What We Really Want: Conversations About Connection

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Latest Episodes:

22 | John Lynch: Actively & Uniquely Loved Nov 12, 2024

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Have you ever gotten lost in a conversation, unaware of how much time has passed, or even exactly what you were talking about? That's kind of how I felt talking with my John Lynch. It's easy to get pulled into John's warmth and sincerity, but he's also intense when talking about God's love for his children.
John co-wrote a book that changed my life several years ago. The Cure: What if God isn't Who You Think He Is and Neither Are You? had a radical impact on my life and recovery, and on how I saw God's love and grace. As someone who had spent most of my life trying to earn God's pleasure and approval, the way John and his co-authors described grace was a complete game-changer.
We talked not just about The Cure, but about another of John's books, On My Worst Day. It's a memoir of sorts, where John dives deep into his own life, and gives glimpses of what Jesus may have been thinking and saying to him throughout the story. There's something in there for all of us.
Whether the thing that has you discouraged is addiction, failure, unrealized dreams, whatever... John's words are a refreshing cup of cold water. I hope this conversation will help you today!
#johnlynch #johnlynchspeaks #thecure #truefaced #onmyworstday #gospel #grace #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #connection #conversation
John's speaking website (JohnLynchSpeaks)
The Cure (on Amazon)
On My Worst Day (on Amazon)
Andrew Farley's books (author John references in the conversation)

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

21 | Kristen Miele: Sex-Ed Reclaimed (Bonus Episode) Nov 05, 2024

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One of the best ways parents can prepare their kids to live healthy, connected lives is to be honest and open with them about important topics. Few topics are more important for parents to bravely engage than teaching their kids about sex. And yet still so many parents are terrified and embarrassed to "go there." Moms and Dads, the time has come to stop using cutesy, slang terms that dance around anatomy and sexuality, and to get real with our kids!
Kristen Miele, founder of Sex-Ed Reclaimed, has been educating youth on the topic of sex for over a decade. She’s taught in hundreds of diverse settings in multiple countries. She heard Greg & Stacey speak at an online summit and reached out to connect, and we're so glad she did! Her curriculum is simple, honest, straight-forward, and really well-done.
Not very long ago, parents who wanted to sexually disciple their kids had a hard time finding good resources to help them. Thankfully, this is not the case anymore. Kristen has developed an incredible tool to help parents de-stigmatize conversations about sex, and to establish themselves as the go-to for good, true sexual information for their kids.
#kristenmiele #sexedreclaimed #sexuality #sexed #parenting #gospel #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation
Sex-Ed Reclaimed website
Sex-Ed Reclaimed on Instagram
Sex-Ed Reclaimed on Facebook

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

20 | Sam Jolman: Sexuality Always Lives in a Story Oct 29, 2024

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There are times when you know you're hearing/reading/experiencing something very important. That's how I felt as I read through Sam Jolman's book The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality.
Men's sexual desire has been attacked, abused, neglected, and misunderstood for as long as it's existed. Men have been stereotyped as uncontrollable lust monsters who cannot control themselves. Purity culture and other harmful messages have made men feel guilty for being sexual creatures and for even having desire.
Men today are starved for sexual formation. They've been failed by parents, churches, and culture alike, leading to widespread shame, confusion, and brokenness in the area of sexuality. Sam's book helps men reconnect their God-given sexuality with innocence, awe, and joy, and shows readers how to celebrate - instead of struggle against - the gift of sexual desire.
In our conversation with Sam, we talk about how men can reclaim the gift of their sexuality with awe; how men who have misused their sexuality can take healthy ownership of the pain they've caused their partners, and so much more. Your sexuality always lives in a story, and the story God is writing is one that invites us to recover our innocence.
#samjolman #thesextalkyounevergot #storyformed #sexuality #masculinity #counseling #coaching #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation
Sam's website
Sam on Facebook
Sam on Instagram

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

19 | Shawn Bonneteau: A Healthy Skeptic of Life Being Good Oct 15, 2024

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When I think of Shawn, I sometimes have to remind myself we've never actually met in person. Shawn is the kind of person who's easy to get to know quickly. He is kind & curious, and also open & vulnerable.
Shawn has a compelling sexual recovery story. Growing up impacted by family of origin trauma (like so many), Shawn turned to pornography as a comfort and became addicted. Like so many other young men, he experienced an unexpected physical impact - porn-induced erectile dysfunction. (Have you noticed lately how many ED medication ads we're seeing lately marketed for young men?) *Note: If you listen to the podcast with kids around, be aware that we use clear physiological descriptions in the ED part of the conversation. We hope this will offer you an opportunity to engage with your internet-connected kids on the important topic of porn.
Through embracing recovery and digging deeper into his own trauma story, Shawn began to experience spiritual, emotional, and physiological healing. Drawing from his own experience, he founded Secret Habit, offering porn recovery coaching from a Christian perspective. More recently, he joined Sathiya Sam's Deep Clean ministry as lead coach.
Listening to Shawn's story, we hope you'll hear things that make you feel less alone, and that give you hope that life can be more than what we often settle for. Healthy connection is for everyone.
#shawnbonneteau #secrethabit #deepclean #counseling #coaching #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation
Book a Coaching Call with Shawn
FREE resource: 90-Day P*rn Withdrawal Survival Guide
Porn Addiction recovery coaching with Deep Clean
Shawn on Instagram

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

18 | Ashley Chesnut: Sending Up a Test Balloon Oct 01, 2024

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Ashley Chesnut moved to Birmingham with a certain future in mind. Graduate from seminary, then get a job as a professor and/or Old Testament commentary writer. But you know what they say about "the best laid plans..."
During her time in seminary, Ashley led a small group at her church, for single women. During that time, some of these women began to share about secret struggles with unwanted sexual behavior: things they'd never been able to share with anyone before.
Ashley began to discover both a gifting and a desire to walk alongside these women and support them toward healing and freedom. She has followed up that desire by getting additional degrees and certifications around trauma and counseling. In 2021 Ashley published a book, It's Not Just You: Freeing Women to Talk About Sexual Sin and Fight It Well. We talked about the way many people "send up test balloons" to see if we're going to be safe, and about the privilege and opportunity it is to be trusted with another person's story.
We have a great conversation with Ashley about how her path to where she is today, the joy of helping hurting people learn to connect with authenticity, her love for her "second home," Birmingham AL, and a lot more. Ashley is also the author of Down in the 'Ham (a children's book about Birmingham), and accompanying coloring books.
Check out Ashley's author link below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Ashley's books on Amazon
#ashleychesnut #itsnotjustyou #downintheham #counseling #therapy #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #women #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

17 | Betrayal Trauma Workshops (Bonus Episode) Sep 24, 2024

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What is a sexual betrayal trauma workshop? And why - if you are a woman going through the pain of having been betrayed by your husband/partner - should you consider attending one? In this BONUS episode, Greg & Stacey are joined by Paige and Brittney, two friends who are part of our Awaken community in Birmingham AL, to talk about their experiences in recovery and having attended our workshop.
Like we did when we addressed our Roots Retreat Men's Intensive in Episode 6 (with Adam, James, and Jason), we talked about the shared experiences of people who attend these weekend events, and why they can be so helpful in the process of recovery.
In this episode, Greg, Stacey, Paige, and Brittney talk about the two primary focuses of the Roots Retreat Women's Workshop: Understanding trauma and addiction. Trauma is an experience shared in some way by basically everyone, but many of us don't recognize the parts of our life that introduced us to trauma long before we were in relationship with our partner. Women who are sexually betrayed often experience that trauma "stepping on the exposed nerve" of unprocessed trauma they already carried. And coming to understand addiction can help women see that the inexcusable things their husbands/partners did often came from patterns that started long before they were together. All of this new or fuller understanding can help her as she heals and moves forward.
If you are a woman struggling in the aftermath of what you've discovered about your partner and are trying to determine what you need to do, and you think the Roots Retreat Women's Workshop may be helpful for you, please reach out to us. We'd love to help you in any way we can!
Check out our links below (including the workshop), and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
#betrayaltrauma #trauma #healing #affairs #sexualbetrayal #therapy #counseling #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

16 | Tullian Tchividjian: Best Parts of God, Worst Parts of Me Sep 17, 2024

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Tullian Tchividjian is a name that elicits strong reactions from people, some positive and some negative. As the grandson of Billy Graham, he grew up in a family that was very familiar with public ministry. For years he has been a provocative voice in evangelical Christianity, writing books, preaching sermons, and using social media to promote a consistent and loud message of grace.
Then, in 2015, his life blew up. Revelations of an affair, the loss of his pastoral ministry, and a divorce added up to an extreme public humbling. And by Tullian's own admission, he did not handle it well. From a place of hurt, anger, and fear, he lashed out and received widespread criticism and condemnation within the Christian community.
At the same time, a few friends who were not willing to throw stones came around Tullian, loved him, spoke grace and truth into his life, and were instrumental in his repentance and healing. In 2019 Tullian returned to pastoral ministry as part of the founding of The Sanctuary, a church in Jupiter FL, where he hosts an annual conference called Fallen & Free.
We talked about his story, his fall, the "infamous" Washington Post statement from 2015, his healing & recovery, mixed motives, what recovery communities offer that the church is missing, and how the church could move toward becoming a safer and more gracious place for broken people.
Tullian's latest book, a memoir called Carnage and Grace: Confessions of an Adulterous Heart, was released in March 2024.
Check out Tullian's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Tullian's website
Tullian's books on Amazon
Fallen & Free conference info
The Sanctuary (church) website
#tullian #tulliantchividjian #carnageandgrace #counseling #therapy #gospel #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

15 | Gordon Bals: I Don't Think Those Tears Are Just Mine Sep 03, 2024

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Gordon Bals has a bit of a reputation around Birmingham Alabama. Many people have referred to him as "that counselor who cries with you." I can't think of too many higher compliments a person could receive.
Gordon founded Daymark Pastoral Counseling in Birmingham AL, and is on faculty at Beeson Divinity School. In the Fall of 2024, under Gordon's direction, Beeson has launched a new program, a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling. This new program provides a context where Gordon can train men and women to show up with the same empathy and kindness he has modeled for decades with his own clients.
We talked about how purposeful presence is more important than sharpening our skills, and about the joy Gordon now has training the next generation of helpful Christian counselors. And we talk about crying a good bit, too. 😊
Check out Gordon's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Daymark Pastoral Counseling (Birmingham AL)
Master of Arts in Christian Counseling program at Beeson Divinity School
#gordonbals #daymark #daymarkpastoralcounseling #beesondivinityschool #beeson #counseling #christiancounseling #therapy #gospel #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

14 | You Just Might Find You Get What You Need (Bonus Recap Episode) Aug 26, 2024

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Whether you're just discovering the podcast now, or have been listening since the very beginning, this episode is for you! We're giving you a bonus that recaps the first 13 episodes we've released so far. Covering experiences like recovery, honesty, friendship, self-awareness, trust, affirmation, forgiveness, ownership, and interdependence, these first episodes shine a bright light on many ways we can pursue healthy connection.
Check out all our guests' links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Episode 3 (Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott)
CBS story on the High Five
Andy's website
Ladybird Taco (Gabe's restaurant)
Episode 4 (Phil Herndon)
Tin Man Ministries website
Episode 5 (Isaac Adams)
Iron City Church (Birmingham AL) web site
United? We Pray web site
Episode 7 (Jill Gullahorn)
Jill Gullahorn website (counseling site)
Jill Phillips website (artist site)
Episode 8 (Steve Brown)
Steve Brown's books on Amazon
Key Life (radio shows, articles, etc.)
Episode 10 (Drew Boa)
Husband Material Community web site
Drew's personal web site
Episode 11 (Michael John Cusick)
Restoring the Soul website
Surfing For God book (on Amazon)
Episode 12 (Sharon Hersh)
Sharon's website
Sharon's books on Amazon
Episode 13 (Nate Larkin)
Samson Society website
Pirate Monk podcast (with hosts Nate Larkin & Aaron Porter)
#NateLarkin #SharonHersh #Mic

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

13 | Nate Larkin: Special But Not Unique Aug 19, 2024

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When people tell stories of early recovery, and talk about special individuals whose help and presence was indispensable, there may be no name that comes up more often than Nate Larkin. Literally thousands of men can say they've sat across from Nate in a coffee shop, hearing his story of sexual brokenness & healing, and taking the risk of sharing theirs for the very first time.
Nate is the founder of The Samson Society, a fellowship of Christian men who are serious about authenticity, community, humility & recovery. Like many ministries, organizations, and fellowships (including Awaken), Samson Society came into existence because of the personal history of its founder. For over 20 years Nate has been walking in recovery from sexual addiction. He experienced the life-changing benefits of living in community with trustworthy traveling companions.
Nate wrote a book, released in 2007, called Samson and the Pirate Monks: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood. In the years since, that book has provide helpful guiding principles for many people and organizations pursuing addiction recovery.
Greg and Nate talk about how authentic community provides safe space for people to learn to live in interdependence, a key experience of healthy connection. Nate and his wife Allie live near Columbia TN.
Check out Nate's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Samson Society website
Pirate Monk podcast (with hosts Nate Larkin & Aaron Porter)
Samson and the Pirate Monks book on Amazon
#NateLarkin #SamsonSociety #PirateMonks #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

12 | Sharon Hersh: Change is Seldom Spectacular Aug 05, 2024

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We're really excited to welcome a guest who has been really helpful and influential in our lives, even though we'd never met before the podcast interview. Sharon Hersh is a therapist and author, whose book The Last Addiction: Why Self-Help is Not Enough was one of the first ones Stacey read when our lives changed in 2009.
In addition to being a therapist, author, and college professor, Sharon is also a recovering alcoholic. She has openly shared her story of addiction, recovery, and lessons learned about connection vs. isolation.
The conversation we had is NOT just for people with addictions. It's also for those who love people with addictions. It's for people who desire escape from and control over life's painful realities. In other words, it's for all of us.
Sharon is the author of several other books and a sought-after speaker. See the links below for her other resources and social media presence.
Check out Sharon's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Sharon's website
Sharon's books on Amazon
Sharon's Facebook page
Sharon's Instagram page
#SharonHersh #LastAddiction #Belonging #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #alcoholism #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

11 | Michael John Cusick: The Light is Brighter Than it Seems Jul 22, 2024

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For men and women seeking recovery from unwanted sexual behavior, few people have been as influential or helpful as Michael John Cusick. Greg, Stacey, and Bobby all share some of our experiences with how Michael's book and podcast have been invaluable in our own path forward. Greg first met Michael in 2014 when he spoke at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL.
Michael is a therapist, author, and Founder/CEO of Restoring the Soul, a counseling practice that provides opportunities for life-changing breakthrough with licensed and experienced therapists. Their holistic approach creates an atmosphere of safety and grace where people can explore their relationships, identity, emotions, and spirituality.
In 2012 Michael released the book Surfing For God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggles. It, along with Jay Stringer's book Unwanted, has been extraordinarily powerful in helping people discover what needs they are actually trying to meet when pursuing broken behavior. The book contains a story (that Greg and Michael talk about) that's part of the reason for our podcast's name!
Restoring the Soul offers individual and group intensive therapy experiences, as well as a blog, podcast, and other resources.
Check out Michael's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Restoring the Soul website
Restoring the Soul podcast
Surfing For God book (on Amazon)
Training Session at Beeson Divinity School (2014)
#MichaelJohnCusick #RestoringTheSoul #SurfingForGod #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

10 | Drew Boa: Calling Out the Treasure Jul 08, 2024

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Anyone who has interacted with Drew Boa knows he's a very special man. Drew loves people, and he has a gift for helping people realize how valuable they are. Some people's encouragement involves empty platitudes. Others give back-door advice disguised as encouragement. People who get to know Drew know he's paying attention - his words are thoughtful and specific.
Drew founded Husband Material, a community that helps men outgrow porn and become mature through podcasts, videos, community, courses, and coaching. For men seeking freedom from unhealthy & unwanted sexual behavior, Husband Material provides a safe place to tell your story, ask questions, request prayer, make new friends, learn how to heal, and celebrate progress.
When I was talking with Drew about how this episode's focus on connection was going to be encouragement, he told me he prefers to use the terms "affirmation" and "blessing." Before you dismiss this distinction as just semantics, listen and you'll see why the distinction is important. Our words have the power to build or tear down, and carefully chosen words of affirmation and blessing call out the glory of God in each person who is made in his image.
Check out Drew's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Husband Material Community web site
Drew's personal web site
#DrewBoa #HusbandMaterial #outgrowporn #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

09 | Two Different Versions of Me (Bonus Story Episode) Jul 01, 2024

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I'm really grateful to be able to share this conversation I had recently with my friend Darren. He is an alumnus of the Roots Retreat, and for the past several years has been actively growing in freedom and recovery from sexual addiction.
Darren shares very openly and vulnerably about some of the struggles he had that contributed to his life of addiction, and how his initial experience with recovery was half-hearted, primarily seeking to avoid consequence. He talks about his time at the Roots Retreat, and how it was pivotal to him getting in touch with deep wounds that had previously kept him from really seeking help and close, supportive connection.
Darren's story has helped many people in his own recovery community where he lives, and we hope it will encourage you to seek out the people who will support you no matter what you're walking through.
Check out our links below (including to the Roots Retreat), and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
#RootsRetreat #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

08 | Steve Brown: God's Not Mad at You Jun 24, 2024

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Greg & Bobby have a conversation with one of their spiritual heroes. Steve Brown has been a pastor, a seminary professor, an author, and a radio host, among other things. Other than his rich, deep, booming voice, probably the best known thing about Steve is his steadfast commitment to preaching about grace, freedom, and the fact that "God is not mad at you."
When many pastors and teachers are hesitant to preach "too much grace," Steve offers a refreshing take on how freeing it can be to really understand that for Christians, the shackles of righteousness by works have really been taken off. Living in the kind of grace and freedom Steve describes - while it risks abuse - also offers the opportunity to see the heart of God and to be drawn to it.
Steve is such an encouraging person, and he talks about how so many of us lack sufficient encouragement in our lives. Words of life from people who know us...ALL of us, can invite us to stronger connection with others, with ourselves, and with God.
Check out Steve's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Steve Brown's books on Amazon
Key Life (radio shows, articles, etc.)
#SteveBrown #Keylife #GodsNotMadAtYou #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

07 | Jill Gullahorn: Trust the Process Jun 10, 2024

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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Stacey and Greg sat down with Jill Gullahorn at her dining room table to talk about life, pain, support, walking with others, and doing our own work. Jill knows a lot about all of these. She's a wife, mother of three, and therapist who has discovered the value of committing to a process of becoming a healthier person living in true authenticity and connection.
Many people will also know Jill by her performing (and maiden) name, Jill Phillips. She has been recording and releasing incredible music since 1999. Be sure to check out her music using the links below.
After begin involved in her own counseling, Jill decided to go back to school and become a counselor herself. She has also received extensive training in the Enneagram, which is an ancient approach to helping people understand their own particular way of relating to themselves and the world around them.
Jill's work with clients includes walking with many women who have experienced sexual betrayal trauma, and she provides a safe place for them to experience discovery and healing.
Check out Jill's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Jill Gullahorn website (counseling site)
Jill Phillips website (artist site)
Jill Phillips music on Spotify
Jill Phillips music on Apple Music
Enneagram Journey podcast with Suzanne Stabile
Typology podcast with Ian Cron
#JillGullahorn #JillPhillips #enneagram #counseling #therapy #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

06 | Adam Calvert, James Horne, Jason McNaughton: Recovery Intensives Jun 03, 2024

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What is a recovery intensive? How is it different from weekly therapy or extended inpatient treatment? How could it help my recovery process? All of these are extremely good and important questions, and in this BONUS episode of What We Really Want, Greg enlists the help of three great friends and therapists who consistently staff the Roots Retreat Men's Recovery Intensive from Awaken.
Adam Calvert, James Horne, and Jason McNaughton are all counselors who are specifically and extensively trained to work with clients around areas of trauma and addiction. They all have been part of staffing and developing the Roots Retreat since its inception in 2016.
In this episode, Adam, James, Jason and Greg talk about why recovery intensives are so valuable, how their impact is different that that of ongoing individual therapy (and also complimentary of it), and why people seeking recovery from unwanted behaviors might want to consider attending.
If you are a man who struggles with unwanted or addictive sexual behavior, and you think the Roots Retreat - or an intensive like it - might be right for you, please reach out to us with any questions. We'd love to help you find the right resources to support your recovery!
Check out our links below (including the Roots Retreat), and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
#AdamCalvert #JamesBuddyHorne #JamesHorne #JasonMcNaughton #therapy #counseling #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

05 | Isaac Adams: Honesty is the Oxygen May 27, 2024

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This episode is a real treat for Greg & Stacey, because our guest is also our pastor. Isaac Adams is the Lead Pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham AL; additionally he is an author and founder of a non-profit organization called "United? We Pray," which encourages and equips Christians to pursue racial reconciliation.
Isaac talks about his upbringing in Washington D.C., his journey to faith, and the difficult decision - as a Black man - to move to Birmingham (and all its painful history) to pastor his first church. The conversation covers a multitude of topics, eventually settling into a great discussion on the creative lies of our enemy, how hard it is to confess struggles within the church, and why it's so important we learn to do so. Christ is the vine and we are the branches, and as Isaac says in our conversation, "Honesty is the oxygen that makes the branches of the vine grow."
Check out Isaac's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Iron City Church (Birmingham AL) web site
United? We Pray web site
Isaac Adams' books on Amazon
#IsaacAdams #IronCityChurch #United?WePray #gospel #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

04 | Phil Herndon: The Language of Connection & Attachment May 14, 2024

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Feelings would be great if they didn't make us feel so many things. Sometimes it seems like they are a nuisance, other times like they're just too much to bear. But what if we changed our relationship with our feelings and started to believe they were the megaphone telling us what our heart is experiencing and desires to experience?
In this episode, Phil Herndon (counselor and Clinical Director at Tin Man Ministries) talks about how beautiful and valuable our feelings are, and how getting to know them is critical to living a healthy, connected life. Opening ourselves up to the full range of our feelings allows us to walk through life knowing that at the end, as we "walk off the field with our uniform dirty," we'll be able to know we really lived.
Check out Phil's Tin Man link below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
Tin Man Ministries website
#PhilHerndon #TinManMinistries #feelings #emotions #therapy #counseling #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
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Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

03 | Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott: Clap, Snap, High Five Apr 30, 2024

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Talking with Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott can be many things, but it is never boring. With dry humor and refreshing honesty, these great friends share how they've committed to intentional connection in their 20+ year friendship.
Both Andy and Gabe are music industry veterans, and in recent years Gabe has added restauranteur to his resume, as founder of Ladybird Taco (with locations in Nashville and Birmingham AL). Since meeting in 2000, and alongside many life changes, their friendship has been a constant. Listening to how these friends have stayed connected, and how that connection helped keep Gabe tethered to hope during one of the hardest experiences of his life, is encouraging and inspiring.
One longtime intentional part of Andy and Gabe's friendship is a weekly walking journey they take from their homes to give each other a high-five. April 30, 2024 marks the TEN YEAR anniversary of the high five. We talk about that, and much more, in this great conversation.
Check out Andy's & Gabe's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
CBS story on the High Five
Andy's website
Ladybird Taco (Gabe's restaurant)
#AndyGullahorn #GabeScott #HighFive #friendship #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

02 | Bobby West: What WE Really Want, part 2 Apr 16, 2024

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Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken continue the conversation we started in Episode 1, where we tell our stories and share what WE really want to see happen with the podcast.
Now, it's Bobby's turn. Bobby West tells about his history of struggling with addiction as a missionary, the pain and damage it caused, his path of recovery, and how he came to be part of Awaken. Then we all talk more about how we all need and desire connection, and how the podcast is going to offer deep and meaningful conversations that invite listeners to discover the connections they've really wanted all along.
Check out our links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
#BobbyWest #GregOliver #StaceyOliver #missions #missionary #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

01 | Greg & Stacey Oliver: What WE Really Want, part 1 Apr 16, 2024

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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken kick off this brand new podcast by sharing what WE really want listeners to experience. If the saying is true - "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety...the opposite of addiction is connection" - then recovery is more than just a focus on stopping or changing behavior. It's about discovering the deeper desires we all carry for deep and authentic connection. Awaken is a recovery community that helps people live the lives they were created to live, free from addiction and the damage it causes. Part of the way we support people in recovery is by inviting them to find out what they've really wanted all along.
In this first episode, Greg & Stacey share their stories of how they came into recovery, and how people who struggle with unwanted sexual behavior or sexual betrayal trauma can connect with our community.
Check out our links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!
#Greg Oliver #StaceyOliver #BobbyWest #missions #missionary #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

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