Empowered Christian Woman

Have you ever wondered if the way you’ve been taught about Christian marriage really lines up with God's heart? In today's episode, you’re invited into a conversation about something that still causes so much confusion — mutuality in marriage.

You’ll hear a journey that might feel familiar — from believing a husband had to be the "spiritual leader" (even when it didn’t quite make sense) to discovering a richer, more beautiful vision in Scripture: a marriage built on partnership, unity, and mutual submission.

We’ll unpack passages like Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 7 together, clear up some common...

If you’ve ever felt like the version of womanhood taught in your church doesn’t quite reflect the freedom and purpose you sense God put inside you… you’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into egalitarian theology: what it is, what it’s not, and why it offers a more faithful and freeing interpretation of Scripture than the limiting teachings many of us were handed.

Whether you’re curious, questioning, or already deconstructing harmful beliefs, this conversation will help you untangle man-made hierarchy from God’s original design of mutuality, shared power, an...

In this episode, Jeannette Cochran takes a bold and thoughtful look at complementarian theology—the belief that men are divinely appointed to lead while women are called to follow. Whether this term is brand new to you or something you've wrestled with for years, this conversation is for every woman who has felt the quiet pressure to stay small, hold back, or defer to others—even when she knows God has called her to lead.

Jeannette shares her personal journey from embracing complementarianism to challenging it through deep study of Scripture, cultural context, and the heart of the...

In this episode, Jeannette Cochran sits down with culture coach and speaker Nikki Lerner for a rich conversation about multicultural leadership and why it matters more than ever. They talk about what it takes to lead well in diverse spaces—like understanding cultural differences, building inclusive environments, and developing real cultural competence. Nikki shares insights on the power of proximity to people who are different from us, what we can learn from ethnic churches, and how to navigate the pushback that often comes with multicultural work.

They also dive into the unique challenges women face in leadership, th...

In this episode, Jeannette dives into a critical but often overlooked aspect of leadership—managing anxiety. Leadership and anxiety go hand in hand, and the real question isn’t whether you’ll experience anxiety, but how you’ll handle it. Drawing from personal experience and expert insights, she explores why anxiety is a natural part of leadership, how it can become destructive if ignored, and how to transform it into a tool for growth.

Jeannette introduces the CALM Framework, a four-step process to help leaders navigate anxiety with intention:

In this episode, Jeanette Cochran delves into the topic of emotions in leadership, particularly addressing the stereotype that women are 'too emotional' to lead effectively. Jeanette challenges these long-standing biases, using biblical examples and recent research to highlight that emotional intelligence is a powerful leadership asset for both men and women.

Tune in to explore how embracing your emotional sensitivity can make you a more attuned, compassionate, and impactful leader.

Shareable insights and practical takeaways await as Jeanette calls for a new leadership model that values emotional and mental health in both men and women.<...

So many of us look for joy in fleeting places—success, perfection, or comparison—only to find ourselves feeling empty or disappointed. In this Advent reflection, we’re diving deep into the difference between happiness and true, lasting joy.

You’ll discover how joy isn’t dependent on circumstances but is rooted in something far deeper: the presence and promises of God. We’ll explore the angel’s proclamation of “good news of great joy” and unpack how this joy transforms the way we live, lead, and love—even in life’s most challenging seasons.

If you’re tired of cha...

Join Jeanette Cochran, pastor and leadership coach, in this special Advent series episode. Explore the profound concept of 'peace' from a biblical perspective, specifically the Hebrew word 'Shalom', and discover practical ways to embrace Christ's peace amidst the holiday chaos and difficult relationships. Jeanette offers heartfelt advice for women to release control, set healthy boundaries, and focus on gratitude to experience lasting peace and joy this Christmas season.

FREE GUIDE: Practical Steps to Experience Christmas Joy While Leading in Ministry

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Christmas is meant to be a season of joy, wonder, and hope. But too often, it becomes a whirlwind of shopping lists, endless to-dos, and feeling stretched too thin. During the busyness, it’s easy to lose sight of the deep, soul-stirring meaning of this season.

But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if this Advent, you could reclaim a sense of calm, purpose, and connection? What if you set aside time each week to refocus your heart, renew your spirit, and rediscover the beauty of Emmanuel—God with us? That’s...

In this episode of the Empowered Christian Woman Podcast, host Jeanette Cochran interviews author Liz Coolidge Jenkins about her new book, 'Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity from Evangelicalism.' They discuss the subtle and overt ways patriarchy operates in churches, particularly those that are 'complementarian,' and its impact on women and community. Liz shares her personal journey in ministry, insights from her book, and the importance of diverse voices in the pulpit. They also explore how Christian teachings on humility and emotions differ by gender, and the necessity for reform in church leadership and gender roles.

Jeanette Cochran interviews Pastor Brooke Palmer, a pioneering woman leading a new church plant in Urbana, Maryland. Jeanette and Brooke discuss Brooke's unique journey from professional musician to lead pastor, the challenges and discrimination faced by women in church leadership, and the vision for Belonging Community Church. Brooke shares her insights on innovative leadership, the importance of health and rest for leaders, and the mission of creating a welcoming, inclusive church environment. This episode highlights the power of resilience, creativity, and the support of other women in leadership.

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Brooke lives i...

In this heartfelt episode, Jeannette reflects on her journey as a five-year breast cancer survivor and shares transformative insights on cultivating joy despite life's hardships. She delves into six practical steps to choose joy intentionally—setting an intention, practicing gratitude, engaging in contemplative prayer, managing technology use, indulging in joy-producing activities, and taking care of physical health. This episode provides perspective on finding joy beyond circumstances, learning from suffering, and fostering a joyful, empowered life.

Listen in on this important conversation with host, Jeannette Cochran, and special guest, Katie Ding, discussing the pivotal role of women in the ministry of Jesus.  The conversation delves into the significant presence and contributions of women at the resurrection of Jesus, highlighting the contrast between societal views of women at the time and their pivotal role as messengers of Jesus' resurrection. Katie and Jeanette examine the cultural implications of these narratives, emphasizing the empowerment and trust Jesus placed in women, challenging contemporary perspectives, and advocating for the full inclusion of women in all aspects of church life and l...

Author and Recovery Coach, Sally Hope, shares her journey from surviving domestic abuse to empowering others to heal and reclaim their identities. Sally discusses her specialization in aiding Christian domestic abuse survivors through the 'Always Hopeful' program, an 11-week recovery initiative designed for women healing from domestic abuse. This program, available locally and online for free, encourages participants to navigate their experiences from a faith-based perspective, addressing profound questions concerning God's role during their suffering. Sally’s personal story of escaping an abusive marriage and her ensuing quest for healing and understanding through faith highlights the profound impact of do...

In this episode, host Jeanette Cochran dives deep into the most important question we can ask ourselves as we move into 2024: How am I going to grow my potential? Join us as we explore the concept of potential, surrendering to God's spirit, and the power of becoming the person He created us to be. Discover practical tips, inspiring insights, and actionable steps to propel your personal and professional growth. Make sure to catch this transformative episode that will challenge you to tap into your extraordinary potential.

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Jeannette explores women's unique roles in Advent in this episode with special guest Jill Lin. Jill is a stay-at-home mom with an education and background in history, theology, and languages. An immigrant from England now living in the United States, Jill has been part of churches from several diverse denominations, each giving her a rich experience of the Christian faith.

In this episode, Jill delves into how Mary, a teenage girl from a patriarchal society, boldly says 'yes' to God's revelation, showing strength and courage. She discusses how Elizabeth supports and affirms Mary's unique calling and sheds...

Navigating the complexities of life and work with efficiency takes time and effort. So much is coming at us, and "stuff" quickly piles up. Professional organizer Lindsey Hadegree shares the most crucial question you must ask to cut through the clutter and create order in your inner and outer world. Lindsey is a professional organizer trained and certified by Marie Kondo. Through her business, Get Organized Y'all®, she works with individuals, families, and companies to create their ideal life by organizing their spaces, systems, and finances. Lindsey also serves as the Executive Director of the Episcopal Community Foundation for M...

Today's episode is a conversation with Morgan McCarver. Morgan is a multi-award-winning ceramic artist and author of the book, God the Artist.  She is a business owner of Morgan McCarver Porcelain with studios in Asheville, NC and Spartanburg, SC. Her work has been featured in galleries and juried exhibitions across the United States including two solo exhibitions, “FemininiTEA” 2020 and “The Strength of a Wildflower” 2022.

Visit her website www.morganmccarver.com to purchase her work. 

Find Morgan's book God the Artist here

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This week Jeannette has a thought-provoking conversation with special guest, Nicky Pizana, around the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome within organizational systems and cultures, including the Church. Jeannette and Nicky delve into the ways in which these systems perpetuate feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, particularly among those who don't conform to traditional stereotypes and cultural norms. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the detrimental impact of imposter syndrome and how to slay it and rise to your full potential.

The conversation is a powerful call to action, encouraging leaders to take proactive steps to create inclusive, supportive...

Have you ever been mistaken as the assistant when actually you were the leader in charge? If you're a female leader, chances are good this has happened to you a time or two.  This subtle form of gender bias is called role incredulity. It’s usually unintentional and seems harmless, but it creates obstacles for women and contributes to systemic gender inequity in organizations. Role incredulity even affects women in the Bible resulting in inaccuracies in translations. It's a real problem that we need to talk about.

In today’s episode, inspired by an article written by Amy D...

Today, Jeannette talks about a mindset shift that has helped her thrive through even the most challenging seasons. Shifting from scarcity to abundance can literally transform your life! Scarcity shows up every day in big and small ways, and at its core, scarcity is always a lack of faith. With a bit of intention and practice we can train our brains for abundance and experience more of the beautiful life we were created for.

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Today we discuss a figure who has had a profound impact on millions of lives around the world - Pastor Rick Warren. A mega Church Pastor and bestselling author, Rick has been a prominent voice within the evangelical community. Renowned for his complementarian views on gender roles, he recently significantly shifted his beliefs, fully embracing egalitarian theology and ordaining several women pastors in his church. 

This week Pastor Warren courageously acknowledged his previous beliefs publicly and offered a heartfelt apology to women marginalized or excluded by his teachings. In today's episode, Jeannette unpacks Pastor Rick's apology and w...

Research shows that in childhood girls are open and clear about their ambitions. But something changes as women age, and we tend to downplay or abandon our dreams, desires, and goals for achievement. Ambition is often regarded as a positive trait in men, but ambitious women are assumed to be pushy, prideful, or arrogant. But what if ambition is the fuel given by God to accomplish our purpose and calling? 

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Don't miss this insightful leadership conversation with Kadi Cole. Kadi Cole has spent the last twenty-five years serving in local church ministry as an Executive Director at one of America's largest and fastest growing multi-site churches, a Director at Leadership Network, and a founding member of the Women's Executive Pastor Network. 

Kadi authored Sticky Note Leadership, her bestselling book, Developing Female Leaders, and her latest book, Find Your Leadership Voice in 90 Days. She speaks at leadership conferences around the world. 

Kadi is helping​ move the needle forward on diversity, and equipping faith-based leaders to fulfill thei...

In today’s episode Jeannette talks with Retha Nicole, a sought after speaker, trainer and executive coach with a unique perspective on various issues and challenges facing the professional woman.   Once a single mom of two young boys, she understands how difficult it can be to juggle work and family responsibilities. Retha shares her Sunday Planning System and how it can add margin to every mom’s life. Through her story, she helps women move beyond their past to create a life they love. And spoiler alert. It starts with believing that you can have both! You can be a grea...

If you're a female leader, chances are you've heard of imposter syndrome. You've probably struggled with it yourself a time or two. We're told that high-achieving women suffer the ailment most, more than our male counterparts. For decades now, thousands of articles, books, and training initiatives have been developed to help women overcome this problem. But maybe imposter syndrome isn't a deficit in women but rather a deficit in our organizations. Maybe overcoming imposter syndrome is less about fixing women and more about fixing our organizations to be more inclusive. 

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Carolyn Custis James is an award winning author who thinks deeply about what it means to be a female follower of Jesus in a postmodern world. Her books are provocative, honest, and ground-breaking, challenging the small and confusing messages that women often get from the church-- messages that fail to move beyond gender roles or assumes a particular economic situation or stage of life.

With deep scholarship, Carolyn presents a fresh look at women in the bible, revealing new insights and a powerful message that will leave women feeling challenged, valued, and empowered.  

Today’s guest is Pastor Ruth Everhart, author of the books, "Ruined" and “The #Metoo Reckoning: Facing the churches complicity in sexual abuse and misconduct. She shares about her experience overcoming sexual trauma at the hands of two strangers and then later sexual harassment at the hands of a supervisor in the presbyterian church. It’s a heavy topic but one that’s critically important if we want to expose sin, dismantle broken systems, and create healthy faith communities where all people are safe. 

Learn more about Ruth Everhart HERE.

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This week Jeannette talks with Kim Sorrelle, an inspiring leader who experienced suffering, loss, and hardship and then used it to create a more empowering life.   Kim Sorrelle is an entrepreneur, director of a humanitarian organization, author, and speaker. She devoted a year in search of the true meaning of love and she found it. Her award-winning best-selling book, Love Is, chronicles her sometimes funny, sometimes scary, always enlightening journey that led to life-changing discoveries found mainly on the streets of Haiti. Kim is now on a mission to change the world with the power of love.   Learn more about Ki...

Today’s episode is a conversation with an empowered Christian woman leader, Dr. Nicole Davis. In our discussion, we talk about the identity conflict that many women struggle with, how gender equality contributes to strong and healthy marriages, and how we, as women, need to take responsibility to lead ourselves well.

Nicole Davis, PhD, is an ordained pastor, certified mediator, conflict coach, Christian life coach, and a United States Navy veteran. As a social science researcher, her areas of interest include gender inequality, organizational leadership, women’s empowerment, and family dynamics. With her husband, Tony, they have co-f...

As we move into 2023, you've probably set some goals for the new year. Or, maybe New Year's resolutions aren't your thing because you know they rarely work. Two weeks, six weeks, or eight weeks in, and most people have abandoned their goals altogether. Well, that doesn't have to be you!

In this episode, Jeannette explains why grounding your goals in your personal Life Vision will provide greater clarity, commitment, and motivation. A personal Life Vision helps you get clear on what really matters so you can steward your time and resources to grow your potential and live...

Research shows gratitude has a significant impact on our mindset, our physical bodies, and ultimately our overall well-being. Throughout the pages of Scripture, we are told again and again to “be thankful.” With all the benefits of gratitude, could it be that God tells us to be thankful, not for his benefit, but for ours? Not because He needs our appreciation but because we need it! God has created us and wired our brains to work so that gratitude increases our health, joy, and well-being. But how do we have gratitude when things are not going so well? When we f...

Today’s episode is a conversation with Brooke Whitson. Brooke is a creative visionary leader who has overcome adversity and loss. Like me, her life has been significantly impacted by breast cancer, only in a slightly different way.

We talk about leading ourselves through a life crisis, suffering, grief, mindset, and ultimately rising from the ashes. I hope our stories will give you encouragement and inspiration to overcome the pain or obstacles you may be facing in your life today.

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Do you struggle with measuring up? Do you beat yourself up when you make a mistake? Do you feel anxious and frustrated when outcomes are out of your control? If so, you’re not alone. These are common challenges for many high-achieving women, and often perfectionism is the root cause. Letting go of perfectionism isn’t about selling ourselves short. We can still have high expectations for ourselves and set big goals. But we can also love ourselves for who we are- flaws and all.

Ashley Easter grew up in a fundamentalist Christian community that, by all definitions, was a cult. She found the will and courage to escape this oppressive community after being introduced to Egalitarian theology and realizing that what she had been told about a woman's place all her life was a lie. Today Ashley is a cult survivor turned Intuition Coach who helps people escape self-doubt and harness the science and practice of intuition so they can take control of their destiny. She is the founder of Courage 365, a non-profit organization for abuse survivors (especially those abused in faith contexts). She...

In this episode, we unpack the most misunderstood and misused verse in the Bible: 1 Timothy 2:11-15. This scripture is sometimes plucked from its context and weaponized to silence and minimize women. It's a perplexing passage, but an ancient heresy and a strange Greek verb can help us understand it. 

An interview with Julie Zine Coleman, author of the award-winning book, On Purpose: Understanding God's Freedom for Women Through Scripture. Julie shares how her commitment to living out the truth of Scripture has transformed her from a head-covering, obedient wife to an impactful preacher living fully into her purpose and calling.

In a culture where women were considered inferior to men, treated as property, and excluded from theological education, Jesus defied cultural norms, elevating and advocating for women. Jesus was a man way ahead of his time. He may have been the very first feminist. 

Many Christians have been led to believe that God only wants men to lead and that women are destined to play a secondary role. But the Bible tells a different story! Despite the devastating conditions of ancient patriarchy, God still chose and used women in significant ways to accomplish His purposes. In this episode, we explore the stories of 3 mold-breaking women who heard God's call and dared to step up and lead in a man's world.  

Understanding who God created us to be as women can make a difference in how we live every minute of our lives! In this episode, we will dive into the opening pages of Scripture to examine God’s glorious vision for women (and men) and how we were designed to flourish in relationships of mutuality. You might be surprised that God's vision for women may be grander and more significant than you've been told!