What does it look like to chase excellence in your sport while keeping your identity rooted in Christ? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, I’m joined by 18-year-old Emma Heck, a rising star in the weightlifting world who uses her platform to point people to Jesus. Emma shares her journey into weightlifting, the highs and lows of competition, and what it’s like to have influence in her sport at such a young age. We dive into the pressures of social media, the temptation to compare, and how she guards her heart and keeps her worth anchored in Christ rather than performance or likes. Emma also opens up about how she displays her faith online, the kind of role models she looks up to, and the practices that help her stay grounded outside of training. Her perspective is full of wisdom for other young athletes and anyone wanting to use their social media to glorify God. It’s so encouraging to see someone so young and passionate about her faith. And if you've ever wondered if God is in the younger generations, He IS! Connect with Emma: Instagram: @emmaheckoly TikTok: @emmaheckoly To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on: Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com

What happens when you reach the dream everyone else is chasing…only to realize it still leaves you empty? In this episode of Upside Down Influencer, Jessica sits down with former NFL player and Super Bowl Champion, Josh Wells to talk about his journey from small-town football to the big stage of the National Football League. Josh shares the highs of making it to the top, but also the surprising emptiness that came with money, “success”, and influence.

Together, we unpack:

• The illusion social media creates about success, wealth, and influence
• The moment Josh realized that even the NFL couldn’t satisfy the deepest longings of his soul
• His personal struggles with social media
• How faith in Jesus redefined his identity and purpose both on and off the field
• The challenges of leaving professional football and finding purpose beyond a career
• How he now uses his platform to encourage others to pursue Christ over cultural “success”

If you’ve ever believed the lie that life will finally feel complete once you “make it,” Josh’s story is a powerful reminder that there’s nothing at the top, apart from Jesus.

Connect with Josh: Instagram: @j_wells72 Instagram: @ undraftedcoaching

To get connected with other upside down influencers and follow along with us, you can find us on:

Instagram: @upsidedowninfluencer TikTok: @upsidedowninfluencer Facebook To reach out to us: upsidedowninfluencer@gmail.com

How do you make a living on social media and still follow Christ faithfully? In this episode of Upside-Down Influencer, I sit down with Chelsea Shull, a content creator who works in both the influencer and UGC (user-generated content) world. Chelsea shares her journey into influencer marketing, what success looks like to her, and what real influence is vs just a viral video. She also opens up about how she navigates brand partnerships, stays anchored in her faith and discerns which opportunities align or don’t align with her values as a Christ Follower.

We also dive into what it looks like to stay rooted in your identity in Christ instead of followers or likes, set healthy boundaries online, and use your platform to point people back to Jesus. Whether you’re curious about building income through influencer or UGC work, or you just want practical wisdom on living faithfully in the digital world, this episode will encourage you to pursue influence that lasts!