Sherri McLeroy: He Came Back Different… and It Changed Everything
Release Date: 04/01/2026
Marianne Callaghan: When God Answers in Real Time
Why I Believe
What if God is speaking… and we’re just not listening? In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Marianne Callaghan; wife, mom, and Director of Faith Formation, to talk about what it really looks like to move from simply knowing your faith… to truly living it. Raised in the Catholic Church, Marianne always had faith, but it wasn’t until later in life, through marriage, motherhood, loss, and personal surrender, that her relationship with God became real and deeply personal. From struggling with infertility and loss to walking alongside families in their faith journeys, Marianne...
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Kelly Melcher: It Didn’t Happen as I Expected… But It’s Still Good
Why I Believe
What happens when your life changes overnight… and nothing goes according to plan? In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Kelly Melcher; wife, mom of two (with one on the way), and woman of faith, to share a story of unexpected diagnosis, shifting identity, and learning to trust God in the middle of uncertainty. Shortly after getting engaged, Kelly lost her vision and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, completely changing her day-to-day life and future plans. From losing independence to navigating marriage, motherhood, and an invisible illness, Kelly had a choice: Become...
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Kiersten Schlough: This Is Not Who God Says I Am
Why I Believe
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...
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Ann Bodie: The Prayer for Three Icicles
Why I Believe
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...
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Julie Raque: From Survival to Strength
Why I Believe
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...
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Heather Black: Go Get the Pigeon
Why I Believe
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...
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Jenni Bernal: When God Said "Everything Will Be Okay"
Why I Believe
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...
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Aaron Libner: Start Somewhere
Why I Believe
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...
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Amanda Hietter: From Rock Bottom to Redemption
Why I Believe
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...
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Denise Bender: Faith, Community, and Godwinks
Why I Believe
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...
info_outlineWhat happens when the faith you grew up around… becomes a faith you choose for yourself?
In this episode of Why I Believe, I sit down with Sherri McLeroy, educator, principal, author of Purposefully Made, and someone known as the “queen of fun” to talk about how her faith journey truly began.
Sherri didn’t always see faith as something joyful. In fact, growing up in church, it often felt like obligation rather than relationship. But everything changed when she witnessed a transformation in someone close to her, her brother. What she saw wasn’t rules… it was real, and it was different.
That moment sparked a journey that led her to choose faith for herself, and discover a God who brings joy, purpose, and even fun into everyday life.
We also dive into:
- The difference between inheriting faith and choosing it
- How God shows up in life’s hardest seasons
- Real stories of provision that will leave you in awe
- Why joy is a powerful expression of faith
- How Sherri is helping the next generation discover their purpose
If you’ve ever wrestled with your faith, questioned your purpose, or wondered if there’s more—this conversation is for you.
Your story matters. And maybe today, this one is exactly what you needed to hear.
Reach out to Sherri at Sherri McLeroy, M. Ed. | LinkedIn. You can purchase your own copy of "Purposefully Made" at Purposefully Made: Mcleroy, Sherri, Jones, Gerald: 9798385044191: Amazon.com: Books.
Want to share your story?
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👉 Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply
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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.