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

Betrayal cuts deep, and if you've ever been through it, you know it leaves more than just hurt; it lingers with shame, grief, and trust that feels broken. When we shared our story last episode, so many of you reached out and said, "I've been there too." That broke our hearts, but it also reminded us we're not alone in this. And that's why we wanted to do this episode, because your stories, your messages, and your honesty showed us how much this conversation is needed.

Today, we're sitting down to talk honestly about the healing process and the steps that helped us move forward. Healing isn't something that just happens one day; it's something you walk out of, sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully. We talk about the hard parts, like shame, isolation, and feeling stuck, and what helped us push through without pretending everything was fine. From naming what hurts to leaning into wise counsel and letting God reshape our hearts, we share the messy, real side of healing. If you've ever wondered, "How do I even begin to move past this?" you'll find some encouragement here.

What looks like the end of your story may actually be the start of a new one. We've seen how God can use even betrayal to grow us, stretch us, and lead us into something better than we imagined. So, if you're still in the middle of the grief, still struggling to forgive, or just trying to take the next step, pull up a chair, you're not alone.

Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:53] Why betrayal wounds run so deep
[00:02:22] What keeps us stuck in betrayal?
[00:03:01] Shame, Guilt, & Victimhood
[00:04:34] Naming the Hurt: Why clarity starts the healing
[00:05:54] Isolation: The hidden danger that blocks trust
[00:07:23] Mindset & Faith: Shaping the path to healing
[00:15:03] Forgiveness: Why it starts now and never stops
[00:18:05] Surrender: What does it really mean to give it to God?
[00:22:01] Grieving: How to do it with intention
[00:24:07] Rebuilding Trust: Finding safety in community
[00:26:00] Betrayal Before Promotion: Why does God allow it first?
[00:28:01] How to turn pain into purpose
[00:30:36] Why your story still matters

Memorable Quotes:

"Betrayal does not get the final word. Always remember that God does; he will use your pain and your betrayal for a greater purpose. His word is always restoration, healing, and promotion." [00:32:45] – Melissa Edmiston

"Grieving is the hallway, not the home. You may feel like you're at the end, but the end could just be the doorway to your next season of life." [00:32:05] – Jonathan 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

She lived in our home, shared our table, and became part of our family until the day it all unraveled. What started as an act of compassion toward a young, expectant mother ended in one of the deepest betrayals we've ever faced. In this episode, we share how it unfolded, the impact it had on our family and community, and what we've learned about walking through betrayal with Jesus at the center.

Betrayal has a way of shaking more than just your trust; it can rattle your faith, your confidence, and even your sense of reality. We'll talk about what betrayal tries to steal, why it hurts so deeply, and the perspective that helped us begin to heal. From the Bible to our own story, you'll hear how betrayal doesn't have to be the end of your assignment; it may be the doorway into your next one.

If you've ever been blindsided by someone you trusted, we want you to know you're not alone. Our hope is that this conversation feels like a deep breath, a reminder that even in betrayal, Jesus is near, and He can turn the wound into a doorway to healing and new beginnings.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:53] Why Was This Story So Hard to Share?
[00:04:38] The Text That Changed Everything
[00:05:43] Opening Our Home and Hearts to a Stranger
[00:13:52] The Revelation We Never Saw Coming
[00:19:59] The Lies Begin to Unravel
[00:21:41] The Moment It All Finally Made Sense
[00:22:21] Confrontation and Discovery
[00:23:48] When the Full Truth Comes Out
[00:26:51] Extending Help And Facing Rejection
[00:29:06] Picking Up the Pieces After Betrayal
[00:33:23] What Betrayal Really Teaches Us About Trust
[00:36:14] Finding Strength in God's Faithfulness
[00:40:12] A Word of Hope for Anyone Hurting

Memorable Quotes:

"We walked through it so we want to make sure that you don't walk through it, in the way that the enemy intended, but that you see yourself as a victor and as part of the process." [00:04:04] – Melissa Edmiston

" The betrayal wasn't about the girl. It was about what God was strengthening in us for the road and for his plans and what lay ahead." [00:38:07] – Jonathan 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

In this 15-Year Wedding Anniversary episode, we open up about the real stuff: how we dated differently, why we got engaged so fast, what helped us build a marriage that's still standing (and thriving) today, and why purity, prayer, and purpose shaped everything. Raw, real lessons we learned from doing things God's way, messing up plenty, and learning how to keep showing up for each other.

If you're dating, engaged, married, or even just praying for your person, we hope this episode gives you clarity, courage, and a fresh vision for relationships rooted in God. We also talk about group dates, awkward boundaries, courting, and what actually helped us fight for each other instead of against each other when things got really difficult.

It's the behind-the-scenes of what it looks like to choose love, grace, and growth when life throws everything at you. And if you're in a season where marriage feels more like work than wonder, just know you're not alone, and it's not over.

We're still learning. Still growing. Still choosing each other. And still believing God can write a redemptive story in every season, even the really challenging ones.

Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:02:00] The highs, lows, and what we'd change
[00:02:57] How we met, and why it was different
[00:05:13] Jonathan's first thoughts on Melissa
[00:07:56] The first date that changed everything
[00:13:10] Why did we date differently?
[00:15:08] Choosing purity in today's culture
[00:15:42] Courting on purpose, was it worth it?
[00:16:17] What happens when a man leads with chivalry?
[00:19:21] Group dating & what it taught us
[00:20:54] Our fast, prayer-led engagement
[00:22:58] What trusting God in marriage actually looks like
[00:24:28] Almost losing it all & finding our way back
[00:27:46] How to navigate a difficult marriage season

Memorable Quotes:

"And while we don't live for the opinion or input of others, it is important that you don't ever give people a reason to question things or put things in their minds that isn't there." [00:19:49] – Melissa Edmiston

"It's important to expose the person that you're dating to your friends so that they might see something that you don't see." [00:20:47] – Jonathan 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

Saying yes before it all makes sense? Yeah, we've been there. When we felt God stirring our hearts to move to the beach, we had no plan, no promise it would work, and definitely no roadmap. What we did have was peace and a whole lot of unknowns. In this episode, we're letting you in on the honest, in-the-middle story of what it looked like to follow God when everything in us wanted to stay comfortable.

We're talking about the decision to leave our dream home, a beautiful life we had intentionally built over 6 years, and the people we loved like family… all for something that didn't even make sense on paper.

We wrestled with the tension of feeling both excited and heartbroken at the same time. And if you've ever felt stuck between what you know and what you sense God's asking, you're gonna relate to this one. We also share how saying yes opened the door to things we never could've planned, like putting our kids in school after years of homeschooling, working together again, and watching our marriage come back to life.

If you're in a season of transition (or feel one coming), you're not alone. We get it. We hope this episode reminds you that God doesn't always give the full picture, but He always gives the next step. And sometimes, the move that scares you most… is the one that leads to more than you ever imagined.

Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:45] Starting from scratch with no backup plan
[00:04:04] Why did we risk everything to expand?
[00:07:03] A dream we didn't even pray for
[00:10:19] What happens when God says "move"?
[00:17:54] Homeschool to public school: was it the right decision?
[00:22:51] If we could go back, what would we say to ourselves?
[00:25:07] Final thoughts for the one standing on the edge

Memorable Quotes:

"The calling requires risk, and requires obedience and requires boldness, and oftentimes stepping out into things that feel really uncomfortable. But He's always with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us." [00:24:54] – Melissa Edmiston

"You can be called and still be confused. So many people assume clarity must come before commitment. And a lot of times God just doesn't work that way." [00:15:39] – Jonathan 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

We had a good life—a gym we had built from the ground up, a close-knit community, family nearby, and a church family. But then came this crazy curveball: God asked us to walk away from all of it and move to a place we never thought we'd live. This episode is the behind-the-scenes of that wild season—when nothing made sense, everything felt risky, and somehow it still became the setup for something bigger. If you've ever felt like you were starting over from scratch (again), we're right there with you.

We're sharing what it looked like to take the job that didn't make sense on paper, pack everything up with a 2-year-old and 1-year-old, and say goodbye to a life we loved. We talked about the lonely, stretching parts of transition, and shared the surprising way God opened a door that changed everything. We also talk about the not-so-pretty parts—resentment, risk, and wondering if we were crazy for doing it all. But through it, we kept choosing unity and faith, even when we didn't have it all figured out.

The big move was just the surface—underneath it was a deeper lesson in costly obedience. It's about listening for God's voice when other voices get loud. And it's about trusting that even the detours can be part of the plan. We hope this one meets you right where you are.

Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:18] When the open door doesn't make sense
[00:02:51] Choosing obedience over logic
[00:06:26] Leaving a dream life behind
[00:09:07] Faith in the middle of transition
[00:11:45] Dealing with doubt and naysayers
[00:14:43] What it means to live fully alive
[00:15:47] When saying yes still feels hard
[00:16:37] A fresh start in a new city
[00:17:55] Loss, identity, and starting over
[00:20:35] Can you really build from scratch?
[00:22:27] What bold faith looks like
[00:25:10] What we'd tell our past selves
[00:28:06] What's ahead—and how you're part of it

Memorable Quotes:

"How you do things in every season matters. How you enter a season matters. How you exit a season matters." [00:08:20] – Melissa Edmiston

" We really felt the Lord was in this. And the most important thing was, that we were unified together. And we always place what the Lord says above anything else." [00:12:14] – Jonathan 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