UNSHACKLED! Audio Dramas

Latest Episodes:

2856 John Ballentine Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

John grows up in Minneapolis during the Depression, fifth child of six. His family is religious, goes to church every Sunday. His dad works for the railroad. After high school, John and a friend ride the rails to look for work. He returns home, joins the National Guard and meets Marva, whom he marries after Pearl Harbor. He goes to fight in Europe and during a German attack, he cries out to God. After the war he and Marva struggle and her sister invites them to church where they pray for salvation. He leads his sister to the Lord but the rest of his family is liberal. Now a retired pastor.

2870 John Ruhlman Classic Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

John is a hopeless drunk with eight children, whose wife, Sophie, stands by him. Told through daughter Grace, who sees her mother pray against all odds, John goes to a revival one night, where his old drinking buddy leads him to Christ. John and Bob start a church, and John visits a Tuscarora Indian Reservation where he becomes pastor, serving for 27 years. He adopts orphaned Indian boys, serving until he dies at 75.

2871 Bill Marshall Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Bill’s father is a cowboy whose drunken abuse drives Bill to drink and use drugs. A school counselor is no help. After his father yanks an earring from Bill’s ear and throws him out, Bill uses intravenous drugs and his life spirals down. He marries Pam and they have two daughters, but his drinking, drugs and neglect drive her away. A cousin who urges him to go to church and a couple that gives him a New Testament lead to his conviction and salvation. God restores his marriage, and he goes to Bible college. Now an evangelist.

2872 Patricia Adams Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Patricia struggles in school because of buck teeth and is ridiculed. After she gets braces, she does better and dates. After graduation she meets Geoff who divorces his unfaithful wife. Pati and Geoff marry and have a son. But he persuades her to get an abortion the second time she gets pregnant. After a second son is born, he demands two more abortions and they begin to fight, separate and then reconcile. Both use drugs and get into a biker group. She tries to fulfill a dream of rock music fame but her son gets into drugs and crime; so Geoff moves the family to Florida, where during rehab for the son, they meet a couple who lead them to Christ. Pati is now in a crisis pregnancy ministry.

2855 Russell Smith Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Russell’s parents are divorced and he runs away often, lives in abandoned places, marries at 17 when his girlfriend gets pregnant. He works hard, drinks harder and is unfaithful but tries to commit suicide when his wife has an affair. Her second affair ends the marriage. His second marriage to an alcoholic ends after two years. His drinking leads to blackouts, five DWI’s and an anxiety disorder. After a weekend binge, he hides in his apartment and cries out to God to end his life. After three weeks, he goes to church, a changed man. He marries a third time but they divorce for two years, then remarry.

2853 Bonnie Neufeld Pt 1 Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

As the oldest child of six, Bonnie grows up feeling rejected by her dad. Her grandmother is the only source of faith. At twelve she’s molested by a family friend and feels betrayed. Hooked on LSD at 14, she drinks at 16, passes out and her boyfriend molests her. She gets pregnant and they marry but party and fight. They divorce, and she takes their son. She continues to shoplift and deal drugs. Then a pimp gets her hooked on heroine and drags her into prostitution. He throws a knife at her, cutting an artery and their relationship. The first part ends as she comes home from the hospital and her grandmother calls, urging her to accept Christ.

2834 Violet Duracka Classic Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Daughter of Bohemian immigrants, Violet finds Christ through her father’s involvement with Pacific Garden Mission. However, the few years of her life covered by this story are filled with sorrow, disappointment and tragedy. Yet Violet emerges “happy as a sunflower,” because of her unwavering faith in Christ and her belief that God makes all things work together for good in the lives of His children.

2842 Danny Basham Pt 2 Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Danny gets a football scholarship to college, but in his senior year he begins to party and gets hooked on methamphetamines. His older brother comes out of prison and has a bad drug experience, almost dies. He induces Danny to rob a dealer-friend. Danny confesses his complicity but becomes paranoid, afraid of losing his mind. He’s arrested and faces prison for receiving stolen property. He quits drugs and finds his old youth pastor. Recommits his life to Christ. Now in ministry to youth.

2835 Bruce O’Neill Classic Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

As a child, Bruce sees his police-officer dad steal and decides it’s okay. He quits going to mass at age sixteen but works hard. He marries Shirley who is an atheist, and they move to Florida, then Arizona, where he works for a major hotel chain. He begins taking things home from work. Then his young nephew dies, and Bruce is faced with mortality. He starts reading the Bible, goes to church and is saved. Shirley resists but soon gives her life to Christ. They have a prison ministry. Shirley dies in 2001, but Bruce remarries and continues the prison ministry full-time.
(Bryan O’Reilly #1858)

2836 Dominic Mance Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Dominic works in the family pizza / bar from age six. He lifts weights and boxes to gain strength. Money is all-important. He attends all-boys church school, goes to college and falls in love with Lynette, a nurse. They marry and have two daughters. Dominic achieves success in international banking but loses his wife. The bank files for bankruptcy the same week. He wanders aimlessly on the streets, meets a Christian surfer, reads the Bible and gives his life to Christ. Now a writer and artist with a ministry to the homeless.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected