Standing in Your Truth With Yanni

Send us Fan Mail Mental health gets talked about like a secret, but it shows up in our thoughts, our bodies, our relationships, and the way we handle pressure every single day. Yanni sits down with Marcella, who’s in school for marriage and family therapy, to make the conversation honest, practical, and faith-friendly without turning it into something heavy or shame-filled. We get real about what...

Send us Fan Mail Silence can be fertile ground. After five months off the mic, we come back with a plan that finally matches our conviction: design a life skills curriculum for teens, launch a youth nonprofit with Aaron, and weave daily encouragement into the lives of 13–24-year-olds through positive affirmation texts. The path from idea to action wasn’t about finding extra time; it was about tell...

Send us Fan Mail Taylor Turner, a ninth-grade science teacher and mother of three, shares her transformative journey from struggling with family Bible reading to creating a comprehensive family Bible study. What began as a simple tradition of reading a chapter of Luke daily during December evolved into something much more profound when Taylor realized her family was merely going through the motion...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to truly stand in your truth? In this deeply personal conversation, host Yanni welcomes Kelci for an exploration of self-worth, boundaries, and authentic connection that will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to put themselves first. The raw vulnerability begins immediately as Kelci admits how seeing others succeed serves as her primary motivation—a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when life's disappointments lead to unexpected blessings? Lupita Navarrete never imagined she'd make history as Ector County's first Hispanic District Clerk, but her journey through divorce, single motherhood, and professional setbacks prepared her for exactly this role. The conversation begins with Lupita sharing how her nine-year-old son motivates eve...

Send us Fan Mail Breaking free from people pleasing isn't just about learning to say no—it's about reclaiming your authentic self after years of self-abandonment. As someone who recently emerged from the clutches of prioritizing everyone else's needs and opinions, I've discovered that the journey doesn't end when you make the decision to change. The residue of people pleas...

Send us Fan Mail What does motherhood really mean when you don't have children of your own? I'm diving into this question from my personal perspective as a married woman without kids who's still figuring out if biological parenthood is part of my journey. The biblical instruction to "be fruitful and multiply" often gets brought up in conversations about having children. Bu...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a mother who was told she'd never conceive defies the odds, only to face the devastating loss of a pregnancy and spiral into addiction? In this heart-wrenching yet hopeful episode, guest April Morales bares her soul about her complex journey through motherhood. April's story begins with a PCOS diagnosis and doctors telling her childbearing would be impo...

Send us Fan Mail When Savannah Woodward met her firefighter husband nine years ago, she never imagined how deeply his profession would shape their family life. From navigating 48-hour shifts to explaining daddy's absence to their curious 4-year-old son, the challenges of a first responder family require constant adaptation and unwavering faith. Savannah's journey took an unexpected turn...

Send us Fan Mail The journey of motherhood doesn't come with an instruction manual, but it does come with guides along the way. In this heartwarming conversation, host Yanni welcomes her great-aunt Mari Spivey Willis to share wisdom gleaned from raising two daughters and now cherishing five grandchildren. Mari opens her heart about becoming a mother at 35, when she brought home her first daug...

Send us Fan Mail Autism doesn't come with a handbook. When Lexi first noticed her son Alexander spinning repetitively at six months old, she had no idea she was witnessing early signs of autism. Despite mentioning these behaviors to doctors, it would be months before medical professionals validated her concerns. Today, Lexi opens her heart about raising Alexander (affectionately called "...

Send us Fan Mail Aaron Thomas joins Yanni for a profoundly honest conversation about living authentically and protecting your mental health. The episode opens with Aaron sharing his unique perspective on motivation—acknowledging life's finite nature pushes him to maximize each day and fulfill his purpose. "My motivation comes from my fear of dying and not doing all that God has called me...

Send us Fan Mail "No pasa nada" – a simple Spanish phrase that means "nothing is happening" or "it's going to be okay" serves as the powerful life motto for our guest, Nidia Soriano. This philosophy has carried her through life's most challenging moments, transforming what initially appeared as devastating setbacks into divine redirections. Nidia opens up ab...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop trying to fix everyone and everything around you? In this deeply personal conversation, Cinda shares her transformative journey from an 18-year-old mother with limited horizons to becoming a respected community leader who's found her purpose in serving others. "You can only do your part" – these six simple words changed everything for Cind...

Send us Fan Mail When faced with life's challenges, knowing which battles to fight can transform everything. In this deeply personal conversation, Esmeralda—a single mother of two teenagers and owner of HMS Fitness—shares how learning to pick her battles became her guiding life philosophy. "You don't have to fight with everything you don't agree with," she explains, reveal...

Send us Fan Mail Reagan Saffel from Odessa College joins host Yanni for a heartfelt conversation about navigating life's disappointments and finding unexpected blessings along the way. What begins as a casual chat quickly evolves into a profound exploration of purpose, perspective, and personal growth. When rejection hit Reagan hard—missing out on promotions and failing to get into physical t...

Send us Fan Mail Andy Gutierrez drops wisdom bombs about personal accountability and growth in this transformative episode. A business owner, pastor, and ultra-marathon runner (yes, he's completed 100-mile races!), Andy shares his powerful life philosophy: "Don't complain about something you aren't willing to fix." Throughout our conversation, Andy unpacks how this princip...

Send us Fan Mail The freedom that comes from realizing "You're not meant for everyone" can be utterly life-changing. Returning for Season 4 of Standing in Your Truth, newly-married host Yanni Thomas explores this powerful life motto that liberated her from the prison of people-pleasing. Yanni vulnerably shares how she would shrink her naturally bubbly, kind, and admittedly loud pers...

Send us Fan Mail What if reconnecting with family could change your life? This episode is a warm journey through my recent experiences, from an uplifting return to school at Odessa Community College to the heartwarming joy of a family reunion. Hear about the unique benefits of the Presidential Positive OC Scholarship and how its emphasis on community service and positivity has been a game-changer...

Send us Fan Mail What if your biggest challenges could lead to your greatest growth? In this powerful season premiere of "Standing in Your Truth," I share my personal journey of navigating life's tough moments and the profound growth that followed. Inspired by the TV show SWAT, we'll explore the importance of a supportive inner circle and how to distinguish between friends, ass...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes life throws a curveball, and you find yourself stepping up to the plate in ways you hadn't imagined; this rang true for me, Yanni, as I planned this season's episodes. Expecting to share the spotlight with family and friends, I was nudged by unforeseen rescheduling to embrace the solo journey, realizing my own stories held a wealth of wisdom waiting to be uncov...

Send us Fan Mail Saying farewell to 2023 was like closing a profound chapter in my book of life, one that taught me the art of self-assertion and the power of letting go. As I, Yanni, sit down to share these transformative lessons, you'll be touched by the tree analogy that reshaped my perspective on relationships—identifying those who are leaves, branches, or the roots in our lives. This epi...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how a seasoned educator navigates the challenges of teaching in today's world? Take a seat with us as we engage with Angela Love Jackson, a dedicated teacher with 29 years of experience. Angela takes us through her riveting journey, sharing her experience of teaching US history, adapting her approach to diverse student groups, and discussing her family&...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine navigating the complex terrain of your professional life with clarity, confidence, and a deep sense of purpose. Picture yourself being able to set boundaries, avoiding burnout, and remaining resilient in the face of obstacles. Join me as I engage in a thought-provoking conversation with seasoned professionals, Kaylie Banda and Savannah Woodward. They share their rich exper...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an honest conversation with Catherine and ShaRaye as we explore the nuances of personal growth, self-care, and parenthood. We share our personal experiences and how they've shaped us differently, especially in approaching motherhood. We delve into the dynamic world of CrossFit, how it has helped us channel aggression, and our evolving self-care routines deeply roo...