From Surviving to Living

Discover extra content in the blog post – JAIL! << List of Episodes >> In 2010, I was arrested. I felt like the problem in my family, their strong beliefs made me feel like a failure. Have you ever disappointed someone? How did it make you feel? These are the questions I had as I went through the jail’s intake process. I felt really lonely and sad, even unable to cry. Life before this was busy, but now I was stuck and powerless. The next weeks were about writing letters and waiting for mail, getting a letter felt special. Eliza, […]

Discover extra content in the blog post – BAIL, SENTENCING & PRISON INTAKE! << List of Episodes >> Imagine your life on hold for a year, every day another day closer to a prison sentence. I might get only probation. Or I could get a 12 or even 30 year prison sentence. I pled guilty. Sentencing was up to the judge. The wait was terrible; the outcome was devastating. This is bail, sentencing, and prison intake. << List of Episodes >> Credits: Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/braden-deal/exertionLicense code: JMW1YQUC7FNXDD1P https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/lost-soulsLicense code: FU299LXLN2TAHDVM https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/notes-from-the-pastLicense code: Y8POTL5XSAGUMRKZ https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progressLicense code: ADHZRQWRDQIFZ15O https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/the-summitLicense code: 7P91ZHZD8LYLUCIK https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/one-moment-in-timeLicense […]

Discover extra content in the blog post – ORIENTATION! << List of Episodes >> In March 2011 I entered prison and was placed in an orientation class. After 2 weeks I was given a job and prison life began. Life outside of prison continued for my family as well, and as I sought to redefine my role as a mom of 5 children I would also experience the loss of my grandmother. I share my struggles with depression and how strict prison rules and challenging prison personalities affected me my first year. Are you overwhelmed? Are you experiencing a lot […]

Discover extra content in the blog post – A PADDED ROOM! << List of Episodes >> In October 2011 everything I thought I knew was turned upside down. My husband fled the state with our children, and still facing 7 more years in prison, helpless, I threatened suicide. While I’d suffered serious depression for years, I became mentally fractured. I share the emotional journey of hitting rock bottom and finding it’s not the lowest point, experiencing the world as shattered and questioning your own identity, your own ability to understand the world. I discuss Acute Stress Disorder and its symptoms. […]

Discover extra content in the blog post – WoW! << List of Episodes >> In October 2011 my definition of rock bottom was redefined when my husband left the state with our children. After 2 weeks on suicide watch the prison transferred me to a mental health program named Woman of Wellness. The social isolation of prison was made more complete by the distance from my children I now experienced as they moved across the country. I share the surprising living conditions at MCF-Shakopee and the unusual rules such as the “No Touching” policy that caused additional emotional trauma while […]

Welcome everyone! I’m Holly Bot and This is From Surviving to Living, the podcast where raw stories of transformation are told. This is not just a podcast; it’s the power of change! God is interested in you! My story is not fiction. I am a woman, a felon, a sex offender; I did hard time. I am so awed by Jesus I will risk my reputation and talk about it. He transformed me. He will do that for you. I trust Him. I hope you do too! Are you hurting? Sick of just surviving? I was too. How does one really, truly live? God causes transformation. it is possible for everyone. Thank God! I never saw it coming. Let me tell you how it happens. Get ready for your adventure of faith, and life beyond bars. This is “From Surviving to Living!” Credits – Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/track/papercastle/call-us-friendsLicense code: 8XWFNXJCRKAZU6ES

Discover extra content in the blog post – GENERAL ASSEMBLY! << List of Episodes >> Do you desire success, respect, love? Do you feel unconditionally respected and loved? Eight months into my prison sentence I faced uncertainty. While I waited for employment I considered my failures. I hoped for relief, a better future! Distraction from the truth was easier to find. Discover God’s perfect will for you and learn how He performs it! We’ll uncover the secret of love as God defines it, and how you can experience it today. Listen to the end, you won’t want to miss it! […]

“From Surviving to Living” is a both a serialized audiobook as well as a hybrid podcast, splitting out of its standard format monthly to interview guest in a studio setting. The serialized format uses the blog at www.hollybot.me for episode content, chronicling Holly Bot’s journey through prison and reentry in community. “From Surviving to Living” with Holly Bot resonates with individuals who have faced personal challenges such as incarceration, financial struggles, addiction, or relationship difficulties. It’s for also those seeking stories of resilience, redemption, and spiritual growth, particularly those interested in exploring the role of faith and personal transformation in overcoming adversity. Additionally, it appeals to anyone looking for inspiration, encouragement, and practical insights on navigating life’s obstacles and finding meaning in difficult circumstances. Credit: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/papercastle/call-us-friendsLicense code: VGBZCPVDHBNZCNZU

Discover extra content in the blog post – Ring Toss & Doppelgangers! << List of Episodes >> In November 2011 I was finishing my first year in prison. I had recently been on suicide watch in the prison’s segregation unit after my husband left the state with our children. A brief stay afterwards in the prison’s mental health program had brought me to General Assembly – my newest job. I share unique prison job experiences, unusual co-workers, supervisors, and guards I met in General Assembly and some unexpected life lessons I still use today in leadership positions I’ve been given. […]

Are you parenting in a difficult situation?  Join me on my journey through prison as I learn being mom despite distance and incarceration.

Discover extra content in the blog post Sex Offender (SO) Treatment!! << List of Episodes >> During my prison experience in 2012, I initially resisted a sex offender treatment program, feeling misunderstood and defensive. Embracing change, I pursued a new job and healthy lifestyle, losing weight and feeling better. I share difficult experiences such as a misunderstanding in jail, and I describe parenting from behind bars and my joyful reunion with my children after a year and a half. I discuss my difficult journey in personal growth and relapse into deeper depression. Are you working towards change today? Are you […]

Read the blog post for more content – Unintended Idle, Agency and Dehumanization!! << List of Episodes >> In November 2013, my world was shattered when I received the gut-wrenching news that my youngest son, Tim, had been rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. I wasn’t by his side to offer comfort and support. No, I was locked away in prison, grappling with the overwhelming weight of emotional turmoil and isolation. I share emotional struggles I faced, from the agonizing wait for updates about Tim’s condition to the crushing weight of depression and loneliness that permeates every aspect of […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Last Call!! << List of Episodes >> It was spring 2014 and I found myself trying to adjust to a new normal, again. My youngest son had been put in foster care the previous fall, taken from my husband due to neglect and abuse. I struggled to navigate the legal system and social services from inside prison walls. Each time I found myself experiencing hope, it would be crushed by a new pain. I didn’t know it, but this would be the last year I would have contact with my daughter, my husband […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Where’s My Son? << List of Episodes >> Are you curious about the Holy Spirit’s power? Do you desire a deeper connection with spiritual strength in the midst of life’s challenges? Join me on a transformative journey as I navigate a challenging new job and fight for my parental rights, all while discovering the profound influence of the Holy Spirit. In 2015 I would encounter new struggles as my youngest son Tim, in foster care, disappeared. I would face a lying social services caseworker willing to perjure himself in court to cover up […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Surprised by Joy!! << List of Episodes >> This is the episode you’ve been waiting for – and you won’t be disappointed! It was October 2015 and my life was about to take a dramatic turn. Soon my life would be filled with wonder, excitement and peace! Life didn’t get easier, in fact my circumstances would become even more dire. I was about to discover the “peace that passes all understanding.” I would never be the same, and thank God for that! Do you wonder what true transformation looks and feels like? Do […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Breaking Bias!! << List of Episodes >> In this episode of ‘From Surviving to Living,’ it’s the beginning of 2016, and I discuss the challenge of special occasions like birthdays behind bars, and my journey towards spiritual awakening through reading the Bible. I touch on the difficulties of sharing my newfound faith with my family and the rejection I faced from them. In this episode I also dive deep into how scripture challenged my existing beliefs and led me to understand the concept of being chosen and loved by God. I encourages listeners […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Taste & See!! << List of Episodes >> From Surviving to Living: Transformation Through Faith In this episode of ‘From Surviving to Living,’ Holly Bot shares her remarkable journey of transformation from a felon and sex offender who endured hard time, to being deeply moved by faith and the power of change through God. Holly opens up about the personal challenges she faced, including the battle to keep parental rights for her son, Tim, amidst financial struggles and personal growth while in prison. She recounts how embracing faith, practicing tithing, and putting others […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Love & Hate!! << List of Episodes >> In this episode, we explore the journey of healing and transformation through loving and serving others. Despite facing broken relationships and personal struggles, I discover the power of love and reconciliation guided by divine intervention. Delving into scripture and prayer, I wrestle with the challenge of loving even my enemies, ultimately overcoming anger and rage with the help of God’s grace. Join us as we uncover the profound impact of forgiveness, redemption, and divine guidance in navigating life’s unexpected paths. TRANSCRIPT Do you struggle with […]

Discover extra content in the blog post Projecting Hope!! << List of Episodes >> This episode describes my emotional journey as a mother incarcerated while battling to maintain parental rights and find a suitable living arrangement for my son, Tim, who is in foster care. Throughout my efforts, I face disappointments, such as Tim’s failed reunification plans with his father and the obstruction from Tim’s caseworker, Brian, who prevents Tim from receiving mail and visits from me. In prison, I continue to experience a spiritual transformation, engaging with fellow inmates and disputing misconceptions about faith. My story also explores the […]

Discover extra content in the blog post – BEFORE << List of Episodes >> Before the confines of prison, I had an ordinary life, family, dreams. Before 2010, everything seemed on track. Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it? Before 2010, I didn’t see the tragic detour ahead, a journey that would challenge every belief, every idea of self. Then came the pivotal moment, the moment that shattered the illusion of a predictable future. Prison, often seen as the end, became the canvas for a new beginning. TRANSCRIPT Prison doesn’t change lives. God changes even people in prison. […]