Borderlands of the Soul: Following the Call to Solidarity with Deb Hansen

What happens when intuition pulls you into the unknown?

In this powerful conversation, Ralitza Spassova sits down with Deb Hansen—author of Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter, interfaith chaplain, and life coach—to explore the transformative journey of answering a spiritual calling.

From her unexpected path from corporate life to the borderlands of El Paso, Deb shares how surrendering to uncertainty led her into profound experiences of solidarity, interfaith collaboration, and allyship across cultures and histories.

Together, Ralitza and Deb dive into: The power of trusting intuition even when skepticism rises. Stories of resilience, vulnerability, and compassion at the US-Mexico border. Healing through cultural humility, interfaith solidarity, and indigenous wisdom. How surrender and authenticity open new pathways for connection and transformation. This episode invites you to reflect on your own “borderlands”—the liminal spaces where fear and possibility meet—and discover how leaning into vulnerability can unlock deeper healing, purpose, and humanity.

Deb Hansen is a first-time author. Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter is a memoir of her first three winters volunteering at the U.S./Mexico border. She recently completed her fifth winter offering hospitality and practical support to people seeking refuge from violence, poverty, and political and climate instability.

In private practice, Deb offers soul work and continues to explore the field of collective trauma healing. Having been part of a multi-faith delegation to Palestine – Israel in the fall of 2024, she is increasingly drawn to the work of peace, relationship, repair, and reconciliation.

Deb describes herself as a life-long border-crosser when it comes to culture, language, religion, ethnicity, and worldview. She’s endlessly fascinated by the process of transformation that allows life to renew itself. Deb’s path has had a number of purposeful twists and turns. She imagined herself teaching French in higher education, but instead, did creative work with IBM for many years in marketing and communications that included a stint in Paris at IBM’s Headquarters for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. After leaving the business world, her path eventually led to a creative Interfaith seminary and hospital chaplaincy/spiritual care in Detroit. She has a strong connection to the land and the seasons and cycles of life in northern Michigan where she spends half the year.

Website: debhansen.org

Borderlands: Stories from an El Paso Shelter, available wherever books are sold.