Strangers on The Way

What happens when the person who once wanted to kill a street preacher becomes someone who spends his life sharing the Gospel?In this powerful episode of Strangers on the Way, Lauren sits down with entrepreneur and evangelist Waleed Zarou, whose radical story of encountering God completely changed the direction of his life. Waleed shares honestly about a time that he attempted to murder a street preacher and the extraordinary encounter with God that stopped him in his tracks and ultimately led him to Jesus.Waleed doesn’t just share his story - he shares the Gospel. In this conversation, he clearly explains who Jesus is, what the Gospel means, how someone can receive Jesus, and what the next steps can look like after making that decision. His passion is rooted in a simple belief: everyone, everywhere, everyday can be used by God to reach the people around them.As an entrepreneur, Waleed has discovered that his businesses are mission fields, too. Lauren and Waleed swap stories from his experiences in the barber shop and pizzeria, talking about the unexpected opportunities to build relationships, share faith, and point people toward Jesus right in the middle of everyday life. Waleed has used both his salon and pizzeria as platforms to connect with his community and share the Gospel.This is a conversation about radical transformation, bold faith, entrepreneurship, and what can happen when we realize that the people already in our everyday lives might be the very people God is asking us to reach.-Learn more about Waleed Zarou and his ministry here.Support the showLauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and and co-author of I'm Possible! children's book, and Finding IT: Becoming Your Greatest Leadership Self.Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive ...

In Episode 152, Lauren interviews Marvel enthusiasts Najeed Baig and Jeff Tano for a conversation about superheroes, human nature, and the stories that capture our imagination.Why are we so drawn to superheroes? What do our favorite characters reveal about us? Together, they talk about their favorite Marvel characters, the appeal of superheroes, and the ways brokenness, weakness, courage, and redemption show up in these larger-than-life stories.But the conversation doesn’t stop with the Marvel universe. Lauren, Najeed, and Jeff explore what it means to recognize the “everyday superheroes” in our own lives - the ordinary people who show up, make sacrifices, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the lives of others.Whether you’re a longtime Marvel fan or simply fascinated by the stories we tell about good, evil, courage, and humanity, this episode invites you to look at superheroes, and the people around you, in a whole new way.Because sometimes the greatest heroes aren’t the ones wearing a cape.Episode 152: Najeed Baig and Jeff Tano - Marvel, superheroes and the heroes around us is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of Marvel films and Disney+ series, including plot details and spoilers. Marvel and Disney are trademarks of their respective owners. This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Marvel or Disney.-The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strangers across the world. Be inspired through her stories to create new stories of your own.Support the showLauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and and co-author of I'm Possible! children's book, and Finding IT: Becoming Your Greatest Leadership Self.Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive ...

In Episode 151, Lauren sits down with Denvil Lee, Campus Pastor at The Chapel Lake Zurich. Denvil shares his incredible journey from working at McDonald’s, to retail leadership, to serving as a police officer, investigator, and detective, before eventually stepping into church leadership and pastoral ministry. One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation is how Denvil approaches each role with a heart to serve and invest in people - often spending only a short time at the top before returning to walk alongside others, mentor them, and help raise them up.Together, Lauren and Denvil explore why true leadership is more about faithfulness to the process than chasing outcomes, how God’s Kingdom often begins with small seeds, and why being entrusted with small things matters deeply.Denvil also opens up about his personal faith journey from atheism and agnosticism to encountering God while cleaning the back of a church. Through moving stories and honest reflection, he reminds listeners that it is a joy to be found by God and that God is more than we can dream or imagine.This episode is a powerful encouragement for anyone searching for purpose, learning to trust God in small beginnings, or wondering if they can still be found by Him.-The Strangers on The Way Podcast: Transforming the world, one stranger at a time. On a quest to eliminate loneliness and isolation, writer and speaker Lauren Hansen is on a mission to encourage every person to meet someone new every day. This podcast shares inspirational stories of her interactions with strangers across the world. Be inspired through her stories to create new stories of your own.Support the showLauren Hansen, M.Ed., is a natural storyteller and creative consultant who believes that love + words can set people free and transform relationships. As the founder of Lauren Hansen Consulting LLC, she specializes in creative consulting that guides individuals through every step of the book writing process, hosts inspiring workshops that guide people toward becoming the greatest versions of themselves, and pioneers meaningful projects with organizations that impact the globe.As an author, speaker, and podcaster, Lauren is passionate about helping people see themselves and others more clearly, fostering deeper connections through powerful communication. She’s the host of the Strangers on The Way Podcast, author of Strangers on The Way: Finding God Through the People We Meet and Behind the Waterfall: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Grief, and and co-author of I'm Possible! children's book, and Finding IT: Becoming Your Greatest Leadership Self.Lauren’s mission is to empower individuals to love boldly, communicate honestly, and thrive ...