POPULARITY
Categories
Is Watermelon a healthy snack? How much do Watermelons weight? Can you eat Watermelon seeds? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
#971. Two years ago, Taylor Strecker came on Off the Vine, and somehow she's packed some of life's biggest milestones into the time since.She catches Kaitlyn up on becoming a mom, why she never actually wanted kids (at first), and the surprisingly honest conversation she and Teddy are having about baby number two. She also pulls back the curtain on House of Stassi—from what it's really like filming with your best friend to why she believes reality TV can actually strengthen relationships instead of destroying them.The two also get into internet trolls, friendship insecurities, and whether Taylor is just getting started in the TV world. Plus, the conversation takes a wildly unexpected turn into whether eggs are... chicken periods. (Trust us, you'll want to hear how they got there.) Giggles guaranteed!If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Boll & Branch: Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BOLLANDBRANCH.com/vine20 with code vine20.Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com promo code VINE.ASPCA Pet Insurance: To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/VINEApartments.com : The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tone sits down with Arizona high jumper Kya Crooke for a conversation about what it really takes to become elite — and why loving the process matters just as much as loving the results.After an impressive freshman season at Arizona, Kya quickly established herself as one of the country's rising high jump talents. She tied for second at the 2026 Big 12 Outdoor Championships with a 1.85m clearance and advanced to NCAA competition during her first collegiate season. But one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation isn't simply how high Kya can jump.It's how much she has learned to love the details required to become great.Kya talks about learning the technical side of high jump, understanding how even the smallest mistake can affect a clearance, and developing the patience to embrace repetition, coaching and constant improvement.In this BME Podcast interview, Tone and Kya discuss:
Episode 525 debuts on Wednesday, August 12, at 7:00 PM (Eastern Time). Rebroadcasts will take place according to the Crusade Channel programming schedule. Our topic is Loving Our Enemies in Deed and in Truth. My guest is Sister Mary Joseph, M.I.C.M. Whether charity requires that we should love our enemies? — from Saint Thomas’ Summa Theologiae, at newadvent.org Whether it is necessary for salvation that we should show our enemies the signs and effects of love? — from Saint Thomas’ Summa Theologiae, at newadvent.org The Object of Charity — overview of the larger question in the Summa by Father Paul Glenn, from his Tour of the Summa at catholictheology.info Reconquest is a militant, engaging, and informative Catholic radio program featuring interviews with interesting guests as well as commentary by your host. It is a radio-journalistic extension of the Crusade of Saint Benedict Center.
In this episode, we see that Jesus begins to talk about one of his disciples betraying him and all the disciples cant't tell who is he talking about!
The Saving You Is Killing Me: Loving Someone With An Addiction Podcast
Stories of Strength & Resilience Today's episode features one of the courageous contributors from our collective book, When Love Is Not Enough: The Hard Truth About Loving Someone with an Addiction – Stories of Strength, Hope, and Resilience from the SYKM Collective. Every chapter in this book tells a true story. These are stories of loving someone with an addiction, navigating heartbreak, holding onto hope, setting boundaries, finding courage, and discovering that healing is possible. Some contributors chose to share their full names. Others chose to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym. No matter how they chose to tell their story, every voice in this collection is real, honest, and offered with the hope that someone else will feel a little less alone. We are deeply grateful to every contributor for their bravery, vulnerability, and willingness to share their lived experience. Your stories are helping break the silence surrounding addiction and reminding others that healing begins when we realize we are not walking this journey alone.
For parents of school-aged children with mental illness or substance use disorders, it can be challenging to find the right care. Oftentimes, parents and caregivers neglect caring for themselves while seeking essential care for themselves. This podcast covers how to get help for kids in need and how to best support the entire family while dealing with a behavioral health crisis.
How many kinds of Potatoes are there? What food group do Potatoes belong to? Can you make a battery out of a Potato? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
People are deeply upset that we showed photos of "Tyler Robinson" that were not compressed, we will be announcing the moderator of the debate between me and Andrew Wilson, and we'll be taking a look at the attempted hit piece by MS Now against me...promoted and supported by Turning Point USA. 00:00 - Start. 02:10 - The cope from uncompressed images. 15:28 - MS Now's hit piece on me. 30:27 - The moderator for our debate. 44:23 - Comments. PreBorn! To donate, dial #250 and say they keyword “BABY" or by visiting https://preborn.com/candace Kikoff Build credit fast and get your first month for just a dollar at http://www.getkikoff.com/candace today. Thanks to Kikoff for sponsoring us! Beekeeper's Naturals Get 20% off your order with promo code CANDACE at http://www.Beekeepersnaturals.com/Candace American Financing NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-795-1210 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/Owens. Average savings based on borrowers who save over $199.99. Candace Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClipsCandaceOwens Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Candace en Español: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensEnEspanol Candace Owens em Português: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensemPortugues Candace Owens en Français: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensEnFrançais Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast)
This is a Wednesday Wins Q&A, with Larry joined by his longtime co-host Joe Bailey to tackle a question that lands for almost every married dad. Mike from Washington State wrote in about a marriage that isn't broken, no fighting, no affairs, but feels more like two coworkers running a small company called the family. He and his wife talk schedules, kids, and bills, physical intimacy has slowed, and as he puts it, he misses her even though she's only six feet away. Larry breaks down the four pillars of marriage from Lance and Brandi's work, individual, partnership, friends, and intimacy, and explains how couples get stuck in the partnership loop and skip straight to intimacy, which backfires. Joe follows with the idea of getting used to the light again after emotional disconnection, releasing resentment, and making small pursuits without attaching expectations. If your marriage feels more like a business partnership than a romance, this one is a practical roadmap back. Timeline Summary [1:02] – Setting up Mike's question about a marriage that feels like a business partnership [2:12] – Mike's full letter: coworkers running a company called our family [3:46] – Larry on his own first decade feeling exactly the same way [4:05] – The four pillars of marriage from Lance and Brandi's book [4:46] – Pillar one, individual: self-care and emotional check-ins by percentage [5:42] – Pillar two, partnership: the bills, roles, and chores, aka the partnership loop [5:59] – Pillar three, friends: shared interests and real alignment [6:21] – Pillar four, intimacy, and why it collapses when the others are neglected [6:47] – How couples skip friendship and self and jump straight to intimacy [7:26] – Disrupting the partnership loop by cultivating friendship first [7:49] – The walk-and-date boundary: be Larry and Jessica, not Mom and Dad [8:13] – Bookending conversations with appreciation so your partner feels seen [8:30] – Adventuring together and asking bucket-list questions [9:34] – Why men eradicate their own self-care and isolate [12:12] – Joe on living this exact dynamic in his own marriage [12:32] – The dark-theater analogy: getting used to the light again [13:35] – Step one, release resentment when reconnection feels uncomfortable [14:02] – Be persistent and stop attaching sex to every act of connection [14:27] – Small pursuits: flowers and a coffee dropped off at Ivy's work, just because [15:46] – Small investments compound like a financial portfolio [16:40] – Stop keeping score and get in the habit of just investing [16:59] – The car story: we love the things we invest in [20:07] – Loving your wife publicly and without agenda [20:44] – Loving her in front of the kids and her mother [21:48] – The Hitch analogy and winning over the people around her [22:14] – The marriage hack: your mother in law as your greatest ally 5 Key Takeaways Marriage Has Four Pillars — Individual, partnership, friends, and intimacy. When you neglect self-care, friendship, and quality time and jump straight to intimacy, it falls flat. Intimacy is the natural result of the other three working. Escape the Partnership Loop — If every conversation is about schedules, bills, and who needs to be where, you're stuck in the partnership loop. Break out by rebuilding the friendship: dates, walks, adventures, and conversations where you're a couple, not just co-parents. Get Used to the Light Again — After emotional disconnection, reconnecting feels awkward and uncomfortable for both people. Expect that, release resentment about it, and don't attach worst-case scenarios to the discomfort. Make Small Pursuits Without Agenda — Drop off flowers just because, and don't attach any expectation of sex, because she'll sniff that out instantly. Stop keeping score and keep making small investments, and the connection compounds over time. We Love What We Invest In — Don't wait to feel the love before you invest. As the car story shows, investment creates love, not the other way around. Love your wife publicly and without agenda, and let her people, especially her mother, become your allies. Links & Resources Episode page and all links: https://thedadedge.com/1516 Legendary Couple with Larry and Jessica: https://thedadedge.com/legendary-couple/ Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals (November 15, Cardinals vs Rams, State Farm Stadium): https://thedadedge.com/nfl Enjoyed This Episode? If Mike's letter read like a page out of your own marriage, pick one small pursuit and do it this week with zero agenda. Drop off her favorite coffee, take a walk where you're just the two of you again, and stop waiting to feel connected before you invest. If the show keeps delivering, follow, rate, and leave a review so more fathers can find these conversations.
In this episode of Pray the Word on 1 Kings 1:5–6, David Platt emphasizes the role of parents in reflecting God's discipline toward their children.Explore more content from Radical.
This week I'm doing something different. I asked Claude to pull the real numbers on every episode I made this year and look at what you actually listened to, shared, and came back to. I'm counting down the five that landed the hardest and telling you why.YOU WILL LEARN:Why a website's return on investment works more like hiring an employee than running an adThe four to five page website I'd start with if I were launching a business in 2026How AI search has changed what makes a website easy to find and trustFive specific ways to double your website's conversion rate without adding a single visitorThe ten minute audit I want you to run on your own site today, no technical skill requiredEpisodes Mentioned:Ep 127, Website Investment ROI, When Does It Pay OffEp 131, If I Were Launching a Business in 2026, Here's How I'd Approach My WebsiteEp 115, Preparing Your Website for AI SearchEp 120, Double Your Website Conversions Without More TrafficEp 122, The 10 Minute Website Audit That Catches What Most Designers MissReady to build a website that works hard for your business? Let's talk about how I can support you.
1️⃣ Work with me in EMAIL me "99"
#970. This episode is basically what happens when KB and Kat press record on the conversations they'd be having anyway. Kaitlyn is back in Nashville for the weekend, which means it's the perfect excuse for a much-needed catch-up with her best friend, Kat. The two dive into Kat's third pregnancy, unpack the heartbreaking Perez Hilton story, and somehow end up asking the very important question: is it finally time for KB to retire her nipple ring?They also put their friendship to the test with a game of "Who Knows Who Better?" and realize they might actually share the same brain. It's funny, unfiltered, and feels like you're hanging out with two BFF's for an hour.If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!ASPCA Pet Insurance: To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/VINEBoll & Branch: Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BOLLANDBRANCH.com/vine20 with code vine20.Chewy: For life with pets, there's Chewy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to Chewpanions.chewy.com/offthevinepodcastProgressive: Visit Progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back on your car insurance.Tonal: Right now, if you go to Tonal.com they are offering our listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase with promo code VINE.Apartments.com : The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With the midterms approaching, and intra-party debates about how far to push their agendas, we explore what it means to be politically 'moderate.' On Today's Show:Jon Allsop, contributing writer at The New Yorker, discusses the latest national political headlines and his recent story, "What Does It Even Mean to Be a Moderate?" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Over the past decade, the common meaning of the word 'woke' has fluctuated between "social consciousness" and "performative sensitivity." On Today's Show:Jasmine Green, editorial & audience associate at The Bulwark, offers her take on the word "woke," the evolution of wokeness, and how Democrats might re-claim it from its current status as a mostly pejorative term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the Patreon! Shop items from our Dink Yourself segment. JOIN US FOR Christmas Markets 2026!!! OR Colombia 2027!!!! Our guest today, Brianna Madia, is a 3x bestseller having lived in and traveled the deserts of the American West in an old Ford van. She made a name for herself on social media discussing topics like identity, nature, and subverting expectations. She lives in Utah, Oregon and wherever the road takes her, so long as her four dogs are along for the ride. She is the author of Nowhere for Very Long and Never Leave the Dogs Behind, and her new book Homesick Nomad is out now. PLUS: Treat yourself to new merch!Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod.Follow us on YouTube.If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.
Ever wondered why, even though nearly half of new businesses are owned by women, only a tiny percentage get the big investment or break through that elusive million-dollar mark? There's more at play than numbers and networking – it's about presence. Real, unapologetic presence. The question we should be asking is what keeps so many smart, driven women from claiming their seat at the table, and what's possible when we stop apologizing for being ambitious? I'm joined by Dr. Liz Dubois Erskine, an executive coach, conflict analyst, and marketing strategist (plus, she's got a PhD and a cracking sense of humour). Liz helps bold women leaders untangle the old patterns that hold them back – especially the ones baked in by years of people-pleasing, burnout, and tip-toeing around what they actually want. She's guided by a no-nonsense approach to personal growth, and here's a taste of what she shares in this episode: Why is it still so hard for women to be unapologetically direct at work – or in their businesses – without feeling they need to justify themselves? What are the real reasons women feel pressure to perform and seek validation, and how is this holding us back as leaders? How can we tap into our own version of “masculine swagger” without feeling fake or like we're putting on a mask? What does unapologetic presence actually look and feel like – and why does it make others take notice (and feel strangely safe around you)? Why do we project discomfort onto others when we step into our power – and what happens when we stop letting that hold us back? Ready to challenge the old rules, unlock that next level, and feel genuinely powerful just as you are? Tune in and let's shake things up – because the world needs more female business owners who are comfortable commanding the room on their own terms. About our guest: Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine (pronounced Doo-Bwah Err-Skin) — Dr. Liz to colleagues and clients — is an executive coach, conflict analyst, and marketing strategist who helps high-achieving leaders break through the internal patterns holding them back from their next level of leadership. With a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a career spanning marketing roles with Disney and iHeartRadio, she combines academic expertise, business strategy, and a refreshingly no-nonsense approach to personal growth and leadership. Dr. Liz works with ambitious professionals who have the credentials, drive, and accomplishments but still struggle with people-pleasing, burnout, and fear of judgment. She helps clients rebuild self-trust, lead with genuine authority, and create careers and businesses that feel as successful as they look. Her approach moves clients beyond hustle culture and the constant need to “prove yourself” toward deeper self-trust, confidence, and internal stability. She's also known for boldly pursuing big ideas. In 2020, just six weeks after launching her company, she bought a 40-foot yacht and moved aboard with her kindergartener during the pandemic. She also openly shares her recovery journey, including leaving alcohol behind in 2006 and marijuana and Xanax in 2021. Connect with Dr. Liz: Business name & website link Dr. Liz DuBois Erskine, www.drlizdubois.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bizdrliz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bizdrliz/ ...................................................... LEARN MORE WITH JESSICA - Master Your Marketing If you'd like to learn more about the strategies that build demand, profit and sustainable growth, then register here for access: https://jessicaosborn.com/mym ………………………………………… Are you a woman in business? YOU'RE INVITED! JOIN our guests and other listeners in She's The Business Community on Facebook and let's continue the conversation! Https://www.facebook.com/groups/shesthebusinesscommunity ................................................. Loving this podcast? We'd love it if you'd give us a 5 star rating and help others find it too! Simply hit the 5 stars and (if you have 10 seconds to spare) add a few words as a review. Interested in being a guest? All the info is here: https://www.jessicaosborn.com/STB-guest-application ......................................................... About your host: Jessica Osborn is a marketing strategist and positioning expert - helping online coaches become unmistakable leaders in their industry so they are consistently in demand for their services. With over 25 years in marketing and 15 years as a successful entrepreneur, she shares deep insights and timeless principles to help you grow a sustainable and profitable business that fits your version of an ideal lifestyle. Learn more & book an intro call: https://jessicaosborn.com Instagram or Threads: https://instagram.com/jessica.osborn LinkedIn: Https://linkedin.com/in/jessicaaosborn Facebook: https://facebook.com/jessicaosborn.bxcoach
What if constantly trying to become your "best self" is actually making it harder to love the person you are right now?We're big believers in growth, healing, learning, therapy, and becoming more of who you want to be. But in this episode, we're asking a harder question: When does self-improvement stop supporting you and start becoming self-rejection?We talk about the endless hamster wheel of healing, self-help books, wellness advice, comparison, courses, experts, fitness goals, and the sneaky belief that happiness is waiting somewhere in the future."When I lose the weight...""When I heal this...""When my business reaches this level...""When I finally fix this part of myself..."But what happens to the version of you who's here right now?In this episode, we're talking about finding the middle ground between staying stuck and constantly treating yourself like a project that needs fixing. We unpack self-trust, personal mission statements, comparison, anxiety, listening to your own needs, and learning how to pursue growth without abandoning yourself in the process.We talk about:• Self-improvement vs. self-rejection• Why there's no finish line for healing• The "I'll be happy when..." trap• How comparison fuels self-abandonment• Knowing your WHY before chasing another goal• Why every expert doesn't have your answer• Trusting yourself again• Finding the healthy middle ground between growth and acceptance• Loving who you are while still wanting more for yourself
What happens during a Lunar Eclipse? Which kind of Eclipse happens more often? How do Eclipses affect things on Earth? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
Cacao Bliss https://TryCacaoBliss.com/Todd This hot drink DOUBLED stem cells in 30 day study (Green tea vs Hot Cacao vs Coffee). Boost anti-aging stem cells for heart health, blood pressure, longevity with Cacao Bliss. Angel Studios https://Angel.com/Todd Become an Angel Guild member to watch Charlie Kirk: American Martyr and help bring more stories of faith, courage, and convocation to audiences around the world. Absolute Ministries https://AbsoluteMinistries.org/Todd Your gift helps people overcome addiction, find hope and purpose, and experience lasting change through a Christ-centered system of care. Together, we can support sustainable transformation that goes far beyond temporary sobriety. Alan's Soap https://AlansArtisanSoaps.com/Todd The legacy continues for Ian and Alan with Alan's Artisan Soaps “John's Favorites” bundle. Get one bar of each of John's favorites for only $28.99. Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.com Be confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Your journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com Get the new limited release, The Sisterhood, created to honor the extraordinary women behind the heroes. Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions. **** LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at: The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple Podcasts The Todd Herman Show | Podcast on Spotify WATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeGeneral White Rage Wasn't The Only Treasonous, CCP-Loving GeneralGeneral White Rage Wasn't The Only Treasonous, CCP-Loving General // Medical Journal Admits They Were Were Woke Masks! // Elections Will Not Save America
Long-Game Parenting with Elizabeth Pehrson (Episode 295) Exodus 23:20 NLT “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.” *Transcription Below* Elizabeth Pehrson is a speaker, podcaster and founder of The Exchange. She's a yellow sanguine, who is full of energy and lives life wide-open! She loves Jesus and meaningful connections. Elizabeth is married to David and mother of EIGHT children, who range from high school to graduated from college. Follow her online: Instagram: @long_game_parenting or @octomama or @theexchangeus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.m.pehrson Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka Questions and Topics We Cover: What is our role, as parents, in making an effort to help our children have a positive relationship with their siblings? What are ways we can positively shape our children to have strong and healthy relationships with friends? How can we help our children uncover, articulate, and pursue their purpose in life? Other Savvy Sauce Episodes Mentioned: 74 Effective Parenting for Toddlers Through College with Wife, Mother to 8, and The Exchange Founder, Elizabeth Pehrson Part 1 75 Responding to God's Stirring with Elizabeth Pehrson, Founder of The Exchange, Part Two God-honoring Relationship Between a Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law with Author of The Mother-in-Law Dance, Annie Chapman Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:10) Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 1:54) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com. My returning guest for today is the very energetic, married mother of eight, and founder of The Exchange, Elizabeth Pearson. I highly recommend that, first of all, you find the link in the show notes to start with our first two episodes together that we did a while back. They focus primarily on raising younger children, but today we're going to focus on parenting teens and beyond in hopes of launching faithful and healthy adults someday. So, with that goal in mind, we're going to begin by discussing relationship-building strategies to foster a life of rightly ordered affections, where we're all loving God and loving others as ourselves. Then we're going to move into some more actionable ways to ensure our family delights in the abundant life in Christ. Here's our chat. Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Pehrson: (1:55 - 1:57) Well, thank you so much for having me. What a joy. Laura Dugger: (1:58 - 2:23) Well, I'm just going to start with something that's a little tricky because we obviously cannot control the outcome, but we can be faithful to our calling as parents. So, Elizabeth, do you have any practical tips for helping our children rightly order their affections so that they'll hopefully grow up to love God? Elizabeth Pehrson: (2:23 - 4:52) Yes. I appreciate you asking with the disclaimers because I do think that that's an important thing because, first of all, I just want to say that I hope that every single woman listening can understand, believe, and trust that God loves our children way more than we do. And as much as we want to control the outcome or guarantee the outcome with our children, we can't. All we can do is just be faithful to the children that God's entrusted to us. And when it comes to ordering our children's affections, I would basically just say it can't be forced. It can't be image-driven. And I say that because, unfortunately, I see that a lot in Christian homes today, a lot. And I think one of the most helpful shifts for me in realizing that I cannot control anything when it comes to my children is that I can shape the environment where their loves are formed. That's one thing that is in my control. That is something that I can do. And a few practical ways that you can do this, and first I'm going to say this a lot, the most important things that we can offer our children are caught, they're not taught. And we have to model it more than we preach it because our children are incredible observers. And they notice what we prioritize. They notice what interrupts us. They notice what doesn't interrupt us. And if God's something we only talk about on Sundays, then they feel that. But if they see us turning to Him when we're anxious, when we're grateful, when we're confused, they start to associate God with real life, not just rules. And second, I would just say, I think it's super important to help our kids understand what's worthy of love, right? I mean, I think we should talk openly with our kids about sports, friends, achievements, you know, how those can be gifts, but they are terrible gods. And also, that they're very, very, very short-sighted. It's not typically, I would say, not typically the so-called bad things that are stealing our affections. It's usually the good things that are just not often the best things. And so that I would say, like when I watch my children, oftentimes it would be them loving a good thing too much, you know. Most importantly, I would just say that if our kids or your kids or the listeners' kids grow up knowing the heart of God rather than the rules of God, I think their affections will know where to turn. Laura Dugger: (4:53 - 5:04) Oh, that's so well said. And do you have any ideas for characteristics that will help foster a healthy parent-child relationship? Elizabeth Pehrson: (5:05 - 8:07) Oh, goodness. I would say, you know, so many things. I think children thrive when they feel safe, when the home feels predictable, when it feels secure, and especially when we listen more than we lecture. You know, when we can do that, they will feel understood and they won't feel constantly corrected. You know, I grew up in a home that I'm very grateful for, but in my home, love often felt transactional. If I did this, then that. But, you know, we all know that love isn't something that is earned. You know, it's freely given. And so, our love and affection should never be tied to performance or behavior. But again, unfortunately, what I see on a regular daily basis is that moms are more codependent on their children than ever before. And because of that, they see their children's behavior as a reflection of themselves. And so that love can become a little bit transactional. But I would say, practically speaking, I think there's lots of things that encourage a healthy parent-child relationship. And, you know, we could go through a whole list of these things. But the first thing I would say is not being their friend yet. Down the road, but not yet. You know, we'll have time for that later. But if we treat them as peers right now while they're in the home, authority isn't a value at all that is taught to be respected. It isn't. And, you know, another thing would be just basic consistent boundaries because structure is actually what creates freedom, right? Open communication, you know, where hard conversations can be had. And I'm going to tell you, this is something that we were not the best at, but we found ourselves consistently apologizing for, you know, avoiding that hard conversation and then having come back to it. That was a big one. You know, repair after conflict. That's huge because it is so important for our kids to see us model, you know, owning our mistakes, apologizing for it, you know, when we mess up because that teaches the kids that our relationships can bend without breaking. And the last thing I thought of when I thought about this question was respect for autonomy. And I say that because healthy relationships are ones where we allow our kids to grow and evolve. But a lot of times we want to keep them stuck in whatever that age, whatever that stage is. And children need to be allowed age-appropriate independence. They need to be allowed age-appropriate freedom, you know, constantly just letting that rope out little by little by little and, you know, knowing that parents eventually will just get to the place where they can guide mentor without instructing, you know, our, our goal for them is their own autonomy and their own independence. Laura Dugger: (8:09 - 8:28) That's so good. It makes me even think recently I was reading something about leave and cleave and leaving is breaking all dependencies. And I thought that's kind of the kindness of the Lord that we do that a little by little. Every year, probably of parenting. Elizabeth Pehrson: (8:29 - 9:51) Oh, it's, it's the truth. And it's interesting that you say that because one, we have an 18-year-old boy that's graduating. And my husband and I were just talking, we think it's the goodness of the Lord because what we've noticed, not disrespect, but just this pulling away as he's, you know, nearing graduation, really wanting more independence, not necessarily telling us where he's going to be just, you know, he's not going to be able to go to college. And then we're like, “Oh, I went to so-and-so's house.” And after the fact, and in, in a way when our first son started doing that, I was like, “You know what? He's not, he still lives in this, you know, in this home under this roof.” But it's like my husband said, “You know, it's almost like God's goodness that allows him to pull away a little bit, a little bit, a little bit. So that when he does leave in August, end of July, It makes it a little bit easier. You know?” And then that leave and cleave thing, you said, “I have a son that lives in Houston and he's the lead part just fine, independent, separate, but now he's cleaving to someone else as he's met a girl and that part has been hard for me.” It's like, whoa, like that's a whole, that's like next level, you know, where they no longer, you're no longer the one they call for advice. You're no longer the woman in their life, so to speak. And so, it's been a lot of growing pains, but it's all, again, it's exactly what God designed when we raise our kids. Laura Dugger:: (9:51 - 10:28) But you're right, it's both and it's beautiful, but it's hard and very difficult to go through. It makes me think one of my top 10 of all-time favorite episodes was with Annie Chapman and she wrote the mother-in-law dance. And so, I'll link to that episode as well in the show notes, but I think it was very helpful for even preparing now what that's going to look like someday. Yep. But as we come back to focusing on today, Elizabeth, what is our role as parents in making an effort to help our children have a positive relationship with their siblings? Elizabeth Pehrson: (10:29 - 14:01) Oh, goodness. Having eight children, you know, they have a lot of siblings and ever since our kids were little, David and I just have prayed over and over and over again, one, that they would know, love, and serve God, two, that they would stay close to each other, and then three, that they would seek joy in everything they do. And so, because one of our prayers is that they would stay close to each other, we did everything we could to shape environments that fostered connection with their siblings, with each other. And that could look like we moved their rooms a lot of times, like who they shared with at different seasons of their life. We mixed them up with different brothers or different sisters, outings or trips where we would take just a couple of them, not all of them, but we mixed that up. You know, we never, ever, ever put up with disrespect or mistreatment of each other. That one is a huge one, or their belongings for that matter. But that's so important not to allow your children to offer disrespect or display disrespect to their siblings. A lot of people think, oh, it's just their kid, you know, their siblings, they feel most comfortable with him. That's totally normal, but it really does start at home. Another thing I think of is that we talked as a whole, our family as a team, as a unit. You know, we were a family unit. It's not like one pitted against the other. We were on the same team. And although if my children were here, I am certain that one or more of them would say that they felt compared to at times, but we really did our best not to compare our children because comparison breeds rivalry faster than anything. It really, really does. And we also tried to think about each individual child, you know, like, hey, this is your unique gift. This is your strength. This is an asset, you know, an asset to the team, not just to you individually, but as a family as a whole. And the last thing I would say is everyone laughs because we had family A and then we had family B. And that's the first four kids and the second four kids. And we taught them to serve each other. You know, the older kids were paired with the younger child, a younger sibling, and they had to help them. Sometimes it wasn't even help serving them, but it was doing a chore together. We'll get to this later, I think. But chores are huge in our home. And when they turn nine, they have to mow the yard. And we had we lived on three and a half acres. And so, we had a riding lawnmower. And when my nine-year-old son, my third son turned nine, he wasn't quite heavy enough to keep the mower going, you know, because you have to be heavy enough. Otherwise, it shuts it off. And when he would lean to put his foot on the gas, it would shut it off. So, my three-year-old boy, his chore was to sit behind him and just hold on, you know, for the hour and a half it took him to mow the yard. And, you know, we paired them together a lot. But at the end of the day, we can require respect, but we just can't force friendship. I have two daughters that are only 15 months apart. When they were little, they were attached at the hip. I mean, where one went, the other one went. But now that they're older and they're both in college at the same college, their personalities are very different. Their interests are very different. And they aren't as close as they once were, but they love each other. They respect each other. And, you know, we just have to be OK with that, you know. Laura Dugger: (14:02 - 14:40) That makes sense because there's different seasons to everything. I think you can see that with siblings who pair up with each other. And I'm sure that changes throughout their whole life. Yeah, I want to go back. There's a few things that I want to follow up on. One of them was codependency with mothers and their children. And the other one is already escaping me now. So, I'll try and recall that one. But can you share a little bit more of either why you think it is that way more today or what that might look like if we're codependent with our children and maybe unaware of that? Elizabeth Pehrson: (14:41 - 16:35) All I can say is that I meet with women on a regular basis and 9.9 times out of ten there, they see their children as a reflection of themselves. So, when they make wise choices, they tend to tend to get puffed up. When they don't, they kind of bow back in shame or regret. Or I can't believe this. But the truth of the matter is they are independent, you know, separate from you. And most moms don't know where they end and where the child begins. We're entering graduation season. And I cannot tell you the number of moms that are like, “Oh, oh, this is so hard, this graduation thing.” And I'm like, but you're not graduating. Like, you know, the kids have the responsibility of all the different things they have to do. But you don't. They've already you know, you've already graduated. Let them enjoy this separate from you. But they can't do it. They're a part of every single aspect of their daughter or their son's life. And when that happens, you know, every home run is so important. Every grade they make is so important. And I am all about long, long term, you know, long term parenting. And it is not that it has nothing to do with a long-term person of character that they will become. So, if moms can see where they are separate, it is so beneficial for the child as well as the mom. You know, I met with a mom the other day and she's like, well, I'm not codependent, but my daughter is. And I said, “Well, tell me more about this.” And she said, “Well, she calls me. She's in college and she calls me 10 times a day.” And I said, “OK, well, let me ask you, how many times do you answer?” And she's kind of looked at me and she goes, “Well, she might need something.” And I said, “She can call back.” She can text 911. But when you're so readily available to your child, it just fosters that dependency, you know, of your child on you. And it's so unhealthy. Laura Dugger: (16:36 - 16:51) And I did hear a mom tell me one time when we, I think, had very little children. She said, “You want to ultimately work that dependency off of you and onto the Lord where they are first going to him, which is a lifelong job.” Elizabeth Pehrson: (16:51 - 18:23) It is a lifelong job. There's a funeral service. It's going to sound morbid, but I watched it because it was so impactful to me. I didn't even know this lady, but I watched it four times, this service that was online out of Florida. And the daughters were speaking and they said, “The best thing that they did, the very best thing that she did for them was to teach them their complete dependence on the Lord.” And she said, “She had cancer and she knew she was passing away.” And she said, “Girls, don't be sad for me. I am going to be with my heavenly father rejoicing, singing his praises.” And she said, “If I have taught you to rely solely on me, then I've done a really bad job.” I want your sole dependence to be on your heavenly father. But unfortunately, what I see again is just meeting with these women. We teach them that our presence is what keeps them safe or are, you know, being close proximity, especially with the cell phone. You know, there's a lot of researchers that call it the longest umbilical cord because it keeps us in contact with him 24 seven. It's so sad. I mean, I interviewed some teachers at a middle school because they don't no longer allow cell phones. You have to put it in the basket. Now there are some schools that are making you just not even bring it in. But I'm not even exaggerating when I tell you. They would tell me that the children have two cell phones. The parents would give them two; one so they could put it in the basket and two so that the parents could be able to reach them at a moment's notice. Wow. It's a real thing. I'm not making this up. Laura Dugger: (18:24 - 18:26) That is crazy. Elizabeth Pehrson: (18:26 - 18:59) Just to think in not that many years, how different that is from, you know, I ask moms all the time, would you have loved it if your mom had a low jack on you, like tracking your every move? I mean, because what happens is when you do that in middle school, high school, then they go off to college. I meet with moms every single day. They're like, oh, my goodness, I'm so tired. I didn't go to bed till three o'clock last night. And I'm like, why? Well, because I have like 360 on my child in college and she didn't get home till three, so I couldn't go to sleep. That's a normal everyday thing. Laura Dugger: (19:01 - 19:38) Wow. And OK, for those situations, what would you recommend instead of that? And I guess if I could throw this in, I just was at a reunion with some graduate school friends, and we are all therapists or that's what we studied. And we were just sharing how truly we've seen this play out. What we learned back in grad school was that if there's anxiety about something, avoidance never works. You have to even if it's micro dosing, you have to go through it rather than around it or avoid it. Elizabeth Pehrson: (19:38 - 20:32) Oh, yes. And I mean, I'm sure you've read the book, The Most Anxious Generation of All Time. I mean, that's where we are. And it stems, in my opinion, my humble opinion from the parents who are so anxious because they are codependent, because they are over involved in their children's life. And, you know, quite honestly, it's like the moms are so involved in their children's lives that when the last child leaves, you see the highest divorce rate is after the last emancipation of the last child. Once that child leaves, it's like, I have no life. I have no identity. I have no purpose. And I certainly don't have relationship with my husband because my focus has been with my children. And so, the moms that are anxious, the moms that are just so overbearing, over controlling are the ones that, in my opinion, are fostering those types of relationships with their children, the anxious ones. They can't do anything without their parents. Laura Dugger: (20:33 - 22:06) And now a brief message from our sponsor, Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple Welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different. I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread. So come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship. And so, do you have any tips if they're recognizing that in themselves today? What's just one turning point that could happen? Elizabeth Pehrson: (22:07 - 23:29) Well, I would say and I hope that they're willing to take it. Most women that I meet with will recognize that they are. And then they're like, but you don't understand. Or but I just can't go to sleep or there's a, but you know why I can't. But I would say whatever that is, that has a hold on you, that you're still holding on to your 18, 19, 20, 21, 26-year-old child, whatever it is, they're adults. I mean, legally, they are adults at 18. But yet whatever that is, that's holding you, keeping you attached to them, whether it's causing you to lose sleep, whether it's causing anxiety. You absolutely have to make that separation in that area. And so, you know, for the one that's got the Life360, 24 seven. Hey, give it to your husband. You take it off your phone and they will be able to know how to figure out where your child is, should there be a need, you know, but you're hyper fixating on it, take that away. If it is a cell phone and you're calling your child every single day about everything, all that's doing is teaching your child that they can't do it on their own without you. And they have Google, you know, they have the Internet. I didn't have that when I went away and I didn't have a cell phone, but I figured it out. So, it's like whatever it is that has a hold on you. I would encourage the mom just to make that separation in that one area and then start there. Laura Dugger: (23:30 - 23:34) Love it. And I did think of the other thing that I wanted to circle back with. Elizabeth Pehrson: (23:35 - 23:35) What is this? Laura Dugger: (23:35 - 23:49) So, you had mentioned, yes, you taught your children respect one another in the home, but also respecting their belongings or property. Can you just share a little bit more of how you did that in your philosophy of why that was important? Elizabeth Pehrson: (23:50 - 25:40) Oh, absolutely. I would tell you that David, my husband, and I firmly believe that respect for siblings, for coaches, for teachers, for peers, for their parents is hands down the foundation of every other principle that you can instill in your children, because if you respect them, you know, I mean, there are certain cultures and generations that respect their elderly. We're not a culture that does that. And it's like if you respect them, you hold the door for them. You'll get up and give them your seat. You would never, you know, misuse their things, their belongings. So, with the second that we saw any amount of disrespect, whether it was to us, like, say, if one of my children said something to me that was disrespectful, whether it was a tone, it might not have been the words. It could be a tone. It could be the volume of his voice, whatever it might be. My husband would step in and say, “Hey, son. That's my wife. I don't allow anyone to speak like that to her.” And then therefore, there would be like a consequence for it. And so, I mean, it might be that or at the risk of being too TMI or too vulgar. I had one son that had the urge to go to the bathroom, pee wherever he wanted to. And one time he peed on his sister's blanket, her blankie, because he was mad at her. Let me tell you something. He will never forget it. I don't remember what the punishment was at the time, but he got one. He never went to the bathroom anywhere again other than the toilet. You know, it's like, no, no, no, you cannot do that. I mean, it's the foundation of the golden rule. You know, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. But children think they can get away with it. And then parents justify it by saying, “Oh, but they're only three. Oh, but they're only six. Oh, they didn't really mean it.” Well, you know what? That's where you've set the foundation right there. Three, five, six, whatever the age, so that when they grow up, they will respect their coaches, their employers, their teachers. Laura Dugger: (25:40 - 25:55) You know, so good. OK, so another relational question, then what are ways that we can help or support positively shaping our children to have strong and healthy relationships with their friends? Elizabeth Pehrson: (25:56 - 29:02) Yeah, I think that is such an important question. It was the very first verse we had our children memorize when they were itty bitty, you know, he who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm because research shows that we are the sum of the five people that we hang out with the most. So, who those five are in their circle, it is so important. You know, it in our opinion, it is essential to model for our children what healthy friendships look like, because, again, they learn that by watching us. It goes back to what's caught, you know, not the top principle. And I think it's essential to have them around other children their own age as often as possible, because I think we can use friendship with their peers, not their parents, not their grandparents, but with peers. Then we can use those examples and those situations to teach them to include others, to take turns, to read body language, to notice when something's wrong with one of your friends, right? To apologize. Ask for forgiveness too, hey, this one's doing something completely different than I would do, but let's celebrate that. And a big one is navigating disappointment and hurt. You know, I mean, that's going to inevitably happen with our children and their friendships. So those roles are so important because we can use those experiences to help train and equip them. You know, for us, our goal was never, ever, ever about popularity. Matter of fact, I don't even like the word. I don't like the you know what it stands for. But for us, it was really just to focus on their character and the heart issues. So, because of that, we would ask them, you know, not who are you friends with and who do you know, but things like who did you include at lunch today? Did you notice anyone sitting alone? Did you say anything to them? What kind friend or what kind of thing did you do for a friend today? And, you know, as far as like how we model that for our children and try to encourage that with them, it's going to cause a sacrifice on our end, right? I mean, when we're allowing and I mean, we might have to take time driving them to, you know, a good friend's house that lives far away or it might be hosting events. It might be goodness. I mean, every mom knows that we've had to wait on our children and wait and wait and wait and whatever that looks like. But, you know, just modeling that for our children and setting that environment and that groundwork so that they can have these friendships. It's going to be a sacrifice for every single mom. We can and we'll have to sacrifice our comfort. We'll have to sacrifice our convenience. Right. A louder house, extra groceries, wet towels, muddy shoes like the list could go on and on and on. But, you know, I know that there have been times when I would hope I would host things in my home, but I would rather be resting, you know, but I can't because I have a house full of 30 kids or staying home because there needs to be a parent there when I'd rather be out on a date with my husband. You know, there's lots of sacrifices that we're going to have to make. But I just think it's super, super important. That we do. Laura Dugger: (29:03 - 29:25) Well, and I love hearing that side of it. I'm assuming you're such a both and person, too. What did you make sure that you didn't sacrifice? Because I never hear you saying I only sacrificed for my kids so it could be better for them. But you were healthy all throughout raising them. So, does that make sense? How did you balance your own? Elizabeth Pehrson: (29:25 - 30:36) No, and I appreciate you saying that, but I'm certain that there were times when I was tired, when I was selfish and that I didn't do the wise thing. But I will say that that it is so important not to sacrifice yourself because, you know, you can hear it in the analogies of, you know, you can't you can't give what you don't have. You got to fill yourself up first. And it's all true. You know, the oxygen mask on the airplane before you give it to your children, it's so important. But I equally think it's important for your children to see. I'm not going to be at home at dinner tonight because you know what? I'm with my besties. I'm with my girlfriends tonight. That is important to me. Loving one another and being with one another is spoken of more in scripture than parenting, more than marriage. I mean, it is spoken of over and over and over again. So, I want them to see that, “Hey, tonight I'm going to sacrifice time at home and I'm going to go out, be with my girlfriends”. So, there's definitely some things you have to sacrifice. But I don't want a woman to be so depleted because she's constantly giving, giving, giving, giving, giving that again, when she when their children graduate and leave home, they don't even know who they are. They've lost sight of who God created them to be. Laura Dugger: (30:36 - 30:39) I appreciate your balance in that. Elizabeth Pehrson: (30:39 - 30:41) It's always and in both. Laura Dugger: (30:41 - 30:43) Yes, it really is. Elizabeth Pehrson: (30:43 - 30:43) It is. Laura Dugger: (30:44 - 30:53) How do you think we can help our kids uncover and articulate and pursue their purpose in life? Elizabeth Pehrson: (30:54 - 32:55) Purpose is huge for me. I'm sure you know that. It's the name of my podcast. It's why I started the exchange. But I have to tell you, I meet with women every single day, grown women, 40s, 50s, 60s, even 70s that still do not know their purpose. They don't know who they are. So realistically, for our children, I don't want to have anyone, you know, mom beat themselves up because it does take time to help them understand, you know, who they are, why God put them here, what their purpose is. And I will say some of my kids will grasp it before others. You know, I have a son that just graduated UGA, and he still is contemplating, you know, what does God have for my life? But as far as purpose goes, whether it's your young children, whether it's your high school children trying to figure out, do I go to college? Do I not go to college? You know, what do I major in? All of those things. But for anyone, I want to say that it's important that they know their purpose is not what they do. But the why behind what they do. And if someone is unsure of what that is or, you know, why they do something, I would encourage them to ask questions. That's my biggest thing. When I meet with women, when I talk with them, just ask questions, ask questions. I mean, we don't have the answers, but to ask questions. And so, I'll ask my children, you know, when they're contemplating some of these things, “Hey, what makes you come alive? What lights you up?” You know, who do you love to serve? What could you do for hours, hours, and hours and lose track of time? For an older woman, I would say, what did you love to do as a child? You know, maybe what do other people say to you? Man, you make that look effortless. You are so good at fill in the blank. What keeps you up at night? What breaks your heart? I think the answer to all of those questions lead us ultimately to what God uniquely put in our hearts to do and how he created us. You know, when he created each one of us, he gave us something that he wants us to offer to the world. And whatever that is, I would say will lead you to your purpose. Laura Dugger: (32:56 - 33:00) And do you have yours articulated that you want to share with us? Elizabeth Pehrson: (33:00 - 34:41) Oh, it took me a long time to go, God, who did you create me to be? And asking some of those questions, it's so interesting. So, you know, I speak, I speak, you know, at the exchange and in the last 10 years, I've started speaking more at churches and other places, and it's my absolute favorite thing to do. It lights me up. I find great joy in it. It comes natural to me. And one day when I was asking this woman, I'm like, let me ask you, what did you love to do as a child? Like, what could you just do for hours and hours? And she's like, well, I don't know. Can you give me some examples? And she said, what did you love to do? And it was like this light bulb went off. And my mom was very, very, very girly. And I had three older brothers. I was not. And my mom wanted me to be very girly. So, she would give me for every birthday, Christmas, Easter, Flag Day. It didn't matter what the holiday. I got a Madame Alexander doll. It's this doll that has it's like on a stand and it just sits there like you don't play with it. You don't you just look at it. I don't know the purpose of these dolls. I don't know why anyone would want one. But when I tell you I had 100 of them, I literally had 100 of them. And so, when I was thinking back to what did I love to do as a child instinctively, no one told me to do it. I would get home after school, and I would pull out all of these dolls and I would put them on my bed and I would line them up and I would talk to them. I would tell them all about my day, what I learned, what someone taught me, the injustices of being the only girl in the family, what I'm going to do when I'm older. And I literally that's what I did for hours. And it was like this light bulb went off. It's like God put that in me. I was encouraging my dolls. I was talking to them. I was, you know, hopefully motivating them, inspiring them. Obviously, they couldn't move. But that's what I do now. And encouraging women is my purpose. Laura Dugger: (34:42 - 35:27) I love that story so much. That's amazing. Do you love The Savvy Sauce? Do you gain anything when you listen? Did you know that the two ways we earn money to keep this podcast live is through generous contributions from listeners and from our paying sponsors? That means we can promote your business and you're still supporting The Savvy Sauce. It's a win-win. Please email us today at info@theSavvySauce.com to inquire about pricing for sponsoring each episode. Thank you for your consideration. Elizabeth, do you have any tips for how we can influence our children to become lifelong learners? Elizabeth Pehrson: (35:28 - 39:29) Yes, I think it's super important to encourage that in your children. But I also don't think there's a formula for it because some children are naturally more curious. Some are naturally more inquisitive. I do think it's super important to recognize that, you know, what it is that they want to learn. They want to study because it's going to be different for your children. So, you might not think that they're a learner or someone that's curious, but they're just not curious about what you're curious about. Right. My oldest son reads a biography of presidents and historical figures all the time. He tries to get through one a week. I couldn't think of more boring reading, but he loves, loves it. He just takes it all in. He knows all the facts and stats on presidents. But what's funny is when he was two years old, he could name all of the presidents in order at two years old. I couldn't even do it. I had to hold up the placemat to make sure, you know, that he was right. I have another son that studies history, loves it, just absolutely loves it. And I have a daughter who probably the one that's most like me. But I will tell you that she will be a lifelong learner of people the rest of her life. That is her passion. She's curious. She's inquisitive. She's always asking questions of people. And as long as we know that ultimately, it's just going to be up to them. Some are going to be great learners. Naturally, others won't be. But I would say if you wanted me to point to something again, it just comes back to modeling it, you know, for our children, because children copy what we love, not what we lecture. They copy what we love, not what we lecture every single time. And I remember when one time when my kids were little, they wanted me to plant a garden. And I don't know what the opposite of a green thumb is, but that's what I have. I'm like the opposite of that. And I had no idea. Like, you dig up the grass, you till the soil. Like, when do you plant? How do you even grow a vegetable? I had no idea. But I said, “You know what? I don't know how to do this, but let's figure it out together.” We'll figure it out together. And, you know, I suggest that moms would say things to their kids like, I just listened to this podcast, and it really challenged my thinking. I had never thought of it this way before. Or I don't know anything about that topic you want to talk about, but let's find out, let's dive in and look, go to the library or, you know, whatever it might be. And lastly, I would just say that it really comes down to praising effort, not performance, because if you're saying you're so smart, you know so much about that or you're so wise in that area. It really is. It doesn't do them anything other than teach them a performance based. Right. So, it's like I want to say the things the things to them. Like, I am so proud of you when you didn't know what you were doing. You stuck with it. You figured it out because I think that is a growth mindset instead of like instead of driving in performance anxiety. Like, I don't know how to do this. I didn't figure it out. I can't. You know, we really want them like, hey, I don't know what it is, but I'll figure it out. You know, and I just think when learning really becomes about grades, achievement, success, whatever it is, curiosity dies, does. So, it's like at the dinner table. I remember David and I would ask questions of the kids, and we would ask them things like, what did you fail at today? Like, what did you mess up today? Like, what surprised you today that you didn't know yesterday? And then David and I would share as well. Like, let me tell you what I learned. Let me tell you where I messed up at work. And it's just important to normalize not having all the answers. You know, one of our big parenting mantras is don't bail, let them fail. And I think it is so important because we don't want to rescue our children. You know, we want them to not know how to do something so that they can figure it out and then just learn as they go. You know, because that's really where confidence grows. It grows through problem solving and learning things the hard way. Laura Dugger: (39:30 - 40:01) Wow, there's so much there. I love I'll kind of summarize a few things. So being curious ourselves, modeling it, having our own interests and sharing those ideas, but I hear this theme of questions, asking our kids questions. I think that develops critical thinking. But then you helped identify with them what their interests were. And I think that will naturally lead to being a lifelong learner if we find what we're interested in. You said all of your kids might be different once they found that. They'll probably be lifelong learners in those areas. Elizabeth Pehrson: (40:01 - 40:32) For sure. And I guess what I meant by some or more so than others like my first born, he is a five on the Enneagram. And so, his he wants to know how everything works and studies it and researches it for hours before he makes a decision where I have some other children that are like, you know, instead of ready, set, go, it's more like go, set, ready, you know, and I'll figure it out later. I don't care. But he's just naturally more inquisitive to want to know how things work. What makes things tick? Why does the world work the way it works? You know, that kind of thing. Laura Dugger: (40:33 - 40:44) Well, I don't know if this goes together or if you would share something different. But do you think there are any ways that we can help our children recognize and utilize their spiritual gifts? Elizabeth Pehrson: (40:46 - 44:02) Yeah, when I think about spiritual gifts, I kind of think it goes back to the purpose question that we talked about earlier. You know, again, I know a lot of adults that don't know their spiritual gifts yet. They're still questioning. They're still I'm not really sure is it this or this or I don't know where to lean in. And it's hard for parents to help their children find their spiritual gifts when they don't know theirs, you know, or they don't know how God wired them or what he placed deep inside of them. But one thing that I would offer when you're trying to help your children with that is just as parents just notice things about your children, but notice them out loud. What God's already doing in your children, notice them out loud, speak them out loud, like pay attention. Which child comforts the crying sibling who organizes the game so that everybody feels included? Who asks deep questions about faith or which child senses when someone, you know, is left out? You know, those are all clues as to how God wired them and what's deep inside of them. And, you know, you can say things as simple as you know, you know, I noticed you have a gift for encouragement. You really are so good at that. Or, hey, you know what? You notice what other people miss. That's amazing. How do you do that? God is always giving you courage. You know, I have a son named Josh, and he's got this big Joshua one nine frame in his, you know, Bible verse in his room. It's like God has given you a spirit of fear and but of courage and of sound mind, you know, and it's like we try to speak that courage into him or, you know, I have one son that always keeps us organized and on track. And we used to call him the traffic cop because he was always like this. But then I was like, no, that doesn't really speak life into him. It's more of a judge. So, we were like, you know what? You are so organized. You keep us on track. And I think when kids hear out loud like their strengths name, they begin to see them as gifts rather than just like, oh, that's just how I am. That's a person that, you know, personality court. And as you're trying to speak those things out loud and let them see and notice things about themselves that maybe they didn't see. You can also give them opportunities to practice things like, hey, at the dinner table, you're going to pray out loud tonight for the family, for our meal, or, hey, I'd like you to help lead with our family dinner devotions or hey, you know what? I'm going to go serve this weekend at this project. And I really want you to come alongside me and go with me. Maybe, hey, you know what? I noticed this younger sibling really needs encouragement today. Could you just go and speak some encouragement to her? You know, handwritten notes. That's a big one in our family. You know, literally handwritten notes, not just by a card and signing it. Love, Josh, you know, but to write out. And I think that's something that we can instill in our kids because that's a lost art. But, you know, most importantly, more than any of that, I would say to remind your kids this gift, this spiritual gift that God has given you isn't for you. It's for someone else. Right. A person of purpose, a hero, whatever you want to call it, is a person who takes who they are with what they have for the benefit of someone else. That's it. It's just like who they are with what they have for the benefit of someone else. And when you do that, there's always a gift that you can offer somebody else. Laura Dugger: (44:04 - 44:15) Well, in another biblical topic, we know that it's a biblical command to be hospitable. So, were there any specific ways that you trained your children in hospitality? Elizabeth Pehrson: (44:16 - 46:33) Yeah. Hospitality was my mom's ultimate gift. It was probably the thing that she modeled the best for my brothers and for me. We hosted foreign exchange students for months at a time. Every single Sunday. People don't believe me when I tell them this, but it's true. Every single Sunday, we would invite a family home from church to have lunch with us that we did not know. It was never somebody that we knew. And so, on Saturday, we would prepare the house. We would prepare the yard. We would cook the food as a family. Everybody had a role in it. And then my dad would literally find a family that we did not know. And he would invite them home. And my parents always had their home open for Bible studies, for parties, for small groups, whatever, and whomever needed a space. They made our home available. And I've just tried to do that for my children in my own ways because it looks very differently than, you know, the way my mom did it. But I basically think hospitality is simply just making room. That's it. It's just making room, whether it's making room at your table, whether it's making room in your home. You know, a lot of moms are perfectionists, and they associate perfection with it. My home's not clean enough. My home's not pretty enough. It's not perfect enough. And so, then they don't want to do it. But I can just tell you honestly, with eight children, perfect wasn't an option, you know, anyway, but we did. We had an open-door policy for dinner. We even had a sign on our garage door. It said dinner's at 6:30. All are welcome. And so, anybody could come and show up to dinner any night of the week at 6:30. And all of our children, when we invited people over, everybody had to participate, not just those that were excited about it, but like the whole family, you know, whether it was setting the table, greeting the guests at the door, making eye contact and then asking them questions, clearing plates. I mean, just whatever it is. We wanted every single person to be a part of it. And really, we just tried to say, hey, you know, this is going to cost you something, because sometimes generosity does. You might have to squeeze in at the dinner table and sit like this because we're all squeezed in and that's OK. Or you might have three air mattresses on your floor tonight and you have to share your room. And I know you don't want to, but that's OK. I mean, it's like generosity is going to cost you something. And we wanted our kids to know that. Laura Dugger: (46:34 - 46:47) Oh, such great examples. And do you have any other additional tips for ways that all of our family can actually delight in the abundant life that Christ has, that he's offered each one of us? Elizabeth Pehrson: (46:49 - 48:59) Yeah, I mean, again, I certainly do not have all the answers, and we could have made service projects and serving others more of a priority in our home, for sure. But I just I think that the abundant life in Jesus it is about serving others. It is about offering others what he's given you. And, you know, we don't serve to earn love like we serve because we're already loved. I mean, that's really the bottom line. And that changes everything. And so, I would just encourage families to start serving together, not as a punishment, you know, not as a obligation, but just as a way of life. It's what we do. It's who we are. And so, because of that, the abundant life for us offering it to others looked like making meals, making cupcakes, making a cake and delivering it to people. We had elderly neighbors all in our street and we mowed their yards. We picked up pinecones. We went to the grocery store and picked up their medicine for them. You know, we made, again, handwritten notes and cards, just very small, easy, tangible, ordinary things that we could do to love on others. And I would say, let them see your joy in what you're doing, because they children do not like drudgery. They're just going to resist it. Right. It's like but if they see you delighting and feeling full, full after serving and then giving, they appreciate you know, they appreciate that they see the joy. And so, it's just it's important. I just think all the way around just there's Andy Stanley always says, you know, following God's principles will make your life better and it will make your life make you better at life. And so, when we follow these principles, when we serve, when we celebrate the kids serving other people with a joyful heart, you know, we celebrate their impact, not their performance, not how grand it was, not how big it was. But hey, you made someone feel loved today. That's a really big deal. That's a really big thing. You're eight years old. Not everybody can do that. And I am so grateful that you love Jesus so much that you would be willing to do that. So, I just think the abundant life comes from following God's principles. You know, it's not having more. It's just loving more. Laura Dugger: (49:00 - 49:14) Oh, love it. You have so much wisdom to share. So, before we press pause on this conversation, because we get to continue again next week, will you just let us know where we can go in the meantime to learn more from you? Elizabeth Pehrson: (49:15 - 49:38) Oh, sure. If someone would like to follow me, it's on Instagram. I have my own personal one. It's called @octomama. My kids made that long time ago. I also have the @theexchangeus. That is that's my Instagram handle there. And then a long game parenting, writing a parenting book. And so, I do have a handle for that where I post things. But it's called @long_game_parenting. So, yeah, wonderful. Laura Dugger: (49:38 - 49:56) We'll link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And Elizabeth, this is your third time on The Savvy Sauce. So, you already know we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so is my final question for you today. What is your Savvy Sauce? Elizabeth Pehrson: (49:56 - 50:36) I would say in light of our conversation today and in light of what I talked about and shared, it's so simple. It's just 12 words. I say it all the time. Think what you want your kids to be and then be it. Think what you want your kids to be and then be it. And I don't mean this in terms of your career or your profession, you know, but I mean in terms of modeling for our children what we want to impress upon their heart, things of character, because the truth is, it goes back to that. We can only take our children as far as we've gone ourselves, or we can only help our children as far as we've done the work ourselves emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. So, think what you want your kids to be and then be it. Laura Dugger: (50:37 - 50:46) What a beautiful way to close out our time together today. As always, Elizabeth, you are just effervescent and time flies by when we're having conversations together. Elizabeth Pehrson: (50:47 - 50:49) I talk fast, so thanks for saying that. Laura Dugger: (50:50 - 50:52) Well, thank you for being my guest. Elizabeth Pehrson: (50:52 - 50:55) Absolutely. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks, Laura. Laura Dugger: (50:56 - 54:10) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior. But God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what he has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. So, would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, in the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
#LovelikeChrist #BrideofChrist Who would you die for? And are we willing to love like Christ loves? In this message by Pastor Alex Klimchuk, we were reminded of the incredible love Christ has for His Church, a love so great that He gave His life for her. We have been saved, forgiven, adopted, and married into the family. Ephesians 5:25-31, 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Ezekiel 16:1-14, Jude 1:3-44 ✨ Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE! Please follow our websites for more! Website: http://www.newlifechurchsf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeSF/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Ig-qXgVAmE/ Pastor Alex Klimchuk New Life Church 500 S 1st Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Recorded - 8/8/2026 On Episode 384 of the Almost Sideways Movie Podcast, we finalize our summer project of honoring the films from 15 years ago by awarding our final Pinots for 2011. What will take home Best Picture and be our deep dive next week? We also review the film that won our "Come to the Stable" category for 2011 as a first time watch for everyone. Here are the highlights:What We've Been Watching(4:00) "Crime of the Century" - Todd Director Blindspot Review(5:50) "I Swear" - Todd Review/Rant(11:35) "Olmo" - Zach Review(15:45) "One Night Only" - Zach & Terry Review(26:35) "Loving" - Terry Oscar Anniversary Review(29:50) "The Running Man" - Adam Pinot Blindspot Review2011 PINOT FINALS!!!(31:55) "Henry's Crime" - Featured "Come to the Stable" Winning Review(54:10) 2011 Pinot Reveal Initial Thoughts(56:30) Best Actor(1:04:15) Highest WAR(1:11:10) Best Adapted Screenplay(1:14:00) Best Original Screenplay(1:18:20) Best Ensemble(1:21:55) Best Scene(1:26:50) Best Supporting Actor(1:30:15) Best Actress(1:36:35) Best Director(1:39:25) '61 Cheval Blanc(1:53:30) Best Actress(1:59:05) Best Picture(2:07:30) Quote of the DayFind AlmostSideways everywhere!http://almostsideways.comhttps://www.facebook.com/AlmostSidewayscom-130953353614569/AlmostSideways Twitter: @almostsidewaysTerry's Twitter: @almostsideterryZach's Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/pro_zach36/Todd: Too Cool for TwitterAdam's Twitter: @adamsidewayshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/almostsideways-podcast/id1270959022https://open.spotify.com/show/7oVcx7Y9U2Bj2dhTECzZ4mhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfEoLqGyjn9M5Mr8umWiktA/featured?view_as=subscriber
Shrinks Rap was recently ranked #2 among psychotherapy podcasts and included in MillionPodcasts' 2026 Top 100 Psychology Podcasts list. Thank you listeners! What can being a lifelong Detroit Lions fan teach us about addiction, recovery, resilience, and life? Apparently, quite a lot—something yours truly, a long-suffering Lions fan, knows all too well.In this episode of ShrinksRap, Dr. James Bramson sits down with Joel Walkowski, author of Honolulu Blues: How Loving a Losing Football Team Created a Winning Man, to explore the unlikely intersection of football, comedy, recovery, and learning to love something almost certain to let you down.Joel describes being a Lions fan as being a musician on the Titanic: every Sunday the ship may be sinking, but you still show up and play. The Lions haven't won an NFL championship since 1957 and have never appeared in a Super Bowl. Yet we diehards keep coming back.Joel explores the parallels between football fandom and addiction—the obsession, anticipation, emotional highs and lows, magical thinking, and eternal belief that this time will be different. Recovery taught him to feel disappointment without staying stuck in it. Sometimes that means heading straight to the basketball court after a Lions loss rather than spending Sunday marinating in Honolulu Blue misery.One of the most touching moments involves Joel's dying father, “Banjo Bob,” who encouraged him to attend the Lions' 2023 NFC Championship Game—where, naturally, Detroit blew a second-half lead. Bob's humor remained intact to the end, wearing a shirt declaring, “I'm Not Dead Yet.” Clearly, funny runs in the family.Joel also takes us from living in a van in Vallejo to completing his education, working in stand-up comedy and celebrity roasts, and ultimately helping others through SMART Recovery.It's a conversation about football that's really about life: acceptance, resilience, recovery, humor, and learning to keep showing up when life doesn't follow the script. Joel may have discovered the elixir for Lions diehards like me: how to keep winning at life even when your favorite team is losing.Credits:River is High, Ticketless TravelerCarl Reisman, guitar, singer, and songwriterJenny Goodwine, vocalsJames Singleton, bassJohnny Vidocovich, drumsDave Easley, steel guitarProduced by Morgan Orion Reismanfor more information, carlreisman@gmail.comCopyright 2025WCMI networking group A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here
"Holly doesn't teach me to become prickly everywhere. She teaches me to become discerning about where I need thorns."In this episode, we're exploring Holly in the Celtic Tree Calendar—its ecology, symbolism, Celtic folklore, and spiritual teachings.Holly is often associated with Winter because of her bright red berries and evergreen leaves, but in the Celtic Tree Calendar she appears in the heart of Summer. She invites us to explore a different kind of strength—not force or control, but devotion, discernment, and the courage to protect what is truly sacred.Together we'll explore:Why Holly is known as the Sacred DefenderWhy Holly appears in the Celtic Tree Calendar during Summer instead of WinterWhat Holly's prickly leaves can teach us about healthy boundariesThe surprising way Holly creates both protection and sanctuaryReflection questions for this lunar cycleHow Nature becomes a mirror for your own inner LifeRelated EpisodesEpisode 276: What Is the Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar? Why I Follow It Instead of Western Astrology and How You Can Too
8/9/26-Dr. Phillip Burden-The Father's Loving Discipline Pt. 2 by Sermons from FBCOzark
What happens when trauma therapy stalls, even when you're doing everything right? In this solo episode, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Todd Creager pulls back the curtain on how he works with clients, and why pairing two respected approaches, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems), helps people heal faster than either one alone.Todd starts with the basics of IFS, the idea that we're all made up of different parts. Some of those parts are wounded, carrying old pain from feeling unsafe, inadequate, unlovable, or abandoned as a child. Other parts are protective, working overtime to make sure we never feel that pain again. He shares a relatable example of how someone who was abandoned might keep choosing partners who feel emotionally safe but not very stimulating, because a protective part refuses to risk abandonment again.Then he explains where EMDR fits in. EMDR helps the brain reprocess a stuck traumatic memory so the past can stay in the past instead of hijacking your reactions in the present. It works beautifully on its own, Todd says, until it doesn't. Sometimes clients go blank, dissociate, or hit a wall. That's not failure. That's a protective part saying the system isn't ready yet.This is where the combination matters. Todd describes how IFS builds the relationship first, helping you meet the protective part, understand what it's guarding, and earn its trust, so EMDR can then release what the wounded part, or exile, has been carrying. He walks through a real-world scenario from his practice with infidelity recovery, where a betrayed partner can't move past the discovery of the affair because a part of them believes letting go would mean letting their partner off the hook or treating themselves like the betrayal didn't matter.You'll hear how befriending that protective part, rather than fighting it, opens the door to processing the deeper wound, whether it's the betrayal itself or earlier abandonment it stirred up. As Todd puts it, one approach builds the relationship, the other releases the burden, and together they can help parts that have carried the same wound for decades finally put it down.If you've tried therapy and felt stuck, or you're working through trust after infidelity and wondering why the pain won't loosen its grip, this episode gives you a clear, compassionate picture of what healing can actually look like.If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who's carrying something heavy, and follow the show for more honest conversations about love, healing, and relationships. This is Todd Creager, making the world safe for love. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who could benefit and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more couples who are ready to transform their lives.Check out my complete program "From Bickering & Escalating to Connecting & Loving" for more in-depth guidance: https://www.toddcreagertraining.com/loving-connecting-masterclassTodd Creager, LCSW, LMFTTodd is a sex expert and therapist in Huntington Beach. He provides relationship coaching to couples throughout the world and in Orange County including Irvine, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Seal Beach and Long Beach. (714) 848-2288.You can find more tips and resources from Todd Creager at: https://toddcreager.com HELPFUL LINKS:Get your FREE copy of Healing Infidelity From The Inside Out https://www.toddcreagertraining.com/heal-infidelity Secrets to a Sexy Marriage: https://toddcreager.kartra.com/page/sexy-marriage-secrets7 Ways to Divorce Proof Your Marriage: https://toddcreager.kartra.com/page/optin-DPYMBe...
We're celebrating all that God did during Send Week and looking to John 13 as our example of how and why we serve. When we truly understand how Jesus served, we understand how nothing should be beneath us.Connect with our church: @ascentchurchvaConnect with our lead pastor: @pastor.tlaneIf you've just made a decision for Christ, we'd love to celebrate with you. Please connect with us through our A-Card here: https://www.liinks.co/ascentchurch
Loving greetings and welcome to August, a month that in many spiritual and cultural traditions holds a distinct mystique because it bridges the peak of summer and the first whispers of autumn. August is a powerful season of change, rich with blessings and abundance. Using the inspiration found in Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic, I […]
What does it actually mean to be a loving, godly husband?In this message from the Blessed Marriage series, Pastor Ryan Visconti challenges husbands and future husbands to embrace God's calling for marriage—not simply as a title or privilege, but as a responsibility to sacrificially serve their wives.Through four essential roles—leader, protector, cultivator, and provider—you'll discover what biblical husbandhood looks like in everyday life. From casting vision and making decisions to creating safety, understanding your wife, meeting her needs, and helping her flourish, this message gives men practical biblical principles for becoming the husbands God has called them to be.Whether you're married, preparing for marriage, or a wife wanting to better understand the responsibility God has given your husband, this message offers practical wisdom for building a stronger, healthier, Christ-centered marriage.
Most men swear they won't become their fathers. Yet without realising it, they're running the exact same patterns—coldness, emotional numbness, withdrawal, rigidity—in their relationships. And it's destroying them. The worst part? Your girlfriend or wife is telling you exactly what's happening. She feels the distance. The emotional absence. The black-and-white thinking. But you either don't hear it, or you hear it as criticism and shut down further. This isn't about being exactly like your dad. It's about the emotional template he passed down—the belief that emotions are dangerous, that vulnerability is weakness, that showing up with softness means losing control. In this episode, I'm breaking down: Why you unconsciously inherited this pattern (and it goes back generations) How it shows up in your relationships—the exact ways it's sabotaging you Three concrete practices to start breaking the cycle this week This is what I wish someone had told me before I nearly lost everything. Watch this and ask yourself the question that changed everything for me: What if it's not them—what if it's me? RELATE:
Just when you think you've seen and heard it all, another story comes along that makes you question how far people are willing to go for family.In this episode, I'm talking about the Mount Vernon shooting case involving a 20-year-old man accused of being involved in a drive-by shooting—and the allegations that his own mother acted as a getaway driver. His father is also accused of being involved and is currently on the run.What really stands out to me isn't just the alleged crime itself. It's the fact that we're talking about parents who, according to the allegations, became involved in their adult son's criminal activity.As a parent, I understand loving your children and wanting to protect them. But there's a line that has to be drawn. You can love your child without helping them commit a crime. You can support your child without allowing their choices to destroy your life.At 20 years old, he's an adult. If he chooses that lifestyle despite his parents' guidance, there comes a point where you have to step back and let him face the consequences of his own decisions.Sometimes loving your child means standing beside them. And sometimes it means standing back and saying, "I'm not going down this road with you."This is my take on a story involving family, accountability, bad decisions, and the consequences that can follow when those lines get crossed.These are my personal thoughts and commentary based on publicly reported allegations.
Just when you think you've seen and heard it all, another story comes along that makes you question how far people are willing to go for family.In this episode, I'm talking about the Mount Vernon shooting case involving a 20-year-old man accused of being involved in a drive-by shooting—and the allegations that his own mother acted as a getaway driver. His father is also accused of being involved and is currently on the run.What really stands out to me isn't just the alleged crime itself. It's the fact that we're talking about parents who, according to the allegations, became involved in their adult son's criminal activity.As a parent, I understand loving your children and wanting to protect them. But there's a line that has to be drawn. You can love your child without helping them commit a crime. You can support your child without allowing their choices to destroy your life.At 20 years old, he's an adult. If he chooses that lifestyle despite his parents' guidance, there comes a point where you have to step back and let him face the consequences of his own decisions.Sometimes loving your child means standing beside them. And sometimes it means standing back and saying, "I'm not going down this road with you."This is my take on a story involving family, accountability, bad decisions, and the consequences that can follow when those lines get crossed.These are my personal thoughts and commentary based on publicly reported allegations.
In this episode, Minter Dial is joined by Omar Khan, whose global upbringing and eclectic academic journey—from Cairo to Oxford to Stanford—frames a lifetime quest to build bridges rather than barriers. The conversation focused on Omar Khan's philosophy of “loving assertiveness,” a practice shaped by his studies in behavioural psychology, leadership coaching, and Nonviolent Communication. A key theme that emerged was the profound impact of educational systems on shaping adaptable, thoughtful leaders, with the discussion exploring differences between American and British university traditions, and how these experiences equipped Omar for an unconventional career spanning law, consultancy, and executive coaching. The pair delves into the crucial role of high-quality conversations in organisations—why surface-level or avoided discussions undermine strategy, and how authentic, needs-based dialogue can transform teams and drive results. Several points were raised, including the challenge of fostering genuine transformation in corporate cultures, moving beyond formulaic approaches to strategy towards deeper empathy and curiosity, and the need for leadership vulnerability. The discussion explored tools like the “impact filter” and highlights practical approaches for embedding emotional intelligence and loving assertiveness in business, even amid deep-rooted conflict or post-crisis environments. Whether you're wrestling with difficult conversations in your team, seeking to cultivate empowered, resilient leaders, or looking for frameworks to bridge divides within complex organisations, this episode provides incisive insights and actionable models. Tune in as Minter Dial and Omar Khan unpack why the future of work—and society—hinges on our willingness to listen, connect, and have the courageous conversations that truly matter.
By Derek Einersen - In this message, The Father's Loving Discipline, we look at Hebrews 12:5–11 and the difficult question of pain. Scripture does not deny that discipline, suffering, and loss are painful, but it teaches believers not to interpret hardship as abandonment, cruelty, or meaningless suffering. Instead, the
Mr. Mariner, Alvin Davis joins the show to talk about how honored he is to be apart of this celebration and how proud he is of the organization, how he loved the King Dome and favorite memories as a Mariners player.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does Skunk spray protect them? Are Skunks dangerous? Where do Skunks live? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
#969. You probably know him as comedian Des Bishop... or maybe as Hannah Berner's husband. But trust us, there's so much more to his story.Des joins Kaitlyn to talk about the early days of his relationship with Hannah (including the coffee date where he knew almost instantly she was different), what it was really like when she left to film Summer House just days after they started dating, and why he's completely unbothered being introduced as "Hannah's husband."They also dive into the emotional side of nostalgia, why getting older isn't as scary as people think, the surprising reason he moved from Queens to Ireland at 14, learning Mandarin well enough to perform stand-up in China, and the story behind his new Hulu comedy special Bridge & Tunnel. Plus, Des shares his thoughts on modern masculinity, social media, and the one thing we all do that's proof we're way too attached to our phones.This conversation is hilarious, thoughtful, and full of the kind of perspective that'll have you laughing one minute and reflecting the next.If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Figs: So if you're in healthcare—or know someone who is—don't miss out on 20% OFF for back to school, happening now through August 11th at wearfigs.comApartments.com: The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For many of us, our relationships with our siblings are the longest of our lives. They shape our earliest experiences of love, rivalry, identity and belonging. Yet despite their lasting influence, they are often overlooked in favour of relationships with parents, partners or children. In this episode, journalist and critic Mythili Rao speaks with broadcaster Catherine Carr about the overlooked significance of sibling relationships. Together they explore how these lifelong bonds shape who we become, from birth order and family dynamics to estrangement, grief and the challenges of caring for ageing parents. Why do we place so much weight in birth-order stereotypes? Are only children really different? And what happens when sibling relationships break down? Drawing on personal stories, psychological research and expert interviews, Carr challenges familiar assumptions and examines how changing family structures, falling birth rates and longer lives are reshaping what it means to be a sibling today. Catherine Carr is a broadcaster and journalist. She is the author of Who's the Favourite?: The Loving, Messy Realities of Sibling Relationships. Mythili Rao is a journalist, critic and podcaster whose work explores literature, culture and society. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Did people always love playing Video Games at home? How have Video Game Consoles evolved? What is the all-time greatest Video Game Console? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?
Daily Boost Podcast Break Out of Your Loving Cage August 5, 2026 | Episode 5513 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description After 35 years in this business and tens of thousands of conversations, three things now run everything I do: your level of awareness, the peaceful base, and the one we're covering today — the loving cage. It might be the most important concept I've ever come up with. I use it consciously every single day. Your cage wasn't built from failure. Every bar came from a good decision, made with love, by you and the people around you. Today you'll learn to see the bars — and find the door. Featured Story Motorcycle riders like me have a name for people who drive cars: cagers. Your car is a cage. You're comfortable, climate-controlled, safe — and you can't feel the road underneath you. On my motorcycle, with a helmet and a jacket, I feel everything. Your career can be that cage. Your relationship too. The mortgage that was too big, the title that took too many hours, the reputation for being the reliable one. Every bar built one reasonable choice at a time, with help from a boss who loves your work and a family that doesn't want you to quit. That's why you can't see it. You did everything right — and it trapped you. Important Points Every bar of your loving cage was built from a good decision — that's exactly why you can't see that you're trapped. Feeling flat isn't burnout or laziness. It's your competence in a holding pattern, locked in by your own success. You don't escape by burning your life down. You escape by seeing the cage, because awareness shows you the door. Memorable Quotes Every bar of this cage was built on a good decision, not a bad one. You did the right thing — and it trapped you. You don't escape the loving cage by burning it down. You escape it by becoming aware of it. See the door and walk out. Your next decision carries more weight than it used to — and that's exactly how you start getting what you want. Scott's Three-Step Approach Get honest about your awareness first — track what's actually happening in your life until the patterns expose you. Trace how each bar got there: the mortgage, the title, the reputation. Name the good decisions that built the cage. Skip the urge to burn it all down. Find the door instead, and make your next decision like it carries real weight. Chapters 0:01 - Kicking off the Badwater Crossing in Death Valley 1:05 - What 35 years of figuring out life taught me 2:13 - The three things that run everything I do 4:09 - The peaceful base and building on a hot mess 4:56 - Inside the loving cage and how it gets built 5:51 - How good decisions build the bars one at a time 8:00 - Don't burn it down — find the door instead Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#968. Stassi Schroeder is back on reality TV, but this chapter looks nothing like the one that made her famous. She joins Kaitlyn for an unfiltered catch-up that goes everywhere—from the surprisingly emotional reason House of Stassi almost feels like therapy, to the very real season she's navigating with Beau after nearly a decade together, two kids, and building a business side by side.The two get honest about getting older, worrying more (not less), why ambition hits differently once you become a mom, and the pressure to have it all figured out when everyone online has an opinion. And because it's Stassi... the conversation somehow detours into breast lifts, baby names, TikTok rabbit holes, and the bold claim that she's never had a nipple hair.It's funny, refreshingly self-aware, and exactly what you'd hope two girlfriends would talk about once the microphones are on.If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!Better Help: See the reviews, see what stands out, and see if Better Help is right for you. Visit Better help dot com slash VINE. That's BETTERHelp.com/VINE.Quince: Upgrade your everyday. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/vine. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.Wayfair: Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to wayfair.com to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every Style. Every Home.Progressive: Visit Progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back on your car insurance.Macy's: Visit macys.com or head to your local store to shop all the latest styles, beauty, and everything you need to soak up the last bit of summer.Apartments.com : The place to find a place!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Why do you need to go to the Dentist? What tools do Dentists use to keep your teeth clean? How often should you go to the Dentist? Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?