Saved And Strong Podcast

About Saved And Strong Podcast

“Saved to Strong” is an inspiring podcast dedicated to sharing the powerful stories of individuals who have faced significant struggles and emerged stronger on the other side. Each episode features guests who open up about their personal journeys, discussing the challenges they faced, the moments that tested their faith, and the transformative experiences that helped them grow. Listeners will find encouragement and motivation through these heartfelt narratives, exploring themes of resilience, hope, and faith. The podcast aims to create a supportive community where stories of overcoming adversity can uplift others, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles and that strength often arises from the most difficult circumstances. Join us as we celebrate the journey from struggle to strength, and discover the incredible potential within each of us to rise above and thrive.

Publisher

Carrie Watts

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Nov 2024

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

75 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Author Interview: She Comes From Marai (Annal of Minera) by Trinity Martell

   Who Are You, Really? Finding Identity Through Fantasy with Trinity Martell What if a fantasy story about mysterious lands, broken identities, family, and the battle between good and evil could point us toward something very real—who we were created to be? In this episode of the Saved & Strong Podcast, Carrie Watts sits down with Christian fantasy and speculative fiction author Trinity Martell to talk about her debut young adult novel, She Comes from Marai. Trinity’s journey to publication began years ago. She first started writing the story in 2015, stepped away from it for a season, and eventually returned with new perspective, maturity, and purpose. And perhaps that time away was part of the story too. More Than a Fantasy Novel She Comes from Marai follows two cousins on a journey filled with mystery, family relationships, questions of identity, and the timeless struggle between good and evil. But beneath the fantasy world lies a very real question: Where do we find our identity? Trinity shares how the characters began to reflect different pieces of her own growth and healing. Although the novel isn't autobiographical, writing their journeys gave her a way to explore truths she was learning in her own life. As Trinity explains: “The characters are kind of almost like two main parts of my core and my soul.” The result is a story about more than adventure. It's about discovering who you are when the things you've depended on to define you begin to fall away. Stories That Illuminate Truth Trinity believes stories have the power to change lives. On her website, she describes herself as a Christian fantasy and speculative fiction author whose greatest identity is being a “Daughter of the Most High God.” She writes stories designed to illuminate truth and encourage readers to find their identity not in their abilities or earthly relationships, but in the God who created them. That calling influences the way she approaches every character, conflict, and decision in her fiction. “Every choice really has to be, in my opinion, spirit led,” Trinity shares. For Trinity, writing Christian fiction isn't simply about inserting faith into a story. It's about allowing faith to shape the story from the inside out. For the Girl Who Still Loves a Princess Story Readers who grew up loving princess stories and authors such as Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale may find themselves at home in Trinity's world. She Comes from Marai is written primarily for young adult readers, particularly ages 15–18, while remaining approachable for younger readers. Trinity has also created resources to help readers go deeper into the themes behind the story. And those themes extend far beyond fantasy: Family. Identity. Brokenness. Healing. Courage. Faith. And discovering who you were created to be. Your Story May Take Longer Than You Expected Trinity's journey is also an encouragement to writers. A story that began years ago eventually became a published novel—but not according to a quick or predictable timeline. Sometimes the years between the first words and the finished book aren't wasted years. Sometimes we're growing right alongside our characters. And sometimes God is writing something in the author while the author is writing the story. Join Carrie and Trinity for a conversation about writing, faith, fantasy, perseverance, family, and finding our identity in the One who created us. 🎧 Listen to this episode of the Saved & Strong Podcast and discover the story behind She Comes from Marai. 📚 Learn more about Trinity Martell, her books, reader resources, and upcoming projects at TrinityMartell.com. Follow Trinity on Instagram and Facebook @thetrinitymartell and Trinity Martell ☀️ Connect with Carrie Watts & Saved and Strong 🌐 Website: https://www.carriewatts.com 📸 Instagram — @carriewattswrites 💙 Facebook — Carrie On ✍️ Substack — Carrie Watts Writes: https://carriewattswrites.substack.com 📚 Want to know more about my publisher and

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   ☀️ 📚 From Doubt to Debut: Author Valerie Carr’s Journey of Faith and Writing

   🎙️ On this episode of the Saved and Strong Podcast, Carrie Watts sits down with author Valerie Carr to talk about faith, doubt, obedience, and the incredible feeling of finally holding your first published book in your hands. 📖💛 Valerie’s debut novel, Sun Shining on the Porch Swing, is more than a story. ☀️ It’s the result of following a nudge, trusting God with the process 🙏, and writing a book that welcomes readers into conversations about faith without feeling forced or preachy. 📚 The Joy of Holding Your First Book There’s nothing quite like the first time an author holds the finished book. 🥹📖 After all the writing ✍️, editing 📝, questioning, waiting ⏳, and wondering, Valerie finally got to hold Sun Shining on the Porch Swing in her hands. 💬 “It’s an amazing feeling to hold it in person,” she shares. Even more meaningful has been hearing from readers who see themselves in her characters ❤️ and connect with the questions of faith woven throughout the story. ✝️ One of Valerie’s goals was to write about Christianity in a way that felt authentic—even for someone who might not consider themselves strong in their faith. 💬 “I wanted to make sure that I did it in a realistic but yet relatable way,” she explains. And readers are responding. 💛 ✝️ Faith Without Being Preachy Valerie wanted her characters to wrestle with real questions. 🤔 Their faith isn't perfect. Their lives aren't perfect. And they don't have everything figured out. 💡 That’s exactly the point. Rather than simply telling readers what to believe, Valerie allows faith to unfold naturally through the characters’ lives, relationships, questions, and struggles. 🌱 Her hope is that someone who might never pick up a heavily faith-based book could still find themselves drawn into the story 📖—and perhaps discover a little more about the hope of Jesus along the way. ✝️💛 💕 Writing Romance She Can Share With Her Family Sun Shining on the Porch Swing also includes a love story 💕, but Valerie made an intentional decision about how she wanted to portray romance. 💬 “I want my children and grandchildren to be able to read it and not be embarrassed,” she says. The characters experience attraction, affection, and genuine romantic emotions ❤️ while maintaining boundaries that reflect Valerie’s values. 📚 It’s a reminder that a beautiful love story doesn’t have to rely on explicit content to keep readers turning the pages. 🙏 When God Gives You the Title Like so many writers, Valerie questioned whether she was really supposed to do this. ✍️🤔 Carrie understands that feeling well. During their conversation, Carrie and Valerie talk about recognizing the call to write ✨, questioning that call, and continuing anyway. Valerie had always been creative. 🎶🎬 Songs and movies could spark entire stories in her imagination. But eventually, those stories began asking to be written down. 📝 At one point, Valerie prayed: 🙏 “If this is what You want me to do, I need You to give me a title for the book.” And almost immediately, the words came: ☀️ Sun Shining on the Porch Swing. Sometimes the entire path isn’t revealed at once. 🕯️ Sometimes we simply receive enough light for the next step. 🌱 From Doubt to Debut Carrie and Valerie are both relatively new to the published-author journey 📚, which makes this conversation especially relatable for aspiring writers. ❓ What happens after you publish the book? ❓ What if you don’t know exactly what comes next? ❓ And what if God is asking you to write even though you still have doubts? Valerie’s story reminds us that we don't have to know where the journey will end before we're willing to begin. 👣 💭 Maybe you’ve been carrying a story of your own. 💭 Maybe you've questioned whether you're qualified. 💭 Maybe you've wondered whether anyone needs the words God has placed on your heart. ✨ This episode is your encouragement to keep listening, keep writing, keep trusting, and keep taking the next step. ✍️🙏 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Saved and Strong to hear Vale

3. 

   18 Sept 2026

   🎙️ Finding Joy in Suffering with Melissa Winters

   💛 Can joy and suffering exist at the same time? Grab your tissues! On this episode of Saved and Strong, Carrie Watts sits down with Melissa Winters, host of the Joy in Suffering Podcast, for an honest conversation about faith, chronic illness, grief, healing, and discovering purpose in the places we never would have chosen. 🙏 Melissa knows what it means to walk through seasons that test your faith. At just twelve years old, a near-death experience profoundly impacted her understanding of God. Years later, a traumatic left her bedridden for five years. ✨ Then came a moment Melissa describes as nothing short of a miracle: after years of being unable to walk, she took her first steps again. But Melissa's story isn't simply about physical healing. It's about what God can do in us while we're waiting, hurting, questioning, and wondering what comes next. 🎙️ Today, Melissa uses her story to encourage women facing chronic illness, grief, pain, and difficult seasons through her Joy in Suffering Podcast. She also shares about contributing to the collaborative book Faith Over Fear, where she writes openly about her experience with pain medication and the lessons she learned along the way. 💛 In this episode, Carrie and Melissa talk about: ✨ Finding joy without denying the reality of suffering🙏 Trusting God when circumstances don't make sense 💗 The healing that can come from sharing our stories🌱 Turning pain into purpose and ministry🤝 Encouraging women who are still in the middle of their difficult season If you're walking through something you never expected, or loving someone who is Melissa's story is a reminder that suffering doesn't get the final word. 🙏 There can still be faith.🌱 There can still be purpose.💛 And yes, there can still be joy in suffering. 🌸 Connect with Melissa Winters 🎙️ Listen to the Joy in Suffering Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joy-in-suffering/id1894559521 💙 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/melissawinters1974 📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/melissawinters1974 ✍️ Substack — Joy Even Here:https://open.substack.com/pub/melissajw74 🌐 Website:https://www.melissajwinters.com 🙏 Listen to Melissa's Audio Prayer:https://drive.google.com/file/d/12bU_GB7sRL3_a2npnpgOwiOcfNzsLBHb/view?usp=sharing ☀️ Connect with Carrie Watts & Saved and Strong 🌐 Website:https://www.carriewatts.com 📸 Instagram — @carriewattswrites:https://www.instagram.com/carriewattswrites 💙 Facebook — Carrie On:https://www.facebook.com/carrieon ✍️ Substack — Carrie Watts Writes:https://carriewattswrites.substack.com 📚 Want to know more about my publisher and a community of faith filled writers? Click here for more about Hope Writers: http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148183200/sY22Dv2U Click here for about Hope Books Publishing: http://www.hopewriters.com/a/2148100459/sY22Dv2U #SavedAndStrong #JoyInSuffering #ChristianPodcast #WomenOfFaith #FaithOverFear #ChronicIllness #HealingJourney #FaithAndHealing #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianTestimony #PainToPurpose #HopeInHardTimes #GodsFaithfulness #CarrieWatts #MelissaWinters

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.