The Thriving Family

While addiction is a tragic cycle for the individual who suffers from the disease as well as for their loved ones, these seemingly hopeless cycles can be broken and replaced with hope and healing.

For today’s episode, I’m joined by Lori Patrick, executive director of Adeara Recovery Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. She counts it a privilege to make a way for women who are often dismissed or forgotten. Lori is joined by Natasha Varma, clinical lead at Adeara. Please note that due to the subject matter of this interview, listener discretion is advised.

Episode notes:

Healing the Scars of Addiction by Gregory L. Jantz Ph.D.
Understanding and Navigating Addiction PDF booklet
Celebrate Recovery
Adeara Recovery Centre
Freedom Session

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.
Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family: a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. I’m your host, Jean-Paul Beran. This is the space where family, faith, and culture intersect. 
Whether you’re new to the show or have followed since the beginning, I’m so glad you’re here.

As a follower of Christ, I’m thankful for the hope we have that one day our heavenly father will wipe away every tear and restore everything that has been broken. At the same time, this side of heaven can be incredibly difficult, and God created us with a wide range of emotions to be able to process our very human experiences.
For this new set of episodes, we are having tough talks. To help us tackle these topics, we brought in guests who can speak into the realities of ministry challenges, life-altering diagnoses, addiction recovery, pregnancy loss, single parenthood, the unexpected death of a child, divorce, sexuality, familial estrangement, and more. 

These talks are indeed tough, but each episode will leave you with hope for a brighter future.
 
Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

God’s heart is with the brokenhearted, and that includes those who are struggling with the pain of divorce.

Today’s episode explores the topic of divorce, hard hearts, and being made in the image of God. If you or someone you know is struggling in this area, this episode explores only the scriptural understanding of divorce. For practical support on this topic, we have other resources available or you can contact our in-house counselling team to book a free one-time phone consultation. Please note that due to the content of this episode, listener discretion is advised. 

Episode Notes:

One More Try by Gary Chapman
Hope Restored
Journey to Us
Understanding Abuse in Marriage video series
Unpacking Biblical Separation and Divorce video series
Focus on the Family Canada’s position on marriage and divorce

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

Sources and further reading
C. John Collins, “Malachi 2:16 again,” Covenant Theological Seminary, accessed February 26, 2024.
Justin S. Holcomb and Lindsey A. Holcomb, “Does the Bible say women should suffer abuse and violence?” author’s blog, September 4, 2014.
David Instone-Brewer, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context, Eerdmans, 2002.
Douglas Jacoby, “Instone-Brewer on divorce and remarriage,” author’s blog, accessed February 26, 2024.
Sharon James, “Divorce and remarriage in the Bible: The social and literary context (book review),” Themelios, Volume 29 Issue 1, September 2003.
Russell Moore, “Divorcing an abusive spouse is not a sin: Not only is it morally justified, it also aligns with Christ’s heart for the vulnerable,” Christianity Today, March 24, 2022.
Kyle Pope, “‘He hates’ or God hates (Malachi 2:16),” Focus Online, February 4, 2020.
Daniel R. Watson, “Who hates . . . divorce? A text-critical examination of Malachi 2:16,” Midwestern Journal of Theology, Volume 10 Issue 1, Spring 2011.

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Esther plays a pivotal role in the Bible. But who is the woman behind the story?

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. For today’s episode, we will look at Esther, one of the better known names from the Bible. While the story of Esther is compelling, it brings confusion with it. Since God isn’t explicitly mentioned, many are left to wonder what to do with this book of the Bible. As you listen, you’ll understand how it plays a crucial role in our understanding of God’s sovereign nature. 

Focus on Faith and Culture e-newsletter

Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

Support the podcast

© 2018 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Unexpected pregnancies can leave women and their partners with questions, fears, and feelings of isolation. Today’s guest saw this, which is why she’s so passionate about her role in which she walks alongside those who need this support. 

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. Today’s episode features Dr. Laura Lewis. Dr. Lewis served as the Executive Director of Pregnancy Care Canada from 2016 to 2026, a national, faith-based network of over 80 pregnancy care centres and online support. A former family physician with 22 years of experience, she observed first-hand the need for compassionate care, clear information, and practical support for those facing unexpected pregnancies. She remains passionate about equipping individuals and communities to respond with both truth and grace.

This episode addresses the sensitive subject of abortion. Listener advisory is advised.

Pregnancy Care Canada

Free, one-time phone consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada. Give our team a call at 1.800.661.9800 to book a consult.

Support the podcast

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.