Advertise on podcast: Bold, Brave & Beautiful Podcast with Barb Roose

What if the place where you expected to find God became the place where you were hurt? For some women, spiritual wounds can affect much more than their relationship with a church. Spiritual trauma and wounding can affect your ability to pray, how you engage with the Bible, your willingness to be in community, and even your ability to trust God. The stakes are high!   In this NEW Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast episode, I'm honored to speak with Colleen Ramser, author of The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma. She's an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor and trauma specialist who works at the intersection of trauma and faith. Most of all, Colleen brings both professional expertise and personal experience as a survivor of trauma to this important conversation.    We talk honestly about spiritual abuse and the ways these experiences can shape how we see ourselves, other people, and God. Colleen also shares what healing can look like when we refuse to minimize what happened but also don't want our wounds to have the final word. If you've experienced spiritual hurt or if you love someone who has.   This powerful conversation offers compassion, honesty, and hope. My prayer is that this episode reminds you that being wounded by people does not mean you have to walk away from God.   Resources From This Episode: The Shattered Soul  Colleen's Website Colleen's Facebook Page Here, Not There Podcast Hosted by Colleen Ramser   About Today's Guest: Colleen Ramser, MA, is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC), speaker, and writer who meets Christ followers at the intersection of trauma and faith. She is a sought-after trauma specialist—particularly on issues of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma—and she has spent years journeying with souls in the church and within the scope of her clinical practice. Colleen also frequently speaks to pastors, ministry leaders, organizations, and other mental health professionals who desire to help survivors individually and to address systemic harm. She has appeared on podcasts such as The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and The Slow Work. As a survivor of trauma, Colleen is a compassionate witness on the journey, bringing not only her clinical expertise but also a deep knowing of dark nights and the breath of new mercies. Colleen lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and two kids and enjoys being swallowed up by God's beautiful landscapes and catching a good pun.   Share The Episode: Know a woman who needs this reminder that God's love is steady even when life isn't? Share this episode with her! Bold, Brave & Beautiful releases new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Find all the episodes in the podcast archive at BarbRoose.com/podcast   About Your Host: Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God's peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women's Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

What happens when you know God loves you, but your circumstances make it hard to believe that He cares?   In this episode of Bold, Brave & Beautiful, I'm joined by mother-daughter authors Amy Bragg Carey and Anna Marie Carey, authors of Claimed by God: Thirty Declarations of Your Identity in Christ.   You know how much I care about saying the hard things with hope! That's exactly how Amy and Anna came to our conversation. I was impressed and appreciative of their willingness to be vulnerable about their own struggles with self-doubt, identity, and difficult seasons. They didn't offer simple answers or pretend that declaring God's truth makes life's hard circumstances disappear. Instead, they shared honestly about what they've learned: God's love is true and steady even when our circumstances are anything but.   Amy and Anna Marie talk about what it looks like to anchor our identity in Christ when we're struggling to believe what God says about us, why our words matter, and how declaring Scripture can help reshape our perspective—even before our circumstances change.   If you've ever found yourself wondering, "If God really loves me, why does my life feel like this?" I think you'll find comfort in their courage and honesty.   Resources From This Episode Connect with Amy and Anna Marie via email: [email protected]. Claimed by God on Amazon   About Today's Guests: Amy Bragg Carey (EdD, Azusa Pacific) is the president of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. She serves on the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities board and the International Friends Missions board. Amy lives in Kansas with her husband, Bryan.   Anna Marie Carey (BS, University of Northwestern, St. Paul) is a songwriter, copywriter, and video producer. She is also the worship director at The Gathering Community Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Anna lives in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.   Share the Episode Know a woman who needs this reminder that God's love is steady even when life isn't? Share this episode with her! Bold, Brave & Beautiful releases new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Find all the episodes in the podcast archive at BarbRoose.com/podcast.   About Your Host Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God's peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women's Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

Why do some believers seem so alive with joy in Jesus, while you feel... meh? Or worse, a little cynical? Verses like Psalm 34:8 tell us to "delight in the Lord," but does that actually work in real life?   In this episode, I'm sitting down with my friend Stephanie Rousselle. She's a powerful Bible teacher, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and author of the new book Awaken Delight: Satisfying Your Soul's Longing for God. Stephanie shares her powerful story of coming to faith as a former atheist raised in a hedonist culture in France, and how that journey led her to a life motto of "God's glory, our delight!"   Together, me and Stephanie unpack what Psalm 34:8 really means, why delight isn't about getting what you want from God, and how delight can be sensory, tangible, even "luscious"  perspective that can fire up your faith. So, if your faith has gone flat or you're longing to feel alive in Jesus again, this conversation will help you reclaim it.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Link to Awaken Delight  Stephanie's Gospel Spice website Connect with Stephanie on Instagram   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Stephanie Rousselle is a Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and founder of Gospel Spice Ministries. Born and raised in France, Stephanie is a former atheist whose life motto is now "God's glory, our delight!" Having resided in four different countries during her lifetime, she now lives with her family in Pennsylvania.   About Your Host: Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God's peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women's Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

Have you ever wondered why you still feel shame even though you believe in grace? In this episode, Barb talks with Toni Kim, the director of spiritual care at the National Association of Evangelicals and former pastor of over twenty years  to talk about her new book, Shame Redeemed: Learning to Live in Christ's Freedom. Toni unpacks the real difference between guilt and shame, why shame keeps so many faithful Christians stuck in hiding, and how God's lavish love invites us into healing instead of condemnation. Drawing on her own story as an Asian American woman in ministry, Toni brings wisdom about both the personal and communal sides of shame and practical ways to start living unashamed. Don't miss the part of the interview where Toni unpacks the well-known story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and how God still saw Adam and Eve as His children even though they failed and they were ashamed. This was Barb's favorite part of the episode! Has shame been a constant part of your life? If you've ever felt like you're not quite good enough for God's love, this conversation will remind you: shame doesn't get the final word. God's love for you does. Connect with Toni Kim Shame Redeemed: Learning to Live in Christ's Freedom   About Our Guest: Toni Kim is director of spiritual care at the National Association of Evangelicals. Previously, she served over twenty years as a pastor in Vancouver and Boston. Toni and her husband Walter currently live in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have two adult children. About Your Host: Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God's peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women's Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

So many Christians struggle with mental health, and yet we still struggle to talk about it without shame. If you've ever struggled with anxiety, depression or sadness because no one understands, this episode is for you. In this honest and deeply compassionate conversation, Barb is joined by author Jean Neely to discuss her book Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith amid Depression and Despair. Drawing from her own decades-long journey with mental health challenges, Jean offers a powerful reminder: God's presence isn't reserved for when we feel strong—it meets us right in the depths of our pain. Together, they explore how Christians can approach depression and mental health with honesty and faith, what to do when struggles begin to shake your beliefs, and how to navigate doubt when God feels silent. This episode offers reassurance that God sees you and loves you, even at your lowest points.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Jean on Facebook Connect with Jean on Instagram Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith amid Depression and Despair Visit Jean's Website Read from Jean's Substack   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Jean Lee Neely is a Korean American writer and educator. She has degrees in comparative literature from the University of California, Irvine and Sorbonne University in Paris and a PhD in English literature from the University of Southern California. Jean writes regularly on issues of mental health and faith for Faith and Leadership, a resource from the Duke Divinity School for Christian leaders. She has also written for Sojourners, Inheritance, the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), and Christians for Social Action. She has taught seminars on navigating the intersections of faith, spiritual formation, and mental health for college students and Christian faculty. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.

In this powerful and hope-filled conversation, Barb speaks with counselor, spiritual director, and author Sheila Wise Rowe about her book Seeds of Racial Healing: Fifty-Two Devotions for Navigating Through Trauma. With over thirty years of experience counseling trauma survivors and ministering to marginalized communities, Sheila offers a deeply compassionate, trauma-informed approach to addressing both personal and systemic racism through the lens of Scripture. They talk about how racial trauma impacts the body and soul, why rest and resilience are essential for Christians of color, and how being rooted in God's Word can nurture healing and justice.  If you are seeking Christian encouragement, spiritual formation, and practical tools for navigating racial trauma, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and a path toward renewal.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Sheila on Facebook Connect with Sheila on Instagram Seeds of Racial Healing: Fifty-Two Devotions for Navigating Through Trauma Visit Sheila's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Sheila Wise Rowe (MEd, Cambridge College) has over thirty years of experience offering counseling and spiritual direction to individuals, couples, leaders, and trauma survivors. Sheila also spent a decade ministering to unhoused and abused women, children, and youth in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was a lay pastor and taught Christian counseling and trauma-related courses. Sheila is a speaker, trainer, and writer, authoring the award-winning Healing Racial Trauma and Young, Gifted, and Black. She and her husband, Nicholas Rowe, live in Boston, Massachusetts, and coauthored Healing Leadership Trauma.

Can having a hobby help you connect more to the heart of God? In this episode, Barb is joined by author Brianna Lambert to talk about her book Created to Play and how our hobbies can become meaningful expressions of worship. They explore why play is often misunderstood in Christian culture, how it forms us spiritually, and the unique roles we step into through our hobbies—from creator and curator to restorer and connector. Brianna also invites us to see play not as a distraction from purpose, but as a pathway to delight, community, and deeper connection with God. If you've ever felt guilty for enjoying your hobbies or wondered how they fit into your faith, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective on joy, rest, and worship.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Brianna on Instagram Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually Visit Brianna's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Brianna Lambert is a writer and author from a rural community outside Indianapolis. Her articles and essays have appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Common Good, Mere Orthodoxy, and elsewhere. Brianna also serves on staff at Gospel-Centered Discipleship and writes for the women's ministry at her local church. You might find her backpacking, camping, waterskiing, or starting a brand-new hobby with her husband and three children.

Are you craving a life that actually matters—one that goes beyond just getting through the day? In this episode, Barb speaks with author Crickett Keeth about what it looks like to live with true purpose and eternal significance. Based on her Bible study, Living Out a Life that Matters, they explore how the apostle Paul modeled a life of depth, impact, and faithfulness—and how we can do the same today. If you feel stuck in the day-to-day or are longing to live with deeper purpose, this episode will encourage you to pursue a life of meaning and impact, right where you are.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Crickett on Instagram Connect with Crickett on Facebook Living Out a Life that Matters: An 8-Week Study in 2 Timothy Visit Crickett's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Crickett Keeth is the author of several women's Bible studies, including On Bended Knee, Before the Throne, and Living Out a Life That Matters. Crickett has served in ministry to women for decades on staff with Cru and large churches in Dallas and Memphis (Women's Ministry Director). She teaches at her church in Memphis and also equips and trains other women's ministry leaders. Crickett is a sought-after speaker at women's conferences and retreats. Find free resources to encourage you in your walk with God at www.crickettkeeth.com.

Are you tired of constantly striving, comparing, and wondering if you'll ever be enough? In this encouraging and truth-filled conversation, Barb is joined by bestselling author and speaker Karolyne Roberts to talk about her book The Beauty of Being: Strive Less and Live More with God as Your Guide. Together, they explore how we can let go of unhealthy mindsets and rest in our identity as a beloved daughter of God. If you're longing to feel secure in your identity, live more fully in the present, and walk confidently in God's purpose for your life, this episode will remind you that you are already enough.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Karolyne on Instagram Connect with Karolyne on Facebook The Beauty of Being: Strive Less and Live More with God as Your Guide Visit Karolyne's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Karolyne Roberts is a bestselling author and speaker who is blazing the trail for change-makers and transformational leaders around the globe. Through her YouTube channel, she impacts and inspires over 438,000 subscribers worldwide. Karolyne and her husband, Kal Roberts, are cofounders of Miss Eternity (misseternity.com). Karolyne's women's ministry, Dear Daddy (deardaddy.com), was created for women to embrace their God-given identity as daughters of the King and grow in intimacy with the Father. Karolyne is also the founder and CEO of the Writers Retreat (writersretreat.com), where she helps believers use their voice and writing to make an impact for the kingdom.

Have you ever looked back and questioned where was God during the hard or painful moments? Are you at the point in life where you're looking for meaning in the things that you've gone through? In this episode, Barb is joined by speaker and author Laurie Polich Short to talk about her book Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God's Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future. Together, they explore how to recognize God's fingerprints in your everyday life — even when you question whether He sees you.  Listen in as Laurie shows us how every experience can become evidence of God's presence. She also highlights how creating your own "pile of stones" can help you remember His faithfulness. If you've ever struggled to see where God is at work in your life, this conversation will help you trace His footprints with confidence. RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Laurie on Instagram Connect with Laurie on Facebook Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God's Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future Visit Laurie's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Laurie Polich Short is a popular speaker, author, and part of the teaching team at Oceanhills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Laurie has spoken to more than a half million people at conferences, colleges, churches, and denominational events around the country, and she has been featured on PBS, Focus on the Family, RightNow Media, and more.

