Episode 50 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast is one you won’t forget

Vanessa Ayala opens up about a life that most people would never see on the surface From what looked like a normal childhood to the reality of pain loss and growth behind closed doors this episode dives deep into the truth that everyone has a story you don’t see

Vanessa shares her journey growing up in California navigating ADHD chasing her passion in cosmetology and becoming a mother But everything changed in an instant when she experienced one of the highest highs in life followed immediately by unimaginable tragedy finding out her sister had been murdered

In this episode we talk about

The pressure of living a perfect life on the outside
ADHD motherhood and learning to manage chaos
Moving from California to Idaho for a fresh start
Faith forgiveness and finding purpose through pain
Processing trauma and healing after loss
What it really means to forgive the unforgivable

Vanessa’s story is raw real and powerful It is a reminder that growth does not come from the highlights it comes from the rain

If you have ever struggled questioned your path or needed hope in a dark season this episode is for you

Available on YouTube Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Follow Vanessa on Instagram
@the_tattoo_barber

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Luke Sanders, also known as @skywalker.life, to talk about faith, fatherhood and becoming the man your family needs.

Luke shares his story growing up in a small town in Northern California, being raised in a large faith driven family, and transitioning into a Mennonite lifestyle that shaped his values, discipline and perspective.

We dive into the difference between religion and relationship with God, the importance of focusing on Jesus over denominations, and how men can lead their families with strength, purpose and integrity.

Luke also shares his experience moving to Uruguay for mission work, navigating culture shock, adversity and growth while building a life centered around faith and service.

If you are a dad looking to get stronger mentally, physically and spiritually, this episode is for you.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Follow for more real stories, real growth and real conversations

In this powerful episode, I sit down with leadership from Soldiers of the Cross, a men’s motorcycle ministry committed to searching for the one—the lost, the broken, and the forgotten.

Joining me are:
• Ben Hardister, President of the Modesto, California founding chapter
• Nick Dowdy, Vice President of the Modesto chapter
• Rod Garcia, President of the Idaho chapter

Soldiers of the Cross serves wherever God opens the door—inside prisons, on the streets, on mission trips, and in communities where help is needed most. Their mission is simple but heavy: show up, serve, and bring the Gospel to men who feel beyond reach.

We dive into powerful “God stories” from across the country and around the world—moments of redemption, divine timing, and lives changed through obedience. Ben also shares his experience spending years as a volunteer chaplain working with death row inmates at San Quentin State Prison, offering a perspective few ever hear.

This conversation touches on faith, purpose, suffering, redemption, brotherhood, and what it means to walk boldly in your calling—no matter where you’re starting from. No matter your walk of life, there is something in this episode that will hit home.

🔗 Learn more about Soldiers of the Cross:
👉 https://sotc.faith

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with David Stamper, better known as Menace, to unpack a life that started in chaos and found its way to purpose.

David opens up about a traumatic childhood surrounded by meth labs, abuse, and addiction at a young age. He shares what it was like running away from home, spending three years in juvenile detention, and navigating early adulthood—including working on fishing boats in Alaska—while still battling destructive patterns.

As the partying escalated, so did the consequences: DUIs, jail time, and ultimately conceiving his child while sitting in county jail. David spent seven years in prison, a stretch that forced him to confront the man he had become and the father he needed to be. He also explains how he earned the nickname Menace, and what it represented during that season of his life.

This conversation is about accountability, hard-earned lessons, and the decision to change when every statistic says you won’t. David shares why he chose a different path, how fatherhood reshaped his priorities, and what becoming a better man truly looks like after a past like his.

If you believe growth can come from the darkest places, this episode is proof.

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Kameron Ross to unpack a journey that went from discipline and drive to complete humility and rebuilding.

Kameron grew up with a deep love for jiu jitsu, fitness, and service. Between training, the gym, and serving on special teams at the jail where he worked, his life was built around physical capability and mental toughness. Then everything changed.

After months of unexplained health struggles and bouncing between specialists, Kameron was diagnosed with a form of Lyme disease. What followed was a long road of treatments, uncertainty, and loss. He was forced to step away from the gym, jiu jitsu, and the career roles that once defined him. The identity he had built was stripped away piece by piece.

We talk candidly about what it feels like to lose everything you care about, the mental battle that follows, and how pride is broken in seasons you never asked for. Most importantly, Kameron shares the crucial role his faith in Jesus Christ played in carrying him through the darkest moments when answers were few and strength was gone.

This episode is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes it comes from being brought to your knees and learning who you really are when everything else is taken away.

If you’re walking through illness, loss, or a season that doesn’t make sense, this conversation is for you.

What happens when success on the outside hides destruction on the inside?

In Episode 42 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matthew Sidwell sits down with Travis Taylor to share a raw and honest story about career success, addiction, loss, and ultimate redemption through faith.

Travis grew up around farm life and was raised in the Mormon church. After graduating high school, he slowly drifted away from his faith while searching for direction in life. A few years later, Travis began working in corrections as a stepping stone toward becoming a police officer. What started as a temporary job quickly turned into a full career as he promoted through the ranks and worked at multiple facilities.

While Travis appeared to be building a successful career, he was fighting a silent battle behind the scenes. Alcohol began taking control of his life, leading to destructive choices that eventually cost him everything including his job, his marriage, and his relationship with his child.

Travis shares his deeply personal journey through addiction, hitting rock bottom multiple times, attending rehab twice, and facing the difficult reality of rebuilding his life from nothing. Through his lowest moments, Travis found healing, purpose, and identity through Jesus Christ.

This episode is a powerful reminder that failure does not define your future and sometimes losing everything is the beginning of true transformation.

If you are struggling with addiction, loss, faith, or rebuilding your life after mistakes, this conversation will bring encouragement and hope.

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🔥 Topics Covered In This Episode

Farm life upbringing and early influences
Growing up Mormon and walking away from faith
Working in corrections and promoting through the ranks
Hidden struggles with alcohol and addiction
Losing career, marriage, and family
Rock bottom moments and rehab journey
Finding faith and healing through Jesus Christ
Rebuilding identity and purpose

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Helping men and women turn adversity into growth.

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📲 Follow Matthew Sidwell / MOD Fitness

Instagram: @sidwell.fitness
YouTube: Rain Brings Growth Podcast
Fitness Coaching: MOD Fitness

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⚠️ If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. There is help available and recovery is possible.

What is it really like working prison transport and running a prison bus? In Episode 43 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, we sit down with Caleb, Tommy, Matt, and Scott to talk about their real-life experiences working corrections transport.

This episode is packed with hilarious stories, unforgettable moments, and raw conversations about the reality of life on the prison bus. The guys dive into the brotherhood built during long shifts, the unpredictable situations officers face, and the lessons learned from working one of the most unique roles inside corrections.

We cover the good, the bad, and the ugly of transport work while sharing stories that most people never hear about. If you’ve worked corrections, law enforcement, or enjoy hearing behind-the-scenes stories from intense careers, this episode is for you.

🔥 In This Episode We Cover:
• What prison transport is really like
• Wild and funny stories from the bus
• The brotherhood built in corrections
• The toughest moments officers face
• Lessons learned from working transport
• The culture behind prison bus teams

If you enjoy real conversations about growth, adversity, and life experiences, make sure to subscribe and join the Rain Brings Growth community.

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Host Instagram: @sidwell.fitness

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, host Matthew Sidwell sits down with Carly Slawson to discuss her recent experience as a surrogate mother and what the surrogacy process truly looks like behind the scenes.

Carly shares the full journey of becoming a surrogate, including the intense background checks, psychological evaluations, medical screenings, legal requirements, and approval process required just to be accepted into a surrogacy program. Many people do not realize how detailed and demanding the surrogate application process is, and Carly breaks down every step with honesty and transparency.

We dive deep into the mindset required to carry a baby for another family. Carly explains how she prepared emotionally and mentally to help parents who were not capable of having a baby on their own. She talks about the responsibility, purpose, and heart behind her decision and what it truly means to give the gift of life through gestational surrogacy.

This episode covers surrogacy requirements, surrogate mother qualifications, background checks for surrogates, emotional preparation for surrogacy, and what families should know about the surrogate journey. If you have ever wondered how to become a surrogate, what the screening process involves, or what motivates someone to help another family grow, this conversation offers real insight and perspective.

Guest
Carly Slawson
Surrogate Mother and Entrepreneur
Instagram carly_hairbycjs

Host
Matthew Sidwell
Founder of MOD Fitness
Host of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast

Follow the Podcast
Instagram rain.brings.growth.podcast
Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from hearing Carly’s story.



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In Episode 46 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Anthony Larson for a real conversation about pain, growth, and becoming who you were never expected to be.

Anthony shares his childhood and upbringing, and how lifting weights at a young age became his first outlet for discipline and self-belief. We walk through his early adult years, the different jobs he worked, and the winding path that eventually led him into the masonry field.

What started as labor turned into ownership.

Today, Anthony runs a business alongside his wife, and we break down the real learning curves of entrepreneurship, marriage, leadership, and building something from the ground up when there is no blueprint.

We also dive into his weight loss journey and how transforming his body transformed his mindset. That decision ultimately led him into bodybuilding, where he has taken 1st place on stage. This is not just a fitness story. It is a story about identity, discipline, and refusing to stay stuck.

The core theme of this episode is simple: pain creates growth, and growth requires breaking out of the mold your family, environment, or past tried to keep you in.

If you have ever felt boxed in by expectations or afraid to choose a harder path, this episode will resonate.

Episode 46 is now live on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.