Some nights, a glass of wine just feels like the easiest way to relax, have fun, or be the "fun version" of yourself. For today's episode, it's just me, Melissa, and I'm sharing my personal journey to a year of sobriety and what led me to finally stop drinking, even when I didn't think I had a problem. I talk about the surprising freedom, clarity, and energy that came from saying no to alcohol, and how it's changed everything, from my health to my social life and even my work. I'm going solo today, so it's just me getting real and sharing my story straight from my heart.

I get honest about the tricky moments, social events, subtle pressures, and old habits that creep back in when you least expect them. I share how I navigated those challenges, the lessons I learned, and the small but powerful shifts that helped me stay consistent. You'll hear what it really feels like to be sober in a world where drinking is so normal, and how it can actually make life more fun and freeing. It's the kind of conversation I wish more people could hear if they're questioning their own habits.

Beyond just giving up alcohol, I share how being fully clear and sober-minded has impacted every part of my life, including running an investment fund with Jonathan. I talk about the health benefits, the mental clarity, and the way it's helped me show up as my full self without needing a drink to "loosen up." If you've ever wondered what it's like to have fun, be social, and feel fully alive without alcohol, this episode is me just being real, sharing my journey, and hoping it might encourage someone else along the way.

Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:50] Why I'm Sharing My Story
[00:03:00] How My Sobriety Journey Began
[00:04:45] Early Struggles & Eye-Opening Realizations
[00:07:16] Finding Guidance & Making the Choice
[00:10:15] Biggest Challenges in Early Sobriety
[00:13:15] Relapse & What It Taught Me
[00:17:46] My Personal Conviction to Stop Drinking
[00:17:59] Launching the Investment Fund While Sober
[00:18:15] Why Sobriety Matters in Leadership & Fund Management
[00:20:17] A Joint Decision to Quit Alcohol
[00:21:19] Struggles Revisited
[00:23:20] Finding Freedom Without Alcohol
[00:27:03] Health & Lifestyle Transformations
[00:29:31] Final Reflections & Encouragement

Memorable Quotes:

"I want you to know exactly what I was going through in hopes that maybe one other person will be set free or receive breakthrough, or be helped in any way." [00:09:21] – Melissa Edmiston

"The amount of freedom that comes when you don't need anything except Jesus to have fun and to feel fulfilled, and to feel like yourself, like truly yourself. I cannot tell you how freeing that is." [00:25:49] – Melissa Edmiston

Connect With Us:
Website: https://mandatetomultiply.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandatetomultiplypodcast

Join the VIP Community & get a FREE PDF Guide: "7 Keys to Multiply What Matters: A Quick-Start Guide to Faith, Family & Financial Stewardship." - https://mandatetomultiply.com/vipcommunity

The first time we heard about Bitcoin, we thought it was a scam. The second time, we brushed it off as a fad. But the third time, we realized maybe God was nudging us to pay attention to something we'd been avoiding out of fear. In today's conversation, we're pulling back the curtain on what Bitcoin really is, why digital currencies are worth understanding, and how to approach them without fear or hype.

We'll talk about why major institutions and even whole countries are getting involved, and why Bitcoin is often called "digital gold." Jonathan shares his journey from being a total skeptic to realizing there was more to the story, while Melissa unpacks what it looks like to move from confusion to curiosity. Together, we'll explore how faith and finances meet when we're willing to ask better questions.

If you've ever felt unsure, skeptical, or even a little guilty about being curious about crypto, this conversation will help you find clarity and confidence. You'll walk away with a stronger understanding of how Bitcoin works, why it matters, and how to approach the future of money with wisdom and peace.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:42] Debunking Myths & Misconceptions about Bitcoin
[00:03:01] Jonathan's Journey into Cryptocurrency
[00:06:53] Bitcoin Basics: How It Really Works
[00:08:04] Global Adoption & Why Institutions Care
[00:15:39] Encouragement for the Hesitant Investor

Memorable Quotes:

"When the research is there, when the data's there, when the truth is there, you cannot help but believe it." [00:02:00] – Melissa Edmiston

"The goal isn't to fear digital currencies or worship them. It's to understand them enough to steward them." [00:16:20] – Jonathan Edmiston

Some of our favorite resources to learn more about Bitcoin:

Watch - God Bless Bitcoin: https://www.godblessbitcoin.com/watch/

Tuttle Twins - A Family Favorite Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/yLjx0ha_6Qo?si=YlghjK4N_tDmAPCM

Tuttle Twins - A Family Favorite Part 2: https://youtu.be/hSZyUI6rbC8?si=HdqDVLSA1XWP6spI

Connect With Us:

Website: https://mandatetomultiply.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandatetomultiplypodcast

Telos: https://investwithtelos.com/

Join the VIP Community & get a FREE PDF Guide: "7 Keys to Multiply What Matters: A Quick-Start Guide to Faith, Family & Financial Stewardship." - https://mandatetomultiply.com/vipcommunity

Sometimes it takes losing everything to realize what you were actually building on. Back in 2008, Jonathan watched his entire real estate portfolio collapse, and what felt like the end turned into the start of a whole new chapter. That season taught us a lot about diversification, multiple streams of income, and most of all, what it really means to steward what God puts in your hands. Looking back now, we can see how it was all preparation for what we're doing today.

In this episode, we share the story of how the Telos Investment Fund was born, not from some big plan we had years in advance, but from prayer, prophetic words, and a season of God making it clear that this wasn't just about us. Little did we know God had been preparing us for over 20 years to step into the assignment of multiplying other people's wealth.

We talk about why "multiply" has become such a core word for us and why we believe God calls us to so much more than just preserving what we have. You'll also hear how we wrestled with the weight of managing not just our own resources, but other people's too, and how God met us in that process.

We really believe money isn't just for the elite; it's for anyone who's ready to steward it well and see it multiply. Whether you've been investing for years or you're just starting to think differently about your finances, our hope is that this conversation encourages you to see what's possible. It's not about chasing wealth, it's about legacy, impact, and trusting God to do more with what He's given you.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:02:22] Betrayal, Broken Trust & a New Beginning
[00:03:30] The Mandate to Multiply: More Than Preservation
[00:06:35] What Does True Diversification Really Look Like?
[00:12:26] The Prophetic Vision We Couldn't Ignore
[00:17:34] What Makes the Telos Fund Strategy Different?
[00:24:44] Why We Think Too Small About Wealth (and How to Break Free)

Memorable Quotes:

"Our God-given mandate is to multiply the things that He gives us, the things that we have, the things that we do for the greater good, for the advancement of the kingdom and for His glory." [00:03:33] – Melissa Edmiston

"God didn't tell us to preserve.  What He calls us to do and what He gives us a mandate to do is multiply." [00:04:21] – Jonathan Edmiston

Connect With Us:

Website: https://mandatetomultiply.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandatetomultiplypodcast

Our Investment Fund - Telos: https://investwithtelos.com/

Join the VIP Community & get a FREE PDF Guide: "7 Keys to Multiply What Matters: A Quick-Start Guide to Faith, Family & Financial Stewardship." - https://mandatetomultiply.com/vipcommunity