Dates, Mates and Babies with the Vallottons
Dates, Mates and Babies with the Vallottons
Jason and Lauren Vallotton
We’re the Vallottons, and we’re passionate about people! Every human was created for fulfilling connections in relationship and family, but it’s not always what comes easiest! We know this because of our wide range of personal experiences as well as years of working with people. So we’re going to crack open topics like dating, marriage, family and parenting to encourage, entertain and equip you for a deeply fulfilling life of relational health. Support us at on Patreon at patreon.com/datesmatesbabies 
147.     Preparing for Marriage, Not Just a Wedding
Getting engaged is exciting, but a healthy marriage starts long before the wedding day. In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton unpack the conversations, decisions, and preparations that can help couples build a strong foundation before saying “I do.” From navigating family dynamics and wedding planning stress to discussing sex, finances, faith, and expectations, they share practical wisdom for engaged couples and the people who love them. They explore why community input matters, how pre...
Jun 3
30 min
146. Building a Life You Love Before Marriage with McKenzie Gibson
Jason and Lauren Vallotton sit down with their friend McKenzie Gibson, a labor and delivery nurse, to talk about something that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough: how to prepare not just for marriage, but for a full and meaningful life. In a culture that often treats singleness like a waiting room, McKenzie shares how she’s built a life marked by deep friendship, intentionality, hospitality, and purpose through her 20s and 30s. The conversation dives into the realities of burnout, nervous s...
May 6
28 min
145. Confrontation That Builds Trust: How to Handle Conflict Without Creating Fear
Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Jason and Lauren Vallotton tackle one of the most misunderstood (and avoided) dynamics in relationships: confrontation. They challenge the idea that healthy relationships are conflict-free and instead cast a compelling vision for becoming people who confront quickly and lovingly. Because avoiding conflict doesn’t create peace—it creates fear and chaos. Through honest conversation and practical tools, Jason and Lauren unpack what confrontation actually ...
Apr 22
33 min
144. The Messy Middle (Part 4): Letting Go — The Practice of Surrender
In this episode, Jason and Lauren explore how real maturity isn’t about getting more of what you want, but learning to loosen your grip. From parenting and marriage to grief and becoming grandparents, they unpack how surrender shapes relational health, heals fear, and builds a legacy that lasts. Because at some point, growth looks less like striving… and more like letting go. In this episode, the Vallotton's talk about: the shift from becoming into surrender—and why it’s where maturity ...
Apr 1
28 min
143. The Messy Middle (Part 3): Becoming — Growing the Capacity Your Dream Requires
In the last episode of Dates, Mates & Babies, Jason and Lauren talked about honoring the one who dared to dream. But dreaming is only the beginning. In this episode, they explore the next phase of the journey: becoming. The dream isn’t usually the problem—and the delay isn’t punishment. Often, the space between dreaming and fulfillment is where the real work happens. As Lauren says, “God cares less about giving you the dream quickly than forming you to carry it well.” Jason and Lauren dis...
Mar 18
20 min
142. The Messy Middle (Part 2): Dreaming — When Expectations Shape You
Last week, Jason and Lauren named the disorientation so many women feel in their 30s — when life doesn’t look the way they imagined. This week, they gently trace the story back to where it began. Before there was disappointment… there was dreaming. Lauren reminds listeners that those early dreams weren’t foolish — they were sincere. They mattered. Instead of shaming the younger version of ourselves, maybe we honor her and ask what she was really longing for. In this episode, Jason and Lauren ...
Feb 25
22 min
141. The Messy Middle (Part 1): When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned
In this deeply honest episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton talk about the quiet disorientation that can surface in your 30s — especially when life doesn’t look the way you thought it would. They open with a vulnerable admission: you can have the life you once prayed for… and still feel unsettled inside it. Lauren shares how her 30s revealed something unexpected — it wasn’t that she needed a better plan. She needed a different version of herself. Together, they explore how what feels like break...
Feb 18
22 min
140. God's Plan for Forming Men
This episode is a live recording of Jason Vallotton’s message at Bethel Church on November 30, 2025—a raw, clarifying teaching on God’s Plan for Forming Men, shared in the context of the upcoming BraveCo Rite of Passage Event in Jacksonville February 28, 2026. God has a blueprint for forming men who carry strength, humility, and responsibility into their homes, marriages, and work. That blueprint is both simple and demanding—formed, filled, and finished—and it unfolds through the stages of ca...
Feb 11
46 min
139. How to Set Yourselves Up for 2026: Positioning Yourself to Win
In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton invite listeners into a practical and intentional conversation about preparing for the year ahead. As 2026 approaches, they challenge couples and families to move beyond vague hopes and instead position themselves to win through clarity, reflection, and aligned action. This episode is about slowing down long enough to ask the right questions—and taking ownership of what truly matters. In This Episode: • Why having a clear plan is essenti...
Jan 14
21 min
138. 2025 Year End Podcast Update: Holiday Break, Big Dreams, New Year Plans
As 2025 comes to a close, Jay and Lauren sit down to reflect on a full and meaningful year—both personally and professionally. From holiday time with family, to celebrating their daughter’s engagement, to the launch of Lauren’s book, and the powerful impact of the BraveCo Rite of Passage event in Florida, this episode is an honest year-end update. They also share what listeners can expect from the podcast in the new year—how their focus is evolving, what they’re excited to explore, and the ki...
Jan 7
23 min
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