The RISE Experience
It's not always about becoming someone different.
Sometimes it's about realizing you've been disconnected from yourself for longer than you thought.
The RISE Experience is a podcast for the woman who can handle a lot. She shows up, gets things done, keeps life moving… and still quietly wonders, Why don't I feel like myself anymore?
Shannon Denniston is the founder of RISE, with a deep background in behavior change and the human side of transformation. Through RISE, she explores what real transformation actually looks like — the patterns underneath what we do, the beliefs and roles we've carried, the relationships that shape us, the systems that support us, and the identity shifts that happen when our old ways of functioning stop carrying us.
A lot of what gets called "starting over" isn't starting over at all. It's learning to notice what's been running in the background, reconnect with your own voice, and move forward without erasing who you've become.
No reinvention. No pretending you need to become a whole new person. Just honest conversations about finding your way back to yourself, with faith as an anchor, and learning how to live from that place.
The RISE Experience
How Small Steps Rebuild Momentum for Your Mind, Faith & Real Life.
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Momentum doesn’t usually disappear after a big failure.
It slips away quietly through rushed mornings, skipped routines, self-doubt, and the belief that starting again requires more energy than it actually does.
Welcome to The Rise Experience Podcast.
I’m Shannon Denniston, and this is a space to slow down, reflect honestly, and reconnect with the inner life that shapes how we lead, decide, and live. Here, faith-centered wisdom meets practical guidance, helping growth happen from the inside out, with clarity, courage, and purpose.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, I explore why momentum matters more than motivation—and why it’s often lost in subtle, everyday ways rather than major setbacks. We talk about how the brain actually creates momentum, why perfection and pressure shut it down, and how small, aligned actions restore forward movement. I also connect momentum to faith, leadership, health, and relationships, showing how consistent, faithful steps can create real breakthroughs over time.
Episode Outline
Momentum and Its Importance
- Momentum is introduced as sustainable direction, not hustle or adrenaline.
- Most momentum loss happens quietly through self-doubt, rushed rhythms, and skipped routines.
- Loss of momentum often comes from emotional, mental, and spiritual fatigue, not laziness
Understanding Momentum and Its Fragility
- Momentum feels fragile because it’s easy to forget how simple it is to rebuild.
- The brain conserves energy when tired, which can feel like being “stuck”.
- Anxiety and coping behaviors are often attempts to escape discomfort, not failures of willpower.
- Momentum is created through consistent behavior, not emotion.
The Science and Spirituality of Momentum
- The mesolimbic dopamine pathway rewards progress and movement—not perfection.
- Small actions trigger motivation by signaling safety and success to the brain.
- Momentum can begin without waiting to feel ready.
- Faith mirrors this pattern: movement activates breakthroughs.
Real-Life Examples of Momentum
- Health: One aligned action restores momentum after emotional or schedule disruptions.
- Leadership: Momentum returns through clarity, boundaries, and intentional decisions.
- Belief and Calling: One message or reconnection to purpose can reignite direction.
- Relationships: Presence and honesty rebuild momentum faster than avoidance.
The Role of the Nervous System
- Overwhelm and shame push the nervous system into freeze mode.
- Rebuilding momentum requires slowing down and choosing the smallest possible step.
- Small wins restore a sense of capability and emotional safety.
Reflecting on December and the New Year
- December as a reflective and transitional season.
- Momentum as an identity shift before a behavioral shift.
- Introduction of the RISE lens: Reset, Implement, Strengthen, Elevate
Practical Steps to Rebuild Momentum
- Reset untrue stories rooted in shame or self-doubt.
- Implement micro-habits that work with the nervous system.
- Strengthen momentum through community and shared intention.
- Elevate leadership by grounding internally and leading with steady presence.
Episode Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:07 Momentum and Its Importance
03:10 Understanding Momentum and Its Fragility
04:48 The Science and Spirituality of Momentum
08:28 Real-Life Examples of Momentum
11:27 The Role of the Nervous System in Momentum
13:39 Reflecting on Decembe