The Union Podcast

Have you ever wondered how we ended up in a world where masculinity gets a bad rap? You might have seen headlines like "Why Can't We Hate Men?" or come across hashtags like #KillAllMen. It's a trend that's hard to ignore, with articles titled "I Hate Men," "No Good Men," and "Are Men Necessary?" You might have also heard claims that evangelical Christian men are prime examples of toxic behaviour. However, the research tells a different story. Studies show that men who are committed to their families and attend church regularly are often the most loving husbands and dedicated fathers out there. And get this—they also have the lowest rates of divorce and domestic violence in the country.

In her book, The Toxic War On Masculinity, Pearcey takes us on a journey through history to uncover how the idea of masculinity became tangled up with negativity. But it's not all doom and gloom. She's also armed with solutions for how we can turn things around. These sociological insights challenge the stereotypes we often hear about men and show us that embracing traditional Christian values can help bridge the gap between the sexes. So, next time you come across a #KillAllMen tweet or a book bashing masculinity, remember that there's more to the story—and that there are steps we can take to create a flourishing world for everyone.

Nancy Pearcey's latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her earlier books include Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. As a former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

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In the journey of building meaningful relationships, it's essential to recognize the impact societal influences, like pornography, can have on our expectations. While it's often unspoken, the truth is that pornography can subtly chip away at the trust and sense of security vital for any relationship to thrive. Yet, in acknowledging this reality, we're presented with an opportunity to foster deeper connections.

Let's envision a future where trust and safety are the cornerstones of our relationships, where love flourishes and freedom reigns. It's about creating spaces where authenticity and intimacy can truly blossom. So, how do we keep porn out of our lives and relationships in a way that leads to flourishing and freedom?

This is why Layton and Chelsea Boeve, from the Liberator Podcast, join us here on episode 86. Layton and Chelsea are a married couple from Northern Michigan and are the hosts of the Liberator Podcast. The Liberator Podcast is a discussion of pornography’s hard truths through the lens of stories, science, and Scripture. They bring the perspective of both a man and a woman to remove the barriers of shame and embarrassment that stifle conversations and community around the effects of pornography.

In this episode, we discuss:

- How does porn addiction affect relationships, and how can young adults navigate open conversations with their partners about this issue?

- Breaking the stigma surrounding porn addiction can be tough. How do you think we can work together to break the stigma while still acknowledging the severity of its effects on our lives?

- Societal perceptions influenced by pornographic content can create unrealistic expectations within relationships. What do you think distinguishes positive sexuality from porn's portrayal of sex?

- When trust is compromised due to issues related to porn consumption, what steps can couples take to rebuild trust and strengthen their emotional intimacy?

- Are there any specific trust-building exercises or communication techniques that can aid in the healing process?

You can find the Liberator Podcast on Apple or Spotify Podcasts as well as through their website below.

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@liberator.podcast

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In the past few months, we had the privilege to speak at various Young Adult ministries and engage in Q&A sessions. Our discussions revolved around sexuality, identity, and relationships. In this particular episode, we will be addressing the top 5 questions about healthy relationships and marriage.

In this episode we cover:

1. How to handle insecurity while being single but desiring a romantic partner.

2. How to navigate conversations about gender identity and previous sexual experiences in a romantic relationship.

3. How to prioritize God and keep Him at the centre of your life.

4. How to move forward and pursue healthy connections without being defined by past experiences.

5. How to ensure that physical intimacy aligns with holy sexuality in marriage, preventing issues like lust and maintaining healthy boundaries.

Join us in this riveting episode as we delve deep into the complexities of unresolved trauma, exploring its impact on friendships and marriages. Our expert guest, Tara Lalonde PhD, a seasoned psychotherapist and marriage counsellor, shares profound insights and practical advice for supporting individuals amid their trauma journeys. Tara recently worked with Focus On The Family Canada in producing a resource centred around helping people find Healing From Un-resolved Trauma. If you find this podcast episode helpful and want to go deeper we would highly recommend signing up for this free resource.

Episode #84 Highlights:

-Demystifying Trauma: In a world increasingly aware of trauma, our guest breaks down the concept for listeners, providing a clear understanding of what is meant when we speak of trauma and its various forms.

-Big T vs. Little T Trauma: Explore the distinctions between Big T and Little T trauma, gaining valuable insights into why these nuances matter in mental and emotional well-being.

-Procedural Maps and Life Filters: Unpack the fascinating concept of procedural maps and how they become the lenses through which we navigate life, shaping our perceptions and responses to the world around us.

-Childhood Trauma Unveiled: Understand why experiences from our formative years persist into adulthood, affecting relationships and emotional well-being…and more!

Tara Lalonde, a registered psychotherapist in Ontario, has been counselling adults and couples for over 20 years and is a lead marriage therapist with the Hope Restored marriage intensive counselling program in Ontario, Canada. She also has a private practice focusing on trauma recovery. Tara holds a doctorate in professional counselling from Liberty University and has theological training through her Master’s of Divinity in professional counselling, minoring in pastoral studies, from Tyndale Seminary. Tara has appeared on 100 Huntley Street and 700 Club along with radio programs and podcasts in Canada. She is also the author of An Unexpected Freedom: Discover Peace and Joy in the Reality of Life. She is also publishing a new book she co-authored that will be out in July 2024. Tara and her husband Vince have been married for 19 years.

For more info on the Hope Restored Marriage Intensive, click here

Welcome to the first episode of season 4 of The Union Podcast.

We frequently receive numerous inquiries about singleness, how to begin healthy relationships and the key ingredients for a successful marriage. Therefore, we have dedicated this entire fourth season to exploring these subjects. We have some outstanding guests lined up that we are confident you will enjoy.

In this episode Bonnie and Bryan cover:

-Unpacking the profound truth, "It's not good for man to be alone"

-Exploring current trends of marriage and singleness, and their impact.

-The remedy for loneliness in the church.

-Addressing the challenge of connection and fostering meaningful bonds to combat isolation.

…and more.

www.theunionmovement.com

I’ve heard it said that “ the only key for better sex in marriage, from a man’s perspective, is for the wife to bring food and show up naked.”

All joking aside, being an authentic man is a challenging topic for many guys. As men, we hear a wide variety of voices calling for everything from the crushing of the patriarchy and the ever-growing definition of toxic masculinity to the other extreme of “red-pill” masculinity that sees manhood as being defined by money, power and sex. How we see these topics will affect the type of man we become and the health of sexual intimacy we have in marriage. That’s exactly what Bryan and Pastor Matthew Schlesinger talk about in this episode.

Matthew, and his wife, Sabrina were married in 2000 and served as pastors alongside Matthew’s parents for ten years in Oregon. The dream God placed in their hearts years earlier unfolded and in December of 2012 they joined the Grace team as Lead Pastors in their favorite city, San Diego. Matthew is fun and authentic. He loves God’s Word, places priority on His Presence, and believes that the local church is the hope of the world. Matthew & Sabrina are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters and one amazing son. Their family mission is to populate heaven and plunder hell. Matthew and Sabrina host both the Marriage on the Go and Parenting on the Go podcasts.@matthewschlesinger

Grace Church North County

Marriage On The Go

Parenting On The Go

The statement that “sex before marriage is bad” can quickly become “sex is bad” if we don’t see sex as the beautiful gift from God that it is. In this episode, Bonnie chats with Sabrina Schlesinger about how women can have a healthy perspective toward their sexuality and experience a better sex life within their marriages.

Sabrina is a wife to Matthew, mother, pastor, speaker and podcast host. Sabrina and Matthew host two podcasts, Parenting on the Go and Marriage on the Go. Both podcasts offer Biblical and practical advice on parenting and marriage. Every episode is brief so you can listen to them in the carpool lane, at the gym, grocery shopping, and anywhere you are "on the go!" You can subscribe and listen to them every week on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Sabrina also wrote a book for moms called, What Other Moms Never Told Me. It is available on Amazon as paperback or Kindle.

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@Sabrinaschlesinger

52 Date Night Ideas

Parenting On The Go Podcast

Marriage On The Go Podcast

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In a world that has become so preoccupied with progress, have we lost what it means to be human?

We are so pumped to have Dr Andy Steiger join us to talk about how we can find what it truly means to be human within God’s restorative plan in Jesus.

Andy Steiger is the founder and president of Apologetics Canada Ministries (AC). He passionately engages in pressing issues related to our humanity from a Christian perspective. He has presented at various venues such as Cambridge University on philosophical issues related to Artificial Intelligence, provided ethical guidelines on robotics for the United Nations, and addressed legal concerns over rights of conscience at the World Congress in Philosophy of Law.

Andy has published widely from children’s books to a Supreme Court Law Review. His most recent book, Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World was awarded runner-up to evangelistic resource of the year. Andy is known for making complex theological and philosophical ideas understandable through the art of storytelling as seen in AC’s video resources. The Human Project video series debuted at film festivals around the world and won a number of awards including Best Short Film and People's Choice. Recently released is BRANDED: A Series on Identity which is now available on RightNow Media. Between his 20 years of pastoral experience and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, Andy brings both experience and research to his work.

Andy currently lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, with his wife, Nancy, and their two sons. Most weekends you’ll find the Steigers in the mountains or lakes of BC.

Apologetics Canada Website

Reclaimed Book

The Union Conference

You may not know what Babel is but trust me, it’s all over the place. Babel is a way of thinking, speaking and living apart from God. We see its influence nowhere stronger than in the realm of sexuality. It shows itself in everything from the culture’s addiction to pornography, to even the views of marriage that some people hold, even in the church. We are so pumped to have had the opportunity to sit down with Nikki Dent and talk about her new book, BREAKING UP WITH BABEL- The Gospel Of Sex, Dating and Relating In A Culture Of Confusion.

This hope-filled and captivating teaching provides a Scripture-based perspective on sex, dating, and romance that compels Christians to walk in purity and passion. By exploring a positive and powerful theology on sex and dating, Breaking Up with Babel presents a sexual gospel that outshines the humanistic messages of broken sexuality, pornography, sex outside of marriage, and digital dating in a Babel-weary world. God's people are called to live their most fruitful lives by answering questions such as:

How does sex affect our body, soul, and spirit?

Why should we wait until marriage to have sex?

Why is pornography terrible for our sex life?

How do we date biblically in a digital world?

Why do we need boundaries to have healthy relationships?

How can we be restored from heartache and brokenness?

Nikki is a passionate Bible preacher who lives with her husband, Paul, and three daughters on the east coast of Australia. Paul and Nikki also serve as Pastors at Eastgate Church in Byron Bay. She has passionately taught on sex, dating, and relationships from a Christian worldview for ten years in Christian leadership academies, discipleship training schools (YWAM), churches and young adult ministries. 

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IG- @nikkident_

There is no question that our current generation is saturated with pornography and the ideas that it presents about human worth and life's meaning. In this episode, Bryan sits down with Daniel Principe and discusses what is at stake if we don't see a massive shift from this epidemic.

Daniel is a youth advocate and educator with Collective Shout. He partners with schools and communities to challenge porn culture and the sexualization of women and girls. He works with boys and men across Australia to reimagine masculinity and embody a vision of manhood defined by virtue.

A former health professional, he has a background in public relations, marketing, and media, and has worked as an advisor in politics and the non-profit health sector. He recognizes the urgent need to help equip young people to recognize the impacts of harmful messaging from social media, advertising, pop culture and the global porn industry. He helps young people see how these cultural forces fuel distorted ideas and attitudes about bodies, relationships and sex. Daniel encourages young people to resist these harmful messages and to be courageous as they aspire to something far better for their lives and relationships.

Daniel has presented to hundreds of schools and organizations to help parents and communities raise healthy, resilient and empathetic young people. Daniel hosts Collective Shout’s podcast ‘Reimagining Masculinity’ and is a regular on TV and radio programs.

Check Out Daniel’s Website- Last Of The Romans

Collective Shout Website

Follow Daniel On Socials - @lastoftheromans