Episodes

Today, Jennifer Peterkin sits down with Cynthia Newberry Martin, a lawyer by training who found her true calling as a writer. Despite her legal career, Cynthia's passion for storytelling never waned, leading her to publish her first book in 2019 and subsequently win several writing awards, highlighting how writing has broadened her empathy and connection with the world.

In this powerful episode, host Jennifer Peterkin dives into the harrowing and inspiring story of J.D. McCabe, a father of two who endured severe domestic abuse.

In this episode, host Jennifer Peterkin interviews Kathy Izard, an award-winning philanthropist, author, and speaker who recently launched her podcast, What's Your Whisper?

In this episode, Tony shares his incredible journey from a small-town upbringing in Madison, Maine, to becoming a prominent figure in the Nashville music scene.

In today’s episode, host Jennifer Peterkin is joined by the inspiring Martha Kartaoui, who endured years of spiritual and physical oppression within a religious cult.

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Amy, a resilient and inspiring individual whose life took dramatic turns.

Much of Bruce's adult life was in corporate America; he moved his family around for jobs before finally settling in North Carolina and starting his own business. As he was thinking about retirement and on the cusp of selling his business, he received a cancer diagnosis. Thankfully, Bruce is in remission. But during his battle with cancer and beyond, he chose to see the good; he chose to get curious.Bruce seeks out adventure at every turn, pushing himself to try new things, get out of his comf...

This episode is a bit different than those we've done in the past; I had four guests on to discuss some of the intricacies and lesser discussed issues within Interpersonal Violence (also known as IPV) - namely, cyber stalking and parent/child alienation.While many have suffered from both cyber stalking and parent/child alienation, there are still many that don't know much about it, and more importantly, how the system fails the victims.Cyber stalking and parent/child alienation are difficult ...

When Chandrika Phea went to China as a Christian missionary, she assumed her life would follow the trail that had been forged before her. An ordained minister in her own right, Chandrika grew up the daughter and granddaughter of minister's in the African American Pentecostal church.But upon her return from China, Chandrika found herself with more questions than answers, and she struggled to find her footing within the American church again.Chandrika's book is a raw and unabashed look at her j...

Heidy is the proud daughter and wife of immigrants. Though she was born an American citizen, she has spent her life around those who have immigrated to the United States in search of "The American Dream". Heidy has a unique view of what it means to be an immigrant in America as someone that has walked alongside and done life with many people who made the US their home after moving here.Heidy is an author, speaker, podcast coach, and she hosts a podcast called "The American Dream Through the E...

When Heather and her husband found out they were pregnant with their first child, it was a time of celebration. Like many newlyweds, they were excited to start their family. What they couldn't have foreseen was the gut-wrenching reality of infant loss that many live with every day.At 38 weeks, Heather lost her baby boy. Because it was so late in the pregnancy, she had to deliver him, even while knowing that he was no longer alive.For years, Heather battled with the grief that comes with such ...

Julie has the kind of story that you look back on and say, how can one person have lived through so much? Growing up in an abusive household, Julie was eager to get away as soon as she had her high school diploma. But escaping your past and your trauma, aren't necessarily easy; especially when life continues to get harder.Because of how involved Julie's story is, it's split into 2 parts. This is part 2, where Julie talks about navigating difficult relationships, and multiple serious illnesses...

Julie has the kind of story that you look back on and say, how can one person have lived through so much? Growing up in an abusive household, Julie was eager to get away as soon as she had her high school diploma. But escaping your past and your trauma, aren't necessarily easy; especially when life continues to get harder.Because of how involved Julie's story is, it's split into 2 parts. This is part 1, where Julie talks about growing up, getting married, having young children, and navigating...

Cody was a paramedic for over a decade. He spent more than ten years of seeing some of the saddest and worst parts of humanity, some of whom he knew personally. While he did so much good during that time, it left him numb, needing to dissociate and rely on alcohol to get through.When his family encouraged him to go on a missions trip, it was the last thing he wanted to do. But spurred on by his mom and his niece, Cody went. And he found a new dream.These days, Cody describes himself as a miss...

Quanisha is a doula operating in San Antonio Texas, as well as a leader of the San Antonio Black Doula Collective.While doula may or man not be a term you're familiar with, the practice of being the emotional, mental, and physical support for a woman leading up to, including, and after birth, their role has existed for centuries.Quanisha is diligent in supporting her clients through the entire process of pregnancy, birth, and after care. It is her work in this community that got her involved ...

When Mel was a teenager, still under her parents care, she was diagnosed with a progressive autoimmune disorder. While a diagnosis like that is bound to change your life in some way, the reality was that Mel had to start thinking about what she and her husband-to-be wanted their future to look like; this disorder could make it complicated to have children.Knowing they wanted kids, Mel and her husband began planning for a family right away. And while they were able to welcome their first child...

As a pastor's kid, Hesron always knew what was expected of him. He played the part well, but from a young age, Hesron began living in two separate worlds. He was one person while he was in front of others, and someone else behind closed doors.After being introduced to pornography at the age of 12, Hesron struggled with an addiction to it for more than a decade; and it escalated until he hit his lowest point - being unfaithful to his wife.It was through his willingness to take accountability f...

Christine had her first surgery when she was only a couple of months old. Now, well into adulthood, Christine has had over twenty surgeries for the bilateral cleft lip and palate that she was born with.The physical difficulties were one thing, but the emotional and social fallout have caused the biggest scars. Christine spent many years feeling othered, and outcast. People refused to give her a chance, even when she was determined to prove herself.But where others may have given up, Christine...

Auntie Anne Beiler grew up in the Amish-Mennonite Community in south central Pennsylvania. It was there she met her husband, Jonas, and where they began their life together.Walking through the insurmountable grief of losing one of her children to an accident, and then being sexually abused by a person she trusted, Anne was quite lost for a period of time. But, as she began to talk about her grief and her shame and her guilt and her loss, she started to find freedom.It was in the midst of...

Sometimes, it takes a traumatic event to wake us up out of the fog we're walking through. For Stephanie, that event came in the form of slamming her finger in a car door. While not the source of her trials, it did help her to see that she indeed needed a change.The past six years have been formative, and certainly difficult, as Stephanie completely shifted her life - her marriage, her goals, her priorities, her values. The car door incident wasn't pretty, but it brought clarity.Along this win...

Karen had been working intensively towards a career goal for half a decade, but when she finally made it into her "dream job", she found that it wasn't as dreamy as she thought it would be.Having recently entered motherhood, Karen realized that what she wanted had shifted. In fact, her entire identity had shifted.Through making tough choices, redefining success, and getting the help of her own coach, Karen was able to construct a life that fit who she had become.These days, Karen's focus is h...

From travel agent to traveller, from teacher to seeker, Jen has made a beautiful life from the myriad opportunities that have come her way. Never one to let something meaningful pass her by, she has seen and done more than many of us, simply by saying yes.Jen has taught in Poland, safari'd in Tanzania, adventured in New Zealand, and most recently, is working with Roma children in Brasov, Romania. She is the embodiment of a free spirit, going wherever she is called and being willing to lend he...

Sarah and Steffi, the co-founders of FFR, were featured in our last two episodes. Now, I sit down with all three members of FFR's leadership team Sarah, Mary & Steffi, to discuss their organization, projects, and life in Romania.The mission of Firm Foundations Romania: FFR believes that all people are made in the image of God and are therefore worthy of love, respect and dignity. It is because of this that we are committed to caring for and supporting the Roma community in Romania b...

Steffi is the other half of the Firm Foundations Romania founding duo. Although she grew up in the Black Forest in Germany, Steffi has now spent more of her life in Romania than anywhere else. It's where she has made her home. And it's where she adopted three Romanian children after volunteering in both the state run children's orphanage and the children's hospital where she would meet and bond with all three of her kids.Firm Foundations Romania Website - learn about projects and how to get i...