Warrior Words | Stories of Hope | Finding Beauty After Battles & Thriving After Surviving Trauma

Welcome to Episode 29 of the Warrior Words podcast!   I'm sure many listeners can answer this question: What is it like to grow up in a dysfunctional home? While all of our specific circumstances will be different, many of us know what this feels like.  The next question is: How did/do we respond? What happens when we leave our dysfunctional home and enter the outside world? My guest, Amy, encount...

Welcome to Episode 28 of the Warrior Words podcast!   What is the definition of a "real" relationship? Does an online friendship meet the requirements of your definition?   My guest, Tonya Kubo, faced a medical emergency in a strange town with no one she knew nearby. Should she trust two strangers from the internet? Listen to her story and think about whether or not you would do the same.   Learn...

Welcome to Episode 27 of the Warrior Words podcast!   A little while ago, I was honored when Dr. Lisa Hartwell invited me to be a guest on the Anxiety Ease Podcast. We had an interesting conversation about the ways high-functioning anxiety has played a role in my traumas and how I worked through them. Sometimes helpful; other times, not-so-much.   You don't have to have a medical diagnosis of anxi...

Welcome to Episode 26 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Does God Forgive Abortion? That is the heart of this week's episode. Brittany Poppe and I agree that this is a question that weighs heavily on many women's minds after their abortions. And it's a question that may lead many of those women to stay in their shame and guilt feelings and not seek help. But Brittany has a different answer; one that...

Welcome to Episode 25 of the Warrior Words podcast! In this episode, my guest, Paulette Ren, shares her stories of hope she both experienced and created with her husband - before, during, and after a devastating diagnosis. She shares the lessons she learned through her marriage and devotion to her husband; the most important one involved acceptance. Join us as Paulette Ren shares about Stolen Mome...

Welcome to Episode 24 of the Warrior Words podcast! This week, I basically turn the mic over to Paige McLemore. Her story is powerful and one I didn't want to interrupt too much. What she has experienced and chosen to do with that experience is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit. It's a difficult story, but one where redemption and grace end up playing a pivotal role. Join us as Paige sha...

Welcome to Episode 23 of the Warrior Words podcast! This week, I am blessed to share the mic with Michelle Visccuse. Her journey goes from battling silent suffering to surviving childhood sexual abuse to thriving by using her voice today. Join us as Michelle shares her journey with us...   Learn more about Michelle: Website: https://journeypink.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeypink...

Welcome to Episode 22 of the Warrior Words podcast! This week, I am speaking with author James C. Magruder. James suffered loss and grief as an 11-year-old boy. That event was traumatic for him, but good fruit grew as a result. Since that time, Jim has used that fruit to heal, not only his own wounds, but through his writing, the wounds of others. Join us as Jim shares some of his stories with us....

Welcome to Episode 21 of the Warrior Words podcast! In this episode, I tell the story of a young lady - a maiden - who can no longer speak for herself. Her story is one of battles, armies, war, courage, faith, and more. Join me as I share about "La Pucelle" and the "Dauphin" - a story of a courageous teenage girl.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonor...

Welcome to Episode 20 of the Warrior Words podcast! In this episode, I pause to look back at what our amazing guests have said about thriving. Among the twelve guests who have bravely shared their stories, I found five main ways these Warriors are thriving today. And maybe you can find one of them - or more - that can be a way for you to thrive as well. How will you thrive this week? If you haven'...

Welcome to Episode 19 of the Warrior Words podcast! In this week's episode, I speak with Christen Christian, the host of the Natural Wellness for Christian Moms podcast. She had all the ingredients for a perfect storm: unrealized generational trauma, mental health challenges, and her fondness for control. Listen in to hear her story and learn how she reconciled these ingredients.   Learn more abou...

Welcome to Episode 18 of the Warrior Words podcast! This is a fantastic conversation with Ondrea Lynn, host of the Christian Women's Weight Loss podcast. She experienced multiple traumas starting in her early childhood. All of the traumas she experienced put her on a path of destruction. She sought survival, but it only pushed her father off-course. The beginning of her survival came with one step...

Welcome to Episode 17 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It's Autism Month! Whether you support Awareness or Acceptance - OR BOTH! - we are featuring autism stories in the month of April. This week, we hear from Tonya Cole. Tonya is an artist, homeschool mom, and Autism mom. She shares her journey, which has just recently begun, with her son, who is non-verbal. Join us...   Learn more about Tonya: Lo...

Welcome to Episode 16 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It's Autism Month! Whether you support Awareness or Acceptance - OR BOTH! - we are featuring autism stories in the month of April. This week, I got to speak with first-time author, John B. Hammond. He shares with us about the two big advocates he has in his life and how he learned what his strengths are. Now, he is using his strength as an auth...

Welcome to Episode 15 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It's Autism Month! Whether you support Awareness or Acceptance - OR BOTH! - we are featuring autism stories in the month of April. For today's episode, I got to speak with Kim Stewart, host of the Book Marketing Mania podcast and Autism Mama. She shares about someone who stepped up when her son was newly diagnosed 20+ years ago. There were no p...

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It's Autism Month! Whether you support Awareness or Acceptance - OR BOTH! - we are featuring autism stories in the month of April. Today, we have Part 2 of our Autism Journey, in which I discuss how the word autism entered my vocabulary, what it was like when Tristan was diagnosed, and what it is like now.  Tristan is the young man working hard...

Welcome to Episode 13 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It's Autism Month! Whether you support Awareness or Acceptance - OR BOTH! - we are featuring autism stories in the month of April. We begin with Part 1 of 2 episodes today, in which I discuss my birth trauma involving my firstborn, Tristan.  Tristan is the young man working hard behind the scenes of the Warrior Words podcast! He composed both t...

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this episode, I listen as Cheryl Esch shares about her experience with bottling a rape and a date rape (no graphic details are shared) and about the impact that had on her. She also shares about her journey with her mother and her battle with breast cancer, including the impact one trauma had on the other. Wait until you hear about the uniqu...

Welcome to Episode 11 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Today, Dr. Lisa Hartwell introduces us to the idea that sometimes we choose trauma. And in her case, this chosen trauma helped prepare her for some trauma she didn't choose. We also discussed high-functioning anxiety. Trauma usually produces anxiety, but maybe not the general anxiety we think of when we hear that word. Tune in to learn more abo...

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, I invited my friend and Down Syndrome advocate, Wendy Hooton, to share her story with us. And she didn't disappoint! Weaving humor throughout the various phases of her Warrior journey, Wendy reminds us of what's most important in life.   Learn more about Wendy Hooton & Matt and find lots of...

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Today, we continue the incredible episode I had with Dr. Carron Silva about Apartheid last week. This week, she shares about her journey to the United States - the hows, whys, and surprises of coming to America.   Learn more about Dr. Carron Silva: Website: https://drcarron.com/ Podcast: FORGIVENESS is For YOU  - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Warrior Words podcast!   This is an incredible episode. I was blessed with the opportunity to speak to Dr. Carron Silva about Apartheid. She explained a little bit about what that system was and then shared how the oppression of a group of people, based solely on their skin color, impacted a country and individual families. We tend to think globally, understandably so,...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Warrior Words podcast!   This episode was not originally on the schedule. But life happened and today I am sharing the story of a recent health scare and some lessons I've learned as a result. There are some scare-specific lessons and well as general health and life lessons. This is something I never even knew could happen so my guess is other people don't know about th...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Liz Birkeland about the difficulties involved in making the decision to have an abortion and the hidden battles that remain afterward. Many women experience guilt & shame, with both emotional and physical health issues. Many women suffer in silence. Let's change that with compassion and...

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In today's episode, I got to speak with Cathy Jo Lang about the trauma of postpartum depression. This type of trauma has many new moms wondering if they are good moms. They may also be suffering in silence for fear of what others might think of them. Many are afraid to ask for help. Let's change that!   Learn more about Cathy Jo Lang: Website: h...