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Wrestling With LifeIs something wrong with me?Have you ever felt like a walking contradiction?
Wanting to change, be better, honor God...but continuously back track?
Same. In this episode, we dive into the apostle Paul’s surprisingly relatable inner tension between desire and action, flesh and spirit. We talk about performance Christianity, how to tell shame apart from conviction, and why putting on a spiritual or "perfect" facade helps nobody.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is something wrong with me?”—this one’s for you.
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2025-12-2328 minWrestling With LifeOffended much?Getting offended is basically a national pastime at this point LOL. Today we’re unpacking the “spirit of offense,” how it quietly wrecks relationships, and why forgiving people who don’t deserve it might actually be the most powerful thing we can do.
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2025-12-1625 minWrestling With LifeS5 E3 | #MakeReligionFunAgainI'm getting real about a season that feels…confusing. Lonely. In-between.
I'm missing the version of myself who was the life of the party: the girl doing the worm on the dance floor, roasting her friends, and laughing until her stomach hurt.
She feels far away. But maybe following Jesus doesn’t have to mean losing her. Maybe it means redeeming her.
Let’s talk about what it looks like to chase God when He feels distant, why so many Christians accidentally become less fun, and how to let joy, humor, playfulness, and person...
2025-12-0224 minWrestling With LifeS5 E2 | Lukewarm ChristianityWhat does lukewarm Christianity look like? How do we unknowingly fall into it and what role does Satan play? Why is it so dangerous and what's on the line? How can we call out our fellow believers when they are lukewarm without being hypocritical?
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2025-10-2837 minWrestling With LifeS5 E1 | Spiritual WarfareWhat is spiritual warfare? What does it look like in our everyday life? Why should we care about it? And how can we fight back against it? Tune in to find out :)
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2025-10-2128 minWrestling With LifeS4 E9 | ConvictionsFinal episode of this series y'all!
Since I came back to my faith a year ago, God's convicted me of SO many habits, choices, and perspectives that ultimately pull me away from him and steal my peace, purpose, and joy. From the words that come out of my mouth to the TV I watch and everything in between.
Through this specific series, the convictions have only continued, but now in a different and unexpected way in the context of body image and beauty standards.
Tune in to hear more about those convictions and...
2025-09-1626 min2025-09-0949 min2025-09-0231 minWrestling With LifeS4 E6 | The beauty lies culture sells usOne of the biggest lies we get from culture is that our worth is chalked up to our beauty -- how young, fit, and flawless we look. And when we believe these lies and operate as if they are truth, we get caught in a trap that leaves us feeling ugly, worthless, and stuck in comparison.
But what if I told you the secret to feeling beautiful doesn't lie in another diet plan, makeup product, or squeezing another hour of gym time into your schedule? The biggest way we can break free from these feelings of insecurity...
2025-08-2631 minWrestling With LifeS4 E5 | Comparison and choosing better friendsThe voices around us often become the voice within us. If we’re constantly surrounded by negative body talk, comparison, or unrealistic expectations, it’s only natural we start to internalize it all as truth.
The good news? Insecurity is contagious, but so is confidence.
In this episode, we break down:
The psychology and dangers of groupthink
How your social circle is programming your internal self-talk, what matters to you, and how you see yourself
Exactly how to set boundaries, choose better friends, and be a confident leader in your social circles in order to ch...
2025-08-1929 minWrestling With LifeS4 E4 | Healing the hurt that changed how you see yourselfWhether there is one nasty comment that has stuck with you for over a decade or you have a painful history of abuse, bullying, or toxic relationships -- all of us have been negatively impacted by relationships in our past in some way. You are not alone.
This episode details:
A painful relationship from my past that I am still healing from 10 years later
Ways I have worked to let go of painful comments and situations from the past
How you can validate your past experiences and choose to heal from them, rather than internalize them...
2025-08-1226 minWrestling With LifeS4 E3 | Overcoming physical insecuritiesToday, we're getting super vulnerable on the pod. You'll hear from your host (me, EmLed!!) along with three different guests who open up about their biggest physical insecurities and how they've worked to make peace with them.
We cover how to overcome insecurities like:
Body dysmorphia
Long nose/tribal nose
Carrying weight in midsection
Being too big
Acne struggles
Being too skinny
Under-eye bags
Being too short
Small boobs
Being too small
Not fitting the beauty standard
And so much more!
Thanks to our special guests Sully, Cait, and Kaylei for opening up and sharing t...
2025-08-0542 minWrestling With LifeS4 E2 | Worldly social media, TV, and musicEver wondered why you feel crappy after scrolling through social media, listening to certain music, or watching that one TV show?
The easy explanation: our eyes are the portal to our souls and deeply impact the people we become. AKA -- crap in, crap out.
This episode covers:
How marketers sell by playing on human shame, fear, and insecurity
Statistics that will blow your mind AND piss you off
The truth about how our consumption impacts our self-perception
How to change your media intake and your own internal world
And so much more
I...
2025-07-2934 minWrestling With LifeS4 E1 | Body image strugglesHi beautiful people :)
Welcome to S4 of WWL: We're talking body image, beauty standards, and why it is so difficult to feel comfy, confident, and beautiful in the skin that we're in.
But more importantly, we're getting DEEP about a problem hitting the gym everyday or getting more Botox just won't solve: our internal belief system and how we truly see ourselves.
The good news is that you CAN change the way you see yourself WITHOUT changing what you look like physically. And that's exactly what this series will help you do!!
2025-07-2231 minWrestling With LifeS3 E10 | Let God provideWe made it y'all! This is the Season 3 finale of Wrestling With Life, and wow—what a ride it’s been. This season was all about stepping boldly in faith, chasing those God-sized dreams, and trusting Him even when the path felt totally unclear.
I got to sit down with some of the most inspiring, faith-filled humans right here in my hometown of Wilmington, NC. We talked about building businesses from scratch, walking through the unknown, and leaning on Jesus through it all.
God’s hand has been all over these conversations. I’m just in awe o...
2025-06-0324 minWrestling With LifeS3 E9 | Ian Fisher, TriathleteIn our final guest episode of Series #3 on the pod, I sat down with triathlete Ian Fisher who is currently training to qualify for the Ironman World Championships! Only 21 but wise beyond his years, Ian opens up about the mental and physical challenges of training for triathlons and working towards his ambitious qualifying goal.
From balancing daily life with intense training to the mindset shifts required to keep showing up, Ian shares a story of resilience, vision, and faith. Whether you're a runner, dream chaser, or simply in need of motivation, Ian's journey will inspire you to...
2025-05-2736 minWrestling With LifeS3 E8 | Alli Rodriguez, Public Relations ExpertThis week, I'm sitting down with PR expert and local Wilmington community builder, Alli Rodriguez. She is the founder and CEO of ARPR and she is here to talk about the power of collaboration & community over competition in business!!
From her journey into public relations to her commitment to creating spaces where women can thrive together, Alli shares candid insights into building authentic relationships, showing up as your full self, and why choosing community is always a winning strategy.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this conversation will remind you that you...
2025-05-2055 minWrestling With LifeS3 E7 | Jennifer Brown, Leadership CoachWhat's up y'all! In this empowering episode that will give you all the feels, I'm sitting down with certified leadership coach Jennifer Brown to explore the transformative concept that you are not your thoughts. Jen shares her personal journey into coaching, the pivotal mindset shifts that helped her break free from limiting beliefs, and the tools she uses to help clients take control of their mental narratives and thrive in their businesses.
Whether you're battling negative self-talk, struggling with imposter syndrome, or just curious about what a life coach actually does—this conversation is packed with relatable in...
2025-05-1346 minWrestling With LifeS3 E6 | Gillian Scott, ArchitectThis episode is so close to my heart you guys!!
I finally got to sit down with one of my best friends, Gillian Scott, a local Wilmington architect who recently launched Arc30 Studio. This conversation is one I’ve been craving for months and let me tell you -- it DID NOT disappoint!
Gillian has been such a steady, faith-filled presence in my life since I moved to Wilmington. Walking alongside her as we both build our own businesses as well as grow spiritually has been such a gift :')
In this episode, we...
2025-05-0648 minWrestling With LifeS3 E5 | Sam Johnson, Urban MissionaryY'all -- put your hands together for my good friend Sam Johnson!! This convo will live rent free in my head for a WHILE because it parallels so perfectly with similar messages the Lord has been sending my way over the last few months.
Sam and I dive deep into:
How Sam's trust in the Lord to provide has always paid off in both his career and life
How Sam has overcome feelings of insecurity and unbelonging
What a life of abiding with Jesus looks and feels like
If you're not sure where you stand...
2025-04-2951 minWrestling With LifeS3 E4 | Nick Rizzo, Video MarketerWhat's up y'all! Today we’re joined by Nick Rizzo, a video marketer located in Wilmington, NC who helps local business owners get customers with Instagram!!
In this episode, Nick and I dive deep into the mental shifts required to take your business and life to the next level. Whether you're navigating burnout, struggling with imposter syndrome, or hitting a plateau in growth, Nick shares practical strategies and empowering insights to help you rewire your thinking, own your value, and unlock your full potential.
We explore how to:
Get more comfortable on camera
Break fre...
2025-04-2233 minWrestling With LifeS3 E3 | Justin Gates, Author & PodcasterTune in to hear Wilmington local author, podcaster, and business owner, Justin Gates, share his personal journey of entrepreneurship: the highs, the lows, and the moments when trusting God made all the difference.
Whether you're a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone navigating the intersection of faith and career, this episode offers honest insights, real talk about risk-taking, and a reminder that purpose and profit can go hand in hand.
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2025-04-1535 minWrestling With LifeS3 E2 | Brittany Wheeler, PodcasterIn this powerful episode, we're welcoming the inspiring Brittany Wheeler to the mic for a heartfelt conversation about stepping into God-sized dreams with bold faith.
Brittany, host of the podcast The Brittany Wheeler Show, shares her personal journey of walking away from the career she thought she wanted, trusting God through uncertainty, and walking courageously towards the vision God called her to.
Coolest things we talk through:
✅ How to silence fear and boldly pursue your purpose
✅ Trusting God when the path ahead feels unclear
✅ Embracing the unknown with unwavering faith
If you...
2025-04-0846 minWrestling With LifeS3 E1 | Leaving corporate AmericaAMAZING NEWS Y'ALL - your girl is officially an entrepreneur!! What!!
As I'm navigating starting my own business for the first time and TOTALLY being pushed out of my comfort zone, it only makes sense to start a podcast series on how to stop playing small and start stepping in faith. Right??
This is the only solo episode in the whole series, which sets the stage for interviews I'm recording with some of the most inspiring and insightful entrepreneurs in my local hometown of Wilmington, NC.
In this episode, I'm reflecting on the...
2025-04-0127 minWrestling With LifeS2 E5 | Wrestling with career & life's purposeThe results are in: 20% of 22–35-year-olds report they overthink their career more than anything else in life. I can relate! Choosing your life's work is no small decision. But I think a lot of the problem stems from bad advice we've been given on our careers in general.
We're closing out our overthinking series by dispelling 5 major career myths that keep us overthinking, limited, and stuck when it comes to finding great purpose and joy in our work. Then we're replacing these myths with 5 fresh perspective shifts that will get us out of our own way and he...
2025-03-0434 minWrestling With LifeS2 E4 | Forgiving yourself for the pastOne of the biggest things I used to overthink the most was my past: ways I messed up, people I let down, things I wished I handled differently. And I know I'm not alone in this.
In this episode, I'm sharing the three biggest perspective shifts I've made in order to make peace with my past. I also explain how my relationship with God has truly allowed me to do that.
If you're feeling lots of shame over your past, you are not alone & this episode is for you :)
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2025-02-2527 minWrestling With LifeS2 E3 | Caring too much about what other people think48% of you guys told me via Instagram (@em_led11) that the thing you overthink more than anything else is your personal relationships. And boy do I fall into this category!
But what many of us don't realize is that the way we show up in our relationships is often a reflection of our own inner world and how we see ourselves. When we overthink our own pain, mistakes, or past trauma, we project our perceptions and judgements onto others and start believing that they see us the same way we see ourselves. But this is the work...
2025-02-1830 minWrestling With LifeS2 E2 | Getting unstuckOne of the biggest reasons we overthink is because we're waaaaay too focused on the final destination rather than just taking the next right step.
This episode is all about learning how to let go of control, trust yourself and your daily choices, and most importantly -- trust God in the unknown.
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
2025-02-1124 minWrestling With LifeS2 E1 | Overthinking everythingThis series is all about overthinking: where it comes from, why we do it, how to know if you're overthinking, and most importantly -- how to stop.
Spoiler alert: it has a lot to do with us not trusting ourselves or God.
I polled 22-35 year olds on Instagram (follow @em_led11) about their own overthinking patterns and...
81% say they are overthinkers
48% say they overthink their relationships the most
71% say they don't always pray before making a big decision
77% say they prefer to be in control most of the time
If you fall...
2025-02-0426 minWrestling With LifeS1 E5 | Self-help is actually demonicWe're ending S1 with a bang and keeping it so forreal about how self-improvement and self-help start out as innocent tools to help us get out of low places, but how slowly over time these things can actually end up hurting us more than they help us.
We cover:
What self-help is
When it starts to get dangerous
How these tools can hurt us more than they help
How we can bridge the gap between self-help and looking to the Lord for help
Some amazing book recommendations to help you get started!!
Books mentioned in...
2024-12-1537 minWrestling With LifeS1 E4 | Using social media for connection instead of validationThe title honestly says it all. If you struggle to stay off your phone in general, you use social media WAY too much, or you constantly feel down after scrolling online -- this episode is for you.
We talk about:
How we become what we consume
How Satan uses social media to foster pride, comparison, and normalize things that are not normal
How we can set healthy boundaries with social media
How we can use social media to spread love and positivity instead of glorifying ourselves
This is something those of us who grew up...
2024-12-1527 minWrestling With LifeS1 E3 | Forgiving others and choosing loveLet's be honest: we all wanna win, right? The argument, the competition, the promotion, you name it -- we wanna be on top.
The hardest thing to do is to choose loving someone else (especially someone you don't vibe with) over our pride. ESPECIALLY when that person is belittling you, insulting you, or straight up attacking you.
Sometimes we don't even want to love other people and would rather see them lose more than anything else. But when this is our heart posture and mindset, we actually end up hurting ourselves more than anyone else.
2024-12-1523 minWrestling With LifeS1 E2 | Building communityEpisode two of our first series is still all about how our self-obsession is making us miserable, but now we're talking how we can find purpose and community outside of ourselves.
How many times have you heard...
"Focus on yourself!"
"You HAVE to put yourself first."
"Pour all of your energy into your career right now and worry about the rest later."
These sound like innocent messages and good ideas, right? But they're actually a sneaky way the enemy isolates and distracts us from attaining our full potential.
Let's talk through how we...
2024-12-0826 minWrestling With LifeS1 E1 | Too obsessed with ourselvesWhat's up y'all! I've been talking to God a lot about what our generation needs to hear from Him. I've also been posting a ton of polls on my Instagram (@em_led11) to get an idea of what we're all struggling with. And PHEW.
There's a lot to unpack and talk about, but I've boiled it down to one main issue that keeps coming up again and again in all my research: our obsession with ourselves is what's making us all so miserable. Our first series on the podcast is gonna be allll about this!
2024-12-0128 minWrestling With Life(Re)Introducing Wrestling With LifeWe're back baby!! :)
In this episode, I cover:
Why I took a break from the podcast for a few months
How my heart has shifted during this time
Why my old episodes are no longer available
What you can expect from the pod moving forward & who it's for!
A lot has changed, but one thing is always gonna be the same around here: whatever you're wrestling with, you are not alone
2024-11-1226 minWrestling With LifeTRAILER: Wrestling With LifeWe are all wrestling with something – especially us twenty and thirty somethings who are navigating the most transitional, confusing, overwhelming times of our lives thus far. We’re doing so many things for the first time: getting started in our careers, living on our own, moving to new places, dating (or marrying) new people, making new friends, and asking the big life questions like “What is the point of all of this?”
And on top of all that, our generation is up against something none of our ancestors before us have ever navigated: growing up in a tech sav...
2024-10-2303 min
Couple O' NukesWrestling With Life: Big Emotions, Burnout, And RebuildingSend us a textToday, I sit down with Emily Ledbetter, the host of the “Wrestling With Life” podcast, known to her audience as EmLed. We get real about what it means to rebuild your life — emotionally, spiritually, and physically — after losing your job, going through a devastating breakup, and confronting parts of your past you never questioned before. Ms. EmLed doesn’t just talk the talk — she moved across the country, started over, and built a brand based on authentic storytelling, therapy wins, and honest self-reflection.In this episode, we explore her Christian upbringing, the burden o...
2024-09-021h 12