At the Counter with the Baking Pastor | Christian Encouragement, Grief Support, Burnout Recovery, Soul Care, Faith in Everyda

Laura Sharp-Waites | Licensed Minister, Pastoral Counselor, Christian Life Coach
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Spirituality

At the Counter with the Baking Pastor is a Christian podcast for anyone navigating grief, burnout, life transitions, emotional healing, and the quieter seasons of faith. Hosted by Laura Sharp-Waites, licensed minister and pastoral counselor, each episode offers honest conversations, meaningful stories, faith-filled encouragement, and practical soul care for the moments when life feels heavy or you simply don't feel like yourself anymore. There's no pressure to have everything figured out here. Just a place to slow down, breathe, and notice God's presence in the middle of everyday life. Pull up a chair. The counter is open.

  1. 3d ago

    30 | When Coping Isn't Enough Anymore: Finding Your Way Back to Yourself with Kathrine Parnell

    Sometimes the things that helped us survive eventually stop helping us live. We keep functioning. We show up. We take care of people. We handle the responsibilities. From the outside, we may even look successful. But underneath all that competence, something feels off. This week at the counter, Laura welcomes licensed therapist, author, and Stone and Sky Retreats founder Katherine Parnell for a conversation about what happens when coping, performing, and pushing through are no longer enough. Katherine shares why the strategies that once helped us manage difficult seasons may eventually leave us exhausted and disconnected, especially when we're living according to expectations that no longer align with who we are or what we value. Together, Laura and Katherine explore the hidden exhaustion of switching roles, why burnout can sometimes look remarkably like success, and what happens when identities such as caregiver, helper, peacemaker, achiever, or "the strong one" begin to cost us more than we realize. They also talk about grief that accompanies even positive transitions, the discomfort of slowing down, and Katherine's unexpected experience in the Scottish Highlands that taught her what can happen when the noise finally becomes quiet enough to hear ourselves again. And Katherine offers a simple pen-and-paper exercise to help identify what actually matters to you now, rather than what you've been taught should matter. At the counter:  When coping strategies stop helping  Why appearing capable doesn't mean you're okay  The energy cost of constantly shifting roles and performing  How values change as our lives and circumstances change  Why burnout can masquerade as success  Caregiving, identity, and the question, "Who am I when I'm not taking care of everyone else?"  Why even good changes can bring grief  What stillness can reveal when we're brave enough to stay there  Katherine's 60-second exercise for identifying your values  Where to begin when you realize you've lost touch with yourself One of the most hopeful reminders Katherine offers is beautifully simple: It's not too late. Reconnecting with yourself doesn't require changing your entire life overnight. It can begin with one quiet moment, one honest answer, and one small step toward living in greater alignment with what matters to you. Katherine emphasizes that even one step toward authenticity is worthwhile.  About Katherine Parnell Katherine Parnell is a licensed therapist, author, and founder of Stone and Sky Retreats. For more than 20 years, she has worked in mental health, helping people navigate burnout, identity shifts, life transitions, and the exhaustion that can hide behind competence and success. She is the author of Keeping It Real: Discovering Your Authentic Self and creates retreat experiences designed to help people slow down, reconnect with their values, and rediscover who they are beneath expectations, roles, and responsibilities. Learn more about Katherine and Stone and Sky Retreats at stoneandskyretreats.com and look for Keeping It Real: Discovering Your Authentic Self https://amzn.to/4bYpUiv Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    30 | When Coping Isn't Enough Anymore: Finding Your Way Back to Yourself with Kathrine Parnell

  2. Aug 12

    29 | Second Chances, Front Porches, and Grace with Melissa Alyse

    Some stories entertain us. Others somehow feel like home. Author Melissa Alyse has created just such a place in Willow Creek, Texas, the fictional small town at the heart of her grace-soaked Christian fiction and cozy mystery series. It's filled with coffee, baked goods, front porches, church potlucks, friendship, a delightfully determined group of bridge-playing women, and people discovering that God's grace has room for them exactly as they are. Melissa joins Laura at the counter for a warm, laughter-filled conversation about much more than books. They explore our longing to belong, the pressure to become who others expect us to be, the freedom of releasing perfectionism, and the courage it takes to choose a different story for our lives. Melissa shares why grace became the drumbeat running through Willow Creek and why Ephesians 2:10 has shaped her message: God made you just as you are on purpose. Through characters like Sammy and Michelle, her stories wrestle with questions many of us know personally. Where do I belong? Who am I beneath everyone else's expectations? Have I made too many mistakes? Is it too late to become someone different? And then there are Glory and the Bridge Ladies, women shaped by faith, wisdom, friendship, and the kind of grace that knows how to sit beside someone without trying to fix them. Melissa shares how women who have left “footprints on her heart” found their way into these beloved characters.  Together, Laura and Melissa talk about seeing ourselves through the lens of grace, letting go of the polished versions of ourselves we think God expects, and discovering that our mistakes cannot cancel what God has called us to become. As Melissa beautifully reminds us, God is bigger than all of our mistakes.  And yes, there is plenty of conversation about coffee, brownies, baked goods, glitter pens, and why Laura would very much like Glory and the Bridge Ladies to adopt her. ☕✨ At the counter:  Why Willow Creek feels like home to so many readers  The difference between fitting in and truly belonging  Learning to believe God made you just as you are on purpose  How perfectionism and people-pleasing can keep us from being ourselves  Why seeing our younger selves through grace can be healing  The women who mentor, encourage, pray for, and walk beside us  Why fiction can help us recognize that we're not alone in our struggles  Offering God our real selves instead of a carefully polished version  What Glory teaches us about holding space without judgment  Why mistakes and missed opportunities don't put us beyond a second chance  Finding grace, purpose, and belonging in ordinary life About Melissa Alyse Melissa Alyse writes grace-soaked cozy Christian fiction and cozy non-murder mysteries set in Willow Creek, Texas, a fictional small town where faith, love, and second chances bloom. Her stories offer hope, encouragement, and the reminder that God made you just as you are on purpose. Melissa lives in Alaska with her husband and their rescue pup. She loves quiet mornings journaling with Jesus and coffee, FaceTime with the grands, creating beautiful things, and noticing the beauty tucked into life's ordinary moments. Learn more about Melissa, Willow Creek, and her books at MelissaAlyse.com. A Blessing for the Week May you release the pressure to be perfect.  May you find people who remind you that you belong.  May you discover grace in unexpected places.  And may you trust that the Author of your story is still writing it.  Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    29 | Second Chances, Front Porches, and Grace with Melissa Alyse

  3. Aug 5

    28 | When Life Doesn't Go Back to Normal with Laura Bratton

    What do you do when life changes in ways you never expected? When the future you imagined is no longer possible. When grief isn't just about losing a person, but about losing dreams, milestones, health, or the life you thought you would have. In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura welcomes author and speaker Laura Bratton for a deeply honest conversation about navigating life's unexpected transitions with courage, grit, and gratitude. Diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease at age nine, Laura gradually lost her sight as a teenager. She shares what it was like to grieve that loss, wrestle with anxiety and depression, learn to receive support, and slowly accept a new normal. Rather than offering quick answers, Laura reminds us that courage isn't having everything figured out. Sometimes courage is simply taking the next step. Whether you're facing grief, a difficult diagnosis, a life transition, or simply wondering how to move forward when nothing looks the way you planned, this conversation offers hope that healing happens one step, one day, and one choice at a time. In This Episode Why grief is about more than deathLearning to accept a "new normal"Why asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weaknessHow courage grows one small step at a timeThe difference between toxic positivity and genuine gratitudeFinding purpose after unexpected lossBuilding resilience through support and communityWhy you don't have to have everything figured out todayA Quote to Carry With You "Courage isn't having all the answers. Sometimes courage is simply taking the next step." Reflection Questions • What part of your life has changed that you're still learning to accept? • What is one next step you can take instead of trying to solve everything at once? • Where might God be inviting you to receive support instead of carrying everything alone? Connect with Laura Bratton 🌐 LauraBratton.com 📖 Harnessing Courage - https://link.amazon/B06OUpqPg ☕ Pull up a chair. Welcome to At the Counter with The Baking Pastor, where faith meets everyday life. Whether you're carrying grief, feeling weary, or simply looking for a quiet place to catch your breath, I'm so glad you're here. Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    28 | When Life Doesn't Go Back to Normal with Laura Bratton

