Shows
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 241: Ministering to Families in Crisis | Jennifer RipleyAs ministry leaders and therapists (Matt and Laurie), we have often wondered: When do church leaders and pastors utilize therapists and para-church ministries and when do they care on their own?
Do pastors always outsource?
Do they never outsource?
What role does the church have for families in crisis?
Let’s talk about it with author and psychologist (and lover of the Church), Jennifer Ripley.
| Highlights |
“The church…will bring you casseroles, but when a crisis shows up, we often don’t know what to do.”
“Pastors have a role in a...2025-04-2543 min
We Who Thirst by Jessica LM Jenkins018 Interview with Laurie Krieg: Navigating Sexuality in a Christ-Centered WaySend us a textWe explore the profound intersection of sexuality and faith with our guest, Laurie Krieg, whose transformative journey into ministry provides vital insights. Laurie's mission is equipping parents and individuals on navigating sexuality within a gospel-centered framework. - Lori shares her story of personal struggle and the need for deeper understanding - Understanding sexual brokenness and its impact on faith - Insights into parenting and preparing kids for conversations on sexuality - Strategies for engaging with LGBTQ peers compassionately - Emphasizing Christ-centered love and identity beyond attractions - Reso...2025-03-0539 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 234: Your Parenting + Discipleship Q & A | Matt, Laurie, SteveTo launch our spring season focused on parenting and discipling the next generation, we are starting with YOUR QUESTIONS.
We toss around:
“What parts of ‘the sex talk’ were helpful for us when we were growing up?”
“How can we protect our kids’ bodies without being a helicopter parent?”
“How can we approach school systems that don’t agree with our beliefs?”
“Should we talk to our kids about p*rn even if they don’t have unlimited access to the internet?”
Pull up an earbud and join us!
| Highlight...2025-01-1750 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 232: The Genesis of Gender | Abigail FavaleIf you care about the gender conversation at all, we believe this conversation is critical.
Dr. Abigail Favale wrote Laurie’s favorite book on gender this year called “The Genesis of Gender,” and the conversation about it is—*chef’s kiss*—rich and practical.
Together, they talk about:
—Is sexual difference an afterthought of the Bible?
How can we define woman and man?
Is the fact that intersex people exist the proverbial “trump card” for more than two sexes?
How can people walk alongside those they love who wrestle with gender? (And what if we wrestle ourselv...2024-12-2053 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 230: Laurie’s Book Club | Anxious GenerationWe’re trying something new called Laurie’s Book Club, where “she reads the book so you don’t have to.
Granted, we would love it if you read the book and “discussed” it alongside us on the pod, but if you’re anything like most of the world, you’d love to hear a summary of the book, any major nuggets, a little discussion, and call it a day.
That’s what we are starting today!
The book of focus is Jonathan Haidt’s instant NYTimes best seller, The Anxiou...2024-11-2233 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 228: Discipling Someone Who Wrestles with Gender | Kat LaPrairieWhen I [Laurie] met Kat, she was planning to marry her girlfriend and was considering transitioning to male.
But God was already drawing Kat to Himself, and He tapped me on the shoulder to join the process.
Hear the whole discipleship journey between us today on the podcast.
| Highlights |
“I would be doing absolutely nothing and I would feel this conviction … This fear of ‘Am I making the right choice? Am I rejecting The One?’” —Kat LaPrairie
“This is going to be difficult, it is not solved, my life is still a mess, but this...2024-10-2549 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 227: Recovering Our Souls From P*rn Addiction | Sam JolmanA new Barna study says 54% of Christians watch p*rnography. This number is only 7 percentage points behind the percent of all U.S. adults who consume it (61%).
We need help. How can we get the help we need for our addictions at a soul-deep level? Author and therapist Sam Jolman is here to assist.
Together, we discuss:
—Is male sexuality just extra broken or what?
—How can we (as men and women) process our first encounter with p*rnography?
—How can we as parents help ready our kids for a porn-pervasive world?
—What can we do if...2024-10-1150 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 226: Are You Weak? Good! | Eric SchumacherMany of us grew up in the church hearing that weakness was a good thing: In our weakness, God is strong through us.
If that’s true, why does weakness feel so terrible?
Today, we talk with author, podcaster, and pastor, Eric Schumacher about “the good gift of weakness,” why many of us don’t like it, and why it is the best place to thrive as a human being.
We also discuss:
—How did Eric’s “failing at ministry” help him to recover his life?
—Is weakness found in creation and in the new heavens...2024-09-2743 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 223: Protecting Our Kids in This Wild World | with Julia SaduskyIf you’re a parent or mentor of young kids right now like we are, I am pretty sure you could marinate in fear every day of the week.
Add the fact that it is up to us parents and mentors to teach these kids facts and wisdom about sexuality and body safety, and you can just find us in a panic attack on the floor every-other day of the week.
But what if we didn’t have to? What if we could learn how to wisely lead them in the midst of this wild world...2024-05-3147 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 222: Q & A with the Kriegs | Therapy, Burnout, and Your LGBTQ Q’sIt’s that time again: Let’s take your questions and try to respond with wisdom!
Here are the ones we respond to today!
How do you know when or if you need to move on from a therapist?
How can we walk with people experiencing unwanted sexual desires?
How do I recover my soul from burnout?
How do I talk with my kids about a family member who is transitioning?
How do I know if a temptation is spiritual attack or fruit from my sinful nature?
| Highlights |
“Our kids do not have to be fed rage a...2024-05-1736 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 220: Two Approaches to Pride | Part 1 with Stephen NylenSome Christians write off June’s Pride festivals as Sodom and Gomorrah. They don’t think anyone there could possibly want God.
Are we so sure about that?
At least two ministries in the U.S. are regularly going to Pride festivals in their areas, and they are seeing people come to know Jesus because of their presence, preaching, and practical love of neighbor.
This week, we interview a street evangelist who has been going to Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Pride Festival for the last five years. We ask:
Why does he go?
Wh...2024-04-1953 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 219: Treasures in the Dark with Katherine WolfWhen we are going through suffering, we don’t usually think, “Hmm, what treasures might God have for me to discover here?”
It just feels like suffering.
However, author and major stroke survivor, Katherine Wolf, has a message for us: God has gems for us to find in the darkness. “If you have to go through hardship, why not get the treasure? My goodness, don’t waste the pain,” she says.
What else do we talk about?
What exactly are these “treasures” anyway?
How should we respond to our friends’ immediate suffering?
