The Collide Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Tanner's Story: When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned with Nicci Smith May 27, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you prayed it would?

In this honest and powerful episode, Willow sits down with Nicci Smith—known by many as Tanner’s mom from Love on the Spectrum—to talk about the journey she never expected and the God who met her in it.

When Nicci first received her son’s autism diagnosis, she was overwhelmed with fear, grief, and uncertainty. Like many moms, she found herself asking: What does this mean for his future? What does this mean for our family?

But what unfolded over the years wasn’t the story she feared—it was something deeper, richer, and more meaningful than she could have imagined.

This conversation is for the woman who:

Feels like she’s living a story she didn’t choose
Is grieving what she thought life would look like
Is exhausted from trying to “fix” or control the outcome
Wonders if God is still at work in the middle of it all

Nicci vulnerably shares how it took over a decade to move from striving and fear into true surrender—and how that shift changed everything.

You’ll hear how God used Tanner’s life not just to shape their family, but to impact millions through his joy, authenticity, and love for people.

What You’ll Learn:

Why surrender—not striving—is the turning point in hard seasons
How to redefine success when life looks different than expected
The tension between pursuing help and trusting God’s plan
What it looks like to grieve honestly and still hold onto faith
How God can use what feels like weakness to impact others in powerful ways

Connect with Nicci:

Instagram | instagram.com/nicci_smith6/
Podcast: Talk To Me, Sis | Apple Podcasts

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Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

National Bestseller ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Life hands us hurt we never asked for—leaving us anxious, insecure, and stuck. In Collide, Willow invites you to stop numbing and running, and start bravely stepping into the places you’ve avoided—because Jesus meets us in our mess, and healing starts there.

Healing Trauma Without Trying Harder with Aundi Kolber May 20, 2026

Show notes

What if healing doesn’t require you to try harder, but to feel safe enough to try softer?

Episode Summary

Licensed professional counselor, trauma therapist, and bestselling author Aundi Kolber joins Willow for an honest conversation about trauma, faith, emotional health, and what it actually looks like to heal. Drawing from both her professional expertise and her own experience with childhood trauma, Aundi explains how survival strategies like white-knuckling, over-functioning, and reading the room can protect us when we’re young but eventually keep us disconnected from ourselves. Together, Willow and Aundi explore why trauma lives in the body, the importance of safe relationships and therapy, setting down old family roles, and the myths that tell us we should be able to heal by simply trying or praying harder. Aundi offers a beautiful picture of Jesus asEmmanuel—God with us—who doesn’t ask us to get over our pain before coming to Him, but meets us right in the middle of it.

Meet Aundi Kolber

Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor, trauma therapist, author, and speaker known for her work at the intersection of faith, emotional health, and nervous system healing. She is the author of Try Softer and Strong Like Water and specializes in helping people understand how trauma impacts both the mind and body.

Aundi’s work is deeply personal. Having experienced significant childhood trauma herself, she knows what it’s like to appear capable and successful on the outside while internally living in survival mode. Her own healing journey helped shape her passion for helping others move beyond simply knowing truth intellectually toward actually experiencing healing in their bodies, relationships, and connection with God.

Key Takeaways

When the coping mechanisms that once protected you stop serving you: Honor why they were there. Aundi explains that strategies like white-knuckling, over-functioning, and constantly reading the room may have helped you survive—but healing can involve learning that you’re safe enough now to respond differently.
When your childhood experiences feel “normal” to you: Another safe person can help you see your story more clearly. Therapy and healthy relationships can provide a corrective experience that helps you recognize that what happened wasn’t okay—and that it wasn’t necessarily about you.
When your family still expects you to play an old role: Remember that you have agency. Healing can mean finding safe relationships, developing healthy boundaries, and learning to tolerate other people not liking the healthier version of you.
When you think you should be healed by now: Let go of the timeline. Aundi reminds us that the more complicated the trauma, the more complex healing may be—and there is no shame in that.
When your body is telling you something: Listen with compassion. Trauma can remain embodied long after an experience is over, and healing includes learning to pay compassionate attention to your mind, body, and spirit.

How This Episode Will Encourage You

Jesus wants to collide with your real story and your real pain, not a cleaned-up version of it. He meets you there with love instead of shame and invites you toward the safety, healing, and wholeness He desires for you.

Connect with Aundi

Website: aundikolber.com
Instagram: @aundikolber
Substack: substack.com/@aundikolber
Books: Try Softer, Strong Like Water

Collide Book

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Finding Faith in Unexpected Seasons with Nicole Unice May 13, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself in a season of life you didn’t sign up for?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nicole Unice to talk about navigating life’s unexpected seasons, grief, and the challenges that come when everything familiar changes. Nicole shares her personal journey of leaving full-time ministry, moving through uncertainty, and leaning into God’s faithfulness when life felt unfair. Through her story, she offers insights on faithfulness, emotional health, and discovering God’s blessings even in the pit moments of life. Whether you’re facing loss, change, or a season you never planned, this episode will remind you that God is with you, shaping your story in ways you can’t yet see.

Meet Nicole Unice

Nicole is a pastor, author, speaker, and former therapist with decades of experience helping people connect their emotional and spiritual lives. She is the author of Not What I Signed Up For, The Struggle is Real, and other faith-centered books that guide readers through life’s hard chapters. Nicole is passionate about helping women navigate grief, uncertainty, and unexpected life changes while remaining rooted in faith. Her story is a powerful example of resilience, courage, and faithfulness through seasons no one plans for.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

How to navigate grief and loss in seasons you didn’t anticipate.
Why faithfulness doesn’t always look like strength or victory—it can be as simple as staying with God.
How to reframe blessing and see God’s work in unexpected places.
Practical ways to hold your emotions while deepening trust in God’s plan.

How This Episode Will Encourage You

This conversation will inspire you to embrace God’s presence in difficult seasons, release the pressure to “fix” your life immediately, and find freedom and hope in the midst of uncertainty. Nicole’s insights offer practical and spiritual encouragement for anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in life’s “not what I signed up for” moments.

Connect with Nicole

Website: nicoleunice.com

Books: Not What I Signed Up For, The Struggle Is Real, Brave Enough, She’s Got Issues

Collide Book

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Collide Bible Study | A Six Week Journey Toward Healing

What if your pain is the very place where Jesus wants to meet you? In this six-session companion to the book Collide, Willow Weston invites you on a journey to experience powerful moments in the Bible when Jesus collided with people that were wounded, outcast, and broken - and to discover how He wants to meet with you, too. Includes video access to 6 teaching sessions from Willow.

Collide Bible Study | A Six Week Journey Toward Healing

From Shame to Soul Revival May 06, 2026

Show notes

Are you tired of feeling stuck in cycles of shame, overthinking, or never quite getting it right?

In this honest episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Lisa Whittle to talk about how shame, misplaced priorities, and hidden idols quietly take hold in our lives—and keep us from experiencing the freedom God has for us. She shares about her unexpected journey into ministry, how pain shaped her calling, and what it really looks like to put Jesus over everything.

Whether you’re battling shame, stuck in unhealthy patterns, or longing for a fresh start with God, this episode will remind you that it’s never too late to come back and experience soul-deep renewal.

Meet Lisa Whittle

Lisa is an author, Bible teacher, podcast host, and ministry leader who has written nearly ten books and studies focused on helping women follow Jesus with integrity and depth. She also leads Ministry Strong, where she equips leaders to serve God faithfully for the long haul. Lisa is passionate about helping women break free from shame, live with purpose, and keep Jesus at the center of their lives.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

How God often uses pain and hardship to reveal your calling and purpose
The subtle ways idols and “over behaviors” (like overthinking, overworking, or overindulging) take over your life
Why shame keeps so many women stuck—and how to break free from it
What it practically looks like to put Jesus first and experience real soul revival

How This Episode Will Encourage You

This episode will help you take an honest look at what’s been holding you back and remind you that freedom is possible. You’ll be encouraged to release shame, realign your priorities, and come back to God just as you are—knowing He meets you there with grace, healing, and hope.

https://store.wecollide.net/products/collide-running-into-healing

Connect with Lisa: lisawhittle.com

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Purposing It All for Good: Creating a Life of Impact and Service with Mike McEvoy Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

How do you take heartbreak, loss, and life’s unexpected struggles and turn them into purpose, healing, and impact?

In this powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Mike McEvoy to talk about finding purpose in pain and using your gifts to serve others. Mike shares about starting Construction for Change in college, building schools and hospitals around the world, and navigating the heartbreak of losing a child while growing his family. He offers insights on faith, grief, service, and living a life that truly makes a difference. Whether you’re navigating hardship, seeking purpose, or longing to serve, this episode will remind you that your pain can be purposed for good.

Meet Mike McEvoy

Mike McEvoy is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Construction for Change, a nonprofit that has built over 130 schools and hospitals in 23 countries. He has spent nearly 20 years combining his construction expertise with a heart for global service. Mike is passionate about empowering communities, walking alongside partners, and showing that even the most difficult life experiences can be transformed into purpose and impact.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

How Mike turned his college passion and skills into a global nonprofit serving communities worldwide
Lessons from navigating personal heartbreak and grief while trusting God’s plan
The importance of integrating faith with action—living both vertically with God and horizontally with others
Practical ways to use your unique gifts and experiences to make a meaningful impact

How This Episode Will Encourage You

This episode will inspire you to see your struggles and losses not as the end of your story, but as opportunities to create purpose, hope, and transformation. You’ll gain practical insights, renewed faith, and encouragement to live a life that truly matters—right where you are.

Learn more about Construction for Change on thier website: constructionforchange.org

https://store.wecollide.net/products/collide-running-into-healing

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Reframe Your Story for Purpose with Mary DeMuth Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

What if the parts of your story you want to hide are the very places God wants to use to bring healing and purpose?

In this deeply honest and hope-filled conversation, Willow sits down with author and speaker Mary DeMuth to talk about what it means to “re-story” your life.

Mary shares her personal journey of walking through trauma, healing, and ultimately discovering that God doesn’t waste our pain - He transforms it. Together, they unpack the powerful truth that an untold story cannot be healed, and how bringing our stories into the light is the first step toward freedom.

You’ll hear practical ways to begin processing your story, how to recognize the “footprints of God” in your past, and why healing is not a one-time moment but a layered journey. Mary also speaks to the fear many of us carry about reopening wounds and how to do so safely, with support and grace.

This episode is an invitation to stop believing the lies that have kept you silent and instead step into a new chapter, one where your story becomes a source of healing, not just for you, but for others.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why “an untold story will never heal.”
What it means to reframe (or “re-story”) your life
How to begin processing your story in safe and healthy ways
The role of community and vulnerability in healing
Why forgiveness is a repeated, layered journey—not a one-time decision
How to identify God’s presence in your past, even when it felt silent
Practical steps to move forward and create a different ending to your story

Your past may shape your story—but it doesn’t have to define your future. With God, even the most painful chapters can be rewritten into something beautiful, meaningful, and full of purpose.

Connect with Mary DeMuth on social media: @marydemuth

Visit her website: marydemuth.com

Check out her book: Restory Your Life

https://store.wecollide.net/products/collide-running-into-healing

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Links referenced in this episode:

marydemuth.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Raising Your Daughter to Know Her Worth with Erin Weidemann Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

How do we help our girls find unshakeable worth in a world constantly tearing them down?

When Erin Weidemann moved from the beaches of California to the snowy landscape of Montana, she had no idea God was preparing a season of profound transformation. A former educator, cancer survivor, and founder of Truth Becomes Her and the Bible Belles series, Erin is passionate about helping girls—and the women raising and loving them—discover their identity in Christ.

In this conversation, Erin shares how growing up without a personal faith, walking away from God at 16, and later facing a shocking cancer diagnosis in her 20s forced her to confront the real questions: Who am I? Why am I here? And what does God want from my life?

As she tells her story, Erin reveals how God redirected her from the finance world into teaching, where she saw firsthand how desperately girls need guidance, truth, confidence, and identity rooted in Scripture. Her passion deepened when she became pregnant with her first daughter and realized how much healing and truth she still longed for in her own life.

This honest, hope-filled episode will encourage any woman who has struggled with identity, battled fear, questioned her calling, or wondered how to raise confident girls in a confused culture. Erin’s story is a powerful reminder that God uses even the most painful chapters—like illness, insecurity, or uncertainty—to build purpose, resilience, and Kingdom impact.

In This Episode, We Explore:

How cancer became the turning point that woke Erin up to God’s calling
Why girls today are struggling so deeply with identity and comparison
Erin’s journey from finance to teaching—and how ministry was born in the classroom
The heart behind Bible Belles and Truth Becomes Her
How becoming a mom exposes our unhealed places—and invites God to restore them
What it looks like to develop godly leadership and confidence in young girls
How God uses suffering to shape purpose, calling, and spiritual resilience

Whether you're a mom, mentor, teacher, or simply a woman wanting to walk confidently in who God created you to be, Erin’s story will inspire you to step into your identity with courage and intention.

https://store.wecollide.net/products/collide-running-into-healing

Connect with Erin on her Website: erinweidemann.com

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Jesus Loves the Misfits with Brandt Hansen Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

What if the people the world overlooks are the very ones God loves to work through most?

In this honest and encouraging episode of the Collide Podcast, Willow Weston sits down with Brant Hansen to talk about finding joy and purpose in the midst of pain, skepticism, and feeling like an outsider. Brant opens up about his difficult childhood, a turbulent relationship with his father, and how these experiences shaped his perspective on faith, life, and ministry.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

How being on the spectrum gave Brant a unique lens for understanding others and connecting with the underdog.
The importance of loyalty to God over relying on fleeting emotions.
How God uses childhood wounds and personal quirks for greater purpose.
Practical ways to maintain a vibrant faith even when life or church culture doesn’t feel “normal.”
Stories of God showing up for the desperate and overlooked, reminding us that He is a God for the underdog.

Brant’s insights are a gift for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit in, struggled with comparison, or wondered if God could use them despite their quirks and past pain.

Meet Brant Hansen

Brant is a bestselling author, nationally syndicated Christian radio host, and advocate for children with treatable disabilities. His work encourages those who feel like misfits to embrace their uniqueness and find a faith that makes sense. Brant’s show reaches over 200 stations in the US and Canada, and his podcast with his wife has garnered over 19 million downloads. He’s the author of several books, including Life is Hard, God is Good, Let's Dance and Blessed Are the Misfits.

Collide Book

Connect with Brant on his Website: branthansen.com

Books: Life is Hard, God is Good, Let's Dance & Blessed Are the Misfits

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Breaking the Biggest Myths About Counseling with Therapist Carrie Cochran Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

What if the biggest things holding you back from counseling…aren’t even true?

In this honest and hope-filled episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with counselor Carrie Cochran MA, LMHC, NCC to talk about the biggest myths that keep women from seeking counseling. From believing therapy is only for “serious problems” to fearing it means you’re weak or lacking faith, Carrie compassionately unpacks the lies that keep so many women stuck.

We talk about what actually happens when we ignore stress and trauma, how the nervous system holds unprocessed pain, and why your body may be signaling that it’s time for support. Carrie explains that therapy isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about uncovering your authentic self, the woman God created you to be before life layered on wounds and stress.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, chronic stress, old trauma, or simply feeling “off,” this episode will remind you that you are worthy of healing—and that saying yes to help is an act of courage, not failure.

Collide Book

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

Bob Goff on Living a Life of Courage | Taking Your Faith Off the Sidelines Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

What does it really look like to live out the love of Jesus in everyday life?

In this inspiring and often hilarious conversation, Willow sits down with bestselling author, attorney, and founder of Love Does, Bob Goff. Known for his joyful spirit and unconventional approach to faith, Bob shares stories and wisdom about living a life that moves from the sidelines to the field—where love becomes something we do, not just something we talk about.

Bob reflects on the power of availability, why influence matters, and how taking a genuine interest in people can transform relationships. Through stories about answering phone calls from strangers, building friendships across the world, and helping others pursue their dreams, he challenges us to live courageously and intentionally.

He also shares a powerful spiritual practice of looking into both the “eye of forgiveness” and the “eye of responsibility” in Jesus—reminding us that faith invites both grace and growth.

This episode will leave you encouraged to live boldly, love deeply, and take your faith off the bleachers and onto the field.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About

Why Bob spends nights at Disneyland giving strangers a shortcut to the front of the line
Moving from watching life to actively participating in it
The difference between controlling outcomes and influencing people
Why being available might be one of the most powerful ways to love others
The importance of taking a genuine interest in people’s stories

About Bob Goff

Bob Goff is a New York Times bestselling author, attorney, and founder of the nonprofit Love Does. Known for his contagious joy and practical approach to faith, Bob has inspired millions through books like Love Does and his global work advocating for justice, education, and opportunity. His life message is simple but powerful: love isn’t just something we say—it’s something we do.

https://store.wecollide.net/products/collide-running-into-healing

https://wecollide.net/conferences/

Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook

💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.

📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.

📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!

Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

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What You’ll Learn:

Connect with Nicci:

Episode Summary

Meet Aundi Kolber

Key Takeaways

How This Episode Will Encourage You

Connect with Aundi

Meet Lisa Whittle

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

How This Episode Will Encourage You

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About

About Bob Goff

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The Collide Podcast

What You’ll Learn:

Connect with Nicci:

Episode Summary

Meet Aundi Kolber

Key Takeaways

How This Episode Will Encourage You

Connect with Aundi

Meet Lisa Whittle

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

How This Episode Will Encourage You

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About

About Bob Goff

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