Episode 105 - Mental Health, Faith, and Humor with Amber Weigand-Buckley

Episode 107 - The Power of Prayer and Generational Blessing with Jennifer Tirrell

Date: July 7, 2026 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Jennifer E. Tirrell   Story Highlights: In this rich and reflective episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie Dufek welcomes award winning author Jennifer E. Tirrell for a conversation about faith, family, and the generational blessings that outlast us. Jennifer is a kinship adopted orphan who grew up to become a devoted stay at home mother, and her writing consistently points readers, both young and old, back to the Creator through the beauty of creation and the truth of God's Word. Jennifer opens up about the trauma of losing both parents by age three and how her older sister took her and her sibling in, raised them in the church, and surrounded them with books that shaped their character as much as their imagination. She traces her lifelong love of reading back to that home, and how good literature, from Anne of Green Gables to the Elsie Dinsmore series, helped her heal and understand what makes a story worth telling. Debbie and Jennifer dig into the idea of a generational blessing, from a great grandmother's handmade baptismal gown to Jennifer's discovery of her ninth great grandmother's grave in England, etched with a symbol of prayer from the Tudor period. That discovery became the seed for her novel Jane's Secret [https://www.amazon.com/Janes-Secret-Poignant-Split-Time-Novel/dp/1649608721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R4P7H9J0U1Z5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DUqxdToknunRU1f_QbJdUVpu9-P1a7LQKbIWt6D1RabtENmZs6UNc0nputwaDXaY5Rol1JMulIwSC3fkQmMYsGPheuCbcfptqW1GfxsHGxm0Yyl_72K1G8BD57R4zMgkUguAyy-_uaAPXJBhEHeM80zTpnnI9HZOTkZIWMLyB2EWZKwl7CyzeVazimACYSuPags8VokaSNl-MvlsmAyIDPqVjOMgCyH3c1KkOa8pgrI.mNkuhO4LIO8-xMiSD0rEsUvRa1S-P0zopO3UzeUXFQI&dib_tag=se&keywords=jennifer+e.+terrell+books&qid=1783406211&sprefix=jennifer+e.+terrell+books%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1]. Jennifer shares her conviction that prayer is the ultimate generational blessing, and that even those without a legacy of faith to draw from can be the first to start one for the generations that follow. The conversation turns tender as Jennifer describes losing her name, her home, and her sense of identity as a young child, and how one quiet moment with her father, learning to say "we don't know why, but we trust," became a truth she carried through every season since. She and Debbie talk honestly about surrender as a continual act of worship rather than a one time decision, and about choosing virtuous living and marriages built on faithfulness and honor rather than culture's version of stability without intimacy. Jennifer also shares the heart behind Jane's Secret [https://www.amazon.com/Janes-Secret-Poignant-Split-Time-Novel/dp/1649608721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R4P7H9J0U1Z5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DUqxdToknunRU1f_QbJdUVpu9-P1a7LQKbIWt6D1RabtENmZs6UNc0nputwaDXaY5Rol1JMulIwSC3fkQmMYsGPheuCbcfptqW1GfxsHGxm0Yyl_72K1G8BD57R4zMgkUguAyy-_uaAPXJBhEHeM80zTpnnI9HZOTkZIWMLyB2EWZKwl7CyzeVazimACYSuPags8VokaSNl-MvlsmAyIDPqVjOMgCyH3c1KkOa8pgrI.mNkuhO4LIO8-xMiSD0rEsUvRa1S-P0zopO3UzeUXFQI&dib_tag=se&keywords=jennifer+e.+terrell+books&qid=1783406211&sprefix=jennifer+e.+terrell+books%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1], a novel inspired by real family history, and behind her children's book series, including Pets to the Rescue and a forthcoming project preserving her own mother's handwritten stories, recorded decades ago, for her grandchildren. Her hope throughout is simple and clear, that good stories can quietly plant character and faith in the next generation the same way they once did in her own.   About Our Guest: Jennifer E. Tirrell is an award winning author, speaker, and encourager, and a kinship adopted orphan who grew up to become a devoted stay at home mother. Her writing is shaped by faith, confirmed by history, and centered on truth, and she invites readers to merge their roots, purpose, and blessings and live all in. She is the author of the novel Jane's Secret, the children's picture book Little Sprout Says Yes!, and co-author of The Pets to the Rescue chapter book series for young readers, including Apple Butter Adventure and America's Birthday Hero. Jennifer serves as President of Word Weavers Coastal Carolinas and lives at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, with her husband, Bobby, where she is blessed with six grandchildren.   Book Spotlight: Jane's Secret by Jennifer E. Tirrell [https://www.amazon.com/Janes-Secret-Poignant-Split-Time-Novel/dp/1649608721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R4P7H9J0U1Z5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DUqxdToknunRU1f_QbJdUVpu9-P1a7LQKbIWt6D1RabtENmZs6UNc0nputwaDXaY5Rol1JMulIwSC3fkQmMYsGPheuCbcfptqW1GfxsHGxm0Yyl_72K1G8BD57R4zMgkUguAyy-_uaAPXJBhEHeM80zTpnnI9HZOTkZIWMLyB2EWZKwl7CyzeVazimACYSuPags8VokaSNl-MvlsmAyIDPqVjOMgCyH3c1KkOa8pgrI.mNkuhO4LIO8-xMiSD0rEsUvRa1S-P0zopO3UzeUXFQI&dib_tag=se&keywords=jennifer+e.+terrell+books&qid=1783406211&sprefix=jennifer+e.+terrell+books%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1] Two women, separated by five centuries, are bound together by one golden key. Inspired by Jennifer's own discovery of her ninth great grandmother's grave in England, Jane's Secret follows Lady Jane Ingleton through Tudor England and Kaitlyn, a present day descendant who stumbles onto a mysterious letter and a key that fits no known lock. As Jane's story of faith found in hardship unfolds alongside Kaitlyn's search for answers, both women discover that the blessings and prayers of one generation can echo further than anyone could imagine. Part historical mystery, part contemporary discovery, Jane's Secret is a reminder that our roots and our faith are often more connected than we realize.   Connect with Jennifer: Website: writingwithjet.com [http://writingwithjet.com] Book: Jane's Secret [https://www.amazon.com/Janes-Secret-Poignant-Split-Time-Novel/dp/1649608721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R4P7H9J0U1Z5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DUqxdToknunRU1f_QbJdUVpu9-P1a7LQKbIWt6D1RabtENmZs6UNc0nputwaDXaY5Rol1JMulIwSC3fkQmMYsGPheuCbcfptqW1GfxsHGxm0Yyl_72K1G8BD57R4zMgkUguAyy-_uaAPXJBhEHeM80zTpnnI9HZOTkZIWMLyB2EWZKwl7CyzeVazimACYSuPags8VokaSNl-MvlsmAyIDPqVjOMgCyH3c1KkOa8pgrI.mNkuhO4LIO8-xMiSD0rEsUvRa1S-P0zopO3UzeUXFQI&dib_tag=se&keywords=jennifer+e.+terrell+books&qid=1783406211&sprefix=jennifer+e.+terrell+books%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1] on Amazon LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/writingwithjet [http://linkedin.com/in/writingwithjet]   Closing Thought: Jennifer's story reminds us that we do not need a perfect legacy to leave a lasting one. Whether it is a baptismal gown, a shelf of well loved books, or a single prayer whispered generations ago, the blessings we plant in faith have a way of reaching further than we will ever see this side of heaven.

Episode 106 - Healing with God with Heather O'Brien

Date: July 1, 2026 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Heather O'Brien   Story Highlights: In this powerful and faith-filled episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie Dufek welcomes healing coach, Bible teacher, and podcast host Heather O'Brien for an honest conversation about emotional and spiritual healing, the kind that reaches the spirit, soul, and body. Heather helps Christians who have suffered injustice and battle anxiety, depression, and addiction get to the root of their pain so they can stop managing symptoms and start living an abundant, free life. Heather shares how God healed her of anxiety, depression, and trauma in dramatic and deeply personal ways, and why He asked her to wait before stepping onto a public stage. As she puts it, God healed the woman before He expanded her words. That season of waiting taught her what forgiveness really means, deepened her understanding of Scripture, and gave her the words and authority to minister to others. She opens up about growing up in a home marked by a sibling's addiction, and the feelings of rejection and abandonment that followed her into adulthood, sharing how God walked her through inner healing, forgiveness, and freedom, even delivering her from a long mental battle with addiction. Along the way she offers practical wisdom that listeners can hold onto: the difference between anxiety, which lives in a future that has not happened, and depression, which walks around in a painful past, the power of Philippians 4 to reshape our thoughts, and why being faithful with our words matters more than simply being careful with them. Heather and Debbie also talk about calling, qualification, and courage, encouraging every woman who feels led to write or speak but wonders whether she is ready. Heather's reminder is simple and freeing: messy, faithful action is what qualifies us, and being just a step or two ahead of someone else is enough to help them. If you have ever felt stuck, unseen, or unqualified, this conversation will remind you that God heals deeply and uses the willing.   About Our Guest: Heather O'Brien is a Spirit-led healing coach, Bible teacher, and host of the Heal with God Podcast, ranked in the top 2% of podcasts globally with more than 44,000 downloads. A licensed minister for over a decade, she helps Christians who love Jesus but still feel emotionally stuck learn how to hear God's voice clearly and heal with Him deeply. Through her Heal with God coaching program and monthly live workshops, she walks people through biblical inner healing from anxiety, depression, relational trauma, and emotional overwhelm. Heather is the author of Heal with God, No Fear Allowed, Supernatural Weight Loss, The Journey of Healing from Injustices, and But How? A Cookbook for Christian Solutions. She lives in South Georgia with her husband of 23 years and their three sons.   Book Spotlight: Heal with God: Christian Spirit-Led Healing by Hearing God's Voice [https://www.amazon.com/Heal-God-Christian-Spirit-Led-Healing/dp/B0H4D8NZDD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=D2VW9ZIH4MAH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P_s_mU6xekTAbHzUSUQ_mc5vC0AqjhHZAsZ9AQPvVp_elki-21czs-eG5WeN5oROkJutzH0KXCdB1oTMPTZxakK1LN9-0WUFuPiF6lfb8fb0Gf8JKJgnM_EKDwdWc_YHQ0NQ-8DFWJhb4IFPWMT70JfZd84XSRoiY6tbSaCrXYcSZDsx5wG9hXvnsRCb-M-l-eLtwACk6v_i0KaZgkhZXDK5vuXrwO4NmjItlz2uSgk.qBGpDICChLI6NgjuPm9SHHMOeTBAvnGkIMBcYb_vCHo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Heal+with+God%3A+Christian+Spirit-Led+Healing+by+Hearing+God%27s+Voice&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1782805031&sprefix=heal+with+god+christian+spirit-led+healing+by+hearing+god%27s+voice%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1] Do you love God but still feel stuck, carrying shame, anxiety, or hurt you cannot seem to pray your way out of? Heather wrote Heal with God [https://www.amazon.com/Heal-God-Christian-Spirit-Led-Healing/dp/B0H4D8NZDD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=D2VW9ZIH4MAH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P_s_mU6xekTAbHzUSUQ_mc5vC0AqjhHZAsZ9AQPvVp_elki-21czs-eG5WeN5oROkJutzH0KXCdB1oTMPTZxakK1LN9-0WUFuPiF6lfb8fb0Gf8JKJgnM_EKDwdWc_YHQ0NQ-8DFWJhb4IFPWMT70JfZd84XSRoiY6tbSaCrXYcSZDsx5wG9hXvnsRCb-M-l-eLtwACk6v_i0KaZgkhZXDK5vuXrwO4NmjItlz2uSgk.qBGpDICChLI6NgjuPm9SHHMOeTBAvnGkIMBcYb_vCHo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Heal+with+God%3A+Christian+Spirit-Led+Healing+by+Hearing+God%27s+Voice&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1782805031&sprefix=heal+with+god+christian+spirit-led+healing+by+hearing+god%27s+voice%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1] for you. More than a collection of ideas, it is a gentle, step-by-step framework for hearing God's voice clearly, finding emotional and spiritual healing, and walking in lasting freedom. Drawn from years of live workshops and one-on-one coaching, the book helps readers break cycles of shame and self-doubt, work through anxiety and depression, forgive the people who hurt them, and rebuild their confidence and identity in Christ. Each chapter pairs biblical insight with practical tools and personal reflection, so healing can begin right away, even for those who have felt stuck for years. Your healing does not have to wait. God is ready to meet you right where you are, one step, one prayer, and one truth at a time.   Connect with Heather: Website: heatherobrien.net Email: heather.w.obrien@outlook.com [heather.w.obrien@outlook.com] Instagram: @heatherobrienhealwithgod Podcast: Heal with God, Christian Spirit-Led Healing by Hearing God's Voice   Closing Thought: Heather's story is a reminder that healing is rarely instant and never wasted. God often does His deepest work in the waiting, healing the heart before He widens the platform. Wherever you feel stuck today, He is still in the business of setting people free, one truth at a time.

Episode 105 - Mental Health, Faith, and Humor with Amber Weigand-Buckley

Date: May 27, 2026 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Amber Weigand-Buckley   Story Highlights: In this bold, laugh-out-loud, and deeply moving episode of The Women Behind the Words, host Debbie Dufek sits down with Amber Weigand-Buckley, multi-award-winning author, founding editor of the multi-award-winning Leading Hearts magazine, and unapologetic mental health advocate. Amber is a self-described #shortyellowpencilgirl, and she shows up to this conversation exactly as she is: funny, raw, real, and fully unfiltered. Amber opens up about navigating life with what she affectionately calls her "full alphabet soup" of mental health challenges, and how instead of hiding that part of her story, she has leaned into it with sticky notes, humor, and a whole lot of grace. This conversation covers the heart and humor behind her newest book, what it means to be a woman of faith who also wrestles with mental health, and why she believes God wired our brains not as a bug, but as a feature. In this episode, Debbie and Amber explore: * How humor became one of Amber's most powerful tools for mental health advocacy * The story behind Leading Hearts magazine and what it means to build a platform rooted in purpose * What it looks like to be a woman of faith who lives openly with mental health challenges * The meaning behind the #shortyellowpencil movement and why sticky notes have become her signature * Her journey to becoming a #1 Amazon bestselling author and what she hopes readers take away * Why being named one of Listen Linda's Top 6 Women to Watch in 2026 and being featured twice on Times Square billboards is about so much more than recognition * Her podcast #RandomDevoThoughts and how she keeps showing up for her community, one devotional thought at a time Whether you have personally walked through mental health challenges, love someone who has, or simply need a reminder that God can use every messy, beautiful, complicated part of your story, this episode will meet you right where you are. Amber's voice is one of hope, honesty, and holy laughter, and this conversation is one you will not want to miss.   About Our Guest: Amber Weigand-Buckley is a multi-award-winning, #1 Amazon bestselling author and the founding editor of the multi-award-winning Leading Hearts magazine (leadinghearts.com [http://leadinghearts.com/]). Named one of Listen Linda's Top 6 Women to Watch in 2026, she has been featured twice on Times Square billboards, first as part of that recognition, and then with her latest book featured solo. A self-described #shortyellowpencilgirl, Amber navigates life with humor, raw vulnerability, and zero apology as she lives openly with a full range of mental health challenges. Her fourth book, #sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem One Sticky Note at a Time [https://www.amazon.com/sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils-Mental-Health-Mayhem-Sticky/dp/196337794X] (Abundance Books, May 2026), is a humor-based memoir that makes the case that laughter and mental health advocacy are a perfect pair. She also hosts the podcast #RandomDevoThoughts with Amber, where she delivers bite-sized devotional encouragement to her growing community. Amber believes God wired our brains not as a bug, but as a feature, and she has built an entire platform to prove it.   Book Spotlight: #Sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils: Mental Health Mayhem One Sticky Note at a Time by Amber Weigand-Buckley [https://www.amazon.com/sisterhoodoftheshortyellowpencils-Mental-Health-Mayhem-Sticky/dp/196337794X]  If you have ever felt like your brain was working against you, Amber Weigand-Buckley wants you to know you are not alone, and she has the sticky notes to prove it. In her fourth book, Amber pulls back the curtain on life with mental health challenges in the most disarming way possible: with honesty, wit, and the kind of laughter that only comes from someone who has been in the thick of it. This is not a clinical guide. It is not a tidy, step-by-step recovery plan. It is a real, human, sometimes messy memoir-style journey through the moments that make mental health hard, and the faith, community, and humor that make it survivable. Through short, sticky-note-sized reflections and personal stories, Amber invites readers into the #shortyellowpencil sisterhood, a community of women who show up for each other, imperfections and all. Readers will find: * Relatable, humor-laced stories that normalize the mental health conversation * Faith-centered reflections that remind us God is present in the hard days, not just the healed ones * A message of community and belonging for women who have ever felt like "too much" or "not enough" * Encouragement to embrace the brain God gave you, alphabet soup and all This book is perfect for women who want to feel seen, readers who appreciate honest storytelling, and anyone who has ever needed a good laugh in the middle of a hard season. A #1 Amazon bestseller, it is proof that vulnerability and humor are not opposites. They are companions.   Connect with Amber: Website: shortyellowpencilrx.com [http://shortyellowpencilrx.com/] Leading Hearts Magazine: leadinghearts.com [http://leadinghearts.com/] Instagram: @shortyellowpencilrx [https://www.instagram.com/shortyellowpencilrx] and @barefacedgirl [https://www.instagram.com/barefacedgirl] Podcast: #RandomDevoThoughts with Amber   Closing Thought: Amber Weigand-Buckley's story is a powerful reminder that the parts of us we are most tempted to hide are often the very parts God wants to use. She did not wait until she had it all figured out to show up and speak up. She picked up a short yellow pencil, grabbed a sticky note, and started writing her truth, and in doing so, she built a sisterhood. Your story matters. Your brain matters. And there is a community of women out there, sticky notes in hand, ready to cheer you on.

Episode 104 - You Are the Mom God Chose: Faith, Mental Health, and Parenting with Purpose with Laurie Devernoe

Date: April 13, 2026 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Laurie Devernoe   Story Highlights: In this warm and deeply encouraging episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie Dufek welcomes back Laurie Devernoe for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like a breath of fresh air, honest, grounded, and full of grace. Laurie opens with a story that has become something of a legend in her household: the day she called 911 to report her seven-year-old son Caleb missing at the gym, only to find him moments later in the coach's office, deep in a conversation about Minecraft. Her teenagers dubbed her a "SWAT team mom," and the name stuck. But beneath the laughter is something genuinely important: Laurie's vigilance that day led her to speak a simple but powerful truth to the facility's manager. Children should never be alone in a closed room with an adult, no matter who that adult is. It is the kind of wisdom that flows naturally from a mother who pays attention. From there, the conversation turns to Laurie's extraordinary early years of motherhood, triplet daughters followed by a fourth baby just eighteen months later, and eventually a fifth child eight years after that. She describes managing her household the only way she knew how coming from a corporate background: with color-coded spreadsheets, matching outfits, and a schedule for everything. Beneath all that beautiful organization, however, Laurie was quietly battling what she now recognizes as high-functioning anxiety, a relentless internal scanning that, when pushed past its limits, came out as anger. She speaks with remarkable honesty about what it took to finally name that struggle and begin to address it. Debbie and Laurie explore the intersection of faith and mental health with particular tenderness. Drawing from the story of Elijah, who after calling down fire from heaven fled in despair and asked to die, Laurie reminds listeners that having a relationship with God is not an insurance policy against mental health struggles. It is the place we return to when those struggles come. She shares how her own mother suffered with clinical depression and seasonal affective disorder for years, never receiving the help she needed because seeking it was once considered a sign of weak faith. The church, Laurie notes with gratitude, is in a far better place today, embracing therapy, outside support, and even medication as gifts rather than failures. The episode also takes a practical turn toward screen time, technology, and the ever-present challenge of raising children in a digital world. Laurie and Debbie, referencing insights from a previous episode with Barb Winters, discuss the importance of parental controls, phone baskets during family time, and the power of modeling the behavior we hope to see in our children. Laurie shares how she leaned on her older children to help evaluate what her youngest was playing and watching, turning awareness into a family-wide effort rather than a solo burden. At the heart of everything Laurie shares is a concept she encountered early in her parenting journey through a cassette tape series called Spirit Beings, the idea that our children are not just physical beings to be fed and bathed and put to bed, but spiritual ones who need to be nourished in their souls. That conviction shaped how she raised her five children: with worship music in the home, age-appropriate Bibles, family devotional time even when it happened in two cars calling each other on the way home from sports, and a daily rhythm of prayer and Scripture that, decades later, her grown children carry with them still. This conversation is a reminder that the years that feel the most overwhelming often turn out to be the ones that leave the deepest mark, and that apart from Jesus, as Laurie and Debbie agree, we truly can do nothing. But with Him, we can do far more than we imagine.   About Our Guest: Laurie Devernoe is a Christian speaker and mental health coach known for bringing faith to life through engaging, down-to-earth teaching. She helps individuals and families move beyond surviving daily routines to living impactful, faith-centered lives that support mental health and strengthen families. As a mother of five, including triplets, Laurie understands real life and connects with others by blending Scripture with relatable stories and simple, doable practices that help faith take root in everyday moments. Laurie is the author of Coffee House Parenting, inspired by decades of conversations with other moms, and the award-winning memoir Seeing Through the Darkness: The Incredible Story of How Losing My Sight Taught Me to See [https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-Darkness-Incredible-Losing/dp/1737997622]. Her latest book, You Are the Mom, is a 40-day devotional written for anyone who has ever loved and raised a child, to replace exhaustion and self-doubt with Scripture, grace, and the quiet confidence that God equipped you exactly for this.   Book Spotlight: You Are the Mom [https://www.amazon.it/You-Are-Mom-40-Day-Devotional/dp/1737997649] by Laurie Devernoe Today's mothers are carrying more than any spreadsheet can track, and beneath the schedules, the meal plans, and the matching outfits, many are quietly wondering whether they are enough. You Are the Mom is a 40-day devotional that speaks directly into that exhaustion and self-doubt, offering Scripture, grace, and the gentle reassurance that God did not assign you your children by accident. He equipped you, exactly as you are, for exactly them. Drawing from her own journey through triplets, high-functioning anxiety, a mother's quiet suffering, and the slow, faithful work of building a Christ-centered home, Laurie writes with the warmth of someone who has sat in the hard places and found God faithful there. This devotional is for the mom who needs permission to stop striving and start abiding, and a reminder that everything she needs, she already has access to through Jesus.   Connect with Laurie: Website: https://lauriedevernoe.com [https://lauriedevernoe.com/] Facebook and Instagram: Coffee House Parenting Her Book: You Are the Mom: A 40-Day Devotional [https://www.amazon.it/You-Are-Mom-40-Day-Devotional/dp/1737997649]   Closing Thought: Parenting is not a performance. It is a daily returning, to grace, to Scripture, to the One who gives us everything we need for life and godliness. As Laurie reminds us, the legacy we leave is not found in perfectly matched outfits or color-coded spreadsheets. It is found in the quiet, faithful patterns we model for our children: where we go when we struggle, what we say when we are afraid, and how we return again and again to the heart of God.

Episode 103 - Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed: Between Hope and Despair with Renee Rizzo Devore

Date: April 2, 2026 Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Renée Rizzo Devore   Story Highlights: What does it look like to carry deep wounds into a life of profound purpose? In this meaningful and hope-filled episode of The Women Behind the Words, Deb sits down with Renée Rizzo Devore, counselor, chaplain, author, and lifelong advocate for the broken, for a conversation that is equal parts raw and redemptive. Their connection through mutual friend Bud Zegel quickly gives way to a shared passion: helping people find real, lasting hope in the hardest places of life. Renée opens up about her journey from 18 years as CEO of Hope Clinic for Women to her current double master's program at Denver Seminary, and how her calling has always been about more than meeting physical needs. She creates sacred spaces where brokenness is met with compassion and where hope can finally take root. Together, Deb and Renée explore how childhood pain can either hold us back or become a powerful part of our healing story. Renée introduces the concept of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and shares from her own trauma history, explaining how resilience and faith can transform deep wounds into genuine points of connection with others. Their conversation gently reminds us that while pain can shape us, it does not have to define us, and that true healing allows us to live as a reflection of the Gospel rather than feeling the need to defend it. A standout moment in their discussion is the distinction between earthly hope and eternal hope. Renée beautifully articulates how true hope flows from God through Jesus and is sustained by the Holy Spirit, while also making room for something the church often overlooks: lament. Deb and Renée speak honestly about grief, reminding listeners that sorrow is not a sign of weak faith but an invitation to draw closer to God. In a world that rushes people past their pain, this conversation is a refreshing reminder that hope and lament can and should coexist. The episode also dives into the challenge of waiting seasons and what it means to hold contentment and desire in the same open hand. Renée shares candidly from her own experience of waiting for marriage, encouraging listeners to remain active and engaged in life while trusting God with the outcome. Deb reflects on her own current season, including her upcoming book Lord, Take the Lead, and her continued trust in God's ability to bring clarity, peace, and purpose at every stage of life. Renée speaks with refreshing honesty about fear and faith, reminding us that obstacles are not always a sign that something has gone wrong. Sometimes they are simply invitations to a deeper trust. She shares her personal journey of learning to stop guarding her own heart through people-pleasing and over-serving, and what it looked like to surrender that role to God. This shift becomes a powerful picture of what it truly means to trust Him in every area of life. She also offers practical, grounded tools for cultivating hope in everyday life, drawing from her book All You Need Is a Mustard Seed: Between Hope and Despair [https://reneerizzo.coach/my-new-book-all-you-need-is-a-mustard-seed-between-hope-and-despair/]. From worship and movement to journaling, healthy rhythms, and the power of saying no, Renée provides simple yet impactful strategies for staying rooted in faith. One of the most memorable insights she shares: every no is a future yes, a reminder that boundaries are not walls but acts of intentional, faithful living. The episode closes with a conversation about navigating spiritual calling within marriage and the importance of unity, wisdom, and seeking wise counsel when needed. Renée offers a heartfelt word for anyone who has been hurt by the church, a gentle but firm encouragement to run toward God, not away from Him, and to trust Him to lead them to a safe and supportive community. This episode ends as a prayerful invitation to hope, to healing, and to renewed faith, leaving listeners seen, encouraged, and reminded that even in the hardest seasons, hope is always within reach.   About Our Guest: Renée Rizzo Devore is a counselor, chaplain, coach, author, and speaker with a lifelong passion for helping broken people find hope. She served for 18 years as CEO of Hope Clinic for Women before transitioning to finish a double master's degree at Denver Seminary in Biblical/Theological Studies and Pastoral Care/Counseling. She also serves as a part-time chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains and works as a fitness instructor and one-on-one coach, covering topics including trauma-informed care, boundaries, healthy relationships, caring for caregivers, and mission and strategy. A sought-after speaker throughout her region, Renée addresses topics like unplanned pregnancy, the effects of abortion, co-dependency, worthiness, singleness, and hope. She holds a BS in Finance and Economics and is certified in Circle Group Facilitation, Stephen Ministry, Level I and II Murray Method, and Barre Fitness. She was named to Nashville's Business Journal Women of Influence list and was a finalist for the CEO of the Year Award from the Center for Nonprofit Management. Renée was married for the first time in October 2025 at 57 years old, a beautiful testament to the very hope she writes and speaks about. Everything she does filters through her faith and the Lord's leading in her life.   Book Spotlight: All You Need Is a Mustard Seed: Between Hope and Despair by Renée Rizzo Devore [https://reneerizzo.coach/my-new-book-all-you-need-is-a-mustard-seed-between-hope-and-despair/] Life is not made up of a single hard season. It is a series of them. And in each one, hope can feel just a little harder to hold onto. In All You Need Is a Mustard Seed [https://reneerizzo.coach/my-new-book-all-you-need-is-a-mustard-seed-between-hope-and-despair/], Renée draws from Scripture, her own story, and years of walking alongside hurting people to offer a frank, vulnerable, and deeply practical guide to choosing hope no matter what life throws at you. This is not a book for one kind of struggle or one kind of person. It is for anyone whose hope has quietly started to wane, whether they are firmly planted in the church, sitting on the fringe, or somewhere in between. Renée tackles the questions many of us are afraid to ask out loud: * What is the difference between eternal hope and earthly hope? * How do you hold onto hope when you are not happy? * How do you keep believing when you have been waiting for what feels like forever? * How do you face hope in the middle of obstacles, fear, and dead ends? * How do you guard your heart when things are actually going well? Weaving together Bible stories, personal experiences, and her own hope toolbox of practical strategies, Renée makes a compelling case that you do not need a mountain of faith to get through the hardest days. You just need a mustard seed.   Connect with Renée: * Website: reneerizzo.coach [https://reneerizzo.coach/] * Email: rizzo@reneerizzo.coach [rizzo@reneerizzo.coach] * Book: All You Need is a Mustard Seed: Between Hope and Despair [https://reneerizzo.coach/my-new-book-all-you-need-is-a-mustard-seed-between-hope-and-despair/]   Closing Thought: Renée's life is proof that hope is not wishful thinking. It is a daily, deliberate choice. Her story reminds us that waiting is not wasted, that wounds can become wisdom, and that even the smallest seed of faith, planted in the right soil, can grow into something extraordinary. If your hope needs renewing today, this episode is for you.