Shows
She Speaks Life - Christian Women, Strengthen Your Faith, Bible Study, Grow Spiritually In Christ"The Cost of Holding On: Why Forgiveness Sets You Free" With Yana Jenay ConnerIn this deeply needed conversation, Jayme Elizabeth sits down with author and Bible teacher Yana Jenay Conner to discuss her new book, Living Beyond Offense: Doing the Hard Work of Forgiveness. Yana unpacks why forgiveness is one of the most challenging yet freeing commands God gives us—and how we can walk it out in real life.Yana shares her personal journey of navigating abandonment, the pain of her father’s absence, and how those early wounds shaped her view of God. She opens up about the anger she had to confront, the grief she had to ackn...
2025-11-2135 min
By Words: A Safe Space for Hard Faith Conversations for Christian Women198. Living Beyond Offense: How the Hard Work of Forgiveness God's Way Truly Sets Us Free (ft. Yana Jenay Conner)What do you do when forgiveness feels impossible?In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Bible teacher and author Yana Conner to talk about her brand-new book, Living Beyond Offense: Doing the Hard Work of Forgiveness God’s Way. This conversation is honest, deep, and so needed.Yana shares her personal journey of walking through offense, what it really means to forgive “God’s way,” and how we can find freedom on the other side of hurt. We talk about the middle moments—the space between choosing to forgive and actually feeling healed—and how God meet...
2025-11-2044 min
Worthy: Celebrating the Value of WomenEpisode 236: Interview with Yana Janae ConnerYana Jenay Conner, MDiv (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary), is a writer and Bible teacher. Her debut book is Living Beyond Offense: Doing the Hard Work of Forgiveness God's Way. She has served in full-time ministry for 15 years in both church and parachurch contexts and has contributed to Jude 3 Project's Through the Eyes of Color; Swing Low, Volume 2: An Anthology of Black Christianity in the United States; and the She Reads Truth Devotional. She is the host of the podcast Living Single with Yana Jenay and serves as the adult ministry director at Vertical Church in Hillsborough, NC.
2025-11-1751 min
In Totality with Megan AshleyLiving Beyond Offense: With Yana Jenay ConnerIn this week’s episode, I’m joined by author and teacher Yana Jenay Conner, to get into her new book, Living Beyond Offense!Tune in to hear us unpack what it means to live beyond offense, to forgive without pretending it didn’t hurt, and to trust God enough to handle what justice looks like when we experience wrongdoings.Yana shares her heart behind her book, and we have an honest conversation about how grace works when you’d rather guard your heart, what healing may look like after be...
2025-11-111h 24
Starting Place with Elizabeth WoodsonA Fun Announcement!In this episode, Elizabeth shares an exciting announcement about a new collection of conversations she’s recorded with her friend Yana Jenay Conner. Together, they are going to dive into conversations about the chaos and disconnection shaping our world today. Covering topics like friendship, forgiveness, and the culture, they will explore how a theology of shalom transforms helps us experience God’s peace in everyday life.Follow Shalomies on Apple and Spotify.🎧 Subscribe and follow @elizabethwoodson & @yanajenayJoin the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own...
2025-10-2205 min
Campfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk About Unanswered Prayers | Yana Jenay Conner & Elania Pridgen
2024-06-1532 minCampfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk About S.A. | Pastor Ryan Brooks & Yana Jenay ConnerJoin us as Pastor Ryan and Yana Jenay Conner tackle a very tough subject. S.A.
Trigger warning: This episode contains dialogue about very sensitive subjects. Though we are discussing the bible, a text we are very far removed from culturally, the themes and subject matter are still very real today.
Be sure to pray and ask the Lord to give you an open mind and heart before listening to the episode.
2024-06-0150 min
Starting Place with Elizabeth WoodsonGod is Holy with Yana ConnerElizabeth Woodson is joined by Yana Conner to discuss the holiness of God and how we are called to pursue holiness.Questions Covered in This Episode:When you think about the holiness of God, what comes to mind for you?Where in Scripture do we see this part of his character displayed?How should this aspect of God’s character impact the way we view and interact with Him?Can you share a story about when God used something to help you grow in holiness? What does it look like to live a life consecrated to God? What are some thi...
2024-04-2441 min
Waypoint Church | Durham, NCSearching for ShalomHear from Yana Jenay Conner as she teaches about the Biblical concept of Shalom (the Hebrew word for peace). Yana is Discipleship Director at Vertical Church in Hillsborough, NC.
This was the main talk at the Waypoint Women's Confernce in April 2024.
2024-04-1747 minCampfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk About The Bible Reading Plan | Pastor Ryan Brooks & Yana Jenay ConnerIn today's episode, our hosts discuss challenges regarding The Bible Reading plan. We explore new strategies, new perspectives and most of all, the grace to not be perfect. Our identities are not in our success or failures, but in the God we are seeking during our time in His word.
2024-04-0139 minCampfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk About Easter | Pastor Ryan Brook & Yana Jenay ConnerWith Easter weekend quickly approaching, our hosts discuss the importance behind the celebration and Holy lamenting. Join us as we explore how we should approach Easter and Good Friday.
2024-03-2536 minCampfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk About The Laws | Pastor Ryan Brooks & Yana Jenay ConnerThis week, our hosts review the different kinds of laws we encounter in the book of Leviticus by defining each type and explaining their function AND to compare the salvific responsibility between Israel’s salvation from Egypt and our salvation in Christ
2024-03-1143 min
Campfire Conversations | The Vertical Church PodcastLet's Talk Leviticus | Pastor Ryan Brooks & Yana Jenay ConnerThis week, we sit down with Lead Pastor Ryan Brooks and Discipleship Director Yana Jenay Conner as they discuss how Leviticus fits in the story of God. If you've ever read or attempted to read the bible, you probably know that Leviticus has a bad rep. For our hosts, it left them with the questions: "What is God Doing?" And "Why are we not already in the promised land?"
2024-03-0823 min
Living Single with Yana JenayDoes God Really Care Who I Sleep With?In this episode, Yana sits down with Sam Allberry to have a conversation about same sex attraction, sex, singleness, and the idea that you can’t be christian and same sex attracted. More specifically, Sam & Yana talk through what it looks like to put same sex attraction back in the gospel framework, the difference between sin and temptation, and untangling our sexuality & our identity.
Guest Bio : Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, author and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?; What God Has to Say About Ou...
2023-06-0751 minLiving Single with Yana JenayA Conversation: Saved, Single, and Same-Sex AttractionIn this episode, Yana continues her conversation with Johnathan and Kat on the realities of being a Christian who experiences same-sex attraction. Johnathan and Kat share honestly about finding ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction in Christ and the blessings and hardships of navigating same-sex attraction in the context of Christian community due to gender norms within the church. Whether you experience same-sex attraction or not, you need to listen to this conversation to learn what the church needs to do differently in order to love, disciple, and care well for the same-sex attracted.
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2023-05-241h 11Living Single with Yana JenayA Listening: Saved, Single, and Same-Sex AttractedIn this episode, Yana sits down with her friends Jonathan & Kat to hear about who they are and their stories. Jonathan points to the value of friendship and accountability through his season of exploring what following Jesus meant for him, even down to his sexuality. He shares the hope and joy found in forfeiting what his flesh felt like it genuinely needed, and in the forfeiting his soul and heart found what it actually needed and was longing for. Kat shares about her experience and story of coming to know Jesus. She shares about learning to trust the Lord...
2023-05-1047 minLiving Single with Yana JenaySelahIn this episode, Yana takes a moment to pause and shares some of her reflections from the previous episodes about sex, sexuality, and singleness. It’s clear that sis has been challenged as in these months away from the podcast, she’s allowed God to go to work on her heart. Yana invites us in to hear how the Lord has been shaping and molding her desires to align more with His will and helping her to recognize His sufficient grace in the midst of fighting temptation, being pruned, and recognizing patterns.
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Scriptures referenced in thi...
2023-04-2643 min
In The Light with Dr. Anita PhillipsLove & FriendshipOur siblings. Our cousins. Our parents. Our spouses. The highest hope for every important adult relationship in our lives is that the love we share will ultimately be rooted in a deep sense of friendship. In this episode of the In the Light, Pastor Yana Jenay Conner joins Dr. Anita to teach us how to be a good friend, when to break up with a friend, and more importantly – when to hold on to one.
2023-02-141h 08
Starting Place with Elizabeth WoodsonCreation, Shalom, & Finding Life in God with Yana Jenay ConnerElizabeth Woodson is joined by Yana Jenay Conner to discuss Genesis 1 & 2. In these two chapters we learn about God and the identity and purpose he gave humans.Questions Covered in This Episode:Genesis 1 & 2 gives us a vision for how the world was in the very beginning. One word that is used to describe this dynamic is shalom. How would you describe shalom and how/where do we see it show up in these first two chapters of Genesis?What is the vision of the life that God designed for us?What is one way you see people fighting to find...
2023-01-2530 minLiving Single with Yana JenaySingleness and the New YearThere is no other holiday that causes just about everyone on the planet to be reflective more than the start of a new year, considering where they are in relation to where they want to be. This process can bring about all kinds of emotions--shame, disappointment, despair, pride, anger, etc. It can also cause many of us to go into the new year with a "carpe-diem-seize-the-day" kind of energy that can be more harmful than good.
In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by music artist and worship leader, Jordan Welch, to talk about the pros and...
2023-01-111h 06
Found Family with MaryB. SafritThe Best of Season 8 (Wrap-Up)We've made it to the season 8 wrap up episode. We spent this whole season hearing from some awesome guests about their experience being single and in the church--the good, the bad, and the awkward. For this wrap up episode, you're going to hear our favorite clips from each episode, which I'll string together with some solid narration. Audio clips are from Henry Abuto, Matt Linden, Katelyn Beaty, Elizabeth Moore, Ekemini Uwan, Landen Swain, Kayana, Audrey Elledge, Anna Primrose, Jason Miller, Yana Jenay Conner, and Dr. Katie Gaddini. Join our Patreon Community at patreon.com/unsuitable!
2022-12-2722 minLiving Single with Yana JenaySingleness and AdventAdvent is the arrival of a notable person or event. During this ng this season we celebrate the arrival of the advent of our Savior, Jesus—Emmanuel. However, this celebration is also filled with waiting as we eagerly look for Christ, the Victor, second arrival.
In the meantime in between time, many of us singles are also waiting for another kind of advent—the arrival of our long awaited boo.
In this episode, my good friend, Anteneshia Sanders, and I talk about each one of these kinds of advents while also pondering how they are similar and different.
More About Our...
2022-12-2057 minLiving Single with Yana JenayIt's Hard Out Here For Us Too (Part 2)Here is the rest of the hilariously authentic conversation Yana Jenay has with her friends Bree, Portia, and Cleo about their struggles and victories with sexual sin.
2022-12-0255 minFound Family with MaryB. SafritCharacter and Credibility for Single Christians (feat. Yana Jenay Conner)In this episode, you'll hear Yana Jenay and I talk about:the importance of being around other single Christianswhat to look for in a church as a single personthe affect of healthy relationships between singles and leadershipYana Jenay's advice for single peopleand more! Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist The...
2022-11-2246 minLiving Single with Yana JenayBonus Episode: How to Prepare for Awkward Holiday ConversationsAs a single person, going home for the holidays can be quite anxiety-inducing. Particularly when you are fearfully anticipating the kinds of questions, you may be asked about your relationship status. One of the ways you can prepare yourself when going into an environment where you might be met with uncomfortable questions is to think through some ways you can thoughtfully respond.
In this episode, Yana Jenay shares some tips on how to prepare for Awkward Holiday Conversations and provides you with some prepared statements on how to answer questions like:
"When you gone get a...
2022-11-1844 minLiving Single with Yana JenayIt's Hard Out Here (Part One)In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by some of her closest friends, Bree, Portia, and Cleo, for a conversation about their struggles with sexual sin. This conversation is a good balance of honesty and hilarity. And this episode is just part one.
2022-11-1652 minLiving Single with Yana JenayThe Struggle is RealIn this episode, Yana Jenay passes the mic to her good friends, Kinshiro Shimochi and Macklyn Mosely, for them as men to have a candid conversation about lust, pornography, and masturbation. Press play not only hear these two men bravely share their struggles with sin but also hear how they find hope and freedom through their relationship with Christ.
2022-11-021h 03Living Single with Yana JenayMen Talking Back to Purity CultureOftentimes, conversations about Purity Culture center around its effects on women. However, many of the teachings out of Purity Culture have been harmful for men as well. Picking up from the last episode on Purity Culture, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend, Kinshiro Shimochi to hear how growing up in Purity Culture affected how he understood himself, sex, and relationships with women.
2022-10-191h 07Living Single with Yana JenayTalking Back To Purity CultureIn this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by Rachel Joy Welcher and Bethany Lauren for a conversation on Purity Culture and how to deconstruct it thoughtfully. Rachel Joy Welcher (@racheljwelcher) is a poet and author who currently works as an editor at Fathom Magazine and Lexham Press. Rachel also received her Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews, where her research led her to write the book: Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality. Bethany Lauren (@simply_bible) is a writer and speaker. She loves teaching people how to read and study the...
2022-10-061h 09Living Single with Yana JenayDid God Really Say?When it comes to sex, many of us have read the Bible's commands about sex and ask, "Really? Did God really say that? Is He serious?" We've asked this question because living in a sexually charged world, it's sometimes hard to take God's commands about sex seriously, asking, "Has God seen the world? Is living out His sexual ethic as put forth in Scripture even possible?" In this episode, Yana Jenay takes us to the garden of Eden to reflect on the first time in history the words of God were questioned. Using the narrative of Genesis 3 as a...
2022-08-2450 minLiving Single with Yana JenayBonus Episode: Dear Church GirlIn this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with two of her close friends, Janetta Oni and Anteneshia Sanders, for a candid conversation about Beyoncé’s “Church Girl.” Though this song felt like an anthem for many women, it didn’t quite resonate with them in the same way. In this episode, they share their initial reactions, sobering reflections, and reveal how this song represents how many women are seeking to break free from purity culture, heal from church hurt, and even deconstruct the faith that was, at times, poorly handed down to them.
2022-08-101h 14Living Single with Yana JenayAre We Asking the Right Questions About Sex?In this episode, Yana Jenay asks the question, "Are We Asking the Right Questions About Sex?" She discusses how oftentimes, people are asking the "who," "what," and "when" questions and how though these are good questions to ask, maybe the better question to ask is, "why sex?" Why did God create it? It's possible that when we answer the "why" question, the "who," "what," and "when" questions become easier to answer and easier to follow.
Additional Show Notes:
(1) You can register for the Jude 3 Project's Courageous Conversation Conference using this link.
(2) Join Yana J...
2022-07-2752 minLiving Single with Yana JenayIn The Beginning, God Created SexIn this episode, Yana Jenay talks with her friend Omar King to hear his personal story and glean from his insights about sex as a theologian and counselor, who has worked with men and women who have struggled with sexual sin and addictions. They cover everything from what they learned as kids about sex, shame, purity culture, and what God designed sex to be in the beginning.
2022-07-131h 06
Living Single with Yana JenaySex Education 101WE BACK!!!! Welcome to Season 2 of Living Single with Yana Jenay! This season we are going to be talking about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Though this can be a sensitive and polarizing conversation for folks, Yana Jenay feels that it would be highly irresponsible and cowardly to NOT have a robust conversation about sex, sexuality, and how the two impact a single person's ability to be content and celebrate their relationship status. However, before we jump into conversations about sex, same-sex attraction, abstinence, masturbation, and more, we need to establish a shared definition of sex. In this episode, Yana...
2022-06-2932 minLiving Single with Yana JenaySeason 2 TrailerWhat's good, yall?! We back!!!! Season Two is currently loading and I can't wait for us to jump into a conversation with you about sex, sexuality, and singleness. Yep, we're going there. But, because these topics can be sensitive and bring up a lot of questions, each episode is going to be followed by a conversation for Patreon subscribers. Join my Patreon Crew today by using this link.
First Episode Launches: June 29th
First Conversation: July 7th
2022-06-2212 minLiving Single with Yana JenayIt's Only Just Begun...Friends! We have only just begun! Though Season One is coming to an end, there are so many episodes ahead! In this episode, Yana Jenay shares about the highs and lows of podcasting, why she's taking a month off, what listeners can expect in Season Two, and how you can help make Season Two possible by becoming a Patreon subscriber. Become a subscriber today by using the following link: Living Single With Yana Jenay Patreon Page
2022-04-0223 minLiving Single with Yana JenayBlack Single FemaleYep. We're doing it. We're having an uncomfortable yet necessary conversation about being black, female, and single. In the 2010 Census, it was reported that 71% of black women have never been married. 71%! This number is telling a story and Yana Jenay is joined by Ekemini Uwan to talk through some of the factors that contribute to this disparity. However, the goal isn't to gripe and moan, but to rather understand the roots of these factors to provide a space for black women to grief, find language for their pain, and consider how their story can find refuge in the pages...
2022-03-161h 04Living Single with Yana JenayWhen I Long For Marriage The MostIn this episode, Yana Jenay gets real and shares tends to long for marriage the most in the midst of transition and decision making.
2022-03-1124 minLiving Single with Yana JenaySingleness and Kingdom BuildingIn this episode, Yana Jenay talks with Lisa Fields, founder and president of the Jude 3 Project. They talk everything from serial dating, breakups, Tyler Perry movies, and the intersection between singleness and apologetics. Press play to get in on the conversation.
2022-02-161h 06Living Single with Yana JenaySingleness and HomeownershipIn this episode, Yana Jenay shares her journey to homeownership and the conversation she had with real estate agent and investor, Erika Brown, that helped jump start the process. If you ever thought that homeownership was out of reach for you, in this episode, Erika shares how you can make homeownership a reality by sharing her story and sharing a few tricks of the trade. She also talks about how she is using real estate as a means to solve problems in her community. Sis is buying back the block, providing jobs and affordable housing for folks in her...
2022-02-091h 06Living Single with Yana JenayLiving SingleIn this episode, Yana Jenay sits down with her friend and roommate, Bree Carnes, who has taught her how to truly live single. Press play to hear who God has used their friendship to encourage them in singleness, pursue adventure, and check off some of the things on their marriage bucket list. Bree also provides a guide for how to answer some of the awkward and eye-rolling questions singles can encounter while out in the wild with the marrieds. It's a really good listen.
2022-02-021h 03Living Single with Yana JenayChristmas Public Service AnnouncementFriend, I know the holidays can be hard. I also know that this time of the year can cause a lot of singles to struggle with feelings of shame, despair, anger, and even depression. Here's a quick PSA to remind you that you are not alone, pay attention to your emotion, take care of yourself and do away with misplace shame and rejoice in the gift of you've been given—Christ and the hope of His second coming.
2021-12-2236 minLiving Single with Yana JenayStages of Singleness (Cont.)In this episode, Yana Jenay shares the final stages of singleness: (1) Being Thirsty; (2) Settling; (3) Acceptance; (4) Celebration. She also shares how our view of God and His character impacts our ability to accept and celebrate singleness.
2021-12-1554 minLiving Single with Yana JenayThe FOMO is RealIn this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by her friend Kinshiro Shimochi for a honest conversation about struggling with FOMO as friends have transitioned from singleness to dating and marriage. They identify where their feelings of FOMO are real or false and share how they've allowed FOMO to hinder their ability to live single.
2021-12-0857 minLiving Single with Yana JenayStages of SinglenessIn this episode, Yana Jenay gets personal and shares the different emotions she has experienced in her journey of singleness. She also shares how God has used the stages of grief to help her process her grief about singleness. In this episode she covers four of the eight stages she believes a single person can find themselves: (1) Suppression; (2) Distraction; (3) Anger; (4) Despair. She will share the other four in a later episode. Click play to listen in!
2021-12-0146 minLiving Single with Yana JenayLies We Believe About Singleness (Part Two)Singleness hits different for men. In this episode, Yana Jenay invites singer/songwriter Macklyn Dion to share the male perspective on singleness. And y'all it gets real and real real deep as Macklyn shares honestly about his experiences and the lies he's had to combat internally and externally about singleness.
2021-11-171h 01Living Single with Yana JenayLies We Believe About Singleness (Part One)In this episode, Yana Jenay is joined by theologian and Bible teacher, Elizabeth Woodson to talk about the lies we can believe about singleness and the importance of lament in our journey to contentment. Join in on the wisdom and the laughter as these two shares some of the lies they've believed and how God used others to help them to see the truth about their relationship status.
2021-11-1048 minLiving Single with Yana JenayEpisode One: Why Living SingleIn this first episode, Yana Jenay shares the heart behind the podcast, what you can expect from the forthcoming episodes, and how God used an unexpected person to flip her understanding about her relationship status.
2021-11-0327 minLiving Single with Yana JenayTrailer: Living Single with Yana JanayMy name is Yana Jenay Conner, and I'm starting a podcast. It's called "Living Single with Yana Jenay," and the "Yana Jenay" is not just there for branding purposes.
It's because I want to really invite you into my journey of being single. I want to share with you what it's been like, what it's felt like in the parts of it that were hard and difficult and even the parts that I've really come to enjoy.
And so on this podcast, I'm not going to have a whole bunch of celebrities or people that...
2021-10-3101 min
T Time: Spiritual conversations For, With and About Women.Discipling millenialsMillennials won't just take your word for it; they want to experience the gospel WITH YOU by the way YOU live it out. Listen to this T Time podcast to get some great strategies on engaging millennials with the gospel.0:09 Twanna welcomes listeners to T Time and introduces special guest Yana Jenay Conner for this episode on discipling millennials. 1:53 Yana opens up the conversation by defining discipleship and emphasizing the words "how-to" in the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28, which helps define what discipleship is. Discipleship is not just teaching people the commands of Christ, but...
2021-04-0737 min