With You in the Weeds

Is alcohol hindering your relationship with God or loved ones?  As part of our Managing Your Addictions series, John Tinnin and Shay Roush welcome Aric Bremer, mid-Missouri radio personality and co-host of the podcast Blended, Blessed and Always a Mess. Aric’s path to sobriety emerged while coping with grief and loneliness, and was shaped by a desire for deeper and healthier relationships with his family and God. Aric recounts his 25-year struggle with alcohol, which intensified after the tragic loss of his bonus daughter, Hallie, in 2022. Drinking to numb grief strained his relationships, but naming his struggle (“if you can name it, you can tame it”) led to sobriety 13 months ago. His choice was driven by a commitment to his wife Angie, their kids, and his faith, along with a growing awareness of how much he had to lose if he didn’t make a change. No longer having alcohol as a way to cope with negative feelings, Aric found that taking walks was an effective way to manage cravings and build community with other men. Going alcohol-free has improved his sleep, sharpened his spiritual focus and allows him to be more present with his children in a way he never was before. Although you may not be ready to go alcohol-free, you will be encouraged to reflect on alcohol’s role in your life and consider: am I ready to be on a path of health and healing? Read Aric's blog at Miles For Him or check out our episode Relationship Red Flags, where Lynn Roush interviews Aric's wife, Angie Phillips, to discuss the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Has anyone ever asked you about your drinking? Have you ever tried to cut back on alcohol?  Drinking is a culturally accepted way to relax, unwind, celebrate or manage stress. And no one intentionally decides to have a drinking problem. It’s usually a slow drift—one drink here, a few more there—and before you know it, alcohol might be playing a bigger role in your life than you intended. But how can you know if it’s a problem? In this enlightening episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, John and Austin talk about the very common issue of drinking alcohol and how to figure out if it’s a problem in your life. You’ll hear about: How drinking affects your brain and body A biblical view of alcohol Questions you can ask yourself about drinking Paying attention without feeling shame The goal of this episode isn’t to heap guilt on anyone or to say you can’t ever enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. Instead, it’s about understanding what alcohol really does to your brain and body so you can be honest with yourself about your relationship with alcohol. This powerful conversation could be a game changer for you or someone you love! What Alcohol Does to Your Brain, Body and Health - from the Huberman Lab on YouTube Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Have you ever tried to stop a destructive habit, only to find yourself even more tightly bound than before? In this perceptive episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, Austin sits down with David Koch, a licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, and director of program operations at Crossroads Counseling Centers in St. Louis, Missouri. David teaches on addictions and brings both professional expertise and personal vulnerability to the conversation. Together, Austin and David explore the realities of addiction—what it is, how it develops, the role that contributing factors play, and why recovery is such a complex and often painful journey. As you listen, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at: What’s going on in someone’s life before an addiction starts The chemical ways that addiction affects the brain  How someone can recover from an addiction Shattering myths about addiction Whether you’re personally wrestling with addiction, walking alongside someone who is, or simply wanting to better understand this issue, you’ll appreciate the honesty, hope, and practical insight this episode has to offer. It turns out that struggling with addiction doesn’t make you a failure—it just means the healing part of your story hasn’t been written yet.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Why does addiction feel like an unstoppable river, sweeping you or someone you love further downstream? As part of our “Dealing With Your Addictions” series, hosts Austin Conner and John Tinnin explore the streams that fuel addiction by combining their years of ministry and counseling experience to help you navigate the invisible forces at work in your life.  They identify 5 streams that contribute to the addictive cycle: Genetics Upbringing/attachment Choice Cultural influences Cosmic/spiritual forces Then they explain how shame is a hidden undercurrent that runs beneath this powerful river and intensifies the struggle with feelings of unworthiness and isolation. Addiction drowns out God’s love and presence, but there are important takeaways from this conversation that you can put into practice:  First, map your personal "rivers"—assess which streams in your life contribute to your struggle and journal their influence.  Second, embrace your agency, however small, and ask yourself, “Am I ready to change?” Third, seek connection over isolation. No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it alone. Finally, rest in Scripture’s promises—Romans 8:1 (there is no condemnation for those in Christ), 1 John 2:1 (Jesus is your advocate), and Matthew 11:28 (Jesus offers rest for those who are exhausted by the struggle)—and pray for God’s strength, knowing he’s already there with you in the weeds. Our hope and prayer is that when you listen to this episode, you will leave with a desire to show others (and yourself) compassion, a greater sense of humility given the complexity of addiction, and tangible reminders of hope that health and healing are possible.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Why do you keep chasing the very thing that chains you down? The dopamine rush from drinking, shopping, binge eating or mindless scrolling is fleeting and leaves you feeling emptier than before. But, you feel helpless to make a different choice. The title of this episode captures the heart of the human dilemma for every person - not just someone caught in the throes of addiction. We all have an idea of what we’re supposed to do, and sometimes we actually do it. But then other times we all get in our own way and don’t deliver. In fact, we often do the exact opposite of what we know we should do. Hosts Austin Conner and Shay Roush kick off the second episode of our "Dealing with Your Addictions" series by peering through a biblical lens at the age-old struggle of why we do what we don’t want to do. Drawing from Romans 1, they frame addiction not just as a clinical trap but as desires with deeper roots—a misguided quest for fulfillment apart from God, where good gifts like money or sex twist into controlling idols that promise salvation but deliver bondage. As you listen, you’ll come to understand the spectrum of addictions, from "little a" habits like hiding shopping sprees to "capital A" devastators like raging alcoholism or destructive drug use, all rooted in unhealed hurts and the illusion of a "warm hug" from temporary relief. Yet this conversation offers a profound hope: No matter your past or number of relapses, in Christ you're washed, sanctified, and justified—God's love remains steadfast, unshaken by our harmful habits.  When you take the first step of radical honesty and bring your hidden struggles into the light, you’ll learn that God’s love is greater than your addiction and doesn’t change your identity in Christ as a beloved child of God. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Do you ever feel like you want to escape from reality? Do you find yourself repeating habits that cause more problems than they solve? We think that addiction is a universal struggle that is also a surprising gift that can lead you closer to God. We are kicking off a new series called "Dealing with Your Addictions" because we want to empower you to face yourself honestly by helping you understand the complex world of addiction. Listen as hosts Lynn Roush and John Tinnin introduce the six A's of addiction so you can gain insight into the reasons behind your deepest struggles. We emphasize that addiction is not an unforgivable sin but can actually be a gift that, when explored, reveals the heart’s deepest needs for God’s love and healing. The 6 A’s you need to know are: Avoidance: Using substances or behaviors to escape painful emotions or realities, like shame, emptiness, loneliness or guilt.  Affect Regulation: Seeking quick fixes (e.g., alcohol, social media) to manage intense emotions instead of processing them.  Attachment: Unmet needs for being seen, soothed, safe, and secure drive reliance on substances or processes as pseudo-comfort.  Abuse: Escalating use to harmful levels, chasing diminishing rewards due to the brain’s rewiring.  Adverse Consequences: Negative impacts on relationships, health, work or finances from escalating conflict and stress.  Addict Brain: Defense mechanisms (rationalization, denial) and neurological changes (e.g., dopamine craving that brings temporary satisfaction) perpetuate addiction. We invite you to get curious through this series as we explore a biblical perspective on addiction, and dive into specific addictions such as alcohol, marijuana, sex and porn, food, shopping, gambling, religion and the many other ways we seek comfort through substances or behaviors.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Do you believe God loves you but struggle to feel it? Or do you wrestle with the need to control everything while believing God is in charge? If you’re stuck in the gap between what you believe and what you experience, this episode is for you! We are excited to share this interview because we know it will speak to the common dynamics that show up in our relationships and spiritual journey. Host Austin Conner invites pastor and author Steve Cuss to share about his book The Expectation Gap, offering strategies to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.   Most of us experience a disconnect between our faith and daily life, which is what inspired Steve to address relational patterns that fuel addiction and spiritual stagnation. Using the Systems Theory, Steve identifies the relational dynamics of: Reactivity, Assumptions, Stuck Patterns and Attempted Solutions as a map for understanding how and why we get discouraged in our faith and disconnect from others.  This conversation also highlights the false needs of Control, Perfection, Knowing the Answer, Being There for Others and Seeking Approval, and how they drive anxiety and block God’s comforting presence. You will learn how to cultivate micro-habits that replace chaos and striving with awareness and stillness.  If you want to learn more or find Steve’s Life-Giving List, visit stevecusswords.com or read Steve’s book The Expectation Gap.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

When Dan Hanneken started reading a bible in a prison cell, he had no idea how God’s grace could offer a second chance for anyone willing to change. This is the final episode in our “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself” series, and we end with the incredible story of how Dan Hanneken found God in an unlikely place. Host Shay Roush interviews Dan as he shares how his own journey, marked by addiction, three prison stints and a life-changing encounter with God’s grace inspired him to create In2Action, a ministry that offers practical and relational support to men entering the community from prison. Dan’s turning point was when he “broke up with God” because he believed that he couldn’t try hard enough, memorize enough bible verses or be good enough to make his life better and stay out of prison. That’s when he finally understood the deeper meaning of grace: your best efforts aren’t enough to create and sustain personal transformation. Dan recognized that a relationship with God wasn’t a means to an end, but that a relationship with God was the basis for finding his identity as a fully loved and accepted child of God. Taking a leap of faith, Dan founded In2Action, a faith-based nonprofit that supports men recently released from prison with housing, life skills, and community integration. Starting with a single rented house, the ministry now offers over 60 beds and a Reentry Opportunity Center, achieving a remarkable recidivism rate in mid-Missouri below 10% compared to the county’s 43%. Dan recognizes that success goes beyond staying out of prison—it’s about fostering belonging through creating community and opportunity for social transition. This remarkable story is a reminder that loving our neighbors by giving them a second chance allows them to rebuild their lives, find purpose and meaning, and come to understand the depth of God’s love and the power of belonging in his family. Visit in2action.org to learn how to join this transformative work.

At Coyote Hill, every child’s life is a worthy investment. Host John Tinnin sits down with special guest Kari Hopkins, Chief Operating Officer of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries in Columbia, Missouri, to discuss what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” through the ministry of fostering. Kari shares how Coyote Hill, a faith-based ministry, restores childhoods for kids in foster care by providing stable, loving homes.  Despite the challenges that come with fostering, Kari believes that every child is created in the image of God and worthy of a safe and caring home. Coyote Hill’s mission is to bring back simple childhood joys like bike rides and playgrounds, countering the chaos many kids face. With specialized training, foster parents are encouraged to see the child’s needs behind their behaviors, while providing security through consistent care towards the goal of reunification or adoption.  Success at Coyote Hill is measured by the smiles on the faces of children who are experiencing stability and connection through parents who are willing to step into the calling of foster care. For those not ready to foster, Kari suggests respite care—short-term hosting to give foster parents a break—or supporting families with meals, donations, or time.  There is nothing closer to the heart of Jesus than caring for a child who needs a home, which is a biblical call that everyone can be a part of in one way or another. If you want to learn how to take a step to supporting the efforts of Coyote hill, visit coyotehill.org to learn how small acts of love can transform a child’s life. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Can one day change your city for the better?  Listen in as host Shay Roush sits down with Shelly Mayer, Care Ministry Director at The Crossing, to explain how one annual event called For Columbia unites 55 churches and over 2,100 volunteers to serve the people of Columbia, Missouri, in a single day. This initiative includes diverse projects from landscaping for elderly homeowners and painting in residential or community centers, to delivering food to those with dwindling resources and rehabbing homes for the most vulnerable in our city. Putting differences aside, For Columbia fosters unity among local churches and is a unique opportunity to make a powerful impact with many hands tackling huge tasks to meet the felt needs in our community.  Shay and Shelly also discuss how many of the care ministries at The Crossing have evolved over the years to meet people where they are hurting, whether it’s in Divorce Care, Grief Share, One-to-One Care, Single Moms, Cancer Care and more. Many practical ministries now exist to offer simple yet profound ways to show care, proving small acts of service can be multiplied to impact the church family and the community beyond.  Loving your neighbor as yourself may not be an easy task, but when you link arms with others on the same mission, you can change a city one person, and one day, at a time.  Do you want to get involved on a Care Serving Team at The Crossing? click here.  Are you ready to get plugged into a support group within our Care Ministry? click here. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Are you ready to confront a harsh reality? The state of Missouri is ranked #4 in the number of people being sex trafficked daily in our nation. In this gripping interview, host Austin Conner talks with Julie Meranda and Lauren Gray from Magnolia Ministry, as they walk alongside sex trafficking survivors toward healing and freedom.  Julie and Lauren share the heart-breaking stories of how sex trafficking exists in places where you would least expect it. They also explain the different types of trafficking and how difficult it is to break the bonds that form when a person is exploited and controlled.  Magnolia’s practical steps include prayer, giving small gifts, visiting the environments that house exploited women and providing community education. They rely on God’s redemptive power to truly set captives free and bring women and children out of bondage. Despite the issue’s complexity, Julie and Lauren believe that everyone can make a difference through prayer, donations, or volunteering. The good news: there is hope for these women thanks to the Magnolia Ministry, which prioritizes walking alongside survivors as they find safety, healing, and freedom. To get more information about Magnolia Ministry, click here To reach out to Julie Meranda, email her at jmeranda@themagnoliaministry.org Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Is it possible to end homelessness for veterans in your community? Megan Sievers is on a mission to make that vision a reality. In this episode of our series, Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself, Shay Roush sits down with Megan Sievers, Executive Director of Welcome Home, a Columbia, Missouri-based nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless veterans.  You may not realize that many who have given of themselves to serve our country face challenges that go unnoticed and deserve our attention. This conversation highlights how Welcome Home embodies this mission by supporting veterans in need.  Welcome Home began when Vietnam veterans, heartbroken by seeing their comrades die homeless, established a shelter in 1992 to provide a lifeline for veterans. Since then, this organization has evolved from offering basic shelter to comprehensive services like emergency housing, case management, and homelessness prevention, all rooted in a commitment to honor veterans’ sacrifices. Megan shares powerful stories of transformed lives as Welcome Home addresses the complex issues veterans face, including PTSD, substance abuse, and isolation. Loving others well means bringing dignity and hope to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, because those who have served our country deserve our love and support in return. To learn how you can get involved in ending veteran homelessness, or to attend one of their upcoming events, visit welcomeveterans.org Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

What if the key to loving your neighbor lies in meeting them with grace and compassion in their most vulnerable moments, no matter their choices? In this episode of our ongoing series Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself, host Austin Conner sits down with Cassidy Teter and Molly Cover from My Life Clinic in Columbia, Missouri, to explore a compassionate approach to supporting women facing unexpected or unsupported pregnancies.  No matter what your perception or personal experience with a pregnancy center might be, you will learn how offering evidence-based information, cost-free services like pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STI testing, and personal counseling can provide dignity and care that women need when they’re facing a difficult decision.  While social media is rife with misinformation about women who have had or are considering an abortion, Cassidy and Molly understand the emotional, physical, and spiritual complexities that women face. My Life Clinic is committed to being a consistent, loving presence, reflecting Jesus’ heart of compassion, regardless of a woman’s past or future choices. They also share incredible stories of how a mother’s decision to protect and choose life can have a lasting impact for generations to come. In an effort to embody Psalm 147:3 which states that “God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”, this episode will encourage you to love your neighbor by meeting them with grace, dignity and support, especially in complex and distressing situations like unplanned pregnancies.  To get more information about My Life Clinic, click here. To learn how to get involved at My Clinic, click here. To reach out to Cassidy Teter, email her at cassidy@mylifeclinic.org

Could “free prayer” transform your neighborhood?  In this remarkable episode of our “Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself” series, we dive into the transformative work of Love Columbia as host Lynn Roush interviews Jane Williams, Co-Founder and Executive Director, and Caroline Roush, Director of Communications.  It’s true: Love Columbia grew from a simple gesture of offering “free prayer” to neighbors in need to a thriving hub for personal transformation in our community.  Jane Williams has always been passionate about loving others well, but it was the experience of encountering her own limits when she lost her eyesight 13 years ago that deepened her reliance on God and energized her mission to build a ministry that meets both the physical and emotional needs for the most vulnerable in our city. Now a thriving non-profit organization, Love Columbia provides a holistic approach to caring for those who need a helping hand. In this episode you will learn the secret to loving others well and the key elements needed for transformation: humility to acknowledge one’s need for help, faith in God’s provision, endurance to persevere through challenges, and social connectedness to build supportive relationships. You’ll also hear how Caroline used to underestimate the power of listening, but has since learned that you need to understand a person’s struggles and dreams before offering practical help, like financial coaching or car repairs.  If you want to be a force for good in your community, you’ll be encouraged to know that transforming others with love always starts with one small act of faith, but can change the course of someone’s life and create a legacy of hope that you could have never imagined. Visit lovecolumbia.org to volunteer or learn how to be part of this life-changing mission or get ideas for starting a hub of transformation in your own community. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Did you know that we are in the midst of the greatest de-churching movement in the history of the world? In the last 25 years, over 40 million people have stopped going to church. While that may be cause for concern, Chris & Elizabeth McKinney see it as an opportunity to impact your neighborhood one small act at a time. Listen as Austin Conner interviews Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, a perfect fit for our current series Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself. The McKinneys are passionate about intentional neighboring, which began as a small fish fry in 2012. Their desire to create a welcoming community in their Columbia, Missouri neighborhood has since grown into a ministry to equip others to love their neighbors purposefully.  The McKinneys emphasize that being a good neighbor isn’t about perfection but persistence, and have countless stories of how a small effort can create a big impact in people’s lives. They address common apprehensions, such as time constraints for introverts or fear of awkwardness, and stress that small steps like simply waving, saying hello, initiating small conversations or sharing a meal with your neighbor are the key to getting started.  This episode will challenge the cultural norm of leaving neighbors alone, and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, even just a little bit, so that you can play a part in “going where God is” in your neighborhood right outside your front door.  Check out their books Placed for a Purpose and Neighborhoods Reimagined, or their podcast for more inspiration to see your address as a divine appointment. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Do you feel overwhelmed by the needs of those around you and struggle with guilt that you’re not doing enough to help? In a world filled with suffering, brokenness and heartache, Christians are called to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). But who defines what love is and who qualifies as your neighbor?  We are kicking off a brand new series called Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself as we attempt to answer this culturally relevant and often confusing topic. In this episode, hosts John Tinnin and Shay Roush are joined by their friend and fellow pastor Nathan Tiemeyer, to tackle the question: Who is my neighbor and how am I called to love them?  Through the lens of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, they explore the biblical command to love others, and address who we’re called to love, and how to do so wisely. If you’re feeling cynical, burdened by the needs of others, or are seeking practical ways to love well, this episode - and ultimately this series - will offer hope and clarity so that you can love your neighbor with increasing knowledge, insight and intentionality.  Listen as John, Shay and Nathan discuss: The radical scope and biblical definition of the term “neighbor”  How our own spiritual bankruptcy puts all of us in a position of needing help and mercy What God does - and does not - expect from us as finite creatures when it comes to meeting the needs of others How Augustine’s Ordo Amoris (order of love) provides us with an intentional but discerning perspective on loving others as yourself A Christian perspective on immigration and loving the immigrant in your community This discussion will free you up to accept that you can’t love everyone equally, but you can start with one person in front of you. As you consider how to “love your neighbor as yourself”, the simplest place to start is to do for one what you wish you could do for everyone, trusting God to guide your love and multiply your impact. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Are you bogged down by the day-to-day struggles of parenting? Do you question if anything is getting through to your kids? Do you feel powerless to impact your child’s spiritual growth? Parenting can feel like navigating a storm—chaotic, unpredictable, and uncertain.  So the question is, how do you guide your child toward faith and wisdom in a world pulling them in every direction? If you’re looking for hope while parenting in the weeds of life, then this episode is for you. Austin Conner interviews Melissa Kruger, author of Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Melissa, a seasoned parent and former high school math teacher, shares insights from her journey, blending biblical wisdom with practical strategies for shepherding teens through this turbulent season of parenting. In this episode you will learn: The power of asking questions over dictating answers The effectiveness of an invitational approach to studying the Bible with your teen The wisdom of avoiding a fear-based controlling approach to parenting The only and ultimate place to derive hope when you’re feeling discouraged Whether you’re parenting a teen, or just looking for some encouragement in the trenches of parenting, this episode will remind you that your hope rests not in perfect parenting, but in Jesus, who never fails. To find more of Melissa Kruger's resources, check out her website: Melissabkruger.com Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

“I don’t want to live anymore” might be the most overwhelming and scary thing to hear as a parent. What should you say? What should you do next? In this eye-opening episode, Austin Conner interviews counselor Gary Maddux, as he shares his journey from grief to advocacy, in memory of his beautiful daughter Kaylee who died by suicide six years ago. Gary seeks to challenge stigmas and debunk myths around suicide, urging parents to approach suicide with compassion, education and timely intervention. This conversation offers practical advice for parents, including encouragement to ask direct questions like, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and promotes training like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) as well as ways to develop a support network around crisis moments with your teen.  Gary’s story is a reminder that Jesus’ presence is constant, even in the worst tragedy, offering hope that God embraces those who are impacted by suicide. You will feel more equipped to navigate this heavy topic after learning from Gary’s extensive professional training regarding suicide prevention and how you can offer care and compassion to your loved ones who are struggling.  Check out the resources below to educate yourself further on this topic: QPR Training: Question, Persuade, Refer ASK Suicide Prevention Training AFSR Support Groups National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Call or Text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Have you heard it said that “a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child”? We know that when you have an unhappy or hurting child, life feels heavy and hard and you may not know how to respond. As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, Lynn Roush and Austin Conner explore a much needed topic: how to connect with your child when they’re hurting.  Parents often want to avoid painful feelings in their kids, hoping that they will go away on their own. Or, they jump in to fix the hurt and bypass the opportunity to connect with their child. We want to equip you to lean into your child’s heart when you sense that they are in emotional pain. This conversation looks at what hurts kids both inside and outside of the home, how to recognize hurt in your child, how to respond to your child’s pain and the relevant topic of recognizing warning signs for suicide. Austin and Lynn offer practical ways to be present, build resilience, and model God’s love to your children through life’s pain.  You can download our free Managing Your Emotions guide at withyouintheweeds.com to help you and your child identify their feelings. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter where we include more questions to ask your kids to open up the door to meaningful dialogue.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Are you learning the delicate dance of parenting adult children? So are we! As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, John Tinnin and Lynn Roush explore how to set loving, effective boundaries that foster independence while maintaining a healthy relationship. They also discuss why setting boundaries with adult kids is easier said than done. The key principles they cover are: Boundaries are loving not controlling Be a mentor, not a manager Communicate clearly, consistently, and calmly Offer grace, not guilt trips Respect their autonomy As you watch your adult child make choices, and even mistakes, this episode will help you keep the big picture in mind and model open, honest communication with your kids no matter how old they are. Book recommendation: Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children by Allison Bottke  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!