1 00:00:00,420 --> 00:00:03,500 Speaker 1: Welcome to Hope for the Journey, the podcast for women 2 00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:08,100 Speaker 1: over 40 who are ready to rise, rebuild, and reclaim 3 00:00:08,260 --> 00:00:12,420 Speaker 1: their story. I'm your host, Monica, and each week you'll 4 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:17,390 Speaker 1: hear real, raw, comeback stories from women who have walked 5 00:00:17,410 --> 00:00:20,550 Speaker 1: through the fire and found purpose on the other side. 6 00:00:21,170 --> 00:00:25,650 Speaker 1: If you're navigating change, chasing a dream, or simply searching 7 00:00:25,710 --> 00:00:29,170 Speaker 1: for your next step, you're not alone. This is your 8 00:00:29,250 --> 00:00:33,379 Speaker 1: place for courage and community, and the reminder that it's 9 00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:40,010 Speaker 1: never too late to rewrite the ending. Welcome to Hope 10 00:00:40,050 --> 00:00:42,450 Speaker 1: for the Journey. I'm Monica Schmelter, and I am so 11 00:00:42,510 --> 00:00:45,330 Speaker 1: glad that you are here with us today. This is 12 00:00:45,370 --> 00:00:50,089 Speaker 1: a podcast that's for women, especially women over 40. It's 13 00:00:50,130 --> 00:00:53,300 Speaker 1: a safe and a sacred community where we can listen 14 00:00:53,340 --> 00:00:56,820 Speaker 1: to one another, cheer one another on, and really be 15 00:00:57,230 --> 00:01:00,090 Speaker 1: give each other hope for the journey. And my guest 16 00:01:00,150 --> 00:01:04,470 Speaker 1: today is no stranger to trials, to suffering and things 17 00:01:04,510 --> 00:01:08,450 Speaker 1: that happen, but she's also no stranger to resilience or 18 00:01:08,490 --> 00:01:12,090 Speaker 1: to hope. Her name is Angel Falk. And Angel has 19 00:01:12,150 --> 00:01:15,870 Speaker 1: a TV show. She has a large fitness platform. She's 20 00:01:15,950 --> 00:01:19,390 Speaker 1: on YouTube. And Angel, I am just so delighted to 21 00:01:19,470 --> 00:01:22,170 Speaker 1: have you here today because you will be able to 22 00:01:22,209 --> 00:01:25,310 Speaker 1: give us all hope for the journey. You've experienced quite 23 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: a few things yourself. 24 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:29,419 Speaker 2: Haven't you? Yes, thank you so much. 25 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 3: Yes, life can be hard, but Jesus gets us through 26 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 3: it all. 27 00:01:34,459 --> 00:01:36,780 Speaker 1: He really does. And I know one of the things 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: that we talked about, you do have a very large 29 00:01:39,260 --> 00:01:43,270 Speaker 1: health and fitness platform helping women like me that have 30 00:01:43,310 --> 00:01:46,670 Speaker 1: gone through menopause and the changes that we go through. 31 00:01:47,090 --> 00:01:49,610 Speaker 1: But first, I'd like to start with, you got a 32 00:01:49,670 --> 00:01:55,270 Speaker 1: diagnosis at one point, a serious diagnosis that Looking back, 33 00:01:55,310 --> 00:01:57,870 Speaker 1: you see it led you to what you're doing now, 34 00:01:57,970 --> 00:02:00,990 Speaker 1: to your destiny. But tell us about that journey of 35 00:02:01,070 --> 00:02:02,530 Speaker 1: getting that diagnosis. 36 00:02:03,370 --> 00:02:04,390 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 37 00:02:04,490 --> 00:02:09,250 Speaker 3: Yes. To kind of shorten the story, in 2006, I 38 00:02:09,470 --> 00:02:13,049 Speaker 3: started having some hearing loss, but the doctors seemed to 39 00:02:13,090 --> 00:02:16,150 Speaker 3: think it wasn't a big deal and told me to wait. Well, 40 00:02:16,310 --> 00:02:20,190 Speaker 3: three years later, I lost all my hearing and went 41 00:02:20,210 --> 00:02:22,250 Speaker 3: to the doctor. It took a few appointments, but I 42 00:02:22,290 --> 00:02:25,810 Speaker 3: finally got an MRI. And I had a huge tumor 43 00:02:25,850 --> 00:02:28,030 Speaker 3: that had been growing for 10 years, they thought. 44 00:02:28,790 --> 00:02:29,570 Speaker 1: Oh, my goodness. 45 00:02:29,870 --> 00:02:35,550 Speaker 3: Angel. Yeah, for 10 years. And that was, of course, 46 00:02:35,590 --> 00:02:38,350 Speaker 3: a scary journey. And like I said, I could tell 47 00:02:38,370 --> 00:02:41,630 Speaker 3: all the details. But just to cut it short, I 48 00:02:41,690 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 3: did have a 14-hour brain surgery. And the thing about 49 00:02:45,780 --> 00:02:48,740 Speaker 3: the tumor was people like to think it's just a 50 00:02:48,780 --> 00:02:49,780 Speaker 3: nice little round shape. 51 00:02:49,860 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: No, it's very oddly shaped. And mine had tails. And 52 00:02:53,540 --> 00:02:56,260 Speaker 2: they were intertwining the nerves on the brain stem. 53 00:02:57,419 --> 00:03:02,180 Speaker 3: So when you hear brain tumor, the most important part, 54 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,889 Speaker 3: of course, thank God it was not cancer. But even 55 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:11,549 Speaker 3: benign tumors can kill you. So if I had not 56 00:03:11,590 --> 00:03:13,310 Speaker 3: had the surgery, they said I would have died in 57 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:16,300 Speaker 3: my sleep because it was intertwined around the nerves, keeping 58 00:03:16,340 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 3: my heart beating. It crushed the auditory nerve. So that 59 00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:24,740 Speaker 3: was a sign from God, get help. So if something's 60 00:03:24,780 --> 00:03:28,590 Speaker 3: not right, I always tell people, just keep digging until 61 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:29,530 Speaker 3: you find an answer. 62 00:03:29,570 --> 00:03:30,170 Speaker 2: Don't wait. 63 00:03:31,690 --> 00:03:34,370 Speaker 3: But yeah, after 14-hour brain surgery, I had to relearn 64 00:03:34,410 --> 00:03:38,050 Speaker 3: to walk, to talk, to swallow. My eye was popped 65 00:03:38,130 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 3: open like a robot. I developed facial paralysis because it 66 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 3: damaged the facial nerve. So many things. And when you 67 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:48,810 Speaker 3: think about Being healthy and fit and strong, it's really 68 00:03:48,850 --> 00:03:52,110 Speaker 3: a miracle if nothing's wrong with you. There's so many 69 00:03:52,150 --> 00:03:56,970 Speaker 3: little details. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. But 70 00:03:57,050 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 3: that really threw me for a loop. I was a 71 00:03:58,590 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 3: fitness instructor, had two young children. My husband's a pharmacist, 72 00:04:03,780 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 3: very smart. So thank God I had him. I always 73 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: say he's our medicine man. But yeah, God really taught 74 00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: me so many lessons through all of that. And one 75 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,529 Speaker 3: of the coolest things is you were saying I was resilient. 76 00:04:17,190 --> 00:04:19,380 Speaker 3: And you never think of yourself as resilient, but when 77 00:04:19,430 --> 00:04:21,589 Speaker 3: other people tell you and you look back, you're like, yes, 78 00:04:21,690 --> 00:04:24,570 Speaker 3: I'm resilient. I always felt like Rocky, you know, like 79 00:04:24,610 --> 00:04:25,490 Speaker 3: Rocky Balboa. 80 00:04:25,529 --> 00:04:26,210 Speaker 2: Just keep getting. 81 00:04:26,350 --> 00:04:28,510 Speaker 1: I love Rocky Balboa. Yes. 82 00:04:29,050 --> 00:04:32,750 Speaker 3: Everybody loves Rocky because he kept getting up. It wasn't 83 00:04:32,810 --> 00:04:35,830 Speaker 3: that he got knocked out and stayed down. He got 84 00:04:35,910 --> 00:04:38,070 Speaker 3: back up and it wasn't that he was the toughest, 85 00:04:38,130 --> 00:04:40,750 Speaker 3: the smartest, but he just kept getting back up. 86 00:04:40,850 --> 00:04:43,430 Speaker 2: And the day before. 87 00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:46,580 Speaker 3: My surgery, a girl in my Zumba class had a 88 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,099 Speaker 3: DVD of us doing our Zumba. And this is before 89 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 3: I did videos and all that. But I took that 90 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,239 Speaker 3: to the therapist when I had to relearn to walk. 91 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:56,580 Speaker 3: And I said, this is what I have to be 92 00:04:56,620 --> 00:05:00,420 Speaker 3: doing again. And, you know, she loved it. She was like, oh, 93 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,500 Speaker 3: you're a go-getter. And, you know, they had to put 94 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,630 Speaker 3: the harness around me and lead me around like a 95 00:05:04,650 --> 00:05:07,030 Speaker 3: dog to see if I could, you know, walk through 96 00:05:07,050 --> 00:05:11,710 Speaker 3: the hospital. And I remember just thinking, I have to 97 00:05:11,750 --> 00:05:14,650 Speaker 3: get back to the gym. Because that's like a happy 98 00:05:14,710 --> 00:05:16,910 Speaker 3: place for me. You know, working out is one of 99 00:05:16,950 --> 00:05:20,150 Speaker 3: the best things you can do for stress. So when 100 00:05:20,170 --> 00:05:23,300 Speaker 3: you're feeling stressed, go for a walk, lift weights, turn 101 00:05:23,330 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: on some music, dance, whatever. And I just needed to 102 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 3: be in that environment because I love teaching classes. And 103 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,779 Speaker 3: they said it might be a year and a half 104 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: before I was able to teach again. But I was 105 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,310 Speaker 3: in the gym in six weeks. Yes. 106 00:05:39,390 --> 00:05:40,410 Speaker 1: How can that be? 107 00:05:42,990 --> 00:05:44,330 Speaker 2: It really is cool. 108 00:05:44,390 --> 00:05:46,550 Speaker 3: But when I say that, people imagine me back to 109 00:05:46,610 --> 00:05:48,770 Speaker 3: my normal self. I wasn't back to my normal self. 110 00:05:48,830 --> 00:05:52,310 Speaker 3: I still couldn't drive. I didn't have my balance. I 111 00:05:52,370 --> 00:05:53,729 Speaker 3: still had to wear a patch on my eye because 112 00:05:53,750 --> 00:05:56,630 Speaker 3: it was popped open like a robot. But my husband 113 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 3: knew I wanted to be there. So he drove me. 114 00:05:59,140 --> 00:06:02,020 Speaker 3: He propped me against the wall and put dumbbells in 115 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:07,250 Speaker 3: my hands. And I always tell people proximity matters. If 116 00:06:07,310 --> 00:06:09,740 Speaker 3: you can get in the right environment, it will help 117 00:06:09,770 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 3: you reach your goals no matter what. If you want 118 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,580 Speaker 3: to be fit, get around fit people. If you want 119 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 3: to be healthy, be around healthy people. If you want 120 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:20,380 Speaker 3: to be godly, get around godly women. So that really 121 00:06:20,420 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 3: was how my journey started and getting back in the gym. And, 122 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,790 Speaker 3: you know, back to 12 weeks out, I was teaching 123 00:06:27,830 --> 00:06:29,490 Speaker 3: classes again, which. 124 00:06:29,390 --> 00:06:30,710 Speaker 2: Is still miraculous. 125 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: It's miraculous. It's miraculous, Angel, that you had that resilience 126 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,860 Speaker 1: in you to show your physical therapist, here's my goal. 127 00:06:39,339 --> 00:06:42,180 Speaker 1: This is what I do. I teach Zumba classes. I'm 128 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,140 Speaker 1: in health and fitness, and I need to get back 129 00:06:44,180 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: to that place. And also one of the things that 130 00:06:47,060 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: occurs to me, Angel, is that you were willing to 131 00:06:49,610 --> 00:06:52,710 Speaker 1: start right where you were. I mean, to have your 132 00:06:53,089 --> 00:06:56,070 Speaker 1: pharmacist husband take you to the gym, prop you up, 133 00:06:56,410 --> 00:06:58,910 Speaker 1: put dumbbells in your hand. You've got a patch on 134 00:06:58,950 --> 00:06:59,450 Speaker 1: your eye, right? 135 00:06:59,510 --> 00:07:00,050 Speaker 3: We all. 136 00:07:01,339 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: You know, life, we see people, right? So some people, 137 00:07:05,380 --> 00:07:08,340 Speaker 1: when we go through hard things physically, people don't want 138 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,300 Speaker 1: to get out in public because they're afraid of somebody 139 00:07:11,380 --> 00:07:15,780 Speaker 1: staring or making comments. And that's real and that's legitimate. 140 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:20,140 Speaker 1: Yet you're resilient. Like you fought past that with faith. 141 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: It couldn't have been easy, though. 142 00:07:23,260 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: Right. And, you know, the facial paralysis has been the 143 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,990 Speaker 3: hardest thing in my face now. When I talk to people, 144 00:07:30,010 --> 00:07:32,620 Speaker 3: they're like, oh, I don't even notice. But of course, 145 00:07:32,630 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 3: it's noticeable. But in the beginning, it was really bad. 146 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 3: And my surgery was on October 21st. So on October 31st, 147 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 3: I love to sit outside on the porch and give 148 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,260 Speaker 3: kids candy and that sort of thing. 149 00:07:44,460 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: And this little girl screamed. She got scared when she 150 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:47,700 Speaker 2: saw me. 151 00:07:47,860 --> 00:07:50,140 Speaker 3: She thought I was dressed up as a scary person 152 00:07:50,460 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: because my head was shaved. 153 00:07:52,340 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: You know, I had the patch. It was terrible. It 154 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,900 Speaker 2: made me so sad. 155 00:07:56,620 --> 00:07:59,750 Speaker 3: Because I just wanted to enjoy the children and the neighborhood. 156 00:08:00,750 --> 00:08:03,110 Speaker 3: But I went inside and watched E.T., my favorite movie, 157 00:08:03,170 --> 00:08:06,670 Speaker 3: and just like, ah. But, yeah, it can be scary 158 00:08:06,710 --> 00:08:09,660 Speaker 3: going out. And I have a group on Facebook for 159 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:13,500 Speaker 3: people with facial paralysis. And they always seem so amazed 160 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,020 Speaker 3: that I just keep living life because many of them 161 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,260 Speaker 3: do hide in shame. And I always want to say 162 00:08:19,550 --> 00:08:22,180 Speaker 3: shame is Satan's game. He wants you to stay in 163 00:08:22,220 --> 00:08:24,580 Speaker 3: the dark. He wants you to isolate. But you have 164 00:08:24,620 --> 00:08:28,300 Speaker 3: to get out there for your own mental health. And 165 00:08:28,340 --> 00:08:31,870 Speaker 3: then when you show up, that encourages others to show up. 166 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,510 Speaker 3: So that's the way it works. That's the way God's 167 00:08:35,530 --> 00:08:38,670 Speaker 3: kingdom is. So we just share our light. And God 168 00:08:38,730 --> 00:08:41,130 Speaker 3: really reminded me it's not about me and not how 169 00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:43,750 Speaker 3: I look. It's about him and pointing people to the Father. 170 00:08:44,510 --> 00:08:46,690 Speaker 2: And I made a T-shirt. I should have worn it. 171 00:08:47,090 --> 00:08:47,929 Speaker 2: It says shine. 172 00:08:47,970 --> 00:08:50,050 Speaker 3: And it has the scripture about let your light shine 173 00:08:50,090 --> 00:08:53,500 Speaker 3: before men. And it's a little happy face with a 174 00:08:53,580 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 3: half smile, you know, because we have half smiles. 175 00:08:57,020 --> 00:08:58,359 Speaker 1: Because of the paralysis. 176 00:08:59,059 --> 00:09:00,980 Speaker 2: Yes, from the paralysis. 177 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,780 Speaker 3: So no matter what you're going through, how you look, 178 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,930 Speaker 3: just keep shining for Jesus and keep believing for his healing. 179 00:09:08,970 --> 00:09:11,710 Speaker 3: That's another thing is you've got to build your faith muscles. 180 00:09:12,270 --> 00:09:14,890 Speaker 3: That's how I feel like I can stay resilient because 181 00:09:14,929 --> 00:09:18,290 Speaker 3: we can all get down. Bad things happen to everybody, 182 00:09:18,309 --> 00:09:20,949 Speaker 3: the good, the bad, no matter what. But if we 183 00:09:20,970 --> 00:09:23,510 Speaker 3: keep our eyes on Jesus, say in his word, keep 184 00:09:23,630 --> 00:09:27,449 Speaker 3: praising him, no matter what, he pulls you through and 185 00:09:28,330 --> 00:09:29,890 Speaker 3: you come out joyful. 186 00:09:30,650 --> 00:09:30,910 Speaker 1: Yes. 187 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:33,010 Speaker 2: Thankful. It's a gratefulness you have. 188 00:09:33,650 --> 00:09:33,850 Speaker 3: Yes. 189 00:09:33,929 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: And I know that you wrote a book about praising 190 00:09:36,670 --> 00:09:40,980 Speaker 1: God in the difficult times. It can be the last 191 00:09:41,020 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: thing that we want to do. I know when I'm 192 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,980 Speaker 1: going through a hard time, right? I just want to isolate. 193 00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:49,500 Speaker 1: I'm an introvert anyway, so I just want to isolate. 194 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: But I found that when I just take that action 195 00:09:53,660 --> 00:09:57,230 Speaker 1: step of getting out there and getting around people, God 196 00:09:57,370 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: always blesses that. And I love what you shared about 197 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 1: when you get out there, it encourages other people. Hey, 198 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,140 Speaker 1: it's okay. Whether it's facial paralysis, loss of a limb, 199 00:10:08,820 --> 00:10:12,750 Speaker 1: you know, just anything that might make us look different 200 00:10:12,910 --> 00:10:17,229 Speaker 1: physically to get out there anyway and not let Satan 201 00:10:17,309 --> 00:10:21,330 Speaker 1: hold us in shame. What is the title of your book, Angel? 202 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:24,069 Speaker 2: It's called, and I have it here, Praise Through the Pain. 203 00:10:24,830 --> 00:10:27,010 Speaker 2: And it's funny because when I became a new Christian, 204 00:10:27,050 --> 00:10:28,590 Speaker 2: I talk about finding the Lord in here. 205 00:10:29,450 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 3: I remember doing a sermon series on the power of praise. 206 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,580 Speaker 2: And how many of us remember sermons? I mean, you 207 00:10:35,620 --> 00:10:36,420 Speaker 2: don't really. 208 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,100 Speaker 3: They change you. They change your character and the way 209 00:10:39,140 --> 00:10:42,900 Speaker 3: you live everyday life. But I remember learning how to 210 00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:46,620 Speaker 3: dance and twirl and enjoy dancing. There are so many 211 00:10:46,980 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 3: action steps to praising God, and it is a weapon. 212 00:10:50,870 --> 00:10:53,310 Speaker 3: So when we're praising God, we're punching the devil in 213 00:10:53,330 --> 00:10:56,290 Speaker 3: the face and reminding him he's under our feet. 214 00:10:57,230 --> 00:10:58,230 Speaker 1: Because he is. 215 00:10:58,530 --> 00:10:59,230 Speaker 3: He is. 216 00:10:59,309 --> 00:11:00,030 Speaker 2: That's right. 217 00:11:00,350 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 3: And then the second line is diagnosis to destiny. And 218 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,780 Speaker 3: if I didn't have this brain tumor and facial paralysis, 219 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,300 Speaker 3: I wouldn't be missing out on so many relationships, so 220 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,540 Speaker 3: many opportunities to share the Lord. 221 00:11:14,230 --> 00:11:16,729 Speaker 2: Because God will use anything for his glory. 