Truth Wins Seriously!

Truth Wins, Seriously returns with host Val Howe for one of the most heartfelt episodes yet, featuring special guest Bobby North. In this deeply personal conversation, Bobby opens up about the unimaginable losses that shaped his life—the death of a daughter before birth, the tragic loss of his 19-year-old son Heath in a car accident, and years later, the sudden passing of his wife Missy after a heart attack behind the wheel. Through every chapter of grief, Bobby shares how faith, family, and the steady presence of Jesus carried him forward when life no longer made sense.  Val guides the conversation with compassion and honesty as Bobby reflects on what it means to keep living after heartbreak, how grief affects every member of a family differently, and why time alone does not heal wounds. Instead, this episode centers on a powerful truth: tragedy does not have to define your life. From raising sons on the farm to rebuilding after devastating loss, Bobby’s story is one of endurance, perspective, and hope.The episode closes on a message that will stay with listeners long after it ends: death does not define us—life does. For anyone walking through grief, questioning God in hard seasons, or searching for peace after loss, this conversation is a reminder that healing can still be found, purpose can still return, and faith can still light the way forward. 

On this episode of Truth Wins, Seriously, host Valerie Howe sits down for one of the most heartfelt and difficult conversations the show has tackled yet. Her guest shares the deeply personal story of losing her three-month-old son to SIDS, walking listeners through the shock of that night, the grief that followed, and the long road of learning how faith carries you through unimaginable loss.  Together, they talk about what people say in moments of grief, how every person processes loss differently, and the quiet ways God prepares, comforts, and speaks to us in the middle of heartbreak. It’s a powerful conversation about pain, perspective, and the hope that comes from knowing this life is not the end. If you or someone you love has ever walked through loss, this episode is a reminder that even in grief, truth still wins. Seriously. 

Karen Simpson-Neasby joins host Valerie Howe for a personal and honest conversation rooted in decades of friendship, faith, and real-life challenges. Karen shares how she became part of Valerie’s family at a young age, caring for her children and building a lifelong bond that carried into her career and life back in Lebanon, where she now serves as Executive Director of the Mercy Health Foundation.  At the center of the episode is Karen’s battle with triple negative breast cancer. She walks through receiving the diagnosis, going through months of chemotherapy and radiation, and the emotional weight that came with it—including losing her hair and facing uncertainty head-on.  Karen also shares the mindset that helped carry her through. Instead of focusing inward, she made it a point to encourage others during treatment, finding purpose even in the middle of difficulty. The conversation highlights the importance of support, access to care close to home, and the reality that many people face these journeys alone.  Throughout it all, faith remains the foundation. Karen talks about trusting God through fear, dealing with the anxiety that comes with follow-up scans, and choosing to believe there is purpose in the struggle. Her story ultimately centers on one message—using her story for His glory and showing that even in the hardest moments, truth still wins. 

On this episode of Truth Wins, Seriously, host Valerie Howe sits down with Ayana Tyler for a conversation that feels real, raw, and deeply encouraging.Ayana shares what her life looked like before fully surrendering to Christ. She talks openly about insecurity, people pleasing, jealousy, and the exhausting cycle of not knowing who she really was. Even though she grew up in church, she realized she did not truly have a relationship with God until January 1, 2025, when she made the decision to fully surrender.What followed was not instant ease. It was loss. She lost her job as a gymnastics coach in San Antonio, her community, her stability, and at one point even her mental and physical strength. She describes hitting the floor in prayer, feeling completely broken, and crying out to God with nothing left. Then came a simple but life altering direction in her spirit. Go to Missouri.In obedience, she packed up and left Texas without a clear plan. Once in Waynesville, God began rebuilding her life step by step. What started as donation based gymnastics lessons in a small room with borrowed mats turned into something she could not have planned. Through a chance conversation at a farmer’s market, she was led to a fully equipped gymnastics facility on Fort Leonard Wood that had been waiting for a coach since 2020. No rent. Equipment already in place. Built in demand.Ayana’s story is not polished or perfect. It is honest. It is about spiritual warfare, rebuilding trust, learning patience, and discovering that God’s timing is better than our own. She talks about restoration, revival, and how God is restoring her joy, her voice, and her identity.If you have ever felt confused, overlooked, or like your obedience cost you more than you expected, this episode will speak to you.Truth wins. Seriously.

In this episode of Truth Wins, Seriously, host Val Howe sits down with Angie Trude to share a deeply personal conversation about walking through breast cancer and experiencing God’s presence in the middle of suffering. Angie расска how a routine doctor’s appointment led to a breast cancer diagnosis and how quickly her life became filled with tests, specialists, surgeries, and treatments.Angie talks about the physical challenges she faced, including multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, unexpected complications, and long recoveries, as well as the emotional weight of uncertainty during that season. Throughout it all, she describes a sense of calm and peace that she believes came directly from God, carrying her through moments when fear could have taken over.The conversation also touches on the importance of prayer, the compassion of doctors and nurses who prayed with her, and the support of family members who stood by her through every step. Angie reflects on how her faith was strengthened through hardship, how she learned to take life one day at a time, and what it means to trust God even when the outcome is unknown.This episode is an honest and faith-centered discussion about perseverance, healing, and believing that God remains present and active in our lives, even in the most difficult circumstances.

In this deeply personal episode of Truth Wins, Seriously!, host Valerie Howe steps out from behind the interviewer’s seat and into the story herself, sharing a firsthand account of the day her life was nearly taken and why she believes God was present in every detail.Valerie is joined by Kelly Ripley, a pastor and eyewitness to the accident, and Sydney Richardson, who was inside the business and became a key part of the unfolding moments that followed. Together, they walk listeners through the events surrounding Valerie being struck by a pickup truck while crossing a busy intersection in downtown Lebanon.What unfolds is not just a retelling of an accident, but a layered testimony of obedience, protection, and spiritual awareness. Valerie shares how she felt strongly compelled that morning to make specific choices about what to wear, what glasses to put on, and even what shoes to walk in, decisions that later proved critical to her survival. Kelly recounts what he saw from the street, how he instinctively blocked traffic, and why the situation could have ended far differently. Sydney describes the chaos from inside the building as phones rang, people gathered, prayers were spoken, and help arrived with uncanny timing.This episode explores the tension between physical trauma and spiritual clarity, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the belief that purpose does not end when hardship begins. Valerie speaks openly about fear, shock, gratitude, and the renewed sense of calling that followed, not only for herself but for everyone who witnessed the event.More than a story of survival, this conversation is about sovereignty, community, and faith lived out in real time. It is a reminder that even in moments that feel chaotic and terrifying, nothing is outside God’s authority, and that truth, even when hard-earned, still wins. Seriously

In this powerful episode of Truth Wins, host Valarie Howe sits down with counselor, author, and trauma survivor Lea Hering-Lewis, LPC, for an honest and deeply moving conversation about faith, pain, and healing.Lea shares her life before, during, and after trauma, beginning with years of childhood surgeries, separation from family, and the long-term emotional impact that followed her into adulthood. She speaks openly about relationships shaped by attachment wounds, surviving a life-threatening violent encounter, wrestling with anger, addiction, and grief, and ultimately finding her way back to faith when everything else fell apart.Through her story, Lea explains how Jesus Christ met her in the middle of trauma, not just to help her survive, but to transform how she sees suffering, purpose, and healing. She reflects on learning when to fight as a warrior in faith and when to rest, how counseling and education became part of her own recovery, and how God now uses her experiences to help others heal.The episode also explores her book, Overcoming Trauma with the Help of Jesus Christ, her work as a licensed professional counselor and trauma practitioner, and her mission to walk alongside others who feel stuck, angry, or broken by their past.This is a raw, faith-centered conversation about resilience, redemption, and the truth that even in the darkest moments, God is still at work.Truth wins. And healing is possible.

On this episode of Truth Wins, Seriously! host Valarie Howe sits down with Debbie Cantrell, a woman whose life journey moves from trauma and hopelessness to leadership, healing, and purpose.Debbie shares that her sense of worth was damaged early in life, followed by decades in a domestic violence marriage. She describes seasons when she could barely get out of bed and believed she had no future. A turning point came when a friend urged her to reread the messages in her high school yearbook. Those handwritten notes reminded her that she was valued and loved, and she began rebuilding her life one small productive task at a time.Community helped her heal. Joining the Lions Club gave her purpose again, and she soon became an active leader. Her service led to milestones that once felt unimaginable: first female Lions president in Lebanon, District Governor in Sydney, speaker at the United Nations and in South Korea, and in 2024 she was elected as one of only 34 International Directors worldwide.Just after reaching that milestone Debbie faced her hardest test yet: a diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer. Scans showed a baseball sized tumor and cancer spread throughout her abdomen. Before treatment began someone close to her asked if she was holding onto unforgiveness. Debbie says releasing it brought immediate peace and she believes it was part of her healing journey.She endured 18 rounds of chemotherapy, hair loss, weakness, and fear. Her husband, daughters, grandchildren, and thousands of people prayed, encouraged, and supported her through every step. Then came the news doctors struggled to explain: the tumor was gone. Her scans cleared and her numbers returned to normal. Today she is cancer free, undergoing routine tests and port flushes to stay ahead of any return.Debbie’s story is one of identity restored, faith strengthened, and truth prevailing. From childhood wounds to international leadership and from a devastating diagnosis to complete healing, her life stands as a reminder that truth wins. Seriously.

Truth Wins, Seriously! with Valarie HoweIn this inspiring episode of Truth Wins, Seriously! host Valarie Howe welcomes special guest Cindy Marsh for a deep and emotional conversation about faith, forgiveness, and transformation. Cindy shares her personal story of growing up in a difficult home, the heartbreak of abandonment, and the love of a woman who stepped in to raise her when no one else could. Her testimony is raw and real, showing how God can take broken beginnings and turn them into powerful stories of redemption.As Valarie and Cindy talk, they explore how faith in Christ can heal wounds that once felt impossible to overcome. Cindy explains how her life changed when she surrendered to God and learned that His truth will always prevail. The two discuss the importance of forgiveness, the struggles of finding identity, and how letting go of pain can lead to peace and purpose.This episode of Truth Wins, Seriously! is a reminder that no matter what you have faced, there is hope through Jesus Christ. It speaks to anyone who has struggled with family, trauma, or feeling unloved. Valarie and Cindy show that faith, love, and perseverance can bring light into even the darkest situations.Listen now to hear Cindy’s moving testimony, discover how God works through every season of life, and learn why truth always wins.

Truth Wins Seriously, hosted by Valerie Howe, dives deep into real stories of faith in the middle of life’s hardest moments. In this episode, Valerie sits down with Caity Chisum and her mother, Beth, to share their family’s incredible story of survival, struggle, and God’s presence through crisis.At just 30 years old, Caity—an elementary music teacher, singer, and dancer—suffered two sudden hemorrhagic strokes that left her completely paralyzed on her left side. Doctors removed 75% of her right temporal lobe to save her life, uncertain if she would ever walk or speak again. Beth and her husband Eric were forced to face every parent’s nightmare, clinging to faith when medical answers ran out.Through raw conversation and deep emotion, Valerie guides them as they recount those early days of shock, fear, and the long months of rehabilitation. Caity talks about learning to walk, eat, and talk again—how humor, patience, and faith became her lifeline. Beth shares the family’s exhaustion and the moment she realized that rejoicing in hardship doesn’t mean pretending it’s easy, but trusting that God is still present in the pain.Four years later, Caity is walking, cooking, and volunteering with children again, living proof that miracles happen through perseverance and grace. Her story isn’t just about recovery—it’s about transformation, faith, and finding new purpose after devastation.This episode of Truth Wins Seriously reminds listeners that even in tragedy, hope and truth always rise to the surface.