Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Unspoken Lives Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 054: Homeless and Battling Addiction. Then Elaine Opened Her Door. | Bryan Blackmon, Part 1 | 03 Nov 2026 | 00:28:14 | |
At 42 years old, Bryan Blackmon packed up his life in Texas and moved to California to chase a lifelong dream. Instead, he found himself battling drug and alcohol addiction, experiencing homelessness, and sleeping in his car with no clear way forward. Then an unexpected encounter with an 85-year-old woman named Elaine changed everything. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Unspoken Lives Podcast, Bryan shares the reality behind his struggles with substance abuse, the circumstances that led him to homelessness, and the remarkable friendship that began when he was searching for a place to live. Despite growing up in a loving family, Bryan began experimenting with alcohol and drugs as a teenager. His addiction followed him into adulthood, eventually taking him down a path he never imagined. Even while working in California, he struggled to find stability and spent months living out of his car. Just as he was beginning to wonder how much longer he could keep going, he met Elaine, a woman who had experienced heartbreaking losses of her own. Neither could have known how much their lives were about to change. In this episode, you'll hear:
Bryan's story is a powerful reminder that we never truly know what someone else is going through, and that even the smallest act of kindness can have an extraordinary impact. This is Part 1 of Bryan's story. In Part 2, Bryan shares the moment that changed his perspective on sobriety, his journey toward recovery, and how he is now using his experiences to encourage others through the Crab Crew community. Connect with Bryan Blackmon Learn more about Bryan, Elaine, the Crab Crew community, and Bryan's personal transformation program. Website: https://crabcrewlife.com Find Bryan's TikTok, Instagram, and other social media links through his website. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 053: 42 Years Lost: A Father and Daughter's Emotional Reunion | Millie & Albert, Part 2 | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:23:38 | |
What happens when everything you've believed about your life turns out to be wrong? Millie spent 42 years believing her father had abandoned her. Albert spent those same years unaware that his daughter was alive. Their emotional reunion in Peru finally brought them together, but it also opened the door to decades of unanswered questions, lost time, and difficult emotions. In Part 2, Millie shares what it was like to return home after meeting her father and begin processing the truth. She opens up about the grief of losing 42 years together, her complicated relationship with her mother, and the difficult journey toward forgiveness. Albert reflects on the years he missed with Millie and his four grandsons, while the two share how their faith helped them navigate the pain and uncertainty. Their story takes another unexpected turn when Albert is granted permission to move to the United States, giving them the opportunity to finally build the relationship they had both been missing. Through heartbreak, forgiveness, and faith, Millie and Albert are learning to cherish the time they have together and find joy in the relationship they're building today. In this episode, you'll hear about:
Start with Episode 052, Part 1, to hear how their story began. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 052: The Lie That Kept a Father and Daughter Apart for 42 Years | Millie & Albert, Part 1 | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:27:25 | |
For 42 years, Millie believed her biological father never wanted her. Meanwhile, her father, Albert, had spent decades believing the child he lost had never been born. At just 12 years old, Millie discovered that the man she had grown up calling Dad wasn't her biological father. She was told her real father didn't want daughters, and she carried that belief into adulthood. Thousands of miles away in Peru, Albert had spent years searching for Millie's mother, unaware that his daughter was growing up in the United States. Their lives continued separately, each carrying a very different understanding of what had happened. Millie eventually reconnected with a sister she barely knew, but the truth about her father remained hidden. Everything changed when an unexpected trip to Peru brought Millie face to face with the man she had spent her entire life believing didn't want her. In Part 1, Millie and Albert share their separate experiences, the secrets that kept them apart, the role faith played throughout those years, and the emotional reunion that neither thought would ever happen. In this episode, you'll hear about:
Their story continues in Episode 053, Part 2. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 051: My Unspoken Story: After 50 Episodes, It's My Turn | Kelsey Billingsley | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:37:34 | |
After 50 episodes of asking others to share their stories, I'm finding out just how difficult it can be to sit on the other side of the microphone. This week, my husband Kyle takes over as host of Unspoken Lives Podcast, and I'm the guest. We talk about why I started this podcast, what I've learned from the people I've interviewed, and how my faith has shaped the person I am today. I also share a deeply personal part of my childhood that I once believed I would never tell anyone. This wasn't an easy conversation for me to have, and releasing it feels even more vulnerable. Still, after hearing so many guests open up about their own experiences, I felt it was time to share part of mine. We also talk about marriage, motherhood, the impact of listening to others, and what I hope our children learn from watching us pursue something we believe in. My hope is that this conversation encourages someone to feel a little less alone and reminds them that their story matters, too. Content Note: This episode includes a personal discussion of childhood sexual abuse and its lasting impact. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 050: Her Biological Father Never Knew She Existed | Melody Wilson, Part 2 | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:26:11 | |
For six months, Melody Wilson knew the name of her biological father but wasn’t ready to contact him. She had imagined just about every way it could go wrong. Then, before she ever made a move, a message appeared in her 23andMe account from Dennis, one of the unexpected DNA matches from Part 1. Dennis was her biological uncle, and things moved quickly from there. He called his brother Jimmy and told him he had a daughter he never knew existed. Jimmy’s reaction was nothing like Melody had prepared herself for. He cried tears of joy and said words she never expected to hear: “We’ve always wanted a girl.” Five days later, Melody was standing on Jimmy’s doorstep. What started with two unfamiliar names on a DNA test had led her to a biological father, five half-brothers and a large Greek family ready to welcome her. Melody shares what those first meetings were like, how her family grew without replacing the people who had always been family, and how the experience ultimately expanded her sense of identity and belonging. The story also led Melody to think differently about what family could look like in her own future. She shares her decision to freeze her eggs, how a difficult experience in California led her to explore fertility care in Spain, and why her own experience eventually inspired her to create AZA Fertility. In this episode, we talk about:
Connect with Melody: AZA Fertility: AZA Fertility Instagram: Melody’s Instagram: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 049: A DNA Test Revealed a Family She Never Knew | Melody Wilson, Part 1 | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:30:05 | |
Melody Wilson took a 23andMe test expecting to learn a little more about her ancestry. Nearly a year later, she logged back in and noticed something she had completely missed the first time: two names she had never seen before, both sharing about 25% of her DNA, roughly the same amount she shared with her own brother. Naturally, Melody started digging. One search led to another, then another. Late-night research, family trees and an obituary started connecting dots she never knew existed. Suddenly, a Christmas-gift DNA test was pointing toward an entire side of her family she had never known and a biological father she had never met. The discovery was especially surprising because Melody had never questioned who her biological father was. She had spent more than 30 years knowing one version of her family story. Now she had new names, new questions and a decision to make about whether she wanted to find out where they might lead. In Part 1, Melody shares the twists of figuring out what those DNA matches actually meant, the moment everything started to click and what it felt like to realize her family story was much bigger than she had always known. Finding his name was one thing. Deciding whether to open the door to whatever might be waiting on the other side was another. In this episode, we talk about:
Connect with Melody: AZA Fertility: https://azafertility.com/ AZA Fertility Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azafertility Melody’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meljoywil/ Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 048: First Brush Your Teeth: The Power of the Next Small Step | Lisa Espinoza, Part 2 | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:25:48 | |
Lisa Espinoza made a commitment to write every day for the year following the loss of her 25-year-old son, Chandler. What began as a way to process her grief and honor her son eventually became her book, First, Brush Your Teeth: Grief and Hope in Real Time, and helped Lisa put words to something she had already been learning to live: the power of taking the next small step. Lisa shares why she wanted her writing to show grief as it really was, including the first Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas without Chandler. She didn’t want to offer a how-to or put a neat ending on child loss. She wanted someone walking through grief to be able to see that another step was possible. That idea became the heart of First Brush Your Teeth. Some days, moving forward may simply mean getting out of bed, walking to the sink and brushing your teeth. Lisa explains why the next small step doesn’t only apply to grief. Hard seasons take many forms, and sometimes looking at the entire mountain makes moving forward feel impossible. Lisa also talks about finding purpose in helping other people feel less alone, why real stories matter, and the role faith continues to play in the way she approaches difficult seasons. Her closing encouragement is simple: don’t focus on the whole mountain ahead. Find the one small step that can move you forward today. This is a conversation about grief, resilience, faith, moving forward after loss, finding purpose through pain, and taking the next step when life feels overwhelming. Connect with Lisa: Find Lisa’s book: 🎧 Listen to Unspoken Lives Podcast: https://www.unspokenlives.com/#listen Hosted by Kelsey Billingsley | Unspoken Lives Podcast Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 047: What Would Honor Chandler? Grieving the Loss of a Child | Lisa Espinoza, Part 1 | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:32:14 | |
Lisa Espinoza’s life changed when her 25-year-old son, Chandler, was struck by a car while riding his bike to work. Eighteen days later, Lisa stood beside his hospital bed, held his hand, and watched him take his last breath. Lisa shares who Chandler was beyond the tragedy that took his life and what it has meant to grieve the loss of a child while learning how to keep living. She opens up about the unpredictable nature of grief, why she no longer believes grief follows a linear path, and what she learned about allowing yourself to feel the pain rather than trying to push it away. One question eventually became an important part of the way Lisa carried Chandler with her: What would honor Chandler? A friend even gave her a ring engraved with WWHC as a reminder. Lisa began asking herself what it could look like to continue living while still honoring the son she loved and missed. That question eventually led to another idea that would shape her life and her writing: taking the next sacred small step, even when that step is simply brushing your teeth. Lisa also shares the role faith played during Chandler’s 18 days in the hospital. Christmas was approaching, and she found herself holding onto one truth above everything else: Emmanuel. God is with me. This is a conversation about child loss, grief, faith, motherhood, and learning to live alongside a loss that will always be part of you. Connect with Lisa: 🎧 Listen to Unspoken Lives Podcast: https://www.unspokenlives.com/listen Hosted by Kelsey Billingsley | Unspoken Lives Podcast Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 046: Finding Love After Losing Love | Ryon Harms, Part 2 | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:55:49 | |
After losing his wife, Laurie, Ryon Harms became a young widower and single father trying to figure out what life after loss was supposed to look like. Ryon had spent ten years building a life with Laurie, loving her through an extraordinarily difficult illness and eventually becoming a father to their daughter, Sky. Losing Laurie meant grieving the person he loved while also learning how to navigate a future he never expected to face without her. Ryon shares the complicated emotions that followed her death, raising Sky as a single father, dating as a widower, and slowly discovering who he was in this new chapter of his life. A trip to Chile eventually introduced Ryon to Angela, and an unexpected connection quickly became something much deeper. Ryon began to understand that finding love again didn't mean replacing the love he had with Laurie or trying to recreate it. His love for Angela was entirely its own, and as their relationship grew, so did the realization that he had found someone he wanted to build the next chapter of his life with. What began as a chance meeting became another great love story Ryon never could have predicted. Ryon's story explores grief, widowhood, life after losing a spouse, single fatherhood, dating after loss, finding love again, and the beautiful possibility that sometimes lightning really can strike twice. Hosted by Kelsey Billingsley | Unspoken Lives Podcast Connect with Ryon Harms: Listen to Unspoken Lives Podcast: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 045: They Were Given Two Years. They Built a Life Anyway. | Ryon Harms, Part 1 | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:55:15 | |
What does it look like to build a life with someone when you know tomorrow isn't guaranteed? Ryon Harms and Laurie were young and in love when a medical crisis changed everything. After years of unexplained swelling and debilitating pain, Laurie’s scans eventually made their way to a doctor at Harvard, who told her family that she had essentially been walking around with a broken neck. Ryon left his life in San Francisco and drove through the night to be by her side. After a nearly 14-hour surgery to rebuild her spine, the surgeon delivered news no one was prepared for: Laurie had two years to live. Ryon and Laurie chose to build a life anyway. They married, settled into life together and eventually became parents to their daughter, Sky. As the two-year mark came and went, Laurie was still there. For a time, life even began to feel normal again. In Part 1, Ryon shares the love story that shaped his life, the uncertainty they learned to live with and what happened when the future they thought they had escaped suddenly became uncertain all over again. It’s a story about choosing to live today when you know tomorrow isn't guaranteed, and just how much life can happen in the time you’re given. Connect with Ryon: Website & writing: ryonharms.com Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 044: He Could Only Save Two Children | Isaac Melber, Part 2 | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:31:27 | |
Thirteen years after leaving Ethiopia, Isaac Melber returned to the country and family he had never stopped thinking about. The journey brought him back to the village where he was born, to family members he hadn't seen since childhood, and to the graves of the parents he lost so young. He had spent years wondering about the life and people he left behind. Now, he was finally able to ask questions and hear pieces of his own story he had never known. One of those answers would completely change the way Isaac understood why he left Ethiopia in the first place. In Part 2, Isaac shares what it was like to return to his village and reunite with his family after 13 years. He also shares the conversation with his uncle that revealed just how serious the circumstances had been when Isaac was a child and why his uncle was forced to make an unimaginable choice involving two children. That conversation eventually gave Isaac the words for his story: Twice Delivered. What began with loss, adoption, two families and two very different worlds became a story Isaac now sees through the lens of faith, purpose and one redeeming love. Connect with Isaac: Website: isaacmelber.com Isaac's book: Learn more about Twice Delivered Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 043: “Isaac, Follow Me”: His Dream of the Man in White | Isaac Melber, Part 1 | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:30:55 | |
Isaac Melber was born in a remote village in Ethiopia. After losing both of his parents at a young age, he was placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a family in the United States. At five years old, Isaac was suddenly living in a new country, learning a new language and trying to understand a life that looked nothing like the one he had left behind. He was loved by his new family, but that didn't mean the transition was easy. Isaac shares the anger and questions he carried with him, his struggle to understand why God would allow so much loss, and the identity questions that came with growing up between two families and two worlds. Then, at seven years old, Isaac had a dream he has never forgotten. A man dressed in white called him by name and said, “Isaac, follow me.” In Part 1, Isaac shares the story of that dream, the role it played in his faith, the challenges of adjusting to his new life, and the longing he continued to carry for the family and country he left behind. Years later, Isaac would finally have the opportunity to return to Ethiopia and search for answers about the life he left behind. Connect with Isaac: Website: isaacmelber.com Isaac's book: Learn more about Twice Delivered Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 042: Why Community Matters More Than Opportunity | Jordan Bartlett, Part 2 | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:19:25 | |
What happens when you give someone an opportunity, but they don't have the support or community they need to navigate everything that comes with it? In this episode, Jordan Bartlett shares what years of working alongside current and former foster youth have taught him about resilience, asking for help, and why opportunity alone isn't always enough. He shares the story of a young man who rode his bike four hours to work each way, only to lose his job after falling asleep during a shift, and what Jordan learned when he took the time to ask more questions. That same desire to remove barriers eventually led Jordan into the world of technology and AI. He explains why he believes new technology could give everyday people and small teams the ability to solve problems that once required enormous resources, and how he's using it to make complicated information easier to access. Then the conversation becomes much more personal. Jordan shares about his daughter Jessie's diagnosis with Rett syndrome and the moment he realized their lives had changed forever. Suddenly, he was the one overwhelmed by information, trying to understand medical research, insurance, and what his daughter's future might look like. That experience created an unexpected connection between his work, his interest in AI, and his hope for what technology could someday mean for Jesse and others with Rett syndrome. He also shares how a difficult night with Jesse unexpectedly turned him into a runner. What began as an attempt to help her sleep became something they both loved and a special place of peace and connection between a father and his daughter. In this episode, we talk about:
From his work with foster youth to fatherhood, technology, and running, Jordan's story shows how experiences that once seemed completely unrelated can begin to connect and shape a greater sense of purpose. 🎙️ Listen to Part 2 of Jordan Bartlett's story on Unspoken Lives Podcast. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 041: A Stranger Said, "I'm Your Sister" | Jordan Bartlett, Part 1 | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:22:15 | |
Jordan Bartlett was adopted when he was very young and raised by two loving parents, knowing little about the biological family he came from. Then, at 19 years old, a young woman he had never met walked up to him and said three words that would eventually change the direction of his life: “I’m your sister.” In Part 1 of this conversation, Jordan shares what it was like to discover a sibling he never knew, how they slowly began building a relationship, and what he learned about the very different life she had lived in and out of foster care. As he came to understand more of her story, he also began looking more closely at the foster care system, the barriers young people face after leaving it, and the difference that support and community can make. Jordan also reflects on the experiences that awakened a deeper sense of purpose in his own life, including a powerful encounter while volunteering at Ronald McDonald House and the decision to leave a more traditional career path in search of work that felt meaningful. That journey eventually led him to co-found Doing Good Works, a social enterprise built to support young people aging out of foster care. This conversation explores family, identity, empathy, and the unexpected moments that can redirect an entire life. It is also a reminder that sometimes understanding someone else’s story changes the way we see our own. Connect with Jordan: Listen & Subscribe If this conversation encouraged you, please follow, rate, and review Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Sharing episodes with friends and family is one of the best ways to help these stories reach more people. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 040: The Calling You Think You Missed May Still Be Waiting | Holiday Zimmerman, Part 2 | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:18:00 | |
Have you ever wondered if you missed what God was calling you to do? If you've been questioning your next step, wondering if it's too late, or searching for direction, this conversation is a reminder that God isn't finished with your story. Maybe fear got in the way. Maybe life took an unexpected turn. Or maybe you simply said no because you didn't feel ready. In Part 2, Holiday Zimmerman shares why she believes God is far more patient and gracious than we often imagine. From walking through deep depression to leading a nonprofit that now serves thousands of people throughout Orange County, she reflects on healing, trusting wise counsel, and why she doesn't believe God gives up on the purpose He has for our lives. In this episode:
Learn more about Holiday and The Hub OC: Website: https://thehuboc.org Meet the team: https://thehuboc.org/our-team Instagram: @thehuboc Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 039: I Said No Four Times...Until God Brought It Back | Holiday Zimmerman, Part 1 | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:22:52 | |
What if the opportunities you're resisting are the very ones God is using to shape your purpose? After the unexpected loss of her father and a season of deep depression, Holiday Zimmerman wasn't looking to start a nonprofit. In fact, when opportunity after opportunity landed in front of her, she kept saying no. Four times. Every time she said no, the opportunity came back. Today, Holiday serves as CEO of The Hub OC, a nonprofit that partners with churches, schools, cities, and volunteers to serve people experiencing homelessness, poverty, human trafficking, and hardship throughout Orange County, California. In Part 1, Holiday shares how one unexpected "yes" changed the course of her life, why she believes God doesn't give up on us when we're afraid, and the incredible ways He provided exactly what was needed at every step. In this episode:
Learn more about Holiday and The Hub OC: Website: https://thehuboc.org Meet the team: https://thehuboc.org/our-team Instagram: @thehuboc Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 038: Stop Chasing the People Who Don't Choose You | Tayler Meade, Part 2 | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:20:35 | |
What if the answer isn't finding the right people? What if it's finding your identity in the right place? In Part 2, Tayler Meade shares how her relationship with Jesus transformed the way she viewed loneliness, friendships, and belonging. She explains why people can never fill a God-sized gap, why healing often takes time, and how learning to trust God's plan gave her the freedom to stop chasing the approval of others. This conversation is a reminder that while rejection may be part of your story, it doesn't have to define your future. In this episode:
Learn more about Tayler: Website: https://www.taylermeade.com/ Instagram: @taylermeade_ Read her book: A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 037: Why Wasn't I Invited? The Hurt We Don't Talk About | Tayler Meade, Part 1 | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:25:36 | |
Have you ever wondered why certain moments of rejection stay with you long after they've happened? In Part 1 of this conversation, Tayler Meade shares the personal experience that inspired her book, A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass. What began with the pain of feeling left out eventually became a journey of discovering where true identity and belonging are found. Together, we talk about loneliness, people-pleasing, the pressure to fit in, and how experiences from childhood, high school, and adulthood can quietly shape the way we see ourselves. Tayler also shares how her growing relationship with Jesus began changing the way she viewed rejection, friendships, and her own worth. In this episode:
Learn more about Tayler: Website: https://www.taylermeade.com/ Instagram: @taylermeade_ Read her book: A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 036: It Ends With Me - Breaking Generational Curses | Lonni Asher, Part 2 | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:27:56 | |
As a child, Lonni Asher survived war, piracy, abuse, and trauma. But survival wasn't the end of her story. In Part 2 of this conversation, Lonni shares what happened after the crisis was over. She opens up about the years of emotional pain she carried, the multiple suicide attempts that nearly ended her life, and the difficult journey from survival to healing. She also shares the story of receiving a stage-four cervical cancer diagnosis, the prayers that followed, and the miraculous healing that forever deepened her faith. As the conversation unfolds, Lonni explains why she believes generational pain doesn't have to define future generations and why one decision can change the course of a family's story. This is a conversation about healing, faith, miracles, forgiveness, and choosing to say, "It starts with me. It ends with me." In this episode:
About Lonni: Lonni Asher is a pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of Believe Church in Orange County, California. Through her ministry, writing, and personal testimony, she helps others find healing, freedom, and purpose through Christ. Connect with Lonni: Book: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 035: A Refugee Boat, Seven Pirate Attacks, and a Promise to God | Lonni Asher, Part 1 | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:34:19 | |
Born in Vietnam, Lonni Asher's story begins with a desperate escape. As a young child, Lonni and her family fled Vietnam on an overcrowded fishing boat in search of freedom. During their journey, they encountered pirate ships multiple times, endured extreme hunger and thirst, and faced moments that should have ended in tragedy. In Part 1 of this conversation, Lonni shares the incredible story of surviving seven pirate encounters, her mother's desperate prayers to a God she did not yet know, and the moments she now believes revealed God's hand on her life long before her family came to faith. But survival was only the beginning. After arriving in America, Lonni faced years of abuse, trauma, hopelessness, and multiple suicide attempts before discovering the faith that would ultimately transform her life. In this episode:
About Lonni: Lonni Asher is a pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of Believe Church in Orange County, California. Through her ministry, writing, and personal testimony, she helps others find healing, freedom, and purpose through Christ. Connect with Lonni: Book: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 034: From Iran to America: When Jesus Changed Everything | Lily Ricci, Part 2 | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:26:58 | |
Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Lily Ricci's journey brought her from Iran to Germany and eventually to the United States, where cultural expectations and family circumstances led her into a marriage she never wanted. After years of manipulation, abuse, and hopelessness, Lily found herself searching for answers she could no longer find on her own. In Part 2 of this conversation, Lily shares the moment everything changed. What began as a search for answers became a powerful spiritual awakening that transformed her faith, gave her the courage to pursue freedom, and ultimately led her to a calling she never imagined. What followed was a journey of healing, purpose, and redemption. Today, Lily helps bring hope to people throughout Iran through her work with Iran Alive Ministries. In this episode:
About Lily: Today, Lily serves as Director of Partner Relations for Iran Alive Ministries, helping share the Gospel with Iranians around the world and supporting ministry efforts throughout Iran. Learn more: Connect with Lily: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 033: From Iran to America: An Arranged Marriage and a Search for Hope | Lily Ricci, Part 1 | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:31:37 | |
Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Lily Ricci grew up in a loving family surrounded by strong family bonds and cultural traditions. At the same time, she lived in a society where opportunities and expectations for women were very different than they were for men. When financial hardship forced her family to leave everything behind and start over in Germany, the life she had always known disappeared almost overnight. At sixteen, Lily found herself navigating a new country, a new language, and a new identity. Just two years later, another move brought her to the United States, where cultural expectations and family circumstances led her into a marriage she never wanted, trapping her in fourteen years of manipulation, control, and abuse. In Part 1 of this conversation, Lily shares her journey from Iran to Germany to America, the challenges of starting over, and the painful circumstances that left her searching for hope. In this episode:
Next week in Part 2, Lily shares how a life-changing encounter transformed her faith, gave her the courage to pursue freedom, and ultimately led her to a calling she never imagined. About Lily: Today, Lily serves as Director of Partner Relations for Iran Alive Ministries, helping share the Gospel with Iranians around the world and supporting ministry efforts throughout Iran. Learn more: Connect with Lily: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 032: I Thought Something Was Wrong With Me | Kendall Mariah, Part 2 | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:23:55 | |
In part two of this conversation, Kendall Mariah shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led to her autism diagnosis as an adult. Kendall opens up about growing up feeling different, struggling socially while excelling academically, and spending years masking parts of herself without fully understanding why. She speaks candidly about high-masking autism in women, ADHD, sensory struggles, shame, identity, and the emotional weight of constantly feeling misunderstood. Kendall also vulnerably shares experiences surrounding purity culture, sexual assault, and the pressure many people feel to hide parts of themselves in order to fit in. Throughout the episode, Kendall continually comes back to one powerful message: people are often carrying far more than we realize. This conversation is emotional, honest, and deeply human. Topics discussed: Connect with Kendall: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 031: The Questions I Was Never Supposed to Ask | Kendall Mariah, Part 1 | 26 May 2026 | 00:29:10 | |
What happens when faith no longer feels simple? In this conversation, Kendall Mariah opens up about the tension of deeply loving God while struggling with parts of Christian culture that often leave little room for honesty, grief, mental health struggles, or difficult questions. Kendall shares how infertility, anxiety, internal conflict, and years of wrestling quietly with her own thoughts pushed her into asking deeper questions about faith, identity, and what it really means to follow Jesus. Together, we talk about church hurt, political division within Christianity, deconstruction, and why so many people silently feel disconnected while still desperately wanting to hold onto their faith. Kendall also shares why she believes questions are not proof of weak faith, but often evidence that someone still deeply cares. This conversation is thoughtful, vulnerable, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever wrestled with belief, disappointment, or the fear of asking difficult questions out loud. Topics discussed: Connect with Kendall: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 030: Your Story Wasn’t for You | Malaysia Harrell, Part 2 | 19 May 2026 | 00:22:43 | |
In Part 2 of this conversation, Malaysia Harrell shares how her healing journey, faith, and spiritual growth inspired the work she does today helping other women step into alignment and purpose. Malaysia opens up about writing her book, God Has My Six, and the realization that her story was meant to encourage and impact others walking through their own difficult seasons. She also reflects on the lessons she learned through adversity, the importance of surrender, and how she now helps women reconnect with themselves and their calling. Throughout the episode, Malaysia discusses: This conversation is reflective, encouraging, and filled with perspective for anyone navigating change, uncertainty, or personal growth. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 029: The Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything | Malaysia Harrell, Part 1 | 12 May 2026 | 00:30:01 | |
Malaysia Harrell is a Board-Certified Psychotherapist, Spiritual Transformation Coach, Author of God Has My Six, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Founder of the Align Success Academy, and Founder and President of the Malaysia Harrell Foundation. In Part 1 of this conversation, Malaysia shares the experiences that shaped her journey, including childhood adversity, military service, and the near-death medical experience that completely changed the way she viewed success, purpose, faith, and healing. She reflects on the pressure many people feel to keep pushing forward while carrying challenges privately, and how her life experiences ultimately led her toward a deeper sense of alignment and purpose. Malaysia also shares what it was like serving during the height of COVID as the lead mental health provider in the Navajo Nation before later facing the medical crisis that became a major turning point in her life. This episode explores: Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 028: Finding Purpose in the Pain | Jacqueline Diaz-Fontana, Part 2 | 05 May 2026 | 00:19:50 | |
Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Part 2 continues Jacqueline’s story, moving into what came after the loss. She shares what those months really looked like, the anger, the grief, and the weight of unanswered questions. The parts people don’t always see or talk about. After months of carrying that weight, she reached a breaking point. Jacqueline opens up about the moment she prayed for the first time again, and how that moment shifted something in her. What followed was a clear sense of direction she believes God placed on her heart. From that place, she began to rebuild, eventually creating something to help others walking through similar pain. In Part 2, she shares: This is a conversation about grief, but also about what can come from it. Jacqueline is the founder of the Erick A. Garcia You Are Enough Foundation, created in honor of her son to bring awareness, support, and resources to individuals and families impacted by mental health struggles and suicide loss. 🔗 Learn more or support her work: https://www.youareenoughfoundation.org/ If you or someone you know is in immediate need of support, call or text 988 in the U.S. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 027: Losing Her Son, Erick | Jacqueline Diaz-Fontana, Part 1 | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:27:16 | |
Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. This is a heavy conversation. Jacqueline opens up about a topic that isn’t often talked about, but needs to be. She shares about her son, Erick, who she lost to suicide in 2017. Not just what happened, but who he was, what their relationship looked like, and what it’s like to live with the kind of loss that changes everything. There are questions that come with this kind of grief. Questions about what was missed, what could have been different, and how something like this happens. Jacqueline speaks to those openly, in a way that many people are afraid to. In Part 1, she shares: This is not an easy conversation, but it’s an important one. Jacqueline is the founder of the Erick A. Garcia You Are Enough Foundation, created in honor of her son to bring awareness, support, and resources to individuals and families impacted by mental health struggles and suicide loss. 🔗 Learn more or get involved: https://www.youareenoughfoundation.org/ If you or someone you know is in immediate need of support, call or text 988 in the U.S. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 026: Promise Me You’ll Keep Him Loved and Safe | Gina Litvack, Part 2 | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:23:50 | |
This is Part 2 of Gina Litvack’s story. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I recommend starting there. After years of being told no while pursuing adoption as a single woman, Gina finally stepped into the life she had been hoping for. In this episode, Gina shares what happened next. From the moment everything shifted, to navigating those first few days as a new mom, to bringing her son home, this part of her story captures the reality behind the moment she had waited so long for. She opens up about the emotions, the uncertainty, the support she experienced along the way, and the deep sense of gratitude she carries today. What you’ll hear in Part 2: At the heart of this story is a reminder that the path may not look the way you expected, but it can still lead exactly where you’re meant to be. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 025: She Was Told No Seven Times | Gina Litvack, Part 1 | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:25:31 | |
Gina Litvack always knew she wanted to be a mom. What she didn’t expect was being told no seven different times while pursuing adoption as a single woman. Still, she refused to give up. In Part 1, Gina shares the years of rejection, waiting, and perseverance that came before her life changed forever. But beyond her story itself, Gina brings a perspective and joy that is impossible not to walk away inspired by. In this episode, Gina shares:
