Growing Up Saved, Neurodivergence in Church, and Making Launch Campaigns Fun: Voice Memos Podcast
There are some conversations where even before you hit “record,” you immediately know it’s gonna be a GOOD one. My interview with author Kristen LaValley was exactly that — a blend of nostalgia, tender honesty, belly laughs, and the kind of spiritual clarity that sneaks up on you mid-sentence.
We started with lip oils and bangs (because like why not, right?), but the heart of this episode dives deep into what it really means to grow up in 90s evangelical culture, why so many of us lived without agency over our own lives (even as an adult), and how neurodivergence intersects with faith, church culture, and identity.
And of course — we talked about her new book Growing Up Saved, which is equal parts hilarious, healing, and deeply grounded in the goodness of God.
Below is a peek into the conversation, but trust me… you’ll want to listen to the full thing.
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All the Links Mentioned:
When Lip Oils Become a Metaphor for Adulthood
Because your girl loves a cold open, we kicked things off with the fun stuff: lip stains gone wrong, bold declarations, and Kristen’s new commitment to wearing color even when she’s not totally ready to be perceived.
We also discussed Wicked: For Good - and we have thoughts, you guys. (Mostly Kristen. But also me. But mostly Kristen.)
Neurodivergence, Faith, and the Churches We Grew Up In
This is where the episode really opens up.
Kristen shared what it was like growing up in a multi-generation Assemblies of God pastor family while also being extremely neurodivergent — and not knowing it yet.
She talked about:
Feeling “broken” because faith didn’t come as easily to her as it seemed to come to others
Learning to mask in order to meet expectations
Why sensory-heavy charismatic environments were overwhelming, not spiritual “failures”
The relief of finally understanding her wiring as an adult
Her line “Sometimes we hide to survive, but we can’t stay hiding forever” has sat with me - ot’s actually a line from her new book, Growing Up Saved!
We also tackled the pendulum swing in ADHD spaces — from shame to “I’m excused from everything because ADHD” — and how the healthiest approach lives somewhere between those extremes.
The Abundant List: Reclaiming Desire Without Shame
One of my favorite parts of the whole conversation was Kristen’s concept of the Abundant List: a simple list of things she wants to do just because they make life feel abundant.
Not spiritualized. Not justified. Not tied to productivity.
Things like:
learning mixed-media collage
traveling
hiking
dancing
trying art forms that have nothing to do with her platform
She said: “If Jesus said He came to give us an abundant life, then abundance has to mean this life too.”
I felt that one down in my bones. IN. MY. BONES!
Raising Kids Without Repeating the Harm
We swapped stories about raising children in faith environments that don’t shame curiosity, emotions, or neurodivergent needs.
Kristen talked about:
giving kids agency in their spiritual development
storytelling as discipleship
supporting kids with different cognitive wiring
not forcing faith performances
letting kids explore hard questions without panic
I shared the advice I was given about answering only the question in front of you, and how much peace that has brought into our home.
Storybook bible and discipleship tools I recommend for kids! (Links to the bible Kristen and I both mentioned!)
Treating Book Launches Like It’s an Art Project
Kristen’s marketing for this book? Truly a work of art.
She decided early on that if she was going to share heavy stories, the launch itself needed to be light, nostalgic, playful, and healing.
And by doing so, she’s deepening her relationship with her community through joy, swapping memories (and hilarious 90s fashion horror stories), and doing an excellent job at leveraging what’s already trending.
It’s brilliant. And it honors both her story and her readers.
She and I actually got to discuss her launch long before it arrived in a Strategy Session, which you can book RIGHT HERE if you’re interested!
Why Book Pre-Orders Actually Matter
Kristen breaks it down simply: Pre-orders tell retailers, publishers, and distributors, “Hey, people want this book — stock it.” Without them, the book may literally be unavailable.
So yes, if you want to support her work (and TRUST ME you do), pre-ordering is the best way to do that!
Your next steps
If you’re ready to embody your leadership in a more grounded, integrated way:
Book a Strategy Session: https://dustyhegge.com/strategy-sessions
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Join the Percolator Waitlist: https://dustyhegge.com/percolator
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Voice Memos is a part business newsletter, part excitable voice note, and entirely unfiltered. It’s a safe space where business and faith intersect with real life. I talk strategy, discipleship, mindset, parenthood, and whatever else is currently filling up my notes app that week. | Subscribe below for free to get new episodes (and posts) straight to your inbox - no need to have the Substack app.
