The Alive & Free Podcast

You feel called to something. You have vision, maybe even a clear sense that God put this in you. And still, weeks go by and you haven't touched it. Not because you're lazy. Because something underneath is running the show. In this episode, Sammi and I sit down after five months away from the mic and talk honestly about one of the most common struggles we hear from the coaches we work with: how to stay motivated and consistent when you don't have pressure forcing you, and how to know when lost motivation is actually a triggered state and not a character flaw. Together, we explore the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, what Maslow's hierarchy actually tells us about why some people self-sabotage to feel something, and why so many driven Christians flip between white-knuckling their way forward and drifting in what we call greasy grace. We talk about what it looks like to function from a triggered state while trying to build something, why an eight-year-old version of you can't make powerful content or hold a coaching session well, and what it actually takes to get regulated and return to your real self before you take the next step. We also get into why rushing to pray your pain away is often just self-abandonment with spiritual branding, and what it means to let God meet you in the middle of the mess instead. This episode is for anyone who: Feels genuinely called but loses steam the moment life gets busy or the pressure lifts. Struggles to stay consistent without someone external holding them accountable. Knows the vision but keeps getting hijacked by fear of failure, fear of judgment, or perfectionism before they can act on it. Is carrying the tension between dying to self and actually being allowed to want something. Desires to coach or lead from a place of overflow rather than performance and striving. Wants practical, grounded ways to take care of their heart so they can show up fully for the people depending on them. At its core, this is a conversation about what it means to stay connected to yourself and to God so that discipline and motivation become a natural overflow, not a grind you have to white-knuckle your way through. To find freedom, healing, and emotional wholeness, check out the Alive & Free Collective: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com To become a life coach and learn how to help people get free emotionally while building a meaningful business, watch our Coach Training: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

For many believers, recent conversations around church leadership, prophetic ministry, and spiritual authority haven't just felt theological — they've felt deeply personal. In this episode, Spencer Robbins and Josh Straub sit down to talk honestly about what surfaces when trust is broken, leaders fall, and faith feels shaken — especially in light of the growing discussion around Shawn Bolz and Bethel Church. This isn't a reaction episode or an online takedown. It's a grounded, compassionate conversation about how to walk through church hurt, leadership disappointment, and spiritual grief without partnering with cynicism, accusation, or walking away from God altogether. Together, they explore why we place leaders on pedestals, how wounds quietly shape our view of God, and what it looks like to hold justice and compassion at the same time. They also share practical ways to grieve well, rebuild trust, and process pain honestly instead of spiritually bypassing it. This episode is for anyone who: Feels unsettled or faith-shaken by recent events Has experienced church hurt or leadership betrayal Wants healthy discernment without becoming cynical Is carrying anger, confusion, or grief beneath the surface Desires to reconnect with God after disappointment At its heart, this conversation invites you to bring your pain into the light, remove people from pedestals, and rediscover a faith rooted in relationship — not performance or platforms. To find freedom, healing, and emotional wholeness, check out the Alive & Free Collective: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com To become a life coach and learn how to help people get free emotionally while building a meaningful business, watch our Coach Training: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

Many Christians long for freedom, healing, and intimacy with God—yet remain exhausted, anxious, or stuck in cycles of striving and self-effort. In this episode, Spencer Robbins and Josh Straub explore what happens when faith quietly shifts from relationship to performance. They talk honestly about burnout, the hidden addiction to significance, and why shame—not sin—is often the real barrier to transformation. Together, they unpack the difference between guilt and shame, why grace must come before truth can be lived, and how control disguises itself as faithfulness. This conversation invites listeners to examine whether they are pursuing freedom—or merely managing behavior to feel safe. This episode is for anyone who: Feels tired of trying harder spiritually Struggles with shame or fear of being exposed Knows the gospel intellectually but doesn't feel free emotionally Wants a faith rooted in union, not performance At its core, this is an invitation to trade control for trust—and discover the freedom that comes from being loved before you change. To find freedom, healing, and emotional wholeness, check out the Alive & Free Collective: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com To become a life coach and learn how to help people get free emotionally while building a meaningful business, watch our Coach Training: 👉 www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

You might call it ambition. Work ethic. Faithfulness. Discipline. But sometimes "busy" is just pain avoidance with better branding. In this episode, Spencer and Sammi unpack what they call hustloin—the cycle where hustle and busyness become a way to outrun what you don't know how to feel. From the tension of motherhood and autonomy, to entrepreneurship, provision pressure, and the subtle addiction to significance… we get honest about what's really driving you when you can't slow down. We talk about: The difference between purposeful work and pain-driven hustle How "I have to do it all" creates chronic overwhelm Why you can't problem-solve well while you're triggered (and what to do first) The motherhood tension: impact and autonomy vs presence and slow living The "10x version of you" high—and how it can become a form of self-medication Integrity, impostor syndrome, and why connection has to come first If you've been calling it productivity but it feels like pressure… this conversation will put language to what's happening inside you—and give you a path back to peace without quitting your life. If this hit home, share it with a friend who's "always busy." And if you want to go deeper into emotional health, wholeness, and building a life from connection, stay close—we're bringing you into the real conversation. See all of our resources at www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com

What do you do when you're convinced you've heard from God—and everything falls apart? In this episode, Spencer and Sammi Robbins share stories of confusing dreams, missed signals, and the longing for divine direction that so often leads us into pain or shame. They unpack the subtle ways our desires and fears can shape what we think God is saying, and why it's so important to hold space for uncertainty, humility, and curiosity in our relationship with Him. Instead of formulas or guarantees, discover a grace-centered approach to hearing God's voice—one that's rooted in intimacy, not control. Whether you're wrestling with disappointment, searching for clarity, or simply longing to connect with God in a real way, you'll find hope, wisdom, and practical tools for your journey here. Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & the longing to hear God 03:45 Sammy's stories of God, desire, and confusion 21:40 Disappointment and shame: when you think you missed it 28:03 Taking risks, risking failure, and the heart-lifting shift 36:35 Direction vs. intimacy: what matters more 49:16 How certainty (and desperation) can become its own idol 59:41 Learning to rest in mystery, humility, and connection Learn more, find resources, or get in touch at: www.aliveandfreeconsulting.com