Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast

We know God's heart is for a healthy marriage, but what happens when life has other plans? Today, I sit down with Lysa Terkeurst and unpack the series of events and discoveries leading up to the letting go of her marriage. She shares what she's learned along the way about boundaries, and her tendency to do more than her fair share of work in a relationship. We get to the root of the why, and what...

"I've always just wanted to be accepted". I think many of us can relate to that sentiment. Max Lucado certainly could. Much of his life was spent feeling "on the outside" and wanting to be accepted, which led to a series of unhealthy behaviors just to try and find acceptance. Today, he vulnerably unpacks where this belief system started in his childhood, how it led him down a very unhealthy path,...

We’re spending the last few weeks of 2025 reviewing our TOP 5 MOST DOWNLOADED episodes!  Why do so many Christians struggle with boundaries?  We are taught that boundaries are wrong, sinful, or selfish — and that we should always say YES and be ready to sacrifice and serve at a moment’s notice.  But is this really the way of Jesus? Or could this lead us down a path of emotional burnout, codependen...

We talk about the struggles of life working in the adult industry, and the road that led him there for many years. Josh opens up about his absent relationship with his father, and how that impacted him in ways he didn’t even realize. We talk about the forming of identity and value, and the many things that can get in the way of believing the truth about who we are. It’s a powerful conversation abo...

We're spending the last few weeks of 2025 reviewing our TOP 5 MOST DOWNLOADED episodes! We often talk about letting go of the negative labels that people have put on us... but what about the positive ones? What happens when our entire identity is built on the success we achieve in this world... And then we have to lay it all down? Today on the podcast, I have an on-air counseling session with Demi...

We're spending the last few weeks of 2025 reviewing our TOP 5 MOST DOWNLOADED episodes! It takes courageous people to openly and publicly talk about their journey with mental and emotional health, but these are the exact conversations that begin taking down the stigma, paving the way for us to truly get real about how we're doing as Christians. Today's session is with Matt Chandler. Pastor Matt is...

We're spending the last few weeks of 2025 reviewing our TOP 5 MOST DOWNLOADED episodes! Today I am joined by Candace Cameron Bure for an on-air counseling session where we process her people-pleasing tendencies, where they come from, the work she has to do in order to fight off her people-pleasing nature, and what God has been teaching her in the process. You can also watch the full episode on You...

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses themes of abuse and suicidal ideation. Please use caution in considering those listening around you, as well as your own personal triggers. Cristina Baker joins me on the podcast today to share about her radical transformation from living in a world of pleasure and pain and darkness, to radically meeting Jesus. From abuse, to neglect, to living in chaos - he...

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses themes of abuse and suicidal ideation. Please use caution in considering those listening around you, as well as your own personal triggers. Today on the podcast, I have a powerful conversation with Anne Beiler, who spent years of her life keeping secrets that were never meant to be kept. You may recognize her name from the famous Auntie Anne's pretzels (the...

Today I'm joined by Lindsey, a caller who is wondering how to manage her oldest daughter, who seems to be a perfectionist. Lindsey says she's not unfamiliar with this dynamic, as she used to be a perfectionist herself, and parented that way for many, many years. She's feeling guilt that she's passed that down to her daughter, and wondering how to get her out of the exhausting cycle of perfectionis...

What do you do when one parent isn't parenting well? Or is it that they're just not parenting the way you want them to? Is there a difference? Today I'm joined by Wenet, a caller who is struggling with her husband's parenting style, and feeling frustrated with their differences. We talk through this concept in detail, and I give her some key advice on how to manage their different parenting styles...

How much is too much when it comes to screens and video games? Today I am joined by Nicole, a caller who wants to know if her son is playing too many video games, and if she needs to set some more rules and stricter boundaries with video games? We process her son's gaming habits, and then I give her some feedback and advice...which will probably surprise you. If you're a parent in this world navig...

Today I'm joined by Alexis, a caller who wants to know how to help her kids navigate through their many different emotions. Is there such a thing as "too much" emotional awareness? We talk through this, and I give her one of my most important questions to ask your kids when they're feeling all the feels.  You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch the full episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Today I'm joined by a couple you know and love, Jeremy and Adrienne Camp. Not only do they sing incredibly, but they're incredible parents, and I was so glad to have my friends join me back on the podcast yet again for this Family and Parenting series. We dig into the conversation about how to raise kids who know and love Jesus, and what it looks like to help your kids cultivate a personal relatio...

In honor of my new children's book, Any Day Emotions, releasing into the world today, I wanted to share this extra special BONUS episode with you. In this episode, I sit down with my eldest child, Ella for her debut conversation (in fact, the first time any of my kids have been on the podcast!) to talk about my new children's book, give you a look into our family dynamics, get a sneak peek at the...

Today, my new children's book Any Day Emotions officially releases into the world! I am so excited to share this book with your family!! To celebrate, today I am joined by two of my favorite friends Levi and Jennie Lusko, pastors of Freshlife Church as we talk about family and parenting. They're in a stage of parenting right now with a child in every age and stage - elementary school, middle schoo...

In celebration of my first children's book, Any Day Emotions, we're focusing on Family and Parenting over the next few weeks! Today I have an on-air session with Gabe and Rebekah, who've been really intentional about creating an environment where no conversation or topic is off limits for their kids. They can come to them with anything. We talk about how to navigate conversations about sex, lust,...

In celebration of my first children's book, Any Day Emotions, we're focusing on Family and Parenting over the next few weeks! Today, I'm joined by Ben and Kirsten Watson, parents to 7 kids from ages 6-16 (literally every age and stage!). They talk about the journey of parenting, the themes they have held onto along the way, and how parenting has made them better people. Their unique life of being...

In celebration of my first children's book, Any Day Emotions, we're focusing on Family and Parenting over the next few weeks! I'm inviting some of my favorite people to join me for candid conversations about the ups and downs of the parenting journey. Chris and Tina are two of my favorite friends, and in our on-air session today we talk about the intentionality it takes to stay connected to your k...

Tim Timberlake knows tough...because life has been tough for him in many different seasons and stages. In fact, he's in the middle of navigating one of the hardest seasons of his life. In today's on-air session, he opens up about this hard season, and we talk about how he's managing right now, as well as the practical strategies and everyday habits that are helping him battle the mental and emotio...

When it comes to weight loss and physical health, everyone loves a good success story. But what if success in the journey of physical health was found from the inside-out? Today on Talk To Me, I have an on-air counseling session with Leah, one of my "real life" clients, who has found that true healing comes from the inside out. Along the journey of healing mentally and emotionally, she's also lost...

I'm joined by DFCN counselor, Larinda, as we tag-team a question from Lisa from Ohio who asks: I'm an overachiever. I believe it stems from my past and particularly my mother wounds. I never felt "good enough" for my mom, who was a perfectionist. She's no longer alive, but some of these past experiences still impact me today. How do I deal with my deep mother wounds, even though my mom is no longe...

Today I'm joined by DFCN counselor, Bri, as we unpack a question all the way from Stephanie from Guatemala, who is struggling to keep physical boundaries in her relationship with her boyfriend. What do you do when you're struggling with sexual temptation, but you want to honor God in your relationship? I know Stephanie isn't alone in this question, because our episode on Physical Boundaries is one...

I'm joined by DFCN counselor, Sandy, as we take an on-air call from Christy from Alabama, who wonders if it's possible for trauma NOT to impact someone's life? Christy has been through significant trauma in her childhood, yet feels like it hasn't really had a negative impact on her life. Is that even possible? We talk with Christy about this important subject and help her get to the bottom of whet...

Today, I'm joined by DFCN counselor Allison, as we take an on-air call from CJ from Illinois who is struggling with low feelings in his dating relationships. How are you supposed to feel during dating, and what happens if you have "low" to "no feelings" when you're early on in a dating relationship? Do you keep going, or do you stop? How do you know if the problem is with you or with the relations...