Seek First CEO: Neuroscience, Scripture, & Spirit-led Strategy for High-performing Christian Women

Heather Shriver Burns: Master Neuroscience Business Coach, Certified Biblical Life Coach, and Speaker
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Seek First CEO is a podcast for high-performing, faith-led women who are done choosing between success and peace. Hosted by Heather Shriver Burns, Master Coach and speaker, this show explores the intersection of neuroscience, Scripture, and spirit-led strategy — helping women understand their inner world so they can lead, build, and steward their mission from alignment instead of pressure. These conversations are for the woman who knows she’s anointed to lead, called to abundance, and tired of doing everything “right” while freedom still feels just out of reach. Because when you seek first the Kingdom, leadership flows differently — and everything else follows. Want to connect? Instagram: http://instragram.com/heathershriverburns Email: hello@heathershriverburns.com Website: Under construction

  1. 2D AGO

    //263: The Real Reason You Struggle to Rest and What You Can Do About It

    In this episode, we’re getting honest about the real reason high performers struggle to slow down—even when they know rest is biblical, healthy, and necessary. We’re breaking down what’s happening in your nervous system when you try to rest (hello, guilt + restlessness), why information alone doesn’t change behavior, and how small, intentional micro-rests—re-trains your body to feel safe enough to actually enjoy rest. Because rest was never meant to feel like punishment. It was meant to feel like a big exhale. We’ll also go there: for many high achievers, busy-ness isn’t ambition—it’s avoidance… and can be a sign you’ve lost intimacy with yourself, God, and what you actually need. In this episode, you’ll learn: The #1 nervous system reason rest feels hard (and why discipline won’t fix it) How high performers subconsciously link rest = lazy and work = safety Why “Sabbath” can become another performance metric (and how to reclaim it) What titration is and why small rests work better than big ones Simple micro-rest practices that help your body stop panicking when you slow down How to shift from collapse-rest to joy-based rest you actually look forward to If you’re ready to stop collecting self-care tips and start rewiring what’s underneath the grind… DM me “Made to Flow” and I’ll send you the details on my program built for high-performing women who want to rewire their internal world and live rich and rested—without shutting down their ambition.

    26 min

  2. JAN 30

    //262: Why You Know the Truth — But It Hasn’t Changed Your Life (Yet)

    You don’t need more Bible verses. You don’t need new strategies. You don’t need better mindset shifts. You need to learn how to integrate what you already know. In this episode, we unpack why high-performing, Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs can consume incredible content—books, podcasts, sermons, strategies—and still feel capped, frustrated, or tense at their next level. This isn’t a discipline problem. It’s not a faith problem. And it’s not a motivation problem. It’s an integration problem. We talk about why information alone doesn’t create change, what integration actually is (and what it’s not), how your nervous system and patterns shape behavior under pressure, and why unlearning is often required before anything new can truly land. This conversation is designed to help you see the gap—not fill it with more content. In This Episode, We Cover: Why knowing the truth doesn’t automatically translate into lived experience The difference between information, revelation, and integration How most systems teach you what to think but not how to integrate truth into daily life The science behind why insight doesn’t override patterns or nervous system responses Why high performers feel especially frustrated at their next level How patterns are formed for safety—not logic Why more content often increases pressure instead of change The role of unlearning before true transformation can occur What it means to understand your internal world as a Kingdom entrepreneur Why this isn’t about trying harder, being more disciplined, or consuming more Key Takeaways Information lives in the mind; behavior is driven by the nervous system Integration is how truth moves from head → body → decision → daily life Under pressure, you don’t default to what you believe—you default to what’s integrated Growth and expansion expose integration gaps, not personal failure Sustainable leadership requires internal capacity, not just insight A Note on Faith Scripture consistently points to transformation as a process, not a download. Renewal produces fruit when truth is lived—not just understood. This episode uses faith as an anchor, not a weapon—and science as an explanation, not a replacement. Next Steps This podcast isn’t meant to give you more information. It’s meant to help you recognize why nothing changed—and discern what kind of work is actually required next. If you’re listening and thinking, “This is the gap I’ve been hitting,” you don’t need another episode. You may need a different environment. 👉 DM me the word “INTEGRATION”  on IG if you want to explore whether my work is the right next step for you. This isn’t for everyone—and that’s intentional. I love working with women ready to change their lives from the inside out!

    28 min

  3. JAN 23

    //261: You Were Never Called To Build The Kingdom Through Your Business

    You were never meant to build the Kingdom through your business. So what were you meant to do? Jesus didn’t invite His followers to build something for God. He invited them to do something different.  In this episode, we return to Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom and explore a quiet but powerful shift many leaders miss: the Kingdom isn’t something you do for God—it’s something you learn how to live from with Him. This is a conversation about alignment over effort, inheritance over earning, and why capacity—not calling—is the real bottleneck for most leaders. We’ll walk through the keys Jesus gave for accessing the Kingdom and why high performers often struggle—not because they’re doing life wrong, but because the Kingdom operates from the inside out.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why Jesus never instructed anyone to build the Kingdom—and what He actually said instead The difference between achievement-based living and Kingdom alignment Why high performers feel friction with trust, surrender, and rest The six Kingdom keys Jesus taught: trust, childlikeness, dependence, repentance, internal access, and inheritance How productivity can quietly replace intimacy with God Why your struggle isn’t a faith problem—it’s a capacity problem What it actually means to live from the Kingdom, not for it Want access to the Rewire to Reign Workshop? Grab that HERE.  Ready to upgrade your internal world to align it to the Kingdom? DM me "OVERFLOW" on IG and let's talk.

    26 min

  4. JAN 15

    //260: Chronic Stress for High Performers: You’re Not Fine, You’re Functioning

    When someone asks “How are you?” it’s easy to default to “I’m fine.” But for high-performing Christian women, “fine” is often code for functioning—pushing through stress, carrying massive responsibility, and calling it normal. In this episode, Heather breaks down the subtle signs your nervous system is stuck in go-mode, why “safe” can feel unfamiliar, and how to start shifting out of chronic activation without abandoning your calling. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The two types of “I’m fine” (polite fine vs. protective fine) Why high performers can look calm while their body stays braced The difference between being safe and feeling safe How chronic stress becomes your nervous system’s baseline Why “this is just leadership” is a lie that costs you peace A simple reset you can use when your mind won’t turn off Signs You Might Be “Functioning,” Not Fine: You can rest, but you can’t receive rest You wake up tired even after sleep Your brain starts solving problems the moment you wake up You feel most alive under pressure (deadlines = fuel) You’re calm in chaos, anxious in calm You hit milestones and feel… nothing You constantly feel behind, even when you’re ahead You carry responsibility in your body (jaw/shoulders tight, shallow breathing) You struggle to fully exhale and be present A Question to Sit With: “What does safe even feel like for me?” (Not “my life is unsafe”—but “does my nervous system know I’m safe?”) Try This (60-Second Reset): One hand on chest, one hand on belly Inhale through your nose for 4 Exhale for 6 On the exhale, unclench your jaw and soften your shoulders Say: “In this moment, I am safe.” Notice: does your body agree? If not, that’s information—not failure. If This Episode Hit Home… You’re not broken. You’re patterned. And patterns can be rewired. Call to Action: Join Rewire to Reign™ If you’re ready to stop building your life and business on adrenaline, Rewire to Reign™ is your next step. In this workshop, Heather will help you identify your stress patterns, understand why they became “normal,” and start retraining your system so you can lead with peace, confidence, and capacity. ➡️ Join Rewire to Reign™ here: https://www.heathershriverburns.com/offers/87YhtPFK/checkout Share This Episode With a Friend Who: always says “I’m fine” but her body says otherwise can’t turn her brain off feels guilty when she rests is doing meaningful work but feels internally maxed out Keywords/SEO Tags: nervous system dysregulation, high-functioning anxiety, chronic stress, Christian entrepreneur, burnout prevention, women leaders, somatic tools, faith and neuroscience, nervous system regulation

    27 min

  5. JAN 8

    //259: The Truth About New Beginnings: Why Things Don't Change - Even When You Believe They Can

