Shows
Kickstart With KaylaWhy Trying to Control Everything Leaves You ExhaustedWhy do we insist on carrying everything ourselves — our stress, our plans, our fears — even when it leaves us completely exhausted?
In this episode, I reflect on a powerful theme from the Book of Judges and how it mirrors the way we often try to rule over our own lives. We talk about control, stress, overthinking, and why what feels “right in our own eyes” doesn’t always lead to peace. I share personal insights on being a planner, the mental weight of trying to manage everything, and how surrendering control to God can shift both perspective and emotio...
2026-02-1624 minKickstart With KaylaYou’re Searching for Fulfillment, But Are You Looking in the Right Place?We’re all searching for more — more purpose, more clarity, more fulfillment. But what if the reason nothing feels like enough is because we’re looking in the wrong place?
In this episode, I reflect on the subtle ways we search for fulfillment — through achievement, validation, productivity, or “what’s next” — and how easily those things leave us feeling empty. I share personal realizations about chasing the next step instead of becoming who God is calling me to be, and why where we seek wisdom matters more than we realize.
We talk about the difference between temporar...
2026-02-0922 minKickstart With KaylaWhy Obedience to God Often Feels UncomfortableSometimes God’s direction isn’t loud — it’s a quiet nudge we’d rather ignore because staying comfortable feels easier.
In this episode, I share a simple, everyday story that turned into a powerful reminder about obedience, trust, and stepping out of stagnation. We talk about how God often calls us toward growth in ways that feel uncomfortable, why comfort can keep us stuck, and how obedience opens the door to learning, abundance, and deeper faith.
I also explore the neuroscience behind fear and discomfort, explaining why the unknown feels threatening to our brain — and how refr...
2026-02-0222 minKickstart With KaylaFaith Isn’t a Formula... It’s a Relationship (Featuring Becca Hooper)This episode is a warm, honest conversation about what it really looks like to walk with God — not perfectly, but faithfully.
I’m joined by my friend Becca Hooper for a conversation about faith, the Holy Spirit, shame, prayer, and learning to distinguish God’s voice from the enemy’s lies. We talk about the freedom that comes from being honest with God, the importance of creating intentional space to hear Him, and why faith was never meant to be a formula or performance.
This conversation reflects on mentorship, spiritual disciplines, journaling, prayer, and the peace th...
2026-01-2634 minKickstart With KaylaBringing Light to Human Trafficking: Faith, Awareness, and Hope (Featuring Meg Williams from AbolitionNC)This episode is about bringing light into a difficult topic — with faith, compassion, and hope at the center.
I’m joined by Meg Williams, Director of Community Outreach at AbolitionNC, for a conversation about human trafficking that is grounded in awareness, prevention, and the belief that light is stronger than darkness. While the topic is heavy, this episode is not meant to overwhelm or scare — it’s meant to inform, encourage, and empower.
We talk about common misconceptions around trafficking, how prevention begins with awareness and community, and how faith plays a central role in bringing...
2026-01-1928 minKickstart With KaylaThe Power of One Person Who Shows Up (Featuring Virgo Dykstra)Sometimes the most meaningful impact doesn’t come from having the right words — it comes from simply showing up.
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Virgo to talk about mentorship, presence, and the quiet power of being someone who listens. We share stories from youth ministry, moments of being seen at the right time, and the people who shaped our faith not through authority, but through empathy and consistency.
We talk about why mentorship isn’t about fixing others, how creating safe spaces can change someone’s life, and why feeling heard matters...
2026-01-1233 minKickstart With KaylaHow to Grow This Year Without Burning Yourself Out (Featuring Bill Fahrner)As a new year begins, many of us feel pressure to set big goals, make resolutions, and completely reinvent ourselves — often without slowing down to ask what we actually need.
In this episode, my dad and I talk about a healthier way to approach growth. We discuss the idea of choosing a single word to guide your year, the importance of margin, and how self-awareness can help you grow without burning yourself out. We also reflect on faith, discipline, distraction, and what it looks like to pursue long-term growth instead of chasing short-term pressure.
We ta...
2026-01-0529 minKickstart With KaylaIf You’ve Been Putting Off Your Faith, Listen to ThisThis episode is a heartfelt and honest conversation about faith, time, and the quiet urgency of the life we’ve been given.
I talk about what it means to live with intention, to stop putting off your relationship with God, and to recognize that tomorrow isn’t something we’re promised. Through personal reflection, Scripture, and moments of vulnerability, I share why faith isn’t meant to be something we “get to later,” but something that shapes how we live right now.
This episode isn’t about fear or guilt — it’s about love, purpose, and the invitation...
2025-12-2922 minKickstart With KaylaWhy Other People’s Opinions Have So Much Power Over YouWhy do other people’s opinions affect us so deeply — even when we know they shouldn’t?
In this episode, we talk about fear of judgment, people-pleasing, and the quiet pressure to conform — especially in seasons of change, growth, and calling. I share personal experiences with seeking approval, navigating new environments, and wrestling with the fear of what others might think.
We unpack how fear works biologically in the brain, why negative opinions trigger a stress response, and how that fear can slowly shape our decisions, confidence, and identity. Through Scripture and real-life examples, we explore...
2025-12-2226 minKickstart With KaylaWhat My Dad Taught Me About Faith, Work, and Not Burning Out (Featuring Bill Fahrner)This week, I’m joined by a very special guest — my dad, Bill Fahrner.
In this episode, we sit down for an honest conversation about faith, work, purpose, and what it looks like to follow God over the long haul — not just in emotional highs, but in everyday life. My dad shares his testimony, how his faith evolved from something transactional into a real relationship with God, and the moments that shaped his spiritual walk over the years.
We talk about navigating seasons of uncertainty, learning how to integrate faith into your work, and why “work is...
2025-12-1530 minKickstart With KaylaBefore You Set a Goal, Listen to ThisBefore you set a goal, listen to this.
As we step into a new year and start thinking about who we want to become, it’s easy to get caught up in planning, dreaming, and creating big visions for our lives. But before we write the list, make the vision board, or announce our intentions to the world, we have to pause and look inward.
In this episode, we talk about the heart behind goal-setting — the difference between desire and discipline, why ambition is a gift when it’s rooted in the right things, and how qu...
2025-12-0825 minKickstart With KaylaWhen God Whispers...And When He Finally Has to Shout (Featuring Angela Halloran-Smith)This week’s episode is a conversation about faith, fear, miracles, and the way God redirects our lives when we least expect it. My aunt, Angela Halloran-Smith, shares her testimony — from drifting far from God, to ignoring His whispers, to the moment everything changed.
This is an episode about trusting God without having the answers, stepping into the unknown, and saying yes when He calls you into something bigger than yourself.
If you’ve been praying for direction, this conversation is for you.
2025-12-0132 minKickstart With KaylaCome Back HomeIn this week’s episode, I open up about distractions, stress, and what it feels like to drift from God without even realizing it. After a long, overwhelming week of exams and responsibilities, I found myself struggling to focus, praying for direction, and feeling mentally and spiritually drained. So instead of forcing a topic, I talk honestly about the reality of distraction — how it creeps in, why it feels so fulfilling in the moment, and how easily the world can pull us away from what actually sustains us.
We dig into why certain habits, temptations, and “fun paths”...
2025-11-2426 minKickstart With KaylaWhy Compassion Matters More Than ComfortIn this episode, I talk about what it really means to choose compassion over comfort. I reference a viral TikTok experiment where a woman pretended to need baby formula to see if religious organizations would step in to help. The responses revealed something important: it’s easy to say we love like Jesus, but much harder to choose compassion when it costs us something.
We dig into why comfort often keeps us from obedience, how generosity reflects the heart of God, and why faith can’t just be something we talk about—it has to be something we liv...
2025-11-1722 minKickstart With KaylaWhen Christians Stay Silent (Featuring Kevin Maloney)What happens when believers stay quiet about their faith?
