Better Together With Barb Roose

Are you doing all the "right" Christian things but still struggling to feel joy? You're not alone. In this heartfelt conversation with special guest, Asheritah Ciuciu, we talk about what it means to move from duty to delight—from trying to earn God's love to truly enjoying it.  Together we'll explore the simple rhythms that restore joy and the freeing truth that we were created for delight—not performance. If your faith feels weary or stuck, this episode will remind you that joy isn't just for eternity; it's for right now.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Asheritah on Instagram! Connect with Asheritah on Facebook! Delighting in Jesus: Rhythms to Restore Joy When You Feel Burdened, Broken, or Burned-Out Visit Asheritah's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Asheritah Ciuciu is a bestselling author, national speaker, and host of the Prayers of Rest podcast. Asheritah is the author of many books, including Full, Prayers of Rest, and Unwrapping the Names of. A Romanian missionar

What do you really believe about heaven? When faced with her own terminal diagnosis, author Colleen Chao discovered that heaven wasn't a faraway idea. It was a living hope that changed how she faced each day. In this moving episode, Colleen shares the peace, beauty, and courage that come from fixing our eyes on eternity—even when life on earth is marked by suffering. Her words will stir your heart, strengthen your faith, and remind you: this isn't the end of the story.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE On Our Way Home: Reflections on Heaven in the Face of Death Visit Colleen's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Colleen Chao is an editor, writer, and former English teacher. During her unexpected chapter of singleness, she traveled and explored new places, mentored young women, sang and acted, and spent unhealthy amounts of time at coffee shops. In 2010, at age 34, she married strong and handsome Eddie Chao, and eleven months later she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Jeremy.    I

Do you ever feel left out, overlooked, or like you don't quite belong? In a world where loneliness is at an all-time high, what if the belonging you've been searching for has already been given to you? In today's conversation, Dr. Carmen Joy Imes invites us to rediscover God's vision for community and connection. In her new book, Becoming God's Family, Carmen helps us see how the Bible reshapes our understanding of belonging—not as something we achieve, but as a gift we receive in Christ. If you need one reason to give God's family one more try, join us for this important conversation.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dr. Carmen on Instagram Connect with Dr. Carmen on Facebook Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters Visit Dr. Carmen's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matt

Does your faith feel fragile, distant, or broken? You're not alone. In this episode, Jason Hague and Catherine McNiel share how a mid-faith crisis can actually be the doorway to a deeper, more resilient walk with God. Doubt isn't the end of your faith—it may be the beginning of something new. In this powerful conversation, my guests share their personal stories of grief, unmet expectations, and doubt—and how God met them in the middle of the mess. Together, we'll explore why seasons of crisis can be fertile ground for deeper growth, how to let go of false certainties, and how to embrace a faith that is more resilient, honest, and rooted in God's goodness.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Jason on Instagram and Facebook Connect with Catherine on Instagram and Facebook Mid-Faith Crisis Book Visit Catherine's Website Visit Jason's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Catherine McNiel is a chaplain, author, editor, and speaker searching for the creative, redemptive work of God

What if the weight you’ve been carrying isn’t just pain—but offense? In this honest and hope-filled conversation, author and speaker Alexandra Hoover joins Barb to talk about her new book, You Can Let Go, and the freedom that comes when we trust Jesus with our wounds. Together, they explore how to navigate hurt, why offense can keep us stuck, and how letting go doesn’t mean forgetting—it means healing.  Whether you’re holding onto quiet resentment or walking through deep pain, this episode will encourage you to lay it down, let the light in, and move forward in the wholeness God has for you.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Alexandra on Instagram Connect with Alexandra on Facebook You Can Let Go: Make Peace with Your Past, Break Free from Offense, and Move Forward with God Visit Alexandra's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Alexandra Hoover is a compassionate writer, a sought-after speaker, and the author of Eyes Up and Without Wavering. With a heart for inspiring others

What if anxiety wasn't a sign of spiritual failure but an invitation to meet Jesus in the middle of your fear? In this episode of Bold, Brave, and Beautiful, bestselling author and Bible teacher Becky Keife shares her powerful story of moving from shame and striving to freedom and peace. Drawing from her new book A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, Becky reminds us that anxiety doesn't disqualify us from God's love—it's the very place where His grace meets us. With honest stories, practical peace practices, and biblical truth, Becky offers hope for anyone longing to calm their anxious heart and experience God's presence in a fresh way.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Becky on Instagram Connect with Becky on Facebook A Verse A Day For The Anxious Soul Visit Becky's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Becky Keife is the author of A Verse A Day For The Anxious Soul and a Bible teacher, speaker, and author passionate about helping people hear's voice, embrace their true identi

Our world is in desperate need of bridge builders, meaning people who will reach their hand out to those who feel unseen or hurting. These days, we’ve narrowed our view of hospitality to HGTV and Instagram, but our hearts are more lonely than ever. During the Covid-19 pandemic, author Laura Baghdassarian Murray hosted a solitude and silence retreat via Zoom. As a result of that experience, Laura began to champion spaces where people could practice welcome and hospitality, even online. Join in for a thoughtful conversation about how you can open yourself up to letting God use you as a bridge builder to bless others.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Laura on Instagram Connect with Laura on Facebook Becoming a Person of Welcome: The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality Healed Hearts are Hospitable Hearts Worksheet Visit Laura's Website Learn More about Laura's Online Retreats Here!   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Laura Baghdassarian Murray (DMin, Fuller Seminary) is the director of

What do you wish you could do, but lack the confidence to do it? Do you wish that you were more like the women who get out there and get things done even when the odds seem against them?   Join Barb on this new episode of The Bold, Brave and Beautiful Podcast as she talks to confidence expert and her personal leadership coach, Lisa Allen. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Lisa has helped women collect the confidence God has for them and create action steps for their season ahead. Lisa is the author of the brand new book, Your Confidence Compass....From Self-Doubt to Self-Leadership, and will show us how confidence is not dependent on our circumstances, but on the God who holds all things together.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Lisa on Instagram Connect with Lisa on Facebook Your Confidence Compass....From Self-Doubt to Self-Leadership Visit Lisa's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Lisa Allen is a Jesus-loving, coffee-loving, leopard-print loving woman. She ha

Moms don’t like to talk about the moments when they lose it on their kids. I’ve been there, and felt heaps of guilt. Yet, moms who struggle with anger don’t have to struggle alone.   Join me and best-selling author, Amber Lia, for an important conversation about her new devotional, Untriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle with Anger. Amber shares encouragement for every mom longing for freedom from anger and the self-condemnation that often accompanies it. We’ll talk about how to invite God to help us parent with tenderness and patience. Amber will offer practical help and hope to you!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Amber on Instagram Connect with Amber on Facebook UnTriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle with Anger Visit Amber's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST AMBER LIA, a former English teacher, has authored multiple bestselling books, including Food Triggers and Parenting Scripts. In her popular book, Triggers: Exchanging Pa

Do you sometimes feel like an outsider in the Christian life? You may show up at church but you worry that you don’t always belong. Perhaps you’ve made mistakes in your past or you have secret struggles or problems that you don’t want to tell anyone about. Unfortunately, church has a reputation for condemning and kicking out instead of coming alongside those who have fallen down.    Join me and author Oghosa Iyamu as we discuss God’s radical and generous hospitality to the undeserving regardless of our past, position or power. We discuss her new 6-week Bible study, Forever Welcomed: A Study on God’s Impartial Love for All. Our conversation will call all believers to reflect God’s vision and His kingdom, where all who come are forever welcomed.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Oghosa on Instagram Connect with Oghosa on LinkedIn Forever Welcomed: A Study on God’s Impartial Love for All Visit Oghosa's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Oghosa Iyamu, the daughter of Nigerian

