The Robyn Graham Show a Podcast for Christian Women - Become Calm, Confident, and Consistent

Hosted by Dr. Robyn Graham, Anxiety Breakthrough Strategist, Speaker, Author, Coach

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Sep 2026

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Welcome to The Robyn Graham Show . . . A top 1% globally ranked podcast for high-achieving Christian women in leadership. Through solo episodes and guest interviews we share strategies to help you break through anxiety-driven behaviors like control, perfectionism, people-pleasing, overreacting and avoidance so you can be a calm, confident, and consistent leader at work, at home, and in the communities you serve. . I'm Robyn Graham, your host, and an anxiety breakthrough strategist, author, and keynote speaker. As a high achiever myself, and mom to three, I've experienced life with anxiety and emotional chaos, and that is why I am passionate about this mission - to help other women be calm, confident and consistent in all their leadership roles, including parenting. Past episodes include a depth of content on business growth strategies, faith, and mindset. Now, you'll experience more topics related to parenting, overall well-being, relationships, faith, mindset, and more. I and my guests will share our personal experiences and practical strategies to help you live a calm, confident, and consistent life with your family and in your leadership roles. Subscribe for new content every week! And be sure and visit https://therobyngraham.com/resources to download a free resources to help you develop healthy habits for a healthy mind. Now for the good stuff! Grab your cup of coffee, the car keys, or the dog's leash, and let's dive in. Email us: theteam@therobyngraham.com Connect with Robyn: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/therobyngraham Instagram – https://Instagram.com/therobyngraham YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwNrxK-44J7YVbM7THDOVJA You, Me, and Anxiety: www.youmeandanxiety.com A note about guests: Guests are invitation only. We are no longer accepting guest pitches.

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September 29, 2026Episode 45419 min

Ep. 454 Stop! Being Busy Is Not Helping You.

What is behind the epidemic of being busy? You hear it all the time: "I'm too busy." Our society is basically too busy being busy. And it is not helping you. In all the doing of busyness, we lose the art of simply being. As a result, relationships are suffering, and emotional wellness continues to be a struggle. When emotional wellness is lacking, we and those around us pay the consequences. What is really going on is that underlying emotions and nervous system dysregulation need healing. And it's not too late, no matter how close to burnout you may feel. What does being busy look like? It may be a rhetorical question, but it is unique to every individual. For stay-at-home parents, it may be piles of laundry, meals to prepare, toilets that need scrubbing, dogs that need walking, children that need feeding, changing, bathing, or shuttling, and dry cleaning to drop off. Being too busy is a cover-up. But being busy doesn't solve a problem; in fact, it creates another layer we eventually have to peel back to become who we want to be. Being too busy equates to always being in a hurry. Author Ann Voskamp, in her book One Thousand Gifts, shared this reflection on a pastor's greatest life regret: "Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing....Through all that haste, I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away. What drives being busy? God does not call us to be busy. Joshua 24:15 reads, "Choose this day whom you will serve." Being busy with to-do lists, people-pleasing, trying to control our lives, and perfectionism will pull us away from the most important thing God wants from us - time with him, a relationship. Not hurried time, but calm, quiet, quality time. Who we are in Christ. Christ has already done all the hard work - we are redeemed! We have purpose. We are radiant, cherished, and loved so much. He captures our tears (Psalms 56:8), those we shed and those we hold in out of fear of the proverbial dam being broken. In a nutshell, when your identity as a daughter of the King becomes your foundation, your nervous system calms. You begin to see with clarity instead of through the foggy lens of nervous system dysregulation. Life can slow down and be glorious - a call to stop being too busy. Oh, how glorious life can be when we accept the awareness and take action to adapt our ways, have an accountability partner, and release the grip of the past, forgive, renew, embrace the present, and look forward to the future. This is just the beginning, friend. You are not broken; you are becoming the version of you God created you to be. And when that happens, who will notice - be impacted - when you renew your mind, heal, and transform to become less busy? Are they worth it? Because you certainly are! If this resonates, schedule a discovery call today and let's see if coaching is a good fit for you. Book Robyn to speak for your organization, group, or community. Read the full show notes and access all links.

September 22, 2026Episode 45346 min

Ep. 453 Men need emotional support too with Jordan "DXTR" Holmes

Men's Mental Health Awareness Starts With Emotional Support for Men Men need emotional support too, and September is a good month to say so out loud. It's Suicide Prevention Month, and I wanted this episode of The Robyn Graham Show to raise real men's mental health awareness. Why Emotional Support for Men Matters Right Now The stakes are not abstract. Men die by suicide at close to four times the rate of women in the United States, according to the CDC. That gap has held steady for years, and it's a major reason men's mental health awareness needs to grow past a single month on the calendar. Suicide Prevention Month gave us a natural reason to talk, but we should be having this conversation year-round. Meet Jordan Dexter-Holmes: The Man Behind How Men Cry Jordan built his platform from an unlikely starting point: hip hop and poetry. His work has since grown into spoken word performance, men's retreats, group coaching, and an album called Drowning In The Open. He described his background as a trauma-informed coach, and he told me that background, in addition to his own struggles with mental health, shapes everything he does with the men he works with. What struck me most was his honesty about his own history. Jordan didn't come to this work as an outside expert observing men's mental health from a distance. He came to it from the inside, carrying his own scars first. Drowning in the Open: Jordan's Own Story In Jordan's words, his motivation is deeply personal. "The biggest motivation that I have for me is that I know and understand all too well deep struggles with mental health, suicidal thoughts, and experiences of really being underwater firsthand personally," he told me. He described battling depression and substance struggles throughout his childhood and into adulthood. How Men Cry: The Initiative Explained Why Men Bottle Up Their Pain The Poem That Stopped Me: "Watch It Before It Boils Over" What Real Emotional Support for Men Looks Like I asked Jordan a direct question. Based on everything he has seen, what actually helps men move out of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? His answer was simple, and it wasn't about fixing anything. It came down to real emotional support for men, not advice or solutions. Forgiveness, Kindness, and the Path Forward Read the full show notes and access all links. Where to Find Jordan Dexter-Holmes Jordan's most recent album, Drowning In The Open, is available on all streaming platforms. It features his late mentor, the celebrated poet Dr. Nikki Giovanni, and the project has been submitted for Grammy consideration. You can find Jordan online at dextrspits.com. If there's a man in your life who needs to hear this conversation, I encourage you to share it with him. Men need emotional support too, and men's mental health awareness improves one honest conversation at a time. Sharing this episode is a strong place to start. Book a discovery call with Robyn. Book Robyn to speak.

September 15, 2026Episode 45234 min

Ep. 452 Beat Negativity. Start with Kindness with Nicole

Why Kindness Beats Negativity in Everyday Life Kindness is the fastest way to beat negativity, and it starts with a choice. Nicole Phillips, author of The Negativity Remedy, teaches this through her own turning point with kindness. I teach it through the lens of neuroscience and Scripture to break through anxiety and eliminate automatic negative thoughts. We recently sat down to talk about inspiring others to default to kindness. Two different paths, one shared conclusion: choosing kindness changes how your brain works. Nicole's Turning Point: The Column That Changed Her Life "What I realized was I had stumbled into neuroplasticity and confirmation bias. Like, what you look for is what you'll see." — Nicole Phillips My Turning Point: Naming the Automatic Negative Thought My own path has run through hard seasons. The summer of 2026 was a challenging test. "We can choose to just let those automatic negative thoughts rule our world, ruin our relationships, and really take all the joy out of our lives, or we can get curious about how we can bring more positivity through things like kindness." — Dr. Robyn Graham Nicole's Six Ways to Draw Kindness In Nicole outlines six practices in The Negativity Remedy. Three are: expect kindness from others, look for the silver lining, and verbalize your gratitude. The other three are to smile often, slow down, and offer one word of encouragement to someone else daily. None of these require money or a personality change. My Catch, Challenge, Change Method I teach a parallel three-step process. First, catch the automatic thought. Second, challenge whether it's true and helpful. Third, change it into something accurate and kind. Practiced consistently, this builds confidence, consistency, and genuine contentment. Nicole reached a similar conclusion from a different direction. She calls her version catch, reject, replace. The overlap between our two methods, developed separately, suggests how reliably this pattern works. "So the first thought is automatic. The second one is where your power lives." — Nicole Phillips Kindness Rewires an Anxious Brain "When we take these opportunities, it's just like practicing gratitude. We change the neural pathways in our brain, and we can access our prefrontal cortex." — Dr. Robyn Graham Putting Both Approaches Into Practice "When you smile at someone, you can change their trajectory of their day and potentially their life." — Dr. Robyn Graham The Science of a Simple Smile Smiling and frowning are both contagious. Choosing What You Believe About the World Negativity bias is real. "The negative is just louder. ... There is so much good happening in the world." — Nicole Phillips The Ripple Effect of Kindness Every act of kindness sends a ripple you rarely see land. Read the full show notes and access all links. Learn more from and connect with Nicole by visiting her website. Book a discovery call with Robyn. Book Robyn to speak.

September 8, 2026Episode 45145 min

Ep 451 Capacity: The Key to Impact with Dr. Lizette

What does capacity really mean in life and leadership? Most people chase impact by adding more effort. A Definition Rooted in Real Experience Dr. Warner defines capacity simply. Why Effort Without Capacity Fails Many high achievers put in massive effort. The Four Layers of Capacity Capacity is not one single thing. Resilience Capacity Resilience capacity works like a gas tank. Pressure Capacity Pressure capacity acts like a greenhouse. Emotional Capacity Emotional capacity overlaps closely with emotional intelligence. Cognitive Capacity Cognitive capacity covers memory, focus, planning, and strategic thinking. Measuring Nervous System Capacity with The Capacity Code Blueprint Dr. Warner developed a tool called the Capacity Code Blueprint. Why Naming the Problem Matters Naming something gives it power. Dr. Warner sees this constantly with clients. Tracking Progress Over Time Clients often retake assessments after six months. No Standard Toolkit - Building Capacity is Personal There is no universal list of resilience tools. Nervous Systems Are as Unique as Fingerprints Every nervous system develops its own response pattern early in life. Faith, Rest, And Building Capacity: Designed for Work and Rest Dr. Warner connects her capacity work directly to her Catholic faith. Living Authentically Opens Doors Returning to her faith felt uncomfortable at first, especially at work. Closing the Gap Between Effort and Impact The core message is simple. Website for Dr. Lizette Warner Additional Resources People-Pleasing: Break Through Anxiety and Stop Sacrificing Yourself to Lead with Calm, Confidence, and Consistency Perfectionism and Anxiety: How striving for perfection is keeping you from being a calm, confident, and consistent leader Loosen the grip! Anxiety and the need to control aren't helping you. Comparison, Imposter Syndrome, and the Anxiety Response Loop that negatively influences the ability to lead Break through Anxiety, Avoidance, Defensiveness, and Overreacting to lead with calm, confidence, and consistency Two Loops Every Leader Experiences and How to Break Free Everyone needs rest to reduce anxiety, including you. Read the full notes and access all links. Book a discovery call with Robyn. Book Robyn to speak.

