Deep Water - New Mercies

Welcome to the Deep Water Podcast’s new home, new look, and a brand-new year. With a fresh recording platform and a refreshed visual space, Jackie McCown and Christi Eaton step into 2026 the same way they always do — with honesty, grace, and a deep breath of mercy. And in this opening episode of the year, they gently ask: What if “New Year, New You” isn’t an invitation to fix yourself … but an inv...

It’s snowing in Cincinnati. There’s a Christmas tree mug involved. And somewhere between Amazon returns, pine needles on the floor, and one more school pickup line, a holy question sneaks in: Is ordinary life beneath God’s notice … or exactly where He loves to meet us? In this episode of The Deep Water Show, Jackie and Christi linger in the beauty and tension of ordinary days ... the small, unseen...

If your body is tired, your emotions are thin, and your soul feels like it’s blinking low power mode—this conversation is for you. In this week’s episode of The Deep Water Show, Jackie and Christi sit honestly in the exhaustion many of us feel as Christmas approaches. Finals, travel, illness, to-do lists, expectations ... and the quiet shame that whispers, “Shouldn’t I be handling this better?” To...

Hey friend. This one’s for the soul that’s been running on empty. Jackie and Christi sit down — both dressed in red, both wrapped in autumn — to talk about the sacred stillness of nature and what it reveals about the heart of God. From the blaze of Midwest maples to the hush of the night sky at sea, they explore how creation itself teaches us order, gratitude, and peace. They unpack what it means...

Have you ever quietly slipped out of a gathering, not because you were bored or rude, but because you were certain no one would notice you were gone? In this episode of Deep Water, Jackie and Christi talk about what it means to live an “Irish exit” in life — how old wounds, small lies, and quiet doubts about belonging can pull us toward the door before grace ever has a chance to reach us. They unp...

This week on  The Deep Water, I’m joined by my dear friend (and fellow A-team member) Mary—a woman whose story reminds me how God weaves our lives together with threads we could never plan. We talk about divine design, friendship that sanctifies, and the surprising holiness of seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. There’s laughter (and yes, a few snorts), a bit of 1 Corinthians 12, and a w...

Mac’s back — and we’re diving deep (again). We talk about how his pilot training taught him to trust the instruments even when the sky turned to fog, and how that translates to faith when life doesn’t go according to plan. There are dogs barking, mugs clinking, and a lot of laughter — but mostly, there’s grace. Because even when our best-laid plans unravel, God’s still holding the map

This week, it’s me and the Mac — yes, the one who quotes Churchill and thinks duct tape can fix anything. We’re diving into the deep water (floaties and all) to talk about what it really means to live marriage as a sacrament. Not just in the big, church-sanctioned sense, but in the everyday — the dinners, the laundry, the laughter over wings and a beer. We talk about distraction and stillness, the...

Hey friend! Ever had an idea that just won’t leave you alone? Maybe it feels like a passion, a calling, even something holy—until you pause and wonder, what if it’s not from God at all? In this episode, Jackie and Christi unpack what Jackie calls the “Three Question Thought Check”: Does it align with Scripture? Does it bear the fruit of the Spirit? Does it glorify God—or just me? From marathons to...

Hey friend! In this episode of Deep Water, Jackie and Christi dive into an unexpected but powerful conversation about supplements—both for our bodies and for our souls. From fish oil to faith, green juice to grace, they reflect on how daily habits nourish us physically and spiritually. Along the way, they explore what Scripture calls our “daily bread,” the courage to admit doubt, and why hope may...

Hey friend—whether it’s Gig ’em, Hotty Toddy, Go Owls, hoot hoot, or Love and Honor, we all know the power of a team chant. But what about the chants of our faith? In this episode, Jackie and Christi trade college fight songs for the bold declarations of Scripture—like Deborah’s victory cry, Paul’s reminder that “If God is for us, who can be against us?”, and the timeless Shema. Together, they exp...

It’s just me today, flying solo with a cup of coffee and a few honest thoughts. On a dog walk under the brutal summer sun (my curly hair can vouch for the humidity), I stumbled into one of those sweet, storybook canopies of shade. For a moment, it felt like relief itself—and then, just as quickly, I was back in the heat. Isn’t that life? Some seasons scorch, some refresh. Scripture reminds us that...

Hey friend—ever notice how our coffee cups, our ball caps, even our dogs can start whole conversations about what really matters? In this episode, Jackie and Christi sip their way into a deeper look at the tug-of-war between performance and presence. From summer storms in Florida to the story of Mary and Martha, they uncover the subtle ways we keep trying to prove ourselves—and the freedom that co...

Sometimes reconciliation feels like building a seven-mile bridge—messy, exhausting, and not at all glamorous. But it’s worth it. In this episode, we talk about navigating everyday disagreements in healthy relationships, how the fruits of the Spirit can guide us, and why Jesus’ breakfast on the beach with Peter changes everything about how we approach brokenness.

From first-day drop-offs to empty nests, every parent faces the bittersweet moments of letting go. This week, Jackie and Christi talk about sending kids into the next season—whether it’s kindergarten, college, marriage, or beyond—and the mix of joy, longing, and faith that comes with it. With stories of backpacks and breakfast lines, college goodbyes and grandbaby daycare tears, they reflect on wh...

Hey, friend. Pull up a chair. This one’s personal. Today, we’re talking about false humility. You know, that sneaky kind of pride that whispers, “Not me. I could never.” But what if the bigger fear isn’t that you’re not enough ... but that you are? What if God is actually saying yes to that big, bold ask, and you're the one brushing Him off? In this solo episode, I get honest about the tension bet...

We had other plans for this episode, but deep water showed up, and we followed it. It started with a small spot on the skin and spiraled into the age-old spiral— what if it’s worst-case?  Maybe you know that spiral too. Jackie and Christi wrestle with fear, faith, and the temptation to always look for the zebra when it might just be a horse. But what happens when it is a zebra? From medical scares...

Grab your big mug—we’re going there. In this episode of Deep Water, Christi and I unpack what really happens when "just us girls" turns into gossip, slander, and subtle corrosion, especially in marriage. From awkward girls’ trips to the slow erosion of respect, we talk about the power of our words, the beauty of building up our spouses, and why venting isn't actually biblical (yep, we said it). If...

Hey friend—this one goes deep. Jackie and Christi talk about the myth of “having it all,” what it really costs to chase every dream, and how the sacrifices we make—whether in parenting, marriage, or career—shape our lives and our faith. From bible verses to travel baseball, from perfectionism to God’s steady grace, this is a soul-level conversation about honesty, priorities, and the holy pause we...

How does God gently redirect us when we’re chasing all the wrong things? Let’s talk about the Father’s patience as we fumble through life grabbing at sticks when He’s offering us better. Ever wonder why your dog chooses a sock over a squeaky toy? As passionate dog lovers, we’ve found unexpected spiritual lessons in the quirks of our furry companions. Our pets, in their innocent wisdom, often overl...

What happens when God calls us to simple acts of obedience, like paying for someone’s coffee? How do these seemingly small acts reveal our faith in action? Picture this: you're at your favorite café, and you suddenly feel a nudge to buy a coffee for the stranger behind you. It sounds simple, right? But this small act of kindness can open a window to God's presence in our lives, illuminating the im...

Do you struggle with perfectionism masked as godly discipline? We’re diving into the freedom of imperfection and how God’s grace is big enough for your mess. After years of chasing an elusive perfection, we discovered something truly profound: the beauty of God's grace in our imperfect lives. Our journey as Christian women, wives, and mothers has taught us that the messy, unpolished moments of fai...

Reconnecting after 25 years can feel like something out of a storybook, and that's exactly how it was for us. Picture this: two young moms, Jackie and Christi, once juggling playdates and diapers together, unexpectedly reunite across a crowded restaurant. In that moment, time folded in on itself, and it was clear that God was orchestrating something special. This divine re-encounter led to the bir...