Nurturing Words: Voices of Experience
Are you a motherless daughter? What if we told you we have 20 years’ worth of truth treasures, pearls of wisdom and diamonds of hope to help you with your mother loss? We do, and we share all things mother loss on Voices of Experience, the Motherless Daughters Ministry podcast. Give yourself some self-care and listen as we discuss grief, regret, anger, redemption, closure and so much more. Hit “Subscribe” and take the next step in the healing journey to your future.
Episodes
127 episodes
One Word Challenge
This time of year many of us are considering making some changes in one or more areas of our lives. Maybe you’ve made New Years resolutions. Or maybe you’ve tried your hand at a ‘One Word” challenge. Today’s episode looks at one motherless daug...
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Episode 127
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14:23
A Second Chance
What happens when a second chance at having the family you always wanted falls apart? A motherless daughter describes her experience of losing that dream after the passing of her beloved mother-in-law, after dealing with the absence of nurturin...
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Episode 126
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13:35
2025 Year in Review
As we wrap up the year 2025, we looked back over all the 25 podcasts that were published. There were 3,434 downloads --- the most we’ve had in one year since we started in 2021. Our formatting included more interviews and panel discussions as w...
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Episode 125
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21:15
Offering Condolences Over the Holiday
Navigating the holidays as a motherless daughter can be a mix of emotions. There’s an expectation of a Norman Rockwell-style family celebration that just doesn’t live up to expectations for so many grieving a loss or dealing with a strained rel...
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Episode 124
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23:47
Celebrating 25 Years
The Motherless Daughters Ministry is celebrating 25 years of helping motherless daughters. This episode features a discussion with Motherless Daughters Ministry founder, Dr. Mary Ellen Collins, on the past, present, and future of the ministry. ...
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Episode 123
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17:51
The Hidden Volcano
Motherless daughters deal with grief in different ways. Today’s episode focuses on a story from one of our blog writers, Dottie Menkhaus, who, at the time, struggled to face reality and deal with her grief. Instead, she tried to ignore it, as s...
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Episode 122
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14:20
Creating New Traditions
The “holiday season” is filled with traditions at every turn. While they anchor us and provide familiarity and predictability, they can also be the source of stress and trigger deep sadness and grief. However, because they create a sense ...
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Episode 121
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16:23
Going Home for the Holidays
The “holiday season” is characterized by family gatherings, festive decorations, gift-giving and feasts that include a large variety and amount of food. Minds and hearts are void of negativity and replaced by the spirit of kindness, generosity ...
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Episode 120
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16:16
Mothering Without a Mother
We never outgrow the need for the love, support, and nurturing of a mother or a mother figure. This is true during life’s special times and milestones. Entering motherhood is such a time. This episode features a conversation about mothering wit...
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Episode 119
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22:24
An Interview with Vanessa West
Our "Voices of Experience" are the best ones to tell you about the Motherless Daughters Ministry (MDM). Healing from the impact of loss is different for every individual. While our experiences are unique, there are common threads that bind us i...
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Episode 118
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25:00
A Motherless Daughter in "Wicked"
Sometimes, when you watch a movie or read someone’s story, there are parts of it you overlook. This episode features the experience of Sarah Lynn Wells, Podcast Administrator and blog writer, as she watches the movie “Wicked” with fresh eyes. S...
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Episode 117
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17:54
When the Storm Hits
Getting hit by a storm and trying to deal with the aftermath is a lot like what many of us deal with when losing someone we love. Finding community and experiencing the power of presence from others is crucial in navigating grief. Sometimes wha...
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23:39
It's Not Supposed to Be This Way
It is natural for us to set up expectations. But when things don’t go the way we expect, what determines how we respond? It’s different for everyone. But the earlier we learn how to control that response, the better. This episode fe...
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Episode 115
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19:54
Peeling Back the Layers
Healing from the impact of loss is a major focus of the Motherless Daughters Ministry offerings. It requires work that is sometimes painful. In our humanity, we try to avoid pain. But when it cannot be avoided, we diligently seek to alleviate i...
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Episode 114
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18:49
Free To Be Me
What's holding you back from being free to be the best version of yourself possible? Do you have interests, hopes, and dreams that have been neglected? Sometimes our past can restrict the ability to discover who we are and grow to our potential...
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Episode 113
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16:18
If the Crown Fits
Childhood experiences may not get a label until well into adulthood. It may be years before we acquire the language to describe how our life has been impacted by our past. Even if the explanation is objectionable, it is tailor-made for us to we...
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Episode 112
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14:09
Journey to Healing II
Healing from the impact of loss is a cyclical journey. Instead of a destination we acquire new knowledge and skills to manage grief and become our best selves. This episode is the continuation of Dottie Menkhaus’ story. It encompasses the last ...
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Episode 111
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29:43
Journey to Healing I
Healing from the impact of loss is truly a journey. There is no destination when it comes to grief. Every experience is unique because of our individual circumstances. It is impossible to create a timeline for this process because it requ...
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Episode 110
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47:29
Journey Retreat Testimonies
Voices of experience are the best ones to share information about “The Journey Retreat.” Our flagship offering is designed to provide a personalized experience in a safe environment with women who understand. These four testimonies give a glimp...
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Episode 108
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17:50
Stepping Out of the Boat
Sometimes taking a step out in faith can be challenging and scary! Today’s episode focuses on following God out of our comfort zone and into what He is calling us to do. This can be hard for motherless daughters navigating grief. But, remaining...
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Episode 109
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12:03
The Journey Retreat Panel Interview
“The Journey Retreat’ is a residential retreat focusing on mother loss and its effect on your life. The evolution of this offering has created an experience that is transformative. This interview brings together individuals w...
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Episode 107
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49:07
The Hidden Picture
Grief often feels like something we wear every day that most people do not seem to notice. But, when you find someone who understands, they seem to notice right away. This episode is based on a blog post written by Sarah Lynn Wells, our Podcast...
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Episode 106
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13:05
Meet the Authors: April Cunningham
Our “Meet the Authors” series features writers who have published books focused on their mother loss stories. This episode features the work of Alice Cunningham, author of Daughters on the Journey
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Season 105
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43:08