Peaceful Hugs Podcast
Uplifting Stories of Faith, Kindness, and Connection
Join Mark and Lorelei for fun, laughter, and heartfelt conversations with remarkable guests from business, church, politics, and sports. They explore themes of service, second chances, community, faith, and more. With perspectives shaped by different generations, genders, and faith traditions, each episode offers a fresh reminder that doing good begins with empathy, compassion, and courage.
Upcoming Guests
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Join Mark and Lorelei as they discuss vulnerability, relationships, friendships and other hot topics.
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Join Wendy as she candidly discusses her life, the impact of women in the workplace and philanthropy in today's world.
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Financial Stewardship is alive and well! With over 8 BIL in assets under management, join Savvy Wealth's Cindy Alvarez as she discusses wealth management for all.
About the Hosts
Mark Z.
At 59, Mark Z sits squarely between the Boomers and Gen X — and he’s got the stories to back it up. He’s the founder of Peaceful Hugs, a seasoned business executive, and an entrepreneur whose life reads more like a novel than a résumé. From a turbulent youth and a headline-making robbery, to a failed marriage, the loss of his fiancée, a fight with cancer, adoption, raising kids, profound spiritual experiences, and building multiple businesses, Mark brings an uncommon depth to conversations about life and faith — all shaped by travels across the globe and to every U.S. state but two.
With degrees in communications and business — and now pursuing entry for his Master's at the University of Michigan. Mark offers thoughtful, hard-earned wisdom on relationships, parenting, education, business, and even politics.
Lorelei Thorne-Cromer
Lorelei Thorne-Cromer is a nonprofit leader and adventurer at heart. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in journalism, she brings a fresh Millennial perspective to her work and the world around her. As the Director of Operations for UnbridledACTS, she has spent the past six years building programs that serve diverse communities and offer hope to individuals in need.
Her purpose is simple: to “stop for the one” by recognizing each person’s intrinsic value and cultivating a sense of belonging. With experience as a missionary and time spent living abroad, Lorelei carries a global perspective into everything she does.
When she’s not advocating for at-risk communities, you’ll find her exploring the world with her husband and three dogs, diving into a good book, chasing new learning adventures, or savoring the crisp serenity of Colorado mornings.