Lunchtime in Rome

Lunchtime in Rome Episode 328: Heat Waves, Cold Snaps & Summer Vibes Welcome back to the table! In this episode, the crew dives into the highs (and sweltering lows) of summer, sharing stories that range from laugh-out-loud memories to heartfelt reflections. Jay and Rachel kick things off by talking vacation anticipation—how it hits differently right before you go, the satisfaction of wrapping up w...

After a short break, the Lunchtime in Rome crew is back for episode 327 with all the easy summer conversation you’ve been missing. The crew catch up on hummingbirds, deck time, and the real struggle of trying to unwind after months of going hard at work and ministry. Travel dreams take over as they talk about an upcoming Sandals resort trip to St. Vincent and share stories from past getaways in Ha...

A warm return, meaningful conversations about Gold Star families, and a hilariously informative deep-dive into everyone’s favorite comfort food. The crew at Lunchtime in Rome is back for episode 326, and the table feels fuller than ever. In typical fashion, the conversation flows effortlessly from lighthearted banter to heartfelt moments and then lands squarely in the delicious (and surprisingly s...

Pull up a seat at the table — it’s time for another warm, laughter-filled conversation with the Lunchtime in Rome crew. In Episode 325, titled “We’re Getting Somewhere With This,” the hosts are joined by Amy and Bella for a relaxed catch-up that feels like grabbing lunch with old friends. The episode opens with a quick, slightly gross personal story that sets a playful tone right away (yes, it inv...

Pull up a seat at the table — Lunchtime in Rome We’re trying something a little different this week, and we hope you enjoy the fresh take on our conversation style. Episode 324 is loose, fun, and full of the kind of real-life back-and-forth that makes the table feel like home. Jay kicks things off with a hilarious story from the recent baseball team banquet — complete with an on-the-spot sound eff...

Pull up a seat at the table—summer is officially here, and the Lunchtime in Rome crew is ready to celebrate! In this week’s episode, Bella is back. She gives everyone an update on her wildly chaotic final stretch of school—including a high-pressure juried theater final that had her performing in three completely different historical styles of acting. You can feel the relief in her voice now that i...

Photo by Everton Vila on Unsplash Are you a loving person? It’s one of those questions we rarely stop and ask ourselves out loud. We’re all just trying to make it through the day—juggling work, family, health struggles, yard work, and the occasional squirrel invasion. But what if we paused long enough to wonder: How do I actually know if I’m loving well? In this week’s episode of Lunchtime in Rome...

Pull up a seat at the table—because this week on Lunchtime in Rome , we’re diving headfirst into that warm, fuzzy feeling we all chase: nostalgia. Host Jay is joined by Mary Lynn and special guest Joe Cap (Giuseppe Capobianco), a lifelong Penn Hills guy, baseball coach, and someone who genuinely appreciates where he came from. What starts as the usual catching-up—life updates, a few classic pet pe...

Welcome everyone and pull up a seat at the table. It’s Lunchtime in Rome. Tonight’s episode 320 is entitled “So many cultures”. We all have hobbies and pastimes. Each one has its own culture and even subcultures. Some are very surprising. Why is that? We’ll be talking about that at The Table this evening. Pull up a seat at the table and join us! Get full access to Lunchtime In Rome Podcast at www....

Pull up a seat at the table for Episode 319 of Lunchtime in Rome , titled “You’re Fired!” Have you ever been fired? Was it completely justified? Total BS?Or one of those stories that’s actually hilarious in hindsight? This week, Jay and Ben are joined by special guest Kelly Anker (owner of Kindred Curls and longtime friend of the show) for a candid, heartfelt conversation about getting the boot. T...

Pull up a seat at the table—it’s wedding season, and we’re diving into all the traditions, trends, and opinions that come with it. In this episode, the crew sit down for their first podcast as a married couple (right after their own wedding and honeymoon in Thailand!). They share a bit about married life so far—the exhaustion, the highlights, and that “first touch” moment that replaced the traditi...

Meeting Emotional Needs in Real Life Pull up a seat at the table for Episode 317 of Lunchtime in Rome . This week, Jay and Rachel experienced a meaningful “aha” moment in their marriage—one that reinforced a core truth the podcast has explored for years: meeting each other’s emotional needs is straightforward in theory, but far from simple in practice. The conversation begins with the usual heartf...

