In this episode, Jenn has a conversation with Mirjam from the Netherlands. Share this story if you know someone who has struggled with loss and infertility. Check out her full bio and website below:My name is Mirjam and I'm married to Ido. We live in the southwest of the Netherlands. I was 38 when we got married. I always wanted to become a mother. In my thirties I decided to trust God for a man and children. After a miscarriage, I became pregnant again with our daughter, Rachel. She was born with a chromosome abnormality trisomy 13. After her death I wrote a book about her life; Her name is Rachel. Because of everything we went through with Rachel, I knew: I want to do something for the unborn life. I founded a pro-life organization; Powerful Woman. I occasionally give presentations at HBO Midwifery programs and organize pro-life meetings for Christians to inspire them about the biblical view of the unborn.
In his second time on the Them Before Us podcast, Professor Robert P. George shared about his new book: "Seeking Truth & Speaking Truth: Law and Morality in our Cultural Moment." In his decades as a professor, George has taught between 8,000-10,000 students in the Ivy Leagues and hopes this resource will shift our culture back to reason and truth seeking instead of emotionalism.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Things-Through-Morality-Culture/dp/1641774215
Check out Episode #019, where Professor George lays out "natural law" and why it matters for children: https://open.spotify.com/episode/06Gx9TRXzF2De8sLlXLOUM?si=6kON-jD-SJ2EcW2d4sRcdQ&nd=1&dlsi=7ce62b7944e746f1
Bio: Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He has served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and before that on the President’s Council on Bioethics and as a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. He has also served as the U.S. member of UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST). He is a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award. A graduate of Swarthmore College, he holds J.D. and M.T.S. degrees from Harvard University and the degrees of D.Phil., B.C.L., D.C.L., and D.Litt. from Oxford University. He has been a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and is a member of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters and the Council on Foreign Relations.
In this episode, Jenn interviews Let Them Live co-founder Emily Berning about how the organization is giving practical support to women who feel they don't have any other choice but abortion. Emily also shares the journey she and her husband have been on with embryo adoption.
Subcribe to our substack to get more resources to equip you for these sorts of conversations with your family and friends: www. thembeforeus.substack.com
Bio: "Emily Berning is the President and Co-Founder of Let
Them Live, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to saving lives
from abortion by providing financial and emotional
support to women facing unplanned or difficult
pregnancies. She has been active in the pro-life
movement for many years, driven by a deep passion for
empowering women to choose life through compassion
and practical help.
Let Them Live began when Emily and her husband,
Nathan, stepped in to support a woman who was
considering abortion due to financial hardship. That single
act of generosity changed the course of a life—and
sparked a nationwide movement. Since then, Let Them
Live has helped nearly 1,000 women choose life for their
babies by addressing the real-life pressures that often
lead to abortion."
Check out https://letthemlive.org for more information!
Jenn interviews Maridel Sandberg, the President and Founder of Together for Good, a national nonprofit launched in 2017 to partner with the local church in supporting vulnerable families before a crisis leads to separation.
If we can get to moms who need support before their children get involved in the government system, think how many lives could be positively changed! This was a great conversation and a great place to get involved.
More info below:
https://www.tfgood.org/
Full Bio: With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Maridel has devoted her career to family preservation, adoption advocacy, and strengthening community-based responses to family crisis. She is a founding member of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a national coalition committed to inspiring and equipping the Church to care for orphans and vulnerable children. Maridel has been instrumental in advancing faith-based solutions to child welfare challenges on both local and national levels. Maridel attended Northwestern University and has continued her education through decades of hands-on leadership, organizational development, and training in trauma-informed care and community mobilization. Her personal journey as a mother of eight—three biological and five adopted through the loving decisions of birth mothers—fuels her passion for standing alongside parents who choose to raise their children but lack the support systems they need to succeed.
Under Maridel’s leadership, Together for Good has become a trusted partner in the effort to reduce child welfare involvement and promote long-term family stability. She continues to lead with humility, vision, and a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to work together—for the good of children, the good of families, and the good of our communities.
Jenn chats with a new connection from Spain, Rosana Montes, whose unique story has led her to caring for children and equipping adults in Spain with a restored understanding of the importance of marriage and family. If you have any connections in Spain, email us@thembeforeus.com so we can connect you. Let's get Them Before Us in Spain!
------"My name is Rosana, and I hold an Associate Degree in Childcare and am currently completing a Bachelor's Degree in Social Education at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). I work with children who experience learning disorders and language development challenges, helping them build confidence, communication skills, and meaningful connections.Currently, I’m involved in two projects that reflect my passion for emotional and social development in youth. At La Casa Colibrí, I co-lead a program aimed at children and teenagers, where we use artistic expression as a tool for emotional learning and self-awareness. In parallel, I’m engaged in a collaborative initiative with parents, fostering a shared responsibility in addressing the complex challenges that young people face in today’s society.My interests center around emotional education, inclusive pedagogy, and community-based approaches to youth development. I'm especially passionate about using creativity as a bridge for connection and healing, and about building spaces where children and families feel empowered, seen, and supported."
#thembeforeus #katyfaust #TBUSpain #parenting #marriage #divorce
Jenn sits down with EksAyn Anderson, author, speaker, and founder of the Dadfluence movement, to discuss why fathers are one of the most critical forces shaping the future of children and society. From the heartbreaking story of losing his mother at age eight to practical, research-based parenting wisdom, EksAyn challenges men to reclaim fatherhood as their primary calling and reminds us that building strong families isn't just personal; it's civilizational.
They discuss how fathers can overcome common struggles like distraction, workaholism, and addiction, and reflect on what a five-year-old’s hike up an 11,700-foot mountain reveals about building confidence and courage in children.
See more from EksAyn here:
In this Legal Watch episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn and Patience unpack a new Louisiana bill framed as “protecting IVF”, but which, in reality, dismantles key legal protections for human embryos.
Patience explains how the bill, introduced by Senator Thomas Pressly, misrepresents the now-infamous “Alabama situation” to justify stripping parental rights at fertilization, limiting legal accountability for negligent IVF clinics, and replacing adoption language with property-style “donation” terms.
Rather than improving care or safety, the bill prioritizes shielding the IVF industry from consequences, jeopardizing Louisiana’s national leadership in pro-life embryo protections. The episode calls on listeners to see through the rhetoric, demand real reforms, and protect both life and family.Check out our IVF | FYI series for a deep dive on all things IVF industry and more about this Louisiana bill here.
(Note from Jenn: You may notice a slight echo in the first 1-2 minutes of audio but we were able to figure it out! Thanks for your patience as we ironed out the early wrinkles!)
In this #ANDnotOR feature episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn sits down with long-time friends and fellow children's rights advocates Cameron and Tracee Linder to talk marriage, parenting, and building a family culture that honors both truth and grace. From clashing hospitality styles to cowboy independence vs. military discipline, the Linders share how their opposite personalities and gender differences can truly complement one another, especially when united by a shared worldview and commitment to raising children with purpose. With honesty, humor, and deep faith, they reflect on what makes marriage worth the work and why every child needs both a mom and a dad.
Read more from Cameron and Tracee at https://libertyandgrace.org/
Join us between Mother's Day and Father's Day in our #ANDnotOR campaign to grow our monthly donor base by 50 donors! Any new monthly gift of any amount gets a special TBU gift from us AND you help us unlock a $50,000 matching gift. Every new donor is an extra $1,000 for this important work!
Join the movement: https://thembeforeus.com/andnotor/
In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Dr. Jennifer Mercier shares her inspiring journey through women's health and fertility. As the creator of Mercier Therapy, a natural method that helps women conceive, she offers a meaningful look into alternatives to IVF. Drawing from her own experience with endometriosis and infertility, Dr. Mercier opens up about the emotional and ethical concerns surrounding the fertility industry, including what happens to frozen embryos. She also highlights the importance of protecting both women's well-being and children’s rights. You will also get a preview of her upcoming documentary Conceiving Miracles and hear her honest reflections on parenting through life’s challenges with faith and strength.
Bio: Jennifer Mercier, ND, PhD, Midwife, has been in private practice for over two decades, specializing in women’s health, fertility, and hormone balance. A pioneer in integrative reproductive care, she is the creator of Mercier Therapy, a deep pelvic visceral technique that has helped countless women conceive naturally and prepare for successful IVF. Dr. Mercier is also a passionate educator, training healthcare professionals in Mercier Therapy for nearly 20 years. She is the author of Conceive and the filmmaker behind the documentaries Fertility: The Shared Journey With Mercier Therapy and the upcoming Conceiving Miracles. With a commitment to advancing personalized medicine, she continues to serve women as a hormone and fertility specialist.
Check out more from Dr. Mercier at:
https://www.expectamiracle.life/
https://www.merciertherapy.com/
And her book on Amazon "Conceive: The Mercier Approach"
Boardroom or babies? Why not both? In this conversation, Jenn is joined by Carrie Abbott, speaker, author, national radio host, and the Founder and Director of The Legacy Institute, to talk about the strength and beauty of womanhood.
With decades of experience as a teacher, corporate professional, and now a leading voice on faith and family, Carrie brings her unique perspective on how women can thrive in every season of life. She reminds us that women can have it all, just not all at once.
Carrie shares her personal journey and how her passion for helping others live in alignment with their divine design led her to create True Beauty, a powerful new 10-week study for young women. This study reintroduces biblical femininity as a source of hope and strength.
Together, Jenn and Carrie explore timely issues like feminism, fertility education, and what happens when we honor God’s blueprint for both male and female and how they complement each other.
With wisdom and warmth, Carrie shows how reclaiming our purpose as women not only blesses our families and careers but helps build a thriving, healthy society.
See more from Carrie Abbott, The Legacy Institute, and the new study "True Beauty."
This episode of the Them Before Us podcast features a conversation with professor and author Nancy Pearcey, exploring what it means to truly love the body and uphold the dignity of the human person. Drawing from her book "Love Thy Body", Pearcey outlines the intellectual and personal journey that shaped her convictions and dives into the cultural narratives that separate humanity from both biological reality and God-given identity.
Check out Love Thy Body on Amazon
The discussion unpacks how the separation of body and personhood is influencing today’s most critical ethical issues, including abortion, transgender ideology, IVF, and surrogacy. Pearcey explains how this divide is used to justify everything from embryo destruction to the treatment of people as products.
Nancy Pearcey brings reason, clarity, and hope to a conversation that matters deeply in today’s world. Let us know what you think!
Bio: Nancy Pearcey is the author of Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, as well as The Toxic War on Masculinity, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 20 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."
In this powerful episode, author and cultural commentator Adam B. Coleman shares his deeply personal journey from childhood pain to redemptive purpose. Adam opens up about breaking generational cycles and transforming from a young man struggling with fatherlessness to being the father his son deserves.
In his new book, "The Children We Left Behind: How Western Culture Rationalizes Family Separation & Ignores the Pain of Child Neglect", Adam unflinchingly shares his own experiences of abandonment and fatherlessness to shed light on a broader cultural crisis. He boldly challenges the notion that family breakdown is a race-specific issue, arguing instead that it’s a moral failure impacting every corner of Western society—a consequence of adults who choose self-interest over sacrifice for their children. Adam is the founder of Wrong Speak Publishing, a prolific writer, and the author of Black Victim to Black Victor.
His work regularly appears in outlets such as the New York Post, UnHerd, Newsweek, Daily Mail, and Human Events. He’s also a contributor to Dad Saves America, where he writes candidly about parenting from a father’s perspective. With a background in tech, Adam began speaking out in 2020 on issues ranging from family breakdown and DEI to wokeness and free speech.
Find more from Adam at: https://substack.com/@adambcoleman and his book at https://www.amazon.com/Children-Left-Behind-Rationalizes-Separation/dp/B0DSJZWMDL
In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Jenn sits down with Aaron Baer, President of the Center for Christian Virtue, to discuss the compelling findings from The Hope and a Future Report. Together, they explore how the decline of marriage and family structure contributes to rising poverty, violence, and mental health struggles—and why strengthening the family unit may be the key to reversing these trends. With insights from research by Brad Wilcox and practical policy solutions, this conversation offers a powerful call to action for lawmakers, churches, and communities alike. See more at https://www.ccv.org/ #thembeforeus #ivffyi #centerforchristianvirtue #marriage #divorce
In this episode Bobby Lopez shares his deeply personal journey of growing up in a home shaped by divorce and same-sex parenting. Reflecting on the struggles of identity, family connection, and the societal shifts that redefined marriage and parenting, Bobby provides a raw and honest account of how these experiences shaped his worldview.
