The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast

How do we bring hope to communities facing generations of poverty and hardship? And what role does the local church play in renewing neighborhoods and transforming lives?Pastor David Washington knows firsthand the power of hope in the midst of impossible circumstances. Growing up in an environment marked by violence and instability, David encountered the life-changing love of Christ through a church that didn't wait for people to come through its doors—it went into the community, built relationships, and faithfully lived out the gospel. Today, through his work in urban youth ministry and his book, Don't Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth Ministry, he equips churches to engage their communities with compassion, wisdom, and lasting impact.In this episode, Davey sits down with David to talk about the realities of systemic poverty and community rebuilding, how the local church can faithfully engage and invest in urban neighborhoods, and why hope in Christ has the power to transform both individuals and entire communities.If you've ever wondered how your faith can make a tangible difference in the places that need hope most, this episode is for you. Website: https://www.kingdomchicago.org/ Book: Don't Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth Ministryhttps://amzn.to/3Ry1gOp Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can speaking to God in a new way invite us into a deeper way of seeing and hearing from Him? What role can poetry play in helping us communicate with our Creator?For pastor and author Tyler Staton, the words penned on a page during his cancer journey were never intended for anyone but himself and the Lord. Yet he discovered that the way he communed with God through scribbles in a tattered notebook offered a powerful invitation for all of us—to notice God's presence in both the ordinary moments and the difficult circumstances of our lives. Paired with Scripture, Tyler's book, After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer, explores the beautiful intersection of poetry and prayer, offering a meaningful way to examine our lives while paying closer attention to God's presence within them.In this episode, Davey and Tyler discuss how we can better recognize God in the everyday, why it is so important to grieve our losses, and the role spiritual practices play in carrying us into the presence of God amid our pain.If you've ever struggled to find the words to speak to God, this conversation offers an invitation into the creative and poetic language that can help you feel seen, understood, and accompanied in your suffering. Website: https://www.tylerstaton.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylercstaton/ Episode 362: Spiritual Practices in Wilderness Seasons with Tyler Staton https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-362 Book: After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayerhttps://amzn.to/42WUl3P Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app (https://tinyurl.com/RONSeedsApp) and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we find the true rest our souls need in the most pressing seasons of life? What does it look like to stay grounded in who we are when the needs around us feel constant and consuming?Author Jess Ronne knows this reality deeply. As a mother caring for her special needs son into adulthood, she has experienced the kind of depletion that can come with long-term caregiving. Like many caregivers, Jess discovered that traditional ideas of self-care often aren’t enough when life is this demanding. What she needed was something deeper—what she calls rest care: intentional renewal for the soul, mind, and body.She explores this kind of rest in her book, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement, offering honest reflection and hope for those walking similar paths.In this episode, Davey and Jess talk about the unique challenges caregiving families face, especially as care extends into adulthood, the vital role community plays in sustaining caregivers, and how to rediscover your identity in the midst of caring for others.If you are responsible for the ongoing care of someone in your life, this conversation will remind you that it is not only okay—but necessary—to receive the rest your soul needs in order to keep showing up with love, strength, grit and grace. Website: www.jessronne.com thelucasproject.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess Books: Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement – Wisdom and Refreshment for Every Season of Lifehttps://amzn.to/4uAlWmv Blended with Grit and Grace: Just Keep Livin’ When Life Is Unexpectedhttps://amzn.to/3Mnjr72 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does it sometimes feel like different parts of us are pulling in opposite directions? How do we begin to notice, understand, and care for the parts of ourselves that are trying to cope with pain, loss, and grief?For psychologist and author Dr. Audrey Davidheiser, understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS) has transformed both her personal and professional journey. Through her own experiences—including the loss of her father—and years of helping others navigate grief, she has seen how IFS offers a compassionate framework for understanding the many parts that make up our inner world. Rather than viewing these parts as problems to be fixed, IFS invites us to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and care, recognizing