The Tried & Truth Podcast: Rethinking Success for This Season

Annica Fischer | Mindset • Purpose • Truth
  • 5.0 (43)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Real stories. Honest conversations. Better questions for real life. The world is full of hacks for a better life. But a meaningful life isn't built on shortcuts—it’s built in the ordinary, messy, beautiful middle of it all. I’m 40, I’m raising boys, and I’ve started asking different questions than I did twenty years ago. What does success actually look like now? What if what worked in one season doesn’t work in the next? What really matters—and what are we spending too much energy chasing? Each week on The Tried & Truth Podcast, we sit down with authors, entrepreneurs, experts, and thought leaders to explore the questions and honest conversations that surface as life changes.  This isn't about having it all figured out. It’s about finding perspective, asking better questions, and discovering what it looks like to grow, live with intention, and define (or maybe redefine) success for yourself along the way.  Every episode ends with quick takeaways and one grounding question: What does success look like to you? Because the definition of a good life can change—and sometimes the questions we need to ask change with it. No fluff. Just honest conversations, practical perspective, and a little more clarity for the road ahead. Connect with Annica:  Subscribe to the newsletter for a little spark of insights to your inbox! on Instagram @ANNICAFISCHER or visit www.annicafischer.com

  1. 5d ago

    You Don't Have to Overcome Everything: The Gift of Limitations with Sara Hagerty

    What if the thing you’re most frustrated by right now—the limitation, disappointment, delay, or circumstance you wish you could change—isn’t simply an obstacle to overcome? In this episode, I’m talking with author and writer Sara Hagerty about the unexpected gift of limitations and what can happen when we stop fighting every boundary in our lives and begin to ask what God might be doing within it. Sara shares how infertility, illness, grief, family challenges, and unexpected loss changed the way she sees suffering, surrender, productivity, and presence. We talk about why grief is not something we need to rush through, how unprocessed grief can come out sideways, and how allowing ourselves to name what hurts can create space for healing and deeper joy. We also talk about Sara’s experience with a productivity fast—intentionally stepping away from her to-do list during the time of day when she was normally most productive. What she discovered challenged the belief that being productive means we are valuable or successful. And perhaps the biggest reminder from this conversation: there may be more for you right here. Not necessarily more on the other side of the limitation. More inside the life, season, family, or circumstances you have today. In this episode: Why some limitations may be invitations rather than barriers How grief helps us process disappointment and loss Why grief can come out sideways when we don't allow ourselves to feel it What it means to surrender instead of constantly trying to overcome How suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope Sara's “productivity fast” and what it revealed about her relationship with productivity and worth Why slowing down can help us become more present, creative, and attentive How to stop postponing your life while waiting for a different season Finding beauty, peace, joy, and presence within your current circumstances What it looks like to trust God with the story you didn't plan Resources Mentioned: The Gift of Limitations by Sara Hagerty  A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser Instagram: @sarahagertywrites 🎧 Listen now — and if this one hits home, subscribe to The Tried and Truth Podcast and leave a review to help more listeners find it. Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →

  2. Sep 7

    How to Feel More Secure Within Yourself with Dr. Alison Cook

    You know how to hold it all together — but underneath, there's a quiet ache you rarely say out loud. In this conversation with therapist and bestselling author, Dr. Alison Cook, she will help us put words, understanding and next steps to that feeling towards a greater sense of inner security. In this episode, we'll unpack questions such as: What does it mean to be attuned to yourself? Why doesn't spiritual maturity automatically translate into emotional security or inner stability? Why does being "the capable one" sometimes work against you? How do you stop performing and start actually feeling safe? What do you do with loneliness, even in a room full of people? How can faith and psychology work together instead of feeling at odds? Why do life transitions make old insecurities resurface — and how can you plan for it? Plus a helpful and healing grounding morning practice used by Dr. Cook. Dr. Alison Cook, licensed psychologist and bestselling author shares personal stories and practical tools for recognizing anxiety, honoring the "achiever" parts of yourself with compassion, and rediscovering a more secure, embodied faith. Mentioned in this episode: 🔗 dralisoncook.com/quiz  Take this 3 minute quiz to help you uncover the role you took on in your family—and learn how it may still be shaping your relationships, faith, and inner life today. The Secure Soul (includes free masterclass: "Healing the Wounds That Shape Us") Dr. Cook's podcast: The Best of You Connect with Dr. Alison Cook: dralisoncook.com Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →

  3. Aug 31

    What Is Your Home Saying to You? How to Hush Your House Without Losing the Beauty | Myquillyn Smith

    Is Your Home Helping You Live—or Constantly Asking You to Manage It? In this episode, I sit down with Myquillyn Smith — known to thousands as The Nester — to talk about why our homes don't always need more, they need less. We dig into her concept of "house hushing," a gentler alternative to traditional decluttering that's less about tossing things and more about quieting the visual noise so your home actually feels like a retreat for the season that you're in. We talk about why our homes affect how we feel, how to build confidence around what to keep or let go of, and how to create spaces that reflect the season of life you're actually in — not the one you're leaving behind. In this episode, we cover: The idea that everything you own has a "voice" — and why that visual noise builds up without you noticing "Backwards decluttering" — a low-risk way to experience a calmer room before making any decisions Why starting small (like your fridge or kitchen island) creates lasting momentum How to hush a kid's room without triggering a meltdown Picking three words each season to filter out what you bring into your home Letting go of guilt around donating and giving things away What success really looks like in this season of Myquillyn's life Connect with Myquillyn: Instagram: @thenester Website: thenester.com If today's episode gave you a few practical ideas to bring more calm into your home, share it with a friend who needs to hear it — and leave a review!  Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →

  4. Jun 8

    When Anxiety Meets Faith — Why You're Trying to Build Peace Instead of Experience It with Nichole Suvar

    If you are the person in your house, your friend group, your family who holds everything together — this one's for you. Today I'm sitting down with Nichole J. Suvar — author of I Don't Have to Hold It All Together (one of those titles that's stands alone as a phrase you can carry with you) to talk about anxiety, faith, releasing control, and what it looks like to finally experience real peace instead of just chasing it. Nicole has lived with anxiety since childhood with decades of hiding it behind her faith, and eventually hitting a wall she couldn't push through anymore. What came out of that is a message rooted in the idea of cultivating the peace of Eden — not manufacturing a perfect life, but learning to tend your part and trust God with the rest. This conversation will encourage you, challenge you, and maybe give you permission to put some things down. In this episode, we cover: Nicole's story: growing up with undiagnosed anxiety The "Building Eden" trap: why comfort and control feel like peace — but aren't Raising anxious kids without becoming an anxious parent (and what Nicole wishes she'd done differently) The power of moving slower  Why releasing control is actually an act of trust, not a loss of it What it looks like to tend your part and let God handle the rest  Adult friendships What to say (and NOT say) to someone with anxiety How to hold your to-do list with open hands instead of a tight grip Resources & Links: 📖 I Don't Have to Hold It All Together by Nichole J. Suvar — livewithintent.org Instagram: @NicholeJSuvar Follow Annica @annicafischer If you enjoy conversations like this, you can subscribe to the newsletter for honest reflections on faith, relationships, identity, and intentional living, plus behind-the-scenes insights and new episodes.

  5. Jun 1

    Why You Feel Lonely Even With Good Relationships | Jason VanRuler

    If you've ever felt misunderstood by the people closest to you — your spouse, your coworkers, your best friend — this episode is for you. We're sitting down with Jason VanRuler, herapist, speaker, and author of Discovering Your Communication Type, to talk about why most of us feel lonely and why we're stuck in the same communication patterns (or lack thereof), having the same arguments, and wondering why nothing changes — even when we're trying. The answer isn't more empathy or better boundaries. It starts with understanding yourself. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the people we love most are often the hardest to communicate with — and what that reveals about the relationship The 5 communication types (PATHS framework) and how to identify your own default style Why understanding someone else’s communication type changes everything How defensiveness is often identity protection — and how to navigate it with more clarity Why generous, giving people often experience the deepest loneliness The hidden patterns that create disconnection in everyday conversations How to stop expecting people to “just know” what you need and start communicating it clearly A simple framework for navigating hard conversations without escalation About the guest: Jason VanRuler is a licensed therapist, nationally recognized speaker, and author of Discovering Your Communication Type: The 5 Paths to Deeper Connections and Stronger Relationships. His work helps individuals, couples, and teams break out of default communication patterns so they can build more honest, connected, and peaceful relationships — one conversation at a time. If you enjoy conversations like this, you can subscribe to the newsletter for honest reflections on faith, relationships, identity, and intentional living, plus behind-the-scenes insights and new episodes. Take Jason's free communication assessment: JasonVR.com Follow Jason on social: @Jason.VanRuler Follow Annica @annicafischer

  6. May 25

    Made to Magnify: Breaking the Cycle of Self with Morgan Krueger

    Would you agree that we're living in the most self-focused era in human history — and yet also one of the loneliest? Today's guest, Made to Magnify author Morgan Krueger, joins us to talk about the connection. Morgan is sharing why focusing more on ourselves is actually making us more anxious, more dissatisfied, and more stuck and what it looks like practically, to step out of that cycle. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the "more" you've been chasing isn't the more you were actually made for The three-part cycle of self — pride, fear, and doubt — and how it quietly keeps women stuck in comparison, striving, and burnout What it actually means to magnify Jesus in your everyday life (hint: it's smaller and closer than you think) The Tim Keller quote that reframes everything: "Self-forgetfulness is not thinking less of yourself — it's thinking of yourself less" How to approach self-care, your home, and your ambitions without guilt — and with God in the conversation This episode is for you if: You're an ambitious, faith-driven woman who feels like there has to be more — but you're not sure what that more actually is You've been running on empty and can't figure out why You want to live differently than the culture around you but need practical language for how You're ready to stop managing your pride, fear, and doubt on your own and bring them somewhere better TIMESTAMPS 1:00 — Why the self-focus culture is making us more anxious, not less 3:00 — The "in here" problem: our natural bent toward self 7:00 — What does it take to drift? (Christine Caine) 9:00 — Come before you go: the posture of Mary in Luke 10 15:00 — The cycle of self: pride, fear, and doubt 22:00 — Self-care, discernment, and inviting God into the small decisions 33:00 — The first honest step for the woman who recognizes herself in this conversation 37:00 — How Morgan defines success RESOURCES + LINKS MENTIONED 📖 Made to Magnify by Morgan Krueger  📖 The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller Follow Morgan on Instagram: @morgankrueger  Morgan's website + ministry: morgankrueger.com  Let’s stay connected  Subscribe to the Tried and Truth podcast  Join “Right Here, Lately” —the newsletter  Share this episode with a friend who needs it

  7. May 18

    You’ve Been Decluttering Wrong — How to Create a Happy Home | Katy Joy Wells

    If you’ve decluttered your home but it still feels overwhelming, this episode is for you. Katy Joy Wells, decluttering expert has helped over 250,000 families transform their homes into "happy places" by addressing the real clutter problem: the beliefs, habits, and emotional attachments underneath all the stuff. Katy unpacks why most decluttering attempts fail, what clutter actually means, and how we can create a home that supports their mental health — without needing a free Saturday or a Pinterest-perfect pantry. In this episode, you'll learn:  The 4 types of clutter (most of us only ever address one of these!) The one question to ask before keeping anything Introducing decluttering to your kids without the power struggle Why a happy home has nothing to do with how it looks — and everything to do with how it feels Why adding visible, permanent donation stations in high-traffic areas (like your laundry room or closest) can be a game-changing next step.  Powerful mindset shifts around clutter and your environment What does a room "reset" look like? Mentioned in this episode:  The Maximized Minimalist www.katyjoywells.com Katy's Latest Book: Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm  HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO THE NEWSLETTER? It's that little spark to your inbox you didn't know you needed. Never miss a conversation, good read, or takeaway again :)

  8. May 11

    Feeling Lost in an In-Between Season? Finding Hope in Uncertain Times w/ Adriel Booker

    What do you do when life feels uncertain, unsteady, or like you’re living in an in-between season? In this episode, Annica sits down with writer and speaker Adriel Booker from Australia to talk about navigating life transitions, grief, identity shifts, and what it looks like to stay grounded when nothing feels clearly resolved. Together, they explore the emotional and spiritual reality of "liminal space"—those spaces between what was and what’s next—and how God meets us in the middle of uncertainty, change, and becoming. This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in a transition, overwhelmed by change, or quietly asking how to trust God when life feels unclear. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: In-between seasons of life and identity transitions Feeling lost, uncertain, or emotionally disoriented Navigating grief, change, and midlife shifts What faith looks like in seasons of uncertainty The quiet kindness of God in everyday life Why being human is not a weakness, but a gift How faithfulness matters more than clarity or control KEY TAKEAWAYS Hope is already holding onto you—you don’t have to grip it tightly. In-between seasons are not wasted time; they are places of transformation. We are shaped more by who we love and how we stay open to being loved than by having all the answers. Faithfulness is not perfection or clarity—it’s showing up fully in the place you actually are. Resources mentioned:  Follow Adriel on IG@adrielbooker or her website. Adriel's new book: Tethered to Hope: The Quiet Kindness of God in Crisis, Change, and the Spaces in Between If this resonated with you… HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO THE NEWSLETTER? It's that little spark to your inbox you didn't know you needed. Never miss a conversation, good read, or takeaway again :)  If you’re in a season of transition, uncertainty, or change, share this episode with someone who might need it. And if you’re enjoying these conversations, follow and subscribe to The Tried and Truth Podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next. Follow Annica on Instagram @annicafischer

See All (130)

5
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Real stories. Honest conversations. Better questions for real life. The world is full of hacks for a better life. But a meaningful life isn't built on shortcuts—it’s built in the ordinary, messy, beautiful middle of it all. I’m 40, I’m raising boys, and I’ve started asking different questions than I did twenty years ago. What does success actually look like now? What if what worked in one season doesn’t work in the next? What really matters—and what are we spending too much energy chasing? Each week on The Tried & Truth Podcast, we sit down with authors, entrepreneurs, experts, and thought leaders to explore the questions and honest conversations that surface as life changes.  This isn't about having it all figured out. It’s about finding perspective, asking better questions, and discovering what it looks like to grow, live with intention, and define (or maybe redefine) success for yourself along the way.  Every episode ends with quick takeaways and one grounding question: What does success look like to you? Because the definition of a good life can change—and sometimes the questions we need to ask change with it. No fluff. Just honest conversations, practical perspective, and a little more clarity for the road ahead. Connect with Annica:  Subscribe to the newsletter for a little spark of insights to your inbox! on Instagram @ANNICAFISCHER or visit www.annicafischer.com

Information

You Might Also Like