Life can be messy—and sometimes, it feels like the floor drops right out from under us. Bestselling author Tracie Miles calls these moments “lifequakes”—those unexpected, painful events that shake our world and leave us feeling lost, stuck, or wondering where God is in the chaos. In this encouraging episode, Barb sits down with Tracie to talk about her powerful book, God’s Got You: Embracing New Beginnings with Courage and Confidence. Tracie opens up about the personal lifequake that turned her world upside down, and shares practical steps and biblical truths that helped her move from heartbreak to hope, and from fear to faith. If you—or someone you love—are facing a season of uncertainty, grief, or change, this conversation will remind you that new beginnings are possible, and that God hasn’t left your side for a moment.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Tracie on Instagram God’s Got You: Embracing New Beginnings with Courage and Confidence Visit Tracie's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, “This is not what I signed up for”? The plans you had, the peace you hoped for, the answers you expected—none of it looks the way you imagined. Instead, you’re navigating unexpected struggles, heartbreak, or detours you never saw coming. In this hope-filled episode, Barb sits down with author, counselor, and Bible teacher Nicole Unice to talk about her new book, Not What I Signed Up For: Finding the Strength, Purpose, and Faith to Get Through a Season You Didn't Expect. Together, they unpack the disorienting seasons of life that leave us feeling spiritually disappointed, emotionally exhausted, and desperately searching for answers. With real-life stories, biblical wisdom, and plenty of grace, Barb and Nicole explore how to stay grounded in your faith even when your circumstances don’t make sense. Whether you're walking through a tough season or supporting someone who is, this conversation will encourage you to embrace honesty with God, lean into His presen

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the weight of life’s responsibilities? Do you find yourself running on empty, trying to keep up with the constant demands of work, family, and faith—only to end each day feeling exhausted and unseen? You’re not alone. In this week’s episode, Barb sits down with author and speaker Ashley Morgan Jackson for an honest conversation about the toll that burnout takes on our minds, bodies, and spirits. Together, they explore what it means to live under the crushing pressure of performance and expectation, and how God's grace meets us in our most depleted moments.  Whether you're in a season of waiting, wondering if God still sees you, or simply trying to make it through the day, this episode offers hope, compassion, and practical truth for finding peace in the middle of the pressure. Tune in and discover how to let go of what’s crushing you—and receive the gentle strength of the One who holds you together.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE ashleymorganjackson.com Tired of Trying: How to H

We are back with part 2 of Summer Strong, our new series created to equip you with what you need to find rest amongst the busyness that this season brings!   In this powerful and heartfelt episode, we’re diving into a conversation that has gone unspoken in faith communities for too long — mental health. As Christian women, we’re taught to be strong, to serve others, and to keep pressing on… but what happens when our minds feel overwhelmed, anxious, or weary?   Join Barb and special guest Laura L. Smith for a powerful yet practical conversation about how you can develop God-honoring, effective mental health care strategies in your life, starting today! Laura shares the tools that you need to rest in God's unconditional love and to find your strength and peace in Him.   Whether you're walking through a hard season or simply need encouragement for your journey, this episode is a reminder that you're not alone — and that healing and hope are possible in Jesus.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE laurasmithauthor.com Ho

Welcome to Summer Strong, our new series created to equip you with what you need to find rest amongst the busyness that this season brings!   Whether you're juggling kids, calendars, or career goals, each episode offers practical tools, honest conversations, and soul-deep encouragement to help you stay grounded and whole. For the next five episodes, we will be revisiting some of our top conversations from the past about finding hope and strength in challenging times.    Today, Barb will share how God taught her to turn stress into strength, and how you can become an overcomer too!    Let’s make this summer your strongest one yet—mind, body, and soul.

Have you ever prayed, “God, what do I do?” These days, our struggle with uncertainty can stop us from making important decisions or cause us to second-guess the decisions we do make. It’s stressful trying to figure out what’s right and the fear of what will happen if we are wrong.    Join Barb and her longtime friend, author Katie M. Reid, to discuss Katie’s new Bible study, God, What Do I Do? They will discuss how to make wise decisions, step into the kingdom calling God has for you, and the importance of trusting in our never changing God.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Katie on Instagram Connect with Katie on Facebook God, What Do I Do? - A Bible Study on James 1-5 About Making Wise Decisions in Uncertain Times Visit Katie's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST Katie M. Reid is a Bible teacher, author, and podcaster. Trained in education, Katie teaches around her kitchen table, in the classroom, and around the country. She cohosts The Martha + Mary Show and runs the Ma

For the first time ever, Barb’s answering audience questions! Join Barb and her fabulous podcast producer, Tabitha for all the inside scoop! Barb’s telling us who her favorite child is, which Bible study she’s most proud of and answering spicy questions about how to help friends far from Jesus and which body part is her favorite. Tucked into all of Barb’s answers are plenty encouraging words for you!   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Barb on Instagram Connect with Barb on Facebook Trusting God with Your Loved Ones Free Resource Stronger Than Stress Bible Study Matthew: Pray Like This Bible Study Visit Barb's Website Listen to Previous Podcast Episodes!

What does it mean to live a good Christian life? Is it being friendly or always seeing the positive side instead of the realities of life’s struggles? What if being a good Christian is different from being like Christ?   Join Barb and author Elisa Morgan for a conversation that invites us to peel past the niceness of Christianity and learn to live by the fruit of the Spirit so God can transform us into something truly sweet. Elisa Morgan is the founder of MOPS International and co-host of Our Daily Bread, God Hears Her Podcast.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Elisa on Instagram Connect with Elisa on Facebook Fruitful Living: Growing a Life That Matters Visit Elisa's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Elisa Morgan (MDiv) has authored over twenty-five books including The Beauty of Broken, Hello, Beauty Full, When We Pray Like Jesus, You Are Not Alone, Christmas Changes Everything and her newest book, Fruitful Living.   For twenty years, Elisa served as CEO of MOPS Interna

Join Barb and author of Redeemer, a new Bible study on the book of Ruth by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. At 37 years old, Dorina was widowed with 3 small children. She connected with Ruth’s story and over the years has drawn strength and hope. During this conversation, they discuss the many layers of Ruth’s story, including the “just-so-happened” moments, should every woman be looking for her Boaz, and most of all, how Ruth’s story shows us God’s heart for the vulnerable.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Dorina on Instagram Connect with Dorina on Facebook Redeemer: God's Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth Visit Dorina's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Dorina is passionate about helping diverse women discover God’s glory on life’s unexpected paths and flourish in their God-given callings. Dorina has published more than 20 children’s books, Bible studies, poetry, and devotionals, including Breathing Through Grief and Walk Run Soar. She also hosts the Global Glory Chasers p

Everyone has doubts about God but it’s hard for us to talk about them. But when we don’t talk about them, it actually weakens our faith in Him. In this episode, we explore how honest questions can strengthen, not weaken, our connection with God. Inspired by Niki Hardy’s new book, God, Can We Chat?, Barb and Niki discuss embracing doubts as the start of a deeper, more authentic faith. Come as you are and discover the unrelenting love of a God who welcomes your questions.   RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Connect with Niki on Instagram Connect with Niki on Facebook God, Can We Chat? A Daringly Honest Guide to Growing Closer to God, One Doubt at a Time Visit Niki's Website   ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST   Niki Hardy is a proud Brit (now living in the US) and the author of the Audi Award–nominated Breathe Again and One-Minute Prayers for Women with Cancer. Niki has been featured on the Hallmark Channel, Life Today, and Premier Radio.    Having left corporate life, been to seminary, moved continent