Unspoken Lives Podcast

Kelsey Billingsley
  • 4.9 (35)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Unspoken Lives Podcast shares extraordinary stories from everyday people, highlighting resilience, personal growth, and inspiring life lessons. Tune in for real conversations that uncover the moments that often go unseen. 

  1. 6d ago

    Ep 042: Why Community Matters More Than Opportunity | Jordan Bartlett, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you give someone an opportunity, but they don't have the support or community they need to navigate everything that comes with it? In this episode, Jordan Bartlett shares what years of working alongside current and former foster youth have taught him about resilience, asking for help, and why opportunity alone isn't always enough. He shares the story of a young man who rode his bike four hours to work each way, only to lose his job after falling asleep during a shift, and what Jordan learned when he took the time to ask more questions.  That same desire to remove barriers eventually led Jordan into the world of technology and AI. He explains why he believes new technology could give everyday people and small teams the ability to solve problems that once required enormous resources, and how he's using it to make complicated information easier to access.  Then the conversation becomes much more personal. Jordan shares about his daughter Jessie's diagnosis with Rett syndrome and the moment he realized their lives had changed forever. Suddenly, he was the one overwhelmed by information, trying to understand medical research, insurance, and what his daughter's future might look like. That experience created an unexpected connection between his work, his interest in AI, and his hope for what technology could someday mean for Jesse and others with Rett syndrome.   He also shares how a difficult night with Jesse unexpectedly turned him into a runner. What began as an attempt to help her sleep became something they both loved and a special place of peace and connection between a father and his daughter.  In this episode, we talk about: Why resilience can be both a strength and a struggleWhy opportunity matters, but community and support matter tooUsing technology and AI to remove barriers and create changeJessie's Rett syndrome diagnosis and how it changed Jordan's perspectiveHis hope for what advances in technology could mean for her futureHow running became an unexpected bond between Jordan and his daughterWhy one person may have more power than ever to make a meaningful differenceFrom his work with foster youth to fatherhood, technology, and running, Jordan's story shows how experiences that once seemed completely unrelated can begin to connect and shape a greater sense of purpose. 🎙️ Listen to Part 2 of Jordan Bartlett's story on Unspoken Lives Podcast. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  2. Aug 4

    Ep 041: A Stranger Said, "I'm Your Sister" | Jordan Bartlett, Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Jordan Bartlett was adopted when he was very young and raised by two loving parents, knowing little about the biological family he came from. Then, at 19 years old, a young woman he had never met walked up to him and said three words that would eventually change the direction of his life: “I’m your sister.” In Part 1 of this conversation, Jordan shares what it was like to discover a sibling he never knew, how they slowly began building a relationship, and what he learned about the very different life she had lived in and out of foster care. As he came to understand more of her story, he also began looking more closely at the foster care system, the barriers young people face after leaving it, and the difference that support and community can make. Jordan also reflects on the experiences that awakened a deeper sense of purpose in his own life, including a powerful encounter while volunteering at Ronald McDonald House and the decision to leave a more traditional career path in search of work that felt meaningful. That journey eventually led him to co-found Doing Good Works, a social enterprise built to support young people aging out of foster care. This conversation explores family, identity, empathy, and the unexpected moments that can redirect an entire life. It is also a reminder that sometimes understanding someone else’s story changes the way we see our own. Connect with Jordan: Doing Good WorksFoster GreatnessLinkedInListen & Subscribe If this conversation encouraged you, please follow, rate, and review Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Sharing episodes with friends and family is one of the best ways to help these stories reach more people. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  3. Jul 28

    Ep 040: The Calling You Think You Missed May Still Be Waiting | Holiday Zimmerman, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered if you missed what God was calling you to do? If you've been questioning your next step, wondering if it's too late, or searching for direction, this conversation is a reminder that God isn't finished with your story. Maybe fear got in the way. Maybe life took an unexpected turn. Or maybe you simply said no because you didn't feel ready. In Part 2, Holiday Zimmerman shares why she believes God is far more patient and gracious than we often imagine. From walking through deep depression to leading a nonprofit that now serves thousands of people throughout Orange County, she reflects on healing, trusting wise counsel, and why she doesn't believe God gives up on the purpose He has for our lives. In this episode:  Why healing shouldn't be rushed  The advice that helped Holiday through depression  What it means to trust God's timing  Why she believes you haven't missed your calling  The growth and impact of The Hub OC  Encouragement for anyone searching for their next step Learn more about Holiday and The Hub OC: Website: https://thehuboc.org Meet the team: https://thehuboc.org/our-team Instagram: @thehuboc Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  4. Jul 21

    Ep 039: I Said No Four Times...Until God Brought It Back | Holiday Zimmerman, Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail What if the opportunities you're resisting are the very ones God is using to shape your purpose? After the unexpected loss of her father and a season of deep depression, Holiday Zimmerman wasn't looking to start a nonprofit. In fact, when opportunity after opportunity landed in front of her, she kept saying no. Four times. Every time she said no, the opportunity came back. Today, Holiday serves as CEO of The Hub OC, a nonprofit that partners with churches, schools, cities, and volunteers to serve people experiencing homelessness, poverty, human trafficking, and hardship throughout Orange County, California. In Part 1, Holiday shares how one unexpected "yes" changed the course of her life, why she believes God doesn't give up on us when we're afraid, and the incredible ways He provided exactly what was needed at every step. In this episode:  Losing her father and walking through depression The nonprofit she never planned to lead  Why she kept saying "no"  The unexpected opportunities that kept coming back  Learning to trust God's timing over her own  The moments that confirmed she was exactly where she was supposed to be Learn more about Holiday and The Hub OC: Website: https://thehuboc.org Meet the team: https://thehuboc.org/our-team Instagram: @thehuboc Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  5. Jul 14

    Ep 038: Stop Chasing the People Who Don't Choose You | Tayler Meade, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail What if the answer isn't finding the right people? What if it's finding your identity in the right place? In Part 2, Tayler Meade shares how her relationship with Jesus transformed the way she viewed loneliness, friendships, and belonging. She explains why people can never fill a God-sized gap, why healing often takes time, and how learning to trust God's plan gave her the freedom to stop chasing the approval of others. This conversation is a reminder that while rejection may be part of your story, it doesn't have to define your future. In this episode: Why healing begins with ChristLearning to stop chasing unhealthy friendshipsWhy people can never fill a God-sized gapPractical encouragement for anyone feeling lonely todayMoving from people-pleasing to living with purposeWhat Tayler hopes every reader takes away from her bookFinding freedom in God's plan for your lifeLearn more about Tayler: Website: https://www.taylermeade.com/ Instagram: @taylermeade_ Read her book: A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  6. Jul 7

    Ep 037: Why Wasn't I Invited? The Hurt We Don't Talk About | Tayler Meade, Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why certain moments of rejection stay with you long after they've happened? In Part 1 of this conversation, Tayler Meade shares the personal experience that inspired her book, A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass. What began with the pain of feeling left out eventually became a journey of discovering where true identity and belonging are found. Together, we talk about loneliness, people-pleasing, the pressure to fit in, and how experiences from childhood, high school, and adulthood can quietly shape the way we see ourselves. Tayler also shares how her growing relationship with Jesus began changing the way she viewed rejection, friendships, and her own worth. In this episode: The personal story that inspired Tayler's book  Why being left out hurts more than we often admit The pressure to fit in and earn approval How rejection can shape our identity Why our worth can't be found in other people The beginning of Tayler's faith journey toward healingLearn more about Tayler: Website: https://www.taylermeade.com/ Instagram: @taylermeade_ Read her book: A Note to the One Left Walking in the Grass Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and WestBow Press. Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  7. Jun 30

    Ep 036: It Ends With Me - Breaking Generational Curses | Lonni Asher, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail As a child, Lonni Asher survived war, piracy, abuse, and trauma. But survival wasn't the end of her story. In Part 2 of this conversation, Lonni shares what happened after the crisis was over. She opens up about the years of emotional pain she carried, the multiple suicide attempts that nearly ended her life, and the difficult journey from survival to healing. She also shares the story of receiving a stage-four cervical cancer diagnosis, the prayers that followed, and the miraculous healing that forever deepened her faith. As the conversation unfolds, Lonni explains why she believes generational pain doesn't have to define future generations and why one decision can change the course of a family's story. This is a conversation about healing, faith, miracles, forgiveness, and choosing to say, "It starts with me. It ends with me." In this episode: The difference between surviving and healingGrowing up in an abusive homeMultiple suicide attempts and finding hopeLearning to trust God through pain and uncertaintyA stage-four cervical cancer diagnosis and the healing that followedThe power of forgivenessBreaking generational cursesWhy "it ends with me" became a defining decisionUsing her story to help others find freedomAbout Lonni: Lonni Asher is a pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of Believe Church in Orange County, California. Through her ministry, writing, and personal testimony, she helps others find healing, freedom, and purpose through Christ. Connect with Lonni: Instagram: @living_the_life_with_lonni YouTube: @lonniasher777 Believe Church: @believe.oc Website: believeoc.com Book: Born With Intention Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  8. Jun 23

    Ep 035: A Refugee Boat, Seven Pirate Attacks, and a Promise to God | Lonni Asher, Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Born in Vietnam, Lonni Asher's story begins with a desperate escape. As a young child, Lonni and her family fled Vietnam on an overcrowded fishing boat in search of freedom. During their journey, they encountered pirate ships multiple times, endured extreme hunger and thirst, and faced moments that should have ended in tragedy. In Part 1 of this conversation, Lonni shares the incredible story of surviving seven pirate encounters, her mother's desperate prayers to a God she did not yet know, and the moments she now believes revealed God's hand on her life long before her family came to faith. But survival was only the beginning. After arriving in America, Lonni faced years of abuse, trauma, hopelessness, and multiple suicide attempts before discovering the faith that would ultimately transform her life. In this episode: Escaping Vietnam as a child refugeeSurviving seven encounters with pirates at seaThe prayer Lonni's mother made before she knew GodGrowing up in an abusive home after arriving in AmericaMultiple suicide attempts and searching for hopeDiscovering faith at seventeen years oldWhy survival and healing are not the same thingAbout Lonni: Lonni Asher is a pastor, author, speaker, and co-founder of Believe Church in Orange County, California. Through her ministry, writing, and personal testimony, she helps others find healing, freedom, and purpose through Christ. Connect with Lonni: Instagram: @living_the_life_with_lonni YouTube: @lonniasher777 Believe Church: @believe.oc Website: believeoc.com Book: Born With Intention Every life has a story worth telling. Unspoken Lives Podcast, hosted by Kelsey Billingsley, shares real stories of resilience, faith, identity, loss, healing, purpose, and the moments that change us. Follow the show on your favorite podcast app, visit unspokenlivespodcast.com, and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Unspoken Lives Podcast shares extraordinary stories from everyday people, highlighting resilience, personal growth, and inspiring life lessons. Tune in for real conversations that uncover the moments that often go unseen. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kelsey Billingsley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unspoken Lives Podcast
  • Show Website
    Unspoken Lives Podcast

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