There are moments when it's not that you don't feel anything.

It's that you feel too much all at once.

And none of it has a clear name.

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with author and researcher Doug Earl Johnston to explore what it means to name your emotions, especially during seasons of uncertainty, grief, overwhelm, and change.

If you've ever found yourself saying:

• I'm just tired.
• I'm overwhelmed.
• I don't know what's wrong.
• I don't even know what I'm feeling.

This conversation is for you.

Drawing from nearly a decade of research and his book Choosing Emotions, Doug shares why language matters, how emotions shape our lives, and why naming what we're feeling is often the first step toward healing and clarity. As Doug explains, many people struggle to identify emotions because they rely on only a small emotional vocabulary when there may be hundreds of emotional experiences happening beneath the surface.

In This Episode

• why "tired" and "overwhelmed" only tell part of the story
• how naming emotions creates clarity
• understanding what you're actually feeling
• emotional awareness and self-understanding
• the connection between emotions, healing, and growth
• why words matter more than we realize
• practical ways to begin identifying emotions
• learning to approach emotions with curiosity instead of judgment

Counter Pause

Take a slow breath.

Then gently ask yourself:

What am I actually feeling right now?

Not what I should feel.

Not what sounds acceptable.

Just what's true.

You don't have to solve it.

Just name it.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: God of truth...

Breathe out: Help me notice.

About Doug

Doug Earl Johnston is a former corporate executive, researcher, and author of Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart.

After nearly a decade of research across disciplines and traditions, Doug created a resource designed to help people better understand what they feel and how to move forward with greater clarity.

Resources Mentioned

Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart

https://amzn.to/430dPEM

Connect with Doug

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/choosingemotions

Website:
https://choosingemotions.com/

Gentle Reminder

You don't have to carry unnamed things forever.

Sometimes healing begins with one honest word.

Closing

Pull up a chair.

There's space for you here.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

Sometimes the hardest part about exhaustion isn't the exhaustion itself.

It's how long you've been pretending you're okay while carrying it.

In this solo episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura responds to listener questions and reflections about grief, survival mode, hidden exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and the invisible weight many people quietly carry every day.

Together, we'll explore what happens when strength becomes a survival pattern, why slowing down can feel frightening, and how exhaustion often disguises itself as productivity, caregiving, people-pleasing, or simply trying to hold everything together.

This conversation is for the people who keep showing up while carrying more than anyone realizes. As Laura reflects, many people become so accustomed to carrying emotional pain quietly that they no longer notice how heavy it has become.

In This Episode

• hidden exhaustion and emotional fatigue
• survival mode and burnout
• pretending you're fine when you're not
• grief that resurfaces unexpectedly
• comparison rooted in exhaustion rather than envy
• feeling unseen or unsupported
• why functioning isn't the same as flourishing
• what gentleness might look like for weary hearts

Soul Pause Questions

• If you could say one honest thing to God right now, what would it be?

• What would gentle look like for you this week?

Counter Reflection

What have you been carrying for so long that you no longer notice how heavy it feels?

You don't have to solve it today.

Just notice it.

A Gentle Reminder

Unseen does not mean unreal.

Functioning is not the same as flourishing.

And surviving quietly does not make your pain less valid.

If you've been strong for too long, tired of pretending you're fine, or carrying more than anyone realizes, this conversation is for you.

From the Counter

If you're walking through a weary or emotionally heavy season and need a gentle place to process, pray, or breathe a little deeper, Laura offers soul care conversations and coaching sessions.

Learn more at:

https://bakingpastor.com/

Closing

Pull up a chair.

You don't have to carry everything alone.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

There are seasons when you're not just tired.

You're emotionally stretched thin.
Running on fumes.
Trying to keep going while carrying pressure, responsibility, fear, trauma, and expectations all at once.

And sometimes faith feels tired too.

In this deeply honest conversation, Laura sits down with Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist Ashton Stevens to talk about emotional exhaustion, spiritual pressure, fatherhood, healing, identity, and the tension of trying to hold yourself together when life feels heavy. Inspired by his song Edge, Ashton shares how learning to name emotions, listen for God's voice, journal through difficult seasons, and embrace rest became part of his healing journey. The conversation explores emotional regulation, spiritual exhaustion, trauma, faith, and what it means to keep going when you're stretched thin. Based on his reflections, healing often begins by being honest about what you're carrying and learning not to let your circumstances define you.

In This Episode

• emotional exhaustion and overwhelm
• spiritual fatigue and burnout
• faith during difficult seasons
• emotional regulation and healing
• fatherhood, responsibility, and identity
• journaling and self-awareness
• learning to rest without guilt
• staying connected to God when life feels heavy

Counter Pause

Take a slow breath in...
and let it out gently.

If you can, rest your hand over your heart.

And simply notice:

Where do you feel stretched too thin right now?

Not where you should be stronger.
Not where you need to fix something.

Just where you're tired.

God is not absent in that place.

Even if it feels quiet.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: I am held...

Breathe out: Even here.

Blessing

May you be honest about where you're tired.

May you release the pressure to hold everything together alone.

And may you discover that even at the edge,
you are still being held.

About Ashton

Ashton Stevens is an Atlanta-based alternative hip-hop artist originally from the Florida Panhandle. Known for his introspective style, Ashton creates music rooted in faith and real-life experiences. His work centers on emotional regulation, purpose, and personal growth, using music as a tool for healing, reflection, and truth.

Connect with Ashton

Website:
https://www.ashtonstevens.com/

Listen to "Edge":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-IrWD_RYo

Closing

Take a breath.

Notice what's in front of you.

And remember:

There's a difference between being at the edge...
and being alone there.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

What happens when someone you love is suffering and no one seems to have answers?

In this deeply moving conversation, Laura sits down with author, speaker, and nonprofit founder Jody Hudson to talk about motherhood, caregiving, faith, grief, and the exhausting fight to help a child who was repeatedly dismissed and misunderstood.

What began as unexplained pain in Jody's vibrant, athletic eleven-year-old daughter, Alex, became a years-long search for answers that eventually led to a Lyme disease diagnosis after countless doctor visits, emotional exhaustion, financial strain, and unimaginable uncertainty.

Together, Laura and Jody explore what it means to keep showing up when life feels impossible.

This conversation is about:

• loving someone through suffering
• caregiver exhaustion and resilience
• the heartbreak of not being believed
• faith in the middle of unanswered questions
• grief, advocacy, and honoring a legacy
• finding strength when your heart is breaking

This isn't a conversation about easy answers.

It's about love that stayed.

About Jody

Jody Hudson is an author, speaker, philanthropist, and founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. Her memoir, My Promise to Alex, chronicles her daughter's battle with Lyme disease and the unwavering love and advocacy that shaped their journey.

Today, Jody continues honoring Alex's legacy through education, awareness, and support for families navigating Lyme disease and chronic illness.

Counter Pause

Take a slow breath.

Where are you carrying something heavy while still trying to hold everyone else together?

You don't have to pretend it isn't hard.

Just notice.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: God, give me strength...

Breathe out: Help me keep showing up.

A Gentle Reminder

Sometimes love looks heroic.

Sometimes it looks like continuing to show up when your heart is breaking.

Both matter.

Connect with Jody

Foundation:
https://www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org/

Book:
My Promise to Alex
https://amzn.to/4u8BqyS

Closing Blessing

May you know that love is never wasted.

May you find strength for the burdens you carry quietly.

May you remember that even in suffering, presence matters deeply.

Pull up a chair.

You don't have to carry it all alone.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

There comes a point when pushing through stops working.

Not because you've failed.

Not because you're weak.

But because you've been carrying more than anyone realizes for far too long.

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with Heidi Blackie for an honest conversation about burnout, chronic illness, grief, identity, and what happens when life asks us to slow down.

For years, Heidi was the strong one. The helper. The one who kept going.

Then chronic illness changed everything.

Together, Laura and Heidi explore what it means to let go of old expectations, navigate seasons of loss, and discover a different kind of strength. One rooted in self-compassion, honesty, and learning to trust yourself again.

This conversation isn't about giving up.

It's about finding a gentler way forward.

In This Episode

• What it feels like when strength becomes exhausting
• Living with chronic illness and invisible struggles
• Grief, loss, and the stories we carry
• Why self-compassion matters more than self-criticism
• The role of gratitude during difficult seasons
• Setting boundaries without guilt
• Letting go of old expectations
• Finding strength that doesn't require holding everything together

About Heidi

Heidi Blackie is a former occupational therapist, speaker, and guide for women navigating burnout, chronic illness, and major life transitions.

After facing years of chronic illness and profound personal loss, Heidi began a journey of healing that transformed how she understood strength, resilience, and self-trust. Today she helps women reconnect with themselves, release what no longer serves them, and move forward with greater clarity and compassion.

Counter Pause

Take a slow breath.

What feels heavy right now?

What have you been carrying that may no longer belong on your shoulders?

You don't have to solve it today.

Just notice.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: God of compassion...

Breathe out: Teach me to rest.

Continue the Conversation

If something in today's conversation resonated with you, Heidi has created a space where you can continue exploring that gently and at your own pace.

Website:
https://www.unshakableme.com

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@UnshakableMe

You'll find resources for women navigating burnout, chronic illness, and seasons of change, along with practical tools for reconnecting with yourself and moving forward with greater self-compassion.

A Favorite Reminder from This Conversation

"You don't have to keep proving your strength."

Closing

Pull up a chair.

You are allowed to rest.

Even here.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

Sometimes care doesn't happen in dramatic moments.

Sometimes it happens in a laundromat.

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with Deaconess Karen Davidson, co-creator of Suds n Buds, a ministry that provides laundry support, connection, and care for people experiencing homelessness in her community.

What begins as a conversation about clean clothes becomes something much deeper.

Together, Laura and Karen explore dignity, presence, compassion, and what it means to truly see another person. Through stories from the laundry ministry, Karen shares how simple acts of care can create connection, restore hope, and remind people they matter.

This conversation is not about fixing people.

It's about showing up.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• How Suds n Buds began
• Why dignity matters as much as practical support
• What happens when people feel truly seen
• Common misconceptions about homelessness
• The power of presence over solutions
• How faith can move beyond church walls and into everyday life
• Small ways ordinary people can make a meaningful difference

About Karen Davidson

Karen Davidson is a deaconess and co-creator of Suds n Buds, a ministry that offers laundry support and care for people experiencing homelessness in Huntsville, Alabama. Her work is rooted in practical compassion, meeting people in everyday needs while offering presence, dignity, and care.

Counter Pause

Before you move on with your day...

Who around you might simply need to be seen?

Not fixed.

Not rescued.

Just noticed.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: You are seen.

Breathe out: You are not alone.

Resources & Ways to Learn More

Learn more about ShowerUp Huntsville:
https://showerup.org/huntsville/

View locations and upcoming opportunities:
https://showerup.org/huntsville-calendar/

A Favorite Reminder from This Conversation

"Your presence matters. Just show up."

Closing

Pull up a chair.

Sometimes care looks like doing something.

Sometimes it looks like simply being present.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

What do you do when a relationship feels fragile?

When you're trying to hold everything together, but underneath the surface things feel strained, disconnected, or uncertain?

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with marriage mentor and ministry leader Tammy Noble for an honest conversation about brokenness, forgiveness, healing, and the slow work of restoration.

Tammy shares her own story of addiction, infidelity, despair, surrender, and ultimately discovering the kind of healing that only God could bring. Together, Laura and Tammy explore loneliness, identity, forgiveness, marriage struggles, hearing God's voice, and finding hope when relationships feel unsteady.