September 1, 2026Episode 45049 min

Ep. 450 Standing in Truth to Lead with Honesty with Edie

Why Leading with Honesty, Lying, and Anxiety Are All Connected Leading with honesty starts with the courage to stand in truth, even when it is uncomfortable. The Hidden Roots of Dishonesty: Where Lying Begins Most people learn to lie very early in life — not out of malice, but out of self-preservation. People-Pleasing as a Form of Dishonesty People-pleasing is one of the most common — and most overlooked — forms of dishonesty. The Shame Cycle That Feeds More Lying Each dishonest act produces internal shame, which, ironically, drives further dishonesty. Anxiety, the Nervous System, and the Need to Lie Lying and anxiety are deeply intertwined. How Living in Fight-or-Flight Fuels Dishonesty Chronic stress keeps us in fight-or-flight mode, where survival instincts override values. Your Body Already Knows the Truth The body registers dishonesty as friction — a tightness in the gut or chest. Standing in Truth: The Practical Path Forward Standing in truth is a practice, not a one-time decision. Step One — Notice What Your Body Is Telling You Before you can change a pattern, you must be able to see it. Step Two — Use the Holy Pause The pause is one of the most powerful tools in any transformation journey. Step Three — Say It and Stand in It Speaking the truth is only half the work. Release the Outcome Leading with honesty does not guarantee that everyone will respond well. How Standing in Truth Transforms Relationships Whether at work or at home, relationships built on half-truths are fragile. Honesty in Marriage and Family Edie Kay shared a deeply personal story about discovering her husband had been emotionally and physically unfaithful. Leading with Honesty in the Workplace Leaders who model vulnerability create psychologically safe teams. The Difference Between Radical Honesty and Harmful Truth Standing in truth does not mean saying everything you think without a filter. Identity, Faith, and the Freedom to Be Yourself At its deepest level, chronic dishonesty is an identity crisis. Self-Knowledge as the Foundation of Truth-Telling You cannot stand in your truth if you do not know what that truth is. The Internal Freedom That Comes from Alignment When what you say matches who you are, something profound shifts internally. Website for Edie Kay Additional Resources: Your Identity in Christ Leads to Your Purpose to Be Extraordinary Book Referenced: Return to Love by Marianne Williamson Loosen the grip! Anxiety and the need to control aren't helping you. Adopt the Holy Pause to Stop Overreacting Read the full show notes and access all links.

August 25, 2026Episode 44947 min

Ep. 449 - God is Good. Do You Agree? In an Unbelievable Summer, He Proved Himself to My Family and Me.

Throughout a summer of unexpected experiences, God showed us that He is good all the time. A Job-like season- that was my summer. I am sharing it because it is a perfect example of how God is good all the time. His character is definitive. He never leaves us or forsakes us. At the end of 2025, I chose the word trust for 2026. This summer, God showed me, through God winks, that trust in him is imperative to live this life. He gave me constant opportunities to build that trust and lean into it. I am finally catching my breath. It has been wild, an absolutely emotional summer. The Summer Began With a Farmhouse Dream And then a health crisis for our son The day after we closed on the farmhouse, we were set to fly to Greece for my daughter's graduation gift. The night before, at 8 p.m., we were at the farmhouse teaching friends how to care for the three sheep we inherited with the house. My husband's phone rang. It was my son's fiancée's father. He said our son was on his way to the hospital by ambulance. That was all he knew. Emergency Surgery Showed God's Hand in the Chaos The waiting game. Confident they are meant for each other. Sudden Grief Met Unmistakable God Winks Almost a month to the day after our son's surgery, my niece called me at 4 a.m. My brother-in-law had chest pain, fell, and had no pulse. For the next hour, I prayed the rosary, and my husband and I lay awake praying. At 5 a.m., we got the call that despite the efforts of medical staff, he did not survive. Still hard to handle - One thing she said over and over is "how do people do this without faith?" A Violin in the Rain: An Unforgettable God Wink Leaving our home of twenty-six years brought a new set of emotions After returning from the funeral in Illinois, it was time to pack up the house and get our daughter ready for college. Due to the unexpected events of the summer, she had to do a lot of her packing herself. Not only packing for college, but also packing up her childhood bedroom. It was an emotional week. Plans Changed The move has always been an underlying source of emotions since we closed on the farmhouse in June. We thought we had planned precisely so that we could move into the carriage house during renovations of the main house. But you know what they say about making plans - man makes plans, and God laughs. Empty Nester And now, the empty nest phase of our lives begins. I was not prepared for how emotional I would be leaving my daughter 14 hours away. No one could have prepared me for going from seeing two of my kids (the third lives and works in the DC metro area) every day to seeing none of them. I miss them fiercely. But I am also thrilled that they have these opportunities to grow and spread their wings, and I trust that God will guide and protect them on their new journeys. Scripture That Carried Us Through the Unexpected Several Bible verses carried me through the summer. The first I would like to share is 2 Timothy 1:7, which says God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but power, love, and self-control. Philippians 3:13-14 reminds me to stop dwelling on the past and press on toward what is ahead. Jeremiah 29:11 says God's plans are for our welfare, not to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. Isaiah 41:10 says not to fear, because God is with us and will strengthen us. God Is Good All the Time — Even When Life Is Hard Read the full show notes.

August 18, 2026Episode 44835 min

Ep. 448 Finding Yourself: The Need to Be Called Back to Who You Are with Whitney

A God Who Never Stops Pursuing You Have you ever felt lost, like you have drifted away from your true self? Finding yourself is not a one-time event. Removing the Blinders That Keep You from Seeing God Whitney explains that experiencing God's pursuit is not about what we do. Scripture as an Anchor: Psalm 23 and Psalm 139 Two key scriptures that remind you of being called back to who you are are Psalm 23:6, which reminds us that goodness and mercy follow after us. Whitney's Story: Wandering and Being Called Back Whitney grew up with a deep, personal faith. She knew God and felt loved by Him. When Darkness Takes Control Whitney is honest about how quickly darkness takes over. One of the most painful struggles Whitney faced was a lie about God's posture toward her. The Book of Hosea: Drawn into the Wilderness The scripture that framed Whitney's healing came from the Book of Hosea. Deconstructing Faith and Rebuilding Stronger Whitney also speaks openly about faith deconstruction. You Don't Have to Find God. Just Turn Around. Whitney offers this hope to anyone in the middle of deconstruction or doubt. For Those Who Grew Up in Faith and Walked Away Whitney has a particular heart for those raised in the church who later drifted. Freedom in the Net: When God Catches You One of the most striking images in Whitney's book comes from Hosea. Pursuit Sometimes Looks Like Restriction Whitney uses a vivid illustration of parenting to make this point. Surrendering the Burdens We Choose to Carry Whitney is honest about why many of us keep running even when we are exhausted. Parenting, Faith, and Watching God Pursue Others Both Robyn and Whitney speak from the heart about parenting young children through the lens of faith. Praying for Our Children's Faith Robyn shares her own anxiety as her daughter prepares to leave for college. Prayerful Surrender of the People We Love Whitney introduces a beautiful phrase: prayerful surrender of the people in our lives. Practical Ways to Receive God's Pursuit Whitney and Robyn close by returning to something practical. Get Off Your Phone and Get into Scripture Whitney makes a direct point about social media. Notice the God Winks in Everyday Life Robyn shares a phrase she loves: God winks. Additional Resources: Using Faith to Navigate Anxiety Caused by Social Media Your Identity in Christ Leads to Your Purpose to Be Extraordinary Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Read the full show notes and access all links.

August 11, 2026Episode 44748 min

Ep. 447 Thriving with Autism: One mom's idea of the perfect family redefined through resilience with Suzanne

What Does Thriving with Autism Really Look Like? Thriving with autism is an achievable reality when the right strategies, support systems, and mindset are in place. The Early Signs: Recognizing Autism Before the Official Diagnosis Long before any formal paperwork was signed, Suzanne noticed that William was different in quiet but telling ways. Why Suzanne Waited to Accept the Official Label When her son was five years old and ready for kindergarten, a school in Texas called Suzanne on a Friday evening to deliver the news: her son had tested positive for autism. The Gift of an Extraordinary Memory and Relentless Curiosity One of the most defining traits that emerged early in William's childhood was his exceptional memory and his capacity to transform curiosity into a deep passion. Building the Right Support Team: The Foundation of Autism Parenting Success One of the most consistent threads running through Suzanne's journey is the critical role that the right support team played in William's development. How Suzanne Chose to Lead with Humility, Not Control Many parents of children with special needs fall into the trap of over-controlling every aspect of their child's care, often out of fear. The Role of Her Husband as a Stabilizing Voice Behind every resilient autism parent is often a quiet, steady partner who provides support when the emotional weight becomes too heavy. Raising a Child with Autism Alongside Neurotypical Siblings William is a twin. Teaching Flexibility Without Losing Structure One of the most practical and repeatable strategies Suzanne used was building structured flexibility into William's daily life. The College Journey: Choosing the Right Autism Support Program The decision to send William to college was a mixture of emotions. Key Lessons Every Autism Parent Needs to Hear Suzanne's journey is not a perfect roadmap, but it is one of hope. How to Find and Trust the Right Therapy Team Suzanne's final and perhaps most urgent autism parenting tips are deceptively simple: surround yourself with people who will genuinely support you, not just your child. Additional resources: Autism Parenting Magazine Connect with Suzanne on Instagram Read the full show notes and access all links.

August 4, 2026Episode 44631 min

Ep. 446 The need to restore and overcome emotional exhaustion to be the leader you are designed to be with Kristen

The Need to Restore and Overcome Emotional Exhaustion to Be the Leader You Are Designed to Be Why Leaders Need to Overcome Emotional Exhaustion Emotional exhaustion is one of the most common and most overlooked challenges facing leaders today. Kristen Stockton's Journey to Restore Herself and Overcome Exhaustion Kristen Stockton spent over 30 years in consulting and corporate America. What It Means to Restore Yourself to Overcome Exhaustion The word "restore" begins with rest and that is intentional. The Restore Framework: A Path to Overcome Emotional Exhaustion Kristen's Restore Framework walks leaders through a structured process of healing and realignment. Why Each Step Must Come in Order Kristen is careful to note that surrender often comes too quickly. Awareness Is the Entry Point to Overcome Exhaustion Realignment begins with self-awareness. Surrender and Mourning: The Sacred Middle of Restoration One of the most counterintuitive parts of Kristen's framework is the call to mourn before you can feast. Surrendering Control to Restore Yourself and Overcome Exhaustion Surrender can feel terrifying to high-achieving leaders. Forgiveness as a Key to Overcome Emotional Exhaustion Both Robyn and Kristen speak openly about the role of forgiveness in restoration. Journaling and Prayer: Tools to Restore Yourself and Overcome Exhaustion Kristen describes a practice of praying a simple question. The Neuroplasticity of Journaling Robyn explains the science behind this practice: when we get the "guck" out of our heads and onto paper. Leading from Faith: Overcome Exhaustion and Rise with Purpose True leadership does not come from what you produce it comes from who you are. Take the Restore Assessment and Begin to Overcome Emotional Exhaustion Today Kristen invites every reader to take the first step. Website for Kristen Stockton Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a Healthy Mind Read the full show notes and access all links.

July 28, 2026Episode 44542 min

Ep. 445 Reclaim who you've always been. Own your identity with Christine

Have you looked in the mirror lately and felt a disconnect with the woman looking back at you? If so, you are not alone. Many women — especially moms, leaders, and high achievers — quietly lose themselves along the way. In this episode of The Robyn Graham Show, identity coach and divorce attorney Christine Gale shares her powerful journey to reclaim your identity and own it without apology. When Success Looks Good but Something Feels Empty Christine Gale had what many would call an impressive life. What Identity Actually Means — And Why It Matters Christine is careful to define what she means by identity. Reclaim Your Identity: You Were Never the Problem One of the most powerful threads running through this conversation is the idea that identity is not something to be built from scratch. How Anxiety and Identity Pull Each Other Apart Robyn Graham has built her platform around helping women navigate anxiety. Own Your Identity: Start with Your Values So how do you actually begin to reclaim your identity and own it? Christine's answer is grounded and practical: start with your values. The Power of Curiosity in Identity Work Of all the values Christine discusses, curiosity earns the most attention. Ask Better Questions, Build a Better Life Another cornerstone of Christine's identity work is the primary question. Generational Impact: Who Is Watching You Own Your Identity? Perhaps the most emotionally powerful moment in this episode involves Christine's daughter twice. You Are Not Meant to Fit the Mold Christine closes with a rallying cry many women desperately need to hear. Website for Christine Gale Additional Resources Forgive Because Unforgiveness Increases Anxiety Links for You, Me, and Anxiety: Parent Book Teen Book Schedule a free consultation discovery call with Robyn. Download the free eBook: Alleviate Anxiety by Developing Healthy Habits for a HealthyMind Read the full show notes and access all links.