Juggling Life, Finding Balance Podcast with Vivian Cumins

In this powerful episode, Vivian sits down with her very first writing coach, Robert McDowell, for an intimate and inspiring conversation about her writing journey, mentorship, and the surprising detours that shape our dreams. Together, they explore the emotional and spiritual process of bringing a book to life — from building confidence as a writer to navigating perfectionism to discovering unexpected lessons through setbacks. Vivian shares how her divine connection to Robert launched her writing path, ultimately leading to her new book, Breakdown Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. Robert offers insight into the craft of writing, the joy of coaching, and the powerful influence a mentor can have on a writer’s voice, personal growth, and resilience. They also discuss universal storytelling and why writing should feel accessible, healing, and human.
GUEST BIO:Robert McDowell is a poet, novelist, writing coach, editor, ghostwriter, and publisher. He is also the author of 23 books, including Poetry as Spiritual Practice (Free Press/Simon & Schuster). With painter Lysa McDowell and poet Mark Jarman (his frequent collaborator), he co-created Story Line Press and managed it for 23 years. At SLP, he selected, edited, and guided 300 books of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, criticism, memoir, drama, student writing, and writers' guides. He created the Rural Readers Project and co-designed the Bennington Low-Residency MFA Program in Writing. Robert is also a certified minister.www.robertmcdowell.net
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN:
Books by Vivian:
Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Womenhttps://www.amazon.ca/Breakdown-Bette...
A Better Way! The Break Down Better Guided Journal https://www.amazon.com/Better-Break-D...
Website: https://viviancumins.comFacebook:   / viviancumins2  Instagram:   / viviancumins  TikTok:    / viviancumins   YouTube:    / @jugglinglifefindingbalance  Apple and Spotify: https://lnk.to/JugglingLife
#podcast #foryourpage #breakdowbetter #breakdown #burnout #writer #bookreleases #dreamscometrue #detour #books #jugglinglife #findingbalance

What if the biggest risk of your life was also God’s greatest invitation? Vivian and Brooke Tilghman relive the whirlwind of Brooke’s husband, Todd, auditioning for The Voice. Vivian draws out the moments of doubt, joy, and God’s provision that shaped their family’s journey, while Brooke candidly shares her role as “the pusher” who encouraged Todd to try. Together, they celebrate the surprising ways God shows His faithfulness—from small-town church stages to a national spotlight. This story will inspire you to trust God’s timing and believe that His promises never fail.
 
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Brooke Tilghman loves people. She loves community and authenticity. She is the mother of eight and the spouse of Todd Tilghman, the Season 18 winner of The Voice, an American singing reality competition television series.
Brooke desires a space for women to feel safe enough to take off their masks and be the true, authentic woman God created them to be. She desires transparency and truth to be the model for women. She also desires the church to resemble doing Life Together, not just a religious ritual. Her favorite things are Jesus, my family, praying, thrifting, talking, and sharing. She is a collector of kids, animals, books, shoes, and cool memes.
Facebook: https://facebook.com/brooketilghman
Instagram:  https://instagram.com/brooketilghman
Website: https://toddtofficial.com/
 
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://lnk.to/JugglingLife

In the early years of her marriage, Brooke Tilghman wrestled with doubts and the desire to walk away. But God stepped in, restored her relationship, and began preparing her and her husband Todd for a journey they never expected—including Todd’s Season 18 win on The Voice. In this heartfelt conversation with Vivian, Brooke shares about marriage, adoption, homeschooling, and ministry, and how saying “yes” to God opened doors they never could have imagined. Together, they remind us that God doesn’t look for perfection—He looks for a willing heart. This inspiring episode will encourage you to trust Him with your story and believe that He can use ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
 
GUEST BIO
Brooke Tilghman loves people. She loves community and authenticity. She is the mother of eight and the spouse of Todd Tilghman, the Season 18 winner of The Voice, an American singing reality competition television series.
Brooke desires a space for women to feel safe enough to take off their masks and be the true, authentic woman God created them to be. She desires transparency and truth to be the model for women. She also desires the church to resemble doing Life Together, not just a religious ritual. Her favorite things are Jesus, my family, praying, thrifting, talking, and sharing. She is a collector of kids, animals, books, shoes, and cool memes.
 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/brooketilghman
Instagram:  https://instagram.com/brooketilghman
Website: https://toddtofficial.com/
 
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://lnk.to/JugglingLife

When rejection cuts deep, it leaves wounds and scars that can shake our sense of worth—or even make us question God’s love. In this powerful conversation, Vivian brings her trademark energy as she sits down with Ginger Stache, Chief Creative Officer at Joyce Meyer Ministries. Ginger opens her heart about the day she discovered her husband’s long-hidden addiction, the heartbreak and sense of rejection that followed, and the hard journey of fighting for her own healing first. Vivian shares her own experiences with rejection, creating a raw, relatable dialogue that reminds us: people may fail, but God never does.
Together, Vivian and Ginger explore hope, restoration, and resilience, pointing listeners toward God’s promise to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3), as well as Ginger’s new book with Joyce Meyer, Healing the Wounds of Rejection, which offers guidance for moving forward with faith, confidence and the ability to trust again.
 
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Hanging out with Ginger is like lighting a creative sparkler. When she brings a story to life or encourages you to dream bigger, you’ll be propelled to unleash the best in yourself and activate it to help others. She’s the Chief Creative Officer at Joyce Meyer Ministries, and an Emmy Award-winning television producer, author, and leader who has traveled the world a few times over, sharing God’s love and heartfelt smiles each step of the way. You can see her on Joyce Meyer’s Enjoying Everyday Life television program and the Talk It Out podcast.
https://joycemeyer.org
https://joycemeyer.org/study
Talk It Out Podcast: https://joycemeyer.org/Shows/Talk-it-Out
 
CONNECT WITH VIVIAN
Website: https://viviancumins.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/viviancumins2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/viviancuminsTikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@viviancumins 
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JugglingLifeFindingBalance
Apple and Spotify: https://lnk.to/JugglingLife

Can you really juggle career, family, and faith without losing yourself in the process? Erin Cluley, Creative Director at Joyce Meyer Ministries, Co-host of Joyce Meyer’s Talk it Out Podcast, and mom of two, joins Vivian for a heartfelt conversation about the tension between ambition and surrender. They open up about striving, burnout, and the pressure to do it all, while discovering freedom in setting boundaries and leaning on God. With honesty and encouragement, they remind us that balance isn’t about perfect schedules. It’s about walking closely with God, inviting Him into the everyday, and trusting Him to carry what we can’t.
 
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Erin runs on God’s Word and caffeine, and has equal parts love for pizza, Netflix, and the gym. She has a wild determination to know and love God—and to share that objective with others as a writer, collaborator, podcast contributor, and creative director for Joyce Meyer Ministries. She loves to keep things fresh and moving forward and treasures her ever-evolving roles as a wife, mother of two energetic kiddos, and a caring friend. If you need a hug and some Scripture-based encouragement, Erin’s your girl.
Talk It Out Podcast: https://joycemeyer.org/Shows/Talk-it-Out
Website: https://joycemeyer.org
 
 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 

What if a stronger marriage didn't require grand gestures, but simple choices made every day? Vivian chats with author Arlene Pellicane about her book Making Marriage Easier and four biblical decisions that help couples enjoy one another and thrive. With insights like avoiding the "roommate trap," sharing daily compliments, and trying new adventures, this conversation offers real solutions with biblical truth. Discover how small habits can breathe new life into your marriage and build the vibrant, God-centered relationship you both deserve.
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Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, host of the Happy Home podcast, and author of several books, including Parents Rising, Making Marriage Easier, and Screen Kids (coauthored with Dr. Gary Chapman). Arlene has been featured on popular media outlets including The Today Show, Fox & Friends, Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, The 700 Club, and the Wall Street Journal. She is the spokesperson for National Marriage Week and has been happily married to her husband, James, for more than 25 years. Arlene earned her BA from Biola University and her master’s in journalism from Regent University.
Arlene inspires parents to raise children who are ready for life (not just playing video games). As an advocate of delaying smartphones and social media, her three children are living a revolutionary digital life and thriving. Arlene lives with her family in San Diego. 
Visit Arlene’s website to get a copy of her book, watch her podcast, and learn more.
https://arlenepellicane.com 
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 

How do you heal when life shatters in an instant? Therapist and author Kimberly Haar shares her gripping story of surviving a brutal assault and kidnapping by her ex-husband, revealing how she discovered God's presence in her darkest hour. Vivian and Kimberly explore the practical steps to move from victim to survivor, the complex layers of forgiveness, and why healing begins with a choice. If you've ever wrestled with trusting God after trauma, this conversation offers hope for the journey ahead.
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Kimberly Haar, LPC, LMFT, is a survivor of domestic violence, a licensed professional counselor, and a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly two decades of experience helping others find healing and wholeness in life. She holds an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University and is a featured co-host on the Oasis Radio Network. Kimberly’s therapy practice is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she continues to inspire hope and strength in those facing life’s challenges.
Kimberly is the author of Healing From Life’s Deepest Hurts: Reclaiming Your Life After Grief, Loss, or Trauma
Website: https://kimberlyhaar.com
 
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 

How do you worship God when your heart is breaking and life doesn't make sense? Contemporary Christian artist and author Myshel Wilkins shares her journey through eight miscarriages, revealing how worship became her weapon against despair. Drawing from her West African family's tradition of worshiping through grief, Myshel explains how choosing to magnify God in dark moments invites Heaven's response and torments the enemy who hopes we'll pull away from faith. Vivian explores the balance between bold prayer and surrendering to God's "no," while Myshel unpacks how trauma can sabotage our calling if we retreat into spiritual safety zones. Together, they discuss restoration, the Great Commission, and why God entrusts us with difficult seasons—not to break us, but to showcase His power through our testimonies. Whether you’re rebuilding from heartbreak or searching for balance, you’ll be encouraged to rise, shine, and conquer!
 
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For Myshel Wilkins, faith has been the foundation of her life. As the daughter of a Ghanaian mother and a missionary father, she grew up leading worship in churches around the world. But it was through personal heartache—years of infertility and eight painful miscarriages—that propelled her to know God’s strength and goodness in a deeper way. 
After college, Myshel toured as a vocalist with top Christian artists, including Mandisa, TobyMac, Matthew West, and Don Moen and was mentored by gospel legend CeCe Winans. But behind the spotlight, Myshel and her husband struggled with the hope of starting a family, even as they faced the heartbreaking possibility it might never happen. 
Myshel believes that experiences with profound grief or loss reveal our true character and beliefs. She cautions that the enemy attacks us with his lies when we are at our most vulnerable. Instead of questioning God's goodness or blaming ourselves, we should choose to "count it all joy" and run to God, trusting him fully, worshipping him passionately, and drawing closer to him than ever before.
In her new book, Arise, Shine & Conquer, Myshel shares true stories of pain, perseverance, and breakthrough. Blending personal testimony with biblical truth, she invites readers into the abundant, victorious life God has promised.
WEBSITE: https://myshelwilkins.com
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/myshelmusic
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/myshel.wilkins1
 
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