Cover of Run to the Hard Podcast

Run to the Hard Podcast

Run to the Hard Podcast

By: Chris Farrell & Curtis Christopher
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In grief, we all have hidden in the shadows. We have darted from conversations. We shop alone. We eat alone. We go to church alone. We unwillingly have joined a club that we never intended to be apart of. We have an unspoken language but we understand each other. If you have experienced the grief of trauma, this podcast is for you. If you've experienced the grief of divorce, this podcast is for you. If you've experienced the death of a loved one, parent, a spouse, a child, this podcast is for you. If you wanna know how to help people right in the middle of their grief, this podcast is for you. Embark on a deeply personal journey of resilience, hope, and healing with Curtis Christopher and co-host Chris Farrell on the "Run to the Hard" podcast. In the wake of sudden tragedy and profound grief, Curtis vulnerably shares his experiences of navigating life's toughest moments after losing his beloved wife Michal to a sudden and aggressive battle to cancer. Michal lived by the mantra, "Run to the hard, run to the hurt because it's in the greatest hard that God's gonna do the greatest work" Joining a community is as easy as hitting play.2024 Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality
Episodes
  • Ep 48: Keeping The Faith When Life Falls Apart. A Story of Loss, Addiction, Divorce, and Cancer | Darlene Radel

    Ep 48: Keeping The Faith When Life Falls Apart. A Story of Loss, Addiction, Divorce, and Cancer | Darlene Radel
    29 Oct 2026
    Sudden tragedy. A broken marriage. Hidden alcoholism. Divorce. Breast cancer. Darlene has faced seasons when the losses kept coming—and prayers did not bring the outcomes she hoped for. In this episode of Run to the Hard, Curtis Christopher sits down with Darlene Radel, a longtime prayer partner for his family, to hear the story behind her faith. At 13, she lost her three-year-old cousin in a devastating accident. Years later, a drunk-driving crash killed her future father-in-law and changed the man she would marry. As their marriage unraveled, Darlene began drinking to cover pain she did not know how to face. A close friend's intervention helped her enter a year of faith-based recovery. But healing did not mean the hardships were over. Her marriage ended, and after rebuilding her life, she faced breast cancer, major surgeries, and treatment complications that nearly took her life. Darlene shares honestly about grief, shame, unanswered prayer, accepting help, and finding a faith that could carry her through a life she never would have chosen. If you have ever wondered how much more you can take—or where God is in the middle of it—we hope this conversation reminds you that you are seen, loved, and do not have to face the hard alone. IN THIS EPISODE - Childhood tragedy, sudden loss, and wrestling with unanswered prayer - How a fatal drunk-driving crash affected her future husband and their marriage - A husband's rejection of faith and the pain of a struggling marriage - Losing herself while trying to save her relationship - Hidden alcoholism and using alcohol to cope with grief and emotional pain - The intervention that helped her accept help for alcohol addiction - Faith-based recovery and healing from childhood trauma - Navigating divorce and rebuilding life after marriage - Facing a breast cancer diagnosis without a spouse - Surviving serious complications after a double mastectomy - How prayer, family, and friendship supported her through suffering - Trusting God when healing does not look the way you hoped CHAPTERS 00:00 A childhood tragedy she never forgot 00:36 Darlene's story of loss, addiction, and faith 03:21 Praying for Michal through her cancer battle 06:26 Childhood hardship and a family rooted in faith 09:16 Her grandmother's legacy of prayer 11:51 The sudden death of her three-year-old cousin 16:51 Unanswered prayer: "Why didn't I get my miracle?" 20:46 Meeting her future husband 22:26 A fatal drunk-driving crash changes their family 27:26 Marriage, motherhood, and growing emotional distance 31:26 Renewed faith and hope for their marriage 37:01 When her husband rejected their Christian faith 39:01 Grief, unresolved pain, and the need for healing 41:36 Losing herself while trying to save her marriage 45:21 Hidden alcoholism behind work and church 49:11 Drinking to cope with loneliness and despair 50:46 When her family discovered her alcohol addiction 54:31 A friend's intervention becomes a turning point 59:26 Discovering a personal faith in Jesus 1:01:31 Alcohol was a Band-Aid over deeper wounds 1:04:16 A year of faith-based addiction recovery 1:06:36 Becoming a prayer partner for Curtis's family 1:09:26 Divorce after recovery and rebuilding her life 1:13:16 Finding purpose through missions and returning to Ohio 1:18:46 The mammogram that led to a breast cancer diagnosis 1:23:51 Praying for a friend with multiple myeloma 1:29:46 Double mastectomy, sepsis, and life-threatening complications 1:33:26 How Michal's faith inspired her through cancer 1:36:41 Learning to trust God with the outcome 1:39:06 Hope for anyone feeling lonely or unseen 1:41:11 Bible verses for fear, anxiety, and faith 1:44:31 Curtis remembers a joyful moment with Michal 1:50:46 A prayer for healing, comfort, and hope ABOUT RUN TO THE HARD Run to the Hard is a podcast about grief, suffering, faith, hope, and finding life after loss. The show was inspired by Michal Christopher's words: "Run to the hard, run to the hurt because it's in the greatest hard that God's gonna do the greatest work." You do not have to have a neat ending to share your story. You can be healing and still carrying questions. You can have faith and still need help. Running to the hard is better when we run together. SUPPORT THE MICHAL FOUNDATION The Michal Foundation helps individuals and families facing tragedy, loss, and difficult life circumstances. Learn more: https://runtothehard.com Support the foundation: https://runtothehard.com/give Rate the podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/rtth Become a sponsor: https://www.runtothehard.com/sponsors Subscribe for honest conversations about grief, suffering, faith, and hope. Share this episode with someone carrying a private struggle, rebuilding after loss, or trying to support a person they love. #RunToTheHard #FaithThroughHardship #Recovery
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    1 hr and 55 min
  • Ep 47: 4 Years After My Wife Passed Away. The Happy Days Still Hurt.

    Ep 47: 4 Years After My Wife Passed Away. The Happy Days Still Hurt.
    23 Oct 2026
    Four years after losing his wife Michal, Curtis Christopher is experiencing something he never expected: life is genuinely good again. But sometimes, grief hits hardest on the happiest days. On the fourth anniversary of Michal's passing, Curtis woke up crying. Later that same day, he would be cheering on the kids at a championship soccer game, wishing their mom could be there to celebrate with them. Sometimes grief is heaviest on the happiest days. In this deeply personal anniversary episode of Run to the Hard, Curtis sits down with his longtime friend and guest host, Pastor Zach Carpenter, to reflect on four years of grief, healing, faith, and rebuilding life after loss. Curtis shares what has changed, what still hurts, and why he's learning to accept that life will never be the same—but that doesn't mean life can't be good again. You'll also hear a remarkable voice message from Michal that Curtis rediscovered four years after her death, along with an unforgettable tribute from her daughter, Ella. IN THIS EPISODE: - Why grief can hit hardest during life's happiest moments - What four years of loss have taught Curtis about healing - Accepting that life will never be the same - How Michal's children are doing today—from graduations and marriage to new businesses and family milestones - Rebuilding family routines and finding purpose again - The unexpected message from Michal that renewed Curtis's commitment to the podcast - How faith and friendship have helped Curtis navigate his hardest seasons - The Michal Foundation's mission to help families facing tragedy - A deeply moving tribute from Michal's daughter, Ella, titled Room 1150 CHAPTERS 00:00 A message from Michal 04:16 Four years later, Curtis discovers her message 06:26 Waking up grieving on the anniversary 09:36 Why grief hurts on the happiest days 19:01 The hardest and best realization about grief 25:05 How Michal's children are doing today 42:26 What years one through four have taught Curtis 54:36 Getting his mental capacity back 56:16 Rebuilding a home after loss 1:02:11 Taking the first small step through grief 1:06:36 Another unexpected loss in Curtis's life 1:15:06 The Michal Foundation's mission 1:25:05 Remembering Michal through her daughter's words ROOM 1150 — ELLA'S TRIBUTE TO HER MOM Near the end of this episode, Curtis reads a personal reflection written by Michal's oldest daughter, Ella, about her mother's final days in the hospital. Titled *Room 1150*, her writing captures the heartbreak of watching her mother die, the questions she wrestled with, and the extraordinary faith she witnessed in that hospital room. It is a powerful reminder of Michal's legacy and the hope she carried even in her final days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vcbPTPONsmW49Ji8XLcS-dYqdiUZ9CJW/view?usp=sharing ABOUT OUR GUEST HOST — PASTOR ZACH CARPENTER Zach Carpenter is a longtime friend of Curtis and Michal Christopher and one of the people who has walked alongside Curtis throughout his journey of loss and healing. Zach serves as Lead Pastor of Freedom Church of the Nazarene in Sunbury, Ohio. Learn more about Zach's church: https://freedomnaz.church ABOUT RUN TO THE HARD Run to the Hard is a podcast about grief, suffering, faith, hope, and finding life after loss. The show was inspired by Michal Christopher's words: "Run to the hard, run to the hurt because it's in the greatest hard that God's gonna do the greatest work." If you're grieving someone you love, whether it's been four weeks, four years, or much longer, we hope this conversation reminds you that there's no timetable for grief. You can be healing and still hurting. You can experience joy and still deeply miss someone. SUPPORT THE MICHAL FOUNDATION The Michal Foundation helps individuals and families facing tragedy, loss, and difficult life circumstances. Learn more: https://runtothehard.com Support the foundation: https://runtothehard.com/give Subscribe for honest conversations about grief, suffering, faith, and hope. #Grief #LifeAfterLoss #GriefJourney
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    1 hr and 35 min
  • Ep 46: Stage 4 Cancer at 29. Why She Calls Herself the Luckiest Girl in the World | Annelise Hines

