Unspoken Lives Podcast

Kelsey Billingsley
  • 4.9 (34)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Unspoken Lives Podcast shares extraordinary stories from everyday people, highlighting resilience, personal growth, and inspiring life lessons. Tune in for real conversations that uncover the moments that often go unseen. 

  1. 6d ago

    Ep 033: Lily Ricci: From Iran to America: An Arranged Marriage and a Search for Hope, Part 1

    Send a Message to Kelsey Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Lily Ricci grew up in a loving family surrounded by strong family bonds and cultural traditions. At the same time, she lived in a society where opportunities and expectations for women were very different than they were for men. When financial hardship forced her family to leave everything behind and start over in Germany, the life she had always known disappeared almost overnight. At sixteen, Lily found herself navigating a new country, a new language, and a new identity. Just two years later, another move brought her to the United States, where cultural expectations and family circumstances led her into a marriage she never wanted, trapping her in fourteen years of manipulation, control, and abuse. In Part 1 of this conversation, Lily shares her journey from Iran to Germany to America, the challenges of starting over, and the painful circumstances that left her searching for hope. In this episode: Growing up in Iran and the cultural expectations placed on womenLeaving everything behind and starting over in GermanyThe challenges of immigration and rebuilding identityReuniting with family in the United StatesBeing introduced to a man she had never metUnwillingly entering a marriage she never wantedLiving through manipulation, control, and abuseReaching a place of hopelessness and searching for answersNext week in Part 2, Lily shares how a life-changing encounter transformed her faith, gave her the courage to pursue freedom, and ultimately led her to a calling she never imagined. About Lily: Today, Lily serves as Director of Partner Relations for Iran Alive Ministries, helping share the Gospel with Iranians around the world and supporting ministry efforts throughout Iran. Learn more: iranalive.org Connect with Lily: Instagram: @lily.m.ricci Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    31 min

  2. Jun 2

    Ep 032: Kendall Mariah: I Thought Something Was Wrong With Me, Part 2

    Send a Message to Kelsey In part two of this conversation, Kendall Mariah shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led to her autism diagnosis as an adult. Kendall opens up about growing up feeling different, struggling socially while excelling academically, and spending years masking parts of herself without fully understanding why. She speaks candidly about high-masking autism in women, ADHD, sensory struggles, shame, identity, and the emotional weight of constantly feeling misunderstood. Kendall also vulnerably shares experiences surrounding purity culture, sexual assault, and the pressure many people feel to hide parts of themselves in order to fit in. Throughout the episode, Kendall continually comes back to one powerful message: people are often carrying far more than we realize. This conversation is emotional, honest, and deeply human. Topics discussed:  • Adult autism diagnosis  • High-masking autism in women  • ADHD and neurodivergence  • Sensory struggles and masking  • Purity culture and shame  • Sexual assault  • Identity and authenticity  • Feeling misunderstood Connect with Kendall:  Instagram: @kendallmariah  Website: kendallmariah.com Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    23 min

  3. May 26

    Ep 031: Kendall Mariah: The Questions I Was Never Supposed to Ask, Part 1

    Send a Message to Kelsey What happens when faith no longer feels simple? In this conversation, Kendall Mariah opens up about the tension of deeply loving God while struggling with parts of Christian culture that often leave little room for honesty, grief, mental health struggles, or difficult questions. Kendall shares how infertility, anxiety, internal conflict, and years of wrestling quietly with her own thoughts pushed her into asking deeper questions about faith, identity, and what it really means to follow Jesus. Together, we talk about church hurt, political division within Christianity, deconstruction, and why so many people silently feel disconnected while still desperately wanting to hold onto their faith. Kendall also shares why she believes questions are not proof of weak faith, but often evidence that someone still deeply cares. This conversation is thoughtful, vulnerable, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever wrestled with belief, disappointment, or the fear of asking difficult questions out loud. Topics discussed: • Faith and deconstruction • Church hurt and Christian culture • Mental health and infertility • Asking difficult questions • Rebuilding faith • Politics and Christianity • Doubt and belief coexisting Connect with Kendall: Instagram: @kendallmariah Website: kendallmariah.com Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    29 min

  4. May 19

    Ep 030: Malaysia Harrell: “Your Story Wasn’t for You”, Part 2

    Send a Message to Kelsey In Part 2 of this conversation, Malaysia Harrell shares how her healing journey, faith, and spiritual growth inspired the work she does today helping other women step into alignment and purpose. Malaysia opens up about writing her book, God Has My Six, and the realization that her story was meant to encourage and impact others walking through their own difficult seasons. She also reflects on the lessons she learned through adversity, the importance of surrender, and how she now helps women reconnect with themselves and their calling. Throughout the episode, Malaysia discusses: • Healing and personal transformation • Learning to surrender control • Rebuilding after difficult seasons • Faith, spirituality, and alignment • Trusting intuitive nudges • The power of purpose and impact • Supporting high-achieving women through transformation This conversation is reflective, encouraging, and filled with perspective for anyone navigating change, uncertainty, or personal growth. Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    23 min

