Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

Melie Williams
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Diamonds in Dumpster Fires is a faith-meets-neuroscience podcast for anyone determined to rise from the rubble. From divorce and dating disasters to burnout and betrayal, we talk about life's messiest moments with honesty, humor, and zero toxic positivity. Just real tools, raw faith, and the reminder that healing is still possible—even here.

  1. 13h ago

    Created for Delight: How Hobbies Help Us Grow Spiritually with Brianna Lambert

    What if the hobbies you love aren't distractions from your spiritual life—but places where God is already meeting you? In this episode, Melie talks with author Brianna Lambert about her new book, Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually. Brianna shares why play is more than a break from productivity and how hobbies can cultivate faithfulness, humility, creativity, connection, and a deeper sense of awe. Brianna also tells the powerful story of watching her family's camper van—and much of the equipment that made their favorite hobbies possible—burn on the side of the highway. In the difficult weeks that followed, simple acts of play like swimming, walking on the beach, and collecting shells became unexpected places of comfort and healing. Together, Melie and Brianna explore the guilt many of us feel when we do something simply because we enjoy it, the pressure to turn every passion into a business or measurable achievement, and the quiet ways hobbies can help us reconnect with joy during burnout, grief, trauma, and other difficult seasons. They also discuss: How slow hobbies develop patience, persistence, and faithfulness Why play can help settle the mind in seasons of suffering How to discover a hobby when you don't consider yourself "crafty" Why you don't need to be talented—or even stick with something forever How to make room for play in small pockets of a busy life The value of learning new hobbies alongside friends or family How parents can encourage curiosity and creativity in their children Why our enjoyment of beauty, movement, making, collecting, and connection can lead us into worship This conversation is an invitation to release the guilt, embrace curiosity, and pay attention to the activities that bring you delight. They may not be pulling you away from the person God created you to be. They may be helping you become more fully alive. Connect with Brianna: https://briannalambert.com Order Created to Play: https://www.ivpress.com/created-to-play

  2. Jul 15

    Moving Toward One Another with Parfait Bassalé

    What if friendship could be more than a source of comfort—and become a powerful force for healing division? In this episode, Melie talks with Parfait Bassalé, belonging strategist, conflict resolution practitioner, singer-songwriter, and author of The Way of Befriending. Together, they explore how fear, hurt, and past experiences can lead us to other people—and how courage, curiosity, and compassion can help us move toward one another instead. Parfait also shares how friendship became a place of belonging throughout his life, why music is central to his work, and how ordinary acts of befriending can create meaningful change in our churches, workplaces, schools, and communities. Connect with Parfait: Website: https://parfaitbassale.com/ Purchase The Way of Befriending Support Relume Candles: https://relumehope.com/ Connect with Melie: https://www.diamondsindumpsterfires.com/ Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who might be encouraged by this conversation.

  3. Jul 1

    Awaken Delight in God with Stephanie Rousselle

    What if delighting in God is not about forcing joy, ignoring pain, or checking all the "right" spiritual boxes? In this episode, Melie is joined by Stephanie Rousselle, Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and author of the forthcoming book, Awaken Delight from IVPress. Stephanie shares her journey from atheism to faith, what it means to "taste and see" that God is good, and why delight begins with receiving God's delight in us. Together, they talk about finding God's presence in painful seasons, the difference between wishful thinking and biblical hope, and how pruning and thorns can shape us without meaning God is punishing or disappointed in us. If you are weary, overwhelmed, or struggling to believe God still delights in you, this conversation is a gentle invitation to stop striving and ask Him to awaken delight again. In this episode: What delighting in God really means Why God's love is not something you earn or lose The difference between checklist faith and relational delight How biblical hope holds us in painful waiting What pruning and thorns can teach us about hardship A closing prayer for awakened delight Connect with Stephanie: Gospel Spice Preorder Awaken Delight Connect with Melie: https://www.diamondsindumpsterfires.com/ Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with a friend who needs the reminder that even in the hard places, God's goodness is still worth tasting.

  4. Jun 17

    Why Your Brain Keeps Saying "Tomorrow"

    Sometimes the reason you keep saying "tomorrow" isn't laziness — it's your brain reaching for relief. In this episode, Melie explores procrastination through the lens of faith and neuroscience, unpacking why avoidance often has more to do with emotion regulation than a lack of discipline. She also looks at how burnout, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence can make starting harder, and why shame usually keeps us stuck instead of helping us move forward. If you've ever felt guilty for putting something off, this episode offers a more compassionate way to understand what's happening — and a simple invitation to take the next small faithful step. In this episode: Why procrastination is often emotional avoidance How the brain chooses short-term relief over long-term reward Why burnout can make task initiation harder A quick note on ADHD, neurodivergence, and executive function What Scripture teaches about diligence, rest, and grace A simple practice for taking the next small faithful step Sources referenced: Research from Fuschia Sirois and Timothy Pychyl on procrastination as short-term mood regulation, research on temporal discounting and procrastination, studies on burnout and cognitive function, and resources from the National Institute of Mental Health on ADHD. Scripture referenced: Proverbs 13:4, Colossians 3:23, Romans 8:1, Matthew 11:28, and Zechariah 4:10. Connect with Melie: https://www.diamondsindumpsterfires.com/ Subscribe, rate, and share with a friend who might need this encouragement today.

  5. Jun 3

    The Resilience Skill Nobody Wants

    Sometimes the most resilient thing you can do isn't push harder, it's stop fighting reality. In this episode, Melie explores the concept of radical acceptance and why acknowledging what is can be the first step toward healing. Blending faith, neuroscience, and personal experience, she unpacks the difference between acceptance and giving up, why resisting reality often adds to our suffering, and how God can meet us right where we are. If you've ever found yourself stuck wishing things were different, this episode offers a hopeful path forward. In this episode: What radical acceptance actually means The difference between pain and suffering The neuroscience of fighting reality What Scripture teaches about acceptance and surrender A simple exercise to help you move forward Connect with Melie: https://www.diamondsindumpsterfires.com/ Subscribe, rate, and share with a friend who might need this encouragement today.

  6. May 20

    What to do when you're waiting

    Sometimes the hardest part isn't the pain itself, it's not knowing what happens next. In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires, we're talking about the emotional, spiritual, and neurological reality of waiting for an answer. Why uncertainty feels so exhausting, what happens in the brain during unresolved situations, and how faith can coexist with honesty in the middle of the unknown. This is not an episode about pretending everything is fine. It's about learning how to stay grounded, hopeful, and emotionally healthy while you wait. Plus, I'll be walking you through a guided exercise from Renewed Mind created specifically for moments like these. Because resilience isn't always confidence. Sometimes it's simply staying open to hope one more day.

  7. May 6

    Building a Life That Aligns With Your Calling with Sandy Bastien

    Guest: Sandy Bastien, Author, Entrepreneur What happens when the opportunities in front of you all seem good… but not all of them are actually yours to carry? In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires, Melie sits down with entrepreneur, inventor, author, and mother of five Sandy Bastien for a grounded and encouraging conversation about purpose, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and learning how to discern what God is truly calling you toward. Together, they discuss what it looks like to build something meaningful while navigating real life, why growth often starts small, and how entrepreneurship is as much about personal transformation as it is about business. Sandy shares her powerful story of overcoming an abusive relationship, reclaiming her identity in Christ, and stepping into entrepreneurship through motherhood. She also opens up about creating BabaLid, writing books, and learning to trust God through seasons where the fruit wasn't visible yet. If you've been feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed by expectations, or unsure what direction to take next, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to chase everything to walk in your calling. In This Episode: How Sandy's entrepreneurial journey began as a little girl Reclaiming your identity in Christ after difficult seasons Discerning what is truly aligned with God's calling Why entrepreneurship starts with mindset and growth The story behind BabaLid and solving problems through creativity Motherhood as expansion instead of limitation Learning patience, obedience, and trust in the process Why "before the fruit, there are roots" Connect with Sandy: www.momhoodshop.com www.babalid.com If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps more resilient ones find the show.

  8. Apr 15

    The Truth About Gentleness with Christie Thomas

    Gentleness doesn't mean being passive, weak, or getting walked all over. In this episode, I sit down with author and family ministry leader Christie Thomas to reframe what gentleness actually is: strength under control. We talk about why gentleness is one of the most misunderstood fruits of the Spirit—and why it's often hardest to practice in the moments we need it most. From conflict and parenting to divorce and online interactions, this conversation gets practical about what it looks like to pause, respond with intention, and trust God in the process. If you've ever thought, "I can't be gentle in this situation," this episode is for you. You'll walk away with a new perspective on gentleness—and a few simple ways to start practicing it today. Connect with Christie Thomas Website Book: Everyday Prayers for Gentleness  Mentioned in This Episode No More Cheeks to Turn Share the Episode If this episode encouraged you, send it to someone who might need it too. Chances are, they're walking through something hard—and this might be exactly what they need to hear.

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Diamonds in Dumpster Fires is a faith-meets-neuroscience podcast for anyone determined to rise from the rubble. From divorce and dating disasters to burnout and betrayal, we talk about life's messiest moments with honesty, humor, and zero toxic positivity. Just real tools, raw faith, and the reminder that healing is still possible—even here.

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