Leaving My Echo Chamber

Suzanne Simms

A conservative white southern Christian intentionally steps outside her comfort zone to understand and love people she previously avoided or judged. By sharing this journey in real time, the show challenges others to leave their own echo chambers, discover their God-given identity beyond cultural labels, and encounter who Jesus really is.

  1. 5d ago

    If I Claim to Follow Christ, How Should That Affect My Behavior? | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    Welcome back to Back Porch with Suzanne, a series within Leaving My Echo Chamber where I’m sharing a little more of my own story, my faith, the things I was taught, the things I’m questioning, and what I’m learning along the way.In this episode, I’m thinking about what it really means to follow Jesus in my day to day interactions and communications, how we see and treat other people, and how much of what we believe can shape the way we show up in the world.This is me figuring it out in real time. No perfect answers, just honest conversations and a willingness to keep learning, growing, and changing.Watch & listen to the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, & Apple Podcasts ❤️ Link to Faith in the Age of AI: Christianity Through the Looking Glass of Artificial Intelligence https://a.co/d/0gMTgekW

  2. Oct 19

    The Story Behind Her Fight for Affordable Housing | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    In this episode of Leaving My Echo Chamber, I sit down with Mona to talk about her story, her family, her identity, and the work she is doing in her community.Mona was born in upstate New York to immigrant parents and grew up in a big, blended family surrounded by different cultures and experiences. She talks openly about her heritage, her parents’ divorce, growing up feeling like she didn’t quite fit in, and how those experiences shaped the person she became.We also talk about meeting her husband when she was just 18, building their lives and careers together, and eventually earning their PhDs. Today, her husband works at Vanderbilt and Mona is a professor, but some of the work she cares most deeply about happens in her own community.Mona has spent years advocating for women and families, particularly around housing and the challenges that can make it incredibly difficult for people to build stable lives.In our conversation, we talk about affordable housing, eviction, poverty, systemic racism, the assumptions we make about people who need help, and the reality that many of the women Mona works with are working hard and still struggling to afford safe housing.What I appreciated most about this conversation was getting to know the person behind the advocacy. Mona’s story reminded me how much our own experiences, families, cultures, and communities shape the way we see the world and the people around us.Watch the full episode now and join the conversation in the comments.Subscribe to Leaving My Echo Chamber for more honest conversations about faith, identity, community, and the stories that shape us.Watch on YouTube and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ❤️

  3. Oct 12

    The Story Behind Leaving My Echo Chamber

    Welcome to Back Porch with Suzanne, a new series from Leaving My Echo Chamber.You’ve heard me sit down with guests and ask them about their stories, their experiences, their faith, and the things that have shaped them. But I realized there is another story that needs to be part of this journey too: mine.Every other week, I’m going to sit down in front of the camera and talk to you about my life, my story, what I’m learning, and what I’m experiencing as I continue this journey with Leaving My Echo Chamber.This is going to be raw and real. There won’t be a lot of editing or a perfectly polished script. It’s just me talking to you about where I am, where I’ve come from, and the things I’m beginning to understand about myself.Who I am today is deeply connected to how I grew up, the things I was taught, the experiences I’ve had, and the people who have shaped me. Through this podcast, I’ve found myself questioning things, becoming uncomfortable, learning, growing, and realizing there is still so much I don’t know.My goal is to honor God, become more like Jesus, and be willing to look honestly at myself along the way. I want to be uncomfortable. I want to grow. I want to change. And I want to invite you to come along with me.So welcome to the Back Porch. Pull up a chair, and let’s have a conversation.I’d love to hear what you think in the comments. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and send this episode to a friend who might want to come along for the journey too.Thank you for being here. ❤️Subscribe to Leaving My Echo Chamber for new conversations every week.

  4. Oct 5

    The Journey From Vietnam to the American Dream | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    In this episode of Leaving My Echo Chamber, I sit down with my friend Johnny to hear the incredible story of his family’s journey from Vietnam to America.Johnny’s father was a commander in the South Vietnamese army who fought alongside the Americans during the Vietnam War. After the war, his father spent five years as a prisoner, and Johnny was born after his father finally came home.Eventually, Johnny’s family was sponsored to come to the United States. They left everything behind and arrived with very little, beginning a completely new life in America.Johnny grew up helping his family in their nail salon, which meant he didn’t have what many would consider a typical childhood. He started doing nails as a teenager, even when people around him didn’t understand or respect what he was doing. Today, Johnny owns a successful nail salon and two restaurants.We also talk about meeting his wife, the role church played in his life, and some of the experiences he has had being treated differently because of his accent and being Asian.Johnny’s story is filled with family, sacrifice, faith, hard work, immigration, and the determination to build something better.Watch the full conversation and let me know what stood out to you in the comments.Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Search “Leaving My Echo Chamber.”

  5. Sep 21

    Growing Up Black in Tennessee & Facing Workplace Injustice | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    In this episode of Leaving My Echo Chamber, I sit down with Eric for a conversation about loss, family, identity, and growing up Black in a small Tennessee town.One of Eric’s very first childhood memories is the death of his little sister. Years later, he experienced another devastating loss when his father suddenly passed away from a heart attack. His dad was stern, a disciplinarian, and the only man Eric says he ever feared. Losing him changed Eric in ways he was still trying to understand.We talk about growing up in Hartsville, Tennessee, boxing, getting into trouble after his father’s death, and the questions Eric began asking about life, family, race, and what it means to be a Black man in America.I’m grateful to Eric for trusting me with his story and for being willing to have these conversations with me.Watch the full episode and let me know what stood out to you in the comments.Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Search “Leaving My Echo Chamber.”

  6. Sep 7

    From the Projects of Detroit to Successful Pastry Chef - A Story of Courage | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    What happens when you have to grow up long before you're ready?In this conversation, I sit down with Marlette to hear a story filled with hardship, unexpected turns, mistakes, faith, and ultimately, resilience.Marlette grew up in Detroit in the projects and lost her father when she was just four months old. At nine years old, witnessing a man being beaten with a bat changed the way she looked at the world. Then, at 13, her life changed again when she moved from Detroit to Fort Hood, Texas, a world that felt completely different from everything she had ever known.Not long after, Marlette's mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. While trying to navigate being a teenager and going to school, Marlette also found herself becoming a caretaker for her mom and growing up much faster than she ever should have had to.Years later, she went to Baylor, met the father of her children, and eventually married him. But when his behavior began to change, Marlette started questioning whether he was being faithful. She eventually discovered that he was having an affair and had gotten another woman pregnant.We talk openly about what happened next, including abuse, leaving that relationship, going to jail, a DUI, addiction, complicated relationships, forgiveness, and the moments that forced Marlette to completely rethink her life.We also talk about her faith and how she reconciled some of the hardest things she experienced with her belief in God.Today, Marlette is a chef with dreams of opening her own business, and she shares what she's learned about survival, second chances, and continuing to dream even when life doesn't go according to plan.This conversation is honest, complicated, and at times difficult, but ultimately it's a story about finding your way forward.Watch and listen to Leaving My Echo Chamber:YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

  7. Aug 24

    Life Through the Lens of Autism | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    What happens when you spend your whole life feeling different, only to discover there is a reason why?In this episode of Leaving My Echo Chamber, I sit down with Gray to hear his story of growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, navigating school, college, relationships, work, and life without knowing he was autistic.Gray shares what it was like to go through much of his life undiagnosed, learning how to navigate social expectations, follow unspoken rules, and adapt to a world that often felt like it was built differently than the way his brain worked. Years later, receiving an autism diagnosis helped him understand himself in a completely new way.We talk about masking, social scripts, mental health, faith, family, and what it looks like to stop seeing differences as something that needs to be fixed. Gray shares how autism impacts his life as a husband, father, and professional, and how learning to embrace the way he is wired has changed the way he sees himself.One of the biggest things I took away from this conversation is that living differently does not mean living incorrectly. Sometimes the things that make us different are the very things that make us unique and even valuable!I hope this conversation encourages you to listen with curiosity and see people a little differently.Join me as I continue leaving my echo chamber.

  8. Aug 10

    Inside the Inspiring Marriage Behind Bistro Huddy | Leaving My Echo Chamber

    One of the reasons I started Leaving My Echo Chamber is because I believe our stories help us understand each other in ways opinions never can. Especially with family!!In this episode, I'm joined by my brother, Drew Talbert, and my sister-in-law, Andrea Talbert, the husband-and-wife team behind Bistro Huddy.Long before millions of people were watching their videos online, Drew and Andrea were simply two coworkers at a restaurant who had no idea what their future would hold. They share the story of how they met, their unforgettable first date, and the moment Andrea realized Drew was everything she had been looking for, even if he didn't fit the picture she had imagined.We also talk honestly about one of the hardest seasons of Drew's life. Drew shares how his relationship with Andrea became one of the catalysts that motivated him to get sober, and Andrea opens up about choosing to walk alongside him through that journey.Of course, we couldn't have this conversation without talking about Bistro Huddy. Drew and Andrea take us behind the scenes of building one of the internet's most recognizable comedy brands, how they divide creative responsibilities, and why protecting their work-life balance has become one of their highest priorities.If this conversation encouraged you or gave you a new perspective, I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Your stories and thoughtful conversations are what make this community so special.

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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

A conservative white southern Christian intentionally steps outside her comfort zone to understand and love people she previously avoided or judged. By sharing this journey in real time, the show challenges others to leave their own echo chambers, discover their God-given identity beyond cultural labels, and encounter who Jesus really is.

Information

  • Creator
    Suzanne Simms
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Suzanne Simms
  • Show Website
    Leaving My Echo Chamber

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