Recorded live in the Czech Republic, this special episode celebrates three decades of friendship, ministry, and intentional Christian living through the European Summer Study Program (ESSP). We sit down with David & Kriste Sveen, Kurt & Meg Tillman, Bill & Sandy Skowera to share stories of showing up, walking alongside others, and seeing God at work in Central and Eastern Europe. Join us for a conversation about legacy, community, and the simple faithfulness that changes lives.

n this episode we discuss the storyline and themes from the film The Ballad of Wallis Island. Brought to a windswept Welsh island to play a private gig, folk music duo McGwyer Mortimer revisit their mismatched dreams and reasons for breaking up the band. Through beautiful music, lonely landscapes, and quirky character interactions we explore themes of regret, loss, letting go, and loving again.

Friendship changes as much as we do over the years. In this episode, we get a little nostalgic about our earliest playmates, our situational sideline pals, and our long-lasting authentic friends. We share the challenges of staying connected in busy times, and highlight why friendship is essential to human thriving. With a few personal stories about baseball and hula hoops, we reflect on our gratefulness for the friendships that have shaped our lives.

On many past road trips we've taken time to enjoy the scenery. But this time, are working while driving and bringing you along for the ride. On our way to a secret sabbatical destination to work on a new project, we share thoughts about what makes a good coworker, how to contribute to a healthy work culture, and our hopes for our own collaborative partnership in our professional and personal lives.

What happens when four generations from four states gather for a four-day vacation? We recently traveled with family ages 10 months to 80 years for a holiday on Mackinac Island, Michigan. In this episode, we share what we learned about planning lightly, staying connected, and adjusting to a wide range of needs on a multi-generational trip. From ferry rides and horse-drawn carriages to rowdy meals and rainy-day picnics, we found that the best memories often came in unexpected moments.

Every birth story leaves a lasting imprint. Whether your experience was joyful, complicated, or deeply challenging, the way you remember and tell it shapes how you carry it into the rest of your life. You’ll hear why birth is more than a medical event, how to shift from trauma to transformation, and practical ways to reclaim your story as a powerful rite of passage.

Food is never just food. In this episode, we explore the many ways meals shape our social lives, reflect our culture, and reveal our inner world. From family dinners to first dates, guilty cravings to sacred moments, we unpack what’s really happening when we sit down to eat. Pull up a chair—this one’s for anyone who’s ever had feelings about food.

Here we go again, choosing conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From Tara’s big 80’s hairstyle to David’s brown Ford Pinto, our stories take a turn into vintage territory. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.

In this playful episode, we take turns pulling fun conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From the time we accidentally camped by the side of the highway, to Tara’s sushi struggles, to David’s unapologetic love of pickle and bologna sandwiches—this episode is full of lighthearted stories and laughter. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.

Some dates live on in our bodies, minds, and hearts. Whether it’s recognizing a birth, a loss, a wedding, or a tragedy, anniversaries can be time-stamped reminders of who we are, where we’re headed, what we’ve learned, and what we’ve lost. In this episode we talk about how grief can echo across generations, and how rituals and reflection can help us navigate the emotional terrain of significant dates. 

What if emotions aren’t just something we feel on our own, but something we do—together? In this episode, we sit down with Batja Mesquita, author of Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions, to explore the idea of emotions as not just internal experiences, but relational ones. Drawing from cross-cultural research and personal stories, Batja challenges the Western idea that emotions live solely inside us, waiting to be expressed. Instead, she paints a richer, more connected picture—one where emotions are shaped between people, and deeply influenced by the cultural worlds we live in.

What makes a relationship healthy—and what signals that something might be off? In this episode, we dive into the essential topics of red flags, boundaries, and deal-breakers. We talk about how clear, healthy boundaries create safety, build trust, and protect love—not restrict it. We also explore the warning signs that a relationship may need help, and the serious signals that indicate deeper problems. This conversation will help you ask the right questions about your relationship, recognize unhealthy patterns, and know when it’s time to seek support.

What if the relationship advice you believed was actually hurting your connection? We’re calling out the lies we’ve been told about love, like “fighting = failure” and “compromise always means 50/50.” This week we’ll take a look at some common myths about relationships, and identify what’s realistic, what’s red-flag material, and what actually leads to real connection.

While seasons of waiting are universal, they’re rarely easy. Why does uncertainty feel so stressful? What makes waiting so uncomfortable? And more importantly, how do we live well when the outcome is still unknown? In this episode, we explore the emotional and spiritual tension of living between hopefulness and helplessness. We discuss the differences between passive and active waiting, and offer gentle practices for the in-between times: rhythms to nourish your soul, glimmers of joy to help you stay grounded, and anchors of meaning to keep you steady. 

Do you ever feel like the cultural pressure to stay busy pushes you to your tipping point? In light of our own experience living on the edge, we discuss finding the balance between productivity and wellbeing. We share personal anecdotes about the simpler, less hurried times in our lives and discuss strategies for mitigating the sense of rush, such as focusing on fewer things, working at a natural pace, and prioritizing quality. We also highlight the significance of rhythms, such as regular walks and meals with family and friends, in maintaining balance.

Whether you're continents apart or just living on different schedules, long-distance love can bring its own struggles and strengths to a relationship. In this episode, we share personal stories from our own seasons of separation, surviving on handwritten letters that took weeks to arrive. We explore the value of intentional communication, the risk of growing too used to separate rhythms, and the often-overlooked challenge of reintegration after time apart. Whether you're currently navigating distance or just want to strengthen connection from wherever you are, this conversation offers honest reflections and hopeful takeaways for every couple.

Where do you go to gather? This week we're diving into the idea of “third places”—those everyday gathering spots that create space for connection, conversation, and community. We start by reflecting on where we used to hang out as kids (baseball fields or malls, anyone?), then explore the sociological roots of the term coined by Ray Oldenburg. Third places—like libraries, parks, and coffee shops—are neutral, welcoming, and unstructured, offering room to just be with others. They're not just nice-to-haves; they're vital for emotional health, belonging, and the social glue that holds communities together.

In this episode, we explore why real, face-to-face conversation feels harder than ever — and why it still matters so much. We reflect on the dying art of meaningful dialogue, and share why David’s teenage prank phone calls might have actually helped him practice tools for conversation. Whether you’re looking to connect more deeply or just get past awkward small talk, this episode offers thoughtful insights and practical tips to help you engage with others in a more curious, connected, and balanced way

Parenting doesn’t stop when our children become adults — it just changes, sometimes in ways no one prepares us for. In this episode we are joined by longtime friends Adi and Ema Ban, who share both personal experience and professional insight from their work in marriage and family ministry in Romania. Together, they explore the tender and often challenging transition from raising children to releasing them — navigating shifting roles, unspoken expectations, cultural nuances, and the deep desire to stay connected while giving space. We reflect together on what it means to parent with open hands and open hearts, and how to keep growing as a couple through every season of family life.

Whether hospital candy striping, cub scout camping, youth sport coaching, or 5K fundraising, our vision for volunteering is about building community, character, and connection. In this conversation, we share our earliest (and most memorable) volunteer moments, how service shaped our marriage, and why we keep saying yes to unpaid work. Whether it’s for a one-time event or a long-term commitment, we believe showing up and sharing your skills is always worth it.