Finding Connection Through Vulnerability

It goes against our natural instinct. The last thing we think will be effective in connecting to others is to expose our most vulnerable selves. And yet, vulnerability is the very thing that drives connection between ourselves and others. Coach Michele Gardemann is on the podcast today talking about how when she was finally willing to get vulnerable in her marriage, that is when she started to see more compassion from her husband and felt a greater connection to him. Michele works with wives of bishops. She has a great perspective on the struggles that these women often feel and how they can be sure that the relationship with their husband does not suffer at the expense of his calling.

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Hayden’s Story

Growing up Hayden's family was in and out of the gospel. As he began experiencing difficulties in his new marriage he learned the importance of making and keeping covenants. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains sensitive content that may be triggering or offensive to some audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

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How American Boys and Men Are Falling Behind – and What We Can Do to Help Them

In the US, women and girls now outperform men and boys at every level of education. Boys are less likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college or finish college. Men are more likely to die by suicide, and they aren't participating in the labor market as much as they used to either. In the last forty years, American society has made concerted efforts to boost opportunities for women and girls. That job is not finished, so when we talk about gender inequality in America, it makes sense that the conversations tend to be about women. But American boys and men are falling behind. Have we accidentally overlooked their struggles? Today on Top of Mind, we're looking at a few of the issues facing modern men and boys, and how to help them. We talk to a program director working with boys of color in Baltimore, an economist who’s studied what it means for boys to be raised in single parent households at a record rate, an academic who’s been following these trends for years, and the founder of a nonprofit with an unusual approach to supporting men in their mental health struggles.

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2 Nephi 1–2

In this episode we'll talk about 2 Nephi chapters one and two. We’ll start with Lehi’s counsel to his wayward sons, Laman and Lemuel. We’ll review how he encouraged them to think about the good things the Lord had done for them, in order to strengthen their faith. Then we’ll talk about a recent and very personal story from my life, where my wife had a cancer scare. We’ll review how the Lord provided assurances and we had the chance to decrease anxiety and increase faith as we chose to belief in Him. We’ll emphasize how increasing faith is one way to help manage anxiety. 

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Is connecting with other religions important in Judaism?

This week on In Good Faith, Steve speaks with Wendy Goldberg in the first half of the episode and Rabbi Joe Charnes in the second half. Both our guests are passionate in interfaith bridge building, and we were excited to hear what they are accomplishing in their communities.

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The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God

A little less than two decades ago, you might walk past a bookstore and see The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins featured among the bestsellers. The mid to late 2000’s were the heyday for the New Atheists, a small cohort of scientists and philosophers who were convinced religion was both untrue and a bad influence in the world. At the time, it was easy to see the rise of the New Atheists as the latest peak of secularism, a sign that public belief in religion was long gone, and there was no going back.

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