Some conversations stay with you long after the recording ends. This is one of them.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by life, weighed down by responsibility, or unsure how to keep going through hardship, today’s episode will meet you exactly where you are. Author and chaplain Sam Wegner returns for Part 2 of a powerful conversation that opens the heart and strengthens the spirit.

Sam speaks with honesty and humility about caregiving, fear, the raw edges of faith, and the quiet strength found in community. He shares how he supported his wife Crystal through years of intense pain and uncertainty, and how trust, hope and connection carried him through moments most of us can hardly imagine.

John guides the conversation with compassion, curiosity and presence. His ability to truly listen brings out the depth of Sam’s wisdom and gives space for the kind of truth people rarely speak aloud. This is why listeners trust John and keep returning. Every episode reveals a little more of what greatness looks like in real life.

Sam’s stories will lift you, steady you, and remind you that even in the hardest seasons, you are not alone.

🎧 This is a conversation you feel. Let it speak to you.

✨ In This Episode

• The hidden emotional weight carried by caregivers and why it is so often overlooked

• Why we reach breaking point and what it means to hand the burden over instead of carrying it alone

• How resentment eats away at us and why letting go feels like lifting a thousand kilos off the soul

• The healing power of genuine community when you feel isolated

• Crystal’s extraordinary resilience and the quiet influence of her faith around the world

• What real contentment looks like during hardship

• Why hope is far more than a feeling and how it becomes a steadying force

• How to keep going when everything feels beyond your control

• A reminder that strength grows when we stop gripping so tightly and allow ourselves to be supported

This episode is filled with real stories, real courage and real hope.

🎧 Tune In Now to Be Inspired

Whether you are on a walk, driving, or simply needing a lift, this conversation is for you. Hit play and rise into your greatness today.

🌐 Connect with Sam Wegner

Website: https://www.samwegner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samwegnerjr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575799584385

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwegner/

📘 Buy the book: The Weight of the Wait

💛 Donate to support Sam and Crystal: www.johnmerkus.com

🔗 Follow us and share your favourite moments. We love hearing how you use these ideas in your life.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@riseandthrivejohn

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Website: https://www.johnmerkus.com

Merko Motivation Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zOOEieBv2g1cZxIe7uFRV?si=7618a9b7596341cd

Legal Stuff

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of John Merkus, or used by him with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or non-commercial educational purposes. No other use, including reproduction, retransmission or editing, may be made without the prior written permission of John Merkus, which may be requested by contacting john@johnmerkus.com.

This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented.