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This year, my word of the year is Audacity—not the loud kind, the tender kind that says: I’m still here, and I’m going to live like it.

If you are here right now and/or planning to press play today, thank you. You’ve taken a chance on me—and on this new season.

I’m choosing Audacity for its tiny brave steps, presence over perfection, and hope that shows up.

Season 2 starts officially starts here. Season one left us with FORTY-THREE episodes of hope and I am damn proud of that.
Here and now, I have the AUDACITY to believe there are more extraordinary and epic, challenging and beautiful, inspired AND inspiring stories of hope yet to be shared and life that is worth showing up for.

So, in this first episode, I share my word of the year—Audacity—and why I'm choosing the tender, steady kind of bold: showing up, taking tiny consistent action, and letting hope light the way....as well as the AUDACITY framework that is lighting and igniting my path for 2026, as well as lessons from sobriety and, of course, a loving nudge to pick YOUR word for 2026.

Mentioned in the podcast: Atomic Habits by James Clear and Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers

xo, Danielle

Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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Content note: This episode includes candid discussion of traumatic loss, suicide, and grief.

In this final Hope Comes to Visit episode of 2025, I sit down with award-winning Texas author, grief educator, and podcaster Theo Boyd.

Every story has a turning point and she joins me to talk about hers...including her new USA TODAY bestselling book Hope All the Way—and the life behind it. Theo shares the day everything changed: her mother’s tragic death in a farm accident, the unraveling of her marriage, the sudden loss of her counselor, and—three years later—her father’s suicide. Through it all, Theo kept writing, first in private journals, then in two books: My Grief Is Not Like Yours and now Hope All the Way.

We talk about the “black paint” of early grief and the tiny chips of light that follow. Theo opens up about the signs that kept showing up (from song lyrics to butterflies), the in-depth grief study she commissioned to ground the conversation in data, and why so many grievers simply want to be heard. She offers gentle practices—honor where you are, open your eyes to what helps, permit yourself to do less, and remember to enjoy what’s still here.

If you’re on the tar-side of grief or walking with someone who is, this conversation is both a steady hand and a soft place to land.

Guest: thinktheo.com

You can connect with Theo at info@thinktheo.com

Books: Hope All the Way; My Grief Is Not Like Yours (both also on Audible, narrated by Theo)

Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit

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Content note: This episode includes candid conversation about aging, dementia, and caregiver stress.

What’s the right time to talk about senior care—and how do you even begin? In this episode of Hope Comes to Visit, I sit with Shona McIntyre, a senior care advisor, social worker, and certified dementia practitioner with nearly two decades of experience helping families navigate complex decisions with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

We unpack the messy middle: noticing early signs of change, starting “the talk” without stripping dignity, and why planning before a hospital crisis protects both options and peace of mind. Shona explains the real differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing—and why modern senior communities look more like apartment living with support (think chef-prepared meals, robust activities, and on-site care).

We also dig into caregiver guilt, how to frame conversations around safety + independence, what actually determines a good fit (level of care, lifestyle, and budget), and the huge time savings of working with a local advisor who has walked the buildings, tasted the food, and knows the teams.

If you’re caring for an aging parent—or love someone who is—this episode is a steady hand on your shoulder and a practical path forward.

Guest: Shona McIntyre — seniorcommunityconnections.net
Resource: The Caregiver’s Advocate (Vol. 2)

Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations.

New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.

For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit