The Lovelight Stories® Podcast

Hello sweet friends! I'm Stephanie Jacobs, a storyteller and advocate for social change, and your host of The Lovelight Stories Podcast. Here in this space we uncover beautiful, redemptive stories that transform hearts and expand perspectives — paving the way for a deeper understanding of humanity.   If you've been wondering where I've been, this episode will fill you in on all that happened the l...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Patty Perdomo. If you haven't yet listened to episode 37 with Ryan and Sarah Gibson, you'll want to do so, as this is a two-part series! Patty is Sarah's mom! In the last episode we heard from Ryan and Sarah as they shared details of the tragic accident they endured almost a decade ago.    In this episode, we get to hear from Patty through her perspective of a mo...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Ryan and Sarah Gibson. Join us as together, they share the story of Ryan's life-altering accident that left him paralyzed. Listen-in to understand the significant challenges they've faced, how they moved forward in crisis, and how they've built a thriving life together! You'll leave inspired by their story of love, perseverance, positivity, and community!   Topic...

Today on the podcast I'm sitting down with Scott Fuller, VP of Advancement at Murphy-Harpst, to better understand foster care and the system that supports youth without a family. You'll come to learn why instability is unfortunately often a big part of foster care, and how Murphy-Harpst is working to combat the issue. You'll leave inspired with real evidence of kids thriving in the foster care sys...

Hello sweet friends! I'm Stephanie Jacobs, a storyteller and advocate for social justice, and your host of The Lovelight Stories Podcast. After a summer season break, I'm here to welcome you back to season 3 of the show! This is still a place where we can uncover a deeper understanding of humanity through beautiful, redemptive stories that inspire our hearts!   I have a strong line-up of guests re...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Jackie Ellwood. She has worked with Atlas Free for 7 years. She is currently the Donor Relations Manager and works to curate experiences, communication and connection between the Atlas Free donor community and the impact they are making worldwide. As you listen to today's episode, you'll come to better understand sex trafficking and how prevalent it is around the...

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jen Jacobson Brusa, founder and owner of Beloved Cheesecakes. You'll hear her story of abuse, both as a child and in her marriage, and how God is using the greatest trials in her life to serve up love through her wildly successful "Beloved Cheesecakes" business!   Topics discussed in this episode: Hear Jen's childhood story of neglect and abuse, and how her l...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Lina Robie! She is a United States native currently living in western Ukraine serving vulnerable children in the orphan care system. In this episode, you'll hear her story of being called to love some of the most vulnerable in our world. You'll hear how God has uniquely equipped and prepared her to advocate on behalf of orphans in Ukraine. You'll learn about the...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Durwood Snead. Durwood is a co-founder of the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship, a retired International Missions Pastor from North Point Ministries and a 35-year resident of Forsyth County, GA.  In this episode, I'm sitting down with Durwood as he shares the story of the racial cleansing events of 1912 in Forsyth county, GA. Hear how he stumbled upon the deep-root...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Jackson Hughens, a filmmaker and passionate advocate behind the movie, Made With Love and the "Stories Made With Love" documentary series. Listen-in as he shares his own personal story of meeting his friend with Down syndrome, and how meeting Jay has ultimately changed the trajectory of his life!   Topics discussed in this episode: Hear Jackson's personal story o...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming my new friend, Monica! She is a wife, mother, author and founder of "A Joyful Advocate". In this episode, Monica shares her family's story of welcoming their son with Down syndrome, and the impact he's had on her other children. This conversation will help you see and understand the surprise gift of Down syndrome and why we consider ourselves "the lucky few"!   T...

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Charlynda Scales. You'll be encouraged as you hear Charlynda's personal story of rising from "Rock Bottom". Hear her story of walking through a difficult divorce and learn how she managed to come out on the other side as a strong business woman and single mom! Her story is definitely one of resilience and grit. Charlynda is a serial entrepreneur, serving as f...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Branden & Lacy Terrell. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Branden and Lacy to hear their unique and redemptive love story filled with perseverance, resilience and love. You'll come to better understand the topics of domestic abuse and incarceration through their personal stories. Branden shares his story of being incarcerated for 11 years for manslaughter, a...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Danielle Flint! She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. In this episode, Danielle shares her intimate story of experiencing sexual assault and how it ultimately affected her life. Her story will help you come to better understand the internal trauma that can occur within those who've experienced this type of violation, and how one begins to heal. Tod...

Today on The Lovelight Stories Podcast, I'm welcoming Garland Hunt. Hear his transformational experience of watching the aftermath of Dr. King's death, ultimately leading him to becoming a young black activist. Come to learn how he later realized his racial perspective wasn't aligned with a biblical worldview and how he began to transform his activism into promoting racial healing instead. In this...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Scott Shickler. Scott is one of the world's leading experts on youth empowerment. He is the best-selling author of the book, The 7 Mindsets to Live Your Ultimate Life , and is the co-founder of 7 Mindsets, an education technology company serving 5-million students and educators throughout the US. In this episode, he helps us understand the power of these mindsets...

Today on the podcast I'm sitting down with Kayla Clark, my family's advisor, to discuss the power of creating a life plan! She has been our family advisor for over a decade, and she's been a guiding hand for me personally, throughout my own life planning journey. In this episode, you'll learn why life planning is different from goal setting, and how you can begin implementing your own life plannin...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Molly Mae Potter. She is a United States Air Force veteran, who since sustaining an injury in a rocket blast accident, has dedicated herself to advocating for and empowering other veterans. In this episode, you'll hear Molly Mae's story of deployment on a special ops command in Afghanistan in 2010. You'll hear her personal experience of getting hit by a rocket bl...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Diana Ashworth. A native to Georgia, she serves many roles for LifeChangers Legacy, as well as serves as an intake coordinator for the National Incarceration Association, advocating for those who are incarcerated. She also coaches others to move through their pain, having experienced much pain at multiple points in her own life. In this episode you'll learn how s...

Hello sweet friends! I'm Stephanie Jacobs, a storyteller and advocate for social justice, and your host of The Lovelight Stories Podcast. After a long maternity leave, I'm here to welcome you back to season 2 of the show! This is still a place where we can uncover a deeper understanding of humanity through beautiful, redemptive stories that inspire our hearts.  I have a strong line-up of guests re...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Maria Hansen-Quine. She is a global speaker, author, clinical social worker and school counselor, and serves as the Global Ethnic and Racial Healing Manager at Hillsong Church. She's a strong advocate for adoption, inclusion, and trauma-based parenting. Alongside her husband, Sam, who is an adult adoptee from South Korea, they are parents to what she terms as "ni...

Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Zemmie Fleck. She is the Executive Director of GA Right to Life in Atlanta, advocating for all life from conception to natural death. She herself has a unique adoption story that she shares so beautifully with us!    You'll hear Zemmie's personal story of adoption along with her 4 siblings at just 5 months old. In this episode, you'll also have the chance to expa...

Meet my brother, Jesse! He was born with Down syndrome when I was just 2 years old, and he has been the absolute best gift our family could have ever received.   In this episode, I'm interviewing Jesse and you'll simply get to know him, understand the love and innocence his perspective brings to those around him, and peer into our special relationship. We really do have the sweetest relationship a...

Meet David Hughens, screenplay writer behind Made With Love , a new crowdfunded movie that highlights the love, joy, and productivity of those with Down syndrome! In this conversation, you'll hear David's experience of befriending Jay, and why he decided to create a movie to foster inclusivity and understanding of people like Jay.   Topics discussed in this episode: Learn how David's mother's writ...

Meet Lori Ann McQuillen! Today's conversation is one of those real, raw, and vulnerable stories. In this episode, you'll hear Lori Ann's intimate story of lifelong substance abuse. Through her story, you'll come to better understand the bondage of addiction and how severely it can take hold of one's life, to the point of almost losing it. You'll have the chance to rejoice with us as you learn how...