EP 205 | When Rock Bottom Hits: How God Rebuilt Elaine Lankford’s Life

There's a skill that separates those who make an impact from those who stay stuck in preparation mode. It's not about having the perfect setup, the biggest audience, or even the wildest story. It's about showing up, speaking, and letting your voice do the work of transformation, both for you and for the people listening. Rae breaks down who should start a podcast, when to start, and why the soft ROI might be the most important return of all. She also gets honest about when you shouldn't start, what you actually need to get going, and how this one discipline can prepare you for everything God is calling you to do next. If you've been sitting on a story, a message, or a calling that won't leave you alone, this episode is your permission slip to stop overthinking and start speaking. Key Timestamps [00:02:15] - From Nursing to Business Coaching [00:07:45] - Navigating an Identity Shift & Lost Career [00:13:40] - Launching the She Steps Forward Conference [00:19:50] - Building a Hybrid For-Profit & Nonprofit Model [00:30:20] - Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Female Founder [00:33:45] - Real Client Transformation: Scaling a Small Business [00:38:10] - Integrating Values & Purpose into Your Brand [00:41:30] - What to Do When a Big Goal Feels Intimidating Memorable Quotes "When God gives us a dream, it's a God-sized dream, and we think we're too small for it, and that is the whole point. He doesn't want us to be big. If we were big enough to carry out the dream, we wouldn't need Him." – Elaine Lankford [00:08:34] "Hold on because you are just in the refiner's fire, and you can't see it when you're going through it. He's not trying to crush you. He's trying to perfect you." – Elaine Lankford [00:10:15]  "You can do it afraid, and if you trust, He will catch you on the other side. Now He'll make you nervous. Don't get me wrong. He will make you bone-chilled nervous sometimes, but it's all testing ground." – Elaine Lankford [00:30:45]  As a gift to listeners, Elaine is offering a free 30-minute Strategic Dream Session where you can bring your one burning entrepreneurial question and receive her strategic wisdom and guidance. Sign up at: https://meetcoachelaine.com Elaine Lankford Elaine is an Entrepreneurial Coach and passionate advocate for Christian female entrepreneurs, dedicated to helping both American and African women in their first 0-3 years launch and grow successful businesses, ministries, and nonprofits. After 16 years as a clinical nursing leader, she answered God's call and made a courageous leap of faith, turning her own breaking point into her greatest breakthrough. As the founder of She Steps Forward Coaching and She Steps Forward International (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), she empowers women to step boldly into their God-sized dreams using her proprietary Strategic DREAM Method. A certified John Maxwell Team member guided by Luke 1:45, she blends strategic expertise with biblical truth to help women build thriving businesses in God's economy without sacrificing their faith or values. Website: https://www.shestepsforwardcoaching.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shestepsforward_coaching/ Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a difference between waiting for the right time and waiting for permission you'll never get. This prayer is for the listener who's been circling the idea of starting a podcast, who knows they have a story worth sharing, but hasn't taken the first step yet. Rae Irelan prays over the courage it takes to start from wherever you are, with whatever you have, and to trust that obedience matters more than perfection. If you've been asking whether now is the time, this might be the clarity you've been looking for. Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a skill that separates those who make an impact from those who stay stuck in preparation mode. It's not about having the perfect setup, the biggest audience, or even the wildest story. It's about showing up, speaking, and letting your voice do the work of transformation, both for you and for the people listening. Rae breaks down who should start a podcast, when to start, and why the soft ROI might be the most important return of all. She also gets honest about when you shouldn't start, what you actually need to get going, and how this one discipline can prepare you for everything God is calling you to do next. If you've been sitting on a story, a message, or a calling that won't leave you alone, this episode is your permission slip to stop overthinking and start speaking. Key Timestamps [00:01:15] Why podcasting is the best skill-building tool for speakers and storytellers   [00:04:30] The soft ROI: confidence, clarity, and communication   [00:07:45] When you should start a podcast (hint: yesterday)   [00:10:20] You don't need a fancy studio or a huge following   [00:13:00] When you should NOT start a podcast   [00:15:30] The power of interviewing guests as a relationship accelerator   [00:18:00] Cadence, consistency, and batching your episodes   [00:20:15] Podcasting as a healing journey and verbal processing tool  Memorable Quotes "If you look at the people that are making some of the biggest impacts in the world, this is the skill that they've developed. It's speaking and storytelling." – Rae Irelan [00:06:12]  "If you have a story, God's already called you to share it. It's the power of our testimony." – Rae Irelan [00:21:30]  Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Prodan opens this episode with a