Ten years ago, one laughing mom in a Chewbacca mask nearly hit 100 million views in 48 hours. Today Candace Payne is a speaker and author who helps women find their fun again. On this episode of the GOA Speakers Podcast, hosts Abigail Garrett and Greg Oliver talk with Candace Payne have a funny, honest conversation full of hope.

Timed highlights:
00:08 – Welcome and introducing Candace Payne, "Chewbacca Mom"
01:02 – Nearly 100 million views in 48 hours on Facebook Live
02:02 – From Good Morning America to James Corden in a single weekend
04:10 – How her kids and her introverted husband handled the fame
06:28 – Going from viral video to speaker and author
09:04 – Why women's events need experiential joy, not just teaching about joy
12:21 – What "defiant joy" means and why it isn't toxic positivity
16:20 – Her late ADHD diagnosis and why it felt like liberation
20:11 – Losing "a million pounds" of mental weight before the physical weight
22:03 – A type 2 diabetes diagnosis and losing 133 pounds since February 2024
23:13 – How Scripture sustained her (Philippians 1:6)
26:37 – Inside a fully neurodiverse household
31:17 – The "Porsche engine in an El Camino" picture of the ADHD brain
33:45 – Bestie Weekend Ever, her first in-person event in Dallas–Fort Worth
34:45 – Her new podcast, What the Fun?
36:07 – Where to find Candace

Links:
Guest - candacepayne.fun
GOA Speakers - https://goaspeakers.com
Podcast Production - www.itsyourshow.co

Faith Eury Cho joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to share the winding story of her faith—from growing up in a non-churchgoing family and searching for Jesus as a child to finding a deeper commitment to God at a youth camp in Mexico. She reflects on how pain can lead beyond religious clichés toward a more honest experience of God’s presence.

Faith also talks about meeting her husband in college, serving in youth ministry, planting a church in northern New Jersey, and raising four children. She shares the story behind her books, including Experiencing Friendship with God, Never Alone, and her forthcoming book Unlikely Unanointed, about recognizing and walking in the Holy Spirit’s power.

Timed highlights:
00:00 — Introducing Faith Eury Cho and her early search for God
05:10 — A youth camp in Mexico and a turning point in her faith
08:40 — Pain, honesty, and seeking God’s presence beyond clichés
12:05 — College, her call to ministry, and meeting her husband
16:25 — Planting a church in northern New Jersey
19:55 — Raising four kids and finding joy in family life
21:35 — Faith’s journey to publishing and the stories behind her books
26:45 — Speaking engagements, the upcoming book launch, and where to find Faith

Links:
https://www.faitheurycho.com/

https://goaspeakers.com/

https://www.itsyourshow.co/

Former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent and 9/11 survivor Darin Kinder joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to share how a small-town kid from Virginia ended up protecting five U.S. presidents and walking through the fire at Ground Zero. Darin unpacks his firsthand experience inside the World Trade Center complex on 9/11, the unseen “hell on earth” between the tower collapses, and the moment he started calling people to “follow the light.”

He also explains the powerful meaning behind his book title “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit,” why courage is a choice, and how God turned one of America’s darkest days into a launching pad for his life’s purpose—calling men into fierce, biblical faith and into the arena against real-world evil like child sex trafficking.

Timed highlights:
00:00 – Intro to GOA Speakers Podcast; meet former Secret Service agent and 9/11 survivor Darin Kinder
03:00 – Small‑town Virginia, parents’ example of service, and a front-row seat to his mom’s faith through divorce
08:00 – Coming to genuine faith in high school and the love‑at‑first‑date story at James Madison University
12:30 – From history teacher and basketball coach to Secret Service candidate after a “divine appointment”
16:30 – What it really takes to become a Secret Service agent: testing, vetting, and seven months of training
21:00 – 9/11 morning: Secret Service office in 7 World Trade Center and realizing “we’re under attack”
26:00 – Inside the chaos: climbing Trade Center stairs, the second plane overhead, and choosing to stay in the fight
31:00 – Fire everywhere: cars, paper, ammo cooking off—and four agents figuring out how to run a firetruck
36:00 – The alleyway moment: choking in the dust, seeing a shaft of light, and calling people to “follow my voice”
40:00 – From Ground Zero to the gospel: coming to Christ filthy, wounded, and taken as you are
44:00 – Clean suits vs. dirty suits: the scene that inspired “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit” and a life of mission
48:00 – Fierce Faith, book two ideas, and Darin’s heart for younger men and dads in the grind today
51:00 – Where to find Darin online and how to bring him to your church, men’s group, or event

Socials and links:
Darin Kinder
Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: @DarinKinder
Faith/ministry site: https://fierce-faith.com
Speaking site: https://DarinKitner.com

GOA Speakers
Booking & info: https://goaspeakers.com

Podcast Production:
ItsYourShow.co