What does it look like to hold onto hope even if it feels “hopeful-ish”?

In this honest and encouraging conversation, Annica sits down with author Scarlet Hiltibidal to talk about her latest book, Hopeful-ish - the kind of hope that wrestles with grief, disappointment, weariness, and unanswered questions, yet still choose to cling to faith.

Scarlet opens up about the personal story behind her book: a season marked by loss, family tragedy, pregnancy after a decade, and walking alongside her mother through stage-four cancer. She shares what it truly means to live with hope when comfort fails, identity feels stripped away, and obedience feels costly.

This episode is for anyone navigating hard seasons, burnout, grief, or spiritual weariness, and wondering if real hope is possible. You’ll hear more about...

• The story behind Scarlet’s book "Hopeful(ish)" and the reality of living with sadness and hope side by side
• How personal loss and unexpected blessings shaped her perspective
• The difference between comfort-seeking and true comfort and how modern self-care doesn’t always heal what’s hurting
• Why community, vulnerability, and choosing to show up matter
• Practical ways to hold onto hope and joy, even in the hardest seasons
• How obedience can unlock joy — even when it feels inconvenient
• Letting go of performance, productivity, and spiritual perfection.

Whether you’re feeling weary, searching for encouragement, or simply want to hear a story of faith in the trenches, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone, and hope is possible, even it it feels “hopeful-ish”.

You can follow Scarlet on Instagram @scarlethiltibidal or check out her latest (or other) books>>>

* Hopeful-ish: Sadness, Weariness, Donkey Attacks, More Sadness, and Other Stuff You Need the Gospel For

*Afraid of All the Things: Tornadoes, Cancer, Adoption, and Other Stuff you Need the Gospel For

*You're the Worst Person in the World: Why It's the Best News Ever that You Don't Have it Together, You Aren't Enough, and You Can't Fix It on Your Own

*He Numbered the Pores on My Face: Hottie Lists, Clogged Pores, Eating Disorders, and Freedom from It All

What if it wasn't a massive overhaul you needed in an area of your life…but one tiny tweak instead?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Erin Port of Simple, Purposeful Living, and author of Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life: Simple Changes to Create Space for What Matters — shares how the smallest, simplest shifts helped her rebuild her life in a season of exhaustion and overwhelm and how they can help you, too.

No quick fixes. No “new year, new you.” Just grace, awareness, and little daily decisions that create real momentum in your life. We're talking about:

• Why your brain actually prefers big solutions — and why they don’t work
• The surprising science behind small wins and how they restore confidence
• The #1 thing that kills momentum (and what to do about it)
• Finding freedom from comparison and the pressure to “always improve”
• Simple, life-giving tweaks for your home, your motherhood, and your mental clarity
• Erin’s two go-to tweaks ANYONE can start today
• A surprisingly simple yet genius snack hack for moms whose snacks keep running out (you’ll steal it!)
• The single question to ask yourself before saying yes to anything new

If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or craving a simpler way to live with purpose — this episode will breathe fresh hope into your day. You can find Erin at simplepurposefulliving.com or follow along on Instagram @simplepurposefulliving. Her new book Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life: Simple Changes to Create Space for What Matters can now be pre-ordered! If you're new here, welcome! If you loved this conversation, please leave a review and share your thoughts. Then, come follow along on Instagram @annicafischer.

Author, Kate Angelo joins us to share her powerful story of rising from childhood trauma and foster care to becoming a writer and eventually creating a voice of hope and healing in relationships. We talk about the power of storytelling that helped rewrite her own story.

Kate’s story is raw, redemptive, and deeply hopeful—and her wisdom around relationships, marriage, and healing is something every listener will walk away changed by.

Kate shares:

• Her story of parental kidnapping, abuse, and abandonment

• Finding an unexpected escape (and later, calling) through story

• How a blind writing audition launched her debut novel

• The tender, surprising ways God has healed her story

• Why relationship skills are learned, not inherited

• The simple communication tools she teaches that can transform marriages

• How appreciation, respect, and emotional safety reshape homes and families

Whether you’re navigating your own hard story, longing for healthier relationships, or simply curious about the creative journey behind her books, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Mentioned in this episode: Kate's new book - Girl Lost

You can follow Kate Angelo on Instagram @kateangeloauthor _____ If you're new here, welcome! If you loved this conversation, please leave a review and share your thoughts. Then, come follow along on Instagram @annicafischer.