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Talking to your kids about sex is a lot scarier than it used to be. It's always been uncomfortable for most parents, and is often a topic danced around or ignored completely. But the stakes for our kids are too high to ignore how changing cultural messages are affecting our kids.

Amber Garrett Carroll knows all about this, and has been devoting her life to helping not only her kids, but all kids - by offering training and resources for parents. As a single mom, co-parenting with an ex-husband who came out as gay, she's aware of how many complex situations kids are exposed to. Sexuality (in general), same-sex attraction, and gender incongruence are some of the topics impacting kids even before they're out of elementary school.

Amber has been working for over a decade with a nonprofit organization called EQUIP (see Episode 46 with EQUIP's director, Pieter Valk), and has written a parent training course to offer parents a deep familiarity with God’s wisdom for sexual stewardship for all people, and to provide practical guides for age-appropriate conversation with kids, broken down by age group.

Amber has also recently published a book for parents called Ready to Talk: A Christian Parent's Guide to Gender and Sexuality. This extremely practical book offers what so many Christian families have lacked: a clear roadmap for discipling kids in today's culture.

Amber lives in Nashville, TN with her two kids.

#ambergarrettcarroll #ambercarroll #equip #equipyourcommunity #vocationalsingleness #christiansingleness #lgbt #gaychristian #parenting #sexeducation #gender #genderincongruence #sexaddiction #healing #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

EQUIP's web site
Amber's author website
Free Parent Pack
Purchase Ready to Talk

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Talking with John Lynch is a treat. It's getting lost in a conversation, unaware of how much time has passed, or even exactly what you're talking about. It's easy to get pulled into John's warmth and sincerity, but he's also intense when talking about God's love for his children.

John co-wrote a life-changing book several years ago. The Cure: What if God isn't Who You Think He Is and Neither Are You? has had a radical impact on many people's lives and recovery journeys, and on how they see God's love and grace.

In this conversation we talked not just about The Cure, but about another of John's books, On My Worst Day. It's a memoir of sorts, where John dives deep into his own life, and gives glimpses of what Jesus was saying to him all throughout the story. There's something in there for everyone.

We're thrilled to have John as the speaker for our very first CONNECT Men's Weekend, October 9-11 in Birmingham AL. Click the link below to register to be part of this amazing weekend of encouragement and connection!

#johnlynch #johnlynchspeaks #thecure #truefaced #onmyworstday #gospel #grace #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #connection #conversation

John's speaking website (JohnLynchSpeaks)
The Cure (on Amazon)
On My Worst Day (on Amazon)

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

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This is a repost of the last of three episodes Greg & Stacey got to record for Return to Heart, the podcast of Tin Man Ministries. We're posting these episodes here, with the microphones turned around, with the title "Who's Asking the Questions Now?"

In this episode Tin Man's clinical director Phil Herndon talked with Greg to...

• Offer a working definition of addiction
• Distinguish how sexual addiction is tricky and complicated
• Talk about the role honesty plays in recovery
• Understand and deal with stimulation
• Envision holding space for both self-compassion AND taking ownership
• Reinforce the need for community & asking for help.

Addiction doesn't develop out of nowhere. Finding a safe place to unpack your story can not only bring greater understanding, but also the chance to finally break free and live the life you were meant to live. We hope this conversation will bring hope that things really can be different.

Thank you to Tin Man Ministries for their permission to rebroadcast the episode here on What We Really Want!

#gregoliver #awaken #awakenrecovery #philherndon #tinmanministries #returntoheartpodcast #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #betrayaltrauma #sexualbetrayal #healing #recovery #therapy #connection #rootsretreat #rootsretreatwomensworkshop

Tin Man Ministries website
Return to Heart podcast (Apple Podcasts)
Return to Heart podcast (Spotify)

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"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"

In the Spring of 2026, Stacey and Greg were honored to record a few episodes for Return to Heart, the podcast of Tin Man Ministries. We're posting these episodes here, with the microphones turned around, with the title "Who's Asking the Questions Now?" Last week you heard Phil talking with Stacey (solo), and next week will feature a conversation with Greg.

In this episode Tin Man's clinical director Phil Herndon talked with Stacey and Greg to discuss childhood experiences, marriage expectations, coping strategies, addiction, betrayal trauma, and the long road of recovery (individually and together).

Addiction that leads to sexual betrayal is complicated. It's a horrible breach of trust and does colossal damage to a relationship. AND, often that damage is the last thing the betraying partner had set out to do. The early wounds that contribute to addiction were often having their effect long before the relationship started. Healing is a long journey, and reconciliation is possible, but not guaranteed.

We hope this conversation will bring hope, encouragement, and things you can work through with God, your partner, or a trusted friend.

Thank you to Tin Man Ministries for their permission to rebroadcast the episode here on What We Really Want!

#staceyoliver #staceyandgregoliver #gregoliver #awaken #awakenrecovery #philherndon #tinmanministries #returntoheartpodcast #sexualaddiction #sexaddiction #betrayaltrauma #sexualbetrayal #healing #recovery #therapy #connection #rootsretreat #rootsretreatwomensworkshop

Tin Man Ministries website
Return to Heart podcast (Apple Podcasts)
Return to Heart podcast (Spotify)

Support the show

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

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"

Recently, Stacey and Greg were honored to appear as guests on Return to Heart, the podcast of Tin Man Ministries. We're posting these episodes here, with the microphones turned around, with the title "Who's Asking the Questions Now?" Next week will feature a conversation with both Stacey and Greg, and the week after another one with Greg.

In this episode Tin Man's clinical director Phil Herndon sat down with Stacey Oliver to discuss betrayal trauma, recovery after sexual addiction, attachment wounds, codependency, and the long road toward healing.

Drawing from her own story, Stacey shared what it felt like to discover hidden betrayal, why so many partners ignore their "gut," and how healing often begins by finding safe people who understand your pain.

Whether you're navigating betrayal yourself, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand how trauma impacts relationships, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical insight.

Awaken offers the Roots Retreat Women's Workshop as a help for women navigating the healing process after sexual betrayal. See link below for more information.

Thank you to Tin Man Ministries for their permission to rebroadcast the episode here on What We Really Want!

#staceyoliver #staceyandgregoliver #awaken #awakenrecovery #philherndon #tinmanministries #returntoheartpodcast #betrayaltrauma #sexualbetrayal #healing #recovery #therapy #connection #rootsretreat #rootsretreatwomensworkshop

Tin Man Ministries website
Return to Heart podcast (Apple Podcasts)
Return to Heart podcast (Spotify)

Support the show

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

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"

Let’s just state the obvious. Runners are weird people. We know it and we embrace it. But if running is not your thing, please don’t skip this conversation. There’s something here for you.

Cary and Micah Morgan are pillars of the Birmingham AL running community. More than that, they’re wonderful people who genuinely care about others and love well.

Cary is a physical therapist and owner/lead coach of Cadence Run Coaching, a business that helps runners achieve their goals. Micah is a nurse practitioner who also happens to be one of the world’s most elite ultra-runners. For about the last ten years, Micah has been crossing one challenge after another off her list, including the Badwater 135 ultramarathon, which is considered the toughest road race in the world. In fact, on July 27, 2026 Micah will compete in her third Badwater 135. You can track her progress using the link below.

In our conversation, we definitely talked about running. But more than that, we talked about the community and connection that comes from a shared passion. No matter what you love to do, when you find others who love it like you do, there’s a special connection available.

Cary and Micah are faithful friends and companions to so many, and more recently have walked through shared grief as well. In December 2025, the Birmingham running community lost a good friend when Christina Chambers’ life was suddenly cut short. We talk about that pain, as well as how many people Christina touched by her friendship. For those of you listening when the episode comes out, please check out the Christina Chambers Twilight 5K, coming August 7th. Link to register or donate is below.

Have fun listening to three obsessed runners (Cary, Micah, Greg) and one sane non-runner (Stacey) talk about passion, friendship, and great connection.

#carymorgan #micahmorgan #caryandmicahmorgan #beatsandfeetswithmicah #runhardandcaryon #running #cadenceruncoaching #marathon #ultramarathon #badwater135 #connection #community #vulnerability #grace #gospel #transformation #healing

Cadence Run Coaching website
Badwater135 website
Christina Chambers Twilight 5K race page (run or donate)
Micah on Instagram

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Why do people often feel more "churched" and cared for in recovery meetings than they do in their actual churches? What is present at those meetings, and/or missing from those churches? And what can we do about it?

Zac Hicks thinks these are important questions to consider. Zac is the lead pastor of Church of the Cross, a church plant in Birmingham AL. Over the past 20+ years, his extensive ministry experience has also included worship leading, songwriting, seminary teaching, and authoring books.

Zac is a contemplative thinker and it was really fulfilling to have a deep dive conversation that delved into multiple topics, including pastoral vulnerability, empathy, how we scrutinize song lyrics in worship, Family Systems theory, you name it and we talked about it.

Whether you're a pastor/ministry leader, someone in recovery, or just anyone interested in being a safe person for others, there's a lot of helpful stuff here. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

#zachicks #zachicksmusic #churchofthecross #pastor #empathy #traumainformed #pain #suffering #connection #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation #healing

Zac's personal website
Church of the Cross (Birmingham AL)
Zac's books (Amazon)
Zac on Instagram

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Conversations that don't feel rushed can feel pretty rare, but they're special when they happen. That's what it was like talking to our new friend, singer/songwriter Jason Gray.

Jason has been around Christian music for a long time, writing and releasing music that connects deeply with the heart. He's a man who has been through a lot of pain in his life, including parental abandonment, divorce, a speech handicap, and an adult child with a life-threatening illness.

Throughout all that, Jason has channeled his pain, his anger, his curiosity, and his hope into his music (you'll hear clips of several songs as you listen). This is, for sure, a conversation worth staying for...all the way to the end.

Song clips in this episode:
(2:44) Death Without a Funeral
(11:52) Remind Me Who I Am
(13:26) Why You Brought Me Here
(29:07) Worth Staying For
(43:23) Honesty

#jasongray #jasongraymusic #singer #songwriter #singersongwriter #pain #suffering #connection #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation #healing

Jason's website
Jason on Instagram
Jason on Facebook
Jason's music on Spotify
Jason's music on Apple Music
Jacob Gray's GoFundMe page

Support the show

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