I’m pregnant — and this season has held more emotions than I expected. In this episode, I’m sharing the full story: why we sped up our timeline, how we found out, the nerves and fear that hit me, the excitement we're feeling, and the deep grief of being pregnant without my mom here.
I’m also talking about how Ivan has been through it all, what this season has looked like behind the scenes, and what’s next for the future of this podcast as I step into motherhood.
If you’ve ever walked through a season full of mixed emotions — joy, grief, fear, hope — this episode will meet you there.
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Do you ever feel like you're the 9th wheel with your friends and their significant others?
In this episode, Melissa and her friend Leah talk about the highs, lows, and awkward moments of singleness. From managing expectations with God, to building real community, to laughing about the spiciest, most confusing things people say to their single friends—this one’s honest, hopeful, and deeply relatable.
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Grief doesn’t just change how we feel—it changes how we love. In this episode, we’re talking about the quiet ways loss leaves fingerprints on our relationships, from dating and marriage to friendships and family. Whether you’ve experienced a loss yourself or love someone who has, this conversation offers a tender, honest look at how grief reshapes our hearts and how we can still show up with vulnerability, grace, and intention. There’s no “right” way to carry grief in love—but there is a faithful one.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck on a guy who can’t commit, won’t show up, or keeps giving you just enough to stay hopeful—this one’s for you. In this episode, we’re having a real talk about knowing your worth, letting go of emotional breadcrumbs, and finally closing the door on relationships that aren’t God’s best for you. You were not made to beg for love, to chase it, or to shrink yourself for it. Let’s talk about why you’re too good to keep waiting around—and how to walk away with confidence, peace, and your dignity intact.
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Grief doesn’t just affect your emotions—it can shift your entire relationship with God. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about how grief changed my faith, what that looked like in real time, and why those shifts don’t make you a “bad believer.” We’ll explore what Scripture shows us about lament, doubt, and spiritual quietness—and why God doesn’t need your performance, just your presence. If your faith feels different after loss, this episode is a safe place to process that.
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If you’ve ever thought, “I just don’t know what to say” to a grieving friend—or worried about doing the wrong thing—this episode is for you. In this gentle and honest conversation, I’m sharing practical, faith-rooted ways to support someone who is grieving—based on my own experience of loss and what actually helped. From what to say (and what not to), to thoughtful gestures that truly matter, you’ll walk away with simple, meaningful ways to show up with love, even when the words feel hard to find.
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Let’s have the honest marriage talk I wish someone would’ve had with me. If you're single and wondering what marriage really looks like behind closed doors—or you're newly married and still finding your footing—this episode is for you. I'm sharing the unfiltered truth about what surprised me, what we’re still figuring out, and what I wish someone had lovingly told me while I was still waiting. From routines to disagreements to intimacy and connection, we’re talking about it all.
Moving to a new city can be both a bold leap of faith and a deeply lonely transition. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what helped me thrive after my own big move—and what totally didn’t. From building community to staying spiritually grounded and avoiding the mistakes that made the journey harder than it had to be, this is the episode I wish someone handed me before I packed my bags. Whether you're in a brand-new place or considering a fresh start, you're not alone—and God has already gone before you.
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In our first episode together as husband and wife, Ivan and I talk through the good, the messy, and the totally unexpected parts of newlywed life (including the spicier parts!). From communication struggles to surprising joys, we’re sharing it all honestly. Whether you're single, married, or somewhere in between—we hope this episode feels like a safe, encouraging space.
P.S. the audio is less than ideal for the first few minutes because *face palm* I forgot to pull in the microphone. Thanks for understanding, and I promise it gets better for the majority of the episode!
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Planning a wedding while carrying the weight of grief is no small thing—but joy and sorrow can beautifully coexist. In this episode, I’m sharing all the details from my recent wedding day: how I created a peaceful, joyful environment, the intentional ways I honored my mom’s legacy, and what I’d do all over again. If you're a bride-to-be, in a season of grief, or just love a good love story filled with faith and meaning, this one’s straight from my heart.
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To say that 2024 was life-changing is the understatement of the century.
This past year has brought one of the biggest answers to prayer (one I've been praying for my entire life) as well as such grief and joy and sadness and excitement... pretty much every one of the characters from Inside Out 2.
