The Speakeasy

Today's conversation is one I didn't expect to have, but I'm so glad we did. I'm joined by Ben Higgins, known from The Bachelor franchise, but more importantly, a man willing to talk honestly about something many of us feel and few of us admit: loneliness.
Ben's book, Alone in Plain Sight: Searching for Connection When You're Seen But Not Known, explores what it's like to feel invisible, even while millions are watching. From reality TV to marriage, from church culture to platform pressure, Ben opens up about insecurity, performance, and the quiet fear that if people really knew us, they might not like us.
We talk about:
The difference between feeling unlovable vs. unlikable

Why social media connection doesn't cure loneliness

Performative Christianity and losing yourself in the process

The courage it takes for men to admit loneliness

How slowing down exposes what's actually going on inside

Letting the right people speak into your life, and guarding your heart

This isn't just a "Bachelor" conversation. It's about identity, community, vulnerability, and what it means to be fully known without performing.
If you've ever wondered whether God actually likes you, or struggled to believe that the real you is enough, this episode will meet you there.
Sponsor: CrowdHealth
Tired of a healthcare system that feels predatory and confusing? CrowdHealth is a health insurance alternative built on transparency and community. Members get access to bill negotiators, low-cost prescriptions, quality doctor networks, and support when major medical needs arise.
✨ Get started for $99 for your first 3 months with code SPEAKEASY at joincrowdhealth.com. (CrowdHealth is not insurance.)
You don't have to perform to belong, and you don't have to navigate healthcare alone either.

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.