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In this episode, I sit down with Carl and Laura Lentz to talk about infidelity, betrayal, forgiveness, and what it takes to rebuild after everything falls apart. Their story isn't about why every woman should stay. It's about why every person deserves the chance to heal. I ask Laura why she stayed. Her answer was a day-by-day decision built on evidence. Carl didn't just promise to change, he showed it through consistent action, accountability, and counseling. Laura also shares why it took three years before she could truly say she forgave him. This conversation isn't about minimizing infidelity or saying every marriage can be saved. It's about taking responsibility, finding healing, and letting God into the most painful parts of our stories. Resources Carl & Laura Lentz — Lights On Explore Carl and Laura's conversations about healing, accountability, relationships, and life after public failure through their Lights On podcast and their book about overcoming infidelity. Their book addresses ten practical conversations surrounding betrayal, rebuilding trust, personal healing, and the difficult decisions couples face after infidelity. Sponsors Live Action Network Live Action works to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming information, resources, and hope. Blake is partnering with Live Action to raise $10,000 to help reach approximately 200 women with life-affirming support. According to Live Action's estimates, a $50 gift can help reach one woman, but gifts of any amount can make a difference. To support this effort, text BLAKE to 70723 or visit LiveAction.org/donate/Blake. Steward  Have you thought about who would care for your children if something happened to you and your spouse? More importantly, have you made those wishes legally clear? Stored is a self-directed estate-planning platform offering state-specific, attorney-drafted document templates to help families prepare essential documents, including wills, advance directives, and financial powers of attorney. Plans start at $199, and you can save 10% using code SPEAKEASY10 at withstored.com. Follow the platform's signing, witness, and notarization instructions to complete your documents. Join the Conversation What does genuine repentance look like to you? Have you ever experienced a season when healing took longer than you—or the people around you—expected? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #CarlLentz #LauraLentz #LightsOn #MarriageRestoration #HealingAfterBetrayal #InfidelityRecovery #ChristianMarriage #Forgiveness #RebuildingTrust #FaithAndHealing #ChristianPodcast #LiveAction #Stored

In this solo episode, I'm getting honest about friendship, discernment, and boundaries. I knew what the Bible said about boundaries, but I wasn't always putting that wisdom into practice. And the red flags I ignored? They were there all along. I spent years understanding Jesus' warning about judging as a reason to never make any judgments. But Matthew 7 also tells us to recognize people by their fruit. Jesus calls us to make wise judgments without becoming judgmental. Loving someone doesn't mean trusting them. Forgiving doesn't mean ignoring their behavior. And extending grace doesn't require pretending the red flags aren't there. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is recognize the fruit, establish the boundary, and trust God with the rest. Wisdom isn't cruelty, and boundaries aren't the opposite of love. Scripture & Resources Matthew 7 — Judgment, discernment, removing the plank from your own eye, pearls before pigs, and recognizing people by their fruit. Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I encourage you to study Matthew 7, spend time in prayer, and ask the Lord for wisdom about the relationships and boundaries in your own life. Sponsor Live Action Network Live Action works to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming information, practical resources, and hope when they need it most. Blake is partnering with Live Action to raise $10,000 to help reach approximately 200 women with life-affirming support. Live Action estimates that a gift of around $50 can help reach one woman, but every contribution matters. To support this effort, text BLAKE to 70723 or visit LiveAction.org/donate/Blake. Join the Conversation Have you ever confused extending grace with ignoring red flags? What has God taught you about friendship, discernment, and healthy boundaries? Share your thoughts in the comments. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianFriendships #BiblicalDiscernment #ChristianBoundaries #Matthew7 #FriendshipBreakups #HealthyBoundaries #ChristianLiving #Faith #Wisdom #Relationships #LiveAction

In this episode, Angie Smith and I talk about moving beyond a faith that puts Bible-verse Band-Aids over our struggles into a deep, honest, surrendered relationship with Jesus. The shallow end can look like white-knuckling, performing, using perfectionism for control, or ignoring painful patterns. Angie encourages us to go underneath: Where did I learn this? What am I afraid of? What does this reveal about what I believe about God? I got personal about my own perfectionism and realizing it was an attempt to control outcomes and stay worthy of God's favor. But our coping mechanisms aren't our identities. As Angie puts it, you're not a perfectionist as an identity. You're a daughter of God who may have learned perfectionistic tendencies that once served a purpose. Recognizing those patterns isn't an invitation to pile on more shame. It's an opportunity to bring them into the light, hold them against truth, and let God begin changing them. Resources Angie's new book, Into the Deep, explores the intersection of faith, psychology, learned patterns, identity, surrender, and what it looks like to move into a deeper and more honest relationship with God. Learn more on Angie's website: https://angiesmithministries.com/ Follow her on Instagram @officialangiesmith Sponsor CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to resources including bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, vetted doctor lists, and healthcare support. Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #AngieSmith #IntoTheDeep #ChristianPodcast #ChristianLiving #Faith #Surrender #IdentityInChrist #Perfectionism #Healing #RenewYourMind #TrustGod #CrowdHealth

Erin and I are talking about the hardest question: what do you do when God asks you to lay down something you worked hard to build? We're both walking through seasons of transition, so this is less "here's how to do it" and more "me too." Erin spent over a decade building businesses and finding success as an entrepreneur before God asked her to step back to homeschool her family. We get honest about the hardest part: identity. When you've spent years becoming known for something, suddenly losing it feels like losing yourself. The questions start: Who am I without this? What if I'm giving up too much? Sometimes what feels like losing everything you've built is actually God making room for what He's going to build next. You can be scared and still obey. You can ask God what He's doing and still end with, "I will trust You." Connect with Erin Follow her on IG @erinmeinel Visit her website at https://erinmeinel.com/ Sponsor CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to resources including bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions, vetted doctor lists, and healthcare support. Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #ErinMeinel #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #Faith #TrustGod #Obedience #Surrender #Calling #ChristianLiving #HomeschoolMom #Motherhood #LifeTransitions #CrowdHealth

Content Advisory: This episode contains a respectful but direct conversation about pornography, sexual content, and protecting children from exposure. Parents may want to listen with headphones when little ears are nearby. In this episode, Kristen A. Jensen, founder of Defend Young Minds, and I talk about something every parent needs to consider: preparing our kids for pornography exposure. I was scared talking about pornography would take away my daughters' innocence. But Kristen helped me rethink the goal entirely: innocence isn't the ultimate goal, preparation is. Our kids need to recognize harmful content, understand why it can hurt them, know what to do when they encounter it, and most importantly, know they can come to us without shame. You can't bubble-wrap your children from everything. But you can prepare them. You can give them language. You can give them a plan. And you can make sure when the world tells them about pornography, it isn't the first voice they've heard. Resources Learn more about Kristen's work, Good Pictures Bad Pictures, the new guide for girls, and free resources for parents at DefendYoungMinds.com/Books. Connect with Kristen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendYM/ Instagram: @defendyoungminds X: @defendYM LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/defend-young-minds Sponsor CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to resources including bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, vetted doctor lists, and healthcare support. Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #KristenAJenson #DefendYoungMinds #GoodPicturesBadPictures #Parenting #ChristianParenting #ParentingGirls #OnlineSafety #DigitalSafety #ProtectingKids #Motherhood #CrowdHealth

