Nurturing Friendships in Marriage and Parenthood

What if the story of your marriage is also the story of your friendships?

In this episode of the Made for People podcast, I sit down with my absolute favorite guest yet (obviously)—my wife, Lauren Earley—to talk about how friendship has shaped our marriage through the years. From our early days with no kids, to the chaos of raising four little boys, and now to a season where rhythms are more established, we reflect on how friendship has changed—and sustained—us through it all.

We discuss:

✔️ The different stages of friendship in our marriage—before kids, with newborns, and now

✔️ How geography, the local church, and intentional rhythms have shaped our friendships

✔️ The art of making friends into family and family into friends

✔️ Why close friendships outside of marriage are not optional—they’re necessary

✔️ How to encourage (and challenge) your spouse to pursue deep relationships

✔️ Our hopes for our boys and the friendships they’ll carry into adulthood

Whether you’re newly married, in the middle of parenting chaos, or further down the road, this episode will help you reflect on the friendships that hold your life together—and how to keep making space for them.

📖 Want more? Grab a copy of Made for People wherever books are sold.

💬 Let’s Connect! Follow me on Instagram @justinwhitmelearley and join the conversation.