Who is one of your favorite people to talk with? I had a fun conversation about good guides with one of my all-time favorite people, my husband, Darren Penny. You’ll hear us discuss the role of guides in our lives—how to seek them, how to be one, and how to navigate life with humility, courage, connection and vulnerability. Through personal stories, like Darren’s search for guidance in the absence of a father, we explore the deep need for relational wisdom during seasons of vulnerability.

We talk about how good guides meet us where we are, create safe spaces for growth, and remind us that being unfinished doesn’t disqualify us—it makes us ready. Whether you’re seeking direction or becoming someone others can trust, this conversation invites you to take the risk, know yourself, and walk the journey with others. I hope you will be encouraged to embrace your limitations, resist isolation, and choose human connection and vulnerability over quick fixes.

If you like what you hear, pick up a copy of my book Grace Space where I dive deeper into being a person that creates safe spaces for growth.

Cheering you on!

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

Do you have a friendship that spans many seasons and plot twists of your life? Marriage, children, parenting, launching kids, career intersections, faith. You know, all the biggies. Someone you've had the privilege of being up close and personal with through the highs and lows. Alyssa Gluck is that person in my life. Alyssa is a credentialed teacher, holds a graduate degree in leadership, and works as an educational specialist for homeschool families.

In our conversation, we reflect on how life doesn’t take a straight path. It often has unexpected twists and turns. Plot twists, as a previous guest put it. When you have been thrown for a loop, a Good Guide coming along at just the right time is a gift. But isolation is a dangerous reaction in the middle of these plot twists. The very thing you need is a sage presence offering you a safe place to land and sort out where to go next. When the false belief “I have to do life on my own” gets replaced with the true belief “I get to reach out to a loving presence,” it makes all the difference. I love Alyssa's guidance for when a guide is no longer a good fit for where you want to go.

Listen in and learn what type of guidance you need. Perhaps you'll be sparked to be a good guide for someone in the spaces you live and lead.

Cheering you on!

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

Do you have a person in your life that you can say anything to with zero filter, and you know you will be understood? Kelley Gray is this type of person. She listens compassionately and leaves her judgment at the door. All while offering valuable insight and discernment, guided by wisdom. That’s why I loved including her in my podcast series, Good Guides.

I have appreciated my friendship with Kelley over the years. We met when I needed some clear guidance. The direction I received from her stayed with me for years. It was her ability to empower me to lean into what my gut was whispering to me that made it a powerful connection.

And don’t we all need good guides during vulnerable times?

Kelley has the ability to shed light on a situation while affirming that your True Self gets to show up well. This makes her stand out as a Good Guide. I trust her because she is experienced in counseling, has a highly successful practice, is well-read and highly intelligent, but mostly because she has a good heart and lives out what she teaches.

Listen in to this conversation as I share some of my personal experience in getting guidance from her years ago. Kelley has the ability to make hard topics easy to discuss and understand. The takeaways she shares are invaluable. Her words will empower you to stay connected to your body, listen to your intuition, be guided by wisdom, and take the steps you need to go after the life only you are made for.

Much of what we talk about in this episode can be found in my book The Life You’re Made For

To learn more about the Enneagram Personality type assessment, The Enneagram Institute is a great place to start.

Cheering you on!

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

Do you have a friend that you may not speak to for months or even years, but when you do talk, it’s like you pick up right where you left off? That’s how it is with my good friend Michelle Riddell. She knows the power of presence, and she has been a welcome presence in my life. Michelle also has a reputation as a leader for inspiring and empowering people working on executive teams in global marketing organizations. What I admire most is her personal vision statement, ”I lead my life honorably with boldness to unleash the potential in people and organizations for the betterment of society”. Isn’t that powerful?

I believe you will appreciate this conversation as much as I did. Michelle’s ability to show up fully present is such a gift. I hope you will feel encouraged to find guides that truly fit who you are and where you are trying to go. You’ll hear her share about the good guides in her life and even those that weren’t so good. But you’ll appreciate how she has learned the power of presence from all of it.

If you want to learn more about finding good guides, check out my book The Life You're Made For

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

When I announced that I'd be sharing my word for the year 2025, I asked you all to share what words you have chosen. Thank you for sharing them with me! I am so inspired by your intentional growth. I have heard words like...

• Freedom
• Love
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Focus
• Presence
• Power
• Faith
• Amplify
• Results
• Mission
• Grow
• Live
• Be

…and even one who wants to keep it private because they are too sacred and personal to share their word out loud.

What a powerful year each individual will have with words like these! I can’t wait to follow up and hear what they learn from their words at the end of the year.

In this podcast, I share what my past words have taught me along with my word for the year 2025. Because I know how choosing a word for the year keeps me focused and guides me. But what I really like about choosing a my word for the year… it’s simple. It’s the simplest way I know to live intentionally. And when you align with who you want to be, this is the direction you grow. It has been exciting to have watched this practice attract exactly the right people, guides, opportunities, and experiences needed to learn and grow.

So, find your focus, stay curious, and listen to this podcast about how my word for the year influenced me last year and why I chose my new word for this year.

Cheering you on!

If you're looking for ways to find good guides in your life, check out my book The Life You're Made For

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

When was the last time you got some great guidance? Maybe you were starting a new business or sorting out a relationship. But the counsel you received shifted it all in a positive direction and helped you see things dramatically different. This is what Good Guides can do for us. They are people who are further along the journey than you, but have something to offer that you don’t have at the moment— to see things differently or explore new possibilities that encourage you to take new risks and venture out in new ways. They help you level up in your life.

That’s why I want to share with you a new podcast series on Good Guides. You’ll hear from people who I know and respect who have both offered guidance and been on the receiving end of it. But what I have come to believe is that we can’t get to new levels in life without good guidance along the way. In the first episode, you’ll hear me share what Good Guides have meant to me and how it has been so critical to my development. So, join us as we discuss what makes a good guide and some important counsel people have received that significantly impacted their lives. Who knows, maybe it will impact yours too!

For more info on Good Guides, pick up my book The Life You're Made For

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

How do you feel about your creative abilities? Are you someone who sees yourself as creative, not creative at all, or have you never really thought about it? What does creativity have to do with being part of the story of humanity? I wanted to speak to my friend Jason Squires about all of this.

Jason is a coach who works with leaders who create. Starting in the music industry, Jason has been teaching, singing, and traveling around the United States supporting music leaders. This eventually led him to starting a coaching business for creative leadership. But I especially love how he views creativity because, much like me, he believes everyone has the innate potential to be creative. And the beliefs he holds around humanity’s ability to create are inspiring.

We also dove deep into the content from my book, Grace Space, which Jason endorsed!

Whether you see yourself as creative or not, join us as we discuss the importance around creativity and how it can look uniquely in every type of person. This is a conversation around the beliefs we hold, how some change and others ground us, as well as the power of living with a commitment to creativity no matter what line of work you are in.

Jason Squires is a worship leader, songwriter, and storyteller. Jason travels nationally leading worship and teaching at conferences. Along with being an artist, Jason is the Director of The Creative Launch which is an organization designed to help creatives have the tools to thrive. Jason does that by one on one coaching. Jason’s passion is leading people to Jesus through creativity and inspiring creatives to reach their full potential. You can catch Jason on his weekly podcast called The Table streaming on all major podcast platforms. Jason married his wife in 2007, has three daughters, and together they reside in Northern California.

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion

Have you ever known a person that has the ability to be totally honest with themselves and doesn’t flinch at the uncomfortable truths surfacing? This is who I know Dawn Neldon to be. Which is why I asked her to join me in my Beliefs series to talk about going from scarcity to hope.

I have watched Dawn over the years face some hard truths– no matter how unsettling– and most importantly, do something about it. Her transformation from a mindset of scarcity to hope has been a joy to witness. The reason I know this so well is because I have had the privilege of being in a coaching relationship with Dawn. I saw firsthand her fierce tenacity to change the path she was on in pursuit of the life she was made for. Join us in this conversation as you hear Dawn modeling the 3Cs– Clarity, Confidence, and Courage in the spaces she lives and leads.

Dawn Neldon is the dynamic force behind Sunbeam Social, a pioneering marketing firm designed to empower small businesses and passionate entrepreneurs, particularly women, to shine online. With a sharp focus on creating human connections.

Follow Dawn on Instagram @dawn.neldon. Learn more at sunbeam-social.com

Step into The Life You're Made For, I'm cheering you on!
heatherpenny.com
@heatherpennyphd
Music by Jason Squires
Production by Cody Vermillion