Hope Talks

In this episode, Haley and Dustin are joined by counselor and author Darby Strickland to talk about trauma – what it is, how it affects us, and how the church can care well for those who are hurting. 

Darby shares her hope story about a season of deep uncertainty after her young son received a serious diagnosis, and how that experience shaped her understanding of trusting God in the unknown. Drawing from her book When It’s Trauma...

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with author and speaker Megan Fate Marshman for a deeply honest conversation about hope, grace, and spiritual formation.

Megan shares powerful personal stories about finding our identity in Christ, the temptation to hide in shame, and the freedom that comes when we bring our pain, sin, and struggles into the light. Together, we explore why we often want quick relief while God is doing so...

Author and theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle joins us to talk about spiritual warfare, trusting God in uncertainty, and the deeper story Scripture tells about the unseen battle. 

Joel shares two powerful “hope stories” from his own life—walking through fear when his missionary grandfather was kidnapped overseas and when his young son suffered from seizures—moments that taught him to trust the Lord when life feels out of control. 

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Do you believe that God is at work in the small, ordinary moments of life?

On this episode, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and speaker Cynthia Yanof, whose life and ministry are rooted in seeing God in the daily, often messy moments of life.

From practicing law to stepping into ministry, from foster care and adoption to gas-station confessions revelations, Cynthia shares how God continually meets us in everyday moments and refr...

In this episode, Haley and Dustin are joined by Dr. Steve Midgley, author of Understanding Trauma and Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK.

Steve shares two powerful stories of hope—from coming to faith in Christ after years of skepticism in medical school and learning vulnerability during a difficult season of caring for his special needs daughter. We explore how God meets us in our weakness and brings growth through se...

We all want to change, be healed, and experience freedom … but how does that actually happen? No matter what struggle you're facing, the process of transformation often follows a similar path.

In this episode, we share six biblical concepts that go deeper than behavior and reach the heart. We begin with the foundation—the gospel of Jesus Christ—then explore seeing yourself through God’s eyes (identity), replacing lies with truth ...

Are you overly critical of yourself? Perhaps of others? And how do you respond to negative, critical people?

In this episode, we discuss how to deal with a critical spirit – whether you are critical of yourself or others, or you have to deal with judgmental people. We discuss the misconceptions around Jesus' command "do not judge" and how a critical spirit can show up in our lives and relationships. After discussing the emotional...

What does it really look like to care for others well – and how do you do it without becoming overwhelmed?

In this episode, Haley and Dustin unpack the biblical foundations of effective care and counsel – and why every believer is called to help in some capacity. They address common barriers that hold people back – fear, self-doubt, and feeling unqualified – and share 10 biblical principles for helping others well.

This conversatio...

Trauma. It seems like we hear about it everywhere these days. But what does the Bible say about it?

In this episode, Haley and Dustin provide a biblical and lay-level understanding of the basics of trauma – what it is, what it is not, and how it’s different from everyday stress and pain. They also explore how trauma can impact us in different ways and also highlight biblical characters and stories where trauma played a significant ...

Rebekah Lyons shares her powerful hope story of navigating a difficult childbirth and learning that her firstborn son had Down syndrome. In that tender, uncertain season, she discovered what it truly meant to surrender control and trust God with her whole heart. 

Together, we explore how adversity can strengthen our faith, why risk is an essential part of spiritual growth, and how resilience helps us face both courageously. Rebekah...

Katherine Wolf shares her remarkable story of surviving a life-changing stroke and later navigating a high-risk pregnancy that resulted in the miraculous birth of her second son. With honesty and grace, she reflects on the “collateral blessings” God has brought from what once felt like only loss, and the unexpected ways He has redeemed her suffering. Katherine also shares how these experiences shaped her ministry, Hope Heals, and h...

When Bethany Murdock learned she and her husband wouldn’t be able to have children, her world felt shattered. Yet in that deep place of pain, God invited her into an even deeper relationship with Him.

In this encouraging conversation, Bethany—Christian Life Coach, author, and trainer with ICCI—shares her story of hope, healing, and spiritual growth. Drawing from her book Into the Deep, she unpacks what it means to truly know Jesus,...

Happy New Year!

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with Cynthia Baker, life coach and author of Still Stuck. They discuss why we often get stuck accomplishing our goals — and how we can experience real, lasting change. 

Cynthia opens with her hope story of overcoming an eating disorder in seminary and how changing her mindset became the turning point toward healing. She walks through four key principles of changing your min...

Merry Christmas!

In this special Christmas episode, Haley and Dustin fix their eyes on Jesus – the hope of the world. They explore solid historical and biblical evidence for His deity, reflect on His titles (Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, and more), and conclude with reflection questions to stir your heart to worship the Savior this Christmas season.

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This week on Hope Talks, we welcome singer, songwriter, comedian, and storyteller Mark Lowry—best known for writing the beloved Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know?” and for his years with the Gaither Vocal Band. 

In this warm and funny Christmas conversation, Mark shares his hope story, beginning with a devastating car accident that left him with multiple broken bones and unexpectedly launched his journey as a songwriter. Forced in...

Best-selling author, speaker, and storyteller Jon Seidl joins us again—this time post-launch of his new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic. Jon shares the encouragement he’s received from the book, how he stays grounded in what truly matters, and why recovery must aim at Jesus rather than simply staying sober. 

He walks us through the four key steps that shaped his journey: abiding in Christ, finding true identity, practici...

In this special episode recorded at the 2025 Hope Together Conference, Haley and Dustin are joined by Air Force Lt. Col. David Tharp and Army veteran Scott Meador. Together, they share how God met them in the darkest moments—through suicidal despair, physical pain, and the lasting impact of war. Their personal stories of hope led them to create UpArmor, a Christ-centered trauma recovery training designed to help veterans, coaches, ...

In this replay episode, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations on gratitude.

Haley kicks things off with a special Thanksgiving song, and together we reflect on what the Bible says about being thankful – even when it’s not easy. We explore some roadblocks that make gratitude difficult at times and share some practical ways to grow in gratitude and give thanks to the Lord in all things.

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The holidays can bring joy – but also remind us of old family patterns that still hurt. In this episode, Dustin and Haley talk about what family dysfunction means … and what it doesn’t mean.

Through stories of biblical families marked by dysfunction, we see how God still works through imperfect people and messy relationships. Together, we explore “unspoken rules” that often define family systems and share reflection questions to he...