Episodes

Talking about abortion can be intimidating on a school campus, however there are students out there who are ready and willing to stand for life. Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, joins Jor-El Godsey in discussion about how students can advocate for their local pregnancy help organizations. Listen as Kristan shares what she has encountered in her work, and what she sees up ahead in the pro-life movement. www.StudentsForLife.org Kristan’s Podcast – Explicitly Pro-Life This Episode’...

International speaker and author, Stephanie Gray Connors talks with Betty McDowell about how she learned to proclaim the pro-life message with kindness and compassion, yet without holding back truth. From a very young age, Stephanie saw the impact of abortion and chose to be a part of the pro-life movement. She shares how God continues to open doors for her to speak, even in unlikely places (including a talk for Google!). Click here to find out more about her upcoming course through Heartbeat Ac...

Take a moment to pause and reflect with the leaders at Heartbeat International as they talk about what the pregnancy help movement means to them and how we move onward into 2022. Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such organizations. The ideas, views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and may or may not reflect advice, opinions, policie...

Valerie Humes, Housing Specialist at Heartbeat International, brings you a special Christmas edition of the Pregnancy Help Podcast! Listen to her insight into making the most of the Christmas season in your maternity home. How would you respond if you found out that one of your residents had never heard the story of Jesus? Contact Valerie at Housing@HeartbeatInternational.org Read Valerie’s latest article, “Making Room for Christ at Christmas” HERE Heartbeat International provides a forum to e...

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization case on December 1. Heartbeat International’s President, Jor-El Godsey and Legal Counsel, Danielle White were there in Washington D.C. outside of the Supreme Court that day, and in this episode, they discuss what happened and what might be coming next. Listen to our previous Dobbs episodes here: Dobbs 101 Impact on States Impact on Centers More resources on the Dobbs case can be found at ww...

Dr. Brent Boles, APRN Medical Director and Dr. Christina Francis, Board Chair of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists talk about chemical abortion, Abortion Pill Reversal and the Creinin Study. Click here for AAPLOG’s page on Abortion Pill Reversal Sponsor: Abortion Pill Rescue Network Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such organizations. ...

Foundation House Ministries has served over 600 women through their residential and non-residential programs. Join Suzanne Burns and Lisa Holmes from Foundation House as they share how they decide what a potential resident’s need level is, and what their ability is as a ministry to meet that need. This episode is brought to you by Heartbeat International’s Annual Conference. Register today at www.heartbeatservices.org Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas fo...

Heartbeat’s Vice President, Betty McDowell, and Director of Affiliate Services, Beth Diemert, discuss what you can do now to prepare for the impact of Dobbs on your Pregnancy Help Organization. From combating myths about the work of the pregnancy help movement to helping your own staff understand pro-life apologetics, there is work to be done. Tune in to hear their ideas and suggestions! Heartbeat Academy The Love Approach PregnancyCenterTruth.com White Paper – “Room to Grow” Pregnancy Help A...

Heartbeat Vice President, Cindi Boston-Bilotta, and Product Marketing Specialist, Jessica Warner, discuss possible outcomes of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization as it would impact individual states. They will also share ideas and resources to help your state and organization prepare for the outcome as well as continue to work towards more life-affirming legislation. Search for a Pregnancy Help Organization in your area using our Worldwide Directory Click here for more resources on the...

In this episode, we highlight Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month with our guest, Tracy Winsor. Tracy co-founded Be Not Afraid, a ministry that works with parents facing a prenatal diagnosis. Learn how you can be an advocate for parents in your local community who are walking through a difficult pregnancy. Find out more about Be Not Afraid at www.benotafraid.net Sponsor: Heartbeat Academy Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-af...

This episode is the first in a series of episodes on the upcoming Supreme Court case, Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Oral arguments begin in December, but the topic of abortion legislation is already heating up in the news. Listen to Jor-El Godsey, Danielle White, and Ellen Foell as they give a crash course on federal abortion legislation from Roe v Wade to Dobbs. Click Here for More Resources on the Dobbs Case from Heartbeat International – https://www.heartbeatinternational.or...

Amber Hornsby, Founder and ED of Esther Homes, joins the pregnancy help podcast to discuss time-tested principles for managing resident freedoms and privileges in the maternity home setting. These principles are applicable for any program style for maternity housing ministry and are easily duplicated. Sponsor: Heart & Home, an e-newsletter publication by Heartbeat International. Learn more and sign up here (complimentary for affiliates!) https://www.heartbeatservices.org/affiliates/subscription...

If humor is your drug of choice, you’ll enjoy this episode featuring Derrick Tennant and Betty McDowell! Derrick and his sister Julie are long-time friends of the pregnancy help movement, bringing the gift of laughter to audiences around the world. Derrick shares how he learned to live simply, love wastefully, and what it is like to live out of a single suitcase. You can find Derrick and Julie Tennant at the links below: https://www.14sleeves.com/ http://www.thelovechromosome.com/ You will also...

Having experienced an unexpected pregnancy herself, Amy Ford knows how important it is to reach out to women and help them form strong relationships with their local church. This experience led her to found Embrace Grace, where pregnancy help organizations and churches can work together to support moms. Amy tells her personal story (as well as how Embrace Grace came to be), and how each person can use their gifts to serve women facing unplanned pregnancies. www.embracegrace.com Check out Amy’s ...

Debbie Capen, Executive Director of MiraVia, a maternity housing program for college students, walks us through her journey of rebranding a previously long-standing brand and what she learned along the way. Wondering if your maternity home or pregnancy center is due for a brand refresh and where to start? This conversation walks you through 5 steps to rebranding with excellence! This episode is sponsored by Heart & Home — Sign up here! https://www.heartbeatservices.org/affiliates/subscriptions ...

Beth Diemert, Director of Affiliate Services at Heartbeat International interviews Gary Freeman, founder of Major League Dad. Although his father was a pastor, Gary found himself at a point in college where he wanted nothing to do with God. Football took the lead in his life for a while, but Gary shares how he was led not only to find his faith again, but also to start a ministry focused on helping men become better husbands and fathers. Beth and Gary cover marriage, fatherhood, mental health, a...

As Heartbeat International celebrates our 50th birthday, Jor-El Godsey and Dr. Peggy Hartshorn take us through the key moments in the pregnancy help movement that led us here today. Check out their new book! The Power of Pregnancy Help Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such organizations. The ideas, views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the pres...

An informal conversation as Mary Peterson interviews Valerie Humes, the new Director of the National Maternity Housing Coalition at Heartbeat International. This episode hits on Valerie’s approach to meeting clients’ needs, serving special needs residents, and her vision for the maternity housing community. Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such organizations. The ideas,...

Bob Foust, Executive Director of Pregnancy Resource Center in Alabama, was honored at Heartbeat’s Annual Conference with a Servant Leader Award. In this episode, Bob gives us insight into what he has found helpful over the years as a leader — from personality differences, staffing, and training to being honest with the Lord, self, and staff. Listen in as he shares the wisdom he has learned! Read Bob’s letter here: www.heartbeatservices.org/letter-to-myself-honesty This episode is brought to you...

As Heartbeat International celebrates 50 years of life-saving ministry, Betty McDowell and Jor-El Godsey talk about three big goals for the next half century for Pregnancy Help Organizations. Focusing on a recent article and white paper, they break down the number of PHOs based on states and counties, looking at new and innovative ways that we can bring help where it is most needed. Read “3 Goals for the Next 50 Years of Pregnancy Help” here: 3 Goals Heartbeat affiliates can view the entire “Ro...

Brenda Newport attended a volunteer training for a pregnancy center many years ago with no intention of later becoming the Executive Director. Now, it has become a family business! Brenda was honored at Heartbeat International’s Annual Conference with a Servant Leader Award, and also was the recipient of the Andy Merritt Scholarship. She shares the lessons she has learned over the years about saying “yes” to God’s plan, even when she had no idea where to start! Read her letter here: www.heartbe...

Darren Mulligan of the Christian music group, We Are Messengers gives his personal insight into the work of the pregnancy help movement, and shares encouragement for those serving in this ministry. Join Darren Mulligan and Betty McDowell as they share stories and celebrate Heartbeat International’s 50th birthday! Check out We Are Messengers here: https://wearemessengersmusic.com/pages/about-us Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-aff...

Betty McDowell shares a story from her own family’s past, and how it ties in to our 50th anniversary here at Heartbeat International. Listen in on this reflection that was recorded during our 2021 Annual Conference in Columbus, OH! Read about this year’s conference here: https://www.heartbeatservices.org/training/conference Heartbeat International provides a forum to express a marketplace of ideas for an audience of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations and those who support such organiza...

Join us as Emily Prins (Expect Hope) interviews Mary Peterson on the topic of Succession Planning. Their conversation features lessons learned on helping staff with the transition, encouraging Board in their authority, and dealing with the personal aspects of a change in role. Creating a culture of leadership development and thinking about growing a resilient organization were two central themes! Sign up for the “Heart and Home” Maternity Housing Newsletter Here: https://www.heartbeatservices.or...