  4. Jul 29

    27 | When You Don't Recognize Your Life Anymore with Shannon Michelle

    Sometimes life changes slowly. Sometimes it changes all at once. One day you know who you are. The next, everything feels unfamiliar. In this heartfelt conversation, Laura welcomes Shannon Michelle, former award-winning Los Angeles interior designer, author, and self-described "one-eye miracle." After surviving a catastrophic motorcycle accident, a two-month coma, memory loss, childhood trauma, and later breast cancer, Shannon discovered that healing wasn't about returning to the person she used to be. It was about learning to embrace the person she was becoming. Together they explore: • Why healing isn't about getting your old life back • Learning to live in the present instead of chasing the past • Releasing perfectionism, fear, and the need to control everything • Becoming a better receiver instead of always being the giver • Taking small, faithful steps instead of waiting for a complete transformation • Seeing brokenness as part of your story, not your identity • Choosing kindness toward yourself, even on the hardest days If you've ever looked in the mirror and wondered who you've become after trauma, illness, grief, or life's unexpected turns, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you don't have to become who you were before. You are allowed to become someone new. Breath Prayer Breathe in: I receive Your grace. Breathe out: Help me become. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's always room for you at the Counter. Connect with Shannon Learn more about Shannon Michelle and her speaking ministry at StepIntoYourMiracle.com.  Here is a link to her book, Step Into Your Miracle: Transforming Trauma into Triumph: https://amzn.to/4yEDHEz Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    27 | When You Don't Recognize Your Life Anymore with Shannon Michelle

  5. Jul 22

    26 | Your Story Is Still Unfolding with Chip Scholz

    There are seasons when it feels like everyone else is moving forward while you're standing still. You look around and wonder if you've missed your chance, taken a wrong turn, or simply should be further along by now. This week at the counter, Laura welcomes executive coach, author, and wood turner Chip Scholz for a thoughtful conversation about the slow work of becoming. Drawing from decades of coaching leaders, personal loss, woodworking, and everyday life, Chip shares why growth rarely happens all at once and why the small decisions we make each day quietly shape the people we're becoming. Together they explore what it means to grant ourselves grace, stay curious instead of judgmental, and trust that God is still at work, even when life doesn't look the way we expected. If you've ever felt unfinished, behind, or unsure of your next step, this conversation offers a gentle reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out to keep moving forward. In this episode... Why so many of us feel like we should be further along in life Learning to extend grace to ourselves as freely as we give it to othersWhy curiosity often leads to healing better than self-judgmentWhat a pocketknife, a wood lathe, and a piece of maple can teach us about becomingTrusting God through unexpected detours, loss, and changing plansWhy the next small step matters more than having the whole journey mapped outEmbracing the truth that your story is still unfoldingAbout Chip Scholz Chip Scholz is an executive coach, leadership consultant, author, and wood turner who believes life's greatest lessons are often found in the ordinary moments we tend to overlook. Through decades of coaching leaders, telling stories, and crafting with wood, he has discovered that growth happens one small decision at a time. His book, Every Dog Has Its Day: Reflections on Life, Love, and the Lathe, reflects on the people, experiences, and quiet moments that shape who we become. Connect with Chip 🌐 https://scholzandassociates.com/ 📖 Every Dog Has Its Day: Reflections on Life, Love, and the Lathe https://amzn.to/4faf23a Connect with Laura If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to pull up a chair each week. 🌐 bakingpastor.com 🎙️ Follow At the Counter with the Baking Pastor wherever you listen to podcasts. ☕ Pull up a chair. Welcome to At the Counter with The Baking Pastor, where faith meets everyday life. Whether you're carrying grief, feeling weary, or simply looking for a quiet place to catch your breath, I'm so glad you're here. Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    26 | Your Story Is Still Unfolding with Chip Scholz

  6. Jul 15

    25 | When Healing Happens Quietly with Melissa Prusinski

    Healing doesn't always happen in dramatic moments. Sometimes it looks like taking one more faithful step. Sometimes it looks like learning to breathe again. Sometimes it happens so quietly that you don't notice the change until you look back and realize how far you've come. Today, Laura welcomes Melissa Prusinski, founder of Our Healing Farm and author of Say Howdy to Healing and Hope! A Guide to Restoration Through Faith and Horses. Through her own journey with trauma, chronic illness, late-stage Lyme disease, and deep dependence on the Holy Spirit, Melissa has discovered that healing isn't about becoming tougher. It's about becoming whole. Together they discuss: • Why healing is a process instead of a destination  • Living beyond survival mode  • Nervous system healing and emotional restoration  • Listening for the Holy Spirit in everyday life  • What horses can teach us about slowing down and trust  • Letting go of old wounds without pretending they never happened  • Why God often works in quiet, unseen ways If you've ever wondered why your healing feels slow, or if you've worried that you're not making progress, this conversation is a gentle reminder that God is still working beneath the surface. Breath Prayer Breathe in: Make me whole. Breathe out: One quiet step at a time. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's always room for you at the Counter. Connect with Melissa Her book: Say Howdy to Healing and Hope!: A Guide to Restoration Through Faith and Horses - https://amzn.to/4wwX8gA Our Healing Farm Website: https://www.ourhealingfarm.com/  Continue the conversation by visiting bakingpastor.com, joining the community, exploring resources, or reading the Bible in a Year with Sassy. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today.  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    25 | When Healing Happens Quietly with Melissa Prusinski

  7. Jul 8

    24 | When You Don't Recognize Your Life Anymore... and Still Keep Going with Jay Setchell

    Life doesn't always unfold the way we imagined. Sometimes illness changes everything. Sometimes loss reshapes our future. Sometimes we wake up one day and realize we hardly recognize the life we're living. In this episode, Laura welcomes Jay Setchell to the Counter. Jay has survived multiple near-death experiences, paralysis, dozens of surgeries, and more than seventy operations. Yet through every challenge, he has discovered something deeper than endurance: the strength that God places within each of us to keep taking the next step. Together they explore: What to do when life looks nothing like you expectedThe difference between hope, belief, and faithFinding strength within life's hardest seasonsWhy small steps matter more than giant leapsThe importance of community when life feels overwhelmingLearning to persevere one day at a timeDiscovering purpose even after life changesJay's story isn't simply about surviving difficult circumstances. It's about learning that even when life changes, God hasn't changed. If your life feels unfamiliar, overwhelming, or you've wondered whether you still have purpose after everything you've been through, this conversation is a reminder that your story isn't over. Breath Prayer Breathe in: God of strength... Breathe out: Help me keep going. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's always room for you at the Counter. Connect with Jay Learn more about Jay and his work at NeverQuitting.com ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    24 | When You Don't Recognize Your Life Anymore... and Still Keep Going with Jay Setchell

  8. Jul 1

    23 | When Some Things Never Fully Resolve with Rev. Rebecca Foster

    Some questions don't have easy answers. Some hurts don't disappear overnight. Some chapters of life remain unfinished longer than we'd ever choose. Today, Laura is joined by Rev. Rebecca Foster, an ordained minister with a background in chaplaincy and death care. Rebecca has walked closely with people through some of life's most tender moments, where questions don't always have answers and what people need most isn't someone to fix the situation, but someone willing to stay present. In this gentle conversation, Laura and Rebecca explore what it means to live faithfully with the things we can't fix. Together they discuss: Living with unanswered questions while trusting GodWhy presence is often more healing than having the right wordsWhat forgiveness really looks like (and what it doesn't)How to place unresolved situations into God's handsThe "holy tension" of faith and sufferingWhat people nearing the end of life say matters mostLearning to let go without pretending the hurt never happenedIf you've been carrying unresolved grief, broken trust, unanswered prayers, or questions that may never fully be answered this side of heaven, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: You don't have to carry them alone. Breath Prayer Breathe in: I place it in Your hands. Breathe out: You are holding me. ☕ Pull up a chair. There's room for your questions here. Connect with Rebecca: You can learn more about Rebecca and connect on threads at rev.rctfoster  ☕ Interested in Being a Guest? Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor. If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.

    23 | When Some Things Never Fully Resolve with Rev. Rebecca Foster
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About

At the Counter with the Baking Pastor is a Christian podcast for anyone navigating grief, burnout, life transitions, emotional healing, and the quieter seasons of faith. Hosted by Laura Sharp-Waites, licensed minister and pastoral counselor, each episode offers honest conversations, meaningful stories, faith-filled encouragement, and practical soul care for the moments when life feels heavy or you simply don't feel like yourself anymore. There's no pressure to have everything figured out here. Just a place to slow down, breathe, and notice God's presence in the middle of everyday life. Pull up a chair. The counter is open.

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