StoryMakers- Discover Identity, Purpose, and Belonging

28-How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed and Take the Next Step

STOP THE SWIRL- Sometimes the swirl of overwhelm can feel louder than peace. If you’ve ever stared at your to-do list and thought, “I don’t even know where to start,” this episode is for you. You don’t need the whole plan- you just need grace for the next step. In this short but powerful encouragement, I’ll pray over you, share a simple decree you can whisper back when your mind feels heavy, and give you five practical anchoring steps to help you move forward one stone at a time.
Key Takeaways:
God doesn’t ask you to see the whole path- just the next step He’s lighting up for you.
Small, steady steps are still progress, and they add up to breakthrough over time.
Pairing spiritual truth with simple, physical anchors (like breathing, praying out loud, or setting a timer) helps you break free from overwhelm.
Listener Challenge:Today, pause and write down one “next stone” for yourself. Circle it. Pray out loud: “Lord, I don’t have to do it all, I just have to do the next thing.” Then set a 20-minute timer and start. When you’re done, reward yourself with a small joy.
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

27-Are You an Overgiver? How to Heal and Rest

POURING OUT EMPTY- Have you ever wondered if you might actually be over-giving? It’s sneaky because it looks like love on the outside – but underneath, it can be running on fear, guilt, or a need to prove your worth. In this episode, I’m unpacking how to tell the difference between healthy generosity and unhealthy over-giving, why it matters for your story, and how to make a shift toward giving from a full heart. If you’ve been feeling drained, unseen, or quietly resentful after giving so much, this conversation will help you see what’s really driving it and how to move toward freedom.
Key Takeaways:
Over-giving is often rooted in the belief that your worth depends on what you do for others.
Healthy giving flows from fullness and love – not fear or the need to be needed.
Small pauses, truthful questions, and allowing yourself to receive can help you break the over-giving cycle.
Listener Challenge:
Grab this free download: How to Heal from Overgiving
This week, before you say yes to something, pause and ask: “Am I giving from fullness or fear?” Write down your answer and see if there’s a pattern. Then, intentionally receive something – a compliment, help, or encouragement – without trying to earn it.
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

26-Pursuing Success God's Way: Erin Harrigan on Surrender

SURRENDER UNTO SUCCESS- If you’ve ever wrestled with control, overworking, or the pressure to prove your worth through performance, this conversation with Erin Harrigan will bring relief and clarity. Erin is a Biblical business coach who helps high-achieving Christian women redefine hustle and success through surrender. We talk about what it means to let go, live led, and walk out your calling with peace instead of pressure. From Saul’s transformation to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11, this episode is an honest look at ambition, apathy, and everything in between, and how to find freedom by aligning with God’s rhythm for your life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Surrender isn’t laziness or quiting: it’s leadership under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
God can redirect your ambition without erasing it. 
You don’t have to hustle harder to matter- ask God what ambition looks like with Him.
LISTENER CHALLENGE
Draw a line down a page. On one side, write what you think is in your control. On the other, write what is actually in God’s. Ask Him to help you shift the weight.
Read: Matthew 11:28–30 (MSG)“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Reflect: Where am I inserting myself into things that belong to God?Think: “What if peace isn’t found in doing more—but in doing it with Jesus?”
YouTube: https://youtube.com/erinharrigan
Podcast: https://erinharrigan.com/the-podcast 
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinharrigan/
IG https://instagram.com/erindharrigan 
FB https://facebook.com/thehustlewithheartcoach 
Freebie: 5-Day Audio Devotional- https://erinharrigan.com/devotional
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

25-Bridging the Gap Between Calling & Confidence

BUILDING A BRIDGE TOWARDS PURPOSE- Have you ever felt the nudge of calling but hesitated because your confidence didn’t match it? Maybe you’ve heard God speak, felt the tug to move forward, or sensed the story inside you rising up… but something in you still holds back. This episode is for the woman caught in the gap between what God has called her to do and what she actually believes about herself. We’re talking about the quiet wrestle of insecurity, the moments we compare or shrink back, and what it looks like to move forward anyway. You don’t have to be 100% confident to take the next step. You just need to know who’s walking with you.
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The difference between confidence in yourself and confidence in your calling.
How God often grows confidence after obedience, not before.
A practical mindset shift when you feel stuck in hesitation or self-doubt.
LISTENER CHALLENGE:Take 10 minutes to write out what you believe God is calling you to in this season. Then, underneath it, write down the doubts or insecurities that come up when you imagine stepping into it. Ask God to speak to the gap. What truth would He say to those doubts? What’s one small step you can take this week in obedience, even without full confidence?
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

