With U Podcast

Who knows everything? Not us! This week we explore our personal responses to the unknowable and the mysterious. We talk about the illusion of control , and the importance of developing a wide window of tolerance. Drawing from our experience with death, birth, and other challenging times, we share strategies for building resilience in the face of ambiguity.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this episode we’re exploring the world of etiquette and discovering which rules our family breaks at every single meal! We learn about quirky guidelines of the past (never let a woman carry anything heavier than a purse), the way cultural norms shape politeness today, and how manners evolve alongside society. We also chat about the heart behind table manners—not setting rigid rules, but creating distraction-free moments that strengthen connection. Join us for personal stories, a few laughs, and a fresh take on what manners really mean in today’s world!

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

We might be the only ones in our community who don’t know where we stand on the Enneagram or the latest online personality quiz. While we can certainly appreciate the benefits of self-discovery, we also wonder about the limiting influence of labels on personal identity, relationships, and professional dynamics. We examine our natural tendency to categorize people, from mental health diagnoses to high school stereotypes, and advocate for a deeper understanding of our unique value as human beings.

We talk about relationships and we want one with you! We' d love to hear from you (email [email protected]) and we' d be grateful for a review of the podcast so others can find us.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

We reveal who was actually behind the wheel when a deer came out of nowhere, and explain how this incident broke a streak of driving mishaps for one of us. But more importantly, we dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in our lives and our people-focused careers. We explore the potential benefits of this new technology as well as our fear that it will replace genuine human connection.

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Your feedback is important to us!  Publish a review today and let us know how we’re doing.

Check out more about the work we do on the With U Projects website.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

A Christmas reading of the greatest story since the beginning of time. David and Tara read from the Holy Bible, Isaiah 9:2,6-7; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20.

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To read along with the Scripture, see our show notes page on the With U Podcast website.

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Music credits:

- Music by Jesse P from Pixabay

- Music by Clavier Clavier from Pixabay

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Home is where the heart is, as they say, and the house we live in matters too. It’s clear that the place we live has a big impact on our wellbeing and relationships. We explore some research that identifies factors contributing to happiness at home. Join us as we discover the difference between size and spaciousness, and learn about the importance of adaptability, access to nature, and inviting others in. We share what we love about our own home, and some practical takeaways about what creates a harmonious living environment.

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The GoodHome Report (2019)

Happy Home: Learnings from Row House Typology (2022)

The Happiness Research Institute (www.happinessresearchinstitute.com) is an independent think tank exploring why some societies and some people are happier than others. Their mission is to inform decision makers of the  causes and effects of human happiness, make subjective well-being part of the public policy debate, and improve quality of life for citizens across the world. 

The goal of the "Happy Homes" research is to raise awareness about how physical design  affects an individual. Whether we're talking about happiness or quality of life, both terms encompass a wide range of experiences and emotions, such as joy, a positive outlook on life, and a sense of purpose.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

Todd Komarnicki, writer and director of the film “Bonhoeffer” joins us for a lively discussion about many topics, including his creative process, politics, jazz, and faith. He shares insights into his portrayal of the film’s hero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident whose writings deeply influenced David’s spiritual and professional formation. Komarnicki reflects on the deep lessons he’s learned from Bonhoeffer’s life, and shares his frustration with some misconceptions about the film’s association with political ideologies.

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Todd Komarnicki is a prolific writer, producer, and director of film and television as well as an acclaimed novelist.

Komarnicki’s screenplays include SULLY directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks, which opened at #1 in the box office to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Komarnicki has also written an adaptation of the international bestseller, THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn; and he wrote, produced, and directed, BONHOEFFER, the WW2 true story of legendary pastor turned assassin, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which is being released theatrically worldwide November 22, 2024. In television, Komarnicki has written EARTH ABIDES, for MGM+, an adaptation of the international sci-fi favorite, by George Stewart, the series premieres December 1st.

In the literary world, his first novel, Free, was published by Doubleday in 1993 and his second novel, Famine (Arcade 1997), received tremendous reviews and was subsequently translated into French, Italian, and German. His third novel, War, was published to exceptional reviews in July of 2008 by Arcade.

Komarnicki is the president & founder of the production company Guy Walks Into A Bar.

Komarnicki and Guy Walks partner Jon Berg produced the Christmas blockbuster ELF, starring Will Ferrell and directed by Jon Favreau. The film has become a worldwide perennial favorite every Christmas season.

Komarnicki lives in New York City with his wife, Jane, their daughter, Remy, and son, Dashiell.

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Bonhoeffer’s last words: ”For me this is not the end, but the beginning of life.“

For further reading:

John 13:3-5,12-17

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

In this episode we welcome a guest who is living out her faith with radical courage and compassion. From a pivotal moment in her youth, she felt a profound calling that altered the course of her life. She shares her extraordinary journey of stepping into unfamiliar cultures, learning new languages, and immersing herself in communities vastly different from her upbringing. Join us as we discuss the challenges and rewards of being a single woman in male-dominated societies, and building meaningful relationships through vulnerability and humility.

We are keeping our friend's identity confidential for this episode due to the sensitive nature of her work. But trust us, she's real, she's fun, and she's one of the most authentic people we know.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke

With the inevitability of pain and suffering in our world, a typical human response is to avoid it or try to make meaning of it. In this episode, we attempt to face hard questions head-on as we discuss insights from C.S. Lewis from his book “The Problem of Pain.” We are joined by Dr. Jerry Root, an expert on Lewis’s writings, to dive deep into ideas of how to approach pain with a sense of hope instead of despair.

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Dr. Jerry Root is professor emeritus at Wheaton College, and for over 41 years, Dr. Root has lectured on C.S. Lewis topics at 78 universities in 18 countries. He is the author of numerous C.S. Lewis-focused books, articles, and publications. He is married to Claudia Root and together they have four married children and 15 grandchildren.

Connect with Jerry Root on his website: https://www.drjerryroot.com/

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produced by Zach Van Dyke

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C.S. Lewis quotes from The Problem of Pain:

“Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.”

“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken.’ “

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Books and resources Dr. Root recommends for further reading:

Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy. Aegitas, 2017.

———. The Convivio of Dante Alighieri. JM Dent and Company, 1912.

———. De Monarchia: Of Monarchy. Jazzybee Verlag, 2019.

Alighieri, Dante, and Andrew Frisardi. Vita Nova. 2012.

Aquinas, Thomas. On Evil. Oxford University Press, 2003.

Beirne, Margaret. "St Irenaeus and the Scriptures." Phronema 34, no. 2 (2019).

Bliss, P. P., Horatio G. Spafford, and W. H. Sims. It Is Well with My Soul. Good Life Publications, 1982.

Boethius, Anicius, and Scott Goins. The Consolation of Philosophy: With an Introduction and Contemporary Criticism. Ignatius Press, 2011.

Chesterton, G. K. Tremendous Trifles. Dodd, Mead, 1917.

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. The Brothers Karamazov. Penguin UK, 2003.

Frankel, Estelle. The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty. Shambhala Publications, 2017.

Lewis, C. S. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1956.

———. Reflections on the Psalms. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1958.

———. Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. 1964.

———. The Abolition of Man. Zondervan, 2001.

———. The Problem of Pain. Zondervan, 2001.

———. A Grief Observed. Zondervan, 2001.

———. The Chronicles of Narnia. Harper Collins, 2001.

———. The Allegory of Love. Cambridge University Press, 2013.

———. The Great Divorce. DigiCat, 2022.

Pascal, Blaise, and Hugh F. Stewart. Pascal's Pensées. Routledge, 2020.

Spisak, April. "The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien by John Hendrix." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 78, no. 1 (2024): 3–4.

Thompson, W. H. The Gorgias of Plato. Whittaker, 1871.

Vanauken, Sheldon. A Severe Mercy. Bantam Books, 1979.

Vujicic, Nick. Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life. WaterBrook, 2012

Do you have complicated feelings about the holidays? You’re not alone! While we’re busy making the season merry and bright, we often end up crushed by a stressful load of gift lists, festive events, baking extravaganzas, and family gatherings. In this episode we talk about ways to honor the reality of grief and overwhelm while setting realistic expectations and finding moments of peace.

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Produced by Zach Van Dyke