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 039: Holiday Zimmerman: I Said No Four Times...Until God Brought It Back, 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. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  2. Jul 14

    Ep 038: Tayler Meade: Stop Chasing the People Who Don't Choose You, 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. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  3. Jul 7

    Ep 037: Tayler Meade: Why Wasn't I Invited? The Hurt We Don't Talk About, 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. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  4. Jun 30

    Ep 036: Lonni Asher: It Ends With Me - Breaking Generational Curses, 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. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  5. Jun 23

    Ep 035: Lonni Asher: A Refugee Boat, Seven Pirate Attacks, and a Promise to God, 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. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  6. Jun 16

    Ep 034: Lily Ricci: From Iran to America: When Jesus Changed Everything, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Lily Ricci's journey brought her from Iran to Germany and eventually to the United States, where cultural expectations and family circumstances led her into a marriage she never wanted. After years of manipulation, abuse, and hopelessness, Lily found herself searching for answers she could no longer find on her own. In Part 2 of this conversation, Lily shares the moment everything changed. What began as a search for answers became a powerful spiritual awakening that transformed her faith, gave her the courage to pursue freedom, and ultimately led her to a calling she never imagined. What followed was a journey of healing, purpose, and redemption. Today, Lily helps bring hope to people throughout Iran through her work with Iran Alive Ministries. In this episode: The unexpected encounter that sparked Lily's faith journeyChoosing to follow Jesus despite fear and uncertaintyLearning to trust God in the middle of sufferingFinding the courage to leave an abusive marriageRecognizing the difference between a person and the spiritual battle behind destructive behaviorBreaking unhealthy cycles for the next generationDiscovering her God-given purposeLeaving a successful corporate career to pursue ministryServing with Iran Alive Ministries and bringing hope back to IranAbout Lily: Today, Lily serves as Director of Partner Relations for Iran Alive Ministries, helping share the Gospel with Iranians around the world and supporting ministry efforts throughout Iran. Learn more: iranalive.org Connect with Lily: Instagram: @lily.m.ricci Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  7. Jun 9

    Ep 033: Lily Ricci: From Iran to America: An Arranged Marriage and a Search for Hope, Part 1

    Send us Fan Mail Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Lily Ricci grew up in a loving family surrounded by strong family bonds and cultural traditions. At the same time, she lived in a society where opportunities and expectations for women were very different than they were for men. When financial hardship forced her family to leave everything behind and start over in Germany, the life she had always known disappeared almost overnight. At sixteen, Lily found herself navigating a new country, a new language, and a new identity. Just two years later, another move brought her to the United States, where cultural expectations and family circumstances led her into a marriage she never wanted, trapping her in fourteen years of manipulation, control, and abuse. In Part 1 of this conversation, Lily shares her journey from Iran to Germany to America, the challenges of starting over, and the painful circumstances that left her searching for hope. In this episode: Growing up in Iran and the cultural expectations placed on womenLeaving everything behind and starting over in GermanyThe challenges of immigration and rebuilding identityReuniting with family in the United StatesBeing introduced to a man she had never metUnwillingly entering a marriage she never wantedLiving through manipulation, control, and abuseReaching a place of hopelessness and searching for answersNext week in Part 2, Lily shares how a life-changing encounter transformed her faith, gave her the courage to pursue freedom, and ultimately led her to a calling she never imagined. About Lily: Today, Lily serves as Director of Partner Relations for Iran Alive Ministries, helping share the Gospel with Iranians around the world and supporting ministry efforts throughout Iran. Learn more: iranalive.org Connect with Lily: Instagram: @lily.m.ricci Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

  8. Jun 2

    Ep 032: Kendall Mariah: I Thought Something Was Wrong With Me, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail In part two of this conversation, Kendall Mariah shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led to her autism diagnosis as an adult. Kendall opens up about growing up feeling different, struggling socially while excelling academically, and spending years masking parts of herself without fully understanding why. She speaks candidly about high-masking autism in women, ADHD, sensory struggles, shame, identity, and the emotional weight of constantly feeling misunderstood. Kendall also vulnerably shares experiences surrounding purity culture, sexual assault, and the pressure many people feel to hide parts of themselves in order to fit in. Throughout the episode, Kendall continually comes back to one powerful message: people are often carrying far more than we realize. This conversation is emotional, honest, and deeply human. Topics discussed:  • Adult autism diagnosis  • High-masking autism in women  • ADHD and neurodivergence  • Sensory struggles and masking  • Purity culture and shame  • Sexual assault  • Identity and authenticity  • Feeling misunderstood Connect with Kendall:  Instagram: @kendallmariah  Website: kendallmariah.com Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

See All (40)

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
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unspoken Lives Podcast
  • Show Website
    Unspoken Lives Podcast

You Might Also Like