The Story Night Podcast

For the month of October, Story Night is partnering with With Courage to bring you a series of stories about breast cancer survivorship. In this episode, we share the recording of a conversation between Jessica Campbell and Caitlin Sticka. Caitlin shared her story at a Story Night event in 2025.  You can listen to her story on epsiode 23 or watch the recording on our YouTube channel . Click here t...

Though technically retired, Carla Schrock’s life is anything but quiet. From serving on her church board and holding babies in the nursery to meeting community needs through Hope on the Hill , Carla has a heart for showing up for others. Carla shares about walking through divorce, the shocking and tragic loss of her son, and recent health challenges of her own. Through it all, her faith has remain...

In Part 2 of Heather’s story, we pick up at age 20, when Heather was a single mom determined to change the trajectory of her life. She joined the military, where she discovered not only her own strength, but the incredible power of community and learning to lean on others. Heather shares openly about the difficult chapters that followed—including a toxic relationship, an abortion, motherhood, and...

Reba is a wife, mom, and business owner. She is a strong, grounded woman whose life has been shaped by grit and grace. As a teen, she found the faith that would ultimately save her life after a traumatic event that lead her to suicidal thoughts. In this raw and powerful conversation, she shares her journey toward healing and how learning to surrender control became an important part of moving forw...

In honor of Oregon Adoption Day , this special Story Night episode features Vennisa Gomez-Gerberg , whose life has been shaped by foster care and adoption from nearly every side. Vennisa shares her journey from foster care to adoption, reconnecting with her biological family, becoming a teen mother in an abusive relationship, and ultimately finding her way home to the adoptive parents who welcomed...

Kourtney is a wife, mother, and lifelong educator.  Her story is one of grit and gratitude that began even before she was born. In this recording from our summer Story Night event, Kourtney shares about her work with those forgotten by society, her journey to motherhood, and how the stories of others patched together to create the beautiful quilt of Kourtney’s story. To watch the video version of...

In honor of Oregon Adoption Day on August 25th, we are honored to share Robin's story. Robin VanBuren never imagined her path to motherhood would include infertility, a miracle son, and the unexpected adoption of one of her former students. A lifelong educator and now a school administrator, Robin shares how serving children in a high-poverty school forever changed her heart. When one student, Wya...

In honor of Oregon Adoption Day on August 25th, we are honored to share April's story. April Guffey  entered foster care as an infant after being born to a mother struggling with substance abuse. Adopted at age two, she grew up in a home that welcomed foster children, where she learned compassion, empathy, and the power of unconditional love. In this moving episode, April shares her journey of fai...

After her divorce, Kristy Sturn found herself as the single mother of two amazing daughters. She knew she wanted more children, but she never could have imagined the winding path that would grow her family. Kristy reflects on building a new life with her partner, Amy, celebrating the birth of their son, and facing the unthinkable after Amy's sudden death from a heart attack changed everything. As...

On Henry's birthday, we are honored to share Part 2 of Leigha Hill's story. After the unimaginable loss of their six-month-old son, Henry, Leigha and her husband discovered what it looks like to be carried by a community through life's darkest moments. In this heartfelt conversation, Leigha shares how friends, family, and even strangers became the hands and feet of hope when they needed it most. T...

Heather is a mom, a soldier, and a member of the Story Night Board of Directors. She shares the story of a childhood and adolescence marked by abuse and trauma. By the age of 18, she had dropped out of high school and found herself pregnant by her drug-dealer boyfriend, who had just been arrested. Determined to create a different future for her daughter, Heather got clean, left an abusive relation...

Leigha's story takes us from California, where she was raised, to Georgia, where she met her husband, and finally to Oregon, where they dreamed of building their family. If you ask Leigha, "How many children do you have?" she will always answer, "Two," even though today you would only get to meet one of them. Leigha's son, Henry, was a micropremie, born weighing just 14 ounces. As days in the NICU...