This isn't a conversation about perfect marriages.

It's a conversation about real people, real wounds, and a God who still meets us in difficult places..

A Gentle Note

This conversation includes adult topics and may not be suitable for younger listeners

In this episode, we'll explore:

• What it feels like when a relationship becomes fragile
• Loneliness inside marriage and other close relationships
• The difference between religion and relationship with God
• Forgiveness as a choice rather than a feeling
• Why healing often happens slowly
• Rebuilding trust after betrayal
• Finding your identity beyond performance and approval
• How faith can become an anchor during difficult seasons

About Tammy Noble

Tammy Noble is a marriage mentor and ministry leader passionate about helping couples move from survival mode into deeper covenant-centered connection. Through biblical truth, practical wisdom, and her own powerful story of restoration, she encourages individuals and couples toward healing, hope, and renewed faith.

Counter Pause

Before you move on with your day...

Is there a place in your life right now that feels fragile?

You don't have to solve it.

You don't have to fix it.

Just notice it.

And take one slow breath there.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: Love is still here...

Breathe out: Even now.

A Favorite Reminder from This Conversation

"Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is an action."

Connect with Tammy

If you’d like a simple space to pause and begin your week grounded in faith, Tammy hosts a free Monday morning prayer gathering for marriages in a private Facebook Group. It’s a quiet, welcoming time to come as you are, seek God together, and start the week centered and supported. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3590901304538789

Closing Blessing

My friend, hear this blessing…

If things feel tender right now,
may you know that you are not alone in it.

May you find small moments of grace
in the middle of what feels uncertain.

And may you trust—
gently, slowly—

that even fragile things
can be held with care.

Take it at your own pace… only if it feels right for you.

Pull up a chair.

You don't have to carry it alone.

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.

What happens when you look steady on the outside but feel uncertain on the inside?

In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with trauma-informed coach, former pastor, and Internal Family Systems practitioner Kurt Bush for an honest conversation about the hidden weight many people carry every day.

Together, they explore imposter syndrome, shame, self-compassion, faith during difficult seasons, and what it means to keep showing up when life feels unsteady beneath the surface.

This isn't a conversation about having all the answers.

It's a conversation about honesty, grace, and learning that you're not the only one carrying more than people can see.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• What "holding it together" really looks like
• The hidden tension between our outward appearance and inner experience
• Imposter syndrome and the fear of being found out
• Why shame grows in the dark
• The role of self-compassion in healing and growth
• How faith can feel difficult to access during hard seasons
• What authenticity really means

About Kurt Bush

Kurt Bush is a trauma-informed coach, certified Internal Family Systems practitioner, and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group. With a background in pastoral ministry and leadership, he helps people gently explore what's happening beneath the surface so they can move toward greater clarity, wholeness, and authenticity.

Counter Pause

Before you move on with your day:

What feels unsteady for you right now?

You don't have to fix it.

You don't have to figure it out.

Just notice it.

Breath Prayer

Breathe in: I am held...

Breathe out: Even here.

A Favorite Reminder from This Conversation

"Shame dies in the light."

Connect with Kurt:

Learn more about Kurt's work at Brimstone Coaching Group:

https://www.brimstonecoachinggroup.com/1-1coaching

Closing

Pull up a chair.

You don't have to carry it alone

If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?

Support the show

The counter is always open.

If you’d like a quiet place to sit with what this stirred, A Seat at the Counter: A Soul Pause Journal is available here: https://amzn.to/4c4RSIv

*****

Considering being a guest on At the Counter With the Baking Pastor?
I invite you to listen to 1–2 recent episodes first to get a feel for the tone and heart of the conversations.

If it feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to reach out to me directly on PodMatch and share a bit about what you’d love to bring to the counter: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor

I’m especially drawn to conversations that are honest, reflective, and rooted in real-life experience.