What if the things people said about you… were never true to begin with?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Kiersten Schlough; designer, photographer, youth leader, and woman of faith, to talk about identity, healing, and learning to see yourself the way God does.

Kiersten's journey began with bullying in middle school, feeling like she didn't fit in, and struggling to understand who she was. That struggle only deepened as she was later diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia, making school even more challenging and leaving her questioning her intelligence and worth.

But that wasn't the end of her story.

Through faith, scripture, and learning to pray even for those who hurt her, Kiersten began to rebuild her identity, not based on what others said, but on what God says.

She also shares about experiencing church hurt, the pain of walking away from a place she once loved, and how God met her in that healing process in unexpected ways.

We talk about:

• Bullying and struggling to fit in
• Learning disabilities and redefining intelligence
• Praying for those who hurt you (even when it's hard)
• Navigating church hurt and finding healing
• The power of forgiveness and letting go
• How God uses even painful seasons for growth and purpose

Kiersten's story is a powerful reminder that your identity is not defined by your past, your pain, or other people's opinions.

It's defined by who God says you are.

If you've ever questioned your worth, struggled to belong, or needed healing from past hurt, this episode will speak directly to you.

You can reach Kiersten at Kiersten Schlough (Ziegler) | LinkedIn.

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What if a simple childhood prayer… became the foundation for a lifetime of faith?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Ann Bodie; retired nurse, wife, mom, and grandmother, to share a powerful journey of faith that spans from childhood innocence to navigating unimaginable loss.

At just 12 years old, Ann prayed for a sign that her mother and unborn brother would be okay.
Her request?

Three icicles.

What happened next became a defining moment in her faith, but it wasn't until years later that she fully understood what God was teaching her about trust… and waiting.

But Ann's story doesn't stop there.

She also shares the heartbreaking loss of her 22-year-old son, and what it looks like to walk through deep grief while learning to trust and surrender to God daily.

We talk about:

• Childlike faith and the power of prayer
• Learning to trust God, even when the answer is "wait"
• Navigating grief after the loss of a child
• Letting go of control and surrendering daily
• How God carries us through what we never thought we could survive

Ann's story is both tender and powerful, a reminder that faith isn't built in one moment…

It's built over a lifetime of trusting, questioning, grieving, and choosing to believe anyway.

If you're in a season of waiting, loss, or learning to trust God more deeply, this episode will meet you right where you are.

You can reach Ann at Ann Bodie | LinkedIn.

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What do you do when your life changes in a single moment… and everything you planned is gone?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Julie Raque, speaker, business consultant, and single mother, to share a deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and faith through life's hardest seasons.

At just 29 years old, Jule became a widow overnight after her husband was killed in a car accident, leaving her to raise two young children on her own.

What followed wasn't immediate strength or clarity…
it was survival.

Hour by hour. Day by day.

Julie shares what it really looks like to walk through grief while still showing up for life, and how faith carried her, even when she didn't fully realize it at the time.

We talk about:

• Navigating loss while raising young children
• What survival mode really looks like (and why that's enough)
• Letting go of needing to have it all together
• How faith shows up, even when you don't feel strong
• The long journey from grief to healing… and eventually thriving

Julie's story is a powerful reminder that strength doesn't always look like confidence.

Sometimes…
strength is simply getting out of bed.

If you're walking through a hard season, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering how to keep going—this episode will meet you right where you are.

You don't have to have it all together.
You just have to take the next step.

You can reach Julie at Julie Raque | LinkedIn

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What if God asked you to do something that made absolutely no sense?

Would you do it?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Heather Black—speaker strategist, event expert, and self-proclaimed "stubborn" follower of Christ—to talk about what it really looks like to trust God… even when you don't have the full plan.

It all started with a simple (and slightly unexpected) instruction:

"Go get the pigeon out of the road."

What followed wasn't just about helping an injured bird…
it was a powerful lesson in obedience, surrender, and taking the first step—even when you don't know what comes next.

We talk about:

• Why God doesn't give you the whole plan—just the next step
• What happens when you resist (and how He keeps calling anyway)
• Letting go of control and trusting His timing
• Recognizing God's voice in everyday moments
• How faith grows when you finally say "yes"

Heather also shares powerful moments from her life where God showed up in unexpected ways—through heartbreak, uncertainty, and life-changing decisions.

Her message is simple, but one we all need to hear:

You don't need the whole staircase.
You just need to take the first step.

You can reach Heather at Heather D. Black | LinkedIn

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What do you do when your entire world changes in a single moment?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Jenni Bernal; wife, mom, and woman of deep faith, to share a powerful story of trauma, resilience, and trusting God through the unknown.

After a devastating bike accident left her husband with a spinal cord injury and the possibility of paralysis, Jenni found herself facing decisions, fear, and uncertainty she never could have prepared for.

But in the middle of it all… she heard something she'll never forget:

"Everything will be okay."

That moment changed everything.

We talk about:

• Navigating trauma and uncertainty as a family
• The power of faith when you don't have answers
• How community shows up in your darkest moments
• Letting go of control and accepting help
• Finding gratitude, even in the hardest seasons
• What it means to truly trust God's plan

Jenni's story is a reminder that even in life's most difficult moments…
God is present, people show up, and miracles still happen.

If you've ever faced something you didn't think you could handle, this episode will remind you that you're stronger than you think… and you're never alone.

You can reach Jenni at Jenni Bernal | LinkedIn

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What if faith doesn't start with having all the answers… but simply taking the first step?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Aaron Libner; business leader, nonprofit president, husband, and father, to talk about what it really looks like to come back to faith and begin again.

Aaron's journey isn't one of perfection, it's one many of us can relate to.

Growing up around faith but not fully living it… stepping away… and eventually finding his way back through family, community, and a desire to lead his daughter in a different direction.

We talk about:

• Growing up in faith but not fully practicing it
• Walking away, and what led him back
• The impact of fatherhood on his faith journey
• Navigating fear and uncertainty during a premature birth
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• How small steps, like prayer, devotionals, and community, can transform your life

Aaron shares how faith became more than something he knew… and instead something he lives daily.

His message is simple, but powerful:

You don't have to have it all figured out.
You just have to start somewhere.

If you've been feeling the pull to reconnect with your faith but don't know where to begin, this episode is for you.

You can reach Aaron at Aaron Libner | LinkedIn

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What if your lowest moment… is actually where your story begins?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Amanda Hietter, CEO, entrepreneur, and woman of faith; to share a powerful story of transformation, redemption, and purpose.

Amanda's journey wasn't easy.

From teen pregnancy and abusive relationships to addiction, jail, and hitting rock bottom, her life was marked by pain, broken identity, and searching for something to fill the void.

Until everything changed.

At her lowest point, with nothing left and nowhere to turn, Amanda cried out to God. And what followed wasn't an overnight transformation, but a steady, powerful journey back to faith, healing, and purpose.

We talk about:

• Struggling with identity and searching for worth in the wrong places
• Addiction, rock bottom, and the moment everything shifted
• What it truly means to surrender (not control) your life to God
• How small, daily steps rebuild your faith
• Why your story, no matter how messy, can be used for good

Amanda's story is raw, honest, and deeply hopeful.

It's a reminder that no matter how far you've gone…
you are never too far for God to reach you.

If you've ever felt lost, broken, or unworthy, this episode is for you.

You can reach Amanda at Amanda Hietter | LinkedIn

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.

What if the moments that slow you down… are actually protecting you?

In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Denise Bender, business owner, community leader, and woman of unwavering faith, to talk about how belief isn't always built in big, dramatic moments… but in the steady, everyday ways God shows up.

From a powerful childhood prayer that shaped her lifelong faith to witnessing what many would call a miracle, Denise shares how her relationship with God has evolved through every season of life.

We also explore the idea of "Godwinks"; those moments where things don't go as planned, only to realize later you were exactly where you needed to be.

We talk about:

• A life-changing prayer and the faith that followed
• What it means to trust God, even when life doesn't go as expected
• How to find the right faith community for you
• Why faith is less about perfection and more about consistency
• The small, everyday moments where God is quietly at work

Denise's story is a reminder that faith doesn't have to be loud to be powerful.

Sometimes, it's found in a prayer… a delay… or a moment that simply doesn't make sense, until it does.

If you've ever wondered if God is really working behind the scenes in your life… this episode will open your eyes to the ways He already is.

You can reach Denise at Denise Bender | LinkedIn

Want to share your story?

Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.

👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply

Ready to take the next step?

If you're feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.

👉 Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
👉 Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be called.
You don't have to have it all figured out to say yes.

God will meet you right where you are.