With U Podcast

How many burpees can a person do in one day? We found out! Last summer instead of enjoying a relaxing lakeside vacation, our family ran a grueling obstacle race together. Spoiler alert: we all survived! We also faced fears and scored some victories. It was an adventure that made lasting memories -- mostly good ones. --- For more race photos & fun facts, visit our website With U Podcast. --- Sp...

As a final wrap-up of the Marriage Stories Series, Tara and David review advice given in the couples' interviews, share some of their own personal stories, and count down their top ten lessons learned about lasting love. -- We'd love to hear what you thought of the Marriage Stories. Which one was most memorable for you? What tips did you learn that you want to apply to your relationship? E...

The honeymoon glow was over quickly for Gary & Karolyn after their wedding. Alarmed at the conflict and differences that were magnified in their young marriage, they turned to God and found a new way to love each other well. Now, 61 years later, they devote their time and energy to teaching others what they've learned. -- Gary & Karolyn Chapman will celebrate 62 years of marriage this...

One marriage story episode was not long enough for our conversation with Rodica & Liviu about their perspectives on marriage, identity, roles, technology, and art. Listen in to hear more about how their careers impact their family life. -- Liviu & Rodica Mocan reside in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania. They have 3 adult children (+ spouses) and 4 grandchildren. Rodica is a professor of digital m...

They started getting to know each other at clandestine Bible study meetings in communist times in Romania. Rodica and LIviu didn't take long to commit to each other on a snowy January day, and it didn't take long after that to discover that they couldn't be more different. An engineer and an artist, they still see things differently but have found freedom in releasing expectations and...

College might be an ordinary place for a couple to meet, but Zim & Jason have lived extraordinary lives. She’s from Nigeria, he’s from Honduras, they dated in India, and married in France. Now their new baby has passport, will travel too! -- Jeremiah 33:20-22 “This is what the Lord says: If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that one does not follow the other, only then wi...

She’s from Canada, he’s from Ecuador, and they found each other in the USA. Emily & Ricky made it past an awkward start to a relationship characterized by intimacy and trust. They stay connected by celebrating all the little moments. -- Listen to Ricky’s proposal song here. Wedding song: Broken Together by Casting Crowns Emily & Ricky are both marriage & family therapists with The Jour...

These 2 lovebirds are enjoying their empty nest! Vallari & Ruchir decided against arranged marriages, and found each other at a party in Chicago. They have been married nearly 30 years now and maintain their relationship with mutual respect, shared interests in art & architecture, and travel. -- See Vallari's landscape architecture work at Eco Scapes, Inc. -- We'd love your feedbac...

This couple met on the first day of orientation at Hope College in Michigan. Their friendship was fast and genuine. According to Cassie & Ethan, they were the last two to know there was something a little more going on. Now they are on countdown to their wedding day and they couldn’t be more excited to be building a future together. -- Find Cassie on Instagram: @cassiehogle Find Ethan on Insta...

When one of your first dates ends up in the emergency room, you know you might be in for an adventurous relationship! Joy & Amado's marriage has had challenges from the very beginning. They share some of those stories candidly in this episode with laughter and wisdom, and attribute their deep love for each other to faith and hard work.  -- produced by Zach Van Dyke

Newlyweds Lauren & Jacob moved pretty quickly from the friend zone to planning a wedding. Despite Lauren’s anti-marriage stance and Jacob’s short deadline before he moved away, these two found the spark and made a lifetime commitment to each other. They’ve been married just a few months now, and share how important premarital counseling was to them. -- See wedding photo and the top things Laur...

Paige & Steven became friends through Key Club in college, and soon couldn’t imagine life without each other. They live near Athens, Georgia, have been married 26 years, and have 2 teenage sons. They believe that love is an everyday choice, and they like to find a good balance of doing things together while also giving each other space. -- Paige is an independent sales director with Mary Kay....

Chaka & Moses: high school sweethearts, now married for 17 years with 2 kids. They both point to clear, direct, and open communication as key to a strong and thriving relationship.  Learn a little bit more about Chaka & Moses on the With U Podcast website. --  produced by Zach Van Dyke

Is there one person out there waiting to complete you? Whether it’s soulmate, a significant other, or a spouse, many people are looking for a lifetime love. We explore our thoughts about love & marriage, and we share our list of important qualities to look for when finding your One. This conversation kicks off a new season of interviews with married couples telling their stories. —- This episo...

In-law relationships are universally challenging. Marriage is never as simple as joining two people together -- a whole host of family members, expectations, learned behaviors, customs, and inside jokes come along for the ride! It's no wonder people struggle with the weight of dividing loyalty between family of origin and new spouse. We'll talk about why combining family systems is like living in...

What do bath times, pizza nights, and wooden shoes have in common? For us, they are part of family traditions that give us safety, structure, and deeper meaning. Traditions and rituals help us form connection and affection.  We're big fans of a good tradition, so we'll share some of our favorites.  We'd love to hear some of yours as well! | Read more about our St Nick's Day traditions here: https:...

As we continue our Four Cornerstones series, we'll explore two more key ideas in developing healthy relationships: Language & Meaning. First, we look at language. (Why does swearing in another language seem less offensive?) How do the words we use shape our behavior and our thoughts? How can we choose words that strengthen our relationships and enhance our view of others? In case those questio...

There are a few key concepts that we find to be foundational to a life of healthy relationships. We call these concepts our Four Cornerstones. In this episode, we’ll talk about two of them. First, hear about how we got lost on a family road trip to Colorado. Perspective asks the question, Where are we? Zooming out, getting the big picture and context around the problem or relationship can go a lon...

“As I look back, God has brought me to places that seem disconnected but now make sense.” Many people fear change, and struggle to understand how the disjointed pieces of their lives will fit together to make a whole. So we were excited to learn from our friend Joel Morris about how he has navigated massive vocational and geographical changes in his life. When David and Joel got to know each other...

There's no skipping past the weird and wild time of adolescence. Understanding and appreciating teenagers will go a long way toward connecting well with them. This is a subject we love, so we talk about the biology of adolescence, and share some of our own teenage mishaps and parenting wins and fails. -- For more about the amazingness of teenagers, don't miss our previous episode with Mark Oestrei...

"Do you see teenagers as a problem to be solved or as a wonder to behold? If we're really honest, most people see teenagers as broken and incapable. And I just don't see them that way. I see them as amazing." Let’s talk about teenagers! We worked with Marko in youth ministry when we were newlyweds and we learned a lot about approaching teens with playfulness and respect. We love the way Marko chan...

Marriage & Family Therapy is a way of looking at problems, solutions, and healing relationally instead of just individually. I (David) didn’t start out wanting to be a therapist, but life led toward a career that authentically fits with how I’m wired. I believe we are all created for relationship, and that we thrive when our relationships are healthy. That’s why I love working as a Marriage &a...

What does a birth doula do? Is it all about fetching ice chips and giving back rubs? After attending hundreds of births, I (Tara) am convinced the magic is in the continuous care. Families welcoming a new baby need someone they can count on to guide them through the unknowns of labor and birth. I found my dream job when I became a doula. I'm excited to tell you more about my path to birth work and...

"Trust was not something that we had automatically. I remember constantly thinking and analyzing people. Are they the ones that I should trust or not? Are they safe or not safe? And not safe can mean you're not going to be able to study all the way to you will go through severe persecution to the point of death." We talk to Emöke, our friend and David's colleague about growing up under communist t...

It's time to get personal. Get to know us better as Clare asks some personal questions. We'll talk about how we met, our favorite insults, and more! Produced by Zach Van Dyke. Check out our website for more about what we do.