Have you ever felt like you’ve been inside of an impossible situation? Maybe this situation was one that you stepped into on purpose, knowing this big God size dream. Maybe, however, the situation was something that you feel was pressed upon you. But regardless, do you feel stuck in an impossible situation? Hear me out on this one: if you don’t find yourself in an impossible situation now, I pray you find yourself in an impossible situation soon! Now, here’s what I mean by that: I think we’re pu...
Nov 25, 2020•31 min•Ep. 126
Have you ever wondered where God is in your life? Wanted more intimacy in your life with Jesus? Know that God hears you, sees you, and knows you! He knows the places in your heart that you need to be healed, promises you're wanting to see fulfilled, and all of your little quirks. Love that! How do we cultivate a relationship with Him to where we can identify where He is in our life? Eryn Eddy and Elisa Morgan join me for this conversation! Together, they host a podcast "God Hears Her" and have w...
Nov 18, 2020•47 min•Ep. 125
With the holidays coming up, winter coming in full swing, and this OMG year of 2020, we really could use a reminder about what true rest is! Chances are, you clicked play on this episode because you’re feeling tired, exhausted, and burnt out. Or, you’re close to it and you can tell somethings not right. Well, you’re in luck because today’s episode is going all in to the idea of rest: why we need it, how do we accomplish it and how do we combat burn out when it actually happens. Who better to hav...
Nov 11, 2020•44 min•Ep. 124
What is faith? The more I lean back and think about it I can come up with so many different definitions of what it is and what it means to me personally. In today’s episode, we’re really diving into what is authentic faith and how does it present itself? We answer these questions by comparing it to a metal called “platinum.” Today’s gas or two besties, Michelle and Bethany. They have so much enthusiasm for helping women including other writers and encouraging everyone that they encounter (especi...
Nov 04, 2020•51 min•Ep. 123
One of my favorite topics to chat about is marriage! Here's why: there's a lot of messages that the world is screaming at us and there are not many places these false narratives are being combatted. Today we're talking fighting, sex, how to be invested and involved in one another, bad habits that you may be operating in. Today's guest, Jessica Hottle, is helping me tackle this conversation. I was recently on Jessica's podcast, "What's The Truth Podcast," where we talked a bit about Thomas and my...
Oct 28, 2020•52 min•Ep. 122
Today's society has helped us perfect the art of false guilt, and particularly as women, we have a tendency to guilt ourselves over so many things. Valorie Burton's message and new book, Let Go of The Guilt, helps to identify false guilt and gives practical advice and tools on how to free yourself from this trap, allowing us to live a more joy-filled and fulfilling life. So today, we're diving a bit deeper into where guilt comes from, particularly for women, and how it can plague our lives, leav...
Oct 21, 2020•45 min•Ep. 121
If you've listened to a few episodes, you may have heard me mention Passion (the conference I attended in ATL at the very beginning of the year). Passion City Church has always been close to my heart, especially their music. And today's conversation is with a powerhouse of a woman and is a female worship leader with Passion Music. You may have heard her in some of our favorites, "Build My Life," "Glorious Day" and more. In today's episode, we discover how to find true freedom from comparison. Sh...
Oct 14, 2020•43 min•Ep. 120
We all have something that we're overcoming at the moment - are we not? If it's not something specific, maybe it's the year 2020, in general, 😂 There are a lot of well-intentioned messages out there that are meant to encourage us but still leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed in the adversity. Alli Worthington joins us for this conversation today: how do we draw strength from our God-given identities, to overcome the obstacles that keep us from reaching our full potential and living out our dream...
Oct 07, 2020•48 min•Ep. 119
With people posting the "best" and sharing the "highlight reel" of their life, it makes it pretty easy for us to think for a quick second that their life is better or as people say "the grass is greener on the other side." And on top of that, we're getting messages thrown at us to hustle and we might have the life they have or the one we want, if we work hard enough, if we do enough then we'll be enough. Today's guest, Jamie Ivey tackles these thoughts, messages and offers us something better. J...
Sep 30, 2020•43 min•Ep. 118
Happy Second Day of Fall! If you're like me, you've been chatting about all of the seasonal things now that we're ushering in Autumn! Thomas and I are also settling into our new home and from what I've heard from you all, a lot of you are in rentals or temporary houses, too! This week's episode with The Nester is perfect timing! We have all been spending A LOT of time in our homes, and with today's guest's, Myquillyn Smith, help we can have a cozy, festive house this fall that can easily transit...
Sep 23, 2020•43 min•Ep. 117
From growing up in a single-wide trailer in the mountains of rural West Virginia to the halls of Yale Law School, Mary Marantz’s story is one of remembering our roots while turning our faces to the sky. How do we hold both (honor for our past but excitement for what's to come)? There's a way! And Mary shares how in today's episode through some amazing exercises, questions for you to ponder, and funny stories of her own. Hey! It's okay to change your mind in life. We talk about this, too :) Learn...
Sep 16, 2020•59 min•Ep. 116
Have you ever felt "benched"? You're asked to sit on the sidelines rather than hop in the game. You start feeling comparison creep in because you're watching others living "their moment" while you're waiting for yours? Today's guest, Hope Darst, knows the feeling. After desiring a music career, she took God's closed-door as a sign to seek Him, pray for timing, and find freedom for herself. Little did she know, God's "no" was just really a "not right now" and she'd be called back tot he music sce...
Sep 15, 2020•55 min•Ep. 115
We’re pregnant! After a journey, lots of questions, and few answers and prayer, we can finally announce this super fun news! We’re answering lots of fun questions, how we found out, how we told our family and friends, a few God-winks we’ve gotten along the way, and more funny stories. Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/114 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Rachel on Instagram: instagram.com/rachel.awtrey This episode is sponsored by Helix Sleep Helix is offering u...
Sep 02, 2020•28 min•Ep. 114
What if the struggles of life aren’t a barrier to thriving but an invitation into your most vibrant days? Whether you feel weighed down by never-ending tasks, or you find yourself walking through your most difficult days, you might be left wondering if a vibrant life will ever be in your future. In today’s episode, Jennie Lusko, wife, mom, and author, shares part of her story filled with darkness and how God came in and invited her to flourish in the midst of the pain. When Jennie's five-year-ol...
Aug 26, 2020•48 min•Ep. 113
It’s often said that prayer changes everything but it’s hard to believe this truth or see it happen if prayer isn’t a part of your every day. Don’t fret and no conviction because Chrystal Evans Hurst takes us through some simple truths she clings to, drops some truth bombs and midshifts that we could all hear right now, and her practical steps in moving towards a conversational relationship with God. It’s a good one! If you wanted to get your hands on her mentioned prayer guide, head to the show...
Aug 19, 2020•39 min•Ep. 112
Today, we’re spilling the tea on womanhood! There’s a lot of opinions about what a woman should be, coming from all angles: the church, the world, and everything in between. Today, author, Lauren Crews sits with us to break these stereotypes given by both the church and the media and busts myths based on biblical principles. What does God have to say about womanhood? Specifically, what can we find out about the Proverbs 31 woman that we may not already know? It’s time to take this old version of...
Aug 12, 2020•37 min•Ep. 111
Business coach and genius, Jennifer Allwood, points out that one thing that’s holding you back from seeing your greatest success in business: fear. If we’ve learned anything about business these past few months, it’s that online business is where it’s at. Jennifer shares her 3 tips to getting started with your next best idea, busts some myths that you may be believing about business, and give you a good kick in the booty and high five along the way! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownote...
Aug 05, 2020•49 min•Ep. 110
In this episode, Angie Smith, author of one of Rachel’s favorite devotionals shares her story of falling in love with the Bible and how you can lean in and get more out of your time in the Word. Rachel and Angie talk through why it’s important to read scripture, how it all intertwines together, and is actually one big story and how it all tells us one big truth about who God is from Genesis to Revelation. Shownotes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/109 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindth...
Jul 29, 2020•3 min•Ep. 109
If you’ve survived sorrow, have felt the pain of grief and know what it’s like to lose something: a dream, a loved one, etc, this episode is for you. Kim Erickson joins us in today’s episode to chat through practical ways to survive sorrow, seek God in the middle of it and move urgently in obedience through the grieving process. Kim speaks to the one that wants to share their story of sorrow, how to share it well, and what her process looked like to share her grief and story. Shownotes: behindth...
Jul 22, 2020•50 min•Ep. 108
I cannot wait for you to dive into today’s conversation with Diane Jago! She’s written a book called “A Holy Pursuit: How the Gospel Frees us to Follow and Lay Down Our Dreams” I don’t know about you but I feel like the world has thrown so many messages at me through Pinterest and Facebook and random jargon in the media. “Follow your heart.” “Follow your dreams.” While, yes, I want to agree with the message, I also have to know that my heart is fleeting. These desires of my heart have been given...
Jul 15, 2020•37 min•Ep. 107
This episode is for someone that has a passion and wants to make a profit but ditch the Pinterest mentality and really get after it. We can dream with God, really get after it and see some incredible things come to fruition. Today’s guest, Stefanie Gass talks through this idea and shares how she shifted her mindset, got real with God (and herself) about her goals and ambitions and how she champions women today to do the same. If you have a passion and want to figure out how to profit from it, th...
Jul 08, 2020•39 min•Ep. 106
We’ve all faced that moment: feeling called to something, have a desire for something, and thinking “nah, that can’t be for me it’s too _____.” We’ve been there. The crazy difficult or different calling. “Why would God choose me to do that?” “What would people think?” Today, Angela Braniff joins us to chat through her calling, how it’s crazy different, unique and beautiful all at the same time and how her bold “yes” changed everything. It’s easy to opt out, say “ehh” or pass it off to someone el...
Jul 01, 2020•43 min•Ep. 105
Have you ever been surrounded by people but still feel lonely? Maybe you've had a hard time making friends that last that you could count on during a hard time. Or, you can easily convince yourself that you can do this life thing alone. In this episode, we chat all through these thoughts. What is a "healthy community," how do we find belonging and why is it important to be a part of something bigger than you? We're confronting this idea of isolation and combating loneliness. Ready?! LET'S GO! Sh...
Jun 24, 2020•48 min•Ep. 104
I’m sure with recent events your heart may be heavy. Mine is. It’s heavy from receiving feedback, instruction, conviction, a pandemic, loneliness, pivoting, all the things. I invited my new friend, Brittney Moses to join me for a conversation to answer the question “what do we do with all of this heaviness” and she has some beautiful answers! Brittney is a mental health professional and loves to find the intersection between faith and mental and emotional health and it’s something you need to he...
Jun 17, 2020•44 min•Ep. 103
In today's episode, Rachel sits down with Dani Coke and they have a conversation about race, where to start when taking action and how to posture your heart before starting the work. If you struggle to know what to say, what not to say, not quite sure what move to make, today's episode is for you! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/102 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Dani on Instagram: instagram.com/ohhappydani Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Jun 10, 2020•43 min•Ep. 102
In this episode, singer/songwriter Jillian Edwards joins Rachel to talk all about her newest album, Meadow, how do you know when you have the “green light” to “shoot your shot,” how do we take refuge in God’s approval instead of the world’s? What songs is this songwriter loving that aren’t her own and where did the inspiration behind her latest album come from? We answer all of that and more on today’s episode on Behind the Bliss! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/101 BTB on Instag...
May 27, 2020•49 min•Ep. 101
In this episode, Kate Bowman from Lonestar Southern joins Rachel for a live episode with nearly 500 of you, too! We’re celebrating the 100th episode by interacting with listeners and we let *you* control the conversation on this one! Rachel and Kate chat all of the girly fun things from nail polish colors, books they're loving, funny marriage stories, marriage advice, and lots of love for the girl wanting to start a blog! Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/100 BTB on Instagram: inst...
May 20, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 100
Today we are diving into how to read God’s word, how it was meant to be read, some practical tools for new and mature believers as well as the need to understand the context. The heart of today’s guests, Hope Blanton and Christine Gordon, are amazing! They are the co-authors of At His Feet Studies. Between seminary and working in the counseling world, these women know how to encourage you in truth and give you some amazing next steps for those hungry to get in the Word. This is a great episode f...
May 13, 2020•55 min•Ep. 99
In this episode, Rachel invites listeners to share their praise reports and what God is doing in their life in this season. It is an amazing episode full of testimonies that we pray stirs your heart and encourage you today! These come from women just like you: moms, teachers, nurses, nonprofit, small business owners, and everything in between. It’s so amazing to see what God is doing and so important to lay down “Ebenezer” to remind us in the future of what he’s doing today. Show notes: behindth...
May 06, 2020•28 min•Ep. 98
Have you ever found yourself in an “unideal” situation or circumstance? Erica Gwynn gets that. After surviving 73 days in the NICU with her daughter, Olivia, Erica has gained wisdom from circumstances we never saw ourselves in. She shares all about why the idea of “balance” is a unicorn, so instead embrace the balancing act and give ourselves grace when we fall short. Show notes: behindtheblisspodcast.com/shownotes/97 BTB on Instagram: instagram.com/behindtheblisspodcast Erica on Instagram: inst...
Apr 29, 2020•38 min•Ep. 97
