Podcast

“If we start and end our day with hope, and sprinkle hope throughout, we will be continually motivated to accomplish all our dreams.”

-Soraya

Welcome to the Weekly Podcast

“Be Convinced! Sharing Lifechanging Stories of Hope” with Soraya

Get a Big Dose of Hope in Just 30 Minutes!

Hope, along with the courage and confidence that arise from that hope, can be yours! For just 30 minutes, listen to each of these lifechanging stories of hope told by ordinary people who overcame life’s obstacles. Soraya engages people from various backgrounds who tell their inspiring stories of how they overcame challenges that wonderfully and often amazingly transformed their lives. She collects and enthusiastically shares their stories with the goal of encouraging, inspiring, and convincing you that we should all believe in, hope for, and work towards a better future for ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world.

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“Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”

— Robert H. Schuller

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Ep. #20 – Dr. Willie Jolley Shares His Story of Hope About His Journey From Being Diagnosed with ADD to Being Internationally Acclaimed as the #1 Authority on Turning Setbacks into Comebacks

What do you do when you are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD? Dr. Willie Jolley used that setback to achieve a tremendous comeback! Dr. Jolley shares his struggles from his humble beginnings and the many setbacks that he encountered, including losing his job, that inspired him to make major shifts in the direction of his life.

What do you do when you are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD?   Dr. Willie Jolley used that setback to achieve a tremendous comeback!  Dr. Jolley shares his struggles from his humble beginnings and the many setbacks that he encountered, including losing his job, that inspired him to make major shifts in the direction of his life.  He empowers us with hope that we can indeed come back from any crisis.  He has earned acclaimed recognition as motivational/inspirational speaker of the year, established his own media network, and became a best-selling author with such books as ASetback is a Setup for a Comeback, It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life, and An Attitude of Excellence. He is known for being the #1 authority on turning setbacks into comebacks. 

Website: www.williejollye.com; www.winwithwillie.com

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Ep. #19 – Personal Coach, Teacher, Motivational Author & Speaker Deb Sofield Shares How Tough Love Is Critical to Personal Growth and How She Uses Laughter as an Inspirational Tool

We often don’t want to be the recipient of tough love but Deb Sofield believes that having a no-nonsense attitude about improving your life will inspire you to make the necessary adjustments to be successful.

We often don’t want to be the recipient of tough love but Deb Sofield believes that having a no-nonsense attitude about improving your life will inspire you to make the necessary adjustments to be successful. Deb shares her story as to how she became a well-sought-after speaker, coach, and teacher on such impactful subjects as public speaking, crisis communications, and conquering the camera to achieve media-savvy presentations.  After years on the radio, she compiled her shows into a popular book trilogy titled Encouragement for Your Life -Tough Love Memos to Help You Fight Your Battles and Change the World.  Her book Speak Without Fear is another means of giving hope to those of us who have challenges with public speaking.  She is known for weaving humor throughout her motivational talks to inspire us with laughter. Deb believes that there cannot be hope if there is not laughter too!

Website: debsofield.com

Facebook: Deb Sofield Speaker

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Ep. #18 – African American Mother Amber O’Neal Johnston Shares Her Story of Hope in Raising Black Children to Love Themselves and Others Through Her Celebrated Website

How can you help your children to learn more about and be proud of their race and heritage? African American mother Amber O’Neal Johnston decided to research and compile information for her children.

How can you help your children to learn more about and be proud of their race and heritage?  African American mother Amber O’Neal Johnston decided to research and compile information for her children. Then, she made a life-changing decision to share this information with others and created a website heritagemom.com that has an immensely popular following.  There, children and adults can study and learn about topics especially relevant to people of color. Important information on subjects such as history, authors, poetry, music, art, and food can be found at her educational website.  Amber shares her story of hope that her children and others will be raised to love and appreciate who they are and the infinite beauty of all people, regardless of race or skin color. 

Website: www.heritagemom.com 

Instagram: @heritagemomblog

Facebook: Heritage Mom

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Ep. #17 Veteran Sales & Marketing Expert Michael P. Hamer, Author of the Book Selling Righteously, Shares Hope for Businesses to Thrive After the Covid 19 Pandemic

With all the ups and downs that the economy has taken during the past year during the Covid 19 pandemic, many salespersons and businesses are wondering how to increase their sales.

With all the ups and downs that our economy has taken during the past year during the Covid 19 pandemic, many salespersons and businesses are wondering how to increase their sales.  Look no further! Veteran sales and marketing expert Michael P. Hamer shares his expertise of over 28 years of experience.  He offers insightful and practical principles, based on God’s Word, that will guide any business out of its doldrums and help it to build better relationships, maximize sales, and eventually exceed its own expectations.  He shares the 7 steps to selling God’s way which he wrote about in detail in his popular book Selling Righteously – Using Biblical Wisdom to Maximize Your Income and Business Relationships.  These steps are be devoted to God; be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer; be a dedicated prayer warrior; be a director of every thought; be dutifully repentant; be diligent about building God’s kingdom; and be decidedly thankful.

