Fresh Hope for Mental Health

In this powerful episode, J.M.D. Myers shares her personal journey with OCD — a journey that for years was misread as a spiritual problem. Growing up in a devout Christian family in Massachusetts, JDM was a child who took her faith seriously. But what looked to others like legalism or being overly judgmental was actually undiagnosed OCD. For years she carried the weight of that misidentification,...

In this episode of the Fresh Hope for Mental Health Podcast, Pastor Brad interviews Adam Flesner about his powerful story documented in his book, Still Here: A Bipolar Survival Manual . Adam shares his journey with bipolar disorder, beginning in 2011 while he was in college. At first, doctors believed he was struggling with depression and prescribed an antidepressant, which triggered his first man...

In this episode, Pastor Brad talks with author and speaker Maria I. Morgan about her powerful journey through anxiety and depression. Maria shares how her first experience with anxiety and depression began in 2006 after a car accident. During that season she sought help quickly and spent about nine months receiving medication and therapy, but the deeper root of her struggles was not discovered at...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Donavan Wallenburg, a faith-based mental health advocate living with Bipolar I disorder. Donavan shares his personal journey, including his struggles with alcohol that began in high school, the impact of his parents' divorce at age 18, and later his use of marihuana. He also reflects on the devastating loss of his younger sister, which led him into a deep de...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Pastor Dustin Kleinschmidt , author of  The Wilderness Way . Dustin shares his personal journey of faith, beginning with a childhood marked by trauma and growing up without a Christian background. As a teenager, he encountered Jesus through a Christian youth group, where he found the sense of community and belonging he had been missing. During his college ye...

Here are engaging, listener-friendly podcast notes you can use on the site, in emails, or for social media: Episode Description In this episode, Pastor Brad sits down with Dr. Benjamin Long , a sleep medicine physician and author of Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights . If you've struggled with insomnia , restless nights, or simply want to build he...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Cody Deese , a pastor from Georgia and author of Discovering Your Internal Universe. Cody opens up about his lifelong struggle with anxiety, which began in childhood. At 40 years old, he received his first diagnosis of panic disorder — the moment that marked the beginning of a deep and challenging journey toward healing. He shares how he tried numerous appro...

This week, Pastor Brad sits down with his long-time friend, Jimmy George , the Executive Director of Fresh Start Omaha ! For years, Jimmy served as a pastor at Relevant Church, and now he is dedicated to seeing people set free from the debilitating effects of offense, hurt, and loss . In this powerful conversation, Jimmy explains the dangerous, subtle ways that unprocessed pain holds us captive. H...

Do you feel like a part of you is stuck in the past, carrying wounds you can't seem to shake? In this profoundly important episode, Pastor Brad welcomes Dr. Audrey Davidheiser —a leading expert who is helping people find deep soul healing. Dr. Davidheiser, a licensed psychologist in California and certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist (PhD, Fuller), specializes in guiding survivors of...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Ruby Lucas, author and mental health advocate. Ruby was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 19, but her struggles with anxiety began much earlier in childhood. Her teenage years were marked by depression, sadness, and panic attacks. While studying abroad, Ruby experienced her first manic episode, which led to her diagnosis. The following years were...

In this episode, Pastor Brad talks with Katie Allred —professor, author of Church Communication  and community builder. Katie shares her story of growing up in the church, the importance of community, and how faith has shaped her journey. When Katie was just 18 years old, her father passed away, a loss that deeply impacted her and her family. Driven by her natural achiever personality, Katie pursu...

In this powerful episode, Pastor Brad sits down with Cristina Baker, author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus. Cristina shares her incredible story of redemption—one marked by a difficult childhood, abuse, homelessness, and addiction. Years ago, Cristina encountered the miraculous love and power of God through a group of faithful intercessors who led her to Christ and taught her how to pr...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Yvonne Borgquist, a mother whose only child, a 33-year-old son, is on the Autism Spectrum, Cognitively Delayed, and has Bipolar Disorder. Yvonne shares her journey of discovering her son's diagnosis and navigating through challenging psychosis episodes during his teenage years. Today, her son lives in a group home, and Yvonne continues to find strength in th...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews singer-songwriter Josh Wilson, who recently released a new album titled "Mental Help," which delves into mental health and his faith in Jesus. Josh shares his personal story, including his battles with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and how his music documents his journey, offering inspiration to others facing similar struggles. Learn more about Josh an...

