Upside Down Influencer

Is it ever worth “cheating the system” to gain followers or influence as a Christ follower, even if it works? Even if it leads to growth, opportunity, or money? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Evan Werthman, the creator behind Snaxsonville, to unpack the tension believers face in the online space. As Evan has experienced real success on social media, he’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of “influencing....

Christmas is meant to feel joyful. Yet for so many people, the holidays tend to magnify what they’re already carrying … (grief, loneliness, comparison, disappointment, even pressure to perform online.) In the middle of social media’s highlight reels, it can feel like you're the only one struggling. In today’s episode, Jessica invites licensed family + marriage therapist Rebecca Maxwell from the Jesus and Your Mental ...

If you’re a Christian creative, you know how easily "calling" can get tangled up with platform. In this episode, Jessica talks with Christian folk artist and songwriter Brice Davis about the tension between calling and platform and what it really means to choose faithfulness over fame in a social media society. Brice shares his journey in Christian music, how he navigates social media as an artist, and the journey to...

In this episode, Jessica chats with Kelly Saxton about what it really looks like to navigate dating apps, long-term singleness, and faith in modern culture. What does it look like to stay faithful in your singleness in a world of swipes, situationships, and seasonal dating pressure? Kelly shares her honest experiences with online dating, how she sets boundaries that honor God, and what it means to keep hope alive whe...

Audrey may wear camo, but she is learning what it means to live anything but blended in. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Audrey Wikan - hunter, content creator, and spokeswoman for Drake Waterfowl. Together, they talk about navigating social media in the outdoor industry, Audrey’s walk with Christ, finding purpose beyond performance, and living with integrity in a world driven by image. So whether you’ve ever ...

What happens when a pastor becomes a food influencer? Jessica talks with Trey Curry (@treylovesfood) about why Christians should make the best content on the internet. As Christ followers, it’s easy to see social media as dangerous or “worldly”, but Trey reminds us, it’s a tool! The question is, who’s using it? Will we let the enemy dominate these spaces, or will we step in and create with excellence for God’s glory? Together, Je...

Post Charlie Kirk assassination, a lot of Christians are asking themselves how they can live differently. In this first solo episode, I’m sharing what God has been teaching me about living set apart in a world that constantly tells us to conform. From embracing the season you’re in, to pursuing  friendships, showing hospitality, and staying obedient in your walk with God, I’m unpacking the ways He is shaping the way I...

What does it look like to chase excellence in your sport while keeping your identity rooted in Christ? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, I’m joined by 18-year-old Emma Heck, a rising star in the weightlifting world who uses her platform to point people to Jesus. Emma shares her journey into weightlifting, the highs and lows of competition, and what it’s like to have influence in her sport at such a young age. We dive int...

What happens when you reach the dream everyone else is chasing…only to realize it still leaves you empty? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, Jessica sits down with former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion, Josh Wells to talk about his journey from small-town football to the big stage of the National Football League. Josh shares the highs of making it to the top, but also the surprising emptiness that came wit...

How do you make a living on social media and still follow Christ faithfully? In this episode of Upside-Down Influencer, I sit down with Chelsea Shull, a content creator who works in both the influencer and UGC (user-generated content) world.  Chelsea shares her journey into influencer marketing, what success looks like to her, and what real influence is vs just a viral video. She also opens up about how she navigates brand partner...

In this episode, we’re diving into the questions most Christ followers on social media aren’t asking out loud, but are probably thinking about! Should we be posting pictures of our Bible and coffee on Instagram? Is it okay to ask God for followers? Can we record our quiet time with the Lord and still call it authentic? Should we expect worldly success when we share about Jesus online?  These are the kinds of question...

Are we being vain? How do we know? In today’s culture, many things get so “normalized” that we almost get desensitized to how self obsession can actually look. Listen, I am not trying to be over the top and say you can never post a photo of yourself or that we can’t celebrate wins. However, I DO think there needs to be more conversations around this topic because as Christ followers, our social media SHOULD look diffe...

Constant notifications, endless scrolling and nonstop multimedia... distraction isn’t just a nuisance… it’s a battle for our attention and affection. How can we guard our hearts and minds against the things that pull us away from Christ? In this episode, I’m joined by Caitlin Armstrong from The Church of Eleven22 to unpack this important topic. We talk about the difference between what is sinful and what’s simply not beneficial, h...

In a culture obsessed with visibility and validation, Tyler Workman’s story offers a needed, counter-cultural reminder: you don’t need a platform to be faithful. As the founder of Okoa Refuge, Tyler shares how God called him into full-time missions work. Not with fanfare, but through years of quiet obedience. In this episode, we talk about the unseen years, when no one was clapping, no one was posting and how God used...

In this episode, we dive into a tricky topic: Self-promotion. In the age of social media, the lines can get blurry. To help navigate this conversation, I invited someone who has spent years wrestling with this tension. Josh Sinke has served with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) for over 16 years, leading global mission trips and mentoring young leaders. He’s also been a worship leader for more than two decades and even s...

What would it look like to leverage your social media for the gospel? In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Joby Martin, lead pastor of The Church of Eleven22 to process through what that means. We talk about everything from the temptation of engaging in online gossip to the challenge of promoting your work without promoting yourself. We also discuss “longevity content” and how to know when we’ve crossed the line fr...

Social media can quietly drain us emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. But, is it ALL bad? Or can it be used in a healthy way? I think so! In this episode, I sit down with licensed therapist and host of Jesus and Your Mental Health, Rebecca Maxwell, to unpack the real impact social media has on our mental well-being. We talk comparison, anxiety, emotional burnout, and the spiritual battle happening beneath it ...

Have you ever met someone who has ACTUALLY walked through being "canceled?" In this episode, I’m joined by Ty Kelly, content creator, husband, dad, and follower of Jesus, for an honest conversation about cancel culture. You might recognize Ty from his viral Chick-fil-a and Husband Bootcamp videos. But one day, everything changed when his family “Disney Shoe Hack” video sparked a media firestorm.

Today, Ty shares from his heart th...

What does it look like to be countercultural both offline AND online? In this episode, I talk with Ron Armstrong, Christian leader, founder of Grounds of Grace & Sponsored by Grace and candidate for mayor of Jacksonville, FL! We talk about how to stand firm in your faith as a business owner, how to navigate political conversations online without adding to the noise, and what it means to be an upside down influencer in today’s w...