that each part is often trying to protect us or help us survive difficult experiences. In her book, Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soul, Dr. Davidheiser explores how the principles of IFS can be applied to the grieving process through a thoughtful Christian lens, offering practical tools for healing and growth.In this conversation, Davey and Dr. Davidheiser discuss what Internal Family Systems is, how different parts can emerge in response to grief and hardship, and how understanding these parts can help us move toward deeper healing and wholeness.If you've ever felt torn between conflicting emotions, wondered why one part of you wants to move forward while another wants to hold back, or struggled to make sense of your reactions in seasons of loss, this episode will encourage you to approach yourself with greater compassion. You'll discover that every part of you has a story to tell, and that through the healing presence of Jesus, those parts can be understood, cared for, and brought toward greater wholeness. Website: https://www.aimforbreakthrough.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draudreyd Book: Grieving Wholeheartedly: Bringing Healing to Every Part of Your Soulhttps://amzn.to/3RSmiax Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can men begin the journey toward vulnerability when they've been taught to hide their emotions? What does it look like to engage honestly with your feelings when you've never developed the habit of paying attention to them?Author and therapist Trey Tucker has helped countless men learn to recognize what is happening beneath the surface and begin addressing the emotions, wounds, and struggles they have buried for far too long. The cost of suppressing emotions can be significant, affecting relationships, physical health, and overall well-being. Trey believes that true strength is not found in avoidance, but in cultivating purposeful habits that allow men to live with authenticity, resilience, and intention. Drawing from both his professional experience and personal story, he shares practical wisdom in his book, Tough Enough: Hone Your Habits, Cultivate Purpose, and Forge Genuine Strength.In this conversation, Davey and Trey discuss why vulnerability can be especially difficult for many men, how to begin paying attention to your inner world, and what it takes to grow, heal, and move forward after adversity.If you've ever struggled to put words to what you're feeling or found it difficult to share honestly about what is happening inside, this episode will encourage you that vulnerability is not weakness—it is often the first step toward healing, deeper relationships, and a greater sense of purpose. Website: https://www.ruggedcounseling.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedcounseling/ Book: Tough Enough: Hone Your Habits, Cultivate Purpose, and Forge Genuine Strengthhttps://amzn.to/43AmopS Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you learn to embrace a story you never would have chosen for yourself? What does it look like to find hope in places where healing feels impossible?Author and speaker Katherine Wolf was living an ordinary life with her newborn son and husband in law school when in 2008, at just 26 years old, a massive stroke changed everything. In an instant, she went from being fully independent to facing a long and difficult road of recovery, one that would require help with even the simplest daily tasks. Years later, Katherine continues to navigate significant physical challenges. Yet through her books, speaking, and the ministry she co-founded, Hope Heals, she has become a beacon of encouragement for countless individuals and families living with disability, chronic illness, and unexpected hardship. Katherine knows firsthand the pain of having life change in an instant, and she has discovered what it means to embrace the story God is writing—even when it looks nothing like the one she imagined.In this episode, Davey and Katherine discuss what it means to flourish in a life marked by pain, why radical acceptance of your story can become the doorway to hope, and how the Church can better come alongside families caring for loved ones with disabilities and complex medical needs.If you've ever struggled to find hope in the midst of disappointment, suffering, or circumstances you never would have chosen, this conversation will remind you that hope is not merely a feeling—it is a practice, one that can be cultivated no matter what story you find yourself living. Website: https://hopeheals.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeheals Book: Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Lovehttps://amzn.to/4uMXxe3 Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everythinghttps://amzn.to/4eHIQ7o Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope Hidden in the Hurtinghttps://amzn.to/3PK9RNj Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we begin to understand the landscape of our soul in light of our spiritual journey? What does it look like to live a more integrated life—one that honors the connection between mind, body, and spirit?For pastors and authors Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw, these questions became deeply personal as they explored their own spiritual formation and the hidden forces that shape the way we relate to God, ourselves, and others. Drawing from the science of attachment and its profound spiritual implications, they have examined how our earliest experiences of connection can influence our understanding of God, our relationships, and the way we navigate the world. In their book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection, they offer a compelling framework for cultivating deeper intimacy with God and greater wholeness in our lives.In this conversation, Davey, Cyd, and Geoff explore why faith and healing can sometimes feel disconnected, how attachment theory provides a powerful lens for understanding our spiritual lives, and what it looks like to navigate the terrain of our souls with compassion, honesty, and grace.If you've ever wondered how your past experiences continue to shape your relationships, your faith, or the way you see yourself and God, this episode offers both insight and hope. No matter what terrain you've traveled, healing and transformation remain possible through Christ, deeper self-awareness, and the secure connection we were created to experience. Website: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cydholsclaw https://www.instagram.com/geoffholsclaw Book: Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection https://amzn.to/4ubjxiRNot living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can God's Word reveal His character to us in seasons of suffering? What can the stories of those in Scripture teach us as we walk through the valleys of pain?Authors and Bible teachers Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright were raised on a firm foundation of faith and have spent their lives passionately teaching and sharing God's Word. Yet it was through their own personal trials—Anne's sudden loss of her husband and then her father, evangelist Billy Graham, as well as her cancer diagnosis, and Rachel-Ruth's series of heart-related health challenges and subsequent PTSD—that God illuminated powerful lessons about suffering through the story of Joseph.Drawing from these experiences, Anne and Rachel-Ruth share the wisdom and hope found in their latest book, God Won’t Leave You There: Joseph’s Story.In this conversation, Davey, Anne, and Rachel-Ruth discuss how our deepest messages often emerge from our own stories, how to overcome bitterness, and how to discover what God wants to teach us through our pain.If you find yourself in a pit like Joseph, wondering where God is, this episode will remind you that no matter what you're facing, God won't leave you there. Website: https://www.annegrahamlotz.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegrahamlotz/ and https://www.instagram.com/rachelruthlotzwright/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneGrahamLotz and https://www.facebook.com/RachelRuthLW/ Book: God Won’t Leave You There: Joseph’s Story https://amzn.to/4uKbSbh Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you begin to heal after one of the deepest forms of betrayal? What does it look like to reclaim your sense of self when it feels shattered or lost?Author and counselor Tammy Gustafson knows firsthand the pain of intimate betrayal. Through her own story, as well as the experiences of countless women she has counseled, she has come to understand the immense courage required to heal when betrayal dismantles trust and fractures a relationship. She has witnessed the long and often arduous journey women must walk as they move from heartbreak and confusion toward wholeness and a renewed sense of identity. In her book, Broken to Brave: Your Courageous Act of Healing After Intimate Betrayal, Tammy offers a compassionate roadmap for navigating the complex and often murky waters of healing after betrayal.In this conversation, Davey and Tammy discuss the profound impact betrayal can have on a relationship, where to begin when the healing journey feels overwhelming, and some of the common places people become stuck along the way.If you or someone you love has experienced the pain of betrayal, this episode offers hope that healing is possible—and that it is possible to move from brokenness to bravery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it look like to discover who God is when you experience profound loss at a young age? How can a teenager find their identity in Christ while navigating grief and pain?For actress and author Alena Franklin, the sudden and tragic loss of her mother, Wynter, at just 14 years old left her reeling through some of the most formative years of her life. Carrying the weight of grief while also trying to grow up was an overwhelming challenge. Though it didn't always feel that way in the moment, Alena can now look back and see the many ways God met her in the midst of her sorrow and faithfully walked with her through the healing process.Today, Alena continues her mother's legacy of investing in teenage girls and young women. Through her book, God Is — A Devotional for Teen Girls & Young Women: 60 Days of Learning Who God Is to Understand Who We Are, she helps young women deepen their understanding of God's character and discover their identity in Christ.In this conversation, Davey and Alena discuss how loss can leave us feeling disoriented at any age, what grieving teens need most from the adults who care for them, and why helping the next generation root their identity in Christ is more important than ever.If you're walking alongside a teenager who is struggling to make sense of life after loss, this episode offers a powerful reminder: they don't need you to fix their pain or have all the answers—they simply need your presence as they move through it. Website: https://www.alenapitts.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealenafranklin Book: God Is ― A Devotional for Teen Girls & Young Women: 60 Days of Learning Who God Is to Understand Who We Are https://amzn.to/4wgxe1E Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we begin to untangle the thoughts and emotions that are keeping us stuck or pushing us toward unhealthy forms of coping? What does it look like to embrace the God-given agency we have over our minds?Dr. Lee Warren is a practicing neurosurgeon who has experienced the depths of grief and loss after losing his son, Mitch, years ago. Through his own journey of pain and healing—as well as his deep understanding of the brain as a neurosurgeon—he began to connect the truth of what Scripture says about our minds and thoughts with the science of the brain. Dr. Warren believes each of us has the ability to do “brain surgery” on ourselves in order to experience deeper healing from loss, trauma, and the wounds we encounter throughout life.In his book,The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life, Dr. Warren helps readers understand the power they have in their healing journey while offering practical wisdom for growing through difficulty into resilience.In this conversation, Davey and Dr. Warren discuss the difference between the brain and the mind, the incredible power our thoughts have in the healing process, and why God gave us emotions in the first place.If you are feeling stuck and find yourself turning to unhealthy habits or patterns in the midst of pain, this episode will encourage you with the hope that God can radically transform your life as you learn the life-changing art of self-brain surgery. Website: https://wleewarrenmd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drleewarren/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drleewarrenBook: The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Lifehttps://a.co/d/08Z72sFN Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we find people who can help us carry the weight of our stories? How do we learn to experience safety in community when relationships themselves have often been the source of deep pain?Author, speaker, and podcaster Toni Collier has endured profound hardship throughout her life, including caring for a parent at a young age, surviving an abusive marriage, experiencing sexual betrayal, enduring sexual manipulation as a child, walking through two divorces, and more. Learning to trust others with the deepest parts of her story did not come easily. Yet through the healing power of what she calls a Confessional Community, Toni began experiencing layers of healing and freedom she never thought possible. In her latest book, Don't Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain, Toni shares how authentic, vulnerable community can become one of the primary ways God brings healing through suffering.In this episode, Davey and Toni talk about why confession and vulnerability are such essential parts of healing, how we can become safe people that others trust with their pain, and the emotional and spiritual dangers of isolation and hidden suffering. If opening up to others has felt difficult—especially in seasons of pain, disappointment, or heartbreak—this conversation will remind you that healing was never meant to happen alone and that God often uses deep, authentic community as part of the restoration process He wants to invite you into. Website: https://www.tonijcollier.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonijcollier/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colliertoniOther: Episode 326 https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-326Book: Don't Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain https://amzn.to/4mSMgED Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Discover where you are on your healing journey and get a personalized pathway for your next steps: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! https://tinyurl.com/NIWIGottaAsk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can you tell the difference between big emotions that are part of the human experience and true dysregulation connected to past trauma? What does it look like to safely move the energy of anxiety, fear, and stress out of the body?Lacey Jervis helps countless women recognize the ways their physiological responses impact how they show up in everyday life, relationships, and faith. Through her work, she offers a pathway toward greater safety, regulation, and emotional security by helping women better understand the connection between trauma, the nervous system, and the body.In this special part two episode, Davey and Lacey continue their conversation by exploring practical somatic practices that can support healing and restore a sense of safety within the body. They discuss how to recognize the difference between a survival response and a normal response to life’s challenges, why unresolved trauma can remain stored in the body long after an event has passed, and practical ways to help the nervous system return to regulation and peace.If you are looking for practical wisdom on how to calm your body’s physiological responses after trauma, this conversation will offer grounded, accessible tools you can begin practicing right now and will teach you ways to move the energy of fear, anxiety, and pain through the body so that you can more fully show up to your life, relationships, faith, and calling from a place of calm, safety, and presence. Website: https://www.daughtershouse.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceyjervis Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Looking for a way to connect with others who understand? Join the Nothing is Wasted Community: nothingiswasted.com/communityThe Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! https://tinyurl.com/NIWIGottaAsk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we reconcile our dysregulation after trauma when it comes to our faith? What is the connection between our physiological experience and God?It was through Lacey Jervis own experience with trauma that she began to understand the profound impact the body’s physical responses can have after loss. After losing her dad to a heart attack at a young age while she was home with him, Lacey began to recognize how deeply trauma affects both the nervous system and our perception of ourselves, others, and even God. That journey eventually led her to help others navigate the complex relationship between trauma, the body, and faith.Through her work with women as a Somatic Therapist, Lacey began helping clients untangle their physiological responses from what they often assumed were spiritual failures. As she guided them toward understanding the body’s reactions and equipped them with tools to restore safety and regulation, many began to realize that what they believed was a faith issue was often a physiological response rooted in trauma.In this episode, Davey and Lacey journey through her story of losing her dad and explore the lasting ways trauma impacts the body, the physiological responses that can remain long after a traumatic event and why it is so important to understand the difference between dysregulation and disobedience.If you have ever felt like your faith was weak because of the ways your body becomes dysregulated after trauma, this conversation will remind you that God is not disappointed in your dysregulation. Instead, there is an invitation to holiness through your humanity. Website: https://www.daughtershouse.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laceyjervis Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! https://tinyurl.com/NIWIGottaAsk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we partner with the Holy Spirit in our own journey toward healing? What role does the Spirit of God play in breaking strongholds in our lives?For author and pastor Alex Seeley, it was her own experience of healing through the power of the Holy Spirit that revealed how important—and often overlooked—the Holy Spirit is in the modern Church. After walking through breakthrough from a childhood marked by abuse and struggles with disordered eating, Alex also witnessed countless others find true freedom through deep encounters with the Holy Spirit. In her book The Divine Counselor, she explores the incredible role and invitation the Holy Spirit offers in the healing God desires for us.In this episode, Davey and Alex discuss why obedience to the Spirit matters, how the Holy Spirit meets us in our pain and strongholds, and the connection between spiritual and physical healing.If you’ve ever struggled to understand how God wants to meet you through His Spirit, this conversation will encourage you that the Lord’s power is closer than you may realize—ready to lead you into deeper renewal, healing, and purpose than you’ve ever experienced. Website: https://www.alexseeley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexseeley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialalexseeley Book: The Divine Counselor: Renew Your Mind, Heal Your Soul, and Discover Your Purpose Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirithttps://amzn.to/3PQ4v2V Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! https://tinyurl.com/NIWIGottaAsk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: This episode discusses pornography addiction and may not be suitable for all listeners.How do we break the stronghold of addiction when it becomes deeply attached to our lives? What do we do when the pain of our past resurfaces through patterns of addiction?Drew Boa didn’t fully realize how much pain he was carrying beneath the surface until his struggle with pornography began to threaten the relationships he valued most. As he started to uncover and process that pain, he recognized how often he had looked for healing and identity in places other than God.It was through surrendering both his pain and identity to God that the grip of pornography on his life began to loosen. Over time, he experienced genuine freedom. His book, Outgrow Porn: Find Lasting Freedom Without Fighting an Exhausting Battle—A Man’s Guide to Healing, offers men a pathway toward that same kind of lasting transformation.In this episode, Davey and Drew explore the deeper roots of sexual addiction, the vital role of compassion and self-awareness in the healing process, and why authentic community is so powerful in breaking cycles of addiction.If you or someone you love has struggled to find freedom from pornography, this conversation offers hope—reminding us that lasting freedom begins by understanding our identity in Jesus. Website: https://www.drewboa.com/ Book: Outgrow Porn: Find Lasting Freedom Without Fighting an Exhausting Battle—A Man's Guide to Healinghttps://amzn.to/4jNhIUU Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you break free from an abusive cycle when it feels like there’s nowhere else to turn? How can God take the pain of the past and transform it into purpose as you rebuild your life after trauma?For former public official, TV show host, and speaker Carolene Mays, imagining the life and leadership she would one day have seemed impossible while trapped in an abusive marriage. Escaping that relationship wasn’t easy—but on the other side, God took her pain and transformed it into a story of resilience and influence. Today, Carolene has served in politics, built successful businesses, hosted a television show, and mentored countless women and minority leaders to thrive. Throughout it all, she shares the struggles she endured and how God used every hardship to shape her path—truly showing that He wastes nothing.In this episode, Davey and Carolene explore how to overcome the trauma of abuse, why noticing who needs encouragement matters, and how leadership in any context is ultimately an overflow of what God is doing within us.If you’ve ever wondered how God might be connecting your past to the work He has for you now, this conversation will inspire you as you see how God takes our pain and uses it to transform us into leaders who uplift and empower others with purpose. Website: https://carolenemays.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolenemays Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we begin to move through the pain we’ve buried for so long? And how can our willingness to be vulnerable create space for others to share their own stories honestly?Pastor Chris Durso never imagined how a single question could uncover years of suppressed pain. During a therapy session, the simple prompt—“How was your childhood?”—opened the door to long-buried memories of sexual abuse he experienced as a child at the hands of someone within the church. What followed was not only the resurfacing of those moments, but also the unexpected weight of PTSD and the beginning of a difficult, yet transformative, journey toward healing.In this episode, Davey sits down with Chris to talk about what it looks like to confront childhood trauma, how to navigate PTSD in the context of community, and why authenticity in the church is so essential for true healing.If you’ve ever experienced wounds from your past resurfacing in unexpected ways, this conversation is a reminder that even in the most painful parts of our story, Jesus is present—and healing is possible. Website: https://www.chrisdurso.co/ https://www.goodcompanychurch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdurso Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.durso.ye Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the escape you turn to begins to take over your life? How do you begin to heal the deeper wounds that often lie beneath addiction?For author and podcaster Jonathon Seidl, the descent into alcoholism was rooted in unresolved childhood pain. After experiencing his father leaving at a young age, navigating an often difficult relationship with his stepfather, and enduring childhood sexual abuse, alcohol became a way to numb what he hadn’t yet faced—or invited Jesus to heal.In his book Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free, Jonathon shares his raw and honest journey through disordered drinking and his path toward freedom.In this episode, Davey sits down with Jonathon to explore the connection between escapism and addiction, the impact of trauma, and what recovery can look like through a Gospel-centered lens.If you or someone you love has struggled with alcohol—even as a believer—this conversation offers a powerful reminder: there is hope. When we stop avoiding our pain and bring it honestly before Jesus, true healing can begin. Website: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathonmseidl Book: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Freehttps://a.co/d/086ThOXx Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does God heal the mind? And what happens when faith and science meet in the middle of our pain?For decades, conversations about mental health and faith often felt disconnected. But psychiatrist Dr. Karl Benzio has spent his life exploring how Scripture and neuroscience actually point to the same truth: God designed the mind with incredible capacity for healing, renewal, and transformation. Drawing from years of clinical work with trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles—as well as global work in crisis zones—Dr. Benzio has seen first hand how the way we see our circumstances and the beliefs we hold can literally reshape our brains.In this episode, Davey and Dr. Benzio discuss how our belief systems shape our decisions, how decisions influence our brain through neuroplasticity, and how God uses community, truth, and spiritual practices to renew our minds.If you’ve ever wondered how faith intersects with mental health—or how God can bring healing to your mind, emotions, and story—this conversation will help you see that the path to transformation may be closer than you think. Website: https://drkarlbenzio.com/ www.honeylake.clinic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarlbenzio Book: Transformed by His Promises: A 12-Week Devotional for Freedom from the Psychological Slavery of Life-Interfering Behaviors https://amzn.to/4pTWhmH Your generosity carries stories of redemption to the next generation. Be a part of our Legacy of Hope and give today: nothingiswasted.com/legacyofhope Not living the story you expected? Pain changes us but doesn't have to define us. Find out how to begin your healing journey today: nothingiswasted.com/starthere Looking for help in navigating the valley of pain and trauma? Our Nothing is Wasted coaches can help: nothingiswasted.com/coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices