The MY House Podcast Ep. 67: Kristan Cole!The MY House Podcast Ep. 67: Kristan Cole!
The MY House Podcast Network
Kristan Cole shares her journey from homeless and abused teenager in Alaska to successful business leader and major supporter of MY House. The conversation focuses on trauma, faith, community, and how one trusted adult and committed donors can help homeless and at-risk youth build a safer future.
38:40•22 May 2026
From Homeless Teen to Major Donor: Kristan Cole’s Journey with MY House
Episode Overview
- One trusted adult who genuinely believes in a young person can completely change their trajectory after abuse and homelessness.
- Coping by overachieving in school or activities can hide serious trauma, so adults should look beyond good grades and busy schedules.
- Faith and a sense of justice helped Kristan release destructive revenge thoughts and move forward with her life.
- Unrestricted donations from businesses and individuals are crucial, as they let organisations respond quickly to real needs like housing, food, and transport.
- Former clients and small donors show that even modest, regular gifts can be healing for the giver and vital for sustaining youth services.
“"It doesn't matter how I feel. It does matter what I do."”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction, homelessness, and deep trauma, then gone on to build something bigger than themselves? This conversation with real estate leader and long-time MY House supporter Kristan Cole goes straight to that question. Speaking with host Michelle Overstreet, Kristan shares a raw account of growing up in the Mat-Su Valley as a homeless teen, shuffled between unsafe homes and enduring physical and sexual abuse.
She remembers the moment she finally fought back during an attempted rape, screaming until her abuser stopped. Later, at university, she describes being abducted and assaulted again, and the eerie calm that came from years of “coping” rather than falling apart. Kristan talks about the turning point that kept her from being stuck in victimhood: one safe adult who believed in her.
Stepdad and local businessman Bob Andres “saved” her, teaching her finance, work ethic, and, as she puts it, giving her faith in men back. That experience fuels her commitment to MY House, where the goal is to make sure today’s homeless and at-risk youth have that same dependable adult and community.
Alongside local branch manager Christy Mock and MY House’s Isaac Smolden, the group talks about how community support has turned a small idea into a youth-centred hub with housing, treatment beds, and a sense of belonging for young people who otherwise feel invisible. Kristan explains why unrestricted donations matter so much and why, for her team, giving a portion of every commission cheque is “being part of the solution” rather than leaving it to someone else.
If you’re interested in trauma, recovery, youth homelessness or how one person’s belief can change a life, this conversation might have you asking who you could be that trusted adult for. Who believed in you when you needed it most?
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