Episodes

In this solo episode, Rachel Awtrey hands listeners her JOYFUL report, a letter-by-letter look at what’s bringing her joy and what God is teaching her right now. She dishes on her new backyard chickens (yes, including two Silkies), the bedtime rhythm that’s reshaping her evenings, and the small delights she can’t stop talking about, from a maple sea salt latte to a Christian rap playlist built for anyone who grew up on Lil Wayne and Usher. Then things get real. Rachel opens up about why being t...

Today's episode is nothing short of magical because we have the one and only Bob Goff joining us!! Bob is a New York Times bestselling author, a beloved speaker, and someone who truly embodies whimsy, joy, and living life to the fullest. We're diving into his latest book, Catching Whimsy, which is all about finding wonder in the everyday and chasing the extraordinary. In classic Bob Goff fashion, we also explore his latest escapades—like his attempts to buy giraffes (yes, giraffes!), why you’l...

Most of us wouldn't call ourselves controlling. We'd call ourselves responsible. But when someone we love is making a choice that's going to hurt them, when we've prayed the same prayer for years and nothing has moved and stepping in starts to feel like the only reasonable thing left. Lysa TerKeurst has spent a lot of time in that exact tension, and her new book Making Peace with What I Can't Control is her answer to it. In this conversation, we get into the fears that quietly drive our grip, t...

Someone says "tell me how I can help" and you go completely blank. Not because you don't need help. You're drowning. But somebody just opened the door and you can't name a single thing to walk through it with. In this episode, Rachel argues that the blank stare isn't a character flaw. It's a preparation gap. People compliment Rachel's community constantly "you have the best people, you're so blessed, you got lucky with Birmingham. " And she'll be the first to say she's blessed. But none of it ...

Rachel is back after the longest break she's ever taken from anything annnnnnd she's finally able to explain why she left! Her husband was deployed with hours of notice, on their son's fifth birthday. Whomp, whomp. What followed was a summer of solo parenting with no end date, no countdown, and no way to talk about most of it publicly. For someone who has built her entire career on telling you the truth about her ordinary days, having the biggest story of her life and not being able to share it...

In this heartfelt and unfiltered episode, Rachel Awtrey sits down to share the kind of big sister wisdom most of us wish someone had told us sooner. With her signature blend of warmth, wit, and straight talk, Rachel tackles the lies we believe about our worth, our bodies, and our calling — and replaces them with truth that sets us free. From why you should stop shrinking to make others comfortable, to how to pray and set boundaries at the same time, Rachel delivers a powerful reminder that you ...

The red carpet was rolling, the mics were hot, and your favorites in music, comedy, sports, and books were ready to talk! I headed to the KLove Fan Awards in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry to catch up with the artists and personalities shaping the Christian entertainment world and I'm bringing the conversations straight to you. From Terrian to Elevation Rhythm, LO Worship to Jenn Johnson, and so many more in between, we're going behind the velvet rope for the stories, the laughs, and the mome...

For real: staying stuck is hard. Overthinking is hard. Avoiding the conversation, the decision, the leap - it's literally all hard. So the real question isn't how do I make life easier? It's which hard am I actually choosing? In this episode, Rachel unpacks why discomfort isn't a stop sign my girl!! This is an invitation. She walks through the brain science of the avoidance loop (why dodging hard things actually makes the fear bigger), what dopamine, distress tolerance, and neuroplasticity (oooo...

I’ve been a little MIA - and yes, I’m going to talk about it but also no, I’m not telling you everything 😅 Before you worry, everyone is healthy, my marriage is strong, and things are okay. But life has shifted in a way that requires a little more privacy, a little more wisdom, and a lot more trust. In this episode, I’m sharing what I can like including why not everything belongs on the front porch, how I’m navigating boundaries while still showing up online, and what this season is teaching m...

TRY NUULY: https://share.nuuly.com/rachel334 GRAB RACHEL'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Life-Even-When/dp/B0DJY765XF CONNECT FURTHER WITH RACHEL: https://rachelawtrey.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/realtalkpodcast https://www.instagram.com/rachel.awtrey/ CONTACT: podcast@rachelawtrey.com This video/podcast may contain affiliate links, sponsorships, or products I’ve received for free. I only share things I truly love and think will bring you value. If you purchase thr...

In this episode of Real Talk, host Rachel Awtrey sits down with Christian Bevere for an honest and heartfelt conversation about marriage, dating, and the faith-filled journey toward finding a partner. Together, they dive into nuanced topics like "palate cleansing" after past relationships, praying for your future spouse, and the importance of character formation during singleness. Christian Bevere shares SparkNotes of her unconventional love story, the lessons learned from seven years of marria...

I’m recording this episode from Africa and it’s unlike anything I’ve experienced before. In this episode, I’m sharing a real-time look at what we’ve been doing here: visiting neighborhoods and slums, walking through schools, sitting in family homes, attending church, and hearing firsthand stories from people who are shaping their communities in powerful ways. You’ll hear about the joy and energy inside classrooms, the pride families have in their homes, the faith woven into everyday life, and ...

In this episode, I’m joined by Addison Bevere, and this conversation felt like a deep exhale for my soul.We talk about prayer but not in a way that adds more pressure or makes you feel like you’re “doing it wrong.” Addison brings so much wisdom around what it actually means to pray without ceasing, how prayer can be woven into the real rhythms of your everyday life, and how connection with God doesn’t have to look complicated or performative. CONNECT FURTHER WITH RACHEL: https://rachelawtrey.co...

Turning 31 has me reflecting and not in a highlight-reel kind of way, but in the real, lived-in, God-meets-the-mess kind of way. In this episode, I’m sharing 31 things I’ve learned in 31 years and some hard-won, some lighthearted, some deeply spiritual, and some that only make sense after walking through motherhood, grief, growth, and a whole lot of changing your mind along the way. This isn’t a list of life hacks or a “here’s how I got it all together” moment (because…ya know….lol). It’s more ...

Pull up a chair and let’s talk. 🤍 In this cozy solo episode of Real Talk, I’m taking you with me as I close the door on 2025 and crack open 2026 with honesty, intentionality, and with a lot of heart! I’m sharing what I’m carrying forward (hello, momentum with margin), what I’m leaving behind (looking at you, hustle culture 👋), and how I’m thinking about joy, faith, purpose, and community in this next season. We’ll talk about choosing depth over noise, letting joy be a practice instead of just ...

If you’re listening in cozy pajamas, wrapping one last gift, sneaking a quiet moment in the bathroom, or sitting in the middle of the Christmas chaos, hiiiiiiii. You’re in the right place! Christmas Eve can be sparkly and sweet and also tender, heavy, or a little overwhelming. Sometimes all at once. And this episode isn’t here to tell you how to feel it’s here to sit with you exactly where you are. We’re talking about joy that doesn’t require perfection, faith that fits real life, and a God wh...

CONNECT FURTHER WITH RACHEL: https://rachelawtrey.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/realtalkpodcast https://www.instagram.com/rachel.awtrey/ CONTACT: podcast@rachelawtrey.com This video/podcast may contain affiliate links, sponsorships, or products I’ve received for free. I only share things I truly love and think will bring you value. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! ADVERTISE ON THE SHOW: To inquir...

There’s something about Christmas that invites us to slow down, lean in, and do the same things every year on purpose. In this episode, I’m sharing the Christmas traditions our family can’t imagine the season without—the big ones, the small ones, and the ones that started on accident and somehow became sacred. We’re talking cozy mornings, childhood throwbacks, foods that instantly feel like home, and the little rhythms that anchor us when the season feels loud or rushed. Some of these tradition...

CONNECT FURTHER WITH RACHEL: https://rachelawtrey.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/realtalkpodcast https://www.instagram.com/rachel.awtrey/ CONTACT: podcast@rachelawtrey.com This video/podcast may contain affiliate links, sponsorships, or products I’ve received for free. I only share things I truly love and think will bring you value. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! ADVERTISE ON THE SHOW: To inquir...

When country music star Granger Smith and his wife, Amber Emily Smith, lost their three-year-old son, River, their world stopped. In the depths of unimaginable grief, Amber found herself on the bathroom floor—empty, aching, and crying out to God for even a thread of hope. That moment didn’t erase the pain—but it did begin a story of redemption. Now the author of The Girl on the Bathroom Floor and the host of the Arise with Amber podcast, Amber joins me on Real Talk with Rachel Awtrey for a raw...

It’s time for this month’s J.O.Y.F.U.L. Report!!! It's basically a big cozy catch-up on everything happening over here. I’m chatting about what we’re jumping into (Rally growing, Thomas’ new flying gig, holiday life, needlepointing… yes, really), plus the things I’m loving right now like Erin McDermott jewelry, sweatpant jeans, and loud colorful Christmas everything. I’m also sharing what I’m learning lately!! From paying attention to friction, to letting go of things that drain me, to getting...

Life is built around our relationships with other people. However, it can be difficult to set boundaries that help those relationships thrive! Elizabeth Earnshaw, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is joining me to talk all about how to navigate the sticky and difficult relationships. This episode is full of practical tips on how to manage disconnect and conflict with the people in our lives. CONNECT FURTHER WITH RACHEL: https://rachelawtrey.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/rea...

Today I sat down with the incredible Ellie Holcomb, and wow!!!! this conversation felt like a deep breath. We talked about what it really looks like to be on the hunt for God in our everyday lives like when you’re folding laundry, driving carpool, or wondering what’s next. Ellie shared honest and practical wisdom about parenting, trusting God with our kids, and the funny, holy moments that happen in between. We laughed over real-life stories (the kind only moms can tell), talked about how to ke...

Today on the podcast, I’m sitting down with Alena Pitts Franklin: actress, author of the brand-new devotional God Is, and newlywed adventurer - yes, the kind of adventurer who hiked Mount Kilimanjaro with her husband! No kidding! At just 21, Alena is speaking to all of us asking, “Who am I?” and she flips the question by asking instead, “Who is God?” In her 60-day devotional, she walks through His character: helper, shepherd, good Father and how truly knowing Him changes how we see ourselves. C...