Thriving in Christ | Burnout, Stress, Leadership, Faith & High Performance

Dr. Ioana Popa | Psychiatrist Educator, Executive Coach, Speaker & Spiritual Care Formation

For Christian Women Professionals & Servant Leaders called to live, lead, and serve from renewal for the Kingdom. Top 2.5% Globally Ranked. → Do you feel at times stressed, depleted, or on a “busy treadmill,” with Sunday night blues - even though you love what you do? → Do you sense blocks in reaching your highest potential for the Kingdom, despite already carrying significant responsibility and impact? → Do you struggle to fully replenish yourself and access the peace that surpasses all understanding - no matter how many programs you’ve tried - and worry that self-care and deep renewal will only add more to long to-do list? → Do you wrestle to stay grounded, clear, and expansive in your impact - especially in high-stakes situations? If this is you, welcome. You are not lacking discipline. You are not lacking faith. More often, what’s missing is sustainable renewal. Many of the solutions available today act like band-aids - placed on top of an already burdened foundation, shaped by chronic stress, cultural conditioning, and misconceptions about what it truly means to live and serve in Christ. In this show, we take a different approach. Through the integration of science, psychology, and Christian faith, this show helps you: → Return to a place of inner renewal - accessing the “living waters” of Christ from within → Align your body, mind, heart, and soul - reducing inner fragmentation and restoring a grounded inner life. → Simplify your daily habits from the inside-out - building sustainable rhythms that support your life and leadership without adding pressure. → Access clarity, peace, and grounded presence - especially in high-responsibility and high-stakes moments. → Expand your capacity to lead and serve with joy and peace - not from striving, but from renewal, alignment, and co-creation with God. This is not about doing more. It is about learning how to return - again and again - to God within, where your strength is renewed, your inner life is restored, and your leadership flows from your soul. Hi, I’m Dr. Ioana Popa - co-founder of Team For The Soul® Institute, physician-psychiatrist educator, spiritual care & executive coach, speaker, and trainer. As a woman deeply committed to serving others and to my faith, I found myself saying yes to every need, carrying increasing responsibility, and quietly moving toward chronic stress and burnout. I believed that catching up on rest during weekends or vacations would be enough - but it was not. After experiencing burnout twice, I sought help through both psychology and Christian faith - only to find fragmented guidance, often disconnected, or even at odds. Over time, I realized that if I wanted to live, lead, and serve in Christ with clarity, energy, and joy, I needed something different. A simple, integrated way of living - rooted in renewal, grounded in Christ, and supported by both science and faith. This is the work I now share with you. If you are ready to grow toward your highest potential - from a grounded, renewed foundation in Christ - you are in the right place. Let’s begin. Sending you many blessings and prayers in Christ, Dr. Ioana NEXT STEPS: ✝️ Want to get my WEEKLY emails with updates, events, and special invitations? JOIN 'Thriving In Christ' Resources: https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up ✝️ Ready to lead in Christ with Joy, Peace & Purpose? Set up a complimentary Free Consultation to learn about how I can support you: https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall CONNECT: Website: https://teamforthesoul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drioanapopa/ DISCLAIMERS: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul® Institute. All information provided on this platform is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All

  1. 1d ago

    285 | Centering Reset: Grow Your Leadership Capacity Without Burning Out

    As we go about our week, it is not uncommon to try to expand our capacity and lives while quietly running on depletion. But true capacity is not built through constant pressure, over-functioning, or pushing harder. God’s invitation is actually to enlarge our lives from the inside out - strengthening our psychological and spiritual growth, our roots, before expanding our reach. So the invitation today is to pause and live deeply anchored in Christ, allowing God to expand our abilities. ✨ Key TakeawaysSustainable capacity grows through renewal and a deep connection with GodGod expands what is rooted and alignedHigh performance without replenishment leads to depletion Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 🌟 If this episode and channel blesses you, leave us a FIVE-STAR Review and DOWNLOAD the episodes you love. You can love God, serve others, and stop living exhausted.→ Join the Wake Up To Your Soul Podcast community and start your mornings with peace before the pressure begins.https://www.teamforthesoul.com/wakeuptoyoursoul-begin NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    14 min
  2. 5d ago

    284 | You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone - Faith, Therapy and Healing with Megan Bonynge

    I hope you had a blessed week! Here is an insight to consider - What if your overwhelm isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong - but a sign you’ve been carrying too much without the support you need? This week, I talk with Megan Bonynge, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and together, we explore the quiet reality of “survival mode” and how learning to discern between what truly matters and what can be released can change everything. Through the lens of faith-integrated mental health, we look at what it means to move from intellectual understanding of God to real, lived intimacy, and how that shift opens the door to support, clarity, and sustainable strength. In this conversation, we discuss how: ☀️ Not everything is equal - know your “glass” vs “plastic.”☀️ Asking for help is a part of healing.☀️ Knowing God vs. living with God - vulnerability bridges the gap. ☀️ Slow, simple rhythms move you out of survival mode. The Bible verse that Megan shares will give you strength to persevere: "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:24–25 Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 👉 https://youtu.be/AKBHCR0Ns0Q Want to know more about our guest?🔗 Website: Agape Wellness Collective - https://agape-wellnesscollective.org/ Ready to reclaim your JOY, PEACE & PURPOSE without burnout, as you lead and serve in Christ? CLICK BELOW for a FREE CONSULT Call with Dr. Ioana to see if the program is a right fit for you!➡️ https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul®. All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    44 min
  3. May 26

    283 | Centering Reset: The Inner Freedom Christian Woman Long For

    What if the freedom we’re longing for is not somewhere outside of us… but something Christ is already inviting us into? Many of us carry pressure constantly - so much that striving starts to feel normal. But inner freedom in Christ is possible: a quieter mind, a steadier heart, and a soul no longer driven by fear, urgency, or endless pressure. In this Centering Reset, we tap into how to return to a deeper sense of spaciousness, trust, and freedom with God - right in the middle of everyday life. ✨ Key Takeaways- Freedom in Christ begins internally.- We can lead without living under pressure.- Sustainable renewal comes through alignment with Christ, not striving. Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 🌟 And if this episode and channel blesses you, leave us a FIVE-STAR Review and DOWNLOAD the episodes you love. You can love God, serve others, and stop living exhausted.→ Join the Wake Up To Your Soul Podcast community and start your mornings with peace before the pressure begins.https://www.teamforthesoul.com/wakeuptoyoursoul-begin_______________________ NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    15 min
  4. May 22

    282 | The Hidden Cost of Perfectionism - Finding Rest in Christ with Andrea Fortenberry

    Today, I want to share about a common phenomenon: many of us women carry a quiet pressure to do everything well, hold everything together, and never fall short. This typically stems from a perfectionistic part of us, which can often help us, but at times can lead us into tiredness, stress, and even a disconnect with God. I had the joy of interviewing Andrea Fortenberry, author, podcast host and Leadership Development Manager, and we explored the hidden cost of perfectionism and the gentle invitation to lead, live, and love from a place of grace instead. In this conversation, we discuss how: ☀️ Perfectionism often acts as a coping strategy, not a calling. ☀️ We can pursue excellence without carrying the weight of "being perfect".☀️ Rest is not weakness - it is modeled by Christ and rooted in wisdom. ☀️ Small daily rhythms of care can help you show up with greater patience, clarity, and love. The Bible verse that brings Andrea a sense of relief is this: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." ~ Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV) Come lay your burdens at his feet. He is waiting for you! Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 👉 https://youtu.be/NhDPMDNg8gk Want to know more about our guest?🔗 Website: Link: https://www.andreafortenberry.com/FREE Resource: https://andreafortenberry.myflodesk.com/cbab9f20-3c47-46cd-b9f7-6acee4be95f7 Ready to reclaim your JOY, PEACE & PURPOSE without burnout, as you lead and serve in Christ? CLICK BELOW for a FREE CONSULT Call with Dr. Ioana to see if the program is a right fit for you!➡️ https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul®. All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    42 min
  5. May 19

