The Connected Life

Developing camaraderie amongst men can be as simple as creating a common goal that requires a collective group to band together in order to achieve it. Be it building a house, playing sports, going to war, or taking down the Death Star, a goal is often all that’s needed. But building intimate connection is a much grandeur task. In this episode Justin and his close friend Marcus open up about their friendship and share about the foundational building blocks necessary to create a lasting bond. They explore varying phases of vulnerability and the obstacles men often face when attempting to create this essential human experience. Whether you’re a man or a woman, this conversation is vital to understanding the human condition and to establishing connection that is heartfelt and full of depth. You won’t want to miss it!

Whether we understand it or not, family plays a vital role in experiencing a life of stability and confidence. For many of us, our family of origin can be messy, painful, and sometimes evoke instability. The beauty of life is that family isn’t limited to blood relatives. Through graciously unique circumstances we can experience the love and connection we were all designed for. In this episode Justin sits down with his dear friend Katrina to have a conversation six years in the making. They discuss the shockingly abnormal event that would forever bond their lives together. Through care, and brave vulnerability, they forged a family connection that would last a lifetime and redeem circumstances that had yet to happen. If you’re wanting vision and inspiration to to help you imagine the unlikely ways your dreams and desires can be fulfilled, this heartwarming story of radical trust is just for you!

It can be easy to find ourselves consumed with regret and paralyzed with pain when we contemplate the dreams and desires that never panned out the way we dreamed they would. Without proper acceptance, we can’t properly grieve and move forward. In this second part of a two part episode, Abi further discusses her grief process that gone on as she has accepted she will never birth her own children. She shares about the power of acceptance and how this has led to building momentum towards what her unique story is meant to look like. If you’ve experienced not having the dreams for your life come into fulfillment the way you expected and are needing a dose of hope and inspiration, this episode is a must!

Most of us have an idea of what we think our life should look like. Our education, job, friends, family, and marriage are just a few aspects that we think have to turn out a certain way. But then they don’t, and reality sinks in leaving us to grieve what wasn’t or didn’t happen. In this episode Abi bares it all in her most vulnerable time of sharing on the podcast as she talks candidly with Justin about her pain of not having children. Together they open up about their decision around children and the grief that followed. If you’re looking for a genuine story of humanity that will challenge you to accept what is and leave you feeling like you’re not alone in your experience, this episode is for you.

Many people believe that “success” just happens to a select lucky few, or for those that simply keep their head down and work hard. But what if success has ingredients like a cocktail that anyone can make? In this episode, Abi and Justin define their version of success and investigate some of the key ingredients that are fundamental to seeing the dreams of a person’s heart become reality. They highlight the truths in tension that govern the journey of success while taking the pressure off of the outcome. If you’re looking for clarity to help guide you as you create the life you’ve always wanted, this is a MUST listen to episode.

In part two of this two part episode, Abi and Justin sit down again with friend and fellow Life Consultant Laura Duncan. Together they take a deep dive into the pain and shame that is the foundation for sexual addiction. Through compassion they shine a light on the subject and reveal how, in our common humanity, we all find ourselves coping in destructive ways, making us all the same. Through Laura’s insight into the development of children, she shares practical tips and tools on how to help parents navigate a rather tricky landscape. If you’re a human in the 21st Century this is a MUST listen to episode.

In a world culture that has instant access to pornographic material it’s realistic that so many people, both men and women, would use, or have addictions to this type of content. For those that are aware of the destructive nature of this content, there’s a longing to find freedom from it, but often little understanding as to why they engage it in the first place. In this episode Justin and Abi are joined by their good friend and fellow consultant Laura Duncan. Laura shares about her history of helping men and women discover what the real problem is that leads to unhealthy expressions of sexuality. Together they compassionately explore the many “needs” and emotions individuals have, but don’t meet or express, that lead to self-destructive sexual patterns. If you’re wanting to understand how you or others are driven down the path of engaging with pornography, this episode starts the process of doing just that!

Are you a turtle or a hailstorm? The way we attach to one another is critical to understanding our behavior and connection in relationship. Through our childhood experiences we learn how to connect and this style of connection affects how we express ourselves in relationships as adults. In this episode Abi, Justin, and their close friend Ruth begin the conversation about attachment styles. Understanding your attachment style is critical to relating healthily to one another. The more you know about how you attach, the more deliberate you can be in creating secure attachments that deepen the bond between you and the people you care about the most. If you want to understand yourself better and create a lifestyle of healthy confrontations, this episode is for you!

House renovations can be daunting. They come with blood, sweat, and tears you didn’t know you had the capacity to shed. They’re expensive and time consuming, and, for anyone doing it for the first time, there’s a learning curve and a lot of unknowns. But in the end, it’s worth it. In this episode Justin and Abi discuss the parallels between renovating a home and renovating your heart. They break down personal transformation in a practical way that helps everyone engaging the process feel supported through a better understanding of what to expect and how to  go about it in peace and patience. If you’re developing and growing in your emotional health, this episode is for you!

The pathway to healing and freedom isn’t easy, and it certainly doesn’t happen alone. When our process is walked out openly and vulnerably, within community, our bravery has the power to inspire contagious courage  in others, while liberating them at the same time. In this episode Abi and Justin share a dramatically powerful healing moment that takes place publicly in the life of former guest Ryan Opfer. Through taking a major risk, Ryan finds himself unintentionally helping others while discovering he’s loved and not alone in his process. If you’re looking for raw and authentic, it doesn’t get any better than this.