In today’s ever-changing culture where it seems nothing ever stays the same, it gets harder to find and hold on to hope. Our desire in creating our Hope Through Hard Stuff podcast is so that you can know regardless of the trials you face, there is always a way to find hope. 

Our host, Pastor, Author and Speaker, Steve Norman, will engage with guests or share his own wisdom and experience on a variety of topics that will inspire listeners to find hope even in the most challenging situations.  

Please join us for conversations that will be honest, practical and uplifting as we seek to find hope through hard stuff.  

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EPISODE 76

Learning How to Lean Into Grief and Loss

Natasha Smith, Author, “Can You Just Sit with Me?”
Natasha discusses her personal experience with loss and offers encouragement to those who are navigating their own personal losses.

EPISODE 75

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis with Your Child

Jill and Steve Miskelley, Founders, “Be Better”
Steve and Jill Miskelley tell the story of their son Ian and how they are working to help parents with teens who are struggling with mental health.

EPISODE 74

When Everything is Not Fine

Katie Schnack, Author, “Everything Is (Not) Fine”
Katie Schnack shares insights from her new book “Everything Is (Not) Fine” including the story of her young son’s health challenges.

EPISODE 73

Trailblazer 5K

Emilie DeYoung and Ann Lukas, Winning At Home
Emilie DeYoung and Ann Lukas discuss the purpose of the First Annual Trailblazer 5K

EPISODE 72

When You’re Discerning Your Call

Onesiphorus Brian Burrel, Prison Chaplain
Onesiphorus reflects on his career as a prison chaplain and the lessons God taught him through that experience.

EPISODE 71

Unpacking Anxiety Around Parenting Adolescents

George Westlake III, Pastor, Sheffield Life Family Center- Kansas City, MO
George discusses some of the blessings and challenges that come with parenting teenagers.

EPISODE 70

When You’re Committed to Honoring Every Life

Shane Claiborne, Activist, Author
Shane discusses his book Rethinking Life:Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person

EPISODE 69

Trusting God through Foster and Adoptive Journey

Steve Thompson, Pastor, Adoptive Father
Steve reflects on lessons he’s learned in his journey as a foster parent and adoptive dad.

EPISODE 67

When You’re Growing as a Church Planter

Clint Dupin, Pastor, Church Planter Eastown Church – San Ramon, CA
Clint talks about the challenges and gifting of church planting and churchg leadership.

EPISODE 66

When You’re Struggling with Shame

Kevin Butcher, Author, Pastor, Executive Director- Rooted Ministries
Kevin shares his story of struggling with shame and how he found a way forward.

EPISODE 65

Walking Veterans Towards Healing

Steve Prince, Director of Warriors Set Free
Steve explains the work Warriors Set Free is doing to serve veterans as they move towards wholeness and healing.

EPISODE 64

Unpacking Anti-Semitism

Rabbi Joshua Bennett, Rabbi, Temple Israel – West Bloomfield, MI
Josh talks about what’s like to experience anti-semitism and how Christians can confrot it.

EPISODE 63

When You Might Be Ready for Counseling

Sara Baldwin, Executive Director, Story House Counseling; Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Sara discusses hear own journey with counseling and offers advice for people who may be ready to see a counselor.

EPISODE 62

Unpacking the Myths of Purity Culture

Angie Cerniglia, MA, LPC, LMFT, NCC, Winning At Home
Angie addresses some of the myths in purity culture about sex and intimacy.

EPISODE 61

When You’re a Loss Mom

Bekah Oum, Loss Mom Advocate
Bekah relfects on the heartache of becoming a loss mom when her daugther Ezra passed.

EPISODE 60

When You’re Struggling with Control

John Kruithoff, Recovery Ministry Leader, former Holland Chief of Police
John reflects on his struggle with control in his relationships and the lessons he’s learned as a recovery ministry leader.

EPISODE 59

How To Have Spiritual Conversations with Kids

Lacy Borgo, Dad, Author “All Will Be Well,” Spiritual Director
Lacy discusses how we can engage children in age-appropriate spiritual conversations.

EPISODE 58

When You’re Parenting a Child with Special Needs

Joe Leal, Dad, Parent Advocate, Student Ministry Director, Kensington Church
Joe Leal talks about the challenges and gifts of parenting a young child with special needs.

EPISODE 57

When You Feel Stuck in Your Spiritual Life

David Horne, Winning At Home Coach – Spiritual Direction
David Horne explores how the practice of spiritual direction can provide clarity when we’re confused or stuck in our spiritual journeys.

EPISODE 56

When You’re Doubting Your Impact

Karen Pearson, Kids’ Hope
Dr. Karen Pearson talks about how mentoring elementary school children can create a powerful impact on both parties’ lives.

EPISODE 55

When You’re Confused About Eternity

Jeff Brannon, Professor of Biblical Studies, Belhaven University
Dr. Jeff Brannon explains why the doctrine of the resurrection matters and how it helps us process grief and loss.

EPISODE 54

When You’re Confused About Your Calling

Sherrill Knezel, Art Educator, Illustrator & Author, Heart Speak
Sherrill Knezel discusses the themes of boundaries, self-care and vocation from her new book “Heart Speak.”

EPISODE 53

When You Lose Your Family Pet

Dr. Terry Jelsema, Veterinarian, Jelsema Veterinary Clinic
Veterinarian Dr. Terry Jelsema offers encouragement for families who are grieving the loss of their pets.

EPISODE 52

When You’re Fighting to Forgive

Robin Spicer, Winning At Home Client
Robin Spicer shares her journey of deep hurt and ongoing forgiveness towards a family member.

EPISODE 51

When You’re Worried About Your Adult Children

Jodie Berndt, Author “Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children: Trusting God with the Ones You Love”
Jodie Berndt explores insights and offers encouragement from her book “Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children.”

EPISODE 50

When You’re Struggling with Anxiety

Jenn Tucker, Author “Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul”
Jennifer Tucker discusses a model for prayer that can help calm our anxiety, focus our thinking and renew our souls.

EPISODE 49

When You Lose Someone to Suicide

Terry Jelsema, Author “One Breath, One Step, Repeat: One Man’s Journey Through Grief”
Terry Jelsema shares his compelling story of navigating his way through grief and loss in the aftermath of his wife’s unexpected death.

EPISODE 48

When You’re Experiencing a Transition

Dr. Michael Lindsay, President of Taylor University
Dr. Michale Lindsay talks about how we can navigate critical life transitions with confidence, wisdom and peace.

EPISODE 47

When You’re Struggling to Read the Bible

Paul Caminiti, Co-founder of the Institute for Bible Reading
Paul Caminiti explores the reasons why so many of us struggle to read the Bible consistently and offers some resources for how to find a way forward.

EPISODE 46

When You’re Staring at Cancer… Again

Becky Attard, Cancer Survivor, Coach
Becky Attard discusses a recent, significant challenge in her cancer journey and tells how she is holding onto hope in the midst of it.

EPISODE 45

When You Don’t Know How to Disciple Your Kids

Sarah Cowan Johnson, Author “Teach Your Children Well,” Ministry Consultant
Sarah Cowan Johnson offers tips from her recent book about how we can intentionally disciple our kids.

EPISODE 44

When Your Child Wrestles with Worry

Ruth Goring, Author and Artist
Ruth Goring tells the story of how she helped her son navigate his worry and how that conversatione eventually turned into a children’s book “Isaiah and the Worry Pack.”

EPISODE 43

How to Manage Challenging Emotions

Deborah Brink, Therapist, WInning At Home
Deborah Brink offers insights about how to respond, rather than react, to strong emotions.

EPISODE 42

Things I Wished My Dad Said

Dr. Kurt Stevens, Therapist, WInning At Home
Dr. Kurt Stevens reflects on lessons he’s learned about self-worth and offers a list of the things he wished his father had told him.

EPISODE 41

Tackling Tough Topics for Parents

Dan Seaborn, Founder and President, Winning At Home
Dan Seaborn discusses some of the tough topics parents face from his new book “Winning At Home.”

EPISODE 40

When You Struggle with Speaking in Public with Ken Davis

Ken Davis, Speaker/ Author/ Comedian
Ken Davis explains the lessons he’s learned over the years about how to overcome our fear of speaking to groups of people.

EPISODE 39

When You Need Wisdom

Steve Norman, Leadership Coach, Speaker – Winning At Home
Dr. Steve Norman talks about why it’s important to walk in wisdom and what steps we can take to do so.

EPISODE 38

When Church Gets Confusing

Nancy Beach, Leadership Coach
Samantha Beach Kiley, Creative Arts Pastor at Austin New Church
Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley explain why, in spite of all its challenges, they are hopeful for the future of our local churches.

EPISODE 37

When You’re Staring At Cancer

Becky Attard, Cancer Survivor, Coach
Becky Attard shares her experience of finding hope when her world was rocked by a cancer diagnosis.

EPISODE 36

When Your Church Leader Falls

Chris Conrad, District Superintendent, Great Lakes Region of the Wesleyan Church
Chris Conrad talks about how to respond with grace, hope and truth if your church leader fails.

EPISODE 35

Navigating Love of God and Love of Country

Richard Mouw, Author, Former President of Fuller Seminary
Dr. Richard Mouw talks about his book “How to be a Patriotic Christian” and how to love God, our neighbor and our country well.

EPISODE 34

Grieving the Loss of Your Spouse

Karen Rohner / Destinee Boubert, Co-Executive Directors- Widows in Motion, Grief Coaches
Karen and Destinee explain how their grief after losing their husbands prompted them to serve those who experience a similar loss.

EPISODE 33

When Your Church Is In Transition

Sean Morgan, Founder of The Ascent Leader
Sean Morgan talks about how to respond when your church is experiencing a leadership transition.

EPISODE 32

When You’re Child’s Behavior Is Challenging

Ann Lukas, Certified Parent Coach, Winning AT Home
Ann Lukas shares her personal experiences and coaching expertise for helping parents through difficult behaviors with their children. 

EPISODE 31

When You Can’t Figure Out Your Calling

Dr. Susan Maros, Assistant Professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Seminary
Dr. Susan Maros identifies specific steps we can take when we feel lost in regards to our calling and vocation.

EPISODE 30

Struggling with Self-Image

Marcy Kolean, PCC Certified Life and Leadership Coach, Winning AT Home
Marcy Kolean discusses how to move forward when you, or your children, struggle with self-worth.

EPISODE 29

Wrestling with Widowhood

Jenny Moeller, Emotional Support Program Manager at New Day for Families
Jenny Moeller shares her personal story of grief and encouragement for people who have lost their spouses.

EPISODE 28

When You’re Struggling with Bitterness

Steve Norman, Leadership Coach, Speaker Winning At Home
Dr. Steve Norman shares how to get unstuck from feelings of bitterness when others hurt us.

EPISODE 27

When Work Isn’t Working

Al Lopus, CEO, Best Christian Workplaces Institute
Al Lopus discusses some of the keys to boost employee engagement and well-being at work from his new book “Road to Flourishing.”

EPISODE 25

Fighting Our Way Through Anxiety

Jason Cusick
Author and Pastor Jason Cusick shares tools for dealng with anxiety from his book “The Anxiety Field Guide.”

EPISODE 24

When Your Teenager Needs to Make a Major Decision

James Ellis III
James Ellis III discusses how to help older teens with discernment around major decisions, like choosing a college.

EPISODE 23

When You Can’t See A Breakthrough

Steve Norman, Winning At Home
Steve Norman explores a few stories in the Bible of people who were desperately praying for what seemed like an impossible breakthrough.

EPISODE 22

When Your Dreams For Your Family Unravel

Steve Norman, Winning At Home
Steve Norman talks about how to respond when your dreams for your family aren’t coming true as you’d planned.

EPISODE 21

Facing Rejection

Elise Zuber, Winning At Home
Elise Zuber explores the challenge of facing personal rejection and how to experience God’s presense in those moments.

EPISODE 20

Walking Through Infertility and Pregnancy Loss

Stepanie Witteveen, Winning At Home
Stephanie Witteveen explains how couples can navigate the pain and disappointment of infertility and pregnancy loss.

EPISODE 19

Surviving Infidelity in Marriage

Angie Cerniglia, Winning At Home
Angie Cerniglia provides perspective and hope for couples whose marriages have been rocked by infidelity.

EPISODE 18

Frequently Asked Questions about Sex

Part 4 of the 4 part series: Sex and Intimacy – The Truths and Myths

Sarah Young, Winning At Home
Sarah Young responds to common questions people have about sex and intimacy.

EPISODE 17

Understanding the Five Dimensions of Intimacy

Part 3 of the 4 part series: Sex and Intimacy – The Truths and Myths

Sarah Young, Winning At Home
Sarah Young explains why it’s important to have a holistic and integrated view of intimacy beyond “just sex.”

EPISODE 16

Myths Couples Believe About Sex

Part 2 of the 4 part series: Sex and Intimacy – The Truths and Myths

Sarah Young, Winning At Home
Sarah Young identifies and addresses some common myths many couples believe about sex and initimacy.

EPISODE 15

Reclaiming God’s Design for Sex

Part 1 of the 4 part series: Sex and Intimacy – The Truths and Myths

Sarah Young, Winning At Home
Sarah Young helps married couples understand God’s design for sex.

EPISODE 14

When You Don’t Understand Your Teenager

Jamie Curtis, Winning At Home
Jamies Curtis offers parents of teenagers specific tools to help them through seasons of anxiety and uncertainty.

EPISODE 13

When Couples Struggle With Sex

Gary Thomas, bestselling author and international speaker
Gary discusses some of the key points from his book, “Married Sex: A Christian Couple’s Guide to Reimagining Your Love Life.”  

EPISODE 12

The Journey of Grief

Dr. Kurt Stevens, Winning At Home
Dr. Kurt offers suggestions for grieving well in the wake of a loss.  

EPISODE 11

When the God of the Bible Seems Unlikeable

David Lamb, Dean of the Faculty and the Allan A. MacRae Professor of Old Testament at Missio Seminary.
David talks with the audience about how to respond to claims that the God of the Bible is angry, sexist and racist.

EPISODE 10

Connecting More Deeply with Your Teens

Brad Griffin. Brad is the Senior Director of Content for the Fuller Youth Institute
As a developer of research-based training for youth workers and parents, Brad outlines three major questions that help every parent connect on a deeper level with their teenagers.

EPISODE 9

Giving Kids Space When They Struggle

Phil Lewis, Director Winning At Home, Tampa Bay
Phil speaks about the downside of “helicopter parenting” and how to give children space when they are teenagers. 

EPISODE 8

When Your Church (Leader) Hurts You

Chuck DeGroat, PhD, licensed therapist, a spiritual director, author and speaker, and faculty member at the Soul Care Institute.
Chuck talks about how narcissistic patterns in church environments cause pain to church members.  

EPISODE 7

Wrestling with Questions of Identity and Sexuality

Brad Klaver, Director of Coaching, Winning At Home
Brad Klaver speaks about walking with our children who are asking questions about identity and sexuality.

EPISODE 6

Handling Conflict with Assertiveness and Kindness

Dr. Matt Biller, Director of Zeeland Counseling Center, Winning At Home 
Dr. Matt discusses the importance of being assertive in expressing our wants and needs in the midst of conflict.  

EPISODE 5

Strategies for Managing Stress

Dr. Peter Newhouse, CEO, Winning At Home 
Dr. Peter provides strategies for identifying when and how to address stress in our personal and family lives.

EPISODE 4

When Your Child Struggles with Anxiety

Dr. Emilie DeYoung, Head of Clinical Operations & Strategic Partnerships, Winning At Home
Dr. Emilie offers tools and insights for families with children who struggle with anxiety and depression.

EPISODE 2

When Your Family is Affected by Autism

Krista Mason, Executive Director of Benjamin’s Hope
Krista shares the challenges and joys her family has experienced in their journey with a son affected by autism.

EPISODE 1

Parenting Adult Kids with Grace

Dan Seaborn, President & founder of Winning At Home
Dan speaks about the importance of parenting with grace and loving our adult children faithfully even when their beliefs and values are different from ours.