He discusses his transition from childhood confusion to adult advocacy, his professional sacrifices for speaking the truth, and how faith and fatherhood ultimately brought healing. A must-listen for anyone interested in children's rights, family structure, and the long-term effects of redefining marriage. #ThemBeforeUs
In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, host Jenn sits down with Mark DeGrasse, creator of Dads in Autism Land, to explore the unique challenges and triumphs of fatherhood on the autism spectrum. Mark shares raw insights into balancing the needs of his two sons—one severely autistic and nonverbal, the other neurotypical—while navigating the emotional and relational complexities that come with parenting. From wrestling with societal expectations to the realities of marriage under pressure, this episode highlights the resilience and love that define special needs families.https://dadsinautismland.com/https://markdegrasse.comMark de Grasse is a devoted father navigating the unique realities of autism parenting while balancing the vastly different needs of his two sons. His eldest, Damien (12), has severe autism, is nonverbal, and functions at the level of a 2-3 year old, requiring constant care, patience, and creative communication. His younger son, Declan (11), is neurotypical, highly intelligent, and deeply dedicated to baseball—but more importantly, he’s developed a profound sense of empathy and understanding through his relationship with his brother.As a dad in Autismland, Mark has learned to juggle the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected lessons that come with raising both a neurodiverse and a neurotypical child. His journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and redefining what success and connection look like in a household shaped by autism.On the Dads in Autismland Podcast, Mark shares his real-world experiences—both the struggles and the victories—while offering raw, honest, and relatable insights into fatherhood. He understands the emotional weight, the uncertainty, and the sheer love that come with parenting a child on the spectrum, all while making sure his other child’s needs and ambitions are nurtured as well.Mark’s mission? To bring fellow dads together, to share stories, strategies, and support, and to remind every father walking this road that they are not alone.
In a world where culture is discipling our kids faster than ever, how can parents reclaim their role as the primary influence in their children’s faith? Join us as we sit down with Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics, to discuss the biggest cultural lies targeting kids today—and how parents can equip them with biblical truth.
From shaping worldviews to tackling tough conversations on gender, sexuality, and media influence, this episode is a must-listen for every parent who wants to raise bold believers in an increasingly hostile world.
For more resources and insights, visit MamaBearApologetics.com.
In this episode, we considered something many folks haven't thought of, offering human embryos that have died in the IVF process Christian burial. Jenn chats with Laura Elm, the Founder and Director of Sacred Heart Guardians, the Catholic charity that provides dignity to these little human lives so they aren't discarded with medical waste.
Tell us what you think and learn more at:
https://sacredheartguardians.org/
What happens when culture tries to redefine marriage, gender, and family? In this episode of theThem Before Us podcast, Jenn sits down with Glenn T. Stanton, Director of Global Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family, to discuss why marriage still matters—especially to young people—and the vital role biological parents play in a child's well-being.
They dive into the cultural shifts that have led to the decline of marriage, the false narratives surrounding family structure, and why the belief that "love makes a family" is a dangerous myth. Glenn also tackles the rise of gender ideology, the collapse of the LGBTQ coalition, and why reclaiming the truth about male and female is essential for a thriving society.
What happens when a community steps up to support families in crisis? In this episode, we sit down with Christine Denova, Executive Director of Idahope Families, to discuss how this ministry is mobilizing the church to provide real, hands-on help to struggling parents and children. From crisis pregnancy support to hosting children in safe homes while parents regain stability, Idahope is proving that pro-life means more than just being against abortion—it means surrounding families with the love and resources they need to thrive."We're not here to replace families; we're here to support them. Every parent needs someone to walk through a crisis with them." – Christine DenovaTune in to hear how churches can re-engage in the work of caring for vulnerable families, why social capital matters, and how you can get involved. Visit idahopefamilies.org to learn more.
Every baby born in America today starts life $80,000 in debt. In this powerful episode, Jenn is joined by fiscal expert Phil Kerpen to talk about how reckless federal spending, runaway debt, and economic myths are setting our kids up for disaster.
Kerpen, president of American Commitment and a long-time advocate for free market principles, makes the case that true pro-child politics must include fiscal responsibility. He unpacks the dangers of over-reliance on government spending, why “taxing the rich” is no solution, and how long-term debt could cripple the futures of our children and grandchildren.
This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to connect the dots between economics and ethics—and protect the next generation before it’s too late.
https://www.americancommitment.org
Author Bio: Phil Kerpen is the president of American Commitment and the Committee to Unleash Prosperity.American Commitment is a 501(c)(4) advocacy group dedicated to restoring and protecting America’s core commitment to free markets, economic growth, Constitutionally-limited government, property rights, and individual freedom.The Committee to Unleash Prosperity is a 501(c)(3) educational charity founded by supply-side icons Stephen Moore, Steve Forbes, and Art Laffer to promote faster economic growth through the key building blocks of low taxes, limited spending, less regulation, sound money, and free trade.Mr. Kerpen has previously served as vice president for policy at Americans for Prosperity and as an analyst and researcher for the Free Enterprise Fund, the Club for Growth, and the Cato Institute. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Kerpen lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Joanna and their four children.
