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What if the most difficult chapters of your life were actually preparing you for unexpected gifts?

In this moving episode of Hope Comes to Visit, award-winning writer Maria de los Angeles shares how caring for her parents with Alzheimer’s taught her the very resilience, humility, and compassion she would later need to face her own esophageal cancer diagnosis.

Maria speaks candidly about the sacred and heartbreaking realities of caregiving — from changing her parents’ diapers to sitting with the grief of loss. “It was the most beautiful and hardest thing I would ever do,” she reflects, opening a window of wisdom for anyone navigating elder care.

Her journey also weaves through sobriety, relapse, and return to recovery — revealing how healing is rarely linear, but always worth it. And even in the midst of cancer treatment, Maria carries astonishing perspective: “I am not the symptom,” she says, describing how she talks to her tumor and continues to find moments of joy.

Perhaps most inspiring is Maria’s embrace of midlife transformation. “Menopause was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she declares. For her, the fifties have become a season of unapologetic honesty and fierce clarity about what matters most.

This conversation culminates with Maria reading her breathtaking poem “Spoonfuls,” a tender reflection on feeding her mother during her final days — a moment that crystallizes the circular nature of care and the hidden gifts within life’s hardest seasons.

Connect with Maria on her newsletter - https://www.heartcenteredliving.news/newsletter

And everywhere else you can find her.

You can also support Maria in her cancer journey here. 

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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Grief doesn’t end with goodbye. For many, it’s followed by a quiet, exhausting weight no one talks about — the paperwork, the phone calls, the endless “to-do’s” that come when your heart has already been broken.

When Adria Ferrier lost her mother after a five-year battle with cancer, she not only faced the deep ache of missing her, but also the overwhelming burden of navigating the practical aftermath. From transferring accounts to hours on hold with companies that had no clear process, she found herself spending precious time and energy on logistics when all she wanted was space to grieve.

That tender, painful season became the seed for something extraordinary. Adria left her career in finance to create Elayne — a company reimagining how families walk through the days and months after loss. Named for its meaning, “a ray of light through the clouds,”  (and the very way she sees her mother now) Elayne helps families handle the countless details of death with compassion, clarity, and care.

Her work is rooted in love — for her mother, for the families she serves, and for the belief that no one should carry both heartbreak and bureaucracy alone.

In this conversation on Hope Comes to Visit, Adria shares her story with honesty and gentleness. She reminds us that while death and grief touch everyone, there is also space for light, for dignity, and, with the right help - the possibility of making one of life’s hardest transitions just a little softer.

You can learn more about Elayne here.

And you can connect with Adria here on LinkedIn.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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“Hope has to evolve and change.”

These powerful words shaped the extraordinary journey of Martha Sharkey, Founder & CEO of Today is a Good Day — a nonprofit creating a lifeline for families navigating the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

When Martha and her husband, Paul, welcomed identical twin daughters at just 23 weeks, their world turned upside down. Claire weighed barely over a pound. Mary, only slightly more. Two weeks later, they faced the devastating loss of Mary, while continuing to fight alongside Claire through 103 days in intensive care before she finally came home.

That experience revealed a critical gap in support for NICU families: emotional guidance, practical resources, and community connection during one of life’s most isolating challenges. Out of that gap, Today is a Good Day was born.

Over the past 11 years, the organization has grown from basement operations into partnerships with 24 hospitals across seven states. Through care packages, “Navigate the NICU” sessions, direct financial support, and a robust online community, Martha and her team provide what she once longed for: comfort, connection, and the reminder that families are not alone.

Martha’s story is one of resilience, loss, and transformation — but also of hope that shifts and adapts as life unfolds. Her family’s mantra of “one day at a time” offers profound wisdom not just for NICU parents, but for anyone facing uncertainty.

In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Martha reminds us that even in the darkest places, a small gesture — a journal, a milestone card, a bonding square — can carry the light forward.

You can lern more about Today is a Good Day right here. 

You can also connect with Martha on LinkedIn.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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What would your life look like if you used every single second with intention?

This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by Donald L. Dowridge Jr., a man who embodies resilience, purpose, and what it truly means to live with hope.

Donald’s early childhood was filled with pain most couldn’t imagine — abuse, neglect, and words no child should ever hear. But instead of allowing his past to define him, Donald chose to carve out a future rooted in service, courage, and determination.

After serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and breaking barriers at the Tampa Post Office, Donald discovered his calling almost by accident — when his fifth-grade son asked him to speak to his class. That one moment opened the door to his life’s mission: motivating and empowering others.

Today, Donald is the founder of DLD Enterprises, the author of 14 books (including The Power of Being a Winner, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller in five languages), and a dynamic motivational speaker known for his “unorthodox” style that blends music, dance, and passionate storytelling.

His message is simple yet profound: We each receive 86,400 seconds every day. What will you do with yours?

Donald’s journey is proof that:

• Your past does not determine your destiny.
• Fear and doubt often guard the doorway to your greatest achievements.
• Hope and purpose are choices you can make every single day.

This conversation is filled with energy, wisdom, and inspiration. Donald challenges us not to waste our days on “I would have, should have, could have” — but to live boldly, with hope, and with no regrets.

Connect with Donald on his website: DLT Enterprises.

And on Social - Instagram, Twitter and  on LinkedIn.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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What if the darkest moments of your life were actually preparing you for your greatest transformation?

In this week’s episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I sit down with Valerie Rowekamp, whose story is a breathtaking testament to resilience, audacity, and the power of refusing to give up on hope.

Valerie’s journey began in crisis: at just 22 weeks pregnant, her water broke, and doctors offered little optimism for her son, Rex, who was also facing multiple heart defects. Against all medical odds, Valerie carried him for nine more weeks. She remembers telling doctors, “We don’t have time for realistic here. This is my child.”

That fierce audacity carried her through five heart surgeries for Rex — who today is thriving, a living embodiment of what Valerie calls “hope personified.”

But Valerie’s transformation didn’t stop there. At 42, she turned the same tenacity inward, reinventing her life in remarkable ways. She lost 70 pounds, became a fashion model walking runways, and embraced a bold new identity as Vivi Chantal — a woman who radiates self-belief and possibility.

Her philosophy is simple yet profound: “Dress the part first. Romanticize your life. Stop waiting to be complete — evolution is the work of living.”

This episode is a reminder that:

• Hope whispers even when logic shouts.
• Reinvention is always possible — at any age, in any circumstance.
• Audacity — the refusal to tell yourself no — may just be the key to transformation.

Valerie’s story will inspire you to dream bigger, live bolder, and trust your own inner knowing.

 Listen to the full episode here

And Connect with Valerie Here:

Instagram - Charmed Valerie

YouTube - Charmed Valerie

TikTok - Charmed Valerie

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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What happens when life breaks open in every direction? For Aimee Kandrac, it all came crashing down in a six-week period — empty nesting, a cancer scare, the end of her 23-year marriage, and selling her dream home. But from that breaking point came something extraordinary: “Amy 2.0.”

In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Aimee shares how she rebuilt her life with new boundaries, deeper self-knowledge, and a joy her own friends and family had never seen before. As CEO and co-founder of What Friends Do, Aimee also brings hard-won wisdom about how we show up for each other in times of crisis. Because when we let others in — when we accept help as much as we give it — we create the kind of connection that heals us all.

This is a story of transformation, community, and the gold that can mend our broken places.

Connect with Aimee here on her website: AimeeKandrac.com, on What Friends Do, and of course on her social channel - LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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“You were the most chosen.”

These are the words Miranda Ward spoke to her son after he learned he was conceived through sexual assault. In this week’s episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Miranda shares her extraordinary journey from a moment of unthinkable violation to building a life defined by fierce love, protection, and healing.

With courage, strategy, and an unshakable belief in her intuition, Miranda navigated a system that was never designed to protect her — enduring years of legal battles and threats while raising her son as a solo parent. Today, she’s not only created a safe, loving home, but she’s also turned her experience into wisdom as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, helping others understand their own patterns of connection, disconnection, and healing.

This is a story about reclaiming power, reshaping destiny, and proving that love can transcend trauma.

Connect with Miranda via her Therapy Website: The Clarity Group

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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What happens when you set out on an 86-mile journey with no athletic background, no clear “why,” and only three days to complete it?

For Ian Hawkins — Speaking and Storytelling Coach at Netflix — the answer was far more than sore feet.

In this conversation, Ian shares his whirlwind trek along the historic Pilgrim’s Way from London to Canterbury Cathedral — a pilgrimage that most take a week to complete, but he compressed into just 72 hours. Along the trail, blistered and battling rain, Ian unexpectedly found himself face-to-face with unprocessed grief over his father’s death and childhood trauma.

With nowhere to hide, the miles became a space for deep reckoning — and a powerful reminder that we each have the ability to become the author of our own story. Ian also unpacks his three-part storytelling framework — crisis, decision, and resolution — and how it applies to everything from personal healing to leading change in organizations.

Whether you’re navigating your own uncharted territory or curious about the intersection of story and transformation, Ian’s journey is proof that the path forward often begins with the courage to take the first step.

Connect with Ian on his website.

And on LinkedIn: Ian Hawkins.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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Grief shatters us in ways we never imagine possible until we're standing in its wreckage. 

When Marty died suddenly, almost 2 years ago, on August 13, 2023, I found myself navigating the rawest form of pain while thousands of miles away in Greece with my children. The frantic journey home, the 17 days by his hospital bed, and the impossible decision to let him go fundamentally altered who I am.

Grief doesn't follow stages or timelines. 

Grief needs witnesses, not wisdom; space, not sermons.

Through this experience, I've discovered that grief carves out places within us we never knew existed—spaces that can eventually be filled with new forms of love and purpose. The loss that broke me also built the foundation for who I've become. It led me to my fiancé James, a love that wouldn't have been possible without everything I walked through first. For anyone currently drowning in grief, please know this isn't the end of your story. 

Hope returns, not as a roar but as a whisper, a flicker, a reminder that pain transforms but doesn't define us. 

You're not broken—you're human, and you are not alone. There is life after grief, not in spite of it, but because of it.

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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What happens when your world breaks open… and you find a way to keep breathing anyway?

In this deeply moving episode of Hope Comes to Visit, Danielle sits down with writer, speaker, and bold belief builder Kim Moldofsky, whose life changed forever after the loss of her son Isaac to suicide five years ago. Together, they explore the layered terrain of grief, motherhood, identity, and rebuilding — not with false positivity, but with grace, honesty, and deep reverence for what it means to be human.

Kim shares her path through profound sorrow into meaningful service — creating Scrappy Affirmations, launching Craft Your Life, and hosting storytelling gatherings that shine light on topics often kept in the shadows, like death, menopause, and midlife transformation.

This conversation is an invitation to normalize grief, unmask perfection, and reimagine how we honor the stories that shape us. It’s a tender, soulful offering for anyone navigating loss, healing, or the search for purpose on the other side of pain.

Because even in heartbreak, hope can still come to visit.

Connect with Kim here:

Scrappy Affirmations

Kim's book - It's Her Story - Amelia Earhart - A Graphic Novel

Let's Eat Cookies and Talk about Death

I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today.

If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit