From the Center for Healthy Relationships at John Brown University...Conversations About is here talking all things healthy relationships. We're here to open the doors to conversations that are real, honest, research based and with a Christian Ethos. Each episode will dive into a topic that impacts relationships of all kinds. Timely topics, fun guests and the invitation to continue important conversations beyond the episode.
October 5-8 is Friendship Week at the CHR! Friendship is part of how God designed us to flourish. In this episode, we’re talking about why friendship matters, what makes a friendship healthy, and how we can be more intentional about building meaningful relationships. We’ll explore what the Bible and research says about friendship and introduce our Friendship Challenge happening in the CHR to help you put it into practice!
BIBLE VERSES REFERENCED
Genesis 2:18 - We were not designed to be alone.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 - Two are better than one; friends help each other up.
Proverbs 13:20 - Who we walk with shapes us.
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 27:17 - Friends sharpen one another.
John 15:12 - Jesus calls us to love one another.
Galatians 6:2 - We are called to bear one another's burdens.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - We are called to encourage and build one another up.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
American Psychological Association (2023). The Science of Why Friendships Keep Us Healthy.
American Psychological Association (2023). Making New Friends and Keeping Existing Ones Is Hard.
Mayo Clinic (2024). Friendships: Enrich Your Life and Improve Your Health.
Wang et al. (2023). Social isolation, loneliness and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nature Human Behaviour.
Ríos-González et al. (2021). Alternative Friendships to Improve Men's Health Status.
Baylor Religion Survey / Sam Stroope — Research examining the relationship between friendships within church and religious involvement.
The New York Times (2024). 5-Day Friendship Challenge — practical ideas for strengthening friendships through intentionality, reaching out, and vulnerability.
10 Sept 2026
shifting relationships in college
A conversation about navigating the many relationships that shape the college experience from friendships and roommates to family, professors, teammates, and classmates. In this episode, Lilli and Kendra explore why relationships matter, how relationships change throughout college, and practical ways to build connection, communicate honestly, set healthy boundaries, and navigate conflict.
Discussion Questions:
What makes a relationship healthy, safe and life giving?
How can you build meaningful relationships while still respecting boundaries and differences?
Is there a relationship in your life that is changing? What is one small thing you could do to strengthen that relationship or accept the ways it is shifting?
More helpful episodes to check out when starting college:
culture stress impacts college students (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ycy2hlnwodwBlVjL1A8t4?si=1adca690c8314f05)
starting college - making friends & settling in (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jZwCEZU4Ye0Bt6QSv2WVh?si=a3209d172ceb4cbe)
relationship with our parents (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RSyeFXsQh3S0JjVwwi8qG?si=b72fc80b8a624ac4)
4 May 2026
navigating transition with Dr. Steve Argue
Courtney has a conversation with Dr. Steve Argue, a leading expert on emerging adults, and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. They're talking about big transition in life, and navigating change well!
Steve Argue (https://stevenargue.com/)
Fuller Youth Institute (https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/podcast/season-10)
Youth & Young Adult Discussion Guides (https://shop.fulleryouthinstitute.org/collections/discussion-guides)
Who has been a guest on Conversations About...
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr James Hawkins
Nicola Hawkins
Seth Sears
Ella McLeod
Jake Unru
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
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