Encounters at the Well

Amy Donathan
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Christianity

Encounters at the Well is a heartfelt and meaningful podcast aimed at creating a supportive community for women in their faith journey. By sharing stories from different stages of life and addressing both the joys and challenges of walking with Jesus, the podcast can offer listeners encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of connection. 

  1. 6h ago

    Salvation & Inner Struggles: A Mother-Daughter Conversation

    In this deeply personal episode of Encounters at the Well, I'm joined by my daughter, Alli, as she shares her journey through anxiety, depression, and faith. Together, we have an honest conversation about what it's like to walk through mental health struggles as a Christian, both from the perspective of the person struggling and the family members who love them. Alli opens up about her experiences with anxiety and depression, the challenges she faced during college, her journey to faith, and the reality of continuing to manage her mental health through therapy and medication. We also talk about a difficult crisis season in 2023, the importance of having supportive people around you, and what helped her keep moving forward when life felt overwhelming. If you've ever wondered whether struggling with anxiety or depression means you're failing God, this conversation is for you. We discuss common misconceptions about mental health and faith, the importance of seeking professional help, and why needing support doesn't make you weak. It makes you human. My prayer is that this episode reminds you that you are not alone, your struggles do not define you, and there is hope even in the hardest seasons. In this episode, we discuss: • Alli's journey with anxiety, depression, and faith • The impact of college and life transitions on mental health • Why seeking therapy and taking medication is not a lack of faith • Supporting a loved one through mental health challenges • The importance of community and professional help • Finding hope and strength in Christ during difficult seasons • Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in the Christian community No matter where you are in your journey, we hope this conversation encourages you to reach out, seek support, and remember that God's presence is with you in every season.

    1h 48m

  2. May 16

    Anxiety and Depression: Faith Doesn't Always Fix It

    What happens when faith feels strong on the outside… but anxiety and depression are loud on the inside? In this honest conversation, we’re talking about the real struggle so many Christian women face with mental health and why battling anxiety or depression does not mean your faith is weak. We dive into the intersection of faith and mental health, the role the church can play in healing, and why therapy can be a beautiful tool God uses in the process. We also look at biblical examples of people who struggled deeply and remind ourselves that God is not intimidated by our pain, questions, or hard seasons. If you’ve ever felt ashamed for struggling, this episode is for you. You are not failing God. You are human, deeply loved, and worthy of support and healing. ✨ Takeaways: • Faith and mental health are not in competition • Struggling mentally is not a sign of spiritual failure • Therapy and biblical truth can work together • God meets us with compassion in our hardest moments I pray this conversation encourages you to take one more step toward healing, freedom, and hope. 🤍

    30 min

  3. May 9

    Approval Addiction

    The series explores themes of comparison, body image, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and approval addiction. It delves into the impact of social media, seeking external validation, and the struggle with self-worth. The episodes emphasize embracing God's view of identity, freedom from human judgment, and anchoring identity in Christ's love and acceptance. Takeaways Embrace God's view of identityShift focus to God's approval Chapters 00:00 Comparison and Social Media Trap06:16 Identity in Christ and Trusting God11:59 Defining Approval Addiction18:14 Freedom from Condemnation24:43 Accepting God's Unchanging Love30:33 Living Free of Comparison and People-Pleasing

    33 min

  4. May 1

    Perfectionism

    The conversation delves into the topic of perfectionism and its impact on self-worth and faith. It explores the rewards and consequences of perfectionism, its roots, and its influence on one's relationship with God. The episode concludes with practical steps to overcome perfectionism and live from a place of 'I am enough.' Takeaways Perfectionism as a form of controlThe impact of perfectionism on faith and self-worth Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Perfectionism07:52 The Root of Perfectionism18:05 Perfectionism in Faith22:53 Surrendering Perfectionism

    32 min

  5. Apr 17

    People Pleasing vs. God Pleasing

    The episode explores the theme of people-pleasing and the impact of performance-based worth on individuals. It emphasizes the contrast between people-pleasing and God-pleasing, highlighting the freedom and assurance found in God's love and acceptance. Takeaways Performance-based worth leads to people-pleasing and a constant need for approval.God's love and acceptance provide freedom from the burden of people-pleasing and the assurance of worth.Living from a place of God-pleasing rather than people-pleasing brings freedom and authenticity. Chapters 00:00 Freedom from People-Pleasing

