Seen. Heard. Imagined.®

Michelle Francine
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

A spiritual podcast series rooted in sacred text found in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV or ESV) of the Bible. Although no human being can conceive what God has destined for their life, this series explores what guests have seen, heard, or imagined in the development of their spirituality. It’s about those experiences that have strengthen their belief and faith in our Creator. New content will be released every Thursday until the season ends in September.

  1. 1d ago

    What is Judaism?

    In the season two finale, Elan Masliyah and Rabbi Mark Bloom of Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland, California join Michelle for a conversation years in the making. Elan is an HR technology executive and interfaith advocate, and he is also the son of Judy Masliyah, Michelle's former therapist. Rabbi Bloom is one of the Bay Area's longest serving rabbis, leading a congregation of more than 520 families since 2001. Together they take on the question most people are too polite to ask plainly. What is Judaism? Then the conversation turns to grief. Elan lost both parents four months apart during COVID, and Rabbi Bloom explains why Judaism handles death so well, from burial within days, to shiva, to the eleven months of the Mourner's Kaddish. They also unpack what chosen people actually means, why misunderstanding it has fueled antisemitism, and a piece of Hebrew numerology where love and unity add up to the name of God. 💬 Topics: Judaism explained, interfaith dialogue, Jewish mourning traditions, the chosen people, Jewish mysticism, grief and loss🙏 Emotional Themes: grief, kindness, belonging, reflection, repair Special Guest - Elan Masliyah & Rabbi Mark Bloom Elan Masliyah on LinkedIn Rabbi Mark Bloom on YouTube Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Intro/outro VOG by: Tony Tee Neto Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    What is Judaism?

  2. Sep 24

    Comedy, Grief & the Holy Ghost

    Afiya Howell is a Christian comedian, worship leader, and content creator whose sketches about praying mamas, communion, and the pearly gates grew her platform from under a thousand followers to nearly four hundred thousand. She's also a trained chef, a caterer, and the worship director at Shepherd's House International Christian Church. In this conversation she talks about where the ideas come from, the backlash from people who call her comedy blasphemous, and why she still sleeps well at night. Then it turns tender. Grab your tissue! She describes the season after her mother died, the depression that met her in the spring of 2020, and the moment the Holy Spirit made her laugh hard enough to break it. She shares the three words she would use for her mom, why she serves through her hardest seasons, and what a lost passport taught her about asking. 💬 Topics: Christian comedy, faith based content creation, worship ministry, grief and loss, spiritual discernment, serving through hardship🙏 Emotional Themes: joy, grief, laughter, obedience, legacy Special Guest - Afiya Howell Instagram:@iamafiya YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AfiyaHowellMedia Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Intro/outro VOG by: Tony Tee Neto Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Comedy, Grief & the Holy Ghost

  3. Sep 17

    Yoga Was My Gateway Drug

    Anastasia Gerali is a faith-based therapist and mentor for Christian women who spent years as a clinical hypnotherapist and New Age teacher before Christ called her out of it. From a village of thirty people in Cyprus, she walks through what New Ageism actually covers, why she calls yoga her gateway drug, how Gnosticism smuggles in almost truths about Christ, and the difference between channeling a spirit and prophesying the word of God. She is clear that she is not speaking down to anyone. She was the first to dip her hand in that cookie jar, and she is open about the depression, the missing childhood memories, and the patterns that sent her searching in the first place. She also shares why the Lord had her close her practice for three years, and what past life regressions really are. 💬 Topics: New Age deliverance, yoga and Christianity, Gnosticism, channeling and discernment, past life regression, hypnotherapy🙏 Emotional Themes: repentance, deliverance, discernment, humility, surrender Special Guest - Anastasia Gerali Instagram YouTube Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Intro/outro VOG by: Tony Tee Neto Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Yoga Was My Gateway Drug

  4. Sep 10

    Faith, Play & Rebuilding Mud Island

    Marvin Stockwell is the co-founder and head of communications at BVO, the immersive experience company building Baron Von Opperbein and the River of Time inside the former Mississippi River Museum on Mud Island in Memphis, TN. A native Memphian who spent years at Church Health and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital before founding his own PR practice, he makes the case that rebuilding a neglected civic asset is spiritual work, and shares how BVO welcomed ten thousand visitors from forty four states and ten countries in its first three months. He is also candid about the season of job loss that brought him here, the crape myrtle his priest used to explain what pruning feels like from the inside, and why he believes doubt and faith need each other. He closes with two prayers that have shaped him, including one from Thomas Merton about not knowing where you are going. 💬 Topics: immersive experience industry, Mud Island Memphis, faith and vocation, nonprofit communications, civic renewal, career transition🙏 Emotional Themes: trust, wonder, doubt, perseverance, belonging Special Guest - Marvin Stockwell BVO Website: Baron Von Opperbein and the River of Time Instagram X Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Faith, Play & Rebuilding Mud Island

  5. Sep 3

    How Mormons Practice Their Faith

    The episode opens with a mystery from Michelle's childhood, a neighbor who disappeared every Sunday and never explained why. Decades later, Lacey finally answers it. Lacey Yamaguchi is a stay at home mother of five boys and her son Ashton is a twenty three year old student and amateur theologian who served a mission in Provo, Utah. Both are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in this conversation they take on the questions people are often too polite to ask, from Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to the history of polygamy and what Latter-day Saints actually believe about becoming like God. 💬 Topics: Latter-day Saint beliefs, Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, interfaith dialogue, Sabbath observance, motherhood and faith🙏 Emotional Themes: curiosity, reconnection, conviction, honesty, belonging Special Guest - Lacey & Ashton Yamaguchi The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    How Mormons Practice Their Faith

  6. Aug 27

    Feed the Ecosystem That Feeds You

    J. Michael Collins is one of the most recognized names in the voiceover industry, the man behind the VO Atlanta Conference, and someone who has rarely spoken publicly about his faith until now. He recorded his first paid voiceover job in 1994 and found Christ shortly after. In this conversation he explains why he said yes to the Faith in the Booth panel at VO Atlanta, why so many creatives feel they cannot name their faith at work, and what it means to feed the ecosystem that feeds you. 💬 Topics: voiceover industry, VO Atlanta, faith in the entertainment industry, business integrity, conversion story, Christian creatives 🙏 Emotional Themes: surrender, humility, conviction, gratitude, belonging Special Guest - J. Michael Collins JMC Voiceover JMC Demos Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Feed the Ecosystem That Feeds You

  7. Aug 20

    Our Faith Behind The Mic

    Brandon Barlow is a professional voice actor and licensed massage therapist from Washington State, USA. In this conversation he shares how he approaches a creative career as a Christian, why he has learned to welcome rejection instead of fearing it, the roles he turns down to stay aligned with his values, and his practical encouragement for creatives who are scared to begin. He also traces his faith from a Seventh-day Adventist childhood to the Pentecostal practice he holds now. 💬 Topics: voice acting career, Christian creatives, faith and work, grief and loss, handling rejection, creative business advice🙏 Emotional Themes: trust, grief, perseverance, authenticity, gratitude Special Guest - Brandon Barlow Website Instagram Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Our Faith Behind The Mic

  8. Aug 13

    Inter-Faith Conversations: Finding Common Ground

    Rev. Sandra Summers is the interfaith officer at MIFA, the Metropolitan Interfaith Association in Memphis, Tennessee, an organization born in 1968 out of the aftermath of the MLK assassination. In this conversation she opens up about what interfaith work actually looks like on the ground, from Meals on Wheels in its 50th year to elder advocacy and housing stability for families in crisis. She also shares what it has meant to serve as an ordained woman in traditions built to uplift men, the difference between religion and spirituality, then gets honest about raising two children on kindness and curiosity instead of doctrine. 💬 Topics: interfaith dialogue, MIFA Memphis, women in ministry, spirituality vs religion, faith based parenting, community service🙏 Emotional Themes: presence, belonging, curiosity, humility, connection Special Guest - Rev. Sandra Summers MIFA Website Sandra's Website   Other Links Support the Mission of Seen. Heard. Imagined. Join the Substack Community   Additional Show Credits Music by: Mr. Faia Edited by: Christopher Outridge Produced & Hosted by: Michelle Francine Productions

    Inter-Faith Conversations: Finding Common Ground
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About

A spiritual podcast series rooted in sacred text found in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV or ESV) of the Bible. Although no human being can conceive what God has destined for their life, this series explores what guests have seen, heard, or imagined in the development of their spirituality. It’s about those experiences that have strengthen their belief and faith in our Creator. New content will be released every Thursday until the season ends in September.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Francine
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Francine
  • Show Website
    Seen. Heard. Imagined.®