Women Behind the Words

Date: March 21, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Kristy Sheridan   Episode Highlights: In this powerful episode of The Women Behind the Words, Deb Dufek welcomes Kristy Sheridan to share her incredible journey of survival, surrender, and spiritual awakening. Kristy’s life is marked by two near-death experiences—a deadly plane crash on American Airlines Flight 1420 and a 60-foot fall while h...

Date: March 14, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Melissa Heiland   Episode Highlights: In this heartfelt episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie Dufek welcomes Melissa Heiland to discuss the profound role of grandparents and how they can impact their grandchildren’s lives with love, prayer, and wisdom. Melissa shares valuable insights on navigating the joys and challenges of grandpare...

Date: March 7, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Dawn Ward   Episode Highlights: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In today’s powerful episode, we are honored to welcome Dawn Ward, a woman whose journey through pain, faith, and healing has inspired thousands. Dawn grew up in an alcoholic home, where her father was a functional alcoholic. As a child, she believed that keeping the peace m...

Date: February 28, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Clarice James   Episode Highlights: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my friend Clarice James, a talented fiction novelist with a passion for storytelling that has spanned over 18 years. Even as a child, Clarice loved weaving narratives, and that passion has only deepened with time. She write...

Date: February 21, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Sandra Flach   Episode Highlights: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this inspiring episode, I sit down with my dear friend Sandra Flach as she shares the remarkable journey of stepping into a new season. For over a decade, Sandra has poured her heart into Justice for Orphans, an organization she co-founded to raise awareness in ch...

Date: February 14, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Kathy Hendley   Story Highlight: In this deeply inspiring episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie sits down with Kathy Hendley to discuss a life-changing moment that reshaped Kathy’s approach to work and faith. Kathy shares how attending Debbie’s Business Meeting with God workshop at the AWSA Conference became a defining point in her...

Date: February 6, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Solo Episode with Debbie Dufek   Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In today’s episode, Debbie explores the transformative practice of holding a weekly ministry or business meeting with God. By intentionally setting aside time to hear His voice, journaling your thoughts, and seeking His wisdom, you’ll gain clarity and direction for your work and calli...

Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Lizzy Adams  Date: January 28, 2025    Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! I’m thrilled to welcome my dear friend of nearly 30 years, Lizzy Adams, to the podcast. Lizzy is a woman whose life radiates faith, wisdom, and a deep love for her family. Her journey as a homeschooling mother of seven, her passion for classical Christian education, and her heart for me...

Podcast Show Notes: The Power of Storytelling and Healing Through Fiction with Debra Butterfield Date: January 21, 2021   Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! I’m so thrilled to have you join us today for a powerful and deeply meaningful conversation with Debra Butterfield. Debra is an incredible writer, editor, and coach who has not only built a career as an author but has also discovered the h...

Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Amber Weigand-Buckley Date: January 16, 2025   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! Today, I’m thrilled to bring you an inspiring conversation with the incredible Amber Weigand-Buckley. Amber is a woman who wears many hats with grace, humor, and a deep commitment to God’s calling in her life. As an author, award-winning editor, and creative dir...

Date: January 3, 2025 Podcast Show Notes: Solo Episode with host Debbie Dufek   Welcome to The Women Behind the Words podcast! As we embrace the first few days of this new year, I’m thrilled to share a personal and transformative spiritual practice that has deeply impacted my life. For seven years, I’ve sought the Lord for a “word of the year,” and today, on the third day of 2025, I’ll take you th...

Date: December 19, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Rachel Britton   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! This week, Debbie is joined by returning guest Rachel Britton, an inspiring speaker, writer, and prayer advocate. In this heartfelt conversation, Rachel shares her journey as co-director of the Renew Retreat, a Christ-centered gathering for writers and speakers in the...

Date: December 17, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Jen Peters   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this heartfelt episode, we are joined by Jen Peters, a life coach for Christian women, ministry leader, and advocate for empowering women to step into their God-given purpose. Jen shares her journey of finding calm in the chaos and how God used a simple word, “Calm,” t...

Date: December 11, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Dr. Kathy Hendley   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this heartfelt episode, our guest, Kathy Hendley, shares her inspiring journey of faith, resilience, and creativity. Recently, Kathy had the unforgettable experience of meeting Priscilla Shirer during her visit to Cincinnati. As a member of Priscilla’s street te...

Date: November 26, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Amber Weigand-Buckley and Lisa Burris Burns   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this empowering episode, I’m joined by the inspiring duo Amber Weigand-Buckley and Lisa Burris Burns, co-authors of Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategies for Success. Together, they share their journey of co-writing this im...

Date: November 19, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Solo episode with your host Debbie Dufek   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words. This week, Debbie Dufek shares a deeply personal and heartfelt story that underscores the sanctity of life and the power of grace. In this solo episode, Debbie takes us back to a pivotal moment in her life as a 15-year-old facing an unplanned pregnancy. Thr...

Date: November 12, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Karen Porter and Cherry McGregor   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! We’re thrilled to have you with us for a heartwarming and festive episode featuring a truly inspiring mother-daughter team, Karen Porter and Cherry McGregor. For over twenty years, Karen and Cherry have upheld a remarkable Christmas tradition, touchi...

Date: November 5, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Edie Melson   Story Highlight: Welcome to Women Behind the Words! Today, we’re delighted to welcome Edie Melson to our conversation. In this heartfelt episode, Edie shares her journey of transitioning into the empty nest phase, a journey she’s experienced in multiple ways—each time learning to let go and find strength in her faith. Edie’s i...

Date: October 29, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Michelle Lazurek   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! In this special episode, we’re thrilled to host Michelle Lazurek, award-winning author, speaker, and literary agent. Michelle joins us to discuss her latest book, Hall of Faith: Remembering Ordinary People Who Trusted an Extraordinary God, releasing today! Michelle o...

Date: October 16, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Naomi Fata   Story Highlight: Welcome back to The Women Behind the Words! Today, we are blessed to have Naomi Fata return to share her journey and the incredible story of mentorship and discipleship that deeply transformed her life. Naomi takes us back to her early years when she desperately longed for a father figure after losing her fathe...

Date: October 8, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Heather Smith   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! We’re thrilled to have Heather Smith with us today, a talented and prolific fiction writer whose storytelling journey is truly inspiring. Heather’s unexpected venture into fiction began during a day at the beach, when a character came to life in her imagination while her...

Date: October 1, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Christine Trimpe   Story Highlight: Welcome to The Women Behind the Words! Today, I’m thrilled to have Christine Trimpe join us to share her remarkable journey toward weight loss victory and life transformation. Christine broke free from her "sugar shackles," shedding over one hundred pounds, and embraced a life overflowing with joy, health,...

Date: September 24, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Cheryl Schuermann   Story Highlight: We're excited to welcome Cheryl Schuermann, author of Farmhouse Devotions: God’s Glory in the Ordinary, to this episode of "The Women Behind the Words." This year, Cheryl's book was honored as the 2024 Devotional Book of the Year at The Golden Scroll Awards Banquet. Her devotional takes readers on a he...

Date: September 17, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Pam Farrell   Story Highlight: Join us for an incredible and moving episode of The Women Behind the Words as we welcome our guest, Pam Farrell, to share her life-changing experience detailed in her latest book, A Glimpse of God’s Glory: One Woman’s Near-Death Experience. In this episode, Pam opens up about her true story of crossing into...

Date: August 20, 2024 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Liz Pitman   Story Highlight: Join us for an uplifting and inspiring episode as we welcome Liz Pitman, the award-winning author, speaker, educator, and founder of Puzzle Piece Productions and Publications. You’re in for a treat as Liz shares her incredible journey of creating Pete, the Puzzle Piece, a character who has touched countless live...