Between the Covers Podcast

141 - Hero Study: John Duresky

For this month's hero's study, I had the opportunity to interview John Duresky, the Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives in Washington's 4th District. In this conversation, we discuss politics and almost everything it entails including health care, gerrymandering, voting, the tragedies from ICE in Minnesota, and what his plans are for this midterm election if he gets into the House. We also go over all the usual questions, and while it always meanders back to politics, it's was a great conversation with an awesome person. Enjoy!
You can connect with/follow and even donate to his campaign with the links below.
johnduresky4congress@outlook.comhttps://johnduresky4congress.com/
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/john-duresky
Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/JohnDuresky4Congress
https://www.instagram.com/johnduresky4congress/
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDuresky4Congress
https://www.tiktok.com/@johnduresky
https://bsky.app/profile/fjohnd4.bsky.social
https://x.com/JohnDuresky4
https://www.threads.com/@johnduresky4congress
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

140 - Find the Humanity

Let's talk about finding the humanity in others and ourselves. In a world where we often are looking through a lens of good and evil, black and white, or them and us, it's easy for us to look at the "other side" from us and see them as objects of our ire. This robs them of their humanity. Even though I didn't want to try this out myself, I even look at the actions of President Donald Trump and the GOP to see the humanity of what they are doing. Does that mean I agree with what they're saying and doing? Of course not. You don't need to agree with people in order to find the humanity in them. In the end, finding that humanity is really the only place where we are going to find any kind of conversation instead of throwing darts at each other.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

139 - The Long & Difficult Road

Let's talk about the hard work we're doing on our journeys, because let's face it that this is some of the hardest work that we can do. It involves us putting ourselves out there. We have to use our voices. Stand up for ourselves. Stand up and protect others. Rejection, loss, pain, hardship, confusion, crossroads, and bad actors are all a part of the hero's journey. I share some of my own experiences recently and what I've learned from them.
 
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

138 - Authority

Let's talk about authority today. I find it important for us to answer the question: who is an authority in your life? While we should be the ones who have authority in our lives, there are so many people and powers that want to have authority over our lives. Whether we are talking about spiritual authorities, family, friends, or political figures, none of these people have the authority to tell you what to do with your life. That's ultimately up to you. I challenge you to be the authority in your life.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

137 - Hero Study: Kade Sharp

For this month's hero's story interview I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Kade Sharp, a licensed independent social worker I met at a local Pride Rally in June of 2025. He's also a sex therapist and has a PhD in Clinical Sexology. He's also transgender and autistic! We have an incredible conversation about being transgender, autistic, and the unique struggles he's experienced in his life.
You can connect with Kade here:https://www.kadesharp.com/https://www.patreon.com/cw/AcesUpYourSleevePodcast
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

136 - Take Ownership

Let's talk about taking ownership. With the conversations I have with clients, one of the threads that is strewn throughout their experiences is a desire to only take ownership of their follies or that taking ownership of their successes is prideful. It doesn't have to be this way. We can be confident in our abilities tell others that we have succeeded at a goal and we can also choose to not beat ourselves into a bloody pulp when we do something wrong. Heroes are those who own their shortcomings and successes.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

135 - Purity Culture: Love and Lust

To wrap up our look at purity culture, we are going to talk about love and lust today. I grew up believing that lust was a bad trait and therefore something was wrong with me if I ever had something that could remotely be qualified as a lustful thought. Turns out, that's not true. Lust is a feeling and like most feelings, I can choose to act on it or not. Same with love. Let's see if we can break down the unfair comparison between love and lust and see if they share more common ground than we give them credit for.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

134 - Purity Culture: Play Over Obligation

Content Warning: this episode is going to mention specific biblical scriptures and I discuss the impacts purity culture on sex and sexuality, specifically in the Christian faith tradition. Take care of yourself while listening to this episode. If you need to, skip it and come back later, or leave this episode in the archives. Trust your body to know whether it's a worthwhile topic to dive into.
Let's continue our discussion of purity culture, this time looking at the notion that for most Christian women, they are obligated to have sex with their husband or else they will leave their man open to being tempted by pornography or affairs. This creates an orgasm gap where the majority of women don't experience a sexual orgasm throughout their entire lives, not to mention the immense body shame that comes from the messages women and girls receive from purity culture and how bad sex is, until you're married of course. By then, the damage is done.
We're going to see how we can turn this marvelous experience of sexual intimacy into play rather than obligation. How can everyone involved have fun? Let's remove the stigma that sex is bad and make it beautiful again.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

133 - Hero Study: Corey Seemiller

For this month's hero study, we are interviewing Corey Seemiller, an author, podcaster, speaker, and professor who recently released a book titled The Soulmate Strategy: My Imperfect Plan to Conquer Heartbreak and Find True Love. Seems fitting for our February study. We talk about overcoming grief, heartbreak, and what she did to find love in the course of a year. Join our conversation for some fun stories, inspiration, and affirmations, especially if you are experiencing heartbreak or struggling to find a romantic partner.
You can get a copy of Corey's book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soulmate-Strategy/Corey-Seemiller/9798896360681
You can find Corey's podcast, Rock that Relationship, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0oNHpJlAFTInCnkp85ELjP
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

132 - Purity Culture: Happiness Over Holiness

Content Warning: this episode is going to mention specific biblical scriptures and examples of self-harm, shame, and trauma from purity culture, specifically in the Christian faith tradition. Take care of yourself while listening to this episode. If you need to, skip it and come back later, or leave this episode in the archives. Trust your body to know whether it's a worthwhile topic to dive into.
Let's talk about a purity culture belief in the Christian tradition that it's more important to be holy than happy and what it can look like to reverse this notion. In my effort to follow a more "holy" path around sex and sexuality, all I received was shame and terrible hatred for myself and others. Body shame, even body dysmorphia, hiding sexual exploration, and judgement, or even punishment, for a private thought life is often what people received in an abstinence only world around sex.
What does it look like to seek happiness instead? I share some of my own insights and experiences around this topic, so buckle up. We're going on a wild ride this February!
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/