Life Beyond Abortion
Welcome to Life Beyond Abortion, the weekly podcast hosted by Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor, author, speaker, and founder of The Abortion Survivors Network.
Join Melissa as she shares her powerful journey of survival and healing and amplifies the voices of those impacted by abortion, including survivors and their families. Through candid conversations, stories of resilience, and a commitment to truth, this podcast creates a space for inspiration, understanding, and transformation.
Whether you're seeking encouragement, want to explore the realities of abortion's impact, or desire a deeper connection to the human stories that bring healing and hope, Life Beyond Abortion is for you.
Subscribe today and discover a life-affirming message that goes beyond survival to thriving. New episodes drop weekly on your favorite podcast platform.
Episodes
35 episodes
Sidewalk Miracles
Melissa Ohden hosts Life Beyond Abortion with guest Lauren Muzyka, Executive Director of Sidewalk Advocates for Life. Lauren shares her journey from college prayer vigils at Texas A&M to founding a national sidewalk counseling network. They...
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Episode 34
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49:10
Life Begins at Conception
Melissa Ohden welcomes Paula Illari to Life Beyond Abortion for a raw conversation on choosing life amid pain. Through faith and therapy, she found healing and now advocates with Save the One, supporting women affected by rape, incest, or prena...
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Episode 33
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53:47
Men and Abortion Healing
Join Melissa Ohden on Life Beyond Abortion as she welcomes Sean Corcoran, CEO of Men for Life, to discuss the impact of abortion on men. Sean shares his personal story of losing his child to abortion at 19, his journey to healing, and the launc...
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Episode 32
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55:19
Defying The Odds
Join host Melissa Ohden on Life Beyond Abortion as she welcomes Melissa Manion, a woman who chose life for her child despite challenging circumstances. Melissa Manion shares her journey from a drug-addicted, abusive past to choosing life for he...
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Episode 31
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34:12
Reclaiming Your Story
Melissa Ohden welcomes Denisha Workizer, founder of Reclaimed Story, to share her powerful journey as an abortion survivor. Prompted by New York’s 2019 Reproductive Health Act, Workizer discovered at 42 that her mother considered abortion durin...
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Episode 30
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43:45
Resourcing Pregnant Mothers
Melissa Ohden sits down with Libby Owens, Executive Director of St. Joseph Pregnancy Resource Center in Missouri, to share a heartfelt conversation on navigating life's deepest losses and finding purpose i...
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Episode 29
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38:42
How to Be a Pro-Life Man
Melissa Ohden hosts Greg Mayo, author of Almost Daddy, to explore how abortion impacts men. The discussion reveals the emotional toll, often ignored, and the need for men to engage in healing and advocacy. It challenges listeners to address abo...
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Episode 28
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44:51
Do You Have a Pro-Life Doctor?
Melissa Ohden hosts pro-life OB/GYN Dr. William Lile who shares his journey from taking over and shutting down an abortion clinic, to advocating for the pre-born. He discusses fetal surgeries, like heart and spina bifida procedures, to highligh...
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Episode 27
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50:43
Healing in the Aftermath of Abortion
Melissa Ohden hosts Serena Dyksen, founder of She Found His Grace, to share her journey through abortion’s aftermath. They explore the devastating effects of abortion, especially in cases of rape or incest, and the path to healing through faith...
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Episode 26
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51:37
Against All Odds
Melissa Ohden hosts Rachel Guy, a pro-life advocate whose family faced a prenatal diagnosis deemed incompatible with life. Rachel shares her journey of choosing hope, supporting others through 40 Days for Life, and challenging abortion narrativ...
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Episode 25
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50:30
Mom’s Choice Defies Wrong Diagnosis
Melissa Ohden hosts Suzanne Guy, a mother who rejected abortion despite a dire fetal diagnosis. Suzanne shares her journey of choosing life, navigating medical pressure, and finding hope through faith. Her story challenges myths about medical n...
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Episode 24
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38:17
Healing Through Faith in Christ
Melissa Ohden hosts Priscilla Hurley, who shares her journey of surviving abortion’s impact, finding healing through faith, and embracing purpose. Priscilla discusses overcoming trauma, family dynamics, and the ongoing process of restoration. H...
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Episode 23
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41:25
Former Planned Parenthood Educator Exposes How They Target Children
Melissa Ohden hosts Monica Cline, who shares her journey from Planned Parenthood educator to pro-life advocate. Monica reveals the organization’s targeting of youth and families, her transformative exit, and her work with It Takes a Family to p...
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Episode 22
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46:01
An Advocate for the Unborn
Melissa Ohden hosts Elizabeth "Liz" Edmonds, an abortion survivor and birth mother who chose adoption at 15. Liz shares her journey of overcoming homelessness, embracing faith, and advocating for Betsy’s Law to support pregnant women with housi...
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Episode 21
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39:57
Choosing Adoption Over Abortion
Melissa Ohden hosts Brittany Paladino, who shares her journey as a young widow facing an unplanned pregnancy. Brittany discusses considering abortion, choosing adoption, and navigating family and church dynamics. Her story highlights the power ...
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Episode 20
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27:55
Overcoming The Trauma of Abortion
Melissa Ohden hosts Solé Wright, author and women’s wellness coach, who shares her journey as an abortion survivor. From learning of her mother’s attempts to abort her to finding healing through the Abortion Survivors Network, Wright discusses ...
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Episode 19
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36:34
Embracing Open Adoption
Melissa Ohden hosts Leah Outten, who shares her journey as a teen mother choosing open adoption. Facing pressure to abort, Leah found hope in open adoption, fostering a lasting bond with her daughter. Now, she advocates for adoption education t...
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Episode 18
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33:12
Winning Wisconsin For Life
Melissa Ohden hosts Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, who shares her path to pro-life leadership. From a college encounter with an unplanned pregnancy to innovative programs like the Veritas Society, Heather’s wo...
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Episode 17
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31:32
Forgiving Mom
Melissa Ohden hosts Sarah Zagorski-Jones, an abortion survivor who shares her journey from trauma to forgiveness. Born after a botched induction abortion, Sarah faced rejection but found peace through faith and understanding her birth mother’s ...
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Episode 16
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29:15
Her Twin Brother Was Aborted
Melissa Ohden hosts Jennifer Callender, a twin abortion survivor who shares her journey from shame to empowerment. Facing medical survival, family struggles, and personal loss, Callender found strength in faith and community. Her story in the M...
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Episode 15
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45:23
Hope in Crisis
Melissa Ohden hosts Ruth Tisdale, executive director of Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City. Tisdale shares her unexpected journey into pro-life work, finding purpose after 20 years of serving women in crisis. Two Lines offers pregnancy t...
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Episode 14
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42:21
Broken Not Dead: The Story of Steventhen Holland
Melissa Ohden hosts Steventhen Holland, who shares his journey as an adopted child conceived in rape, grappling with identity and loss. After miscarriages deepened his pain, Holland sought his birth mother, discovering her heroic choice to carr...
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Episode 13
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46:24
God Saved Her Child!
Melissa Ohden hosts Becky Hagan on Life Beyond Abortion. At 18, Hagan chose abortion out of despair, fearing for her future and son’s life. After taking the first abortion pill, regret drove her to seek reversal through progesterone treatment. ...
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Episode 12
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35:33
Healing the Grief of Abortion
Melissa Ohden welcomes Kylee Heap from Support After Abortion on Life Beyond Abortion. Heap shares her transition from pharmaceutical research to pro-life advocacy, driven by a call to serve those grieving abortion experiences. She discusses Su...
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Episode 11
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32:54
The Next Generation of Pro-Life Advocates
Melissa Ohden welcomes Rachel Shipers, Vice President of Operations for Students for Life Action, on Life Beyond Abortion. A former counselor working with foster care youth and rape survivors, Shipers shares how God called her to pro-life advoc...
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Episode 10
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27:38