Unrealistic expectations and the pursuit of perfection can lead to extra stress and shame in our lives. In this episode, we explore how comparing ourselves with others can set us up for feeling like a failure. What if we let go of the need to win and instead embraced vulnerability and a values-based approach to success? Join us as we explore the benefits of authenticity over perfection. – We’d love to hear from you! Check out our website www.withuprojects.com, or email us at withupodcast@gmail.com – Produced by Zach Van Dyke
We end up on some of life's paths by choice, and some not so much. We find that we need extra motivation and equipment for the uphill battles or daunting tasks. Whatever path you're on, we hope that after spending some time with us you'll feel less alone and believe you've got what it takes to see it through. -- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Do you see play as frivolous, extra, or even a waste of time? In this episode, we explore how play is not just for children. As adults, we need it for brain growth, creativity, relational health, and stress relief. We have so much to gain from play, and yet it can be the first thing to go when life gets busy. Join us today as we discover new ways to seek playfulness and fun. – “Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul” by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan ***Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Bertenshaw, E. J., & Brauer, K. (2018). The positive relationships of playfulness with indicators of health, activity, and physical fitness. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1440. ***Brauer, K., Stumpf, H. S. C., & Proyer, R. T. (2024). Playfulness in middle-and older age: Testing associations with life satisfaction, character strengths, and flourishing. Aging & Mental Health, 1-10. ***Tandler, N., Schilling-Friedemann, S., Frazier, L. D., Sendatzki, R., & Proyer, R. T. (2024). New insights into the contributions of playfulness to dealing with stress at work: Correlates of self-and peer-rated playfulness and coping strategies. New Ideas in Psychology, 75, 101109. --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Coming fresh from supporting the birth of our first grandchild, we dive deep into the topic of physical and emotional pain, and explore how it serves a purpose in our lives and relationships. Using personal stories and professional experiences, we highlight the difference between pain and suffering, explore the role of support and connection in reducing pain's impact, and stress the value of facing pain with understanding to encourage growth. — Feedback of questions? Please email us at withupodcast@gmail.com — Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Gone but not forgotten are the million people who died during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. During our visit to this beautiful country, we heard stories from almost everyone we met about how the events of their past still affect their lives today. Our guest, John Bosco Rumanzi, shares his story of being born as a refugee in Uganda and what it was like to come back to his country and learn about family members he would never meet. He tells us what he’s learned about the power of human dignity, cooperation, and hope. – Check out the video of this podcast at the With U Podcast YouTube channel Find extra photos of people & places mentioned in this episode at Withupodcast.com – We’d like to introduce you to the projects and people we visited through the links below. Each of these organizations, people, or ministries is doing amazing and transformative work. Please look through the links, read the stories, and if you’re as inspired by them as we are, consider sending a donation that will make a big difference. John Bosco Rumanzi, Navigators Rwanda Emmanuel Ndolimana, Africa Bora Ministries Pascal Ndagijimana, Humura Mission Agency Jamie Boiles, Belay Global – produced by Zach Van Dyke
Sometimes you need to just push way outside what’s normal in your life. We’ve gotten pretty comfortable traveling, but a recent trip to Africa really stretched and challenged us. We made mistakes (hello, visa expediting fee!), met amazing people, and ate stuff we will probably never eat again. Tara resurrected her fear of baboons, David learned to push a truck out of the mud with a leopard lurking nearby, and we both ended each day grateful to be in it together. — Check out the video of this podcast at the With U Podcast YouTube channel Find extra photos of people & places mentioned in this episode at Withupodcast.com — The people of Kenya are even more amazing than the beautiful landscapes and wild adventures we had. We’d like to introduce you to the projects we visited through the links below. Each of these organizations, people, or ministries is doing work we really believe in. We’ve seen them, eaten meals with them, talked to them, heard their struggles, and caught their vision for bringing hope and change to their country. It’s incredible how even the gift of hygienic products or a goat or skill training can radically change a life and a community. Please look through the links, read the stories, and if you’re as inspired by them as we are, consider sending a donation that will make a big difference. Malooi Demonstration Farm, Kioko Mwangangi > Donate Here Oasis Africa, Gladys Mwiti > Donate Here Hope for Life Kenya, Josephine Kiarii > Donate Here Maasai Transformation Project, Saruni Lemargeroi Dignity 4 Girls, Sandi Helm > Donate Here Second Chance Education Center, Kiplagat Misik > Donate Here Youth Love, Max Njuguna > Donate Here And, a shout-out to our wonderful driver, George Mutabari, who got us safely everywhere we needed to go. We’re not sure if he has a website, but if you ever take a trip to Kenya, you’d be in good hands with George at the wheel. — Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Join David & Tara as they talk about building the video podcast studio with an epic trip to IKEA. David learns to enjoy vegetarian meatballs and Tara puts the kibosh on setting a world record of living in the display rooms.
We’re about to do something new! But first, a review: as we record episode #50 of the podcast, we are thankful for you coming along with us for connection, resources, and hopefully a few laughs. We will take a short hiatus for 2 months as we travel and teach. In the meantime, we need to hear from you! Please rate, review, and share the podcast to give us a boost and the will to go on — ha ha! No, really! —- produced by Zach Van Dyke (He does amazing work! Drop him an encouraging message at withupodcast@gmail.com) —- With U Podcast season 5 is coming up with some exciting new developments in September 2024. During our summer break as we prepare our new studio, we need to hear from you! We’ve listed links below to make it easy. Post a Google review! If you’ve ever taken a class with David or Tara, or heard us speak, or had Tara’s support at your birth, a review or story here would be most helpful. Rate & review the podcast. Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow us on Instagram Email us with topic ideas: withupodcast@gmail.com
How do we form our sense of self? In the movie Inside Out 2, we go deep inside the brain of a teenager to find out how self is constructed from memories, messages, and beliefs. As we follow the main character Riley into adolescence, we discover the importance of integrating both positive and negative experiences into our identity. Join us on this wild rollercoaster of emotional exploration! —- produced by Zach Van Dyke —- promotional pic by Disney
We’ve been employed in many unique ways, from washing cars to working on a Hollywood movie set. Sometimes the path to a career can be full of unexpected turns, but each workplace can teach us something valuable to prepare us for the next step. We hope our stories of odd jobs — sometimes hilarious, sometimes grueling, and sometimes downright sketchy — will take the pressure off anyone who is still searching for their dream job. -- Do you want to see us working as extras in a French music video? You'll have to see it to believe it! (Hint: David is a camera operator and Tara is the dancing silhouette on the right.) Head on over to the show notes page on our website: With U Projects to check it out. -- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Would you like to hear a dad joke? Dads and their corny jokes may be fun to tease, but we are thankful for fathers and their important role in our lives. Join us for memorable lessons learned from our own dads, ideas for fun father’s day celebrations, and a surprise tribute to David from our kids. --- see fun photos at With U Projects --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
How is David surviving the Great Cicada Invasion of '24? While a horde of insects invading our home town, why is Tara far away in a Boise birth center? While we've been busy teaching and training in different states this week, we invite you to join us on a call as we check in with each other and compare our parenting responses to our daughter's epic Amtrak adventure. --- Picture of actual cicadas in our back yard. Now imagine one million of them flying around your head. Fun fact: cicada noise levels have been measured at up to 105 decibels. See more fun photos at WithUPodcast.com --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
Have you ever wondered what is the right thing to say to someone who is going through a hard time? Do you struggle with the line between persistence and intrusion when trying to provide support? We've been there, and we treasure the lessons we've learned along the way. Listen in for some practical tips that will help you foster deeper, more caring relationships.
An effort to discover David’s family roots led us to more than just a meal of pickled herring on farm in the Netherlands. We also gained a deeper appreciation for the profound impact of family history on personal identity, We explore the ways we can learn from patterns in our family history and build on the strengths of previous generations while also writing our own story. —- Resources for researching your family history: Local libraries City courthouse records National archives Ancestry.com Ancestry DNA tests Familysearch.org —- produced by Zach Van Dyke
From aquatic frogs to a pet shop puppy, we've hosted a variety of household animals. Though we weren't always on the same page about pet ownership, we agree that animals have enriched our lives and enhanced our families. We reveal some research that shows the true health benefits of pet companionship, and share our personal stories of pets that left their paw prints on our hearts. --- CDC article about health benefits of pets --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
If you’ve experienced lost luggage, bad directions, or a misplaced passport, you know how easily a dream trip can go off the rails. But despite the potential for discomforts and disaster, we believe all travel is worth the risk. Getting outside your familiar neighborhood may challenge your relationships, expand your mind, and open the door to delightful discoveries. Listen up for our top tips for making the most of any travel experience, from family road trips to international adventures. —- A few recommendations: Eating Europe — The Best Food Tours in Europe Taller Andaluz de Cocina — Spanish Cooking Class in Seville Paka — Alpaca socks —- produced by Zach Van Dyke
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. —- Gratitude: The Short Film by Louie Schwartzberg Check out photos and more info on our website at With U Projects We’d love it if you would share this podcast with your friends, and post a review! Thanks so much for supporting us in this way and helping us grow our reach.
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. --- produced by Zach Van Dyke
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. -- See fun family photos of David & Nathan on our website at With U Podcast Please send feedback or show topic suggestions to us at withupodcast@gmail.com -- produced by Zach Van Dyke
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. --- Toni Harman is a filmmaker, author, course creator and champion of the microbiome. Toni has produced and directed a number of internationally distributed documentary films including MICROBIRTH about the origins of the human microbiome. Toni’s extensive research for her film MICROBIRTH led to her co-authoring the books THE MICROBIRTH EFFECT and YOUR BABY’s MICROBIOME. Toni is also the founder of MICROBIOME COURSES, an online school offering CPD approved courses for health professionals and parents on the infant microbiome, now with over 40,000 registered students. For a free mini-course explaining the infant microbiome: https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/taster You can watch MICROBIRTH here: https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/microbirth You can also watch MICROBIRTH on Vimeo On Demand here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/microbirthfilm --- Links to some other things mentioned in the show: Lambic beer Book: “You Are What Your Grandparents Ate” National Human Genome Research Institute: definition of microbiome https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Microbiome Some facts Tara & David mention are from the Human Microbiome Project https://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp --- produced by Zach Van Dyke