Show Notes Are your daily actions drawing you closer to God—or further away? In this raw and heartfelt episode, Lauren shares a personal update about her health struggles, home renovation chaos, and the lessons God has been teaching her through it all. What started as a year of “pursuing” growth turned into a season of pruning, rest, and radical trust. Tune in to hear how stress, striving, and misplaced priorities collided with divine discipline—and how God used Scripture to realign her heart. I...
Jun 12, 2025•32 min•Ep. 36
Show Notes Can journaling really help you make better decisions — and hear from God more clearly? In this episode, spiritual director and journal coach Kari Bartkus shares how prayer journaling creates space to process emotions, clarify your values, and invite God into your decision-making. We talk about journaling methods beyond just pros and cons lists, how to overcome the fear of someone reading your journal, and what to do when you're staring at a blank page. I also share a powerful story of...
May 09, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Show Notes Every decision we make—big or small—creates ripple effects that impact far more than we often realize. In today’s episode, Lauren walks through real-life examples (including her own home renovation saga) to unpack how one decision can lead to a cascade of long-term relational, financial, and emotional consequences. Whether you're considering a job change, a big move, or a parenting choice, this episode will help you think beyond the surface and make decisions anchored in wisdom and fa...
Apr 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 34
Show Notes Show Notes In this episode of The Anchored Decision Show , Lauren sits down with financial advisor Jami McCree to take a deep dive into investing—what it looks like, when to start, and how to prioritize it alongside other financial goals. Jami shares her personal journey into financial advising, the biggest mistakes she sees families make when it comes to saving, and what she recommends to make the most of your income—whether you're just starting out or playing catch-up mid-career. Yo...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Learn how to handle money with wisdom, purpose, and biblical truth. In this episode of The Anchored Decision Show , Lauren sits down with Certified Financial Planner Emily Scott to talk about biblical financial planning. From creating a God-honoring budget to deciding what to invest in, Emily shares practical, grace-filled wisdom to help you approach your finances with intentionality and faith. She also opens up about her journey into financial planning, why stewardship is the foundation of wise...
Apr 10, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Show Notes AI is becoming more integrated into our daily lives—from simplifying tasks to generating content to helping us plan our weeks. But where’s the line between using AI as a tool and letting it take over? In this episode, I’m sharing the real ways I use AI in my personal life and business, along with where it’s fallen short—and why it should never replace our prayer life, critical thinking, or connection with others. This is part two of my series on AI and decision-making. While last epis...
Apr 03, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Show Notes AI is becoming a bigger part of how we make decisions — from choosing what we watch to making major financial decisions. But what happens when we rely on it too much? Could we be outsourcing our ability to think critically, seek God’s wisdom, and grow through the decision-making process? In this episode, I’m breaking down how AI is already influencing our choices and why that’s not always a good thing. I’ll share the 6 reasons I hesitate to rely on AI for decision-making and what we m...
Apr 01, 2025•22 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Show Notes Are you praying about a decision but feel like God is silent? In this episode, we dive into five biblical reasons you might not be hearing from God—and what you can do about it. You'll learn how God speaks today, ways you may have already heard from Him without realizing it, and practical steps to tune into His voice. This teaching is pulled directly from my Divine Discernment Workshop , which walks you through how to seek and discover God’s direction for your decision. If you want th...
Mar 27, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Show Notes Are You Struggling to Decide Which Commitments to Take On? In this episode of The Anchored Decisions Show , I’m joined by Joni Topper to talk about making wise decisions about commitments. Joni shares powerful stories about times when she faced tough decisions — like continuing to lead worship after a botched surgery and deciding whether to push forward with a children's choir when it seemed like everything was falling apart. We discuss how to assess your current commitments, recogniz...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Show Notes Are you torn between two big choices and don’t know which one is right for you? In this episode of Ask a Decision Coach , I help Marie navigate her decision between a fixer-upper with land or a move-in-ready home in a tight-knit community. Instead of relying on a pros and cons list, we use my SAIL Method to align her decision with her values, priorities, and long-term goals. If you’ve ever faced a major decision—whether it’s about housing, career, or family—this episode will give you ...
Feb 20, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Show Notes Are you struggling with decision-making and wondering if you're truly hearing from God? In this episode, I share my journey from being the world’s biggest overthinker to becoming a confident decision-maker, all by the grace of God. You'll hear how a last-minute calling led me to launch the 31 Days of Prayer Challenge in just 15 days—and how God's fingerprints were all over it. We’ll dive deep into the biggest factor in making better decisions—your relationship with God—and practical s...
Feb 06, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 26
In this episode, Lauren goes over a concept she learned years ago from the Andy Stanley Bible study called “The Principle of the Path.” The overall concept is to ask yourself, “What’s the wise choice.” To determine the wise choice, think about your end destination and let that determine the steps you take to get there. What direction are your actions leading you in, and are they helping you reach your goals or leading you down a path where you could say “How did I end up here?” Links Mentioned: ...
Oct 18, 2024•27 min•Ep. 25
In this episode of the Anchored Decisions Show, Lauren Black welcomes guest Rachel Mitchell, a mother of two teenage boys, to discuss how to help children become good decision-makers. They talk about involving kids in the decision-making process, teaching kids about fasting, and Rachel’s decisions between homeschool and public school. Rachel shares her strategies for teaching kids to seek God's guidance in their decisions, practical parenting tips, and the importance of having intentional, scrip...
Sep 26, 2024•39 min•Ep. 24
In this episode of The Anchored Decision Show , Lauren Black interviews interior designer Michaela Farwell from Fairspring Design. Together, they explore essential tips for honing your personal home design style, balancing trends with timeless choices, and ensuring your design flows seamlessly from room to room. Michaela shares insights from her design journey, discussing the art of blending styles and how to create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Whether you’re a DIY...
Sep 12, 2024•44 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of the Anchored Decisions podcast, host Lauren Black delves into the importance of helping children find their career paths early on. Inspired by her own experiences and volunteer work with youth groups, Lauren discusses the significance of guiding kids towards careers they are both passionate about and skilled in. She introduces Anna McLaughlin, a certified life coach and former corporate lawyer, who shares insights from her family's journey in homeschooling and encouraging care...
Aug 29, 2024•47 min•Ep. 22
Questioning whether you should send your child to public school as a Christian? In this episode, I share about the struggles with choosing a school for your child as a Christian — not just for the academics, but for a well-rounded social, emotional and educational intelligence. I share my journey of selecting a school for my child, including the various options I was considering and my pros and cons for each — public school, private Christian schools, charter school, homeschooling, and homeschoo...
Aug 16, 2024•38 min•Ep. 21
Struggle with negative thoughts, making assumptions or self-criticism? In this episode, Lauren provides a 3-step process for extinguishing the negative voices in your head and distinguishing what's true. Catch your lies and negative thoughts before they lead you down a rabbit hole that affects your mood, your words, your actions and your emotions. Key points: 3 Steps to Know and Live by the Truth STEP 1: Take captive the negative Catch the lies and negative thoughts before they start affecting y...
Aug 02, 2024•37 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, I’m joined by Kimberly Christian, a licensed clinical social worker and faith-based counselor. Kimberly introduces us to her program, The Christian Method , which combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with biblical principles to help people understand and transform their thoughts and feelings using CBT techniques. Kimberly delves into the crucial difference between thoughts and feelings, emphasizing that thoughts are complex narratives, while feelings are simple, single wo...
Jul 18, 2024•43 min•Ep. 19
Lauren provides an update on her home renovation — sharing how they've been trying a bunch of different options for her kitchen layout. She thought she was being indecisive, but then realized it was a different culprit: perfectionism. Lauren dives into the differences between perfectionism and indecision, and gives some examples of each, to help you determine which you struggle with, so you can problem-solve the best way to move forward and make decisions. Key differences: Indecision often stems...
Jul 03, 2024•25 min•Ep. 18
Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Brenda Yoder, a licensed mental health counselor, elementary school counselor, speaker, former teacher, podcaster, and author. Brenda shares insights from her books, including her latest, "Uncomplicated: Simple Secrets for a Compelling Life." We delve into the wisdom of past generations, the importance of practical skills and problem-solving, and how to balance modern technology with traditional values. Brenda's expertise and heartfelt adv...
Jun 20, 2024•36 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel Baker, a speaker, coach, and author dedicated to helping women reclaim their time and sanity. Rachel shares her journey to becoming a beacon of support for overwhelmed women, including those managing chronic pain, special needs, and ADHD. She discusses the importance of creating breathing room in our lives and the necessity of rest and reflection in decision-making. Rachel emphasizes the significance of self-care, not as a luxury, but as an essential practic...
Jun 06, 2024•31 min•Ep. 16
Getting a stubborn person to change their mind or even consider an alternative perspective can be a challenge... until now! Learn how one simple question — paired with commitment bias — can transform resistant attitudes into receptive conversations. This approach sets a positive, non-confrontational tone, making it easier to discuss challenging topics without feeling defensive or offended. Whether you're dealing with a stubborn family member, friend, or colleague (or are the stubborn one yoursel...
May 23, 2024•20 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, I chat with Michelle Croyle, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Abundant Freedom Counseling, on how parents can help their adult children make good decisions. We talk about finding the balance between offering guidance and allowing their adult children to make their own decisions... and how this process actually starts while their children are young, not after they've left the nest. We also dive into how to mend adult-child relationships that might have been severe...
May 16, 2024•33 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, we dive deep into how to guide your kids toward making good decisions. Join me and life coach, Entrice Rowe, as she shares expert advice on nurturing your child's decision-making skills, and the foundation needed for learning to make good choices. We discuss how to not overstep when letting your kids have some autonomy, what to do when you need to intervene, and how to model good decision-making for your children. Entrice also shares advice on how to help your children make deci...
May 09, 2024•43 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, we explore the concept of seeking divine confirmation when facing important decisions. Drawing from the biblical story of Gideon laying a fleece before God to confirm his calling, we dive into what "laying a fleece" could look like in our lives today. Does it signify a lack of trust, or is it simply a means to ensure we're accurately hearing from God? Life coach Sasha Star Robertson shares personal stories of how she has applied the concept, from buying a house to navigating bus...
May 02, 2024•32 min•Ep. 12
Ready for a home remodel, renovation, or building new? Thinking of redecorating? There are so many decisions to make when it comes to designing your dream home. In this episode I'll help you discover your unique style and envision the perfect design for your dream home through six essential steps. Explore ideas, visit showrooms, and gather samples of wood, countertops, paint, and fabrics to uncover your personal aesthetic. Dive into setting goals for your space, selecting materials, and determin...
Apr 25, 2024•33 min•Ep. 11
Struggling with a decision because you're not sure how it'll turn out? While you can never know exactly how things will play out, there are steps you can take gain clarity for each outcome... which will help you make more aligned, informed decisions. In this episode we explore 4 steps towards envisioning your decision to help you choose the best path. Minimize your risks and regrets through conducting proper decision research, visualizing the short-term and long-term impacts of each option, and ...
Apr 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 10
The best decisions are informed decisions! In this episode, I walk you through 6 research steps to ensure you're approaching your decision with a proper perspective and background information. This is part 1 of a 2-part series on envisioning how each option in your decision will play out. Research is the first step, so you have a good knowledge base as the foundation for your decision. Links Mentioned: · Three Decision Instincts: Anchored Decisions podcast, episode 1 · Questioning to Confident G...
Apr 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 9
On today's episode, I chat with Megan Nilsen of Kingdom Life Coaching, about how to hear from God in your decisions. We both share stories of leaning into God's "nudges," and dive into some deep, hard questions like "how do you distinguish between coincidence or a sign from God." We discuss how Megan heard from God when making plans to adopt her younger children, diving into the Bible to get to know God's voice, following the light unto our path that God shines just on the step in front of us, a...
Apr 04, 2024•41 min•Ep. 8
So drained from the little decisions that you just can't make one more decision for the day? That's called decision fatigue! But the good news is, I have 6 strategies to help you overcome decision fatigue so you can save your brain power for your bigger decisions and live with less overwhelm. Links Mentioned: · Three Decision Instincts: Anchored Decisions podcast, episode 1 · Free Decision Compass: Set the lens from which you make your decisions. www.anchoreddecisions.com/compass · Show notes: w...
Mar 28, 2024•24 min•Ep. 7
