Hidden Chapters: Real Stories that Bring Light to the Hidden Parts of Life

Hidden Chapters: Real Stories that Bring Light to the Hidden Parts of Life

You know those moments when someone says, “But you look like you have it all together”? That’s where Hidden Chapters begins. Behind every smile, there’s a story, the struggles, the healing, and the moments of courage most people never see. This podcast is about uncovering those unseen stories. The real, raw chapters that shape who we are, but often stay untold. Each week, I sit down with everyday people and new authors who open up about various life challenges of grief, loss, faith, identity, purpose, or starting over. Through honest, heart-centered conversations, we’re reminded that none of us are as “put together” as we seem and that healing often begins when we share what’s been hidden. If you’re craving authenticity, connection, and hope through real stories of courage and transformation, you’re in the right place. Because the most powerful stories are the ones we don’t see.

Episodes

October 10, 2025 57 mins

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

From arriving in the U.S. without knowing a word of English to rising through the ranks to become a Sergeant Major, Jose Raymundo’s story is one of struggles, triumphs and deep resilience.

In this conversation, Jose opens up about the hidden chapters behind his military career, the emotional weight of service, the quiet battles few ever saw, and the courage it took to share hi...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

What do you do when everything that once defined you begins to shift?

In this heartfelt conversation, Lindsay Swoboda joins me to talk about navigating life after her husband’s military retirement, launching her first book, and learning to balance who she is as a writer, wife, and woman in transition.

Together, we talk about the tension between holding on and letting go, how dreams evolve...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

Who we are isn’t something we figure out once, it’s something we keep discovering.

In this episode, Laura Lyn Donahue joins me to talk about identity, growth, and what it really means to evolve through life’s changing seasons. Drawing from her book, Who Do You Think You Are?, Laura Lyn shares how our sense of self shifts with experience, how to embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it, ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

Kicking off Season 2 🎉

In this first episode of Hidden Chapters Season 2, my husband,Chris joins me to share his journey from Army life to author, exploring the highs and lows of deployments, the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life, and the emotional impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on veterans.

We dig into the hidden struggles that service members face: mental ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

🎉 YOU all did it!!  1,000 downloads worldwide! 🌍

In this special behind-the-mic update, I’m celebrating this milestone and sharing a heartfelt thank you to listeners from the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Nigeria, Germany, and beyond. 💛 I’ll also give you a quick update at what’s coming next for Hidden Chapters Season 2 and introducing new ways for listeners to conne...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

🎉Chris's book: "Walking Away from the Ledge"  is now available for preorder!
⭐️Grab your copy here!⭐️
https://books.by/w-brand-publishing/walking-away-from-the-ledge


🎉Season 1 Finale: The Why, the Lessons, and What’s Next 

In this Season 1 recap of Hidden Chapters, I’m taking you behind the mic to share what I’ve learned, what surprised me, and wh...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

*Note🎙️: You might notice a little echo in parts of this conversation.  Podcasting isn't always perfect, and while I did my very best in post editing, some audio echos and quicks couldn't be fully fixed.  Thanks for your grace and for sticking with it. Mollie's story is truly worth hearing!

In Part 2, Mollie shares what came next,  the journey of rebuilding, rediscovering...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

*Note: You might notice a little echo in parts of this conversation.  Podcasting isn't always perfect, and while I did my very best in post editing, some audio echos and quicks couldn't be fully fixed.  Thanks for your grace and for sticking with it. Mollie's story is truly worth hearing!

In this Part 1 conversation, Mollie shares shares the heartbreaking story ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

In this heartfelt episode, Melissa shares the profound journey of losing her twin brother, Grant and the unexpected way his loss transformed her life. Grant was always the bubbly one, the encourager, the life of the party. Melissa dubbed herself the "mean one", always getting them in trouble. But when Grant passed, something shifted: his joy became her legacy.

Melissa opens up ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

What happens when the life you built starts to slowly unravel not with a crash, but with quiet, unseen shifts?

In this episode, Liz Davis opens up about her journey as a military spouse navigating the emotional weight of constant change, the slow realization that her marriage was coming apart, and the courageous choice to put herself first and start fresh.

Liz shares the hidden realities ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

In this powerful episode, Meg opens up about the unexpected journey of early motherhood, from birth trauma and postpartum depression to raising a neurodivergent child. She shares how her own childhood shaped the way she parents today and the healing that’s come through therapy, honesty, and embracing the hard parts. This conversation is full of truth, hope, and Meg’s deep belief in turn...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

In this episode, I get to speaks with Jessica, a life and career development coach, about her journey through grief, self-discovery, and leadership. Jessica shares her experiences of losing her mother to cancer at 11 years old and how it shaped her into the empathetic leader she is today. We talk about the importance of self-awareness, the impact of saboteurs on personal growth, and the...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

What happens when life throws punches harder than the wrestling ring ever could?

In this episode, I’m catching up with Jay Smith who was actually one of my students when I was a first-year teacher back in 2002. Fast forward 20+ years, and Jay's an Army veteran, professional wrestler, dad, and someone who’s walked through some really hard stuff.

We talk about everything what it’s like...

Mark as Played
May 30, 2025 27 mins

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

In this heartfelt conversation, I got to sit down with my longtime friend, Stephanie, as she shared her journey from living in silence and fear due to an abusive marriage to finding her voice and embracing healing. She discussed the challenges of navigating her new life as a single mother, the importance of setting boundaries, and the support she received from her church and friends. St...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Justin shares his journey from hardship to hope a story rooted in faith, music, and mentoring others.

Growing up with very little, Justin always believed in God, but it wasn’t until later that his faith deepened through his wife Michelle and key mentors. He found purpose through writing Christian music and now pours into others through mentorship, guid...

Mark as Played
May 16, 2025 21 mins

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

What does it really take to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? 

In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Jillian shares her journey of adventure, self-discovery, and inner strength as she takes on one of the world’s most iconic mountains. Through moments of perseverance and quiet reflection, her story is a powerful reminder that the greatest summits aren’t always ...

Mark as Played

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

Welcome to the official launch of Hidden Chapters!

This first interview episode is deeply personal—it’s not just the beginning of the podcast, it’s a celebration of Mother’s Day, my 45th birthday, and the woman whose quiet strength made all of it possible: my mom!!

For the FIRST time ever, she shares her side of the story-her journey into motherhood, the unexpected challenges she faced, a...

Mark as Played
April 7, 2025 6 mins

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

Episode 1 of Hidden Chapters is here! 

This is a soft introduction to the journey ahead! it’s not the official launch, but today, I’m gently turning the page and inviting you to listen when the moment feels right.  

A quick note:  You may hear a little crackling in this episode.  It’s not perfect, but I chose to share it anyway because the heart behind it matters more than the sound.  I’m...

Mark as Played
March 26, 2025 49 secs

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you!

Every person has a story—one that’s shaped by struggles, turning points, and moments of resilience. But some of the most powerful stories remain untold, tucked away in the chapters we rarely share. That’s where this podcast comes in.

I’m Genevieve Kruger, and I created Hidden Chapters as a space to explore these unseen narratives. Through honest, heartfelt conversations with everyday peo...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.