It's Too Wonderful (Audrey Akins)

Hi!! I'm Audrey and I'm so happy you're here. Give this a listen to hear why I titled my show "It's Too Wonderful" and what this podcast is all about. My first episode will be out on Wednesday, and in the meantime you can follow @itstoowonderfulpod on Instagram!

When we know who Jesus is but don't know His heart, He remains an abstract concept, a far away idea that can't actually change someone's life. That's what the Holy Spirit does. A gift Jesus gave us when He left; a counselor who searches the mind of God that we can have inside of us. In this episode, my friend Jacob explains how his life changed when Jesus transformed from someone he knew about to someone he knew more intimately than anyone else. In our conversation, we see who the Holy Spirit is, and what it looks like to know His presence in every moment. Whether this is something you've never heard, a reminder of what you've forgotten, or simply a testament to the power of unity, I encourage you to listen.

Credits:

Theme Music - Judson Gay

Theme Music Mixing - Nate Spencer

We're back!! After a bit of a break, I wanted to take a moment to catch up with you all and fill you in on how the Lord is leading me in this season of life. I talk about how post-grad feels, getting rid of my iPhone for a month, and read a story I wrote that is an illustration of how it feels like for me to follow Jesus right now. Cannot wait for everything in store for It's Too Wonderful this year, and as always am so thankful for each one of you apart of this community.

~

Keep up with me & join the community @itstoowonderfulpod on Instagram!

Music by Judson Gay

What does it look like to live like Jesus after feelings fade from a “spiritual high?” When life is mundane, even depressing… how does God continue to work? After serving with YWAM in Hawaii and Mexico and Young Life as a mountain guide in Canada, Sophie knows what it’s like coming from a “mountaintop” to the sometimes painful reality of normal life. In this episode, she shares the many forms faith has taken in her life, and what she has learned from resting in the consistency of our God. 

Bible Verses Referenced:

Mark 4:1-9 ESV

Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !

Ashlynn is studying to get her PhD in Biology at Vanderbilt University. She has loved science since elementary school, but was weighed down for most of her life thinking she couldn't fully pursue science and her faith. On today's episode, Ashlynn shares her journey in discovering how her faith and love for science actually don't oppose each other at all. This reality of intertwining faith into a passion that can seem antithetical to following Jesus is difficult. Ashlynn's vulnerability is encouraging to anyone wrestling through how to follow their passion and Jesus.

Credits:

Theme Music - Judson Gay

Mixing - Nate Spencer

Studying abroad is an incredible experience - but one of the hardest parts about it can be leaving the people you love behind. After studying abroad for a semester in Grantham, England, Sammy has some great encouragement for what it looks like to trust God with your friendships. He goes beyond the study abroad experience and speaks to the difficulties of finding godly community in general, especially as a guy in college. In this episode, Sammy and I talk about diversity in worship and faith practices, what it means to truly love a friend, and the beauty of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

References in this episode:

- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

My dad visited me in Nashville this past weekend, and I thought it was only fitting to have him on the podcast! We talk about what it was like for me to grow up as a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult), his perspective on his own deafness, and how that has shaped us both in beautiful ways. From starting his own graphic design company to competitive skimboarding and mountain biking, my dad is one of the coolest guys I know. What amazes me the most is his contentment in how the Lord has made him, and I think we can all have a little more of that!

Give the pod a follow on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

If I'm being honest, I've felt a lot of shame and fear surrounding the Great Commission. What does it look like to tell people about Jesus with our words? And how do we do it? In this episode, Ashley shares her experience evangelizing in the streets of Europe, how the Holy Spirit equipped her and can equip you too to tell people about the good news of Jesus! We talk about the fear and awkwardness that can come with evangelizing and how to submit to the Lord in our uncomfort.

Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !!

This whole show is based around the idea that knowing ourselves fully is too wonderful to understand, BUT we can’t forget the importance of knowing ourselves in part. Lauren gracefully shares how she has learned to know herself and others in the past four years. This understanding has led to places of scary vulnerability, risk, and trust in God-given identity. We talk about the difference between transparency and vulnerability, receiving your identity from people versus God, and how loving people also means letting them love you. 

Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

Do you ever feel like you struggle to talk about your faith even among believers? Jordan shares her story of how God worked a clear miracle in her life, and how she uses that part of her story to testify His goodness. We talk about what that looks like among people who don't know Jesus, and among people that do! We also talk about how scary it can be to pray for really tangible and specific things and trusting in His provision.

References in this episode:

- 1 Samuel 8:6-9

- Hebrews 2:10-12

- 1 John 4:7-21

- 1 John 3:18

- Matthew 6:24-25

For the very first episode of this podcast, it only felt right to have a guest on that was an integral part in helping this show get off the ground! LJ is one of my best friends and roommate, but even if she wasn't I would have her on the show anyways because of the depth of her knowledge and love for God. She has been walking with Jesus for over 10 years, and in this episode she opens up on the struggle of freshman year in college and how God has been transforming her heart through that. We also talk about how tough health issues in the family can be when grappling with the goodness of God, and the truth of His unending love in the face of a loud inner critic.

References in this episode:

- 1 Chronicles 13:1-14 (Link to sermon from Church of the City New York)

- Isaiah 43

- Psalm 51

- Hebrews 12

- 1 Peter 5: 6-9

- Psalm 139!

Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

Spiritual disciplines, simplicity, slowing down the pace of your life... all these things are part of learning to walk more in the way of Jesus, but can seem really overwhelming. Grace Catherine talks about how we can give ourselves more grace in all of it, and what it looks like to truly have soul rest in knowing that we were created and called good.

References in this episode:

- Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast w/ John Mark Comer & Jefferson Bethke

Today marks the day of one whole year of It's Too Wonderful... and we are celebrating with the guest of the very first episode, LJ! We talk about how the act of celebration changes as we grow older, and why we celebrate people even when it's hard to show up. LJ asks me about how Psalm 139 has been changing my life this year, and we have a cool chat about what it looks like to dwell in the presence of God in every moment of every day.

Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod

Music by Judson Gay

Do you feel empty? Tired? Like you’re trying so hard but have nothing to give? Striving can feel like that, and takes many shapes and forms in life. We can strive in school, work, even in our relationships… and in doing so, forget grace. In this episode Maelyn and I talk about how pride and performance-based worth can masquerade as responsibility and hard work, but the Lord calls us to live operating under a radical grace that ceases our striving.

References:

Book: When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Myth of Self-Improvement with the Good News of Life-Transforming Grace by Ruth Chou Simons

Matthew 7: 7-11

Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

You get to meet the creative behind the new podcast cover art and rebrand!! The way Mia creates to further illuminate creation is inspiring to say the least! We chat about all the life things, ranging from honoring the Lord in moving our bodies to the hardest part of giving up control as a creator. You're going to want to stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Mia read her short story inspired by Psalm 127! Literal chills :')

Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod !!

Music by Judson Gay

I thought it was time you got to know the girl asking all the questions on a more personal level! In this episode, the host becomes the guest and I answer YOUR questions (questions were submitted on the podcast Instagram - go give it a follow for all the bts content). Listen in to hear how I have come to know and walk with Jesus. I dive deeper into why the podcast is called "It's Too Wonderful," and give you a glimpse into what my dreams are for this show one day!

Podcast Instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod

Abby and I went to Israel together almost a year ago now! We didn't know each other before the trip, but became so close and have incredible shared experiences in the land where Jesus walked and taught over 2000 years ago. In this episode we talk about how and why we both decided to get baptized, the importance of releasing expectations of how God will move, and what our time there taught us about how to live in relationship with Jesus.

References in this episode:

- Ephesians 6:10-17

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-12

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

God is scheming all the time, from little glimpses of love in the day to big picture dreams and retrospect of answered prayer and kept promises! Abby's life motto is "God Schemes," and in this episode she speaks to how that has shaped the way she views life. As a designer and small business owner, Abby's drive to bring beauty into the world is contagious. She talks about how she views vision, and what listening to and obeying the will of God looks like in her own life. Listen to this episode to feel inspired, a child-like faith renewed, and fresh vision on your life!

Follow the pod on insta - @itstoowonderfulpod

Abby's instagram - @abbyconnolly_

Calah Mikal is a singer/songwriter and a mental health therapist, and has just released one of my favorite albums, “As You Come Back Home.” In this episode, we chat about the kind of faith it takes to pray scary prayers, her songwriting process in conjunction with this faith, and the multidimensional love story that is woven into this album. Calah describes it as honest resilience and hopeful nostalgia, and hopes the listener feels like they are coming home when they listen to her music. This conversation was a beautiful glimpse of that intention for me, and I am hopeful for all who listen to feel the same.

Greta's faith was radically transformed when she was met with a peace that surpassed her own understanding (Phillipians 4:7). As a pre-med student at the University of Minnesota, Greta shares how her first personal encounter with Jesus changed the way she views her schoolwork and goes about her life. We talk about how God moves even in areas we don't explicitly ask Him to, and what it looks like to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

Katie and I's friendship is a beautiful example of the way God can use friendship to strength, refine, and spur on believers in running the race set before us, no matter how far apart we live. What would it look like if we stepped into relationship with other believers with a confidence and peace that comes from truly believing we have the same spirit inside of us? A nursing student at Auburn University, Katie's dedication and confirmation in her calling as a nurse is both foreign and inspiring to me. We get honest about how some people can be so sure in what they want to do and some aren't, and that's ok! Be encouraged that vulnerability is hard and takes time, God is chasing after your heart, and He can use the people and work in our lives to teach us more about His heart for us in ways we could never imagine.

Follow the pod on instagram - @itstoowonderfulpod

Having just graduated from Belmont University, Leah explains how seemingly scary things like mundane routines and not knowing where you're going to live in two months can be beautiful ways to lean into God's faithfulness. She talks about the biggest takeaways she has from her college experience, what she might have done differently and how God worked everything out for good in ways she never thought possible. Leah fills a unique roll in my life as a friend, mentor, and partner with me in my major and leadership roles at school. She has transformed my college experience and is a source of wisdom and encouragement to me, and I hope this episode leaves you with some of that too.

Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod !

Sadie is passionate about navigating food and exercise in a way that honors God and not our flesh, and uses her studies to inform that. As a Psychology major and Strength and Conditioning minor at Belmont University, what she is studying plays an important role in how she lives and sees the world. Sadie is an amazing speaker and is bold about sharing her struggles with an eating disorder in order to help others live in freedom. That being said, I would like to give a trigger warning because we talk about eating disorders and disordered eating in this episode. This is a heavy topic, but my hope is that this episode feels like a safe space and leaves you feeling not alone!

References in this episode:

- Romans 12:2

- Colossians 1:22

- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Resources:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support

Breaking Free from Body Shame by Jess Connolly - This book has been very impactful in both my life and Sadie's, we would both strongly recommend this for a Christian perspective on struggles with body image. Instagram: @breakingfreefrombodyshame

Sadie's instagram: @sadiekathryns

Podcast instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod

Ever made a decision and immediately second guess yourself? Or feel like God might want you to do something that seems too hard or too crazy? In this episode, we chat about the reality of making significant decisions in your life, and what it even means when Christians talk about finding their "calling." Val exudes a joy and peace not of this world!

Follow the pod on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

It's the collab you've been waiting for!!! Emma is the host of the Heaven One Day podcast, and in this episode we talk about sharing your faith online, that God is not a feeling, and what it looks like to step out in faith even in fear.

Go listen to the episode Emma & I recorded on her podcast, thehodpod! I share a vulnerable part of my story that I hope can help bring healing & grace into the life of whoever listens.

It's Too Wonderful Instagram - @itstoowonderfulpod

Heaven One Day Instagram - @heavenonedayy

Work is idolized in America, and in this episode, Judson and I talk about how being Christian changes what work looks like in our lives. We talk about the meaning we can derive from work, and also what it feels like to have no idea what your future holds, or what you even want it to hold. Sitting in the unknown can be a beautiful thing, and sometimes our indecisiveness can teach us about His control & sovereignty. We also talk about the definitions of glory, love, and goodness, and what the phrase “too good to be true” really means. 

Ever feel scared by the fact that you could do anything you wanted to? That this privilege could actually be a burden, because of how many different paths you could see for your life? In this episode, my mentor and dear friend Lexie shares how her life looks much different than she imagined, and the beautiful ways she finds peace and freedom in that. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she also shares some helpful tips if you’re going through an intense season of change & formation in identity.

Jackson DeRose is only 21 but has been working in the church for almost 10 years! He is currently interning as a youth pastor at his local church in Nashville, and brings the WORD on this podcast about everything from goofing with kids at VBS to battling really hard lies about his identity. This episode is long, but you’re going to want to listen to the whole thing, trust me! Jackson graciously reveals parts of his story to speak love and truth into the life of whoever’s listening. We talk about how we live and believe in lies about ourselves even though we "know" the truth, and what it looks like to get out of that headspace. We also talk about some of the toxic cycles in the American church today, and what we can do as believers to not participate in or enable that cycle, but to be apart of the church in the way Jesus designed. Bible verses referenced in this episode: - Matthew 10:34-36 - John 16:12 - John 8:47 - John 8:31-32 Follow the pod on instagram @itstoowonderfulpod

Julia is overjoyed to share how the Lord has completely changed her life! Her story tells of how family and friends have been pursuing her for years, and the moment when her eyes were opened to how God loves her. It was a beautiful reminder for me of how we can love people! We also talk about what it means as a creative person to work from a new identity and the freedom that comes from not needing to become the best.

People, especially people in Christian circles, tend to talk about life in terms of seasons. Seasons are things that change, and although we all collectively know that, it seems that no matter how much we try to prepare change always throws us off balance! In the spirit of the kickoff to Season 2 we're sitting in the grey of all this. Even though you've likely heard all the metaphors, I hope that this podcast feels like a breath of fresh air in a time where you might feel all over the place! Be encouraged that our God does not change. Come hang for 37 minutes while I talk about what change has looked like for me and what I've been pondering about how it impacts my relationship with the Lord, as well as my plans for Season 2 of It's Too Wonderful!

Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod

Dr. Steve Guthrie has been a professor of Theology at Belmont for 18 years and helped start the Religion and the Arts major there. Some of his most popular courses are Christian Doctrine and Faith and Beauty, but I had the privilege of taking his very first “What’s Your Why?: Creative Visionary” class last year. Steve generously shares poignant pieces of wisdom that are normally reserved for the classroom about finding your purpose in work and how creativity and beauty are essential to the faith. At the end of the episode, Steve even shares a story he’s never told anyone before, of his crisis of faith at a University of Michigan football game. 

References in this episode:

- Genesis 2-3

- "Why Work?" by Dorothy Sayers

- Psalm 139

Follow the podcast on Instagram @itstoowonderfulpod :)

As an interior architect, the way Marina perceives her physical surroundings helps me see the world in a fascinating light. In this episode we talk about the dichotomy of calling in how it is received and pursued. Marina shares what it was like growing up on a boarding school campus, how feeling isolated from a faith community has shaped the way she sees community and home now. Home is not one place but anywhere we experience the echo of eternal communion. If you're wrestling with where home and community is for you right now, I hope this episode is a great encouragement to you! Follow the pod on insta @itstoowonderfulpod Music by Judson Gay

Brooke shares how her struggles with speaking and songwriting have kept her trapped in cycles of shame, and what God has done to free her and equip her with the boldness to share her story. We have a real chat about anxiety, the way our bodies process trauma slower than our minds, and what it looks like to be patient with God's timing.

follow the podcast on Instagram: @itstoowonderfulpod