This week on The Collected Podcast... we’re leaning into a tender, timely reminder from the heart of God: hold course. After a busy, overwhelming season and a moment of wanting to quit, Jes shares how a simple word spoken to her back in 2018 became the lifeline she needed eight years later—and how it might be the encouragement your weary heart needs too. Through Scripture, personal journal entries, and a rich look at the biblical meaning of “holding fast,” this episode invites you to remember God’s faithfulness, cling to His Word, and stay steady in the work He’s called you to. If you’re feeling tired, discouraged, or unsure of your next step, this conversation will help you lift your eyes, anchor your hope, and keep moving forward with renewed courage and joy.

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This week we are excited to welcome author, speaker, and managing editor of Recovery.com, Caroline Beidler to the podcast! Caroline shares about her powerful journey from addiction to healing and the God who met her every step of the way. We talk about shame, belonging, the science of recovery, and how love and community can transform even the hardest stories. Caroline offers a rare blend of vulnerability, wisdom, and practical hope for anyone touched by addiction or longing for deeper healing. If you’re longing for hope, or walking alongside someone in recovery, this conversation will remind you that God restores what feels lost.

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This week we are excited to welcome Alicia Barr—author of More Than a Secret— to the podcast! Join us as Alicia opens up about the hidden places shame can take us and the freedom that comes when we finally tell the truth. She shares her journey through a four-year affair, the desire for belonging that led her there, and the grace, counseling, and community that helped her heal. If you’ve ever felt unseen, stuck in secrecy, or unsure how to come back from a hard fall, this warm and hope-filled conversation will remind you that Jesus meets us right where we are. This episode is an invitation to breathe again, to tell the truth, and to believe that redemption is possible—no matter how far you feel you’ve fallen.

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This week we are excited to welcome pastor, professor, and best‑selling author, Mark Buchanan to the show! This episode dives into Mark’s powerful story of faith, calling, and courageous discipleship as he and Jes explore his new WWII‑inspired novel What Is Left of the Night. From his unexpected journey into ministry to the village that risked everything to shelter Jewish refugees, Mark invites us to consider what true allegiance to Jesus looks like—and how hope can shine even in the darkest places. Tune in for a warm, thoughtful conversation that will stir your heart and strengthen your faith.

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This week we are excited to welcome author and speaker Annie Weber to the show! Annie shares her powerful story of coming to Christ, navigating marriage and military life, and discovering God’s steady sovereignty in every season. Her insights are practical, hope‑filled, and rooted in Scripture, offering the kind of encouragement that meets you right where you are. If you want to grow spiritually, feel less alone, and be reminded that God is at work in the details of your life, this conversation will speak straight to your heart.This conversation invites us all to slow down, reflect, and remember the steady sovereignty of God in every season.

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This week we are excited to welcome author, speaker, and long-time educator Laurie Robinson Sammons to the podcast! Laurie brings a rare blend of wisdom, warmth, and lived experience that speaks directly to anyone walking through challenge, burnout, grief, or a longing for deeper faith. Her stories—from decades in education to mentoring young women, navigating profound loss, and discovering healing through Jesus—offer practical encouragement and a powerful reminder that hope and wholeness are possible. If you need a gentle nudge toward resilience, rest, or renewed connection with God, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

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