Best John Certalic Podcasts (2024)

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218: It’s Better to Listen Than to Talk 14:01

3M ago14:01

14:01

Today’s episode, #218, brings to a close Season 8 of our You Were Made for This podcast. If you’ve been listening for any length of time, I hope you’ve come to appreciate the high value we place on the skill of listening as a way to enrich our lives. As we wrap up Season 8 today, I’m going to share a story that illustrates why it’s better to listen…

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217: God Will Surprise Us 25:41

3M ago25:41

25:41

In the past dew episodes I’ve been talking about how I tracked down my birth father and met him for the first… and last time in my life. You’ll find links to those episodes at the bottom of the show notes. Today’s show concludes this painful chapter in my life by focusing on a larger relational and spiritual principle that applies to all of us. Nam…

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216: Our Past Helps Us Understand Our Present 30:28

4M ago30:28

30:28

Hello everyone. If you haven’t listened to episode 215, “Searching for my Birth Father,” I suggest listening to that episode before continuing with this one. Just go to johncertalic.com/215. Today’s episode, #216, continues with the theme of how understanding our past helps us understand our present when we see how God began shaping us early on to …

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215: Searching for My Birth Father 14:37

4M ago14:37

14:37

One of the more popular topics from past episodes has been the story of Gail Rohde who was adopted as an infant, and her search as an adult for her birth mother. Then several years after finding her, she searched for her birth father - and found him, too. I’ll have links to those episodes at the bottom of the show notes. It can be a relational mine…

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214: People Are Like Houses 16:07

4M ago16:07

16:07

A listener once suggested that for a podcast episode I should read from the book I wrote in 2016, THEM- The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others. It’s about relationships, which of course, is what this podcast is about. But I don’t know if reading from it would interest many of you. Maybe the first chapter might, I don’t know. It’s about how peop…

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213: Five Things to Watch for in Your Next Conversation 14:21

5M ago14:21

14:21

One thing on my mind lately is a question about the meaningful conversations we sometimes have with friends, and what makes them different from other conversations. I started thinking about this while reading news articles about the Super Bowl played earlier this month. Meaningful conversations and the Super Bowl don’t quite seem to fit together, b…

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212: Little Things We Do Matter the Most to People 17:03

5M ago17:03

17:03

The older I get the more I’ve come to appreciate how it’s the little things we do for people that matter most to them. Little things that come naturally for us because of how God uniquely made us, I’ve got a few stories for you today to illustrate this point. Stories that I hope will inspire you to bless others in ways that are easy and natural for…

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211: A Men’s Breakfast Like No Other 15:23

6M ago15:23

15:23

A men’s breakfast can be fun and still have a greater purpose than eating and conversation. When organized with a larger objective in mind it can be a great way to bless people and a means to live out the Gospel. Today’s episode is about my Men with Waffles breakfast and the impact it had on others not even in the room. Especially women. Breakfast …

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210: Word of the Year for 2024 - Curious 15:21

7M ago15:21

15:21

CURIOUS. It’s my pick for the 2024 Word of the Year. Curious. It’s an important relational skill we need to help us deepen our relationships with others. Today’s episode is about what happens when we’re not curious about people, and what we can do about it to strengthen our relational curiosity muscles that will enrich our relationships. But before…

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209: The Christmas Story In 2023 4:09

7M ago4:09

4:09

When you get right down to it, the only thing that really matters in the Christmas story in 2023 is Jesus. No Santa, gifts, or Bing Crosby. Just Jesus. Here's the original story as recorded in Luke's Gospel, just as it happened. I am reading from The Message, by Eugene Peterson. Luke 2: 1-20 The Birth of Jesus About that time Caesar Augustus ordere…

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208: Christmas - A Time to Reflect 14:42

7M ago14:42

14:42

There are many cultural dimensions to all that is Christmas. Pick your favorite. I have a few that I look forward to every year. But as I get older, I’m seeing Christmas more as a great time to reflect on my relationship with Jesus. In Luke’s gospel, for example, I’m especially drawn to the mother of Jesus, Mary, and how she reflects upon the birth…

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207: How to Help the People We Love At Christmas 16:33

8M ago16:33

16:33

In the 1947 classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life!, George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, goes through a tough time during Christmas in dealing with two serious financial problems caused by someone else. This most beloved and joyful man in all of Bedford Falls is overcome with depression, anger, hopelessness, and despair. In the midst of a…

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206: Thankful for the Stories of Others 12:36

8M ago12:36

12:36

The Thanksgiving holiday will soon be upon us here in the US, so I’ve been reflecting on what I’m thankful for. And this year I’m thinking about things that goes beyond my family and good health. In considering this, I’ve come to realize that I’m especially thankful for the stories of others. That’s because I’ve found that the stories of what other…

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205: How to Have a Meaningful Conversation 13:14

9M ago13:14

13:14

To deepen our current relationships, or to develop new ones, it’s helpful to ask ourselves an important question. Namely, “How do I have a meaningful conversation with someone?” Today’s episode will give you a few ideas to help you answer this question. But before we get into today’s episode, here’s what this podcast is all about. Welcome to You We…

1
204: Deep Conversations 18:27

9M ago18:27

18:27

Do you ever long for a deep conversation with someone? Today’s episode is about a creative measure someone took to make that happen. It reveals what many of us long for, and how we can make the world a better place, one conversation at a time. As with every episode, our purpose in this podcast is to help you find more joy in the relationships God d…

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203: Three Reasons for Being Stingy in Sharing Your Story 11:56

10M ago11:56

11:56

There’s a school of thought out there that says to make friends it’s important to be vulnerable by sharing your story. Some call it “being authentic.” Yet it’s been my experience that sharing your story when someone is trying to share theirs may end up pushing people away. Some would call that being self-centered. Today’s episode, though, is about …

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202: The Best Stories 34:12

10M ago34:12

34:12

Most of us like a good story. I have found that the best stories are those that draw us in with emotion. They’re usually about relationships and often contain a story within a story. I’ve got one of those for you today that I’m pretty sure you’re going to like. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationsh…

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201: Three Relationship Tools to Remember in September 20:17

11M ago20:17

20:17

Hello everyone, I’m back! To start season 8 of this podcast we’re going to talk about three relationship tools we can use to become better listeners this fall to deepen our relationships. But before we get into today’s episode, here’s what this podcast is all about. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relat…

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200: Give People the Gift of Hope 16:47

1+ y ago16:47

16:47

One relationship principle I’ve come to appreciate over time is the power of giving people the gift of hope when they have so little of it themselves. It’s when you burn brightly with hope for others when their own hope is but a dying ember. In several recent episodes, I shared a response from one of our listeners who wrote about feeling overwhelme…

1
199: How to Help a Friend 15:01

1+ y ago15:01

15:01

Today’s episode is about how to help a friend using a model of deepening relationships I’ve talked about before. The ORA principle. You remember it, don’t you? O - Observe. R - Reflect. A -Act. ORA. I saw this model of relating on several different levels from the responses some of you, our listeners, sent in to help another listener. Someone I’m c…

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198: Read Your Way to Better Relationships in 2023 11:35

1+ y ago11:35

11:35

In episode 192 I explained my rationale for suggesting that our word of the year for this year should be READ. Go to johncertalic.com/192 If you missed it. Reading about relationships is a simple way to enjoy better relationships in 2023. For example, in today’s show, I share an article I read recently that I found quite freeing when it comes to de…

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197: We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know 12:12

1+ y ago12:12

12:12

I’ve said before in past episodes how much I value feedback from people like you. In today’s show, for example, I share a listener reaction to a show from awhile back. It illustrates the concept that when it comes to relationships, sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know. But before we get into the challenging comments from this listener, and ho…

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196: How Will You Be Remembered? 14:08

1+ y ago14:08

14:08

I received a touching email the other day that got me thinking about how I want to be remembered when my time on earth comes to an end. The email is a brief and beautiful story from one of my favorite authors that I share in today’s show. My guess is that after you hear it, you will want to reflect on how you want to be remembered too. But before w…

1
195: Words Matter 11:40

1+ y ago11:40

11:40

In today’s program, I’m going to share three listener responses to recent episodes. I’m doing so because your words matter to me, and to our other listeners, as well. Keep listening, and you’ll pick up an idea or two to try with your relationships. Be sure to stick around to the end to hear a story of how a listener applied what she heard in one of…

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194: Martin Luther King - The Silence of Our Friends 14:54

1+ y ago14:54

14:54

Here in the US, the third Monday of January is a national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, jr., the civil rights leader. I recently came across one of his quotes where he said “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ” I’ve seen the truth of his comment played out several times in my life. …

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193: The Underachievers Bible Reading Plan for 2023 13:31

