A Little Wray Of Sunshine: Inspirational stories from everyday people: Recent Episodes

Grover Wray

Join me each week and listen in as I interview amazing individuals who will share with you incredible stories that have come from their life's experiences. Stories that will truly uplift and inspire you! As a social worker for more than three decades, and over twenty years as a college professor in social work, I know the power that comes from sharing stories. Each one of us has a story waiting to be told. By sharing our stories of strength, courage, and perseverance, despite life's challenges, it will help us understand ourselves and the world around us much clearer. My purpose for creating this podcast is to bring your stories to life, and hopefully in the process, help others gain strength and optimism that will help them in their own life's journey. I hope you will join me in this process, and perhaps I can share your story as well!

Send us a text

In this episode, Garrett Foster discusses strategies for being successful in starting and sustaining a successful business, and finding and living up to our potential. Garrett has years of experience in consulting, and in addition to owning his own business, he also partners with several others in various other businesses. If you are considering doing something to increase your income, or just wanting to try something new that you may have a strong passion for, this is a must listen! Below are a few of Garret's thoughts on being successful:
"The one thing that will determine your success is grit."

"Success is a lot of different things, it's not just money."

"You help people get what they want, and you'll have what you want."

"If we're really going to be the best that we can be, we have to get to this place where it's really about understanding ourselves."

"Learn try, learn try, learn try, learn try."

Send us a text

Chyna Hopkins has a passion for learning and understanding issues surrounding mental health, and helping people succeed. She has a vast knowledge of connecting with people in a meaningful way, whether it be through coaching sports, or in a professional mental health setting. In this episode Chyna and I have a candid discussion about a variety of topics, including transition anxiety in children, building confidence in athletes, and the need for coaches to value the "human," not just the "athlete." Enjoy!

Send us a text

In this episode, Rick Croft draws upon his professional knowledge and insight as a professional counselor, to openly discuss the topic of suicide awareness and prevention. His message is very clear, which is to become educated on the seriousness of the problem, knowing the signs leading to suicide, where to go for help, and being willing to have the hard conversations with our children about it. As a long time mental health professional, Rick's important message needs to be heard by everyone.

Send us a text

Devon Marrott is a Psychology Professor at Brigham Young University - Idaho. In this episode, he addresses many different topics, including human connections, friendships, human suffering, and viewing the world through a variety of lenses such as religion, science, biology, etc. Devon shares his own personal perspectives and insights, which are insightful and inspiring. Below are a few quotes from this episode.

"it's hard to stay mad, angry or upset, when you are faced with the gift of a beautiful friendship"... "Be a friend to people, be a beacon of light, strive to leave this world better than you found it, be the gift of friendship in people's lives"..."Human connection is the most important thing to me in my life"..."If you feel like you were kind of dealt a sad hand of family dynamics, that need not be your destiny, you can establish other families with meaningful friendships"..."Human suffering needs to be addressed, I think it needs to be talked about"..."Things that you plan may not work out as you plan them to, but that doesn't mean you still can't find satisfaction and joy in life, you can be optimistic, hopeful, assertive, and you can be proactive instead of reactive. You don't have to be the smartest, most attractive or best looking person to find success and accomplishment in this life." Enjoy!

Send us a text

In this episode, 17 year old Chloe Prescott shares about her experiences she had while spending one month in China. Chloe not only talks about that, she also provides some sage life advice, such as... "everyone has different life experiences, and you need to respect that and be kind and give them the benefit of the doubt." Chloe has such a positive outlook on life, and about being yourself... "Let people have a voice without judging them." Enjoy!

Send us a text

Chyna Hopkins is a young woman who has been blessed with many talents and abilities. She is a very gifted athlete who excelled in track and field through high school and at the collegiate level, and is an amazing women's pole vault coach. In this episode, she shares how sports has impacted her and shaped her into who she is today. Chyna also shares a beautiful message of showing love to others, and being there for them when they need you, which is something she has become passionate about as she works as a professional social worker in the mental health field. According to Chyna, "Whatever you're doing, do it with love... Everybody's got their own heavy, so for those that are struggling, let other's help lift, and for those who are on the lookout for that, start lifting."

Send us a text

In this episode, Bailee Sivley talks about how being successful in life, also requires involving our Heavenly Father in all that we do. Bailee shares her sweet testimony of God, and knows He hears and answers our prayers.. "When we pray for the gift of discernment He blesses us with that." She also diligently seeks guidance from Him about what her purpose in life is. She offers great advice about looking for things in life that can make us happy, and knows that God loves us all.. "No matter what you do or what you say, He's always going to be there."

Send us a Text Message.

At a very young age, a chorus/drama teacher recognized the remarkable talent that Rick Hale had for singing. As a result of this teacher noticing his talent, Rick's life would forever be changed. Rick not only has an amazing gift of singing, but he also writes songs, and plays the guitar. His talents have made him an internet sensation, with his music being played all around the globe. I was fortunate enough to visit with him for this episode, and heard first hand the talent this man has. He has been at this for many years, eventually quitting his job to live out his life long dream of performing. You can find his music on Spotify, and on YouTube among other platforms. Rick also had a song that put him at number 4 in the world! Some of his top songs include: "Fly Me To The Moon" (mashup), "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "Smile," and "The way I am/Just the Way You Are." Once you listen to his voice, you'll see why so many are subscribing to his channel, and following this gifted and amazing man! Enjoy.

Send us a Text Message.

In this PART TWO of Rowan Gneiting's episode from last week, he continues to share his wisdom of what it takes to be successful in life. I've included a few gems from this episode that are quite profound for a 19 year old...

"It's not about what other people make you do, if you do something that's self-motivated, you're going to see way more success"

"Anybody can go anywhere that they want"

"Hard work beats talent, when talent isn't hard working"

"It's important to never be satisfied"

"As you're consistent, and you're chipping away at something, eventually you're going to make a great sculpture"

"You have to pick and choose what mindset you want to have"

"If you're 1% better everyday, as a year passes, your 365% better than you used to be"

"Be proud of your victories, at the end of the day, look back and if you're proud of yourself, that's a good day; if you're not proud of yourself, then make a change tomorrow"

"If you treat failure like a failure, it's what it's going to be, if you treat failure like a lesson, that's what it's going to be"

Send us a Text Message.

In part one of this episode, 19 year old Rowen Gneiting shares his story about his journey to becoming a champion wrestler. This sport didn't come easy for him in the beginning, having to overcome numerous insurmountable hurdles along the way before he found success. This is a story of determination, hard work and commitment like you've never heard before. In Rowen's words, "I lost twenty in a row and all I knew was losing...if you only know how it feels to lose, you're just gonna feel like a loser... I didn't believe in myself... you can't borrow a testimony from somebody else, you have to be the one to believe." (STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO!)

Send us a Text Message.

Once again we are privileged to hear, feel, and simultaneously absorb the positive vibes that so readily flows from this philosophical giant of a man, Layne Gneiting. He has the ability to help us view life in a way that helps us visualize our own true potential. He is a life coach for those of us seeking to break free from the chains that are holding us from tapping into the greatness that lies within each of us. You won't regret tuning into this special episode!

In this episode, two of my students from BYU-Idaho (Michael Fauber and Regan Evan's) conduct the interview with me as their guest. They did a fantastic job of getting me to open up about a lot of things I've never talked about before, and some that I have. When discussing trials, this thought was expressed... "If He (God) can give me a trial, He can help me through the trial... I don't look at that as a bad thing." I hope I can offer something in the way of being positive, having hope, and being your best self. Live life while you have it to live. Enjoy!

In this episode, Caydon Christensen shares his insights about how to move on in life after you've had so many trials and tribulations. Caydon is no stranger to finding a way to stay positive through such experiences. "I could kind of go down two paths, it was either I could go down the path where I could self-pity, self-wallow, and I end up in not such a good place... or, I could choose the path where I could try to improve myself and figure out why I'm feeling the things I am and do something about it."

In this episode, Regan Evans talks about some of her life changing experiences that have shaped her into who she is today. Despite the challenges she faced as a teenager, she was able to find a new and better path to follow through the help of her best friend, and others. In her words, "that well lit path will sometimes feel dark and dim and just wait for that next day because it'll come back shining so bright." For someone so young, Regan offers some sage advice for all of us... "On those hard days, it can be really hard, but on the good days it can be really good."

In this episode, Mike Pickett and I visit with his son Conner who has Downs Syndrome. As you listen, you will feel the love they have for one another and the very special bond they have developed over the years. Mike wouldn't have it any other way... "If you had to pick a handicap for you, or for your child, which one would you pick... you'd pick the one you got because you know what that's like." I admire Mike for the father he is to Conner, through the good times and the hard times, they have each other and that's what's important... "Try to let those bitter moments roll right off your back and get through them and keep right on trucking."

12 year old Kody Wray shares his thoughts about being kind, knowing your self-worth, and helping others in any way you can. He may be young, but his wisdom goes well beyond his years. His advice is meant for people of all ages! "Know you're self-worth, and that you are as good as you want to be."

Many times God places people in our paths at just the right time, and our lives are changed forever. In this short episode I share two personal stories that have helped inspire me to be a better person, and to help others in need.

In this episode, Mike Pickett shares about trials in his life... He is someone that can speak from experience, as he has gone through much loss, pain, sorrow, and grief. "Never, never, never, never, never give up... ever, you can't, there's always someone that needs you, whether it be your loved ones or even that someone that's standing in the background looking to see what you're doing, somebody always needs you." You will feel uplifted by his words of wisdom as he speaks from his heart about what it feels like to go through life's unpredictable circumstances. "I've got a lot to complain about, and I could sit down and complain all day long if that's what you want to hear, but the blessings I receive, are way more than any complaint I have."

You'll be so glad you listened to this episode! Jourdyn Pitcher isn't just a cancer survivor, she is an absolute inspiration! She has seen her fair share of trials in her life, beginning at age 14, and she chose to place her faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through it all. "The Lord knows what He's doing and we just have to be patient and let Him work out His miracles for us." Jourdyn's words will leave you with a special feeling that the Lord knows each of us personally, that He loves us, and that He is in the very details of our lives.

In this eye opening episode, you will hear from a social worker at the "Upper Valley Child Development Center," Bethany DeChamps. She educates us about talking about the hard subjects with our children, and ways to help prevent child abuse of all kinds. Bethany's knowledge and passion for the work she does in helping prevent child abuse, and working with those who have been abused, is to say the least, uplifting and inspiring. Thank you for the lives you are changing in our children, Bethany, and in us as parents as we work toward better communication with our children and have the hard discussions with them!

In this episode, Kris Boyle shares stories about his teaching career at BYU Provo in the area of communications, sports journalism, and fictional story telling. His passion for what he does is truly inspiring and you can feel of his love for the students he has taught over the years!

In this episode, Nancy Bills shares some of her experiences growing up in a home with eleven other siblings, recounting the abuse that took place in their home. Her message is ultimately one of forgiveness, and about loving those who have made mistakes...Being able to move on, and do our best to be like the Savior, rising above the unfortunate situations in our lives and making better choices for ourselves.

In this episode, Michael Fauber recounts the horrific experience he went through while serving a mission in Alabama. Michael was shot seven times by a gunman while participating in an activity at their local church building. His faith, courage, tender mercies, and help from unseen Angels are all a part of this miraculous story. "When it comes down to it, it's nothing short of a miracle that I can't ever repay my gratitude for."

In this episode, Terri Clark shares her story of being a cancer caregiver for twelve years, first with her son Cody, and six months later with her husband Adrian. After their deaths, Terri continues to grow and learn new ways to adjust to her new reality, and she offers wonderful guidance and advice about grief, loss, and hope. " It's okay to be sad, it's okay to be disappointed, it's okay to be even a little bit mad... but it's not okay to live sad and live disappointed and live angry... you can't live in it, it will consume you." Another parcel of wisdom from Terri is to "try and find one thing that you can see that God has helped you with and it will start making the biggest difference in your life." If you are experiencing difficult trials in your life, this final gem of wisdom may be just what you needed to hear... "Know that you were made to do hard things, and one day your gonna be on the other side of this and you'll be able to look back and know God has seen you through it." Enjoy!

In this episode, Kyler Hamilton shares his thoughts and convictions on the importance of aligning our will with our Heavenly Father's will. He explains beautifully the concept of "and, if not..." For example, if we ask God for something specifically such as healing a loved one, and it doesn't appear that it will happen, we can tell Heavenly Father "but, if that is not your will, can you bless the loved one's who will be left behind..." Kyler has such a positive, special spirit about him. Listening to this episode will bring hope and conviction to the certainty that Gods loves each of us, and knows our wants and desires. "Be still, and know that He is God."

In this episode, my brother Rod and I visit about letting God be a part of our lives... not just when we need something from Him, but always. There are times when we just need to give ourselves to Him and allow His presence into our lives... we can' always do it alone, He is always there for us. We both share stories that illustrate how God is always there and willing to help us when we need it. I hope you enjoy : )

In this episode, Tim Everett shares his story of having an abusive father, and grandfather, and living with other family members as a result. Tim learned at a young age that he has control over how he views life and the struggles that come his way. "You get the ability to wake up every single day and be the person you want to be, so who are you going to wake up as." His positive outlook on life will inspire you, and give you hope and courage as you go through your own life trials. "How you choose to face your obstacles is 100% up to you and that is what builds your character over the long term."

In this episode, Stephanie Ortiz recalls her early years growing up in a small Idaho town, surrounded by poverty and despair. Stephanie shares her experiences of sexual abuse, and growing up with an abusive mother with a serious addiction to drugs. Stephanie's story is one of not giving up, and finding the courage to bounce back against all odds. "There is always so much more, if you just say enough is enough." Her story provides hope and optimism to anyone going through trials in their lives. "You have to save yourself if you want to have a better life." Great job Steph, you are truly an inspiration!

In this episode, John and Valerie Aebischer share their heart warming and touching story of losing two children within a very short time span, due to complications during pregnancy. Through all of their heartache and pain, John and Valerie have learned to rely on each other and in God throughout their struggles and hard times. You will feel of their strength and conviction of holding fast to their religious beliefs as they share their story.

This is part two of Gary's horrific story of abuse growing up in South Carolina. In this episode Gary shares how his life began to take a positive turn, and those that were placed in his life to encourage and mentor him. "If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then realize that you are its author."

This is a two-part episode, part two will air next week on March 15th.

The following is an excerpt from Gary's book, "Overcoming a childhood of abuse and dysfunctional living: How I did it." Gary Keith was born in a small town in rural South Carolina to alcoholic parents who abused and neglected him. For the first twenty years of his life, he was trapped in a world of anxiety, fear, and self-loathing. Tormented daily at home and bullied at school, he was the ideal candidate to pass along the same abuse to his children. . . or worse. Instead of perpetuating the sadistic behavior, he decided it was enough. It would stop here, with him. Gary’s story, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching though it may be, is, above all, uplifting and inspiring.

In this episode, Dillon Stucki shares his experiences in life that has brought him closer to his Savior. He talks about his love of working with the youth and mentoring them during their young lives, and how his many near death experiences have helped prepare, and shape his entire life into one of serving and loving others. Dillon is an amazing individual with the ability to connect with people, and you will feel of his loving spirit in this episode!

In this episode, Bobbie Stucki shares the importance of raising children in todays world, and the significance of teaching them to work hard in this life... "I'm trying to raise my kids so they can be good humans when they leave." Part of their success as parents is how Bobbie and her husband Dillon put their trust in Heavenly Father to help them through the process of raising their children... "Just knowing that Heavenly Father is there cheering me on, is really what gets me through some of the harder days."

In this episode, John and Hallee Cordtz share their insights as new parents. They talk about the spiritual side of bringing a child into this world, and the importance of teaching true principles of God and Jesus Christ to our children as they grow up in our homes. Their message is powerful, and yet simple at the same time... Allow God into our relationships, and into our families... God is in all the details of our lives, so trust in His plan for you. "God has a plan for all of us and we just have to look for it."

In this episode Mahayla Mower shares her story of being bullied as a child and how she has learned to tune out those unwanted voices and focus on loving herself for who she is. There are still moments, however, where she experiences dark moments of depression and thoughts of self-harm, but she never gives up, she never stops trying to improve. While listening to her story, you will see that this girl is a fighter and isn't willing to quit on life. Her positive words of advice will inspire and uplift you, especially if you are one who can personally relate to her story. "Life is amazing, it's worth living and it's worth living it with happiness in your heart and in your life and helping those around you, everything is better when we're serving others."

In this episode, Dana Vega discusses years of mental, physical, and sexual abuse that she endured over a span of many years. Her story is one of breaking the cycle of abuse and re-inventing herself to who she is today, and who she wants to become. Her story gives us a sense of hope that we can overcome our past and use it as a way of helping others in similar situations. In Dana's words, "It's not about you, it's about them."

In this episode, Victoria Vassar talks about being adopted at birth, the death of her adoptive mother, and many other inspiring and uplifting words. This young lady's take on life, and her wisdom at such a young age, will warm your soul. For example, she reminds each of us of the "importance of looking for the good things in life", and to "Look for God's hand in your life, and the blessings that He gives you."

In this short episode, I share a story that reminds us that the Savior is always there for us! He can help us through the hard times in our life if we let Him!

In this episode, Steve Simmons talks candidly about his personal experience of attempting to take his own life. Steve is very detailed and descriptive about this event, so if you listen, and feel you are being triggered by something that is said, please contact a family member, a friend, or a professional to talk to. As Steve discusses, this is a topic that needs to be addressed and we can all be better at being open with others when we have thoughts of suicide, and being better at being supportive and showing empathy for others who are experiencing this. Here is the number to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

In this episode, Nicki Derr reminds us of the importance of making human connections with those around us. She brings with her a bright and optimistic perspective on life, and has a strong conviction of serving and helping others... "I work for God, I don't work for people.. I'm doing this because these are God's children." Nicki may be young, but she exhibits the wisdom and vision of someone much older than her, and she is always working hard to understand and fulfill her purpose in life... "We're here on earth to make connections." Enjoy!

In this last episode of 2023, I had the privilege of visiting over the phone with Frank Flanders. Frank is currently serving a prison sentence for robbing a gas station using a broken pellet gun, nearly two decades ago. He has been serving his prison sentence in Missouri for the past 18 years, with the possibility of serving another 10 years pending the outcome of a court hearing to be held in February 2024. A small portion of the audio is a little difficult to hear, but his message is definitely worth listening to. As Frank puts it, "this has been a fiery trial of my faith," and in the beginning, while incarcerated, he attempted to end his life by hanging himself in his cell. However, through it all, he has recognized the many positive changes he has made in himself, and the spiritual growth he has undergone in the past 18 years of being locked up.

Oral Elser is a talented cowboy poet, and has had many years to practice his trade. In this special Christmas episode, he treats us with several poems; each poem will leave you with a wonderful feeling in your heart. He recites the poetry of others, as well as his own, and as you listen, you can't help but feel the wonderful Christmas spirit that comes this time of year. Thank you Oral for reminding me of the true meaning of Christmas.

In this short episode, I made a surprise call to my 97 year old mother-in-law to see if she would talk about her Christmas memories growing up, along with some of her other life experiences. She gives good advice about knowing what is important in life, and taking care of each other, along with the wisdom that can only come from living a good, long life.

In this episode, Steve Simmons shares his story of finding out who he is, and the path he needed to be on. Steve reminds us that "Heavenly Father loves you.. It doesn't matter what you do, it doesn't matter what you say, He loves you and He will bless you.. you just have to do your part." Steve is a kind soul and he believes that "if we were all kinder to each other, things would be a little easier for us," and he understands the importance of not taking for granted the blessings that are all around us. "It's little things that are beautiful."

In this episode, Miranda Renee Smith shares her secret to achieving her dreams and aspirations. "I'm learning that if I want to make big strides in any area of my life, I have to be willing to take risks and to risk failure." As a student at BYU majoring in theatre/music, she has been forced to find out who she really is and what she is made of. "I think a lot of people shy away from what they truly want because they're scared and admitting what you want and being real with your desires is scary because what if they don't happen, what if they don't come true." Miranda offers her wisdom and advice about possibilities that exist for each of us.. "Ask yourself "what else could be possible... I find that a lot of people tend to limit themselves very quickly when there's a desire that they want but their brain shuts it down because it's not realistic... just entertain the question 'what else could be possible' and kind of let your mind and your brain go wild with what could be possible."

In this incredible episode, Camille Smith shares with us her passion for being in tune with our bodies and the importance of human connection, among other things. She elaborates on how "we're all connected, all parts of us, our spirit, our minds, our body.. and when we go around not taking that time to be still, your body might be giving you a message but you're not hearing it." She also reminds us that "our body gives us subtle clues that something is not balanced, that something's out of order... as you learn to slow down, as you learn to turn inward and really listen it helps you be in tune with the spirit." Listening to Camille is a wonderful reminder of the importance of human connections.. "We are meant for connection with others... just by connecting with others, giving them our attention, our time, our smile, our gaze, that's really meaningful and helpful... people have a need to be validated, to be heard."

In this episode, Brittany Foster walks us through her faith promoting and courageous story about her battle with stage three breast cancer. She shares her wisdom of life, family, her relationship with the Savior, and following promptings. "Follow those promptings you are given, they are given to you for a reason, they're given for you to get help." Brittany also realized the importance of letting others help and provide support in times of trials.. "Seek out those who are there to help you, don't push people away, let them help you."

In this episode, a former guest on this podcast (Bryan Hatch) invited me to be interviewed by him. I agreed, and I found out that being a guest on a podcast makes you feel vulnerable and even at times a little uncomfortable. I may have over shared, but I gained a deeper appreciation for those who have let me into their lives as they've shared their stories with me for nearly two years now. One of the themes from this podcast was this... "Trust in God, He knows our path, He knows the beginning from the end and we just have to let go and say I have faith that whatever God's plan is there's a purpose for it."

In this episode, Sierra Dahl shares her incredible and touching story of having two heart transplants in her young life. If that wasn't enough adventure for one family to process, imagine that two of Sierra's siblings also became ill, both requiring heart transplants as well. You will find her story motivating and inspiring. Sierra put it best when she said: "Trials don't last forever, there is an end, there is a light at the end of the tunnel you just sometimes have to find it."

In this episode, Lowell Randall shares his experiences growing up on a small farm in Idaho. Lowell was the oldest of eleven children, and knew at a young age that he needed to set a good example for his younger siblings to follow. As you will hear, Lowell found out early that life is never without its challenges... it's how you face those challenges and what you choose to learn from them that matters. "Life is never a glide down the river in a fancy canoe, there are times when it's nice and peaceful to glide down the river, and other times you gotta row like heck to get across."

In this episode, Lindsey Smith and I share our experiences we had while participating in a summer camp program for young black and Hispanic boys from inner city Chicago. Lindsey was one of the most amazing camp counselor's that ever participated in this program, and she had a profound impact for good in the life's of so many boys. "We need to show more compassion and more grace... less judgment, more love, more acceptance, more inclusivity... let's just love the way that Jesus did and does." Thank you Lindsey!

Nate Esplin has worked in the field of cancer treatment as a Radiation Therapist for nearly seventeen years. During the course of Nate's career, he has touched the lives of countless patients, instilling in them hope and optimism. I know, because I was one of his patients and I will always be indebted to him for his tireless efforts to inspire me to keep moving forward. In this episode, Nate reminds us that "life is good and we are blessed," that "even though life is good, life is gonna through you some curve balls," and most importantly, "you're not in this alone." Thanks for being a hero to so many people!

In this episode, Jade Bills speaks candidly about some of his experiences in law enforcement, and how he has been able to navigate family life amidst the stress that comes along with the job. As you listen to him,, you will feel his positive character, and his ability to remain calm and consistent with whatever comes his way. Jade's advice is to "recognize challenges as opportunities to grow... and "the better our attitude is, the better we look at life."

In this episode, David Alverez shares his heartwarming story of losing his wife to cancer four years ago, and how he has been on a journey to find peace and light while raising his four children alone. David reminds us that being happy is up to us and that Heaven really isn't that far away.

Jennie Woodard is a woman who knows a thing or two about what it's like to be given second chances... being diagnosed at a young age with a disease that rendered her unable to walk without the assistance of special crutches, she never gave up and did her best to move forward in life the only way she knew how to. You will be inspired by Jennie's story of courage and perseverance, her positive outlook on life and how modern miracles happen all around us. Just ask Jennie! Her advice to those going through hard trials in their lives is to "know that you're important and you have something to offer...even if it's the smallest little something."

Living life intentionally is a fascinating and exhilarating approach to life... Just ask Bryan Hatch.. He has found a way to focus more on what is important in life, and you'll see that it's not about the "things," in life that matter most to him, it's about people, and being able to communicate at a deeper level. According to Bryan, it's important to "let go of our position and try to understand the other person's side." I think you'll find this episode helpful if your looking to improve your relationships with others, and get the most out of your interactions with those you love. Enjoy!

After visiting with Hal Halladay, it's easy to see that he really is a master when it comes to connecting with people and and seeing the very best in them. "I love believing in people and seeing what they can become." This episode will leave you with a desire to "be more curious, and less judgmental" and to do as Hal suggests, which is to "see people as they truly are and to understand who they truly are rather than judge them... slow that down a little bit and just get to know someone and it will change the world." Great job my friend, you are making a difference in the world...Thanks for sharing your secret of how we can too! #blackrockthinking

In this short (6 minute) episode, I share a personal story that illustrates how Satan is working overtime to disguise the evil in this world, making it appear to be good. In order to experience joy and happiness in life, we can avoid being led down Satan's path of destruction by establishing and sustaining a meaningful relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Tim Holladay shares his wisdom and insight on working through your fears, even if it means experiencing failures and defeat along the way. "The best things in life are on the other side of fear... You're either succeeding or you're learning, failure truly is just a part of the process." Tim is no stranger to overcoming hard things in life, but he choose to be positive in the face of opposition and kept moving forward. "There's opposition in all things and we will fail, we will fall down, we will struggle, we will have challenges and weakness. I just think it's an opportunity to learn."

In this episode, Piyush Parikh reminds us to slow down in life, and take the time to experience it in the moment. "Be present, be here, enjoy the work you do." Piyush reminds us that getting to this point takes time, and that it isn't easy, but well worth it as we learn to enjoy the journey. "I enjoy what I'm doing, and enjoy the journey even though it's really hard."

I can think of three words that in my opinion best describe Layne Gneiting... Motivated, enthusiastic, dynamic! In this episode Layne talks about how humans have the innate ability to stretch physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is the second time Layne has been a guest on my podcast, and he always lifts my spirits and puts a smile on my face when I listen to him share his inspiring messages of living life to the fullest, reaching our divine potential, and not quitting when times get difficult. "Your soul will expand through the process and you're going to become somebody different then you were when you started." After listening to this episode, you will be motivated to do more, to be better, and to work harder. "What was the ceiling is now the floor, and now [we] can continue to rise."

In this episode, Melanie Anderson addresses a wide range of topics and you will enjoy her wisdom and insight that she has gained from years of experience as an RN, and just from living life in general. There is much to be learned from her! Here are a few excerpts from our visit:

"The reason emotion is called emotion, is because it's energy in motion; so, our feelings are always changing because it's energy in motion. Just because you feel a certain way today, whether it's happy or sad, that doesn't mean you're going to feel that way tomorrow and it's okay."

"I think we always strive to just be happy all the time, and that really is not realistic."

"If you're not struggling every once in a while, something's wrong."

I had the opportunity of sitting down with my older brother, Rod Wray. Rod has been one of my role model's throughout my life. In this episode, Rod shares his story of losing nearly everything that was dear to him, but somehow finding a way to move forward in life, and becoming a huge example of kindness, courage, love, and forgiveness to all who know him. Just think about it, Rod's life could be anyone's... losing your job, getting divorced, struggling through the process of blending two families., to name just a few... Having one of these happen in your life might just be enough to knock you to the ground, but having all of them happen in a very short period, and picking up the pieces and moving forward, is what this story is about... "Be positive, have hope, and believe" - Rod Wray.

Conute and Ashley Dennis are far from what you may consider being the average young, newly married couple. In fact, as you hear their story, you will realize that there is nothing "average" about them.. Just two remarkable human beings navigating through life in the best way they know how. The differences between Conute and Ashley couldn't be more dissimilar. Ashley is a Caucasian female who was born with Achondroplasia Dwarfism (the most common type of dwarfism) and she is 3'11" tall... Conute is a 6' Black male who's positive personality far surpasses his physical presence. Their story is about acceptance of everyone despite their differences. " View everyone as human, realize that their human; they have emotions, they have feelings, wants and needs just like you." Ashley reminds us all to "be open minded and accept all people how they are."

In this episode, Jon Blakeman shares his experience of growing up in a "peer abuse" environment which eventually became one of the contributing factors that led to him dropping out of high school. Jon quickly obtained his GED, and decided to follow his family tradition and joined the Army. Today, while earning his Ph.D., Jon is a faculty member in the Sociology Department at BYU-Idaho, enriching the lives of his student's by bringing his life experiences into the classroom. Jon's advice is to "don't just be a peace keeper, but be a peace maker when you can." Through it all, Jon has learned to rely on the Spirit and trust in the Savior as he navigates through his life as a person, a husband, and a father. "Are we listening, are we being quiet and calm enough and slow enough in our lives to listen to the still small voice, or are we rushing through everything and just waiting for the next day to happen?"

In this episode I was fortunate enough to visit with and get to know a great man by the name of Stratie Young. He is an amazing man with a sound understanding of what it takes to find joy and purpose in life. "We love to look at all of the negative parts of the world, but there's a lot of good that's going on in the world as well, and as we focus on those things, I think our lives will be more joyful then what they are." Stratie uses his background, life experience, and love of the Savior to mentor those around him and to help them realize their potential. "We're dead men walking, this is not about us anymore; the Lord has been telling us that the youth are the ones that he has prepared for this time, and so our job is to help them find that purpose; but we don't stand in between them. In essence, we stand under them if we can and help bolster them, more so as a mediatory between them and Him, and to help them find what their purpose is by pushing them up as opposed to standing in between them and that connection that they need to have with Heavenly Father."

In this episode, Sally Mellor shares her story of faith, loss, religion and recognizing that through it all, there's always a silver lining. "When the hard times come, I look to the silver lining, because there's always a silver lining." I had such an enjoyable time listening to Sally reminisce about her experiences in life, and I was uplifted by her ability to be positive through so many hard things in her life... "We all have hard times, we don't get through life without them."

In this short episode I share an experience of reuniting with a woman that I baptized in Sweden more than three decades ago. As you listen to this episode describing the events that happened to make it possible for me to meet Solveig Bergstrom's entire family, you will realize that there are no coincidence's... The Savior knows us perfectly!

This is one woman's story of how life's trials made her strong and taught her that she can do hard things. "Life is gonna have ups and downs, there's gonna be happy and sad times and we're gonna be laughing one minute, and crying the next minute... and, that's ok." With some help, Briana was able to regain her love for life, and feel happy again... "What a beautiful thing... I fell down, and I got back up... it took a while, but through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement that I didn't feel I was worthy of, and support from my husband, my family, my friends, and my ward family, they carried me."

March 15th, 2010 was a day of devastation and unimaginable sorrow for the Storch family as their thirteen year old daughter Taylor was tragically killed in a skiing accident while on a family vacation in Colorado. Taylor's mother Tara explained that "the Tara I was before March 15th, 2010 is a completely different Tara than I am now and who I was the next day... it completely shifted everything about me." However, Taylor's death would soon bring hope and new life to five complete strangers who were the recipients of her vital organs. From this experience, Todd and Tara Storch co-founded a non-profit organization called "Taylors Gift" which provides grief support to organ donor families. "Organ and tissue donation is all about life... it's the most beautiful act of service to others you could ever give in your final moments of life." Tara's advice to those who have lost a loved one is to "be gentle with yourself; life is different from what you knew before, but that doesn't mean you won't find joy again, that you won't find happiness again... just give yourself some time and patience with yourself and those around you." Thank you Tara! You are an inspiration to us all.

Have you ever known someone in your life who has experienced the pain and sadness of losing a loved one? Perhaps suffered some type of physical injury or other personal struggles..., and yet continually finds ways to be positive? If so, you will appreciate this episode; Meet Joe Velasquez... He is the kind of person who can turn his face to the sun and let his shadow fall behind him so to speak. Joe has experienced a great deal of sorrow in his life but his motto is "Take that sadness and replace it with gratitude." His positive outlook on life will inspire you. I am truly blessed to call him friend.

In this episode, Erin Dominguez shares her unbelievable and amazing journey of how she has risen above numerous trials in her life. Against all odds, Erin was able to pick up the pieces and move forward, leading her to where she is today. Among other things, Erin has endured emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, several failed marriages and relationships, homelessness, and eventually thoughts of ending her life on more than one occasion. Through it all, Erin has demonstrated that no matter what someone does in life, they still have a purpose... "Just because you've done this or you've done that or you're broken in some sense, that doesn't mean that you don't have purpose because everybody does...everyone!" Erin's positive attitude and love for life is so refreshing! "God has a plan... He's got a plan and I serve an amazing God, because I know that I would not be here if it wasn't for that kind of Grace."

This episode is a remarkable story of never giving up and trusting in the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. At the tender age of eighteen, Ashley Buhler's life was altered in a major way when her single parent mother was tragically killed in a car accident. Relying upon her faith in God and in her Savior Jesus Christ, Ashley continued to have faith that things would work out. "Always pray and always keep the Lord close to you; He can support you and love you ... if you focus on the love of the Savior and His Gospel and the very minute details of that, I think you can pull through any hardship you have." Ashley is a great example of one who exhibits extraordinary faith... "Our Savior understands our hearts and He loves us and if we communicate with Him through prayers or scripture study or just have a thought in our minds, He'll pull us through."

This episode explores one young woman's experiences she had while growing up in a divorced family environment. Chloe Emmelkamp shares what it was like to be in an environment of mental and emotional abuse that she endured for years from her mother as a child growing up. Through it all, Chloe made (and continues to make) conscious choices to to do whatever she can to rise above it all and forgive her mother. As you will see, much of Chloe's ability to be positive about her past experiences comes from recognizing that she has choices. "What you choose matters and you always have a choice in what happens...you have a choice to do with what's happened to you."

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to just set aside the negative events in your life and replace it with positive ones? Shaela Crosby does just that... "Do your best to stay positive in how you view the world, because I find a lot of the time that what you put out into the world is what you're going to get back." Shaela is truly inspiring for those of us who need to recognize the good in life, despite what cards we may have been dealt... "Are you going to let your past absolutely consume you and drag you down, or are you going to accept that it was just a terrible glitch in life and move forward and accept that its gonna be better and it can only go up from here." Thank you for being the light in what can often times seem like a dark world my friend...

In this special episode, Conute Dennis shares his experiences growing up in the foster care system in New York because his parent's were addicted to drugs and could not properly care for him and his five siblings. Conute is a great example of never giving up, even when life seemed impossible at times. "There's times when you can get your discouraged moments, but the moment you stop trying, that's when it ends... take the experiences, good and bad, and make something of it, don't let the world tell you you can't." His wisdom and attitude will inspire you to stay strong in the face of adversity... "You're in a race, you're running, you want to come in first place, but you just stop mid race... how you ever gonna know if you're gonna come in first place if you never keep running?"

Jess Ellsworth has a remarkable and humbling story that begins when her mother was pregnant with twins... Jess and her brother. It was at that time that Jess's father was sent to prison for child molestation, and remained there for the majority of Jess and her brother's growing up years. This is a story of love, forgiveness, and taking the higher road. Jess reminds us that "there's so much more to people than what they've done in the past" and she learned many lessons along the way. "I definitely have a lot more empathy for different types of people because there's so much more to them than just their past." As you listen to this heartwarming story, you will understand why Jess says... "This is my Gethsemane."

Sometimes talking with someone over the phone whom you've never met can be awkward and uncomfortable... That was definitely not my experience with Ohio resident, Meka Reed! This wonderful woman shared her story of how she went from suicide attempts, to finding hope in her life through religion and reading the Book of Mormon. "I didn't use to have a positive attitude, I used to struggle with depression so much... I used to try to commit suicide and I have had several failed attempts." Through her desire and dedication to bring God into her life, Meka has made a miraculous transformation. When asked how she maintains her relationship with God, she said through prayer. "He (God) knows what I'm talking about and when I can't get the words out, I just say read my heart... and I know he can because I gave him permission to."

In this episode you will hear of one young man's journey that led him to seek God's will for him while exploring which religion he should join. Godfrey Nkula is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and he shares his conversion story about how he was able to set aside his own will and put his trust and faith in God's plan for him. This humble, and remarkable young man seeks to live every aspect of his life by the Spirit and is willing to accept God's will for him without question. This episode is, for lack of better words, soup for the soul and will inspire you to seek God's will in your own life.

Approximately 18 years ago, Kerry Draney went through a divorce, finding herself in a very new situation as a single mother of three daughters. "Be grateful for what you have in your life and in your relationships, and don't ever minimize that based on what you think you should have. There's a good chance you have it all, you just are choosing not to see that." This episode is all about being positive with where you are in life and taking control of your own destiny, while trusting in God that things will work out how they are supposed to. "It's ok for life not to turn out exactly like you expect it to, and it's ok to allow God to intervene to change that; and, it's ok to accept that things can be different and still be great and actually awesome and amazing if you allow yourself to see that."

This is a harrowing story of a young woman who found herself trapped in an abusive relationship and the only way to survive was to find a way out. Soncee Ellis' courage to take action came after giving birth to her daughter and realizing that this was not the life she wanted for her. It was all she could do to break free from the domestic violence she was experiencing, but she did it.. "I was in a mental breakdown situation, I was crying uncontrollably... My maternal instincts finally kicked in."

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please reach out for help before it's too late.

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233

The story you will hear from Starla begins at the age of sixteen when she became pregnant. She was married by age seventeen, and had two sons by the age of nineteen. After going through two divorces, Starla realized that she wasn't where she wanted to be in her life and began to do some soul searching. Her message is so positive and uplifting and it is all about hope, courage, and letting go. "You're not a failure because you can look and strive for something, anything, as long as you work toward those things and are growing." For those of us who struggle with being positive about our struggles in life, Starla has the answer... "If you aren't positive and you just look toward all those negative things like failure, you won't overcome anything and you will be stagnant and once you're stagnant you can't be happy because you have to move forward... happiness is moving forward and you choose that."

In this episode you will hear a young woman's perspective on growing up in a single parent, divorced household and how she has grown stronger because of what she experienced. "Right now we have kind of this eye shot of the hardship and the pain but if we look outside of ourselves there's always a bigger picture and maybe we'll need that for ourselves cause something harder is going to come and we know that we conquered the thing in the past so why not conquer the thing now." Kaitlyn will inspire you to do hard things, and to see the positive in this life... "Pain always stays, no matter what there always going to be pain from the past, but I think it's just how you deal with that pain.. you can either hold onto it, or you can set it aside and let it walk with you instead of being part of you." Finally, Kaitlyn's story will motivate you to keep moving forward despite the trials you are going through.. "We want to focus on the negative and we want to focus on the hard, but sometimes we just need to focus on what we are grateful for today and lets just go with that."

Manny Carvajal shares his faith promoting story of seeking to understand God's love for him and his family. He tells his conversion story of how, after many years, he embraced a religion that teaches that there is life beyond this life on earth. "I need to know that God loves me and that he has a plan for me and that there has to be more than this mortal existence." "if we stay focused on what we want, and if it's good, the Lord will grant it."

Have you ever just felt the goodness of someone the first time you met them? I had that unique opportunity recently with Dawn Aiona. Dawn and her husband Marvin were blessed with five children, but suddenly found themselves taking in four more children and raised them as their own. "Heavenly Father provides, we don't always understand when we're going through it, but He provides and it's exactly what needs to happen." This is a remarkable and inspiring story of trusting in God's plan. "People ask me how I do it and I tell them I just get up out of bed and face the day..." "I felt like there was a mantle on my husband and I to parent these children that we didn't have before..." Things didn't always go as expected, but Dawn puts things into perspective: "It's where your headed and the road that you're on, it doesn't matter that it's not perfect."

Olivia Grover was a happy go lucky teenager who was active and full of life. After three concussions she began to experience a change in her personality, memory loss, anxiety, major depression, and suicidal. This is a story of a family's courage and perseverance as they worked tirelessly to find treatment for their daughter and rescue her from the devastation she was experiencing. In Olivia's words, "even though you don't feel like yourself, you're still in there.. there's still ways to access yourself even if you feel like you can't... just keep going, it'll really work out."

Kelsi Fryberger is a wife, a mother, a nurse, and most recently, an author and self-publisher of several books. In this episode, you will see that you too are capable of being and doing what you want in life. Becoming an author was on Kelsi's "bucket list" and although it wasn't always easy, she is following her dreams and experiencing success. "I fail at a lot of things, but I just keep trying.... just because you fail at something, doesn't mean you're a failure." Kelsi will inspire you to follow your own dreams!

In this episode, Jed Hancock shares his views on how to improve our lives... "If you really want to be a son or daughter of God, you've gotta try everyday." Jedhas gone through a lot of health struggles, but makes an effort each day to get back up and do his best at living life. "God teaches us through trials... the suffering is what makes us who we are." Jed's story will make you think about how you are handling life's trials and overcoming your own obstacles.

In this brief episode I talk about the importance of creating memories while we still can. The moment may be temporary, but the memories last forever...

In this episode you will hear from one of the most positive people on the Planet, Bruce Fivas. He shares his thoughts and feelings about being happy and how all of us can achieve happiness in this life. "Power, popularity, possessions, pleasures of the flesh will never make you happy." You may want to listen with a pen in your hand, because his quotes are plentiful! "There's so many challenges in mortality, but there's so many good things too... If you want to be happy, seek Jesus Christ... You don't need all the stuff that the world would tell ya you need to be happy." Thank you for inspiring everyone around you my friend.

I had the humbling opportunity to interview Frank Randall... Frank is 97 years old, and was drafted into WWII at a very young age. Hearing his stories about the war, his life, and how to be a successful parent, caused me to pause and ponder about how much untapped wisdom lies within our older generation. After listening to his stories, I encourage you to have the same conversations with your loved ones before it's too late. Enjoy!

This episode is a heart warming story about how one young man with muscular dystrophy changed the life's of the loving family who adopted him. ZoAnn Keck shares several remarkable experiences that will leave you with a greater appreciation of how God is in control of the details of our lives, and how He places people in our path for a purpose that often times transcends our mortal comprehension.

Enjoy a collection of quotes, stories, thoughts, and experiences from over 40 episodes from 2022! Thank you for your continued support and I wish all of you a Happy New Year!!

This episode is part two with Jenea Fultz. In her first podcast six months ago, she reminded us that "a bad day is not a failure" and she shared about her journey with her weight and her self-worth. It's been six months since her gastric bypass surgery, and she shares with us about her new struggles and what she has learned about herself in the process.

Do you remember what it was like as a child at Christmas time? If you have forgotten, this 9-minute bonus episode will help you remember as my 3-year old grandson Owen and I talk openly about Santa and other (sometimes random) things that come up. This episode will bring a special feeling to your heart as you prepare to celebrate this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

In this episode, Lori Baldwin shares about her passion and career of teaching and advising the HOPE SQUAD at Bonneville High School. Lori is invested in the youth of today, and has a positive attitude about them as our future leaders "These kids now days are just phenomenal... the depth that they have makes you feel really good that we're gonna be OK." If all the HOPE SQUADS around the country have leaders like Lori Baldwin, we are indeed in good hands as watch today's youth become our future leaders. After listening to this episode, you can't help but have a renewed spirit of hope, understanding, and compassion for people from all walks of life. You're making a difference Lori, keep it up!!

In this episode Jenie Bond demonstrates how resilient the human spirit is. As a child, Jenie witnessed many hard things, from a father who was addicted to drugs, ending up in prison, to living in extreme poverty. Jenie was forced to grow up fast, and she learned many life lessons along the way. "It gets better, you just have to keep pushing and know in your mind that there's light at the end of the tunnel." Despite the cards being stacked against her, Jenie was somehow able to find strength within herself to conquer her challenging circumstances, move on, learn forgiveness, and rise above it all to become who she is today.

This episode is centered on addictions. Sean Anderson shares with us what it was like for him when he was dealing with his drug addictions. "I was like a train and my train had derailed, and I just never could get it back on the track." What makes this episode so special is that Sean tells it like it is and doesn't try to sugar coat anything. "Addiction... it don't care who you are, or who you came from or where you come from, or what your morals were... they don't care, and it will swallow you up before you know it." Sean tells us to "just go forward and move on... you're gonna hit bumps, but them bumps just make you a stronger person." Sean has been clean for eight years, and he is very open and candid about his experiences during his many years of addiction. "There's only one person who can judge, you don't know what they've been through, what matters is that they pick themselves up."

In this episode, Kevin Bird talks candidly about the obstacles he had to overcome while growing up, ultimately finding trust in friendships that didn't exist in other areas of his life. Kevin offers hope and reassurance for those who are going through their own struggles in life, "Sometimes just learning to hang on and work through is the biggest thing we can do in our lives, not to quit, not to give up, but just tie a knot in the end of the rope and just hang on..."

In this episode you will learn about the incredible life changing journey of Hawaiian native, Rick Adolpho. He shares how his life has taken him from high points and back down to the low points, causing him to reevaluate the path he was on. While seeking answers, Rick had a major epiphany at his lowest point that finally helped him to understand what the American dream really meant for him, and what true joy looked like.. "Take the opportunity to have joy in giving, but take the opportunity to have joy in receiving...that's what joy is, it doesn't have a shape, it doesn't have a form, it doesn't have parameters, it's from doing good, that's it." FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY!!!

Have you ever wanted to do something more with your life, make a change, or just try something new, but could never seem to find the courage to do it? In this episode, Michael Bartz explains that "life is short and you should do the things you want to do now because you're gonna look back and someday your life is gonna be over." As you listen to this episode, you may begin to understand that following your dreams is achievable.. "A lot of people want to do what they're passionate about or what they have interest in, but they're so held back by themselves... prioritize what's important to you and go for it."

The AnyQuestion App: Stop searching.... start asking.
Ask a question, and get video answers from Experts in Health & Wellness, Sports, and more!

In this episode you will hear the story of a young lady who has battled with body image issues for more than a decade. Listen as Kallie Daniels shares about the torment she has gone through with her body image issues, and what she is going to do to regain a positive view of herself once and for all. "There's some days that I feel super good about myself that I'm on top of the world, and then the next day I feel extremely awful." "For me to show that I love myself, I need to believe it first."

You'll love the wisdom, courage and fortitude that Karly Wilson brings to this weeks episode! Despite the trials that unexpectedly appear in our lives, Karly tells us how we can overcome, and rise above them. She says "I try not to focus my energy on things that don't matter, but focus my energy on the things that do." Her powerful and moving approach to life will leave you with hope and optimism. "When things don't make sense, or when things feel too hard, all I can do is just rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ because they're in control and know the end from the beginning, and I don't have to know the end to be able to keep persevering and keep going."

In this weeks episode, Rae Huntsman shares her story of overcoming hardship from a young age with the help of positive influences in her life. Rae shares personal accounts of some of the trials she has gone through, and how those experiences have helped shaped her life. "I see myself as somebody that can protect others that maybe grew up like me." Rae has learned and practices the concept of being an influence for good in the life's of children, asserting that "it takes a village to raise your kids, and many people can be positive influences on your kids and your grandkids." Enjoy!

This episode with Marcus Thomas is part two of episode 26. Listen as Marcus shares how he has been able to rise above a childhood filled with abuse, despair, and uncertainty, to instill hope and happiness into the lives of countless young boys that he coaches. He shares his raw and honest thoughts about shaping children to become successful adults. Marcus learned that "when you criticize kids, they don't stop loving you, they stop loving themselves." He feels strongly that as adults we have the ability to mold and influence young people we come in contact with, whether it's as a coach or a parent.. and to do that "you have to make yourself strong by yourself before you can be strong for others." You will be inspired by how this remarkable man has chosen to let his past drive him to be a force for good in the world, and how his choices continue to set him apart as a selfless, caring individual with a heart of gold.

(PART TWO of episode 29 - "IT'S OK TO NOT BE OK")

Joy Hansen continues to spread hope as she openly shares about her lowest point in life, and how her experiences have contributed to, and placed her on a path of healing. "One of the essentials for my healing is to work at building and maintaining deep and meaningful connections with other people... we're not meant to be alone." "When we can build deep, meaningful relationships where we feel like it's a safe space and place for us where we can be vulnerable, it grounds us; it gives us something to hang on to and if you don't have that in life I encourage you to examine what you can do to build that with others.. because without those meaningful connections, I don't know if I would have made it through."

In this episode you will literally feel the excitement and positive energy blasting from your speakers as you hear how Armando Gonzalez channels his passion, energy, and Christian values to motivate his players, as the head coach for the Rigby High School varsity football team. Relocating to Rigby, Idaho from Southern California five years ago, Armando has impacted the lives of countless youth in a positive and constructive way. You will be inspired as he discusses the four core values that are used as a major focal point for their success, which are: 1. Sharpen the axe; 2. Brotherhood; 3. Ride for the brand; and, 4. Championship competitor. "Nothing's a test... just an opportunity to learn and grow." All I can say is hang on! This energetic and fast paced episode will get your heart pumping!

I've heard it said that God tries those that he loves... and I truly believe that... but, let me tell you, it that's true, the young woman I interviewed for this episode is really, really, loved! Listen as Joy Hansen describes her unique life circumstances with child birth, health, depression, and pressing thoughts of suicide... "It's crazy how intrinsically connected the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual is so interconnected." She witnessed many miracles, and had unseen (and seen) Angels in her corner along the way to help her endure and survive. "When we have a friend who's struggling, I think so often we listen to them so that we can respond, when most of the time they just need us to listen." She is refreshingly honest and bold with her story... "I've seen so much value in being willing to be vulnerable... vulnerability is the key to building amazingly strong relationships in healing and helping others."

If you've ever worried about how the generation coming up will do when asked to take the reins and be the next leaders, your mind will be put to rest after listening to this episode. I had the privilege of interviewing a young man who is a senior in high school, and he shared with me his perspective on what it's like to be a teenager in today's world, including some of the challenges they face. He has a unique and refreshing perspective that will leave you feeling confident in the abilities of our next generation of leaders. Here are a few quotes from this exceptional young man:

"If everybody thinks the same, acts the same, and tries to be the same, things are gonna fall apart."

"By small and simple things, great things can come to pass."

"Nobody knows who they are, and everybody's trying to be confused."

"Look to grow to be the good."

Thank you for listening, and if you would like to share your story, please email me at: littlewrayofsunshine23@yahoo.com
Enjoy!

In this incredible episode, Janet Shippen describes how an otherwise uneventful day turned into a living nightmare when she was attacked by a man while enjoying an afternoon walk. I was so impressed by her fighting spirit, and her ability to act in the moment. "This is something that changes you, you definitely change, but I also feel like I have become a stronger person because of it." " You don't know how strong or courageous you are until you're faced with a situation like that, and then you realize, well, I am a strong person; I am brave, I can do this."

In this special episode, Marcus Thomas shares his uplifting story of being raised by his mother who was addicted to drugs and alcohol; he was physically, mentally, and sexually abused, and had many other experiences during his childhood that has had a profound impact in shaping him into who he is now as an adult. Marcus chose to learn from his past, and to focus his efforts now in helping others who may be struggling or who need a role model in their lives. "You can choose to perservere and push forward, or you can choose to lie down, give up, point the finger, and be part of the cancel culture." Marcus will inspire you to never give up! "It's been a fight my entire life, if I was asked to be a fighter I might as well go down swinging, you have to take it a punch at a time... sometimes you fly through the rounds, sometimes you get knocked down, but I promise if you get up, there is someone who will benefit from it, not just yourself."

CONTACT ME AT: littlewrayofsunshine23@yahoo.com if you would like to share your story, or if you know of someone you feel would have a story to share. : )

In this episode you will be inspired by a girl who was sexually abused growing up, and now, years later, she shares her story about forgiveness, second chances, and choosing to overcome. There is much we can learn from this courageous and insightful young lady. Below are just a few of her inspirational quotes:

..."I'm going to make mistakes, everyone else is going to make mistakes... it's my choice to forgive them like God forgives them, because if I don't then it's only going to cause me pain, it's not going to hurt them if I don't forgive them... I just need to remember that I never run out of second chances, and neither do they. "

"Every day is a brand new day, it's a brand new chapter in your life that you can choose to let your story... be either negative or positive."

"The things that we go through definitely shape us and influence us to who we're going to be."

"Your happiness is what matters and if you have Christ in your live guiding you, then you're going to be happy."

"Choose something everyday that going to make you happy and try to just do those things for you and no one else."

"I'm going to mess up every single day in one way or another, but that doesn't define me.. what defines me is how I choose to overcome those things, whether I choose to talk to God about it, or to let it bring me down even more."

In this episode you will hear from an inspiring man who has been able to use his past experiences to help others see their worth and value, and to respect others regardless of their life circumstances. As a successful rugby coach and former football player at the University of Utah, Chet understands that it's more than just sports.. "Whether we win or lose, it doesn't matter, we have an 80 minute game to figure out what kind of men we want to be." With great influences in his past, he challenges us to "try and surround ourselves with good people... those people who are trying to do their best... because that makes you try... at the end of the day, we're not better than anybody else and how you treat people is how you are... that's how the Savior treats us."

Spencer Haacke has such a positive outlook in life and just listening to him will lift your spirits and help you see hope and blessings. His words of advice are spot on! "Faith is a principle of action in all intelligences. Faith is not I hope it works and then you don't do anything about it..You pray like it's all up to God, then you get to work like it's all up to you and the Lord will bless you." Enjoy!!

In this episode you will hear the astonishing story of a young man who turned his life around and became a seminary teacher. Kyler Hamilton's story is nothing short of amazing. "When I think about my "why" in life, it's no longer just about me." This episode will give you that spiritual jolt you've been looking for! "I want to be known as someone who submitted to the will of God, I want to be known as a good husband, I want to be known as a good father; those are the priorities in my life because that's who I am."

Justin Deurmeir shares his story of how he and his wife Krissa were preparing for the prospects of bringing their second child into the world. "You really start coming up with this dream of what you're going to do with these little children and what it's going to be like as you raise them." Twenty weeks into their pregnancy, they received heart breaking news about medical complications that would change their lives. "Choose to live because you are alive,.. choose to live the best life, choose to enjoy, choose to laugh, and smile, and love, and care for those around you because you're here and other's aren't." - Justin Deurmeier

Losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare... for the Rowe's, it became a reality when their young daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, and passed away two months ago. Sandi Rowe share's how her family is able hold onto their faith, and to each other during this most difficult time in their lives. Sandi is an amazing women with an equally amazing family, and she has a very powerful message to share, one that touched me deeply on a personal level.

In this episode, a couragous young man shares about having faith to let the Lord guide us where we need to be, and about his personal battles with depression, and suicidal thoughts. "It's not always going to be OK right away.. it's OK to feel those strong emotions; and it's OK to take a few minutes, even a day to feel that, but then at some point you have to move on because life is going to throw hard things at you." - Calvin Hurd

This is a heartwarming episode that explores one young woman's journey of being overweight her entire life and how she was finally able to decide on having gastric bypass surgery that has been the catalyst in helping her achieve the confidence she was lacking. She offers insight and wisdom at every turn! "Even though people are happy or positive or a good friend, doesn't mean that they aren't struggling." - Jenea Fultz

This episode will remind you of how fortunate we are to live in a land where our freedoms are abundent...Johnson Amelewu, a Native from Ghana, a country in West Africa, shares his journey that brought him to America. His positive attitude and overall fortitude will cause you to look at your life differently.. "With determination and focus, you can become anything you want to be in the United States." - Johnson Amelewu

In this episode you will be inspired by how one woman overcame many trials in her life, from sexual abuse as a child, to losing two son's in separate accidents. Melanie Walker is a true example of strength and courage, and someone with a unique ability to forgive... "Don't blame God, turn to him instead." Through all the trials she has been called on to endure, Melanie holds on to the belief that "God is in every aspect of our lives...people were put down here to have choice, and God's not going to interfere with that choice."

In this second episode of a two part series, Matthew Chaffee discusses the aftermath of being bullied at school for many years. After battling with alcohol and drug addictions, along with panic attacks, Matthew recalled "I wanted it all to stop, and if that meant committing suicide, then that's what I was going to do." It was at that point that Matthew sought help to work through the trauma brought on by the bullying he endured. Matthew's story is unfortunately all to common among millions of people who have experienced similar experiences.. This young mans story will inspire you to be a little kinder to everyone you meet, because you never know what they are going through.

The only thing worse than realizing that life's not fair, is the delusion that it should be.. The reality is that some people pass through life with very few trials, while it seems that others are drowning in daily adversities.. The scrapes and bruises we acquire through these trials and hardships are naturally woven into the fabric of our lives for most of us, but what sets us apart is how we choose to manage those battle wounds. My guest on this podcast is certainly no stranger to facing extreme challenges. He will motivate you to reflect on how being positive in the face of any trial large or small will bring joy and happiness to your life if you allow it. Enjoy part one of this two part series!

May 6th, 2021 started out as just another ordinary day at Rigby Middle School, that is until gun shots rang out in the hallway. A young girl had brought a gun to school and within minutes had shot and wounded several individuals. Krista Gneiting, a math teacher, shares her account of what happened and how she was able to stay calm and take the gun away from the young girl. In Krista's words.. "my first impression when I saw her was that she's someones little girl;" "I thought... even if she shoots me, as long as I get the gun I don't care.. I just wanna get the gun so that no other kids get shot."

In this special episode my good friend and mentor Dan Wadsworth teaches us about the importance of prayer and just wonderful and inspiring thoughts on life. For example, he tells us "life has not been without its train wrecks as all of Gods children can attest to. There's tough times and tough things but we learned that with Gods love and hard work you can get through it." When I asked him about his philsophy on life, Dan said "avoid the contention and fill your heart with love because thats whats gonna get you through the tough times." This is definitely worth your time, especially if you like stories that just make you feel good inside!

Exactly one year ago, Kennedy Littledike was a carefree sixteen year old teenager until a tragic car accident quickly changed her perspective on life. Kennedy and two of her close friends were driving home one evening when she lost control of her vehicle and all three teens were ejected. While the other two lay helpless on the ground, Kennedy was vaulted nearly 30 feet in the air onto an electrical powerline, where she hung upside down for an hour before being rescued, ultimately losing her left leg as a result. This is a powerful story of love and courage that helps this good family put the pieces of their lives back together.

In this episode, you will hear a moving account of a couple from Arizona who volunteered their time, energy, and talents to assist thousands of women and children across the borders from war torn Ukraine into Poland. Hearing Kim Wolfley tell this story renewed my faith in humanity and in the goodness of people everywhere.

What's it like to experience depression? Millions of Americans battle with depression each year in this country, and a large number of people go untreated because they either don't have insurance, or they don't want to be seen as broken, or they think they can do it on their own without help.. In this episode we get a rare glimpse of how one amazing woman from Iowa is managing her depression. She helps us understand that depression doesn't always mean just lying on the couch all day, and not being able to do the things you like to do, and that there is such a thing as being highly functional AND depressed. You will find hope as you hear this uplifting and inspirational story about how she went from complete denial about being depressed, to learning how to manage it in a way that works for her and her family. In her own words, "functioning with depression is about learning how to communicate.."

In this episode, a couple shares their inspiring and insightful story of losing their daughter in a tragic car accident. They offer words of hope and healing as they continue to live each day with an attitude of faith and courage. In their own words, "we are a product of the experiences we've had, both good and bad... you can do nothing and crumble and let the weight of it all just crush you or stand up, literally stand up and start moving." The Holbrooks share some wise advice to those who have lost a child, stating "it's gonna be hard, but you can get through this and you can do this because at the end of the day when it all settles down, you will still be you and your child will still be OK.. you need to keep moving forward... you can do this!"

If you have a positive stroke to give to someone, follow your prompting to act.. You never know what someone is going through, and you might make the difference in their life that day.

In this episode I have a heart-to-heart visit with three of my grandchildren who went through the divorce of their parents. These three siblings are amazing and their youthful wisdom is truly remarkable. I realize this is a deeply personal and sensitive topic, but I hope it will help someone who may be going through a similar experience.

This episode is "A Little Wray Of Sunshine Short..." A less than five minute message to hang on and never give up, there are brighter skies ahead!

Welcome to a very special episode... You will hear a story of hope, courage, and finding joy in life despite the heart aches and trials that come. I promise that as you listen to my dear friends, the Clark's, tell their story, the way you look at life will forever change. Now, as a side note, I am a beginner at podcasting.. as a result, I am still trying to navigate my way through editing, sound, etc. So, please bear with me through this process of learning. Thank you for your patience.

When we have a dream in life that we want to follow, we can "wait for retirement, or we don't do it, or we put it into that black hole of someday, which is code word for never, or we can figure it out" - Layne Gneiting

In this episode you will hear a heartwarming and uplifting story of a young woman who used a trial she went through to achieve personal and spiritual growth and learned to help others along the way through service!

In this first episode of "A Little Wray Of Sunshine: Inspiring Stories From Everyday People" I describe for you the purpose of the podcast and what to expect moving forward. Join me in my journey to share inspiring stories from everyday people! Enjoy!