Unwritten

Hang Out With Us at SEEK26: http://bit.ly/3IPoew4In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor Barreca sits down with John Paul JP Hernandez to talk about how a simple game of Monopoly led a grandson to witness his grandpa's faith journey and miraculous conversion.Whether you're looking for stories of God at work in the world today, or just curious about the transforming power of divine mercy, this conversation will demonstrate how encountering God's mercy can unwrite years, decades, of habitual ways of living and lead you outside of yourself to give yourself away to others.What You’ll Hear:• The story of JP's grandfather, Carlos, who struggled with childhood trauma after his father stepped out on him, but eventually underwent a dramatic transformation from a man of severity to one who was loving, understanding, and empathetic.• How reading the book The Return of the Prodigal Son helped Carlos gain the capacity to forgive his father and have mercy on himself, leading him to become an "everyday saint" and a man profoundly intimate with God.• Stories of Carlos' constant evangelization and generosity, including his routine visits to support a struggling single mother with a son who had special needs, how he led a Muslim friend to attribute her healing from cancer to his intercession, and the mysterious final words his baby niece spoke, "For the Lord's sake, amen".Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Gayle Konderla to discover how the simple, faithful love of one couple transformed generations of their large, loud Catholic family.Whether you're struggling to stay faithful to God in your time of prayer or in communication with your spouse and loving your kids, or just curious about how simple witness can build a greater impact in relationships, this conversation will remind you that simple and faithful love across your whole life has the capacity to transform generations of people in your family.What You’ll Hear:• How Gayle's super faithful grandparents, who raised 12 children (six boys and six girls), including a son who is now a bishop, influenced generations of their family one small witness at a time. Gayle shares experiences of praying rosaries together and celebrating Mass in the living room.• The family's loving response to tragedy, including seeing their grandmother's fiery and zealous love for God and family deepen as she grew sick with cancer, and the system the 12 siblings created to care for their grandfather after his early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis for about seven years.• Insights into the grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's, and the beautiful realization that though he might forget that he saw someone the day before, he never forgot who they were and how much he loved them. The last thing he said to Gayle was, "I love you and I'm proud of you".Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Jane Voelker to talk about A priest she barely knew confronted her deepest spiritual conviction, sparking a wild journey toward profound healing.Whether you're someone who is completely stuck in a part of your life with God, or just curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, this conversation will offer a reminder that God steps in and changes things when we cannot fix ourselves.What You’ll Hear:• Jane's realization that her confessed "weakest point"—wanting to keep people at an arm's distance so they can't hurt her—was incorrect. A priest, who had only spoken to Jane for about five minutes prior to the retreat, told her the truth: her weakest point was believing she was unlovable. The priest had been emphasizing throughout the retreat that knowing one's weakest point is essential because it is exactly where God wants to meet us and where the enemy wants to attack.• The surprising result of her initial prayer following the revelation, where Jane invited God into her feeling of unlovableness. Jane thought God might shame her for being a missionary who felt unworthy of love, or immediately demand a fix, but instead, God just sat there with her in that broken part of her heart for the entire hour of prayer.• The unexpected moment of complete healing that happened months later. While brushing her teeth in a little cabin in West Virginia, Jane caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and spontaneously thought, "I'm so good and I'm so beautiful," after which she never doubted it again. This healing shows that God stepped in out of love for her to tell her the truth, without her needing to try to fix herself or grasp for anything.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Alex Sanchez to talk about A single moment of radical honesty shattered years of shame and changed the entire direction of one man's life.Whether you're wrestling with deep-seated painful beliefs or existential shame, or just curious about God's intense and beautiful mercy, this conversation will provide a powerful reminder of God's intense and beautiful mercy for them.What You’ll Hear:• Alex shares how deep-seated feelings of failure, disappointment, and not belonging developed in his youth, leading him to compromise his morals, start drinking, and routinely smoking weed for two years in high school.• The intense, unmistakable internal urge Alex felt to "Tell your parents the truth", culminating in a pivotal confession on July 8th, 2010, and how his parents’ response of mercy and truth—including his father saying, "I failed you as a father"—evaporated years of Alex’s painful beliefs about himself.• The surprising role of Alex’s mother, who was led to a drug and alcohol counselor via a name that came to her in a dream during one of the sleepless nights following the confession, and how this foundational moment of conversion became a turning point for Alex's entire family.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Caitlyn Robinson to talk about how God intervened in her family's most earthshattering tragedy, transforming their despair into a profound witness of miraculous healing and faith.Whether you're a parent facing unimaginable difficulty, someone wrestling with the power of prayer, or just curious about how divine grace and the communion of saints can move mountains, this conversation will inspire you to believe in the impossible and recognize God's active presence in our darkest hours.What You’ll Hear:Caitlyn, a mother of nine, recounts the terrifying Sunday morning when her 14-month-old son, Vincent, was found lifeless after drowning in their backyard hot tub, and the immediate, frantic attempts at CPR. The initial despair as Vincent showed no signs of life, the family's fervent prayers and Hail Marys, and the powerful, immediate prayer chain that ignited through their community, parish, and beyond.The hospital's grim prognosis after Vincent received 52 minutes of CPR with no pulse, Caitlyn's initial skepticism about a full recovery, and her profound realization of the intercessory power of the communion of saints.The pivotal role of the Novena to Blessed Michael McGivney, the placement of a relic on Vincent's chest during a hospital Mass, and how this led to his miraculous, complete recovery, including an organ-clear MRI and Vincent walking out of the hospital on the ninth day of the novena, perfectly fine.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, host Trevor Bara sits down with Justin Victor to hear his powerful testimony of how God continually sent "lifeguards" to rescue him from "drowning" in various challenges throughout his life, from childhood peril to adult struggles with sin, career, and unforgiveness.Whether you've faced overwhelming odds, felt lost in the depths of your own choices, or simply need a reminder of God's ever-present saving power and subtle promptings, this conversation will offer encouragement and a jolt of belief in God's call to pick up the pieces of our broken selves.What You’ll Hear:Justin’s miraculous near-drowning experience at age six, when his godfather was divinely prompted to save him.How he was saved from "drowning in sin from the inside" as a young adult through faithful friends, daily prayer, and the sacrament of confession.His journey from feeling "empty" and "mundane" in his dream career to finding deeper satisfaction and peace as a youth missionary with NET Ministries.The powerful realization that God not only sends "lifeguards" but also calls us to be "lifeguards for others". Justin's experience of God providing his wife as a "lifeguard" in marriage, and finding "deep healing" from unforgiveness through God's "ocean of mercy" in confession.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Garrett Bernardo to talk about how God transformed his childhood dream of professional baseball into a global mission of inspiring purpose-driven athletes.Whether you're an athlete navigating big dreams, someone facing an identity crisis, or just curious about how faith can redefine success and purpose, this conversation will inspire you to embrace God's larger vision for your life and persevere through trials.What You’ll Hear: Garrett's upbringing in a household of faith, his early ambition to play professional baseball like his father, and the identity crisis he faced when rejected from playing at the University of Maine.The unexpected origins of his brand, NOVUS, and its mantra "claim your crown," inspired by a childhood Bible verse (James 1:12) and a college side hustle.How God confirmed his call to pursue NOVUS full-time through a powerful moment at daily mass, and how the brand now outfits athletes from little leagues to professional teams, resonating with those who have overcome adversityHit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!http://novusclothingcompany.com

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Ben Kelly to talk about how a life-altering moment of suffering destroyed his idyllic world and led him on an unexpected journey back to God's heart.Whether you're curious about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today, or just curious about dealing with immense suffering and loss, this conversation will inspire you to continue to see what God is doing in your life and demonstrate how the power of one person loving you can transform a life.What You’ll Hear:• Ben recounts his freshman year at Harvard, where he met FOCUS missionaries and began "scuba diving into the ocean" of faith, while simultaneously watching his girlfriend Molly suffer unimaginably from the return of cancer.• The immense impact of the persistent love and gratuitous kindness of missionary Mike and the entire FOCUS team, who drove seven hours to attend Molly's funeral without telling him they were coming.• The visceral experience during adoration at the SEEK conference, prompted by the short line "Jesus wept", that revealed the answer to his pain was not a "neat and tidy phrase" or explanation, but the presence of Christ's own sorrow.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor  sits down with Victor Kopen to talk about his son. A father witnesses a rosary turn "smoking hot" while praying for his newborn son who had been revived four times.Whether you're a parent facing great uncertainty, or just curious about the intercession of the saints and modern miracles, this conversation will inspire you with powerful testimony to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world today.What You’ll Hear:• The story of Victor's son, Pierce, who was born seemingly healthy but was later diagnosed with PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn), requiring doctors and residents to revive him four times before he was flown to Pittsburgh.• The astonishing event where Victor prayed the rosary—which he had laid on a relic of St. Padre Pio's bloodstained glove—and the rosary became "smoking hot," causing his baby to convulse and his oxygen saturation to immediately jump from the low 90s to an "unnaturally high" $100 \%$.• How Victor reached a pivotal moment of complete surrender to God's will, after which he was instantly enveloped in an unworldly, unconditional love from the Holy Spirit, and the heartwarming post-script of his now-healthy son referring to St. Padre Pio as "my buddy".Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Chris Bonderer to talk about a powerful image received in prayer that revealed a student's deepest restlessness and gave undeniable proof of God's presence.Whether you're inspired by radical testimonies of what God is doing, or just curious about the impact of prayer out loud with another person, this conversation will inspire you to see God working in your life too and bring you to greater faith that God listens and responds.What You’ll Hear:• Missionary Chris Bonderer details his work at the University of Southern California (USC), specifically his deep friendship with Grant, a senior struggling with deep dissatisfaction despite having been a football player and fraternity member. Grant expressed feeling restless and wondered if 65 years was "too long to live" feeling that way.• The powerful image Chris received while praying for Grant—picturing him as a gladiator, smiling from cheek to cheek in the Coliseum, but with tears streaming down his face. Chris then asked Grant, "Do you feel like there's anything missing in your life?".