    Ep 46: Stage 4 Cancer at 29. Why She Calls Herself the Luckiest Girl in the World | Annelise Hines
    15 Oct 2026

    Annelise Hines is living with stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her bones. She calls herself the luckiest girl in the world.

    Between treatments, she's using the days she feels well to build care packages for other cancer patients. At the time of this conversation, she had delivered 100—and she wasn't ready to stop.

    In this episode of Run to the Hard, Annelise joins Curtis Christopher to share her story: a childhood shaped by addiction and instability, finding family with her husband Connor, becoming a mom to Dawson, and receiving her first breast cancer diagnosis at 25.

    When the cancer returned, Annelise faced the fear of leaving her son and the question of how to live with a future she couldn't control. She shares how her faith deepened, how a friendship formed through chemotherapy helped her feel less alone, and why ordinary days with her family became precious.

    The conversation takes an emotional turn when Annelise asks Curtis about the spouses who are carrying the weight of a loved one's illness. Curtis shares the phone call from Connor that helped him find the courage to keep telling these stories.

    For anyone facing illness, walking alongside someone who is, or wondering how to find purpose in a hard season, Annelise offers an honest picture of faith, fear, gratitude, and serving others while the struggle is still happening.

    This episode includes personal accounts of childhood instability, advanced cancer, the possibility of leaving loved ones, and grief after the death of a spouse.

    IN THIS EPISODE

    • Growing up without a stable relationship with her parents

    • Finding family, marriage, and faith

    • A breast cancer diagnosis at 25

    • The phone call that changed everything again

    • Trusting God with a future she can't control

    • A friendship formed through chemotherapy

    • Learning to treasure the ordinary days

    • Creating care packages for other cancer patients

    • Remembering the spouses and caregivers

    • Why she calls herself the luckiest girl in the world

    CHAPTERS

    00:00 The cancer had returned

    00:36 Meet Annelise Hines

    05:16 A childhood shaped by addiction and instability

    09:56 Finding a home with a friend's family

    12:16 Losing her grandmother and caring for her grandfather

    17:16 Meeting Connor

    19:36 Marriage, motherhood, and starting a business

    24:01 Finding faith through her new family

    27:21 Diagnosed with breast cancer at 25

    31:21 The headaches and the call that changed everything

    34:06 Facing the news and learning to trust God

    40:06 Finding a friend who understood

    43:46 Allison's message to Annelise

    46:46 The family praying for her every night

    49:21 Treasuring the ordinary Tuesdays

    50:06 Care packages for other cancer patients

    54:41 Who is caring for the spouse?

    56:56 Connor's call and why Curtis kept going

    1:00:36 How this journey changed her faith

    1:02:16 Making her time count

    1:05:56 "The luckiest girl in the world"

    1:07:01 The message she wants to leave

    1:09:51 A prayer for more days

    1:11:41 Help Annelise's care-package mission

    1:13:36 Supporting the Michal Foundation

    SUPPORT THE WORK

    HELP ANNELISE CREATE CARE PACKAGES:

    Venmo: @annelise-hines

    Add "care packages" in the payment note to help her provide care packages for cancer patients.

    DONATE TO THE MICHAL FOUNDATION:

    https://www.runtothehard.com/give

    1. Rate the Podcast:

    https://ratethispodcast.com/rtth

    2. Become a Sponsor:

    https://www.runtothehard.com/sponsors

    3. Share the Episode:

    Send this conversation to someone facing cancer, caring for a loved one, or looking for hope and purpose in a hard season.

    For episode updates and newsletters:

    https://www.runtothehard.com

    Remember, "Running to the hard is better, when we run together."

    #RunToTheHard #Faith #CancerJourney #breastcancer
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    1 hr and 12 min
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