Vernacular

Today we're continuing our collaboration between the Vernacular Podcast Network and The Center for Public Justice (CPJ).  What's this partnership all about? You can read (and hear!) more in Part 1, but the gist of it is that we’re teaming up with the people behind the Families Valuedinitiative to talk about the struggles that modern families face and to learn how we can better support families through private enterprise, charitable initiatives, and public policy.

In this second episode in our three-part series, we sit down with Rachel Anderson, Resident Fellow of CPJ and the director of Families Valued. We talk with Rachel about the sources of stress for today's families, including the shift from home-based economies to economy-driven homes, parents working outside of the home, and our loss of work's proper place in our lives. 

For more information, reach out to us at [email protected], head tovernacularpodcast.com, or visit  familiesvalued.org. To support us, visit patreon.com/vernacular. 

Our music: “Laugh and Cry” (intro); “Heroine Queen” (outro)

Today on Vernacular, we are announcing (and launching) a three episode collaboration with the Center for Public Justice. 

The Center for Public Justice (or CPJ) describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Working outside the familiar categories of right and left, conservative and liberal, CPJ seeks to help citizens and public officeholders achieve justice.” Last year, CPJ launched the Families Valued initiative, a project that promotes organizational and public policies that better support family life and respect the family responsibilities of all workers.

In this collaboration between The Vernacular Podcast Network and The Center for Public Justice, we’re teaming up with the people behind the Families Valued initiative to talk about the struggles that modern families face and to learn how we can better support families through private enterprise, charitable initiatives, and public policy.

Supporting today’s families is a bipartisan imperative.According to 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are waiting longer than ever to get married, yet delaying marriage has done nothing to drive down divorce rates. As marriage rates have declined over the past three decades, divorce rates have steadily risen. And while marriages face challenges of permanence, married couples are having fewer children.In a 2013 survey by Pew, only 49% of people listed “having kids” as a main reason for getting married; a summer 2018 Pew survey found that71% of parents under 50 described themselves as “not likely” to have kids or more kids.

And yet, despite these symptoms of pressure, today’s families overwhelmingly describe family as the primary source of meaning in their life. In a 2017 survey, 69% of adults listed family as a source of meaning in their life--more than double the amount of the next highest answer--career. This is why it’s important for us to find ways to support families. We shouldn’t have an economy that makes it necessary for82% of parents to work outside of the home. We shouldn’t have to fight for paid parental leave ata majority of private companies. And we shouldn’t make quality healthcare a luxury that parents can’t afford for their children. We need churches, employers, community organizations, courts, and legislatures to support the family at all stages of life. And that’s why we’re happy to announce this collaboration with CPJ’s Families Valued initiative.

For more information, reach out to us at [email protected], head tovernacularpodcast.com, or visit  familiesvalued.org. To support us, visit patreon.com/vernacular. 

Our music: “Laugh and Cry” (intro); “Heroine Queen” (outro)

In an appropriate sequel to our Valentine's Day marriage episode, today we're talking about how to better deal with difficult people. In less than twenty minutes, we talk through four big ideas to help you love the people who give you the hardest time in life: 

1. Process externally but not publicly

2. Embrace the humanness of the other

3. Communicate clearly and set boundaries

4. Keep forgiveness front and center

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email

Also: don't miss our sister podcast The Popped Cast, which you can find on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Valentine's Day edition, we answer a listener question from our parenting episode and dive into how marriage can and should enrich our lives and make us more fully human. We talk about how marriage cultivates virtues like patience, self-control, grace, and love, and offer a few suggestions on how you can help your spouse cultivate these virtues. 

We talked about Andrew Peterson's Dancing in the Minefields in this episode.

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email

Also: don't miss our sister podcast The Popped Cast, which you can find on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Here's to parents everywhere. In this episode we tackle the difficult topic of parenting from our limited experience as the parents of three young children. How do our kids make us more human? What do we have to learn from them? How do they help us practice the virtues? What can young parents resolve to do when the start every day anew? If you, like us, are "in the trenches" with young children, know that we are right there with you! If you're an older parent, share some wisdom with us that we can pass on to listeners. 

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email

Also: don't miss our sister podcast The Popped Cast, which you can find on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This episode originally ran on February 4, 2016. 

//FROM THE ARCHIVES// On the occasion of the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we examine abortion's legal history in the United States, focusing on the flawed reasoning in SCOTUS decisions and the faulty data on which they have relied, abortion's medical, emotional, and psychological risks to women, the sad reality of sex-selective abortion, Planned Parenthood, and public opinion on the topic in America today. Joining us on this episode are experts from Americans United for Life and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.

Donate to: AUL | CBHD | March for Life | Save the Storks | Susan B. Anthony List

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We're back for 2019! After a two month hiatus for parental leave, we're back with a discussion on some things that on our mind as we begin the new year. We talk about hospitality goals, books we want to read (and why everyone should read more), work-life synergy, and going to therapy. We'll be back soon with more episodes and are working hard on a great lineup of content for this year! 

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email

Also: don't miss our sister podcast The Popped Cast, which you can find on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this episode, Zac and Sally develop five challenges for themselves (and for you, if you're up for it!) to celebrate the holidays this year in a more human way. If you have more ideas, let us know below!

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You may have never guessed you'd hear an episode about sports on Vernacular, but here it is! We break down four ways in which sports intersect with being human, and end with a recommendation to go play some basketball at your local YMCA. Along the way, we talk about the Greek Olympics, Zac's conflicted feelings about being an NFL fan, and Green Street Hooligans.  

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email

What does reading have to do with being human? Is it essential to a human life or simply a good idea? Does it matter what we read? Is nonfiction superior to fiction? How can we make sure that we don't simply read things that confirm our worst opinions? We explore all of these questions and more in this episode. 

Let us know what you think: Instagram | Twitter | Email