You Are Not Your Struggle: Healing Body, Brain & Belief | Leanne Ellington
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
Release Date: 12/01/2025
The 10 Best Things About a Cocktail-Free Christmas
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
It’s Christmas season, babe! 🎁✨ And if this time of year has ever felt like a lot, the hustle, the planning, the pressure, the trying-to-do-all-the-things, we get it. And we’ve been there. But what if Christmas didn’t have to feel that way anymore? In this week’s episode, we’re sharing The 10 Best Things About an Alcohol-Free Christmas, the gifts of peace, presence, and actual JOY that come when we take alcohol off the table. From savoring real holiday magic with our kids… to waking up on Christmas morning feeling rested and alive… to actually tasting the cheese board (can...
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You Are Not Your Struggle: Healing Body, Brain & Belief | Leanne Ellington
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt stuck with your own body—in a similar way you’ve felt stuck with alcohol?That exhausting push-pull. The promises. The shame. The “why do I keep doing this?” on repeat. If that sounds familiar, this conversation is for you. For the woman who’s tried willpower, plans, promises, and prayers—yet still feels stuck in the cycle of body image battles, emotional eating, and quiet self-criticism. Friend, you are not alone. And you are not broken. Leanne joins us to share her powerful story of moving from food addiction and shame to true...
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Gratitude & Thanksgiving | The Biblical (and Neuroscience-Backed) Secret to Peace
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
This week, we’re leaning into the season of Thanksgiving, and talking about how gratitude really does change everything. 🦃✨ We all know we “should” be grateful, but when life feels heavy, the kids are loud, or your to-do list is a mile long… does gratitude actually help? (Spoiler: yes! And science agrees with what Scripture said all along!) In this conversation, we unpack how gratitude is not just a feel-good exercise, it’s a spiritual and neurological reset that can lower stress, boost dopamine and serotonin, and literally rewire your brain for joy. You’ll hear how our...
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The Truth That Changes Everything | You’re Not the Hero of Your Story
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
This week’s episode is a little different. We’re pulling back the curtain on one of our BJDW Community Masterclasses, the kind of deep, beautiful, heart-level conversations we host each month with special guests to encourage our community gals on the journey to freedom. We’re joined by Sharon Hodde Miller, author of Free of Me and Gazing at God, to unpack the root of insecurity, and why we often feel insecure when we’re standing on something shaky. Sharon shares how our culture has taught us to treat insecurity by focusing more on ourselves… when the real freedom comes from shifting...
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Beyond Rehab and 12 Steps | From Traditional Recovery to True Transformation
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
Have you ever wondered why traditional recovery works for some people—but didn’t quite fit for you? This week, we’re pulling back the curtain with our friend and BJDW team member Heather whose journey to freedom started inside a rehab program that followed a 12-step model…and ended in a deeper, Jesus-led transformation. Heather opens up about what she learned, what didn’t resonate, and how she found freedom—not just sobriety—through faith, community, and truth. If you’ve ever felt out of place in traditional recovery, or wrestled with words like powerless and alcoholic, this...
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The One Simple Thing You Can Do to Protect Your Teen from Alcohol Harm with Professor Rob Turrisi
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
Today we’re joined by one of the world’s leading experts on teen drinking and prevention—Professor Rob Turrisi, a Penn State researcher whose 35+ years of work have shaped national programs through MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and schools across the U.S. In this important and hope-filled conversation, Professor Turrisi unpacks why teens start drinking, what actually works when it comes to prevention, and how parents can foster healthy, connected relationships that reduce risk and build trust. If you’re a parent, mentor, teacher, or anyone who cares about the next generation,...
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Margie’s Story | Tracing God’s Fingerprints to Freedom
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
Today’s episode is one of those that reminds us why we do this! We’re joined by our beloved community member Margie, who shares her breathtaking story of redemption — a story marked by God’s fingerprints in every moment, from early struggles with alcohol to the steady unfolding of peace, purpose, and true freedom in Christ. What began decades ago as a quiet search for belonging became a story of divine pursuit — one where God never stopped showing up, even when shame, anxiety, and vodka tried to take the lead. Margie opens up about the hard years, the miracle moments, and the...
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Amber’s Story | From Moderation Rules to True Freedom
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
We’re celebrating something special today, Amber’s one-year alcohol-free anniversary! 🩷 Amber is not only a beloved member of our But Jesus Drank Wine community, she’s also part of our leadership team, guiding women toward freedom with compassion, wisdom, and grace. In this heartfelt and hope-filled conversation, Amber shares her powerful story, from binge drinking and endless moderation “rules” to finding peace, purpose, and freedom through Christ. She opens up about the fears she had around her marriage, motherhood, and social life… and how God met her in every...
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Known in Every Thought | Scripture Meditation on Psalm 139:1–4
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
What if God already knows your every thought—and still loves you? In this Scripture meditation on Psalm 139:1–4, we begin our Fully Known, Fully Loved series with a reflection on God’s deep, intimate knowledge of us. Using the Lectio Divina method, we’ll gently meditate on the reality that God knows every word before we speak it, every move before we make it—and none of that scares Him away. In a world obsessed with self-discovery, these verses remind us of something even more powerful: Before we try to figure ourselves out… God already knows. And His love is...
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So Much More | The Power of Biblical Meditation with Jodie Niznik
"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck
We’re thrilled to welcome our new friend Jodie Niznik to the studio today! Jodie is the host of So Much More, a Scripture meditation podcast that helps women slow down, create space to listen to God, and move biblical truth from head knowledge to heart transformation. In this conversation, Jodie shares how Scripture meditation has become a lifeline for women who feel stuck in doing all the things, and why creating space to simply be with Jesus is often the missing piece for those breaking free from alcohol, people-pleasing, or performance. Whether you’re just curious about taking a break...
info_outlineHave you ever looked in the mirror and felt stuck with your own body—in a similar way you’ve felt stuck with alcohol?
That exhausting push-pull. The promises. The shame. The “why do I keep doing this?” on repeat. If that sounds familiar, this conversation is for you. For the woman who’s tried willpower, plans, promises, and prayers—yet still feels stuck in the cycle of body image battles, emotional eating, and quiet self-criticism. Friend, you are not alone. And you are not broken.
Leanne joins us to share her powerful story of moving from food addiction and shame to true healing—rooted in both neuroscience and the unshakable love of God. What once felt like a personal failure of discipline became a holy revelation: real change happens when we understand our nervous system, renew our minds, and invite God into the process with us.
In this episode, we talk honestly about how self-image shapes our choices, why “knowing better” isn’t the same as healing, and how faith and neuroscience beautifully work together to bring lasting freedom. Just like with alcohol, you’ll hear how the breakthrough didn’t come from trying harder—but from partnering with God differently.
You’ll also hear how Leanne learned to separate who she is from what she struggled with—and how that shift opened the door to peace, empowerment, and a new identity grounded in Christ.
If you’ve ever wondered why you keep doing the very thing you swore you wouldn’t—whether with food, alcohol, or anything else—this episode will remind you: you’re not failing—you’re in formation. And God isn’t standing at a distance. He’s right in the middle of your becoming.
📘 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How Leanne’s journey began with years of wrestling with food, shame, and body image
- Why understanding your nervous system can change everything about emotional eating
- The role of free will—and why God invites us into transformation rather than forcing it
- Why self-image work is essential for lasting change
- How neuroscience helps explain the patterns behind our behaviors
- Why healing requires both head knowledge and heart alignment
- The freedom that comes from separating your identity from your struggles
- How God’s unconditional love becomes the foundation for real self-acceptance
- Why true transformation is always a partnership between you and God
💡 Mind–Body Renewal Practices to Try This Week
- Speak one truth about your identity in Christ every morning
- Pause and breathe when a craving hits and ask: “What is my nervous system needing right now?”
- Replace negative self-talk with: “This is who I was. This is who I’m becoming.”
- Invite God into your healing with a simple daily prayer: “Renew my mind, Lord.”
- Keep a small journal of “behavioral wins” to train your brain to notice progress
Practice mirror gratitude—thank God for one part of your body each day
💌 Links & Resources
You can learn more about Leanne's work at LeanneEllington.com and StresslessEating.com
or follow Leanne on instagram @leanneellington.
🤝 Join our community: https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community
📖 Order your copy of Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind https://amzn.to/42l7z9C
📲 Connect on Instagram: @butjesusdrankwine
🎥 Watch on YouTube: Come hang out with us HERE !
The creators, hosts, and producers of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological or professional advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any communication on behalf of BJDW or otherwise to be a substitute for such. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed in any mention of and/or linked resources are those of the authors/owners of those resources and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast team or guests of the show.
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