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

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

    227: When Anxious Thoughts Come

    October 1st, 2025|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    In last week’s blog post (click here if you missed it) I wrote about taking a break from the news media because of how unsettling and agitated it

    • New things happen in the fall.

    226: End-of-Summer Conversations

    September 3rd, 2025|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    Labor Day here in the U.S. on the first Monday in September is near the top of my list of favorite holidays. There’s a freshness and energy about

    • A Joy to Be Around

    225: A Joy to Be Around

    August 23rd, 2025|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    Today’s episode Some people are a joy to be around. I have a story for you today about one of them, and what I learned about being more

    • Suzanne - beloved wife, dear mom, and organ donor

    224: God Cares For Us In Ways We Rarely Consider

    August 6th, 2025|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    I’ve been reflecting more and more lately about how much God cares about us.  When we hurt he hurts. Today’s episode is about how God responds to the

    223: A Christmas in July Story

    July 16th, 2025|Categories: Podcast, Relational Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    As I’m recording this, Christmas is almost six months away. I recall last Christmas, when I heard a few people say they wished we could have the Christmas

    • Listen to someone's story

    222: “I Want to Hear Your Story”

    July 2nd, 2025|Categories: Becoming a Better Listener, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    I’ve come to learn that relating with people through the lens of “I want to hear your story” is a great way to live. It enriches our lives

    • An act of kindness by Polish mothers who reflect the character of God

    221: An Act of Kindness Remembered Decades Later

    June 18th, 2025|Categories: Finding Joy in Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    You never know how an act of kindness will be remembered with fondness many decades later. It reminds us that when we are kind, it’s because God made

    • You Were Made for This

    220: A Podcast You and I Want to Listen To

    June 4th, 2025|Categories: God in Our Relationships, Podcast|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    Have you noticed how everyone seems to have a podcast these days? Most of them just don’t appeal to me. So, in 2018, I created one that does—

    Episode Topics

    214: People Are Like Houses

    A listener once suggested that for a podcast episode I should read from the book I wrote in 2016, THEM- The Richer Life Found in Caring for Others.

    225: A Joy to Be Around

    Today’s episode Some people are a joy to be around. I have a story for you today about one of them, and what I learned about being more

    223: A Christmas in July Story

    As I’m recording this, Christmas is almost six months away. I recall last Christmas, when I heard a few people say they wished we could have the Christmas

    227: When Anxious Thoughts Come

    In last week’s blog post (click here if you missed it) I wrote about taking a break from the news media because of how unsettling and agitated it

    215: Searching for My Birth Father

    One of the more popular topics from past episodes has been the story of Gail Rohde who was adopted as an infant, and her search as an adult

    226: End-of-Summer Conversations

    Labor Day here in the U.S. on the first Monday in September is near the top of my list of favorite holidays. There’s a freshness and energy about

     Recent Articles

    Talk About These Amongst Yourselves

    Reader, When I wrote my book THEM several years ago, one of the things I enjoyed most was finding an interesting and relevant quote to begin each chapter. Not many people have read the book, so I thought I’d share a few of these quotes for you to talk about among yourselves. Depression on my left. Loneliness on my right. They don’t need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert, from Chapter 5 “The Visitor No One Wants.” If anger were mileage, I’d be a frequent...

    This Works When We Are Anxious

    Reader, I normally don’t worry about much. But recentlyI was anxious about a trip I was going to take in ways that surprised me. I have taken trips like this before. It was nothing new to me. Yet I was stressed about it and didn’t know why. Sometimes knowing the why we’re bothered is helpful. Other times it doesn’t matter why. This was one of those times. I just wanted to toss my anxiety into the dumpster and move on. In today’s episode of You Were Made for This I share what I learned about...

    Calming Words For Troubled Times

    Reader, I noticed recently that I’ve become more unsettled agitated. All the violence we’re seeing here in the US is getting to me. People stabbed on light rail trains. Speakers shot dead on college campuses. Children gunned down at school. So much evil. Is this getting to you, too? I realized I need to spend less attention to the news these days. So I’ve withdrawn from it a bit, and am looking to fill my mind with something more positive. In doing so, I’m drawn to Philippians 4:8 in the...

    An Example Not to Follow

    Hi Reader, Someone was upset at me recently for a decision I made. The man got very loud in expressing his displeasure, and at one point criticized my motives. “That’s not true,” I said. “You’re making an assumption about my intent and it’s simply not true.” I don’t think he heard a word I said because he kept talking on and on. It’s always dangerous when we think we are certain about someone’s motives. He predicted dire consequences from the decision I made. A few days after this incident,...

    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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