What We Really Want: Conversations About Connection

Latest Episodes:

67 | Kristen Jenson: The Ability to Make a Good Choice May 26, 2026

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Parents raising kids today face challenges different from any other generation before. Technology is expanding and changing more rapidly than ever, and dangerous and harmful content hunts for young eyes.

Kristen Jenson has a mission: to help equip parents to prepare their kids. When kids know what is out there, how it is harmful, and what to do when they're exposed, they'll be safer, healthier, and more resilient. No one can fully prevent their kids from seeing porn or other harmful content, but they can make sure their kids know what to do when they see it.

Kristen is the author of the book series Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, which just released a Girl's Guide edition. She is also the founder of Defend Young Minds, an organization providing training and resources to help parents and caregivers more effectively teach and prepare their kids.

#kristenjenson #goodpicturesbadpictures #defendyoungminds #parents #parenting #pornography #connection #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

Kristen's Good Pictures, Bad Pictures books (Amazon)

Defend Young Minds website

"My Kid Saw Porn...Now What?" SMART Plan guide

Books (Defend Young Minds website)
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DYM on Instagram
DYM on X (formerly Twitter)
DYM on LinkedIn

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66 | Andy Gullahorn: Bowling League, Bonfire, or Badminton May 12, 2026

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There's a song lyric that reminds us of something important:

"If beauty’s what you’re after, just look close to see...
Knowing small things matter is really no small thing."

That's from one of our friend Andy Gullahorn's songs. What a treat to have Andy back for another conversation. Talking with someone who's been a friend for a long time means you don't have to have much planned...the conversation will happen naturally. And this one defintely did.

From friendship rituals to turning 50 to signing up for the Senior Olympics, Andy looks for meaning in everything. And the people who are around can sense there's something special about finding connection everywhere. Which, not coincidentally, actually gives us What We Really Want. That's not just the title of this show, it's also the title of one of Andy's newest songs, which he performs for us during the conversation!

Here's to you finding beauty and meaning, whether in bowling leagues, bonfires, badminton, or anything else around you. Thanks for the reminder, Andy.

#andygullahorn #winningstreak #highfive #songwriting #connection #relationships #spirituality #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

Andy's website

Andy's Patreon page

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A Little Extra Helping with Crystal Renaud Day (Bonus Episode) May 05, 2026

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Sometimes there's just too much good stuff to fit it all into an episode! This is what it felt like when Stacey and I - with our friend Stevi - talked with Crystal Renaud Day about her work with women who struggle with unwanted sexual behavior.

One part of the conversation we didn't want to get lost was when Crystal talked about the work she does with teenage and pre-teen girls and their parents. What a refreshing thought...to address threats to safety and sexuality before they get out of control!

For parents who desire to protect your kids while you prepare your kids to be on their own, this is a great part of the conversation you'll want to listen to. Be sure to also listen to our other episodes focusing on how you can protect and disciple your kids' innocence and sexuality.

Please keep listening in...we'll be giving you new conversations every other Tuesday. Also, please support us by writing a positive review and giving us 5 stars where you get your podcasts.

#crystalrenaudday #crystalday #sherecovery #livingonpurpse #sexualwholeness #pornaddiction #pornrecovery #therapy #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #women #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

SheRecovery website

SheSummit website - free virtual summit, with options to purchase lifetime access (use promo code AWAKEN for 10% off upgrades passes)

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65 | Crystal Renaud Day: Understanding the Drivers Apr 28, 2026

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Ever hear the same lie we have? The lie that says, "Only men watch porn." What do you do if you're a female who struggles with something you're told is just a "guy's problem?"

Growing up, Crystal Renaud Day hear that message. Although she was exposed to porn at age 10, and it eventually became an addiction, she could not find people talking about it, or offering help. Thankfully, she did something about it.

For almost 20 years, Crystal has been helping other women find a place to speak about, understand, and find healing & recovery from unwanted sexual struggles. She created an online recovery community, SheRecovery, that offers groups for women every day of the week. She is an author of several books, including an new book called What Drives Women to Porn, which explores the multiple drivers that contribute to unwanted sexual behavior; the book releases in September 2026. She also offers an annual online FREE summit for women called the SheSummit.

Crystal also founded an organization called Living on Purpose, which provides coaching and counseling to women and to parents who desire to raise their kids to be sexually healthy and aware.

Crystal lives with her husband Tim in Kansas City.

SheRecovery website

SheSummit website - free virtual summit, with options to purchase lifetime access (use promo code AWAKEN for 10% off upgrades passes)

Support the show

Awaken's CONNECT Men's Weekend registration (Oct. 9-11, 2026)

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64 | Dane Ortlund: Everything Is Going To Be Alright Apr 14, 2026

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It's What We Really Want's second anniversary episode! 🎂 🎉🎈 With gratitude for two years of great Conversations About Connection, we get to have another one with pastor and best-selling author Dane Ortlund.

Dane comes from a family with generations of ministry service, including his grandparents (Ray Ortlund Sr. and Anne Ortlund) and his father (Dane Ortlund Jr., author and founding pastor of Immanuel Church Nashville). Dane was the Chief Publishing Officer for Crossway Books for ten years, and in 2020 he released Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, which presented the heart of Jesus in a deeply loving way; the book has had worldwide impact and has sold well over one million copies.

With his writing, and in this conversation, Dane presents a perspective on how Jesus wants to relate to his people in a kind, refreshing, life-giving way many people don't hear enough.

Dane has also written Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners, and has an upcoming book (due October 2026) called Finally Home: The Christian Hope of Heaven. Dane pastors Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois, where he lives with his wife Stacey and their children.

#daneortlund #gentleandlowly #deeper #finallyhome #heartofjesus #gospel #grace #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #recovery #connection #conversation

Dane's books on Amazon

Dane's website

Sing! Daily devo

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63 | Bridgett Blood: Hot And Holy Mar 31, 2026

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For too many people of faith, the only message about sex growing up was "Don't do it!" So many people had genuine curiosity about their sexuality, but nowhere to bring their questions and no one helping them steward it. As a result, many learned to either ignore an important part of them, resulting in a lack of ability to show up healthy in relationships; or to indulge it, substituting sex or porn for real connection.

That's why we're so excited to have Bridgett Blood as our guest. Bridgett is a storywork coach who "helps Christian adults navigate sexual desire, dating, and boundaries with clarity, confidence, and deep connection to their values. With a background in ministry and emotional health," Bridgett finds "deep joy walking with people through the messy, beautiful intersection of faith and desire." (from her website)

While it's sad and often surprising how many Christian younger adults struggle to bless their sexual selves, it's super encouraging that many voices (like Bridgett, Jay Stringer, Sam Jolman and other) are rising today to help them see what they've been missing, and how to engage their sexuality without indulging it in ways that compromise their beliefs.

In addition to her coaching, Bridgett is the host of the Dating and Desire podcast. She lives in Nashville TN.

#bridgettblood #desire #storywork #sexuality #hotandholy #coaching #gospel #sexualdesire #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Bridgett's website

Dating and Desire podcast (Spotify)

Dating and Desire podcast (Apple)

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RE-RELEASE | Betrayal Trauma Workshops Mar 24, 2026

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RE-RELEASE. This episode originally released September 24, 2024.

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

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62 | Andrew Bauman: I Want To Be A Good Man Mar 17, 2026

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Have Christian men been conditioned to accept behaviors that marginalize and abuse women? When does normal relational conflict cross the line and become abusive? Has the Church been complicit in creating inequity between men and women?

Questions like these represent much of the work of our guest, Dr. Andrew Bauman. Andrew is a therapist and the Founder and Director of the Christian Counseling Center for Sexual Health & Trauma. His dissertation was on studying the impact of sexism and abuse on women in the Protestant Church.

Andrew is the author of seven books, and his newest book is called SAFE CHURCH: How to Guard Against Sexism & Abuse in Christian Communities.

Andrew's wife, Dr. Christy Bauman, is also a therapist and author. They live and work in Brevard, NC.

#andrewbauman #andrewjbauman #safechurch #sexism #mutuality #abuse #christybauman #counseling #coaching #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Christian Counseling Center for Sexual Health & Trauma website

Andrew's personal website

Man Land info page

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61 | Jay Stringer: Listen to the Voice of Desire, part 2 Mar 10, 2026

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Here is Part 2 of our conversation with Jay Stringer.

Last week Jay released his book, Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow. Moving beyond the singular experience of sexual struggles found in his first book Unwanted, Desire offers a critically important opportunity to better understand the core longings created in every person. To see desire as good, part of how we reflect the image of God. To be curious about our experiences with desire - how it's been encouraged, discouraged, or even prohibited.

Jay's book explores desire through the five core longings that show up in all of our lives: The desires for wholeness, growth, intimacy, pleasure, and meaning. Through better understanding our relationship to desire, we can live more fully the lives we were created to live.

Jay lives in New York City with his wife Heather and their children.

#jaystringer #unwanted #desire #storywork #sexuality #masculinity #counseling #coaching #gospel #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversation

Jay's website

Jay's books (Amazon)

Holistic Desire website

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60 | Jay Stringer: Listen to the Voice of Desire, part 1 Mar 03, 2026

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For people interested in digging deeply into their stories and better understanding themselves and the unwanted behaviors that plague them, few people have been as helpful as Jay Stringer.

In 2018, Jay's book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing invited readers to a new approach to unwanted sexual behaviors: one that begins by "listening to our lust." Jay encouraged readers to see their struggles as a roadmap to past harms and current hinderances to freedom.

Now he's released his second book, Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow. Moving beyond the singular experience of sexual struggles, Desire offers a critically important opportunity to better understand the core longings created in every person. To see desire as good, part of how we reflect the image of God. To be curious about our experiences with desire - how it's been encouraged, discouraged, or even prohibited. Through better understanding our relationship to desire, we can live more fully the lives we were created to live.

This conversation was too good to abbreviate, so we split it into two parts... the second half will be available Tuesday, March 10.

Jay lives in New York City with his wife Heather and their children.

Jay's website

Jay's books (Amazon)

Holistic Desire website

Support the show

Awaken's CONNECT Men's Weekend registration (Oct. 9-11, 2026)

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