Intrepid Storytelling

Intrepid Storytelling

By intrepidstorytellingSociety & CultureRelationshipsPersonal Journals
Download on the App Store

Intrepid Storytelling episodes

  • 23|It’s Okay to Be Lucky: Jose Moreno’s Story
    Is success a result of the "bootstrap" mentality, or is it simply the grace of being lucky?
     
    In this heartwarming and insightful episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with Jose Moreno, a high-level Public Relations executive who has navigated the high-stakes worlds of sports and politics. Jose pulls back the curtain on his "all-American" childhood in Anaheim, California, marked by the resilience of a single mother who left a respected but toxic father to give her children a better chance. Jose shares the raw reality of growing up in a multicultural melting pot where he learned early on to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves, a trait that led to multiple school suspensions but eventually paved the way for his career as a protector and advocate.
     
    Chapters:
    00:00 The Importance of Sharing Stories
    02:51 Childhood Experiences and Their Impact
    06:11 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth
    09:04 Professional Life and the Value of Giving Back
    15:05 Dealing with Mortality and Grief
    24:11 The Role of Therapy in Mental Health
    29:52 The Power of Vulnerability and Community Support
    36:10 Legacy and the Impact of Luck
    39:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
     
    Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling
     
    🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music
     
    Your story matters.
    If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]
     
    #IntrepidStorytelling #JoseMoreno #TrueStory #Philanthropy #Resilience #MentalHealthAwareness #SportsPR #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast
    47 min
  • 22|Traumatic Brain Injury & Unlocking True Happiness: Michelle Valley’s Story
    What if the brick wall you just hit isn't an end, but a beginning?
     
    In this deeply insightful episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell reconnects with her longtime friend and colleague, Michelle Valley. Michelle pulls back the curtain on a life defined by "Superwoman" tendencies—the habit of taking care of everyone else at the expense of herself. She shares the fascinating details of a childhood spent moving between Washington’s "Christmas Town USA" and England, a journey that forced her to "raise her father as much as he raised her." Michelle reflects on the collapse of a 17-year marriage that left her as a "zombie," and how she navigated the 2008 market crash while fighting a four-year custody battle with zero income.
     
    Connect with Michelle Valley:
    • Website: https://www.freedomcollaboration.com/about
    • Facebook: Michelle Valley - Freedom Collaboration
    • Facebook Group: Next Level Women's Circle
      • Chapters:
      00:00 Navigating Financial Challenges
      01:05 The Birth of Freedom Collaboration
      05:10 Childhood Influences and Family Dynamics
      09:55 Lessons from Relationships and Parenting
      15:07 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Strength
      19:54 The Journey to Financial Independence
      25:00 The Impact of Toxic Relationships
      30:05 Shifting from Victim to Empowered
      35:11 Personal Growth and Spiritual Awakening
      37:03 Transformative Experiences and Personal Growth
      39:04 Taking Responsibility and Ownership
      41:31 Energy Healing and Inner Reflection
      44:16 Life-Altering Events and Career Changes
      51:50 Navigating Challenges and Embracing Change
      56:52 Investing in Yourself and Finding Your Path
      01:01:10 Gratitude in Adversity and Personal Insights
      01:07:18 Understanding Abundance Beyond Finances
      01:10:09 Empowering Others Through Collaboration
       
      Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling
       
      🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music
       
      Your story matters.
      If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]
       
      #IntrepidStorytelling #MichelleValley #TraumaticBrainInjury #TrueStory #OvercomingAdversity #FreedomCollaboration #EntrepreneurMindset #PodcastYouTube #StorytellingPodcast
      1 hr 14 min
    • 21|From Dolphin Training to TEDx Stage: Erin Loman Jeck’s Story
      What if your greatest pain became your greatest purpose?

      In this powerful episode of Intrepid Storytelling, host Deanna Powell sits down with TEDx speaker, public speaking coach, and storytelling expert Erin Loman Jeck to share her deeply moving true story of resilience, grief, and transformation. From growing up in a small town in Idaho to training dolphins, Erin’s life took a heartbreaking turn after losing her father at age 10. Just years later, she faced another devastating challenge when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer—forcing Erin into an adult role far too soon. This raw and emotional conversation explores childhood trauma, loss of a parent, navigating grief, and the strength it takes to rise through adversity. Erin shares how she turned pain into purpose—becoming a world-renowned communication coach, helping others find their voice, and stepping onto the TEDx stage to inspire thousands.

      If you’re searching for inspirational stories, grief recovery, overcoming adversity, personal growth, mental health, or a real life story podcast about resilience and transformation—this episode will move you.

      ✨ Topics include: grief and loss, childhood trauma, resilience, personal growth, divorce, parenting, public speaking, storytelling, and finding your voice.

      👉 SUBSCRIBE to Intrepid Storytelling, and hit the notification BELL for powerful true stories, healing, and real conversations that remind you what’s possible.

      Connect with Erin Loman Jeck:
      Website: www.erinlomanjeck.com
      Facebook: Erin Loman Jeck Speaker Coach
      LinkedIn: Erin Loman Jeck
      Instagram: @erinlomanjeck

      Chapters:
      00:00 The Impact of Early Responsibility
      09:07 The Journey of Storytelling and Communication
      19:27 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Strength
      23:45 Pursuing Dreams Against All Odds
      33:13 Negotiation Skills in Parenting
      35:08 Personal Growth Through Relationships
      39:31 Lessons from Marriage and Divorce
      41:21 Navigating Grief and Loss in Relationships
      49:42 Emotional Expression and Parenting
      51:06 Transitioning from Social Work to Public Speaking
      59:33 Living Fully Expressed and Sharing Your Story

      Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

      🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

      Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

      #IntrepidStorytelling #ErinLomanJeck #TEDxSpeaker #OvercomingGrief #SurvivorStory #PublicSpeakingCoach #TrueStory #PodcastYouTube #StorytellingPodcast #tedtalk #tedtalks
      1 hr 6 min
    • 20|From Convicted Felon to PhD: Dr. Angelo Reynolds’s Story

      What do you do when the rug is pulled out from under you and you lose everything you’ve ever worked for, including your freedom and your name? In this powerhouse episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with Dr. Angelo Reynolds, a man whose life journey reads like a masterclass in resilience. Dr. Reynolds shares the harrowing details of how his thriving mental health practice was decimated overnight due to a fraudulent partnership he unknowingly entered. Faced with 42 counts of fraud and the threat of decades in prison, he describes the gut-wrenching decision to take a plea deal for a crime he didn’t commit just to stay with his wife and newborn son. This choice left him as a convicted felon, unemployable for seven years, and forced to sell books out of the trunk of his car to survive.

      Chapters: 00:00 The Unforeseen Downfall

      10:12 The Plea Deal Dilemma

      20:12 Resilience Through Adversity

      29:58 The Journey to Redemption

      34:13 Embracing Life's Lessons

      37:08 The Impact of Family Dynamics

      38:30 Transforming Lives in the Penal System

      41:16 The Journey of Writing and Sharing Stories

      46:06 Building a Business from Experience

      50:01 Lessons Learned from Business Challenges

      52:27 Mentoring and Supporting Reentry

      56:14 The Ripple Effect of Helping Others

      01:01:01 The Power of Hard Work and Resilience

      01:03:21 Protecting Your Peace and Managing Trauma

      Connect with Dr. Angelo Reynolds:

      Website: https://angeloreynolds-7l3j.vercel.app/

      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transformersacademy

      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mypo2003

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformers_academy/

      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mypo2003

      PURCHASE: A Transforming You on Amazon here https://amzn.to/4bNGHUL

      PURCHASE: The Act of Change on Amazon here https://amzn.to/3P6Ps4t

      PURCHASE: Overcoming Obstacles, Beating the Odds on Amazon here https://amzn.to/4seK4uK

       

      Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

       

      🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

       

      Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

       

      #IntrepidStorytelling #DrAngeloReynolds #FromFelonToPhD #Resilience #TrueStory #MentalHealthAdvocate #HopeDealer #PodcastYouTube #StorytellingPodcast #SuccessMindset

      1 hr 10 min
    • 19|Surviving BPD, Alcoholism, and the Choice to Stay: Cierra Madill’s Story (Part 2)
      (Part 2) What do you do when you’ve lost almost everything, and the only person left to save you is yourself?

       

      In this visceral and deeply moving episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with Cierra Madill to pull back the curtain on a journey defined by both profound loss and radical self-honesty. Cierra opens up about the "messy" middle of recovery, the part of the story that isn't always linear. She speaks candidly about the spiral that followed a devastating custody battle, leading to twelve days on a bathroom floor lost to alcoholism, and the jarring culture shock of leaving mental health rehab only to find herself at "dry bone raw zero" with no car, no job, and no home.

       

      Connect with Cierra Madill:
      • Website: https://littlethingsphotographyutah.mypixieset.com/
      • Instagram: @littlethingsphotoandvideo
      • Facebook: Cierra Madill

        •  

        Follow her YouTube Channel "Tell No One But The Internet"!
        https://youtube.com/@tellnoonebuttheinternet?si=nuHhdK4xKjfHfIXz

         

        ✨ PURCHASE FIND THE GOOD MERCH: https://findthegoodbrand.com/?ref=intrepidstorytelling

         

        Chapters:

         

        Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

         

        🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

         

        Your story matters.
        If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

         

        #IntrepidStorytelling #CierraMadill #MentalHealthAwareness #BPDRecovery #SuicidePrevention #SurvivorStory #RadicalAuthenticity #PodcastYouTube #StorytellingPodcast #TrueStory
        1 hr 51 min
      • 18|Losing My Son & Fighting for Survival: Cierra Madill’s Story (Part 1)
        (Part 1) What happens when the people who are supposed to love you the most leave you behind, and the justice system strips away the one thing keeping you alive?
         
        Cierra Madill grew up believing she didn't belong anywhere, battling a profound sense of isolation as she was shuttled back and forth between divorced parents. After being abandoned by her mother due to a severe drug addiction, she spent her formative years navigating instability and searching for a safe home. Forced to be resilient long before she should have had to be, Cierra fought through a maze of mental health crises, including a five-week stay in a psych ward, just to survive a chaotic world.

         

        Seeking the love and connection she was denied early on, Cierra often found herself navigating dangerous situations, eventually falling into a deeply abusive and controlling polyamorous relationship. Despite enduring severe physical and emotional violence at the hands of a narcissistic partner, she fought fiercely to escape in order to protect herself and her children. She successfully rebuilt her life, gaining financial stability and full custody of her son, but her most difficult and heart-wrenching battle was still waiting for her.

         

        In a devastating turn of events, the court system stripped Cierra of her custody rights to her young son, penalizing her for having an OnlyFans account while turning a blind eye to her ex-partner's documented history of domestic violence. In this unflinchingly raw episode, Cierra opens up about the crushing, agonizing grief of losing her boy, her subsequent spiral into deep depression and alcoholism, and the brutal reality of hitting rock bottom. This is not a neatly packaged story with a perfect ending—it is a gritty, courageous look at survival, accountability, and the painful process of putting one foot in front of the other when your heart is shattered.

         

        Chapters:
        00:00 Journey of Belonging and Self-Discovery
        02:59 The Impact of Childhood Experiences
        05:49 Navigating Family Dynamics and Relationships
        09:11 The Struggles of Adolescence and Identity
        12:02 The Role of Resilience in Overcoming Trauma
        14:52 The Transition to Young Adulthood
        17:56 Confronting Addiction and Family Challenges
        20:53 The Search for Independence and Self-Expression
        23:48 The Complexity of Relationships and Personal Growth
        27:06 Finding Strength in Vulnerability
        39:38 Navigating Early Adulthood and Relationships
        48:41 The Impact of Parental Guidance
        51:35 Dreams, Goals, and Unexpected Turns
        01:01:22 Overcoming Toxic Relationships and Personal Growth
        01:18:17 Recognizing Red Flags in Relationships
        01:21:28 The Impact of Narcissistic Relationships
        01:24:53 Lessons Learned from Heartbreak
        01:27:42 Navigating Life as a Single Parent
        01:30:31 The Struggles of Custody and Control
        01:34:12 The Emotional Toll of Losing a Child
        01:39:50 Financial Struggles and Consequences
        01:45:33 Finding Strength Amidst Adversity
        01:56:13 Taking Responsibility for Our Actions
         
        FOLLOW CIERRA:

        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlethingsphotoandvideo

        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cierra.madill

        website: https://littlethingsphotographyutah.mypixieset.com/

         

        Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories.
        Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

         

        🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

         

        Your story matters.
        If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

         

        #IntrepidStorytelling #CierraMadill #TrueStory #SurvivorStory #NarcissisticAbuse #CustodyBattle #MentalHealthPodcast #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast
        1 hr 58 min
      • 17|Unlocking Success Through the Trenches: Kendall Patterson’s Story
        What if the hardest seasons of your life were actually the blueprints for your greatest success?

         

        In this deep-dive episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell welcomes Kendall Patterson, a holistic success mentor and "multi-passionate entrepreneur" who has navigated a life defined by radical shifts and remarkable survival. Kendall opens up about a childhood she describes as "colorful," which included being raised by a single father after being removed from her mother's care due to physical abuse. She shares the harrowing details of a mother she lost twice: first to the cycles of addiction and trauma, and later to a seven-month coma caused by a brutal assault that left her mother physically alive but mentally a stranger.

         

        Today, Kendall has transmuted her pain into a mission to help others. By integrating tools like human design, astrology, and radical self-acknowledgment, she mentors women on how to break generational cycles and find their "holistic success." This conversation isn't just a recount of obstacles; it is a profound exploration of the belief that life happens for us, not to us. Kendall reminds us that while we cannot change our beginnings, we are fully capable of rewiring our future and becoming the person our "younger self" always needed.

         

        Chapters here:
        00:00 Navigating Childhood Trauma
        05:45 The Journey of a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur
        12:00 The Impact of Maternal Relationships
        18:02 Adolescence and Shifting Family Dynamics
        24:14 Breaking Free from Toxic Relationships
        30:05 Lessons Learned from Heartbreak and Healing
        40:32 Understanding Boundaries and Solitude
        46:17 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth
        51:43 The Impact of Trauma and Healing
        01:00:41 Lessons Learned and Life Messages

         

        Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories.
        Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

         

        🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app:
        YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

         

        Your story matters.
        If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

         

        #IntrepidStorytelling #KendallPatterson #TraumaHealing #HumanDesign #SuccessMentor #GenerationalWealth #StorytellingPodcast #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch
        1 hr 21 min
      • 16|Grief didn’t break him—it built him: This is a raw conversation about loss, ambition, legacy, and why sometimes the biggest ideas come from the hardest seasons.

        In this episode, a successful entrepreneur shares how losing his father fueled a journey from real estate and mortgage success to launching Off Leash’d, the pet-lover match app taking over phones everywhere. This is a raw conversation about loss, ambition, legacy, and why sometimes the biggest ideas come from the hardest seasons.

        Terry's success story is one of family, loss, and grit—and leads to real estate wealth, mortgage mastery, and founding the viral pet match app Off Leash’d. We break down entrepreneurship, startup mindset, tech innovation, and how turning personal pain into purpose can build a brand, a business, and a movement pet lovers can’t get enough of.

        CONTACT TERRY JAMES: OffLeash'd

         

        Find us on:

        YouTube

        Facebook

        Instagram

        Email us at:

        29 min
      • 15|Life Is A Gift & Love Is The Point: Ryan & Michelle Meeks' Story

        What is left of your life when the community you built and the faith you preached both disappear in an instant?

        In this deeply honest episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna Powell sits down with former pastor Ryan Meeks and his wife, Michelle. Ryan shares the raw reality of what happened when his evangelical church, Eastlake Community Church, imploded after he announced they would fully affirm the LGBTQIA+ community. The fallout was immediate and devastating—a wave of backlash, the loss of his livelihood, and the painful unraveling of a faith system that no longer felt like home.

        Just as Ryan was beginning to navigate the debris of his deconstruction, life delivered another blow: a lymphoma cancer diagnosis. Facing his own mortality while still healing from spiritual trauma forced Ryan to look past religious doctrine and search for a deeper meaning. Together, Ryan and Michelle discuss the difficult journey of spiritual reconstruction, moving from the rigid certainty of the church to a more inclusive, fragile, and beautiful understanding of what it means to be alive.

        This conversation is a powerful exploration of church hurt, LGBTQIA+ affirmation, and the search for hope after a religious "death." Ryan’s journey proves that even when the buildings fall and the old beliefs fade, love can remain the steady foundation for a new life. Whether you are questioning your own faith or facing an unexpected life crisis, this story is a reminder that while certainty may disappear, love is the point.

        PURCHASE RYAN'S BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/40d50FT

        Chapters:

        00:00 - Introduction and Early Doubts About Faith

        01:22 - Formative Years: Faith, Youth Group, and Purity Culture

        02:22 - The Growing 'Doubt Basket' and Questioning Core Beliefs

        03:35 - Building East Lake Community Church: Growth and Radical Inclusion

        05:22 - Personal Crisis: Cancer, Burnout, and Final Deconstruction

        06:17 - Embracing Embodiment, Nature, and a Life Message of Love

        Your support helps us keep telling meaningful stories. Donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/intrepidstorytelling

        🎧 Watch and listen on your favorite podcast app: YouTube | Facebook | PodBean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music

        Your story matters. If you’d like to share it with us, email [email protected]

        #IntrepidStorytelling #RyanMeeks #FaithDeconstruction #LGBTQIAAffirmation #ReligiousTrauma #InclusiveChristianity #CancerSurvivor #PodcastYouTube #FacebookWatch #StorytellingPodcast

        1 hr 37 min
      • 14|Haunted in Bothell, Washington: A Couple’s Real-Life Paranormal Experience Inside Their Family Home

        They bought a house in Bothell, Washington… and something else came with it. In this true paranormal podcast episode, a couple reveals the unexplained events, ghostly encounters, and haunting experiences that turned everyday life into a constant state of unease. If you love real haunted house stories, Pacific Northwest paranormal activity, and true ghost encounters—this episode will stay with you long after the final word.

        PURCHASE KEITH'S BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/4rxmI2O

         

        Find us on:

        YouTube

        Facebook

        Instagram

        Email us at:

        2 hr 4 min

      About Intrepid Storytelling

      From the publisher's feed

      Intrepid Storytelling Podcast with Deanna Powell — Real Stories. Raw Truth. Unbreakable Spirit.
      The Intrepid Storytelling Podcast is a powerful, truth-driven space where host Deanna Powell dives deep into the human experience through real, unfiltered, and transformational stories. Each episode features courageous individuals who have faced adversity, trauma, resilience, healing, reinvention, and personal breakthroughs.