Harvesting Hope

In this faith-centered episode of Harvesting Hope, Shadia welcomes Associate Pastor Andy Alber from People’s Church for a heartfelt conversation about Lent, healing, and what it truly means to draw near to God. As Lent begins, Pastor Andy explains that spiritual growth is not about adding more to an already busy life, but about creating space, slowing down, and inviting God in with intention. Together, they explore some of life’s hardest questions: Why does suffering happen? What does healing really look like? And how do we keep praying when answers feel delayed? Pastor Andy shares a powerful perspective that healing is always promised, even if not always on our timeline, and distinguishes between fleeting happiness and lasting joy rooted in faith. The conversation gently reminds listeners that community matters, boundaries are healthy, and even small daily steps toward God can transform a life. As always, the invitation is simple: slow down, surrender, and keep harvesting hope. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:17 Understanding Lent and Spiritual Space 03:49 Finding God Amidst Trauma 07:50 God’s Grace and Healing 11:59 Lessons from Special Needs 16:38 Being Present and Serving Others 22:07 Healthy Boundaries and Love 27:29 Starting Your Spiritual Journey 33:51 Happiness vs. Joy, and Community 38:08 People’s Church and Final Thoughts ABOUT HARVESTING HOPE Harvesting Hope is a faith-filled podcast hosted by Shadia Zamlut, owner of Bliss and Fish Mediterranean & Seafood Restaurant in Pinckney, Michigan, and founder of Mediterranean Gold olive oil. Each episode shares Shadia’s personal journey as a mother, and the hope she found through tradition, prayer, and a commitment to purity and wellness. This is a space for listeners who care about healthy living, the Mediterranean way of eating, and the deeper stories behind food. You will hear conversations rooted in culture, family, gratitude, and trust in God, with practical inspiration you can carry into your home and your table. CONNECT WITH US Bliss and Fish Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BlissAndFishRestaurant/  Bliss and Fish Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss_n_fish/  Mediterranean Gold Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mediterranean-Gold-LLC-61556480242253/  Mediterranean Gold Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medgoldllc/  MORE RESOURCES Bliss and Fish: https://www.blissandfish.com  Shop Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/products/organic-cold-pressed-olive-oil About Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/pages/about-us

In this episode of Harvesting Hope, Shadia sits down with a fellow autism mom whose story is filled with courage, creativity, and hard-earned wisdom. With deep respect for her son’s privacy, the conversation stays focused on her lived experience raising a child who showed signs of being “different” early on, not in a limiting way, but in a remarkable one. From lining up letters at nine months old to navigating social challenges that didn’t show up on a report card, she shares what it was like to parent a child who was both gifted and misunderstood. Together, they explore the real-world moments that shaped her journey: sensory overload, rigid rule-following, mislabeling by schools, and the exhausting pressure of advocating when no one else fully understood. She offers practical strategies that helped her son thrive, including building social skills through simple “games,” adjusting environments instead of punishing behavior, and prioritizing gut health through whole foods and careful nutrition choices. The episode is a powerful reminder that progress is possible, hope is often quiet, and a parent’s steady belief can change everything. ABOUT HARVESTING HOPE Harvesting Hope is a faith-filled podcast hosted by Shadia Zamlut, owner of Bliss and Fish Mediterranean & Seafood Restaurant in Pinckney, Michigan, and founder of Mediterranean Gold olive oil. Each episode shares Shadia’s personal journey as a mother, and the hope she found through tradition, prayer, and a commitment to purity and wellness. This is a space for listeners who care about healthy living, the Mediterranean way of eating, and the deeper stories behind food. You will hear conversations rooted in culture, family, gratitude, and trust in God, with practical inspiration you can carry into your home and your table. LISTEN TO THE SHOW   (Apple Podcasts)   (Apple Podcasts)   (Spotify) CONNECT WITH US Bliss and Fish Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BlissAndFishRestaurant/  Bliss and Fish Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss_n_fish/  Mediterranean Gold Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mediterranean-Gold-LLC-61556480242253/  Mediterranean Gold Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medgoldllc/  MORE RESOURCES Bliss and Fish: https://www.blissandfish.com  Shop Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/products/organic-cold-pressed-olive-oil About Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/pages/about-us

In this episode of Harvesting Hope, Shadia continues her deeply personal journey as a mother searching for healing and hope for her son. She shares the pivotal moment when a life-threatening hospitalization revealed the role of severe gut inflammation and SIBO, setting her on a path of research, prayer, and natural healing. Guided by medical insight and faith, Shadia explains how addressing inflammation through high-quality olive oil, fish oil, and nutrition led to dramatic improvements in her son’s health and quality of life. As the journey unfolded, lingering inflammation pointed her toward a new chapter: stem cell therapy. Shadia reflects on recent treatment abroad, the science behind it, and the hope it represents. With humility and honesty, she invites other mothers into a growing community rooted in faith, shared experience, and the belief that even small improvements are worth celebrating together. Chapters 00:00 Hospitalization and SIBO Diagnosis 03:43 Initial Protocol and Continued Hope 07:10 Discovering Stem Cell Therapy 09:35 Stem Cell Treatment and Future Outlook ABOUT HARVESTING HOPE Harvesting Hope is a faith-filled podcast hosted by Shadia Zamlut, owner of Bliss and Fish Mediterranean & Seafood Restaurant in Pinckney, Michigan, and founder of Mediterranean Gold olive oil. Each episode shares Shadia’s personal journey as a mother, and the hope she found through tradition, prayer, and a commitment to purity and wellness. This is a space for listeners who care about healthy living, the Mediterranean way of eating, and the deeper stories behind food. You will hear conversations rooted in culture, family, gratitude, and trust in God, with practical inspiration you can carry into your home and your table. CONNECT WITH US Bliss and Fish Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BlissAndFishRestaurant/  Bliss and Fish Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss_n_fish/  Mediterranean Gold Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mediterranean-Gold-LLC-61556480242253/  Mediterranean Gold Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medgoldllc/  MORE RESOURCES Bliss and Fish: https://www.blissandfish.com  Shop Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/products/organic-cold-pressed-olive-oil About Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/pages/about-us

In the first episode of Harvesting Hope, host Shadia Zamlut introduces herself as the owner of Bliss and Fish Mediterranean & Seafood in Pinckney, Michigan, and the founder of Mediterranean Gold olive oil. She shares the heart behind the brand: her youngest son’s severe IBS and the long, exhausting search for answers that led her to the healing traditions of olive oil from her family’s land in Lebanon. With faith as her anchor, Shadia explains why purity matters, including first cold press timing, high polyphenols, and testing for acidity and pesticides. She also tells the story of her family’s restaurant roots, her years in education, and the leap into entrepreneurship through farmers' markets, online sales, and finally opening Bliss and Fish. The episode closes with a simple invitation: taste the food, try the oil, and carry hope into your home. Chapters 00:00 Mediterranean Gold Olive Oil Origin 04:46 Son’s Healing & Business Vision 06:09 Family Culinary Heritage 08:31 Bliss & Fish Restaurant Journey 11:59 The Purity of Mediterranean Gold 14:18 Faith, Healing, and Purpose 17:50 Holiday Promotions and Usage Tips ABOUT HARVESTING HOPE Harvesting Hope is a faith-filled podcast hosted by Shadia Zamlut, owner of Bliss and Fish Mediterranean & Seafood Restaurant in Pinckney, Michigan, and founder of Mediterranean Gold olive oil. Each episode shares Shadia’s personal journey as a mother, and the hope she found through tradition, prayer, and a commitment to purity and wellness. This is a space for listeners who care about healthy living, the Mediterranean way of eating, and the deeper stories behind food. You will hear conversations rooted in culture, family, gratitude, and trust in God, with practical inspiration you can carry into your home and your table. CONNECT WITH US Bliss and Fish Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BlissAndFishRestaurant/  Bliss and Fish Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss_n_fish/  Mediterranean Gold Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mediterranean-Gold-LLC-61556480242253/  Mediterranean Gold Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medgoldllc/  MORE RESOURCES Bliss and Fish: https://www.blissandfish.com  Shop Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/products/organic-cold-pressed-olive-oil About Mediterranean Gold: https://medgoldllc.com/pages/about-us