1+ y ago13:31

13:31

Last week’s episode, number 192, was about my pick for word for the year: Read. If you’re not much of a reader and can only tackle one book this year, I suggest read the Bible. Some people follow a Bible Reading plan that gets them through the entire book in one year. But if you’re an underachiever like me, I’ve got a more manageable, guilt-free wa…

1
192: Word of the Year for 2023: Read 14:01

1+ y ago14:01

14:01

I received an email recently from a fellow podcaster. He mentioned how he picks a word at the beginning of January to help him stay focused for the year. His 2022 word of the year was “celebrate.” For 2023 he chose “authentic.” Apparently lots of people are choosing a word of the year for themselves. I googled the phrase “Word of the Year for 2023”…

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191: Wanting the Joy of Christmas to Linger Awhile? 19:29

1+ y ago19:29

19:29

You’re out there, I know you are. I can see you. You’re not quite ready to say goodbye to Christmas this year. You want the joy of Christmas to linger just a little while longer. I get it. I’ve got your back in today’s show. Keep listening, this one’s for you. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationshi…

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190: The Christmas Story In 2022 4:24

1+ y ago4:24

4:24

The Christmas story in 2022, as with the first one centuries ago, is all about Jesus. Mary treasured all its many details, thought about them often, and pondered them in her heart. May we do the same. Here's the original Christmas story as recorded in Luke's Gospel, just as it happened. The Birth of Jesus At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, d…

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189: O Holy Night - An Unusual History 13:46

1+ y ago13:46

13:46

My favorite church experience is singing “O Holy Night” at a Christmas Eve service. Many churches will turn off the lights and pass out candles that are lit as the song begins. It’s quite moving. Today’s episode is about the interesting and surprising history of “O Holy Night.” But first this: Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself …

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188: Joy to the World - The Unintended Christmas Carol 10:51

1+ y ago10:51

10:51

In episode 187 last week I talked about the back story behind “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Today I pull the curtain back to look at the history behind another well-known Christmas carol, this one going back to 1719. It never started out to be a song, but before we get into all this, here’s a word from another Christmas Carol, one of my favorites…

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187: This Christmas Carol Invites You 15:38

1+ y ago15:38

15:38

It’s hard to go anywhere this time of the year without hearing Christmas music. They really help set the mood for the holidays, which I love. The melodies of many of the traditional Christmas carols are fixed in our minds because we’ve heard them for years and years. But often the words are not. Who can remember the 3rd verse of “Silent Night,” for…

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186: Thankful for Life After Death 33:48

1+ y ago33:48

33:48

My friend Larry Goring died 2 months ago after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was only 73, and I miss him greatly. Larry was one of the original board members of our missionary care ministry, Caring for Others, and was always a great encouragement to me. His wife Jill gave me permission to share some of the details following Larry’s death that…

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185: Thankful for Curious People 9:11

1+ y ago9:11

9:11

For the past two years, my grandson George has been a resident assistant in his college dorm. Before students check in at the start of the school year, each RA creates a bulletin board for their floor with here’s-who-I-am information about themself. It’s a way to start building a sense of community. I wish they would have had something like this wh…

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184: Thankful for Parents Who Discipline Their Children 15:52

1+ y ago15:52

15:52

A family friend and listener to this podcast told me about an unpleasant experience she recently had at a big box retail store that got me thinking about climate change. Not the climate change we hear environmentalists and politicians talk about. I’m thinking about relational climate change. How the climate in a room changes when parents fail to di…

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183: Thankful for People Who Inspire Us 14:29

1+ y ago14:29

14:29

In last week’s episode, no. 182, we began our Thankful in November series by talking about being thankful for the last time we experienced something. Today we continue this series by considering the blessing of being thankful for the people who inspire us. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you find yourself wanting more from your relationships, …

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182: Thankful for “The Last Time I Will Ever…” 16:24

1+ y ago16:24

16:24

It happened a few weeks ago, another one of those It was the last time I will ever … moments. It was the last time I experienced something so meaningful and enjoyable that it brought on a tinge of sadness knowing I will never experience it again. But based on several other last time I will ever … events in my life I know I can be thankful for what …

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181: Tenderness Found in Two Unusual Places 14:05

1+ y ago14:05

14:05

A friend I hadn’t seen in a while asked me the other day what was going on in my life. “Lots of death,” I said, filling in my response with examples.. Another thing going on was a moment of tenderness I saw in a man consoling his wife in a restaurant. I’ve been thinking for days about the tenderness I saw in both the restaurant and the deaths I des…

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180: An Unusual Place to Find Joy 22:35

1+ y ago22:35

22:35

You wouldn’t think you could find joy in the midst of difficult life events, but you can if you know how to look for it. Today’s episode is an interview with someone who did just that. Stuck in the world’s busiest airport after her flight was canceled, Our guest today, Jennifer Uren, shares what she did while waiting on standby for another flight, …

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179: Listen to the Whispers 12:11

2y ago12:11

12:11

It seems to me that we are living in an increasingly noisy world. So many sounds, so many words, so many messages competing for our attention. I’m going to tell you a story today about how someone communicated with whispers that drowned out all the noise in the room. It’s a great relationship lesson about listening to the whispers. But before we ge…

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178: Good Relationships in Action 11:26

2y ago11:26

11:26

There are so many thoughts about relationships running around in my head lately that I’ve wanted to share with you. They’ve been like little kids scrambling for the candy thrown from 4th of July floats parading down the street. I’ll tell you about a few of them in today’s episode because they’re examples of good relationships I’ve seen in action th…

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177: How to Relate With High-Maintenance People 16:32

2y ago16:32

16:32

I received a disturbing email from a missionary serving overseas the other day that mentioned a relationship challenge he and his wife were facing. It’s an issue most of us have had to handle at one time or another. Namely, how to relate with high-maintenance people. It’s the subject of today’s show, where you will hear a few ideas for how you can …

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176: The Joy of Relationships by Watching Others 9:56

2y ago9:56

9:56

In episode 166 a few months ago I shared stories about how we can experience the joy of relationships when people spread a little relational sunshine around. Today’s episode is another story that shows how it’s done. A story that will make you smile. One you can adapt to spark joy in your own relationships. Welcome to You Were Made for This If you …

1
175: Reflecting On Stories From Our Past Can Grow Us 14:31

2y ago14:31

14:31

Relationship stories from our past have a way of shaping us years after they occurred. I have two of them that happened decades ago during this month of September. It wasn’t until many years had passed that I understood the impact these two events had on my life. It’s what I’m going to talk about in today’s episode because I bet you have stories li…

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174: Labor Day - A Time to Reflect 19:48

2y ago19:48

19:48

Here in the United States where I live we just finished celebrating Labor Day two days ago. It comes around every year on the first Monday in September. For many of us, it’s the most melancholy of all our national holidays. Yet, Labor Day week is also a great time to reflect. Reflect upon what, you ask? Keep listening, for I answer this question in…

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173: Celebrate National Relationship Transitions Day 10:18

2y ago10:18

10:18

As the summer winds down here on the last day of August, many of us are going through a relationship transition of one kind or another. Kids going off to school for the first time. Sons and daughters heading off to college. And those of us left behind to face an unfamiliar future where those we love are no longer around as they once were. Relations…

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172: How to Develop Deeper Relationships 16:35

2y ago16:35

16:35

Developing deeper relationships is the topic of today’s show, and is a follow-up to last week’s episode, no. 171. It was an encore episode of an interview I did with Charley and Ruth Shirley in late 2018. It came about from Charley’s Facebook post with a photo of his wife of 30 some years cleaning the grave marker of Charley’s first wife who was ki…

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171: We're All Connected with Each Other 22:51

2y ago22:51

22:51

The first interview I ever did on this podcast was about how we are all connected with each other. It was episode 8 where my wife and I sat in the living room of two friends from church, Charley and Ruth. It’s where Charley shared the story of what his wife Ruth and their daughter did to help bring healing and closure to the death of Charley’s firs…

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170: When People Disappoint Us 15:09

2y ago15:09

15:09

In just a few weeks many of us with school-age kids will be sending them off for the next chapter in their educational lives. Others of us who home school will be calling them to the kitchen table for the same purpose.In either case, an unintended relationship lesson kids learn at one point or another in their schooling is that people will disappoi…

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169: A Daughter’s Feel-Good Story About Her Father 25:56

2y ago25:56

25:56

It’s hard to see the goodness of God sometimes in the midst of all the stress and turmoil going on in the world. What really helps though is coming across a feel-good story where we see God’s hand in filling a void in someone’s heart that’s been there for a very long time. For when we see God filling a hole in someone else’s heart, we can have conf…

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John Certalic Podcasts

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