Building a Healthy Marriage and Family with Phil and Desiree Thompson

Building a Healthy Marriage and Family with Phil and Desiree Thompson

How do we build a marriage and family that truly thrives in today’s fast-paced world? In this episode, we are joined by Phil and Desiree Thompson, the founders of JH Aotearoa, a powerful parent and child adventure experience dedicated to restoring, strengthening, and building families. Through their ministry, countless families across the country have experienced transformation, reconnection, and healing. With years of marriage and ministry experience, Phil and Desiree pull back the curtain on what it takes to cultivate a healthy home centred on God's leading. They share the practical, everyday rhythms that keep their own relationship strong, the importance of adaptability through different seasons, and how to parent with grace rather than the pressure of perfection. This conversation is an encouraging reminder that the true value of our lives isn't found in what we produce or achieve, but in who we are becoming in Christ. Whether you are looking to strengthen your marriage, navigate the parenting journey, or bring fresh intentionality into your home, Phil and Desiree’s seasoned wisdom offers a beautiful roadmap for every family.

The Journey to Food Freedom with Midi Willoughby

Food and body image struggles can often feel like a silent, isolating battle, but there is a way out. In this episode of Living Well, Liz Griffiths sits down with Food Freedom Coach Midi Willoughby for an incredibly honest and deeply needed conversation about disordered eating. Shattering the idea that these struggles only affect a specific demographic, Liz and Midi discuss how disordered eating impacts men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. Midi vulnerably shares from her own ten-year battle with an eating disorder, serving as living proof that full recovery is absolutely possible. Together, they unpack the biggest misunderstandings surrounding eating struggles, and explore how unresolved past trauma can drive people to use food as a coping mechanism or a way to regain control. Most importantly, Midi opens up about the pivotal role her faith played in her healing. She shares how God renewed her mind, the life-changing power of finding identity in God's Word, and the specific promise from God that gave her the strength to hold on throughout recovery. If you or someone you love has ever struggled with food, identity, or body image, this episode offers a roadmap of practical wisdom, spiritual breakthrough, and enduring hope. If this episode raises any concerns or if you need immediate support, please reach out to your healthcare professional or NZ's 24/7 Counselling Helpline - Text or Call 1737

Living Well through Singleness, Dating, and Marriage | Daniel and Chermayne Connell

Navigating relationships can be one of the most beautiful, and yet most confusing, parts of life. How do we stay healthy and grounded through every stage of the journey? In this episode of Living Well, Mike and Liz sit down with the newly married Daniel and Chermayne Connell. Known for navigating their own relationship journey with immense intentionality, Daniel and Chermayne open up about the joys, challenges, expectations, and raw emotions that come with singleness, dating, and marriage. As mentors to many young people, they have a front-row seat to the common struggles and pressures people face today. In this conversation, they unpack the practical wisdom and "gold" they've gathered along the way, offering vital take-home truths for anyone looking to build healthy, life-giving relationships. Whether you are happily single, navigating the dating world, or looking to strengthen your marriage, this episode is packed with the practical nuggets of wisdom you need to live well in your current season.

The Supporter's Journey: Walking With Someone Through Mental Health

In this episode of Living Well, Mike Griffiths sits down with Steve and Becs Green to continue the conversation about Steve’s mental health journey - this time through Becs’ eyes. Becs shares openly about what it was like to walk alongside her husband during his mental health crisis - the challenges, the hope, and the faith that carried them through. Together, Steve and Becs reflect on the power of honesty, support, and staying connected even when life feels overwhelming. This discussion reminds us that mental health journeys don’t happen in isolation - and that those who walk beside us play a vital role in the path toward healing and restoration.

Life After Loss: Bob's Story

In this episode of Living Well, host Mike Griffiths is joined by Bob Lawson and Lynley McCabe for an honest conversation about the journey of grief. Bob shares his personal story of losing his beloved wife, Maggie - reflecting on how they surrendered her cancer journey to God and how, in the years since, he continues to choose to truly live. Alongside him, grief counsellor Lynley offers insight into what the grief journey looks like, that through all kinds of loss we have in life, the grief journey is so unique to each individual experiencing it. Together they explore what it means to walk through pain with faith, to find hope in the midst of sorrow, and to discover that even after great loss, life and purpose can still bloom again.