With U Podcast

Welcome to the 100th episode of With U Podcast! Recorded live in the Czech Republic, this special episode celebrates three decades of friendship, ministry, and intentional Christian living through the European Summer Study Program (ESSP). We sit down with David & Kriste Sveen, Kurt & Meg Tillman, Bill & Sandy Skowera to share stories of showing up, walking alongside others, and seeing God at work in Central and Eastern Europe.Join us for a conversation about legacy, community, and the simple faithfulness that changes lives.

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See the With U Podcast website for extra behind-the-scenes photos of our live recording.

https://withuprojects.com/withupodcast

Check out these Wheaton College programs that provide opportunities for global partnerships and top quality academic engagement.

• ⁠European Summer Study Program⁠ 

• ⁠European Initiative Partnership⁠

• ⁠MA in Marriage and Family Therapy⁠

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Recorded on location in Josiah Venture’s ⁠Malenovice Conference Center⁠ in the Moravian Hills.

We are extremely thankful for the audio & video recording help, technology expertise, and most importantly emotional support and encouragement from Draho Poloha and Rob Chestnut.

Produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this episode we discuss the storyline and themes from the film The Ballad of Wallis Island. Brought to a windswept Welsh island to play a private gig, folk music duo McGwyer Mortimer revisit their mismatched dreams and reasons for breaking up the band. Through beautiful music, lonely landscapes, and quirky character interactions we explore themes of regret, loss, letting go, and loving again.

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This episode was recorded while away from our studio working on an upcoming writing project that we can’t wait to share. Any reduction in audio quality is due to our temporary equipment.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Friendship changes as much as we do over the years. In this episode, we get a little nostalgic about our earliest playmates, our situational sideline pals, and our long-lasting authentic friends. We share the challenges of staying connected in busy times, and highlight why friendship is essential to human thriving. With a few personal stories about baseball and hula hoops, we reflect on our gratefulness for the friendships that have shaped our lives.

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

On many past road trips, we’ve taken time to enjoy the scenery. But this time, we’re working while driving—and bringing you along for the ride. On our way to a secret sabbatical destination to kick off a new writing project, we share our thoughts on what makes a good coworker, how to nurture a healthy work culture, and our hopes for blending our work styles in both our professional and personal partnership.

Join us for some on-the-road reflections about collaboration, culture, and the adventure of building something together

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

What happens when four generations from four states gather for a four-day vacation? We recently traveled with family ages 10 months to 80 years for a holiday on Mackinac Island, Michigan. In this episode, we share what we learned about planning lightly, staying connected, and adjusting to a wide range of needs on a multi-generational trip. From ferry rides and horse-drawn carriages to rowdy meals and rainy-day picnics, we found that the best memories often came in unexpected moments.___Van Dyke Road Trip Stops

Grand Haven Boardwalk

https://www.michigan.org/property/grand-haven-boardwalk

PJ Hoffmaster State Park

https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/hoffmaster

Bistro-Polaris Restaurant at Black Star Farms

https://blackstarfarms.com/bistro-polaris/

Lower Peninsula

https://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-the-Midwest/Michigan-Hikes/Lower-Peninsula-Hikes

Michigan Slang - trolls and mitten state

https://www.michiganpublic.org/arts-culture/2014-03-30/the-vocabulary-of-yoopers-trolls-and-fudgies

https://www.michiganpublic.org/arts-culture/2015-12-17/when-did-we-start-calling-michigan-the-mitten-state

Arnold Transit Company Ferry

https://www.arnoldtransitcompany.com/

Mackinac Island

https://www.mackinacisland.org/

Mackinac Bridge

https://www.mackinacbridge.org/history/history-of-the-bridge/

Dobbers Pasties - Escanaba

https://dobberspasties.com/

Mars Cheese Castle

https://www.marscheese.com/

UP road trip

https://www.uptravel.com/

Check out more photos at www.withupodcast.com

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

Every birth story leaves a lasting imprint. Whether your experience was joyful, complicated, or deeply challenging, the way you remember and tell it shapes how you carry it into the rest of your life. You’ll hear why birth is more than a medical event, how to shift from trauma to transformation, and practical ways to reclaim your story as a powerful rite of passage.

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To go deeper on this topic, check out the following resources:

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). " Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.

Purol, M. F., & Chopik, W. J. (2024). Do many hands make light work? The role of romantic partners and close relationships in posttraumatic growth. American Psychologist, 79(8), 1214.

Ketley, R., Darwin, Z., Masterson, C., & McGowan, L. (2024). Women’s experience of post-traumatic growth following a traumatic birth: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 42(1), 126-137.

Brandão, T., Brandão, S., Prata, A. P., Silva, R., Abreu, W., Riklikiene, O., ... & Thomson, G. (2024). Posttraumatic growth in women after a childbirth experience: The influence of individual characteristics and intrusive and deliberate rumination. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy.

Mijalevich‐Soker, E., Ring, L., Joffe, E., Awad‐Yaseen, M., Steger, M. F., & Taubman–Ben‐Ari, O. (2025). Personal Growth Among Pregnant Women During War: The Role of Optimism and Meaning in Life. International Journal of Psychology, 60(4), e70087.

Websites

• Birth Monopoly (Birthmonopoly.com)

• Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth (PATTCH.org)

• Birth Tellers: Healing Birth Through Conscious Storytelling (Midwifery Today)

• Healing Birth (Healingbirth.net)

• Birthing from Within (Birthingfromwithin.com)

• Birth Story Medicine (Birthstorymedicine.com)

• Penny Simkin on the importance of birth memories (A Day You’ll Never Forget on YouTube)

• Transformed by Birth, by Britta Bushnell

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 Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Food is never just food. In this episode, we explore the many ways meals shape our social lives, reflect our culture, and reveal our inner world. From family dinners to first dates, guilty cravings to sacred moments, we unpack what’s really happening when we sit down to eat. Pull up a chair—this one’s for anyone who’s ever had feelings about food.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Here we go again, choosing conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From Tara’s big 80’s hairstyle to David’s brown Ford Pinto, our stories take a turn into vintage territory. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.

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This topic and the conversation questions were inspired by a list from https://ordinaryandhappy.com/ 

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Questions in today’s episode:

• Most decade-defining outfit (bonus points for photos)

• Most dangerous thing you’ve done / situation you’ve been in

• Embarrassing haircut

• Fond memory from a car you used to own

• Silliest body trick

• Spiciest food you ever ate

• Highest elevation you’ve been to, and how you got there

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Enjoy some vintage photos of David and Tara circa 1970s, 80s, and 90s on our website: www.withupodcast.com

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this playful episode, we take turns pulling fun conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From the time we accidentally camped by the side of the highway, to Tara’s sushi struggles, to David’s unapologetic love of pickle and bologna sandwiches—this episode is full of lighthearted stories and laughter. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.

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This topic and the conversation questions were inspired by a list from https://ordinaryandhappy.com/ 

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Questions in today’s episode:

• Words you mispronounced for years

• Text message sent to the wrong person

• Food you have tried to like but just cannot

• Most useless item you own but can’t get rid of

• Sport you wish you were good at

• Family road trip where you got lost

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Some dates live on in our bodies, minds, and hearts. Whether it’s recognizing a birth, a loss, a wedding, or a tragedy, anniversaries can be time-stamped reminders of who we are, where we’re headed, what we’ve learned, and what we’ve lost. In this episode we talk about how grief can echo across generations, and how rituals and reflection can help us navigate the emotional terrain of significant dates. 

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We’d love to hear about your anniversary practices, celebrations, and rituals. Email us at [email protected].

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke