The concept of Forgiveness has been around since the beginning of time. Whether you’re religious, spiritual, atheist, etc., the reality is that we live in a broken world with broken people, myself included. Where there is brokenness, there is pain. And where there is pain, there is expression of that pain. Sometimes we express that pain in healthy ways, but often we don’t. Often when we’re in pain, we inflict pain on others.My dad put it well as I was growing up: “Hurt people hurt people”. Read that again and let it sink in like I had to. Hurt people - people who are hurt - have a tendency to hurt others, mainly the people who hurt them in the first place.This is why bullies tend to be the most traumatized people on the planet. By intimidating and hurting others, it’s a way of expressing their own pain that was inflicted on them.Maybe you’ve heard the word forgiveness and rolled your eyes or run for the hills. I have. I was a pastor’s daughter, and I’ve encountered all sorts of spiritual abuse and well-meaning “church mentors” who attempted to guilt and pressure me for not forgiving as quickly as humanly possible when someone hurt me.So what is Forgiveness, really? And what is it not?In this episode, I break down the real meaning of it and how to apply it to our daily lives. I share my experience with forgiveness, betrayal, dogma, stigma, and false doctrine. And I will encourage you in your own journeys to forgiveness.Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.You can also find me on Twitter (twitter.com/tellchantel), Facebook (facebook.com/tellchantel), any major podcasting platform, and many other places! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

It's National Adoption Day!This is a special day for so many people. It raises awareness to the need for adoption in America. According to the official National Adoption Day website, there are 113,000 children awaiting adoption from foster homes in the United States. So naturally, I had to interview Jina and Jerry Ezell. If anyone understands the experience of the foster system, and adoption, it's these two. Be inspired by their real, raw, honest story. Hear their perspective about love, empathy, God's calling, and so much more. It was such an amazing pleasure to be able to talk with them. Adoption is a beautiful thing.Thank you for reading and listening. Please share to spread awareness: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

Recently, I got to interview an AMAZING midwife in Oregon: Desiree LeFave. Anyone who knows her, loves her. So naturally, I needed to talk with her for my show. Desiree shared her story about how and why she became a midwife, explains the importance of midwifery, and talks about the birth center she owns - Bella Vie Birth Center.Birth Centers provide an important alternative for women who don't want to give birth in a hospital and desire to have a more natural experience. I myself gave birth here 14 years ago, and it was truly one of the most magical things I've ever encountered.Studies suggest that home births and birth centers have seen an increase over the last couple years and it's not a surprise. While there are women who opt for hospitals, many women are choosing the natural route for various reasons. Less interventions, more freedom in terms of who will be present, and to prevent unnecessary interventions and restrictions that so often occur in hospitals.For low risk pregnancies, I've been so grateful that it's an option where I live!Bottom line is that the choice is important. Women should feel empowered, however and wherever they give birth. The  midwives at Bella Vie Birth Center do exactly that. They're in the business of empowering other women by supporting them in the births they want.And it's a beautiful thing.So take a listen to Desiree LeFave. Hear her story, and be inspired. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

“I left the church but not God”That phrase alone says it all. This is the story of a man named Ryan Murphy. He served in his church faithfully for 15 years as a pastor, so leaving it certainly wasn’t easy.Unfortunately, there are far too many stories like his, myself included. So when I saw his saga unfold, I had to reach out to him. Ryan understands multiple things that I believe are noteworthy:* Loss. Leaving a church, whether you’ve been shunned, let go peacefully, or just chosen to leave is never easy especially if you’ve been a part of it for a long time.* Compartmentalization. Ryan didn’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” when he left the church. In other words, he continued to follow God even more than he did before. He understands that God is not constrained to a building, and he understands that the church body isn’t constrained to a building either. He was able to compartmentalize the notion that God and the modern corporate church are not the same thing and do not have to exist together. He knows that you can have a relationship with God, AND be a part of the “body of Christ” without being part of an official church.* Discernment. Ryan had the discernment to understand the flaws of the church, as well as the church’s potential and current positive attributes.* Critical thinking. Ryan won’t blindly follow the cookiecutter Christian process if that process goes against his convictions. He thinks outside the box because he understands that God also thinks outside the box. He knows that churches so often get stuck in their ways that they miss God’s true purpose on Earth.* Deconstruction. Ryan understands that sometimes things need to be deconstructed to be put together the right way. This includes many (but not all) churches today. God models this in scripture when He uses refining fire on our hearts as He works on us. It’s a painful process, but beautiful in the end. We must die to our old, corrupt selves and become the new selves God destined us to be. When the process is in dire need of improvement, we must sometimes be willing to demolish the process and start over.* Reform. Ryan understands the church’s need for reform. And this is something that should be on all Christians’ minds, whether they belong to a “church” or not. If we don't seek to improve ourselves, and the communities we’re a part of, we become spiritually stagnant. God designed us for growth, and this very much includes the church. We mustn't get stuck in our ways and our old routines just for the sake of it. We must constantly evaluate our convictions, our behavior towards others, our self-awareness, and our view of God. And if something is off, we need to fix it.If you have a similar experience to Ryan, know you are certainly not alone. Studies show that church attendance has been declining steadily since the 1990s, and that speaks volumes. It can feel very isolating, maddening and scary when the church fails you.Remember this though: people may fail us but God never will.Additionally, remember that the church is filled with broken people. They can choose to let Him use them, or choose to ignore Him. What YOU can do is seek to improve the things you can. Call out the hypocrisy. Jesus did, and so can you. Show kindness to others in your community - the single parents, the orphans, the widows. When the church fails, you can succeed. When hope seems lost, you can find it, then share it with others.When we can learn to separate the bad from the good, and when we can strive for God despite all circumstances, we can be more like Ryan.Thank you for reading Tell Chantel. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

Continuing my series of interviews in Porto, Portugal, I interviewed Heather Kirksey, Vice President of Community & Ecosystem Development at the Linux Foundation.Before asking her to interview, I spent a few days listening to her speak on stage and talked with her one on one. Several things impressed me about Heather. First of all, she's highly intelligent. Listening to her was a true delight. Secondly, she understands the value of hard work and perseverance under trial- something many of us need to learn, including myself. And thirdly, she understands the value of collaboration. In her profession, she oversees many people and projects. She knows that each person working for/with her has their own individual, unique skillsets and she's determined to make sure those skillsets are valued and appreciated.Because Heather is a true catalyst for the common good of humanity, and a natural leader, I really wanted to understand her mindset on "success".Success is something all of us hope for, but only a few of us achieve. What's her secret? How did she do it? Was it all rainbows and butterflies? Or were there hardships involved? If so, what were they?Watch/listen to the full episode in this post! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

While I was in Porto, Portugal, my husband and I found this amazing, charming little restaurant called Goela.Let's just put it this way, we ate there 3 days in a row while we were attending a developer conference. The slogan for Goela is "Random Comfort Food". And let me tell you, it lives up to its name in the best of ways. The recipes are so creative and diverse. Every single "random" ingredient intertwines together in the perfect melody of flavors. And not only that, but everyone who works there is friendly, kind and joyful. Every single waitress and waiter that served customers at their tables treated them like they were the most important people on earth. When I visit an establishment like this, there's something I can immediately detect: good management.I had to talk to the owner. Clearly, he or she had mastered the art of not only impeccable culinary skills, but also people skills. To every business owner out there, watch this and take notes.Included in this article is the full interview with João Ribeiro, chef and owner, along with pictures and other videos of this amazing place. If you visit Porto, be sure to come to Goela, the best restaurant in Porto. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of attending a developer networking conference with my husband in Porto, Portugal.I met some of the most amazing, inspiring people while I was there.One of them, senior technical community architect for the Linux Foundation, Casey Cain, has been through it all. After he shared his story with me, I insisted on an interview. If anyone understands loss, it’s this guy. The wisdom he’s gleaned from the grief he’s experienced is worth the watch.Despite losing so much, he refused to let it overpower him. He embraced the 5 stages of grief by walking through it, but he didn't let it crush him. He knew that he still had a purpose in this life and he was determined to live that purpose.                    I won't spoil it, so watch it for yourself by clicking the link below! And let me know if you share a similar experience as Casey.Have you gone through grief? Or are you currently going through it? I’d love to hear from you. And I want you to know you are not alone.Follow me on: YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com

Bringing people together through story. I interview people in the studio, and wherever I go. Listen, and be heard. Join the movement.https://www.tellchantel.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tellchantelshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellchantelTwitter: https://twitter.com/tellchantelThanks for tuning in! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tellchantel.com