Worn But Worthy

Some stories don’t fit into one sentence, and Tara’s is one of them. Her journey holds layers of heartbreak, resilience, and redemption. From early dreams of motherhood, to walking through trauma, to raising a blended family and navigating her son’s medical challenges, her life has been shaped in ways she never would have chosen. And yet, what stands out most isn’t just what she’s been through, bu...

Some stories stay with you… this is one of them. In this episode, we sit down with our friend Tatiana, whose life has been shaped by chronic pain since she was young. With honesty, humor, and incredible depth, she shares what it has looked like to walk with God in the middle of suffering, not trying to rush past it, but learning to slow down enough to recognize His presence within it. Tatiana brin...

We're back! Before introducing this season's incredible guests, Debbie and Danielle pull up a couple chairs and catch up on everything that's happened since Season One. Danielle shares what it was like returning to college nearly twenty years after leaving school, building Velvet Rabbit into an official nonprofit, and learning leadership lessons she never expected. Debbie reflects on a...

We made it to the end of Season One, and it still feels surreal. What started as “Danielle and Debbie yapping” turned into something much deeper. In this finale, we look back on eleven interviews filled with laughter, tears, and stories that changed us. We share how “Worn but Worthy” got its name, the learning curve of recording in the Akron Public Library’s Tech Zone, and the moments with each gu...

In this powerful episode, Karen Freeman shares how her childhood as a “church bus kid,” her battle with breast cancer, and her lifelong drive to serve others have shaped her unshakable faith and compassion. From those early Sunday bus rides to her years leading urban youth outreach through First Glance, Karen’s story shows how God truly wastes nothing. What began as a simple desire to love student...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Salchak , a respected voice in the Akron recovery community and one of the driving forces behind Summit Recovery Hub . Mark Salchak’s story is one of resilience, faith, and redemption. After years in real estate, his life took a different path marked by both heartbreak and hope. A near-homeless encounter on church steps and the later loss of his son became de...

In this special episode of Worn but Worthy, Debbie and Danielle sit down with Elyse Etapa, owner of Thrive Counseling Services, to talk about navigating life in a divided world. Together, they explore how faith and mental health intersect, the power of mindful prayer, why journaling helps calm anxiety, and what healthy boundaries look like in relationships. Elyse shares practical tools for self-re...

In this episode, we sit down with our friend Caleb Mason, a kind and humble man whose life has been shaped by faith, legacy, and one defining moment that changed everything. At 25, Caleb was in a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy. Through grief and healing, he discovered the power of empathy, listening, and kindness. In a time when division feels louder than unity, Cal...

Debbie shares one of the most defining seasons of her life as a single mom and the moment of surrender that forever changed her. Alongside her daughter Danielle, she reflects on miraculous provision, the courage to walk away from unhealthy patterns, and the discovery that true worth is found only in Jesus. The conversation also dives into the unseen weight of walking with a spouse through depressi...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion ofsuicidal ideation and mental health crisis. Please listen with care.  In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Jesse Coontz—founder of Moms on Target—shares her story not from the other side of healing, but from the thick of the struggle. As a mom of four and a leader who has helped so many others, Jesse opens up about the dark moments when sh...

When everything fell apart — his marriage, his friendships, his sense of self — Tim Seeman thought there was no way forward. In this episode of Worn but Worthy , Tim shares his raw journey from being a high-functioning alcoholic to finding freedom in faith and community. He opens up about the defining moment that led him to The Refuge, a men’s ministry in southern Ohio, and what it was like to reb...

In this heartfelt episode, Maryellen Newell shares her deeply personal journey of walking through Alzheimer’s with her beloved mother, Esther Grace. As an only child and single mom, Maryellen opens up about the complex layers of anticipatory grief, the struggle to let go of control, and the sacred beauty found in small moments of caregiving. We explore how grief isn’t always about death—it’s about...

In this vulnerable episode, Deanna shares how her “yes” to God through Freedom in Christ became the turning point in a life that looked put-together on the outside but was quietly falling apart within. She opens up about the pain of a broken marriage, the weight of codependency, and the years she spent trying to hold everything together while feeling completely alone. Her story takes us through so...

Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of drug use, incarceration, and references to methamphetamine. Listener discretion is advised. John's story is a gritty, honest account of addiction, survival, and the long road toward healing. Growing up surrounded by loss and instability, drugs became his escape. In and out of jails and correctional institutions, he learned to serve—but never ho...

Pastor Brenda Mason Young shares her powerful journey through the hardships of leadership, personal loss, and letting go. From a childhood affirmation that sparked her calling to navigating grief, illness, and retiring with dreams unfulfilled, she speaks honestly about resilience, grace, and trusting God when nothing goes as planned. A beautiful reminder that even when life wears us down, we are s...

In Part 2 of Danielle’s story, we pick up in the back of a cop car—literally. From getting her mugshot taken to walking into her first AA meeting, Danielle opens up about the early, awkward, and life-changing days of sobriety. She shares how one friend's gentle nudge gave her permission to try recovery her own way, and why finding a “safe” place and people was everything. We talk about what safety...

Danielle opens up about the parts of her story she’s never fully shared—her childhood, the trauma of being sexually assaulted at 26, the pain of being in a relationship that took a serious toll on her mental and emotional health, and the drinking that led to her DUI. This episode is raw, unfiltered, and full of moments that many survivors will recognize: silence, shame, and the deep loneliness of...

Before we start sharing stories of survival, second chances, and finding worth in the mess—we wanted to take a moment to tell you who we are, why we’re doing this, and what Worn but Worthy means to us. In this intro episode, Danielle and Debbie open up about their own journeys through heartbreak, and healing. We’re not experts or influencers—just a mom and daughter who’ve been through some dark se...