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

Audrey may wear camo, but she is learning what it means to live anything but blended in. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Audrey Wikan - hunter, content creator, and spokeswoman for Drake Waterfowl. Together, they talk about navigating social media in the outdoor industry, Audrey’s walk with Christ, finding purpose beyond performance, and living with integrity in a world driven by image. So whether you’ve ever stepped foot in a duck blind or not, you’ll walk away challenged to stand out for Christ wherever God has placed you.

Connect with Audrey: Instagram: @audrey_wikan TikTok: @audrey.wikan Youtube: @audreywikan

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

What happens when a pastor becomes a food influencer? Jessica talks with Trey Curry (@treylovesfood) about why Christians should make the best content on the internet. As Christ followers, it’s easy to see social media as dangerous or “worldly”, but Trey reminds us, it’s a tool! The question is, who’s using it? Will we let the enemy dominate these spaces, or will we step in and create with excellence for God’s glory? Together, Jessica and Trey unpack what it means to make great content without looking like the world and how to point people to Jesus even if you’re not explicitly preaching. Can you be the best chef on the internet for God’s glory? Trey thinks, yes! They also talk about guarding your heart not judging others’ motives in the process, and the surprising ways God has used something as simple as food videos to open doors for deeper conversations. Whether you’re a creator or someone just trying to honor God online, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to bring excellence, creativity and authenticity into every space you post.

Connect with Trey: Youtube: @Treylovesfood TikTok: @Treylovesfood To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on: Youtube: @upsidedowninfluencer Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com

Post Charlie Kirk assassination, a lot of Christians are asking themselves how they can live differently. In this first solo episode, I’m sharing what God has been teaching me about living set apart in a world that constantly tells us to conform. From embracing the season you’re in, to pursuing friendships, showing hospitality, and staying obedient in your walk with God, I’m unpacking the ways He is shaping the way I show up online and in life. I talk about the challenges and joys of motherhood, the importance of obedience over instant gratification, navigating convictions without judgment, and finding your unique voice in a sea of comparison. I also share practical ways to cultivate influence in your own life first, before trying to impact others online.

Let me know what you thought of my first solo episode! Book I mentioned: The Gospel Comes with a House Key Program I mentioned: VidAngel

Connect with my personal pages Instagram: @mrsjessica_johson TikTok: @mrsjessicajohnson

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

What does it look like to chase excellence in your sport while keeping your identity rooted in Christ? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, I’m joined by 18-year-old Emma Heck, a rising star in the weightlifting world who uses her platform to point people to Jesus. Emma shares her journey into weightlifting, the highs and lows of competition, and what it’s like to have influence in her sport at such a young age. We dive into the pressures of social media, the temptation to compare, and how she guards her heart and keeps her worth anchored in Christ rather than performance or likes. Emma also opens up about how she displays her faith online, the kind of role models she looks up to, and the practices that help her stay grounded outside of training. Her perspective is full of wisdom for other young athletes and anyone wanting to use their social media to glorify God. It’s so encouraging to see someone so young and passionate about her faith. And if you've ever wondered if God is in the younger generations, He IS! Connect with Emma: Instagram: @emmaheckoly TikTok: @emmaheckoly 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

What happens when you reach the dream everyone else is chasing…only to realize it still leaves you empty? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, Jessica sits down with former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion, Josh Wells to talk about his journey from small-town football to the big stage of the National Football League. Josh shares the highs of making it to the top, but also the surprising emptiness that came with money, “success”, and influence.

Together, we unpack:

• The illusion social media creates about success, wealth, and influence
• The moment Josh realized that even the NFL couldn’t satisfy the deepest longings of his soul
• His personal struggles with social media
• How faith in Jesus redefined his identity and purpose both on and off the field
• The challenges of leaving professional football and finding purpose beyond a career
• How he now uses his platform to encourage others to pursue Christ over cultural “success”

If you’ve ever believed the lie that life will finally feel complete once you “make it,” Josh’s story is a powerful reminder that there’s nothing at the top, apart from Jesus.

Connect with Josh: Instagram: @j_wells72 Instagram: @ undraftedcoaching

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