raw, unfiltered prayer that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to live as a witness in a world that doesn't always welcome the light. She prays for believers in government, in classrooms, in police stations and military bases, for those using podcasts and media to spread truth, and for Christians around the world who face death for their faith. This isn't a polished sermon. It's a plea for obedience, for courage, and for America to remember who it belongs to. Virginia prays for enemies, for second chances, for the strength to stand until the last breath. If you've ever wondered what it sounds like when someone who survived assassination under a communist regime asks God to move through a nation, this is it. Virginia Prodan Virginia Prodan is an international human rights attorney, bestselling author of *Saving My Assassin*, and keynote speaker. As a young attorney in communist Romania, she defended persecuted Christians under Nicolae Ceausescu's brutal regime. For this act of treason, she was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and came within seconds of being executed. She shared the gospel with the assassin sent to kill her, and he accepted Christ. Twenty years later, they reunited in America, where he had become a pastor. Virginia now equips people worldwide to overcome fear and live boldly through faith-based coaching and speaking. Website: www.virginiaprodan.com Book: www.virginiaprodanbooks.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaprodan/ Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a cost to doing it alone that most women don't calculate until they're already paying it. Rae breaks down the research behind why women in community don't just feel better; they perform better, earn more, get promoted faster, and even live longer. But this isn't just about stats. It's about the lightness that comes when you stop trying to solve everything in your own head. If you've been wondering where your people are, or if community is really worth the vulnerability it requires, this episode will give you both the data and the permission you need. Rae shares her own story of stepping back, staying isolated too long, and what changed when she finally found her way back in. This is for the woman who knows she's meant for more but keeps trying to build it by herself. Key Timestamps [00:04:18] The day she told her secretary she didn't want to be a lawyer anymore [00:10:45] Defending Christians and becoming part of UN human rights violation reports [00:12:58] The moment the assassin walked into her office [00:15:23] "I'm not your client. I'm here to k*ll you" [00:21:47] Twenty years later: the reunion in Dallas [00:30:42] When God asked Virginia to reduce her law practice and speak more [00:35:28] "It's my message or your ego" [00:40:15] At the crossroad: self-preservation versus calling [00:45:50] The future of faith-filled female entrepreneurs in America [00:48:22] "If you are too fearful to do things for yourself, look at your kids" [00:55:14] Your suffering can be transformed into ministry Memorable Quotes "Information about Christ will produce transformation in you, and you will have the power that you will be mesmerized. You will not know how in the world I was able to do that because it's God doing it in you." – Virginia Prodan [00:26:15] "Virginia, it's my message or your ego." – God's words to Virginia Prodan [00:35:28]  "He created out of our misery our ministry. So watch out because sometimes your suffering can be transformed into an amazing opportunity to minister to others who suffer in the same way that you suffered." – Virginia Prodan [00:55:14]  Virginia Prodan Virginia Prodan is an international human rights attorney, bestselling author of *Saving My Assassin*, and keynote speaker. As a young attorney in communist Romania, she defended persecuted Christians under Nicolae Ceaușescu's brutal regime. For this act of treason, she was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and came within seconds of being executed. She shared the gospel with the assassin sent to kill her, and he accepted Christ. Twenty years later, they reunited in America, where he had become a pastor. Virginia now equips people worldwide to overcome fear and live boldly through faith-based coaching and speaking. Website: www.virginiaprodan.com Book: www.virginiaprodanbooks.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaprodan/ Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know you need community. You know isolation isn't the answer. But stepping into unfamiliar spaces to find your people feels vulnerable, awkward, and maybe even a little desperate. This prayer moment is for the woman who's been waiting for her business besties, her prayer warriors, her real support system to just appear. The truth is, they're out there. But the next level of growth requires you to do something uncomfortable first. Rae prays over the woman who's ready to stop going it alone. She asks God to land your name on the hearts of the people He's chosen for you, and to give you the courage to step outside your comfort zone long enough to let them find you. Because the stats are clear: women need each other. And God has a plan to bring you together. This isn't about networking. It's about divine connection. And it starts with a prayer and a leap of faith. Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a cost to doing it alone that most women don't calculate until they're already paying it. Rae breaks down the research behind why women in community don't just feel better, they perform better, earn more, get promoted faster, and even live longer. But this isn't just about stats. It's about the lightness that comes when you stop trying to solve everything in your own head. If you've been wondering where your people are, or if community is really worth the vulnerability it requires, this episode will give you both the data and the permission you need. Rae shares her own story of stepping back, staying isolated too long, and what changed when she finally found her way back in. This is for the woman who knows she's meant for more but keeps trying to build it by herself. Key Timestamps [00:01:58] Women's networking doubles promotion likelihood   [00:04:18] The 47% credibility boost from being in high-value community   [00:05:08] Stress reduction and the oxytocin effect   [00:07:48] How to find your community: Two simple strategies   [00:09:18] The beach story: Teaching her son to make friends   Memorable Quotes "Being part of a high-value professional community increases a woman's perceived expertise and credibility by not five, not 10%, not 20%, not even 40%, 47%. That is massive." – Rae Irelan [00:04:28]  "Where did I find my best friends? Inside a mastermind. Where did I get some of the biggest results I've ever gotten? Inside a mastermind." – Rae Irelan [00:07:48] "It's such a human thing to be nervous or scared about stepping into a new community, and sometimes we just gotta get over ourselves and say, 'If this is what I want, if this is what God is calling me into, and I see these stats, and I want this, then you just gotta go out and find them.'" – Rae Irelan [00:10:48] Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from believing your vision lives or dies by your effort alone. That the systems have to be complicated. That the team won't show up. That growth requires grinding until you break. This prayer is a reset. It's for the visionary who's been white-knuckling their calling, the creative who's forgotten that God brings the people, and the leader who needs permission to stop agreeing with the enemy's narrative that impact must be heavy. Rae prays over discernment, clarity, and the kind of surrender that actually builds something sustainable. Short, focused, and exactly what you need before you open your project management software today. Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exhaustion isn't always about the mission. Sometimes it's the chaos you've built around it. Stacia Loo is a systems integrator who helps entrepreneurs scale without burning out. In this conversation, she talks about the flood that hit Hawaii, why her business didn't miss a beat, and the identity shift required to let go of being busy. She shares why she still fails every day, how AI has changed the speed of execution, and why money loves speed more than ever before. This isn't about summarizing your week in a dashboard. It's about building a business that supports your life instead of draining it. If you've been wearing burnout like a badge, this one will make you rethink the whole thing. Key Timestamps [00:03:42] How Stacia became a systems integrator without knowing the title existed   [00:12:18] The two types of clients: "Do it for me" vs. "I want to know everything"   [00:15:45] AI and automation: The difference and why it matters   [00:19:20] The identity trap: Why entrepreneurs get addicted to being busy   [00:30:15] The unicorn skill: Being both creative and structured   [00:34:40] How AI speeds up manifestation and visualization   Memorable Quotes "If you do not fail, you would never know how to fix it. I constantly fail. But if we don't fail, then we won't remember or learn what to do next." – [00:09:18]  Stacia Loo "AI can't replace us; your competition can't replace you because you are you, an individual, and you always will be that person that has a unique take or a unique skill of whatever your product or your service is." – [00:27:30] Stacia Loo "Money loves speed. You have no excuse to be broke. You literally could have an idea, or someone can have a problem, and you can go and ask ChatGPT or Claude to solve that problem for you that quickly." – [00:38:50] Stacia Loo About Stacia Loo Stacia is a systems integrator, SaaS consultant, and automation strategist who helps entrepreneurs simplify their businesses and scale without burnout. Known for her no-BS approach, she blends life, business, and systems to help founders stop relying on hustle and start building operations that actually support their lives. Stacia specializes in automation, AI, and recurring revenue models, and is passionate about helping people create freedom through smarter systems, not harder work. Website: stacialoo.com  Instagram: @stacialoo  YouTube: stacia.io/yt  Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes the enemy makes us think God's focus is elsewhere. But this prayer reminds you: His focus is on you, and your obedience in small acts is where He becomes most alive in your mission. Rae prays over the listener who needs scales to fall from her eyes, who needs to see clearly what's actually happening, and who's ready to take authority over the territory God has already claimed as hers. This is a prayer for discernment, courage, clarity, and the kind of focus that commands the enemy to leave in Jesus' name. If you've been waiting for permission to step into what's yours, this is it. Connect With the Host Website: https://raeirelan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeirelan/ Join the Evolved Influence Academy Community today! https://www.skool.com/evolved-influence-academy/about?ref=28c7243ce169469eb9979bbc4226a76a Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices