Podcasts Home2022-02-02T11:53:55-06:00

Relationship Coach PodcasterAward-Winning Author JOHN CERTALIC

HELPING PEOPLE OF FAITH FIND THE JOY WE WERE MADE FOR IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

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    You Were Made For This

    Our relationships are so important to living a fulfilling life, we do ourselves a favor when we do what we can to make those relationships the best they can be. To that end, listen to Episode 139 of You Were Made for This. You’ll learn the benefits of listening to this podcast in helping you find more of the joy God intends for you in your relationships.

    Latest Episodes

    “At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic

    206: Thankful for the Stories of Others

    November 15th, 2023|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    • A meaningful conversation deepens a relationship

    205: How to Have a Meaningful Conversation

    November 1st, 2023|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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?”

    • Be stingy in sharing your story when listening to others

    203: Three Reasons for Being Stingy in Sharing Your Story

    October 4th, 2023|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    • Listen to someone's story

    202: The Best Stories

    September 20th, 2023|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    201: Three Relationship Tools to Remember in September

    September 6th, 2023|Categories: Podcast, Relational Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    • Give people the gift of hope

    200: Give People the Gift of Hope

    March 1st, 2023|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    • We Don't Know What We Don't Know

    199: How to Help a Friend

    February 22nd, 2023|Categories: Podcast, Relational Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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

    • Read Your Way to Better Relationships in 2023

    198: Read Your Way to Better Relationships in 2023

    February 15th, 2023|Categories: Podcast, Relationship Principles|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    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.

    Episode Topics

    Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Social Isolation

    I recently read Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Social Isolation 2023. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. A little long, but what

    211: A Men’s Breakfast Like No Other

    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

    210: Word of the Year for 2024 – Curious

    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

    208: Christmas – A Time to Reflect

    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

    202: The Best Stories

    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

     Recent Articles

    Finishing a 30-Year-Old Conversation

    Reader, A number of years ago my friend Bill got me started down a path that eventually brought closure to a troubling part of my life. It wasn’t something he intended to do; it just happened. And It’s the subject of today’s episode, no. 215 of You Were Made For This. It’s about adult children trying to resolve an issue from their childhood with their parents. Click here to listen in. Until next week, I wish you all the joy that you can wish.* John Certalic You Were Made for This is the...

    My Favorite Quote This Week

    Hi Reader, I may have mentioned this before, but I think it would be fun to do a weekly podcast about interesting quotes. Quote the quote, then talk about it. For example, I recently read a book by Mary Pipher, Letters to a Young Therapist. Each chapter is a letter to the author’s niece who is a newly minted psychotherapist. As one with decades of experience in their shared profession, Pipher offers up nuggets of wisdom she’s learned along the way. I didn’t get the sense she's a person of...

    Relating with People Who Don’t Talk Much

    Reader, One of the things I enjoyed about writing my book THEM in 2016 was coming up with a quote to put at the top of the page for each chapter. I love it when other authors do this. Here’s the quote I found that encapsulated the theme of chapter one of the book: The older I grow, the more I listen to people who don't talk much. - Germain G. Glidden Today’s podcast episode is about how to do what the quote describes. I tell two stories from the book that give examples of putting the quote...

    Reaction to Our Most Popular Blog Post Ever

    Reader, I was surprised by the amount of reader reaction to our blog post of January 24th. It’s the most we’ve ever received. Joy From An Unlikely Source” was about the death of Herb Kohl, former owner of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks and United States Senator for 24 years. He passed away at the end of 2023 and I shared some of the tributes paid to him. The stories people told about him personify what I say at the end of each podcast episode, “spread a little relational sunshine with the people you...

    5 Things to Watch For In Your Next Conversation

    Hi Reader, Sports journalists often write about what to watch for in upcoming sporting events. Articles like “5 Things to Look For In the 49er’s - Chiefs game” were common leading up to the Super Bowl earlier this month. Today’s You Were Made for This podcast uses the same format, “Five things to Watch For In Your Next Conversation.” Click here to listen in to episode 213. You’ll hear a few things you may not have heard before that will help deepen your relationships. Until next week, I wish...

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

    Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016

    THEM is all about relationships and how to make them better. You’ll read real-life stories showing the joy found in bringing out the best in others, which brings out the best in ourselves.

    Have you ever wanted to understand and help someone who is depressed or angry? How about someone who is fearful, or has trouble forgiving and reconciling with others? Maybe you want to know how to better encourage someone.

    In THEM – The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others, John Certalic weaves together real-life stories that practically show how to help others – and ourselves – deal with the challenging relational issues that affect us so deeply.

    Winner of Writer's Digest Best Inspirational Book of 2016. Endorsed by Dr. Laura Mae Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Dr. John Powell, Stuart Briscoe, and numerous missionaries.

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