Episode 194 / Melina Smith - Connecting Through Creative Storytelling
Release Date: 10/31/2024
EP 222 | Letting Go for Stability
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Letting go doesn’t always feel brave. Most of the time, it feels like failure, or fear, or loss. But this week, we’re flipping the script. In this final episode of our Courage + Change series, we’re talking about how letting go might actually be the most courageous thing you can do. Whether it’s a title, a plan, or just the need to have it all figured out. What if loosening your grip is the first step to real stability? Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 05:50 - Letting Go Is an Intentional, Not Passive 19:50 - Stability Is Built Through Rhythms, Not...
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EP 221 | Courageous Steps Toward Change
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Real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It's built in community and fueled by small, intentional steps. What I have learned in my journey is that courage rarely feels comfortable, but it grows as we move. If you’ve ever waited for clarity, or felt stuck in fear, I want this episode to be a reminder that courage is built in motion. Let’s talk about what it means to step forward, even when your voice shakes, and how being rooted in community can sustain the change we hope to create. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 03:22 - Courage is Built in Motion,...
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EP 220 | The Gift of Wonder
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This week, we're exploring something we don’t talk about enough when it comes to courage and change- wonder. Not the fluffy kind, but the kind that invites you to ask bold questions. The kind that makes you stop spectating and start showing up.Wonder isn’t soft.It’s powerful. It awakens vision, stirs courage, and calls you to participate in change. Let’s ask better questions. Let’s imagine something more. And maybe, let’s wonder out loud together. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 03:25 - Wonder Awakens Agency 13:30 - Boldness Grows from Deep Curiosity ...
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EP 219 | Gratitude in Every Moment
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We’re stepping into a new month with a tender, honest conversation, one that doesn’t ask you to do more, be more, or fix everything. This episode is about gratitude. The kind that holds you when things feel uncertain. It’s about choosing to stay present in the chaos. To say, this moment matters. I matter. If you’ve been running on empty, feeling like you’re never quite enough, this episode is your reminder to breathe, to notice, and to remember you’re already standing on holy ground. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 03:25 - Gratitude as an Act of Defiance ...
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EP 218 | The ‘What Ifs’ and ‘Why Nots’ of Life
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Your wonder, your curiosity, your “crazy” ideas are not random. In this final episode of our May series, we're talking about dreaming out loud. The kind of dreaming that’s messy, playful, and full of hope. The kind that asks “what if?” and dares to answer with “why not?”. This episode is a reminder that God doesn’t laugh at your dreams. He honors them. And maybe, just maybe, they’re the start of something holy. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 04:55 - Imagination is a Divine Invitation 10:41 - 'Why Not' is a Reclamation of Boldness 14:42 - Dreams Are...
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EP 217 | Staying Curious and Dreaming Big
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In this episode, we’re giving ourselves permission to imagine again. To wonder again. To hope again. Because joy isn’t just found in what is, it’s in what could be. God is still in the dreaming. And maybe, just maybe, He's inviting you to dream a little bigger too. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 04:55 - Wonder is a Muscle—Keep Using It 10:41 - Protect Your Dreamer Heart from Cynicism 14:42 - Your Dreams Are Meant to Be Shared 18:57 - Outro Mentions I would love to connect with you and hear your thoughts on this! Connect with me: ...
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EP 216 | Moxie Uncut: Finding and Sharing Joy
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What if joy wasn’t something you chased but something you chose, nurtured, and shared? In this episode, we're talking about the kind of joy that fills you up and spills out- joy that’s rooted in presence, alignment, and purpose. I will be sharing my personal reflections, scriptural truth, and reminders that joy isn’t just for the quiet moments. It's part of your impact. Because when you choose joy, you invite others into it too. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 10:00 - Your Joy Is Worth Prioritizing 15:50 - Joy is Found in Alignment, Not Achievement 21:03 - Sharing...
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EP 215 | Moxie Uncut: Bask in the Mundane
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In today’s episode of The Moxie Uncut, we’re talking about something you might usually rush past- the mundane. You know, the slow mornings, the repeated routines, the everyday stuff that doesn’t make it to your highlight reel. But what if that’s where the real beauty is? Instead of chasing grand moments, this episode is an invitation to find depth and joy in what’s right in front of us: a quiet morning, a familiar task, a steady routine. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 04:03 - The Mundane Is Where Meaning Is Made 09:18 - Wonder Lives in Repetition 15:30 -...
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EP 214 | Moxie Uncut: Quiet Your Soul
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Let's be real—life gets loud. And sometimes, it takes real effort to pause long enough to notice the joy that’s already here. This week on the podcast, we're talking about the kind of joy that doesn’t need fireworks or big moments. The kind that shows up in stillness. In silence. In that quiet whisper you almost missed. If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, disconnected, or just… tired, I hope this episode is an inspiration to slow things down and quiet your soul. Big Takeaways 00:00 -Introduction and Overview 04:03 - Joy Grows in Stillness, Not Striving 09:18 - Wonder Lives...
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EP 213 | Moxie Uncut: Trusting the Process
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If you’ve been holding your breath, this episode is your permission to exhale. It challenges the pressure to keep pushing by reminding you that rest is trust, waiting is growth, and surrender makes space for peace. Whether you’re in a season of waiting, wrestling with uncertainty, or learning to release outcomes, you’ll find encouragement to pause and let God work. Big Takeaways 00:00 - Introduction and Overview 04:03 - Rest Isn’t Passive—It’s a Faith Statement 09:18 - Growth Often Happens in the Waiting 15:30 - Letting Go Creates Space for Peace 20:59 - Outro ...
info_outlineAs we wrap up our Transparency in Storytelling mini series, I'm excited to have Mel join us on the podcast (for a second time) for this final conversation. Mel, the founder of Story Makers in NYC, shares how storytelling connects us with our inner lives, our communities, and even God’s greater narrative. Through creating zines, memory cards, and playbooks, Story Makers helps kids discover and tell their own stories, sparking spiritual growth along the way.
This conversation is about the real impact of these resources—from the creative process to the life-changing connections they foster.
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00:00 - Introduction
More about our guest today
Melina Luna Smith is the founder of StoryMakers NYC, clergy wife, and mother of two. Drawing on her background in Social Work and Child Development and her eye for design, she imagined and developed Creative Arts Camp, a week-long outreach program to the Gramercy and East Village NYC neighborhoods. Each camp focused on one of the great stories of the Bible with Melina’s trademark commitment to whimsy and beauty. Eventually, with her team of writers, artists and jacks-of-all-trades, Melina transformed Creative Arts Camp into StoryMakers, a non-profit creative studio that produces imaginative gospel resources to foster connection and more fun for Sunday school programs and families.
Learn more about Mel and Storymakers in the episode
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02:13 - Origin and First Products of Story Makers
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07:02 - Product Development and Process
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10:00 - Subscription Plans and Impact
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11:47 - Personal Transformation and Testimony
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15:19 - Interaction with Kids and Adults
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16:47 - Storytelling and Vision for the Future
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29:35 - Conclusion
Mentions
EP 160 with Meluna - Creativity, Faith, and Collaborative Impact
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