When Dan Nichols and his wife Joy discovered at their 20-week ultrasound that their unborn son had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, their world was turned upside down. What followed was a journey through three open-heart surgeries before kindergarten, two terrifying moments when baby Landon flatlined, and a profound deepening of faith that continues to shape Dan's ministry today. In this powerful conversation, Dan opens up about wrestling with God in hospital, rejecting the prosperity gospel's false promises, and learning to trust God's heart when you can't trace His hand.

Beyond his personal story, Dan shares his passion for church unity through Northeast Collaborative, a regional network bringing pastors and denominations together in the most unchurched corner of America. He discusses his Making Scripture Simple book series designed to help children engage deeply with God's Word, and reflects on how suffering has transformed him into a more empathetic leader. Whether you're walking through your own valley or simply want to hear an honest conversation about faith, doubt, and God's unfailing presence, this episode will encourage and challenge you.

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Former attorney Lara Silverman's life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious neurological illness forced her from the courtroom to being bedridden for years. After trying 150 treatments across eight years without success, Lara has had to wrestle with questions most Christians never face: What if God calls you to accept suffering instead of healing? In this raw and honest conversation, Lara shares how her theology was completely reshaped by chronic illness, and how meeting Matt, a youth leader with terminal cancer, led to an unexpected love story and one precious year of marriage before his death.

This isn't a story of neat endings or miraculous healing. Lara still spends 65% of her days bedridden with debilitating vertigo. Yet she's written a bestselling book, "Singing Through Fire," that offers hope from inside the flames rather than from the other side. With the heart of a comedian and the mind of a lawyer, Lara challenges prosperity gospel thinking while revealing how God gives unexpected gifts, music, creativity, and deep joy, even when He doesn't give the healing we desperately pray for. Her story is for anyone who has felt betrayed by unanswered prayer or wondered why good theology doesn't always translate to an easy faith journey.

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Dr. Oluwole Babatunde's story is one of extraordinary resilience and purpose. After losing both parents by age 13 in Nigeria, he could have let tragedy define him, but instead, he chose to adapt. Now a physician scientist, psychiatry resident, and author, Dr. Babatunde has turned his pain into a powerful mission to serve others and reduce mental health disparities.

In this conversation, Dr. Babatunde shares the principles that carried him through unimaginable loss, including his MAP-LAMP framework for turning trials into triumphs. From the power of making meaning in suffering to the importance of serving others in our pain, his wisdom offers practical hope for anyone facing difficulty. His new book, Adapt and Advance, provides a faith-based, step-by-step guide to navigating life's storms, not just surviving them, but using them as stepping stones to something greater.

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Fletch Wiley's story is one of relentless divine pursuit. From a drug-addicted jazz musician who wanted nothing to do with Christianity to a Grammy-nominated producer and writer, his transformation is remarkable. He shares vivid memories of being chased down by God in a Tulsa hotel room, experiencing instant deliverance from addiction, and miraculous healing that confirmed his new faith. His journey took him from playing alongside legends like Doc Severinsen to spending years as Andrae Crouch's trumpet player during the groundbreaking days of contemporary Christian music.

In this conversation, Fletch opens up about traveling to 13 countries in recent years with his wife, playing music on streets from Turkey to India, and encouraging volunteer musicians around the world. He offers fascinating insights into the early Jesus movement, the wild west days of Christian music at events like Explo 72, and why he believes every musical style can be used to glorify God. His passion for worship through music remains as fresh today as it was when he first encountered Jesus over 50 years ago.

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In this powerful conversation, Stacey Womack shares her 25-year journey helping survivors of domestic violence through Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services (ARMS). What began as an unexpected calling has grown into a ministry that has brought healing to over 55,000 women. Stacey opens up about the many forms abuse can take beyond physical violence, why churches often struggle to address this issue, and how faith communities can better support survivors. She also discusses the challenging but hopeful work of helping abusers change their behavior patterns.

This episode explores the complex dynamics of abusive relationships, including why survivors often return to familiar patterns and how belief systems perpetuate abuse. Stacey shares inspiring stories of transformation, both from women who have reclaimed their lives and men who have learned what love truly means. Whether you're a survivor, know someone in an abusive relationship, or are a faith leader wanting to better serve your community, this conversation offers practical wisdom, hope, and resources for creating lasting change.

In this compelling episode, former Navy chaplain Greg Woodard reveals why brilliant leaders burn out and how to lead from authentic calling rather than external pressure. Drawing from 22 years of military service, including time as the sole spiritual care provider for 800 naval personnel during deployment, Greg shares the four essential rhythms, spiritual, physical, relational, and emotional, that kept him resilient in high-stress environments. He challenges the toxic "burnout for Jesus" mentality that has plagued Christian leadership for generations.

Greg's book, "Leadership from Within: Navigating the Path Towards Soul-Driven Success," offers a permission slip for faith-driven leaders to prioritize holistic self-care without guilt. He unpacks the critical difference between leading from overflow versus depletion, explains why character must match charisma for long-term success, and helps leaders rediscover their identity as God's beloved before they are ministry professionals. Whether you're a pastor feeling the weight of congregational expectations or a leader struggling to maintain boundaries, this conversation provides practical wisdom for sustainable, soul-driven leadership that honours both mission and humanity.

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John Fela is an educator, author, and passionate advocate who calls himself the Swiss army knife of disability advocacy. As the father of a non-verbal son with autism, John brings a deeply personal and professional perspective to his work bridging faith-based and secular communities around disability awareness and inclusion. In this episode, John shares his journey from confusion and loss in the early days of his son's diagnosis to building a life of purpose, community, and ultimately, faith. He opens up about the heartbreaking decision to place his son in residential care, the power of finding genuine support systems, and what led him to Jesus during his darkest season.

John's conversation goes far beyond personal narrative. He challenges churches and faith communities to examine their theology around disability and move from mere inclusion to true acceptance and co-laboring. With only 1 in 10 churches in the United States offering any form of support for people with disabilities, John's insights about what families truly need, and how communities can provide it, are both convicting and hopeful. Whether you're a parent navigating disability, a church leader looking to expand your welcome, or simply someone wanting to understand this often-misunderstood community, this episode will shift your perspective and challenge you to see people, not just disabilities.

Lisa Haynes had climbed to the top of the corporate ladder as a CFO, but when God began stirring her heart toward something new, she made the bold decision to walk away from success as the world defines it. In this conversation, Lisa shares how she transitioned from corporate leadership to becoming a certified retirement coach and author of two powerful books: "Retired and Killin’ It" and "The Storm: For Your Good and For His Glory."

Lisa offers a fresh perspective on retirement that goes far beyond financial planning. She discusses how to combat feelings of invisibility and uselessness that many face in their later years, emphasizing that decades of accumulated wisdom and experience are exactly what younger generations need. Her "Killin’ It" framework helps people design holistic retirement plans that address not just finances, but the social, psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of this significant life transition. She also opens up about writing "The Storm" during one of her family's most difficult seasons, offering hope and practical wisdom for anyone navigating trials, grief, or uncertainty about God's purposes in hardship.

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In this compelling episode of Bleeding Daylight, host Rodney Olsen sits down with Scott Fehrenbacher, a visionary leader who has spent his career proving that faith and innovation are not just compatible, they're essential partners. As CEO of Worship Road Radio Foundation, Scott has built Canada's fastest-growing Christian broadcaster using a revolutionary model that prioritises listener experience. His journey spans multiple industries, from leading NASDAQ-traded companies to serving as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Vancouver, and playing a pivotal role in transforming Grand Canyon University from a small school of under 1,000 students into the world's largest Christian university.

Scott challenges the common perception that Christians are always behind the technological curve, arguing instead that believers should be at the forefront of innovation. Through candid discussion, he shares insights from his pioneering work in digital ministry, beginning in the early days of the internet when he helped create what became the largest faith-based destination on the web. His philosophy centres on having dreams so audacious that they require divine intervention to succeed, and his practical wisdom offers a roadmap for anyone seeking to innovate for the sake of the gospel while maintaining biblical foundations.

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In this deeply moving episode, J. Harrington shares her journey from devastating loss to powerful purpose. As a military spouse, J. faced the unimaginable when the Holy Spirit warned her she wouldn't keep her unborn son during Hurricane Florence. Through raw honesty, she describes her hospital experience, the reality of spiritual warfare, and her season of "rage praying" while staying close to God despite her anger.

J.'s story reveals how our greatest pain can become our most powerful ministry. Her loss transformed her into the person God needed her to be, ultimately leading her to writing "Swords Up," a Bible study that helps others understand spiritual warfare and use God's armour as both protection and weapon. Her transparent account of grief, faith, and divine purpose offers hope to anyone walking through their own dark seasons, showing that even in our anger and confusion, God's love remains constant, and His plans unfold for our good and His glory.