The Speakeasy

Today we're diving into the wide world of youth sports, and fair warning: this one might give you permission, step on your toes… or both.

Ed and Brian are former athletes, longtime sports ministry leaders, and dads currently navigating youth sports with their own kids. They're also the authors of Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports, and this conversation is honest, clarifying, and deeply needed.

We talk about what they call the "youth sports industrial complex," how we went from backyard games and rec leagues to a $40+ billion industry built on travel teams, specialization, year-round pressure, and future anxiety. How did we get here? What changed from when we were kids? And most importantly, do we have to ride this train?

In this episode we unpack:

• The cultural shifts that reshaped youth sports

• Why sports don't automatically build character

• How pride, shame, and self-centeredness quietly grow unchecked

• The difference between sports formation and spiritual formation

• Why parents — not coaches — are the primary disciplers

• How to respond to wins and losses in a gospel-shaped way

• Creating boundaries within the system (even if you stay in it)

• The power of gentleness, security, and apology

Spoiler: This isn't about pulling your kids out of sports. It's about recognizing that sports culture will disciple your child if you don't, and learning how to counterform that culture with intentional, Jesus-centered parenting.

Whether you're all-in on travel ball or wondering if you should opt out altogether, this episode will help you slow down, breathe, and ask better questions.

Your corner of the bleachers can look different.

Sponsor: Nutrafol

Healthy growth — whether in our kids or ourselves — doesn't come from pressure. It comes from consistent care.

Nutrafol is the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, clinically shown to support thicker, stronger, faster-growing hair in 3–6 months. They offer targeted formulas for postpartum, menopause, stress, and lifestyle factors.

For a limited time, get $10 off your first month + free shipping at Nutrafol.com when you use promo code BLAKE.

That's N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L dot com, promo code BLAKE.

Today's episode is all about raising boys, even if you're a girl mom like me. I sat down with Rebekah Lovell, author of Boyhood Resurrected, for a powerful and honest conversation about how modern systems are failing our boys, and what we can do about it.

We talk about how boys are hardwired for adventure, movement, risk, curiosity, and strength, and how over-scheduling, over-screening, and over-labeling can slowly extinguish the light in their eyes. Rebekah shares her family's journey navigating early schooling challenges, why institutional systems often misunderstand boys, and how moms (especially!) play a crucial role in protecting and cultivating their sons' masculine design.

This conversation will step on a few toes — gently. We talk about:

• The difference between discipline and suppression

• Why movement and autonomy matter

• Screen culture and its impact on boys

• The myth of being "behind"

• Adventure as a developmental need

• Respect as a love language for boys

• Raising driven, courageous men in a culture hostile to masculinity

Even as a girl mom, I found so many parallels. Childhood matters. Wonder matters. Agency matters. And truthfully, this conversation ultimately points back to Jesus and how God intentionally wired our sons.

If you're raising boys (or love someone who is), this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you.

Sponsor: Nutrafol

Real growth doesn't come from quick fixes — it comes from consistent care. Nutrafol is the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, clinically shown to support thicker, stronger, faster-growing hair in 3–6 months.

It's not one-size-fits-all — they offer targeted formulas for postpartum, menopause, stress, and lifestyle factors.

For a limited time, get $10 off your first month + free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and use promo code BLAKE.

That's N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L dot com, promo code BLAKE.

Welcome back to the Big Easy Podcast with everybody's favorite guest, my husband, Jeremy. This episode is a candid, hope-filled conversation about what God has been doing in us lately: in our faith, our marriage, our home, and our conversations.

While the recent "Ending Well" series focused on reflection, this episode is about real-time transformation. Jeremy shares how a simple observation: watching me consistently in the Word sparked a hunger for Scripture and spiritual leadership. From listening to the Bible on Audible during long commutes, to diving deep into biblical manhood, marriage, and trust in God, his walk with the Lord has grown in tangible, visible ways.

We talk honestly about pride, fear, independence, and what it looks like to actually trust God with leadership, prayer, and obedience, especially inside marriage. We share how God has been working in both of us simultaneously: building one, dismantling the other, and bringing us into a healthier, more aligned rhythm together.

This episode also touches on:

• Biblical leadership without ego

• Trusting God over fear of failure or misunderstanding

• Letting go of people-pleasing and over-explaining

• Taking thoughts captive and renewing the mind

• How Scripture practically changes everyday life

• What it looks like when faith becomes central in marriage conversations

If you're praying for growth in your marriage, longing for deeper faith, or wondering if real change is possible: this episode is for you.

God is still moving. Look what He has done, and what He's still doing.

What if Bible study didn't feel dry, intimidating, or guilt-driven, but instead felt alive, honest, and deeply formative?

In this episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, Blake sits down with Faith Womack, author of No More Boring Bible Study and self-proclaimed Bible nerd, to talk about how Scripture can actually come to life in your everyday faith. Faith shares her powerful story of growing up with Scripture misused and weaponized—and how God redeemed that pain by drawing her into a deep, life-giving love for His Word.

