Christmas is meant to feel joyful. Yet for so many people, the holidays tend to magnify what they’re already carrying … (grief, loneliness, comparison, disappointment, even pressure to perform online.) In the middle of social media’s highlight reels, it can feel like you're the only one struggling. In today’s episode, Jessica invites licensed family + marriage therapist Rebecca Maxwell from the Jesus and Your Mental Health podcast and Pastor Jonathan Vinke from The Church of Eleven22 into a raw and hope-filled conversation about navigating Christmas when it doesn’t feel so merry.

In this episode we cover:

• Why the holidays tend to amplify whatever we’re already feeling... - joy, grief, loneliness, stress, or unmet expectations

• How social media intensifies comparison

• Navigating Christmas when you’re grieving - whether the loss is a loved one, a relationship, a dream, or the way life used to be

• The pressure to post like everything is fine

• Setting healthy emotional + digital boundaries

• Biblical encouragement - how followers of Jesus can hold grief and hope in the same hands

If you’ve ever thought…“Everyone else’s life looks better than mine.” “I should feel joyful, but I don’t.” “Posting feels weird when I’m hurting.” This conversation will meet you right where you are.

Connect with Rebecca!

IG: @rebeccamaxinjax TikTok: @rebeccamaxinjax Youtube: ⁨@RebeccaMaxinJax⁩

Buy a copy of her book here

Her book makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for someone walking through a hard time, especially during the holidays!

You can also hear more from her on the Jesus and Your Mental Health podcast.

Connect with Pastor Jonathan by tuning into the The Jesus and Your Mental Health Podcast and Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin.

To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on:

Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com

If you’re a Christian creative, you know how easily "calling" can get tangled up with platform. In this episode, Jessica talks with Christian folk artist and songwriter Brice Davis about the tension between calling and platform and what it really means to choose faithfulness over fame in a social media society. Brice shares his journey in Christian music, how he navigates social media as an artist, and the journey to keep Jesus at the center when metrics and visibility start to define success. Jessica and Brice dive into branding, motives, humility, and how to discern when God is asking you to promote something… and when He’s asking you to stay hidden. If you’re a Christian musician, creator, or anyone wrestling with influence and identity, this conversation will encourage you to build from obedience and ultimately, root your work in the One who called you.

Connect with Brice Instagram: @bricedavismusic TikTok: @BriceDavisMusic Spotify: Brice Davis

To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on:

Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com

In this episode, Jessica chats with Kelly Saxton about what it really looks like to navigate dating apps, long-term singleness, and faith in modern culture. What does it look like to stay faithful in your singleness in a world of swipes, situationships, and seasonal dating pressure? Kelly shares her honest experiences with online dating, how she sets boundaries that honor God, and what it means to keep hope alive when waiting feels long. Together, they unpack the tension between putting yourself out there and trusting God’s timing, how to handle “cuffing season” without compromising your values, and how to walk through comparison when everyone around you seems to be getting engaged. This episode is for the person who needs the reminder of 1. Your life isn’t over just because you’re single. And 2. Living set apart includes your online dating life.

Connect with Kelly Instagram: @Kellysaxsellsjax Her podcast Instagram: @the.morning.pour

To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on:

Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com