Never Ever Give Up Hope

Doreen Hanna is passionate to fulfill her mission statement. She looks for every opportunity to guide women, of all ages, on a journey to discover their princess within and embrace the life of royalty they have been called to live! As the Founder & President of Treasured Celebrations, she enthusiastically continues to encourage moms and mentors to become influential leaders.  Unwanted by her father, she knew the pain of rejection for 18 years.  Marrying at 19, she wanted to prove to her father she was worthy of love.  However, she quickly discovered that the man of her dreams was an alcoholic.           Life brought many trials for Doreen including a financial crisis, the molestation of her daughter and Doreen's father threatening her husband's life.   How did she survive?   She shares how she turned her PAIN into POWER.     As Founder and President of Treasured Celebrations, she introduced an international program to empower woman of all ages. Her greatest passion is that part of the pr

Anita Barney, widow of the former CEO for Wendy's restaurant, is the only child of an alcoholic father, a victim of physical and emotional abuse by her first husband, a breast cancer survivor, and the target of a compulsive gambler and criminal predator.  Anita's honest messages of hope, forgiveness, and second chances will connect with you on many levels. Anita is a woman who traveled in the 'best' circles.  She had been engaged to Henry Mancini and Perry Como was her neighbor.  She was not an ignorant woman but easy prey. When I saw Anita on the Dr. Phil show, I wanted her to be my guest on Never Ever Give Up Hope. Her story needs to be told.   Even as cancer claimed her husband's life, Bob ensured his wife was financially secure and left her with chilling advice, “Don’t let a man take all of your money.” There are vultures who seek out the elderly and widows, in particular.  Anita was victimized by a successful football player, Art Schlichter.   She also borrowed money from friends, believing it was a soli

Ben Amos' story will motivate you to break free from negative thinking, depression, and anxiety. When Ben was two years old, he was run over by a drunk driver.  Among many injuries, he suffered a popped lung, broken bones, ruptured spleen and multiple surgeries. This is the second time I have interviewed Ben Amos.  The first interview, you can also listen to below, was Ben's story from his memoir How To Break Free From Depression, Fear and Anxiety in 30 days - Using Ancient Secrets.      After Ben's accident, he suffered from seizures, brain damage and bullying by kids for fun.  Depression and suicidal attempts were part of Ben's life until he was able to break free and learn to reprogram his brain.   Ben is now a successful businessman who is involved in the arts; dance, music and theater.  He has also served in various ministerial capacities.     In his second interview, Ben shares how "the mind was designed to be programmed - every day, all day. The problem is that few of us realize it. Bob Procto

Marissa Pendlebury is a public health researcher with degrees in nutrition, health sciences (BSc), and psychology (MSs).     Through her website, Nourishing Routes, she helps individuals develop a positive and compassionate relationships with themselves, with food and exercise, and with other people.   But Marissa's journey was a rocky road of serious eating disorders, anxiety, and deep depression. When all hope was gone and she had nowhere to turn for help, she discovered how compassion for others could help her heal herself.   In her interview, she gives practical, solid tips on how to change your perception of yourself, and how your view of food and eating habits can change your life.   On her website, she gives the 10 Elements of Nourishing Routes and explains them in detail. They are: Compassion for yourself and others Nourishment - not numbers Health at every size Creative expression Mindfulness Gratitude Connecting with others and sharing stories Freedom and Autonomy Pleasurable movement Empo

Marion M. Pyle's drive for excellence, artistic creativity, and leadership development have been the life forces propelling her through award-winning ventures in film, television and theater. She has an accomplished career in advertising and public relations as well. Marion is a media and communications professional. award-winning scriptwriter, producer, director, and television host. Marion is also a noted seminar leader and university professor of business communication and public speaking.   In her book, Healed, Healthy & Whole, How We Beat Cancer With Integrative Therapies & Essential Healing Strategies, she recounts the race against time to find a cure for her husband's deadly form of cancer. Her true story is a profound journey of faith that ultimately leads to healing and wholeness. Healed, Healthy and Whole is filled with hope, practical advice, proven resources, and wisdom for anyone at a crossroads with a life-threatening condition. This exceptional page-turner is a journey of d

You will find that Pamela Christian's books are very different from what you might expect.  In the first book of the series, she dissects the top five major world religions and New Age. This is to help readers learn the origin and beliefs for each religion to make an educated choice. Pamela explains that "the world is broken" but what's needed to repair it does exists and is accessible if we are willing to do what it takes. We must agree that governments, marriage and family, jobs, big business, and real estate markets have failed, including the Church. BUT real and certain hope in life exists.   Depression, suicide thoughts, chemical/alcohol abuse, worry, fear, anxiety can touch each of our lives in some way.  People are starved for hope and truth.  Pamela's book series can offer much to those seeking to understand this entire subject of truth and faith. In an article by ABC News, Americans Surprisingly Flexible About Religious Faiths, we learn that people are mixing different tenets of different reli

Allison Hill is an active blogger at AccidentallyAllison. Allison's story is one that many people can relate to-- love lost.  She shares about her quest for a long lastingrelationship which became a disaster -- more thanonce.Shewants women to understand relationships and how they affect ourself-image and perception. Listeningto her story in the podcast below, one has to applaud her forovercoming many defeats; yet she has an attitude ofvictory. Allisonhas been proposed to seven times, married twice and divorced bothtimes.  Her blog is a glimpse into a world thathas consistent, unimaginable pain but shows that even in the faceof love lost and the shredding of the heart, there can STILL behappiness, hope, and love.   After her daughter was in a near-fatal car accident, hersignificant other cleaned out the bank accounts and...........well, this story will grip your heart.  Failure isNever an Option - Falling Down is But Getting Back Up is aNecessity Herstory is one of Love, Marriage, Divorce, Single Parenthood,Ho

Martha Ashwell worked as a childcare officer, administrator and support tutor in university education and a counselor.  She is also a member of the long-established writer's group, Manchester Irish Writers.   Her memoir, Celia's Secret: A Journey towards Reconciliation, helped her to analyze and evaluate her life experiences to work through a process of reconciliation.  Broken relationships.   Her story shares the impact family secrets can have on your life.   Are you struggling with the dynamics of a family secret or with broken relationships?   Never give up hope of reconciliation.    If you are determined to resolve a broken relationship, it is possible to move through a process of reconciliation and have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done everything that is humanly possible to heal the relationship. The process involves: reflecting, analyzing, understanding and forgiving. For Martha, as a Christian, it also involves God’s loving hand in the process. We can have a profound love for one another

Rebecca Owens has been a writer since she was a little girl.  After 298 rejections from literary agents, she never gave up.  In 2013, she was able to successfully fulfill her dream and publish her first novel.  She is now a member of the Romance Writers of America.   Her stories are inspired by her Native American southern American roots.   In her interview, she shares tips on the steps to take to fulfill your dream of becoming a romance novelist.   Here is a snippet from A Sister's Love   Two North Carolinian sisters, Flo and Priscilla Oxendine are entangled in a web of betrayal, grief, and loss that has spanned over the time of ten years. The entanglement started when the sisters become estranged after Priscilla did the unthinkable and betrayed Flo. Nine months later, Priscilla dropped another bombshell or two after Flo had begun to rebuild her life.   Jack Winston, Priscilla's New York attorney, and friend has been given the chore of calling her family late one autumn night with sad news of

Warren Rodwell: former soldier, university teacher, hostage survivor, speaker and songwriter, is the longest held Australian captive outside war. For more than fifteen (15) months, Warren was hidden and starved in island mangrove jungles with the constant threat of beheading if the terrorists’ original ransom demand for $US2 million was not paid.   When asked how he ever survived he responded with "resilience, adaptability, versatility, pragmatism, perseverance, and a dry sense of humor"   From Wikipedia:   "Warren Richard Rodwell (born 16 June 1958[74] Homebush NSW)[75] a former soldier[76] in the Australian Army, and university English teacher,[77] grew up in Tamworth NSW[78] He was shot through the right hand when seized[79] from his home at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on 5 December 2011[80] by Abu Sayyaf (ASG) militants.[81] Rodwell later had to have a finger amputated.[82] The ASG threatened to behead Rodwell[83] if the original ransom demand for

Nancie Schipper is a 15-year-old singer and songwriter.  She started playing music at six years old, performing at the age of nine and was playing pubs at 13 years old.   She writes songs from her personal experiences and what she observes is happening in the world at large -- from a teenager's perspective.   As a shy person, she shares how she overcame the fear of performing in front of large groups of people and that when we face our fears, we can do whatever we want to accomplish!  

Author Darcy Leech was born to Jo Lyn Bartz, who genetically carried myotonic muscular dystrophy. Darcy's brother, Dustin, was born with the same disease. He had a high enough frequency of protein repeat mutations that of his thirteen years of life, every day defied prior medical knowledge!  He lived far beyond what anyone expected.  Darcy shares how inner strength, a strong love of family and God sustained him.   Darcy's mother lived ten years after Dustin passed and Jo Lyn was the strongest woman Darcy ever will meet. The life lessons she taught Darcy will be passed on to future generations.  This story will touch your soul.   Her memoir, From My Mother, is a moving narration of loss and the deep resilience of the human spirit as the body weakens.   Although a cure looks promising, more funding is needed. If you would like to donate please click here  to help stop this life-threatening disease.   Riveting, soulful, and courageously told, From My Mother is a meditation on grief, family, genetic disease and

Monica Perrett lives in Australia and is the mother of six children.  She is currently writing a book on changing the law giving more rights for parents of teenage runaways.   Monica won the Mother of the Year award.  While she was out of town, receiving the award, her three-month-old son died.     Because Monica's foster son died at home, she was stripped of her rights as a parent and not allowed to attend his funeral.     With anger and determination, she single-handedly was able to get that LAW CHANGED.   No amount of bullying by any government branch could stop her!  She now intends to take her cause GLOBALLY.  She is fighting for the rights of foster parents and......for those elderly people who are being abused in nursing homes.   We need to applaud Monica and support her efforts because her cause can affect each and every one of us.   You will stand up and cheer for Monica when you listen to her heart-wrenching story and how she is making a difference in the entire world!  

Jon Stolpe is an author and active blogger. Jon Stolpe's Stretched is focused on "stretching" and challenging others to get out of their comfort zones.        He has a passion for family, leadership development, missions, and personal growth. Jon's organization, H.O.P.E. Helping Other People Everywhere, is doing just that.  In his interview he shared how we can all pay it forward.  As a construction engineer, Jon has helped build homes in Guatemala for those widows with children who were homeless.  On his blog he gives each of us the opportunity to be involved with this mission. During the interview, Jon shared the results of a survey Dr. Anthony Campolo, speaker, author, sociologist took of people who were over the age of 95.  He asked them if they could live their lives over...."What would you do differently?" The response was basically the same: REFLECT MORE -- Take time to listen RISK MORE  DO MORE TO LEAVE A LEGACY Do you ever feel like your life is off track?  If your answer is yes,

Deborah Carroll, former educator and educational publisher has written a book on a subject that is not easy for families to discuss.  The subject is death of aging parents.  Her book, Tales from the Family Crypt:  When Aging Parents Die, Sibling Rivalry Lives is a must read! There is nothing that can tear families apart faster or uglier than estate issues. In many families there are difficult, dysfunctional and even despicable siblings who want to grab money and power at a time when they should be communicating and pulling together as a unit. Deborah shares how her siblings would stop at nothing, even if it meant breaking the law, to take advantage of the dying parents.  We can't predict how our siblings will react when the time comes.  Deborah's book offers suggestions and tips to communicate long before the funeral, as disputes over eldercare and inheritances can be astronomically distressing.  Tales from the Family Crypt:  When Aging Parents Die, Sibling Rivalry Lives  is available on Amazon by clicking

Glenda Thomas is a relationship and marriage coach who had brain aneurysm surgery May 2015.  In her memoir, The Next Chapter: Glenda's Brain Aneurysm Journey, she shares that journey.   This is a subject that most of us know little about but we need to be made aware.  Here are some facts:   It is estimated that six million people in the USA have an unruptured brain aneurysm - that's one in 50 people.     The annual rate of rupture is approximately 8 - 10 per 100,000 - that is one every 18 minutes.  They are fatal in about 40% of cases.   Of those who survive, about 66% suffer permanent neurological deficit.  Approximately 15% of patients die before reaching the hospital.     Glenda shares the importance of keeping your blood pressure DOWN and taking some precautions.      Glenda's Motto: Do Something You've Never Done Before   In Glenda's book, The Change:  Insights into Self-Empowerment,  she is one of several authors who give life-enhancing realizations that touch every area of your life.  She shares some o

Roxanne Fawley went from longing for death to loving life, from debilitating depression to being extremely happy.   In Roxanne's memoir But I Like It...And Other Lies, she shares her experience as a victim of physical, mental, and sexual abuse.  She wrote the book because she knows she is not the only one who believed the insidious lie that a woman likes or wants or even caused her own sexual abuse. She shows us how she has been completely restored to health and freedom that comes from knowing the truth and rejecting all the lies that may hold us captive and hopeless because of abuse. All proceeds from the sale of Roxanne's book goes to a local organization called Kalamazoo Anti-Numan Trafficking Coalition (K.A.H.T.C.)

Shirley Ledlie wrote her memoir, Naked in the Wind -Chemo, Hair loss, and Deceit as a result of an unexpected battle she had to fight. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 47 and won the battle against the disease. BUT, after her treatment ended Shirley found herself in another seven-year battle with doctors and a drug company. Shirley Ledlie had an unstoppable determination to win her conflict as she uncovered the truth about a little-known side-effect of a cancer treatment drug, Taxotere.   Shirley's memoir is about lies, betrayal and how she became part of a dirty little secret.  It has affected hundreds of women all over the world and is still going on today.  Whistleblowers, irrational behavior and some madness -- it is all in her memoir.  It is humorous and inspiring in part and also desperate in others. Shirley's Motto:  If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.

Teen Idol and pop star Meredith O'Connor is an anti-bullying icon who first rose to fame when her debut single "Celebrity" went viral on Youtube with over two million views the first two months of its release.    It became a radio favorite, bringing her a fan base which became a cult-like following once she had established her anti-bullying platform.   Her song "The Game," has touched the lives of thousands throughout the world, landing her a ten city tour as a headlining act for venues and schools.  Her next hit song "Just The Thing" was released on VEVO and Teen Nick gaining popularity on 17 radio stations in New York and over 400,000 views on VEVO. If you know anyone, especially teens, who have been the victims of bullying they need to connect with Meredith, listen to her gripping interview and download her songs.   Her passion is helping those who suffer from self-hatred or low self-esteem.  She wants you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE.    

Amy Bovaird is a ghostwriter, an author, educator and inspirational speaker.  She is an animal advocate and rescuer, working with domestic and international animal rescue groups. She has traveled the world teaching English and has been known to rescue camels on the side of the road who were left to die.   Amy suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that progressively steals vision and eventual hearing loss as well.   In her memoirs, Mobility Matters: Stepping Out in Faith and her second book, Cane Confessions:  The Lighter Side to Vision Loss, Amy shares her journey from denial to advocacy, educator, and optimistic motivator. Amy shares her story honestly; it is inspiring to anyone who has suffered loss.  She walks us through each step from denial to being able to help others through their journey to acceptance.  Amy shares how she has learned to laugh her way through trauma and this is clear in her interview and in her memoirs.  You will be encouraged by her story: