A Texan Takeover: Conversations with Cynthia Yanof on Life, Podcasting, and Faith Journey

Welcome to another episode of Spark Media Conversations! In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting a delightful conversation between two Texas gals, Cynthia Yanof and Misty Phillip. Cynthia, a renowned author and podcast host, joins Misty in Tennessee for an engaging discussion. They dive into Cynthia's book, "Life is Messy. God is Good," her podcast "Mesmerize," and the impact of injecting humor into storytelling.

Cynthia shares her insights on the podcasting journey, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the right audience rather than the numbers. She also delves into her speaking engagement at the Ester Press conference, highlighting her passion for foster care and doing the hard things. As the conversation unfolds, humor and authenticity create a warm and relatable atmosphere, reflecting the essence of Cynthia's work.

Key Takeaways

Success Beyond Numbers:

Whether it's 250,000 downloads or 2,000, Cynthia emphasizes the importance of focusing on impacting the right people rather than the number of listeners. Success in podcasting isn't just about commercial figures, but about reaching and positively influencing the lives of the audience.

Infusing Humor & Faith:

Cynthia's approach of injecting humor into her content to break down defenses and open the door for truth is a powerful strategy. Infusing humor and practicality while staying true to biblical truth creates an engaging and impactful podcast experience.

Embracing Hard Things:

Sharing her journey in foster care and diving into the concept of "for such a time as this" from Esther 4:14, Cynthia highlights the significance of embracing the challenging aspects of life. Despite the messiness and hurdles, it's about stepping forward even when it doesn't seem to make sense.

Cynthia Yanof

"In the mess of life, you can be mesmerized by a lot of things, by culture. You can be mesmerized by the hard things you face, by your family, marriage, a lot. But why not be mesmerized by the Lord?" - Cynthia Yanof

Cynthia Yanof is an author who writes from a place of honesty and vulnerability about finding God in the midst of life's challenges. Despite not always dreaming of being an author, she found her passion for writing as a way to share the real and raw moments of her faith journey. Through her books, Cynthia offers a blend of humor and insight, inviting readers to laugh and find hope in the midst of life's difficulties. Her writing resonates with those seeking a genuine and relatable perspective on faith and life. 

Life is Messy, God is Good brings realness, humor, and biblical truth into life's challenges. Cynthia Yanof knows how sloppy, slippery, and downright hard life can be. But as she reminds us through her laugh-out-loud stories and heartfelt companionship, God’s not surprised when we drop the ball, lose our cool, or struggle to put our Spanx on in the morning. He can use our ridiculous messes and even the really difficult I-didn’t-sign-up-for-this losses to shape us.
 
In Life Is Messy, God Is Good, Cynthia invites us to reframe our perspective on the challenges we face so we can see God at work—and laugh more along the way. Join her in discovering how:
 

  • We can be faithful to God’s purposes right where we are—baseball carpool, dog groomer, and even chaperoning the dreaded zoo field trip.
  • We come to realize one of life’s greatest blessings is a handful of crazy, godly friends (who aren’t afraid to tell you to retire your outfit).
  • When we let go of who the world says we should be, we are free to become who God created us to be.

Thanks so much for spending time with us today. If you enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe and share with a friend.