    281 | Centering Reset: Feeling Scattered? Focus on What Actually Matters

    When your attention is scattered, your energy follows, and even meaningful work starts to feel draining. So, what if this week is not about expanding in every direction, but about returning to what God is already growing in you? In this Centering Reset podcast episode, you will hear more about how intentional focus drives peace, impact and altogether - purposeful living. It also invites you to release the distractions from your life, so that you can restore your nervous system. When we do these things, we create space to flourish - spiritually, personally, and professionally - like a tree planted by living water, bearing fruit in its season. Because God works through what is essential. Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 🌟 And if this episode and channel blesses you, leave us a FIVE-STAR Review and DOWNLOAD the episodes you love. You can love God, serve others, and stop living exhausted.→ Join the Wake Up To Your Soul Podcast community and start your mornings with peace before the pressure begins.https://www.teamforthesoul.com/wakeuptoyoursoul-begin NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    12 min
  6. May 15

    280 | Can’t Hear God Clearly? How to Discern His Voice and Find Peace, with Heather O’Brien

    There are moments when you pause and wonder: Is this God leading me… or just my own thoughts trying to make sense of things? In a world full of noise, inner narratives, and pressure to figure everything out, discerning God’s presence requires more than effort - it calls for alignment, attention, and a deeper relationship. In this Renewal Conversation with Heather O’Brien, Healing Coach and Bible Teacher, we explore how to recognize the patterns of His voice, anchor in His character, and move from confusion into a steadier, quieter clarity. In this conversation, we discuss: ☀️ God's voice and how it aligns with His character - look for love, peace and steadiness☀️ How confusion often comes from noise - clarity grows in stillness and pattern. ☀️ Starting small - daily discernment builds confidence for bigger decisions. ☀️ Setting boundaries will protect your clarity more than pushing harder. Heather's favorite Bible verse invites each of us to connect with God on a very personal level: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." ~ Psalm 139:23-24 Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 👉 https://youtu.be/YGBmcfNEQXg Want to know more about our guest?🔗 Website: https://heatherobrien.net/FREE Resource: https://heatherobrien.net/workshop You can love God, serve others, and stop living exhausted.→ Join the Wake Up To Your Soul Podcast community and start your mornings with peace before the pressure begins.https://www.teamforthesoul.com/wakeuptoyoursoul-begin NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul®. All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    38 min
  7. May 12

    279 | Centering Reset: You’re Carrying Too Much - Release This

    You are carrying more than you were meant to carry. Not everything on your mind, your schedule, or your heart belongs to you in this season. What if letting go is not necessarily a loss, but the very way God is creating space for clarity, peace, and new life? The message in this week's episode of Centering Reset emphasizes that what’s often missing isn’t faith or discipline, but sustainable renewal. A renewal that comes through the process of pruning. And through simple exercises like identifying burdens, releasing one small thing, and practicing stillness, listeners are guided toward lasting spiritual and emotional clarity. Let's create space for growth and deeper alignment with God’s purpose. Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ 🌟 And if this episode and channel blesses you, leave us a FIVE-STAR Review and DOWNLOAD the episodes you love. Ready to reclaim your JOY, PEACE & PURPOSE without burnout, as you lead and serve in Christ? CLICK BELOW to find out if Heart In Christ coaching for Christian women program is for you?➡️ https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall_______________________ NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    14 min
  8. May 8

    278 | Your Nervous System Is Stuck in Stress - How to Retrain It in Christ, with Cynthia Damaskos

    If you find yourself unable to relax - even when everything looks “fine” on the outside, you’re not alone. Many of us women live in a body that hasn’t learned how to feel safe on a daily basis. On this topic, I had the joy to (re)interview Cynthia Damaskos, a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, and we shared insights about retraining our inner response patterns grounded in faith and practical wisdom, to open the door to real peace, energy, and joy. This episode will help you to lean into small, joy-filled moments - like slow mornings, creative hobbies, intentional pauses - and remind your soul (and your nervous system) that it’s okay to breathe. In this conversation, we discuss how: ☀️ Your body may still react to past stress, even when danger is gone. ☀️ Healing and renewal begin with a sense of safety. ☀️ Slowing down intentionally helps reset your internal rhythms. ☀️ Small daily practices can restore peace, clarity, and energy.☀️ Caring for yourself holistically allows you to serve others with strength and presence. Cynthia's favorite Bible verse reminds her to flourish and rejoice in God's goodness: "I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NKJV) Click PLAY to listen to this episode ▶️ https://youtu.be/ueQHBaTcFJQ Want to know more about our guest?🔗 Website: https://www.filledwithless.com/ 🎤 Podcast: https://www.filledwithless.com/filled-with-less-podcast Back 2 Basics - 10 week Journey of Rediscovery --> https://www.filledwithless.com/b2b - Discount Code POPA for 10% OFF Ready to reclaim your JOY, PEACE & PURPOSE without burnout, as you lead and serve in Christ? CLICK BELOW to find out if Heart In Christ coaching for Christian women program is for you?➡️ https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall ______________________________NEXT STEPS:- Find out more about our programs here ➡️ https://www.teamforthesoul.com/ - Join 'Thriving In Christ' to stay up to date with resources right in your inbox, for Christian Women Professionals. ➡️https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up DISCLAIMERS:The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul®. All information provided on this website is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All information is provided as is and is used at your own risk. Please speak to your doctor, medical and mental health providers about any information you listen or read on this channel or related websites.

