The Connected Life

Loving others can be difficult, especially the ones that can’t help but make a mess so bad they hurt everyone in their path. Getting past the anguish they inflict can sometimes feel impossible. But what if behind all the years of chaos and destruction was an innocent child desperate for kindness, compassion, and care? In December of 2021 The Connected Life hosted a giveaway of $1,000 to someone who had a great idea of how to give that money away. A generous Connected Life listener matched that donation and not one, but two people got a chance to love someone extravagantly. In this episode Abi and Justin sit down with one of the winners Kaira, and she shares the inspiring idea that led to a month long experience for her uncle Rick. Though Rick’s life is seemingly filled with reasons he doesn’t deserve such a gift, Kaira’s story paints a compassionate and moving picture of just how much the messiest people are in the most need of undeserving love. If you’re looking to be inspired and gain hope for humanity, this episode will move you to be a better person, while giving you hope for how a simple act of love can change the world right in front of you!

An affair is one of the most sensitive and painful subjects in a committed relationship. The effects of an affair spill over onto children, extended family, and friends. With so much pain connected to the issue, it’s no wonder that very few relationships rebound after such broken trust. But, what if there’s hope in the midst of a mess that hasn’t been fully resolved? In this episode, Justin and Abi sit down with Jess and Justin Beard as they bravely share the details of their difficult journey in the midst of it unfolding. Together they explore their history of trauma prior to marriage and examine the far reaching affects of their upbringings. Through compassion and empathy they’re able to shine a light on reasons they got to this place, while extending grace to anyone that’s had and affair. Through vulnerability and honesty, Jess and Justin give hope to anyone attempting to repair what could feel permanently broken. If you or someone you know has been affected by infidelity, this episode will give hope for healing and compassion for all parties involved, even in the midst of the messiness. This episode is a MUST share!

As humans, we are universally messy. Our actions and reactions are often times in conflict with what we want to do and who we want to be. It can feel much easier to ignore and deny the reality of parts of our lives that don’t seem very flattering or socially acceptable, but what if there’s something powerful about embracing the truth of our messiness? In this episode, Justin and Abi examine some of the reasons we avoid acknowledging the messy parts of our humanity. They talk about the ways we can experience a life of greater freedom and healing from getting honest with ourselves and others. They explore  how embracing and shining a light on their own messiness is transformative for the world around them. If you have areas in your life that you feel disqualify you, this episode will give you the courage to embrace the reality of where you’re at while giving you hope to move towards your dreams just as you are!

As time passes, all of us go through stages of change, for the better or worse. In the midst of creating ups and downs for ourselves, being known and understood is foundational to discovering how to thrive. For those that are willing to sacrificially love others, while choosing others that will love them in return, long-term friendship is possible and powerful. In this episode Justin is joined by his friend of almost 20 years, Craig Pickerill. They laugh up a storm as they reminisce about their rocky beginning and explore how powerful it’s been to have someone in their corner for so long. They talk about the ways loving one another has impacted them and how time or distance hasn’t been a determining factor to choosing each other. Together they investigate the difficulties many people face in letting someone get so close, yet cast hope for how a long-term friendship can impact those brave enough to allow someone to fully know them. If you’ve had pain in friendships, or are wanting to go deeper in the friendships you have, this episode will help you to heal from what was, be courageous towards and grateful for what is, and give you hope for what could be. You won’t want to miss this fun and heartfelt episode!

For most, there’s something surreal about a life of success and wealth. Driving our dreams is the idea that when we arrive at a specific destination we’ll be fulfilled. The details are different for everyone, but the hope of happiness in the distant future seems to stay the same. But what happens when you arrive and you don’t feel satisfied? Bryant Ellis, owner of The Adventure Challenge, joins Justin and Abi to share about his journey to rehab and the inspiration that followed. He opens up about winning Forbes 30 under 30 and the little satisfaction that it brought, much like the wealth, success, and all the big boy toys that he thought would settle his soul. He gives insight into the looming addiction that hid behind his denial, and how finding freedom has been through facing the pain that he’d been ignoring. If your looking for a conversation that will leave you laughing and inspire you to hope for a happiness that’s tangible, this episode is a MUST!

Separating ourselves from the nature of love leaves us feeling alone, in a state of fear and abandonment. This disconnection from love drives us to exhibit controlling behavior as we fight for a sense of safety and peace. Unfortunately, any safety or peace we experience through control is an illusion and short lived. In this final episode on faith and emotions, Marcus Miller joins the conversation to tackle the repercussions of our independence from a creator that is unrelenting love. Together they address the destructive nature of control and the joy that comes when we choose to surrender and trust in something much bigger than ourselves. If you’re ready to experience a life fully lived, this episode will give you a dose of hope and inspire you to step back and take a deep breath as you realize you’ve there’s a good Papa extremely invested in your story.

In our broken pursuit of feeling valuable, humans have a way of adopting a system of judgment where we can rank one another better than or less than. This hierarchy is based on our personal assessment of what makes something, or someone, good or bad. This arrogant approach to life dehumanizes some, while humanizing others, resulting in disconnected relationships, and a society lacking in compassion and understanding. Marcus and Breanna Miller return for another insightful conversation as the group discusses the common humanity that we all share. They expose the system of hierarchy within the faith institution of Christianity and explore God’s approach to humanity’s shared suffering. Together they look at how this affects our ability to love ourselves and enjoy the life right in front of us. If you have a value for growing in compassion and understanding for yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you, this conversation is just what you need to rewire the way you think and respond to life in general. Get ready for a deepening of love like you’ve never experienced!

It’s easy to lose the sense of who we are, and what we believe, for the sake of others in order to belong. We can find ourselves more concerned with following cultural systems, and the rules in these systems, than expressing ourselves in authentic ways. Denying the truth of who we are, what we feel, and what we need is at the foundation of codependancy. In this episode, Marcus and Brianna Miller join Abi and Justin to graciously explore the ways codependency affects human institutions, and the people within them. They hone in on faith and expose the ways we justify losing ourselves in religion through the lens of Christianity. Together they examine the ways Jesus related to the world through a sense of self and how his compassion was a direct reflection of his emotional intelligence. Living out of a healthy personal identity begins with finding freedom from the ways we minimize who we are for the world around us. Whether or not you’re a person that relates to the institution of Christianity, this episode will give you permission to become who you were made to be! Also, enrollment for Living Fully Alive 2022 is happening now! Be sure to check out www.justinandabi.com to find out how you can experience a life fully lived for yourself and the ones you care about the most! Class starts March 2nd 2022!

Neighbors can be difficult to love. They vote, believe, and talk differently. Their lifestyles might just contradict our entire value system. Our time with them, however, is limited. But what about the person in the mirror that you spend 24/7 with? If you don’t love them well, your neighbor doesn’t stand a chance. Marcus Miller joins Abi and Justin as they discuss the hesitancy to love yourself in the faith community. They address the narcissistic selfishness that people fear loving yourself will produce. Together the shatter destructive paradigms as they explore what the Creator's heart is around self-love. If you have a value for growing in love towards the world around you, and living a healthy life, this is an episode perfect for you! Also, enrollment for Living Fully Alive 2022 is happening now! Be sure to check out www.justinandabi.com to find out how you can experience a life fully lived for yourself and the ones you care about the most! Class starts March 2nd 2022!

Emotions tend to get a bum rap in faith communities. Often times the two are treated as mutually exclusive and emotions have the potential to be seen as enemies of faith. But what if emotions and faith were designed to coexist? In this 5-part series Marcus and Brianna Miller join the Stumvolls. They attempt to tackle the many examples throughout faith that give legitimacy to emotions. They examine God’s expression of emotions as well as His grace for them in the human experience. If you’ve ever been part of a faith institution that looks down on emotions, or simply dismisses them, this series will bring you clarity and give you confidence to embrace your humanity and the many gifts it offers! Also, enrollment for Living Fully Alive 2022 is happening now! Be sure to check out www.justinandabi.com to find out how you can experience a life fully lived for yourself and the ones you care about the most! Class starts March 2nd 2022! Remember to Rate, Review, Subscribe, and Share!