The Speakeasy

• Ending Well: The Addiction to Productivity | Episode 385

  Welcome back to week three of our Ending Well series — a journey to close out 2025 by reclaiming what's been hard, remembering what God has done, and letting Him renew our perspective before the year ends. In this episode, we're talking about something that hits close to home for so many of us — the addiction to productivity. This one is for the hustlers, the people-pleasers, and the high achievers who have built their worth around being useful, helpful, or constantly "doing." You're in good company, friend. Blake shares honestly about how God revealed her own dependence on productivity — how the need to "produce" had quietly become an idol — and how He's been peeling back layers of identity, performance, and striving to reveal something better: rest, surrender, and abiding. This conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that: Rest isn't laziness — it's obedience. You are loved apart from what you produce. Productivity can serve you, but it was never meant to define you. God doesn't need your performance — He wants your presence. Through scripture, reflection, and a few hard-won lessons from this past year, Blake unpacks what it means to live from overflow rather than output. From redefining success in motherhood and work to learning that obedience sometimes looks like slowing down, this episode will meet you right in the tension between doing and being. "We were never meant to live as output machines. We were created to work from rest, not for it." If you've been running on empty, struggling to stop striving, or wondering why slowing down feels unsafe, this episode will help you rediscover the peace that comes when you let God set the pace. This episode is brought to you by: PreBorn — Every $28 you give sponsors an ultrasound for a woman considering abortion. When she hears her baby's heartbeat, everything changes. This year alone, over 38,000 babies have been rescued through PreBorn's work, and mothers receive the support they need through counseling, financial aid, and care for up to two years after birth. Be the first voice of hope. Sponsor an ultrasound today at PreBorn.com/Speakeasy Subscribe to The Speakeasy YouTube Channel for more faith-filled conversations that inspire reflection, rest, and renewal:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqJ8I4hmCH-w3Cw4XzFZoQ

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• The Holy Work of Getting Healthy | Amy Bernhard | Episode 384

  Welcome back to The Speakeasy Podcast! In this episode, I'm joined by one of my closest friends—and one of my favorite people to learn from—Amy Bernhardt. I call her my "continuing education friend" because she's always learning, growing, and sharing wisdom that hits deep. Amy recently shared something online that stopped me in my tracks: "What if your weight loss journey isn't about losing weight at all, but about God teaching you about yourself and preparing you for what's next?" That idea launched one of the most honest and powerful conversations we've had—about what happens when we stop chasing perfection and start letting God use our health journey to heal our hearts, renew our minds, and strengthen our spirits. Amy shares her story of going from extreme fitness culture and burnout to walking in balance, fasting, and freedom. She opens up about breaking cycles of self-sabotage, learning discipline through small daily choices, and discovering that getting healthy can be one of the holiest things you ever do. We also talk about: The false identities that keep us stuck in shame and failure How fasting revealed spiritual strongholds, not just physical habits The connection between physical healing, emotional renewal, and obedience What it means to start before you "feel ready" and trust God with the process This conversation is both real and redemptive, reminding us that God cares about every part of us—body, mind, and spirit—and He's in the details of your healing journey. This episode is brought to you by: PreBorn — Every $28 you give sponsors an ultrasound for a woman considering abortion. When she hears her baby's heartbeat, everything changes. You can be the voice of hope that helps save a life and support a mother in need. 💛 Give today at PreBorn.com/Speakeasy CrowdHealth — It's open enrollment season, and if health insurance makes you want to scream into a pillow, you're not alone. CrowdHealth is the better way—no insurance, no hidden fees, just a community that helps cover medical costs together. Pay a low monthly fee, get transparent pricing, and take your power back. Get started for just $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com Subscribe to The Speakeasy YouTube Channel for more faith-filled conversations that blend real life, healing, and hope: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqJ8I4hmCH-w3Cw4XzFZoQ

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• Ending Well: Going a Different Way | Episode 383

