Do you ever feel like your faith is just another checkbox? Like you’re going through the motions, doing all the “right” things—going to church, saying your prayers, cracking open your Bible—but something still feels like it's missing?

In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers on “lukewarm” Christianity and why it’s so easy to slip into it. If you’ve ever felt the quiet tug for something more—a deeper connection, a real purpose, a faith and relationship with God that’s alive and active—this conversation is for you.

We get real about our own personal experiences being lukewarm, the unspoken dangers of it, and why settling for this "shallow" way of following God costs us way more than we realize.

Join us in exploring what it means to go ALL in with God - and step into the freedom that comes when you let him lead and transform every part of your life!

Hey friends! We. Are. BACK!!!

Oh man, these past few months have been FULL of transitions—pregnancy updates, Alex stepping back into corporate life, deepening our spiritual foundations—and it's all been a mix of both ups and downs.

We’re excited to catch up with you all, share some real-life real-TIME lessons we've been learning along the way, and dig into the messiness of transitions and the uncertainties of not knowing what’s ahead or what to do next...

If you’re feeling the pull to step into something new, but perhaps are holding back because of fear or uncertainty... we get it. We talk through the tension of wanting to be somewhere else in life but feeling stuck where you are right now—and what we've found personally helpful in gaining clarity around how/where God is leading AND having internal peace amidst all the external uncertainties.

This was a bittersweet episode to record... But we wanted to bring you into our real, raw, still-in-progress process "behind the curtain" on why we're taking a break, when we're planning to be back, as well as what we're excited about next and share with y'all in the meantime!

• Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/withthetrans

• Join our email list to get our next updates: https://unpack.beehiiv.com/subscribe

• Catch Grace over on her YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gracetran

We love y'all and are so, so grateful for all your support in this journey so far... and God is a good shepherd and we're excited to see how he continues to lead each of us into even greater things, lessons, and glory ahead :)

We'd so appreciate if you could keep us in prayer as we continue to seek him for his leading in everything - specifically how he wants us to be obedient in his specific assignments for us to make disciples, advance his Kingdom, and glorify him!

P.S. ALSO, we forgot to mention this but the timing of it all ended up being perfect (God is clutch!), because we're joining with our church to do a 40-Day Digital Fast, starting today! Decluttering our minds, hearts, souls to hear more from God, be more present, and live more outside our screens. (You're welcome to join us in doing this, too, if you want!)

We won't be on social media from now until mid-July - so if you need to contact us, email us at graceandalex@withthetrans.com. Love y'all! ✌️

Today we're joined by Peggy Bodde, who found herself rising in the ranks of corporate America for 25 years, when she got an undeniable call from the Holy Spirit to leave her successful career as Senior Vice President.

In 2014, she began her "Act II" as a full-time writer & small business owner, founding Sacred Work, which provides women with free career & leadership coaching.

Join us as we unpack:

• Peggy's personal testimony of taking the leap of faith out of the corporate world, & what God taught her along the way

• The roots of imposter syndrome & practical strategies to overcome it

• How to know if your job has become an idol

• The unique challenges female leaders face, both in the marketplace & ministry

• How to approach "self-advocacy" through a faith-based perspective

• What it looks like to invite the Holy Spirit into problems at work

• Tips for making hard decisions wisely

• What Peggy would do differently if she could go back, as one of the only few female leaders in the organization

and more...

We pray you're reassured that you're not alone in your struggles, and that you're left encouraged, empowered, and equipped to navigate your work & leadership journey with God's help & practical wisdom!

Does seeking out professional help imply we don't have enough faith?

What are the signs of anxiety to watch for, before it's too late?

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Courtney Miller, a Christian therapist based in the SF Bay Area, as we unpack:

• Common myths & misconceptions about therapy

• The most common mental health challenges & trends today

• What truly lies at the root of anxiety

• How Christian therapy differs from secular approaches

• Why it's important to "listen to our body" & what that actually looks like

• How our relationship with eating & food affects anxiety, gut, & mental health

• How the history of psychology impacts people of color

• How the pandemic changed the Church's approach to mental health

• Clear warning signs to notice before reaching a breaking point / health disaster

• The role of community in our healing journeys

• The unseen effects of capitalism & hustle culture on our whole being

• Practical baby steps to begin healing from our inner pain & struggles

Dr. Courtney also shares POWERFUL testimonies of God working in her personal journal & therapy practice, including a major health scare and what she did to REVERSE her condition.

We pray this conversation inspires you and gives you the wisdom and tips you need to continue growing in holistic healing, and live in FREEDOM the way God designed you to!

Struggling to hear from God or feel deeply connected to him?

Feeling stuck or stagnant in your faith?

Unsure about how to "invite God in" to heal your pain?

Today, we sit down with our friend Reigha Tencer (Host Pastor at Jesus Culture San Diego) to dive into the VITAL topic of cultivating a REAL, PERSONAL, INTIMATE friendship with God.

We delve into what it means to move beyond just knowing ABOUT God in our heads to actually KNOWING God personally - through an authentic, deep, transformative relationship with him as our Father and close friend.

Reigha shares her own personal journey of unexpected encounters with God (and how they've RADICALLY transformed her life from the inside out in ways she NEVER expected!), correcting her view of God (and how that changed the way she sees and serves others), honest ministry leader confessions, discerning between "your desires" vs. "God's desires," and SO much more.

If you want to know how to connect with God in a way that makes your heart come ALIVE - even in the midst of the most challenging, uncertain, and painful circumstances - this is an episode you do NOT want to miss.

We pray that this RICH conversation FULL of powerful wisdom and practical examples will help you break through any barriers hindering the closeness your Heavenly Father wants to have with you... and to AWAKEN your heart to the incredible love he ALREADY has for you!! ❤️

This week we're celebrating our 1-YEAR PODVERSARY!!! 🎉

It's hard to believe that a year's flown by since we first launched this podcast... since then, God's used this platform to impact literally thousands of people in ways we can't even see, support and amplify tons of incredible guests, and taught and stretched us SO MUCH along the way...

Today, we're taking y'all behind the scenes and sharing six of the BIGGEST, real + raw lessons that have shaped us in this journey of podcasting with God (including some real-time personal processing LOL #veryraw).

Whether you're feeling a tug to start a podcast or something new, or are just curious and wanting to learn and grow, we hope these lessons can shed insight into the lesser-seen side of podcasting and entrepreneurship... but also encourage and empower you in your own endeavors, too!

Thank you SO much for being here with us along this journey... We are immeasurably grateful for your encouragement, subscribes, shares, engagement, etc. - it all truly means SO MUCH more than you can know!! 🙂

After nearly a decade in corporate tech, Alex very recently transitioned out to pursue something completely new... something that we've both felt God has been "setting up" for a while now!

Just 3 days after leaving his job, Alex shares the very real and raw challenges, obstacles, and fears he experienced in taking this big step of faith - but also what God showed and convicted him of in the process.

We also talk about the real temptation to "quiet quit" - and what ended up happening when Alex sensed God calling him to finish well and be bolder in ministering to his co-workers and managers.

We pray that these reflections would encourage you and inspire you with practical ideas for ways to be salt and light in your own workplace, spheres of influence, and transitional seasons, too!

What does it even mean to be our AUTHENTIC selves?

How do we know if we are (or aren't)?

What does NOT doing it really cost us?

And how do we PRACTICALLY navigate "self-discovery" God's way... and to live freely and fully as our TRUE selves?

We hope this conversation helps you know you're not alone; equips you to overcome the pressures to conform, social anxiety, and the temptations to hide; and empowers you to shine God's light BOLDLY and BRIGHTLY wherever you go!

It's hard to believe it's already been a month since our move!

We talk about how life has been, what has surprised us, what we've been learning, some testimonies of ways we've been experiencing God... as well a big UPDATE in terms of our podcast...

How do we share our faith with those who DON'T believe one of the main bases for our faith: The Bible?

Today we're joined by Dr. Mikel Del Rosario, a seasoned Professor of Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute with over 15 years training Christians in apologetics, to break down:

What actually is apologetics, and why does it matter for every believer?

The real root of all the disagreement about Jesus (despite historical evidence)

Practical tips for navigating questions and conversations with grace and love (and avoiding nasty debates) with those who don't share your beliefs

What famous atheists say about Jesus

The key "one-pager" fact sheet about Jesus you should know & can talk about

And much more...

