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Unseen Atlanta
Unseen Atlanta, an Atlanta Mission Podcast, shines a light on the untold stories of those who have experienced homelessness, revealing the hidden realities of this struggle and inspiring listeners to see hope, resilience, and the possibilities for change in Atlanta and beyond.
Hosted by Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller, each episode tells the real-life story of a journey through hardships like housing insecurity, hunger, trauma, and addiction. Each episode also features a subject matter expert — like a neuroscientist or a shelter director — to further contextualize the subject.
Join us to see the unseen stories behind homelessness in Atlanta.
Episodes
26 episodes
I sat in that jail bed and said, “God, I need help.”
Ozzie spent years angry, trying to be someone he wasn’t. What started as fitting in turned into addiction, homelessness, and nights spent sleeping in bathrooms. In jail, he prayed to God for help. The next day, The Potter’s House ca...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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19:27
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Know the People You Serve.
This week on Unseen Atlanta, we sit down with Brooke Hempel, Senior VP of Research at Pinkston and Vice Chair of Atlanta Mission’s Board. Brooke believes that nonprofits can only truly live out their missions by understandi...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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38:04
Meet people where they are and see what good happens.
This week’s episode features one of our employment partners, Adria Marshall, CEO and founder of EcoSlay. Adria decided to become an employment partner with us because she knows that most of us are “a few situations away” from those having to st...
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28:22
They listen where nobody else would listen to you.
For most of his life, Denh felt like he had to handle everything alone. He learned to keep his pain quiet. But when he lost everything, he made the difficult choice to ask for help. At The Potter’s House, Denh found people who liste...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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30:26
There’s huge power in collective action.
When churches and nonprofits join forces, the impact multiplies. In this conversation, Bryan Apinis, Director of the Intersect Project and Be Rich Campaign at North Point Ministries, shares how partnerships built on relationship have mobilized ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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32:59
I love them through it.
At My Sister’s House, women talk about Ms. Avis the way you talk about someone who changed your life. She’s tough, direct, and refuses to let you hide behind denial. But she also has a gift: seeing past the addiction, past the pain, to the pers...
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28:36
Finally, a roof.
When Candy first walked into Restoration House, she looked up and whispered, “Finally, a roof.” Her story started decades earlier with the shock of learning she was adopted at 12, spiraling into rebellion, addiction, and de...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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38:36
I was ashamed of the impression that I had built in my head.
In this episode, Kathy Rainwater-Roe, Director of Community Partnerships at Phoenix Senior Living, shares how her first volunteer experience with Atlanta Mission dismantled her assumptions about homelessness and revealed the dignity and gratitu...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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34:36
Everyone Deserves a Dream Home.
In this special episode of Unseen Atlanta, CEO Tensley Almand steps into the host’s chair for a conversation with Justin Landis, founder of The Justin Landis Group, Bolst Real Estate, and a member of Atlanta Mission’s Executive Committ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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29:47
As soon as it stops breaking my heart, I’ll stop doing this work.
For 16 years, Michael Sheppard has been walking alongside men experiencing homelessness at The Shepherd’s Inn and Fuqua Hall. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, he shares what this kind of change really takes. If you’ve eve...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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30:41
You think homelessness couldn't happen to you. I promise you it can.
Cedric thought he could carry the weight of life on his own. Morgan thought homelessness was something that only happened to “other people.” Both were wrong. They walked into Atlanta Mission on the same day, one step away from giving up, and on...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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42:14
Episode 0: Introducing Season 2 of Unseen Atlanta
Season 2 of Unseen Atlanta is here! This year, the stories go even deeper. Join hosts Rachel Reynolds and Jonathan Miller as they pull back the curtain on unseen issues in Atlanta, sharing powerful first-hand accounts from people who’v...
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Season 2
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2:32
Jason’s Story: This Wasn’t Supposed to Happen
Jason never imagined he’d become homeless. He had a law degree, a successful 20-year career in human resources, and a strong faith background. But after a job loss, personal trauma, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, his life unraveled, and he fo...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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45:31
Eli's Story: Learning to Be Honest
Before coming to The Potter’s House, Eli was living a double life. He was outwardly spiritual but inwardly broken. In this episode, he shares how unresolved grief, addiction, and shame kept him stuck in cycles of self-sabotage until he finally ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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38:16
Matt's Story: Life Beyond Masks
Matt’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and redemption. In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Matt shares how decades of hiding behind masks—of perfection, performance, and people-pleasing—gave way to a life built on truth and...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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52:35
Sherri’s Story: When Survival Means Sacrifice (Part Two)
Sherri came to Georgia looking for a new beginning—but instead, she found herself homeless, alone, and in the depths of addiction. She never imagined how much one decision, one shelter bed, and one advocate could change everything. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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51:15
Sherri’s Story: When Survival Means Sacrifice (Part One)
What happens when survival means making the hardest decision a mother can face? In this emotional first part of Sherri’s story, she opens up about her journey through childhood trauma, domestic violence, addiction, and the moment sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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30:28
Wesley's Story: No More Missed Moments
In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, we hear from Wesley; a father, son, and leader fighting to reclaim the life that addiction nearly stole from him. After years of struggling with substance use and incarceration, Wesley realized the toll it had...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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33:33
Quena's Story: Invisible No More
Quena spent much of her life feeling invisible – giving everything to others and getting nothing in return. In this raw and honest episode, she shares her journey through abandonment, trauma, addiction, and ultimately, transformation.&nbs...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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44:37
Teyauna’s Story: When Everything Falls Apart, and the Fight to Begin Again
In this week’s episode of Unseen Atlanta, we hear Teyauna’s moving story. When everything began to fall apart, she found herself pregnant, alone, and with nowhere to turn. What felt like rock bottom led her through the doors of Atlanta Mission....
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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47:14
Sean’s Story: Overcoming Trauma and Addiction
In this week’s episode of Unseen Atlanta, we listen to Sean’s powerful story. Sean battled addiction, trauma, and homelessness before finding hope at Atlanta Mission's The Potter’s House in Athens, GA. His journey from self-loathing and isolati...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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39:37
Maria's Story: Motherhood and Resilience
In this deeply moving episode of Unseen Atlanta, Maria tells her story of resilience and strength. As a single mother of six, Maria faced unimaginable hardships, moving from place to place, struggling to provide for her children while ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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45:21
Dexter's Story: From Addiction to Advocacy
In this episode, Dexter shares his incredible journey from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration to long-term recovery and purpose. Arrested 52 times, with 17 felonies and six prison sentences, Dexter experienced the darkest depths o...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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53:30
Alisha's Story: The Way Home
In this impactful episode of Unseen Atlanta, Alisha shares her journey from homelessness to healing at Atlanta Mission. She recounts the struggles of being unseen and unsafe, the relief of finding shelter, and how faith and community restored h...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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48:54
Kisha’s Story: Finding Hope Through Health, Hardship, and Community
In this episode of Unseen Atlanta, Kisha shares her inspiring journey of resilience, faith, and transformation after a devastating medical crisis led to homelessness. Her story highlights the power of community and the support she found at Atla...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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55:31