Episodes

Episode Summary In this powerful episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with entrepreneur, author, speaker, and AI app creator Sydney Curtin for a deeply honest conversation about identity, faith, healing, and the freedom that comes when we stop allowing the world to define us. Sydney shares her personal journey of carrying labels that shaped how she viewed herself and her future. Through difficult seasons, motherhood, loss, and a deeper relationship with Jesus, she disco...

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Karen Bonnett-Natraj, founder of the Mental Fitness Edge, for a powerful conversation about mental fitness, fear, self-sabotage, and becoming the best version of yourself. Karen shares her journey of leaving a toxic relationship, overcoming fear, and rediscovering her joy. Together, Nikki and Karen explore how our inner critic, comparison, perfectionism, and other saboteurs can affect our happin...

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of Grace and Gratitude Counseling and Revenue Rich Therapist, Sarah Czopek, for a powerful conversation about faith, money, purpose, and building a business that brings joy instead of burnout. Sarah shares how she never planned to become an entrepreneur, yet God used every unexpected turn, from music and business school to counseling, to prepare her for the w...

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Christian entrepreneur, planner creator, and founder of God's Whole Woman, Ivy Gura, for a heartfelt conversation about living a life of wholeness through obedience, structure, and intimacy with God. Ivy shares her remarkable journey from feeling fragmented and overwhelmed to discovering healing and purpose by surrendering every area of her life to God. She explains how God's Whole Woman was bor...

Episode Summary In this uplifting episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise is joined by the incredible Barry Shore, internationally known as the Ambassador of JOY. After becoming a quadriplegic overnight due to a rare neurological condition, Barry chose not to let his circumstances define him. Instead, he dedicated his life to helping others discover that joy is not dependent on circumstances—it's a choice and a journey. Together, Nikki and Barry explore what it means to live with pu...

Episode Summary In this thought-provoking episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise welcomes entrepreneur, business strategist, and founder coach Matthew Sayles for a powerful conversation about breaking through the "Founder Ceiling"—the invisible barrier that keeps many business owners trapped in businesses that depend entirely on them. Drawing from more than 25 years of experience helping organizations solve complex problems, Matthew shares why the biggest challenges founders face are...

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with entrepreneur, systems strategist, and founder of Beauty From Within Coaching & Consulting, Cynthia Appiah, for a powerful conversation about purpose, resilience, and building a life that reflects God's unique design. Cynthia shares her extraordinary journey—from surviving a life-threatening brain tumor and overcoming years of physical rehabilitation to leaving corporate America and embracing...

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise welcomes mindset coach, speaker, and founder of TrueSpeak Motivation, Ell Graniel, for a heartfelt conversation about living in alignment with God's purpose, overcoming life's hardest seasons, and discovering the kind of joy that remains steady regardless of circumstances. Ell shares her remarkable story of growing up in an abusive environment, finding hope through faith, and walking through profound loss afte...

Episode Summary In this encouraging and practical episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Diana James, founder of Iane James The CEO Virtual Solutions, virtual assistant agency owner, coach, and Christian entrepreneur, to talk about building a business that supports your calling instead of draining your joy. Diana shares her inspiring journey from starting a freelance career during the uncertainty of the pandemic to leading a thriving virtual assistant agency that helps...

Episode Summary In this insightful and empowering episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Dr. Theresa Pantanella, the AI-Powered Marketing Doctor. Dr. Theresa shares her remarkable journey from occupational therapist to marketing strategist, revealing how faith, resilience, and obedience to God's leading transformed one of the most challenging seasons of her life into a powerful new purpose. Together, they explore how entrepreneurs can embrace AI as a tool rather than ...

Episode Summary In this deeply insightful and faith-centered episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Chris Halbohm, keynote speaker, trainer, author, and master hypnotist, for a conversation on burnout, feedback, identity, and the power of aligned action. Chris shares powerful frameworks from his work in hypnosis and neuroscience, unpacking how overwhelm often stems from resistance to feedback, fear of the unknown, and an over-reliance on internal dialogue rather than...

Episode Summary In this powerful episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with leadership coach and speaker Aaron Clark to discuss faith-filled leadership, resilience through difficult seasons, and the importance of developing yourself before leading others. Aaron shares his journey from coaching athletics to becoming a leadership development expert, emphasizing that leadership is not about titles but influence. He opens up about a challenging season of spiritual warfare and...

Episode Summary In this faith-filled and deeply practical episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Christopher Young for a powerful conversation about faith, stewardship, business integrity, and using unconventional gifts for Kingdom impact. Christopher shares his journey from growing up around electronics repair and developing a love for craftsmanship to becoming a pastor, gunsmith, business owner, and college professor. He opens up about how his “tinkering mindset” bec...

Episode Summary In this powerful and joy-filled episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Johnny Els, founder of TruFit Academy, for a conversation on health as a Kingdom strategy, mindset transformation, and what it really means to steward your body well in every season of life. Johnny shares his journey from collegiate swimming and triathlon coaching to becoming a health and fitness coach for high-performing leaders. He opens up about his early insecurities, identity ...

Episode Summary In this powerful and deeply honest episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Melissa Broughton, founder of Busy Bee Advisors and creator of the One Hour Bookkeeper, to explore what it really means to create a life you were meant to live. Melissa shares her entrepreneurial journey from corporate controller to unexpected full-time business owner after a defining moment on a family cruise. What began as a leap of faith turned into a thriving bookkeeping bus...

Episode Summary In this insightful and empowering episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Lois Wyant, founder of JFT Web Marketing, to unpack the intersection of faith, technology, and business growth. Lois shares her remarkable entrepreneurial journey—from childhood business experiences to running a successful photography studio—and how each season equipped her for her current mission: helping local businesses become visible, trusted, and chosen online. Together, the...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Nikki Cruise and Debbie Chen explore the journey from self-doubt to walking in kingdom authority. They discuss how early labels and societal expectations can shape a woman’s identity and how replacing lies with God’s truth empowers confidence, purpose, and authentic living. Debbie shares her personal story of transformation, from childhood ridicule to building a faith-aligned business, showing listeners how to step into their identity, hear God’s voice, and o...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise speaks with Monick Halm, founder of Real Estate Investors Goddess, about divine redirection, Kingdom-aligned wealth, and feminine leadership. Monick shares her journey from corporate law to entrepreneurship after being fired while 5 months pregnant—an experience that became a divine reroute into real estate investing and financial freedom. Together, they explore what it means to live in alignment with God inste...

Episode Summary: In this powerful and deeply honest episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Wendy Melrose, founder of Resilience Press, for a conversation about resilience, obedience, and what it truly means to rebuild after loss. Wendy shares her journey of pivoting through multiple seasons of life, stepping out of corporate insurance into writing and publishing, and navigating a painful financial setback that reshaped her discernment and faith. Wendy’s story is a re...

Episode Summary: In this powerful and Spirit-led episode, Nikki Cruise welcomes Jennifer Nowak, founder of Freedom for Life Coaching, for a deep and transformative conversation on what it truly means to launch from a healed heart. Jennifer shares how heart healing is not just personal—it directly impacts our relationships, business, and ability to walk fully in our God-given calling. Together, they unpack the difference between forgiveness and true healing, how unresolved wounds can block pro...

Episode Summary In this deeply moving continuation, Nikki Cruise sits down again with Lindsay Stadel to explore what happened after her life-altering moment—and how she rebuilt from the aftermath of pain, loss, and broken relationships. Lindsay vulnerably shares the reality of living with chronic, excruciating pain after her suicide attempt, the long road to restoring relationships with her children, and the fight to reclaim her life. Through it all, one truth began to anchor her: she is stil...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Nikki Cruise sits down with Lindsay Stadel, an entrepreneur, multi-business owner, and coach, who shares her courageous journey through mental health struggles, broken relationships, and personal transformation. Lindsay opens up about her experiences with depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, and how her faith became her lifeline. Through her story, she delivers a powerful message: You are enough, and God never writes people off. This episode is a h...

Episode Summary: In this deeply powerful conversation, Nikki Cruise sits down with Colleen Stewart, founder of Path to Peace Coaching, a veteran and trauma survivor who now helps others reclaim their peace through faith and healing. For years, she struggled to understand what was happening to her as unresolved trauma surfaced through flashbacks, stress, and emotional turmoil. But God had a greater story unfolding. Through a process of healing, surrender, and partnering with God, Colleen disco...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of the Joy Inspired Podcast, Nikki Cruise sits down with Donna Tashjian, a visionary leader with over 30 years of experience coaching leaders worldwide. Donna shares her journey from adversity to thriving, teaching how to live vibrantly, lead with joy, and cultivate spiritual intelligence in both life and business. Together, Nikki and Donna unpack the mindset, strategies, and Kingdom principles that allow you to lead from peace, not pressure. If you’...