Your Other Family

Tom welcomes back Dean for a once-in-a-lifetime recap of the pandemic-prompted return of Parks and Recreation. It’s literally all they talk about the entire episode, and it’s glorious. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of the YOB and “YOB-adjacent” community. We hope these little episodes bring you even a dash of joy. Rememb...

Tom welcomes back Matthew for an in-depth conversation on his Native American heritage. The guys recount their experience at a diner in the Navajo Nation, and Matthew shares his love for Native American fry bread. He also teaches Tom about his four clans as well as how to say a couple Navajo words! Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with...

Tom welcomes back his younger brother Andy for a follow-up conversation on dating a girl during this coronavirus pandemic, the movies "Mid90s" and "WALL-E," and a slightly awkward birthday meal over Zoom. It’s a totally normal conversation between two brothers. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of the YOB and "YOB-adjacent"...

Tom welcomes Ben to the YOB airwaves for the first time to talk about pastoring a church during this coronavirus pandemic, including the digital challenges of having an older congregation. Ben also reveals what his wife thinks about YOB, and the guys recount their first meeting at an Irish pub during Revoice last year. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-size...

Tom welcomes back Daniel to dissect his latest blog post on the nuclear family, including a shout-out to Marshall and his unconventional household. Daniel also gives his perspective on America's obsession with freedom and ways to pass the time in quarantine…like TikTok. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of the YOB and "YOB-a...

Tom welcomes Jacob for a conversation on increased cooking capacities during this coronavirus pandemic, including the pros and cons of creamy mashed potatoes. Tom also talks about holding his birthday meal over Zoom with his family, and the guys dive into the legality and emotions of killing chickens and turkeys. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conv...

Tom welcomes back Marshall to toss the idea of his house of 15 people becoming the next TikTok "Hype House," Marshall’s father’s declining health in a nursing home during this coronavirus pandemic, and the process of acquiring furniture as adults. Tom also closes the episode with a little tribute to pastor and dynamic speaker, Sy Rogers, who passed away recently. Join us in these weeks of the coro...

Tom welcomes back Dean to talk about Easter egg hunts with his daughter in quarantine, Tom’s infamous breakfast eggs, killing cacti and succulents and other plants that should be theoretically easy to keep alive, more TikTok talk, the lack of IRS stimulus checks, and Dean’s love for Pastor Matt, AKA Weird Jesus. Join us in these weeks of the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conve...

Tom welcomes Ryan to talk about cooking with new creativity in the kitchen and CrossFit workouts at home during this coronavirus pandemic. They also recount Pastor Matt, AKA "Weird Jesus" from a previous YOBcast episode , and how he's bettering the world during this quarantine. Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of...

Tom welcomes back Matthew to talk about his family’s recently held funeral service and his church’s drive-in Easter service. Tom also marvels that Matthew’s never seen “Parks and Recreation” as they joke about the Native American character in the show, and the guys plan their next get-together in New Mexico or North Carolina when this whole pandemic passes over. Join us these next few weeks during...

Tom welcomes back Nate for his second ConvoCast! They talk about criss-crossing walkers on the street during this pandemic, Tom's ever-changing facial hair, the creative magic of TikTok, and Nate’s newfound passion for liturgy. The guys also devote a healthy few minutes to their beloved reality show of 40 seasons: Survivor. Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-m...

It’s Good Friday of this Easter weekend while the coronavirus pandemic continues plaguing the world. Rather than distract ourselves with another conversation, Tom takes this opportunity to explain what Good Friday means to him and invites you to listen to some Scripture and intentionally spend this Easter weekend seeking the Lord through this darkness. Join us these next few weeks during the coron...

Tom welcomes first-timer Eugene to the podcast to talk about writing some of YOB's most engaging blogs, his artistic process, losing his job amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the invaluable connections he's made through YOB and other outlets in St. Louis: the Side B capital of the world! Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with...

Tom welcomes new-ish author, Daniel, to the YOB airwaves for the first time! Daniel shares about life in the UK during this coronavirus pandemic and how his family is doing in the Philippines. The guys also talk about how "Side B" folks are uniquely prepared for something like this pandemic and how our mission of loving God and loving people has never been clearer. Join us these next few weeks dur...

Tom welcomes his little brother, Andy, to talk about his favorite brotherhood movies, pandemic impacts on his girlfriend and other relationships, as well as a recounting of a recent family trip to New Orleans just as coronavirus was infiltrating the city. Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of the YOB and “YOB-adjace...

Tom finishes out this first week of our new ConvoCast by welcoming back another OG YOB author, Dean, who recounts his flights around the country during this pandemic. The guys also talk about the church's role during these hard times and how something beautiful could be carried over into the "new normal" to come. In the episode's remaining minutes, Tom and Dean also recount how they first met and...

Tom welcomes back another OG YOB author, Matthew, to talk about how coronavirus life is affecting him on the other side of the country. There’s been some tragedy but also some hope. Tom also promises to follow in Matthew’s literal footsteps and go longboarding very soon. Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with members of the YOB...

Tom welcomes back OG YOB author, Marshall, for a catchup on his life these last few months living on a farm with over a dozen people. They also chit-chat about Seattle and the splendor of Mt. Rainier, as well as the importance of community, now more than ever, during this coronavirus era. Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for more 20-minute bite-sized conversations with...

Tom kicks off this new semi-daily spinoff podcast with former YOBcast guest, Nate! We talk how coronavirus is affecting us, including the breaking down of our to-do lists and routines as God continues to move. Tom also shows Nate his recent driveway chalk art for some artistic critique, and we barely get into discussing "Tiger King." Join us these next few weeks during the coronavirus pandemic for...

The coronavirus pandemic has consumed the planet. In this time of widespread uncertainty, how do we not be afraid? What other things in life cause us dread? Join Tom, Ryan, and Jacob for what's sure to be a "time capsule" of a podcast. We dive into how the current coronavirus crisis is affecting our daily lives, and we also cast the conversation beyond this pandemic -- starting with our relational...

We've written over 300 blogs here at YOB since 2015, and we gathered four of our site's authors to discuss our favorite ones -- recorded in front of a couple dozen people, no less. That's right, it's our first-ever LIVE recorded podcast with a digital audience! We invited our Patreon supporters on Facebook to watch and participate in the discussion with comments and questions for this episode's ca...

Have you ever felt lonely within your sexuality? Do you choose loneliness or does loneliness choose you? Extroverted or introverted, do you embrace regular solitude, treating it as a spiritual practice? Join Tom, Ryan, and Jacob for a discussion on the divergence of loneliness and solitude. We talk about the healthy and not-so-healthy ways we cope with loneliness and how we seek out solitude. Addi...

What led to your having gay sex for the first time? Can you separate the physical from the emotional in gay sex? How many times have you had gay sex, and would you consider yourself a sex addict? It's a throwback episode with three of our original YOB cofounders: Tom, Dean, and Matt. We talk with Matt about his journey and struggles with gay sex and hookups. It's a raw, courageous chronicling of h...

Do we talk about pornography too much as the Church or not nearly enough? Do we "talk about talking about" pornography or do we actually talk about it? Pornography is more accessible than ever before and, increasingly, more aggressive. It's a struggle and an addiction that has reached and claimed all people: gay, straight, men, and women. Join Tom, Ryan, and Jacob as we take a deep dive into the s...

In the spirit of resolutions, self-improvement, and growth in this new year, we're talking about mentors: those wise, sage-like figures who guide us through this life. Tom, Ryan, and Jacob talk about their favorite mentors in books and movies, sharing some of their own mentorship experiences from years past. What qualities do all these figures share in common? We also discuss the concept of mentor...