Episode 166: 2025 Recap — Why we're pressing pause and why we're not done

Sarah Schalow has a lot to share with you in today’s special episode! So grab your favorite coffee or tea and settle in for a heartfelt look back at this year’s journey with The Stories Collective, including a personal update from Sarah and a glimpse into the future of the podcast.

The episode opens with a reflection on the 17 powerful stories shared over the past five months, each one a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness. One especially moving moment came when a recent guest revealed how listening to the podcast led to real, life-changing transformation. It’s been an incredible season.

Earlier this year, The Stories Collective took its first break in three years. In this episode, Sarah opens up about the reasons behind that pause and how it connects to what’s ahead. In the final 10 minutes, she reflects on how the podcast has grown over the past three years and the impact it’s had, noting that roughly 10% of the church has now shared their story. That’s a staggering picture of God’s work among us, and there’s still so much more to be told.

While there are no plans to end The Stories Collective, the podcast will be going on an indefinite hiatus following this episode. It’s not goodbye—just a pause—as Sarah steps into a new season of life, which she shares more about in the episode 😊 

In the meantime, we encourage you to revisit past episodes, catch up on any you missed, and prayerfully consider sharing your story later this year. Because He is alive. He is working. He is faithful.

A heartfelt thank-you to the incredible team that makes this podcast possible each week: Brandon & Brittany Petry, Hailey Keller, and Brandon Lloyd. The Stories Collective wouldn’t exist without their dedication.

Want to share your story on The Stories Collective podcast in 2025? Email [e-mail]

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