Warrior Words | Stories of Hope | Finding Beauty After Battles & Thriving After Surviving Trauma
Are you walking through a storm that feels like it will never end? Do you wonder if life’s storms have stolen the beauty from your life for good? You’re in the right place. My name is Heather, and, like you, I’ve been through a storm or two and wondered if life would ever be beautiful again. Here we share Warriors’ Words ~ stories of discovering beauty after battles and the worth in your wounds. Pick up your sword - or boxing gloves - and join the battle. Your words are powerful, my friends. Make them Warrior Words. Become more involved in this journey at @MyWarriorWords and @HeatherGaffneyAuthor on Instagram. I can also be found on X at @HGaffneyAuthor and on YouTube at @warriorwords and @BeautyAfterBattles
Episodes
Welcome to Episode 165 of the Warrior Words podcast!
Do you know that God loves you?
I'm guessing you probably said, "Yes."
But do you really know it, I mean with conviction?
Maybe a smaller number of you said, "Yes" to that. I would have probably put my hand down between the first question and the second.
That is, until recently.
I have struggled with a self-defeating attitude most of my life. If you look at the Winnie-the-Pooh ...
Welcome to Episode 164 of the Warrior Words podcast!
Do you ever experience emotions that seem to come out of nowhere? Emotions that surprise you because you didn't even know they were lurking beneath the surface?
That's exactly what happened to me recently.
There was a death that occurred in my circle, and after news of this person's death, I discovered feelings of anger.
I had no idea that at some point during the time I knew t...
Welcome to Episode 163 of the Warrior Words podcast!
One of the practical tips Lynn Donovan shared in last week's episode was a way to get out of your own head during chaos: helping someone else.
I recently had the opportunity to volunteer for an event. In this episode, I called my reaction stupid and selfish. And it's true, but it's also silly (I love alliteration!). It truly is a way to shift the focus from your mess to helping...
Welcome to Episode 162 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In 2025, Lynn Donovan was on the podcast to talk about being in a spiritually mismatched marriage (episode 134). We left that episode at a bit of a cliffhanger.
So she agreed to come back!
This week, she is sharing what came after her husband was baptized, and doing a little myth-busting!
The truth is, sometimes switching to Team Jesus puts a proverbial target on our back. But ...
Welcome to Episode 161 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In the week before I recorded this episode, I learned that two people I know have entered, or are entering, hospice. And it got me thinking...
Parallels between hospice and Lent began to emerge - thank you, Holy Spirit! It also occurred to me that one of the people is approaching this time with the opportunity to use it as a blessed time of preparation.
If you look at this thro...
Welcome to Episode 160 of the Warrior Words podcast!
This week, I have a fantastic conversation with a man who has had an incredible experience of community and the Body of Christ.
Some members of that community were his family and friends. Others were complete strangers, one of whom has now become a lifelong friend.
Without this stranger, our conversation may never have happened.
Orlando Barros left home early one morning for a ...
Welcome to Episode 159 of the Warrior Words podcast!
Are podcasters authorities?
This is a question I thought about this week, as my week took a different turn.
I've spent the last few weeks talking about listening to the Holy Spirit, confirming His message, and then taking action with that information.
And then I got some news I wasn't expecting, nor was I willing to consider what was being presented to me.
I realized - about 24...
Welcome to Episode 158 of the Warrior Words podcast!
I had no idea this would become a series when I sat down to record the first episode a few weeks ago. Yet, here we are in the third installment.
I was thinking about the first two episodes where I talked about listening to the Holy Spirit, and confirming (and being obedient to) the Holy Spirit's Whisper, and it felt incomplete.
Then I had a meeting with someone who was a referr...
Welcome to Episode 157 of the Warrior Words podcast!
What do Gideon and Noah have in common?
Both were tasked with impossible or perhaps seemingly ridiculous tasks.
We are told that one balked at the idea, but we're not told how the other one initially responded.
Gideon asked to test God multiple times before his obedience. We only know that Noah was obedient.
Both risked stares, laughs, taunts, and, of course, failure to listen ...
Welcome to Episode 156 of the Warrior Words podcast!
For much of my life, I think I just went through the motions in my faith: doing things out of duty, checking the boxes, punching my timecard.
Can anyone relate?
I had this mindset that God needed to hit me over the head with a 2x4 or flash a neon sign to get my attention. I'm sad to say, I got that 2x4 a few times.
Preaching on the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, discussing the fir...
Welcome to Episode 155 of the Warrior Words podcast!
To kick off our stories this year, I am starting with one of my own.
Are you familiar with the term: "The Body of Christ?" Jesus said that He was the vine and we are the branches. That speaks to me of a divine connection to form a body.
A body, human or a grapevine, is connected and has many members or parts. And I love this connection between Christ and us.
But I got to experi...
Welcome to Episode 154 of the Warrior Words podcast!
It feels good to be back! I recorded this episode in my office because I can walk again. It's not perfect or pain-free walking, but it is walking.
The 2.5 weeks of zero weight-bearing were tougher and longer than I thought they would be!
But like our storms and traumas, I survived and am ready for another year of stories.
In this episode, I talk a little about the past and a li...
Welcome to Episode 153 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the future of the Bits of Biblical Beauty - or BoBB - episodes.
Donate to Star of the Sea Guild through our new fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild
Armor Up.
Fight the Good Fight.
Seek Beauty.
Make Your Words Warrior Words.
Merch Store: https://heather-clr-shop.f...
Welcome to Episode 152 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This fourth week focuses on Peace, and we light all four candles; the fourth candle is known as the Angel's Candle. What peace we have knowing that Jesus has come to save us! His name is Emanuel - His name literally means "God is with us!"
Welcome to Episode 151 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This third week focuses on Joy, and we light the pink candle, known as the Shepherd's Candle. This Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday - Gaudete means rejoice. We rejoice because Christmas is almost here, and the Scripture referenced in this episode has God reminding us that we...
Welcome to Episode 150 of the Warrior Words podcast!
This week, I have an early Christmas message.
Christmas was meant to be the most hope-filled, the most love-filled time of the year. But for many of us, walking through the various storms of life, it's difficult to see the hope or the love.
Sometimes the pain and loss blind us to the blessings so freely given to us by God.
Don't let the enemy win. Don't let him steal the joy an...
Welcome to Episode 149 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This second week focuses on Faith, and we light the second purple candle, known as the Bethlehem Candle. It's about how Jesus judges with righteousness and mercy, not on appearances, even though He experienced the opposite from the moment He began His human life in the womb of Mary to ...
Welcome to Episode 148 of the Warrior Words podcast!
I have a very short episode for you this week. As I mentioned in a previous episode, I had an ablation for my lower back and an ankle reconstruction surgery last week. Yes, both procedures occurred less than 48 hours apart.
That scheduling was actually a blessing in disguise.
I am home and able to do most things. Except I can't walk. At all. No weight at all on the ankle, and t...
Welcome to Episode 147 of the Warrior Words podcast!
In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of Advent. Advent is a season of approximately four weeks. The first week focuses on Hope, and we light the first purple candle, known as the Prophet's Candle.
Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild
Armor Up.
...
Welcome to Episode 146 of the Warrior Words podcast!
Have you ever said or done something you later regretted? My guess is that most of you reading this answered, "Yes."
I think we all do it.
Sometimes we are able to fix it - make amends - and sometimes, we can't. At least not the way we might want to fix it.
This week, I speak with a woman who said some harsh words and made a decision for which she had some regret. And before th...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.