• 187: How To Navigate Technology and Family Life with Erin Loechner
    Oct 29 2024
    In Episode 187, Daniel and Christina chat with Erin Loechner—once a social media influencer with over a million followers—who made the radical choice to step away from the digital spotlight and embrace a low-tech lifestyle. Erin reflects on the impact of social media on her mental health, identity, and parenting, sharing how the constant pressure to stay “connected” was eroding what mattered most. In this conversation, she offers practical tips for reducing tech dependence, from simplifying devices to creating meaningful offline moments with loved ones, all while reminding us that true connection thrives in real life, not on screens. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: The impact of social media on mental health and personal relationships. The decision to opt out of social media for family well-being. The evolution of social media from sharing to attention-seeking platforms. Experiences and benefits of living without social media. The importance of community and real-life connections. Practical steps for families to create a healthier relationship with technology. The role of parental controls and intentional tech use. The dangers of social media algorithms, especially for young users. The significance of authentic relationships over digital interactions. Encouragement for families to reflect on their technology use and its implications. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Pick up a copy of Erin's latest book, The Opt-Out Family: How To Give Your Kids What Technology Can't Read Erin's first book, Chasing Slow: Courage To Journey Off The Beaten Path Erin's Website Listen to our other episodes about raising kids in this tech era: Parenting In Our Digital Age Unplugging for Connection: How To Break The Distracted Parenting Cycle Netiquette: Teaching Our Kids Online Manners Breaking Up With Our Phones Meet Erin Loechner: Founder of global tech-free movement The Opt-Out Family, Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle—and is now teaching others how to do the same. Her cutting-edge work has been praised in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, and the Today Show. When she’s not scrawling on her trusty steno pad, Erin, her husband, and their three kids spend their days chasing alpenglow, reading Kipling, and biking to town for more tortillas. https:// IMbetween.org/episode188 For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple, go to IMbetween.org/episode187 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • 186: What Your Longings and Loneliness Might Be Telling You with Chuck DeGroat
    Oct 10 2024
    In Episode 186, Daniel and Christina Im engage in a profound conversation with Chuck De Groat, a licensed therapist and author of "Healing What's Within." The discussion centers on themes of loneliness, healing, and the integration of spiritual and psychological insights. Chuck shares his journey in writing his book and emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with oneself. The episode explores practical tools for self-examination and highlights the significance of understanding and addressing deeper longings for connection and fulfillment. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: Exploration of themes of loneliness and disconnection. Discussion on the healing process and its significance. Integration of spiritual and psychological insights. The importance of self-awareness and introspection. The role of community in the healing journey. Examination of internal conflicts and desires. Reflection on the biblical concept of "coming home to oneself." Practical tools for self-examination based on biblical questions. Encouragement to engage in contemplative practices and connect with God. Meet Chuck DeGroat: Chuck DeGroat is a professor of pastoral care and Christian spirituality at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, where he also serves as the founding executive director of the clinical mental health counseling program. He is a licensed therapist, spiritual director, author, retreat leader speaker, and faculty member with the Soul Care Institute. As a therapist, he specializes in navigating issues of abuse and trauma, pastoral (and leadership) health, and doubt and darknights on the faith journey. He trains clergy in handling issues of abuse and trauma, conducts pastor and planter assessments, and facilitates church consultations and investigations of abuse. Before transitioning to training and forming pastors, Chuck served as a pastor in Orlando and San Francisco. He and his wife, Sara, have been married for 30 years and have two adult daughters. For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple, go to IMbetween.org/episode186 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • 185: Building Resilient Minds: Fostering Confidence, Kindness, and Responsibility in Children through Neuroscience, Love, and Logic with Dr. Charles Fay
    Sep 24 2024
    We interview Dr. Charles Fay, president of the Love and Logic Institute, about parenting strategies from his book "Raising Mentally Strong Kids." Dr. Fay emphasizes allowing children to experience and learn from mistakes, fostering resilience, confidence, kindness, and responsibility. He discusses the negative side effects of overprotective parenting and introduces practical techniques for encouraging problem-solving and independence. The episode also explores the role of mental hygiene, highlighting the need to challenge automatic negative thoughts and promote truthful thinking to support children's mental health. In This Episode, You Will Hear About The Following: Parenting strategies for building resilience in children and teens. The importance of fostering confidence, kindness, and responsibility in youth. Current trends in youth mental health and their implications for parenting. The significance of allowing children to experience small failures for growth. The role of empathy in effective parenting and problem-solving. Differentiating between healthy and unhealthy struggles for children. The concept of "mental hygiene" and managing negative thoughts. Encouraging open discussions about parenting challenges and strategies. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Pick up a copy of Dr. Charles Fay's book Raising Mentally Strong Kids Listen to our previous episode about Why We Need To Teach Our Kids to Fail Listen more about the importance of joy in your children's lives: The 4 Habits of Raising Joy-Filled Kids Meet Dr. Charles Fay: Dr. Charles is an internationally recognized author, consultant, and public speaker. He is also president of the Love and Logic Institute, which became part of Amen Clinics in 2020. Millions of educators, mental health professionals, and parents worldwide have benefited from Dr. Fay's down-to-earth solutions to the most common and frustrating behaviors displayed by youth of all ages. These methods come directly from years of experience serving severely disturbed youth and their families in psychiatric hospitals, public and private schools, homes, and other settings. For more information, visit loveandlogic.com For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple, go to IMbetween.org/episode185 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • 184: Learning To Trust Again After Betrayal with Josh and Katie Walters
    Sep 10 2024
    Is it possible to recover from an affair? Can you learn to trust your spouse again? Josh and Katie Walters candidly discuss their journey through betrayal and the rebuilding of trust in their marriage. Katie opens up about her emotional affair and the subsequent guilt and self-reflection she faced. Josh shares his initial shock and the struggle to process the betrayal, highlighting the importance of his decision to forgive and stay committed to the marriage. They explore the emotional cost involved in healing, the role of their faith in guiding them towards forgiveness and restoration, and the beauty that awaited them on the other side of the betrayal. It's not just their story; it's an invitation to anyone wrestling with forgiveness to find solace in the shared experience and redemptive power of grace. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: What is an emotional affair and its impact on a marriage Emotional journey and reevaluating priorities in marriage Process of forgiveness and rebuilding trust Complexity of forgiveness, trust, and transformative power of love and grace Highlighting a different narrative of hope and staying in a relationship despite challenges For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode184 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • 183: The Art of Marriage: Redefining Love, Intimacy, and Growth with Brian and Jen Goins
    Apr 23 2024
    Daniel and Christina discuss the intricacies of marriage with Brian and Jen Goins and how marriage is like a living art form that demands creativity, evolves, and requires a blending of different perspectives and experiences. The episode highlights the re-release of "The Art of Marriage" series, which encourages couples to engage in open dialogue about love, intimacy, and the divine representation of God's love in marriage. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: Marriage as an art and the re-release of "The Art of Marriage" series The intention behind the creation of marriage and its purpose as a representation of God's love Importance of love, forgiveness, and intimacy in marriage Having healthy and transparent conversations about sensitive topics like sex and intimacy The "Art of Marriage" program as a platform for couples to grow together Stories of transformation and growth in marriages through the "Art of Marriage" program Emphasizing the power of humility, learning, and actively working towards building a strong and healthy marriage For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode183 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • 182: Unplugging for Connection: How to Break the Distracted Parenting Cycle
    Mar 26 2024
    Ever caught yourself scrolling through your phone while your child's voice fades into the background? Yup! Us too. Let's face it, the era of smartphones has us all hooked. But did you know that this habit might be doing more harm than good to our kids? Distracted parenting isn't just about not hearing their stories—it's about the message we send about their value to us. In Episode 182, Daniel and Christina breakdown the costs of distracted parenting and discuss how we can respond to our children's bids for attention to foster intimacy and connection. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Distracted parenting and its impact on children Importance of being present and engaged with children Examples of distracted parenting scenarios Emotional impact of distracted parenting on children Responding to children's bids for attention and connection Role of empathy in nurturing intimacy with children Practical tips for parents to improve engagement with children Creating undistracted time to fully engage with children Modeling attentive behavior in interactions with others Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Episode 36: Netiquette: Teaching Our Kids Online Manners Episode 62: Parenting In Our Digital Age The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode182 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • 181: The 5 Apology Languages: Learning To Say I'm Sorry
    Mar 12 2024
    Daniel and Christina explore the nuances of apologizing in relationships by discussing the 5 Apology Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. They delve into the emotional depth of expressing regret, the challenge of accepting responsibility without excuses, the significance of making restitution to show sincerity, and the commitment required for planned change to rebuild trust. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, they underscore the importance of understanding and using these apology languages to foster forgiveness and reconciliation with the ones you love. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Importance of apologies in relationships What "fake" apologies are and what to watch out for The 5 Apology Languages: expressing regret, accepting responsibility, making restitution, planned change, and requesting forgiveness How forgiveness and trust are not to be equated Ways to discover your apology language and the apology language of others Resources Mentioned In This Episode: The 5 Apology Languages: The Secret To Healthy Relationships by Dr. Gary Chapman Why Won't You Apologize? Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner Listen to our previous episode about The 7 New Love Languages and 4 Steps To Get Your Love Language Heard Do you need more help with learning to apologies? Listen to our previous episode: Do You Suck At Apologies? Here Are 4 Steps To Healing Hurts With Your For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode181 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • 180: Is It Okay To Fight In Front of The Kids?
    Feb 27 2024
    Daniel and Christina delve into the complexities of resolving conflicts in a marriage, particularly in the presence of children. They discuss the importance of empathy, active listening, and collaboration in handling disagreements, and share personal anecdotes and strategies for effective communication. They also talk about the impact of parental conflict resolution on children, emphasizing the need for transparency and the creation of a safe space for family discussions. The episode offers practical advice for couples to navigate marital conflicts constructively while fostering a positive environment for their kids. In This Episode, You'll Hear About The Following: Healthy conflict resolution within a marriage Impact of conflict on children Importance of active listening and empathy Personal experiences and challenges in conflict resolution Solutions-focused therapy techniques Value of validating and empathizing with one's spouse Developing empathy as a skill Collaborative aspect of conflict resolution Impact of healthy conflict resolution on children Creating a safe environment for discussing conflicts with children Timestamps: Is it okay to fight in front of the kids? (00:00:01) Exploring the impact of parental conflict on children and the nuances of healthy conflict resolution within a marriage. The generational effect of parental conflict (00:00:57) The impact of parental conflict on children's perceptions of relationships and the importance of modeling healthy conflict resolution. The harmful effects of hostile conflicts (00:02:13) The negative impact of frequent hostile conflicts on children and the signs that a relationship needs help. Gottman approach to conflict resolution (00:04:47) Understanding the concept of perpetual problems in relationships and the goal of regulating, rather than resolving, conflicts. Listening and being heard (00:06:00) The importance of active listening and summarization in conflict resolution, fostering constructive dialogue and mutual understanding. Empathy and perspective taking (00:13:33) The role of empathy in conflict resolution, its impact on emotional well-being, and fostering a deeper connection in relationships. Empathy and perspective taking (00:18:39) The importance of empathy and perspective-taking in conflict resolution and share practical techniques for validation and understanding. Collaborative conflict resolution (00:21:13) The significance of collaboration in conflict resolution, highlighting the need for mutual willingness to find sustainable solutions and the benefits of brainstorming together. Transparency and family dynamics (00:25:40) The segment explores the educational value of children witnessing healthy conflict resolution, emphasizing the resilience of relationships and the importance of transparent communication within the family. Repairing relationships (00:28:02) The importance of explicit communication and repair in the aftermath of conflicts, emphasizing the impact of parental transparency on children's understanding and emotional well-being. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Need to learn how to fight well? Listen to our previous episodes about conflict resolution. A Conflict-Free Marriage Is Not The Goal How To Fight With Your Spouse Without Ruining Your Marriage How To Repair Your Relationship After A Big Fight Enneagram and Communication Styles Resolving Conflict with the Enneagram Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection by Drs John and Julie Gottman For the full show notes, including discussion prompts for you as a couple about this episode, go to IMbetween.org/episode180 Connect with us on: Facebook | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins