Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

Diamonds in Dumpster Fires is a faith-meets-neuroscience podcast for anyone determined to rise from the rubble. From divorce and dating disasters to burnout and betrayal, we talk about life's messiest moments with honesty, humor, and zero toxic positivity. Just real tools, raw faith, and the reminder that healing is still possible—even here.

Diamonds in Dumpster Fires is a education podcast hosted by Melie Williams, with 77 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Melie Williams hosts Diamonds in Dumpster Fires, a education show with 77 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

  Finding God in the Gap with Nathan Westwick

  Sep 16, 202646 min

  What do you do when your life doesn't look anything like you thought it would? In this episode of Diamonds in Dumpster Fires , Melie welcomes back licensed minister, author, and Wild Goose Coffee founder Nathan Westwick for an honest conversation about disappointment, unanswered hopes, and the gap between the life we expected and the life we're actually living. Nathan and Melie talk about what it looks like to grieve dreams that haven't happened without losing sight of the good that is already present. They explore why we don't always need to find a lesson or explanation for every painful experience, how the Psalms give us permission to be honest with God, and why surrender sometimes means releasing our preference for how life "should" look. They also discuss the difference between contentment and settling, the importance of Christian community when we're trying to discern our next step, and Nathan's powerful reminder to choose presence over preference . In this conversation, you'll hear about: How to navigate the gap between expectation and reality Giving yourself permission to grieve what hasn't happened Holding joy and sorrow at the same time Bringing disappointment honestly to God Why not every painful experience comes with a clear lesson The difference between contentment and settling How community can help us discern when to stay and when to move Remembering God's faithfulness when circumstances feel uncertain Finding moments of joy, play, and connection in difficult seasons Choosing presence over preference when life doesn't follow your plan If you're in a season of wondering why your life hasn't unfolded the way you hoped, this conversation is a reminder that disappointment and hope can exist in the same place. You can grieve what's missing, appreciate what is here, and trust that God is still present in the middle of the story. Connect with Nathan Westwick Nathan's book: Clearing the Path: Connecting with God in a Cluttered World Wild Goose Coffee Nathan's website : Check out his resources and listen to the first few chapters of his book Learn more about Diamonds in Dumpster Fires and find additional episodes and resources at diamondsindumpsterfires.com.

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  Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

  What I Want More of This Year

  Sep 2, 202614 min

  Birthdays often bring reflection, goal-setting, and questions about what we want from the year ahead. In this episode, I'm shifting the focus from what we want to accomplish to what we want to experience more of in everyday life. We'll talk about cultivating more presence, joy, courage, depth, and grace, and how faith can help us live with greater intention instead of constantly chasing the next milestone. If you're entering a new season, reflecting on another year of life, or simply craving a more meaningful way to think about personal growth, this episode is for you.

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  Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

  The Minimum Viable Version of Showing Up

  Aug 19, 20268 min

  This week's episode is a little different—and that's exactly the point. After starting a new job and facing an especially full week, I almost skipped recording altogether. Instead, I started thinking about the minimum viable version of showing up : the smallest version of a commitment that still keeps us connected to what matters. In this short episode, we're talking about all-or-nothing thinking, changing capacity, and why scaling something down isn't the same as giving up. If you're tired, overwhelmed, or feeling like you can't do things the way you normally would, this one is for you.

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  Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

  Created for Delight: How Hobbies Help Us Grow Spiritually with Brianna Lambert

  Aug 5, 202638 min

  What if the hobbies you love aren't distractions from your spiritual life—but places where God is already meeting you? In this episode, Melie talks with author Brianna Lambert about her new book, Created to Play: How Taking Hobbies Seriously Grows Us Spiritually . Brianna shares why play is more than a break from productivity and how hobbies can cultivate faithfulness, humility, creativity, connection, and a deeper sense of awe. Brianna also tells the powerful story of watching her family's camper van—and much of the equipment that made their favorite hobbies possible—burn on the side of the highway. In the difficult weeks that followed, simple acts of play like swimming, walking on the beach, and collecting shells became unexpected places of comfort and healing. Together, Melie and Brianna explore the guilt many of us feel when we do something simply because we enjoy it, the pressure to turn every passion into a business or measurable achievement, and the quiet ways hobbies can help us reconnect with joy during burnout, grief, trauma, and other difficult seasons. They also discuss: How slow hobbies develop patience, persistence, and faithfulness Why play can help settle the mind in seasons of suffering How to discover a hobby when you don't consider yourself "crafty" Why you don't need to be talented—or even stick with something forever How to make room for play in small pockets of a busy life The value of learning new hobbies alongside friends or family How parents can encourage curiosity and creativity in their children Why our enjoyment of beauty, movement, making, collecting, and connection can lead us into worship This conversation is an invitation to release the guilt, embrace curiosity, and pay attention to the activities that bring you delight. They may not be pulling you away from the person God created you to be. They may be helping you become more fully alive. Connect with Brianna: https://briannalambert.com Order Created to Play : https://www.ivpress.com/created-to-play

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  Diamonds in Dumpster Fires

  Moving Toward One Another with Parfait Bassalé

  Jul 15, 202641 min

  What if friendship could be more than a source of comfort—and become a powerful force for healing division? In this episode, Melie talks with Parfait Bassalé, belonging strategist, conflict resolution practitioner, singer-songwriter, and author of The Way of Befriending . Together, they explore how fear, hurt, and past experiences can lead us to other people—and how courage, curiosity, and compassion can help us move toward one another instead. Parfait also shares how friendship became a place of belonging throughout his life, why music is central to his work, and how ordinary acts of befriending can create meaningful change in our churches, workplaces, schools, and communities. Connect with Parfait: Website: https://parfaitbassale.com/ Purchase T he Way of Befriending Support Relume Candles: https://relumehope.com/ Connect with Melie: https://www.diamondsindumpsterfires.com/ Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who might be encouraged by this conversation.

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