The Relate Podcast: Recent Episodes

The Relate Podcast

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

Explore the show notes, where you’ll find discussion questions so you can continue the conversation with friends.

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In this last episode of season 7 we discover one more helpful tool in understanding how to navigate conversations when emotions are running high. We talk brain science and actual words that we can all use in conversation.

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We all know how things can go south quickly when emotions are running high with our kids, with ourselves, and even with our adult relationships. In this episode, we introduce the “Window of Tolerance” and we discover ways this concept can help us all (even at a young age) understand what is happening and get to the other side of it.

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In our current climate of converging crises we often find ourselves interacting with friends, family and kids who are flooded with emotional responses. In this season, we consider helpful ways to respond in these interactions and how to help our kids--and others--make sense of what they are feeling and how to receive care.

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As we discover and name our grief we may begin to consider how to meet God in that space. Is He even there? In this episode we discover that not only is grief okay, but that it actually leads us to experience God in real and deep ways.

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As we pay attention to our losses as they add up, we often have a tendency to minimize our feelings by comparing our story to other’s bigger losses. In this […]

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When life is moving along at a fast pace and all of a sudden we are hit with a change--planned or unplanned-- that leaves us with feelings of sadness and loss, how do we respond to those feelings instead of ignoring them and simply adjusting to our “new normal?” Maybe it's a new job, a kid going off to college, or a dear friend moving away, these changes seem like ones we can muster up the strength to weather, but they too deserve our curiosity and care. We discuss how the feelings of loss that pile up from life’s “little losses” really do need our attention so that we can heal and grow.

Discussion Questions: What are some moments from your life that come to mind when we talk about life interruptions or transitions that have left you with some sadness? How did you first feel when we invited you to consider that sadness grief? Is naming it as grief a challenge for you or does it come easily? Why do you think that is? What fears might you have about spending time naming and grieving your losses? What do you hope to gain by naming your losses and grieving them? What do you hope comes from this practice?

Resources for further learning

Podcast: Unlocking Us, Brene Brown and David Kessler

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Join host Casey Sundstedt as she chats with three Willow Creek dads - Dave Dummitt, Tracy Stingley, and Steyn.

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Even on normal years Mother’s Day can be a complicated holiday, ripe with expectations and multiple obligations to balance. In this episode we get curious about our own expectations going into this holiday and we get clearer about what this unique Mother’s Day could look like for all of us.

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As we continue to stay home because of Covid-19, some of us are shifting from a sprint mindset to one of a marathon. You are not alone as you navigate […]

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We know there is so much talk out there right now about our current Stay-at-Home reality. It’s on the news, on our social media feeds, and as we talk with friends around the country it is our topic of conversation. It is not our desire to add to the volume of this reality, but rather to share our experiences of it and help us all feel a bit less alone and to discover ways to pay attention to our relational and emotional health in this season.

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As we wrap up season 4, we take a look at one of the best ways to ensure success when seeking to make change. We discuss benefits and strategies to […]

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When you look back at your old self, how do you feel? Is there something that “old self” wants to tell us about who we are today? As we look […]

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We have considered what is behind our desire to change, and if we are in a season where goals are indeed the next right thing for us. If you find […]

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In this episode we take a look at why often New Year’s Resolutions don’t work. We discuss some common pitfalls to avoid as we approach our desire for improvement in […]

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In this first episode of our 4th season we consider what everyone is mulling over this time of year: New Year’s Resolutions. We discuss why we have a tendency to […]

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This BONUS episode of The Relate Podcast brings back all of the guest content providers from seasons 1,2 &3 –September Vaudrey, Katie Franzen and Deb Shurtz. It’s a fun and […]

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In this special live recording we take a lighthearted look back at the holidays as well as anticipate some potential pot holes in the road ahead when it comes to […]

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In this episode we move from things for us to consider get clear about our own disappointment to talking through some tools that will help us have actually have a […]

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During this episode we consider two important questions that will help us get clear about what is behind our disappointment. If we take time to discover the answers to these […]

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In this first episode of our 3rd season we take a look at how we respond when we experience disappointment in our friendships. As we begin to take note and […]

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In this final episode of season 2, we consider our current relational capacity and take time to thoughtfully compare it to our ongoing relational commitments. We discuss why it feels […]

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Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

View Details

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

View Details

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

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Today we conclude this Origins series with a look at how our past affects more than how we view ourselves and how we relate to others; it also colors our experience with God.

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Today’s topic gets personal: We’re talking about why we need other people to speak into our stories. What value to they bring? What kind of people are we looking for—and […]

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Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends September Vaudrey and Tyler Hoff for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

View Details

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends September Vaudrey and Tyler Hoff for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

View Details

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends September Vaudrey and Tyler Hoff for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.

View Details

Thanks for checking out the RELATE podcast, where we explore how to do life better by building better relationships. Join host Casey Sundstedt and friends for a conversation about all things relationship—friendships, co-workers, marriage, family, and more. You’ll be challenged and encouraged by fresh concepts that make your relational world richer and more rewarding.