Welcome to the 100th episode of With U Podcast! Recorded live in the Czech Republic, this special episode celebrates three decades of friendship, ministry, and intentional Christian living through the European Summer Study Program (ESSP). We sit down with David & Kriste Sveen, Kurt & Meg Tillman, Bill & Sandy Skowera to share stories of showing up, walking alongside others, and seeing God at work in Central and Eastern Europe.Join us for a conversation about legacy, community, and the simple faithfulness that changes lives.
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See the With U Podcast website for extra behind-the-scenes photos of our live recording.
https://withuprojects.com/withupodcast
Check out these Wheaton College programs that provide opportunities for global partnerships and top quality academic engagement.
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Recorded on location in Josiah Venture’s Malenovice Conference Center in the Moravian Hills.
We are extremely thankful for the audio & video recording help, technology expertise, and most importantly emotional support and encouragement from Draho Poloha and Rob Chestnut.
Produced by Zach Van Dyke
In this episode we discuss the storyline and themes from the film The Ballad of Wallis Island. Brought to a windswept Welsh island to play a private gig, folk music duo McGwyer Mortimer revisit their mismatched dreams and reasons for breaking up the band. Through beautiful music, lonely landscapes, and quirky character interactions we explore themes of regret, loss, letting go, and loving again.
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This episode was recorded while away from our studio working on an upcoming writing project that we can’t wait to share. Any reduction in audio quality is due to our temporary equipment.
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Friendship changes as much as we do over the years. In this episode, we get a little nostalgic about our earliest playmates, our situational sideline pals, and our long-lasting authentic friends. We share the challenges of staying connected in busy times, and highlight why friendship is essential to human thriving. With a few personal stories about baseball and hula hoops, we reflect on our gratefulness for the friendships that have shaped our lives.
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produced by Zach Van Dyke
On many past road trips, we’ve taken time to enjoy the scenery. But this time, we’re working while driving—and bringing you along for the ride. On our way to a secret sabbatical destination to kick off a new writing project, we share our thoughts on what makes a good coworker, how to nurture a healthy work culture, and our hopes for blending our work styles in both our professional and personal partnership.
Join us for some on-the-road reflections about collaboration, culture, and the adventure of building something together
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
What happens when four generations from four states gather for a four-day vacation? We recently traveled with family ages 10 months to 80 years for a holiday on Mackinac Island, Michigan. In this episode, we share what we learned about planning lightly, staying connected, and adjusting to a wide range of needs on a multi-generational trip. From ferry rides and horse-drawn carriages to rowdy meals and rainy-day picnics, we found that the best memories often came in unexpected moments.___Van Dyke Road Trip Stops
Grand Haven Boardwalk
https://www.michigan.org/property/grand-haven-boardwalk
PJ Hoffmaster State Park
https://www.michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/hoffmaster
Bistro-Polaris Restaurant at Black Star Farms
https://blackstarfarms.com/bistro-polaris/
Lower Peninsula
https://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-the-Midwest/Michigan-Hikes/Lower-Peninsula-Hikes
Michigan Slang - trolls and mitten state
https://www.michiganpublic.org/arts-culture/2014-03-30/the-vocabulary-of-yoopers-trolls-and-fudgies
Arnold Transit Company Ferry
https://www.arnoldtransitcompany.com/
Mackinac Island
https://www.mackinacisland.org/
Mackinac Bridge
https://www.mackinacbridge.org/history/history-of-the-bridge/
Dobbers Pasties - Escanaba
Mars Cheese Castle
UP road trip
Check out more photos at www.withupodcast.com
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produced by Zach Van Dyke
Every birth story leaves a lasting imprint. Whether your experience was joyful, complicated, or deeply challenging, the way you remember and tell it shapes how you carry it into the rest of your life. You’ll hear why birth is more than a medical event, how to shift from trauma to transformation, and practical ways to reclaim your story as a powerful rite of passage.
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To go deeper on this topic, check out the following resources:
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). " Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.
Purol, M. F., & Chopik, W. J. (2024). Do many hands make light work? The role of romantic partners and close relationships in posttraumatic growth. American Psychologist, 79(8), 1214.
Ketley, R., Darwin, Z., Masterson, C., & McGowan, L. (2024). Women’s experience of post-traumatic growth following a traumatic birth: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 42(1), 126-137.
Brandão, T., Brandão, S., Prata, A. P., Silva, R., Abreu, W., Riklikiene, O., ... & Thomson, G. (2024). Posttraumatic growth in women after a childbirth experience: The influence of individual characteristics and intrusive and deliberate rumination. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy.
Mijalevich‐Soker, E., Ring, L., Joffe, E., Awad‐Yaseen, M., Steger, M. F., & Taubman–Ben‐Ari, O. (2025). Personal Growth Among Pregnant Women During War: The Role of Optimism and Meaning in Life. International Journal of Psychology, 60(4), e70087.
Websites
Birth Monopoly (Birthmonopoly.com)
Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth (PATTCH.org)
Birth Tellers: Healing Birth Through Conscious Storytelling (Midwifery Today)
Healing Birth (Healingbirth.net)
Birthing from Within (Birthingfromwithin.com)
Birth Story Medicine (Birthstorymedicine.com)
Penny Simkin on the importance of birth memories (A Day You’ll Never Forget on YouTube)
Transformed by Birth, by Britta Bushnell
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Food is never just food. In this episode, we explore the many ways meals shape our social lives, reflect our culture, and reveal our inner world. From family dinners to first dates, guilty cravings to sacred moments, we unpack what’s really happening when we sit down to eat. Pull up a chair—this one’s for anyone who’s ever had feelings about food.
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Here we go again, choosing conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From Tara’s big 80’s hairstyle to David’s brown Ford Pinto, our stories take a turn into vintage territory. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.
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This topic and the conversation questions were inspired by a list from https://ordinaryandhappy.com/
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Questions in today’s episode:
Most decade-defining outfit (bonus points for photos)
Most dangerous thing you’ve done / situation you’ve been in
Embarrassing haircut
Fond memory from a car you used to own
Silliest body trick
Spiciest food you ever ate
Highest elevation you’ve been to, and how you got there
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Enjoy some vintage photos of David and Tara circa 1970s, 80s, and 90s on our website: www.withupodcast.com
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
In this playful episode, we take turns pulling fun conversation prompts from a bowl and answering them on the spot. From the time we accidentally camped by the side of the highway, to Tara’s sushi struggles, to David’s unapologetic love of pickle and bologna sandwiches—this episode is full of lighthearted stories and laughter. Whether you’re looking for a way to move past routine topics on date night, make family dinners more fun, or add some joy to a road trip, we hope this episode gives you great ideas for questions that lead to connection.
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This topic and the conversation questions were inspired by a list from https://ordinaryandhappy.com/
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Questions in today’s episode:
Words you mispronounced for years
Text message sent to the wrong person
Food you have tried to like but just cannot
Most useless item you own but can’t get rid of
Sport you wish you were good at
Family road trip where you got lost
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Some dates live on in our bodies, minds, and hearts. Whether it’s recognizing a birth, a loss, a wedding, or a tragedy, anniversaries can be time-stamped reminders of who we are, where we’re headed, what we’ve learned, and what we’ve lost. In this episode we talk about how grief can echo across generations, and how rituals and reflection can help us navigate the emotional terrain of significant dates.
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We’d love to hear about your anniversary practices, celebrations, and rituals. Email us at withupodcast@gmail.com.
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
What if emotions aren’t just something we feel on our own, but something we do—together? In this episode, we sit down with Batja Mesquita, author of Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions, to explore the idea of emotions as not just internal experiences, but relational ones. Drawing from cross-cultural research and personal stories, Batja challenges the Western idea that emotions live solely inside us, waiting to be expressed. Instead, she paints a richer, more connected picture—one where emotions are shaped between people, and deeply influenced by the cultural worlds we live in.
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Batja Mesquita is a social psychologist, an affective scientist, and a pioneer of cultural psychology. She is a professor of psychology at the University of Leuven, Belgium, and director of the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology at the University of Leuven. Mesquita is one of the world’s leading authorities on the psychological study of cultural differences in emotions. Her most recent research focuses on the role of emotions in multicultural societies. She studies how emotions affect the belonging of minoritized youth in middle schools, and the social and economic integration of “newcomers” (i.e. newly arrived immigrants). Mesquita has been a consultant for UNICEF and the WHO, and most recently, she was a member of the core group of scientific advisors for the Happiness and Well-being (SEH) Project, and initiative of the Vatican in partnership with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
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Discover more about Batja Mesquita and her work on her website: BatjaMesquita.com
Find the book Batja mentions about the story of her mother’s time of hiding from the Nazis during World War II — The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found by Bart van Es
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
What makes a relationship healthy—and what signals that something might be off? In this episode, we dive into the essential topics of red flags, boundaries, and deal-breakers. We talk about how clear, healthy boundaries create safety, build trust, and protect love—not restrict it. We also explore the warning signs that a relationship may need help, and the serious signals that indicate deeper problems. This conversation will help you ask the right questions about your relationship, recognize unhealthy patterns, and know when it’s time to seek support.
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Check out our conversation about the elements of a healthy lasting committed relationship in the episode from 2023 titled, "Top 10 Things We've Learned about Lasting Love"
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Busted! Top 5 Relationship Myths
What if the relationship advice you believed was actually hurting your connection? We’re calling out the lies we’ve been told about love, like “fighting = failure” and “compromise always means 50/50.” This week we’ll take a look at some common myths about relationships, and identify what’s realistic, what’s red-flag material, and what actually leads to real connection.
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If you liked our guidelines for healthy conflict, take a listen to past episode “Cheers to Healthy Communication”
See also one of our all-time most popular episodes, “Top Ten Lessons We’ve Learned About Lasting Love”
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
While seasons of waiting are universal, they’re rarely easy. Why does uncertainty feel so stressful? What makes waiting so uncomfortable? And more importantly—how do we live well when the outcome is still unknown? In this episode, we explore the emotional and spiritual tension of living between hopefulness and helplessness. We discuss the differences between passive and active waiting, and offer gentle practices for the in-between times: rhythms to nourish your soul, glimmers of joy to help you stay grounded, and anchors of meaning to keep you steady.
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produced by Zach Van Dyke
Do you ever feel like the cultural pressure to stay busy pushes you to your tipping point? In light of our own experience living on the edge, we discuss finding the balance between productivity and wellbeing. We share personal anecdotes about the simpler, less hurried times in our lives and discuss strategies for mitigating the sense of rush, such as focusing on fewer things, working at a natural pace, and prioritizing quality. We also highlight the significance of rhythms, such as regular walks and meals with family and friends, in maintaining balance.
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Books mentioned:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the ModernWorld by John Mark Comer
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Whether you're continents apart or just living on different schedules, long-distance love can bring its own struggles and strengths to a relationship. In this episode, we share personal stories from our own seasons of separation, surviving on handwritten letters that took weeks to arrive. We explore the value of intentional communication, the risk of growing too used to separate rhythms, and the often-overlooked challenge of reintegration after time apart. Whether you're currently navigating distance or just want to strengthen connection from wherever you are, this conversation offers honest reflections and hopeful takeaways for every couple.
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The excerpt from “Long Distance” (1941) was produced by Audio Productions and AT&T Licensed under Creative Commons
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Where do you go to gather? This week we're diving into the idea of “third places”—those everyday gathering spots that create space for connection, conversation, and community.
We start by reflecting on where we used to hang out as kids (baseball fields or malls, anyone?), then explore the sociological roots of the term coined by Ray Oldenburg. Third places—like libraries, parks, and coffee shops—are neutral, welcoming, and unstructured, offering room to just be with others. They're not just nice-to-haves; they're vital for emotional health, belonging, and the social glue that holds communities together.
We share stories of some of our favorite third spaces—from stroller walks in the mall to thermal baths in Hungary—and ask why these spaces seem to be disappearing... and why we need them more than ever.
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"Third Places, True Citizen Spaces" in the UNESCO Courier, 22 March 2023
Finlay J, Esposito M, Kim MH, Gomez-Lopez I, Clarke P. Closure of 'third places'? Exploring potential consequences for collective health and wellbeing. Health Place. 2019 Nov;60:102225. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102225. Epub 2019 Oct 14. PMID: 31622919; PMCID: PMC6934089.
Sones M, Holden M, Kestens Y, King AC, Rennie M, Winters M. (Dis)connected by design? Using participatory citizen science to uncover environmental determinants of social connectedness for youth in under-resourced neighbourhoods. BMC Public Health. 2024 Nov 11;24(1):3104. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20597-4. PMID: 39529084; PMCID: PMC11552136.
In this episode, we explore why real, face-to-face conversation feels harder than ever — and why it still matters so much. We reflect on the dying art of meaningful dialogue, and share why David’s teenage prank phone calls might have actually helped him practice tools for conversation. Whether you’re looking to connect more deeply or just get past awkward small talk, this episode offers thoughtful insights and practical tips to help you engage with others in a more curious, connected, and balanced way.
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We'd love a conversation with you! Find us on Instagram at @withuprojects or email us at withupodcast@gmail.com.
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Parenting doesn’t stop when our children become adults — it just changes, sometimes in ways no one prepares us for. In this episode we are joined by longtime friends Adi and Ema Ban, who share both personal experience and professional insight from their work in marriage and family ministry in Romania. Together, they explore the tender and often challenging transition from raising children to releasing them — navigating shifting roles, unspoken expectations, cultural nuances, and the deep desire to stay connected while giving space. We reflect together on what it means to parent with open hands and open hearts, and how to keep growing as a couple through every season of family life.
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Adrian (Adi) and Ema Ban have been married for 30 years and are parents to 3 sons: Andy (married to Ema), Eduard, and Thomas (engaged to Ellie). They are marriage counselors living in Oradea, Romania, with over 22 years of experience counseling and mentoring couples. Adi and Ema are Wheaton College alumni and authors of the book I Want to Get Married (Scriptum, 2011) along with David and Claudia Arp. Sufletul Familiei (The Soul of the Family) is their most recent initiative. The podcast, which they co-host, is meant to encourage and mentor families.
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Tune into more of what David and Tara are working on at www.withuprojects.com
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Produced by Zach Van Dyke
Whether hospital candy striping, cub scout camping, youth sport coaching, or 5K fundraising, our vision for volunteering is about building community, character, and connection. In this conversation, we share our earliest (and most memorable) volunteer moments, how service shaped our marriage, and why we keep saying yes to unpaid work. Whether it’s for a one-time event or a long-term commitment, we believe showing up and sharing your skills is always worth it.---
* here's a great way to volunteer today: take a moment to rate & review the podcast! :)
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produced by Zach Van Dyke
