Hope Helps: Navigating Everyday Life

Faith. Hardship. Loneliness. On this episode of Hope Helps, Charly Burridge-Jones introduces three guests who are on three separate faith journeys. Cristina and Stephen, both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jaspreet—a Sikh activist—share the ups and downs of finding, following, rediscovering, and recommitting to their faith. Together the guests explore the full scope of faith journeys—including times when faith has empowered them as well as moments it nee...

Dancing. Singing. Midnight meals. Tropical Christmas mornings, holiday road trips, Father Christmas and… a barbecue? On this special festive episode of Hope Helps, host Charly Burridge-Jones shares magical Christmas traditions of UK residents from around the world. Featured guests Amy and Michael Morris recount the remarkable story of how their family grew from zero to seven children overnight—just in time for Christmas! Although it’s said to be the most wonderful time of the year...

“We don’t live in isolated communities,” says civil service worker Mamataj Begum. We meet different people all around us, whether at work, school, sporting events, or simply walking down the street. As society becomes increasingly divided, collaboration with others becomes increasingly valuable. Ben Shapiro is a six-year employee of the interfaith charity, the Faith and Belief Forum. He describes the power people have to dispel stereotypes and solve societal problems when they work together a...

For professional storyteller Darren Hill, life is a pilgrimage. “It’s a journey which has a beginning… an end, and the middle bit.” Darren’s “middle bit” includes prestigious theatrical training and a career he loves. However, it began with the challenge of dyslexia and facing opposition while pursuing his storytelling dreams. He believes overcoming life’s obstacles is possible through stubbornness, determination, humility and listening to others. “I’ve met people from all cultures and ages t...

Grief after losing a loved one—though devastating—is felt by many. Richard Auger and Camilla McNally came to understand this pain first-hand after unexpected tragedy struck their lives. While their personal stories are different, both beautifully convey how faith in Christ enabled them to overcome grief. Focusing on prayer, service and self-compassion has the power to displace confusion, bitterness, and sorrow with comfort, hope, and healing. Richard and Camilla, both members of The Chur...

Peter and Alexandra Mackenzie Johns met at age 16 and dated for a few years before serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and going their separate ways. After eight years, they reconnected and realized they were perfect for each other. During their ten-year marriage, they have lived and worked in Jersey, India, and soon, Jordan. Alex and Pete regularly trade off the roles of child caretaker and breadwinner as they care for each other’s interests and health. ...

Lola Ogunbote was only 14 years old when she had an experience with racism that changed her life forever. Lola is a black woman, football coach, activist, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Regular encounters with racism do not stop her from pursuing her dreams. She is a firm believer that in order to build bridges and eliminate injustice, we must learn to love each other in the way that Jesus Christ loves each of us.As brothers and sisters in Christ, it is our dut...

This week on Hope Helps, Charly Burridge-Jones speaks with Felicity and Ben Munzer, a newlywed couple living in England. They assert that the ideal marriage is 1+1=3, where two individuals join together to create something greater than themselves. Ben and Felicity know that they have found a relationship that has clicked into place, and that with persistent effort and care for each other, their marriage will last a lifetime and beyond.

In this episode of Hope Helps, Tom Christofferson and Arteh Odjidja reflect on how we can affirm ourselves in Christ. As members of the LGBTQ+ community, they share their common life experiences on being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how we can reach out and love those around us.Tom is the author of inspirational books, That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith & Family and A Better Heart: The Impact of Christ’s Pure Love. Arteh is an award-w...

Kristen Metzger, a singer, actress, director, and more takes time to truly connect with an exceptional group of people. What makes these people so unique? They are the last colony of lepers that were exiled to the island of Molokai, Hawaii. In this episode of Hope Helps, Charly Burridge-Jones and her guest, Kristen Metzger, speak about how each of us can reach out to others who are struggling with hardships and difficulties, in a loving and uplifting manner.Charly and Kristen talk about the b...