Melody and Friends

Being a woman is one of the greatest experiences in our lives, but also comes with plenty of emotional and relational and sociological challenges. Join Relationship & Trauma Coach, Enneagram Coach, Founder of the Togetherness Project and mother of four, Melody Lovvorn, as she joins with friends around the world facilitating real, relevant and honest conversations bringing hope, laughter and reality to our daily lives.

Redeeming Love, Restoration, and Healing After Betrayal with Karen Rellos 08/01/2023

Redeeming Love, Restoration, and Healing After Betrayal with Karen Rellos Episode at a Glance We've talked a lot about the different forms sex addiction and infidelity can manifest themselves in a relationship. But what can you do when the reaction to an exposure of addiction is silence, and face intimacy anorexia? I am so excited to be landing in Dallas, Texas today to speak with my new friend, Karen Rellos, Certified AASAT Intimacy Anorexia Coach and founder of Restored Hope Coaching & Redeeming Love Marriage Ministry. Karen explains what Intimacy Anorexia is, why it can be devistating to partners in a relationship, and what can be done to redeem love in a relationship after betrayal. Karen shares her betrayal story of how she suffered for years with soul-crushing emotional neglect and verbal abuse, and how she was able to find her voice in that abuse and restore her marriage. She then discusses how she used that experience to become an APSAT Certified Partner Coach, helping other women who suffer through intimacy anorexia reclaim their lives and relationships after betrayal. Who is Karen Rellos? Karen Rellos is an APSATS Certified Partner Coach. She is also an ICF Certified Christian Life Coach, certified and trained as an Intimacy Anorexia Coach with APSATS, and a Certified Partner Mentor with Bravehearts University. She is trained in “Couples-Centered Recovery Coaching” with Dr. Jake Porter of Daring Ventures. Karen has additional training in Somatic practices and Attachment theory/strategies. Karen leads weekly groups for “Live Free wives” ministry as well as Dr. Sheri Keffer’s “Brave one Community,” in addition to her own groups and individual Coaching. Karen & her husband John work individually and collaboratively helping couples impacted from the devastation of betrayal / sex addiction and founded Restored Hope Coaching and Redeeming Love Marriage Ministry. They help support couples on the journey toward healing, wholeness and redemption. Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Karen's coaching sessions, access additional resources and contact her at her website: Follow Karen's Instagram: @redeeming.love Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/27624885

Finding Resilience After Betrayal with KayLee Dunn 07/10/2023

Finding Resilience After Betrayal with KayLee Dunn Episode at a Glance We have talked many times about just how life altering betrayal and trauma can be for a woman that has a spouse who is addicted to sex or pornography. Through the pain and uncertainty of it, we ask how we can heal from this and find resilience after those moments of betrayal? I am so excited to welcome my new friend, EMDR therapist KayLee Dunn, to the Melody and Friends podcast. KayLee shares her story of finding and marrying her highschool sweetheart only to realize his addiction to pornography a few years into their marriage. She then shares how she walked through that trial of betrayal and how she learned to work through the lasting anxiety that remained even after healing took place. She also stresses that although support and therapy/coaching is a vital step in the process to recovering, you alone are responsible for attaining and maintaining your resilience. However, KayLee reminds us all that, we are never alone and we can do this. Who is KayLee Dunn? Kaylee is an EMDR therapist and she has specialized in betrayal, trauma, and unwanted sexual behaviors for over 14 years. She helps individuals with sexual addiction/compulsions obtain and sustain sobriety and build recovery and also helps couples navigate reconnection or separation during their journey. She provides tele-health therapy services to women and men in Utah and Arizona. Kaylee is also a mom to triplets who are seven and twins who are five years old. Resources: Our listeners can learn more about KayLee's one on one coaching, free virtual conference and more by visiting her website at Check out KayLee on Instagram: @heykayleedunn You can also find any other links to KayLee's resources, social media and more at Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/27416751

Redefining Hope after Betrayal with Lyschel Burket 05/02/2023

Redefining Hope after Betrayal with Lyschel Burket Episode at a Glance I am so grateful for today's guest on Melody and Friends, Lyschel Burket, because she is a woman who has walked both the personal journey of finding life beyond betrayal and creating communities to help other women do the same. Lyschel shares her story of betrayal as her husband had an "on again, off again" struggle with pornography, before finding treatment that walked him and her through rebuilding their marriage. From there, she felt called by the Lord to begin ministering to other women who had experienced betrayal through pornography addiction or infidelity, and Hope Redefined was born from that calling. Lyschel shares the important steps to recovery for women experiencing betrayal, the best resources they can access to help them along that journey, and why finding a community of women who have also walked the same path as them is a vital step to redefining hope for their life. Who is Lyschel Burket? Lyschel Burket, PCC, FRLC, APSATS-c, ADOH, has been working with women since 2008 as they take steps toward healing and their pursuit of God. She has facilitated support groups specific to partners of sex addicts since 2013 both locally in Knoxville, TN and online through Vicki Tiede Ministries. Lyschel is the Lead Hope Caster and Founder of Hope Redefined. She desires to be a part of something so much bigger than herself as she continues to expand the reach of support for women who are facing similar things to her own recovery story. She and her husband, Garren, have five kiddos. Lyschel and Garren have been on the road of recovery since 2006. Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Lyschel's community, coaching opportunities and resources for women walking through betrayal on her website using the link here: You can also get in touch with Hope Redefined's Team through their Facebook: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/26717691

Closing the Confidence Gap with Kelli Thompson 04/18/2023

Closing the Confidence Gap with Kelli Thompson Episode at a Glance Confidence is a resource that is invaluable to women. Doubt and imposter feelings are a big reason women hold back and play small instead of going for what they truly desire in their lives. Coupled with what often times seems like an ability to attract toxic or manipulative people, it’s no wonder that so many women are undervaluing themselves and their abilities. That is why I am so grateful to have Kelli Thompson as our guest on today's episode of Melody and Friends. Kelli shares her story of closing her own confidence gap, and how that led to her becoming a women's leadership coach. She also explains the importance of confidence for women, and how it can transform their lives in their work, their church and in their homelife. Who is Kelli Thompson? Kelli Thompson is a women's leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love. She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award® winner for Women in Business--Coach of the Year. Kelli holds an MBA, has served as an adjunct management professor, and has more than ten years of senior leadership experience in financial services and technology organizations. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, Parents Magazine, Huff-Post, and Working Mother. Kelli is from Omaha, Nebraska, and her favorite roles are wife to her husband, Jason, and mom to her daughter, Hailey. Resources: Our listeners can purchase Kelli's book, Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck, using the link here: You can also learn more about Kelli at her website: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/26573112

Toxic Vows: God Whispers "You Are Greater Than." with Elisa Allison Sproule 04/04/2023

Toxic Vows: God Whispers "You Are Greater Than." with Elisa Allison Sproule Episode at a Glance Dealing with loss or betrayal can be devistating blows to our lives. But what should we do if we are faced with both? I am so blessed to have Author Elisa Allison Sproule on as our guest today. Elisa shares her story of loss after the tragic death of her husband Clifford Allison and then several years later experiencing betrayal in a future relationship. It was in that valley of grief and heartbreak that she discovered the power of writing in a journal while reading Scripture. Elisa shares that there is no fast fix for the emotional hurt that betrayal and loss can bring. However, we do not have to face this alone, and there is power in talking with God and reading His word in times of heartbreak. Through this, Elisa became the author of several books, including her latest book, Toxic Vows: Betrayal Speaks "You Are Not Enough" God Whispers "You Are Greater Than." Who is Elisa Sproule? Elisa Allison Sproule is a writer and the author of “Forever Not Always”, “The Wages Of Sin” and “Toxic Vows”. Elisa began writing through her own grief of the loss of her husband Clifford Allison. Elisa learned that her faith was stronger than she thought and God was closer than ever. Elisa is a mother, grandmother and wife. She holds trophies and titles with competitive body builder being one of them. Elisa laughs when asked about adding actress to her titles when recently filming with John Travolta. Elisa speaks to womens groups and podcasts encouraging self-wellness during tough and difficult times. Teaching that loss and betrayal are disastrous, but they do not have to destroy. Elisa’s travels have taken her as far as Australia and New Zealand. Elisa writes daily with a novel, several children’s books and daily devotionals on the horizon. Elisa is an executive writer for her company, EarthScripts Publishing. Whether Elisa is working from home, the lake or the beach, she enjoys nature, writing, photography, painting and studying God’s word. Resources: Our listeners can purchase Elisa's book, Toxic Vows: Betrayal Speaks "You Are Not Enough" God Whispers "You Are Greater Than.", using the link here: You can also learn more about Elisa at her website: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/26436114

Healing One Brushstroke at a Time with Sheila Page 03/29/2023

Learning Not To Be Afraid Because We Have Such a Great God with Author Melanie Redd 03/14/2023

Learning Not To Be Afraid Because We Have Such a Great God with Author Melanie Redd Episode at a Glance With everything going on in our world today, it seems like there has never been a more nervous, anxious, or challenging season in recent history than the one we are living in now...especially if you are a young woman. With depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and overall hopelessness on the rise, everyone, including young women, could use a dose of hope and encouragement! That's why we are so excited to have Author Melanie Redd as our guest on today's episode. Melanie shares her journey of becoming a speaker, blogger and author and why rest is SO important for women today. Melanie explains she was living life like a sail boat using both an engine and sail. When she discovered the importance of rest, and let the engine of the boat stop, she was able to find incredible peace and calm in God's love. Who is Melanie Redd? Melanie Redd is a woman who loves to encourage, equip, train, and motivate other women. Melanie wrote Sunday school curriculum and magazine articles for Lifeway Resources before launching her own speaking, blogging, and writing ministry. As a speaker and as a author, she inspires others using the Bible, practical applications, a little wit, and a whole lot of common sense. She’s known for taking complicated biblical and relational concepts and making them simple to understand and put to use. Her latest book, Just Rest: A 90 Day Devotional Journal Diary, is a 90 day journey to find peace, calm, and soul rest. Included among the pages of this short devotional is an area to journal thoughts and prayers while reading this encouraging book. Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Melanie, links to free resources and links to her books at her website: You can also purchase Melanie's Book, Just Rest: A 90 Day Devotional Journal Diary, on Amazon at the link here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/26232873

How to Use The Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships with Meredith Boggs 02/28/2023

How to Use The Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships with Meredith Boggs Episode at a Glance On this week's episode of Melody and Friends, I am super excited to sit down with Author and Certified Enneagram Teacher, Meredith Boggs, to discuss how we can use the enneagram to not only deepen our connections with others, but also deepen our faith. Meredith shares how The Enneagram can be a particularly useful tool for Christians, especially those who are struggling with their faith. She also provides our listeners with a biblical road map to using the Enneagram, so that they can walk in who God has created them to be into a place of deeper connection and fulfillment. Who is Meredith Boggs? Meredith Boggs is the writer and host of The Other Half blog and podcast. She's known for sharing transparently and authentically about the half of life that doesn't make the social media highlight reel, addressing personal and spiritual growth, the Enneagram, and marriage. Her work has been featured in Lifeway, Relevant, Grit & Virtue, Her View From Home, Rising Tide Society,YouVersion, and the COMPEL training blog. Meredith is also a critical care transport nurse and a sexual assault forensic nurse examiner who is married to her high school sweetheart, Justin. They live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their sweet and wild boy, Jack. Things We Talk About In This Episode: How can we use the Enneagram for spiritual growth? What are the aha moments you can discover about your personality through the Enneagram? Why is it important to understand the weaknesses of our type, particularly when it comes to areas we are most likely to sin? Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Meredith, links to free resources and links to her book at her website: You can also purchase Meredith's Book, The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships, on Amazon at the link here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/26076036

How Forensic Psychology Intersects with Sex Addiction with Savannah Esposito 01/17/2023

How Forensic Psychology Intersects with Sex Addiction with Savannah Esposito Episode at a Glance On this week's episode of Melody and Friends, I sit down with my new friend Savannah Esposito to discuss how forensic psychology intersects with sex addiction in relationships and why forensic psychology can be a powerful tool in discovering, identifying and treating sex addiction. Savannah shares her story about discovering her husband's pornography addiction and how frustrating the process of finding a trained professional to help was, especially when several licensed therapists didn't seem to think there was any problem in their relationship. That's when Savannah developed The Modern Mr. and Mrs. to create a place where couples could learn steps to creating a healthy relationship dynamic and treat ongoing addictions to sex and pornography. I loved getting to hear what she is doing for couples young and old in this episode and believe you will too! Who is Savannah Esposito? Savannah is a nationally certified life, relationship, and recovery coach with a Bachelors in Forensic Psychology in CT. She is passionate about empowering couples that lack relationship skills because they didn't have the role models growing up to teach them about healthy relationships. Savannah works to let couples know that there's no shame in lacking relationship skills and reaching out for help, especially when it comes to addictions. Between the lack of role models and toxic societal messages about relationships, it's not a shock to feel helpless when you're relationship isn't going right. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is the difference between active addiction and active recovery? Why is that important? What is sexual stimulation addiction and why is it a better term to use when encompassing addictions to different sexual experiences? What is forensic psychology and how can it help a partner who is struggling with addiction? Resources: Learn more about Savannah and The Modern Mr. and Mrs. by visiting her website: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/25630563

Differentiating Pathologic Partners in a Relationship from Other Forms of Abuse with Sandra Brown 01/10/2023

