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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Beyond the Clichés on Graduation Day

What if reaching for the stars sounds a bit unreachable? What does it really mean to follow my dreams? How do I make a difference in the world when I’m just working a regular job? If any of these questions ring a bell for you or any new graduate in your life, we’ve got some encouraging words. We’ll break down the most common graduation day clichés to help you feel less overwhelmed and more grounded at this amazing time of transition.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Honest Answers to Questions from Our Kids

With a crazy, truth-or-dare-like boldness, we asked our kids to ask us any question at all and promised we'd answer truthfully. We enjoyed a candid Q&A session that led to tears, laughter, and some surprising discoveries about what aquatic animals we'd like to be and why.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Brotherly Bonds: How Siblings Shape Us

We choose some relationships in life, and some relationships choose us. If you have a sibling, you know what we’re talking about. As we grow up together, we live and learn, fight and hopefully forgive. We enjoyed a conversation with David’s brother Nathan about their shared family experiences, their age-gap challenges, and their evolving friendship.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Your Microbiome Matters

Did you know we are each made up of trillions of microbial cells? And that our relationship with these unseen microorganisms may have a profound impact on our lifelong health? Our guest Toni Harman, is a filmmaker who produced the award-winning documentary ⁠Microbirth.⁠ She explores the science behind how our bodies interact with our environment, and emphasizes the importance of optimizing the microbiome from birth.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

God’s Heart for Adoption: A Conversation with Dr. Russell Moore

What happens when the next steps in life don't come so easily? Russell Moore's expectations about growing a family were challenged when he and his wife experienced infertility. Though initially resistant to the idea of adoption, Dr. Moore's heart opened to welcome two sons adopted from Russia. He shares ways adoption is woven into Jesus' own family tree to reveal the expansive love of God and the concept of family beyond biological ties.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

[Adoption Story] Wildt Family

Hillary and Jonathan Wildt each felt led to the idea of adoption even before they found each other. After they were married, done with grad school, and feeling ready for parenthood, they worked to prepare their house, their hearts, and their extended family for the realities of adoption. The process led them to welcoming three biological siblings as their children. Now two years into their parenthood journey, they share the challenges they face, including attachment issues and managing expectations, but also the joy of certainty that they were meant to be together.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

[Adoption Story] Joy & Myah

In a story of love, loss, and letting go, Joy and Myah explore their experiences with adoption and their evolving relationship as mother and daughter. Joy candidly shares the rollercoaster ride of emotions through unexplained infertility and the new path to growing her family. Myah reflects on her complex feelings about her biological family and her quest for belonging. Together they express that every challenge has been worth it to bring them to where they are today.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

All In the Family: A Systems View of Adoption

Seven adopted siblings joined Jana’s family after she turned 16. This big life transition opened her heart and grew her compassion. But Jana also learned a lot about effects of adoption on the whole family system. Her own unaddressed needs and struggles led her to finding better tools and interventions to keep adoptive and foster families connected and healthy.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Taking a Leap for Love

It’s Leap Day! Since February has an extra day this year, we present a bonus episode to review the movie Leap Year (2010) starring Amy Adams. David gets extra sappy as we follow this rom-com story set in Dublin, Ireland with a special quest of a Leap Day marriage proposal. We cover it all from Celtic traditions, to travel disasters and relational misunderstandings.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Heart Behind the Wall: Gabriela Kabatova

When Gabriela was inspired to volunteer, she never imagined herself serving behind bars. But when God prompted her heart, she ventured outside her comfort zone and into prison. Now, after 20 years of prison ministry, she shares her passion for responsibility, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and God’s love for all.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Valentine’s Day: Love It or Hate It?

February 14, St. Valentine’s, is a day focused on the celebration of love. Shops are full of flowers, candy, cards, and heart-shaped everything. Restaurants roll out special menus and candlelight for romantic meals. What could possibly be bad about any of that? We don’t want to rain on anyone’s Valentine’s parade, but our feelings about the Hallmark holiday might surprise you.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Educational, Edifying, & Entertaining

It's a nearly impossible task for parents to stay on top of the ways their children are using technology. How do you limit screen time? What's the right age for a social media account? Why do YouTubers have so much influence? If all of this seems overwhelming, you're not alone. And it's not too late to try some new ways of navigating the question of kids & technology.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Landline Nostalgia

From nosy neighbors on the party line to cyberbullies on social media, technology always impacts the way we communicate and interact. We explore the ways advances in technology have fundamentally changed social dynamics, and shed light on some possible unintended consequences.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Mind Body Soul Birth

Does it really matter how we're born? In a topic that affects all humans, we discuss what makes a healthy birth and why it matters for women, their families, and the community. We share our own personal birth experiences and some factors that can promote a supportive, informed, and respectful birth for all.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Parenting Solo & Catching Raindrops

Our guest Emöke Tapolyai tells the story of becoming an unexpectedly single parent. She candidly reveals the pain and loss she experienced after her divorce, and also tells us how she managed to stay out of the self-pity trap. Stay tuned to hear about how she healed and how she continues to thrive and flourish.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Our Spartan Family Challenge

Instead of a relaxing lakeside vacation last summer, our family ran a grueling obstacle race as a team. Spoiler alert: we all survived! We also faced fears and experienced victories. It was an adventure that brought us together and made some lasting memories.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Top 10 Lessons We’ve Learned About Lasting Love

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.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

[Marriage Story] Karolyn & Gary

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.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

Rodica & Liviu: Engineer + Artist

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.

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Tara VanDyke Tara VanDyke

[Marriage Story] Rodica & Liviu

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 supporting one another's growth.

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Thanks to all who have helped launch With U Podcast!