Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keandra Troupe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Keandra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Esther, a women whose story is laid out in the book of Esther in the Bible, was a woman who ended up in a significant place in the palace as queen. This placement then put her in a position to make a bold decision, and with the help of God, this decision would save and affect the trajectory of an entire people. Esther’s story resonates so deeply with me because it is a reminder that the call of God in my life is unique, purposeful, and intentional. It is a reminder that our lives are divinely orchestrated and filled with purpose for the time and place that we are living in. It is a reminder that my past doesn’t get to determine the narrative of my future because my journey in life is being divinely orchestrated by a God bigger than anything I could ever experience. This is the mission of the Heart of Esther, to encourage and remind other women of the same. In a society not too far removed from a time where women had to fight just to have a voice, I want to encourage women that despite what society or life may have tried to throw their way, if they are living, there is purpose and intentionality for every breath they are given and every place God allows them to go. The hand of God is big enough to divinely orchestrate the events of our lives for his great purpose, but it is up to us to choose to be bold enough to live it out. I pray that with the help of God, this ministry would be a reminder and encouragement for women to live boldly for God’s purpose in their everyday lives and to walk in the truth that they were called for such a time as this.

Keandra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A pivotal point in life that led me into podcasting was realizing the calling on my life to minister to the hearts of other women. After coming out of a time of life where I had lost myself in unhealthy relational connections and heartbreak, I found myself being placed in new places where God would used the voices of women, including my mother, to rebuild me. Over time their words and encouragement began to fill me with hope and invade my heart with purpose. Whether it was meeting new friends at my college, connecting with people at my new church, or just the developing relationships with the current people in my life, it was no coincidence that God chose to surround me with women to rebuild me during a season of brokenness. It is through this ministry that I have been called and challenged to do the same. Although each listener may have a different life blueprint, I have faith that through this podcast and ministry, God would allow women to experience a piece of his heart in a way that is unique to their journey and shows them his providential hand is over their life as well.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Rejection can show up in many different ways and look different in each person’s life. Whether it’s being rejected by a parent, being rejected at the workplace, being rejected in a relationship, or being rejected by a complete stranger. We all have, or will at some point, experience rejection. For that reason, the pain of rejection is something that many people can relate to or understand how deep and painful the wound and mark it leaves on our lives can be. Despite this reality, I have recently learned that my greatest challenge was not necesarily moving past the trauma of rejection, rather, it was being intentional to open my heart to healing and not allowing the trauma to invade or show up in my current or future relationships, interactions, and life experiences. This has been the evidence of resiliency in my life. It did not derive from moving past the trauma of heartbreak, but it was in the decision to not allow the trauma of the past to poison my current life or future. This opened the door to experiencing a freedom that comes only when we can make the difficult decision to face the pain of the past and put in the hard work required to heal.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Control. The illusion of control is so prevalent in our world today. We so often convince ourselves or are convinced by others that if we “just do this” or “just do that” it would be enough to determine the outcome of a decision or situation. Unlearning that I am in control of life has been the most freeing lesson. I started my podcast during the pandemic and the direction of the show was fitting for that season of life, but within the last year, I identified the need to shift the entire direction of the podcast. Not only did the name of the show change completely, but the style of the episodes and the direction of the show shifted. I archived every single episode I had posted over the course of 2 years and revamped the show. During this time, I felt like I was losing control over a project that had become so dear to my heart because I couldn’t predict what the outcome would be or if changing the direction was going to be the right decision. It was during this time that I was able to truly release control over what I expected my direction in podcasting to be and in a practical way live out the heart of this podcast which is that God is intentional and his providential hand is over my journey and life. HE is the one in control, not me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Podcast website: https://heartofestherpodcast.buzzsprout.com
• Instagram: @keandra_troupe (https://instagram.com/keandra_troupe?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr)
• Facebook: Keandra Troupe (https://www.facebook.com/kea.troupe)
• Other: Heart of Esther Podcast Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-of-esther-podcast/id1501480294 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEhySKUxFZ0DI1ld11FvN?si=1b1eccd47b374bda iHeart radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-heart-of-esther-podcast-68516467/