It's impossible to walk through massive changes without learning massive lessons along the way, am I right?
In this season finale episode, I'll recap the most important lessons God has taught me this year and how *you* can live out the beauty and the breakthroughs of these lessons as we all head into 2025.
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There are moments in life that are almost too heartbreaking and no one should have to go through. A girl planning her wedding without her mom is for sure at the top of this list. Today is one of my more raw episodes where I share super honestly how I've been processing not getting to share all of this with my mom and the 4 things that have made this all go from completely impossible to manageable. I hope this can encourage you and give you tools in your tool belt, whether this has been or will be your lived experience or not.
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What do I wish I knew when I was single? Two things immediately come to mind.
That’s why we chat about today. If I could go back in time and tell my single self advice to inspire and encourage me, *this* is what I’d tell myself without a doubt.
Whether you’re single yourself or have single friends you want to love well, I encourage you to check out this episode.
Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts, or use the link in my bio to make it easy.
Also, this episode is one of the shorter ones, so it's an easy listen (or watch!) for when you're tight on time.
This episode with my fiance Ivan has one of the most requested for a long time now. You all were so kind to submit incredible (and juicy!) questions and, yes, we go through all of them.
Some of the questions we talk about are...
... and so much more.
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"How do you find friendships where the effort goes both ways?" I got this question in a DM on Instagram and immediately knew I needed to record an episode about it.
In this episode, I share the super vulnerable stories of how I was bullied as a teenager (TW: death threats and verbal attacks) and how the Lord pulled me out of that and showed me who I am as a friend, as well as how to acknowledge who the friends are who make you a priority, how to assess if you're in a season of giving or receiving more, and how prayer and scripture will make you a more confident friend who attracts better friends.
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To all the grievers and future grievers,
Do you think about how to continue on with traditions and routines after your loved one has passed away?
Spoiler alert: it's only normal to.
But how do we do that?
In this episode, we'll chat about balancing keeping our loved one's traditions going, starting new routines in their honor, and putting things in place to bring personal joy... and what each one realistically looks like.
This is the nuts and bolts of what everyday grieving is made of. Whether you're currently grieving or not yet, this is an episode worth tuning into.
How many times have you been told "pray for your future husband"?
Me? I lost count around 100.
- But how do you actually do that?
- What does it look like on a random Tuesday?
Is there a formula to it?
How can we pray when you're hopefully vs. frustrated?
Is it bad to pray for your future man's physical appearance?
How can you pray specifically for your husband?
Let's make the end of this year the one where we see our love story prayers get taken up a whole spiritual notch.
I always joke with my friends when we're in the middle of a heartfelt conversation that we should just click record and do a podcast episode... and this time we actually did!
This episode is like a happy hour / pillow chat / hilarious conversation with me and two of my best friends (including wine!) and this is your official invite to join us.
We cover *all* the things, including...
- the biggest lessons we've learned in singleness, dating, and marriage
- our "ins" and "outs" for this year
- 3 things we each can't live without
- what they've learned about supporting someone in grief
- our first impressions of each other
- how they describe being the bigger person
- "find a husband" bangs (if you listen, you'll know...)
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Miriam's previous episodes:
11. Recognizing and Prioritizing My Mental Health
12. Mental Health: How to Support and Be Supported
19. Supporting Your Friend in Grief
20. Supporting Your Friend in Grief, Part 2
Leah's previous episodes:
SEASON 4 PREMIERE OF THE POD
This episode is for you if...
➕️ you struggle to consistently read your Bible
➕️ it feels like your busy schedule and quiet time often conflict
➕️ you want to improve your devotionals
➕️ if you're interested in new ideas for spending time with God
➕️ ... and so much more
(this feels like all of us, am I right?)
Download my BIBLE READING PLAN
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After 3 years and a lotttttt of life changes, it is time for a new era of the pod. I explain all the details - how this change came about, what to expect, what "be the bigger person" is, why it matters to you, etc. - in this episode.
If you subscribed or followed the podcast before, it's all still in the same place. If you haven't yet, now is a nice fresh starting point to follow and subscribe.
I'm really excited for this new phase of the podcast and our community together. Thank you in advance for coming along on the ride with me.