Courageous Podcast with Madeline Hernandez

My guest shares the frightening journey of how at just 8 years old she and her little sisters were forced to leave Honduras and cross the border via a coyote from Mexico into the states.

She believed she would finally be able to be with her family and live the American dream, but that was just the beginning of her painful journey. She and her sisters experienced verbal and physical abuse from their family and were later put into th...

In Sept 2020 my guests first shared her story of strength as she overcame several traumatic experiences. As she began to heal God had been pressing her to become a foster parent. 

In 2021 she left her job, home and financial stability to pursue her life's calling and become a certified foster parent. 

Today she is fostering 7 children whom she loves as her very own and is trusting Gods plan to use her to continue to provide a safe ...

Bewindi Bobb was born in St. Lucia and came to the US in search of the American dream. Early on she knew she wanted to help and serve people but was fighting her calling. She eventually found her purpose and decided to become a licensed clinical social worker.  

Little did she know that an amazing job opportunity would later turn into the most difficult experience of her professional career. It was her faith the allowed her to over...

My guest shares how she grew up in a loving and supportive family in Yonkers, New York. Then at age 15 she fell in love and left home to start a new life. Little did she know that the next 5 years of her life she would be living a life of physical and verbal abuse.

Until one day she decided she had enough and found the courage to leave to give her girls a better life. Today she is happily married and a certified life coach who serv...

How the 2020 pandemic inspired two women from different parts of the world to each start a podcast in midst of chaos and loss around the world.

Two complete strangers from different parts of the world who connected over social media with different perspectives and beliefs both on a mission to bring encouragement and hope to the world.  My friend Sana believes you can overcome any obstacle in life if you just flex your COURAGE muscl...

My guest shares how losing two important people in her life set her on a path to destruction. She was an active gang member and drug dealer who was 100% committed to the street life. Then as she was starting to turn her life around her past caught up with her and she ending up on trial and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

She says it was the unrelenting love and prayers of her mother that kept her safe and got her through the ha...

My guest Ria was born and raised in Alabama. Like many, she faced great adversity very early in life. Ria was sexually abused by her father from age 12 to 19, forced to play the role of his wife and even shared with other men. 

Desperate to escape she left home at 19 without a job, a car or a high school diploma. It was her now husband, who she has been with for over 20 years who gave her the confidence and courage to leave home an...

My guest first shared her story on Courageous back in May of 2020 where she shared how childhood trauma and unprocessed pain negatively impacted her life. For years she struggled in silence with crippling fear and nightmares due to her past trauma. Then one day she decided it was time to seek help and find true healing. 

For years God had been pressing upon her to share her story and even write a book to help others who were suffer...

The words a parent never wants to hear is "Mom I have cancer!" My guest will share her account of how she was there to support her daughter as she fought breast cancer and the pain of losing her in the end. Then several years later she loses her husband and best friend after 50 years of marriage. She says "it was the hardest time in my life but my faith was never shaken, it was my faith in God that got me through it. 

As a pastor a...

As a little girl Susan always dreamed of changing the world but a traumatic experience led her to turn to food for comfort. By the time she was 13 she weighed close to 300 pounds. Then one day she met a weight loss coach who believed in her dreams and helped her loose 160 pounds. Today she is an Entrepreneur, Author and Founder of Sullivan Leadership Solutions where she passionately coaches woman who have faced the same struggles a...

My guest share's the tragic story of how her mom was killed in the midst of political unrest in El Salvador in the 80's. After the loss of her mom at just 8 years old she went to live with her father, but never felt part of his new family. In 1992 she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and eventually was given up for adoption by her father. Thankfully her grandparents and brothers were there to love and support her. Later she discovered th...

From the young age of 4 years old Shavon was raped and abused for many years. At 9 she began to drink to mask the pain of her abuse. At the age of 14 she joined a major gang in Chicago where she found a sense of family. After being a several abusive relationships she didn't know she was being groomed to be trafficked by her boyfriend. After years of abuse and threats against her life by her trafficker she was finally able to break ...

My guest will share how throughout her life she has faced many challenges and has overcome due to her strong faith in God. Then in 2020 as the country is impacted by social injustice her faith is tested more than ever as she questions who she is as a christian and what God is calling her to do in the midst of chaos. She is the creator of Becoming Her Experience and HER Transformation. Today she mentors young single woman by prepari...

My guest will share her story of survival when at just 39 she was diagnosed with stage 5 breast cancer. While coping with this recent diagnosis she loses her father suddenly. Although her doctor fought her at every turn she finally found her voice and a new doctor who listened and respected her decision to have a double mastectomy. It was an encounter with God that helped her overcome this difficult time in her life. Later after ha...

Happy Anniversary Courageous Podcast! Courageous launched in May of 2020 and throughout the year has shared some incredible stories of strength, hope and faith. Courageous has been downloaded 4000+ times in over 23 countries around the world. In this episode I will share who made it to the top 4 of the year and how they each impacted me and our many listeners. I also round off the top 10 episodes and share a special message of grat...

My guest was only 18 years old when she joined the Air Force. On her first deployment to Afghanistan a fellow soldier began to take an interest in her which later turned into harassment and stalking. Unfortunately her superiors did not believe or support her. It wasn't until she brought statements from witnesses and social media that they finally took action. She's says "if it wasn't for my friends watching over me I don't know wha...

My guest shares after seeing the tragedy of 9/11 unfold, he felt deeply called to serve his country and joined the Marines. In 2010 while on foot patrol in Afghanistan he stepped on an explosion and lost both legs and part of his left arm. It was the unconditional love of his wife, the support of his family and his faith in God that gave him the strength to overcome. He and his wife are co-authors of "Standing Together" where they ...

My guest will share how she struggled with her identity and how to fit in as a Puerto Rican girl growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her dream was to be on tv and become a reporter. At 19 she got pregnant, married and divorced by age 22. Although she faced many challenges along the way she was determined to be on television and eventually achieved her dream. Today she owns a production company and runs a non profit where she i...

My guest will share how growing up to a single mom in the infamous Cabrini Green Projects in Chicago were some of the most difficult years of his life. Growing up he didn't have time to dream about the future as he didn't think he would live past high school. He was inspired by his girlfriend to go on to college where he was the first in his family to obtain a BA and Masters degree. He shared he would not change a thing as its made...