Hey friend, welcome to Java with Julie. I'm Julie Slattery, and let me remind you that this is

a listener-supported podcast. It's an outreach of the ministry called Authentic Inamacy.

Well, unfortunately, I think we've all experienced the shock of finding out that someone we love,

or maybe a leader we respect, has been keeping a big secret. And often those secrets

come out in a crisis leading to a broken family or a broken ministry. And there are always

wounded people in its wake. But the truth is, we are all vulnerable to keeping a secret that can turn

toxic. We all know what it feels like to battle a sin or to keeping a secret that can turn toxic.

We all know what it feels like to battle a sin or to have a weakness that makes us want to hide or to pretend.

Secrets will kill intimacy.

They fuel our shame and sometimes they begin to take on a life of their own where you feel like you just can't tell the truth.

My guest today is going to help us look into this dynamic. His name is Jason Van Ruler. He's a licensed therapist, an author,

speaker, and coach, and he has become known as the therapist who helps people recover from

disastrous secrets. Jason's message really is a wake-up call for all of us to be

courageous enough to pursue and tell the truth rather than letting our secrets keep us in hiding.

So I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jason Van Ruler.

Well, welcome to Java with Julie.

Jason, I love having you on this show.

You and I have only met briefly, but I was fascinated by something that I heard you share

about, and I'm excited about just what you're going to share with our listeners today.

Yeah.

Well, thanks so much for having me on.

I've been looking forward to this conversation.

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