Meet Hannah Spaniak

We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Spaniak recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I grew up as a pastor’s daughter, which meant we moved—a lot. The denomination my dad served with often relocated pastors for different reasons, so my childhood was a constant cycle of packing up, starting over, and adapting to new environments. By the time I was in eighth grade, I had attended thirteen different schools.

Being the “new girl” so often wasn’t easy. Kids can be unkind to someone they don’t know, and I was no exception. I was teased for wearing glasses, called names, bullied and sometimes completely ignored. There were days when the only person I truly felt close to was my mom. She was my safe place. We used to write notes back and forth—while other kids were passing notes to friends, I was writing to her about my teachers, my lunch, and how I felt. Looking back now, I see how precious those exchanges were; they built in me a deep appreciation for connection, even in lonely seasons. My family was my foundation, and together we weathered not only the challenges of moving and starting over but also the pressures of church leadership—dealing with differing opinions and expectations, being held to a higher standard, and facing the reality that there were no bad days or mistakes allowed.

At the time, those experiences didn’t build confidence—they chipped away at it. But what I see now is that God was building something far greater: resilience, compassion, and a heart for people who feel unseen. I understand what it feels like to be left out, so now it’s one of my greatest passions to make sure others never have to feel that way. My “Includer” strength makes perfect sense—God used my pain to birth purpose.

Through every trial, Jesus was my guide, and the truths of Scripture became my armor—both sword and shield. Having walked with Him since I was five, His Word shaped my heart and directed my steps. I learned to press on through challenges, trusting that on the other side awaited the goodness God had promised. Even when doubt crept in and confidence wavered, His faithfulness propelled me forward.

Now, my husband and I share this same heartbeat in ministry. We love helping people feel known, connected, and welcomed. What once felt like a curse—constantly being the outsider—has become one of my greatest strengths. I can walk into a room full of strangers and feel right at home. My relational strengths like “WOO” (Winning Others Over) are now tools God uses for His glory, even though they were born from seasons of rejection.

Resilience, for me, isn’t about grit or willpower—it’s about grace. It’s the grace of God that has carried me through every season of adversity and turned wounds into wisdom. I’m resilient because of Christ in me. While I still sometimes wrestle with the fear of man, I’m learning to fix my eyes on God alone. He has redeemed my story and continues to teach me that the things meant to break me actually built me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

In January 2024, I was praying my usual prayer: Lord, give me a banner word for 2024. A banner word is a personal word or phrase that captures God’s truth, love, and promises, serving as a guiding principle and reminder of His presence, purpose, and faithfulness in your life. The word I heard that year was TRUST.

At first, it felt scary. Just the month before, I had experienced a falling out with a friend that hit me hard. I had tried to give godly advice in a marriage situation, but it didn’t go well. My friend was hurt, and I felt the weight of responsibility deeply. Even with the knowledge, wisdom, and practical insight I’ve gained from 20 years of ministry, mentoring couples, and living out a joyful marriage myself, I realized that I needed to fully trust God to equip me, guide me, and give me specific training and tools for handling marriage conflicts and guiding couples through complex issues. This moment clarified that my next step would require both my years of experience and the structured, biblical approach that mediation provides.

It was in that moment of brokenness and uncertainty that God’s word of the year, Trust, hit me differently. He was calling me to step into something bigger than myself, something that would stretch my faith and require dependence on Him alone. That’s when He spoke clearly: “You are going to become a Marriage Mediator.”

At the time, I knew little about the program—just that friends had pursued certification. I questioned whether I’d heard Him correctly, as it would require a significant financial investment and many hours of training. But God began providing immediately. Friends and trusted advisers encouraged me, and then God showed up with the money—a tax return arrived that covered the full cost. By May 2024, I traveled to Southlake, TX, for training and certification through the XO Institute, and God continued confirming that this was the path He had prepared for me.

In November 2024, I launched Victory & Vision Marriage LLC. The name reflects my heart for marriages: I want every marriage to experience victory and gain the vision to sustain it. Marriage Mediation is not about dissolving marriages—it’s about restoration, transformation, and helping couples flourish. It’s not counseling. Mediation is a biblical process that focuses on thinking patterns and beliefs, providing couples with practical tools to master their differences, build intimacy, conquer conflict, and gain communication tools.

What excites me most about this work is seeing real-time breakthroughs. In our first full-day session—an intensive 8-hour day—couples begin to notice a shift in their marriage, which inspired my tagline: “You’re only one day away from a better marriage.” The sessions are intensive, lasting 1, 2, or 3 full days depending on the needs of the relationship. There’s nothing more thrilling than hearing couples say, “We used the conflict-resolution model you taught us—and it worked!”

Some couples worry when they hear about the full 8-hour day or the intensive nature of the sessions—but that’s exactly what makes them so effective. When was the last time you intentionally invested 8 hours in your marriage? This extended, focused time is what allows real breakthroughs to happen. It gives couples the opportunity to slow down, examine patterns, learn new skills, and work through issues in a way that simply isn’t possible in shorter sessions or scattered weekly meetings. The full-day intensity creates space for transformation, insight, and practical application, setting the foundation for lasting change.

I recently launched a Free 20–30 minute Connection Call to give couples a comfortable, pressure-free introduction to mediation. It’s a chance to hear my heart, share what’s happening in their marriage, ask questions, and gain clarity about what mediation looks like before committing to the mediation process. My goal is to help couples feel informed, encouraged, and hopeful about what God can do in their marriage.

My husband and I are launching a new marriage podcast in 2026 called “Now Lean In”! We’ll give you a front-row seat to what a marriage led by Jesus can really look like—better than good. Two opposites who said yes, leaned in, and are laughing through all the twists, turns, and little chaos that life throws our way. If He can do it for us, He can do it for you too. Expect stories, shenanigans, and a front-row look at a marriage that’s real, fun, and fully God-led.

I believe no marriage is too far gone for God to redeem. Every marriage can flourish when both spouses are committed to doing marriage God’s way. It’s a joy to walk alongside couples, witness breakthroughs, and see the Holy Spirit work in their relationships. If you’re searching for this kind of transformation, I invite you to schedule a free connection call at v2marriage.com—let’s take the first step toward a better marriage together.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are faith over fear, God’s redeeming power, discernment, and faith-driven action. I’ve learned how choosing faith over fear opens doors I wouldn’t step through otherwise, and how God can redeem even the hardest parts of our past to bring purpose and hope. Discernment has been essential in navigating complex situations—both in my own marriage and when guiding couples—helping me see what is truly needed and respond wisely. Faith-driven action ties it all together, showing me that acting on what God reveals, even when it feels uncertain, produces real change.

For those early in their journey, I would encourage discovering your God-given gifts and talents, such as through the CliftonStrengths assessment, and then asking God for clear direction on how to use them. Invest time in honing those strengths, seek wisdom from mentors, and don’t be afraid to step into new challenges—lean into faith, trust God’s redemption, cultivate discernment, and take bold, faith-driven steps. Your unique combination of gifts and experiences is exactly what the world needs.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is a couple who wants their marriage to be stronger, healthier, and aligned with God’s best—even if they aren’t sure where to start. They may be newly engaged, newly married, in the in-between years of marriage, or together for decades. They may be facing challenges, feeling stuck in a season of conflict, miscommunication, or disconnect, or they may want to start their marriage on a strong foundation before problems arise.

What matters most is that they’re willing to take a step of faith toward change. Even if only one spouse is ready, I want to give them hope and a path forward. My ideal clients are open to learning, willing to see things differently, and ready to believe differently about themselves, their spouse, and their marriage. They understand that lasting change begins with partnering with God and shifting their perspective to experience more connection, joy, and victory in their marriage.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://v2marriage.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v2marriage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/v2marriage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/v2marriage
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/v2marriage
  https://v2marriage.blogspot.com/