The Anchored with Purpose Podcast focuses on Faith, Family, Purpose, & Dreaming Big.
How do I fill the emptiness I feel in my life? What is missing from my life? The stresses of this world are causing me anxiety, how can I cope? I’m a mom, but I feel so drained and have lost a piece of me, how do I find me again? How do I dream again? How do I even achieve those dreams?
And the biggest question of all, is it worth pursuing my purpose and dreams? Whether you’re a dreamer, a mom, connected in your faith or feeling a little (or a lot) lost, this is the show for you.
The Anchored with Purpose Podcast is a live-workshop style podcast packed with actionable step-by-step tips to help you redefine what you want in your life in the areas of faith, family, purpose, & pursuing your dreams.
You can train with the experts on how to dig in, reconnect with your faith & purpose, and tackle your biggest goals along the way.
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72| Purpose Over Pressure: A Faith-Filled Path Out of Burnout ft. Misty Lakes
Episode 72
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 • Duration 34:35
In this conversation, Melissa sits down with life and business coach Misty Lakes to talk about Godfidence, which is confidence rooted in Christ instead of hustle culture. Misty shares her journey from direct sales into coaching, how God faithfully led her step by step, and why putting Him at the center of our lives and businesses changes everything.
Together, they unpack why so many women feel burned out from wearing too many hats, how guilt sneaks in when our priorities are misaligned, and a simple but life changing visual tool that helps women realign their time, energy, and focus.
Godfidence means rooting your identity, confidence, and decisions in who God says you are — not in hustle, pressure, or people-pleasing.
God should be the CEO of your life and business, guiding decisions both big and small.
Burnout often comes from wearing too many “good” hats at the same time — not from doing one thing poorly.
The Target Exercise helps visually prioritize what matters most: God, personal wellbeing, family, and then everything else.
Your family is your first ministry, and your relationship with God deserves protected, intentional time.
Social media often consumes time without reflecting what we actually value.
Intentional boundaries create peace and reduce guilt.
Purpose brings peace; pressure brings burnout.
Faith and business were never meant to be separate — alignment brings flow and fruit.
⏱ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Meet Misty Lakes 02:30 – From Direct Sales to Coaching: Trusting God Step by Step 06:30 – How God Prepares Us Long Before We See the Plan 07:00 – What Is Godfidence? Confidence Rooted in Christ 10:00 – Letting God Be the CEO of Your Life 11:00 – Why Women Feel Burned Out and Overwhelmed 13:00 – The Target Exercise: A Visual Way to Prioritize What Matters 15:00 – Taking Hats Off Without Guilt 17:30 – Temple Time: Honoring God by Caring for Yourself 19:30 – Being Intentional With Time, Energy, and Boundaries 21:00 – Social Media, Scrolling, and Mental Clarity 23:45 – Why Faith and Business Shouldn’t Be Separate 27:30 – Obedience, Stewardship, and God’s Blessing 30:00 – Purpose Over Pressure: A Client Transformation Story 33:30 – How to Connect with Misty & Her Community 34:45 – Closing Encouragement
Christian women in business, faith based life coaching, Godfidence, Christian confidence, burnout recovery for women, faith and business alignment, Christian entrepreneur podcast, women wearing too many hats, intentional living Christian, faith based coaching for women, Christian leadership for women, purpose over pressure, time management for Christian women, Christ centered business, spiritual burnout, women and hustle culture, faith driven success, Christian personal growth podcast, women seeking peace and purpose, God at the center of life and business
71| Lent for the Busy Catholic Woman
Episode 71
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Duration 15:49
If Lent already feels like one more thing on your to-do list, this episode is for you.
In this encouraging and Scripture-rooted episode, Melissa Wilkinson speaks directly to the busy Catholic woman who feels tired, distracted, spiritually behind, or overwhelmed before Lent even begins. Instead of a picture-perfect or performance-based Lent, Melissa walks through what real Lent looks like in real life.
Rooted in Joel 2:12, Matthew 4, and Matthew 6, this episode reframes Lent as a season of return, not perfection. Through the three pillars of Lent — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — Melissa offers simple, sustainable ways to grow closer to God without adding pressure to an already full life.
If you’ve ever quit Lent by week two, struggled to stay consistent with prayer, or felt like you’re not doing “enough,” this conversation will remind you that God is not asking you to impress Him. He is inviting you to return.
Lent is not about performance. It is about presence.
Key Takeaways
Lent is about returning to God, not proving yourself (Joel 2:12).
The desert is not punishment — it is preparation (Matthew 4).
Jesus says “when you pray, when you fast, when you give alms” — not if (Matthew 6).
Prayer for a busy woman can be simple and repeatable.
Fasting helps reveal attachments and create space for God.
Almsgiving stretches the heart outward in love.
You can begin again at any time — God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Your real life — your SUV, your kitchen, your routines — can be holy ground.
Choose one prayer practice, one meaningful fast, and one intentional act of love.
Lent is about consistency, not perfection.
Chapters:
00:00 — Lent for the Busy Catholic Woman
01:59 — The Desert Is Preparation, Not Punishment
03:30 — Why Lent Feels Overwhelming
05:00 — Prayer: Abide, Don’t Perform
08:30 — Fasting: Detach and Create Space
69| In the Wilderness? Day 41 Is Coming | ft. Mya Hull
Episode 70
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • Duration 48:15
In today’s episode, Melissa sits down with her new friend Mya Hull, a former top 1% leader in Mary Kay who felt God stirring something deeper, even in the middle of success. Mya shares her origin story, what that leadership season taught her about identity, and the “holy discontent” that led her to lay down what looked good on paper in order to follow what God was calling her into next.
You’ll hear the powerful meaning behind “41”—the idea that we all walk through “40 seasons” of wilderness, waiting, testing, and transition… but day 41 comes, and God is faithful. Mya walks us through how her Ignite Your Joy workshop became the foundation for a faith-led community for women entrepreneurs, and how the 41 Sisterhood is helping women grow with joy, clarity, confidence, and obedience.
If you’re in a season of waiting, this conversation will leave you with hope and practical encouragement to stay rooted in Christ while you walk toward your own “41 moment.”
Success can be a slippery slope: even good things (recognition, achievement, leadership) can quietly become an identity or an idol if we’re not careful.
Conviction is different than shame: Mya describes moments where God didn’t condemn her, but lovingly redirected her heart posture.
God often uses transition to get our attention: new environments can create space to hear Him clearly again.
Chapters
Call to Action
68| Perimenopause Explained with Rita Johnson: Why Your Body Feels So Different
Episode 69
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 • Duration 41:58
Perimenopause is the topic so many women are whispering about over coffee, but rarely getting real answers. In this conversation, functional health practitioner Rita Johnson breaks down what’s actually happening in your body during perimenopause and why symptoms like weight gain, inflammation, sleep issues, digestive changes, and mood shifts are not “just aging.” Rita explains the powerful connection between gut health and hormone balance, why supplements can become expensive band-aids if you don’t address root causes, and the small daily habits that can make a big difference. You’ll also hear a balanced, faith-friendly discussion on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including common misconceptions and what to look for if you’re considering it.
Perimenopause is a remodeling season, not a dead end. Your body is shifting from higher to lower hormone output, and multiple systems are adapting along the way.
Symptoms vary widely, but your intuition matters. If you’re 35+ and feel like your body is “different” or unfamiliar, it may be perimenopause-related.
Gut health impacts hormones in two big ways: your ability to make hormones (nutrients, fats, absorption) and your ability to clear hormones (detox pathways).
Healthy bowel movements matter more than most women realize. Regularity and quality can be a key sign of hormonal balance and detox support.
Probiotics aren’t the only answer. Food-based probiotics (like fermented foods) may be a simple starting point, and deeper digestive support may be needed depending on the root issue.
Chapters
67| Vision Is Not New Age: A Catholic Approach to Dreaming With God
Episode 67
Thursday, January 22, 2026 • Duration 15:41
Vision boards. Visualization. Imagining your future.
For many Catholics, these words can feel uncomfortable or even off-limits. Is this New Age? Is it Christian? Is it something we should avoid altogether?
In this episode of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast, Melissa breaks down why vision is deeply biblical and deeply Catholic when done the right way — with God at the center. You’ll learn how visualization can actually become a powerful form of prayer, how Scripture invites us to imagine God’s future for our lives, and how vision boards can be used as a faith-filled tool for surrender, not control.
Melissa also weaves in wisdom from one of her favorite authors, Mark Batterson, and explains the clear difference between New Age manifestation and Catholic discernment.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to dream big with God — this episode is for you.
🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why vision is biblical, not trendy or New Age
How imagination is a gift from God
The difference between visualization as prayer vs. manifestation
Why surrender matters more than control when dreaming with God
How God provides provision where He gives vision
The Catholic mindset vs. the New Age mindset (side-by-side clarity)
How vision boards can become a visual prayer journal
The neuroscience behind focus, habits, and holy imagination
How vision connects to Melissa’s Life Anchors: faith, family, health, purpose, impact, relationships, and home
🎧 Episode Chapters
00:00 – Is Vision Biblical or New Age?
01:08 – Grounding Vision in Scripture
02:23 – Imagination as Prayer
04:32 – Dreaming with God, Not Apart from Him
06:48 – God Gives Vision and Provision
08:15 – Catholic Vision vs. New Age Thinking
09:18 – What a Catholic Vision Board Really Is
11:40 – The Neuroscience of Holy Focus
13:02 – Vision Through the Life Anchors
14:06 – Dream Big and Trust God’s Timing
🛠️ Practical Takeaway
This month, spend intentional time with Jesus and ask:
66| Earbuds In: A Catholic Conversation About Sex, Intimacy, and Marriage
Episode 66
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 • Duration 43:37
This is an “earbuds in” conversation, friend. Melissa sits down with Ellen Holloway, host of Charting Toward Intimacy (a leading Catholic intimacy podcast), for an honest, hope-filled conversation about sex, intimacy, and healing in marriage—in a way that’s fully aligned with the Catholic Church. Ellen shares her personal story (including the early struggles of marriage, learning Natural Family Planning, and healing from vaginismus), why so many Catholic women feel shame or confusion around sex, and practical steps to reconnect with your body, your spouse, and God. You’ll also hear powerful takeaways like a body scan prayer, the idea that sex can be prayer, and why scheduling sex isn’t unromantic—it’s often the most loving way to prioritize intimacy in real life.
You’re not “bad” for struggling with sex. Many emotions around intimacy are learned responses, not moral failures.
Shame thrives in silence. Intimacy is deeply vulnerable, so it’s often avoided—but it’s too important to ignore.
A powerful starting point: the Body Scan Prayer. Noticing your thoughts about each part of your body and asking God what He thinks can be deeply healing.
God calls your body “very good.” Parts of the body that carry the most shame are also parts that reflect God’s design for communion and relationship.
Healing takes time—and wins matter. Celebrate small progress instead of only focusing on the end goal.
Sex can be prayerful. Ellen encourages bringing God into your intimacy—praying about your sex life and (eventually) praying with your husband.
Spontaneity is not the standard. Scheduling sex is often a healthy way to prioritize connection (just like we schedule what matters most).
Libido can be rebuilt. Desire and pleasure aren’t “either you have it or you don’t”—there are practical steps forward.
There are safer ways to get support. Not every level of conversation is appropriate with close friends—sometimes a coach/community outside your circle is best.
Free next step: Ellen shares a free webinar on January 21 focused on rebuilding libido and learning key foundations for pleasure.
Chapter Titles + Timestamps
Links Mentioned
65| You Are Not Behind: A Gentle Reset for the New Year
Episode 65
Thursday, January 8, 2026 • Duration 17:15
January is loud. Everywhere you turn you hear, new year, new you, hustle harder, do more, become everything overnight. And if you do not get it all figured out in January, the year is basically over. In this episode, Melissa gently calls out the January Trap and shares why trying to carry a year’s worth of change into one month is the fastest way to burn out before February even hits.
Instead of hustling, this episode invites you to slow down, choose a Word of the Year, filter your goals through your Life Anchors, and create a simple, intentional plan using your Anchored with Purpose Planner so transformation happens one faithful step at a time.
✨ Key Takeaways
You are not behind if your goals or vision board are not done yet.
January is for setting the foundation, not becoming a completely new woman.
Your Word of the Year should guide what you focus on each month.
Planning is not procrastinating, it removes the mental load.
You do not need 10 goals, you need 3.
Big goals become achievable when they are broken into monthly action steps and scheduled into your real life.
Flexibility is not failure. You adjust and keep going.
⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome + The January Hustle Culture Lie
01:11 – The January Trap and Why It Leads to Burnout
02:26 – Why Transformation Happens Slowly
04:50 – Using Your Word of the Year With the Life Anchors
07:14 – Choosing Only Three Goals for the Year
09:39 – Breaking Big Goals Into Monthly Action Steps
11:56 – Scheduling Your Goals Into Your Weekly Planner
54| When You Say Yes to God: One Year of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast
Episode 54
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 • Duration 09:47
Can you believe it’s been one year of the Anchored with Purpose Podcast? In this special anniversary episode, Melissa celebrates a year of showing up together — growing in faith, rediscovering purpose, and dreaming big again.
She shares heartfelt reflections, lessons learned, and encouragement for anyone who’s ever felt afraid to start before they were ready. From nervous beginnings to building a thriving community, Melissa reminds us that obedience matters more than perfection, your story can set someone else free, and God multiplies what we surrender.
Whether you’ve listened since day one or you’re just joining the Anchored with Purpose family, this episode will inspire you to keep trusting God with your next step and your big dreams.
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share your favorite episode!
11| Practical Steps for Surrendering Control to God in Daily Life featuring Kelly Lippenholz
Episode 11
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 • Duration 38:42
In this episode, Melissa Wilkinson and Kelly Lippenholz explore the theme of surrender in faith and daily life. Kelly shares her personal faith journey, the challenges of surrendering control, and the importance of community in navigating these struggles. They discuss practical steps to embrace surrender, the balance between personal dreams and God's will, and how to find peace amidst anxiety. The conversation emphasizes the transformative power of surrender and the unexpected blessings that can arise from it.
In this powerful solo episode, Melissa Wilkinson uncovers what survival mode really is—and how it affects your mind, body, and soul. She vulnerably shares her own story of living in chronic stress without even realizing it, including a wake-up call diagnosis of shingles in her 30s. Melissa walks us through the physiological toll of fight-or-flight living, and more importantly, how we can begin stepping into sacred rhythms that bring rest, peace, and alignment with God.
Whether you're juggling motherhood, a career, or simply overwhelmed by the noise of life, this episode will help you:
✔ Understand what survival mode looks and feels like
✔ Learn how scripture calls us to REST, not hustle
✔ Discover practical ways to start your day with God
✔ Use tools like breathwork and rhythm-based routines to calm your nervous system
✔ Reclaim your peace and begin dreaming again
Key Scriptures Mentioned
📖 Exodus 33:14 – “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
📖 Luke 5:16 – “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
📖 Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
Highlights & Takeaways
Survival mode is more than a mindset—it’s a physiological state driven by stress hormones like cortisol.
Melissa’s personal health crisis led her to realize how much stress was running her life.
Rest is not a reward for productivity—it’s a requirement for living in your God-given purpose.
Start simple: coffee, candle, and Christ. Build your morning faith time in small, sacred ways.
Breathing intentionally (box breathing or breath prayers) signals safety to your body and calms anxiety.
Rhythms > rigid routines. Build margin into your day for joy, stillness, and communion with God.
If this episode struck a chord and you're tired of feeling stuck, I want to personally invite you to schedule a FREE 45-minute Anchored Insights Discussion with me.
This is a safe, supportive space to identify the thoughts that are holding you back, gain clarity, and explore how we can rewrite your inner narrative together.
📅 Or just shoot me an email — I’d truly love to connect! melissa@anchoredwithpurpose.com
11:30 — Almsgiving: Stretching the Heart in Love
13:45 — When Week Two Hits
16:30 — Making the Rosary Sustainable
18:45 — Your Real Life Is Holy Ground
20:30 — A Simple Lenten Framework
22:00 — Lent Is About Intimacy, Not Impressiveness
Your gifts exist outside of your title: Mya shares the shift of separating her strengths from her previous business and realizing God could use them in a new way.
You don’t need all the steps to obey: sometimes God gives the idea first and the logistics later.
The “41” message is hope: wilderness doesn’t last forever, and God always keeps His promises.
Fasting from noise brings clarity: Mya talks about getting quiet (not isolating, but choosing solitude with God).
Your test becomes your testimony: God can use the very season you wish you could skip.
00:00 – Welcome + why this conversation felt God-ordained
00:58 – Mya’s origin story: pastor’s kid, entrepreneur at 20, motherhood + transition
04:07 – Top 1% leadership: what success taught her about discipline, ambition, and identity
06:37 – “It can become an idol”: the heart shift behind achievement
09:04 – Holy discontent: when God starts stirring something deeper
09:31 – Transition + deeper Bible study: learning to truly hear God again
12:23 – Obedience without answers: “I’m supposed to lay this down”
15:55 – Recognizing your gifts outside your business + “keep writing” moment
19:05 – People’s opinions vs the story we tell ourselves
23:08 – What’s next: Ignite Your Joy workshop + purpose bracket tool
29:09 – Why community matters for solopreneurs
29:37 – The story behind 41: wilderness seasons + day 41 breakthrough
35:33 – Launching the 41 Sisterhood: community, workshops, coaching, real transformation
41:12 – Hope for the woman in the wilderness: how to hold faith until day 41
46:51 – Fasting from noise + staying rooted in Jesus
49:05 – Where to find Mya + how to join the community
If you’re in a “40 season” right now—waiting, wrestling, transitioning, or feeling like God is asking you to lay something down—friend, you are not alone. Day 41 is coming. Share this episode with a friend who needs hope, and be sure to follow Mya and check out the 41 Sisterhood if you’re craving community and clarity in this season.
Christian women entrepreneurs, faith-driven business, obedience over approval, leaving direct sales, identity in Christ, Christian business coach, faith and entrepreneurship, choosing joy in the wilderness, Christian women community, purpose and calling, surrender season, waiting on God, day 41, wilderness season faith, clarity confidence joy, Christian coaching community, rooted in Christ, Christian mindset, spiritual growth and business, hope in hard seasons
“We can’t out-supplement bad habits.” Slowing down, chewing, sitting to eat, and praying before meals can help your body shift into “rest and digest.”
Workout intensity may need adjusting in perimenopause. Too much HIIT/cardio can strain adrenals for some women, while strength training and walking often support hormone health best.
Collagen and protein can be helpful, but keep it simple. Prioritize whole foods when possible, and use supplements strategically.
Synthetic fabrics and “toxin panic” can lead to overwhelm. Focus on your body’s non-negotiables instead of trying to fix everything at once.
HRT isn’t the same as birth control, but it matters what you’re being prescribed. Rita emphasizes bioidentical hormones and addressing root causes alongside symptom relief.
00:00 Welcome + why we’re talking perimenopause now
00:38 Rita’s story: cycle tracking, infertility, and functional hormone work
02:45 Overlooked perimenopause symptoms and the “cotton to silk” body shift
05:34 Melissa’s personal symptoms: stress, weight gain, inflammation, labs, and restrictive plans
09:20 Gut health + hormone balance: why detox and digestion matter
11:08 What “healthy digestion” actually looks like (and what’s not normal)
14:40 What to do next: probiotics, fermented foods, enzymes, and targeted support
18:35 The power of slowing down: chewing, sitting, and praying before meals
19:37 Listener Qs: collagen, supplements, and what’s worth the hype
22:20 Coffee + protein: stabilizing blood sugar and protecting cortisol
23:53 Adrenals + workouts: when HIIT/cardio may be too much in perimenopause
28:01 Synthetic fabrics + toxin overwhelm: focus on your “non-negotiables”
31:15 HRT explained: when it helps, when it becomes a band-aid
35:59 Misconceptions, the early 2000s study, and bioidentical vs synthetic hormones
38:49 Where to find Rita + free hormone balancing guide
40:27 Perimenopause Toolkit Workshop (HRT, charting, intimacy, and self-navigation)
perimenopause symptoms, perimenopause weight gain, hormone imbalance in women, functional medicine for hormones, gut health and hormones, estrogen dominance, progesterone and perimenopause, adrenal health and cortisol, perimenopause workout routine, strength training in perimenopause, inflammation and hormones, digestion and hormone detox, healthy bowel movements, fermented foods probiotics, digestive enzymes for women, collagen for women over 35, protein for women over 40, coffee and cortisol, hormone replacement therapy HRT, bioidentical hormones, Catholic hormone health, NAPRO doctor hormones, FEMM hormone support, faith and wellness for women, women’s hormone coaching
What do You want me to become this year?
What vision do You have for my life?
Where are You inviting me to trust You more deeply?
Then consider creating a simple, faith-filled vision board as a prayer tool.
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00:01 — Earbuds In Disclaimer + Episode Preview
00:37 — Ellen’s Story: Early Marriage Struggles, NFP, and Healing
Catholic marriage, Catholic intimacy, sex in marriage, Theology of the Body, natural family planning (NFP), fertility awareness, vaginismus, libido, orgasm, pleasure, shame, purity culture, healing, body scan prayer, praying with your husband, scheduling sex, spontaneous vs responsive desire, emotional intimacy, spiritual intimacy, Catholic women, marriage encouragement
Choose your Word of the Year.
Write down how that word should influence each of your Life Anchors.
Pick your top 3 goals for the year.
Then decide what you need to focus on this month to set your year up for success and schedule those action steps into your planner.
Transformation does not happen in a week. It happens through quiet obedience and small faithful steps.
January goals, Word of the Year, transformation, Christian goal setting, planning with purpose, Life Anchors, Anchored with Purpose Planner, faith based planning, burnout prevention, intentional living, Catholic moms, Christian women podcast, Catholic, Catholic women
Melissa’s Morning Ritual Tip
☕ Coffee. 🕯️ Candle. ✝️ Christ.
Start your day in the quiet presence with God before the world demands your energy.
Try This
🧘♀️ Box Breathing: Inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4. Repeat 3–5x.
🙏 Breath Prayer: “Jesus, be my peace. Anchor me in You.”
📔 Build your rhythm: Add spiritual routines into your planner. Include what grounds you, not just what “gets done.”
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