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
Ep. #28 – Children’s Author and Dog Lover Lisa Wiehebrink Shares Her Story of Helping to Build Character in Children and Healthy Partnerships Between Children and Their Pets
Did you know that how children treat their pets is often an indication of their compassion, kindness, and empathy? Mother, children’s author, and dog lover Lisa Wiehebrink shares how she strives to inspire children to develop kindness, compassion, and empathy toward others through her books about dogs.
Did you know that how children treat their pets is often an indication of their compassion, kindness and empathy? Mother, children’s author, and dog lover Lisa Wiehebrink shares how she strives to inspire children to develop kindness, compassion, and empathy toward others through her books about dogs. Her books are used in classrooms for character education to help children learn to have better relationships with others and humane education for children to learn to develop better relationships with their pets. Animal organizations also use her books for community outreach, shelter reading programs, and pet adoptions.
Website: tailsthatteach.com
Email: lisa@tailsthatteach.com
Ep. #27 – Biologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss Shares Her Personal Story of Hope and How We Can Rewire Our Brains to go From Being Fearful to Being Fearless
Did you know that our brains are built for survival and not happiness? Biologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss shares how personal tragedies propelled her to break patterns and behaviors that held her back due to fear and a desire to “stay safe”.
Did you know that our brains are built for survival and not happiness? Biologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss shares how personal tragedies propelled her to break patterns and behaviors that held her back due to fear and a desire to “stay safe”. Using her science background, she seeks to help others become less fearful and happier through learning transformative techniques. She gives us insights from her new book Instinct – Rewire Your Brain with Science-Backed Solutions to Increase Productivity & Achieve Success.
Website: rebeccaheiss.com; icueity.com
Email: rebecca@rebeccaheiss.com
Ep. #26 – Vivian St. Juste Schweizer Shares Her Story of Lifelong Advocacy for Those Who are Vulnerable and Her Commitment to Seeking Justice
A passionate and lifelong advocate for victims, Vivian St. Juste Schweizer shares her story about how her advocacy skills for the vulnerable started at home at a young age as she advocated for the rights of and services for her disabled brother on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands.
A passionate and lifelong advocate for victims, Vivian St. Juste Schweizer shares her story about how her advocacy skills for the vulnerable started at home at a young age as she advocated for the rights of and services for her disabled brother on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. Over the years, her advocacy for the vulnerable has helped innumerable people, as she served in various leadership positions, including as the executive director of the Family Resource Center on St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting victims of domestic violence and other crimes. She has continued unabated, despite her own personal setbacks and losses, including those resulting from two hurricanes that devastated the U. S. Virgin Islands in 2017. Now, remarried and living in North Carolina, Vivian uses her expertise to assist businesses and organizations (for-profit and nonprofit) in many ways, including board development and strategic planning, as well as grant research and writing.
Website: everythinggrants.com
Email: everythinggrants@gmail.com
Ep. #25 – Accomplished and Vivacious Wife, Mother and Entrepreneur, Ayanna Hall Shares her Story of Hope in Transitioning Through Various Stages of Life
We all go through various stages in life. How can we successfully handle those transitions? Ayanna Hall, an accomplished entrepreneur, shares her story of overcoming challenges as she went from being a successful pharmacist and working mom with three children, to a stay-at-home mom, and then to building a business based on a now popular website, all while balancing marriage and ministry.
We all go through various stages in life. How can we successfully handle those transitions? Ayanna Hall, an accomplished entrepreneur, shares her story of overcoming challenges as she went from being a successful pharmacist and working mom with three children, to a stay-at-home mom, and then to building a business based on a now popular website, all while balancing marriage and ministry. Her mission now is to help wives and wives-to-be to gain clarity, confidence, and happiness. However, anyone and everyone can benefit from Ayanna’s wisdom.
Website: beyondcommitted.com
Email: hello@beyondcommitted.com
Instagram: @beyondcommitted
Ep. #24 - 25-year-old Liudeli Torres Shares His Story of How He Went from Being Socially Inept to Socially Apt and Then Establish His Own Business
Growing up as a Hispanic male who was viewed as a nerd in high school, Liudeli Torres suffered from poor social skills. As a young adult, he would go out of his way to avoid interactions with people. He tells us how he made a dramatic turnaround by being disciplined and focusing on self-improvement strategies he learned from books.
Growing up as a Hispanic male who was viewed as a nerd in high school, Liudeli Torres suffered from poor social skills. As a young adult, he would go out of his way to avoid interactions with people. He tells us how he made a dramatic turnaround by being disciplined and focusing on self-improvement strategies he learned from books. He slowly but intentionally put those strategies to work and has seen his social skills improve considerably. At the young age of 25, he now owns and operates his own website development company "Don't Be Basic" where he encourages small businesses to think outside the box.
Email: ltorres@dontbebasic.us
Ep. #23 – Mother and Daughter Team Carrie & Sophia Fox Spread Hope Through Their Book Adventures in Kindness
Do you wonder how a mother and her 10-year-old daughter were able to write a book together? Join this unique team as they talk about why they decided to partner together and spread hope for us all through encouraging more kindness in our world.
Do you wonder how a mother and her 10-year-old daughter were able to write a book together? Join this unique team as they talk about why they decided to partner together and spread hope for us all through encouraging more kindness in our world. In their book Adventures in Kindness, they motivate children to do acts of kindness often. It is filled with 52 creative adventures where children can help their families, friends, schools and communities practice kindness. The impact of their book is being felt all over the United States. They even donate a percentage of their earnings to nonprofits that help the underprivileged.
Website: adventuresinkindness.com
Ep. #22 – Acclaimed U. S. Virgin Islands Actress and Film Writer Angela Golden Bryan Shares Her Story of Hope as a Parent of a Child Who Was Bullied
Education officials have called “bullying” an epidemic. It affects children of all ages and economic statuses. Victims of bullying often suffer in secret. Angela shares her personal story as a parent of a child who was bullied and gives advice as to what parents should do to help their children during those difficult times.
Education officials have called “bullying” an epidemic. It affects children of all ages and economic statuses. Victims of bullying often suffer in secret. Angela shares her personal story as a parent of a child who was bullied and gives advice as to what parents should do to help their children during those difficult times. She wrote a children's book, James and the Fireburn, to help children learn more about bullying. She also describes the production of the documentary she wrote, Fireburn the Documentary, which is about a period in U. S. Virgin Islands history involving a revolt led by women because of inhumane treatment. It has won many awards and accolades.
Website: angelagoldenbryan.com; fireburndocumentary.com
Instagram: @angelagoldenbryan
Facebook: AngelaGoldenBryanActress
Ep. #21 – Author Joy A. Williams Shares Her Inspiring Journey From Infertility to Adoption & the Importance of Friendships
Author Joy Williams shares her inspirational story of how she overcame the stigma and profound feelings of loss associated with infertility and how she and her husband eventually brought love into their home by adopting a child.
Author Joy A. Williams shares her inspirational story of how she overcame the stigma and profound feelings of loss associated with infertility and how she and her husband eventually brought love into their home by adopting a child. She also discusses her book Friendship MAPS: A Journey through Maturity, Aspirations, Perspectives, and Struggles, which was birthed from her years of moving constantly when her husband served in the armed forces and making new friends while losing others. Listen as Joy explains how friends play such an important role in our lives and friendships change as we age. Being a good friend to others is as important as having good friends.
Website: joywilliams.com
Email: writejoy@live.com
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
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
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
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
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
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
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_
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
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.
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
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!
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.
Email: hello@acheloawellness.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenbaptiste1