What We Really Want: Conversations About Connection

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Known as the "Mr. Rogers of personal development," Mike Foster is a best-selling author, speaker, and executive coach empowering people to build strong lives by turning their setbacks into superpowers. Mike is the creator of the Primal Question Framework, host of the highly acclaimed Primal Question podcast (formerly Fun Therapy)...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" The best therapists are the ones who have done their own work. That's what I love about my guest Will Mooney. Will has his own story of unwanted sexual behavior, and also of serving in pastoral ministry. After finding his own help and recovery, his life went in a new direction, away from working in the church and into becoming a thera...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Over the past 25 years in Christian music, few other bands have been as influential or have a sound as instantly recognizable as Tenth Avenue North. They have released multiple records with hope-filled songs for people who live with crippling shame. Tenth Avenue North's "frontman," Mike Donehey, started the band while all th...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" After what we hope was a great Thanksgiving, please enjoy this "Little Extra Helping" of the podcast.  While recording the intro to Episode 23 with Carol Sheets, Stacey and I talked for quite a long time. Too long to include it all in the episode itself. But we felt like what we talked about could be helpful for other people, so...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" People being introduced to today's wealth of resources for sexual addiction and sexual betrayal trauma recovery owe a lot to our guest. Carol Sheets, also known to her radio, podcast, and YouTube audiences as "Carol the Coach," was among the first therapists to become a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT). For years...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Have you ever gotten lost in a conversation, unaware of how much time has passed, or even exactly what you were talking about? That's kind of how I felt talking with my John Lynch. It's easy to get pulled into John's warmth and sincerity, but he's also intense when talking about God's love for his children. John co...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" One of the best ways parents can prepare their kids to live healthy, connected lives is to be honest and open with them about important topics. Few topics are more important for parents to bravely engage than teaching their kids about sex. And yet still so many parents are terrified and embarrassed to "go there." Moms and Dads, t...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" There are times when you know you're hearing/reading/experiencing something very important . That's how I felt as I read through Sam Jolman's book The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality . Men's sexual desire has been attacked, abused, neglected, and misunderstood for as long as it's...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" When I think of Shawn, I sometimes have to remind myself we've never actually met in person. Shawn is the kind of person who's easy to get to know quickly. He is kind & curious, and also open & vulnerable. Shawn has a compelling sexual recovery story. Growing up impacted by family of origin trauma (like so many), Shawn tu...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Ashley Chesnut moved to Birmingham with a certain future in mind. Graduate from seminary, then get a job as a professor and/or Old Testament commentary writer. But you know what they say about "the best laid plans..." During her time in seminary, Ashley led a small group at her church, for single women. During that time, some of...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" What is a sexual betrayal trauma workshop? And why - if you are a woman going through the pain of having been betrayed by your husband/partner - should you consider attending one? In this BONUS episode, Greg & Stacey are joined by Paige and Brittney, two friends who are part of our Awaken community in Birmingham AL, to talk about their...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Tullian Tchividjian is a name that elicits strong reactions from people, some positive and some negative. As the grandson of Billy Graham, he grew up in a family that was very familiar with public ministry. For years he has been a provocative voice in evangelical Christianity, writing books, preaching sermons, and using social media to pro...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Gordon Bals has a bit of a reputation around Birmingham Alabama. Many people have referred to him as "that counselor who cries with you." I can't think of too many higher compliments a person could receive. Gordon founded Daymark Pastoral Counseling in Birmingham AL, and is on faculty at Beeson Divinity School. In the Fall o...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Whether you're just discovering the podcast now, or have been listening since the very beginning, this episode is for you! We're giving you a bonus that recaps the first 13 episodes we've released so far. Covering experiences like recovery, honesty, friendship, self-awareness, trust, affirmation, forgiveness, ownership, and...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" When people tell stories of early recovery, and talk about special individuals whose help and presence was indispensable, there may be no name that comes up more often than Nate Larkin . Literally thousands of men can say they've sat across from Nate in a coffee shop, hearing his story of sexual brokenness & healing, and taking th...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" We're really excited to welcome a guest who has been really helpful and influential in our lives, even though we'd never met before the podcast interview. Sharon Hersh is a therapist and author, whose book The Last Addiction: Why Self-Help is Not Enough was one of the first ones Stacey read when our lives changed in 2009. In addi...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" For men and women seeking recovery from unwanted sexual behavior, few people have been as influential or helpful as Michael John Cusick. Greg, Stacey, and Bobby all share some of our experiences with how Michael's book and podcast have been invaluable in our own path forward. Greg first met Michael in 2014 when he spoke at Beeson Divi...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Anyone who has interacted with Drew Boa knows he's a very special man. Drew loves people, and he has a gift for helping people realize how valuable they are. Some people's encouragement involves empty platitudes. Others give back-door advice disguised as encouragement. People who get to know Drew know he's paying attention -...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" I'm really grateful to be able to share this conversation I had recently with my friend Darren. He is an alumnus of the Roots Retreat, and for the past several years has been actively growing in freedom and recovery from sexual addiction. Darren shares very openly and vulnerably about some of the struggles he had that contributed to h...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Greg & Bobby have a conversation with one of their spiritual heroes. Steve Brown has been a pastor, a seminary professor, an author, and a radio host, among other things. Other than his rich, deep, booming voice, probably the best known thing about Steve is his steadfast commitment to preaching about grace, freedom, and the fact that &...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . Stacey and Greg sat down with Jill Gullahorn at her dining room table to talk about life, pain, support, walking with others, and doing our own work. Jill knows a lot about all of these. She's a wife, mother of three, and therapist who has discovered the value of committing to a process...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . What is a recovery intensive? How is it different from weekly therapy or extended inpatient treatment? How could it help my recovery process? All of these are extremely good and important questions, and in this BONUS episode of What We Really Want, Greg enlists the help of three great friend...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . This episode is a real treat for Greg & Stacey, because our guest is also our pastor. Isaac Adams is the Lead Pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham AL; additionally he is an author and founder of a non-profit organization called "United? We Pray," which encourages and equips...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . Feelings would be great if they didn't make us feel so many things. Sometimes it seems like they are a nuisance, other times like they're just too much to bear. But what if we changed our relationship with our feelings and started to believe they were the megaphone telling us what...

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)" Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . Talking with Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott can be many things, but it is never boring. With dry humor and refreshing honesty, these great friends share how they've committed to intentional connection in their 20+ year friendship. Both Andy and Gabe are music industry veterans, and in...