In this lively, inspiring, and deeply faith-filled episode, Josie and Simone sit down with author, content creator, and entrepreneur Zach Windahl to talk about faith deconstruction, Biblical clarity, spiritual growth, and joy. Known for his best-selling books like The Bible Study and See the Good, Zach shares his journey from childhood entrepreneurship (yes, shark tooth necklaces at age 9) to becoming a Bible teacher and brand builder with a mission to help people fall in love with Scripture. We dive into how Zach reconnected with his faith after a season of doubt, what it was like studying the Bible in Australia, and how his new book, The Bible Simplified, is helping people understand God’s Word more deeply than ever before. This episode is packed with Biblical wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories, practical encouragement, and a ton of joy.

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• [00:00] – Intro to Zach Windahl
• [03:00] – Shark teeth and slime
• [07:00] – Zach’s mom’s cancer, early faith, and more
• [10:00] – Reading the Bible in 90 days & studying it deeply in Australia
• [14:00] – Understanding the Bible as a unified story
• [18:00] – The importance of historical and cultural context in Bible reading
• [21:00] – The Bible Study and the Sunday brand
• [25:00] – Practical tips to reading the Bible
• [29:00] – See the Good and Zach’s personal mindset
• [32:00] – Growing up with gratitude through trials
• [36:00] – Staying grounded in a world praise
• [39:00] – Listening prayer and hearing God’s voice
• [43:00] – Zach’s writing process and building a book from scratch
• [45:00] – Final encouragement: fear of the Lord, wisdom, and purpose
• [46:00] – Where to find Zach’s books, content, and audiobook release

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1. “God doesn’t want to be number one—He wants to be at the center.”
2. “The Bible isn’t random stories. It’s one unified story pointing to Jesus.”
3. “Reading Scripture without context is like reading mail that wasn’t meant for you.”
4. “Gratitude changes everything—even in suffering, God is still good.”
5. “I wrote the book I wish I had when I was trying to understand the Bible.”
6. “The Bible wasn’t written to Western minds—it’s full of imagery, history, and poetry.”
7. “You won’t hear God until you learn to stop talking and listen.”
8. “If you’re bored with the Bible, change your pace. Read it in 30 days. Go wild.”

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• 📘 Books by Zach Windahl:
• The Bible Simplified – https://a.co/d/axdNT4G
• The Bible Study – https://a.co/d/bXOydlq
• See the Good – https://a.co/d/bYnbPUt
• 🌐 Website: zachwindahl.com
• 📱 Instagram: @zachwindahl
• How to Hear God by Pete Greig
• Hearing God by Nathan Finocchio

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Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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EPISODE SUMMARY

It’s our 30th episode—and you know what that means… it’s Q&A time! Every 10 episodes, Josie and Symone turn the mics on themselves to answer your questions—from the silly to the spiritual. This episode is full of laughs, powerful God moments, personal stories, Bible reflections, and real talk about fear, obedience, identity, and joy.

You’ll hear everything from their biggest regrets and favorite childhood toys, to what it means to follow Holy Spirit promptings and pray the promises, not the problems. Josie shares the story of becoming a state press secretary by surrendering her dreams to God, while Symone talks about a powerful “no” to LA that became a “yes” to something better. They also dive into Bible stories they’d love to witness, what makes a great husband, and the importance of not letting fear dictate your steps. This is the most fun + faith-filled Q&A yet—and it’s proof that when you're Rooted in truth, the freedom and prosperity will follow.

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• [01:30] – Our first business venture
• [02:30] – Strangest thing we’ve ever eaten (baby octopus & dirty gum!)
• [04:00] – Our biggest regrets
• [07:00] – Fear vs. faith
• [08:00] – How we stay positive on hard days
• [10:30] – Psalm 23 in real life
• [12:00] – Decompressing with friends and family
• [13:30] – If we could witness any Bible story live
• [18:00] – “God wouldn’t ask it from you if He didn’t put it in you”
• [19:00] – Game show dreams: Shark Tank and Dancing with the Stars
• [20:30] – HOT TAKES: COVID was kinda fun, Star Wars Episode 8 isn’t that bad
• [23:30] – A cool God moment
• [27:00] – How a press secretary dream turned into a real job
• [33:00] – “Gaze at God, glance at life” – fixing your focus
• [34:30] – Favorite childhood toys: American Girl Dolls, Legos, and play kitchens
• [36:00] – Top 5 husband qualities
• [40:00] – Fruits of the Spirit in relationships + loving Jesus more than anything
• [41:00] – What’s your current phone wallpaper and what’s the story behind it?
• [42:00] – Final Truths to be rooted in
• [46:30] – Wrapping up + what’s coming next on the podcast

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1. “Don’t pray the problem—pray the promises.”
2. “God wouldn’t ask it from you if He didn’t put it in you.”
3. “You are currently living at least one of the prayers you used to pray.”
4. “Fear and faith both ask you to believe in something you can’t see—you choose.”
5. “God always has more. He’s not just enough—He’s abundance.”
6. “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
7. “If God plants a seed in you, He will water it and make it grow.”
8. “The Holy Spirit nudges us—say the thing, encourage the person, pray the prayer.”
9. “Gaze at God, glance at life. Focus on what lasts.”

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• Acts 16 (Paul & Silas in prison)
• 2 Kings (oil miracle)

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootedtoprosper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this vulnerable and wisdom-packed episode of Rooted, Josie and Simone welcome Josh Loy—licensed mental health counselor, founder of New Ground Counseling, and a pastor at Reach Church in Seattle. With over 2,000 clients served, Josh brings profound insights into mental health, healing from shame, sexual struggles, and the intersection of faith and counseling. Josh shares his personal journey—from a pastor in a high-demand church environment to experiencing burnout, deep shame, and ultimately healing through counseling. He talks candidly about why safe spaces matter, why many Christians carry secret shame (especially around sexuality), and how true transformation happens when we’re fully known and still fully loved. This episode offers life-giving truth for anyone feeling stuck in cycles of guilt, fear, or performance—and invites listeners to experience the grace of Jesus in their most vulnerable places.

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[02:00] – Growing up in a ministry family + early compassion for others

[07:00] – The unique safety of counseling vs. the church

[09:00] – Breaking myths about counseling & why men often avoid it

[12:00] – Integrating faith into mental health work

[16:00] – Learning to see clients the way Jesus does

[17:00] – Most common struggles today: anxiety, depression, and sexual shame

[19:00] – Shocking porn stats & why the church must talk about sexual sin

[21:00] – How safe spaces break the power of shame

[26:00] – Josh’s personal story of rejection, failure, and healing

[33:00] – Group therapy + being fully seen and fully loved

[36:00] – What true transformation looks like in counseling

[39:00] – Knowing God's love vs. experiencing His love

[48:00] – To be fully known and fully loved—that is the gospel.

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“To be fully known and fully loved—that’s the gospel.”

“Shame says, ‘You are uniquely broken.’ Grace says, ‘You are deeply loved.’”

“Jesus isn’t surprised by your struggle—He wants to meet you in it.”

“Healing begins when we bring the hardest things into the safest spaces.”

“We talk about grace, but many of us still live like we have to earn love.”

“Transformation happens in relationships—especially the safe ones.”

“So many Christians are drowning in shame and silence. We need to open the conversation.”

“People don’t just need theology—they need a lived experience of being loved.”

“Your sexual story is part of your human story—and it deserves grace too.”

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• https://www.newgroundcounseling.com/
• https://reachchurch.cc/

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootedtoprosper

YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.