Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Healing After Divorce

MAIN 1 st. year reflection rooted in christ m: Rev, let me ask you something. When we started this podcast, did you imagine we'd be sitting here a year later talking about people listening in other countries? Well, I don't know if I could picture all of that, but I did believe and do believe there are men who need this conversation. And I believe we needed it too, because when you've been through divorce, there are things you carry that don't always come up in everyday conversation. That's really right. People may know the marriage ended, but they don't always know what it takes for people that gone through a divorce to get through each and every day. Or the next month or the next year. One year y can hold a whole lot. Anger, loneliness, financial pressure, questions about your children, and questions about who you are now. But a year can also Sometimes you don't see it while you're walking through it. Then you look back and realize that God has carried you a little further than you thought you'd be. Today we're looking back at the first year of Rooted in Christ, men after divorce. How we started, the conversations we shared, the people we've reached, and where we're heading. This is one year strong from rootless to rooted. Thanks for tuning in to Rooted in Christ. Men after divorce. Divorce rarely gets talked about in the church, but we open up the conversation for Christian men seeking healing, strength, and a renewed walk with God. Each episode we focus on spiritual life, mental health, emotional recovery, physical wellness, financial stability, and your future. Stay rooted, rise strong, divorce isn't you. Welcome, brothers, and welcome to everyone joining us for this anniversary episode of Root in Christ, Men After Divorce. I'm Karlton, and I'm here with my brother, Reverend Jerome. It's good to be here, KB. And to everybody listening, watching, and supporting this podcast, we thank you. We're grateful to have you with us. When I think back to why this podcast mattered from the beginning, I think about the things men don't always have a place to say. A man can be trying to keep working, take care of his children, handle the bills, and act like he's all right. Meanwhile inside he's asking, how do I get here? What happens now? And sometimes the people around him don't know what to say. They may tell him, You'll be all right, or just keep it moving. They may they may mean well, but those words don't always meet him where he is. Exactly. We wanted a place where we could have honest conversations about the hurt, the anger, the responsibility, and the work of rebuilding. With faith at the center. With faith at the center, and that doesn't mean coming on here pretending we have every answer. Nah, you can have faith and still have questions. You can love God and still be working through disappointment. See, being honest about this is part of the journey. When I look back at this season one, Rev, I see us building a foundation. We started with questions about identity. When the ring comes off, who are you? When your home and your daily life change, how do you see yourself? See, that's a difficult question because so much of a man's identity can be connected to his family and the life he expected to have. When that changes, he may feel like he's lost himself. And he may start questioning his worth. He may. But the end of a marriage doesn't erase his value. It doesn't erase the relationship you have with God. And it doesn't erase the opportunity to That's part of what we talked about in Rooted, not broken. We also had a conversation about rebuilding when you don't feel like you're enough. Those subjects matter because divorce doesn't just affect one area your life. It reaches into your confidence, your relationships, your faith, and the way you think about the future. And if a man starts believing he has to carry all of this stuff by himself, he can become isolated. We talked about the practical side too, episodes like the high cost of moving on, the wallet doesn't lie, dealt with the financial realities of starting over. Then we had your network crash, your worth didn't. I still think that title says something about it. A lot men need to hear. it certainly does. Financial loss is real. Having to find another place to live or rebuild your savings is real. But what's in your account is not the whole measure of who you are. And then there's fatherhood and what your kids see. We talked about the example we set for our children, especially during difficult times. Our children are watching how we handle disappointment. They see how We speak, how we respond, when we're frustrated, and whether we keep showing up. That conversation made us look beyond what we say to our kids and think about what our actions are teaching them. As we moved into season two, we started spending more time with some of the emotions that can stay with a man long after divorce re process begins. We had the day she said it. The grind of divorce and the long-term effects of anger. Rev, anger is interesting. You can think you've put it behind you, and then if something happens. But it says something, a memory comes back just like that, or a situation reminds you of what you lost. And there it is again. Oop, there it is. Yeah. And sometimes the anger is covering something else. Hurt. Fear. Embarrassment. Or disappointment. If we never pay attention to what's underneath what's causing it, that anger can keep showing up over and over and over again. I can speak to that. I've been divorced a number of years and there's still times when something brings those feelings back. And this is why this is important because we're being honest about what we feel and what most men feel. That doesn't mean I'm where I was when it first happened, but it reminds me that healing takes attention. And honestly, there's strength in being able to say this is still affecting me. We also talked about accountability. Now some brothers hear that word and merely get defensive. Because they may think accountability means accepting all the blame. And that's not where we're saying. No, that's not what we're saying. Accountability means being willing to examine your own choices, the choices that you made. You can't control every decision somebody else made, but you can ask yourself, What did I do? What belongs to me? What did I need to learn from this situation? That's what led us to what now? From responsibility to restoration. Once you've taken an honest look at yourself, what do you do next? You begin putting what you've learned into practice. Restoration isn't just something we talk about. It shows up in the choices we make, the relationships we build, and the way we treat people after the divorce. Then we began the chaos of divorce series. Ironic that our anniversary is taking place during what is probably the most chaotic. part of our life in this country. That period can still be overwhelming. You have practical decisions to make, but you also tr you're also trying to process what's happening emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially. you're trying to car put all this stuff together and keep it moving. It's a lot. And our recent conversation is probably the hardest one. We have we have done for me personally is about forgiveness. We talk about something that can be remained difficult even years later. Forgiveness takes work, y'all. Now, it doesn't mean saying the hurt didn't happen, and it doesn't mean you can't have healthy boundaries. I keep coming to the back to forgiving her doesn't mean she wins. It means you get free. One of the things I'm grateful for this year is that we haven't had These conversations alone. Author Tr Chad O'Malley joined us and shared his experience and and his work helping men through early days of divorce. And Rev, I want to thank you, brother, for bringing your faith, your perspective, and your willingness to sit down with me and talk through these subjects. To every guest, contributor and person who has support the podcast, thank you. Every man's story is different. One brother may be in the middle of a divorce right now, another may be years past it and still working through something. Some are trying to rebuild their finances, some are trying to stay connected with their children. And sometimes hearing another man speak honestly helps you find words for what you've been. That's what brotherhood can do. It reminds you that you don't have to Have every answer before you reach out. What it takes to keep a podcast going. You have to prepare the topics, coordinate with guests, record, edit, and get the message out. And all of that happens while life is still happening. That's right. Starting something takes a decision. Continuing something takes commitment. Consistency here. Consistency has been a lesson for us this year. You don't build a community with one episode. You keep showing up, keep learning. And keep making room for the conversations. We've also worked on building a brand people can recognize the black and gold, the tree, the roots, and the cross. Those images tell a story. A tree needs roots to stand through a storm. And a lot of what the roots are doing is happening where you can't see it. Just like some of the work a man does trying to heal. He may be praying, reflecting, Asking for help and learning to respond differently before anybody else notices the changes. Eve also had to face rejection. Not everybody understands why men need a podcast focused on life after divorce. Some may question why we're having the conversation at all. But giving men a place to speak honestly matters. And that honesty includes being willing to listen, take responsibility, and grow. To the brother who has ever felt dismissed when he tried to talk about what he was going through, you're welcome here. Your story matters. Rev, let's take a moment to look at how far the message has reached. And in the audience snapshot we're sharing today, the podcast has received thirteen thousand seven hundred and fifty nine views. The short speeds figure are twelve thousand three hundred. That's something to be thankful for. It really is. And as of October thirtieth, we have Three thousand one hundred and thirty four total streams. Among those are nine hundred and fifty two on Spotify, six hundred and eighty seven on Apple Podcasts, and three hundred three on YouTube. People are finding the conversation in different places and listening in a way that works for them. They are. And those three platform numbers are part of the overall streaming picture. We've also seen the message reach beyond the United States. In the geography data, the United States accounts for 8,629 views. We've also seen views from Canada, Philippines, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Wow, think about that. A conversation we're having here can reach somebody across the world who's dealing with the same things we're talking about right here. That's umbeling. Wherever you're listening and watch it from, thank you for finding us. The audience information also shows approximately 74.5% male viewers and percent twenty-five viewers. Say what I'm joking because we want everybody to know they're welcome. Yes, we're here to support men, but if women understand what we're going through, maybe they can help us get through it. Absolutely. To the women who listen, share episodes, and support the men in their lives. Thank you for being part of this community. The numbers are encouraging, but behind every view and in every stream as a person, we don't know everything they're carrying when they press play. That's right. We hope something they hear gives them a reason to pause, reflect, reach out, or take a step forward. For our anniversary, we've been asking you to tell us your story and share your favorite episodes. Rev when somebody takes the time to tell us that a conversation connected with them, that means something. It certainly does. Their voice becomes part of the conversation too. Well and thank you to everybody who has supported the podcast. Whether you've left a comment or listened quietly. If you haven't shared yet, we'd love to hear from you. What is was your favorite episode? What conversation stayed with you? What subject would you like us to talk about in the year ahead? Leave us a comment or email at info at rootingchristmen dot org. All right, Rev, we're look we've looked back, let's look ahead. What do you hope we continue to do in the next year? I hope we keep making room for honest conversation. I see it. A place where a man can admit he's hurting, ask a difficult question, and still be encouraged to grow at the same time. I agree. You want to keep building this community And bring in more voices, men who can share their stories and guess who can offer practical insight. We'll continue exploring the chaos of divorce, including conversations about fatherhood, gray divorce, and the different roads men face as they rebuild. And we need to keep listening to the audience. The questions you guys bring can help guide where we go next. Exactly. We don't want to sit here and assume we know every challenge a brother is facing. We want to hear from you. My hope is that a year from now we can look back and say we kept growing as a podcast and as a community. And that somebody who felt alone found us and the courage to take another step forward. Before we close, what would you say to the brother listening today who feels like he's lost his footing? Tell him he doesn't have to figure everything out today. Take the next step in front of you. Talk to somebody you trust. Bring your hurt and your questions to God. And remember that needing support doesn't make you any less of a man. Amen. Brother, if this has been a hard year for you, we're glad you're here. You may not be where you you hoped you'd be, but your story is still being written. To everyone who listened, watched, streamed, shared, commented, joined us as a guest or encouraged us along the way, thank you for helping. Us reached this first anniversary. Thank you for being part of this community. One year strong, from rootless to rooted. This is Rooted in Christ, men after divorce. I'm Karlton, here with Reverend Jerome. Until next time, brothers, stay rooted. Rise strong. Divorce is not you. This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. The host and guests are not licensed professionals and content is not legal, financial, or mental health advice. Seek qualified experts for personal guidance. Views expressed are those of the host and guest, not affiliated organization.