🎙️ Podcast Title:
"Where Strength Meets Service: Women at the Frontline"
What happens when a woman follows the call to serve — not from a place of ease, but from the rugged edges of crisis and compassion?
In this powerful episode of Ladies Who Lead, we sit down with Rev. Deb Hansen, first-time author of Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter, spiritual companion, and peacebuilder. Deb takes us deep into her five-season journey volunteering at the U.S./Mexico border — a space of both profound suffering and resilient hope.
We talk about what drew her to the borderlands in the first place, how the people she met transformed her, and why she believes these stories matter now more than ever. From moments of heartbreak to unexpected grace, Deb shares the lived experiences that shaped her memoir and her soul.
We also explore how her spiritual practice sustains her, what she’s learning from her recent journey to Palestine–Israel, and how healing collective trauma starts with presence, listening, and radical hospitality.
✨ Whether you're navigating your own path of service, seeking connection in divisive times, or wondering how to make a difference from where you are — this conversation will meet you at the intersection of strength and service.
What inspired Deb to serve at the U.S./Mexico border — and what keeps bringing her back
The powerful stories of women seeking refuge, survival, and dignity
How writing Borderlands helped her process, grieve, and share untold stories
What true hospitality looks like in times of crisis
The connection between personal transformation and collective healing
Lessons from a multi-faith delegation to Palestine–Israel
The sacred work of repair, reconciliation, and resistance
How listeners can embody justice and compassion — no matter where they live
Rev. Deb Hansen is a writer, Interfaith spiritual companion, and peace advocate. After years in global marketing with IBM, she followed a path that led from chaplaincy in Detroit to five winters of volunteer service at the U.S./Mexico border. Her debut book, Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter, is a vivid, compassionate memoir of those years, weaving personal reflection with powerful stories from the people she served.
📘 Get the book: Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter – available now
🌐 Website: www.debhansen.org
📷 Instagram: @deb.hansen.writer
