I Wish You Could Hear This

Latest Episodes:

Are Christian Kids Really Leaving the Church? The Data May Surprise You - Episode 51 Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

If you’re a Christian parent, you’ve probably heard the discouraging statistic that most kids raised in the church will walk away from their faith after high school. But is that actually true?

In this episode, Shaunti and Jeff unpack recent research from Pew Research Center and Barna that paints a much more hopeful picture. They share what the data actually says about young adults and faith, why a faith-filled home makes a meaningful difference, and the surprising trends happening among Gen Z and Millennials.

They also talk about what parents can do to help their kids develop a faith of their own—and offer encouragement for parents whose children have already stepped away. Because while parents can model faith, create space for honest questions, and pray, they can’t force a change in someone’s heart. And no matter where your child is today, their story isn’t over.

Resources

New Barna Data: Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance, Sep 2, 2025

https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/

New Research: Belief in Jesus Rises, Fueled by Younger Adult, Apr 7, 2025

https://www.barna.com/research/belief-in-jesus-rises/

Pew Research: Why Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?

https://shared.outlook.inky.com/link?domain=www.pewresearch.org&t=h.eJxNjcFuwyAQRH8l4ly8QExs59RfobAOKBgsFgdFVf-9-FCpt9GM3rxvdpTI7hfma93pDtBaG3ZsBQlNsX7I5QEFY3iEnEAJpUEqkBqaf3OXOeUNudmwBGsS8Yjmhbx6DIX_Ubz5EJHn3hbiVM0b2MeFPU_rq4PVEMdUsewlEBI8bf_4JG-OVMNg8wZaaCtu4yquTlit9GSNM3b9krcRpVwXkNM8y3mc1TJcF6mmZToNeBpoxei88en_47m6vqYjxh5Dj_LnF4lMVoE.MEQCIAO40yzee2G9YuNe0nR9MZs61JV1ayGYRkuwaqedTHD_AiB3tHfIPF830vfYRJctIF-kfsPssZeIqEVIwxn1PJoypA

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How AI Is Impacting Your Relationships (And You May Not Even Be Realizing It) - Episode 50 Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

AI has become part of everyday life for most of us. We use it to answer questions, solve problems, brainstorm ideas—and sometimes even help us navigate our relationships. But could all that interaction with AI be changing us in ways we don’t realize?

In this episode, Shaunti and Jeff take a fascinating look at what can happen when we get used to an AI that is always affirming, always available, and always ready with an answer. Could that make us a little less patient when our spouse pushes back? Could it make us more likely to avoid hard conversations? Could it even change what we expect when we go to God for answers?

They also talk about why the normal “friction” of real relationships is actually important, how to keep our relationship muscles from getting weak, and a few practical ways we can use AI wisely—while still choosing the patience, humility, honesty, and genuine affirmation that our real relationships need.

AI isn’t going away—and it can be an incredibly useful tool. But as it becomes a bigger part of our everyday lives, we need to be intentional about making sure it helps us without quietly changing what we expect from the people we love—or from God.

Resources

Why I Told My Chatbot to Stop Kissing Up to Me: AI responses are often too agreeable, too enthusiastic and too dramatic. And it’s partially our fault.

By Nicole Nguyen, Aug. 16, 2026

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/why-i-told-my-chatbot-to-stop-kissing-up-to-me-62cea3fa?st=qc45KP&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

How to Make ChatGPT Challenge You More

Open ChatGPT and click your profile icon.
Go to Personalization.
Under Base style and tone, choose Candid. This makes ChatGPT more direct and more likely to point out gaps, risks, and trade-offs.
Still under Personalization, open Custom Instructions and make sure customization is turned on.
Add an instruction like: “Don’t automatically agree with me or affirm my assumptions. Act as a thoughtful critical-thinking partner. If you think I’m overlooking something, tell me. Challenge weak reasoning, point out alternative explanations, and ask clarifying or probing questions when they would help me think more carefully. Prioritize accuracy and honesty over making me feel validated.”
Save your changes. These preferences will then influence your conversations with ChatGPT, including existing chats.

Note: You can also adjust Characteristics under Personalization to fine-tune things like warmth and enthusiasm, although the Custom Instruction is the more important piece for getting ChatGPT to actually push back on your thinking.

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How to Rebuild Trust After Betrayal in Your Marriage, with Mark and Jill Savage - Episode 49 Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Rebuilding trust after infidelity—or any serious betrayal—can feel impossible. How do you begin trusting someone again when that trust has been completely shattered?

In this episode, Shaunti and Jeff sit down with longtime friends Mark and Jill Savage, authors, speakers, and marriage coaches who know this journey firsthand. They share the story of the affair that nearly ended their marriage, the moment everything began to change, and the long process of rebuilding what had been broken.

Mark and Jill explain why trust isn't restored with one apology or promise to change. Instead, it comes back through consistent changed behavior over time—what they describe as rebuilding trust "one tablespoon at a time." They share practical examples of what honesty, transparency, accountability, and compassion looked like in their own recovery, as well as the role faith, humility, and grief played in their healing.

For anyone facing infidelity or another serious breach of trust, this conversation offers practical steps for moving forward—and hope that even when a marriage feels beyond repair, the story may not be over yet.

This Episode's Key Topics

Mark and Jill Savage's personal story of infidelity and recovery
The turning point that began the healing of their marriage
Why rebuilding trust requires consistent changed behavior over time
The "Trust Bathtub" and rebuilding trust one tablespoon at a time
The importance of honesty, transparency, and proactive accountability
Taking responsibility for betrayal without shifting blame
The role of grief, humility, and faith in the healing process
Hope for couples who feel like their marriage may be beyond repair

Resources

Mark and Jill Savage: markandjill.org
No More Perfect Podcast: podcast.nomoreperfect.com
Free Rebuilding Trust Guide: rebuildingtrust.us

Connect with Mark and Jill

Instagram: @jillsavage.author
Facebook: @jillsavage.author

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How to Love Someone When You Don’t Feel Like It, with Chip Ingram Episode 48 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

What if love isn’t primarily something you feel—or something you have to wait for—but something you can choose?

In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff sit down with pastor, author, and Bible teacher Chip Ingram to talk about his book I Choose Love and a radically practical way to understand biblical love.

Chip explains the difference between the feelings we associate with love and the agape love modeled by Jesus: a willful, sacrificial choice to put another person’s needs ahead of our own. And that matters whether we’re dealing with tension in a marriage, a difficult family relationship, division in the church, or someone whose views are completely different from ours.

Chip also gets personal, sharing how this understanding of love helped transform a deeply difficult season in his own marriage. The breakthrough came when he stopped focusing on how his wife needed to change and started asking what he could do differently. As Chip puts it, you can’t control another person—but you can change your part of the relationship.

You’ll also hear why loving action sometimes has to come before loving feelings, why humility and servanthood are so important, and three practical ways to become a more loving person: declare war on selfishness, attack the pride underneath it, and intentionally practice humility by putting others’ needs ahead of your own.

In this episode:

Why biblical love is much more than a feeling

The difference between agape love and romantic, friendship, and family love

What Philippians 2 teaches us about loving like Jesus

Why waiting until you feel loving can keep you stuck

How choosing obedience can begin changing our hearts

What Chip learned during a painful season in his own marriage

Why you can’t control another person—but you can change your part of the relationship

How selfishness and pride undermine love

Three practical choices that can help us become more loving

How Christians can pursue love and unity in a deeply divided culture

Why the mindset “I am second” can change the way we approach everyday relationships

Resources mentioned:

Book: I Choose Love by Chip Ingram

Living on the Edge: livingontheedge.org

Also mentioned: Good to Great in God’s Eyes by Chip Ingram

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Your Son Needs to Hear From You, with Molly DeFrank: Episode 47 Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Boys today are growing up surrounded by confusing messages about masculinity and what it means to be a man. So how can parents help their sons develop a healthy, confident understanding of who God created them to be?

Shaunti and Jeff talk with Molly DeFrank, mom of six and author of Mothering Boys: 8 Things Your Son Needs to Hear from You Before He Turns 10. Together, they explore the powerful role parents—and especially moms—play in shaping a boy’s identity, character, confidence, and understanding of masculinity.

You’ll hear practical ways to speak life into your son, recognize the unique strengths God has given him, and help him grow into a godly man of courage and character.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Truth Every Overwhelmed Christian Mom Needs to Hear, with Brittany Ann, Episode 46 Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood? Wondering how to prioritize your faith when you're barely keeping up with everyday life?

If you've ever ended the day feeling guilty because you didn't have time to read your Bible, pray, or spend quiet time with God, you're not alone.

In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with author, speaker, and Equipping Godly Women founder Brittany Ann to talk honestly about the challenges young Christian moms face. Together, they explore how to grow closer to God without adding more pressure to an already full life.

Brittany shares her own journey of balancing marriage, motherhood, ministry, and faith, along with practical encouragement for finding God's peace—even in the middle of exhaustion and chaos.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

Why so many Christian moms struggle with guilt over their spiritual lives

How to prioritize your relationship with God when life feels overwhelming

Practical ways to spend meaningful time with God—even if you only have a few minutes

The difference between striving for perfection and pursuing faithfulness

How to let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace God's grace

Encouragement for moms who feel spiritually dry or discouraged

Simple habits that can help you stay connected to God during busy seasons

Whether you're raising toddlers, homeschooling, juggling work and family, or simply trying to catch your breath, this conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical hope for this season of life.

Meet Our Guest

Brittany Ann is an author, speaker, podcast host, and the founder of Equipping Godly Women, a ministry dedicated to encouraging Christian women with practical, biblical wisdom for everyday life. Since launching the ministry in 2014, Brittany has reached millions of women through articles, Bible studies, books, and online resources. She and her husband are raising four children together.

Resources Mentioned

Fall in Love with God's Word by Brittany Ann https://a.co/d/000kPB4D

https://equippinggodlywomen.com/

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What's Happening to Our Boys and How You Can Help, Episode 45 Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Summary:

Boys and men are struggling—but this isn't a reason to lose hope. In this episode, Shaunti and Jeff unpack what's happening in today's culture, why so many boys and young men are falling behind, and the simple, powerful ways each of us can make a difference. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, mentor, teacher, or friend, you'll come away with practical encouragement and renewed hope for the boys and men you love.

Resources and Links:

Nancy Pearcy “The Toxic War on Masculinity”

https://a.co/d/05CJjqrE

Hannah Rosin, The End of Men essay in The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/308135/

“If We Were Ants” short film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX23DMyzvHE

Pew Research -Public Views on Men and Masculinity

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/10/17/public-views-on-men-and-masculinity/

APA Guidelines on practice with boys and men

https://www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf

Data tables:

Reading scores of 4th, 8th and 12th grade students – see Figure 5, 6, 7

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cnb/reading-performance

College enrollment of men v women

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/pdf/2024/cpb_508c.pdf

https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d22/tables/dt22_303.10.asp

Bureau of Labor Statistics about men and women in the workforce:

https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-labor-force-participation-rate.htm

Mortality data:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db456.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX23DMyzvHE

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What Every Dad Needs to Know About Your Teenage Daughter, with Michelle Watson Canfield Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Summary:

In this episode, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with author, counselor, and father-daughter relationship expert Michelle Watson Canfield to explore one of the most challenging seasons of parenting: connecting with adolescent daughters.

Many dads feel uncertain about how to respond when their daughters become more emotional, pull away, or seem resistant to their efforts. Michelle shares a powerful insight she has observed through years of counseling: many men would rather do nothing than risk doing it wrong—but when it comes to fathering daughters, stepping back often creates more distance.

Together, Shaunti, Jeff, and Michelle unpack why dads often feel sidelined during the teenage years, how mothers can become caught in the middle, and practical ways fathers can stay engaged even when conversations feel awkward or difficult.

You’ll learn:

Why many dads instinctively pull back—and why that can be harmful

How to stay calm and grounded when emotions run high

Practical ways to pursue your daughter with intention and consistency

Why your presence matters more than your perfection

How to build trust and connection during the adolescent years

If you've ever felt unsure how to connect with your daughter—or worried that you're getting it wrong—this conversation will equip and encourage you to keep showing up.

Because your daughter doesn't need a perfect dad. She needs an engaged one.

Links and Resources:

Website: drmichellewatson.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmichellewatson

Instagram: michellejwatson and thedadwhispererpodcast

Twitter: @mwatsonphd

LinkedIn: Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield

The Dad Whisperer Podcast: Apple Podcasts + Spotify

YouTube: @thedadwhisperer

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why Couples Drift and How to Reverse It, with Lindsey Maestas – Episode 43 Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

SUMMARY: What happens when a marriage starts drifting apart — and one or both spouses wonder if it’s even possible to reconnect?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, and sit down with author, speaker, and podcast host to talk about the quiet disconnection many couples experience and the practical ways healing can begin — even when things feel broken.

Drawing from Lindsey’s personal story and her new book Don’t Burn Down the House, this episode explores:

Why many marriages slowly drift into “roommate mode”

What often causes emotional disconnection beneath the surface

How resentment and hopelessness quietly build

Why change can begin even if only one spouse is willing

The small shifts that can create major transformation

How to prioritize your marriage without losing yourself

What rebuilding trust and connection really looks like

If you’ve ever felt discouraged, lonely, unseen, or unsure whether your marriage can recover, this conversation offers practical wisdom and genuine hope.

LINKS AND RESOURCES: Book: Don't Burn Your Own House Down: Prioritizing Your Marriage, Your Spouse, and Yourself for a Deeper Connection: Maestas, Lindsey: 9780310369479: Amazon.com: Books

Website: HOME - Sparrows + Lily

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Tired of Carrying Hidden Hurt? Finding Healing, with Willow Weston - Episode 42 May 19, 2026

Show notes

Summary: In this powerful episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with author, speaker, and ministry leader Willow Weston to explore what it means to truly heal from hurt instead of hiding from it. Together, they unpack how unresolved pain can surface in anxiety, broken relationships, unforgiveness, and emotional exhaustion—and why healing begins when we stop running from our wounds and bring them honestly before God.

Willow shares her personal story, the heart behind her ministry Collide, and insights from her new book about embracing pain as part of the pathway to restoration and deeper connection. This conversation offers encouragement for anyone carrying hidden hurt, walking through disappointment, or longing to experience emotional and spiritual healing.

You’ll hear:

Why unprocessed pain often “comes out sideways”
How honesty and vulnerability open the door to healing
The role faith and community play in restoration
Encouragement for those feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted
Hope for healing not only for ourselves, but also for the people we love

If you’ve ever wondered whether real healing is possible, this episode is a reminder that God meets us in our pain—and that hope and restoration are closer than we think.

Links and Resources:

Book: Collide

Website: https://wecollide.net/staff/willow-weston/

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