In this episode of the Overcomers Podcast, Dr. Alison Caldwell Andrews joins Kristen Bruinius to discuss the complexities of menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause. They explore the impact of environmental factors on hormonal changes, the importance of understanding hormone levels, and the role of nutrition and lifestyle in managing symptoms. Dr. Alison shares her personal journey and insights into holistic approaches to hormone health, emphasizing the significance of iodine and adaptogens.

Access the free menopause guide here: https://www.sollenaturals.com/menopause-guidebook?specialistSite=Kristen&referralCode=Kristen&

This week we’re back with Part 2 of a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Pastor Fred DeYoung.

Fred returns to unpack the final emotions from the sermon series he preached to his church in Sioux Center, Iowa — a series that moved people across every age and stage of life because it finally answered a question many believers have silently carried:

What do we do with our emotions as Christians?
Are they a sign of weakness?
A lack of faith?
Something to suppress?
Or are they something more?

In this episode, we dive into:
✨ Stress — when healthy pressure turns into spiraling “what-ifs”
✨ Anxiety — the feeling of being out of control and the God who never is
✨ Anger — the “cheaper emotion” that often hides unspoken fear
✨ Regret — learning from the past without living trapped in it

You’ll hear:
💬 Why denying or obsessing over emotions will always control us
💬 What it means for God to have emotions — and the two He never does
💬 Why it is biblically true to say: “It’s okay to not be okay”
💬 How to support someone who is hurting without trying to become their savior
💬 The statement that might change someone’s life:

“Your past is your history — not your prison.”

Fred and I talk honestly about emotional triggers, identity in Christ, healing from the inside out, and how Scripture doesn’t shame emotions — it guides them.

If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” while falling apart inside…
If you’ve ever loved someone you couldn’t fix…
If you’ve ever wished faith made life easier…
This episode is for you.

🌿 May this conversation remind you:
God gave you emotions as a gift — as a compass, not a cage.
And you never have to face them alone.

What if “I’m fine” isn’t the whole truth?

In this first episode of a two-part series, I sit down with family friend and former pastor Fred Young to unpack his sermon series, “I’m Fine…but Not Really,” all about the emotions we often hide—especially in the church.

Together, we talk about:

• Why it’s biblical and healthy to say, “It’s okay to not be okay.”

• How Scripture shows us a deeply emotional God—Jesus weeping over Lazarus, agonizing in Gethsemane—and what that means for our own sadness.

• The difference between sadness and despair (that “tunnel with no light” feeling) and why you should never walk through it alone.

• The “front of the house vs. back of the house” analogy and how it mirrors our social media highlight reels.

• How the Psalms (especially Psalms 42, 55, 69, and 88) give language to our tears and show us we’re not the only ones who feel this way.

• The emotion of confusion—especially when people we trust hurt us—and why it’s so important that God is never confused, even when we are.

• How to begin discerning: Is this just my emotion… or is God using this emotion to lead me?

If you’ve ever buried your feelings to “be strong,” or worried that your emotions make you less spiritual, this conversation is for you. Fred gently reminds us that emotions are a gift from God, not an identity to worship or a problem to bury—and that God meets us in them, not just once we’ve “pulled it together.”

💛 If you’re in a really dark place right now, please don’t stay silent. You don’t have to tell everyone—but you do need to tell someone. Reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, counselor, or local crisis line today.

This is Part 1, where we cover sadness, despair, and confusion.
Next week, we’ll be back with Part 2 to continue the series on emotions and identity in Christ on Overcomers.

Homeschool creator Lauren Williams (@valorfilledhome) shares what happened when a candid reel went viral—hate comments, misconceptions, and an unexpected surge of moms whispering, “Thank you for saying what I’m afraid to say.” Lauren and Kristen Bruinius talk about believing lies vs. believing God, choosing silence over clapbacks, and how Scripture reframed her response (Noah’s waiting, Psalm 23’s “walk”). We get real about rhythms, socialization, qualifications, and simple unit studies that keep learning joyful. Whether you homeschool, private school, public school—or you’re just navigating life on the internet—this conversation offers courage, clarity, and the reminder that you and your kids are right where you need to be.

Support the show (affiliate links):
• Try the Solle Naturals sample pack → https://www.sollenaturals.com (use code KRISTEN for $10 off your first order)
• Divi Haircare (clean scalp + growth care) → https://www.diviofficial.com (use code HolisticKristen for 15% off)
Disclosure: I earn a commission if you purchase through these links—thank you for supporting the podcast!

This week I sit down with my friend Donna Halliday for a real, gentle conversation about mental health, motherhood, and midlife. Donna traces her story from a first depressive episode as a teen exchange student to postpartum darkness after baby #6—and the moment she realized she needed more help. We talk CBT and self-talk, the relief (and limits) of SSRIs, how she later integrated natural supports and adaptogens, and why there’s no shame in using every safe tool—including GLP-1s and **bioidentical hormones—**to get healthy.

We also cover perimenopause, vitamin D, sleep, protein, strength training, and releasing the “shoulds” to set kind, realistic limits. Donna opens up about parenting adult children with different paths, holding values and love together, and finding joy that isn’t dependent on a checklist.

You’ll learn:

• ​How to spot situational vs. persistent depression
• ​A simple reframe for self-talk that actually helps
• ​Why tracking, labs, and layered support (therapy + meds + supplements + lifestyle) can be lifesaving
• ​Practical rhythms: sleep, movement, protein, fiber, boundaries

Save this for a hard day—and share it with a friend who needs permission to get help.

Check out the supplements Donna talks about at sollenaturals.com and be sure to use code KRISTEN for $10 off.

I’ve waited a long time for this one. Today I’m joined by my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Kris Devillier of Louisiana—“the hormone expert in my world.” We trace her unlikely path from 30 years in the grocery industry (hello, label reading!) to natural health practitioner, then dive into the stages no one explained well: puberty, perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause, and men’s andropause.

Kris breaks down why progesterone often tanks first, how cholesterol sits at the top of the steroid pathway, why statins can ripple into glucose issues, and what “dirty estrogens” and DHT actually mean.

We talk bioidentical vs. synthetic options, why baselines matter (for men and women), the power of adaptogens alongside hormones, and how to advocate for yourself without shame or fear. You’ll hear practical cues (sleep changes, weight gain, brain fog, libido, UTIs), what to request in labs, and why supporting minerals, protein, and stress systems is still essential. Gentle, faith-friendly, and wildly empowering—this conversation will help you understand your body (and the people you love) at every stage.

Connect with Kris on all socials as Natures Link Wellness

Visit sollenaturals.com and use code KRISTEN for $10 off your favorite supplements.

For your hair care needs go to diviofficial.com and use code HOLISTICKRISTEN for 15% off.

This week on The Overcomers Podcast, Kristen Bruinius sits down with Jenny Burba, a woman whose story embodies strength, faith, and redemption.

Jenny became a mom at 17 and went on to raise 12 children. Along the way, she faced unimaginable heartbreak—losing a child in a late-term miscarriage and later, her husband during the COVID pandemic. Yet through her grief, Jenny found a deeper relationship with God and a renewed sense of identity beyond wife and motherhood.

In this powerful conversation, Jenny shares how she turned her grief into growth, built a new life grounded in faith, and created a program to help others find healing through creativity and Christ-centered resilience.

You’ll walk away inspired by Jenny’s story of love, loss, redemption, and the reminder that even in our deepest sorrow, God is still writing a beautiful story.

Connect with Jenny: www.burbadesigns.com

Solle Naturals — My favorite plant-based adaptogenic supplements that support mental health, hormone balance, and energy.
Try the Sampler Pack for just $14.95 (includes a $15 coupon inside!) → sollenaturals.com/kristen

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When life feels like wave after wave, how do you keep getting back up?

In this powerful conversation, Kristen sits down with Brandi Linn—host of Bossy Big Sis—to unpack her journey from teen rebellion and reckless living, to emergency brain surgery and a 10-day coma, to fighting for her marriage through her husband’s alcohol addiction… and the miraculous turnaround that followed.

Brandi shares how identity in Christ—not motherhood, marriage, success, or a diagnosis—became the anchor that changed everything. She offers practical, grace-filled tools like renewing your mind (hello, Scripture + neuroscience), the “First 15” rhythm (worship, prayer, Word), and the power of keeping tiny promises to rebuild confidence when you’re in the trenches.

If you’ve ever felt like the waves just keep coming, this episode will remind you: bruised does not mean broken.

Connect with Brandi Linn

• Instagram: @thebrandilinn

• Podcast: Bossy Big Sis

  
  

  🌿 Try Solle Naturals: sollenaturals.com/kristen – use code KRISTEN for $10 off your first order

  ✨ Hair growth & scalp health: Divi – code HOLISTICKRISTEN for 15% off

  📲 Follow Kristen on Instagram: @theovercomerspodcast