Episode 88

True to form, this episode starts with me feeling sure that I messed up my guest’s name. I didn’t even bother to edit it out because the reality is, I am who I am. Laugh with me!

My guest, Eryn Eddy Adkis, is the founder of the company So Worth Loving, and a host of the podcast God Hears Her.

I loved learning about Eryn’s upbringing and how it impacted her as an adult and the company she started called, So Worth Loving. This company exists “to create product as an entry point to vulnerable conversations”. When I read that, I was instantly intrigued. In the work I do, so many people I talk to have been hurt or are hurt. What I find is that they often want to go deep and share vulnerably but it is scary to do so. By going first, I get to help them find the courage to do that. And that is exactly what Eryn is doing with So Worth Loving.

Eryn and I also talked about the podcast God Hears Her, and the way it has given space for women to have the courage to share their own difficult stories. And that has given Eryn and so many others freedom to walk in freedom and not in shame. What a gift!

Be sure to look up the work that Eryn is doing with both her company and the podcast.

You will be blessed.

Where to find Eryn:

Find So Worth Loving here

Find Eryn on Instagram here

Find God Hears Her podcast here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Today I got to talk to Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski about their new book, Away Game—A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. This is a new topic for the podcast but as soon as I saw the title pop up in my email, I was intrigued. Youth sports are such a huge part of the lives of many families, and I love that Brian and Ed are asking the question, “where does the Gospel fit into youth sports?”

Brian and Ed were collegiate athletes and now work with an organization called Athletes in Action that brings Christ into the lives of coaches and athletes of all levels. But it was when their own kids began playing youth sports that they decided to begin looking at things like: how kids and families can grow in relationship with Christ through sports, not allowing sports to become an idol, showing grace through failure, reflecting the love of Christ to every other athlete on the field, and so much more.

In their book, they talk about “spiritual formation rather than sports formation”. And I just love their desire to make sports culture something that reflects Jesus’ heart instead of making it self-focused, like so much of sports can be. We discussed the youth sports industry that really isn’t about what’s best for our kids, but rather about playing into our own insecurities as a parent, and the pressure we parents are putting on our kids as a result. That led us to talk about the importance of making sports about joy and fun and less about winning. 70% of kids are quitting youth sports by age 13 because the joy of play is gone for them. As Christians our joy isn’t in winning or being the best, but in showing and knowing the love of Christ no matter the outcome of the game.

I found this book and my conversation with Brian and Ed so encouraging and helpful. I know you are going to enjoy it too.

Where to find Ed and Brian:

Find their new book here

Find Brian and Ed on Instagram here

Find more of Brian and Ed’s writing here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

I feel so fortunate that I got to interview today’s guest, Dr. Trish Leigh. As soon as I saw her book, Mind Over Explicit Matter: Quit Porn and Improve Intimacy Through Neuroscience, I knew I had to talk to her about it. Friends, this conversation is incredibly important, and you must not miss it!

Dr. Trish is a neuroscientist, a sex addiction recovery coach, a brain health coach, an author, speaker and mom to 5. She is a wealth of knowledge about the way the brain is impacted by pornography. So, if you are wondering how porn impacts the brain, and you should, this episode is for you!

Dr. Trish helps us understand how porn hijacks the brain’s dopamine system and the problems and dangers that causes. She explains the main reasons people use porn, how people use porn to numb negative feelings and ultimately how it causes a lack of joy in life. We talk about toxic relationships fueled by porn use. We also discuss masturbation and why it is not harmless. Yep, we went there! (If you want to learn more about the topic of masturbation, I have a whole chapter in my book on this topic because it is a question I get asked so often. So many parents have questions and so many of us don’t know who to ask or where to go. I’m here to help!) We also discuss how putting boundaries in place for our kids is hard, but worth it.

Dr. Trish gives us practical, doable tips as we are raising kids in this new era of parenting. There is just so much here.

Dr. Trish and I don’t agree on everything—for example, I do believe porn is a moral issue as well as an addiction issue—but wow, I am so grateful for what I have learned from her! Learning how things like pornography impacts and even changes the brain is a powerful tool as we raise kids in this porn saturated world. I know that God is the designer of our incredible, intricate brains and that we can honor Him by protecting not just our kids’ bodies, but their brains and hearts too. It is up to us offer our kids something better than porn could ever give them. If you don’t know how to do that, read my book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn. And if you are ready to educate yourself about how porn impacts the brain, get Dr. Trish’s book.

Where to find Dr. Trish:

Find Dr. Trish’s new book here

Find Dr. Trish’s website here

Find Dr. Trish on Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find my new book here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org