Hope Comes to Visit

Danielle Elliott Smith
  • 5.0 (9)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Hope Comes to Visit is a soulful podcast that holds space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of moments that remind us we’re never alone. Hosted by author, speaker, and former TV journalist-turned-storyteller Danielle Elliott Smith, the show explores the full spectrum of the human experience — from the tender to the triumphant. Through powerful interviews and reflective storytelling, each episode offers light, connection, and presence for anyone navigating the in-between. Whether you’re grieving, growing, beginning again, or simply craving something real, Hope Comes to Visit will meet you right where you are — with warmth, grace, and the quiet belief that even in the dark, transformation can take root. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light, reflection, and hope.

  1. From Guilt to Guidance: How to Talk About Senior Care with Shona McIntyre

    3D AGO

    From Guilt to Guidance: How to Talk About Senior Care with Shona McIntyre

    Send us a text Content note: This episode includes candid conversation about aging, dementia, and caregiver stress. What’s the right time to talk about senior care—and how do you even begin? In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I sit with Shona McIntyre, a senior care advisor, social worker, and certified dementia practitioner with nearly two decades of experience helping families navigate complex decisions with clarity, compassion, and confidence. We unpack the messy middle: noticing early signs of change, starting “the talk” without stripping dignity, and why planning before a hospital crisis protects both options and peace of mind. Shona explains the real differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing—and why modern senior communities look more like apartment living with support (think chef-prepared meals, robust activities, and on-site care). We also dig into caregiver guilt, how to frame conversations around safety + independence, what actually determines a good fit (level of care, lifestyle, and budget), and the huge time savings of working with a local advisor who has walked the buildings, tasted the food, and knows the teams. If you’re caring for an aging parent—or love someone who is—this episode is a steady hand on your shoulder and a practical path forward. Guest: Shona McIntyre — seniorcommunityconnections.net Resource: The Caregiver’s Advocate (Vol. 2) Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    26 min
  2. Kleptomania, Consequences, And Hope

    DEC 15

    Kleptomania, Consequences, And Hope

    Send us a text This episode includes honest discussion of addiction and legal consequences. What does recovery look like when the compulsion won’t let go? In this conversation, I am privileged to sit with Kelli Bauer, who lives with kleptomania—an often-hidden addiction—and has paid steep personal and legal costs. This conversation is brave and vulnerable. We talk about the difference between “shoplifting” and a clinical compulsion, how shame and secrecy keep us sick, what (actually) helps day-to-day, and why, for Kelli, hope looks like refusing to give up—one hour, one errand, one decision at a time. We cover: Kleptomania vs. “casual shoplifting” (compulsion, not character)Consequences: arrests, career loss, media fallout—and rebuilding anywaySupports that help: meetings, service, meds, accountabilityReal-life tactics: don’t shop alone, stay in the same aisle, phone-in supportTriggers everywhere (stores on every route) and how to plan around themRedefining hope when relapse happensResources & Links CASA (Kleptomania & Shoplifters Anonymous) — weekly meeting infoTerry Shulman’s counseling/resources for theft & compulsive behaviors Instagram and TikTok: @twoliveswithkelIf you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to a licensed professional or a local support line. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    50 min
  3. A Life Bigger Than Grief: Melissa Hull on Grace, Forgiveness and Choosing Joy

    DEC 8

    A Life Bigger Than Grief: Melissa Hull on Grace, Forgiveness and Choosing Joy

    Send us a text Gentle note: we talk honestly about grief and child loss—please listen with care and kindness for yourself. What does healing look like when the unthinkable happens? In this episode, I’m sitting with Melissa Hull—author, speaker, coach, fierce advocate, and Drew’s mom. After losing her son in a tragic drowning, Melissa has worked to choose a different ending for herself: love in motion, faith as a daily practice, grief as a path that can still lead to purpose. In this conversation, we get real about: why presence over platitude matters when you don’t know what to saypractical water safety Melissa teaches in classrooms (and why it saves lives)the letter that became her lighthouse—and how choice + agency help us healself-forgiveness as parents, especially around the holidaystangible ways to support grieving friends (and how to ask for what you need)If you’re in a tender season, consider this a steady hand to hold. Resources & Links for Connecting with Melissa Guest: melissahull.com Book: Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief Earlier memoir: Lessons from Neverland Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    45 min
  4. Start Anyway: K.T. Jay on Grief, Courage, Indie Publishing, and Imagination

    DEC 1

    Start Anyway: K.T. Jay on Grief, Courage, Indie Publishing, and Imagination

    Send us a text Gentle heads-up: mentions of grief and loss. If you’re new—welcome, I am so grateful you are here. If you’re back again for hope to visit—welcome home. In this episode, I'm delighted to be chatting with K.T. Jay—the Amazon bestselling author of Inkbound Inheritance—to talk about imagination, healing through story, and the courage it takes to begin. We explore how grief shapes us, why stories can steady us, and what it’s really like to indie-publish a debut that lands on the charts. In this episode The spark behind Inkbound Inheritance (a storyworld you can inherit!)Grief as a teacher: what young K.T. learned vs. adult K.T. carrying othersPractical creative tools: finding your why, building a support circle, starting smallIndie publishing 101: timelines, control, and the long gameHope, defined—when it feels like the ocean keeps crashing over youGuest: K.T. Jay — Website: KTJAuthor.com | IG: @KTJAuthor Book: Inkbound Inheritance (Amazon) & on (Barnes & Noble) Share this episode with a friend who’s been meaning to start, but needs a little light. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    33 min
  5. Ep 38 Hustle, Heart, Hot Dogs & Hope: Danni Eickenhorst on Feeding a City

    NOV 17

    Ep 38 Hustle, Heart, Hot Dogs & Hope: Danni Eickenhorst on Feeding a City

    Send us a text I love conversations that make you want to show up for people. This is one of them. Today’s guest is Danni Eickenhorst, the heartbeat behind Hustle Hospitality and some of St. Louis’ most beloved spots: Steve’s Hot Dogs, Steve’s Meltdown, The Fountain on Locust, and The Stardust Room. Danni and I talk about what it really means to be “a neighborhood place”: paying people with dignity, creating spaces where everyone belongs, and showing up when a tornado rips through the block. You’ll hear how Feed the People began with one donated meal and grew into thousands, why catering and gift cards can literally keep doors open, and how abundance (not fear) guides her leadership. I walked away reminded that hope is both feeling and practice—served hot, with community at the center. In this episode you’ll learn Simple, concrete ways to help local restaurants & the Delmar Maker DistrictWhy transparency with your team builds real loyaltyHow to turn a business into a neighborhood’s rally pointWhat it looks like to believe it gets better—and act like itTake a next step Book catering from a local restaurant, buy a gift card you’ll use later, or say yes to that neighborhood event invite. Little things add up. Connect with Danni at Hustl Hospitality Group and on LinkedIn. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    26 min
  6. EP 37 Hope, Hustle & Tiny Tags: Melissa Clayton on Building a Beloved Brand & Hitting Dream Milestones (Like Making Oprah's Favorite Things!)

    NOV 10

    EP 37 Hope, Hustle & Tiny Tags: Melissa Clayton on Building a Beloved Brand & Hitting Dream Milestones (Like Making Oprah's Favorite Things!)

    Send us a text If you’re new—welcome. If you’re back—welcome home. Today I’m sitting down with my friend Melissa Clayton, founder & CEO of Tiny Tags—the personalized jewelry brand born at a kitchen table and now beloved by moms, worn by Meghan Markle, sold in Target stores nationwide, and (pinch-me) featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2025.  We talk about the quiet courage behind the milestones: bootstrapping for 15+ years, saying no to shiny objects, building a values-first team, and telling real stories of motherhood (the joyful, the messy, the holy ordinary). Melissa shares what focus actually looks like when you’re self-funded, how she course-corrected her brand to speak directly to moms and their villages, and why “hope” often sounds like one more email, one more DM, one more ask. In this episode: Bootstrapping a jewelry brand without outside fundingChoosing focus over “do it all”Storytelling as Tiny Tags’ secret sauceFrom online shop to 1,600+ Target stores (and how long that really takes) CurrentlyWhat Oprah’s Favorite Things moment means to a scrappy team Oprah DailyGentle truth-telling about new-mom pressure, comparison, and preparing your heart (and village), not just a nurseryTake this with you: You don’t have to be everything to everyone. Know your why. Build your bench. Keep asking. Guest: Melissa Clayton — Tiny Tags Web: tinytags.com • IG: @tinytags Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    32 min
  7. EP 36 From Panic to Peace: Everyday Practices for Anxious Hearts with Amanda Willson

    NOV 6

    EP 36 From Panic to Peace: Everyday Practices for Anxious Hearts with Amanda Willson

    Send us a text If you’re new here—welcome. If you’re back—welcome home. Today I’m sitting with my dear friend of 12+ years, Amanda Willson, a life coach and anxiety expert who has walked this road and now teaches the rest of us how to find steadier ground. This isn’t theory; it’s real tools for real life. We talk about simple practices that change the moment you’re in: 4-7-8 breathing to settle your nervous system, the 5-4-3-2-1 senses reset to get you out of your head and back into your body, and the surprisingly tender act of naming your anxiety with compassion so it stops driving the car. Amanda shares how movement helps move emotion, why gratitude is brain training (not fluff), how to build an inner safe place you can visit anytime, and what it means to take your thoughts captive—speaking to yourself the way you’d speak to your own child. I left this conversation feeling calmer, clearer, and more equipped. My hope is you do too. 💙 Listen now and share it with the friend who’s been white-knuckling their days. Guest: Amanda Willson — Worthy of Love Wellness → worthyoflovewellness.com Amanda on Instagram → Worthy of Love Wellness Gentle heads-up: we mention panic attacks and anxiety. As always, nothing here is a substitute for professional care. Show highlights The breath that helps fast: 4-7-8The senses exercise that interrupts spiralsWhy naming anxiety softens itMovement as medicine (and why stillness can backfire)Gratitude as a daily brain resetYour “safe place” visualization (mine is the beach 🌊)Bedtime thoughts that program tomorrow’s morningThank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    26 min
  8. The Night Laughter Saved My Life: Ron Blake on PTSD, Community, & 522 Boards of Hope

    OCT 28

    The Night Laughter Saved My Life: Ron Blake on PTSD, Community, & 522 Boards of Hope

    Send us a text A gentle heads-up: In this conversation, we name some hard things — including suicide and sexual assault. If that’s tender for you today, please listen with care, skip ahead, or come back when you’re ready. If you need support in the US, call or text 988. Sometimes hope is a laugh you didn’t expect.   At 10:44 PM on November 2, 2015, Ron “Blake” Blake was ready to end his life. A split-second laugh during The Late Show with Stephen Colbert interrupted the plan—and it changed everything. In this conversation, Blake and I talk about what came next: PTSD after sexual assault, dissociative amnesia, and a 10-year, one-human mission to gather stories on giant foam boards. Today there are 522 boards covered with 34,000+ names, poems, prayers, jokes, and equations. Proof that we belong to each other. I love this talk because it’s not shiny; it’s honest. We sit with the hard and notice where the light still gets in. If you’re in a long night—or love someone who is—I hope this feels like a hand on your shoulder. In this episode: “10:44 PM” — the laugh that stopped a suicide planWhat dissociative amnesia felt like from the inside522 boards, 32 Sharpies, and why being heard can be medicineA student at SDSU who chose to stay because Blake showed upWhy his “symbolic goal” (getting on The Late Show) still mattersFind Blake: Instagram @blakelateshow | Documentary I AM (Sinconus Studios) If you’re in crisis (US): Call/text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    42 min
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About

Hope Comes to Visit is a soulful podcast that holds space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of moments that remind us we’re never alone. Hosted by author, speaker, and former TV journalist-turned-storyteller Danielle Elliott Smith, the show explores the full spectrum of the human experience — from the tender to the triumphant. Through powerful interviews and reflective storytelling, each episode offers light, connection, and presence for anyone navigating the in-between. Whether you’re grieving, growing, beginning again, or simply craving something real, Hope Comes to Visit will meet you right where you are — with warmth, grace, and the quiet belief that even in the dark, transformation can take root. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light, reflection, and hope.

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Elliott Smith
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Hope Comes to Visit
  • Show Website
    Hope Comes to Visit