This is a story about resilience, persistence, and refusing to let closed doors define your future. Part 2 shares the moment everything changed. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 024: What Happened After Everything Changed | Nolan Thomas, Part 2 | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:18:34 | |
This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there. After being told he was cancer-free, Nolan Thomas began planning what life would look like next. Everything changed again. His cancer returned and progressed to Stage 4. What followed was not just another round of treatment, but a complete shift in mindset, identity, and faith. In Part 2, Nolan shares what it looks like to keep going in the middle of uncertainty, how his perspective has changed, and why he chose to speak publicly about his experience. In this episode, we talk about: Nolan’s story is honest, raw, and still unfolding. If someone keeps coming to mind while you’re listening, share this episode with them. It could make more of an impact than you realize. Follow Nolan and support his journey: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nolans-heroes-help-him-take-on-the-villain-of-cancer/donations Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 023: 21, Healthy, and Diagnosed with Cancer | Nolan Thomas, Part 1 | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:20:37 | |
At 21 years old, Nolan Thomas was active, healthy, and focused on his future. Cancer was not even a consideration. When symptoms started, he did what most people would do and went to the hospital. His age and overall appearance of good health led medical staff to turn him away more than once before he finally received answers. Those answers changed everything. In Part 1, Nolan shares what it looked like to go from a normal life to a life-altering diagnosis almost overnight, along with the physical and mental toll that followed. In this episode, we talk about: This is the kind of story that shifts perspective. If someone comes to mind while you’re listening, send this episode to them. It might be exactly what they need. Follow Nolan and support his journey: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nolans-heroes-help-him-take-on-the-villain-of-cancer/donations Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 022: From Fear to Freedom - Leaving an Abusive Relationship | Natalie Mika, Part 2 | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:19:08 | |
This episode is part two of a two-part conversation. After recognizing the danger she and her son were facing, Natalie made the difficult decision to step away from an abusive situation and begin rebuilding. The path forward was not simple. Legal challenges, uncertainty, and fear were still very real parts of the journey. Natalie reflects on the moments where her faith carried her through some of the most difficult days, especially while navigating the legal process and learning how to rebuild a life that felt safe again. Today, Natalie is working full time, raising her son, and beginning the early stages of launching a foundation designed to support women who may be facing situations similar to the one she experienced. Her goal is simple. To create a place where women can find resources, support, and the reminder that they are not alone. As Natalie shares in this episode, the hardest seasons do not define the whole story. They are only one chapter. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 021: From Fear to Freedom - Leaving an Abusive Relationship | Natalie Mika, Part 1 | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:24:12 | |
This episode discusses domestic abuse. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of Unspoken Lives, Natalie Mika shares a chapter of her life she kept hidden for years. From the outside, life looked normal. She was raising her son, working, and showing up every day like everything was fine. But behind closed doors, Natalie was living through an abusive relationship that slowly escalated from emotional and verbal abuse into something far more dangerous. Like many women in similar situations, shame and isolation kept her silent for a long time. Even when she felt afraid, reaching out felt impossible. In this conversation, Natalie opens up about what it was like to carry that reality while trying to maintain everyday life and protect her son. She shares the fear, the isolation, and the difficult decisions that eventually led her to recognize that something had to change. Even in the midst of those moments, Natalie reflects on how her faith continued to shape her perspective and sustain her through the uncertainty. Natalie’s story continues next week. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 020: How a Tiny Heart Rewrote Our Story | Susan Mazzella, Part 2 | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:22:52 | |
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of child loss and grief. After a medical crisis that began just minutes after her son’s birth, Susan and her husband faced months of uncertainty that would ultimately lead to profound loss. In this episode, we move beyond the hospital room and into the long and often unseen road of grief. Susan reflects on what it meant to return home and continue living while carrying heartbreak. She shares how she grieved not only her son, but the future she once imagined, and what it looked like to hold both sorrow and hope at the same time. We talk about how suffering reshaped her faith in steady, daily ways. Not through dramatic declarations, but through quiet dependence on God in ordinary moments. She speaks about discovering that grace is not something you prepare for in advance. It meets you in the exact moment you need it. Susan also offers thoughtful perspective on supporting grieving families, speaking openly about children who have passed, and the strength she and her husband found in one another during their hardest season. This conversation closes with a deeper understanding of what it means to trust God through both heartbreak and hope, and how even the smallest heart can leave a lasting mark. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 019: How a Tiny Heart Rewrote Our Story | Susan Mazzella, Part 1 | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:29:56 | |
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of infant medical trauma and child loss. At 20 weeks pregnant, Susan and her husband learned their baby boy had a serious heart defect. They were given a plan and a path forward. Surgery would take place shortly after birth, and while the diagnosis was overwhelming, there was direction and preparation. What they could not foresee was how quickly that path would change. Just 45 minutes after Tommy was born, a nurse rushed into their hospital room with urgent news. In an instant, they moved from scheduled plans to a fight for their son’s life. In this first part of our conversation, Susan shares those early days with honesty and depth. She speaks about sitting in uncertainty, hearing doctors prepare them for outcomes they never imagined, and holding faith alongside very real fear. She describes the profound peace that met her in moments she cannot fully explain, and the way her trust in God steadied her when everything around her felt fragile. This episode traces the beginning of a story that would deepen her understanding of suffering, strengthen her reliance on God, and shape the way she walks through hardship today. Part two will continue next week as we step further into what followed. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 018: Don’t Lose Yourself - Infertility and Identity | Shelley Stephan, Part 2 | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:21:27 | |
Content note: This episode includes discussion of infertility and miscarriage. Please listen with care if this topic is tender for you. In Part 2 of this conversation, Shelley shares what happened beneath the surface. The grief. The anger. The wrestling with faith. The questions she never imagined asking. After years of infertility and pregnancy loss, Shelley reached a point where the pain felt consuming. In this episode, she speaks honestly about what it looked like to wrestle with God, sit in disappointment, and slowly rebuild her sense of identity after loss. Today, Shelley is a licensed professional counselor specializing in infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal mental health. The very season that once felt defining is now the place from which she serves others with compassion, patience, and understanding. This conversation is about grief that is often unseen, faith that is stretched, and redemption that unfolds slowly. It is a reminder that a chapter may shape you, but it does not get the final word. If you have ever felt defined by a season you did not choose, this episode is for you. Listen now to Part 2 of Shelley’s story on Unspoken Lives Podcast. Resources mentioned: Guest: Shelley Stephan, Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal mental health Website: https://stephancounseling.com Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 017: Don’t Lose Yourself - Infertility and Identity | Shelley Stephan: Part 1 | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:27:56 | |
Gentle Content Note: This episode includes discussion of infertility, miscarriage, and pregnancy loss. If this topic is tender for you, please listen with care. Shelley never imagined infertility would become one of the defining chapters of her life. What began as hope for a growing family turned into years of trying to conceive, fertility treatments, miscarriage, and emotional heartbreak. In part one of this conversation, she shares the real and often unspoken experience of infertility, including the isolation, the pressure, the perfectionism, and the desire to control what feels uncontrollable. At one point, she realized infertility had quietly become her identity. It consumed her thoughts and shaped how she saw herself. This episode explores the emotional toll of infertility, grief after miscarriage, identity loss, and the difficult process of letting go of control. Shelley is now a licensed professional counselor specializing in infertility, pregnancy loss, maternal mental health, anxiety, and depression. What she did not yet know during those painful years was that this chapter would become the foundation of her calling. Through her own experiences with infertility and pregnancy loss, she gained a depth of understanding that now shapes the way she supports other women navigating similar journeys. The storm she walked through would later allow her to sit across from others in theirs. If you are walking through infertility or feeling like a difficult season is defining you, this conversation will resonate deeply. Resources mentioned: Guest: Shelley Stephan, Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal mental health Website: https://stephancounseling.com Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 016: Becoming the Glue | Laura Thielemann, Part 2 | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:24:05 | |
In part two of Laura Thielemann’s story, the conversation continues into career, leadership, and the values that have guided her forward. Laura shares how she built a successful career in healthcare administration through determination, consistency, and a belief that if she committed fully, she would find a way forward. She reflects on how her mindset, rooted in perseverance and self-belief, shaped her professional growth even when she didn’t start out knowing exactly where the path would lead. Throughout the conversation, Laura speaks to the importance of growth across generations. She shares her belief that each generation has a responsibility to do better than the one before it, to learn from what came earlier, and to carry forward what truly matters. These lessons influence the way she leads, the way she parents, and the way she shows up for her family today. This episode is about becoming the glue through intention, effort, and love. It’s a reminder that success isn’t accidental, growth doesn’t happen overnight, and forward movement is possible when you choose to keep going, even when the path isn’t clearly defined. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 015: Becoming the Glue | Laura Thielemann, Part 1 | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:32:14 | |
Laura Thielemann was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where she spent much of her childhood being raised by her grandparents while her mother worked in the United States to build a future for their family. It was a childhood rooted in love, tradition, and the steady presence of family who helped shape Laura’s sense of belonging. At twelve years old, Laura moved to the U.S. and reunited with her mother after years apart. She entered a completely new culture and had to slowly find her footing in a place that felt unfamiliar. Without speaking English, Laura began learning the language through Disney movies, navigating school, and discovering how to keep moving forward through seasons of change. In part one of this conversation, Laura reflects on family, generational influence, and the resilience that forms over time. This episode is a reminder that even when life brings transition and uncertainty, love, perspective, and perseverance can carry us forward. Part two continues next week. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 014: When the Fast Life Slows Down | Brandon, Part 2 | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:30:19 | |
In part two of Brandon’s story, he returns to share the pieces he wasn’t ready to say out loud the first time we talked. After living a fast, dangerous life shaped by drugs, violence, loyalty, and loss, Brandon reflects on the moments that followed. The realities of prison, the people he lost along the way, and what it looks like to rebuild life at a slower pace after everything he once knew came to a stop. This conversation goes deeper into faith, identity, anger, patience, and the mental challenges of starting over after years of survival mode. Brandon speaks honestly about learning to live differently, the tension between who he was and who he’s becoming, and why staying the course now matters more than ever. This episode is for anyone who has had to slow down, start over, or learn a new way to live after life forced change. If you haven’t listened to part one of Brandon’s story yet, I’d encourage you to start there. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 013: When the Fast Life Slows Down | Brandon, Part 1 | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:25:53 | |
Brandon grew up learning how to survive early, navigating life largely on his own. What followed was a fast, dangerous world shaped by anger, loyalty, money, and choices made long before he understood their weight. That path eventually led him to prison, a place Brandon now reflects on as the moment his life was forced to slow down and, in many ways, the reason he is still here today. In part one of Brandon’s story, he shares what life looks like now after years of moving at full speed. He reflects on growing up around drugs and violence, selling at a young age, losing close friends, and how slowing down changed the way he sees the world. Through it all, he shares the lessons he’s still learning about patience, responsibility, faith, and what it means to live a different kind of life now. This conversation is honest, raw, and deeply human. It’s a reminder that we often cross paths with people every day without knowing the life they’ve lived or what shaped the person in front of us. In part two, Brandon returns to share the parts of his story he wasn’t ready to say out loud the first time we talked. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 012: Faith in the Valley | Angela Taylor, Part 2 | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:28:12 | |
Life does not always go the way we plan, and sometimes the challenges we face feel bigger than we can handle. In Part 2 of Angela Taylor’s story, she dives deeper into the valleys of life, sharing moments of doubt, heartbreak, and the struggle to balance personal faith with the pressures of parenthood and work. Angela opens up about navigating difficult seasons, from professional setbacks to the emotional weight of raising a family while finances are tight. She shares how the lows in her life, including loss, frustration, and feeling powerless, have become opportunities for growth, healing, and a stronger faith. Through her story, you will hear how leaning on God, seeking support, and facing struggles honestly can transform even the hardest seasons. Angela’s journey is a powerful reminder that hope, purpose, and resilience can be found in the darkest valleys. What you will hear in Part 2:
Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 011: Faith in the Valley | Angela Taylor, Part 1 | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:40:40 | |
Faith isn’t always easy. Sometimes it is tested in ways that leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about life, God, and yourself. In this powerful conversation, Angela Taylor opens up about the valleys she has faced, moments of heartbreak, the challenge of managing family life on a tight budget, and feeling powerless in the midst of it all. As she navigates the highs and lows of her business and the demands of parenthood, Angela shares how faith and perseverance helped her survive seasons that could have crushed her. She talks about the emotional toll of slow business, impossible decisions, and feeling like her prayers were not being answered, yet still finding hope and purpose when she needed it most. If you have ever felt like life is out of your control, this episode is a raw reminder that God is at work even in the valleys. Angela’s story will challenge you to trust the process, lean into faith, and find strength when you feel powerless. What you will hear in Part 1:
Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 010: A Holiday Pause and a Quiet Invitation | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:04:40 | |
This week’s episode is a short holiday message and a moment of gratitude. With the season being so full, I’m taking a brief pause from guest stories to make sure every story receives the focused attention it deserves. Instead, I wanted to share a simple reflection on connection, the unexpected conversations this podcast has already opened up, and three small ways we can stay connected during a busy week. This episode is an invitation to slow down, ask thoughtful questions, check in on someone you’ve been thinking about, and remember that the people around us are often carrying more than we realize. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for creating space for the stories that connect us. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 009: The Call That Changed Everything | Emily Crowder, Part 2 | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:26:17 | |
Breast cancer didn’t just change Emily Crowder’s body. It changed how she listens to it, cares for it, and teaches her children to do the same. In Part 2 of Emily’s story, she opens up about healing after breast cancer and the deeper transformation that followed. From rebuilding her relationship with her body to navigating fear in the quiet hours of the night, Emily shares how faith, community, and intentional lifestyle changes helped her move from survival into purpose. This episode is about listening to the whispers before they become screams, advocating for your health, and learning to treat your body with grace instead of criticism. Emily reflects on motherhood, faith, and the support systems that carried her through the darkest moments and continue to walk with her today. Her journey is honest, grounding, and full of hope. A reminder that healing is not overnight, but it is possible. Emily shares: Guest: @emilycrow83 Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 008: The Call That Changed Everything | Emily Crowder, Part 1 | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:29:59 | |
Emily never expected to hear the words “you have breast cancer,” especially after a year of screenings that offered more questions than clarity. In this emotional Part 1, she shares the moment that changed everything and the confusing road that led there. She opens up about navigating repeated callbacks, the uncertainty that followed, and the strength it took to keep asking for answers. Her story is honest, hopeful, and full of courage. It also shows how important it is to trust yourself, speak up, and advocate for the care your body deserves. If you or someone you love is walking through something heavy, Emily’s voice will meet you with comfort and strength. In this episode, listeners will gain: Emily shares: Part Two continues Emily’s story and the transformation that followed her diagnosis. Guest: @emilycrow83 Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 007: The Houses I Lived In | Ty Samples, Part 2 | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:33:03 | |
Finding Strength, Perspective, and Healing In Part 2 of Ty Samples’ story, he continues to share the unspoken moments of his childhood that shaped the man he is today. Ty reflects on the moments of fear, courage, and resilience that taught him how to protect those he loves and to take control of his own life. He opens up about the lessons he learned through trauma, the importance of leaning on family, friends, and faith, and how he cultivated strength from experiences that could have broken him. This is a story that is rarely spoken and one that takes incredible strength to share. Ty offers insight into how he transformed pain into perspective, how he continues to heal, and the ways he strives to give his own children the healthy, nurturing childhood he did not have. Listeners will gain guidance on resilience, the power of perspective, building a trusted inner circle, and embracing the courage to move forward even in the face of hardship. Ty’s reflections show that strength is not defined by force, but by empathy, self-awareness, and the choice to take action. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and emotional trauma. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 006: The Houses I Lived In | Ty Samples, Part 1 | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:38:03 | |
Stories That Shaped a Childhood Ty Samples courageously shares the untold story of his childhood, revealing the experiences that shaped him. His early years included fear, abuse, and family secrets, yet he was also surrounded by love and protective instincts from those closest to him. This is a story that is rarely spoken and one that takes incredible strength to share. In this episode, Ty reflects on the challenges he faced growing up, including moments of trauma and secrecy, and how they influenced his perspective, relationships, and the man he has become. He also shares the small acts of care, courage, and protection that gave him strength when he needed it most. Listeners will gain insight into resilience, navigating complicated family dynamics, and the quiet ways support and connection can make a lasting impact. This is Part 1 of Ty’s story, laying the foundation for understanding his journey toward healing, hope, and self-discovery. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and emotional trauma. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||
| Ep 005: When Faith Spoke Louder | Pastor Randy Youngblood, Part 2 | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:26:56 | |
Faith isn’t just tested in the moment of crisis—it grows through the seasons that follow. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Pastor Randy Youngblood opens up about the ongoing battles and revelations after his oral cancer diagnosis. Randy reflects on the moments of fear, pain, and spiritual challenge that came in the months following treatment. He shares how he navigated setbacks, the physical and emotional toll of treatment, and the role prayer, perspective, and perseverance played in sustaining him. Listeners will gain insight into Randy’s thoughts on spiritual warfare, enduring faith, and finding purpose through hardship. He also discusses the lessons learned about loss, resilience, and the deeper ways God shapes character through trials. This episode offers an intimate look at how faith, hope, and perspective can guide us through life’s toughest valleys, long after the initial crisis has passed. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram. | |||