This is the 4th episode in our 5 part series on Dating Essentials — 5 foundational principles for meaningful and fulfilling dating relationships.In this penultimate episode, we examine why successful dating typically takes time. But that begs the question, how much time? Is there a recommended minimum or suggested range? A number of months or a couple of years? Well, it depends. Join us as we dive into the 5 C's (Character, Competency, Chemistry, Culture, and Compatibility) that act as time m...
Feb 25, 2021•54 min
This is the 3rd part in our series on Dating Essentials — 5 foundational principles for meaningful and fulfilling dating relationships.In this episode, we delve into why accountability is such a crucial element in relationships, especially in dating. We always want to ensure that our most impactful relationships reflect the values that are most important to us. Yet often, emotional attachment, though not wrong in and of itself, can hinder our ability to discern and decipher clearly. Tha...
Feb 19, 2021•42 min
This is the 2nd part in our series on Dating Essentials — 5 foundational principles for meaningful and fulfilling dating relationships. In this episode, we challenge the myth that romantic relationships are necessary to be complete, whole, and happy in life. Many of us may agree that we are indeed complete in spite of a romantic relationship but do we actually believe it? Do we actually live it? Join us as we discuss this and explore how walking in the areas of spiritual, emotional, and ...
Feb 12, 2021•37 min
This is the beginning of our series on Dating Essentials — 5 foundational principles for meaningful and fulfilling dating relationships.In this episode, we begin by laying the foundation with purpose. Why are you dating? Or Why are you trying to date? Oftentimes, we can give a lofty, well-articulated answer. But is this our actual purpose? What are the attributes of a good purpose? Join us as we also discuss:How we define dating in a practical wayCommon unfulfilling purposes that guide ...
Feb 05, 2021•43 min
For some of us, date night - a planned occasion when you and your significant other spend 1-on-1 time cultivating emotional closeness through an activity - feels like a no-sweat reflex action. For others, it’s a nice-to-have but not a must-have. And for many, they often sense the need but find themselves battling with several barriers such as:I can’t find the timeI’m just too exhaustedI can’t think of any cheap or creative ideas! All the planning is too muchWhat about the kids? Th...
Jan 28, 2021•44 min
"Life is at best a chain of transitions, that is we are either going to, going through, or coming out of a transition."In this episode, we sat down with the wise Jackson Saya, a former zoologist, and current life transition coach, who shares how parasites-the masters of transitions in nature -provide us with the keys to navigate change in our relationships. With these principles, we learn how our relationships can thrive in the midst of change, instead of just surviving. Join us as we d...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 19 min
In this episode, we discuss a question often floated by listeners and that is, is online dating okay? Doesn’t it seem unnatural and inauthentic? Isn't it forced and where does God’s will in waiting for a partner come into play? Join us as we address some of these common hesitations as well as:Potential benefits of online datingPotential risks of online dating Principles for healthy online datingAs always, we’d love to hear your comments, thoughts, questions, and topic suggestions via Ins...
Jan 15, 2021•39 min
In this episode, we delve into the realm of assumptions within relationships — accepting things regarding a person as true without proof. Living in the unverified reality of assumptions is often a source of grief and heartache; but we don't have to live there. Some examples of possible assumptions may be:She didn’t call me last night, so she's clearly not interestedHe may seem rude and dismissive often times but I know he loves meThey didn’t compliment my new outfit so they obvious...
Jan 08, 2021•53 min
“They say distance means so little when someone means so much. But still, somehow distance has this ability to break bonds, to break trust, to push us further away from each other not just physically but emotionally”On our first podcast of the year, we’re honored to share a recent conversation with one of our favorite couples, Jonathan and Amanda Walter. Long distance - across multiple timezones - has been a defining aspect of both our relationships and is only becoming more common in our glo...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!As many around the world celebrate the hope and joy that Christ's birth brings, we decided to focus on a key relationship that surrounded His birth: Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents. Join us as we reflect on the oft-overlooked details of the early stages of this relationship; then, as we explore 3 resulting lessons we can bring into our own relationships from the biblical narrative.--------------------------------We're eager to hear your thoughts on the ...
Dec 25, 2020•29 min
Studies and debates have gone on for decades regarding this question: can members of the opposite gender be friends? Join us as we tackle this topic exploring the following question:- Why does it even matter?- Are there any differences between same-gender and opposite-gender friendships? Should there be?- What are some guiding principles? - What if your partner is not okay with your friend of the other gender?--------------------------------We're eager to hear your thoughts on the podcas...
Dec 18, 2020•48 min
We’re so excited to introduce our first guest duo, Steven and Tamara Conway, a couple we admire with a wealth of experience and wisdom, as they share how baggage & dysfunction from our past reveals itself in our present relationships and how we can confront it individually along with our loved ones. We hit on many relevant topics including:- How marriage reveals hidden dysfunction- The importance of managing expectations- Conflict resolution and teachable moments- How our core fears drive...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 12 min
Richard Carlson, the renowned psychologist, once said “Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.” Sometimes the pace of life, even during a pandemic, outpaces our ability to process it all; we can't believe it's already been a year of being married! So in today's episode, we take a step back to reflect on some lessons that our first year of marriage has taught us about ourselves, our spouse, and relationships. And to celebrate this marker, we'd like to share...
Dec 04, 2020•34 min
In today's episode, we share one of the most challenging parts of our relationship: dealing with anxiety. Callie is diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — and it has impacted our relationship in some key ways. We explore how it's been for both of us, especially early on in our relationship and how we’ve worked through this reality over time. We also share important considerations and recommendations for a meaningful relationship where at least one person is dealing with a mental illn...
Nov 20, 2020•53 min
On this special 20th episode, we’re excited to welcome Charlene Coutet as she shares about her recently published book on relationships, My Child Wake Up. The book follows the journey of her romantic relationship mistakes and how a vivid dream led her to discover a powerful, logical, and practical remedy to her heartache and a way forward to better relationships. Some key themes we discuss are:The relationship between the heart and the biblical sanctuaryWhy and when relationship standards don...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 2 min
In today's episode, we share 3 qualities of safe people — the kind of people that help you, care for you, and are trustworthy. We also discuss how to interact with unsafe people — should we just avoid them at all costs? Aren't we all to some extent unsafe?--------------------------------We're eager to hear your thoughts on the podcast! Got any questions, topic suggestions, or just want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you via this quick feedback form: https://tally.so/r/w4Jkgr
Nov 06, 2020•38 min
In this episode, we dive into a topic we're asked about as soon as people meet us: intercultural relationships. We look differently, talk differently, and come from different continents. How has that affected our relationship? Specifically, we focus on the following questions:- When did it hit us that we were in an intercultural relationship?- What was it like as a recipient of societal pressures and awkward questions?- What are the benefits and challenges of an intercultural relationship?- H...
Oct 29, 2020•55 min
In today's episode, we're excited to welcome Anil Kanda. Anil is one of our favorite speakers and we love his energy and deep, provocative insights into life’s toughest problems. Today he walks us through a fascinating and practical discussion on chemistry and compatibility. With insight, personal stories, and honesty, we touch on:- What's the difference between chemistry and compatibility? - Which is more important and why?- Are examples of these in the Bible?- Why eHarmony couples have...
Oct 23, 2020•59 min
In today's episode, we delve into the importance of honesty in a relationship. Sometimes we fall into two extremes: we're either so honest that we are better labeled as rude, or we keep more than we should to ourselves in the name of "kindness". What's the balance here? What kinds of things should we share with our significant other — and how? Are there ever times that we should keep secrets? Is it ever okay to lie to a loved one?As always, we share lessons we've learned in thi...
Oct 16, 2020•50 min
In today's episode, we share how we moved from an intentional friendship to officially dating/courting. We also explore that phase of a relationship that often defines this stage: the honeymoon phase. We got into some unplanned discussions about chemistry during the last portion of the episode, and we'd love to know your thoughts! Amidst Callie's weekly soapbox and a story about Indian curry stains we discuss: - Is the honeymoon phase good or bad?- What is the honeymoon phase like?- If I...
Oct 09, 2020•44 min
In today's episode, we're grateful to have Israel Ramos, a long-time friend and mentor. We sought out him and his wife Judy to be part of our pre-marital counseling and are still benefiting from those meaningful discussions! In this interview, we discuss two radical perspectives on commitment and further explore different reasons people, particularly men, struggle with commitment in their relationships as well as:- the impacts of porn on commitment in relationships- advice to men hesitat...
Oct 02, 2020•57 min
FOMO is one of those millennial-esque terms; but we don't believe its experience is reserved for Millennials or even this decade. The fear of missing out can negatively impact our decisions and frames of mind, especially in the realm of relationships. In this episode, we dive into two kinds of FOMO, how it can impact even our closest relationships, and how to have a more balanced view of what we have and what we're striving for.--------------------------------We're eager to hear your thoughts...
Sep 25, 2020•36 min
In today's episode, we share about the stage of our relationship between confessing our feelings for each other and becoming official/starting to date. Instead of taking our mutual feelings as a guarantee we should be in a romantic relationship, we decided to begin an intentional friendship. Through our experience and insights we gleaned from others, we delve into:- How we confessed our feelings for each other- The purpose of an intentional friendship- The ideal length of an intentional frien...
Sep 17, 2020•42 min
In this episode, we welcome (Auntie) Ruth Matoya to share her wealth of meaningful experience helping others as a licensed counseling psychologist. Sometimes we think counseling is the place we go when we're on the way out — we only go to counseling as a last resort if nothing else works. Instead, Auntie Ruth demystifies both the purpose and the long-term effects of counseling. Join us as we explore common questions such as:- What is the difference between counseling and therapy? Does it matt...
Sep 11, 2020•56 min
Why do we sometimes tell people "yes" when we really want to say "no"? Why do we sometimes get mad at people for asking for our time? And who are these mythical people that seem to be so in control of their time, have no problem with telling people no, and yet are still kind about it? The answers to all of these questions center around boundaries. There are so many relational heartaches and obstacles when we don't have strong boundaries; in fact, we can even hurt ourselves without anyone...
Sep 04, 2020•40 min
On this episode, we delve into that awkward space between friendship and something more: where you're starting to develop feelings, but aren't sure if the other person feels the same, or what you should do at that point, and the anxiety can be high! We share that phase of our relationship, how it came about, and how it felt for us at the time. We then focus on one of the biggest causes of heartache and misunderstanding in this phase: trifling. What is trifling and how do you avoid it? Wh...
Aug 26, 2020•44 min
In today’s episode, we are excited to welcome Justin Kim, a colleague, friend, mentor, and Old Testament timeline aficionado (Callie insisted on putting that in). Justin shares how leaving a position at Harvard and drastically switching career trajectories impacted his relationship search during his 20s. Through both personal experience and learned principles, he also shares about:Being set up with someone and how we can be more open to itThe importance of self-awareness in assessing your rea...
Aug 21, 2020•53 min
We all want to have healthy, fulfilling, and meaningful relationships — so why do sabotage them? It definitely takes two people to create a wonderful relationship, but sometimes its failure has little to do with the other person and a lot to do with us. Why is that? What are we so afraid of? And more importantly, how can we stop allowing these fears to sabotage our relationships?In this episode, we take a closer look at common fears we allow to hurt our relationships as well as the underlying...
Aug 13, 2020•47 min
One of the most common questions couples receive is…“So, how did you two meet?” We love answering this question, mostly because it’s not what people expect — it also depends on who they ask: David gives a great summary, and Callie excels in the details. On this episode, join us as we share more about our story, and as we discuss key questions such as:Were we soulmates? What defines a soulmate?Is it okay to meet people online?Did we experience love at first sight? Is that a real thi...
Aug 07, 2020•33 min
In today's episode, we are excited to welcome Sikhu Daco, a good friend and theology buff. She shares about her years of marvelous contentedness as a single woman, while still being open and searching for a relationship; and accomplishing both while living out her purpose.Living in a romantic-relationship-centric society, we are often bombarded with the idea that our value and identity are determined by a spouse (or lack thereof). Sikhu wisely breaks down the heart of the issue and speaks to ...
Jul 31, 2020•1 hr 5 min
