Lioness Stories: Choosing Life Through Unyielding Faith | Barb Hollace

Lioness Stories: Choosing Life Through Unyielding Faith | Barb Hollace

What does it look like to keep choosing life after unimaginable loss? In this deeply moving episode of Lioness Women: Rooted in Christ, Jen Porter sits down with Barb Hollace — one of the featured women in the upcoming book Lioness: Stories to Awaken Your Roar Within — for a conversation about faith, grief, resilience, surrender, and the unshakable faithfulness of God. Widowed at just 33 years old after losing her first husband to cancer, Barb shares the heartbreak, questions, and spiritual wrestlings that followed. Years later, after finding love again, she would walk through devastating loss a second time when her husband unexpectedly passed away during the COVID era. And yet, through every season of suffering, Barb’s story is not ultimately one of despair — it is one of extraordinary hope. With wisdom, humility, and profound honesty, Barb opens up about: • what it means to trust God when life does not unfold the way you imagined • how faith is built through relationship, not religion • why God’s faithfulness becomes undeniable through lived experience • the hidden strength of women who quietly endure • and how pain, when surrendered to God, can become purpose This episode is filled with tender moments, powerful truths, and reminders that courage does not always roar loudly. Sometimes courage looks like waking up one more day, trusting God one more time, and continuing to love others through the pain. If you are walking through grief, disappointment, uncertainty, or a season that feels impossible, Barb’s story will remind you that you are not abandoned — and that God is still writing redemption into your story. Chapter 9 of Lioness is Barb Hollace’s powerful story: “Protected by Unyielding Faith: Choosing to Live a Life Marked by Resilience, Where Faith Turns Survival Into Purpose.” Find out more at: https://bereadyministry.org/ Connect with Jen: https://www.jenportercoach.com/

The Power of Showing Up: Mentorship, Healing & Hope with Meredith Murray

What happens when God calls you beyond comfort, beyond fear, and into something far bigger than yourself? In this powerful conversation, Jen sits down with Meredith Murray to talk about surrender, courage, mentorship, and the life-changing impact of simply showing up for others. Meredith shares her deeply personal journey through profound loss, caregiving, breast cancer, and unexpected transition — and how those seasons refined her faith and awakened a greater calling. What began as a quiet life of serving behind the scenes became a global mission to empower vulnerable children through Allies in Youth Development, now impacting more than 27,000 children across 92 countries through mentorship, education, and humanitarian aid. Together, Jen and Meredith explore: *  Why “playing small” keeps so many women from fully stepping into their calling  *  What surrender to God actually looks like in everyday life  *  How faith grows through trust, discomfort, and obedience  *  The transformational power of mentorship and human connection  *  Stories from orphan villages in Africa that will move your heart deeply  *  Why empowered people empower people  This episode is both deeply emotional and profoundly inspiring — a reminder that God often works through ordinary women willing to say yes one faithful step at a time.  Connect with Jen: https://www.jenportercoach.com/ Connect with Allies in Youth Development: https://alliesyouth.org/ linktr.ee/EmpoweredLifePod https://www.facebook.com/alliesyouth [https://www.facebook.com/alliesyouth?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Check out Meredith's podcast: Empowered Life Podcast- YouTube youtube.com/@empoweredlifepodcast?si=OPjAPlIU-hN2qJca

What Persecuted Women of Faith Can Teach Us About Courage | Vija Herefoss

In this deeply moving and eye-opening conversation, Jen Porter sits down with Vija Herefoss — theologian, human rights advocate, and global voice for persecuted women of faith — to explore the hidden realities facing Christian women around the world.  Through stories gathered from Iran, North Korea, Central Asia, and beyond, Vija shares how women are often the unseen backbone of the global church — courageously carrying faith forward in environments marked by persecution, exclusion, violence, and profound sacrifice. Yet rather than portraying these women merely as victims, she reveals them as resilient leaders, creative change agents, and powerful witnesses of hope.  Together, Jen and Vija explore: *  Why women make up the majority of the global church  *  The radically dignifying way Jesus treated women  *  How faith transforms families and entire communities  *  Why Christian community is essential for survival in persecuted regions  *  The unique forms of persecution women face  *  The extraordinary courage of women leading underground churches  *  The power of prayer, generosity, and global solidarity  *  What the Western church can learn from believers who risk everything for Christ  One of the most compelling themes throughout the episode is this: many women around the world are holding onto their faith at tremendous personal cost — losing homes, marriages, safety, inheritance, freedom, and sometimes even their lives — yet still refusing to let go of Christ. Their stories become a profound invitation for all of us to reflect on the depth, beauty, and eternal value of faith.  Vija also shares breathtaking examples of women “gossiping the gospel” from house to house, imprisoned believers leading Bible studies behind bars, and exhausted pastors’ wives finally finding rest and encouragement through gatherings supported by Stefanus Alliance.  This conversation is both sobering and deeply hope-filled — a reminder that even in the darkest places, the light of Christ continues to shine through ordinary women living with extraordinary courage. To learn more about the work of Stefanus Alliance International, support persecuted believers, or read stories from the global church, visit: https://www.stefanus-usa.org/ Connect with Coach Jen Porter: https://www.jenportercoach.com/ [https://www.jenportercoach.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenportercoach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenportercoach?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Podcast: https://lioness.transistor.fm/

AI, Faith & the Future of Leadership | Cynthia Vazquez

In this deeply thought-provoking conversation, Jen Porter sits down with Lead With Impact founder Cynthia Vazquez to explore the intersection of faith, leadership, humanity, and artificial intelligence. A former federal executive turned AI strategist, Cynthia shares her unexpected journey into the world of AI and why she believes this moment in history is not just a technological shift — but a deeply human one. Together, Jen and Cynthia explore: *  how women can navigate the rapidly changing future of work with courage instead of fear,  *  why AI should amplify humanity rather than replace it,  *  the importance of stewardship over ambition,  *  leadership rooted in values and integrity,  *  trusting God through career pivots and uncertainty,  *  and how technology can actually create more space for meaningful connection, clarity, and purpose.  This conversation is both grounding and empowering — especially for women who sense they are being called to lead differently in a noisy and rapidly evolving world. If you’ve been feeling uncertain about AI, questioning your next step, or longing to lead with greater alignment and intention, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful, challenged, and inspired. “The future isn’t about becoming less human. It’s about learning how to lead with even more wisdom, presence, and courage.” You can connect with Cynthia Vazquez and learn more about her AI leadership training, workshops, and consulting through https://leadwithimpact.io/ or by following her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiavaz-lwi/. To connect with Jen Porter’s coaching, podcast, and leadership work empowering women to lead with courage, clarity, and deeper purpose, visit https://www.jenportercoach.com/

Reclaimed: The Courage to Stop Asking Permission and Start Living | Lindsay Harwell

In this deeply honest and faith-centered conversation, Jen Porter sits down with Lindsay Harwell to explore what it truly means to reclaim your voice, identity, and life—especially in seasons of disruption, transition, and awakening. After a life-altering personal crisis, Lindsay found herself at a crossroads: continue living on autopilot—overextended, people-pleasing, and disconnected from herself—or choose a new path rooted in healing, truth, and courage. What followed was a powerful journey of intentional transformation. Together, Jen and Lindsay unpack the hidden patterns so many women carry—seeking permission, losing themselves in roles and responsibilities, and tying their worth to performance. They challenge the illusion of “having it all” and instead invite women into a deeper question: What is truly mine to carry—and what am I finally ready to release? Lindsay shares how faith, therapy, and radical self-honesty helped her rebuild from the inside out—learning to ask for what she needs, let go of fear-based living, and step boldly into something new. That journey ultimately led to the creation of her podcast, Reclaimed—a space for women navigating identity, purpose, and the courage to begin again. This episode is a call to every woman who feels the quiet nudge: You don’t need permission. You need a decision. And on the other side of that decision… is the life you were meant to live. Check out Reclaimed Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reclaimed-trailer/id1894713160?i=1000762289892 Check out Jen's work and the Lioness Community at https://www.jenportercoach.com/