Hope Unlocked 🔑 | Christian Testimonies, Hope & Healing, Faith-Based Inspiration, Purpose & Calling, Kingdom Business & Ministry
Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed in your faith journey? Hope Unlocked is here to inspire and equip you with real-life stories of resilience, breakthrough, and unwavering faith. Whether you’re navigating the highs and lows of business, ministry, or personal challenges, this podcast offers powerful testimonies and practical insights to help you overcome obstacles and rediscover your purpose. Each episode dives into biblical truths, actionable wisdom, and heartfelt encouragement to reignite your HOPE and empower you to live boldly in your God-given calling.Subscribe today and join a community of listeners who are ready to unlock HOPE, deepen their faith, and st...
Stop Adding to the Noise: Release Your Sound and Speak Life with Kristin Kurtz
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Social media can feel like standing next to a speaker turned all the way up. In this raw solo episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin Kurtz shares what stirred in her after seeing so much fighting, division, and tearing down online—and asks what could happen if we used our voices to lift people up instead. She shares why encouragement matters, how doing uncomfortable things can unlock breakthrough, and how one faithful voice can create a ripple effect far beyond what we see.
Join Release Your Sound, a September mission inside the Ho...
How God Uses Your Past to Prepare You for Purpose: Hope Is Alive with Gretchen Moran
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Sometimes following God means releasing something you love to step into what He has next. Returning guest Gretchen Moran (Episode 19 & 20) shares how God led her from “spinning ten plates” into a faith-filled role with Hope Is Alive, a Christ-centered addiction recovery nonprofit. Gretchen opens up about empty nest life, sacred quiet seasons, and how God used her leadership, relationships, and painful past to prepare her. Discover Christian recovery homes, peer-led recovery, Finding Hope family support groups, Hope After Loss, and practical resources for those impacted by addiction.
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The Baby Sent Home to Die Who Grew Up to Reach Nations with Sue Corl
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Sue Corl’s story is a powerful testimony of healing, identity, and purpose. Born with a severe cleft palate and sent home as a baby “to die,” Sue endured 26 surgeries, battled feelings of being less than, and learned how achievement could mask deep wounds. In this episode of Hope Unlocked, she shares how God rebuilt her identity, led her into decades of ministry in Hawaii, China, and Bangladesh, and birthed Crown of Beauty International. From Psalm 139 and inner healing to Bible studies, church planting, and even using goats to open doors for the gospel...
The Boy They Called Broken Was Never Broken at All with Dr. Stuart Jones
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Dr. Stuart Jones shares the powerful true story behind his award-winning book, For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken. Born with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 1950s, Stephen was given limiting labels—but his family chose faith, advocacy, inclusion, and relentless love instead. Stuart reflects on special education, Temple Grandin’s “different, not less” message, exploitation of vulnerable adults, forgiveness, and the sermon that helped transform shame into courage: “God Don’t Make No Junk.” A moving conversation about dignity, possibility, and seeing every person as fully human...
She Had Every Reason to Lose Hope—But She Kept Saying Yes to God with Juliet Dawn
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Juliet Dawn has walked through abuse, coercive control, miscarriage, the devastating loss of twins, PTSD, physical suffering, and deep grief—yet she refused to let despair have the final word. In this powerful conversation, the singer, poet, author, and entrepreneur shares how God has met her through unimaginable seasons and called her to keep using her voice. Juliet opens up about refusing to shrink, standing in her own boots, navigating comparison and gaslighting, and finding people who will lift your arms. Her story is a reminder to anchor yourself in Scripture, listen for Go...
Five Years of Waiting, Then Three Children in 48 Hours with Steve Wormer
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After repeated miscarriages and five exhausting years of adoption, Steve Wormer and his wife faced another crushing blow when their adoption agency suddenly closed the door. Then, within about 48 hours, everything changed—they were given three children. Steve shares the heartbreak, waiting, surrender, and unexpected redemption that shaped his faith, along with the real journey of helping adopted children heal from trauma and learn safety and trust. Through it all, we explore wilderness seasons, holding onto God’s promises before seeing the plan, and breaking agreement with the lie that you are unworthy.
His Wife’s Illness Changed Everything He Believed About Health with Barry Bevier
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After watching his wife battle lupus, endure years of heavy medications and devastating side effects, Barry Bevier’s life took a new direction. Out of profound loss came a mission: help others become informed sooner and make proactive choices for their health before crisis becomes the wake-up call. In this episode, Barry shares what he has learned about brain health, inflammation, toxins, nutrition, sleep, gut health, Alzheimer’s and CTE prevention, along with simple, realistic ways to begin making healthier choices. His message is one of empowerment—you don’t have to change everythi...
She Refused to Let Trauma Define Her—and Found Freedom Through Forgiveness with Summer Dey
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In 22 minutes, Summer Dey lost everything she had built—and the fallout shook her identity, mental health, and body. In this deeply honest conversation, she shares her journey through depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, panic disorder, and seizures, along with the biblical forgiveness process she believes led to true freedom and healing. Summer reveals how unfinished forgiveness, self-judgment, and bitterness can keep us bound, why a diagnosis does not have to become our identity, and what it means to release judgment back to God. She also shares how “leave the how to God” helped her ov...
From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners: Burnout, Faith & Life in the FBI with Eric Robinson
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Pastor-turned-FBI agent Eric Robinson shares the hidden cost of carrying everyone else’s pain—and the burnout that led him from the pulpit to Quantico. He opens up about church planting, daily stress headaches, SWAT operations, high-stakes investigations, and the emotional toll of working around darkness. Through it all, one principle became essential: reserve judgment and stay curious. Eric reveals how calm rapport can disarm conflict, why leaders need safe relationships, and what retirement taught him about identity beyond a title or badge.Â
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When Faith Doesn’t Fix the Pain: The Wilderness Way with Dustin Kleinschmidt
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What happens when the faith you thought would protect you leads straight into the wilderness? Dustin Kleinschmidt shares how ministry burnout, church conflict, resignation, and panic attacks shattered the expectations he had placed on God. This raw conversation explores the space between rescue and restoration—where beauty and brokenness coexist, honest lament becomes worship, and healing begins by asking, “Where are You, God?” before “How do I fix this?” Dustin offers a powerful invitation to stop chasing peace and learn to live from it, even when life remains fractured.
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Two Weeks Postpartum, Then Thyroid Cancer: Choosing Faith Over Fear with Beth Fralick
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Two weeks after welcoming her first baby, Beth Fralick was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In this honest conversation, the teacher, mom of three, and health and wellness consultant shares the postpartum shock, grief, and pressure of making fast medical decisions while learning to advocate for herself. Beth opens up about second opinions, preparing for surgery, setting boundaries, healing trauma, and reclaiming her voice through long-term survivorship. She also shares the Scripture that anchored her and three practices found throughout survivorship research: gratitude, supportive community, and a vision for your life. A hope-filled episode...
Stop Performing for God: Ministry, Burnout & Trusting His Provision with Paul Granger
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What if ministry is not a title, but a way of living with God and loving people? Kristin talks with writer and longtime podcaster Paul Granger about living as an ambassador of Christ without the pressure to perform, build a platform, or prove your worth through numbers. Paul shares how God led him away from a traditional paycheck, taught him to trust divine provision, and met him in seasons of fear, criticism, burnout, and lament. Together, they explore healthy boundaries, mission drift, the danger of trying to “fix” people, and how creativity can help...
When Life Stops Making Sense: Trusting God Through Cancer, Grief & Loss with Kathy Rogers
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What does it look like to trust God when life no longer makes sense? Speaker and author Kathy Rogers shares her journey through triple-negative breast cancer, a BRCA2 family diagnosis, and the devastating loss of both her mother and 29-year-old daughter. She opens up about grief, depression, perseverance, gratitude journaling, and finding steady ground in Ephesians 3:14–21. Through God winks, a healing road trip, and a memorial marathon, Kathy reminds us that joy and grief can coexist—and that identity in Christ brings freedom when life feels fragile.
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Feeling Burned Out? Discover God's Secret to Soul Rest with Bret Kolman
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What if the breakthrough you need isn't found by working harder—but by resting with God? In this episode, Bret Kolman, a healthcare CPA and former hospital CEO, shares how practicing Sabbath, taking mini sabbaticals, and embracing intentional solitude transformed his life, leadership, and relationship with God. Together, we explore practical rhythms for soul rest, Christian leadership, hearing God's voice through prayer and journaling, the role of worship, wisdom in fasting, and why we're called to work from rest instead of resting from work. If you're feeling weary, burned out, or longing for gr...
One Couple. One Calling. One Walk Across America. with Rick & Jane McKinney
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After decades in pastoral ministry, Rick and Jane McKinney share an honest story of calling, resilience, and continuing to say yes to Jesus. From a faith awakening during the Jesus movement and a 52-year marriage that began with a tangerine Lifesaver to a heart diagnosis that sparked a defining encounter with God, their journey is filled with courage and redemption. They also unpack servant leadership, practical evangelism, creativity as ministry, and the life-changing walk across America that became a book.
Rick & Jane's contact info:Â
Email - rickandjanemckinney@g...
A Gratitude Attack: Finding God’s Love Through Grief and Loss with Wendy Bauer
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What happens when performance Christianity stops working? Wendy Bower, author of Gratitude Attack, shares how God met her in the honesty of grief, anger, divorce, estrangement from her daughters, and breast cancer during COVID. Through Christian counseling, the Psalms, journaling, and learning to receive the Father’s love, Wendy moved from striving to intimacy and from head knowledge to heart transformation. She explains why a “gratitude attack” is not forced positivity, but gratitude that rises when we feel truly seen, loved, and held by God—and why compassion must come before telling hurting people t...
When Grief Rewrites Your Faith: Finding Hope After Unexpected Loss with Francine Ivey
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One phone call changed everything. Just hours after preaching a message called Consumed By The Call, Francine Ivey's husband unexpectedly passed away, leaving her to navigate unimaginable grief, questions of faith, and a completely different future. In this deeply honest conversation, Francine shares what sustained her in the darkest moments, how to truly care for someone who is grieving, and why our presence often matters more than our words. We also explore the power of Kingdom coaching, biblical discipleship, and how God can bring purpose from profound loss. If you've ever walked through...
He Died, Came Back, and Refused to Quit: A Story of Unbreakable Hope with Jay Setchell
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What does it take to keep going after life knocks you down again and again? Marine veteran, entrepreneur, and author Jay Setchell shares his extraordinary journey from a demanding Midwest farm upbringing to surviving multiple near-death experiences, including a devastating Marine Corps crash, a drunk-driver collision that left him with a broken neck, drowning, paralysis, and PTSD. Through every setback, Jay reveals how gratitude, faith, prayer, and intentional daily choices helped him rebuild. His story is a powerful reminder that it's never too soon to choose hope—and never too late to refuse to...
What Every Parent Should Know About Trauma, Therapy & Lasting Healing with Mallory Kurkosky
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Why do children leave therapy saying, “We just played”? In this conversation, licensed mental health therapist and registered play therapist supervisor Mallory Kurkosky explains how evidence-based play therapy helps children process emotions and experiences they can't always put into words. We discuss supporting teens who resist therapy, how parents can use validation and emotional regulation to shift family dynamics, and why healing often begins with the adults. Mallory also shares how EMDR therapy helps process trauma, what to look for in a qualified therapist, and the work she's leading through Refined by Fire and...
When Your Worst Mistake Becomes God's Greatest Redemption with Alli Patterson
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What happens when your biggest failure becomes the place where God begins your greatest restoration? Teaching Pastor Alli Patterson shares her powerful testimony of drifting from faith, the affair that nearly destroyed her marriage, and the life-changing moment she returned to Scripture and encountered Jesus in a new way. Together, we talk about confession, conviction, rebuilding trust, marriage restoration, raising children with honesty, gratitude, and practical ways to study the Bible that move faith from head knowledge to heart transformation. If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem your deepest regrets, this conversation...
She Left New Age for Jesus—and Everything Changed with Dr. Laurette Willis
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Can childhood wounds lead us away from God—and can Jesus redeem every part of the journey? In this powerful episode, Dr. Laurette Willis shares how childhood trauma, emotional eating, yoga, and New Age spirituality left her searching until she experienced true freedom through Jesus Christ. We discuss overcoming addiction, renewing the mind with Scripture, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the difference between religion and a personal relationship with Christ. Dr. Willis also introduces PraiseMoves, a Christ-centered alternative to yoga, and shares a practical biblical tool for overcoming cravings while renewing yo...
Voice of the Heart: Finding God in a Noisy World with Greg Pai
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In this episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin Kurtz sits down with author and publisher Greg Pai to explore a powerful testimony of transformation. From growing up in poverty in the Bronx to achieving worldly success, Greg shares how deep depression and disconnection ultimately led him and his wife to surrender their lives to Jesus. Together, they discuss spiritual discernment, spiritual warfare, and Greg’s “Voice of the Heart” framework—learning to recognize God’s gentle whisper amid the noise of culture, media, and daily distractions. This conversation offers practical biblical insight for hearing God’s voic...
The Soul Is Starving: Why Success, Comfort & Noise Never Satisfy with Cory Rosenke
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In this episode of Hope Unlocked, Kristin Kurtz sits down with pastor, author, and speaker Cory Rosenke to explore quietness, spiritual formation, and living with an eternal perspective. Cory shares his journey from financial hardship and homelessness in Canada to ministry in Silicon Valley, revealing how books, faith, and unexpected life experiences shaped his calling. Together, they discuss spiritual disciplines, protecting peace in a noisy world, caring for the soul, and why eternity changes everything. Cory also shares insights from his book, A Song of Light and Fire: An Uncensored Journey Through Heaven...
Faith Over Fear: The Joy Reflex That Carried Her Through the Impossible with Jenna Schutt
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What do you do when life changes with a single phone call? In this powerful episode, nurse and mom Jenna Schutt shares her journey from caring for patients to facing a rare bone marrow disease, IV chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and ongoing healing. We discuss faith over fear, Christian encouragement for chronic illness, resilience, anxiety, healing scriptures, neuroplasticity, and practical ways to renew your mind through God's Word. Jenna also shares her Joy Reflex framework, lessons from navigating medical uncertainty, and how joy can become a daily habit. If you're facing illness, fear...
Hope Against Hope: What to Do When Life Gets Hard After God Gives a Promise with Tom Anderson
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What happens when faith, marriage, mental health, and identity collide? In this powerful conversation, Tom Anderson shares the journey of his 53-year marriage, battles with depression, struggles with people-pleasing, and the life-changing impact of Isaiah 43. Together, we explore identity, sonship, belonging, relational faith vs transactional religion, self-awareness, hope, healing, and spiritual growth. Tom unpacks biblical wisdom from Jude, Peter, Paul, and Abraham’s "hope against hope" to reveal how God rebuilds lives over time and why the promise often comes before the trial. If you've ever questioned God’s timing, wrestled with your wort...
From Losing Everything to Launching Reliht: What God Built in Years of Waiting with Teresa Krafft
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What do you do when God gives you a dream, but the journey feels longer than you ever imagined? In this hope-filled conversation, Teresa Krafft shares the behind-the-scenes story of walking through a wilderness season that seemed endless before launching Reliht, a journaling and reflection app designed to help believers capture what God is saying and revisit those moments over time. We talk about trusting God when the timeline makes no sense, finding purpose in the waiting, the power of Psalm 23, hearing the Holy Spirit, spiritual growth, healing, and developing deeper intimacy with...
His Heart Stopped. His Faith Didn’t. The Story That Changed Everything with Rob Rene
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What happens when life forces you to stop and ask bigger questions? For Rob Rene, it happened more than once. A truck ended his dream of becoming a professional runner. Years later, the pandemic disrupted a successful career and sparked a deeper search for truth, health, and purpose. In this conversation, Rob shares how studying Scripture transformed his faith, how serious health challenges—including a heart procedure and stage 3 melanoma diagnosis—changed his perspective, and what he's learned about listening for God's direction in everyday life. This episode explores faith, discernment, resilience, wellness, and...
What If Chronic Pain Isn't the Problem? The Missing Piece Most People Never Consider with Daniel Esposito
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What happens when you refuse to accept that chronic pain is simply something you have to live with forever? In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Esposito to explore his journey through chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and the discouraging prognosis of future joint replacements. We talk about fascia, inflammation, collagen, oxidative stress, hydration, castor oil, red light therapy, fasting, and other approaches that led him to ask deeper questions about healing. Daniel also shares his unexpected journey from atheism to faith and how reconnecting with God changed the way he navigates fear, uncertainty...
Ready to Walk Away from Faith? This Might Change Everything with Constance Hastings
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Constance Hastings knows what it means to wrestle with doubt and still discover that Jesus never lets go. In this powerful conversation, longtime educator, counselor, and author Constance shares how God pursued her from childhood through years of questions, challenges, and spiritual growth. We explore the intersection of faith and mental health, the role of prayer and the Holy Spirit in counseling, and why being an honest presence often matters more than having the perfect answer. Constance also shares the heart behind her book, The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away...
He Nearly Gave Up on Life—Now He Helps Others Find Their Voice with Rory Paquette
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Rory Paquette lost everything in the 2008 real estate crash and found himself in a darkness so deep he nearly didn’t survive it. What emerged from that breaking point was not just a comeback story, but a complete transformation of faith, purpose, and voice. Today, Rory runs seven podcasts and equips podcasters, authors, speakers, and creators to stop hiding and finally share the message they were born to carry. In this raw and powerful conversation, we expose the lies of imposter syndrome, the fear of “it’s too saturated,” and the trap of waiting...
When God Feels Silent: Grief, Journaling & Holding Onto Faith with Allison Byxbe
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What happens when faith feels dark, prayers feel unanswered, and life completely shifts? In this heartfelt conversation, Allison Byxbe shares her powerful testimony of walking through family brokenness, grief, parenting challenges, and her son’s rare genetic disorder diagnosis while learning to cling to God through anger, exhaustion, and uncertainty. We talk about honest faith, community support, healing through journaling, spiritual growth, Saturday Pages, and finding God’s presence in difficult seasons. Allison also shares insights from her book, Journaling as a Spiritual Practice: Tracing the Lines of Grace to God’s Presence, offeri...
What RV Life Taught Me About Rest and Trusting God with Jessica DeYoung
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What happens when God invites you to slow down in a world addicted to hustle? In this powerful episode of the Hope Unlocked podcast, Kristin Kurtz talks with Jessica DeYoung about full-time RV living, surrender, faith, rest, and learning to trust God in the unknown. Jessica shares how life on the road in a 40-foot RV became a Holy Spirit-led journey of letting go of control, embracing stillness, and discovering peace beyond productivity. From divine appointments and God-winks to launching a podcast from an RV, this conversation offers encouragement for anyone feeling weary...
She Thought Missions Was the Destination—God Had More with Kasha Jankowski
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From arriving in America with almost no English to serving seven years in Burkina Faso, Kasha Jankowski shares a raw and powerful testimony of faith, healing, missions, and hearing God’s voice on the Hope Unlocked. We unpack spiritual pressure, depression, grief, trauma, and the inner healing journey that reshaped her life and calling. They explore missions in West Africa, the ministry of hospitality, prophetic sensitivity, being a feeler and seer, and what it means to stay on God’s “surgical table” for deeper freedom and restoration. Kasha also shares the heart behind Ebed, pr...
She Left New Age Fame, Fortune, and Followers for Jesus with Doreen Virtue
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Doreen Virtue shares her powerful testimony of leaving the New Age movement after years of global influence and discovering the truth of Jesus Christ through Scripture and repentance. In this eye-opening conversation, we discuss discernment, spiritual warfare, deception in wellness culture, and how Jesus transformed her life through conviction, mercy, and truth. Doreen opens up about the backlash she faced after publicly renouncing her former teachings, the dangers of counterfeit spirituality, and how Christians can pursue healing and wellness without drifting from biblical foundations. This episode dives into faith, repentance, biblical truth, deception...
She Looked Successful…So Why Did Her Soul Feel Trapped? with Anna McLaughlin
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What if your successful career still feels like a cage? Kristin sits down with Anna McLaughlin, recovering attorney, faith-based coach, and host of the Overwhelmed to Overcomer podcast, to unpack burnout, people-pleasing, career transition, and finding peace in God’s timing. Together they explore courage, Sabbath rest, purpose in the waiting, and how to leave well when God calls you into something new. If you’re exhausted from striving or questioning your next step, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, reconnect with God, and move forward with clarity and faith.
One Shot Changed Her Life Overnight—What Happened Next Was Terrifying with Naomi Kracht
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What do you do when your body suddenly stops feeling safe? In this deeply raw and hope-filled episode of the Hope Unlocked podcast, Naomi Kracht shares the full arc of her testimony—from surviving a traumatic brain injury and fighting her way back, to facing a devastating health collapse she connects to a COVID vaccine reaction. Naomi opens up about terrifying autonomic nervous system symptoms, losing stability in her body, the emotional toll of being dismissed by doctors, and the isolation that comes with invisible illness. She also shares how faith, nervous system he...
Your Body Is Speaking—Are You Listening? Breakthrough Health Truths with Rebecca Stuart
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What if your body has been trying to get your attention—and you’ve been missing the signals? In this episode, Rebecca Stuart, board-certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and founder of Liberty Wellness and Co, shares the moment a glucose monitor exposed stress-driven blood sugar spikes during an everyday commute—and what that reveals about anxiety, inflammation, and symptoms often missed by “normal” labs. Through her daughter’s health crisis and their shift from vegan to a therapeutic carnivore approach, you’ll hear powerful breakthroughs in mood, gut health, and energy. Rebecca is an incredible res...
From Striving to Grace: Hope, Healing & Heaven with Tony Stoltzfus
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Have you ever tried so hard to be a “good Christian” that your soul went numb? In this powerful episode of Hope Unlocked, Tony Stoltzfus shares how burnout, grief, and loss shattered striving and led him back to the grace and love of God. We unpack what real coaching is, why powerful questions create breakthrough, and the truth that grace is often learned when merit is lost. Tony also shares two life-changing prayers, fresh insight on heaven and eternity, and a moving retelling of the woman with the issue of blood that will chan...
He Hid From the School Bus—His Redemption Story Will Stun You with Calvin Bagley
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He was taught to hide when the school bus came. Literally. In this jaw-dropping conversation, Calvin Bagley shares how growing up isolated on a rural Utah farm shaped a life marked by fear, shame, and control...and how he fought his way into freedom. We talk religious trauma, rebuilding faith after spiritual abuse, therapy, healing childhood wounds, and learning the difference between fear-based religion and real love. Calvin also shares the unlikely road from being “no schooled” to earning his GED, attending college, and building a life of purpose. His memoir Hiding From The...
Her Daughter’s Final Gift Brought Heaven Near and Transformed Her Grief Forever with Jody Hudson
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In this moving episode, Kristin Kurtz sits down with Jody Hudson for a powerful conversation about a mother’s faith journey through her daughter Alex’s battle with Lyme disease, chronic illness, and unimaginable loss. At the heart of this episode is Alex’s courage, unwavering faith, and the “parting gift” Jody says changed how she carried grief forever. Jody shares the reality of navigating years of symptoms, searching for answers, and finding Lyme disease resources while holding onto hope. They also discuss how intentional prayer, surrender, and a deeper relationship with God brought st...
