Anxiety is no joke. Right now in America, nearly 40 million people suffer from some form of panic and anxiety. Worse, a lot of people are embarrassed to seek help and talk about the anxiety they’re experiencing, especially because of the societal stigma often attached to panic and anxiety. Maybe you know the drill: on the outside, everything looks fine. But on the inside, near-suffocating pressure and panic drills-down upon your soul. Cold beads of sweat cascade across your brow…and there’s seemingly nowhere to run. That’s the worst part. I know how you feel. For the last several years, I’ve fought anxiety and post-traumatic stress at a fever pitch level. But what I want you and those you love to know is that there is hope for healing. And a large part of healing from anxiety begins with our thought life; at least it did for me. While it is true that circumstances are often out of our control, an unrestrained, fear-fueled thought life added to disappointment and hard times is like pouring gasoline on a match. If you’ve experienced (or are experiencing) chronic anxiety in any way, take a few moments, shut down any distractions, and hear me out. Whatever you’re currently facing, there is hope. And it all starts here with today’s guest, Brian Johnson. By his mid-thirties, Brian Johnson had a vision for worship in the church, built a successful music label called Bethel Music with his wife, and had written award-winning songs and albums. He was at the height of his success, and from all appearances, things were better than ever. But in the midst of that success, the ghost of his childhood anxiety returned, stronger than ever, and it pulled Brian into a downward spiral of chaos and darkness. In today’s conversation, Brian shares how the panic and anxiety of his early life―panic he’d thought he’d beaten―came back to haunt him. After experiencing debilitating anxiety attacks from the age of seven into his early adult years, Brian learned what it took to finally push the panic away. And that’s exactly what you’re going to learn today. Buy the Book Panic snuck up on Brian Johnson while he was out with his son, and it clung to him on his desperate drive home. Feeling almost outside of himself, his family called 911. He was spiraling into darkness. Waiting for the ambulance to arrive, unsure of what was happening, he gathered his family around him and asked them to pray for him. Then he said these pivotal words, “This is when God becomes real.” In his first book, Brian shares how the panic and anxiety of his early life―panic he’d thought he’d beaten―came back to haunt him. After experiencing debilitating anxiety attacks from the age of 7 into his early adult years, Brian learned how worship ushered in the Presence of God and pushed the panic away. Now in his mid-thirties and believing himself free, Brian had a vision for worship in the church, built a successful music label with his wife, and written award-winning songs and albums. He was at the height of his success, and from all appearances, things were better than ever. But in the midst of that success, the ghost of his childhood anxiety returned, stronger than ever, and it pulled Brian into a downward spiral of chaos and darkness. In the year that would follow, Brian came to experience the ultimate power of surrendering the panic and chaos to God. Whether or not you’ve struggled with panic and anxiety, you’ve found yourself in pain, asking God for relief. In When God Becomes Real, Brian shares his vulnerable story of overcoming panic and anxiety. Discover how you might find God, even in your darkest hour. Buy When God Becomes Real now. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced,

After a really rich three weeks here on the show with Dave and Ann Wilson and Dr. Les Parrott, we’re continuing our relationships series with what I believe is a playbook for developing healthy, value-adding relationships on a personal and professional level. Too many of us go through life self-protecting because of past pain and then overcompensate through self-promotion as an attempt to prove our worth. I’ve definitely been there, because rejection, hurt, and even betrayal is really painful. But what you’re going to learn today, and what I learned, is that our greatest critics can give us our most valuable gift in their feedback if it allows us to glean a kernel of truth that can then be used to advance toward maturity. And today’s guest is an expert on teaching people how to do just that. Meet Dr. Randy Ross. Dr. Randy Ross is passionate about helping people and organizations learn how to do the business of relationships well. Spending time in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds, Randy has traveled throughout the United States and internationally as a speaker, consultant and coach, building teams and developing leaders. A compelling communicator, Randy has the keen sensitivity to speak to the heart of leaders and inspire elevated performance among teams. But today’s conversation isn’t simply a leadership lesson. We’re cutting straight to the heart of your most important personal relationships. You’re going to walk away from this relationships bootcamp knowing how to defeat insecurity in your own life that leads to loneliness and isolation. You’ll learn how to break the hold of self-promotion and self-protection that’s keeping you from enjoying your closest relationships as much as you could. And you’re going to develop the skills to give and receive criticism in a way that won’t cripple you or those in your life. But it all starts here: You cannot live a fulfilling life while circumventing relationships. And I think you want a fulfilling life. Buy the Book Relationships are at the core of our lives. They shape and refine our character. They influence our worldview. They're not just important to us as human beings--they're crucial. So it should come as no surprise that healthy relationships are the heart of a successful business or organization. And yet, many organizational cultures do not promote healthy relationships. Those that do find that they enjoy greater effectiveness, reputation, and loyalty. In Relationomics: Business Powered by Relationships, Dr. Randy Ross lays out the principles and practices that will help readers develop and sustain the kind of relationships that can build their business and energize their team, including how to become a value creator, master the art of giving and receiving helpful feedback, dramatically decrease employee turnover, lead beyond self-interest, and much more. Whether you are building teams in a corporate setting or looking to build better friendships personally, the principles in this book will guide you toward becoming a healthier individual who attracts and builds healthy relationships. Buy Relationomics: Business Powered by Relationships now. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!"

The last two weeks here on the show with Dave and Ann Wilson have been explosive. You guys have been talking about those episodes all over the place, and for that, I’m so grateful. This week, I want to take a deeper dive into the practicality of love. What does it look like in disagreement and misunderstanding? How do we love when it seems as though everyone and everything is against us? And how do we love when we don’t feel loved ourselves? This week, our guest is no stranger to relationships. In fact, he’s one of the most trusted voices on relationships in America. Meet Dr. Les Parrott. Dr. Les Parrott, along with his wife, Dr. Leslie Parrott, are a husband-and-wife team who not only share the same name, but the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. Les is a professor of psychology at Northwest University and he and Leslie are founders of the Center for Healthy Relationships on the campus of Olivet University. Married in 1984, the Parrotts bring real-life examples to their speaking platform. Their professional training—Leslie as a marriage and family therapist, and Les as a clinical psychologist—ensures a method that is grounded, insightful and cutting-edge. As #1 New York Times best-selling authors, their books have sold over two million copies in more than two dozen languages, and include best-selling and Gold-medallion winner Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before -- and After--You Marry. That said, pull up a chair, and lean into this conversation, because after having done so, you’re going to have a simple plan to improve all of your relationships--with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. Buy the Books In this down-to-earth, practical new book, #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Les Parrott provides a simple plan to improve all of your relationships--with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. Dr. Parrott takes the latest findings from psychology and sociology and blends them with biblical teaching to reveal five transformative ways of relating to people demonstrated by Jesus himself: be mindful, be approachable, be grace-filled, be bold, and be self-giving. Each chapter contains a self-assessment, and the results will aid your growth and help you revolutionize your relationships. Buy Love Like That: 5 Relationship Secrets from Jesus now.   More than a million couples can’t be wrong! And with this updated edition of their award-winning book, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott help you launch lifelong love like never before. This is more than a book—it’s an experience, especially when you use the his/her workbooks filled with more than 40 fun exercises. Get ready for deeper intimacy with the best friend you’ll ever have. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before -- and After -- You Marry, in more than 15 languages, is the most widely used marriage prep tool in the world. Uncover the misbeliefs of marriage Learn to communicate with instant understanding Discover the secret to resolving conflict Master the skills of money management Get your sex life off to a great start A compelling video, featuring real-life couples, is available, and with this updated edition Les and Leslie unveil the game-changing SYMBIS Assessment. Now you can discover how to leverage your personalities for a love that last a lifetime. Make your marriage everything it is meant to be. Save your marriage—before (and after) it starts. Buy Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before -- and After -- You Marry now. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And fr...

Last week, authors of the best-selling book, “Vertical Marriage,” Dave and Ann Wilson joined me for part one of this two-part series all about how to build a marriage that lasts—how to build a vertical marriage. Their mission is to share a secret with people that will completely revolutionize both their personal life and their marriage. In fact, one of the takeaway statements they made last week was this: "The issue isn’t that you married the wrong person. The issue is that you’re looking in the wrong place for fulfillment.” And conflict is exactly where we’re picking-up the conversation today. Dave and Ann didn’t always handle conflict effectively, especially early-on in their marriage. But as they matured as a couple, things began to change in a great way. That’s why, today, you’re going to hear their strategies for healthy conflict through the lens of their own life experience. We’re also going to dive into why a woman must be pursued, even after “I do” and men…how to do just that. We’ll also discuss why too many couples love each other but miss actually knowing each other. And then…we’re talking all about how to pour rocket fuel on your romance and how to plan a hot date night. Buckle-up, friends. Buy the Book He never saw it coming. It was the night of Dave and Ann’s tenth wedding anniversary and if asked how their marriage was doing, Dave would have said a 9.8 out of 10 and he even guaranteed Ann would say the same. But instead of giving a celebratory kiss, Ann whispered, “I’ve lost my feelings for you.” Divorce seemed inevitable. But starting that night, God began to reveal to Dave and Ann the most overlooked secret of getting the marriage we are looking for: the horizontal marriage relationship just doesn’t work until the vertical relationship with Christ is first. As founders of a multi-campus church and marriage coaches with 30 years of experience, Dave and Ann share the hard-earned but easy-to-apply biblical principles that ensure a strong marriage. Written in a funny and highly relatable dialogue between both husband and wife, Vertical Marriage will guide you toward building a vibrant relationship at every level including communication, conflict, intimacy, and romance—though Dave is still figuring that last one out. Through their unique perspectives, they share an intimate, sometimes hilarious and at times deeply poignant narrative of one couple’s journey to reconnecting with God and discovering the joy and power of a vertical marriage. For anyone who is married, preparing for marriage, or desperate to save a relationship teetering on the edge of disaster, Dave and Ann offer hope and strategies that really work. Vertical Marriage will give you the insight, applications, and inspiration to reconnect with God together and to transform your marriage to everything you hoped it would be. Buy Vertical Marriage: The One Secret That Will Change Your Marriage now. Review “Win Today” Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on iTunes. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on iTunes. What Listeners Are Saying… “So great to find a podcast that is both encouraging and challenging! It is professionally produced, yet still has an informal feel like I’m hanging out with Chris… And frankly, I’d love to hang out with him! I really appreciate his heart and have been able to apply many of his topics in my life to help me grow professionally, physically, and relationally. A+!"