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Several recent episodes have featured guests who are helping enable parents to engage in healthy conversations with their kids about sex. These are some of the hardest parts of parenting, but also some of the most critically important.

Someone who has contributed a lot of helpful resources is John Fort. An author who is also on staff with BeBroken Ministries, John has been equipping parents to have ongoing healthy talks with their kids about sex and sexuality. He has modeled it in his own home, even co-authoring a book with his son Lucas, called Father/Son Accountability.

John has just released a new book called Don't Stress Talking Sex: Starting Honest, Healthy Conversations with Your Kids. The book seeks to help parents know how to lay a good foundation, understand and communicate God's design for sex, recognize counterfeits, and be ready to answer questions.

John lives in Oregon with his wife Anna. They have two grown children.

#johnfort #johnwfort #bebrokenministries #dontstresstalkingsex #parenting #parents #sexeducation #sexuality #pornography #connection #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

BeBroken Ministries
John's books on Amazon
Pure Life Academy (sexual wholeness courses)

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Nobody is out there searching for grief. None of us asks for it. But grief comes into our lives anyway. How do we experience and navigate grief in a way that not only doesn't destroy us, but actually helps us live more genuine, dependent, and connected lives?

Ross King is learning about all of this. And he doesn't want to.

For over 30 years, Ross has been writing and singing songs that have encouraged and challenged people of faith. He's always been one to say what's on his mind, not tip-toeing around difficult topics. But the past two years have taken him into deeper and more painful places than he ever imagined.

In 2024 Ross' wife Staci was diagnosed with cancer, and after almost a year of battling it, she passed away in August 2025. To say it rocked the world of Ross and their four kids would be a huge understatement. Ross questioned everything, sometimes in ways that were painful and uncomfortable to witness. But he's wrestled with God, genuinely. And wrestling automatically pulls us in closer to our "opponent."

In the midst of his continued grief, Ross is writing new music that invites listeners to walk with him and to ask important questions about what we believe. He says, "I don’t have answers, and the songs are raw and vulnerable and messy, but as I’ve started to share them, it’s been beautiful to see not only how others are comforted, but also how life-giving it is for me. I don’t have a 5-year plan. I’m just living day by day, trying to push back the darkness with a little bit of creative light."

#rossking #rosskingmusic #forwardandon #faithalone #thingsthatimafraidof #worship #worshipmusic #christianmusic #grief #staciking #suffering #faith #hope #joy #loss #connection #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation #healing

Ross on Facebook
Ross on Instagram
Ross King's music on Spotify
Ross King's music on Apple Music

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For men who want to recover from porn addiction, what does the relationship between doing and understanding need to look like? How much of recovery and healing involves developing new skills vs. deep heart change?

These are important questions, and ones our guest has worked through with thousands of men. Sathiya Sam is an author, speaker, host of the "Man Within" podcast, and founder of coaching community Deep Clean. Sathiya seeks to utilize timeless principles and cutting-edge science to help guide his clients through in-depth transformational processes.

Because it's so easy for recovering people to have an unhealthy relationship even with the concept of sobriety, our conversation is timely and important.

Sathiya lives in Canada with his wife Shaloma and their kids.

#sathiyasam #deepclean #manwithin #manwithinpodcast #recovery #healing #coaching #sexaddiction #sexualaddiction #pornaddiction #sobriety #grace #gospel #healing #awaken #awakenrecovery

Deep Clean website
Man Within podcast
Sathiya's Instagram

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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)

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

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