Do you talk in the car? We do. Road trips have always been where some of our best conversations happen long stretches of road, a little music, a lot of questions, and even some solid sing alongs. That space has been a thread through our marriage, parenting, and business. So this time, on the drive home from dropping Ava at school in Iowa, we decided to bring you along for the ride.

We’re 14 episodes in now, with several more already recorded and being edited. So far, we’ve shared what it means to parent adult kids, to stay married while running a business, to build friendships that last decades, and to walk through hard seasons with honesty. We’ve talked about faith, loss, joy, resilience, and the mess in between. And we’ve sat down with couples and friends who remind us that relationships don’t just happen, they’re made.

Looking ahead, we have more conversations coming with our kids, with other couples, and with people who have shaped how we see marriage, parenting, and purpose. But in this moment, on this road trip, we wanted to pause and do a kind of litmus test. What’s connecting with you? What do you want more of? Where should we go deeper?

This Road Trip Q&A isn’t just a one-off experiment. It’s something we may bring back now and then, because sometimes the best conversations happen when you least plan them.

In this first one, we cover a lot of ground:

• At The Table – why gathering matters. People who prioritize meaningful connection outside of work report 2x higher life satisfaction.
• Menopause & health – yet only 1 in 5 doctors has formal training on menopause, even though nearly every woman will experience it.
• AI & bias – 78% of AI research authors are men. The lack of representation shows up in the answers we get, and in who feels included.
• Parenting adult kids – 74% of adult children say they want emotional support more than advice, while 43% of parents say letting go is the hardest part.
• Travel & independence – studies show kids who travel before age 18 are more adaptable and confident problem-solvers as adults.
• Body image & purity culture – nearly 70% of women say purity culture shaped their views of self-worth and sexuality, while men and women both report double standards that linger.
• What we’re watching – sometimes the best reflection comes from what entertains us (or what we choose to stop watching).

Q&A Feedback

Here’s where you come in. As we keep shaping Running Ahrens, we’d love your voice to be part of it.

• From past episodes: Which story or topic has stayed with you the longest?
• From this episode: Would you want a full conversation on menopause, body image, purity culture, or AI bias?
• Looking ahead: What’s one topic about marriage, parenting adult kids, or running a business you’d like us to unpack?
• Bonus: What’s your favorite road trip or travel game, and do you still play it?
• And anything else, what do you want more (or less) of as we keep building this show together?

Send us a note, DM us on Instagram, or reply in our newsletter. We read every message, and your voice helps shape where we go from here.

Glad you are here,

Justin and Sarah

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