Discover Hope Podcast I Stories of Spoken Hope

Sarah Koch-Schaapveld
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

When the script of your life gets flipped—by death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis—Discover Hope offers raw, healing stories to help you breathe, believe, and bloom again. Host Sarah Koch-Schaapveld shares her journey through grief after the sudden death of her late husband and father of their four children, Sheldon Koch, finding love again, and now walking alongside her new husband, Timm, through stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer. Real moments, real conversations—what happened, what helped, and what healed. Subscribe, Listen and Rediscover Hope.

Episodes

  1. 08/19/2025

    Episode 9: “It’s Better This Way”: What EMDR Taught Me About Letting Go

    This episode is dedicated to the life and legacy of Rick Enloe—husband, father, father in law, grandfather, pastor, friend and magical thinker! Author of Low Hanging Truth—and sponsored in his honor. Today I share the most vulnerable part of my healing journey: how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helped my brain and heart integrate the shock of sudden loss and make room for hope again. You’ll hear the story behind “It’s better this way,” why grief can feel like your brain is “offline,” and what EMDR practically looks like—from the first appointment to the unexpected breakthroughs. If you or someone you love is walking through death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis, this is a gentle, science-and-spirit guide for the next step. Carry Rick’s voice with you—order his book Low Hanging Truth directly on Amazon here: Low Hanging Truth. • Send a note or voice memo I can share on the show: sarah@discoverhope.org• Support/sponsor an episode: discoverhope.org

  2. 07/29/2025

    Episode 8: The One Question That Changed Everything: My Moment with Fran Graham

    When my husband died suddenly on a family cruise, the grief was overwhelming—but the guilt hit just as hard. In this episode, I share the brave question I asked trauma expert Fran Graham—and how her unexpected answer shifted everything. From sleepless nights and emotional chaos to discovering radical acceptance and DBT therapy, this is the raw, unfiltered truth of what it looked like to fight for peace in the middle of devastation. If you’ve ever blamed yourself for something that broke your heart, this might be the lifeline you didn’t know you needed. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit discoverhope.org. Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope! #Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope #MentalHealth #RadicalAcceptance #WiseMind

  3. 07/15/2025

    Episode 7: Is This How I'll Feel Forever? The 7 Minute Grief Wave

    When Sarah lost her husband, a widow looked her in the eye and said, “You’re going to miss him for the rest of your life.” It nearly broke her. But what happened next changed everything. In this episode of Discover Hope, Sarah shares the honest, practical tool that helped her survive those first waves of grief—armed with a bathtub, a stopwatch, and the truth that healing is possible. Whether you're facing death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis, this story is for anyone navigating heartbreak or life after impact. You are not alone. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  4. 07/08/2025

    Episode 6: The 4 D's That Changed Everything! I Death Divorce Disappointment Diagnosis

    I thought I was just trying to make two simple videos—something I could send when people asked, “Hey, what exactly did you guys do for Timm's cancer?” But somewhere in that process, something deeper showed up. This episode is me filling you in and laying a bit more of the groundwork. Why these four words: death, divorce, disappointment, diagnosis? Why now? And why do I keep asking for donations from people who haven’t even met me yet? This isn’t a traditional podcast. I’m not trying to be edgy or revolutionary—but truthfully, I haven’t seen anything else quite like what’s happening here. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind Discover Hope, this is the episode that pulls the curtain back a little more. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  5. 07/01/2025

    Episode 5: The Day After: What Helped Me Survive the Unthinkable I Discover Hope Podcast I Sarah Koch-Schaapveld

    Episode 5: The Day After: What Helped Me Survive the Unthinkable What do you actually do the day after your person dies? In this raw and deeply honest episode, I share what it was like waking up the morning after my husband Sheldon passed away suddenly while we were on a cruise with our four kids. From navigating the chaos of disembarkation to an unexplainable moment of grace outside the port, this is the story of surviving what I thought would destroy me. You'll hear how a random encounter gave me peace, how a friend helped me breathe again (literally), and the one piece of advice a therapist gave me that I still hold onto today. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered: How do you keep going when your world shatters? What do you say to someone going through deep grief? How do you show up for your kids when you’re barely holding on yourself? Whether you’ve faced death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis—this space is for you. I’m not offering quick fixes. Just honest stories and spoken hope. Because sometimes healing starts with one deep breath—and someone simply saying, “I see you.” With you in the hard and the healing,— Sarah To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  6. 06/28/2025

    Episode 4: Car Confessions- Grief in Real Time

    Welcome to Episode 4 of Discover Hope Podcast..In a traditional podcast, we would refer to this as “Bonus Content”- I’m going to refer to this as, “Car Content”. .I didn’t plan on this happening, of course. It came about because when I woke up Wednesday morning with a sneaky case of “Primal Panic” after having released Episode 3 the day before which went into great detail of the dynamics surrounding the day Sheldon died….I was driving when I had a rush of emotion so I pulled over to simply video journal what I was going through. Never thinking I would publish it..Yet, I decided to publish it because I don’t want you to only see the polished side of my experience..Grief definitely changes over time…yet, it’s an “unfinished love” or an “un answered prayer/wish” or even a limp of disappointment we learn to walk with. It’s the living proof that Joy and Pain can and do coexist..And what an art it is to learn to dance with both..I’m curious if you’ve had moments like this when grief showed up unannounced or didn’t even bother to knock before it entered your otherwise perfect day? .Comment below or send me a DM and share your story. I’d love to learn more about you! Listen & follow here https://linktr.ee/discoverhopepodcast.To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  7. 06/24/2025

    Episode 3: The Day Everything Changed

    In this raw and unfiltered episode, I walk through the day my late husband, Sheldon, died—an experience so life-altering that it ultimately gave birth to Discover Hope. I never imagined sharing something this personal, but I’ve come to believe that honest storytelling is one of the most powerful ways we can hold space for each other in moments of profound grief. Though this episode recounts the hardest day of my life, it’s not just about pain. It’s also about the unexpected moments of comfort, the unseen support that surrounded me, and the quiet ways God—or grace—showed up through it all. I’m sharing this in the hope that if you’ve ever found yourself in a moment where the script of your life was flipped, you’ll know you’re not alone. This is for anyone who is hurting, anyone who has faced loss, and anyone who is searching for even a glimmer of hope in the midst of heartbreak. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  8. 06/18/2025

    Episode 2: The Origin Story I Who Was Sheldon Koch?

    In this tender and unscripted episode, Sarah opens her heart to share the life and legacy of her late husband, Sheldon Koch—the man whose quiet strength, joyful presence, and vision for hope helped shape not only their family, but an entire community. From their unexpected first meeting in college to planting a church with no job or home in sight, Sarah weaves a deeply personal and honest narrative of love, calling, grief, and purpose. You’ll hear how Sheldon’s magnetic joy, unwavering belief in others, and unexpected nickname for Sarah—"Rhinocorn"—laid the foundation for what would later become Discover Hope. This origin story is more than a biography—it’s an offering of spoken hope for anyone navigating loss, transition, or the mystery of what comes next. With tears, laughter, and raw faith, Sarah reminds us that our stories matter, our healing matters, and that we can bloom again—one or two mountains at a time. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  9. 06/13/2025

    Episode 1: Welcome to Discover Hope Podcast! I A Place to Come When The Script Gets Flipped!

    Welcome to the first episode of Discover Hope Podcast I Stories of Spoken Hope! On February 24, 2018, my life changed forever. My late husband—the father of our four young children—died suddenly while we were on a family vacation. I was thrust into the world of grief with no language, no roadmap, and no way to make sense of the darkness. But along that journey, I met helpers. People who shined light when I couldn’t find my own. I made a quiet vow: that one day, I would do the same. This podcast is that promise fulfilled. Discover Hope is a space for those whose life script has been flipped—by death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis. In this inaugural episode, I begin by sharing my story—the raw beginning, the ache, and the glimmers of hope that slowly found me. You’re not alone in your story. There is hope—even here. Especially here. To make a donation or sponsor an episode, visit ⁠discoverhope.org⁠.Thank you for partnering with us to carry the message of Hope!#Grief #Healing #Hope #Death #Divorce #Disappointment #Diagnosis #DiscoverHopePodcast #StoriesOfSpokenHope

  • 9 Episodes

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

When the script of your life gets flipped—by death, divorce, disappointment, or diagnosis—Discover Hope offers raw, healing stories to help you breathe, believe, and bloom again. Host Sarah Koch-Schaapveld shares her journey through grief after the sudden death of her late husband and father of their four children, Sheldon Koch, finding love again, and now walking alongside her new husband, Timm, through stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer. Real moments, real conversations—what happened, what helped, and what healed. Subscribe, Listen and Rediscover Hope.

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