The Let Them Live Podcast with Emily Berning

Fitness Coach to Faith Ministry | Erika Diaz-Castro | Episode 22

Emily Here! I am so excited to finally share this conversation with everyone, and I say "finally" because this was actually our "Take Two" after a little recording mishap. But honestly, I think the Lord’s timing was perfect, and there was probably something specific He wanted us to say this time around. Today I’m talking with my friend Erika Diaz-Castro, the founder of Her Renewed Strength. Erika has such a powerful story of how the Lord led her away from a successful fitness coaching business and into a ministry dedicated to getting women deeply rooted in God’s Word.
During our chat, Erika opens up about the massive shift in her life that happened when she was pregnant, and how the Holy Spirit convicted her to stop hiding her faith in her professional life. We dive into the difficult but necessary process of "unlearning" worldviews that don't align with Scripture and how to handle the "pruning" process that God uses to help us grow. Erika even shares some incredibly convicting insights on how social media can act as a mirror for our own hearts, revealing the areas where we might be struggling with comparison or pride.
I was so moved by Erika’s vulnerability, especially as we talked about the battle against pride and the beauty of finding our identity in Christ alone. Her journey of waiting on the Lord is a beautiful reminder of Isaiah 40:31, that those who wait on Him will truly renew their strength. You definitely don’t want to miss this deep dive into what it looks like to let the Lord guide your every step. Tune in now and visit https://herrenewedstrength.com to learn more about Erika's amazing mission!

Card Game for a Cause | Joshua Akerberg | Episode 21

Hey everyone, it’s Emily! I am so excited to share this episode with you because it’s about one of my favorite things: connecting with friends and family in the real world. Today, I’m talking with my good friend Josh Akerberg, who has an incredible story about how a childhood card game turned into an entirely new enterprise that helps support Let Them Live's mission to save lives from abortion.
Josh shares his wild journey of how he tracked down the original inventor of a game called Barefoot and Wild—a game that was out of print for years. You won’t believe the "God moments" that led him to find her! We talk about his family business, Mandatory Family Fun, and why he felt called to bring this competitive, Rummy-style game back to life so other families could experience the same joy he did growing up.
This conversation is such a great reminder of the importance of putting our phones down and building deep, intentional relationships with the people around us through fellowship and competitive table top games. I love supporting pro-life businesses like Josh's, and I know you’re going to be inspired by his leap of faith into the world of card games. To hear the full story of how my husband managed to beat Josh at his own game and to find out how you can get a copy for your next game night, tune in now!
Buy Bare Foot -N- Wild here: https://mandatoryfamilyfun.us/

The Ad on Facebook Changed My Life | Ana | Episode 20

Hey everyone, it’s Emily! I’m so happy to be back and sharing a story that truly shows how God works in the most unexpected ways. Today I’m talking with Ana, who found herself at a total crossroads. She was ending an unhealthy relationship and starting a brand-new career when she discovered she was pregnant. Between the intense pressure from those around her and the weight of her circumstances, she felt completely broken and isolated, wondering if there was any way out of a situation that felt impossible.
Her story took a life-changing turn in the most modern way possible, right on her Facebook feed! She truly believes it was a "God thing," as if her phone was listening to her silent prayers for help. You’ll want to hear her describe the moment she finally decided to click that ad and how it became the "bridge" she needed to find a community that refused to let her walk alone.
I don’t want to give away all the details because her journey of walking out of a planned procedure and choosing a different future is so powerful to hear in her own words. Today, Ana is a proud mama to a beautiful daughter, and her testimony is a reminder that one moment of reaching out can change the course of two lives forever. To hear Ana’s full "victory" story and learn how you can support more moms like her, press play now!
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

Shame Free Counseling | Bekah Hayden | Episode 19

Today's episode is so special, because I’m interviewing Bekah Hayden, a counselor with Let Them Live! I always love talking to the amazing people I work with, because we all come from different backgrounds but share the same passion: supporting moms who need help so they can choose life.
Bekah was adopted, which gives her a truly unique perspective when talking to the moms she serves every single day. We dive into why it’s so important to be a source of positivity and support for women who are facing some of the toughest decisions of their lives. 
Something she said really stuck out to me: "I think a lot of the times our voices kind of feel like the minority in culture and how things are moving, but there are still so many people out there that just want to help." This episode is an amazing reminder that there’s always hope when you choose to show up for these moms!
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

Equipping The Church | Brian Ottinger | Episode 18

Today, I am so excited to have Brian Ottinger, the Director of Expansion at Love Life, join me! Brian is not just a partner with Let Them Live in this mission, but an incredibly dear friend of Nathan and I. We immediately became "fast friends" doing this pro-life work side-by-side, and Brian has even played a huge role in Nathan's faith journey. This is a ministry that is saving thousands upon thousands of lives by activating churches.
Our conversation dives into the heart of Love Life’s mission: getting the church off the sidelines and into the local mission field. We discuss their simple but powerful strategy that makes it easy for any church or person of faith to get involved. Brian’s team has created a unique model of discipleship, proving that you don't have to be an expert; you just have to show up, be present, and watch God work. This episode will challenge you to see the mission field right in your own backyard!
Get your church involved, join a prayer walk, and get equipped at https://lovelife.org

Operation Saving Life | Nikki Tigg | Episode 17

You guys, I am so thrilled to bring you this episode! I’m sitting down with someone who has quickly become one of the most special people in my life: my friend, Nikki Tigg! Nikki is an author, a mother, and truly a ray of sunshine—a wealth of knowledge. We met through the pro-life movement, and she's just the kind of friend you know you're going to have forever. Today, Nikki is sharing her personal journey through a profound season of change after the organization she poured everything into closed its doors, leaving her to figure out what God was calling her to next.
Nikki shares the difficult, vulnerable process of confronting a belief she's held since childhood: attaching her value to what she produces. She shares the lesson God revealed to her about surrender and how she learned that her worth isn't tied to a paycheck or a title. We also talk about her passion for supporting women, stemming from her own experience as a mom at 18.
Her website is https://nikkitigg.com 
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

Kingdom Work | Kara Grace | Episode 16

This week I have the honor of talking to a wonderful friend of mine, Kara Grace! Kara is a single mom, a fellow RVer, and an amazing volunteer for Let Them Live. Her story is a beautiful testament to how God uses our hardest seasons for His greatest work. She shares her journey of going from feeling alone, broke, and even homeless to finding a deeper purpose in serving other women.
Kara takes us through her experience of feeling completely discouraged and alone, and how she eventually tapped into that primal "mama bear" instinct to fight for her baby and advocate for herself when faced with challenges during her pregnancy.
Kara’s ministry and volunteer work are proof that our pain is never wasted. She reminds us that true empowerment for a mother is not found in an abortion decision made at her lowest point, but in the community that rallies around her and says, "You can do this." 
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

Healing and Hope | Claire Ward | Episode 15

In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, Claire Ward, to talk about something many women struggle with. Claire shares her incredible journey from growing up as a missionary kid in Prague to finding her way to California. She opens up about her past abortion and how God remained faithful, even when she walked away from her faith, ultimately leading her back to a relationship with Him. 
I hope that Claire’s journey will leave you inspired and encouraged. I'm so thankful she had the courage to reach out. If you would like to share your story too, please reach out to me! 
If you are post-abortive and need healing and a community to provide comfort and release from that trauma contact our partners at She Found His Grace. https://shefoundhisgrace.org God's grace is always available to bring peace and restoration.
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

Rescued From Addiction | Katelyn Gregory | Episode 14

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains content that may not be suitable for all listeners. The sensitive content includes descriptions of domestic violence, abuse, drug use, and other topics that some may find disturbing. Your discretion is advised.
In this emotional episode, I sit down with Katelyn Gregory, who shares her personal journey with us. Katelyn went through a dark period of addiction and trauma, a path that was filled with immense pain and loneliness. But in her deepest moment of despair, she was given a beautiful and unexpected gift—the strength to not only change her life but to become a mother.
This is a deeply personal conversation about hitting rock bottom and the incredible, God-given strength it takes to climb your way back up. Katelyn's story is a testament to the power of hope and the transformative love of a child.
Join us as Katelyn shares how a difficult situation is not the end, but can be the beautiful beginning of something far greater than you could ever imagine. Katelyn's journey will leave you inspired, moved, and reminded that every life is a masterpiece with a purpose!
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/

The Perfect Little Angel | Liz Beaton | Episode 13

I am so excited to be back with another episode! Today, I have the honor of talking with my dear friend, Liz Beaton. Liz is a choir director and a singer who has performed all over the world, but her greatest accomplishment has been using her God-given talents to write a beautiful book called The Perfect Little Angel.
In this episode, Liz shares her story of being a single mom after leaving an abusive marriage. She talks about how her book was born from this difficult time and how God gave her the profound words to write it.
The Perfect Little Angel is not just a story; it's a tool for parents to share God's love with their children and remind them they were created with a purpose. This conversation reveals some incredible truths, that our greatest accomplishments can come from our deepest struggles and that every life is a masterpiece created by God.  If you would like to buy The Perfect Little Angel or contact Liz about speaking at your church, you can go to liztbeaton.com
Support Let Them Live here: https://donate.letthemlive.org/