Didn't Ask to be a Hero Podcast: Ordinary Women Living Extraordinary Lives

Annie Raney (host) and Davenia Lea (producer)

The Didn’t Ask to be a Hero Podcast strives to share the stories of ordinary women who have overcome challenges and are now walking in the truth of God’s love, freedom, and victory! These stories celebrate the unsung sheroes who, due to unexpected circumstances, have grown in faith and are shining more brightly in the light of God’s story for their lives. These stories remind us of the familiar and the completely foreign, bringing women together across the divides of the unknown and the different. Ultimately The Didn’t Ask to be a Hero Podcast is giving voice to women who may not always be heard, with the intent of transforming other women’s stories as we transform our families and communities one story at a time.For more information, please visit our website at www.mazuriministries.org

  1. 2D AGO

    S417: Shift Happens Yet God's Still Faithful: Carol Gant Shares How God Provides Even When Systems Fail

    When the government began cutting funding for programs dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, countless professionals found themselves suddenly displaced—including our guest, Carol Gant, a passionate advocate who has spent her career fighting on behalf of children and families from marginalized communities. Carol lost her job in March due to these sweeping changes. But instead of collapsing under the weight of uncertainty, she has chosen a different path—radical trust. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Carol opens up about: What it was like to lose her job because of decisions far beyond her controlThe emotional and spiritual toll of being out of workHow she is navigating fear and identity in the waiting seasonWhy she refuses to give up her calling or compromise her valuesThe unexpected ways God has shown up as Provider—sometimes quietly, sometimes miraculouslyThis episode is a reminder that faith is not tested in the sunshine—it’s proven in the shadows. Carol’s testimony is honest yet hopeful, offering encouragement to anyone facing uncertainty, transition, or loss. If you’re waiting on God… if you’re rebuilding after a setback… or if you simply need to hear a story of courage and unwavering faith—this conversation will lift you. Tune in, be encouraged, and remember: when earthly doors close, heaven is still wide open. CONNECT WITH US And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. How are you managing your stress these days? How has government cuts and the government shutdown impacted you? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode songs are I Choose to Worship by Wes Morgan and Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. Please note these songs are for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    30 min
  2. OCT 23

    S4E16: Offline and On Edge: A Brief Reboot with therapist, Weena Wise

    Our favorite therapist, Weena Wise, is BACK!!!! 🙌 And this time, she’s helping us decompress after Monday’s massive internet meltdown. If you were one of the millions rebooting your Wi-Fi, restarting your life, and questioning your sanity — this one’s for you. 😂 We talk about stress, control, and finding calm when everything (literally) disconnects. Weena reminds us that sometimes the world’s chaos is just an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect — with ourselves. So plug in (if the internet’s working again 😉) and join us for some laughs, wisdom, and a mental reboot with Weena Wise! ASK WEENA Do you have a burning question for Weena, well ask away! You can email her at mazuri@mazuriministries.org. You can also connect with her on social media Podcast and Blog - https://www.covenanttherapy.com/blog  Social media - IG, FB @weenawise https://www.covenanttherapy.com/ CONNECT WITH US And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. How are you managing your stress these days? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode song is Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae. Please note this song is for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    38 min
  3. OCT 9

    S4E15: The Calm Within: How to Stress Less and Live Well with Naturopathic Doctor Erin Kinney

    Stress may be one of the greatest enemies to a woman’s health — draining our energy, disrupting our hormones, and stealing our sense of peace. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Erin Kinney, a licensed naturopathic doctor, shares how faith and naturopathic care work hand in hand to help women restore balance and wholeness. Together, we explore how chronic stress impacts the body, mind, and spirit — and discover natural, God-honoring ways to calm the nervous system, renew our strength, and embrace the peace that only He can provide. If you’ve been feeling weary, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin, this episode offers both spiritual and practical steps toward healing and lasting calm. ✨ Want more of Dr. Kinney’s wisdom? Connect with her and explore her resources: 🎙️ Podcast: The Dr. Kinney Show🌐 Website: www.drerinkinney.com📱 Instagram: @dr.erinkinney💬 Facebook: @DrErinKinney CONNECT WITH US And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode song is by . Please note this song is for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    41 min
  4. SEP 25

    S4E14: Going Slow Just As Fast As We Can: Boundaries, Self-Care & the Power of Self-Preservation with Therapist, Weena Wise

    In this episode of Going Slow Just As Fast As We Can, we sit down with licensed therapist Weena Wise to explore how unapologetically setting healthy boundaries and practicing intentional self-care are not luxuries, but acts of self-preservation. Weena shares practical wisdom for recognizing your limits, protecting your peace, and giving yourself permission to slow down in a world that constantly demands more. Whether you’re struggling to say “no,” learning to prioritize your own needs, or simply longing for a healthier rhythm of life, this conversation will help you embrace boundaries as a pathway to freedom, wholeness, and true rest. ASK WEENA Do you have a burning question for Weena, well ask away! You can email her at mazuri@mazuriministries.org. You can also connect with her on social media Podcast and Blog - https://www.covenanttherapy.com/blog  Social media - IG, FB @weenawise https://www.covenanttherapy.com/ CONNECT WITH US And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode song is Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae. Please note this song is for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    36 min
  5. SEP 11

    S4E13: Beautiful Brokenness: Heather Thompson Day Opens Up About Faith and Family

    In this powerful episode, Beautiful Brokenness bestselling author and communicator Heather Thompson Day shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life’s hardest choices. With honesty and vulnerability, Heather reflects on how broken moments can become sacred spaces where God’s grace meets us. From the challenges of family life to the questions that shape our faith, Heather reminds us that our stories—no matter how imperfect—are still being written by a loving God. Whether you’re wrestling with your own brokenness or searching for hope in uncertain seasons, Heather’s story will inspire you to see beauty in the places you least expect it. CONNECT WITH HEATHER If you want more of Heather (and trust me you will, she's that awesome), you can get information about her books and connect with her on social media here on her website - https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/ CONNECT WITH US And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode song is Flowers by Samantha Ebert. Please note this song is for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    46 min
  6. AUG 29

    S4E12: Helping Well: The Healing Power of Presence, Perspective, and Prayer

    Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves is a six-part podcast series that tackles the raw reality of cancer while shining a light on unshakable hope in Christ. In today's final episode of Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves, we speak with licensed therapist, Weena Wise, who specializes in walking with individuals and families through serious illness. She shares practical, compassionate advice on how to truly support someone facing cancer—not with clichés or quick fixes, but with presence, empathy, and faith. We explore the emotional toll illness takes on both the patient and their circle, the importance of self-care for caregivers, and how our thoughts, beliefs, and spiritual practices can either hinder or help the healing journey. With wisdom and grace, she reminds us that healing isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply spiritual. Whether you’re fighting cancer or walking beside someone who is, this episode offers encouragement and tools to show up with love, care for your own heart, and lean into the hope only Jesus can give. Because support heals, faith restores, and love never fails—even when cancer tries to. Thank you for joining us along this journey. We pray that this series and these voices serve to remind you that while cancer is devastating, it doesn’t have the final say. And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode songs are (yes, you're getting two for the final time)Hold On by Le'Andria Johnson and The Hand that Keeps Holding Me by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Please note these songs are for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    50 min
  7. AUG 21

    S4E11: From Heartbreak to Hope: Donna Magloire Shares Her Story of Finding Joy After Loss - Episode 5 of 6 of the Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves Summer Series

    Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves is a six-part podcast series that tackles the raw reality of cancer while shining a light on unshakable hope in Christ. In today's moving episode of Cancer Sucks, but Jesus Saves, we sit down with a wife who lost her beloved husband to cancer 17 years ago. She reflects on the painful road of grief—the tears, the questions, and the ache of raising children without their father. But she also shares how, over time, God met her in the valley, restored her heart, and led her into a life overflowing with joy. Today, her adult children are thriving, her faith is deeper than ever, and her story is a testimony that loss doesn’t have to have the last word. Through Christ, sorrow can give way to hope, and brokenness can be made beautiful. Because while cancer may take a life, Jesus gives life everlasting. This episode honors the unseen heroes: the survivors who've lost a loved one to cancer and who still strives to make a difference every day. Stay tuned for the final episode on next Thursday August 28th with therapist/counselor, Weena Wise who helps navigate the emotional and spiritual toll. And you can also listen to previous episodes here as well! Together, these voices remind us that while cancer is devastating, it doesn’t have the final say—Jesus does. And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode songs are (yes, you're getting two songs again) I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston and The Lady of My Life by Michael Jackson. Please note these songs are for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    42 min
  8. AUG 15

    S4E10: From Patient to Purpose: Dr. Vanessa Sheppard, a Cancer Survivor, Shares Her Testimony and Her Mission to Help Others - Episode 4 of 6 of the Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves Summer Series

    Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves is a six-part podcast series that tackles the raw reality of cancer while shining a light on unshakable hope in Christ. In today's powerful episode of Cancer Sucks, Jesus Saves, we meet a remarkable woman, Dr. Vanessa Sheppard, whose life took a dramatic turn when she went from cancer patient (twice!) to cancer researcher. As a survivor, she shares the raw and real impact that her diagnosis had on every part of her life—body, mind, and spirit. But rather than being defined by the disease, she allowed it to refine her purpose. Now dedicated to supporting others through evidence, empathy, and faith, she opens up about how surviving cancer deepened her relationship with Jesus and ignited a mission to inform, advocate, and walk alongside others facing the same battle. This is a story of redemption, resilience, and the healing that comes when science and faith work hand in hand. Even when cancer changes everything, Jesus gives it meaning. This episode honors the unseen heroes: the survivors of cancer who strive to make a difference every day. Stay tuned for two more episodes Thursdays between August 21st - August 28th. Each episode will bring a different perspective to the conversation: someone who lost her husband to cancer about 15 years ago and is living a joyful life todaya therapist/counselor who helps navigate the emotional and spiritual toll.And you can also listen to previous episodes here as well! Together, these voices remind us that while cancer is devastating, it doesn’t have the final say—Jesus does. And as always, Annie and I would love to hear from you. Have you or a loved one been impacted by cancer or another illness? How are you coping? How can we pray for you? Please email us at mazuri@mazuriministries.org, or share your story with us on IG @davenialeawrites, or on FB @annieraney And if you know someone who might benefit from this series, please share it with them. Your share might just be the hope they need! Finally, your reviews mean the world to us, and they also assist us in spreading God's message of hope and victory across the globe! So please leave us a review on your favorite podcast player or on our Podcast Webpage  🔗 Again, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going! Today's episode song is inspired by Vanessa's story. This song, One of the One’s, was co-written by Yvonne Cummings and an AI music generation tool. The lyrics, concept, and creative direction were developed by Yvonne Cummings, with AI assisting in music composition and production. Please note this song is for your listening enjoyment only and cannot be downloaded or shared. Thanks for listening! From our hearts to yours!! Send us a text. We'd love to connect with you!

    39 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Didn’t Ask to be a Hero Podcast strives to share the stories of ordinary women who have overcome challenges and are now walking in the truth of God’s love, freedom, and victory! These stories celebrate the unsung sheroes who, due to unexpected circumstances, have grown in faith and are shining more brightly in the light of God’s story for their lives. These stories remind us of the familiar and the completely foreign, bringing women together across the divides of the unknown and the different. Ultimately The Didn’t Ask to be a Hero Podcast is giving voice to women who may not always be heard, with the intent of transforming other women’s stories as we transform our families and communities one story at a time.For more information, please visit our website at www.mazuriministries.org