Hope Comes to Visit

Danielle Elliott Smith

Hope Comes to Visit is a soulful podcast that holds space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of moments that remind us we’re never alone. Hosted by author, speaker, and former TV journalist-turned-storyteller Danielle Elliott Smith, the show explores the full spectrum of the human experience — from the tender to the triumphant. Through powerful interviews and reflective storytelling, each episode offers light, connection, and presence for anyone navigating the in-between. Whether you’re grieving, growing, beginning again, or simply craving something real, Hope Comes to Visit will meet you right where you are — with warmth, grace, and the quiet belief that even in the dark, transformation can take root. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light, reflection, and hope.

  1. Choosing Yourself: Deborah Santana on Identity, Freedom, and Loving the Fire

    19H AGO

    Choosing Yourself: Deborah Santana on Identity, Freedom, and Loving the Fire

    Send us Fan Mail There are moments in life when choosing yourself can be one of the most courageous things you can do. In this deeply moving episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I was privileged to sit down with Deborah Santana—author, activist, and voice for women’s empowerment—to explore what it means to step out of the shadows and fully into your own life. Through her new memoir Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, Deborah shares her journey of transformation after decades of partnership, public life, and self-evolution. Together, they talk about identity, grief, growth, and the quiet courage it takes to ask: What is out of alignment—and what am I ready to change? This conversation is for anyone standing at a crossroads, navigating loss, or wondering what it might look like to truly choose themselves. 💙 You’re not alone. I'm so glad you are here. Connect with Deborah Santana on her Website. Order her book - Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom. In case you'd like to jump to some of the highlights:CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 — Choosing yourself + episode introduction 01:15 — Deborah Santana’s work and new memoir Loving the Fire 02:00 — Living in someone else’s story vs. becoming yourself 03:00 — Evolution, identity, and stepping out of the shadow 04:45 — Feeling unseen + recognizing your value 05:55 — The decision to leave + choosing yourself 06:25 — Fear, courage, and asking what’s out of alignment 08:45 — “Little deaths” and navigating life transitions 10:30 — Grief, silence, and finding light 11:30 — Activism and the Do a Little Foundation 13:45 — Ancestry, identity, and passing belief to the next generation 17:00 — Raising curious, open-minded children 18:15 — Standing fully on your own + freedom 19:40 — Letting go of the past + living in the present 20:30 — Compassion, judgment, and “being the rainbow” 21:50 — Family, support, and generational impact 22:15 — Defining hope 23:00 — Who this book is for 24:15 — Growth, reflection, and taking ownership of your life 25:10 — “Shed the old, walk through the fire…” 25:30 — What’s next + where to find Deborah 26:30 — Closing Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    28 min
  2. Laughing Through the Hard: Kelly MacFarland on Grief, Humor, and Being Fully Alive

    APR 13

    Laughing Through the Hard: Kelly MacFarland on Grief, Humor, and Being Fully Alive

    Send us Fan Mail The people who make us laugh the hardest often carry the deepest stories. In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Danielle sits down with comedian and storyteller Kelly MacFarland for a conversation that moves seamlessly between humor and heartbreak. From navigating profound loss to finding joy again, Kelly shares what it looks like to live fully—even when life feels heavy. This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and the quiet ways hope finds its way back in. What You’ll Hear:  How humor can help us process life’s hardest moments  Kelly’s experience navigating grief and loss  The reality of living with intrusive thoughts and OCD  What it means to evolve in relationships and in life  Why feeling seen matters more than we think  The story behind her comedy special Hot Gnome This episode will make you laugh. It may make you tear up. And it will absolutely remind you that you are not alone. Listen now—and share it with someone who might need a little light today. 00:00 Introduction & Welcome  03:25 The Power of Making People Laugh  06:15 Finding Your Voice & Being “The Funny One”  08:45 How It All Started in Comedy  10:20 Relationships, Habits & Relatable Humor  14:30 Love, Growth & Evolving Together  18:45 The Reality of Long-Term Relationships  22:30 Anxiety, Control & Real-Life Stress  27:00 Grief & Losing Both Parents  31:30 OCD & Intrusive Thoughts  35:30 “We Can Do Hard Things”  39:00 Growth, Confidence & Aging  42:30 Joy, Presence & Perspective  45:00 Comedy, Boundaries & Staying Relatable  46:00 Creating Hot Gnome 49:30 What Hope Means 51:00 Taking Risks & Saying Yes 53:00 Mental Health & Daily Check-Ins 55:00 Closing & Where to Find Kelly Connect with Kelly: Website: https://kellymacfarland.com  Watch Hot Gnome on YouTube Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    55 min
  3. She Said Spirit Is Real… And Then Proved It - A Conversation with Medium Barbra Banner

    MAR 30

    She Said Spirit Is Real… And Then Proved It - A Conversation with Medium Barbra Banner

    Send us Fan Mail What if the signs you’ve been noticing… aren’t coincidence? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I am joined by Barbra Banner—a no-nonsense psychic, evidential medium, and transmedium known for delivering messages with clarity, humor, and heart. Together, we explore what happens when we open ourselves to the possibility that those we’ve lost are still with us—just in a different way. Barbra shares her unexpected journey into mediumship, what it means to trust your intuition, and how connection to spirit can help us move through grief—not by letting go, but by understanding love never leaves. I also share a bit about my own experience of loss, signs, and the moments that changed everything. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: Are the signs real?  Can I trust what I feel?  And what if they’re still with me? Because sometimes… hope arrives in ways we never expected. Connect with Barbra on her website. On Instagram. And on her YouTube Channel. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    35 min
  4. What Gives Me Hope About the Next Generation | A Conversation with Sydney Moore

    MAR 23

    What Gives Me Hope About the Next Generation | A Conversation with Sydney Moore

    Send us Fan Mail One of the most beautiful forms of hope arrives in shape of young people destined to make their mark on the world in a powerful way. This conversation shares just that form of hope. This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I sat down with someone incredibly special to me — Sydney Moore, a high school senior at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis who has spent her young life rooted in service, justice, learning, and compassion. I have known Sydney since she was just a little girl, and this conversation is both deeply personal and deeply inspiring. Sydney shares her heart for social justice, her desire to become a human rights attorney, and the experiences that have shaped the way she sees the world — from interning with a judge to traveling to the border to learning how to listen before trying to lead. In this episode, we talk about: what gives me hope about the next generationhow confidence is shaped by the people who believe in uswhy teenagers are more thoughtful, engaged, and justice-minded than many people assumewhat it means to lead without needing to be the loudest person in the roomhow burnout, pressure, and perfectionism show up even in young leaderswhy real change begins with listening, learning, and walking alongside othershow hope is tied to love, accountability, and the belief that things can be betterSydney is the kind of young woman who reminds us that the future is not lost. It is being shaped, every day, by people willing to learn, question, serve, and care deeply. This episode is full of wisdom, heart, and the kind of hope that stretches across generations. If it moves you, please share it with someone you love. 00:00 Welcome to Hope Comes to Visit 01:49 Sydney Moore on wanting to become a human rights attorney 03:47 What gives Danielle hope about the next generation 06:10 Social media stereotypes vs. who young people really are 11:11 Family influence, confidence, and believing in yourself 16:12 Advice for teens who want to make a difference 19:31 Burnout, pressure, and panic in high school 24:23 Learning when to say yes — and when to say no 26:12 Sydney’s definition of hope 27:37 Does she have hope for America? 30:59 Amanda Gorman, patriotism, and holding the country accountable 34:52 The border trip that changed everything 39:59 Why solidarity matters more than “saving” people 41:23 Danielle on why Sydney gives her hope Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    45 min
  5. Different, Not Broken: Disability, Dignity, and the Power of Seeing People Fully with Dr. Stuart D. Jones

    MAR 16

    Different, Not Broken: Disability, Dignity, and the Power of Seeing People Fully with Dr. Stuart D. Jones

    Send us Fan Mail There are stories that don’t just move us — they change the way we see the world. In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I was grateful to sit down with educator, speaker, and author Dr. Stuart D. Jones to explore a deeply personal story about dignity, disability, and the extraordinary value of every human life. Dr. Jones shares the story of his brother Stephen — a boy born in 1954 with significant intellectual and physical disabilities during a time when resources, services, and understanding were almost nonexistent. Doctors labeled Stephen “deficient.” Institutions were recommended. But Stephen’s parents chose a different path — one rooted in fierce love, hope, and belief in their son’s humanity. In his memoir For the Love of Stephen (with a foreword by Temple Grandin and now housed in the Library of Congress), Dr. Jones tells the story of a life that many misunderstood — and a family who refused to see Stephen as broken. This conversation explores: • How society often responds to disability with fear or pity  • Why dignity begins with truly seeing one another  • The role of siblings as protectors and advocates  • How parents can teach children to approach difference with curiosity and kindness  • Why hope is often something we choose — not something that simply arrives As Stuart says, “Different is not less.” This is a conversation about love, advocacy, belonging, and the quiet power of recognizing the worth of every life. Connect with Dr. Stuart D. Jones here. Find his book: For the Love of Stephen - here. If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    27 min
  6. Kelly Karavousanos on Grief, Support, and What It Means to Sit in the Dark With Someone

    MAR 9

    Kelly Karavousanos on Grief, Support, and What It Means to Sit in the Dark With Someone

    Send us Fan Mail Sometimes hope doesn’t arrive loudly. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet presence of someone willing to sit beside us in our hardest moments. This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by Kelly Karavousanos — licensed professional counselor, certified thanatologist, licensed funeral director, and one of the people I credit with helping guide me through some of the darkest grief of my life. Kelly brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and lived humanity to this conversation. We talk about what grief actually looks like, why our culture struggles so deeply with death and loss, and what it truly means to support someone who is hurting. In this episode, we discuss what thanatology is and why it mattershow grief changes us, but doesn’t mean something is wrong with uswhat to say when someone is grievingwhy silence can feel louder than wordswhy the depth of grief is tied to the depth of connectionthe difference between trying to fix someone and simply being willing to sit with themhow community, therapy, and conversation help lighten the darknessKelly also shares how her own losses have shaped her work and her perspective, and why she believes grief is love in a different form. This is one of those conversations I hope you’ll not only listen to — but share. Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn Learn more about the HeartLight Center If this episode touches you, please share it with someone who may need it, and take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps more than you know. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    40 min
  7. It Only Takes One Yes: Julie Whitney on Reinvention, Resilience and Second Acts

    MAR 2

    It Only Takes One Yes: Julie Whitney on Reinvention, Resilience and Second Acts

    Send us Fan Mail Some stories remind you that it’s not too late. Not for the dream you tucked away. Not for the creative spark you thought you missed. Not for the reinvention you quietly crave. In this episode I’m joined by Julie Whitney — a self-employed PR professional who, in the middle of the pandemic, found herself standing in a hangar beside a plane she’d never even flown in… and feeling something crack wide open. When Julie’s husband, “Captain Dan,” unexpectedly lost his job as chief corporate pilot in 2020, the loss wasn’t just professional — it was emotional. Julie personified the Gulfstream jet he flew (Astra), imagining her alone in a dark hangar… and that single moment became the beginning of a brand new chapter. That night, Julie started writing Astra the Lonely Airplane — and what began as a surprising, heart-led idea became a published children’s book series, award recognition, school readings that move her to tears, and now… the dream of an animated streaming series built around kindness, hope, and helping others. In this episode, we talk about: Reinvention and second acts (especially when life forces a pivot)The publishing process and rejection resilience (Julie sent 60–70 queries!)What it’s like to read your book to hundreds of kids and watch your message landHow hope becomes a practice: “It only takes one yes.”Why Julie defines hope as never giving upLeaving a legacy rooted in goodness, kindness, and non-cynical joyIf you’ve been asking yourself, “Do I still have time?” — let this be your reminder: yes. You do. Connect with Julie + Astra: Website: AstraTheLonelyAirplane.com Email: Julie@AstraTheLonelyAirplane.com Get the Books - Astra the Lonely Airplane- Amazon....and look for them in the airport when you travel :)  If you loved this conversation, please share the episode, and take a moment to rate + review the show — it helps more than you know. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    31 min
  8. Ann Imig on Rewiring Your Brain for Hope, Burnout Recovery & Mental Fitness

    FEB 23

    Ann Imig on Rewiring Your Brain for Hope, Burnout Recovery & Mental Fitness

    Send us Fan Mail What if hope isn’t a feeling… but a skill? This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by my longtime friend Ann Imig — MSW, certified coach, and founder of the storytelling phenomenon Listen to Your Mother. Fifteen years after giving motherhood a microphone on stages across North America, Ann now helps burnt-out women retrain their brains for clarity, calm, and joy. We talk about: Why your stress brain dominates your decisionsHow to literally rewire your brain for hopeThe myth of “I’ll be happy when…”Achievement addiction and burnoutWhy curiosity is the antidote to anxietyHow 10-second sensory practices can change your dayStaying sober, staying open, staying a learnerAnn explains that hope doesn’t require you to feel hopeful first. You can take hopeful action — and the feeling will follow. This conversation is practical, grounding, and incredibly timely. Especially if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of what comes next. ✨ Connect with Ann at listenlifecoaching.com ✨ Take the saboteur assessment at positiveintelligence.com If this episode resonates, please share it with someone you love and leave a review. It helps more than you know. Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

    37 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Hope Comes to Visit is a soulful podcast that holds space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of moments that remind us we’re never alone. Hosted by author, speaker, and former TV journalist-turned-storyteller Danielle Elliott Smith, the show explores the full spectrum of the human experience — from the tender to the triumphant. Through powerful interviews and reflective storytelling, each episode offers light, connection, and presence for anyone navigating the in-between. Whether you’re grieving, growing, beginning again, or simply craving something real, Hope Comes to Visit will meet you right where you are — with warmth, grace, and the quiet belief that even in the dark, transformation can take root. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light, reflection, and hope.

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Elliott Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hope Comes to Visit
  • Show Website
    Hope Comes to Visit

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