222 00:11:16,750 --> 00:11:19,270 Speaker 3: If we'll just surrender everything to him and ask him 223 00:11:19,429 --> 00:11:22,150 Speaker 3: every day, what do you want me to do today? 224 00:11:22,230 --> 00:11:24,230 Speaker 3: Who do you want me to talk to today? He 225 00:11:24,270 --> 00:11:27,230 Speaker 3: shows up and it's so much better than anything we could. 226 00:11:27,110 --> 00:11:27,910 Speaker 2: Do on our own. 227 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:31,010 Speaker 1: Yeah, even anything that we could imagine. We've got to 228 00:11:31,050 --> 00:11:33,829 Speaker 1: take just a quick break. Guys, stay with us here 229 00:11:33,910 --> 00:11:36,089 Speaker 1: on Hope for the Journey. As I talk to Angel Falk, 230 00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:38,150 Speaker 1: we'll be back in just a moment, right after a 231 00:11:38,190 --> 00:11:42,750 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors. Okay, Angel, you've been talking about 232 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: praising God in the difficult times. You know, the Bible 233 00:11:46,660 --> 00:11:49,990 Speaker 1: says that God inhabits the praises of His people. So 234 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,290 Speaker 1: I like to think, well, when I'm praising God, I'm 235 00:11:52,330 --> 00:11:56,550 Speaker 1: just inviting His presence to be all around me. And 236 00:11:56,590 --> 00:12:00,270 Speaker 1: it says in His presence, there's fullness of joy. And 237 00:12:00,330 --> 00:12:03,329 Speaker 1: I love what you said, that praise is a weapon. 238 00:12:03,850 --> 00:12:07,270 Speaker 1: And for women that are listening right now, maybe it's 239 00:12:07,309 --> 00:12:09,550 Speaker 1: a brain tumor. Maybe it's a divorce. 240 00:12:10,150 --> 00:12:10,719 Speaker 2: Maybe it's a. 241 00:12:12,090 --> 00:12:15,150 Speaker 1: a best friend that betrayed us, a job loss. There 242 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,260 Speaker 1: are all kinds of things that can be unexpected and 243 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: unwanted in our lives. But yet one of the ways 244 00:12:22,540 --> 00:12:26,700 Speaker 1: that we can push back is to praise God in 245 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:30,980 Speaker 1: the midst of the suffering. And there's never been a 246 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,300 Speaker 1: time that I haven't found that it didn't lift my spirits. 247 00:12:35,660 --> 00:12:39,690 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean that the situation changed immediately. but I 248 00:12:39,809 --> 00:12:43,609 Speaker 1: changed and my perspective changed. Is that what you found? 249 00:12:44,510 --> 00:12:47,990 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And you mentioned too, that sometimes you don't want to, 250 00:12:48,010 --> 00:12:50,510 Speaker 2: you don't feel like it. That's the flesh. I'm sad. 251 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:51,380 Speaker 2: I don't want to. 252 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,180 Speaker 3: And that's okay too. If you read the Psalms, I 253 00:12:54,260 --> 00:12:56,780 Speaker 3: love reading the Psalms. David poured out his heart and 254 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 3: sometimes it is a sacrifice of praise. We don't feel 255 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:02,500 Speaker 3: like it, but we're still going to lift our hands 256 00:13:02,610 --> 00:13:04,490 Speaker 3: and thank God for who he is. 257 00:13:05,150 --> 00:13:07,170 Speaker 2: Even if you feel like he didn't answer. 258 00:13:06,929 --> 00:13:10,020 Speaker 3: Your specific prayer the way you wanted to, we can 259 00:13:10,059 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 3: praise him because he's still King of Kings and Lord 260 00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:13,940 Speaker 3: of Lords. Yes. 261 00:13:13,980 --> 00:13:14,819 Speaker 2: He's in charge. 262 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:15,900 Speaker 3: Yes. 263 00:13:16,059 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: And we can trust him always to do what is 264 00:13:18,980 --> 00:13:22,780 Speaker 1: right and best. And sometimes, Angel, I just have to 265 00:13:22,860 --> 00:13:26,380 Speaker 1: repeat that to myself, especially if it's something that I'm 266 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,850 Speaker 1: very concerned about or anything. is a crisis and I'll think, okay, 267 00:13:30,890 --> 00:13:33,530 Speaker 1: is God going to work it out the way that 268 00:13:33,710 --> 00:13:36,449 Speaker 1: I hope or that I want? And, you know, sometimes 269 00:13:36,490 --> 00:13:40,070 Speaker 1: he does and sometimes he doesn't. But in those times, 270 00:13:40,670 --> 00:13:44,050 Speaker 1: I can intentionally make a decision to believe my faith. 271 00:13:44,350 --> 00:13:47,569 Speaker 1: He always does what is right and best. Like who 272 00:13:47,610 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: would think that your diagnosis of a brain tumor would 273 00:13:52,510 --> 00:13:58,410 Speaker 1: ever lead to finding a greater destiny, more relationships, bigger 274 00:13:58,510 --> 00:14:02,790 Speaker 1: platform for Jesus, built your faith, your strength, your character. 275 00:14:03,130 --> 00:14:05,710 Speaker 1: And yet God did that through something that would be 276 00:14:05,809 --> 00:14:10,190 Speaker 1: very hard and nobody would want a brain tumor. Yet 277 00:14:10,450 --> 00:14:11,670 Speaker 1: God saw you through. 278 00:14:12,510 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 3: Amen. What the devil meant for evil, God will use 279 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 3: it for good. That's exactly right. And when we praise God, 280 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 3: it's like faith. Because you're thanking him in advance. I'm 281 00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:26,340 Speaker 3: thanking him for my healing. And I may not get 282 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:28,180 Speaker 3: the healing the way he wants, but I'm thanking him 283 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,860 Speaker 3: that he's always healing us. Sometimes we're not even aware 284 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,610 Speaker 3: of things he's healing us from. And sometimes if you 285 00:14:34,870 --> 00:14:38,830 Speaker 3: feel sad and out, if you go and volunteer for 286 00:14:38,890 --> 00:14:42,670 Speaker 3: somebody else that has it worse than you, you just 287 00:14:42,710 --> 00:14:45,350 Speaker 3: come out in tears, almost repentant. 288 00:14:45,990 --> 00:14:48,590 Speaker 2: Lord, forgive me for feeling sorry for myself. 289 00:14:49,220 --> 00:14:52,460 Speaker 3: So it really is an act of worship and praise 290 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,900 Speaker 3: when you're serving others, too. Yeah. 291 00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:59,370 Speaker 1: And it's an action step. It's getting outside of our steps. 292 00:14:59,390 --> 00:15:01,450 Speaker 1: Like one of the things I want Hope for the 293 00:15:01,510 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: Journey podcast to be about, you know, for women over 40, 294 00:15:05,310 --> 00:15:10,050 Speaker 1: like what are practical steps like? Praising God while it's spiritual, 295 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:13,390 Speaker 1: it is a practical step. Pushing yourself to get out 296 00:15:13,430 --> 00:15:18,300 Speaker 1: of your comfort zone, practical, actionable step. And when we 297 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: meet people that are also going through things, there's that 298 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,590 Speaker 1: feeling of, hey, I'm not alone in this. And I 299 00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:29,110 Speaker 1: want us, Angel, if we could talk about your YouTube 300 00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:32,780 Speaker 1: channel and your TV show, because through that, you are 301 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,180 Speaker 1: really being able to reach out to all women, but 302 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: especially those that are over 40. You have a special 303 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: gift and talent for working with women who have been 304 00:15:43,740 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: or going through menopause and putting on weight to help 305 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,420 Speaker 1: them get fit again. Tell me a little bit about 306 00:15:49,580 --> 00:15:50,870 Speaker 1: that part of what you do. 307 00:15:51,590 --> 00:15:52,610 Speaker 2: Yes, I love it. 308 00:15:52,710 --> 00:15:54,790 Speaker 3: I was a guest on two different TV shows and 309 00:15:54,830 --> 00:15:55,910 Speaker 3: I just said it out loud. 310 00:15:55,950 --> 00:15:57,229 Speaker 2: And you know, there's power in the tongue. 311 00:15:57,590 --> 00:15:57,990 Speaker 1: Yes, yes. 312 00:15:58,030 --> 00:15:59,850 Speaker 2: When you speak. And I said, wouldn't it be fun 313 00:15:59,870 --> 00:16:01,510 Speaker 2: to have a Christian fitness TV show? 314 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 3: And, you know, it took a few years and it 315 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 3: took a few different people talking to, and then it 316 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 3: finally happened. And the funny thing about the YouTube channel 317 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:16,020 Speaker 3: that happened, I think 2012 after my surgery, and I 318 00:16:16,060 --> 00:16:18,660 Speaker 3: didn't talk about this, but the tumor grew back. I 319 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 3: had to have radiation and go through another bout of sickness, 320 00:16:22,020 --> 00:16:25,470 Speaker 3: which was almost worse than the first round. But, you know, 321 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:27,350 Speaker 3: God just taught me so much. And I started that 322 00:16:27,390 --> 00:16:30,250 Speaker 3: YouTube channel because I would make up routines, a lot 323 00:16:30,290 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 3: of choreography and, And I didn't want to forget the 324 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,940 Speaker 3: routines because, you know, we always go back and use 325 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 3: the old ones. So I put it on YouTube. And 326 00:16:37,020 --> 00:16:40,780 Speaker 3: then what really got my YouTube channel lots of members 327 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:45,990 Speaker 3: and followers was when Mandisa, the Christian singer, she posted 328 00:16:46,030 --> 00:16:48,110 Speaker 3: a workout I had done to one of her songs 329 00:16:48,570 --> 00:16:51,770 Speaker 3: because her song Overcomer became kind of my theme song. 330 00:16:51,790 --> 00:16:53,570 Speaker 3: It was about that time, the brain tip. And I 331 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:56,210 Speaker 3: made a T-shirt, ran into one of her friends who 332 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,430 Speaker 3: gave her the shirt she wore on the K-Love Awards. 333 00:16:58,930 --> 00:17:01,550 Speaker 3: So that's kind of how my YouTube channel got bigger. 334 00:17:02,890 --> 00:17:06,230 Speaker 3: But then with the TV show, so what I do 335 00:17:06,270 --> 00:17:08,830 Speaker 3: is after it's aired, I'll put it on my YouTube channel. 336 00:17:08,910 --> 00:17:10,889 Speaker 3: So that's nice that people who don't get to see 337 00:17:10,910 --> 00:17:13,990 Speaker 3: it on TV will get to see it there. But 338 00:17:14,470 --> 00:17:16,590 Speaker 3: I love it. I just love reaching out to people 339 00:17:16,710 --> 00:17:19,750 Speaker 3: and helping others. And like you said, so many people 340 00:17:19,830 --> 00:17:23,540 Speaker 3: hide in shame, but when they see me, you know, 341 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 3: on TV with my face halfway smiling, it brings them hope. 342 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,180 Speaker 3: And there's an orphanage in India that our church used 343 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,070 Speaker 3: to support an older church. I went to, and that 344 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,210 Speaker 3: missionary sent me pictures. They are watching our show in India. 345 00:17:39,250 --> 00:17:40,310 Speaker 2: Is that amazing? 346 00:17:40,350 --> 00:17:42,889 Speaker 3: They've got the little children praising God. Cause we do 347 00:17:42,910 --> 00:17:45,690 Speaker 3: two workouts. We have a table talk on health and 348 00:17:45,750 --> 00:17:50,450 Speaker 3: nutrition mindset, all those things. And then we have a guest, 349 00:17:50,590 --> 00:17:52,690 Speaker 3: you know, different guests come in and share their testimonies. 350 00:17:52,790 --> 00:17:56,890 Speaker 3: But the whole menopause thing started when we moved from 351 00:17:56,970 --> 00:17:58,899 Speaker 3: Franklin to to Murfreesboro. 352 00:17:58,940 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 2: I live in Murfreesboro. 353 00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 3: And when we made that, we became empty nesters, sold 354 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 3: our house, could not find anything on the market. So 355 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 3: many people were flooding Tennessee at that time. So we 356 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,230 Speaker 3: found this house, moved here, but it was right when 357 00:18:12,270 --> 00:18:13,290 Speaker 3: I was going through menopause. 358 00:18:13,350 --> 00:18:16,149 Speaker 2: I had no friends basically in the neighborhood. It was 359 00:18:16,210 --> 00:18:18,290 Speaker 2: the pandemic. Nobody was outside. 360 00:18:18,950 --> 00:18:23,260 Speaker 3: The gyms weren't really packed or anything. And It was 361 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,379 Speaker 3: just a really sad time for me. And the hormonal 362 00:18:25,420 --> 00:18:29,300 Speaker 3: changes got me. I gained weight. It's like I blew up. 363 00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 3: And I started doing my research and my daughter was 364 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,620 Speaker 3: going through a hard time. She had gotten married, moved 365 00:18:35,660 --> 00:18:39,270 Speaker 3: back home. So she helped me on my journey, really. 366 00:18:39,570 --> 00:18:41,950 Speaker 3: So we started doing it together. And then I started 367 00:18:41,970 --> 00:18:44,190 Speaker 3: doing all the research and started just losing the weight. 368 00:18:45,070 --> 00:18:48,470 Speaker 3: And people, I'm very active on Facebook and Instagram. So 369 00:18:48,490 --> 00:18:51,550 Speaker 3: I'm always sharing my story. And people start asking me, 370 00:18:51,550 --> 00:18:52,710 Speaker 3: how are you doing it? How are you doing it? 371 00:18:52,730 --> 00:18:55,810 Speaker 3: So I started the coaching and it's just, I thought, 372 00:18:55,890 --> 00:18:58,450 Speaker 3: you know, it's really five steps. So I have a 373 00:18:58,490 --> 00:19:01,690 Speaker 3: five step system and I do the workouts and we 374 00:19:01,770 --> 00:19:03,990 Speaker 3: use a lot of Jesus music. We are praising the 375 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 3: Lord in our workouts and it's easy. 376 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,060 Speaker 2: It's really easy. I'll say it's simple, but anytime you change, 377 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 2: that's not easy, right? Anytime you add new habits. 378 00:19:13,940 --> 00:19:14,020 Speaker 1: No. 379 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:16,660 Speaker 3: But it's cool because you can eat anything you want. 380 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,220 Speaker 3: You can have birthday cake. You can do all the things. 381 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 2: It's a lifestyle. But it works. 382 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,580 Speaker 1: Yes. And when I hear five steps, and again, I 383 00:19:26,060 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: agree with you. No changing habits, lifestyle, it's not easy. 384 00:19:30,180 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: But five steps makes it doable. We know as women 385 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,630 Speaker 1: that with God's help, We can do hard things. And, 386 00:19:40,020 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, I know when people when I was younger 387 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,900 Speaker 1: and people talked about menopause, I would think, oh, you know, 388 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,619 Speaker 1: I don't think that's really true that people gained weight. 389 00:19:49,140 --> 00:19:52,899 Speaker 1: But it is true. That does happen. And many times 390 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: as women, we don't know what to do. And so 391 00:19:56,140 --> 00:19:59,659 Speaker 1: it isn't just about how we look, but that does matter. 392 00:19:59,790 --> 00:20:03,030 Speaker 1: But our health and how we feel about ourselves, it 393 00:20:03,270 --> 00:20:07,310 Speaker 1: really does. So now you're able to reach out to 394 00:20:07,390 --> 00:20:10,710 Speaker 1: women and to help them because You know, you know 395 00:20:10,790 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: best because you had to fight through it yourself. It's 396 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,620 Speaker 1: not like you're just coming at women like, hey, I'm 397 00:20:16,660 --> 00:20:19,620 Speaker 1: an expert. I'm thin. I've always been thin. It's like 398 00:20:20,369 --> 00:20:23,010 Speaker 1: you're a woman that has had struggles like the rest 399 00:20:23,070 --> 00:20:26,810 Speaker 1: of us and you found yourself in menopause and gaining weight. 400 00:20:26,910 --> 00:20:28,380 Speaker 1: And like none of us want that. 401 00:20:28,460 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 3: Right. Right. No, and you don't feel good. And it 402 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 3: can lead to taking medication. I don't take any medication, 403 00:20:34,740 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 3: thank God. But it can lead to all kinds of problems. 404 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:42,679 Speaker 3: Weight gain can lead you to diabetes, heart disease. And 405 00:20:42,820 --> 00:20:45,979 Speaker 3: if you've ever had cancer and you're overweight, the chances 406 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,540 Speaker 3: of it coming back are higher. There's so many reasons, 407 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 3: not just vanity. But of course, when you look good, 408 00:20:51,770 --> 00:20:53,550 Speaker 3: you feel more confident, you feel better. 100%. 409 00:20:53,550 --> 00:20:56,850 Speaker 2: Yes. 410 00:20:56,850 --> 00:20:59,169 Speaker 1: 100%. Well, I tell you, Angel, we are out of time. 411 00:20:59,650 --> 00:21:01,550 Speaker 1: But I want to thank you for being here. And 412 00:21:01,630 --> 00:21:03,660 Speaker 1: what I will do is I'm going to put your 413 00:21:03,740 --> 00:21:08,060 Speaker 1: YouTube channel, your website, all the things about your book 414 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: and all of those things into the show notes, because 415 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,500 Speaker 1: I'm sure that there are lots of women like me 416 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,450 Speaker 1: who are looking to be healthy and fit and really 417 00:21:17,490 --> 00:21:20,590 Speaker 1: get out there. So many women that are listeners of 418 00:21:20,670 --> 00:21:23,310 Speaker 1: Hope for the Journey have gone through so many different 419 00:21:23,350 --> 00:21:25,949 Speaker 1: things and are looking for hope for the journey. And 420 00:21:26,010 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: you certainly are. add that. So thank you for coming 421 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: and for sharing your story. 422 00:21:31,340 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. 423 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,030 Speaker 1: It was a blessing. So all of you who are 424 00:21:36,090 --> 00:21:38,610 Speaker 1: with us today, go to the show notes so you 425 00:21:38,670 --> 00:21:42,030 Speaker 1: can learn how to connect with Angel Falk. And as 426 00:21:42,090 --> 00:21:45,730 Speaker 1: you look at this next week, before next week, always remember, 427 00:21:46,010 --> 00:21:49,710 Speaker 1: you've got to start somewhere. And even if you're feeling 428 00:21:49,770 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: alone and isolated, if you can just Make yourself get 429 00:21:54,380 --> 00:21:58,290 Speaker 1: out there, see people, maybe volunteer somewhere. You will find 430 00:21:58,330 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 1: that those are the things that will give you more 431 00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: hope for the journey. I'll be back again next week.