Hello, I'm Samantha I'm Christian! And this is Going There!
This is the last time you will be hearing that intro for a while. Let's just cat out of the bag. Going There is going on summer vacation.
Now, we are going to discuss all the things, give you guys a little bit of an update, but I'm sure you can tell from the title we are taking a break on Going There. And I feel like this was spoken into existence. If I believe in that, which I really don't know what, but about like 6 months ago, back in the fall, I was at my college small group and a girl like really sweetly and awkwardly was like, I have a question, are you like quitting your podcast? And I was like, wait, I was like, no, who said that?
What? Why? And she was like, I cannot remember who said it. And then she remembered who and texted her friend and was like, hey, going there's for sure not going on on a break.
Like where'd you get that from Rude? And then I met the girl who started the rumor. It's a good joke. It's like not really a rumor.
At one of my other Veritas girls, like little 21st birthday party. She was like, Hey, I'm the girl that said going there was on a break. I thought you like joked about it or I don't know, like where I got that from, but I'm so sorry. I like told random people that and like funny enough, like that was only a few weeks ago that I met her.
I'm like, here we are. We are taking a break. We're taking a break for the summer, guys. Five years in this month, actually when we're recording this, we are celebrating five years, which we've not even talked about a time, but crazy very long podcast.
And if you guys know the podcast world at all, we actually looked this up. The like general podcast is for like the age of a general podcast to like last like six to seven months. And here we are five years later. We have never taken a break other than a couple weeks around the holidays.
And so we just kind of wanted to share a little bit of the heart of the break because we're excited. But we would love for you guys to join us in prayer actually through the break if you'd like. And so, yeah, we're going to take some time off realign and or I don't even know rest. Yeah.
Feel rejuvenated and then come back and we're excited for what it is. But it's obviously we've never done this before, so we hope you guys stick with us. Yeah. I think, well, we should just kind of tell the story how this came about because I think it's good for people to hear too with us being close friends as well, like how we've worked this out, like kind of being in different places at 1st and like it's obviously we're our own individual people.
And so kind of getting to this point, we have had different seasons. I would say like going back to this, we've done this for five years. I mean, that means you've had, how many children have you had since we started going there? You've had two children.
I've adopted a child, I've almost died and been in ICU. You've had crazy things going on. And we have gotten an episode out every single. 290 episodes at this point I mean.
Like, when you really think about it, I remember we were going to let me have, like, a few weeks off after James was adopted. But because of, like, me being in the hospital, I remember him being, like, a week old. And I couldn't sit up for extended periods, but I had a microphone in my face recording a podcast. Like, yeah.
And like, same for you. Like, you know, you would take a few weeks off when you had your babies, but like, even though you were on maternity leave from work, like we'd be in the studio, like having a friend come up to the podcast studio to watch your baby so we could come and record. And like looking back, I'm like, we're a little crazy for that. Like, I think it's one of those things that we would have seasons where we, one of us would feel burnt out and the other one would be like, no, like everything's good, everything's good.
And usually I would feel that way for a few weeks and then something would happen where it would like re energize me about going there and like vice versa. And about a month ago or so, who came in one day and I didn't even know I was feeling so weary about it. But like, I heard it in you. I saw it in me.
I felt it in me. And we were talking about our numbers and we're talking about planning for the summer and a thing. And I just started really feeling like, wait, we need to stop this. Like I need a break.
Like I really just felt, I almost started feeling like it was unwise that we hadn't stopped and really considered like, why have we not taken rest? Like this is a very creative role we have of, you know, it's not just us coming on. We're being vulnerable every week. We're sharing our real life, we're sharing how God is working in our lives.
That takes a lot of energy. We have so much else going on in our lives with raising our children in different ways. We serve you work a full time job. We have all these things going on and we have to come up with content that's not not just coming on and speaking on a mic, but it's important and weighty.
And so I just started brainstorming that day and I'm like, I think I'm really burnt out. I think I want to. I almost was like, I want to quit going there. And that was the.
First time you had said those words you were like, I think I'm burnt out. I think it. Took you a bit like it took you a whole conversation. You and I were kind of going back and forth and then you ultimately were like, I think I'm burnt out and I think during.
Those words. I was like. I didn't say burnt out until I process with my husband and he was like, maybe I think you're having a. Conversation.
And I was like, oh, OK. And honestly, that helped me because my first reaction to when she's saying this is like, Oh my gosh, you're done with going there. No, it was not bad. Don't be dramatic.
No, it was. It was bad in the way that we were on totally. Different I think I cried about it in my car by myself because I was like, oh, I mean back to how this is always run is you guys know and we will say we're not paid for this. This is a ministry for us and but it runs kind of like a little mini business.
So where we are really good friends and we do a lot of life together. When we're in this scenario, we kind of have to like operate as business partners almost. And so you're both bringing creative things, but also logistics things. I mean, it's a lot to navigate honestly.
And praise God that he has sustained us. But in that we've always gone through seasons of like one person kind of like a marriage, like one person's kind of caring and the other person's riding along. And like we've done that often and we pray through those things, we talk through those things. And that's been normal.
And so this was the first time though, it was like, hey, this is maybe feeling more weighty. Like you said, it's feeling kind of like a different level of that. So yes, at first I was really sad and I was like, I think my biggest fear, I was like, I think my biggest fear is like you and I are going to be not unified. And because that was my biggest thing, which we'll get to like how you guys being brain, but I was like, I really just want you and I to be unified because I don't want it's to end in a poor way.
But then also I was just like, Oh, I'm not there. And so I think I had said this to a ton of people when I've been explaining and like break it sounds so dramatic. We're being so dramatic by it. It's a good thing.
But I've told people like going there is not going there without like you and me and like we are going there. And so I was like, oh, 100%, like, I'm not where she's at, but you as my partner in this, I want to 100% honor you in that because it can't be what it is without you. And so I'm like, if you are feeling that way, But it took me a conversation or two to be like, OK, yes. Like I want to honor her and I want to honor us.
And like the partnership we have here. This sounds so emo and committed, but it was one of those things I was like, yeah, of course we were kind of like feeling different about that. But via conversations, I was like, I'm not going to argue though that yes, it sounds really exciting to have a break. It sounds really fun to not have to do this every Friday and this season where we want to be really present moms and we want to show up differently for our other commitments.
And so that sounds really exciting. And again, when you put it into context of we've not taken a break that we do come and we think through content every week. We're thinking they're not just one episode. We're thinking through series and we're thinking through multiple conversations and we're analyzing a lot, and then we have to organize those thoughts to get them out in a productive way.
We're praying through those things. You know, it's a lot of creativity. It's a lot of mind and just like mental energy. And so I think for all those reasons, I was like, OK, yes, I am feeling really excited and actually like really energized for what God is going to do in the time.
But yeah, it at first was not there. Well, and I think going back to that day too, like I didn't even plan on bringing that up, but I think for a few weeks I had felt us both come in and say like, like, I felt like, I mean, you're tired. Like we're tired. Like even if it was hard, like both of us just kind of being like, I mean, the conversation we're sitting out in our little kind of living room area of our studio being like, I don't want to go in there and do that.
And I'm like, you know, that is a red flag. Like not that we don't love doing this, but like we shouldn't be putting content out. Like I kind of started thinking through like you guys are listening to our words and these words have a lot of weight when we are talking about people's relationships with God, when we are speaking on the Bible. And I never want to lose sight of like that comes with a responsibility.
And I just knew for myself, like I won't speak for you, but that I wasn't able to give it my 100% of like, hey, obviously we're humans and like there's things I said a year ago that I would now disagree with. But I did want to be in a place where I'm like, hey, I'm not just viewing this as like a complacency of like, let's go in and get this cranked out. Like I want these words to like have the weight that they actually carry and us not lose sight of that. And so I didn't have the words to say burned out, but we started talking about it and I was kind of like, I feel really proud of what going there has been for five years.
And like, I've always known having a podcast is probably not a forever thing. Like most things in life are not a forever thing. And I like the idea of change and that that doesn't scare me. It makes me get like really excited about like what's to come.
And so that day we talked, I was kind of like, oh, like, has going there ran its course? And that didn't feel we've talked a lot about like it didn't feel sad to me. It felt like a breath almost of like, well, look what God has done in five years. Like we need to evaluate, is this the end?
And jumping forward a little bit, I got to have a conversation with my friend Ella, who's 21 years old, and she trains me. And I went to a workout right after you and I and like it was kind of tense in that moment because I brought it out out of nowhere. Like we literally were having a conversation about going there. And I was just like, do we want to keep doing this?
Like is this it? Is this enough? Like I always have the idea. I would rather like leave while things are still good.
Things are on top then to like be like, Oh my gosh, the door is like, we have run this thing dry. We're not in a good place in our friendship. Our numbers have plummeted. No one's even listening anymore.
