What if God has more for your marriage than happily after? Could it be that God intended your marriage to have a life-enriching, hope-giving purpose of sharing God's love with a hurting world? In this episode, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, founders of the well-loved UnveiledWife.com and HusbandRevolution.com, share their own marital journey of one in crisis, to one built on Christ's redemptive love. No matter the current condition of your marriage, God still can, and even wants to, use your marriage...
Jul 03, 2019•55 min
Finding friends once we have children and become "grownups" isn't always easy. Especially for families who move quite often. Especially for moms who long to talk to anyone who can tie her shoes. And especially since it takes time and trust to go deep. This episode came out of one question from our question and discussion episode. Some of the topics we discuss include: * The struggle it is to find friends you connect with * Practical ways to move from acquaintances to friends * The time and vulne...
Jun 26, 2019•51 min
In this episode, we once again discuss your questions. In particular, this week's discussion points include: * Marriage books to read for non-Christians * Ways to get your spouse to increase more time together and get in sync * Next steps for rebuilding your marriage after it fell apart * How to help our kids navigate adults who lack emotional intelligence / awareness * Whether your child's enneagram type influences how we discipline and disciple them The Questions: * From Emily: I really like y...
Jun 19, 2019•27 min
Sex is the elephant in the room. At some point, every spouse feels the unspoken tension. For many marriages, the elephant grows bigger after our kids enter the family. In this episode, we call out the elephant in the room and provide ways you and your spouse can begin talking about sex with one another in an emotionally safe way. We talk about: * Why sex is so difficult to talk about in the first place * How to communicate about sex if past trauma is influencing physical intimacy in your marriag...
Jun 12, 2019•40 min
Having an emotionally safe marriage doesn't just happen. The way we listen to and communicate with our spouse makes all the difference. But doing so takes practice--and the willingness to be empathetic. In this second episode of our two part series, we talk about the building blocks to having an emotionally safe marriage. In particular, we talk about: * What it means to be empathetic with our spouse * Why labeling emotions makes a difference * A simple way of communicating for deeper connection ...
Jun 05, 2019•28 min
So often, couples tell us that communication is their greatest problem. But more than communication, empathy for what's going on within your spouse's heart is even more crucial to connection and intimacy. In fact, our willingness to genuinely show care and concern for our spouse's feelings is where great communication begins. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to have an emotionally safe marriage. In particular, we talk about: * What it means to be "emotionally safe" * What hinders us ...
May 29, 2019•35 min
Have you ever been curious about your own family lineage? The marriage that happened you didn't know about? The hobbies passed down through the generations? Or maybe even the relational dynamics that led to addiction? Or what about the reasons you parent the way you do? Why you treat your spouse the way you do? Genograms can reveal so much about our family history. In this episode, we talk about genograms and how they can help us discover more of who we are and where we come from. We also discus...
May 22, 2019•40 min
Gain insight into two husbands and dads building their family teams. That's what this episode is all about. Josh interviews Jeff Bethke about the state of the American family, how it stands in contrast to biblical fatherhood, and the practical ways we can build a family team. Specifically, we talk about: * What Abraham might be looking for in a dad today and why. * The biblical foundation and mission of family versus how we actually function in the Western world * The intentional steps you can t...
May 15, 2019•49 min
We love getting your questions and discussing the topics dear to your heart. In this week's episode, we discuss the following topics and questions: * Kids should be allowed to feel anger, but should we allow our kids to stomp off in their anger? It feels like such a fine line to walk. * When our children don't transition well, or don't want to transition well, from one activity or event to another, what do I do? * As a single mom, how do I compensate for my children not having a father? * I'm em...
May 08, 2019•40 min
We all seek to find our life purpose. But have you ever thought about your marital purpose? The purpose God has for your marriage? He has one for you--but it may not be for what you think. In this episode, we talk with Ryan and Selena Frederick from Fierce Marriage about how your marriage is designed to bring God glory. But what does that mean? And how can we do that, especially in an age of confusion? Ryan and Selena break down what it means to be transparent in marriage and cover such topics a...
May 01, 2019•59 min
Sex is our most requested topic lately for the podcast. And the types of questions we receive about sex reveal the power it holds in how well--or not--we connect with our spouse. In this episode, Ryan and Laura Dobson join us to talk about the joys and difficulties of sex in marriage. We discuss: * How to begin talking about sex in your marriage * The power sex has on how well we feel emotionally connected * How to discuss and overcome past hurts to rediscover--or maybe discover for the first ti...
Apr 24, 2019•1 hr 5 min
Feeling exhausted, or simply tired of going through the motions? The modern world is a machine of a thousand invisible habits, forming us into anxious, busy, and depressed people. The trouble is that our habits are almost invisible to us. In fact, habits form us more than we form them. So what can we do about it? Welcome to The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction. In this week's episode, we interview Justin Whitmel Earley, a mergers and acquisitions lawyer who nearly crashed ...
Apr 17, 2019•54 min
This episode is a discussion about what we describe as the "art of becoming." Too often we get so focused on the day-to-day sleep, discipline, or behavioral issues with our kids that we lose sight of what really influences who they become. Don't get us wrong, it's not that these day-to-day issues don't matter. However, it's easy to get so lost in the day-to-day, that we neglect who we're becoming. In this episode, we talk about a recent research study that connected more parenting information to...
Apr 10, 2019•43 min
The Bible consistently uses botanical growth to describe our spiritual maturity and how we grow. Applied to us as parents, we want to raise children who love God and share His love with the world. But how do you prepare a spiritual seedling to become fully grown? In this episode, we talk about our new parent Bible study that you can do with your kids to cultivate them in the fruit of the Spirit. But what does this look like, especially at a practical level? This week, we discuss: * What botanica...
Apr 03, 2019•39 min
Our 100th episode! And what better way to celebrate than talking with two amazing humans--Ryan and Laura Dobson--about being emotionally healthy for your family. This is arguably our most raw and vulnerable episode to date. We talk with Ryan and Laura about mental illness, addictions, pornography, and other self-medicators. Even more, we talk about grace and the path to healing. No matter your family history or past mistakes, you have a story you get to live--a story that's being passed on from ...
Mar 27, 2019•47 min
In this episode, we take your questions and talk about them. This week's questions include the following topics: * What educational apps we would recommend * How to handle a co-parenting situation where you have no control with what's happening in the other home * How to help our kids with bad dreams and night terrors * How to further talk to your kids about Santa, Easter bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc. * Managing a child who craves being social more than we have the energy for The Questions: * I am a ...
Mar 20, 2019•33 min
"Mom, who sang the first song?" When Ellie Holcomb's then five-year-old daughter, Emmylou, asked her this question, Ellie threw the question back at her. "Well, who do you think sang the first song?" Emmylou's answer is priceless. Yes, you have to listen to find out. But as Ellie thought about it, she had to do some research. Her answers were put into her first children's book called Who Sang the First Song? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of this incredible story and what it means that...
Mar 13, 2019•36 min
In this episode, we take your questions and talk about them. This week's questions include the following topics: * How to thrive in the survival years with young kids * Should we send our kids to kindergarten early or hold them back * How to manage our own anger and fear so as not to yell at our kids * How to be emotionally safe in the early years * The stage we set up for our kids in our dining room The Questions: * Hi! Absolutely love your podcast and have been a fan since episode one. Could y...
Mar 06, 2019•44 min
In part 2 of our series on kids and feelings, we talk about kids who can empathize with others. This episode is a deeper dive into the "why" behind our new kid's book What Am I Feeling? So often, it can feel like a pipe dream getting our kids to think about anyone other than themselves. Let's be honest, our world could use more adults who can empathize as well. In this episode, we talk about being teachable, responding to others in empathy, and how our kids mirror our emotions. We also discuss h...
Feb 27, 2019•38 min
Teaching our kids to give their feeling a name and then decide what to do with it—is crucial to helping them love God and love others. Turns out, it's also helpful for juvenile delinquents to develop empathy, and for our kids to one day be successful at major companies like Google. In this episode, we talk about these scenarios and why developing emotional awareness is so important for our kids. As it relates to spiritual growth, this is also where emotional and spiritual maturity go hand-in-han...
Feb 20, 2019•46 min
Sometimes, a few nuggets of wisdom just isn't enough. In this episode, we discuss some of the deeper reasons behind why it's so difficult to connect in marriage. We also talk about our own marital journey of late and how counseling has helped us work through the baggage, blindness, and busyness of the day. Yes, three "bee's" that can "sting" your marriage. Dad jokes rock. Of course, the conversation includes practical ways we can connect at a deeper, more intimate level with our spouse. Show Not...
Feb 13, 2019•44 min
We live in a beautifully diverse world. Unfortunately, our world is also plagued by racial and ethnic division. As families, we can bring unity and change by embracing our differences. But it requires that we pass onto our kids what it means to walk in love, not fear—a lesson that's easier said, than done. In this episode, author Trillia Newbell, sits down with us to discuss: * How to talk to our kids about families who look different from ours * Whether or not we should raise our kids to be "co...
Feb 06, 2019•39 min
We can get so busy that we allow culture to dictate who we are as a family, rather than our family influencing the culture around us. In this episode, we talk about some of the critical first steps in discovering what makes your family unique. And as Christi so eloquently states, "Your uniqueness is so normal to you, that you often can't see it." That's because our family purpose is often hidden within the generations that went before us--the family stories, patterns, and even moments of overcom...
Jan 30, 2019•33 min
Welcome to season 5! This week's episode is full of updates about the upcoming season. In addition, we talk about why we believe "parenting" is the wrong term to use when it comes to raising our children. The best part is that we don't leave you hanging. We talk about what we believe the right term should be and why it matters in how we relate to our kids. Show Notes: To preorder our new children's book, What Am I Feeling? click here. It releases March 1. Your Family Purpose: 4-week Group Coachi...
Jan 23, 2019•37 min
What a year in the life of the "In This Together" podcast family. As you'll hear once again through Christi's tears, we love journeying with you. Your stories, questions, podcast reviews, and encouragement fuel our souls. Thank you for making 2018 one of the most joy-filled years for our family. In this episode, we go back and forth, each offering our wishes for your family in 2019. This is a heartfelt episode, offering our blessing over your family for the New Year. We love journeying with you....
Dec 26, 2018•28 min
Our podcast “resident therapist," David Thomas, is back with us, live from Daystar Counseling. He talks with us about what our sons need across the developmental lifespan. In this episode, David breaks down what our boys need in the following age groups: Ages 2-4: The Explorer Ages 5-8: The Lover Ages 9-12: The Individual Ages 13-17: The Wanderer Ages 18-22: The Warrior Some of the best nuggets of this interview include: * The biggest hurdle of boys today across the developmental lifespan * Ways...
Dec 19, 2018•38 min
The next two episodes are gold medallion interviews with our podcast "resident therapists." This week, we interview Sissy Goff from Daystar Counseling about what our daughters need. Next week, we interview David Thomas about what our sons need. In this episode, Sissy breaks down what our girls need in the following age groups: Birth-5: The Discovery Years Ages 6-11: The Adventurous Years Ages 12-15: The Narcissistic Years Ages 16-19: The Autonomous Years Some of the best nuggets of this intervie...
Dec 12, 2018•42 min
As a social entrepreneur and founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection, Jessica Honegger aims to do everything with boundless courage. But just as happiness is not the absence of sadness, and faith is not the absence of doubt, courage is not the absence of fear. Now leading the largest fair-trade jewelry company in the world, Jessica gives us a behind the scenes look at her highly-successful business and her journey to get there as a working mom. In this episode, Jessica shares stories of motherh...
Dec 05, 2018•34 min
This is a special re-released episode on Christmas topics for families, because there's nothing we want more than to experience the joy of Christmas. The problem is that Christmas can leave our time feeling pressed and our wallets stressed. In this episode, we go behind the lens of our own crooked picture frame to discuss some Christmas hot topics. We tell stories about how we were raised and what we implement today in our own family. We also discuss topics like: * Is my gift-giving out of contr...
Dec 03, 2018•47 min
Christmas often comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Not only that, it's easy to miss the magic of the season. Either things don't go the way we had hoped with our family, or we get so buried in our to-do lists we need a search and rescue team just to help us come to the surface. In this episode, we talk about decisions you can make to enjoy the Christmas season with your family. We talk about: * Practical ways we can manage our expectations of the Christmas season * Why it's important to also...
Nov 28, 2018•23 min
