Kickstart With Kayla

Faith Isn’t a Formula... It’s a Relationship (Featuring Becca Hooper)

This episode is a warm, honest conversation about what it really looks like to walk with God — not perfectly, but faithfully.
I’m joined by my friend Becca Hooper for a conversation about faith, the Holy Spirit, shame, prayer, and learning to distinguish God’s voice from the enemy’s lies. We talk about the freedom that comes from being honest with God, the importance of creating intentional space to hear Him, and why faith was never meant to be a formula or performance.
This conversation reflects on mentorship, spiritual disciplines, journaling, prayer, and the peace that comes from trusting God with both our mistakes and our future. We also talk about transitions, uncertainty, and what it looks like to walk into new seasons with open hands and trust.
If you’ve ever felt pressure to “get faith right,” struggled with guilt or shame, or wanted a more personal relationship with God, this episode is an encouraging reminder that Jesus meets us exactly where we are.

Bringing Light to Human Trafficking: Faith, Awareness, and Hope (Featuring Meg Williams from AbolitionNC)

This episode is about bringing light into a difficult topic — with faith, compassion, and hope at the center.
I’m joined by Meg Williams, Director of Community Outreach at AbolitionNC, for a conversation about human trafficking that is grounded in awareness, prevention, and the belief that light is stronger than darkness. While the topic is heavy, this episode is not meant to overwhelm or scare — it’s meant to inform, encourage, and empower.
We talk about common misconceptions around trafficking, how prevention begins with awareness and community, and how faith plays a central role in bringing healing and hope to survivors. Meg also shares how Jesus meets people in their deepest pain and how compassion, presence, and obedience guide this work.
This conversation is a reminder that we are not powerless, that faith calls us to both awareness and action, and that even in broken spaces, hope is real and present.
If you want to learn, grow, and reflect — without fear — this episode is for you.

The Power of One Person Who Shows Up (Featuring Virgo Dykstra)

Sometimes the most meaningful impact doesn’t come from having the right words — it comes from simply showing up.
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Virgo to talk about mentorship, presence, and the quiet power of being someone who listens. We share stories from youth ministry, moments of being seen at the right time, and the people who shaped our faith not through authority, but through empathy and consistency.
We talk about why mentorship isn’t about fixing others, how creating safe spaces can change someone’s life, and why feeling heard matters more than having all the answers. This conversation is a reminder that influence often comes from small, faithful moments — not big platforms or perfect advice.
If you’ve ever felt unseen, or wondered whether the way you show up really matters, this episode will remind you that presence is powerful — and that one person can make all the difference.

How to Grow This Year Without Burning Yourself Out (Featuring Bill Fahrner)

As a new year begins, many of us feel pressure to set big goals, make resolutions, and completely reinvent ourselves — often without slowing down to ask what we actually need.
In this episode, my dad and I talk about a healthier way to approach growth. We discuss the idea of choosing a single word to guide your year, the importance of margin, and how self-awareness can help you grow without burning yourself out. We also reflect on faith, discipline, distraction, and what it looks like to pursue long-term growth instead of chasing short-term pressure.
We talk about identity, purpose, modern distractions like social media and AI, and why what you consume has a greater influence on your life than you may realize. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and think intentionally about who you’re becoming — not just what you want to accomplish.
If you’re entering this year feeling motivated but also overwhelmed, this conversation will help you reset your focus and approach growth with clarity, grace, and sustainability.

If You’ve Been Putting Off Your Faith, Listen to This

This episode is a heartfelt and honest conversation about faith, time, and the quiet urgency of the life we’ve been given.
I talk about what it means to live with intention, to stop putting off your relationship with God, and to recognize that tomorrow isn’t something we’re promised. Through personal reflection, Scripture, and moments of vulnerability, I share why faith isn’t meant to be something we “get to later,” but something that shapes how we live right now.
This episode isn’t about fear or guilt — it’s about love, purpose, and the invitation God extends to each of us to walk with Him daily. It’s about choosing faith over distraction, presence over postponement, and meaning over comfort.
If you’ve ever felt a pull toward something deeper, or sensed that God might be calling you closer, this conversation is for you.

Why Other People’s Opinions Have So Much Power Over You

Why do other people’s opinions affect us so deeply — even when we know they shouldn’t?
In this episode, we talk about fear of judgment, people-pleasing, and the quiet pressure to conform — especially in seasons of change, growth, and calling. I share personal experiences with seeking approval, navigating new environments, and wrestling with the fear of what others might think.
We unpack how fear works biologically in the brain, why negative opinions trigger a stress response, and how that fear can slowly shape our decisions, confidence, and identity. Through Scripture and real-life examples, we explore the difference between living for human approval and living with trust rooted in God.
This episode is a reminder that fear is not from the Lord, peace is. That identity is not built on opinions, but on truth. And that when God places something on your heart, no amount of criticism can take that calling away.
If you’ve ever felt held back by what others might say, think, or assume about you — this conversation is for you.

What My Dad Taught Me About Faith, Work, and Not Burning Out (Featuring Bill Fahrner)

This week, I’m joined by a very special guest — my dad, Bill Fahrner.
In this episode, we sit down for an honest conversation about faith, work, purpose, and what it looks like to follow God over the long haul — not just in emotional highs, but in everyday life. My dad shares his testimony, how his faith evolved from something transactional into a real relationship with God, and the moments that shaped his spiritual walk over the years.
We talk about navigating seasons of uncertainty, learning how to integrate faith into your work, and why “work is worship” when you live with intention. We also discuss burnout, balance, leadership, and the importance of creating margin — especially in busy seasons of life.
This episode is about consistency over intensity, steady faith over emotional highs, and learning how to walk with God in a way that’s sustainable, honest, and rooted in grace.
Whether you’re in college, early in your career, or simply feeling stretched thin, I hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, reflect, and remember that faith is built one day at a time.

Before You Set a Goal, Listen to This

Before you set a goal, listen to this.
As we step into a new year and start thinking about who we want to become, it’s easy to get caught up in planning, dreaming, and creating big visions for our lives. But before we write the list, make the vision board, or announce our intentions to the world, we have to pause and look inward.
In this episode, we talk about the heart behind goal-setting — the difference between desire and discipline, why ambition is a gift when it’s rooted in the right things, and how quickly our dreams can become idols if we’re not paying attention. We also talk about intention, identity, and the invitation God gives us to dream boldly with Him, not apart from Him.
I dive into the neuroscience of motivation and why your brain loves the excitement of new goals but struggles with the follow-through. And through Scripture and personal reflection, we explore the truth that while we plan our way, it’s ultimately God who establishes the steps.
If you’re entering 2026 feeling excited, overwhelmed, hopeful, or uncertain — this conversation will help you slow down, reset your focus, and build goals that honor God, challenge you, and align with who you’re becoming.
May this episode be your reminder that your dreams matter, your discipline matters, your identity in Christ matters… and you don’t have to have the whole plan to take the next right step.

When God Whispers...And When He Finally Has to Shout (Featuring Angela Halloran-Smith)

This week’s episode is a conversation about faith, fear, miracles, and the way God redirects our lives when we least expect it. My aunt, Angela Halloran-Smith, shares her testimony — from drifting far from God, to ignoring His whispers, to the moment everything changed.
This is an episode about trusting God without having the answers, stepping into the unknown, and saying yes when He calls you into something bigger than yourself.If you’ve been praying for direction, this conversation is for you.

Come Back Home

In this week’s episode, I open up about distractions, stress, and what it feels like to drift from God without even realizing it. After a long, overwhelming week of exams and responsibilities, I found myself struggling to focus, praying for direction, and feeling mentally and spiritually drained. So instead of forcing a topic, I talk honestly about the reality of distraction — how it creeps in, why it feels so fulfilling in the moment, and how easily the world can pull us away from what actually sustains us.
We dig into why certain habits, temptations, and “fun paths” look appealing at first but leave us empty, and how God patiently waits for us to turn around and come home. I share the story of the Prodigal Son, the idea of “worldly agonists” that mimic fulfillment, and the importance of recognizing when we’re living a double life or trying to fill spiritual gaps with temporary fixes.
Most importantly, this episode is about remembering that you are never too far gone. No matter how long you’ve been distracted or how deep you’ve wandered, God is still near, still listening, and still ready to welcome you with open arms. Whether you feel burnt out, guilty, overwhelmed, or spiritually distant, this conversation reminds you that coming home starts with just one step — one honest cry for help.