Have you ever felt stuck on the diet roller coaster, bouncing between restriction, failure, and shame? In this episode, Barb is joined by personal trainer and nutrition coach Brandice Lardner, founder of Grace Filled Plate, to talk about food freedom, faith-based wellness, and breaking free from diet culture for good. Brandice shares her personal journey through dieting and disordered eating, and how it led her to create a compassionate, grace-filled approach to health that meets women's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. They discuss why traditional diets fail, how all-or-nothing thinking keeps women stuck in cycles of restriction and shame, and what it looks like to build "fruitful habits" instead of chasing perfect eating. If you're tired of the diet roller coaster and ready for a sustainable, Christ-centered approach to healthy living, this conversation will give you practical tools — and real hope — for lasting change.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Brandice on Instagram Connect with Brandice on Facebook Fully Nourished: A Grace-Filled Approach to Ditch Diets and Find Peace with Food and Your Body Visit Brandice's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Brandice Lardner is a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and owner and author of Grace Filled Plate, which she founded in 2017. She has helped hundreds of women through one-on-one and group coaching programs, teaching them how to find food freedom by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. She's appeared on numerous podcasts, including Do It Scared with Ruth Soukup, and has been featured as a guest expert on MyFitnessPal, TLC Online, MapMyRun, and Women's Running. She lives in Clearwater, Florida, with her family.

Most of our days are lived in the in-between; ordinary hours filled with small griefs, flickers of joy, quiet disappointments, and unexpected beauty.  In this heartfelt conversation, Barb sits down with bestselling author Shannan Martin to talk about her newest book, Counterweights, and how to stay hopeful in a world that often feels heavy. With humor and honesty, Shannan shares the life-changing practice of "counterweights" — learning to hold both the good and the hard at the same time. Together, they explore how to navigate what's outside our control, notice the ordinary delights hiding in plain sight, and experience life as deeply good, even when it's tough. If you've been feeling overwhelmed or weary, this episode is a gentle invitation to remain upright, hopeful, and fully alive right where you are.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Shannan on Instagram Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World Visit Shannan's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Shannan Martin is the bestselling author of several books, including Start with Hello, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and the popular Substack The Soup. She is a wannabe gardener, a news geek, a fighter for justice, and a thrift store stalker. She and her family live as grateful neighbors in Goshen, Indiana, where Shannan is on staff at the local community kitchen.

Sometimes it feels like God is silent, leaving us unsure of where to turn or how to keep going. In this episode, Barb speaks with Dominique Young, author of God, Where Are You? and founder of Faith Mamas, as she shares her own journey through grief, doubt, and unanswered prayers. They discuss why healing is often a slow process, how faith and therapy can work together, and why dropping the "masks" we wear is essential for real growth.  This episode is full of honest reflection, practical guidance, and hope for anyone navigating seasons of silence, struggle, or uncertainty in their faith.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dominique on Instagram Connect with Dominique on Facebook God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence Visit Dominique's Website Download the Faith Family Worldwide App   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Dominique Young is the founder of Faith Mamas Inc. (Faith Family Worldwide), a community of more than 6,000 Christian women and a private app serving over 1,700 believers. She helps people break free from fear through Scripture and has been featured on the Don't Mom Alone podcast and The Refreshed Moms Podcast. Dominique holds a psychology degree from Hampton University and a master's in theology from Fuller Seminary. She is also a devoted wife and a mother of four.

What do you do when the life you planned gives way to a season you never saw coming? In today's episode, Barb is joined by pastor, author, and podcaster Courtney Ellis for a thoughtful conversation about navigating life's tough transitions. Together they explore why God created change, what nature can teach us about living through it, and why even good change can bring real grief.  If you're facing a transition—expected or unexpected—this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope for the road ahead.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Courtney on Instagram Connect with Courtney on Facebook Weathering Change: Seeking Peace Amidst Life's Tough Transitions Visit Courtney's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Courtney Ellis is a pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo, California. She is the author of six books, including Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief. Courtney hosts The Thing with Feathers, a podcast about birds and hope.

Waiting for a miracle can be one of the hardest places to live, especially when faith wears thin, answers are delayed, and hope feels fragile. In this episode, Barb talks with her long-time friend, author Lauren Gaskill about what it means to hold on to a faith that just won't quit. Drawing from her book Until the Miracle Comes, Lauren shares how to begin again when disappointment has shaken your faith. She'll share encouragement to remember your God-given identity changes everything. She tells us about why lament is a vital part of our faith journeys. This episode will remind you that God is working, even when you cannot see it. If you're believing for a breakthrough and wondering how to keep going, join Barb and Lauren for this powerful conversation.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Lauren on Instagram Connect with Lauren on Facebook Until the Miracle Comes: Finding Victory in a Faith That Won't Quit Visit Lauren's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Lauren Gaskill is an author, speaker, and the founder of the She Found Joy Podcast and retreats. She is passionate about helping others encounter Jesus and become transformed by His love. In her spare time she enjoys singing, hiking with her husband and sons, and baking just about anything — from cookies to crème brûlée.