The Tried and Truth Podcast: Rethinking Success and Cultivating a Well-Led Life

If you've ever felt misunderstood by the people closest to you — your spouse, your coworkers, your best friend — this episode is for you.

We're sitting down with Jason VanRuler, herapist, speaker, and author of Discovering Your Communication Type, to talk about why most of us feel lonely and why we're stuck in the same communication patterns (or lack thereof), having the same arguments, and wondering why nothing changes — even when...

Would you agree that we're living in the most self-focused era in human history — and yet also one of the loneliest? Today's guest, Made to Magnify author Morgan Krueger, joins us to talk about the connection. Morgan is sharing why focusing more on ourselves is actually making us more anxious, more dissatisfied, and more stuck and what it looks like practically, to step out of that cycle.

In this episode, you'll discover:

If you’ve decluttered your home but it still feels overwhelming, this episode is for you.

Katy Joy Wells, decluttering expert has helped over 250,000 families transform their homes into "happy places" by addressing the real clutter problem: the beliefs, habits, and emotional attachments underneath all the stuff.

Katy unpacks why most decluttering attempts fail, what clutter actually means, and how we can create a home that supports...

What do you do when life feels uncertain, unsteady, or like you’re living in an in-between season?

In this episode, Annica sits down with writer and speaker Adriel Booker from Australia to talk about navigating life transitions, grief, identity shifts, and what it looks like to stay grounded when nothing feels clearly resolved.

Together, they explore the emotional and spiritual reality of "liminal space"—those spaces between what w...

You've built the life. You've checked the boxes. You've chased happiness and searched for meaning — and yet something still feels... off.

In this episode, philosopher and professor Dr. Lorraine Besser joins us to talk about the missing third dimension of the good life: psychological richness. Drawing from her research and groundbreaking book The Art of the Interesting, Dr. Besser reveals why happiness and meaning alone aren't enoug...

You've hit the milestones. You've checked the boxes. So why does it still feel like it's not enough?

In this episode, we're unpacking one of the most exhausting traps we fall into — the endless chase for a "greater" life — and why it's designed to leave you restless no matter how much you achieve. More importantly, you'll walk away with a simple shift that helps you finally feel good about the life you already have.

In this episode...

You don’t need another podcast episode about the Bible.

You don’t need another checklist, another quiet time routine, or another voice explaining it to you.

But if you’re honest…

You might feel disconnected. Like you want a deeper relationship with God—but most of what you’re experiencing feels secondhand.

Through podcasts. Devotionals. Other people’s insights.

And somewhere along the way, you started believing: “Maybe I just don’t...

Turn podcast inspiration into daily action and add a little quick-read spark to the middle of real life —subscribe to the newsletter! 

What if worrying about your kid's anxiety is actually making it worse?

In this episode, I sit down with psychiatrist Dr. Tracy Foose — who has spent over 15 years studying fear and anxiety — to completely reframe how we think about these emotions as parents and as women.

We talk about why fear of fe...

Need a little spark in your week? Subscribe to the "Right Here, Lately" newsletter and never miss out! What if the thing you’ve been avoiding… is exactly what you need right now?

When was the last time you sat in real silence— no phone, no background noise, nothing to distract you—AND didn’t feel the urge to escape it?

Most of us don’t avoid stillness because we’re busy…we avoid it because of the unease we might find there.

In th...

What if the peace you're desperate for has nothing to do with your circumstances?

In this episode, I sit down with Tara Dew — author and Bible teacher to explore the life-changing truths of (and new way of seeing) Psalm 23. 

Tara shares practical ways to experience more peace, even as you walk through life's valleys, wilderness seasons and seasons of uncertainty through the lens of Psalm 23. We dive into daily rhythms of cultivatin...

Are you exhausted by the pressure to do it all — and still quietly wondering, what am I even supposed to be doing?

You're not alone. So many women are carrying the weight of impossible expectations while still feeling unsure of their purpose, their role, and their worth.

In this episode, author and speaker Jen Oshman joins us for an honest, grounding conversation about the confusion so many women feel — about their roles, their wor...

Do you ever wonder if the small creative things you do actually matter? Do you believe creativity is a luxury reserved for people with more time, more talent, or more perfect circumstances?

In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Gadd—author of Create Anyway and founder of Coffee and Crumbs—to talk about what it really means to create in the midst of real life. We dive into why your messy, ordinary days are actually the perfect pla...

What if the statistical "low point" of your life is actually the perfect place to pause, reframe, and choose what you're carrying into the next season?

In this vulnerable and encouraging episode, I'm turning 40 (literally, today!) —and according to research on the "happiness curve," I'm entering the “nadir”, the absolute lowest point of the human contentment on the curve. But instead of spiraling into a midlife crisis, I'm choosing...

This week, we sit down with a voice for the next generation, Alena Franklin, to explore how understanding who God is transforms the way we see ourselves, our pain, and our purpose.

You may recognize Alena from her breakout role in the film War Room, but her story goes far deeper. At just 14 years old, Alena experienced the sudden and tragic loss of her mother—a loss that shook her faith to its core and sent her on a profound journe...

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Woodson for a conversation that feels equal parts relatable and grounding. From Amazon packages and Taco Tuesday to impulse Google searches and one-click fixes, we talk honestly about how modern habits are quietly shaping the way we seek peace, control, and comfort.

In a culture where it’s easier than ever to consume, optimize, or escape discomfort, Elizabeth invites us to pause and ask b...

Feeling overbooked, overstimulated, overwhelmed or stretched too thin—but still trying to “do it all” for everyone? In this episode, author and podcaster Tara Sun joins us again to talk about what happens when busy living starts crowding out abundant living — and how to reclaim rest, boundaries, and presence without guilt.

Tara shares her personal journey through burnout, motherhood, and rebuilding rhythms that priorit...

What do you do when doubt feels louder than faith? In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, where change is the only constant, how do we find something solid to hold onto?

In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Reissig—author, Bible teacher, high school educator, and mom of four boys—to talk about her book Someone to Believe In and why the Gospel of John matters more than ever. Courtney brings a unique perspective as both ...

What does it take to raise boys who grow into men of courage, character, and purpose in a world that breeds passivity and isolation? In this episode, J. Josh Smith shares practical wisdom from his new book The Man for the Day, revealing how to fight passivity, cultivate virtue, and help young men discover their God-given purpose—starting today.

Whether you’re raising sons or mentoring young men this conversation will challenge you ...

What do you do when your worst nightmare becomes reality? When Amber Smith's three-year-old son River drowned in a tragic accident, her world shattered in an instant. But on the bathroom floor—in her darkest moments of grief—she discovered a faith that would transform her pain into purpose.

In this raw and powerful conversation, Amber shares her journey from worldly happiness to deep spiritual transformation, revealing how she and ...