Website: www.michaelphamer.com

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Ep. #16 American Missionaries Gene and Robin Willis Share Their Inspiring Story About Their Faithful Journey to Become Christian Missionaries Serving the Impoverished People of Honduras – Part 2

After settling in the mountain region of La Esperanza, Honduras, American Missionaries Gene, and Robin Willis share their acts of service for the people there.

After settling in the mountain region of La Esperanza, Honduras, American Missionaries Gene, and Robin Willis share their acts of service for the people there.  When the Covid 19 pandemic forced a lockdown in the rural area where they live, even closing down all forms of public transportation, they were able to assist with opening up small pharmacies and transport food to provide desperately needed medicine and food items for families. They share their determination to serve no matter the challenges they face. This is part 2 of their journey.

Website: heartoftheking.org

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Ep. #15 American Missionaries Gene and Robin Willis Share Their Inspiring Story About Their Faithful Journey to Become Christian Missionaries Serving the Impoverished People of Honduras – Part 1

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Christian missionary and live in a foreign country?

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Christian missionary and live in a foreign country?  Guests Gene and Robin Willis, a husband and wife team, tell us their poignant story of how they left the comforts of their lives in Georgia to attend Bible school for three years and be trained as missionaries.  Not knowing where they would eventually live and serve, they traveled to Honduras to learn Spanish and eventually stayed there.  This is part 1 of their journey.

Website: heartoftheking.org

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Ep. #14 Mother, Wife and Website Creator Nicole Gneiting Shares Her Inspiring Story of Surviving Head and Neck Cancer, Her Son’s Near-Death Experience, Anxiety and Potty Training

Some people give up hope in the face of traumatic personal events but my guest Nicole Gneiting has fought the good fight and persevered successfully. After being diagnosed with head and neck cancer in her 20s and given a 50% chance of survival, she chose to undergo hours of surgery and then rely on her faith for recovery.

Some people give up hope in the face of traumatic personal events but my guest Nicole Gneiting has fought the good fight and persevered successfully.  After being diagnosed with head and neck cancer in her 20s and given a 50% chance of survival, she chose to undergo hours of surgery and then rely on her faith for recovery.  She became cancer free but then faced another traumatic event with her son’s near-drowning incident.  She began to suffer anxiety around the fear of facing additional health issues but started a journey with Christian mindfulness to bring peace.  She has developed an extremely popular website – mindfulhome.net – where she shares organizational, Christian mindfulness, and a variety of other tips to help us become better homemakers and have a thriving home life. 

Website: www.mindfulhome.net

Instagram: @mindful_home_

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Ep. #13 Prolific Caribbean Artist Mark Isaacs Shares His Optimistic Attitude in Facing Life’s Challenges, Including Hearing Loss as a Child

Dealing with a hearing loss at any age can be very painful, but especially so in the life of a child. Prolific Caribbean artist Mark Isaacs shares his story about how he chose to face that challenge and others with a positive attitude, intentionally not viewing challenges as obstacles but rather as exciting new ways to learn.

Dealing with a hearing loss at any age can be very painful, but especially so in the life of a child. Prolific Caribbean artist Mark Isaacs shares his story about how he chose to face that challenge and others with a positive attitude, intentionally not viewing challenges as obstacles but rather as exciting new ways to learn.  In fact, he learned to hear again through patience and using modern technology.  Raised in a family of artists who frequented art galleries, he developed an appreciation for and a love of art.  His beautiful artwork of the US Virgin Islands and other places reflects his optimistic outlook toward life.  He finds awe and inspiration in seemingly average scenes.  As he exuberantly says, “God is in the details!”  

Email: markisaacs2000@gmail.com

Facebook: Mark Isaacs

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Ep. #12 Successful Lawyer Dorothy Isaacs Shares Her Stories of Persevering, Personally & for Clients, When the Odds Were Stacked Against Her

What was it like for women who wanted to attend law school back in the 1970s? Very difficult, but some women persevered, such as Dorothy Isaacs. She is a successful lawyer who did not give up on her dream to become a lawyer when few women were being admitted to law school.

What was it like for women who wanted to attend law school back in the 1970s? Very difficult, but some women persevered, such as Dorothy Isaacs. She is a successful lawyer who did not give up on her dream to become a lawyer when few women were being admitted to law school. She shares her stories with us, including one major case where she represented parents who were improperly charged with child abuse, and how they eventually won the case, after years of legal battles and emotional trauma. She gives us hope to persevere with our dreams and goals.

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Ep. #11 Executive Director of Rotary Action Group for Peace Reem Ghunaim Shares How She Spreads Peace as a Conscious Daily Choice

Is the concept of peace an elusive one? Not for Reem Ghunaim, who is the executive director of Rotary Action Group for Peace which promotes peace throughout the world.

Is the concept of peace an elusive one? Not for Reem Ghunaim, who is the executive director of Rotary Action Group for Peace which promotes peace throughout the world.  She grew up close to the Palestinian refugee camps and came to the US to study as a Rotary Peace Fellow.  She advocates peace as an ecosystem that requires our actions and intentions. She gives us hope as she advances "peace is a choice" for every person, from our day-to-day interactions with others to our communications on social media.    As an international public speaker, she encourages peace initiatives through economic development, social entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and creative arts.

rotaryactiongroupforpeace.org

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Ep. #10 Best-selling Children’s Author Dr. Qooz Shares His Story of How He Spreads Hope to Children By Telling Stories that Directly Affect Them Such as Wearing Glasses & Being Afraid of the Dark

Do you want to help your children deal with important events in their lives like the first day of school, bullying, being afraid of the dark, and wearing glasses? Best-selling children’s author Dr. Qooz has written a series of books that contain creative stories with funny characters to encourage children and parents to talk about these important issues.

Do you want to help your children deal with important events in their lives like the first day of school, bullying, being afraid of the dark, and wearing glasses?  Best-selling children’s author Dr. Qooz has written a series of books that contain creative stories with funny characters to encourage children and parents to talk about these important issues.  During this podcast, he also announces the establishment of a forum that allows you, as a parent or grandparent, to record your actual voice in order to pass along wisdom, love, and messages for your future generations – creating your own customized legacy in your own voice!

www.drqooz.com

www.legacytoo.com

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Ep. #9 Lauren Baptiste of Acheloa Wellness Shares Her Story of Hope About How Overcoming Health Issues Propelled Her to Establish Her Own Business to Help Others

Are you wondering what you can do to better handle stress? Instead of allowing sickness and stress to deter her, guest Lauren Baptiste used it to propel her to establish her own business to help others. Today, she owns and operates Acheloa Wellness. She uses lessons learned from her past stressful lifestyle to help others transform burnout and feeling stuck to living a life they love with meaning and soul. Her mantra is to make small daily commitments to yourself and then follow through.

Are you wondering what you can do to better handle stress? Instead of allowing sickness and stress to deter her, guest Lauren Baptiste used it to propel her to establish her own business to help others. Today, she owns and operates Acheloa Wellness. She uses lessons learned from her past stressful lifestyle to help others transform burnout and feeling stuck to living a life they love with meaning and soul. Her mantra is to make small daily commitments to yourself and then follow through. 

www.acheloawellness.com

Email: hello@acheloawellness.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenbaptiste1

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Ep. #8 Virgin Islands Entrepreneur Arash Pahlavan Shares How Winning His Weight Battle Propelled Him Towards Success in Life – with His Family and Business Ventures

The weight battle can be disheartening, but it can be won! Wondering how you can finally win the battle with your bulges? Listen to Arash Pahlavan as he details how he triumphed in a battle that he struggled with for many years. Being overweight affected every aspect of his life as he was unable to achieve direction, success, and true happiness. Find out how a chance encounter brought him mentorship that would lead to his victory and change his entire life, ultimately propelling him toward a very lucrative future and achieving his dreams.

The weight battle can be disheartening, but it can be won! Wondering how you can finally win the battle with your bulges? Listen to Arash Pahlavan as he details how he triumphed in a battle that he struggled with for many years. Being overweight affected every aspect of his life as he was unable to achieve direction, success, and true happiness.  Find out how a chance encounter brought him mentorship that would lead to his victory and change his entire life, ultimately propelling him toward a very lucrative future and achieving his dreams.

https://www.facebook.com/arash.pahlavanhttps://www.facebook.com/GoViralSocial/;

https://www.facebook.com/Arash340/

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Ep. #7 22-Year-Old College Student Raven Phillips Shares How She Overcame Challenges to Attend College and then Win the Miss University on a Platform Promoting Literacy

Don’t let challenges in life keep you back! My young guest Raven Phillips tells her story of how she overcame significant challenges in high school to eventually graduate, attend college, and then win the coveted title of Miss University of the Virgin Islands. At the tender age of just 22-years old, she put together a platform about promoting literacy through telling stories to impact a community devastated by two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017 and now the Covid-19 pandemic.

Don’t let challenges in life keep you back!  My young guest Raven Phillips tells her story of how she overcame significant challenges in high school to eventually graduate, attend college, and then win the coveted title of Miss University of the Virgin Islands.  At the tender age of just 22-years old, she put together a platform about promoting literacy through telling stories to impact a community devastated by two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017 and now the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Ep. #6 Kevin Harding Shares His Life Changing Story of How Participating in the Christian Program Brothers in Discipleship Helped Improve His Life as an African American Husband and Father – Part 2

Any worthwhile self-help path succeeds because the participant fully embraces the principles and processes being championed. For Kevin Harding, he was “all in” to learning and improving his life through becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Any worthwhile self-help path succeeds because the participant fully embraces the principles and processes being championed. For Kevin Harding, he was “all in” to learning and improving his life through becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  Hear him tell his story of the positive impact that a Christian small group program Brothers in Discipleship had on his relationship with his wife, children, and community. 

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Ep. #5 Michael P. Hamer Shares His Experiences as a Leader/Program Facilitator with the Christian Program Brothers in Discipleship that Helps Men to Develop Dynamic Relationships with Christ – Part 1

Have you ever wondered why some churches have so few men attending and what can be done about it? Michael P. Hamer shares his stories as a leader and program facilitator in the Christian program Brothers in Discipleship at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in the Washington, DC metro area. Listen to how this intense small group program has led men to become better husbands, fathers, Christ-followers, and community contributors.

Have you ever wondered why some churches have so few men attending and what can be done about it?  Michael P. Hamer shares his stories as a leader and program facilitator in the Christian program Brothers in Discipleship at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in the Washington, DC metro area.  Listen to how this intense small group program has led men to become better husbands, fathers, Christ-followers, and community contributors.

https://fbcglenarden.org/ministries/brothers-in-discipleship-bid

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Ep. #4: Author Bernardo Salcido Continues to Share Wisdom that Will Help Parents Develop Better Relationships with Their Teenagers – Part 2

Our discussion with author Bernardo Salcido continues as he provides insightful answers to our many questions: What really works with teens? How do we parents get them to open up?

Our discussion with author Bernardo Salcido continues as he provides insightful answers to our many questions:  What really works with teens?  How do we parents get them to open up?  Is it too late to build a strong, loving relationship?  His book is filled with precious gems that parents can put immediately into practice.  https://connectingwithteens.weebly.com

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Ep. #3: Educator and Father, Author Bernardo Salcido, Shares Valuable Wisdom from His Book ConnecTeen into Navigating Your Children Through Those “Turbulent Teenage Years” – Part 1

Don’t keep pulling out your hair or yelling in frustration at your teens! Author Bernardo Salcido shares his time proven strategies of how to successfully raise teenagers. He is a former teacher, junior high school principal and father of two. His book, ConnecTeen, gives many illustrations and practical suggestions as to what parents can do to develop better relationships with their teens.

Don’t keep pulling out your hair or yelling in frustration at your teens!  Author Bernardo Salcido shares his time-proven strategies of how to successfully raise teenagers.  He is a former teacher, junior high school principal, and father of two.  His book, ConnecTeen, gives many illustrations and practical suggestions as to what parents can do to develop better relationships with their teens.  Mr. Salcido’s slogan is “bringing parents closer to teens”.  This episode delivers many answers to the challenges that persist in raising teens, regardless of time and circumstances. https://connectingwithteens.weebly.com

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Ep. #2: Two 16 year-olds Kashish & Alexandra Share Their Stories of Promoting Peace in Their Communities Through Books

Are you tired of stories about teenagers getting into trouble? Are you yearning to hear stories that involve young people succeeding at worthwhile causes?

Are you tired of stories about teenagers getting into trouble? Are you yearning to hear stories that involve young people succeeding at worthwhile causes? Please listen to this heartwarming podcast of two 16 year-olds, Kashish Chainani & Alexandra Bohla, who are positively impacting their communities.  They have discovered an interesting and important way to promote peace through books.  As you listen to their inspiring stories, you will be convinced that this is teen-talk that needs to make headlines, because these two teens can teach us about the power of persistence, peace, and books. 

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Ep. #1: 3-Time Emmy Award-Winning Journalist Dhomonique Murphy Shares Her Story of Helping Underprivileged Children To Become Leaders Through Reading

Would you like to positively impact the life of a child through books and reading? Are you convinced that there is a direct connection between children who read well and adults who succeed?  Perhaps you would like to start a non-profit organization or help underprivileged children.

Would you like to positively impact the life of a child through books and reading? Are you convinced that there is a direct connection between children who read well and adults who succeed?  Perhaps you would like to start a nonprofit organization or help underprivileged children. Please listen to three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Dhomonique Murphy as she shares her story of hope and how she established a nonprofit to promote childhood literacy. Her nonprofit organization The Yellow Box Foundation/Readers 2 Leaders gives away E-Readers with thousands of books to help underprivileged children. Her project is The Yellow Box -www.theyellowbox.org.  Join Soraya and Dhomonique as they discuss a shared passion to improve the lives of children.

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