Relative podcast Excerpts:
Chris (Host): Welcome to another soul-stirring episode of Coffee on the Couch, where heartfelt conversations unfold over steaming cups of java. I'm your host, Chris, and today we have a special guest joining us, Johnny T. Johnny is a musician, evangelist, and the host and producer of Refuge Freedom Stories, a podcast that delves into the transformative power of God in people's lives. As we settle in for our virtual coffee chat, get ready to be inspired and uplifted by Johnny's own journey of faith and the captivating stories he shares on his podcast. So, welcome, Johnny!
Johnny T (Guest): It’s great to be here, Chris. Thanks for having me.
Chris: It’s great to have you here! I thought we'd start with a quick little intro about how we know each other. I believe we connected through Alignable, which is a great platform for connecting with people.
Johnny T: Absolutely. It’s a good networking platform to engage with people who share similar passions and businesses. It was great to meet you there.
Chris: Definitely! So, getting right into it, can you share with us the story behind the creation of Refuge Freedom Stories and what inspired you to start the podcast?
Johnny T: Absolutely. Back in 2020, my friend Reverend Alan Campbell, who has a ministry in Canada called Refuge Ministries Canada, reached out to me. His ministry is a first point of contact for those who have been in youth detention centers or prison. It helps them transition back into society, providing biblical grounding, teaching, and temporary places to stay to break the cycle between their old life and their new life.
In 2020, he called me up and mentioned a survey that said 77% of Canadians believe in miracles. We had seen many miracles in the ministry, and he thought we should do a radio program to share those stories. I agreed to help with the technical side since I was familiar with audio editing, but I didn’t think I had a radio voice.
Then another guy called him up, expressing interest in helping, and he ended up becoming our radio show host. That’s how we started. About three months after launching, we were on stations across Canada. Around that time, my pastor, who had been listening to the show, asked if we had a podcast. It was a lightbulb moment for me—I realized we needed to start one. I knew nothing about podcasting at the time, but we jumped into it, and since 2020, it’s been a learning journey. Now, we’re heard in around 78 countries with just over 150 episodes online across various platforms.
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Chris (Host): As a host, you've heard many powerful stories of faith and transformation. Can you share an instance that deeply moved you or changed your perspective?
Johnny T (Guest): Absolutely. We have over 150 episodes right now, which might seem small compared to other podcasts, but there are a few stories that really stand out to me. One was an interview with Bruce Wozniak, who hosts Catholic Sports Radio and Now Hear This Entertainment. Bruce was in a VP role at a multinational company and was on a boat tour in Brazil, traveling down the Amazon. While out on the deck, he realized he was surrounded by water, and in that moment, God ministered to him, telling him to step away from his corporate job because He had something else in store. That decision led to the creation of his two podcasts, which are now in the top 1.5% of all podcasts worldwide. This story encouraged me to believe that God has plans and purposes for us—we just need to be obedient and listen for that clear direction, especially when we're facing challenges like job loss or financial issues.
Another story that really impacted me was from a guest named Amanda Blackwood. She’s a survivor of human trafficking and shared that she was at a point where she was ready to end her life by jumping in front of a train because she saw no way out. As she sat at the train station, a young boy came up to her and spoke some words that changed everything for her. I won't give away what he said in case listeners want to check out the episode, but God used that little boy to show Amanda that He saw her situation and cared enough to send her a message through this five-year-old child. It stopped her from taking her own life, and now she's telling her story and helping others. This really spoke to me about how God can use even the smallest things or the smallest people—we just need to have ears to hear.
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Jonnie’s Links:
Alignable: Refuge freedom stories
Facebook: Refuge freedom stories
Apple Podcasts: Refuge Freedom Stories
My Personal links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lafreniere
Email: cl71088@gmail.com
Calendly: https://calendly.com/cl71088
Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/baileyville-me/coffee-on-the-couch-podcast
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