Whether hospital candy striping, cub scout camping, youth sport coaching, or 5K fundraising, our vision for volunteering is about building community, character, and connection. In this conversation, we share our earliest (and most memorable) volunteer moments, how service shaped our marriage, and why we keep saying yes to unpaid work. Whether it’s for a one-time event or a long-term commitment, we believe showing up and sharing your skills is always worth it.---

* here's a great way to volunteer today: take a moment to rate & review the podcast! :)

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

Most people are pretty serious about sleep, and yet we’re often just not getting enough. If solid, uninterrupted sleep is so vital for our body’s health and repair and our brain’s optimal functioning, it’s also an important foundation for healthy relationships. This week we discuss the pros and cons of new trending ways to get more zzz’s, including mouth taping and the “sleep divorce.” We also walk through our own family bedtime routines that led to peaceful slumber.

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this laugh-out-loud episode, we take a lighthearted dive into the little things that get under our skin. From expensive greeting cards to 4-way stops, from audible breathing to ducks in Jeeps—no bugaboo is off limits. But it’s not all rants and eye-rolls. We also share some thoughts on how to handle pet peeves without letting them pile up or mess with your relationships. Because sometimes, the most annoying things are just reminders to laugh, breathe, and let the small stuff stay small.

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Produced Zach Van Dyke

If we can’t force forgiveness, how do we take the first step? In this episode we talk about why forgiving someone who wronged us is undeniably good for our own health. We examine some common misunderstandings about forgiveness, and debunk the idea that to forgive means to forget or accept the hurt. Through a true and remarkable story of a woman who forgave unimaginable offenses, we learn about the supernatural power of forgiveness that leads to true freedom.

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The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Join us as we talk with Jessica Love, a friend and singer-songwriter who blends her passion for music with therapeutic practices. Jessica discusses the impact her son and his medical challenges have had on her life and career, and together we explore the intersection of music, therapy, harmony, and healing. Stay tuned for Jessica’s thoughts on the power of presence over performance, and get the scoop on exciting new projects she is working on, including community-based therapeutic music experiences in Chicago.

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Jessica Love is a singer-songwriter, former marriage and family therapist, and someone who cares deeply about healing and real connection. As a Billboard-charting artist and the founder of Your Singing Therapist, Jessica brings together her background in therapy and her passion for music to create spaces where people can feel seen, heard, and supported. Her work doesn’t stop with music. Jessica is also the founder of the Love to Life Foundation, a nonprofit that came out of her experience as a mother to a medically fragile child. After giving birth to her son at just 22 weeks, she spent years in hospitals, facing long odds and learning to rely on her faith. Rather than break her, those years shaped her. Today, Love to Life offers free therapy, self-care events, and support for families navigating special needs, terminal illness, and long-term care—families who often go unnoticed, but carry a lot.

Jessica’s next project, Therapy By JLove, is both a music release and a step forward in her work, blending honesty, beauty, and emotional depth. For Jessica, music isn’t just performance—it’s a way to bring healing. You may have seen her on The Dr. Oz Show, or heard her single I Draw Near with Todd Dulaney, which reached #19 on the Billboard Christian charts. But much of her impact happens offstage—mentoring artists, writing with others, and creating therapeutic music experiences that help people process and grow. 

Connect with Jessica and find out more about her work on her website:

www.therapybyjlove.com

For events and services provided by Love to Life Foundation go to:

www.lovetolifefoundation.org

Music (Flow and Living Proof) used with permission from Jessica Love.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Going out with friends is fun ... until the check arrives. Money talks, and we are listening. In this episode we discuss the intricate dynamics of managing money within relationships. We share our experience with the etiquette of splitting bills , and the ways modern tools like PayPal and Venmo have changed the game. Our conversation explores the potential conflicts and emotional impact involved in giving and receiving, and invites personal reflection on generosity, fairness, and relational balance.

You’ve heard us talk about the way location and place can impact our ability to thrive. We are delighted to highlight an organization that is creating beautiful spaces for people who need a fresh start. Love Your Neighbor creates custom designed environments that have a positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals and families transitioning out of poverty, violence, and hard circumstances. We enjoyed learning more about Love Your Neighbor’s mission and purpose in a chat with founder and executive director, Nancy Shepherd, who also happens to be an interior designer, entrepreneur, people-connector, longtime friend, and all-around lovely person.

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Connect with Love Your Neighbor (DuPage County, Illinois, USA): 

https://www.loveyourneighbor.love/

More about LYN founder Nancy Shepherd:

The most important thing in Nancy’s life is her love for the Lord and for her family and friends. She enjoys showing love to people, and having connection with and compassion for whoever God brings into her life. She is an entrepreneur at heart, and has founded a retail space and a non-profit. She loves deep conversations and finds her energy in solitude. She’s passionate about health, organic farming, reading, sustainability, and fitness. She enjoys the creative process, journaling, interior decorating, vintage markets, and nature.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Team lead

• Space planner

• Warehouse room stylist

• Room lead

• Installer

• Mover

• Handyworker

• Furniture painter

• Prayer team

• Fundraising committee

Video of family reactions to their new space

See more photos on the With U Podcast website

Partners:

Habitat for Humanity DuPage https://give.gohabitat.org/

Bridge Communities https://www.bridgecommunities.org/

Naomi's House https://www.naomishouse.org/

Reclaim 13 https://www.reclaim13.org/

Hesed House https://www.hesedhouse.org/

DuPage Pads https://dupagepads.org/

Lifespring Ministries https://www.waysidecross.org/lifespringwomenshelter/

Church Partners:

The Compass Church https://www.thecompass.net/

Chapelstreet Church https://chapelstreet.church/

Corporate Sponsors:

SET Environmental Inc. https://setenv.com/

Executive Construction Inc. https://ecibuild.com/

Darwill https://www.darwill.com/

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

Do you love the place you live or do you long to leave? We are fascinated by the ways geographic location impacts our identity, roots us in community, and influences our sense of belonging. Whether you’re a mover, a stayer, or feeling stuck, we can find ways to flourish where we are and invest in our environment. 

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Check out “This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are” by Melody Warnick

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Join us to discuss the thought-provoking film 'Conclave'. We won’t spoil the plot, but we do have some fun facts about the papal election process. Tune in for engaging conversation about challenging themes of faith, doubt, and power dynamics within the context of the church. From examining the roles of tradition and certainty to addressing gender roles and political influences, this episode will stimulate your mind and encourage deep reflection on faith and culture.

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Watch the trailer of the movie Conclave

Please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to the podcast!

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

The joys of domestic life are often rudely interrupted by mundane tasks and whose turn it is to do them. This week we dive into the tricky nature of dividing chores and managing expectations in relationships. From traditional gender roles to modern-day flexibility, we share stories about ways we’ve shifted the load of responsibility at different stages in our relationship. We reflect on the importance of open communication, trust, and finding the humor in the dirtiest work.

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Comments and suggestions also welcome at [email protected]

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke