The Circle of the Panda Podcast
Circle of the Panda is a podcast about rising, rebuilding, and leading with purpose. Host JD Ross sits down with leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday fighters to talk faith, business, mindset, and what it really takes to get back up when life knocks you down.
Whether you’re growing your leadership, navigating challenges, or fighting your own battles, these conversations will encourage you forward and point you toward truth.
The Circle of the Panda Podcast
Athena Dean Holtz: Part 2: Trust and Forgiveness
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JD here. Just click this link to get a message to me. Peace
In this second episode of a three-part series, Athena Dean Holtz shares profound insights on trust, forgiveness, and healing. The conversation explores why trusting God remains difficult even after witnessing His faithfulness, drawing parallels to the Israelites who doubted despite seeing the Red Sea part.
Key Topics
Miraculous Provision: Athena recounts facing a $400 phone bill with no funds when a Vietnam veteran—himself struggling financially—knocked on her door after God told him to empty his savings account. The amount was exactly what they needed.
Misused Scripture: The episode addresses how prosperity gospel twists Biblical verses, particularly explaining that the "give and it will be given to you" passage is about forgiveness, not financial prosperity.
Taking Responsibility: Athena shares how she asked herself "What was my part in this tragedy?" after being deceived by a false shepherd who stole everything from her. This led to recognizing three critical failures: ignoring God's prompting to seek healing for PTSD, not learning to study Scripture in context, and dismissing red flags because she didn't trust God to provide another way.
Healing Through Service: A beautiful thread emerges about caring for her dying mother during her final four months—transforming a broken, critical relationship into sacred moments of healing and reconciliation.
The episode concludes with a powerful truth: "He sees, he loves, and he heals," emphasizing that trust and healing are inseparable.