In this episode of the Lunchtime in Rome podcast (Episode 316: “Life Mottos You Live By”), the table feels a little more intimate with just Jay, Amy, and a few familiar voices joining the conversation. The crew opens with their signature catch-up style—sharing recent joys like a beautiful wedding celebration (complete with thoughtful reflections on song choices and family moments), busy weekends,...

Hey everyone, welcome back to our recap of the Lunchtime in Rome podcast! If you’re new here, this show is all about building better relationships through empathy, understanding emotional needs, and a healthy dose of real talk. In Episode 315, titled “The Emotion Behind the Explosion,” the guys dive into what happens when someone’s reaction seems way out of proportion to the situation. They explor...

In this week’s episode of Lunchtime in Rome , the guys kick things off with their usual heartfelt check-ins, sharing the highs and lows of life. Chris recounts the whirlwind of closing on a new house, complete with the excitement of finally stepping inside and tackling small renovations like lowering a mantle for better TV placement. Jay shares a quirky story about discovering a lost phone at a me...

Why Do People Make Such a Big Deal Over the Smallest Things? In this week’s episode of Lunchtime in Rome , the guys welcomed Amy Hammond back to the table for a powerful and deeply personal conversation sparked by a viral video clip from persuasion expert Chase Hughes (former Navy intelligence, jury consultant, and behavior decoder). The core idea they unpacked? Every “bad,” dramatic, irrational,...

How to Actually Comfort Someone (Without Making It Worse) Lunchtime in Rome Episode 312 “I want them to stop crying. There, there, shut up now.” That’s how the episode opens — with the exact wrong way most of us comfort people. We mean well. We really do. But good intentions plus zero skill usually equals “thanks… I feel worse now.” In episode 312 the guys finally give comfort the deep dive it des...

Welcome everyone and pull up a seat at the table. It’s Lunchtime in Rome. Tonight’s episode 311 is entitled “Why we shouldn’t judge”. We know that we shouldn’t judge others for their behaviors, but why? What are the reasons behind it? How is it more destructive than maybe we’ve thought? We’ll be talking about that at The Table this evening. Pull up a seat at the table and join us! Get full access...

In this episode of the Lunchtime in Rome podcast, entitled “ Why We Judge ,” the guys sit down to peel back the layers of a struggle we all face: the tendency to pass judgment on others. From parking lot frustrations to professional incompetence, the conversation explores why certain behaviors trigger us more than others. Snow Days and Fingerprinting Frustrations The episode kicks off with the guy...

Episode 309: Judgy Judgerson – Why Do We Judge? Pull up a seat at the table! In this episode of Lunchtime in Rome , the guys dive into the tricky, often hilarious, and sometimes convicting world of judgment. While Chris was away recovering from a “bacchiatomy,” Brian, Jay, and Eric held down the fort with a mix of travel stories, extreme temperature therapy, and some serious soul-searching about w...

In this episode of Lunchtime in Rome , titled “The Quiet Place,” the guys pull up a seat at the table to discuss finding respite in an increasingly noisy world. From the science of silence to the “magical” clarity of a morning shower, the conversation explores how we can intentionally shut out distractions to simply “be”. The Noise vs. The Stillness The guys kick off the discussion by acknowledgin...

In Episode 307 of Lunchtime in Rome , titled “Emotional Maturity,” the guys kick off the new year with their signature mix of personal stories, laughter, and thoughtful discussion on a topic that’s deeply relevant to relationships—and especially to living as a Christian. After catching up on holiday adventures, family moments, church meetings, house-hunting disappointments, and even a double-booke...

In episode 306, the guys welcome back Abby Herr – Brian’s daughter – who first joined the table a few years ago as a precocious 10-year-old and now returns as a thoughtful, self-aware 14-year-old eighth grader. The conversation is warm, funny, and surprisingly deep for a teenager sitting between three grown men who love to talk. The episode kicks off with the usual “how’s everybody doing?” chaos:...

In this warm and laughter-filled episode, the guys welcome back the beloved Amy Rayman after a long hiatus (a “big minute,” as they call it) for a deep dive into the many seasons every marriage seems to pass through. The table starts with lighthearted catching-up: gym routines, snow days vs. “FID days,” rental cars the size of roller skates, and the invention of Thanksgiving Street Corn (yes, it’s...

How to Build Relational Intimacy In this heartfelt episode of Lunchtime in Rome , the guys (minus Chris, who was melting into his couch after a rough day) dive deep into what it really takes to move a relationship from “good” to “great.” The core idea? Emotional and relational intimacy is the missing piece for most couples and friendships that feel stuck in “fine.” They break it down into two big...