Them Before Us Podcast

In this Legal Watch episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn and Patience unpack a new Louisiana bill framed as “protecting IVF”, but which, in reality, dismantles key legal protections for human embryos.

Patience explains how the bill, introduced by Senator Thomas Pressly, misrepresents the now-infamous “Alabama situation” to justify stripping parental rights at fertilization, limiting legal accountability for negligent IVF clinics, and replacing adoption language with property-style “donation” terms.

Rather than improving care or safety, the bill prioritizes shielding the IVF industry from consequences, jeopardizing Louisiana’s national leadership in pro-life embryo protections. The episode calls on listeners to see through the rhetoric, demand real reforms, and protect both life and family.Check out our ⁠IVF | FYI series⁠ for a deep dive on all things IVF industry and more about this ⁠Louisiana bill here⁠.

(Note from Jenn: You may notice a slight echo in the first 1-2 minutes of audio but we were able to figure it out! Thanks for your patience as we ironed out the early wrinkles!)

In this #ANDnotOR feature episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn sits down with long-time friends and fellow children's rights advocates Cameron and Tracee Linder to talk marriage, parenting, and building a family culture that honors both truth and grace. From clashing hospitality styles to cowboy independence vs. military discipline, the Linders share how their opposite personalities and gender differences can truly complement one another, especially when united by a shared worldview and commitment to raising children with purpose. With honesty, humor, and deep faith, they reflect on what makes marriage worth the work and why every child needs both a mom and a dad.

Read more from Cameron and Tracee at https://libertyandgrace.org/

Join us between Mother's Day and Father's Day in our #ANDnotOR campaign to grow our monthly donor base by 50 donors! Any new monthly gift of any amount gets a special TBU gift from us AND you help us unlock a $50,000 matching gift. Every new donor is an extra $1,000 for this important work!

Join the movement: https://thembeforeus.com/andnotor/

In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Dr. Jennifer Mercier shares her inspiring journey through women's health and fertility. As the creator of Mercier Therapy, a natural method that helps women conceive, she offers a meaningful look into alternatives to IVF. Drawing from her own experience with endometriosis and infertility, Dr. Mercier opens up about the emotional and ethical concerns surrounding the fertility industry, including what happens to frozen embryos. She also highlights the importance of protecting both women's well-being and children’s rights. You will also get a preview of her upcoming documentary Conceiving Miracles and hear her honest reflections on parenting through life’s challenges with faith and strength.

Bio: Jennifer Mercier, ND, PhD, Midwife, has been in private practice for over two decades, specializing in women’s health, fertility, and hormone balance. A pioneer in integrative reproductive care, she is the creator of Mercier Therapy, a deep pelvic visceral technique that has helped countless women conceive naturally and prepare for successful IVF. Dr. Mercier is also a passionate educator, training healthcare professionals in Mercier Therapy for nearly 20 years. She is the author of Conceive and the filmmaker behind the documentaries Fertility: The Shared Journey With Mercier Therapy and the upcoming Conceiving Miracles. With a commitment to advancing personalized medicine, she continues to serve women as a hormone and fertility specialist.

Check out more from Dr. Mercier at:

https://www.expectamiracle.life/

https://www.merciertherapy.com/

https://www.mercierwhf.com/

And her book on Amazon "Conceive: The Mercier Approach"

Boardroom or babies? Why not both? In this conversation, Jenn is joined by Carrie Abbott, speaker, author, national radio host, and the Founder and Director of The Legacy Institute, to talk about the strength and beauty of womanhood.

With decades of experience as a teacher, corporate professional, and now a leading voice on faith and family, Carrie brings her unique perspective on how women can thrive in every season of life. She reminds us that women can have it all, just not all at once.

Carrie shares her personal journey and how her passion for helping others live in alignment with their divine design led her to create True Beauty, a powerful new 10-week study for young women. This study reintroduces biblical femininity as a source of hope and strength.

Together, Jenn and Carrie explore timely issues like feminism, fertility education, and what happens when we honor God’s blueprint for both male and female and how they complement each other.

With wisdom and warmth, Carrie shows how reclaiming our purpose as women not only blesses our families and careers but helps build a thriving, healthy society.

See more from Carrie Abbott, The Legacy Institute, and the new study "True Beauty."

https://carrieabbott.com/

https://thelegacyinstitute.com/

https://thelegacyinstitute.com/resources/true-beauty/

This episode of the Them Before Us podcast features a conversation with professor and author Nancy Pearcey, exploring what it means to truly love the body and uphold the dignity of the human person. Drawing from her book "Love Thy Body", Pearcey outlines the intellectual and personal journey that shaped her convictions and dives into the cultural narratives that separate humanity from both biological reality and God-given identity.

Check out Love Thy Body on Amazon

The discussion unpacks how the separation of body and personhood is influencing today’s most critical ethical issues, including abortion, transgender ideology, IVF, and surrogacy. Pearcey explains how this divide is used to justify everything from embryo destruction to the treatment of people as products.

Nancy Pearcey brings reason, clarity, and hope to a conversation that matters deeply in today’s world. Let us know what you think!

Bio: Nancy Pearcey is the author of Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, as well as The Toxic War on Masculinity, 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 20 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. 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."

In this powerful episode, author and cultural commentator Adam B. Coleman shares his deeply personal journey from childhood pain to redemptive purpose. Adam opens up about breaking generational cycles and transforming from a young man struggling with fatherlessness to being the father his son deserves.

In his new book, "The Children We Left Behind: How Western Culture Rationalizes Family Separation & Ignores the Pain of Child Neglect", Adam unflinchingly shares his own experiences of abandonment and fatherlessness to shed light on a broader cultural crisis. He boldly challenges the notion that family breakdown is a race-specific issue, arguing instead that it’s a moral failure impacting every corner of Western society—a consequence of adults who choose self-interest over sacrifice for their children. Adam is the founder of Wrong Speak Publishing, a prolific writer, and the author of Black Victim to Black Victor.

His work regularly appears in outlets such as the New York Post, UnHerd, Newsweek, Daily Mail, and Human Events. He’s also a contributor to Dad Saves America, where he writes candidly about parenting from a father’s perspective. With a background in tech, Adam began speaking out in 2020 on issues ranging from family breakdown and DEI to wokeness and free speech.

Find more from Adam at: https://substack.com/@adambcoleman and his book at https://www.amazon.com/Children-Left-Behind-Rationalizes-Separation/dp/B0DSJZWMDL

In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn sits down with Aaron Baer, President of the Center for Christian Virtue, to discuss the compelling findings from The Hope and a Future Report. Together, they explore how the decline of marriage and family structure contributes to rising poverty, violence, and mental health struggles—and why strengthening the family unit may be the key to reversing these trends. With insights from research by Brad Wilcox and practical policy solutions, this conversation offers a powerful call to action for lawmakers, churches, and communities alike. See more at https://www.ccv.org/ #thembeforeus #ivffyi #centerforchristianvirtue #marriage #divorce

In this episode Bobby Lopez shares his deeply personal journey of growing up in a home shaped by divorce and same-sex parenting. Reflecting on the struggles of identity, family connection, and the societal shifts that redefined marriage and parenting, Bobby provides a raw and honest account of how these experiences shaped his worldview.

He discusses his transition from childhood confusion to adult advocacy, his professional sacrifices for speaking the truth, and how faith and fatherhood ultimately brought healing. A must-listen for anyone interested in children's rights, family structure, and the long-term effects of redefining marriage. #ThemBeforeUs

In a world where culture is discipling our kids faster than ever, how can parents reclaim their role as the primary influence in their children’s faith? Join us as we sit down with Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics, to discuss the biggest cultural lies targeting kids today—and how parents can equip them with biblical truth.

From shaping worldviews to tackling tough conversations on gender, sexuality, and media influence, this episode is a must-listen for every parent who wants to raise bold believers in an increasingly hostile world.

For more resources and insights, visit MamaBearApologetics.com.

In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, host Jenn sits down with Mark DeGrasse, creator of Dads in Autism Land, to explore the unique challenges and triumphs of fatherhood on the autism spectrum. Mark shares raw insights into balancing the needs of his two sons—one severely autistic and nonverbal, the other neurotypical—while navigating the emotional and relational complexities that come with parenting. From wrestling with societal expectations to the realities of marriage under pressure, this episode highlights the resilience and love that define special needs families.https://dadsinautismland.com/https://markdegrasse.comMark de Grasse is a devoted father navigating the unique realities of autism parenting while balancing the vastly different needs of his two sons. His eldest, Damien (12), has severe autism, is nonverbal, and functions at the level of a 2-3 year old, requiring constant care, patience, and creative communication. His younger son, Declan (11), is neurotypical, highly intelligent, and deeply dedicated to baseball—but more importantly, he’s developed a profound sense of empathy and understanding through his relationship with his brother.As a dad in Autismland, Mark has learned to juggle the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected lessons that come with raising both a neurodiverse and a neurotypical child. His journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and redefining what success and connection look like in a household shaped by autism.On the Dads in Autismland Podcast, Mark shares his real-world experiences—both the struggles and the victories—while offering raw, honest, and relatable insights into fatherhood. He understands the emotional weight, the uncertainty, and the sheer love that come with parenting a child on the spectrum, all while making sure his other child’s needs and ambitions are nurtured as well.Mark’s mission? To bring fellow dads together, to share stories, strategies, and support, and to remind every father walking this road that they are not alone.