The Habit Lab

Latest Episodes:

Episode 90: How to raise considerate humans (without nagging or lectures) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

If you want to change your family culture, talking about values isn’t enough—your systems have to reinforce them.

In this episode, I share how we used simple habit principles to shift our home from criticism to consideration—and how you can do the same.

(Shout out to my Oklahomies for inspiring this habit!)

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Episode 89: Holy Spirit = the cheat sheet to habits that self help doesn't have Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

There’s a way of building habits that feels heavy… and there’s a way that feels like partnership.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it looks like to build habits with the Holy Spirit—where you don’t have to strive, guess, or overhaul your entire life overnight.

Instead, you can:

Ask for wisdom
Start small
Stay consistent
And trust God to multiply what you bring

Because the truth is, your effort was never meant to be enough on its own.

If you’re craving sustainable change, deeper formation, and a way forward that actually feels aligned with your faith, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

The Kids Jesus Habits Podcast Episode Jenna mentions.

Bible Bags: Jenna's kids love

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Episode 88: How-to Start a Discipleship Group for kids Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Your kid has friends.
They might even go to youth group.

But there’s still this quiet question:
Who is actually helping shape their character?

Because middle school gets loud.
And while church and youth group matter… they can’t carry the full weight of discipleship, life skills, and identity.

And if you’re honest—
trying to do all of that by yourself as a parent feels… like a lot.

👉 CLICK here for the checklist to start a discipleship group

In this episode, Jenna Zint sits down with her friend Brandi Haskins to talk about a different approach:

What if you didn’t do this alone?
What if you built a small village of trusted moms who are intentionally shaping their girls together?

We talk about what that actually looks like in real life—
not overwhelming, not hyper-spiritual, not another thing to do perfectly…

Just a simple, consistent space where girls:
– build real relationships with safe adults
– learn how to walk with God in everyday life
– grow in confidence, character, and connection

This isn’t about raising perfect kids.
It’s about creating an environment where they’re known, guided, and grounded—especially in the years where it matters most.

If you’ve been wishing for more support, more intentionality, or just a plan that feels doable… this conversation will give you a place to start.

< For info on Brandi's Ministry click here >

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Friendship Files #7- Staying at the Table When You’re Hurt Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most common sources of pain in friendship: disappointment & misunderstandings.

Not blatant betrayal.
Not obvious sin.

But the everyday moments where expectations don’t match reality… and something in you feels hurt, unseen, or misunderstood.

Most relational tension isn’t as dramatic as we make it.
It’s often disappointment + misunderstanding working together.

So what do you do when someone doesn’t show up the way you hoped?
When you feel the gap between what you expected and what actually happened?

In this episode, we’re unpacking how to:

• recognize disappointment before it turns into offense
• separate what actually happened from the story you’re telling
• stay emotionally steady when you feel misunderstood
• have honest conversations without over-explaining
• hold both disappointment and compassion at the same time

Because maturity in friendship isn’t avoiding disappointment—
it’s learning how to metabolize it and stay connected anyway.

If you’ve ever felt hurt in a relationship but didn’t want to walk away, this episode will give you language, perspective, and practical steps to grow your capacity.

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Friendship Files #6: Boundaries That Protect Connection Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Most people picture boundaries like walls—something harsh that shuts people out.

But what if boundaries are actually edits that protect generosity so love can last?

In this episode, Jenna reframes boundaries through the lens of habit coaching: just like we edit habits to make them sustainable, we sometimes need to edit our generosity and relational rhythms so they don’t collapse under resentment.

When generosity stretches beyond our honest capacity, bitterness often begins to grow quietly in the background. Healthy boundaries aren’t meant to punish people—they’re meant to protect connection.

You’ll hear about:

• Why resentment often reveals a crossed value or an unspoken limit
• Why boundaries are better understood as edits to your “yes”
• Signs you may need a boundary adjustment in a relationship
• How to offer the yes you actually have instead of shutting people down

Healthy boundaries don’t shrink your world—they help keep generosity joyful and relationships sustainable.

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Friendship Files #5- Diversify your friend group Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Ever notice how easy it is to curate a friend group that looks and thinks just like you? We’re flipping that script.

I share how a single question about my guest list sparked a full rethink of community, why Jesus’ meals are the model for modern friendship, and how widening the table reshaped my heart more than any book, retreat, or productivity hack ever could.
We unpack the shift from distant charity to real proximity—the kind that invites the widow, the single parent, the awkward talker, and the person with fewer resources into our actual routines.

I talk candidly about the social cost of diversity, the temptation to protect “the vibe,” and the moment I realized people aren’t projects; they’re image-bearers worthy of attention, not just an invite.

Expect practical language for humility, how to treat triggers as teachers, and simple ways to calm your nervous system so you can stay present without fixing, rescuing, or controlling.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect life-stage match before investing in friendship, it might be idealism keeping you lonely.

Boundaries still matter, but love asks for a bigger table—one that looks less curated and more like the kingdom.

You’ll leave with grounded questions to audit your circle, steps to invite difference into your week, and fresh courage to trade comfort for connection.

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Friendship Files #4- Different Flavors of Friendship Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Friendship Files #4 — Different Flavors of Friendship

Why do some friendships feel easy… and others feel confusing or painful—even when there’s real care?

In this episode, we unpack the idea that friendship isn’t one-size-fits-all. People connect in different “flavors”—and when we turn our personal preference into the standard, difference starts to feel like rejection.

We talk about common contrasts like:

Frequent texter vs. periodic connector
Fast-paced life vs. slow-paced life
One-on-one vs. group connection
Talker vs. doer
Spontaneous vs. planned

You’ll learn how pain quietly turns into story, and story turns into judgment—and how to separate personality from personal so you don’t turn difference into a verdict.

This episode will help you:

Name your own flavor of friendship
Understand others without moralizing style
Adjust expectations without shrinking your needs
Receive love in more than one form

Different doesn’t mean distant.
Different doesn’t mean careless.
Sometimes it just means… they’re a different flavor than you.

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Friendship Files #3-Lose Your Rejection Button Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

What if you could lose your rejection button?
That little trigger that lights up when someone’s cold, distracted, or you don't get invited.

Here’s the truth:
you don’t have to mirror their mood.

You can stay kind, grounded, and unshaken —
because who you are isn’t up for negotiation.

When your identity is built on Jesus — not on people’s reactions —
you stop waiting to feel seen before showing up with love.

🎙️ Friendship Files: “Lose Your Rejection Button”
→ How to stay steady when others are off.
→ How to lead with mercy instead of offense.
→ How to show up full instead of waiting to be filled.

Because rejection can’t hit a button that no longer exists.

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Friendship Files #2: The Lie of Overwhelm Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Overwhelm loves to sound wise. It tells us to cut back, protect our energy, and press pause on “nonessentials.” But when friendship gets labeled as optional, we lose the very support that carries us through demanding seasons. In this second installment of the Friendship Files, Jenna Zint digs into the quiet lie that says, “I have nothing to give,” and shows how that belief isolates us right when we most need people, perspective, and prayer.
We explore how growth—new jobs, new babies, new ministries—creates a learning curve that feels like chronic strain. Instead of defaulting to all-or-nothing, Jenna offers a practical reframe: match your friendship habits to your real capacity. Maybe the weekly dinner becomes a monthly park hour. Maybe the two-hour coffee turns into a five-minute voice memo. Those “offensively small” habits keep love flowing and keep you tethered to community. Along the way, we unpack scarcity thinking, how absolutes reveal fear running the show, and why staying near others right-sizes our stress. Friendship isn’t a bonus for calm seasons; it’s essential nourishment for turbulent ones.
Jenna also names a common trap: stale survival patterns that linger after the crisis has passed. If your season has shifted, your habits may need to shift too. Try a 10 percent edit to reflect regained margin. And for those wrestling with the tension between loving your family and loving your neighbor, Jenna points to a better economy: those who refresh others are refreshed. Even two coins count. Small, steady investments in connection will not bankrupt you; they’ll replenish you with strength, joy, and perspective.
If you’re tired of shrinking your world to “what’s manageable,” this conversation is your gentle nudge to re-open the door, even just a crack. Press play, then try one tiny reach-out today. If this helped, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to tell us your 10 percent tweak.

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Friendship Files #1 - Losing your consumer mindset Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

What if the problem isn’t your friends—but the way you measure friendship? We dive into an honest, practical reset on how to build relationships that actually form us, not just flatter us.
We explore the subtle consumer mindset that creeps into our closest bonds—keeping score, expecting equitableness on our terms, and treating people like faucets for our needs.

Then we turn the lens: friendship as spiritual formation.

That means discomfort isn’t a red flag to quit; it’s the wind that strengthens the tree. From listening to pain without slipping into courtroom roles, to inviting third-party feedback when we get called out, we map simple, doable practices that help us repair quickly and grow deeper trust.
You’ll hear vivid metaphors to anchor the change: friends as targets to aim love at, not sources to drain; living like a river instead of a reservoir; and the Johnny Appleseed approach to generously sowing encouragement wherever you go.

We also spotlight the “Brittany principle”: the people most loved- often love the most—reminding us that popularity isn’t the point, presence is.

If you’re ready to move from “Do I get enough here?” to “How can I give first without keeping score?”, this conversation will meet you right where you are and nudge you forward with grace.
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a hopeful nudge, and leave a quick review so more people can find Habit Lab. Want help applying this? Book a coaching with me—we’ll build offensively small habits that create big impact.

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