Courageous Overcomers

Tonya Shellnutt
  • 5.0 (23)
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Welcome to Courageous Overcomers, a podcast dedicated to those who have faced adversity, whether it’s trauma, addiction, abuse, or life’s toughest challenges. In each episode, you’ll hear real stories from individuals who’ve walked through difficult times and emerged stronger through courage, faith, and resilience.This podcast provides practical advice, heart-driven encouragement, and the tools you need to begin or continue your healing journey. No matter what you’ve been through, you are not alone and have the strength to overcome.Become part of a community of overcomers breaking free from fear and pain. Together, we’ll build faith, embrace courage, and find hope.

  1. 07/30/2025

    The Courage to Pause

    Send us a text What does genuine courage look like in a season of exhaustion? Sometimes, the bravest decision is acknowledging our limits and embracing rest without guilt. In this vulnerable and heartfelt episode, I share my difficult decision to temporarily pause the Courageous Overcomers podcast. After reflecting deeply during a recent anniversary trip with my husband, I've realized I don't know how to rest well—something many of us struggle with in our busy lives. The Lord has been showing me that my current season requires focused attention on my professional ministry work and team building, while also creating space to refill my cup spiritually and emotionally. This pause isn't about quitting or abandoning our mission to shine Christ's light in the dark corners of trauma and addiction. Rather, it's about honoring Matthew 11:28 where Jesus invites the weary and burdened to find rest in Him. Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places, teaching us that stepping back can be an act of spiritual wisdom rather than weakness. For those feeling guilty about needing a break in your own lives, consider this your permission slip—rest isn't laziness; it's necessary recalibration with God. During this hiatus, I encourage you to revisit past episodes that might speak to you in new ways, explore the five-day Heal and Cleanse journal workbook on my website, and stay connected through social media. Your stories and messages have been such encouragement, reminding me that God works through our honest struggles. When the time is right, I'll return refreshed and ready to continue our journey together. Have you found yourself needing permission to rest? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    6 min

  2. 07/16/2025

    Overfunctioning, Perfectionism, and the Lie of Performance-Based Love

    Send us a text Why do some people push themselves so hard—even when they’re already doing too much? In this powerful episode of Courageous Overcomers, we explore the hidden connection between trauma and performance-based living. Host Tonya breaks down five reasons why survivors often fall into the trap of overworking, overachieving, and never feeling “enough.” You’ll learn how early wounds shape the need to prove yourself, how performance becomes a coping mechanism, and how to finally lay it all down and rest in God’s truth. This episode is for the overfunctioners, the perfectionists, and the high-achievers still carrying invisible pain. You don’t have to earn your worth. You don’t have to keep performing. You are already loved. You are already chosen. You are a Courageous Overcomer. 🎧 Plus: Download the free Reflection Guide with journal prompts and scriptures to help you break free from the performance trap. Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    17 min

  3. 07/09/2025

    Rocket Science and Redemption

    Send us a text Welcome to Courageous Overcomers, where we share real stories of faith, grit, and healing. Today’s guest is John Mollura—a man who went from launching rockets for NASA to launching people into their purpose. After facing deep personal pain and burnout, John made a bold pivot. He left the world of high-pressure engineering to become a portrait photographer, coach, and speaker. Now he helps people silence the lies that keep them stuck and step into the courage it takes to live fully alive. In this episode, John opens up about his own moments of fear, loss, and doubt and how God used them to shape something far greater than he imagined. His story is a reminder that it’s never too late to shift gears, reclaim your identity, and become who you were made to be. https://johnmollura.com/ https://www.instagram.com/john_mollura/ Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    30 min

  4. 07/02/2025

    Breaking the Silence: The Truth Behind the Abortion Lie

    Send us a text Welcome to Courageous Overcomers, where we face the pain, fight the lies, and rise with faith and resilience. Today’s episode is not an easy one—but it’s a necessary one. We’re peeling back the layers of deception—the deeply rooted lies women have been told… and believed. Lies like: "God can't forgive you." "Your decision will bring shame to your family." "Ignoring it will make it go away." But silence doesn’t heal. And a lie, when left unchallenged, becomes a quiet prison. Maybe you've carried shame in secret. Maybe you’ve buried the guilt so deep that even you stopped looking. But here’s the truth: God sees you. And He doesn't shame you—He invites you into healing. Today, we’re sitting down with Catherine and Chris to confront these lies head-on. With courage, honesty, and grace, we’ll expose the false narratives—and replace them with the truth that sets women free. Because the truth is: you are not alone. You are not disqualified. And you are not beyond redemption. This episode is for every woman who’s ever whispered, "I can't tell anyone..." It’s time to bring it into the light. Together, we are Courageous Overcomers. Let’s dive in. Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    35 min

  5. 06/25/2025

    The weight of shame, the ache of regret, and the power of mercy.

    Send us a text For over 30 years, she carried a silent weight—two decisions made in fear, buried deep beneath layers of shame and what-ifs. She never married. Never had children of her own. And for decades, she believed that disqualified her from joy, from purpose, from grace. But then… Jesus. In today’s episode of Courageous Overcomers, you’ll meet a woman whose story reminds us that even the heaviest chains can be broken. Though her past was marked by abortion, grief, and isolation, her present is overflowing with love—she's become a spiritual mother to many, including my own children. Yet even now, questions linger: Who will take care of me when I’m old? Did I forfeit the very things my heart still longs for? This conversation is raw, honest, and full of the kind of hope only redemption can bring. Because the truth is: God doesn’t waste a single part of our story—not even the parts we’d rather hide. Let’s step into the light, together. Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    39 min

  6. 06/18/2025

    The Secret She Carried

    Send us a text In this week’s episode of Courageous Overcomers, we’re talking about the weight of secrets—and one of the heaviest is abortion. Not because it didn’t hurt, but because shame said, “Don’t tell.” I didn’t walk that road myself, but I’ve sat with many who have. And what I’ve seen over and over again is this: silence isolates, but truth sets us free. This episode is for the woman who made a decision out of fear—fear of rejection, fear of being a disappointment, fear of not being enough. The one who buried her story to protect others and ended up carrying the shame alone. It’s time to bring the pain into the light—because grace can do what shame never will. 🎧 Listen now: “The Secret She Carried” #CourageousOvercomers #TheSecretSheCarried #HealingFromShame #FaithAndHealing Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    23 min

  7. 06/11/2025

    Breaking the Silence: One Woman's Abortion Journey

    Send us a text What happens when the pain we carry feels too buried, too dark, or too shameful to bring into the light? Catherine's powerful story of abortion, shame, and ultimate healing reminds us that redemption thrives in vulnerability. Catherine never planned to share her abortion story publicly. For years after her procedure in 1981, she buried the memory, numbing her pain through what she calls "reckless living" until hitting rock bottom at age 28. Even after finding faith, she faced what countless post-abortive women experience: the inability to forgive herself despite believing in divine forgiveness. "It's just so unnatural for a woman to end the life of her child," she reflects, explaining the deep psychological wound that persisted for decades. The turning point came unexpectedly. After confiding in sisters and close friends, Catherine felt called to share her story publicly during a church event in 2009—despite overwhelming fear of judgment. What followed was transformation, not just for her but for many who heard her story and recognized their own pain. A profound shift occurred when someone told her, "You are a mother and you will see your baby in heaven." This perspective allowed Catherine to honor her unborn child and reshape her identity. Now when asked if she has children, she responds with courageous honesty: "I don't have earthly children, but I have a baby in heaven." Catherine's message resonates beyond abortion. Whether you're carrying shame from past choices, abuse, addiction, or any painful secret, healing begins when we stop hiding. "You can't heal what you don't face," as host Tonya reminds us. If Catherine's story touched something in you, reach out. She's offered to connect with listeners who need support in their healing journey. Download our free 5-day healing workbook at tonyashellnutt.com and take your first step toward freedom today. Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    32 min

  8. 06/04/2025

    The Harvest

    Send us a text Have you ever found yourself stuck in that excruciating space between obedience and outcome, wondering if God has forgotten you? That painful waiting room is exactly what we're tackling in this soul-nourishing episode. The harvest is indeed coming, but growth requires patience. Drawing from personal experience, I share my family's challenging two-year period after relocating from Montana to South Carolina—a season filled with divine silence that had me questioning everything. What felt like abandonment was actually God's intimate invitation to deeper trust. This waiting period, though painful, ultimately positioned my husband to own his company and led me to my current fulfilling role. Gardening offers us the perfect metaphor for spiritual growth. Just as plants develop strong roots underground before producing visible fruit, our souls undergo significant strengthening during quiet seasons. Your foundations are being reinforced, harmful habits are shifting, and old wounds are receiving divine attention—all beneath the surface. The enemy's favorite tactic is convincing you nothing's happening when everything is happening. Remember that God isn't slow; He's thorough. Faith isn't passive waiting; it's active preparation. Clean out areas of your life—whether toxic relationships, harmful habits, or physical clutter—to make room for what you've been praying for. Like Penny Chenery of Secretariat fame, whose persistence created a legacy affecting every Kentucky Derby horse this year, your faithfulness today creates ripples far beyond what you can currently see. Ready to prepare the soil of your heart? Visit tonyashellnutt.com for our free five-day healing challenge workbook. The harvest doesn't come to the fastest—it comes to the faithful. What will you do today to show God you're ready for what He has prepared? Support the show Stay Connected: Website: https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyashellnutt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyashellnut Twitter: https://x.com/tonyashellnutt Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

    18 min
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5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Welcome to Courageous Overcomers, a podcast dedicated to those who have faced adversity, whether it’s trauma, addiction, abuse, or life’s toughest challenges. In each episode, you’ll hear real stories from individuals who’ve walked through difficult times and emerged stronger through courage, faith, and resilience.This podcast provides practical advice, heart-driven encouragement, and the tools you need to begin or continue your healing journey. No matter what you’ve been through, you are not alone and have the strength to overcome.Become part of a community of overcomers breaking free from fear and pain. Together, we’ll build faith, embrace courage, and find hope.

Information

  • Creator
    Tonya Shellnutt
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Courageous Overcomers
  • Show Website
    Courageous Overcomers