Unseen Atlanta

That’s how Shanae explained sleeping in a car at Racetrac with her kids, trying to make the best of an impossible situation.In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Shanae shares what it was like to live in survival mode, making difficult decisions just to get through each day.But her story doesn’t end there. It’s also about what happens when someone finds the support, stability, and tools to begin moving forward.Support the show

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What if real change doesn’t come from doing more, but from doing it together?In Episode 17 of Unseen Atlanta, our CEO Tensley Almand sits down with Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge, to talk about why collaboration creates lasting change in Atlanta.Bruce shares how City of Refuge grew by responding to real needs as they emerged, and why no single organization can solve homelessness alone. From partnering across nonprofits to working alongside businesses and churches, this conversation challenges the scarcity mindset and invites us to think differently about impact.Support the show

In this episode, Good Samaritan CEO Breanna Lathrop shares why collaboration, not competition, is essential to transforming Atlanta’s health. From her early days volunteering at a free clinic in Iowa to leading a holistic health center serving uninsured families, Breanna’s story shows how small steps, taken faithfully, create real change. She talks about the partnership between Good Sam and Atlanta Mission, the power of treating the whole person, and why access, dignity, and community matter just as much as medicine. And with compassion and clarity, she reminds us: the work feels big, but when we keep doing the next right thing, “slowly but surely, we build something better.” Support the show

For years, Micah believed he was destined to die in addiction. His life was spinning out of control; hurting the people he loved, cycling through legal trouble, and trying to fix everything on his own strength. It wasn’t until a court-mandated stay at The Potter’s House that everything shifted. In this episode, Micah shares the gritty truth about the beliefs that kept him stuck, the moment he finally let go, and how God used community, counseling, and accountability to rebuild him from the inside out. Today, Micah is restoring his marriage, rediscovering his purpose, and waking up every morning “with victory.” Support the show

Our guest this week, Johnny, works on staff at Atlanta Mission today. But getting here took nearly losing everything. Years before he ever encouraged a new man on campus, Johnny stood on the edge of a MARTA platform, ready to end his life. That night should have been the end. Instead, it became the beginning. After surviving a suicide attempt and completing the program, Johnny stayed sober for 14 years until a relapse forced him to face the deeper trauma he’d been outrunning since childhood. Now restored, reunited with his wife, and serving at Atlanta Mission, Johnny walks with men who feel as hopeless as he once did. His story proves that recovery isn’t a straight line.  Note: This episode contains mature themes. Viewer discretion advised. Support the show

After years of addiction and relapse, Mark Coffin hit rock bottom in a hotel lobby, detoxing alone with nowhere left to run. That moment changed everything. In this episode, Mark shares how faith, 12-Step recovery, and doing “the next right thing” helped him rebuild his life from survival to stability, and eventually, to purpose. Now more than 30 years sober and leading a thriving business, his story is proof that recovery is possible, and that choosing life is always worth it. Support the show

For Danny, addiction started at just 11 years old. After decades of pain and arrests, he found himself completely broken. But God wasn’t finished yet. Through The Potter’s House, Danny learned a new way to live. Now five years sober, he’s married, raising his daughter, and helping others believe that change is possible. This episode is about what happens when you surrender everything, do the next right thing, and let God rebuild what’s been broken. Support the show

Ozzie spent years angry, trying to be someone he wasn’t. What started as fitting in turned into addiction, homelessness, and nights spent sleeping in bathrooms. In jail, he prayed to God for help. The next day, The Potter’s House called. This episode is the story of what happened next: how Ozzie faced the emotions he’d buried and learned that he wasn’t angry, he was just sad. Support the show

This week on Unseen Atlanta, we sit down with Brooke Hempel, Senior VP of Research at Pinkston and Vice Chair of Atlanta Mission’s Board. Brooke believes that nonprofits can only truly live out their missions by understanding people. In this episode, she shares why data is an act of stewardship, why excellence in marketing builds trust, and how the next generation’s search for hope could reshape the future of giving. It’s a conversation about faith, insight, and what it really means to know the people you serve. Support the show

This week’s episode features one of our employment partners, Adria Marshall, CEO and founder of EcoSlay. Adria decided to become an employment partner with us because she knows that most of us are “a few situations away” from those having to start over, and that when we choose to meet people where they are, good things happen. In this conversation, Adria shares her own story of faith, perseverance, and purpose, and why creating opportunity for others has become the most meaningful part of her success. Learn how your business can make a difference at atlantamission.org/corporate-partnership. Support the show

For most of his life, Denh felt like he had to handle everything alone. He learned to keep his pain quiet. But when he lost everything, he made the difficult choice to ask for help. At The Potter’s House, Denh found people who listened for the first time. In this episode, he shares how learning humility, faith, and honesty helped him begin again, and what it really means to be heard for the first time. Support the show

When churches and nonprofits join forces, the impact multiplies. In this conversation, Bryan Apinis, Director of the Intersect Project and Be Rich Campaign at North Point Ministries, shares how partnerships built on relationship have mobilized millions to give, serve, and love. Together with our CEO Tensley Almand, he explores what it means to move beyond charity into collaboration, and why the real transformation happens when we act collectively. Support the show

At My Sister’s House, women talk about Ms. Avis the way you talk about someone who changed your life. She’s tough, direct, and refuses to let you hide behind denial. But she also has a gift: seeing past the addiction, past the pain, to the person God created you to be. In this episode, Avis shares her own story of incarceration and recovery, and what she’s learned after more than a decade walking with women on the long road to healing. Support the show

When Candy first walked into Restoration House, she looked up and whispered, “Finally, a roof.” Her story started decades earlier with the shock of learning she was adopted at 12, spiraling into rebellion, addiction, and destructive relationships that left her homeless on Atlanta’s streets.  In this episode, she shares the reality of her story, and the moment her advocate, Ms. Avis, told her to “take a hard look in the mirror,” and how faith gave her the strength to rebuild. Support the show

In this episode, Kathy Rainwater-Roe, Director of Community Partnerships at Phoenix Senior Living, shares how her first volunteer experience with Atlanta Mission dismantled her assumptions about homelessness and revealed the dignity and gratitude of the women she met. After that paradigm shift, Kathy has worked hard to bring Phoenix from serving meals during the holidays to investing in the whole person by becoming one of Atlanta Mission’s employment partners. In this conversation, Kathy unpacks the surprising parallels between senior care and homelessness, the transformational impact of second chances, and why changing perceptions is key to changing lives. If you’ve ever wondered whether one person, or one employer, can really make a difference, Kathy’s story will inspire you to see a new perspective. Become an employment partner: https://atlantamission.org/corporate-partnership/Check out Phoenix Senior Living: https://www.phoenixsrliving.com/Support the show

In this special episode of Unseen Atlanta, CEO Tensley Almand steps into the host’s chair for a conversation with Justin Landis, founder of The Justin Landis Group, Bolst Real Estate, and a member of Atlanta Mission’s Executive Committee.  Justin shares how showing luxury homes in one Atlanta neighborhood while passing people sleeping under bridges in another shifted his perspective forever. From launching bold campaigns with Atlanta Mission to creating a benefit corporation, his conviction remains the same: where you live matters, community matters, and everyone deserves a dream home. Support the show

For 16 years, Michael Sheppard has been walking alongside men experiencing homelessness at The Shepherd’s Inn and Fuqua Hall. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, he shares what this kind of change really takes. If you’ve ever wondered how to respond when you see someone in need, or what real transformation looks like behind the doors of Atlanta Mission, this conversation will shift the way you see homelessness, dignity, and hope. Support the show

Cedric thought he could carry the weight of life on his own. Morgan thought homelessness was something that only happened to “other people.” Both were wrong. They walked into Atlanta Mission on the same day, one step away from giving up, and one step away from a lifetime of friendship. This is a story about what happens after rock bottom. Listen now. Because the line between “them” and “us” is thinner than you think. Support the show

Season 2 of Unseen Atlanta is here! This year, the stories go even deeper. Join hosts Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller as they pull back the curtain on unseen issues in Atlanta, sharing powerful first-hand accounts from people who’ve experienced homelessness and addiction, and insights from experts working to solve these challenges. In this episode, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s ahead this season: from stories of recovery and resilience, to conversations with business leaders and advocates who are investing in our city’s future. You’ll also learn how each episode connects to a bigger picture, and how you can be part of the change happening in Atlanta right now. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or just tuning in for the first time, this season is an invitation to listen closer, see more, and believe that transformation is possible. Support the show

Jason never imagined he’d become homeless. He had a law degree, a successful 20-year career in human resources, and a strong faith background. But after a job loss, personal trauma, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, his life unraveled, and he found himself with no resources, no home, and nowhere to go. In this episode, Jason shares his story of situational homelessness and the emotional toll of losing everything. He explains how Atlanta Mission’s structured programming and spiritual community helped him regain his footing, reclaim his purpose, and rebuild his future. We’re also joined by Anthony Green Jr., a vocational specialist at Atlanta Mission, who explains how the Next Steps and Transformations programs are designed to not just restore employment, but identity, dignity, and direction. Support the show

Before coming to The Potter’s House, Eli was living a double life. He was outwardly spiritual but inwardly broken. In this episode, he shares how unresolved grief, addiction, and shame kept him stuck in cycles of self-sabotage until he finally surrendered to healing. Through deep introspection, faith, and community, Eli found purpose and learned to love himself again. Psychiatrist Dr. John Tumeh also joins this episode to shed light on the connection between mental illness, addiction, and homelessness—and why empathy is essential for recovery.Support the show

Matt’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and redemption. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Matt shares how decades of hiding behind masks—of perfection, performance, and people-pleasing—gave way to a life built on truth and recovery. Growing up in a small Georgia town where being himself didn’t feel like an option, Matt spent years masking his identity and numbing his pain through addiction. It wasn’t until he heard himself say the words, “I am an addict,” that his transformation began. Through vulnerability, community, and faith, Matt found not only sobriety but the freedom to live fully as himself. Today, he works on staff at Atlanta Mission, helping others walk the same path he once feared to begin. This episode is both deeply personal and profoundly hopeful. Matt is not just a guest—he’s his own subject matter expert on healing, identity, and what it means to finally feel seen. Support the show

Sherri came to Georgia looking for a new beginning—but instead, she found herself homeless, alone, and in the depths of addiction. She never imagined how much one decision, one shelter bed, and one advocate could change everything. In Part 2 of her story, Sherri opens up about the hard road to recovery, the moment she finally felt seen, and how she started to love the woman she’s becoming. Plus, hear from Dr. Carla Garvin on the role trauma-informed care plays in stories like Sherri’s. Support the show

What happens when survival means making the hardest decision a mother can face? In this emotional first part of Sherri’s story, she opens up about her journey through childhood trauma, domestic violence, addiction, and the moment she chose to give custody of her children to her parents – not out of abandonment, but out of love. Sherri shares the harrowing reality of abuse, including a near-death assault that changed her life forever. Her story shines a light on the deep connection between trauma and homelessness, and how cycles of violence and addiction can leave even the strongest among us in crisis. This episode is raw, powerful, and essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the hidden struggles behind homelessness, and the strength it takes to survive them. Part Two of Sherri’s story – her journey toward healing and hope – drops May 28. Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence, assault, abuse, and addiction. Listener discretion is advised.Support the show

In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, we hear from Wesley; a father, son, and leader fighting to reclaim the life that addiction nearly stole from him. After years of struggling with substance use and incarceration, Wesley realized the toll it had taken, especially the moments he missed with his son. At the Potter’s House, he found not just recovery, but forgiveness, community, and a renewed relationship with God. Now stepping into leadership and preparing to graduate, Wesley shares his powerful journey from brokenness to restoration – and his vision for a future filled with hope, fatherhood, and purpose. In this episode, we also hear from Adrienne Bumpers, director of the Potter’s House, for expert insights on how recovery programs build community and transform lives. Support the show

 Quena spent much of her life feeling invisible – giving everything to others and getting nothing in return. In this raw and honest episode, she shares her journey through abandonment, trauma, addiction, and ultimately, transformation. From walking the streets to walking into Atlanta Mission, Quena's story is one of courage, healing, and rediscovered purpose. Now, she’s not just seen – she’s shining. You’ll also hear from Telicia Maxwell, Director of My Sister’s House, as she offers powerful insight into what it truly takes to rebuild trust, restore dignity, and support women on the path to lasting changeSupport the show

In this week’s episode of Unseen Atlanta, we hear Teyauna’s moving story. When everything began to fall apart, she found herself pregnant, alone, and with nowhere to turn. What felt like rock bottom led her through the doors of Atlanta Mission.  Teyauna shares the raw reality of experiencing homelessness while pregnant and navigating mental health challenges. But she also reveals how faith, community, and a safe space helped her find the courage to begin again. You’ll also hear again from Dr. Jill Pable, a national expert on trauma-informed design, as she explains why physical spaces matter in healing from trauma, and how Atlanta Mission is leading the way in trauma-informed spaces. Support the show

In this week’s episode of Unseen Atlanta, we listen to Sean’s powerful story. Sean battled addiction, trauma, and homelessness before finding hope at Atlanta Mission's The Potter’s House in Athens, GA. His journey from self-loathing and isolation to transformation and faith is a testament to resilience and the power of community. We also hear from his mother, Debbie, as she shares her perspective on watching her son struggle and ultimately find a path forward.  This episode is dedicated to the memory of Thomas A. Shuford, a beloved member of the Atlanta Mission and recovery community. Support the show

In this deeply moving episode of Unseen Atlanta, Maria tells her story of resilience and strength. As a single mother of six, Maria faced unimaginable hardships, moving from place to place, struggling to provide for her children while keeping hope alive. Through Atlanta Mission’s Restoration House and My Sister’s House, she found not only shelter but a path to healing, self-discovery, and a future full of promise. Maria’s story is a powerful testament to the strength of a mother’s love and the importance of breaking generational cycles of homelessness. Join hosts Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller as they walk through Maria’s experience, shedding light on the unseen struggles of families facing homelessness. This episode also features Dr. Jill Pable, an expert in trauma-informed design, who provides critical insights into how spaces can foster healing and stability for mothers and children. Support the show

 In this episode, Dexter shares his incredible journey from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to long-term recovery and purpose. Arrested 52 times, with 17 felonies and six prison sentences, Dexter experienced the darkest depths of addiction. After decades of struggle, he found transformation through faith, community, and Atlanta Mission’s Potter’s House program. Now, as a vocational manager at Atlanta Mission, Dexter dedicates his life to helping others overcome addiction and rebuild their futures. This conversation is a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of second chances.  Joining the discussion are subject matter experts Dan Phelan, a long-term recovery advocate and Atlanta Mission board member, and Emily Riblett, an alumna of My Sister’s House who now works in long-term recovery support. Together, they provide critical insights into addiction, recovery, and the power of lived experience. Support the show

In this impactful episode of Unseen Atlanta, Alisha shares her journey from homelessness to healing at Atlanta Mission. She recounts the struggles of being unseen and unsafe, the relief of finding shelter, and how faith and community restored her sense of hope and purpose. This episode also features Sarah Stein, Senior Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, who touches on the systemic barriers contributing to housing insecurity and what we can do as a community to address them. Together, these stories shed light on both the personal and structural challenges of homelessness and inspire us to take action. Support the show

In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Kisha shares her inspiring journey of resilience, faith, and transformation after a devastating medical crisis led to homelessness. Her story highlights the power of community and the support she found at Atlanta Mission. We’re also joined by subject matter expert Breanna Lathrop, CEO of Good Samaritan Health Center, who shares how compassionate healthcare can create pathways to renewal. Tune in for a moving discussion about the intersection of health, homelessness, and hope.Support the show

Welcome to Unseen Atlanta, an Atlanta Mission podcast that brings you into the heart of our city's most pressing challenges—homelessness, addiction, and the human stories behind them. In this special teaser episode, hosts Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller introduce the mission and vision of the podcast.Support the show