Freed to Lead | Live Confidently in Your Calling and Identity in Christ

Kathryn May – Christian Transformation Life Coach, Author
  • 5.0 (28)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Freed to Lead is where we lay down the weight of perfectionism, fear & self-doubt to step into the freedom to live & lead with confidence in Christ. Imagine trading the pressure to prove yourself for peace rooted in Him, walking into rooms no longer chained by lies but carrying courage & clarity about who you are & what God has called you to do. Hosted by Kathryn May, transformational coach, author & recovering over-thinker, this podcast will help you renew your mind, break free from limiting beliefs & rise up in your true identity as a daughter of the King.

  1. 6d ago

    How to Trust God When Life Falls Apart and You Have to Start Over with Nick Morrison

    Join me for the Consecrated Rest Retreat | November 7 Learn more + register:https://kathrynmay.com/consecratedrest What do you do when the life you planned completely changes? Nick Morrison knows what it’s like to have to start over more than once. In this episode, Nick and I talk about how to trust God when life falls apart, what it looks like to start over after loss, and how faith and resilience work together when your circumstances are not changing as quickly as you want them to. Nick shares the wild story of how God called him from bull riding and ministry into stand-up comedy, and how confirmation kept coming from other people when he was still trying to talk himself out of it. If you’re in a season of starting over, grieving what you thought life would look like, or trying to trust God with what comes next, this conversation will encourage you to keep moving forward. Connect with Nick Morrison Book: Knocked Out But Not Down Website:nickmorrisonspeaker.com Comedy + Events:nickmorrisoncomedy.com LinkedIn: Nick Morrison Speaker Friend, if you find yourself stuck in a season you're ready to move past or going around the same mountain in an area of your life you need breakthrough in? Book Your Breakthrough Session with Me https://kathrynmay.com/coaching ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Please consider leaving me a review and rating the show. Thanks a bunch 🫶🏽

  2. Oct 9

    91 | How to Hear God’s Voice: 3 Biblical Ways to Know When God Is Speaking

    Have you ever heard a thought and immediately wondered, Was that God… or was that just me? Learning to hear God’s voice isn’t about treating every thought, feeling, or impression like it came from Him. It’s learning to recognize His voice, know His character, and discern what He’s saying from all the other voices competing for your attention. In this episode, I’m sharing three biblical ways I’ve learned to hear and discern the voice of God through Scripture, journaling, and contemplative prayer. We’ll talk about John 10:27, Psalm 85:8, and Isaiah 30:21 and what those verses show us about our ability to hear God, receive His wisdom, and recognize His direction. I’m also sharing the story of how my husband and I discerned God leading us to move entire states before we understood why, including the moments when other people’s questions made me wonder whether I had really heard Him at all. If you’ve struggled to trust yourself to recognize God’s voice, you’re afraid of hearing Him wrong, or you keep looking to other people to tell you what God is saying about your life, this episode will help you begin building greater confidence in hearing Him for yourself. Resources mentioned in this episode: Healing and Truth Journalhttps://kathrynmay.com/books Soul Healing with Jesus Prayer Guidehttps://kathrynmay.com ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If this episode encouraged you, please take a moment to rate and review the show and share it with someone who needs it too.

  3. Oct 2

    90 | When God Calls You Before You Feel Qualified with Meg Harkins

    What do you do when you know God is asking you to move, but you don’t feel qualified for what He’s asking you to do? In this episode, I’m talking with returning guest Meg Harkins about what happened when God began asking her to let go of the health and nutrition business she had worked hard to build and move into something she didn’t feel prepared to do. Meg shares what was really underneath her reluctance to let go, including fear about money, feeling unqualified, pride, and wanting to know how everything was going to work before she moved. We also talk about the women’s retreats God led her to begin and the moment Meg wrestled with the thought, “Who am I to baptize these women?” She obeyed anyway, and five women were baptized. If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, asking God for another sign, or staring at the whole assignment until it feels too overwhelming to begin, Meg gives a practical challenge: ask God what one thing you can do in the next 24 hours and start there. Connect with Meg Instagram: @CoachMegHarkins 🎁 Download Meg's Calling Clarity Map: stan.store/coachmegharkins 🎁 Download my Soul Healing with Jesus Prayer Guide: https://kathrynmay.com Listen to Megs full story of healing and how she lost 100lbs Episode 65: How to Break Free from Addiction, Heal Emotionally, & Lose 100 Pounds

  4. Sep 25

    89 | You Know God Loves You. But Do You Believe It?

    You can know that God loves you and still struggle to actually believe that His love is for you. That was true for me for a long time. I could believe “God so loved the world,” but when it came to receiving His love personally, old beliefs about performance, worthiness, rejection, and conditional love kept getting in the way. In this episode, I’m sharing what God began teaching me about receiving His love, how the way people have loved us can affect the way we see Him, and what begins to change when we truly believe His love is everlasting, steadfast, and not something we have to earn. We’ll talk about performance, perfectionism, people-pleasing, fear of losing love, renewing your mind, and why receiving the love of God changes the way we love ourselves, love others, trust Him, and move forward. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Please consider leaving me a review and rate the show. Thanks a bunch 🫶🏽 Resources mentioned in this episode: Soul Healing with Jesus Prayer Guidehttps://kathrynmay.com Behind Enemy Lies & Healing and Truth Journalhttps://kathrynmay.com/books Book Your Breakthrough Session with Mehttps://kathrynmay.com/coaching Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@FreedToLeadPodcast Find me on IG @kathrynmay.co

  5. Sep 18

    88 | Are You Waiting on God... or Hiding?

    Have you ever known God was asking you to do something, but you kept waiting until you felt more ready? That’s exactly where I found myself. What I thought would be a short break from the podcast turned into nearly a year, and during that time God began showing me that some of what I was calling waiting was actually fear, hiding, perfectionism, and self-protection. In this episode, I’m sharing what it looked like to finally press record again before everything felt polished or figured out, what God showed me about trusting Him, and why obedience often requires us to move before we feel confident in ourselves. We’ll also talk about renewing your mind, recognizing the lies you’re believing, and asking the Holy Spirit what is really keeping you from moving forward. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Please consider leaving me a review and rate the show. Thanks a bunch 🫶🏽 Resources mentioned in this episode: Soul Healing with Jesus Prayer Guide https://kathrynmay.com Behind Enemy Lies & Healing and Truth Journal https://kathrynmay.com/books Book Your Breakthrough Session with Me https://kathrynmay.com/coaching Find me online IG @kathrynmay.co Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedToLeadPodcast JESUS IS COMING BACK!!!

  6. 11/04/2025

    87 | A Pause by Design

    Hey friend — if you came looking for a new Freed to Lead episode today, you didn’t miss it. It’s just not here… and that’s by design. I wanted to take a minute to share what’s happening and why things might be a little quieter around here for a bit. Last week, the Lord asked me to do something I honestly didn’t see coming — to step back, to pause, and to rest in Him for a season. I’ll be honest with you… I wrestled with my yes. Because if you know me, you know I’m a doer. I love creating, recording, building, pouring out — it’s how I’m wired. But this time, God made it clear that He wanted my stillness more than my striving. It’s funny, because sometimes obedience doesn’t look like another big step forward. Sometimes it looks like laying down something good so He can bring something greater. It reminded me of the story of Peter — when Jesus told him to cast his net on the other side after a night of catching nothing. Peter could’ve said, “Lord, I’ve already tried that.” But instead, he obeyed — and that obedience led to overflow. Or Abraham, who was willing to lay down the promise he waited years for, trusting that God would provide. That’s what this season feels like for me — releasing what’s in my hands so God can place something new there. And I’ll be honest — being still is not my strength. But I also know there’s purpose in the pause. There’s something He wants to refill, realign, and restore in me before I pour out again. So, while the Freed to Lead podcast takes a short break, I’m not disappearing. I’m still coaching and walking with my clients, and you can always book a session at kathrynmay.com/coaching if you feel like God’s nudging you to go deeper in your own season of healing or growth. In the meantime, I’d love for you to binge some past episodes — there are 86 of them packed with wisdom, encouragement, and truth to help you keep walking strong in your calling. And if you just want to stay connected or explore resources while I’m resting, you can ⁠⁠https://www.kathrynmay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ I’ll be back soon — refreshed, refilled, and ready to pour out everything God’s been pouring into me during this time. Until then, thank you for your grace, your prayers, and your friendship. It means the world. I love you all, and I can’t wait to come back with what He’s been speaking. 💛

  7. 10/28/2025

    86 | Getting in the Word When You Feel Distant from God

    What do you do when your heart feels dry — when you want to hear from God but can’t seem to connect? Tracy Hill, host of Be Blessed & Inspired Podcast, is teaching us about what it really means to get in the Word — not out of obligation, but out of relationship. As a women's Bible Study Group leader for decades, Tracy knows the struggle of trying to "get" the Bible and feeling frustrated when it all seems jumbled and you can't quite figure out how it applies to you. She is a student of the Word and helps women to get in the Word and enjoy growing in their relationship with God the Father as they get to really know the heart of who He is and to grow in confidence in their identity in Christ. If you’ve been trying to do all the right things but still feel distant from God, this conversation will remind you that the Word of God isn’t a checklist — it’s a place of intimacy, clarity, and renewal. We're going deep on:✨ Why getting in the Word is the key to hearing God clearly✨ How to build consistency in your quiet time when you feel spiritually dry.✨ Renewing your mind with truth and releasing spiritual striving (aka: that checklist)✨ How the enemy uses distraction to pull you away from intimacy✨ Simple ways to make Scripture come alive again in your daily rhythm If your Bible has been collecting dust or your quiet time feels more like a chore than connection — this episode will encourage you to come back to the Word with fresh eyes and an open heart. 🔗 Connect with Today’s Guest, Tracy Hill:🌐 Website: www.beblessedandinspired.com 💗 Ready for Your Own Breakthrough? If you’ve been craving clarity and confidence in your walk with God — it might be time to renew your mind and realign your heart. ✨ Book a 1:1 Breakthrough Session with Kathryn at www.kathrynmay.com/coaching 📌 Connect with Kathryn: ⁠⁠https://www.kathrynmay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review & rate the show. It means the world and helps others find it too.

  8. 10/21/2025

    85 | How to Hear God’s Voice, Step Into Your Calling, and Steward Your Gifts with Confidence with Jenilee Samuel

    Have you ever sensed God calling you to something — to write the book, start the podcast, launch the ministry, or create what He’s placed on your heart — but fear, doubt, or confusion about how keeps holding you back? In this episode, I sit down with Jenilee Samuel, host of the Java with Jen podcast, to talk about how to hear and discern God’s voice, overcome fear, and step boldly into your calling with confidence. Jenilee shares how obedience, even when things weren’t clear, opened doors she could have never planned — proof that clarity comes through obedience, not before it. Together, we dive into: How to recognize and trust God’s voice in your everyday life What it means to say yes to God's calling when the timing feels uncertain How to overcome fear, perfectionism, and the pressure to have it all figured out Why stewarding your gifts is a must and the importance of multiplication. Practical ways to balance family, business, and ministry without burnout Whether you’re called to build a business, start a podcast, lead in ministry, or simply step out in faith, this episode will remind you that God equips those He calls. About Jenilee Samuel Jen is a busy mom of four boys, a pastor, podcast coach, speaker, and writer with over 25 years of ministry experience. As host of a top 1% globally ranked Christian podcast, she inspires thousands across more than 100 nations and helps aspiring podcasters find their voices and grow their shows. Her passion for discipleship and helping others hear God’s voice has shaped everything she does. She lives in Texas with her husband, Stephen, and their four teenage boys who keep life full of sports, driving lessons, and first jobs. Jen loves traveling, fashion (she was once a wardrobe stylist), and, of course, coffee — hence her show, Java with Jen. She’s had the honor of interviewing guests such as Shawn Bolz, Manwell Reyes, and Alyssa Rahn of Revival Moms Podcast. Connect with Jenilee: Website: www.jenileesamuel.com Instagram: @javawithjen If you’ve been stuck in your head wondering if you’re really hearing God or if you’re ready yet — this is your reminder that obedience brings clarity and peace. 📌 Connect with Kathryn: ⁠⁠https://www.kathrynmay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review & rate the show. It means the world and helps others find it too. Be BOLD this week my friend and I can't wait to chat with you again soon.

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Freed to Lead is where we lay down the weight of perfectionism, fear & self-doubt to step into the freedom to live & lead with confidence in Christ. Imagine trading the pressure to prove yourself for peace rooted in Him, walking into rooms no longer chained by lies but carrying courage & clarity about who you are & what God has called you to do. Hosted by Kathryn May, transformational coach, author & recovering over-thinker, this podcast will help you renew your mind, break free from limiting beliefs & rise up in your true identity as a daughter of the King.

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