In this episode, I am joined by Chrystal Cuellar, a sober coach passionate about helping women embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle and step fully into their God-given purpose. Chrystal shares her powerful testimony of navigating a toxic relationship, struggles with alcohol, and finding freedom through her relationship with Christ.

From being a gray-area drinker to a thriving sobriety coach, Chrystal opens up about the challenges she faced, including the pivotal moments that brought her to the end of herself and the beginning of a life led by God’s grace. She dives deep into her journey of letting go of alcohol, rebuilding her foundation on Christ, and discovering what it means to live with a sober mind.

If you’re navigating your own relationship with alcohol or feeling a nudge from God to surrender it, this episode offers practical wisdom, encouragement, and hope for your journey.

What We Discuss:

• Chrystal’s journey from a gray-area drinker to a sobriety coach

• The impact of toxic relationships on her alcohol use

• How finding Christ transformed her life and relationship with alcohol

• The importance of accountability, mentorship, and support in sobriety

• Living a sober-minded life and demolishing other idols

• Building a fruitful, God-honoring life beyond just counting days

• The power of Isaiah 40 in Chrystal’s journey

If you’re ready to explore sobriety or deepen your walk with Christ, reach out to Chrystal or join her community to get started.

Bio:

Chrystal Cuellar is a sober coach on a mission to empower Christian women to embrace sobriety and unlock their true purpose. Having triumphed over her own battles with binge drinking, God has led her to help others find freedom too.

She approaches this through a biblical and practical approach so women can break free for good!

Anchor Verse:

Isaiah 40:31

Connect with Chrystal:

Facebook Kingdom Alliance Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XnvRpk2FL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Email: cuellarchrystal@gmail.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chrystalcuellar

***We’re thrilled to hear from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to become part of our podcast community and contribute to the conversation. If you’ve enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is a quick and easy process. Simply head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you’re listening and share your feedback. Your input makes a significant difference!***

In this powerful episode to start off 2025, I sit down with my friend, Anna LeBaron, author of The Polygamist’s Daughter, to hear her extraordinary story of escaping the grip of a violent, polygamous cult and finding healing through faith, courage, and community.

Anna shares her personal journey of growing up in a household led by her father, Ervil LeBaron, a self-proclaimed prophet responsible for unspeakable acts of violence. She opens up about the trauma of being raised in a toxic environment, her eventual escape at age 13, and the long process of deconstructing harmful beliefs while reconstructing her identity in Christ.

Key topics we discuss:

• The realities of life inside a polygamous cult and its impact on identity and mental health.

• Anna’s harrowing escape and the challenges of rebuilding her life after leaving everything behind.

• Deconstructing toxic theology and learning to separate God’s truth from man-made distortion.

• How she found healing through therapy, community, and faith.

• Encouragement for those facing trauma, abuse, or the process of reconstructing their own beliefs.

Anna’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of God’s grace to bring beauty from ashes. If you or someone you know is navigating trauma, spiritual abuse, or the challenges of deconstruction, this episode offers hope, healing, and practical wisdom.

Bio:

Anna LeBaron is a n inspiring author, captivating speaker, and skilled social media strategist. Each of these components allows Anna to do what she loves most: connect with people from a diverse array of backgrounds. Anna uses her experiences of escaping from a violent, polygamist cult and her journey to freedom as evidence that every story can be redeemed for good, no matter how bleak parts of it may be. Countless women have walked away from Anna's events with a renewed desire to face their fears, overcome obstacles, and find freedom in the redemption of their own stories.

Anchor Verse:

2 Timothy 1:7

Connect with Anna:

Website: https://annalebaron.com

IG: Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/annaklebaron/

Hulu Docuseries, Daughters of the Cult: https://www.hulu.com/series/daughters-of-the-cult-ecb95c0a-c542-4716-8320-24e0a67e133b

Anna and I both love books and these are the ones mentioned during this interview:

Her book, The Polygamist's Daughter

Prophet of Blood: The Untold Story of Ervil Lebaron and the Lambs of God by Ben Bradley, Jr

Try Softer by Aundi Kolber

Attached to God by Krispin Mayfield

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Safe People by Henry Cloud

***We’re thrilled to hear from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to become part of our podcast community and contribute to the conversation. If you’ve enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is a quick and easy process. Simply head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you’re listening and share your feedback. Your input makes a significant difference!***

In this episode, we welcome Lee Ann Mancini, author of Raising Kids to Follow Christ, Bible professor, and advocate for equipping parents and ministry leaders to guide the next generation in building a strong foundation in faith. Lee Ann shares insights from her extensive research and personal experience as a mother of two adult children and discusses the pressing challenges families face today in a culture increasingly hostile to biblical truth.

Lee Ann dives into:

• The alarming statistics about young people walking away from faith and the cultural factors contributing to this trend.

• Practical steps for parents and grandparents to instill a biblical worldview in their children, starting as early as infancy.

• The importance of intentional parenting and creating a family mission statement to guide your home.

• How to navigate difficult topics like gender dysphoria, digital safety, and the influence of media.

• Encouragement for parents who feel they’ve fallen short and actionable ways to move forward with grace and consistency.

Lee Ann reminds us that raising children in today’s world requires prayer, preparation, and persistence. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or ministry leader, this conversation will inspire you to take an active role in helping the next generation stand firm in their faith.

Bio:

Author Lee Ann Mancini is the award-winning author and executive producer of the Sea Kids series, which can be viewed on Answers.TV, Pure Flix, Right Now Media, and SeaKidsTV. Lee Ann earned a master’s degree in theological studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Trinity International University), as well as two master’s degrees — one in Christian and Classic Studies and one in Biblical and Theological Studies — from Knox Theological Seminary. She serves as an adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary and hosts the award-winning podcast, Raising Christian Kids.

Anchor Verse:

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Connect with Lee Ann:

Website: https://leeannmancini.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/raisingchristiankidsministry

FB: https://www.facebook.com/RaisingChristianKids

Troomi Phone: https://troomi.com

***We’re thrilled to hear from our listeners! Sharing your thoughts through reviews is a fantastic way to become part of our podcast community and contribute to the conversation. If you’ve enjoyed our podcast, leaving a review is a quick and easy process. Simply head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you’re listening and share your feedback. Your input makes a significant difference!***