Kim Harms never expected to hear the word "cancer" twice. After beating breast cancer with only a 5-6% chance of recurrence, she was devastated when it returned seven years later, this time more advanced and requiring intensive chemotherapy. Kim's story isn't just about surviving cancer; it's about discovering God's presence in the darkest valleys. During her second battle, whilst enduring 16 rounds of chemotherapy, her son Owen began mysteriously losing weight and strength, ultimately being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after months of frightening uncertainty.

Through these overlapping crises, Kim found her calling. She's written two books, Life Reconstructed and Carried Through Cancer, and co-ordinates a ministry that sends free mastectomy pillows worldwide. Her raw honesty about crying on her floor, making promises to God, watching friends fade away, and feeling the isolation of cancer will resonate with anyone facing overwhelming circumstances. Kim's story reminds us that we're not promised smooth sailing, but we are promised God's presence, and that makes all the difference. (Want to be a guest on Bleeding Daylight? Send Rodney Olsen a message on PodMatch, here.)

WEBLINKS Kim Harms Website Kim Harms on Facebook Kim Harms on Instagram

After losing her husband Luke to cancer in 2020, Michelle Bader Ebersole transformed her devastating grief into a lifeline for thousands of widows around the world. In this deeply moving conversation, Michelle shares her journey from standing on the metaphorical train tracks of anticipatory grief to building a thriving ministry that spans 121 countries. She offers practical wisdom on what to say (and what never to say) to someone who's grieving, debunks the myth of grief stages, and explains why talking about our loved ones who've passed is so precious to the bereaved.

Michelle's story is one of remarkable resilience and purpose. Through her podcast Widowed Too Soon, her book Widow Goals, and widow support groups in over 30 cities, she's creating communities where people don't just survive loss, they learn to thrive again. Whether you've experienced loss yourself or want to better support those who have, Michelle's insights on navigating grief, serving others, and finding hope after heartbreak will change the way you understand bereavement forever.

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In this powerful episode, Steve Rotermund shares his journey from childhood abandonment and abuse to discovering his true identity in Christ. After years of ministry, battling co-dependency, and walking away from God, Steve found transformation through Christian counselling that addressed not just behaviour but identity. His honest account of planting a church while his wife struggled with addiction, feeling like God merely tolerated him despite helping others, and finally discovering the difference between being an adoptive son and a spiritual son will resonate with anyone who's felt stuck in religious performance.

Steve now leads Walk Right Ministries, offering a fresh approach to recovery that focuses on identity in Christ rather than behaviour modification alone. Through his book "God's Imperfect Plan is Perfect" and online community, he helps others move beyond Sunday Christianity into genuine relationship with God. This conversation challenges listeners to engage deeply with Scripture, understand their union with Christ, and discover the abundant life available right now, not just in the afterlife.

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When Dan Nichols and his wife Joy discovered at their 20-week ultrasound that their unborn son had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, their world was turned upside down. What followed was a journey through three open-heart surgeries before kindergarten, two terrifying moments when baby Landon flatlined, and a profound deepening of faith that continues to shape Dan's ministry today. In this powerful conversation, Dan opens up about wrestling with God in hospital, rejecting the prosperity gospel's false promises, and learning to trust God's heart when you can't trace His hand.

Beyond his personal story, Dan shares his passion for church unity through Northeast Collaborative, a regional network bringing pastors and denominations together in the most unchurched corner of America. He discusses his Making Scripture Simple book series designed to help children engage deeply with God's Word, and reflects on how suffering has transformed him into a more empathetic leader. Whether you're walking through your own valley or simply want to hear an honest conversation about faith, doubt, and God's unfailing presence, this episode will encourage and challenge you.

WEBLINKS Dan and Joy’s Website Northeast Collaborative Dents in the Darkness Podcast

Former attorney Lara Silverman's life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious neurological illness forced her from the courtroom to being bedridden for years. After trying 150 treatments across eight years without success, Lara has had to wrestle with questions most Christians never face: What if God calls you to accept suffering instead of healing? In this raw and honest conversation, Lara shares how her theology was completely reshaped by chronic illness, and how meeting Matt, a youth leader with terminal cancer, led to an unexpected love story and one precious year of marriage before his death.

This isn't a story of neat endings or miraculous healing. Lara still spends 65% of her days bedridden with debilitating vertigo. Yet she's written a bestselling book, "Singing Through Fire," that offers hope from inside the flames rather than from the other side. With the heart of a comedian and the mind of a lawyer, Lara challenges prosperity gospel thinking while revealing how God gives unexpected gifts, music, creativity, and deep joy, even when He doesn't give the healing we desperately pray for. Her story is for anyone who has felt betrayed by unanswered prayer or wondered why good theology doesn't always translate to an easy faith journey.

WEBLINKS Singing Through Fire (Book) Lara Silverman’s Website Lara Silverman on Facebook Lara Silverman on Instagram Lara Silverman on YouTube

Dr. Oluwole Babatunde's story is one of extraordinary resilience and purpose. After losing both parents by age 13 in Nigeria, he could have let tragedy define him, but instead, he chose to adapt. Now a physician scientist, psychiatry resident, and author, Dr. Babatunde has turned his pain into a powerful mission to serve others and reduce mental health disparities.

In this conversation, Dr. Babatunde shares the principles that carried him through unimaginable loss, including his MAP-LAMP framework for turning trials into triumphs. From the power of making meaning in suffering to the importance of serving others in our pain, his wisdom offers practical hope for anyone facing difficulty. His new book, Adapt and Advance, provides a faith-based, step-by-step guide to navigating life's storms, not just surviving them, but using them as stepping stones to something greater.

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Fletch Wiley's story is one of relentless divine pursuit. From a drug-addicted jazz musician who wanted nothing to do with Christianity to a Grammy-nominated producer and writer, his transformation is remarkable. He shares vivid memories of being chased down by God in a Tulsa hotel room, experiencing instant deliverance from addiction, and miraculous healing that confirmed his new faith. His journey took him from playing alongside legends like Doc Severinsen to spending years as Andrae Crouch's trumpet player during the groundbreaking days of contemporary Christian music.

In this conversation, Fletch opens up about traveling to 13 countries in recent years with his wife, playing music on streets from Turkey to India, and encouraging volunteer musicians around the world. He offers fascinating insights into the early Jesus movement, the wild west days of Christian music at events like Explo 72, and why he believes every musical style can be used to glorify God. His passion for worship through music remains as fresh today as it was when he first encountered Jesus over 50 years ago.

WEBLINKS God Doesn’t Play Fair (Book)

In this powerful conversation, Stacey Womack shares her 25-year journey helping survivors of domestic violence through Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services (ARMS). What began as an unexpected calling has grown into a ministry that has brought healing to over 55,000 women. Stacey opens up about the many forms abuse can take beyond physical violence, why churches often struggle to address this issue, and how faith communities can better support survivors. She also discusses the challenging but hopeful work of helping abusers change their behavior patterns.

This episode explores the complex dynamics of abusive relationships, including why survivors often return to familiar patterns and how belief systems perpetuate abuse. Stacey shares inspiring stories of transformation, both from women who have reclaimed their lives and men who have learned what love truly means. Whether you're a survivor, know someone in an abusive relationship, or are a faith leader wanting to better serve your community, this conversation offers practical wisdom, hope, and resources for creating lasting change.

WEBLINKS Abuse Recovery Ministry Services