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. What Gives Me Hope About the Next Generation | A Conversation with Sydney Moore

    5H AGO

    What Gives Me Hope About the Next Generation | A Conversation with Sydney Moore

    Send us Fan Mail One of the most beautiful forms of hope arrives in shape of young people destined to make their mark on the world in a powerful way. This conversation shares just that form of hope. This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I sat down with someone incredibly special to me — Sydney Moore, a high school senior at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis who has spent her young life rooted in service, justice, learning, and compassion. I have known Sydney since she was just a little girl, and this conversation is both deeply personal and deeply inspiring. Sydney shares her heart for social justice, her desire to become a human rights attorney, and the experiences that have shaped the way she sees the world — from interning with a judge to traveling to the border to learning how to listen before trying to lead. In this episode, we talk about: what gives me hope about the next generationhow confidence is shaped by the people who believe in uswhy teenagers are more thoughtful, engaged, and justice-minded than many people assumewhat it means to lead without needing to be the loudest person in the roomhow burnout, pressure, and perfectionism show up even in young leaderswhy real change begins with listening, learning, and walking alongside othershow hope is tied to love, accountability, and the belief that things can be betterSydney is the kind of young woman who reminds us that the future is not lost. It is being shaped, every day, by people willing to learn, question, serve, and care deeply. This episode is full of wisdom, heart, and the kind of hope that stretches across generations. If it moves you, please share it with someone you love. 00:00 Welcome to Hope Comes to Visit 01:49 Sydney Moore on wanting to become a human rights attorney 03:47 What gives Danielle hope about the next generation 06:10 Social media stereotypes vs. who young people really are 11:11 Family influence, confidence, and believing in yourself 16:12 Advice for teens who want to make a difference 19:31 Burnout, pressure, and panic in high school 24:23 Learning when to say yes — and when to say no 26:12 Sydney’s definition of hope 27:37 Does she have hope for America? 30:59 Amanda Gorman, patriotism, and holding the country accountable 34:52 The border trip that changed everything 39:59 Why solidarity matters more than “saving” people 41:23 Danielle on why Sydney gives her hope 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
  2. Different, Not Broken: Disability, Dignity, and the Power of Seeing People Fully with Dr. Stuart D. Jones

    MAR 16

    Different, Not Broken: Disability, Dignity, and the Power of Seeing People Fully with Dr. Stuart D. Jones

    Send a text There are stories that don’t just move us — they change the way we see the world. In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I was grateful to sit down with educator, speaker, and author Dr. Stuart D. Jones to explore a deeply personal story about dignity, disability, and the extraordinary value of every human life. Dr. Jones shares the story of his brother Stephen — a boy born in 1954 with significant intellectual and physical disabilities during a time when resources, services, and understanding were almost nonexistent. Doctors labeled Stephen “deficient.” Institutions were recommended. But Stephen’s parents chose a different path — one rooted in fierce love, hope, and belief in their son’s humanity. In his memoir For the Love of Stephen (with a foreword by Temple Grandin and now housed in the Library of Congress), Dr. Jones tells the story of a life that many misunderstood — and a family who refused to see Stephen as broken. This conversation explores: • How society often responds to disability with fear or pity  • Why dignity begins with truly seeing one another  • The role of siblings as protectors and advocates  • How parents can teach children to approach difference with curiosity and kindness  • Why hope is often something we choose — not something that simply arrives As Stuart says, “Different is not less.” This is a conversation about love, advocacy, belonging, and the quiet power of recognizing the worth of every life. Connect with Dr. Stuart D. Jones here. Find his book: For the Love of Stephen - here. If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. 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

    27 min
  3. Kelly Karavousanos on Grief, Support, and What It Means to Sit in the Dark With Someone

    MAR 9

    Kelly Karavousanos on Grief, Support, and What It Means to Sit in the Dark With Someone

    Send us Fan Mail Sometimes hope doesn’t arrive loudly. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet presence of someone willing to sit beside us in our hardest moments. This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by Kelly Karavousanos — licensed professional counselor, certified thanatologist, licensed funeral director, and one of the people I credit with helping guide me through some of the darkest grief of my life. Kelly brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and lived humanity to this conversation. We talk about what grief actually looks like, why our culture struggles so deeply with death and loss, and what it truly means to support someone who is hurting. In this episode, we discuss what thanatology is and why it mattershow grief changes us, but doesn’t mean something is wrong with uswhat to say when someone is grievingwhy silence can feel louder than wordswhy the depth of grief is tied to the depth of connectionthe difference between trying to fix someone and simply being willing to sit with themhow community, therapy, and conversation help lighten the darknessKelly also shares how her own losses have shaped her work and her perspective, and why she believes grief is love in a different form. This is one of those conversations I hope you’ll not only listen to — but share. Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn Learn more about the HeartLight Center If this episode touches you, please share it with someone who may need it, and take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps more than you know. 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

    40 min
  4. It Only Takes One Yes: Julie Whitney on Reinvention, Resilience and Second Acts

    MAR 2

    It Only Takes One Yes: Julie Whitney on Reinvention, Resilience and Second Acts

    Send us Fan Mail Some stories remind you that it’s not too late. Not for the dream you tucked away. Not for the creative spark you thought you missed. Not for the reinvention you quietly crave. In this episode I’m joined by Julie Whitney — a self-employed PR professional who, in the middle of the pandemic, found herself standing in a hangar beside a plane she’d never even flown in… and feeling something crack wide open. When Julie’s husband, “Captain Dan,” unexpectedly lost his job as chief corporate pilot in 2020, the loss wasn’t just professional — it was emotional. Julie personified the Gulfstream jet he flew (Astra), imagining her alone in a dark hangar… and that single moment became the beginning of a brand new chapter. That night, Julie started writing Astra the Lonely Airplane — and what began as a surprising, heart-led idea became a published children’s book series, award recognition, school readings that move her to tears, and now… the dream of an animated streaming series built around kindness, hope, and helping others. In this episode, we talk about: Reinvention and second acts (especially when life forces a pivot)The publishing process and rejection resilience (Julie sent 60–70 queries!)What it’s like to read your book to hundreds of kids and watch your message landHow hope becomes a practice: “It only takes one yes.”Why Julie defines hope as never giving upLeaving a legacy rooted in goodness, kindness, and non-cynical joyIf you’ve been asking yourself, “Do I still have time?” — let this be your reminder: yes. You do. Connect with Julie + Astra: Website: AstraTheLonelyAirplane.com Email: Julie@AstraTheLonelyAirplane.com Get the Books - Astra the Lonely Airplane- Amazon....and look for them in the airport when you travel :)  If you loved this conversation, please share the episode, and take a moment to rate + review the show — it helps more than you know. 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

    31 min
  5. Ann Imig on Rewiring Your Brain for Hope, Burnout Recovery & Mental Fitness

    FEB 23

    Ann Imig on Rewiring Your Brain for Hope, Burnout Recovery & Mental Fitness

    Send us Fan Mail What if hope isn’t a feeling… but a skill? This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by my longtime friend Ann Imig — MSW, certified coach, and founder of the storytelling phenomenon Listen to Your Mother. Fifteen years after giving motherhood a microphone on stages across North America, Ann now helps burnt-out women retrain their brains for clarity, calm, and joy. We talk about: Why your stress brain dominates your decisionsHow to literally rewire your brain for hopeThe myth of “I’ll be happy when…”Achievement addiction and burnoutWhy curiosity is the antidote to anxietyHow 10-second sensory practices can change your dayStaying sober, staying open, staying a learnerAnn explains that hope doesn’t require you to feel hopeful first. You can take hopeful action — and the feeling will follow. This conversation is practical, grounding, and incredibly timely. Especially if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of what comes next. ✨ Connect with Ann at listenlifecoaching.com ✨ Take the saboteur assessment at positiveintelligence.com If this episode resonates, please share it with someone you love and leave a review. It helps more than you know. 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

    37 min
  6. Learning to Love What You Don’t Like | Oneika Mays on Mindfulness, Rikers Island & Radical Loving Kindness

    FEB 16

    Learning to Love What You Don’t Like | Oneika Mays on Mindfulness, Rikers Island & Radical Loving Kindness

    Send us Fan Mail What if you don’t have to like someone to love them? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I was honored to sit down down with mindfulness coach, yoga teacher, and master storyteller Oneika Mays to explore what it means to practice loving kindness in the hardest places — including Rikers Island and how these experiences inspired her new book: Sit with Me: A No BS Journey to Mindfulness & Meditation. Oneika spent years teaching meditation and yoga inside one of the most notorious jails in the country. What she discovered there reshaped her understanding of agency, boundaries, spirituality, and hope. Together, we discuss: Why mindfulness belongs in places we overlookThe radical power of choice in environments with no agencyLoving people you disagree withLeaving work that no longer aligns with your bodyGrief, hope, and the moment Onika’s father diedWriting through rejection (15 no’s before a yes)And why loving yourself is the first act of activismOnieka’s new book Sit With Me is part memoir, part field guide, and part meditation on meta — the Buddhist practice of loving kindness. It’s a deeply human invitation to embrace the messy, clunky parts of ourselves. This episode is a reminder that hope doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence. ✨ Connect with Oneika:  Instagram: @OneikaMays Substack: Oneika Mays If this episode moved you, share it with someone you love — and leave a review. It means more than you know. 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

    31 min
  7. Pancakes for Roger: Love, Service, and the Lessons Our Parents Leave Us — with Susan L. Combs

    FEB 2

    Pancakes for Roger: Love, Service, and the Lessons Our Parents Leave Us — with Susan L. Combs

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 5 A Missouri girl in a New York world on founding Combs & Company, honoring her father’s legacy, and why hope is the only thing greater than fear. This week I’m joined by Susan L. Combs—president of Combs & Company, bestselling author, and daughter of Major General Roger E. Combs. We talk about the moment “Pancakes for Roger” was born, the quiet heroism of caregivers, what the military gave her family (and took), and how a single story can ripple into grants, breakfasts, and thousands of tiny acts of hope every February. What we get into: The kitchen-table moment that sparked Pancakes for RogerHow Susan turned grief into a living legacy (and a nonprofit)Mentorship, “slaying dragons,” and finding the lesson in the hard thingCaregiving, oxygen levels, and the strange quiet after lossVeterans, VA claims, and why tiny actions scale changeWhat hope sounds like when you say someone’s name—again and againAbout Susan: Susan L. Combs is the president of Combs & Company, a full-service insurance brokerage in NYC. She launched the Pancakes for Roger book and foundation to honor her father, Major General Roger E. Combs (USMC/Army/Air Force). Every February, thousands post pancake photos to raise funds for veterans’ legal aid and home grants. Missouri roots, New York hustle, heart-first leadership. Links & ways to support: Pancakes for Roger: share your pancake pic + tag @pancakesforroger (feed posts > stories)Donate: pancakesforroger.org (button : Combs & Company -for her day-job brillianceSusan on LinkedIn Call to action: Have pancakes this month. Tag your post. Say Roger’s name out loud. Then share this episode with one person who needs a little light. Chapters  00:00 Intro 02:00 Meet Susan + her dad, Major General Roger E. Combs 07:00 “Pancakes for breakfast” — the spark 12:30 From post to movement to nonprofit 18:20 What the military gave (and cost) 24:50 Mentorship: finding the lesson + slaying dragons 31:30 Hope, grief, and saying the name 39:30 How to join Pancake Month 45:00 What Susan’s building next 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

    54 min
  8. Laugh, Cry, Cuss, Evolve: Practical Hope for Divorce with Jessica Ashley

    JAN 26

    Laugh, Cry, Cuss, Evolve: Practical Hope for Divorce with Jessica Ashley

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by my long-time friend Jessica Ashley—the Divorce Coach for Moms (CDC Certified Divorce Coach®), award-winning writer, and pink-haired powerhouse helping women move through divorce with clarity, community, and yes… a little cussing. We talk about identity, grief that resurfaces in tiny moments, and how to be “amicable” with yourself when co-parenting isn’t collaborative. I have so many favorite moments from this episode - but Jessica helps women move through divorce with grace, creativity, and community. We talk about what it means to put yourself at the center of your life, how to communicate with kids and exes, and why tiny, steady steps matter more than grand gestures. We cover The moment Jessica knew divorce coaching was her calling (“like a bolt of lightning”)The 3 buckets of her coaching: logistics, communication strategy, identityWhy “there’s no such thing as a broken marriage—only an evolving one”Being targeted online for empowering women (and why that’s threatening)Practical ways to feel less alone in the loud/quiet chaos of divorceConnect with Jessica Website: https://divorcecoachformoms.comInstagram: @divorcecoachformomsTikTok: @divorcecoachformomsIf this helped, please leave a review and share it with one friend who needs a little light. 💙 Chapters 00:00 Cold open — “Laugh, cry, cuss—it’s all OK here.” 00:30 Welcome + who Jessica is 02:00 The post that changed everything 04:20 “Bolt of lightning”—how coaching chose her 06:45 The 3 buckets: logistics, comms, identity 09:58 Grief that resurfaces in tiny moments 12:40 Empowering women online (and the backlash) 16:20 “Not broken—evolving” co-parenting reality check 20:30 First steps when you’re overwhelmed 23:40 How Jessica defines hope 26:20 Books + what’s next 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

    36 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
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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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hope Comes to Visit
  • Show Website
    Hope Comes to Visit

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