Episode Summary

You don’t need more leadership strategies... you need more self-awareness.

In this episode, Brandi Kelly unpacks one of the most overlooked gaps in leadership today: the lack of understanding around how you are actually wired. You can work hard, care deeply, and show up consistently and still feel misaligned, overwhelmed, or exhausted in your leadership.

Why? Because when you don’t understand yourself, you end up fighting yourself.

Brandi introduces the DISC Assessment as a practical tool to help leaders gain clarity around communication styles, decision-making patterns, and stress responses. When leaders understand their wiring, everything shifts... from how they lead others to how they lead themselves.

This episode will help you move from confusion to clarity, and from striving to alignment.

• The DISC Assessment reveals how you communicate, decide, and respond under pressure
• Self-awareness leads to less stress, better communication, and healthier leadership
• Real leadership rest comes from alignment, not overperformance
• Practical Leadership Reset Steps

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

04:58 Understanding DISC Styles for Effective Leadership

06:56 Practical Steps for Leadership Clarity

08:06 Embracing Leadership and Hope

Links & Resources

👉 Learn more about the DISC Leadership Clarity Session
📩 Reach out to Brandi Kelly to schedule your personalized DISC assessment walkthrough

✨ Limited to 10 spots for May – DISC Leadership Clarity Sessions

Visit our Legacy Partner, Conversari Press @ https://www.conversaripress.com

Keywords

Leadership development, self-awareness in leadership, DISC assessment, emotional intelligence in leadership, leadership coaching, leadership burnout, communication styles, leadership growth, Christian leadership, school leadership, executive leadership coaching, personal development podcast, Brandi Kelly podcast, Lead with Hope podcast, leadership clarity, healthy leadership habits

In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, Brandi Kelly sits down with Preston Zeller to explore how grief, creativity, and faith intersect to shape leadership and purpose.

Preston shares his journey through the sudden loss of his brother and how painting every day for a year became both a healing practice and a transformative leadership lesson. That creative discipline eventually led to The Art of Grieving, a documentary capturing his year-long artistic response to loss.

The conversation expands into faith, resilience, and technology as Preston introduces Psalm Log, an AI-powered biblical journaling and guidance app designed to help believers engage Scripture in a more personal, reflective, and accessible way.

Together, Brandi and Preston unpack what it means to lead through uncertainty, how to cultivate emotional and spiritual resilience, and why self-awareness is foundational for strong leadership.

Key Takeaways

• Grief can a catalyst for purpose when processed through creativity and reflection instead of avoidance.
• Leadership begins with self-leadership—you cannot lead others well without first leading yourself well.
• Creative expression can unlock healing that logic alone cannot reach.
• Faith and discipline help anchor resilience in seasons of uncertainty and pressure.
• AI can be a tool for spiritual reflection when used with discernment, not replacement of personal faith.

• Hope is built through focus on what you can control—your thoughts, actions, and obedience in the present moment.
• Growth often comes through discomfort and refinement, not ease or certainty.

Resources & Links

• Psalm Log (AI Biblical Journaling App): https://psalmlog.com/

• The Art of Grieving Documentary - Available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV: https://theartofgrievingfilm.com/
• Connect with Preston Zeller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonzeller/
• Conversari Press - Legacy Partner of the Lead with HOPE Podcast: https://www.conversaripress.com/
• Spark HOPE Edu: https://sparkhopeedu.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility

00:56 Preston’s Personal Story and Loss of Brother

02:08 The Creative Process and Grief

03:57 Lessons Learned from Artistic Expression

07:10 The Power of Visual Art in Healing

09:09 Sharing Preston’s Artwork and Documentary

09:56 The Final Artwork and Its Meaning

12:29 Faith’s Role in Creating Psalm Log

12:49 Using AI for Biblical Guidance

14:54 The Purpose of Psalm Log as a Supportive Tool

16:15 Addressing Fears Around AI and Technology

19:27 Faith and Resilience in Uncertain Times

22:39 Building Hope and Community Through Faith

26:29 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Faith

29:11 What Gives Preston Hope Today

30:47 Practical Steps for Cultivating Hope and Faith

SEO Keywords

leadership podcast, Christian leadership podcast, faith and leadership, grief and healing, emotional resilience, spiritual growth podcast, Christian mindset, AI and faith, Psalm Log app, biblical journaling, faith based productivity, overcoming grief, creativity and healing, leadership development podcast, optimistic outlook, Brandi Kelly podcast, Lead with Hope podcast, Preston Zeller interview, tech and spirituality, Christian entrepreneurship

Have you ever had a moment where everything feels off—but you can’t explain why? Your energy shifts, your confidence dips, and suddenly you’re questioning yourself for no clear reason.

In this episode, Brandi Kelly unpacks what’s really happening in those moments: not external chaos, but internal thoughts running unchecked. Through a personal story and practical teaching, she introduces a simple but powerful 5-step Thought Audit to help you pause, notice, and shift the thoughts shaping your emotions and decisions.

This is the quiet work of leadership most people never talk about—the ability to lead your thoughts before they lead you.

Key Takeaways

• Your emotional shifts are often driven by unexamined thoughts, not external events
• The brain naturally creates “stories” to make sense of situations—often leaning negative for protection
• You cannot change what you don’t notice
• Self-awareness is a leadership skill, not just a personal development idea
• Small mental shifts can create powerful changes in behavior, confidence, and clarity
• Progress begins with awareness, not perfection

Chapters

00:00 Recognizing Subtle Shifts in Energy

03:50 The Five-Step Thought Audit for Self-Awareness

08:26 Embracing Leadership and Hope

Resources Mentioned

• Spark Hope Community (for deeper leadership and mindset work)

👉 Learn more about Spark Hope: ⁠⁠https://sparkhopeedu.com⁠⁠👉 Legacy Partner - Conversari Press: https://www.conversaripress.com/

SEO Keywords

thought audit, self awareness, leadership mindset, emotional regulation, overthinking, mindset shift, personal development podcast, women in leadership, burnout recovery, cognitive reframing, mental clarity, leadership coaching, stress management, inner leadership, Spark Hope, Brandi Kelly podcast

Episode Summary

Feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained? In this solo episode of the Lead with HOPE Podcast, Brandi Kelly shares practical tools to help you manage stress, regulate emotions, set healthy boundaries, and reconnect with purpose. Through the framework of Acknowledge, Reflect, and Reset, this episode offers hope-filled strategies for building resilience, protecting your well-being, and leading with clarity.

Key Topics

• Managing overwhelm and emotional exhaustion
• The power of acknowledging your emotions
• The neuroscience of naming what you feel
• Reflection as a leadership and self-awareness tool
• Setting healthy boundaries to protect your well-being
• Reconnecting with your purpose and values
• Small resets and micro-rests for emotional regulation
• Building resilience through hope, self-care, and connection

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leading with Hope
01:21 The Power of Acknowledgment
04:25 Reflecting on Stress and Needs
06:36 The Importance of Resetting

Links & Resources

Connect with Brandi Kelly and explore more tools for hope-fueled leadership, resilience, and personal growth:

• Follow the Lead with HOPE Podcast
• Share this episode with a leader, educator, or friend who needs a reset
• Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, resilience, emotional wellness, and hope

Resources/Links:

• Visit your sparkhopeedu.com
• Learn more about Conversari Press
• Do you need a HOPE-Fueled Leadership Kickstart? Learn more here!

SEO Keywords

leadership podcast, overwhelm, burnout recovery, stress management, emotional regulation, resilience, self-awareness, mental health for leaders, leadership development, self-care, healthy boundaries, purpose-driven leadership, hope, emotional wellness, reflection, mindset, educator burnout, leadership mindset, personal growth, Brandi Kelly, Lead with HOPE Podcast

Summary

In this episode of the Lead with Hope podcast, host Dr. Brandi Kelly is joined by Melissa Wilkinson, the founder of Anchored with Purpose. Melissa shares her powerful transition from leading a $28 million retail organization with over 200 employees to becoming a faith-based entrepreneur and podcaster.

Together, they explore the profound questions leaders face during seasons of change:

• Who am I beyond my title? Understanding identity when careers and roles shift.

• What happens when God calls us to pivot? Navigating the move from corporate leadership to motherhood and entrepreneurship.

• How do we stay grounded in hope? Learning to trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance when life feels uncertain.

Melissa opens up about overcoming anxiety and spiritual adversity, sharing how she now helps women clarify their purpose and pursue their God-given dreams with confidence. Listeners will gain practical strategies for building a daily faith practice and cultivating optimism by rooting their thoughts in scripture.

Key Topics

Faith-Based Leadership: Redefining success and leadership through a Christ-centered lens.

Identity Shifts: Finding your true self when moving between corporate roles, motherhood, and business.

Overcoming Adversity: Using prayer and the Holy Spirit to navigate anxiety and spiritual attacks.

Dreaming Big: How to host "Dream Workshops" and give yourself permission to pursue your calling.

Daily Faith Practice: Practical steps to start habit-stacking prayer and scripture reading.

Habit Audits: Identifying what to start, stop, or continue to lead with optimism.

Action Steps for Listeners

Start Small: Dedicate 5 minutes a day to reading a devotional or scripture.

Conduct a Habit Audit: Reflect on which habits are fueling your purpose and which are causing noise.

Embrace Your Dreams: Write down your dreams, trusting that if the vision comes to you, it is for you.

Seek Community: Surround yourself with a circle of support to pray with and encourage you.

Episodes

00:00 — Introduction to Melissa Wilkinson and Anchored with Purpose

04:35 — Transitioning from Corporate Retail to Motherhood

05:53 — The Struggle of Identity and Finding a New Calling

09:38 — Navigating Adversity and Spiritual Attacks

14:31 — God’s Better Vision: The Story of the Dream House

19:42 — Helping Women Dream Big Through Workshops

24:29 — Cultivating Optimism and Taking Thoughts Captive

30:57 — Why Do Bad Things Happen? Trusting God’s Will

32:19 — Resources and Connecting with Melissa

Resources & Links

YouVersion Bible App: Bible.com

Bible Plan: "From Lent to Lifestyle" by Melissa Wilkinson

Anchored with Purpose Podcast: Listen Here

Melissa Wilkinson Website: anchoredwithpurpose.com

Spark HOPE Edu: https://sparkhopeedu.com

Legacy Partner: Craig Williams at Conversari - https://www.conversaripress.com/

Keywords: Faith Leadership, Christian Leadership, Identity in Christ, Women of Faith, Overcoming Anxiety, Purpose-Driven Life, Spiritual Growth, Hope-Fueled Leadership, Daily Faith Practice, Faith-Based Entrepreneurship.

In this powerful episode of Lead with H.O.P.E., Brandi Kelly dives into one of the biggest barriers in leadership—perfectionism—and reframes it through the lens of resilience, faith, and forward momentum. Grounded in the message of Philippians 3:12–14, this conversation challenges leaders to release the pressure of perfection and instead pursue consistent progress.

Brandi shares real-world leadership insights and practical strategies to help you stay anchored in hope, navigate setbacks with confidence, and continue moving forward—even when the path feels unclear. If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or like you're falling short, this episode will remind you: growth isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about pressing on with purpose.

Resource Links

• ⁠Schedule your Free HOPE Leadership Clarity Assessment⁠

  • Conversari Press - Legacy Sponsor of the Lead with HOPE Podcast - ⁠https://www.conversaripress.com/⁠
  • Website: ⁠⁠https://sparkhopeedu.com⁠
  • Book: ⁠⁠Lead with H.O.P.E.: Building a System of Self-Efficacy⁠⁠

  
  

  Chapters

  00:00 – Navigating Setbacks as a Leader04:18 – The Pursuit of Progress Over Perfection06:37 – Building Resilience and Hope in Leadership06:39 – Pressing On with Purpose

  
  

  Key Takeaways

  • Progress—not perfection—is the true measure of effective leadership

  • Resilience is built in the decision to keep going, not in avoiding failure

  • Setbacks are not the end—they are part of the growth process

  • Every small step reinforces your identity as a leader

  • Clarity, intention, and belief fuel sustainable momentum

  • Hope is not passive—it’s a disciplined, daily practice

  Keywords

• • leadership development, resilient leadership, progress over perfection, leadership mindset, personal growth, self-efficacy, hope in leadership, overcoming setbacks, leadership motivation, growth mindset, faith-based leadership, Philippians 3:12-14, leadership habits, perseverance, intentional leadership

Episode Summary

In this episode of Lead with Hope, Dr. Kristen Weikle shares insights from her 30-year career in education, including her experiences as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. She reflects on the importance of staying grounded as a leader, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and maintaining a positive mindset in challenging environments.

Dr. Weikle also discusses the unique challenges female leaders can face in education, including navigating double standards and expectations. Throughout the conversation, she offers practical strategies for fostering well-being within organizations, leading with honesty and clarity, and creating cultures where people feel supported and empowered.

Key Takeaways

This episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, and the power of hope in education.

• Surround yourself with supportive people who keep you grounded.

• Self-awareness and reflection are essential for effective leadership.

• Address biases and double standards to promote equity in leadership.

• Honest, direct conversations strengthen teams and build trust.

• Hope in education grows through community support and intentional leadership.

  
  

Episode Chapters

00:00 — Introduction and Dr. Kristen Weikle’s Background

01:48 — Kristen’s Career Path and Leadership Roles

02:31 — Staying Grounded During Leadership Challenges

03:59 — The Power of Encouragement and Support Systems

04:54 — Personal Joys and Family Life

06:34 — Lessons from Different Roles in Education

08:22 — The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership

09:05 — Barriers for Women in Leadership

11:34 — Fostering Well-Being and Organizational Culture

14:18 — Having Honest and Direct Conversations

18:10 — Leadership in Action and Stories of Hope

21:03 — Support Systems and Moving Forward

23:49 — Community Support and Giving Back

24:37 — How to Connect with Dr. Kristen Weikle

25:20 — Embracing Leadership and Hope

Keywords

education leadership, female leaders, well-being in schools, honest communication, school administration, leadership lessons, superintendent leadership, hope in education, leadership mindset

Links & Resources

Learn more about the Conversari framework:https://www.conversaripress.com/

Explore leadership resources at Spark Hope Education:https://sparkhopeedu.com