Strangers on The Way

Jaksot

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  Episode 151: Denvil Lee - From policeman to pastor, planting small seeds, and being found by God 18.05.2026 1t 8min

  In Episode 151, Lauren sits down with Denvil Lee, Campus Pastor at The Chapel Lake Zurich. Denvil shares his incredible journey from working at McDonald’s, to retail leadership, to serving as a police officer, investigator, and detective, before eventually stepping into church leadership and pastoral ministry. One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation is how Denvil approaches each role with a heart to serve and invest in people - often spending only a short time at the top b...
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  Episode 150: Lynne Marian - Creation Care, Eliminating Poverty, and Empowering Communities Worldwide 16.03.2026 29min

  In Episode 150, Lauren sits down with Lynne Marian, a leader who has spent more than three decades working at the intersection of faith, ministry, and mission-driven marketing. Throughout her career, Lynne has helped amplify the impact of some of the most influential Christian organizations in the world, including World Vision, Zondervan, World Concern, Our Daily Bread Ministries, and Outreach, Inc.. While at Outreach, she founded Outreach Magazine, known for publishing the influential Top 10...
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  Episode 149: Marcy Bursac - Why adoption was her Plan A, navigating foster care adoption, and closing the gap for waiting children 16.02.2026 33min

  In Episode 149, Lauren sits down with Marcy Bursac, adoptive mom, author, national advocate, and founder of The Forgotten Adoption Option, to talk about what happens when adoption isn’t Plan B…but Plan A. Marcy shares how a visit to Moldova changed the trajectory of her life and led her to the desire to adopt. But when she stepped into the U.S. foster care system to adopt a sibling pair, she encountered something she didn’t expect: confusion, delays, misdirection, and a lack of clear guidance...
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  Episode 148: Dr. Paul Falkowski - Why visiting seniors matters, healing loneliness, and 1:1 care 19.01.2026 37min

  In Episode 148, Lauren interviews Dr. Paul Falkowski, Founder and President of the National Association of Long-Term Care Volunteers (NALTCV) and explores the quiet, powerful impact of showing up for senior citizens — one visit at a time. Paul shares the remarkable origin story of his organization, which began not in a boardroom, but while serving as a choir director. After a visit to a local senior care facility, Paul quickly learned that there was a need for one-on-one visitors for the seni...
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  Episode 147: Moriah Stewart - Loving teenagers well, how to be a mentor, and the joy of pickleball 12.01.2026 38min

  In Episode 147, Lauren interviews Oklahoma-based mom, pickleball enthusiast, and ministry leader Moriah Stewart. Lauren spontaneously met Moriah at a conference in Chicago. In this episode, Moriah shares about her and her husband Kyle's love of teenagers, what she's learned through mentoring young adults, how to recognize God speaking to you, and wisdom she's gleaning through playing pickleball. This episode is a warm, faith-filled conversation about noticing God in daily life, loving young p...
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  Episode 146: Jennifer Wenningkamp - Hearing God's call, shaped by Mozambique, and living a life of missions 24.11.2025 47min

  In Episode 146, Lauren sits down with Jennifer Wenningkamp, a woman whose life has been profoundly shaped by divine encounters, courageous obedience, and a deep passion for loving people across cultures. Jennifer shares how, at just ten years old, she heard the audible voice of God calling her into missions, a moment that set the trajectory for her entire life. That calling eventually led her to Mozambique, where she served with Iris Ministries for more than a decade, met her husband, raised ...
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  Episode 145: Julie Yoder - Equipping preachers, leading with wisdom, and living the Vineyard legacy 17.11.2025 32min

  In Episode 145, Lauren interviews Julie Yoder, one of the Senior Pastors at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois, where she leads alongside her husband, Mike. Together, they also serve as Regional Leaders for Vineyard USA in the Midwest Central Region. Raised in the Vineyard, Julie is a gifted communicator, passionate leader, and developer of others. She leads the preaching team and is deeply committed to helping people encounter Jesus in their everyday lives. In this episode, Julie...
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  Episode 144: Amy James - Intimacy with God, inner healing, and discovering creativity 10.11.2025 40min

  In this episode, Lauren interviews Amy James, a creative, faith-filled woman from Illinois who wears many hats. Alongside her husband, Amy hosts guests through their Airbnb, extending warmth and hospitality as a reflection of God’s heart. As a Sozo inner healing leader, she helps others experience freedom and restoration through intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When she’s not leading or mentoring, you’ll often find Amy painting, exploring her creative side, and discovering the...
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  Episode 143: Jen Dunnewold - Emotional health, honor, and loving well 03.11.2025 36min

  In Episode 143, Lauren interviews Jen Dunnewold, a Tennessee native, devoted wife and mom, and member of her church’s worship team. Jen is passionate about emotional health, authentic connection, and creating intentional cultures of honor. In this episode, Jen shares how navigating complex family dynamics became a classroom for learning boundaries, self-awareness, and love. Jen opens up about overcoming people-pleasing, starting the journey toward emotional health, and discovering the freedom...
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  Episode 142: Jonas "Yo" Torres - Songwriting, stewarding the secret place, and life as a creative 27.10.2025 39min

  In Episode 142, Lauren interviews creative Jonas "Yo" Torres who is currently serving in his third year at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. In this episode, Lauren and Yo dive deep into what it means to create from the secret place with God, where intimacy fuels creativity and art becomes an act of worship. Yo shares how the Gospel shapes his life and creativity, reminding us that Jesus came to show us what it looks like to be loved by the Father. If you’re longing to write songs...
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  Episode 141: Father Christophe - Becoming a priest, connecting with God, and writing poetry 08.09.2025 30min

  In Episode 141, Lauren interviews Father Christophe, a French Catholic priest from the Chemin Neuf community, who currently serves in Grenoble, France. With 10 years of priesthood behind him, Father Christophe opens up about his powerful encounter with God, his path to the priesthood, and the sacred responsibility of walking with people through their most vulnerable moments. He also shares how writing poetry has deepened his spiritual journey. Stay until the end to receive a heartfelt blessin...
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  Episode 140: Putty Putman - Miracles, risk, and the mind of a physicist 18.08.2025 40min

  In this episode of Strangers on The Way, Lauren sits down with physicist-turned-pastor, entrepreneur, author, and speaker Putty Putman. After earning a PhD in particle physics and encountering a life-changing supernatural experience in China, Putty made an unexpected choice: instead of pursuing a lucrative career in science, he stepped into full-time ministry in Illinois. Putty shares how the mind of a physicist shapes his teaching and leadership, his surprising journey of stumbling into God...
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  Episode 139: Brittney Tewksbury - Building community, self-worth, and FCC Hoops 04.08.2025 33min

  In Episode 139, Lauren interviews Brittney Tewksbury — wife, mom, community connector, and founder of FCC Hoops, a fast-growing grassroots adult basketball group that’s reshaping the local rec scene. When Brittney moved back to Illinois from Chicago, she knew she loved playing basketball so she started something from scratch. What began as a simple search for a pickup run has exploded into a thriving, structured, and inclusive adult basketball community that now runs two days a week and draws...
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  Episode 138: Nick Demske - Community organizing, poetry, and running for local politics 21.07.2025 1t 1min

  In Episode 138, Lauren interviews librarian, politician, anti-racism activist, published poet, social justice advocate, and community organizer Nick Demske. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Racine Public Library, Nick shares his inspiring journey from stocking library shelves to leading the very institution that sparked his passion for justice and learning. Nick is also co-founder of the BONK! Poetry and Music series and the Joshua Glover Justice Fund, a bail fund supporting...
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  Episode 137: Ada Adeleke-Kelani - Heavenly intervention, quips, and the power of names 07.07.2025 41min

  In Episode 137, Lauren sits down with author, life and career coach Ada Adeleke-Kelani for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation. Born in Nigeria and now living in Canada with her family, Ada opens up about the profound power of our names —including the touching story behind her son’s name — her miraculous birth experience, and the unmistakable hand of God’s divine intervention in her life. Ada is the celebrated author of the 101 Quips and Quotes book series, a collection of uplifting quote...
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  Episode 136: Leslie Crandall - How to find a spiritual mentor, connect with Jesus, and overcome fear 23.06.2025 29min

  In Episode 136, Lauren interviews Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) First Year Overseer and pastor Leslie Crandall. Leslie and her husband Tom have been married for nearly twenty-six years, served in full-time ministry for over nineteen years, and have had the privilege of being on staff at Bethel for over ten of those years. In this episode, Leslie shares how she and her family have welcomed spiritual children into their family, how you can find a spiritual mentor, how to ...
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  Episode 135: Trista Handisides - Women's surfing, movie producing, and the power of being open 09.06.2025 40min

  In Episode 135, Lauren interviews California-native Trista Handisides—a wife, mom, and former tech leader at Yahoo and Facebook—who’s now making waves in her community and beyond. Trista opens up about navigating a season of interruption, aligning life with personal values, and getting involved with her local park foundation. She also shares stories from surfing in Mexico and her role as Executive Producer of She Change, a powerful documentary spotlighting four fearless women surfers fighting...
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  Episode 134: Laurence Bragg - Episode 134: Laurence Bragg - Parenting with God, Lectio Divina, and forgiving those who hurt you 28.04.2025 44min

  In Episode 134, Lauren interviews Texas-based spiritual teacher, wife and mom Laurence Bragg. In this episode, Laurence shares how she invited God into the parenting of her children (now adult children), including special prayers pregnant women can pray. She also talks about her journey of intimacy with Jesus and ways to hear his voice personally. Lastly, Laurence shares about the power of forgiveness and healing during her recent mission trip to El Salvador. - The Strangers on The Way Podca...
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  Episode 133: Evan Brown - How men find community, risk-taking, and breaking free from pornography 14.04.2025 43min

  In Episode 133, Lauren interviews Minnesota-native Evan Brown. Evan made a leap of faith and moved to California a few years ago. In this episode, he shares about the wild journey moving out west, his journey overcoming pornography, and his passion to help men walk into sexual freedom. Be on the lookout for Evan's new upcoming podcast, Roaring Lion, where he talks about important and often under-discussed topics like pornography and healing. - The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming ...
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  Episode 132: Jen Polizzi - Receiving love, taking risks, and intergenerational friendships 10.03.2025 31min

  In Episode 132, Lauren interviews wife, mom, and Children's Director Jen Polizzi. Jen is full of warmth, kindness, joy, and God stories! In this episode, Jen shares about her encounter with the love of God, how it changed everything around her, the joy of raising her children (ages 29, 14, and 4!), and the power of intergenerational friendships. Jen is full of wisdom and faith and this episode is sure to leave you inspired! - The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one str...