Now we're putting out trash. Like I would much rather leave and like close the door on something when it's like that was a high place to like step out and like be humble in that way of like, yeah, like it has run its course instead of like bleeding this thing out. And so we went and I worked out after that and like, obviously I was just like, she's like, how was your podcasting this morning? I was like, honestly, like, I think I just like brought up to Christian like what if going there is done and out of so much wisdom.
She was like, why don't you guys take a break? Like she said it to me like we were so you and I. Were both like are we dumb that? We've never like I'm so she looked at me like so confused.
She was like, why don't you take a break? Like every podcast I listen to operates more in seasons and has weeks off in between and like takes breaks. And I'm like, because I never knew that was an option and like, we have never considered it. And so that gave me a lot of peace because to be honest and like, you can jump in too.
Like I think at first, like when you weren't feeling the same way, I had to process with a few close people of like, I feel like less than I feel lazy. I feel like, oh, like I can't keep up with Christian of like I am feeling and we can get into the reasons like really deeper as I've prayed and thought through like why I'm feeling this pool and like what I feel like God's calling to me or calling me to more just for the summer and in this season of like there's a lot of factors. Obviously what I shared of like really wanting to make sure our hearts are in this and we're we're giving you guys our 100% and we're like feeling excited about the content that we're sharing. But then also personally of like my kids are getting older and I love getting to like mentor college girls.
And so when you weren't feeling that same way, I think I felt a little bit like, Oh, I just like can't keep up, like I can't keep up with this, this pace and like there's something wrong with me And that like I shouldn't be able to be a fully present mom. I should be able to be a fully present wife and like meeting with college girls and like Christian works a full time job and she's not feeling this way. But like, why am I? And I was met with so much of like God is like has different things for both of you and like, because I'm feeling that doesn't mean that's wrong for me to feel like a call more towards like my kids right now and my family and just wanting space in my brain.
And like, obviously you too, like doesn't mean that's it's wrong at all that you weren't feeling that way. Like God has us in different seasons. And so that's a lot. We can keep going into it, but.
No, I mean, it's so good because yes, I mean, I was so sad that you felt that way because yes, I think too, you and I have always functioned differently. That's also part why what makes going there, going there, I hear that all the time from listeners. They're like, I love how you guys are so different, but you guys obviously like love and value each others opinions. And so I think yeah, I mean, I think full circle now how I'm feeling about it is like I was able to have some conversations of like, Oh yeah, we're doing the same thing.
I love quoting my if anyones listening to this that I work with, they'll laugh at me because I always say like the definition of insanity is like doing the same thing, expecting different results. And in full transparency, guys, like we've said this before, I'm going there. It's really hard to do this week in a week out and not have faces in front of us. I mean, you and I both love doing face to face ministry and discipleship and obviously we view this as that, but we don't get to see the faces.
And so it is super encouraging when you guys say things that's not like a weird, I don't know, like a. Little bit tension. Yeah, we need more people to say things, but it's super encouraging because you're kind of like, are people listening? And to be honest, we felt this spring we were putting out some of the content we were most excited for.
It was what God was doing in our hearts and minds. We felt super encouraged by it personally, and we just felt really proud and confident of this stuff we were putting out. And our numbers are the worst they've ever been. And I think you and I kind of sat there and we were like, OK, like what's God doing?
And I know for sure, obviously speaking for myself, but I heard you of like, we were both just really praying of like, God's like, please close the door if it's supposed to be closed or open if it's going to be open. And so then when this conversation came up, we were like, oh, shoot, what does this mean? And I think it's been fun for me over praying through it. It's just like God being really kind.
And because we sat there at a meeting and I was pretty sad. And you were like, but I don't want you to discount everything. It's been. I'm like, I'm not discounting it, but I was like, but I am sad because I am really, I was, I'm not anymore.
But I was really fearful of us being on different pages because I think we've always said, yeah, first and foremost, we don't want this to affect friendship or just our time together. And we want it to end if it ever does. And if it will, because it will. Like, we wanted to end in a good place.
And so it's been fun that God has really met me in a place of like, yeah, you guys are going to feel differently about this. But like, look what I'm doing. Because I think you and I both kind of felt, at least I did. I felt God's nudging, being like, hey, yeah, I am doing something in your heart and mind.
And he's prepared us. He's given us the ability to do this for five years. But what does it mean to continue doing it? And so then I got to have some conversations with people, and I kept just saying, let's work smarter and not harder because I was like, wait, yeah, like we work so hard on this, which hard work is good.
Hard work is awesome like we are. Called. No idea. Well, we are called.
You guys have no idea, but like no one has any idea what it really takes for us to do this every. Week so we are called to do hard work. So it's not that we're saying, hey, we don't want to just do hard work, but it's like this is has a cost to, it has a cost to our families, it has a cost to our friendship, it has a cost. To mental space.
Mental space yes, that's probably the biggest cost and so it's like hey what is the cost worth that again, our numbers are some people would be like Oh my gosh, those are amazing but when we've seen. Different numbers listening and. Again, like we don't want to take for granted, like those are lives. Those are people who we hope that you guys are listening, taking these conversations.
That amount of people were sitting in front of us in a room we would. Be like, Oh my gosh, amazing. And so it is not that, but it is almost like, again, at least for me really walking with Jesus to be like, OK, we I really feel like you're shifting things in my heart and mind of what you're growing me in right now. And yeah, like, if this is not where you want me to share that information, then we need to take note of that.
But also if it is, then great. Hey, going there girls. We hope you're loving today's episode. We just have a quick favor.
If you don't mind leaving us a five star rating and review. Whether you listen on Apple or Spotify, you can just click that little five stars. If you're on Apple, leave a little review. And that is seriously such an easy way to help other people find going there.
And we so appreciate it. Now let's get back to our conversation. I think kind of like this is where we are and what does that mean for our summer that both of us again being moms and being moms to young kids but growing kids, that we're both just like, OK, we want some time and space. And so we are releasing episodes.
This is the last episode you'll hear from us for a while and then we will come back and release episodes starting in September. So September 11th, I think is our next episode. We will obviously be posting a few weeks prior to that for social so that you guys can get back in. Obviously we have 290 episodes you can go listen to, so you should go back.
You won't miss our you won't miss our voices. But in that time, I'm excited to like get some space from like, honestly, just content creation because content creation. Is crazy. I'm like, wait, we see.
No, no, no. No content creation because like, just Yeah again. Churning out more and more content. Yeah, not to be like we put so much time and effort, but we do.
And it is almost exhausting to think through like, hey, yeah, this is something I'm processing in my personal life or in my walk with Jesus, and I want to share this. It's a lot of work. So that's one of the things. And I think I'm just excited we're going to have some meetings talking through like, what is the smartest way to do this?
What makes sense for you all? What do you guys want? How do you guys consume content that makes it smarter for us because again, us wisely assessing the cost of our own life to say, hey, we want to show up to the plate. How do we do that in a wise way?
We're going to do that and we're going to just hang his friends, which honestly, I have not shared that much with you, but I actually think that's like one of the most fun you've. Literally said that to me like 3 times. It's not been that much. I'm going to say it again, but I'm just so super excited, honestly.
Like I think it has been a fresh air of like, I can only compare it to a marriage because that's what it feels like or I don't know. But sometimes in my marriage, it's like we have so many heavy conversations. Again, you and I are put in a position all the time that we have to talk about a lot of heavy and weighty things. And not even heavy and weighty things.
Sometimes we're just like talking about how to think about Botox, but we're thinking and we have to thoughtfully consider and talk through and analyze things together all the time. And it's just sometimes really heavy and I'm just like, I just actually want to have fun. I want to like, enjoy and I want. To be serious, like some of the episodes we've done, I look back and I'm like, yeah, use wisdom, but it's really not that serious.
Let God lead you. I don't know. I'm over. Like I think God is just also like, again, we are work in progress.
God is refining us as we then put out this content. And so I'm excited for that too. Just a little breath in that area. Yeah.
And I mean, so many different things of like, I, again, I think I like change and I, I, it's like when you're doing something every week, we just, we're running at such a fast pace that I don't think we even had a chance to stop and consider if this was still working, if it needed to change. I mean, if you look at anything, it's been five years. Like we have changed and grown as people. Our capacities have changed and grown as we've had more children in our family and our children have gotten older and what our responsibilities in life.
Like, I don't think you were like managing a team in the same capacity when we started this five years ago, didn't you? Change, change. No, I haven't changed the role, but my role has. I mean, it's just changed and like I think it's like where I'm feeling like we're a little crazy is that wig we didn't have like in our marriage, both of us.
I see this like when seasons change, when lives change, you sit down and you recalibrate and we have never done that. Like we have continued to just like charge that's. Crazy of us. It's crazy and like it's unwise in a lot of ways.
And so I'm really grateful for God's prompting to be like, hey, before I let you turn this into a dumpster fire, like I am stopping you. Like I really felt like it was so clear to me that like, it needed to have a break and a space and totally like understanding that we're coming from different places. But I think anyone that I've shared this with, they look at me like we have lost our minds. And like 1 friend actually was able to be honest with me that she had from like, you know, when you're so in it, you don't see the destruction coming ahead.
But that like she had felt like what we were doing was just not sustainable and that like it would probably lead to a not good place and had been like thinking about talking about that. And I'm like, that's just reassurance to me that like are. You crying? No.
Oh. OK. No, I'm wiping my eye though because my eye problems. That like, Oh yeah, like that prompting wasn't just out of like, oh, our numbers are changing or this isn't this is feeling older.
I'm bored with this. Like I want change. Like no, it's God's prompting of like something has to change in it. And so like it's actually made me really excited for whatever the future of going there is going to be and whatever that looks like.
Maybe we'll come back in the fall with saying like, hey, we're not going to release weekly, but they're going to be bi weekly or they're going to be in seasons or they're going to have more purpose or we're changing the direction or we're going back to like our roots. Like our podcast content has actually changed a lot because we have grown in our faith. And So what we talked about is different, but like maybe we need to share for a different demographic. And so all these things we're going to be thinking through, but just imagine if like we have these light bulb moments or things that kind of feel heavy on our hearts of like, Oh, I'm really thinking through this right now.
And God's putting that in my heart. And like think about having to like bleed those thoughts out on a podcast every week. And the second you're done, I mean, we do 2A week every Friday at least sometimes 3 when we're being really crazy. And then like the second you take a breath, you have to think about what that's going to be for the next week.
Like just like. It's exhausting me thinking about it but. It'll be crazy. Been fun.
It's been real. Well, it's been fun, no? But I have been. It's been real fun.
Kidding. But I have been thinking like, if you are listening to this episode, maybe you didn't care because you're like, you know, we're going to do life update and summer break for going there. But if you want to be joining us in prayer, I would greatly appreciate it because I think I hope you hear in this conversations, man, then I don't take this lightly. We feel like what we do here is only for the glory of God, that he is the only one sustaining us to do this.
He's sustaining us as individuals. He's sustaining our time. He is providing the opportunity to do this. And so if you'd be praying with us just that we can use wisdom and get clarity and decisions for, hey, how are we going to move forward?
What will that look like? What does it look like to work smarter? What does it look like to steward our roles as wives well and as moms well, and as workers and friends? And then also, too, just for unity between Samantha and I, that we can get to a conclusion that feels good for both of us, that we feel really like on mission for what that is.
And we can get a really clear vision for going there in the future of that. And so I would love for you guys to join us in prayer because that's what we will be praying for, just as we, yeah, think about the future. Yeah, not to sound naive, but I'm like, I know God is going to align us. Like I just don't doubt that.
I know it's frustrating. It's like in a marriage when you're on different pages, but I'm like, I know we will get to a conclusion. Like I, I don't fear that, but we need prayers for that because like, we don't want it to cause like conflict between us. Like we've obviously been open and honest and it's good to just like, say how you're feeling.
And I think it would have caused more conflict if one of us like wasn't honest about that. And the last thing I want to share just as like you think through, maybe this will prompt you to think about like, hey, is how this has been going for the last six months or the last two years? Is this actually working well for me in my life, my family, What God's calling me to like something I'll be vulnerable about? And I don't know if you have felt this way, but like, I think there's a lot of our identity or like for me, there can be a lot of identity wrapped up into going there because we're the podcast girls.
We're the going there girls, I mean. Who am I without going there? And so no, I think that's important to think about. Like if you have felt a strain of like, oh, I kind of want to go back to work, but like I'm a stay at home mom and I have a lot of identity in that or vice versa.
Like I work and I maybe God's calling me this or maybe God's calling me into that thing that like that feels feels weird because my identity for so long has been wrapped up into this. Like it's a good example of how really great things that God is using, like going there can in ways become our identity. And I think it's such a freeing thing to be able to be like God. My identity is solely on you.
I know you are going to work and use Christian and I, whether we are speaking on a microphone every week, I'm going there or not. And I want to trust you more than I trust the way that this feels or the way that it would make me feel sad or like scared or XY and Z. And so all those things. Please be praying.
We're so excited still. Like I want to be like talk to us on social media, but like I'm not getting on the going there. Instagram. I want a break from it all.
That's what we were considering, Yeah, getting on here and there. But we're like, no, this is actually the break. Like this is what we're going to reconsider. So we will talk to you in September.
We are excited. Please join us in prayer. We have. My notebook.
Yeah. Have a great summer. Hey, thanks for going there with us. If you loved what you heard, don't forget to follow along with us at Going There the Podcast.
And it also means so much to us if you subscribe to our podcast and share it with a friend. Talk to you soon.
