Juggling Life, Finding Balance Podcast with Vivian Cumins

Unmasked: Breaking Free from the Cycle of People-Pleasing | Ep. 040

Are you caught in the exhausting cycle of trying to please everyone at the expense of your own well-being? Life coach Kerri Goodman shares powerful insights about breaking free from people-pleasing patterns, particularly for women with ADHD who often struggle with rejection sensitivity. Through personal stories and biblical wisdom, Vivian and Kerri explore how perfectionism, fear of rejection, and childhood messages can fuel people-pleasing behaviors. Together they unpack the difference between genuine kindness and unhealthy accommodation while offering practical strategies for setting boundaries without guilt. Discover how embracing God's unconditional acceptance can help you move from constant people-pleasing to living authentically, even if that means not everyone likes you.
 
GUEST BIO
Kerri Goodman is an ICF-certified life coach, ADHD coach, and communication consultant with over a decade of experience helping busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and moms thrive by embracing their brilliant minds. A wife, mother of four, grandmother of three, and an ADHDer herself, Kerri brings a personal and knowledgeable understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of an ADHD brain – especially for women managing multiple roles.
 
Her coaching approach, grounded in her background in education, social work, and faith in Christ, empowers clients to break free from perfectionism and people-pleasing, reconnecting them to their strengths, values, and purpose. With Kerri’s support, clients discover ADHD-friendly strategies to create focus, calm the chaos, reach their goals, and create a fulfilling life that reflects who they truly are and makes an impact.
 
https://kerrigoodman.com 
https://facebook.com/kerrigoodmancoaching 
https://instagram.com/brilliantly_adhd
 
POWERFUL QUOTE
"People pleasing isn’t just saying yes to things or being accommodating, but it also is kind of putting on a mask. Like, I want to be the person that I think you want me to be.” - Kerri Goodman
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple & Spotify (Smartlink): https://lnk.to/JugglingLife
TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com

Loving Limits: Establishing Healthy Boundaries in Relationships | Ep. 039

Are you struggling to say "no" without feeling guilty? Licensed psychologist Dr. Toni Cooper joins Vivian to unpack the essential role of boundaries in creating peace and order in our relationships. Through their engaging discussion of walls versus boundaries, Vivian opens up about her own challenges with friendship after moving to California, while Dr. Cooper offers practical wisdom on setting limits with time, money, and affection. They explore how Scripture supports healthy boundaries, debunk common misconceptions about Christian kindness, and share actionable strategies for boundary-setting—from managing phone usage to handling difficult family gatherings. Learn how to start small, stand firm in your "no," and discover the freedom that comes from establishing loving limits that honor both yourself and others.
 
GUEST BIO
Dr. Toni Cooper is a psychologist, author, and public speaker. Since 1986, she has been teaching adults the strategies to grow emotionally, build healthy relationships, heal from trauma, and experience God at a deeper level. Toni’s mission is to help people find the courage, confidence, and comfort they need through a deeper bond with Jesus Christ. She has served as a college instructor, retreat and conference speaker, and teacher of continuing education for mental health professionals. For many years, Toni helped train medical students as an adjunct assistant professor at the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine. She is a frequent guest on local radio discussing topics related to coping with life’s challenges. Dr. Cooper has written 7 books that help people hear the voice of the Lord, correct distortions in their thinking, build confidence in how to study the Bible, and break into the blessings of God.
FREE eBook https://www.drtonicooper.com/1524-2
Dr. Cooper’s Books on Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/drtonicooper
Website: https://drtonicooper.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtonicooper
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonicooper777
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dr.tonicooper8565/featured
Podcast: Life Without Baggage Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antoinette-t-cooper
 
POWERFUL QUOTE
“Boundaries create peace, they create order; they are a form of protection. And that is why they are essential.” - Dr. Toni Cooper
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple & Spotify: https://lnk.to/JugglingLife
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com

Let Go! Surrender Control and Watch your Relationships Grow | Ep. 38

How do you find freedom when you're trapped in a self-made prison of control? Author Rachel Jobe shares her journey from perfectionism to peace through surrendering control to God. Vivian and Rachel discuss the difference between doing and being, drawing wisdom from Jesus's teaching about the vine and branches. Reflecting on their parallel experiences with illness and burnout, they reveal how God lovingly strips away our need to manage everything, replacing anxiety with trust, which ultimately brings us closer to God and strengthens our relationship with Him and others. Rachel, who serves in Asia Pacific with her family, offers practical insights from her book "Let Go" about embracing God's gentle leadership over our drive to control outcomes.
 
GUEST BIO
Rachel Jobe is the author of the award-winning book Let Go!. As a recovering perfectionist, she is passionate about helping Christian ladies move from a place of frustration and irritability to a life of radiant joy and peace. She is joining us today from Southeast Asia, where she lives and serves with her husband and three sons doing church development work.
 
POWERFUL QUOTE
"God is so eager to work on behalf of His children, to move in us, to move in our hearts, and to move through us if we would just get out of the way and let go of our desire to control things."
 
Rachel’s Social Media:
 
Website: https://jimandrachel.org/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555882667924
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/joberachel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejobefam/
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple and Spotify: https://lnk.to/JugglingLife
TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com 

Daughters of Wisdom: A Christmas Story of Faith, Wonder, and Worship | Ep. 37

What can three extraordinary women from the Christmas story teach us about living wisely? Beyond the familiar nativity scene with shepherds and wise men lies a powerful message through the lives of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. Vivian shares how these remarkable women demonstrated wisdom through their persistence, humility, and unwavering faith in God's plan. Through Elizabeth's bold obedience despite years of barrenness, Mary's quiet pondering of miraculous events, and Anna's lifelong dedication to worship, we discover that true wisdom isn't about having all the answers – it's about maintaining an open heart to God's guidance. Whether you're feeling uncertain about God's timing or struggling to trust His plan, these ancient stories offer a fresh perspective on finding wisdom for today's challenges.
 
ABOUT VIVIAN
Vivian Cumins is a writer, speaker, and host of the Juggling Life, Finding Balance Podcast. She is also an Oklahoma native, a career professional, a military spouse, a step-mom to two adult kids, and a “Glammy” to five grandkids.
Although her name means “LIVELY” Vivian admits she has not always felt lively. Her need to be perfect and in control led to an unbalanced lifestyle filled with work, self-inflicted stress and illness, depression, and anxiety.
In 2020, after years of striving and mental exhaustion, Vivian rededicated her life to the Lord and vowed to relinquish control and submit to God’s will. Her newfound faith and commitment were immediately put to the test when she had to trust God to provide healing from stage 3 melanoma.
Though this was a difficult time, Vivian claims she would not change a thing. That ‘wilderness’ season, she says, delivered her from a prideful spirit and set her free from captivity. It was also during this time that God began speaking to her in dreams. His voice and the challenges she faced taught her how to give up control and trust God, embrace imperfection, and recognize, then recalibrate, the unbalance in her life. 
Today, Vivian not only shares her testimony of preparation and deliverance, but she also provides valuable lessons and helpful tips for actively seeking balance, which starts with making time for God, taking care of yourself, and sprinkling in some good old-fashioned fun.
 
POWERFUL QUOTE
"To be a wise woman, the path is simple. Ask God for wisdom, believe in His plan, and obey His guidance.” - Vivian Cumins
 
SCRIPTURE READINGS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE
Story of Elizabeth: Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1
Story of Mary: Gospel of Luke, Chapters 1 & 2
Story of Anna: Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2
 
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (NIV)
 
Proverbs 8:35 – For those who find me [Wisdom] find life and receive favor from the Lord. (NIV)
 
James 4:6 – But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (NIV)
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple and Spotify: https://link.chtbl.com/JugglingLifeFindingBalance
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com 

Silent Goodbyes: Understanding and Overcoming Friendship Loss | Ep. 36

Have you ever experienced the heartbreak of a friendship falling apart? Author Elizabeth Laing Thompson sits down with Vivian for a raw, heartfelt conversation about navigating broken friendships and finding healing through faith. Vivian shares her own story of losing friends after rededicating her life to Christ, as Elizabeth opens up about friendships that blindsided her and the challenging journey to forgiveness. Walking through the complex emotions of friend breakups, they unpack the process of letting go and discovering hope when relationships drift apart. From processing hurt feelings to finding freedom in forgiveness, this conversation provides a message of hope and healing.
 
GUEST BIO
Elizabeth Laing Thompson is a speaker, novelist, and the author of many inspirational books for women and teens, including When a Friendship Falls Apart – Finding God’s Path for Healing, Forgiveness, and (Maybe) Help Letting Go, All the Feels, All the Feels for Teens, and the When God Says series. She writes to help others find hope when they're waiting, help when they're hurting, and humor in holiness. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets including Proverbs 31, Power for Living, Focus on the Family Magazine, and Brio Magazine.
After a long struggle with infertility, Elizabeth and her husband, Kevin, became the always exhausted but grateful parents of four children, three of whom are now teenagers. When she's not inhaling Starbucks mochas and plotting her next book, Elizabeth works from home as an editor and church volunteer (that's code for "pastor's wife"), and as a snack maker, couch snuggler, laundry slayer, floor mopper, not-so-gourmet chef, and interpreter-slash-counselor of teenage feelings. She prays the lessons she is learning, trying to wrestle Christ into the chaos of daily life, giving others hope, practical help, and a lot of good laughs.
 
Website: https://lizzylife.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/alizzylife
Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizabethlaingthompson
Books: https://lizzylife.com/books
 
POWERFUL QUOTE FROM ELIZABETH
"Friendship is still out there to be had. You are worth loving and there are amazing women out there who, given the opportunity, would love to love you in return.” - Elizabeth Laing Thompson
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple & Spotify (Smartlink): https://link.chtbl.com/JugglingLifeFindingBalance
TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com 

Marriage Myths: What's Really Holding You Back? | Ep. 034

Have you ever wondered if your marriage would magically improve if your husband would just change? Author Rhonda Stoppe joins Vivian for a candid chat about the myths wives believe and shares powerful insights from her book. As Vivian opens up about her own journey learning to accept compliments from her husband, Rhonda shares biblical wisdom about respect, intimacy, and the power of positive communication. Together, they tackle everything from the story of King David's dancing to practical tips for rekindling romance when you're exhausted from a long day. Through personal stories and scriptural truth, Vivian and Rhonda explore how letting go of resentment and embracing God's design for marriage can transform your relationship. Whether you're struggling with unmet expectations or seeking deeper connection, this episode offers hope and practical steps for building the marriage you've always longed for.
 
GUEST BIO
“I could have listened to Rhonda talk all night,” is what audiences say about Rhonda Stoppe’s honest, engaging presentations. Rhonda is the best-selling author of 7 books, host of the Old Ladies Know Stuff Podcast, and a sought-after speaker who appears nationally and internationally on TV and radio. Rhonda’s Moms Raising Sons radio appearance was awarded a “Best of Episode.” Rhonda has experienced the challenges of balancing marriage, parenting, and career and she’s ready to share her insights with you! The Stoppe’s have been happily married for 43 years. They have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren. 
 
Website: https://NoRegretsWoman.com
Facebook:  https://facebook.com/NoRegretsWoman
Instagram:  https://instagram.com/rhondastoppe
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC7xAH1MW7EkugW2-544QyYA?view_as=subscriber
Old Ladies Know Stuff Podcast: https://pod.link/1648817407
For more about Rhonda and to receive a gift please visit: NoRegretsWoman.com
TEXT the words: NOREGRETS to 55444 to receive a Free Video:
Saying Yes to What is Best - Time Management with Rhonda Stoppe.
Free Chapter: Sign up for my Newsletter to receive a FREE Chapter from my best-selling book: Moms Raising Sons to Be Men. Chapter 16: Even if You're Scared - Facing the Culture War with Wisdom & Strength.https://rhondastoppe.com/bonus-signup
 
Additional Resources:
A Christian Woman's Guide to Great Sex in Marriage (ebook).
Free Marriage Video Course with Steve & Rhonda Stoppe 
 
