We’re kicking off a brand new series on community because we believe you were never meant to walk alone.

In this episode, we’re joined by our closest friends, Kristian & Kerri Stanfill and Bryson & Emily Vogeltanz, the couples we’ve done daily life with for over a decade. We laugh (a lot), tell some stories you’ve never heard, and open up about what it actually looks like to live known.

From the first vulnerable conversations…
to weekly rhythms of accountability…
to navigating tension, grief, big life transitions, and raising 11 kids among us…

We’re talking about:

• What happened when we shared our story for the first time

• How vulnerability changed everything

• The power of consistency in friendship

• Why real community is reciprocal (not a support group for one person)

• How to respond when someone trusts you with something hard

• And what it looks like to build friendships that last decades

This isn’t surface-level friendship.


This is showing up. Staying. Asking hard questions. Laughing until you cry.
And choosing depth over isolation.

If you’ve ever wondered what real accountability looks like…
If you’re craving deeper friendships…
Or if you’re trying to figure out how to take one step toward being more known…

This episode is for you.

Let’s talk about how we actually do life with our people.

It’s been a full season and today we’re catching you up.

In this episode, we share what life has actually looked like lately. From the conversations we’ve been having with listeners, to the pastoral moments we never expected, to the sheer number of messages from people who feel seen for the first time this season has been full.

We talk about what Open Spaces has quietly become: not just a podcast, but a place people are stepping into with their real stories.

We also share personal life updates from how we’re doing, what God has been teaching us, what has been heavy, what has been hopeful… and yes, somehow Jeff accidentally became a Scentfluencer on ShopMy along the way.

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In this episode of Open Spaces, Jeff shares what he would say to someone navigating same-sex attraction while pursuing Jesus. He unpacks the two key questions he always asks—“Where is this path leading?” and “Is that what you really want?”—as a starting point for anyone who wants to fight this struggle.

Drawing from his own journey, Jeff offers honest encouragement and practical guidance on how to walk the narrow road, including the role of discipline, accountability, and community. It’s a vulnerable and hope-filled conversation for anyone ready to take a next step.

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In this episode of Open Spaces, Jeff shares what it was like growing up with same-sex attraction (SSA) in a loving Christian home. Jourdan interviews him about early experiences, missed moments, and what he wishes might have been different. While neither claims to be a parenting expert, their honest conversation offers a rare window into the inner world of a child processing shame, secrecy, and identity. Together, they reflect on how parents can show up with grace, even when they don’t have all the answers.

If you’re a parent of a child navigating SSA, or someone looking to understand it better through a personal, faith-filled lens, this episode is for you. Jeff’s story reminds us that prayer, presence, and genuine love matter more than perfect words.

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In this powerful follow-up episode of Open Spaces, Jeff and Jourdan respond to five of the most raw and frequently asked listener questions since releasing their story - including navigating marriage with same-sex attraction, building trust, staying vulnerable in ministry, and loving others with grace and conviction. They share honest reflections from their own journey and practical wisdom for anyone walking a similar path - whether you’re in ministry, in a relationship, or simply trying to understand how faith intersects with sexuality and identity.

The episode also dives deep into themes of obedience, shame, transparency, and what it truly means to be “yourself” when you’re following Jesus. With real talk about communication in marriage, parenting, church culture, and showing Christlike love to LGBTQ+ friends, this conversation offers a refreshing dose of clarity and compassion for a divided world.

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In this final episode of their introductory series, Jeff and Jourdan step into marriage after years of breakups, questions, and hard-won revelations. Their engagement wasn’t marked by grand gestures but by a quiet, resolute decision to move forward together.

They talk about their wedding day - beautiful monument - and that even after the vows, new challenges arise: intimacy, identity, and the call to lay down one’s life for another.

They don’t have all the answers, but they trust God is writing a story beyond their understanding. With their backstory complete, they now turn outward, inviting others to wrestle, question, and find freedom in the light.

Stay tuned for more from Open Spaces Podcast!

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After years of back and forth, Jeff and Jourdan take us into the most painful and transformative season of their journey. This episode revisits their three breakups, the heartbreak and healing that followed, and the unexpected road that led them back together.

Jeff opens up about his internal battles—how confession was freeing, but the struggle for wholeness was far from over. Jourdan shares her perspective on learning to release control, finding healing in the Lord, and what it meant to finally let go of a future she had fought so hard for. Both of them, separately, came to a place where they had to believe that God alone was enough. And just when they thought their paths had fully diverged, God rewrote the story in a way neither of them could have predicted. If you’ve ever struggled with knowing when to let go, when to fight for something, or how to trust God’s timing in relationships, this episode is for you.

In this raw conversation, Jeff and Jourdan unpack:

• The role of counseling in their healing
• What it felt like to truly surrender their futures to God
• How grace (even in betrayal) shaped the trajectory of their lives
• The moment they knew they were meant to be together—for good

🎧 Stay tuned for the next episode, where they step into marriage and navigate intimacy, expectations, and the next chapter of their story.
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In this powerful episode of Open Spaces Podcast, Jourdan shares her side of the story—what it was like to hear Jeff’s secret, navigate her own beliefs, and wrestle with what it meant for their future. Growing up in a traditional Christian environment, she never imagined she’d be faced with this reality. Yet, through love, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of grace, she found herself stepping into a story that was more complex, yet richer, than she ever expected.

Jourdan and Jeff dive into the tension between truth and love, the importance of curiosity over judgment, and what it really means to walk alongside someone struggling with something you don’t fully understand. Whether you’re wrestling with your own beliefs, supporting someone in their journey, or simply trying to navigate hard conversations with grace, this episode offers a raw and honest look at what it means to love well in the messy middle.

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