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Kristi Rawlings didn't expect to spend two decades at Dunklin County Transit when she first joined as a secretary. Now, as Operations Manager, she's witnessed thousands of meaningful connections bloom in the unlikeliest of places – the passenger seats of their transportation vehicles.

"You never know when a kind word will change someone's entire day, week, month, year, life," reflects one of our hosts, capturing the essence of this enlightening conversation. Though many assume Dunklin County Transit exclusively serves elderly or disabled individuals, Kristi reveals their service is available to anyone needing transportation – from airport travelers to those whose vehicles are temporarily out of commission.

What makes these rides truly special isn't just getting from Point A to Point B, but the profound human connections that form along the way. Drivers share remarkable stories of passengers who, within minutes of entering the vehicle, begin sharing their deepest struggles and life stories. Richard recounts a particularly moving experience with a passenger who shared her entire life journey, ending with them praying together as she departed in tears. Tyler describes passengers who specifically request certain drivers, having developed relationships of trust through repeated interactions.

Perhaps most striking is the revelation about loneliness in our communities. "It's sad, really, to just see the number of people that don't have anybody to talk to," Kristi observes. For many regular passengers, especially those requiring frequent medical trips like dialysis, their DCT driver becomes a consistent, caring presence in otherwise isolated lives.

Beyond the heartwarming stories, Kristi shares practical insights about their services – from all-day local routes allowing unlimited travel for one price to their expansive service area covering multiple counties. With 25 drivers and more vehicles on the way, they've grown substantially since their 1982 founding.

Ready to experience this unique service yourself? Whether you need a ride to an appointment or simply want to connect with a friendly face, Dunklin County Transit proves that sometimes, the journey truly is as important as the destination.

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Remember the days when cafeteria food combinations made perfect sense? When corn dogs paired naturally with chocolate milk, and dipping brownies in beef stew seemed like culinary genius? The Almost Brothers take you on a nostalgic journey through childhood food oddities, pregnancy cravings, and the strange combinations that somehow work.

Rich updates us on his growing family, proudly sharing stories about his seven-month-old grandson Hudson who now sports four whole teeth. There's excitement in the air about an upcoming gender reveal for his second grandchild—moments that highlight how quickly time passes. Meanwhile, Ty recounts his pregnant wife's unexpected midnight cravings: corn dogs with Chick-fil-A sauce paired with pears. It's these intimate glimpses into their personal lives that make you feel like you're sitting around a kitchen table with old friends.

The conversation flows naturally through movie preferences, revealing strong opinions about Adam Sandler's evolution as a comedian. But it's when they dive into board games that their competitive natures truly emerge. From Monopoly strategies to the frustration of playing with people who don't take games seriously enough, their passionate discussion about everything from Scrabble to murder mystery dinners reveals much about their personalities. Card games get equal attention, with debates about traditional Uno versus modern variations and reminiscences about college-era Phase 10 matches.

As the episode winds down, the tone shifts to something more reflective. Mike shares how a busy week away from home made him realize how precious family time truly is. Rich recalls the emotional experience of dropping his son off at college, offering a gentle reminder that parenting seasons change faster than we ever expect. It's a heartfelt conclusion that will resonate with anyone who's ever looked at their growing children and wondered where the time went. Subscribe to catch new episodes every Monday and Thursday, and join our Almost Family of listeners who keep coming back for these authentic moments of connection.

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Avoiding difficult conversations is a universal struggle, but the consequences of sweeping problems under the rug can be devastating. Join us as we unpack why making tough decisions early saves relationships from breaking points down the road.

When small disagreements go unaddressed, they don't disappear—they grow roots. We explore how this pattern appears in marriages, friendships, and especially parent-child dynamics, where today's permitted behaviors become tomorrow's deeply ingrained problems. "People will treat you the way you allow them to treat them," becomes a sobering reminder of our responsibility to establish healthy boundaries.

The psychology behind our avoidance is fascinating. Many of us build up these conversations in our minds until they seem insurmountable, only to discover they're surprisingly anticlimactic when finally addressed. The fear becomes greater than the conversation itself, creating a cycle of unnecessary anxiety and delayed resolution.

We share personal experiences of establishing communication patterns that prioritize addressing issues promptly rather than letting them fester. This proactive approach has transformed relationships and prevented small disagreements from becoming relationship-ending conflicts. The band-aid analogy proves true—ripping it off quickly hurts less than slowly peeling it away.

Perhaps most importantly, we discuss how the ability to have tough conversations acts as a litmus test for relationship health. If you can't express when something bothers you, is that genuinely a relationship worth preserving? True connection requires honesty, even when uncomfortable.

Ready to transform how you handle difficult decisions? Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Your relationships will thank you.

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Remember when after-school activities were actually optional? Those days are long gone. We're diving into the modern reality of "mandatory extracurriculars" - the weekend tournaments, summer practices, and endless commitments that have hijacked family life across America.

As parents, we're feeling the squeeze from all sides. The financial burden is crushing - from the $200 basketball shoes to the multiple uniforms, equipment fees, and travel expenses that have turned youth sports into a luxury many families simply can't afford. Plus, the time commitment has reached absurd levels. Two-a-day summer practices? Sunday games that conflict with church? Late night competitions on school nights? When did this become normal?

The system is breaking families in subtle ways. Parents scramble to accommodate impossible schedules while kids are burned out before they even hit high school. Meanwhile, schools send mixed messages - academics matter, but we'll pull you out of class for a game without hesitation. The "not mandatory" lie particularly infuriates us - sure, practice isn't "required," but miss it and you'll run laps or sit the bench. That's mandatory with extra steps.

We explore how this culture impacts everything from education quality to family dynamics, sharing our own parenting struggles and observations from years in the school system. This isn't just complaining - it's a serious conversation about reclaiming balance and sanity in a system that's spinning out of control.

Share your own experiences with us! Have extracurriculars taken over your family calendar? How do you maintain boundaries while supporting your kids' interests? Rate, review, and let us know you're out there - we'd love to hear your thoughts on this modern parenting challenge.

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The age-old parenting question takes center stage in this thought-provoking episode: Where's the line between guiding your children and forcing them into activities? Our conversation dives deep into the complex territory of parental authority, childhood development, and the delicate balance of raising independent thinkers while instilling important values.

"You force your kids to brush their teeth and go to school—so why do we question whether to require church attendance?" This powerful perspective frames our discussion about the responsibility parents have in educating children about faith and providing experiences that help them develop into well-rounded individuals. We explore the critical difference between requiring participation to explore possibilities versus demanding continued involvement in activities children genuinely dislike.

Our hosts share personal approaches to extracurricular activities, with a consensus forming around the value of trying things before deciding against them. "You need to try it, but if you don't like it, that's okay," offers one perspective that balances exposure with respect for individual preferences. The conversation naturally extends to church attendance, where we examine how church should feel like an extension of family—a place children want to be, not somewhere they're forced to go.

Perhaps the most practical takeaway emerges when discussing the importance of explaining the "why" behind parental decisions. When parents default to "because I said so" without providing context, children often create their own negative narratives. By contrast, taking time to explain reasoning builds understanding and acceptance, even when children don't fully agree with the decision.

The episode concludes with a surprisingly vulnerable discussion about emotional growth, as our male hosts share experiences of becoming more emotionally responsive with age—from crying during anime to feeling deeply moved during worship. This honest exchange highlights how maturity often brings greater emotional awareness and appreciation for life's meaningful moments.

Whether you're wrestling with decisions about your child's activities or simply interested in perspectives on balanced parenting, this episode offers thoughtful insights without easy answers. Subscribe, share, and join us twice weekly as we continue exploring life's complexities with humor and heart.

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The walls separating churches often seem to rebuild faster than we can tear them down. Why is that? In this raw, unfiltered conversation, we dig into what keeps faith communities divided and how true servant leadership might be the answer.

Our guest Andrew Houltzhouser joins us as we explore how unity breaks down when church leaders prioritize status over service. "It's like we tear down a wall and within six months, the new wall has barbed wire on top," we observe. Most troubling? The barrier to togetherness often starts in the pulpit, not the pews.

We share personal stories about navigating relationships with people completely different from ourselves - from marriages between opposites to ministry partnerships that shouldn't work on paper but thrive in practice. The common thread? Humility. Leaders who vacuum floors, stack chairs, and mow lawns create cultures where everyone serves because they've witnessed authentic service from the top down.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we contrast formally educated ministers with those who learned by doing. While seminary provides valuable knowledge, we've observed that some of the most effective church leaders are those who "stacked chairs for years" before taking leadership positions - they understand service because they've lived it. This isn't about dismissing education but recognizing that credentials without humility create division rather than unity.

Perhaps most powerful is our examination of surface-level connections versus deep, sustained relationships. Churches often unite for conferences and special events but fail to maintain those connections afterward. As one of us puts it: "We're not walking together, we're walking the same way and every now and then bumping into each other."

Want to experience what true togetherness looks like in action? Join us for Together Conference 2025, where we're putting these principles into practice. In the meantime, how might your leadership approach change if you focused less on titles and more on towels?

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When walls come down between believers, supernatural freedom breaks out. That's exactly what happened during night two of our Together Conference 2025 with Pastor Stephen Watkins delivering a powerful message about unity that transcends denominational lines.

The early Christians would have been puzzled by our modern question, "Where do you go to church?" They understood themselves as the church—not attendees of an organization but embodiments of a living community. They did life together daily, breaking bread in homes, sharing resources, and growing in faith as one body. Pastor Stephen challenged us to recapture this authentic togetherness that defined the first followers of Jesus.

What divides us today? Often it's our tendency to elevate our denominational identity above our identity in Christ. When church traditions become idols—things we worship and defend more fiercely than Jesus himself—we've missed the point entirely. As one team member shared from personal experience, exposure to different church environments through his grandparents' gospel group taught him that "God is moving all over the place," not confined to one congregation or style of worship.

Human nature pulls us toward tribal thinking. From school age, we gravitate toward like-minded people, creating comfortable circles that often exclude those who think, act, or worship differently. But the most meaningful relationships frequently emerge when we cross these self-imposed boundaries. Several podcast members shared stories of unexpected friendships that never would have formed if they'd remained in their natural social groups—friendships that have become life-giving connections.

The beautiful revelation? When believers from different backgrounds come together, we discover we have far more in common than we have differences. The Together Conference itself demonstrated this truth, with eight different churches represented in unified worship and purpose. As one participant observed, "The more you fall in love with Jesus, the more you fall in love with all kinds of different walks of life."

Ready to experience the freedom that comes from breaking down walls between believers? Join us for the final night of the Together Conference and discover the supernatural power released when God's people unite as one body, just as Jesus prayed we would.

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What happens when the body of Christ attacks itself? In this eye-opening conversation, pastors from different backgrounds tackle the alarming phenomenon of church division and its devastating impact on our collective witness.

During a powerful reflection on the "Together Conference 2025," our guests share raw, unfiltered truths about the walls we've constructed between denominations. One pastor brilliantly compares church division to an autoimmune disorder—when the body fails to recognize its own parts and attacks itself. This profound metaphor frames a discussion that challenges every believer to reconsider how we interact with churches outside our immediate circles.

You'll hear firsthand accounts of what happens when churches unite instead of compete. From youth services bringing together hundreds of teenagers across denominational lines, to miraculous moments of synchronicity when worship leaders and pastors find themselves expressing identical thoughts without planning—these stories illustrate the supernatural connection that emerges when we prioritize Kingdom over institution.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Bobby shares his journey with sarcoidosis, a chronic health condition that closed the door to his family business but opened unexpected pathways into ministry. His testimony powerfully demonstrates how God often redirects our paths through circumstances we'd never choose, equipping the called rather than calling the equipped.

This episode doesn't just identify problems—it offers a vision for what church could be when we embrace authentic unity. You'll walk away with practical insights on breaking patterns of complacency, building genuine connections across church lines, and cultivating a community that makes outsiders want to belong.

Ready to reimagine what it means to be the body of Christ? Listen now, then share your thoughts with us. Together, we can build bridges where others have built fences.

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