Unwritten

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Latest Episodes:

God Reached Out & I Literally Felt His Hands Nov 04, 2025

⚠️ The SEEK Podcast is now the Unwritten Podcast, presented by FOCUS! Follow us here to keep getting new stories of God's grace active in the world.

Join us as SEEK26! Use this link to register: http://bit.ly/3IPoew4

Use Promo Code REPLAY for Exclusive Pre-SEEK Content, and a chance to win one of three $100 vouchers to shopfocus.org

🎥 Also - We are doing a short VIDEO series! Please enjoy visually engaging with some of our storytellers.

In this episode of Unwritten, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of the movement of the Holy Spirit, we hear from Niru De Silva to discuss his profound healing journey following profound pain and loneliness as a new missionary. Whether seeking stories of God at work or the movement of the Holy Spirit, this conversation demonstrates what happens when someone who has already given his life to God and moved across the country to serve the Lord on a college campus experiences a crisis of faith.

Despite his deep conviction, Niru endured such hardships and obstacles that he looked up one day and thought, "Why am I doing this?". After multiple rejections had eroded his sense of self-worth, he found his own life felt like a "living hell", even praying in desperation for death, saying, "God, I would never commit suicide, but it'd be really great if the next time I opened my eyes, I was in heaven".

Niru De Silva's encounter reveals how the Lord’s invitation provides a sign that keeps one going, leading to a slow, deep transformational journey of healing that restores identity and affirms that God is the healer.

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God Sent Me Across the World—All To Tell Me One Simple Thing Oct 28, 2025

⚠️ The SEEK Podcast is now the Unwritten Podcast, presented by FOCUS! Follow us here to keep getting new stories of God's grace active in the world.

🎥 Also - We are doing a short VIDEO series! Please enjoy visually engaging with some of our storytellers.

In this episode of Unwritten, host Trevor Barreca sits down with Lizzi Zamora to discuss her profound conversion following trauma and a pursuit of worldly success.

Whether seeking stories of God at work or the movement of the Holy Spirit, this conversation demonstrates what happens when someone overcomes adversity of insurmountable capacity but remains unsatisfied and searching for what they were made for.

Lizzie's encounter reveals how the Lord’s invitation lifts the pressure of expectations and leads to fulfillment through full-time ministry.

What You’ll Hear:

The disruption of Lizzie's life by a traumatic brain injury led to emotional anguish and a lost sense of identity. Despite achieving success by transferring to UC Berkeley, she felt perpetual pressure, loneliness, and eventually abandoned her Catholic faith.
How her practical father, who used her as a "guinea pig," arranged a 4-week FOCUS mission trip to Southeast Asia, forcing her to pack a Catholic Bible despite her having abandoned Mass and faith.
The pivotal moment in a humid Singapore chapel where she was flooded with joy and heard God say something she'll never forget.

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The Faith of a Grandfather: How God’s Mercy Changes Everything Oct 21, 2025

Hang Out With Us at SEEK26: http://bit.ly/3IPoew4

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor Barreca sits down with John Paul JP Hernandez to talk about how a simple game of Monopoly led a grandson to witness his grandpa's faith journey and miraculous conversion.

Whether you're looking for stories of God at work in the world today, or just curious about the transforming power of divine mercy, this conversation will demonstrate how encountering God's mercy can unwrite years, decades, of habitual ways of living and lead you outside of yourself to give yourself away to others.

What You’ll Hear:

• The story of JP's grandfather, Carlos, who struggled with childhood trauma after his father stepped out on him, but eventually underwent a dramatic transformation from a man of severity to one who was loving, understanding, and empathetic.

• How reading the book The Return of the Prodigal Son helped Carlos gain the capacity to forgive his father and have mercy on himself, leading him to become an "everyday saint" and a man profoundly intimate with God.

• Stories of Carlos' constant evangelization and generosity, including his routine visits to support a struggling single mother with a son who had special needs, how he led a Muslim friend to attribute her healing from cancer to his intercession, and the mysterious final words his baby niece spoke, "For the Lord's sake, amen".

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Simple and Faithful Love: The Witness That Transformed Generations Oct 14, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Gayle Konderla to discover how the simple, faithful love of one couple transformed generations of their large, loud Catholic family.

Whether you're struggling to stay faithful to God in your time of prayer or in communication with your spouse and loving your kids, or just curious about how simple witness can build a greater impact in relationships, this conversation will remind you that simple and faithful love across your whole life has the capacity to transform generations of people in your family.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Gayle's super faithful grandparents, who raised 12 children (six boys and six girls), including a son who is now a bishop, influenced generations of their family one small witness at a time. Gayle shares experiences of praying rosaries together and celebrating Mass in the living room.

• The family's loving response to tragedy, including seeing their grandmother's fiery and zealous love for God and family deepen as she grew sick with cancer, and the system the 12 siblings created to care for their grandfather after his early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis for about seven years.

• Insights into the grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's, and the beautiful realization that though he might forget that he saw someone the day before, he never forgot who they were and how much he loved them. The last thing he said to Gayle was, "I love you and I'm proud of you".

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"You Think You're Unlovable": Confronted by a Priest I Barely Knew Oct 07, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Jane Voelker to talk about A priest she barely knew confronted her deepest spiritual conviction, sparking a wild journey toward profound healing.

Whether you're someone who is completely stuck in a part of your life with God, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will offer a reminder that God steps in and changes things when we cannot fix ourselves.

What You’ll Hear:

• Jane's realization that her confessed "weakest point"—wanting to keep people at an arm's distance so they can't hurt her—was incorrect. A priest, who had only spoken to Jane for about five minutes prior to the retreat, told her the truth: her weakest point was believing she was unlovable. The priest had been emphasizing throughout the retreat that knowing one's weakest point is essential because it is exactly where God wants to meet us and where the enemy wants to attack.

• The surprising result of her initial prayer following the revelation, where Jane invited God into her feeling of unlovableness. Jane thought God might shame her for being a missionary who felt unworthy of love, or immediately demand a fix, but instead, God just sat there with her in that broken part of her heart for the entire hour of prayer.

• The unexpected moment of complete healing that happened months later. While brushing her teeth in a little cabin in West Virginia, Jane caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and spontaneously thought, "I'm so good and I'm so beautiful," after which she never doubted it again. This healing shows that God stepped in out of love for her to tell her the truth, without her needing to try to fix herself or grasp for anything.

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Years of Shame Shattered: The Power of Telling Your Parents the Truth Sep 30, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Alex Sanchez to talk about A single moment of radical honesty shattered years of shame and changed the entire direction of one man's life.

Whether you're wrestling with deep-seated painful beliefs or existential shame, or just curious about God's intense and beautiful mercy, this conversation will provide a powerful reminder of God's intense and beautiful mercy for them.

What You’ll Hear:

• Alex shares how deep-seated feelings of failure, disappointment, and not belonging developed in his youth, leading him to compromise his morals, start drinking, and routinely smoking weed for two years in high school.

• The intense, unmistakable internal urge Alex felt to "Tell your parents the truth", culminating in a pivotal confession on July 8th, 2010, and how his parents’ response of mercy and truth—including his father saying, "I failed you as a father"—evaporated years of Alex’s painful beliefs about himself.

• The surprising role of Alex’s mother, who was led to a drug and alcohol counselor via a name that came to her in a dream during one of the sleepless nights following the confession, and how this foundational moment of conversion became a turning point for Alex's entire family.

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The McGivney Novena & Vincent's Healing: A Powerful Story of Faith & Intercession Sep 23, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Caitlyn Robinson to talk about how God intervened in her family's most earthshattering tragedy, transforming their despair into a profound witness of miraculous healing and faith.

Whether you're a parent facing unimaginable difficulty, someone wrestling with the power of prayer, or just curious about how divine grace and the communion of saints can move mountains, this conversation will inspire you to believe in the impossible and recognize God's active presence in our darkest hours.

What You’ll Hear:

Caitlyn, a mother of nine, recounts the terrifying Sunday morning when her 14-month-old son, Vincent, was found lifeless after drowning in their backyard hot tub, and the immediate, frantic attempts at CPR.
The initial despair as Vincent showed no signs of life, the family's fervent prayers and Hail Marys, and the powerful, immediate prayer chain that ignited through their community, parish, and beyond.
The hospital's grim prognosis after Vincent received 52 minutes of CPR with no pulse, Caitlyn's initial skepticism about a full recovery, and her profound realization of the intercessory power of the communion of saints.
The pivotal role of the Novena to Blessed Michael McGivney, the placement of a relic on Vincent's chest during a hospital Mass, and how this led to his miraculous, complete recovery, including an organ-clear MRI and Vincent walking out of the hospital on the ninth day of the novena, perfectly fine.

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Rescued from Drowning: God's Lifeline in Life's Perils Sep 16, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, host Trevor Bara sits down with Justin Victor to hear his powerful testimony of how God continually sent "lifeguards" to rescue him from "drowning" in various challenges throughout his life, from childhood peril to adult struggles with sin, career, and unforgiveness.

Whether you've faced overwhelming odds, felt lost in the depths of your own choices, or simply need a reminder of God's ever-present saving power and subtle promptings, this conversation will offer encouragement and a jolt of belief in God's call to pick up the pieces of our broken selves.

What You’ll Hear:

Justin’s miraculous near-drowning experience at age six, when his godfather was divinely prompted to save him.
How he was saved from "drowning in sin from the inside" as a young adult through faithful friends, daily prayer, and the sacrament of confession.
His journey from feeling "empty" and "mundane" in his dream career to finding deeper satisfaction and peace as a youth missionary with NET Ministries.
The powerful realization that God not only sends "lifeguards" but also calls us to be "lifeguards for others".
Justin's experience of God providing his wife as a "lifeguard" in marriage, and finding "deep healing" from unforgiveness through God's "ocean of mercy" in confession.

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Claim Your Crown: God's Bigger Dreams Sep 02, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Garrett Bernardo to talk about how God transformed his childhood dream of professional baseball into a global mission of inspiring purpose-driven athletes.

Whether you're an athlete navigating big dreams, someone facing an identity crisis, or just curious about how faith can redefine success and purpose, this conversation will inspire you to embrace God's larger vision for your life and persevere through trials.

What You’ll Hear:

Garrett's upbringing in a household of faith, his early ambition to play professional baseball like his father, and the identity crisis he faced when rejected from playing at the University of Maine.
The unexpected origins of his brand, NOVUS, and its mantra "claim your crown," inspired by a childhood Bible verse (James 1:12) and a college side hustle.
How God confirmed his call to pursue NOVUS full-time through a powerful moment at daily mass, and how the brand now outfits athletes from little leagues to professional teams, resonating with those who have overcome adversity

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Jesus Wept: Finding the Answer to Pain Not in Explanation, but in Presence Aug 26, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Ben Kelly to talk about how a life-altering moment of suffering destroyed his idyllic world and led him on an unexpected journey back to God's heart.

Whether you're curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, or just curious about dealing with immense suffering and loss, this conversation will inspire you to continue to see what God is doing in your life and demonstrate how the power of one person loving you can transform a life.

What You’ll Hear:

• Ben recounts his freshman year at Harvard, where he met FOCUS missionaries and began "scuba diving into the ocean" of faith, while simultaneously watching his girlfriend Molly suffer unimaginably from the return of cancer.

• The immense impact of the persistent love and gratuitous kindness of missionary Mike and the entire FOCUS team, who drove seven hours to attend Molly's funeral without telling him they were coming.

• The visceral experience during adoration at the SEEK conference, prompted by the short line "Jesus wept", that revealed the answer to his pain was not a "neat and tidy phrase" or explanation, but the presence of Christ's own sorrow.

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The Padre Pio Miracle Aug 26, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Victor Kopen to talk about his son. A father witnesses a rosary turn "smoking hot" while praying for his newborn son who had been revived four times.

Whether you're a parent facing great uncertainty, or just curious about the intercession of the saints and modern miracles, this conversation will inspire you with powerful testimony to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today.

What You’ll Hear:

• The story of Victor's son, Pierce, who was born seemingly healthy but was later diagnosed with PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn), requiring doctors and residents to revive him four times before he was flown to Pittsburgh.

• The astonishing event where Victor prayed the rosary—which he had laid on a relic of St. Padre Pio's bloodstained glove—and the rosary became "smoking hot," causing his baby to convulse and his oxygen saturation to immediately jump from the low 90s to an "unnaturally high" $100 \%$.

• How Victor reached a pivotal moment of complete surrender to God's will, after which he was instantly enveloped in an unworldly, unconditional love from the Holy Spirit, and the heartwarming post-script of his now-healthy son referring to St. Padre Pio as "my buddy".

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The Gladiator and the Tears: Undeniable Proof God Sees You Aug 19, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Chris Bonderer to talk about a powerful image received in prayer that revealed a student's deepest restlessness and gave undeniable proof of God's presence.

Whether you're inspired by radical testimonies of what God is doing, or just curious about the impact of prayer out loud with another person, this conversation will inspire you to see God working in your life too and bring you to greater faith that God listens and responds.

What You’ll Hear:

• Missionary Chris Bonderer details his work at the University of Southern California (USC), specifically his deep friendship with Grant, a senior struggling with deep dissatisfaction despite having been a football player and fraternity member. Grant expressed feeling restless and wondered if 65 years was "too long to live" feeling that way.

• The powerful image Chris received while praying for Grant—picturing him as a gladiator, smiling from cheek to cheek in the Coliseum, but with tears streaming down his face. Chris then asked Grant, "Do you feel like there's anything missing in your life?".

• The stunning insight Grant shared later: The gladiator image perfectly mirrored a moment he experienced before quitting the football team when, despite the electricity of the environment and the crowds going insane, he felt "dead inside" while running out of the tunnel. This experience served as "undeniable" proof that God sees and knows him.

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The Imperfect Way: Finding God's Love and Mission Inside St. Peter's Basilica Aug 12, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Courtney Roach to talk about how a disappointing papal audience and physical exhaustion led to a profound, vulnerable experience of God's perfect love right inside St. Peter's Basilica.

Whether you're struggling with feelings of unworthiness while trying to lead, or just curious about how God works through moments of weakness, this conversation will inspire you to know that God is at work in your life and can accomplish great things even when you feel you don't have enough capacity.

What You’ll Hear:

• Courtney recounts the incredible journey of leading 40 women—most of whom she had never met—on the strenuous Daily Nothings Pilgrimage to Italy during the Jubilee year.

• After suffering through 97- to 98-degree heat in Rome and wrestling with internal anger and judgment, Courtney wept during the Jubilee Walk and felt encouraged by St. Peter, who told her, "I just want to show you the imperfect way. Just come to me".

• While carrying the cross and entering the holy doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, Courtney broke down trying to read Psalm 23, instantly hearing the Lord confirm her mission and finding deep clarity and comfort in the realization that vulnerability is key to her leadership.

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Michael's Transformative Encounter at SEEK Aug 05, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Austin Satrio to talk about how a simple invitation to Adoration transformed a searching student into a potential priest in under 24 hours.

Whether you're someone inspired to see God working in your life, or just curious about the transforming power of God in unexpected encounters, this conversation will encourage you to open your eyes to small opportunities and make simple invitations of faith in Christ Jesus.

What You’ll Hear:

• Austin Satrio, attending SEEK 2025 on behalf of the St. Thomas Moore Teaching Fellowship, meets a student named Michael who traveled alone to the conference, confessed he was not currently practicing his faith, and was unsure why he was even there.

• The gentle, basic invitation Austin and his colleague extended to Michael to visit the Adoration Chapel, suggesting he simply sit in silence for 10 or 15 minutes and “just be present” with the Lord, without needing to say or ask the perfect things.

• Michael’s profound encounter in Adoration, where the Lord very clearly spoke into his heart, affirming His love and telling Michael, "I think you're perfect". This encounter prompted Michael to go to confession for the first time in about 10 years and strongly feel the Lord inviting him to consider the priesthood.

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The Quiet Interior Voice That Called Me Back to Faith Jul 29, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Lauren Lewis to talk about Lauren Lewis shares how searching desperately for affirmation in college led her down a dark path until a shocking accident and a quiet interior voice changed everything.

Whether you're fighting to make space for silence amidst the busyness of your life, or just curious about how God encounters people in the midst of their suffering and chaos, this conversation will help you encounter God and be reminded of His love for you.

What You’ll Hear:

• Lauren’s journey through college, starting strong in her faith but eventually giving up Mass and seeking deep affirmation from her amateur cycling teammates and coach. Lauren felt a great need for affirmation, doing anything—from focusing on her outfits or athletic ability—to receive it.

• The serious bike accident in which Lauren was hit by a car, sustaining a severe concussion, and why her grandmother insisted this was God granting her a second chance at life. After recovering, Lauren initially misinterpreted this second chance, focusing on being the best athlete she could be, which quickly led her back into a dark place.

• Why the climax of Lauren's story was not the dramatic accident, but the quiet, interior voice she heard in her living room that told her simply: "Go back to mass". This demonstrates that God often reveals Himself not in the storm or thunder, but in the peace and stillness of the heart.

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From Militant Atheist to Catholic Convert: Srishti's Journey to God Jul 22, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Srishti Gupta to talk about a militant atheist's journey from rejecting all religion to finding her heart's home in the presence of God..

Whether you're struggling with faith, questioning organized religion, or just curious about spiritual transformation and calling, this conversation will remind you of the power of God's love to radically transform a life and call you to action.

What You’ll Hear:

• Srishti recounts growing up Hindu, moving away from faith after studying it, and arriving at college as a militant atheist with the goals of becoming an astronaut and making everyone else atheist.

• The foundational role of the Resurrection in her conversion: Srishti realized that if the Resurrection was real, all of Christianity must be true, leading her to study and eventually fight the notion of becoming Catholic despite feeling profoundly "home" during the Consecration at her very first Mass.

• How her commitment to a non-obligatory 11 p.m. Holy Hour (Adoration of the Eucharist) became the most deeply uniting space with the Lord, ultimately confirming her call to consecrated life in a religious community that begins every day with a Holy Hour.

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"Your Life Is Awesome and I Want It": Finding Faith After Hitting Rock Bottom Jul 15, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Santonio Hill to talk about Santonio's friend Cole. After achieving wild success in acting and modeling, a friend keeps hitting rock bottom until he demands the one thing his Catholic friend has: joy.

Whether you're someone seeking the meat of a life quest for meaning, or just curious about how persistent prayer and radical hospitality can lead to conversion, this conversation will provide a living and vibrant testimony that God powerfully uses commitment in daily prayer for conversion.

What You’ll Hear:

• The three-year pattern of superficial conversations that was broken when Cole approached Santonio at his wedding and whispered, "Your life is awesome and I want it".

• How achieving wild success in acting was repeatedly met with emptiness, causing Cole to grow tired of hitting rock bottom and finally ask Santonio to sit with him at Mass.

• The moment Cole confessed to Santonio, saying, "To be honest with you, when I close my eyes and I look for God the Father, for whatever reason, your face pops up," leading to intensive discipleship focused on apologetics and reading scripture.

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You Should Not Be Alive Right Now: A Second Chance at Life Jul 08, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Ethan Dvidovich to talk about how seeking to be liked led to a near-fatal car accident and the stunning realization that he "should not be alive right now".

Whether you're searching for your true identity, wrestling with shame and past vices, or just curious about how God turns a "pile of garbage into a pile of gold", this conversation will reveal how authentic Christian brotherhood can lead to transformative grace.

What You’ll Hear:

• Ethan's pursuit of popularity and fitting in, which culminated in the "worst night of his life"—skateboarding inebriated, without a helmet, on the road in May 2020, resulting in him being hit by a car. He sustained serious injuries, including a fractured neck, a torn ACL, a hematoma in his head, a third concussion, and about 30 stitches and staples.

• The moment his neurosurgeon walked into the room and told him, "Ethan, you should not be alive right now... You've been given a second chance at life. What are you going to do with it?". Ethan recounts how even after this incident, he initially reverted to old habits, boasting about his scars because he thought the accident made him "cool" or "different".

• The gradual conversion that took place through meeting influential men at the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia who showed him it was okay to be vulnerable. Unlike the sudden conversion of St. Paul, Ethan’s transformation was a slow encounter with Jesus through brotherhood that helped him realize he was a "beloved son of God".

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I'm My Own God No More Jun 24, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Dan to talk about How a young man who declared "I'm my own God" experienced a radical encounter with divine love that changed his life path forever.

Whether you're a concerned parent or grandparent, or just curious about radical faith conversion and the surpassing goodness of God, this conversation will reveal the power of simple invitations and God's magnetic attraction, even in the midst of worldly success.

What You’ll Hear:

• Dan details his life as a "lazy atheist" in college, where he rejected the existence of God, viewed morality as nonexistent, and sought a high-paying professional career entirely dependent on his personal desires.

• The extraordinary story of how a persistent invitation from his best friend Eric led him to an Ash Wednesday Mass during a snow day, where he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit descend upon him, filling his heart with an incomparable love and peace that surpassed the unconditional love he received from his parents.

• The surprising insight that God's magnetic attraction and conversion came when his life was successful, not at a rock bottom moment, and how he went from praying for two hours that his friend would not go to confession to experiencing a supernatural and physical removal of sin after making his first confession since fourth grade.

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The Seven-Year Silence: How Profound Suffering Revealed Profound Faith Jun 24, 2025

Doctors told Rosa her baby had died in the womb. She fiercely refused to believe them, insisting her son was alive. He was—and would survive against medical odds again decades later.
Listen to this powerful episode and reconsider what it means to truly know someone beyond their abilities, to love without conditions, and to find purpose in life's most difficult circumstances. Subscribe to Unwritten for more stories of how the Holy Spirit moves in unexpected ways through ordinary lives.

"Neither Do I Condemn You": Amy Chang's Journey to Finding Mercy Jun 17, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Amy Chang to talk about Amy shares her miraculous journey from a Buddhist upbringing in South Korea, through collegiate struggles in Oklahoma, to finding her true calling as a Catholic missionary.

Whether you're someone who is yearning for more in their career or spiritual life, or just curious about the ongoing movement of the Holy Spirit and radical conversion, this conversation will remind you that God is still at work in your story through all of life's circumstances to draw you closer to Him.

What You’ll Hear:

• Amy's upbringing in a Buddhist household in South Korea where the expectation was to be the best and never discuss emotions. This pressure led her to turn to drinking in high school, ultimately derailing her dream of becoming a professional golfer.

• The captivating peace and joy Amy observed in Catholic missionaries from Focus when she arrived in Oklahoma for college. Despite being baptized and confirmed after her freshman year, Amy struggled, hitting "the bottom of the barrel" in her junior year due to drinking and police involvement, desperately seeking a restart.

• How Amy reluctantly agreed to a 4.5-week mission trip to India after being asked seven times, and how that time of consistent prayer and Mass completely changed her life and led her to eventually leave corporate finance to serve as a Focus missionary for eight years.

• Why Amy relates her personal brokenness and self-hatred to the story of the woman caught in adultery in John Chapter 8, reflecting on the depth of Jesus's mercy and His choice to pursue and love her without condemnation.

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The Pickup Game, CS Lewis, and the Search for What the World's All About Jun 10, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor Burka sits down with Jack Krosafi to talk about how a casual pickup soccer game led an ardent seeker, raised by a militant atheist, to completely transform his life and enter the Catholic Church.

Whether you're a missionary looking for unexpected encounters with the Holy Spirit, or just curious about how active searching for truth can lead to a miracle of conversion, this conversation will demonstrate that simply being willing to expose Jesus in your life can make all the difference for someone else to start seeking him in their own.

What You’ll Hear:

• The surprising start of a friendship with Kate and Johnny, a couple who Jack met after a two-hour pickup soccer game and who were found "chain smoking cigarettes, reading CS Lewis, and trying to figure out what this world's all about".

• The pivotal moment when Johnny realized God’s love after watching a video of The Chosen depicting Jesus's gaze on the woman at the well, causing him to declare, "If his love is real, I don't need any lesser loves," and immediately throw away his weed and joints.

• The incredible transformation of Johnny, who grew up with a militant atheist dad and no faith background, yet became an active seeker, wrestled with deep philosophical questions like freedom and responsibility, and ultimately was led to join the Church at the Easter Vigil after an encounter with the Blessed Mother during Adoration.

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Finding Worth Beyond Performance Jun 03, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Ben Delaughter to talk about how God exposed his hidden motivations and invited him to change after he tried to prove himself through missionary work.

Whether you're a missionary, spiritual mentor, or anyone struggling with linking your worth to your productivity, or just curious about deepening your understanding of love and humility in the spiritual life, this conversation will reveal how making a sincere gift of yourself draws you more deeply into Christ's love.

What You’ll Hear:

• Ben Delaughter's background playing sports, where he learned that approval and love had to be earned from an outside source.

• The challenge Ben faced when he arrived at the University of Georgia (UGA) as a missionary, initially striving to get the most disciples to prove he was better than the previous missionary, Danny.

• The unexpected reversal: after having nearly all his "high calls" rejected one semester, the next semester saw every single high call accepted, leading to the realization that humility was the key difference.

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The Sparrow's Fall: Finding God's Perfect Providence in Grief and Rebellion May 27, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with John Merkle to talk about how a traumatic family loss led to seven years of rebellion, only for a sparrow he shot as a boy to later reveal God's perfect providence.

Whether you're someone who, like many followers of Jesus, is drawn to the story of the prodigal son, or just curious about trusting in God's providence through suffering, this conversation will offer an insight into how the Lord worked clearly to call John back home, using particular moments from his past life to foster deeper understanding and trust.

What You’ll Hear:

• The upheaval and aimlessness John experienced after his father, a strong character and guiding force, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and quickly passed away, leaving the family in turmoil and debt.

• How John's conscious rejection of God and his 7-year plunge into a life of sin and "party scene" led to deep dissatisfaction and emptiness, until a quiet voice suggesting God had a plan was reinforced by a nearly fatal car crash.

• The beautiful moment John surrendered his life to God after reading Jeremiah 29, and the later realization that even the death of his father and the seemingly accidental shooting of a sparrow were moments where God's will and providing love were present all along.

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A Real Life SuperHero May 27, 2025

Trevor sits down with Neil to hear a story of a modern day superhero

Are You Ready to Preach the Gospel? May 20, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Javier Lugo to talk about Javier’s year-long journey guiding a college freshman named Juan Carlos from spiritual rock bottom into the Catholic Church.

Whether you're a missionary seeking insight into effective evangelization, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will illustrate the joy and richness of leading others to faith in the Lord and show that readiness to receive someone is often more important than having all the right answers.

What You’ll Hear:

• Javier Lugo (Javi) shares his initial meeting with Juan Carlos, a strong, quiet, interested freshman in Miami who reached out seeking to explore Catholicism after struggling with a troublesome high school experience and hitting a type of rock bottom.

• The intentional spiritual walk, which included Javi being Juan Carlos’s parish companion, reading influential books like Rome Sweet Home and Case for Christ, praying the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and eventually seeing Juan Carlos enroll in OCIA and move from a place of doubt into a place of trust and full abandonment to Christ.

• The incredibly emotional climax when Juan Carlos was baptized, confirmed, and received his first communion at the Easter Vigil. As they walked toward the priest, Juan Carlos started to weep, and his whole body was almost in shock, leading Javi, his sponsor, to realize the monumental moment of blessing occurring right in front of them.

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Surrender to Jesus, He is Better May 07, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Kallin Hill to talk about how surrendering control to God, even through pain and profound loss, reveals that Jesus is better than the life you have planned for yourself.

Whether you're someone who hates the feeling of not being in control, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will encourage you to thank the Lord and place your faith in Him when you see breakthroughs of providence in your life.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Kallin's big leap to become a full-time missionary with FOCUS was immediately followed by the terrifying experience of watching everything she owned disintegrate into ash after her house burned down.

• The surprising ways God provided for Kallin—including a $5,000 start donation despite her initial fears about fundraising—and how her placement in Texas (a place she initially didn't want because she preferred the beach) became a specific call from Jesus realized at Calvary.

• The remarkable story of how Kallin was disappointed that God didn't give her the team director she prayed for, but the teammate she initially found challenging became her closest friend and Maid of Honor, and how the heartbreak of a breakup (with a man called to the priesthood) led her to meet her future husband.

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One Hello Changed Everything Apr 29, 2025

Ever wonder if a single "hello" could change someone's life forever? That's exactly what happened one ordinary day in Accounting 201 at the University of Kansas.
Fallon noticed a quiet classmate who always arrived early and spent time on the phone. Curiosity led her to strike up a conversation, discovering he was talking with his dad each day. This simple introduction to Sam—a student with few friends who had never been exposed to faith—set in motion a remarkable journey neither could have anticipated.
Join us for this powerful reminder that divine encounters often disguise themselves as ordinary moments.

I Was Done: No Cell Service and the $60 That Brought Me Back to Life Apr 22, 2025

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Joe Domina to talk about being lost, stung, and desperately sick in the wilderness, one man found God’s provision exactly when he decided to quit.

Whether you're someone struggling with feelings of restlessness, or just curious about faith and radical dependence on God, this conversation will help you discover unforgettable proof of the Father’s care and character.

What You’ll Hear:

• Joe’s pilgrimage across America started two months prior to the story pick-up, beginning in Jersey City, New Jersey, near Lady Liberty. His journey was motivated by a deep desire to grow in holiness, cast off idols, and have a lived, embodied, and unforgettable experience of the Father's providential care. He began his walk without a smartphone, debit card, credit card, or cash, vowing never to ask anyone for money.

• While walking the Appalachian Trail (AT), Joe faced a "biggest test yet" when he developed diarrhea, joint pain, extreme fatigue, and piercing neck pain (likely from a bite). After getting lost while following yellow blazes instead of the traditional white blazes, he decided he was "done" and ready to quit, only to discover he had no cell service to call anyone.

• The surprising generosity and community Joe encountered, including fellow hikers (Electric Spring and Sweaty Camel) who shared precious electrolyte water and gave him $60 after praying for him. This experience, alongside the kindness of hostel owner Bunny, reinforced that his trial helped him receive his desire for a powerful experience of God's providential care.

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A Crash and Deep Faith Nov 06, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with AnneMarie Frasier to talk about how surviving a terrifying helicopter crash provided hope in the face of a devastating cancer relapse.

Whether you're someone who recognizes that suffering and sorrow are a part of the universal human experience, or just curious about God's providence in the midst of suffering, this conversation will leave every person who listens with something to bring to prayer and reflection, and offer inspiration to turn to this example when experiencing doubt and recognizing that the Lord won't leave you alone.

What You’ll Hear:

• Ann Marie’s experience growing up Catholic where she felt disconnected from God, and how her life radically changed when, as a sophomore in high school, she was diagnosed with Ying Sar, a rare form of bone cancer, which later relapsed aggressively.

• The story of her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii, intended as an escape from the hospital craziness, which included a helicopter tour that resulted in a crash landing after the pilot lost total power to the engine and glided them down onto sacred Hawaiian temple grounds.

• The realization that surviving the crash was a miracle, which occurred on the anniversary of her uncle's death, and how this profound experience instilled a deep faith that everything would be okay during her subsequent year of more aggressive cancer treatments.

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A Spotlight on a Story Jul 31, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Jim Beckman to talk about in the middle of a silent retreat, a walk through a dark graveyard led to a profound, life-altering message from God about deep childhood healing.

Whether you're someone who is interested in sharing the stories of the movement of the Holy Spirit, or just curious about how God brings healing in unexpected places, this conversation will offer a powerful lesson on the ways in which God continues to pursue us and heal us if we only let him.

What You’ll Hear:

• Jim recounts the setting of his silent retreat during the COVID period in the fall of 2020, where he utilized rooms at the pastoral center in Oklahoma City and conducted the retreat over the phone with his spiritual director.

• A mysterious encounter in the cemetery where Jim first saw a lone solar-powered light next to a headstone, only to discover over a hundred of them—an "impossible" proliferation—the next morning, ultimately leading him to the headstone of a little boy named Daniel.

• The intense message Jim received from the Lord after learning that Daniel had died in a house fire at age eight: "When you were eight, your whole house burned down and something in you died, and I want to bring it back to life again," initiating a two-to-two-and-a-half-year healing effort.

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It's Not For Me Jul 18, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Vince Sartori to talk about Vince shares how a persistent invitation from friends led him from a life dedicated to chasing thrills and parties to a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ.

Whether you're interested in stories of the Holy Spirit's movement in the world today, or just curious about the importance of persistence in inviting others to faith, this conversation will show how Jesus never stopped pursuing one person through the example and efforts of others.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Vince spent nine months defining success by being the life of every party, pursuing drinking and thrills, and leaving behind God and faith.

• The persistent efforts of his friends, Jared and Justin, who kept inviting him to Bible study, to play games, and finally, to a Catholic conference—despite Vince writing lists of reasons why he couldn't go.

• The unexpected moment during Eucharistic adoration when Vince felt compelled to go to confession, resulting in a literal weight being lifted off his shoulders and the realization that he was forgiven and loved.

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One Simple Question Jul 08, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Dorian Arellano to talk about Discover how one simple question, prompted by the Holy Spirit, transformed a reserved student into a courageous witness for Christ.

Whether you're someone dedicated to sharing the stories and movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, or just curious about the power of intentional accompaniment and friendship, this conversation will exemplify a life that has encountered Jesus in an authentic way and been radically transformed.

What You’ll Hear:

• The story begins with the host, Trevor Bara, sharing his own experience of being drawn to the power of a simple question, and then introducing Dorian Ariano's account of asking a student named Shawn, "When you pray, what is it like for you?". This intentional question sparked a friendship between the focused missionary (Dorian) and the relatively reserved student (Shawn).

• Following several impactful experiences, including a mission trip to Mexico City where he encountered the poor, a Focus conference, and a Father's House retreat, Shawn underwent a radical transformation. He moved from being a somewhat antisocial loner who was overly dedicated to his studies, to being a lively, social person who sought real experiences and conversations with others.

• Dorian shares the conviction that the original question asked of Shawn was from the Lord, and it was the necessary beginning of a friendship that allowed him to walk with Shawn and challenge him. Shawn's transformation led him to pursue uncomfortable situations for the glory of God, such as demonstrating courage by inviting women to dance and gathering weekly to pray with a small group of women past retirement age in a new city.

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Surprise on a Snowy Day Jun 10, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with John Michael Lucido to talk about how life-altering news about their unborn child led to a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Whether you're someone who has received news that stirred your life in an unexpected way, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will provide an important truth about how God often moves outside of our plans and gives us strength for the unexpected journeys.

What You’ll Hear:

John Michael recounts the tense moment in the high-risk fetal care unit at KU Medical Center in Kansas City when he and his wife, Emily, learned their six-month-old unborn child would have Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).
The question that weighed on John Michael—"Do I have what it takes?"—was answered by a moment of clarity from the Holy Spirit, who spoke with confidence in his heart, saying: "you don't have what it takes but I do and I'll be with you in every step of the journey".
The decision to name their son, born February 15th, 2021, Judah Michael (Judah meaning "Praise be to God" in Hebrew), reflecting their commitment that the world should look at their son and say, "Praise be to God," rather than viewing disability as a burden or hardship.

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Just Another Statue May 22, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Carrie Wagner to talk about how recognizing the impact of a historical figure and the legacy of daily choices can recontextualize your life and renew your sense of purpose.

Whether you're someone who has wondered, "What am I doing with my life?", or just curious about finding profound significance in everyday choices, this conversation will help you realize that your life is profoundly significant and that you can impact countless future generations by your yes to Jesus today.

What You’ll Hear:

• The moment Carrie, during her fifth year as a missionary, questioned if her daily efforts mattered and whether she was wasting her life while hanging out with people significantly younger than herself.

• How a visit to Embassy Row led to researching a statue of Irish patriot Robert Emmet, who died for religious liberty, and discovering an unexpected lineage that linked his witness to her own family history.

• The realization that even though Robert Emmet's legacy was built upon sacrifice, it was made up of daily choices, and that faithfulness in the little things ensures your life will affect generations to come.

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Come Home Now May 14, 2024

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Clayton Caldwell to talk about how a near-fatal case of bacterial meningitis became a powerful, modern-day witness to miraculous healing and the intercession of a beloved saint.

Whether you're someone who might struggle to feel like the miraculous and powerful works of God that you read in the Bible are still gospel today, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will provide an amazing witness to the power of the intercession of the saints and the power of God to heal people.

What You’ll Hear:

Clayton recounts the terrifying weeks when his father contracted what doctors called the worst case of bacterial meningitis seen in the hospital in over a decade. His father went into a coma for eight days, underwent two brain surgeries, suffered septic shock (with his heart rate dropping to 30 beats a minute), and was not expected to survive or recover without severe side effects.
How his father’s recently developed, deep devotion to Padre Pio—including praying the rosary daily and returning to confession after 30 or 35 years—became central to the family's prayers, leading to his father being anointed with holy oil touched to Padre Pio's stigmata gloves.
The surprising and specific insight that Padre Pio has a special love for those who have contracted bacterial meningitis, evidenced by the fact that the miracle which led to Padre Pio's canonization involved the healing of a young boy with the exact same life-threatening illness. Clayton attributes the saving of his father's life to Padre Pio's intercession.

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There Has to be More May 08, 2024

Pilot Episode. Jose Caballero shares his story of encountering faith through both a traumatic event and the witness of a friend.

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