One week ago, twin earthquakes tore through the Venezuelan coastline Lori Adams-Brown grew up on. In this solo episode, recorded live and shared here as this week's show, Lori reports what's actually happening on the ground, draws on her firsthand experience coordinating relief after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, and gives you a vetted list of where to send help right now. The scale of the disaster: two quakes thirty-nine seconds apart, the strongest Venezuela has felt in over a century, and a de...
What does it look like to build a life from scratch, not once, but again and again? Nuray Krein Yilmaz has done it more times than most people ever will, and her story is one of the most quietly extraordinary ones we've shared on this podcast.Nuray grew up in a small farming village in eastern Turkey, the eleventh of twelve siblings, in a community where girls' futures were largely pre-written. She lost both parents to cancer before she turned 13. She taught herself to dream inside boarding school libraries and across chess tournaments — and she never stopped.In 2018, she moved to the United States through a cultural exchange program with limited English, no safety net, and an enormous amount of courage. Today she is a content analyst in tech, a published author, and the founder of What If You Can — a community for people navigating immigration, grief, career transitions, and the question of whether they belong.
What if the way we’ve been thinking about brains at work is fundamentally broken? What if accommodations aren’t about fixing people, but about unlocking talent we’ve been filtering out for decades? In this powerful episode, Lori sits down with Dave Thompson to explore how neurodiversity is the biggest shift in human capital in a generation, and why the companies that get it right will lead the future of work.
What do you do when the doors you’ve worked for keep closing because of factors you can’t control? In this episode, Rebeca Lopez Valerio shares how she turned “no” into fuel, built opportunities from scratch, and learned to lead with coraje, heart-forward courage rooted in identity, resilience, and values.Rebeca’s story is powerful and deeply human. Born in Mexico with Indigenous roots from the Oaxaca/Puebla region, she immigrated to the U.S. at age four and navigated life as a first-generation student, while also carrying the realities of being undocumented during key years of her education and career journey. Together, we talk about what it really takes to keep showing up when the stakes are high, and how community can be the difference between feeling stuck and finding your way forward.
What happens when faith communities quietly replace women’s leadership with unpaid, invisible labor? In this powerful Best of most downloaded episode of 2025 re-release, historian and bestselling author Dr. Beth Allison Barr joins Lori Adams-Brown to unpack how the role of the “pastor’s wife” became a substitute for women’s ordination—and the deep harm that followed.Drawing from her book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife, Beth combines rigorous historical research with lived experience to show how a once-fluid vision of women’s leadership in Christianity narrowed dramatically in the late 20th century. What emerges is a sobering picture: women expected to perform the equivalent of multiple full-time jobs for free, while being told their obedience—not their gifts—is God’s highest calling.Together, Lori and Beth explore how this shift didn’t happen gradually, but almost overnight, during the Southern Baptist Convention’s fundamentalist takeover. They discuss the psychological toll on wo…
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Pamela Donnelly, founder of the American Access Institute, as she shares her mission to support vulnerable teens, including those aging out of foster care. Discover how the Catapult platform is transforming lives through trauma-informed care, AI mentorship, and innovative partnerships. Key Highlights: Dr. Donnelly's journey from college admissions professional to ed-tech innovator. The impact of the Catapult platform on justice-involved youth and fo...
. If you're feeling exhausted from trying to process your third culture kid or MK experience—maybe you've already read memoirs, joined support groups, or tried to explain the complexity of evangelical politics to your friends, but still end up feeling misunderstood, unmoored, or even invisible, then you are not alone! If you've spent hours wrestling with the tension between your parents' good work and the darker sides of white evangelicalism, but instead of clarity, you get more tangled up in guilt or frustration, then you are not alone! If you've tried to fit your global perspective into conversations about Christian nationalism and end up hitting a wall of resistance, silence, or even shaming from your own community, then you are not alone! And if you've hoped that being resilient would be enough to heal the grief of never truly belonging anywhere, but find that the pain lingers no matter how many times you reinvent yourself, then you are not alone!
Does this sound familiar? You’ve been told to just keep grinding it out in your current job until the “right” opportunity magically appears, but all that’s gotten you is more stress, second-guessing, and the nagging feeling you’re wasting your potential. It sucks watching your energy drain away while your values get sidelined and you wonder if you’ll ever feel truly fulfilled at work. You deserve a career that’s actually aligned with who you are and the impact you want to make. Let’s talk about ...
What if I told you that the real threat to your organization's future isn't just scandal or a viral headline—but something quietly brewing in your own leadership team? It's not about one bad apple, or even just making the right hires. There's a hidden factor that erodes trust, tanks retention, and costs far more than you think—yet most boards and executives still overlook it. And what neuroscience reveals about burnout and empathy in leaders might just change how you approach integrity forever. Want to know what most leaders miss (and how you can avoid being one of them)? Let’s unpack it together…
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the current geopolitical tensions and the fear of not being able to fully express your identity, then you are not alone! The impact of these tensions on immigrants, especially Latina professionals, is creating a sense of anxiety and uncertainty in the workplace. The fear of being misunderstood, discriminated against, or even facing potential deportation is causing unnecessary stress and hindering your ability to thrive. It's a painful emotion that many Latina professionals are grappling with, and it's time to address it head-on!
If you're feeling frustrated by the prevalence of sexism and the lack of support for women in church leadership, and if you've experienced the pain of being dismissed or overlooked, then you are not alone!
Are you stuck in a toxic work environment, feeling drained before even opening your laptop? What if I told you that the key to a healthy workplace culture lies in psychological safety? Join me on a journey to identify the red flags of toxicity and learn practical steps to protect yourself. But here's the unexpected twist: toxic work environments don't have to be the norm. Discover how recognizing the signs early and choosing supportive environments can create a world of difference for you and th...
Do you want to understand how survivors of religious trauma are finding the strength to reclaim their lives and make a difference? Join us as we explore a story of resilience, transformation, and healing in the face of religious abuse and domestic violence. We'll be sharing the solution so that you can achieve that result. Get ready to hear a shocking and moving story of how a survivor escaped when her life depended on it.
Do you want to truly understand the impact of international adoption and the complex web of privilege and bias it entails? If you're seeking the solution to this, then join me as we delve into this eye-opening conversation that will increase your understanding of privilege and bias in adoption practices. Let's uncover the truth together. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand how international adoption policies impact children's lives. Gain insight into the support available for birth ...
Do you want to experience increased self-awareness and empowerment as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse? Learn how to navigate the journey of healing and recovery with a special guest who shares her inspiring story and insights. Stay tuned to discover the solution for achieving this result.
Want to understand the impact of evangelicalism on politics and how to make a difference? Discover how a historian, NY Times best-selling author and filmmaker are centering survivor voices to bring about change. Get ready to dive into a conversation that's making waves and sparking crucial conversations. Stay tuned for more. In this episode, you will be able to: Explore the impact of evangelicalism on politics and uncover its influence on key societal issues. Understand the significance of a sur...
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of neurodiversity in relationships, constantly trying to meet societal expectations and feeling isolated, then you are not alone! The journey to understanding and supporting neurodiverse individuals in relationships can be challenging, but there's hope and healing waiting for you. Let's explore strategies and resources to help navigate this maze together.
Are you ready to uncover the unexpected connection between racial justice and Christianity in US history? Get ready to be inspired and engaged as we reveal the surprising insights from this powerful conversation. Stay tuned to discover how this unexpected link can empower you to advocate for a more just and equitable world. You won't want to miss this eye-opening revelation. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the intersection of racial justice and Christianity in US history to fost...
Does this sound familiar? You've been told to work harder, take on more tasks, and just push through those workplace challenges, but the pain of feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and undervalued still lingers. It's time for a different approach to handle workplace adversity and trauma. Let's explore some strategies and support systems that can truly empower you and bring about real change. Join me in finding the right support and reclaiming your inherent value in the face of workplace challenges. I...
