Out of the Wilderness: Sophie Cunningham, Kelcey Mitchell and the return of the Indiana Fever (Revisited)

Out of the Wilderness: Sophie Cunningham, Kelcey Mitchell and the return of the Indiana Fever (Revisited)

This episode continues our Thriving in the Wilderness Series by asking what do we learn in the wilderness and how do we carry it forward as we move into a restored life. To do so, we revisit episode #10, originally aired in October 2025, that told the story of the Indiana Fever navigating injuries, loss, and constant change. With a renewed perspective, as the Indiana Fever returns for the 2026 WNBA basketball season, this episode asks us to consider what we are learning during times of wilderness and do we use the values that emerge to sustain us as we move forward in life. Sophie Cunningham expressed these values in an interview with ESPN, "I am so grateful. I know I'm coming off a pretty big knee injury, and so it was never about the money. It was just about the years, because I wanted to be with them. God forbid, a girl loves her teammates." https://www.espn_sophie-cunningham-grateful-return-fever [https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/48551640/fever-sophie-cunningham-grateful-return-fever] Key Themes * Support, Trust, and Community: Building genuine connection in the face of chaos * Belief in the Transcendent: The power of "we all we got, we all we need" * Meaning and Purpose: Feeling valued and valuable in community * Adaptability and Flexibility: Bending without breaking when circumstances change * Future Orientation: Keep the main thing, the main thing. About the Indiana Fever's 2025 Season * “My Love Letter” to the Fever, Ariel Powers [https://youtu.be/Uv0yl7JspRY] * Inside the Indiana Fever's roller-coaster 2025 WNBA season - ESPN [https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46446078/wnba-playoffs-2025-indiana-fever-injuries-caitlin-clark-semifinal-run] * Indiana Fever, without Caitlin Clark and others, remains resilient - The Washington Post [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/08/17/indiana-fever-injuries-adversity-caitlin-clark/] * The Fever are surviving the injury bug thanks to resilience and a whole lot of Kelsey Mitchell - Swish Appeal [https://www.swishappeal.com/wnba/62529/wnba-indiana-fever-kelsey-mitchell-stephanie-white-aliyah-boston-caitlin-clark-odyssey-sims] * How the Indiana Fever adjust to season-ending injuries - ESPN [https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45927938/wnba-2025-indiana-fever-injuries-caitlin-clark-sydney-colson-aari-mcdonald] About the Host Ellen Corcella is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the author of Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma. Through the Faith & Resilience Podcast, Ellen explores the complexity of our lives while illuminating paths towards healing and hope—examining the sacred values that anchor us to who we are and who we can be despite the turbulence, trauma, and anxiety of our contemporary lives. "Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma" by Ellen Corcella * Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella [https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella] * BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2] Connect with Ellen Corcella * Website: www.ellencorcella.com * Sign up for her Newsletter: www.ellencorcella.com * Email: mailto:Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com [Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com] * LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella * Helpful Resources: ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide Support the Podcast If you found this episode helpful, please: Like, Rate, Subscribe and Share #Resilience #Faith #IndianaFever #WNBA #KelseyMitchell #CaitlinClark #sophie_cunningham #2026WNBASeason #EllenCorcella

Holy Saturday – the Ultimate Wilderness

Why do we rush past Holy Saturday on our way to Easter morning? In this powerful solo episode, Ellen Corcella invites us to slow down and contemplate the sacred "middle," that Holy day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  Companion Episode: This episode is part of the series Resilience: Finding Your Path through the Wilderness —Episode #13: Resilience: Your Path through the Wilderness [https://share.transistor.fm/s/1643fd5a]. In This Episode Part I: The Day Nobody Talks About: Why Holy Saturday is called "holy" if nothing is happening or does Holy Saturday represent the spiritual hell experienced after experiencing trauma?  Part II: Key Takeaways for Spiritual Care: Holy Saturday as a model for supporting those in spiritual hell and why witnessing wounds is essential for true ministry Key Themes * Holy Saturday as the space of trauma's aftermath * The necessity of not skipping the wilderness * Jesus as the ultimate wounded healer * The courage to witness wounds — our own and others' * Resurrection not as erasure, but as transformation with scars Referenced Work Shelley Rambo - Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining A groundbreaking theological work exploring the "middle" space between death and resurrection as the ground where trauma survivors live. About Ellen Corcella Ellen Corcella is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and host of the Faith & Resilience Podcast, which explores paths toward healing and hope while examining the sacred values that anchor us through life's challenges. Connect with Ellen: * Website: www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] * Newsletter: Sign up at www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] * Email: Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com [Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com] * LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella [http://www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella] * Trauma Informed Resources: ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide [http://ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide] Ellen's Book: Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma * Amazon: amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella [https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella] * BookBaby: store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2] Support the Podcast If you found this episode helpful, please: * ⭐ Rate the podcast on your listening platform * 👍 Like and Subscribe to never miss an episode * 📢 Share this episode with someone in the wilderness * 💬 Leave a review to help others discover Faith & Resilience A Word from Ellen "If you are in that place right now — in the middle, in the wilderness, unsure if resurrection is real or even possible for you — I want you to know that this podcast, this community of faithful listeners, is a place where your wounds are welcome. Where your questions are welcome. Where you don't have to pretend you've already arrived at Easter morning." Until next time, may you be resilient in the struggle, and faithful in the serving.

Pastor Tara L. Eastman — Finding God in Ordinary Moments, Thin Spaces and the Wisdom of Julian of Norwich

Where do we encounter God—in extraordinary mountaintop moments, or in the quiet rhythms of everyday life? In this episode of the Faith & Resilience Podcast, Rev. Ellen Corcella welcomes Pastor Tara Eastman for a thoughtful conversation about resilience rooted in faith, creativity, and community.  Tara shares her evolving understanding of theopoetics—a creative engagement with God through poetry, art, contemplation, and community. Drawing on the wisdom of Julian of Norwich, she reflects on the famous vision of the hazelnut, a reminder that all creation exists because God made it, loves it, and keeps it. Through practices such as Lectio Divina and Visio Divina, Tara invites us to discover “thin spaces,” those moments when the sacred feels especially close. She reads her poem “Thin Space Day,” which finds holiness in ordinary routines—carpool lines, lunchtime walks, coffee breaks, and daily commutes. As the season of Lent reminds us that faith often unfolds in wilderness spaces, this conversation offers this hopeful reminder: God’s presence even in the most ordinary moments of our day. About Our Guest: Pastor Tara Eastman Pastor Tara Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and practitioner of Holy Shenanigans. In her podcast, Pastor Eastman shares stories that surprise, encourage, and sometimes even turn life upside down – all in the name of love, as she takes listeners on a journey of unforgettable spiritual adventure that is always sacred but never stuffy.  Through practices like Lectio Divina, Visio Divina, and creative expression, Tara encourages people to notice the sacred in everyday life and to recognize the “thin spaces” where God’s presence feels especially near. Connect with Pastor Tara Eastman LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-eastman-814354228 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-eastman-814354228/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BrQQfmIkKSge4KYWYwU2r8Q%3D%3D] Holy Shenanigans Podcast: https://holyshenanigans.buzzsprout.com/1347916 [https://holyshenanigans.buzzsprout.com/1347916] Resilience Series Episodes Episode #13 – Resilience: Your Path Through the Wilderness https://share.transistor.fm/s/1643fd5a [https://share.transistor.fm/s/1643fd5a] Episode #14 – Dr. Natalie Hamrick: How Faith Transforms Our Response to Stress and Illness https://share.transistor.fm/s/1643fd5a [https://share.transistor.fm/s/1643fd5a] About Ellen Corcella Ellen Corcella is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), author of Walk with Me: A Journey Through the Landscape of Trauma, and host of the Faith & Resilience Podcast, which explores paths toward healing and hope while examining the sacred values that anchor us through life's challenges. Connect with Ellen: Website: www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] Newsletter: Sign up at www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] Email: Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com [Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella [http://www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella] Trauma Informed Resources: www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide [http://www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide] Ellen's Book: Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma Amazon: store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2] BookBaby: store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2] Support the Podcast: If you found this episode helpful, please: ⭐ Rate the podcast on your listening platform 👍 Like and Subscribe to never miss an episode 📢 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 💬 Leave a review to help others discover Faith & Resilience Produced by: Loren Richmond, Jr. Resonate Media Production Copyright: Faith & Resilience Podcast Until next time, may you find resilience in the struggle, and faith in the serving.

Dr. Natalie Hamrick - How Faith Transforms Our Response to Stress and Illness

Can faith actually change the way our bodies and minds respond to stress, illness, and trauma? In this episode, Ellen Corcella welcomes Dr. Natalie Hamrick, founder of Healing Journey Ministries, to explore how partnering with God transforms our capacity to cope with life's greatest challenges. Dr. Hamrick shares practical tools for building resilience and discusses the key components of holistic healing that integrate deep faith with psychological expertise. About Our Guest: Dr. Natalie Hamrick Dr. Natalie Hamrick is the founder of Healing Journey Ministries, where she combines psychology with God's Word to help people address past difficulties and thrive as their authentic selves. Author of: * Cope by Faith: Partnering with God to Get Through and Triumph from the Cancer Experience - Amazon [https://a.co/d/2TYZKVk] * Hope in the Rainbow: A Guide for LGBTQ Folks to Heal from Spiritual Struggles and Reconnect to God (forthcoming) Connect with Dr. Hamrick: * Blog: The Healing Journey [https://healingjourneyministries.wordpress.com/?_gl=1*15tebjc*_gcl_au*Mzg2NTE5Mjg4LjE3NjgzMTY4NzY.] * Facebook: facebook.com/HealingJourneyMinistries [http://facebook.com/HealingJourneyMinistries] * Etsy Shop: Mirielle Boutique [https://www.etsy.com/shop/MirielleBoutique] - inspirational necklace pendants with God's Word Dr. Hamrick also leads spiritual retreats integrating interactive art and meditation on topics including accepting God's love, healing from church wounds, working through shame, and embracing God's promises while holding doubts. About Ellen Corcella Ellen Corcella is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and host of the Faith & Resilience Podcast, which explores paths toward healing and hope while examining the sacred values that anchor us through life's challenges. Connect with Ellen: * Website: www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] * Newsletter: Sign up at www.ellencorcella.com [http://www.ellencorcella.com/] * Email: Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com [Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com] * LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella [http://www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella] * Trauma Informed Resources: www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide [http://www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide] Ell [http://www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide]en's Book: Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma * Amazon: amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella [https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella] * BookBaby: store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2] Support the Podcast If you found this episode helpful, please: * ⭐ Rate the podcast on your listening platform * 👍 Like and Subscribe to never miss an episode * 📢 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it * 💬 Leave a review to help others discover Faith & Resilience Produced by: Loren Richmond, Jr. Resonate Media Production Copyright: © 2026 Faith & Resilience Podcast Until next time, may you be resilience in the struggle, and faithful in the serving.

Resilience: Your Path Through the Wilderness

Faith & Resilience is a podcast for those seeking to navigate life's complexities with hope, faith, and courage. Each episode offers contemplative exploration of how we can live out our deepest values in an anxious world. About the Host Ellen Corcella is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the author of Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma. Through the Faith & Resilience Podcast, Ellen explores the complexity of our lives while illuminating paths towards healing and hope—examining the sacred values that anchor us to who we are and who we can be despite the turbulence, trauma, and anxiety of our contemporary lives. Related Episodes Episode #7:Getting Back Up: John Lewis' Legacy of Resilience [https://share.transistor.fm/s/1616c5c9] Episode #10: We all We Got, We all we need: Indiana Fever's Impossible Season of Resilience [https://share.transistor.fm/s/e8b7e9dc] Episode #11: It takes a Revolution of the Heart: Dorothy Day, Faith, Food and Radical Humanity [https://share.transistor.fm/s/4800c76c] "Walk with Me: A Journey through the Landscape of Trauma" by Ellen Corcella * Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella [https://www.amazon.com/author/walk_with_me_ellen_corcella] * BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2 [https://store.bookbaby.com/book/walk-with-me2]   Connect with Ellen Corcella * Website: www.ellencorcella.com [www.ellencorcella.com] * Email: Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com [Chaplain_Ellen@ellencorcella.com] * LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella [www.linkedin.com/in/ellencorcella] * Trauma Informed Resources: www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide [www.ellencorcella.com/help-ptsd-grief-trauma-suicide] Support the Podcast If you found this episode helpful, please: * ⭐ Rate the podcast on your listening platform * 👍 Like and Subscribe to never miss an episode * 📢 Share this episode with someone who might benefit * 💬 Leave a review to help others discover Faith & Resilience Your support helps expand our reach to those seeking resilience in the struggle and faith in the serving. Until next time, may you be resilient in the struggle, and faithful in the serving. Produced by: Loren Richmond, Jr. Resonate Media Production Copyright: © 2026 Faith & Resilience Podcast