Some stories stay with you… this is one of them.In this episode, we sit down with our friend Tatiana, whose life has been shaped by chronic pain since she was young.

With honesty, humor, and incredible depth, she shares what it has looked like to walk with God in the middle of suffering, not trying to rush past it, but learning to slow down enough to recognize His presence within it.

Tatiana brings a perspective that is both thoughtful and deeply personal, weaving together faith, theology, and lived experience in a way that feels grounding and real.

She gently challenges the idea that pain is something to fix or escape, and instead opens up a different way of seeing it, as a place where God can meet us.

There is so much wisdom in this conversation, but more than anything, there is an invitation… to slow down, to listen, and to recognize that you are not alone.If you are walking through something hard, or simply feeling tired, we hope this conversation meets you right where you are.

....

Tatiana's Resource Corner

Books

• Confessions by Saint Augustine
• City of God by Saint Augustine
• Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger
• The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis

Music

• "In the Night" by Andrew Peterson

Connect with Tatiana

• Instagram

We're back!

Before introducing this season's incredible guests, Debbie and Danielle pull up a couple chairs and catch up on everything that's happened since Season One.

Danielle shares what it was like returning to college nearly twenty years after leaving school, building Velvet Rabbit into an official nonprofit, and learning leadership lessons she never expected.

Debbie reflects on a season of personal growth, ministry, and discovering that we never outgrow the opportunity to learn, change, and grow.

With honesty, humor, and a few behind-the-scenes podcast mishaps, this conversation sets the stage for a season full of stories about resilience, healing, and hope.

No matter where you've been or what you're carrying, we're glad you're here.

Resource Corner

• Season One | Episode 11 with Elyse Etapa

The Velvet Rabbit

• Rubber Ducks Community Night!

• Website
• Facebook Page
• Instagram
• Donation/Support Page
• Lost Sheep Facebook Page

We made it to the end of Season One, and it still feels surreal. What started as “Danielle and Debbie yapping” turned into something much deeper. In this finale, we look back on eleven interviews filled with laughter, tears, and stories that changed us.

We share how “Worn but Worthy” got its name, the learning curve of recording in the Akron Public Library’s Tech Zone, and the moments with each guest that stayed with us long after the microphones turned off.

We talk about the courage, honesty, and faith we saw in every story, how much we’ve grown and what it has meant to walk through this together as a mother-daughter team.

We also take a minute to thank Nikola, our editor from Serbia, who has been such a gift, and we celebrate the numbers that amazed us this season: more than 1,050 streams, 60 Spotify followers, and listeners from Serbia, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Belgium, Australia, and across the US.

Thank you for listening, sharing, commenting, and showing up for these conversations. This community is such a blessing.

Season Two is coming, and we would love your feedback as we grow and expand the conversations, please take a look at our poll to help us plan.

Worn but Worthy. Brokenness isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning of something beautiful.

________

Connect with our Editor, Nikola on Upwork!

In this powerful episode, Karen Freeman shares how her childhood as a “church bus kid,” her battle with breast cancer, and her lifelong drive to serve others have shaped her unshakable faith and compassion.

From those early Sunday bus rides to her years leading urban youth outreach through First Glance, Karen’s story shows how God truly wastes nothing. What began as a simple desire to love students and teen moms has grown into a lifelong calling to create spaces where people find belonging, purpose, and the love of Christ in everyday moments.

Now serving in outreach at Cornerstone Church, Karen continues to live out that same heart for connection and restoration. Her life is a testament to dignity restored, hope rekindled, and grace lived out in the most tangible ways.

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Salchak, a respected voice in the Akron recovery community and one of the driving forces behind Summit Recovery Hub.

Mark Salchak’s story is one of resilience, faith, and redemption. After years in real estate, his life took a different path marked by both heartbreak and hope. A near-homeless encounter on church steps and the later loss of his son became defining moments that shaped his calling to walk alongside others inrecovery.

Mark went on to develop REACH, a peer support initiativethat became a foundation for much of Summit County’s recovery community. Today, through his work with the Summit Recovery Hub, he continues to advocate for people rebuilding their lives with dignity, compassion, and connection.

Mark’s story is one of grief turned to grace, pain transformed into purpose, and a man who refuses to give up on people, continually reminding others of their dignity and worth.

📩 To connect with Mark, email him at Mark.Salchak@summitrco.org

In this special episode of Worn but Worthy, Debbie and Danielle sit down with Elyse Etapa, owner of Thrive Counseling Services, to talk about navigating life in a divided world. Together, they explore how faith and mental health intersect, the power of mindful prayer, why journaling helps calm anxiety, and what healthy boundaries look like in relationships.

Elyse shares practical tools for self-regulation, staying grounded when conversations get heated, and finding unity without losing yourself. This episode is full of wisdom, vulnerability, and hope for anyone trying to walk through hard seasons with grace.

----

Contact Elyse Etapa:

📞 330-703-6578

✉️ Email: elyse@thrivecounselingohio.com
🌐 Website: thrivecounselingohio.com

In this episode, we sit down with our friend Caleb Mason, a kind and humble man whose life has been shaped by faith, legacy, and one defining moment that changed everything.

At 25, Caleb was in a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy. Through grief and healing, he discovered the power of empathy, listening, and kindness.

In a time when division feels louder than unity, Caleb’s story reminds us that kindness costs something—but it’s always worth it. He shares how to walk with people in their pain, how to move past a victim mindset, and how empathy can open the door to truly seeing one another.

As his grandfather always said: “If you want to be great, be kind.”

Debbie shares one of the most defining seasons of her life as a single mom and the moment of surrender that forever changed her. Alongside her daughter Danielle, she reflects on miraculous provision, the courage to walk away from unhealthy patterns, and the discovery that true worth is found only in Jesus.

The conversation also dives into the unseen weight of walking with a spouse through depression—what it feels like to carry that as a wife, the misconceptions in the church, and the need for greater compassion and awareness around mental health. Together, Debbie and Danielle remind us that even in the hardest seasons, grace meets us right where we are.

_____________________

Referenced in this episode:

In the Midst of a Moment by Pastor Jacob Young of Cornerstone Church. This message unpacks how to recognize and faithfully respond to the moments God places before us.

The book Sacred Rhythms invites you into a spiritual journey that nurtures your soul while aligning your daily life with the presence of God.