In this powerful episode on Interrupted: Act 2 (reinventing your life) Podcast with Laurie Hardie, Deanna Powell opens up about her courageous journey from surviving abusive relationships and battling alcoholism to rebuilding her life with unwavering determination. After choosing sobriety and taking small, steady steps forward, Deanna turned to community resources like 211, Hopelink, and Catholic Community Services, slowly piecing together a foundation of stability, hope, and healing. Her story highlights the transformative power of recovery, self-worth, and resilience as she worked tirelessly to reclaim her future. Despite believing motherhood was beyond her reach, Deanna’s intrepid spirit, persistence, and faith in her own growth helped her achieve the most meaningful dream she ever held—to become a mom. Today, she is living the life she once thought was impossible, proving that with courage, support, and a refusal to give up, anyone can rise from rock bottom and rewrite their story. Which is also why she started her OWN podcast, Intrepid Storytelling. This episode is a testament to survivorship, sobriety, empowerment, and the unstoppable strength of hope.

This is a short episode from the Intrepid Storytelling live event. Born into a sheltered, fundamentalist Christian upbringing, Deanna Powell was taught that women and children were to be seen, not heard—and that a woman’s purpose was to serve men, marry, and have children. Naïve to the world and lacking boundaries, she became a target for predators, enduring sexually abusive relationships and three failed marriages. Struggling with addiction, her life took a dramatic turn on June 20th, 2012, when she got sober and began reclaiming her voice and self-worth. Choosing to embrace life on her terms, she became a single mom at 41 through IVF, then a foster mom, ultimately adopting two siblings. Her story is a testament to resilience, empowerment, and the power of rewriting your own narrative. This episode is for anyone seeking hope, courage, and the reminder that giving up is never an option. YouTube Facebook Instagram IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com

This is PART 2, and if you haven't listened to PART 1 yet, you'll want to do that first. In this deeply moving episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna sits down with Leila Culberson, a courageous mother whose life was shattered by unthinkable betrayal and loss — discovering her husband had been sexually abusing their children, and later facing the heartbreaking death of her teenage daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Out of unimaginable pain, she chose a path of healing, advocacy, and empowerment. Today, she leads a nonprofit that helps survivors reclaim their voices and turn their pain into power. This episode is a raw, emotional, and inspiring testament to resilience, bravery, and the unbreakable strength of a mother’s love. If you’ve ever wondered how light can emerge from the darkest places, this story will remind you of the power of purpose, hope, and courage to rise again. DONATE TO LEILA'S FOUNDATION YouTube Facebook Instagram IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com

This is PART 1 of a 2 part series. In this deeply moving episode of Intrepid Storytelling, Deanna sits down with Leila Culberson, a courageous mother whose life was shattered by unthinkable betrayal and loss — discovering her husband had been sexually abusing their children, and later facing the heartbreaking death of her teenage daughter to fentanyl poisoning. Out of unimaginable pain, she chose a path of healing, advocacy, and empowerment. Today, she leads a nonprofit that helps survivors reclaim their voices and turn their pain into power. This is a raw, emotional, and inspiring testament to resilience, bravery, and the unbreakable strength of a mother’s love. If you’ve ever wondered how light can emerge from the darkest places, this story will remind you of the power of purpose, hope, and courage to rise again. DONATE TO LEILA'S FOUNDATION YouTube Facebook Instagram IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com

Intrepid Storytelling Podcast with Deanna Powell — Real Stories. Raw Truth. Unbreakable Spirit.The Intrepid Storytelling Podcast is a powerful, truth-driven space where host Deanna Powell dives deep into the human experience through real, unfiltered, and transformational stories. Each episode features courageous individuals who have faced adversity, trauma, resilience, healing, reinvention, and personal breakthroughs. From survival and recovery to empowerment and purpose, this podcast uncovers the lessons, wisdom, and inspiration hidden within life’s most challenging chapters. Whether it’s overcoming abuse, battling illness, rebuilding after loss, or finding your voice after silence, these stories remind us of the strength we all carry. Perfect for listeners who crave authentic storytelling, personal growth, healing journeys, resilience narratives, and inspiring conversations that spark hope and change. Join Deanna each week as she amplifies voices that deserve to be heard and celebrates the bold, brave, and intrepid spirit within us all. YouTube Facebook Instagram IntrepidStorytelling@gmail.com