Pivotal People Stephanie Nelson

This episode of the Pivotal People podcast is a riveting journey of faith and resilience featuring our special guest, Nick Nilson. Nick's story is one that takes us from his small hometown in Wisconsin to his remarkable transformation into an Associate Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston with pastor Joel Osteen , serving a congregation of 30 to 40,000 people weekly.  Nick's life is a testament to the healing power of faith and the potential each one of us has in our  lives.

Nick's new book has made the USA Today Bestseller list and it's a great read. It's title is based on Nick's personal experience: "You Can Live the Dream: Trading Disappointment and Discontentment for Peace, Joy and Fulfillment,"
Diving into the heart of his narrative, Nick shares the profound shift from his football dreams to becoming an influential pastor. He underscores the importance of having faith even in the face of adversity. His powerful message of hope encourages listeners not to resist the challenges life throws at them. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of seeing these closed doors as opportunities for greater things. Nick's inspiring words are a beacon of light that guides us towards finding our own purpose amidst the chaos.

In the latter part of our conversation, Nick speaks about the undeniable power of serving others. He believes that each one of us has been given influence and it's our prerogative on how to use it. Nick encourages us to use this influence to uplift others and spread positivity. He also underscores the significance of community outreach, and the role we all can play in making a difference. Join us for this episode, filled with insights that will make you reflect on your life, your struggles and the incredible potential you hold to make a difference.

Connect with Nick at https://www.nicknilson.com/

You can order his book from Amazon HERE

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We're inviting you to journey with us, alongside our guest Rebecca Rothman, director of donor relations at Faith Bridge Foster Care, as she unpacks her incredibly inspiring life story. Abandoned at birth, adopted, and now a beacon of hope in the foster care system, Rebecca's tale is not one to miss. Through sharing her personal experience, she illuminates the hardships and triumphs of fostering and adoption, and how they shaped her faith and purpose in life. Her upcoming book, "Abandoned for God", promises to be an intimate chronicle of her journey to healing and finding her divine calling.

The second part of our discussion takes a deeper look into the pressing issues and challenges within the foster care system. With her first-hand insight, Rebecca paints a vivid picture of the potential trauma children in the system face and how we can actively contribute to changing their lives for the better. We conclude this enlightening conversation by delving into Faith Bridge Foster Care's innovative programs and introducing their newest initiative — the Youth Opportunities Program. A must-listen episode filled with touching stories, life-changing insights, and how you can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Let's embark on this journey together.

Contact Rebecca here:
https://faithbridgefostercare.org/

https://www.instagram.com/rtrinklerothman/

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Can leadership truly be found within each of us? Let's uncover the answer in our engaging conversation with Tim Lupinacci, the CEO and Chair of the Baker Donelson law firm, one of the largest firms in the country. Not just a successful business leader, Tim is a self-proclaimed leadership junkie, actively transforming his car into a leadership university and practicing 'dinner table diplomacy' to better understand and inspire those around him. As the founder of the nonprofit Everybody Leads, he's dedicated to fostering leadership skills and confidence in underserved communities. 

Our discussion with Tim Lupinacci takes you on a journey exploring the power of words and mindful communication, from impactful quotes to a simple phrase from his nephew that holds immense significance. He shares with us how one sentence altered his career path, reinforcing how words can shape our lives. As we delve deeper into his leadership journey, we explore how he invests in relationships, practices active listening, and creates a conducive environment for ideas and feedback in his firm. Here's an episode that reminds us that leadership is not confined to titles or roles but is a potential within us all. So, let's tune in and uncover the leader in each of us!

Connect with Tim for more information:
CEO of Baker Donelson law firm: https://www.bakerdonelson.com/

Founder of nonprofit "Everybody Leads":  https://everybodyleads.org/




Learn more at StephanieNelson.com

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Amanda Opelt, author of "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness and the Myth of the Blessed Life"  invites readers to challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God. Amanda examines some of the historic, religious, and cultural influences that led to the idolization of positive feelings and the marginalization of negative feelings.  
Amanda acknowledges the value of pursuing happiness but advocates for embracing a broader range of emotions within the Christian experience. She urges for the normalization of feelings like sadness, anger, grief and disappointment, highlighting their potential for growth in your faith journey. 
Amanda is available for interviews and can speak on how to find holiness in the midst of unhappiness and uncomfortable emotions, how being blessed is often misunderstood or misinterpreted or the importance of normalizing feelings such as sadness, anger, grief, and disappointment is a part of the Christian experience.

Learn more  and Order from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Unhappiness-Goodness-Myth-Blessed/dp/1546001921/ref=sr_1_1?

Connect with Amanda:
https://amandaheldopelt.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amandaheldopelt/

Learn more at StephanieNelson.com

Download Stephanie's free ebook to cut your grocery bill in half--no coupons required!

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Chris Beth is the Executive Director of The Bucket Ministry. It is an innovative and practical approach to providing clean water to impoverished communities in developing countries, while ministering to residents to share Christ's love. 

I am fascinated with Chris' story, the technology he uses, and am touched by his sincere love for this cause. I will be a supporter of his ministry after meeting him and learning about his exciting organization.  

Their website www.thebucketministry.org describes their appproach:
"We share God’s love through the gift of clean, safe, drinking water. We provide under-resourced communities around the world with long-lasting water filters, forge and nurture new relationships with Jesus Christ, and inspire systemic, Christ-centered change through discipleship training."

Chris started this ministry after a mission trip to the Brazilian Amazon with his daughter.  His personal story is inspiring and encouraging, and motivates the rest of us to help in very simple ways.

Learn more at StephanieNelson.com

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In this episode of the Pivotal People Podcast, we welcome Mark Bannon, an author, speaker, and professional coach, to discuss his upcoming memoir titled "The Boy From the Cave: From Hopelessness to Purpose." Mark shares his personal story of growing up in poverty and the challenges he faced as a result of his difficult childhood. Despite the hardships, Mark developed a strong work ethic and achieved great success in his professional life. However, he realized that he was running from his past traumas and sought to find purpose and meaning in his life.
We discuss Mark's journey of self-discovery, including his exploration of spirituality and his pursuit of various Eastern philosophies. Ultimately, Mark finds his way to Christianity through an unexpected encounter with a coworker from India who radiated peace. He begins reading the Bible daily and emphasizes the transformative power of connecting with God through scripture.
Our conversation delves into the importance of mental health and finding balance in life. Mark advises his younger self and listeners to face their traumas, take time for self-care, and be mindful of what they ingest mentally and emotionally. He emphasizes the significance of reading the Bible and encourages readers to seek their own understanding of faith rather than relying solely on interpretations from others or organized religion.
Today Mark is helping clients as a life coach, executive business coach and a speaker. You can connect with him at MarkABannon.com and on Instagram @markabannon .

His book comes out in August 2023 and is available to pre-order in June.
Learn more here and get a FREE download of the first 3 chapters of the book: https://markabannon.com/

Learn more at StephanieNelson.com

Download Stephanie's free ebook to cut your grocery bill in half--no coupons required!

Follow us on Instagram @stephanie_nelson_cm
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