Episode 10 of Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE featuring the incredible Zandrina Dunning

“It was all a dream…” but what if that dream was actually a divine calling placed in your heart for a reason?

In this week’s episode of Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE, I’m diving deep into how faith became the cornerstone of my entrepreneurial journey—from overcoming depression to navigating miraculous business pivots. Plus, I’m sitting down with the phenomenal Zandrina Dunning, who shares how spiritual obedience guides her mission to inspire others through The ZD Experience. If you’ve ever wondered whether faith and business can work together, this conversation will show you exactly how powerful that combination can be.

The Problem with Playing Small When God Dreams Big

Here’s what I see happening to too many ambitious women: they get a vision, a calling, an idea that lights them up from the inside—but then they immediately start shrinking it down to what feels “manageable.”

Maybe you’ve felt it too. That pull toward something bigger, something that would require you to step completely outside your comfort zone. But instead of leaning in, you start making it smaller, more “realistic,” more socially acceptable.

I used to do this constantly. Even when I started the Charleston Wine and Food Festival in my twenties, I wasn’t actively living out my faith, but looking back, I realize that my willingness to dream impossibly big came from somewhere deeper than my own confidence. It came from knowing, even subconsciously, that I wasn’t meant to do it alone.

My Journey from Depression to Divine Direction

Let me get real with you about something I don’t talk about enough: I’ve struggled with depression for years. There were times when I genuinely believed the world would be better off without me, when I felt completely unneeded and unloved.

The darkest moments came when I would spiral into believing that my life had no purpose, that nothing I did mattered. I’d lie in bed thinking, “Who would even notice if I wasn’t here tomorrow?”

But here’s what changed everything: my faith gave me a foundation that couldn’t be shaken by my feelings. Even in my lowest moments, there was this whisper—sometimes through a friend’s text, sometimes through a song, sometimes just this inner knowing—reminding me that I was loved, that I was needed, that I had work to do.

When COVID hit and I lost my entire event business overnight—over six figures gone in one day—I could have spiraled back into that darkness. Instead, I remembered that I’d been praying for months for something new, something different. God answered that prayer in a way I never could have imagined: through activewear sales that turned into The Brighter Side Society.

That experience taught me that our biggest disruptions are often our greatest redirections.

The FAITH Framework for Spiritual Entrepreneurship

Through years of building businesses with faith as my foundation, I’ve developed what I call the FAITH Framework:

Foundation Everything starts with believing you have divine protection and guidance. When you know you’re not doing this alone, you can attempt things that would terrify you otherwise. “What’s the worst that can happen?” becomes your motto instead of your fear.

Alignment Regular prayer and spiritual practices aren’t just for Sunday—they’re your daily business tools. I pray about everything: the money I need, the people I need, the places I need. I literally cannot do anything without asking for divine direction first.

Intention Your dreams aren’t random. That vision that keeps showing up in your heart? That thing you can’t stop thinking about? That’s not coincidence—that’s calling. The same power that placed it there will provide everything you need to fulfill it.

Trust This is where most people get stuck. The calling feels too big, too impossible. But here’s the truth: if God gave you the vision, he’ll provide the provision. Your job isn’t to figure out the “how”—it’s to stay obedient to the next right step.

Hope Even in the darkest seasons, faith gives you something to hold onto. When my business failed, when depression hit, when nothing made sense—hope reminded me that this wasn’t the end of my story.

Making Faith Practical in Your Business

Stop thinking of spirituality as something separate from your business strategy. Here’s how to integrate them:

Start each day with prayer or meditation before checking email or social media. Ask for guidance on your priorities, your decisions, your interactions.

Keep a prayer journal specifically for your business. Write down what you’re asking for, then watch for how those prayers get answered—often in ways you never expected.

Practice tithing or giving, not just money but time and expertise. When you operate from abundance instead of scarcity, opportunities multiply.

Surround yourself with people who share your values. Your business relationships should align with your spiritual principles.

Community Connection: Learning from Zandrina Dunning

Speaking of alignment, my conversation with Zandrina Dunning perfectly illustrates what faith-based entrepreneurship looks like in action. As the force behind The ZD Experience and a radio host on OHM Radio, Zandrina has built her entire business model around one simple principle: “Obedience leads to purpose fulfilled.”

What strikes me most about Zandrina is how she listens for divine downloads throughout her day. She told me, “I’m always listening to what God says and the downloads that I receive on a daily basis. And I’m having to jot things down because our minds roll a mile a minute, especially when we have goals and plans.”

This spiritual receptivity has led her to highlight different nonprofits at each of her shows, connect with exactly the right people at events, and build a community that extends far beyond entertainment into real impact. She’s proof that when you combine spiritual sensitivity with practical action, magic happens.

Overcoming the Faith and Business Obstacles

Let’s address the elephant in the room: some people think faith and business don’t mix. Here are the most common objections I hear and my honest responses:

“Isn’t it unprofessional to talk about faith in business?” Your authenticity is your greatest asset. Trying to compartmentalize who you are will exhaust you and limit your impact.

“What if I alienate potential clients or customers?” The right people for your business will resonate with your values. The wrong people wouldn’t be sustainable clients anyway.

“How do I know the difference between divine guidance and my own wishful thinking?” Divine guidance usually asks you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and consider others’ welfare alongside your own. Wishful thinking tends to be purely self-serving and feel easy.

Your Challenge This Week

Here’s what I want you to do over the next seven days: Start each morning with five minutes of prayer or meditation before looking at your phone. Ask one question: “What do you want me to focus on today?”

Then pay attention. Notice what themes keep coming up, what opportunities present themselves, what conversations happen “by coincidence.” At the end of the week, review your notes and see what patterns emerge.

Share your insights in The Brighter Side Society community or tag us on social media. I’d love to hear how this practice shifts your perspective on your business.

Connection to Our Bigger Mission

This work we’re doing—combining faith with entrepreneurship—is exactly what The Brighter Side Society is all about. We’re creating spaces where ambitious women can pursue their biggest dreams while staying grounded in their values.

In The Brighter Side Society, I see women discovering that their business struggles often have spiritual solutions. When they align their work with their faith, everything starts flowing differently. Doors open that were previously locked. Resources appear that weren’t there before. Clarity replaces confusion.

I watch women like Zandrina build businesses that serve purposes bigger than profit. They’re not just creating income—they’re creating impact, community, and legacy.

Your Dreams Are Divine Assignments

Here’s the truth bomb I want to leave you with: every single one of us has a calling and a purpose. We’ve been given the tools to do that calling and that purpose. But what happens is we get really scared of that calling because it’s often so big, it’s beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine.

That fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a confirmation sign. When your dream feels impossibly big, that’s exactly when you know you’re onto something divinely inspired.

Your dreams aren’t getting any smaller, so why should your faith? The same power that parted seas and moved mountains is available to help you build the business, create the impact, and live the life you were designed for.

Ready to build your business on an unshakeable foundation? Join The Brighter Side Society, where ambitious women learn the building blocks for making anything big happen in life. Learn more at sipindipity.com.

Listen to Never Stop Dreaming BIGGIE every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Angel Holmes on Instagram @angelpholmes and join our community @neverstopdreamingbiggie.