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Java with Juli - Making Sense of God and Sex

Bye Awkward Side Hugs! Getting Over Our Fear of Opposite-Sex Friendships, #323

Java with Juli - Making Sense of God and Sex

Authentic Intimacy®

Relationships, Society & Culture, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.91.7K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Are awkward "side hugs" the best we can do when it comes to opposite-sex friendships?

Juli sits down with author Bronwyn Lea, who helps us rethink what it means to live as brothers and sisters in God's family. They talk about why we often confuse intimacy with sexuality, how Jesus modeled close, non-romantic relationships, and what healthy Christian community can look like (even in a sex-saturated world).

Listen in to discover how moving beyond fear-based boundaries can lead to more connection and stronger, life-giving friendships in the body of Christ.

Guest: Bronwyn Lea

 

Follow-up Resources:

Beyond Awkward Side Hugs: Living as Christian Brothers and Sisters in a Sex-Crazed World by Bronwyn Lea

What Defines an Intimate Relationship? by Dr. Juli Slattery (blog)

Q&A: What is the Purpose of My Sexuality as a Single? w/Dr. Juli Slattery

Q&A: How Can I Tell The Difference Between Sexual Desire And A Desire For Intimacy? w/Dr. Juli Slattery 

Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes . . . Everything  by Dr. Juli Slattery

 Follow Bronwyn at @bronwyn_lea

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

 

 

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey friends, I'm Julie Slattery and you're listening to Java with Julie.

0:06.4

This is a podcast that's an outreach of authentic intimacy, helping people make sense of God

0:11.9

and sexuality.

0:13.3

So I am really glad you're here and would encourage you to grab your coffee and settle in

0:18.4

because I've got a really fun conversation for you today.

0:22.6

My guest is Brown and Lee and she is a leadership coach at Propel Woman. She wrote a book called

0:29.0

Beyond Awkward Sidehugs, Living as Christian Brothers and Sisters in a Sex-Craised world.

0:35.1

If you spent any time in church, maybe especially as a single Christian, you probably know

0:40.8

what a side hug is.

0:42.3

It's kind of our way of trying to avoid temptation, sort of keeping people at a distance.

0:48.3

But that doesn't really reflect how Jesus taught us to live as brothers and sisters in the family

0:53.5

of God.

0:54.0

I can't really imagine Jesus giving Mary Magdalene a side hook.

0:59.0

But in this conversation, Brownwyn and I talk about how we confuse intimacy and sexuality.

1:05.0

Why that's a problem and how Jesus actually modeled for us close non-romantic friendships with the opposite sex and how Jesus actually modeled for us close non-romantic friendships with the opposite sex,

1:14.0

and how whether you're single or married, you can have healthy relationships as brothers and

1:19.1

sisters in Christ.

1:20.8

Now, as you listen, I want you to think about somebody you might share this conversation

1:24.6

with, somebody that you can actually have a meaningful conversation

1:28.6

about what healthy relationships look like, how to build community, and how to really live

1:33.9

as God's family. Now let's dive into my conversation with Brown and Lee.

1:42.2

Well, Braunman, welcome to Job with Julie, and I love having guests on that have intriguing accents, and you have one. So let's hear it.

...

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