Differentiating Pathologic Partners in a Relationship from Other Forms of Abuse with Sandra Brown Episode at a Glance On this episode of Melody and Friends, I sit down with my friend Sandra Brown to talk about pathology and more specifically dangerous, pathologic partners in relationships. Sandra explains her history in studying pathology and why it is such an important field of study when it comes to abuse in relationships. She tells us what pathology is, how to identify the signs of pathologic partners, and what we can do to help women heal from these extremely traumatic situations. She also walks through her development of Pathological Love Relationship training for other professionals, and how she has developed survivor-based support services for women who experienced psychopathic partners. Sandra then talks about personality disorders, from Narcissism to Anti-Social Behavior to Psychopathy, and how each of these types can cause significant damage to a woman emotionally. However, she also provides warning signs to look out for and multiple resources to begin the process of healing from these potent forms of abuse. Who is Sandra Brown? Sandra L. Brown, MA, has spent over 30 years working in the psychology field related to psychopathology. Her earlier years were spent developing a dual-focused treatment center for persons with personality disorders who also had trauma disorders. During this time, she also began working, in individual and group sessions, with the partners and children of those with personality disorders. She eventually established one of the country’s first prototype long-term residential treatment centers for women with Multiple Personality Disorder/Dissociative Identity Disorder. Sandra accomplished this while also providing treatment in a women’s inpatient hospital trauma program. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is pathology and why can it often impact victims in a relationship so much more deeply then other forms of abuse? Why isn't pathology as well studied or understood compared to things like depression or anxiety? What methods of treatment are available for victims? What should they be looking out for in relationships to spot warning signs of this behavior? What are personality disorders? How can this affect partners in a relationship? Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Sandra's Training, speaking engagements, and get in contact with Sandra by visiting her website: You can also find all of her books, including How To Spot A Dangerous Man, by visiting her Amazon Page here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/25557546

Exploring the Mission Field of Trauma with Donna Dixon 01/04/2023

Exploring the Mission Field of Trauma with Donna Dixon Episode at a Glance On this episode of Melody and Friends, we are diving into the mission field of Trauma with certified pastoral sex addiction specialist, Donna Dixon. Donna shares her personal story of dealing with trauma. From dealing with a faultering relationship and deaths in the family, to receiving counseling that was not the best for her, sent her into a spiral of depression. However through years of finding the right therapy and walking with God, she opened a new door of hope in her life. Walking forward through that open door of hope led to her decision to become certified as a life coach, followed by certification as a Certified Pastoral Sex Addiction Specialist as well as completing the highly respected Multidimensional Partner Trauma Model training through the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists. Who is Donna Dixon? Donna Meredith Dixon is passionate about creating safe places within the Christian community for healing from the impact of sexual brokenness. Donna lives out that passion, in part, by collaborating with others to train partners of sex addicts to effectively facilitate groups. During her 17 years in the medical field, Donna created curriculum and training experiences that met or exceeded federal and state standards as well as health-care accrediting organizations. Donna is a certified life and relationship coach, certified pastoral sex addiction specialist (IACSAS/C-SASI), has completed the APSATS training, and has served on the board of IACSAS/C-SASI since 2014. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is "post-discovery" in a marriage and what is the hardest part about going through it? How do you approach someone who has been struggling their entire life with sexual addiction? What is a trauma-informed approach to training couples through sexual addiction? Resources: Our listeners can learn more about Donna's workshops, get resources on trauma and get in touch with her by visiting her website: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/25499397

Ambivalence and The Holidays with Sharon Hersh 11/29/2022

Ambivalence and The Holidays with Sharon Hersh On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody is speaking with Author Sharon Hersh to speak about Ambivalence and The Holidays. Sharon defines what ambivalence around the holidays looks like and how ambivalence has affected her personally during the holiday season. The Christmas season especially will often highlight a tail of two emotions, one of bright, joyous emotions as we celebrate with our family and one of somberness and grief for tragedies that have happened. She also breaks down that emotional low we can experience after the highs of celebrating the holidays has passed and what we can do to work through those feelings of ambivalence. Sharon also shares how we can attune our hearts to the love of Christ each Christmas as we walk through those feelings of ambivalence. She explains we have to have an invitational heart that give myself permission to keep healing and admit that we need to keep healing. Who is Sharon Hersh? Sharon is a sought-after speaker for conferences, retreats, seminars, classes, trainings, or workshops. She loves to speak any where in the world — to a group of 2 or 2,000. Sharon taught as Adjunct Faculty at Reformed Theological Seminary, Colorado Christian University, Denver Seminary, Denver University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology in both under-graduate and graduate counseling courses. Other subjects Sharon loves to speak on include the courage to abandon ourselves and belong to each other; addiction and life beyond addiction; finding the landmarks of faith, hope, and love in our stories; knowing your sexual ethic – for adolescents, adults, and parents; healing trauma, and self-compassion for caregivers. Sharon also provides individual counseling for adolescents and adults on a weekly or bi-monthly basis or in the form of intensives (3-4 days of hard work, blood, sweat and tears that is oh, so worth it!). Intensives can include EMDR, somatic therapy, and psychodrama. Call 720-530-1225 for scheduling and pricing. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is ambivalence and what does it look like around the holidays? Why do we not do well with dual feelings and what can we do about it? Why is creating an invitational heart so important for ambivalence during the holidays? How can we allow things to change in our lives in a way that doesn't creat ambivalence around Christmas? We encourage you to check out Sharon's books The Last Addiction () and Belonging () Our listeners can also learn more about Sharon's resources, books and much more at the link here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/25158732

Safety in Relationships and Skydiving 11/08/2022

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill with Diane Langberg 10/19/2022

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill with Diane Langberg On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody is joined by renowned Christian Psychologist, Dr. Diane Langberg, to take a deep dive into how the church handles women experiencing trauma. Diane speaks about her work in the church and how worship leaders can find ways to work well with women who are walking through trauma. She also shares the best ways to vet a church, pastor or councelor to ensure that if you are a woman going through trauma, you will be able to place yourself in a place of safety and healing. She describes what trauma can look like for women but also ways that churches and pastors can either raise women up and provide healing, or exacerbate it, and how to tell the difference between the two. Who is Diane Langberg? Dr. Diane Langberg is the leading Christian psychologist with expertise in trauma recovery. Her teaching has taken her to South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Her books on sexual abuse remain popular with both clinicians and victims. She joined Missio Seminary as a Clinical Faculty member (Clinical Faculty members are practitioners who also lecture and train) and has a leadership role in the shaping and delivery of the Global Trauma Recovery Institute. Dr. Langberg is Chair of the Executive Board of the American Association of Christian Counselors, serves on the board of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment), and is Co-Chair of the Trauma Advisory Council for the American Bible Society. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna for Professional Achievement from Taylor University, the American Association of Christian Counselor’s Caregiver Award, and the Philadelphia Council of Clergy’s Christian Service Award. Things We Talk About In This Episode: How can churches and ministry leaders provide health and safety to women who are experiencing trauma? What are the steps that we should have to assist our friends through trauma or abuse? How can victims of trauma properly vet their churches, pastors or councelors to ensure that they will receive the best help possible? What tools can be provided to educate worship leaders and the general public with proper knowledge of what trauma looks like? To learn more about Diane's journey, books, resources, and more, please visit the link here: Check out Diane's Podcast here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/24732822

Walking By Faith in Difficult Days with Diane Strack 10/04/2022

Walking By Faith in Difficult Days with Diane Strack On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with Author and Founder of She Loves Out Loud, Diane Strack, to talk about walking by faith in the face of difficult days. Diane shares her story about her diagnosis of breast cancer and what it was like facing each day with cancer. She then shares advice for those suffering with acute and chronic illnesses about how to “Always Expect Amazing” regardless of your circumstances. Diane explains in the moments of hardship with her cancer, she discovered that God is always there with us. He is always there listening, comforting and taking us into what is next for our lives. She then talks about the creation of her ministry, She Loves Out Loud, which focuses on “gathering the women of the world” so that they may pray together. Diane shows how in her battle and in so many others, that having that group of women alongside her to say, “We are with you.” and sharing in the tragedy and triumph as they prayed together was transformational. Who is Diane Strack? Diane Strack has created, facilitated, and spoken at women’s and youth ministries across the nation for more than three decades. As the founder of She Loves Out Loud, she urges women to engage their circles of influence to “gather the women to pray” and to share the Good News of God’s love and healing. Diane’s message is “Always Expect Amazing” regardless of your circumstances. She is the author of several books, including New Start for Single Moms, and the Co-founder of Student Leadership University. Diane currently serves as an Executive Member of the Board of Directors of One More Child Foundation, a ministry that touches 160,000 children annually through adoption, foster care, trafficking restoration, single mom homes, and international ministry. She and her husband Jay live in Central Florida and love spending time with their daughters Missy and Chris, son-in-law Brent, and six grandchildren. Things We Talk About In This Episode: How do we fight discouragement in the face of extremely difficult moments in our lives? How do we avoid falling into isolation after devastating news or events and why is having a gospel community especially important for women? Why is serving others a vital component to the process of healing ourselves? Why should we begin to recognize things like depression and despair as spiritual warfare and what can we do to combat that? To learn more about She Loves Out Loud’s event on November 5th and to register, please visit the link here: Check out the full She Loves Out Loud website here: Learn more about Diane’s book, New Start for Single Moms Bible Study Participant's Guide, here: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/24576009

The Redemption of The Shack with Author Paul Young 09/20/2022

The Redemption of The Shack with Author Paul Young On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with Best Selling author Paul Young to talk about his story of growing up in West Papua, New Guinea, his divorce and reconciliation with his wife, and how he was able to experience rebirth after decades of abuse and trauma. Paul shares his story of abuse that he suffered while living in West Papua, New Guinea, experiencing sexual abuse at the age of 5. Between this and having an abusive father, Paul discusses how God is able to show us love and grace in these moments where all hope seems lost. He also explains that God NEVER violates human agency to accomplish His purpose and shows what that looks like from his perspective as an abuse victim. Paul then explains his journey of “starting over”, meeting his wife and then having an affair, and finally how he began breaking down the walls he had built up over decades of his life, and how he backed away from the abyss of taking his own life. In the end he says that it wasn’t justified, but it was worth it. Who is Paul Young? William Paul Young was born in Canada and raised among a Stone Age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of former New Guinea. He suffered great loss as a child and young adult and now enjoys the “wastefulness of grace” with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of Lies We Believe About God and the New York Times bestsellers The Shack, Cross Roads, and Eve. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is the power of a word like ambivalence and why is that so important for us to understand? How do you begin breaking down walls built up from abuse? How is lying often used more as a survival tool than one meant to deceive? Where can we turn when it feels like the world is collapsing on us and we feel separated from God? Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/24426822

Glimmers of Heaven (Part 3 of 3) 09/06/2022

Glimmers of Heaven (Part 2 of 3) 08/30/2022

Glimmers of Heaven (Part 1 of 3) 08/23/2022

Seeing the World through the Nine Lenses of the Enneagram with Dr. Jerome Wagner 07/12/2022

Seeing the World through the Nine Lenses of the Enneagram with Dr. Jerome Wagner On this week's episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with Dr. Jerome Wagner to discuss the nine personality types outlined in the Enneagram and how they can help us understand our views and responses to the world around us. Dr. Wagner explains how the Enneagram differs from personality tests like Myers-Briggs and how the Enneagram not only shows us which personality type we fall into, but why we like to fall into that personality. He also explains how each type on the Enneagram creates our lense of seeing the world, and that each of these lenses informs us about what's important and what might threaten our values. Finally he discusses the importance of how we should look at all nine types on the enneagram and use them as a basis to prevent ourselves from distorting our vision of the world, and coming into the best versions of ourselves as Christ created us to be. Our listeners can learn more about Dr. Jerome Wagner and the courses he offers by visiting and Our listeners can also purchase his books including Nine Lenses of the World by clicking the amazon link Who is Dr. Jerome Wagner? Dr. Jerome Wagner, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, supervisor, consultant in private practice, and emeritus faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, Chicago. Among the earliest students of the Enneagram in the United States, Dr. Wagner’s dissertation was one of the first written descriptions of the Enneagram and pioneered formal research studies on the Enneagram. Part of his study involved constructing an Enneagram inventory. Things We Talk About In This Episode: What is the Enneagram? What makes the Enneagram different from other personality tests? What are the 9 types of the Enneagram? Why is it important to know your typing on the Enneagram and how can it help me in my day to day life? Why is knowing the positives and negatives of each type important? Why should we look at all 9 types of the Enneagram if we only have one that drives us individually? Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Melody and Friends! If you haven't already please take the time to leave us a rating and review on our iTunes page as it helps us get more great episodes like this to you! /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/23715470

How to Overcome Father Wounds with Kia Stephens 06/28/2022

How to Deal with Love Bombing in a Relationship with Sherri Tate 06/14/2022

Healing the Wounds of Abusive Betrayal with Sherri Tate 06/01/2022

When to Walk Away: Freedom from Toxic People with Gary Thomas 05/23/2022

When to Walk Away: Freedom from Toxic People with Gary Thomas On this week’s episode of Melody and Friends, Melody travels to Texas to speak with best selling author and international speaker Gary Thomas to discuss something that can be very difficult for spouses, when to walk away. Gary talks about how as Christians, we often feel the guilt and responsibility of meeting the needs of unhealthy people in our lives. Gary says that instead of attempting the impossible task of mollifying toxic people, it's time we dedicate our energy to a more worthwhile effort: completing the work God has given us by investing in reliable people. He shares his experience on how to identify truly toxic people, how to deal with them in difficult situations, and the most important aspect for many, when and how to walk away from a toxic relationship. Our listeners can learn more about Gary Thomas, his books and more by visiting the links below: , and can check out When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People by clicking the link here: Who is Gary Thomas? Gary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships within the Christian community. Gary is the author of 20 books that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation. Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR). He has served on the teaching team at Second Baptist Church, Houston and as an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas. Things We Talk About in this Episode The difference between labeling and name calling and why labeling can be important for victims in relationships with toxic individuals. What truly defines a toxic person in a relationship and how their behavior will differ from the “normal” spouse or partner. How someone can actually experience a rebirth when they learn to remove themself from that toxic relationship and how to know “when to walk away.” How to decipher when someone is exhibiting toxic behavior versus being a toxic person and what to do when a spouse begins acting toxic towards their partner. How to deal with toxicity when it's overt, but also covert where the partner may look great to those looking outside the home, but inside they are continually abusive in passive aggressive ways. How to reveal to your wife that you are dealing with sexual addictions without creating greater trauma and chaos in her life by doing so. /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/23205122

Finding Authentic Recovery and Brotherhood with Nate Larkin 04/12/2022

Finding Authentic Recovery and Brotherhood with Nate Larkin On this week’s episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with author and speaker Nate Larkin to discuss his decades long battle with pornography and sex addiction. Nate shares his story of why he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on emotionless sex, what led him to recovery and how his marriage went from desolation to rebirth after his wife discovered his addicition. He shares practical ways to begin having conversations that build trust. He also discusses how pornography and sex addiction stifle our ability to be intimate and why intimacy is vital. Nate created the Samson Society, a community dedicated to creating brotherhood between recovering addicts, and he shares how today there are over 10,000 men connected experiencing real intimacy and finding freedom. Our listeners can learn more about Nate Larkin, his book and The Samson Society by visiting the links below: , and Who is Nate Larkin? Nate Larkin knows the pressure to live up to a public persona. He knows what it's like to have a secret that can destroy a career. He knows what it's like to quit. And He knows what it's like to find healing, deep friendships, and hope. Nate has a story that unfortunately too many people can relate with, addiction to pornography and sex. So in 2004, several of these friends formed a mutual aid society for Christian men called the Samson Society. Within the safety of the Samson Society, honest friendships have taken root and men are finding new power in their faith. Nate, who drafted the Society’s charter and designed its first meeting format, has written a book about his experiences entitled Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood, which was published by Thomas Nelson in February 2007. (He is also the author, with Darrell Waltrip, of Sundays Will Never Be the Same). As of 2012, more than 250 local Samson Society groups are functioning in the United States, and others have started in other countries. A social networking website has been established to connect men who do not have access to a local meeting. Nate loves talking to men about their need for community and how they can overcome struggles together. Things We Talk About in this Episode Why men often don’t want to look to external sources to find help for sex addiction and porn addiction. Why intimacy in a relationship is about so much more than sex and why it can be hard for men to realize that How contempt for a man’s own action in addiction can create contempt in the relationship and how to break them out of that mindset. Why having a community of sex addicts is important to recovery and how to overcome the voice in a man’s head saying they can recover on their own. /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/22764386

Healing the Wounds of Sexual Betrayal with Dr. Sheri Keffer 03/29/2022

Melody Talks About Finding Safe Friends to Grow with You 03/15/2022

How Women Can Heal From a Sexual Addict Spouse with Dr. Barbara Steffens 03/01/2022

How Women Can Heal From a Sexual Addict Spouse with Dr. Barbara Steffens On this week’s episode of Melody and Friends, Melody speaks with Dr. Barbara Steffens about breaking the stigma and shame that partners often experience when going through betrayal trauma with their spouse’s sexual addiction. Both addicts and their partners may suffer in isolation, ashamed and afraid, not knowing where to turn for help. Dr. Steffens talks about what trauma truly looks like in a relationship, what steps women can take, and how communities provide understanding for sexual addicts and their partners. Barbara Steffens' groundbreaking research was the first to show that partners are not co-addicts but post-traumatic stress victims. Our listeners can learn more about Dr. Steffens’ book, coaching and more by visiting . Another resource she highly recommends is . Who is Dr. Barbara Steffens? Barbara Steffens, PhD, LPCC, CCPS, CPC specializes in helping women recover from sexual betrayal and is a sought-after speaker and presenter on special issues related to partners of sexual addicts. She was the founding President of the Association for Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists, an organization that provides training and certification of Clinical Partner Specialists and Partner Trauma Coaches. She has counseled and coached betrayed spouses/partners for over twenty years and her research on trauma after betrayal has changed the field. Barbara also consults with other professionals and provides training for those who want to help partners heal. Things We Talk About in this Episode The dangers of the codependency model and calling women co-addicts when they discover their husband has an addiction to sex or pornography. What trauma looks like for spouses that are in a relationship with someone who is a sex addict How to determine if an addict is in a good place after recovering from the original trauma of betrayal and why it can often take a while to figure that out. What to do if your spouse doesn’t begin to exhibit those signs of reform or doesn’t respect your requests for boundaries and safety. How Dr. Steffens wrote Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope and Heal and how she began rewriting the way people recognize betrayal trauma. Where do women go next after experiencing betrayal trauma and how can counselors be better informed to treat sex addicts and the trauma their spouses experience. /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/22289453

Recovering from Addiction and Betrayal with Catherine Etherington 02/15/2022

Recovering from Addiction and Betrayal with Catherine Etherington On this week’s episode of Melody and Friends, Melody is joined by Certified Professional Life Coach and Contributor for The Huffington Post, Catherine Etherington to discuss healing from betrayal while also battling and treating addiction. Catherine shares her story of being a heroin addict for over 10 years and how she was able to walk through the trauma of betrayal after discovering pornography on her husband’s phone a few years into their marriage. After doing a lot of research, and finding support and resources for him and his addiction with pornography, Catherine realized that she had hit a brick wall in finding support for herself, her pain and her own addictions. This caused Catherine to become a life and recovery coach. Catherine now works with The Naked Truth Project as Head of Recovery with their Free Lives Ministry. Our listeners can learn more about her work and NTP as a charity by visiting Catherine and Melody then discuss how finding community, support and looking for someone to help process the pain are the best first steps for women to take after facing betrayal. Self care is an extremely important part of the healing process due to the amount of emotional energy women are putting out. Catherine walks us through the process she walks women through to find true healing and comfort after betrayal. Who is Catherine Etherington? Catherine Etherington is the creator of both the Whole Hearted Partner Programme and Whole Life Recovery Programme for The Naked Truth Project and oversees all the work at Naked Truth Recovery. She has previously worked as a group facilitator, trainer and coach, specializing in behavioral and cultural change through emotional intelligence. Catherine is a recovered substance addict with over a decade of recovery as well as a betrayed wife healing from trauma. Catherine has years of experience working with addiction recovery in both peer and professional roles and is equipped to work with people seeking recovery from problematic behaviors, their partners, as well as with the couple together. Things We Discuss in this Episode How Catherine dealt not only with the discovery of her husband’s betrayal and pornography addiction, but also how she began to find help for her own addiction to heroin as a young mother of 2. Where the best starting point is for women and couples looking to heal after experiencing betrayal and trauma. Why self care is one of the most important things for women as they begin their healing from betrayal and addiction. How to get men in the relationship to understand that their spouse getting “triggered” isn’t just a feeling, but instead is a whole body reaction to feeling unsafe. What slips and relapses can look like in a relationship and what women can do when their spouse slips back into that old behavior or even experiences a relapse into that addiction. How to navigate the difficulty of betrayal and addiction with your children, whether they are adolescents or adults. What are the steps that you can take to still be a supportive parent to your children while in the midst of all the chaos of walking through betrayal. /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/22134848

How to Begin Healing from a Relationship with a Sexual Addict with Marnie Ferree 02/01/2022

How to Begin Healing from a Relationship with a Sexual Addict with Marnie Ferree On this episode of Melody and Friends, Melody sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Marnie C. Ferree. Marnie is also the founder and director of Bethesda Workshops, a faith-based clinical intensive workshop program for sex addicts, their partners, and couples affected by sexual addiction. Marnie shares her story of growing up with a father who was a pastor that was a sex addict, using both same sex pornography and men to feed his addiction, and ultimately being sexually abused and groomed by one of her father’s sexual partners. She then talks to Melody about the importance of ministering and helping the partners of those addicts and how they can begin their journey to recovering from these traumatic relationships. Our listeners can check out all of the resources Marnie and her team offers over at . Who is Marnie Ferree? Marnie C. Ferree is the founder of Bethesda Workshops and has a national reputation as a leader in the field of sexual addiction. She has an active role in every workshop. In 1997, Marnie established a workshop program for female sex addicts that was the first of its kind, and today draws participants from across the United States and Canada. That program expanded in 2001 to include workshops for male sex addicts, partners, and couples, and it was renamed Bethesda Workshops. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT). Things We Discuss in this Episode The different types of sexual addicts that can show up in relationships. Not all sex addicts look or act the same and Marnie discusses the different types she works with at Bethsda Workshops How Marnie recovered from her upbringing of having a sex addict father, being abused by one of her father’s partners, and later her husband who was also addicted to sexually deviant behavior. How partners can start their journey of recovery after experiencing the pain of a relationship with an addict and how they can become their best selves after moving on. How to recognize as a partner that there is nothing more you can do in a relationship and the healthiest option is for you to leave that partnership. Marnie explains that it takes two healthy people to have a relationship and one person cannot keep that relationship afloat themself. The first step as a partner when you recognize your significant other has begun exhibiting addictive behavior is to remember that it is NOT your fault. You will be okay and you can choose health, no matter your partner’s choice. Partners need help even more than the addict. How Bethesda Workshops can help both partners and addicts through the struggles of addiction, the heartbreak of discovery, and how to create a safe, impactful recovery journey. /episode/index/show/melodyandfriends/id/21968036

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