We wanted to share the real, raw, behind-the-scenes, in-progress testimony (that's STILL unfolding) of a personal life update (and what led up to it), including a few of the lessons God's been teaching us in the process, in hopes that it might encourage you in your own journey, too…

What do you do when you aren’t sure if you even believe in God anymore?

“Is Jesus truly worth following? Is God even real? What if this Christianity stuff is all made up?”

We often think of doubt as a bad thing—a hindrance to faith. But what if doubt is actually a vital element of what real faith is?

In this episode, we share our personal journeys and testimonies of walking through doubt, despair, and seeming hopelessness—3 powerful takeaways we still carry with us today.

If you’re questioning your faith, or know someone who is, this episode is for you.

We pray that it gives you comfort knowing you’re not alone, along with strength and hope to keep going.

Do you ever feel bad "wanting" something, when the Bible tells us "I shall not want"?

Join us as we unravel common misconceptions about desire that many Christians hold, share 4 practical tips to help you discern whether your desires align with God's plan, and 3 MORE tips (based on what we've learned ourselves) to help you "hold the tension" of reflecting on your honest desires AND trusting God's goodness and faithfulness.

How do we stand strong in faith, while honestly grappling with unanswered prayers - and all the complex emotions, doubts, and internal tensions that come with them?

Tune in as we share our personal experiences, including Grace journeying through this in singleness and Alex's struggles in less-than-ideal job situations.

Then we unpack five hidden blessings we’ve personally gleaned in these seasons that can be easily overlooked… but once we pay attention to them, we realize are key to our own transformation.

We also share practical tips for how to “wait well” and take care of your heart, mind, and soul when you’re still in the season of “not yet.”

If you're feeling discouraged or find yourself in waves of doubt because of the dreams or desires that haven’t come to fruition yet… you are NOT alone.

We pray this conversation encourages you and equips you with perspectives and tools for greater hope, strength, and endurance to keep going.

What if you were made to be EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit to excel in your work AND boldly share Jesus through it?

Join us as Christy Childers shares powerful real-life testimonies of God moving in and through corporate workplaces, as well as practical tools and tips for deepening your intimacy with the Holy Spirit amidst busy work schedules, supernaturally multiplying your effectiveness and results, and boldly reflecting and sharing Jesus - wherever you are.

How should Christians approach, develop, and leverage technology and AI through God's lens?

Today, we sit down with Ryan Collins, CEO of Bethel School of Technology and author of The God of Tech, and Briana Collins for an in-depth, thought-provoking conversation on the intersection of faith, technology, and innovation.

We guarantee that this fascinating conversation, which is PACKED full of gems and helpful tools, will inspire and empower you - as we explore how to tap into "spiritual intelligence," discern God's voice and ideas over our own, be conduits of heaven in our workplaces, stay connected with God amidst busyness, use divine strategies for developing and leveraging technology... and so much more.

If being generous scares you… that’s okay.

Because that tension really is an invitation into a deeper revelation of God’s truth, his Kingdom principles, and so much more.

Most of us know that it's "good" to be generous (financially AND otherwise)... and yet, it can also be challenging to know how (and how MUCH) God actually wants us to live that out in our everyday lives.

Today, we're sitting down with our friend Emily Reed and talking about all things generosity: working through our own fears and the barriers, discovering the powerful ripple effect of generosity, the practical examples and mindset shifts that have helped us most, as well as amazing personal testimonies of how exercising generosity doesn't just change us—but others through us, too.

What does it mean (and look like) to build and manage wealth God's way?

Today, we're sitting down with James Pelton – entrepreneur, investor, YouTuber with 52,000+ subscribers, passive income expert, husband, dad, and follower of Jesus.

James has been on a mission to really live according to God's Word with radical faith - including around his finances.

In a world where we often have complicated and conflicting relationships with money, James walks us through his own journey of untangling those threads - with powerful testimonies that will encourage and inspire you.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation on how to view finances through the lens of faith, as James shares how he integrates his faith with finances, entrepreneurship, business, and more.

Get ready to glean from the invaluable lessons James has learned (and continues to learn) on how to cultivate a healthy, God-centered approach to work, money, wealth-building in ways that bring TRUE peace, joy, and freedom regardless of our circumstances.