The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast

Episode 430 - From Pain to Purposeful Leadership with Carolene Mays

How do you break free from an abusive cycle when it feels like there’s nowhere else to turn? How can God take the pain of the past and transform it into purpose as you rebuild your life after trauma? For former public official, TV show host, and speaker Carolene Mays, imagining the life and leadership she would one day have seemed impossible while trapped in an abusive marriage. Escaping that relationship wasn’t easy—but on the other side, God took her pain and transformed it into a story of resilience and influence. Today, Carolene has served in politics, built successful businesses, hosted a television show, and mentored countless women and minority leaders to thrive. Throughout it all, she shares the struggles she endured and how God used every hardship to shape her path—truly showing that He wastes nothing. In this episode, Davey and Carolene explore how to overcome the trauma of abuse, why noticing who needs encouragement matters, and how leadership in any context is ultimately an overflow of what God is doing within us. If you’ve ever wondered how God might be connecting your past to the work He has for you now, this conversation will inspire you as you see how God takes our pain and uses it to transform us into leaders who uplift and empower others with purpose. Website: https://carolenemays.com [https://carolenemays.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolenemays [https://www.instagram.com/carolenemays] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 429 - When the Pain of the Past Resurfaces with Chris Durso

How do we begin to move through the pain we’ve buried for so long? And how can our willingness to be vulnerable create space for others to share their own stories honestly? Pastor Chris Durso never imagined how a single question could uncover years of suppressed pain. During a therapy session, the simple prompt—“How was your childhood?”—opened the door to long-buried memories of sexual abuse he experienced as a child at the hands of someone within the church. What followed was not only the resurfacing of those moments, but also the unexpected weight of PTSD and the beginning of a difficult, yet transformative, journey toward healing. In this episode, Davey sits down with Chris to talk about what it looks like to confront childhood trauma, how to navigate PTSD in the context of community, and why authenticity in the church is so essential for true healing. If you’ve ever experienced wounds from your past resurfacing in unexpected ways, this conversation is a reminder that even in the most painful parts of our story, Jesus is present—and healing is possible. Website: https://www.chrisdurso.co/ [https://www.chrisdurso.co/] https://www.goodcompanychurch.com/ [https://www.goodcompanychurch.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdurso [https://www.instagram.com/chrisdurso] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.durso.ye [https://www.facebook.com/chris.durso.ye] Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere [http://nothingiswasted.com/starthere] Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching [http://nothingiswasted.com/coaching] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 428 - Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jonathon Seidl

What happens when the escape you turn to begins to take over your life? How do you begin to heal the deeper wounds that often lie beneath addiction? For author and podcaster Jonathon Seidl, the descent into alcoholism was rooted in unresolved childhood pain. After experiencing his father leaving at a young age, navigating an often difficult relationship with his stepfather, and enduring childhood sexual abuse, alcohol became a way to numb what he hadn’t yet faced—or invited Jesus to heal. In his book Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free, Jonathon shares his raw and honest journey through disordered drinking and his path toward freedom. In this episode, Davey sits down with Jonathon to explore the connection between escapism and addiction, the impact of trauma, and what recovery can look like through a Gospel-centered lens. If you or someone you love has struggled with alcohol—even as a believer—this conversation offers a powerful reminder: there is hope. When we stop avoiding our pain and bring it honestly before Jesus, true healing can begin. Website: https://www.jonseidl.com/ [https://www.jonseidl.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl [https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathonmseidl [https://www.facebook.com/jonathonmseidl] Book: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free https://a.co/d/086ThOXx [https://a.co/d/086ThOXx] Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere [http://nothingiswasted.com/starthere] Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching [http://nothingiswasted.com/coaching] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 427 - Renew Your Mind and Rewire Your Brain with Dr. Karl Benzio

How does God heal the mind? And what happens when faith and science meet in the middle of our pain? For decades, conversations about mental health and faith often felt disconnected. But psychiatrist Dr. Karl Benzio has spent his life exploring how Scripture and neuroscience actually point to the same truth: God designed the mind with incredible capacity for healing, renewal, and transformation. Drawing from years of clinical work with trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles—as well as global work in crisis zones—Dr. Benzio has seen first hand how the way we see our circumstances and the beliefs we hold can literally reshape our brains. In this episode, Davey and Dr. Benzio discuss how our belief systems shape our decisions, how decisions influence our brain through neuroplasticity, and how God uses community, truth, and spiritual practices to renew our minds. If you’ve ever wondered how faith intersects with mental health—or how God can bring healing to your mind, emotions, and story—this conversation will help you see that the path to transformation may be closer than you think. Website: https://drkarlbenzio.com/ [https://drkarlbenzio.com/] www.honeylake.clinic [http://www.honeylake.clinic/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarlbenzio [https://www.instagram.com/drkarlbenzio] Book: Transformed by His Promises: A 12-Week Devotional for Freedom from the Psychological Slavery of Life-Interfering Behaviors https://amzn.to/4pTWhmH [https://amzn.to/4pTWhmH] Your generosity carries stories of redemption to the next generation. Be a part of our Legacy of Hope and give today: nothingiswasted.com/legacyofhope [http://nothingiswasted.com/legacyofhope] Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere [http://nothingiswasted.com/starthere] Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching [http://nothingiswasted.com/coaching] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 426 - Getting Back Up When You're Shattered By Loss with Courtney Pray Duke

How do you get back up after a life-shattering loss? How do you find hope when you must surrender to God the life you thought you’d have? Courtney Pray Duke was living her dream with her husband, Andrew, and their three young children when one day changed everything. As she was putting the finishing touches on Thanksgiving preparations, Andrew—an avid cyclist—went out for a bike ride. Just a few hours later, Courtney received the call that divided her life into a before and after: her husband had been hit by a vehicle and did not survive. In the depths of unimaginable grief, Courtney clung to God and slowly discovered the hope she had in Him in her darkest season. She shares that journey through heartbreak, faith, and restoration in her book And She Got Up: Shattered by Loss, Restored by Jesus. In this episode, Davey talks with Courtney about the power of surrender in the midst of pain, how to discern where God is leading when life takes an unexpected turn, and why remarriage after loss can be both beautiful and complicated as families blend and grief continues to be honored. If you’ve ever wondered how you could possibly get back up after being shattered by loss, this conversation will point you to the healing and hope that can be found as Jesus restores us—step by step—along the journey. Website: www.courtneyprayduke.com [http://www.courtneyprayduke.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyprayduke [https://www.instagram.com/courtneyprayduke] Book: And She Got Up: Shattered by Loss, Restored by Jesus https://amzn.to/4raFgXb [https://amzn.to/4raFgXb] Your generosity carries stories of redemption to the next generation. Be a part of our Legacy of Hope and give today: nothingiswasted.com/legacyofhope [http://nothingiswasted.com/legacyofhope] Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere [http://nothingiswasted.com/starthere] Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching [http://nothingiswasted.com/coaching] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]