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What kind of change is possible - or not possible, especially when it comes to LGBTQ issues? And how does change happen? There are no one-size-fits-all answers. But as the Changed movement is demonstrating, there are more stories of lasting change than many realize.
Dr. Carol's guest on this episode is Ken Williams, co-founder of the Changed Movement. He shares his story of following Jesus away from a gay identity to what he describes as a true masculine identity and intimacy with God â and also being happily married to his wife. And Ken and Dr. Carol dive deep into what change means, and how it happens.
Connect with Ken Williams on his website, the Changed Movement, Navigating LGBTQ, or on Facebook
Find Ken's book The Journey Out: How I Followed Jesus Away from Gay
Check out my book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
At some point in life, you'll likely to face a time when everything seems to be falling apart. A job loss, health or financial crisis, end of a marriage, death of a close loved one, or other catastrophe that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, confused, and unsure whether or how you can go on living.
Dr. Carol's guest on this episode, author, Bible teacher, and minister Dawn Mann Sanders brings her own personal experience and a deep exploration of God's creative process to this encouraging conversation. You'll learn how to partner with God in overcoming adversity and recreating a new life of goodness and meaning after everything seems lost.
Connect with Dawn Mann Sanders on her website, Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram
Find Dawn's book When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life
If you have recently experienced the death of a loved one, you will appreciate Dr. Carol's free 30-day email devotional series The Christian's Journey Through Grief, or her book by the same name.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you; you can leave her a confidential message here. -
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Statistics show that divorce rates are at their highest between five and eight years of marriage. That's when the disillusionment sets in. Even if your marriage is not destructively toxic, what happened to the "happily ever after" that you thought you were embarking on? And what can you do about it?
Dr. Carol's guest on this episode, Chelsea Damon, thought marriage would make her happy - until it didn't. But since she and her husband have learned these important keys, she says her marriage is now consistently more happy than ever. Find out what she has coached thousands of couples to walk through in making their marriage enduringly happy.
Connect with Chelsea Damon on her website, Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram
Find Chelsea's book I Thought This Would Make Me Happy: How to Fight Less, Forgive Faster, and Cultivate Joy in Your Marriage
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
The Bible doesn't talk specifically about dating. But that doesn't mean it has nothing to say on the subject. Dating as a Christian can seem confusing, and hard. There are questions not only about sexuality and sexual behavior, but about how to know if this is "the one," what makes a relationship healthy, and preparing for not just a wedding but a marriage.
Tovares and Safa Gray talk with Dr. Carol in this authentic and fun conversation about Godly Dating 101 - their ministry to young Christians helping them navigate all the challenging questions and experiences they are faced with in developing a healthy relationship God's way.
Connect with Tovares and Safa Gray on their website, YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Find their book Godly Dating 101: Discover the Truth About Relationships in a World That Constantly Lies
Get your free download from Dr. Carol Your Prescription for Sexual Healing â God's Way
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
The rapid increase in LGBTQ+ issues in our culture leaves many Christian parents struggling with how to navigate these realities with their children in ways that are both loving and aligned to their Christian faith.
Dr. Carol's guest on today's episode is Ellen Radcliff. She was raised in a Christian home and also wrestles with same-sex attraction. As a faithful Christian wife and mother who holds to a Biblical sexual ethic, she now works with other parents and families navigating these challenging waters. From both her own experience and her theological training she can help you maintain connection both with God and with your children.
Connect with Ellen Radcliff on her website, Facebook, or Instagram.
Find Ellen's book Love Covers Over: A Guide for Christian Parents Raising Kids in an LGBTQ+ World
Get your free download from Dr. Carol Your Prescription for Sexual Healing â God's Way
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
Christian women, young and old, often struggle with a disconnect between what their intellect may know is "right" about sexuality, God, and relationships, and what their own experience has been. Pornography or other ungodly sexual behaviors only add to their sexual shame and feeling of being stuck.
On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Joy Skarka, director of discipleship for Authentic Intimacy, about the journey God invites every woman into of discovering the full love of God, how to grow into freedom from sexual shame regardless of your story, and the experience of true intimacy as God originally intended.
Connect with Joy Skarka on her website, Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Find Joy's book Her Freedom Journey: A Guide Out of Porn and Shame to Authentic Intimacy
Get your free download from Dr. Carol: Your Prescription for Sexual Healing â God's Way
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
We all get wounded. What do you do with your wounds? As humans we naturally hide the parts of us we deem least presentable. And that very hiding is what prevents the deep healing and transformation Jesus longs to bring.
In this moving and personal episode, author, pastor, and ministry director Russell Joyce talks with Dr. Carol about how Jesus finds us in our wounds. His own shame and physical pain he's lived with as a result of being born with Goldenhar syndrome becomes that metaphor for how God meets us most transformatively in the very places we find most challenging.
Connect with Russell Joyce on his website, Instagram, or YouTube.
Find Russell's book His Face Like Mine: Finding Godâs Love in Our Wounds
Get your free download Your Prescription for Sexual Healing â God's Way
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
Our culture seems obsessed with sex. Then why do so many men seem to experience sexual desire as a place of brokenness, shame, struggle, and confusion? Dr. Carol's guest on this episode asserts that men are oversexualized yet sexually undernourished, and that many men need more talk, not less, about sexuality.
Experienced therapist and author Sam Jolman joins Dr. Carol to talk about masculine sexuality as God designed it to be, how evil has hijacked and distorted this critical part of a man's soul, and what the journey to sexual wholeness, wonder, freedom, and even innocence is all about.
Connect with Sam Jolman on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
Find Sam's book The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
And get the Audiobook of Sexpectations at 60% off through August 9th.
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
While approximately 50% of those who call themselves Christian in the developed world are unmarried, only about 25% of the typical church attendees are unmarried. Where are the other single Christians? Many unmarried Christians report unique struggles in their walk with God. They often report feeling disconnected or even alienated from the body of Christ, like church isn't for them.
On this episode Lisa Anderson, who manages Focus on the Family's young adult ministry, talks with Dr. Carol about what it's like to live as a Christian single - at any age. And Lisa has some helpful things to say to singles about the church, and to the church about singles.
Connect with Lisa Anderson on the Boundless website, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
Get Lisa's book The Dating Manifesto: A Drama-Free Plan for Pursuing Marriage with Purpose
Find my article Handling Your Sexuality as a Single Christian
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
The need to belong is deep in our human souls. We are almost always asking, "Am I on the inside? Or on the outside?" Loneliness has strong negative impacts on our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Dr. Carol's conversation with writer, speaker, and podcaster Sarah E. Westfall will help you navigate your need to belong, and how that comes more from who you are than something you achieve. And they offer insight into how to move closer to both God and others.
More resources:
- Connect with Sarah Westfall on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
- Get Sarah's book The Way of Belonging: Reimagining Who We Are and How We Relate
My article How to Find Your People When You Need Help
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here.
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More religious stuff to do. So much performance leads to anxiety and exhaustion. When our attachment to God is insecure, or is based on our own activity and behavior, there's no life.
Anglican priest and spiritual director Summer Joy Gross has walked the journey to become securely attached to God. She talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about how you can do the same. While offering practices that will help you, your biggest takeaway from this conversation is likely to be a deeper desire to be with Jesus.
More resources:
- Connect with Summer Joy Gross and the Presence Project on her website, or on Facebook or Instagram.
- Get Summer's book The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by GodCheck out my article Practical Ways to Pursue Intimacy with God
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
Marriage is hard. And it can be really hard when you face betrayal, neurodiversity, old baggage, emotional deprivation, and more.
Shawna Meek has faced all this, and has chosen to stay married. She talks with Dr. Carol about what helped her stay - and stay sane - in the middle of all the mess. You may or may not make the same choice Shawna has. But regardless, this conversation will help you feel validated and encouraged, and help you persevere regardless of what happens - or doesn't - with your marriage.
More resources:
- APSATS - Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists
- Find Shawna Meek at Living Stones Coaching, Facebook, or Instagram
- Get Shawna's book Determined for More: A Story of Perseverance Through Divorce, Betrayal Trauma, Emotional Deprivation and Autism
My book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
Your journey to wholeness - sexually and otherwise - will be opposed. That opposition comes from both inside you and from outside you. That opposition includes pressure from the kingdom of darkness. Not everything is spiritual warfare, but understanding this aspect of what you will face helps you be prepared and successful in facing the opposition.
Dr. Carol provides three specific strategies or things to do in facing spiritual opposition that will help you recognize when you're under spiritual attack, experience true freedom, and build a lifestyle that will maintain your freedom.
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More resources:
- article The Most Powerful Prayer I Ever Prayed
- book and related resources: Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories Around God, Love, and Relationships
Dr. Carol enjoys hearing from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
We often donât get what we want and that is often a good thing. Desireâincluding sexual desireâcan often be in disorder. Todayâs follower of Jesus exist at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. âFollow your heartâ and âYou do youâ has become our momentâs mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ?
Author and educator, AJ Swoboda joins the podcast to discuss this and more on this thought provoking segment.
Connect with AJ Swodoba on his personal website, or on Facebook, or Instagram.
Find AJâs book The Gift of Thorns: Jesus, the Flesh, and the War of Wants
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships. And find supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.
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Itâs never really about sex. Matters of the heart and a desire for intimacy are imbedded in humans since creation. But what does that mean if you are married? Or single?
God gave us desire; he gave us this longing ⊠the Greeks called it eros, passion, Itâs the deepest desire of our heart. However, our world has hijacked eros, it just sees it as erotic. It has been taken over by a corrupt culture that only sees passion as something that is dirty, sullied, and sinful.
Author and educator, Bill Donaghy, co-author of Rise and lecturer at Theology of the Body Institute joins the podcast to discuss the theology of Eros and more on this thought-provoking episode.
Check out the Theology of the Body Institute
Check out Rise: A 30-day Challenge for Men
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships. And find supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.
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Your heart is shattered. How can you find healing when you've been wounded by trauma and betrayal? And that process is even more challenging when you brought your past complex trauma into the relationship to begin with.
Trauma expert and counselor Stacey Sadler Smith has both experienced that herself, and now brings years of professional experience to helping both individuals and couples heal from trauma and betrayal. She talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about her own story, about broken attachments, and about the process of repair after trauma and betrayal - both for one's own heart and for the relationship.
Connect with Stacey Sadler Smith on her personal website, at Daring Ventures, or on Facebook or Instagram.
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here.
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Many who use pornography struggle to quit when they try to, even if they deeply believe it's wrong and even while using various tricks and techniques and "praying more". Porn is often seen as the problem, and it is a problem. But what if porn is the (false) solution being offered to a different "problem".
On this vulnerable and raw episode, Dr. Carol talks with Drew Boa about how he came to see "porn as my pacifier". They unpack the often-unaddressed issues that lead to pornography use. Hear how Drew did the hard and successful work to heal and develop a truly intimate marriage in the process, and how he now helps men find redemption in their sexuality, and healing and transformation in community.
Connect with Drew Boa on his personal website, on Husband Material, or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.
Find Drew's book Redeemed Sexuality: 12 Sessions for Healing and Transformation in Community
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
Most people know sex trafficking exists. But you might imagine that's something "out there" and could never affect anyone close to you. And why would someone ever get hooked into that lifestyle? Why don't they just leave?
Dr. Carol's guest on this episode is Jasmine Grace Marino. As a former sex worker who now helps and advocates for others on the journey out of that lifestyle, she talks openly about the matters of the heart that are at play for those affected by sex trafficking, including the roles of addiction and pornography. And it's not hopeless; you'll hear the joy of working to help others experience freedom.
Connect with Jasmine Grace Outreach on their website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Find Jasmine's book The Diary of Jasmine Grace: Trafficked. Recovered. Redeemed
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
May is mental health awareness month. It's no secret that mental health issues have become a pandemic in our culture. How can Christians navigate their own mental health in ways that are both effective and consistent with their faith? And what might the Christian church have to offer in the broader mental health arena?
Joe Padilla, licensed and ordained minister, talks with Dr. Carol about the Mental Health Grace Alliance - validated in scientific journals, and perhaps the largest network of Christian mental health groups worldwide. Combining research-based best practices and Bible-centered curricula, this resource is a best-kept secret available anywhere to anyone.
Find out more about the Mental Health Grace Alliance on their website, Facebook, or Instagram.
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. -
With all the talk in the last few years about "toxic masculinity," what is a real man? Does it have to do with doing "manly" things such as sports or being outdoors? It can't be being "nice;" that's not appealing. What's really at the core of being a man, particularly as God intended?
Author, radio host, and advocate for children's healing Brant Hansen talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about the kind of men, and especially young men, we need. He describes some critical decisions a young man needs to make, and applies this to relationships, sexuality, and one's spiritual life.
Connect with Brant Hansen on his website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram.
Find out more about the CURE organization Brant advocates for.
Find Brant's latest book The (Young) Men We Need: God's Purpose for Every Guy and How You Can Live It Out
Check out Dr. Carol's new book Sexpectations: Reframing Your Good and Not-So-Good Stories About God, Love, and Relationships
And look around at all the supplementary resources at YourSexpectations.com.
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message here. - Vis mere