  5. May 12

    Ep 029: Malaysia Harrell: The Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything, Part 1

    Send a Message to Kelsey Malaysia Harrell is a Board-Certified Psychotherapist, Spiritual Transformation Coach, Author of God Has My Six, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Founder of the Align Success Academy, and Founder and President of the Malaysia Harrell Foundation. In Part 1 of this conversation, Malaysia shares the experiences that shaped her journey, including childhood adversity, military service, and the near-death medical experience that completely changed the way she viewed success, purpose, faith, and healing. She reflects on the pressure many people feel to keep pushing forward while carrying challenges privately, and how her life experiences ultimately led her toward a deeper sense of alignment and purpose. Malaysia also shares what it was like serving during the height of COVID as the lead mental health provider in the Navajo Nation before later facing the medical crisis that became a major turning point in her life. This episode explores: • Redefining success and purpose • Healing through faith and surrender • Spiritual growth and intuition • Resilience through difficult seasons • The importance of alignment and authenticity • Finding meaning through life’s challenges Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    29 min

  6. May 5

    Ep 028: Jacqueline Diaz-Fontana: Finding Purpose in the Pain, Part 2

    Send a Message to Kelsey Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Part 2 continues Jacqueline’s story, moving into what came after the loss. She shares what those months really looked like, the anger, the grief, and the weight of unanswered questions. The parts people don’t always see or talk about. After months of carrying that weight, she reached a breaking point. Jacqueline opens up about the moment she prayed for the first time again, and how that moment shifted something in her. What followed was a clear sense of direction she believes God placed on her heart. From that place, she began to rebuild, eventually creating something to help others walking through similar pain. In Part 2, she shares: • What those first months of grief really felt like • The weight of anger, guilt, and unanswered questions • The moment she turned back to faith • How that moment began to shift her perspective • How the foundation started • What people often misunderstand about depression • What she wants others to hear if they are struggling This is a conversation about grief, but also about what can come from it. Jacqueline is the founder of the Erick A. Garcia You Are Enough Foundation, created in honor of her son to bring awareness, support, and resources to individuals and families impacted by mental health struggles and suicide loss. 🔗 Learn more or support her work: https://www.youareenoughfoundation.org/ If you or someone you know is in immediate need of support, call or text 988 in the U.S. Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    20 min

  7. Apr 28

    Ep 027: Jacqueline Diaz-Fontana: Losing Her Son, Erick, Part 1

    Send a Message to Kelsey Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. This is a heavy conversation. Jacqueline opens up about a topic that isn’t often talked about, but needs to be. She shares about her son, Erick, who she lost to suicide in 2017. Not just what happened, but who he was, what their relationship looked like, and what it’s like to live with the kind of loss that changes everything. There are questions that come with this kind of grief. Questions about what was missed, what could have been different, and how something like this happens. Jacqueline speaks to those openly, in a way that many people are afraid to. In Part 1, she shares: • Who Erick was as a son and person • What life looked like before everything changed • What it felt like to receive that news • The early days of grief, shock, and disbelief • The questions that don’t have clear answers • What she wishes she had understood about mental health This is not an easy conversation, but it’s an important one. Jacqueline is the founder of the Erick A. Garcia You Are Enough Foundation, created in honor of her son to bring awareness, support, and resources to individuals and families impacted by mental health struggles and suicide loss. 🔗 Learn more or get involved: https://www.youareenoughfoundation.org/ If you or someone you know is in immediate need of support, call or text 988 in the U.S. Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    27 min

  8. Apr 21

    Ep 026: Gina Litvack: Promise Me You’ll Keep Him Loved and Safe, Part 2

    Send a Message to Kelsey This is Part 2 of Gina Litvack’s story. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I recommend starting there. After years of being told no while pursuing adoption as a single woman, Gina finally stepped into the life she had been hoping for. In this episode, Gina shares what happened next. From the moment everything shifted, to navigating those first few days as a new mom, to bringing her son home, this part of her story captures the reality behind the moment she had waited so long for. She opens up about the emotions, the uncertainty, the support she experienced along the way, and the deep sense of gratitude she carries today. What you’ll hear in Part 2: • The moments leading up to bringing her son home • What those first days looked like as a new mom • The unexpected support she experienced along the way  • How her perspective on life and motherhood has shifted • The joy and meaning she carries today At the heart of this story is a reminder that the path may not look the way you expected, but it can still lead exactly where you’re meant to be. Every life has a story worth telling. Follow Unspoken Lives Podcast on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation. Visit unspokenlivespodcast.com and follow @unspokenlivespodcast on Instagram.

    23 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

Unspoken Lives Podcast shares extraordinary stories from everyday people, highlighting resilience, personal growth, and inspiring life lessons. Tune in for real conversations that uncover the moments that often go unseen. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kelsey Billingsley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unspoken Lives Podcast
  • Show Website
    Unspoken Lives Podcast

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