You don’t lack discipline.
You lack a pause.

If you’ve ever felt called, convicted, or inspired… and then still scrolled, avoided, or procrastinated — this episode will change how you see yourself.

Today we break down dopamine — the good, the bad, and the ugly — and explain why it quietly trains your habits, your attention, and even your obedience.

You’ll learn:
• What dopamine actually does in your brain
• Why willpower keeps failing you
• How habits form (cue → routine → reward)
• How to interrupt a dopamine loop in real life
• A simple tool to retrain your brain toward what matters

You’re not broken.
You’re trained.

And you can retrain.

🎁 Grab the free 6-minute Detox Dopamine Reset:
[Get the Reset]

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who feels stuck.

Pause first. Choose second.

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

What if the most dangerous thing about your faith isn’t doubt…
but familiarity?

In this episode of the Called & Curious Podcast, we wrestle with a question that’s uncomfortable, funny, and deeply biblical:

What if Jesus thinks your faith is boring?

Scripture tells us Jesus was amazed only twice—once by faith, and once by unbelief. That means belief is never neutral. Hesitation isn’t harmless. And the way we respond to God’s invitations, his callings, is shaping who we are becoming.

We want the kind of faith where that obedience looks foolish on the outside. "Foolish" faith amazes God.

Through honest, foolish stories (awkward social media posts, starting a podcast with zero confidence, mermaid detours 😅), biblical examples (Esther, Mary, Moses, Jesus), and a little neuroscience, this episode is a wake-up call.

Not a guilt trip.
Not a hustle message.
A reckoning.

If you’ve ever felt called… but stalled, this episode is for you.

We'll chat about why your calling is so important, how it's given just to you, and how sometimes we get nervous about that new *awkward, hard, foolish* thing in front of us, that we don't answer our call.

Let's amaze Jesus by our belief and step into our God-given callings with courage!

Also, Christine Caine, if you're listening, um—WOW! Lol

And also, that mention of you in the episode was made with the highest respect. I'm amazed by the work you do and the grace, humor, and power with which you deliver messages of Jesus.

✨ Next week: we’ll get very practical and talk dopamine, motivation, and how your brain might be discipling you more than you realize.

(Understanding this discipling offers a critical level of awareness that will help us navigate this time of political division as a Christian so we can lead conversations with grace, knowledge, and love.)

And don't forget to:

📖 Join the Book Launch (aka my brave, awkward ask)

If this episode resonated, I’d love your help as my book Love Moves releases into the wild.

You’ve got two easy ways to join—no pressure, just celebration.

🎉 Book Launch Day Celebration Team or Launch Inner Circle: Join 👉 HERE

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

What if the way you experience life isn’t reality itself—but the mental model you’re wearing?

In this episode of Called & Curious, we’re talking about Life in the Hood—a framework for understanding the mental models (or “hoods”) our brains learned to wear to stay safe, belong, and navigate the world.

You’ll learn why some people feel instantly easy to be around, why others activate you without explanation, and how awareness of your own hood can change how you experience relationships, stress, faith, and everyday moments.

This isn’t a personality test that puts you in a box.
It’s an identification tool that helps you notice when your hood is up—and choose when to lower it.

We explore six common hoods:

• 🪞 Mirror Hood – tuned into people and emotions
• 🧱 Fortress Hood – protected by strength and structure
• 🔥 Spark Hood – energized by novelty, creativity, and joy
• 🧭 Compass Hood – oriented toward direction and progress
• ⚓ Harbor Hood – drawn to safety, quiet, and depth
• 🔦 Lighthouse Hood – grounded in clarity, insight, and understanding

None of these are flaws.
They’re adaptive patterns your brain learned for a reason.

And once you can see your hood, you can start experiencing life more beautifully.

What to Do After This Episode?

• 1️⃣ Take the “What Hood Are You Wearing?” Quiz

This short assessment helps you identify your primary hood, understand the mental model your brain learned to use, and discover what kind of support helps you reset and rewire most effectively.

👉 Take the quiz here:
What Hood Are You Wearing?

• 2️⃣ Share Your Hood in the Love Movers Facebook Group

If you’re already in the Love Movers Facebook group—or want to join—it’s an open, pressure-free space to connect.
If it occurs to you, hop over and share which hood you got. I’d love to see the mix and hear your stories.

👉 Join the Love Movers group here:
Love Movers on Facebook

• 3️⃣ Join the Hoodie Challenge (Hood Up, Hood Down)

Grab a hoodie.
Film a short video from behind with your hood up… then lower it.

Post it on Instagram or Facebook and tag @CalledandCurious.
Bonus points if you add a hashtag for your hood so we can find each other:

#MirrorHood #FortressHood #SparkHood #CompassHood #HarborHood #LighthouseHood

• 4️⃣ Help Me Discern a Someday Book

I’m considering turning Life in the Hood into a book someday, and I need your help. I have one simple question: Would you want to read about this as a book?
Yes or no. That’s it.

Want this as a book?
Email YES or NO to hello@calledandcurious.com

As always, remember:
The goal isn’t to live hoodless.
It’s to know when your hood is up—and choose when to lower it.

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—growing, changing, trusting God—but everything feels harder instead of easier?

You’re tired.
You’re uncomfortable.
You’re wondering, “Am I stuck?”

In this episode, I want to gently reframe that question—because chances are, you’re not stuck. You’re becoming.

We’re talking about the change gap—that in-between space where old patterns no longer fit, new ones aren’t automatic yet, and everything feels mildly exhausting. Using both neuroscience and Scripture, we’ll unpack why change drains your energy, what’s actually happening in your brain, and why God often does His deepest work in the middle.

You’ll learn why discomfort doesn’t mean failure, how trust is formed before clarity arrives, and how what feels hard right now is shaping who you’re becoming later.

If you’re navigating transition, growth, obedience, or uncertainty—this episode is for you.

✨ You’re not failing.
✨ You’re not behind.
✨ God is rewiring you.

Want to Go Deeper?

Check out the Prettier Thoughts Toolbox in the Called & Curious Freebies section, which includes the Struggle Gap course for deeper support through seasons of change. These are the episodes mentioned this week:

• Are Positive Affirmations Good or Bad? Let’s Talk About Mind Renewal
• Bridging the Struggle Gap Part 1: Overcoming Hurdles to Achieve Success
• Bridging the Struggle Gap Part 2: 4 Ridiculously Easy and Powerful Ways to Pack for SUCCESS on the Journey
• Breaking Barriers Part 3: 10 Ways to Overcome Knowledge Hurdles to Reach Your Potential
• Shifting How You See Yourself Part 4: Bridging the Struggle Gap
• Lessons from a Successful Failure Part 5: How to FEEL Your Success

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode encouraged you, one of the best ways to support the podcast is to:

• Rate and review the show
• Share it with someone you love (bonus points if you make it delightfully awkward)

Your support helps these conversations reach more people who are navigating real life with faith, curiosity, and honesty.

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

A new year always comes with big energy—and a lot of noise.

Everyone is telling you what to do: set goals, build habits, join programs, overhaul your life. And suddenly, instead of feeling hopeful, you feel overwhelmed. Too many options. Too many shiny ideas. Too much pressure to get it “right.”

So how do you actually choose one thing to focus on—one thing that can change how this year feels, not just what you accomplish?

In this episode of Called & Curious, I share the one unexpected practice that quietly transformed my year. Not through hustle or willpower, and not because I planned it perfectly—but because I started paying attention in a new way.

We’ll talk about:

• Why so many New Year intentions fade
• How to decide what really deserves your attention
• The neuroscience behind real, lasting change
• And the one simple practice that can help you experience this year on purpose

If you want this year to feel different—more peaceful, more aligned, more confident—this conversation is for you.

Mentioned in This Episode

🎧 Last year’s January episode:

→ Becoming the Most Peaceful Woman in the Room: Transform in 12 Months

Want to Go Deeper?

If this episode said "a little something" to you and you want ongoing support to practice living with more confidence, peace, and intention, The Brim is a membership designed to help you embody what you’re learning—not perfectly, but consistently. I help you learn how to live loved so you can live beautifully.

✨ Learn more and join us here:
→ The Brim

You belong here.

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

Positive affirmations vs. God’s truth—and why renewing your mind changes everything. Are positive affirmations actually helping—or just making us feel better for a minute?

In this episode, I unpack the difference between positive thinking and true mind renewal. We talk about toxic positivity, capturing your thoughts, and why God’s truth doesn’t just encourage you—it rewires your brain, reshapes your heart, and reforms your life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in fear, shame, or old thought patterns and wondered why “just think positive” isn’t working… this one’s for you.

Inside the episode:

• Why positive affirmations fall flat (and when they can help)
• The neuroscience + Scripture behind renewing your mind
• How lies quietly shape your experience of life
• Why optimism alone isn’t enough—but hope anchored in Christ is
• What it actually means to “take every thought captive”
• How mind, body, and spirit work together in real transformation

This isn’t about denying reality or slapping Bible verses over pain.
It’s about replacing lies with truth—and experiencing the hope, love, and joy of a life in Christ.

🎧 Listen now and start practicing mind renewal that actually changes how you live.

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

What if the reason life feels overwhelming isn’t your circumstances—but where your attention keeps landing? Learn how awareness changes experience—and why that can change everything for you.

In this episode of Called & Curious, I explore a simple but powerful truth: awareness changes experience.

Through a relatable story, faith-based insight, and gentle neuroscience, you’ll discover how noticing different things in the same moment can completely shift how it feels to live it.

You’ll also be guided through a short, portable SMRM Gratitude to Stress Less (SMRM) reset—a body-first practice to help calm your nervous system, refocus your thoughts, and reconnect with God’s presence right where you are.

If you’re craving peace without pressure, clarity without striving, and a faith practice that actually works in real life, this episode is for you.

👉 Try the SMRM Gratitude to Stress Less Love Move Reset and begin experiencing your moments differently.

#livebeautifully

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website

What if the way you show up changes the entire atmosphere? In this episode, we explore the fragrance of Christ through a hilarious real-life story, Scripture, and neuroscience. Learn how presence, peace, and love impact the nervous system, shape connection, and help us carry God’s peace into everyday moments. A faith-based conversation about embodiment, spiritual growth, and how love can be felt—not just spoken.

Ever been sitting on the couch, minding your business…
and suddenly realized something smells horrific?

Yeah. Same.

In this episode, I tell a very real (and very funny) family story involving:

• movie night 🍿
• one child
• one week-old pair of socks
• and a life lesson no one was ready for 😅

But here’s where it gets deeper—

That moment became a revelation about how we show up,
what we carry,
and the atmosphere we create everywhere we go.

Because whether we realize it or not,
we all bring a fragrance into the room.

Not perfume.
Not cologne.
But presence.

In This Episode, We Explore:

✨ Why how you show up matters more than what you say
✨ The biblical idea of being the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15)
✨ How love, peace, and safety are felt before they’re understood
✨ The neuroscience behind scent, memory, and emotional connection
✨ Why God didn’t call us to perform—He called us to carry
✨ How love as a fragrance can change a room without a single word

A Little Brain Science (The Fun Kind)

Did you know the part of your brain that processes smell connects directly to the emotional and memory centers?

That’s why:

• a scent can transport you instantly
• a person’s presence can calm or unsettle you
• and an atmosphere can shift before anyone speaks

God designed us this way on purpose.

Which means when Scripture talks about the fragrance of Christ—
it’s not poetic fluff.
It’s embodied truth.

💗 The Big Takeaway

You don’t have to convince people of God’s love.

You get to let them experience it
through how you enter rooms,
respond to stress,
and show up in ordinary moments.

You’ve been entrusted with a fragrance.
Not to perform.
But to carry.

🎯 This Week’s Simple Challenge

Before you walk into any space—
your home, your work, a conversation—

Pause and ask:

“God, what fragrance am I bringing with me right now?”

Then choose one:

• Love
• Peace
• Patience

That’s it.

No pressure.
No preaching.
Just presence.

And if today’s episode stirred something in you and you want to explore this idea of fragrance, transitions, and intentional presence even more, be sure to listen to:

🎧 The Power of Perfume: Unlocking Mindful Transitions Through Stop and Go Moments (Episode 4)

Connect With The Curious:

• The Weekly Pour Newsletter — pour a little peace into your inbox
• The Stress Less Love Move — a 6-minute reset to calm your mind, body, and spirit
• Join The Brim — where peace becomes a habit
• Email us questions or comments: hello@calledandcurious.com
• Called and Curious Website