Podcasts about Baylor University

Most of us spend our entire lives being someone's daughter, but we rarely talk about what that role actually asks of us. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elizabeth Alford, a professor of communication at Baylor University and a leading researcher on “daughtering,” to unpack the expectations, emotional labor, and pressure many women carry in their families and how those dynamics can quietly shape our relationships, boundaries, and even our sex lives. What “daughtering” actually means. Why the role of daughter is rarely talked about but deeply shapes our identities, responsibilities, and expectations in families. The invisible labor daughters often carry. How emotional support, family coordination, and relational maintenance quietly fall on daughters. Why being a “good daughter” becomes tied to self-worth. How many women internalize the idea that being available, supportive, and reliable is what makes them worthy. The pressure of family expectations. Why daughters often feel responsible for maintaining harmony, showing up for everyone, and never dropping the ball. The shift from “perfect daughter” to “good enough daughter.” A simple reframe that helps reduce the pressure and unrealistic standards so many of us carry. How daughterhood affects romantic relationships. Why carrying too much emotional labor in family dynamics can leave women feeling mentally tapped out and impact desire and intimacy. Why partnership and delegation matter. How allowing siblings or partners to share emotional responsibilities can relieve pressure and strengthen relationships. Setting boundaries with family members. Practical ways to decide what you are and are not willing to discuss and how to communicate those boundaries clearly. Preparing for difficult family conversations. Why going into family interactions with a plan can help prevent frustration and resentment. How to start reshaping your role as a daughter. Small mindset shifts that help relieve some pressure while still maintaining connection with family. Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Alford Learn more about Dr. Alford's research on daughterhood and family communication on her website or by listening her podcast Hello Mother, Hello Daughter, where she explores the mother-daughter relationship through both academic insight and lived experience. You can also purchase a copy of her book "Good Daughtering" HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”   *Transcription Below*   Brian Smith, author of The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports, is a staff member with Athletes in Action and a cross-country coach at Lowell High School. A former collegiate runner at Wake Forest University, he earned a BA in Communications and Journalism before completing his MA in Theology and Sports Studies at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. Brian lives in Lowell, MI with his wife and three children. You can find him on Twitter @BrianSmithAIA.   Ed Uszynski is an author, speaker, and sports minister with over three decades' experience discipling college and professional athletes. With a heart for reconciliation and justice, he also works as a racial literacy consultant and marriage conference speaker, blending Biblical wisdom with practical living in the midst of complex cultural realities. He has two theological degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Amy have four children and live in Xenia, Ohio.   The Christian Athlete Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor:  Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What is one of kids' greatest game day complaints?  Is it true that young athletic success is a predictor of adult athletic success? What are a few tips for instilling a heart of gratitude in our young athlete, rather than entitlement?   Related Savvy Sauce Episode: 230 Intentional Parenting in All The Stages with Dr. Rob Rienow   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:51) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka.   Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski are my guests for today.   They are co-authors of this recent amazing book entitled, A Way Game, A Christian Parents Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. And from the very beginning, I was captivated, even with one of the endorsements from Matt Martens, who's the president and CEO of Awana, and he summed it up this way, A Way Game provides a much needed perspective shift on one of the most sacred idols in our culture, youth sports. So, Brian and Ed are all for youth sports, and yet you're going to hear there's a different way to approach it than what we've been trained in culture.   And they're going to share some wonderful and very practical insights. I can't wait to share this with you. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Ed and Brian.   Ed Uszynski & Brian Smith: (1:51 - 1:54) Thanks for having us, Laura. Yeah, good to be here, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (1:54 - 2:04) So, excited about this chat. And will the two of you just start us off by sharing your family's stage of life and your involvement in sports?   Brian Smith: (2:05 - 3:29) Yeah, there could be a lot on the back end of that question. I'll start with sports, then get into family. I've been involved in sports my entire life, played every sport imaginable growing up, got cut from just about every single sport my freshman year of high school, ended up running track and cross country because it was the only sports that you could not get cut from at my high school.   And I ended up being pretty good at it by the time I was a senior, won some state championships, ended up getting a scholarship to run at Wake Forest University. So, I did that for four years right out of college. I coached a little bit collegiately.   Soon after that, I joined staff with a sports ministry called Athletes in Action that Ed and I have a combined 50 years with Athletes in Action. And really, that's been my life ever since. I've been ministering to college and pro athletes, discipling them, helping them figure out what does that actually look like to integrate faith in sport.   Even today, I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I coach high school cross country while I'm still on staff with Athletes in Action. I have a middle school Bible study that I run on Wednesday mornings.   Been married to my wife, who I actually met in high school. She was a distance runner too, and she ran at Wisconsin. So, we've been married for 20 years.   We have three kids, a high schooler, a middle schooler, and an elementary schooler who are all involved in sport at some level, some way, shape, or form.   Laura Dugger: (3:30 - 3:34) Wow, that's incredible. Thank you, Brian. And Ed, what about you?   Ed Uszynski: (3:34 - 5:04) Well, my story is very parallel to Brian's, just different sports and some different numbers. Just tack on 15 years. Yeah, I was a basketball player.   Grew up on the west side of Cleveland with a high school football coach. My dad was, but I was a basketball player. I played at high levels all the way through my 20s, got to play overseas.   I mean, this was a long time ago, but I got everything I could out of that sport. And as soon as I graduated from college, though, I started to work with that Athletes in Action ministry that Brian mentioned. So, I've been working with college and professional athletes for 34 years now.   And same, coached at different levels, have four kids. Amy and I have been married for 26 years. We have four kids, three are in college, and one's in ninth grade, who has a game this afternoon, actually.   So, we've just been going to games and have been involved in going to sports stuff for the last 20 years with our kids. And really what happened with Brian, and I is that we looked up a decade ago and realized this youth sports thing was a fast train that was moving in directions that we weren't used to ourselves, even though we've been around sports our whole life. It's like, there's something different happening now.   And then thinking about it as Christians, like, how do we do this well as Christ followers? We don't want to separate from it. We don't want to just go for the ride. How do we do this as Christian people? And that's what got us talking about it and eventually led to this book.   Laura Dugger: (5:05 - 5:23) Well, the book was easy to read and incredible. And I'd like to start there where you begin, even where you go back before going forward. So, when you're looking back, what are the factors at play that changed youth sports over time?   Ed Uszynski: (5:26 - 6:17) Well, I'll say this and then Brian, maybe you jump in and throw a couple of them out there. I mean, youth sports is a $40 billion industry today, which is wild to think about. It's four times how much money gets spent on the NFL, which is just staggering.   I can't even hardly believe that that's true, but it is. And it's really just in the last 20 years that that's happened. I mean, 50 years ago, you couldn't have had the youth sport industrial complex, as we refer to it.   You couldn't have had it. There were a bunch of things that had to happen culturally, as is true with any new movement or any paradigm shift that happens in culture. You've got to have certain things be true all at the same time that make it possible.   So, Brian, what were a couple of those? Again, I'll throw it over to you. There's six of them that we talk about in the book. And I think it's really fascinating because I'm a history guy.   Brian Smith: (6:18 - 8:40) Yeah. And we can obviously double click on any of these, Laura, that you want to, but we talk about how the college admissions process became an avenue where youth sports parents saw, man, if we can get our kids involved in some extracurriculars and kind of tag on high level athlete to their resume, it actually helps with the college admissions process. And so even the idea of college scholarships became an opportunity for youth sports parents to get their kids involved.   And then, yeah, maybe sports can actually get them into college. We talk about the economic shifts that happen, the rise of safetyism and helicopter parenting. ESPN was a massive one in 1979.   This thing called ESPN starts, and we get 24-7 coverage of sports, which they started exploring even early on. What does it look like to give coverage to something like Little League World Series and saw that it didn't really matter how young the sport was, it's going to draw a national audience. And so, we've almost been discipled by ESPN really over the last 50 years with this consistent coverage.   We talk about the rise of the sports complex. This one to me is like the most fascinating out of all of them. In 1997, Disney decided to try to get more people to come to their parks.   They built a sports complex, just a massive sports complex. The idea was, are the older kids getting sick of the Buzz Lightyear ride and the Disney princesses? So, let's build a sports complex and maybe it'll be something else that will draw this older crowd too.   And what happened was, I mean, a lot of people started coming to it, but kind of the stake in the ground game changer was when 9-11 hit. In the months and years after that, they saw a lot less people go to their parks, but population actually doubled going to the sports complex, which is wild to think that people were afraid to go to theme parks for a vacation, but they were willing to travel across state lines to play sports at the Disney complex. So other cities and municipalities took notice of that.   Today, there's over 30,000 sports complexes like Disney's, which again, this is all adding to the system of the youth sports industrial complex. Did I miss any, Ed?   Ed Uszynski: (8:41 - 10:47) Well, no, and that's good. And the reason why we even put all that on the table, again, everybody kind of intuitively knows if you're involved, you know, something's not right. But I think it's important to say this is not normal what's happening.   It's a new normal that's been manufactured by a bunch of cultural trends, by a bunch of entrepreneurs that are doing what entrepreneurs do, and they're taking advantage of the moment, and they are generating lots of money around it. So, it should be encouraging. If it's not normal, that means actually there's a counter way of going about this.   There really can be reformation. But when all this money gets involved, the two biggest consequences that come out of that is our kids start getting treated like commodities, which they are, and we could talk the whole time even just about what that means. But maybe even more importantly, or what comes out of that is that beyond their physical development, most coaches and clubs are not paying any attention to their emotional development, their psychological development, their spiritual development, all the different aspects of what it means to be human that, frankly, used to be paid quite a bit more attention to in youth leagues when I was growing up.   I'm 58 now, so I was playing in the 70s and the 80s. And it used to be expected, at least at some level, even among non-Christian people, that you would take those aspects of a kid's life seriously. And now those just aren't prioritized.   And so, what do we do about that? Again, that's kind of our whole point is, well, as Christian people, we're really supposed to be our kid's first discipler anyways. And part of that role and part of taking on that identity is that we would be asking, what is God trying to do in the wholeness of their life, the entirety of their life, even in the context of sports?   So again, I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but that's why we're trying to poke into that to say, oh, we could actually make change. We may not change the whole system. In fact, we won't. Most of us won't be expected to do that, but we can make significant change in our corner of the bleachers and what happens with our kids.   Laura Dugger: (10:48 - 11:05) That's good. And just like you said, to double-click on a few places, first of all, real quick, the 30,000 number, I remember that shocking me in the book, but I'm forgetting now, is that worldwide, the amount of sports complexes or is that just in America?   Brian Smith: (11:05 - 11:06) That's domestically in the US.   Laura Dugger: (11:07 - 11:52) Yeah. That is staggering. And then one other piece, all of this history was new to me as you brought it all together, but it was also fascinated.   This is from page 32. I'll just read your quote. The American youth sports ball began rolling when a British movement fusing spiritual development with physical activity made its way across the Atlantic Ocean at the turn of the last century.   And Ed, that's kind of what you were touching on, that they were mixing, I'm sure, spiritual, psychological discipleship, physical. Can you elaborate more on what was happening and where it originated? Because we've come very far from our origins.   Ed Uszynski: (11:53 - 13:18) Yeah. And there's been a bunch of really great books written about this topic called muscular Christianity. This idea, like you just said, Laura, of wedding physical activity through sports with our spiritual development and expecting and anticipating that somebody that was taking care of their body and that was engaging in sport activity, that was the closest thing to godliness.   That opened up the door for you to also be developing spiritually. And there was an expectation that both of those are going on at the same time. A bunch of criticism about that movement, but it was taken seriously.   The YMCA is actually a huge byproduct of the muscular Christianity movement. The Young Men's Christian Association created space for sports and for athletic activity to take place under the banner of you're also going to grow spiritually as you're doing this. So again, that was a hundred years ago.   And that's not really what AAU stands for today. The different clubs and leagues that we get involved in just don't talk that way anymore. Of course, culture just in general has shifted away from sort of a Judeo-Christian ethic guiding a North Star for us.   Even if we're not Christian people, that used to be more of a North Star. That's gone now. And so, it really is not expected in sports anymore.   Brian Smith: (13:18 - 13:55) And what we're saying is we cannot expect organizations to own that process for our kids. We can't outsource the discipleship of our kids to the youth sports industrial complex or the YMCA or the AAU. It really does start with us as Christian parents to be the primary discipler of our kids.   And there is a way to take what's happening on the field or the court or the pool and turn it into really amazing discipleship opportunities. But it means, and Ed is starting to tease this out, it means we need to change our perspective as parents when we sit in the bleachers or on the sidelines of what we're looking for and even the conversations we have with our kids on the back end.   Laura Dugger: (13:57 - 15:29) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them on 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:31) And I want to continue getting into more of those practicals. Do you want to give us just a taste or an example or story of what that might look like?   Brian Smith: (15:32 - 16:54) We keep saying, we keep talking about the importance of the car ride home that it's tempting for us and not us broadly in the U.S., tempting for us, Ed and I, as people who have done this for 50 plus years and who should know better, it's tempting for us as discipled by an ESPN over analyzing everything culture and want to talk about sports to get in the car ride home with our kids and all we want to talk about is how game went, what they did right, what they did wrong, what they could fix next time.   Maybe instead of passing to Tim, they should take the shot next time because they're wide open. They just hit three in a row. So, and what our kids need from us in those moments is less coaching, less criticizing, less critiquing, and they just need us to connect with them.   The stats on kids quitting youth sports is crazy right now. Its 70 percent are quitting before the age of 13, in large part because it's not fun, and a lot of kids are attaching this idea of it not being fun to the car ride home with their parents who, let's say this too, most of us are well-intentioned parents. We're not trying to screw our kids up.   We want what's best for our kids, but the data and the research and the lived experience continues to tell us what our kids need from us is just to take a deep breath, connect with them, less coaching. Ed keeps saying less coaching, more slurpees.   Laura Dugger: (16:55 - 17:07) I like that. And that ties in. Is it called the peak-end principle that you discovered why kids are resisting that critique on the way home?   Brian Smith: (17:07 - 18:17) Yeah, absolutely. The peak-end rule in psychology is known as this: we, just as humans in general, not just kids, we largely remember things in our lives based on the peak moment of that event, but also how the event ends. And so, the peak moment in sport can be anything from something that goes really well, like they scored a goal or made a basket or something that did not go well, just like a massive event that took place that they're going to remember.   But then it's also married to how that event ends. So, if you think for kids, how does every youth sport experience end? It ends with the car ride home.   So, if they're experiencing the car ride home as I did not live up to mom and dad's standards, or there's fear getting into the car because they don't know what their parents are going to say, how are they remembering the totality of their youth sport experience? It is, I didn't, I didn't measure up. I wasn't enough.   It felt like sports was a place that I needed to perform for my parents or my coach. And I always feel a little bit short. We want to help parents see like there's a different path forward that can be more joyful for you, but hopefully more joyful for your kid as well.   Ed Uszynski: (18:17 - 21:37) Well, and, and I'll just, let me keep going with that, Brian. I thought you really articulated all that so well. I can just imagine a parent maybe thinking, was there never a time to correct?   Is there never a time to give input? And we would say, well, of course there, there is, they need far less of it from us than we think they need when it comes to their sport. And again, we can talk about that.   They need far less of that from us. They need us to be their parents, not to be their coaches. Even if we are their coach, they need us to be more their parents.   But there is a time to do it. We're just saying the car ride home is the worst time to do it. And that's usually the time that most of us, you know, we've got two hours of stuff to download with them.   And that's just, it's not a good time. But the other thing that Brian and I keep talking about is how about, what if we had some different metrics that we were even trying to measure? So, most of the time our metrics have to do with their performance.   Like what, what are we grading them on? Again, depending on what the sport is, there's these different things that we're looking for to say, how you did today is based on whether you did this or you didn't do that and whatnot. And we're saying as parents, and again, starting with us, we needed some other metrics that were actually more concerned about what was going on in their soul.   So again, I'm sure we'll talk more about this, but the virtues, how did love show up in the way they competed today? Where that usually is tied to them noticing somebody else. Do I, am I even asking them any questions about that?   Are they experiencing peace in the midst of all this chaos and anxiety that shows up at every game? How do we teach them to experience peace? How do they become other-centered instead of just self-centered all the time in a culture, a sport culture that's teaching them to always be the center of attention and try to be?   So, we just have needed to exchange some of what we had on that performance list, like tamper that down a little bit and maybe expand the list of categories that we're looking for that actually will matter when they're 25. And we keep saying this, our goal is that they'd come home for Thanksgiving when they're 25. And so, we need to stay relationally connected to them and how we act on the car ride home day after day after day after day, year after year is doing something to our relationship.   But we also are recognizing that it's really not going to matter whether Trey finishes with his left hand at the game today when he's 25, it's not going to matter. It's not going to matter probably a year from now, but how he goes through the handshake line after the game and the way he addresses other people, and whether or not he's learning to submit to authority, whether or not he's learning to embrace other people's humanity. Yes, even in the context of sports, that's really going to matter when he's 25.   It's going to matter when he's married. Those are the things that will matter. And we say that as people who are older and have been involved in ministry and have worked with college athletes and see what happens in their lives even after they're finished, and they have no idea who they are anymore.   And this thing that's dominated their life has not actually prepared them well to do life. And that's a problem that we say, let's start changing that when they're six and not hope they're figuring it out when they're 22.   Laura Dugger: (21:38 - 22:11) I love that because that's such a theme throughout those virtues that you talked about, but discipleship and sports are a tool or a way that we can disciple our kids. I also love that you give various questions throughout the book and even quick phrases. So to close that conversation on the car ride home, if we say, okay, that's what I've been coaching the whole way home, what is a question we could ask our child afterwards and a statement we could say and leave it at that and do it a better way?   Brian Smith: (22:12 - 23:56) The question I have consistently asked my kids after learning that I've been doing this the wrong way for a long time, I tweet my question to they get in the car and I say, is there anything that happened today from the game that you want to talk about? And it's frustrating to me because 99% of the time they say, no, can we listen to the radio? And we listen to the radio, or they play a on my phone, but I'm respecting their desire that they're done with what just happened and they're ready to move on to the next thing, even though I really want to talk about what just happened.   And then the statement that I want to make sure that I'm consistently saying that they're hearing is I love you and I'm proud of you. So, game didn't go well. Yeah, you did play well today.   That's okay. Hey, I love you and I'm proud of you. Game went well today.   Awesome. Great job. Hey, I love you and I'm proud of you.   So I want that to be the consistent theme that they're hearing for me, which is hopefully going to help them better understand the gospel later in life, that as they get older and older, hopefully they'll begin to realize it seemed like the way that my mom and dad interacted with me when I was performing in sport, but their love was not attached to my performance. That seems really similar to what I'm learning more and more that Jesus does for me, that I'm trying to do all these things that are good. But from what I'm understanding about the gospel, it seems like Jesus loves me in spite of what I do.   He loves me just because He's connected to me, that God loves me because I'm a son or daughter, not because I'm performing as a son or a daughter. So, in a very real way, I really am hoping that I'm giving a good teaser for my kids now for when they fully experience the gospel as they go through the life.   Ed Uszynski: (23:56 - 24:47) Another really good connecting question. I love how you said all that, Brian, is if they don't want to talk about the game, is it okay, did you have fun today? And they can only go in one of two directions.   No. Well, tell me about that. Why not?   And it opens up the door to talk about, well, because I didn't get to play or because something bad happened. And again, tell me more about that. Tell me more about that.   Or they say, yes, great. What happened that was fun? And it creates a very different conversation in the car.   And it opens up, again, relational possibilities that go way beyond, why do you keep passing it when you should be shooting it? Wow. And just all the different ways that that comes out of us, depending on sport, depending on their age.   But those are great questions. Go ahead, Brian.   Brian Smith: (24:47 - 25:41) I just asked my son this morning. He's a freshman. His wrestling season is almost done.   And I just asked, like, what has been most fun for you in wrestling this year? And his first thing was, I feel like I'm learning a lot. And that's really fun for me, which he's on a really good team.   He's had a lot of success. He's made a lot of good friends. But even that gave me a window into his characters.   My son enjoys and I knew this is true about him. But my son enjoys learning, which means he enjoys the process of getting better and better and better, which can happen in school, it can happen doing stuff in the yard, it can it can also happen in sport. But for me to remember moving forward, yeah, he he's probably going to have a different metric for what's fun in sport than I often do for him.   Yeah, like I wanted to learn. I want him to win though, too. He's happy with learning right now.   So, I need to be happy with that for him.   Ed Uszynski: (25:41 - 26:34) If I can say this, too, again, I don't want to be vulnerable on your behalf. But then knowing this, he's lost a lot this year to really good kids. Yeah.   And so much of the learning has been in the context of losing. So, you as a dad, actually, you could be crushing him because of those losses and what he needs to do to fix that and what he needs to do so that that doesn't happen again. And it's like he's already committed to learning.   How do you just how do you celebrate the loss? Like he took the risk to try something new in this movie. He tried to survive an extra period.   That's a process when and it's we just need to get better at that. Like you genuinely can celebrate that. That's not just a that's not like a participation trophy.   It's acknowledging now, do you're taking you're taking the right steps that are actually making you a winner, even if you don't have more points at the end of the game right now.   Laura Dugger: (26:34 - 26:54) Yeah. Yeah. And that long term win that you're talking about, even with character and you've talked about fun and asking them about fun.   Is it true that that's the main reason kids are dropping out of sports at such a rapid rate before age 13 is that it's just not fun anymore?   Ed Uszynski: (26:55 - 28:58) Yeah. Yeah. And why is it not fun?   And again, this is where Brian and I are always getting in each other's business. And we know that this conversation gets in all of our business as adults. But why is it not fun?   It's not fun because of the coaches and it's not fun because of the parents. We are creating stress. We are creating again collectively because we're all in different places on the on the spectrum on this in terms of what we're actually doing when we show up at games.   But if you even just go to any soccer game and you be quiet and just listen to what's happening and everybody's shouting and screaming things and there's contradictory messages being sent and there's angst at every turn and there's an incredible celebration because this eight year old was able to get the ball to go across the line for another goal. And what that's doing inside the kids is it is creating a not fun atmosphere. Let's just say it like that.   That's a not fun atmosphere when you're eight, when you're 10, when you're trying to figure out how to make your body work. You're trying to learn the game that you're unfamiliar with and you're trying to do what this coach is telling you to do. And you're also trying to do what all the parents are telling you what to do.   And if it's a team sport, you're trying to interact and play with other kids who are all in that same state of disarray, which is very stressful and frustrating. And we're just adding to it. So instead of removing it, instead of playing a role that says, we're going to keep diffusing that stress.   And again, I'll speak for myself. Too often, I have been the one that's actually adding to it. And so, kids are just like, why would I do this?   Why would I want to get in that car again with you? It's not fun. This is a game.   And so, there's a million other things that I can do with my time where I don't have everybody yelling at me and I don't have to listen to you correct me for two hours.   Laura Dugger: (29:00 - 29:21) Well, and one other thing that surprised me, maybe why kids are dropping out, you share on page 47, a quote that research reveals a strange correlation. The more we spend, the less our kids actually enjoy their sport. So, did you have any more insight into that?   Brian Smith: (29:21 - 30:50) Yeah, this was a real study that was done at Utah State. Researchers found that the more money parents are spending, again, let's say well-intentioned parents, the more we're spending in sports, the less our kids are enjoying. And the more they have dug into it, they're finding, and intuitively it makes sense.   If you buy your kid a $600 baseball bat, what's the expectation that they're supposed to do with this really expensive bat? When they swing, they better hit the ball, and they better get on base. If we're going to buy you this expensive of a bat, you can't just have process goals with it.   You better swing and hit it. And that's causing stress for kids. If you travel across state lines and you go to Disney to play at their sports complex, you're not there for vacation.   You're there to perform. So even if parents are saying we're trying to have fun, kids know when you're traveling and you're getting all this good equipment and you're on the elite team and you're receiving the best of the best stuff, they know it comes with some sort of an expectation. College athletes can barely handle that type of pressure and expectations, but we've placed this professional on youth sports from fifth five-year-olds to 15-year-olds, and it's just crushing them.   It's crushing them. Again, college athletes and professional athletes can barely handle it. They need mental health coaches for sports, but we're expecting that our five-year-olds can handle it, and they can't.   Ed Uszynski: (30:51 - 31:19) And they may not even be able to articulate it. So that's the other thing. They may not be able to identify what's actually going on inside and put it into words.   So again, that's why we're trying to sound the alarm for ourselves and for others who are listening, because we can do it different. Again, just to even keep spinning it back in an encouraging direction, we can do this different. We can change this this week in our corner of the bleachers.   We can start over again.   Laura Dugger: (31:21 - 31:48) Absolutely and make a difference. And before we talk about even more of the pros with sports, I think it's also necessary to reflect and maybe even grieve a few things. So, what would you say are some things families are missing out on when they choose youth sports to overfill their calendar, that that's all that they make time for?   What do you think they're missing out on?   Brian Smith: (31:51 - 33:16) Yeah, I think a couple that come to mind are family dinners are a big one. That's big for us in the Smith house, is just having the ability after a long day to sit at the dinner table together, to eat food together, and to process the day and be with one another. But when my kids' practice goes late, it means we're either eating almost towards bedtime or we're eating in different shifts.   And so that's something that we grieve. I think for me, when my schedule is full, I'm tempted to adopt the mindset that what's happening on the wrestling mat or on the track matters more than it actually does. And it robs me of the ability to just take a deep breath and smile and enjoy watching my kids play sports.   That without an intervention or a pregame devotional in the car for myself, I risk sitting in the stands or being on the sidelines, being stressed out and putting pressure on myself and pressure on my kids and gossiping about why the coach didn't put this kid into the people next to me, instead of just enjoying the gift that is sports and watching my kid try and succeed and try and fail. That is a gift available to me as a dad to watch my kid do that. But the busyness often robs me of that perspective.   Ed Uszynski: (33:17 - 36:06) Well, and the busyness robs, again, if you're married, that busyness eventually wears away at your relationship. And it's not just sports. I mean, busyness, we can fill our schedule, overfill our schedules with any number of things.   We can overfill our schedules with church stuff to a point where it becomes detrimental to our relationship. If we don't set boundaries so that we're making sure we're doing what we need to do to be face-to-face and to be going to areas beneath the surface with each other in our relationship and being able to do that with our kids as well, eventually there's negative consequences to that. It may not happen right away, but I've definitely experienced that.   We've experienced that in our home where it's easy to maybe chase one kid around for a while, but what happens when you add three into the mix and you haven't really done a time budget or paid attention to the fact that when we sign up for all these things, you get a month into it and you realize, oh, we have to be in different places at the same time. So, we're not even watching stuff together anymore. We're just running.   I can endure anything for a season, but what youth sports wants now in every sport from the youngest ages is that it becomes a year-round commitment. So, you're not even signing up to play a season anymore. You're signing up for a year in most cases because after the games, then they're going to have training.   They're going to have this other thing going on. And so again, can we say, well, we'll play the actual season, but then we're not going to do the additional training over these next three months. Again, we want to give parents' permission that you can say no to that.   Well, we paid for it. Well, it's okay. If you want your kid to be on that team and you like this club or whatever, then you pay the money and you just say, we're going to sit those three months out and we're going to use those three months actually to have people over our house for dinner.   Again, whatever's on the list, Laura, that you said about being more holistic and not letting sport operate like an idol in our life where it's taken on, it's washed out everything else in our life. We can get back in control of that by just saying no a little bit. You can go to church on Sunday.   Even if there's tournament games going on on Sunday, you can go to the coach early and say, hey, we just, in our family, we just don't want to be available before 12. Are you okay with that? And most of the time coaches will be.   The kid might have to sit extra maybe for not being, whatever. Okay. That's not going to be the end of the world that they had to sit out an extra game or had to sit out a half because they weren't available on Sunday morning.   It might actually make a huge difference that they weren't at church for two and a half years in the most formative time of their life.   Laura Dugger: (36:07 - 37:36) And a lot of times the way of wisdom includes reflection, getting alone with the Lord and asking, have we overstuffed our schedule this conversation today? Let's talk specifically with youth sports. Is that trumping everything else?   Because what if we're putting it in a place it was never intended to be as an idol where we sacrifice hospitality or discipleship or community or even just a more biblical way of life? I think we have to bring wisdom into the conversation for what you've mentioned. Whether it's worth it, if they're even enjoying it, how much we're spending on it, and do we have the budget to allocate our finances that way and evaluating the time just to see and make sure that it's rightly ordered.   Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips, and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy!   But if we flip that to if youth sports are rightly ordered, then what are some things that we can celebrate or reasons that you would want families to give this a try?   Brian Smith: (37:37 - 40:09) The massive positive that we keep coming back to is we have a front row seat to see our kids go through every possible emotion in sport, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And then if we have the right perspective, we are armed with awesome opportunities and awesome information that we're seeing. We get to see what our kids are really good at.   We get to see their character gaps. And then we get to be the ones who, again, who are their primary response, primary disciplers. It really goes back to like, are we trusting youth sports for too little in our kids' lives?   Like many of us are trusting that our investment is going to get them a spot on a team, or maybe they get an opportunity in high school, maybe in college. And what we're saying is, yeah, that maybe. And that's not a bad end goal.   But if that's everything that you're investing into youth sports, it's not enough. Like what you have available to you every single day is to ask your kid if they showed somebody else's dignity on the field. You don't know if your kid's going to hit a home run today.   That may not be available to them their entire life. What's available to them every single day is to ask a question to their teammate, to see somebody and show dignity to them. And that's really, it's like, it's almost the opportunity of a lifetime for us as parents who, when our kids get home from school, we really don't know what happened most of the day.   We asked them how it went and we get the one-word answer. In sports, we don't have to guess. We get to see everything that happens.   And again, if we are actually trusting youth sports for discipleship investment, that's a good ROI. That's a good return on our investment. But we need a consistent intervention almost daily to say, no, this is why they're in sports.   Yes, I want to see them get better. I want to see them have fun, but Holy Spirit, would you help me see things today that I normally don't see? Holy Spirit, would you put them in circumstances and relationships today and in the season that's going to help them look more and more like Jesus by the time the season's done?   Holy Spirit, would you convict me in the moment when I am being a little too mouthy and saying things that I shouldn't? Would you help me to repent? And God, in those moments where I'm actually doing wrong on behalf of my kid, would you help me to humble myself and apologize to them?   And God, would you repair our relationship that way? So again, all of these options are available just because our kid's shooting a ball or they're on the field with somebody else tackling other people. We're trusting youth sports for too little.   Ed Uszynski: (40:10 - 41:10) That's all big boy and big girl stuff. It just is. I don't normally naturally do any of that.   I have to be coached into that. I have to be discipled myself. I have to work through my own issues, my own baggage, my own fears about the future, my own idolatrous holding onto this imagined future that I have for my kid, irrespective of what God may or may not want.   I've got my own resentment. I've got my own regrets from the past. I wish things had gone differently for me, so I'm going to make sure they go different for you when it comes to sports.   And it's hard to look in the mirror and admit that I have anger issues. I mean, youth sports create a great opportunity for me to get up all my pent-up frustration from the day. We've given ourselves permission to do that, in most cases, to just yell and yell at refs and gripe about coaches and yell at kids.   Brian Smith: (41:10 - 41:31) Because that's what we do at the TV, right? When our favorite team is playing, we've conditioned ourselves to say, awful call, that was terrible. Then we get on social media and we complain about it.   We are discipling ourselves to this is how it's normative to respond within the context of sports. Then we carry all that baggage to our six-year-old soccer game.   Laura Dugger: (41:33 - 42:02) Well, I love how you keep pointing it back toward character and discipleship. You clearly state throughout the book, sports don't develop character, people do. But could you maybe elaborate on that a little bit more and share more now that we've listed pros and cons, you still list a completely different way that we can meaningfully participate while also pushing back?   Brian Smith: (42:04 - 43:49) I'll start with the first part, and then you can answer the second. We use the handshake line as a great example of why character needs to be taught to our kids. If you just watch a normal handshake line left without coaching, the kids are going through it, especially the ones who lose with their head down, they have limp hands, there's no eye contact, and they're mumbling good game, good game.   Sometimes they don't even say it, they'll say GG stands for good game. They don't just learn character by going through the handshake line. If anything, that's going through it like that without any sort of intervention or coaching, that's malforming their character.   That's teaching them when things don't go well, that it's okay for them not to be a big boy or a big girl and look somebody in the eye and congratulate them. What needs to happen? An adult needs to step in and say, hey, as we go through the handshake line, whether you win or lose, here's how we do it with class.   We shake somebody's hand, we look them in the eye, and we say good game. Even if in those moments we don't actually mean it, we still show them dignity and honor. And then when we're done going through the handshake line, guess what we're going to do?   We're going to run down the refs who are trying to get in their car and get out of here, and we're going to give them a high five and say, thank you so much for reffing today. That stuff needs to be taught. Our kids don't just come out of the womb knowing how to do that.   We have to teach them how to do it. Sometimes good coaches will do that, but the more and more we get sucked up into the sports industrial complex, we're getting well-intentioned coaches, but we're getting coaches who care more about the big W, the win, than the character formation stuff that happens.   Ed Uszynski: (43:49 - 45:27) They need to keep hearing it over and over again. I have a ninth grade Bible study in my house the other day with athletes and a whole bunch of my son's basketball team. Exactly what Brian just said, I actually was like, wow, I've got them here.   There was a big blow up at a game the other day, and we wound up talking about it. I said, I'm going to take this opportunity actually to say what Brian just said. When you go through a handshake line, this is how you go through it.   I watched what happened in the game a couple days later. Basically, they did the exact opposite of what I told them to do, and they lost. It was just what Brian said.   They went through limp handed. They didn't look anybody in the face, and they weren't even saying anything. I just chuckled to myself, and you know how this is as a parent.   They may or may not do it. Of course, those aren't my kids. I have more stewardship over my child, who actually, he is doing what I've asked him to do because I've re-emphasized it across time now.   It's not a failure because they didn't do what I said. Again, the pouty side of me wants to be like, forget it. I'm just not even going to try anymore.   It's like, no, they're kids. That was the first time they've heard that. They're going to do what their patterns have, the muscle memory that's been created by their patterns, just like we do as adults.   The next time I have a chance to bring that up again, I'm not going to shame them. I'm just going to go over it again with them. Here's how we do it.   It's super hard to do this, guys, when you just want to be violent with people or you want to cry. You got to pull yourself together. That's what big men do.   That's what big women do in life. They pull themselves together in those moments and do the right thing.   Brian Smith: (45:28 - 46:01) You don't know whether the fifth time you say it is going to stick or the 50th time. Your responsibility as the Christ-following parent is to do it the sixth time and the seventh time and the seventh time and trust that God is going to take those moments and do what he does. We're ultimately not responsible for our kids' behavior.   We're responsible for pointing them in the right direction, and then hopefully, yeah, the Holy Spirit steps in and transforms and changes and convicts in those moments, but it might take some time.   Ed Uszynski: (46:02 - 47:47) Tom Bilyeu So that's how you push back, Laura. You were asking that. How do we push back without being just completely involved in it or going for the same ride that everybody else is going for?   There's just little moments like that scattered throughout. Literally, every day that my kids are involved in youth sports, the car ride over, what happens on the way home, how we talk about it, what happens during the game and what we wind up talking about out of that, the side conversations that happen that just get brought up apart from games of how we interact with people and so-and-so looks like they're struggling. What do you know about that?   That's how we push back, that in our corner of the bleachers, oh, how we interact with other parents. We haven't even talked about that yet, that I can take an interest in more than just my own kid in the bleachers and spend way more energy actually in cheering for other kids and just trying to give them confidence and spend way less time trying to direct that at my own child who knows that I'm there. In fact, my side kid has said he doesn't want to hear my voice during the game.   It distracts him. He's like, I'd much rather that you cheer for other people. It's like, okay.   Having questions ready for other parents during timeouts and as you sit there for hours together, what do you talk about? Well, I could be the one that actually initiates substantive conversations over time with them and asks them about what's going on in different parts of their life. And in having done that, people want to talk.   They want a safe place actually to share what's going on in their So let me be the sports minister. Let me take on that identity and actually care about other people.   Laura Dugger: (47:49 - 49:47) I love that. Even that practical idea of just coming to each game, maybe with a different question, ready to open up those conversations. And I'll share a quick story as well.   Our two oldest daughters recently just gave cheerleading a try at a local Christian school that allows homeschool kids to participate. And this is an overt way that somebody chooses the different way. So, it's the coach of the basketball team.   His name is Cole. And at the end of every game, we saw him consistently throughout this season when it was a home game, whether their team won or lost, he would ask them, okay, shut off the scoreboard. It's all blank.   He gathers both teams. As soon as the game is over teams, cheerleaders, the stands stay filled with all the parents. And he says, this is not our identity.   The world and Satan, our enemy, who's very real. He wants us to put our identity here, but it's not here. You made us better tonight by the way that you played and you were able to shine Jesus.   And we're going to go a step further and we're going to do what we call attaways. So, he's like, all right, boys, you open it up. And his team is trained.   They say to the other team, Hey, number 23, what's your name? I loved how you pushed me so much harder tonight and says, my name's Ben. And so, their Attaway is, Hey, Ben.   And everybody goes, Hey, Ben. Yeah, Ben. Yeah, Ben Attaway.   And everybody just erupts in clapping. And the other team is always blown away and they are just grinning, whether they just lost. So, the boys go through that for a while and then they open it up to the other team and they start sharing Attaways.   And then they open it up to the crowd and the parents are able to say, I see the way you modeled Jesus by being selfless with the ball or whatever it is. So, Cole said that his college coach did that many years ago and he's passed that on. And I love that's one way to redeem the game.   Ed Uszynski: (49:47 - 51:39) Wow. Beautiful. Beautiful.   Yeah. That's amazing. And, you know, I, so Brian and I talk about this too.   And I coached at a Christian school. So, we, we think that it's really important if you're going to play sports and you're going to be a Christian coach that you actually take the game seriously. And that we actually are here to compete and we are here to try to win.   There's nothing wrong with that. And we're going to pursue excellence when we show up with our bodies, and we train for this sport and we're going to try to win. Cause I think sometimes we end up kind of going all or nothing, especially within our Christian circles.   We're uncomfortable with that. And it's like, yes, do that. And on the backside of that to do what that coach did is amazing.   It's that, that is, that is exactly what we're saying. We're also going to try to form our souls in the midst of this. We're going to try to win on the scoreboard.   Okay. The game's over, we lost, we won, whatever. There's more going on here than just that. And can we access that together? And again, that's so rare. Probably everybody listening has never even heard of anything like what you just said.   It would be amazing if a bunch of people did, but that's what we're saying. Let's do more of that. Let's find ways to have more of those conversations in our sphere of influence.   Maybe we're not the coach, but we can do that in our car. We can do that when we're at dinners with the other, with other players and other team, you know, we, we can do that. We can take that kind of initiative.   If we have those categories in our mind, instead of just being frustrated that my kid didn't get to play as much tonight. And I'm that bugs me. It's like, okay, it can bug you.   And now I gotta, I gotta be a big boy and get more out of this than just being frustrated that he or she didn't get to play as much. It's hard.   Laura Dugger: (51:40 - 52:11) Absolutely. Well, and like you guys are doing having Bible studies outside of the, the team that you can instill values in that way and share scripture that they're memorizing to go out there with excellence for the Lord. So, I love all of that.   And I've got just a few quick questions, just kind of for perspective. I want to draw out something from the book. Is it true that young athletic success predicts adult athletic success?   Brian Smith: (52:13 - 53:51) It is not true. This is, this is not a hot take. This is researched back more and more research they're doing on this.   And they're finding that there's not a direct correlation between a young elite athlete and them continuing that up into the right trajectory and being an elite athlete later in life in large part, because when puberty hits, like everything is a game changer. So, this is, I found this fascinating and this is probably going to be new to you too. This just came out today.   At the time we're doing this podcast, the winter Olympics is going on in Norway. It's just like, they're killing it. Nor Norway's youth sports system.   This is wild. They give participation trophies for all the kids. They don't keep score until 13 years old.   They don't do any national travel competitions, no posting youth sports results online. So, there's no online presence of youth sport results. And their country motto is joy of sport for all.   And they're, they're killing it right now in the Olympics. So, like, that's not to say, like you got to follow their model and then you're going to win all these gold medals, but it is, there is something to just let the kids have fun. And the longer they play sport, because it's fun, the better opportunity you're actually going to have to see them blossom and develop some of these God-given gifts that they might have.   Don't expect it to come out before they're 13. Even if it does, there's no guarantee that it's going to continue on until they're 23. Just let them have fun.   Ed Uszynski: (53:52 - 55:55) Brian, we, Brian and I got to speak at a church the other day about this topic. And there was a couple that came up afterwards and they asked the question of what, so when do you think we should let our kids play organized sports or structured sports? And so again, Brian and I are careful.   Like I, there's no, there's no one size fits all answer to that. We would suggest as late as possible, wait as long as possible. Because once you start doing structured sport where there's a coach and you have to be at practices and the games are structured and there's reps, it just cuts away all the possibility they have to just play and just to go up to the YMCA and just play for three hours at whatever it is that they like to do.   And they said, well, it's encouraging to hear that they said, because we, we actually are way more into just developing their bodies physically. And so, we do dance with them, and we do rock climbing and they were kind of outdoorsy people, and they just started listing off all these things they do because we want them to become strong in their bodies, and learn to love activity like that. And I just thought, again, that's, that probably would cause a lot of people to freak out to hear that, that they have eight, nine-year-olds that aren't on teams yet.   They're just, they're training their bodies to appreciate physicality and to become coordinated and to, you know, to get better at movement. And it's like, what sport is that not going to be super helpful in five years from now, even when they're 12, 13 years old. And now they really do want to play one sport, and they do want to be on a team.   They're going to be way ahead of the kids actually that just sat on benches or stood in the outfield, you know, day after day after day at practices. Again, that's maybe hard to hear, but maybe there's some adjustments that need to be made again; to give ourselves permission to say, we don't have to get on that train right now. You don't have to, your kid's not going to be behind.   They actually could be ahead. If you do the kinds of things we just talked about.   Laura Dugger: (55:56 - 56:11) I love that. And even that example with what it looks like played out with Norway and also, do you have any other quick tips just for instilling and cultivating a heart of gratitude and youth sports rather than entitlement?   Brian Smith: (56:13 - 57:33) I'm a high school cross country and track coach, and I have kids on my team who want to get faster at running, but instead of running, they want to lift weights and they want to do plier metrics. So, there's, yes, there's a spot for that. But the way you get better at running is to run.   You got to run more miles and more miles. And I think gratitude is similar. That gratitude, part of it is a, it's a feeling, but it's also a muscle that we can flex even if we don't feel it.   And so, I would encourage parents who are trying to instill gratitude into their kids to give them practical things like, hey, after practice, just go shake your coach's hand or give them a fist bump and tell them, thanks for practice today, coach. That that's a disciplined way to practice gratitude that will hopefully build the muscle where they're, they're using it later in life. After a game, I taught my kids this when they were young and they still do it today.   Go shake a ref's hand. I mentioned this earlier, just a really, really practical way to show thankfulness and gratitude to somebody who really doesn't get a whole lot of gratitude pointed at them during a game or after a game. If anything, they have people chasing them through the parking lot for other reasons.   I want my kids to be chasing them down to give them a fist bump or a high five. And so, gratitude is something that we can just practice practically. And hopefully the discipline practice will lead to a delight and actually doing it.   Ed Uszynski: (57:34 - 59:39) And how do we cultivate an inner posture? Cause I tend to be a cup half empty type person. I'm a, I'm a whiner by nature and a continuous improvement.   There's always something wrong. And I'm, it's easy for me to find those things just as a person. I'm not even saying that as a dad or a coach or anything.   And it's been super helpful to me in the last decade, even to just like, I can choose to shift that. There, there is, there's a list of things that are broke, but there is always a list of things that are good. There's always something good here to be found.   And even as I've tried to like, again, tip the scales more in that direction, I can keep pushing that out of my kids. So, so this, you know, my ninth-grade son tends to just like, he doesn't like a whole bunch of what's going on in basketball right now. So, I keep asking him if he's having fun.   He says, no, like, why not? Or like, who did, why did you not have fun today? So, it's just the same thing every day.   I'm like, okay, who did you enjoy even being with today? Nobody. And I'm like, dude, I don't believe that actually.   I just, I don't believe that. There was somebody that you had some moment with today that you enjoyed, or you wouldn't want to keep going back up there because, and he does. So, give me a name.   Okay. Lenny. What happened with Lenny that was fun? And I make him name it. Like I'm, I'm, I'm trying to coach him through it. And sure enough, he does have some sentences of what was fun today.   And it's like, good, let's, let's at least hold onto that in the midst of all the other stuff that's not right. Let's choose to see the thing that was good and that you enjoyed and that we could be thankful for. Not everybody got to have that today.   Again, I have to have my, I have to be the parent. I have to be the discipler. I have to be in, you know, in charge of my own soul that wants to be negative all the time and say, nope, we're going to, we're going to choose gratitude today because the Bible tells us to do that.   There's something about that posture that opens the door for the gospel to be expressed through us. So, let's practice.   Laura Dugger: (59:40 - 59:50) Well said, and there's so much we could continue learning from both of you. Where can we go after this chat to learn more from each one of you?   Brian Smith: (59:52 - 1:00:14) Yeah, we do a lot of our writing online at thechristianathlete.com. And so, if you go there, you can see articles that are specifically written for parents, for coaches, for athletes, all around this idea of what does it look like to integrate faith and sport together? So, the

Most of us say we want more patience and we want it now. But suffering a bit while waiting in line or for a text response from a friend is good for you says Dr Sarah Schnitker. She's a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, where she directs the Science of Virtues Lab. Dr Schnitker says our penchant for speed and ease is undermining important attributes like persistence. Her research shows that people with patience are healthier and often happier. Dr. Schnitker invites us to tolerate, even embrace the everyday frustrations of waiting at work and at home.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with James Sherr, an honorary fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security; and Serhiy Kudelia, a professor of political science at Baylor University and author of the recently published book, "Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine."

This is episode 815. Read the complee transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. This is an Office Hours – Sales Professors Unplugged sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, we interviewed Dr. Andrea Dixon, Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Baylor University. Find Dr. Dixon on LinkedIn.  DR. DIXON'S TIP: "We can't just be preparing students for an initial role. We have to prepare students for their career and for life."

Post Malone Biography Flash a weekly Biography.Hey darlings, its your favorite AI gossip whirlwind Roxie Rush here for Biography Flash on Post Malone, and being AI means I scour the web faster than you can say sold-out stadium, delivering the freshest scoops without missing a beat. Posty is on fire this week, stacking massive tour announcements that scream superstar comeback energy.MLB dot com just dropped that Post Malone and Jelly Roll are teaming up for The BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part Two, hitting Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on July 15th with Carter Faith opening, tickets on sale February 10th after presales kicked off this week. Baylor University news confirms the same juggernaut tour swinging through McLane Stadium, while Cleveland Browns site hyped the February 2nd launch of this monster run that already pulled over a million fans and 170 million bucks last time. CTV News exploded yesterday, February 10th, with Post adding a second Edmonton show at Commonwealth Stadium, now Friday and Saturday, July 24th and 25th, because Alberta cant get enough of that tattooed Texas charm.Summerfest dot com announced their 2026 Milwaukee blowout, slotting Post Malone with Carter Faith at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater amid Garth Brooks, Ed Sheeran, and Jelly Roll dominating the June-July weekends. Music Row corroborated the fest lineup, cementing Posts summer dominance. Fans are buzzing on Central Texas College dot com about his caught-on-camera weight-loss glow-up, with Posty gushing onstage, Im just happier up here, replaying that 2026 transformation era like its the new chapter in his bio.No fresh 24-hour headlines popping yet, but these tour bombs could redefine his live legacy long-term. Whew, Roxys breathless keeping up.Thanks for tuning in, lovesubscribe to never miss an update on Post Malone, and search Biography Flash for more great biographies. Muah.And that is it for today. Make sure you hit the subscribe button and never miss an update on Post Malone. Thanks for listening. This has been a Quiet Please production."Get the best deals https://amzn.to/42YoQGIThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson is joined by Wayne “Coach” Gordon to reflect on the history of CCDA and the CCD Philosophy. Coach shares his story and how he got involved in CCDA, the history of the CCD Philosophy, and how he's seeing God move in his neighborhood in North Lawndale.Wayne Gordon is a graduate of Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1975 Wayne moved to North Lawndale, located on Chicago's Westside. At that time, North Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the U.S. He was a teacher and coach at Farragut High School, also located in North Lawndale. Wayne and his wife Anne have raised their three adult children: Angela, a graduate of Taylor University, Married to Nate George, lives in Chicago and is a school teacher; Andrew a graduate of Baylor University and a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade, married to Stacy, and Austin graduate of Azusa Pacific University, living and working in New York City. Wayne and Anne, along with some local high school students, founded the Lawndale Community Church. Today, LCC has over 1000 worshipping families and Wayne continues as Pastor Emeritus.Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson serves as the CEO/President for the Christian Community Development Association, headquartered in Chicago, IL. He is an experienced community development professional; a leader, teacher, and scholar who has long centered his work at the intersections of wholeness, education, and Biblical justice.Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org. Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Send a textJoin your host Clifton Pope as he is joined by UFC/MMA Fighter Hailey Cowan as we dive into a multitude of topics in the MMA world, fitness world, and sprinkle in some faith based discussions as well in a episode you don't want to miss!We start off by discussing Hailey's college days at Baylor University where she was a two time All-American athlete plus 10 years of experience as a gymnast where calisthenics was a big factor in her training!We dive into her experiences as a MMA Fighter and what she has learned from each win and loss in her career along with her philosophy in the fitness space as a online personal trainer!We break down how Hailey incorporates her faith into her training and competition routine thanks to the importance of scripture Matthew 6:33(Holy Bible)Also, don't miss Hailey's key pieces of advice to aspiring young athletes looking to pursue multiple sports!Visit allhailhaileycowan.com and follow Hailey Cowan on Instagram @allhailmma as she is preparing for her next UFC fight April 4th, 2026 live in Las Vegas!Subscribe to the show on Apple/Spotify Podcasts/Rumble so you don't miss a single episode of the show!Join the HFWB community and support the show with your choice of 3 exclusive-filled tiers at https://buymeacoffee.com/cphfwbIf you love the show, please leave a rating/review so more people can tune in!Thank you for the love and support!Support the showhttps://athleticism.com/HEALTHFWEALTHB https://coolgreenclothing.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESS https://normotim.com/HEALTHFIT https://www.portablemeshnebulizer.com/pages/collab?dt_id=2573900official affiliates of the HFWB Podcast Series Please support the mission behind each product/services as it helps grow the HFWB Podcast Series to where the show can continue to roll along!

Some conversations quietly shift how you see your own life. This one did that for me. Sitting with Dr. Allison Alford felt like naming something I have lived for years but never quite had words for. The constant tending, the emotional awareness, the invisible effort that keeps families moving forward.In this episode, we talk about daughtering. Not as a duty or burden, but as an active, meaningful role that many women step into across their entire lives. Dr. Allison shares how daughtering shows up through emotional labor, planning, problem-solving, and staying connected, often without recognition or rest. We explore why burnout happens, how inherited family scripts shape us, and how choosing awareness can turn exhaustion into intentional connection.Dr. Allison Alford is a communication scholar, speaker, clinical associate professor at Baylor University, and the author of *Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, The Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough*. This conversation reflects the heart of adventure as it lives inside relationships, family systems, and the courage it takes to stay present in the now while honoring who you are becomingReflections and takeawaysDaughtering is a lifelong role that deserves language and respectBurnout often comes from unseen effort, not lack of loveGood enough can be grounding, not a failureFamily can be one of our most meaningful inner adventuresLinks and resourcesGood Daughtering BookWebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebookLinkedInI've also launched a new podcast called Year Of The Horse Adventure Coach. You can listen here: Apple PSend a text Support the show✨ Join My TEDx Spokane Journey! Get early updates, BTS moments, and reflections as I prep for TEDx Spokane.

Join us today as we speak with, Dr. Stephen Presley, and discuss his new book, Biblical Theology in the Life of the Early Church. Dr. Presley is an Associate Professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and previously served as the Director of Research Doctoral Studies at the seminary. His teaching and research specialize in early Christian studies, focusing on the development of theology and practice in the life of the early church.He also serves as the Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy (CRCD), an initiative of the First Liberty Institute in Plano, TX. Dr. Presley holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.His teaching, writing, and speaking center on patristics, Christian cultural engagement, and related topics. Drawing from the rich heritage of historical theology, he equips contemporary Christian leaders to re-envision ministry for today's cultural context.

Send a textREPRISE - Ken welcomes pastor, historian, and special advisor to the President at Baylor University, Dr. Malcolm Foley. Just this month, his new book - The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward - has just been released. Dr. Foley shares something of his faith and spiritual journey. As an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, he majored in Finance and the Classics. After earning an M. Div. at Yale Divinity School, he completed his Ph.D. at Baylor. His dissertation focussed on the history of lynching in America, and the responses of African American Protestants to the horror of it all. Ken and Malcolm unpack the thesis of his new book: that racism is rooted in greed. They talk about his concept of racialized capitalism, the dominance of white supremacy, the witness of the “Church Fathers” and the biblical passages that deal with greed and wealth. In the 1987 movie Wall Street, Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas) declares, “Greed is good!” Dr. Foley disagrees. He takes a deep dive into the reality of lynching and the use of violence and terror to subjugate black folks. It's a hard look at history. They talk about Malcolm's heroes in the movement: Martin Luther King, Malcolm X (for whom he was named), and Ida B. Wells among many others. Toward the end of their lively conversation, Ken asks Dr. Foley about the current weaponization of phrases like DEI, Woke, and CRT which do not appear in the book. Don't miss Malcolm's response. SHOW NOTES (see links to the book and more about Dr. Foley)Support the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

We talk a lot about parenting. But we don't talk nearly enough about being a daughter. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Allison Alford — communication scholar, professor at Baylor University, and author of Good Daughtering — to unpack the hidden emotional labor adult daughters carry inside their families. We explore the invisible work, the guilt, the pressure to be "enough," and how daughters can set boundaries without walking away from the people they love. This isn't about cutting family off. It's about understanding your role, recalibrating it, and finding pride instead of burnout. If you've ever felt like you're doing a lot… but it's never quite enough — this one will hit. What We Cover What "daughtering" actually means (and why it's invisible) The "specter of expectation" and where guilt really comes from The difference between healthy families and the "messy middle" Why boundaries aren't magic — they're strategy How to shift your role even if no one else in your family changes Why being a daughter can be a noble pursuit — not just a burden What changes when daughters finally see the system clearly Chapters 00:00 – Intro + Texas roots & communication background 01:00 – "Not by magic": boundaries during the holidays 02:00 – Why she wrote Good Daughtering (research → real-world tools) 06:45 – Growing up with a therapist mom + learning to "talk about talking" 12:00 – Emotions A–Z vs A–F (communication differences in relationships) 16:00 – Generational healing, enmeshment & the "messy middle" family 20:00 – What "daughtering" actually means (visible + invisible labor) 23:30 – The guilt, pressure & the "specter of expectation" 26:00 – Where to begin: notice → calibrate → communicate 29:00 – When family won't change: boundaries + internal work 36:00 – Realizing the invisible labor in her own life 42:00 – Daughters as an untapped community 46:00 – Is daughtering a noble pursuit? 49:00 – What's inside the book (tools, scripts, boundary setting) 53:00 – What changes if daughters "see the Matrix"? + Release date About Dr. Allison Alford Dr. Allison Alford is a communication scholar and Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor University. Her research focuses on family communication, identity, and the overlooked emotional labor of adult daughters.

Christopher Richmann teaches religion and is assistant director for teaching and learning with the Academy for Teaching and Learning at Baylor University. An ordained ELCA pastor, Christopher serves St. John Lutheran Church in Gatesville, TX. He joins Kelsi to discuss his new book with 1517 Publishing, Stretched: A Study Guide for Lent and the Entire Christian Life.Lent often conjures images of self-denial and fasting, leaving many Christians confused about its true significance. Kelsi and Christopher delve into the historical and biblical roots of Lent, shedding light on its importance for the everyday Christian. Show Notes: 1517's Faith and Reason ConferenceSupport 15171517 PodcastsThe 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts1517 on YouTubeKelsi KlembaraFollow Kelsi on InstagramFollow Kelsi on TwitterKelsi's SubstackSubscribe to the Show:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYoutubeMore from Christopher: Order StretchedRead Christopher's Articles at 1517

Today our guest is Kevin Dougherty, professor of sociology and associate vice provost for faculty honorifics at Baylor University. Kevin is an award-winning teacher and prolific researcher. His scholarship focuses on religious affiliation, religious participation, racial diversity in congregations, congregational growth and decline, and the impact of religion on other realms of social life such as community involvement, politics, and work. Since 2022, Kevin has served as Chair for The Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. An engaging instructor who teaches large lecture sections all the way through graduate seminars, Kevin has won several teaching awards—many several times, such as the graduate student teaching award while he was studying at Purdue, the Baylor Athletics Outstanding Professor Award, and the Outstanding Professor Award for distinctive teaching at Baylor. In 2011, Kevin was a Baylor teaching fellow, and in 2025, he received the Core Curriculum virtues award. And the icing on the cake, also in 2025, Kevin was named Master Teacher, Baylor's highest honor for teaching. We are delighted to have Dr. Dougherty on the show to discuss engaging students in large classes, the moral and spiritual development of college students, and how to identify “Great Teaching” in others.

Guest Full Name: Dr. R. Stacy Lindborg, PhDGuest Title: President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board DirectorCompany: IMUNONTicker: IMNNWebsite: https://imunon.com/Guest Bio:Stacy R. Lindborg, PhD, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of IMUNON in May 2024. Dr. Lindborg has served on IMUNON's Board of Directors since June 2021. She has nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with a particular focus on R&D, regulatory affairs, executive management, and strategy development. She has designed, hired, and led global teams, guiding long-term visions for growth through analytics and stimulating innovative development platforms to increase productivity.Prior to joining IMUNON, Dr. Lindborg was Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Executive Officer at BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, where she remains a member of the company's Board of Directors. At BrainStorm, she was accountable for creating and executing clinical development strategies through registration and launch and progressed its novel cell therapy for ALS through a positive Phase 3 Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) study with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She frequently interacted with investors and analysts, represented the company in the scientific community and with the media, and played an active role in discussions with potential business partners.Dr. Lindborg previously was Vice President and Head of Global Analytics and Data Sciences, responsible for R&D and marketed products at Biogen. She began her biopharmaceutical career at Eli Lilly and Company, where, over the course of 16 years, she assumed positions of increasing responsibility, including Head of R&D strategy.Dr. Lindborg received an MA and PhD in statistics, and a BA in psychology and math from Baylor University. She has authored more than 200 presentations and 90 manuscripts that have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including 20 first-authored. She has held numerous positions within the International Biometric Society and American Statistical Association and was elected Fellow in 2008.Company Bio:IMUNON is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments that harness the body's natural mechanisms to generate safe, effective, and durable responses across a broad array of diseases. IMUNON is developing its non-viral DNA technology across its modalities. The first modality, TheraPlas®, is developed for the gene-based delivery of cytokines and other therapeutic proteins in the treatment of solid tumors where an immunological approach is deemed promising. The second modality, PlaCCine®, is developed for the gene delivery of viral antigens that can elicit a strong immunological response.IMUNON's lead clinical program, IMNN-001, is a DNA-based immunotherapy for the localized treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. IMNN-001 is the first therapy to achieve a clinically effective response in advanced (stage IIIC/IV) ovarian cancer including benefits in both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a first-line treatment setting when used with standard of care chemotherapy. IMUNON has completed multiple clinical trials evaluating the potential of IMNN-001, including one Phase 2 clinical trial (OVATION 2), and is currently conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial (OVATION 3). The first patient was dosed in the Phase 3 study in the third quarter of 2025. IMNN-001 works by instructing the body to produce safe and durable levels of powerful cancer-fighting molecules, such as IL-12 and interferon gamma, at the tumor site. Additionally, the Company has completed dosing in a first-in-human study of its COVID-19 booster vaccine (IMNN-101).

Finding our place - our home and our place in the world - is profound. Listen in as Matt who's fostered and adopted shares his learnings on self worth, relationships and much more...deep and highly empowering.Matt Waller, MS is the Director of Community Impact for One Accord for Kids. Matt and his wife, Jen, founded The Attic Foster Network, a Permian Basin based nonprofit that serves children and families of the local foster system and invites churches to do the same. Matt moved to Midland, with his family, to teach for Midland Classical Academy. Prior to that, Matt worked in Christian Camping. His emerging career in child welfare is a direct result of the West Texas grassroots movement to see the local community care for local foster children. Matt earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University. He holds a graduate degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Walden University.https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-waller-aa2b6819/https://oneaccordtx.org/https://www.facebook.com/oneaccordtx/https://www.instagram.com/oneaccordtx/https://x.com/oneaccordtx/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Gary Carini is Vice Provost for AI and Institutional Research and a professor of entrepreneurship and corporate innovation at Baylor University. Gary and I have a conversation as we prepare to host a group of educational innovators and thinkers at Baylor University to talk about AI and the Future of Learning.

In this episode, Candice sits down with Dr. Allison Alford, communication expert, professor at Baylor University, and author of Good Daughtering. Allison shares how her research and personal experience led her to uncover the invisible labor adult daughters carry in families and why so many women struggle to feel like they are doing enough. In this episode, they discuss:What “daughtering” really means and why it often goes unseenHow invisible emotional labor impacts adult daughtersWhy most mother-daughter relationships live in the messy middleThe difference between guilt, obligation, and healthy connectionHow daughters can create change without waiting for parents to transformWhy “good enough” is a healthier goal than perfectionHow talking about daughtering can shift family dynamics and self-worth No matter where you fall on the daughtering spectrum, this conversation will leave you feeling more empowered, more understood, and more than enough exactly as you are. About Dr. Allison Alford:Dr. Allison Alford is a communication expert, author, and speaker who specializes in uncovering the invisible labor women do in families and society—especially the often-overlooked role of adult daughters. With a PhD in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and nearly two decades of teaching experience, Allison brings both deep research and real-world perspective to conversations about identity, relationships, and the work women do behind the scenes. She's the author of Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough. Book: Good Daughtering, out Feb 17, 2026https://www.harpercollins.com/products/good-daughtering-allison-m-alford-phd Website: https://daughtering101.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daughtering101TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daughtering101Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Daughtering101-61564467700155/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/daughtering101LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104465580Substack: https://daughtering101.substack.com/ -----Connect with Candice Snyder!Website: https://www.podpage.com/passion-purpose-and-possibilities-1/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candicebsnyder?_rdrPassion, Purpose, and Possibilities Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passionpurposeandpossibilitiescommunity/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionpurposepossibilities/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicesnyder/Shop For A Cause With Gifts That Give Back to Nonprofits: https://thekindnesscause.com/Fall In Love With Artists And Experience Joy And Calm: https://www.youtube.com/@movenartrelaxation

This episode of the Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by The Colburn LA Brass Institute.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Sasha Romero, principal trombone of the MET in New York. About Sasha: Sasha Romero was appointed principal trombone of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2018. Prior to her appointment at The MET, she held the position of principal trombone with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2018. Hailing from Longview, Texas, Sasha grew up within the acclaimed and robust Texas band system and achieved great musical success at a young age. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Music degree at Baylor University, where she studied with Brent Phillips; and her Master of Music degree at Rice University, studying with Allen Barnhill. In addition to a lengthy list of national and international solo and chamber music competition wins to her name, Sasha is honored to have been a semi-finalist in the first Brass Division of the 2019 XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sasha is a passionate educator, and currently serves on the trombone faculties at Rutgers University, Mannes School of Music, and Bard College Conservatory of Music. A highly sought-after teacher, soloist, and clinician, she has presented solo recitals and masterclasses at numerous colleges, universities, music conservatories, and industry conventions across the United States. When she is not at The MET, teaching, or screaming into the night at the shortcomings of NYC's public transportation system (looking at you, weekend subway service), Sasha is occasionally invited to perform as a guest trombonist with the world's major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and others. She can be heard on Weezer's OK Human album, as well as the film soundtracks to The Good Liar (2019) and Joker (2019). Sasha currently makes her home in New York City, where she spends an embarrassing amount of time catering to the demands of her absurdly adorable cats and searching endlessly for decent Mexican food. Sasha Romero is an S.E. Shires Performing Artist and she has a signature mouthpiece line with Long Island Brass Co.

In this episode, Kyle breaks down how A.W.F.U.L. women are trying to destroy the United States of America. Also, in the Quick Hitters segment, he discusses the killing of Alex Pretti, so-called “journalist” Don Lemon being arrested and indicted for assisting church protestors in Minnesota, the lawsuit alleging that the Christian camp Kanakuk covered up the sexual abuse of children for decades, support for gay people dropping in the US, the Left's wannabe Joe Rogan (Jennifer Welch) saying that “White Evangelical Christianity is a cancer”, the UK aborting itself to death, the NIH announcing it will no longer use tissue from aborted babies for research, the continued spiral of Baylor University away from Christianity, the latest moronic comments from Shane Claiborne, a grizzly murder just a few miles from his house, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our intention on the Stories of Impact Podcast, whether flora, fauna, homo sapiens, or otherwise, the variety of subjects we've featured across 120+ episodes has underscored our commitment to people's progress and well-being. (It's certainly enriched our wellbeing to tell each story!) But is well-being the same as flourishing, or does one lead to the other? How do we know what flourishing is? What do people actually need to flourish? Times are tough; IS anyone actually flourishing? To answer those questions, we're turning today to two international researchers who are leading a ground-breaking study on human flourishing: Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, John L. Loeb and Francis Lehman Loeb professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Dr. Byron Johnson, director of The Institute for Studies of Religion and a distinguished professor of the social sciences at Baylor University. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation

Judith L. Bishop is Associate Professor of History and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and the Alice Andrews Quigley Chair in Women's Studies at Mills College at Northeastern University. She earned her BA from Baylor University, MA from Vanderbilt University, and her PhD from the Graduate Theological Union. Her research interests include: women in world religions; theoretical approaches to gender, body, and sexuality; and religion in public discourse. Visit Sacred Writes: https://www.sacred-writes.org/2025-carpenter-cohorts-august  

Guests: Allen C. Guelzo & Michael P. Foley Host Scot Bertram talks with Allen C. Guelzo, professor of humanities at the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida, about the unique character of western civilization and his co-authored two-part book series The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition. And Michael P. Foley, mixologist and professor of Patristics in the Great Texts Program at Baylor University, discusses his collection of alcohol-free cocktails based on the lives of Catholic saints: Abstaining with the Saints: No and Low Alcoholic Beverages for Sober Souls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann talks with Terry W. York, Professor of Christian Ministry and Church Music Baylor University, about his book Kurt Kaiser: Icon and Conscience of Contemporary Christian Music. Then she sits down with with Stephen Newby, professor of Music, Inaugural Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship and Ambassador for The Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University, and Robert Darden, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media at Baylor University, Authors of the book Soon and Very Soon: The Transformative Music and Ministry of Andraé Crouch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Soil Sisters Podcast, meet Dr. Ben Edwards, founder and CEO of Veritas Medical and Veritas Wellness in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Edwards shares his path from conventional family medicine to a holistic, root-cause resolution approach to health and wellness. He discusses his transformation following a divine intervention that guided him to realize the flaws in conventional chronic disease management. The conversation explores real patient experiences and the importance of nutrition, hydration, movement, and peace—The four pillars taught at Veritas Wellness. Dr. Ben also explains in practical terms the role of the gut microbiome and mitochondrial health in foundational wellbeing. You'll gain insights into the power of mindset, the significant impact of epigenetics, and the interconnectedness of soil health and human health. Tune in to learn how you're the cure you've been looking for.MEET OUR GUEST: Dr. Ben Edwards has over 20+ years in the medical field. He is the founder and CEO of Veritas Medical and Veritas Wellness in Lubbock, TX. And he also hosts the "You're The Cure" Podcast (Top 75 Functional Health Podcast), where he educates people on getting to the root cause of disease, and teaching them how to NOT NEED a Doctor!Raised in Belton, TX, Dr. Edwards holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He completed his residency at Waco's McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation before moving to West Texas in 2005 with his wife Jamie where Dr. Edwards was the only doctor in the county at the Garza County Health Clinic. After 7 years of practicing conventional medicine, a divine appointment opened his eyes to root cause resolution medicine.TIME STAMPS:00:00 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast00:43 Introducing Dr. Ben Edwards00:52 Dr. Ben's Medical Journey04:17 A Divine Appointment  08:39 Challenging Conventional Medicine09:18 A Nurse Practitioner's Transformation14:39 The Power of Alternative Medicine27:10 Personal Testimonies and Success Stories31:01 Integrative Approaches to Cancer Treatment33:23 Transitioning to Root Cause Resolution37:14 A New Beginning: Starting Veritas Medical38:59 Overcoming Challenges: Building the Practice40:41 The Insurance Dilemma: Breaking Free from The System41:34 The Power of Mitochondria and Microbiome42:47 Launching Veritas Wellness: Health Coaching Revolution44:25 The Four Pillars of Wellness59:54 Epigenetics: Taking Control of Your Health01:09:43 Healthy Soil, Healthy Gut01:12:48 Conclusion: Empowering Health and Wellness

Whether you're single or married, young or old, finding and keeping meaningful and genuine personal relationships is what we all desire.In our digital age, relationship building is not easy. Young people are finding people to date on apps, and they are communicating with friends on social media. No matter whether you're married or single, we all need to understand how to have healthy relationships.College chaplain Erin Moniz is deeply attuned to the questions and concerns of today's emerging adults. In her new book, Knowing and Being Known: Hope for All Our Intimate Relationships (IVP, 2025), she explores the essential elements of healthy relationships, addresses the complexities of intimacy, and shines a light on the barriers that can impede genuine connection.What we discuss in this episode:* The secular culture says that the two key benchmarks of full adulthood are (1) Autonomy, and (2) Sexual Activity. * But the sad truth is that this hypersexuality and romance idolatry has seeped into the church. We still see adulthood in these categories, though they're framed slightly differently.* We begin to reimagine a theology that emphasizes the importance of intimacy in all our relationships (with God and with our fellow humans).* The Fall introduced shame into our relationships. Shame is destructive and is not the same as guilt or conviction. * Erin explains how vulnerability is the currency of intimacy.* While marriage and family remain important, the church and other ministries need to focus on what true friendship is and how to develop friends. Scroll down to learn more about Erin Moniz.Thanks for listening!If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your friends!Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney. For further resources on reintegrating all of life with God's mission, go to re-integrate.org.Rev. Erin F. MonizRev. Erin F. Moniz (DMin, Trinity School for Ministry) is a deacon in the Anglican Church in North America and Associate Chaplain and Director for Chapel at Baylor University, where she disciples emerging adults and journeys with them toward healthy, gospel-centered relationships.Support independent booksellers! We recommend purchasing Erin's book from Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. They are eager to serve God's people with great books. Order online through their secure server or call 717-246-3333. Ask for 20% OFF by mentioning that you heard about these books on the Reintegrate Podcast! Get full access to Bob Robinson's Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe

For more information on the Franklin, TN chapter of the New Canaan Society, go here: https://newcanaansociety.org/franklin/ L. Gregory Jones (he goes by Greg) is currently the President of Belmont University, with the vision to be "the leading Christ-centered university in the world, radically championing the pursuit of life abundant for all people." He's overseen a lot of growth there and continues to strengthen the University's role in creating positive change both locally and globally. He has a long track record of leadership at both Baylor University and Duke University, including serving as the Dean of Duke Divinity School. He's also authored a number of books on Christian living and theology.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the findings of a recent study from Baylor University reflecting an increased interest in magical thinking - acceptance of the world of the supernatural - even among people who do not hold to traditional religious beliefs. This was actually something that Dr. White forecasted in his book Meet Generation Z, noting the impacts on Gen Z being raised by parents who were increasingly spiritual (interested in things related to the spiritual realm), but not religious. Episode Links At the beginning of the discussion, Dr. White made reference to the writings of Pitirim A. Sorokin, and particularly his lengthy four-volume work Social and Cultural Dynamics. As mentioned above, we live in a world where people are more likely to consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. Dr. White delivered a message series at Mecklenburg Community Church to help people have a better understanding of our world and the spiritual realm. You can find the installments of the series “Paranormal” HERE. For a deeper dive into other topics related to the Christian faith and the world of the supernatural, we'd encourage you to check out these past podcast episodes as well. The links below will take you to the podcast episode on the Church & Culture website, but you can also find them by name on the C&C Podcast YouTube channel or on your favorite podcasting platform: CCP171: On Halloween CCP151: On Spirits and Ghosts CCP107: On Hell CCP58: On Your Horoscope and Starbucks CCP11: On Wicca For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

If you've ever hung up the phone with your parents and felt instantly drained—like you just did a whole emotional shift—you're not imagining it. For so many women, being a daughter isn't just the visits, the calls, or the errands. It's the invisible emotional labor: smoothing things over, managing tension, carrying worry, and trying to make sure everyone feels “okay.” And when you're also raising kids (especially teens), working, and trying to hold yourself together… that daughter role can quietly become another full-time job. In this episode of the No Guilt Mom Podcast, I'm talking with Dr. Allison Alford—communication scholar, professor at Baylor University, and author of Good Daughtering—about why adult daughters carry so much guilt, how burnout builds over time, and how to set boundaries that protect your life without feeling like rejection. Resources Mentioned Pre-order Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hannah Kapitaniuk is a PhD student and Graduate Assistant at Baylor University and is a lead researcher in the Center for School Leadership. Hannah is also a former middle school math teacher in private and public schools. Hannah recently published an article in the International Journal of Wellbeing with Jon Eckert, Lynn Swaner, and Alber Cheng titled School belonging and adult outcomes: Exploring the predictive power of SOBAS and flourishing.

Many listeners have been asking for more alumni interviews, and this episode delivers. Davies Owens sits down with Ashton Lawrence, an Ambrose School graduate who joined the classical Christian world in fifth grade and stayed through graduation. Ashton reflects on the early challenges of adjusting to a more rigorous environment, the slow-burning value of logic and Latin, and the way great teachers helped the pieces “click” over time.As the conversation unfolds, Ashton connects the classroom to real life, from learning to spot fallacies in everyday arguments to building the kind of clear communication and steady conviction that helps a young adult navigate college, friendships, and vocational decisions with maturity. Along the way, he shares how family conversations, meaningful friendships, and hands-on experiences shaped him into someone who can read deeply, think carefully, and also solve real problems in the shop.Tune in to hear:Why Ashton's “late entry” into classical Christian education in fifth grade became a formative turning pointHow Tolkien, Shakespeare, and the great books helped shape his imagination, loves, and view of virtueWhat logic training changed for him immediately, especially in how he listened, argued, and communicatedWhy students sometimes struggle to understand the “why” behind classical education, and what schools can do betterHow a classical foundation helped him thrive socially and spiritually at a large Christian universityWhy the liberal arts and the common arts belong together, and how hands-on problem solving reveals real wisdomAshton's encouragement to parents and school leaders is simple and hopeful: stay the course. Even when students resist or do not fully appreciate the rigor in the moment, the fruit often shows up later, with gratitude, clarity, and strength for the road ahead.Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:The Herzog FoundationThe Champion GroupWisephone by TechlessZipCastWilson Hill Academy Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

In this episode of the Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Deacon Harrison Garlick engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Thomas Ward from Baylor University about Plato's influence on St. Boethius. The conversation begins with an exploration of Boethius's life, particularly his role as a Roman statesman and philosopher during a tumultuous time in history. Dr. Ward highlights St. Boethius's seminal work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," written while he awaited execution, and discusses its impact on medieval thought and the liberal arts tradition. The dialogue emphasizes St. Boethius's unique position as a bridge between Roman and medieval philosophy, often referred to as the last of the Romans and the first of the medievals.Visit thegreatbookspodcast.com for our reading schedule.Want to know more about Plato? Start here with our Plato playlist.And check out Dr. Thomas Ward's website!As the conversation unfolds, the discussion shifts to the Platonic influences on St. Boethius's writings. Dr. Ward explains how Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought, particularly in his understanding of the good and the nature of happiness. The episode delves into the themes of evil as privation, the nature of true happiness, and the philosophical journey from despair to enlightenment that St. Boethius undergoes in his work. The dialogue is rich with references to other philosophical texts, including the works of Plato, and draws parallels between Boethius's ideas and those found in the writings of later thinkers like Dante and Aquinas. Overall, the episode serves as a compelling introduction to Boethius's thought and its enduring relevance in the study of philosophy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Great Books Podcast02:24 Exploring Boethius and His Influence04:16 Who Was Boethius?07:49 Boethius: The Last Roman and First Scholastic10:18 The Liberal Arts and Boethius' Legacy11:36 Teaching Boethius: A Personal Journey14:07 Plato's Influence on Boethius18:50 The Consolation of Philosophy: Setting the Stage24:31 Lady Philosophy: Deconstruction and Reconstruction29:58 The Quest for Self-Knowledge30:51 Fortune and Its Dual Nature31:53 The Good: Bridging Plato and Christianity36:19 Happiness and the Divine Connection40:00 The Paradox of Good and Evil45:11 The Poetic and Philosophical Fusion48:44 Evil as Privation: A Platonic Insight52:08 Boethius: A Synthesis of Philosophical TraditionsTakeawaysBoethius is often called the last of the Romans and the first of the Medievals.His work, "The Consolation of Philosophy," was written while he awaited execution.Boethius synthesized Platonic and Aristotelian thought in his writings.Evil is understood as a privation of good, not a substance in itself.The journey from despair to enlightenment is central to Boethius's philosophy.KeywordsBoethius, Plato, Consolation of Philosophy, medieval philosophy, Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Thomas Ward, liberal arts, happiness, evil as privation, philosophy, Deacon Harrison Garlick, great...

Send us a textIn episode #170 we spoke with researcher Dr. David Church about:The crucial role of muscle protein synthesis in endurance athletesThe role of essential amino acids on muscle growth and recoveryThe impact of sleep deprivation on muscle recovery and performance.Dr. David Church, the Director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine. Dr. Church obtained his bachelor's degree in exercise science and biochemistry from DePauw University where he played football and baseball. He was an athletic performance intern at Baylor University where he studied exercise and nutritional biochemistry. He obtained his PhD from the University of Central Florida with a focus on enhancing human performance through exercise and nutrition and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in stable-isotope tracer methodology under the mentorship of Drs. Robert R. Wolfe and Arny Ferrando. He has led multiple trials investigating energy restriction in healthy and clinical populations including two active trials on individuals prescribed GLP-1RA's. He has been recognized for his work with the Nutrition Research Achievement Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Society, the Vernon Young International Award for Amino Acid Research from the American Society for Nutrition, and a Fellow of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.Follow Dr. Church:InstagramWebMentioned:Dr. Dan MooreDr. Mikkel OxfeldtSleep studies:pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7785053/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6917985/Dr. Shiloah KviatkovskyDr. Keith Barr, NR episode 82, collagenWhey Protein IsolateEssential Amino AcidsDr. Heather LeidyMORE NR Save 10% on our website with code NEWPOD10 Apply to work with us, click here: https://nutritional-revolution.com/ Follow us @nutritionalrevolution Save 20% on supplements at our trusted online source: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/kchannell Join Nutritional Revolution's The Feed Club to get $20 off with an additional $20 Feed credit drop every 90 days.: https://thefeed.com/teams/nutritional-revolution If you're interested in sponsoring Nutritional Revolution Podcast, shoot us an email at nutritionalrev@gmail.com.

Brad Livingstone has spent 35 years teaching history, but what he's really been teaching is how joy is formed. In this episode of JOY over Happiness, Jon Eckert talks with the legendary educator and Baylor University's First Gent about gratitude, presence, and honoring others!From inviting veterans into his classroom to walking campus with his dog BU, Brad shows how joy grows when we choose to see people and honor their stories.JOY over Happiness is brought to you by the Baylor Center for School Leadership.Lean into the struggle. Live with joy. Mentioned:The Book of Philippians (Bible)Unbroken by Laura HillenbrandDevil at My Heels by Louis ZamperiniConnect with us:Center for School Leadership at Baylor UniversityLinkedInBaylor MA in School Leadership

What does it mean to worship faithfully in a digital age when church participation is no longer limited to a physical room? In this episode, Loren is joined by Michael Huerter to talk about hybrid church, online worship, and how technology is reshaping participation in Christian life. Drawing from Michael's experience in worship leadership and digital ministry, the conversation explores how the pandemic accelerated changes already underway and why worship has always involved mediation and technology. Loren and Michael discuss common assumptions about online participation, the pressure placed on worship leaders to produce spiritual experiences, and how hybrid models can expand access without reducing worship to consumption. Rather than treating digital worship as a temporary solution or a threat to embodiment, the episode examines how churches can think more carefully about participation, formation, and accessibility in a hybrid context. Topics include: What “hybrid church” actually means Why worship has always been mediated Assumptions about online participation Pressure on worship leaders to perform Hybrid worship and accessibility This episode is a practical conversation for pastors, worship leaders, and church leaders navigating worship in a digital and hybrid age. Michael Huerter (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor at Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where he leads worship and works to build community and connection. As a lifelong church musician and digital native, he is interested in engaging with and contributing to scholarship that bridges the gap between research and practical ministry.   Mentioned Resources:

The Digital Workout: Why Your Smartphone is a Shield Against DementiaIn this episode of Specifically for Seniors, Dr. Larry Barsh sits down with Dr. Michael Scullin, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, to tackle a common frustration among the "Digital Pioneer" generation: the steep learning curve of modern technology. While many seniors feel tempted to set their smartphones aside out of frustration, Dr. Scullin's research suggests that the "headache" of learning a new app might actually be the most important workout your brain gets all year.The heart of the conversation centers on a massive meta-analysis of over 400,000 adults. The data is hard to ignore: regularly using computers and smartphones is linked to a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment. Dr. Scullin explains that this isn't just about "playing games"; it's about Technological Reserve. Much like "Cognitive Reserve," the effort required to navigate a software update or master a new interface builds neural resilience, helping the brain stay sharper for longer.One of the most enlightening parts of the interview addresses the fear that GPS and digital calendars act as "crutches" that rot our memory. Dr. Scullin reframes these tools as "Digital Scaffolding." By offloading the stress of remembering appointments or navigating new streets to our devices, we free up our cognitive resources for higher-level thinking and social engagement. Using a device to remember a friend's birthday isn't "cheating"—it's ensuring you remain an active, connected member of your community.How to Overcome the Tech BarrierFor those feeling overwhelmed or even facing mild cognitive impairment, Dr. Scullin offers a roadmap for "gentle entry" into the digital world:The Right Environment: Learning should happen in a quiet room, free of distractions.The Right Teacher: Often, a patient friend or a professional trainer is better than a family member, as it removes the emotional baggage from the learning process.The "One Thing" Rule: Don't try to master the whole phone. Start with something rewarding, like digital photography, and only move on once you feel comfortable.A Framework for the FutureAs we look toward a future filled with AI and ever-changing gadgets, Dr. Scullin encourages seniors to evaluate new technology through three simple questions:Is it mentally stimulating? (Even if it's a bit frustrating.)Does it connect me to others? (Rather than isolating me.)Does it help me stay independent?By embracing the struggle of the digital world, the "Digital Pioneer" generation isn't just keeping up with the grandkids—they are actively building a fortress around their cognitive health.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Peter Dickinson, editor of the UkraineAlert blog at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and the publisher of the magazines Business Ukraine and Lviv Today; and Serhiy Kudelia, a Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and author of the recently published book, Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine.

I first met Dr Rehan Ahmed more than 15 years ago when he was an ophthalmology resident at Baylor University in Texas (one of the top eye surgery training programs in the USA) and even then he was notable as a superstar. He has continued that trajectory as a highly skilled ophthalmologist and has also pioneered into the new world of AI (artificial intelligence or augmented intelligence) in eye care and he is the host of a great podcast called "AI in Eye Care" which I can highly recommend. We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here: Apple, Google, Spotify) for enjoying as you drive to work or exercise. The full video of the podcast is here on CataractCoach as well as on our YouTube channel. Starting now we have sponsorship opportunities available for the top podcast in all of ophthalmology. Please contact us to inquire.

When Sylvia Hernandez discovered vintage Christmas cards in a university archive, her coworkers didn't understand their significance. But for her, they represented everything familiar about growing up Mexican-American in Waco, Texas.Sylvia Hernandez, outreach and instruction librarian at Baylor University's Texas Collection and a seventh generation Wacoan, traces both sides of her family back to the Mexican Revolution. She has great-great-grandfathers, one on each side of her family tree, who crossed paths in remarkable ways long before their great-grandchildren ever met and fell in love.Through her work preserving Texas history, Sylvia has discovered her own family's story woven into the archives. From the Latin American Methodist church her ancestors helped found to the kindergarten they established for migrant children, her roots run deep in Texas. Her unique perspective as both archivist and descendant reveals how cultural traditions like Las Posadas, midnight Mass, and yes, even mysterious pots of mashed potatoes, create bridges between generations and preserve identity and connection across centuries.Discover how family stories, whether preserved in vintage Christmas cards or passed down at holiday gatherings, strengthen the connections that truly matter.〰️

As hospitals across the U.S. shorten length of stay and push more recovery into the home, families are increasingly left to manage complex care needs without formal training or support. Roughly one in five patients with chronic conditions like COPD or congestive heart failure is readmitted within 30 days—a cycle that costs the healthcare system billions annually and places enormous strain on caregivers. Against the backdrop of hospital-at-home models, aging demographics, and caregiver burnout, in-home senior care has become a critical piece of the post-acute care puzzle.So how can families ensure their loved ones are truly supported at home—not just medically, but functionally and emotionally—after discharge?In this episode of I Don't Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson sits down with Lance Summey, Franchise Owner at Home Instead. Together, they unpack the realities of nonmedical in-home senior care, how it integrates with hospitals, home health, and hospice, and why seemingly “small” daily tasks can dramatically impact health outcomes.Key Topics Covered in This Episode…Why nonmedical care matters: How help with activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, meals, transportation, and companionship—directly influences clinical outcomes and reduces hospital readmissions.Hospital-to-home transitions: The growing importance of in-home care as hospitals discharge patients earlier and rely on the home environment to support recovery.Caregiver burden and sustainability: Why family caregivers often reach a breaking point, and how professional in-home care allows loved ones to remain family—not full-time caregivers.Lance Summey is a franchise owner with Home Instead, the world's largest provider of nonmedical in-home senior care. He holds a Master's in Social Work from Baylor University and brings firsthand experience from both hospital systems and personal family caregiving. Motivated by his mother's battle with breast cancer and his grandmother's experience with multiple sclerosis, Summey has dedicated his career to bridging gaps in post-acute and long-term care—particularly where traditional medical models fall short. His work focuses on reducing hospital readmissions, integrating care teams, and supporting families through some of life's most challenging transitions.

Most coaches and player development professionals have asked this question:“How are you doing?”And most of the time, the answer is the same:“I'm good.”In this episode, I break down 11 simple questions that unlock real, meaningful conversations with athletes and help you move beyond surface-level check-ins.Drawing from my experience as a Director of Player Development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, I share the exact questions I used to build trust, encourage reflection, and guide athletes toward growth.You'll also learn the Present → Past → Future question framework, a simple approach that helps athletes:Open up emotionally in the momentReflect on experiences and build identitySet goals, take accountability, and create visionWhether you're a coach, player development professional, administrator, or someone who works closely with athletes, this episode gives you practical tools you can use immediately.Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations downHow to ask better questions that athletes actually answer11 questions that build trust and accountabilityHow to use follow-up questions to keep conversations goingHow intentional conversations create long-term impactIn This Episode, You'll Learn:Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations downHow to ask better questions that athletes actually answer11 questions that build trust and accountabilityHow to use follow-up questions to keep conversations goingHow intentional conversations create long-term impactBOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

This week, Richard Graves sits down with Lew Porchiazzo, Assistant Director for Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of Michigan. Lew brings more than 16 years of experience at one of the most successful athletic departments in the NCAA. His journey from a Division III football lineman to a leader shaping the development of athletes in softball, gymnastics, men's soccer and more, is filled with hard-earned lessons, humility, and an unwavering commitment to supporting people first. In this conversation, Lew dives into: • How to develop trust-driven relationships with athletes • What it truly takes to “raise the floor” of athletic performance • Why systems like Perch have changed the way Michigan trains • The realities of guiding young, ambitious athletes through strength, power, and conditioning programmes • The age-old question: How strong is strong enough? How fit is fit enough? Lew's philosophy blends evidence-based practice, a deep understanding of human behaviour, and a humility-first leadership style that resonates across the world of elite sport. In this episode, you will learn: * How Lew progressed from internships to a senior leadership role at Michigan—and what he learned along the way * Why treating athletes as humans first is central to unlocking performance * How Michigan individualises training across sports with vastly different demands * The process of integrating Perch velocity-based training and how it transformed athlete intent and coaching quality * How to use real-time data to adjust loads, manage fatigue, and protect athletes from themselves * When to stop chasing maximal strength and start focusing on raising the floor for performance * How to guide young athletes who want PBs every week without compromising long-term development * Why the most fulfilling moments in coaching come from watching athletes realise they're capable of more than they thought * Lew's leadership philosophy: vulnerability, authenticity, and serving others * The role of strength & conditioning in creating athletes who are not only powerful and robust—but durable and available About Lew Porchiazzo Lew Porchiazzo is the Assistant Director for Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of Michigan, where he has worked since 2009. He currently oversees physical development for a range of elite programmes including softball, women's gymnastics, and men's soccer. Lew began his career with internships at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and Baylor University, before joining Michigan as a graduate assistant. Across 16+ years he has become a central leader within the department, known for his athlete-first approach, relationship-driven coaching style, and commitment to developing staff and students with authenticity and humility. His expertise spans strength training, power development, velocity-based training, long-term athlete development, and programme design across sports with widely different physical demands. Beyond the weight room, Lew is passionate about helping athletes grow as people—and maintaining a love of movement and training long after their competitive days are over. He occasionally even officiates weddings… but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear that story. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

Dr. Allison Alford is a communication expert, author, and speaker whose work centers on the often invisible roles women play in their families and communities—especially the overlooked labor of adult daughters. With a PhD and MA in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and nearly two decades of university-level teaching, Allison brings both academic depth and heartfelt clarity to every conversation about gender, identity, and relational responsibility.Her forthcoming book, Good Daughtering (Dey Street Books/HarperCollins, 2026), invites readers to name and reframe the emotional, logistical, and cognitive labor daughters provide—labor that is deeply impactful yet rarely acknowledged. Drawing on years of qualitative research and hundreds of personal interviews, Allison offers a new vocabulary for understanding this powerful but often misunderstood role.Currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor University, Allison teaches communication and leadership to MBA and undergraduate students. She is known for her warm, thought-provoking style and is a sought-after guest for podcasts exploring motherhood, intergenerational relationships, feminist family studies, and women's empowerment in midlife.She lives in Texas with her husband and two teenagers and is currently booking podcast appearances and speaking engagements in anticipation of her upcoming book release.Website: https://daughtering101.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daughtering101TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daughtering101Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Daughtering101-61564467700155/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/daughtering101/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104465580Substack: https://daughtering101.substack.com/Pre-order her book, Good Daughtering, out February 2026! https://www.harpercollins.com/products/good-daughtering-allison-m-alford-phdConnect and tag me at:https://www.instagram.com/realangelabradford/You can subscribe to my YouTube Channel herehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDU9L55higX03TQgq1IT_qQFeel free to leave a review on all major platforms to help get the word out and change more lives!

It's Day 2 of the 12 Days of Player Development.In this episode, Ed Jones II speaks directly to coaches who do not have a Player Development Lead and explains why this role is no longer optional in today's athletic programs.Drawing from his experience in player development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, Ed breaks down what a Player Development Lead actually does and how this role supports coaches, strengthens culture, develops players beyond sport, and reconnects alumni to the program.In this episode, you will learn:How a Player Development Lead gives coaches their time backWhy culture strengthens when people feel seenHow intentional and holistic programming helps players grow into the adults coaches say they want them to beWhy alumni and former player engagement matters more than most programs realizeEd also shares his definition of player development and explains why having one person singularly leading these efforts creates clarity, consistency, and long-term impact.If you are a coach carrying parent communication, culture, alumni engagement, player issues, and everything else on your plate, this episode will help you understand why player development changes everything.BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn this episode, Will and Josh talk with Dr. George Yancey, a sociologist at Baylor University who specializes in race, identity politics, Christianophobia, and how faith communities can move beyond today's culture-war structures. The conversation unpacks why identity politics has become such a powerful force, how Christians can disentangle their core identity from political tribes, and why social identity theory helps explain today's polarization. Dr. Yancey also discusses his research on Christianophobia, the limits of both conservative and progressive models, and how a Christ-centered identity offers a more honest path forward than culture-war loyalty.Additional ResourcesDr. Yancey's YouTube channel: Shattering ParadigmsSociology Department at Baylor University (contact): https://www.baylor.edu/sociology/Guest BioDr. George Yancey is a sociologist and professor at Baylor University whose work focuses on race, social identity, anti-Christian bias, and the intersection of faith and culture. He is the author of several books on racial reconciliation, Christianophobia, and sociology of religion. His research emphasizes data-driven analysis and a Christ-centered approach to navigating America's most polarized debates.Support the show

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Little, pastor, coach, and dedicated people-builder, for an uplifting conversation about leading with heart and purpose. Jeff shares his journey from stepping into leadership at age 21 to guiding a thriving community, highlighting the power of authentic care and connection. Together, we explore the "shepherd" approach to leadership, the importance of building real relationships, and how leaders can create cultures where people truly thrive. Jeff also discusses practical lessons from his books, Win with People and The Way to Win, emphasizing the difference between leaders who serve others and those who simply manage for their own gain. Whether you're leading a team, a family, or looking to grow personally, this episode will encourage you to embrace your role as a shepherd, reminding you that great leadership is about investing in others, building meaningful connections, and leaving a legacy through the people you empower.   About Jeff, Jeff Little is the founding and lead pastor of Milestone Church, with campuses across the Dallas/Fort Worth region. He has been in ministry for over 30 years. He is the founder of Lead to Win which exists to help pastors and leaders build healthy cultures and winning environments through gatherings, coaching, and resources. Jeff earned a Bachelor's in Religion from Baylor University, a Master's in Missiology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from Southeastern University. He and his wife, Brandy, live in Keller, TX, have four children, and enjoy being "Papa" and "Honey" to their grandchildren.   Here's a few additional resources for you… Do you feel called to share your story with the world? Check out Gordon Publishing  Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today! Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It's a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You'll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here! Join me for my Day of Development! You'll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You'll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It's time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here. Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “The caliber of my leadership depends upon the health and caliber of the rest of my life. I can't show up for people unless I am in a good place personally to show up. There's some humility with that. You can't just run on fumes and coffee.” — Elisabeth Rain Kincaid Elisabeth Rain Kincaid, Associate Professor of Ethics, Faith and Culture and Director of the Institute of Faith and Learning at Baylor University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership, ethics, and faith. How might the unexpected career path result in a richness that is unique? Elisabeth starts the story of her journey by sharing that she went to law school because she did not enjoy middle school ministry. She shares the rich gifts of the indirect path to her current role, where she lives out her own leadership while teaching and researching about leadership and ethics, and cultivating leadership with faculty in a unique program. Elisabeth explores the value of integrity and the invitation to be an integrated person. We talk about the work of integrating work and family life. Listen for her invitation to be discerning what God is calling her to engage with during the last 20 years of her career in prayer and with others and for her “aha” moment when a trusted colleague asked her, “Why are you putting out the cookies?” For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

"Literature and the Renewal of Moral Philosophy," by Dr. Thomas Hibbs (J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy and Dean Emeritus at Baylor University). Presented at Thomas Aquinas College's 2025 Thomistic Summer Conference.

On this episode: Aaron talks about decimation, how the church kills its own, and the need to have a clear path to restoration. Nate gives examples of grace, healing, and forgiveness. Sharing how grace triumphs over judgement. The NEW Samson App is out (see links below)! This week, Nate and Aaron interview Erin Moniz. Erin is from Waco, TX, a deacon, associate chaplain at Baylor University and many other roles. She shares how vulnerability is the currency of intimacy. They discuss how transparency and vulnerability are not the same things, transparency keeps people at arms length. How close should your spouse be? Tips on making new friends at any stage of life, maybe join a cult? Also, how a Silas is like learning to be a freaking friend. All this and more! Book: Knowing and Being Known: Hope for All Our Intimate Relationships, by: Erin MonizNEW Samson Community App (Apple store) NEW Samson Community App (Google Store) 2026 Samson Summit If you have thoughts or questions and you'd like the guys to address in upcoming episodes or suggestions for future guests, please drop a note to piratemonkpodcast@gmail.com.The music on this podcast is contributed by members of the Samson Society. For more information on this ministry, please visit samsonsociety.com. Support for the women in our lives who have been impacted by our choices is available at sarahsociety.com.The Pirate Monk Podcast is provided by Samson Society, a ministry of Samson House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. To enjoy future Pirate Monk podcasts, please consider a contribution to Samson House.   App Store Samson Community App - App Store Download Samson Community by Samson House on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more games like Samson Community. (48 kB) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/samson-community/id6749582016     play.google.com Samson Society - Apps on Google Play Brotherhood & recovery hub (42 kB) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.samsonsociety&pcampaignid=web_share                            

It's Tuesday, December 2nd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Trump urges Venezuelan president to leave country U.S. sabers are rattling off the coast of Venezuela.   The Miami Herald reported that President Donald Trump offered Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum over the weekend: He said, “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now.”   For any assistance in leading to Maduro's arrest, the U.S. government has placed a bounty of $50 million on the Venezuelan President.   Also, President Trump issued a warning on Saturday via Truth Social. He wrote, “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” Trump designates Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group The President also designated certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood organization as a terrorist group, as of Sunday.  CounterExtremism.com has counted 48 extremist individuals and groups tied to the Brotherhood. As a Muslim Brotherhood host, the nation of Qatar has transferred $1.8 billion to Gaza since 2012, some of which reportedly has gone to Hamas. That information was revealed through recent audits. 65 people died from Ebola in Congo, Africa The Democratic Republic of the Congo is dealing with another Ebola outbreak — 65 cases confirmed and 45 deaths, reports U.S. News & World Report. The last major Congolese outbreak occurred in 2018. The virus is as dangerous as rabies, the Marburg virus, and the Avian flu. Exodus 4:11 reminds us that God is in control of all health issues: “So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” Russian-Ukrainian negotiations at stalemate In other world news, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict negotiations are approaching another stalemate. Ukraine announced they will not accept territorial concessions. And French President Emmanuel Macron announced an endorsement of using frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine's defense. Japanese court upholds ban on homosexual marriage Japan's Tokyo court upheld the homosexual marriage ban as constitutional, reports the BBC. Of Asian states, only Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan have legalized the practice thus far. Christian ministries ranked most and least transparent Ministry Watch has released its 2025 ratings of American ministries for financial efficiency, transparency, and donor confidence. Of the largest ministries in the United States, Medicine For All People International, Grand Canyon University, World Relief, Christian Aid Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Christian Broadcasting Network rate the highest. Lowest ratings go to Samaritan's Purse, Convoy of Hope, Baylor University, Pepperdine University, and Hillsdale College. Some controversy has been brewing recently over the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association's withdrawal from the organization.  Top 3 ministries serving the persecuted Of the six ministries serving the persecuted saints, Ministry Watch rates International Christian Concern, Equipping the Persecuted, and Persecution Project highest for financial efficiency, transparency, and donor confidence. Voice of the Martyrs is rated lowest.   Equipping the Persecuted focuses on Nigeria, and Persecution Project has been actively serving the persecuted saints in Sudan, Africa. Folks, think about giving to the poor and the suffering this Christmas season. Proverbs 28:27 says, “He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.” U.S. government ran a $1.8 trillion deficit The financial numbers are in for the U.S. government's fiscal year 2025, ending in October. The government ran a deficit of $1.8 trillion for the year. That's down $41 billion or 2% compared to the previous year.  However, revenues increased by $317 billion due to higher tariffs on imported goods. Spending was up a whopping 4% or $275 billion, driven by welfare and benefit programs, as well as rising interest payments on the public debt. Trump to pick new Federal Reserve Chairman U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce his next pick for chairman of the Federal Reserve. The new pick is slated to replace Jerome Powell in May of next year. Gold hits $4,230/ounce and silver hits $58/ounce Metals are still on the rise again. Gold hit $4,230 per ounce and silver topped $58.00 per ounce. Bitcoin is still down 31% over two months ago. FDA admits COVID-19 shots killed U.S. kids The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has acknowledged, for the first time, that COVID-19 vaccines have killed American children. According to Politico, Vinay Prasad, the vaccine chief for the FDA, issued a memo in which he revealed that FDA staff “found … at least 10 children have died after and because of receiving COVID-19 vaccination.” This comes from an “initial analysis of 96 deaths (associated with the vaccine taking place) between 2021 and 2024.” TN Democrat opposes Christian prayer in public forum And finally, the Christian faith appears to be at stake -- in a tight election in Tennessee for the 7th District Congressional seat. The Democrat candidate Aftyn Behn has gone on record stating she is opposed to Christian prayer in the public forum.   President Donald Trump took to Truth Social yesterday. He warned that Behn “hates Christianity, will take away your guns, wants Open Borders. . . men in women's sports, and openly disdains Country music.” The latest polls show the Republican candidate, Van Epps, is holding a slight lead in today's election. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, December 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Seize the day for Jesus Christ.