Hit songwriter and creative mentor Kirsti Manna shares the real story behind Blake Shelton’s five-week number one Austin, the faith that carried her through a college vocal setback, and the practices that turned resilience into results. We unpack her Songwriter Girl camps, why women in music need safe creative spaces, and how mentorship, goal setting, and music publishing literacy change careers. Kirsti explains her process from title-first hooks to collaborative listening, the role of intuition in the writing room, and building an indie label that’s landing Texas number ones. If you write songs, lead creatives, or want a purpose-led career in Nashville, this episode delivers playbook-ready steps.

Episode Highlights

• Nashville hit songwriter who helped launch Blake Shelton’s career with “Austin” and built her own publishing empire.
• Talks about navigating rejection, divorce, and reinvention while staying anchored in faith and creativity.
• Shares how songwriting became both her survival and her ministry during life’s darkest chapters.
• Explains why belief, resilience, and daily discipline matter more than talent in building a lasting career.
• Inspires listeners to protect their voice, trust divine timing, and keep showing up even when no one’s clapping.

To Learn more about Kirsti Visit Kirsti Manna

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Entrepreneur and viral creator Donald Jenkins built a digital empire reaching billions of views without a blueprint—just belief, storytelling, and persistence. In this episode, he breaks down the attention formula, mastering watch time, and how faith fuels consistency when motivation runs dry. Donald shares his journey from Nashville Hits Collecting Dust to social media success and now using his platform to fight child exploitation through Operation Light Shine. This conversation is raw, practical, and a must for anyone building a brand, platform, or purpose-driven life.

Episode Highlights

• Built millions of followers by turning rejection, curiosity, and humor into a career in creative storytelling and branding.
• Opens up about walking away from podcasting, losing identity, and rebuilding with purpose rather than performance.
• Reveals how tragedy, therapy, and faith helped him heal perfectionism and rediscover joy in creating.
• Shares strategies for standing out online by leaning into authenticity, not algorithms or imitation.
• Encourages listeners to risk being seen, start before they’re ready, and create from who they are—not for validation.

To learn more about Donald visit. Donald Jenkins

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In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Next Rung Radio, we sit down with Cathy A. Lewis, one of America’s first female executive chefs who’s cooked for NFL, NBA, and NHL teams, music legends, and Indy 500 champions and now an award‑winning author and speaker whose story of redemption will stir your soul. From the high‑pressure chaos of the restaurant world and the heartbreak of addiction to a radical life transformation through faith, Cathy reveals how she rebuilt her identity from the inside out. Her courage to confront her past, rediscover her worth, and boldly walk away from destructive habits is nothing short of miraculous. This conversation is raw, redemptive, and real, a true masterclass in grace, resilience, and the power of saying yes to a new life.

Episode Highlights

One of America’s first female executive chefs, who cooked for elite athletes, celebrities, and music icons and then found a higher calling through faith.

Opens up about years of addiction, burnout, and searching for identity in the wrong places and how a divine encounter completely transformed her life.

Shares how recommitting to Christ turned her from survivor to servant, now using her culinary gifts to minister to those who minister.

Reveals the spiritual awakening that inspired her to write two award‑winning historical fiction books based on her father’s WWII experiences.

Encourages listeners to face their past, find their peace, and rediscover purpose through faith, forgiveness, and community.

To Learn More About Cathy Visit: Cathy A Lewis

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