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

Welcome to Episode 191 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with a mom. A mom like many of us who struggles to know if she's raising her kids right. Will they live out what she taught them? Or will the world's weeds take root? But what happens when one or more of those children start to question, or outright reject, the faith in which they've been raised? Kristen and I talk about how this is...

Welcome to Episode 190 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's episode is in honor of Karol & Alba Gaudete. What is the impact of control on fertility? Maybe a better question is: What is the impact of control on any situation in your life? While my guest Victoria and I discuss her experiences with pregnancy loss and fertility, there is an underlying theme of trying to control anything and everything. And the destruction ...

Welcome to Episode 189 of the Warrior Words podcast!

I am honored to host this week's guest, Sheila. As she states in the opening minutes of the episode, this is the first time she has been a guest on a podcast. But she's not a stranger to stories. Last week, we commemorated the terrorist attacks that took the lives of 2,977 people on September 11th, 2001. Like many of us, that day had a profound impact on Sheila. So much so t...

Welcome to Episode 188 of the Warrior Words podcast! This week, I invited my friend, fellow podcaster, and fellow author, Lauren Burns, back to the podcast. The big difference is that her book is now published! And I am excited to share it with you!

Lauren was a guest on episodes 33 & 34, and she shared the details of her kidnapping, rescue, and redemption with us.

This time, she is talking about that story from a different an...

Welcome to Episode 187 of the Warrior Words podcast!

I hope you enjoyed visiting with some of our 2025 episodes over the summer! I know I did!

But now it's time to introduce you to some great new guests this fall & winter, starting with Kate Fassbender.

Kate is here to share about her love of the arts and of helping families who are living with a dementia diagnosis. Do they go together? Kate thinks so, and the impact she's mak...

Welcome to Episode 186 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Kylie Hein and is our last for this year.

In her original episode, number 146, Kylie shared her story of how some harsh words spoken led to a deeper understanding of God's friendship.

Kylie was at a crossroads where she asked herself if she was going to allow this situation to draw her closer to God or pull her away from Him.

She chose to be op...

Welcome to Episode 185 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Brooke Joiner.

In her original episode, number 142, Brooke shared her story of following God's prompting to go to a foreign country to serve others. What she didn't realize was what she would gain as a result of her obedience.

Serving the poorest of the poor, Brooke found herself in a difficult situation until a fellow American introduced her t...

Welcome to Episode 184 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Steven M. Bell.

In his original episode, number 140, Steven shared his story of addiction and recovery.

But not just that... he shared how listening to his son began a conversion journey. And during that journey, his addiction got worse, to the point of almost losing everything.

Because of the way God works, it was that conversion that helped p...

Welcome to Episode 183 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Allison Brown.

In her original episode, number 122, Allison shared her story of living with chronic illness for the last 30+ years.

She shared about the difficulties with her classmates, as well as those experienced as an adult.

But we also talked about her friendship with St. Therese and St. Mary Magdalene; one of whom has a feast day on Allis...

Welcome to Episode 182 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Andy Campbell.

In his original episode, number 102, Andy shared his story of multiple traumas and how they led to some core beliefs about how God made him and who he was.

Andy and I discussed multiple storms he's walked through in his life, but the most shocking one was when he was given six months to live ~ almost seven years&nb...

Welcome to Episode 181 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Gina Morton.

In her original episode, number 82, Gina shared her emotional story of her son Teddy.

Throughout the story, she shows how God was with her, Teddy, and the rest of her family.

She knew suffering was coming, but she found so much beauty in the short time she actively walked through her storm. But more than a decade later, she is stil...

Welcome to Episode 180 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Maureen Pratt.

In her original episode, number 80, Maureen shared her story of chronic illness from childhood until present day.

She tells but doesn't dwell.

In fact, Maureen has found peace in her suffering. She even titled her book, Peace in the Storm. She has even formed an entire ministry around this book - a ministry God started formi...

Welcome to Episode 179 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Miriam Susan.

In her original episode, number 78, Miraim Susan shared about a family situation no one should have to endure.

We all know about, and maybe have even participated in, jokes about in-laws. But what happens when the jokes are no longer funny?

What happens when those in-laws cross the line and violate boundaries you set up for your f...

Welcome to Episode 178 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week's Summer Rewind features Claudine Noel.

In her original episode, number 66, she shared how God led her on a healing journey by gifting her Divine Breadcrumbs. Claudine followed these breadcrumbs to discover the path God had in mind for her.

From trauma as a young girl to beliefs based on something untrue to helping other women discover their feminine genius.

Depending ...

Welcome to Episode 177 of the Warrior Words podcast!

It's Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy ~ Isn't that how the song goes?

Maybe not for many moms who listen to the show. Kids are out of school, and the schedules get more hectic instead of less sometimes.

Last summer, people seemed to like the Summer Rewind series I did, where I brought back several episodes from the previous year, recorded a new beginning commentary, and then re...

Welcome to Episode 176 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This episode follows a slightly different pattern than the usual format. Usually, our guest shares a story of a challenge or trauma he or she has experienced.

This time? Our guest, Miles, shares stories for people who can no longer speak for themselves. But their lives and stories have value and deserve to be shared.

Just as they, as human beings and children of God, deserved to...

Welcome to Episode 175 of the Warrior Words podcast!

When God told me I was supposed to be a podcaster and public speaker, I had no idea how to do either one. I didn't want to do either one. In this episode, both of those things come together! I am speaking with my speaking coach, Emanuela Hall! It's amazing that when you are obedient to the Holy Spirit, He directs you to what - or who - you need. Emanuela is a performer and l...

Welcome to Episode 174 of the Warrior Words podcast!

I have something a little different for you this week.

One of my former guests shared his latest book with me, and the topic is timely.

Given all the hype lately around aliens and spaceships, and life not of this earth, Steven M. Bell (Episode 140), was brought back to an encounter he had as a child.

That and his newfound knowledge of the Catholic faith led him down a path of re...

Welcome to Episode 173 of the Warrior Words podcast!

This week, I am blessed to introduce you to a wonderful young lady!

Paty has been tested by fire multiple times in the last few years. But when faced with a temptation that put her at odds with her Christian upbringing, she courageously faced doubt in fear in order to say "yes" to Jesus.

Then, she's had to face tremendous loss, not once, but twice, in a short period of time.

To ...