A Cup of Gratitude

This week, I speak with Annie Heathcote, a multi-business owner, social media influencer, author, Christian, and lifelong disability advocate whose life and work embody the belief that disability doesn’t mean inability. Diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder (S.M.A.) at 13 months and in a wheelchair by age 2, she has dedicated her life to breaking barriers, championing accessibility, and inspiring...

This week, we have the last of the Summer break series, "Five Keys to Sharing Your Story with Kingdom Impact." Next week, we will return to our regular interview podcast episodes. These special episodes have been a gift to you to use to work on sharing your story. This is an invitation to join me in learning how to share your powerful, unique story, which God has given you to reach other...

This week is Special Episode number 4 of the Summer Break series: Five Keys to Sharing Your Story with Kingdom Impact on A Cup of Gratitude Podcast. These specials are a gift to you, an invitation to join your host in learning how to use the powerful story God has given you to reach others for His kingdom! Each week of the series builds on the last and is a solo-cast with your host, Amanda. Be sur...

This week is special episode number three in the summer break series. I hope you enjoy this solo-cast, part three of five of Five Keys to Sharing Your Story with Kingdom Impact with Amanda Schaefer. Amanda Schaefer is a podcast host, award-winning author, and speaker. She carries with her the goodness of looking through a lens of gratitude. The “A Cup of Gratitude” podcast is global, reaching over...

This week is a special episode, number two of the Summer Break series entitled: Five Keys to Sharing Your Story with Kingdom Impact. These specials are a gift to you, an invitation to join your host in learning how to use the powerful story God has given you to reach others! Each week of the series builds on the last and is a solo-cast with your Host, Amanda. Be sure to catch them all!  Amanda Sch...

Amanda Schaefer is a podcast host, award-winning author, and speaker. She carries with her the goodness of looking through a lens of gratitude. The “A Cup of Gratitude” podcast is global, reaching over 151 countries and 3700 cities. As a speaker, Amanda teaches the Bible while challenging audiences to live the way God intends. She has a way of making scripture come alive through everyday examples....

This week, I speak with Lori Vober, who suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at age twenty-nine and then developed epilepsy from the stroke. She is a survivor, an overcomer, a connector, and passionate about sharing hope with others. Even with her difficulties, Lori and her husband, Dainis, were able to become adoptive parents to a sibling group of three. Lori’s journey and books can be found at www.lori...

This week, I speak with Mischelle Gottsch, the CEO/Founder of Altered Stories Ministry and Podcast Host of the Altered Stories Show. She is a wife to Mark, mother to her adult daughter, Tawny, Gigi to Bentley Rose, aunt, friend, speaker, ministry and business leader, and is passionate about helping women to share their God stories to help women overcome their struggles. She is also a childhood cul...

This week, I speak with Valerie Melroy, a mother of five, grandmother of seventeen, a minister, co-founder of Voice and Vision, Inc., and, most recently, a published author. For more than 50 years, she has had the privilege of walking alongside people experiencing challenges related to mental health, addictions, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Valerie loves helping people to explore t...

This week, I speak with Heather Strickland, who has been married for almost 20 years and has 3 teenage sons. She’s been a stay-at-home wife and homeschooling mom from the beginning. She discovered her passion for encouraging with words and has contributed to blogs along with her own blog through the years. She self-published a devotional in 2014 with hopes of encouraging women through daily life l...

This week, in celebration of one year of Holy Plot Twists God is Still Writing Your Story being launched into the world, I’m doing a SPECIAL PODCAST EPISODE.  I am sharing so many things that God has taught me, surprised me with, and things that I feel you need to know about what God’s asking you to do that might seem uncomfortable, too difficult, or even impossible. This episode is meant to encou...

This week, I speak with Lauren Gaskill, an author, speaker, and the founder of the She Found Joy Podcast and retreats. She is passionate about helping others encounter Jesus and become transformed by His love. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, hiking with her husband and sons, and baking just about anything — from cookies to crème brûlée. We look at her childhood up to the present to find the...

This week, I speak with Cheryl Gottesman, the founder of Redeemed Wellness, a Certified Revelation Wellness Instructor, and a Certified Live Well Health Coach. She is passionate about helping women grow stronger in their faith while learning to care for their bodies with grace, freedom, and intention. Cheryl loves Jesus, laughter, family, tacos, and meaningful community. She is a wife to Jerry of...

This week, I speak with Tracy Harper, the author of From Him, Not Them , a 2026 Selah Award Finalist in Young Adult Nonfiction. A Christian author and speaker, she has spent over twenty years helping young women navigate life’s challenges with God’s guidance. Her ministry journey has taken her across the U.S., serving students from diverse backgrounds. Through her writing and speaking, she helps w...

This week, I speak with Nichole J Suvar, a writer, speaker, and intentional living strategist who comes alongside overwhelmed women to introduce them to God’s design for mental wellness. Through her books, devotions, podcasts, and speaking, she helps women identify the sources of their anxiety and move from being chronically overwhelmed, rushing, and purposeless to grounded, focused, and full of p...

This week, I speak with Gayl Wright, who, from her log home bordering the woods, writes from her heart about life and faith. In 2024, she and her husband, Steve, celebrated their 50th anniversary. Daily, they enjoy reading together from the Bible and other books. They have seven children (one of whom is with the Lord) and 14 grandchildren. Gayl loves exploring creativity through writing, art, natu...

This week I speak with Barbara Sparhawk who is a Master level Wellness Coach certified by the International Association of Wellness Professionals and The American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She supports moms challenged with chronic pain in getting to the root cause of and managing symptoms, so they can be joyfully present to raise happy, healthy families. Barbara lives in Pennsylvania...

This week, I speak with Brenda Covert, who is a children’s author and an editor for books ranging from picture books to MG, YA, and adult fiction and non-fiction. Her debut picture book, Meanwhile Back at the Manger , came out in November 2025 and shares the joy of Jesus’ birth through a creative retelling. Brenda has written more than 400 short stories for children, along with poems, scripts, and...

This week, I speak with Danyelle Toll, who is a devoted Christian wife and proud mother of three who finds her greatest joy in loving Jesus and pouring into others. Born and raised in the south, Danyelle carries her southern roots with pride, bringing warmth, grace, and a touch of charm to everything she does. A passionate servant leader, Danyelle is actively involved in both children’s ministry a...

Christian Barr is a man of God from Upstate New York with a deep passion for faith, family, and honest, purpose-driven conversations. He is a devoted husband, stepfather, and podcaster who believes in living out his faith daily, both in private and in public. Through his work in podcasting and content creation, Christian creates space for real dialogue—conversations that challenge, encourage, and...

This week I speak with Andrea Brown, who is a wife, mother, aspiring author, the writer behind TheOneThing1, and the host of a podcast called Seed For The Soul. Yet, believes her most crucial position she’s been given is as a daughter of God, and it has become her passion and delight to share the transformative power of Jesus. A believer in Jesus for many years. She struggled in the faith because...

This week, I speak with Mary Rooney Armand, a faith-based author and speaker who inspires others to deepen their relationship with Christ. She is the creator of the popular blog ButterflyLiving and the author of Uniquely Made: Understanding and Embracing Your Identity in Christ , as well as the creator, along with 33 contributing authors, of Life-Changing Stories . We look at her childhood up to t...

This week, I speak with Mitch Matthews, who is the creator of the DREAM THINK DO podcast. He’s also a success coach, speaker and serial entrepreneur. His DREAM THINK DO podcast helps people to dream bigger, think better, and do more of what they were created to do. It’s been rated #1 by the Huffington Post and is in top 1% of all podcasts. Plus, as a speaker and elite success coach, he’s spent the l...

This week, I am speaking with Paula Romand, who holds a BA in English from Bryan College, Dayton, TN, and an MA in English from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO. Paula is a Christian author, speaker, and podcast guest. Her memoir Thriving in the Barren Place was released on July 1, 2025. Paula also blogs on her personal website www.paularomang.com . She lives in the Midwest wit...

This week, I speak with Kevan Chandler, a best-selling author and founder of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan. He speaks worldwide about his life with a disability and how community and creativity are the keys to true accessibility. Kevan and his wife, Katie, enjoy spending time together, growing vegetables, and reading to each other. We look at his childhood up to the present to find the...