Let’s Get Real with Justin and Trisha Davis

Why is sexuality one of the hardest topics for Christians to talk about—yet one of the most important areas to surrender to Jesus?

In this episode of the Let’s Get Real Podcast, Justin and Trisha sit down with Dr. Juli Slattery—clinical psychologist, author, and founder of Authentic Intimacy—for an honest conversation about sexual brokenness, shame, identity, and healing.

Juli shares why the Church has often avoided meaningful conversations about sexuality and how behavior-focused teaching without discipleship leaves people stuck. Instead of offering more rules or silence, she invites us into something deeper: surrendered sexuality rooted in identity in Christ.

Together, they unpack:

If you’ve ever felt confused, discouraged, or alone in this area, this episode offers both truth and hope.

In this heartfelt and pastoral conversation, Justin and Trisha step into one of the most emotionally charged conversations in our cultural moment — immigration, ICE, border control, Christian nationalism, and what it means to follow Jesus in the middle of it all.

Rather than offering political solutions or partisan talking points, they ask a deeper question: What does it look like to follow the person of Christ right now?

Drawing from their own backgrounds — growing up in very different cultural environments, raising children with diverse political perspectives, adopting African-American children, and pastoring through the collective trauma of COVID and racial unrest — Justin and Trisha reflect on how fear, politics, and personal bias can shape our hearts in ways we don’t always recognize.

Looking at the life of Jesus — His interactions with the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, and the woman caught in adultery — they remind us that Christ consistently moved toward the “other,” never compromising truth but always leading with dignity.

This episode is not about telling you how to vote. It’s about inviting you to examine your heart.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, tense, or unsure how to engage these conversations faithfully, this episode is for you.

What if most marriages don’t fall apart because of one big moment—but a series of small, unaddressed ones?

Justin and Trish sit down with author, podcaster, and speaker Lindsay Maestas to talk about her new book Don’t Burn Your Own House Down and the very real, modern challenges couples face today. From emotional distance and unresolved resentment to attachment styles, prayer, friendship, and intimacy, Lindsay shares vulnerably from her own marriage and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

This conversation is honest, hope-filled, and deeply practical—offering couples tools to recognize the “small fires” early, reconnect with humility, and pursue healing before crisis hits. If you want to strengthen your marriage without waiting for everything to fall apart, this episode is for you.

What if the missing piece in your faith or relationships isn’t more effort—but empathy?

Justin and Trish are joined again by psychologists and spiritual directors Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding, to talk about their new book Deeply Loved. Together, they explore how empathy helps us experience God’s love on a heart level, why many Christians struggle with shame and emotional honesty, and how biblical empathy leads to healing, growth, and healthier relationships.

This conversation addresses common misunderstandings about empathy, including the idea of “toxic empathy,” and offers practical ways to pair empathy with truth and responsibility. If you long to feel deeply known, deeply loved, and more connected to God and others, this episode is for you.

In this honest and personal episode, Justin and Trish talk about life transitions, burnout, and the rhythms they wish they had established much earlier in their marriage, faith, and family life.

From becoming grandparents to navigating grad school, empty nesting, work demands, and emotional exhaustion, they talk candidly about how unrealistic expectations, people-pleasing, and one-size-fits-all solutions can quietly erode our peace. Rather than focusing on goals, this conversation centers on healthy rhythms, understanding your season of life, and making small but meaningful changes that protect your emotional, spiritual, and relational health.

If you feel tired, stretched thin, or unsure how to create sustainable rhythms in this season, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and take a healthier next step.

What does it take to break cycles of poverty, trauma, and limitation—and replace them with purpose, healing, and hope?

In this deeply moving episode of the Let’s Get Real Podcast, Justin Davis sits down with Dr. Terence Lester, author of From Dropout to Doctorate, nonprofit leader, and founder of Love Beyond Walls. Dr. Lester shares his remarkable journey from growing up in poverty, experiencing homelessness, dropping out of high school, and joining a gang—to earning multiple graduate degrees and dedicating his life to serving the most overlooked in our communities.

This conversation goes far beyond personal success. Dr. Lester unpacks how poverty is trauma, how limited exposure can erode imagination, and how one encouraging voice—a teacher, mentor, or advocate—can change the trajectory of a life. He reflects on reconciliation with his father later in life, the healing power of forgiveness, and why community—not individual effort alone—is central to transformation.

Justin and Terence also have an honest, thoughtful dialogue about race, awareness, proximity, and what it truly means for the Church to love its neighbor—not just in theory, but in practice.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about faith, justice, education, reconciliation, and becoming the kind of person who helps others feel seen, known, and valued.

Links and/or Resources

Episode Description: 

What does it look like when ordinary obedience turns into extraordinary impact?

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Justin and Trisha sit down with Brittany and Sammy Higgs, founders of The HER Campaign, to talk about faith, family, and the courageous work of walking with survivors of sex trafficking from rescue to true freedom.

What began as a quiet conviction, and a willingness to open their own home, has grown into a multi-location ministry providing holistic, trauma-informed care for women exiting trafficking. Along the way, Brittany and Sammy share the messy, faith-stretching realities of saying “yes” to God, including selling their business, opening a safe house with young children at home, and even walking 580 miles from Montana to Denver with a baby goat named Freedom to raise awareness.

This episode doesn’t just inform, it confronts hopelessness and helplessness and replaces them with action, faith, and tangible next steps. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the darkness in the world or unsure how your “small yes” could make a difference, this conversation is for you.

Links in this episode: 

The HER Campaign Website: https://hercampaign.org

Follow The HER Campaign: @hercampaign (Instagram & social platforms)

Education & Awareness Resource: https://iamonwatch.org

Follow Justin and Trish: @justindavis33 | @trishdavis_

In the final episode of Season 7, Justin and Trish close out 2025 with one of their favorite annual conversations: reflecting on the year that’s ending and preparing intentionally for the year ahead.

This episode is equal parts honest, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable as they unpack the real stories, real struggles, and real growth that shaped their year—personally, spiritually, and relationally.

Justin shares why fulfilled is the word that best captures his 2025, the surprising journey back to seminary, running a half marathon, and rediscovering purpose after seasons of disorientation and loss. Trish opens up about her word for the year—roller coaster—and what it was like to experience grief, joy, transition, and pressure all in rapid succession.

Together they dive into:

If you’re entering the new year feeling hopeful, hesitant, exhausted, overwhelmed, or ready for change—this episode will help you breathe, reflect, and take your next step with intention.

In this tender and hope-filled episode, Justin and Trish sit down with Kara Stout—writer, wife, and new adoptive mom living in Los Angeles—to talk about what it looks like to pursue an untroubled heart in a world that feels anything but calm.

Kara shares honestly about walking through an artery dissection, financial struggle, infertility, the loss of both parents (including her mom’s cancer journey), and an adoption that fell through—before God brought their daughter Nora into their family. Out of that deep well of suffering and God’s faithfulness came her new devotional, The Untroubled Heart: Calming Anxiety and Finding God’s Purpose.

If you’re overwhelmed by the news cycle, carrying quiet grief, or waiting on God to move in a situation that feels stuck, this conversation will remind you that you can bring all of it to Him—and that waiting on God is not passive.

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Justin and Trish sit down with author and podcaster Rachael Adams (The Love Offering Podcast) to talk about what it really means to live loved by God in the middle of real life—busy schedules, insecurity, comparison, and all.

Rachael shares the simple but profound church-pew moment that changed everything for her, how God used loneliness and small acts of obedience to shape her calling, and why it’s so hard for us to love ourselves even when we know all the “right answers.” If you’ve ever felt too insignificant, too broken, or too behind for God to use you, this episode will breathe hope into your soul.