Space for Life – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this conversation, Tommy welcomes back author and teacher Gary Thomas to talk about his new book, The Life You Were Reborn to Live: Dismantling 12 Lies That Rob Your Intimacy with God. Building on Gary’s deep engagement with Christian classics and spiritual theology, they explore how many sincere believers unconsciously live by “old rules” and assumptions, even after being spiritually reborn.

Gary and Tommy unpack why following Jesus is not about a safe, rule driven life, but about a deeper, riskier, more adventurous way of living that flows from intimacy with God. They dive into specific lies many Christians quietly absorb, like “family first,” “God owes me if I do my part,” and “I need to stay in control.” Along the way they connect Scripture, stories from church history, and their own personal experiences, including Tommy’s journey through his daughter’s cancer, to show how dismantling these lies is less about losing something and more about stepping into a fuller, freer life with God.

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In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy sits down with parenting expert Keith McCurdy, founder of Live Sturdy and CEO of Total Life Counseling, to unpack what it really means to raise sturdy kids.

Keith shares decades of experience counseling more than 15,000 families, guiding parents toward raising emotionally mature, capable, and resilient children. Together, they explore the role of healthy struggle, practical responsibility, and emotional regulation in child development—and why comfort and happiness shouldn’t be the ultimate goals.

This conversation challenges modern parenting norms and provides practical steps for building sturdier families—ones grounded in values, identity, and the kind of leadership that grows capable kids and healthy adults.

• Why parenting can feel overwhelming and guilt-inducing
• What “sturdy” really means in child development
• How overprotection creates fragile kids
• Why emotions shouldn’t dictate parenting decisions
• The connection between practical skills and emotional maturity
• The value of healthy struggle and discomfort
• Moving children from consumers to contributors
• Establishing family identity and guiding principles
• Leading with sacrifice and consistency in parenting
• Practical steps to begin raising sturdier kids

00:00 Introduction to Parenting Challenges

02:50 The Importance of Raising Sturdy Kids

06:10 Generational Wisdom in Parenting

08:51 The Role of Emotions in Parenting

11:48 Defining ‘Sturdy’ in Parenting

14:50 Practical Skills for Sturdy Kids

17:51 The Impact of Struggle on Growth

20:43 The Disconnect Between Happiness and Growth

24:05 The Process of Maturity Through Trials

32:09 The Fragility of Overprotection

36:21 The Role of Discomfort in Growth

41:31 Establishing Family Identity and Guiding Principles

47:03 Transitioning from Enabling to Empowering

55:42 Practical Steps for Raising Sturdy Kids

Keith McCurdy

President & CEO, Total Life Counseling

Founder, Live Sturdy

Counselor, Speaker, and Parenting Coach

livesturdy.com

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode, Tracey Gates, a wellness coach and author of The Power of a Few Kind Words discusses her practice of intentional kindness. She shares her year-long experience of writing an unexpected letter of appreciation each day, highlighting the transformative effects of this activity not only for her but also for the recipients. The most profound of these letters was the last one - a heart-tugging message to her deceased father. Tracey also shares practical tips for writing appreciation letters.

Additional topics include her father's powerful influence, recognizing the 'love language' of words of affirmation, and her book, 'The Power of a Few Kind Words.' Lastly, Tracey emphasizes that everyone has the inherent power to positively influence others and transform themselves through simple acts of intentional kindness.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In a world that constantly demands our attention and energy, finding the delicate balance between work and rest seems like an elusive dream. But what if I told you that one man's journey took an unexpected turn that completely transformed his perspective? Shane Schlesman, a devoted servant of God, thought he had it all figured out. But when a major heart attack struck, everything changed. Now, he's on a mission to share his newfound wisdom and help others navigate the demanding rhythms of life. Get ready to discover the secret to balancing work and rest in a way you never expected.

My special guest is Shane Schlesman

Meet our guest, Shane Schlesman, a fiercely dedicated leader, committed husband, and loving father. Holding pivotal roles in business and ministry over the past 20 years, Shane currently serves as the lead pastor at West End Assembly of God in Richmond, Virginia. His passion for creating an inclusive, diverse, and intergenerational religious community is truly admirable. Shane, who is known for his resilience and dedication to his role, has both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree. His personal stories and life experiences add depth and dimension to his understanding of faith, life balance, and work ethics.

Stress is a silent killer. We don't realize the impact it has on our lives. Take a hard look in the mirror and make changes in how you manage stress. - Shane Schlesman

In this episode, you will be able to:

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:09 - Introduction, 00:02:40 - Shane's Background, 00:09:51 - Challenges of Being a Pastor, 00:14:54 - The Story Behind Stress Test, 00:16:07 - Shane's Heart Attack, 00:19:08 - A Shocking Diagnosis, 00:20:38 - The Hidden Impact of Stress, 00:23:23 - Lessons from Stress, 00:28:00 - Learning to Rest, 00:34:38 - Working from Rest, 00:39:22 - Jesus as our Shepherd, 00:43:29 - Invitation to Rest, 00:46:52 - Learning to Be Done, 00:48:52 - Counter-cultural Message, 00:50:59 - Stress Test Podcast, 

If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by constantly chasing after quick fixes and short-term wins in your personal and professional pursuits, only to find yourself stuck and lacking true success, then you are not alone!

In this episode, you will be able to:

Process versus outcome thinking is a paradigm shift that can reframe everything in our lives, from problem-solving to personal growth. - Tommy Thompson

The key moments in this episode are:00:00:05 - Reconnecting and Recapping, 00:02:40 - Writing Workshop and Impostor Syndrome, 00:07:04 - Identifying Your Position in the Journey, 00:10:16 - Clear Desired Outcomes and Processes, 00:13:28 - Authenticity and Internal Reflection, 00:16:53 - Finding Your Motivation, 00:18:20 - Shifting Your Goal, 00:21:58 - Moving Beyond SMART Goals, 00:25:21 - Embracing Process-Oriented Thinking, 00:31:58 - Breaking Down Overwhelming Tasks, 00:34:59 - Finding a Sustainable Pace, 00:36:14 - Starting Small with Tiny Habits, 00:38:57 - Finding Your Parallels, 00:40:16 - The Role of Accountability, 00:44:43 - The Power of Community and Body Doubling, 00:50:22 - The Importance of Systems and Habits, 00:52:31 - Adapting the Process, 00:55:48 - Expanding Goals, 00:58:31 - Power of Compounding, 01:00:15 - Find Your Plan, Pace, Problems, and People, 

Does this sound familiar? You've been told that in order to grow and find fulfillment, you need to constantly strive, achieve, and mold yourself into what society deems successful. But despite your efforts, you still feel a deep sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction. The pain of chasing after an identity that isn't truly yours is overwhelming. It's time to break free from the ineffective action of pursuing an external image of success. In this episode, my special guest JG Carter shares his personal journey from trapped in a success identity to freedom to live above the constructs the world tried to impose.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Episode Description:

In this captivating episode of the Space for Life podcast, Cary Umhau shares her inspiring journey of saying yes to new experiences and being open to unexpected opportunities. From founding Breadcoin to her involvement with Spacious, Cary's story will leave you craving more of her incredible adventures. Tune in now to discover the power of saying yes and embrace a joy-filled, purposeful journey with Cary Umhau.

I started feeling the most comfortable in places that our culture tells us we should fear. - Cary Umhau

In this episode, you will be able to:

·       Embrace the transformative potential of saying 'yes' and fostering an open-minded perspective. 

·       Discover the joys of including diversity and inclusivity in shaping impactful relationships.

·       Uncover the surprising role of playfulness and entertaining activities in forming robust social bonds. 

·       Learn about Breadcoin, an innovative nonprofit offering dignity, and access to food for those who might otherwise go hungry. 

·       Explore the significance of flexibility and faith in the divine plan to uncover your true calling. 

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Getting to Know Cary

00:03:36 - Exploring a Spacious Life

00:07:32 - Hearing and Acting on God's Guidance

00:10:46 - Finding Belonging in Unexpected Places

00:15:55 - Unlikely Friendship and the Birth of a Venture

 00:18:33 - Spacious Ventures and Creating Community

00:20:59 - Embracing Playfulness and Spaciousness

00:23:19 - Breadcoin: Innovative Solution to Hunger

00:28:00 - Breadcoin's Impact and Micro Loans

00:31:46 - Feeding Kids in Lower-Income Communities

00:32:49 - Fulfilling the Command to Feed the Hungry

00:33:50 - Bringing People Together Through Breadcoin

00:34:52 - Removing Stigma and Democratizing Food Assistance

00:47:27 - The Importance of Nuance in Discerning Purpose

00:48:07 - Letting God Lead

00:49:00 - Embracing Unexpected Opportunities

00:50:00 - Finding Spaciousness in Life

00:54:36 - Connecting with Cary Umhau

Resources:

·       Visit the website of Breadcoin, the nonprofit organization co-founded by Cary Umhau, to learn more about their mission and how you can get involved in their community-funded food token program - www.breadcoin.org 

·       Check out Spacious, Cary Umhau's organization, and consultancy that celebrates neighborly love and connects communities across borders. Explore their website to discover the open-hearted and expansive things they are doing and find ways to get involved. www.spaciousconsulting.org 

·       Read Cary Umhau's book, Burning Down the Fireproof Hotel, a spiritual memoir manifesto that explores her journey towards a more spacious life. Find it on major online book retailers or consider supporting local bookstores. https://a.co/d/1VjQE1x 

Links:

·       Instagram - @breadcoindc and @spaciouscommunity 

·       Order Space to Breathe Again - https://a.co/d/9o24w8q 

·       https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/tommy.thompson.583

·       https://www.twitter.com/twitter.com/tommypthompson

·       https://www.youtube.com/youtube.com/tommy_thompson

·       https://www.youtube.com/youtube.com/tommy_thompson

·       https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/tommy-thompson-teacher

·       www.tommythompson.org 

I thought I had it all figured out until I stumbled upon a life-changing book that challenged everything I thought I knew. The Life God Blesses by Gordon McDonald opened my eyes to the importance of finishing well in all aspects of life. This realization prompted me to create a list of what finishing well meant for me. Now, as I approach a new season of life, I'm reminded of the power of intentionality. This episode will give you the tools to create your own Finishing Well list.

"Intentionality becomes so much more important in the later seasons of life." - Tommy Thompson

Resources:

The Life God Blesses - Gordon MacDonald

My Finishing Well List

If you're feeling overwhelmed and stuck in life, trying to make progress but constantly hitting roadblocks, then you are not alone! Remember, feeling stuck is a normal part of the journey. The key is to identify what's holding you back and take action to overcome it. With the right mindset and strategies, you can break through the obstacles and achieve the success you desire.

In this episode, you will be able to:

“We all find ourselves with stuck places in our lives...Today's episode is going to speak directly to those stuck places we're in, and what do we do to help extricate ourselves out of those stuck places and move again forward in our lives.” - Tommy Thompson

Kristin Harris is a truly inspiring individual whose life experiences have molded her into a beacon of hope and encouragement for countless individuals touched by cancer. With a history of breast cancer spanning four generations in her family, Kristin has an intimate and profound understanding of the disease. After losing her mother to cancer, Kristin found herself facing her own battle, being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer only a few years later at the age of 32. Throughout her journey, Kristin has become known for her faith, strength, and passion for helping others. Drawing from her experiences as both a patient and a caregiver, Kristin offers invaluable insight, encouragement, and support for those who find themselves navigating the complex world of cancer. Kristin shares the highs and lows of her journey, and how it led her to create Cancer Retreat Centers, a patient-centered integrative cancer care experience.

In this episode we talk about:

• Kristin's story
• Caring well for individuals battling cancer or other ongoing conditions
• The immense impact of community
• Survivor guilt
• Scanxiety
• Finding purpose and passion
• Cancer Retreat Centers
• 
  

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:46) Early Life and Caregiving

(00:09:49) Facing Greatest Fears

(00:13:11) Learning from Mother's Modeling

(00:15:41) Parent's Legacy and Foundation

(00:17:32) The Isolation of Cancer Patients

(00:22:33) The Meaning of Life

(00:26:48) Cancer U-turns

(00:30:42) Survivor Guilt

(00:34:57) Darker Moments and Finding Hope

(00:37:57) Surviving vs Thriving

(00:42:40) Cancer Retreat Centers

(00:48:04) Cancer Retreat Centers Becomes Reality

(00:52:55) Divine Tailwind and Finding Purpose

(00:58:05) Caring for Those with Cancer

(01:04:53) Grace and Self-Compassion

(01:06:27) Finding Purpose in the Midst of Hardship

(01:08:56) Connecting with Cancer Retreat Centers

(01:10:49) Closing Remarks

Connect:

Cancer Retreat Centers: https://www.cancerretreatcenters.org

Email Kristin: kharris@cancerretreatcenters.org

Kristin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivelypink2012/?hl=en

Give to Support Cancer Retreat Centers: https://cancerretreatcenters-bloom.kindful.com/embeds/bfa61536-62b6-4283-a632-907505891c48

If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and share with a friend!

You can get a copy of Space to Breathe ⁠here⁠.