Confetti Cannon of Grace & Truth

In this episode of Confetti Cannon of Grace & Truth, I chat with Jessica Gilmore. From learning the ropes of life with a newborn to her time as Miss Alabama 2017, we talk about how to be faithful to your season, transition well and reimagine what it looks like to commune with God as seasons change.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with child holocaust survivor, Dr. William Gingold. From the very beginning, his family’s story quickly became one of survival. Gingold was born in Warsaw, Poland, just weeks after World War II began. One day after his birth, the hospital where he was delivered was bombed. After an attempt to escape to a Russian encampment, his family was placed in what quickly became the Warsaw Ghetto. Dr. Gingold shares in great detail the harsh reality of life inside the Warsaw Ghetto, where most died of starvation. He unpacks the journey of survival, their successful escape through dug tunnels, and after years of displacement, how they made their way to the United States.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with breast cancer survivor and mom, Lindsay Vlaminck. Vlaminck shares her unusual road to her diagnosis at the age of 32. She shares how she has used her journey with cancer to propel her purpose. Vlaminck now helps educate and guide those in the midst of their walk with breast cancer. In our time together, she shares things to look out for and the importance of advocating for yourself if something doesn’t seem right.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with 12-year breast cancer survivor, business owner and mom, Andrea Betzler. Betzler shares the journey of her diagnosis, living with cancer and the weight of survivor guilt. She offers a glimpse at the raw reality of breast cancer, wondering if she would see her kids grow up to wrestling with why she won the fight and others didn't. Betzler offers encouragement to those in the thick of their diagnosis and wading through survivor guilt, bringing light to the value and purpose of life on the other side of cancer.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with ALS caregiver and son, Harsha Gurujal. Gurujal unveils the reality of a family member’s ALS diagnosis. He recollects the experience’s spectrum: from deep grief, witnessing the slow progression of a loved one being trapped in a shutting down body, to watching the disease transform a familiar face so painfully, to learning to find hope in the midst of it all. Gurujal shares what it took to adapt their mindset from dying with ALS to living with ALS, and what he’s doing to continue the fight in honor of his mother, Kumari.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with mom, business owner, advocate, and Assumption-native, Grace Snively. From a successful career to navigating the space of disabilities with her child, Snively shares her hard, hope-infused reality. In pursuit of her re-defined purpose, she shares how she has used her voice to support her son.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with community leader, trailblazer, entrepreneur, and founder of Chambanamoms.com, Laura Bleill. From her generational ties to Central Illinois, journalism roots to life as a mom and business owner, we trace the steps that propelled her impact. Bleill shares what inspired her trajectory and how she has created Chambamamoms.com into a constantly evolving resource for families across the community.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with Nicole Gorman, owner of Above Able and mom of two littles. From taking the leap of faith of a full-time employee to a full-time entrepreneur, she began Above Able. She’s on a mission to provide functional fashion to moms and working to empower all women. Nicole shares her journey to becoming her own boss while prioritizing family, navigating the social media space in regards to mental health and the steps she’s taking to remind women they are able.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with Carrie and Benjamin Hay, Executive Director and Co-Founders of Luella’s Lodge. After grieving the sudden loss of their daughter, Luella, they’ve navigated the intensity of the grief experience. In the midst of their processing and search for a network of fellow bereaved parents, they created a safe space for other grieving families called Luella’s Lodge.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with CEO and Founder of Stay Another Day, Mackenzie Nelson. Her advocacy emerged from her journey navigating the highs and lows of mental health. Mackenzie shares her story and what she’s doing to ease and erase the stigma around mental health through her platform and brand Stay Another Day.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with mother of two and University of Illinois graduate, Karidia Shelby. From the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy, to finding purpose in the midst of it all, Karidia reflects on the terrain she’s traversed to get to where she is today. She shares encouragement for those navigating the road she’s walked as a single, working mom and college graduate.

In this episode of The Khach, we speak with Homer native, United States Marine veteran and survivor of the Iran Hostage Crisis, Paul Lewis. After 444 days in captivity and over four decades after his release, Paul Lewis, shares his story of unimaginable endurance as a hostage in the Iran Hostage Crisis.

In this episode of The Khach, we chat with local business leader and encouragement expert, Habeeb Habeeb. Habeeb came to America at the age of seventeen to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. Shortly into his education at Olivet Nazarene University, a civil war broke out back home in Lebanon. From there, everything changed. He was forced to re-imagine his dreams and where he’d build the rest of his life. We dive into his story, impact and journey to America.

In this episode of The Khach, we chat with Urbana-native, Erin Watson. We dive into a bit of her story and impact, what she's doing to serve teen moms through YoungLives and we trace back the roots of her heart for people.

In this episode of The Khach, we chat with 17-year-old Sarah Jane German. Sarah lost her mom to cancer at the age of 12 and grew up knowing the halls of a hospital better than a playground. We deep dive into the reality of living on a time limit with a parent, processing grief and how she’s turned it into so much good through her nonprofit, CureACC.

In this episode of The Khach, we chat with Confidence Coach, speaker, author and Founder of Fierce&Flourish, Erin Tarr. We cover the spectrum from where her passion for living a life of intention began, to some of the biggest challenges teens, tweens and parents are facing. She even shares tips to implement into your routine to find your groove and gratitude for living your best life.