The RISE Experience

Shannon Denniston
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The RISE Experience is a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in their health, leadership, faith, and everyday lives. Hosted by Shannon Denniston, this space explores what it looks like to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, to grow without hustle, and to create meaningful change in real life — not a perfect one. Each conversation weaves together identity, leadership, faith, and body-based wisdom, offering space to slow down, reflect, and rise from clarity rather than pressure.

  1. 2D AGO

    Leadership Changes When You Set Clear Boundaries.

    Send me a text You know that quiet moment after you say “yes” and your whole body whispers, “I didn’t want that”? That’s not just stress. That’s your cue: this isn’t a time problem. It’s a boundary problem.  Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today’s episode, we look at those quiet moments after a yes that didn’t feel right and how they slowly turn into overwhelm, frustration, and disconnection from yourself. The pattern of saying yes to keep the peace is named for what it is: a boundary issue, not a time issue. Boundaries are reframed as clarity about what can be carried with integrity, rather than distance or selfishness. There’s gentle guidance on noticing where a yes feels heavy, how overfunctioning keeps others from growing, and why honoring real limits can be an act of faith, alignment, and steadier leadership. Episode Outline The quiet regret after saying yes when it doesn’t feel rightWhy chronic overwhelm is more about boundaries than timeHow repeated, misaligned yeses create internal tension and burnoutRethinking boundaries as clarity and integrity, not selfishnessOverfunctioning in leadership and how it causes others to underfunctionThe emotional, mental, and physical weight of carrying too muchBoundaries as psychological and spiritual protection for steady leadershipJesus as an example of saying no, resting, and withdrawingNoticing where a yes feels heavy and treating that as important dataChoosing to respond from clarity instead of pressure Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro to the podcast 01:00 It’s not a time problem, it’s a boundary problem 03:30 Overfunctioning and underfunctioning in leadership 06:00 When leadership starts to feel heavy 08:30 Boundaries as integrity & what you can truly hold 11:00 Jesus as a model of rest and saying no 13:21 Noticing where your “yes” feels heavy 16:00 Choosing clarity over pressure + closing prayer Action Taken Invited you to start noticing where your yes feels heavy and treat that as useful data.Encouraged you to pause before committing and ask, “What would it look like to respond from clarity instead of pressure?.Prompted you to reflect on where you may be overfunctioning and carrying what isn’t yours to carry.Led a prayer asking God for clarity, courage, and wisdom to set and honor boundaries   Conclusion Saying yes to everything might look like strength on the surface, but inside it slowly pulls you away from clarity, peace, and the kind of leadership that feels grounded. When a yes feels heavy, that weight is a signal, not a flaw. Boundaries become the way to honor what is truly yours to carry and release what is not, so life and leadership don’t rest on pressure alone. Learning to notice those signals, to pause, and to choose a clearer response is where trust with yourself begins to rebuild, one honest yes, and one honest no, at a time. Call to Action If this time together gave you language for what you’ve been feeling, share it with a friend who keeps saying yes when their whole body is begging for no. And as you move through this week, let at least

    18 min

  2. APR 9

    Trusting Others When You’re Used to Carrying Everything Yourself.

    Send me a text Trust sounds beautiful until it asks you to loosen your grip.  If you’ve spent years being “the responsible one,” letting go doesn’t feel holy or healthy. It feels risky. But what if your growth and the growth of the people you lead actually depend on it? Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today’s episode, we explore how doing everything yourself slowly shrinks the people around you, and how trust begins to rebuild what over-responsibility has shut down. Through story and a faith-centered lens, the focus moves from the discomfort of releasing control to the quiet strength of letting others try, make mistakes, and grow. As trust shifts from a theory to a practiced rhythm, leadership becomes less about carrying it all and more about creating space where everyone can rise. Episode Outline The tension between valuing trust and resisting it when it requires releasing control.Why high-capacity, capable women often default to “I’ll just do it myself”.How over-responsibility quietly shrinks teams, families, and communities.Trust as a muscle: why it grows through repetition, shared responsibility, and time.A defining story of a boss who refused to give me easy answers—and how that forced me to grow.What happens when you let people figure things out instead of rescuing them.How shared responsibility builds confidence, ownership, and healthier leadership.The discomfort of letting others make mistakes and learn from them.The difference between neglecting people and giving them room to grow.A faith lens on trust: how God entrusts us with responsibility before we feel ready.Moving from control to stewardship in how we lead and love the people around us.Gentle reflection prompts on where trust feels hard and where you may be carrying too much alone.A closing prayer for wisdom, patience, and courage to lead from trust instead of fear. Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Rise Experience 00:56 Introducing today’s topic: trust and control 02:19 The burden of always being the responsible one 03:53 “I’ll just do it myself” and its impact on your team 04:36 Trust as a muscle and a stretching boss story 07:20 How shared responsibility transforms teams and leaders 08:16 Letting people make mistakes and learn 09:17 A faith lens on trust and responsibility 10:02 From control to stewardship in leadership 11:06 Reflecting on where trust feels difficult in your life 11:51 Closing prayer and encouragement to keep rising together Action Taken I invite you to: Reflect on one area where you’re holding on because it feels “easier” than trusting someone else.Consider who in your life might be ready to grow if you gave them more meaningful responsibility. Conclusion Trust is not a switch you flip. It is a slow, stretching process that asks you to loosen your grip so others can rise. When you stop trying to control every outcome and start creating space for people to participate, make mistakes, and learn, leadership becomes less about pressure and more about stewardship. As you release what you were never meant to hold alone, you make

    13 min

  3. APR 3

    From Control to Stewardship: A Faith-Filled Shift in How You Lead.

    Send me a text When did “being responsible” quietly turn into carrying the weight of everyone and everything?   If your strength has started to feel like pressure, this is your invitation to lead differently. Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today’s episode, we look at how healthy responsibility can quietly turn into control, and how shifting into true stewardship brings more freedom to your mind, body, and leadership. Through a faith-filled lens, you’ll hear why everything was never meant to depend on one person, and how creating space can actually nurture the people and work you care about most. Episode Outline The tension between caring deeply and slipping into control  How competence and reliability slowly train others to lean on you for everything  Why control often looks like leadership on the surface but feels like pressure underneath  The cost of control: mental fatigue, brain fog, and an always-on nervous system  Defining stewardship vs. control in leadership and everyday life  What changes when you lead as a steward, not the source of every outcome  How stewardship creates space for others to step up, own, and grow  A faith lens on stewardship: entrusted, not the ultimate owner  A powerful reframe: from “What if I don’t step in?” to “What might grow if I create space?”  Guided reflection: where control has crept in and where you’re carrying too much  Closing prayer for wisdom, humility, and steady leadership Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The RISE Experience & Who This Is For 00:20 When Responsibility Quietly Turns Into Control 01:20 How Competence Leads to Carrying Everything 02:40 The Hidden Pressure of Being “The Reliable One” 03:40 When Leadership Shifts into Unsustainable Control 04:59 The Exhaustion and Mental Fatigue of Constant Monitoring 06:10 Introducing Stewardship vs. Control 07:05 What Changes When You Lead as a Steward, Not the Source 08:10 A Faith Lens on Stewardship and Being Entrusted, Not Owning 09:10 The Question That Changes Everything: “What Might Grow If I Create Space?” 09:55 Reflection: Where Has Control Crept Into Your Life? 11:00 Closing Prayer for Steady, Trust-Filled Leadership 12:10 Encouragement to Share & Final Blessing: Keep Rising Together Action Taken Invited listeners to reflect on where control has slowly crept into their lives.Prompted listeners to ask themselves: “What might grow if I create space instead?”Encouraged listeners to share this episode with someone learning to lead in a healthier, less pressured way   Conclusion This episode is my way of reframing leadership, not as holding everything together, but as holding things differently. I want you to remember that you’ve been entrusted with influence, but you were never meant to be the source or savior of every outcome. As you shift from control to stewardship, you’ll begin to notice more room for people, ideas, and faith-filled growth to rise, without that constant pressure sitting on your shoulders. CTA If this episode helped you see your leadership or responsibilities in

    13 min

  4. MAR 26

    Why Momentum Fades and How to Keep It Without Burning Out.

    Send me a text You’re not falling behind, you’re just exhausted from trying to keep up. Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today’s episode, the focus is on why momentum fades and how burnout, not a lack of discipline, often gets in the way. Growth doesn’t come from pushing harder all the time; it comes from moving with rhythm and giving space for recovery. Using examples from leadership, daily routines, and strength training, it shows how constant pressure drains energy, reduces capacity, and makes it hard to sustain progress. Momentum, when done right, is about moving steadily without collapsing, not running on adrenaline. Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:40 Momentum vs burnout setup 02:30 Designed for rhythm, not endless pushing 06:00 Burnout, nervous system & hard resets 09:30 Leadership, pressure & team burnout 13:40 Seasons of push and pause 16:30 Strength training as a rhythm metaphor 18:40 Reflection: where are you over-pushing? 20:30 Prayer & closing encouragement Episode Outline Why starting strong is easy, but maintaining momentum is difficultBurnout is the real reason momentum is lostThe difference between discipline problems and rhythm problemsHow the body naturally operates in cycles of push and recoveryWhy growth happens during recovery, not constant effortThe impact of burnout on leadership, teams, and creativityCreating environments where people can stay and growFaith-based perspective on rest as protection, not punishmentRedefining momentum as steady progress without collapseStrength training as a real-life example of push and recoverSelf-awareness: recognizing where rhythm is missing Action Taken Share the episode with someone who needs a reminder about a sustainable paceStay consistent with strength training as a practice of push and recovery Conclusion Momentum that lasts isn’t built by moving faster; it’s built by knowing when to push and when to pause. Growth becomes sustainable when recovery is treated as part of the process, not as something separate from it. Steady movement, supported by rhythm, allows progress to continue without breaking down along the way. CTA Listen to the episode, follow the podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs a reset on how they approach growth and momentum. Visit the links provided to stay connected. Instagram: @risewithshannonFacebook: Rise ExperienceLinkedIn: Shannon DennistonBusiness: https://msha.ke/shandeCoaching: https://msha.ke/risewithshannon Thank you for listening. Keep choosing steadiness over pressure and trust the rhythm that allows real growth to last.

    16 min

  5. MAR 19

    Why Leaders Struggle to Create Emotional Safety?

    Send me a text Leaders often face tension, anxiety, and constant people-pleasing, and it can feel impossible to create trust. When emotional and relational safety is missing, teams hold back, creativity stalls, and stress takes over. Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today’s episode, emotional and relational safety in leadership takes center stage, showing how it creates space for honesty, creativity, and trust while unsafe environments lead to tension and people-pleasing. Steadiness, self-awareness, and a supportive internal voice shape leadership that allows people to stay, engage, and grow. Leadership isn’t about avoiding hard conversations but about fostering environments where everyone feels valued and supported. Episode Outline Introduction to emotional and relational safety and its impact on conversations and relationshipsPhysical and emotional cues of feeling safe versus unsafeHow the nervous system scans for safety and affects behaviorSafety in leadership: going beyond physical security to emotional and relational supportConsequences of unsafe leadership: people-pleasing, risk avoidance, tensionBenefits of safe leadership: honesty, questions, mistakes without fear of judgmentBuilding steadiness: maintaining calm, grounded leadership, and reducing reactive behaviorFaith and steadiness: examples of how faith anchors leaders during challengesInternal voice and self-leadership: fostering a supportive inner dialoguePractical tips for steadiness: self-reflection, calming techniques, creating safe spaces Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Rise Experience 00:36 What Real Safety Feels Like 02:10 Your Nervous System’s Safety Radar 03:40 Safety vs. Unsafe Leadership 06:55 Control, Steadiness, and Regulation 09:10 Faith as a Refuge and Model for Leadership 10:40 Leading Yourself with a Safe Inner Voice 12:20 Reflection Questions for Growing as a Leader 13:35 Prayer for Steady, Safe Leadership 15:05 Safety Changes Everything – Keep Rising Action Taken Create a reflection guide with prompts to identify where safety exists and where tension arisesDevelop and share a practice list of regulation exercises (pause techniques, grounding, internal voice prompts)Provide content for leaders to adopt a safer inner voice, including sample self-statements and reframing questions Conclusion Emotional and relational safety is the foundation for leadership that fosters honesty, trust, and creativity. Leaders who cultivate steadiness and a supportive internal voice create environments where people can thrive, engage fully, and grow without fear. CTA Listen, follow, and share this episode to encourage safer leadership practices. Visit the links provided to stay connected. Instagram: @risewithshannonFacebook: Rise ExperienceLinkedIn: Shannon DennistonBusiness: https://msha.ke/sha

    16 min

  6. MAR 12

    Why Carrying Everything Alone Leads to Emotional Exhaustion.

    Send me a text Strong on the outside. Tired on the inside. There is a weight that builds when everything is carried quietly. It does not show, but it settles into the body and the soul. Episode Highlights In this episode, I address the emotional and physical toll of carrying burdens in silence. What looks like strength and composure often leads to chronic stress, exhaustion, and isolation. Avoiding being a burden can quietly overburden the heart and body. This episode emphasizes that faith and connection offer relief through honesty and shared responsibility. Seeking support is not weakness but wisdom, and lasting strength is built through shared burdens, not silent endurance. Episode Outline Carrying heavy loads silently and why it feels exhaustingThe learned behavior of staying composed to avoid burdening othersThe physical impact of silent stress on the nervous systemAppearing strong while feeling fragile and isolatedThe emotional cost of silent enduranceFaith as presence, honesty, and shared burdensThe difference between isolated strength and connected strengthNaming what feels heavy as the first step toward reliefHow sharing a burden helps the body and mind recalibrateWhy humans were created for connection, not silent containment Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Rise Experience 00:20 The Hidden Weight of Quiet Carrying 01:30 The Cost of Always Being “Fine” 02:40 Strong on the Outside, Fragile Inside 03:50 When Wisdom Turns Into Isolation 05:00 Your Body Remembers What You Hide 06:10 Faith, Honesty, and Shared Burdens 07:20 Jesus and the Wisdom of Asking for Help 08:20 What Are You Carrying Quietly? 09:10 You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone Action Taken Pause during the episode and identify one thing that has been carried quietly, then begin to share it with someone trustedShare this episode or its message with someone who may need permission to seek support Conclusion Carrying everything alone may look strong, but it slowly drains the body and heart. Silence can feel wise, even protective, but over time it isolates. Strength that lasts is rooted in connection, honesty, and shared responsibility. No one was meant to hold everything alone. CTA Listen to the episode, follow the podcast, and share it with someone who might benefit from the message. Visit the links provided to stay connected. Instagram: @risewithshannonFacebook: Rise ExperienceLinkedIn: Shannon DennistonBusiness: https://msha.ke/shandeCoaching: https://msha.ke/risewithshannon Thank you for listening. It means a lot that this space is shared together. If something in this episode resonated, may it serve as permission to loosen the grip, name what feels heavy, and reach toward connection. Support is not weakness. It is wisdom.

    10 min

  7. MAR 5

    Why Growth Happens Faster When You Stop Doing It Alone.

    Send me a text Strong people often carry the heaviest loads in silence. But growth was never designed to happen alone. Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In today's episode, the focus is on how support directly affects personal growth and leadership. Many people operate in isolation due to conditioning that equates needing help with weakness, which leads to exhaustion and slower progress. When steady support is present, through relationships or structured environments, the nervous system relaxes, clarity returns, and growth becomes more sustainable. The core message reinforces that receiving support is not a weakness but a necessary part of lasting strength. Episode Outline Understanding the burden of doing everything aloneThe rise experience and growth without burnoutSocietal conditioning that links help with weaknessPressure on women to remain self-sufficientHow isolation exhausts the nervous systemWhy feeling seen and supported changes performanceThe difference between pressure-based accountability and steady supportFaith reference and the example of Jesus seeking connectionFear of depending on others and past disappointmentsWhy receiving support can feel unfamiliar or threateningHow supported strength becomes sustainableReflection on areas where too much is being carriedClosing prayer on connection, gentleness, and guidance Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:32 Doing hard things alone 01:25 Conditioning & self-sufficiency (esp. for women) 02:40 Nervous system, exhaustion & survival mode 04:05 How support shifts body, brain & perspective 05:20 Safety, capacity & growing with others 06:40 Accountability vs steadying support 07:35 Faith, Jesus & shared burdens 08:50 Why receiving support feels threatening 10:05 Strong ones who struggle to be supported 11:15 Reflection questions on carrying too much 13:05 Support, connection, prayer & closing Action Taken Lead a guided reflection using these prompts:Where am I carrying more than I need to?Where have I been managing instead of being supported?What would feel different if support was received?Invite listeners to share the episode with someone carrying a heavy load if it brought relief or clarity Conclusion Personal growth and leadership are not strengthened through isolation. Carrying everything alone leads to exhaustion and slower progress, while steady support creates clarity, safety, and sustainability. Growth accelerates when support is received, not resisted. CTA Listen to the episode, follow the podcast, and share it with someone who might benefit from the message. Visit the links provided to stay connected. Instagram: @risewithshannonFacebook: Rise ExperienceLinkedIn: Shannon DennistonBusiness: https://msha.

    16 min

  8. FEB 26

    Why Quitting Isn’t Failure but a Protective Response.

    Send me a text Quitting isn’t always failure; it can be protection. Feeling the urge to leave often signals that something feels unsafe, unsteady, or overwhelming. Staying should never feel forced; it should feel supported, natural, and safe enough to continue. Welcome to The RISE Experience, a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in health, leadership, faith, and everyday life. This is a space to slow down when everything feels loud, to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, and to listen again. Here, identity, faith, the body, and quiet inner wisdom matter. A place to pause, reflect, and rise from clarity instead of pressure. Episode Highlights In this episode, I talk about the idea that quitting is often seen as a personal failure but can actually be a protective response when feeling unsafe or unsteady, highlighting that staying in a situation should feel natural and supported rather than heroic or pressured, and emphasizing the importance of trusting the body’s cues, prioritizing internal safety over external pressure, allowing imperfection, embracing the messiness in the middle, and remaining in a safe space to support both personal and professional growth. Episode Outline Understanding the nature of quitting and staying.The role of safety in feeling able to stay.Faith and the value of staying grounded.The impact of external pressure vs. internal safety.The importance of trusting oneself and listening to the body.Structure and support as tools for sustainable staying.Embracing imperfection and the messy middle.Compassion, curiosity, and understanding in staying.Learning to stay as a practice and skill.Leadership, faith, and staying in the middle of growth Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Rise Experience 00:30 Rethinking Quitting as Protection, Not Failure 02:10 When the Nervous System Chooses to Leave 03:20 Consistency vs. Feeling Safe Enough to Stay 04:30 Faith, Abiding, and Staying Grounded in God 05:40 Trusting Your Body’s Cues and Letting Go of Shame 06:40 Structure as Support, Not a Trap 07:40 Embracing the Messy Middle of Growth 08:40 Curiosity, Compassion, and Learning to Stay 09:30 You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Stay 09:54 Closing Prayer and Encouragement to Keep Rising Action Taken Reflect and journal where quitting usually occurs and whether leaving was protective or a preferencePractice staying gently and imperfectly, pause, recalibrate, and try again rather than restarting completely. Conclusion Staying isn’t about willpower, perfection, or proving something. It’s about cultivating internal safety, trusting your body, and allowing growth to unfold in its own rhythm. CTA Listen to the episode, follow the podcast, and share it with someone who might benefit from the message. Visit the links provided to stay connected. Instagram: @risewithshannonFacebook: Rise ExperienceLinkedIn: Shannon DennistonBusiness: https://msha.ke/shandeCoaching: https://msha.ke/risewithshannon Thank you for listening. May this episode remind you that choosing to stay can be a courageous, protecti

    15 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The RISE Experience is a podcast for women who are rebuilding trust with themselves — in their health, leadership, faith, and everyday lives. Hosted by Shannon Denniston, this space explores what it looks like to lead from steadiness instead of urgency, to grow without hustle, and to create meaningful change in real life — not a perfect one. Each conversation weaves together identity, leadership, faith, and body-based wisdom, offering space to slow down, reflect, and rise from clarity rather than pressure.

Information

  • Creator
    Shannon Denniston
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The RISE Experience
  • Show Website
    The RISE Experience