With U Podcast

What do bath times, pizza nights, and wooden shoes have in common? For us, they are part of family traditions that give us safety, structure, and deeper meaning. Traditions and rituals help us form connection and affection.  We're big fans of a good tradition, so we'll share some of our favorites.  We'd love to hear some of yours as well! | Read more about our St Nick's Day traditions here: https:...

As we continue our Four Cornerstones series, we'll explore two more key ideas in developing healthy relationships: Language & Meaning. First, we look at language. (Why does swearing in another language seem less offensive?) How do the words we use shape our behavior and our thoughts? How can we choose words that strengthen our relationships and enhance our view of others? In case those questio...

There are a few key concepts that we find to be foundational to a life of healthy relationships. We call these concepts our Four Cornerstones. In this episode, we’ll talk about two of them. First, hear about how we got lost on a family road trip to Colorado. Perspective asks the question, Where are we? Zooming out, getting the big picture and context around the problem or relationship can go a lon...

“As I look back, God has brought me to places that seem disconnected but now make sense.” Many people fear change, and struggle to understand how the disjointed pieces of their lives will fit together to make a whole. So we were excited to learn from our friend Joel Morris about how he has navigated massive vocational and geographical changes in his life. When David and Joel got to know each other...

There's no skipping past the weird and wild time of adolescence. Understanding and appreciating teenagers will go a long way toward connecting well with them. This is a subject we love, so we talk about the biology of adolescence, and share some of our own teenage mishaps and parenting wins and fails. -- For more about the amazingness of teenagers, don't miss our previous episode with Mark Oestrei...

"Do you see teenagers as a problem to be solved or as a wonder to behold? If we're really honest, most people see teenagers as broken and incapable. And I just don't see them that way. I see them as amazing." Let’s talk about teenagers! We worked with Marko in youth ministry when we were newlyweds and we learned a lot about approaching teens with playfulness and respect. We love the way Marko chan...

Marriage & Family Therapy is a way of looking at problems, solutions, and healing relationally instead of just individually. I (David) didn’t start out wanting to be a therapist, but life led toward a career that authentically fits with how I’m wired. I believe we are all created for relationship, and that we thrive when our relationships are healthy. That’s why I love working as a Marriage &a...

What does a birth doula do? Is it all about fetching ice chips and giving back rubs? After attending hundreds of births, I (Tara) am convinced the magic is in the continuous care. Families welcoming a new baby need someone they can count on to guide them through the unknowns of labor and birth. I found my dream job when I became a doula. I'm excited to tell you more about my path to birth work and...

"Trust was not something that we had automatically. I remember constantly thinking and analyzing people. Are they the ones that I should trust or not? Are they safe or not safe? And not safe can mean you're not going to be able to study all the way to you will go through severe persecution to the point of death." We talk to Emöke, our friend and David's colleague about growing up under communist t...

It's time to get personal. Get to know us better as Clare asks some personal questions. We'll talk about how we met, our favorite insults, and more! Produced by Zach Van Dyke. Check out our website for more about what we do.

We are constantly surprised by each others needs and the challenges between being together and having time apart.  What we have learned is that a sense of safety and security provides space for us to grow individually and together.   We hope that as we all talk about relationships we will enjoy each other more, laugh a bit more, and increase our curiosity about those around us. Stay tune...

Hey there, we are David & Tara and we can't wait to chat with you. Well, actually we’ll be the ones talking, but we’ll be imagining you’re there with us.  We have been really learning by doing since 1991 — figuring out marriage, raising kids, working on our careers, and traveling A LOT!  We’ve learned a bit about the world, a lot about each other, and how interacting with others is t...