Words Of This Life Show
Words of This Life Show is a Christian podcast hosted by Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela. Each episode features conversations with believers sharing personal stories of faith, growth, and transformation. Inspired by Acts 5:20, the show aims to encourage listeners by highlighting how faith plays out in work, school, family, and church life. New episodes are released every Friday.
Episodes
Ordinary Days. Extraordinary Life: Dr. David on Faith, Research and Raising a Family.
What do we center our busy days around? Our happiness, our ease and comfort, or our accomplishments?David, a successful physician-scientist, shares his experience of making God the center of his decision making each day. Having finished two decades of post-secondary education, David recounts his experiences as a single doctoral student, courtship and marriage, having children, raising them, and se
Behind the Scenes: Pablo and Ayo on Growth, Change, and Trusting God
In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we’re sharing what God has been doing in our lives as we’ve been building Words of This Life. We reflect on how our faith has grown through this journey, opening up about life changes, from preparing for parenthood to navigating career uncertainty, and the ways marriage has shaped our walk with God.We also talk about the heart behind the podcast, the impa
The Lord's Hand in Every Part of Life: Brian's Journey
In this episode of Words of This Life, we sit down with Brian Windsor to see the Lord’s hand through every part of his testimony. From salvation at 13, to drifting in high school, to years spent pursuing a music career and working in restaurants, Brian shares honestly about the times in his life when his love for the Lord grew dim and the quiet ways in which the Lord continued to draw him back.Bri
The Whole World in His Hands: Connor on God’s Faithfulness Through Life's Chapters
What if God sends you across the globe to a people group you don’t know? Connor reflects on the major chapters of his life, from a childhood in the American Midwest, to the discovery of God’s eternal plan while in college in Texas, and now a season of serving Jesus in Germany.The difficulties, trials, and seasons of chasing success have all been part of God’s ordering of his steps, Connor shares,
Go, Stand, and Speak: Ty on Joining Words of This Life!
Every story has twists and turns. Get to know our next cohost, Ty Wilson! Hear why Ty joining the show fits like a hand in a glove, starting with how Ty prayed for Ayo even before they met, and how Pablo and Ty have spent time together side by side on mission in Boston.Ty brings a background in Christian ministry, an educated perspective on mental health, great questions and insights, and a positi
Greater than Gen Z's Dream: Ayo on Leaving the Path of Security to Follow God's Call to Bible School
What is it like to quit your job to follow the Lord? Ayo reveals a deeply personal testimony in this episode concerning the decision he made with his wife, Temi, to resign from their jobs and answer God's calling to go to a Bible school.Ayo had always defined himself by a career of prestige, comfort, and ease, and both he and Temi achieved just that with their career trajectories. But over the
No Greater Joy: Ken on the Call of God, and the Mission of Bringing Grace to Others.
How do we "hear" God's call?Born to missionary parents in the Brethren Assemblies, Ken was raised to know the Bible and revere God. But after a fall away, it took the kindness of God to appear to him as a young adult, call him into a relationship, and set him in a vibrant church life. To Ken, there’s no greater joy than caring for others, and there’s no greater care than bringing the
A Vessel of Mercy: Ray on Surrender to Jesus, and A Life All-In for God’s Purpose
Mercy. If you could look back at your whole life, would you sum it up with this one word?Ray shares about growing up in the turbulent 1960s and his profound conversion experience from a religious Catholic to a born-again follower of Christ. This episode traces turning points with Christ over career, adoption of a child under God’s sovereignty, and serving God full-time in America and Europe.Throug
The Power of a Faith Heritage: Isaac on the Journey from Wayward Sheep to Shepherd
How can we inherit the privilege of a Godly heritage without paying it forward to the next generation?In this episode, Isaac recounts growing up in an active Christian household in New York City, his wayward years and his eventual definite turn to the Lord. To Isaac, the greatest privilege is to be able to invite others into his own home now and set the same example for his children as was set for
Risking All for the Lord: Emmanuel & Lenore on Raising Five Sons and the Joy of an Open Home
What does it look like to build a home that's been open to people for 15 years?In this episode, Emmanuel and Lenore share their journey of marriage, raising five sons, and learning what it means to put Christ and the church first.From a miraculous story that began in the desert, to consecrating their firstborn in the NICU, to the everyday decisions that shape young men today, this conversation is
There Is No Equilibrium: Mark on Balance, Priorities & Giving Yourself to Christ and the Church
Mark stopped looking for balance a while ago. Life isn't a table with a surface that holds still, he says. It's a rowboat on the ocean, with pressure coming from every side.In this episode, Mark traces a career that moved from electrical engineering to patent law to finance, and how each turn freed up more time to serve. He shares the ABC's an older brother once gave him for being useful to the Lo
As Real As You Are: Peter on Meeting the Lord, Serving Behind the Iron Curtain & Calling on His Name
Peter was raised Catholic, and wanted nothing to do with the "Jesus movement," until his mother sent him to a youth retreat in the 1970s. In this experience, Peter met the Lord in a way he could only call an "explosion of regeneration." Back at school that Monday, he told his friends that Jesus was as real to him as they were.In this episode, Peter traces the decades that followed: an early call t
Never Meant to Be Alone: Juanito & Daniela on Open Homes, Marriage & Companionship
Juanito and Daniela have built a life around open doors — theirs and everyone else's.Juanito describes becoming something of a "home invader" as a young man, showing up again and again in the homes of believers across many countries, and discovering that every time he entered into a new home, God was actually invading his own heart. These precious experiences made Juanito hope for a home of his ow
A Heritage Worth Passing On: Ben on Fatherhood, Being Found & Never Having to Leave
In this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Ben to trace a thread through his life: the spiritual heritage he received, and the one he's determined to pass on. Ben is honest about leaving the Lord and coming back — and about the deep hope that his own children would be raised in a way that they would be so rooted that they will never need to leave to be brought back. He shares how he was found ag
From Excellence to Surrender: Demi & Olivia on Faith, Identity & Spiritual Growth
In this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Demi and Olivia, two recent college graduates, for a conversation that is honest, layered, and full of life. Growing up in high-achieving households, both women navigated the weight of expectations — including what it meant to be a "good Christian" by going through the motions. Demi and Olivia share the gradual, sometimes messy journey of finding God fo
A Life Fully Surrendered: Isaac on Faith, Family & Full-Time Ministry
n this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Isaac for a conversation that traces his faith from childhood all the way to full-time ministry. Isaac opens up about carrying real responsibility as the older brother during his parents' divorce, and how community and mentorship became a lifeline during some of the hardest years of his adolescence. He shares honestly about what it looks like to stay
Building A Life That Lasts: Carlos & Anne on Faith, Marriage & Work
In this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Carlos and Anne for a conversation that touches on aspects of everyday life — faith, love, marriage, and the work they do every single day. Anne shares her journey from a non-Christian upbringing to a faith built on more than just knowledge, and Carlos reflects on growing up in a Christian home and what it meant to make that faith truly his own. Togethe
Souls Worth Shepherding: Ty on Trauma, Mentorship & Emotional Health
Words of This Life is excited to host Graduate Student Therapist Ty Wilson, who brings wisdom that could only come from someone who has truly sat with the weight of his own healing.In this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Ty to unpack the relationship between trauma, emotional health, and faith — and why so many people, especially young men, are struggling in silence.Ty shares his own journey
Written by a Higher Hand: Joe & Alice's Story of Faith, Love & Family
What happens when two people surrender their relationship entirely to God — and He gives it back? In this episode, Pablo and Ayo sit down with Joe and Alice to hear a love story that spans childhood wounds, empty trophies, a painful breakup, four years in the wilderness, and a birthday text that changed everything. It's a story that could only be written from above.Joe and Alice open up about what
Stewardship: John on Faith, Money, and Our Heart's Treasures
How should Christians handle money?From encountering the Lord at a young age to learning what it means to walk with believers in fellowship, John shares how his journey has shaped his thinking about work, money, and stewardship.The conversation explores the tension many Christians feel about finances, what it means to trust God even in financial planning, and how giving and receiving both play a r
Faith, Family, and Showing Up: Victoria on Community, Belonging, and Learning to Care for Others
This week, Victoria shares a powerful testimony of how the Lord has been faithful through every season of her life. From navigating the loss of her mother to building a new life across countries, her story is marked by God’s mercy, resilience, and the quiet work of faith.She reflects on what it means to find home, not just in a place, but in God and in the people He brings into your life. From for
What Kind of Life Will You Live?: Adolfo on Choosing God at Every Stage
Adolfo shares his journey of growing up knowing the Lord, yet coming to a point where that faith had to become personal.Along the way, there were real experiences, times of being close, times of drifting, and moments where the Lord quietly brought him back. What once felt familiar eventually became a question he could no longer ignore: "what kind of life was he going to live?"This episode follows
What Science Can’t Answer: Dr. Jung Han on Faith, Purpose, and the Human Question
This week on Words of This Life, Dr. Jung Han shares his journey through science, achievement, and the deeper question that success couldn’t answer.From growing up in Taiwan to pursuing a PhD in the U.S., Dr. Han followed a path of discipline and ambition. As he began to achieve his academic goals, a quiet question started to rise within his being- is this really it?Through an unexpected invitatio
From Searching to Satisfied: Brian on Seasons with Christ
This week on Words of This Life, Brian shares his story of coming to know the Lord, from growing up without a real knowledge of God to realizing that God had been pursuing him all along.Through moments that seemed small at the time, a deep search for meaning, and the prayers of others, he eventually encountered Christ in a real and personal way. From there, everything began to change.Brian speaks
Experiencing God’s Care: Jennifer on a Heart for Others
This week on Words of This Life - Jennifer shares a story of being cared for in unexpected ways and how it changed the way she sees others.She opens up about searching for acceptance, building her own life, and once seeking for certain things to fall into place in order to finally feel fulfilled. Jennifer shares that, through the genuine care of other believers, she began to know the Lord as her f
Companions to Pursue With - Ian on Seeking the Lord in Every Stage
Ian shares his journey of growing up in a Christian home, knowing the Lord from a young age, and yet wrestling with what it meant to truly pursue Him.From feeling out of place in his early years to encountering a genuine Christian community in college, Ian opens up about the turning points that shaped his faith. Through simple but real experiences in small groups, friendships, and stepping out to
Chasing More Than Success - Juston on Finding God as True Satisfaction
Juston Street’s story begins with a genuine pursuit of success, purpose, and meaning, with the expectation that giving himself fully to something would ultimately satisfy.From growing up in a close family to pursuing baseball at a high level and later stepping into the world of acting, Juston experienced what it looks like to go all in. Yet even in the midst of these opportunities, there remained
Faith, Career, and Consecration: Brenda Olmos on a Life Given to the Lord
In this episode of Words of This Life, Brenda Olmos shares her testimony of coming to know the Lord as a teenager, growing up in a Mexican home, and learning to follow Him in both the big and small decisions of life.Brenda speaks on how Christian community first drew her in, how the Word became personal to her in college, and how the Lord faithfully led her through major turning points, including
From Paper-Mache to Reality: Finding Christ w/ Willie Wise
In this episode of Words of This Life, Pablo and Ayo are joined by former ABA champion and NBA player Willie Wise for a rich conversation about life, faith, and what truly gives meaning to human life.Willie shares about growing up in San Francisco as one of ten children, living “from meal to meal,” and how basketball became the path that eventually led him to Drake University and the 1969 Final Fo
Science and the Bible: Dr. Kenneth Diller on Process, Purpose, and the God Behind Creation
In this episode of Words of This Life, we sit down with Dr. Kenneth Diller, professor at the University of Texas, who has spent more than five decades in scientific research and teaching while walking day by day with the Lord.Dr. Diller shares his journey from rural Ohio to MIT, and eventually to UT Austin, describing how he learned to integrate his Christian faith with a high-level scientific car
Learning to Love the Lord in Every Season: Nancy Hana on Marriage, Motherhood, and Faith
This week on Words of This Life, Nancy Hana shares her testimony and the lessons the Lord has written into her life through family, church life, and motherhood. We talk about the power of singing to comfort the heart and fill the spirit, the importance of companions and intergenerational care, and and nurturing your marriage.Plus: a first for WOTL… we sing a hymn together.
Body, Soul, and Spirit: Dr. Alex on Mental Health in Christianity
In this episode of Words of This Life, hosts Pablo Valenzuela and Ayo Odole sit down with Dr. Alex, a licensed psychologist and board certified pediatric neuropsychologist, for an honest conversation on mental health in light of the Scriptures.Dr. Alex shares his own testimony of being rescued by the Lord from depression, and he opens up how the Bible tenderly addresses the whole person: body, sou
A Normal Christian Mom Life: Jessica & Becky on Motherhood
In this episode of Words of This Life, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Jessica and Becky for a heart-to-heart talk about motherhood, sisterhood, and what it looks like to live a normal Christian life as a mom.From finding personal time with the Lord in unexpected places (yes — even in the shower!), to balancing family life with a rich community life in the church, Jessica and Be
Listening, Leading, Loving: James on Caring for the Next Generation
In this episode of Words of This Life, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with James Kuan—a lawyer, husband, father, and devoted believer whose life reflects a deep commitment to raising up the next generation for Christ and His church.Balancing a demanding professional career with family life, James has found a unique calling in caring for the next generation. In his free time, he serv
From Seeing to Surrender: Linda’s Journey to the Church
In this episode of Words of This Life, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Linda, whose life was dramatically shaped by what she saw of the church in the 1970s.Coming from a free-spirited Christian group and later stepping into a non-denominational setting, Linda found herself on an unexpected spiritual journey—one that eventually brought her face-to-face with a vision of the church
How the Bible Changed Everything: Tino’s Salvation Story
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Tino Nguyen, whose journey to faith began in unbelief and was radically changed through reading the Bible.Growing up in Vietnam, Tino did not believe in God and had little exposure to the Scriptures. Faith felt distant and irrelevant. Yet over time, and especially when he came to college in the US, t
Life After a Brain Tumor Diagnosis: Carson’s Story of Faith
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Carson, a believer whose life was suddenly disrupted by a devastating diagnosis: brain cancer.Carson shares the moment he learned he had a brain tumor, the difficult road of surgery, and the crushing reality of hearing that the tumor had returned—bringing him face-to-face with the possibility of a te
Jordan & Paula on God's Calling and Following Him at Any Cost
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Jordan and Paula—two believers who followed the Lord’s call into full-time campus ministry, each with their own story, their own struggles, and their own walk of faith.Jordan and Paula open up about how the Lord called them individually to serve Him, what it meant to give themselves fully to His work
Crosville and Dora On Marriage, Mission, and Following God’s Voice
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Crosville and Dora Williams to share about following God’s leading, navigating marriage, and children– all while serving on long-term mission trips.Crosville and Dora share about how God called them individually to missions and how that journey shaped their faith, marriage and perspective. They open
Is God Still Faithful During Hard Times? Preston & Gilma Share Their Story
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Preston and Gilma to talk about trusting in God’s faithfulness and leaning on the members of the Body of Christ during life’s most difficult seasons.Gilma opens up about her complicated pregnancy and how God’s faithfulness sustained her in ways she never expected. Preston shares how a concussion and
Knowing God’s Will: David & Reese Share Their Stories
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with David and Reese to talk about one of the biggest questions believers face: How do you know God’s will?David shares how the Lord has been guiding him through major life decisions, teaching him to trust God’s timing rather than his own. Reese opens up about learning to discern the Lord’s voice in the m
Why the Church? Jim Lee talks Christ, God’s House and a Life-changing Realization
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Jim Lee to talk about how seeing God’s eternal purpose changed the way he views the Christian life and the church.From growing up not knowing anything about God to discovering what the Bible reveals about God’s desire for the church, Jim shares how his understanding of Christ and the Body has changed
Loving God First: Juston & Vanessa Share Their Journeys
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Juston and Vanessa, two believers living out their faith in very different seasons of life.Vanessa, a married mom, shares how loving the Lord above all else shapes her family, daily decisions, and priorities, while Juston opens up about the challenges and joys of serving in campus ministry and keepin
Letting Go of Earthly Ambition for Eternal Purpose: Josh and Ty’s Story
In this episode of the Words of This Life Show, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela sit down with Josh Herman and Ty Wilson, two young believers whose paths once pointed toward success in basketball and film — but whom God redirected toward something far greater.Josh shares how his pursuit of the NBA left him empty until he encountered the Lord in a living way, while Ty opens up about how his dre
Why A Podcast? Ayo and Pablo Talk Purpose, Christ, and the Words of This Life
Welcome to the first episode of the Words of This Life Show!In this conversation, hosts Ayo Odole and Pablo Valenzuela share their own stories — how they each came to know the Lord, what shaped their journey, and how Words of This Life began. Inspired by Acts 5:20, this show is all about hearing real testimonies from real believers and seeing how Christ is living and active in people today.Whether
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