Starting Place is a discipleship podcast hosted by Elizabeth Woodson, an author, Bible teacher, and seminary graduate who loves to help believers to grow spiritually. Through practical teaching and honest conversations with pastors, theologians, and everyday disciplemakers, we explore what Christians believe and how those beliefs shape a faithful, spiritually vibrant life. If you’re ready to grow deeper in your faith, this is the place to start, one meaningful conversation at a time.
In this episode, Elizabeth shares an exciting announcement about a new collection of conversations she’s recorded with her friend Yana Jenay Conner. Together, they are going to dive into conversations about the chaos and disconnection shaping our world today. Covering topics like friendship, forgiveness, and the culture, they will explore how a theology of shalom transforms helps us experience God’s peace in everyday life.
Follow Shalomies on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shalomies-with-elizabeth-woodson-and-yana-jenay-conner/id1847792838) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3mZgVCqeD4lQtFu08MfL0c).
🎧 Subscribe and follow @elizabethwoodson (https://www.instagram.com/elizabethwoodson) & @yanajenay (https://www.instagram.com/yanajenay)
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us on Instagram @startingplacepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/). Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
Follow Us:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/StartingPlace_) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@startingplacepodcast)
15 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Real Life Discipleship: Consumeristic Christianity with Oghosa Iyamu
In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with Oghosa Iyamu to talk about a current trend that is making discipleship difficult – Consumeristic Christianity. They discuss how attraction-driven ministry shapes our discipleship, why it can stunt our spiritual growth, and how sound theology and community can help believers engage God’s vision for the local church, discipleship, and mission more deeply.
Main Takeaways
Consumeristic Christianity prioritizes receiving over serving.
True spiritual experiences should lead to lasting transformation.
Discipleship should happen primarily in and through the local church
Content creators should strengthen, not replace, the local church.
Casting a clear vision helps believers embrace their role in God’s mission.
Guest Bio:
You can learn more about Oghosa by visiting, ogohsaiyamu.com (https://oghosaiyamu.com)
Recommended Resources:
Forever Welcomed: A Study on God's Impartial Love for All (https://a.co/d/gIIye1P)
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us on Instagram @startingplacepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/). Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
Follow Us:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/StartingPlace_) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@startingplacepodcast)
8 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Real Life Discipleship: Overwhelm with Ruth Chou Simons
In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with Ruth Chou Simons to talk about what it means to live unhurried in a world that constantly demands more. Together they wrestle with the pressures women face to produce and perform, how the gospel offers true rest, and why God’s creation points us back to His faithful care. Ruth also shares how art, creativity, and slowing down have shaped her own walk with Jesus.
Main Takeaways:
Small daily choices shape long-term faithfulness.
Striving in our own strength exhausts us—true rest is found in God.
Faithfulness often occurs in hidden places, not just in visible achievements.
Awe, beauty, and truth draw us back to God’s care and glory.
Guest Bio:
You can learn more about Ruth by visiting, ruthchousimons.com (http://ruthchousimons.com)
Recommended Resources:
The Way of the Wildflower: Gospel Meditations to Unburden Your Anxious Soul (https://a.co/d/1o4pnwk)
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us on Instagram @startingplacepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/). Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
Follow Us:
Twitter (https://twitter.com/StartingPlace_) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/startingplacepodcast/) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@startingplacepodcast)
Inside a recent episode
A Fun Announcement!
Published 22 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And so what are some of the topics we're going to be hitting on this season? Yana. Yeah. We were talking a lot of things. We were talking about Shalom and discipleship. Of course. Of course. We're going to be talking about Shalom and singleness, of course, but we're also going to be talking about Shalom and work. We're going to be talking about Shalom and friendship. Like what do we do when our friendships become fractured and they lack Shalom? How do we pursue wholeness in our friendships? We're also going to be talking about Shalom and forgiveness, you know? And then we're going to be talking about Shalom and culture. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
