For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re bringing you an encouraging survivor’s story from our Mountain Brook community. Kathryn Tortorici will remind you that the Lord knows your days and will equip you for what’s next.

Through her struggle with breast cancer, Kathryn says she learned to fully trust—and that it's possible to be full of tears and full of joy.

Plus, you’ll love hearing how Kathryn and a friend were diagnosed at the same time. Together, they developed a heart for God and a heart for others.

In this episode you will learn:

- Life is like a train track with trials and tribulations as the tracks, but it will take you to a destination.

Links:

Song: “Do I Trust You” by Twila Paris

Two by Two: Conversations Between Friends Navigating Breast Cancer by Kathryn Tortorici & Nancy Bynon

Listen to a similar story~ Jehan Corbin- Ep. 121: “Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Enough” and Lindy Walker- Ep. 13: “Surrender Her Agenda”

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Kathryn

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Where Are They Now with Lauren Beckner- Ep. 109: “Open Hands”

Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live’s weekly newsletter for updates!

We love adding communities to our StoryTellers Live circle! Today you’ll hear from our newest gathering near Atlanta, Georgia (West Cobb). Listen as Tamara Estes shares the challenging stories of losing both her son and her husband in separate instances. Grief, loss, and tragedy seemed commonplace in her world for many years.

But instead of living in a state of “why,” Tamara learned to trust and believe—and she always trusted in the Lord to provide. Ultimately, God was constant, and His promised presence made all the difference.

In this episode you will learn:

- It’s not our place to ask “why,” it’s our place to trust and believe. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

- God is always available as a constant strength for you.

- God never promised you an easy life, but He did promise He would walk with you and carry you when needed.

Links:

“Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns

Listen to a similar story~ Amy Grote- Ep. 20: “Healing Through Heartache- The Loss of A Child”

Stories about grief on Spotify

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including the Vestavia Live gathering with Kelly Connelly

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Tamara

Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live’s weekly newsletter for updates!

September is Addiction Awareness month, and today we bring you a story from Barbara Bice of our Montgomery community. Life took a sudden turn when her husband became addicted to cocaine after years of marriage. An era of hardship and heartache ensued for Barbara and her family.

Listen and be amazed to hear how, even while her husband journeyed to recovery, Barbara was on her own path to healing and forgiveness. She leaned into the Lord over the long haul, and He revealed deeper struggles and battles within her own soul. When life wasn’t pretty, Barbara learned to say, “His ways are not my ways.”

In this episode you will learn:

- Never let the giants in your life take away your hope!

- When in a crisis, focus on the “here and now” and avoid going down the “rabbit trails” that haven’t occurred.

- If you are in a dark place, just wait - God is still in the business of miracles!

Links:

Listen to a similar story on addiction~ Hope Aldred- Ep. 229: “Breathing In Faith- Trusting God Through A Spouse’s Addiction”

Addiction Playlist on Spotify

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Barbara

Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a bonus story out of our Statesboro community with Anna Claire Newman

Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live’s weekly newsletter for updates!

Are you curious about your faith? Lisa Fischer of our Fairhope community will encourage you to ask all the questions. Listen as she shares a hard but happy retelling of finding the Lord—in none other than a college biology class.

This story of curiosity and conversion starts with Lisa’s Jewish beginnings, and includes a childhood touched by tremendous trauma: alcoholism, addiction, divorce and loss.

In her dysfunctional family and dysfunctional life, Lisa longed to be known. Yet when she met Jesus, she discovered her name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and being known by Him was all she needed.

In this episode you will learn:

- God is always pursuing you and longs for you to have a relationship with Him.

- You are intimately known by God. (Psalm 139)

- As a child of God your sin is on the cross and behind you, and there is nothing you can do to separate yourself from the love of Christ!

Links:

Listen to a similar story~ Carol Bevil- Ep. 107: “A Jewish Heritage”

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Lisa

Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a Story Within the Story with Lisa Fischer!

Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live’s weekly newsletter for updates!

We're kicking off Season 8 with luncheon speaker and businesswoman Ellen Pursell of Pursell Farms! Listen as Ellen walks us through her up-and-down experiences with anorexia, diabetes, and difficult parenting—and proves that being filled with truth gets you through the trials of life. We can’t wait for you to hear how the Lord’s abiding presence refined Ellen’s character and built her faith.

In this episode, you will learn:

– If you allow God, He can use the challenging moments of your life as an opportunity to refine and shape you into the person God wants you to be.

– God’s Word will always shepherd you in trying times.

– Life can be extremely difficult, but God is always with you, showering you with His love and grace.

Links:

Listen to past storytellers from our Stories of Hope luncheon:

Lauren Sisler- Ep. 195: “No Shame in the Struggle”

Margot Shaw- Ep. 236: “Help Me Jesus”

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Ellen

Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content~ including a “Where Are They Now” episode with Courtney Golden (Episode 237: “Running From God”)

Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live’s weekly newsletter for updates!

On the StoryTellers Live podcast, everyday people share real and personal stories. Some stories are profound, challenging, and emotional, while others are more common and relatable, shared with honesty and humor. All of these stories reveal what God can do in our lives when we trust Him with the details.

And…. That’s a wrap! We cannot believe it, but season seven of the StoryTellers Live podcast has come to an end, and wow, are we thankful for the brave women who have shared in our communities?

In this special episode, Robyn, Katie, and Lindy reflect on all that God has done within the ministry this past season, share how particular stories increased their individual faiths, and let you in on what God has teed up for season eight. Listen and be encouraged in how God is using the simple power of story to tell others of His goodness. Plus… you don’t want to miss our annual blooper reel at the end!

REMINDER: This episode is a precursor to our annual two weeks of prayer and rest. For the next two Wednesdays, StoryTellers Live will be silent as we allow God to prepare our hearts and guide our steps for the new season. We will be back September 4th with storyteller Ellen Pursell as we kick off season eight!

Sajeda Wilson - Episode 268: “My Journey to Jesus- From Islam to Christianity”

Sally May - Episode 241: “God’s Perfect Detours”

Rekeshia Hudson - Episode 245: “Clinging to God’s Promises”

Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of all the past storytellers

Check out our When God Shows Up Bible study series

Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content

Many of our listeners want more from a story and long to continue the conversation. Today you’re getting a sample of just that! This free Patreon content is on us!

Listen and learn from former StoryTeller Sand Price of Homewood and her husband Oscar. The Lord has left His mark on their marriage, refining and redeeming them over decades of ups and downs. These days, the two teach and walk alongside other couples in their community. We can’t wait for you to be encouraged by Sand and Oscar!

Links:

Episode 232: Sand Price- “My Empty Nest Journey”

Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Sand and Oscar

Shop for the When God Shows Up Bible study series

Become a Patreon Insider to access more content, including a bonus story with Bren O’Rourke