It’s Been a Journey Podcast

What does it really mean to be Sisters in Christ, But Not Family?

In this powerful season finale of It's Been a Journey, host Shenelle Ball-Green is joined by Prophetess Stephanie Saunders (The Flow Encounter, Inc.) and Prophetess Keesha Brown (Towdah Praise Worship Center, Inc.) for an honest conversation about biblical sisterhood, church hurt, spiritual maturity, forgiveness, unity, and authentic relationships among Christian women.

Together, they discuss why women who love the same God sometimes struggle to connect, how to heal from wounds caused by other women, what true biblical sisterhood looks like, and how...

Comparison can quietly steal your joy, your confidence, and even your purpose. In the premiere episode of our series, "Women's Ministry No One Wants to Talk About," Prophetess Shakira Birge joins us for a transparent conversation about breaking free from the trap of comparison and embracing the unique calling God has placed on your life.

Together, we discuss the dangers of measuring ourselves against others, finding our identity in Christ, celebrating other women without competition, and trusting God's perfect timing.

📖 Theme Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:12

If you've ever struggled with insecurity, feeling overlooked, or wondering if...

In this powerful Father's Day episode of It's Been a Journey Podcast, host Shenelle welcomes Bishop Ralph Brown for an honest conversation centered on Proverbs 1:10-19 and the voices that influence our lives.

Every day, men and women are faced with competing voices—friends, culture, social media, family, past experiences, and the voice of God. But which voice are you following?

Bishop Brown shares wisdom on how the enemy uses subtle influences to pull people away from their God-given purpose, why discernment requires time in God's presence, and how spiritual blind spots ca...

Forsake Not the Law of Thy Mother
Proverbs 1:8

In this heartfelt episode of It's Been a Journey, Shenelle explores the wisdom, sacrifice, discipline, and prayers behind a mother's love. What did Solomon mean when he said, "Forsake not the law of thy mother"? From the boundaries we resisted as children to the lessons we appreciate as adults, this conversation honors the mothers who loved us enough to say "no," teach responsibility, and point us toward God.

Whether raised by a single mother or blessed with a godly mother who trusted Christ, this episode is...

So many of us have learned how to function while still hurting.
We’ve mastered showing up, smiling, and pushing through—while quietly carrying pain, disappointment, and even church hurt that was never truly healed… just covered.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jovie Wilkerson, Evangelist & Psalmist, as we unpack what it really means to remove the bandage and allow God to heal the root.

We talk about:
• How “Take the Bandage Off, Sis” was birthed
• The real phases of church hurt
• Practical steps to release pain and people
• How dormant...

“I Found You When No One Else Did”
-Based on Book of Ezekiel 16:4–6

In this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, we explore what it truly means to love someone from their broken beginnings—without holding them hostage to their past. Drawing from Ezekiel 16, this conversation unpacks how many relationships start in seasons of struggle, but are tested in seasons of growth.

What happens when the person you helped build… no longer needs you the same way?
Can love survive when healing changes the dynamic?
And are you in love with who the...

Everybody wants real love… but not everybody knows how to honor it.

In this series inspired by Ezekiel 16, we’re unpacking what happens when love starts off genuine—but gets mishandled through pride, neglect, and broken trust.

This isn’t just about relationships…
It’s about accountability, healing, and asking the hard question:

Did the relationship fail… or did we?

*Covenant or Convenience — a journey through love, betrayal, and the truth we don’t always want to face.

Let’s talk about it…

A lot of relationships aren’t breaking because of lack of love…
They’re breaking because of lack of understanding.

Some men think they know their woman—but they’re loving who she used to be… not who she is now.

And instead of asking questions…
Instead of relearning her…

Distance creeps in.Silence shows up.
And sometimes… they step outside the relationship trying to find what they never took time to understand.

In this episode, I (Shenelle) sit down with my daughter and co-hos...

In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, Shenelle gets real about one of the most overlooked issues in relationships—loving someone based on who they used to be instead of who they are today. Many marriages and relationships aren’t falling apart from lack of love, but from lack of understanding. When a woman evolves and her partner continues to operate from outdated assumptions, emotional disconnection begins to grow silently. This episode challenges men to relearn their women, not rely on memory, and invites honest reflection on how misconceptions can slowly damage intimacy, trust, and communication. If you’ve...

Pain doesn’t just hurt… it speaks.

In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, we’re talking about how the enemy uses emotional pain, grief, heartbreak, and disappointment to kill your hope, steal your identity, and cloud your mind. But the story doesn’t end there…

John 10:10 reminds us: “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy… BUT God came that we may have life.”

This conversation breaks down the real ways pain shows up in your life, and how God responds with healing, clarity, and restoration. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, di...

Wise love doesn’t just point fingers — it looks in the mirror. In this Month Closer episode of It’s Been a Journey, we unpack Proverbs 20:27 and what it truly means for the human spirit to be the lamp of the Lord. What if the heartbreak wasn’t just about what they did, but about what was revealed in you? This conversation dives into self-awareness in relationships, how God exposes what still needs healing, and why becoming whole is more important than being chosen. Whether you’re single and dating or married and navigating covenant, this episode challenges you to stop av...

Love doesn’t die from lack of feelings — it dies from too much pride.

In this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, we unpack the truth behind the statement: “Love Grows When Pride Shrinks.” So many relationships struggle not because love is gone, but because ego is too loud. When we need to be right more than we need to be whole… when apology feels like weakness… when vulnerability feels unsafe… pride quietly builds walls where intimacy once lived.

We’re talking about:

• How pride disguises itself as “boundaries”
• Why saying “I’m sorry” feels h...

Some people don’t want intimacy — they want access.

In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, we unpack Proverbs 20:5:
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters…”

Not every intention is visible on the surface. Sometimes what feels like connection is convenience. What feels like depth is dependency. And what feels like love is leverage.

We’re talking about:
• Why people hide their true motives
• Emotional manipulation vs. emotional maturity
• Discernment without becoming guarded or bitter
• Learning to listen beyond what’s said

If you’ve ever had to he...

IBAJ February Series — “Wisdom in Love: Maturity, Motives & the Heart” (Proverbs 20)

Episode 1: “It’s Not Just Love — It’s Character.”

So many people know how to say the right things, but very few know how to live faithfully. In this episode, we walk through Proverbs 20:6 and uncover why character — not charm, words, or emotions — is the true foundation of healthy relationships.

This conversation goes beyond marriage and speaks to friendships, family, business, and community. If you’ve ever been hurt because someone’s actions didn’t match their promises, this episode will give you biblical wisdom to rec...

Wise love doesn’t just point fingers — it looks in the mirror. In this Month Closer episode of It’s Been a Journey, we unpack Proverbs 20:27 and what it truly means for the human spirit to be the lamp of the Lord. What if the heartbreak wasn’t just about what they did, but about what was revealed in you? This conversation dives into self-awareness in relationships, how God exposes what still needs healing, and why becoming whole is more important than being chosen. Whether you’re single and dating or married and navigating covenant, this episode challenges you to stop av...

We detoxed in December.
We released what God closed.
Now January asks a powerful question:

What will you do with the space God just cleared?

In this episode, we explore how to embrace a fresh start without carrying old wounds, habits, or cycles into a new season. Through scripture, reflection, and prayer, you’ll learn how to realign your life with God’s future — not your past.

✨ Release what God has closed
✨ Renew your mind daily
✨ Set boundaries that protect healing
✨ Return to spiritual discipline
✨ Walk in obedience even w...

Offense is sneaky. It hides in hurt, disappointment, silence, and unresolved pain. In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, we’re talking about how offense can quietly block God’s blessings, interrupt our prayers, steal our peace, and even damage our marriages.

Together, we unpack biblical truth, real-life application, and healing resolutions that help us release offense—not to excuse what hurt us, but to free ourselves. This episode is an invitation to detox your heart, restore your peace, and make room for what God wants to do next.

If you’ve been feeling st...

Resentment doesn’t always look like anger.
Sometimes it looks like silence, exhaustion, people-pleasing, and emotional distance.

In this deeply personal episode of It’s Been a Journey, we unpack how resentment quietly eats away at your joy, peace, body, relationships, and identity — and how the enemy uses unresolved situations with people to keep you stuck and offended.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What resentment sounds like internally
• How resentment affects your mind, body, and spiritual health
• How people-pleasing in marriage, family, and business creates bitterness
• Why forgiveness is not weakness but...

Social media says, “I manifested it.”
But scripture says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain.”

In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, Shenelle breaks down the growing manifestation trend and compares it with what the Bible actually teaches about faith, prayer, and speaking life. You’ll learn the difference between God-centered faith and self-centered manifestation, how to align your desires with God’s will, and practical steps to pray with authority — not illusion.

If you’ve ever wondered whether manifestation is spiritual, biblical, or dangerous territory — this episode is for you.

Tu...

In this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, we confront the quiet storm many believers never talk about — disappointment. When marriage doesn’t look like the promise, when business delays shake your confidence, when the timeline you prayed for slips through your fingers… disappointment can feel suffocating.

But God says, “This is not the end — it’s a divine redirection.”

💔 In this episode we unpack:
• The pain of failed expectations in marriage
• How to heal when life breaks your heart
• Disappointment in business, purpose, and calling
• Accepting the reality of what will never be
•...

Before the year ends, take a moment to detox the one area we rarely examine—our hearts. In this episode, we explore how bitterness, fear, regret, and unforgiveness can block gratitude and keep us stuck in cycles God never intended.

Through scripture, reflection, and practical spiritual steps, we walk through:
• Why a heart detox is essential
• The emotional damage hidden bitterness can cause
• 7 powerful ways to cleanse and reset your heart
• How to release what God never asked you to carry
• How gratitude opens the door for healing and new blessings

Featuring...

n this inspiring episode of the IBAJ Podcast, host Shenelle sits down with Mississippi native and published author Jamesia Nicholson, writer of The Difference Between You and Me: The Teenager Edition.
At just a young age, Jamesia uses her platform to empower teens and young adults to embrace their individuality, overcome comparison, and find peace in their own purpose.

This episode dives deep into teen identity, self-worth, mental health, social media pressure, and the courage it takes to stand out in a world that constantly tells you to fit in. Whether you’re a teenager, a pa...

In this opening episode of When Flesh Meets Faith, we confront one of the most overlooked causes of relationship breakdown — forgetfulness in marriage. Many couples search for answers like “why marriages fall apart spiritually,” “how to fix a disconnected marriage biblically,” and “why couples forget their vows,” yet the Bible already speaks to it.

Peter writes, “I stir up your pure minds by remembrance.”
And that’s exactly what this episode does — it stirs up what God said, because marriage struggles from a Christian perspective often begin when we stop remembering the covenant God established.

Inside this episode...

Family… tonight’s conversation is deep, raw, and necessary. 🌧️

From middle school to adulthood, LaShawn Poole wrestled with one question that shaped her entire identity — “Who is my dad?”
That question led to years of confusion, rejection, and mental battles that tried to silence her voice.

When LaShawn finally met her father, what should have been healing turned into heartbreak and conflict. Then came another tragedy that sent her spiraling into isolation… until she heard the Voice that pulled her back to life. 💫

Join me LIVE tonight on It’s Been a Journey as LaShawn cou...

Your body remembers what your mind tries to forget. 💭
I’ve been divorced 4 times — and I had to face the pain living inside me before I could really heal.

Join me LIVE tonight for It’s Been a Journey:
👉🏽 “When Your Body Remembers What Your Mind Tries to Forget”

Let’s talk healing, faith, and breaking failure mode — for real this time. 🧠💖

#ItsBeenAJourney #HealingThroughFaith #DivorceRecovery #TraumaTalk #ChristianHealing #FaithPodcast #MindBodyHealing #EmotionalFreedom #RenewYourMind #HealingJourney

When God steps in, bullets can’t take what purpose protects. 🙌🏽
This week on It’s Been a Journey, we sit down with Brandon Fisher, a young man who survived a gunshot wound and lived to tell the story. His journey of physical and emotional recovery reminds us that survival is just the beginning — thriving is where the real testimony begins.

We’re diving deep into the aftermath of trauma — the pain that lingers in the body, the battles of the mind, and the gratitude that flows when God gives you another chance. 💔➡️💪🏽

Join us for a powerful conversatio...

Recap: Holding Yourself Hostage – From Captivity to Healing ✨

In this powerful recap episode, we tie together the entire Holding Yourself Hostage series into one life-changing conversation. We’ve walked through Egypt together—recognizing bondage, confronting comfort zones, breaking emotional chains, exposing self-sabotage, and learning how deliverance gets you out, but healing makes you whole.

📖 Joshua 5:9 — “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.”
📖 John 8:36 — “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

🎧 In this episode, we’ll explore:

Why it’s so hard to admit when we’re sti...

Are you free but still living with a captive mindset? In this powerful episode of the Holding Yourself Hostage series, we dive into “Comfortable in Captivity” — exploring why so many of us stay stuck in old mindsets, toxic relationships, and limiting beliefs.

Drawing lessons from the Children of Israel and real-life experiences today, Shenelle reveals 8 powerful ways we’ve grown comfortable in captivity — and how to break free. You’ll discover practical strategies, biblical wisdom, and empowering solutions to shift your thinking, renew your mind, and step into the future God designed for you.

This episode will...

In this powerful third episode of our Holding Yourself Hostage series, Shenelle Ball-Green breaks down the concept of an “Emotional Bail Bond” — how grief and shame act like invisible contracts keeping us on emotional probation. Using the Children of Israel as a powerful example, this episode explores how grief blinds our vision, shame silences our voice, and both create patterns that hold us hostage in life and relationships. You’ll also hear practical, scripture-based resolutions to break free, five reflection questions to help you heal, and a closing call to step into your promised land.

#ItsBeenAJourneyPodcast #EmotionalBailBond #Breaking...

We’re celebrating 1 year of It’s Been a Journey 🎉 with the launch of our new series “Holding Yourself Hostage.” In Episode 1, Shenelle Ball-Green exposes the hidden “Egypt” of self-sabotage — the habits, thoughts, and cycles that keep us from freedom. Using powerful biblical insight and real-life examples, this episode helps you identify self-sabotage, understand why it happens, and discover how to break free for good.

#ItsBeenAJourneyPodcast #SelfSabotage #BreakingFree #HostageToHeal #HealingJourney #FaithAndFreedom #YearOneStrong

New Episode Alert! 🔥
“Friends, Foes, and Frenemies” — Join me on It’s Been a Journey as we dive into David’s life and uncover how his story mirrors our own. From loyal Jonathans, to foes like Goliath and Saul, to tricky Joabs who compromise us — we all face them. I even share how I had to give grace to mistresses who became foes, and how frenemies can pull us into situations that test our character. 💔➡️💪

This episode is scripture-rich, real, and relatable. Learn how to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44), cherish true friends, and guard your heart with wisdom. 🙏

🎧 Tu...

💔 When the Heart Overrules the Spirit: Unequally Yoked and Lovin’ It 💔

In this episode of It’s Been a Journey, Shenelle gets real about what happens when we say “yes” to a relationship God clearly said “no” to. From ignoring red flags to loving someone’s potential more than our own purpose, we explore why we stay, what it costs us, and how to realign with God’s will.

This is a heart-to-heart for anyone who’s ever been spiritually mismatched but stayed anyway — and maybe even enjoyed it for a season. Expect truth, laughter, and some toe-stepping love...

In this powerful and emotionally raw episode of It’s Been a Journey, Apostle Dezra Hines opens up about her experience inside a cult disguised as a holiness church. Manipulated through twisted doctrine and pressured into an arranged and abusive marriage, she courageously shares how spiritual deception clouded her truth—until God pulled her out of darkness and into divine freedom.

This episode sheds light on the silent suffering many endure under spiritual control and church hurt. Apostle Hines’ story is one of resilience, redemption, and restoration. If you’ve ever questioned the difference between man-made religion and God’...

In this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, host Shenelle sits down with domestic violence survivor and advocate LaTrece Jones to share her courageous journey of escaping abuse and rebuilding her life. From emotional manipulation to financial control, LaTrece opens up about the hidden and unrecognizable forms of abuse many overlook.

You’ll learn:
💔 The different types of domestic violence
💡 How to recognize abuse beyond physical harm
🌿 The path to healing, freedom, and hope

This is more than a story—it’s a lifeline.

If you or someone you love is in da...

Danada Beckwith’s 100-Pound Transformation”

Have you ever felt stuck in your own mind, battling self-doubt and struggling to believe change is possible? This week on It’s Been a Journey, I sit down with the incredible Danada Beckwith, a woman who refused to let obesity, low self-esteem, and fear define her future.

Danada didn’t just lose over 100 pounds—she gained confidence, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose. Now, as a water aerobics instructor, hairstylist educator, and power prayer warrior, she’s helping others break free from their own limitations.

In this powerfu...

Conversation with Prophetess Stephanie Saunders

Marriage can be one of the greatest blessings—and one of the hardest battles. In this heartfelt episode of It’s Been a Journey, host Shenelle sits down with Prophetess Stephanie Saunders to dive into Galatians 6:9 and explore what it really means to “not grow weary in well-doing” within marriage.

Whether you're feeling unseen, underappreciated, or simply tired of giving your all—this episode will pour back into your spirit. Prophetess Saunders shares wisdom, truth, and spiritual strategies to help you refill your cup, recognize your due season, and keep building a...

What happens when love circles back at just the right time? In this heartfelt episode of It’s Been a Journey, host Shenelle sits down with First Lady Valerie Locust of Greater Destiny Ministries. Now an author, actress, podcast host of My Tea for the Week, and the visionary of the Prayer on the Go Facebook group, Valerie shares her powerful testimony of reuniting with her high school sweetheart—now husband, Bishop Jonathan Locust.

Together, they’ve walked through years of separation, growth, and divine redirection to find love again, this time with deeper faith and renewed purpos...

Journey of Faith and Overcoming Dyslexia

n this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, host Shenelle sits down with Evangelist Sharonda Johnson, a woman of unwavering faith who turned her diagnosis of dyslexia into a platform of purpose.

From struggling in school to boldly preaching and teaching the Word of God, Sharonda shares how she overcame the labels and found her identity in Christ. She opens up about the emotional journey of navigating a learning disability and how her Facebook segment Spiritual Lunch now uplifts others with the truth of God’s Word.

In this powerful episode of It’s Been a Journey, host Shenelle sits down with Pastor, singer, and author Andrea Allen-Rush to unpack her soul-stirring story of addiction, healing, and divine redemption.

Andrea shares her raw and honest journey—one that took her from the pulpit to the pigsty, and by God's grace, to the palace. Her book, From the Pulpit to the Pigsty to the Palace, is being shared in prisons and abuse centers around the world, inspiring those who feel forgotten.

Tune in as we discuss:
🎙️ Hitting rock bottom and rising again
🎙️ How...

Guest: Apostle Charlie Saunders – The Flow Ministry

Are you carrying the weight of past hurt? In this soul-stirring episode of It’s Been a Journey, I’m joined by Apostle Charlie Saunders as we unpack the true power of forgiveness and how it frees us from emotional, physical, and spiritual bondage.

We explore:
🔹 What forgiveness really means (it’s deeper than just saying “I’m over it”)
🔹 10 signs you might still be holding onto unforgiveness
🔹 The emotional and physical toll resentment takes on your life
🔹 How faith empowers us to forgive the seemingly unforgivable...