Open Spaces with Jeff & Jourdan Johnson

Summer has been full—in the best way. In this special update episode, we’re catching you up on what’s been happening behind the scenes at Open Spaces and giving you a glimpse of what’s ahead this fall.

From Jeff’s unexpectedly viral “dad hacks” Chick-fil-A video (yes…a couple million views!) to his first opportunity to preach at Harvest Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, we’re reflecting on the surprising ways God has been opening doors and connecting us with people who need hope.

We also share a few personal summer highlights, stories from recent travels, and an exciting look at what’s coming next for Open Spaces after our summer break.

In this episode:

Thank you for spending another season with us. We hope this conversation feels like catching up with friends, and we’re excited for all that’s ahead. We’ll see you this fall!

This week on Open Spaces, we’re joined by our dear friends Brooke and Elizabeth Mosser, founders of Intentional. If you heard Brooke’s previous episode, you already know why we love them. But in this conversation, we get to hear from both Brooke and Elizabeth as they share honestly about parenting, marriage, suffering, healing, and what it looks like to follow Jesus when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Together we talk about raising kids while still doing our own healing, the pressure so many parents feel to “get it right,” and why vulnerability—not perfection—is what creates safe spaces for our families to grow.

This conversation is filled with practical wisdom, encouragement, and so much hope for parents who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or like they’re falling short.

In this episode:

Whether you’re parenting toddlers, teenagers, or simply trying to heal from your own story, we pray this conversation reminds you that God’s grace is enough—and that you’re not walking this road alone.

Resources mentioned:

If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who could use a little hope today? Your support helps us continue creating conversations that make room for honesty, healing, and the presence of Jesus.

In this episode, Jeff and Jourdan sit down with someone very special — Jourdan's dad, Buddy Burks. At 70 years old, Buddy is living proof that it's never too late to keep growing, keep learning, and keep showing up for the people you love.

Buddy grew up in Pensacola, Florida, shaped by a Southern Baptist upbringing and a world where certain conversations simply didn't happen. But somewhere along the way, he decided that wasn't good enough. He started asking hard questions, examining what he'd been taught, and choosing people over positions.

In this honest and moving conversation, Buddy shares what it was like to learn about Jeff's story, how he chose grace over judgment, why he kept their secret in confidence for years, and what he would say to any father navigating something hard in their family right now.

In this episode:

    •    How Buddy's upbringing shaped his worldview — and how he began to challenge it

    •    The moment he found out about Jeff and what he did with it

    •    What it looks like to take yourself out of it and make it about them

    •    Why he still sends emails to his kids asking how he can be better

    •    What he would say to someone who is struggling and doesn't know where to turn

"It has to be about them. Not about you. As soon as you can take yourself out of it — that's when you can actually help." — Buddy Burks

In this episode of Open Spaces, we continue our parenting series with author, speaker, and ministry leader Laurie Krieg.

Laurie shares her powerful story of finding her identity in Christ after years of wrestling with same-sex attraction, and explains how that journey has shaped her passion for helping parents navigate conversations about sexuality, gender, and faith.

Together, we discuss how parents can move from fear to confidence, create a culture of honest conversation, and help their children understand God’s design for sexuality through the lens of the gospel.

We also tackle some of the most common questions parents ask:

When should I start talking to my kids about sexuality?

How do I respond when my child notices a same-sex couple?

What if my child is questioning their gender?

How can I teach God’s design without creating shame?

What do I do if my adult child identifies as LGBTQ?

Throughout the conversation, Laurie reminds us that our ultimate goal is not behavior management, but discipleship. As parents, we have the opportunity to become the trusted voices who help our children interpret the world around them with truth, grace, and confidence in Jesus.

In This Episode

Laurie’s personal story of faith, same-sex attraction, and redemption

Why fear often keeps parents from talking about sexuality

The importance of creating a home where questions are welcomed

How to introduce conversations about LGBTQ topics in age-appropriate ways

The “What, Why, How” framework for discussing difficult topics with kids

Why parents should be the first voice speaking into issues of sexuality and identity

Understanding the difference between same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria

Helping children understand God’s design for marriage and sexuality

Why many parents unintentionally idolize marriage

Teaching kids that their purpose is bigger than marriage and family

Raising children to “push back the darkness and usher in the light”

Navigating relationships with adult children who identify as LGBTQ

Resources Mentioned:

Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World (https://amzn.to/4unXGEk)

Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender⁠ (https://centerforfaith.com)

Christian Sexuality Series⁠ (https://centerforfaith.com/christian-sexuality-raising-kids/)

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another parent, subscribe to Open Spaces, and leave a review. Your support helps us continue creating conversations that bring hope, healing, and the gospel into life’s hardest spaces.

In this episode, Jeff and Jourdan open up about the challenges and blessings of sharing their personal story of struggle and faith with their children. Their honest journey offers practical insights for parents seeking to foster transparency, trust, and spiritual growth within their families.

Key Topics:

    •    The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in family communication

    •    Timing and emotional readiness for discussing a sensitive past

    •    Creating a family culture of openness and continuous conversation

    •    The role of prayer and spiritual discernment in sharing personal stories

    •    Navigating children’s questions with age-appropriate honesty

    •    The significance of community and prayer support during difficult conversations

    •    Normalizing struggles to help children trust and relate to parents

    •    The long-term impact of honesty on family trust and legacy

    •    Practical steps for walking through this process (prayer, awareness, normalization)

    •    How sharing personal stories aligns with God's mission for the family

Connect with Jeff and Jourdan:

    •    Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/open.spaces.podcast)

    •    Website (https://theopenspacescollective.com)

What happens when the life you imagined for your family changes completely? How do you help your kids process grief when you’re grieving too? And where does faith fit into the middle of heartbreak, healing, and rebuilding?

In this honest and hope-filled episode, we sit down with Toni Collier for a vulnerable conversation about divorce, single parenting, recovery, and finding your footing in the church after everything falls apart.

As part of our Parenting Series, this episode explores what it looks like to shepherd kids through loss and transition — from toddlers to preteens — while navigating your own healing journey. Toni shares pieces of her story with remarkable honesty, wisdom, humor, and compassion, reminding listeners that even broken stories can still become beautiful ones.

Together, we talk about:

Helping children process divorce and grief at different developmental stages

How to create emotional safety and stability for your kids during family transition

The realities of single parenting and carrying emotional weight alone

What recovery and rebuilding can actually look like after heartbreak

The complicated experience of returning to church after divorce

Shame, healing, identity, and learning to trust God again

How honesty and vulnerability can become pathways to freedom

Finding hope in the middle of disappointment and unanswered questions

The beauty of letting your kids see healthy healing in real time

This conversation is both tender and practical — full of laughter, tears, hard truths, and encouragement for anyone navigating fractured family dynamics or walking alongside someone who is.

Whether you’re in the middle of divorce, years removed from it, parenting through grief, or simply trying to love your kids well in hard seasons, this episode is a reminder that healing is possible and you are not alone.

About Toni Collier

Toni is a speaker, author, podcast host, and founder of the ministry  Broken Crayons Still Color — a movement helping people process brokenness and find hope again. She is also the host of the  Still Coloring Podcast, where she shares stories of healing, resilience, and redemption.  

She is the co-author of the children’s book Broken Crayons Still Color, which helps kids navigate big emotions and discover beauty and hope even in difficult seasons.  

Connect with Toni Collier

Toni Collier Official Website: https://www.tonijcollier.com/

Broken Crayons Still Color Ministry

Still Coloring Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/still-coloring-with-toni-collier/id1627335605?ls=1

Discover the vital importance of open conversations about pornography, healing from betrayal, and how to guide your children through a world saturated with explicit content. Greta Eskridge shares her personal journey of redemption, practical advice for parents, and the power of honesty and compassion.

Main Topics Covered:

    •    Greta Eskridge's story of God's redemption after her husband's confession of an affair and pornography addiction

    •    The importance of talking to children about pornography proactively, starting as early as age 8

    •    Practical strategies for initiating age-appropriate conversations about private parts and pornography

    •    How to identify signs of early exposure and the importance of having ongoing, gentle check-ins

    •    The science behind pornography's impact on brain development and long-term addiction risks

    •    Tools and resources for parents, including delaying smartphone use and monitoring apps like Canopy

    •    Responding compassionately when discovering a child has viewed pornography and fostering trust

    •    Educating children about the dangers, the harm it causes to relationships, and God's design for sexuality

    •    How to talk to teenagers about addiction, long-term consequences, and maintaining transparency

    •    The significance of sharing personal stories to teach resilience and hope

    •    Resources and ways to connect with Greta Eskridge for support and further information

Timestamps:

    •    (00:00) Introducing Greta Eskridge and the focus on parental conversations about pornography

    •    (02:54) Greta shares her story of God's redemption spanning 16 years

    •    (04:23) Why early conversations equip children better than waiting until exposure

    •    (13:24) How to start age-appropriate discussions with young children

    •    (16:23) Explaining pornography simply and constructively to an 8-year-old

    •    (20:37) How often to revisit conversations about pornography with children

    •    (23:12) Embracing curiosity and creating safe spaces for questions

    •    (31:00) Scientific insights into pornography addiction and brain impact

    •    (34:17) Hidden avenues of exposure: social media, gaming, and books

    •    (37:10) Essential tools for prevention: parental controls and delaying device access

    •    (42:54) Success stories of children recognizing and reporting their own exposures

    •    (44:25) Talking to kids about their own struggles and healing from shame

    •    (49:16) Greta shares her resources and how to connect with her

Resources & Links:

    •    Greta Eskridge's Website (https://gretaeskridge.com/)

    •    Book: It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn (https://amzn.to/4djuE1Y )    

Connect with Greta Eskridge:

    •    Instagram (https://instagram.com/GretaEskridge)

    •    Website (https://gretaeskridge.com/)

We begin our Parenting series with a tribute to Jeff and Jourdan’s mothers. They take the opportunity with Mother’s Day approaching, to honor the women who instilled love and belief into them. They talk about what each meant to themselves and to each other. 

Both women held a quiet but confident faith and generously poured love into their children and so many others. This episode is not only a tribute but a call to love simply and fully. Be sure to reach out to the moms and women who have shaped you this Mother’s Day!

Content Warning: This episode includes sensitive discussion around childhood abuse and suicide. Please listen with care and discretion.

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Jason Mellard, founder of Own Your Identity — a ministry helping men around the world navigate same-sex attraction without allowing attractions to define who they are.

Jason’s message is clear: attractions are experiences, not declarations. Identity is not found in feelings, but in Christ and the purpose God has called us to walk in.

Jason opens up about his own story, including growing up in a home marked by abuse, the deep internal struggles that followed, and the pain of watching his father wrestle with similar struggles while making drastically different life choices. Through it all, Jason shares how God met him, healed him, and gave him a new vision for life rooted in truth, courage, and purpose.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt trapped by labels, shame, secrecy, confusion, or unwanted desires—and for those who want hope that transformation is possible.

Jason is a certified coach and founder of Own Your Identity, where he helps men experiencing same-sex attraction move toward healing, clarity, brotherhood, and identity in Christ. His mission is to empower men to live lives of purpose and possibility.  

Website: Own Your Identity

Coaching inquiries: [email protected]  

Podcast + Resources available through his website

If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you feel less alone, would you subscribe and stay connected with us?

Visit Open Spaces Podcast at openspacespodcast.com for episodes, updates, and ways to support the mission.

In this powerful conversation, Jeff and Jourdan sit down with Rita Springer for an honest and deeply moving discussion about identity, intimacy with God, disappointment, dependency, fear, singleness, and learning how to keep trusting the Lord when life does not turn out the way you thought it would.

Rita shares from her own story with remarkable vulnerability, opening up about unanswered prayers, seasons of pain, the wrestle of carrying promises, and the way God continues to meet her in both heartbreak and hope. Together, they talk about what it means to lean on God instead of becoming dependent on other people or things, how identity is constantly under attack, and why peace in God can matter even more than getting the answer you were hoping for.

This episode is for anyone walking through confusion, disappointment, grief, same-sex attraction, unanswered prayers, or the tension of trying to stay faithful when the road feels long. Rita’s wisdom, honesty, and love for Jesus make this conversation one that will strengthen your faith and remind you that you are deeply loved by God.

In this episode, we talk about:

Identity and the battle for freedom

Dependency on God vs. codependency

Singleness, longing, and carrying promises

Disappointment, fear, and trusting God’s timing

Intimacy with the Lord in seasons of pain

Why peace can matter more than immediate answers

The love of God that meets us in the wilderness

Follow along with Rita on Instagram and the Worship is My Weapon podcast!