Pamela shares a life marked by hardship, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope. She endured childhood abuse, raised three precious daughters, and experienced three failed marriages. Pamela spent much of her life feeling alone. Everything changed when she met Skip, the man who became her fourth husband and the love of her life at age 50. Their journey together faced another challenge when Skip was diagn...

In this episode, we share the recording from the Story Night event on April 30th, 2026 featuring Lindsay Cooper.  Lindsay is a wife and mother of five whose life changed in an instant. In 2022, her seven-year-old son was struck by a truck, resulting in a life altering traumatic brain injury. Although the grief was overwhelming, Lindsay managed to keep her thoughts steady. She is now a certified ma...

Hannah is a wife, mother, and radiologic technologist. She and her husband were overjoyed to learn they were expecting a baby and experienced a smooth pregnancy until the very end. In this episode, Hannah shares her traumatic birth experience and the concerns that arose shortly after their daughter’s arrival. What followed was a journey filled with tests, uncertainty, questions, and surgery, event...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Ginger — wife, mother, Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Esthetician, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and NLP Practitioner — to talk about resilience, grief, healing, and hope. Ginger shares her deeply personal journey through infertility and IVF, the devastating loss of her twin boys, and how that grief ultimately inspired the work she does today. She...

Brandie and her sister Karissa shared their childhood story of abuse and trauma in episode 47.  In this episode, Brandie picks up the story in her junior year of high school when she got pregnant at 16 years old.  No stranger to life's challenges, Brandie forged ahead as a young mom.  She married her boyfriend, finished high school, had more children, and found a successful career.  But more trial...

Sarah’s story is one of hidden struggle, radical transformation, and purpose reclaimed. Outwardly, she appeared to have it all—academic success, a thriving social life, and a promising future. But beneath the surface, she was battling the weight of abuse, trauma, and deepening addiction. In this episode, Sarah shares how a shocking faith conversion became the turning point that changed everything....

As a reporter for the local News Register, Starla has been listening to stories for two decades.  She shares about her journalism world, the changes she's seen over time, and how she found an unexpected treasure at a time when she assumed she would never marry.  Starla reminds listeners who struggle with a lack of confidence that people really aren't watching or judging them as much as they think....

Krystle is a wife, mom, and surromom who helps women through pregnancy, birth, and postpardum.  She has a fun and adventerous story covering several states and lifestyles.  Her life plans took a complete 180 after a volunteering trip to Alaska. Krystle reminds listeners that life's curveballs can be the greatest blessings. Thank you to our 2026 Headline Sponsor GrazeCraze ! Get connected and learn...

Pamela is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  After being widowed in 2017, she suffered a series of painful chapters and spiraled into a period of depression and isolation.  Eventually, Pamela started reading and journaling and experienced the power of forgiveness.  Thank you to our 2026 Headline Sponsor GrazeCraze ! Get connected and learn more about Story Night! Invite your girlfriend...

Gabby is a wife, mom, and dietitian who is very involved in her community.  At age 11, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Gabby was raised with a lot of fringe theology which led her to believe that her diabetes made her less valuable.  She shares her story of finding balance, health, and faith, and reminds listeners about the power of humility. Thank you to our 2026 Headline Sponsor GrazeCr...

Karissa shares her story of resilience, unexpected turns, and finding beauty in the hardest places. Shortly after marrying her husband and finally finding security, Karissa survived a terrifying attack by an intruder—an experience that reshaped her sense of safety and strength. Later, Karissa faced new challenges when her first daughter was born with a serious heart condition and Down syndrome, an...

In this recording from our January 29, 2026 live event, Veronica shares her powerful, open-hearted story of growing up Latina, welcoming her miracle children, and facing an overwhelming diagnosis. Through chapters marked by grief and fear, Veronica discovered deep peace and emerged stronger than ever. Her story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the strength found in life’s hardest moments....

Rae is our youngest guest yet on the Story Night Podcast! She is a foreign exchange student from Tunisia, spending 10 months in Oregon. Rae shares what life is like growing up in Tunisia and reflects on her experiences as a teenager navigating life in America. At just 17 years old, she has already discovered the power of building connections with people who are different from herself. Rae encourag...