Hidden Chapters: Real Stories that Bring Light to the Hidden Parts of Life

Send me a message via text or voicemail! In this episode of Hidden Chapters , I sit down with Simona Pappalardo, a global executive turned leadership coach, speaker, and author of Authentically Yours . Born in Milan and having lived in Scotland, Malaysia, and the U.S., Simona shares how every life transition holds hidden chapters waiting to be written. We talk about navigating male-dominated indus...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! There is so much to be grateful for this year! ❤️ A season to reflect on gratitude and encouragement, shared by voices from Hidden Chapters. As I look back on the past months, I’m filled with appreciation for every story, every conversation, and every person who has joined me, whether as a guest on the mic or as a listener tuning in from across the U.S. and...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What if the cracks in your life could become your most beautiful part? Inspired by Kintsugi , the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, I share how heartbreak, disappointment, and loss can be transformed into strength, light, and beauty. In this solo episode, I reflect on my own hidden chapters, stories from past guests, and what it truly mean...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! I’ve realized that some chapters aren’t hidden because we’re afraid to share them. They’re hidden because we’re still living in them. In this solo episode, I talk about what it’s been like to navigate healing without having everything figured out yet. I share reflections on forgiveness, emotional expression, and why strength without honesty can quietly wear...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! Some losses change everything. Other's pile up quietly until you realize you've been carrying more than anyone ever knew.    In this episode, Christin shares her story of losing both parents in high school, navigating her brother's addiction and incarceration and learning how to build a life rooted in faith, boundaries, and hope.  What looks...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! I told people I was fine for years. The truth was, pretending came at a cost I didn’t understand yet. In this solo episode, I share a season I don’t talk about often. The years I spent teaching while quietly questioning my purpose, failing my Praxis exams (8 times), and believing the lie that I wasn’t enough. I wore the mask well, but underneath it, I was e...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! Note✨ : This episode is a live stage recording and may sound different than studio episodes. What happens when the story you’ve been carrying quietly finally asks to be spoken out loud? In this special episode of Hidden Chapters , I’m sharing my very first live stage talk from the Military Influencer Conference. This is the raw, unfiltered version of my st...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What do you do when the life you thought you knew is turned upside down? In this deeply personal conversation, Jennifer Blankenship joins me to share her journey navigating betrayal after discovering her husband’s long-term affair and hidden family. As a retired, divorced military spouse, Jennifer opens up about the complexities of narcissistic trauma bonds...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! From arriving in the U.S. without speaking a word of English to rising through the ranks to become a Sergeant Major, Jose Raymundo’s journey is a remarkable story of resilience, courage, and transformation. In this episode, Jose, author of Brave New Horizons , shares the hidden chapters behind his military career, the quiet struggles few ever saw, and the c...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What do you do when everything that once defined you begins to shift? In this heartfelt conversation, Lindsay Swoboda joins me to share her journey navigating life after her husband’s military retirement. From launching her first book to balancing her identity as a writer, wife, and woman in transition, Lindsay opens up about the hidden challenges behind re...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! Who we are isn’t something we figure out once, it’s something we keep discovering. In this episode, Laura Lyn Donahue joins me to talk about authenticity, identity, and growth through life's changing seasons. Drawing from her book and personal experiences, Who Do You Think You Are? , Laura Lyn discusses how our sense of self shifts with time, how to em...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! Kicking off Season 2 🎉 In this first episode of Hidden Chapters Season 2, my husband, Chris joins me to share his journey from Army life to author. We explore the highs and lows of deployments, the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life, and the emotional impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on veterans. We explore the hidden struggles that service...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! 🎉 YOU all did it!! 1,000 downloads worldwide! 🌍 In this special behind-the-mic update, I’m celebrating this milestone and sharing a heartfelt thank you to listeners from the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Nigeria, Germany, and beyond. 💛 Every download, share, and moment of connection has helped Hidden Chapters grow, and I'm so grate...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! 🎉 Season 1 Finale: Behind the Mic of Hidden Chapters In this recap, I’m sharing the lessons, surprises, and hidden moments from Season 1. From behind-the-scenes insights to the stories that moved me the most, we reflect on why Hidden Chapters matters and what comes next in Season 2. Stick around until the end for a special hidden blooper moment! What You’l...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2463085/episodes/17433468 In Part 2 of Mollie’s journey, we explore what comes after survival. After the heartbreak of losing her first husband, Mollie shares how she slowly rebuilt her life, rediscovered love, and leaned on faith to guide her through deep change. From step-parent...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! * Note: You might notice a little echo in parts of this conversation.  Podcasting isn't always perfect, and while I did my very best in post editing, some audio echos and quicks couldn't be fully fixed.  Thanks for your grace and for sticking with it. Mollie's story is truly worth hearing!   In this Part 1 conversation, Mollie shares the hear...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! In this heartfelt episode of Hidden Chapters , Melissa shares her journey through grief after losing her twin brother, Grant, and the unexpected way his loss transformed her life. Grant was the bubbly one, the encourager, the light in every room. Melissa often called herself “the mean one,” the twin who got them into trouble. But when Grant passed, somethin...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What happens when the life you built starts to slowly unravel, not with a crash, but with quiet, unseen shifts? In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Liz Davis shares her journey as a military spouse navigating identity loss, the emotional weight of constant change, and the courageous decision to choose herself and begin again. Liz shares the hidden realities...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! In this powerful episode of Hidden Chapters , Meg opens up about the unexpected journey of early motherhood. From birth trauma and postpartum depression to parenting a neurodivergent child , she shares the chapters she never saw coming. Meg reflects on how her own childhood shaped the way she parents today and the healing that’s come through therapy, honest...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What happens when grief becomes part of your story at a young age? In this episode of Hidden Chapters , I talk with Jessica Wright, a life and career development coach, about her journey through grief, self discovery, and leadership. Jessica shares what it was like losing her mother to cancer at just 11 years old and how that loss shaped the empathetic lead...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What happens when life throws punches harder than the wrestling ring ever could? In this episode of Hidden Chapters , I’m catching up with Jay Smith, who was actually one of my students when I was a first year teacher back in 2002. Fast forward 20 plus years, and Jay is an Army veteran, professional wrestler, dad, and someone who has walked through divorce,...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What does it look like to move from silence and fear to strength and healing? In this heartfelt episode of Hidden Chapters, I sit down with my longtime friend Stephanie as she shares her journey of trusting God through the healing process after an abusive marriage. Stephanie opens up about finding her voice, navigating single motherhood, learning to set hea...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! How do you find purpose when life starts with hardship? In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Justin shares his journey from growing up with very little to discovering hope, faith, and purpose through music and mentorship. Justin opens up about how his faith deepened through his relationship with his wife, the role mentors played in shaping his life, and how...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! What does it really take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and overcome self doubt ? In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Jillian shares her journey of adventure, perseverance, and inner strength as she takes on one of the world’s most iconic mountains. Guided by the phrase “ pole pole ” slowly, slowly, Jillian reflects on the quiet struggles, mental endurance, and...

Send me a message via text or voicemail! Welcome to the official launch of Hidden Chapters!🎉 This first interview episode is deeply personal. It’s not just the beginning of the podcast, it’s a celebration of Mother’s Day, my 45th birthday, and the woman whose quiet strength shaped my life, my mom. For the first time ever, she shares her side of the story. Her journey into motherhood, the unexpect...