Acts of Kindness, a Season of Gratitude, and Looking Ahead at Persistence U
Wed Nov 26 2025
In this Season 5 finale of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Lizbeth shares a deeply personal reflection on generosity, survival, and why she is stepping back from weekly episodes to make space for writing, teaching, and other creative work. As she approaches the podcast’s fifth anniversary, she looks back with gratitude at the listeners, guests, patrons, and community members who helped shape nearly five years of conversations about healing, persistence, and overcoming obstacles.
Lizbeth recounts two times in her early life when she and her daughters were lifted up by strangers during the holidays. After leaving an abusive marriage, entering a shelter, and relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing, she was adopted by a holiday giving program that provided gifts, food, and a sense of dignity during a season that had otherwise felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. Years earlier, while pregnant and struggling under financial and emotional control, her friend Shelly arranged for anonymous support through her faith community. These acts of kindness, offered by people who never knew her name, helped restore hope during the most fragile years of her life.
Those moments stayed with her. They were part of what fueled her determination to finish college, break cycles of poverty and violence, and raise her daughters in safety. They also shaped her belief that generosity—financial or otherwise—can change the trajectory of a family in ways the giver may never see.
As the holiday season arrives and Season 5 concludes, Lizbeth encourages listeners to consider giving in whatever way they are able. Monetary donations to food banks, adopting a family through local programs, offering time or blood donation, or simply finding a way to lighten someone else’s load may be the most meaningful gift of the season. Volunteering, she reminds listeners, is often both selfless and deeply restorative.
Lizbeth also shares an important programming update. After nearly five years of producing Persistence U with a full roster of guests, she is pausing the guested format. The financial and time commitments are substantial, and she is ready to reclaim more space for writing, reading, teaching, and restorative quiet. This is not a goodbye. Persistence U will return with occasional, limited-series episodes. She simply needs time to breathe, create, and be present in her own life for a while.
Listeners are encouraged to stay connected through he
Lizbeth’s links
Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page
Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!
Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF
Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw
Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.
Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!
Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X
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In this Season 5 finale of Persistence U with Lizbeth, Lizbeth shares a deeply personal reflection on generosity, survival, and why she is stepping back from weekly episodes to make space for writing, teaching, and other creative work. As she approaches the podcast’s fifth anniversary, she looks back with gratitude at the listeners, guests, patrons, and community members who helped shape nearly five years of conversations about healing, persistence, and overcoming obstacles. Lizbeth recounts two times in her early life when she and her daughters were lifted up by strangers during the holidays. After leaving an abusive marriage, entering a shelter, and relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing, she was adopted by a holiday giving program that provided gifts, food, and a sense of dignity during a season that had otherwise felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. Years earlier, while pregnant and struggling under financial and emotional control, her friend Shelly arranged for anonymous support through her faith community. These acts of kindness, offered by people who never knew her name, helped restore hope during the most fragile years of her life. Those moments stayed with her. They were part of what fueled her determination to finish college, break cycles of poverty and violence, and raise her daughters in safety. They also shaped her belief that generosity—financial or otherwise—can change the trajectory of a family in ways the giver may never see. As the holiday season arrives and Season 5 concludes, Lizbeth encourages listeners to consider giving in whatever way they are able. Monetary donations to food banks, adopting a family through local programs, offering time or blood donation, or simply finding a way to lighten someone else’s load may be the most meaningful gift of the season. Volunteering, she reminds listeners, is often both selfless and deeply restorative. Lizbeth also shares an important programming update. After nearly five years of producing Persistence U with a full roster of guests, she is pausing the guested format. The financial and time commitments are substantial, and she is ready to reclaim more space for writing, reading, teaching, and restorative quiet. This is not a goodbye. Persistence U will return with occasional, limited-series episodes. She simply needs time to breathe, create, and be present in her own life for a while. Listeners are encouraged to stay connected through he Lizbeth’s links Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here! Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery. Half of author royalties support the YWCA’s work with survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and to combat racism. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTSNM997 Paperback Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS9DX6HF Draft2Digital ebook https://books2read.com/u/312rlw Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime. Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold! Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X Sign up to stay in the know on L...