Jennifer Pepito is back on the podcast talking about the hard stuff: homeschooling can be beautiful and really hard at the same time. She has thirty years of wisdom and helped me work through the questions we all quietly ask—are my kids learning enough? When is it okay to just put the curriculum down? Here's what Jennifer keeps reminding me: the curriculum serves your family, not the other way around. Sometimes the best thing you can do is close the books and come back tomorrow. The goal isn't measuring success by grade levels, it's asking who you're trying to help these children become. You aren't going to make or break your children with one hard day. Even the hard seasons are opportunities to depend on the Lord and love your families well. Connect with Jennifer Learn more about The Inspired Homeschool at InspiredHomeschoolBook.com. Find Jennifer's homeschool curriculum, resources, and free homeschooling guide at ThePeacefulPress.com. Sponsors CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance that gives members access to bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, and a dedicated care advocate. Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not insurance. Live Action Network Live Action works to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming truth, resources, and hope at the moment they are searching for answers. To support their work, text BLAKE to 70723 or visit LiveAction.org/donate/Blake. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #JenniferPepito #Homeschool #Homeschooling #HomeschoolMom #ChristianHomeschool #ChristianParenting #ThePeacefulPress #TheInspiredHomeschool #Motherhood #Faith #CrowdHealth #LiveAction

James Finke is back on the podcast to talk about apologetics and why Christians should be ready to explain what we believe and why we believe it. He's passionate about making this accessible to regular people like us, and we dig into the historical evidence for Jesus, his resurrection, and the early church. But this isn't about winning arguments, it's about being prepared when someone you love starts asking questions. James shares a story that changed him: an acquaintance died unexpectedly after they'd talked casually about Jesus. It left him asking, what if our silence costs someone the chance to hear the Gospel? That hit me hard. If we truly believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, shouldn't we be willing to have those hard conversations with the people we love? Sometimes you're not meant to bring someone all the way in one conversation. Sometimes you're just supposed to be a rock in their shoe, leaving them with a question they can't shake. Learn what you believe. Understand why you believe it. Love people enough to have difficult conversations. And trust God with what happens after you plant the seed. Resources Learn more about James Finke, his books, and his work at AuthorJamesFinke.com. James also created a Christian Author's Toolkit with resources for anyone interested in writing and independently publishing Christian books. Visit AuthorJamesFinke.com/Blake. Sponsors Live Action Network Live Action works to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming information, resources, and hope when they need it most. To support their work, text BLAKE to 70723 or visit LiveAction.org/donate/Blake. CrowdHealth CrowdHealth provides a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance, including access to bill negotiation, lower-cost prescriptions, and healthcare resources. Get your first three months for $99 using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not health insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #JamesFinke #ChristianApologetics #Apologetics #ChristianPodcast #Faith #Jesus #TheGospel #Christianity #Bible #SharingYourFaith #GreatCommission #CrowdHealth #LiveAction

In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on what happens when we finally begin to heal. What if joy, playfulness, and whimsy aren't distractions from a serious life with Jesus, but actually evidence that we're getting better? Over the past year, God has been teaching me to slow down and rediscover the enjoyment of life. I spent years understanding the Christian life through suffering and perseverance, but He's showing me another truth: He created us to experience joy too. This past year has required dismantling identities I built and allowing God to tear down what I could never dismantle myself. Healing can feel violent. But somewhere in the cracks, I began noticing flowers. A candle while I work. Tea on a rainy afternoon. Being present enough to actually recognize a beautiful moment while it's happening. Learning to rest was ultimately learning to trust, and I'm discovering that whimsy doesn't mean ignoring suffering, it means noticing God's goodness while you're still walking through the hard things. Sometimes the flowers grow right through the cracks. Sponsor CrowdHealth CrowdHealth offers a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to resources including bill negotiation, lower-cost prescriptions, and vetted doctor lists. When larger healthcare expenses arise, members contribute through the CrowdHealth community. Get your first three months for $99 using code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not health insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #BlakeGuichet #Whimsy #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast #Healing #BiblicalJoy #Rest #Faith #RootedHope #TrustGod #CrowdHealth

What if one of the most powerful things you could do for your marriage is also one of the simplest, and most overlooked? In this episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, I sit down with Brad and Heidi Mitchell of Build Your Marriage for an honest, practical conversation about praying together as a married couple and why this simple spiritual rhythm can have such a profound impact on a relationship. Brad and Heidi have been married for more than four decades, but their story hasn't been without difficult seasons. They share how they met as teenagers, navigated the rocky early years of marriage, and eventually faced one of the deepest betrayals a marriage can experience: infidelity. Their story is ultimately one of forgiveness, reconciliation, and God's ability to restore what feels completely broken. Sponsor CrowdHealth CrowdHealth offers a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to resources including bill negotiation, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, and doctor recommendations. When larger healthcare expenses arise, members contribute through the CrowdHealth community. Get your first three months for $99 with code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not health insurance. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #BuildYourMarriage #ChristianMarriage #Marriage #Prayer #PrayingTogether #ChristianPodcast #MarriageAdvice #Faith #Jesus #BradAndHeidiMitchell #CrowdHealth

What happens when you've achieved everything the world says should make you happy, and you're still empty? In this episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, I sit down with baseball legend and ordained minister, Darryl Strawberry, for a powerful conversation about surrender, grace, obedience, and the transformation that happens when Jesus becomes Lord over every part of your life. Darryl is a four-time World Series champion and eight-time All-Star, but today, he says the most important part of his story isn't what happened on the baseball field. It's what happened when a man who seemingly had everything finally surrendered his heart to Jesus. Live Action reaches women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming truth, resources, and hope. You can help support their work by texting BLAKE to 70723 or visiting LiveAction.org/donate/Blake.  CrowdHealth offers a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance. Members receive access to bill negotiation, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, vetted doctors, and community support for larger healthcare expenses. Get your first three months for $99 with code SPEAKEASY at JoinCrowdHealth.com. CrowdHealth is not health insurance.

If you're feeling stressed, exhausted, and disconnected, it might not be because life is too busy—it might be because your priorities are out of order. In this solo episode, I share a deeply personal lesson God has been teaching me over the past year: there is a biblical order to where our time, energy, attention, and devotion belong. After a season where work and ministry had climbed to the top of my priorities, God gave me a vision showing just how disordered my life had become. Then the board changed, revealing a simple order that would begin reshaping everything: God. Spouse. Children. Community. Ministry. I walk through each of these five areas and share what I'm learning about putting them back in their proper place, not through perfection or another checklist, but through surrender and obedience. Episodes Mentioned: Ep. 407 - Navigating Change: How God's Shifted My Entire Life Ep. 411 - Where Do I Start? (Bible Reading, Journaling, & Staying Rooted) Bible Verses: Matthew 22:37 — Love the Lord your God with everything you have — the first and greatest commandment Psalm 27:4 — One thing sought above all else — dwelling with God Genesis 2:24 — The covenant of marriage — two becoming one Proverbs 31:11-12 — The wife who brings her husband good all the days of her life Psalm 127:3 — Children as heritage and gift, not achievement or identity Deuteronomy 6:6-7 — Faith impressed on children through the ordinary moments of life Hebrews 10:24-25 — The call to genuine, embodied community Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 — Two are better than one — the value of real relationship Mark 8:36 — The cost of gaining the world while neglecting what matters Matthew 6:33 — Seek first the kingdom — the right order always starts with Him ## Sponsors **CrowdHealth** CrowdHealth offers a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance, giving members access to bill negotiation, lower-cost prescriptions and testing, vetted doctors, and support when larger medical expenses arise. Get started for $99 for your first three months at **JoinCrowdHealth.com** using code **SPEAKEASY**. CrowdHealth is not health insurance.  **Live Action** Live Action works to reach women considering abortion with life-affirming information, support, and hope before a decision is made. Your support can help put resources in front of women searching for answers when they need them most. Text **BLAKE** to **70723** or visit **LiveAction.org/donate/Blake** to support their work.

How do we raise kids who actually want to come to us with the hard questions? In this episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, I sat down with Kate Henderson, co-founder of Gather Moms, to talk about intentional motherhood and navigating conversations our parents never had to have. Our children are constantly receiving messages from everywhere, so if we want to shape their worldview, we have to start meaningful conversations first. Kate and I discuss practical ways to make those conversations feel natural, and why asking questions is often better than giving answers. We also tackle gender and sexuality, and the complicated world of screens and social media. What matters most is creating a home where questions are safe and your children know they can come back to you. You don't need to have every answer, you just need to keep showing up and pointing them toward Jesus. Sponsors Just Thrive Your gut health impacts so much more than digestion—it affects your energy, immune system, brain function, and overall well-being. Just Thrive's clinically proven probiotic is designed to arrive in your gut 100% alive, helping support whole-body health. Visit JustThriveHealth.com/Blake and use promo code BLAKE to save 20% on your first order. CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance, helping members navigate healthcare expenses with transparent pricing, bill negotiation support, and personalized care advocates. Learn more at JoinCrowdHealth.com and use promo code SPEAKEASY. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #KateHenderson #GatherMoms #ChristianParenting #IntentionalParenting #Motherhood #FaithAndFamily #JustThrive #CrowdHealth

I sat down with Susan Peters, CEO of Unbound Now, to discuss the myths that keep people from recognizing trafficking and how we can respond when something doesn't seem right. Susan explains that trafficking rarely looks like movies portray it. Instead, victims are often groomed over time through manipulation and relationships with people they already know. Susan and I discuss how parents, teachers, coaches, and community members can recognize warning signs and what to do when something doesn't seem right. We also talk about the hope found in restoration and how survivors can heal with compassionate support. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who wants to make a difference, this conversation equips you with practical knowledge and encourages you to become a safe, attentive presence in your community. Sponsor: CrowdHealth CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance that helps members navigate medical expenses with transparent pricing, bill negotiation, and personalized support. Visit JoinCrowdHealth.com and use promo code SPEAKEASY to receive your introductory offer. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #Episode422 #HumanTraffickingAwareness #UnboundNow #SusanPeters #ProtectTheVulnerable #Parenting #FaithAndCulture #CrowdHealth

On today's episode, I have a conversation with Steven Rofrano, founder of Ancient Crunch, to unpack the growing conversation around seed oils, processed foods, and how the modern food system impacts our health. Steven's childhood health struggles led him to question the foods most of us consume every day. Together we discuss why families are rethinking processed foods, what seed oils are and why they became so prevalent in America, and the contrast between American food culture and more traditional approaches found in Europe. We also talk about paying attention to how food makes you feel instead of accepting poor health as normal. Steven and I encourage you not to get overwhelmed by every new health trend, but to make thoughtful, sustainable changes that support long-term wellness. This episode offers practical encouragement to ask better questions about the food we consume every day. Sponsor: CrowdHealth Healthcare doesn't have to be confusing or controlled by the traditional insurance system. CrowdHealth is a community-powered alternative that helps members manage medical expenses with transparent pricing, bill negotiation support, and personalized care advocates. Learn more at JoinCrowdHealth.com and use promo code SPEAKEASY to receive your introductory offer. #TheSpeakeasyPodcast #Episode421 #HealthyLiving #Nutrition #SeedOils #RealFood #FamilyHealth #Wellness #CrowdHealth #AncientCrunch

As we reach the halfway point of the year, I reflect on the importance of slowing down long enough to evaluate where we've been, where we're headed, and how God is shaping us in the process. Rather than chasing constant productivity, I encourage you to embrace the natural rhythms of each season, recognizing that every season has a purpose. Just as creation doesn't bloom year-round, neither are we meant to live at the same pace all the time. Sponsors: Just Thrive and CrowdHealth Just Thrive offers clinically proven probiotics designed to support gut health, energy, immunity, and overall wellness. Visit JustThriveHealth.com/Blake and use code BLAKE to save on your first order.  CrowdHealth provides a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance, helping members navigate healthcare costs with greater transparency and support. Learn more at JoinCrowdHealth.com using code SPEAKEASY.