24-From Brokenness to Connection: Blythe Daniel on Speaking Up

START WHERE IT HURTS- If you've ever wondered where to begin when life feels broken or your story feels stuck, this conversation with Blythe Daniel is a timely reminder: God starts right where the pain is. Blythe shares how her calling to write, lead, and launch her own literary agency grew out of personal encounters with God—and how every woman carries a message worth telling. We talk about resistance, forgiveness, the complexity of relationships (especially with our moms), and how to partner with God in both healing and calling. This episode is for the woman who’s felt sidelined but senses there’s more. You’re not forgotten. Your story still matters.
Key Takeaways:
You don’t have to be fully healed to start writing- you can begin right where it hurts.
Forgiveness and humility often unlock generational healing, especially in mother-daughter relationships.
Sharing your story starts by writing it down, getting honest with God, and believing He uses broken places for good.
Listener Challenge:Take 10 minutes today and write down one painful part of your story- not for an audience, just for you and God. Ask Him to show you what He sees. Then look up Habakkuk 2:2 and ask yourself: What vision do I need to write and make plain?
Mentioned in this episode:
www.connectingheartsandconversations.com
https://www.facebook.com/blythe.daniel
https://www.instagram.com/blythe.daniel/
Blythe Daniel, author and founder of The Blythe Daniel Agency
Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters
Let's Be Friends: A Tween Devotional on Finding and Keeping Strong Friendships
Habakkuk 2:2, Revelation 12:11, Psalm 34:18
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

23-Staying True to Yourself Without Fear of Rejection, Abandonment, and Disconnection

STOP LEAKING YOUR POWER OUT- Have you ever caught yourself shrinking, performing, or people-pleasing just to avoid being judged or left behind by other women? You’re not alone. This episode goes deep into the fear of rejection - not just in a general sense, but specifically in female friendships where comparison, misunderstanding, or subtle exclusion can feel like emotional landmines.
We talk about what happens to your soul when you shape-shift to keep others comfortable, how trying to manage someone else’s happiness drains your own peace, and why setting boundaries is actually an act of love - not just for others, but for yourself. We’ll also talk about the deep fear that if we stop managing other people’s reactions, they’ll leave… and what it means to stay anchored in your true identity when they do.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I if I'm alone?” — this one’s for you.
Key Takeaways:
Trying to control how others see or feel about you will always cost you something — usually your peace or identity.
You can care for others without carrying the emotional weight of their reactions, needs, or disappointments.
Your worth doesn’t change if someone walks away. Jesus is your anchor, not their approval.
Listener Challenge:Reflect on these questions in your journal or prayer time this week:– Where have I been trying to keep someone else happy to avoid rejection?– What part of me have I abandoned in the process?– How is God inviting me to take responsibility for me and trust Him to take care of them?
Links + Resources:Brené Brown’s Daring Greatlyhttps://brenebrown.com/book/daring-greatly/
Dr. Caroline Leaf on mindset and identityhttps://drleaf.com
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

22-Talking to God About Everything: Lacey Rozell on Prayer

TALK TO GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING- Have you ever felt like you were doing all the “right” things, but something still felt disconnected inside? Like your head knows God, but your heart is stuck in survival mode? In this conversation with author and leader Lacey Rozell, we talk about what happens when your faith gets real in the mess of motherhood, mental health, and life transitions. From postpartum depression to recovery ministry to writing a book that started as a conversation in her home, Lacey shares how prayer became the anchor that led her out of ‘brain prisons’ and into freedom. This episode will stir something in you- especially if you’ve been living for God but struggling to live with Him.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
God wants real relationship, not just routine religion, and prayer is how we stay connected in the hard moments, not just the holy ones.
Resistance often shows up right before revelation, especially around purpose and identity.
Writing or creating from your story doesn’t have to start with a big dream- sometimes it’s obedience to a small yes that opens unexpected doors.
LISTENER CHALLENGE
Where do you feel most resistant or disconnected right now? What’s one way you could bring God into that space- through prayer, journaling, or a real conversation with Him today?
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly.” Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit."
Reflect: Have I been talking at God… or with Him?Think: “What if prayer isn’t about performance, but presence?”
CONNECT WITH LACEY:
https://www.laceyrozell.com
https://www.instagram.com/joyfulbeeministries
https://www.tiktok.com/@laceyrozellauthor
https://createathrivingprayerlife.myflodesk.com
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

21-How to Make a Friend and Be One

BE THE FRIEND YOU HOPE FOR- If you’ve ever felt invisible, unsure where you belong, or tired of feeling like friendship is for everyone else- you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing what’s been helping me rebuild friendship in an intentional way. From undoing old narratives to showing up awkward and honest, let's talk about what it really looks like to make and be a friend as an adult. You’ll walk away with both mindset shifts and practical conversation starters, and maybe even the courage to text that person you’ve been thinking about.
Key Takeaways:
You can’t build real friendship while pretending to be someone else. Healing your inner narrative helps you show up as the real you—without resentment or people-pleasing.
Friendship isn’t found—it’s cultivated. You might have to host the tea night, go alone to the gathering, or start that first awkward conversation.
Most women feel the same way you do. You’re not too needy or too late. You’re human—and craving connection is proof that you’re made for it.
Listener Challenge:Take one step this week toward building the kind of friendship you want. That might mean sending a text, showing up to something local, or simply being honest about your desire to connect. If you’re feeling brave, use one of the conversation starters I shared and see what opens up. You never know who’s been waiting for someone like you to say hi.
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

20-Why Is It So Hard to Make Friends!

ADULT FRIENDING DILEMMA- Let’s talk about why it's just so hard to make and keep friends as an adult woman. Making friends as an adult is awkward, vulnerable, and way harder than it was back when proximity and playgrounds did the work for us, especially when you're new somewhere, super busy in daily life, or maybe carrying the rejection from past friendships. But just because it’s harder doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In this episode, we’re talking about the very real struggles of finding the meaningful connections that we so desperately need and desire. 
Key Takeaways:
Adult friendships take time, shared interest, intention, and proximity- but they’re worth the energy.
Past rejection can make new connection feel unsafe, but healing begins with one small but brave conversation.
You don’t have to wait to be invited- your desire for friendship is normal and valid, and you can initiate without overextending yourself or being too awkward.
 
Listener Challenge:Identify one local place you could show up this month: a class, a church group, a women's event, or even your own home. Take one small action to create or accept connection- without expecting it to fix everything, just to say: “I’m open.”
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.

19-From Identity to Impact: Brittany Tate on Becoming a Daughter

What if the thing you love doing most is actually part of your calling? What if your passion isn’t random and your pain doesn’t get the final word? In this conversation with Brittany Tate, founder of Living Truth Co., we talk about what it really means to become a daughter of God. From discovering your true identity to walking boldly in your purpose, Brittany shares how intimacy with God through the Word unlocks confidence and clarity for your next step. If you’ve ever wondered how to move forward when you feel stuck or unseen, this is for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Your identity in Christ is the foundation for confidence and calling.
Passion and purpose often go hand in hand- especially when led by God.
You are not defined by your affliction but by Jesus’ affection.
LISTENER CHALLENGESpend time in the Word this week- not to check a box, but to connect with God as your Father. Ask Him to show you who you are and what He's placed in you for this season. Reflect on this: What have You called me to in this season? Is there any are where I've allowed my shame to hold me back from my true purposes?
Find Brittany here:
www.livingtruthco.com
Instagram
Facebook
Check out the Proverbs 31 Ministries SheSpeaks Conference 
The Next Thing
Join the StoryMakers Lab! Check out the women's coaching library here.
Share this episode! Know a woman who needs encouragement in her journey? Send her this episode!
Connect with me! Follow me on Instagram @coachlauramalone and DM me your biggest takeaway!
Step into your calling! Learn more about my coaching and resources at Sterling & Stone Coaching.
 
 
✨ You are a StoryMaker. You are powerful, chosen, and capable. Step into your calling today. ✨
Music by https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day. License code: 6RD7Q6IO81E7MI2S.