November 26, 2023, changed everything for Johanna Magdaleno. In this deeply moving episode, Johanna takes us through the day that forever altered her family, the tragic car accident that claimed the life of her son, Junior, just miles from church. With raw honesty, she shares the last moments they spent together, the helplessness of seeing her husband and sons arrive on the scene, and the heartbreak of hearing the words every parent fears: “Junior went to be with the Lord.”
Johanna opens up about the collision of faith and grief, the anger she directed at God, and the shame she felt as a therapist and pastor’s wife, questioning everything she believed. She speaks about the guilt she carried, the process of forgiving herself, and how therapy and faith became lifelines through unbearable pain.
This episode is not just about loss. It’s about love, redemption, and finding the courage to keep living when your heart feels shattered. If you’ve ever faced tragedy, wrestled with faith, or wondered how to hold on when life breaks you apart, Johanna’s story will touch your soul.
Key Moments:
0:00 The Day That Changed Everything
2:12 Waking Up After the Crash
6:01 The Fullness of a Mother’s Heart
12:07 The Moment She Heard Junior Was Gone
19:23 Christmas Without Junior
21:30 How Her Sons Coped with Trauma
28:09 Who Junior Was and His Legacy
31:03 Johanna’s Addiction, Crime, and Redemption
38:59 How Johanna Hated Ruben for Getting Clean
44:31 Arizona, Arrests, and Turning Point
47:02 Faith vs. Therapy: Reconciling Grief and Belief
53:04 How She’s Healing Today
Guest Info:
IG: @johanna_ruben
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