Real Talk with Rachael Podcast

Welcome to Real Talk with Rachael Gilbert! I've missed you. My last episode was in May, and I'm excited to say God has been speaking about this show. I have some fun updates coming in 2026!

Today we're kicking off our two-part Process & Pray series. Every December, we slow down and reflect so we can enter the new year with clarity and peace. This week, we're focusing on processing 2025, both the hard and the good.

Process: ...

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm sharing a quick, honest episode about something I've been wrestling with - what do you do when God doesn't seem to be speaking? I've been questioning the future of the podcast and feeling that silence - maybe you can relate. Is there an area where God feels distant right now? I'm encouraging you to think back to the last thing He asked us to do, even if it felt small or insignificant. Did yo...

In the #1 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Dana K. White from A Slob Comes Clean kicked off the first episode of 2019 with practical and hilarious wisdom on decluttering. As an author, podcaster, and self-proclaimed "hopelessly messy" person turned decluttering expert, Dana shares her journey of tackling her own home and helping others do the same. She offers realistic tips o...

In the #2 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, I celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary with my four older siblings. Together, we reflect on the powerful lessons we've learned from our mom and dad—one from each kid. From the importance of building a foundation of faith to the power of unconditional love, we share heartfelt (and often humorous) memories of growing up in a family of seven. With plenty of s...

In the #3 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Sandy Jobe shares heartfelt wisdom on marriage, family, and the power of prayer. As a homemaker, author, and Women's Ministries Care Pastor, Sandy encourages us to embrace gratitude in every season and bring everything—even the little things—to God in prayer. She reminds us that healthy marriages require both partners d...

In the #4 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, author Sarah Philpott shares wisdom from her book, The Growing Season: A Year of Down-on-the-Farm Devotions. Using farming as a powerful metaphor, Sarah explains the importance of spiritual rest—just as fallow ground needs time to replenish its nutrients, we need seasons of stillness to restore our souls. She encourages pruning commitments that no longer fit your pr...

In the #5 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Heather Johnson from Revelation Wellness shares powerful insights on finding joy, walking in intimacy with God, and living with intention. She reminds us that loving others starts with being loved by the Father—when we run dry, it's His love that refills us. Heather encourages us to slow down, sit with God, and let Him minister to us, even when it feels vulnera...

In the #6 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, author Lauren Chandler shares insights from her Bible study, With Us in the Wilderness: A Study of the Book of Numbers. She reminds us that God's plan has always included women and that even the difficult passages in Scripture reveal His heart for justice and restoration. Lauren encourages us to approach the Bible with prayer and patience, trusting that God's voice w...

In the #7 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Dr. Juli Slattery joins the conversation to share wisdom on marriage, intimacy, and the power dynamics at play in relationships. As a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, Juli helps women understand how to use their influence in marriage in a way that builds up rather than controls. She explains that men thrive when they feel believed in, suppo...

In the #8 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Rebekah Moes opens up about her personal journey through infidelity in her marriage and how God's redemption transformed her life. As co-founder of Family of Hope and host of the unFAITHFUL podcast, Rebekah is passionate about helping couples navigate the often lonely road of marital betrayal. She shares valuable insights, including how marriage acts as a mirror—ref...

In the #9 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, author Gary Thomas dives into the topic of his book Married Sex: A Christian Couple's Guide to Reimagining Your Love Life. Gary shares practical, faith-based insights on how married couples can cultivate a healthy, God-honoring sex life. He emphasizes that sex should be mutually pleasurable, strengthen the relationship, and glorify God—shifting the focus from using ...

In the #10 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Lee Strobel joins the conversation to talk about his documentary The Case for Heaven and the journey that inspired it. After a near-death experience, Lee—once an atheist and now a passionate Christian—set out to explore what really happens after we die. He shares fascinating insights about the afterlife, explaining that our souls live on and describing two st...

7 years. 378 episodes. When God gave me the name Real Talk with Rachael at The Declare Conference, I had no idea where it would go. Over the years, I've learned so much, but today, I'm sharing 7 lessons from 7 years of podcasting:

1. Do not despise small beginnings. The Lord rejoices to see the work begin. (Zechariah 4:10)
2. You will be bad at first. That's OK. Keep going.
3. You will want to quit. Remember why you started. (Revelatio...

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm chatting with the hosts of FamilyLife Today, Dave and Ann Wilson. They are also cofounders of Kensington Church, a national, multi-campus church that hosts more than 14,000 attendees every weekend.  Dave and Ann are authors of the book Vertical Marriage: The One Secret That Will Change Your Marriage.  The Wilsons live in the Detroit area where Dave served as the Detroit Li...

In this special episode, I dive into faith as the foundation for transformation. Together, we explore the power of shifting from fear to faith, building spiritual resilience, and taking bold steps toward the life God has called us to live. Through scriptural truths, personal reflections, and practical steps, you'll discover how to let faith move you forward and release the grip of fear and comparison.

We'll also take intentional mo...

Back by popular demand is our annual Process and Pray. If you're new here, in December, we spend every Monday morning in a series where we "Process & Pray through the Year." As a therapist, I believe in the power of pausing and reflecting so we can embrace the present and look forward to the future.

Thus far, we have big praise and bold prayers. Today we are discussing our battle plan.

Process & Pray:

• What wor...

It's December, which means it's time for our annual Process & Pray! This series is all about reflecting on the past year, embracing the present, and preparing for what's ahead.

This week, we're pausing to praise God for answered prayers and seeking Him for bold, faith-filled prayers. Nothing is too big for God, and He calls us to come to Him with confidence.

Process:

• What prayers has God answered this year? W...

We're kicking off our annual Process & Pray series in today's Talk Therapy episode. Every Monday in December, we'll create space to reflect on the year, invite God into our journey, and prepare our hearts for what's ahead.

This week, we're starting with gratitude by praising God for His goodness and who He is. As you process and pray, consider this question: "Jesus, what victories do you want to remind me of from this year...

This week on Real Talk with Rachael it's the final episode of my church series where we've been engaging in healthy conversations about church and leadership all while keeping our hearts pure in the process. While I'm a licensed professional counselor, I want to be clear that I am not professionally counseling you on this podcast today. My goal is to offer some pastoral counseling by providing you with a system to follow when you'r...