Becoming the Oak: Rooted in Christ

Kendra George
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Real Women. Real Faith. Real Growth. Becoming the Oak is a Christ-centered podcast for women who want peace and joy not because life is easy, but because their hearts are rooted in Jesus. Each episode features honest conversations with women who share real stories of faith grown through life’s challenges. If you’ve ever felt weary, spiritually stuck, or unsure how to stay grounded, this podcast is for you. Together, we explore what it means to remain planted in truth, strengthened by grace, and anchored in hope — even when the winds rise. New Episodes Weekly

  1. 4d ago

    Care But Don't Carry | Releasing While Finding Rest, Joy, and God in the Stillness

    What happens when you have spent your entire life being the glue — the one who holds everything together for everyone else — and one day you simply cannot carry it anymore? In this deeply honest episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Sara Wolfe shares her journey through losing everything in the 2008 real estate crash, raising four children through homelessness and food stamps, navigating the end of a 25-year marriage, and the faith crisis that followed when everything she had built her identity on suddenly fell apart. Sara opens up about the season she wandered away from God, how He kept wooing her back gently and persistently, and the phrase that changed her life — I can care but I do not have to carry. If you are the woman holding everyone else together and wondering when someone is going to hold you, this episode is for you. In this episode: How Sara's family lost everything in 2008 and what her faith looked like in the middle of homelessness and food stampsThe 25-year marriage that ended and the faith crisis that followed — and why she needed to wander before she could truly come homeWhat it means to have a God consciousness all day long rather than just at scheduled prayer timesThe phrase that changed everything — I can care but I do not have to carryWhy rest and stillness — not effort and striving — is where she finally found her joy againFeatured Scriptures & Talks: Psalm 46:10 — "Be still and know that I am God"Isaiah 49:16 — I have engraved you upon the palms of my handsPhilippians 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ who strengthens meThe concept of God consciousness — a continual conversation with God throughout the day rather than only at scheduled prayer timesThis episode is for you if: You are the person who always holds everything together for everyone else and are running on emptyYou are in a season of questioning your faith or wandering and wondering if you can find your way backYou have experienced loss — of a marriage, a home, a community, or an identity — and are rebuildingYou want permission to put down what was never yours to carry in the first placeYou need to be reminded that God never stops wooing you back — no matter how far you have drifted Sara's Book: https://sarawolfe.global/ A note from Kendra: Sara and I are not of the same religion — but we both believe in Jesus Christ. And I love that this podcast is a place where that is enough. No matter your denomination or background, if you are rooted in Him you are welcome here. Connect with Becoming the Oak: Website: becomingtheoak.com Email: kendra@becomingtheoak.com Instagram: @becomingtheoak

  2. Sep 21

    Honest, Free, and Whole | Letting Go, Living Intentionally, and Finding Yourself Through Christ

    What happens when you have spent twenty years carrying everything on your own — and then one prayer on your knees changes everything? In this powerful episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Jess Hardiman shares her remarkable journey from a childhood marked by divorce and constant moving, to raising her two younger sisters as a young adult, to earning her doctorate and building a career in international humanitarian work — all without a conscious connection to Jesus Christ. Until a breathwork session, a grandmother's pink hand-sewn scripture case, and a quiet prompting to open the scriptures brought her all the way home. Jess opens up about honesty, identity, grace, and what she calls spiritual hygiene — and why choosing Christ intentionally every single day has given her the most grounded and whole version of herself she has ever known. In this episode: How Jess carried years of loss, responsibility, and resilience without realizing Christ was already with herThe moment she got on her knees for the first time and felt the weight physically liftWhy honesty — with God, with others, and with herself — became the most transformative gift of her conversionHow letting go of shame and embracing grace changed the way she sees herself and everyone around herWhat spiritual hygiene means and why it is the foundation of everything elseFeatured Quotes, Talks & Scriptures: Alma — the scripture that made Jess sob the first time she opened her grandmother's quadMatthew 22:37-39 — love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourselfSister Kristen Yee — October General Conference talk on the swords we are not yet willing to buryAgency and the atonement as double A batteries — keeping them charged every single dayPresident Kimball — on how God answers prayers through other peopleThis episode is for you if: You have spent years carrying everything on your own and are ready to give it to GodYou are in the middle of a faith transition or coming back to Christ after time awayYou struggle with honesty — with yourself, with God, or with the people around youYou want practical tools for living more intentionally and protecting your spiritual capacityYou need to be reminded that you are never too far gone and He was already there the whole timeConnect with Becoming the Oak:Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Ready to share your story? Click here for the application Be still. Believe. Become.

  3. Sep 14

    Choose the Better Story | What Postpartum Depression Taught Me About Presence, Grace, and Choosing Christ

    ⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains an honest discussion of postpartum depression, thoughts of not wanting to be here, and a dream involving self-harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please know that help is available. You can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime. The Postpartum Support International helpline is also available at 1-800-944-4773. You are not alone. What do you do when the darkness of postpartum depression strips away everything you love — and all you have left is a choice? In this deeply honest and courageous episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, playwright and mother of four Katherine Perrone shares her raw journey through postpartum depression across four pregnancies — and the faith that kept her choosing to be here. From the rare hormonal condition called dysphoric milk ejection reflex that she experienced while nursing, to the seasons so dark she did not want to be alive, to the dream that became her anchor and the phrase from Life of Pi that changed how she thinks about faith — Katherine's story is one of the most vulnerable and powerful conversations this podcast has ever held. She talks about what it means to choose the better story when you cannot feel anything, why presence in the darkest moments is where the atonement of Jesus Christ becomes most personal, and why being honest with the people around you is one of the most healing things you can do. In this episode: How Katherine recognized the pattern of postpartum depression across four pregnancies and what she did with that knowledgeThe rare hormonal condition called dysphoric milk ejection reflex — and why naming it changed everythingWhat the novel Life of Pi taught her about faith, agency, and choosing the better storyWhy presence — even in the darkest moments — is where the atonement of Jesus Christ becomes most real and personalWhat she would say to any woman who is holding on by the thinnest thread right nowFeatured Quotes, Talks & Resources: Life of Pi by Yann Martel — choose the better storySister Yee — October 2025 General Conference talk on ministering and communityThe healing power of honest vulnerability and letting people show up for youPostpartum Support International — psi.org — for postpartum depression resources and support988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 anytimeThis episode is for you if: You are navigating postpartum depression or maternal mental health challengesYou have ever been in a season so dark you could not feel God, joy, or anything at allYou are a perfectionist mother who holds yourself to impossible standardsYou need permission to be honest about where you really are and let people show up for youYou want to be reminded that the darkness does lift — and that choosing to hold on is always worth itA note on the content of this episode:This episode includes an honest discussion of postpartum depression, thoughts of not wanting to be alive, and a dream involving self-harm shared in a faith and healing context. If you are personally struggling with any of these things right now, please reach out for support. Crisis Resources: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 — available 24/7Postpartum Support International — 1-800-944-4773 — psi.orgCrisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741 Connect with Becoming the Oak:Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Be still. Believe. Become. SHARE YOUR STORY: Click here for application

  4. Sep 7

    The Wind Can't Touch Roots | What Fifty Years Taught Me About Grace, Grit, and Growing Deeper in Christ

    What does fifty years of living teach you about faith, grace, and growing deeper in Christ? In this heartfelt solo birthday episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Kendra George shares eight of the most important lessons she has learned across five decades of life — and why the storms that tried to break her only made her roots stronger. From giving herself the grace she so freely gives others, to letting go of judgment and comparison, to what she would tell every young mother about being present, to why failure is not the opposite of success — this episode is an honest and personal reflection on what it truly means to become the oak. Not all at once. Not without storms. But root by root, lesson by lesson, one faithful attempt at a time. In this episode: Why grace — given to yourself — is one of the most underrated spiritual practices there isThe moment she realized judgment and comparison were robbing her of connection and joyWhat she wishes she had known as a young mother about presence and finding joy in small momentsWhy failure is not the opposite of success — it is a faithful attempt in learningHow living with intention completely changed the way she moves through her lifeFeatured Scriptures & Talks: Brother Brad Wilcox — Worthiness is Not Flawlessness — on grace and what God actually asks of usElder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — "God does not need people who are flawless. He seeks those who will offer their heart and a willing mind"Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"The Oak Tree poem by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. — the poem that anchors the entire Becoming the Oak brand1 Thessalonians 5:18: Gratitude in all things — New Testament teachings on being grateful in every circumstanceThis episode is for you if: You are too hard on yourself and need permission to extend a little graceYou are in the thick of a hard season and wondering if you have what it takesYou are a young mother who needs to hear that the small moments matter more than you thinkYou want practical and honest encouragement for living with more intention and less fearYou need to be reminded that the wind will always blow — but it cannot touch your rootsConnect with Becoming the Oak:Want to share your story? I am always looking for guests. Click Here to apply Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak

  5. Aug 31

    Both Things Can Be True | Grief, Identity Loss, and Turning Outward

    What happens to your identity when the person who has been your anchor your entire life is suddenly gone? In this tender and deeply honest episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, certified life coach Cathi Chisholm opens up about losing her mother just months before recording — and what grief has taught her about identity, the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the surprising healing power of turning outward. From the way her mother was the first of every one of her five senses, to the identity shift that came with suddenly becoming the family matriarch, to the profound truth that immense grief and deep peace can coexist — Cathi's story is one of the most honest and layered conversations about grief, faith, and healing you will ever hear. In this episode: How losing her mom shifted Cathi's identity in ways she never expectedWhy immense grief and deep peace can coexist — and what that actually feels likeThe morning routines and grounding practices that have carried her throughHow turning outward — even in small, simple ways — became the most healing thing she could doWhat Cathi would say to anyone who feels like joy is completely out of reach right nowFeatured Scriptures & Talks: Philippians 4:7 — the peace of Christ that passes all understandingElder Stephen C. Barlow — Lovest Thou Me, October 2025 General Conference — on how God speaks to us in ways we individually can recognizeElder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — Grateful in Any Circumstances — on finding gratitude in the situation not about itThe healing power of morning routines, breathing practices, nature, and intentional scripture studyThis episode is for you if: You are grieving the loss of a parent or someone deeply close to youYou have ever felt your identity shift after a significant lossYou are struggling to find joy and cannot see any light on the horizon right nowYou want honest, grounded encouragement from a woman who is still in the middle of itYou need to be reminded that both grief and peace can be true at the same time — and that Christ can hold all of it with youA note for anyone struggling:If you are experiencing grief, depression, or feelings of hopelessness and need someone to talk to, please reach out. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741. You are not alone and support is available. Connect with Becoming the Oak:Share Your Story: Guest Application Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Be still. Believe. Become. The content offered by Becoming the Oak is neither made, provided, approved, nor endorsed by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any content or opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the services or workshops offered by Kendra George are solely those of Becoming the Oak and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Both Things Can Be True | Grief, Identity Loss, and Turning Outward

  6. Aug 24

    Hold On, Light Comes | Gratitude, Consecration, and Finding God in Every Hard Season

    What does it look like to find God inside a trial — not just after it? In this deeply moving episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Becky Hopkins shares a life marked by hard things — a near-fatal car accident that left her in a coma for a month, the birth of a son with Down syndrome, and a year that included a teenager's mental health crisis, a husband's hospitalization, a frightening migraine, and a nine-year-old's surgery on Mother's Day. Through every single one of these seasons Becky has practiced the same thing — looking for blessings not about the situation but in it. Her testimony is a powerful reminder that God consecrates our pain, that gratitude is a muscle we have to practice, and that holding on — even by the thinnest thread — is always worth it. In this episode: How a near-fatal car accident at twenty-five shaped the occupational therapist and woman of faith Becky would becomeWhat Elder Uchtdorf's talk on gratitude taught her while her newborn son was in the NICUThe difference between being grateful about a situation and being grateful in itHow a year that included a son's mental health crisis, a husband's hospitalization, a scary migraine, and a broken femur was still consecrated for goodWhy holding on — even by the thinnest thread — is always worth itFeatured Scriptures & Talks: Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — Grateful in Any Circumstances, April 2014 General ConferenceElder Henry B. Eyring — on writing down tender mercies and seeing God's hand dailyPresident Russell M. Nelson — on seeking and expecting miraclesDavid and Goliath — 1 Samuel 17 — on facing giants with God's helpMichael McLean — Hold On, the Light Will ComeThis episode is for you if: You are in a season where joy feels far away and you are just trying to hold onYou want practical tools for finding gratitude inside hard things — not just after themYou are a parent navigating a child's mental health crisis and wondering if you are doing enoughYou need to be reminded that God consecrates our pain and does not waste a single hard thingYou want to hear an honest, grounded testimony from a woman who has been through a lot and is still smilingIf you or someone you love is struggling:If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, please reach out for help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. You are not alone and help is available. Connect with Becoming the Oak:Want to share your story? Click here for the application. Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Be still. Believe. Become.

    Hold On, Light Comes | Gratitude, Consecration, and Finding God in Every Hard Season

  7. Aug 17

    He Goes Before You | A Testimony That He Already Knows, He Already Loves, and He Has Already Prepared

    Enjoying this episode? What we talk about today is exactly what we are going deeper into in my upcoming workshop — Rooted Not Rattled. Registration is now open. Details below.What if the hardest season of your life was already accounted for before it began? In this powerful episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Kathryn Larsen Spagnolo shares her remarkable testimony of a God who goes before us — through job loss, a house they could not afford, two children in mental health crises, and a husband whose health continues to decline. From the moment she discovered that losing their income had actually made it possible to afford the mental health care their children desperately needed, to the basket of gift cards handed through a car window, to the cash arriving in the mail from people with no return address — Kathryn's story is one of the most vivid and tender illustrations of God's foreknowledge and provision you will ever hear. He already knew. He already loved. He had already prepared the way. In this episode: How job loss, a house they could not afford, and two children in mental health crises all hit at the same time — and what God had already put in placeWhy humbling yourself enough to receive help is sometimes harder than giving itThe phrase I will go before your face and how it became the thread running through Kathryn's entire storyWhat a book called God Comes to Women taught Kathryn about how God meets women differently than menHow looking for sunflowers changes everything you are able to seeFeatured Scriptures & Talks: President Russell M. Nelson — Confidence in the Presence of God, April 2025 General Conference — "As we go to our Heavenly Father with increasing confidence, we will be filled with more joy"President Nelson — "Seek and expect miracles"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — on prayer and the angels waiting to serve usGod Comes to Women by Heather Farrell and Jen Mabry — on how God meets women where they areThe scriptural pattern of I will go before your face — Moses, Abraham, Joseph Smith, Nephi, the brother of JaredThis episode is for you if: You are in the middle of something hard and wondering if God sees youYou have ever struggled to accept help when you needed it mostYou want to be reminded that God arranges things in advance — before you even know you need themYou need practical encouragement for finding joy and miracles in the middle of an impossible seasonYou are carrying job loss, mental health challenges, medical uncertainty, or financial hardshipResources mentioned: God Comes to Women by Heather Farrell and Jen MabryThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bishop's Storehouse — available through your local bishop for those in needNAMI — National Alliance on Mental Illness — nami.org — for mental health support and resources ROOTED NOT RATTLED — Virtual WorkshopAugust 27, 2026 | 11:00 AM PDT | 90 Minutes | $30 Enter ROOTED in the Discount Code and get $10 off thru August 18th. Everything we talked about in today's episode — the roots, the soil, the process of becoming — is exactly what we are going to dig into together in this workshop. We will look at it all through the lens of nervous system regulation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is where the becoming gets practical. Register here! : I would love to see you there. Connect with Becoming the Oak:Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Be still. Believe. Become.

    He Goes Before You | A Testimony That He Already Knows, He Already Loves, and He Has Already Prepared

  8. Aug 10

    Beyond Her Prayers | How Despair Became the Doorway to Miracles

    What do you do when you are doing everything right and still not seeing results? In this beautiful and deeply layered episode of Becoming the Oak Rooted in Christ, Nancy Boyer shares her journey through deep despair, career loss, infertility, financial uncertainty, and the internal wrestling every mother faces between calling, career, and what it truly means to nurture. From the moment a scripture in Alma 58 spoke peace to her soul in the middle of unanswered prayers, to the Old Testament story of Abigail that became a symbol of Christ's compensating blessings, to the day God answered her prayer for a baby with twins — Nancy's story is a powerful reminder that God not only hears our prayers but exceeds them in ways we never could have imagined. And the miracles? They are not waiting on the other side of the hard. They are right there inside of it. In this episode: How a season of deep despair after losing her career led Nancy to one of the most specific answers to prayer she has ever receivedThe Old Testament story of Abigail that became a profound symbol of Christ's compensating blessings in her lifeThe internal wrestling every mother faces between calling, career, and what it really means to nurtureWhy repentance is not just about sin — it is about turning again to Christ every single dayHow shifting from this is happening to me to this is happening for me changes everythingFeatured Scriptures & Talks: Alma 58:11 — "The Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us. Insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls"Sister Camille Johnson — Invite Christ to Author Your Story, October 2021 General ConferenceMatthew 11:28-30 — on being yoked with Christ and finding restThe story of Abigail and Nabal — 1 Samuel 25 — as a symbol of Christ's compensating blessingsThis episode is for you if: You are doing everything right and still not seeing the results you are praying forYou are wrestling with questions about motherhood, career, and callingYou feel like joy is far away or like God is taking too long to answerYou need to be reminded that the miracles are not waiting on the other side of the hard — they are right inside of itYou want practical and honest encouragement for turning back to God when fear and overwhelm take overConnect with Nancy: @lilyandolivecoBooks - Draw Near Unto MeA Christ-Centered Easter CelebrationConnect with Becoming the Oak:Website: becomingtheoak.comEmail: kendra@becomingtheoak.comInstagram: @becomingtheoak Be still. Believe. Become.

    Beyond Her Prayers | How Despair Became the Doorway to Miracles
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Real Women. Real Faith. Real Growth. Becoming the Oak is a Christ-centered podcast for women who want peace and joy not because life is easy, but because their hearts are rooted in Jesus. Each episode features honest conversations with women who share real stories of faith grown through life’s challenges. If you’ve ever felt weary, spiritually stuck, or unsure how to stay grounded, this podcast is for you. Together, we explore what it means to remain planted in truth, strengthened by grace, and anchored in hope — even when the winds rise. New Episodes Weekly

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