A Woman’s Heart with Lisa Granger

Charlotte Guest: Thriving in the Empty Nest Years

What happens when the house grows quiet and the children are gone? For many parents, the empty nest years can feel uncertain—but they can also become one of the most meaningful and purpose-filled seasons of life.
On this episode of A Woman’s Heart, Charlotte Guest shares her heart for encouraging others to embrace their encore years with faith, courage,  and expectation. Charlotte opens up about her personal journey into writing and podcasting, reminding us that God is always calling us forward. Together, we talk about what it looks like to live life fully, stay spiritually equipped by putting on the full armor of God, and remain open to the new passions He places within us.
If you’re navigating the transition of an empty nest—or sensing God calling you into something new—this conversation will encourage you to move forward with confidence, purpose, and joy.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
How to embrace the empty nest years as a season of opportunity
Why God continues to invite us into new callings at every stage of life
The importance of putting on the full armor of God
About Charlotte Guest:
Having a passion for people and a desire to encourage others during the encore years, Charlotte Guest hosts the international podcast ministry Empty Nest Guests. She is an author and creator of four YouVersion Bible plans, including The Blessed Empty Nest. Charlotte and her husband are preparing to release an empty nest devotional and serve together as marriage mentors.
Charlotte lives in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area with her husband, Gordy. They enjoy time with their three adult children, their spouses, and four grandchildren. Charlotte is energized by sunshine, serving others, prayer, pet therapy, publishing, and helping people uncover their personal mission statement.
🔗 Learn more: https://charlotteguest.com
Resources mentioned: Empty Nest, Full Life by Jill Savage
Captivating by Stasi Eldredge
Jim Burns with HomeWord
Podcast interview with Joni Topper: Yes to God for a Surprisingly Joy-filled Way
To connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Courtney Ellis: Finding Growth and Hope in Every Season

Change is one of the few guarantees in life—and yet it’s something we often resist, fear, or fight. In this encouraging episode of A Woman’s Heart, host Lisa Granger welcomes pastor, author, and podcaster Courtney Ellis to talk about her book Weathering Change and how we can learn to move through life’s transitions with greater peace and purpose.Together, Lisa and Courtney explore how to “weather” change through intentional preparation, curiosity instead of fear, adaptability in uncertain seasons, and resilience rooted in faith. They also acknowledge an often-overlooked truth: every change carries some element of grief. Naming that grief, honoring our limits, and leaning into community can help us navigate transitions with honesty and hope.Courtney Ellis is a pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo, California. She is the author of six books, including Weathering Change and Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief. Courtney also hosts The Thing with Feathers, a podcast about birds and hope. She lives in Orange County, California, with her husband and three children. courtneybellis.com To connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Mary Demuth: Finding Genuine Freedom In God Through Surrender

Most people don’t like the word surrender. It feels like losing. Giving up. But what if surrender isn’t about loss at all?In this episode of A Woman’s Heart, I’m joined by author, speaker, and podcaster Mary DeMuth to talk about her newest book, The Freedom of Surrender, and the way letting go can actually lead to deeper freedom, healing, and peace.Mary shares why surrender feels so threatening, how control can quietly keep us stuck, and what it looks like to place our lives — including finances and past trauma — back into God’s hands. We also talk about the deeply personal artwork woven throughout her book and how God used creativity as part of Mary’s own healing journey.If you’ve ever struggled to release control, trust God with uncertainty, or wondered if surrender means failure, this conversation offers a gentle and hope-filled reframe.In this episode, we discuss:• Why the word surrender feels so uncomfortable for so many of us• How creativity and art played a role in Mary’s journey• How true freedom is often found on the other side of releaseMary DeMuth has written over fifty books, including The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible and 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge. Through her podcast Pray Every Day and her speaking events around the globe, Mary helps people heal from past trauma and live re-storied lives as followers of Jesus. Mary is married to Patrick and has three adult children.Connect with Mary DeMuth:• Website: MaryDeMuth.com • Book: The Freedom of Surrender (wherever books are sold)Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Joy Scott: How To Get Unstuck And Walk In Freedom

In this episode of A Woman’s Heart, we welcome author, speaker, and certified teacher Joy Scott, whose passion is helping women break free from the places that keep them stuck. Drawing from her book Flow, Joy shares how painful circumstances don’t have to define us—instead, they can become part of God’s greater purpose for our lives.Together, we explore what it means to live in spiritual “flow” and how emotional wounds, unforgiveness, and false beliefs can block the work God wants to do in and through us. Joy offers practical, faith-filled steps to help you move toward healing, freedom, and renewed purpose.If you’ve ever felt trapped by your past, unsure of your next step, or longing for deeper spiritual growth, this conversation will encourage you to trust God’s process and move forward with confidence.In this episode, you’ll discover:• How unforgiveness keeps us stuck—and why forgiveness brings freedom• The meaning behind FLOW: Filter your thoughts and emotions. Let God love you. Order your thoughts to the truth. Willingly repent.• How to recognize when your spiritual life feels “clogged” and how to restore healthy flowAbout Joy Scott:Joy Scott is an author, speaker, and certified teacher with a burning desire to influence those who feel stuck. By sharing her own story and the obstacles she has overcome, Joy encourages others to pursue healing, freedom, and purpose.Learn more about Joy and her ministry:https://www.joyscott.me/ Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Heather O'Brien: Transform Your Heart With The Simple Act Of Putting God First

In this episode of A Woman’s Heart, we sit down with Heather O’Brien for a powerful conversation about spiritual growth, healing, repentance, and staying moldable in God’s hands.Heather shares how our hearts can either stay soft and teachable—or become hardened over time—and why daily habits rooted in faith matter more than we realize. Together, we talk about what it truly means to put God first, how seasons of life require different rhythms, and why understanding sin is essential to real repentance and freedom.This episode is an invitation to examine what’s filling your heart, what no longer belongs there, and how God uses your passion to serve others.Key Takeaways from the Conversation:• Why Bible, worship, prayer, and community are foundational—not optional.• How being full of God leaves no room for what doesn’t belong.• Why habits must change with each season you walk through.About Heather O’Brien:Heather O’Brien is a prophetic healing coach, minister, author, and speaker who helps Christians heal with God by learning how to hear His voice. She is the author of No Fear Allowed and the host of the top-ranked podcast Heal with God. Heather believes that with God’s help, it is possible to forgive the unforgivable and experience deep healing from trauma. https://heatherobrien.net/ To connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Joni Topper: Yes To God For A Surprisingly Joy-filled Way

In this encouraging episode of A Woman’s Heart, we welcome author, speaker, and storyteller Joni Topper, also known as the GloryTeller. Joni joins us to share insights from her book, The Power of a Well-Placed Yes: God’s Abundant Faithfulness in a Small Church, and reminds us that every yes matters in the Kingdom of God.Through heartfelt stories and lived wisdom, she shows how God honors faithfulness in small, unseen moments in ways we could never imagine. This conversation is filled with hope, encouragement, and practical reminders that faithfulness to small tasks truly matters—and that God’s goodness is always at work, even when we can’t yet see it.In this episode, you’ll hear about:• Why every “yes” to God matters, no matter how small it feels• The joy that comes from leaving the results in God’s hands• Why faithfulness to small tasks is deeply importantJoni Topper, also known as the GloryTeller, radiates the glory of God by sharing everyday moments in compelling storyteller fashion. A Granna, author, worship leader, speaker, and cofounder of Uprooted Women, a Spirit-filled one-day women’s event, Joni is passionate about “being” the Church. She and her pastor husband, Ernest, have faithfully served in the same church for over thirty years. Learn more at www.jonitopper.com .Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Alexandra Hoover: Breaking Free from Offense to Live Abundantly

What if the very thing weighing down your heart is something you were never meant to carry?In this powerful episode of A Woman’s Heart, we’re joined by author and speaker Alexandra Hoover to talk about her book, You Can Let Go, and the freedom that comes when we release offense instead of holding onto it.Together, we explore how easily offense can take root and how carrying it impacts our relationships, our emotional health, and our spiritual lives. Alexandra gently helps us understand the difference between experiencing hurt and carrying offense, reminding us that healing doesn’t require denial, but intentional release.We also unpack what it truly means to set healthy boundaries without building walls that isolate us, and how learning to “live loved” changes the way we navigate conflict, disappointment, and connection.In this episode, we discuss:• The difference between acknowledging hurt and holding onto offense• Healthy boundaries vs. emotional walls that isolate• What it means to “live loved” instead of guardedAlexandra Hoover is a compassionate writer, sought-after speaker, and the author of Eyes Up, Without Wavering, and You Can Let Go. A proud Latina, Alexandra serves her local church and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Women and Theology at Northern Seminary. As a wife and mother of three, she treasures balancing family life with ministry and finds joy in serving and encouraging others to live anchored and free.🔗 Learn more at AlexandraVHoover.com 📲 Connect on social media: @AlexandraVHooverConnect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Lynn Jackson: Simple Recipe To Feed Your Weary Soul

When life feels heavy and your energy is low, even opening the Bible can feel overwhelming. In this encouraging episode of A Woman’s Heart Matters, host Lisa Granger welcomes Lynn Jackson to talk honestly about weariness—and the simple, grace-filled way God still meets us there.
Lynn shares her heart for women and her deep desire for them to know that God is lovingly present and actively at work in their lives. We talk about her book, The Recipe, and a practical, bite-sized method for engaging Scripture when you’re too tired to do “all the things,” but still hungry for spiritual nourishment.
This conversation is filled with hope, permission to slow down, and reassurance that even small moments with God matter deeply.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why so many women feel weary in their walk with God
The Recipe and how it offers simple, nourishing time in Scripture
How God meets us in small, faithful moments
About Lynn Jackson:Lynn finds deep joy in encouraging and challenging women. Her greatest desire is for women to know that God is lovingly present and active in their lives. Together with her husband, Scott, Lynn co-founded Thrive Leadership Foundation, a ministry of encouragement to couples and individuals serving in full-time ministry. Their hearts are full with their four adult children, three married-ins, and eight grandchildren.
Learn more about Lynn and her ministry at:👉 https://thrivelead.org 
Book Mentioned: The Recipe: Food for Your Soul by Lynn Jackson
Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com

Marnie Swedberg: How to Reach Goals And Tame Time

We often begin the New Year with big goals, only to lose momentum and find ourselves discouraged or frustrated. In this encouraging episode of A Woman’s Heart, Lisa welcomes Marnie Swedberg—international leadership mentor, speaker, and author—to talk about both the challenges and solutions to navigating purpose in today’s fast-paced world.
Marnie shares practical wisdom on setting meaningful goals, managing time wisely, and cultivating a mindset rooted in joy, flexibility, and faith. Whether you’re balancing personal and professional responsibilities or seeking fresh inspiration to walk more fully in your God-given purpose, this conversation offers encouragement and actionable insights for the year ahead.
Marnie Swedberg embodies faith in action while creating powerful “aha” moments of perspective transformation. An author of 14 books, mentor to millions, and host of one of the largest online directories in the world, Marnie brings joy, energy, and clarity to every conversation. Her life story includes navigating fires, floods, a tornado, car wrecks, business setbacks, burglary, a lightning strike, sudden loss in her family, and more—modeling resilience, possibility thinking, and deep trust in God.
🎧 Want more New Year encouragement?Be sure to check out additional New Year conversations with Cheryl Anderson and Darlene Larson and all of these episodes are also available in the New Year playlist on the A Woman’s Heart with Lisa Granger YouTube channel.
Connect with Marnie Swedberg www.marnie.com
Connect with Lisa / A Woman’s Heart www.lisagranger.com

Promises of Christmas, Brian Johnson: Christ in the Promise

In this final episode of our Christmas series, Pastor Brian Johnson helps us explore the powerful connection between Jesus and the ancient promise God made to Abraham — a promise to bless and redeem the entire world.We discuss how Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise, the true substitutionary sacrifice who pays the price for sin and keeps both sides of the covenant on our behalf. Through this conversation, Brian invites us to see Scripture — and our own lives — with Christ-centered eyes.Key Themes & Quotes• Blessed to bless: “God says I’m calling you to be a blessing for the whole world.”• Christ in all of Scripture:“The early church was so obsessed with Jesus that they read their Bible, the Old Testament, and saw Jesus everywhere.”• A Jesus-shaped lens for life:“What does it mean to look at life and be so obsessed with Jesus that we see Jesus everywhere?”• God’s faithful love:“God is always faithful and faithfulness doesn’t always look like what we want it to look like… faithfulness can sometimes be painful.”• Jesus as covenant-keeper:“Jesus is the one person who can keep both sides of the promise.”About Pastor Brian JohnsonBrian Johnson serves as Lead Pastor at Williamsburg United Methodist Church. Whether organizing local service projects or crafting meaningful sermon series, Brian’s heart is to make the gospel tangible through both words and action. He lives in Williamsburg with his wife and their two sons. Together, they love sports, Star Trek, Tex-Mex nights, exploring historic trails, and adventuring through Busch Gardens.Connect with Williamsburg UMCVisit: williamsburgumc.org Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com