The Let Them Live Podcast with Emily Berning

Jokes, Jesus, and Choosing Life | Kerri Pomarolli | Episode 23

Hey everyone, it’s Emily! I’m coming to you from my father-in-law’s library today for a conversation that I have been dying to share since the moment I met this week’s guest. I first connected with Kerri Pomarolli backstage at a faith-filled event in Michigan, where she was performing comedy alongside the talented Full House star, Candace Cameron Bure! Kerri is absolutely hilarious, but behind the jokes is an incredible pro-life testimony. Kerri shares the story of her daughter, Ruby, and a pregnancy that seemed perfectly normal until her doctors noticed something was not quite right. Suddenly, Kerri found herself facing a world of "no cures" and a diagnosis that would leave most people feeling completely hopeless. We dive into those weeks of hospital stays and the heavy weight of being told her daughter might never walk or live a "normal" life. You have to hear Kerri describe the moment she stood at a crossroads between the world's predictions and her faith in Jehovah Rapha—the God who heals. Tune in to hear how Kerri and Ruby are now using their story to encourage families all over the world to choose life! After you watch take a moment to hear her testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKtY6lUj-Sw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKtY6lUj-Sw] Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/ [https://donate.letthemlive.org/-/XDRESPZH]

Fitness Coach to Faith Ministry | Erika Diaz-Castro | Episode 22

Emily Here! I am so excited to finally share this conversation with everyone, and I say "finally" because this was actually our "Take Two" after a little recording mishap. But honestly, I think the Lord’s timing was perfect, and there was probably something specific He wanted us to say this time around. Today I’m talking with my friend Erika Diaz-Castro, the founder of Her Renewed Strength. Erika has such a powerful story of how the Lord led her away from a successful fitness coaching business and into a ministry dedicated to getting women deeply rooted in God’s Word. During our chat, Erika opens up about the massive shift in her life that happened when she was pregnant, and how the Holy Spirit convicted her to stop hiding her faith in her professional life. We dive into the difficult but necessary process of "unlearning" worldviews that don't align with Scripture and how to handle the "pruning" process that God uses to help us grow. Erika even shares some incredibly convicting insights on how social media can act as a mirror for our own hearts, revealing the areas where we might be struggling with comparison or pride. I was so moved by Erika’s vulnerability, especially as we talked about the battle against pride and the beauty of finding our identity in Christ alone. Her journey of waiting on the Lord is a beautiful reminder of Isaiah 40:31, that those who wait on Him will truly renew their strength. You definitely don’t want to miss this deep dive into what it looks like to let the Lord guide your every step. Tune in now and visit https://herrenewedstrength.com [https://herrenewedstrength.com] to learn more about Erika's amazing mission!

Card Game for a Cause | Joshua Akerberg | Episode 21

Hey everyone, it’s Emily! I am so excited to share this episode with you because it’s about one of my favorite things: connecting with friends and family in the real world. Today, I’m talking with my good friend Josh Akerberg, who has an incredible story about how a childhood card game turned into an entirely new enterprise that helps support Let Them Live's mission to save lives from abortion. Josh shares his wild journey of how he tracked down the original inventor of a game called Barefoot and Wild—a game that was out of print for years. You won’t believe the "God moments" that led him to find her! We talk about his family business, Mandatory Family Fun, and why he felt called to bring this competitive, Rummy-style game back to life so other families could experience the same joy he did growing up. This conversation is such a great reminder of the importance of putting our phones down and building deep, intentional relationships with the people around us through fellowship and competitive table top games. I love supporting pro-life businesses like Josh's, and I know you’re going to be inspired by his leap of faith into the world of card games. To hear the full story of how my husband managed to beat Josh at his own game and to find out how you can get a copy for your next game night, tune in now! Buy Bare Foot -N- Wild here: https://mandatoryfamilyfun.us/ [https://mandatoryfamilyfun.us/]

The Ad on Facebook Changed My Life | Ana | Episode 20

Hey everyone, it’s Emily! I’m so happy to be back and sharing a story that truly shows how God works in the most unexpected ways. Today I’m talking with Ana, who found herself at a total crossroads. She was ending an unhealthy relationship and starting a brand-new career when she discovered she was pregnant. Between the intense pressure from those around her and the weight of her circumstances, she felt completely broken and isolated, wondering if there was any way out of a situation that felt impossible. Her story took a life-changing turn in the most modern way possible, right on her Facebook feed! She truly believes it was a "God thing," as if her phone was listening to her silent prayers for help. You’ll want to hear her describe the moment she finally decided to click that ad and how it became the "bridge" she needed to find a community that refused to let her walk alone. I don’t want to give away all the details because her journey of walking out of a planned procedure and choosing a different future is so powerful to hear in her own words. Today, Ana is a proud mama to a beautiful daughter, and her testimony is a reminder that one moment of reaching out can change the course of two lives forever. To hear Ana’s full "victory" story and learn how you can support more moms like her, press play now! Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/ [https://donate.letthemlive.org/-/XDRESPZH]

Shame Free Counseling | Bekah Hayden | Episode 19

Today's episode is so special, because I’m interviewing Bekah Hayden, a counselor with Let Them Live! I always love talking to the amazing people I work with, because we all come from different backgrounds but share the same passion: supporting moms who need help so they can choose life. Bekah was adopted, which gives her a truly unique perspective when talking to the moms she serves every single day. We dive into why it’s so important to be a source of positivity and support for women who are facing some of the toughest decisions of their lives.  Something she said really stuck out to me: "I think a lot of the times our voices kind of feel like the minority in culture and how things are moving, but there are still so many people out there that just want to help." This episode is an amazing reminder that there’s always hope when you choose to show up for these moms! Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/ [https://donate.letthemlive.org/-/XDRESPZH]