
Hosted by the Girl Named Blake · EN

This episode is an invitation to rethink what a thriving marriage actually looks like. If you've been focused on loving your spouse but wondering how to genuinely like them too, this conversation is for you. I sat down with Christian counselors Chris and Jamie Bailey of Expedition Marriage to discuss building a marriage where both people are willing to let God transform them. Their story is proof that healthy marriages aren't built by perfect people. Chris and Jamie share how their relationship began before either knew Christ and how years of anxiety, unhealthy expectations, and emotional struggles nearly derailed their marriage. Jamie opens up about severe anxiety and panic attacks, while Chris discusses the helplessness he felt trying to "fix" something he couldn't control. Together, they explain how counseling, faith, and learning healthier patterns moved them toward healing. Here are some great resources Chris and Jamie shared to help you on your journey: For Wives: CLICK HERE For Husbands: CLICK HERE Sponsor: CrowdHealth If you're tired of the traditional health insurance system, CrowdHealth offers a community-based alternative designed to help families access quality healthcare without many of the frustrations of conventional insurance. Learn more at JoinCrowdHealth.com and use code SPEAKEASY for a special offer. #Marriage #ChristianMarriage #Relationships #ExpeditionMarriage #ChrisAndJamieBailey #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #CrowdHealth #MarriageAdvice #FaithAndFamily

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Rachel Barkley to discuss disability, suffering, identity, resilience, and what it means to trust God when life changes overnight. What began as a conversation about disability quickly became a deeper discussion about hope, purpose, and finding God's goodness in the middle of unexpected circumstances. Rachel shares her profound story of becoming paralyzed just two weeks after giving birth to her first child. After experiencing worsening symptoms during pregnancy, she woke up one morning unable to move her legs. Doctors eventually discovered a large tumor growing inside her spinal cord, leading to emergency surgery and a long road of recovery. Sponsor CrowdHealth Looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance? CrowdHealth offers: Lower-cost prescriptions and labs Access to vetted doctors Bill negotiation support Community-centered healthcare solutions Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.

This episode is an invitation to rethink what we mean by orphan care and how Christians can best support vulnerable children around the world. I sat down with Elli Oswald, Executive Director of Faith to Action, for a conversation about orphan care and global missions. Elli brings over a decade of experience in global child welfare and shares why many organizations are shifting focus from institutional care toward strengthening families. Key takeaways: The majority of children in orphanages worldwide have living family, poverty separates them, not death Children thrive when they stay with family or in family-based environments Elli's story of Knabs shows how family tracing efforts reunited nearly every child in a Sierra Leone orphanage with their families The church's role is ensuring our giving creates the best outcomes Strengthening families before separation happens is more effective than caring for children after crisis This episode isn't about criticizing generosity, it's about channeling our compassion toward lasting stability, healing, and belonging. Whether your heart is for international missions, foster care, adoption, or serving vulnerable families, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what effective compassion looks like.
This week I sit down with Elise Orozco from Raising Rock for a conversation that feels deeply personal and incredibly timely. We share remarkably similar stories of stepping away from ambition, hustle, and outside success in exchange for something we discovered mattered far more: presence. Elise opens up about leaving a high-level corporate career after realizing that while she was succeeding professionally, her family was often receiving the exhausted leftovers of what remained. What follows is an honest conversation about motherhood, identity, slowing down, surrender, and learning to embrace God's priorities instead of culture's expectations. Sponsor: CrowdHealth Looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance? CrowdHealth offers: Lower-cost prescriptions and labs Access to vetted doctors Bill negotiation support Community-centered healthcare solutions Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.

Year two of homeschooling is officially in the books, and I'm sitting down for an honest recap of what worked, what didn't, and what I wish I had known sooner. If you're considering homeschooling, preparing for your first year, or just curious what life actually looks like after the highlight reels, this episode offers a realistic look at the beauty and challenges of homeschooling life. I share the biggest lessons from year two: Year one felt like survival, year two finally felt like life Every path has challenges, choose the hard that works best for your family Connection before curriculum, children learn best when they feel seen Homeschooling is growing everyone, not just the kids Many frustrations came from my own expectations trying to recreate traditional school at home I also walk through our current daily rhythm, curriculum favorites, and how I address common fears about kids falling behind, socialization, and working while homeschooling. After two years, one thing is clear: the girls are thriving, and so is our family. This episode is about letting go of perfection and embracing the messy, beautiful reality of learning together. SPONSOR CrowdHealth Looking for an alternative approach to healthcare? CrowdHealth provides: Access to vetted doctors Lower prescription and lab costs Bill negotiation support Community-centered healthcare solutions Get started for $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.

This episode is an invitation to rethink what sanctification actually looks like. If you've felt pressure to transform yourself overnight or believed that becoming like Jesus should be faster and cleaner than it is, this conversation will meet you right where you are. I sat down with Matt Chandler to talk about sanctification, suffering, surrender, and the slow process of spiritual formation. This feels less like an interview and more like a mentoring session with someone who has walked with God through incredible highs and devastating lows. Matt makes the case that becoming like Jesus is not a light switch flipping on, it's an oak tree slowly growing over time. An oak becomes strong through rain, sunlight, dry seasons, storms, and deep freezes. In the same way, spiritual maturity develops through every season of life, not just the easy ones. In this episode, Matt walks through what spiritual formation actually looks like: Sanctification is messy and non-linear, but every turn moves you forward Growth starts with humility and surrender, not strength or self-reliance God is not waiting for you to fail, He's cheering your growth like a loving Father When you mess up, run toward God, not away from Him Suffering is often where we grow most because God meets us there Community is essential, you cannot become like Jesus in isolation Rather than perfection and performance, Matt shares the invitation to stay close to Jesus, let Him transform you over time, and trust Him in every season. Nothing is wasted. God uses it all to form us into the image of Jesus. Becoming like Jesus is slow, messy, humbling, and beautiful. This episode is about surrendering the pressure to fix yourself and letting Jesus do the transforming work. If you don't quit, you win. SPONSORS CrowdHealth A different approach to healthcare that helps you: Access vetted doctors Lower prescription and lab costs Receive support negotiating medical bills Use code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com to get started. Just Thrive A clinically proven probiotic designed to support: Gut health Energy Digestion Immunity Get 20% off your order at justthrivehealth.com with code BLAKE.

In this powerful and practical conversation, I sat down with Addison Bevere to unpack one of the most common struggles in the Christian life: prayer. If you've ever felt like you're "bad at prayer," distracted, or unsure what to say, this episode meets you right there and gently reframes everything. Addison shares that even growing up in a spiritually strong family, he felt like he didn't measure up. His journey into understanding prayer began from a place of deficiency, not mastery. Sponsors: Crowdhealth An alternative to traditional health insurance that gives you: * Lower-cost prescriptions and labs * Access to vetted doctors * A team to help manage bills You pay the first $500, and the community helps cover the rest. Get started for $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com. --------------------------------------- Just Thrive A clinically proven probiotic designed to: * Support gut health * Improve digestion * Strengthen immunity Try it risk-free for 90 days. Get 20% off your first order at justthrivehealth.com with code BLAKE.

In this episode, Brooke and I dive into a struggle so many Christian women share: feeling disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed in their lives, and genuinely unsure why their health is suffering. What often shows up: Constant stress and urgency Snapping at loved ones Poor health or confusing symptoms Feeling unable to slow down The root issue isn't just physical, it's a whole-person misalignment. Connect with Brooke: Join the Faithfully Nourished Community: https://brooke-rozmenoski.mykajabi.com/faithfully-nourished-community Book a FREE 30 Minute Consultation (first 30 people!): https://calendly.com/brookerozzie/clarity-call-from-speakeasy-podcast Follow Brooke on IG @brookerozzie Follow Faithfully Nourished on IG @faithfullynourished_ Podcast: Faithfully Nourished Sponsor: CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is an alternative to traditional health insurance. Members get: Lower-cost prescriptions and labs Access to vetted doctors A care team to help manage bills Get started for $99 for your first three months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com.

Today I'm answering two of the most common questions I get: where to start in the Bible and how to journal in a way that actually helps you grow. Not a rigid formula, just some simple, practical rhythms that have helped me stay grounded in my relationship with God. Sponsor: CrowdHealth If you are looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance, CrowdHealth offers a different approach. With CrowdHealth, you pay a monthly fee that gives you access to lower-cost prescriptions, lab testing, and a network of vetted doctors. If a major medical need arises, you pay the first $500, and the community helps cover the rest. You can get started for $99 for your first three months by using code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)

In this episode, I sat down with my husband Jeremy to talk about 15 years of marriage, the early struggles, the growth, and how we got to where we are today. Because what you see now? It didn't always exist. And that's kind of the whole point. We laughed, we got vulnerable, and we talked about the stuff a lot of couples deal with but don't always say out loud, especially in those early years. Whether you're newly married, in the thick of parenting, or feeling stuck in communication patterns, I hope this episode reminds you that strong marriages are built, not found. Sponsor: CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a health insurance alternative that puts you back in control. Get started for $99 for your first 3 months using code SPEAKEASY at: joincrowdhealth.com CrowdHealth is not insurance—it's a better way to pay for healthcare.