In this episode, Kevin joins me to talk about what it means to live boldly for God in a world that often encourages silence. We open up about the fears, doubts, and distractions that can keep Christians from sharing their faith—and how choosing faith over fear leads to peace, not pressure.
Kevin shares his story of rededicating his life to Christ, learning to live out his faith authentically, and using social media as a way to plant seeds of truth. Together, we talk about how to...
2025-11-1026 minKickstart With KaylaThe Science and Spirit of MotivationMotivation is temporary, but transformation begins when both the mind and spirit are renewed.
In this episode, I examine motivation through both a biblical and psychological lens, exploring how faith and science work together to sustain lasting discipline. Drawing from Romans 12 and Matthew 4, I discuss how God calls us to renewal through His Word and how spiritual consistency can reshape our daily lives.
Using insights from Atomic Habits by James Clear, The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz, and principles of operant conditioning, I explain how identity-based habits and small, consistent actions can build...
2025-11-0322 minKickstart With KaylaPeople May Fail You, But God Never WillThis week, I’m talking about something real: what happens when the place that’s supposed to feel safe doesn’t.
In this episode, I open up about the reality of being hurt or misunderstood within the church and how easy it can be to confuse people’s actions with God’s heart. I share what I’ve learned about grace, hypocrisy, and forgiveness, and how to keep your faith steady when people in the church get it wrong.
This is not about calling anyone out. It is about calling us back to love, to understandin...
2025-10-2721 minKickstart With KaylaSit in SilenceWhen was the last time you slowed down enough to truly listen to God?
In this solo episode, I talk about a season of stress, waiting, and learning the value of stillness. From the pressure of business school applications to moments of burnout, I share how sitting in silence and stepping away from distractions became one of the most transformative parts of my faith.
This episode explores what happens when we stop trying to control every outcome and simply rest in God’s presence. I reflect on how Scripture shows Jesus retreating to quiet places to...
2025-10-2024 minKickstart With KaylaYou Already Belong (Featuring London Day)Ever felt like you don’t fit in? Like no matter how hard you try, you’re still on the outside looking in?
This week, I sit down with 13-year-old author London Day, who shares her story of turning exclusion into purpose through faith.
We talk about what it really means to find your identity in Christ, why including others matters so much, and how perseverance, worship, and creativity can pull you through lonely seasons. From writing and running to finding peace through worship, London’s story reminds us that belonging doesn’t come from people—it comes f...
2025-10-1323 minKickstart With KaylaYou're Missing Miracles (Featuring Alyse Yarbrough)When was the last time you stopped and realized that God is still working—right in front of you? This week, I’m joined by my friend Alyse for a conversation about faith, friendship, and the miracles we often overlook.
Alyse shares how she’s seen God move in her life through healing, prayer, and everyday moments that most of us would miss. From being cleared to drive after epilepsy to witnessing her friend’s recovery from a car accident, her story is proof that God’s power is still alive and active.
We talk about how...
2025-10-0627 minKickstart With KaylaHit Rock Bottom (Featuring Julieanne Huemmer)What do you do when life takes you to the lowest point you’ve ever been? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Julieanne Huemmer, who I first connected with through church, to talk about finding God’s strength when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
Julieanne shares her testimony of walking through some of the hardest seasons of her life and how God met her in the middle of them. From her battle with leukemia as a child to navigating the challenges of high school today, her story is a reminder that even when y...
2025-09-2929 minKickstart With KaylaNews Flash! You're Not God (Featuring Josh Stewart)This week, I’m joined by my friend Josh for a conversation about limits, control, and the freedom that comes when we finally admit—we’re not God. Josh opens up about his faith journey and how God’s grace shifted his perspective on life, and together we dig into what it looks like to trust God in seasons of uncertainty, self-doubt, and transition.
We talk about the pressure to have it all figured out, why self-empowerment isn’t enough, and how stories like the Tower of Babel and King Jehoshaphat’s unlikely victory point us back to God’s pow...
2025-09-2229 minKickstart With KaylaPeace in the Pages (Featuring Leah Godwin)This week’s episode is extra special because I’m joined by my best friend, Leah Godwin. We’ve been through so many seasons of life together—from co-hosting a podcast in high school to walking side-by-side in our faith journeys—and this conversation felt like coming full circle.
Leah opens up about her testimony, sharing honestly about anxiety, people-pleasing, and learning to trust God’s plan even when others don’t understand. We talk about what it’s like to leave and return to church, the friendships that shaped us in youth group, and the importance of being kind an...
2025-09-1527 minKickstart With KaylaDiscipline in DistractionDiscipline is one of the hardest things to hold onto in a world filled with constant noise and distraction. We know what our values are, yet so often the pull of peer pressure, quick gratification, or fear keeps us from living them out.
In this episode, I reflect on what it truly means to practice discipline as a student, a Christian, and simply as someone navigating everyday life. I share my own experiences of stepping into new environments where faith and values are not always the norm, and how that tension has challenged me to be intentional...
2025-09-0827 minKickstart With KaylaThe Anxious Mind Game (Featuring Lainey Fahrner)Stress isn’t just about being busy or overwhelmed — it messes with your thoughts, your body, and even the way you see yourself. In this episode, I’m joined by my sister Lainey for a real conversation about what anxiety actually feels like and how it shows up in everyday life. From AP exams and panic before big moments to those random waves of fear that hit out of nowhere, we share our own experiences of what it’s like when stress takes over.
But we don’t stop there. We break down what’s really happening in the brain...
2025-09-0224 minKickstart With KaylaYour Circle's Sharpening and ShatteringFriendships can be the greatest blessing—or the quietest downfall. Some friends sharpen you, calling out your potential and pushing you closer to who you’re meant to be. Others slowly shatter your character through gossip, pressure, or drama you never saw coming. In this episode, I share stories from my own life, the prayers that changed my friendships, and the science behind why your circle literally rewires your brain. With both scripture and neuroscience, we’ll uncover why the people you walk with determine the person you become—and how to choose wisely before it’s too late.
2025-08-2520 minKickstart With KaylaConsumption's Quiet CorruptionWhat you take in shapes who you become, often without you noticing. In this episode, I am diving into the unseen power of what you watch, read, and listen to, from your morning playlist to the endless scroll on your phone. Discover how lyrics, media, and even background noise can rewire your brain, shift your mood, and subtly pull you closer to — or further from — the person you want to be. With personal stories, Scripture, and a surprising self-experiment, I will show you how to guard your heart, mind, and spirit in a noisy world.
2025-08-1824 minKickstart With KaylaThe Bully in the MirrorThis one’s for the people who feel like they’re never enough — no matter how hard they try. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s like to live with that inner voice that criticizes everything from how you look to how you perform, and how it’s often louder than anything anyone else could say.
I talk about where my insecurity started, why our brains are wired to be self-critical, and how faith helped me begin to see myself differently. I open up about the moments that shaped my confidence (good and bad), and what finally...
2025-08-1122 minKickstart With KaylaWhen God Wrecks the PlanSometimes the thing you prayed for falls apart, and it’s not because you failed. It’s because God had something better in mind. In this episode, I share a personal story I’ve never talked about online and what it taught me about rejection, redirection, and trust. We talk about Romans 8:28, how to build a growth mindset, and the neuroscience behind why your brain actually gets stronger through hard things. I also share the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts and how what looked like a disaster was actually a setup. If you’re in the middle of somethi...
2025-08-0422 min
Kickstart With KaylaWhat if This Changes Everything?I didn’t feel qualified. I didn’t feel ready. But God called me anyway—and this podcast was born out of a yes that scared me more than anything else.
In this first episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of how Kickstart with Kayla came to be—from a forgotten journal entry to the prayer that wouldn’t leave me alone. We’ll talk about what it means to take a leap of faith, how God equips the called (not the qualified), and how your purpose can literally rewire your brain.
If you've ever wondered if yo...
2025-07-2825 min