Betrayed and molested from the age of seven, Jessica attempted suicide at 13, found herself in juvenile detention at 15, on crack at 19, and heroin soon after. A divorce, a dope house, a pimp, and prison—if there was a better life out there, she couldn’t find it. But then she met Jesus, and everything changed. JESSICA WEAVER now shares the hope and joy she has found in Jesus Christ on both sides of prison walls. She serves at her local church, and the people there show her and the women at FWRC ...
Jul 07, 2025•26 min
Jun 06, 2025•43 min
Do you feel like life is over? Are you tired of being where you are and who you are and ready to change? There is hope! Join Kristi Overton Johnson and Zach Williams for a special interview about their rescue stories.
May 26, 2025•36 min
Join Kristi Overton Johnson and JC Almanza in this inspiring conversation about faith, transformation, and overcoming fear. From prison ministry to personal struggles, they discuss stepping out of comfort zones, facing past traumas, and the power of God’s redemption. Witness a heartfelt testimony of resilience, healing, and the mission to bring hope to those behind bars.
May 23, 2025•42 min
Darren thought the world revolved around him, and he lived his life to prove that. Eventually, things got so thoroughly out of control that he prayed for God to let him die. But God had other plans for Darren, and He raised this already dead man to new life in Christ. DARREN COONEY is a husband, father, grandfather, and mentor. As Alumni President for Along Side Ministries, he helps formerly incarcerated men reentering society make Jesus their foundation for a new life. He enjoys spending time w...
Apr 19, 2025•34 min
Brenda Cooney had spent her life searching for love in all the wrong places, and her thirst for attention led her into one broken relationship after another. Her life finally changed when she came into a relationship with the One who could quench her thirst once and for all. Brenda is a wife, mom, and grandma who helps others discover their worth through the eyes of their Heavenly Father. She mentors women in recovery, advocates for overdose prevention, and offers support to parents of addicted ...
Apr 07, 2025•42 min
Life’s hardships led Tonier into addiction, prostitution, and imprisonment. She knew she had to find a way out, but every time she tried, the trauma of her past overwhelmed her. So many times, she just wanted to die, but her body kept breathing. The turning point came when she surrendered to Jesus Christ. There she found hope and a new life. Tonier Cain is a trauma survivor and internationally known expert in trauma-informed care. She works tirelessly as an advocate and educator, speaking all ov...
Apr 02, 2025•28 min
For 26 years, Randy Claypoole’s career in auto racing took him from the pit lanes to the pulpit. As a NASCAR chaplain, media representative, and owner of the ISCARS Dash Touring Series, he lived life at full speed. Now, as part of the Victorious Living prison event team, Randy helps those who feel disqualified from God’s race get back on track. Join VL Podcast host Brooke Maratta and Randy Claypoole, as they talk about faith, second chances, and what it truly means to run the race set before us....
Mar 31, 2025•34 min
Join VL Podcast host Brooke Maratta and Victorious Living founder Kristi Overton Johnson as they explore how gratitude prepares our hearts for God’s work—both now and in the future. This reflective conversation will inspire you to recognize His faithfulness in every season and embrace a posture of thankfulness as you step forward in faith.
Mar 14, 2025•36 min
Feb 26, 2025•29 min
Feb 24, 2025•46 min
Join Victorious Living Magazone Publisher, Kristi Overton Johnson, in this throwback interview recorded over 3 years ago. For more information about Victorious Living Ministreis, visit victoriouslivingministries.org .
Nov 20, 2024•52 min
The following conversation is with Misty's devoted husband, Sean McGee, and beloved friend, Sheridan Correa. On August 31, 2024, Misty went home to be with the Lord. She praised God until her last breath while enjoying precious time with friends and family. Today, Misty is cheering us on from heaven, where she is whole and free. We honor you, Misty, and say “well done.” Thank you for encouraging us with your testimony of faith. We will see you soon! MISTY MCGEE was a wife, mom, daughter, and a c...
Nov 01, 2024•48 min
Foster mom and lay chaplain at a local jail, Debra Moerke faced the unthinkable when one of her foster children was murdered by her mother—who then called Debra for prayer and counseling. Only through the power of Christ in her was Debra able to move beyond her desire for justice to extend the mercy offered through the saving blood of Jesus. Could you forgive someone who murdered the one you loved? Debra Moerke’s story is a living testament to how unconditional love and relentless obedience can ...
Sep 23, 2024•48 min
Join Kristi, Pat, Sheridan, and special guest, Michael Dixon for a discussion on practically applying trusting God with the results. Family, don't give up or quit. God is working while you are waiting.
Aug 26, 2024•49 min
“Every person is a human being with a name and a story,” Chris says. A willingness to learn the details of those stories helped Chris see situations and needs from both sides—an important ability for someone God raised from clerical work all the way up to warden and regional director in the Florida DOC. CHRIS SOUTHERLAND volunteers at her church and with The Jesus Infusion and Timothy’s Gift, two prison ministries that provide incarcerated persons with hope, healing, and the love of Jesus. Chris...
Aug 19, 2024•27 min
We can’t escape the pain of this world, but God promises that through His Son, we can overcome it all. Trials and disappointments can deceive us into believing that God and people don’t care about us and that our lives have no purpose. But God and the Bible soundly declare that is not true. Satan will do his best to defeat you, but he is a defeated foe. Focus on what is true and let God use your circumstances to glorify Him. NA’KEDRA RODGERS is a Southern belle with sass. She enjoys empowering w...
Aug 12, 2024•27 min
Trusting God, let alone anyone, can invoke fear and uneasiness for probably most of us. We don't trust easy. Maybe we've been hurt, burnt, and betrayed. Maybe we've locked up our hearts and said, "No way am I ever gonna let someone in again to hurt me!" Friends, God is different and is so trustworthy. Trusting God with the results means surrendering our anxieties and expectations to Him. It's about believing that His plans are better than ours, even when we can't see the bigger picture. This tru...
Aug 05, 2024•41 min
Our choices, good or bad, have consequences, no matter who we are. Rob started as a good kid, but then his choices led him to drug addiction, murder, and 20 years in prison. Who could have imagined that God would eventually use him as a pastor, but that’s exactly where Rob’s surrendered life has put him. ROB WHITNER is the founder and lead pastor of No Limits Ministry in Goldsboro, North Carolina. His passion is connecting people to God and each other. He also serves as the Director of Ministry ...
Jul 29, 2024•34 min
"You gonna be a man or a baby?" Tim was just a kid when that question came his way. His response had consequences that changed his life forever. Tried as an adult and convicted of murder at age 14, Tim thought his life was over. But God can find His children anywhere—even in the depths of solitary confinement. Tim spent the next 25 years in prison. Released in 2017, he now shares his experience with everyone he can, telling them about the incredible mercy and love of his Savior, Jesus Christ. TI...
Jul 23, 2024•50 min
“Jason, you are called to serve Me.” Imagine being a Jewish Buddhist, deep in meditation, when suddenly your spirit is lifted from your body and brought before a King you can only acknowledge as Jesus, the Messiah. Life changed for Jason in that moment, and now, as a child of the one true God, he knows his purpose in life. He’d like you to know yours too. JASON SOBEL’s personal revival led him to pursue revival on a global level through his nonprofit, Fusion Global. His outreach reconnects Jewis...
Jul 15, 2024•30 min
Childhood trauma and abuse led to poor decisions and more trauma as an adult. By the time she was 23, Melissa’s heart was hard and unfeeling. But Jesus—the Light of the World and the bringer of life—restored her heart, giving her the ability to feel, forgive, and see goodness in people. MELISSA LOTT is a warrior for Christ who combats the world's ugliness with the Gospel. Jesus has restored her heart, giving her the ability to feel, forgive, and see goodness in people. She enjoys sunshine, being...
May 20, 2024•46 min
What was supposed to put an end to her pain multiplied it instead! Sentenced to life in prison at 26 for murdering her abusive husband, Marianne blamed God for not fixing things in the first place. But the harder she ran, the more God pursued her. MARIANNE VAN DONGEN frequently returns to the same prison where she was incarcerated for 27 years, ministering to women through the Jesus Infusion (thejesusinfusion.org). She also volunteers with parole and probation programs and at various correctiona...
May 13, 2024•21 min
Essie found out the hard way that when we take matters into our own hands instead of waiting for God’s perfect plan in His perfect time, things can get very messy and very painful. Still, the moment we turn to Him, He turns our ashes into beauty. ESSIE FAYE TAYLOR is a wife, bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter. As the author of the "Finding the Love You Deserve" series for women and teens, she is deeply committed to sharing the healing power of the gospel. Learn more a...
May 07, 2024•32 min
Prostitutes, racketeering, and gambling...OH MY! As a successful professional gambler before he finished college, Bill had it all—money, power, possessions, and women. Degree in hand, he moved up quickly in both business and the underworld. But no matter how much he obtained, something deep inside him was never satisfied. BILL FAY is a graduate of Denver Seminary and a former chief chaplain for the Colorado State Patrol and DEA. He has spoken cross-denominationally for 40 years. His best-selling...
Apr 29, 2024•36 min
“Don’t be afraid. I am here.” Mere hours after hearing these words, Lauren learned that her husband, renowned BMX racer Dave Mirra, had taken his own life. This promise from Matthew 14:27 and the foundation of faith she and Dave had built together are what got Lauren through the days and months that followed. LAUREN EVERETT helps others experience God’s tangible peace and love by serving at her local church and overseeing Victorious Living’s prison correspondence outreach. Read "Build An Unshaka...
Apr 24, 2024•30 min
At ten years old, Jerry dodged a train…and the adrenaline rush that followed kept him playing chicken for the next two decades. Jerry’s daredevil nature merged with natural leadership qualities, and he looked good…right up until everything fell apart. But that’s when he turned to God, and today, he teaches CEOs and other executives to lead like Jesus in the marketplace. JERRY HOWARD is an executive mentor, speaker, and author whose mission of God is to share the Gospel of Jesus and to “go and ma...
Feb 26, 2024•42 min
When Stephanie learned her cheating husband’s mistress was pregnant, she went off the deep end. Hurt and anger became hatred. Suicidal thoughts became murderous ones, but as she cried out to God, all she heard was “Forgive them.” When she finally surrendered to that command, she found freedom and purpose for her pain. STEPHANIE M. CARTER is an author and the host of her podcast Reveal. Her heart is to help hurting and broken women learn who they are in Christ. To learn more, visit her websites a...
Feb 19, 2024•38 min
Preacher’s kid Stephen Barbee rebelled early despite the bright prospects before him. Alcohol, drugs, and reckless behavior dragged him right down into the pigsty next to the Bible’s prodigal son. In his strength, he failed to stay clean, but a true surrender in prison brought healing and purpose to his life. STEPHEN BARBEE serves the incarcerated and reentry communities as a mentor and community outreach specialist. As the founder of P2P (Passion to Purpose), he shares his message of hope and t...
Feb 12, 2024•34 min
"God, I've always trusted you have a plan and a future for me. But this plan doesn't feel so good." A fun afternoon on the water turned tragic for college freshman, Parker Byrd. Twenty-two surgeries and a leg amputation later, he faced the likelihood that his dreams of playing college baseball were over. Where were God's "good plans" now? PARKER BYRD is an East Carolina University student and baseball team member. When he's not studying, working out, or playing ball, you'll find him sharing his ...
Dec 18, 2023•22 min