POWERFUL QUOTE FROM RHONDA
"You can build a marriage without regrets. Let it begin with you.” - Rhonda Stoppe
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple and Spotify: https://link.chtbl.com/JugglingLifeFindingBalance
TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com 

Anchored to Hope, Tethered by Addiction: The Story of a Praying Mom | Ep. 035

What happens when your child's choices threaten to destroy not only their life but yours as well? Author Dawn Ward shares her raw, personal journey of watching multiple family members battle addiction, including her own sons. As Vivian and Dawn dig into the realities of parenting an addicted child, they explore the crushing weight of blame, the dangerous pull of codependency, and why setting boundaries feels like abandonment. Through heartbreaking experiences with late-night jail calls and constant fears of overdose, Dawn reveals how trying to "fix" her children nearly destroyed her. Vivian and Dawn unpack how Christian moms can anchor themselves to God instead of their children's destructive behaviors. Together, they offer hope and wisdom for parents navigating one of life's most painful challenges, reminding listeners that God never leaves us even in our darkest moments.
 
GUEST BIO
Dawn Ward is a speaker, writer and biblical life coach. She is the founder of The Faith to Flourish, a ministry that equips women with addicted loved ones to break free from the cycle of addiction, reclaim their lives, and flourish in their faith. The Faith to Flourish also offers life-transforming insight, wisdom and Christian guidance for all women, along with hope and support to those who feel burdened and overwhelmed by life. Dawn is the author of the book, From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children. She is also co-author of the book, Still Standing After All the Tears Workbook: Faith in the Battle Edition and a contributing author for the devotionals, Butterfly Living: Life Changing Stories and Shepherd on Duty. Dawn has been married to her husband, Steve, for over forty years and is a mom to three adult children. It is her passion to help all women grow in their faith as they learn to better understand the Bible and apply it to their lives.
 
POWERFUL QUOTE: “We do have hope. We are praying moms. We have the Holy Spirit leading us and guiding us.” - Dawn Ward
 
Connect with Dawn at The Faith to Flourish on most social media platforms.
Website: https://thefaithtoflourish.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thefaithtoflourish
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefaithtoflourishblog
Instagram: https://instagram.com/dawnr.ward
Twitter: https://twitter.com/faithtoflourish
YouTube: https://youtube.com/thefaithtoflourishwithdawnward
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/dawn-ward-93975b266
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
MemoryBlogger Website: https://memoryblogger.com

The Bait and Switch: How Being Catfished Set Stacey Free | Ep. 033

What happens when a search for love leads down an unexpected path of deception? Author Stacey Szczepanski joins Vivian to share how being catfished set her free to develop a deeper relationship with God and herself. Through vulnerable storytelling, Vivian and Stacey explore the hidden dangers of online relationships, the importance of trusting your gut, and why taking time to heal is crucial before pursuing new relationships. With tears and laughter, Stacey and Vivian remind us that while we all desire to be loved, our ultimate fulfillment comes from God's unconditional love. Discover why being single doesn't define your worth and how embracing God's timing can lead to your most authentic life.
 
GUEST BIO:
Stacey Szczepanski is an author, literacy coach, and a classroom educator of more than 14 years. When she was 22 years old, Stacey joined a dating site and was deceived by an online persona claiming to be someone they’re not. Since then, she has written a book about her experience titled Unlocking Love: How Being Catfished Deepened My Faith and Led me on a Journey to Wholeness. Stacey is passionate about spreading God’s love, connecting with people, and offering support for trauma survivors.
Website: https://staceyszczepanski.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/staceyszczepanski
Facebook: https://facebook.com/stacey.szczepanski.9
Book: Unlocking Love: How Being Catfished Deepened My Faith and Led me on a Journey to Wholeness by Stacey Szczepanski (2023) https://amazon.com/Unlocking-Love-Catfished-Deepened-Wholeness/dp/1625862571
 
POWERFUL QUOTE:
“You are loved, you are never alone, and healing is not easy, but it is possible. And all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other.” - Stacey Szczepanski
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN:
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancumins
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple & Spotify (Smartlink): https://link.chtbl.com/JugglingLifeFindingBalance
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins MemoryBlogger   
Website: https://memoryblogger.com