With U Podcast

Do you ever feel like the cultural pressure to stay busy pushes you to your tipping point? In light of our own experience living on the edge, we discuss finding the balance between productivity and wellbeing. We share personal anecdotes about the simpler, less hurried times in our lives and discuss strategies for mitigating the sense of rush, such as focusing on fewer things, working at a natural...

Whether you're continents apart or just living on different schedules, long-distance love can bring its own struggles and strengths to a relationship. In this episode, we share personal stories from our own seasons of separation, surviving on handwritten letters that took weeks to arrive. We explore the value of intentional communication, the risk of growing too used to separate rhythms, and the o...

Where do you go to gather ? This week we're diving into the idea of “third places”—those everyday gathering spots that create space for connection, conversation, and community. We start by reflecting on where we used to hang out as kids (baseball fields or malls, anyone?), then explore the sociological roots of the term coined by Ray Oldenburg. Third places—like libraries, parks, and coffee sh...

In this episode, we explore why real, face-to-face conversation feels harder than ever — and why it still matters so much. We reflect on the dying art of meaningful dialogue, and share why David’s teenage prank phone calls might have actually helped him practice tools for conversation. Whether you’re looking to connect more deeply or just get past awkward small talk, this episode offers thoughtful...

Parenting doesn’t stop when our children become adults — it just changes, sometimes in ways no one prepares us for. In this episode we are joined by longtime friends Adi and Ema Ban, who share both personal experience and professional insight from their work in marriage and family ministry in Romania. Together, they explore the tender and often challenging transition from raising children to relea...

Whether hospital candy striping, cub scout camping, youth sport coaching, or 5K fundraising, our vision for volunteering is about building community, character, and connection. In this conversation, we share our earliest (and most memorable) volunteer moments, how service shaped our marriage, and why we keep saying yes to unpaid work. Whether it’s for a one-time event or a long-term commitment, we...

Most people are pretty serious about sleep, and yet we’re often just not getting enough. If solid, uninterrupted sleep is so vital for our body’s health and repair and our brain’s optimal functioning, it’s also an important foundation for healthy relationships. This week we discuss the pros and cons of new trending ways to get more zzz’s, including mouth taping and the “sleep divorce.” We also wal...

In this laugh-out-loud episode, we take a lighthearted dive into the little things that get under our skin. From expensive greeting cards to 4-way stops, from audible breathing to ducks in Jeeps—no bugaboo is off limits. But it’s not all rants and eye-rolls. We also share some thoughts on how to handle pet peeves without letting them pile up or mess with your relationships. Because sometimes, the...

If we can’t force forgiveness, how do we take the first step? In this episode we talk about why forgiving someone who wronged us is undeniably good for our own health. We examine some common misunderstandings about forgiveness, and debunk the idea that to forgive means to forget or accept the hurt. Through a true and remarkable story of a woman who forgave unimaginable offenses, we learn about the...

Join us as we talk with Jessica Love, a friend and singer-songwriter who blends her passion for music with therapeutic practices. Jessica discusses the impact her son and his medical challenges have had on her life and career, and together we explore the intersection of music, therapy, harmony, and healing. Stay tuned for Jessica’s thoughts on the power of presence over performance, and get the sc...

Going out with friends is fun ... until the check arrives. Money talks, and we are listening. In this episode we discuss the intricate dynamics of managing money within relationships. We share our experience with the etiquette of splitting bills , and the ways modern tools like PayPal and Venmo have changed the game. Our conversation explores the potential conflicts and emotional impact involved i...

You’ve heard us talk about the way location and place can impact our ability to thrive. We are delighted to highlight an organization that is creating beautiful spaces for people who need a fresh start. Love Your Neighbor creates custom designed environments that have a positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals and families transitioning out of poverty, violence, and hard circums...

Do you love the place you live or do you long to leave? We are fascinated by the ways geographic location impacts our identity, roots us in community, and influences our sense of belonging. Whether you’re a mover, a stayer, or feeling stuck, we can find ways to flourish where we are and invest in our environment.   – Check out “This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are” by Melody War...

Join us to discuss the thought-provoking film 'Conclave'. We won’t spoil the plot, but we do have some fun facts about the papal election process. Tune in for engaging conversation about challenging themes of faith, doubt, and power dynamics within the context of the church. From examining the roles of tradition and certainty to addressing gender roles and political influences, this episod...

The joys of domestic life are often rudely interrupted by mundane tasks and whose turn it is to do them. This week we dive into the tricky nature of dividing chores and managing expectations in relationships. From traditional gender roles to modern-day flexibility, we share stories about ways we’ve shifted the load of responsibility at different stages in our relationship. We reflect on the import...

You asked for it, we’re bringing it! We’re talking about how to build and maintain healthy communication. We discuss our framework for enhancing relational interactions: C.H.E.E.R.S. – curiosity, humility, empathy, emotional regulation, and sharing. With examples and personal anecdotes for each practice, we offer ideas for communicating effectively, managing conflict well, and connecting deeply.--...

Who knows everything? Not us! This week we explore our personal responses to the unknowable and the mysterious. We talk about the illusion of control , and the importance of developing a wide window of tolerance. Drawing from our experience with death, birth, and other challenging times, we share strategies for building resilience in the face of ambiguity. — Produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this episode we’re exploring the world of etiquette and discovering which rules our family breaks at every single meal! We learn about quirky guidelines of the past ( never let a woman carry anything heavier than a purse ), the way cultural norms shape politeness today, and how manners evolve alongside society. We also chat about the heart behind table manners—not setting rigid rules, but creat...

We might be the only ones in our community who don’t know where we stand on the Enneagram or the latest online personality quiz. While we can certainly appreciate the benefits of self-discovery, we also wonder about the limiting influence of labels on personal identity, relationships, and professional dynamics. We examine our natural tendency to categorize people, from mental health diagnoses to h...

We reveal who was actually behind the wheel when a deer came out of nowhere, and explain how this incident broke a streak of driving mishaps for one of us. But more importantly, we dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in our lives and our people-focused careers. We explore the potential benefits of this new technology as well as our fear that it will replace genuine human connect...

A Christmas reading of the greatest story since the beginning of time. David and Tara read from the Holy Bible, Isaiah 9:2,6-7; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20. --- To read along with the Scripture, see our show notes page on the With U Podcast website . --- Music credits: - Music by Jesse P from Pixabay - Music by Clavier Clavier from Pixabay --- Produced by Zach Van Dyke

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 ot...

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 th...

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...

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 ins...