With You in the Weeds: Where Faith Meets Mental Health

Do you feel overwhelmed by the needs of those around you and struggle with guilt that you’re not doing enough to help? In a world filled with suffering, brokenness and heartache, Christians are called to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). But who defines what love is and who qualifies as your neighbor? 

We are kicking off a brand new series called Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself as we attempt to answer this culturally relevant and often confusing topic. In this episode, hosts John Tinnin and Shay Roush are joined by their friend and fellow pastor Nathan Tiemeyer, to tackle the question: Who is my neighbor and how am I called to love them? 

Through the lens of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, they explore the biblical command to love others, and address who we’re called to love, and how to do so wisely. If you’re feeling cynical, burdened by the needs of others, or are seeking practical ways to love well, this episode - and ultimately this series - will offer hope and clarity so that you can love your neighbor with increasing knowledge, insight and intentionality. 

Listen as John, Shay and Nathan discuss:

This discussion will free you up to accept that you can’t love everyone equally, but you can start with one person in front of you. As you consider how to “love your neighbor as yourself”, the simplest place to start is to do for one what you wish you could do for everyone, trusting God to guide your love and multiply your impact.

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Are you bogged down by the day-to-day struggles of parenting? Do you question if anything is getting through to your kids? Do you feel powerless to impact your child’s spiritual growth? Parenting can feel like navigating a storm—chaotic, unpredictable, and uncertain. 

So the question is, how do you guide your child toward faith and wisdom in a world pulling them in every direction?

If you’re looking for hope while parenting in the weeds of life, then this episode is for you. Austin Conner interviews Melissa Kruger, author of Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Melissa, a seasoned parent and former high school math teacher, shares insights from her journey, blending biblical wisdom with practical strategies for shepherding teens through this turbulent season of parenting.

In this episode you will learn:

Whether you’re parenting a teen, or just looking for some encouragement in the trenches of parenting, this episode will remind you that your hope rests not in perfect parenting, but in Jesus, who never fails.

To find more of Melissa Kruger's resources, check out her website: Melissabkruger.com

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“I don’t want to live anymore” might be the most overwhelming and scary thing to hear as a parent. What should you say? What should you do next?

In this eye-opening episode, Austin Conner interviews counselor Gary Maddux, as he shares his journey from grief to advocacy, in memory of his beautiful daughter Kaylee who died by suicide six years ago. Gary seeks to challenge stigmas and debunk myths around suicide, urging parents to approach suicide with compassion, education and timely intervention.

This conversation offers practical advice for parents, including encouragement to ask direct questions like, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and promotes training like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) as well as ways to develop a support network around crisis moments with your teen. 

Gary’s story is a reminder that Jesus’ presence is constant, even in the worst tragedy, offering hope that God embraces those who are impacted by suicide. You will feel more equipped to navigate this heavy topic after learning from Gary’s extensive professional training regarding suicide prevention and how you can offer care and compassion to your loved ones who are struggling. 

Check out the resources below to educate yourself further on this topic:

QPR Training: Question, Persuade, Refer

ASK Suicide Prevention Training

AFSR Support Groups

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Call or Text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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Have you heard it said that “a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child”? We know that when you have an unhappy or hurting child, life feels heavy and hard and you may not know how to respond. As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, Lynn Roush and Austin Conner explore a much needed topic: how to connect with your child when they’re hurting. 

Parents often want to avoid painful feelings in their kids, hoping that they will go away on their own. Or, they jump in to fix the hurt and bypass the opportunity to connect with their child. We want to equip you to lean into your child’s heart when you sense that they are in emotional pain.

This conversation looks at what hurts kids both inside and outside of the home, how to recognize hurt in your child, how to respond to your child’s pain and the relevant topic of recognizing warning signs for suicide. Austin and Lynn offer practical ways to be present, build resilience, and model God’s love to your children through life’s pain. 

You can download our free Managing Your Emotions guide at withyouintheweeds.com to help you and your child identify their feelings. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter where we include more questions to ask your kids to open up the door to meaningful dialogue. 

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Are you learning the delicate dance of parenting adult children? So are we! As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, John Tinnin and Lynn Roush explore how to set loving, effective boundaries that foster independence while maintaining a healthy relationship. They also discuss why setting boundaries with adult kids is easier said than done.

The key principles they cover are:

As you watch your adult child make choices, and even mistakes, this episode will help you keep the big picture in mind and model open, honest communication with your kids no matter how old they are.

