The Speakeasy

Today we're diving into the wide world of youth sports, and fair warning: this one might give you permission, step on your toes… or both.
Ed and Brian are former athletes, longtime sports ministry leaders, and dads currently navigating youth sports with their own kids. They're also the authors of Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports, and this conversation is honest, clarifying, and deeply needed.
We talk about what they call the "youth sports industrial complex," how we went from backyard games and rec leagues to a $40+ billion industry built on travel teams, specialization, year-round pressure, and future anxiety. How did we get here? What changed from when we were kids? And most importantly, do we have to ride this train?
In this episode we unpack:
The cultural shifts that reshaped youth sports

Why sports don't automatically build character

How pride, shame, and self-centeredness quietly grow unchecked

The difference between sports formation and spiritual formation

Why parents — not coaches — are the primary disciplers

How to respond to wins and losses in a gospel-shaped way

Creating boundaries within the system (even if you stay in it)

The power of gentleness, security, and apology

Spoiler: This isn't about pulling your kids out of sports. It's about recognizing that sports culture will disciple your child if you don't, and learning how to counterform that culture with intentional, Jesus-centered parenting.
Whether you're all-in on travel ball or wondering if you should opt out altogether, this episode will help you slow down, breathe, and ask better questions.
Your corner of the bleachers can look different.
Sponsor: Nutrafol
Healthy growth — whether in our kids or ourselves — doesn't come from pressure. It comes from consistent care.
Nutrafol is the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, clinically shown to support thicker, stronger, faster-growing hair in 3–6 months. They offer targeted formulas for postpartum, menopause, stress, and lifestyle factors.
For a limited time, get $10 off your first month + free shipping at Nutrafol.com when you use promo code BLAKE.
That's N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L dot com, promo code BLAKE.

Today's episode is all about raising boys, even if you're a girl mom like me. I sat down with Rebekah Lovell, author of Boyhood Resurrected, for a powerful and honest conversation about how modern systems are failing our boys, and what we can do about it.
We talk about how boys are hardwired for adventure, movement, risk, curiosity, and strength, and how over-scheduling, over-screening, and over-labeling can slowly extinguish the light in their eyes. Rebekah shares her family's journey navigating early schooling challenges, why institutional systems often misunderstand boys, and how moms (especially!) play a crucial role in protecting and cultivating their sons' masculine design.
This conversation will step on a few toes — gently. We talk about:
The difference between discipline and suppression

Why movement and autonomy matter

Screen culture and its impact on boys

The myth of being "behind"

Adventure as a developmental need

Respect as a love language for boys

Raising driven, courageous men in a culture hostile to masculinity

Even as a girl mom, I found so many parallels. Childhood matters. Wonder matters. Agency matters. And truthfully, this conversation ultimately points back to Jesus and how God intentionally wired our sons.
If you're raising boys (or love someone who is), this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you.
Sponsor: Nutrafol
Real growth doesn't come from quick fixes — it comes from consistent care. Nutrafol is the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, clinically shown to support thicker, stronger, faster-growing hair in 3–6 months.
It's not one-size-fits-all — they offer targeted formulas for postpartum, menopause, stress, and lifestyle factors.
For a limited time, get $10 off your first month + free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and use promo code BLAKE.
That's N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L dot com, promo code BLAKE.

Welcome back to the Big Easy Podcast with everybody's favorite guest, my husband, Jeremy. This episode is a candid, hope-filled conversation about what God has been doing in us lately: in our faith, our marriage, our home, and our conversations.
While the recent "Ending Well" series focused on reflection, this episode is about real-time transformation. Jeremy shares how a simple observation: watching me consistently in the Word sparked a hunger for Scripture and spiritual leadership. From listening to the Bible on Audible during long commutes, to diving deep into biblical manhood, marriage, and trust in God, his walk with the Lord has grown in tangible, visible ways.
We talk honestly about pride, fear, independence, and what it looks like to actually trust God with leadership, prayer, and obedience, especially inside marriage. We share how God has been working in both of us simultaneously: building one, dismantling the other, and bringing us into a healthier, more aligned rhythm together.
This episode also touches on:
Biblical leadership without ego

Trusting God over fear of failure or misunderstanding

Letting go of people-pleasing and over-explaining

Taking thoughts captive and renewing the mind

How Scripture practically changes everyday life

What it looks like when faith becomes central in marriage conversations

If you're praying for growth in your marriage, longing for deeper faith, or wondering if real change is possible: this episode is for you.
God is still moving. Look what He has done, and what He's still doing.

What if Bible study didn't feel dry, intimidating, or guilt-driven, but instead felt alive, honest, and deeply formative?
In this episode of The Speakeasy Podcast, Blake sits down with Faith Womack, author of No More Boring Bible Study and self-proclaimed Bible nerd, to talk about how Scripture can actually come to life in your everyday faith. Faith shares her powerful story of growing up with Scripture misused and weaponized—and how God redeemed that pain by drawing her into a deep, life-giving love for His Word.
Together, they unpack:
Why Bible study often feels boring (and why it doesn't have to)

How cultural Christianity and performance pressure distort our approach to Scripture

Why chasing "mountaintop moments" can actually hold us back

How to read the Bible with clarity, context, and confidence

Why it's okay to go slow, camp out, and stop treating God like a vending machine

This conversation is freeing, grounding, and incredibly practical, especially if you've ever felt overwhelmed, bored, intimidated, or burned by Bible study. Whether you're brand new to reading Scripture or have been in it for years, this episode will help you shift from pressure to presence and rediscover the beauty of God's Word.
"The Bible isn't boring, we just haven't always been taught how to read it."
Sponsor: Cozy Earth Upgrade your rest with Cozy Earth's luxury bamboo pajamas—soft, breathable, and temperature-regulating. Backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. ✨ Shop at cozyearth.com and use code SPEAKEASY for a special offer.

In today's episode, Blake sits down with Joby Martin, lead pastor of Church of 11:22, for a candid, practical, and surprisingly fun conversation about biblical marriage.
This is a must-listen—especially with your husband.
Together, they talk honestly about leadership, submission, responsibility, and why keeping score in marriage quietly kills intimacy. Pastor Joby brings clarity (and humor) to what Scripture actually calls men to be—and how that leadership is meant to free wives, not burden them. From encouragement and repentance to negotiation, gratitude, and yes… make out sessions—this episode covers what healthy, Christ-centered marriage looks like in real life.
They also unpack:
Why men need other godly men to grow

How wives can encourage change without nagging

The danger of swinging from passivity to toxic "alpha" masculinity

Why gratitude, affirmation, and humility go further than criticism

How communication and negotiation build trust and intimacy over time

This conversation is grounded in Scripture, full of wisdom, and deeply hopeful. If you want a stronger marriage, deeper respect, and more joy at home, start here.
Sponsor: Cozy Earth Upgrade your home with Cozy Earth's luxury bedding, towels, and pajamas—made with premium materials, backed by a 10-year warranty, and a 100-night sleep trial. ✨ Get up to 20% off at cozyearth.com with code SPEAKEASY.
Sponsor: CrowdHealth Looking for an alternative to traditional insurance? CrowdHealth lets members crowdfund medical expenses, access bill negotiators, lower-cost prescriptions, and vetted doctors. ✨ Get started for $99 for your first 3 months at joincrowdhealth.com with code SPEAKEASY. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)
Marriage isn't about winning—it's about fighting for each other.