Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! 🎙️ Episode Summary In Unmasking My Hidden Chapter: When “I’m Fine” Wasn’t the Truth, Genevieve shares a season she doesn’t talk about often, the years she spent teaching even though her heart wasn’t in it. After failing her Praxis exams and questioning her purpose, she found herself putting on a smile and saying “I’m fine” when she really wasn’t. In this episode, Genevieve talks about what it felt like to keep that mask on for so long and what ...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this special episode of Hidden Chapters, I step on stage for the very first time at the Military Influencer Conference and share my story as a retired military spouse, navigating grief, identity, loss, and the journey of figuring out who I am along the way. I talk about how Hidden Chapters came to be, the healing power of storytelling, and why sharing our hidden stories matters. During the talk, I invited the audience to share one word that descri...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! What do you do when the life you thought you knew is turned upside down? In this deeply personal conversation, Jennifer Blankenship shares her journey through betrayal, discovering her husband’s long-term affair and hidden family, and navigating the emotional aftermath as a retired, divorced military spouse. She opens up about the complexities of narcissistic abuse, the trauma bonds that kept her tied to a painful situation, and the challenge of recl...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! From arriving in the U.S. without knowing a word of English to rising through the ranks to become a Sergeant Major, Jose Raymundo’s story is one of struggles, triumphs and deep resilience. In this conversation, Jose opens up about the hidden chapters behind his military career, the emotional weight of service, the quiet battles few ever saw, and the courage it took to share his story in his new memoir. We talk about what it really means to transiti...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! What do you do when everything that once defined you begins to shift? In this heartfelt conversation, Lindsay Swoboda joins me to talk about navigating life after her husband’s military retirement, launching her first book, and learning to balance who she is as a writer, wife, and woman in transition. Together, we talk about the tension between holding on and letting go, how dreams evolve, how relationships change, and how creativity can feel both he...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! Who we are isn’t something we figure out once, it’s something we keep discovering. In this episode, Laura Lyn Donahue joins me to talk about identity, growth, and what it really means to evolve through life’s changing seasons. Drawing from her book, Who Do You Think You Are?, Laura Lyn shares how our sense of self shifts with experience, how to embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it, and why change can be one of our greatest teachers. Takeaways f...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! Kicking off Season 2 🎉 In this first episode of Hidden Chapters Season 2, my husband,Chris joins me to share his journey from Army life to author, exploring the highs and lows of deployments, the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life, and the emotional impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on veterans. We dig into the hidden struggles that service members face: mental health challenges, identity shifts, and the search for purpose beyond the...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! 🎉 YOU all did it!! 1,000 downloads worldwide! 🌍 In this special behind-the-mic update, I’m celebrating this milestone and sharing a heartfelt thank you to listeners from the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Nigeria, Germany, and beyond. 💛 I’ll also give you a quick update at what’s coming next for Hidden Chapters Season 2 and introducing new ways for listeners to connect and support the podcast! Whether you’ve been here s...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! 🎉Chris's book: "Walking Away from the Ledge" is now available for preorder! ⭐️Grab your copy here!⭐️ https://books.by/w-brand-publishing/walking-away-from-the-ledge 🎉Season 1 Finale: The Why, the Lessons, and What’s Next In this Season 1 recap of Hidden Chapters, I’m taking you behind the mic to share what I’ve learned, what surprised me, and what’s next for Season 2! Stick around 'til the end, theres one more hidden moment you ...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! *Note🎙️: You might notice a little echo in parts of this conversation. Podcasting isn't always perfect, and while I did my very best in post editing, some audio echos and quicks couldn't be fully fixed. Thanks for your grace and for sticking with it. Mollie's story is truly worth hearing! In Part 2, Mollie shares what came next, the journey of rebuilding, rediscovering love, and learning how to blend families with lessons learned. F...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! *Note: You might notice a little echo in parts of this conversation. Podcasting isn't always perfect, and while I did my very best in post editing, some audio echos and quicks couldn't be fully fixed. Thanks for your grace and for sticking with it. Mollie's story is truly worth hearing! In this Part 1 conversation, Mollie shares shares the heartbreaking story of losing her first husband, Ashley, and the deep grief that followed. She ref...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this heartfelt episode, Melissa shares the profound journey of losing her twin brother, Grant and the unexpected way his loss transformed her life. Grant was always the bubbly one, the encourager, the life of the party. Melissa dubbed herself the "mean one", always getting them in trouble. But when Grant passed, something shifted: his joy became her legacy. Melissa opens up about their unbreakable twin bond, the devastation of sudden loss, and how...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! What happens when the life you built starts to slowly unravel not with a crash, but with quiet, unseen shifts? In this episode, Liz Davis opens up about her journey as a military spouse navigating the emotional weight of constant change, the slow realization that her marriage was coming apart, and the courageous choice to put herself first and start fresh. Liz shares the hidden realities of military family life, the sacrifices, silent struggles, and ...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this powerful episode, Meg opens up about the unexpected journey of early motherhood, from birth trauma and postpartum depression to raising a neurodivergent child. She shares how her own childhood shaped the way she parents today and the healing that’s come through therapy, honesty, and embracing the hard parts. This conversation is full of truth, hope, and Meg’s deep belief in turning pain into purpose. If you’ve ever felt alone in motherhood, s...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this episode, I get to speaks with Jessica, a life and career development coach, about her journey through grief, self-discovery, and leadership. Jessica shares her experiences of losing her mother to cancer at 11 years old and how it shaped her into the empathetic leader she is today. We talk about the importance of self-awareness, the impact of saboteurs on personal growth, and the lessons learned from life's challenges. Jessica emphasizes the p...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! What happens when life throws punches harder than the wrestling ring ever could? In this episode, I’m catching up with Jay Smith who was actually one of my students when I was a first-year teacher back in 2002. Fast forward 20+ years, and Jay's an Army veteran, professional wrestler, dad, and someone who’s walked through some really hard stuff. We talk about everything what it’s like to fight for a marriage that doesn’t make it, how divorce shifts ev...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this heartfelt conversation, I got to sit down with my longtime friend, Stephanie, as she shared her journey from living in silence and fear due to an abusive marriage to finding her voice and embracing healing. She discussed the challenges of navigating her new life as a single mother, the importance of setting boundaries, and the support she received from her church and friends. Stephanie emphasizes the power of vulnerability, the necessity of t...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Justin shares his journey from hardship to hope a story rooted in faith, music, and mentoring others. Growing up with very little, Justin always believed in God, but it wasn’t until later that his faith deepened through his wife Michelle and key mentors. He found purpose through writing Christian music and now pours into others through mentorship, guided by one powerful question: “What’s the one thing I can do righ...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! What does it really take to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? In this episode of Hidden Chapters, Jillian shares her journey of adventure, self-discovery, and inner strength as she takes on one of the world’s most iconic mountains. Through moments of perseverance and quiet reflection, her story is a powerful reminder that the greatest summits aren’t always the ones we see, they’re the ones we grow through. Wh...

Leave me a note-I'd love to hear from you! Welcome to the official launch of Hidden Chapters! This first interview episode is deeply personal—it’s not just the beginning of the podcast, it’s a celebration of Mother’s Day, my 45th birthday, and the woman whose quiet strength made all of it possible: my mom!! For the FIRST time ever, she shares her side of the story-her journey into motherhood, the unexpected challenges she faced, and the life changing choices she made with courage and love. We...