In this deeply moving episode of the Bible Chat Podcast, Nicole shares her powerful journey from a passionate 7-year-old soccer player to a collegiate athlete facing a devastating lupus diagnosis during her senior year.

Her story takes us through unimaginable valleys: severe pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and ultimately a life-saving double lung transplant in 2008.

We explore the emotional weight of receiving the gift of life—the paradox of gratitude mixed with survivor’s guilt—the unwavering support of her husband Josh, and post-transplant challenges including PTSD and chronic rejection.

Nicole also shares the breathtaking miracle of adopting her son Noah amid the uncertainties of COVID-19.

Today, she is thriving with 40% lung function, deadlifting 205 lbs at 110 lbs bodyweight, and running her own business, Mindful Fitness with Nicole, helping others strengthen body, mind, and soul.

This episode reminds us that nothing is impossible with God.
If you're facing chronic illness, waiting on a transplant, walking through grief, or simply needing hope, Nicole’s journey will inspire you.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome
00:23 Early Love for Soccer
01:10 College Soccer & First Warning Signs
03:21 Pushing Through Symptoms
05:49 Lupus Diagnosis
08:35 Life & Love with Lupus
10:17 Heart Failure
12:19 Road to Transplant
18:40 Choosing Stanford
22:05 Waiting in California
34:54 Renewed Hope
35:50 The Transplant Call
36:12 The Gift of Life
37:02 Recovery & PTSD
38:30 Faith & Mindset
40:57 Support & Toxic Positivity
47:39 Chronic Rejection
53:26 Adoption Journey
59:21 Welcoming Noah
01:01:46 Living with Purpose
01:05:36 Final Reflections

If this story touched your heart, please like, comment your biggest takeaway, subscribe, and share with someone who needs hope today.
✨ God is still performing miracles!

Links

The Bible Chat Podcast
Instagram: @biblechatpodcast
Website: thebiblechat.com/podcast
Download the app: thebiblechat.com/app

Follow Nicole: @mindfulfitnesswithnicole

Hashtags

#FaithJourney #LungTransplant #MiracleStory #LupusWarrior #AdoptionMiracle #DoubleLungTransplant #BibleChatPodcast #ChristianPodcast #HopeInHardTimes #GodIsFaithful

In this deeply moving episode of the Bible Chat Podcast, host Alina Buzdugan sits down with Dan Christopulos, a lifelong servant of Christ with more than 40 years of ministry experience spanning parish life, global missions, humanitarian aid, and spiritual formation. From his early years as a college football standout to his calling as a priest, missionary, counselor, and development leader, Dan shares a powerful testimony of faith shaped by adversity, repentance, humility, and love in action. This conversation weaves together personal stories from the mission field, profound theological insight, and practical wisdom for living a Christ-centered life in today’s world. At the heart of the episode is a rich exploration of discipleship, apostleship, and theosis, not as abstract theology, but as a lived, ongoing journey from learning, to living, to becoming.

Episode Highlights

• Growing up Orthodox in Wyoming and the formative power of prayer and embodied faith
• Lessons from sports on perseverance, focus, and facing adversity with Christ
• Early signs of vocation and childhood evangelism
• Ministry challenges, suffering, and the redemptive work of grace
• Global humanitarian work with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
• Missionary experiences in Kenya, Albania, Eastern Europe, and beyond
• Empowering local leadership through Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)
• Sustainable mission models and faith rooted development
• A compelling explanation of discipleship, apostleship, and theosis
• Forgiveness, humility, spiritual warfare, and self-forgiveness
• What it truly means to leave a legacy of love and faith

Key Teaching Moment

Discipleship → Apostleship → Theosis

Dan beautifully connects these three movements of the Christian life:

• Discipleship (mathētēs): a lifelong posture of learning, listening, and being formed
• Apostleship (apostellō): being sent to share what we have received through love and service
• Theosis: the lifelong journey from image (ikona) to likeness (kath’ homoiōsin), becoming more like God through repentance, humility, and action

This is not a linear or perfect process. We fall. We repent. We get back up.
And we continue forward.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Life lessons from sports and faith
04:16 Early life and spiritual foundations
06:23 Sports, adversity, and perseverance
11:58 Childhood evangelism
14:21 Ministry challenges and growth
19:12 Humanitarian work with IOCC
28:08 Missionary work and future vision
35:09 Albania and religious persecution
37:06 Sustainable projects in Nairobi
42:17 Discipleship, apostleship, and theosis
48:01 Forgiveness and humility
55:30 Legacy and wisdom for future generations
01:01:29 Closing prayer and reflections

What if your greatest crisis became your deepest purpose?

In this powerful episode of Bible Chat Podcast, Bruce Feiler, the man who walked the Bible across 10,000 miles of deserts, war zones, and ancient lands, shares how to transform life’s biggest disruptions into meaning, strength, and legacy.
From teaching English in Japan, to juggling oranges in a traveling circus to facing a rare cancer that threatened to end his story, Bruce reveals the hidden map inside the Bible and the 7 tools he used to navigate life’s wildest transitions, tools backed by 500 real-life stories and now helping millions worldwide.

Whether you're facing a career shift, loss, burnout, or spiritual wandering, this is your roadmap through the wilderness.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

✅ Why the Bible isn’t only a book but a living MAP of human struggle and triumph
✅ How Bruce beat cancer at 43 and created the Council of Dads for his twin daughters
✅ The 3 phases of every lifequake
✅ The ABCs of Meaning: Agency, Belonging, Cause and how to rebalance them
✅ Why ritual is the antidote to loneliness, AI overload, and digital drift
✅ Bruce’s 3 life lessons from the circus, the desert, and the edge of death

Perfect for:

Anyone seeking purpose in chaos • Fans of Walking the Bible, The Council of Dads, Life Is in the Transitions • Spiritual seekers, entrepreneurs, parents, and change-makers

📖 Pre-Order Bruce’s New Book:
A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World and How It Can Save Us (Spring 2026)
💬 Comment Below: What’s YOUR biggest lifequake right now?
Let’s build a community of courage and connection.
🔥 Subscribe for weekly wisdom from global voices of faith, resilience, and transformation.
#BruceFeiler #LifeQuakes #WalkingTheBible #LifeTransitions #CouncilOfDads #BibleAsMap #Ritual #PurposeInCrisis #BibleChatPodcast

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome: A Circus Clown Meets the Bible
02:15 – Bruce’s Roots: Jewish in the South & the Birth of an “Experientialist”
05:40 – Japan, Viral Letters & Selling His First Book at 24
08:10 – Juggling Oranges on a Hill → Joining the Circus
12:30 – From Nashville Pews to Walking the Bible
17:45 – 10,000 Miles: Camels, Jeeps, War Zones & Mount Sinai
22:10 – The Bible Isn’t a Book — It’s a MAP
28:50 – The Sinai: Cold Nights, Noisy Sand & the Burning Bush… with a Fire Extinguisher
35:20 – Cancer at 43: “The Walking Man Who Couldn’t Walk”
40:00 – The Council of Dads: A Father’s Final Gift
46:15 – 3 Life Lessons from the Council
50:30 – Happy Families: Adapt, Talk, Play
55:10 – Life Is in the Transitions: 3–5 Life-Quakes, 5 Years Each
1:01:20 – The 3 Phases: Long Goodbye, Messy Middle, New Beginning
1:06:40 – The ABCs of Meaning: Agency, Belonging, Cause
1:12:00 – Ritual: The Cure for Loneliness & Digital Drift
1:18:50 – Legacy: Passing Down Treasure and Trauma
1:23:30 – A Word for Men: You Can’t Run from Emotions
1:26:00 – Final Charge: Be the Hero of Your Story

In this inspiring episode of the Bible Chat Podcast, host Alina sits down with Alexxa Gagner, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Denver Rescue Mission. With over 15 years of service, Alexxa shares the mission’s Christ-centered approach to serving those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Rooted in the core values of engaging mercifully, working holistically, speaking truthfully, and believing in miracles, Denver Rescue Mission transforms lives one person at a time. From providing shelter for up to 1,500 individuals nightly to offering addiction recovery programs and family support, Alexxa highlights stories of hope, like that of James, a blind man who found housing and renewed purpose through the mission’s services. Learn how you can get involved through volunteering, donating, or supporting their annual Turkey Drive. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of faith, compassion, and the power of miracles in action.

Key Quotes

• Alexxa Gagner on Core Values: “Engage mercifully, work holistically, speak truthfully, and believe in miracles... these are like our core values as an organization, how we live out our faith. God does miracles. He can heal people and be a part of our day-to-day.”
• On Compassion: “Viewing people just through a lens of love and through non-judgment... there’s a person, there’s a story, there’s a background, just like we all have.”
• On Impactful Interactions: “Even if they only come to us once for a meal and they feel that love... we feel like we’ve done our job.”
• On Approaching Homelessness: “Treat people with dignity... You can see Christ in them. Offer a smile, ask their name, or how you can pray for them.”
• Alina on Societal Roles: “In America, we think the highest role in our society is the president. But actually, that’s not true. It’s the citizen.”

How to Support

• Volunteer: Serve meals, tutor youth, or join unique opportunities like resume workshops or barber services at Denver Rescue Mission.
• Donate: Contribute to the annual Turkey Drive (goal: 15,000 turkeys) or provide essentials like furniture and housewarming boxes for those transitioning to permanent housing.
• Learn More: Visit Denver Rescue Mission’s website for volunteer details, donation needs, or to schedule a tour of their facilities.

Support & Learn More

• Denver Rescue Mission
• Open Soul Foundation Partners with DRM
• Connect with Alexxa on LinkedIn

Join us in supporting Denver Rescue Mission’s transformative work and download the Bible Chat app to continue your spiritual journey.