Home is where the heart is, as they say, and the house we live in matters too. It’s clear that the place we live has a big impact on our wellbeing and relationships. We explore some research that identifies factors contributing to happiness at home. Join us as we discover the difference between size and spaciousness, and learn about the importance of adaptability, access to nature, and inviting others in. We share what we love about our own home, and some practical takeaways about what creates a...
Dec 19, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 64
Todd Komarnicki, writer and director of the film “Bonhoeffer” joins us for a lively discussion about many topics, including his creative process, politics, jazz, and faith. He shares insights into his portrayal of the film’s hero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident whose writings deeply influenced David’s spiritual and professional formation. Komarnicki reflects on the deep lessons he’s learned from Bonhoeffer’s life, and shares his frustration with some misconcepti...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 63
In this episode we welcome a guest who is living out her faith with radical courage and compassion. From a pivotal moment in her youth, she felt a profound calling that altered the course of her life. She shares her extraordinary journey of stepping into unfamiliar cultures, learning new languages, and immersing herself in communities vastly different from her upbringing. Join us as we discuss the challenges and rewards of being a single woman in male-dominated societies, and building meaningful...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 62
With the inevitability of pain and suffering in our world, a typical human response is to avoid it or try to make meaning of it. In this episode, we attempt to face hard questions head-on as we discuss insights from C.S. Lewis from his book “The Problem of Pain.” We are joined by Dr. Jerry Root, an expert on Lewis’s writings, to dive deep into ideas of how to approach pain with a sense of hope instead of despair. —- Dr. Jerry Root is professor emeritus at Wheaton College, and for over 41 years, ...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 61
Do you have complicated feelings about the holidays? You’re not alone! While we’re busy making the season merry and bright, we often end up crushed by a stressful load of gift lists, festive events, baking extravaganzas, and family gatherings. In this episode we talk about ways to honor the reality of grief and overwhelm while setting realistic expectations and finding moments of peace. – Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Nov 21, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 60
Can woodland creatures and a task-oriented robot work together for a common purpose? What possibilities lie in the intersection of nature and technology? Find out in this family-friendly film, The Wild Robot. We enjoyed watching the movie together and we hope you’ll join us for a chat about some funny moments, favorite characters, and deep universal themes. We’ll also explore the beauty and brutality of the natural world and discuss the film’s unexpectedly on-point depictions of parenthood and i...
Nov 14, 2024•51 min•Season 5Ep. 59
Deep in the fog of jet lag, we share the joys and challenges of living and working across cultures. We discuss the profound impact of embracing life outside your comfort zone, from the fun of exploring new locations and foods to the challenges of loneliness and culture shock. — Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Nov 07, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 58
In this episode we discuss the transformative power of saying "Yes, and..." with improv expert Jeff Ash. Join us as we learn how improvisational skills can cultivate human connection, encourage self-discovery, and enhance professional and personal interactions. — Jeff Ash is an improv performer, theater owner, and professional speaker with over 25 years of experience in improvisation. As the owner of Westside Improv in Wheaton, Illinois, Jeff has spent the past 10 years developing performers and...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 57
Unrealistic expectations and the pursuit of perfection can lead to extra stress and shame in our lives. In this episode, we explore how comparing ourselves with others can set us up for feeling like a failure. What if we let go of the need to win and instead embraced vulnerability and a values-based approach to success? Join us as we explore the benefits of authenticity over perfection. – We’d love to hear from you! Check out our website www.withuprojects.com, or email us at withupodcast@gmail.c...
Oct 24, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 56
We end up on some of life's paths by choice, and some not so much. We find that we need extra motivation and equipment for the uphill battles or daunting tasks. Whatever path you're on, we hope that after spending some time with us you'll feel less alone and believe you've got what it takes to see it through. -- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Oct 17, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 55
Do you see play as frivolous, extra, or even a waste of time? In this episode, we explore how play is not just for children. As adults, we need it for brain growth, creativity, relational health, and stress relief. We have so much to gain from play, and yet it can be the first thing to go when life gets busy. Join us today as we discover new ways to seek playfulness and fun. – “Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul” by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 54
Coming fresh from supporting the birth of our first grandchild, we dive deep into the topic of physical and emotional pain, and explore how it serves a purpose in our lives and relationships. Using personal stories and professional experiences, we highlight the difference between pain and suffering, explore the role of support and connection in reducing pain's impact, and stress the value of facing pain with understanding to encourage growth. — Feedback of questions? Please email us at withupodc...
Oct 03, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 53
Gone but not forgotten are the million people who died during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. During our visit to this beautiful country, we heard stories from almost everyone we met about how the events of their past still affect their lives today. Our guest, John Bosco Rumanzi, shares his story of being born as a refugee in Uganda and what it was like to come back to his country and learn about family members he would never meet. He tells us what he’s learned about the power of human dignity, coo...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 52
Sometimes you need to just push way outside what’s normal in your life. We’ve gotten pretty comfortable traveling, but a recent trip to Africa really stretched and challenged us. We made mistakes (hello, visa expediting fee!), met amazing people, and ate stuff we will probably never eat again. Tara resurrected her fear of baboons, David learned to push a truck out of the mud with a leopard lurking nearby, and we both ended each day grateful to be in it together. — Check out the video of this pod...
Sep 19, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 51
Join David & Tara as they talk about building the video podcast studio with an epic trip to IKEA. David learns to enjoy vegetarian meatballs and Tara puts the kibosh on setting a world record of living in the display rooms.
Sep 12, 2024•8 min•Season 5Ep. 54
We’re about to do something new! But first, a review: as we record episode #50 of the podcast, we are thankful for you coming along with us for connection, resources, and hopefully a few laughs. We will take a short hiatus for 2 months as we travel and teach. In the meantime, we need to hear from you! Please rate, review, and share the podcast to give us a boost and the will to go on — ha ha! No, really! —- produced by Zach Van Dyke (He does amazing work! Drop him an encouraging message at withu...
Jul 04, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 50
How do we form our sense of self? In the movie Inside Out 2, we go deep inside the brain of a teenager to find out how self is constructed from memories, messages, and beliefs. As we follow the main character Riley into adolescence, we discover the importance of integrating both positive and negative experiences into our identity. Join us on this wild rollercoaster of emotional exploration! —- produced by Zach Van Dyke —- promotional pic by Disney...
Jun 27, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 49
We’ve been employed in many unique ways, from washing cars to working on a Hollywood movie set. Sometimes the path to a career can be full of unexpected turns, but each workplace can teach us something valuable to prepare us for the next step. We hope our stories of odd jobs — sometimes hilarious, sometimes grueling, and sometimes downright sketchy — will take the pressure off anyone who is still searching for their dream job. -- Do you want to see us working as extras in a French music video? Y...
Jun 20, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 48
Would you like to hear a dad joke? Dads and their corny jokes may be fun to tease, but we are thankful for fathers and their important role in our lives. Join us for memorable lessons learned from our own dads, ideas for fun father’s day celebrations, and a surprise tribute to David from our kids. --- see fun photos at With U Projects --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Jun 13, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 47
How is David surviving the Great Cicada Invasion of '24? While a horde of insects invading our home town, why is Tara far away in a Boise birth center? While we've been busy teaching and training in different states this week, we invite you to join us on a call as we check in with each other and compare our parenting responses to our daughter's epic Amtrak adventure. --- Picture of actual cicadas in our back yard. Now imagine one million of them flying around your head. Fun fact: cicada noise le...
Jun 06, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 46
Have you ever wondered what is the right thing to say to someone who is going through a hard time? Do you struggle with the line between persistence and intrusion when trying to provide support? We've been there, and we treasure the lessons we've learned along the way. Listen in for some practical tips that will help you foster deeper, more caring relationships.
May 30, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 45
An effort to discover David’s family roots led us to more than just a meal of pickled herring on farm in the Netherlands. We also gained a deeper appreciation for the profound impact of family history on personal identity, We explore the ways we can learn from patterns in our family history and build on the strengths of previous generations while also writing our own story. —- Resources for researching your family history: Local libraries City courthouse records National archives Ancestry.com An...
May 23, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 44
From aquatic frogs to a pet shop puppy, we've hosted a variety of household animals. Though we weren't always on the same page about pet ownership, we agree that animals have enriched our lives and enhanced our families. We reveal some research that shows the true health benefits of pet companionship, and share our personal stories of pets that left their paw prints on our hearts. --- CDC article about health benefits of pets --- produced by Zach Van Dyke...
May 16, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 43
If you’ve experienced lost luggage, bad directions, or a misplaced passport, you know how easily a dream trip can go off the rails. But despite the potential for discomforts and disaster, we believe all travel is worth the risk. Getting outside your familiar neighborhood may challenge your relationships, expand your mind, and open the door to delightful discoveries. Listen up for our top tips for making the most of any travel experience, from family road trips to international adventures. —- A f...
May 09, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 42
What if reaching for the stars sounds a bit unreachable? What does it really mean to follow my dreams ? How do I make a difference in the world when I’m just working a regular job? If any of these questions ring a bell for you or any new graduate in your life, we’ve got some encouraging words. We’ll break down the most common graduation day clichés to help you feel less overwhelmed and more grounded at this amazing time of transition. —- Gratitude: The Short Film by Louie Schwartzberg Check out ...
May 02, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 41
With a crazy, truth-or-dare-like boldness, we asked our kids to ask us any question at all and promised we'd answer truthfully. We enjoyed a candid Q&A session that led to tears, laughter, and some surprising discoveries about what aquatic animals we'd like to be and why. --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 40
We choose some relationships in life, and some relationships choose us. If you have a sibling, you know what we’re talking about. As we grow up together, we live and learn, fight and hopefully forgive. We enjoyed a conversation with David’s brother Nathan about their shared family experiences, their age-gap challenges, and their evolving friendship. -- See fun family photos of David & Nathan on our website at With U Podcast Please send feedback or show topic suggestions to us at withupodcast...
Apr 18, 2024•53 min•Season 4Ep. 39
Did you know we are each made up of trillions of microbial cells? And that our relationship with these unseen microorganisms may have a profound impact on our lifelong health? Our guest Toni Harman, is a filmmaker who produced the award-winning documentary Microbirth. She explores the science behind how our bodies interact with our environment, and emphasizes the importance of optimizing the microbiome from birth. --- Toni Harman is a filmmaker, author, course creator and champion of the microbi...
Apr 11, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 39
What happens when the next steps in life don't come so easily? Russell Moore's expectations about growing a family were challenged when he and his wife experienced infertility. Though initially resistant to the idea of adoption, Dr. Moore's heart opened to welcome two sons adopted from Russia. He shares ways adoption is woven into Jesus' own family tree to reveal the expansive love of God and the concept of family beyond biological ties. --- Russell Moore is Editor in Chief of Christianity Today...
Mar 28, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Hillary and Jonathan Wildt each felt led to the idea of adoption even before they found each other. After they were married, done with grad school, and feeling ready for parenthood, they worked to prepare their house, their hearts, and their extended family for the realities of adoption. The process led them to welcoming three biological siblings as their children. Now two years into their parenthood journey, they share the challenges they face, including attachment issues and managing expectati...
Mar 21, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 36