  In this episode, we continue our Ending Well series by diving into what it really means to go a different way—to stop running on self-reliance, striving, and noise, and instead return to the quiet confidence of walking with God. This has been one of the hardest years of my life, but also one of the most redemptive. Through heartbreak, pruning, and wilderness seasons, God has been dismantling old patterns and showing me that His way—the quiet, trusting, restful way—isn't weakness. It's strength. God led me to Isaiah 30:15: "In returning and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." It's a verse that has completely reframed my year and the way I view obedience. In this conversation, we unpack what those four words—returning, rest, quiet, and trust—look like in real life. From letting go of the need to hustle, to learning to rest when it feels unsafe, to finding courage in stillness, this is a roadmap for ending the year not just reflective—but renewed. If you've been wandering, striving, fighting, or doubting, this episode will remind you that God's invitation is simple: Come home. Rest. Be still. Trust Me. Because the way you've always done things isn't the way God is asking you to end this year. He's calling you to go a different way. This episode is brought to you by: PreBorn — A ministry rescuing babies and supporting mothers in crisis. Every $28 you give sponsors an ultrasound for a woman considering abortion—and when she hears her baby's heartbeat, everything changes. Be a voice of hope. Sponsor an ultrasound today at PreBorn.com/Speakeasy CrowdHealth — Healthcare shouldn't be confusing or crushing. CrowdHealth is a community-based alternative to insurance that helps you take back control. Pay a simple monthly fee, get your bills negotiated, and join others sharing costs when life happens. Get started for just $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEZ at joincrowdhealth.com Subscribe to The Speakeasy YouTube Channel for more faith-filled conversations about surrender, strength, and walking with God: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqJ8I4hmCH-w3Cw4XzFZoQ

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• Dismantling the Lies That Keep You Buried | Gary Thomas | Episode 382

  In this episode, I sit down for the third time with one of my all-time favorite authors, Gary Thomas, whose books have radically shaped my faith and perspective on life, relationships, and spiritual growth. From When to Walk Away to Sacred Marriage and Sacred Pathways, Gary's writing has helped countless believers understand what it means to live a life rooted in truth and grace. His newest book, The Life You Were Reborn to Live, takes that even deeper—calling out the spiritual lies that keep us buried beneath the surface of God's best. These lies are subtle, familiar, and often sound like wisdom—but they quietly rob us of peace, purpose, and abundance. In this conversation, Gary and I unpack three of the most powerful lies from his book that hit me straight in the heart (and probably will for you, too). We talk about: Dismantling Restlessness — learning to live in peace, not panic. Dismantling the Comfort Lie — seeing affliction as God's loving pruning, not punishment. Dismantling Complacent Ignorance — rekindling a hunger for wisdom that transforms how we think and live. Gary helps us see how many of these lies have even slipped into church culture—convincing us to chase comfort, control, or comparison instead of the freedom and renewal Christ offers. This episode will help you identify where the enemy has kept you "underground" and remind you that you were reborn to live in the light. It's the perfect conversation to help us end the year well—tearing down what's false and walking boldly into the truth. This episode is brought to you by: PreBorn — A ministry rescuing babies and supporting mothers in crisis. Every $28 you give sponsors an ultrasound for a woman considering abortion—and when she hears her baby's heartbeat, everything changes. Be a voice of hope. Sponsor an ultrasound today at PreBorn.com/Speakeasy CrowdHealth — Take your power back from broken health insurance. For a simple monthly fee, CrowdHealth connects you to a community that shares medical costs while negotiating lower bills on your behalf. With CrowdHealth, you can finally get quality care at a fair price—no surprises, no insurance middleman. Get started for just $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEZ at joincrowdhealth.com Subscribe to The Speakeasy YouTube Channel for more faith-filled conversations that challenge, encourage, and inspire: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqJ8I4hmCH-w3Cw4XzFZoQ

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• Ending Well: Hearing from the Lord | Episode 381

  In this special bonus episode, we close out the year by slowing down and reflecting on what it means to end well — not by hustling harder, but by listening closely to the voice of God. After a year marked by pruning, change, and growth, [Host] shares how the Lord has used silence, stillness, and surrender to shape her faith and restore her peace. This heartfelt conversation is an honest look at what it's like to walk through a season of refining — where God asks you to lay things down, quiet the noise, and trust His timing. From learning to discern His voice through Scripture and the Holy Spirit's promptings, to recognizing His confirmation in everyday moments, this episode will help you reclaim ground that's been lost and realign your heart with His for the year ahead. If you've ever wrestled with the question "How do I know it's God's voice?" or felt weary from a year that didn't go as planned, this episode will meet you right where you are. Together, we'll end the year well — remembering His faithfulness, celebrating His pruning, and preparing to hear Him more clearly in the new year. This episode is brought to you by PreBorn, a ministry rescuing babies and supporting mothers in crisis. Every $28 you give sponsors an ultrasound for a woman considering abortion — and in that sacred moment when she hears her baby's heartbeat, everything changes. 💛 Be the first voice of hope she hears. Sponsor an ultrasound today at PreBorn.com/Speakeasy Subscribe to The Speakeasy YouTube Channel for more faith-filled conversations that inspire reflection and renewal: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqJ8I4hmCH-w3Cw4XzFZoQ

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