    27 min

  6. Apr 10

    Body Image, Aging, and Our Identity in Christ

    The conversation explores the topics of body image, aging, and identity in Christ, focusing on the experiences and insights of Jessica Nelson, a gerontology professional. It delves into the cultural messages about aging, the importance of health, and the need to embrace aging while prioritizing self-care and mental well-being. The conversation explores the themes of embracing aging with grace, the impact of faith on aging, the lies women believe about aging, the joy of aging, and practical steps for embracing aging. It emphasizes the importance of volunteering and highlights the positive aspects of aging, encouraging a shift in mindset and behavior. Takeaways Body image and agingIdentity in Christ Embracing aging with graceThe importance of volunteering Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Struggles07:13 Aging and Identity in Gerontology12:59 Cultural Messages About Aging25:29 Embracing Aging and Self-Care32:01 Embracing Aging with Grace39:36 The Lies Women Believe About Aging50:29 The Joy of Aging56:07 Practical Steps for Embracing Aging

    1h 2m

  7. Mar 21

    Comparison Culture and Social Media Envy

    The conversation delves into the comparison trap and its emotional impact, particularly in the context of social media and the church. It explores the feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and resentment associated with comparison, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and naming these emotions. The episode concludes with a call to action to notice, name, and bring these emotions into the light, moving toward freedom and self-acceptance. Takeaways Comparison trapImpact of comparison on self-worth

    21 min

  8. Feb 25

    What Happens When You Don’t Have Time to Grieve?

    Send a text What happens when you don’t have time to grieve? In this deeply honest episode of Encounters at the Well, Amy sits down with Kellie Bradshaw to talk about delayed grief, survival mode, and what faith looks like when loss keeps coming and life keeps demanding more. Kellie shares her story of profound and repeated loss, including stillbirth, miscarriage, and the tragic death of her 18-year-old son while in military training. Within one year, she buried two children. At the same time, she was caring for a medically fragile baby, navigating serious health diagnoses within her family, supporting her husband through cancer, building a home, homeschooling, and simply trying to keep everyone afloat. There was no quiet space to fall apart. No season where everything paused. Grief was squeezed into the cracks of time. In this conversation, you will hear what “delayed grief” can really look like: Living in constant triage modePushing emotions aside to surviveFeeling robbed of the opportunity to mournCarrying anger toward God without realizing itStruggling to feel joy even during beautiful milestonesWondering if it is too late to process what happenedKellie vulnerably shares how she coped when counseling wasn’t an option. She talks about journaling, including what she calls a “junk journal” where she poured out raw, unfiltered prayers to God. She describes putting in an “emotional epidural” just to keep going, and how that wall of protection eventually became something God gently began to crack open years later. You will hear about the moment God prompted her, three separate times, to attend GriefShare more than a decade after her losses. Through that process, she realized that grief buried is not grief healed. Amy and Kellie also talk about faith in the middle of unanswered prayers. What does it mean to trust a loving God when the plan feels unbearable? How do you reconcile asking God to “keep my baby safe” and then watching that child go to heaven? This episode explores: The difference between peace and the absence of painHow heaven becomes deeply real after lossWhy grief does not follow a textbook timelineThe side effects of living in survival mode for yearsWhat it means to walk toward Jesus even when you are not ready to fully open the doorKellie shares a powerful image God gave her during one of her lowest moments: standing at the edge of a collapsed bridge, unable to fix the rubble, and seeing a cross stretched across the ravine. The invitation was simple. Keep walking toward Him. If you are the woman who had to be strong for everyone else…  If your grief only shows up when you are alone at night…  If you feel like you missed your chance to mourn properly…  If you are afraid to revisit what you buried… This conversation is for you. It is not too late to grieve.  It is not too late to heal.  And it is never too late to let God meet you in the cracks. The episode closes with a prayer for women who are busy, weary, and quietly carrying loss. If you or someone you love is navigating delayed grief, share this episode. Healing begins when we stop pretending we are fine and start walking toward the One who already knows. Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Encounters at the Well is a heartfelt and meaningful podcast aimed at creating a supportive community for women in their faith journey. By sharing stories from different stages of life and addressing both the joys and challenges of walking with Jesus, the podcast can offer listeners encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of connection. 

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Donathan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Amy Donathan
  • Show Website
    Encounters at the Well