The Speakeasy

In this powerful and practical conversation, I sat down with Addison Bevere to unpack one of the most common struggles in the Christian life: prayer.
If you've ever felt like you're "bad at prayer," distracted, or unsure what to say, this episode meets you right there and gently reframes everything.
You're Not the Only One Struggling
Here's a surprising truth:
Nearly 98% of Christians feel like they're bad at prayer
Many compare themselves to others and feel inadequate
The enemy uses that insecurity to isolate and discourage
Addison shares that even growing up in a spiritually strong family, he felt like he didn't measure up. His journey into understanding prayer began from a place of deficiency, not mastery.
Prayer Isn't Performance, It's Participation
One of the biggest mindset shifts:
Prayer is not a performance. It's not about saying the right words. It's not about praying long enough.
Instead, prayer is:
A relationship
A posture of surrender
A way of participating in what God is already doing
"Prayer is not a religious exercise. It's how we participate in what is most real."
This reframing alone can free you from pressure and invite you into something much deeper.
The Real Problem: Self-Reliance
Many of us approach prayer like this:
"God, tell me what to do so I can go do it."
But that mindset removes relationship.
Instead of walking with God, we try to:
Get answers
Stay in control
Avoid making mistakes
This leads to:
Anxiety
Analysis paralysis
Fear of doing the "wrong" thing
But God's design is different.
Faith Looks Like Movement
A powerful biblical principle:
"We will obey, and we will hear." (Exodus 24:7)
In other words:
You don't always get clarity first
You take a step in faith
Then God guides you along the way
This removes the pressure of perfection and invites trust.
God Is Not Waiting to Condemn You
A core belief that needs to change:
God is not looking for a reason to punish you. He is more invested in your life than you are.
This matters because so many people:
Avoid prayer out of shame
Feel like they've already failed
Believe God is distant or disappointed
But Scripture tells a different story.
"There is now no condemnation…" (Romans 8:1)
Prayer is not where you're judged, it's where you're restored.
Why Mornings Matter So Much
One of the most practical takeaways is about how you start your day.
Your brain is most receptive:
Right when you wake up
Before distractions take over
But most people:
Grab their phone within minutes
Flood their mind with noise, stress, and comparison
This shapes your entire day.
Instead, consider:
Staying off your phone for at least 30–60 minutes
Sitting quietly with God
Letting your mind and spirit settle
This creates space to:
Hear more clearly
Receive rather than react
Start from peace instead of pressure
The Power of Stillness
You don't need a perfect routine.
Sometimes prayer looks like:
Sitting quietly
Lying still
Letting thoughts surface
Simply being aware of God's presence
Even small moments of stillness can:
Bring clarity
Reveal truth
Calm your mind
A Simple Way to Start Praying
If you don't know what to say, start here:
1. The Lord's Prayer (Slowly)
Take it line by line:
Reflect on each phrase
Let it guide your thoughts
Don't rush it
2. A Simple Prayer: "I Am Here"
This three-word prayer is powerful:
I am, I am present
Here, I'm not in the past or future
With God, I acknowledge His presence
It centers you in:
The moment
The relationship
The surrender
Repentance Is a Gift
Repentance isn't about shame, it's about freedom.
It means:
Turning away from self-reliance
Returning to God
Receiving grace again
It's not a one-time event, it's a daily invitation.
Prayer Changes How You Live
As you grow in prayer, you'll notice:
More clarity
Less anxiety
Greater awareness of God
Increased sensitivity to others
You begin to:
Respond instead of react
Listen instead of strive
Walk with God instead of chasing answers
Final Takeaway
You don't need to:
Be perfect
Say the right words
Have it all figured out
You just need to:
Slow down
Show up
Stay present
Prayer isn't about doing more. It's about being with God.
And that changes everything.
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In this episode, Brooke and I dive into a struggle so many Christian women share: feeling disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed in their lives, and genuinely unsure why their health is suffering.
What often shows up:
Constant stress and urgency
Snapping at loved ones
Poor health or confusing symptoms
Feeling unable to slow down
The root issue isn't just physical, it's a whole-person misalignment.
Why "Healthy" Efforts Aren't Working
So many women are trying:
Diet changes
Supplements
Exercise plans
But still feel stuck.
The missing piece? The "why" behind the dysfunction.
Your body responds to:
Chronic stress
Emotional wounds
Spiritual disconnection
Without addressing those, surface-level fixes just won't last.
Living in Survival Mode
A key theme we talk about is the nervous system.
So many women are stuck in fight-or-flight, which looks like:
Everything feeling urgent
Inability to rest
Constant distraction
Burnout and irritability
Your body was designed to handle stress briefly, not live in it daily. When it does, both physical and emotional health begin to decline.
Emotions Are Signals
Instead of suppressing emotions, Brooke reframes them as signals:
Anger → often rooted in fear
Anxiety → often tied to overload
Irritation → unmet needs
Learning to name emotions helps calm your body and understand what's really happening.
Biblically, emotions aren't sinful, they're human. Even Jesus experienced deep grief and distress. The goal isn't to avoid emotion, but to remain obedient within it.
Connection Before Correction
This applies to both parenting and personal growth.
Instead of immediately fixing behavior:
Pause
Attune
Understand
When you feel seen (and help others feel seen), real change becomes possible.
Why You Feel Overwhelmed
The issue often isn't effort, it's capacity.
Your nervous system determines how much you can handle. If it's overwhelmed, adding more habits only makes things worse.
Healing expands your capacity over time so you can handle life differently, even if your responsibilities don't change.
The Work That Changes You
Real transformation requires deeper work:
Processing emotions
Facing past wounds
Letting go of control
Surrendering to God
It's not easy, but it leads to lasting peace and clarity.
Getting Back Into Alignment
So many women are living out of order:
Work and responsibilities first
God and self last
True alignment looks like:
God
Family
Self-care
Everything else
When God is first, everything else begins to fall into place.
Self-Care Isn't Selfish
Neglecting yourself leads to burnout and disconnection.
Taking care of yourself allows you to:
Show up fully for others
Respond instead of react
Live with more peace and joy
You weren't designed to run on empty.
Final Takeaway
Your body, mind, and spirit are connected.
Healing starts when you:
Slow down
Pay attention
Process what's beneath the surface
Reorder your life around God
It's not about doing more. It's about living aligned.
Connect with Brooke:
Join the Faithfully Nourished Community: CLICK HERE
Book a FREE 30 Minute Consultation (first 30 people!): CLICK HERE
Follow Brooke on IG @brookerozzie
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Podcast: Faithfully Nourished
Sponsor: CrowdHealth
CrowdHealth is an alternative to traditional health insurance.
Members get:
Lower-cost prescriptions and labs
Access to vetted doctors
A care team to help manage bills
For major needs:
You pay the first $500
The community helps cover the rest
Get started for $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.

In this solo episode, I'm answering two of the most common questions I get: where to start in the Bible and how to journal in a way that actually helps you grow.
I'm not giving you a rigid formula here. Just some simple, practical rhythms that have helped me stay grounded in my relationship with God.
Where to Start in the Bible
Whether the Bible feels overwhelming or overly familiar, my recommendation is the same:
Start with the book of John and the Psalms.
The Psalms are raw, emotional, and deeply human. They show you how to bring real feelings, fear, doubt, anger, grief, all of it, before God, while consistently returning to truth. They're a model for processing life honestly while anchoring yourself in who God is.
John, on the other hand, focuses on who Jesus is. While the other Gospels emphasize events, John emphasizes identity. It offers a clearer, more relational picture of Christ and helps you connect personally with Him.
Together, these two books give you both emotional honesty and theological clarity.
A Better Way to Read the Bible
I'm a big believer in slowing down rather than rushing through Scripture.
Reading the Bible in a year can be valuable, sure, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out. Instead, I recommend staying in smaller sections longer and actually letting them shape your thinking and behavior.
A helpful next step after John and Psalms is the book of Colossians. It offers practical guidance for how to live as a Christian. It's short but dense, which makes it perfect for slow, intentional study.
Journaling: What It Actually Looks Like
Journaling is not about structure or perfection. At its core, it's just a conversation with God.
A typical journal entry for me might include:
Writing out a passage of Scripture
Taking notes or observations
Processing personal thoughts or convictions
Turning those thoughts into prayer
Praying for others
Reflecting on the day or expressing gratitude
Not every entry includes all of these elements, but this general flow helps me connect Scripture, personal reflection, and prayer in a natural way.
The Freedom of Messy Journaling
One of the biggest barriers to journaling is the pressure to do it "right." Letting go of perfectionism was a huge turning point for me.
Journaling doesn't need to be neat, organized, or even fully readable. It doesn't require a specific notebook or pen. What matters is honesty.
Some entries are structured and thoughtful. Others are rushed, emotional, or scattered. Both are valuable. God is not concerned with how it looks, He's concerned with your heart.
Daily Anchors That Keep You Rooted
Rather than relying on a single quiet time, I build small points of connection with God throughout my day.
These include:
Morning Bible reading and journaling
Prayer while starting the day
Brief moments of prayer before beginning work
Gratitude while completing daily tasks
Reflection and journaling at night
These "anchors" aren't meant to be burdensome. They're simple reminders that keep me connected to God in the middle of everyday life.
Why These Practices Matter
I want to be really clear, these habits are not about performance. They exist because we're naturally forgetful and prone to drift.
Without intentional reminders, it's so easy to rely on yourself, lose perspective, and become overwhelmed. These small, consistent practices help re-center my mind on truth and keep my relationship with God active throughout the day.
Sponsor: CrowdHealth
If you are looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance, CrowdHealth offers a different approach.
With CrowdHealth, you pay a monthly fee that gives you access to lower-cost prescriptions, lab testing, and a network of vetted doctors. If a major medical need arises, you pay the first $500, and the community helps cover the rest.
You can get started for $99 for your first three months by using code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.
CrowdHealth is not insurance.

In this episode, I sat down with my husband Jeremy to talk about 15 years of marriage, the early struggles, the growth, and how we got to where we are today. Because what you see now? It didn't always exist. And that's kind of the whole point.
We laughed, we got vulnerable, and we talked about the stuff a lot of couples deal with but don't always say out loud, especially in those early years.
What This Episode Is Really About
This isn't a "we've figured it all out" conversation. It's more like a "we stayed, we worked, and God changed us" kind of story.
At the core, we unpacked three major tension points that shaped our marriage:
1. Communication Struggles
Jeremy is an external processor. I'm an internal processor. And for years, that dynamic created so much conflict we didn't even realize we were having. Silence, fear, assumptions, all of it just piled up until we finally learned to talk before the conflict, not just during it. We had to build safety so honesty didn't feel like an attack.
Turns out, miscommunication wasn't really the issue, misunderstanding each other's intentions was.
2. Expectations (The Hidden Pressure)
Our upbringings shaped so many unspoken expectations we didn't even know we were carrying into our marriage. I was loving Jeremy the way I wanted to be loved, not the way he needed to be loved. Learning each other's love languages was a massive turning point for us. Because so many of our frustrations weren't actually about behavior, they were about unmet, unspoken expectations.
3. Life in the Trenches (Small Kids + Stress)
Early marriage plus young children is just exhausting. We were both drowning in stress but completely misunderstanding each other's, provider stress vs. caregiver stress. It felt like a perfect storm, and honestly, sometimes growth doesn't feel like progress. It just feels like survival. But pushing through that season together is what built the long-term strength we have now.
Key Takeaways
Healthy marriage requires individual growth first → when we both worked on ourselves, everything changed
You can't learn communication in conflict, you build it before
Assume the best about your spouse, not the worst
Different roles carry different weight, learn to honor both
Your "recovery time" matters more than your conflict → ours went from days… to hours… to minutes
Seasons matter → what feels overwhelming now won't last forever
The Big Picture
Marriage isn't about avoiding hard seasons, it's about growing through them together.
You are not defined by the season you're in, you're defined by the God over it.
Whether you're newly married, in the thick of parenting, or feeling stuck in communication patterns, I hope this episode reminds you that strong marriages are built, not found.
 
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Final Encouragement
If you're in a hard season right now…
You're not behind.
You're not broken.
You're building something that lasts.

In this episode, I sit down with author and Bible teacher Hanna Seymour to talk about what it really looks like to grow spiritually in the middle of real life with busy schedules, motherhood, exhaustion, and all.
We unpack Hanna's book Everyday Spiritual Habits and tackle one of the most common questions believers wrestle with: How do I actually stay consistent in my faith without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out? This conversation blends practical wisdom, biblical truth, and even habit science to help you build rhythms that truly last.
Throughout our chat, we share our personal journeys from checkbox Christianity and inconsistent routines to discovering life-giving rhythms with God that are flexible, sustainable, and deeply transformative. After this conversation, I hope you'll walk away encouraged that spiritual growth isn't about perfection, it's about connection.
In this episode, we cover:
why spiritual "discipline" can feel overwhelming and how to reframe it as life-giving habits
how to build habits that stick using simple, realistic steps
the power of starting small (even 30 seconds counts)
how to connect with God in everyday moments (laundry, dishes, driving, etc.)
habit stacking and identity-based growth (who you're becoming vs. what you're doing)
how different life seasons require different rhythms and that's okay
lesser-talked-about disciplines like gratitude, celebration, silence, and solitude
practical ways to memorize Scripture and stay rooted in truth
why shame has no place in your spiritual journey
If you've ever felt like you're failing at reading your Bible, praying consistently, or "doing enough," this episode is a breath of fresh air. It's not about adding pressure, it's about discovering a better way to walk with Jesus in your everyday life.
Sponsor: CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a health insurance alternative designed to give you more control and transparency. Get started for $99 for your first 3 months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com. CrowdHealth is not insurance.