• The stunning insight Grant shared later: The gladiator image perfectly mirrored a moment he experienced before quitting the football team when, despite the electricity of the environment and the crowds going insane, he felt "dead inside" while running out of the tunnel. This experience served as "undeniable" proof that God sees and knows him.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Courtney Roach to talk about how a disappointing papal audience and physical exhaustion led to a profound, vulnerable experience of God's perfect love right inside St. Peter's Basilica.Whether you're struggling with feelings of unworthiness while trying to lead, or just curious about how God works through moments of weakness, this conversation will inspire you to know that God is at work in your life and can accomplish great things even when you feel you don't have enough capacity.What You’ll Hear:• Courtney recounts the incredible journey of leading 40 women—most of whom she had never met—on the strenuous Daily Nothings Pilgrimage to Italy during the Jubilee year.• After suffering through 97- to 98-degree heat in Rome and wrestling with internal anger and judgment, Courtney wept during the Jubilee Walk and felt encouraged by St. Peter, who told her, "I just want to show you the imperfect way. Just come to me".• While carrying the cross and entering the holy doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, Courtney broke down trying to read Psalm 23, instantly hearing the Lord confirm her mission and finding deep clarity and comfort in the realization that vulnerability is key to her leadership.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Austin Satrio to talk about how a simple invitation to Adoration transformed a searching student into a potential priest in under 24 hours.Whether you're someone inspired to see God working in your life, or just curious about the transforming power of God in unexpected encounters, this conversation will encourage you to open your eyes to small opportunities and make simple invitations of faith in Christ Jesus.What You’ll Hear:• Austin Satrio, attending SEEK 2025 on behalf of the St. Thomas Moore Teaching Fellowship, meets a student named Michael who traveled alone to the conference, confessed he was not currently practicing his faith, and was unsure why he was even there.• The gentle, basic invitation Austin and his colleague extended to Michael to visit the Adoration Chapel, suggesting he simply sit in silence for 10 or 15 minutes and “just be present” with the Lord, without needing to say or ask the perfect things.• Michael’s profound encounter in Adoration, where the Lord very clearly spoke into his heart, affirming His love and telling Michael, "I think you're perfect". This encounter prompted Michael to go to confession for the first time in about 10 years and strongly feel the Lord inviting him to consider the priesthood.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Lauren Lewis to talk about Lauren Lewis shares how searching desperately for affirmation in college led her down a dark path until a shocking accident and a quiet interior voice changed everything.Whether you're fighting to make space for silence amidst the busyness of your life, or just curious about how God encounters people in the midst of their suffering and chaos, this conversation will help you encounter God and be reminded of His love for you.What You’ll Hear:• Lauren’s journey through college, starting strong in her faith but eventually giving up Mass and seeking deep affirmation from her amateur cycling teammates and coach. Lauren felt a great need for affirmation, doing anything—from focusing on her outfits or athletic ability—to receive it.• The serious bike accident in which Lauren was hit by a car, sustaining a severe concussion, and why her grandmother insisted this was God granting her a second chance at life. After recovering, Lauren initially misinterpreted this second chance, focusing on being the best athlete she could be, which quickly led her back into a dark place.• Why the climax of Lauren's story was not the dramatic accident, but the quiet, interior voice she heard in her living room that told her simply: "Go back to mass". This demonstrates that God often reveals Himself not in the storm or thunder, but in the peace and stillness of the heart.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Srishti Gupta to talk about a militant atheist's journey from rejecting all religion to finding her heart's home in the presence of God..Whether you're struggling with faith, questioning organized religion, or just curious about spiritual transformation and calling, this conversation will remind you of the power of God's love to radically transform a life and call you to action.What You’ll Hear:• Srishti recounts growing up Hindu, moving away from faith after studying it, and arriving at college as a militant atheist with the goals of becoming an astronaut and making everyone else atheist.• The foundational role of the Resurrection in her conversion: Srishti realized that if the Resurrection was real, all of Christianity must be true, leading her to study and eventually fight the notion of becoming Catholic despite feeling profoundly "home" during the Consecration at her very first Mass.• How her commitment to a non-obligatory 11 p.m. Holy Hour (Adoration of the Eucharist) became the most deeply uniting space with the Lord, ultimately confirming her call to consecrated life in a religious community that begins every day with a Holy Hour.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor sits down with Santonio Hill to talk about Santonio's friend Cole. After achieving wild success in acting and modeling, a friend keeps hitting rock bottom until he demands the one thing his Catholic friend has: joy.Whether you're someone seeking the meat of a life quest for meaning, or just curious about how persistent prayer and radical hospitality can lead to conversion, this conversation will provide a living and vibrant testimony that God powerfully uses commitment in daily prayer for conversion.What You’ll Hear:• The three-year pattern of superficial conversations that was broken when Cole approached Santonio at his wedding and whispered, "Your life is awesome and I want it".• How achieving wild success in acting was repeatedly met with emptiness, causing Cole to grow tired of hitting rock bottom and finally ask Santonio to sit with him at Mass.• The moment Cole confessed to Santonio, saying, "To be honest with you, when I close my eyes and I look for God the Father, for whatever reason, your face pops up," leading to intensive discipleship focused on apologetics and reading scripture.Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!