The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast

In this episode, Shawn and Andrew open up about life behind the highlight reel: the thousands of hours of grueling practice before Beijing, Andrew getting cut from NFL roster after roster and choosing to keep going anyway, and what it actually looks like to build a life of meaning when the world is constantly throwing new options, distractions, and noise at you.

They get into the real stuff... parenting three kids with completely opposite personalities, navigating the chaos of mid-30s marriage, and the moment their Type-A daughter discovered rock climbing and transformed overnight. They talk about the nature vs. nurture debate playing out in real time as their four-year-old son races motocross and their two-year-old refuses to be tamed.

Shawn pulls back the curtain on her Olympic mental training, including the little-known technique her coach used where she'd sit on each apparatus the day before competition and visualize five perfect routines in a row, and how reciting Newton's Law mid-backflip on a four-inch beam kept her brain too busy to be afraid.

At the heart of it all is the message of their book: in an age of infinite scroll, swipe culture, and decision fatigue, commitment isn't a cage... it's the path to freedom. They argue that you don't wait for the best option to present itself. You choose a good one and make it the best.

00:00:00 - Podcast Introduction

00:01:18 - Guests Introduction

00:01:34 - Family and Parenting

00:01:47 - Discussing Kids' Personalities

00:02:34 - Parenting Challenges

00:07:50 - Discussing Kids' Interests

00:12:59 - Shawn's Gymnastics Career

00:14:06 - Andrew's Football Career

00:15:24 - Resilience and Mental Strength

00:17:19 - Discussing the Journey and Attitude

00:21:29 - Overcoming Rejection and the Role of Mentorship

00:22:28 - The Role of Failure in Success

00:23:35 - The Importance of Perseverance

00:25:58 - The Kip Story and Persistence

00:28:08 - Parenting and Encouraging Kids' Interests

00:30:00 - The Challenges and Rewards of Parenting

00:31:14 - Discussing Commitment in Sports

00:32:07 - Passion and Commitment

00:33:02 - Discussing Kids' Exposure to Various Activities

00:34:04 - Discipline and Priorities

00:34:07 - Physical Training and Spirituality

00:36:26 - Confidence Building in Kids

00:40:23 - 'The Courage to Commit'

00:40:35 - Commitment and Freedom

00:46:48 - Distractions and Depth of Knowledge

00:48:14 - The Role of Boredom and Failure in Passion

00:48:55 - Discussing the Importance of Beautiful Obsessions

00:51:21 - Discussing the Role of Gamification in Motivation

00:52:15 - Discussing Shawn's Mental Process during Olympics

00:56:10 - Discussing Mental Strength Training and Visualization

00:57:23 - Discussing the Role of Music in Difficult Situations

00:58:35 - Conclusion and Gratitude

OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS:

POCKET HOSE: Upgrade your outdoor setup with the Pocket Hose, the world’s #1 expanding garden hose. It’s lightweight, durable, and expands as you use it, then shrinks back down for easy storage. Text JJ to 64000 for a free pocket pivot and a 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size copper head hose.

PONCHO: This season, skip the guesswork and give him something he’ll actually wear. Whether it’s for your husband, dad, or son — Poncho makes clothes built for the men who do it all.Go to ⁠https://www.ponchooutdoors.com/SHOWCODE and enter your email for $10 off your first order.

BROOKLYN BEDDING: Brooklyn Bedding has been around for over 25 years, known for top-of-the-line comfort and quality without the luxury price tag. Go to ⁠https://brooklynbedding.com⁠ and use my promo code JINGER at checkout to get 30% off sitewide.

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Jeremy's away, so Joy is stepping in as co-host and we might need to make this a regular thing.

In this episode, Jinger and Joy sit down for a raw and real catch-up on life lately, including navigating one of the hardest seasons either of them has faced, finding small pockets of joy in the midst of it, and leaning on faith when things feel impossibly heavy. Joy opens up about how getting outside, staying close to her kids, and the song "Pillars of Praise" have been anchoring her through it all.

If you've been in a hard season, need a good laugh, or just want to feel like you're catching up with two sisters over coffee, this one's for you.

Don't forget to like, comment and SUBSCRIBE.

00:00:48 - Welcome to the Podcast

00:01:36 - Life Update from Joy

00:03:29 - Coping with Difficult Times

00:04:39 - Finding Joy in Difficult Times

00:05:55 - Finding Balance Online

00:06:37 - Finding Joy in Little Things

00:07:24 - Outdoor Activities and Family Time

00:11:49 - Enjoying Coffee and Tea

00:15:23 - Coffee Shop Preferences

00:22:45 - Things We've Been Loving

00:30:22 - Cooking Experiences and Preferences

00:30:58 - Hot Sauce Stories

00:31:35 - Jeremy's Hot Sauce Adventure

00:32:57 - Hot Sauce Preferences

00:35:29 - Meal Routines and Cooking Rut

00:36:29 - Favorite Veggies and Cooking Methods

00:40:00 - Kids and Food Preferences

00:40:19 - Entertainment Choices for Kids

00:42:14 - Wrapping Up

OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS:

COZY EARTH: Luxury Shouldn’t Be Out of Reach. Visit https://CozyEarth.com/jinger/ and use my exclusive code JINGER for 20% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

POCKET HOSE: Upgrade your outdoor setup with the Pocket Hose, the world’s #1 expanding garden hose. It’s lightweight, durable, and expands as you use it, then shrinks back down for easy storage. Text JJ to 64000 for a free pocket pivot and a 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size copper head hose.

TRUST & WILL: Protect what matters most. Trust & Will makes it simple and affordable to create your will or trust online in minutes. Visit https://trustandwill.com/JINGER and get 20% off when you use the code JINGER.
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What happens when you grow up in a closed, communal community, speaking your own language, wearing homemade clothes, owning nothing, and needing permission just to leave for a dentist appointment?

This week, Jinger and Jeremy sit down with their friend Michael Wurtz, who was raised inside a Hutterite colony in South Dakota and made a daring midnight escape at just 18 years old.

Michael opens up about life inside one of America's most secretive communities, from colony politics and strict dress codes to shared bank accounts, no back pockets, and a world almost entirely cut off from the outside. He traces the Hutterites' fascinating roots in the Anabaptist Reformation, their migration through Ukraine and Ellis Island, and how a community built on Scripture slowly drifted from the gospel into control and conformity.

But this isn't just a story of escape, it's a story of answered prayer, God's providence, and life on the other side of freedom.

Michael shares the prayer he prayed three days before his brother-in-law called, the flashlight signal in the field at 11pm, and what it looked like to walk away from everything he'd ever known with just $20 in his front pocket.

Today, Michael is a seminary graduate serving at his local church, a husband, and a father of two little girls and he calls himself the richest man alive.

00:00:47 - Introduction

00:02:35 - Michael's Background

00:08:16 - Hutterite Community Structure

00:14:01 - Understanding the Hutterite Language

00:16:04 - Education and Schooling in the Hutterite Community

00:17:30 - Music and Secrecy in the Hutterite Community

00:24:45 - Hutterite Community Politics

00:25:07 - Personal Experiences in the Hutterite Community

00:26:44 - Subculture and Side Hustles in the Hutterite Community

00:31:59 - Identity and Beliefs in the Hutterite Community

00:32:28 - Questioning the Hutterite Community

00:33:11 - Views on Non-Hutterites and Apostates

00:36:41 - Hutterite Community as a Cult

00:37:42 - Escaping the Hutterite Community

00:39:26 - Introduction to the Gospel

00:43:38 - Becoming a Believer and the Role of Radio

00:46:18 - Leaving the Hutterite Community

00:47:23 - Religious Pressure and Suppression in the Hutterite Community

00:49:31 - The Hidden Reality of Sin in the Hutterite Community

00:50:54 - Understanding the Gospel Outside the Hutterite Community

00:51:45 - Planning the Escape from the Hutterite Community

00:51:48 - The Night of the Escape

00:57:33 - Life After Leaving the Hutterite Community

OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS:

PONCHO: This season, skip the guesswork and give him something he’ll actually wear. Whether it’s for your husband, dad, or son — Poncho makes clothes built for the men who do it all. Go to ⁠https://www.ponchooutdoors.com/SHOWCODE and enter your email for $10 off your first order.

CURE HYDRATION: For our listeners, Cure is offering 20% off your first order! Stay hydrated and feel your best by visiting http://curehydration.com/jinger and using promo code JINGER at checkout. That’s http://curehydration.com/jinger—and use code JINGER for 20% off your first order!

MOMENTUM SHAKE: Fuel your body with clean, powerful nutrition. Momentum Shake is a daily all-in-one supplement packed with protein, collagen, omega-3s, and more. It’s simple, effective, and actually tastes good. Visit https://momentumshake.com/JINGER to get started and receive a free $70 value welcome kit & travel collection with your order today.

POCKET HOSE: Upgrade your outdoor setup with the Pocket Hose, the world’s #1 expanding garden hose. It’s lightweight, durable, and expands as you use it, then shrinks back down for easy storage. Text JJ to 64000 for a free pocket pivot and a 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size copper head hose.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your summer actually restful or just busy in a different place?

Jinger & Jeremy get real about planning a truly restorative summer with little kids, sharing their own vacation wins and fails, why they're staying in California this year, and the honest truth about traveling with young children.

But this episode goes deeper than travel tips.

They dive into a theology of rest... what Scripture says about why we crave vacations, what the Sabbath really points to, and how Jesus' promise of rest connects to our everyday longing to slow down.

What we cover:

- How to plan a family vacation that's actually restful (not just survived)

- Hotels vs. Airbnbs with kids and what works and what doesn't

- Why they're exploring California instead of flying cross-country this summer

- The biblical concept of Sabbath and what it means for modern life

- Why Jesus promises rest for weary souls and what that has to do with your summer

- Childhood vacation memories and why making them for your kids matters

Don't forget to like, comment and SUBSCRIBE.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:14 - Theology of Rest

00:00:50 - Summer Vacation Plans

00:01:33 - Challenges of Vacationing with Kids

00:02:24 - Choosing Family-Friendly Vacation Spots

00:03:29 - The Struggles of Staying in Hotels

00:04:09 - Staying Local for Vacation

00:04:54 - The Benefits of Airbnb

00:05:22 - Exploring California

00:09:46 - Planning for Future Travels

00:15:06 - Different Types of Vacation

00:15:50 - Personal Preferences for Vacation

00:17:44 - The Need for Rest

00:20:55 - Reflections on Work and Rest

00:27:00 - Childhood Vacation Memories

00:30:16 - Creating Memories for Children

00:30:17 - Summer Plans

OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS:

COZY EARTH: Luxury Shouldn’t Be Out of Reach. Visit https://CozyEarth.com/jinger/ and use my exclusive code JINGER for 20% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

FUNCTION HEALTH: Function because it’s the only health platform that gives you access to the kind of data most people never see—and the insights to actually take action. Learn more and join using our code JINGER at https://functionhealth.com/JINGER/ for $25 off your membership!

TRUST & WILL: Protect what matters most. Trust & Will makes it simple and affordable to create your will or trust online in minutes. Visit https://trustandwill.com/JINGER and get 20% off when you use the code JINGER.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when tragedy strips everything away and leaves something far greater behind? In this powerful episode, Jinger and Jeremy sit down with country music star-turned-pastor Granger Smith and his wife, author Amber Smith, for one of the most moving conversations about grief, marriage, and genuine faith you'll hear this year.

Granger opens up about walking away from a wildly successful music career, including his viral alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. and how the devastating loss of their 3-year-old son, River, in 2019 became the catalyst for real, saving faith. Amber shares what it was like to rebuild their marriage in the wake of unimaginable grief, the pact they made to stay together, and her journey to writing her deeply hopeful book The Girl on the Bathroom Floor.

Together, they discuss the River Kelly Fund, water safety, finding purpose through pain, and what they'd say to anyone sitting on a bathroom floor with no hope left.

In this episode:

- Granger's decade-long grind in Nashville & the Earl Dibbles Jr. viral moment

- How Amber went from acting in his music video to becoming his wife

- The tragic loss of their son River and how it transformed their faith

- How they kept their marriage intact through catastrophic grief

- Amber's book The Girl on the Bathroom Floor and why it has a hopeful ending

- The River Kelly Fund and giving back globally in River's honor

- Granger's upcoming book on cultural Christianity

- What true saving faith looks like vs. cultural Christianity

Perfect for fans of: Christian podcasts, faith and grief, marriage and relationships, country music, Granger Smith, redemption stories, parenting, loss, and hope.

Don't forget to like, comment and SUBSCRIBE.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:51 - Life in Texas

00:03:01 - Current Season of Life

00:04:22 - Testimony of God's Faithfulness

00:05:07 - Granger's Music Career

00:07:00 - Meeting and Falling in Love

00:12:13 - The Break in Music Career

00:12:17 - Creation of Earl Dibbles Jr.

00:14:31 - Impact of Earl Dibbles Jr.

00:16:10 - Passion Shift: From Soccer to Ministry

00:18:53 - The Tragic Loss of Their Son, River

00:19:09 - The Catalyst of Their Faith: Grief

00:21:52 - Amber's Perspective on the Tragic Loss

00:23:18 - Finding God in the Midst of Grief

00:24:09 - The Power of Scripture in Healing

00:25:49 - Granger's Personal Transformation and Encounter with God

00:29:17 - The Revelation of God's Love and Identity

00:31:11 - Recognizing God's Presence

00:31:34 - The Journey of Faith

00:31:52 - Shared Grief and Faith

00:32:29 - The Girl on the Bathroom Floor

00:33:50 - Wrestling with God's Presence in Suffering

00:38:40 - The Pact to Stay Together

00:42:49 - The River Kelly Fund

00:45:07 - Hope for Those on the Bathroom Floor

OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS:

BROOKLYN BEDDING: Brooklyn Bedding has been around for over 25 years, known for top-of-the-line comfort and quality without the luxury price tag. Go to ⁠https://brooklynbedding.com⁠ and use my promo code JINGER at checkout to get 30% off sitewide.

ARTICLE: If you’re looking to upgrade your space, we’ve been loving Article. Their furniture is modern, high-quality, and easy to style. Go to article.com/JINGER for $50 off your first purchase.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices