Herbie Newell
Herbie Newell serves as the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, holds an MBA in Accounting from Samford University and brings years of experience from his work as an independent auditor at WAKM Companies, LLC. Serving as Lifeline's Executive Director since 2003, Herbie has significantly expanded international outreach, obtained licensure in 17 states, and led the establishment of the foster care arm. A passionate advocate, he co-founded (un)adopted in 2009, focusing on equipping orphaned children with life skills for community transformation. Herbie, also the author of "Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-birth to Pro-Life," emphasizes that being pro-life extends beyond opposing abortion, urging a broader ethic that includes fighting for racial equality and embracing every individual with the love of Christ. Herbie and his wife, Ashley, reside in Birmingham, Alabama, and are the parents to three children.
Appears in 550 Episodes
The Wates Family's Foster Care Journey
Today on the podcast, in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Katherine and Garrett Wates join the podcast to talk about their journey as foster parents.GUESTKatherin...
Mothering with Scarlet Hiltibidal
Today on the podcast, in honor of Mother's Day and Birth Mother's Day coming up, Scarlet Hiltibidal, an international adoptive mom, joins and shares about her journey ...
Navigating Grief Part 3 - Adult Adoptee Perspective
We are glad you joined us for part three of the grief series! Julie Scott, an adult adoptee, recently shared her testimony at Rooted in Love, Lifeline's conference for...
Part 2: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism
We are glad you joined us for part two of the podcast with the Summers family! Today, we are joined by Katie and Taylor Summers who adopted their son, Jonas, from Hung...
Part 1: Summers Family Story - Raising a Child with Autism
Today, we are joined by Katie and Taylor Summers who adopted their son, Jonas, from Hungary. They talk about the gift of adoption and the blessings and challenges of b...
Conversation with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum
Today, we will be talking with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum, authors of their new book called Reclaimed Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked...
Celebrating Easter
Today, Dr. Rick Morton and Herbie Newell will be leading us through a discussion talking about our risen Savior and celebrating Easter. GUESTDr. Rick Morton is the VP ...
Navigating Grief Part 2 - Birth & Foster Parents
Today, in part two of the grief series, we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of birth families and foster famili...
Navigating Grief - Adoptive Family Perspective
Today we will be talking about navigating grief in context of the gospel and from the perspective of an adoptive parent. GUESTLane Jackson is an adoptive mom at Lifeli...
Social Work Month and an Adoption Story
In honor of National Social Work Month, one of Lifeline's amazing social workers, Susannah Ayers, joins the podcast alongside of Jeremy Simpson, Lifeline's Senior Dire...
International Women's Day - Our Global Partners
In honor of International Women's Day, two of our global partners join the podcast to talk about the difference God is making through the work they have done and the w...
Samaritan's Purse - Kristy and Edward Graham
Edward and Kristy Graham join the podcast today to share about the work of Samaritan's Purse in orphan care and caring for vulnerable children. They share about their ...
International Adoption & NEW North Macedonia Program
Karla Thrasher, Senior Director of International Adoption and Jana Lombardo, Director of International Programs, join the Defender podcast with Dr. Rick Morton to talk...
Marriage & Parenting in Accordance with the Gospel
Today on the podcast, Micah and Jamie Steele, a Lifeline adoptive family, talks about their journey in marriage and parenting, specifically children who were brought h...
Allison Centofante - Being Pro-Life Every Day
Today on the podcast, Allison Centofante joins Herbie Newell and Rick Morton to talk about pro-life advocacy and how you can do that in every day life. The fight for l...
The Power of Play
In this episode, Ann Maura Hinton, Program Director of Bridge Educational Services at Lifeline, joins the podcast. Dr. Rick Morton, the vice president of engagement at...
Chelsea Sobolik and Adoption's Impact on her Life
Chelsea Patterson Sobolik is Lifeline's Director of Policy and Advocacy. She joins the podcast today to talk about how adoption has deeply impacted her life. She share...
Conversation with Kevin Sorbo
In this episode, Kevin Sorbo, an actor, producer, and director who has directed and starred in many well-known faith-based movies and shows, joins the Defender podcast...
Coping with Emotional Exhaustion
Do you feel emotionally exhausted? Do you ever feel shame associated with those feelings? In this episode, Kara Clark, one of Lifeline’s casework supervisors and famil...
Best of 2022 - Chapman Family Part 2
For the first episode of 2023, we are taking a look back at one of our most-listened to episodes of 2022. Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman join Herbie and Rick in a...
Best of 2022 - Chapman Family Part 1
We are taking a look back at one of our most listened to episodes of 2022. Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman join Herbie and Rick in a discussion about grief.
A Conversation with the Hicks Family
Today on the podcast, Dr. Rick Morton has a conversation with the Hicks family who has 11 children and has adopted from Ukraine. Their daughter is experiencing signifi...
Navigating Grief During the Holidays with Anna Pawley
In this episode, Herbie Newell has a conversation with Anna Pawley, Lifeline's Post Adoption Manager, about navigating grief during the holidays.
The Healing Power of God and Adoption
In this episode, we take a look back at a conversation Herbie Newell had in August with Simon Benn, an adult adoptee and adoption advocate in the UK. They talk about t...
Navigating the Holidays with Lynn Beckett
Lynn Beckett, Program Manager of Parent Coaching, joins Herbie Newell and Rick Morton to discuss navigating the holidays with a child who has been adopted or fostered ...
Being Thankful Before the Lord
Herbie Newell and Rick Morton take time to reflect on God's goodness and lead us into a posture of being thankful before the Lord as we approach Thanksgiving.
A Domestic Adoption Story
In this episode, Annie and Hudson Moore – domestic adoptive parents, and Amanda Shaw – birth mother, talk with their Pregnancy Counselor, Lauren Eddie about their dome...
The Baird Family's Adoption Story
In this episode, the Baird family joins the podcast to talk about their adoption process to adopt their little girl internationally.
International Adoption with Karla Thrasher
As National Adoption Month is upon us, Karla Thrasher joins the podcast today and discusses the implications of international adoption in 2022, how it has changed over...
Pastor Chris Johnson & Orphan Sunday
Herbie Newell and Dr. Rick Morton are joined by Pastor Chris Johnson, the Vice President of Church Partnerships and Government Affairs at Lifeline. They discuss the si...