Episodes

  • Ep 78 Leading Yourself _ Others with Clarity and Conviction with Carla H. Hayden
    May 23 2025

    Are you wondering how to better manage yourself and your life as a writer? We all have strengths and weaknesses, and when we're a one-woman show, we have to wear all the hats.

    Carla will help us understand what it means to lead ourselves well and how to find those who can help us fill in the gaps of our weaknesses.

    Carla H. Hayden is passionate about raising up the next generation of women leaders for the Kingdom of God…one conversation at a time. As a Maturity Mentor, Carla uses group mentoring and 1:1 clarity sessions - affectionately referred to as “Mentoring with Mama” and “Coffee with Carla” - to lead, guide, and mentor younger women - whether young in age or young in stage - in their personal, professional, and spiritual development.

    As a Marketplace Shepherd, Carla uses her gifts of connection, communication, and coaching to help individuals, teams, and companies eliminate inefficiencies, establish order out of chaos, and enhance a culture of clarity and accountability.

    Born and raised in San Francisco, CA, Carla and her family have called Indianapolis, IN, home for the last 25+ years. She thrives on meaningful conversations over coffee or cocktails, enjoys photo-journaling snippets of her story, and loves traveling—whether exploring local gems or venturing abroad.

    Carla contributes her Working Geniuses of Discernment and Tenacity to every project she puts her hands to, and unashamedly declares that Gifts and Words of Affirmation are at the top of her Love Languages list.

    You can connect with her on Instagram (@coffee_with_carla), LinkedIn (@Carla H. Hayden), or visit her website at coffeewithcarla.com.

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    50 mins
  • Ep 77 Why Digital Products Are a Wise Business Strategy for Writers _ Speakers with Becky Kopitsky
    May 16 2025

    Becky Kopitzke is a multi-published author and founder of The Inspired Business, a coaching hub dedicated to helping content creators and coaches monetize their passion work in order to keep it sustainable. A veteran blogger, freelance writer, speaker, and writing coach, Becky’s sweet spot is in digital product sales funnels, an ideal method for getting paid to grow your audience.

    Becky and her husband Chad are building the life they love from home offices in northeast Wisconsin, where they share precious space with their two teen daughters, tables stacked with homework, and two devoted office dogs. Becky is a big fan of matcha lattes, family game nights, historical fiction, and pretty much anything chocolate. Find Becky online at theinspiredbusiness.co and beckykopitzke.com.

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    54 mins
  • Ep 76 Stuff I'd Only Tell God, Growing Slow, and Other Writerly Topics with Jennifer Dukes Lee
    May 9 2025

    Join us for this conversation with Jennifer Dukes Lee—a writer, former news journalist, and farmer’s wife from Iowa. She’s an acquisitions editor for Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and the author of several books, including Growing Slow and her newest release, Stuff I’d Only Tell God. Jennifer writes with honesty, hope, and trust in God’s timing. Whether she’s talking about slowing down, telling the truth, or growing in grace, she invites us to live rooted and authentically. Learn about the connection between seasons and your writing and creative life, how guided journaling can help you heal and find your creative angle, and the spiritual lessons we can learn from corn. Yes, you read that correctly. Corn. 🌽 You won't want to miss it!

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ep 75 Instagram- Little Steps Toward Building a Consistent Following with Michelle Rahal
    May 2 2025

    Because Instagram is visual, with over 500 million daily users, writers will find it can be a strong tool to help them find their voice, develop their personal brand, and build their following. Like any tool, however, results depend on how often and how well it's handled. Michelle will help you identify your God-given message, teach you how to engage with Instagram users, and show you how to use the data to create community.

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    38 mins
  • Ep 74 The Power of Unplugging for Writers with Hannah Brencher
    Apr 25 2025

    Hannah Brencher is a writer, TED speaker, and entrepreneur. She founded The World Needs More Love Letters, a global community dedicated to sending letter bundles to those who need encouragement. Named as one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good,” Hannah has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Oprah, Glamour, USATODAY.com, the Chicago Tribune, and more. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Lane, and daughter, Novalee. Find Hannah at hannahbrencher.com. Her newest book, “The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World,” was released on September 17. It is available in paperback, Kindle, and audio formats wherever books are sold.

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ep: 73: Stewardship and SEO with Jana Carlson
    Apr 18 2025

    If you’ve ever wondered how to get your words in front of the right readers, today’s episode is for you. SEO—Search Engine Optimization—might sound technical or even intimidating, but it’s actually a powerful way to steward our writing well. When used wisely, SEO isn’t about chasing algorithms—it’s about making sure the messages God has placed on our hearts reach the people who need them most.

    Join us for this conversation with Jana Carlson, a professional SEO content writer who views SEO as a blessing for Christian writers. We’ll be talking about:

    • How SEO fits into a biblical perspective of stewardship.

    • Simple, actionable SEO strategies for writers.

    • The impact of AI on SEO and what Christian writers should know.

    Whether you’re just starting to build an online presence or looking to refine your approach, this conversation will equip you to write faithfully and reach more readers—without compromising your message.

    Jana has created "Simple SEO for Christian Writers" a beginner's course for learning SEO. With your purchase, you'll also receive a free membership to the Writers' Bloc. Sign up today!

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    45 mins
  • Ep: 72: Polishing Your Prose- Perfecting Grammar and Punctuation with Deborah Pettit
    Apr 11 2025

    If you’re like many writers, self-editing might feel like the hardest part of the process. Maybe you love drafting but dread revising. Maybe grammar and punctuation rules feel overwhelming, and you're unsure where to start. The good news? Editing doesn’t have to be intimidating.

    Join us for this fun conversation with author Deborah Pettit, a grammar, punctuation, and self-editing expert. She’s here to help us polish our prose so we can present our best work to the world. In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • Why self-editing is crucial for every writer.

    • Simple tricks for remembering grammar and punctuation rules.

    • How to approach editing without feeling overwhelmed.

    Deborah’s practical advice will help you edit like a pro—without the frustration. Whether you’re prepping a manuscript for publication or want to clean up your blog posts, this conversation will equip you with tools to elevate your writing.

    Follow Deborah Pettit at deborahpettit.com, and don’t forget to check out The Writers' Bloc for more resources, encouragement, and writing community. Create a FREE account today!

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    41 mins
  • Ep : 71: How to Give Yourself Grace When You're Just Starting Out with Jill McCormick
    Apr 4 2025

    If you’re a new writer, you know the doubts can be loud—Is my writing good enough? Will anyone read this? Am I even a real writer? That inner critic? She can be relentless. But today, we’re learning how to turn down the volume of self-doubt and turn up the grace.

    In this episode, we're joined by Jill McCormick, a writer, speaker, and podcast host of "Grace in Real Life." Jill shares her heart for encouraging women to let go of perfection and embrace the grace of God in their creative pursuits. If you’ve ever felt stuck in comparison, paralyzed by fear, or unsure where to even start, Jill’s wisdom will remind you that writing is a journey, not a test you have to ace on the first try.

    You’ll walk away from this episode feeling lighter, freer, and ready to write with confidence, knowing that grace is enough.

    Stay connected with Jill McCormick by following her at www.jillemccormick.com and on Instagram @jillemccormick. You can always find more writing encouragement and community at The Writers' Bloc. Create a FREE account today!

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    37 mins