Together, they unpack:

• Why Bible study often feels boring (and why it doesn't have to)

• How cultural Christianity and performance pressure distort our approach to Scripture

• Why chasing "mountaintop moments" can actually hold us back

• How to read the Bible with clarity, context, and confidence

• Why it's okay to go slow, camp out, and stop treating God like a vending machine

This conversation is freeing, grounding, and incredibly practical, especially if you've ever felt overwhelmed, bored, intimidated, or burned by Bible study. Whether you're brand new to reading Scripture or have been in it for years, this episode will help you shift from pressure to presence and rediscover the beauty of God's Word.

"The Bible isn't boring, we just haven't always been taught how to read it."

Sponsor: Cozy Earth Upgrade your rest with Cozy Earth's luxury bamboo pajamas—soft, breathable, and temperature-regulating. Backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. ✨ Shop at cozyearth.com and use code SPEAKEASY for a special offer.

In today's episode, Blake sits down with Joby Martin, lead pastor of Church of 11:22, for a candid, practical, and surprisingly fun conversation about biblical marriage.

This is a must-listen—especially with your husband.

Together, they talk honestly about leadership, submission, responsibility, and why keeping score in marriage quietly kills intimacy. Pastor Joby brings clarity (and humor) to what Scripture actually calls men to be—and how that leadership is meant to free wives, not burden them. From encouragement and repentance to negotiation, gratitude, and yes… make out sessions—this episode covers what healthy, Christ-centered marriage looks like in real life.

They also unpack:

• Why men need other godly men to grow

• How wives can encourage change without nagging

• The danger of swinging from passivity to toxic "alpha" masculinity

• Why gratitude, affirmation, and humility go further than criticism

• How communication and negotiation build trust and intimacy over time

This conversation is grounded in Scripture, full of wisdom, and deeply hopeful. If you want a stronger marriage, deeper respect, and more joy at home, start here.

Sponsor: Cozy Earth Upgrade your home with Cozy Earth's luxury bedding, towels, and pajamas—made with premium materials, backed by a 10-year warranty, and a 100-night sleep trial. ✨ Get up to 20% off at cozyearth.com with code SPEAKEASY.

Sponsor: CrowdHealth Looking for an alternative to traditional insurance? CrowdHealth lets members crowdfund medical expenses, access bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions, and vetted doctors. ✨ Get started for $99 for your first 3 months at joincrowdhealth.com with code SPEAKEASY. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)

Marriage isn't about winning—it's about fighting for each other.

This episode continues an unexpected but timely series focused on strengthening families at the start of the year. Blake sits down with Pastor Craig Thompson, author of Fighting for Your Family, for an honest, practical conversation about marriage, parenting, and spiritual warfare.

Too often, the hardest battles feel like they're inside the home—spouses clashing, tension with kids, constant frustration. But Craig reframes the fight: your spouse and your family are not the enemy. The real shift happens when couples stop fighting each other and start standing back-to-back, fighting for their family's mission and future.

Together, they unpack:

• What spiritual warfare actually looks like in everyday family life

• Why humility, prayer, and "going first" matter more than being right

• How fighting your own flesh changes everything

• The power of encouragement, honor, and apology in marriage

• Why community and the local church are essential for healthy families

If you're carrying tension from last year—or want to protect what God is building in your home—this episode offers biblical clarity and tangible next steps. Whether you're married, dating, parenting, or preparing for the future, this conversation equips you to stand firm and fight well.

Sponsor: Cozy Earth Upgrade your home with Cozy Earth's luxury bedding, towels, and pajamas—soft, breathable, and made to last. Try it risk-free with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. ✨ Get up to 20% off at cozyearth.com with code SPEAKEASY.

Sponsor: CrowdHealth Frustrated with traditional insurance? CrowdHealth is a healthcare alternative built on transparency and community. Pay a monthly fee, get access to bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions, and when big needs arise, the crowd helps cover the rest. ✨ Start for $99 for your first 3 months at joincrowdhealth.com with code SPEAKEASY. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)

Your family is worth fighting for—together.

Download the planning PDF here!

This episode is an invitation to rethink what January is actually for. If you've felt pressure to reinvent your entire life on January 1st (or swung the other direction and rejected January altogether) this conversation lives in the middle.

Blake makes the case that January isn't meant for revamps or visible productivity. Historically and biologically, it's a hinge month: a season for taking stock, repair, learning, and quiet preparation. For most of human history, the "new year" was tied to nature and spring, not politics or calendars. That's why the urgency of January often feels off in our bodies and nervous systems.

In this episode, Blake walks through what our agrarian ancestors actually did in winter and how it applies to modern life:

• Taking honest inventory of time, energy, relationships, finances, and faith

• Creating margin and reducing overstimulation

• Repairing what's worn down before starting something new

• Letting learning, wisdom, and integration settle

• Setting intentions, not rigid resolutions

Rather than goals and hustle, Blake shares her approach to choosing words, Scripture, posture, and direction for the year ahead, held with open hands. Her word for 2026 is Rooted Hope, grounded in Psalm 1 and a desire for steadiness, healing, and deep faith after a hard year.

January matters. Not as a restart, but as a foundation. This episode is about going slow, growing deep, and preparing for what's coming without forcing it..

Sponsor: CrowdHealth Tired of paying for insurance you can't use? CrowdHealth is a healthcare alternative built on transparency and community. Pay a monthly fee, access bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions, vetted doctors, and when something big happens, you pay the first $500—then the crowd helps cover the rest. ✨ Get started for $99 for your first 3 months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)

Happy New Year and welcome to the very first Speak Easy episode of 2026. To kick off the year, Blake dives into a topic that impacts every family—even if we avoid talking about it: healthcare.

In this episode, Blake sits down with Andy Schoonover, CEO of CrowdHealth, to unpack why so many people feel trapped in traditional health insurance, how the system actually profits, and what alternatives exist for families who want more agency, transparency, and community-driven care. Andy shares his personal breaking point with insurance denial, how cash-pay medicine exposed the cracks in the system, and why CrowdHealth was built to give people a real exit ramp.

Together, they explore rising deductibles, denied claims, negotiated medical bills, prescription costs, and why "healthcare" often feels more like "sick care." This conversation goes beyond policy—it's about autonomy, informed choices, and breaking out of systems that no longer serve us.

If you've ever asked, "What am I even paying for?" or wondered if there's another way, this episode may open a door you didn't know existed.

CrowdHealth is a healthcare alternative that lets members crowdfund medical expenses, negotiate bills, and access care without insurance networks or massive deductibles. ✨ Try it out for $99 for your first 3 months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com/speakeasy. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)

Sometimes opting out is the first step toward freedom.

Welcome back to the Speakeasy Podcast—and to the very last episode of the year. To close out this season, Blake sits down with Erin Wilkins, a friend and voice she deeply trusts, to talk about something countercultural but necessary: slowing down.

Erin has walked this road just a little ahead—moving from seasons of intense advocacy, visibility, and urgency into a quieter, more intentional life rooted in peace, obedience, and presence. Together, they reflect on what it costs to stay in the fight too long, how good assignments can still have an expiration date, and why obedience doesn't always look brave to the world—but often is.

This honest, friend-to-friend conversation explores burnout, identity, motherhood, boundaries with technology, and learning to be informed without being consumed. They talk about passing the torch, protecting family rhythms, resisting urgency culture, and embracing winter as a God-designed season of rest.

If you're feeling stretched thin, conflicted about slowing down, or wondering how to end this year in a way that actually prepares you for the next, this episode is for you. Sometimes the strongest finish isn't louder or faster—it's slower, quieter, and more faithful.

"Be still, and know that I am God." – Psalm 46:10

Sponsor: PreBorn A woman is twice as likely to choose life when she sees an ultrasound. $28 provides one free ultrasound and gives a mom the chance to choose life. Give today at preborn.com/speakeasy.

Merry (belated) Christmas and welcome to "dead week"—that weird, quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year when nobody knows what day it is… and honestly, it's kind of wonderful. This is the final Friday of the year, which means we're wrapping up the Ending Well series—seven weeks of looking back at 2025, redeeming the hard parts, and hunting down the goodness God planted along the way.

Today's episode is where everything comes together.

Not as separate lessons—hearing God, going a different way, pruning, embracing the ordinary, releasing usefulness, becoming the wife and woman I want to be—but as integration: when revelation becomes rhythm. When what God taught you doesn't just live in a journal… it starts living in your nervous system, your choices, your peace, and your presence.

We talk about what it means to become the same person everywhere—at home, at work, in conflict, in rest. Not the performing self, people-pleasing self, or defensive self—but the authentic self God created. The shift from constantly feeling "split" to finally feeling rooted. From Romans 7 ("why do I keep doing what I hate?") to Psalm 1—steady, nourished, bearing fruit in season.

This episode is a testimony: God is big enough to change you. To grow self-control. To cultivate peace. To help you stop showing up to every battle you're invited to—and still keep your courage when it's time to stand firm. The fire of 2025 didn't leave me untouched, but it refined me. And the fruit is showing up: steadier peace, clearer discernment, deeper roots, anchored hope, and—maybe for the first time—actually liking who I'm becoming.

If you feel stuck, scattered, or like you'll never change… come with me. The water's a little scary, but it's good.

Sponsor: PreBorn A woman considering abortion is twice as likely to choose life if she can see an ultrasound or hear the heartbeat. PreBorn provides free ultrasounds and continues supporting moms with resources, classes, and aid—up to two years after birth. 💛 It's $28 to fund one ultrasound. Give at preborn.com/speakeasy and help give the gift of life.