Java with Juli

Life gets busy—especially with kids, work, and everyday stress. But research shows that couples who consistently make time for each other are significantly happier  in their marriages.

This week, we're talking about why date nights matter more than you think. We'll tackle common obstacles couples face, like exhaustion, busy schedules, lack of childcare, and awkward conversations. Plus, you'll hear simple a...

You know your spouse's love language, and you try to use it. So why is their love tank always running on empty?

This week, we're expanding the classic framework to include personality nuances, seasonal shifts, overdoing it (yes, that's possible!), and love tank "leaks." Plus, you'll learn why gifts aren't always about money and why physical touch isn't always about sex. 

Join us for a conversa...

Maybe you're already living together.
Maybe this topic feels uncomfortable.
Maybe you've never questioned it before.

This week, Juli unpacks what God says about living together before marriage, what (secular) research is telling us, and how covenant—not convenience—creates lasting security.

Co-hosts: Hannah Nitz & Joe Caruso

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Men get a lot of mixed messages about masculinity. Some say it's toxic. Others say it doesn't really matter anymore. It's no surprise guys are left wondering, "What does it even mean to be a good man?"

This week, Juli sits down with Brant Hansen, author of The Men We Need, to get honest about the struggles men face and why true strength looks very different from the stereotypes we're used to. This conversa...

What's okay in the bedroom—and how are married couples supposed to know? 

In this episode, Juli doesn't hand you a checklist. Instead, she walks you through three questions every couple can ask when navigating gray areas in the bedroom.

From pornography and fantasy to sex toys and more, this conversation helps you discern where you may need to draw a line and where you may need to step out of ...

Are awkward "side hugs" the best we can do when it comes to opposite-sex friendships?

Juli sits down with author Bronwyn Lea, who helps us rethink what it means to live as brothers and sisters in God's family. They talk about why we often confuse intimacy with sexuality, how Jesus modeled close, non-romantic relationships, and what healthy Christian community can look like (even in a sex-saturated world).

Juli unpacks four of the most common (and subtle) lies we believe about sex, desire, and compatibility. From "sex is about expressing myself" to "the best sex is compatible sex," they explore how these ideas shape our relationships—and how God invites you into something deeper.

If you've ever felt stuck, confused, or distant from God because of sexuality, pull up a chair—this conversation is for you.

What if your relationship with God  didn't start with how broken you are—but with how beloved you are?

This week, Juli is joined by Marty Solomon, host of the BEMA Podcast, to explore the difference between our Western desire to have all the answers and the Bible's invitation to mystery, curiosity, and wonder. They talk about how systematic theology can both help and hinder our faith, and why being "belove...

If you're trying to heal after betrayal, you may be doing everything you were taught to do—and still feel stuck.

Sometimes we unintentionally sabotage our own healing—all in the name of love and forgiveness. Instead of feeling better, you end up feeling silenced, unsafe, and confused about why healing hasn't happened. 

Author and counselor Tammy Gustafson joins Juli to share four necessary pha...

There's more to the masturbation conversation than simply "right" or "wrong." Could it be an issue of spiritual maturity for some of us—whether we're married or single? Can it be used in a healthy way in marriage? Join us to have your thinking challenged!

Co-host: Hannah Nitz

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What if knowing your loved one's love language isn't enough?

Kicking off this new year, Juli sits down with Dr. Gary Chapman to unpack how it is that we can know each other's love language and still feel disconnected.

Whether you're married, parenting, or navigating close friendships, this episode will challenge you to love more intentionally—and more effectively.

Guest: Dr. Gary ...

As we wrap up 2025, this is the conversation God put on Juli's heart.

Juli and Hannah sit down to talk about how we love each other when we disagree. This conversation invites you to rethink how you engage in tough conversations and what it really means to contend for truth with love. 

Give to Authentic Intimacy today! Between now and January 31st, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar—u...

Grab your Java for one of our most popular episodes of 2025! This conversation with Dr. Dan Allender helped us understand why the stuff we haven't dealt with from childhood eventually shows up—right in the middle of our relationships.

Listen in to find out why you must be willing to explore your own story in order to create safety and repair what's broken.

Guest: Dr. Dan Allender

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How do you raise kids who feel grounded in their God-given identity in a world of confusing messages about gender?

Dr. Kathy Koch and Dr. Jeff Myers join Juli to unpack how to guide youg people with truth, curiosity, and presence. You'll hear how to lay the foundations of identity, respond to cultural pressures, and raise confident boys and girls. 

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or ment...

Women everywhere are turning to spicy romance novels to escape stress, overwhelm, and the monotony of everyday life. Today, Juli talks about why these trending titles feel so intoxicating, how they subtly shape our expectations of intimacy, and why they often leave us feeling disconnected from real relationships.

Instead of escaping into fictional worlds, hear how you can rediscover the adventure and conne...

We're diving into the often overlooked side of sexual intimacy: emotional connection in marriage. Juli and guest Gary Thomas unpack three building blocks of emotional intimacy—emotional availability, sensitive responsiveness, and trust. From understanding male and female brain chemistry to tips on daily connection habits, this conversation gives you tangible ways to create a stronger, healthier marriage.

Guest: Gary Thomas

Give to ...

What if sexual intimacy became something you look forward to, instead of something you brace yourself for?

Juli sits down with sex therapist Debra Taylor to talk about what we've learned about women's sexuality over the last 30 years. They dive into the myths that still plague marriages, the real factors shaping women's sexual desire, why exhaustion is often the #1 barrier to intimacy, and how couples can ...

The holidays should bring peace. Instead, they often bring tension, unresolved hurt, and that one person who knows how to get under your skin.

Today, Juli sits down with author and radio host Brant Hansen to talk about what it means to be "unoffendable"—especially when you're passing the mashed potatoes to someone you struggle to forgive.

Guest: Brant Hansen

Follow-up Resources:

Lips that drip liquid myrrh, cheeks like beds of spices . . . what on earth is happening here? This week, we're making sense of the metaphors in Song of Songs. Find out how this bizarre (to us) love poetry shows us that God is wholeheartedly, enthusiastically, and unequivocally in favor of out-of-this-world sexual pleasure in marriage.

Guest: Dr. Sandra Glahn

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