Hear Where You Belong
Embark on an inspirational journey with guests from diverse backgrounds, sharing stories of triumph, resilience, and faith, reiterating the common human longing for belonging. From dreamers to doers, believers to seekers, uncover the extraordinary in ordinary moments and the purpose within every life. Open your heart, mind, and ears to resonate with stories reminding you of your significance, belonging, and purpose. Welcome home to 'Hear Where You Belong'.
Episodes
What happens when the little boy who never had a steady dad decides to become the most intentional father on the planet?
In this warm, powerful Episode 76 of Hear Where You Belong, CPA & entrepreneur Paden Squires shares how growing up in rural Missouri with an in-and-out dad and a hustling single mom lit a fire in him—not just to build a successful tax-planning firm from his kitchen table, but to give his three kids (two daught...
Christmas has a way of stirring everything—joy and grief, gratitude and longing, connection and loneliness—all at once.
In this special solo Christmas episode of Hear Where You Belong, I sit with the quiet question so many of us carry this season:
Do I really belong?
Before the traditions, before the carols, before the wrapped gifts and full tables, Christmas was a declaration. A God who crossed every distance—heaven to earth, eternit...
What happens when the “successful” life you built starts to feel like a prison made of your own numbness?
In Episode 74 of Hear Where You Belong, Alexis Leigh courageously pulls back the curtain on a childhood shattered by her mother’s—she was sick, then addicted, then gone when Alexis was only 12. Like so many of us, Alexis did what kids do: she packed the grief away so she could survive.
But buried pain doesn’t stay quiet forever.
A...
Ever tried to keep Jesus at arm’s length… only to feel Him gently (or not-so-gently) pull you closer?
In this tender and powerful Episode 73 of Hear Where You Belong, ordained deacon and author Constance Hastings shares the story she never planned to live:
→ A happy English teacher who resisted church membership for 20 years
→ Giving up music for Lent… and hearing God say “It’s time”
→ Trading the classroom for faith-based counseling a...
What if the life you’re living feels safe… but completely wrong for your soul?
In this powerful Episode 72 of *Hear Where You Belong*, Jennifer Mecham (owner of Elevated Thinking with the Coal Miner’s Daughter) shares her raw journey from growing up in Utah coal-mine poverty, marrying at 19, earning advanced degrees, and still waking up every night knowing she didn’t belong, to finally breaking free during the COVID lockdown when a ...
Do you struggle to connect authentically? This is the conversation you need to hear.
Scott Maderer, certified human behavior consultant, pulls back the curtain on the most vulnerable parts of his journey, revealing the commitment that fundamentally changed his life:
The Power of Unconditional Commitment: Growing up in an alcoholic household, Scott only remembered his father saying "I love you, son" once—and it was prompted....
What does it mean to truly belong—after a childhood marked by loss, trauma, and constant change? In this powerful episode, T.J. Johnson, a former foster child turned faith-filled leader, opens up about his journey from brokenness to belonging.
T.J. shares how his early years in the foster system shaped his understanding of love and identity, and how God used his pain to prepare him for purpose. Today, as a consultant, screenwriter, ...
What if freedom from food, addiction, and self-condemnation starts not with willpower—but with surrender? In Episode 69 of Hear Where You Belong, I sit down with Dr. Laurette Willis, cognitive behavioral therapist and founder of Weight Loss Without Willpower, to explore how neuroscience meets Scripture in the fight for lasting change. Laurette opens up about her battles with overeating, alcoholism, smoking—and the day she heard God...
What if belonging didn’t end when life does? In this deeply moving episode, host Dea Irby welcomes Holly Lux-Sullivan, founder of Heartwood Death Doula and Bereavement Care and former hospice chaplain, to explore how compassion and presence transform the way we face death—and live life. Holly’s journey from journalism to chaplaincy to death care reveals how courage, humor, and heart can soften fear and strengthen faith in humanity...
