Why I Believe

Michelle Von Ruden
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

Why I Believe is a faith-centered podcast sharing real stories of transformation, modern miracles, and lived encounters with God. Through a blend of solo reflections and honest conversations with others whose lives have been changed, host Michelle Von Ruden creates a safe, welcoming space for curiosity, questions, and faith rediscovery. This podcast exists to bring people closer to God, whether you're just beginning your journey, rebuilding after distance, or seeking to strengthen your relationship with Him. Rooted in Matthew 5:16, Why I Believe shines light through authentic stories so God may be glorified, and hearts may be drawn closer to Him.

  1. 4d ago

    Faithful Friday S2E6: Are You Living the Prayer You Pray?

    We know the words. But are we living them? In Matthew 6:8–13, Jesus gives us the words of the Lord's Prayer. Your will be done. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us as we forgive others. Lead us away from temptation. They're words many of us have prayed hundreds—or even thousands—of times. But today, instead of simply reciting them, we're going to slow down and consider what they're asking of us. Which part of the Lord's Prayer do you need to live out today? Spend a few moments in Scripture, reflection, and prayer. Ask God what He wants you to understand, where He is calling you to grow, and what step He wants you to take next. Then listen. 📖 Scripture: Matthew 6:8–13 🎙️ Faithful Friday is available as part of the Why I Believe podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

  2. 6d ago

    Lisa Andreas: I Chose to Heal

    You can believe in God your entire life and still reach a point when you have to choose what that relationship is really going to look like. Recorded LIVE at OneFest, my friend Lisa joins me to share a vulnerable story of faith, marriage, divorce, healing, and learning what it meant to truly lean into her relationship with Christ. Lisa grew up in the church. She went to youth group. She prayed. She believed. But when her marriage became difficult, she found herself asking a much deeper question: Was I really all in? As Lisa navigated the end of a nearly 20-year marriage, she wrestled with what divorce meant for her faith, her identity, and her relationship with God. And then she heard a message she desperately needed: God does not hate the divorced. Healing didn't happen overnight. Lisa had to decide whether she would live in fear, anger and blame—or take ownership, lean into God and heal. She chose to heal. Today, Lisa has remarried, and prayer has become one of the strongest parts of her new marriage. She and her husband pray together, pray for their children, pray for friends and even talk about how they can grow God's Kingdom together. In this conversation, Lisa also shares why Christian community mattered during her healing and why she needed people who wouldn't simply validate how she felt, but would continually point her back to Christ. Sometimes the question we need from a friend is simply: "Did you pray about that yet?" 🎙️ Listen to Lisa: I Chose to Heal, recorded live at OneFest, on the Why I Believe podcast. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact.

  3. Oct 23

    Faithful Friday S2E5: God's Approval or People's Applause?

    Who are you trying to impress? In Matthew 6:1–4, Jesus challenges us to look beyond what we do and examine why we do it. Are we giving, serving, and doing good because we want to honor God? Or are we hoping someone notices? Jesus reminds us that our faith isn't meant to be performed for recognition. God sees what happens when no one else is watching. In this week's Faithful Friday, spend a few moments in Scripture, reflection, and prayer as you sit with this question: Am I seeking God's approval or people's applause? Ask God what He wants you to understand, where He is calling you to grow, and what step He wants you to take next. Then listen. 📖 Scripture: Matthew 6:1–4 🎙️ Faithful Friday is available as part of the Why I Believe podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

  4. Oct 21

    Dr. Michael Baglino: When God Has to Shout

    Sometimes God speaks quietly. And sometimes He has to get our attention. Dr. Michael Baglino calls those moments "spiritual lightning." Michael grew up Catholic but, like many people, found himself drifting away from fully living his faith. Then, at 75 years old, everything changed. A stroke revealed that his carotid artery was 98% blocked. He needed immediate surgery. Then came another stroke. A heart valve replacement. And another warning that eventually led to a pacemaker. Three strikes of what Michael calls spiritual lightning. Each one brought him closer to God. Today, at 82, Michael says he doesn't simply go to church—his Catholic faith has become his lifestyle. Mass, Communion, Confession, the Rosary, prayer, community, and praying for others have become part of how he lives every day. But Michael's story doesn't stop there. Years earlier, while visiting Vatican City, Michael found himself in St. Peter's Square on the day Pope John Paul II was shot—and actually began running after the man he believed was responsible before realizing the danger he was putting himself in. He also shares about seeing the Pope the year before, visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe, spending quiet mornings alone inside the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the experiences that continued shaping his faith throughout his life. Through it all, Michael has one message: Don't wait until God has to shout. Listen now. Know Him. Love Him. Serve Him. And follow Jesus as closely as you can. 🎙️ Listen to Dr. Michael Baglino: When God Has to Shout on the Why I Believe podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. You can reach Dr. Michael Baglino at Dr.Michael J. Baglino | LinkedIn Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

  5. Oct 16

    Faithful Friday S2E4: Who Is God Asking You to Love?

    Jesus tells us to love our neighbors. That part can feel easy. But then He goes further: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this week's Faithful Friday, we continue through the Gospel of Matthew with Matthew 5:43–48 and one of Jesus' most challenging teachings. Loving someone who has hurt us isn't easy. Forgiving someone who has wronged us isn't easy. Praying for someone we'd rather avoid certainly isn't easy. But Jesus calls us to love differently. So as you spend a few moments in Scripture, reflection, and prayer this week, sit with this question: Who is God asking you to love, forgive, or pray for? Ask Him what He wants you to understand, where He is calling you to grow, and what step He wants you to take next. Then listen. 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:43–48 🎙️ Faithful Friday is available as part of the Why I Believe podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

  6. Oct 14

    Jeff Achen: Let God Surprise You

    What happens when you don't understand what God is doing, but choose to trust Him anyway? Jeff Achen has lived a lot of life. Raised Catholic, Jeff joined the Navy after high school, served aboard a guided missile cruiser, traveled to holy sites in Israel and Rome, served in the Peace Corps in Nepal, became a journalist, and eventually built his own business. Through each chapter, his faith remained a foundation. But today, Jeff is walking through one of the most painful seasons of his life: divorce. In this episode of Why I Believe, Jeff shares honestly about grief, unanswered prayers, seeing his children only half the time, and learning that trusting God doesn't always mean understanding why something happened. He also shares the moments when God has reminded him that He is still there, from unexpected financial provision at exactly the right time to hearing his 11-year-old son pray over him when he needed it most. And when Jeff found himself wrestling with whether his anger was justified, one verse in James gave him an answer he wasn't expecting. Through military service, loss, uncertainty, and healing, Jeff has learned something: Sometimes you have to trust God when it doesn't make sense... and let Him surprise you. In this episode, we talk about: 🙏 Faith during military service 🙏 How life experiences can mature our relationship with God 🙏 Navigating divorce and grief with faith 🙏 Trusting God when prayers aren't answered the way we hoped 🙏 Recognizing God speaking through other people 🙏 God's provision in unexpected moments 🙏 Righteous anger, forgiveness, mercy, and grace 🙏 Learning to surrender when we don't understand Jeff reminds us that God may not answer on our timeline, or in the way we expect. But He is still speaking. We just have to listen. 🎙️ Listen to Jeff Achen: Let God Surprise You on the Why I Believe podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. You can reach Jeff Achen at Jeff Achen | LinkedIn Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

  7. Oct 9

    Faithful Friday S2E3: How Can You Reflect Christ's Light?

    "You are the light of the world." — Matthew 5:14 In this week's Faithful Friday, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew with Matthew 5:13–16 — Salt and Light. Jesus reminds us that we aren't meant to hide the light we've been given. We are called to let it shine. Not so that the attention points back to us, but so that through our lives, our words, our actions, and the way we love others, people can see something different—and ultimately see Him. This week's reflection question is: How can I reflect Christ's light to someone this week? Maybe it's through an encouraging word. An act of kindness. Forgiveness. Serving someone who needs help. Or simply being fully present with someone who needs to know they aren't alone. Pause. Pray. Listen. Then ask God: What do You want me to understand? Where are You calling me to grow? What step do You want me to take next? 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:13–16 Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact.

  8. Oct 7

    Philippa Channer: God Is the CEO

    What if God isn't simply part of your business; what if He's the CEO? Philippa Channer is a wife, mom of three, business owner, and marketing strategist who helps female entrepreneurs think more strategically about growing their businesses. But behind her own strategy is a question she has learned to keep asking: God, what do You want me to do? Philippa's faith journey began when she was 11 years old after her family found a Baptist church willing to help with her brother's wedding. What began as a practical need became a church home, a community, and the place where Philippa began to understand that faith wasn't simply about going to church. She could have a relationship with Jesus. That foundation followed her into adulthood, marriage, motherhood, and eventually entrepreneurship. Today, Philippa is learning what it means to call herself the CEO on paper while recognizing that God is ultimately the One leading the business. In this episode of Why I Believe, we talk about: 🙏 Inviting God into business decisions 🙏 The difference between praying and actually listening 🙏 What to do when God doesn't answer on our timeline 🙏 Recognizing His answers when they come through other people 🙏 Asking for confirmation when you're unsure 🙏 Bringing biblical principles into business 🙏 Building authentic Christian community 🙏 Letting go of the expectation that following Jesus means living a perfect life Philippa compares prayer to making a phone call. Sometimes you leave the message... and you have to wait for the call back. His timing isn't always ours. But that doesn't mean He isn't listening. And sometimes the answer comes through a conversation, a sermon, a podcast, an opportunity, or another person saying exactly what you've been praying about. The question is: Are we listening closely enough to recognize it? 🎧 Listen to Philippa Channer: God Is the CEO wherever you get your podcasts. Real Stories. Real Faith. Real Impact. You can reach Phillipa Channer at Philippa Channer, MBA | LinkedIn Want to share your story? Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe. 👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply Ready to take the next step? If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden 👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called. You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes. God will meet you right where you are.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Why I Believe is a faith-centered podcast sharing real stories of transformation, modern miracles, and lived encounters with God. Through a blend of solo reflections and honest conversations with others whose lives have been changed, host Michelle Von Ruden creates a safe, welcoming space for curiosity, questions, and faith rediscovery. This podcast exists to bring people closer to God, whether you're just beginning your journey, rebuilding after distance, or seeking to strengthen your relationship with Him. Rooted in Matthew 5:16, Why I Believe shines light through authentic stories so God may be glorified, and hearts may be drawn closer to Him.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Von Ruden
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Why I Believe