Book recommendation: Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children by Allison Bottke 

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In this episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts John Tinnin and Austin Conner focus on how to guide your children toward a relational connection with Jesus. They explore four developmental ingredients for spiritual growth, what content to teach, the role of lived experiences, and how to handle kids who resist faith talks—all while emphasizing God’s grace and the power of humble parenting.

You will be encouraged to learn that “a humble parent is better than a perfect parent.” And you’ll see that your role as a parent is a unique opportunity to model God’s grace in a way that will make a deep impression on your child, even when you make mistakes.

If you’re worried about whether your child will learn to love and follow Jesus, this episode will bring relief and perspective that God is not only working through you, he works apart from you, and will accomplish his purposes in your child’s heart.

Resources for you:

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In this episode of our ongoing series, Parenting in the Weeds, we invite Paula Tinnin (John’s better half!) to the podcast for the first time. In this timely episode, John and Paula sit down with Austin to reflect on lessons learned from their own dating experiences as well as the advice they gave their daughters when it came to dating and relationships.

You will hear them share candidly about:

You’ll want to listen in to hear about John & Paula’s rocky relationship beginnings, their wisdom and practical advice for parents with kids at various ages, and for the informative ‘lightning round’ of current, real-life dating questions and answers.

After listening you’ll get better insight into specific principles to apply, and be motivated to set healthy age-appropriate boundaries for your kids while building trust in them during the challenging dating years.

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Ever wonder what your kids really think about your parenting? In this unforgettable episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts Lynn and Shay Roush hand the microphone to their own kids—Jack (25), Emma (21), and Owen (19)—for a raw, unscripted conversation. Inspired by the viral “We Listen and We Don’t Judge” social media trend, this episode offers parents a rare glimpse into the minds of their kids and practical ways to deepen connection.

Lynn and Shay’s kids open up about cherished childhood moments, from college football Saturdays with Dad to carefree cul-de-sac playtime and memorable family vacations along Lake Michigan. They also share tougher times, like experiencing the stress of family health crises, tense disagreements in their teen years, and the pressures of growing up as pastor’s kids. 

Jack, Emma and Owen reflect on their unique bond, and express appreciation to their parents for fostering trust and freedom to learn from mistakes, even as they wrestled with sports expectations, making major life decisions and navigating the unique pressures brought on by social media.

It wraps with an enlightening “We Listen and We Don’t Judge” speed round, where confessions range from sneaky PlayStation subscriptions to a wild car incident over leftover Chinese food. This episode is a must-listen for parents seeking to create grace-filled, open ended conversations with their kids—no matter their age.

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Need some help navigating the tricky terrain of talking to your kids about sex? Join counselor Austin Conner as he interviews Kristen Miele, a certified health education specialist and founder of Sex Ed Reclaimed, for an empowering conversation on guiding kids through this vital topic with confidence and faith.

Kristen shares her journey from viewing sex as taboo to embracing it as God’s good creation, offering practical tools to help parents, caregivers, and mentors foster healthy, shame-free discussions. Whether you have young kids, teens, or work with children, this episode equips you to reclaim the conversation from cultural distortions and lead with love.

You’ll hear about…

As you listen, you’ll learn how to start open, honest conversations, respond to tough questions (like exposure to porn), and recognize signs of potential harm. Kristen’s insights, rooted in 15 years of teaching and her Sex Ed Reclaimed curriculum, will inspire you to address your own brokenness, lean on the Holy Spirit, and guide kids toward a godly view of sexuality. We hope this episode empowers you to step boldly into these discussions, trusting God is with you in the weeds.

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Want a behind the scenes look at parenting a child with ADHD? Buckle up for an honest conversation as Lynn interviews fellow WYITW co-host Austin Conner and his wife Polly about how they’ve navigated and managed life with a kiddo with ADHD.

Austin and Polly open up about the unexpected challenges and joys of this journey, offering hope and practical wisdom for parents who are struggling to know how to find their way through the maze of this diagnosis.

You’ll hear about…

As you listen, you’ll learn when to seek evaluation for your child, how to build a support team, the changes you’ll need to make in your parenting, and how to manage the stress that comes with unpredictable behaviors and extra energy from your child with ADHD. You’ll also be encouraged that your child can grow, adapt and accomplish incredible things through their creativity and tenacity.

We hope the practical and specific insights in this episode will help you feel validated and strengthened as you consider next steps for you and your family. 

If you want to explore more on this topic, check out these books and podcasts below:

Book: ADHD 2.0

Book: Healing ADD

Podcast: Calm Parenting Podcast

Podcast: Shining with ADHD - The Childhood Collective

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