Explore every episode of the podcast Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
Dive into the complete episode list for Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 149
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
094 Strange Religion and the First Believers (with Nijay Gupta)
01 Oct 2024
00:34:05
The first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on us today. The first Christians believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. Many in the ancient world saw it as bizarre, even dangerous, but some found this new religion attractive and compelling
Today we are interviewing Dr. Nijay K. Gupta. He is the Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, and has written numerous books, including Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church, and recently, Strange Religion How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling.
Chapters: 00:53 Meet Nijay Gupta: Author and Scholar 01:31 Origins of 'Strange Religion' 05:19 The Concept of Believers 06:56 Roman Society and the Christian Challenge 16:39 Household of Faith: Early Christian Practices 24:35 The Radical Message of God's Love 31:55 Conclusion and Upcoming Works
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
093 Why You Haven't Given Up on the Soul If Speaking About the Brain (Jim Wilder)
24 Sep 2024
00:38:14
Everyone is talking about slowing down, slow food, a slow life. I have friends who host the “Slow Theology” podcast.
But is going slow the best to understand the SOUL? (What does that even mean?)
Recently, people like Jim Wilder have been specifically accused to talking too much about the brain, and not even about the soul. So much so that some believe Jim doesn't even believe in the soul.
(And Jim is a speaker at the Attaching to God Summit, talking about "Empathy, Enemy Mode, and Engaging Gen Z"...so register for free).
We have a long conversation, attempting to set the record straight about an overly philosophical-cognitivist view of the soul (the slow soul), and how that view needs to catch up to all the really fast things God has enabled us to do—brain, body, and soul.
We also talk about how broad and wide the field of neuroscience is, the streams that we pull from (which aren't nearly as reductionistic as some), and how the Bible uses many terms to discuss the spiritual part of us.
Resources: Check Jim's New Growing a More Human Community (3-book series)
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
084: Mental Illness or Spiritual Issue? And how they connect (with Dr. Matthew Stanford)
16 Jan 2024
00:38:51
Research tells us that when people suffer from a mental health crisis, the first person they turn to for help is not a physician, a psychiatrist, or a social worker, but a pastor, a priest, or a minister. Unfortunately, many church leaders are not trained to recognize mental illness and don’t know when to refer someone to a mental health professional. And how do we know the difference between a mental illness and a spiritual issue?
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
083: Does God Hate? Or, Making Sense of God's Emotions (with David Lamb)
12 Dec 2023
00:37:07
Does God hate? Is God emotional? Emotions feel irrational, impulsive, and problematic for God, especially when we think about hate, jealousy, or sorrow. But the truth is the Bible is full of all sorts of stories that express God expressing emotions. This episode focuses particularly on God and the emotion of hate.
Our guest is Dr. David Lamb. He is the MacRae Professor of Old Testament and in 2017 the Dean of the Faculty at Missio Seminary. He is the author of "God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist." And more recently has written "The Emotions of God: Making Sense of a God who hates, weeps, and loves." And Dr. Lamb spent twenty years on staff with InterVaristy.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
082: On Getting Out of Bed; Or, on Living with Mental Anguish (with Alan Noble)
07 Dec 2023
00:33:36
For many people, sorrow, despair, anxiety, and mental illness are everyday experiences. And while we have tremendous advancements in therapy and psychiatry, the burden of living often comes down to some mundane choices, like "Should I still bother to get out of bed?"
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
081: From Therapy, to Trauma, to Attaching to Immanuel (God With Us) with Stephanie Rossing
28 Nov 2023
00:39:55
How do we help people get their brains back online? Can the Spirit lead us through a process of healing without triggering re-traumatization? And how can we attach more deeply with God?
Guest Stephanie Rossing (Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist) talks about her own journey as a therapist, discovering and receiving training in trauma treatments (EMDR and Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and how she learned to let the Spirit lead treatment and how Immanuel Prayer helps us attach to God more deeply.
Stephanie Rossing is a therapist specializing in the healing of trauma. She is also passionate about Immanuel Prayer and using embodied practices to help people strengthen intimacy with God. She longs to help people build emotionally healthy communities that thrive in a secure attachment to self, God and others.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
Is Joy Even More Central Than Love? (Thanksgiving Double Feature)
22 Nov 2023
00:26:31
(This and the previous episode are part of a special Thanksgiving Double Feature Rewind of past episodes that are good to revisit in the ups and downs of a holiday)
What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today?
We're talking about it. Looking at why joy and love are so connected.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
The Psalms as a Guide to Joy, Sadness, and Anger (Thanksgiving Double Feature)
22 Nov 2023
00:26:31
(This and the next episode are part of a special Thanksgiving Double Feature Rewind of past episodes that are good to revisit in the ups and downs of a holiday)
What if the Psalms aren't just old religious poetry, but guideposts for our everyday struggles and wounds? What if the Psalms are a pathway into the presence of God through the all too human emotions of joy, sadness, and even anger?
Join Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw for a conversation with David Taylor, associate professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, as we explore the relevance of the Psalms and his book, Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life.
Together, we unpack the Psalms of Praise and the counterintuitive nature of joy, as well as how to find solace in the presence of those who are glad to be with us amidst life's challenges. Then, we venture into the world of Psalms of Lament, learning how they teach us to name our pain and grant us permission to be honest with God in our prayers and laments. Then we end by talking about the angry Psalms, the imprecatory Psalm.
As we delve deeper into the life of faith and the Psalms, we discuss their ability to move us beyond our attachment histories and emotions, fostering a more profound connection with God.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
080: Finding Freedom in Constraint—Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines with Jared Patrick Boyd
21 Nov 2023
00:36:44
We often think that freedom comes through casting off what controls us, and that we need to find our true selves apart from community. But what if it is the constraints of the spiritual life that set us free? What if it is focused practices in community that lead to the flourishing of individual lives?
Today we are talking about finding freedom in constraints.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
079: Being the Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Dr. Andrew Root)
15 Nov 2023
00:42:01
When atheists want spirituality, how should the church respond? In a secular age offering a buffet of spiritualities, all focused on the self and personal transformation, how is the Christian view similar or different than these alternative pathways? When everyone is spiritual, but few are religious, what is distinctive about following Jesus? And can I be a mystic without God?
Dr. Andrew Root joins the podcast to talk about the rise in secular mysticism and what it means for the church in the 21st century.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
078: Formative Spirituality, Agency in the Bible, and Being Human (Dr. Richard Middleton)
08 Nov 2023
00:35:31
What is spiritual formation? Is that even a very good term for life with and in Jesus? What are we being formed into anyway? Or, maybe we should ask “when” are we being formed?
In this episode, we talked with Dr. Richard Middleton about formative spirituality, agency in the Bible, and being human, and how God is always looking for partners to work with and through.
Dr. Middleton is Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, NY). His most recent book is Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, the Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God (Baker Academic, 2021). He is also the author of A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology (Baker Academic, 2014) and The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 (Brazos, 2005).
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
077: Why Humility and Hope is Essential for Therapists & Pastors (Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
01 Nov 2023
00:33:17
What character formation is required for soul care professionals, people like therapists, pastors, or spiritual directors? And what does this mean for everyone who follows Jesus?
It is humility and hope, says Dr. Chuck DeGroat. It is doing your work, the work on yourself.
Today we talk about how so often (like pastors) therapists in training receive little character formation even while they receive the information needed to diagnose and remedy mental illnesses. Dr. DeGroat talks about his own pastoral and therapeutic training, how counselors (like pastors) are often taught how to help others without learning to help themselves ("doing your work"), and how cultivating humility and hope will go a little way in solving this problem.
Chuck DeGroat is a Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI. Chuck is a licensed therapist, a spiritual director, and author of five books, one of which is When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse. As a therapist, he specialized in issues of abuse and trauma, and pastoral (and leadership) health.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
092 Freedom and Acceptance (Pt. 1)
19 Sep 2024
00:33:14
"Freedom appears very nearly the only value about which people still agree unanimously," says Jacques Philippe in his little book, Interior Freedom. But how does freedom connect to happiness, love, and our life with God and others?
These are the questions this little firecracker of a book examines, and that we talk about in this two-part series.
We look at the difference between "freedom from" and "freedom for", the ideas of locus of control, the constraints of everyday life, and what "inner freedom" might mean, and what it doesn't mean.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
076: Bearing God in the Storms of Death and Life (with Marlena Graves)
24 Oct 2023
00:31:30
Have you ever been tossed around by the storms of life and wondered where God is in all? Or have you wished Jesus would quiet the storms a little quicker and more often? Today we are talking about bearing God in the storms of life.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
075: Being Still Amid the Distractions and Downtime (with Brian Heasley)
17 Oct 2023
00:37:59
Scripture tells us, “Be still and know that I am God”. But for so many of us, this is so hard. Today’s episode explores downtime, devotions, and distractions as we seek to be with God in our private and public lives.
Our guest, Brian Heasley, is a long-term pioneer within the 24-7 prayer movement and serves as the International Prayer Director, he has years of experience in local-church and pioneer missions. Brian is passionate about prayer, mission, and justice that is rooted in a rhythm of devotional and prayerful responsiveness. Brian’s latest book is Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
074: Hope Is The First Dose: A Treatment Plan For Recovering From Trauma (with Dr. Lee Warren, MD)
10 Oct 2023
00:47:26
Is the abundant life as promised in Scripture possible for trauma survivors? Can those who suffer deep tragedy really find wholeness, or happiness, again? Today we are talking with a medical doctor who has walked with many people through trauma and tragedy even as he was walking through it himself.
Dr. Lee Warren (MD) is an award-winning author, brain surgeon, and Iraq War veteran. Dr. Warren hosts a podcast exploring the complex interplay between faith and science. We are talking with him about his recent book, "HOPE IS THE FIRST DOSE: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things."
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
073: Be Kind To Your Attachment Strategy and Nervous System
05 Oct 2023
00:24:41
When reactions shoot out of us that we regret, then what do we do? Do you blame or berate yourself? Do you shame and shout at yourself? Too often we are unkind to ourselves in situations like this.
But instead of this, we need to cultivate compassion (and build understanding) for the attachment strategies that have (literally) shaped our nervous systems, which fire semi-automatically when we are stressed out.
In this episode, Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw talk about being kind to your engrained attachment strategy (commonly called attachment styles) and how these strategies shape your nervous system.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
072: How Your Attachment Style Shapes Reality (with Dr. Todd Hall)
03 Oct 2023
00:43:33
How can two different people experience the same event differently? Do we see, hear, and even feel the world differently? Are we filtering social and emotional information in different ways? The answer is yes. And this has to do with what Dr. Todd Hall calls attachment filters (or what attachment theory calls "attachment styles").
Dr. Todd Hall is Professor of Psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University. Dr. Hall’s writing and research focus on relational approaches to spiritual development, leadership/organizational development, and flourishing.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
071: Resourcing the Church for Mental Health (with Laura Howe)
26 Sep 2023
00:31:16
The church is not immune to the growing mental health crisis, certainly not pastors and leaders. And we don’t always know where to get mental health resources for creating resilient individuals and churches. Howe guest today is passionate about bridging that gap.
Laura Howe is a clinical mental health social worker, addictions counselor, and project manager. She has spent her 15-year career supporting and serving the marginalized and suffering in her local community. Laura launched Hope Made Strong, an organization dedicated to helping the local church care for their communities without burning out. And launched the Church Mental Health Summit, happening on Oct. 10th, which is on World Mental Health Day.
Links: Church Mental Health Summit: https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/ Hope Made Strong: https://www.hopemadestrong.org/about
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
070: Exploring a Theology of the Body and Confronting Shame with Beth Felker Jones (Summer Rewind)
17 Aug 2023
00:33:45
(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes)
We're tackling a topic that treads the tightrope between theology and personal acceptance - body theology and body shame. Why have we turned "your body is a temple" into a shaming mechanism? What if our bodies are the place we meet God? The place through which we glorify God?
In this episode we wade deep into the waters of Western philosophical tradition, consumer capitalism's impact on body shaming, and the misinterpretation of scripture that's contributed to a culture of body blame.
Dr. Beth Felker Jones joins Cyd and Geoff to talk about a theology of the body, and how we can lead our culture and churches into deeper freedom.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
069: Leading with & through Emotion: Limbic Resonance, Leadership, and Spirituality with MaryKate Morse (Summer Rewind)
16 Aug 2023
00:38:32
(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes)
What if the secret to impactful leadership and genuine community connection lies deep within our biological construct? Are emotions and moods contagious, between people and in groups? Why are we unconsciously drawn to certain people and repelled by others? And what does this have to do with leadership?
This episode uncovers the power of our limbic system, our emotional center, and how it shapes our interactions, leadership, and relationships. Embodied Faith host, Geoff Holsclaw (Phd), talks with professor MaryKate Morse of Portland Seminary about LIMBIC RESONANCE, leadership, and the shifts between connection and protection.
We journey through the transformative power of purposeful love, exemplified by Jesus' actions, and counter the use of fear as a tool for influence. The conversation takes us deeper into the profound impact of creating a nurturing learning environment, fostering the growth of pastors and leaders. It's a deep dive into the critical role of emotions, identity, and spiritual formation in shaping a culture of openness in theological education and beyond.
Finally, we bear witness to the power of authenticity and community in spiritual growth, illustrating how speaking our truth and forming genuine relationships is instrumental to our spiritual evolution. We conclude with a reflective discussion on the transformative power of reading and the influence of books on our lives. Get ready to explore your emotional self and discover how it shapes your leadership and connections. Join us on this enlightening journey and enrich your understanding of the intricate relationship between our emotions and our lives.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
068: Exploring Low Anthropology and its Impact on the Human Condition, with David Zahl (Summer Rewind)
07 Aug 2023
00:36:27
(During our Summer Break we are airing important past episodes)
We spend our days feeling like we’re the only one with problems, when everyone else has their act together. We feel like other are achieving so much, but we aren’t living up to our potential.
What if the answer wasn’t a higher self-esteem, but a lower anthropology? What if instead of expecting more from others (and ourselves) we actually expected less?
Host Geoff Holsclaw (PhD) talks with David Zahl about how a high anthropology—thinking optimistically about human nature—can breed perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and resentment. To counteract this Zahl invites us to consider a biblically rooted and surprisingly life-giving low anthropology, which fosters hope, deep connection, and even happiness.
Check out his new book, Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself).
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
067 Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters (with Dr. Carmen Joy Imes)
25 Jul 2023
00:33:35
What does it mean to be human? This timeless question proves critical as we seek to understand our purpose, identity, and significance. Amidst the many voices clamoring to shape our understanding of humanity, the Bible reveals important truths related to our human identity and vocation that are critical to the flourishing of all of creation.
In this episode, we unpack the profound depths of human existence and our identities in God's image. Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is our guest. She is an associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters and Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters.
Through out the episode, we talk about how salvation is more than just a ticket to heaven; it encompasses our physical bodies, the world around us, and our role in God's restored creation. The beauty of God's presence and purpose consistently echo through the Bible, unveiling our destiny to participate and prosper in all of creation.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
the place of miracles and healing in mental health concerns,
how encountering God often precedes evidence for God,
and, the power of open systems and God at work in the world.
From the book's blurb: "World-renowned psychologist and leadership expert Henry Cloud has impacted millions of lives through his groundbreaking books and through his work coaching leaders of the most influential organizations in the world. But few people know the details of his own story and how he became one of the most beloved and respected psychologists and faith influencers in America.
In this indelibly personal and vulnerable book, Dr. Cloud leads us through his early struggles with illness and depression and the miracles that healed him and led him to his calling as a healer of others. Through masterful storytelling combined with a deeply nuanced understanding of the human mind, Dr. Cloud invites readers to inhabit the spaces of suffering and elation that make us most human and to walk alongside of him as he ponders the great questions we are so often afraid to ask but which also give life meaning."
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
066 From Division to Connection: Escaping Enemy Mode with Jim Wilder (Summer Rewind)
12 Jul 2023
01:03:47
How do you escape enemy mode? When your brain and body are just against someone (and maybe you don’t even know why). What if one brain state could explain why we stop listening to, talking with, or caring about, other people? What if this brain state reveals why we lose it on people, fall out of love, and traumatize one another?
Clinical Psychologist & Neurotheologian Jim Wilder is on to help us unravel the concept of enemy mode, a state of mind that can lead to division and hostility. Jim guides us to understand the intricate triggers of enemy mode, offering practical advice on action we can take to reconnect and restore our relationships.
Find out about Escaping Enemy Mode and Jim's work here.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
065 What is Spiritual Formation? (2 Minute Explainer)
30 Jun 2023
00:02:37
Seems like everyone is talking about spiritual formation. But what is it exactly?
In this two-minute explainer episode, Dr. Geoff Holsclaw dives into the realm of spiritual formation, and how it is a "process of being conformed to the image of Christ, within the community and trajectory of Christ, for the sake of others.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
064 Raising Resilient Kids: Emotional Regulation and the Role of the Church (with Jessica Nagy)
30 Jun 2023
00:48:04
Is it possible to raise kids who are emotionally resilient within the dysfunctional dynamics of abuse, divorce, or shared custody? And how can the church be more supportive for children who have hidden trauma?
That's what we are talking about with Jessica Nagy, the founder of Mosaic Motherhood, a community of warrior moms who are navigating co-parenting with a destructive individual.
Join us as we weave through the complex labyrinth of childhood resilience. Break away from the commonly held notion of inherent resilience in kids. Instead, let's spotlight those hidden or adaptive strategies children develop, which can sometimes evolve into maladaptive traits as they grow older.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
063 What is Relational Neuroscience? The Four E's of Our Identity (2 Minute Explainer)
27 Jun 2023
00:02:37
Ever wondered how your mind, brain-body, and relationships shape your identity? How do experiences become a part of who you are?
This two-minute explainer episode delves into the realm of relational neuroscience, a field that embraces our fundamentally social nature and how it influences our neural and relational connections.
In it Geoff summarizes relational neuroscience into four digestible E's: embodied, embedded, encoded, and extended.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
062 How the Fruit of the Spirit are a Foundation of Resiliency (with Michael Sullivant)
27 Jun 2023
00:35:25
What if the Fruits of the Spirit can build a "nest of resiliency" to weather life's trials? What if these fruit were less spiritual and more relational?
Join us as we speak with Michael Sullivan, director of relational networks at Life Model Works, who shares his insights on how focusing on LOVE, JOY, and PEACE can transform us into Christ.
Together, we discuss the power of God's "Hesed" - God's love, mercy, and kindness - as an anchor in our lives, and the importance of creating a secure base in our relationships with God and others to develop resilience. Michael explains how delighting in each other and being delighted in by God allows us to experience His presence and radiate joy, ultimately transforming us from glory to glory. Learn how to embrace and work through obstacles in life with the contagious and tangible joy of God's kingdom.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
061 The Art of Mentalizing: Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships through Emotional Awareness (with Dr. Lina Ponder)
19 Jun 2023
00:35:34
We've all heard about mindfulness. But what about "mentalization"? We are talking about how this little-known concept helps us understand ourselves (creating more self-compassion), understand others (leading to more empathy), and connect to God.
Our guest, Dr. Lina Ponder is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, and spiritual director—so she is perfect for this podcast. She has trained with international experts on the role of early life bonding on the quality of relationships and well-being throughout life. She loves to teach and facilitate the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as she marvels at the profound convergence of developmental psychology and developmental spirituality.
Discover the critical importance of developing emotional awareness and mentalization skills from infancy, and how our caregivers shape these abilities. Learn how experiences beyond childhood can help overcome early limitations in our mentalizing capacity. Dr. Ponder also shares her insights on accessing our inner worlds through spirituality, reflecting on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, and how they can powerfully enhance our understanding of ourselves, others, and our connection with God. Don't miss this enlightening episode that merges the worlds of psychology and spirituality, offering transformative insights and practical applications for personal growth.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
060 Why Discipleship is an Adventure in Transformation (with Jessie Cruickshank)
12 Jun 2023
00:35:46
Jesus told his followers, “Go and make disciples of every nation,” but a lot of us stop before we start—because we feel like we don’t have what it takes. But Jesus didn’t ask spiritual superstars to make disciples. He invited ordinary people into the adventure of following him.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
059 The Psalms as a Guide to Joy, Sadness, and Anger (with Dr. David Taylor)
02 Jun 2023
00:35:49
What if the Psalms aren't just old religious poetry, but guideposts for our everyday struggles and wounds? What if the Psalms are a pathway into the presence of God through the all too human emotions of joy, sadness, and even anger?
Join Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw for a conversation with David Taylor, associate professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, as we explore the relevance of the Psalms and his book, Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life.
Together, we unpack the Psalms of Praise and the counterintuitive nature of joy, as well as how to find solace in the presence of those who are glad to be with us amidst life's challenges. Then, we venture into the world of Psalms of Lament, learning how they teach us to name our pain and grant us permission to be honest with God in our prayers and laments. Then we end by talking about the angry Psalms, the imprecatory Psalm.
As we delve deeper into the life of faith and the Psalms, we discuss their ability to move us beyond our attachment histories and emotions, fostering a more profound connection with God.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
058 Spiritual, Neural, and Relational Integration: On the union of brain, body, bible, and more
25 May 2023
00:21:25
What if the key to a deep and fulfilling faith journey lies in the integration of the brain, body, and Bible?
Join Geoff and Cyd as they discuss the importance of integration, taking inspiration from the Trinity, the Church as the Body of Christ, our union with God, and the great commandment to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. As they talk about interpersonal neurobiology, internal family systems, and coaching, this conversation will hopefully leave you with a new understanding of the interconnectedness of faith, neuroscience, and the human experience.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
057 Exploring the 3 Core Attachment Questions Shaping Our Lives
24 May 2023
00:20:29
Whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly living from the answers of three core attachment questions.
Join us for a conversation on the three default attachment questions deeply embedded in our nervous systems and implicit memories: 1) are other people available to me; 2) will this distress be alleviated; and 3) can I use my agency for good?
— ANCHORED Learning Cohort: Launching in mid-May. Join now and start working through the material and then join the weekly cohort LIVE meetings.
— ATTACHING TO GOD Learning Cohort: Launching again in mid-June. Join us and learn to grow beyond anxious and avoidant spiritualities.
DESCRIPTION: We explore how our answers to these questions inform our behavior and how a process of rupture and repair helps us gain insight.
We also discuss the significance of secure attachment during our formative years, and how our caregivers' sensitivity and attunement can lay the foundation for our sense of agency and security. However, an inconsistent care environment may lead to insecurity and impact our expectations from the world. Discover how our answers to these questions affect our ability to use our agency in moments of distress and our role in the Embodied Faith journey. Don't miss this enlightening discussion on the power of attachment and its profound influence on our lives.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
090 Risky Play, Fun, and the Life of Faith
25 Jul 2024
00:22:48
Why do kids climb trees, run really fast, and spin until they fall over? What is the benefit of risky play? And what does that have to do with attaching to God and our spiritual life?
In this episode, we look at the research regarding play and how it connects to attaching to God.
Baggage Claim: Don't miss the new segment where we finish by claiming some overproductive tendencies we share.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
055 Why You Can't Get Unstuck Alone (Short Reflection Episode)
17 May 2023
00:16:01
Will power + Knowledge ≠ Spiritual Change.
What is the role of community, of joy, of honoring our parts, and of self-compassion as we seek to unstick our minds and break unhealthy spiritual patterns?
Geoff and Cyd offer a brief reflection on themes from our previous episode.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
054 How to Unstick Your Mind (with Mimika Cooney)
09 May 2023
00:31:33
How can you unstick your mind? How can faith be a key to mental resistance?
We talk it with Mimika Cooney, a faith-based author, speaker, and coach. She empowers Christians to rewire their brain by combining neuroscience, positive psychology, and a faith-based approach. Author of the recently released Unstick Your Mind: Shift your Mindset, Develop Grit & Break Barriers.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
053 Is Joy Even More Central Than Love?
03 May 2023
00:26:31
What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today?
We're talking about it. Looking at why joy and love are so connected.
(And this is really the beginning of season 4...Ignore that Geoff said it was the beginning of season 3).
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
052 Is God Ashamed of Me? (Brad Vaughn, fka Jackson Wu)
27 Mar 2023
00:33:45
Did Brené Brown miss something about shame? Is it always bad, or something good? Does God save us from shame? Or might God save us through shame?
If this sounds crazy, maybe it is because we thinking about shame in a Western cultural framework. Dr. Jackson Wu talks about how honor and shame work in the Bible, and how that might help us read the scriptures and understand salvation.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
051 Healing Trauma in the Church (with Janyne McConnaughey, PhD)
24 Mar 2023
00:39:03
How, in our churches, can we walk with those struggling with the effects of trauma? How can we create spaces for deep connection with God and authentic healing?
How can we become more than trauma-informed, becoming God’s people who are truly trauma-responsive as those who follow the crucified and risen Jesus?
Cyd and Geoff sit down with Janyne McConnaughey (PhD) to talk about a practical and compassionate roadmap for how churches can journey with those struggling with trauma.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
050 Can Deconstruction Cure a Disembodied Faith? (with Dr. Sean Davidson)
20 Mar 2023
00:38:14
Can disembodied ways of thinking and living lead to a more embodied faith? No. And that’s why we need to look at the promise and perils of faith deconstruction.
Everyone's journey of deconstruction is different. But only some paths lead to a more embodied faith, while others perpetuate the very problems we are trying to deconstruct.
We talk about how deconstructing faith can be good, and how it can turn bad, with Rev. Dr. Sean Davidson, rector of three parishes in New Brunswick (yeah, more Canadians). And he is a missional mentor with the Institute of Evangelism at Wycliffe College (Toronto).
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
049 On Distorting Sex, Marriage, the Gospel (with Dr. Beth Felker Jones)
10 Mar 2023
00:29:03
Like Jesus, we need to overturn the tables of those peddling gender hierarchies within the temple of our bodies.
Because our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we need to overturn this harmful equation of sex and salvation with a gender hierarchy.
In this episode, with Dr. Beth Felker Jones, we talk about the recent outrage over the article "Sex Won’t Save You (But It Points to the One Who Will)", its distorting and damaging theology, and point toward a better understanding of the goodness of sex, marriage, and the gospel.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
048 From Shame to Grace: Your Body, the Temple (with Dr. Beth Felker Jones)
07 Mar 2023
00:33:45
Why have we turned "your body is a temple" into a shaming mechanism? What if our bodies are the place we meet God? The place through which we glorify God?
Dr. Beth Felker Jones joins Cyd and Geoff to talk about a theology of the body, and how we can lead our culture and churches into deeper freedom.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
047 Laying Down Enemy Mode to Follow Jesus (with Jon Hand)
27 Feb 2023
00:43:00
Shouldn't Jesus change how we see people? So why is it that Christians seem to have as many enemies as others?
We talked with Jon Hand about why "enemy mode" is so prevalent in the church, and how being Jesus-centered gives us a new identity and a new perspective on others. This episode is a continuation of our interview with Jim Wilder on "How To Escape Enemy Mode."
ATTACHING TO GOD Learning Cohort Waitlist: explore the gifts and shortcomings of distracted and dismissive attachment, and learn how to begin building a secure attachment with God and others.
Jon is movement leadership within Jesus Collective, an international relational network of churches and leaders seeking to advance a more hopeful Christianity by seeking to keep Jesus at the center. Jon has also spent the last 10 years coaching Christian leaders across Canada, the US, and the UK in a unique year-long Soul Coaching journey that blends spiritual formation, neuroscience, and emotional integration to help leaders lead from their own transformation.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
089: Our Attachment Wounds and God's Promise (with Summer Joy Gross)
14 May 2024
00:35:21
Emmanuel—God with us. We have heard this promise of God’s presence. But might our attachment wounds skew, distort, or hinder us from embracing this reality? Do we live as slaves to our attachment strategies rather than as beloved children of God? And how can we learn to do something different in our spiritual lives?
Summer Joy Gross is an Anglican priest, retreat leader, and spiritual director whose work is guided by the belief that our stories can be transformed by God's invitation to make his love our home base. She is associate faculty of spiritual formation and the art of spiritual direction at the Healing Care Ministries' spiritual direction school. She is the host of The Presence Podcast and lives in North Georgia with her husband, their three teenagers.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
046 When church trauma (literally) breaks your heart (with Rose Madrid Swetman)
23 Feb 2023
00:39:39
Chronic stress and trauma are not just emotional. They change our bodies. It affects our physical nature, causing illness. And the reverse is true. When physical remedies don’t seem to be available, our relational and spiritual lives just might be the healing we need.
Rose Madrid Swetman, pastor, coach, and spiritual director, talks about her experience with a kind of heart failure and the surprising healing that she found for her body, mind, and spirit.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
045 How To Escape Enemy Mode (Jim Wilder)
06 Feb 2023
01:03:47
How do you escape enemy mode? When your brain and body are just against someone (and maybe you don’t even know why). What if one brain state could explain why we stop listening to, talking with, or caring about, other people? What if this brain state reveals why we lose it on people, fall out of love, and traumatize one another?
Clinical Psychologist & Neurotheologian Jim Wilder is on to talk about all this, and help us identify and overcome enemy mode.
Find out about Escaping Enemy Mode and Jim's work here.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
044 The Connected Life: The Art & Science of Relational Spirituality (with Dr. Todd Hall)
31 Jan 2023
00:37:31
Loneliness and disconnection have been on the rise for a long time in our society. We long for a deep meaning to make sense of our lives, but we don't know how to find it. How can we find a Connected Life?
Embodied Faith host Geoff Holsclaw (PhD) talks with professor of psychology Todd Hall (PhD) about finding "The Connected Life" through growing our relational knowledge and strong attachment bonds.
Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).
043 Original Trauma, IFS, and Christian Mysticism (with Jonathan Puddle)
23 Jan 2023
00:40:10
Original Sin? How about "original trauma". What would change if we shifted from one to the other? How might that shift our view of ourselves, of sin, and of salvation? And what does Christian mysticism have to do with it?
Jonathan Puddle is a contemplative, Jesus-following mystic who helps people find God at work in their inner lives. He is the author of the award-winning, You Are Enough: Learning to Love Yourself the Way God Loves You, and Mornings with God: Daily Bible Devotional for Men. Find his podcast and more at jonathanpuddle.com.
FREE Attaching to God Summit Building Emotional & Spiritual Health by Attaching to God: Register Free NOW