The Jess Connolly Podcast

Sometimes the fear of rejection keeps us from showing up as our true selves. In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess unpacks why rejection hurts so deeply, how seemingly small moments of being overlooked or left out can shape the way we see ourselves, and how the belief that we have to be useful or needed to be lovable can lead us to people-please and lose ourselves in the process.Together, we explore the difference between rejection and correction, why following Jesus doesn't guarantee everyone will like us, and how to stay openhearted in a world where rejection is inevitable. This isn't about becoming someone who doesn't care what people think. It's about learning to live freely, love courageously, and trust that another person's rejection doesn't change God's yes over our belovedness.

What if your humanity isn't a liability, but your greatest resource?In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess sits down with returning guest and therapist Kobe Campbell to talk about why asking for help can feel so hard, especially for women who are used to being the helpers. From learning to ask for more to embracing healthy interdependence, Kobe offers wisdom on vulnerability, disappointment, relationships, and what it looks like to let people show up for us. They also explore the difference between acting like the woman we think we're supposed to be and living freely as the women God created us to be.If you've ever struggled to ask for help, worried that you're taking up too much space, or felt like you have to keep it all together because you're the one everyone else depends on, this conversation is for you.The Art of Starting Over By:Kobe Campbell

Maybe you're not afraid of aging. Maybe you're just scared of not being seen. In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess Connolly sits down with her friend Anna Mae Groves to talk about cultivating a life that feels good, embracing the beauty of getting older, and learning to let go of the pressure to prove ourselves. From daily walks and simple self-care to taking a sabbatical and learning to say no, they share practical ways to care for ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually in every season of life.Together, Jess and Anna Mae unpack the tension between privilege and obedience, why caring about how we look doesn’t have to mean idolizing beauty, and how we can stop comparing our lives to others and start cultivating the life God has given us. ⁠Cylar deodorant → ⁠⁠ Anna Mae’s Instagram → ⁠

I don’t think you’re lazy. I just think you might be scared.In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess sits down with author Jon Acuff to talk about procrastination, fear, and what’s really happening when we feel completely stuck. Jon’s work reframes procrastination as a learned coping mechanism rather than a character flaw - which means beating yourself up might not be the thing that finally gets you moving.Together, Jess and Jon unpack the fears hiding underneath procrastination, the difference between rest and avoidance, and how small actions can help us move again without waiting to feel completely confident or ready. If you’ve been staring at the same dream, decision, project, or next step for months, wondering what is wrong with you, this conversation offers a different question: What if you’re not lazy? What if you’re scared?

We talk all the time about being afraid to fail. But what if you’re also afraid it might actually work? In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess talks with entrepreneur and former Go + Tell Gals team member Caroline Lunne about ambition, calling, and having the courage to actually go for it.Together, they explore both sides of the fear: the fear of failing that convinces us not to try and the fear of succeeding that makes us wonder what will happen if our lives actually expand. What will people think? Can I handle the responsibility? Who will I become? This isn’t a conversation about hustling harder or building something impressive. It’s about refusing to play small when God has given you something to steward—and learning to move toward faithfulness even when failure and success both feel scary.

Have you ever felt like theology was for other people? In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess sits down with Bible teacher, author, and theologian Lisa Harper to talk about why theology isn’t meant to intimidate us - it’s meant to draw us closer to Jesus.Together they explore what happens when women stop believing they’re unqualified to think deeply about God. Jess shares part of her own journey from experiencing theological spaces marked by pride and exclusion to pursuing a master’s degree in biblical studies herself—a journey Lisa personally helped inspire. This conversation is an invitation to discover theology that produces humility instead of pride, confidence instead of intimidation, and ultimately a deeper love for Jesus.

What if getting dressed could actually help you show up with more courage?In this episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess talks with House of Color CEO Ally Van Iten about her journey into color and style, eventually becoming CEO.  Jess also shares how having her colors done three years ago became far more significant than a wardrobe decision. During a season of deep grief and family crisis, exploring color and personal style helped her feel equipped to show up as herself again.Together, Jess and Ally talk about why enjoying beauty isn’t frivolous, how creativity reflects the heart of a creative God, and why “not worrying about what we wear” doesn’t mean we have to stop caring about beauty and style.If you’ve ever felt afraid to be seen, this conversation is an invitation to step into the fullness of who God made you to be.Pre-order a copy of You Can't Be Brave Until You're Scared and fill out this form to enter into the drawing to get your colors done!Head to dwellbible.com/jess⁠ to get Dwell and find the New Testament in 90 Days plan.

What if the reason you struggle to rest isn’t that you don’t know how, but because you’re actually scared to?In the first episode of Showing Up Scared, Jess Connolly is kicking off the season by talking about a fear many of us don’t realize we’re carrying: the fear of rest. What does rest say about us? What might we have to face when things get quiet? And what happens when we stop striving long enough to trust that God can keep holding everything together without us?Jess walks through some of the fears underneath our resistance to rest. From the fear of what other people think to the fear of ourselves, losing control, and even trusting God, she unpacks why naming our fears is such an important first step toward courage.Rest is trust. And sometimes, choosing to rest is one of the bravest things we can do.

We are in the final episode of our summer series Women + The Church. Today, we dive into the question of what it looks like when women are equipped to run on mission - not in theory, but in the day-to-day.Jess and Nick paint a picture of how practical leadership tools can empower a young mom teaching Romans with confidence, a pastor's wife to build rhythms that prevent burnout, and a woman across the world getting trained in communication skills. They've seen firsthand at their own church the security and humility it takes for men and women to lead well together, and how that partnership points toward an Edenic return.It's an honest look at what's possible and an invitation to imagine it for your own church and community.Let's go.Resources & Links We need YOUR help. Join the Founder's Circle for our non-profit: Support the ministry of Go and Tell Gals.You're called. Now it's time to get equipped. The Go + Tell Gals Leadership Certification trains Kingdom women in the 5 Pillars of Genuine & Effective Leadership. Learn more and get on the waitlist here.

The Church is full of women ready to lead, and Jess believes it's time to actually equip them. In episode three of our Women + The Church summer series, she's getting into the equipping gap: what it is, why it matters, and how to close it.Jess sits down solo this week to name something she's seen over and over again, coaching women for the last six years: women are trusted with real leadership, but never actually trained for it. She walks through the five pillars that Go and Tell Gals is building its work around, and shares how the shift from coaching certification to leadership certification will help equip the women who need it most.It's an honest look at the gap, an invitation to be part of the solution, and a look at how we can partner in this good work together.Let's go.Resources & Links We need YOUR help. Join the Founder's Circle for our non-profit: Support the ministry of Go and Tell Gals.You're called. Now it's time to get equipped. The Go + Tell Gals Leadership Certification trains Kingdom women in the 5 Pillars of Genuine & Effective Leadership. Learn more and get on the waitlist here.