Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: Today’s episode is a powerful one. We’re joined by Jonathan M. Seidl—author, speaker, and previous Editor-in-Chief of the widely followed nonprofit I Am Second —as he courageously shares his personal journey detailed in his latest book,  Confessions of a Christian. Alcoholic.  It’s a raw, honest, and redemptive conversation about how a man o...

Episode Summary: Have you ever noticed how free you feel when no one’s telling you what to do? Or maybe you wake up in the morning with an appointment free day. The day lays before you and you can do anything you want. I love a day without any expectations in it. I make all these plans to paint or play the piano or read a good book, but then I open YouTube and before I know it, my day of fre...

Episode Summary: Have you ever wondered why trauma seems to leave lasting marks on your mind, heart, and even relationships?  In today's conversation, I sit down with Dr. J. Otis Ledbetter, author of Set Free, Released from the Damage of Trauma, to uncover how we can overcome the destructive effects of trauma and move towards God's peace and restoration.   Drawing from scripture and real...

Episode Summary: Father’s Day can be a complicated day—one that quietly reopens wounds many people work hard to keep closed. While social media fills with tributes to loving dads, laughter around backyard grills, and heartfelt cards, there are countless individuals listening today who feel something very different: grief over a father who has died, sadness for a relationship that never...

Episode Summary: When someone you love is living with PTSD, it can leave  you feeling helpless, confused, and afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. You want to help—but what if your well-intended words make things worse? In honor of PTSD Awareness Month, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I address the questions so many caregivers, spouses, friends, and family members quietly ask:  H...

Episode Summary: What if the reactions you’ve judged yourself for—your hypervigilance, emotional numbness, sudden panic, or exhaustion—aren’t signs of spiritual weakness or personal failure, but evidence of a brain that has been doing everything it can to keep you alive? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, espe...

Episode Summary: Have you ever felt like life knocked you down so hard you weren’t sure you’d ever get back up again? Today’s guest, Greg J. Horn, knows that kind of pain firsthand. After losing three close friends to suicide and experiencing the devastating collapse of his own business, marriage, and home—all within 24 hours—Greg was left at rock bottom. But God met...

Episode Summary: Shame is one of the most powerful and painful emotions we experience, often leaving us feeling unworthy, unseen, and disconnected from God and others. But what if both neuroscience and Scripture revealed a pathway out of shame and into healing?   In this hope-filled episode of  Your Hope-Filled Perspective , I’m joined by cohost Jessica Van Roekel&nb...

Episode Summary: If you’ve ever felt ambushed by intrusive thoughts, unwanted mental spirals, or the kind of anxious loops that hijack your peace, you’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. In this episode of  Your Hope-Filled Perspective , we’re diving into the intersection of biblical truth and brain science, exploring how God designed your mind, why intru...

Episode Summary:  In the chaos of life—when the bills pile up, when fear creeps in, or even when joy overflows—sometimes the words just don’t come. That’s where prayer steps in, grounding us in God’s presence and reminding us we’re never alone. On this episode of  Your Hope-Filled Perspective, in honor of the National Day of Prayer, I’m talk...

Episode Summary: Whether you’re battling chronic stress, emotional overload, burnout, or simply the pressures of everyday life, today we’re diving deep into  Overcoming Stress with Scripture and Science . We’ll explore what stress does to your brain and body, how to recognize when it’s taking a toll, and—most importantly—God’s proven blueprint for pea...

Episode Summary: Are you weary from constantly striving, juggling endless responsibilities, and living at a pace that leaves you burned out and exhausted? You’re not alone. In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by Dr. Portia Preston, a public health expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and author of Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? Her compassionate, shame-free approach to w...

Episode Summary: Homelessness is often viewed only through the lens of what we see on the surface—tents on sidewalks, individuals holding signs, or people who seem lost in the crowd. Yet behind every face is a story marked by trauma, loss, survival, and a longing for dignity. Today we are pulling back the curtain to look deeper into the emotional, psychological, and spiritual factors that co...

Episode Summary: If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel depleted, disconnected, or out of balance, this episode is for you. In honor of World Health Day,  Your Hope-Filled Perspective  takes a compassionate look at whole-person health—addressing the deep connection between mental wellness, physical vitality, and spiritual nourishment. Through f...

Episode Summary: Have you ever noticed how Easter morning feels light and bright? It’s not necessarily because the sunrise seems extra colorful or because the church lilies release their fragrance. It’s because something shifts inside us and whispers, “Hope is still alive.” This hope isn’t fragile and it doesn’t evaporate when bills pile up or when anxiety keeps...

Episode Summary:  Have you ever wondered how you would respond if life completely unraveled in an instant? My guest today, Sheryl Ramstad, knows that reality all too well. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, she could have easily given in to despair. Instead, she chose to rise—reclaiming her life, reinventing her future, and redefining what...

Episode Summary: In a world that pulls our attention toward stress, exhaustion, and discouragement, many of us wonder how to cultivate joy on the days when life feels overwhelmingly heavy. What if joy is not something we wait for but something we intentionally build into our minds and our spirits even during difficult seasons. Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I share how we can experience joy as a stea...

Episode Summary: What if you could go back 10 years? Have you ever wished you could go back ten years and whisper something life-changing to your younger self? In this week’s episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective podcast, in recognition of my birthday this week, we’re diving into the 10 powerful truths I wish I had known a decade ago—biblical insights, neuroscience-backed wisdo...

Episode Summary: Have you ever met someone who’s so impressive that you instantly think, “Yeah, I’m not doing enough with my life?” I feel that way when someone casually mentions they ran a marathon, baked fresh sourdough bread, and taught their toddler how to read, all before noon. That’s how a lot of us feel when we meet the Proverbs 31 woman. She’s the biblic...

Episode Summary: Trials and crises are inevitable. Jesus warned us they would come. While we cannot choose the trials we face, we can choose how we respond to them and look at them as opportunities to grow and learn more about God. In this episode of  Your Hope-Filled Perspective,  I am joined by Lynne Rienstra, author of the inspiring book  Sacred Refuge: Finding Unexpected Shelter...

Episode Summary: Caring for others is one of the most beautiful expressions of Christlike love, yet it can also be one of the most exhausting. Whether someone is caring for an aging parent, a chronically ill spouse, a child with special needs, or a friend struggling through a difficult diagnosis, caregivers often experience emotional fatigue, compassion overload, and spiritual depletion. In honor...

Episode Summary: Does it ever seem like God loves other people more than he loves you? Maybe it looks like everything goes their way. Or their families are put together, not a prodigal in sight, and everyone enjoys each other. We, however, see our lives at a hot mess, unanswered prayers everywhere, and trouble after trouble. When we equate blessing and favor with love, we can begin to feel rejecte...

Episode Summary: We all need to work a little harder at resting in contentment… realizing that sometimes marriage is a spectator sport. In a culture that encourages us to find our own happiness, fulfill self, give in to what brings us pleasure, lasting relationships must take a different approach. True selflessness is a reflection of God’s character. Although recent polls seem to indi...

Episode Summary: Today we are diving into a topic that affects millions of people who feel stretched too thin and overwhelmed by life. We are talking about real world tools for managing chronic stress and mental fatigue so you can regain clarity, rebuild your strength, and restore your hope. Chronic stress is not simply an inconvenience. It quietly infiltrates every area of life and disrupts sleep...

Episode Summary: In a world where constant notifications, curated feeds, and digital pressure shape how we see ourselves, many are left feeling more anxious, isolated, and distracted than ever. We long for a life that is full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others. And yet we’ve become programmed to seek peace, contentment, and happiness from our phones. Deep down, we know t...