What if we are in...2024-04-0542 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 218: How Not to Be Discouraged in a Discouraging Year with Derwin Gray“Hope in the gospel and discouragement are not mutually exclusive,” Pastor Derwin Gray encouraged us on today’s episode.
But, how is that possible? The world can feel so defeating:
Politics, racial division, pastor scandals, congregant sin, and the drudgery of faithfully trying to do this thing called advancing the Kingdom of God wherever we are called can overwhelm anyone. How can we both experience grief, discouragement, or mourning, and allow it to propel us further into the heart of God?
Author and pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America, Derwin...2024-03-2238 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 217: What Trees Can Teach Us About Living with Joy Marie ClarksonThis is a very gentle but powerful episode.
Since having the conversation, I (Laurie) can’t stop seeing the people-as-trees metaphor everywhere.
How? You’re just going to have to listen to find out. :)
// Highlights:
“We all have the seasons in life. We can’t expect the same things of ourselves in every single season. When we don’t experience seasons that are fruitful or blooming, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong with us, it can just mean we are in a different season.” —Joy Marie Clarkson
“You can’t have buds and...2024-03-0840 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 214: What is Uniquely Hard and Hopeful for Married People Now? With Chris Bruno and Tracy JohnsonIs anyone else feeling like they are in a rut in their marriage?
Maybe you’re not in crisis mode, but it’s kinda just . . . meh?
It’s easy to function; to sit on opposite couches and scroll on your phone. But, do you wonder if marriage could be better than that—not with some fantastical potion or even a weekend intensive per se, but what if it began with small, simple movements of risk toward one another?
Today, marriage experts Tracy Johnson and Chris Bruno guide those of us who feel “in a rut” tow...2024-01-2646 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 212: How We Are Doing 2024 Differently with Laurie, Matt, and SteveIt’s the end of 2023, so we are reflecting, looking ahead, and asking, “Do Laurie and Steve look alike?” Lol… (Matt and Laurie’s kids seem to think so…)
HOWEVER, the conversation mostly revolves around…
What did we learn in 2023?
Based on what we learned, how do we want to engage 2024 with more wisdom?
What simple tool did and are we using (and you can use, too) to plan the year?
Grab the last of the egg nog, and let’s hang out!
// Highlights:
2023-12-2939 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 207: Courageous Pastors: The South with Josh LaxtonWe are so excited about this:
Today, we are launching a mini-series interviewing three pastors from the South, the West Coast, and the East Coast on how they went from conceptualization of a sermon series on human sexuality to actualization. Why?
In 2019, Barna shared the results of a study that said three of the top four things pastors feel both pressured and limited to speak on are related to human sexuality.
If pastors feel so limited and yet pressured to speak on this, how in the world do they do it? Instead of...2023-10-2049 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 204: How to Share Your Story with Brenna BlainToday on the podcast, ministry leader Brenna Blain joins us to help us discern how, when, and where to share our own stories with others.
Together, we unpack:
How do you know when you are ready to share?
What was Brenna’s most challenging audience to share with?
What are the benefits and challenges to opening up?
//Highlights:
“The question I have not always gone to but I need to go to is, ‘Why? Why do I feel I need to share this or want to share this? Is it because I want a...2023-09-0846 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastHIMH Shorts: Emotional Resilience with Matt“One thing I have learned about Jesus is that He wants to sit in uncomfortable emotions with me [Heb. 4:15]. If I am not willing to sit in these emotions, then how is He supposed to sit in them--with me?” --Matt Krieg
Oh, dear, wise Matt. Today on HIMH Shorts (where we toss around the host table, “How has the gospel been good news for you lately?), Matt brings up his topic of emotional resilience…
What is it?
How can we know when it’s time to move on from a negative emotion?
How can we know if we need...2023-08-0411 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastHIMH Shorts: The Bookcases with LaurieHeyyyyy!!!
We may be in-between seasons, but we missed you all so much we wanted to drop three, surprise mini-episodes for the next three Fridays!!
In HIMH Shorts, Matt, Laurie, and Steve will host brief (heh heh, we will try!), one-topic conversations answering, "How has the gospel been good news for you lately?"
This week, Laurie is up! She heard YOUR requests for a walk-through of her Episode 202 practice of The Bookshelves.
What is that practice?
Why does she do it?
How has it impacted her? (And does Matt do it, too...2023-07-2816 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 202: Season 6 Wrap and Q & A Part 2 with Laurie, Matt, and SteveToday, we wrap up season six by asking Matt, Laurie, and Steve if we have met our goal for the season: “Do you feel like you can walk into any room confidently because your identity is more rooted in Christ?”
So, have we? :D
We truthfully answer this question as well as:
What we do when we feel tempted toward sexual sin or with wanting to buy everything in Pottery Barn?
How is Laurie’s health? Has it changed?
How do we engage with believers who are clearly “producing fruit,” but are choosing to walk outsi...2023-07-1445 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 201: Q & A: Kids, Libraries, and the Pros & Cons of Coming Out with Laurie, Matt, and SteveThe lines are open, friends, and we are taking your questions today! What questions?
How do you recommend talking with young kids about LGBTQ things/the definition of marriage?
Should marriage make us happy or holy? (Or is that the wrong question to ask?)
What qualifies as abuse in a relationship? (How does it compare to misuse of a person?)
How should we engage with libraries where they prominently display books that are LGBTQIA-affirming (of transitioning or same-sex relationships)?
What are the pros and cons of coming out/sharing your story? Pull up a chair, and join the...2023-06-3049 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 195: Identity Series Intro // I am Loved by God with Laurie, Matt, and SteveIf you take away how people perceive you and how you perform tasks, what is left of you?
Today on the podcast, we are launching a series on identity with the goal to help us know who we are “in Christ” so deeply that we can walk into any room with confidence.
Join us today as we talk about the origin of this series as well as:
What comes to mind when you think of yourself?
Why did engaging the sexuality conversation attack Laurie’s identity so deeply?
What are some of our “templates” or default...2023-04-0741 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 194: Let’s Define Some Things with Laurie, Matt, and SteveWhenever we hear people talking about some of the topics we engage in (sexuality, marriage, addiction, sin, repentance, trauma, etc.), we hyper-tune our ears for what they believe and how they hold to what they believe.
If you’re curious about our views, this is the episode for you!
Today, we answer:
What is our philosophy of approaching the LGBTQIA conversation?
Why do we start the sexuality conversation with talking about the purpose of our lives?
Why do we usually use “LGBTQIA” and not “same-sex attracted”? (But we are willing to use either?)
How do we view...2023-03-2453 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 193: Who Wants to Hear Our Stories? with Laurie, Matt, and SteveWe do! Who is Steve? Who is Laurie? Who is Matt?
Today, we are going to get to know the people behind the microphones.
Steve shares his story of depression, feeling inauthentic, and finding hope in Jesus in the midst of addiction. Matt offers his journey of depression and subsequent porn addiction in marriage. Laurie shares how she learned to trust Matt again after his deception and addiction, as well as shares her own story of wrestling with attractions to the same sex throughout her entire life.
As always, the team shows the gr...2023-03-1058 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 192: Why ”Hole in My Heart”? with Laurie, Matt & SteveYou guysssss!!!!!
After over a year off of the air, the Hole in My Heart Podcast is back!!!
We are back and we got a shiny new studio and some awesome new friends who are producing this thing.
Through a new partnership with West Michigan’s 91.3 WCSG, the Hole in My Heart Podcast has the opportunity to reach more people with the truth that the gospel is good news for *everyone* every day. (!!)
Today, Laurie, Matt, and Steve get behind the microphones (and cameras!) to re-acclimate long time listeners and welcome ne...2023-02-2444 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 191: What Comes Next? with Matt, Laurie, and SteveWell, dear family, we have an announcement.
What is it? First, let's hang out for a while, and talk about...
How did that "word for the year" go for you?
In light of that reality, how has the gospel been uniquely good news for you this year?
What is coming next for the podcast and our ministry in 2022?
We'd love for you to sit at the podcast table one more time with us. :)
//Highlights:
"If you are listening and you feel this frenetic burden to go and save the w...2021-12-1837 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 186: The Power of (And Cautions For) Engaging Listening Prayer with Michelle KyleSometimes, God wants to use counseling to help us heal.
Sometimes, it’s the Bible.
Sometimes, it’s the powerful word from a dear friend.
Sometimes, it’s prayer.
Sometimes (oftentimes?), it’s all of the above.
When Michelle Kyle and I (Laurie) met together for coaching, she said she felt “stuck.” I didn’t know if I could help her get unstuck, but using a prayer technique I have been engaging for 15 years, I thought I would give it a try.
What did we do?
Did she get unstuck?
Wha...2021-10-3048 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 184: What God Has to Say about Our Bodies with Sam AllberryWithout unnecessary clutching of our metaphorical pearls, when we look around, it does seem like there is something going on spiritually when it comes to an attack on the human body.
What’s going on?
Pastor and author Sam Allberry, a friend of the show and author of the new book “What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves” helps us answer this question and more. Together, we explore:
Why is our body an integral part of our true selves?
How can we walk with ou...2021-10-1546 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 182: How to Love Scripture with Tara Leigh CobbleHow many people do you know who currently feel slightly-to-very discouraged about their faith?
Do you have a sense that the Bible could be a great help, but you don’t want to come across as legalistic or dismissive of their struggles?
How do you walk alongside your friends? (Or, how do you walk alongside yourself if you’re struggling with cracking the Bible?)
Author, podcaster, and Bible teacher Tara Leigh Cobble is here to help. Together, we explore:
How does the Bible relate to our identity?
What reading program can I star...2021-10-0237 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 179: Three Types of Shame and Why They Matter with Matt KriegSo...shame.
It's talked about quite frequently and often with rightful animosity, but have you ever considered there might be some good types of shame?
Buckle your seatbelt as we engage the three types of shame and why they are so important--not just when engaging the LGBT+ conversation, but anyone's life.
Matt, Laurie, and Steve also dive into how the rest of SEASON FIVE will look, and why they are choosing to follow Jesus--even now in often-brutal 2021.
Toxic Shame:
Whole body self-hate "Who I am is worthless."
From the enemy (Sa...2021-09-0342 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 118 Take Two: Tough Conversations with Friends with Stephanie TholeEngaging conversations on race or sexuality is a hard, holy task.
As Christians, we don’t always do it well, even if our hearts are in the right place.
Are these conversations the same?
How are they different?
Can we advocate justice and unity without endorsing what is not God’s best?
And how do we do this with our friends?
Stephanie Thole entered into this conversation with extraordinary grace and kindness, and we are thrilled to listen in again.
//: Highlights
“We were one of the few black families. I remember always being...2021-08-2733 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 93 Take Two: Broken + Beloved Pastors with Brad KlaverAfter witnessing three excommunications of leaders in the church, Brad Klaver vowed that he would never share his same-sex attractions with anyone.
The Holy Spirit had other plans.
After over a decade of pastoring and marriage, God brought Brad face to face with himself—and it changed his life forever.
Will you join us as we listen again to this beautiful story of gospel transformation?
I Highlight I
“I remember exactly where I was watching [the excommunications] unfold. In me there was this internal wrestle of fear of: ‘I don’t know where this came from. I don’t know why I have...2021-08-131h 05
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 91 Take Two: Broken + Beloved Pastors with Ben and Lauren SchulkeWe are thrilled to be revisiting the Broken and Beloved Pastors series! In the next three episodes, we’ll hear the stories of three pastors who are, like all of us, “more loved than we can imagine and more sinful than we believe.”
What happens when a pastor wrestles with gender dysphoria?
What happens when the same pastor is called to bring that wrestling into the light, in his marriage and with his community?
What happens to his ministry? To his marriage? To his identity?
Ben and Lauren Schulke answer these questions and more as they recount their story with us. We...2021-07-3056 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 83 Take Two: Sexuality and Shame with Dan AllenderSo often, sexuality brings shame right on its heels.
How can we banish it? How can we heal?
Join us today as we revisit this conversation with Dr. Dan Allender to learn how stepping into the light and grace of Jesus can heal our shame when it comes to sexuality.
***Heads up: We do address sexual trauma in this episode, though not graphically. If this is part of your story or that of someone close to you, please take care of yourself and listen with caution.***
I Highlights I
“The return on investment for the kingdom of darkness is profound in...2021-07-1543 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 82 Take Two: How to Lament with Mark VroegopAs Laurie says, “We’re kind of lament-obsessed around here.”
It’s true. And it made running this episode a second time an easy choice for this series.
Since the first time this episode ran, there is still pain and brokenness in our lives, and we need a place to take it. Cue Mark Vroegop, ushering us to the feet of Jesus with this spiritual practice that truly has revolutionized our lives.
Will you lament with us today?
I Highlights I
“People who know how to lament are comfortable with saying less or nothing. They intuitively have a heart that is oriente...2021-07-0936 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 64 Take Two: Exploring Our Souls of Shame with Curt ThompsonWelcome to TAKE TWO of Exploring Our Souls of Shame!
Rerunning this episode was an obvious choice because we *all* deal with shame.
Curt Thompson beautifully describes not only the experience of shame, but also its antidote: Jesus.
Join us as we learn resilience and joy in this brilliant conversation!
I Highlights I
“The gospel–if it is good news–does not begin with ‘I am more sinful than I believe.’ It begins, in fact, with ‘I am more loved than I can imagine.’ It is in that space of being loved incessantly, relentlessly, that we become aware just how sinful we are...2021-07-0243 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 24 Take Two: Is There Hope for Us? with Matt and Laurie KriegWelcome to the first episode of our Take Two series!
It was so hard to choose episodes to highlight over the past four (FOUR?!) seasons, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few that we’ll show you over the next several weeks.
This episode discusses Chapter 5 of Francis and Lisa Chan’s book, *You and Me Forever*, as well as some of the good and hard of Matt and Laurie’s own story!
Get ready for a good one guys, we’re excited to revisit this!
I Do the Next Thing I
You can check out *You and Me Forever...2021-06-2643 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 178: Season 4 Wrap with Matt, Laurie, and SteveEven though picking favorite episodes from this season is like choosing a favorite child, we snagged your top listened-to ones from this season (and some of our most memorable conversations), and reflected on clips from them.
Here are the episodes we cover:
“Caring for People Wrestling with Gender” with Mark Yarhouse
“Shredding Shame in a Pandemic” with Dr. Curt Thompson
“Defining Stress and Success” with John Mark Comer
“Start Where You Are” with Rashawn Copeland
“Intro to the Gardens’ Series Part 2” with Matt and Laurie
“Marriage and Mental Healt...2021-06-1943 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 176: How to Make Friends with Your Loneliness with Dr. Kelly Flanagan“I used to think I was the only one who was lonely. After all, when you look around, other people don’t look lonely. They just look like they are drinking a latte.” —Dr. Kelly Flanagan
Goodness, this quote from Dr. Kelly Flanagan’s new book, "True Companions: A Book for Everyone About the Relationships That See Us Through," gripped us.
If loneliness is that deep-seated reality that you have corners of your heart that only you and Jesus understand, aren’t we all lonely? And isn’t it time we admit it? Dr. Kelly Flanagan thinks...2021-06-0445 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 174: Tov vs. Toxicity in the Church with Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerWhen we look at churches and ministries today, we often don’t see Jesus.
Instead, we see scandal. Abuse. Toxicity.
What do we do with this?
How do we change and prevent it?
Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer have an answer: tov.
Tov is the Hebrew word for “good,” and it’s who God is and who He calls us to be.
As Scot says it, tov is “the redemptive dimension of churches that can prevent them from toxicity.” We need more of this.
Let’s listen in.2021-05-2147 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 173: Marriage and Mental Health with Aaron & Jamie IveyOh, you guys. This conversation…
It’s not often Matt and I (Laurie) are surprised by our guests, but we were surprised in the best way today.
Podcaster, author, and boss-mom, Jamie Ivey, and pastor, author, and tender-hearted dad, Aaron Ivey, got real—like really real.
Matt and I were going along, simply enjoying the conversation with these incredibly humble and kind people, and then Therapist Matt asks a question about how childhood wounding relates to marriage pain. (Way to go, counselor!) We suddenly took a left turn, and found ourselves talking about Aaron’...2021-05-1445 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 172: Friends--Finding, Keeping, and Loving Them with Julie Fisk & Kendra RoehlThis is another conversation we cannot engage too frequently: Friendship.
How in the world can we do it well?
Real-life friends, authors, and founders of The Ruth Experience, Julie Fisk and Kendra Roehl, wisely and winsomely engaged Laurie’s latest habit of tossing quite challenging questions at guests.
Together, the group explored:
How do we confront our friends?
What about friend-shame? (If I feel that I have too few friends or not enough time for the ones I have?)
Should we wait for friends to come to us or do we go to...2021-05-0849 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 164: The Spiritual Garden with Carolyn SchroederAnyone else out there struggle to experience Jesus sometimes?
We feel you.
Personal, intimate experiences with Christ are hard to find in our chaotic world.
Today, Carolyn Schroeder (Laurie’s real life mentor!!!) is here to invite us into Jesus’ presence and teach us how to have those experiences wherever we are!
Join us as we dive into deeper relationship with our Savior and Healer today.
// Highlights:
“God had to get me to the place of being powerless and desperate for Him so that I could b...2021-03-1246 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 160: An Introduction to the Gardens’ Series, Part 2, with Matt, Laurie, and SteveIt's time to bring even more color and clarity to the Oneness Mountain in this second part of our introduction to the Gardens Series!
Today, Matt and Laurie bring examples and Core Needs so we can better see that life is more than a timeline. It is more like a group of gardens to cultivate with each other and Gardener God.
After you listen, will you let us know the answer to the question: "How is your church community doing at cultivating oneness (unity, intimacy) right now? What's one way they/you are doing it...2021-02-1245 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 159: An Introduction to the Gardens’ Series, Part 1, with Matt, Laurie, and SteveWe at HIMH often about how “marriage and singleness are equally valuable modes we fulfill the mission to make disciples.”
But how can we to-our-core believe this if we view life only as a timeline? … You are born, you go to school, you get married, you make Christian babies, you tithe, and you die.
“Single people?” Married people say with this timeline in mind. “Uh, yeah, you’re valuable. You don’t fit the script, but you’re great!!!!!!”
We married folk are well-meaning, but a tad insincere.
However, if we do not view life sim...2021-02-0536 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 157: Gen Z’s Sex, Marriage, and Singleness Questions with Sean McDowellThis is a needed conversation, and author and apologist Sean McDowell is the right one to have it.
As parents and ministry leaders, we don't always know how to answer Gen Z's toughest questions. Praise the Lord that Sean does, and that he's willing to help us to unpack ones like:
“Why would God keep me from loving whomever I want to love?"
“Why do you call your attractions to the same sex brokenness? You are not broken.”
“I just need to be free. Why are you stopping me from freedom?”
“If I am attracted to the same sex...2021-01-2248 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastHow Did We Get Here? with Os GuinnessBuckle your seatbelts, friends. This episode gets a bit bumpy.
Maybe your family—like ours—has people with different political beliefs in it. When I (Laurie) chose to co-host this episode with my dad, I didn’t realize a major theme would be loving each other through differing political beliefs.
The major gift of this surprise theme was that by the end, we were all nodding in agreement with each other—unified in the gospel.
And oh yeah… the matchless Os Guinness may have been our guest, but he acted like a brilliant mediator g...2021-01-151h 00
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 154: What’s Your Word for the Year? with Matt, Laurie, and SteveWhat’s your word for the year?
On this episode, Matt, Laurie, and Steve talk about what God has taught them in 2020 (yes—even in 2020!). Leaps of faith, major life changes, and—how could we forget?—Rona! Through it all, God has been faithful.
Heading into 2021, then, the crew also addresses what God is pointing to for the future—thus, our words.
With that—Happy New Year, and happy listening!
//: Highlights
“He is holding onto me when I’m not grabbing onto Him, when I grab for other things.” -Steve O’Dell
“[Transacti...2021-01-0145 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 150: How to Respond to Your 2020 Enemies with Scott SaulsDo you remember even two or four years ago when you could remind stirred-up Christians, "Hey, guys? We got to love our enemies!" and they would often say, "Oh, yeah!"
Nowadays, when you say the same thing, it would not be unusual to hear something like, "Nah. I'm good."
Pastor and author Scott Sauls is here to wake us up with how to address our enemies in this sometimes-hostile 2020 world.
This is another conversation we will not soon forget.
//: Highlights
“Righteous anger attacks problems; raging anger attacks people….We’re suppos...2020-12-0440 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 149: How to be Thankful in this 2020 World with Matt, Laurie, and SteveIt’s Thanksgiving in the States!
Today, from our respective shelter-in-place spots (again!), we are sharing what we are grateful for and hearing from you. Not only that, however, but we are sharing what we have learned in this very hard year, and how we can take that good, suffering-produced fruit into 2021. We are thankful for YOU guys, today!
//: Highlights
"I’m thankful for how much it’s had to scrape away false identities that I didn’t even know that I was holding onto. Because I am so ambitious and I have so much dri...2020-11-2828 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 146: Finding Quiet with Jamie GraceHave you ever struggled to find quiet? In the world, in your life, in yourself?
We’re here with singer/songwriter and now AUTHOR Jamie Grace to talk about what it looks like to find peace and center ourselves on the Lord in this crazy world we’re living in!
Join us as we hear from her about artistry, anxiety, mental health, comparison, social media, and so much more!
//: Highlights:
“We have this misconstrued concept of what success is, and…we become so anxious as a culture and as a society and as a gen...2020-11-0644 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 145: Impossible Marriage *LIVE:* Worship Jesus Fest with Matt, Laurie, and SteveIt’s the Hole in My Heart Podcast LIVE!
True story: This was about Plan D of our celebratory-book-launch-party-worship fest (thanks, Rona!), but God was in it all the same.
Today, Matt, Laurie, Steve, and some special guests celebrate the work of the gospel through Matt and Laurie’s story and through you all.
There are testimonies, prizes, jokes, and GOOFBALL ISLAND is back for one night only. Thanks for being a part of this adventure, fam!
//: Highlights:
“You’ve wanted to write a book—*A* book—for a long time. But th...2020-10-3048 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 144: Impossible Marriage Moment: Masculinity & Sexuality with Matt KriegWhat does “fasting from your desire from sex” mean, and why was it so significant to Matt?
Why do so many male Christian leaders fall sexually? Is “maintenance sex” good for marriages? How can guys access their hearts more (and how can women help)?
Today we are concluding our deep-dive of themes in our Impossible Marriage book with a co-author, Matt Krieg.
//: Highlights:
“Oftentimes, because we are taught that sex is the thing that we're supposed chase—and we’re not supposed to be these emotional people, we’re supposed to pick ourselves up by...2020-10-2337 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 142: Impossible Marriage Moments: When Past Trauma Affects Today with Dr. David BeachWhen past trauma affects today's living, it can be challenging to function in any way.
In this first episode of our Impossible Marriage Moments' mini-series of three, we dive deep into that theme: Laurie experienced trauma's effects in her marriage, it magnetized to her attractions toward women, and together, they almost walked her to a divorce.
What can we do if past trauma is affecting us now? What if it's gripping someone we love? Author and therapist, Dr. Dave Beach, guides us brilliantly toward some next right steps.
//: Highlights:
“Loving attachment is th...2020-10-0958 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 141: A Sexual Minority on Racial Equity with Henry AbutoWe often talk about sexuality or racial equity--but what about when both hit home?
Our new friend, Henry Abuto, helps us understand what it is like to live life as a Black man who is also a sexual minority (and an immigrant!), and how we can all engage each other like Jesus.
//: Highlights:
“When I’m not easily swayed by my emotions and I inform my feelings rather than just follow them blindly, that’s when I know I’m speaking from a centered place….If you [Laurie or Matt] leave conversations with each other afte...2020-10-0251 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 140: Bridging Divides with Jason and Julie BotbylHe's Black. She's white. He has his past. She has hers. Then they get married.
Guys, we have our REAL LIFE FRIENDS in the house, and they are here to show us a microcosm of the critical bridging of divides that must happen in our world.
How do they bridge barriers in their marriage? What can we learn from them about bridging racial divides today? Chaplain of the Kent County jail, Jason Botbyl and his wife, Julie, are here to help us out.
//: Highlights:
“I think to live life fully, especially in Ch...2020-09-2553 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 133: Advice for Parents and Would You Bake the Cake? Your Q&A with Matt and LaurieParents...this is your week!
This week, Matt and Laurie take your questions on the advice they give to parents of LGBTQ+ kids--and, really, it's just good advice for everyone, always coming back to the gospel and the purpose of our lives in God's eyes. Topics include:
What is the advice we offer to all parents of LGBT+ kids?
Would we bake the cake/do the photography/do therapy for a same-sex couple?
How do we know if we are called to marriage or singleness?
//: Highlights:
“The most—for me—winsome reason for God’s design...2020-08-0739 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 132: How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up with Matt, Laurie & SteveWelcome to Season 4!
We're kicking off this season with a discussion on endurance and courage! What do we do when suffering hits and we're called upon to continue in the work God has given us? Join Matt, Laurie, and Steve as we explore practices and experiences that help build up "endurance muscles" for any form of suffering.
//: Highlights:
“More and more, [looking back] instills more trust that the God we worship is going to be with me.” -Matt Krieg “Staying in the world, where God has us, is where endurance is required—*and* dependence on Him is...2020-07-3141 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 131: Season 3 Recap: Our Favorites and Yours with Matt and LaurieGuys! It's the season three finale!
After walking through this episode, we felt this season gutted us in the best way and offered hope when we needed it.
We did get practical (our theme this season), and we did get real (our constant desire).
We were so grateful to listen back to highlight clips from some of our favorites and yours:
1. Episode 99:A Gender Conversation Part 2 Heather Skriba
2. Episode 92: Broken/Beloved Pastors Part 2 with Johnny and Amanda
3. Episode 96: Healthy Friendship and Touch as a Single Person with Meg Baatz
4. Episode 104: Practically Living...2020-06-2648 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 129: Pride Month, Healthy Friendships--Your Q & A with Matt and Laurie KriegToday is question and answer time with Matt and Laurie! We cover a lot including these questions:
How did we first meet Steve?
How do we handle Pride Month?
How do we plan to address our mixed-orientation marriage with our kids?
How can straight, single guys and girls be friends without the relationship getting weird?
If we, as a married couple, invite a single person into our home how can we prevent it from becoming a situation where one of us falls in love with the single person?
How can I care for my bisexual friend without compromising...2020-06-1250 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 123: Single but Not Solitary with Pieter ValkSo. Has God called you to singleness or marriage? How did you discern that?
If you are called to singleness, is it temporary or for life? How did you discern that?
If you are called to lifelong singleness ("vocational singleness," as our guest today calls it), is there a creative way to not be lonely in the midst of it?
Why not start a modern-day monastery?
That's what today's guest, Pieter Valk, did, and the conversation about the modern-day monastery's origins and daily life (including how it has changed in the pandemic) was fascinating.
We a...2020-05-0153 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 121: Walking with Kids’ Mental Health with Dr. Matthew StanfordBut what about the kids?
**We recorded this episode pre-quarantine, and once again, God provided the content we needed for this unforeseen moment.
I know our own kids (Matt and Laurie's) are wrestling with their emotional balance in this quarantine life.
Are the kids or young adults in your life struggling at all?
Let's help them, yeah? (Whether they are wrestling with anxiety, depression, have been walking a journey on the autism spectrum, or have experienced sexual trauma as kids.)
The person who is going to help us to...2020-04-1842 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 119: OUR WORLD: Good Small Groups Don’t Just Happen with Our For-Real Small GroupAgain. God, in His mercy, knew that we would need this episode today when we recorded it over one month ago.
Today, Matt and I (Laurie) introduce you to our for-real small group. These are people who are a huge part of our lives and are truly the reason Matt and I are still married.
In an age where large-group churches cannot meet and small groups are meeting online, this group has become even more of our lifeline. Now, we don't just meet every-other week for a couple of hours hours, we meet online every...2020-04-0348 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 118: OUR WORLD: Tough Conversations with Friends with Stephanie TholeIn this home-centered, pandemic-laden world we are in, God, in his kindness, had Matt and I (Laurie) record a mini-series last month where we opened up our real world to you.
Today, we are sharing it. In episode two of three of the "Our World" series, we invited our friend, Stephanie Thole, to help us learn how to have a conversation bridging the gap between sexuality and race conversations.
Are these conversations so similar? Are they so different?
Is it really true that if you are pro- "Black Lives Matter" you also must...2020-03-2742 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 117: OUR WORLD: When Discipleship ”Fails” with Kara MartinAs many of us hunker down into our homes, Matt and I (Laurie) open up our real lives to you.
In this "Our World" mini series, will cover the following topics:
1. When I walked with someone for months and it seemed like a failure,
2. The sticky intersection between the race and LGBT+ conversations,
3. How God encouraged us to form a small group that has changed our lives.
Today: When discipleship "fails." I walked away from a discipleship relationship with Kara Martin several years ago feeling hopeful but doubtful. I was hopeful she would follow Jesus...2020-03-2044 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 110: From Trafficked to Triumphant with Rebecca BenderBecause of this interview, I [Laurie] called the trafficking hotline for a suspicious building I drive past.
I didn't know if that was a weird or helpful thing to do before before talking with our guest today, Rebecca Bender. Rebecca is the author of the new book, In Pursuit of Love, is a survivor of human trafficking, and has trained law enforcement officers, Homeland Security and the FBI on how to approach anti-human trafficking efforts.
She also trained us a bit through this interview. “What’s really important is trafficked victims like myself grow up in the...2020-01-3153 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 106: Matt and Laurie’s Stories Rebooted and Your Premarital QuestionsNew year, new Hole in My Heart Podcast theme music, new website ... what else is new?
Well, with all of this new, how about something old? Like throwback time? Matt and Laurie realized that there are many NEW listeners out there, and you might not know their stories. So, we deep-dive a bit into them.
Matt talks about the heart of his journey with pornography addiction (and how he finally got set free from it), and Laurie talks about her discipleship journey with her version of broken sexuality.
We also take your premarital...2020-01-0355 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 105: Our First Study! With Matt and LaurieGuys. We wrote a study! And it's been published!
I--Laurie--began writing this while I was walking out my discipleship journey with my mentor, Carolyn. I take the lessons she taught me, sprinkle additional ones God has brought me through over the years, and invite you to join me on the journey.
We explore things like how to listen to God, lament, what to do with temptation, how to process shame, Core Needs, and lots more.
This is literally the book I wish I had been able to walk through when I was wrestling...2019-12-2739 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 104.5: Merry Christmas from the Krieg Kids with Gwyn and JujuLet's just have a little fun, yeah?
Gwyn and Juliette Krieg, Matt and Laurie's two oldest kids, come into the studio to discuss favorite parts about Christmas, what to do when you feel lonely and there is no one to hug, and--because we can't stop won't stop--what marriage means to them.
Merry Christmas, podcast fam!
For More:
https://lauriekrieg.com/podcast/merry-christmas-from-the-krieg-kids/2019-12-2111 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 102: Ministry Update and Q & A with Matt & LaurieGuys? We got some big changes coming to Hole in My Heart Ministries, and we are excited to share them with you today.
In addition to the changes, we are exploring a couple of your questions with some answers:
Why does marriage have to be between one man and one woman? (We share our top three--well, four--favorite reasons.)
How do we walk with and speak truth to a believer who believes a same-sex, romantic relationship is right for them? (We offer some specific help.)
Let's dig in!
//: Highlights:
"You guys d...2019-11-2647 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 100: How to Hear God with Jim SamraMany people abuse hearing from God. But just because they misuse the process, does it mean we shouldn't engage?
Jim Samra, someone who literally wrote the book about it, helps us to think about how we can wisely approach listening to God. (And that book title is pretty funny: 'God Told Me: Who to Marry, Where to Work, Which Car to Buy ... And I'm Pretty Sure I'm Not Crazy.')
Jim also guides us through questions such as, "How mature do you have to be to hear from God?" "What if you are living in...2019-11-1551 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 91: Broken/Beloved Pastors Part 1 with Ben and Lauren SchulkeToo often, we hear stories of pastors who have left their pastoral vocation for a myriad of reasons, and we (the church body) are left guessing about why. This empty void of information can lead to gossip on our part and subsequent pain for the pastor and their families because we do not go to them and ask questions--we just guess.
Today, we are launching a mini-series where we hear the before/during/and after of the why these pastors left their posts. We want to focus on the redemption, the why, and the seeing of pastors as fellow broken...2019-09-141h 02
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 89: Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot with Mo IsomThe Church is precious. It's Christ's beloved and broken bride.
But sex and sexuality conversations have notoriously challenged us for the last ... thousands of years.
New York Times bestselling author, Mo Isom, helps guide us through some of these conversations we have forgotten, and does it with storytelling and great passion. (She takes us to church!)
Grab a pew, and join us.
//: Highlights:
"A lot of my issues grew out of the fact that my family thought the church was talking to me about the hard stuff, and t...2019-08-3053 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 88: The Gift of Touch? with Hayley MullinsTouch can be ... a touchy subject.
Some of us can overemphasize it and others can shun it. When Laurie recently said to Matt, "I wish I could live in a touch-free world," she realized just how touchy (and painful) non-sexual physical touch can be.
Instead of bury it, in classic Hole in My Heart Podcast fashion, we are bringing the conversation to the table. Matt, Laurie, Steve, and guest, Hayley Mullins, toss around questions ranging from what to do when we idolize touch, to how to carefully speak the "love language" of touch with those...2019-08-2355 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 87: How to Do Battle with Anxiety with Rebekah LyonsHow many of us have fought (and do fight) with heart-pumping, air-constricting anxiety?
How can we practically do battle with it? Bestselling author and popular speaker, Rebekah Lyons, helps us put on our boxing gloves to practically combat it.
//: Highlights:
"We don't know freedom until we know bondage. So let's acknowledge we are so hungry for God's rescue, and let's ask Him to do a mighty work." --Rebekah Lyons
"I questioned, 'Am I a fraud?' I thought there was a healing that happened, and I was loud about it. And yet I...2019-08-1750 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 86: Before We Jump to ActivismThere is intense pain in the world and in our hearts--based on national or personal tragedy.
We may be quick to jump to anger, to text someone, to Twitter, to do something. These actions may not be wrong, but they can be wrong-hearted if we skip an important step: going to the Father with lament that leads to forgiveness and eventual love for our enemies.
It feels impossible--really, truly loving our enemies--but as believers we are called to do the impossible with the One who empowers us.
But how in the world can...2019-08-0948 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastBONUS: Jack Haveman’s Story on Moody RadioWhen Laurie was a guest on Moody Radio, the station manager, Jack Haveman, was prompted to share this deeply personal and powerful story of God's breakthrough.2019-08-0609 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 81: Living an Authentic Life with Ann VoskampShe has a huge platform: Hundreds of thousands of followers, millions of books sold, and many Christians are at least familiar with the name "Ann Voskamp." And yet when Ann writes, speaks, and engages social media, she does not hide behind the numbers. She writes grittily, authentically, and with boldness.
How is this possible? How can someone with such a great impact on the world maintain such a humble, vulnerable, and others-focused life?
We explore these questions as we engage Ann on living an authentic life. We talk the cost, the gifts, and the practical...2019-05-0347 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastBonus Episode: Book Announcement!!!Matt and Laurie are doing an impossible thing (writing a book together?!) about their "impossible" marriage.
Hear a little bit more about the start of their adventure!2019-04-2704 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 78: Q & D: Purpose, Church Angst, and Your Questions with the CrewThe crew is back together!
Laurie, Matt, and Producer Steve dive into their first-ever Q & D (Question & Discussion) podcast. Together, they explore areas they have wanted to dive into more deeply including:
More of Matt's story of when he felt so purposeless he decided to end his life in junior high (and then launched into a coping mechanism of pornography addiction)
Some of our angst about left/right polarity and clinging to our "rights" as Christians
How parents who are fighting with their LGBT+ kids can seek deep relationship with one another
How false forgiveness has be...2019-04-1253 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastBonus: Facing the Unthinkable Talk with Laurie Krieg (Or: ”How to Lament”)How can we lovingly engage a world that opposes what we believe?
What is Laurie's ongoing practice to engage pushback?
One word: Lament. Laurie Krieg will walk you through the why's and how to's of what should be every Christian's ongoing practice of "venting to the only One who can do something about your pain."
2019-03-2544 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 73: The Need to Be Included with Ethan Renoe{Week 6 Core Need is the need to be included: Wanted in this group, team, or partnership; belonging}
It seems as if the good need God put into us before the Fall to belong or be included goes hand-in-hand with authenticity. To belong--truly belong--we must be willing to get real. But how many of us feel we are scoring 100% at the relational authenticity level? Social media tells us we have hundreds or thousands of friends, but do we really belong? This is what our guest, Ethan Renoe, calls the "new lonely," and he wrote a book with the...2019-03-0850 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 66: 7 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life with Chad BirdFailure makes you feel like . . . a failure. Should it? Should we celebrate some failures instead?
Today we talk to Chad Bird, speaker, podcaster, and author of Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life.
We will cover seven of those nine "essential failures." Three of which are:
1. The failure to believe in ourselves or, "The good news that God doesn’t believe in you"
2. The failure to follow our hearts or "Go home heart, you’re drunk"
3. The failure to find our soulmate or "Love will not sustain your marriage"
We also cont...2019-01-1858 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 58: If Looks Could Heal with Kelly O’DellYup. We are talking about looks. Specifically, clothing. This may seem like too surface-level of a conversation for this podcast, but aren't clothes an expression of who we are? An expression of who God made us to be?
We would say, yes.
This conversation arose as I (Laurie) was stressing out way too much about what to wear on a stage. I found myself dressing for my audience as opposed to dressing as an expression of who God made me to be.
Then Kelli ODell--a friend and our Producer Steve's wife--entered the scene...2018-11-0959 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 54: Family Dinner with Angela BowlesEvery week, we invite people into our home for food, conversation, and games. It's basically the podcast but in real life.
My real life little sister, Angela Bowles, talks about how this works both as a biological sibling and sister in Christ.
We also discuss the first time I shared my story with Angela (on her 16th birthday?!), how we get motivated to do difficult things, and PLEASE listen to the after-closing bloopers. We guffawed.
//: Highlights:
"I got super convicted by my own mouth on a stage. I was talking [o...2018-10-1247 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 48: How We Heal Part 3 with the CrewGratitude. Joy. Hope.
God has done some healing work on us, and we are sharing a few reasons why and how. We get practical.
Also we do a live, old-timey candy taste testing and it's disgusting.
Welcome.
//: Highlights:
"The reason I didn't leave is the same reason you didn't leave. It's because of God." --Matt Krieg
"It's been so hard to crack open my heart and let people in, but it has been so worth it." --Laurie Krieg
//: Do the Next Thing:
For More
2018-08-3147 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 43.5: H.A.G.S. (Have a great summer)with the CrewRemember when people used to write "HAGS" in your yearbook? That's this episode. Plus some more hearty stuff and a T-Rex costume.
We talk favorite Goofball Island and Heart of the Matter moments, how has this podcast impacted us from start to finish, and talk future goals for it (please come be our best friends, Chris Pratt and Terry Cruze).
//: Highlight:
“There were some days when Matt and I would come in and record, and we were in fuming states or silent states. This podcast was a place to laugh together and fin...2018-07-0323 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 39: Envy, Pride, and Leadership with Adam BarrAre we all leaders because of social media? How does social media play into the struggle with envy? When does pride get mixed up into that? (And what's the relationship to all of this and self-hatred?)
We explore it with pastor, author, and speaker Adam Barr. We also walk with tauntauns, wampas, (and therefore the relationship between Star Wars and Dr. Seuss), and Matt Krieg brings the Goofball Island game for the first time. Woot!
//: Highlights:
"Prayer and pride are inversely proportional. If one side is high, the other side is low. I...2018-05-3038 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 35: How We Heal Part 2 with the CrewThe hearty portion of this week's podcast is all about authenticity and intimacy:
How can we be authentic without over-sharing?
Can pastors/leaders be authentic?
Should they be?
How do emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy relate to marriage and friendship?
We are very heavy-handed with the goofball part of the show: In a fight between Eleven from Stranger Things and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, who would win? Would you rather lose your texting ability or have to use dial-up internet forever? Would you rather have terrible dandruff, body odor, or flatulence?
You get it...2018-04-2842 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 34: How We Heal with the CrewEh, boy. Here we go again! Getting vulnerable.
As a follow-up to the now infamous (and most listened-to) Episode 24: Is There Hope for Us?, Matt and I [Laurie] give an update on our marriage's healing journey.
We get really real. We pray you are only blessed by it.
We also talk men's and women's ministries/conferences/retreats and the gifts and drawbacks of them, and I do a HILARIOUS round of Mom Jokes regarding cold weather. (I'm begging you to laugh.)
//: Highlight:
"The problem for me was I kne...2018-04-2045 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 21: Pursue the Perfect Marriage (Part 2 of ”You and Me Forever” book series)Matt Krieg, Producer Steve and I (Laurie) chat about chapter two of Francis and Lisa Chan's book "You and Me Forever." Per usual, deep and silly conversations ensue including: What's up with drivers in California and in the Midwest? {and} What would our marriages look like IRL if the gospel was on display in them?
//: Podcast Extra: I refer to "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas, and this podcast about why God made us sexual by Dr. Juli Slattery
//: Do the Next Thing:
Read or listen to the book for free he...2018-01-1338 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 16: Concern and Hope for the Church with Matt TuiningaIt's easy to look around the world and become discouraged. The polarities on any conversation can make a person either want to stand up and scream or dig their heads in the sand and hide.
Is there any gift to choosing neither option? Is there another way to weather the storm of extremes?
Matthew Krieg is gone this week but Matthew Tuininga is here as a special guest! He is a professor of moral theology at Calvin Seminary, and is a courageous, authentic, intelligent thinker.
We talk extremes we see both politically and i...2017-12-0236 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 12: Heart to Heart Prayer with Carolyn SchroederLaurie's "Spiritual Dumbledore" is in the house! Often when Laurie speaks she talks about her mentor/counselor, Carolyn Schroeder. Carolyn was instrumental in Laurie's decision to follow Christ no matter what. Matt, Laurie, Producer Steve, and Carolyn talk Heart to Heart Prayer, how to find your own spiritual Dumbledore (AKA...a good counselor or mentor), and discuss what they wish they hadn't quit from childhood.
//: Do the Next Thing:
For More
2017-10-2844 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 11: Forgiveness is the Worst Best, TooHow do we forgive each other in a way that's less gritting our teeth when the offender is around, and more genuinely loving the offender?
Matt and Laurie pick up the story when Laurie had a hard time forgiving Matt after he came forward with secret porn use. Also heard this week is a story about when Laurie wasn't served her favorite ice cream treat because it had too many calories. (Oh, California!)
//: Do the Next Thing:
For More
2017-10-2139 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 10: Lament Is the Worst BestEpisode 10, y'all! To celebrate the team did a Dad Joke Competition! (Watch it on YouTube to see their expressions here). Laurie, Matt, and Producer Steve also talk fasting fails, the angst about how no one can ever be happy or sad enough with you, "what is lament?" and Laurie's specific lament after Matt came forward with his pornography addiction.
//: Do the Next Thing:
For More
2017-10-1338 min
Hole in My Heart PodcastEpisode 6: TogOthernessI Have you ever felt "other"? Have you ever "othered" someone else?
After Laurie, Matt, and Steve recorded this podcast and the next one, the three of them stared at one another saying, "Wow." They have never had so much fun and felt such a Holy Spirit movement while talking on a microphone. The focus of this episode is feeling "other" (ie. when you feel like you don't belong). The group will not simply throw logs on a fire of Church-angsting; they will turn the the conversation back around to how they "other" others. They also talk...2017-09-1528 min