things like mundane routines and not knowing where you're going to live in two months can be beautiful ways to lean into God's faithfulness. She talks about the biggest takeaways she has from her college experience, what she might have done differently and how God worked everything out for good in ways she never thought possible. Leah fills a unique roll in my life as a friend, mentor, and partner with me in my major and leadership roles at school. She has transformed my college experience and is a source of wisdom and encouragement to me, and I hope this episode leaves you with some of that too. Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !

Sadie is passionate about navigating food and exercise in a way that honors God and not our flesh, and uses her studies to inform that. As a Psychology major and Strength and Conditioning minor at Belmont University, what she is studying plays an important role in how she lives and sees the world. Sadie is an amazing speaker and is bold about sharing her struggles with an eating disorder in order to help others live in freedom. That being said, I would like to give a trigger warning because we talk about eating disorders and disordered eating in this episode. This is a heavy topic, but my hope is that this episode feels like a safe space and leaves you feeling not alone! References in this episode: - Romans 12:2 - Colossians 1:22 - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - 1 Corinthians 10:31 Resources: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support Breaking Free from Body Shame by Jess Connolly - This book has been very impactful in both my life and Sadie's, we would both strongly recommend this for a Christian perspective on struggles with body image. Instagram: @breakingfreefrombodyshame Sadie's instagram: @sadiekathryns Podcast instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod

Studying abroad is an incredible experience - but one of the hardest parts about it can be leaving the people you love behind. After studying abroad for a semester in Grantham, England, Sammy has some great encouragement for what it looks like to trust God with your friendships. He goes beyond the study abroad experience and speaks to the difficulties of finding godly community in general, especially as a guy in college. In this episode, Sammy and I talk about diversity in worship and faith practices, what it means to truly love a friend, and the beauty of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. References in this episode: - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

Abby and I went to Israel together almost a year ago now! We didn't know each other before the trip, but became so close and have incredible shared experiences in the land where Jesus walked and taught over 2000 years ago. In this episode we talk about how and why we both decided to get baptized, the importance of releasing expectations of how God will move, and what our time there taught us about how to live in relationship with Jesus. References in this episode: - Ephesians 6:10-17 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-12 - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

Dr. Steve Guthrie has been a professor of Theology at Belmont for 18 years and helped start the Religion and the Arts major there. Some of his most popular courses are Christian Doctrine and Faith and Beauty, but I had the privilege of taking his very first “What’s Your Why?: Creative Visionary” class last year. Steve generously shares poignant pieces of wisdom that are normally reserved for the classroom about finding your purpose in work and how creativity and beauty are essential to the faith. At the end of the episode, Steve even shares a story he’s never told anyone before, of his crisis of faith at a University of Michigan football game.  References in this episode: - Genesis 2-3 - "Why Work?" by Dorothy Sayers - Psalm 139 Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

For the very first episode of this podcast, it only felt right to have a guest on that was an integral part in helping this show get off the ground! LJ is one of my best friends and roommate, but even if she wasn't I would have her on the show anyways because of the depth of her knowledge and love for God. She has been walking with Jesus for over 10 years, and in this episode she opens up on the struggle of freshman year in college and how God has been transforming her heart through that. We also talk about how tough health issues in the family can be when grappling with the goodness of God, and the truth of His unending love in the face of a loud inner critic. References in this episode: - 1 Chronicles 13:1-14 (Link to sermon from Church of the City New York) - Isaiah 43 - Psalm 51 - Hebrews 12 - 1 Peter 5: 6-9 - Psalm 139! Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

Hi!! I'm Audrey and I'm so happy you're here. Give this a listen to hear why I titled my show "It's Too Wonderful" and what this podcast is all about. My first episode will be out on Wednesday, and in the meantime you can follow @itstoowonderfulpod on Instagram!