What happens when faith meets obedience—and doubt gives way to divine direction? In this episode of Hear Where You Belong, Dea Irby welcomes Dan Parr, publisher of the Easy to Understand Read Bible and a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. From his miraculous birth to his mission to simplify Scripture, Dan shares how surrendering to Christ transformed his life. Hear how a calling to record the Bible became a four-year journey of ...
At 72, retired attorney and Vietnam combat veteran Rand Timmerman hiked the Appalachian Trail—nearly 1,500 miles of reflection, resilience, and rediscovery. In this episode, he shares his journey through war trauma, sobriety, and the healing power of nature, faith, and service.
What does it mean to belong when your story begins in an orphanage? In this powerful episode of Hear Where You Belong, Pat Welsh shares his extraordinary journey—from being abandoned at three days old in Dublin, Ireland, to adoption, faith, and a 40+ year career as a lawyer, police executive, and criminal justice trainer. Pat opens up about resilience in the face of tragedy, the faith that carried him through losing a son, and the ...
From corporate accounting to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Sherrika Sanders shares how faith guided her leap into business, the lessons she learned transforming the “GAAP,” and what belonging means when you’re walking in your calling. Join host Dea Irby for a powerful conversation about courage, identity, and trusting God’s plan—one step of obedience at a time.
#FaithDriven, #Entrepreneurship, #ChristianBusiness, #PurposeDriven,...
In this uplifting episode of Hear Where You Belong, host Dea welcomes author, podcaster, and lifelong entrepreneur Jessica Danel—a woman whose life proves that faith and grit can turn even the hardest chapters into triumph. From her small-town beginnings and personal trauma to reinvention and healing, Jessica’s memoir Bucket List from a Redneck Girl and her Jess Saying with Jessica Danel podcast celebrate courage, motherhood, and t...
From long-haul truckers to lipstick and leadership, Jean MacDonald has built a life of daring reinvention. A communication and business strategist, corporate sales trainer, and author of Be Wild, Be Crazy, Be You, Jean shares how she left a thriving insurance agency to chase joy—and wound up earning ten Mary Kay career cars, including five iconic Pink Cadillacs. In this conversation, Jean reveals how persistence, mentoring, and fea...
What does it mean to belong when life takes you across continents, through the military, and into unexpected adventures?
In this episode of Hear Where You Belong, host Dea Irby sits down with Andy Dietrich, first-generation immigrant, U.S. veteran, and author of Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes. Andy shares his journey from Berlin to Alaska, the Marine Corps to Las Vegas, and the lessons learned along the way.
Through humor, mish...
In this episode of Hear Where You Belong, host Dea Irby sits down with Christine Sadry—award-winning author, speaker, and fierce advocate for resilience.
Born behind the Iron Curtain in Poland, Christine endured 13 years of silence and hardship before making her way to America at just nine years old. She faced abuse, isolation, and the devastating loss of her family connection—yet through determination, education, and courage, Chris...
In this episode of Hear Where You Belong, host Dea Irby sits down with Christine Sadry—award-winning author, speaker, and fierce advocate for resilience.
Born behind the Iron Curtain in Poland, Christine endured 13 years of silence and hardship before making her way to America at just nine years old. She faced abuse, isolation, and the devastating loss of her family connection—yet through determination, education, and courage, Chris...
What does it mean to leave a lasting legacy of impact? In this inspiring episode of Hear Where You Belong, I sit down with Dennis Szymanski, a leader, mentor, and visionary who has dedicated his life to building communities that thrive.
Dennis shares his journey of leadership—both the triumphs and the challenges—and reveals how intentionality, compassion, and belonging have shaped his path. From lessons learned in personal growth to...
At 67 years old, Diane Gansauer laced up her boots and finished walking 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. But this wasn’t just a hike—it was a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and redefining what it means to belong.
In this deeply moving Hear Where You Belong episode, host Dea Irby sits down with Diane, a Master Life-Cycle Celebrant and interfaith minister who has honored over 400 lives through st...
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