    43 min
5
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

For Christian Women Professionals & Servant Leaders called to live, lead, and serve from renewal for the Kingdom. Top 2.5% Globally Ranked. → Do you feel at times stressed, depleted, or on a “busy treadmill,” with Sunday night blues - even though you love what you do? → Do you sense blocks in reaching your highest potential for the Kingdom, despite already carrying significant responsibility and impact? → Do you struggle to fully replenish yourself and access the peace that surpasses all understanding - no matter how many programs you’ve tried - and worry that self-care and deep renewal will only add more to long to-do list? → Do you wrestle to stay grounded, clear, and expansive in your impact - especially in high-stakes situations? If this is you, welcome. You are not lacking discipline. You are not lacking faith. More often, what’s missing is sustainable renewal. Many of the solutions available today act like band-aids - placed on top of an already burdened foundation, shaped by chronic stress, cultural conditioning, and misconceptions about what it truly means to live and serve in Christ. In this show, we take a different approach. Through the integration of science, psychology, and Christian faith, this show helps you: → Return to a place of inner renewal - accessing the “living waters” of Christ from within → Align your body, mind, heart, and soul - reducing inner fragmentation and restoring a grounded inner life. → Simplify your daily habits from the inside-out - building sustainable rhythms that support your life and leadership without adding pressure. → Access clarity, peace, and grounded presence - especially in high-responsibility and high-stakes moments. → Expand your capacity to lead and serve with joy and peace - not from striving, but from renewal, alignment, and co-creation with God. This is not about doing more. It is about learning how to return - again and again - to God within, where your strength is renewed, your inner life is restored, and your leadership flows from your soul. Hi, I’m Dr. Ioana Popa - co-founder of Team For The Soul® Institute, physician-psychiatrist educator, spiritual care & executive coach, speaker, and trainer. As a woman deeply committed to serving others and to my faith, I found myself saying yes to every need, carrying increasing responsibility, and quietly moving toward chronic stress and burnout. I believed that catching up on rest during weekends or vacations would be enough - but it was not. After experiencing burnout twice, I sought help through both psychology and Christian faith - only to find fragmented guidance, often disconnected, or even at odds. Over time, I realized that if I wanted to live, lead, and serve in Christ with clarity, energy, and joy, I needed something different. A simple, integrated way of living - rooted in renewal, grounded in Christ, and supported by both science and faith. This is the work I now share with you. If you are ready to grow toward your highest potential - from a grounded, renewed foundation in Christ - you are in the right place. Let’s begin. Sending you many blessings and prayers in Christ, Dr. Ioana NEXT STEPS: ✝️ Want to get my WEEKLY emails with updates, events, and special invitations? JOIN 'Thriving In Christ' Resources: https://www.teamforthesoul.com/thriving-in-christ-sign-up ✝️ Ready to lead in Christ with Joy, Peace & Purpose? Set up a complimentary Free Consultation to learn about how I can support you: https://calendly.com/teamforthesoul/inquirycall CONNECT: Website: https://teamforthesoul.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drioanapopa/ DISCLAIMERS: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Team For The Soul® Institute. All information provided on this platform is strictly for educational purposes and does not form a physician-patient or coach/consultant-client relationship. All

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