Advertise on podcast: What's God Got To Do With It? With Leanne Ellington

In this powerful conversation, Angie Smith gets honest about the pressure so many of us feel to perform, prove, perfect, and become whoever we think the room needs us to be. And often, the identities we wear so confidently—“the achiever,” “the responsible one,” “the perfectionist,” “the strong one”—may have less to do with who we truly are and more to do with how we learned to feel safe, accepted, and enough. As a bestselling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and developmental psychologist, Angie brings a unique perspective to the intersection of psychology, identity, and faith. In her new book, Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World, she invites us to move beyond surface-level survival and discover what happens when we stop trying to earn an identity that God says was never ours to earn in the first place. In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, why affirmations like “I am enough” don't always change what we believe deep down, and how perfectionism, people-pleasing, comparison, impostor syndrome, and control can become strategies for protecting ourselves from rejection or shame. We also talk about what happens when our theology says we're loved, chosen, and worthy, but our self-image tells a completely different story. We bring the conversation into food and body, the exhausting belief that changing something externally will finally make us feel different internally, and what it looks like to stop using our bodies, achievements, relationships, or productivity as evidence of our worth. Angie also shares what it means to trust God when trusting Him doesn't guarantee the outcome we want—and how to recognize when we've turned even our relationship with God into another place to perform. This isn't about becoming a shinier, better, more impressive version of yourself. It's about questioning the patterns and identities you've built around performance, approval, and control—and discovering who you already are when you stop trying to become whoever the room needs you to be. GUEST: @angiesmith19Angie's Website: AngieSmithMinistries.comGet the Book: Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World — available wherever books are sold (releases October 6, 2026) HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook gets honest about something many of us don't realize: we can know all the right things about God, healing, and ourselves—and still have parts of us that don't feel safe, connected, or secure. As a psychologist of religion, licensed therapist, and bestselling author, Alison has spent decades exploring the intersection of psychology, faith, and spiritual formation. But in her new book, The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy, she takes us beyond simply understanding our patterns and into the deeper work of tending to the parts of ourselves that learned to protect, perform, control, or disconnect in order to feel safe. In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how early experiences can shape our brains, nervous systems, self-image, and even the way we experience God. We talk about the difference between who we truly are and who we learned to become in order to feel safe, why some of the behaviors we desperately want to "fix" may actually be attempts to protect us, and what happens when our theology says "God loves me" but something inside of us still struggles to let that love land. We also bring this conversation into food and body, perfectionism, self-criticism, and the pressure so many women feel to become a better version of themselves. Alison shares what it means to "Recognize & Return," why receiving love and care can sometimes feel harder than giving it, and how healthy self-trust and trust in God can work together instead of competing with each other. This isn't about finding one more thing about yourself to fix. It's about learning how to stop abandoning the parts of yourself that need your presence—and discovering a deeper kind of security rooted in connection with yourself, with others, and ultimately with God. GUEST: Dr. Alison Cook // @dralisoncookWebsite: www.DrAlisonCook.comPodcast: The Best of You PodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcastFREE QUIZ: Uncover the role you learned to play in your familyGet the Book: The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy — available now wherever books are sold HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colleen was a pastor. She was teaching God's word, leading others, preaching identity in Christ. But behind closed doors, she felt like a hypocrite. She knew what God said about her. She could teach it. She believed it was true... for everyone else. But for her, it felt like words on a page that wouldn't land in her heart. And on top of that, she was carrying a lifetime of shame about her body. Since she was eight years old, shopping in the "chubby girls" section, she'd been told she had a problem to fix. She'd been on every diet. She'd tried to overachieve in everything else to make up for the one area she couldn't get right. She'd been given mixed messages her whole life: skinny is beautiful, but you're okay just the way you are. Don't overeat, but finish everything on your plate. Sugar is bad, but it's the reward for being good. By the time menopause hit, she was gaining more weight, trying harder and harder to lose it, and sinking into the lowest point of her life. She felt like a failure. She felt disgusted with herself. And the worst part? She couldn't reconcile what she knew in her head with what she felt in her heart. She had seen God heal her miraculously from incurable diseases. So why couldn't she get from what she knew about her identity in Christ to actually seeing it and feeling it in her life? She kept thinking: I'm the problem. I have to fix myself. Colleen had fought so many battles—behavioral modification, diet plans, spiritual disciplines, positive affirmations—but she was fighting the wrong battles. And when you fight the wrong battles, you don't win the war. When she heard Leanne's podcast with Dr. Lee Warren, she cried through the whole thing. She thought, This is too good to be true. But she was desperate. She had nowhere else to turn. And she asked God, Did you put Leanne in my path? In this powerful case study, Colleen shares how she finally learned to go to the root instead of just trying to fix the behavior. How she dismantled the lies that had infiltrated every area of her life and built what she calls "new beautiful beliefs"—not positive affirmations, but truth that actually landed in her bones. How she learned to be friends with her body again, to take off the minister hat and just be the woman, the essence, the soul God created her to be. Today, Colleen is at peace with herself for the first time in her life. She's not obsessed with her weight or her size. She's not fixated on what she looks like. She's learning to care for her body instead of punishing it. She's starting strength training—not to lose weight, but to get stronger and thrive. She's wearing clothes that make her feel alive instead of hiding in frumpy baggy outfits. She's showing up in rooms without worrying about how she looks or what she said. She's ushering in God's peace and grace instead of getting pulled into other people's chaos. And the sweetest part? She has a hope-filled expectation for the future. Instead of dreading getting older, fatter, more wrinkled, she's asking, What's the abundant part of life here for me in this season? She's living Psalm 92: Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They will bear fruit even in old age. If you've ever felt like you know God's promises are true but they don't feel true for you, or if you've ever felt like a hypocrite because you can't receive what you teach, Colleen's story is for you. Because healing isn't about trying harder or praying more or fasting more. It's about going to the root. It's about learning how to take your thoughts captive in a way that actually works. And it's about finally surrendering—not giving up, but letting God show you the right battle to fight so you can win the war. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful conversation, Lysa TerKeurst gets honest about something most of us don't want to admit: we all have control issues. And often, what we call "being responsible" or "planning ahead" is actually fear disguised as strength. As the founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Lysa has spent years helping women navigate boundaries, forgiveness, and faith. But in her new book, Making Peace With What I Can't Control, she reveals her own struggle with trying to change people who don't want to change, prevent outcomes she feared, and manage things that were never hers to control in the first place. In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how our brains are wired to seek certainty and safety, and what happens when our need for control bumps up against our relationship with God. Lysa shares how to know when we've crossed the line from healthy responsibility into fear-driven control, what it actually looks like to surrender without giving up, and how to make peace with trusting God's heart when we don't understand what He allows. This isn't about becoming passive. It's about learning the difference between what is actually ours to steward and what was never ours to carry. If you've ever felt exhausted from overthinking, trying to fix others, or wanting to figure it all out, this conversation is for you. GUEST: @LysaTerKeurstLysa's Website: www.LysaTerKeurst.comLysa's Podcast: Therapy & TheologyGet the Book: Making Peace With What I Can't Control — available wherever books are sold (releases September 15, 2026) HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.   Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as Leanne continues to explore the complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God’s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness. This time however, the spotlight turns to the second ingredient and God Block: Self-Care, as Leanne challenges 'conventional' views of health by emphasizing a 3-dimensional approach—mental, emotional, and spiritual care—as the foundation for physical well-being. She encourages you to redefine health and self-care, while inviting God into the journey and addressing the cultural misconceptions that often lead to harmful practices, and she paints a picture of shifting from the world's take on health...to a more all-encompassing, God-centered one. It's time to toss out the one-size-fits-all approach, and figure out your unique recipe for health and well-being. But this time around: inviting God in as your Divine Partner.  HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the "God Pod", Leanne invites you to redefine "surrender" and actively shift from self-reliance to God's guidance. Diving into the first ingredient AND the first "God Block", the focus is on Self-Acceptance as both an ingredient for a loving Self-Image and a potential block to receiving God's love. Consider this episode a roadmap to recognizing and addressing your own "God Blocks", fostering self-acceptance, and taking practical steps to actually break through the "Paradox of Acceptance"...and how to accept yourself (even with all the messy bits) when you DON'T accept yourself. HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leanne is kicking off a new series based on her own experiences navigating "The Paradox of Worthiness" (as she calls it). As in, how do you feel worthy when you don't feel worthy?There is so much talk nowadays about self-love and worthiness, but the crucial question remains: How do we truly embrace it if all we’ve ever known is the opposite? How do you suddenly feel worthy if all you’ve ever known is feeling unworthy?   In this kickoff to the series, Leanne introduces you to (what she calls) "The 5 Blocks To Love", and how she discovered that when it came to actually FEELING worthy of being loved, that was a really hard concept for her to grasp at first. It felt like something was actually blocking her. And that's when she discovered that there were "5 Blocks" that were hindering her ability to RECEIVE what was already there, and that this was what was actually causing her resistance. She also discovered that removing those blocks catapulted her ability to connect to herself, others, and God. You're going to get an in-depth look at each of these blocks in this upcoming series, but first she dives into the fusion of faith, neuroscience, and self-image as a pathway to feeling worthy and putting yourself in the optimal position to remove your own blocks.  Episodes Mentioned: - The Faith-Brain Connection: Where Self Image Meets Neuroscience- A Scientist Goes Looking For God- How God Helped Me Heal My Fears About Being Alone the Rest of My Life Authors Mentioned: - Curt Thompson: https://curtthompsonmd.com/ - Chip Dodd: https://www.chipdodd.com/   HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PART 4 of 4: If you're tired of the 'say-do' gap, this episode will help bridge the divide and you'll see that you can achieve results by working smarter, not harder. The final part to break free from negativity and help you nurture an "emotionally healthy" brain is the doing and you're awesome for making it to the homestretch! In PART 4 you learn:- How to play a "winning game" (And STOP playing a "losing game")- Minimums, not maximums (and how this is also part of neuro-magic)- How to "Reverse Engineer" your life.- Now you can truly “act as if.”All the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:www.LeanneEllington.com/ActingAsIfThis is a 4-part series, so if you missed PARTS 1, 2 & 3 go give them a listen. Amy & Leanne designed it to listen to (in order 1-4) to help you learn, grasp, and use right away – even if “positive thinking" or “acting as if” has NEVER worked for you in the past.   HOST: Amy Brown // @RadioAmy // RadioAmy.com HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PART 3 of 4: In this episode you will discover the truth about beliefs & change with Amy as Leanne shatters myths, revealing the powerful role of genuine belief in transforming your life.In PART 3 you learn:- How your CURRENT Self-Image & Beliefs unconsciously undermine what you truly want.- Why "You can’t kid a kidder" (Why you cannot "B.S." your self-image)- Positive vs negative neuro-associations -- and how to make your Self Image beliefs (what they refer to as) "neuromagic"- How to do "A Beliefs Overhaul" (The 3 Steps that you can wash, rinse, repeat)All the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:www.LeanneEllington.com/ActingAsIfThis is a 4-part series, so if you missed PARTS 1 & 2 go give it a listen. This was designed to listen to (in order 1-4) to help you learn, grasp, and use right away – even if “positive thinking" or “acting as if” has NEVER worked for you in the past.   HOST: Amy Brown // @RadioAmy // RadioAmy.com HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PART 2 of 4: Ever wonder why your thoughts and feelings don't sync up? Amy & Leanne share a fresh-yet-totally-doable approach that will help you reclaim the reins of confusing thoughts in our head…so that stepping into WHO YOU WANT TO BE actually becomes possible!In PART 2 you learn:- Why it's not your CIRCUMSTANCES that dictate your reality, it's your THOUGHTS, and how every single thought CAUSES a feeling-- not the other way around.- Why your Self Image knows how you really feel, so before you can "act as if" or "believe a new reality", it's got to FEEL good, FEEL true, and resonate.- How to truly flip "negative emotions" on their head and find the gold in what it's trying to teach you.All the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:www.LeanneEllington.com/ActingAsIfThis is a 4-part series, so if you missed PART 1 go give it a listen. This is designed to listen to (in order 1-4) to help you learn, grasp, and use right away – even if “positive thinking" or “acting as if” has NEVER worked for you in the past.   HOST: Amy Brown // @RadioAmy // RadioAmy.com HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PART 1 of 4: Are you feeling stuck or battling self-doubt? Do you want to take ownership of your life by taking ownership of your thoughts? If yes and yes, then "Acting As If" is for you! Amy Brown & Self-Image Scientist Leanne Ellington designed this 4-part series to help you shift your thoughts, so that “Acting As If” becomes possible for your brain to adopt. In each episode, you get effective strategies to break free from the grip of negativity & gain insights on nurturing an "emotionally healthy" brain.In PART 1 you learn:- Why "Acting As If" is not a matter of positive affirmations or fake-it-til-you-make it.- Rewiring your brain for peace in the chaos- Distinguishing the data vs the drama of your situation- How to give yourself your own "reality check" to stop the downward spiral of thoughts in your brain.We can all struggle with downward spiraling thoughts:"Why did I eat that?""Why didn't he call me?""Why can't I stop that?""Does that make me a bad mom?""Why should I bother? Is this just how it will always be?"Things like "fake it ‘til you make it" + turning everything “into a positive" will NOT outsmart your brain...and there’s a reason why.All the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at:www.LeanneEllington.com/ActingAsIf HOST: Amy Brown // @RadioAmy // RadioAmy.com HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney was in ministry. She was serving God, leading others, preaching His love and promises. But behind closed doors, she felt miles away from Him. She knew God's word. She could quote the promises. She believed they were true... for everyone else. But for her, they felt so far off. Like words on a page that didn't quite land in her heart. And on top of that, she was going through a breakup, questioning her job, unsure of her next steps, and secretly struggling with food in a way she'd never fully acknowledged before. She found comfort in food. She thought that was normal. But she didn't realize how much that comfort was masking a deeper disconnection from herself and from God. Sydney was stuck in a cycle of comparison, shame, and pressure. She put so much pressure on herself to have her walk with God look a certain way, to feel a certain way about Him. And when she didn't, the shame would creep in. She couldn't separate her circumstances from her view of God. And she couldn't separate the drama in her head from the truth. Everything felt true. The lies felt like facts. And she didn't know how to sift through it. In June 2025, at 26 years old, Sydney made a decision. She wasn't going to keep living like this. She wasn't going to let this be her narrative for the rest of her life. She was single, she had time, and she knew: why not now? In this powerful case study, Sydney shares how she finally learned to separate what she perceived to be her reality from what was actually true. How she got to the bottom of the iceberg instead of just trying to fix the tip. How she learned to feel her feelings without falling down the rabbit hole. How she stopped slapping positive affirmations and Scripture on top of pain that hadn't been processed. And how she finally invited God into the one area of her life she'd kept Him out of: her food, her body, her self-image. Today, Sydney is living from a place of freedom. She's comfortable being alone with herself and with God. She actually looks forward to journaling and praying. She's not turning to food for comfort anymore because she's found real comfort in God and in herself. And the sweetest part? She's now able to pass on what she's learned. She's helping her friends catch the lies they're believing. She's loving people better because she finally learned how to love herself. If you've ever felt like you know God's promises are true but they don't feel true for you, or if you've ever felt disconnected from God even while serving Him, Sydney's story is for you. Because healing isn't about trying harder or knowing more. It's about getting to the root. And it's about finally inviting God into the places you've kept Him out. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @LeanneEllington // @theteenagerbrain To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the emotions you fear most are actually the gateway to your greatest freedom? In this final episode of our series, Chip and Leanne explore how to stop fearing emotions and start listening to them instead. They break down the connection between numbing and disconnection, why vulnerability is the key to healing, and how embracing your emotions can lead to real joy and fulfillment. With practical tools and mindset shifts, this episode will empower you to move from numbing to healing—so you can reclaim your peace, presence, and power. Visit Chip's website at: ChipDodd.com You can order your copy of Chip's book, The Voice of the Heart: A Call To Full Living HERE. Listen to the Living With Heart Podcast HERE. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If willpower alone isn’t enough to stop numbing, what is? In this episode, Chip and Leanne explore why true healing starts with understanding the function of our coping behaviors—not just trying to “fix” them. They share the first steps to recognizing an unhealthy coping pattern, decoding what it’s really telling you, and shifting from avoidance to awareness. This episode is all about embracing discomfort as the key to freedom and learning how to break the cycle for good. Visit Chip's website at: ChipDodd.com You can order your copy of Chip's book, The Voice of the Heart: A Call To Full Living HERE. Listen to the Living With Heart Podcast HERE. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we turn to food, alcohol, shopping, or even busyness when life feels overwhelming? In this episode, Chip and Leanne dive into the real reason we numb—what we’re actually trying to escape or avoid—and how society conditions us to suppress rather than process emotions. They break down the neuroscience behind coping mechanisms, revealing why they provide short-term relief but lead to long-term suffering. If you’ve ever wondered why breaking free from old habits feels impossible, this episode will give you the clarity you need to start shifting your patterns. Visit Chip's website at: ChipDodd.com You can order your copy of Chip's book, The Voice of the Heart: A Call To Full Living HERE. Listen to the Living With Heart Podcast HERE. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com. Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.