    We love new beginnings — new years, new opportunities, new seasons. But if you’ve ever wondered why: a new year didn’t change how you feel a new opportunity didn’t change your patterns believing harder didn’t lead to lasting change …this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m sharing the truth about new beginnings that most people never hear: real change doesn’t happen through mindset alone. I talk about: Why fresh starts often don’t create different outcomes The difference between leaving something behind and actually changing internally What “Egypt” really represents — patterns, cycles, and old ways of operating Why faith, truth, and good intentions aren’t always enough to create transformation If you’ve tried to think differently, believe differently, or pray differently — but still find yourself defaulting to the same internal experience — it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because change requires rewiring, not just resolve. Ready to REWIRE your internal world for the dreams in your heart? Join the Rewire to Reign™️ Workshop - January 21 from 12-2 EST (9-11 MST). See you there!

    21 min

  6. 09/23/2025

    //258: 5 Misconceptions About Nervous System Work Every Christian Entrepreneur Needs to Know

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest myths about nervous system work and what every Christian woman needs to know before starting this journey. If you’ve ever thought nervous system work means you’ll always be calm, or if you’ve worried it was “too new age,” this conversation will set you free. Here’s what I’ll cover: Why healing often feels worse before it feels better What scripture actually says about pruning, stress, and regulation How neuroscience and faith confirm each other What you can realistically expect when you begin this process If you’re a high-performing woman who’s tired of pushing past your limits, this episode will give you both clarity and hope. 👉 Ready to step into deeper healing and peace? Join me at the Secret Place Retreat, where I’ll guide you through biblical + brain-based tools for nervous system regulation and soul restoration.  DM me the word "SECRET" on Instagram to ask any questions and to apply.  Take a look at all the info for The Secret Place Retreat here. (7 spots remain as of 9/18)

    18 min

  7. 09/18/2025

    //257: Faith Over Fear: Leading Your Business in a Chaotic World

    The world feels chaotic right now, doesn’t it? With constant bad news, cultural pressure, and endless noise, it’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. But here’s the truth: you were never meant to hold it all. In this episode, I share: Why it’s okay to release what you were never designed to carry. How to shift from leading out of pressure to leading from peace and overflow. The importance of listening for God’s specific direction instead of bowing to fear or outside expectations. A guided Lectio Divina with Psalm 23 to help you pause and practice hearing His voice. I know rest doesn’t come easy for leaders—but it’s exactly what you need most. That’s why I created the Secret Place Retreat. This is your invitation to step away from the noise, breathe deeply, and encounter God in a way that restores your soul and gives you fresh clarity for the season ahead. 👉 Learn more about the Secret Place Retreat HERE.   If this episode spoke to you, I want to connect. Message me on Instagram @heathershriverburns for daily encouragement and to learn more about my coaching and retreats.

    23 min

  8. 09/09/2025

    //256: The Truth About Transition: 3 Things You Need to Know About The Promise

    This week, I’m back after a break—and I’m sharing the raw truth about transition. We moved our family across the country from Pittsburgh, PA to Phoenix, Arizona and it's been BRUTIFUL. Transition can be both brutal and beautiful. It’s the tension of excitement and grief, of trusting God while wrestling with what is still yet to come. In this honest episode, I share: Why transition is always a both/and (not just good or bad). The pitfalls to avoid when you’re in between the old and the new. Three powerful truths to help you navigate your own transition season with courage and faith. If God has you in transition right now, this one’s for you. If this episode spoke to you, I'd love to connect and pray for you while you're in transition. My DM's are open on Instagram!

    20 min
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About

Seek First CEO is a podcast for high-performing, faith-led women who are done choosing between success and peace. Hosted by Heather Shriver Burns, Master Coach and speaker, this show explores the intersection of neuroscience, Scripture, and spirit-led strategy — helping women understand their inner world so they can lead, build, and steward their mission from alignment instead of pressure. These conversations are for the woman who knows she’s anointed to lead, called to abundance, and tired of doing everything “right” while freedom still feels just out of reach. Because when you seek first the Kingdom, leadership flows differently — and everything else follows. Want to connect? Instagram: http://instragram.com/heathershriverburns Email: hello@heathershriverburns.com Website: Under construction

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