In this episode, we replay sessions from our 2023 virtual conference, Voices of Hope. Tune in to hear Andrew Blackwood as he guides Christian parents through the Parental Peace Framework. Discover effective strategies to understand and address your child's anxiety, motivate them to excel daily, and resolve conflicts swiftly and peacefully. Learn how to stay calm in challenging moments and listen t...

In this episode, we present a compelling session from our virtual conference, Voices of Hope 2023, featuring Amy Skogerboe. Amy challenges listeners to see their brokenness as sovereign opportunities for God's plan to unfold and His greater story to come alive through their lives. Tune in to be inspired and to gain a new perspective on how your personal struggles can be part of a divine narrative....

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Caroline Beidler and her mother, Diana Dalles, co-authors of the book You Are Not Your Trauma . Together, they share their powerful journey through trauma within their family, including substance abuse and the profound impact it had on their lives. They discuss the challenges they faced, the healing process, and how they found strength and resilience through...

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Jesslyn McCutcheon, who has lived with bipolar 1 disorder for the past 24 years. Jesslyn shares her journey of coming to terms with her mental illness and realizing her calling to minister in this area. Last year, she began speaking at different churches about creating stigma-free environments and the importance of spirituality and faith in mental health. Je...

In this enlightening episode, Pastor Brad sits down with Chris Morris , the author of Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons from Suicidality and Depression . Chris shares his deeply personal journey, recounting how he discovered God at the age of 15 while battling depression and suicidal thoughts. Through years of struggle, Chris has gained profound insights into mental health and the transformative pow...

In this episode of the Fresh Hope for Mental Health podcast, Pastor Brad sits down with special guests Mark and Janet Soppitt, who bravely share their journey through a 7-year depression that nearly cost them everything, including Mark's life. Through their unwavering faith and resilience, they emerged from the darkness, rebuilt their lives, and now serve as trauma healing facilitators with the Ca...

Welcome back to the second part of our podcast series, "30 Ways to Make Your Life Worse." If you haven't listened to the first part yet, we highly recommend starting there to catch up on the insightful discussion we had on the critical roadblocks to personal growth and fulfillment. Today Pastor Brad continues his exploration of these roadblocks, offering invaluable insights for recognizing and ove...

In the first installment of our two-part series, "30 Ways to Make Your Life Worse," Pastor Brad delves into the critical topic of roadblocks to recovery. By dissecting these roadblocks, Pastor Brad offers invaluable insights into recognizing and overcoming them. Don't miss this enlightening episode as we explore 15 ways we inadvertently sabotage our own lives this week, with another 15 to follow i...

In this enlightening episode, Pastor Brad delves into the crucial topic of maintaining positivity amidst life's challenges, offering invaluable insights through 8 thought-provoking questions. As life often presents obstacles and trials, having practical tools to navigate them becomes essential. Among the questions explored are: "Is this truly worth becoming upset over at this moment?" and "What le...

In this podcast episode, Pastor Brad engages in a conversation with Peggy Rice, who shares her journey of encountering Fresh Hope during a challenging battle with depression. Peggy recounts how she sought peer-to-peer support for mental health struggles and discovered Fresh Hope, a turning point in her life. Currently residing in Colorado, Peggy now volunteers as a Hope Coach Trainer. Hope Coachin...

We encourage you to share this podcast with your   friends via your social media connections. After listening to this podcast, we encourage you to email us at info@FreshHope.us with a comment or question we will share on our next podcast.   If you are listening to this podcast on iTunes, we encourage you to comment on the podcast. Or you can leave a voice message for us on the site:   www. FreshHo...