Kickstart With Kayla

What you take in shapes who you become, often without you noticing. In this episode, I am diving into the unseen power of what you watch, read, and listen to, from your morning playlist to the endless scroll on your phone. Discover how lyrics, media, and even background noise can rewire your brain, shift your mood, and subtly pull you closer to — or further from — the person you want to be. With personal stories, Scripture, and a surprising self-experiment, I will show you how to guard your heart, mind, and spirit in a noisy world.

This one’s for the people who feel like they’re never enough — no matter how hard they try. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s like to live with that inner voice that criticizes everything from how you look to how you perform, and how it’s often louder than anything anyone else could say.
I talk about where my insecurity started, why our brains are wired to be self-critical, and how faith helped me begin to see myself differently. I open up about the moments that shaped my confidence (good and bad), and what finally helped me step out of the cycle of self-judgment.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt like your worst enemy was staring back at you, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone — and that healing starts with seeing yourself the way God already does.

Sometimes the thing you prayed for falls apart, and it’s not because you failed. It’s because God had something better in mind. In this episode, I share a personal story I’ve never talked about online and what it taught me about rejection, redirection, and trust. We talk about Romans 8:28, how to build a growth mindset, and the neuroscience behind why your brain actually gets stronger through hard things. I also share the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts and how what looked like a disaster was actually a setup. If you’re in the middle of something hard, this one is for you.

I didn’t feel qualified. I didn’t feel ready. But God called me anyway—and this podcast was born out of a yes that scared me more than anything else.
In this first episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of how Kickstart with Kayla came to be—from a forgotten journal entry to the prayer that wouldn’t leave me alone. We’ll talk about what it means to take a leap of faith, how God equips the called (not the qualified), and how your purpose can literally rewire your brain.
If you've ever wondered if you're enough, if God sees you, or if you're capable of stepping into something bigger than yourself… this episode is for you.
Let’s talk purpose, neuroscience, and the power of saying yes—before you feel ready.
 
 
Some neuroscience and psychology insights in this episode were inspired by research on how purpose affects the brain, mental health, and long-term resilience. Sources include:
Bishop, R. (2023, March 15). Does purpose play a positive role in mental health? Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/purpose-and-mental-health
Joshua M. Evans. (2025, April 8). The Neuroscience Behind Finding Purpose - Joshua M. Evans. Joshua M. Evans. https://joshuamevans.com/the-neuroscience-behind-finding-purpose/
Kang, Y., Strecher, V., Kim, E., & Falk, E. (n.d.). Purpose in Life and Conflict-Related Neural Responses During Health Decision-Making. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://www.asc.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/2021-03/Purpose%20in%20life%20and%20conflict-related%20neural%20responses%20during%20health%20decision-making.pdf
Mount Sinai Medical Center. (2015, March 6). Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart. Science Daily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150306132538.htm
Strong Sense of Purpose in Life Promotes Cognitive Resilience Among Middle-Aged Adults - Neuroscience News. (2023, April 19). Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/purposes-life-cognition-23056/
Zaraska, M. (2024, October 1). Why Finding Your Purpose Could Be Crucial to Brain Health. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20241001/why-finding-your-purpose-could-be-crucial-brain-health
 
Let's connect!
Instagram and Tiktok: @kickstartwithkayla
Email me at kickstartwithkayla@gmail.com