Thinking That Matters with Elizabeth Mahusay

Welcome to a special year-end episode of Thinking That Matters! In this episode, I’m reflecting on the Top 10 most-listened episodes of 2025.

This isn’t just a countdown. It’s a look back at the conversations that resonated most deeply, stories of faith, resilience, purpose, leadership, and what it really means to live a life that matters.

Below is a breakdown of each episode and when it appears in the conversation.

Episode Timeline

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by rising health insurance costs or wondering if there’s a better option for you?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with longtime friend and insurance expert Steve Stump to break down what’s really happening in the world of health coverage and what you can do about it.

Steve shares his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, including the shocking costs he faced when going o...

What if the voice that keeps telling you “you’re not enough” has been wrong all along?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth sits down with Terri Martinez, a wife, mom, ya-ya, connector, entrepreneur, and community outreach leader. Terri shares her journey of rebuilding confidence, overcoming limiting beliefs, trusting God through dark seasons, and discovering her purpose through connection and service.

If you’ve ever s...

What if the limitations you’ve believed about your age, body, or health were never true?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth sits down with Monica Steiner, fresh off her incredible performance at the 28th Miss Natural Olympia in Las Vegas, where she earned two gold medals and a silver. Monica shares her inspiring journey in natural bodybuilding and reflects on her decades-long involvement with the INBA/PNBA, includin...

What if the weaknesses you try to hide are where God wants to show His strength? 

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, attorney Jin Shin shares his journey from South Korea to South Africa, through military service, law school, and into a calling much bigger than himself.

Jin opens up about moving from fear to purpose, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to step into calling even when he felt unqualified. He shares practi...

What happens when you combine a heart for people, a lifetime of hard work, and a belief that you’re capable of more than you think?

In today’s episode of Thinking That Matters, I’m joined by my Leadership McKinney classmate and friend, Dana Stillwell, Senior Development Liaison for the City of McKinney- someone whose story reminds us what it looks like to lead with intention, humility, and purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stretched betwe...

What does it take to move from potential to performance and lead with authenticity, not ego? 

In this episode, Crispin Thompson, founder of The Leadership Studio, shares 30+ years of leadership experience, mindset shifts, and practical tools that turn good managers into impactful leaders.

Learn how to overcome imposter syndrome, let go of perfectionism, and communicate with honesty and influence. Discover why self-reflection is your ...

What would happen if you realized that everything you were chasing success, money, influence still left you empty inside?

In this powerful episode, Elizabeth sits down with Scott, a man who walked away from worldly ambition to pursue something eternal. From his early years in New Orleans to a life-altering moment at Texas A&M, Scott shares how he went from running from God to running toward Him with everything he had.

Discover how ...

What if the next step in your career isn’t up the ladder but down a few ranks? In this powerful episode, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with Sarah Neale, a 24-year veteran of the title industry, to unpack how she traded corporate titles and burnout for peace, purpose, and personal fulfillment.

Sarah shares her journey from starting at the front desk to leading teams across Texas and how she discovered that leadership isn’t about titles...

What if your deepest pain became the path to your greatest growth?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with Erica Vedane, insurance professional, small business owner, and community leader to share how faith, mindset, and courage helped her rebuild after tremendous loss.

After losing her mother, grandmother, and brother within just two years, Erica faced a crossroads—stay stuck in grief or let God tr...

What if the stories you tell yourself are holding you back from becoming who you’re meant to be?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with DeAnna Stone, Executive Drama Director, community leader, and storyteller at McKinney’s historic Chestnut Square to explore how storytelling, self-awareness, and faith can help us move beyond limiting beliefs and live more authentically.

Drawing from her years in t...

What if creativity isn’t about paintbrushes or talent but about the choices you make every day? 

In this inspiring episode, Elizabeth Mahusay sits down with mural artist and painter Andrea Holmes, whose vibrant works have transformed downtown McKinney and beyond. Together, they unpack what it really means to live creatively whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or simply learning to think differently.

You’ll Discover:

What does it really mean to “take Jesus to school”? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth sits down with Dr. Jackie Minor—lifelong educator, trainer, and author of Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display. Together, they unpack how Christian educators can live out their faith authentically in classrooms and leadership, even when cultural or institutional pressures suggest otherwise.

If you’ve ever wr...

What do you do when life shatters in an instant? In this powerful episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Deanna Dotson, Banking Center Manager at American National Bank of Texas, to share her journey through unimaginable loss and the faith that carries her forward.

Deanna opens up about losing her son, the raw emotions of grief, and the struggle between faith and human emotion. She also reveals the surprising ways God has...

Ever felt stuck watching others move forward while you’re standing still? 

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Katherine Gold, a private banker with Frost Bank, whose journey proves that success isn’t always linear. From burnout and closed doors to pastry school in Europe and back to banking, Katherine shares how pivotal moments, resilience, and mindset shifts helped her build her own success story.

You’ll disco...

What happens when a 13-year-old’s life is turned upside down by long COVID, chronic illness, and uncertainty about the future? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Karis Hill and her mom, Laura Hill, for a raw, hope-filled conversation about resilience, faith, and reframing life’s hardest moments.

Karis shares her four-year journey from being bed-bound and unable to hold simple conversations, to now living with...

"The hardest things in my life, my dad’s death and my hearing loss, are the very things that make me passionate and successful. I consider them a gift." – Whitney Wolf

What happens when you go from 5% hearing to 95% almost overnight? In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Whitney Wolff, a special education teacher and mom whose journey with profound hearing loss led to an unexpected miracle during the pandemic, c...

What does it take to thrive and lead in a male-dominated industry?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, Elizabeth sits down with Terri Graber, Vice President of Training and Development at TEXO, The Construction Association of North Texas. Terri shares her remarkable journey from project engineer to executive leadership, and how she’s helping 20,000+ members grow through professional development.

You’ll discover:

• The big...

Are you relying on a “checklist” approach to marketing only to wonder why the results never match your expectations?

In this episode of Thinking That Matters, I sit down with Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer and owner of Market Surge, to unpack the truth about scaling a business in today’s digital world. Reed shares how his own entrepreneurial journey, from running a photography studio with his wife to leading a marketing agency, ...