Podcasts about intimacy

 Don't ignore your sex life, it's too easy for sex to slide to the bottom of the priority list. Relationship health improves when there is an active sex life. Whether you're struggling to get back in sync with your partner or simply curious about how to keep the spark alive after kids, this conversation will give you practical tips and hopeful reminders that love and desire can thrive in every season of parenthood.

What if talking after intimacy is the key to unlocking deeper passion and lasting connection? In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell reveals how open, heartfelt conversations after intimacy transform your bond, increase desire, and bring more harmony into your bedroom activities. Discover how to make these moments feel safe, so you and your partner can speak honestly; you'll find yourselves growing closer through increasing trust, curiosity, and appreciation. Learn how mindful communication after intimacy creates a bridge between physical pleasure and emotional closeness—helping you build a relationship that's both passionate and beautifully connected.   What You'll Learn How talking after intimacy builds trust, vulnerability, and emotional depth Why post-intimacy reflection sustains passion and strengthens your relationship Simple ways to express appreciation without blame or criticism How conscious communication turns physical connection into deeper intimacy The small conversations that lead to extraordinary closeness over time     Subscribe To The Intimate Marriage Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With Alexandra Stockwell, MD: Website | Linkedin | Instagram   Get your copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” by Dr. Alexandra Stockwell here: https://amzn.to/2ymI3Hl Download the first chapter of Dr Alexandra's bestselling book, “Uncompromising Intimacy,” here:  https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/book   Cultivate your intimacy skills (without compromise) in Aligned & Hot Marriage, Dr. Alexandra's proven method for smart couples ready to love more fully:  www.alignedhotmarriage.com   Join Dr. Alexandra's email list to stay connected. She shares inspiring stories, her latest insights and opportunities to learn with her:  https://www.alexandrastockwell.com/subscribe   This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By:  Simplified Impact

When life feels busy or uncertain, how do we return to the One who dwells within where his presence is the quiet center of our days? Join Stasi and her guest, Elaine Supple, as they talk about union and communion—turning inward to the little heaven of our souls and discovering an intimacy with Jesus that changes everything.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Psalm 84:2 (NIV) – My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.Psalm 42:1 (NIV) – As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.John 17:21 (NIV) – That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.Philippians 4:7 (NIV) – And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.John 15:4–5 (NIV) – Remain in me, as I also remain in you... apart from me you can do nothing.1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV) – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...?Matthew 11:28 (NIV) – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.…..RESOURCESWild at Heart Podcast – John Eldredge's weekly podcast  ⁠https://wildatheart.org/podcast⁠Wild at Heart App – A free resource offering daily prayers, guided sessions, and tools to help you align your heart with the truths of God's Kingdom.  ⁠https://wildatheart.org/app⁠Quoted excerpt – The Meaning of Being a Christian by Frederick Buechner – “Every morning you should wake up and ask yourself, can I believe it all again today?” ⁠ ⁠⁠https://wahe.art/4q3x0rt⁠Quoted excerpt – The Interior Castle by Teresa of Ávila: “Give me the grace to recollect myself in the little heaven of my soul, where You have established Your dwelling. There let me find You… There I feel You are closer to me than anywhere else.”  ⁠https://wahe.art/4nR1sDM⁠…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4h8DelL⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

This month, we are focusing on Attachment! Dan invited a previous guest and attachment expert, Dr. W. Jesse Gil, to join the guys to talk about attachments. What do powder milk biscuits have to do with attachment? Just the Guys cast Greg, Jeremy, and Clay discuss with Dan and Dr. Gill thoughts and questions about attachment. Dr. Gill's site: https://www.facetofaceliving.com/our-story7 Keys to Intimacy: https://www.facetofaceliving.com/shopAnd Dr. Gill has a new book on our leadership! 

Recently, 94% of you said that your phones are causing problems in your marriage and yet you're not sure how to put the phones down. | "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." —Simone Weil Is it really possible to rekindle the spark and restore the “like-new” connection in your marriage? Yes it is! In the 6 Pillars of Intimacy, you will discover secrets that have transformed countless marriages. Its ideas are simple, practical, and powerful. You'll be inspired to look at your marriage through a new lens and be encouraged by its commonsense approach. Alisa and Tony DiLorenzo's proven approach to building intimacy in marriage will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your spouse – starting today. Click HERE to get your copy today! Links from today's episode: Join Intimacy Mastery Today Apply for Coaching With Alisa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mismatched sex drives in marriage? You're not alone—and it's not a problem to fix, but an opportunity to grow together. Most couples (up to 90%!) will experience periods where their sexual desires don't line up perfectly. It's completely normal—and it's a chance to build deeper understanding, communication, and compassion in your relationship. Getting honest about differences means you can meet each other where you are, as a team. This conversation is full of encouragement for the couple (or the spouse) who is feeling the disconnect from the different drives. Join Dr. Kim and J. Parker as they talk about normalizing this topic and making your marriage (and sex life) awesome. Episode Highlights: Majority of couples face the struggle of mismatched sex drives. It's important that the lines of communication are open when talking about desire, frequency and expectation. Open, ongoing communication is key to building intimacy.  The way we think about intimacy is often shaped by cultural messages, church teaching, or our upbringing.   Quotes from Today's Episode: Mismatched sex drives aren't the exception—they're the norm. Instead of seeing it as a sign something's wrong, view it as an opportunity to communicate, show compassion, and navigate intimacy as a team. The old script that ‘men want sex and women want romance' sells everyone short. You can crave both romance and intimacy, regardless of who in your marriage has the higher desire. A thriving sex life isn't automatic—it's something you cultivate over time, through learning, honesty, and growth together. Sometimes a gap in desire isn't about your relationship at all, but about real-life pressures. There are times when speaking up isn't nagging—it's partnership. Express what you need, but do it out of love and with respect, seeking to connect and understand, not just correct.   Questions for Reflection: When was the last time you and your spouse had a conversation about frequency?  Do you feel comfortable telling your spouse what you need in regards to physical intimacy?  What's one small step you could take this week to communicate more openly about your needs and create healthier intimacy together?   Mentioned in this Episode: Hot, Holy and Humerous J Parker is on Instagram! Achieving Awesome Sex in Marriage online course with Dr. Kim and J. Parker If you are the lower drive spouse, consider taking our Think Sex Challenge. Our brain is a powerful sex organ and sometimes we have to take the time to “think sex”. Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 5 Marriage Lies to Defeat with Biblical Truth. If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !  Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle  

Has your relationship hit a rough patch? How do you rebuild intimacy after conflict, hurt, or distance in your marriage? In this week's 10-minute equipping episode, Pastor Jim Ramos unpacks five practical steps to reconnect with your wife after a breakdown in your relationship. Drawing insights from Dr. Carol Tanksley's book 'Sexpectations', Jim shares biblical wisdom and honesty about what it takes to rebuild trust, reopen hearts, and restore closeness in your marriage. You'll walk away with 5 actionable steps to rebuild intimacy and trust from a biblical perspective. Check out Dr. Carol's Book: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories about God, Love, and Relationships -> https://tinyurl.com/sexpectations115 This episode is sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com. Every man needs a locker room. Join a brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our bi-monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room twice a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Sharing community with t hese amazing men is one of the most enjoyable things I do. - Jim Ramos https://patreon.com/themeninthearena Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)

What if the real love story isn't candlelight and grand gestures, but calendars, clarity, and courage under pressure? I sit down with Kass and Mike Lazerow—longtime partners in life and business—to unpack how they navigated Web 1.0 startups, gut-punch setbacks, and life-changing, $345 million-dollar exits while raising three kids and staying on the same team. Their answers aren't glossy; they're practical, repeatable, and surprisingly tender.We explore how role clarity at home mirrors smart org design at work: defined lanes reduce friction and protect respect. Mike shares why he stopped “selling” inconvenient choices and started owning the impact; Kass explains the power of saying, “No, I'm not happy you're going”—and not forcing a bow on hard truths. Together they map out their three core cheat codes: share the load through good and bad, invest in the relationship with consistent date nights and short getaways, and build teamwork through radical transparency, fair fights, and fast repair. We also dive into the “pivot” mindset: do more of what works, less of what doesn't and how boredom and novelty can coexist to keep a marriage alive.From parenting toddlers to guiding adult kids, from almost losing it all to scaling Buddy Media to a massive exit, Kass and Mike show how trust, weekly meetings, and a shared vision can carry a couple through chaos. If you've ever wondered how to blend ambition with intimacy, or how to reset when resentment creeps in, this conversation gives you a clear playbook: define your lanes, tell the truth, meet weekly, repair quickly, and keep dating. You can reach them at info@kassandmike.com or DM them on social. Buy Shoveling Sh*t on Amazon and please review if you like it.Send us a text

"Each family finds within itself a summons that cannot be ignored, and that specifies both its dignity and its responsibility: family, become what you are."~ St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, §17How do I acknowledge and communicate my sexual desires & needs?What do I do when my expectations about sex in marriage are unmet?Is it possible to keep the spark alive while practicing NFP?In episode 84, Pat and Kenna welcome Monica & Renzo Ortega for the final installment of their “Holy Sex” series. Together, they dive into the nitty-gritty realities of sex, intimacy, and marriage from a faith-filled, honest perspective. The conversation explores expectations versus reality, navigating communication, vulnerability, and the unique challenges of practicing NFP, whether trying to achieve or avoid pregnancy. The Ortegas share personal stories and offer compassionate advice for couples wrestling with unmet expectations, shame, or the need for deeper connection. This episode is rich with practical wisdom, laughter, and encouragement, inviting couples to have those hard-but-holy conversations and rediscover the gift of authentic intimacy in marriage.Renzo & Monica Ortega have been married since 2012 and have 5 kids. They facilitate youth and marriage prep ministry for their home parish and they love to talk about all things marriage and family life on their podcast: Two Become Family. They've also co-authored a book entitled Lovemaking: How to talk about sex with your spouse (a guide for everyday Catholics).Episode 84 Show NotesChapters:0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards13:50: A faithful & practical approach to sex19:39: Expectations vs. Reality in sex32:06: Challenges with NFP when trying to become pregnant42:56: What about sex when you're using to NFP to rightly avoid pregnancy?53:13: Challenge By ChoiceReflection Questions:What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?If you're married, what were your expectations around sex before marriage? How have the played out so far?How has your background or upbringing shaped your views on sex, and how have those views influenced your relationship?How has striving for chastity within marriage challenged or changed your understanding of love and self-gift?What's one “hard conversation” about intimacy, fertility, or expectations that you've been avoiding with your spouse? How might you create space for that discussion?Send us a text. We're excited to hear what's on your mind!Support the showThank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters! Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

What does a healthy relationship look and function like? That's the focus of this 7-part series. The goal is to paint an accurate and aspirational picture of how two people behave in a conscious, loving relationship by discussing the seven components of heathy intimacy.   In this episode, you'll learn the last component of healthy intimacy: Aliveness.   The underlying purpose of a great relationship is the aliveness of the individuals in it. In other words, the reason two healthy people commit to one another is that they believe that each of them are more likely to fully grow and express their gifts by being together than they would if they were single.   “Synergy” is the only healthy reason to pursue an intimate relationship and this idea is fully explored in this episode so don't miss it.   Additional Resources Roy may have mentioned on the show:   Roy's Website: https://coachingwithroy.com   Roy's Relationship Fitness Self-Assessment Test: https://coachingwithroy.com/the-relationship-fitness-self-test/   Roy's 4 Books: ·      Quantum Questions: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4RFZBS3/ ·      Relationship Bootcamp: https://amzn.to/360UsMR ·      Attracting Lasting Love: http://amzn.to/1UnYeYh ·      A Drink with Legs: https://amzn.to/31UBl3K     Roy's Group Coaching Program: https://coachingwithroy.com/group-coaching/   Roy's Complimentary 45-min. Coaching Session: To set up an appointment, email him at roy@coachingwithroy.com or call his cell 407-687-3387.   The Attracting Lasting Love podcast explores the dynamics of mature and adult dating, delving into the issues of emotional intelligence, the law of attraction, and the quest for a life partner or soulmate, while offering conscious insights and mindful advice on navigating modern relationships.

Ever feel like your relationship was the most intoxicating connection of your life—only to discover shocking lies and betrayal later?This week, intimacy expert Gary Katz reveals how narcissists protect themselves by keeping secrets, building false connections, and manipulating trust—and why survivors are often left questioning their own instincts.Podcast Extra Exclusive InterviewFind the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here.More About the Podcast Extra Interview

Ayşegül Savaş reads her story “Intimacy” from the October 20, 2025, issue of the magazine. Savaş is the author of five books, including the novels “White on White” and “The Anthropologists”; a nonfiction work, “The Wilderness”; and the story collection “Long Distance,” which was published earlier this year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Meet Susan Bratton—known globally as “The Intimacy Expert to Millions

What happens when an analyst conducts interviews—and I am not speaking here about interviewing other analysts as we do at NBiP, but rather what happens when an analyst does field research, and researches one of the eternal subjects of our field which is to say love and also, to borrow from Gregorio Kohon, its' vicissitudes? Locating within himself demeaning feelings towards an other—and the setting is a psych ward in India, and in an India that continues to rework its having been partitioned, having partitioned itself, and the other is a Muslim other in a Hindu majority nation—the author, Ashis Roy, wants to know more about what he calls his “communal mind”, a mind that developed in a country where, “Muslims know the Hindu myths but the reverse is not true,” so a mind that was afforded an instant other to deposit its unwanted contents into. His book, Intimacy in Alienation: A Psychoanalytic Study of Hindu-Muslim Relationships, explicates intimacy and asymmetry, as it delves into cross-religious desire, and in this case the forbidden desire of Hindus for Muslims, and Muslims for Hindus, which, when acknowledged, threatens social, familial, and cultural mores, and also the prerogatives of the state. Who are these people, Roy asks, who take such a step, which is a step that can lead to a kind of social death, akin, in the American context from which I write, to the experience of gay people who come out and are brutally shorn of their families, communities, and sometimes their lives? The power of desire, a power beyond us, in excess of ourselves always, can propel us to this vertiginous place. Perhaps, and only perhaps, it can also push us to live in ways that reject socially and politically enforced liminality as well. One starts to imagine these couples, engaged ongoingly by Roy, as healing a malignant split that beats at the heart of contemporary Indian life. Roy's thinking draws from the myriad psychoanalytic theories of Kakar, Green, Erikson, Altman, Bollas, and Phillips, (among others), all of them kings of our trade, many of their names never uttered in the same breath—(I am thinking especially of Green and Altman.) Fascinatingly, he also orients himself to his material by engaging the work of two historians (queens of their own domains) and they are the American, Joan Wallach Scott and rather especially (or that is my read) the Italian scholar Luisa Passerini. Like Roy, Passerini delved deeply into her own milieu, and like Roy she performed interviews with her peers who participated in what is commonly called the anni interessante in Italy (known for its red brigades, the murder of Aldo Moro, wildcat strikes in the auto industry alongside acts of student solidarity) all of which happened while she was in Africa. Her book, Autobiography of a Generation (1983), reads as an effort to be in touch with something fundamental about her homeland that she missed. My impression is that Intimacy in Alienation serves a similar purpose for Roy, who realizes that there is a world nearby that remained visually and affectively sidelined. Both wanted to see what had previously been, for various reasons, scotomized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

What happens when an analyst conducts interviews—and I am not speaking here about interviewing other analysts as we do at NBiP, but rather what happens when an analyst does field research, and researches one of the eternal subjects of our field which is to say love and also, to borrow from Gregorio Kohon, its' vicissitudes? Locating within himself demeaning feelings towards an other—and the setting is a psych ward in India, and in an India that continues to rework its having been partitioned, having partitioned itself, and the other is a Muslim other in a Hindu majority nation—the author, Ashis Roy, wants to know more about what he calls his “communal mind”, a mind that developed in a country where, “Muslims know the Hindu myths but the reverse is not true,” so a mind that was afforded an instant other to deposit its unwanted contents into. His book, Intimacy in Alienation: A Psychoanalytic Study of Hindu-Muslim Relationships, explicates intimacy and asymmetry, as it delves into cross-religious desire, and in this case the forbidden desire of Hindus for Muslims, and Muslims for Hindus, which, when acknowledged, threatens social, familial, and cultural mores, and also the prerogatives of the state. Who are these people, Roy asks, who take such a step, which is a step that can lead to a kind of social death, akin, in the American context from which I write, to the experience of gay people who come out and are brutally shorn of their families, communities, and sometimes their lives? The power of desire, a power beyond us, in excess of ourselves always, can propel us to this vertiginous place. Perhaps, and only perhaps, it can also push us to live in ways that reject socially and politically enforced liminality as well. One starts to imagine these couples, engaged ongoingly by Roy, as healing a malignant split that beats at the heart of contemporary Indian life. Roy's thinking draws from the myriad psychoanalytic theories of Kakar, Green, Erikson, Altman, Bollas, and Phillips, (among others), all of them kings of our trade, many of their names never uttered in the same breath—(I am thinking especially of Green and Altman.) Fascinatingly, he also orients himself to his material by engaging the work of two historians (queens of their own domains) and they are the American, Joan Wallach Scott and rather especially (or that is my read) the Italian scholar Luisa Passerini. Like Roy, Passerini delved deeply into her own milieu, and like Roy she performed interviews with her peers who participated in what is commonly called the anni interessante in Italy (known for its red brigades, the murder of Aldo Moro, wildcat strikes in the auto industry alongside acts of student solidarity) all of which happened while she was in Africa. Her book, Autobiography of a Generation (1983), reads as an effort to be in touch with something fundamental about her homeland that she missed. My impression is that Intimacy in Alienation serves a similar purpose for Roy, who realizes that there is a world nearby that remained visually and affectively sidelined. Both wanted to see what had previously been, for various reasons, scotomized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What happens when an analyst conducts interviews—and I am not speaking here about interviewing other analysts as we do at NBiP, but rather what happens when an analyst does field research, and researches one of the eternal subjects of our field which is to say love and also, to borrow from Gregorio Kohon, its' vicissitudes? Locating within himself demeaning feelings towards an other—and the setting is a psych ward in India, and in an India that continues to rework its having been partitioned, having partitioned itself, and the other is a Muslim other in a Hindu majority nation—the author, Ashis Roy, wants to know more about what he calls his “communal mind”, a mind that developed in a country where, “Muslims know the Hindu myths but the reverse is not true,” so a mind that was afforded an instant other to deposit its unwanted contents into. His book, Intimacy in Alienation: A Psychoanalytic Study of Hindu-Muslim Relationships, explicates intimacy and asymmetry, as it delves into cross-religious desire, and in this case the forbidden desire of Hindus for Muslims, and Muslims for Hindus, which, when acknowledged, threatens social, familial, and cultural mores, and also the prerogatives of the state. Who are these people, Roy asks, who take such a step, which is a step that can lead to a kind of social death, akin, in the American context from which I write, to the experience of gay people who come out and are brutally shorn of their families, communities, and sometimes their lives? The power of desire, a power beyond us, in excess of ourselves always, can propel us to this vertiginous place. Perhaps, and only perhaps, it can also push us to live in ways that reject socially and politically enforced liminality as well. One starts to imagine these couples, engaged ongoingly by Roy, as healing a malignant split that beats at the heart of contemporary Indian life. Roy's thinking draws from the myriad psychoanalytic theories of Kakar, Green, Erikson, Altman, Bollas, and Phillips, (among others), all of them kings of our trade, many of their names never uttered in the same breath—(I am thinking especially of Green and Altman.) Fascinatingly, he also orients himself to his material by engaging the work of two historians (queens of their own domains) and they are the American, Joan Wallach Scott and rather especially (or that is my read) the Italian scholar Luisa Passerini. Like Roy, Passerini delved deeply into her own milieu, and like Roy she performed interviews with her peers who participated in what is commonly called the anni interessante in Italy (known for its red brigades, the murder of Aldo Moro, wildcat strikes in the auto industry alongside acts of student solidarity) all of which happened while she was in Africa. Her book, Autobiography of a Generation (1983), reads as an effort to be in touch with something fundamental about her homeland that she missed. My impression is that Intimacy in Alienation serves a similar purpose for Roy, who realizes that there is a world nearby that remained visually and affectively sidelined. Both wanted to see what had previously been, for various reasons, scotomized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/islamic-studies

What happens when an analyst conducts interviews—and I am not speaking here about interviewing other analysts as we do at NBiP, but rather what happens when an analyst does field research, and researches one of the eternal subjects of our field which is to say love and also, to borrow from Gregorio Kohon, its' vicissitudes? Locating within himself demeaning feelings towards an other—and the setting is a psych ward in India, and in an India that continues to rework its having been partitioned, having partitioned itself, and the other is a Muslim other in a Hindu majority nation—the author, Ashis Roy, wants to know more about what he calls his “communal mind”, a mind that developed in a country where, “Muslims know the Hindu myths but the reverse is not true,” so a mind that was afforded an instant other to deposit its unwanted contents into. His book, Intimacy in Alienation: A Psychoanalytic Study of Hindu-Muslim Relationships, explicates intimacy and asymmetry, as it delves into cross-religious desire, and in this case the forbidden desire of Hindus for Muslims, and Muslims for Hindus, which, when acknowledged, threatens social, familial, and cultural mores, and also the prerogatives of the state. Who are these people, Roy asks, who take such a step, which is a step that can lead to a kind of social death, akin, in the American context from which I write, to the experience of gay people who come out and are brutally shorn of their families, communities, and sometimes their lives? The power of desire, a power beyond us, in excess of ourselves always, can propel us to this vertiginous place. Perhaps, and only perhaps, it can also push us to live in ways that reject socially and politically enforced liminality as well. One starts to imagine these couples, engaged ongoingly by Roy, as healing a malignant split that beats at the heart of contemporary Indian life. Roy's thinking draws from the myriad psychoanalytic theories of Kakar, Green, Erikson, Altman, Bollas, and Phillips, (among others), all of them kings of our trade, many of their names never uttered in the same breath—(I am thinking especially of Green and Altman.) Fascinatingly, he also orients himself to his material by engaging the work of two historians (queens of their own domains) and they are the American, Joan Wallach Scott and rather especially (or that is my read) the Italian scholar Luisa Passerini. Like Roy, Passerini delved deeply into her own milieu, and like Roy she performed interviews with her peers who participated in what is commonly called the anni interessante in Italy (known for its red brigades, the murder of Aldo Moro, wildcat strikes in the auto industry alongside acts of student solidarity) all of which happened while she was in Africa. Her book, Autobiography of a Generation (1983), reads as an effort to be in touch with something fundamental about her homeland that she missed. My impression is that Intimacy in Alienation serves a similar purpose for Roy, who realizes that there is a world nearby that remained visually and affectively sidelined. Both wanted to see what had previously been, for various reasons, scotomized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

In this episode, Diana  is joined by guest Ken Keys, PhD, President of CRG and an expert on leadership, wellness, and life purpose. They discuss Ken's difficult upbringing, including the trauma experienced by his parents and his own battles with depression and suicidal thoughts. Ken shares his journey to discovering his purpose, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the impact of finding forgivingness and letting go of past trauma. The episode also highlights actionable steps for personal growth and emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive and positive influences. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:20 Diana's Personal Update 02:06 Practicing Gratitude 03:40 Introducing Today's Guest: Ken Keys 04:48 Ken Keys' Background and Career Journey 05:53 Ken's Family and Upbringing 08:42 Challenges and Lessons from Dairy Farming 16:20 Ken's Struggles with Depression and Wellness Journey 19:46 Traumatic Experience and Forgiveness 28:20 Family Dynamics and Emotional Growth 30:52 The Decline of Reverence for God 31:13 The Impact of Media on Society 31:54 Personal Reflections on Family and Intimacy 32:36 Journey Back to Faith 33:49 Discovering a New Christian Community 35:01 Embracing Ministry and Leadership 36:37 The Importance of Personal Style in Ministry 38:57 Overcoming Family Expectations 41:27 Judgment and Acceptance in Christian Life 46:27 The Influence of Associations 55:23 Final Thoughts and Actionable Steps www.kenkeis.com/faithful for your free gift   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ EP 7 Guest Ken Keis Living On Purpose [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana . She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hi everybody. How are you guys doing today? I hope you are well. It is a beautiful day outside. Fall isn't even here yet it seems. But my garden. We got to harvest some of our food. We ate some green beans and snap peas and ate some strawberries from my garden. We're just waiting for the tomatoes to ripen. But it's really exciting when you start eating from your own garden, you didn't even think it was going to survive. And with the change of seasons [00:02:00] here, and Thanksgiving is coming up, holidays are coming up. I didn't really do a Thanksgiving podcast, but we want to be thankful. It's hard to be thankful this year, isn't it? Was a huge dumpster fire, and it's probably not all gonna go away you know, January 1st , I'm sure isn't gonna magically disappear, but, um, we have to practice the art of being thankful and grateful for what we have. Make a list, and I know it's hard, just the littlest things that you see during the day. Hey, I have the song on the radio I heard, and it was such a blessing to me. Or like, me, I had a harvest this week. Or, oh, the weather is so beautiful or. My kid got an A on his spelling. Just the little things, just make a [00:03:00] list and go back to those lists. And I'm not one of those positive thinker people. I'm not, I have to work at being positive. I like being around positive people because that lifts me up. My husband is naturally positive and he lifts me up. Right now. He's going through a hard time with his medical stuff and I have to lift him up when I'm having a bad day, he has to lift me up. But we try and practice gratefulness even in the little things. So I hope that encourages you during this holiday. I'm not gonna do a big holiday podcast. Today I have a guest with me today and he's going to talk about, when you feel like, your life doesn't feel like it has meeting you don't have any fulfillment, you're trying to get outta the hole you're in. Maybe you got outta a domestic violence situation and you don't know how to fulfill your [00:04:00] dreams. You don't know how to take that step and work towards your ideal life. Well, this next guest is going to help you do that, to leave the drama behind and find out, which parts of your personality you were born with, which ones you probably need to get rid of, or which ones you can develop further. How you're able to adapt to other people's behavior. Approach your interactions with confidence instead of fear. Find out what makes other people tick. How to handle misunderstandings and defensiveness. How do you handle your triggers? Hey, we've all got drama that we need to leave behind. We wanna move forward, right? So I'm going to read his bio here. Ken Keys PhD President of CRG is a global expert on leadership, wellness, behavioral assessments, and life purpose. [00:05:00] In 28 years, he has conducted over 3000 presentations and invested 10,000 hours. In consulting and coaching. Ken Keys is considered a foremost global authority on the way assessment strategies and processes. Increase and multiply success rates. He's co-created CRGs proprietary development models and has written over 4 million words of content for 40 business training programs and 400 plus articles. His latest book, the Quest for Purpose, a Self-Discovery Process to Find It and Live It. So please welcome Ken Keys. Thanks so much, Ken Keith, for coming on the show. Appreciate it. Well, well it's great to be hanging out with you. Tell us about your self, your upbringing, and your family. Did you come from a [00:06:00] successful family? Well, um, I am a third generation, uh, in Canada. So my grandparents, all four came from Hungary between the first and second World War as immigrants. And then they settled here. I'm about an hour east of Vancouver, Canada, so that's where I make my home. And so I actually grew up on a dairy farm. After uh, high school I went to agricultural college, came back to work on the farm, but pretty well a few months in dad and I were ready to beat each other into a pulp. 'cause we really didn't get along. Both of us wanted to be in charge and dad was kind of of the European mindset, just do what I say. I'll only tell you and criticize you. When you screw up. I'm never going to affirm you or. Do something positive 'cause that might go to your head. Aw. And so I, you know, after a couple of years I left the farm, I went and worked in agricultural fields as first, uh, for the Department of Agriculture. Then as a [00:07:00] feed sales rep, uh, for agriculture company. My diploma is a nutrition and genetics, so I was really a nutritionist to dairy cattle farmers. And then I actually started my own farm across the street. Which was fine, I could do my own thing. And then the late eighties, I got into this industry as a sales trainer. So I bought a franchise in the sales training. I said, what a na natural transition, uh, closed down my dairy farm. And then that was the beginning of this. Now when we're recording this, 32 years later, I said, where did that go? Uh, and, you know, three or four books, the author of 12 psychological assessments presented 3000 times somewhere around the world. Uh, authored 4 million words of content. You know, it's an interesting story and journey. And of course, I'll link in my, uh, face story here in a minute as well. So now this, it is. 32 years doing what I'm doing. And the company that I own was founded in 1979 by a professor at a Christian university. He wanted to create a, uh, create an assessment that was [00:08:00] different, better, more improved than Disc Myers-Briggs true colors, way back in 1979. And so he created the tool, the personal style indicator. I got connected to that company in 1990 and then bought it nearly 20 years ago. So we're now, you know, doing business in 12 languages, 30 countries around the world. And all our tools are built on a Christian worldview view, but we equally serve, you know, like Boeing mm-hmm. Or companies of that nature, or Ford or Chrysler as we do Ministries. And we just say, we're just here to help develop people. And then my purpose in life is to help others to live, lead, and work on purpose and to help them to realize their potential. So that's really been our focus for the last three decades. Well, you talk about the cows and I don't think I've ever milked a cow and well, it is 24 7, and I think that was one of the things that happened. I think, and here's my. Encouragement and challenge for those people that are listening, watching this show today [00:09:00] is I got up one morning with my dairy herd and I asked myself this question, if I was doing this same thing 20 years from now, would that be okay? And I said, no, no, no, no, no. I can't be doing that. And I always knew I was to be a speaker. Even when I was 16, I was speaking in front of groups, MCing groups asked to do that kinda work. Uh, I never thought I would be an author because my grade nine teacher said, well, I wouldn't amount to anything because I couldn't read or write. And it was discovered when I did my master's degree that I was dyslexic. So the invention of the computer when I went to school, I'm young, just to let you know, but when I went to school, there weren't, there weren't computers. The program word wasn't there to help me understand or see the words, uh, words that I was misspelling. And the reality is, is that, so I have mispronounced some words, so what doesn't matter, you know, get over it. And that led me to being a writer, which no way you [00:10:00] would've ever convinced me that was gonna be something that I would do almost more of than any single item in my lifetime. So here we are. And now just really trying to, you know, live his purpose and to help encourage other people to live theirs and to be anchored in that. Wow. Research shows. Diana is that when you're out there and engaging in nature, it actually feeds your soul. It does. So, even the research of kids that live in the countryside are healthier than those mm-hmm. That live in sterile environments in a condo, you know, in a 50 story building. I'm not here to judge you because you live in a condo. I'm just saying the reality is the health stats show that when you're out and about and you're just kind of in nature, your immunity strengthens, but so does your core soul because you're out there with nature and hey, that was designed that way. Absolutely. I think it's kept me sane. I liked being outside. I liked going out there and fussing over [00:11:00] my plants. Well, it's in, it's always interesting me to quote unquote live off the grid. And what I mean by that is just being a property that doesn't require utilities from third parties and things like that. But I'd live close to the town or city. There is a lot of effort and work, and one of the reasons that I did stop dairy farming was the 24 7 obligation, 365 days a year. I mean, you never have a day off in a dairy farmer's environment. Now, I appreciate the values that I learned, tenacity, persistence it doesn't matter what the weather's doing. I remember one time where it was very cold. One February. It was rare for where we live, but all the pipes and everything were frozen. Well, it took me four hours of fighting just to thaw all the pipes out so I could milk my cows. And just going back in the house and watching TV wasn't an option. It had to be done. So no matter, you know, what your personality or personal style is or anything like that, those character [00:12:00] traits were entrenched in me or developed in me in that persistence, uh, growing up. So that, you know, that's part of what I bring into it. I'm not. Mm-hmm. Uh, I was thankful for growing up in that environment, but it wasn't something that I was meant to do going forward. So you mentioned your father, but you also said that your mom, had some abuse in her childhood Hmm. Would you, be willing to elaborate on that? Sure. You know, it's interesting. I grew up in quote unquote a Christian home. Mm-hmm. But it wasn't really because my grandparents were Presbyterian in their background. No judgment. Anybody has that background. I grew up in the Presbyterian church. My brother and I were the youth, so that was, they were the only ones that were attending. But what I didn't see in my family was really the relationship with Christ. Mm. It was a cognitive thing, it was a cerebral thing. It was a duty, but it wasn't really an experience. It wasn't a relationship whatsoever. And of course, later on, I sort of [00:13:00] left the church. I can tell you my spiritual story here in a bit. But as a result of that, my dad was 16 years of age when his dad died of an unknown causes. He was on the farm, so he was forced to quit school in grade eight or nine to take over the farm with his mother. Now, his eldest brother was working off the farm, but also was helping on the farm, and a year later died of an unknown. As well. So here his father dies and then, you know, the next year before he is almost 17, his eldest brother that he looked up to died as well. Oh. And then my grandmother, where I was one of the, I wasn't the eldest male, but in that culture, you know, males just seemed to be, that was important to grandma. So I was the first born in Elst male farm. Grandma was pretty good with me, but she had a critical spirit. And so that spirit then led into my dad. My dad's way of dealing with that trauma was [00:14:00] to say nothing, just really be quiet. Mm-hmm. And the culture, the Hungarian culture also was one of non-emotional. I mean, you didn't share your feelings, you didn't share what was going on. You didn't share your heart. And even though my dad was on the board of the church, an elder. I never saw him pray. I never really see him have this relationship. He believes in God, you know, is he saved? I don't know. I mean, it's hard to know just for the viewers. I'm an ordained pastor now, so, this is kind of a full circle for me. And then my mom, grew up in as an, as a teenager with a father who was abusive when he was drinking. So an adult child of an alcoholic is kind of the process. So he, later on, , he straightened up. However, there was one night, my understanding from the story, I wasn't around yet where grandpa came home and then, was, beating on the kids and grandma got a knife and says, you touch him again, I'll kill you. Mm. And so that was kind of the environment that my mom grew up in. Now, grandpa, [00:15:00] later on when I knew him, I never knew that part of him. He was able to get his binge drinking under control. His English was broken, but we had a great relationship. He passed away sooner, and then grandma was left. Grandma was a critical spirits to my mom. So my mom now as we record, this is 86, going on 87 soon, and, I think she worries for the entire planet. I think her self-worth as far as she still has not processed this value set. So she plays the victim card extensively. And then as far as my environment for my dad, giving compliments, providing compliments just never happened. So he is 88 at the time of recording this and I'm 60. And I do not recall ever him telling me that he loves me. Aw. I just not now, does he? Yes, he does. But to verbally say that I love you just doesn't happen. I could go to his place though. And say, [00:16:00] dad, I need to borrow your truck. I need to borrow tools. Always, yes. Never says no to being helpful, but to be able to have that emotional connection and to articulate it is not something he learned. I think he did the best that he could with what he knew. So same with my mom. So I don't, I'm not bitter with them now. I'm obviously disappointed. But what it led to for me in my teenage years, when I came back from college, so I was 19 years of age, I think when I finished college, I started when I was younger is, I was suicidal. Hmm. So I sat there on the farm, here I'm arguing with my dad. I want to take it over, but he won't include me in any decisions. This is the, it's my way of the highway. There was no relationship per se, it was just a dictatorship. Mm-hmm. And then talking about deeper things that never happened, at home, when I got in some trouble with a girl, in my younger years, I wanted to share that with my mom, and she just started to criticize me. So it told me [00:17:00] never share anything with my mother that I'm dealing with as far as those pieces. So I sat there and I really said, is life really worth it? And for those of you that have been through trauma or whatever, suicide is really calling out, suicide is a hopelessness. It's a mm-hmm. Where you believe in that moment that not being here would be far less painful than being here. And first of all, it's alive, the enemy. So if we think about John 10, 10 is that the enemy comes to, kill, steal, and destroy or whatever that order is, and. And so he wants you to, take your own life because then you know what, your impact for the ministry is not gonna be there. Your impact for others is not gonna be there. Well, obviously I didn't take my life, but I thought about it and I had those components or considerations Later on in life, about a decade later, I was diagnosed asmatic depressive. And so I went on an antidepressant called Lithium, and it was my friend of mine, [00:18:00] actually out of Dallas, Texas. And she was a psychologist and she said, Ken, you're not a depressed person. There's something else biologically going on with you. And so we, I, at my insistence, did a glucose tolerance test, found out I was hypoglycemic. I wasn't depressed at all. Yeah. So what that had to do was around my blood sugar levels. So one of my passions now in life is I love to develop the whole person. And we have 12 assessments in our company from personality, but we also have an assessment on wellness and stress. And as a, I consider myself, a wellness expert. Mm-hmm. Because I don't believe that we need to rely on external people for my health. And so a lot of times people get into trouble where they don't take care of themselves. So mm-hmm. It's very difficult to be alive and functional and be a spiritual, , lion when you are fatigued, when you have no [00:19:00] energy. So, uh, I say fatigue makes cowards of us all. I wasn't the person who said I was another person who had started that. So I started to look at how can I take care of myself? Make sure you get the sleep, make sure for the most part you eat right, that you do things right. A lot of times as individuals, we don't take care of ourselves, and then we wonder why we're lethargic or we can't focus or we can't concentrate. And we do that with our kids. So I, you know, this body is a temple. We have a responsibility to take care of it. So that's why we've been working in all these different areas. And then one other. And then we're talking about trauma. And I haven't, I've only shared this very few times on podcasts and I don't, not that it's a secret. I actually share this story in my book, the Quest for Purpose. Mm-hmm. Which I am actually going to give everybody a copy of this at the end of the show. Right. Wow. So we are gonna be able to give you a free download of that book. But in the book, in 1982, I was actually [00:20:00] dating my high school sweetheart. So it was the person that I took to my prom. She was a couple years younger than me. And on December 13th, 1982 the police officer showed up at my home and said, we'd like to interview Ken. Now I happen to be out in town with my brother at that time, and there wasn't cell phones that we personally had. So when I got that, they said it's very urgent that Ken come to the station as soon as he gets home. I'm curious. I don't know what this is about. I am also nervous. I'm a little bit fearful. I'm having nervous energy and trying to crack jokes when I get to the police department. Yeah. So I get into one of these interview rooms that are just like, the TV says steel chairs, bricks, security, glass. One person in the room, TV cameras recording you. And I say, you know, what's this about? And the officer says, we have a reason to believe that you are, dating or a boyfriend of Carol Ann Repel. And I said, yeah, well that's true. And he said, well, she was murdered last [00:21:00] night. Oh. And so, what are you talking about? And I was one of the second last people to talk to her, and I had been chatting with her on the phone. She was a individual who was gifted and skilled and wanted to be the first female fighter pilot in the Canadian forces. So she was late at night at her employer's location, which was at the airport, and the janitor made a sexual advance to her that went wrong and then beat her to death. Oh, so that's, I'm being interviewed for this. They're asking about it and it came to learn. They didn't know who did it. It was a mystery for months, but they had their suspicions, but they had no proof. And eventually they, charged somebody who I knew, he had been hired as a security guard for some youth group work that we had done. At that moment, that day, I went to work. I said, I'm like, I was complete denial. Just [00:22:00] what is going on on this thing? She was 22 years of age, Diana. Mm-hmm. Maybe going on to 23. So we've all had our situations or stories. It took me years later where I did a process, called emotional freedom Technique. You can agree with it or not, but it was a Christian who created it. I was drenched in sweat, just processing all the. Emotional sort of luggage and baggage that came out of that stuff through the process we did. It was, you just call it very, very intense counseling, if you wanna call it that. And, so we, but I still needed to kind of move forward. I was thankful for the relationship with her. I was angry, upset, but certainly in denial for not months but years, because of that event and when it occurred. There. And then being a person of interest is, has its own dynamics. Oh, so they thought it might have been you? Well, there was that consideration. Now I had a, alibi. I was actually with my parents that night when this [00:23:00] occurred. So that, I mean, I lived alone. I was a single guy, so it was just happenstance, the Holy Spirit protecting me mm-hmm. From any kinda suspicions. But really they were trying to figure out who did it. And I was a witness to, that by being one of the last people to talk to her alive. Hmm. And now, you know, when we're recording, this is many, many years later, almost 40 years later, uh, but still it has sort of an emotional tag that goes with that. So all of us have had things that happen. My encouragement is, is no matter what, because I mean, you're in your podcast trying to help people go through trauma. You always have a choice about what you're gonna do with it. And as a trained counselor. A lot of times in the past, counseling was always about processing your past. I disagree with that. Is that we need to look to our future. Mm-hmm. You know, Carolyn Lee's research on, you know, you know who turned on, who switch off your brain and switch on your brain. Her [00:24:00] books really talks about what you focus on. Gets more on more of it. So if I go in counseling and just relive the event and relive the event and relive the event, well I haven't moved you forward. Forward. So I'm not denying its issues or what's going on or that it happened, I'm just denying it's hold in your future. So this is around forgiveness. I had to forgive the guy who killed her. Mm-hmm. Because, uh, you know, the old story, everybody has heard this, if you've been in any front of any servant, is that unforgiveness is like you taking the poison and wanting the other person to live. Right. We've all heard that. Yes. Well, we just need to be reminded of that to, I wasn't obviously agreeing with the heinous act. He did, but I had to forgive him so that I would be free in that his heinous act wouldn't be affecting me, plus my family and everybody else around me as well. So, uh, I don't think you knew that story was coming, Diana. Actually, I did. I [00:25:00] read your blog. Oh, you did? You did. Oh, well, you're one of the few. So, uh, and when I do my normal podcast, I don't mention this for very often, but you know, the Holy Spirit has lifted me up, been there beside me in that. It's not him who did this. You know, I can rely on him to be able to kind of build me up. And in fact, I have to, I mean, if we're going through life, we're just gonna have stuff happen. Mm-hmm. It's just part of the dynamic of living in a broken world. Yeah. It definitely is a fallen world. Yeah. I'll swing around back to what you said about forgiveness. Did the, murderer, go to prison or did he think of that? Yeah, he was eventually caught. What they did is they knew who he was, but they didn't, you know, DNA was kind of, just in its infancy stages then in 1982. So, what they did is they set up a sting operation and then they had somebody, you know, where people wear wire and they're recording what's being [00:26:00] said. There was some, someone in his life that he had semi revealed that he was involved with this. And so they knew that, but they couldn't prove anything. So then they set up this sting and then it went from there. And then once he sort of confessed in this, sting operation with this person, then it went to downhill from there. Yes, he was, I think his time, I think he's like in life, in prison for life. So was it easier to forgive that you saw some justice for your girlfriend, or did that not really matter? It's so long ago. I'm not sure if I recall if I was thinking either way, but mm-hmm. But I think finding the person who did it was important just for safety matters. Mm-hmm. And curiosity and just, you know, who was it that did this? I, knowing the person to a certain degree, I mean, because we had hired him and had interactions with him. He wasn't a hundred [00:27:00] percent there, if you know what I mean. Oh, okay. Just so, I don't wanna use the word simple, but I use the word just not a hundred percent. You know, the elevator didn't go a hundred percent to the top. And I think it was not planned. I believe that it was just a sexual advance go bad, and he went to a point of no return, that she's gonna say something, I'm gonna get into trouble. And the only way to stop this is to end her life. Mm-hmm. And I believe that's what occurred and what happened. So he was single, he was in his thirties. Mm-hmm. Uh, and you know, a lot of sexual predators are kind of in that category. I don't know if he was or wasn't. I don't know. And there was no other charges in other parts of his life. But that's kind of how that unfolded. Ian, you know, at this point, I'm obviously very, very sad. She was an amazing girl. And being my grad prom date had sort of a. Not sort of had a significance sort of in my history, in my life as well, but I was just thankful that justice was [00:28:00] done and those things were discovered. And I'm just saying to those people at watch who are listening, that, you know, no matter what happens, we have these choices to be able to move to the next level. I mean, I'm thankful Diana, for your ministry and Ministries like you that help people to kind of bridge that gap from where they are to where they need to do or some of the work that we do as well. So, you know, example is my parents, my mom mm-hmm. Still has not processed this adult child of alcoholic. Her behavior is around it. Mm-hmm. In interesting enough, my sister who is in her fifties, and I hopefully she doesn't watch this, is you know, some of the tendencies are there too. Like, I know my parents won't watch it. But you know, if one of my family members watch it, is that, that worry side, that anxiety side that gets passed down? Yes. Now and obviously my depression side came out of that family dynamic. Mm-hmm. And then with my dad, never saying, never having a compliment. I think he just emotionally was unable to do it. Mm-hmm. Now, what's [00:29:00] really fun is my kids are 25 and 24 now, and they're very developed and skilled individuals. My wife Brenda, is a school teacher, so we're both in the professional development fields. Mm-hmm. And for their age. The kids are amazing. Of course, parents are biased about this, but they really mess with grandpa and grandma now. Oh. So my daughter will go in there, grandpa, we really, really, really love you. We really do. Just waiting to see if he'll say anything. And then he'll go, so he'll mumble and then he'll kind of be embarrassed. He'll look down. And it's not that he doesn't have any emotions, but the kids kind of know that. And they just, because grandparents can't mess with their grandkids that way. And then my son will do the same thing with them. And so from that point of view, we've just loved on them, accepting them for where they're at. I feel badly for them that they haven't been able to brace everything that they could. You know, when we're in the stressful situation, we are in the world right now. They have just taken the [00:30:00] worry of the whole world upon their shoulders. Right? You know, God's very clear in his word. Fear is from the enemy. Mm-hmm. You know, it doesn't mean stupid, but there's not one scripture that I'm aware of unless you want to correct me, Diana, that says, you know what? Being fearful a little bit's. Okay. Everything is fear. Not Well, you know, God says, he gives you fear so you don't jump off the edge of a cliff or, bungee jump off of Well, I have bungee jump, but I hear what you're saying is that, that fight or flight, yeah. That's a healthy fear. It keeps you from doing something really stupid. Mm-hmm. But, and then when we get into the scripture, you know, fear fear of the Lord is really a reverence for 'em if you get into the Greek and the Hebrew. Mm-hmm. Is that it's reverence for them and it's honoring of them. And in that's part of the problem in the global society right now. There's no fear of him. There's no reverence for God anymore. No. And so it's a godless society in many ways. That's why people are acting out when you take [00:31:00] God out, then you get these situations where people are spiritualists and they really are acting on their own. And the enemy is controlling them. Mm-hmm. Exactly. And their flesh. Yeah. Well, for sure. And if it's not modeled for you and we teach that in our development factors model that as an observer, as a child of the relationships around you, that's all you know to do. Yeah. And of course we think that life is around social media, that it's around podcasts like this, but there was none of that. Mm-hmm. Back 50, 60 years ago. And in fact, the TV was just even coming in and some of the examples there, and most of the examples were way more wholesome. Yeah. And loving back then. I think the. The most amount of violence was on gun smoke. Uh, I love that show. Of course. I mean, those of us that are older, remember that one? That was great. So part of what, you know, I wanna encourage the listeners [00:32:00] is, people do the best that they can with what they know. My mom has told me that she loves me, but it's kind of an awkward thing. It's a thing that she does there. If I say that I love her, then she would say, well, me too. Um, but not everybody is that way. And then you talk about intimacy. We used to joke with my parents that said, how do we exist? You guys never touch each other. Like, how did it even happen? Like, was it an accident while you were sleeping or something? So we used to just, we joked about that because there was zero. Intimacy between them. And but I think that again, was cultural and that was part of it. Now, when we think about ministry and spiritual life, and again, the, hopefully this reaches people and it touches your heart for the I went to a church that really nice people, but the services were equivalent to a funeral. Oh yeah. And then the other one is, is when you have the theology and the mindset that you do in that group, they were one of the, some of the most miserable people [00:33:00] that I knew, and this was the Christian Church. I said, well, why would I wanna be part of this? Right. 16, 17, 18, 19, I really fell off and I was crazy, wild and everything. Went to college found out that, uh, man, I could buy four cases of beer for 20 bucks back there in the province of Alberta. And the drinking age was 18 and that's what I was. And so it was a crazy time for me. But then when I got into my later years of my twenties, 26, 27, I was invited to a Bible study by a friend of mine and I said, I don't know. Like I always knew God was there. Mm-hmm. But I really didn't wanna have anything to do with him. I wasn't vile. There was some people that were violent. I was just disinterested in Christian people. Mm-hmm. The number one reason that I left the church were Christians. Yep. At least in my head. But I was around 25, 26 and I went to this Bible study and that this friend of mine, he had, it was a business owner and he had it one Saturday a month. And I walked in this room and [00:34:00] here are these Christians telling jokes and having fun. And it says those two things don't coexist with being a Christian. So he is having fun, he is telling jokes, he's enjoying himself. It wasn't a legalistic pet. And abyss. I said, what? And so all of a sudden my eyes were started to open up and then the spirit, oh no man, the spirit's gonna come. I might even cry. But he came to me because he had me tagged for this kinda work, right? Is he says, Ken, it's not about you and them, it's about you and me. Mm-hmm. So when we have issues with other people, it's always about going vertical. People will always disappoint you. And then his other, his next word to me was clear. He says, and Ken, when were you? Perfect. So none of us are perfect. And so, you know, some of the most judgmental people I've ever met were, have been in the Christian environment, right. That legalistic kind of side. And I said, okay, fine. [00:35:00] Now moving towards it. And that's when I was baptized in a friend's pool, I think it was 28 years of age, and started to go on this journey. And then later on started doing more work for Ministries and said, you know what? I really want to hone my, ministry side and decided to. Take additional biblical studies. Mm-hmm. And then be ordained actually through a friend of mine who, he has a pastor of a church, but he also is one of our associates. 'cause we license other people, around the world to use our tools to serve their community. So this pastor was using it to serve his team and all his team members were going through it. And he also was doing community outreach. And he says, no, we'll, Andor and you. Ordain you under our, CEEC banner. So there's probably about 4,000 kind of interdenominational groups that are under this banner, and that's why I'm ordained under that. I think, I don't know if I mentioned this in the podcast we were together yesterday, or the session yesterday, is I don't ever see myself being quote unquote a pastor of [00:36:00] a church, but doing extended ministry, helping people in ministry and leadership. I've, done a lot of retreats for leadership mm-hmm. For denominations because I can bring the expertise as a leadership in professional development consultants and well as a consultant to bear with the ministry context. And so it's just adding, and that's where I love actually doing the work. We have a local church, one of the larger ones, and the youth minister is a friend of mine. He also does apologetics. And so what we started to do is do his leadership group on our personality. I have a book called, why Aren't You More Like Me? Mm-hmm. And every once or twice a year, we would do retreats for those youth leaders that were 18 to 30 years of age. And in that moment I said, you know what? God has created us uniquely, but also perfectly for the assignments that he has for us in life. It's our responsibility to figure out [00:37:00] what that is. So, Dr. Pastor Randy, would get up front and he would say, next to accepting Christ. He says, I think this is one of the most important things you could learn, because every single person on this planet has a personal style. Other people call it a personality. Mm-hmm. And you are gonna bring that to bear in everything you do, every relationship you touch, every work piece, and responsibility you do. And it's not right, it's not wrong. You are uniquely created for the purposes that he has for you and the plan he has for you and the assignments he has for you and every. Personality or personal style has related strengths and stuff. Challenges, I guess. So I need to be responsible for that. I have, if I didn't have the strengths and tenacity that I was naturally born with, no way, I would've had the fortitude or resilience to overcome some of the things that this company's been through and some of the things that have been in front of me in my life. Wow. On the other hand, you don't want me to [00:38:00] be the auditor of your ministry books 'cause I'll just say it close enough because I absolutely. I might have an MBA, but I really dislike the minute details. I'm really an idea person, even though I've written 4 million words. The words are through ideas to influence people to improve their lives. Mm-hmm. To write a textbook on trigonometry is, I need him to come here and I'm gonna go to heaven quicker. I'm never gonna write. So part of those of you that are watching our ability to say no is equally important as our ability to say yes. Mm-hmm. So our responsibility as individuals, as believers say, everybody says, okay, the're great commission to share his word with other people. Okay. But where doing what for you? So that is the bigger question for us individually, to say, where does he want you to go? What does he want you to do? And you know, if I would've followed the [00:39:00] cultural pressures, I'd still be on the dairy farm. Mm-hmm. With my. Two brothers. And so my youngest brother has taken over the dairy farm and now his son is looking at taking over and his son has got a son. So now you're talking five or six generations. That's great. That's fine. But that's not what I am called to do. So my encouragement is, if you're watching this, there's two things. First of all, don't let the pressures of the past and other people's expectation drive you. Really only a Holy Spirit can lead you. Mm-hmm. And some close advisors that have wisdom and insights or even a word of knowledge for you that you wouldn't know that's driven from the Holy Spirit, not from here. The second one is that is true for you and you're a parent, or you're a significant other, or you're a partner. Why wouldn't you honor that uniqueness of the people around them as well? A friend of mine who's a believer, who was part owner of the company that I now own a hundred percent and I, but I've known him for 40 years. He, when we first got involved with this, he says, [00:40:00] Ken, my son's really. He's not gonna amount to anything. He's the laziest kid I've ever met. But what he was saying, because my friend is a driven entrepreneur like this guy at 70 works 12 hours a day, six days a week, even now, and you can't stop him. And that's just who he is. It's the fabric of who he is. He was a dairy farmer as well, so you, he's already got that in his gene. His son, who was not really lazy, was just extremely easygoing. So his style was just Dad, no chill. Just chill. Dad, whatever. You know what he is now? Pediatric doctor. Aw. So, sometimes we go there and we judge people and we say, you're not gonna melt to anything. You're lazy. You shouldn't be doing this. And in fact, God had a calling for, his name is John. To be a doctor and think about his nature. He's caring for kids, he has a heart for kids, he has the temperament for kids, he loves on them as a doctor. And then [00:41:00] gifted on that, what a better place to be now. The relationship between father and son have never been better as part of it. You know, as you think about this, how can we create a space, a safe space for individuals like you or me to go on this journey of discovery with me, not because of what I say or don't say, but together so that I can help you realize your potential. And one of the things that is, um, I do still kind of get a little miffed at how Christians can put other people down for certain reasons. Absolutely. Or just people in general. I had a point, and now it's gone. It'll come back to me here in a moment. But part of this is that. We don't want to be judging people about their direction and putting them down for certain directions. Mm-hmm. Because now what we're doing is we're spilling our fear into their space. The reality is the enemy will bring people around you to discount you. We even talked about that yesterday in [00:42:00] the, Christian business owners call. Mm-hmm. Is that the enemy wants to discount your worth. Yes. If I go, I have zero people says, Ken, you still get nervous speaking in front of groups. I says, never. Never. If it's a thousand people, 2000 people, 3000 people, I love it. I'm energized. You ever get nervous? Getting on a show? Never does not happen. However, if I'm asked to preach in front of a church, then the worthiness, the enemy comes after me and says, Ken, do you know who you are? What gives you the right to speak about Christ's righteousness in front of these people? And so my, so I want to call it wisdom mm-hmm. To individuals, is that the enemy wants to discount that, there's a big difference between confidence and arrogance is that we wanna be confident in who he is. And yes, he has asked me to share his word with others in the context, and I've done preaching for people online and in services at churches, [00:43:00] and then also led, you know, Ministries through our work and leadership and personality and wellness and all these things. But I'm still working on this thing where the enemy wants to attack this. Who do you think you are? Hmm. When he called out Moses, when Moses says, well, I'm not equipped for this. We use the, scripture from Gideon. I'm the weakest of my clan. Why? Why choose my me? And I started to think about that. Think about all the people that God chose. To lead and be in front. Half of them are murderers. I mean, I'm being demonstrative, but Right. So, hello. That didn't exclude them. Then you have this Pharisee who is killing Christians on the weekend, who wrote nearly half of the New Testament. Absolutely. What are you talking about? Because he's trying to demonstrate to you, me and everybody watching the transformational nature of his spirit and that there is nothing that's not [00:44:00] possible if you're in his will and following it. I will never, in spite of all, like you were talking off air about these, I'll call it new age kind of positive thinking stuff. Mm-hmm. I will never be a basketball player. It's just not gonna Me neither. At five nine. It is not gonna happen. It's just, I can have all the goals in the world. I can visualize all I want. It's just not going to happen. But if it's in the context of his will, and here's the other responsibility. As believers, it's your responsibility to find out what that will is. Where does he want you to go? And again, to be really careful, be really cautious to only get feedback from those people who are trusted advisors that know the spirit. Oh, I know what I was gonna say earlier is my family, when I decided to leave my sales job to start my own sales training, even then my parents said, my dad said to me, why would you leave a company that gives you a free [00:45:00] car? And then they give you lunches. Two, what a what an idiot you are to leave that job, to start this training business. Well, that company, by the way, three or four years later, went bankrupt. So that was kind of a little get back at your dad moment there. And they sort of fine. But that's how people are thinking. They're well-meaning they're trying to protect you. But don't absorb their fear. Don't let their doubt come into your space. Sometimes you have to be extremely guarded about I'll call it the unbelief of others around you. When Jesus didn't chastise the disciples very often, but he chastised them about fear in the boat and the water. Mm-hmm. But he also chastised their unbelief when they couldn't heal the crippled individual who was come on, help me with the word Diana. Possessed. And they said, what? Why couldn't we cast out the devil? They said, because of your unbelief. So [00:46:00] sometimes we need to make sure that we guard ourselves and be around those people that really are there with us, Diana, on that side, I'm getting a little preachy now instead of just a podcast on those. I love it. I love it. But my, and we talk a lot about boundaries that you have to have boundaries, physical boundaries, as well as mental boundaries. Who are you hanging out with? Who are you allowing to influence you? That's super important. Oh, and in fact, I was talking about this on another, podcast just this morning that I was on, is that, the research is clear who you associate with matters, and the proof is, is that your five closest associates will be the highest level of influence. In other words, if we look at your five closest friends, I can almost predict. With certainty what you are going to be like, how you're gonna think, how you're going to act, because you're constantly influencing each other. Now I remember, and I know you're almost getting close to the end of the show, but one of my [00:47:00] colleagues, not a believer, but very wise guy, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, one of the top coaches in the world, wrote the book Triggers and What Got you here won't get you there. And I was at an invite only event in New York with him and 20 or 30 other people in the coaching industry. And one of the things he stated, and this is so true, especially people with trauma and they have family, is that a lot of times you want to go to a new level. So Diana, you're going to a new level, you're doing the podcast, you're doing this ministry, you're growing, I'm growing. Your past, the people that you grew up in high school or the people that know you or your family, they wanna keep you where you were. They don't want to you to go where you're going. So an example is when I got my doctorate degree, we had a family dinner and it was kind of a celebration. And one of my family members said to me with almost with the stain, we are never calling you doctor. Hmm. And part of it is that they knew me for who I was 30 years ago. [00:48:00] And then of course I left the farm. I went on my own started to develop relationships and connections with amazing people around the world. Is that some, not that I'm better than them, but I am different. And so I don't really share what I do with my family members. And that's what Marshall was teaching in his group is that sometimes who you become doesn't fit the people that you used to hang out with. It doesn't mean you don't hang out with them. You just limit that you are being with your family. Diana, what are you doing? He says, well, I'm doing ministry work and I'm running a podcast and just really helping people to overcome trauma. And that's it. That's all it's done. We don't talk about the great people we met or 'cause what happens is you're seen as being arrogant and who do you think you are rather than colleagues where you're just sharing your excitement about this growth. Oh yeah. I had relatives come up to me 'cause they heard me, I was a guest on somebody else's podcast. Oh, she can't do that. You know, she's gonna hurt somebody. She's not a licensed counselor. She's not this, she's not that. [00:49:00] And I have had training. I get considerable training. I'm not a licensed counselor, but the program that I follow, was written by a trauma counselor and a theology professor. So that's called Mending the Soul, by the way. Mm-hmm. Anyway, yeah, they're definitely, we're all already people telling me, well, you shouldn't be doing that. Who are you? You're not some, super professional girl. You're just Diana, you're just an abuse survivor. That's all you are kind of thing. So, yeah. Well, what happens a lot of times is envy can come in, jealousy can come in. They wanna still contain you and me to who we were, but it's also still their perception is true with, one of my family members where, they go on, oh, you, you're always this person that talks too much. That's what my dad said to me when I was a teenager. And of course he was putting me down for my style and what I do. And it was interesting because even though he [00:50:00] says, Ken, you talk too much and put me down for my style. I was the person that asked to be m Mc of banquets when I was 16 and 17 years of age because I would be quick on my feet, I'd be able to have a responsiveness. And I also took. The responsibility of being an mc of a banquet. Seriously, because have you ever been to these banquets that's run by volunteers where you have just a terrible mc and they ruin the night? Oh yeah. Well, the opposite. I said, no. I take this as a profession. Mm-hmm. And recently, interesting enough, in spite of sort of the history, my dad has a group called The Pioneers, which are elderly people have been in our community for, 60, 70, 80, 90 years. And they asked me to be the mc. And so then I've done it for two years. They won't hold it this year. And people come and said, how are you able to do that? Because the people that were doing it before were on the board. They were, dementia was already setting in and they were trying to lead this banquet and it was just a [00:51:00] disaster, nice people. But they were way out of their element and they shouldn't have been MCing it. Here's a family trying to contain, you said, who do you think you are? Put you down for talking yet. It's my profession. It's what I do. I've been paid or have conducted 3000 presentations around the world in the last 32 years. Hello? What? Like, help me out here and just like your family, my dad is, just really unsure about what I really do. If I say I'm doing some speaking or training for like Chrysler, well, he gets that, but producing psychological tools and assessments and all the other work, like we were talking around purpose. No, they, they wouldn't get it. So part of, you know, all of that story from both of us for the viewers and listeners is that it's okay to move on, but also you don't have to share your new life with your old life. Yeah. And that you can be that person for them, but guard your [00:52:00] future sort of, expounding about what you're gonna do and writing these books and creating these e-course and all that kind of stuff, they don't care. They're not there. So it's interesting because my wife and I, when we go to family events we talk about emotional intelligence and we talk about interpersonal intelligence and we talk about self-awareness. But one of the things we do at family events, we, we have a game. We say, could we go all night with 20 people in the room with three hours a time? We're not a single person will ask us a question about us and we can do it multiple times. So we go to an event and Diana, how are you doing and what's new at the ministry? And, how's the family doing? And I heard you went on this trip, a gifted conversationalist is a person who asks questions, right? But what we note is that nobody asks myself or my wife a question. Now, there's the odd occasion where it does occur. It does happen, but it's extremely [00:53:00] rare. So people like to talk about themselves. So we might say, well listen, we're thinking about going to Hawaii. Oh, we went to Hawaii two years ago and we're over here. And all of a sudden they're telling a story, which is all about being self-centered about their trip to Hawaii two years ago. And we just shared what, where we're going to Hawaii. They didn't ask about where you're going, when you're going, who's going? No. They went on to their own. This is a conversational skillset that most of the population does not have. And by the way, for those of you watching play the game. Go out there and, don't talk about yourself. If somebody talks about something, make sure you respond to it, but then transition back to a question and see if you can go all night without anybody asking a question about yourself. And then here's the other one. Don't be offended by it. Give it up. Offense is a choice. You know, we talked about trauma and we talked about forgiveness, but being offended is also a choice. Mm-hmm. Dr. David's Burn's work around, trauma, if you've ever read his book feel good [00:54:00] is, I mean, it's got about 500 pages at four point font. Is that my response is always a choice. Yes. And even Dr. Gottman in his work around relationships is that once I get over 100 beats per minute non-athletic, I'm no longer rational. Well, that's where we have trauma. We have abuse, we have crazy things that happen. One of our number one constituents, we serve as law enforcement. So, Dr. Anderson, who founded the company, was a criminology professor. And then one of my co-authors, Dr. Mitch dti, teaches law enforcement officers emotional intelligence. What's the most dangerous situation for law enforcement to go into domestic dispute? Yes. Why? Because people are irrational. Mm-hmm. So I've let myself get ramped up. I'm now biologically I'm no longer in control of my emotions. Mm-hmm. And now I will say and do things that will regret. Now I'm completely [00:55:00] outta control. I mean, there was this situation that happened in Palm Springs a couple, two, three years ago where there was abusive situation carrying on. The officers broke up, the couple started to contain him, and then she got a gun out and killed both officers. Oh. So that's why officers in these environments, they said you have to watch your back because it's completely. Unpredictable as part of it. So I mean, there's obviously lots of things that we've covered today in the show and we've gone for our 55 minutes. Anything else, Diana, that you wanted to maybe poke your head into before we close? Well, we could go down a whole bunch of rabbit trails on a lot of things that you said. You said so many great nuggets. But maybe for our listeners, perhaps. Give like a list of actionable things that they can do right now. Now just before I do it, so that we don't miss you, I have a gift for everybody. Yes. And [00:56:00] so I'm gonna give you access to the e-copy, Of my the Quest for Purpose book in the get that is go to my speaker site, which is Ken Keys, K-E-N-K-E-I s.com/faithful. You'll in that hidden URL and of course you'll be able to put it in the show notes, Diana as well. Mm-hmm. Is that you'll be able to go there and then download the e version of the book. What I am sometimes shocked at is that I give away this book is that the amount of people who don't. Opt in to get the book. It is a roadmap, a step-by-step process to get clear about who and what and where, and what you should be doing in your life and all components. And now it's gonna take work, it's gonna take time, but where are you gonna be in six months if you don't do it? So, uh, it's there. I spent six months going through this process with my coach, Mike McManus, you know, driving three hours each way when it wasn't pertinent. So when I think about actionable steps, [00:57:00] and you think about people's lives, first of all, if you don't have a purpose in life, then your purpose is to find your purpose. And so that becomes the focus, rather than trying to say, I better be doing this, or I just take a breath. Allow yourself time and space. I've noticed that the Holy Spirit is never frantic. He is on time and he is moving forward, but he is never Fran frantic. And so, chaos is not from him. So just be peaceful, be quiet, and start paying attention and asking yourself this question, if you are doing what you're doing right now in all contexts of your life 20 years from now, is that okay? And if you say no, then that obviously infers change. So what is it that you're gonna move towards? Don't freak out. Don't try to do it all. I mean, if I'm trying to be a marathon runner this morning and then I said, I'm gonna run and do a marathon tonight, I'm gonna be dead. Just, I gotta [00:58:00] train for it. Yep. So life is the same way. The other one is for us and our resources, is that there's all different ways to get to clarity. So we have assessments and they're all learning assessments. So a values assessment, a self-worth assessment, a personality assessment we have a self-worth one I might have mentioned that already. And so all of those become puzzle pieces to create the clarity. The other one, Diana, is, is get a group that's gonna support you, look around and don't judge the five closest friend, but say are the five closest friends in a space that are gonna help you to go where you need to go. And sometimes one of my mentors used to say, you know what, Ken? Sometimes you need to fire clients. He says, why? He says, you've outgrown them. The client that you're serving now is not the client that you started with five years ago. So you know, like my fees and what I do is completely different than what it was 15 years ago. So [00:59:00] now start paying attention to that. And then the other thing is, is that life takes effort. If you get finish watching the show and do nothing and do no action steps, then you're gonna have the same thing tomorrow. So what are the steps that you can take? Start moving towards it, download the book. It's got a complete roadmap. And the other thing we'll make sure that my contact information is there, Diana, is that if people have questions, reach out, I'll respond as, as best as I can in the time that's allotted there. But I'll respond to you to be able to say, Hey, how can we help you or call you and your ministry? Mm-hmm. And some of the coaching that is available there. So that'll get you started. And again, don't try to do it all overnight. Just take one step at a time. The research shows is that if you try to three things at wants to change it, you have about a 15% likelihood of implementing it and a 75% success rate if it's just one thing. So one thing at a time, progress forward and keep listening to Diana's podcast. [01:00:00] And that should be the other step that they do too. Right. Wow, this was so awesome. I cannot wait to read that book and I hope that our listeners will download the book and get busy reading it and putting those things into practice. We will probably have to have you back again in the future because I can just tell you have so much more to share with us to help anytime to be able to serve and support and, you know, go granular in some of these other areas that we can talk about. For sure, anytime, Diana, So today, just choose one thing, one small thing to get you closer to your healing goals. God bless. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org [01:01:00] where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

Learning to communicate well is the cornerstone to a healthy relationship. Unfortunately, we're not taught how to communicate well and therefore make many mistakes, often without realizing it. In this new episode I discuss the top 8 communication mistakes to avoid. 

There are some souls whose presence feels like a deep exhale, like the banks of the river where you can just be yourself. Jeremy Lipkowitz is one of those rare beings. A former Buddhist monk turned executive coach, he blends ancient wisdom with neuroscience to guide men out of shame and back into integrity, presence, self-love and healthy sexuality.  I first had the honor of being on his podcast, and now I am thrilled to welcome him to Intimate Conversations. In this tender and illuminating conversation, we went places many are too afraid to explore: addiction, shame, intimacy, porn, and the path back home to yourself and your sovereignty. In this powerful episode we explored: -Jeremy's courageous journey from genetics researcher to Buddhist monk to becoming a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and helping men reclaim their lives. -How seemingly innocent curiosities in childhood can quietly escalate into compulsive porn use, and why shame and secrecy make it worse. -The neuroscience behind addiction, novelty, and escalation, and how porn literally rewires the brain to need “more.” -The subtle but devastating ways porn impacts intimacy, from a lack of presence with partners to needing increasingly intense mental images from porn to stay aroused. -Jeremy's gentle, science-backed approach to recovery: mindfulness, meditation, habit change, and creating safe, non-judgmental community spaces for men to heal. -Why recovery is not just about quitting porn, but about training your mind and nervous system to desire gratitude, contentment, peace and true connection. -Our shared passion for unshaming sexuality, rebuilding healthy desire, and guiding both men and women back to wholeness, presence, and conscious intimacy. -The parallel patterns in women with vibrators, romance novels, and fantasy, and how these too can desensitize and disconnect us from real-life intimacy and presence. -How Jeremy helps clients dissolve shame, rewire their brains, and rebuild their sex lives from a place of acceptance and joy. After the Show on Patreon, Jeremy and I go deeper into his soul's truths and let loose dancing to his favorite Afro Beat. It warmed my heart to hear my episode on his Podcast, Unhooked: Breaking Porn Addition has received great feedback, especially with the communication tool, the Dyad. If you or someone you love has been affected by porn addiction or sexual shame, this episode will offer science, hope, and a path back to freedom and self-respect. You can connect with Jeremy at JeremyLipkowitz.com ➡️ Go check out patreon.com/allanapratt for Exclusive content! About Jeremy:   Jeremy Lipkowitz is a former Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, and ICF-certified executive coach who helps high-achieving men break free from compulsive behaviors—especially porn addiction—and build lives of integrity, discipline, and deep fulfillment. With over 13 years of meditation experience and hundreds of days spent in silent retreat, Jeremy blends ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science to guide individuals toward emotional resilience and personal freedom. A former genetic researcher who earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Genetics & Genomics and pursued a PhD at Duke University, Jeremy left academia after confronting his own struggles with addiction, shame, and self-judgment. A brief period of monastic training in Myanmar deepened his mindfulness practice and marked the start of a lifelong commitment to personal growth and service. As the founder of Unhooked Academy and host of the Unhooked Podcast, Jeremy is a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and educating the public on effective, science-based recovery strategies. His work helps men overcome shame, understand the neuroscience of addiction, and create lasting transformation through mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and habit change. For over a decade, Jeremy has taught at universities, recovery centers, and global companies across the U.S. and Asia. His calm, grounded presence and ability to bridge analytical thinking with inner work make him a sought-after guide for professionals and executives looking to reclaim their lives from digital distractions and self-sabotaging patterns. Website: https://www.jeremylipkowitz.com/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/jeremylipkowitz Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/ YouTube URL https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz Product https://www.jeremylipkowitz.com/offers/KwDc9gbJ/checkout Schedule your Intimacy Breakthrough Experience with me today https://allanapratt.com/connect Scholarship Code: READYNOW ________________________________________________________ ❤️ Finding the One is Bullsh*t. Becoming the One is brilliant and beautiful, and ironically the key to attracting your ideal partner. Move beyond the fear of getting hurt again. Register for Become the One Introductory Program. http://allanapratt.com/becomeintro Use Code: BTO22 to get over 40% off ________________________________________________________ ❤️ We're thrilled to partner with Magic Mind for this episode. Go to https://magicmind.com/INTIMATECONVERSATIONS40 to avail exciting offers! ________________________________________________________ ❤️ Let's stay connected: Exclusive Video Newsletter:  http://allanapratt.com/newsletter Instagram - @allanapratt [ / allanapratt ] Facebook - @coachallanapratt [ / coachallanapratt ]

In this episode, Ali speaks with Dr. James A. Simon, a leading OB-GYN and "Menopause Whisperer," about his pioneering work in sexual medicine and menopause care. Dr. Simon discusses the challenges and importance of addressing sexual health in gynecology, the evolution of hormone therapy, and the cultural barriers that often prevent open conversations about menopause and women's sexuality.The episode highlights the need for more holistic, individualized care for women, the impact of hormones on health and wellbeing, and the progress still needed in medical education and societal attitudes. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of menopause, hormone therapy, and the value of compassionate, open dialogue about women's health and aging.Topics also include how aging has changed over generations, why people got scared of Hormone Replacement Therapy, the prevalence and benefits of testosterone in women, the politics of hysterectomies, how Viagra was happened upon, and how GLP-1s work. FOR MORE ALI MEZEY:ALI - WebsiteALI - LinkTreeFOR MORE JAMES:IntimMedicine Website: https://intimmedicine.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intimmedicinespecialists5815/videosFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntimMedicineRestore Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Reviving Her Sexual Desire and Passion for LifeBook by Dr. James A. Simon.JAMES BIO:James A. Simon, MD, CCD, MSCP, IF, FACOGDr. James A. Simon is a board-certified Ob/Gyn, and reproductive endocrinologist. He is Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. Dr. Simon also holds certifications as an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Counsellor, an ISCD-Certified Clinical Bone Densitometrist, and a Menopause Society-Certified menopause specialist. He has an active private practice, IntimMedicine Specialists® in Washington, DC focused on complicated gynecology, sexual medicine for both men and women, and menopause. Dr. Simon has received numerous awards including: “Top Washington Physicians,” “America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists,” “Super Doctors of Washington DC-Baltimore-Northern Virginia,” and “The Best Doctors in America.” He is the only physician to serve as President of both The Menopause Society and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Nicknamed “The Menopause Whisperer,” by Washingtonian Magazine, Dr. Simon is an established researcher and author--completing more than 450 research trials, and more than 800 published articles, abstracts, chapters, and the paperback book: Restore Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Reviving Her Sexual Desire and Passion for Life. Dr. Simon loves riding the best rollercoasters in the world, collecting fountain pens and wristwatches, and freshwater fishing. He is a five-time Master Angler of Canada.hiker, dog trainer, and lover of nature.OTHER RESOURCES, LINKS AND INSPIRATIONS: ASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists)A professional organization for sexuality educators, counselors, and therapists.ISCD (International Society for Clinical Densitometry)Organization focused on bone density and skeletal health.Menopause SocietyFormerly known as the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of women through an understanding of menopause.International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH)Multidisciplinary, academic, and scientific organization dedicated to women's sexual health.Washingtonian Magazine ArticleRegional magazine that dubbed Dr. Simon "The Menopause Whisperer."Sexual Health AllianceOrganization and conference for sexual health professionals.Women's Health Initiative Hormone StudiesLandmark studies on hormone therapy in women.Menopause MeetingsAnnual conferences for menopause specialists.PremarinEstrogen medication derived from pregnant mares' urine, historically used in hormone therapy.Viagra (Sildenafil)Medication for erectile dysfunction, originally developed for high blood pressure.GLP-1 Receptor AgonistsClass of injectable medications for diabetes and weight loss (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy).Dr. Dympna RenshawSouth African psychiatrist and pioneer in sexual medicine, especially in the context of trauma and dysfunction.Halle Berry, Kate WinsletCelebrities mentioned for their advocacy and openness about menopause.Contraception Marches (late 1960s)Historical reference to activism for access to contraception.[From time to time, a word or phrase goes wonky. Please forgive my wandering wifi.]

Relationships feel easy when things are going well—when we feel understood and everything between us feels steady. They're much harder when we're frustrated, disappointed, or misunderstood. Yet it's in those moments of friction and honest conflict that we're invited to grow—to become wiser, more grounded, and more capable of real love. In this NEW episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Monica Tanner to share insights from That We Might Have Joy and explore how conflict in marriage isn't a sign that something's gone wrong, but part of the very process through which deeper intimacy and peace take shape.

In this episode, Sathiya discusses the importance of understanding Jesus as the standard for believers, particularly in relation to temptation and sin. He emphasizes that while Jesus was without sin, he experienced temptation, and this distinction is crucial for personal growth. Sathiya encourages listeners to view temptations as opportunities for self-discovery and growth, rather than sources of shame. He shares practical tips for building intimacy with God, which he believes is essential for overcoming sin and living a fulfilling life.   COME TO OUR DEEP CLEAN RETREAT (8 SPOTS ONLY)   Watch This Content In Video Format Coach Sathiya Sam Youtube Chanel    Chapters:  (00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Content (01:24) Understanding Jesus as the Standard (03:00) The Nature of Temptation vs. Sin (06:00) The Role of Temptation in Personal Growth (09:09) Jesus' Example of Intimacy with God (11:59) Practical Tips for Building Intimacy with God

In this episode of the Man on Fire podcast, David Mehler challenges high-achieving men to confront the pain they've been avoiding. He argues that what we're really running from isn't failure or success—it's suffering itself.The conversation reveals how pain management strategies like porn, food, alcohol and overwork keep us stuck and how turning toward discomfort can unlock freedom, purpose and even joy.David draws on a lesson from India, childhood wisdom and decades of working with men to illustrate why avoiding emotions prolongs them and why our deepest wounds often hide our greatest gifts.

In the journey toward healing, survivors often find that intentional practices like sober sex foster a deeper emotional and physical intimacy, essential for their trauma recovery. This emphasis on connection stands in stark contrast to much mainstream sexual messaging, which frequently excludes the necessary emotional components for true sexual well-being. Development of safe relationships is threatened when media and politics overstep their bounds, making autonomous sexual expression and recovery a constant social and personal endeavor.*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.. To lay the foundation for how intimacy is the cornerstone of sexual wellbeing, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors and experts in trauma and sexuality, Dr. Stephanie Covington and Dr. Vanessa Carlisle. Discussing their co-authored book, Awaken Your Sexuality: A Guide to Connection and Intimacy after Addiction and Trauma, Dr. Covington and Dr. Carlisle explore its core principles from various viewpoints. In the book, they examine the diverse facets of human sexuality, including the issues of entitlement and control that frequently surround it. This episode is proudly sponsored by:CB Distillery—Offers natural and convenient CBD gummies and other plant-powered remedies. Visit http://cbdistillery.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 25% off your order.and OneSkin—Offers longevity-focused skincare products designed to target skin health at the cellular level. Visit http://oneskin.cond use promo code HHTR to get 15% off your order. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Is your relationship simply surviving, or is it evolving with the woman you're becoming? In this episode, we explore how to build deeper intimacy in midlife love through clarity, courage, compassion, and shared vision. You'll learn why real intimacy requires more than just time together, how to see this time as an invitation to thrive in your romantic relationship, and learn some practical steps you can start using now to bring more connection, honesty, and play into your relationships. Tune in for wisdom, strategies, and a fresh perspective on rewriting love in midlife.

Therapist and author Dr Lyne Piché talks with Karen about ADHD and tools individuals and couples can use to promote more intimacy and better sex lives. They discuss her new ADHD workbook in this far-ranging and lively conversation.Our seventh anniversary show is in Chicago, October 12, 6pm at Lincoln Lodge. Get tickets! Main show sponsor Rowan Tree Counseling.On the show:Psychologist and sex therapist Dr. Lyne Piché Host and certified sex educator Karen Yates  ADHD and Sex: A Workbook for Exploring Sexuality and Increasing Intimacy Buy the workbook on Bookshop and support Wild & Sublime! Available on Amazon too.Sign up for podcast announcements and show announcements on our website.Get tickets to the 7th Anniversary show in Chicago! Oct 12 at 6pm at Lincoln Lodge.Support the showFollow Wild & Sublime on Instagram and Facebook!

What happens when an avoidant man is confronted with the emotional truths his partner has been holding back?  In this episode, Adam invites a couple to face nine brutally honest relationship challenges. The conversation dives into emotional shutdowns, loyalty issues, and the impact of childhood wounds — revealing what avoidance looks like when love and vulnerability collide. ✨Topics Covered:

Our third scholar in the series is Chetana Sabnis, who is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Political Science at Yale University. Her research focuses on how states regulate intimate relationships and construct hierarchies of familial belonging. We spoke about her job market paper titled, The Intimacy Contract in Action: How Indian Courts Determine which Extramarital Relationships Deserve Recognition. We talked about extramarital affairs, polygamous relationships, Uniform Civil Code, social versus legal acceptance, and much more.  Recorded September 5th, 2025. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:23) - How Courts Recognize “Family” (00:03:12) - Why This Paper? Rethinking “Family” (00:05:28) - India's Legal Patchwork: Customs vs. Code    (00:11:07) - Judicial Heuristics: Rituals, Cohabitation, Children    (00:14:44) - Endogamy vs. Interfaith: Law, Bias, and Recognition (00:22:22) - How the State Views Children (00:25:27) - Welfare Logic & Gendered Maintenance  (00:29:29) - UCC and the “Intimacy Contract” (00:35:48) - The Role of the State (00:42:30) - Contract vs. Sacrament (00:49:00) - Outro

I'm scared of romance ~ Why do I tell the girlfriend I adore not to call me? Listen to caller's personal dramas four times each week as Dr. Kenner takes your calls and questions on parenting, romance, love, family, marriage, divorce, hobbies, career, mental health - any personal issue! Call anytime, toll free 877-Dr-Kenner. Visit www.drkenner.com for more information about the show (where you can also download free chapter one of her serious relationships guidebook).

Intimacy with yourself – feeling comfortable in your own skin – being able to be honest with yourself about yourself. How do we grow in this? Isn't it all a bit narcissistic and unChristian? How does it connect to intimacy with God and with others? Ed, Andrew and Jeanette talk it through. Resources mentioned and related The Intimacy Deficit by Ed ShawKeswick Convention talks on the intimacy deficit Hear Jeanette's story, in 5 minutes or in 30 minutesJeanette's latest book, ‘Betrothed: wooed by a greater love' 

The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: aerialwizarddaddy, Ferrarileite, SeizeOpportunity, BlueSparklers, save_us_catman, CrustaceanKidnapper, standardtissue, Jaustinduke, mateayat98, No-Doughnut7411, core_destiny, MadeByHideoForHideo, Sentient-Bread-Stick, Swimming_Agent_943, elizabeth_robinson12, LeeTwentyThree, AtlasShrunked, itsjustbrendan, hutimuti, , TIFUstorytime, DeltaBravoTango, schadenfreudender, CrypticFeline, AtlasShrunked, Down4Days, MrFeature_1 Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Understanding Attachment Theory & Its Impact on Relationships and Sexuality In this episode, host Eve welcomes Bev Mitelman , an expert in attachment theory, to discuss how our childhood experiences shape our attachment styles and influence our romantic relationships, sexuality, and even our workplace dynamics. The conversation covers: The basics of attachment theory The four main attachment styles (secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, fearful-avoidant) How these styles develop and can change over time The impact of attachment on emotional regulation, communication, and intimacy Breaking generational trauma and fostering secure attachment in children Guest Contact Details: Bev Mitelman Instagram : https://instagram.com/securelyloved Website : https://securelyloved.com/ Connect with Eve & Explore More Join the Community on Patreon Get exclusive content, early episode access, and the chance to ask Eve your burning questions. https://www.patreon.com/c/PleaseMePodcast Check Out Eve's Award-Nominated Website Explore resources, coaching, podcast episodes, and more. https://pleaseme.online/ Read Eve's Sex & Intimacy Column in ASN Lifestyle Magazine Smart, sexy, and real talk—every month. https://www.asnlifestylemagazine.com/subscribe Subscribe to the Weekly Turn Ons Newsletter Your dose of pleasure-focused, shame-free sex education—straight to your inbox. https://pleasemewitheve.substack.com/ Book a Session with Eve (Coaching or Pelvic Health PT) Let's work together—virtually or in person. https://calendly.com/pleasemebyevecreations/coaching-virtual-session Talk Directly with Eve on the OWWLL App Need quick advice or a real-time convo? Use code EH576472 for a free call! Download the Owwll app on your phone and call. Special Note: A magnitude 6.9 earthquake recently shook Cebu, Philippines, causing significant damage in North Cebu, which has now been declared a state of calamity. Please consider supporting the affected communities: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AngatCebuBPO Email : angatcebubpo@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know that feeling when a simple conversation spirals into the same fight you've had a hundred times before.It's not about the dishes or the money. It's about safety, disconnection, and your nervous system trying to protect you.In this episode of the Get Your Sexy Back Podcast for Couples, we open up about how to recognize when your nervous systems are running the show and how to repair and reconnect when it happens. What You'll Hear in This Episode:What is the real reason behind recurring fights, and why it's rarely about what you thinkHow the nervous system drives reactivity, defensiveness, and shutdown in moments of conflictWhat is the hidden cost of unresolved arguments, and how do  they quietly erode intimacy and trustHow does the shift from blame to curiosity look like, and how does that one change transform conflict into connectionWhat are the practical tools for regulation and repair so you can anchor yourself and your partner in safetyWhy retreats work when nothing else has and how new environments accelerate healing and intimacy If you're ready to stop fighting the same fight and start feeling safe, seen, and connected again, this episode is your roadmap back to love. REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW FOR OUR NOVEMBER 20–24 GROUP COUPLE RETREAT AT PHOENIX RISING.Here's what you'll experience:Sacred intimacy rituals that blend healing and pleasurePractices that make sex less about performance and more about playSpace to take everything back into your room… and let it get hot in your own wayThe safety of a group container where shame dissolves and passion expandsThis isn't about adding “spice.” It's about remembering how good it feels to choose each other… body, heart, and soul.Only 5 couples. Rooms are filling first-come, first-served (GeoDomes or cottage).

Learn tips on how to stop relationshipand marriage arguments, increase your passion, and also helping you with yourdating life. Weekly LIVE Q&A on Marriage, Love,Relationship, Dating and Sex from a Licensed Professional! PLEASE LIKE,SHARE and COMMENT! Thank you!

Send us a textJoin Andrea Atherton, your guide to conscious love and connection, as she sits down with relationship coach Andre Paradis, a master of NLP and relationships, as well as a former professional dancer who has performed alongside legends like Michael Jackson. In this enlightening episode, they explore the often-misunderstood concept of polarity—the dynamic dance between masculine and feminine energy that fuels attraction, intimacy, and magnetic connection.Through the lens of dance, Andre reveals how these energies move, flow, and interact, and how modern culture has obscured the natural rhythm of polarity. Drawing on his decades of experience on stage and in coaching, he shows how the principles of dance can illuminate the subtle ways masculine and feminine energies express themselves, both in relationships and within ourselves. Listeners will gain practical insights into restoring balance and spark in their connections.Andrea and Andre also discuss how reclaiming this energetic dance isn't just about romance—it's about deepening self-awareness, honoring the fluidity of energy, and reawakening the playful, magnetic qualities that bring joy and vitality to our relationships. Tune in to learn how to move with your own energy, connect more deeply with others, and bring the art of polarity back into your life.Q & A LIVE - TBD DAY and TIMEAndre Paradishttps://www.instagram.com/projectequinox/?next=%2F @projectequinoxTik-tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andre_paradis @andre_paradisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-paradis-16042249/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectEquinox/ @ProjectEquinoxFacebook women's group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796575984117469Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectEqinoxwithAndreParadisWebsite: https://projectequinox.net/30-minute Consultation with Andrea https://www.andreaatherton.com/booking-calendarAndrea Atherton Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/Love Anarchy Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/podcasthttps://loveanarchypodcast.buzzsprout.comLove Anarchy Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/loveanarchypodcast/Andrea Atherton Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/andreaatherton-17/

How long should sex last? The truth might surprise you. In this episode, Romaine and Ajay break down the myths, look at what research actually says about the average length of sex, and explore the many factors that influence timing—from biology to emotional connection. We'll also reframe the conversation around quality over quantity and share tips for making intimacy more satisfying, no matter the clock. Send the us your sex and relationship questions and maybe you will inspire the next episode of The Dildo Whisperer. We have two ways to reach the show. You can call into our show at 844-695-2766 or you can email us at Askthedw@gmail.com. Follow us on social media @dildowhisperer The Dildo Whisperer is produced by DNR Studios. To subscribe to this show and the rest of the DNR Network of shows including the Cookie Jar Podcast visit: www.dnrstudios.com

Beloved, No doubt. We all long for INTIMACY. We long for something we often can't name or even identify. We look at our communities and family and it's a painful reminders of humanity's tendency to drift toward division and having to be right.TO SEE WITH SPIRITS EYES - the most robust and incredible breath of life is having a beginners mind. Today - I open a gateway for feeling that longing of love we long for.Space with a beginners mind and to be inspired to reclaim self empowerment.The Light Between Oracle (STEP by STEP TUTORIAL) is HERE.

Learn about how adventures beyond the bedroom, new locations, can strengthen your pillars of intimacy and create lasting memories. | “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” —Amelia Earhart Is it really possible to rekindle the spark and restore the “like-new” connection in your marriage? Yes it is! In the 6 Pillars of Intimacy, you will discover secrets that have transformed countless marriages. Its ideas are simple, practical, and powerful. You'll be inspired to look at your marriage through a new lens and be encouraged by its commonsense approach. Alisa and Tony DiLorenzo's proven approach to building intimacy in marriage will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your spouse – starting today. Click HERE to get your copy today! Links from today's episode: The 6 Pillars at Sea Marriage Getaway Join Intimacy Mastery Today Apply for Coaching With Alisa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do you do when intimacy and connection in your marriage start to fade? How can you rekindle the spark, or better yet, keep it burning strong? In this episode, we talk about practical and biblical ways to nurture intimacy in all its forms. When you intentionally protect and prioritize closeness with your spouse, you not only build a marriage you truly enjoy, but you also guard your relationship against the dangers of emotional affairs.   Episode Highlights: Identify the different types of intimacy shared within marriage. The wholeness of your marriage matters. All forms of intimacy must be invested in. Boundaries keep your marriage protected.    Quotes from this episode: Your sex life is a thermometer, not a thermostat—it reflects the health of your relationship, but it can't set it.   When couples neglect emotional and spiritual intimacy, their physical relationship becomes hollow—a beautiful house with no foundation. Sooner or later, the cracks will show.   Without emotional intimacy, sex loses its power to truly bond you together. Without spiritual intimacy, you miss God's vision for marriage—a reflection of Christ and the Church.   If you wouldn't say, do, or share it with your spouse present, don't do it. That's your boundary—protect it fiercely.   If you have nothing to hide, living transparently should be easy—openness is the glue of trust in marriage.   Couple's Conversation Guide: When you think about intimacy in your marriage, which type (physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational closeness) feels the strongest right now? Which could use more attention? How do you personally feel most connected to me—through words, actions, time together, or something else? What boundaries do we need to set (personally and as a couple) to guard our marriage against the threat of emotional affairs? What's one thing you'd love for us to do together that would bring more joy, fun, or connection into our marriage? Mentioned in this Episode: Awesome Marriage is on Instagram! This month's resource targets all the major pain points of communication: Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 4 Days to Growing Gratitude in Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !  Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle  

In this two-part series, Dr. Alexandra will be taking you through how to take care of yourself and your relationship when your partner is struggling. Perhaps your partner is struggling with a job loss, a health diagnosis, a mental health challenge, the loss of a loved one, family drama, co-parenting with an ex, or something else entirely. Whatever it is, the theme is that there is some scenario that is taking up more of your partner's bandwidth than usual, leaving less bandwidth for you and your relationship.In this first part, Dr. Alexandra is going to be contextualizing this scenario and providing lots of validation for the struggle that comes with having a struggling partner. She is also going to discuss factors that shape how your partner's struggle impacts you. Hard things are just hard, but the ways you're getting activated in the wake of your partner's struggle also have a lot to do with your specific wounds, as well as the role you played in your family of origin. The insights shared in this episode lay the groundwork for a two-part series designed to equip you with effective coping strategies to maintain your well-being while fostering intimacy and connection, even in challenging times.You'll come away with this conversation with:A deeper understanding of what Dr. Alexandra calls the Recursive Relational Framework (RRF) and its impact on your relationship and the problem affecting the relationship.Research examples that demonstrate that your partner's struggles affect you and that how you respond can influence their outcome.Strategies for recognizing and managing your emotional triggers in response to a partner's distress.Practical tips for fostering personal growth while supporting a partner through their challenges. Resources worth mentioning from the episode:Get the FREE Family of Origin Roles Workbook: https://dralexandrasolomon.com/rolesworkbook/Family of Origin Series Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/58WZg044gbmGsL6iPNxXJy?si=bajzkF-kRxG3WL76yJL-qwTake the Family of Origin Role Quiz: https://dralexandrasolomon.com/rolesquiz/Managing Back to School Stress on MasterClass:  http://masterclass.com/backtoschoolContinue the conversation with Dr. Alexandra Solomon:Ask a question! Submit your relationship challenge: https://form.jotform.com/212295995939274Order Dr. Alexandra's book, Love Every Day: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-every-day-365-relational-self-awareness-practices-to-help-your-relationship-heal-grow-and-thrive-alexandra-solomon/19970421?ean=9781683736530Cultivate connection by subscribing to Dr. Alexandra's newsletter: https://dralexandrasolomon.com/subscribe/Learn more on IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.alexandra.solomon/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's no secret that marital intimacy in the midlife season can be challenging. Fatigue levels are high, hormones are wonky and you are spending all of your energy on your career and others. Leaving your husband and especially yourself, with the leftovers... aka... foggy fumes.  If your hormonal changes are creating a chasm in the bedroom or even in those intimate conversations with your hubby... If your chronic exhaustion is keeping you from enjoying your marriage the way you want to... this episode is a must listen. No topic is ever off limits on the Treasured Wellness show and this conversation is no exception. Today, I have my friend Michelle Castro on the podcast for some real talk about marriage, intimacy and high functioning fatigue and hormonal symptoms that keep women like you exhausted and frustrated. Laugh along with us as we talk about some of the details of marital intimacy, God's design for the marriage bed and how you can be your own best advocate for your hormonal health in this midlife season.   I pray this episode encourages you today! XO, Michelle   Get rid of your stress induced fatigue, brain fog and belly fat in 12 weeks without dieting, deprivation and disappointment! So that you can wake feeling refreshed, have a clear mind for your day and have the energy to be fully present with your family in the evening. Book your  Fatigue Freedom Breakthrough Call today!   Online Supplement Dispensary Info: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/michelle-mccoywellness ***Join our community, Fight FATIGUE over 40 with FAITH & Holistic Health, to be supported, encouraged and educated as you take back your health WITH God at the center. **Catch the Treasured Wellness Podcast on https://christianmix106.com/   AND YouTube   ***DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Contact your own physician for any medical concerns you have. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Treasured Wellness, LLC, guests or contributors be responsible for damages arising from the use of this podcast.

What if the fastest way to a stronger marriage isn't compromise, but better teamwork? After celebrating a number-one Amazon launch, I took a hard look at what actually helped us get there—clear roles, honest communication, and a shared commitment to play the same game on the same side. The result is a practical, story-rich guide to treating marriage like the ultimate team sport, with four moves you can use tonight.I start by reframing “opposites” as assets: the planner and the risk-taker, the night owl and the early bird, the introvert and the extrovert. Instead of fighting to be the same, I show how to deploy differences like positions on the field so your team covers more ground with less friction. Then I talk about offense and defence, who pushes the ball forward in finances, fun, and intimacy, and who protects the goal with boundaries, savings, and rest, so you can balance initiative with stability without making it personal.From there, I dig into communication that actually works: daily 20-minute huddles to align priorities, weekly date nights for team bonding, and a yearly strategy getaway to recalibrate goals. I dismantle the mind-reading myth with real scripts for clear asks, and break down why keeping score breeds rivalry while an us-vs-problem mindset restores momentum. You'll hear candid examples, from celebrating wins to handling those “seams” where balls drop and leave with a simple weekly challenge to spot, name, and thank each other's strengths.If you're ready to stop arguing about who's right and start winning together, this episode gives you the plays, the language, and the mindset to build a championship marriage. Bad Marriage Advice is now an Amazon #1 Best Seller. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, go get your copy here: https://a.co/d/4XaHmA5.And if you've gotten your copy and had a chance to look through it, do me a huge solid and go back to Amazon and leave a review here: https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/?&asin=B0FQ46HG3S.Send us a text

In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik is joined by Dr. Kelly Casperson to candidly discuss societal perceptions and medical realities around topics such as penile size, sexual augmentation, squirting, and masturbation. Together, they debunk common myths, emphasize the importance of healthy and pleasurable sexual experiences, and highlight the value of evidence-based practices and body positivity. Listeners will gain insightful perspectives on optimizing sexual health, enhancing intimacy, and making informed choices about their bodies. Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content: renamalik.supercast.com Schedule an appointment with me: https://www.renamalikmd.com/appointments ▶️Chapters: 00:00 Penile Size Myths00:01 Injections and Augmentation00:04 Who Should Perform Procedures00:06 Medical Gatekeeping and Evidence00:09 Genital Body Image Concerns00:11 Squirting and Orgasm Diversity00:20 Improving Erections Naturally00:23 Medications vs. Supplements00:23 Masturbation and Sexual Wellbeing00:26 Intimacy, Desire, and Communication Don't forget to check out  Let's Connect!: WEBSITE: http://www.renamalikmd.com YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@RenaMalikMD INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/RenaMalikMD TWITTER: http://twitter.com/RenaMalikMD FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RenaMalikMD/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renadmalik PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/renamalikmd/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/RenaMalikMD ------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this podcast is my personal opinion, and not that of my employer(s). Use of this information is at your own risk. Rena Malik, M.D. will not assume any liability for any direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mariska and I explore the dilemma of patience with the desire for intimacy with a partner that his healing. How long must you wait and how can you support the healing, especially when they are not open to therapy?

Have you ever felt like you and your spouse speak completely different love languages? Maybe you crave words of affirmation while they're all about acts of service. Or perhaps your need for physical touch feels invisible while they're busy showing love in ways that don't resonate with you.In this episode, we dive deep into the reality of opposite love languages in marriage, why they happen, why they can feel frustrating, and most importantly, how they can become a powerful opportunity for emotional and sexual intimacy.We share real-life examples from our own marriage, including moments when one of us was giving love in our language while the other's needs felt unmet. You'll hear how small, intentional actions, like noticing chores that need doing, initiating touch, or offering a genuine compliment, can completely transform connection.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How to identify your spouse's true love language when it's opposite yoursPractical strategies to speak your spouses's love language even when it feels unnaturalWhy emotional connection comes before sexual intimacy, and how this principle strengthens your marriageHow to avoid resentment when love language differences feel frustratingReal-life examples of couples turning opposite love languages into deeper love, trust, and intimacy Whether your love languages are totally opposite or just slightly different, this episode will give you the tools and perspective to stop feeling disconnected and start feeling deeply understood, desired, and emotionally close. Tune in and discover how opposites really can attract... and thrive in marriage.If you haven't already, go check out the Ultimate Intimacy App in the app stores, or at ultimateintimacy.com to find "Ultimate Intimacy" in your marriage. It's FREE to download and so much fun! Find out why close to 1M people have downloaded the app and give it such high ratings and reviews!Check out the new UandI App we just released after a year in development.WANT AMAZING PRODUCTS TO SPICE THINGS UP? YES PLEASE... CLICK HEREFollow us on Instagram @ultimateintimacyapp for app updates, polls, giveaways, daily marriage quotes and more.If you have any feedback, comments or topics you would like to hear on future episodes, reach out to us at amy@ultimateintimacy.com and let us know! We greatly appreciate your feedback and please leave us a review.Enjoy the podcast or have some feedback for us? Shoot us a message!

What does a healthy relationship look and function like? That's the focus of this 7-part series. The goal is to paint an accurate and aspirational picture of how two people behave in a conscious, loving relationship by discussing the seven components of heathy intimacy.   In this episode, you'll learn the sixth component of healthy intimacy: Appreciation.   In great relationships, appreciation is not just felt, it's verbally spoken. But it's more than saying “thank you” or “I appreciate you.” It's seeing beyond a person's mere actions, to seeing the heart, intention and motivation that produced those actions.   To truly see a person and then find the words to express what you see is a profound skill that must be learned and mastered if we want great relationships.   This is a very important and complicated issue, so don't miss this episode!   Additional Resources Roy may have mentioned on the show:   Roy's Website: https://coachingwithroy.com   Roy's Relationship Fitness Self-Assessment Test: https://coachingwithroy.com/the-relationship-fitness-self-test/   Roy's 4 Books: ·      Quantum Questions: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4RFZBS3/ ·      Relationship Bootcamp: https://amzn.to/360UsMR ·      Attracting Lasting Love: http://amzn.to/1UnYeYh ·      A Drink with Legs: https://amzn.to/31UBl3K     Roy's Group Coaching Program: https://coachingwithroy.com/group-coaching/   Roy's Complimentary 45-min. Coaching Session: To set up an appointment, email him at roy@coachingwithroy.com or call his cell 407-687-3387.   The Attracting Lasting Love podcast explores the dynamics of mature and adult dating, delving into the issues of emotional intelligence, the law of attraction, and the quest for a life partner or soulmate, while offering conscious insights and mindful advice on navigating modern relationships.

In this epsiode, we explore the essence of intimacy, focusing on the foundational elements of creating a healthy, intimate energy within ourselves. We discuss how the body's experience of intimacy develops over time, how it reacts to deeper connections, and ways to foster a safe and expansive space for intimacy to grow. Through guided energetic practices, that help you align with your body's own divine essence and deepen your connection with yourself and the world around you.Key Topics Discussed:1.) Understanding Intimacy as an Energetic Process2.) Cultivating a Safe Space for Intimacy Within the Body3.) Deepening Connection with Gaia 4.) Strengthening the Soul-Body RelationshipThis is a segment from Aleya's coaching sessions. To join her live online coaching sessions click on the link below...https://www.aleyadao.com/catalog/products/Live-Coaching-Sessions/721/Get a free month of the Cups of Consciousness meditations at https://www.7cupsofconsciousness.com/Follow along on social media for more insights and updates!

In this call in podcast I respond to two fellas who were calling in for different reasons. The first one wanted help with how to work through the trauma their relationship went through. The second just wanted some guidance on how to keep learning about marriage and relationships. 

In this Fan Mail Friday episode, recorded during our 36th-anniversary trip to Kona, Jay and I dive into your candid questions about marriage—intimacy after babies, navigating NFP, dating on a budget, perimenopause and HRT, staying close in busy seasons, and why Christ at the center changes everything. It's honest, practical, and hope-filled (heads-up: rated “M” for Marriage). Show up for your marriage—you'll be encouraged.Prime Sponsor: No matter where you live, visit the Functional Medical Institute online today to connect with Drs Mark and Michele Sherwood. Go to homeschoolhealth.com to get connected and see some of my favorites items. Use coupon code HEIDI for 20% off!Lifestone Ministries | Lifestoneministries.com/heidiShow mentions: heidistjohn.com/mentionsWebsite | heidistjohn.comSupport the show! | donorbox.org/donation-827Rumble | rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohnYoutube | youtube.com/@HeidiStJohnPodcastInstagram | @heidistjohnFacebook | Heidi St. JohnX | @heidistjohnFaith That Speaks Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Fan Mail Friday | heidistjohn.net/fanmailfriday